Tag: sports

Friday, February 6, 2026

by fasted86

Briefly.

I saw a man with one arm shopping at a second-hand store. I don’t think he’s gonna find what he’s looking for.

Trivia #1: In finance, what is a word for rapid fluctuation in the prices of stocks or shares?
Trivia #2: On February 6, 2005, the New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX. Who was the MVP of the game?
Trivia #3: Who is Elis Lundholm?
Trivia #4: What two of the following teams are tied for most Super Bowl losses (5)? – New England, Buffalo, Minnesota, Denver, Kansas City, Washington, Pittsburgh

Sorry I missed your call. I watched it ring and everything.

On this date: February 6, 337, St Julius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope
February 6, 1865, General Robert E. Lee is appointed General-in-Chief of the Confederate Armies during the US Civil War
February 6, 1882, The society of the Knights of Columbus forms in New Haven, Connecticut
February 6, 1935, Board game Monopoly goes on sale for the first time
February 6, 1958, Future Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Ted Williams becomes highest paid player in MLB when he re-signs with Boston Red Sox for $135,000
February 6, 1971, American astronaut Alan Shepard is the first to hit a golf ball on the Moon
February 6, 1982, “Centerfold” by J. Geils Band hits #1 on pop chart
February 6, 2014, Jay Leno hosts “The Tonight Show” for the final time (NBC)

Go away: NFL HOF voters

When asked if he saw his shadow, the Italian groundhog said, “I didn’t see nuthin’!”

Stop complaining: Oh, what the hell, go ahead and complain. The Boston area has seen 19 consecutive days with below average temperatures, with no end in sight.

Don’t be that guy. If the sign reads “yield,” WELL THEN YIELD!

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Drake Maye’s first three playoff starts stack up surprisingly well next to Tom Brady’s.

DYK: In his last 35 appearances, Scottie Scheffler has won 14 titles. That’s a 40% win rate right there. If that wasn’t enough, he has also finished within the top-10 sixteen times during this period. That has also included three runner-up finishes and two third-place finishes in a total of twenty-three top-5s. Incredible.

Is it too late in the season for the Seattle Seahawks to trade for Pete Carroll?

Speaking of the Super Bowl, since my team is playing, I love the hype!

I’ll give the NBA credit. When it comes to the trade deadline, they move!

Article I’ll skip: Actually, I couldn’t help myself. I did read; “13 Amazon must-haves for an unforgettable Super Bowl party.” My bad. I mean “football-shaped paper plates!” Shit, I guess you can’t have a party without those!!!

They said it: “Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” – Legendary football coach, Lou Holtz

Lesser-known Knights of the Round Table. The knight who performed in three rings: Sir Cus

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The San Francisco 49ers have been riddled with injuries in recent years, and there is a theory about why. A viral theory, albeit unproven, says the 49ers’ unusually high number of soft tissue and non-contact injuries might be due to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from a big electrical substation next to their practice fields and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The claim is that being around it for years could weaken tendons and soft tissue, leading to more ACL tears, Achilles injuries, hamstring pulls and similar issues.

Trivia #1 answer: In finance, what is a word for rapid fluctuation in the prices of stocks or shares? – Whipsaw
Trivia #2 answer: On February 6, 2005, the New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX. Who was the MVP of the game? – Deion Branch
Trivia #3 answer: Who is Elis Lundholm? – Swedish skier Elis Lundholm will make history as the first, and only, openly transgender athlete to compete in the Winter Olympics.
Trivia #4 answer: What two of the following teams are tied for most Super Bowl losses (5)? – New England, Buffalo, Minnesota, Denver, Kansas City, Washington, Pittsburgh – New England and Denver

Patriots – 26, Seahawks – 24 (Yes, I have 6,4 in a pool)

If you’ve never had a bad time in your life, just keep living…

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Bubble Gum Day!

“Well you’re slim and you’re weak
You’ve got the teeth
Of the Hydra upon you
You’re dirty sweet
And you’re my girl

Get It On
Bang a gong
Get It On”

T. Rex (Band a Gong (Get It On))

Friday, January 30, 2026

by fasted86

Briefly.

Old age is a thing… last night I was in bed for 10 minutes when I heard the pizza guy cough. Then I remembered I came to my room to get my wallet.

Trivia #1: What are pyroclasts?
Trivia #2: From 1987 through 1993, the San Francisco 49ers had 5 Offensive Players of the Year (4 different players). Name them and, which one won it twice?
Trivia #3: Following Washington’s 38-9 loss to the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII, the NFC won how many consecutive Super Bowls? – 1, 7, 11. 13. 15. 19, 34

The word “queue” is ironic. It’s just a ‘Q’ with a bunch of silent letters waiting in line.

