The Daily Dose/May 22, 2020
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
THANK YOU CAPTAIN OBVIOUS: It is, of course, reasonable to expect the Virus Era will change many things, probably permanently, perhaps for the better.
Dry, Technical Matter: Among the possible changes, one could involve major league baseball (MLB), which is currently farting around with various plans for starting their season and it is likely the season will feature, exclusively, regional play. Since the National and American leagues do not play under the same rules, it is entirely possible the National League will adopt the designated hitter (DH) rule for the year.
Dry, Technical Matter: The DH allows a player to bat for the pitcher and is utilized in various forms in virtually every amateur and professional league on the planet. The American League adopted it in 1973 but the National League, probably because they didn’t do it first, has always resisted. Self-proclaimed purists decry the DH because it does take some strategy out of the game, but if strategy causes you to achieve and maintain a state of arousal, go play chess.
The Bottom Line: Let me tell you something, if the Virus Era results in the National League permanently adopting the DH, then this entire fiasco will have been worth it. Economic catastrophe, over 300,00 worldwide deaths, everything, will have been a small price to pay for the National League finally coming, kicking and screaming, into the 20th-century. Honestly, we’ve always felt they should have adopted ten minutes after the American League.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody: Sparrow makes chorizo burgers with mixed results. Today’s Diary.
On the plus side, it tasted good, especially with the amount of cheese a growing boy like me demands…Plus mayonnaise…On the downside, it didn’t hold together particularly well, falling somewhat apart on the griddle…Plus, there was grease splatter all over the place, too…Original plans were to BBQ but in deference to the robins nesting right outside the kitchen door but I didn’t because I didn’t want to bother them…Mama robin is firmly placed right now and it is probably best not to incur her wrath.
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On This Date
History’s long march to today
In 1804 – The Lewis and Clark Expedition, officially the US Army Corps of Discovery, begins, setting off from St Charles, Missouri, a bit northwest of St Louis. The expedition consisted of approximately 45 people – accounts vary – mostly US Army personnel, but some civilians as well. They would make the Pacific Ocean in November 1805 and return to St Louis in September 1806. In two years the Corps suffered only one death, a sergeant who died in August 1804, probably of appendicitis.
In 1977 – American Janet Guthrie becomes the first woman to earn a spot in the Indianapolis 500 with a four-lap average speed of 188.403 mph. Guthrie’s speed was good enough for a ninth row start and she left the race after 27 laps due to a timing gear malfunction. The race was won by A.J. Foyt. Guthrie would race at Indianapolis the following two years, finishing ninth in 1978 and not finishing in 1979. Earlier in 1977, Guthrie was the first woman to race in the Daytona 500.
In 1965 – The Beatles are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with Ticket to Ride. It was the 22nd Top 40 hit for the Beatles, their 13th Top 10 hit, their eighth #1 and is one of five #1 songs by the group that only spent one week at the top in the US. The song also went to #1 in six other countries including Norway and Great Britain. A version by the Carpenters peaked at #54 in 1969.
Quotebook
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
But then, wherever one goes on this earth, all things are spoiled by men. – Gore Vidal, Creation
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
It’s not who you know, but what you know.
The Montreal Canadiens have lost nine times in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Today’s Stumper
Cheaper than Trivia Night at the bar.
What was Janet Guthrie’s profession before turning to auto racing? – Answer next time!
