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Friday, December 27, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Waitress: “I see your glass is empty, sir. Would you like another?”
Me: “Why would I want another empty glass?”

Trivia #1: How large is the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball in diameter? – 8 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet, 14 feet, 15 feet
Trivia #2: What two years did the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball not drop, and why?
Trivia #3: Which conference has never sent a team to the College Football Playoff?  – Mountain West, American, Sun Belt, Big 12, Merrimack Valley
Trivia #4: Which New Year’s Six bowl has Georgia never played in? – Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Bowling Bowl

On this date: December 27, 1831, the HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin on board, departs England for a survey of South America, a voyage Darwin later said “determined my whole career.”
December 27, 1945, the World Bank was created with the signing of an agreement by 28 nations.
December 27, 1979, Sire Records releases “Pretenders”, the debut album of The Pretenders, in the US.
December 27, 2000, Pittsburgh Penguins center and part-owner Mario Lemieux scores a goal and 2 assists in his return to the NHL after more than 3 years out with injury problems and lingering cancer issues.

Were you able to delete your browser history before Santa got a hold of your phone?

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: WalletHub released its 2024 list of the most festive and affordable cities in the United States after conducting research across all 50 states in key dimensions: traditions & fun, observance, generosity, shopping, and costs. They determined that Atlanta,GA is the best place to celebrate Christmas. What?!

Go away: 2024 – actually, it wasn’t the worst year ever but I do hope 2025 is better.

Education, you’re doing it right. 40 Notre Dame football players had finals the night before their College Football Playoff game last week.

“A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.” – Lao Tzu

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Social media users, primarily young women, are fawning over Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Briain Thompson. Mangione is charged with first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism, stalking and a slew of other state and federal charges in both New York and Pennsylvania, for allegedly gunning down Thompson, a married father of two from Minnesota. Since the attack and Mangione’s arrest, social media has erupted with positive posts about the murder suspect. A TikTok video of an artist sketching Mangione’s face over Alexander Hamilton’s face on a $10 bill to the sound of news anchors talking about the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” — the same words found on shell casings at the crime scene — has more than a million views and 234,000 likes.

Going for it, you’re doing it wrong. The college bowl season is always crazy, but on the day after Christmas, college football fans saw something they had never seen before. Thursday’s GameAbove Sports Bowl between Pittsburgh and Toledo took nearly five hours to finish as the contest saw six overtimes, the most ever in a bowl game, en route to Toledo’s 48-46 victory. Editor’s note: Pitt had a chance to win at the end of the 2nd OT but chose to kick a field goal when they had the ball on the 2-yard line  on 4th down. Serves ‘em right.

Good news: I’m heading into 2025 on a pretty good streak of consecutive days alive. Here’s to 2025!

Bad news: Will Robinson, an Oklahoma high school basketball coach and his family, were reportedly driving in their SUV on Tuesday morning when the vehicle left the roadway, got caught in a drainage ditch in Sherman, TX and was carried away by strong currents. All six family members were trapped inside. Robinson did not survive, while four other family members were rescued. The family’s 8-year-old daughter has not been found. Terrible.

Article I’ll skip: Super Bowl champ, Martin Gramatica, shares heartbreaking details from childhood

Trivia #1 answer: How large is the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball in diameter? – 8 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet, 14 feet, 15 feet – 12 feet
Trivia #2 answer: What two years did the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball not drop, and why? – 1942 and 1943, due to wartime lighting restrictions in WWII
Trivia #3 answer: Which conference has never sent a team to the College Football Playoff?  – Mountain West, American, Sun Belt, Big 12, Merrimack Valley – The Sun Belt conference
Trivia #4 answer: Which New Year’s Six bowl has Georgia never played in? – Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Bowling Bowl – The Fiesta Bowl

Before we work further on artificial intelligence, why don’t we try to do something about natural stupidity?

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Fruitcake Day!

“The middle of the road is trying to find me
I’m standing in the middle of life with my plans behind me
Well I got a smile for everyone I meet
As long as you don’t try dragging my bay
Or dropping the bomb on my street”

– The Pretenders (Middle of the Road)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, everybody!

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?”

Friday, December 20, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. Hmmm, it didn’t turn out that way…

Merry Christmas (and Happy Holidays, I guess) to everyone reading and their families. I love Christmas time!

If anyone is alone with no family or nobody to spend Christmas with, please let me know… I need to borrow some chairs. (Oldie, but still gets a chuckle)

Trivia #1: What does CERN stand for?
Trivia #2: How much is a petabyte?
Trivia #3: What country’s tourism record was broken between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30? – Japan, United States, Iceland, Spain, France, Italy, Dracut
Trivia #4: In the movie “Home Alone,” where are the McCallisters going on vacation when they accidentally leave Kevin behind? – Greece, Paris, Disney, Hawaii, Aruba, Italy
Trivia #5: Which NBA player has played the most Christmas Day games – Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem, Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James?
Trivia #6: From what country does the poinsettia plant originate from?
Trivia #7: What was the first company that used Santa Claus in their advertising?

On this date: December 20, 69 (that’s right, 69 AD) General Vespasian’s troops occupy Rome after defeating the Emperor Vitellius
December 20, 1820, Missouri imposed a $1 bachelor tax on unmarried men aged between 21 & 50 (Can you imagine how many men then moved out of Missouri!)
December 20, 1967, Ian Anderson and Glenn Cornick form rock group “Jethro Tull” in Blackpool, England
December 20, 1969, Peter, Paul & Mary’s cover of John Denver’s song “Leaving On A Jet Plane” reaches #1
December 20, 1974, “The Godfather Part II”, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1975)

Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year. It’s all downhill after that.

