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Friday, April 5, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Son: “Dad, why is my sister’s name Rose?
Dad: “Because your mother loves roses.”
Son: “Oh, thanks, Dad.”
Dad: “No problem, Opening Day.”

Trivia #1: Who is Ingrid Lindblad?
Trivia #2: What major league pitcher holds the record for the most Opening Day starts, how many?
Trivia #3: What major league pitcher holds the record for the most consecutive Opening Day starts, how many? (Yes, different answer than the previous question)
Trivia #4: David Pastrnak became just the 5th Boston Bruins player to have consecutive 100-point seasons. Which of the following is not one of the other four? – Barry Pederson, Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Rick Middleton, Adam Oates

On this date: April 5, 1923, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company starts producing inflatable tires
April 5, 2063, Earth’s 1st contact with the extraterrestrial Vulcan species in the Star Trek universe

Go away: Angel Reese. You lost, Caitlyn Clark is better than you, go home.

April 2024 is Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.

As a public service: Millennials are about twice as likely to develop colon cancer and four times as likely to develop rectal cancer compared to people born prior to 1950. From the mid-1980s through 2013, colon cancer rates found in those ages 20-29 rose up to 2.4 percent per year and has led the major professional medical societies including the American Cancer Society, the American College of Gastroenterology and the US Preventive Services Task Force to advise lowering screening from age 50 to age 45 for patients with no risk factors. As a friend preaches; “Get your butt checked!”

OK, I get it. Seven games against Seattle and Oakland but, if the Sox didn’t play well everyone would be all over them so let’s give some credit. Starting pitching has a 1.89 ERA and 0.79 WHIP, 46 K’s and 3 BB. Too early to give new pitching coach Andrew Bailey too much credit but so far, so not-bad.

Speaking of Oakland, the average attendance for the three-game series with the Red Sox was 6,055. How they survive is beyond me.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: April 5, 2063, Earth’s 1st contact with the extraterrestrial Vulcan species in the Star Trek universe

This beer tastes like I’m not going to work tomorrow.

The Celtics have a 13-game lead over the second place Bucks in the Eastern Conference (6 games remain). The Bruins have a 4 point lead over the second place Panthers in the Atlantic Division (5 games remain).

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: It’s April 5th and I’m looking at 6 inches of snow outside of my window while some of you are looking at more than two feet. Mingya!

Good news: This snow will melt in a couple/few days, right??

Article I’ll skip: Valerie Bertinelli shares the ‘three-week rule’ she has with new boyfriend

R.I.P. Lou Conter (102) – The last known survivor of the attack of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. Shortly after the horrors in Hawaii, Conter was selected for flight training and became a Navy aviator. He flew some 200 combat missions in the Pacific throughout WWII. After WWII, Conter went on to serve in the Korean War. Later, he became the Navy’s first SERE officer — an acronym for survival, evasion, resistance and escape. For years, he helped establish the program, training Navy pilots and crew how to survive if they were shot down in the jungle and captured as prisoners of war. By the end of his 27-year career in the Navy, in 1967, he’d risen to the ranks of lieutenant commander. 

They said it: “Guys were coming out of the fire, and we were just grabbing them and laying them down, they were real bad. You would pick them up by the bodies, and the skin would come off in your hands.” – Lou Conter

DYK: In a 2021 Veterans Affairs release, it was stated that then, 80 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, up to 9 quarts of oil continued to spill from the USS Arizona into the harbor. Wowza!

Trivia #1 answer: Who is Ingrid Lindblad? – She is the number one ranked women’s amateur golfer.
Trivia #2 answer: What major league pitcher holds the record for the most Opening Day starts, how many? – Tom Seaver (16)
Trivia #3 answer: What major league pitcher holds the record for the most consecutive Opening Day starts, how many? (Yes, different answer than the previous question) – Jack Morris (14)
Trivia #4 answer: David Pastrnak became just the 5th Boston Bruins to have consecutive 100-point seasons. Which of the following is not one of the other four? – Barry Pederson, Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Rick Middleton, Adam Oates – Rick Middleton (He had two but not consecutive)

Bartending: Helping people feel good about bad choices.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Deep Dish Pizza Day! And… Happy Opening Day!!! (Fenway, next Tuesday) And again… Happy Birthday to Meatsy!

“The Rooters gave the other team a dreadful fright
Bobston’s tenth man could not be wrong
Up from “Third Base” to Huntington
They’d sing another victory song

Two! Three! Four!”

– Dropkick Murphys (Tessie)

Bonus!

Friday, March 29, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (Roadtrip!)

It’s baseball season.

As Easter Sunday approaches just remember, going to church doesn’t make you a catholic any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Trivia #1: What is Propionibacterium?
Trivia #2: At the time of his retirement, Carlton Fisk held the record for most homeruns all-time by a catcher. How many did he have and what catcher has since surpassed his record?
Trivia #3: Second baseman Joe Morgan is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and what other team’s hall of fame?

It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again.

On this date: March 29, 1795, Ludwig van Beethoven (24) has his debut performance as a pianist in Vienna
March 29, 1827, 20,000 people attend Ludwig van Beethoven’s funeral
March 29, 2017, man’s body found inside 7m long reticulated python in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Go away: Dan Hurley, UConn men’s basketball head coach. He’s bitching about not more Big East teams qualifying for the NCAA tournament. Please, Dan, everyone has a bitch regarding the selection committee, we don’t need to hear yours.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: See trivia answer #1

What’s that? You want to know about the Red Sox’ schedule? Well, last night they started the season in Seattle on the dreaded West coast swing, 10 games, their longest road trip of the season. They then return to Fenway and begin their longest homestand of the season, 10 games. From August 9 through September 4, they are scheduled to play 26 games in 27 days. Lebron would probably need to rest for 6 or so of those games.

All indications are that the Red Sox are going to suck this season so try to prepare yourselves accordingly. Me? I am beaming with confidence!

This just in, the Sox are undefeated!

The DunKings Munchkin Skewer. Sheer brilliance!

