The Daily Dose/Thursday, February 3, 2022
The Daily Dose/February 3, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
Leading Off is in drydock while we work on a project.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – At the hotel, Sparrow deals with a mechanical issue. Today’s Diary.
This is trouble because you can hear the heater going in the background and you don’t have to be Mr HVAC to conclude that ol’ Sparrow’s tried-and-true troubleshooting tactic of staring at it crossly with his hands on his hips probably won’t be of much help on this one.
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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 1989 – Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner is overthrown in a military coup by forces led by former confidant, army general Andres Rodriguez. Stroessner had taken power in his own military coup in 1954 and would flee to Brazil a couple of days later, where he would die in exile in 2006. Rodrigues would win election to the presidency in a May multi-party election, but a new constitution prevented him from running for reelection in 1993.
In 1924 – Canada wins the hockey gold medal at the Chamonix Winter Olympics, defeating the United States 6-1 in the final medal round game. Canada finished the tournament with a 6-0 record, the US finished 5-1 and Great Britain earned the bronze with a 3-3 record. With the win, Canada defended the Olympic title it won at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games and to date has won nine Olympic hockey gold medals. A single-elimination tournament would not be conducted in Olympic hockey until the 1992 Albertville Olympics.
In 1968 – The Lemon Pipers are at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Green Tambourine. It was the first of three chart singles for the group and remains their only Top 40 hit and the song also went to #1 in Canada and peaked at #7 in Great Britain. The band was never entirely pleased with their sound and disbanded the following year. A version by Sun Dragon peaked at #50 in Great Britain the same year.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Mackenzie was a good guy, but he was a guy after all, not an image on a stained glass window.
William Irish
After-Dinner Story
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
In addition to the National and American leagues, four other professional leagues have their records included in the major league record books: the American Association (1882-91), Union League (1884), Players League (1890), and the Federal League (1914-15). In 2020, MLB announced that seven Negro leagues would henceforth be recognized as major leagues, however, their records have yet to be incorporated in the major league record books.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
How many Olympic ice hockey gold medals has Great Britain won? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Wednesday, February 2, 2022
The Daily Dose/February 2, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
Leading Off is in drydock while we work on a project.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow helps out a drunk who forgot he didn’t have his room key with him. Today’s Diary.
– Uh, sir, do you have your key with you?
He stops dead in his tracks and considers the matter for a few seconds before turning towards the front desk.
– Oh…I guess I don’t…
– I can make you one if you like.
He shrugs and smiles and says sure.
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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 1141 – Forces loyal to Empress Matilda defeat forces loyal to English King Stephen at the first Battle of Lincoln in central England, part of an English civil war History refers to as The Anarchy. Stephen was captured and Matilda ruled until Stephen was exchanged for Matilda’s brother in November, with Stephen back in power by December. A later treaty with Matilda specified Matilda’s son Henry would be recognized as heir apparent. The treaty was honored and Henry II assumed the throne after Steven’s death in 1154.
In 1876 – The first major league in the US, the National League (NL), is founded in New York City with teams in Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Hartford, Louisville, New York, Philadelphia, and St Louis. From 1871-75 professional baseball had been played in the National Association (NA), which is not generally considered a major league. The Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves – originally in Boston – are the only charter members still in the NL, with the Braves remaining the only franchise to have been a charter NA member.
In 1980 – Michael Jackson is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the third of four consecutive weeks with Rock With You. It was Jackson’s third of 13 #1 songs as a solo act and his fifth of 34 Top 10 songs. The song also peaked at #7 in Great Britain, was in its fifth of six consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s 4th-biggest song of the year. The song was written by Englishman and previous Heatwave keyboardist Rod Temperton and the song was originally offered to Karen Carpenter, who turned it down.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
As physical exertion diminished and wealth expanded, the old simple diet gave way to long and heavy meals…
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol. III: Caesar to Christ
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Webb Pierce’s biggest hit on the Hot 100 was I Ain’t Never, which peaked at #24 in 1959.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
How many major leagues have been recognized since 1876? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Tuesday, February 2, 2022
The Daily Dose/February 1, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
Leading Off is in drydock while we work on a project.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow does some clearance rack shopping at the retailer. Today’s Diary.
Plus, you don’t have to be Eddie Bauer to conclude the hood would be a pain in the arse to stuff back inside the collar, tho this aspect wasn’t field-tested…Plus the sleeves were a bit long…I bought one anyway because how often do you get to save $18 on something at the retailer, where there isn’t much that costs eighteen bucks in the first place.
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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.
Editor’s Note: the following On This Date tidbits are from January 31, when the column didn’t run.
In 1945 – US Army private Eddie Slovik is executed for desertion in northeastern France, the first desertion execution in the US military since the Civil War. Slovik was from Detroit and had done time before being drafted into the Army in January 1944 and was the only US execution for desertion in World War II, despite over 21,000 convictions and 49 death sentences being issued. Slovik, convinced he’d only receive jail time, three times declined to rejoin his unit before being court-martialed.