Rare ending to the first half in last night’s Denver/LA Chargers game. With eight seconds left in the half, and the Broncos leading 21-10, they punted the ball away in hopes of the time expiring and sending both teams to the locker room. The good news is that the clock hit zeroes – the bad news, however, is that Denver was called for fair catch interference. Of course, a half cannot end on a defensive penalty or a flag by the kicking team, so the Chargers had the opportunity for a “fair catch kick” after the penalty moved them up 15 yards. Cameron Dicker was able to line up for a 57-yard kick without any sort of rush, in fact, the ball didn’t even need to be snapped. He nailed it. That hadn’t happened in the NFL since 1976.

The Army/Navy football game, last Saturday, is such an event. The tradition, rivalry and respect given from all directions.

Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The Bruins are tied for their most wins when trailing by 2 or more goals when entering the 3rd period in team history 2024/25 – 3, 2020/21 – 3, 2017/18 – 3.

The U.S. national debt is $36,189,345,826,140.62. Oops, sorry. That was yesterday. Right now, it’s up to $36,248, 090, 851, 924.00.

I kid you not. The other day while channel surfing, I came across the 2024 Plumbing National Championship. The winner, from Peabody, MA, took home $10K and a new set of tires. You cannot make that shit up.

Go away: Luigi Mangione, the thug who shot the healthcare CEO in the back. Just invoke capital punishment law (not that simple, I know) and get this guy out of our lives.

“Understanding the question is half an answer.” – Socrates

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: NYPD officers were seen sitting in the entire front row of the court room where Luigi Mangione’s court proceedings took place in the Blair County Courthouse. Several people outside the courthouse held signs that read “Deny, Defend, Depose,” the same message that Mangione allegedly left on shell casings at the scene of Thompson’s murder and words that are commonly used among insurance providers when they reject claims. 

Fewer people are watching the NBA than in previous years. Ratings for NBA games on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV are down 25% through Saturday and there are many ideas floating about why. Three-pointer propensity and lack of defense are the two main bugaboos observers point to. Oh, don’t me going about the state of professional basketball…

Smuggling drugs, you’re doing it wrong. A Florida fisherman hoping to catch a big one recently hauled in more than 50 pounds of cocaine wrapped in watertight plastic and branded with a scorpion. “If you happened to have lost or misplaced approximately 25 kilos of cocaine and would like to have your property returned, please contact our Narcotics Agents and we will be more than happy to reunite you with your lost property,” the Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey joked alongside a photo of the drugs.

OK folks, you can relax now. The world’s largest hornet, an invasive breed dubbed the “murder hornet” for its dangerous sting and ability to slaughter a honey bee hive in a matter of hours, has been declared eradicated in the US, five years after being spotted for the first time in Washington state near the Canadian border.

Good news: For us football fans, that is. After last night’s NFL game, tonight is open but that is followed by one or more games on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday (Christmas), Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Whoa!

Bad news: ESPN’s Randy Moss has been diagnosed with cancer. What can I say, I like the guy.

Winning an award, you’re doing it wrong: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty’s, a finalist for the Heisman Trophy last Saturday night, came up short to two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter in the voting. Jeanty thought so highly of his chances to win the award, he wrote and practiced an acceptance speech and even told the world he did so. DOH!

Article I’ll skip: Santa Claus might be real after all as a stunning new discovery proves it

This just in, the Patriots’ QB Drake Maye has been ruled out of Sunday’s game versus the Bills, due to a back injury. Apparently, Maye suffered the injury sometime during the past several games where he was carrying the team on his back…

Trivia #1 answer: What does CERN stand for? – European Organization for Nuclear Research
Trivia #2 answer: How much is a petabyte? – 1,000 terabytes or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000
Trivia #3 answer: What country’s tourism record was broken between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30? – Japan, United States, Iceland, Spain, France, Italy, Dracut – Japan saw 33.4 million visitors (247,500 were Americans)
Trivia #4 answer: In the movie “Home Alone,” where are the McCallisters going on vacation when they accidentally leave Kevin behind? – Greece, Paris, Disney, Hawaii, Aruba, Italy – They were going to Paris
Trivia #5 answer: Which NBA player has played the most Christmas Day games? – Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem, Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James? – Kobe Bryant (16)
Trivia #6 answer: From what country does the poinsettia plant originate from? – Mexico
Trivia #7 answer: What was the first company that used Santa Claus in their advertising? – Coca-Cola

Speaking of Japan, KFC is the preferred Christmas meal in Japan. Hey, I read it on the internet!

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

“Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

Happy National Underdog Day.

Ya’ll got 5 days to get in the spirit. Let’s go!

First, the Eagles

Then, the boss!

Friday, December 13, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I overheard a child at the park the other day tell his sad friend; “It’s OK to be sad. Sad stands for ‘Secretly a Dinosaur’.” Then he let out a big roar. Let me tell you, that kid is going places!