Parenting, you’re doing it wrong. A bystander on Daytona Beach called authorities after watching a couple drink too much and leaving their two children to wander off. When deputies arrived, they found Timothy Stephens and Alyssia Langley passed out on the beach. The Georgia couple realized their children, five and seven, were missing after the deputies asked about the kids. Deputies later found the children unsupervised at a nearby hotel in the swimming pool. While handcuffed, Stephens tried to run from deputies and fell, knocking himself unconscious on the sand.

Good News: A simple blood test could detect colorectal cancer (CRC) with more than 80% accuracy, according to a new study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: McDonald’s to sell Krispy Kreme doughnuts nationwide. What is this world coming to??

Article I’ll skip: Feds raid Diddy’s mansions on two different coasts in human trafficking investigation. (Scumbag. No need for me to read anything outside of the headline)

Trivia #1 answer: What is Propionibacterium? – It is a particular bacterial strain that is the primary cause of the holes in Swiss cheese. Propionibacterium takes the lactic acid leftover from other bacteria and transforms it into carbon dioxide. The gas doesn’t escape but gets trapped, forming bubbles that we call “holes.”
Trivia #2 answer: At the time of his retirement, Carlton Fisk held the record for most homeruns all-time by a catcher. How many did he have and what catcher has since surpassed his record? – 376, since surpassed by Mike Piazza.
Trivia #3 answer: Second baseman Joe Morgan is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and what other team’s hall of fame? – The Houston Astros Hall of Fame

Husband to his wife: “You’ve been telling me I’ve been wrong for 30 years!”
Wife: “31”

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Vietnam War Veterans Day!

They said it: “Ray, people will come Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won’t mind if you look around, you’ll say. It’s only $20 per person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh… people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.” – Terence Mann (James Earl Jones) from “Field of Dreams”

“Got a beat-up glove, a home-made bat
And a brand-new pair of shoes
You know I think it’s time to give this game a ride
Just to the hit the ball, and touch ‘em all
A moment in the sun
It’s a gone and you can tell that one good-bye”

– John Fogerty (Centerfield

Friday, March 22, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

It’s madness!

If you are better off now than you were four years ago, you’re probably an illegal alien.

Trivia #1: Who was the last National League pitcher to win 25 games?
Trivia #2: Who is Bobby Plump?

“I’m just trying to make some sense…”

On this date: March 22, 1978, Karl “The Great” Wallenda, (German acrobat of The Flying Wallendas) dies after falling off a tight-rope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at age 73.
March 22, 2023, new DNA analysis of Ludwig van Beethoven’s hair reveals he probably died of cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis B, but doesn’t explain his deafness.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: March 22, 2023, new DNA analysis of Ludwig van Beethoven’s hair reveals he probably died of cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis B, but doesn’t explain his deafness.

They said it: “It’s unfortunate that it looks poorly, but I really had no ill intents.” – Wyndham Clark, who committed a rules infraction in last weekend’s Arnold Palmer Invitational when he grounded his club in the rough, moving his ball. He was not assessed a penalty. Hey, fool me once… but Clark did the same thing in last year’s U.S. Open.

Stop complaining: Unless you are a Detroit Pistons fan.

Good News: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts read about the passing of a Houston-area North Shore High School football player who was shot and killed at a house party and decide to pay his funeral expenses. Hurt had played football at rival Channelview High School.

Trivia #1 hint: He was also the last pitcher in either league to throw 300 innings in a season.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Another $5.8 billion was discharged in student loan debt for 78,000 borrowers under the public service loan forgiveness program that impacts teachers, nurses, firefighters, social workers, and other public servants, including the military. Total debt relief is now $62,5 billion for 871,000 borrowers since October 2021.

Also, prospective lawyers will no longer have to pass the bar exam to work in Washington, the state Supreme Court ruled in a pair of orders authorizing alternative pathways to licensing. The exam “disproportionately and unnecessarily blocks marginalized groups from entering the practice of law” and is “at best minimally effective for ensuring competent lawyers,” the Bar Licensure Task Force determined.

So, let me get this right. The Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green is a spokesperson for AT&T? This past winter, the Golden State Warriors star was ejected and suspended twice for violent acts: the first, a chokehold of Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, leading to a five-game ban; the second, a swinging whack to the jaw of Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic, resulting in an indefinite suspension on Dec. 13. The suspension lasted about a month, costing him 12 games. Indefinite suspensions in the NBA are rare, but NBA officials considered Green’s messy history, which includes punching former teammate Jordan Poole during a practice in October 2022 and stomping on the chest of Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis in a playoff game last spring, along with an extensive catalog of technicals and flagrant fouls over the past dozen years. Hey AT&T, that should sell!

The two five-story buildings photographed for Led Zeppelin’s “Physical Graffiti” album cover are located at 96 and 98 St. Mark’s Place in New York City. The fourth floor of the building had to be cropped out to fit the square album cover format.  The front doorway and stoop at 96 St. Mark’s Place is also the location used by the Rolling Stones for the music video promoting their single “Waiting on a Friend”, from their 1981 album “Tattoo You”). Whoa…

Article I’ll skip: Manziel’s shocking pick for all-time greatest QB will leave you stunned. (I guess I don’t want to be stunned)

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the last National League pitcher to win 25 games? – Philadelphia’s Steve Carlton in 1972 (He threw 304 innings in 1980).
Trivia #2: Who is Bobby Plump? – Bobby Plump’s last shot for tiny Milan High School was a 17-foot jumper that captured the 1954 Indiana state basketball championship. The victory by the Milan Indians, 70 years ago this past Wednesday, inspired the David-beats-Goliath 1986 Hollywood sports flick “Hoosiers.”

I recently joined a nudist colony. The first few days are the hardest.

Good luck with your respective NCAA brackets. Enjoy the show!

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Goof Off Day! (currently celebrated daily, by many)

“Greasy slicked down
Groovy leather trim
I like the way you hold the road
Mama, it ain’t no sin.

Talking ‘bout love”

– Led Zeppelin (Trampled Under Foot)

Bonus: The Rolling Stones

Friday, March 15, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I had sex for an hour and 40 seconds last Saturday night. Thanks, daylight savings!

Trivia #1: What is “Tokophobia?”
Trivia #2: How many golf balls have been hit into the water surrounding the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, the site of THE PLAYERS (being played this weekend) since 2003, in THE PLAYERS tournament? – 602, 699, 723, 802, 868, 909, 973
Trivia #3: Longwood University punched their ticket to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. What state is the university located in and what is their nickname?

“She had twenty-three masts, and she stood several blasts, and they called her the Irish Rover.”

On this date: March 15, 44 BC, Julius Caesar is stabbed to death by Brutus, Cassius and several other Roman senators on the Ides of March in Rome.
March 15, 1968, LIFE magazine calls Jimi Hendrix “the most spectacular guitarist in the world”
March 15, 1972, “The Godfather”, based on the book by Mario Puzo, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlin Brando and Al Pacino, premiers in NYC (Academy Awards Best Picture 1973)

‘Tis the season, and what a great season it is as “Selection Sunday” is in a couple days, followed by the NCAA Basketball Tournament, Opening Day in MLB across the country and then the NFL Draft. All the while in the midst of the end of the NBA and NHL regular seasons. Bring it on!

But first, let’s enjoy Championship Week(end) and THE PLAYERS.

Go away: Aaron Rodgers. He’s been here before. You’re 40-years-old, go jump into politics and leave the NFL/Jets alone.

Speaking of the NFL, how about the movement with players during the past couple of days?! The upcoming draft prospects just got juicier!

They said it: “You know, I was once named Minor League Player of the Year… unfortunately, I had been in the majors for two years at the time.” – Bob Uecker

Guinness beer sales rose 20% in North America last year and stout in general is gaining in popularity. A 20% rise is unheard of for a mature brand with a deep distribution and can be partly attributed to a sharp rise in consumption by female drinkers as well as a hugely successful rollout of Guinness 0.0, its new non-alcoholic stout.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The Celtics have 36 seasons with >=50 wins in their history, most of all NBA franchises, three more than the Lakers.

Good News: For Longhairs, a California-based men’s grooming brand, bigger is better. Or, in this case, longer is better. After setting a Guinness World Record five years ago for the “most hair donated to charity in a 24-hour period” during “The Great Cut of 2019,” the company is ready to surpass that record. The organization was successful in 2019, donating over 339 pounds of hair — but now the Longhairs team is hoping to surpass that record in 2024.

WTF: Some people may go to a church or chapel to get married — but one couple, Logen Abney and Tiana Alistock said “I do” inside the men’s bathroom at a local HOP Shops location in Verona, Kentucky, on Valentine’s Day. HOP Shops are known for their out-of-the-ordinary bathrooms that include a colorful light display at the press of a button.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has made the decision to remove the “Duty, Honor, Country” motto from its mission statement. In a letter sent to students and supporters, Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steve Gilland said the phrase, which was first added to the mission statement in 1998, would be replaced with the words, “Army Values.” “Our responsibility to produce leaders to fight and win our nation’s wars requires us to assess ourselves regularly,” Gilland wrote in a letter to cadets and supporters on Monday. “Thus, over the past year and a half, working with leaders from across West Point and external stakeholders, we reviewed our vision, mission, and strategy to serve this purpose.”

Article I’ll skip: Doomsday preppers offer tips to thrive in future societal collapse

R.I.P. Eric Carmen (74), singer-songwriter and frontman of the power-pop band the Raspberries who went on to achieve solo success with songs such as “All By Myself” and “Hungry Eyes.”

Trivia #1 answer: What is “Tokophobia?” – The pathological fear of pregnancy and can lead to avoidance of childbirth.
Trivia #2 answer: How many golf balls have been hit into the water surrounding the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, the site of THE PLAYERS (being played this weekend) since 2003, in THE PLAYERS tournament? – 602, 699, 723, 802, 868, 909, 973 – 802
Trivia #3: Longwood University punched their ticket to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. What state is the university located in and what is their nickname? – The Longwood University Lancers are located in Farmville, Virginia.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Buzzards Day!

Today is also International Women’s Day. It was supposed to be yesterday but they took too long to get ready.

“May we all be alive at this same time next year.” Slainte!

“Before her love, I was cruel and mean
Had a hole in the place where my heart should have been
But now I’ve changed, and I feel so strange
I come alive when she does all those things to me”

– Raspberries (Go All the Way)

Friday, March 8, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Next time you’re feeling down remember, life is all about perspective. I have a friend who has sex 2-3 times a day, exercises twice a day, is served 3 meals a day, reads two books a week yet every day he complains about how much he hates prison.

Trivia #1: What is Mickey Mouse’s middle name?
Trivia #2: Which of the following was NOT a wife of King Henry VIII? – Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Elizabeth Blount, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Catherine Parr
Trivia #3: Who was the last 18-year-old to hit a homerun in the majors? – Ken Griffey Jr., Andrew Jones, Danny Murphy, Larry Dierker, Alex Rodriguez, Robin Yount, Mike Trout, Juan Soto
Trivia #4: Of the following which two players are not in the top 10 in all-time NBA scoring average per season? – Oscar Robertson, George Gervin, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Kevin Durant, Allen Iverson

“Somethin’ keeps him movin’, but no one seems to know, what it is that makes him go…”

On this date: March 8, 1531, Henry VIII recognized as supreme head of Church in England by the Convocation of Canterbury.
March 8, 1817, the New York Stock Exchange was founded
March 8, 1971, Joe Frazier ends Muhammad Ali’s 31-fight winning streak at Madison Square Garden, NYC; retains the heavyweight boxing title by unanimous points decision over 15 rounds in the “Fight of the Century”

Go away: Anyone who walks up to me this weekend with a beer in their hand and starts out with; “So, what did you think of the SOTU address?”

