The Daily Dose/March 7, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME: The headline caught our, but regular readers of this crap know this sort of headline always does: 

MLB’s unbreakable records: Will anyone touch Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak? Barry Bonds’ home run total?

Here We Go: Regular readers of this crap know the big league record book is one of our all-time favorite reads, so we dove right in. The writer had about two-dozen marks on his list, though some didn’t belong on the list simply because the game was played differently in the 19th century. . 

Dry, Technical Matter: For example, teams had fewer pitchers, and they threw every other game or so, finishing what they started. So, among other records, Cy Young’s 749 complete games and Old Hoss Radbourn’s 60 wins in 1884 are exempt from consideration. 

Take Me Out To The Dry, Technical Matter: Our own theory is that if someone did something once, someone can do it again. For example, some like to herald Cal Ripken Jr’s record of 2,632 consecutive games played as being unbreakable, but we don’t think so. We don’t think it will be broken, but it could be. Same with Barry Bonds’ 762 career home runs and Ty Cobb’s career .366 batting average: we wouldn’t make a futures bet on them being broken – and you shouldn’t either – but we don’t think they’re unbreakable. 

Write This Down: For our money, there are only two unbreakable baseball records: Ted Williams’ career on-base percentage of .482 and Johnny Vander Meer’s consecutive no-hitters. A .482 on-base percentage means you are getting on base 96 times out of a hundred plate appearances. Someone might match Vander Meer’s accomplishment, but no one will ever pitch three consecutive 9-inning no-hitters. 

The Bottom Line: We can add these two marks to the two other individual sports marks we think will last forever: Wilt Chamberlain’s 55 rebounds in an NBA game and the 70-68 fifth set John Isner and Nicholas Mahut played at Wimbledon in 2010. Fifty-five rebounds is a lot; it’s a rebound every minute plus rustling up seven more. Tiebreakers are now used for all sets in all professional tennis tournaments now, so the Isner/Mahut record is safe, but even if there weren’t tiebreakers for final sets in tennis majors, that record would be safe forever.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow meets the new guy. Today’s Diary. 

Afterward, he opens the door and we say “Who the hell are you???” a pretty funny question under the circumstances…

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———

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

In 1965 – Several hundred civil rights marchers are attached by Alabama state and county authorities at a bridge crossing the Alabama River at Selma, Alabama. The marchers had started in Selma and were marching on US Hghway 80 when they encountered the authorities, who beat them with nightsticks, while others fired tear gas and charged the group on horseback. There were no deaths, but 17 marchers were hospitalized, while 50 more were treated for lesser injuries. History refers to the event as Bloody Sunday. 

In 1951 – Ezzard Charles retains the world heavyweight boxing title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Jersey Joe Walcott at the Olympia in Detroit. It was the second of four meetings between the two fighters, all title bouts: In 1949 Charles won a unanimous decision for the vacant title, and Walcott would beat Charles for the title in July and would retain it in June 1952. 

In 1981 – Yarbrough & Peoples is at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Hot Soul Singles chart – for the second of five consecutive weeks with Don’t Stop the Music. It was the first of five Top 10 soul hits for the duo and their first of two #1s. The song also went Top 10 pop in Canada and Great Britain and peaked at #19 on the Hot 100. Cavin Yarbrough and Alisa Peoples had met while taking piano lessons as kids in Dallas and married in 1987. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Absence diminishes commonplace passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and kindles fire.
Duc De La Rouchefoucauld

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

Billboard’s #1 song of 1993 was I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston, which spent a then-record 14 weeks at #1 in 1992 and 1993. 

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

What was Ezzard Charles’ career record? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/March 6, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

HERE WE GO AGAIN: President Trump addressed Congress Tuesday night, and it was the same nonsense we’ve put up with since he announced for the GOP nomination in 2015: self-serving, gnorant, witless blather riddled with lies and inaccuracies. It is all Trump is capable of, like is blather of taking over Greenland. 

Fly In The Ointment: And everyone knows it, too. You know it, I know it, your aunt in Duluth knows it, but nobody has ever been able to tell Trump “no, enough, you’re wrong, this is not the way things are”. He is a bully and most people are afraid of bullies. 

USA! USA!: We all deserve blame for this. Instead of calling a spade a spade and telling Trump not to bother us, the American public – seven decades into TV and fast food being at the center of American life – is as witless as he is. We embraced him and so did the media. 

#Oopsies: Let’s be honest, a media paced by Walter Cronkite, Woodward and Bernstein, and any of a dozen other journalists of the era would’ve dismissed Trump before the weekend. Today, the media’s primary job is to tell their target audience what they want to hear and not report substantive issues that might go against their grain. Trump meant ratings and clicks, so instead of dismissing a man of zero intellectual substance who had no business running for president, he was ushered into the primaries, the nomination, and the White House. 

