Opinion
Many aspects of modern technology might as well be a foreign language to many boomers, including myself. Hopefully, the first of today’s three thoughts will provide some insight in Vol. 111 of the Daily DIrt. 1. The older I get — and I am definitely old — the more I realize how set in their ways…
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Get some popcorn. Turn the lights down low and grab your significant other. It’s scary-movie time as we approach Halloween. Welcome to today’s three thoughts, compliments of Vol. 110 of the Daily Dirt. 1. Halloween is meant for two things: 1. Eating candy, probably lots of it. 2. Watching scary movies.I’ll let you work on…
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For 30 years, Deb Roti was a special education teacher at a public school in Cary, Illinois, and saw firsthand how Illinois prioritizes administration over education. “It is my firm belief that we have too many administrators making huge salaries that will require larger and larger pension payouts,” Roti said. “The numbers reported on the…
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Who knew that Lady Gaga was not her real name? Find out what her real name is — and much more — during today’s three thoughts in Vol. 109 of the Daily Dirt. 1. Just in case you didn’t realize, the names we know most of our favorite celebrities by are not their actual monikers.…
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A more bizarre and destructive mismatch of economic circumstances and policy direction would be hard to imagine. The country is now strangled by an unprecedented, acute deficit of workers, which is partly responsible for growing product shortages and logistical logjams. Desperate companies are offering higher wages, flexible schedules free college tuition and even doing away with drug…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Oct. 26, 2021 Elvis, rabbits, licorice and more in today’s lead item of the Daily Dirt. Welcome to Vol. 108: 1. We’ll simply call today’s top offering “food for thought”. Here are 10 items I find interesting and wish to share, and as longtime friend David Adam once said, “Steve, you always…
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HERMANN, Mo. — When my wife, Ellen, suggested we get away for a long weekend with friends to historic Hermann, I thought it was a great idea. While Hermann is known for its numerous wineries along the Missouri River, there also are distilleries, craft brewers and many German-themed shops and restaurants, with the Hermann Wurst…
Read Full Article The name is Love, Stevie Love. The self-proclaimed baron of carin’ is back for his monthly visit to assist lovers in distress. This month marks the 14th anniversary of Stevie Love dealing with real issues and real needs, plus it’s also Vol. 107 of the Daily Dirt. A double reason to celebrate! The first envelope, please. Dear…
Read Full Article There’s nothing more sacred than the vows of marriage, unless you live in Hollywood or some other sector of the entertainment industry. You’ll understand as you wade through today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 106 of the Daily Dirt. 1. I’ve always been a guy who liked numbers — or stats if you prefer. …
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Fall is truly a wonderful time of the year. The first of today’s three thoughts explains one of the reasons why in Vol. 105 of the Daily Dirt. 1. We’re entering the heart of autumn. The leaves are (finally) starting to turn. The air has that familiar October chill in the mornings and evenings, and…
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I once tried to “air up” the two front tires on the car I was driving at a particular point in my life. After I had done that, the car ultimately crashed into a tree. I later found I had more than 100 pounds of pressure in each of the front tires. No wonder it…
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I’m still blown away by this Wally Amos fellow. I think you will be, too. Sit back, relax and enjoy today’s three thoughts in Vol. 103 of the Daily Dirt. 1. Ever have one of those days when, almost by accident, you stumble across an incredibly interesting bit of information? Today was one of those…
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Any day with a little rasslin’ talk is a good day. Welcome to Vol. 102 of the Daily Dirt and the customary three thoughts. 1. Since I was a wee lad — relatively speaking, that is — I have had a love affair with pro wrestling. That love affair with the squared circle dates to…
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Rarely in my movie-going life have I left a theater with such a feeling of approval as I did after seeing “No Time to Die.” If there is such a thing as a perfect film, this may it. Welcome to today’s three thoughts and Vol. 101 of the Daily Dirt: 1. I was finally able…
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Observing and being involved in state and local politics over the last few years has been fascinating, interesting and exhausting. Lately, the exhausting part has seemed to have gained a grip on us. Republicans and Democrats, nationally and locally, are split amongst themselves. We see the infighting nationally on FOX News, MSNBC or CNN. We…
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Today’s three thoughts represent Vol. 100 of the Daily Dirt. Let’s celebrate with one of our favorite subjects: Music. Sit down, relax and have a Mountain Dew (with ice, of course): 1. I stumbled across an incredibly interesting piece of literature on the pretty-eight-machine.com website that ranked each year by the quality of pop music…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Oct. 17, 2021The times, they are a changing. That’s what Bob Dylan once told us. And Bob is still correct, as you’ll see in today’s three thoughts for Vol. 99 of the Daily Dirt: 1. The next time you are sitting in your favorite recliner — with a beverage close at hand, of…
Read Full Article From cowboys to Cosell, today’s three thoughts promise to run the Daily Dirt gamut. Welcome to Vol. 98. 1. Regular readers of this space know of my love for old western TV shows and cowboy-themed movies. I keep waiting for that genre of films and program to make a comeback. Realistically, I know that will…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Oct. 15, 2021 True, according to the following report, Illinois is among the rudest states in the nation, but the Prairie State still ranks well behind leader New York. Welcome to Vol. 97 of the Daily Dirt. Here are today’s three thoughts: 1. The rudest people in the nation? Would you believe they’re…
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We live in one of the most politically dysfunctional states in the union. Our lawmakers in Springfield tax us too much, fritter away too much of our hard-earned money on wasteful spending, and devote most of their energies to serving their cronies in the political class instead of the people of Illinois. If we want…
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Daily Dirt for Oct. 14, 2021 Call this the “Thinking Man’s Guide to Halloween,” some words that try and corral the thoughts tied to all that is involved with the annual celebration we observe in late October. Consider that we are drawn to all that is Halloween by the symbols, thoughts, visions and words that connect…
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Daily Dirt for Oct. 13, 2021 I’ll be honest. I always loved Mary Tyler Moore, from her early days on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” to her brilliant years on the program that carried her name on the marquee. Mary passed away Jan. 25, 2017. She was 80 at the time of her passing, and to…
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With an effective state and local tax rate of 15 percent, Illinois has the highest state and local taxes — almost 39 percent higher than the average U.S. household. It’s no surprise then, that Kiplinger voted Illinois the least-friendly state for middle-class Americans to move to. According to Illinois Policy’s August jobs data analysis, Illinois’…
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Daily Dirt for Oct. 12, 2021 Holidays are a great thing, and I think we need more of them. My suggestion for four more such celebrations leads off today’s three thoughts in Vol. 94 of the Daily Dirt. Thanks for joining in. 1. The following four special days should become become full-blown federal holidays: Mothers’ Day: We…
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Muddy River News/Sports hit a little milestone over the weekend. We’ve had 150,000 unique visitors to the site since we launched on April 30. That’s more than the newly-minted populations of Adams, Marion, Ralls, Lewis and the Twin Pike Counties…combined. Now, that doesn’t mean everyone has checked us out in less than six months. After…
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