The Daily Dose/July 7, 2026
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

LAST ISSUE STANDING: There is really only one issue remaining following the improglio of President Donald Trump calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino to get an American player’s red card – and ensuing suspension – lifted, something Infantino immediately complied with.

What kind of tournament does FIFA have now? What comes after it’s been established that your rules can be tossed aside to appease a whining world leader? 

Fly In The Ointment: The answer is your tournament is now nothing more than a meaningless exhibition.      

Dry, Technical Matter: Now, we don’t care about soccer any more than you do; they can change their rules and change them at anyone’s whim all they want. Soccer is boring. If you want to liven it up, toss an extra ball out there after ten (boring) minutes without a goal. But to lift a suspension because a blatherskite called to whine about it is wrong. Your sport has no credibility, and future results are subject to change if someone with enough power needs to be appeased.

The Bottom Line: A hundred years from now, all new people will wonder why the world bent over backward to appease Donald Trump. That Trump is completely mismanaging the country – and the world – won’t be a bulletin because Trump is a man of zero moral and intellectual substance. Had the American media and electorate shown courage and brains in 2015 when he first announced, all of us would have been spared the idiocy of the past ten years. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – The hotel is running low on coffee filters. Today’s Diary. 

This happens from time to time, and it is always puzzling because each box of coffee packets comes with an equal number of filters…So how in the hell do we run out???…

———

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Of course you would.
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It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

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

In 1762 – Catherine the Great overthrows her husband Peter III and becomes empress of Russia. Peter had taken the throne in January, and assorted alliances and policies caused Catherine and others to plot a coup. The following day she had her husband arrested and forced to sign an abdication letter. Peter died on July 17, of causes History remains unclear on, while Catherine reigned until her death in 1796, succeeded by her son Paul I. 

In 1877 – The first Wimbledon Championships begin at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club south of London. Twenty-two players paid one guinea to enter, and the first title was won by Specner Gore on July 19th. The club had been founded in 1868, and the tournament was started because interest in croquet had fallen and the club needed money for equipment repair. 

In 1955 – The Rock Era in American popular music begins when Rock Around the Clock is at #1 for the first of eight consecutive weeks. It was the fourth of 15 Top 40 hits for the group, their first of four Top 10 hits and remains their only #1. The song also went to #1 in Germany, Australia, and Great Britain, peaked at #3 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s 2nd-biggest song of the year. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

The man who finds the smell is the one who sniffs.
Nicholas Monsarrat
Smith and Jones

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

The five events in the pentathlon of the ancient Olympic Games were: the discus, javelin, wrestling, long jump, and a sprint, called the stadion, a bit less than 200 meters. 

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

What was Billboard’s #1 song of 1955? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/July 7, 2026
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

ALREADY WITH THE DRY, TECHNICAL MATTER: One of the almost interesting aspects of writing is writing something you’d long thought about.

Hut, Hut, Hike: A good example of this was The Bottom Ten/Team of the Quarter Century column that ran at the end of the last college football season. We’ve been writing The Bottom Ten in assorted places all century, and we first started thinking about the Team of the Quarter Century column when we did the Team of the Double Aughts column in 2010. When the time came to write it, it was a great pleasure. 

USA! USA! Same with the USA250 columns we wrote last week. We don’t remember when we first thought of doing USA 250 columns, but it was years ago. Nothing really asserted itself, though, until the last week of June, which was cutting it a bit close, if you ask us. We would’ve thought something would’ve asserted itself before then, but writing is an interesting animal: you never know when inspiration is going to hit, so we didn’t worry about it. 

Dry, Technical Matter: We ended up doing three columns: our usual July 2nd screed on how this is the real Independence Day, because it is the date Congress actually declared the colonies to be states. For the 3rd, we had some thoughts on what our Founding Fathers might think of their country today, and for the 4th, we offered an accounting of the day’s proceedings of the Continental Congress, written by John Adams. 

