The Daily Dose/February 19, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
UP AGAINST THE BRIDGE AND SPREAD ‘EM: The General History item in yesterday’s On This Date feature concerned Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent arrested for spying for the Russians. The item noted he was arrested while taping stuff for the Russians to the bottom of a bridge.
You don’t come across that every day, so we tried to see if some specifics were available, but all we were able to find was the usual FBI press release pablum you’d expect. Unable to come up with exactly what happened, we came up with a scenario of our own.
Lights, Camera, Action: Here’s one way it could have gone:
Arresting FBI Agent
Uh, Mr Hanssen, is that you?
Mr Hanssen
Yes. Good day. Whom might you be?
Arresting FBI Agent
Yes, sir. FBI Special Agent Palmer here, sir. When you’re through under the bridge, we’d like to arrest you.
Mr Hanssen
Egads. Arrest me? For what?
Arresting FBI Agent
We suspect you of spying, sir.
Mr Hanssen
Why do you think that?
Arresting FBI Agent
Well, you’re taping stuff under a bridge.
Mr Hanssen
So this is a crime? It’s some recipes for a club I’m in.
Arresting FBI Agent
Recipes…
Mr Hanssen
Yeah, it’s my turn for Recipe of the Week at church. It’s my special lemon cake!
Arresting FBI Agent
Are you armed, sir?
Mr Hanssen
Yes. Of course. I’m an FBI agent, just like you.
Arresting FBI Agent
Well, keep your hands where we can see them.
Mr Hanssen
I dunno. I might want to end it. The rest of my life is shot. On the other hand, I don’t want my kids to know I went out a coward. Hold on.
The Bottom Line: Some research even yielded pictures of the bridge Hanssen was arrested at. It’s pretty small, going over a stream, so it’s likely the arresting agents stormed it and took Hanssen by force, but maybe not. It would have been nice to have had some body camera footage of the event, though.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow is back in the gym after a week off. Today’s Diary.
I will never understand the bench press….After a triumphant week off ol’ Sparrow was back in the gym and was at the usual weights for every exercise except this one…Shoulders: strong…Biceps: strong…Triceps: strong…Legs: really strong…Bench press: weak…I felt like the science geek in school being forced to lift.
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On This Date
The long march to today.
In 1913 – Pedro Lascurain becomes president of Mexico for 45 minutes, the shortest presidential term in world history. Earlier in the day, the Mexican government had been overthrown by General Victoriano Huerta, who had Lascurain, then a foreign secretary, installed as president. Huerta was then named interior secretary, which made him next in line to the presidency, after which Lascurain resigned. Lascurain was offered a position in Huerta’s administration but declined, returning to his law practice and later opening a law school.
In 2008 – The Montreal Canadiens tie the NHL record for the largest deficit overcome to win a game in a 6-5 shootout victory over the New York Rangers. The Rangers led 5-0 early in the second period, but the Canadiens got two goals in the second period and three more in the third, tying it with 4:22 left in regulation. The record still stands and has been done numerous times in NHL regular season and playoff history.
In 1966 – Lightnin’ Strikes by Lou Christie is at #`1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week. It was the fourth of five Top 40 hits for Christie, his third of four Top 10 hits and remains his only #1 song. The song also went to #1 in Canada, peaked at #11 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s 23rd biggest song of the year. Christie was born Lugee Sacco and his stage name was picked by a record company executive without his knowledge.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
With patience, the leaves of the mulberry tree become a satin dress.
Chinese proverb
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The other two albums besides Thriller by Michael Jackson to be the #1 album for a year on Billboard’s album chart twice are My Fair Lady by the original Broadway cast n 1957 and 1958 and the soundtrack to the film West Side Story in 1962 and 1963.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What was Lou Christie’s biggest hit on Billboard’s soul chart? – Answer next time!
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