Tag: trivia

Friday, January 10, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly. (I was up a little late watching the Fighting Irish!)

My heart goes out to anyone/everyone effected by the southern California wildfires. I’ve found myself glued to the TV following all of this. Incredibly devastating. To see the helplessness on people’s faces and hear it in their voices is gut-wrenching.

To everyone I offended last year… work on yourself so I don’t have to do it again this year.

Trivia #1: What is retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD)?
Trivia #2: What quarterback has the most wild-card round passing touchdowns all time? – Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Brett Favre

On this date: January 10, 1863, 1st underground railway opens in London.
January 10, 1916, in retaliation for President Woodrow Wilson’s recognition of Mexico’s Carranza government, members of Pancho Villa’s revolutionary army take 17 US mining engineers from a train and shoot 16 of them in cold blood.
January 10, 1949, RCA introduces the 45 RPM record.
January 10, 1958, Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” reaches #1 on the UK pop charts.

There’s nothing like Jerry Lee singing that song but Goose does a pretty good version himself.

So here we are. Recent research shows that millions of new cases of diabetes and heart disease every year are caused by sugary drinks. Another study showed that alcohol causes several types of cancer. Driving like an idiot can cause instant death and general stupidity can cause increased harm to yourself and others. Carry on…

More football! An instant classic last night in the first CFP semi-final, the other semi-final is tonight, two NFL wildcard games Saturday, three on Sunday and one Monday night. Bring it on!

Meanwhile, the Bruins lost last night, the Celtics are six back from the Cavs, the Red Sox are getting stingier by the day and well, the Patriots…

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

Go away: Any and all articles about NFL teams asking permission to talk to/interview coaches from other teams. Enough already. When it’s over, just tell me who is coaching what team.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: So, it really isn’t the apocalypse but there are many people describing the aftermath of the southern CA wildfires as “apocalyptic.”

Good news: Countless stories are being reported of good Samaritans/neighbors/first responders doing what people do to help one another in many different ways in respect to the wildfires. Some saving homes, some saving lives, others just doing what they can.

Bad news: Aside from the horrific CA wildfires, a Michigan couple died in two separate accidents between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Scott Levitan, 66, and Mary Lou Levitan, also 66, were both residents of Livonia. The sequence of events unfolded after Scott Levitan, who was ice-fishing with his 15-year-old grandson on Dec. 26, fell into a frozen lake while he was drilling a hole into the ice on Lake George in Addison Township. He was pulled out and taken to the hospital. The next day, Mary Lou Levitan was on her way to pick up her husband’s vehicle when she was fatally injured in a car accident. Scott Levitan was on life support at that time but did not survive.

Article I’ll skip: Aroma of meat drives some vegetarians and vegans to ‘cheat’, survey says.

So far, at least seven college football transfers have committed to Bill Belichick and his North Carolina program.

Trivia #1 answer: What is retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD)? – The inability to belch (no burp syndrome). The main muscle of the upper esophageal sphincter (the top gate of the food pipe), does not relax, which interferes with the burping process.
Trivia #2 answer: What quarterback has the most wild-card round passing touchdowns all time? – Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Brett Favre – Ben Roethlisberger with 16

No parent ever turned the car around. It was an empty threat we all fell for!

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Save the Eagles Day! And, more importantly, Happy National Quitters Day! Go ahead, throw those resolutions right out the window. Have that burger, have another drink, extend your middle finger towards the gym as you drive by, kick that puppy… OK, a little much there, but you get it.

“You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will, but what a thrill
Goodness gracious great balls of fire”

– Jerry Lee Lewis (Great Balls of Fire)

I need a little more today.

Friday, December 20, 2024

by fasted86

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

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

Happy National Underdog Day.

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

First, the Eagles

Then, the boss!

Friday, September 27, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly, ya.

Fun fact: I do my best proofreading after I post.

Studies show that people with high IQs tend to be lazy, or something like that. I didn’t read the whole article.

Good luck to everyone in Helene’s path.