On this date: January 30, 1018, The Holy Roman Empire and Poland conclude the Peace of Bautzen
January 30, 1487, Bell chimes invented
January 30, 1698, English pirate William Kidd takes his greatest prize, the Indian merchant ship Quedagh Merchant, upsetting English trade and causing a global manhunt
January 30, 1835, Richard Lawrence misfires at President Andrew Jackson in Washington, D.C. in 1st attempted assassination of a US President (A real marksman, that Lawrence!)
January 30, 1933, “Lone Ranger” begins a 21-year run on ABC radio
January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated in the garden of the New Delhi home he is visiting by Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse
January 30, 1952, American mathematician D.H. Lehmer and computer programmer R. M. Robinson verify 2^521-1 and 2^607-1 as Mersenne-prime numbers, using U.S. National Bureau of Standards Western Automatic Computer (SWAC) at the Institute for Numerical Analysis at the University of California, Los Angeles – Wait… what?
January 30, 1962, 2 members of Flying Wallendas’ high-wire act killed when their 7-person pyramid collapsed during a performance in Detroit – DOH!
January 30, 1962, Laughter epidemic begins at a girls’ mission school in Kashasha, Tanganyika, goes on to affect 14 schools and over 1000 people
January 30, 1972, Bloody Sunday: 27 unarmed civilians are shot (14 are killed) by the British Army during a civil rights march in Derry, Northern Ireland; the highest death toll from a single shooting incident during ‘The Troubles’
January 30, 1975, Erno Rubik applies for a patent for his “Magic Cube” invention, later to be known as a Rubik’s cube

Busy day January 30, I know. I got carried away.

Colorectal cancer is now officially the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women 50 and younger, a significant increase from the 1990’s, when it was the fifth deadliest. As a friend of mine, and some of yours, once preached, “Get your butt checked!”

Go away: Tony Romo, NFL color analyst. Your time has passed.

Stop complaining: Just stop. We live in New England… You know who you are.

Headline of the week: PETA proposes a “reveal cake” for Groundhog Day in place of Punxsutawney Phil.

Don’t be that guy. Don’t live in New England and complain about the cold weather all winter long.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Drake Maye has a sore shoulder 11 days before the Super Bowl.

Article I’ll skip: Timberwolves players release statement addressing ‘recent tragic events’ involving ICE in Minneapolis – Ya, with everything going on out there I want to know what NBA players have to say.

They said it: Jack Nicklaus turned 86 on January 21. Gary Player penned a short but emotional note to honor his rival and friend. “The gift of friendship with your greatest rival, Happy Birthday Jack. The greatest gentleman the game has ever known.”

Speaking of golf, since its creation in 2021, LIV Golf Ltd. has accumulated losses exceeding $1.1 billion. However, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil says they’ve added half a billion dollars in sponsorship in the last 10 months, and that’s nowhere near where they’ll be in a year from now. My thought, with players jumping ship and returning to the PGA, will LIV continue to get those massive sponsorships???

Speaking of golf (in January… with temperatures up north continually in the teens and twenties), PGA tour pros log roughly 90 airborne hours and 37,000 miles versus LIV’s 218.5 hours and 102,105 miles every season.

Winning the lottery, you’re doing it wrong. John Eric Spiby, 80, who used his 2010 lottery winnings to run a drug empire from his cottage alongside his son and two accomplices, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in England after an investigation uncovered counterfeit pills worth up to $400 million. His son, John Colin Spiby, 37, was sentenced to nine years.

Lesser-known Knights of the Round Table. The knight who overcame obstacles: Sir Mount

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Lake-effect snow will be less robust as some lakes are freezing over, such as Lake Erie, and cutting off the moisture supply for the snow bands heavier snow squalls. (How’s that global warming going?)

You’re not a parent until you’ve secretly wished your child’s sports team does bad in a tournament so you can go home early.

Trivia #1 answer: What are pyroclasts? – Rock fragments, crystals, or volcanic glass ejected during explosive volcanic eruptions.
Trivia #2 answer: From 1987 through 1993, the San Francisco 49ers had 5 Offensive Players of the Year (4 different players). Name them and, which one won it twice? – Jerry Rice (1987, 1993), Roger Craig (1988), Joe Montana (1989), Steve Young (1992)
Trivia #3 answer: Following Washington’s 38-9 loss to the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII, the NFC won how many consecutive Super Bowls? – 1, 7, 11, 13, 15, 19, 34 – They then won 13 consecutive Super Bowls

There are no atheists in foxholes.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Fun at Work Day! – (Unless, of course, your job sucks)

I wonder if my recorded call has ever been used for training or quality purposes.