Trivia #1: On December 13, 1956, the Dodgers attempted to trade Jackie Robinson to the Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000. Why did the trade not go through?
Trivia #2: Who won the Heisman Trophy on this date in 2003? – Eric Crouch, Carson Palmer, Jason White, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush
Trivia #3: Who is Brian Thompson?
Trivia #4: What is Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins’ first name? – Timothy, Tamaurice, Tyrone, Teebone, Teether, Tyler, Taylor, Tee, Who-gives-a-shit

On this date: December 13, 1769, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire receives its charter
December 13, 1928, the clip-on tie was designed
December 13, 1993, Dow Jones Industrial Average hits a record of 3764.43 (closed yesterday at 44,200)

Remember when teachers used to say; “You won’t have a calculator everywhere you go.” Well, we showed them!

Last night’s Thursday Night Football game featured the overall, number one draft pick in 2009, Matthew Stafford, versus 2022’s last overall draft pick “Mr. Irrelevant” Brock Purdy. Yup, Stafford won.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: December 13, 1928, the clip-on tie was designed

Go away: Jay-Z

Go away, part deux: Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick said Thursday that LeBron James is away from the team due to “personal reasons.” Turning 40 later this month, it seems that Father Time may just be sneaking up on the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. In fact, Redick admitted that James has felt “gassed” and the team feels they are mismanaging his minutes in his 22nd season. Redick also said James has asked to be taken out of a couple of games for some breaks. (Hey, if you can’t hang… don’t!)

They said it: “Understanding the question is half an answer.” – Socrates

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Amazon.com Inc. will begin testing a rapid delivery service in India this month, marking the company’s determination to compete with top players in the country’s fledgling quick-commerce business. They will be piloting a 15-minute delivery service in Bangalore. The product catalog on offer will vary from groceries to household items, depending on the neighborhood being served. (15 minutes!)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse, part deux: Jersey residents frustrated with a lack of answers regarding dozens of potential drone sightings in the skies above their homes are threatening to take action on their own if the government doesn’t start providing answers. “A good shotgun will fix that problem,” one commenter replied.

I believe yesterday was the first day since Thanksgiving that I have not had any form of turkey to eat – sandwich, soup, pick-it-out-of-the-tupperware container…

Good Bad news: Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow home was burglarized while he was in Dallas facing the Cowboys on Monday. The NFL recently sent out a memo regarding the incidents. He is the latest NFL star to be the victim of a home burglary, joining Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. At least one other NFL player had his home burglarized. (That really sucks)

NFW: Bill Belichick could be headed to parts unknown to him. The legendary coach has interviewed for the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina. (No way this happens) – Hmmm. That was last week. I watched Belichick’s press conference yesterday. I was already a big fan and that hasn’t changed. I’ll be shocked if UNC (University of National Champions or… now… Chapel Bill) is not in the playoffs.

Article I’ll skip: ‘Golden Bachelor’ dating new woman since cancer led to divorce.

Trivia #1 answer: On December 13, 1956, the Dodgers attempted to trade Jackie Robinson to the Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000. Why did the trade not go through? – The trade didn’t go though because Jackie Robinson chose to retire rather than be traded.
Trivia #2 answer: Who won the Heisman Trophy on this date in 2003? – Eric Crouch, Carson Palmer, Jason White, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush – Jason White (Oklahoma QB)
Trivia #3 answer: Who is Brian Thompson? – The UnitedHealthcare CEO who was gunned down by the gutless thug, Luigi Mangione. Countless articles I’ve read don’t even mentioned the poor bastard’s name but instead “UnitedHealthcare’s CEO.” I say… a public stoning in Central Park is a pretty good sentence.
Trivia #4 answer: What is Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins’ first name? – Timothy, Tamaurice, Tyrone, Teebone, Teether, Tyler, Taylor, Tee, Who-gives-a-shit – It is Tamaurice

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Violin Day.

“I worked like a slave for years,
Sweat so hard just to end my fears.
Not to end my life a poor man,
But by now, I know I should have run.”

The Moody Blues (Ride My See-Saw)

Vastly different version.

Friday, December 6, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I got a new stick deodorant. The instructions said: Remove cap and push up bottom. I can barely walk but when I fart, the room smells lovely.

Jeez Ed, grow up!

Trivia #1: What US President gave the first presidential address on radio. – Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt
Trivia #2: Seven major “Negro Leagues” (baseball) competed between 1920-1948. Which was of the following was NOT one of those leagues: Negro American League, Negro National League I, Negro National League II, American Negro League, East-West League, North-South League, Eastern Colored League, Negro Southern League.

Fun fact: The average prison meal is more nutritious than the average school lunch.

On this date: December 6, 1735, first recorded appendectomy performed by Claudius Amyand at St George’s Hospital in London
December 6, 1957, 1st US attempt to launch a satellite fails – Vanguard rocket blows up
December 6, 1964, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” 1st aired on TV
December 6, 1969, 300,000 attend free concert featuring The Rolling Stones in Altamont, California; the event is marred by violence and four deaths
December 6, 2017, “Supermassive” most distant black hole discovery announced by astronomers in journal “Nature”, 13 billion light-years away, 800x bigger than the Sun (who’s going to question that!?)

Do you get the Omaha Steaks offers? $89.99 for steaks, chicken breasts, jumbo franks, scalloped potatoes, caramel apple tartlets and now they throw in 8 steak burgers. I tell you what, Omaha Steaks, take a little off the price and keep the freakin’ caramel apple tartlets. Yuke!

The Bruins have scored 20 goals in the past 5 games!

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The Celtics won another regular season game.

Go away: Weekly CFP rankings. Actually, these are kinda fun You know, listening to people bitch about how their team got screwed one way or another. It’s what helps make talk radio.