Trivia #1: What MLB plyer has the most all-star starts in left field?
Trivia #2: What is a loonlet?
Trivia #3: On September 17, in what year, did the physics journal Annalen der Physik publish Albert Einstein’s paper “Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?”, introducing the equation E=mc²? – 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1915

On this date: September 27, 1290, an earthquake in the Gulf of Chihli (Bohai Sea) near China, reportedly kills 100,000 people.
September 27, 1822, French scholar Jean-François Champollion announces he has deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics using the Rosetta Stone. The Rosetta Stone is considered one of the most famous objects in the British Museum.
September 27, 2006, the Boston Red Sox honor former player Johnny Pesky by officially naming Fenway Park’s right-field foul pole “Pesky’s Pole”

NFL kickoffs stink! Period!

Go away: Helene

DYK: Since taking the reins at Berkshire in the mid-1960’s, Warren Buffet has overseen an aggregate return in his company’s Class A shares of more than 5,400,000%. Comparatively, the S&P 500 has increased in value, including dividends, by around 37,000% over the same span.

DYK, part deux: “Fridgescaping”, it’s a thing. The viral art of “decorating” the inside of a refrigerator as if it’s a room in a home. Huh?

Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox are 31-97. Make that 31-104! Make that 32-109. Make that 36-117. 39-120

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The market for AI-related hardware and software is expected to grow between 40% and 55% annually, reaching between $780 billion and $990 billion by 2027. Says an analyst, “We were astonished to see the rate at which, for example, the number of companies spending over $100 million in their annual IT budget alone on AI and with large enterprises, that’s doubled. Critically, it’s across the board, with smaller enterprises doubling their spend.”

Article I’ll skip: Jim Cantore switches his hurricane Helene location & people are freaking out.
Article I would have read, if it wasn’t a video: Harvard medical student shares ‘fascinating’ results after eating 720 eggs in a month. (Video, I can’t be bothered)

Trivia #1 answer: What MLB plyer has the most all-star starts in left field? – Ted Williams
Trivia #2 answer: What is a loonlet? – A loonlet is a baby loon. Duh!
Trivia #3 answer: On September 17, in what year, did the physics journal Annalen der Physik publish Albert Einstein’s paper “Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?”, introducing the equation E=mc²? – 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1915 – September 27, 1905

They said it: “He’s listed as day-to-day, but then again, aren’t we all.” – The late, great Vin Scully

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Chocolate Milk Day!

“You don’t have to read my mind, to know what I have in mind
Honey you oughta know
Now you move so fine, let me lay it on the line
I wanna know what you’re doin’ after the show”

Foreigner (Hot Blooded)

Friday, July 5, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

A King and a Queen walk into a bar and both order drinks. The bartender says, “I can’t serve you, you’re not 21.”

Trivia #1: For you Bostonians, why is the ‘Hatch Shell’ called the ‘Hatch Shell’?
Trivia #2: Who was the first MLB player to have is uniform number retired by his team? Bonus: What was his number?
Trivia #3: What was Lou Gehrig’s full name?
Trivia #4: The Red Sox’ Jared Duran just became the first American League player in history to record all of the following before the All-star break: 100 hits, 10 triples, 10 homeruns and 20 stolen bases. Who is the only National League player to accomplish the same feat? – Stan Musial, Jose Reyes, Ron Acuna Jr., Chipper Jones, Ricky Henderson, Tim Raines
Trivia #5: What do Bernie Madoff and Bobby Bonilla have in common?

On this date: July 5, 1865, US Secret Service begins operating under the Treasury Department
July 5, 1891, hail kills 16 horses in Rapid City, South Dakota
July 5, 1950, US forces enter combat in the Korean War for the first time, in the battle of Osan
July 5, 1994, Amazon.com founded in Bellevue, Washington by Jeff Bezos

I don’t know about you, but to me the Fourth of July just wasn’t the same without Joey Chestnut. Since he was barred from the Coney Island competition, Chestnut took his talents to Fort Bliss, Texas, for his Fourth of July Feast and competed against Army soldiers. In just five minutes, Chestnut ate 57 hot dogs and buns, outdoing four competitors combined, who tallied 49 hot dogs and buns in total.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: More bad news is on the horizon for Florida homeowners. On top of insurers pulling out of the state altogether, Florida’s state-created Citizen’s Property Insurance just voted to raise rate by 14% across the state.

Stop complaining: Unless you’re in Beryl’s path

Good news: We live in the greatest country in the world. I hope you celebrated that yesterday.

My wife bought me toe nail clippers. Romantic, I know. The package read “for men.” Huh? Riddle me this. Do women not clip their toenails or… are their toenails such that they need differently designed clippers? Stuff like this keeps me up at night.

