The Daily Dose/Wednesday, December 29, 2021
The Daily Dose/December 29, 2021
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
Leading Off is running intermittently for now.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – A guest has a funny line at the hotel. Today’s Diary.
Later he asked for a key to the hot tub and yours truly was obliged to turn down this request, too, which led to another funny line:
“What are you, the warden here???”
The Bottom Ten/NFL Week 18 – With only two (2) weeks left the race for The Dan Henning Trophy – symbolic of NFL Bottom Ten supremacy – will go down to the wire.
Owner Genghis Khan still holding coaches’ kids hostage as insurance against further wins as another B-10 title will ensure Khan’s enshrinement in owner’s wing of B-10 Hall of Fame…
Panthers give clinic in how blowout, late-season loss to defending Super Bowl champions can enhance B-10 chances with blowout, late-season loss to defending Super Bowl champions …
Whatevers in no danger of striking B-10 gold in 2021, but earn #10 Week 18 ranking due to nine (9) losses being the most amongst teams still in NFL playoff hunt…
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———
On This Date
History’s long march.
In 1812 – The USS Constitution defeats, captures and sinks the British HMS Java off the coast of Brazil in the War of 1812. The ships traded broadsides with Constitution gaining an advantage when a Java sail fell on its starboard side, preventing their guns from firing. The British suffered 22 sailors killed while the Americans lost nine initially, with four or five later dying of their wounds. After the battle, the Americans set Java ablaze and it later exploded. The British had captured Java from the French in 1811.
In 2007 – Tom Brady of the New England Patriots establishes a new NFL record for most touchdown passes in a season in a 38-35 win over the New York Giants. Brady passed for two touchdowns, giving him 50 for the season, breaking the record of 49 established by Peyton Manning in 2004. The Patriots also became the first team to finish an NFL season 16-0 and would lose to the Giants in the Super Bowl. Manning would reclaim the record in 2013 with 55 touchdown passes, a record that still stands.
In 1973 – Merle Haggard and the Strangers are at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the second and final consecutive week with If We Make It Through December. The song also went #1 country in Canada and peaked at #28 on the Hot 100. It was the 16th of 37 country songs for Haggard and his second of nine consecutive #1s.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
I wish to make it so broad, and so clear, that no honest man can misunderstand me, and no dishonest one, successfully misrepresent me.
Abraham Lincoln
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Illinois won the first NCAA track and field championship in 1921 at Stagg Field in Chicago, with Notre Dame and Iowa finishing second and third.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
The USS Constitution remains a commissioned vessel in the US Navy. What was the last ship it captured? – Answer next time!
The Diary of a Nobody/December 28
The Daily Dose/Tuesday, December 28, 2021
The Daily Dose/December 28, 2021
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
Leading Off is running intermittently for now.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Creamer Challenge III is a thing. Today’s Diary.
There was only one box of creamer out in the back coffee room when yours truly reported for duty and it was hazelnut which means fresh boxes of both French vanilla – the 2x-defending Creamer Challenge champion (CCC) – and half & half needed to be opened…I’m as surprised as you are we’re having yet another Creamer Challenge, but the fates appear to be working in mysterious ways this holiday season.
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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 1832 – John C Calhoun of South Carolina becomes the first vice president of the United States to resign following his election to the United States Senate. Calhoun had been vice president since 1825 when he was elected with President John Quincy Adams. Calhoun was reelected under President Andrew Jackson and remains the only vice president to serve different presidents. Calhoun remains famous for his 1837 speech on the floor of the US Senate where he called slavery a “positive good”. Spiro Agnew is the other vice president to resign (1973).
In 1905 – The NCAA – then known as the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the US – is formed in New York City with 62 charter members. Collegiate sports had begun in the US in the mid-19th-century when Harvard and Yale held their first regatta and the NCAA held its first championships in 1921 (track and field) and began sponsoring women’s sports in 1981. Earlier this year, it was found to be in violation of US antitrust laws for capping the benefits its athletes can receive.
In 1974 – Helen Reddy is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with Angie Baby. It was the eighth of 15 Top 40 hits for Reddy, her fifth of six Top 10 hits and her third and final #1 song. The song also peaked at #5 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s 28th biggest hit of 1975. The song was written by Alan O’Day, who would later hit #1 as both a writer and artist with Undercover Angel.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
This is our diamond, and must be treated like a diamond. Never settle. It’s never good enough until it is your best.
Michael Bennett
Creator, A Chorus Line
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Led Zeppelin did not release any singles in their native Great Britain while they were active, though some songs would begin charting in the 1990s due to significant digital downloads.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Which team won the first NCAA track and field championship? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Monday, December 27, 2021
The Daily Dose/December 27, 2021
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
Leading Off is running intermittently for now.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – The latest remodel at the hotel is complete.
The big news is the remodel of the 245-267 wing is complete…Well, complete enuff to allow guests into all but two of the rooms, one of which has a lock problem: you stick your key in and the lock only gives you a split-second to use the handle and open the door, tuff for everyone except super heroes with the fastest of reflexes…
———
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 2007 – Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated in Rawalpindi, in the Punjab province in the northern part of the country. Bhutto was shot twice, immediately before a suicide bomb that killed 23 others was detonated. Bhutto had served as prime minister from 1988-90 and again from 1993-96 and had returned from a self-imposed 8-year exile two months earlier. It still is not clear if Bhutto died from the gunshots or from head injuries suffered during the explosion.
