The Daily Dose/December 20, 2021
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off will return. We swear it. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – It’s a bit slower at the hotel. Today’s Diary. 

…so the horrors of last night – where ol’ Sparrow had to be of service to guests before enjoying his coffee – were avoided. 

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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
History’s long march. 

In 1803 – The transfer of lands made in the Louisiana Purchase begins when the French sign New Orleans over to the Americans at a ceremony in what is now Jackson Square. The following March a ceremony was conducted in St Louis which transferred Upper Louisiana from the Spanish to the French and then to the Americans, now known as Three Flags Day. The purchase price was $15 million, though with interest the Louisiana Purchase had cost $23 million by the time it was paid off in 1823. 

In 2001 – Chick Hearn, the longtime radio and TV announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers, misses his first game in 36 years, a span of 3,338 games, due to heart problems. Hearn would miss 56 games and was replaced by Paul Sunderland, who would later take over after Hearn retired. The Lakers defeated Houston 107-101. 

In 1980 – Kenny Rogers is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the sixth and final consecutive week with Lady. It was the sixth of nine Top 10 hits for Rogers and his first of two #1 songs. The song also peaked at #12 in Great Britain, spent a week at #1 on Billboard’s country chart, peaked at #42 on its soul chart, the biggest of Rogers’ two soul hits. Lady was written by Lionel Ritchie and was Billboard’s third-biggest song of 1981 and its tenth-biggest of the decade 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

Powell was possessed by ambition, but not the ambition that puts the reward and the success ahead of the achievement.
Robertson Davies
The Lyre of Orpheus

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The NHL head coach that has won the most games without winning the Stanley Cup is Paul Maurice, currently the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, who has won 775 games in 24 seasons with five NHL teams. 

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

How many #1 songs has Kenny Rogers had on Billboard’s country chart? – Answer next time!  

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The Daily Dose/December 19, 2021
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. COVID-19 – SB5 pollsters issue a big welcome back to something that never really went away, though we liked to think it did, what with vaccines and a general return to perceived normalcy…Stop holding up progress, folks, and get vaccinated and boostered because there’s no reason to die a stupid COVID death. 

2. Sports In America – SB5 pollsters “strongly suspect” teams can stop wearing 17 different sets of uniforms now…We get the point: fans are nothing more than consumers to be sold things to…Closed-circuit for LA Rams and Army: please stop wearing uniforms that look like they need to be washed.

3. Donald Trump – The 3-hole staple…Question to Trump supporters: if a job candidate showed up admitting to grabbing women by the p*ssy and believed the moon was part of Mars would you hire him???…Then why do you continue to support Trump???…Plus there’s the blood on his hands from a non-existent coronavirus response…Which one of these elements continues to earn your support???

4. US Military – Service starting to discipline forces that decline to get vaccinated…Decline to get vaccinated???…What in the hell is going on here???…SB5 pollsters fondly remember only option being walking vaccine gauntlet in boot camp, where five (5) dozen vaccines were administered in a few seconds…There was no choice…Our military, like the citizens they protect, is getting soft.

5. Major League Baseball – Hey guys, great job trying to end your lockout by negotiating around the clock…Your remaining fans appreciate it. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

Q: Is it Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary?
A: Yes, it is Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a busy night at the hotel. Today’s Diary. 

Besides, I’m not here to do as little as possible – well, yes I am – and sometimes you have to dig in and do a bucket check…

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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 1998 – President of the United States Bill Clinton is impeached by the House of the Representatives on two charges: lying under oath and obstruction of justice. The charges stemmed from a sexual harassment lawsuit by Paula Jones and for testifying he had not engaged in a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky when he really had. The articles were sent to the US Senate on January 7 and Clinton was acquitted in a trial by the Senate on February 12. 

In 1984 – Scotty Bowman of the Buffalo Sabres ties the NHL record for most victories by a head coach in a 6-3 win over the Chicago Black Hawks. It was the 691st win for Bowman, who tied the record established by Dick Irvin from 1928-56. Bowman retired in 2002 with 1,244 wins and his record still stands. Bowman won nine Stanley Cups as a head coach, which is also an NHL record. 

In 1970 – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles are at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the second and final consecutive week with The Tears of a Clown. It was the sixth and final Top 10 hit for the group and remains their only #1 song and the song remains Robinson’s only appearance at #1 on a Billboard pop chart. The song also went to #1 in Great Britain and was in its third and final week at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart. The song was written by Robinson, Hank Crosby and Stevie Wonder. The Miracles had two Top 40 hits, including the #1 Love Machine, after Robinson left the group.  

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

…the virtuoso performance is the tip of a lifetime of struggle, and the gem of meaning is set in the metal of long perseverance.
Deng Ming-Dao
365 Tao

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The NHL record for most consecutive wins in a season is 17, by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins. 

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

What NHL coach has won the most games without winning the Stanley Cup? – Answer next time!  

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/December 18, 2021
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 morning routine news. Today’s Diary. 

The big news is the new coffee made its debut at The Shire this morning…Well, not really new – it’s the old retailer’s breakfast blend we’ve been using off and on over the years – and I think we might’ve settled to a 2-for-1 donut shop knockoff/breakfast blend ratio…It went down really well this morning, too. 

