The Daily Dose/July 22, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off refuses to cross the SAG/WGA picket lines.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow’s hearing is back to normal. Today’s Diary. 

The wax in the right ear was a bugger to get out, tho, and everything had to be done twice…

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It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 2011 – The Norway Attacks, two terrorist acts by Anders Behring Breivik, are carried out in Oslo and on a nearby island. The first attack was a car bomb outside of government buildings that killed eight, and two hours later Breivik shot and killed 68 people. Breivik was arrested at the island and pled guilty but denied criminal liability, saying the attacks were justified. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison – the maximum penalty in Norway – though the sentence could be continued if he is still deemed dangerous. The shooting remains the deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in history. 

In 1912 – The Stockholm Summer Olympics come to a close, with Sweden winning the most medals, 64, and the US winning the most gold medals, with 26. Electric timing was introduced and women participated in diving and swimming for the first time. Japan made its debut, becoming the first Asian nation to participate, and this was the last Olympics to issue solid gold medals. Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium is still in use, mainly for soccer and concerts. 

Today – Taylor Swift establishes a new Billboard 200 record for most #1 albums by a woman, with Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) at #1 for the first week. It’s the twelfth #1 album for Swift, breaking the record of eleven established by Barbra Streisand from 1964-2016. Her first #1 album, Fearless, went to #1 in 2008 and Swift is tied for third for most #1 albums in Billboard album chart history with Drake, trailing Jay-Z (14) and the Beatles (19).

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Even the worst sea is not so terrible in a well-appointed ship…and she accomplished all that she undertook to do.
Joshua Slocum
Sailing Alone Around the World

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The US supreme court originally had a chief justice and five associate justices. 

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

What is Taylor Swift’s biggest hit on Billboard’s Hot 100? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/July 21, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off is in time out.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a rather trying morning. Today’s Diary. 

By this time we’re past peeved and are ready to take hostages…

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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
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1937 – The US Senate votes down President Franklin D Roosevelt’s plan to add up to six supreme court justices, voting 70-20 to send the bill back to committee. Roosevelt had come up with the bill following repeated defeats at the supreme court of assorted New Deal proposals. After more than twelve years in office, Roosevelt would end up appointing eight of the nine justices anyway. The court had been fixed at eight justices and a chief justice since 1869. 

In 1956 – Jim Gilliam of the Brooklyn Dodgers ties the major league record for most assists in a game by a second baseman in a 13-6 loss to the  St Louis Cardinals. Gilliam had 12 assists, tying the mark done twice previously, by Monte Ward (1892) and Frankie Frisch (1929), and the mark has been tied several times since and still stands. The extra-inning game record is 15, by Lave Cross in a 12-inning, 1897 game. Gilliam also had two putouts, went 2-for-4 at the plate, and scored a run. 

In 1973 – Jim Croce is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of two consecutive weeks with Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown. It was the fourth of eight Top 40 hits for Croce, his second of four Top 10 hits, and his first of two #1s (Time In A Bottle, two weeks, 1973-74). The song also went to #1 in Canada and was Billboard’s 2nd-biggest song of the year. The song was inspired by someone Croce knew in the army, and Croce would die in September in a plane crash in Louisiana. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

I had profited in so many ways by the voyage…at least ten years younger than the day I felled the first tree for the construction of the Spray.
Joshua Slocum
Sailing Alone Around the World

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The British Open has been played at 13 different courses over the years. The Old Course at St Andrews has hosted the most, 30, and Prince’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England is the only course to host one British Open, in 1932. 

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

How many justices did the original US supreme court have? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/July 20, 2023
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’s in hell. Today’s Diary. 

She could not get outside of this box…There was a government form to be filled out, after all…

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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
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1969 – Human beings land and walk on the moon for the first time when Apollo 11 lands on the Sea of Tranquility 2,739 days after President John F Kennedy had told Congress the US should commit to landing men on the moon before the decade was out. Neil Amstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin landed at 4:17 pm Eastern Daylight Time and Armstrong took the first steps on the moon six-and-a-half hours later. Apollo 11, with Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, returned to Earth four days later. The mission had first been offered to Frank Borman’s crew, which had flown Apollo 8, but Borman declined it. 

In 2003 – Ben Curtis of the US wins the British Open, shooting a final round 69 to win by one stroke at Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England. It was the first major and PGA tour win for Curtis and remains his only major title and was his first of four tour wins. Curtis started the day tied for third place, two strokes back of Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, and earned 700,000 pounds for the win, about $1.8 million in today’s money. The winner of this weekend’s British Open will win earn $3 million.

In 1963 – Jan and Dean are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of two consecutive weeks with Surf City. It remains the only #1 song for the group, was their tenth of 26 chart singles, and their second of six Top 10 hits. The song also peaked at #26 in Great Britain and at #3 on Billboard’s soul chart and was written by Jan Torrence and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Good work in the building of my vessel stood me always in good stead.
Joshua Slocum
Sailing Alone Around the World

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Cyclists from France have won the most Tour de France races, with 21 riders winning 36 times. Belgium is second with 18 wins. 

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

How many courses have hosted the British Open? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/July 19, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Chris tells Sparrow there are some Mennonites staying at the hotel. Today’s Diary. 

He noted they were on their way from Ohio to Montana and you don’t have to be Lewis and Clark to realize that going thru here isn’t the most direct route…

———

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
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1977 – The first GPS satellite signal is sent from space and received by a station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The first operational satellite would be launched the following year and all 24 satellites were operational by 1993. GPS traces its origins back to a 1960s Air Force satellite passive ranging system designed for precision bombing and later developed into a program to help submarines navigate at sea. 

In 1903 – Maurice Garin of France wins the first Tour de France bike race, defeating his closest opponent by 2 hours and 59 minutes. It was the first of two Tour titles for Garin, though his 1904 championship was taken away after being disqualified for reasons History has chosen not to record, though accusations of riders taking trains were rampant throughout the race. The race was organized by a Paris newspaper to increase lagging circulation and the overall leader – now identified by a yellow jersey – was identified by a green armband. 

In 1975 – The Isely Brothers are at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Hot Soul Singles chart – for the first of three consecutive weeks with Fight the Power (Part 1). It was the 29th of 74 soul hits for the group, their 13th of 29 Top 10 hits, and their second of seven #1s in a chart career that has spanned from 1962 to last year. The song also peaked at #4 on the Hot 100, their third and final Top 10 pop hit. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…that is only an approximation, after all, to be corrected by one’s own judgment from the data of a thousand voyages.
Joshua Slocum
Sailing Alone Around the World

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Eddy Arnold & His Tennessee Plowboys hold the record for most consecutive weeks at #1 on a major Billboard singles chart, 55 weeks in 1947-48 with five different songs. 

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

What country had the most riders win the Tour de France? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/July 18, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow works at the VSO. Today’s Diary. 

…it was rather poignant, actually, helping a man who had everything he needed to move in six shopping bags, a duffel, and a backpack.

———

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
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1389 – The English and the French agree to a truce in the Hundred Years War, when Richard II of England and Charles VI of France agree to the Truce of Leulinghem. The kingdoms agree, among other things, to continue peace negotiations and to conduct a joint crusade against the Turks. Though repudiated in 1402, this would be the longest truce of the war which lasted from 1337-1453 and resulted in a French victory. 

In 1921 – Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees establishes a new major league record for most career home runs in a 10-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. Ruth’s 8th-inning home run was the 139th of his career, breaking the record of 138 established by Roger Connor between 1880-97. Ruth would retire in 1935 with 714 home runs, his record was later broken by Henry Aaron and is now held by Barry Bonds (762). When he retired, Connor was also the all-time major league leader in triples and walks. 

In 2009 – The Black Eyed Peas are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second of 14 consecutive weeks with I Gotta Feeling. It was the fifth of eleven Top 10 hits for the group and their second of three #1s and went to #1 in 21 other countries, including Great Britain. The song followed their own Boom Boom Pow #1 which spent twelve weeks at the top, giving the group 26 consecutive weeks at #1, an all-time Hot 100 record that still stands.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

I chuckled above my sorrows when I found out in all the haphazard my judgment or my good genius had faithfully stood by me.
Joshua Slocum
Sailing Alone Around the World

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Billboard’s country chart was called the Hot Country Singles chart from 1962-1990. 

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

What act holds the record for most consecutive weeks at #1 on a major Billboard singles chart? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!