They said it: “Hi, I’m John Morgan of Morgan and Morgan… and Morgan and Morgan and Morgan… and Morgan… and Morgan and Morgan…” (OK, I think I’ve seen that commercial enough times)

Jaylen Brown has been dealing with a sacroiliac joint strain. Hey, at least he’s getting creative!

Speaking of the NFL, did you happen to catch Jason Kelce’s retirement speech? I’m mean I get it but nearly 40 minutes! Jeez!

And speaking of golf, in a “You can’t fire me, I quit” way, LIV golf is now rejecting Overall World Golf Rankings (OWGR). A few months after OWGR rejected LIV’s application for world ranking points, LIV has done an about-face and said it doesn’t want OWGR. Question, are you still watching the PGA? I am.

Good News: ZeroEyes, an artificial intelligence (AI) weapon detection software company, has partnered with Fort Smith public schools in Arkansas to prevent potential firearm threats. The human-verified AI gun detection technology integrates AI with existing security cameras to detect firearms with a core mission as a company to prevent mass and active shootings inside schools. The system asks one question. “Is there a gun in this image or not?” The process takes three to five seconds from initial detection to the alert being in the hands of ZeroEyes end users to clients.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A news reporter in the UK has contacted the police and have them investigating author J.K. Rowlings for refusing to call the reported the proper pronoun. The reporter is a biological male claiming to be a female.

You may have heard that the New England Patriots scored terribly, 29th of 32 teams, in a team player pole. I, personally, don’t put a lot of stock in the results. However, for the categories they scored lowest in – Treatment of families, locker room, training room, weight room – those sound like areas to spend money and an excuse to raise ticket prices in 2025.

Article I’ll skip: Tom and Gisele’s kids get very different treatment at mom’s house compared to dad’s.

A shoutout to Haverhill High athletics. First, the wrestling team won their first Division 1 State Championship since 1998 and finished 3rd in New England. As for the shot putters, Haverhill boys took 1st and 4th in the D1 State Championship and sophomore Maddie Goncalves took 3rd for the girls. Maddie, a junior, also broke the school record twice during the season.

R.I.P. Chris Mortenson (72) – An award-winning journalist who reported on the NFL for ESPN for more than three decades, In 2016, he received the Pro Football Writers of America’s Dick McCann Award and was honored during the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s enshrinement ceremony in August that year.

Trivia #1 answer: What is Mickey Mouse’s middle name? – Theodore
Trivia #2 answer: Which of the following was NOT a wife of King Henry VIII? – Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Elizabeth Blount, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Catherine Parr – Elizabeth Blount was not his wife but his mistress who bore the only illegitimate child Henry VIII acknowledged as his son.
Trivia #3 answer: Who was the last 18-year-old to hit a homerun in the majors? – – Ken Griffey Jr., Andrew Jones, Danny Murphy, Larry Dierker, Alex Rodriguez, Robin Yount, Mike Trout, Juan Soto – Robin Yount (1972)
Trivia #4: Of the following which two players are not in the top 10 in all-time NBA scoring average per season? – Oscar Robertson, George Gervin, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Kevin Durant, Allen Iverson – Kobe Bryant, Oscar Robertson

“… and Morgan and Morgan…”

It’s brought to my attention that I’ve offended some of you… Please accept my apologies, I meant to offend all of you.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Peanut Cluster Day!

“Then the lights begin to flicker and the sound is getting dim
The voice begins to falter and the crowds are getting thin
But he never seems to notice, he’s just got to find another place to play”

– Bread (The Guitar Man)

Bonus tune from Herman’s Hermits, for you, Ernie.

Friday, March 1, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (Hmmm. It doesn’t appear that way)

I took the road less traveled… now I don’t know where the f*k I am.

Thanks for a record number of “likes” last Friday. I’m feeling the love.

Trivia #1: What is Donald Duck’s middle name?
Trivia #2: On March 1, 1909, the 1st US university school of nursing was established where? – University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, Yale University, Harvard University, University of Ohio
Trivia #3: Who is Drew Burress?
Trivia #4: Who leads the Bruins in penalty minutes this season? – Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Trent Frederic, Hampus Lindholm

“Out of the way, it’s a busy day, I’ve got things on my mind”

On this date: March 1, 1896, Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity
March 1, 1921, Spin bowler Arthur Mailey takes 5 for 119 (record 36 wickets for series) to lead Australia to a 9 wicket 5th Test win over England in Sydney; first ever, 5-0 Ashes cricket series win for Australia (Huh?!)
March 1, 1961, US President JFK establishes the Peace Corps.
March 1, 1973, Harvest (UK) and Capitol Records (US) release Pink Floyd’s 8th studio album “Dark Side of the Moon”; it stays on Billboard Top 200 Album charts for the next 14 years, selling over 50 million copies worldwide.

Go away: Caitlyn Clark. Iowa’s all-world women’s basketball star who just shattered the all-time scoring record. Good for you, now please go away.

You can bet on anything: How about betting odds on NFL combine records to be broken? The odds of the bench press record are over 49.5 reps, over (+830), under (-2200).

Women rejoice! We’ve all heard the widespread recommendation of hitting 10,000 steps per day for optimal health, but some groups — such as women over age 60 — may not need that many. According to a new study published in JAMA Cardiology, women between the ages of 63 and 99 only needed an average of 3,600 steps per day to reduce their heart risk failure by 26%.

People often ask me; “Ed, how is Warren Buffet these days?”, showing their deep concern for the investing legend. Well, you can all relax as the Buffett-led Berkshire Hathaway inched closer to $1 trillion in market value.

The Bruins won a game in regulation last night!

They said it: “That brought me a lot of shame. It doesn’t matter who I talked to. It doesn’t matter who told me anything. It’s my rear end on the line when I say something, when I confirm a story. And I was wrong. And that is something that will haunt me, really. It bothers me, literally bothers me to this day.” – Peter King, American sportswriter wrote for ESPN from 1989-2018. King, who was working at Sports Illustrated at the time, said he went so far as to write a resignation letter in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding the 2015 Patriots’ Deflategate scandal. He reported “11-12” footballs where underinflated when in fact there was only one. King announced his retirement earlier this week.

