Author: fasted86

Friday, July 5, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

A King and a Queen walk into a bar and both order drinks. The bartender says, “I can’t serve you, you’re not 21.”

Trivia #1: For you Bostonians, why is the ‘Hatch Shell’ called the ‘Hatch Shell’?
Trivia #2: Who was the first MLB player to have is uniform number retired by his team? Bonus: What was his number?
Trivia #3: What was Lou Gehrig’s full name?
Trivia #4: The Red Sox’ Jared Duran just became the first American League player in history to record all of the following before the All-star break: 100 hits, 10 triples, 10 homeruns and 20 stolen bases. Who is the only National League player to accomplish the same feat? – Stan Musial, Jose Reyes, Ron Acuna Jr., Chipper Jones, Ricky Henderson, Tim Raines
Trivia #5: What do Bernie Madoff and Bobby Bonilla have in common?

On this date: July 5, 1865, US Secret Service begins operating under the Treasury Department
July 5, 1891, hail kills 16 horses in Rapid City, South Dakota
July 5, 1950, US forces enter combat in the Korean War for the first time, in the battle of Osan
July 5, 1994, Amazon.com founded in Bellevue, Washington by Jeff Bezos

I don’t know about you, but to me the Fourth of July just wasn’t the same without Joey Chestnut. Since he was barred from the Coney Island competition, Chestnut took his talents to Fort Bliss, Texas, for his Fourth of July Feast and competed against Army soldiers. In just five minutes, Chestnut ate 57 hot dogs and buns, outdoing four competitors combined, who tallied 49 hot dogs and buns in total.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: More bad news is on the horizon for Florida homeowners. On top of insurers pulling out of the state altogether, Florida’s state-created Citizen’s Property Insurance just voted to raise rate by 14% across the state.

Stop complaining: Unless you’re in Beryl’s path

Good news: We live in the greatest country in the world. I hope you celebrated that yesterday.

My wife bought me toe nail clippers. Romantic, I know. The package read “for men.” Huh? Riddle me this. Do women not clip their toenails or… are their toenails such that they need differently designed clippers? Stuff like this keeps me up at night.

Article I’ll skip: ‘Yellowstone’ star Lainey Wilson says being an American “means everything to me.” (I mean, good for her, but I ain’t reading)

Every problem is an opportunity in disguise.

Trivia #1 answer: Why is the Hatch Shell called the Hatch Shell? – The Charles River Esplanade went through a vast expansion beginning in 1928, which widened and lengthened the park land. It was during this expansion that the first lagoon was built, as well as the Music Oval, where a temporary concert shell was placed. The summer of 1929 was the first year Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops performed on the Esplanade. In 1941, the construction of the new music shell took place with a $300,000 trust, donated by benefactor Maria Hatch, to build a memorial for her late brother, Edward.
Trivia #2 answer: Who was the first MLB player to have his uniform number retired by his team? What was his number? – Lou Gehrig (#4)
Trivia #3 answer: What was Lou Gehrig’s full name? – Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Jr. (If you got this correct, I’ll buy you a drink)
Trivia #4 answer: The Red Sox’ Jared Duran just became the first American League player in history to record all of the following before the All-star break: 100 hits, 10 triples, 10 homeruns and 20 stolen bases. Who is the only National League player to accomplish the same feat? – Stan Musial, Jose Reyes, Ron Acuna Jr., Chipper Jones, Ricky Henderson, Tim Raines – Jose Reyes in 2008.
Trivia #5: What do Bernie Madoff and Bobby Bonilla have in common? – In 2000, the Mets agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bobby Bonilla’s contract. However, instead of paying Bonilla the $5.9 million at the time, the Mets agreed to make annual payments of nearly $1.2 million for 25 years starting July 1, 2011, including a negotiated 8% interest. At the time, Mets ownership was invested in a Bernie Madoff account that promised double-digit returns, and the Mets were poised to make a significant profit if the Madoff account delivered — but that did not work out. Happy Bobby Bonilla Day (July 1).

Don’t let the old man in.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Workaholics Day! (You know who you are)

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain.

“Boy you sure took me for one big ride
And even now I sit and wonder why
That’s when I think of you
I stop myself from crying
I just can’t waste my time
I must keep trying
I’ve got to stop believing in all your lies
‘Cause there’s too much to do before I die”

– Joe Cocker (Fellin’ Alright)

July 4th (Ok, 5th) Bonus

Friday, June 28, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Remember: When you bury a body, cover it with endangered plants so it’s illegal to dig it up. Follow me for more gardening tips.

Trivia #1: Who is Zaccharie Risacher?
Trivia #2: Who is the shortest MLB player to hit 3 homeruns in a game? Hint: He only hit 41 homeruns in his career.