I bitch about the snow/cold now and again but I’ll admit, I can’t wait to use my snowblower in 12+ inches of snow and then walk around the block with a beer and watch everyone else do the same. It’s even better if someone doesn’t have a snowblower!

They said it: “I’d rather leave a couple of years too early than a couple of years too late.” – Pat Sajak

I prefer 4-5 practice beers before my actual first beer.

Good news: Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston threw for 497 yards on Monday night, a MNF record, though the Browns lost the game.

Bad news: Winston also through 171 yards worth of interceptions yards (2 pick-6’s) which, combined with his passing yards, set an NFL record of 668 combined yards. Yikes!

NFW: Bill Belichick could be headed to parts unknown to him. The legendary coach has interviewed for the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina. (No way this happens)

The later the Thanksgiving NFL game, the less I remember of it…

Cleansing, you’re doing it wrong. Marcela Alcazar Rodriguez, a Mexican actress, is dead after voluntarily participating in a spiritual cleansing ritual during which she reportedly consumed poisonous Amazonian frog venom.

Article I’ll skip: People are learning degrading practices from the porn industry.

In case you forgot, it’s Christmas movie season on AMC!

Local Dave McGillivray, race director of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon and longtime endurance athlete, completed the Ironman World Championship triathlon in Hawaii back in October. Keep in mind that McGillivray, who’s 60 and hadn’t competed in the event in 25 years, is a member of the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame, completed eight Ironman Triathlons in Hawaii in the 1980s, finishing 14th overall in 1980. McGillivray was diagnosed with severe coronary heart disease a year ago.

Trivia #1 answer: What US President gave the first presidential address on radio. – Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt – Calvin Coolidge, on December 6, 1923
Trivia #2: Seven major “Negro Leagues” (baseball) competed between 1920-1948. Which was of the following was NOT one of those leagues: Negro American League, Negro National League I, Negro National League II, American Negro League, East-West League, North-South League, Eastern Colored League, Negro Southern League. – Tough one. There was no North-South League

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.

Happy National Bartender Day! (Speaking of which, maybe I’ll see you on Sunday afternoon?)
Also, Happy Microwave Oven Day!

“Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game”

The Rolling Stones (Sympathy For The Devil)

Friday, November 29, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (Ed’s head… large, this morning)

If I got five dollars for every math test I passed, I’d have $37.

Trivia #1: Where is (The Republic of) Mauritius?

On this date: November 29, 1887, US receives rights to Pearl Harbor, on Oahu, Hawaii
November 29, 1890, the 1st US Army – US Navy football game, Score: Navy 24, Army 0 at West Point
November 29, 1924, NHL’s Montreal Forum opened
November 29, 1934, Chicago Bears beat Detroit (19-16) in 1st NFL game broadcast nationally
November 29, 1975, US President Gerald Ford signs Education for All Handicapped Children Act requiring states provide free education for children with a disability
November 29, 2002, “The Concert for George”, a benefit memorial to George Harrison held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, features Eric Clapton; Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; Jeff Lynne; Tom Petty; Joe Brown; Anoushka Shankar; Billy Preston; and members of Monty Python

Think of me what you will, I’ve got a little space to fill.

What? Football? Today???

Bruins – Have now gone 244:00 consecutive minutes at home without scoring a goal in the 3rd period – (12+ games)… And the B’s have just one 3rd period goal at home the ENTIRE season.

Go away: Roger Godell.) Not his first time mentioned here) For the first time in league history, the NFL is flexing a “Thursday Night Football” game. The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals were scheduled to play the Thursday night game during Week 16, but the NFL is replacing that matchup with the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers. The change is unprecedented because of how drastically different team preparation is between a Thursday and Sunday game. (My opinion: Not to mention the fans and travel arrangements.

Don’t look now but the Patriots’ Drake Maye has five interceptions, four fumbles and has been sacked 12 times over the last four games.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Pluto is only 4 hours away if you travel at the speed of light.

Article I’ll skip: Former Van Halen singer shares what he’s thankful for head of Thanksgiving

Trivia #1 answer: Where is (The Republic of) Mauritius? – It is an island country in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa. Physiographically, it is part of the Mascarene Islands. The capital is Port Louis

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.

Happy National Buy Nothing Day!

I heard the word “icy” is easy to spell. Looking at it now, I see why.

“So let’s get to the point
Let’s roll another joint
And let’s head on down the road
There’s somewhere I got to go
And you don’t know how it feels
You don’t know how it feels
No, you don’t know how it feels
To be me”

Tom Petty (You Don’t Know How It Feels)

Friday, November 22, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

A elderly woman is in department store lift when the door opens and two younger, well-off looking women step in.
Younger woman to the other younger woman: “Smell this. Christian Dior! $50/oz.”
The other woman back to her: “Smell this, Chanel No. 5, $60/oz.”
The elderly woman then farts and says, “Smell that! Brussel sprouts, $2.50/lb!”

Jeez, Ed. Grow up!

Trivia #1: On November 22, 1957, Simon & Garfunkel appeared on “American Bandstand” as who? – Simon & Garfunkel, Tom & Jerry, Paul & Art, Neal & Bob, Sonny & Cher
Trivia #2: Last weekend, the University of Memphis defeated the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 53-18, claiming the “Battle of the Bones.” The associated trophy is a bronze statue of what – a skull, a rack of ribs, a skeleton, a skeleton of a foot, a chicken wing
Trivia #3: The NFL record for consecutive wins over a single opponent is 20. Which team over which team?

