Author: fasted86

Briefly.

The bank just called and gave me the biggest compliment. They said my balance was outstanding!

Trivia #1: What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common?
Trivia #2: Who is the only MLB player to play for all four original expansion franchises and ONLY those franchises?
Trivia #3: Which country produces more major-leaguers per capita than any other country in the world?
Trivia #4: Who won the 2020 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 2020)

On this date: July 10, 48 BC, Battle of Dyrrhachium: Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey near the city of Dyrrachium (in what is now Albania)
July 10, 1040, Lady Godiva rides naked on horseback through Coventry, according to legend, to persuade her husband, the Earl of Mercia, to lower taxes
July 10, 1796, Carl Friedrich Gauss discovers that every positive integer is representable as a sum of at most three triangular numbers
July 10, 1890, Wyoming becomes 44th state of US, the first with female suffrage
July 10, 1923, Two-pound hailstones kill 23 people and many cattle in Rostov, Russia
July 10, 1925, Meher Baba begins his silence of 44 years. His followers still observe Silence Day on this date in commemoration.
July 10, 1936, state record high temperatures were set in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia
July 10, 1943, Singer Judy Garland (21) headlines her first solo concert, with an orchestra led by conductor Andre Kostelanetz at the Robin Hood Dell in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park; sell-out crowd of 15,000 augmented by additional 5,000 outside the open-air venue
July 10, 1975, Gladys Knight & the Pips Summer Series premieres on NBC-TV
July 10, 2018, Drake surpasses The Beatles’ record of most singles in the Billboard Hot 100 with seven from his album “Scorpion” against their five. (Drake? Who knew?)

Her: Why is your password “snowwhiteandthesevenswarfs?”
Me: I was told it had to be at least 8 characters.

Go away: Soccer (I know, not a popular comment but, gone away for a while in my world)

Article I’ll skip: World Cup teams move into the quarterfinals: Here’s how to stream every match without cable – Ya, I might watch the final, maybe. Until then, I’m good.

I’m going to buy a driving range and add a mat on one end that is all caged in and would be used solely for throwing clubs. Hit your bucket, then let it all hang out in the “throwing area.”

I’m still torn whether I like about the Jaylen Brown trade. I can tell you this, Paul George has played in more than 56 games in a season only once in his past 7, ½ the season or less in three of those. He’s 36.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The average new car payment rose to an all-time high in the first quarter as American households continued to face affordability challenges in the economy. The average monthly payment for a new vehicle rose 2.9% from a year ago to a record of $770. And you don’t think credit scores matter?? Among borrowers with varying tiers of credit scores, the borrowers making the highest average monthly payments on new vehicles were nonprime borrowers with scores in the 601 to 660 range, who paid $811, followed by subprime borrowers with scores between 501 and 600 who paid $792.

Trivia #2 hint: The teams were the Angels, the Rangers, the Mets, and the Astros.

Contract dispute, you’re doing it wrong: Willard Gary Black, 85, a furniture manufacturer, allegedly shot and killed his business partner after a court ruled against him in a contract dispute. The shooting happened at the Old Hickory Tannery, where Robert Rogers Arguelles and Black were co-owners of the business. Earlier in the day, Black was ordered to pay Arguelles $310,882.74 after a contract dispute between the two men.

While some NFL team rookie camps begin as early as next Friday, most NFL camps start by the 21^st. Let’s go!

I have a friend who write songs about sewing machines. She’s a singer-songwriter, or sew it seems. – Wait… what?

Trivia #1 answer: What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? – They both have the same middle name
Trivia #2 answer: Who is the only MLB player to play for all four original expansion franchises and ONLY those franchises? – Nolan Ryan
Trivia #3 answer: Which country produces more major-leaguers per capita than any other country in the world? – Curacao
Trivia #4 answer: Who won the 2020 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 2020) – Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), LA Lakers (NBA), LA Dodgers (MLB), New England Patriots (NFL)

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National French Fry Day!

“He’s leaving
(Leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia, yeah
(Leaving on the midnight train)
Said he’s going back
(Going back to find)
To a simpler place and time, oh yes he is
(Whenever he takes that ride, guess who’s gonna be right by his side)
I’ll be with him
(I know you will)”

Gladys Knight & The Pips

Briefly. (Very!)

