The Daily Dose/April 13, 2020
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience…
SOME PHILOSOPHICAL CRAP: One of the benefits of growing older are the lessons the years offer. We had one reinforced twice recently, the lesson that sometimes the journey is better than the destination. This lesson sometimes takes a while to be appreciated.
Oh, Jesus H: The most recent reinforcement came in Friday’s mail when we received two decals the Washington State Cougars football team wore in the 1998 Rose Bowl vs evil Michigan. It had ‘Cougars’ in script with a rose and its stem woven through it. It was the first Washington State Rose Bowl since the Middle Ages and we loved the decal immediately and long wanted to own one or two.
Yeah, This Is Thrilling: And we came across it off and on over the ensuing years but never pulled the trigger until recently when we found a set on eBay. And Friday there they were, 20 years of waiting over. And even that was anticlimactic because with modern technology I knew when they would be there, which meant there was no rushing breathlessly to the mailbox to see if it was there, like when we were kids.
All Right, Now What?: Almost interesting is the fact we have some zero clue what to do with them. Cars come and go and we live in Colorado State Rams country, so the neighbors aren’t likely to be all that impressed with them. They’re under the desk pad right now, pending a decision.
Oh, Jesus H II: The second example actually presented itself a while back. Fans of this feature know we enjoy our research here, particularly the baseball record book and the Billboard charts, and we’ve long wanted to do some chart research into a variety of topics, but finding a thorough, credible source proved elusive.
Dry, Technical Matter: Until recently. We found a site that makes it easy to scour Billboard charts, artists, songs and, importantly, yearly figures. We couldn’t believe it. Vital questions like which song spent the most weeks at a peak position other than #1 or #2 or which had the highest peak position in a one-week stay on a 100 position chart could now be answered!
Fly In The Ointment: In time they will be. We dove right in, gleefully making it to the late 1960s before our ardor cooked. We’re now up to 1978 and we’ll get back at it eventually, but simply knowing we can do it is sufficient for now.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody: Sparrow has the latest MPG figures for the new ride. Today’s Diary.
Good gravy, we are really in the Golden Age of gas mileage right now…
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On This Date
Great moments in us.
In 1976 – The United States Treasury reintroduces the two-dollar bill, in commemoration of both the Bicentennial and the 233rd anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson. The $2 bill first appeared in 1862 and was first issued in its current size in 1928 and was discontinued in 1966. The $2 bill never really caught on. During the Depression few had use for a $2, though later it would find use for $2 bets at race tracks and today the $2 bill constitutes only about 1% of US currency in circulation and originals from the 1976 issue have little value above their face value.
In 2016 – The Golden State Warriors establish a new NBA record for most wins in a season in a 125-104 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. The win was their 73rd of the season, breaking the record of 72 established by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls and their record still stands. The Warriors finished the season 73-9, began it 24-0 and didn’t lose their second game until Dec 30. They lost the NBA Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.
In 1959 – George Jones is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot C&W Sides chart – for the first of five consecutive weeks with White Lightning. It was the first of 13 country chart #1s for Jones and the song also peaked at #73 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Jones would later admit to being drunk at the recording session with 80 takes being recorded, though the first take was the one ultimately released. The song was written by J.P. Richardson, better known as the Big Bopper, who had died in February in the plane crash that also killed, among others, Buddy Holly and Richie Valens.
Quotebook
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Did we brave all then, to falter now?”– Abraham Lincoln
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
It’s not who you know, but what you know.
Elton John’s biggest hit on Billboard’s soul chart was I Don’t Want To Go On With You Like That, which hit #7 in 1988.
Today’s Stumper
Cheaper than Trivia Night at the bar.
Who was on the front of the first $2 United States note issued in 1862? – Answer next time!