Article I’ll skip: ‘Yellowstone’ star Lainey Wilson says being an American “means everything to me.” (I mean, good for her, but I ain’t reading)

Every problem is an opportunity in disguise.

Trivia #1 answer: Why is the Hatch Shell called the Hatch Shell? – The Charles River Esplanade went through a vast expansion beginning in 1928, which widened and lengthened the park land. It was during this expansion that the first lagoon was built, as well as the Music Oval, where a temporary concert shell was placed. The summer of 1929 was the first year Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops performed on the Esplanade. In 1941, the construction of the new music shell took place with a $300,000 trust, donated by benefactor Maria Hatch, to build a memorial for her late brother, Edward.
Trivia #2 answer: Who was the first MLB player to have his uniform number retired by his team? What was his number? – Lou Gehrig (#4)
Trivia #3 answer: What was Lou Gehrig’s full name? – Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig Jr. (If you got this correct, I’ll buy you a drink)
Trivia #4 answer: The Red Sox’ Jared Duran just became the first American League player in history to record all of the following before the All-star break: 100 hits, 10 triples, 10 homeruns and 20 stolen bases. Who is the only National League player to accomplish the same feat? – Stan Musial, Jose Reyes, Ron Acuna Jr., Chipper Jones, Ricky Henderson, Tim Raines – Jose Reyes in 2008.
Trivia #5: What do Bernie Madoff and Bobby Bonilla have in common? – In 2000, the Mets agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bobby Bonilla’s contract. However, instead of paying Bonilla the $5.9 million at the time, the Mets agreed to make annual payments of nearly $1.2 million for 25 years starting July 1, 2011, including a negotiated 8% interest. At the time, Mets ownership was invested in a Bernie Madoff account that promised double-digit returns, and the Mets were poised to make a significant profit if the Madoff account delivered — but that did not work out. Happy Bobby Bonilla Day (July 1).

Don’t let the old man in.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Workaholics Day! (You know who you are)

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain.

“Boy you sure took me for one big ride
And even now I sit and wonder why
That’s when I think of you
I stop myself from crying
I just can’t waste my time
I must keep trying
I’ve got to stop believing in all your lies
‘Cause there’s too much to do before I die”

– Joe Cocker (Fellin’ Alright)

July 4th (Ok, 5th) Bonus

Friday, May 17, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Do you ever come across some people who are just so wrong that you can’t even argue with them because the sheer amount of bullshit they are spewing is overwhelming?

Trivia #1: Tullamore D.E.W., great, smooth Irish whiskey… but I digress. What does the “D.E.W.” stand for?
Trivia #2: On Wednesday night, the Celtics’ Al Horford became just the 3rd 37-plus-year-old (he’ll be 38 on June 3rd) to score 22-plus points with 15-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists. Who are the other two?
Trivia #3: What is a tartan ribbon?
Trivia #4: Which player won the PGA Championship in his first time playing in a major tournament? – Rich Beem, Keegan Bradley, Collin Morikawa, Gene Sarazen, Tiger Woods, Raymond Floyd, Dane Hubbard

On this date: Back to Henry VIII… May 17, 1536, Anne Boylen’s four lovers are executed, two days before she was beheaded. Boylen was a wife of Henry VIII, mother to future Queen Elizabeth I and Queen of England herself.
May 17, 1792, four merchants form the New York Stock Exchange at 70 Wall Street.
May 17, 1861, the first color photograph, of a tartan ribbon, is shown by Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell to the Royal Institution in London.
May 17, 1986, the “Chicken Song” by Spitting Image hits #1 on the UK pop chart

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Brooks Koepka recently won his 4th LIV event

Go away: The Euro step (NBA)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A Michigan woman was found living inside a sign on top of a grocery store recently. The unidentified 34-year-old woman, who police said was homeless, had not only been living inside the grocery store sign for a year, she also had a desk, a coffee maker, a computer and a printer. She was discovered when contractors at the Midland, Michigan, store noticed someone was running an extension cord up to the roof where there’s a plugin. 

Our New England Patriots are tied for eight in strength of schedule heading into the 2024 season. They open against Cincinnati, have one (yes one) primetime game in week 3 on Thursday night against the Jets (unless you count Sunday morning at 9:30am in London as “primetime”) and have 12-1pm starts.

