The Daily Dose/April 19, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off continues in time out. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow meets a couple from Germany who appear to know more about the area than he does. Today’s Diary. 

Then, when I was giving them their keys, he noted we had uranium and gold mines up here, something that was news to me…In the Upset of the Year, ol’ Sparrow kept his yap shut and then the wife, with some measure of confidence, noted the mines weren’t actually here at the hotel…She’d done her reading on the matter…

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On This Date
History’s long march. 

In 1775 – The American Revolution begins, with forces from the Continental Army and the British Army meeting in the Battles of Lexington and Concord west of Boston. The night before, news of the arrival of British troops had been passed by assorted patriots on horseback and the battles were a victory for the Americans, with the British retreating to Boston, which led to the Siege of Boston, which led to another British retreat the following March. The Revolution ended in 1783 with an American victory. 

In 1986 – Michael Spinks retains the IBF world heavyweight title with a 15-round split decision over former champion Larry Holmes at the Las Vegas Hilton. Spinks was also the WBA and WBC heavyweight champion and would hold these titles until losing them to Mike Tyson in 1988. Holmes – heavyweight champion from 1978-85 when he lost to Spinks – would later lose title fights to Evander Holyfield, Oliver McCall, and Brian Nielsen. 

In 1986 – Prince and the Revolution is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of two consecutive weeks with Kiss, his third of five #1 songs. The song also peaked at #6 in Great Britain, was in its third of four consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart, was Billboard’s 19th-biggest song of the year, and their sixth-biggest soul song. The song has recharted in various countries several times since and last appeared on the Hot 100 in 2016, peaking at #23. A version by The Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones peaked at #31 in 1989. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…like Lincoln, he was supremely confident…not the confidence of the weak, the arrogance of the vain and needy…the kind of confidence that allows him to be humble.
Evan Thomas
Ike’s Bluff

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Vatican City became an independent country in 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Treaty with Italy. The Vatican had resisted becoming part of Italy with the dissolving of the Papal States in 1870.

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

How many #1 songs did Prince have on Billboard’s soul chart? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/April 18, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off continues in time out. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow goes out to brunch. Today’s Diary. 

I’ll tell you what, tho yours truly is currently a heathen for whom Easter means nothing, I’d support monthly Easters if it means a prime rib brunch…

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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 1506 – Construction on St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City – then part of Rome in the Papal States – begins. Construction was completed in 1626 and was financed, in part, by the sale of indulgences (reductions in punishment) which directly led to objection by Martin Luther and indirectly to the Protestant Reformation. It remains the largest church in the world by interior measure and replaced Old St Peter’s Basilica, which had been constructed in 333 AD and torn down in 1505. 

In 1942 – The Toronto Maple Leafs become the first major North American sports team to erase a 3-games-to-0 deficit and win a best-of-seven series, winning the Stanley Cup with a 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. It was the fourth of 14 Stanley Cup titles for Toronto and the second of 13 losses in the finals for Detroit. The feat has been accomplished three other times in the NHL, once in major league baseball, and three times in the NBA. 

In 2009 – The Black Eyed Peas are at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of twelve consecutive weeks with Boom Boom Pow, their first of three #1 songs. The song went to #1 in eight other countries, including Israel and Great Britain, and was Billboard’s biggest song of the year. The group replaced themselves at #1 with I Gotta Feeling, which spent 14 weeks at the top, with 26 weeks establishing a record for most consecutive weeks at #1 by one act, a record that still stands. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

The good is rare, that’s all, and not easy for most of us to live with.
Gore Vidal
Washington, D.C.

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Prior to her solo career, Janis Joplin was a member of the group Big Brother and the Holding Company, whose album Cheap Thrills spent eight non-consecutive weeks at #1 in 1968.

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

When did Vatican City become an independent country? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/April 17, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. Russian Invasion Of Ukraine – SB5 pollsters “pretty sure” invasion is a geonocide now, but lack air wings, ground troops to send to Ukraine to aid in fighting back….Current international constructs make war crimes tribunals difficult, though countries that offer universal jurisdiction might be an option. 

2. USA! USA! – A tough call: butt into another war on another continent with probably our usual lousy results or continue to stand by and watch megalomaniac dictator bomb hospitals and kill innocent people…Humans have been dying useless, miserable deaths since time immemorial, of course, but you’d think we’d be better than that in the third decade of the 21st century…You’d be wrong though.  

3. Donald Trump – The 3-hole staple remains a lying sexual predator who believes that 1) the moon is part of Mars and that 2) the Revolution was won by Continental Army securing British airports, ignorance almost beyond comprehension in anyone older than five…SB5 pollsters still curious as to which of these elements continues to impress adherents and secure their support. 

4. Europe by J.M. Roberts – A pretty good book that can be summarized thusly: groups of people go to war, kill each other, maps are redrawn, and everyone gathers a few years later to repeat the process…Twice these intramural spats have involved most of the planet…Book has its share of dry, technical matter, but both history buffs and general readers will enjoy it. 

5. Not Real News – Click here to read what some wizards who live among us were believing this week. From the AP. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

Yay for Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow eavesdrops on a yapping pilot. Today’s Diary. 

