The Diary of a Nobody/April 11, 2024
The Daily Dose/Thursday, April 11, 2024
The Daily Dose/April 11, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
CAPSULE BOOK REVIEW: Lazarus by Morris West: Regular readers of this crap know that this is the fourth book by West that we’ve read. Two of the first three were good. The third was not.
Whew: We can add this to the good pile. Lazarus is the third book in a trilogy that began with The Shoes of the Fisherman (very good) and continued with the mediocre The Clowns of God.
Dry, Technical Matter: In this one, Pope Leo XIV finds himself facing open-heart surgery and, possibly eternity. He comes through it, though, and is a changed man and a changed pope, with definite ideas about bringing the Catholic Church kicking and screaming into the 20th century. There are also plots to kill Leo and kidnap two civilians.
Yay: This book works because West sticks to his strengths. A Catholic himself, he is his most readable when writing novels about popes and cardinals, about his church, and about the spiritual aid and comfort us humans have needed since time immemorial.
Boo: Hardly for the first time, his civilian characters are vapid, offering banal and trite dialogue and sometimes you find yourself wondering if West (1916-99) had ever spent time with real-life humans before.
Welcome Back: West also trots out familiar themes in this one. There is a pope looking to shake things up and a Curia that isn’t. There are deformed children and a faithless priest. There is a spy-novelesque subplot and while this likely didn’t cause John le Carre or Len Deighton to lose any sleep, the ending wasn’t too bad.
Get Your Official Daily Dose Rating Scale Right Here: A – The very best; B – Very good; C – Good; D- Average; F – A steaming pile.
Final Rating: B: That West is a steadfast Catholic who, nonetheless, is working through some issues is plain but he continued to believe despite the stresses the centuries have placed on his church. He produces the usual amount of wisdom we’ve come to expect from him and the pope, the cardinals and priests we meet are worth knowing. His civilians are still annoying, but they make up a smaller part of the story.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow does some whining. Today’s Diary.
…we are now, officially, whining about our new days off: we simply have an awful lot of them.
———
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Of course you would.
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Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device.
———
On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1979 – Ugandan dictator Ida Amin is deposed following the taking of the Ugandan capital by a combination of Ugandan and Tanzanian troops. Amin fled to eastern Uganda, but soon went into exile, first in Libya and then Saudi Arabia, where he died in 2003. Amin had seized power in a 1971 coup and History still considers him one the most brutal despots in modern history. He joined the Ugandan army in 1946 as an assistant cook.
In 1989 – Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers becomes the first goalie to score a goal in an NHL playoff game in an 8-5 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 5 of the Patrick Division semifinals. Hextal scored an empty net goal with 1:02 remaining in the game and the win gave the Flyers a three games to two lead in a series they would win in six games. Hextal scored a regular-season goal in December 1987 and was the first goalie to score regular-season and postseason goals, a feat later accomplished by Martin Brodeur.
In 1960 – Percy Faith is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the eighth of a record-tying nine consecutive weeks with Theme From a Summer Place. The song tied the record for most weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 established by Bobby Darin’s Mack the Knife in 1959, a record that was later broken by Debby Boone’s You Light Up My Life (ten weeks, 1977) and is now held by Lil Naz X and Billy Ray Cyrus (Old Town Road, 19 weeks, 2019). It was the second and final #1 for Faith on a Billboard pop chart.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Wisdom came to him not by nature, but by trials.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol VI: The Reformation
Regards Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
To date, 88 athletes have won Olympic medals in different sports, the most common the 24 athletes who have won swimming and water polo medals. The combinations that have happened only once include track and field/tennis, boxing/soccer, and art competitions/shooting.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Who succeeded Idi Amin as president of Uganda? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Wednesday, April 10, 2024
The Daily Dose will return.
Click here to read today’s entry in The Diary of a Nobody.
The Daily Dose/Tuesday, April 9, 2024
The Daily Dose/April 9, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
Editor’s Note: this item originally ran on August 22, 2017.
CAPSULE ECLIPSE REVIEW: Total Solar Eclipse, August 21, 2017, Intersection of Wyoming State Highway 220 and Natrona County Road 321, Natrona County, Wyoming: We’re not the most exciting people on the planet here at The Daily Dose, but we had never seen a total eclipse before and with one there for the taking a mere three or so hours away, we decided to go.
Our chosen spot is not too far from the middle of nowhere, which is good because there weren’t a whole lot of people there. On the drive up, there were probably more cars on the road than there would be tomorrow, but not too many people were heading to the middle of nowhere. We got to the designated intersection at 11 am, 42 minutes before totality began, after a drive of a bit more than three hours.
Parked nearby was an older gentleman who turned out to be named Larry. Larry had eclipse glasses. I didn’t. A friendly sort, he came up and said hi and I offered to exchange a view of the eclipse with his glasses for a view of its progress with my lousy, homemade pinhole camera.
