Blog

Briefly.

Yes, English can be weird. It can be understood through tough thorough thought, though.

Trivia #1: Thalassophobia is the fear of what?
Trivia #2: What player has hit the most extra inning homeruns (22) in MLB history? – Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Alex Rodriquez, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome
Trivia #3: What is the most popular pet in the United States? – Dogs, Cats, Fish, Hamsters, Gerbils, Zebras

Yankees/Red Sox… all weekend!

Go away: This is a very, very long list. Thankfully, you are not on it.

On this date: June 6, 1716, French transport the first African slaves to Louisiana
June 6, 1752, 3rd great fire in Moscow in 2 weeks; 1/3 of city destroyed
June 6, 1795, Fire destroy 1/3 of Copenhagen; 18,000 injured
June 6, 1844, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) formed in London
June 6, 1925, Walter Chrysler reorganizes the failing Maxwell Motor Company and founds automobile manufacturer Chrysler Corporation in Detroit, Michigan
June 6, 1941, MLB New York Giants use plastic batting helmets for 1st time
June 6, 1944, Operation Overlord: D-Day begins as the 156,000-strong Allied Expeditionary Force lands in Normandy, France, during World War II
June 6, 1946, Henry Morgan is 1st to take off shirt on TV
June 6, 1965,The Rolling Stones release music single “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
June 6, 1994, West Indian cricket batsman Brian Lara hits world 1st-class record 501 not out and 390 runs in 1 day for Warwickshire vs Durham at Edgbaston; only quintuple-hundred in first-class history (He did, really!)

“Do not touch” must be one of the scariest things to red in braille.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A woman in Texas has died after contracting a fatal brain amoeba from contaminated water. The patient, 71, had used a nasal irrigation device filled with unboiled tap water from an RV’s water faucet. The woman was staying at a local campground at the time.

Edmonton wins, Pacers win. Yawn.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Fox News Channel beat all broadcast networks in a key metric last week as CNN had its lowest-rated week of the year. I really don’t care.

Here’s a cool tidbit I came across. You’d think a homerun in the 20th inning would be a game winner. Tommy Harper hit one for Seattle on July 27, 1969, but Joe Lahoud of the Red Sox hit one with a man on in the bottom of the 20th and they won.

Good news: Some World War II veterans have landed in France to mark the 81st anniversary of D-Day. A group of about two dozen veterans who served in Europe and the Pacific traveled back to the once bloody beaches of Normandy. The veterans in Normandy are reportedly treated like “rock stars” in the region, being handed notes and hearing many “thank yous.”

Don’t look now but the Colorado Rockies have won 3 games in a row! It was their first series sweep in over a year.

Article I’ll skip: Rare 5,000-year-old burnt bread discovered in Turkey stuns archaeologists.

Trivia #1 answer: Thalassophobia is the fear of what? – An intense, persistent fear of deep water, particularly the ocean or sea.
Trivia #2 answer: What player has hit the most extra inning homeruns (22) in MLB history? – Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Alex Rodriquez, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome – Willie Mays
Trivia #3 answer: What is the most popular pet in the United States? – Dogs, Cats, Fish, Hamsters, Gerbils, Zebras – Dogs are the most popular

I’m reading a book, “How to Be Humble When You’ve Never Been Wrong in Your Life”

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Doughnut Day!

Remember, if you have one foot in the future and one foot in the past, you’re shittin’ on the present.

Yankees suck!

Many years ago, I may have smoked a little pot while listening to this tune… once or twice.

“Look over yonder
What do you see?
The sun is a-risin’
Most definitely
A new day is comin’, whoo-hoo
People are changin’
Ain’t it beautiful, whoo-hoo
Crystal blue persuasion”

– Tommy James & The Shondells (Crystal Blue Persuasian)

Bonus! (Classic video)

Briefly.

I’ve reached the age where I can’t tell whether I’ve sustained an injury or that’s just how I am now.

Trivia #1: What holiday was first observed in the northern US states in 1868?
Trivia #2: The Brooklyn Dodgers named was adopted in 1932. Which of the following was NOT a prior name for the team? – Brooklyn Atlantics, Brooklyn Yorks, Brooklyn Grays, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Brooklyn Superbas, Brooklyn Robins
Trivia #3: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world. Approximately how many permanent seats does it have? – 95,000, 155,000, 210,000, 257,000, 296,000, 325,000, 350,000.
Trivia #4: For you locals, remember Eddie Andelman and his Sports Huddle radio program in the 1970’s? What was Andelman’s wife name and how did he refer to her?
Trivia #5: In game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton became the first player in NBA playoff history with 30+ points (32), 10+ rebounds (12), 15+ assists (15) and zero turnovers. Which two of the following are the only others with such numbers but with 1+ turnovers? – Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, JoJo White, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, Nikola Jokic

Go away: The “tush push.” It’s coming back to the NFL for another season.