Jean-Philippe Lartigue, 65, of Bethseda, Maryland, was fishing with a long, 12-foot crappie-style rod, spinning reel, eight-pound test monofilament line, a small split-shot weight and a No. 8 hook baited with a natural worm bait when he hooked a rainbow trout weighing 17.44 pounds and measured 32 inches. The fish bested the previous record by 3 pounds.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Tom Brady ran a faster 40-yard dash just the other day faster than his time at the NFL combine 20 years ago.

Say what? Madison Bumgarner had more grand slams than Prince Fielder, who had more inside-the-park homeruns than Ricky Henderson, who had fewer steals of home than Babe Ruth, who had as many shutouts as Pedro Martinez.

I find the reality show, “Bar Rescue” to be annoying, especially I guess, because I find its host, John Taffer, annoying.

Stop complaining: For a third straight day, firefighters are battling several wildfires in Texas. The largest, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, has merged with another fire, burning homes and forcing residents to evacuate. The fast-moving blaze, fueled by gusty winds and dry, unseasonably warm conditions, slowed somewhat on Thursday as temperatures dipped but has scorched at least 1.1 million acres with just 3% containment, making it the largest wildfire in Texas history and the second-largest wildfire in US History.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Tickets to the Willy’s Chocolate Experience in Glasgow, Scotland, were marketed based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) images that sold parents on a magical experience, but when they showed up, it was anything but. Parents called the police on Saturday because they felt scammed by the “absolute shambles of an event.” The AI-generated images included giant candy displays and colorful lights, but children were instead greeted by a virtually empty warehouse with a printed AI background, a disappointing bouncy castle and hardly any candy. 

Article I’ll skip: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt respond to Rebecca Ferguson’s claim about “idiot” co-star.

Good news: USA Rugby, Major League Rugby (MLR) and World Rugby are pleased to officially announce a strategic partnership to launch a new MLR expansion club in Charlotte, North Carolina, named Anthem Rugby Carolina (RC). The new club will immediately join the 2024 season, with American Legion Memorial Stadium serving as its match day home. This ground-breaking partnership between the governing bodies for global and American rugby, as well as North America’s premier professional rugby league, represents a significant investment and collaboration in the growth and development of the game in the United States as future hosts of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033 respectively. 

R.I.P. Stacy Wakefield (53) – Of cancer, just five months after her husband Tim (57), former Red Sox pitcher, died as a result of a brain tumor. Stacy leaves behind two kids, Trevor and Brianna.

Trivia #1 answer: What is Donald Duck’s middle name? – Fauntleroy
Trivia #2 answer: On March 1, 1909, the 1st US university school of nursing was established where? – University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, Yale University, Harvard University, University of Ohio – The University of Minnesota
Trivia #3 answer: Who is Drew Burress? – The Georgia Tech freshman rated the No. 1 outfielder and No. 2 overall baseball prospect in the state of Georgia, swung the bat four times in the Yellow Jackets 10-0 win over Georgia State. Those four swings produced four homeruns, a school record.
Trivia #4 answer: Who leads the Bruins in penalty minutes this season? – Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Trent Frederic, Hampus Lindholm – Charlie McAvoy (71), Marchand is second with 62.

The biggest step in a relationship isn’t the first kiss… it’s the first fart.

Few people say “Thank you” these days, especially the young. Watch and listen. It’s really a shame and I blame parents, or worse, broken families. No respect.

It’s March 1st !!! Flowers and grass will begin to grow, waters will begin to warm, baseballs will fly and life, at least here in the northeast, will be a little more beautiful. It’s madness I tell you! Come on to downtown Haverhill this afternoon and celebrate. I’ll be happy to serve you.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Horse Protection Day!

“Breathe, breathe in the air
Don’t be afraid to care
Leave, but don’t leave me
Look around
Choose your own ground”

Pink Floyd (Breathe)

Bonus – Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young and Tom Jones CSN (Long Time Gone) – Talk about a group of musicians getting into a performance! Awesome!

Friday, February 23, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Sometimes elevator music can be so uplifting. Other times, it can really bring you down.

Hey, throw me a bone here, will ya? As mentioned in the past, just a few hundred thousand (or so) more hits and I could make some money off of this blog. Give me a “like”, share with friends, relatives, convicted felons. Get the word out!

Trivia #1: The Toronto Maple Leaf’s Austin Matthews scored his 6th hat trick of the season the other night, joining the list of players with 6 or more hat tricks in any one season. The record is 10. Which player does NOT have 6 or more hat tricks in one season? – Brett Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Darryl Sittler, Joe Malone, Alexander Mogilny
Trivia #2: Besides Brad Marchand, name the NHL player with, thru their first 1,000 games, >=375 goals, >=500 assists, >=300 +/-, >= 1,000 penalty minutes.
Trivia #3: What was the name of Boston’s first “football” club, cited as one of the first football clubs established anywhere outside of England? They were undefeated for most of their seasons between 1862-1867.
Trivia #4: Who is Ian Anderson?
Trivia #5: How long did the Battle at the Alamo last? – 3 days, 7 days, 9 days, 11 days, 13 days, 17 days?
Trivia #6: In 1906, Tommy Burns beat Marvin Hart for the heavyweight boxing title. How many rounds did the fight last? – 1, 4, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20?

Six trivia questions???

Why aren’t the Toronto Maple Leafs the Toronto Maple Leaves?

Giddy-up you “football” fans. As you soccerheads should already know, Boston is one of 11 US cities to be hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Jump up, look around, find yourself some fun…”

On this date: February 23, 1836, the Battle at the Alamo began.
February 23, 1945, US Marines raised the American flag on top of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Pulitzer prize-winning photo which by Joe Rosenthall later became iconic, inspiring the Marine Corps War Memorial sculpture.

Go away: D-I-N-K-S. You know, those people who don’t wipe the snow off the roof of their car thinking, “the highway is right down the road. I’ll just hit the gas and let it blow off.” You know those people who leave their shopping cart where they park instead of walking it over to the caddie. I hope you’re not that guy/gal! I would think my readers are on a different level.