In 2015 – The Atlanta Hawks establish a new NBA record for most wins in a month without a loss in a 91-85 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The win gave the Hawks a 17-0 record for the month, breaking the record established by the Los Angeles Lakers, who went 16-0 in December 1971 and their record still stands. The Hawks would lose their first game in February, which broke their winning streak at 19 games, won 60 games for the season, and lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals four games to zero.
In 1953 – Webb Pierce is at #1 on Billboard’s Most Played in Juke Boxes country chart – a predecessor to today’s Hot Country Songs chart – for the third and final consecutive week with Back Street Affair. It was the third chart single for Pierce, his third of 53 Top 10 country hits, and his third consecutive of 13 total #1 songs. The song was originally offered to Hank Williams, who liked the song but whose manager wouldn’t let him record it.
The following items are for today:
In 1865 – Though not required, President of the United States Abraham Lincoln signs the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The amendment, which abolished slavery, was passed by Congress the day before and the amendment would be ratified in December when Georgia became the 27th state to approve it. Lincoln’s signature was irrelevant because the president plays no role in the Constitution’s amendment process.
In 1995 – John Stockton of the Utah Jazz establishes a new NBA record for most career assists in a 129-98 win over the Denver Nuggets. Stockton’s eleventh assist of the game – a pass to Karl Malone – broke Magic Johnson’s record of 9,221 established by Magic Johnson from 1979-1991. Stockton would retire in 2003 with 15,806 assists, still the NBA record.
In 1964 – The British Invasion begins when the Beatles are at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of seven consecutive weeks with I Want To Hold Your Hand. The song went to #1 in many other countries including Norway and Great Britain, was Billboard’s #1 song of the year, its fifth-biggest of the decade, and ranked 48th on their 60th Anniversary Hot 100 in 2018. It was the first of a Hot 100-record 20 #1 songs for the group and remains one of the great lines of demarcation in both chart and cultural history.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Seest a man diligent in his calling, he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men.
Solomon
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Norway holds the record for most Winter Olympic gold medals with 132.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What was Webb Pierce’s biggest hit on the Hot 100? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Monday, January 31, 2021
The Daily Dose/January 30, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Friends, your Daily Dose will be taking a couple of days off.
Click here for today’s Diary of a Nobody entry.
– gk
The Daily Dose/Sunday, January 30, 2022
The Daily Dose/January 30, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.
1. USA! USA! – The US has been at war every day for over 30 years so of course we’re going to butt in in the Russia/Ukraine imbroglio…It’s what we do: fail to heed the lessons of the past that show US interference does no good and that the only dividend war provides is more war…We deserve better than this, but Americans currently not demanding better.
2. Tom Brady – Still officially undecided about retirement, SB5 pollsters never believed initial announcement, wondering why Brady, still healthy and still good, would turn his back on his life’s work.
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 secure GOP support.
4. President Joe Biden – President Biden’s avatar should be a token after announcing he will appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court…While not lawyers, SB5 pollsters “strongly suspect” that while there’s no shortage of qualified Black women for seat, declaring this in advance diminishes the seat, the nominee and the presidency.
5. President Joe Biden Fact Check– While not the consummate liar his predecessor was/is, Mr Biden does his own admirable job of stretching the facts this week…Click here for the latest, courtesy of the AP.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
Read Free Sunday (RFS) will return.
The Diary of a Nobody – At the hotel, Sparrow deals with a persnickety guest. Today’s Diary.
Then she tried to make this my fault by noting that if the room went unoccupied the hotel would lose money, which shows her ignorance because we’re paid whether the room is vacant or manned by the 5th Marines…
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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 1862 – The USS Monitor, the first ironclad warship in the US Navy, is launched in Brooklyn. She was commissioned in February and in March saw action at the Battle of Hampton Roads in the Civil War, where she fought the CSS Virginia to a draw. The Monitor would serve the Union until December 31, when she was lost at sea during a storm off the North Carolina coast. The ironclads would eventually evolve into the steel-hulled warships we have today.
In 1948 – The fifth Winter Olympics open in St Moritz, Switzerland, the first Winter Games since 1936 because of World War II. Norway and Sweden each won four gold medals, Canada won their fifth consecutive ice hockey gold medal and the US won gold medals in the women’s slalom, men’s figure skating, and bobsleigh. The games were held without the participation of Japan and Germany, who were still ostracized by the international community for their roles in World War II and it was the second Winter Games for St Moritz, which had also hosted the 1928 Winter Games.
In 1988 – INXS is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Need You Tonight. It was the second of nine Top 40 hits for the group, their second of seven Top 10 hits, and remains their only #1 song. The song also peaked at #3 in their native Australia, at #2 in Great Britain and at #73 on Billboard’s soul chart. A version by the Rogue Traders – retitled One of My Kind – peaked at #10 in Australia in 2003.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
…there are many who confine themselves to criticism of the way others do what they themselves dare not even attempt…these are marks, not…of superiority but of weakness. They mark the men…who seek…to hide from others and from themselves their own weakness. The role is easy…
Theodore Roosevelt
The Man in the Arena speech
Paris, 1910
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
36 nations competed in the 1964 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck, Austria.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Which nation holds the record for most gold medals at the Winter Olympics? – Answer next time!