The Daily Dose/November 2, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

Leading Off is in time out while we work on (another) project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has been waking up a bit earlier than usual the past couple of days. Today’s Diary. 

I know all of you have noticed the 2100 wake-up times the past couple of nights…Exactly why ol’ Sparrow hasn’t slept straight thru to the 2130 alarm isn’t immediately clear, but anytime you’re waking up without the alarm you’re doing OK. 

The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 10 – Arizona and UNLV continue to set the pace in the race for the ESPNCup – symbolic of collegiate Bottom Ten excellence. 

B-10 pollsters “strongly suspect” Rebels passing defense not any good, ranking 126th in Team Passing Efficiency Defense, though they still don’t know what Team Passing Efficiency Defense is.

Jayhawks continue to make strong B-10 Team of the Quarter Century push, having lost at least seven (7)-straight for 7th time this decade

A Lutheran school, current misfortunes being blamed on – to better honor Martin Luther on Reformation Day – cutting holes in tops of helmets to emulate Luther’s haircut, resulting in entire team being in concussion protocol by halftime.

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On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 1920 – Radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh becomes the first commercial radio station, broadcasting the returns from Warren Harding’s win over James Cox. NBC would become the first national network in 1926 and the first nationwide broadcast was the 1927 Rose Bowl. KDKA’s owner, Westinghouse, came up with the idea in the hopes of selling more radios and prior radio shows had been done by private citizens, known as “hams”. KDKA remains on the air at 1220 AM. 

In 2014 – The Winnipeg Jets establish a new NHL record for the quickest goal in a 1-0 game in a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The only goal came 20 seconds into the game by right-winger Michael Frolik. Research into whose record the Jets broke was inconclusive, however this remains the only 1-0 game in NHL history where the only goal was scored in the first minute. 

In 1985 – Stevie Wonder is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with Part-Time Lover. The song also went to #1 in six other countries, peaked at #3 in Great Britain and was in its third of six consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart. The song also went to #1 on Billboard’s dance and adult contemporary charts, making Wonder the first act to have a single hit #1 on four different Billboard charts, a feat later accomplished by Mariah Carey. It was his ninth and final #1 song on the Hot 100. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

But people think I’m an alarmist to be alarmed by what is so plain to see.
Gore Vidal
The Golden Age

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Elvis Presley had ten #1 songs on Billboard’s country chart and six on their soul chart. Elvid, the Everly Brothers and Billy Ray Cyrus remain the only acts to have #1 songs on the Hot 100 and the country and soul charts.  

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

How many #1 songs has Stevie Wonder had in Great Britain? – Answer next time!  

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The Daily Dose/November 1, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

Leading Off is in time out while we work on (another) project. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – At the gym, Sparrow talks to His Holiness. Today’s Diary. 

I talked to the Sunday Yapper!!!…I am not, could not, would not, make that up. 

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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 996 – The word Austria appears in a document for the first time, when Holy Roman Emperor Otto III deeds a small portion in what is now central Austria to the bishop of Freising. The land would be incorporated into Austria in 1803, Austria would merge with Hungary in 1867 and was a part of assorted jurisdictions until the formation of the Second Republic after World War II. 

In 1946 – The NBA – then known as the Basketball Association of America – plays its first game, with the New York Knicks defeating the Toronto Huskies 68-66 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Ed Sadowski of Toronto led all scorers with 18 points and Leo Gottlieb led the Knicks with 14 points. The Philadelphia Warriors won the first association’s title and the Knicks and the Boston Celtics remain the only original teams still in the same city in the league. 

In 1969 – Elvis Presley is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Suspicious Minds. The song also went to #1 in four other countries, including Belgium, and peaked at #2 in Great Britain. It was the 18th and final #1 song for Elvis and his first since Good Luck Charm in 1962. In 1971 a version by Dee Dee Warwick – sister of Dionne and cousin of Whitney Houston – peaked at #80 on the Hot 100 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

Democracy had fallen by Plato’s formula: liberty had become license, and chaos begged an end to liberty.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol. III: Caesar to Christ

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The Drifters had 34 hits on a Billboard pop chart between 1955-76, including 16 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits. 

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

How many #1 songs did Elvis have on Billboard’s country and soul charts? – Answer next time!  

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/October 31, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. Complete Games – Only 50 of them in the big leagues in 2021, as no team had more than three (3) and ten (10) teams didn’t have any at all…It’s been six (6) years since MLB has had at least 100 in a season, 40 years since there were at least 500 and 106 years since there’s been at least 2,000…Saynora to a lost art. 

2. World Series Ratings – Good news: Ratings for Game 1 World Series were up significantly from last year’s opener with 10.8 million viewers…Bad news: this was more than enough to make it the second-least watch WS opener ever…Memo to ML office: the average NFL game has roughly 17.3 million viewers. 