———

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 2019 – The House of Representatives impeaches President Donald Trump on single charges each of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump was the third president impeached by the House and like presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton he would later be acquitted at trial by the US Senate. In 2021, just before leaving office, Trump would become the fourth president to be impeached and was acquitted by the Senate after leaving office. 

In 1977 – The Montreal Canadiens begin what would become an NHL record for the longest undefeated streak in a season with a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Canadiens would go undefeated for a total of 28 straight games, going 23-0-5 over that span, to break the record of 23 straight undefeated games established by the 1940-41 Boston Bruins and equaled by the 1975-76 Flyers. The Canadiens’ next loss came on February 25 against the New York Rangers and the record is now 35, by the 1979-80 Flyers. 

In 1982 – Men at Work is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the sixth of 15 consecutive weeks with Business as Usual. It was the first of three chart albums for the group and remains their only #1. The album also went to #1 in five other countries, including Great Britain, Norway and their native Australia and produced two #1 singles on the Hot 100: Who Can It Be Now and Down Under. The group also won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

If you are acquainted with the principle, what do you care for a myriad of instances and applications?
Henry David Thoreau
Walden

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Frankie Laine’s biggest hit in Great Britain was I Believe, which spent 18 weeks at #1 in 1953, still the all-time British chart record for weeks at #1. 

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

What team holds the NHL record for most consecutive wins in a season? – Answer next time!  

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/December 17, 2021
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 gets a jury summons in the mail. Today’s Diary. 

…no one loves jury duty more than ol’ Sparrow…Pa Sparrow talking about jury duty at the kitchen table is still fondly remembered, as is my jury service in Sin City years ago…I was the foreman, elected with broad base support from women, labor (the stereo installer) and minorities, and artfully guided my comrades to the appropriate verdict, that the accused while driving drunk (his lawyer admitted as much) did not cause significant bodily injury, which deflated the two hapless young prosecutors, who are probably now convenience store clerks or something.

———

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 1777 – France formally recognizes the United States, which had declared independence from Great Britain the year before. The two countries signed the Treaty of Alliance the following year, which led to aid from the Spanish and the Dutch, who also were looking to annoy the British. The war ended with an American victory in 1783 while France’s debt from the war was one factor that led to the French Revolution in 1789. 

In 1991 – The Cleveland Cavaliers establish a new NBA record for the largest margin of victory in a 148-80 win over the Miami Heat. The 68-point margin broke the record of 63 points established by the Los Angeles Lakers in a 162-99 win over the Golden State Warriors on March 19, 1972. The record was broken this past December 2, when the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 152-79 (73 points). 

In 1949 – Frankie Laine is at #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart – one of several predecessors to the Hot 100 – for the fourth of six consecutive weeks with Mule Train. Laine had replaced himself at #1, and his previous hit That Lucky Old Sun had spent eight weeks at the top and the 14 consecutive weeks at #1 established a Billboard pop chart record that was tied by Tony Bennet in 1951 and broken in 1956 by Elvis (16 consecutive weeks) and his now held by the Black Eyed Peas, who spent 26 consecutive weeks at #1 with Boom Boom Pow and I Gotta Feeling in 2009. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

The man who finds the smell is the one who sniffs.
Nicholas Monsarrat
Smith and Jones

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The Moody Blues’ biggest hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 was Nights in White Satin, which spent two weeks at #2 in 1972. 

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

What was Frankie Laine’s biggest hit in Great Britain? – Answer next time!  

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/December 16, 2021
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 – It’s a slow day at the VSO. Today’s Diary. Today’s entry is with Sparrow’s compliments. 

Heck, when Christine from Adult Services called around 1400 ol’ Sparrow was so startled at the intrusion he actually pursed his lips and stared crossly at the phone for a couple of seconds… 

———

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 1653 – Oliver Cromwell is sworn in as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. Since the execution of King Charles I in 1649 the Commonwealth had been ruled as a republic by a Council of State and what History refers to as the Rump Parliament. Cromwell would rule until 1658 when he resigned and his son Richard took over. The period between the end of Charles I’s reign and the start of the reign of his son Charles II in 1659 is known to History as the English Interregnum. 

In 1962 – Y.A. Tittle of the New York Giants establishes a new NFL record for most touchdown passes in a season in a 41-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Tittle threw six touchdown passes, giving him 33 on the season to break the mark of 32 established by Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts in 1959 and tied by Sonny Jurgenson of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1961. The record is now 55, by Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos in 2013. 

In 1972 – The Moody Blues are at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the second of five consecutive weeks with Seventh Sojourn, an album that produced two Hot 100 singles, Isn’t Life Strange (#12) and I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) (#36). It was the first of two #1 albums for the group and their fourth of six Top 10 albums. The album also peaked at #5 in the group’s native Great Britain.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

Let us laugh at fate. It might please her.
Winston Churchill  

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The first US patent was issued on July 30, 1791, to Samuel Hopkins for a potash making process. The patent was signed by President George Washington. 

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

What is the Moody Blues’ biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100? – Answer next time!  

Share Gaylon! Go!