They said it: “It’s way beyond ironic that a place called “The Holy Land” is the location of the fiercest, most deeply felt hatred in the world.” – Comedian George Carlin

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: It can be a “blockbuster” hurricane season, AccuWeather hurricane experts warn, as all of the ingredients are coming together for explosive tropical development in the Atlantic this year. “Can be…” They can say this every year and if it is a mild season, so what? If they are correct, they are geniuses. Spare me, please, these buffoons.

Stop complaining: Postal workers in the Dallas area have been experiencing an uptick in armed robberies and assaults, and conditions have gotten so bad that federal authorities have opened an investigation. Around 2,000 letter carriers have been victims of armed robberies since 2020. 

5 of the last 6 Boston Bruins games have gone to OT. The results? Shootout win, Non-OT loss, OT loss, Shootout win, OT win, OT loss. BTW, NHL overtime sucks. Jut sayin’.

Conversely, the Celtics have won 7 in a row while averaging 126 points during that stretch. “Shoot!”

Selfie, you’re doing it wrong. A zoo guest who decided to climb a wall and chain-link fencing to enter a lion enclosure at Sri Venkateswara zoological park in Tirupati, India, to apparently take a selfie was mauled to death by the animal.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Lawmakers in New York City are pushing a ban on Tide Pods, made by Procter & Gamble, and other single-use laundry detergent products in the name of climate consciousness.

Article I’ll skip: Insiders why explain why Princess Kate, Meghan Markle will never be friends. (Why do people care about these people??)

Good news: A suspected Florida child molester whose alleged victims included his own granddaughter has been captured days after his family teamed up with “America’s Most Wanted” to raise awareness about the case.

Me: “I’m surprised at how winded I am by this exercise.” Personal trainer: “That was the tour of the gym.”

R.I.P. Chuck Mawhinney (75) – The marine from Lakeview, Oregon, recorded 103 confirmed kills in Vietnam over the span of 16 months in 1968 and 1969. By the time he returned home, he’d also been credited with another 216 “probable kills,” a classification for incidents in which the act of confirming a kill in an active war zone would jeopardize safety.

Trivia #1 answer: The Toronto Maple Leaf’s Austin Matthews scored his 6th hat trick of the season the other night, joining the list of players with 6 or more hat tricks in any one season. The record is 10. Which player does NOT have 6 or more hat tricks in one season? – Brett Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Darryl Sittler, Joe Malone, Alexander Mogilny – Darryl Sittler only had 5
Trivia #2 answer: Besides Brad Marchand, name the NHL player with, thru their first 1,000 games, >=375 goals, >=500 assists, >=300 +/-, >= 1,000 penalty minutes. – The answer is no one!
Trivia #3: What was the name of Boston’s first “football” club, cited as one of the first football clubs established anywhere outside of England? They were undefeated for most of its seasons between 1862-1867. – The Oneida Football Club
Trivia #4 answer: Who is Ian Anderson? – Ian is the originator and, since its creation in 1967, the only remaining member of the band “Jethro Tull.” DYK: Jethro Tull, nothing to do with the band, was an eighteenth century English agricultural engineer who invented the seed drill.
Trivia #5 answer: How long did the Battle at the Alamo last? – 3 days, 7 days, 9 days, 11 days, 13 days, 17 days? – It lasted 13 days
Trivia #6 answer: In 1906, Tommy Burns beat Marvin Hart for the heavyweight boxing title. How many rounds did the fight last? – 1, 4, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20? – The fight last 20 rounds!

Sometimes, my greatest accomplishment is just keeping my mouth shut.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Banana Bread Day!

“Feeling alone
The army’s up the road
Salvation a la mode and a cup of tea

Aqualung my friend
Don’t you start away uneasy
Your poor old sot, you see, it’s only me.”

– Jethro Tull (Aqualung)

Friday, February 16, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I may not be that good looking, or athletic, or funny, or talented, or smart… I forgot where I was going with this, but I do know that I love bacon.

Trivia #1: Which of the following did NOT sing at Stevie Ray Vaughn’s funeral in 1990? – Bonnie Raitt, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, Prince
Trivia #2: Who is Gunnarwolfe Fountaine?
Trivia #3: The Red Sox’ Carl Yastrzemski played 23 seasons with the Sox primarily in left field. He also played stints at centerfield, rightfield, first base, DH and 33 games at what other position?

On this date: February 16, 1838, Kentucky passes a law permitting women to attend school under conditions.
February 16, 1861, Abraham Lincoln stops his train in Westfield on his way to Washington to thank 11-year-old Grace Bedell in person for her advice to grow a beard to gain more votes.

Go away: The NFL. Now that the Super Bowl is over, can we just move on full-time to college hoops, hockey and spring training, please?

I have to mention, but can’t say much, about the KC parade shootings. It happens far too often. You have to feel for everyone directly, and indirectly, involved. What a shame.

The f*n Catalina Wine Mixer.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Alexander Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky with his 57th career empty net goal. He has now shot the puck passed no one more times than any player in NHL history.

Speaking of hockey, congratulations to the Northeastern men’s hockey team for winning this year’s Beanpot tournament 4-3 over BU, in OT!

Speaking of champions, after the championship game, Northeastern players immediately were seen wearing Beanpot Champion baseball hats. Why don’t baseball players, after winning a championship, put on hockey helmets? NBA players with championship football helmets on the court raising the trophy???

Stop complaining: There are two consecutive storms forecast for the California coast this weekend.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse:  USA Boxing rang in 2024 by codifying a new rule for female boxing; participants need not be female. According to them, “female” is a term merely equating a few surgeries and pills.  

Being nice people, doh! – With state shelters hitting capacity and migrant families sleeping overnight inside Boston Logan International Airport, Colin and Jessica Stokes of Brookline, Massachusetts, decided to step up and try to make a difference. The Massachusetts couple who volunteered to take in illegal migrants was surprised when a family of four showed up at the doorstep less than an hour after signing up.