Thank You, Carl Sagan: I remembered our pinhole camera from the 1979 partial eclipse in grade school and they are so easy to make even we can do it: You take a piece of cardboard, cut a hole in the center, put some tin foil over it and poke a small hole in the center. When the time comes, you hold the cardboard up to the sun so the shadow shows up on the piece of white cardstock you brought with you. It actually shows up rather well. Not as good as looking through eclipse glasses, but still a satisfactory way to follow the moon’s progress.
Larry was very generous with his glass and good company for the 45 minutes or so we spent together, one of those supremely rare and good moments when you share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with someone you will see once in your life. Larry had driven about five hours to the middle of nowhere and this was his first total eclipse, too.
Dry, Technical Matter: A few minutes before totality you could notice it getting darker and cooler which caused Larry to put on a sweater against the arctic cold that was about to blow in. We then shared his glasses for one last look before totality.
Larry: Two minutes…Long time coming.
Me: Yeah…Worth the wait, though…
It got noticeably darker one final time – Larry would note is seemed like 7pm – and there it was, a moment you hoped might happen with no guarantee it ever would: a total eclipse. The atmospheric conditions weren’t conducive to spectacular corona but no matter. The black disc surrounded by a white ring was satisfactory.
We had one minute and 18 seconds of totality, 78 seconds in a lifetime with billions of them. Larry muttered some words of wonderment under his breath, but other than that we kept quiet, content with how we were taking in a sight we might never see again.
And then it was done. A white ball was the first sign Mr Moon was continuing its journey and after that we stood there dumbly for a few seconds as light returned and the temperature warmed up, though Larry kept his sweater on. There wasn’t much reason to stick around after that, so Larry and I shook hands and parted, two explorers whose paths briefly crossed before diverging.
Some Philosophy Crap: Watching a total eclipse is a great way to make you feel insignificant. What struck us was the fact the moon has been getting in the way of the sun like this for billions of years and will probably do so for billions more. This eclipse looked just like the ones before us humans were around to see them and bore a striking resemblance to the ones that will happen long after we’re gone. Ponder that and then go home and admire the blue ribbon your artichokes won you at last week’s county fair and try to feel important.
Final Ranking: We’re giving this an A, our highest rating, both circumstantially because we were there and intrinsically, because of the show Mother Nature put on for us. A day worth waiting for.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow misses the eclipse. Today’s Diary.
…ol’ Sparrow couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed for it.
———
Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.
Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device.
———
On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1865 – Gen Robert E Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in central Virginia. This followed a brief morning skirmish, which ended when Lee realized the Union army was more fortified than he had thought. Grant offered generous surrender terms, allowing Lee’s men to keep their sidearms and to take their mules home for spring planting, and he also provided rations for the starving Confederate army.
In 1896 – Edwin Flack of Australia wins the gold medal in the 1,500 meters at the Athens Summer Olympics. Flack’s time of 4 minutes 33.2 seconds defeated Arthur Blake of the US by .4 seconds and Alvin Lermusiaux by 2.8 seconds. Earlier in the Games, Flack had won the gold medal in the 800 meters and would later win the bronze medal in tennis doubles, one of the first three athletes to win medals in different sports at the Athens Games.
In 1966 – The Righteous Brothers are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of three consecutive weeks with (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration. It was the fifth of 12 Top 40 hits for the group, their fifth of six Top 10 hits and was their second and final #1 song in Hot 100 career that lasted from 1963 through 1990. The song also peaked at #15 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s 12th-biggest song of the year.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
We may not arrive at our port within a calculable period, but we would preserve the true course.
Henry David Thoreau
Walden
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers gave up Henry Aaron’s 715th home run.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
How many others have won Olympic medals in different sports? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Monday, April 8, 2024
The Daily Dose/April 8, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
HEY, WHERE’D THE SUN GO???: As you may have heard, there is a solar eclipse visible in the US today, with totality cutting a long swath from southern Texas to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
A Warm, Personal Remembrance: We went through no small amount of trouble to see totality in 2017. It was worth the trip, and if you have an opportunity to catch some totality today, by all means, go and do it: it’s a few unforgettable seconds in a lifetime with billions of them.
Here Comes The Dry, Technical Matter: Though eclipses are predicted with precision now, that hasn’t always been the case. You may find it surprising to learn, however, that the first predicted eclipse came in 585 BC, a time when us humans weren’t entirely certain what caused solar eclipses in the first place. It was predicted by a Greek philosopher named Thales, a zany who probably didn’t get invited to many parties.
Oh Jesus H: The first recorded solar eclipse was chronicled on tablets found in what is now Syria, though it isn’t clear whether it happened in May 1375 BC or March 1223 BC.
This Whole Item Is Dry, Technical Matter, Isn’t It?: Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, which happens about every six months, a period dullards refer to as “eclipse season”. However, because the moon’s orbit is neither a perfect circle and is tilted a few degrees with respect to Earth’s orbit besides, a shadow doesn’t always hit Earth.