Frankly, I like the 1pm starts, just sayin’.

Showing gratitude, you’re doing it wrong. A New Mexico man shot his stepmother Wednesday as she was attempting to give him a hug during his high school graduation ceremony.

Article I’ll skip: Jersey sales for star Chiefs kicker surge after faith-based speech sparks strong reactions

Stop complaining: Unless you’re in Houston, TX, a storm system that threatened to produce torrential rainfall over East Texas, spawned severe thunderstorms in the nation’s fourth-largest city Thursday, causing at least four fatalities and leaving more than 1 million customers without power.

Not-good news: The Mirage hotel-casino will close its doors in July after 34 years of operating along the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada.

Good news: A major overhaul of the property will then begin, which will include refurbishing the resort and constructing a near 700-foot-tall guitar-shaped hotel on the site, similar to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near Hollywood, Florida. The 80-acre resort will be renamed as “Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas” (HRHCLV) with an opening date slated for 2027. 

Husband to wife: Why don’t you ever tell me when you have an orgasm? Wife: Because I don’t like to bother you at work.

Trivia #1 answer: Tullamore D.E.W., great, smooth Irish whiskey… but I digress. What does the “D.E.W.” stand for? – DEW or D. E. W. are the initials of one of the greatest distillers Ireland has ever had, his name was Daniel Edmund Williams. This guy has an incredibly interesting story. He began working at the distillery as a stable boy at the age of 15 and went on to become Distillery Manager by the age of 25. (quoted directly from their website)
Trivia #2 answer: On Wednesday night, the Celtics’ Al Horford became just the 3rd 37-plus-year-old (he’ll be 38 on June 3rd) to score 22-plus points with 15-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists. Who are the other two? – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James (Al also had three blocks!)
Trivia #3 answer: What is a tartan ribbon? – Tartan ribbons are an iconic symbol of Scotland and Scottish identity, and are used for a variety of purposes. Tartan ribbons decorate clothing to add color and texture to any outfit, while in the Scottish Highlands they are typically worn as part of traditional dress.
Trivia #4 answer: Which player won the PGA Championship in his first time playing in a major tournament? – Rich Beem, Keegan Bradley, Collin Morikawa, Gene Sarazen, Tiger Woods, Raymond Floyd, Dane Hubbard – Keegan Bradley

Something about today makes me want to be hungover tomorrow.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Bike to Work Day!

“And Harry doesn’t mind if he doesn’t make the scene
He’s got a daytime job, he’s doing alright
He can play the honky tonk like anything
Saving it up for Friday night
With the Sultans
With the Sultans of Swing”

– Dire Straits (Sultans of Swing) – Note: A little long, but I like it

Bonus(?) tune

Friday, May 10, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I did it! Yet another personal record for consecutive days alive!

You come from dust. You will return to dust. That’s why I don’t dust. It could be someone I know.

Trivia #1: Who was the only U.S. president to be an only child?
Trivia #2: UCLA has the most men’s NCAA championships in what two sports?
Trivia #3: Hank Aaron hit 755 career homeruns. How many inside-the-park homeruns did he have? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8
Trivia #4: What is the nickname of Sacred Heart University?
Trivia #5: Which of the following is NOT an xfinity channel? – Destination Europe, FanDuel TV, Jewish Broadcasting Service, Freeform, ZeeTV, SundanceTV

On this date: May 10, 1877, U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes has the first White House telephone installed.
May 10, 1924, J. Edgar Hoover appointed first head of the FBI
May 10, 1970, Bobby Orr scores famous OT-winning goal as the Bruins beat St. Louis, 4-3 for the 4-0 series sweep.

Wow! Listening to sports talk radio, friends and family, the local optimism regarding the Celtics and Bruins has taken a swift 180. What have you done for me lately?

Go away: Stormy Daniels (Unless you’re naked, then by all means, stay)

So, Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark’s GPA is 3.64. Not too shabby.

Resisting arrest, you’re doing it wrong: A Florida man was arrested earlier this week after biting a chunk out of a deputy’s head at an EDM music festival on Sunday.

The sunscreen I use says that it is vegan. I’m not going to eat it! What the hell does that mean?

