Tag: mlb

Friday, August 21, 2026

by fasted86

Briefly.

Wife (to therapist): I told him if anything happened to me, he should meet other women.
Husband: So, I did.
Wife: I meant if I died… not if I got stuck in traffic.

Trivia #1: What is the branch of agriculture that deals with field crop production and soil management? 
Trivia #2: Who is Joshua Baez?
Trivia #3: Who was the World Series MVP in 1986? Bonus: Who were the ALCS and NLCS MVPs that year?

On this date: August 21, 1264, Kublai Khan accepts the surrender of his younger brother Ariq Böke at Xanadu, at the end of the Mongol civil war
August 21, 1879, The Virgin Mary, along with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist, reportedly appears to the people of Knock, County Mayo, Ireland
August 21, 1897, Oldsmobile is first manufactured by Olds Motor Vehicle Co. in Lansing, Michigan
August 21, 1926, Chicago White Sox pitcher Ted Lyons no-hits the Boston Red Sox 6-0 in just 67 minutes at Fenway Park
August 21, 1942, Walt Disney’s animated movie “Bambi,” based on the book by Felix Salten, is released
August 21, 1949, Philadelphia fans cause the A’s to forfeit the game when they riot over a trapped line drive by Richie Ashburn, with the Giants leading 4-2 in the 9th inning, declared winners
August 21, 2004, South Africa clinches its second Tri Nations Rugby Series on points differential with a 23-19 win over Australia in Durban; the Wallabies score 3 tries to 2, but Percy Montgomery lands 5 goals for the Springboks (Ahhh, OK, sure…)
August 21, 2020, American golfer Scottie Schleffler makes birdies on four of the final five holes to become the 12th player in PGA Tour history to shoot a 59 in the second round of the Northern Trust at TPC Boston (Ya, he was pretty good back then too. In case you missed it, he won last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship by a record 8 strokes!)

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Four days brought a big change for Scottie Scheffler, too. The world’s No. 1 player went from an eight-shot victory in the Playoffs opener to feeling under the weather and having to rally for a 72, his highest opening round since the U.S. Open in June. (I’m not too worried about Scottie)

  1. Go to bed early
  2. Not leaving my house
  3. Not going to a party
    My childhood punishments have become my adult goals.

Stop complaining: As Hawaii residents and first responders reach some of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Lala, new images are revealing the extent of the destruction left by catastrophic flooding and debris flows. In Naalehu, in the Kau District on the southern end of Hawaii Island, giant boulders, buildings completely destroyed, moved from their foundations as this massive wall of water came crashing down from the higher elevations surrounding this small little community, leaving residents and visitors in total shock. Communications have been completely cut off, and some folks, now that they have some of the roads clear, are having to drive upwards of 20 miles to get cell service, to communicate with their loved ones and let them know that they’re OK.

Article I’ll skip: People who fly for a living could face a higher risk of certain types of cancer.

Get off the elevator! In a recent study, people who climbed stairs had a 39% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 24% lower risk of dying from and cause than those who didn’t.

Don’t be that guy: I’ve seen a couple lately. Guys, riding your motorcycle, wear a shirt! Are you kidding me?! (Ladies… have at it)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Much of the American healthcare system has been structured around obesity, given it has become a foundational condition in the country with 40.3% of adults considered obese and 9.4% severely obese. Usage of GLP-1 drugs surged in recent years, rising over 140% from 2022 to 2024, which had a significant impact on hospital services aimed at treating obesity. In that same timeframe, bariatric surgery volumes fell 34.1%. The healthcare system and hospitals in particular are having to adapt to a changing landscape caused by the rise of GLP-1 semaglutide drugs, as obesity patients who previously would’ve undergone surgery after attempting to diet now have a pharmaceutical alternative that is “visible, reversible, and socially normalized.”

They said it: “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s better to burn out, than it is to rust.

Trivia #1 answer: What is the branch of agriculture that deals with field crop production and soil management?  – Agronomy
Trivia #2: Who is Joshua Baez? – He is the St. Louis Cardinals rookie who hit a home run in each of his first three plate appearances this past week in his MLB debut.
Trivia #3 answer: Who was the World Series MVP in 1986? Bonus: Who were the ALCS and NLCS MVPs that year? – World Series – Ray Knight (NY Mets), ALCS – Marty Barrett (Red Sox), NLCS – Mike Scott (Houston Astros)

Dear people who type in all lowercase. We are the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse and helping your uncle jack off a horse. Sincerely, Capital Letters.

