The Daily Dose/Monday, November 15, 2021
The Daily Dose/November 12, 2021
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
UH-OH: One of the things we take great pride in here is the accuracy of the historical tidbits we offer, both here and in On This Date and it is, frankly, rare when we make a mistake. We have a variety of source materials at our disposal and an interest in and a knack for research and usually anything mentioned here can be taken to the bank.
Regular readers of this crap know that from time to time we’ve trotted out the alleged fact that Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers and Billy Ray Cyrus are the only acts to have #1 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 and their country and soul charts.
What The Hell’s Going On Here?: We were wrong. While doing research into Ray Charles’ career we found out he, too, is a member of the club, with several pop and soul number ones and a #1 country hit – Seven Spanish Angels – with Willie Nelson in 1985.
Dry, Technical Matter: It’s important to note that this survey begins with the start of the Hot 100 in August 1958. Before that Billboard had a variety of charts in all three categories – most played on radio, most played in jukeboxes, best sellers, et al – and our feeling accomplishing this feat before August 1958 is not all that significant.
Dry, Technical Matter: The first to do it was Bing Crosby, who had the trick turned by 1944. Crosby had the first #1 pop hit in 1940, the tenth soul #1 song in 1942 and the second country #1 song in 1944.
The Bottom Line: A line we’ve used from time to time is “we regret but are not particularly surprised by the error”, but in this case we were. We don’t recall the exact research we did, but we remember being rather pleased with it and thinking we’d nailed it: that Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Billy Ray Cyrus were the only acts to have #1 songs on the Hot 100 and Billboard’s soul and country charts. Shows what we know. We’ll keep slugging it out on the front lines of research and trust you’ll forgive the occasional error.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow does some bonus shredding at the hotel. Today’s Diary.
There was enuff [shredding] so it took a good 15-20 minutes to get thru, but it all fit in the receptacle and after everything was done it was a simple matter to put the shredded paperwork in one of those green 33-gallon trash bags….This saved several blue bags – not to mention mostly filling the green bag so there was no wastage – and that’s a win for the environment.
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On This Date
The long march to today.
In 1966 – America’s Gemini 12 mission splashes down in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Bahamas and south of Bermuda. Commanded by James Lovell and also manned by Buzz Aldrin, the mission completed 59 orbits of Earth and featured 5-and-a-half hours of spacewalking from Aldrin. The Gemini program is generally considered to have been a complete success, having shown man can function outside a spacecraft and can dock with other spacecraft.
In 1960- Elgin Baylor of the Los Angeles Lakers establishes a new NBA record for most points in a game in a 123-108 win over the New York Knicks. Baylor had 71 points to break the record of 64 he had established on Nov 8, 1959. Baylor’s record was broken by Wilt Chamberlain who had 78 points on December 8, 1961, and Chamberlain holds the all-time mark with 100 points on March 2, 1962.
In 1986 – Boston is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the second and final consecutive week with Amanda. It was the sixth Top 40 hit for the group, their third top 10 hit and remains their only #1 song. The song also went to #1 in Canada and peaked at #10 in Norway. The name Amanda does not refer to a specific person but was selected because it fit with the musical and lyrical flow of the song.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
The one with the best command of the English language is usually the one who knows when to keep his mouth shut.
Dear Abby
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The NHL record for the longest unbeaten streak from the start of a career by a goalie is 16, by Patrick Lalime in the 1996-97 season.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Who are three NBA players who have scored at least 64 points in a game more than once? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Sunday, November 14, 2021
The Daily Dose/November 12, 2021
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.
1. US Space Program – NASA announces 2024 moon landing – which wasn’t going to happen anyway – moved to 2025 – which probably won’t happen, either – due to budget constraints…And because Amazon got their shorts in a knot and are suing over the awarding of a contract to Tesla.
2. US Space Program II – Why are we going back to the moon anyway???…This is like climbing Mount Everest again…Yay for us, but what’s the point???…Let’s go to Mars instead…Actually, had we cared to, we could be looking back on over 30 years of Mars exploration right now but America didn’t care too and can no longer send anyone into space…Our loss.
3. Donald Trump – The 3-hole staple…SB5 pollsters “strongly suspect” future generations will wonder why anyone gave time of day – much less media coverage and votes – to someone who believes 1) the moon is part of Mars; 2) Colorado borders Mexico; and 3) the Revolution was won by the securing of British airports…Plus he will always have blood on his hands for a non-existent COVID response…Which one of these elements continues to earn him support???
4. Las Vegas Raiders – Cutting 1st-round draft pick after driving drunk, crashing Corvette and killing someone???…Check…Cutting another 1st-round draft pick after video of him wielding gun surfaces???…Check….Head coach resigning after emails showing he’s racist and misogynistic surface???…Check…SB5 pollsters “pretty sure” this is awfully deep doo-doo even by Raiders usual renegade standards.
5. Fake News – Click here for made up stuff some wizards amongst us either chose to believe or are stupid enough to really believe…From the AP.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
Yay for Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has an 0400 chat with a long-term guest. Today’s Diary.
Because I asked, he said the dog’s name is Nova and even tho queries weren’t made on why he was so named, yours truly was favored with the lowdown on that, too…Evidently when two stars are dying the gasses from one will overtake the other star and BOOM it explodes in a flash of white and become a supernova, and that’s how the all-white Nova got its name…Now we know, in case this ever comes up in the future.
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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
The long march to today.