Congratulations to Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark who became the highest scoring women’s basketball player in D1 history last night with a 49-point effort. Back in my day, she would have been called a “gun” or a “hung.” That’s just the way it was.

Article I’ll skip: Harry, Meghan launch aggressive PR tour after ‘chilly reception’ from Harry.

A 30-second Super Bowl commercial costs $7M. Nobody’s paid that much for 30 seconds since the Jets signed Aaron Rodgers.

Good news: Pittsburgh’s Cameron Heyward was selected as the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year. The award recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service, as well as his playing excellence. Heyward, who was nominated for the sixth time this year, is a standout in both areas.

Trivia #1 answer: Which of the following did NOT sing at Stevie Ray Vaughn’ funeral in 1990? – Bonnie Raitt, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, Prince – Prince did not perform
Trivia #2 answer: Who is Gunnarwolfe Fountaine? – Not only does Gunnarwolfe have an all-time sports person’s name, but he became the first player in the history of the Beanpot tournament to score an overtime winner in both the semifinals and the championship game in a single tournament. The Northeastern forward was named tournament MVP.
Trivia #3 answer: The Red Sox’ Carl Yastrzemski played 23 seasons with the Sox primarily in left field. He also played centerfield, rightfield, first base, DH and 33 games at what other position? – Third base

Far better it is to have a stout heart always and suffer one’s share of evils, than to be ever fearing what may happen.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National No One Eats Alone Day! (So, go ahead and find someone to eat that donut with!)

Just give me some screamin’ guitar!

“Well you’ve heard about love givin’ sight to the blind
My baby’s lovin’ cause the sun to shine
She’s my sweet little thing, she’s my pride and joy
She’s my sweet little baby, I’m her little lover boy”

– Stevie Ray Vaughn (Pride and Joy)

Friday, February 9, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (Relatively speaking)

Well, I love to celebrate most anything and this morning I set another personal record for consecutive days alive! Seriously, I’ve made it from the bed to the couch. There’s no stopping me now!

Trivia #1: In the movie “Happy Gilmore,” how did Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers) die? – Got hit by a golf ball, Fell out of a window, Got hit by a car, Heart attack on the golf course, Attacked by an alligator on the golf course
Trivia #2: What day is Boxing Day?
Trivia #3: Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XII? – Tony Dorsett, Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett, Roger Staubach and Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Roger Staubach and Randy White, Randy White and Harvey Martin, Roger Staubach and Preston Pearson
Trivia #4: Which two players do NOT have multiple Super Bowl MVP trophies? – Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Tony Dorsett, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Eli Manning
Trivia #5: Who was Frank Hayes?

On this date: February 9, 1870, the US Army establishes the US National Weather Service

Go away: The media. Now, this could be listed each week, really, but don’t be hating on Taylor Swift on Sunday. She’s relatively young, rooting for her boyfriend, having a blast. Be hating on the media for putting her in our faces all… day… long.

She said, “Oh no, Guadalajara won’t do”

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: For the Super Bowl, 108 total footballs are allotted per team. 54 of those are meant for practice and 54 are meant for the actual game. On average during the Super Bowl, 120 footballs are used with the rest used for the kickers.

Sex is like a gas station. Sometimes you get full service, sometimes you have to ask for service and sometimes you have to be happy with self-service.

Stop complaining: Los Angeles just endured their 3rd wettest two-day stretch in more than 70 years and more than 300 mudslides have rocked the state. As California residents reel from the lingering effects of the deadly storm that prompted a state of emergency, a less intense storm will bring additional rain and wind to the region that can slow cleanup efforts and the recession of floodwaters. The latest estimate is $11 billion in damages throughout the region.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not attempting to bash our military in any way but do have to ask. The 5 US Marines killed in the helicopter crash on Tuesday were flying into San Diego where the historic, “atmospheric river” was traveling through. Was training in that type of weather part of the training? Tragic as it is, I do hope things are learned that help our military going forward.

The Kansas City Royals’ 23-year-old shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. signed an 11-year contract that guarantees him $288.7 million. A three-year team option could bring the total value to just under $377 million. That would keep Witt under contract through 2037 when he would be 37 years old. Not a bad gig, if you can get it.

Well, it has apparently happened. Baseball has always been known as “America’s pastime” but, according to new research, football has become “America’s sport.” 12,000 American adults were surveyed and 53% chose football as America’s sport, followed by baseball, basketball, soccer, auto racing (sport?), hockey and “other.”

This week’s sign of the apocalypse:  Trained and licensed medical doctor Dr. Colleen Ann Murphy has opened an adult “Diaper Spa” in nearby Atkinson, NH, where adults can go to wear nappies and act like children. It supports what’s known as paraphilic infantilism – where people get enjoyment out of regressing to a child-like state.

I do miss Marcus Smart, for the most part.

Speaking of the NBA, here’s a thought. Rather than sit guys during games for “rest” or “injury management,” how about resting them during practice? Give me a break!

Article I’ll skip: Ziploc and Travis Kelce’s mother partner ahead of Super Bowl

Good news: Not! Fox News did not have a section this morning for “Good News.” That can’t be good!

R.I.P. Carl Weathers (76) – Starred in football at San Diego State before playing for the Oakland Raiders in 1974 before then pursuing his acting career. Best known for his role as Appollo Creed in four Rocky movies, Weathers was also a member of the Big Brothers Association and the U.S. Olympic Committee, handling the career of athletes of various sports such as gymnastics, wrestling, swimming and judo.
R.I.P. Toby Keith (62, of stomach cancer) – American country music singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the Country Male Vocalist of the Year in 2001, awarded Artist of the Decade at the American Country Awards in 2011, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2021, Keith also became a recipient of the National Medal of Arts.  He also politically active, a staunch supporter of the military and a philanthropist.