It’s so hot, my shadow is seeking shade.

It’s so hot, I’m sweating in places I didn’t know existed.

This is certainly day-drinking season. Have at it.

Trivia #1: What are the only two states in America that have recorded high temperatures of less than 100°.

On this date: July 3, 324, Battle of Adrianople: Roman Emporer Constantine I defeats his co-emporer Licinius, who flees to Byzantium

July 3, 1754, Severn Year’s War: George Washington surrenders to the French, Fort Necessity

July 3, 1861, Pony Express arrives in San Francisco with overland letters from New York

July 3, 1968, Cleveland Indians pitcher Luis Tiant strikes out MLB record 19 Minnesota Twins in 1-0 win; record for 10 inning game; also record 32 Ks in consecutive games

July 3, 1976, Brian Wilson joins the Beach Boys for the first time after his 12-year stage absence, at Anaheim Stadium in California

July 3, 1977, Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew’s 9-race win streak ends in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, finishes 4th

July 3, 2019, US produces the most waste per head globally and recycles the least at 35% according to new research by Verisk Maplecroft, Germany recycles the most at 68%

Worst Sign I ever(?) seen? Outside a small church in Ossipee, NH the other day. “God is not a pizza. He can’t be topped.” Are you shitting me? Is that all you got?

Headline of the week, courtesy of the New Post. The Yankees, marred in a 7-game losing streak and 13 straight scoring 4 or fewer runs, fell ill when leaving Boston after a recent 4-game visit. Several players contracted food poisoning prompting the Post to write; Finally, some runs for the Yankees

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: I entered a World Cup soccer contest on Draft Kings.

And anyone saying Jaylen Brown couldn’t play with Jason Tatum, maybe if Tatum kept his ass on the  court more often, we’d have a better look at that theory.

Article I’ll skip: Hollywood  stars turn on Dwayne Johnson over nhis new political decision

Trivia #1 answer: What are the only two states in America that have recorded high temperatures of less than 100°. – Alaska and Hawaii

As a public service, if you’re going surfing anytime soon in the north east, watch out for the poop!

It’s hot out there.

That’s all I got.

Briefly. (Summertime is busy…)

I was at my golf buddy’s funeral and I joked to his wife. “It’s the first time he has ever been 6 under.” It didn’t go over nearly as good as I thought it would.

Trivia #1: On June 26, 1976, the Washington Senators’ Toby Harrah played an entire doubleheader at shortstop. What was unique about his play? – He struck out 8 times; He made 6 errors; He didn’t get a single chance in the field; He had 9 hits, He was in on 8 double plays
Trivia #2: You know those QR codes, right? What does ‘QR’ stand for?

On this date: June 26, 363, Roman Emperor Julian is killed during retreat from the Sassanid Empire. General Jovian is proclaimed Emperor by troops on the battlefield.
June 26, 1797, Charles Newbold patents the first cast-iron plow, though farmers fear the effects of iron on soil
June 26, 1894, Karl Benz of Germany receives a US patent for a gasoline-powered automobile
June 26, 1916, Cleveland Indians experiment with numbers on jerseys in a game against Chicago WS; first time MLB players identified by numbers corresponding to those on scorecard
June 26, 1944, MLB New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Giants play unique 6 inning game for War Bonds, each playing successive innings, final score Dodgers-5, Yanks-1 & Giants-0
June 26, 1945, The United Nations Charter is signed by 50 nations in San Francisco
June 26, 1959, Queen Elizabeth II and US President Dwight D. Eisenhower open the St. Lawrence Seaway, allowing oceangoing vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes of North America
June 26, 1977, Elvis Presley appears in concert before 18,000 fans at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana; unknowingly the last performance of his career closes with his 1961 “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
June 26, 1981, “Stripes”, American military comedy film, directed and produced by Ivan Reitman, starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and John Candy premieres (great flick!)
June 26, 1994, 126°F (52.2°C) in Death Valley, California

Stop leaving your kids with their grandparents. I asked my nephew how old he was, he said; “God willing I’ll be 7 in July.”