Come on downtown this afternoon as I’ll be serving ‘em up! It’s not too early to talk too much about the Super Bowl.

Less than 8 weeks until St. Patrick’s Day. Cheers!

Friday, January 2, 2026

by fasted86

Briefly. (Another year, another day, another extension of my personal record for consecutive days alive. Still going…) Seriously, I hope you all have a healthy, happy 2026!

Studies have shown that people who have more birthdays live longer than those who do not have as many.

Trivia #1: In the Super Bowl era, who are the only two coaches who’ve won over 180 games but have never coached in a Super Bowl game? – No hint
Trivia #2: Actor Burt Reynolds played sparingly for what college football program? – Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of Texas, LSU, University of Alabama, Northern Essex
Trivia #3: On the Periodic Table, ‘Pb’ is the symbol for what?
Trivia #4: Samuel Adams announced the release of its Utopias 2025, a “barrel-aged extreme beer”. Banned in 15 states, what is the alcohol by volume (ABV) of the beer? – 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 80%
Trivia #5: On December 26, the University of Florida International Panthers beat the University of Texas at El Paso Roadrunners in the First Responder Bowl. What company is the lead sponsor of the First Responder Bowl?

On this date: January 2, 69, Roman Lower Rhine army proclaims its commander, Vitellius, Emperor
January 2, 1570, Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible begins his march to Novgorod
January 2, 1811, Timothy Pickering of Massachusetts becomes the first US Senator censured by the body for revealing confidential documents of President Thomas Jefferson
January 2, 1906, Willis Carrier receives a US patent for an “Apparatus for Treating Air,” the world’s first modern air conditioner
January 2, 1974, Speed limit of 55 mph is imposed by President Nixon
January 2, 1982, The “Epic in Miami,” played in 85°F heat, sees the San Diego Chargers defeat the Miami Dolphins 41-38 in overtime in the AFC Divisional Playoff, setting numerous playoff scoring records
January 2, 1985, Leg-spin bowler Bob “Dutchy” Holland takes 4/90 for match figures of 10/144 as Australia beats the West Indies by innings in 5th Test in Sydney; Windies take series, 3-1 – Wait… what?
January 2, 2018, WHO reveals it will classify gaming addiction as mental health condition in its next Classification of Diseases

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: On January 2, 1960, John Reynolds set the age of the solar system at 4,950,000,000 years

Stop complaining. New Orleans Saints star wide receiver Chris Olave will not play in Week 18 after a blood clot was reportedly found in his lung. The blood clot was caught early, and Olave was expected to be discharged from a hospital Thursday. Olave has no prior history of blood clots and is expected to be sidelined for about a month. (You never know…)

“Can I have fries with that?” – You’re doing it wrong: A grandfather was killed just days before Christmas in what officials have described as a “freak accident” at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Nebraska. Michael Dickinson, 69, was crushed to death after he was pinned between his vehicle and the payment window. It appears the deceased opened the door to further reach out of the window for payment purposes.

Say what you will, but some of the mannequins at Macy’s are hot!

Jeez Ed, grow up.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: OpenAI says it is taking stronger steps to protect teens using its chatbot. OpenAI’s updated Model Spec builds on existing safety limits and applies to teen users ages 13 to 17. It continues to block sexual content involving minors and discourages self-harm, delusions and manic behavior. For teens, the rules go further. The models must avoid immersive romantic roleplay, first-person intimacy, and violent or sexual roleplay, even when non-graphic. They must use extra caution when discussing body image and eating behaviors. When safety risks appear, the chatbot should prioritize protection over user autonomy. It should also avoid giving advice that helps teens hide risky behavior from caregivers. These limits apply even if a prompt is framed as fictional, historical, or educational. (You people with young children… good luck!)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse, part deux: The Iowa State University football program has lost more than 40 players to the transfer protocol. Let the madness stop!

Don’t be that guy. It’s a new year. Go see a doctor and get checked out, you stubborn bastard. If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for someone else.

Article I’ll skip: US reduces proposed duties on Italian pasta following dumpling investigation

History repeating: Both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes suffered torn ACLs in their 9th NFL seasons. Both ACL injuries came the year after losing a Super Bowl, with both QBs already having won 3 Super Bowls prior to that.

Lesser-known Knights of the Round Table. The uncover knight: Sir Veillance

Celtics/Bruins – meh.

Good news: Scientists may have pinpointed a way to reverse Alzheimer’s disease in an animal study. The study, led by University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, found that restoring a central cellular energy molecule in mice’s brains reversed the markers of the disease, including brain changes and cognitive decline.