Go ahead, call HR!

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Fantasy Football Draft Day! (Not for my league, but there is such a day!)

“Out of the blue and into the black
They give you this, but you pay for that
And once you’re gone, you can’t come back
When you’re out of the blue and into the black”

Neil Young (Hey Hey, My My)

Friday, October 3, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly.

My wife called to tell me she saw a fox on the way to work. I asked her how she knew it was going to work. She hung up on me.

Trivia #1: Who was the Seattle Mariners last 20-game winner?
Trivia #2: Which of the following teams did NOT win the World Series after making the playoffs as a wild card team? – 1997 Florida Marlins, 2002 Anaheim Angels, 2004 Boston Red Sox, 2010 San Francisco Giants, 2011 San Francisco Giants, 2019 Washing ton Nationals
Trivia #3: Who was the 21st President of the United States? – Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland

On this date: October 3, 2333 B.C., the state of Gojoseon (modern-day Korea) is founded by Dangun Wanggeom during the reign of Chinese Emperor Yao
October 3, 1778, Captain James Cook anchors at Alaska
October 3, 1849, American author Edgar Allan Poe is found delirious in a gutter in Baltimore, Maryland under mysterious circumstances; it is the last time he is seen in public before his death
October 3, 1863, US President Abraham Lincoln designates the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day
October 3, 1913, US federal income tax at 1% is signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson
October 3, 1961, TV sitcom “Mr. Ed” premieres on CBS
October 3, 1972, Future Baseball Hall of Fame left-handed pitcher Steve Carlton wins his 27th game as Philadelphia beats the Cubs 11-1 at Wrigley Field, accounting for almost half of the Phillies’ 59 season wins
October 3, 1984, US government shuts down due to lack of agreement over passage of bills. (The song remains the same)
October 3, 2004, New England Patriots win their 18th consecutive NFL game, beating the Buffalo Bills 31-17 at Ralph Wilson Stadium

Well, the U.S.A. made a valiant Ryder Cup comeback, only to fall short. Commendable, but really…

Go away: Too many Ryder Cup fans who were waaay out of line with respect to their behavior. There’s no place for that in professional sports. It is embarrassing to America.

Yes, they beat the Red Sox in the Wild Card series but, the Yankees still suck and always will.

I have to admit, the NFL kickoff rules are growing on me. It certainly beats the hell out of the plethora of touchbacks before the new rules.

Speaking of the NFL… the NBA tips off on October 21.

Speaking of the NBA, the NHL drops the puck for real on October 7.

Sometimes, you just have to roll with the changes.

Article I’ll skip: The 15 weirdest things you can buy on Amazon.

If you have not heard someone say something stupid today, you must still be in bed.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Maxwell House is changing its name for the first time in its 133-year history. The coffee brand owned by Kraft Heinz, will temporarily be renamed “Maxwell Apartment,” a move it said it made “to meet the needs of today’s consumer.”

The Red Sox kill me, once again. They really blew their chances during game 2 and then ran into a buzzsaw last night. Well, their defense didn’t help either. Oh well, a young team with a bright future. (Ya Ed, keep saying that…)

Don’t be that guy. Cover your mouth when you yawn, no matter where you are. We don’t want to see inside your mouth. We’re not all dentists.

Good news: Sports fans will be able to take their viewing habits to the next level starting Thursday as a FOX One and ESPN bundled streaming package was announced. Two of the biggest names in sports will offer the service for fans at $39.99 per month and give them access to top-tier content and games across dozens of professional sports leagues.

Good news, part deux: A new treatment strategy tested by UCLA researchers could offer new hope for men whose prostate cancer has returned after initial treatment. This approach could also help delay the need for hormone therapy, which can have burdensome side effects. The findings, which were presented at the annual American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) meeting this week, showed that combining a targeted radioactive drug with standard radiation therapy more than doubled the amount of time patients remained free of disease progression.