The Bottom Line: For better or worse, we don’t force words, and by no means were USA 250 columns guaranteed. When words are there, we write them down, and if you like them, great. If you don’t, it’s a free country. But we weren’t going to force anything, because that’s not writing, that’s typing, and if we couldn’t produce something from the heart, we weren’t going to waste your time. We were pretty pleased with the results, though, and we trust you were, too. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – At the hotel, the back office freezer is gone. Today’s Diary.

The big news is Head Housekeeper Gloria just noticed, after three days, that the back office freezer is gone…I am not making that up…

———

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 1981 – President Ronald Reagan nominates Sandra Day O’Connor to the US Supreme Court, the first woman so nominated. O’Connor was then sitting on the Arizona state court, and prior to that had been a state legislator. O’Connor would be confirmed by the US Senate in September and replaced Potter Stewart, who had retired. O’Connor served until her own retirement in 2005, the first change on the Supreme Court in eleven years. 

In 1912 – Jim Thorpe wins the men’s pentathlon at the 1912 Stockholm Summer Olympics. Thorpe won four of the five events (long jump, 1200 meters, discus, 1500 meters; did not win javelin) and later in the Games, Thorpe won the decathlon. His medals were stripped from him the following year for having played semi-professional baseball and were reinstated in 1982. The pentathlon – not to be confused with modern pentathlon – was last contested at the 1924 Paris Games.

In 1979 – Donna Summer is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the second of six non-consecutive weeks with Bad Girls. The album also went to #1 in Canada and Finland, peaked at #23 in Great Britain, and was Billboard’s 8th-biggest album of the year. It was the first of three #1 albums for Summer and produced three chart singles, including two #1s, Hot Stuff and the title track. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

There is not much sense in setting one’s foot upon the road and not traveling the fullest possible distance.
James Madison

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

Two signers of the Declaration of Independence had sons or grandsons serve as president of the United States: John Adams (himself the 2nd president) had son John Quincy Adams serve as president, and Benjamin Harrison V had son William Henry Harrison and grandson Benjamin Harrison similarly serve. 

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

What were the five events in the pentathlon at the ancient Olympic games? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/July 4, 1776
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

By John Adams
Special Correspondent

USA! USA!: Oh, what a historic weekend in otherwise miserable Philadelphia. Two days ago, our Continental Congress declared our colonies “were, and of right ought to be, free and independent states”. Shedding British shackles will not be easy, but most good things aren’t, as I keep telling John Quincy.

Due Diligence: On to the Declaration! Yesterday, the Third, we bickered over the wording of our Declaration of American Independence, though by the end the day most of us were pleased with it, though Mr Jefferson sat quietly in the back, you could tell he was Fuming at the changes we made.

Alert The Town Crier: Today, in no Small part to my pestering, we approved the Declaration. We assembled in the Pennsylvania State House at our usual 9 am, and after dealing with some militia issues, we delved into the Committee of the Whole, and had the Declaration read and approved unanimously before Noon.

Ye Matter Dry and Technical: Our independence push began last month, when Mr Lee of Virginia introduced the resolution now bearing his name, declaring our colonies were now states. On June 11, four others and I were appointed to a committee to draft the Declaration.

FunFact: History may try to tell you that four us deferred to the pushy Mr Jefferson. Believe it not; he took charge from the beginning. I was – typically, I’m told – of a mind to resent this, but as the esteemed Mr Franklin pointed out, Mr Jefferson did seem to know what he was about here, though he professed Otherwise, and feigned Disinterest.

Passeth, Please, Ye Matter Dry And Technical: We presented our Declaration to Congress assembled on June 28. My lovely bride Abigail – at times as pushy as Mr Jefferson, and who’s been pestering me about this for years – will wonder why women weren’t mentioned. Plus, Jefferson owns slaves, so his line about all men being created equal is merely twaddle. In our defense, we 56 delegates are not Images on stained glass windows, merely men trying to make our new country work. 

Ye Olde Bottom Lyne: A momentous week! I wrote Abigail that the 2nd would be the date living down the ages, but no one Listens to me, and July 4 will probably be our national Holiday. No matter. The Declaration, the infernal Jefferson, and our work here this week will be talked about Forever. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow is obliged to ask the tough question. Today’s Diary. 