On this date: May 30, 1431, Hundred Years’ War: 19-year-old Joan of Arc is burned at the stake by an English-dominated tribunal in Rouen, France.
May 30, 1821, James Boyd patents rubber fire hose
May 30, 1896, First reported car accident occurs; Henry Wells hits a cyclist in NYC.
May 30, 1911, 1st Indianapolis 500: Ray Harroun driving a Marmon Wasp for Nordyke & Marmon Company comes out of retirement, wins inaugural event; average speed: 74.602 mph
May 30, 1922, Cubs and Cardinals trade outfielders between morning and afternoon games of doubleheader; Max Flack goes to St. Louis, Cliff Heathcote heads to Chicago; both get hits for new clubs in the nightcap. (Can’t make it up)
May 30, 1937, Memorial Day Massacre: Chicago Police Department shoot and kill 10 unarmed demonstrators during the “Little Steel Strike”
May 30, 1967, American motorcycle daredevil Robert “Evel” Knievel’s motorcycle jumps 16 automobiles in Gardena, California.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Large Language Models (LLMs) can be useful, but they also open the door to risks. Instead of harmless questions, someone could ask for a detailed profile on a person, and the model might generate a surprisingly thorough report. While these tools have safeguards and often refuse certain requests, clever phrasing can sometimes bypass those limits. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much effort for someone to use ChatGPT to gather personal information about you. Scary

Man, the Red Sox suck in so many different ways… I do hope they manage to turn things around.

Stop complaining: A massive landslide thundered down a mountainside in Switzerland on Wednesday, destroying a village and burying homes under rocks, mud and water. At least one person is missing. The massive landslide destroyed 90% of Blatten, Switzerland, a town nestled in a valley below a steep mountainside.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: On May 30, 1996, Wendy Guey won the 69th National Spelling Bee spelling ‘vivisepulture.’

Trivia #1 hint: It was first called “Decoration Day.”

Good news: A group of high school students jumped into action in upstate New Tork to help a family escape a fast-moving fire. The group worked together in the emergency with one calling 911, another checking the burning garage, and a third making sure the family inside knew what was happening.

Article I’ll skip: Stephen A. Smith calls out ‘incredibly alarming’ part of alleged Biden scandal.

Trivia #1 answer: What holiday was first observed in the northern US states in 1868? – Memorial Day
Trivia #2 answer: The Brooklyn Dodgers named was adopted in 1932. Which of the following was NOT a prior name for the team? – Brooklyn Atlantics, Brooklyn Yorks, Brooklyn Grays, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Brooklyn Superbas, Brooklyn Robins – The Brooklyn Yorks. DYK: The name “Dodgers” was adopted in 1932, stemming from the term “Trolley Dodgers” used in the early 20th century to describe fans who had to dodge trolley cars on their way to games at Ebbets Field.
Trivia #3 answer: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world. Approximately how many permanent seats does it have? – 95,000, 155,000, 210,000, 257,000, 296,000, 325,000, 350,000. – 257,000 permanent seats with room for an additional 100,000 fans. (Race car driving is not a sport. Just sayin’)
Trivia #4 answer: For you locals, remember Eddie Andelman and his Sports Huddle radio program in the 1970’s? What was Andelman’s wife name and how did he refer to her? – The Fabulous Judy
Trivia #5: In game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton became the first player in NBA playoff history, with 30+ points (32), 10+ rebounds (12), 15+ assists (15) and zero turnovers. Which two of the following are the only others with such numbers but with 1+ turnovers? – Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, JoJo White, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, Nikola Jokic – Oscar Robertson (twice) and Nikola Jokic

I just bought a Humpty Dumpty toy from Aldi. It’s wicked cool, it comes with Aldi Kings horses and Aldi Kings men.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Mint Julep Day!

Remember, if you have one foot in the future and one foot in the past, you’re shittin’ on the present.

“Rock and roll, Hoochie Koo
Lawdy mama light my fuse
Rock and roll, Hoochie Koo
Truck on out and spread the news”

– Rick Derringer (Hoochie Koo) – R.I.P.

This is left over from last week. When you have 18+ minutes to kill, enjoy! – https://youtu.be/VXED2AVlbR0?si=VRDOEw2bXTR4q1oE

Briefly. (Naaaah)

I got myself a senior’s GPS. Not only does it tell me how to get to my destination, it tells me why I wanted to go there.

Trivia #1: George Wendt attended what school for two+ years? – The University of Chicago, Notre Dame, Western Illinois, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago State University, DePaul University
Trivia #2: In golf, what does “CT” stand for in “CT test?”
Trivia #3: The Montreal Canadiens have won the most Stanley Cups (24). What team is second with 13?
Trivia #4: What NFL franchise has never had a 4,000-yard passer in one season?

