The Daily Dose/August 21, 2026
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes From Around Our Human Experience
USA! USA!: The last time out here we talked about New York City mayor Zorhan Mamdani’s plans for free daycare for certain residents, and vouchers for others. While researching this, we were reminded that Mamdani had earlier announced plans for city-owned grocery stores.
Dry, Technical Matter: Mamdani wants to put one city grocery store in each of the five boroughs, starting with one in East Harlem next year. Its goal is to offer staples like fresh produce, meats, seafood, dairy, and selected frozen or pantry goods at 30% off prices charged at other grocery stores.
More Dry Technical Matter: They can do this by eliminating the need to make a profit and using city-owned properties, which avoids city fees and taxes.
Please Pass The Dry, Technical Matter: Mamdani is a Democratic Socialist, an exciting element of the party that has seen 38 candidates win primary elections so far.
USA 101: Good gravy, why doesn’t the mayor just go and wipe everybody’s asses for them, too? Governments competing with the free market is not what this country is about. It will undercut small businesses, and the first lawsuits have already been announced.
Fly In The Ointment: This means both major parties are under the influence of their most extreme wings. Democrats are now hell-bent on providing cradle-to-grave coverage for everyone, while the Republicans continue to enable the idiocy of Donald Trump, and it’s now to the point where our country is no longer recognizable to its citizens or the world.
The Bottom Line: There was a time when Americans would not have tolerated either the idiocy of Donald Trump or government-run grocery stores. But we Americans are well fed and well entertained, now. We have full bellies and empty minds, and we are no longer capable of anything hard or great. We deserve better than this – and we are certainly capable of better than this – but we’re not demanding that right now, either of our country or of ourselves.
Editor’s Note: Gaylon is the Libertarian Party’s nominee for Congress from Colorado’s 2nd District. Visit his campaign site here.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow again shows flexibility at the gym.
…our plan to return to Room 2 for the last two deep breathing sets was foiled because of yet another old biddy let’s-lie-down-on-mats-and-yap class.
———
Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.
Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device.
———
On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1831 – A slave named Nat Turner begins a rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia. Joined by 70 or so slaves and free Blacks, they used knives and hatchets to kill around 70 Whites. The following day, state and local militia killed over 150 Blacks, and the rebellion was completely suppressed on Aug. 23rd. Turner was caught in late October and was tried, convicted, and executed. History refers to the incident as either the Nat Turner Rebellion or the Southampton Rebellion
In 2004 – The US wins the women’s Olympic soccer gold medal with a 1-0 overtime win over Brazil at the Beijing Summer Olympics. It was the second of five Olympic gold medals for the US, and was the first of three silver medals for Brazil, which remains their highest Olympic finish. Earlier in the day, Germany defeated Japan for the bronze medal. Women’s soccer became an Olympic sport at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
In 1982 – Zapp is at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Black Singles chart – for the first of two consecutive weeks with Dance Floor. It was the fourth of nine Top 40 soul hits for the group, their third of five Top 10s, and remains their only #1 song. The song also peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart, and the group’s biggest pop hit was Slow and Easy, which peaked at #43 on the Hot 100 in 1993.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
It was not the practice of Caesar’s men to accept mercy, but to offer it.
Plutarch
Roman Lives
Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.
USS Constitution’s last combat engagement was on February 20, 1815, when it defeated two British ships off the coast of Portugal.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Which was the only Olympics where the US women failed to win a soccer medal? – Answer next time!