Trivia #1 answer: In the movie “Happy Gilmore,” how did Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers) die? – Got hit by a golf ball; Fell out of a window; Got hit by a car; Heart attack on the golf course; Attacked by an alligator on the golf course – He fell out of a window (after being spooked by an alligator head he was presented as a gift)
Trivia #2 answer: What day is Boxing Day? – December 26
Trivia #3 answer: Who was the MVP of Super Bowl XII? – Tony Dorsett, Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett, Roger Staubach and Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Roger Staubach and Randy White, Randy White and Harvey Martin, Roger Staubach and Preston Pearson – The MVPs were Randy White and Harvey Martin
Trivia #4 answer: Which two players do NOT have multiple Super Bowl MVP trophies? – Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Tony Dorsett, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Eli Manning – Peyton Manning and Tony Dorsett
Trivia #5 answer: Who was Frank Hayes? – Frank was an Irish trainer and jockey who, on June 4, 1923, won a steeplechase race at Belmont Park despite suffering a heart attack in the latter part of the race. He remained in the saddle as his horse, Sweet Kiss, crossed the finish line making him the first, and so far only, jockey to win a race after his death.

The razor blade is sharp but can’t cut a tree; the axe is strong but can’t cut a hair. Everyone is important according to his/her own unique purpose… Never look down on anyone unless you are admiring their shoes.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Toothache Day!

“California, tumbles in to the sea
That’ll be the day I go
Back to Annandale”

– Steel Dan (My Old School)

And, I don’t usually do this but, by request…

Friday, February 2, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (Not today)

I was drinking a margarita and the waitress screamed, “Does anyone know CPR?” I yelled, “I know the entire alphabet!” And we laughed and laughed, well, except one guy.

Trivia #1: The Black Death occurred when? – 1315 to 1317, 1324 to 1329, 1336 to 1342, 1346 to 1353, 1355 to 1350
Trivia #2: Of the all-time, top tacklers in Super Bowl history, the New England Patriots have 4 of the top 5 in terms of total tackles. Name them. Bonus question, which of the following is the only non-Patriot in the top 5? – Ike Taylor, Gary Bracket, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Earl Thomas
Trivia #3: Who won the 2017 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 2017)?

The Black Death was a bubonic plaque pandemic occurring in Europe and was one of the most fatal pandemics in human history when as many as 50 million people perished, perhaps 50% of Europe’s 14th century population. Bubonic plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and spread by fleas.  One of the most significant events in European history, the Black Death had far-reaching population, economic, and cultural impacts.

On this date: February 2, 1887, the first Groundhog Day is observed at Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
February 2, 1959, Buddy Holly’s last performance at Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa

Go away: The Kelce brothers. I’m done with them already.

We’re closed, you’re doing it wrong. A Canadian Pizza Hut location posted a sign on their front door reading, “DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMCISIONS THE DINING ROOM WILL BE CLOSED THIS EVENING”

So, Super Bowl LVIII will be played in Las Vegas a week from Sunday. What could go wrong?

Speaking of the NFL, you Detroit Lions’ fans, oh, you were so close! Can you say “Red Sox fans between 1918 and 2004?” Why was there so much Detroit love these past couple of weeks? I don’t recall the nation rooting for the Sox during their decades-long World Championship slump.

I’m living for giving the devil his due.

Say what you want about Travis Kelce, last Sunday he broke one of Jerry Rice’s records, career playoff catches. Any company with Jerry is something worth noting.

Tails never fails. That’s what one big bettor is hoping for when the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers meet at center field at Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl next weekend. The guy bet $100,000 on the coin toss.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: On February 2, 1887, the first Groundhog Day is observed at Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Does anyone know any good Groundhog Day jokes? I keep hearing the same ones over and over again.

Stop complaining: Unless you watch the NFL. Then, go ahead and complain about Taylor Swift for another week+.

I’ve been alive all my life and still have never seen a commercial for Chinese food.

The Lakers beat the Celtics last night. I still hate when that happens.

Days after he was accused of sex trafficking and sexual abuse, Vince McMahon has resigned from all his roles at WWE and its parent company, TKO. Hmmm, surprising?

They said it: “We can say that the NFL is only a sport, not a way of life, but watching the Bills’ fans react is evidence that teams are the fabric of our life. They unite cities, they create pride in the town and when things go wrong on the field, they invoke tremendous grief. Watching Detroit and Buffalo react is why the NFL is rooted in our life.” – Mike Lombardi, former NFL executive and media analyst. Lombardi worked under the likes of Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belichick

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has called on countries to sign on to the health organization’s pandemic treaty so the world can prepare for “Disease X.” Disease X is a hypothetical placeholder virus that has not yet been formed, but scientists say it could be 20 times deadlier than COVID-19.

Article I’ll skip: Irked Arnold Schwarzenegger takes issue with son-in-law Chris Pratt’s parenting style

Good news: The General Motors plant in Flint, Michigan, delayed production for an hour last Sunday, in order for employees to watch the playoff game.

Trivia #1 answer: The Black Death occurred when? – 1315 to 1317, 1324 to 1329, 1336 to 1342, 1346 to 1353, 1355 to 1350 – It occurred from 1346 to 1353
Trivia #2: Of the all-time, top tacklers in Super Bowl history, the New England Patriots have 4 of the top 5 in terms of total tackles. Name them. Bonus question, which of the following is the only non-Patriot in the top 5? – Ike Taylor, Gary Bracket, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Earl Thomas – Non-Patriot Gary Brackett (Indianapolis Colts). The top 4 Patriots are, in order, Rodney Harrison, Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung and Tedy Bruschi
Trivia #3: Who won the 2017 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 2017)? – Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Golden State Warriors (NBA), Houston Astros (MLB), New England Patriots (NFL)

Even though there are days I wish I could change some things that happened in the past, there’s a reason the rear-view mirror is so small and the windshield is so big. Where you’re headed is much more important than what you’ve left behind.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Tater Tot Day!

“Home in the valley
Home in the city
home isn’t pretty
Ain’t no home for me

Home in the darkness
Home on the highway
Home isn’t my way
Home I’ll never be”

– Blue Oyster Cult (Burnin’ For You)

Quickie bonus from Buddy Holly