Go away: Jordon Hudson

On this date: May 23, 1040, Battle of Dandanaqan: Tughril’s Seljuk army defeats Ghaznavid force, near Merv (present-day Turkmenistan), brings about the fall of the Ghaznavid Empire. (wait… what?)
May 23, 1785, Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals
May 23, 1845, New York City Police Department (NYPD) is formed, replacing an old night watch system
May 23, 1903, 1st automobile trip across US leaves San Francisco for New York, (arrives July 26)
May 23, 1934, American outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow – Bonnie and Clyde, are killed by police in an ambush near Sailes, Louisiana
May 23, 2021, 21 runners die in freezing conditions during an ultramarathon in Yellow River Stone Forest Park, Gansu Province, China

This weather stinks.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A Texas man is suing Whataburger after he requested no onions with his meal but got them anyway. The documents claim that Wilson visited a Whataburger location on July 24, 2024, and ordered a “fast-food meal” without onions. However, Wilson claims that the order did contain onions — which apparently then triggered an allergic reaction for which he had to seek the care of medical professionals.

I really don’t believe the Celtics lost because of Tatum’s injury. What now??

Speaking of the Red Sox… how gross were/are those Linda Blair-green uniforms??

Stop complaining: Your house wasn’t just randomly hit by a crashing airplane (San Diego).

So, the Toronto Maple Leafs still have not won a Stanley Cup since 1967. Those poor mamas and papas in Toronto. Apparently, all the ‘leafs’ are brown…

If you recall, last season the Chicago White Sox finished with the worst record in MLB history, 41-121. They were 14-34 at this point in the season. The Colorado Rockies are currently 8-42! Their run differential is -153, 64 runs worse than the next-worst team.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The New England Patriots are favorites in 11 of their 17, 2025 regular-season games.
Useless information supposed to fire my imagination, part deux:  Scientists have now calculated that the universe will end in 10 to the power of 78 years from now. (That’s 1 followed by 78 zeroes.) So ya, you better hurry-up and clean out your garage.

Good news (if you play pickleball): Patriot Place and ELEVENO Pickleball are teaming up to bring outdoor pickleball courts to the shopping, dining and entertainment destination later this summer. The 17,000-square-foot facility will feature six professional courts, a shaded player lounge, food and beverage offerings, and more. The new facility will be built on a converted parking lot (across from Trader Joe’s and Restoration Hardware Outlet), on the same footprint as Winter Skate. Pickleball players of all ages and skill levels will be able to enjoy these new courts through the end of October, at which point the courts will close for the season to begin the installation of the seasonal skating center, Winter Skate.

Last week, I got into Tim Tebow and the 3:16 numbers thing. (Go back if you missed it). How’s this? Cecil Fielder and his son, Prince, both hit 319 MLB homeruns. Both hit exactly 49 homeruns in the fourth inning, 29 in the fifth inning and 18 in the ninth. With two outs, each hit 97 homeruns. Wowza!

I was sitting there eating lunch when I realized; cottage cheese is not actually, in reality, a cheese. It’s just a curd to me.

Article I’ll skip: Wait 2 hours after waking for coffee to avoid cortisol-caffeine crash, says dietitian.

I have not listed an “R.I.P.” in a while but really have to mention George Wendt (76). His ‘Norm Peterson’ character on Cheers was legendary. “Norm!!!” And though he appeared in many other movies and shows, who can forget “Da Bears!”?

I didn’t read this on the internet but instead heard it on the radio (ya, I still listen to that thing). There has been precipitation on the weekend in Boston, even if it was just a race, for 22 consecutive weekends! That will get to 23 tomorrow.

Sign on a fence: “Don’t cross this field… unless you can do it in 9 seconds because the bull can do it in 10.”

Trivia #1 answer: George Wendt attended what school for two+ years? – The University of Chicago, Notre Dame, Western Illinois, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago State University, DePaul University – He attended the University of Notre Dame (He was expelled after receiving a 0.00 GPA during the first semester of his junior year.)
Trivia #2 answer: In golf, what does “CT” stand for in “CT test?” – “CT” stands for Characteristic Time. It’s a measurement recorded in microseconds that indicates how long the ball stays in contact with the clubface during impact. Think of it as a scientific way to gauge how “springy” or “hot” a driver face is. The longer the contact time, the more trampoline-like effect the club has, which can translate to higher ball speeds and longer drives. The PGA tests randomly and both Rory McIlroy and Scottie Sheffler were forced to switch their drivers before the last week’s PGA Championship. (That didn’t bother Sheffler!)
Trivia #3 answer: The Montreal Canadiens have won the most Stanley Cups (24). What team is second with 13? – The Toronto Maple Leafs.
Trivia #3 answer: What NFL franchise has never had a 4,000-yard passer in one season? – The Chicago Bears

Speaking of the PGA, it was really too bad to see LIV golfers John Rahn and Bryson DeChambeau poop their pants down the stretch in last weekend’s PGA Championship. Love that!