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Sherman Williams was at the helm of an Alabama high school football team that lost 100-0 last week. The former NFL player received backlash on social media for the defeat. He allegedly decided not to have referees keep the clock running to end the game more quickly. On Wednesday, he responded to the fury in a post: “Down 73-0 at half I looked each one of my 39 boys in the eyes and ask if they wanted to continue. 100% said YES! So that’s what we did. I LOVE MY BOYS, gave it their all.”

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the Seattle Mariners last 20-game winner? – Jamie Moyer (21 in 2003)
Trivia #2: Which of the following teams did NOT win the World Series after making the playoffs as a wild card team? – 1997 Florida Marlins, 2002 Anaheim Angels, 2004 Boston Red Sox, 2010 San Francisco Giants, 2011 San Francisco Giants, 2019 Washing ton Nationals – The 2010 San Francisco Giants
Trivia #3: Who was the 21st President of the United States? – Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland – Chester A. Arthur was the 21st

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Body Language Day!

Do you want to be the singer or do you want to be the song?

“I knew it had to happen
Felt the tables turnin’
Got me through my darkest hour
I heard the thunder clappin’
Felt the desert burnin’
Until you poured on me
Like a sweet sunshower”

REO Speedwagon (Roll With the Changes)

Friday, April 4, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly. (Not exactly)

I ordered a book off the internet called ‘How To Scam People’ – It’s been three months now and it still hasn’t arrived.

Trivia #1: On April 4, 1841, what US Vice President became President after the death of President William Henry Harrison?
Trivia #2: Nolan Ryan was the only pitcher to face the last three single season homerun leaders, Roger Maris, Mark MaGwire and Barry Bonds. (This was prior to Aaron Judge’s 62 in 2022.) Of those other three, how many homeruns did they combine to hit against Ryan in their careers? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9

DYK: The people of Massachusetts voted in 1928 to allow sports on Sundays between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET. However, it was still illegal to play a professional game on Sundays within 1000 feet of a church, which Fenway was. The Red Sox played the first Boston Sunday game ever on April 28, 1929 … at Braves Field, home of the then-other professional Boston baseball team. Eventually, the church rule was lifted, so the Red Sox got to play a Sunday game at Fenway for the first time on July 3, 1932. Hey, I’m here to educate.

Stop complaining: A deadly Tornado outbreak has killed at least eightpeopleand spawned more than 30 reports of twisters across the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley on Wednesday. At least six people have died in Tennessee due to the severe weather. The storms also injured multiple others and destroyed several homes from Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee through Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.

On this date: April 4, 1818, Congress decides on the US flag: 13 red & white stripes & 20 stars
April 4, 1917, US Senate agrees (82-6) to participate in WWI
April 4, 1922, WAAB (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) becomes 1st US radio station with “W” calls
April 4, 1968, US civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Riots break out in over 100 cities in the United States.
April 4, 1974, Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth’s home-run record by hitting his 714th in Cincinnati, facing Jack Billingham
April 4, 1987, Dow Jones Industrial Average up 69.89 points, ending at record 2,390.34 points (Conversely, it went down 1,679.39 points just yesterday!)

Is there a trend of players stepping up on their own bobblehead nights? The other night, Shohei Ohtani homered on his bobblehead night for the second straight year. José Ramírez, last year, went 3-for-5 with three RBIs on his bobblehead day, and in 2022 he homered twice. In 2023 he had a reversible bucket hat day and was 1-for-4 with a double. Add it all up and in the past three years on José Ramírez-themed days, José Ramírez is 6-for-13 with eight RBIs and three homers. Mike Trout homered twice on his bobblehead day in 2019, and Mookie Betts homered twice in his first one with the Dodgers in 2021. On Yankees’ players Star Wars-themed bobblehead nights: Anthony Rizzo homered twice after his Mandalorian giveaway in 2023 and Aaron Judge went deep on his Jedi bobblehead day in 2018. The Giants’ Patrick Bailey splash-homered into McCovey Cove on his bobblehead day and Texas’ Nathaniel Lowe two-HR performance on the night of his Gold Glove Award giveaway.

OK, so the Red Sox aren’t going to go 162-0, but please, relax folks.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A public high school in Fairfax County, Virginia, decorated its history hallway with a polarizing alphabetic display for Women’s History Month, beginning with “A is for Abortion.” “The ABCs to ME” display “is a student-led history project that is part of an elective Women’s History class.”