What’s the difference between a poorly dressed man on a bicycle and a well-dressed man on a unicycle? – Attire

Trivia #1 answer: In the Super Bowl era, who are the only two coaches who’ve won over 180 games but have never coached in a Super Bowl game? –  Marty Schottenheimer and Chuck Knox. Schottenheimer went 200-126-1 with four teams. Knox went 186-147-1 with three teams.
Trivia #2 answer: Actor Burt Reynolds played sparingly for what college football program? – Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of Texas, LSU, University of Alabama, Northern Essex – Florida State University
Trivia #3 answer: On the Periodic Table, ‘Pb’ is the symbol for what? – Lead
Trivia #4 answer: Samuel Adams announced the release of its Utopias 2025, a “barrel-aged extreme beer”. Banned in 15 states, what is the alcohol by volume (ABV) of the beer? – 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 80% – The ABV is 30%
Trivia #5 answer: On December 26, the University of Florida International Panthers beat the University of Texas at El Paso Roadrunners in the First Responder Bowl. What company is the lead sponsor of the First Responder Bowl? – SERVPRO (I know one of you who got this!)

It’s been 6 months since I joined the gym and still no progress. I’m going there in person tomorrow to find out what’s really going on.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Cream Puff Day!

It’s a wonderful life.

“Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
It’s not warm when she’s away
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
And she’s always gone too long
Anytime she goes away”

Bonus “pick me up!”

Friday, November 7, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly.

I got an email explaining how to read maps backwards. It was spam.

Trivia #1: The New England Patriots’ Drake Maye last week had his eighth straight game with 200-plus passing yards and a passer rating of 100-plus, tying Tom Brady (2007) and Peyton Manning (2004) for the second most all-time. What quarterback has had the most such consecutive games (12)?
Trivia #2: Who won the 1990 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 1990)
Trivia #3: What chemical element is symbolized on the periodic table as “Sn” (atomic number 50)?
Trivia #4: What does “HTTP” stand for?
Trivia #5: Who is Cam Little?

On this date: November 7, 680, Third Council of Constantinople (6th ecumenical council) opens
November 7, 1786, Oldest performing musical organization in the United States is founded in Stoughton, Massachusetts, as the Stoughton Musical Society
November 7, 1800, It becomes illegal for women in Paris to wear trousers without a Police permit (annulled 2013)
November 7, 1874, First cartoon depicting an elephant as the Republican Party symbol is published by Thomas Nast
November 7, 1913, Great Lakes Storm the “White Hurricane” begins with 90 mph winds and 35 foot waves, (lasts till 10 Nov), will sink 19 ships and strand 19 more, killing over 250 people
November 7, 1942, Franklin Roosevelt becomes the first US president to broadcast in a foreign language (French)
November 7, 1976, “Gone With The Wind”, 1939 Oscar-winning film epic starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, makes broadcast television debut on NBC; aired in two parts over consecutive nights; earns a then record 65% share of TV viewers
November 7, 2019, Queen Elizabeth II confirms she is no longer buying clothes made with real fur

Now, let’s get back to maybe the greatest World Series of all-time? Games 6 and 7 alone were incredible, not to mention the 18-inning game 3.

I watched more of the World Series than I typically do and it was admittedly because of Shohei Ohtani. It turned out, he was not much of a factor in the final two games and it didn’t matter. I could go on and on about the plethora of records set in the series, but I did say “briefly.”

Go away: Ex-LSU head football coach Brain Kelly. “Go away” is what LSU said to him. In the meantime, Kelly pockets roughly $50M in his buyout package. Sweeeeet!

Article I’ll skip: Tom Brady’s jaw-dropping revelation about family’s dog leaves fans stunned

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Last night, the Denver Broncos had 220 of total offense. That is despicable. Still, they won the game 10-7.

I was watching the Ohio St/Penn St football game last Saturday and they kept putting up the stats for Ohio St quarterback Julian Sayin. You’d see something like “J. Sayin 20-23, 316 yards.” Now, if you didn’t know his first name, Sayin’s name could be misconstrued. Just sayin’.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Tesla shareholders voted on Thursday to approve CEO Elon Musk’s $1 trillion pay package, which is the largest executive compensation plan on record.

I don’t get out much. Having said that… Man, clothes are expensive!

“I gotta pee!” – You’re doing it wrong: An Arizona Superior Court judge has resigned after allegedly being caught urinating in public just steps from the courthouse where she served. Prescott police responded around 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 4 after witnesses reported a woman relieving herself near Montezuma and Gurley Street, on the same block as the Courthouse Plaza where she worked. Bodycam video appears to show Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore Kristyne Schaaf-Olson pulling up her pants before quickly sitting on a bench.

I once had a hen that could count her own eggs. It was a mathemachicken.