If you spell the words “absolutely nothing” backwards, you get “gnihton yletulosba”, which ironically means absolutely nothing.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Lucky Penny Day!

Remember, if you have one foot in the future and one foot in the past, you’re shittin’ on the present.

“One way or another I’m gonna find ya
I’m gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
One way or another I’m gonna win ya
I’m gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
One way or another I’m gonna see ya
I’m gonna meetcha meetcha meetcha meetcha
One day, maybe next week
I’m gonna meetcha, I’m gonna meetcha, I’ll meetcha
I will drive past your house
And if the lights are all down
I’ll see who’s around”

– Blondie (One Way or Another)

Bonus: Ode to the aforementioned Maple Leafs.

Briefly.

My personal record continues for consecutive days alive! Salute!

Customer at the counter of a bagel shop: “I’d like to buy a bagel with cream cheese.”
Cashier: “Sorry, we only take cash.”

Trivia #1: Who is the only athlete to be drafted by 4 professional sports teams?
Trivia #2: Who was Angelo Moriondo?
Trivia #3: There have only been two games in MLB history where a pitcher went exactly 2.1 innings, allowed exactly 12 baserunners and surrendered exactly 11 earned runs. Who is that pitcher?

On this date: May 16, 1817, Mississippi River steamboat service begins
May 16, 1866, US Congress authorizes the nickel 5 cent piece (replaces silver half-dime)
May 16, 1894, A fire in Boston destroys the South End Grounds baseball stadium and 200 other buildings
May 16, 1902, deaf-mutes face each other for 1st time as Dummy Hoy leads off for the Reds against Dummy Taylor of the Giants, Reds win 5-3 (I did NOT make that up!)
May 16, 1939, US food stamps are 1st issued in Rochester, New York
May 16, 1965, The Campbell Soup Company introduces SpaghettiOs under its Franco-American brand
May 16, 2013, Human stem cells are successfully cloned

Don’t look back.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Tim Tebow lives! On Jan. 8, 2009, Tebow led the University of Florida to 24-14 national championship victory over Oklahoma. On Jan. 8, 2012, Tebow’s Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in the AFC wild-card round in an overtime thriller. Beyond the date holding significance to Tebow, what transpired in those football games reaffirmed Tebow’s faith in God. During Florida’s national championship victory in 2009, Tebow wrote “John 3:16” on his eye black that he wore that game. In the win over the Steelers Tebow threw for 316 yards, his yards per rush were 3.16, his yards per completion were 31.6. The ratings for the night were 31.6 and the time of possession was 31:06. Whoa!

The Celtics live another day! (Do the Lakers play this weekend?)

Stop complaining: Hurricane Maria brought 155 mph winds as it made landfall near the city of Yabucoa, on the southeast portion of Puerto Rico, on Sept. 20, 2017. The storm knocked out 95% of cell towers, leaving residents without the ability to communicate. Power, already scarce due to Hurricane Irma just weeks before, was knocked out on the entire island. Flooding on the island was rampant, with 13 locations reaching record flood stage. Structural damage to buildings was widespread, and nearly all road signs and traffic lights were destroyed. Out of the nearly 3,000 deaths attributed to Maria, only dozens were as a result of the actual storm. The rest of the fatalities were caused by lack of access to clean water, food and power for an extended period of time. Today, many areas of the island remain in shambles, many residents are living in poverty and with subsequent storms, earthquakes and the continuous threat of further weather-related events, complete recovery is in question.

Don’t look now, but the Colorado Rockies are 7-36. Yikes!

Celebrating your winnings, you’re doing it wrong! Law enforcement officials in Pinellas County, Florida arrested a Kentucky man who, just days after winning the $167 million Powerball jackpot, allegedly kicked a deputy during a fight at a resort.

Trivia #1 hint: Those teams are in 4 different sports leagues.

Red Sox vs the Braves tonight: Garrett Crochet vs. Chris Sale. That should be pissah!

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The NFL schedule has been released. The Patriots will travel the sixth-fewest miles in the league this season, a welcome shift from last year when they logged the fourth-most.

Article I’ll skip: NBA great Shaquille O’Neil floats theory on Blue Origin flight

The Chuck (Charles Barkley) GPT commercials are hilarious.

