The Daily Dose/July 3, 2019
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
The Dalai Lama is in the news, this time for feeling obliged to offer apologies for remarks made in an interview with the BBC. This is rare and, perhaps, unprecedented because the 14th Dalai Lama is a decent man for whom intentionally giving offense is beyond comprehension.
The first remark he apologized for concerned the prospect of his reincarnation, who would be the 15th Dalai Lama, being female. The line from His Holiness about a potential Her Holiness:
If a female Dalai Lama comes – itself a fairly suggestive line – she should be more attractive.
No one is going to start calling His Holiness Shecky, but it’s not too bad a line, especially from a monk for whom English is his 17th language. It’s even funnier in the context of a BBC interview because the Brits love droll, low key humor of this sort. His Holiness did not offer further context – more attractive than whom? – but it is plain he meant more attractive than him. People, of course, took offense at this and His Holiness dutifully apologized because heaven forbid anyone be offended by anything anymore.
Lighten up, people. A Tibetan lama makes a joke about his reincarnation being a babe? Good gravy, that’s been comedy gold for Dalai Lamas since the 15th century. However, nearing the third decade of the 21st century, this line is not as funny as might have been in another time. Offense is a choice and people are choosing to get their shorts in a knot over an awful lot of things nowadays. Unless you’re Donald Trump, of course. You can blab about grabbing women by the, you know, and get accused of sexual assault almost two dozen times and you still get a free pass to the White House.
His Holiness’ office also issued apologies for a remark he made about the prospects of refugees in Europe never returning home. He expressed concerns that Europe would become a “Muslim country, African country”, a prospect he termed “impossible”. In the past, he has said refugees should return home.
People, he speaks from experience in this matter. His Holiness has himself been a refugee for 60 years: he knows what he is talking about here, and offered a cogent and poignant insight based on this experience. No apology was necessary.
Today At The Site
The Diary of a Nobody: Sparrow’s new wallet is in, and he and The Wife leave a gratuity for the trashmen. Today’s Diary.
We left a gratuity for our trashmen today, too…Recall last week ol’ Sparrow forgot to put the trash out, saw the trashmen still on their route as he drove to the gym, flagged them down, issued apologies, and asked if they’d swing by The Shire…They did, which was good because ol’ Sparrow also forgot to put the trash out the week before so our trash can was filled to the top…We got them each a can of coffee which we know from experience is a popular gratuity, tho I had no idea if they liked the brand we got them…It doesn’t really matter, tho…They have tangible evidence of our gratitude – I included a note, too – valuable the next time I forget to put the trash out and am again obliged to flag them down at the end of their long day.
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life.
The drivel simply does not stop: please click on the button to read The Diary of a Nobody. $5.99 includes all entries, past, present, and future.
On This Date
In 1775 – General George Washington takes command of the Continental Army, outside of Boston after having been commissioned in mid-June by the Second Continental Congress. The Colonies had been at war with Great Britain since April’s battles at Lexington and Concord and Washington would serve until after the end of the war, resigning after the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. Throughout the Revolution, Washington served without pay, though he did accept reimbursement for his expenses.
In 1966 – Tony Cloninger of the Atlanta Braves becomes the fifth major league player and the first from the National League to hit two grand slam home runs in one game as the Braves defeated the San Francisco Giants 17-3. Cloninger later had an RBI single, the nine RBIs tying Henry Staley’s 1893 mark for most RBIs in a game by a pitcher. Cloninger remains the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in one game.
In 1982 – The Dazz Band is at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Hot Black Singles chart – for the fifth and final non-consecutive week with Let It Whip. Though the band hit the soul chart 20 times between 1980 and 1998, Let It Whip remains their only #1 song, and one of five Top 10 hits, on that chart. The song also peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
Quotebook
…it is not possible to rebel against the fact of nature…There is nothing but the always-so.
Gore Vidal
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
New York was the colony that did not vote in favor of the Lee Resolution, declaring American independence from Great Britain. Their delegation abstained because they had not been authorized to vote for it.
Today’s Stumper
Who holds the major league record for most home runs in a game by a pitcher ? – Answer next time!