In 1960 – Ruby Bridges, 6, of New Orleans becomes the first Black child to attend and all-White elementary school in Louisiana, attending William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Bridges was escorted by federal marshals and was taught by one teacher, a White woman named Barbara Henry, for over a year because no other teacher would teach a Black student. Bridges still lives in New Orleans with her husband and four children.
In 1971 – Gerry Cheevers of the Boston Bruins begins his NHL-record unbeaten streak of 32 consecutive games in an 11-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Cheevers would not lose a game again until March 29, 1972, a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, going 24-0-8 during that time. Cheevers broke the record of 23 established by Frank Brimstek of the Bruins in the 1940-41 season and his record still stands.
In 1960 – Ray Charles is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Georgia on My Mind. It was the first of three #1 songs for Charles and his second of ten Top 10 hits. The song also peaked at #24 in Great Britain, at #3 in Billboard’s soul chart and in 1978 a version by Willie Nelson went to #1 on the country chart. In 1985, Charles and Nelson went #1 country with Seven Spanish Angels, making Charles one of four acts (Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Billy Ray Cyrus) to have hit #1 on all three major Billboard singles charts.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Either the people would overthrow the government or, more likely, the government would overthrow the people.
Gore Vidal
Empire
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The longest winning streak in the Harvard/Yale football series in nine, by Harvard from 2007-2015. The longest unbeaten streak in the series is eleven, by Yale which went 10-0-1 from 1876-1889.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Which goalie holds the NHL record for the longest undefeated streak from the start of a career? – Answer next time!
The Diary of a Nobody/November 13
It’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary.
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life…
Saturday, November 13
There’s a hockey team in town and three guys sitting in the lobby – apparently two parents and one (young) coach – and again ol’ Sparrow could’ve made considerable extra scratch if he’d only had a cooler full of brewskies…The bar was closed and they were hardly ready to call it a nite and one came over to inquire if a cold one – or, better, several cold pones – might be obtainable…Unfortunately, no, for both them and ol’ Sparrow, because at $10 a pop BOOM, that’s some nice extra money, especially if they’re really thirsty.
The Daily Dose/Saturday, November 13, 2021
The Daily Dose/November 12, 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 – At the county building, the Building Department is both shorthanded and busy. Today’s Diary.
Mike: Sparrow, you wanna return some calls???
Sparrow: Me???…I know nothing about building or buildings.
Malia, shaking her head dismissively: We can work with that…Just tell everybody no.
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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
The long march to today.
In 1927 – The Holland Tunnel, running under the Hudson River and connecting New York City with New Jersey, opens. Construction had begun in October 1920 and the two sides of the tunnels connected in October 1924 and the tunnel is ventilated by four towers and 84 fans – 42 intake, 42 exhaust – which can replace air within the tunnel in 90 seconds. The toll was 25 cents, charged both ways, until 1970 and today is $16, charged heading into New York City.
In 1875 – Harvard and Yale meet in football – a rivalry simply known as The Game – for the first time, with Harvard winning 4-0 in a game played at Hamilton Park, a bit north of where the Yale Bowl now stands. Like most games of the era, it was a combination of soccer and rugby and featured 15 players to a side and remains the first game where both teams wore coordinated uniforms. Yale leads the series 68-60-8 and the 2021 game will be played at Yale on Nov 20.
In 1982 – Marvin Gaye is at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Hot Black Singles chart – for the second of ten consecutive weeks with Sexual Healing, the 14th and final #1 soul song for Gaye. The song also peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 and at #4 in Great Britain and due to when it charted was Billboard’s biggest soul song of 1983. Gaye was shot to death by his father in the family’s Los Angeles home in 1984, a crime his father served a 6-year suspended sentence and probation for.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
I balanced sometimes between principle and inclination…So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.
Benjamin Franklin
Autobiography
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Billboard’s #1 song of 1955 was Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White by Perez Prado, which spent ten weeks at #1.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What is the longest winning streak in the Harvard/Yale football series? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Friday, November 12, 2021
The Daily Dose/November 11, 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 – Sparrow has a strong workout but is careful not to do too much. Today’s Diary.
…you get too full of yourself and the next thing you know you’re trying to move more than you should and BOOM, you’re tearing a muscle or your heart’s exploding, both of which are bad for morale.
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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
The long march to today.
In 1912 – The body of explorer Englishman Robert Falcon Scott and two members of his Antarctic expedition party are found by a search party on the Ross Ice Shelf, at about 82 degrees south latitude. Scott and his men had reached the South Pole on January 17 only to find a tent and a letter dated December 18, 1911, left by Norwegian Roald Amundsen. Based on the position of bodies in the tent, it’s thought that Scott died last, on either March 29th or 30th.
In 1995 – Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins establishes a new NFL record for most career passing yards in 34-17 loss to the New England Patriots. Marino passed for 333 yards, giving him a career total of 47,299 to break the record of 47,003 yards established by Fran Tarkenton of the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants from 1961-78. The record is now held by Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (81,854, 2000-present).
In 1955 – Roger Williams is at #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart – a predecessor to the Hot 100 – for the third of four consecutive weeks with Autumn Leaves. It was the first of 22 hits on a Billboard pop chart for Williams, remains his only #1 song and was Billboard’s 4th-biggest song of the year. Long considered a jazz standard, Williams’ version was the most popular of seven that hit Billboard pop charts in 1955.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint...
Robert Falcon Scott
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Chaka Khan’s biggest solo hit on the Hot 100 was I Feel For You, which peaked at #3 in 1984. Her appearance on Steve Winwood’s #1 song Higher Love (one week, 1986) was uncredited.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What was Billboard’s #1 song of 1955? – Answer next time!