On this date: June 28, 1846 – The saxophone is patented by Antoine-Joseph “Adolfe” Sax
June 28, 1919 – The Treaty of Versailles is signed in France, ending World War I and establishing the League of Nations
June 28, 1957 – Reds’ fans stuff ballot box, electing 8 Reds as All-Star starters. Commissioner Ford Frick overrules and names Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron to the team as starters.

The Stanley Cup Final Game 7 outdrew any NBA Finals or World Series game in the past five years.

Local congratulations to the Haverhill High School Athletic Department and its student-athletes. 1 Team State Championship, 1 Regional Championship, 9 Individual State Champions, 8 MVC (Conference) Team Championships, 14 Individual MVC Champions, 4 MVC Coaches of the Year, 6 MVC Players of the Year, 105 All-Conference Selections. Go Hillies!

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: An artificial intelligence generated version of Al Michaels’ voice will be used for Olympic recaps. The AI-powered voice of Michaels will narrate Olympic video highlights for the company’s streaming platform.

Good news: As a country, through lots of hard work from clinicians, patients and organizations like the American Heart Association, mortality from heart disease has been reduced by more than 50% in recent years.

Bad news: Heart disease has been the world’s No. 1 killer for over a century and a report this month from the American Heart Association (AHA) predicts that at least six in 10 U.S. adults could experience cardiovascular disease within the next 30 years. The last decade has seen a surge of cardiovascular risk factors, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, each of which raises the risks of developing heart disease and stroke. As a result, total cardiovascular disease is predicted to rise from 11.3% to 15.0% between 2020 and 2050.

Last week, the music industry trade publication ‘Hits’ reported that Sony had emerged triumphant in a battle with other recording giants to claim ownership of Queen’s catalog for $1.2B.

Back to Willie Mays, mentioned last week. Here’s some numbers:
100 Homeruns / 100 Stolen Bases: 48 players in MLB history
150 HR / 150 SB: 15
200 HR / 200 SB: 8
250 HR / 250 SB: 2
300 HR / 300 SB: Only Willie Mays
400 HR / 300 SB: Only Willie Mays
500 HR / 300 SB: Only Willie Mays
600 HR / 300 SB: Only Willie Mays

Article I’ll skip: Reddit user seeks advice after sister insists on bringing her ‘demon’ dog

Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender yelled “last call!”

Trivia #1 answer: Who is Zaccharie Risacher? – Risacher, from France, was the No. 1 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in this past week’s NBA draft
Trivia #2: Who is the shortest MLB player to hit 3 homeruns in a game? Hint: He only hit 41 homeruns in his career. – Freddie Patek, at 5’5”, hit three homeruns at Fenway Park on June 20, 1980.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Paul Bunyan Day!

Not all who wander are lost.

“Buddy you’re an old man poor man
Pleadin’ with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day
You got mud on your face
Big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place”

– Queen (We Will Rock You)

Friday, June 21, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (I forgot my power cord up north here and aren’t very good at this on my phone)

It’s a 5-minute walk from my house to the pub. It’s a 35-minute walk from the pub to my house. The difference is staggering!

Trivia #1: The shortest player ever in the NBA (Muggsy Bogues) was how tall/short? – 4’11”, 5’3”, 5’5”, 5’8”, 5’10”

The Celtics have won the World Championship, banner #18! Don’t expect them to apologize because the playoffs were often a downer due to all the injuries up and down the conference. Not after all of the championship-or-bust pressure that had been thrust upon them. Not after going 64-18 winning the East by 14 games, finishing 80-21 and holding the high-powered Dallas Mavericks under 100 points in four of the five NBA Finals games.

Speaking of the Celtics, I’ve been wearing baseball caps backwards since I was about 13-years-old, but can’t get out of my head the image of Dallas coach Jason Kidd giving speech after speech to the Mavericks’ team with his cap on backwards. How do you look at, and respect, a coach who looks like a 13-year-old?

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Quick, efficient and with a bird’s-eye view of any scene, more police departments are embracing the use of drones to carry out law enforcement work, with some cities now even using them to respond to 911 calls.

Article I’ll skip: Taylor Swift’s favorite menu item, according to restaurant owner who saw her monthly.

Speaking of the Celtics, they last won the NBA Championship on June 17, 2008, after winning this past week on June 17, 2024 – 6/17 – the area code for Boston (617). Whoa!!!

R.I.P. Willie Howard Mays (94) – Considered one of the best all-around player in MLB history. Mays played 21 seasons with the San Francisco Giants and the Mets, batted over .300 10 times en route to a .302 career average, 3,283 hits. He was MVP in 1954 and 1965, a 24-time all-star and won 12 Gold Gloves. He led the league in homeruns four times, stolen bases four times, slugging percentage five times, total bases three time and triples three times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.
R.I.P. Donald Sutherland (88) – Canadian actor whose career spanned more than half a century from “M.A.S.H.” through “The Hunger Games”, appearing in nearly 200 films and series. He received an Emmy in 1995, two Golden Globe awards and an honorary Oscar in 2017. His breakthrough was “The Dirty Dozen”, then the 1970 “Kelly’s Heroes (one of my all-time favorites) and then “M.A.S.H” which catapulted his career.

Trivia #1 answer: The shortest player ever in the NBA (Muggsy Bogues was how tall/short? – 4’11”, 5’3”, 5’5”, 5’8”, 5’10” – He was 5’3”

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Wagyu Day!

The three stages of life: Birth, WTF is this, Death.

“In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we’ll be there and we’ll see you
Ten true summers we’ll be there and laughing too
Twenty-four before my love you’ll see I’ll be there with you”

– Yes (Roundabout))

Friday, June 14, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (Very. It’s Penta Day!)

Have you ever looked at someone and thought “shut the hell up.” And they weren’t even speaking!

Good morning. What a glorious day for the 28th annual Charlie Penta Memorial Golf Tournament – Penta XXVIII. Today, 338 golfers strewn over two golf courses will golf, laugh, party and together raise funds to be dispersed to the tune of $15,000 across four scholarships to Haverhill High School student athletes. The memory of Charlie Penta lives on throughout this special event. Here’s to Charlie!

What a night for Boston sports fans on Wednesday night as the Red Sox rallied from a 3-run deficit to beat the NL leading Phillies 8-6, Tom Brady was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame and the Celtics came back from an earlier deficit to beat the Mavericks and take a commanding 3-0 in the NBA Finals!

Luca Doncic should shave his head and start over. That hairdo ain’t cutting it.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: For the first time in their history the Red Sox played both the AL leading team and the NL leading team in the same homestand.

My apologies for the abbreviated version today.

As Huskers’ coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) once said: “I apologize for nothing.”

You’ve got to bleed for the dancer.

Good news: Suspected opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts dropped 10% in 2023.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Cucumber Day! (And Happy Flag Day!)

“Take my hand, my child of love, come step inside my tears
Swim the magic ocean I’ve been crying all these years
With our love we’ll ride away into eternal skies
A symptom of the universe and love that never dies”

– Black Sabbath (Symptom of The Universe))

Friday, June 7, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I told my suitcases no vacation this year. Now I’m dealing with emotional baggage.

Trivia #1: Who was the 1st US President to appear on color TV? What year?
Trivia #2: When the last time a team was swept in the Stanley Cup Final?
Trivia #3: The Boston Celtics ran off eight consecutive NBA championships until which team ended their streak in 1966-67?

Nachos are just tacos that don’t have their life together.

Good night for Boston fans as the Celtics took game 1 while thrashing the Mavericks 107-89 and the Red Sox punded the White Sox 14-2.

On this date: June 7, 1942, the Battle of Midway ends: Admiral Chester Nimitz wins 1st World War II naval defeat of Japan
June 7, 1970 – British rock band The Who’s perform their rock opera “Tommy” at the Metropolitan Opera House at NYC’s Lincoln Center 
June 7, 1989 – Wayne Gretzky wins his 9th NHL Hart (MVP) Trophy in 10 years

Well, the Red Sox were 9-0 on Sundays. You’re welcome.

Are you one of the lucky ones who have invested in Nvidia, a world leader in AI computing? The stock is u over 140% this year, shares have gained more than 3,300% in the last five years and the company announced a 10-for-1 stock split today!

Go away: Hunter Biden. Really, get off of my television and get out of my news feeds.

Life ain’t nothin’ but a funny, funny riddle.

Stop complaining: More than half of U.S. workers cannot afford to rent a one-bedroom apartment while only working one full-time job.

Hey, did you hear? A SpaceX Starship launched and landed without blowing up!

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Some 14,000 student-athletes who played and learned from 1026 to now will divvy up $2.8 billion in damages from the name, image and likeness money they were denied and, going forward, schools will figure out how to divide around $20 million a year in historic revenue-sharing arrangement.

Look, I get it. The land looks beautiful after a good snowstorm, a blanket of white against a clear blue sky but, let me tell you. I like a blanket of fresh green grass, pastures, beautifully manicured golf courses too. Plus, it ain’t so cold outside!

