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Daily Dirt: Real issues, real answers — The Doctor of Love is always here to help

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Daily Dirt for Tuesday, July 11 Some have hailed him as a visionary, others simply as the potentate of passion. He is Stevie Love, the self-proclaimed doctor of desire, all-knowing sovereign of snuggle, self-styled monarch of amore and overall chieftain of cherish. The Doctor of Love appears on a regular — albeit unscheduled — basis […]

Letter to the Editor: Thanks for publishing list of businesses receiving PPP loans

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Thanks for publishing the long list of local businesses who received PPP U.S. Government provided and forgiven “loans” to maintain operations and payrolls during the recent pandemic slowdown. These loans here and across the country were instrumental in the prevention of more widespread economic catastrophe. It would be honest and refreshing if these recipients would […]

Daily Dirt: Remembering the decade when video killed the radio star

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, July 10, 2022 All of these years later, “Afternoon Delight” remains incredibly annoying … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 335 of The Daily Dirt. 1. There may have never been a more memorable decade than the 1970s for one-hit wonder songs. We were moving away from the […]

Daily Dirt: Remembering Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose on Saturday morning cartoons

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Daily Dirt for Saturday, July 9, 2022 Ahhh, those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 334 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Like most baby boomers, cartoon shows were an important part of my formative years. Cartoons eventually took a backseat to […]

Daily Dirt: Steve’s 50-year high school reunion is coming up (has it been that long?)

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For those who graduated high school in 1972, at some point this summer or fall, you’ll likely be attending a reunion commemorating the golden anniversary of that event. Was it really that long ago? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 332 of The Daily Dirt. 1. I got a reminder the […]

Daily Dirt: Forty years later, ‘Always On My Mind’ is still … well, on my mind

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Daily Dirt for Wednesday, July 6, 2022 I’m still trying to grasp the fact that 1982 was 40 years ago … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 331 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Normally in this space we spend quite a bit of time looking back at the top songs from the […]

Daily Dirt: ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘The Wonder Years’ … remembering the ’90s

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Daily Dirt for Tuesday, July 5, 2022 The 1990s were a pretty decent decade, too … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 330 of The Daily Dirt. 1. We spend a lot of time here reliving the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Today we jump to the 1990s for my opinion of the […]

Letter to the editor: What are the plans for Lester Hammond Hall after Veterans Home no longer needs it?

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If my understanding is correct, the Lester Hammond Hall facility at 720 Sycamore is an interim facility owned and run by the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy. Once new buildings are finished at the Veterans Home, this interim facility will no longer be used in its current capacity. Has there been any discussion in the […]

Daily Dirt: Happy birthday, America! Let freedom ring loud and clear!

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Daily Dirt for Monday, July 4, 2022 Yes, most certainly let freedom ring, folks. Let it ring loud and oh so clear today. Despite all of our faults, what other country would you rather be in today? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 329 of The Daily Dirt. 1. I think […]

Daily Dirt: Springsteen, Greenwood or Cash? Take patriotic your pick; all three are awesome

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, July 3, 2022 How many times will we hear Bruce Springsteen sing “Born In The U.S.A.” by the time Monday night rolls around? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 328 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Best songs to play on this marvelous July 4 weekend: Gold medal: […]

Daily Dirt: Holiday weekend would be a great time to see these great films

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Daily Dirt for Saturday, July 2, 2022 Personally, it might be time to see “Top Gun: Maverick” again … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 327 of The Daily Dirt. 1. The best movies to watch on July 4: Gold medal: “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022), the best feel-good-about-America movie made in quite some […]

DAILY DIRT: Ahhh … sweet memories of ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and Vic Davalillo

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I’d almost guarantee anyone reading today’s first item will smile, remembering being on a date with someone they cared about and seeing one of these films … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 322 of The Daily Dirt.

Daily Dirt: It’s that time of year — bring on the gorefests

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, June 26, 2022 Nothing like a little blood and guts on the silver screen, right? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 321 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Since it’s officially summer now, what are your all-time favorite hot-weather horror movies? Major movie studios traditionally release some of […]

Daily Dirt: Diana Ross and the Supremes, Ronettes and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas — the best of the best

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Daily Dirt for Friday, June 24, 2022 You can’t hurry love, no you’ll just have to wait … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 319 of The Daily Dirt. 1. In another tribute to Black Music Month, here are my all-time favorite Black girl groups: Gold medal: Diana Ross and the Supremes will […]

Growing up with school shootings hardened my generation in ways you don’t understand

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When the voices of 70 elementary school students flooded the speakers of Busch Stadium in St. Louis last week, I was haunted by the ghosts of my own childhood fears. Four days earlier, 19 children about the same age were murdered in their own classroom, along with two teachers, at Robb Elementary School in Texas.  […]

Daily Dirt: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ should already be considered a classic

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, June 19, 2022 It’s now been a few days since I saw “Top Gun: Maverick,” and I’m still amazed. It’s been a long, long time since I enjoyed a film that much … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 316 of The Daily Dirt. 1. To be perfectly […]

DAILY DIRT: ‘I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now’

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The Byrds are, at times, one of those hall of fame groups that get pushed to the back burner because their best years conflicted with the Beatles and other British invasion bands. They are, however, worth remembering … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 313 of The Daily Dirt

Daily Dirt: How about Jennifer Aniston as the new Abby Ewing?