Tonite at the General Hospital Security Department (GHSD), we had a conversation with a co-worker we’ve never had before…Or with anyone, for that matter…

———

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 1802 – The United States Military Academy opens in West Point, New York. There were few standards back then, and cadets ranged in age from 10 to 37 and spent anywhere from six months to six years studying. Today, about 1,300 enter as freshmen each year, with about 1,000 graduating, The US Army has occupied the site continuously since the Revolution, and it is the oldest continuously operated Army post in the US. 

In 1919 – Jack Dempsy wins the world heavyweight boxing title, defeating Jess Willard when Willard did not answer the bell for the fourth round. Dempsey would go on to defend the title five times before losing it to Gene Tunney in September 1946. For Willard, it was the second defense of the title he had won from Jack Johnson in 1915, and was his last title fight. In those days, title were sanctioned by the New York State Athletic Commission, Ring magazine, and the National Boxing Association, now the WBA. 

Today – Ella Langley is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the eleventh non-consecutive week with Choosin’ Texas. The mark establishes a new Billboard Hot 100 record for the most weeks at #1 by a country song, eclipsing the mark of ten weeks by Debby Boone’s You Light Up My Life, in 1977, which also peaked at #4 on Billboard’s country chart. The song is now in its 29th non-consecutive week at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – the 4th-biggest country song ever – and is the first #1 on either chart for Langley.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…
The Declaration of Independence

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

The major league record for games pitched in a career is 1,252, by Jesse Orozco, from 1979 to 2003. 

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

How many signers of the Declaration of Independence had sons or grandsons serve as president of the United States? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/July 3, 2026
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

USA 249+364: Yesterday was the 250th anniversary of the day the United Colonies became the United States. Tomorrow is our national holiday, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s adoption. Today, we are going to take a look at what our Founding Fathers might think of their country today. 

We The People: They would understand the partisan and bickering fiasco our country is. Still is, actually, because America has been a two-party, bickering wonderland since before the Revolution. From Federalists and Anti-Federalists to Republicans and Democrats, from town criers to newspapers, radio, television, and the internet, America has always consisted of two-party blather.

A Good…A Positive Good: They would, we think, scratch their heads at the ignorance we are currently tolerating, and the extent to which feelings and opinions have replaced knowledge, but these are hardly uncharted waters for our country. Opinions have been spewing off the top of our collective heads for centuries. 

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death: The Founding Fathers would understand war. America was born in their war, and they would see that later their country came of age in the Civil War and took its place on the world stage in two world wars. They may well think we will collapse in war, too, and they are probably right.

Congress Shall Have The Power To…: They would applaud the Constitutional provision giving Congress the power to declare war, and they would abhor the fact that it is ignored now as a matter of course. They would be relieved the slavery they had been unable and unwilling to get rid of is gone. 

One Small Step: They would lament the fact their country hasn’t really done anything great since leaving the Moon in 1973. They would be surprised to note America now prefers appeasement to accomplishment and is more of a nuisance to the world than an inspiration.

The Bottom Line: Overall, though, the delegates who were in Philadelphia for the 2nd Continental Congress 250 years ago would approve of their country where, despite everything, its citizens still wake every morning with 24 hours – the only commodity all of us are issued in equal measure – to make something good happen for themselves. That has been America’s basic proposition – initially only for white males, but now for everyone – since declaring independence 250 years ago. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody will return.

———

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. 

Due to time constraints, these entries have run previously.

In 1884 – The Dow Jones Company publishes its first stock index in its Customer Afternoon Newsletter, a forerunner of the Wall Street Journal. The index consisted of nine railroads, a shipping company, and Western Union and its closing that first day was 69.93. Today it is known as the Dow Jones Transportation Average and closed Friday at 15,529.77. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was first published in 1896. 

In 1974 – Mike Marshall of the Los Angeles Dodgers establishes the modern major league record for most consecutive games by a pitcher in a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. It was the 13th consecutive game for Marshall, who pitched two-thirds of an inning and earned his 11th save of the year. Research into whose record Marshall broke was inconclusive and the mark was tied in 1986 by Dale Mahorcic of the Texas Rangers and still stands. Marshall would go 1-0 with two saves during the streak and he would appear in 106 games that season, still the major league record. 