Can the SEC pull it off? The conference sent 14 teams to the men’s NCAA basketball tournament with 7 of those teams making the Sweet 16 and two of them making the Final Four (Auburn and Florida). Will the conference be able to boast the champion???

They said it: “Lete’s go, Sports Bar!” – The Buffalo Wild Wings buffalo

Good news: Maybe it’s for the best that the Padres’ Kyle Hart didn’t earn his first big league win until this past Monday night. No, technically Hart was not making his Major League debut. The 32-year-old left-hander had made four appearances for the Red Sox in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We couldn’t even be there [for Kyle’s debut],” Kyle’s father Roger said, “because there was nobody in the stands. This was our first chance to see him pitch at the Major League Baseball level. That was a good feeling to be able to be here for that — just to be a part of it.” In his first start as a Padre, Kyle Hart worked five solid innings against the Indians. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out four, as San Diego improved to 5-0 for the first time in franchise history.

Along those lines, “Yellowjackets” star Christina Ricci placed her home in Silver Lake, CA on the market for just over $4 million. Her decision to sell the home comes just eight months after she first purchased it in July 2024, as she is now looking for a bigger property that would allow her family members, who lost their homes in the Palisades Fire earlier this year, to move in with her. Nice! (Note: Apparently, “Yellowjackets” is some television show, series, whatever…)

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Your Boston Red Sox scored 8 runs yesterday. It was the first time they had scored 5 or more runs since the season began, their longest such drought to open the season since 2009.

Article I’ll skip: Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s adult daughters still take baths together. (I said I’ll skip the article. I didn’t say I wouldn’t look at pictures.)

Trivia #1 answer: On April 4, 1841, what US Vice President became President after the death of President William Henry Harrison? – John Tyler
Trivia #2 answer: Nolan Ryan was the only pitcher to face the last three single season homerun leaders, Roger Maris, Mark MaGwire and Barry Bonds. (This was prior to Aaron Judge’s 62 in 2022.) Of those other three, how many homeruns did they combine to hit against Ryan in their careers? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 – They hit zero homeruns while combining to go 5-28.

Math is hard. 15+15 is thirty and 16+16 is thirty too!

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Chicken Cordon Bleu Day!

And Happy Opening Day, at Fenway Park. If you’re heading in, or watching on NESN, pregame ceremonies for the April 4 home opener will welcome members of the 1975 team to mark the 50th anniversary of their AL Championship win, and remember Red Sox Hall of Famer Luis Tiant, who passed away October 8, 2024, at the age of 83. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 1:30 p.m. to enjoy the ceremonies preceding the 2:10 p.m. game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Before the game, the two teams will be introduced along the base lines, with the colors presented by the 1st Battalion and 181st Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts National Guard, the 66th Air Base Group out of Hanscom Air Force Base, and members of the 1st Coast Guard District. The National Anthem will be performed by the Boston Arts Academy “Treble Allstars,” and punctuated by a fly-over by two F-35’s flown by the 134th Fighter Squadron, Green Mountain Boys of the Vermont Air National Guard and one KC-46 from the New Hampshire Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing.

“Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride”

– U2 (Pride (In the Name of Love))

Bonus – Luther!

Repeat Double-bonus! Happy Opening Day (Fenway)

Friday, February 21, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly. (Up late watching hokey last night)

I just had my annual physical. The doctor said, “Don’t eat anything fatty.” I said, “Like bacon and burgers?” He said, “No fatty, don’t eat anything!”

Trivia #1: On February 21, 1887, which US state became the first to make Labor Day a holiday? – California, Oregon, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia
Trivia #2: In terms of MLB MVP awards by team, which of the following teams is not in the top five, number of players who have won the MVP award? – Giants, Yankees, Red Sox, A’s, Dodgers, Cardinals
Trivia #3: Which NHL team was the only one without a representative playing in the   Nations Face-Off?

Stop complaining: The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has been tracking a measles outbreak in the South Plains region of the state. The agency first confirmed the outbreak on Feb. 5, and it has since been growing. A Tuesday update stated that 58 cases have been identified within the last three weeks as symptoms occurred. Only four are confirmed vaccinated. The rise in cases comes more than two decades after health agencies reported that the disease was “eliminated” in 2000. Said one doctor, “There is a 90% chance you will get it if you are unvaccinated and step into a room where someone with measles was two hours before.”