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: This is the first time in history that all four Boston and Dallas teams reached the elite eight (Bruins/Celtics, Stars/Mavericks)

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: I recently sent a group email and one of the recipient’s was a guy who works for a local bank. He had an automatic reply set and the response email read: Jones, Joe (he/him/his) – name was changed to protect the innocent

So, of the protesters who are actually students, are we going to pay off their loans too?

Get this, 22-year-old Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds is on pace for an unfathomable 42 homers and 94 stolen bases this season. He finished April with 8 homeruns and 18 stolen bases, becoming the first player on record to hit both those marks in any calendar month.

Fans of sriracha sauce may find themselves scrambling — again — to get a hold of the spicy condiment. Huy Fong Foods, a leading sriracha maker in California, is warning that a shortage is on the horizon, and it’s placing the blame on jalapeño chili peppers. The company told wholesale buyers that it has to halt production because the peppers aren’t red enough.

They said it: “For all you punks, idiots and jackasses on other networks, who want to be media and who want all the players to like y’all, do your damn job. The Lakers suck and the Suns suck because of the players.” – Charles Barkley

Article I’ll skip: Family’s claim of alien sighting “can’t be denied” after noticing previously missed detail

Good news: In great news for the climate, the rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest halved in 2023. This is the lowest rate of deforestation in 5 years for the world’s largest rainforest.

You remove your hat for the national anthem, good for you. Now do me a favor and remove it when you enter a funeral home. Really?

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the only U.S. president to be an only child? – No U.S. president has been an only child
Trivia #2 answer: UCLA has the most men’s NCAA championships in what two sports? – Basketball (11) and volleyball (21)
Trivia #3 answer: Hank Aaron hit 755 career homeruns. How many inside-the-park homeruns did he have? – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 – He had one inside-the-park homerun on May 10, 1967
Trivia #4 answer: What is the nickname of Sacred Heart University? – The Pioneers
Trivia #5 answer: Which of the following is NOT an xfinity channel? – Destination Europe, FanDuel TV, Jewish Broadcasting Service, Freeform, ZeeTV, SundanceTV – Destination Europe is not a channel (although Destination America is)

I have a black eye in karate.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Lipid Day! (really)

“I’ve seen your picture
Your name in lights above it
This is your big debut
It’s like a dream come true
So you won’t you smile for the camera
I know you’re gonna love it, Peg.”

– Steely Dan (Peg)

Friday, April 5, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

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

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

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

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

April 2024 is Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bartending: Helping people feel good about bad choices.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

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

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

Two! Three! Four!”

– Dropkick Murphys (Tessie)

Bonus!

Friday, January 26, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I accidentally used my dog’s shampoo this morning. Now I feel like such a good boy!

Trivia #1: David Pastrnak has reached the 60-point mark already this season, his third time doing that in 43 of fewer games. He becomes the fourth Boston Bruin to do so. Name the other three.
Trivia #2: In the past 50 years, the Patriots have won the Super Bowl 6 times. What is the only other team to win a Super Bowl from the AFC East during that time?
Trivia #3: While it has happened twice since 2019, before 2019, when is the only time two different actors earned Oscars for playing the same character?
Trivia #4: Who was Charles Jewstraw?

Speaking of the Olympics, the summer games begin on July 26 in Paris. With sporting venues scattered across the heart of the French capital, the Opening Ceremony will run through its main artery — the Seine River. Each national delegation will traverse the river on boats, with the 10,500 athletes travelling six kilometers to the world-famous Trocadéro where the final shows will take place.

Liquor store attendant: Excuse me, do you need any help? Me: Yes, but I decided to come here instead.

On this date: January 26, 1697, Isaac Newton received Jean Bernoulli’s 6-month time-limit math problem that previously went unanswered for more than 6 months by “the acutest mathematicians in the world.” Newton solved the problem before he went to bed that night.
January 26, 1962, Bishop Burke of Buffalo Catholic dioceses declares Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” to be impure and bans it from all catholic schools.

Go away: Jim Harbaugh

Stop complaining: Unless you are a Buffalo Bills fan. Then you can go ahead and cry, throw shit, break shit, just let it all out! Can you say, “Wide right!”?

In the Super Bowl era, the number of days between the Detroit Lions’ 1st and 2nd playoff wins was 11,698 days. The number of days between their 2nd and 3rd wins? – 6 days

They said it: “My love for Michigan, playing there and coming back to coach there, leaves a lasting impact. I’ll always be a loyal Wolverine.” said Harbaugh, recently named the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. What a blowhard!

