Opinion
Daily Dirt for Aug. 14, 2021‘Andy Griffith’ was not only a great show, but its theme song was the best ever By Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture Let’s take a trip down memory lane with the most memorable TV theme songs. And for good measure, we’ll also include the worst. All of…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 13, 2021By Steve Eighinger Muddy River News Minister of Culture Whenever I’m feeling down, I simply hit “play” on the nearest copy of “Maggie May” — or any other Rod Stewart classic — and life is immediately better. Find out why in Vol. 36 of the Daily Dirt: 1. Here are…
Read Full Article Quincy School Board meetings may eventually take place in Blue Devil Gym or Flinn Stadium if things keep going in the direction they have for the last few months. If they’re at Blue Devil Gym, at least a portable clock won’t be needed. QPS officials brought a clock to Wednesday’s meeting similar to one used…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 12, 2021 A case could be made that the 1980s produced the most legendary films of any decade in the past 60 years. See what you think from my top 10 from that memorable 10-year period in Vol. 35 of the Daily Dirt: 1. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986): The movie could be the…
Read Full Article It’s no secret that I have always been fascinated by the wild, wild west. From a long love affair with classic western TV programming — “Gunsmoke,” “Cheyenne,” “Bat Masterson” and “Wagon Train,” to name a few — to the research of real-life cowboys and cowgirls, that shoot ’em-up era of America history has intrigued me…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 11, 2021 I make no secret that baseball is my favorite sport, so when we lose one of the game’s former stars, it’s an especially sad day in the land of the Daily Dirt. Vol. 34 serves as a reminder for all the game’s players we’ve seen depart so far in 2021.…
Read Full Article I read with great interest the saga by Brittany Boll about her recent family vacation. Things going exactly as planned is never guaranteed. Having a travel consultant in the middle would have saved her a lot of anguish. Travel consultants are still around. We often have spent many years in this industry. I have owned…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 10, 2021By STEVEEIGHINGER, Muddy River News Minister of Culture I love movies. All movies. Well, I’m not crazy about musicals, but that’s another topic for another day. And what makes a movie great? One of the things is an iconic quote. And that’s what we’re dealing with today atop the three…
Read Full Article Hannibal Regional is always here for you. When you need healthcare services, when you are rushed to the ER with a heart attack, when you need surgery, when your little one has strep throat … we are here. We will continue to be here. We will continue doing everything we possibly can to serve all…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 9, 2021 By Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture With my love of pasta, there are days when I feel like I should be an honorary Italian. That feeling tends to surface each day around noon. Warning: The following could result in weight gain. Welcome to Vol. 32 of…
Read Full Article Upon my re-entry into local journalism, there have been two things I have been consistently hearing from readers, friends or just people I run into around town: “The new site is so much better than the last one and so much better than…well, you know…” (Evolution) “Man, you’re not as big of an asshole as…
Read Full Article There are three phases of summer. Unfortunately, we’re hitting the homestretch — phase three. Whether you are a parent or grandparent, those carefree days and nights we have grown to love the past few months will soon be traded for the hustle and bustle of kids returning to class and all the related school activities…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 8, 2021By Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture Today’s three thoughts are highlighted by items close to my heart — food and baseball. Sit back, pick up that Classic Coke with crushed ice and enjoy Vol. 31 of the Daily Dirt: 1. What’s the most popular food in America,…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 7, 2021 Under no circumstance, should pumpkin pie be a top 10 choice Warning: You main gain five pounds just reading today’s Daily Dirt. But, really, is that a bad thing? Welcome to Vol. 30: 1. The recipe.com website has ranked what its editors feel are the top 25 kinds of…
Read Full Article The Great American Outdoors Act, the most significant conservation and recreation legislation passed in decades, was signed one year ago into law. Already, we’re starting to see the benefits for Missouri’s public lands. When thinking back to last summer, it’s perhaps surprising that amid an election year and the fiercest partisan tensions of a generation, lawmakers from both aisles…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 6, 2021: Oh, what might have been …We all have had dreams. And at one time I had mine, too. Find out what my dream once was in today’s Daily Dirt. This, my friends, is Vol. 29: 1. I once played the accordion, even getting to perform with legendary Myron Floren…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 5, 2021 Before you get to the part of today’s Daily Dirt that deals with Terry Forster, just let me say I agree with him 100 percent. Welcome to Vol. 28 of the daily dose: 1. Let’s continue yesterday’s thoughts on James Bond. I mentioned two actors — Burt Reynolds and…
Read Full Article By Steve EighingerMuddy River News Minister of Culture Hey, it’s lunch time again. We’re back to break bread — in a virtual sense, of course — with some more well-known local and national figures. Here’s our cast of the latest choices for a late-summer sitdown at some of our favorite establishments: Eric Ervin, local Country…
Read Full Article When discussions first began about paying people $10,000 to come live in Quincy as part of former Mayor Kyle Moore’s 45 by 30 plan (which is now going to be lucky if it ends up 40 by 30), aldermen soundly shouted it down. With Mayor Mike Troup in City Hall and Moore now running the…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 4, 2021 Burt Reynolds? Hugh Jackman? Really? A lot of deep thoughts in Vol. 27 of the Daily Dirt: 1. Best thoughts about summer? Here are three of mine: A. “Summertime is always the best of what might be.” — Charles Bowden. (But only if you don’t have to mow your…
Read Full Article The desire to blame folks for things is a very powerful urge. Typically blame comes when folks are frustrated or scared or when they have an agenda. Then they feel the urge to stretch blame to highly illogical places. COVID has been so all-encompassing for people. After a year and a half, any sane person…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 3, 2021: Nothing better to grill than those big boy hot dogs It’s the first week of August, and those summer days are rapidly dwindling. V-neck sweaters will be here before we know it. While we’re waiting, enjoy Vol. 26 of your guilty pleasure, the Daily Dirt: 1. My own flesh…
Read Full Article Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s re-election announcement July 19 made it clear state finances would be central to his campaign, with boasts about balancing the state budget and making full pension payments for each year of his term. The problem is, neither claim is true. Illinois continues to grapple with large structural budget deficits and a growing…
Read Full Article By Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture For many, the 1980s represented the widest collection of pop music styles to ever cross over and form one massive genre. Never before, and not since, have so many eclectic ventures worked their way into mainstream listening. Maybe that’s why the 1980s were voted the No.…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for Aug. 2, 2021 by Steve Eighinger After all of these years, the Lads from Liverpool remain No. 1 in the colonies. No skipping ahead, read the following in order in Vol. 25 of the Daily Dirt. OK, this kind of surprised me. For those who have not looked ahead, any idea what the…
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