"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." - Tom Waits

Who is Trump yelling at, behind closed doors, for getting him in the Iran War, and all these disastrous misfortunes, for which he is going to be eternally blamed for causing? Assuming he even cares.

What a nightmare: Edgar County Coroner confirms 1 killed after car hit deer, but it was the driver of a second car who died after the deer was thrown into it, on IL 49 last night. Via Jacob Dickey, meteorologist.

To paraphrase somewhat Churchill's comment about appeasing Hitler at Munich, Cassidy could choose between his principles and keeping his Senate seat by appeasing Trump (Re: confirming an anti-vaxxer, RFK, Jr.). He chose appeasement, and now he shall have neither his Senate seat nor his principles.

Amphibians of Illinois, for your identification accuracy, or fun.

Spip is the name of a Eurasian red squirrel in the classic Belgian comic series "Spirou et Fantasio."

Historic preservation is a proven economic tool.

Cut the pigeon wing means to dance.

It's Friday. Where are you going after work: * Funkytown * Party Town * Sugar Town * Town Without Pity * The Boys are Back in Town * Downtown

“‘Roots’ is a … story following the descendants of a man sold into slavery in the United States. It won the Pulitzer Prize & was adapted into a mini-series. … The Children’s Defense Fund Alex Haley Farm is in Clinton. Haley grew up in Henning, Tennessee.”

Feeling overwhelmed with all of this. LISTEN. Another Louisiana resident (Marshawn is the only name we have) testifies against the state’s racial gerrymander, speaking truth to power up and down the hearing room and predicts how this story will end. Speak your truth, fight and believe.

Current* conditions near Chicago, IL:

Nikki's my rep and I would expect nothing less. As for Robin, what a disappointment.

Sunrise captured

RIP

Carnal Knowledge, directed by Mike Nichols youtu.be/pOPYMnrn17o?...

“A great democracy has got to be progressive, or it will soon cease to be great or a democracy.” ~Theodore Roosevelt, 1910. Image: National Park Service/Sagamore Hill Collection.

Sweet Cherry Wine, Tommy, James and the Shondells youtu.be/rt1gvRKJCms?...

Current* conditions near Muskegon, MI:

Current* conditions near Chicago, IL:

The truth since Dobbs; Women in the United States have different rights, depending on which state they reside… … men in the United States face no such dilemma in their existence That’s what MAGA wanted, women with less rights, it’s up to states to protect women’s rights

On this day 56 years ago-May 4, 1970-Ohio National Guard troops opened fire on protestors at Kent State University during a protest of the Vietnam War and recent U.S. incursion into Cambodia. Four unarmed Kent State students were killed; nine others were wounded. Image: Valley News-Dispatch.

Pizza King Hoopeston, IL

Choo Choo Ch'Boogie, Louis, Jordan & His Tympany Five youtu.be/_A2pRVyBmOY?...

Right over the border and, you know, up a ways. Also love those colors.

In addition to Chicago, the Bradford pear tree is also all over Springfield, and probably the rest of the state too. Soon to be illegal to sell or grow here. www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/a...

= Rebecca Birenbaum, Springfield Clinic’s recently appointed CEO, told the crowd she was focused on keeping the for-profit business independently owned by physicians and avoiding private equity buyout. = @dilpreetraju.bsky.social >> #ILNews #HealthSky

There it is. Any questions?

Contractors filed 60 lawsuits against Trump for stiffing them. At least 200 liens were filed against his businesses by contractors or employees. The Department of Labor cited his businesses dozens of times for failing to pay minimum wage. So yes, he understands their pain because he caused it.

Stearman Kaydet Circa unknown 📷 Carnes Family Archives

Tornado sirens right now.

Springfield’s U.S. Post Office honors a World War II hero. Quietly. New on SangamonLInk: sangamoncountyhistory.org/col-john-h-w...

Film you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Star Trek, Star Wars, LOTR, DC, Marvel, Disney, Pixar, Spielberg, Cameron, Wachowskis, or Ghibli.

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, with toy sailboat. Circa, 1939. Photo: Carnes Family Archives.

This is one of the more memorable wolf encounters I've ever had in Yellowstone, much less on tour... but it wasn't all pleasant. We were standing on a bridge with other groups looking downriver when this wolf popped out of the trees right in front of everyone...

The SAVE Act stalled in the Senate. It’s a major victory in the fight for the freedom to vote. Thank you to everyone who spoke out against what threatened to become the most restrictive voting bill ever passed by Congress.

"[We] have not learned to think like a mountain. Hence we have dustbowls, and rivers washing the future into the sea." ~ Aldo Leopold (scientist, naturalist, land ethicist, professor), "Thinking Like a Mountain"

Post Office Momence, IL

"I pray to be delivered from narrowness, partiality, exaggeration, bigotry. To the philosopher, all sects, all nations are alike. I like Brahma, Hari, Buddha, the Great Spirit, as well as God." -- Henry David Thoreau, Journal (1850)

From the July 1, 1954, edition of the Richmond (California) Independent and the Pasadena Independent. "One of the last persons who could claim to having been bounced on Abraham Lincoln's knee." Thanks, @danbrekke.bsky.social

Taxes, 1971 as now (one min vid). "How to Slice the Pie." Thanks, Swarthmore Peace Collection. youtu.be/xmybpXwekR4?...

I just love the tree branch shadows on this white house. Perfect projection.

Pizza & More Oblong, IL

On 4/16/1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act. The law ended enslavement in Washington, DC, while allowing enslavers who remained loyal to the U.S. in the Civil War the right to petition the government for compensation. Image: Library of Congress.

April 15, 2026

Why are alligators always smiling?

This is what Democracy looks like.

“Now he belongs to the ages.” ~Attributed to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton upon the death of President Abraham Lincoln at 7:22 a.m., Apr. 15, 1865 (161 years ago today). Lincoln died about nine hours after being shot by John Wilkes Booth the previous evening. Image: Public domain.

Abraham Lincoln was assassinated 161 years ago today, April 15, 1865. Walter Bagehot, editor of The Economist, on the passing of Abraham Lincoln: "We do not know in history such an example of the growth of a ruler in wisdom as was exhibited by Mr. Lincoln....

Every time they say they’re the party of law & order, that they’re pro-law enforcement, that DOJ is taking violent criminals off the streets & Democrats are pro-criminal, remember this. It’s all a sham; a mob-style loyalty exercise.