Blogging Forgottonia

Last Year of the Bogeyman?

Matthew — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:12:18 +0000

The year 2011 saw the end of some of recent history’s greatest bogeymen, at least from the American perspective. Osama bin Laden is dead. Muammar Gaddafi is dead. Kim Jong Il is dead. Who will the scaremongers use to frighten the American people now? Hugo Chavez? Fidel Castro? Bashar al-Assad? Those personalities just don’t strike up the fear like bin Laden did. Chavez is a bombastic buffoon, Castro is on his deathbed, and Bashar al-Assad is an ophthalmologist. Careful, he’ll sneak into your bedroom at night and dilate your pupils!

Of course this loon still stalks the Middle East. Perhaps the pundits of fear will crown Ahmadinejad master of all evil in 2012 now that all their other bogeymen have gone.

Filed under: International News, Politics, Think About It

RIP Warren County Pharmacy

Matthew — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 02:43:20 +0000

I regret to report that 12/31/2011 will be the final business day for Warren County Pharmacy in County Market.

I wondered before Warren County Pharmacy opened whether Monmouth could support four pharmacies. I’m sad to see my suspicions born out and another locally owned & operated business close its doors. The Gracey’s are good people, and I wish them well in the future.

Filed under: Business, Healthcare, Local News, Monmouth, Warren County

Congratulations Monmouth-Roseville Soccer!

Matthew — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:51:42 +0000

I just wanted to congratulate the Monmouth-Roseville High School soccer program on a fantastic season. Unfortunately the team lost their sectional match against Warrensburg-Latham, but there can’t be any doubt that they fought hard. The score was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, putting the game into sudden death overtime. The Review Atlas doesn’t have anything up about the game yet, but here is the article from the Decatur Herald & Review.

Again, congratulations to the Titans soccer program!

Filed under: Monmouth, Roseville, Sports, Warren County

Wyatt Earp Photos Surface in California

Matthew — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 05:11:07 +0000

Two brothers, Keith & Brian Collins, made quite a discovery at Carriage House Antiques in Hesperia, CA. There they found & purchased (for $50) a family photo album of Monmouth’s most famous son, Wyatt Earp.

The Collins brothers suggest that the album’s photos could fetch $1 million if sold. But they intend to keep them and lease out the rights to them.

Quite the find!

Filed under: Monmouth

Ask and Ye Shall Receive …

Matthew — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:02:59 +0000

Local blogger & Review Atlas columnist Stephanie Sikorski asked for positive media coverage of the Monmouth-Roseville Titans soccer program as they advance to sectional championship on Saturday. Sikorski’s husband Aaron coaches the team. The Titans soccer program was in the local media spotlight earlier this year, but unfortunately that was due to the IHSA suspension of star player “Chino” Ayala & the resulting forfeiture of a tie game with Peoria Manual. Sikorski’s blog post highlights how the team has struggled through multiple adversities with little fan & community support to achieve a very successful season.

Well Stephanie, ask and ye shall receive! I’ll add my voice, too … best of luck to the Titans on Saturday!

Filed under: Monmouth, Roseville, Sports, Warren County

Quote of the Day

Matthew — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:42:21 +0000

Republicans believe children are the future. But the future’s a dystopian Mad Max wasteland & an education won’t be useful anyways.

Glue – The Comic, tweet from July 30, 2011.

Filed under: Humor, Politics, Quote of the Day

Blogging Forgottonia dot com

Matthew — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 06:05:59 +0000

I bit the bullet and spent the money to buy my own domain. Blogging Forgottonia is now officially housed at bloggingforgottonia.com. I did this in part to encourage myself to start blogging again. It was $25 for a year through WordPress, so it’s not exactly a titanic financial sacrifice. Still, I paid for the domain, so I better make some use of it, eh?

Filed under: About Me, Blogging, Forgottonia

Proof That Conservatives Walk the Dark Side

Matthew — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 05:33:12 +0000

1) Conservatives, having larger amygdalas, are more prone to fear.

2) In The Empire Strikes Back, Jedi Grand Master Yoda said “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

3) Ergo, conservatism is the path to the dark side. Republicans are the Sith.

Filed under: Humor, Moment of Geekery, Politics, Science

Attack of the Gerrymander

Matthew — Mon, 30 May 2011 11:00:15 +0000

My voting tendencies are liberal, especially for rural Illinois. I usually vote for Democratic candidates. Yet I find the proposed Illinois redistricting map an obscenity, and the arrogance involved in creating it astonishing in its disregard for our country’s democratic principles.

Capitol Fax has a thorough summary. Harry Bulkeley has fired off a rant that I actually agree with, although if the shoe were on the other foot and Republicans controlled redistricting, I’m certain that we’d simply have a clutch of red gerrymanders instead of the blue ones we have now. ”To the victor belong the spoils” a la Andrew Jackson.

When are we going to stop letting our elected officials brazenly abuse the system like this?

Filed under: Forgottonia, Illinois, Politics

But They Had Their Best Year in Safety, Right?

Matthew — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:12:52 +0000

A recent US Coast Guard report faults Transocean for their involvement in the Gulf Oil Spill. I’m confused, because Transocean gave executives big bonuses for their “best year in safety.”

Filed under: Business, Environment, National News