Trivia #1 answer: The New England Patriots’ Drake Maye last week had his eighth straight game with 200-plus passing yards and a passer rating of 100-plus, tying Tom Brady (2007) and Peyton Manning (2004) for the second most all-time. What quarterback has had the most such consecutive games (12)? – Aaron Rodgers
Trivia #2 answer: Who won the 1990 championships in the NHL, NBA, MLB and the NFL (Super Bowl played in 1990) – Edmonton Oilers (NHL), Detroit Pistons (NBA), Cincinnati Reds (MLB), San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
Trivia #3 answer: What chemical element is symbolized on the periodic table as “Sn” (atomic number 50)? – Tin
Trivia #4 answer: What does “HTTP” stand for? – Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Trivia #5 answer: Who is Cam Little? – He is the Jacksonville Jaguars’ second-year kicker who kicked the longest field goal (68 yards) in NFL history. The previous record was 66 yards.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Fountain Pen Day! And, of course, Happy Veterans Day next Tuesday. Thank a Vet!

Not everyone gets a chance to grow old, so appreciate every single day of your life.

I asked my friend Sam to sing a song about an iPhone. And then… Sam sung.

“If you need a little lovin’, call on me, oh yeah
If you want some kissin’, call me baby
All you gotta do oh, I’ll be right here at home
All you gotta do is pick up your telephone and dial now”

Blues Brothers Band (634-5789)

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, September 5, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly.

I’m a wooden spoon, lead paint, no seat belt, no car seat, no bike helmet, bed of pickup riding, garden hose drinking survivor!

Trivia #1: Who was the Red Sox last 20-game winner?
Trivia #2: Who is the only NFL player to win league MVP in his second season, after winning Offensive Player of the Year in his rookie season?
Trivia #3: Saquon Barkley could become just the third player in NFL history to go back-to-back as Offensive Player of the Year, joining what two other running backs? Hint: Those two others three-peated the honor.
Trivia #4: The Chicago Bears are the only NFL team that has not had a quarterback throw for 4,000 or more yards in a season. Which team has never had a quarterback throw 30 or more touchdown passes?
Trivia #5: What city was the first capital of the United States?

On this date: September 5, 1198, Philips of Zwabia, Prince of Hohenstaufen, crowned King of Germany and King of the Romans
September 5, 1774, Twelve of the thirteen American colonies adopt a trade embargo against Great Britain at the First Continental Congress in Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 5, 1934, American pilot Wilev Post discovers the jet stream while flying at high altitude near Chicago, Illinois
September 5, 1958, “The Huckleberry Hound Show” by Hanna-Barbera featuring Yogi Bear premieres on US TV
September 5, 1966, Jerry Lewis’s first Muscular Dystrophy Labor Day telethon raises $1 million
September 5, 1983, Jerry Lewis’s 18th Muscular Dystrophy telethon raises $30,691,627
September 5, 2017, Hurricane Irma becomes one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin region with winds of 185 mph (280 km/h)

Estimates have the total damage and economic loss from Hurricane Katrina at $320 billion, adjusted for inflation today. After the levees around New Orleans suffered more than 50 failures, it’s estimated that 80 percent of the city was underwater, as well as large areas of neighboring parishes. Katrina’s storm surge was worst on the coast of Mississippi, where a 27-foot storm surge was found to have penetrated 6 miles inland on land and 12 miles inland along rivers. As a result, 90 percent of structures within half a mile of the coast near landfall were completely destroyed.

Let me get this straight. The NFL opened last night. There is a game tonight from Sao Paulo, 13 games on Sunday and one on Monday night? Bring it on!

Opening night on a Thursday is cool, but it’s got nothing on Opening Day Sunday.

“They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for each other”

Go away: Jerry Jones

You can’t say “Poor Bill Belichick.” He knew exactly what he was getting into. He’s a little old for a multi-year team building plan.

I hate it when I see an old person and then realize we went to school together.

Article I’ll skip: Family feud erupts after woman discovers what she ate from relative’s kitchen

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A federal jury ordered Google to pay $425.7 million for invading users’ privacy by collecting data over an eight-year period on millions of people who had turned off a tracking feature in their Google account. The verdict on Wednesday in San Francisco comes after a trial in a class-action case applying to roughly 98 million users in the U.S. between July 1, 2016, and Sept. 23, 2024. The jury found that the company had been spying on users in violation of California privacy laws. 

10 Fun Facts:
1. You can’t see your ears without a mirror
2. You can’t count your hair
3. You can’t breathe through your nose with your tongue out.
4. You just tried #3
6. When you did try #3, you realized that it’s possible, only you look like a dog
7. You are smiling right now, because you were fooled
8. You skipped #5
9. You just checked to see if there #5
10. It’s OK to “like” me

The Bruins had their first captain’s practice.