Cool football last night, in the snow. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want snow, I just want to watch it falling elsewhere.

On this date: November 22, 1910, Arthur Knight patents steel shaft golf clubs
November 22, 1927, 1st snowmobile patent granted to Carl Eliason (Sayner, Wisconsin)
November 22, 1963, US President John F. Kennedy is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while riding in an open-topped motorcade in Dallas, Texas
November 22, 1986, 20-year-old Mike Tyson becomes youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history when he stops titleholder Trevor Berdick in round 2 at Las Vegas Hilton to earn the WBC title
November 22, 1995, “Toy Story”, the first feature-length film created completely using computer-generated imagery, directed by John Lasseter and starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, is released

So, the site I use to get these “historic dates” lists November 22, 1903, when Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt got engaged. What is that? Now, I can see the date they got married, but engaged? Do they mention the first time they dated? The first time they… oh, never mind.

Bonus trivia: The first snowmobile patent was granted in Sayner, Wisconsin (see above). Where was the first snowmobile actually invented?

Speaking of Mike Tyson, the fight last weekend was pretty much a yawn-fest. The woman’s fight before Tyson’s was not! That fight actually made staying up worth it! Wow!

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A Florida man has filed a class-action lawsuit against Netflix over the poor streaming quality that affected millions during the widely viewed boxing match between former heavy weight champion Mike Tyson and YouTube personality Jake Paul on Friday night. The class-action lawsuit filed in Florida state court is seeking damages of at least $50 million.

The Buffalo Bills did indeed end Kansas City’s undefeated season. Step one. Step two is keeping KC from winning three Super Bowls in a row.

Enjoying a deer-hunting trip, doing it wrong! At least three deer hunters in Michigan have died from heart attacks this hunting season. The act of deer hunting typically involves hiking to a tree stand or blind, waiting in the cold for hours and then dealing with a sudden surge of adrenaline when a deer is spotted. Once a hunter hits the deer, they have to track the deer, often for a long distance over rugged terrain.

If you can’t laugh, you have to leave.

Go away: Ellen DeGeneres, literally. Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi are reportedly saying cheerio to the U.S. following President-elect Trump’s victory earlier this month. The embattled comedian, known for her robust real estate portfolio, has allegedly settled in the Cotswolds in England. The DeGeneres source told the outlet that Trump’s re-election had inspired the couple’s decision to jump ship. (Finally! Someone who said they would leave the country based upon election results and actually did it!)

Viewers of the Netflix series Yellowstone are fired up with how John Dutton’s death was handled, they’re upset with how the story is developing down the final stretch and anything else you can think of has also made the list of things not making fans happy. People, relax. Frankly, I like where the series is going.

Quote of the week: “I hope you donated your body to science so they can study how much of a bitch you are.” – Summer to Beth (Yellowstone)

I haven’t heard a single fan complaining that the Bruins fired coach Jim Montgomery.

Don’t be that guy. After Thanksgiving dinner, just sit there quietly on the couch and watch football. Don’t silently fart and act like nothing happened.

Article I’ll skip: New York Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones bids farewell to Giants in emotional statement: “100% accountable for my part”

Trivia #1 answer: On November 22, 1957, Simon & Garfunkel appeared on “American Bandstand” as who? – Simon & Garfunkel, Tom & Jerry, Paul & Art, Neal & Bob, Sonny & Cher – They appeared as Tom & Jerry
Trivia #2: Last weekend, the University of Memphis defeated the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 53-18, claiming the “Battle of the Bones.” The associated trophy is a bronze statue of what – a skull, a rack of ribs, a skeleton, a skeleton of a foot, a chicken wing – It is a 94-pound, bronze statue of a rack of ribs
Trivia #3: The NFL record for consecutive wins over a single opponent is 20. Which team over which team? – The Miami Dolphins over the Buffalo Bills between 1970 and 1980.

Bonus trivia: The first snowmobile patent was granted in Sayner, Wisconsin (see above). Where was the first snowmobile actually invented? – Ossipee, New Hampshire

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.

Happy National Cranberry Relish Day! (yuck!)

If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, I assume those other “genders” were pulled out of Uranus? (Uh oh, that might offend someone…)

You locals, stay home today and build your thirst for tomorrow as I’ll be serving on Saturday this weekend.

“Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I’m getting older too”

Fleetwood Mac (Landslide)

Bonus: Toy Story (Theme song – Randy Newman)

Friday, November 15, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Maybe it’s just me, but I find it annoying when someone just keeps talking while I’m trying to interrupt.

Trivia #1: The first US law school was established at which university? – University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Northern Essex Community College
Trivia #2: Who is Kool-Aid McKinstry?
Trivia #3: Who is Jesse Bongiovi?
Trivia #4: Which NFL franchise is the oldest in professional football history? – Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Chicago Bears

On this date: November 15, 1925, 1st hockey game at Madison Square Garden, NYC: Montreal Canadiens 3, NY Americans 1
November 15, 1939, “Gone With The Wind”, drama film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Clarke Gable and Vivien Leigh, premieres in Atlanta (Best Picture 1940, inflation not adjusted highest-grossing film of all time)
November 15, 1944, American bandleader Major Glenn Miller (US Air Force) was lost over the English Channel
November 15, 1979, Chris Haney and Scott Abbott develop the board game, Trivial Pursuit

The Washington Redskins lost last night.