On this date: February 21, 1804, The world’s first steam locomotive, built by Richard Trevithick, runs for the first time along the tramway of the Penydarren Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
February 21, 1842, 1st known sewing machine patented in US by John Greenough of Washington, D.C.
February 21, 1965, Civil rights activist and Muslim minister Malcolm X is shot dead by Nation of Islam followers at Audubon Ballroom in New York City
February 21, 1980, American speed skater Eric Heiden wins 1,500m in Olympic record 1:55.44; 4th of record 5 gold medal sweep of events at Lake Placid

Go away: Boy, do I have a list…

The Red Sox play today…

Why is ‘AAA’ called Triple A, but AARP is A-A-R-P and not Double A-R-P? And why is ‘AA’ called ‘AA’ and not Double A? F*ckin-A, this stuff actually makes me think!

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: In 2008, American Airlines became the first major U.S. carrier to charge for checked bags, introducing a $15 fee as part of a cost-cutting measure. Since then, other airlines have adopted similar fees, with prices steadily increasing over the years. Now, a new debate has emerged about whether airlines should charge passengers based on their weight to help reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions.

Well, the NBA is at the break and the Celtics stand in 2nd place in the East, 5.5 games back behind Cleveland. They are 39-16, but an alarming 17-10 at home. They continue to be a work-in-progress.

Meanwhile, the Bruins are in 6th place in the 1atlantic division, 11 points behind the leading Panthers. They have work to do.

Good news: Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis analyzed how long 282 Alzheimer’s patients were able to continue living independently after taking two specific treatments: lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla). Both FDA-approved medications are designed to remove amyloid beta plaques from the brains of people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, potentially slowing the rate of cognitive decline. On average, a patient with mild symptoms could expect to live independently for another 29 months without treatment, 39 months with lecanemab and 37 months with donanemab.

Not-so-good-news: Adenocarcinoma — which starts in the cells lining the air sacs in the lungs — is the most common type of lung cancer among people who have never smoked, comprising up to 50% of diagnoses in that group. Air pollution was cited as a key driver of this type of lung cancer, with the highest levels reported in East Asia, particularly China. Worldwide, adenocarcinoma made up more than 45% of lung cancer cases in males and nearly 60% of female cases.

Article I’ll skip: The coffee connoisseur’s guide to the top coffee pots for every type of coffee drinker. – Puh-lease!

4 Nations Face-Off. What a great idea for a mid-February world competition. Some great games, including last night’s OT win for Canada over the USA.

(Speaking of the 4 Nations Face-Off) They said it: “They should not be booing the Americans during that anthem. They have nothing to do with the political things that are going on. I do feel bad for those guys in that moment. I don’t think it’s right.” Canadien Bard Marchand in response to the Canadien fans during the opening game of Canada vs. USA. (There sounded as though there may have been boos early on during last night’s Canadian national anthem at the Garden but, if there were any, they were silenced quickly during a stellar rendition.

“Somewhere, Don Cherry is smiling.” Former Montreal Canadien and NHL color commentor, PJ Suban, after the three fights within the first 9 seconds of the first Canada/USA game.

My favorite actor nowadays is the buffalo from the Buffalo Wild Wings commercials.

Electric-truck maker Nikola Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday after the company failed to overcome market and macroeconomic challenges. I truly believe we will all be driving electronic vehicles… very soon after we convert to metric system.

Slippery slope: A mother is speaking out after she says her 12-year-old daughter was denied a place on the heart transplant list at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital because of her vaccination status. “The doctors at Cincinnati Children’s were talking with us and told us that one of the requirements [for being] put on the list is to have the COVID vaccination and the flu vaccination,” Deal said. “That is against everything we believe in.” The family said they asked for a religious exemption, but the hospital declined – citing its transplant policy.

Truth does not mind being questioned. A lie does not like being challenged.

Trivia #1 answer: On February 21, 1887, which US state became the first to make Labor Day a holiday? – California, Oregon, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia – Oregon was the first
Trivia #2 answer: In terms of MLB MVP awards by team, which of the following teams is not in the top five, number of players who have won the MVP award? – Giants, Yankees, Red Sox, A’s, Dodgers, Cardinals – Yankees (24), Cardinals (21), Dodgers (15), Giants (14), A’s (13), and the Red Sox are #6 with 12.
Trivia #3: Which NHL team was the only one without a representative playing in the   Nations Face-Off? – The Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals, second in the NHL in points.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!) Like a midget at a urinal, stay on your toes!

