The Daily Dose/March 25, 2020
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 solves the COVID crisis. Today’s Diary.
In a stroke of brilliance, I solved the COVID crisis too, by advising our guests on the wake-up call message to “stay safe” today…This was over and above my usual infernally cheerful greeting, the weather forecast and gracious thanks for staying with us.
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On This Date
Great moments in us.
In 1655 – Famed Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens discovers Titan, the first moon orbiting Saturn. Like a variety of moons in the Solar System – including Earth’s moon – Titan is tidally locked, meaning it takes the same amount of time to rotate on its axis as it does to orbit its planet, meaning it is showing Saturn the same face all the time, just like we see the same part of the moon all the time. A probe named Huygens landed on Titan in 2005 with pictures showing a flat, rocky surface that showed evidence of a surface liquid. Its temperature was -290.8 F.
In 1958 – Sugar Ray Robinson wins the world middleweight boxing title for the fifth time defeating Carmen Basilio in a 15-round split decision at Chicago Stadium. Robinson had first won a world title in 1946, when he won the welterweight title from Tommy Bell and had first won the middleweight crown in 1951. It was the first time a boxer had won five world titles, though the feat has been accomplished several times since. Robinson fought professionally from 1940-65, retiring with a record of 173-19-6
In 1972 – America is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of three consecutive weeks with A Horse With No Name. It was the first chart single for the group and their first of two #1 songs (Sister Golden Hair, one week, 1975) and their first of seven Top 10 hits. The song also went to #1 in Finland and Canada, peaked at #3 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s 27th biggest song of the year. At the time, the song was been banned by some radio stations for supposed references to heroin use.
Quotebook
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? – Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
It’s not who you know, but what you know.
Tennessee Ernie Ford had ten Top 40 hits on Billboard Best Sellers in Stores and Hot 100 charts. The biggest was Sixteen Tons, which spent seven weeks at #1 in the winter of 1955-56.
Today’s Stumper
Cheaper than Trivia Night at the bar.
Sugar Ray Robinson once fought for, and lost, the world light-heavyweight title. Who beat him? – Answer next time!
