The Daily Dose/March 21, 2026
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
USA! USA!: Recently in this space, we wrote that our country is a shell of what it used to be, citing our space program as a prime example. We noted, among other things, the recent delays in the Artemis program and that we haven’t put anyone past low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 returned to Earth in 1972.
Numbers Racket: Thinking about this got us curious about some numbers. From the time President Kennedy said “Let’s go to the Moon” in an address to Congress on May 25, 1961, until Apollo 11 landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969, 2,979 days passed. During that time, NASA set 17 manned missions into space, those 17 missions responsible for some of our species’ finest hours.
Fly In The Ointment: The Artemis program was established on December 11, 2017, when President Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1. In the 3,022 days since, Artemis has flown once, an unmanned mission around the Moon. It flew in 2022, six years behind schedule. That one mission is responsible for reminding us exactly how far the mighty have fallen. Good gravy, eight-and-a-quarter years and only one flight. A team of determined Girl Scouts probably could’ve done that.
More Fly In The Ointment: Why are we having such trouble going back to the Moon? Well, three-quarters of American kids are either too fat or too dumb to qualify for military service, and that malaise permeates all other aspects of our American experience. Now in our seventh decade of TV and fast food being focal points of American life, we are, collectively, too well-fed and too well-entertained to bother with anything of substance. Our president, a man of no moral or intellectual substance, is a prime example of that, and one mission in eight years is another. We are simply not as bright nor as determined as we used to be.
The Bottom Line: Of course, we have no idea what goes on at NASA, but you do not have to be Neil Armstrong to strongly suspect the culture is not good. It being a government organization lacking the vision of NASA from 60 years ago, there is probably a lot of covering one’s arse going on, with no one person taking charge and committees running things. We’re the worst for it. Instead of an America showing the way, of an America looking back at 40 years of having humans on Mars, we can’t even get to the Moon anymore. The mighty have fallen.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow does some running. Today’s Diary.
It felt good, too, tho we were careful not go too fast…In fact, calling it a run is a tad generous; it was more like a jog, and not too fast a one at that…
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On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1556 – Thomas Cranmer, until December the archbishop of Canterbury, is burned at the stake in Oxford, England, condemned after being convicted of heresy and treason. Cranmer had been one of the founders of the Church of England during the Reformation but had been denounced by Mary I, a Catholic. Cranmer had recanted his beliefs, which usually would have spared him, but Mary declined and immediately prior to his death, recanted his recantings.
In 1991 – Ron Tugnutt of the Quebec Nordiques establishes a new NHL record for most saves in a game in a 3-3 tie with the Boston Bruins. Tugnutt had 70 saves, breaking the record of 65 saves established by Mario Lessard of the Los Angeles Kings in 1981. Also in the game, Boston’s Ray Borque established a new NHL record for most shots on goal in a game with 19, breaking the mark of 16 established by Montreal’s Rod Gilbert in 1968. Both records still stand.
In 1980 – Pink Floyd is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of four consecutive weeks with Another Brick in the Wall. It was the second of five chart singles for the group, and was their second and final Top 40 hit. The song also went to #1 in 13 other countries, including Finland, Norway, and Great Britain, and was Billboard’s 2nd-biggest song of the year. The album of the same name was in its 15th of 20 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol I:: Our Oriental Heritage
Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.
Tom T Hall’s biggest hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 was I Love, which went to #12 in 1973.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Who holds the NHL record for most saves in a shutout? – Answer next time!