Happy National Sticky Bun Day!

“Every day I work so hard bringing home my hard earned pay
Try to love you, baby, but you push me away
Don’t know where you’re going, only know just where you’ve been
Sweet little baby, I want you again”

– Led Zeppelin (Dazed and Confused)

Friday, January 24, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly.

Some people just need a high-five… in the face… with a chair.

Trivia #1: On January 24, 1935, the first canned beer was sold by which brewing company? – Anheuser-Busch, Pabst, Krueger, Northampton Brewery, Schlitz
Trivia #2: Since 2000, 7 NFL teams have played 4 road games in a row, obviously including a playoff game or two. Of those fourth road game, what is the teams’ overall W/L record? (For example, 7-0?) Bonus: What is their record against the spread?
Trivia #3: Which TWO of the following players never had 10 or more receptions in an NFL conference championship game? – Randy Moss, Michael Irvin, Plaxico Burress, Travis Kelce, Davante Adams, Pierre Garcon, Julio Jones, Brent Celek, Julian Edelman

Stop complaining: Unless you live in southern California. Gusty Santa Ana winds fanned the flames of a new, rapidly growing wildfire near Santa Clarita, California, on Wednesday, as smoke once again filled the sky over Southern California. The Hughes Fire was first reported at 10:53 a.m. PST Wednesday, and in just two hours, it erupted to over 5,000 acres, according to CAL FIRE.

On this date: January 24, 1848, James Marshall finds gold in Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California
January 24, 1899, Rubber heel for boots or shoes is patented by American Humphrey O’Sullivan
January 24, 1900, Newcastle Badminton Club, world’s oldest, forms in England
January 24, 1922, Eskimo Pie patented by Christian Kent Nelson of Iowa (not an Eskimo)
January 24, 1958, After warming to 100,000,000 degrees, 2 light atoms are bashed together to create a heavier atom, resulting in 1st man-made nuclear fusion
January 24, 1984, Apple Computer Inc. unveils its revolutionary Macintosh personal computer in a Super Bowl TV ad  

Why are hallways in psychiatric hospitals called “Hallways?” Shouldn’t they be called “Psycho Paths?”

Go away: Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler

A prediction, for the sake of argument (from last week). The Buffalo Bills vs. The Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX

According to reports, pertaining to this Sunday’s Chiefs/Bills’ game, the Buffalo Bills have already been called for two penalties.

In case you missed it, there was a blizzard warning issued in New Orleans this past Tuesday, followed by 8” of snow!

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: For the first time on record, the majority of all trading in US stocks is now consistently occurring outside the country’s exchanges. This off-exchange activity — which happens internally at major firms or in alternative platforms known as dark pools — is on course to account for a record 51.8% of traded volume in January. Barring an unexpected dip, it will be the fifth monthly record in a row, and the third month running that hidden trades make up more than half of all volume. The shift toward off-exchange trading is the culmination of a years-long trend, which if it continues could eventually have implications for how the market functions.

Bobby Wagner was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame the other day. It was his final year of eligibility after receiving just 10.2% of the vote in his first year of eligibility, the second lowest ever for someone who eventually got in. Why??? I mean, he allowed an opponent batting average of .184, the lowest of any pitcher to throw at least 900 innings. He is one of eight pitchers in the 400-save club. He also struck out 33.2% of batters he faced which is the highest strikeout rate in MLB history for pitchers to throw at least 900 innings. I mean, come on!

Good news: U.S. robotics company, Tombot, has introduced Jennie, an innovative AI-powered robotic pet designed to provide comfort and companionship to those facing cognitive health challenges. This groundbreaking creation is set to transform the lives of millions struggling with dementia, mild cognitive impairment and various mental health issues.

 Article I’ll skip: Harris reportedly in close contact with Hillary Clinton as speculation swirls

It’s difficult to say whether the Bruins or Celtics have been playing more inconsistently as of late.