In 1979 – The Soviet Red Army hockey team defeats the New York Rangers 5-2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Red Army would go 3-2 against NHL teams, also beating the New York Islanders and the Quebec Nordiques while losing to the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres. Many players on the Soviet team would later play on the Olympic team that lost to the gold medal-winning United States at the Lake Placid Winter Games.
In 1969 – Led Zeppelin is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the first of six non-consecutive weeks with Led Zeppelin II. It was their second consecutive Top 10 album in the US, their first of seven consecutive #1s and generated the Top 10 hit Whole Lotta Love. The album went to #1 in eight other countries, including Finland and Great Britain and also peaked at #32 on Billboard’s soul album chart. To date, it has sold over 12 million copies in the US.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
All I’m saying, I suppose, is that if the temptation to humanity does assail you now and then, I hope you won’t take it as a weakness in yourself, but give it a fair hearing.
John LeCarre
The Secret Pilgrim
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The NFL held Playoff Bowls – a third-place game between its divisional runners-up – from January 1961 through January 1970. The game was played in Miami every year.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What was Led Zeppelin’s biggest single in their native Great Britain? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Sunday, December 26, 2021
The Daily Dose/December 26, 2021
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
The Sunday Bottom 5/2021 Year-End Edition
A ranking of some things.
1. USA! USA! – SB 5 pollsters “strongly suspect” once-proud America probably within two (2) generations of collapse as government and citizenry that are both partisan, fractured and bickering messes continuies to preside over America that is far closer to the oblivion that awaits it than the influence and respect it once had.
2. Afghanistan – Two decades of warfare went for naught as 20 years of American intervention, deaths, left almost the same country that was there when we invaded in the first place.
3. Billboard Charts – A splendid year that had chart buffs everywhere achieving states of arousal usually only found on porn sets as records established for Most Weeks, #1, Any Billboard Chart (Lauren Daigle, 132, You Say, Hot Christian Songs chart) and Most Times at #1, Separate Chart Runs, Hot 100 (Mariah Carey, 3, All I Want For Christmas Is You).
4. COVID-19 – It would be nice if all of us collectively woke up in the morning asking what can we do to avoid getting COIVD but we’re not…America is such a partisan, fractured and bickering mess right now that instead of seeing it on our rearview mirrors we are looking forward to another year of too many stupid COVID deaths…Get vaccinated and boostered, people…You’re holding up progress.
5. Donald Trump – Instead of being banished in shame for leading the January 6 insurrection, instead of being reviled for the blood on his hands for an inept coronavirus response, instead of being mocked for believing the moon is part Mars – and that the Revolution was won by the securing of British airports – selfish, ignorant blatherskite continually heralded as the pacesetter for the 2024 GOP nomination.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
It’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has the yearly sleep numbers. Today’s Diary.
…2021 was a fabulous year in the sack…All told, ol’ Sparrow spent ruffly 2,522 hours sleeping this past sleep year, about 29% of the year…
———
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 1861 – Two Confederate envoys – James Murray Mason and John Slidell – are released from American custody in an incident History knows at the Trent Affair. The incident had begun on Nov 8 when an American warship had stopped a British mail ship that was carrying the envoys, who were sailing for Europe to press the case for diplomatic recognition of the Confederacy. President Lincoln ordered the release, though the US did not formally apologize to the British for the incident.
In 1960 – The Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Green Bay Packers 17-13 in the NFL Championship Game at Franklin Field. It was the third NFL title for the Eagles – their last until winning Super Bowl LII – and each Philadelphia player earned $5,116 for the win, about $45,000 in today’s money. It was the last Packers playoff loss in the Vince Lombardi era, not counting a loss in the Playoff Bowl – a game for divisional runners-up – following the 1963 season.
In 1987 – George Michael is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the third of four consecutive weeks with Faith. The song also went to #1 in four other countries, including the Netherlands, New Zealand and Belgium, peaked at #2 in Michael’s native Great Britain and was Billboard’s biggest song of 1988. It was Michael’s first appearance at #1 as a solo act, following #1 songs as a member of Wham and in a duet with Aretha Franklin. Michael was 53 when he died of natural causes in 2016.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
The effort of Christianity to survive Copernicus and Darwin is the basic drama of the last three hundred years.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol. VI: The Reformation
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Gale Sayers of the Chicago Bears is the only NFL player to score at least 20 touchdowns in a season with at least one of them coming on a punt or kickoff return. Sayers had one of each in 1965 when he scored 22 touchdowns.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
How many Playoff Bowls were played and where were they played? – Answer next time!
The Diary of a Nobody/December 25
Yes, it’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary.
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life…
Saturday, December 25
Amy has dandruff emergency or something, so Assistant Front Desk Manager Q was holding down the fort when yours truly reported for duty…A bit later we were both in the back office when there was a pretty funny moment regarding the 3-hole punch…Recall with the addition of the monitor for the new key system there isn’t as much room on the back office desk as there used to be and the 3-hole punch was displaced from its usual place off to the right, where it was convenient for ol’ Sparrow, who uses it a couple of times every nite.