And I’ll be rooting for Buffalo to knock off Kansas City on Sunday, ending their undefeated season.

Go away: In-season NBA tournaments

Don’t be that guy. Don’t be turning on your Christmas lights now. Go ahead and set them up, but don’t be turning them on until after Thanksgiving. Don’t do it!

Good news: A breast cancer vaccine could be closer to reality, according to Cleveland Clinic, as its researchers have announced some encouraging results. At the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer earlier this month in Texas, researchers shared updated findings from a study of a new vaccine designed to target triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive type of cancer.

Not good news: A 1-year-old was found dead in a vehicle outside of a Florida middle school after a relative allegedly forgot to take the 15-month-old child to daycare. Deputies with the Sumter County Sherrif’s office were called to South Sumter Middle School in Webster around 4 p.m. on Nov. 1. The child was left unattended in a vehicle parked at the school and was later found deceased. Webster is about 50 miles West of Orlando. Temperatures in the city reached a high of 86 degrees Fahrenheit that day. This devastating event marks the 37th child to lose their life in a hot car nationwide this year, well above last year’s total of 29. On average, 37 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle. Nearly every state has experienced at least one death since 1998. The highest number of deaths occurred in 2018 with 54 reports.

I used to love watching Mike Tyson fight and tonight is no different. The 58-year-old takes on 27-year-old Jake Paul in Tyson’s first professional fight since 2005. I’m rooting for him, but I don’t know…

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Any information regarding the NBA in-season tournament. More proof of the uselessness of the NBA regular season. They’ll try anything to get our attention. (Jeez Ed, let it go!)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Reports that several universities across the nation canceled classes and provided safe spaces for students to recover from the presidential election prompted a wave of criticism that these schools aren’t preparing students for the “real world.” Georgetown University in Washington D.C., drew mockery on social media after news broke the college invited students to a “self-care suite” last Wednesday to recover from the stress of the 2024 presidential election. 

In case you missed it, the Notre Dame marching band played a tribute to Bon Jovi during halftime of ND’s thrashing of FSU. Jon Bon Jovi’s son, Jesse, was a walk-on at Notre Dame in 2017

Article I’ll skip: Bill Clinton reportedly opens up about fallout from Lewinsky scandal in new memoir

College GameDay, just a great show. And I do like the addition of Pat McAfee. Like him or not, the “Kicking Contest” segment is a hoot. Catch them tomorrow at the University of Georgia. (Expect a lot of signs and general moaning regarding Georgia’s slip to #12 in the CFP rankings. Poor Georgia…)

Speaking of tuning in, “Making Manson”, a docuseries about Charles Manson, premiers on Peacock on Nov. 19th.

Can anyone figure out the Bruins?

Trivia #1 answer: The first US law school was established at which university? – University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Northern Essex Community College – The University of Pennsylvania
Trivia #2 answer: Who is Kool-Aid McKinstry? – Kool-Aid is the New Orleans Saints’ 2nd round draft pick last year, a cornerback out of Alabama
Trivia #3 answer: Who is Jesse Bongiovi? – Jon Bon Jovi’s son
Trivia #4 answer: Which NFL franchise is the oldest in professional football history? – Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Chicago Bears – The Cardinals started playing professional football in 1899 in Chicago under the name of the Morgan Athletic Club.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.

Happy National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day!

Come on downtown this afternoon. I’d love to serve you…

“But I walk these streets, a loaded six-string on my back
I play for keeps ’cause I might not make it back
I’ve been everywhere, (Oh yeah) still I’m standing tall
I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all”

– Bon Jovi (Wanted Dead or Alive) – some pretty good guitar, here

Bonus: Glenn Miller

Friday, November 8, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Never fight… until you have to. When it is time to fight, you fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s Ark… and brother, it’s starting to rain!

Trivia #1: Besides vodka, what liquor is included in a Harvey Wallbanger?
Trivia #2: What does “chooglin’” mean?
Trivia #3: Who won the 2011 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 2011)?

On this date: November 8, 1731, in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin opened the 1st library in the north American colonies, the Library Company of Philadelphia.
November 8, 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Rontgen produces and detects electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range today known as X-rays or Röntgen rays.
November 8, 1956, Biblical drama film “The Ten Commandments”, directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner premieres at the Criterion Theater in NYC
November 8, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signs anti-trust immunity to AFL-NFL merger

Go away: Pollsters

Don’t be that guy. Don’t burn in your backyard during a “red flag” warning. Idiot!

Ohhh, Dak Prescott is hurt and the Cowboys stink. (They stunk before he got hurt). That must be cool for their fans. Did I mention they are winless at home? My heart goes out.

If you bet that fewer than 34 points would be scored in just the 4th quarter of last night’s Bengals/Ravens game, you lost!

Good news: Bill and Becky Chilcutt spent the last two decades traveling to every state capitol in the country — and had one left on their list when Bill Chilcutt’s terminal cancer halted the planned trip. Employees at the Chick-fil-A Market in Springwoods Village, TX, contacted the Alaska State Capitol — the last stop on the Chilcutts’ bucket list — to see if there was a way for the Chilcutts to visit the capitol without physically being there. An employee photographed the Chilcutts’ wedding photo around the building in Juneau, Alaska — even signing their names on the visitors’ log. Alaska State Capitol employees sent the Chilcutts the photos, a scrapbook and gifts while the Chick-fil-A team presented them with a custom drawing of the pair in front of Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier. 