The flight to the big city is 29 minutes and…he was quizzing the flight attendants about whether or not they offer beverage service which yours truly knows from experience is no, they do not, and he blabbed about other technical aspects of the flight as if this were a pre-flight briefing for the crew of Air Force One…

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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 1561 – The trial of Martin Luther begins at the Diet of Worms – a deliberative body of the Holy Roman Empire – in what is now western Germany. Luther was asked if he affirmed or recanted his writings on perceived flaws in the Catholic Church and asked for a day to consider the matter. The following day Luther would decline to recant his works and in May the Diet excommunicated Luther – then a Catholic monk – as well as specifying other punishments, including making it legal to kill Luther without consequence. Luther went into hiding and later resumed his ministry. 

In 1976 – Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies ties the major league record for most home runs in a game and the Phillies establish a National League record for the biggest comeback in an 18-16, 10-inning win over the Chicago Cubs. Schmidt had four home runs to tie the mark done several times previously and since, and the Phillies overcame a 12-1, 3rd-inning deficit to win. The major league record is 12, done twice in the American League. 

In 1971 – Janis Joplin is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the eighth of nine consecutive weeks with Pearl. It was the fourth chart album for Joplin, her second as a solo act and remains her only #1 solo album. Pearl produced three chart singles, including the #1 Me and Bobby McGee and the album went to #1 in four other countries, including Norway, and peaked at #20 in Great Britain. Joplin had died the previous October of a drug overdose.  

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

If I now recant these, then, I would be doing nothing but strengthening tyranny. 

Martin Luther
4/17/1561

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The 21st-century major league record for most consecutive major league games played is 1,152 by Miguel Tejada of the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles from 2000-07. The mark is good for fifth on the all-time list.

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

What group that had a #1 album was Janis Joplin a member of? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/April 16, 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 – At the veterans service office, Sparrow helps a fellow Navy vet. Today’s Diary.

Clint, now 92, fired very large, shipboard guns in War II and they were in to apply for VA medical and file a disablity claim…Clint is all but deaf now and wouldn’t hear a tactical nuclear explosion in the next room, but otherwise is still hale and hearty and in a stroke of brilliance yours truly turned on the second monitor and wrote what he wanted to say on a Word doc, which made chatting with him a breeze. 

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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 1990 – Dr Jack Kevorkian conducts his first assisted suicide, helping a 54-year-old Michigan woman suffering from Alzheimer’s to end her life. Kevorkian had murder charges dismissed because there were no laws regarding assisted suicide in Michigan at the time, though the state did revoke his medical license. Kevorkian would later be convicted of 2nd-degree murder in another assisted suicide and served eight years of a 10-25 year sentence. Today, assisted suicide is legal in nine US states and 13 countries. 

In 1983 – Steve Garvey of the San Diego Padres establishes a new National League record for most consecutive games played in an 8-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the 1,118th consecutive game for Garvey, breaking the record of 1,117 established by Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs between 1963 and 1970. Garvey’s streak would end later in the year at 1,207 games, still the National League record, and a mark that is good for third on the all-time list behind Everett Scott (1,307), Lou Gehrig (2,130), and Cal Ripken, Jr. (2,632).

 In 1983 – Alabama is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart for the only week with Dixieland Delight. It was the ninth of 21 consecutive #1 non-Christmas songs for the group and was their ninth of 32 overall #1 hits. The song also went #1 country in Canada, was Billboard’s 31st-biggest country song of the year, and spent 16 weeks on the country chart, including seven weeks in the Top 10. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Ask what you need to be happy. Then ask yourself how you can easily achieve some small part of your happiness. Repeat that every day and after a year, you’ll pile up a considerable amount.
Deng Ming-Dao 

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The first time a seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final went to overtime was in 1950, when the Detroit Red Wings defeated the New York Rangers 4-3 in two overtimes.

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

What is the longest major league baseball consecutive games played streak compiled entirely in this century? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/April 15, 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 the latest real estate news from the neighborhood. Today’s Diary. 

Also, there’s a For Sale on the lot kitty-corner to The Shire…It’s vacant, tho there are some cement pads on it, indicating it used to be home to trailers or mobile homes…It’s been vacant since The Ex and I bought The Shire in 2014, tho, and is listed at 285K for a quarter of an acre, a bit larger than The Shire’s fifth of an acre. 

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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 69 AD – Roman Emperor Marcus Otho ends his reign, committing suicide after losing the First Battle of Bedriacum in northern Italy during the Roman Civil War. In January, Otho had succeeded Galba, and he was succeeded by the general who defeated him, Vitellius, who reigned until December, when he was executed and succeeded by Vespasian, a period History refers to as the Year of the Four Emperors. Vespasian brought some stability to the throne, reigning for ten years. 

In 1954 – The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup, defeating the defending champion Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in overtime at Olympia Stadium in Detroit. It was the sixth of eleven Stanley Cup titles for the Red Wings and was the fourth of eight losses in the finals for the Canadiens. The game remains the second and final time the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals has been decided in overtime. 

In 1977 – David Soul is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Don’t Give Up On Us. The song went to #1 in five other countries, including Ireland and Great Britain, and also went to #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. The song spent 19 weeks on the Hot 100, including seven weeks in the Top 10, and was Billboard’s 29th-biggest song of the year. It was the first chart single for Soul – who was starring in TV’s Starsky and Hutch at the time – and remains his only Top 40 hit. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…only a few can preserve the just medium, and neither tear up what the ancients have correctly established nor despise the just innovations of the moderns.
Francis Bacon

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Frank Sinatra’s first #1 song on a Billboard pop chart was I’ll Never Smile Again, with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra, which debuted at #1 on the Best Selling Singles chart on July 27, 1940, the first #1 song on the first Billboard chart. The song spent 12 weeks at the top. 

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

When was the first seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals to end in overtime played? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!