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, June 5, 2022 For the record, “Knots Landing” may be my all-time favorite non-sports programming to ever appear on network television … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 303 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Here are four TV shows from the past that I think deserve a reboot […]

Daily Dirt: From 1980’s finest to … ‘Tradition is peer pressure from dead people’

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Daily Dirt for Saturday, June 4, 2022 I’m pretty sure every red-blooded American boy had a crush on Debbie Harry of Blondie in the 1980s … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 302 of The Daily Dirt. 1. The year was 1980. We were just entering what would later be known as […]

Daily Dirt: When it comes to olykoeks, the maple-frosted ones earn gold medal

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Daily Dirt for Thursday, June 2, 2022 I had no idea Tom Jones was 82 years old. Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 301 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Friday is a big day for some, maybe many. I include myself in that select group. Friday is National Doughnut Day, a celebration […]

Daily Dirt: For the Cubbies, all nicknames get in line after ‘Mr. Cub’

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Daily Dirt for Wednesday, June 1, 2022 We’ve reached to a milestone edition of The Daily Dirt. And they said it wouldn’t last! Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 300 of The Daily Dirt. 1. We presented our all-time favorite nicknames of Cardinals players a couple of days ago. We return the […]

DAILY DIRT: Steve has at least one thing in common with Jim Morrison, Kim Basinger and Nicki Minaj

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Next to Christmas, I think Memorial Day weekend is my favorite holiday period of the year. Along with honoring those who fought and died for our country, it serves as the gateway to summer, and summer, I think we would agree is a wonderful, wonderful thing … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 296 of The Daily Dirt.

Daily Dirt: Whoa, New Hampshire! Time to cut back a little, eh?

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Daily Dirt for Wednesday, May 25, 2022 The Big Ten concept in item No. 2 is long overdue. Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 294 of The Daily Dirt. 1. The insidehook.com website earlier this month released interesting information if you are a consumer of beer. Details provided by the Top Agency and American […]

DAILY DIRT: The Spirit of ’76

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We add another year to our baby boomer lookback at favorite songs, today returning to the 1970s and a rather festive time coast to coast. And if you are interested in keeping score there are exactly three of the following worth of being included on such a list … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 293 of The Daily Dirt.

DAILY DIRT: How in the world was Babe Ruth not a unanimous selection for the Baseball Hall of Fame?

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As you’ll read in a moment, 11 voters left Babe Ruth off their hall of fame ballot back in the day. Was it because of Babe’s indiscretions off the field? If so, how did Ty Cobb get more votes? Has anyone read of Cobb’s checkered background? This really baffles me … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 291 of The Daily Dirt.

Daily Dirt: Bond, Batman and Capt. Jack the top three movie characters of all-time?

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Good Lord, man! No Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader? No Luke Skywalker? No Harry Potter? No James Tiberius Kirk? No Harry Callahan? No Charles Foster Kane? Matthew Broderick ahead of Orson Freakin’ Wells??? Your first four are pretty solid, but then it’s like you dropped acid after that. JRG

Daily Dirt: ‘Andy Griffith Show’ lovers have lost another connection with that classic program

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Barney Fife may have been the most memorable TV character of my childhood. I’m proud to say I always loved “The Andy Griffith Show” and always will … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 288 of The Daily Dirt.

Daily Dirt: How about a chocolate-covered pickle in Fart, Va.?

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First off, all of the information presented today is true. All of the food items, all of the town names and all of the high school nicknames — while arguably disgusting or questionable — are factual … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 286 of The Daily Dirt

Daily Dirt: Negan was nasty, but could he have eaten a beating frog heart?

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Daily Dirt for Saturday, May 14, 2022 Even though I included J.R. Ewing on the list of top villains, he really couldn’t hold a candle when compared to Negan, Gus Fring, Al Swearangen or Alpha … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 285 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Sure, we all root for […]

Daily Dirt: They may be old, but they can still rock … and let’s tip our hats in memory of Paul Revere and the Raiders

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One of the very first .45s I bought as a teenager was a Paul Revere and the Raiders song. I’ve always felt the Raiders were one of the most underrated groups in the early years of when rock went mainstream … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 282 of The Daily Dirt.

Illinois may be worst democratic gerrymander in country

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One of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was a Republican from Illinois. But the state’s new gerrymandered congressional map seems hell-bent on making Republican congressmen from Illinois an endangered species. Five Republicans are in Illinois’s U.S. House delegation, but that was apparently too many for the Democrats, who were in charge of Illinois redistricting last […]

Daily Dirt: Edith Bunker, June Cleaver and Marge Simpson were best moms in TV history

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Daily Dirt for Saturday, May 7, 2022 If you’re a fan of Abby Ewing (known in real life as Donna Mills), you’ll want to keep reading until the very end … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 278 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Sunday is Mother’s Day. First of all, happy Sunday to […]

Daily Dirt: It’s lunch time again, and it will be walleye for Norm and birthday cake for the Rock

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Daily Dirt for Monday, May 2, 2022 “Lunch with Steve” returns, and we have a fine list of folks to share the grub … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 274 of The Daily Dirt. 1. It’s a new month, which means it’s time to set up a new series of virtual lunches […]

Illinois schools push district consolidation to fix teacher shortage

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Somonauk School Board President Mike Short said it’s a disservice to students that a statewide teacher shortage, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, forced Somonauk High School to offer online science classes instead of hands-on experiments. “We’re able to provide the students an online curriculum for the science classes,” Short said. “But doing a science experiment virtually where […]