Article I’ll skip: What Lakers could possibly expect from Dan Hurley-led team

Good news: The Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis is back! (20 points in 21 minutes last night off the bench)

R.I.P. Larry Allen (52) – One the NFL’s the greatest offensive lineman (Dallas Cowboys) with All-Decade honors in the 1990s and 2000s and 11 Pro Bowls. His six consecutive First-Team All-Pro nods solidified him as one of the game’s nearly unstoppable forces — as did his average of 3.2 sacks allowed per season and only 13 holding penalties in 207 starts.

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the 1st US President to appear on color TV? What year? – Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1955
Trivia #2 answer: When the last time a team was swept in the Stanley Cup Final? – The Red Wings swept the Washington Capitals in 1988
Trivia #3 answer: The Boston Celtics ran off eight consecutive NBA championships until which team ended their streak in 1966-67? – The Philadelphia 76ers

Fitness is 20% exercise and 80% nutrition. You can’t outrun your fork.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Donut Day!

“Did you pay your dues?
Did you read the news
This morning when the paper landed in your yard?
Do you know their names?
Can you play their games
Without losin’ track
And coming down a bit too hard?”

– The Guess Who (Share the Land)

Friday, May 31, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Somewhere, somebody out there is thinking of you and the tremendous impact you made on their life. It’s not me… I think you’re an idiot.

Trivia #1: What is the Walter Cup? Bonus: Who is it named after?
Trivia #2: Which of the following teams was NOT a Negro League baseball team? – Atlanta Black Crackers, Homestead Grays, Cleveland Black Barons, New York Cubans, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Indianapolis Clowns
Trivia #3: Last night’s Rolling Stones concert at Gillette Stadium was a milestone show. How many total shows have been at the venue? 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200 – Bonus: Who played the first show at Gillette?

I will not sleep until I find a cure for my insomnia.

On this date: May 31, 1879, Madison Square Garden opened
May 31, 1893, Whitcomb Judson of Chicago, patents a hookless fastener (zipper)
May 31, 1968, movie star James Stewart retires from the US Air Force after 27 years of service

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The Red Sox are 9-0 on Sundays this season with a +38 run differential.

Go away: People who think others give a shit about how they feel about the Trump conviction

Stop complaining: You haven’t a clue what the person next to you is going through. It ain’t always about you.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: More than three-fourths of American adults believe that abuses involving the use of artificial intelligence systems will affect the outcome of the presidential election.

Your Boston Celtics are favored to win the NBA Championship over the Dallas Mavericks. Giddy-up! LFG!

A couple of weeks ago, I neglected to note the DOW Jones Industrial Average hitting the 40,000 for the first time. Well, it’s back down below 38,000. DOH!

Speaking of golf, Auburn beat Florida State the other day for the NCAA Golf Championship.

Defending yourself, you’re doing it wrong. A Michigan judge was astonished when a defendant charged with driving with a suspended driver’s license dialed into a virtual court hearing while behind the wheel of a car. So he revoked the defendant’s bond and ordered him to turn himself in to the Washtenaw County Jail by 6 p.m. that day. 

Article I’ll skip: ‘Aliens’ that landed in family’s backyard used ‘cloaking device’ to hide from humans: expert

Tickets for Wednesday night’s Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) championship game between Minnesota and Boston were going for as much as $3,930 apiece! Minnesota won 3-0.

They said it: “The Celtics gave me not only my career back… they gave me my life back.” – Bill Walton

Good news: Tilton Elementary School, in Haverhill, held its annual Memorial Day Concert last week. Most of the 456 students attended and several fourth graders addressed the crowd and spoke of the history of Memorial Day and its importance to our nation while recognizing the sacrifices made by members of the military. Hey, at least some kids in our country are being taught correctly!

R.I.P. Grayson Murray (30) – Grayson was the second-youngest golfer in history to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour before eventually turning pro in 2015. He was a 3-time winner on the Kron Ferry Tuor and 2-tme on the PGA tour. He withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge during the second round last Friday citing an illness. Grayson died by suicide.
R.I.P. William Theodore “Bill” Walton III (71) – Bill was eulogized this past week as a 6-foot-11 hippie covered in tie-dye T-shirts Grateful Dead tunes. But he was so much more. He was the first and only high school player to ever make the USA Senior Men’s National Basketball Team and play in the World Championship and/or Olympics. He still holds the national all-time high school record for field goal percentage at 79 percent and is still the No. 3 all-time rebounder nationally in the history of high school basketball. He is in the National High School Sports Hall of Fame. He won the NCAA Player of the Year Award all three years he played in college (UCLA), which has led to his induction into the UCLA Hall of Fame. Walton was the starting center under John Wooden’s teams that compiled an 88-game winning streak, and brought the Bruins two undefeated championship seasons. He is a member of the NCAA’s All-Time Basketball Team. He earned Academic All-America honors all three years, and went on to become a member of the Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1994. Walton was drafted No. 1 overall in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers, and was the Finals MVP after winning his first NBA championship in 1977. He was a Boston Celtic for his last four seasons and won his second NBA championship in 1986, the same season he also won NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Walton is the second of only five players in NBA history to lead the league in both blocked shots and rebounding in the same season. He was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1977 and 1978 and he is a member of the NBA’s All-Time Team as one of the league’s 50 Greatest Players Ever.

Trivia #1 answer: What is the Walter Cup? Bonus: Who is it named after? – The championship trophy for the PWHL, named after the Walter family. LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter, PWHL’s primary financial backer, launched the league by buying out the rival Premier Hockey Federation in 2023.
Trivia #2 answer: Which of the following teams was NOT a Negro League baseball team? – Atlanta Black Crackers, Homestead Grays, Cleveland Black Barons, New York Cubans, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Indianapolis Clowns – The Cleveland Black Barons (They were actually the Birmingham Black Barons, Cleveland did not have a team)
Trivia #3 answer: Last night’s Rolling Stones concert at Gillette Stadium was a milestone show. How many total shows have been at the venue? 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200 – Bonus: Who played the first show at Gillette? – It was the 100th show at Gillette and the first was also played by the Rolling Stones.

I don’t always lose stuff, but when I do, it’s because my wife moved it.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Macaroon Day!

“I’ve got ta cool myself down
Stompin’ around
Thinkin’ some words I can’t name ya
Meet ya half way
Got nothin’ to say
Still I don’t s’pose I can blame ya”

– James Gang (Walk Away)

Friday, May 24, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (Live from Encore!)

I don’t need anger management. I need people to stop pissing me off.

Trivia #1: What is the significance of the phrase, “What hath God wrought”
Trivia #2: From 1991 to 2014, there was a pattern of NBA Finals teams. The team was coached by Phil Jackson of was from one of which two states?
Trivia #3: What is Waymo?
Trivia #4: Which team has scored the fewest goals in a Stanley Cup Finals series since the best-of-7 format was adopted in 1939? – Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders

The Celtics are the best team in the NBA, when they want to be.

On this date: May 24, 1830, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” by Sarah Josepha Hale is first published by Boston firm Marsh, Capen & Lyon.
May 24, 1988, John Moschitta sets record for fast talking; 586 words per minute
May 24, 2018, world’s largest cat-proof fence (44 km / 27.3 miles) completed at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary, central Australia to protect endangered species

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The Celtics are the 26th NBA team to win 64 games in the regular season. 15 of the first 25 went on to win the title.

Go away: Meteorologists. Amazing, after all of the technology and after all these years, they still can’t predict the weather. Actually, I guess their job is to predict the weather. Well, they do just that. So don’t I.

Stop complaining: Several tornadoes ripped a path of destruction across Iowa Tuesday afternoon and evening, leaving several people dead.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A storm chaser was pronounced dead after his car was blown off the road in Corning, Iowa.

Forget the beach, public parks, malls…, casinos may be the best people watching venues. Just sayin’.

How hot has it been? The extreme heatwave in Mexico is not only affecting the environment, it’s wreaking havoc on howler monkeys and causing them to fall dead out of trees.

The NFL is once again screwing the general public with its schedule for 2024. 5 of the games in week #17 are flexible in terms of start time as are all game in week #18.

Article I’ll skip: NFL commissioner sticks up for Chiefs kicker, praises ‘diversity of opinions’ in the league

Hmmm. There have been only 79 teams, thru 48 games, in the last 125 years with an ERA < 3.00 and a run differential >= 33. Only two of those teams had losing records, the 1945 St. Louis Browns and the 2024 Boston Red Sox.

They said it: “I’ve decided to retire from competitive eating. It’s all I’ve done for the last 20 years. I am worried about what my next step will bring, but I am also excited about my future. I have mixed feelings.” Japanese competitive eater Takeru Kobavashi has announced his retirement in a new Netflix documentary in which the six-time winner of the famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest revealed that he no longer has an appetite. He estimated that over the course of his 20-year career, he has eaten around 10,000 hotdogs.

Good news: Congratulations are in order for newlyweds Marjorie Fiterman, age 102, and Bernie Littman, age 100, of Philadelphia, who just got married on Sunday, May 19, at the senior living facility where they first met. They began dating nearly a decade ago.