3. Donald Trump – The 3-hole staple…The former president remains a lying sexual predator who believes 1) the moon is part of Mars; 2) that the Revolution was won by the securing of British airports and 3) – and SB5 pollsters had forgotten this one – that Colorado borders Mexico…A question for Trump supporters: which one of these elements continues to earn your support???…Liar???…Sexual predator???…Dolt???

4. ESPN – Hey guys, SB5 pollsters “pretty sure” your “confirming” a story after somebody beat you to it isn’t really news, so stop reporting it as if it were…Your confirmation adds nothing to anything whatsoever. 

5. President Joe Biden Fact Check – While still utterly lacking the falsehood street cred of President Trump – a man who made Nixon look like he was giving sworn testimony – Biden unable to get facts straight on vital issue of train miles traveled as vice president…Click here for the latest from AP. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

Read Freee Sunday (RFS) at The Diary will return. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow talks about employee evaluations. Today’s Diary. 

…there is really only one criterion for grading your nite auditor: do they show up on time every nite???…If the answer to that question is yes, end of evaluation; you sign the form and move on to the next hapless employee because you are getting a good nite’s sleep every nite because you don’t have to worry about whether or not your nite auditor is coming in…

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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 1913 – The Lincoln Highway, the first highway across the United States, is dedicated at various sites on the route. Originally the highway was 3,389 miles long, though as segments were improved it would shorten by 240 miles. Though it has been superseded over the years, first by US Route 66 and then the Interstate system, the Lincoln Highway still exists, running from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco. Over the years, the highway has passed through more than 700 cities, towns and villages in the US. 

In 1908 – The London Summer Olympics come to a close with 2,008 athletes from 22 nations taking part, with Great Britain winning the most gold medals with 56. The Games also marked the fixing of the marathon distance at 26 miles, 385 yards to accommodate starting at Windsor Castle and finishing in front of King Edward VII at White City Stadium. The Games began in April and at 6 months and 4 days remain the longest games in modern Olympic history. The games had originally been scheduled for Rome, but the 1906 eruption of Mt Vesuvius made the Games financially unfeasible for the Italians. 

In 1960 – The Drifters are at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the second of three non-consecutive weeks with Save the Last Dance For Me. The song was also in its only week at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart and also went to #1 in New Zealand and South Africa, peaked at #2 in Great Britain and remains their only #1 song. In 1984 a version of the song by Dolly Parton peaked at #4 on Billboard’s country chart, making Save the Last Dance For Me one of the few songs to chart on all three of Billboard’s major singles charts. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

…peacemakers were often more cursed than blessed…compromise always infuriates those who believe in the exclusive justice of their own cause.
David Schoenbrun
Triumph in Paris: The Exploits of Benjamin Franklin

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The NFL record for most penalty yards in a game is 212, by the Tennessee Titans on October 10, 1999. 

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

How many hits on a Billboard pop chart did the Drifters have? – Answer next time!  

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/October 30, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off will return. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow frets over a chick. Today’s Diary. 

Two, what if she doesn’t show up???…Three, what if she does???.

———

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 1806 – Prussian forces numbering 5,300 men and commanded by General Friedrich Romberg surrender Stettin, Prussia – now Szczecin, Poland – to a French force of roughly 800 men. This despite the fact Romberg had adequate supplies to survive a siege and Romberg was later sentenced to prison for giving up Stettin without a fight, though he died a couple of months before his sentence was to begin. History refers to the incident as the Capitulation of Stettin, part of the War of the Fourth Coalition, which ended in July 1807 with a French victory. 

In 2016 – The Oakland Raiders establish a new NFL record for most penalties in a game in a 30-24 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Raiders were penalized 23 times, breaking the record of 22 done three times previously, most recently by the San Francisco 49ers in 1988, and their total of 200 penalty yards remains the third-highest total in NFL history. 2016 would be the 18th and most recent time the Raiders would lead the NFL in penalties, also an NFL record. 

In 1982 – John Cougar – now known as John Mellencamp – is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the eighth of nine consecutive weeks with American Fool. The album yielded three Top 40 hits, including the #1 Jack and Diane and the #2 Hurt So Good, was the first of ten Top 10 albums for Cougar/Mellencamp and remains his only #1. Due to when it was released it was not one of Billboard’s 100 biggest albums of the year and was its 32nd-biggest of 1983 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

…the State Department was one of the most tranquil, even somnolent, of government ministries…where, barring the rare excitement of the odd Indian war, a man could sleep his way through the life of an administration, or get a book written.
Gore Vidal
Empire

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The NBA record for most field goals in a quarter is 9, by Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, in the 3rd-quarter of a January 23, 2015 game. 

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

Who holds the NFL record for most penalty yards in a game? – Answer next time!  

Share Gaylon! Go!