Go away: Revival Tattoo Collective in Largo, Florida. The Florida tattoo shop is facing backlash following a social media post from the shop that said active-duty military members and veterans are not welcome at the company. “The military is a bunch of war criminals and law enforcement kills babies and unarmed citizens in the street.”

So, the question is, will the Red Sox be 20 or more games out of first place by the all-star break?

Go ahead and continue to not like soccer, I get it. As a friend relayed to me, it’s 90 seconds of action packed into 2 ½ hours. Still, the World Cup is pretty exciting, especially with the US where they are. U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.!

Article I’ll skip: Knicks trash can dumper gets more bad news after losing her job over viral stunt
Article I’ll skip, part deux: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce’s NFL pals drop major hint about timing of wedding

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: 126 degrees Fahrenheit equals 52.2 degrees Celsius (see above)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce haven’t confirmed a single wedding detail, but that hasn’t stopped bettors from putting millions on what could be the biggest celebrity ceremony in years. While bettors are divided over where the couple will marry and who will make the guest list, there’s one prediction with overwhelming consensus: Swift is almost certainly not pregnant. Polymarket bettors have poured more than $2 million into the market, and only 2% believe she’s already expecting. (They say, you can bet on anything!)

The NBA draft happened.

Golf is hard. I tried to slow down my backswing, but it just gave me more time to think about additional ways to screw the shot up.

They said it: “If you want to hate America, watch the news. If you want to love America, visit it.” – A traveling soccer fan.

A good golf partner is one that is slightly worse than you.

Trivia #1 answer: On June 26, 1976, the Washington Senators’ Toby Harrah played an entire doubleheader at shortstop. What was unique about his play? – He struck out 8 times; He made 6 errors; He didn’t get a single chance in the field; He had 9 hits; He was in on 8 double plays – He didn’t get a single chance in the field
Trivia #2 answer: Trivia #2: You know those QR codes, right? What does ‘QR’ stand for? – Quick Response

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Coconut Day!

“Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be

Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
For I can’t help
Falling in love with you”

Elvis Presley (Can’t Help Falling in Love)

I like Elvis but need a little more this morning.

Briefly. (Yes, I slept in this morning.)

If you feel depressed, go for a run. You’ll find out that your physical health is far worse than your mental health.

Trivia #1: Who was the lead guitarist for the Amboy Dukes (1964-1975)? – Eric Clapton, Tud Nugent, Dave Palmer, Jeff Beck, Johnny Winter, Ricky Nelson
Trivia #2: What does “J.J” stand for in the PGA’s J.J. Spaun’s name?

On this date: June 19, 1179, The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Earl Erling Skakke is killed, and the battle changes the tide of the civil war
June 19, 1464, French King Louis XI forms postal service
June 19, 1846, First officially recognized baseball game (played by Cartwright Rules) – NY Nine defeats the NY Knickerbockers 23-1 in Hoboken, New Jersey
June 19, 1910, Father’s Day is celebrated for the first time, in Spokane, Washington
June 19, 1941, Soviet anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov opens the tomb of Timurid Empire founder Timur and allegedly finds an inscription stating that whoever opens the tomb shall “unleash an invader more terrible than I.” Three days later, Germany invades the Soviet Union.
June 19, 1970, Jim Bouton’s controversial baseball diary “Ball Four” is published
June 19, 1977, MLB Boston Red Sox set 3-game record of 16 home runs, all against New York Yankees (Yours truly was in attendance for one of those games)
June 19, 2018, England smash the highest score (481/6) in one day international cricket history in a 242 run defeat of Australia (239) at Trent Bridge (Wait… what?)

Go away: Nil-Nil

The Red Sox really do suck.

Before the internet, most people thought villages only had one idiot. Wow, we didn’t have that right!

Article I’ll skip: Jelly Roll files for divorce from Bunnie Xo after nine years of marriage (I would imagine it was because they couldn’t agree on what to name their kids.)

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Bettors are flooding the over (2.5) in today’s USA/Australia soccer match.

I may possibly watch the World Cup match today and root for the locals. I still don’t like soccer but, U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.!!!!

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A professional baseball team in Pennsylvania forfeited a game Thursday that was scheduled to be the team’s Pride Night after players refused to wear LGBTQ-themed jerseys. The York Revolution of the Atlantic League, said the decision “was not reached lightly” in announcing the forfeit against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Wednesday. The team was not afraid to throw its players under the bus, saying it was “deeply troubled and profoundly disappointed by the decisions of these few players.” (What is going on??)

Don’t skip the after-work beer. Those 4 beers will be the best 16 beers you ever have.

Don’t be that guy! Don’t call yourself a soccer fan because you use the word ‘nil.’

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the lead guitarist for the Amboy Dukes (1964-1975)? – Eric Clapton, Tud Nugent, Dave Palmer, Jeff Beck, Johnny Winter, Ricky Nelson – “Terrible” Ted Nugent
Trivia #2: What does “J.J” stand for in the PGA’s J.J. Spaun’s name? – John Michael

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Watch Day!
Happy Father’s Day this weekend, if appropriate!

“Leave your cares behind,
Come with us and find
The pleasures of a journey to the center of the mind

Come along if you care
Come along if you dare
Take a ride to the land inside of your mind”

The Amboy Dukes – (Journey to the Center of the Mind)

Sorry folks, no post today. I’m preoccupied with “Penta XXX.” No, that’s not a porn movie, it’s a golf tournament. We’ll get back at it next Friday.

Before heavy metal was a thing, Black Sabbath took Rock ‘n Roll by storm.

“Here’s to Charlie!”

“Big black shape with eyes of fire
Tellin’ people their desire
Satan’s sittin’ there, he’s smilin’
Watches those flames get higher and higher
Oh, no, no, please, God, help me”

Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath)

Briefly.

Instead of “WTF!”, try saying “By what ungodly sequence of events hath this calamity transpired?”

Trivia #1: (Ghost) Riders in the Sky, covered by more than one hundred artists, was originally written by whom? – Stan Jones, Vaughn Monroe, Burl Ives, Outlaws, The Blue Brothers, The Ramrods
Trivia #2: What recording artist once went by the name Davie Jones?
Trivia #3: Who is the only goaltender to have his name appear on the Stanley Cup as the captain of a Cup-winning team? – Charlie Gardiner, Jacques Plante, Terry Sawchuk, Patrick Roy, Tim Thomas, Kippy Manseau

On this date: June 5, 70, Titus and his Roman legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem
June 5, 1661, Isaac Newton admitted as a student to Trinity College, Cambridge
June 5, 1806, 1st trotter to break 3-minute mile (Yankee)
June 5, 1876, Bananas become popular in the US while being featured at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia
June 5, 1917, 10 million US men begin registering for draft in WW I
June 5, 1944, After receiving favorable weather reports, General Eisenhower decides to proceed with the D-Day invasion on June 6
June 5, 2019, On average, people ingest 50,000 pieces of microplastic a year and breathe in a similar amount, according to first-ever such study published in journal “Environmental Science and Technology”
June 5, 2024, World’s only surviving wild horse, the Przewalski’s Horse, is returned to the Golden Steppe of Kazakhstan for the first time in over 200 years

WTF! (I knew I couldn’t do it…)

Go away: Red Sox interim third base coach, Chad Epperson. The other night, Epperson was standing on the field of play as he waved around Wilyer Abreu. Bizarre. As an article I read stated: “I’m gonna go ahead and echo what the announcers all said here and say that I have never, in my life, seen a third base coach do that. Not once. Not in Little League. Not in travel ball. Not in high school. Not on the worst D-III college baseball team in the country. Never. (Fast fact: It’s not illegal)

The Red Sox really do suck.

Speaking of the Red Sox. The yankees’ Aaron Judge has a stress fracture in his rib. Awww…

Article I’ll skip: Super Bowl Champion’s wife, Ciara, has emotional message after retirement announcement (This pertains to Russell Wilson and ‘no’, I don’t care what she has to say)

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: See above, on average, people ingest 50,000 pieces of microplastic a year and breathe in similar amount, according to first-ever such study published in journal “Environmental Science and Technology”

Times flies, so have fun. This year is the 30^th anniversary of The Penta Memorial Golf Tournament, my 38^th wedding anniversary, my fantasy football league’s 40^th season and my 45^th high school reunion. Man, time flies!

BTW, you can check out all things Penta (donate?) at www.birdease.com/ThePenta. Shameless plug, yes. Thanks in advance…

And next Friday is Penta Day! Don’t expect much, if anything, here.

Good news: So, Myles Garrett goes to the Rams but… the Patriots and Drake Maye got AJ Brown. That’s big!

OK, so I didn’t watch much of game 1 of the NHL finals but game 2, last night, was pretty entertaining. And I have to admit, I also watched quite a bit of the NBA game 1. Hey, it’s the finals…

Speaking of which, local Sean McDonough is an excellent play-by-play guy. Also, NHL-wise, I’ve liked Steve Levy since his days on SportsCenter. Still great!

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The Chicago Bears have made it clear to the NFL on multiple occasions, including late last month at an NFL meeting in Orlando, they are leaving the city and will build a new stadium either in Arlington Heights, Illinois, or in Hammond, Indiana.

Don’t be that guy!  You know… that guy!

Trivia #1 answer: Trivia #1: (Ghost) Riders in the Sky, covered by more than one hundred artists, was originally written by whom? – Stan Jones, Vaughn Monroe, Burl Ives, Outlaws, The Blue Brothers, The Ramrods – Stan Jones
Trivia #2 answer: What recording artist once went by the name Davie Jones? – David Bowie
Trivia #3 answer: Who is the only goaltender to have his name appear on the Stanley Cup as the captain of a Cup-winning team? – Charlie Gardiner, Jacques Plante, Terry Sawchuk, Patrick Roy, Tim Thomas, Kippy Manseau – Charlie Gardiner (Chicago Blackhawks, 1934)

Come on downtown and visit me this afternoon. I’ll serve you and we’ll have a grand old time!

That’s a terrible idea. What time?

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Cheese Day!

“And all at once
You’re ready to hang it up
‘Cause things didn’t turn out
The way you planned, no

And all your friends
They calling you a fool
‘Cause you don’t know
A good thing when you’ve
Got it in your hand”

Pablo Cruise (What’cha Gonna Do)

Bonus!

Briefly.

(Our camper is up north for the next several months. While I’ll be back and forth between homes, I may miss a couple/few Fridays. I know you love me, so please bear with me.)

I was the best man at my brother’s wedding in Paris. At the reception, I raised my glass and said, “Eggs, champagne, cinnamon, bread and maple syrup!” It was a French toast.

Why do we only celebrate birthdays? Happy Day, to all of us! Hell ya!

Trivia #1: Who was the only US President to receive a patent? Bonus: What was it for? – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, Ronald Reagan
Trivia #2: The Seattle Seahawks will travel more miles, 38,105, than any other NFL team this coming season. Which team will travel the fewest (8,740)?

On this date: May 22, 334 BC, Macedonian army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus
May 22, 1803, The first US public library opens in Connecticut
May 22, 1842, Farmers Lester Howe and Henry Wetsel discover Howe Caverns in New York state when they stumble upon a large gaping hole in the ground
May 22, 1892, Dr. Washington Sheffield invents the collapsible toothpaste tube
May 22, 1919, A.E. Douglass establishes the relative dates of two archaeological sites using ancient wood samples, marking a major step forward in the dating of archaeological sites
May 22, 1942, The Steel Workers Organizing Committee disbands, and a new trade union, the United Steelworkers, is formed
May 22, 1960, A magnitude 9.4-9.6 earthquake strikes near the city of Valdivia in Chile, the strongest ever recorded, causing multiple tsunamis and killing 1,000-7,000 people
May 22, 1980, Video game Pac-Man created by Toru Iwatani is first released in Japan

Go away: Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver Rasheed Rice

Article I’ll skip: Seed oils banned from Tennessee’s facility as new head coach overhauls nutrition

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Joey Chestnut sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to drunkenly slapping a man at bar

Forgive me for not commenting on the Red Sox. They make me wanna puke. Still… I hope…

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: More than 300 suspects have been arrested in a sweeping multi-agency crackdown on child exploitation crimes across Southern California. The large-scale enforcement effort, dubbed “Operation Firewall,” targeted a wide range of internet-facilitated offenses, including child pornography, human trafficking, grooming, and attempts to lure minors into illicit encounters.

Y’all know I ain’t no NAZCAR fan but, Kyle Busch at 41-years-old? Man, that just ain’t right. R.I.P.

So, I see this article – Finding the sleep ‘sweet spot’ could help you live longer. How long you sleep could be linked to how long you’ll live. Could, could, could. If you want to live by the, literally, countless articles of “Could,” Go right ahead. I gonna take a nap.

Terrible news: Y’all know I ain’t no NAZCAR fan but, Kyle Busch at 41-years-old? Man, that just ain’t right. R.I.P.

Don’t be that guy! You can’t say “thank you” or “you’re welcome” enough. Just say it and be appreciative. Jeez.

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the only US President to receive a patent? Bonus: What was it for? – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, Ronald Reagan – Abraham Lincoln (1849), for a device to lift a boat over shoals and obstructions
Trivia #2 answer: The Seattle Seahawks will travel more miles, 38,105, than any other NFL team this coming season. Which team will travel the fewest (8,740)? – The Carolina Panthers

Can the Montreal Canadiens actually pull this thing off???

Scientists have finished a study on how alcohol can affect a person’s ability to walk. The results are staggering.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Cooler Day! (Fill one up… I guess)

“So, lady, let me take a look at you now
You’re there on the dance floor making me want you somehow
Oh, lady, I think it’s only fair I should say to you
Don’t be thinking that I don’t want you, ’cause maybe I do”

Little River Band (Lady)

Let’s pick it up a bit.

Briefly.

My new car is weird! Every time I back out of a parking spot a video pops up on my dashboard of someone getting run over by a car.

Trivia #1: Which of the following was NOT a guest host on the Tonight Show? – McLean Stevenson, Joan Rivers, Tony Danza, Dean Martin, Burt Reynolds, Don Rickles, Steve Martin
Trivia #2: Nolan Ryan threw a record 7 no-hitters in his career, beating 6 teams. Which team did he no-hit twice?
Trivia #3: Since the merger in 1970, who are the only two players who’ve led all tight ends in catches both as a rookie and again in their second season? Both played for the same franchise, and both were top-15 draft picks.
Trivia #4: The British rock band ‘The Who’ did a great (I think) cover of the song “Shakin’ All Over.” Who’s song was it? – The Guess Who, James Brown, The Isley Brothers, Bo Diddley, Elvis Presley, Sonny Boy Williamson

On this date: May 15, 1213, After years of disagreement and political struggle, King John of England yields to Rome and allows Stephen Langton to return and become Archbishop of Canterbury. The crisis is a major factor that led to the Magna Carta in 1215.
May 15, 1536, Anne Boleyn and her brother George, Lord Rochford, accused of adultery and incest.
May 15, 1610, Parliament of Paris appoints 8-year-old Louis XIII as French King, following the assassination of his father Henry IV; Louis’ mother and Henry’s widow Marie de’ Medici serves as regent until 1617.
May 15, 1817, First private mental health hospital opens in the US, Asylum for the Relief of Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason (now Friends Hospital) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 15, 1905, Las Vegas founded in Nevada
May 15, 1917, The first officer’s training camp is opened in the US, as the country prepares for war
May 15, 2010, Jessica Watson at age 16 becomes the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world
May 15, 2022, British rock band “The Who” returns to Cincinnati, Ohio for the first time since tragic December 1979 stampede that killed 11 concert goers

Go away: NFL schedule makers. Enough is enough. Wednesday night opener, nine international games, Thanksgiving eve, black Friday, etc.

Trivia #2 hint: Nolan Ryan once pithed for this team.

Article I’ll skip: Hantavirus fears spark COVID flashbacks, but experts say there’s one major difference. (No, this shit ain’t happening again. Virus-shmirus!)