The Bottom Line: The only question is how much damage he can do in four years. Our guess is the damage will be mitigated because Trump’s utter lack of a big picture vision for both himself and his country will mean a lack of tangible results: he lives and governs off the top of his head, doing whatever he feels will garner him the most attention. But who knows? We elected a dunce and we are going to have to live with the results. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow oversleeps. Today’s Diary. 

…we had no time to workout at all, unless all we wanted to do was do one medicine ball twist and walk around the basketball court once before heading home. 

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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 456 – Forty-two Byzantine officials who had been kidnapped seven years earlier are executed by Islamic leaders in Samara, now in central Iraq. The officials were taken hostage following the sack of Amorium in western Turkey and the Islamic caliphate had hoped to get a ransom for the hostages, but with no hope of that, they were executed after refusing to convert. 

In 1919 – The Montreal Canadiens win the NHL championship, defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 to win the best-of-7 series in five games. It was the first of 24 NHL titles for the Canadiens and the only one that did not involve winning the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens played the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association for the Stanley Cup, but the series was canceled after five games due to the Spanish flu epidemic. 

In 1993 – Peabo Bryson and Regina Bell are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with A Whole New World. The song also peaked at #8 in Great Britain, at #21 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s 18th-biggest song of the year. The song was played over the closing credits of the movie Aladdin and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Another version in the film by Brad Kane and Lea Solanga won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It remains the only #1 song for both Bryson and Belle. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

I can be silenced, not by enemies, not by authority – but by my own comfortable indifference.
Morris West
The Clowns of God

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

Kobe Bryant scored the most points in an NBA game by someone other than Wilt Chamberlain, 80, in January 2006. He broke David Thompson’s record of 73, established in April 1978.  

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

What was Billboard’s #1 song of 1993? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

Friends,

We are taking a couple of days of. Sparrow sends greetings, and looks forward to boring you again before the week is out.

Thank you for reading,

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/March 2, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. Donald Trump – Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters “strongly suspect” Trump’s next geographical edict will change name of country to People’s Republic of Amerika. 

2. Volodymyr Zelenskyy – Ukrainian president berated in Oval Office by President Trump for forcing Russia to invade it three (3) years ago, tho Zelenskyy’s motive remains unclear …Zelenskyy earns further US ire by refusing to drop second “y” from end of last name. 

3. People’s Republic of Amerika – The new 3-hole staple, replacing USA! USA! as we slide into a Trump/Musk dictatorship…Amerika completely off its rocker now, siding with Russians, alienating old allies, and smacking around a good man trying to save his country.

4. 2026 Midterm Elections – Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters “pretty sure” elections will go off as scheduled, but not entirely sure and, be honest, you probably aren’t entirely sure either, as Amerika might be a nice little dictatorship by then. 

5. Donald Trump Fact Check – Click here for Trump’s lies and inaccuracies from this week’s Cabinet meeting…Courtesy of CNN. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has the latest morning coffee service news from the hotel. Today’s Diary. 

…not only new brands of French vanilla and hazelnut creamers BUT – and hold on to your hats here – new brands of cups and lids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

———

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 1972 – Pioneer 10 is launched by the United States at Cape Canaveral, Florida on a mission to fly by Jupiter. The spacecraft took seven months to make the trip and made its closest approach to Jupter (82,178 miles) on December 3. Radio occlusion data  -297° F and -261° F. The spacecraft crossed Pluto’s orbit in 1983 and it’s last signal to Earth was received in January 2003 at a distance of 7.5 billion miles from Earth. 

Editor’s Note: due to time constraints, the next two entries ran last year.

In 1962 – Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors establishes a new NBA record for most points in a game in a 169-147 win over the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Chamberlain had 100 points, breaking the record of 78 points he had established the previous December 8 and the record still stands. It was the third time Chamberlain had set the NBA’s single-game scoring record and the 316 combined points established a new NBA record for most points in a game, a mark now held by the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets (370, 12/13/83). 

In 1974 – Bob Dylan with The Band is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the third of four consecutive weeks with Planet Waves. It was the eighth of 22 Top 10 albums for Dylan and his first of five #1 albums for and remains the only appearance at #1 on a Billboard chart for The Band. The album produced two chart singles, neither of which made the Top 40.  

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

He was not so unreasonable-usually- as to demand both freedom and the fruits of popular slavery.
Sinclair Lewis
Arrowsmith

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings holds the NHL record for most assists by a player who spent his career with one team with 1,063. 

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

What is the most points scored in an NBA game by someone not named Wilt Chamberlain? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/March 1, 2025
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 spends a second straight night with a girl. Today’s Diary. 