Not good news: A total of 7 people remain unaccounted for in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene as the death toll from the storm reached 102 as of Thursday.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Baltimore Ravens’ placekicker, Justin Tucker, had missed only 6 of 504 extra points in his career. (He missed one last night)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: In the days following Trump’s victory, hordes of Washington Commanders fans have taken to social media and called on Donald Trump to help push the organization to change its name back to “Redskins,” previously used from 1937 until its name was changed in 2020. (Whether I’m a fan of the move or not… oh boy!)

Article I’ll skip: Retailers announce “inflation-free” Thanksgiving dinner deals

Big OT win for the Bruins last night.

Trivia #1 answer: Besides vodka, what liquor is included in a Harvey Wallbanger? – Galliano
Trivia #2: What does “chooglin’” mean? – “Chooglin'” is a term that describes a type of music and a way of life, A debauched form of white-boy boogie that’s open to all, but is especially common among the working class. 
Trivia #3: Who won the 2011 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 2011)? – Boston Bruins (NHL), Dallas Mavericks (NBA), St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), Green Bay Packers (NFL)

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.

Everyone is good at something.

Happy National Harvey Wallbanger Day!

“Maybe you don’t understand it
But if you’re a natural man
You got to ball and have a good time
And that’s what I call choogling
Here comes Mary looking for Harry
She going to choogle tonight
Here comes Louie, works in the sewer
He going to choogle tonight”

Creedence Clearwater Revival (Keep On Chooglin’)

Friday, November 1, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Sign seen in library: Please note: The post-apocalyptical fiction section has been moved to Current Affairs.

Trivia #1: Who was the first US President to live in the White House?
Trivia #2: How many zeroes in one decillion?
Trivia #3: Last Sunday, the Ravens’ Derrick Henry had his 20th career game with 100-plus rushing yards and multiple rushing touchdowns. Only three others have accomplished that feat in NFL history, pick from the following. – Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith, Eric Dickerson, LaDainian Tomlinson

On this date: November 1, 1179, Phillip II crowned King of France at age 14 in Reims, with his father Louis VII in ill health. (I’m trying to picture myself king of anything at age 14!)
November 1, 1604, William Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello” is first presented
November 1, 1755, Lisbon earthquake kills more than 50,000 in Portugal (50,000!!!)
November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo attempt to assassinate US President Harry Truman at Blair House in Washington D.C.; attack thwarted by White House Police, including Officer Leslie Coffelt who was killed in the line of duty.

Don’t be that guy. Take your hat off in the funeral parlor. Jeez!

What a great autumn up here, weather-wise, in the northeast. If this is global warming, bring it on!

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: The Dodgers’ Will Smith just won his 5th World Series title in 5 consecutive years. Ya, he batted .143 during the series and has a career postseason batting average of .200. Impressive, not! Lucky, yes.

Speaking of the yankees… they bounce back in game 4 and actually show some life. Then, they jump to a 5-0 lead in game 5 before crapping in their own hats. They actually took the lead again before giving it back and bowing out. Yankees suck!

And so do the Jets! (While I’m at it…) I mean, is Aaron Rodgers easy to dislike or what?

And speaking of crapping themselves, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who finished the regular season with a .322 batting average, 58 homeruns and 144 RBIs and will most likely be named the AL MVP, batted .184 in the series and has a career, postseason batting average of .205.

I watched a little more than the first half of last night’s Jets/Texans game. There is a lot of bad football being played in the NFL right now. Unfortunately for me, the Patriots are certainly contributors.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: “Election Stress Disorder” is a real thing and it’s making most Americans anxious. About one-third (32%) of adults said the political climate has caused a strain between themselves and family members, while 30% have limited their time spent with family members who don’t share the same values. Half of U.S. adults admitted that tensions around social and political topics make them want to connect less with others, and 28% claimed they have “nothing in common” with people who have different political opinions.

Article I’ll skip: Are SEC women the most attractive in America? The answer is complicated.

What’s up with the Boston Bruins?

Sightseeing and appreciating the wonders of the world, you’re doing it wrong. A woman and her two young children are dead after they intentionally went over a safety rail and leaped into Niagara Falls.

Well, by this time next week, the United States will have a new president. God help us all.

Say what?! A Russian Court fined Menlo Park, California-based Google $2 decillion, which continues to grow each day over penalties for non-payment, for blocking content on YouTube.

Hey, Celtics’ fans. Don’t forget to set your clocks an Auerbach.

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the first US President to live in the White House? – John Adams, he moved into the White on November 1st, 1800.
Trivia #2: How many zeroes in one decillion? – There are 33 zeroes in a decillion
Trivia #3: Last Sunday, the Ravens’ Derrick Henry had his 20th career game with 100-plus rushing yards and multiple rushing touchdowns. Only three others have accomplished that feat in NFL history, pick from the following. – Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith, Eric Dickerson, LaDainian Tomlinson – Jim Brown (25 times), LaDainian Tomlinson (25) and Emmitt Smith (20)

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.

Happy National Calzone Day! (I’ll eat to that!)

“Don’t you know by now
No one gives you anything
Don’t you wonder how you keep on moving
One more day
Your way
Ooooooooh, your way”

Steve Winwood (While You See A Chance)

Friday, October 25, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly. (In relative terms)

Ask me about my attention deficit disorder or my dog or pie. I have a bike, do you like ham? I like your shoes. Hi. What’s your name?