Don’t tell me to dance like no one is watching. I don’t give a shit who’s watching, I don’t like to dance. Now leave me alone.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The WNBA season opener the other night was the first opener where both teams scored more than 100 points.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: North Korea has updated its constitution to require a retaliatory nuclear strike if leader Kim Jong Un is assassinated.

Celebrating your wedding day, you’re doing it wrong! James Shirah, 24, was sentenced Monday in Genesee County Circuit Court to 30 to 45 years in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree murder in the death of Terry Taylor Jr. The incident unfolded Aug. 30, 2024, in Flint, roughly an hour northwest of Detroit, after Shirah and his bride, Savanah Collier, had gotten married earlier that day. The celebration later moved to a home where an argument broke out. Shirah struck Taylor with his vehicle after the dispute, alleging the act was deliberate.

Good news: If you live in Utqiagvik, Alaska… and you are afraid of the dark. The northernmost town on the continent is about to enter its annual stretch of the midnight sun, when the sun stays above the horizon until August. This year, the town’s stretch of 24-hour daylight will last until Aug. 2, when the sun finally dips below the horizon again.

Last season’s American League MVP runner-up, Cal Raleigh, was in the midst of a 0-38 slump, the longest of his career. How did he break out of it this past Tueday, you ask? A teammate gave him some good advice to wash off the bad mojo or juju from the baseball gods. How exactly did he do that? Raleigh showered in full uniform Monday night.

Don’t be that guy! Don’t be late for your tee time, especially if you’re playing in the PGA Championship! South Africa’s Garrick Higgo’s first-round tee time at Aronimink Golf Club was set for 7:18 a.m. local time, but he couldn’t manage to make it to the tee box when his starting time arrived yesterday. The PGA of America announced that Higgo was penalized two strokes for being late for his opening round tee time. He was on the property, but was on the putting green near the first tee, which is “not within the area defined as the starting point at his starting time.” DOH!

Trivia #1 answer: Which of the following was NOT a guest host on the Tonight Show? – McLean Stevenson, Joan Rivers, Tony Danza, Dean Martin, Burt Reynolds, Don Rickles, Steve Martin – Dean Martin was not a guest host
Trivia #2 answer: Nolan Ryan threw a record 7 no-hitters in his career, beating 6 teams. Which team did he no-hit twice? – The California Angels
Trivia #3 answer: Since the merger in 1970, who are the only two players who’ve led all tight ends in catches both as a rookie and again in their second season? Both played for the same franchise, and both were top-15 draft picks. – Philadelphia Eagles, with Charle Young in 1973-74 and Keith Jackson in 1988-89. Young passed away on Tuesday, at 75. After playing at Southern Cal, he was the 6th pick of the 1973 draft. (He also, by the way, led all tight ends in catches in his third season.) Jackson was the 13th pick of the 1988 draft, after playing his college ball at Oklahoma.
Trivia #4: The British rock band ‘The Who’ did a great (I think) cover of the song ‘Shakin’ All Over.’ Who’s song was it? – The Guess Who, James Brown, The Isley Brothers, Bo Diddley, Elvis Presley, Sonny Boy Williamson – The Guess Who

I bet short people get really excited when they hit their head on things.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Chocolate Chip Day!

“When you move in right up close to me
That’s when I get the chills all over me

Quivers down my backbone
I got the shakes in my thigh bone
I got the shivers in my knee bone
Shakin’ all over”

The Guess Who (Shakin’ All Over))

Bonus! The Who’s version.

Briefly.

Starting to run in my 60’s turned out to be a great way to meet people. I met a paramedic, two nurses and almost Jesus.

So far, this is the oldest I’ve ever been!