See You At The Next One: The next total eclipse will occur in August 2026, with totality in northern Europe and the Arctic. The next one with totality visible somewhere in the Lower 48 will not happen until 2044.
The Bottom Line: Watching the moon completely block out the sun is rather poignant, one of the few experiences on this planet that does not change: today’s eclipse is exactly the same as the one billions of years ago and the same as it will be billions of years from now. If that doesn’t make you feel small and inconsequential for a small while, it should. It’s a feeling as rare as it is good.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has some fun with a guest desperate for a room. Today’s Diary.
Oh, you’re in a bind???…That’s $200 more…
———
Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.
Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device.
———
On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 2002 – Astronaut Jerry Ross, a former Air Force colonel, because the first American to fly into space seven times when the space shuttle Atlantis takes off from the Kennedy Space Center. Ross broke the record of six that had been established by John Young and Franklin Chin-Diaz, the record still stands, with Chin-Diaz later tying it. Ross had first flown into space – on Atlantis – in 1985, retired in 2012, and spent a total of 58 days in space.
In 1974 – Henry Aaron of the Atlanta Braves establishes a new major league record for most career home runs in a 7-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was Aaron’s 715th career home run breaking the record of 714 established by Babe Ruth from 1914-35. Aaron retired in 1976 with 755 home runs and the record is now held by Barry Bonds with 762. Aaron had hit his first home run on April 23, 1954 for the Milwaukee Braves.
In 1989 – Keith Whitley is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the first of two consecutive weeks with I’m No Stranger to the Rain. It was the ninth of 15 Top 40 country hits for Whitley, his sixth of eleven Top 10s, and was his third of five #1s, all consecutive. The song also went #1 country in Canada and was Billboard’s 7th-biggest country song of the year. Whitely would die a month later, at age 34, from alcohol poisoning.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
There’s no need to struggle against yourself
Deng Ming-Dao
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Jack Nicklaus won his sixth and final Masters in 1986.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What pitcher gave up Henry Aaron’s 715th home run? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Sunday, April 7, 2024
The Daily Dose/April 7, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.
1. Ecuador – Aichiwawa, noted South American country storms Mexican embassy in Quito – sovereign territory under international law – to arrest former vice president…This is rich from country that housed Julian Assange in its embassy in London and got shorts in knot when British threatened to enter it by force.
2. NCAA Women’s Basketball – Iowa/UConn national semifinal averaged 14.2 million viewers, ESPN’s highest-rated chick basketball game ever…Hey, major league baseball, the last time your World Series topped that number was in 2019.
3. Mass Shootings – The 3-hole staple…Big numbers this week, as 13 mass shootings – defined as having four (4) or more deaths/injuries – produced ten (10) deaths and 59 injuries, marked improvements over last week and inching 2024 closer to 2023 average of 1.8 mass shootings per day…Florida leads Parade of States this week with three (3) shootings.
4. Oakland A’s – Team announces they will play in Sacramento from 2025-27 while new Vegas stadium is built instead of playing in minor league stadium in Las Vegas…This might be smart moneyball, but good gravy, you are throwing away a three (3)-year opportunity to build a fanbase and build up some goodwill, which would pay long-term dividends.
5. Fake News – Click here for some of the news some wizards amongst us actually believed…Courtesy of the AP.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
Sure, it’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary. Enjoy with Sparrow’s compliments.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has the latest from the gym. Today’s Diary.
The big news is that Rack Your Weights – Thank You message we put up on the whiteboard a couple of weeks back is not only still there, but the message is being headed…
———
Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.
Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device.
———
On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1976 – British MP John Stonehouse, long a suspected Czechoslovakian spy, resigns from Parliament. Stonehouse is also known for having faked his own death two years earlier when he left some clothes on a beach in Miami when he was actually on his way to Australia with his mistress, where he was later discovered, though he was originally thought to be one Lord Lucan. Stonehouse would later serve time in British prisons following conviction on assorted fraud and conspiracy charges and died of natural causes in 1988.
In 1963 – Jack Nicklaus wins the Masters with a 3-foot putt on the final hole to defeat Tony Lema by one stroke at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the first of a record six Masters titles for Nicklaus and remains the highest Masters finish for Lema, who would win the British Open the following year. It was the final Masters for Horton Smith, who had won the first tournament in 1934, and Gene Sarazen, who had won the second Masters, actually made the cut and finished 49th.
In 2012 – Fun featuring Janelle Monàe is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the fourth of six consecutive weeks with We Are Young. The song went to #1 in eleven other countries – including Iceland, Israel, and Great Britain – was Billboard’s 3rd-biggest song of the year, and its 29th biggest of the decade. It was the second of three chart singles for the group, their second and final Top 10, and remains their only #1 song.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
A cosmos without known cause or fate is an intellectual prison; we long to believe that the great drama has a just author and a noble end.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol. VI: The Reformation
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Sugar Ray Leonard won the light welterweight gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
When did Jack Nicklaus win his final Masters? – Answer next time!