The Daily Dose/March 28, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

Leading Off will return.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow enters a chat vortex. Today’s Diary. 

…the CV is the area – entered at your own risk – where you engage in conversation with the senorita and are pounded with chatter. 

———

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It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

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

In 193 – Didius Julianus becomes Roman emperor, winning a bidding war with several others following the murder of Pertinax. Rome’s Praetorian Guards had put the throne up for auction after killing Pertinax and ultimately accepted Julianus’ bid of 25,000 sesterces for every Roman soldier. He would rule until he, too, was murdered on June 2 in a year History refers to as the Year of Five Emperors. Pertinax had ruled since the first of the year. 

In 1976 – The Delta State Lady Statesmen win the women’s college basketball national championship, defeating the Immaculata Might Macs 69-64 in the championship game of the AIAW tournament at Penn State. It was the second consecutive and final championship for Delta State and the second consecutive runner-up finish for Immaculata, to go with three national titles (1972-74). The AIAW conducted tournaments through the 1986 season when the NCAA held its first tournament.

In 1942 – Glenn Miller & His Orchestra with Ray Eberle & the Modernaires is at #1 on Billboard’s National Best Selling Retail Records chart – a predecessor to the Hot 100 – for the fifth of ten consecutive weeks with Moonlight Cocktail. Starting in December 1941, Miller held the top spot for 21 of 22 consecutive weeks with four different songs.  The song was recorded on December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and was the 14th of 16th #1 songs for Miller in a chart career that began on the Your Hit Parade chart in 1938.  

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…motion was life. All men must climb, particularly those born at the top who must make the fascinating but perilous journey down.
Gore Vidal
Washington, D.C. 

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Joe Louis won the world heavyweight boxing title when he defeated James Braddock in 1937,

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

The AIAW’s forerunner was the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW). In 1969 and 1970 it held a basketball national championship featuring teams with six players. Who won these tournaments? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/March 27, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

GAYLON FOR CONGRESS…VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN: Like a druggie that can’t stay away, we are back on a general election ballot, having secured the Colorado Libertarian Party’s nomination for Congress from the 2nd District. It will be our fourth time on a general election ballot, having been the Libertarian nominee for the US Senate in 2014 and the House in 2016 and 2018. As usual, we are known as the Peace Candidate. 

The Peace Candidate: We were first called the Peace Candidate in 2014 when robocalls some malcontents sent out in the middle of the night used that term to describe me. It’s true, too:

We are against the US fighting any war that has not been declared by Congress, as mandated in Article One, Section Eight of the Constitution. 

USA! USA!: You should be, too. America has been at war every day for 35 years, most days since Pearl Harbor, and for 206 of the 249 years since Lexington and Concord heralded the start of the American Revolution in 1775. America was born in war, came of age in war, and took the world stage in war.

Dry, Technical Matter: Eventually it will catch up with us. No nation has survived perpetual war and America will not be the first.  I feel we have until this half-century is out to make peace with ourselves and the world before this nation collapses and America is tossed aside the scrap heap of History. We don’t want that anymore than you do, and we are running to prevent that.

The Bottom Line: Friends, Congress hasn’t declared war since 1942. It has authorized them and passed resolutions agreeing to pay for them, but the Constitution doesn’t specify authorizations or resolutions, and it certainly doesn’t say we can go to war at the whim of presidents and NATO. Perpetual war will eventually destroy America. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow notes the weekly Coke order is rather small. Today’s Diary.

DAMN THE END OF MONTH ECONOMIES!!!…WE NEED THINGS, DAMMIT!!!

———

Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Anyone would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

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 1866 – President Andrew Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which gave citizenship to everyone born in the US, regardless of race, color, or “previous condition of servitude”. In April, Congress would override the veto, making the bill law. Johnson’s veto message had said, in part, that the bill provided “safeguards which go indefinitely beyond any that the General Government has ever provided for the white race”.