Trivia #1 answer: On January 24, 1935, the first canned beer was sold by which brewing company? – Anheuser-Busch, Pabst, Krueger, Northampton Brewery, Schlitz – The Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company in Newark, NJ
Trivia #2 answer: Since 2000, 7 NFL teams have played 4 road games in a row, obviously including a playoff game or two. Of those fourth road games, what is the teams’ overall W/L record? (For example, 7-0 overall in that fourth game?) Bonus: What is their record against the spread? – The W/L record is 0-7, ATS is 1-5-1.
Trivia #3 answer: Which TWO of the following players never had 10 or more receptions in an NFL conference championship game? – Randy Moss, Michael Irvin, Plaxico Burress, Travis Kelce, Davante Adams, Pierre Garcon, Julio Jones, Brent Celek, Julian Edelman – Randy Moss and Davante Adams

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Compliment Day! (And National Beer Can Appreciation Day!)

It would be my honor and privilege to serve you downtown on Championship Sunday. Come on down, have a cold one and watch the games!

“Oh, Mama, I’m in fear for my life from the long arm of the law
Law man has put an end to my running and I’m so far from my home
Oh, Mama I can hear you a-cryin’, you’re so scared and all alone
Hangman is comin’ down from the gallows and I don’t have very long”

– Renegade (Styx)

Quite the video!

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 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)

October 18, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I always carry a pebble with me to throw at people who sing Christmas songs in October. I call it my jingle bell rock.

Trivia #1: Who won the 1988 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 1988)?
Trivia #2: Who is Charles Strite?

On this date: October 18, 1776, in a bar decorated with bird tail in Elmsford, New York, a customer requests a glassful of “those cock tails” from bartender Betsy Flanagan
October 18, 1867, US takes formal possession of Alaska from Russia, after paying $7.2 million in the Alaska Purchase
October 18, 1967, Walt Disney’s animated musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” film is released
October 18, 1974, American R&B singer Al Green’s girlfriend, Mary Woodson, dies by suicide at his Memphis home, after assaulting him with a pot of boiling grits at 29

Go away: Jelly Roll (Jason Bradley DeFord), is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter from Antioch, Tennessee. This guy was recently in the news regarding his long criminal record. Hey, there is only one “Jelly Roll” and that’s Jelly Roll Morton. (Just ask Van Morrison)

As if things couldn’t get worse, cases of flesh-eating bacteria have seen an unusual spike following impacts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 70 cases have so far been reported in 2024, with 11 deaths – figures that are similar to 2022 when Hurricane Ian damaged Collier and Lee counties.

Don’t be that guy. Cover your mouth when you yawn. Thank you, from all of us.

The Utah Hockey Club. Puh-lease!

Pretty cool: A time capsule from 1924 was unveiled at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. The 100-year-old box was laid at the cornerstone of the Liberty Memorial Tower two years before the memorial opened to the public and was found in June by officials. The Liberty Memorial was dedicated “in honor of those who served in World War One in defense of liberty and our country.”

Speaking of pretty cool (and immensely classy!), The Columbus Blue Jackets took the ice for their home opener against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Bush’s “Machinehead” blared from the loudspeakers. Spotlights danced in the stands and blinked around the circle at center ice. The sellout crowd of 18,484 roared. But something was wrong. Someone was missing. The starting lineup did not have a left wing, leaving an empty space where Johnny Gaudreau should have been. The teams stood still — for 13 seconds officially to symbolize Gaudreau’s No. 13, for a little longer in reality. The fans rose to their feet and cheered as players from both teams tapped their sticks on the ice and the boards. An official picked up the puck and brought it to the Columbus bench. The fans chanted, “JOHN-NY HOCK-EY!”

Only in hockey…

Advertising, you’re doing it wrong. Bath and Body Works has stopped selling a candle that was emblazoned with a winter theme that many commenters online compared to a Ku Klux Klan hood.

I would love to explain it to you, but I don’t have crayons.

Trivia #1 answer: Who won the 1988 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 1988)? – Edmonton Oilers (NHL), Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Washington Redskins (NFL)
Trivia #2 answer: Who is Charles Strite? – Charles Strite granted US patent #1,394,450 for his invention, the automatic pop-up toaster on October 18, 1921.

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 No Beard Day! (Sorry, guys. How’s this instead – Happy National Mammography Day!)