Good news: The first artificial intelligence (AI) stethoscope has gone beyond listening to a heartbeat. Researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust discovered that an AI stethoscope can detect heart failure at an early stage. The TRICORDER study results found that the AI-enabled stethoscope can help doctors identify three heart conditions in just 15 seconds.

“The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the Red Sox last 20-game winner? – Rick Porcello (22 wins in 2016)
Trivia #2 answer: Who is the only NFL player to win league MVP in his second season, after winning Offensive Player of the Year in his rookie season? – Earl Campbell
Trivia #3 answer: Saquon Barkley could become just the third player in NFL history to go back-to-back as Offensive Player of the Year, joining what two other running backs? Hint: Those two others three-peated the honor. – Marshall Faulk (1999-2001) and Earl Campbell (1978-1980).
Trivia #4answer: The Chicago Bears are the only NFL team that has not had a quarterback throw for 4,000 or more yards in a season. Which team has never had a quarterback throw 30 or more touchdown passes? –  The Chicago Bears
Trivia #5answer: What city was the first capital of the United States? – Philadelphia (1774)

Sometimes, it’s better to be alone. Especially when you have food.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Chianti Day!

“I don’t mind
Other guys dancing with my girl
That’s fine
I know them all pretty well

But I know sometimes I must get out in the light
Better leave her behind
With the kids they’re alright
The kids are alright”

The Who (The Kids Are Alright!) – Sometimes, I just need a Who-fix.

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, February 14, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly.

In a tremendous stroke of luck, Dr. Remley has the opportunity to perform surgery on the contractor who renovated his kitchen. Says the doctor, “OK, Roger. That’s all the time I’ve got for now, I’ll try to get back to you in a week or two to finish the job.

Trivia #1: For you Patriots’ fans… Mosi Tatupu played for the Patriots from 1978-1990. What team did he play 5 games for in 1991?
Trivia #2: Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal into an empty net the other night to move closer to Wayne Gretzky’s career record for goals. In terms of career empty net goals, what two players are NOT in the top 5 all-time? – Wayne Gretzky, Brad Marchand, Jarome Iginla, Mario Lemieux, Alex Ovechkin, Marian Hossa, Sidney Crosby
Trivia #3: Who is Nicholas Daniel “Nick” Miller?
Trivia #4: Woodpeckers can peck at a rate of how many pecks per second? – 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 100

Stop complaining: As if the southern California wildfires weren’t enough, a major storm packing a plume of moisture that has evolved into quick-moving atmospheric river will slide southward along the California coast. The firehose effect will direct a period of torrential rain along the shoreline, the Coast Ranges and the lower west-facing elevations of the Sierra Nevada. Making matters much worse will be the burn scars of the recent wildfires that swept through South California. There is little to hold back the water and mudflows as the onset of storms demonstrated in late January. Some of the runoff can be toxic in some locations as it washes ash and other debris into streams and then reaches the beaches.

Please Lord, just get me through February. (We’re half way, baby!)

That’s right! Pitchers and catchers have reported. Though I don’t believe in daylight savings, we do turn the clocks ahead in a mere three weeks. What I’m saying is, we’re getting there!

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Jets tell Aaron Rodgers they’re “moving on” from the QB next season

On this date: February 14, 1849, In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes first serving US President to have his photograph taken (by Matthew Brady).
February 14, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray apply separately for telephone patents, the Supreme Court eventually rules Bell the rightful inventor
February 14, 1924, Thomas J. Watson Sr. renames the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) as International Business Machines (IBM)
February 14, 1931,  The original “Dracula” film starring Blea Lugosi as the titular vampire, is released
February 14, 1962, US 1st lady Jacqueline Kennedy conducts White House tour on TV
February 15, 1989, The first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System are placed into orbit.
February 14, 2005, Online video sharing site YouTube is launched in the United States by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim; headquartered in San Bruno, California

Congrats to the, then 9th ranked, BU Terriers in defeating the, then #1 ranked, BC Eagles 4-1 in the Beanpot final on Monday.

Speaking of hockey… the Minnesota Wild. What a weak nickname.

Go away: The Kansas City Chiefs. You can stop with the “Mahomes may become the new GOAT” talk. The “Travis Kelce is better than Tony Gonzales and Gronk” talk. And the “Andy Reid is a better coach than Belichick” talk.

Go away, part deux: Pennies – According to the U.S. Mint, each penny cost 3.69 cents to produce in fiscal year 2024, costing taxpayers $119 million. This marked the 19th consecutive year in which production exceeded its face value. 