Trivia #1 answer: Who is the only athlete to be drafted by 4 professional sports teams? – Dave Winfield (drafted by the San Diego Padres (MLB), Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (ABA), Minnesota Vikings (NFL))
Trivia #2 answer: Who was Angelo Moriondo? – Angelo was an Italian inventor who received a patent for the 1^st espresso machine on May 16, 1884.
Trivia #3 answer: There have only been two games in MLB history where a pitcher went exactly 2.1 innings, allowed exactly 12 baserunners and surrendered exactly 11 earned runs. Who is that pitcher? – The Red Sox’ Tanner Houck, both games this season!

I once dated a girl who had a twin and people would always ask how I could tell them apart. “It was easy”, I said. “Alison painter her nails red and Bob had a beard.”

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Classic Movie Day!

Remember, if you have one foot in the future and one foot in the past, you’re shittin’ on the present.

“I can see, it took so long just to realize
I’m much too strong not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I’ll turn it around, oh, yes, I will”

– Boston (Don’t Look Back)

Briefly.

I am alive and I am well and I am taking a day off.

May we all have a righteous day!

For you, a toast:

Here’s to a long life and a happy one.
A quick death and an easy one.
A pretty girl and an honest one.
A cold beer and another one!

Be careful out there, it’s a jungle.

Briefly.

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore. When you swim in the sea and an eel bites your knee, that’s a moray.

Trivia #1: What was Ted Williams’ lowest batting average in 1941 when he finished the season over .400? – .000, .250, .295, .308, .324, .333
Trivia #2: How many 1,000 yard receiving seasons did the Steelers’ Lynn Swan have in his career? – 0,1,2,3,4,5,6
Trivia #3: Which of the following was NOT a prior name for the current Atlanta Braves baseball team? – Milwaukee Braves, Boston Braves, Boston Bees, Boston Doves, Boston Nationals, Boston Reds
Trivia #4: Who is Oluwafemi Oladejo?
Trivia #5: What is the nickname for Roger Williams University? – Goats, Hawks, Panthers, Wildcats, Warriors, Flames, Kings

On this date: May 2, 1878, US stops minting 20 cent coin
May 2, 1909, Honus Wagner steals his way around the bases in 1st inning against Cubs
May 2, 1948, The “Battle of Alcatraz” takes place, killing two guards and three inmates
May 2, 1997, “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”, starring Mike Myers and Elizabeth Hurley, is released
May 2, 2011, Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the September 11 attacks and the FBI’s most wanted man is killed by US special forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan
May 2, 2016, World Snooker Championship, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield: Mark Selby of England beats China’s Ding Junhui, 18-14 for his second world crown

My wife told me to take the spider out instead of killing it. We went out. Had a few drinks. Nice guy. He’s a web designer.

Go away: John Elway

They said it: “It sounds like a joke, but for me it’s really important.” – Dodgers’ rookie pitcher, Roki Sasaki, on the team installing state-of-the-art, multi-function, heated-seat, bidet-equipped Japanese style toilets in the clubhouse this past winter to persuade him to sign with the team.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A college springbreaker accused of torching two Tesla Cybertrucks in Missouri has been released from federal custody after his lawyer argued that remaining in jail would disrupt ongoing sex-change treatment. 

Not that I want to know firsthand, but what do you think Mel Kiper’s hair looks like when he rolls out of bed? The same???

I actually enjoy the NFL draft. It can be excruciating though in between picks.

Speaking of excruciating, how about play reviews in the NBA?! Mingya!

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: In the NBA, teams that win the tip-off win roughly 56% of the time.

My wife filled out a form for me that asked for simple information; height, weight, gender, date-of-birth, eye color and hair color, for example. For my hair color she put ‘gray’ and I thought “damn, she’s right!”

Article I’ll skip: Everything you need to build your own chicken coop.

Trivia #1 answer: What was Ted Williams’ lowest batting average in 1941 when he finished the season over .400? – .000, .250, .295, .308, .324, .333 – It was .308 on May 2^nd of that season
Trivia #2 answer: How many 1,000 yard receiving seasons did the Steelers’ Lynn Swan have in his career? – 0,1,2,3,4,5,6 – He didn’t have one! 880 in 1978 was his highest
Trivia #3 answer: Which of the following was NOT a prior name for the Atlanta Braves baseball team? – Milwaukee Braves, Boston Braves, Boston Bees, Boston Doves, Boston Nationals, Boston Reds – Those were ALL prior names
Trivia #4 answer: Who is Oluwafemi Oladejo? – The #52 draft pick in this past NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, a linebacker out of California.
Trivia #5 answer: What is the nickname for Roger Williams University? – Goats, Hawks, Panthers, Wildcats, Warriors, Flames, Kings – The Hawks

A guy sits next to me on the train.
MAN: Loads of psychopaths around here.
ME: Really?
MAN: Loads mate.
ME: How do you know?
MAN: There’s signs, aren’t there?
ME: I guess???
MAN: I love them.
(47 minutes of awkward silence)
The guy leaves the train and immediately gets on a bike. I then realize he was talking about ‘cycle paths.”