Have you been watching the Australian Open (tennis)? Neither have I.

If your coffee order is more than 5 words, you are part of the problem.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Lowell High School, MA, is no longer allowing students to have cellphones in class, calling them a distraction to learning and engagement. OK, my kids are older and I don’t get out much, well documented. But, are you kidding me? Why should any kid be allowed to have a phone in class? I honestly don’t get it.

Claim-to-fame, you’re doing it wrong. A death row inmate, who survived a botched lethal injection in 2022, will be the first person executed by nitrogen hypoxia, a controversial method that’s untested and only authorized in three states.

The Bruins have 7 more points than any other team in the NHL.

The Celtics’ winning percentage is .778. The next closest team in all of the NBA is at .711 (The Timberwolves)

Speaking of the Celtics, I very much enjoy the ‘Mike Gorman Farewell Tour.’ They pay tribute to him in every broadcast, and well deserved. A class act like no other.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Speaking of that death row inmate, his final meal was steak with A.1. sauce, hash browns and eggs. Before that, he was served a breakfast meal that consisted of two biscuits, eggs, grape jelly, applesauce and orange juice at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. 

Article I’ll skip: Fans outraged over explicit AI photos of Taylor Swift

Rookie of the year, 3 championship rings, 3 batting titles, 1 MVP, 2 Gold Gloves. The switch-hitter is the all-time leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562) and at-bats (14,053). He never took PEDS. Let Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame!

If a player had 200 hits for 21 straight seasons, Pete Rose would still have more. Think about that!

Good news: The U.S economy should avoid a recession in the coming year, according to an increasingly large majority of economists polled by the National Association of Business Economics. The rising optimism apparent in the survey is in line with much of the latest economic data, including a measure of consumer sentiment that last week rose to a 2 1/2-year high. Also, inflation has been falling faster than expected, and the labor market is cooling but not collapsing.

Trivia #1 answer: David Pastrnak has reached the 60-point mark already this season, his third time doing that in 43 of fewer games. He becomes the fourth Boston Bruin to do so. Name the other three. – Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Bill Cowley
Trivia #2 answer: In the past 50 years, the Patriots have won the Super Bowl 6 times. What is the only other team to win a Super Bowl from the AFC East during that time? – None. The Miami Dolphins won a Super Bowl in January 13, 1974. More than 50 years ago. 😊
Trivia #3 answer: While it has happened twice since 2019, before 2019, when is the only time two different actors earned Oscars for playing the same character? – Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro both playing the role of “Don” Vito Corleone.
Trivia #4 answer: Who was Charles Jewstraw? – The American speed skater claimed the first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal winning the 500m speed skating event at the Chamonix Games in France.

If you lose a sock in the dryer, it returns as a Tupperware lid that doesn’t fit any containers.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Peanut Brittle Day!

“My daddy is sleepin’
And mama ain’t around
Yeah, daddy just sleepin’
And mama ain’t around
We’re gonna twisty, twisty, twisty
Till we tear the house down”

– Chubby Checker (The Twist)

Friday, January 19, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Never in the history of calm down has anyone ever calmed down after being told to calm down.

Trivia #1: Who was Joyce Randolph?
Trivia #2: Who was in office for the January 19, 1955 1st-ever presidential news conference filmed for television?
Trivia #3: In what sport might you use your paddle to hit a dink into your opponent’s kitchen?
Trivia #4 answer: Three of the 25 largest U.S. cities (by population) don’t have any major pro sports teams (MLB, NFL, NBA or NHL). All three are in what same state? Name them
Trivia #4: Who was the first coach to win three NFL Coach of the Year awards??

So, this cow was farting a lot and ruining the environment, so I helped eat it. You’re welcome. Be a hero, eat meat!

On this date: January 19, 1940, The Three Stooges film “You Nazty Spy!” was released.
January 19, 1974, Notre Dame beats UCLA 71-70 in South Bend, Indiana to end the Bruins’ NCAA record 88-game basketball winning streak
January 19, 2002, Adam Vinatieri kicks the game-winner in OT as the Patriots defeat the Raiders 16-13, Tom Brady’s first playoff win.

Stop complaining: Unless you are a Dallas Cowboys fan and have to deal with Mike McCarthy returning as head coach.