Good news, x2: Hall of Famer Randy Moss made an emotional return to ESPN’s coverage of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, two months after he took a leave from his job to get treatment for cancer. He was greeted with a video that included messages from Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Justin Jefferson, Kevin Garnett and several other big names welcoming him back to ESPN’s set. Moss was moved to tears by the video before getting on with his job of analyzing the Super Bowl. Also, on Saturday night, Dick Vitale made his long-awaited return to the ESPN airwaves. The crowd gathered behind him made sure to let him know how much he was missed. After battling through several different forms of cancer and going nearly two full years without calling a game, Vitale received warm welcomes and loud ovations from inside Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum. The 45-year ESPN veteran, who has become one of the faces of college basketball over the course of his distinguished broadcasting career, was understandably emotional when addressing the audience for the first time.

Article I’ll skip: Make delicious pizza with the help of these 12 tools and accessories. – Hey look, I make my own pizza and it’s pretty damn good, if I don’t say so myself. I don’t need new “tools and accessories” to try to improve it.
Article I’ll skip, part deux (I had to do it): ‘Karate Kid’ star shares secret behind his successful marriage to wife of 38 years. (Really?)

Red Bull gives you wiiiiings…

Trivia #1 answer: For you Patriots’ fans… Mosi Tatupu played for the Patriots from 1978-1990. What team did he play 5 games for in 1991? – The LA Rams
Trivia #2: Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal into an empty net the other night to move closer to Wayne Gretzky’s career record for goals. In terms of career empty net goals, what two players are NOT in the top 5 all-time? – Wayne Gretzky, Brad Marchand, Jarome Iginla, Mario Lemieux, Alex Ovechkin, Marian Hossa, Sidney Crosby – Mario Lemieux is #7, Jarome Iginla is #8
Trivia #3 answer: Who is Nicholas Daniel “Nick” Miller? – Nick is professionally known as Illenium, is an American musician, DJ, music producer and songwriter. Tickets for Illenium at MGM Music Hall at Fenway are on sale now! (I gotta get out more often…)
Trivia #4 answer: Trivia #4: Woodpeckers can peck at a rate of how many pecks per second? – 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 100 – 20 times per second

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 Ferris Wheel Day!
And, of course, Happy Valentine’s Day, for you love birds out there!

“When you invent the ship, you also invent the shipwreck.” – Paul Virilio, philosopher

“Well I’m not the kind to live in the past
The years run too short and the days too fast
The things you lean on are the things that don’t last
Well it’s just now and then my line gets cast into these
Time passages
There’s something back here that you left behind
Oh time passages
Buy me a ticket on the last train home tonight”

– Al Stewart (Time Passages)

Friday, February 7, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly. (Not today. Super Bowl version)

A guy came home from the pub four hours late the other night. “Where the hell have you been?” screamed his wife. He said, “I’ve been playing poker with the lads.” “Playing poker with the lads?” she repeated. “Well, you can pack your bags and go!” “So can you,” he said. “This isn’t our house anymore!!”

Trivia #1: Thanks to Dolphins running back Larry Csonka’s close brush with injury, Super Bowl VIII was the final game where? – Goal posts were stationed in front of the end zone, Face masks were optional, Grabbing a player by his face mask was legal, Chin straps were optional, Beers in the locker room at halftime was legal 
Trivia #2: Super Bowl XII was not just the first Super Bowl played in a dome, this was also the first Super Bowl where there were co-MVPs. Those players were? – Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett, Roger Staubach and Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Randy White and Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, Randy White and Harvey Martin, Ric Accardi and Alvin Taylor
Trivia #3: Following Washington’s 38-9 loss to the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII, the NFC won how many consecutive Super Bowls? – 7, 11, 13, 15, XXIII
Trivia #4: In their 46-10 victory over the Patriots, Chicago’s “46” defense set a still-standing Super Bowl record for fewest rushing yards allowed. How many yards did they allow? – 0, 2, 7, 9, 11, 23
Trivia #5: Five players have multiple Super Bowl MVP trophies. Which of these quarterbacks is not a member of that exclusive club? – Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana
Trivia #6 (6, really?!) – The combined 16 points scored between the Patriots and Rams made Super Bowl LIII the lowest scoring Super Bowl.  How many plays were run in the red zone during this defensive slugfest? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 74 

Stop complaining: 29 people have died in the Southern California wildfires. Insured losses exceed $20 billion and economic losses could top $50 billion.

Please Lord, just get me through February.

Having said that, I get it. I could have bigger problems but, these 2-4 inch “snowstorms” every other day that require shoveling or, at least, clearing off the car(s), are a pain-in-the-ass.