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Dos de Mayo!
And Happy National School Lunch Hero Day!

Before you go on… you’re humming “That’s Amore”, aren’t you?

– Dean Martin (That’s Amore)

The song was written for the 1953 film, The Caddy, starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. It’s performed when the characters return to Italy and reunite with their family. Contrary to popular misconception, the song is not about Italian partisans. The lyrics describe romantic love, using Italian imagery like pizza and pasta. The song helped rehabilitate Italy’s image as a romantic country after the fascist era. (TMI???)

Briefly.

A truck loaded with Vicks Vaporub overturned on the highway. Amazingly, there was no congestion for eight hours.

Thanks for being friends with me. Questionable life choice, but I appreciate it.

Trivia #1: When was the last year the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup? – 1958, 1960, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1973
Trivia #2: Justin Thomas just became only the 7^th player since 1960 to win 16 or more events on the PGA tour and win multiple majors, before the age of 32. Which of the following is NOT in that group? – Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, David Duval, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus
Trivia #3: Who was the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards? No hint, no multiple choice.

On this date: April 25, 1644, Last Ming Emperor Chongzhen hangs himself from a tree on Jing Mountain, Beijing, rather than be captured by forces of Li Zicheng
April 25, 1719, Danuel Defoe publishes “Robinson Crusoe”, regarded as the 1st English novel
April 25, 1886, Sigmund Freud opens his first neurologist practice at Rathausstrasse 7 in Vienna
April 25, 1950, Chuck Cooper becomes the 1st African American to be drafted into the NBA (for the Boston Celtics)
April 25, 1953, Francis Crick and James Watson’s discovery of the double helix structure of DNA is published in “Nature” magazine
April 25, 1964, Mark Panaro is born
April 25, 1981, Seattle Mariners manager Maury Wills is suspended for two games after ordering the Kingdome grounds crew to enlarge the batter’s boxes by one foot
April 25, 1993, NFL Draft: Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe is the first pick by New England Patriots

Will Campbell. I don’t know. The need was there but an offensive lineman is not a #4 overall draft pick. Just sayin’.

Speaking of which… after the pick of course they show highlights of whatever player was just drafted. In Campbell’s case, “Hey, nice block!” Please.

Go away: New lingo. Ya, I’m old school and I’m grumpy. And maybe these aren’t brand new but they bother me. Terms like “knock” (it’s a hit!), “dime” (it’s an assist!), “sweeper” (it’s a freakin’ curve ball!)

They said it: “Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is… Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.” – Pope Francis

This week’s sign of the Apocalypse: Wrestlemania 41. 41!!!!!

Good news: A Florida State University student wanted to show her appreciation for the men and women in law enforcement who kept so many people safe after a recent mass shooting on campus left two people dead and six others injured. So, she left them some cookies — along with a heartfelt “thank you” note.

Finally, it’s playoff time. Go Celtics!

Your weekends will last a lot longer if you start drinking on Thursdays.

Article I’ll skip: Top prospect Shedeur Sanders goes unselected in 1^st round of NFL draft as freefall continues. Who really cares outside of his family?

Got your Real ID yet?

Trivia #1 answer: When was the last year the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup? – 1958, 1960, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1973 – 1967 (Currently the longest drought in the NHL. Speaking of which, I don’t recall baseball fans across the country feeling bad for us Sox’ fans before 2004 with the whole “1918” thing. So, screw the Maple Leafs. I hope they never win the cup again. 😊 )
Trivia #2 answer: Justin Thomas just became only the 7^th player since 1960 to win 16 or more events on the PGA tour and win multiple majors, before the age of 32. Which of the following is NOT in that group? – Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, David Duval, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus – David Duval
Trivia #3 answer: Who was the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards? No hint, no multiple choice. – Joe Namath (4,007 in 1967)

Due to the tariffs, Vietnamese women will only love American soldiers medium time. (If you know it, you know it)

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Hug a Plumber Day! (I suggest not to wait until the end of the day for this. Ewww!)
And Happy National Volunteer Week! It’s the end of the week, but you still have time. You’ve thought about it, now do it!

“Some may come and some may go
We will surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment’s sunlight
Fading in the grass”

– Ge Together (The Youngbloods)

Briefly. (you can proof read for me…)

If you lose your Khakis in Texas, it means you can’t find your pants. If you lose your Khakis in Boston, it means you can’t start your car.