Go away: Roger Goodell (To put a playoff game on Peacock is a big kick-in-the-nuts to fans. Not only do many fans not have Peacock but many bars don’t either. Bastard)

“I could stay awake just to hear you breathing… watch you smile while you are sleeping.” Aerosmith… romantic. The rest of us… restraining order.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Students and adults caught fighting on public school grounds in Washington State, including during youth sports games, could be charged with felonies under new legislation introduced in the state’s House of Representatives. (On school grounds?! Those were the days, weren’t they, everyone chanting “Fight, fight, fight, fight…”)

They said it: “The NFL putting the Chiefs/Dolphins game on Peacock is greedier than any golfer taking LIV money. Roger Goodell is a piece of shit.” – PGA golfer John Daly

Skiing, you’re doing it wrong. Blasts of winter weather have led to unstable snowpacks, resulting in a high danger of avalanches in many parts of the West. Because of the snow and other winter conditions, the avalanche danger remains high across the western U.S. One man was killed and two others rescued after an avalanche last week near Stevens Peak in northern Idaho. Another skier was killed in Olympic Valley in California last Wednesday after an avalanche occurred just after the resort opened for the day. Here’s a tip for these morons, don’t go out when there is are warnings of an avalanche!

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Patrick Mahomes on Sunday will be playing in his first career road playoff game having played 12 prior at home and 3 at neutral sites.

Article I’ll skip: Richard Simmons back in the spotlight with unauthorized Pauly Shore biopic

Good news: When US Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Harry Perez Cerezo’s 100th birthday was coming up last year, he was not sure how he wanted to celebrate the milestone birthday. He jokingly told his niece that he wanted to celebrate at a restaurant where he could see some beautiful women. His niece took him to Hooters. He loved it so much that he decided to celebrate his 101st birthday at Hooters as well, just last week.

Do not accept any Facebook friend requests from Doritos because they are nacho friends.

Joe Flacco. Will anyone ever remember his run to end the Browns’ season, or will they just remember he lost in the Wild Card round throwing two pick-six’s? Doh!

R.I.P. – Brian “Byron” Pare (61) – And just like that, he was gone (Leukemia). A graduate of HHS (Class of ’80), Byron lettered in football, basketball and baseball, a captain on the basketball team, but more than that was a great, fun guy. Son, brother, husband, father, uncle and all-around stand-up guy.
R.I.P. Dante “Danny” Gobbi (67), of complications following a heart attack. Another HHS graduate (Class of ’75), Danny spent 38 years coaching football in Haverhill. He also tended to Haverhill Stadium for many years and worked countless HHS athletic events. Always a smile on his face, son, brother, husband, father, uncle and great guy.

Those two guys above, true Hillies!

Trivia #1 answer: Who was Joyce Randolph? – She was the last living member of the iconic 50’s sitcom “The Honeymooners.” She played Trixie Norton, wife of Ed. She died at age 99 this past week.
Trivia #2 answer: Who was in office for the January 19, 1955 1st-ever presidential news conference filmed for television? – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Trivia #3: In what sport might you use your paddle to hit a dink into your opponent’s kitchen? – Pickleball
Trivia #4 answer: Three of the 25 largest U.S. cities (by population) don’t have any major pro sports teams (MLB, NFL, NBA or NHL). All three are in what same state? Name them – Texas (Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso)
Trivia #4 answer: Who was the first coach to win three NFL Coach of the Year awards?? – Don Shula in ’64, ’67, ’68 (Baltimore) and then a fourth with Miami in ’72.

Don’t put energy into people that don’t put energy into you.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Popcorn Day!

“Don’t wanna close my eyes
I don’t wanna fall asleep
‘Cause I miss you, baby
And I don’t want to miss a thing”

– Aerosmith

Enough of that romantic crap (turn it up!)

Friday, December 15, 2023

by fasted86

Briefly.

That fact that my entire body cracks like a glowstick whenever I move yet refuses to glow, is very disappointing.

Trivia #1: Mosi Tatupu played for the New England Patriots from 1978-1990. He played for another team in 1991. What was that team?
Trivia #2: On December 15, 1791, the first US law school was established at what university? – Pennsylvania, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Lowell
Trivia #3: B.B. King. What does “B.B.” stand for?
Trivia #4: What is Howard University’s nickname?

