The Daily Dose/September 24, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off remains in time out while we work on a project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow cleans the cabin. Today’s Diary. 

Christ, you’d’ve thought ol’ Sparrow hadn’t vacuumed since Memorial Day – and maybe he hadn’t, who knows – the way the vacuum was making noise…Heck, it sounded like it was picking up a gravel road. 

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

Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

———

On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 2014 – India becomes the first Asian country to put a spacecraft into orbit around Mars when the spacecraft Mangalyaan enters Maritan orbit. Though the mission was originally scheduled for six months, Mangalyaan remains in orbit, sending back data. The mission had been launched in November 2013 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in southeastern India and India remains the first nation ever to reach Martian orbit on its first attempt. 

In 1957 – Ebbets Field in Brooklyn hosts its final major league baseball game, a 2-0 Dodger win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The stadium opened in 1913 and over the years hosted  3,447 regular-season games, nine World Series and five professional football teams in the NFL, All-American Football Conference and an early American Football League. The stadium was torn down in 1960 and today the site is an apartment complex. The Dodgers would move to Los Angeles after the season. 

In 1966 – The Association is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of three consecutive weeks with Cherish. It was the second of seven top 40 hits for the group, their second of five Top 10 hits and their first of two #1 songs (Windy, four weeks, 1967). The song also went to #1 in Canada and was Billboard’s 7th-biggest song of the year. The Association’s last appearance on the Hot 100 came in 1973 when Names, Tags, Numbers and Labels peaked at #91.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

He realized that if he were ever going to learn anything of interest he must not go near a university again.
Gore Vidal
The Golden Age

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Dr Benjamin Rush was the physician Merriwether Lewis met with prior to the Lewis and Clark expedition. 

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

What was the first spacecraft to successfully orbit Mars? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/September 23, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off remains in time out while we work on a project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has more cash drawer news (CDN) from the hotel than is probably desirable. Today’s Diary. 

The big cash drawer news (CDN) is that yours truly started an unofficial test about how long a bill stays in a drawer…For the past couple of nites, there’s been a $5 bill in the right drawer that is taped together…Sensing an opportunity for a field test like my seminal creamer usage test (CUT) from last month, I took the taped bill out from its spot in the middle of the stack of 20 fivers and put it in the back, figuring it would be used last…We’ll see, though I’m as excited as you are about what the results could be.

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

Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

———

On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 1806 – The Lewis and Clark Expedition – formally the US Army Corps of Discovery – ends when the expedition returns to St Louis after traveling to the Pacific Ocean via the Mississippi, Missouri and Columbia rivers. The expedition had left Camp Dubois, a bit north of St Louis, on May 14, 1804, and reached the Pacific on Nov 15, 1805. The only death was Sgt Charles Floyd, who died, apparently of appendicitis, in August 1804 near what is now Sioux City, Iowa. 

In 1908 – The Chicago Cubs and the New York Giants played to a 1-1 tie in a game where the apparent winning run for the Giants was disallowed in the bottom of the ninth inning. The run was disallowed when Giant outfielder Fred Merkle was called out on appeal for missing second base after running to join the victory celebration. The teams ended the regular season tied for first place, with the Cubs winning the replay of the game – and the National League pennant – on Oct 8.  

In 1978 – A Taste of Honey is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the third and final consecutive week with Boogie Oogie Oogie. It was the first chart single for the group, their first of two Top 10 hits and remains their only #1 song. The song also peaked at #3 in Great Britain, in August had spent a week at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart and was Billboard’s 9th biggest song of the year. The group was formed in Los Angeles in 1972 and in February would win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

But Tim had done his best to dramatize an election in which neither candidate dared to say what he meant to an uneasy people who realized something was seriously wrong with their political system.
Gore Vidal
The Golden Age

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Conway Twitty’s first #1 song on a Billboard singles chart was It’s Only Make Believe, which spent two non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Hot 100 in November 1958, the fifth #1 song of the Hot 100 era. 

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

In preparation for the expedition, Merriwether Lewis was sent to Philadelphia by President Thomas Jefferson to study medicine under what prominent American physician? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/September 22, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off remains in time out while we work on a project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow decides to take today’s state veterans service officer (VSO) training at home. Today’s Diary. 

I was sitting in the office at 0720 looking at the schedule for the day…Typically, it began at 0800 however on the first day the 0800 hour is reserved for the presentation of colors and opening remarks: actual training doesn’t start until 0900 and that’s only if the bigwigs keep their opening remarks to a minimum, which they never do…So sitting there considering matter yours truly was struck with a thought: 

“Is it absolutely necessary I take this training in the office???”