Trivia #1: Legendary ESPN broadcaster and former coach, Lee Corso, who has entertained fans for 38 college football seasons, will make his final headgear pick on College GameDay on Saturday, August 30. What is Corso’s winning percentage for all of his picks (rounded up)? – 39%, 45%, 51%, 60%, 67%, 70%, 72%
Trivia #2: Of the following, list the top selling beers in America in order from #1 to #5 – Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Modelo, Corona Extra, Coors Light
Trivia #3: Who is the only Red Sox player with 12+ hits, 6+ extra-base hits and 8+ walks in his first 10 career games? – Kristian Campbell, Ted Williams, Tony Conigliaro, Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Mookie Betts, Nomar Garciaparra
Trivia #4: Which two colleges are NOT in the top 5 of schools with 1^st round picks in the NFL draft, all-time? – Notre Dame, Georgia, Alabama, Miami (FL), Ohio State, USC, Florida

On this date: April 18, 1775, Paul Revere warns Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops are marching from Boston to Lexington
April 18, 1906, San Francisco earthquake and fire kills nearly 4,000 while destroying 75% of the city
April 18, 1935, Gene Sarazen’s double eagle on 15th, wins him his 2nd Masters
April 18, 1955, 1st “Walk”/”Don’t Walk” lighted street signals installed

Leftover from The Masters: Boy, I don’t miss LIV-defector Bubba Watson at all! Angel Cabrera, playing in his first Masters since his release from jail for domestic violence, looks to be no doubt in the mafia. Good for Rory!

Go away: Mel Kiper (It’s that time of year!)

They said it: “I have no plans beyond being a Dame.” – Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love after turning down a $4.5M NIL offer from the University of Georgia to remain at Notre Dame.

In their quest for major sports relevancy, the NBA’s “play-in” tournament is underway. Yawn. I’m not sure what exactly the tournament does outside of giving gamblers something else to pour money into.

If you’ve watched the Boston Red Sox at all this season, and actually have seen someone hit a homerun for the Sox, then you know that the HR celebration this year involves said player putting on the huge, Wally uniform head and going through the dugout to a line of high-fives. You heard it here first: The player’s range of vision looks very limited in that headgear, and that will all end when some guy trips and goes down in the dugout. It’s coming…

Good news: Ahhhh, it’s going to be 80 degrees in New England tomorrow??? I’m reaching here.

Freddie Mercury, Venus Williams and Bruno Mars walk into a bar… They didn’t planet that way.

Article I’ll skip: Any article related to the upcoming (next Thursday) NFL draft. Exhausting!

Trivia #1 answer: Legendary ESPN broadcaster and former coach, Lee Corso, who has entertained fans for 38 college football seasons, will make his final headgear pick on College GameDay on Saturday, August 30. What is Corso’s winning percentage for all of his picks (rounded up)? – 39%, 45%, 51%, 60%, 67%, 70%, 72% – Corso is 287-144-0 (67%)
Trivia #2 answer: Of the following, list the top selling beers in America in order from #1 to #5 – Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Modelo, Corona Extra, Coors Light – The top 5 are Modelo, Michelob Ultra, Bud Light, Coors Light, Corona Extra
Trivia #3 answer: Who is the only Red Sox player with 12+ hits, 6+ extra-base hits and 8+ walks in his first 10 career games? – Kristian Campbell, Ted Williams, Tony Conigliaro, Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Mookie Betts, Nomar Garciaparra – Current rookie Kristian Campbell
Trivia #4 answer: Which two colleges are NOT in the top 5 of schools with 1^st round picks in the NFL draft, all-time? – Notre Dame, Georgia, Alabama, Miami (FL), Ohio State, USC, Florida – Alabama (63 picks), Ohio St (60), USC (55), Miami (FL) 54, Florida (49) – NOT in the top 5 – Georgia (41), Notre Dame (30)

I saw my wife, yelling at the TV: “Don’t go in there! Don’t go into that church, you moron!” She was watching our wedding video again.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Exercise Day! (I’ll see you at Happy Hour later)

“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it’s cold outside I’ve got the month of May

I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl)”

– The Temptations (My Girl)

What’s that, you need a little pick-me-up instead?

Briefly.

“I” before “e” except for when your neighbor Keith receives eight counterfeit, beige sleighs from feisty caffeinated weightlifters… Weird!

Trivia #1: Which two NHL players are NOT in the top 10 for most career goals scored? – Teemu Selanne, Mike Gartner, Marcel Dionne, Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille
Trivia #2: Who holds the record for consecutive birdies at The Masters? – Tiger Woods, Steve Pate, Tom Weiskopf, Gene Sarazen, Tommy Aaron, Jack Nicklaus
Trivia #3: Which state has produced the most Masters champions?