Trivia #1: What is Hyperkalemia?
Trivia #2: Which of the following was NOT in the top 5 homerun hitters of the 1970’s: Willie Stargell, Reggie Jackson, Johnny Bench, Bobby Bonds, Lee May, Mike Schmidt
Trivia #3: Who won the 2019 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 2019)

On this date: May 8, 535, John II’s reign as Catholic Pope ends, upon his death
May 8, 1348, Ship from Bordeaux carrying the plague, lands in Melcombe Regis (now Weymouth), Dorset. The beginning of the Terrible Pestilence (Black Death) in England.
May 8, 1792, US establishes the military draft     
May 8, 1919, Edward George Honey first proposes the idea of a moment of silence to commemorate The Armistice of World War I, leads to the creation of Remembrance Day
May 8, 1945, V-E Day: World War II ends in Europe after German Field Marshall General Wilhelm Keitel formally signs Germany’s unconditional surrender in Berlin to the Allies, represented by the United States, the UK, France and the Soviet Union
May 8, 1963, Daniel Paul James ‘Tiger’ Ruth is born
May 8, 1967, Muhammad Ali is indicted for refusing induction in US Army
May 8, 2022, Thai government announces it will give away one million cannabis plants to households to mark new rule allowing people to grow it at home

You know, I was thinking… All these people, athletes mostly, after accomplishing “something”, point upwards and say something like; “I know my Mom is looking down at me and she’s proud.” It just seems presumptuous that all of the deceased are in Heaven, looking down. The odds of that seem doubtful, to me. Just once, I’d like to see a kid point to the ground and say; “I know my Uncle Leo is looking up at me… and he’s proud.”

Go away: Mike Vrabel/Dianna Russini

Article I’ll skip: Infectious disease expert reveals whether hantavirus could cause pandemic in the US 

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The New England Patriots revealed the jersey numbers for Caleb Lomu and the other members of the team’s 2026 rookie class.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: More than two dozen cruise ship employees, including Disney cruise workers, were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in a child exploitation ring bust at a port in San Diego. In all, 28 people from three different countries — 26 from the Philippines, one from Indonesia and another from Portugal — were interviewed, and 27 were found to have taken part in the “receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing of [child sexual exploitation material] or child pornography.” It is unclear how many of those people worked for Disney Cruise Line.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse, part deux: A high-tech humanoid robot was officially “ordained” as a Buddhist monk during a ceremony at Seoul’s Jogyesa Temple on Wednesday. The robot, a $13,500 Unitree G1 model standing just over four feet tall, was given the name “Gabi.” Dressed in traditional brown robes, plain shoes and gloves designed to mimic human hands, the machine stood before a panel of Buddhist monks to commit itself to the faith. During the ceremony, hosted by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the robot was asked by a monk if it would devote itself to the “holy Buddha.” “Yes, I will devote myself,” Gabi responded to the crowd’s cheers.

Good news: For him, anyway… A Kentucky man who spent more than two decades behind bars for a murder he says was built on fabricated evidence has been awarded more than $24 million, after a jury found he was wrongfully convicted in a case once described by prosecutors as a “satanic” killing.

Terrible news: An elementary school student died after a tree fell on a playground at a school in Melrose, Massachusetts. The incident happened Monday at the Winthrop Elementary School. Two other people — a student and an adult — were injured. “It is with great sadness that we share that the student who was seriously injured (Monday) afternoon during the incident on the Winthrop School playground has died. It is our understanding that the other two individuals, one student and one adult, who were injured yesterday, have been discharged from area hospitals.” I have a couple of kids but, whether you do or you don’t, this is hard to imagine happening.

Don’t be that guy! It’s allergy season. Whether coughing or sneezing, jeez, cover your mouth!

Trivia #1 answer: What is Hyperkalemia? – Hyperkalemia (high-per-kuh-LEE-mee-uh), also known as high potassium or HK, is when the blood has higher than normal potassium levels.
Trivia #2 answer: Which of the following was NOT in the top 5 homerun hitters of the 1970’s: Willie Stargell, Reggie Jackson, Johnny Bench, Bobby Bonds, Lee May, Mike Schmidt – The first five were 1-5, in order. Mike Schmidt was number 8.
Trivia #3 answer: Who won the 2019 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 2019) – St. Louis Blues (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Washington Nationals (MLB), New England Patriots (NFL)

Unless you fell on the treadmill, no one wants to hear about your workout.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Have a Coke Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you Muthas out there!

Amtrak has informed a small-town girl, living in a lonely world, that they don’t actually have a midnight train going anywhere. “I’m sorry miss, but you have to choose an actual destination.”

“Just a small-town girl
Livin’ in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere”

Journey (Don’t Stop Believen’)