Go away: Patrick Mahomes (Draymond Green with a close second)

DYK: Mosi Tatupu was posthumously diagnosed with CTE. He died of a heart attack at age 54. Bonus trivia: In a 2023 report, how many NFL players were diagnosed with CTE amongst the 376 who had their brains scanned? – 100-125, 126-150, 151-200, 201- 250, 251-300, 301-350

There’s still time to change the road you’re on.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A history teacher at a Seattle high school allegedly gave a student a failing quiz grade after he answered that only women can get pregnant and only men can have penises.

Fun fact: The world population is approximately 8,030,610,062. The number of people born to women is 8,030,610,062. The number of people born to men is zero. Look it up.

On this day: December 15, 1810, the first Irish magazine “Shamrock” was published in the US.
December 15, 2006, American blues legend B.B. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush

They said it: “It’s tough to swallow. Not only from me, and football in general, to take away greatness like that, for a guy like Travis to make a play like that, you want to see the guys on the field decide the game.” – Patrick Mahomes. Wah-wah-wah

Really? Colorado attorneys for two men accused of stealing items from Kohl’s, including KitchenAid appliances, argued for lesser charges during the trial because some items their clients stole were on sale.

Shohei Ohtani signed on with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $700M over 10 years. Reportedly, he deferred all but $2M annually until his contract ends. He will then receive the remaining $68M annually, paid WITHOUT interest, until 2043. So… beginning in 2034, he will collect approximately $1,863 per day for doing nothing, assuming he’s not playing in 10 years. Not a bad gig, if you can get it.

DYK: On December 15, 1980, the Yankees’ Dave Winfield became the highest paid baseball player, 10 years $15M.

I think I like the NFL more than the NBA is because the helmets cover up most hairdos.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Last night the Las Vegas Raiders scored 42 1st half points, the most in history for a team that was shutout the previous week. (They had the record at 35 and then chocked up another TD)

Good news: Bestselling author James Patterson has awarded $500 bonuses to 600 employees at independent bookstores across the United States. The employees were nominated by their store owners, managers, peers, community members and others for the holiday awards. “Booksellers save lives,” Patterson said in a statement. “What they do is crucial, especially right now. I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and their hard work this holiday season.

Article I’ll skip: Prince William’s romance with Kate Middleton faces renewed scrutiny

I went shopping for a pair of jeans the other day. My choices: Regular, straight, relaxed, relaxed straight, slim fit, classic fit, athletic, stretch. Look, I just want a pair of freakin’ jeans!

R.I.P. George McGinnis (73) – Played basketball in the ABA/NBA from 1971-1982. His accolades are numerous, I’ll skip the 2nd/3rd team honors here. 1969 – Indiana Mr. Basketball, first team Parade All-American, 2x ABA champion, 1973 ABA Playoffs MVP, 1975 ABA scoring champion & MVP, 3x ABA All-Star, ABA All-Time Team, 3x NBA All-Star, 1976 All-NBA First Team, No. 30 retired by the Indiana Pacers

Trivia #1 answer: Mosi Tatupu played for the New England Patriots from 1978-1990. He played for another team in 1991. What was that team? – The Los Angeles Rams
Trivia #2 answer: On December 15, 1791, the first US law school was established at what university? – Pennsylvania, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Lowell – The University of Pennsylvania
Trivia #3 answer: B.B. King. What does “B.B.” stand for? – Blues Boy – As a singer and disc jockey in Memphis, he was given the nickname “Beale Street Blues Buy”, later shortened to “Blues Boy” and finally to B.B. (If you were paying attention, I asked this same question on September 25, 2020)
Trivia #4 answer: What is Howard University’s nickname? – The Bison

Bonus trivia question: In a 2023 report, how many NFL players were diagnosed with CTE amongst the 376 who had their brains scanned? – 100-125, 126-150, 151-200, 201- 250, 251-300, 301-350 – There were 345 players diagnosed with CTE. Similarly, (shockingly) in a 2018 BU general population study, one person was diagnosed with CTE in 164 autopsies.

If alcohol can damage your short term memory, imagine the damage alcohol can do.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

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

Happy National Underdog Day!

“Everybody wants to know why I sing the blues
Yes, I say everybody wanna know why I sing the blues
Well, I’ve been around a long time
I really have paid my dues”

– B.B. King (Why I Sing The Blues)