On this date: April 11, 1612, Last public burning at the stake in England – Edward Wightman for heresy in Lichfield
April 11, 1890, Ellis Island, New York, designated as an immigration station
April 11, 1900, the first modern submarine designed and built by John Philip Holland, USS Holland is acquired by the U.S. Navy (Rumors of Holland being an ancestor to David Francis go unconfirmed)
April 11, 1912, RMS Titanic leaves Queenstown, Ireland, for NY
April 11, 1936, Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Detroit Red Wings beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2 for a 3-1 series win; Red Wings first SC Championship
April 11, 1961, Bob Dylan makes his 1st appearance at Folk City, Greenwich Village, New York City
April 11, 1989, 1st playoff goal scored by a goalie, Ron Hextall of visiting Philadelphia Flyers shoots into Washington Capitols empty net while his team is shorthanded in 8-5 win

Go away: Torpedo bats

Speaking of going away, Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrell Hatton are both tied for 5^th after one round of the Masters. Join me and just say “no” to a LIV Masters’ champion.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The use of artificial intelligence to reimagine the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” will likely see mixed reactions from fans. While “film purists” may resist the idea of using generative AI to give classic films an entire makeover, the technology could “breathe new life” into hit movies — including “The Wizard of Oz.” Warner Bros. Discovery, Google Cloud and Magnopus have set out to do just that by creating an immersive experience for fans of the 1939 classic. The new “Wizard of Oz” experience is set to premiere at the Las Vegas Sphere on Aug. 28.

They said it: “Get it airborne, bottom line. Just get it in the air.” Tom Watson, on his mindset as an honorary starter at The Masters.

The fact that the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s record of career goals scored (895 to 894) in the same number of games played (1,487) is mind-boggling.

The SEC pulled it off as one of its 14 entries into the men’s NCAA basketball tournament, the University of Florida, won the title.

The Boston Bruins have two games left and are officially out of the playoff hunt. Last night, tied with the Red Wings at 1-1 in the third period, they let up 3 goals in 1 minute, 33 seconds. How appropriate.

Good news: At just 13, Clara Fuller began experiencing uncontrollable seizures that baffled doctors. Initially misdiagnosed with anxiety and gallbladder issues, she even underwent unnecessary surgery before doctors finally identified the real culprit: epilepsy. But this wasn’t just any epilepsy; Clara had multifocal epilepsy, a rare and severe form that resists all medication. Everything changed this past summer when Clara became the first pediatric patient to undergo a minimally invasive procedure at the Mayo Clinic using NeuroOne’s cutting-edge brain implant technology. The device, known as the NeuroOne OneRF Ablation System, is the first of its kind FDA-cleared technology designed for both diagnosing and treating neurological disorders in one procedure.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Newly signed New England Patriots’ wide receiver, Stephon Diggs, will wear #8.

Sightseeing, you’re doing it wrong: Six people — including a pilot, two adults and three children — were killed after a tour helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon. Sad.

Well, I missed Opening Day this year, at least in terms of attending. Nice watching on TV for a change though. Great tribute to the ’75 Sox, in particular, Louis “El Tiante” Tiant. The video tribute to Taint was to Aerosmith’s ‘Sweet Emotion’. Sweeet!

Just another shot from me towards the NBA. The “Teammate of the Year” award is voted on by all NBA players. How the hell do I know what kind of a teammate a guy is on another team?

Crow: “Excuse me, ma’am.”
Woman: “What?”
Crow: “Would you like to donate to my charity?”
Woman: “Maybe, what’s it called?”
Crow: “Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw!”… It’s four good caws.

Article I’ll skip: Jelly Roll drops nearly 200 pounds, sets sight on sky-high goal.

Trivia #1 answer: Which two NHL players are NOT in the top 10 of most career goals scored? – Teemu Selanne, Mike Gartner, Marcel Dionne, Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille – Teemu Selanne (#12) and Luc Robitaille (#13)
Trivia #2 answer: Who holds the record for consecutive birdies at The Masters? – Tiger Woods, Steve Pate, Tom Weiskopf, Gene Sarazen, Tommy Aaron, Jack Nicklaus – Steve Pate (seven straight in 1999)
Trivia #3 answer: Which state has produced the most Masters champions? – Texas

I was in psychology class the other day and we couldn’t stop laughing about how stupid Pavlov’s dogs were. Then the bell rang and we all went to lunch.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Cheese Fondue Day!
And… Happy National Submarine Day! (There’s that submarine-thing again!)

“Early one morning the sun was shining
I was laying in bed
Wondering if she’d changed at all
If her hair was still red
Her folks they said our lives together
Sure was gonna be rough
They never did like mama’s homemade dress
Papa’s bankbook wasn’t big enough
And I was standing on the side of the road
Rain falling on my shoes
Heading out for the East Coast
Lord knows I’ve paid some dues
Getting through
Tangled up in blue.”

– Bob Dylan (Tangled Up In Blue)

Bonus!