Trivia #1: Last Sunday, the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley ran for 176 yards against the Giants, the second most rushing yards versus a former team in NFL history. Who has the most? (Good luck with this one!)
Trivia #2: Last Sunday, Detroit’s Jared Goff posted his third straight game with a 140-plus passer rating. It was the longest such streak tied with three other quarterbacks. Which three? – Roger Staubach, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Kurt Warner, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre
Trivia #3: It’s Halloween season! Which of the following movies is NOT in the top 5 of the all-time, best-selling horror films? Bonus: Rank them in order – Jaws, The Sixth Sense, The Exorcist, Ghostbusters, It, Scary Movie

On this date: October 24, 1780, John Hancock was elected the first Governor of Massachusetts in a landslide with over 90% of the vote
October 24, 1947, Donald Bradman scores 156 for South Australia v India, 152 mins, 22 fours (I haven’t the slightest idea what that means)
October 24, 1955, Tappan sells 1st microwave oven
October 24, 1966, The Jimi Hendrix Experience play their first UK gig as a private showcase at The Scotch of St. James in London

The Celtics raised banner #18 to the rafters and proceeded to thrash the Knicks on Opening Night. Apparently, I missed it, but as soon as the banner was being raised, TNT went to commercial. DOH!

And you gotta love the Celtics faithful chanting; “Yankees suck, Yankees suck!”

And they do suck! Yes, they’re a pretty good team, they just suck!

Don’t be that guy. Don’t be like the referee in last night’s Vikings/Rams game who didn’t call the blatant facemask penalty on the last play of the game. Gross.

So, Gladiator II is coming out and it doesn’t star Russell Crowe. Now other sequels have come with new stars, James Bond and Batman, for example, but I really need to see this one first. Gladiator, the original, great flick.

When Ken Griffey Jr. shared a field with Ken Griffey Sr. on the Seattle Mariners in 1990, becoming the first father and son to play on the same team, it was historic. When Ken Jr. and Sr. hit back-to-back homeruns on Sept. 14, it became that much more memorable. They both attended the Lakers’ season opener on Tuesday, and got to see LeBron James and his son, Bronny, take the court together. They became the first father and son to play in an NBA game together, much less on the same team. 

For the record, I’ll take the Griffeys over the James’ any day, and twice on Sunday.

Article I’ll skip: Kim Kardashian reacts to recommendation Menendez brothers be resentenced.

Stat of the week: Luke Adams, of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, had a Midwest League-leading OBP of .443 (42 points higher than the next player) while batting just .227 in 101 games. He drew 78 walks and was hit 40 times!

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: LeBron and his son took the court together.
Useless information supposed to fire my imagination, part deux: The Bears’ Caleb Williams is the first player in NFL history with at least three passing touchdowns and 50 rushing yards in an international game.

Speaking of the Yankees, I can’t root for the Dodgers but can certainly root against the Yankees. I’ll give you a minute to chew on that one.

It really should be an entertaining World Series. Bet the ‘over!’

Last weekend I bought an 8-pack of Bud Lite (for a friend, no Bud Lite here). But I digress. What the heck is an 8-pack?

Sign of the times: The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) may raise yearly membership fees by 240%, from $25 to $85. The vote comes as membership in the Girl Scouts has declined in recent years, due in part to the pandemic and other factors. The organization ended the 2023 fiscal year with a $4.4 million deficit and it is expected to increase to $5.6 million at the end of the 2024 fiscal year. 

R.I.P. Fernando Valenzuela (63) – the cultural hero and baseball legend launched a movement for baseball fans around the globe. In 1981, he captivated Los Angeles — and fans around the world — by winning each of his first eight starts of the season for the Dodgers. The stretch included seven complete games and five shutouts. He struck out 68 and allowed four earned runs in 72 innings for a 0.50 ERA during the magical run. The performance gave birth to Fernandomania, a phenomenon that still resonates with baseball fans.
R.I.P. “399” (28) – The grizzly bear known as “399” (her research number) was struck and killed by a vehicle while out with her cub in Grand Teton National Park. The grizzly bear 399 was one of the most famous grizzly bears. People from around the world have followed grizzly bear 399 for several decades. At the age of 28, she was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Do clouds look down at us and say; “Hey, that one’s shaped like an idiot!”?

Trivia #1 answer: Last Sunday, the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley ran for 176 yards against the Giants, the second most rushing yards versus a former team in NFL history. Who has the most? – In 2009, the Bengals’ Cedric Benson ran for 189 yards vs. the Bears, his former team.
Trivia #2 answer: Last Sunday, Detroit’s Jared Goff posted his third straight game with a 140-plus passer rating. It was the longest such streak tied with three other quarterbacks. Which three? – Roger Staubach, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Kurt Warner, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre – The other three are Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999) and Roger Staubach (1971)
Trivia #3 answer: It’s Halloween season! Which of the following movies is NOT in the top 5 of the all-time, best-selling horror films? – Jaws, The Sixth Sense, The Exorcist, Ghostbusters, It, Scary Movie. Bonus: Rank them in order. – It (1), The Sixth Sense (2), Jaws (3), Ghostbusters (4), The Exorcist (5)

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.

Happy National Frankenstein Day!

“Stone free, to do what I please
Stone free, to ride the breeze
Stone free, I can’t stay
I got to, got to, got to get away right now
Yeah, alright”

Jimi Hendrix (Stone Free)

Halloween bonus!