That girl who was brought into the ER last nite who had OD’d and whom we watched sleep all nite was still in room five!!!…

———

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 1562 – The French Wars of Religion begin when 63 French Protestants – known as Huguenots – are massacred in Vassy. The Huguenots were worshiping when they were attacked by troops led by the Duke of Guise and the war would continue when Huguenots occupied Orleans in April. The wars did not end until 1598, with an estimated two to four million killed either from violence, famine, or disease. History refers to the incident at the Massacre of Vassy. 

In 1988 – Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers establishes a new NHL record for most career assists in a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky’s assist on Yari Kurri’s first-period goal was the 1,050th of his career, breaking the record of 1,049 established by Gordie Howe from 1946-80. Gretzky ended his career in 1999 with 1,963 assists, a record that still stands. 

In 1976 – Rhythm Heritage is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with Theme From S.W.A.T. It was the first of three chart singles for the group, their first of two Top 40 hits and remains their only #1 song. The song also went to #1 in Canada and was Billboard’s 29th-biggest hit of the year. The song was written by Barry De Vorzon, who orchestra provided the version actually used on the TV show.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…obey the precept of the old philosopher and Explore thyself.
Henry David Thoreau
Walden

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

The Soviet Union won the most overall (21) and gold (7) medals at the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics.

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

Who holds the NHL record for most assists in a career spent with the same team? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/February 28, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

USA! USA!: The downside to another Trump Administration is not so much his policies. Some have merit, though you can go argue their merits on your own time. No, the downside is that America is going to have to suffer through four more years of substandard presidential leadership. 

Let’s Go Live To The White House: As we see repeatedly, Trump’s concept of leadership is bullying and blustering his way to what he wants, regardless of merit or whether or not it is in accordance with established US policy, tradition, and law, and whether or not it’s constitutional. He throws mud against a wall and sees what sticks. 

Fly In The Ointment: This is not out of the Leadership 101 manual and America remains a partisan, fractured, and bickering mess. Nothing of substance is going to get done. 

USA! USA! II: America really hasn’t been led by an elected president since Kennedy said let’s go to the moon. Johnson got caught in the Vietnam crosshairs. Nixon resigned in disgrace, Ford – not elected, of course – did well under circumstances the Son of Man would’ve found challenging. Carter appeared overwhelmed, while Reagan was the most managed president to that time, an influence that is still felt today because nobody speaks plainly and from the heart anymore. Everyone has to stay on message.  

Dry, Technical Matter: George Bush was gracious but couldn’t get reelected and lied when he said “No new taxes”. Clinton produced our last balanced budget, but it was always something with him; George W Bush lied to get us into war. Obama talked a good game but left the country much as he found it. Trump’s first term saw, among other things, a COVID response so incompetent he will always have blood on his hands. Biden wanted his party to be all things to all people, and America merely marked time under his watch. 

Here We Go Again: Now Trump is back, and we can’t really complain about it because we elected him. We elected him despite two impeachments, an insurrection, a felony conviction, despite the fact we know he is a lying, ignorant, blatherskite. 

Fly In The Ointment: Now, the man who believes the moon is part of Mars and that the American Revolution was won when we secured British airports witlessly wants Canada as the 51st state and says Ukraine started its war with Russia. 

The Bottom Line: So say goodbye to the prospect of America getting any substantive leadership the next four years. We are going to get four years of blather, lies, and mismanagement. Four years of ignorance. At least two years of Congress standing by and cooing at all this despite the fact they know better. All of us know better, but we elected this nonsense anyway. We deserve everything we get. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow is back in the game. Today’s Diary. 

That doesn’t sound very romantic, but such matters are a compendium of needs and when two people have what the other needs – like US citizenship – things happen…

———

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 1525 – Aztec King Cuauhtemoc is executed on the orders of conquistador Hernando Cortez while on an expedition in southern Mexico. Cortes, a Spaniard, had conquered the Aztec empire in 1521 and suspected Cuauhtemoc of wanting to kill him. Some histories say Cortes’ suspicion was unfounded and that he felt guilty afterward and suffered from insomnia. 

In 1960 – The United States wins the Olympic ice hockey gold medal with a 9-4 victory over Czechoslovakia in the final game of the medal round at the Squaw Valley Winter Games. It was the first of two Olympic titles for the US, while Canada earned its second of four silver medals and the Soviet Union earned its only bronze medal. The Olympic ice hockey tournament did not use a single-elimination bracket tournament to determine its champion until the 1992 Albertville Games.

In 1970 – Simon and Garfunkel is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of six consecutive weeks with Bridge Over Troubled Water. It was the sixth of eight Top 10 hits for the group and their third and final #1. The song went to #1 in five other countries, including Indonesia and Great Britain, was Billboard’s #1 song of the year and their 5th-biggest of the decade. The song won five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

But for the chosen, there is no choice.
Saul Bellow
Ravelstein

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

The US Navy’s – indeed, the world’s – first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), in commissioned, active service from 1961-2012. 

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

What country won the most gold and overall medals at the Squaw Valley Olympics? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!