I mean, all I will be doing is sitting and watching on a monitor…I can do that at home, at my desk…Hell, yours truly can also do it in his jammies and if, when, matters got boring – as they frequently do at annual VSO training – I can play with the cat. 

The Bottom Ten/NFL Week 4 – All hail Jacksonville, who have lost 17 straight games.

Owner Ghengis Khan authorizes Jaguars’ ruling council to start plans for special high holy day celebration should, when, Jaguars tie NFL’s all-time losing streak mark of 29 in Week 15…

Holy runner-up spot, Batman!!!…Giants, Jets combine for first NYC combined medal stand entry since NY Table Dancers, NY Thongs combined for top spot in 1963 Strippers Football League (SFL) survey…

Texans still not out of it even with win over Jaguars in opener, as team will continue to get big strength of schedule points with every Jacksonville loss…

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

Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

———

On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 1692 – The final eight executions in the Salem Witch Trials are conducted, as seven women and one man were hanged following witchcraft convictions. Following the executions, public opinion began to turn and reprieves were issued and one woman even escaped and the trials were eventually shut down by Massachusetts Provincial Governor William Phips. The trials had begun in February and a total of 20 people were executed while five others died in custody.

In 1911 – Cy Young of the Boston Rustlers, later the Braves, earns his 511th major league win in a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was the final major league win for Young and his mark is still the major league record. Young would lose his next three starts to finish with 315 losses, also a major league record, a mark he’d set on Sept 7 with his 311th loss, breaking the mark set by Pud Galvin. Young had won his first major league game in 1890 with the Cleveland Spiders (NL). 

In 1973 – Conway Twitty is at #1 on the Billboard country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the third and final consecutive week with You’ve Never Been This Far Before. It was the 13th of 40 #1 country hits for Twitty, then a country chart record, a mark now held by George Strait (44). The song also went #1 country in Canada and peaked at #22 on the Hot 100, his ninth and final Top 40 pop hit. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

In the zoo, study your beast.
Gore Vidal
The Golden Age

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The longest punt in the history of the Canadian Football League (CFL) – which plays on a 110-yard field – is 108 yards, done twice, by Christopher Milo of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2011 and by Zenon Andrusyshyn of the Toronto Argonauts in 1977

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

What was Conway Twitty’s first #1 song on a Billboard singles chart? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/September 21, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off remains in time out while we work on a project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow deals with some drunks. Today’s Diary. 

What I should’ve done is utilize that hot, new customer service technique I picked up at the hotel in the big city last month: pepper spray him in the face, but I apologized and generally ignored his invitations to level the situation up, and eventually, they wandered off. 

The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 4 – It’s complete chaos in The Bottom Ten this week, as #1 New Mexico State musters a win and Arizona rises to the top.

Pesky Rice defense shows cursory early interest with an interception on second drive, which enterprising offense converts into missed field goal…

Consistency the calling card for 2021 Rebels, who rank 121st in both Scoring Offense and Scoring Defense, blowing games by average score of 40.0-to-15.3.

A Lutheran school, [Thiel College] coaching staff starting to suspect that pregame meals of unleavened bread, lutefisk, not providing required nutrition for afternoon on gridiron.

———

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

Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

———

On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 1780 – In the American Revolution, Continental Army Major General Benedict Arnold gives American plans for the fortification of West Point, New York to the British. Arnold planned to ultimately surrender the fort to the British, however, the plot was discovered three days later with Arnold immediately fleeing and accepting a commission in the British Army. Arnold remains one of the most famous traitors in History, his name synonymous with betrayal.      

In 1969 – Steve O’Neal of the New York Jets establishes a new AFL – later NFL – record for the longest punt in a 21-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. O’Neal punted the ball 98-yards to break the record of 94-yards established by Joe Lintzenich of the Chicago Bears in 1931. O’Neal’s kick traveled roughly 72 yards in the air before bouncing from the 32-yard line to the inside the one-yard line, where it was picked up by Bronco Bill Thompson, who returned it to the two-yard line. – Editor’s Note: a variety of sources credit Pete Henry of the Canton Bulldogs with a 94-yard punt in 1923, however, this is not listed in the official NFL Record and Fact Book. 

 In 1985 – Dire Straits is at #1 in the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of three consecutive weeks with Money For Nothing. It was the third of four Top 40 hits for the group, their second of three Top 10 hits and remains their only #1 song. The song also went to #1 in Canada, peaked at #4 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s eighth-biggest song of the year. The song was from the album Brothers in Arms which was in its fifth of nine consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

“But the people…”
“Always do what they are told. They have no choice.”
Gore Vidal
The Golden Age

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Dire Straits’ biggest hits in Great Britain were Private Investigations and Walk of Life, both of which peaked at #2.

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

What is the longest punt in the history of the Canadian Football League? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!