The Daily Dose/May 11, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

Leading Off is taking a break while we work on a project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has the latest MPG figures for the new ride. Today’s Diary. 

Regular readers of this crap know that the new ride’s MPG has been inching up now that winter’s mostly over and cruise control is a thing again and it’s great to be back in the MPG upper percentiles again…

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

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On This Date
History’s long march.  

In 1987 – Nazi Klaus Barbie goes on trial in Lyon, France for war crimes committed during World War II. Barbie had been arrested in Bolivia in 1983 and the following year was indicted for his role as head of the Gestapo in Lyon, where he earned the nickname “The Butcher of Lyon”. Barbie was convicted in July and sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 1991. Barbie’s residency in Bolivia had been known since the early 70s, though the Bolivian government at the time declined to extradite him. 

In 1897 – Duke Farrell of the Washington Nationals (National League) establishes a new major league record for most runners caught stealing in a game in a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Farrell threw out eight base stealers, the record still stands, and research into whose record Farrell broke was inconclusive. Some sources indicate Farrell had eight assists but only six caught stealings, however, the mark is still listed in both of our major league record books. Both the Nationals and the Orioles left the National League after the 1899 season. 

In 1974 – The soundtrack to the movie The Sting, performed by Marvin Hamlisch, is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the second of five consecutive weeks. The album produced one chart single, The Entertainer, which spent two consecutive weeks at #3 on the Hot 100. The Sting won the Oscar for Best Original Score while The Entertainer won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Too often, the way taken is the wrong way, with too much emphasis on what we want to have rather than what we wish to become.
Louis L’Amour
Education of a Wandering Man

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Julius Erving (Virginia Squires, New York Nets, three times) and Artis Gilmore (Kentucky Colonels, four times) are the players who led the ABA in scoring and rebounding the most times. 

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

What was Billboard’s #1 song of 1974? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/May 10, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

Leading Off is taking a break while we work on a project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – The alarm went off at the hotel, though it shouldn’t be a problem for Sparrow’s shift. Today’s Diary. 

It seems Darin from Maintenance was in a room working on some grouting and some steam being generated from one of his tools/implements set off the alarm (or some such nonsense as that) and not just the alarm in the room, the whole shebang, The Big Alarm, the general alarm that wakes everybody and their mother up in the tri-state area…Q said the alarm shouldn’t be a factor tonite but did note that if the company doesn’t reset the alarm it is likely to go off again Monday nite at 1900…

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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 1775 – A militia force led by Ethan Allen and Col Benedict Arnold take Fort Ticonderoga from the British near the south end of Lake Champlain in upstate New York. The action was later followed by the taking of Fort Crown Point and Fort Saint-Jean, with the cannons and armaments from the forts later transported to Boston in an expedition led by Col Henry Knox, which led to the British evacuating the city. The fort had been built by the French and captured by the British in 1759.

In 1974 – The New York Nets win the ABA title, defeating the Utah Stars 111-100 in game five of the ABA Finals at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. It was the first only ABA title for the Nets in two trips to the finals while the Stars had won the ABA title in 1971. The Nets later became the New Jersey Nets and are now the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA, while the Utah Stars folded after the 1975 season, and the ABA merged with the NBA after the 1976 season. 

In 1986 – The Pet Shop Boys are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with West End Girls. It was the first chart single for the group, their first of five Top 10 hits, and remains their only #1 song. The song went to #1 in five other countries including Finland, Norway, and Great Britain, peaked at #36 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s 15th-biggest song of the year. West End Girls last appearance on a Billboard came last year when it peaked at #6 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Song Sales chart. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

You yourselves have made these men great by giving them your support and that is why you have fallen into evil slavery. For you look to the tongue and the words of a crafty man, and you do not see the deed which is being done.
Gore Vidal
Creation

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The act that had the most #1 songs on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart in the 1940s was Bing Crosby, with nine. 

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

What player(s) led the ABA in scoring and rebounding the most times? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/May 9, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

Leading Off is taking a break while we work on a project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – The cat pukes. Today’s Diary. 

I do my darndest to keep her from eating my food, but it’s not always successful and today she got into some margarine that was out and this is strongly suspected to be the Puke Agent (PA).  

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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 1662 – Mr Punch – one half of the Punch and Judy puppet team – makes his English debut at St Paul’s Church in central London. Judy was originally named Joan, but was changed to Judy because Judy was easier to say with Punch’s distinctive voice, which tends to sound like he is talking through a kazoo, and Punch and Judy performances are still enjoyed today. Punch is an Anglicized version of the name of the original Neopolitan character Pulcinella. 

In 1985 – The Minnesota North Stars advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time, defeating the Calgary Flames 5-3 at home to win their semifinal series four games to two. The NHL playoffs that year were not divided into conferences or divisions, all teams were seeded 1-16 regardless of location. The North Stars would lose in the Stanley Cup Finals to the New York Islanders in five games and moved to Dallas after the 1992-93 season. 

In 1941 – Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra are at #1 on Billboard’s Best Selling Singles chart – a predecessor to today’s Hot 100 – for the first of six consecutive weeks with Tangerine. It was the sixth of seven #1 songs for Dorsey o the Best Selling Singles chart, all in the 1940s, the second-highest total of the decade. Vocals on the song were provided by Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly and a version by the Salsoul Orchestra peaked at #18 on the Hot 100 in 1976. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

You will have seen that this life is…something produced by the self.
Gore Vidal
Creation

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Tab was the first diet soda produced by Coca-Cola. First offered in 1963, it was discontinued in 2020.  