On this date: February 7, 1817, Baltimore becomes the 1st American city lit by gas street lamps with the first turned on at Market and Lemon Streets (currently Baltimore and Holliday Streets)
February 7, 1845, The Portland Vase, thought to date back to the 1st century BC, is shattered into more than 80 pieces by a drunken visitor to the British Museum – DOH!
February 7, 1882, Last bare knuckle champion John L. Sullivan KOs Paddy Ryan in Miss. Last bare knuckle champ? Don’t tell that to Harry “The Hitman” Gigliotti!
February 7, 1974, American left-wing guerilla group Symbionese Liberation Army claim responsibility for the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, daughter of American publishing heir Randolph Hearst
February 7, 1974, Mel Brooks’ western spoof film “Blazing Saddles”, starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder premieres at the Pickwick Drive-In in Burbank, California; patrons watched from horseback rather than cars
February 7, 1985, “New York, New York” becomes the official anthem of New York City

Speaking of snow, you what drives me crazy? When the Amazon guy/gal comes trudging up the sidewalk and stairs with a package, before I get a chance to shovel the snow. Drives me crazy!

“Don’t” Go away: Football. We’ll see you August…

Really? 7-year-old Elienisse Zoe Díaz Rodriguez died on Tuesday after an accident during a race at the Orlando Speed World Dragway on Sunday. Rodriguez was racing her Junior Dragster racecar when she lost control of it, striking a 34-year-old safety guide employee before crashing into a concrete wall. 7-years-old!!! In a country that only allows flag football, not tackle, at that age? Give me a break.

I just can’t root for a Kansas City threepeat. (Is that one word?)

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: My Super Bowl prediction – Philadelphia 27, KC 20

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Super Bowl commercials this year top out at $8M for a 30-second spot. So, you tell me these advertising people convince their superiors that those 30-seconds will generate at least $8M in sales/revenue? That’s a sales pitch in and of itself!

It’s fairly well documented that I don’t get out much. This year’s Super Bowl performers? Kendrick Lamar, Jon Baptiste and Lauren Daigle? No clue. (OK, I may have at least heard the name Jon Baptiste before, or is that John the Baptist???)

Good news: It’s there, I’m sure…

Last week I noted that I had shit numbers for Super Bowl squares. Check that. There are no shit numbers anymore due to the frequency of two-point conversions and missed extra points. I’m good, and good luck to all of you!

I paid $3 for a loaf of Scali bread (Fantini, of course) the other day. Not $2.99, not $3.05, but $3. I handed the girl 3 singles, no change. What a beautiful world!

Article I’ll skip: Flight passenger ‘framed’ as a set squatter sparks reactions online

Trivia #1 answer: Thanks to Dolphins running back Larry Csonka’s close brush with injury, Super Bowl VIII was the final game where? – Goal posts were stationed in front of the end zone, Face masks were optional, Grabbing a player by his face mask was legal, Chin straps were optional, Beers in the locker room at halftime was legal – It was the last time goal posts were stationed in the front of the end zone
Trivia #2 answer: Super Bowl XII was not just the first Super Bowl played in a dome, this was also the first Super Bowl where there were co-MVPs. Those players were? – Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett, Roger Staubach and Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Randy White and Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, Randy White and Harvey Martin, Ric Accardi and Alvin Taylor – The two were Randy White and Harvey Martin
Trivia #3 answer: Following Washington’s 38-9 loss to the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII, the NFC won how many consecutive Super Bowls? – 7, 11, 13, 15, XXIII – The NFC went on to win 13 Super Bowls in a row
Trivia #4 answer: In their 46-10 victory over the Patriots, Chicago’s “46” defense set a still-standing Super Bowl record for fewest rushing yards allowed. How many yards did they allow? – 0, 2, 7, 9, 11, 23 – They allowed only 7 rushing yards
Trivia #5 answer: Five players have multiple Super Bowl MVP trophies. Which of these quarterbacks is not a member of that exclusive club? – Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana – Peyton Manning only has one
Trivia #6 answer: The combined 16 points scored between the Patriots and Rams made Super Bowl LIII the lowest scoring Super Bowl.  How many plays were run in the red zone during this defensive slugfest? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 74 – Only 1 play was run in the red zone!

Bank error in your favor, collect $75 from every player.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Fettuccine Alfredo Day!

“The previous play is under review…”

Now, for some music. Look, I get it. The Super Bowl is not Monday Night Football, but this should at least get you in the mood. Enjoy the game! And, believe it or not, I’ll be serving downtown during the game so, come on down! (Oh, I’m serving today also)

And one more, as mentioned above, the best! February 7, 1985, “New York, New York” becomes the official anthem of New York City.