In 1942 – Joe Louis retains the world heavyweight boxing title with a 6th-round TKO of Abe Simon at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was the 21st title defense for Louis and was the second final title fight for Simon, who had lost to Louis the year before. Louis was in the Army then, received no purse for the bout, and this was the last heavyweight title fight until November 1944. Louis would retain the title five more times before losing it to Ezzard Charles in 1950. 

In 2004 – Usher featuring Lil’ Jon and Ludacris is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the fifth of twelve consecutive weeks with Yeah! The song went to #1 in 13 other countries – including Switzerland, Norway, and Great Britain – was in its fourth of eight consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart, was their #1 song of the year, and their 2nd-biggest hit of the decade. It was the fourth of nine #1 songs for Usher, remains the only #1 for Lil’ Jon, and was the second of five #1s for Ludacris. 

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.

Bill Hayes starred in the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1970-2004. 

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

Who did Joe Louis beat for the heavyweight title? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/March 26, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

Leading Off will return. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow blows some money at the retailer. Today’s Diary. 

We like to blame triple-digit spends like this on the cat, but most of it was for us…

———

Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

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. 

Editor’s Note: Due to time constraints, today’s entries originally ran in 2020.

In 1979 – A peace treaty between Israel and Egypt is signed at the White House by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by US President Jimmy Carter. The treaty was the result of negotiations hosted by Carter the previous year at Camp David. The treaty took effect in 1980 and was not heralded with universal acclaim. Egypt was suspended from the Arab League for ten years and Sadat was assassinated in 1981. For their efforts, Begin and Sadat shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize. 

In 1972 – The Los Angeles Lakers establish a new NBA record for most wins in a season, winning their 69th game, a 124-98 win over the Seattle SuperSonics. The Lakers broke the record of 68 wins established by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1966-67, finished the season 69-13, and defeated the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Their record stood until the Chicago Bulls won 72 games in 1995-96 and is now held by the Golden State Warriors, who won 73 games in 2015-16. 

In 1955 – The Ballad of Davy Crockett by Bill Hayes is at #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart – a predecessor of the Hot 100 – for the first of five consecutive weeks. It was the first chart single for Hayes and only a #33 hit in 1957 kept Hayes, an accomplished actor, from being a one-hit wonder. The song also peaked at #2 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s sixth-biggest song of the year. Three other versions of the song would hit Billboard’s country chart. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

They rode forth to battle without a flag except that flown by their own courage.
Louis L’Amour
The Lonesone Gods

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Billboard’s #1 song of 1967 was Lulu’s To Sir, With Love, which spent five weeks at #1. 

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

Bill Hayes would later star in what NBC soap opera? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/March 25, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

CAPSULE DINER(S) REVIEW: Mo’s, Manitou Springs, Colorado, & Waffle House, Fillmore Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado: The diner is a nice piece of Americana that we like to take advantage of on the road. We’re generally traveling alone and there’s no reason to get too picky in this situation, especially when hunger and convenience coincide. 

Leading Off: Mo’s had two things going for it. The first was a hearty recommendation by the hotel staff and the second was its location, right next door to the hotel. It’s been around forever and occupies an old house and don’t forget your cash, because Mo’s doesn’t take American Express, or any other form of convenient, electronic payment. 

Uh-Oh: They were severely understaffed, too, with only a waitress and a cook. There were tables that needed bussing, orders to be delivered, and shakes to be made, though it must be noted the waitress went about her business with admirable calm. The service, though, was slow. 

OTOH: The food and atmosphere, though, were good. We sat at the counter, and our patty melt was good, and the onion rings, though not hand-battered, were very good. 

And In This Corner: We try to get to Waffle House as often as possible. We’re not sure why, either. The coffee and hash browns are very good, but everything is only good. But they are open 24/7,  key when you’re hungry at zero-dark-thirty. 

Dry, Technical Matter: Two elements made this Waffle House visit as good as any we’ve had: one was the atmosphere, what kids today might call a vibe. It was 0200 and the place was packed. We lead rather quiet lives and we’re not always open to vibes, but for some reason we were this morning. 

The second reason was the service. We got our usual, a sausage Texas toast sandwich, hashbrowns (scattered and covered), and a waffle…Usually, they bring it all at the same time and you’re juggling so that nothing gets too cold. 

The Greatest Day Since Creation: Brittany brought the sandwich and hash browns soon enough, but not the waffle, saying it would be brought by later. Her timing was perfect: the instant we finished the first course, there was our waffle, piping hot, asking only to be consumed. 

Get Your Official Daily Dose Rating Scale Right Here: A – The very best; B – Very Good; C – Good; D – OK; F – A steaming pile. 

Final Rating: A. We don’t pass out the highest rating too often here – and the rating is relative to other diners, not 5-star restaurants – but good luck topping either of these places for an all-American diner experience.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow is obliged to check himself out of the hotel he stayed at. Today’s Diary. 

The nite auditor at the hotel we stayed is either completely oblivious to anything going on around him or has no customer service instincts whatsoever…

———

Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

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  1584 – Sir Walter Raliegh of England is given a patent by Queen Elizabeth I to establish a colony Virginia. Raleigh sent an expedition to the New World the following year, which landed and established a colony on Roanoke Island in what is now Dare Country, North Carolina. The colony was visited in a few years later, with all colonists found to have disappeared under unknown circumstances. Raleigh was arrested after Elizabeth’s death and convicted of treason. King James I pardoned him, though the sentence was later reinstated, with Raleigh executed in 1618.

In 1952 – The Kansas Jayhawks win the NCAA basketball tournament, defeating the St John’s Redmen 80-63 in Seattle. It was the first of four NCAA titles for the Jayhawks, and it remains the only runner-finish for St John’s. Previously, Kansas had defeated Santa Clara in the national semifinals, and St John’s had defeated Illinois, and this was the first NCAA tournament where four regional champions met in the semifinals. Previously, two regional champions had met in the championship game. 

In 1967 – The Turtles are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of three consecutive weeks with Happy Together. It was the sixth Top 40 hit for the group, their second of five Top 10 hits, and remains their only #1 song. The song also peaked at #12 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s 8th-biggest song of the year.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Basic human nature never changed; the collective human text demonstrated that incontrovertibly.
Fred Kaplan
Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Alabama’s biggest hit on the Hot 100 was Love in the First Degree which spent two weeks at #15 in 1982.

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

What was Billboard’s #1 song for 1967? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/March 24, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

The Sunday Bottom 5 will return.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

Cheapskates rejoice! Read Free Sunday (RFS) returns. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow For Congress is a thing. Today’s Diary. 

…in the end ol’ Sparrow trounced [None of the Above] 32-3, meaning three democracy lovers preferred no one on the ballot to yours truly…Oh well, you’re not going to please everybody. 

———

Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

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  1765 – The British Parliament passes the Quartering Act of 1765, which states that legislatures in the colonies are obliged to pay for the quartering of British troops posted to the Colonies. Resentment over it was the basis of the 3rd Amendment to the Constitution. The least-cited amendment, it has been the subject of only one court case over the centuries, 1982’s Engblom v. Carey, where a US Circuit Court held that National Guard troops could be quartered in dorms while acting as prison workers during a strike. 

In 1980 – The Louisville Cardinals win the NCAA basketball championship, defeating the UCLA Bruins 59-54 in Indianapolis. It was the first of three NCAA titles for the Cardinals and was the second of two runner-up finishes for UCLA, with the NCAA later vacating both results. The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Purdue Boilermakers also made the Final Four, and this was the first NCAA tournament where a conference could have an unlimited number of at-large teams. 

In 1984 – Alabama is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the only week with Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler). It was the fifth of twelve consecutive #1 country hits and 33 overall for the group, and only a Christmas song that peaked at #35 prevented it from being the twelfth of 21 consecutive #1s. The song also went #1 country in Canada and was written by Dave Loggins. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

The American dream is not about money. It is about using your abilities and being the best you can be.
Congressman J.C. Watts
Republican National Convention
August 13, 1996 

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The Colorado Rockies began as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974 and became the New Jersey Devils in 1982.

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

What was Alabama’s biggest hit on Billboard’s Hot 100? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!