Trivia #1 answer: What is the significance of the phrase, “What hath God wrought” – It was the first telegraph message tapped out by Samuel Morse on May 24, 1844
Trivia #2 answer: From 1991 to 2014, there was a pattern of NBA Finals teams. The team was coached by Phil Jackson of was from one of which two states? – Texas of Florida (go ahead, you, look it up)
Trivia #3 answer: What is Waymo? – A subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. that makes self-driving vehicles.
Trivia #4 answer: Which team has scored the fewest goals in a Stanley Cup Finals series since the best-of-7 format was adopted in 1939? – Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders – Montreal Canadiens (Two goals during a four-game sweep by the Red Wings in 1952)

My people skills are just fine. It’s my tolerance of idiots that needs work.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Escargot Day! And Happy Memorial Day on Monday!

“Give me silver, blue and gold,
The colour of the sky I’m told
My ray-ay-ain-bow is overdue”

– Bad Company (Silver, Blue & Gold)

Friday, May 17, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Do you ever come across some people who are just so wrong that you can’t even argue with them because the sheer amount of bullshit they are spewing is overwhelming?

Trivia #1: Tullamore D.E.W., great, smooth Irish whiskey… but I digress. What does the “D.E.W.” stand for?
Trivia #2: On Wednesday night, the Celtics’ Al Horford became just the 3rd 37-plus-year-old (he’ll be 38 on June 3rd) to score 22-plus points with 15-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists. Who are the other two?
Trivia #3: What is a tartan ribbon?
Trivia #4: Which player won the PGA Championship in his first time playing in a major tournament? – Rich Beem, Keegan Bradley, Collin Morikawa, Gene Sarazen, Tiger Woods, Raymond Floyd, Dane Hubbard

On this date: Back to Henry VIII… May 17, 1536, Anne Boylen’s four lovers are executed, two days before she was beheaded. Boylen was a wife of Henry VIII, mother to future Queen Elizabeth I and Queen of England herself.
May 17, 1792, four merchants form the New York Stock Exchange at 70 Wall Street.
May 17, 1861, the first color photograph, of a tartan ribbon, is shown by Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell to the Royal Institution in London.
May 17, 1986, the “Chicken Song” by Spitting Image hits #1 on the UK pop chart

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Brooks Koepka recently won his 4th LIV event

Go away: The Euro step (NBA)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A Michigan woman was found living inside a sign on top of a grocery store recently. The unidentified 34-year-old woman, who police said was homeless, had not only been living inside the grocery store sign for a year, she also had a desk, a coffee maker, a computer and a printer. She was discovered when contractors at the Midland, Michigan, store noticed someone was running an extension cord up to the roof where there’s a plugin. 

Our New England Patriots are tied for eight in strength of schedule heading into the 2024 season. They open against Cincinnati, have one (yes one) primetime game in week 3 on Thursday night against the Jets (unless you count Sunday morning at 9:30am in London as “primetime”) and have 12-1pm starts.

Frankly, I like the 1pm starts, just sayin’.

Showing gratitude, you’re doing it wrong. A New Mexico man shot his stepmother Wednesday as she was attempting to give him a hug during his high school graduation ceremony.

Article I’ll skip: Jersey sales for star Chiefs kicker surge after faith-based speech sparks strong reactions

Stop complaining: Unless you’re in Houston, TX, a storm system that threatened to produce torrential rainfall over East Texas, spawned severe thunderstorms in the nation’s fourth-largest city Thursday, causing at least four fatalities and leaving more than 1 million customers without power.

Not-good news: The Mirage hotel-casino will close its doors in July after 34 years of operating along the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada.

Good news: A major overhaul of the property will then begin, which will include refurbishing the resort and constructing a near 700-foot-tall guitar-shaped hotel on the site, similar to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near Hollywood, Florida. The 80-acre resort will be renamed as “Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas” (HRHCLV) with an opening date slated for 2027. 

Husband to wife: Why don’t you ever tell me when you have an orgasm? Wife: Because I don’t like to bother you at work.

Trivia #1 answer: Tullamore D.E.W., great, smooth Irish whiskey… but I digress. What does the “D.E.W.” stand for? – DEW or D. E. W. are the initials of one of the greatest distillers Ireland has ever had, his name was Daniel Edmund Williams. This guy has an incredibly interesting story. He began working at the distillery as a stable boy at the age of 15 and went on to become Distillery Manager by the age of 25. (quoted directly from their website)
Trivia #2 answer: On Wednesday night, the Celtics’ Al Horford became just the 3rd 37-plus-year-old (he’ll be 38 on June 3rd) to score 22-plus points with 15-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists. Who are the other two? – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James (Al also had three blocks!)
Trivia #3 answer: What is a tartan ribbon? – Tartan ribbons are an iconic symbol of Scotland and Scottish identity, and are used for a variety of purposes. Tartan ribbons decorate clothing to add color and texture to any outfit, while in the Scottish Highlands they are typically worn as part of traditional dress.
Trivia #4 answer: Which player won the PGA Championship in his first time playing in a major tournament? – Rich Beem, Keegan Bradley, Collin Morikawa, Gene Sarazen, Tiger Woods, Raymond Floyd, Dane Hubbard – Keegan Bradley

Something about today makes me want to be hungover tomorrow.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Bike to Work Day!

“And Harry doesn’t mind if he doesn’t make the scene
He’s got a daytime job, he’s doing alright
He can play the honky tonk like anything
Saving it up for Friday night
With the Sultans
With the Sultans of Swing”

– Dire Straits (Sultans of Swing) – Note: A little long, but I like it

Bonus(?) tune

Friday, May 10, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I did it! Yet another personal record for consecutive days alive!

You come from dust. You will return to dust. That’s why I don’t dust. It could be someone I know.

Trivia #1: Who was the only U.S. president to be an only child?
Trivia #2: UCLA has the most men’s NCAA championships in what two sports?
Trivia #3: Hank Aaron hit 755 career homeruns. How many inside-the-park homeruns did he have? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8
Trivia #4: What is the nickname of Sacred Heart University?
Trivia #5: Which of the following is NOT an xfinity channel? – Destination Europe, FanDuel TV, Jewish Broadcasting Service, Freeform, ZeeTV, SundanceTV

On this date: May 10, 1877, U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes has the first White House telephone installed.
May 10, 1924, J. Edgar Hoover appointed first head of the FBI
May 10, 1970, Bobby Orr scores famous OT-winning goal as the Bruins beat St. Louis, 4-3 for the 4-0 series sweep.

Wow! Listening to sports talk radio, friends and family, the local optimism regarding the Celtics and Bruins has taken a swift 180. What have you done for me lately?

Go away: Stormy Daniels (Unless you’re naked, then by all means, stay)

So, Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark’s GPA is 3.64. Not too shabby.

Resisting arrest, you’re doing it wrong: A Florida man was arrested earlier this week after biting a chunk out of a deputy’s head at an EDM music festival on Sunday.

The sunscreen I use says that it is vegan. I’m not going to eat it! What the hell does that mean?

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: This is the first time in history that all four Boston and Dallas teams reached the elite eight (Bruins/Celtics, Stars/Mavericks)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: I recently sent a group email and one of the recipient’s was a guy who works for a local bank. He had an automatic reply set and the response email read: Jones, Joe (he/him/his) – name was changed to protect the innocent

So, of the protesters who are actually students, are we going to pay off their loans too?

Get this, 22-year-old Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds is on pace for an unfathomable 42 homers and 94 stolen bases this season. He finished April with 8 homeruns and 18 stolen bases, becoming the first player on record to hit both those marks in any calendar month.

Fans of sriracha sauce may find themselves scrambling — again — to get a hold of the spicy condiment. Huy Fong Foods, a leading sriracha maker in California, is warning that a shortage is on the horizon, and it’s placing the blame on jalapeño chili peppers. The company told wholesale buyers that it has to halt production because the peppers aren’t red enough.

They said it: “For all you punks, idiots and jackasses on other networks, who want to be media and who want all the players to like y’all, do your damn job. The Lakers suck and the Suns suck because of the players.” – Charles Barkley

Article I’ll skip: Family’s claim of alien sighting “can’t be denied” after noticing previously missed detail

Good news: In great news for the climate, the rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest halved in 2023. This is the lowest rate of deforestation in 5 years for the world’s largest rainforest.

You remove your hat for the national anthem, good for you. Now do me a favor and remove it when you enter a funeral home. Really?

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the only U.S. president to be an only child? – No U.S. president has been an only child
Trivia #2 answer: UCLA has the most men’s NCAA championships in what two sports? – Basketball (11) and volleyball (21)
Trivia #3 answer: Hank Aaron hit 755 career homeruns. How many inside-the-park homeruns did he have? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 – He had one inside-the-park homerun on May 10, 1967
Trivia #4 answer: What is the nickname of Sacred Heart University? – The Pioneers
Trivia #5 answer: Which of the following is NOT an xfinity channel? – Destination Europe, FanDuel TV, Jewish Broadcasting Service, Freeform, ZeeTV, SundanceTV – Destination Europe is not a channel (although Destination America is)

I have a black eye in karate.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Lipid Day! (really)

“I’ve seen your picture
Your name in lights above it
This is your big debut
It’s like a dream come true
So you won’t you smile for the camera
I know you’re gonna love it, Peg.”