“And it stoned me to my soul
Stoned me just like Jelly Roll
And it stoned me
And it stoned me to my soul
Stoned me just like goin’ home
And it stoned me”

Van Morrison (And It Stoned Me)

Bonus: Al Green

October 11, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

In my next life I am coming back with money and looks instead of this sparkling personality bullshit.

Trivia #1: On October 11, 1911, Ty Cobb (AL) and Frank Schulte (NL) are named inaugural MLB MVPs. What did they each receive as a prize? – Cash, a watch, a car, a trophy, a bag of rocks
Trivia #2: Who was Rogers Nelson?

Hurricane Milton. I honestly feel for anyone and everyone affected by this past/present hurricane season. God speed!

On this date: October 11, 1972, World Hockey Association officially debuts as the Alberta Oilers defeat the Ottawa Nationals, 7-4 at the Ottawa Civic Centre
October 11, 1975, “Saturday Night Live” created by Lorne Michaels premieres on NBC with George Carlin as host
October 11, 1983, Last hand-cranked telephones in the US went out of service as 440 telephone customers in Bryant Pond, Maine, were switched over to direct-dial
October 11, 1995, John Bobbitt has plastic surgery to increase his penis 3 inches (Hey, I’m just reporting history here!)

Do you live in the New England area? Did you get a glimpse of the Northern Lights last night? Wicked cool!

Speaking of class, good-bye to longtime Red Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione. One of Colgate’s best! (Ya, I know…)

Go away: Diddy

Go away, part deux: Deshaun Watson. Cleveland Browns’ quarterback and womanizing thug, is washed up.

I’ve recently paid attention to the MLB playoffs more than most years that the Red Sox didn’t play. Not bad.

Don’t be that guy.

And just like that, the NHL season is underway.

The Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy now has as many power play goals as he did all of last year – one.

Once an up-and-coming NFL quarterback, Seattle’s Geno Smith stinks. Period.

Evacuating, you’re doing it wrong. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) St. Pete is searching for two boaters who were last seen leaving Charlotte Harbor in southwest Florida on Tuesday to avoid Hurricane Milton making landfall. Andreas Gabriel Kirchberger and Kenneth Thomas Reutzel were heading for Tarpon Springs in a vessel called the Helderberg/Queen Milania. USCG Southeast posted to X several pictures of their white-colored vessel which appeared to be a catamaran, a type of sailing yacht with two hulls. 

You only live once.

My favorite of last weekend?? Watching Alabama football get upset by Vanderbilt. It only would have been better had Nick Saban been coaching, but I’ll take it.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Phone scams have been around for a while, but recent advancements in artificial intelligence technology is making it easier for bad actors to convince people they have kidnapped their loved ones. Scammers are using AI to replicate the voices of people’s family members in fake kidnapping schemes that convince victims to send money to the scammers in exchange for their loved ones’ safety.

Speaking of the Bruins… they lost on opening night to the Florida Panthers. It was the first time the Bruins have had a losing record (0-1) since October 3, 2018!

Great Little Ceasar’s commercial with the 49ers’ George Kittle: “…everybody but you… Kittle!” Funny.

R.I.P. Luis Tiant (83) – Former Red Sox pitcher, Cuban legend. 19-year MLB pitching career, Tiant went 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA. “Three times an all-star…”, he led the AL in WAR in 1968 with a 1.60 ERA and was in the top 10 7 other seasons. Luis won all three games for the Red Sox in the 1975 World Series including a 155-pitch effort in game 4.

They said it: “At least people still remember me and remember what I did all those years. I know what I’ve had to do with my life, and I’m lucky. I’m lucky I played all those years. God gave me the opportunity to play. What more can you ask? You can’t ask for more than that.” – The late, great Luis Taint in a 2017 interview.

“Looie, Looie, Looie!”

Put Luis Tiant in the Hall!!!!

See above, incorrect. You only die once. You live every day!

Trivia #1 answer: On October 11, 1911, Ty Cobb (AL) and Frank Schulte (NL) are named inaugural MLB MVPs. What did they each receive as a prize? – Cash, a watch, a car, a trophy, a bag of rocks – They each received a car
Trivia #2: Who was Rogers Nelson? – He was the musician better known as Prince

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 Sausage Pizza Day!

“Take a little trip, take a little trip
Take a little trip and see
Take a little trip, take a little trip
Take a little trip with me”

War (Low Rider)

Bonus: