The Daily Dose/December 21, 2020
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
Leading Off is enjoying its annual holiday break. It will return after the first of the year.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow runs into a yapper at the hot springs.
After a while, he seamlessly rolled into a story about his encounter with a celebrity…Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your view on the matter, I missed the name because I’d gone underwater – probably to see how long I could hold my breath – and I fled soon after that…I’d heard enuff…The lady tho, was taking it in good spirits, even to the point of asking a question or two, which was sort of like hitting the reset button….The guy indicated he was there every Sunday, so maybe I’ll run into him again.
The Regular Guys/Chapter 23 – Part I – Larry is kidnapped.
Larry was kidnapped by four men in clown masks one afternoon a few months later. He had been walking to his car in the Caesars Palace parking garage to drive to lunch with Ray Evans, gossip columnist for the Las Vegas Herald.
Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device.
Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.
On This Date
The long march to today.
In 69 AD – The Roman Senate declares Vespasian emperor, the final of four emperors in a year History logically refers to as the Year of Four Emperors. Vespasian replaced Vitellius after beating him in battle and Vitellius had taken power in September after Otho had killed himself. The year had started with Galba on the throne, who was killed after being overthrown by Otho. The chaos had been instigated by the suicide of Emperor Nero the year before and Vespasian restored stability to the throne, serving until his death ten years later.
In 1981 – Cincinnati and Bradley establish a new NCAA record for the longest game in a 75-73 Cincinnati victory. The teams played seven overtimes, with the game tied 61-61 at the end of regulation. The shot clock had not been adopted yet and neither team shot much. In fact, neither team scored in the third overtime and only a last-second jump shot in the seventh overtime prevented another scoreless period. Seven appears to be the maximum number of overtime college teams are willing to play as it is also the NCAA Division II and III records, and the all-time NAIA record as well.
In 1974 – Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for its only week. It was the third of six Top 40 hits for Chapin and remains his only Top 10 and #1 hit. The song also went to #1 in Canada and due to when it charted was Billboard’s 38th biggest song of 1975. In 1993, a version by Ugly Kid Joe peaked at #6 on the Hot 100 and at #7 in Great Britain.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
The first lesson of philosophy is we cannot be wise about everything. We are fragments in infinity and moments in eternity; for such forked atoms to describe the universe, or the Supreme Being, must make the planets tremble with mirth.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol I: Caesar to Christ
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Cheaper than Trivia Night at the bar.
The first person to beat Sugar Ray Robinson in a professional bout was Jake LaMotta, on February 5, 1943, in Detroit.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
When was Harry Chapin’s last appearance on a Billboard singles chart? – Answer next time!