– Steely Dan (Peg)

Friday, May 3, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I’m getting some “likes”, feeling some love. Thanks to you…

Anyone interested in a ride in a helicopter? We need one person to accompany us. We leave early next Sunday morning from Burlington airport and will fly over the city and the lake, then fly to and have lunch in Plattsburgh. Then we’ll do a flight back to Burlington airport. If interested, please message me. Preferably someone with a helicopter, otherwise we can’t go.

Trivia #1: Who is Jaylen Key?
Trivia #2: Brad Marchand recently passed Cam Neely with his 56th playoff goal, the most in Boston Bruins’ history. Which two of the following do not round out the top 5? – Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Rick Middleton, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron

On this date: May 3, 1938, Lefty Grove defeats Tigers 4-3 for 1st of record 20 consecutive wins at his home field Fenway Park; he doesn’t lose there until May 12 1941. Wowza!
May 3, 1967, African American students seize finance building at Northwestern University. Hmmm, sound familiar?
May 3, 1991, future NHL HOF right wing Cam Neely injures knee on cheap shot by Ulf Samuelssin Wales Conference Finals; injury limits him to only 162 games for the remainder of his NHL career, retires at 31.

There were an estimated 700,000+ in attendance at the NFL draft in Detroit. That’s quite a party, probably quite the experience, but Detroit???

Go away: Anti-Israel protesters. Seriously, cut the crap and get back to class.

So little Yaz homered at Fenway. That is pretty cool.

Speaking of the NBA, congratulations to the Celtics’ Brad Stevens, the 2023-24 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year. Now let’s go win banner #18!

Stop complaining: Multiple tornadoes were ongoing simultaneously in Tillman County, Oklahoma, when the weather got weird. At least two of the tornadoes exhibited very odd behavior: one powerful tornado looped backward and recrossed its previous path and another significant tornado spun in the “wrong” direction. Oklahoma has seen more than two dozen tornadoes this past week.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The Toronto Maple Leafs are 2-9 in their last 11 Game 7’s on the road. (come on Bruins, don’t do it again!)

Speaking of the Celtics, the Red Sox have a two-game series at the Atlanta Braves next week, then a two-game series against Atlanta in June at Fenway. Those are the only scheduled two-game series for the Red Sox this season. Why does that bother me…?

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Anti-Israel protesters targeted the American flag on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s quad — which had been flying at half-mast after four Charlotte officers were killed in the line of duty. At one point, they replaced it with a Palestinian flag.

Good news: A student who held up her own American flag at a North Carolina campus Tuesday, after an anti-Israel mob desecrated an American flag flying on campus. Until the flag was restored, two students held up another American flag – so that there was always one waving on the campus quad despite the attempts from anti-Israel agitators to remove the symbol. 

They said it: “I would love to see Tyler O’Neil in the homerun derby.” – Dave Shea, Red Sox announcer. Dave, it’s April!!!

More good news… if you’re a Sox fan: The Red Sox finished April w/ their 6th shoutout – one more than the pitching staff recorded in all of 2023. They finish the month 4 games above .500 (17-13) matching their season high. The team ERA is 2.59, the lowest in baseball and the lowest Sox mark through 30 games since 1920.

Good news part deux: Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.! Well, we didn’t beat them but at least someone else did!

Article I’ll skip: Longtime rumor about Marilyn Monroe confirmed on wiretap, book claims.

Last Sunday was Noah Kahan night at Fenway Park. Apparently, he is somebody. He even has his own bobblehead!

Good news: Disney parks will issue lifetime bans for people who lie about disabilities. Well, good! They should!

R.I.P. Michael Woelfel (75) – Oldest of the 12-sibling Woelfel clan, all-around great guy. He will be missed.

Trivia #1 answer: Who is Jaylen Key? – Alabama safety Jaylen Key was the last selection in the NFL draft (NY Jets), this year’s Mr. Irrelevant.
Trivia #2 answer: Brad Marchand recently passed Cam Neely with his 56th playoff goal, the most in Boston Bruins’ history. Which two of the following do not round out the top 5? – Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Rick Middleton, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron – Top 5 – Marchand (56), Neely (55), Patrice Bergeron (50), Phil Esposito (46), Rick Middleton (55)

Before I got married, I’d just smash into the back of cars because I didn’t have a wife to gasp, scream and hit the imaginary brake when someone else braked 3 miles ahead.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National School Lunch Hero Day! (And I hope everyone has a great Derby Day tomorrow!)

“Saturday night I was downtown
Working for the FBI
Sittin’ in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high”

– The Hollies (Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress))