The Daily Dose/May 5, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

 Leading Off will return. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has big news from the hotel. Today’s Diary. 

There’s big news on the Morning Coffee Service (MCS) front is there is a new flavor of creamer!!!

I am not making that up….

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It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
History’s long march.  

In 1865 – The government of the Confederate State of America is dissolved after Confederate President Jefferson Davis holds his last cabinet meeting in Washington, Georgia. Davis would be captured by US forces on May 10 and would be held for two years before being released on bail, though he remained under indictment until a general amnesty granted by President Johnson in 1868. The last land battle of the Civil War was fought on May 19 in Texas and the final Confederate element, the CSS Shenandoah surrendered in Liverpool, England in November. 

In 1904 – Cy Young of the Boston Americans pitches the third perfect game in major league history in a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Athletics. The perfect game was part of a then-major league record streak of 45 consecutive scoreless innings and a still-standing mark of 24 consecutive hitless innings. It was the first American League perfect game, the first of the 20th century, and the first at the 60-foot, 6-inch distance. The first two major league perfect games had been in the National League, both in 1880. 

In 1956 – Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley is at #1 for the eighth of 17 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s country Best Sellers in Stores chart. The song also peaked at #2 in Great Britain, at #5 on Billboard’s soul chart, was in its third of eight consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s pop Best Sellers in Stores chart, and was Billboard’s biggest pop hit of the year.  The song was the second of seven #1 country hits for Elvis and his first of 18 #1 pop hits. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.
Henry David Thoreau
Walden

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Ferdinand de Lesseps (1805-94) was the Frenchman who was the developer of the Suez Canal and the leader of the failed French efforts to build the Panama Cana. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

What was Billboard’s biggest country hit of 1956? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/May 4, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

 Leading Off will return. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – There are currently three different brands of creamer offered at morning coffee service. Today’s Diary. 

Of course, the three brands conveniently come in three different sizes, meaning getting them to display attractively in the rack is, it should go without saying, a challenge well beyond even my modest skills, and my efforts came out looking somewhat haphazard. 

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Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
History’s long march.  

In 1904 – The United States acquires the rights to build the Panama Canal. France had begun work in 1881 but had stopped in 1899 due to financial issues tied to engineering and worker mortality problems. Panama had been part of Colombia until 1903, when US intervention led to independence, though Colombia did not officially recognize Panama until 1925 when the US bought them off. The US spent about $500 million on the project – about $13.5 billion in today’s money – and the canal was completed and saw its first commercial traffic in 1914. The canal has belonged to Panama since 1999. 

In 1963 – Bob Shaw and the Milwaukee Braves establish new major league records for most balks in a game in a 7-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Shaw committed five balks, all in the first five innings, and was ejected in the 5th by home plate umpire Al Barlick. In the 8th-inning Denny Lemaster balked, making the Braves the first and still only team to commit six balks in a game. Shaw’s three balks in the third inning tied the existing player and team major league records and all four marks still stand. 

In 1974 – Grand Funk Railroad is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of two consecutive weeks with The Loco-Motion. It was the 11th chart single for the group, their sixth of nine Top 40 hits, and was their second and final #1 song. In 1962 a version by Little Eva had hit #1 on the Hot 100, making the song the second of nine songs to go to #1 by different artists, and in 1988 a version by Kylie Minogue peaked at #3 on the Hot 100. The song also went to #1 in Canada and was Billboard’s 5th-biggest song of the year. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

They couldn’t understand it and they could…They had their food and water right there, but what was that open space?
Charles Bukowski
Post Office
Regards birds facing an open door to their cage. 

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Eddie Arcaro rode and Ben Jones trained Citation to their second Triple Crown win in 1948. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

The gentleman who led France’s efforts to build the Panama Canal was also the one who spearheaded efforts to build the Suez Canal. Who is this man? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/May 3, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

 Leading Off will return. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow grinds out another night at the hotel. Today’s Diary. 

Ol’ Sparrow was faced with a tuff judgment call on whether or not to empty the shredder bin tonite…

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Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
History’s long march.  

In 1979 – The United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher, wins the general election, earning 339 seats in Parliament to 269 for the Labour Party and eleven for the Liberal Party. The following day, Thatcher would take office as a prime minister, the United Kingdom’s first female prime minister, serving until 1990, the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. The previous general election in the United Kingdom had been in 1974 when Labour had won 319 seats. 

In 1941 – Whirlaway, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, wins the Kentucky Derby in a race record 2 minutes, 1 ⅖ seconds. It was the second of five Kentucky Derby wins for Arcaro and the second of six wins for trainer Ben Jones. Whirlaway would later win the Preakness and Belmont stakes to claim the Triple Crown, the first of two Triple Crown wins for Arcaro and Jones. The race record is now 1 minute 59.40 seconds, by Secretariat in 1973. 

In 2003 – Darryl Worley is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart – for the fifth of seven weeks with Have You Forgotten, a song about the 9/11 attacks that stirred significant debate in a variety of circles. It was the sixth of twelve Top 40 country hits for Worley, his second of four Top 10 hits, and was his second of three #1 country songs. The song also peaked at #22 on the Hot 100 and was Billboard’s 12th-biggest country song of the year. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…it is not possible to rebel against the fact of nature…There is nothing but the always-so.
Gore Vidal
Creation

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Rickey Henderson led the American League in stolen bases twelve times during his career. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

Which horse did Eddie Arcaro ride and Ben Jones train to earn their second Triple Crown? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/May 1, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

The Sunday Bottom 5 will return.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow calls it a day after six terms as Legion district commander. Today’s Diary. 

…what’s almost interesting is the fact this was the first time in ages ol’ Sparrow actually had to conduct a proper election, and the first time he was obliged to hold elections for commander…I looked at Adjutant Stanko and said, not completely factitiously, 

“So, what, we take nominations now, right…”

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Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
History’s long march. 

In 1840 – The world’s first adhesive postage stamp is issued in Great Britain. Known as the Penny Black, it featured the profile of Queen Victoria and cost one penny. Previously, postage in Britain had generally been paid by the recipient, the amount determined by the number of pages and the distance traveled. The Penny Black allowed up to a half-ounce of mail to be sent any distance. It was only in circulation a year because those zany Brits found a way to erase the cancellation mark and re-use the stamp. 

In 1991 – Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics establishes a new major league record for most career stolen bases in a 7-4 win over the New York Yankees. Henderson’s 4th-inning steal of third base gave him 939 for his career, breaking the record established by Lou Brock from 1961-79. Henderson retired in 2003 with 1,406 steals, a record that still stands. 

In 1982 – Vangelis is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the third of four consecutive weeks with Chariots of Fire. The album was the soundtrack to the movie of the same name and produced one chart single, Chariots of Fire, which would go to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. It was the first of two chart albums for Vangelis, remains his only #1 album, and the single won the Academy Award for Best Original Score. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

For Adams, the American Revolution was about opportunity: the opportunity for the people to govern themselves and the opportunity for an individual to achieve whatever his merit could earn.
John Ferling
Setting the World Ablaze: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the American Revolution 

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The major league record for most runs scored in a game by two players is 12, by King Kelley (6) and Ezra Sutton (6) of the Boston Beaneaters in a 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Alleghenys on Aug 27, 1887.

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

How many times did Rickey Henderson lead the American League in stolen bases? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/April 30, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes From Around Our Human Experience

Leading Off remains in time out as we work on a project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has some news. Today’s Diary. 

Longtime readers of this crap know ol’ Sparrow is wrapping up his sixth term as district commander…This will be the final one, too…It’s time to let someone else experience the opportunity and obligation of Legion district leadership. 

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Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
History’s long march. 

In 1789 – George Washington becomes the first president of the United States at Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, then the capital of the United States. Washington had been elected by the electoral college in January and there were 69 electors, each with two votes, one for president and one for vice president, and Washington was the only candidate to receive 69 electoral votes. John Adams had been inaugurated vice president nine days earlier and Congress had first met on March 4, though quorums weren’t achieved until the first week in April. 

In 1944 – Mell Ott of the New York Giants becomes the first major league player to score twice six runs in a game in a 26-8 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers in the first game of a doubleheader. Ott went 2-for-2 with five walks and along with Joe Medwick and Phil Weintraub who each scored five runs, established modern major league records for most runs by two players in a game. Ott had also scored six runs in a game in 1934 and remains the only player to accomplish the feat twice. 

In 1977 – Glen Campbell is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Southern Nights. The song also went to #1 in Canada, peaked at #28 in Great Britain, had earlier spent two weeks at #1 on Billboard’s country chart, and was Billboard’s 22nd-biggest song of the year and its 8th-biggest country hit. The song was Cambell’s second and final Hot 100 #1 and his fifth and final #1 country hit. The song was written by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Allen Toussaint of New Orleans. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

The intellect is powerless to express thought without the aid of the heart.
Henry David Thoreau
Diary entry
9/2/1851

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The Louisville Grays and St Louis Brown Stockings both left the National League after the 1877 season due to game-fixing scandals. They have no connection with any current major league team. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

Which team holds the all-time major league record for most runs scored in a game by two players? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!