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

Which act had the most #1 songs on the Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart in the 1940s? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/May 8, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. Russian/Ukrainian War – SB5 pollsters still LOLing over Russian claims that outside meddling is not constructive…What did Russia expect, the rest of the world to stand by and discuss mutual funds while Ukraine was destroyed???…Actually, we’re doing a pretty good job of that right now, though sending some weapons allows us to look ourselves in the mirror every morning. 

2. Supreme Court Leak – Your moral view of abortion is your lookout not ours, but SB5 pollsters remain “pretty sure” that having our government interfering in on what happens in a doctor’s office is wrong and that they should butt out of the abortion debate because what next will they want to interfere with???  

3. Donald Trump – The 3-hole staple…Instead of being banished in shame – not to mention tried – for leading the January 6 insurrection, instead of being reviled for the blood on his hands for an inept coronavirus response, instead of being dismissed for believing the moon is part Mars, ignorant blatherskite continually heralded as the pacesetter for the 2024 GOP nomination.

4. NCAA – SB5 pollsters excited as you are to have college athletes able to pimp themselves out for money just like their coaches and the NCAA have done for decades…NCAA, long pimp, whore, and john simultaneously, now appealing to similar organization – Congress – for some friendly legislation in the matter. 

5. MLB – Once proud, currently dying sport has seen an average of 4.56 pitchers per game, with each team having already used an average of 19 pitchers, a figure that was about average for an entire season 30 years ago…These 570 or so pitchers have combined for exactly two (2) complete games, about one every two weeks. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

Give me an “R”! It’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow sets a record in the sack. Today’s Diary. 

Yours truly should probably look into sending the pillow to the Sleeping Hall of Fame or something…God bless all of you. 

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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 1886 – Coca-Cola is served for the first time, at an Atlanta drug store, as a patent medicine. It was invented by pharmacist John Pemberton – who had suffered injuries while serving with the Confederacy in the Civil War – who wanted to produce a pain killing alternative to the morphine he was addicted to. The exact make-up of the earliest versions of Coca-Cola – like today’s recipe – remains a mystery and Pemberton – who had both physical and financial troubles – sold Coca-Cola two years later. 

In 1993 – Lennox Lewis defends his WBC heavyweight boxing title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Tony Tucker in Las Vegas. Lewis had become WBC champion after Riddick Bowe, also the IBF and WBA champion, relinquished the title after being unable to come to terms with Lewis over a title fight. Lewis would lose the title to Oliver McCall the following year, and would later regain the WBC title, as well as earn IBF, WBA, WBC, and IBO heavyweight titles. 

In 1971 – The Jackson 5 is at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Best Selling Soul Singles chart – for the second of three consecutive weeks with Never Can Say Goodbye. The song also peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 and was the fifth of six #1 soul singles for the group and their sixth of eleven Top 10 pop hits, figures that include totals as the Jacksons. In 1975 a version by Gloria Gaynor peaked at #9 on the Hot 100 and in 1988 a version by the Communards peaked at #51.  

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

I shall simply ask. Many things are not done simply because they are not attempted.
Louis L’Amour
The Walking Drum

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Thriller replaced the soundtrack from Saturday Night Fever as the biggest selling album of all time. 

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

What was the first diet soft drink offered by Coca-Cola? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/May 7, 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 – Tragedy strikes. Today’s Diary. 

Ol’ Sparrow was about halfway into the drive to the gym this morning when he discovered he had forgotten to take his hot, new, proprietary blend pre-workout supplement…

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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 1945 – World War II in Europe comes to an end when Germany signs an unconditional surrender in Reims, France. General Alfred Jodl signed for Germany and a separate surrender document was signed the following day in Berlin. Jodl was later tried and convicted at the Nuremberg trials and was executed in October 1946. The surrender document was produced in German, English, and Russian, but the text dictates the English and Russian versions were “the only authentic texts”. 

In 1972 – The Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA title, defeating the New York Knicks 114-100 in game five of the NBA Finals. The Knicks had won the first game of the series in Los Angeles before the Lakers won the last four, was the first NBA title for the Lakers since moving from Minneapolis in 1960 and was the franchise’s sixth of 17 NBA titles. Earlier in the season, the Lakers had set an NBA and North American major sports record with a 33-game winning streak. 

In 1983 – Michael Jackson is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the eleventh of 37 non-consecutive weeks with Thriller. The album went to #1 in many other countries including Great Britain, was in its 15th of 37 non-consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul album chart, and was Billboard’s #1 album of both 1983 and 1984. The album produced seven chart singles – all Top 10s, a Billboard Hot 100 record – including two #1 songs, Beat It and Billie Jean. It has sold over 50 million certified copies and is the best-selling album in the history of recorded music. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

To survive? What is that? A mouse lives, a fly lives; one lives in terror, another lives in filth. They exist, they are, but do they live?
Louis L’Amour
The Walking Drum

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Donerail, ridden by Roscoe Goose and going off at 91-1, is the longest shot to win the Kentucky Derby. He paid $184.90 to win. 

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

What album did Thriller replace as the biggest selling album of all time? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!