In 1961 – Gary US Bonds is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second and final consecutive week Quarter to Three. It was the second of nine Top 40 hits for Bonds, his second of five Top 10s and remains his only #1 song. The song also peaked at #3 on Billboard’s soul chart and went to #7 in Great Britain. Stories that producer Frank Guida picked Bonds off the street and that no one knew the tape recorder was running appear to be legends. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The Wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.
John Adams

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

After the 1899 season, the National League eliminated the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Louisville Colonels, and the Cleveland Spiders. 

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

Who holds the major league record for most games pitched in a career? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/July 2, 2026
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

USA 250: We blab about this every July 2, and this may well explain why we don’t get invited to (m)any parties: the United Colonies declared their independence from the tiresome British on July 2, 1776, and today is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

Get Out Your History Books: The American Revolution was brewing for years. The 1st Continental Congress had met in 1774, and the 2nd Continental Congress had been sitting in Philadelphia since May 1775. The Revolution actually started in April 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, heralding the fact that white men – some of whom owned slaves – wanted to be free. 

Dry, Technical Matter – Original Source Material Edition: Congress’ journal from that day is rather matter-of-fact about the momentous event. After sorting through “sundry letters”, they: 

…resumed the consideration of the resolution agreed to by and reported from the committee of the whole; and the same being read, was agreed to as follows:

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and, of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connexion between them, and the state of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

More Dry, Technical Matter: The resolution agreed to was the Lee Resolution, named for Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee, who had introduced it on June 7. 

Running The Numbers: Though the journal doesn’t record the vote, it was later divulged that the vote for independence was 12-0, with the New York delegation abstaining due to a lack of guidance from the home office. 

All Men Are Created Equal: Later in the day, Congress would consider the Declaration of Independence it had received on June 28th from noted slave owner Thomas Jefferson, but put off voting on it for a couple of days.  

USA! USA! The significance of the day was not lost on the delegates, with no less a Founding Father than John Adams certain July 2 would be remembered forever, writing in a letter to another great American, his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. 

The Bottom Line: It didn’t work out that way, of course, and, frankly, July 2 never got any footing as our national holiday, mostly because July 4 was plastered on the Declaration. So be it. There are those among us, however, who will always hoist a mug on July 2. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow catches up from the past few days.

———

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 1776 – The United States of America is formed when the 2nd Continental Congress of 13 North American colonies declares their independence from Great Britain. The first colony was founded was Virginia in 1607, and the seeds of the Revolution were planted in 1763, when British debt following the French and Indian War led to new taxes on the colonies. The American Revolution effectively ended in 1781 and officially ended in 1783. 

In 1941 – Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees establishes a new major league record for most consecutive games with a base hit in an 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. DiMaggio’s 5th-inning home run gave him a hit in 45 consecutive games, breaking the record of 44 consecutive games established by Willie Keeler of the National League’s Baltimore Orioles in 1897. DiMaggio would hit in 56 consecutive games and the record still stands. 

In 1976 – Wings is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the fifth and final non-consecutive weeks with Silly Love Songs. The song also went to #1 in Ireland and Canada, peaked at #2 in Great Britain, and was Billboard’s #1 song of the year. It was the seventh of twelve Top 10 hits for the group, and their fourth of six #1s. The song was McCartney’s 27th #1 as a songwriter, establishing a Hot 100 record he still holds with 32. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Lost in the cacophony of Oprah and O.J. are those classical values that once made a Saturday afternoon track meet so appealing. Of running for the love of competition, of throwing a javelin for applause and an olive wreath. Of sweating for hours on a lonesome track at dusk for the chance of maybe one day hearing the anthem. Of honor and glory and the spirit of victory, not the spoils.
Mark Zeigler
The San Diego Union-Tribune
6.20.95

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

Billboard’s #1 song of 1969 was Sugar, Sugar by the Archies, which spent for weeks at #1. 

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

What happened to the National League’s Baltimore Orioles? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!