Opinion
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…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article 
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’…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article 
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…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Oct. 11, 2021 Hopefully, Vol. 93 of the Daily Dirt will answer some questions for our valued readers. Sit back, relax and enjoy today’s three thoughts: 1. I’m not a big fan of chaos.I prefer my life to be rather orderly and predictable. For the most part, I like to regularly request the…
Read Full Article 
Most followers of rock music enjoy arguing about what the best Beatles songs are. Your favorite Minister of Culture also enjoys arguing about the worst Beatles songs. Welcome to Vol. 92 of the Daily Dirt: 1. Granted, the Beatles were an incredible band — maybe the best ever, who can really say? — but that doesn’t…
Read Full Article 
Vol. 91 of the Daily Dirt allows us to have some more fun — and conversation — about one of the day’s hottest topics: secret agents. Feel free to join in with today’s three thoughts: 1. So, with the release of the new James Bond film, “No Time to Die,” and all of the potential…
Read Full Article For starters, my opening list of the most annoying celebrities could have easily been expanded from 10 to 100, but let’s start with today’s names. I’m sure it is a subject we will revisit. In the emantime, welcome to Vol. 89 of the Daily Dirt and today’s three thoughts: 1. I’ve reached the point of…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Oct. 6, 2021We’re getting closer to to Vol. 100 of the Daily Dirt. I hear Muddy River News Publisher J. Robert Gough is considering some sort of parade. We’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, welcome to Vol. 88 and three more thoughts: 1. We’re also moving closer to the…
Read Full Article 
Education is a road to a better life. A quality education allows children to maximize their potential, and providing that for every child is one of the most important undertakings of state government. But research shows Illinois is failing to live up to the promise of high quality or efficient education, as Illinois schools consistently spend more…
Read Full Article 
Daily Dirt for Oct. 6, 2021 It’s time for another edition in the “Let’s go to (virtual) lunch with Steve” series, featuring with some of our favorite people, both locally and nationally. If you’d ever like to be included in one of our virtual lunch dates, just drop me a line telling me why you would…
Read Full Article 
Daily Dirt for Oct. 4, 2021 The best part of waking up in the mornings between April and October is not a cup of Folgers Coffee, it’s knowing that it is baseball season. That will make more sense as you work your way through Vol. 86 of today’s three thoughts. 1. We’re in the first week…
Read Full Article 
Once we hear them, many times it is impossible to forget them. We can love them, and we can hate them. “They” are the commercial jingles that pound our brains — non-stop, it seems — both on television and on the radio.” Jingles are written to be as easy to remember as nursery rhymes —…
Read Full Article 
Weekend Twin Spin: Daily Dirt for Oct. 2-3, 2021A Tom Hanks film festival would be downright awesome Selecting my five favorite Tom Hanks films for Vol. 84 of the Daily Dirt was much more difficult than I expected. That guy has had a quite a career. Here are today’s three thoughts: 1. Hanks was recently voted…
Read Full Article December 13, 2024
CLUB MUDDY: BRET AUSTIN
Obituaries
Current Weather
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU