It’s the year 5000 and after a series of events, all humans are now living on Mars. A group of archeologists and scientists are doing a typical dig of the alien planet Earth when the group leader is kidnapped because of his knowledge of Mutropolis!

Mutropolis is a detective sci-fi point and click adventure game by Pirita Studios and Application Systems Heidelberg, who also made Nelly Cootalot and Luna the Shadow Dust. The expeditions team lead by Dr. Henry Dijon is on the search for their mentor Totel. He is the only one who knows how to get to the famed, and most likely made up, city of Mutropolis and was therefore captured by an evil god named Seth who wishes to get into the city for unknown nefarious reasons. You need to work together, and alone, to figure out where he was taken, how to get there, and seriously what the heck to do next. You play as Henry who is yer typical nerd scientist who knows more about fossils then how to be social. In typical point and click fashion, you will be interacting with items and solving puzzles to get the job done. And don’t forget your trusty trowel!

Other than the humor, the real charm of the game is seeing all the ways they misunderstood popular items and events, even the pyramids! Since the world of Mutropolis takes place thousands of years after humanity was forced to abandon Earth, everything on Earth is now considered ancient and forgotten. This means a lot of pop culture references – only hilariously misconstrued. Like they think people used to drive around via roller coasters, and that Indiana Jones is an actual famous archeologist. They also like to tease Henry for using such medieval tools as knives and his trusty trowel.

A lot of the puzzles are pretty logical where as others are “what? Why would I think to do that??” Overall though the game was pretty straightforward, and lot of puzzles can’t be solved till later so keep that in mind! There are lots of fun colorful characters as well including yer typical ditzy secretary, who may be more than she seems, and yer typical scientist with his adorable robot buddy. Oh yer typical socially unaware goddess too. There is a part in the game where you get to play as the little robot guy Max and see the world through his pixelated eyes. The ending has a little twisty twist as well!

Mutropolis is fun, silly, and a bit of a culture shock for several characters. The puzzles can be hard and bit out of the box at times, but you’ll figure it out. I liked the length as well, several ours and three different environments to explore. I give it 4 outta 5 baby dragons

Don’t let this fun adventure slip away! It’s out now on Steam for only $19.99! Happy fossilizing!

Watch this morning’s “Public Affairs,” with show host Jeff Berkowitz interviewing soon to be GOP GOV Primary Candidate, downstate farmer and Senator Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) about cutting property taxes, spending and IL government pension benefits; starting real reforms to help business and employment; and attracting jobs to IL.

You can watch 24/7 the show featuring soon to be GOP GOV Primary candidate (and Senator) Darren Bailey (R-Louisville), Part 1, by clicking here:

Part 2 of the Bailey interview will be posted this afternoon or early evening at this blog or here 

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The Senator said in Part 1 of this two part series that he is 50% likely to run for Governor but it seems almost certain to this show host that Sen. Bailey will officially announce his gubernatorial candidacy at a scheduled Effingham rally this Monday.            

You give us 30 minutes and GOP Gov candidate and Senator Bailey gives you a roadmap to making IL:  financially solvent again, a resurgent and open economy with real, vibrant and safe workplaces again and infusing all schools with safe in-person teaching and learning again–  and a state that is alive and joyful again.     

This weekend’s shows (Bailey, part 1)  airs thorough-out Chicago as the lead segment of a two hour Illinois Channel package:

–In Chicago, this morning, 9:02 am, Cable Ch. 21 (CAN TV) and

–In Chicago, tomorrow morning,  8:32 am, Cable Ch 19 (CAN TV). [Opposite Flannery on Fire] 

The show, Part 1,  featuring soon to be GOP GOV primary candidate Darren Bailey also airs this week in Highland Park on Monday and Wednesday nights at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 19.

You can also watch 24/7 the show featuring soon to be GOP GOV Primary candidate (and Senator) Darren Bailey (R-Louisville), Part 1 by clicking here:

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State Senator Darren Bailey to join the 2022 IL GOP Gov race:

Taped February 10, 2021

Executive Summary, Part 1: Jeff Berkowitz goes one-on-one with Sen. Darren Bailey, likely Republican candidate for Governor of Illinois, on his background and bold proposals to cut property taxes, change the IL Constitution to allow a reduction in pension benefits and work to restore Illinois to financial stability and responsive State Government.

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This video is Part 1 of Jeff Berkowitz’s Public Affairs’ interview with one of four likely 2022 IL GOP GOV Candidates- State Senator and farmer Darren Bailey.

You can  watch the two-part interviews with two of the other GOV candidates  by clicking the following links with GOP GOV primary candidates likely to join Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo) and Sen. Bailey (R-Louisville) in the March, 2022 race: ditchdigger CEO Gary Rabine, part 1 & part 2 & legal plummer Richard Porter, part 1 and part 2

Our discussion with Sen. and soon to be GOP Gov Primary candidate Bailey, who farms 12,000 acres in downstate, Louisville, IL, focuses on, but is not exclusive to,  the topics, listed below: 

(1) IL and its Cities’ $420 billion unfunded pension liabilities,

(2) the highest in the nation (and growing) IL property taxes and

(3) major loss of population & jobs (250K people over the last decade)

(4) Inattentive and incompetent IL Governance:

(5) Amending IL’s Constitution to permit Government employee pension benefit cuts: “We have to do that,” said likely Gov Candidate Bailey, saying he agrees w/Wirepoints’ proposal to “cut,” our current, state government automatic 3% annual COLAs to a 1 % or 0% increase, depending on the annual pension levels- and he agrees with some of the other Wirepoints pension reform proposals.

(6) Bringing the State Government pension and taxpayer stakeholders to the table, after Bailey is elected, to discuss the full range of pension reforms and their implementation

(7) IL and City filings for bankruptcy

(8) Zero based budgeting and

(9) tort reform:

Part 2 of our interview with GOP GOV Candidate Bailey on February 10, 2021 will air around the State during this coming  week of Feb 22, 2021 and will be posted this afternoon at this blog or here   

You can learn more about Sen. Bailey, whose downstate IL Sen. District is a 3 ½ hour drive southeast of Chicago, by using or connecting with the below social media handles:

Website: BaileyForIllinois.com

Facebook: BaileyforIllinois

Instagram: Baileyforil55

Twitter: @DarrenBaileyIL      

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Fifteen months ago, the Southern Illinois football team was riding the high of five wins in six games to finish the 2019 season.

Then, the Salukis experienced the emotional letdown of not being chosen for the FCS playoffs despite a 7-5 record and five wins in the rugged Missouri Valley Football Conference.

As SIU kicks off the 2021 spring season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the playoffs look different, with only 16 teams guaranteed spots rather than the usual 24.

None of that matters to SIU’s players, however, who are determined not to get left out this time around. They will kick off the spring season Saturday, Feb. 20 at North Dakota in a noon game on ESPN+.

“We’ve got to show them why we need to be in the playoffs,” junior wide receiver Avante Cox said. “We have to prove there’s no doubt we should be in the playoffs. We can’t leave it in anybody’s hands.”

Cox and his teammates want to reward SIU’s seniors, who enjoyed their first winning season in 2019 and endured a 2-9 record in 2018.

“It’s really important,” Cox said of the playoffs. “I want to get there for (the seniors), seeing what they’ve been through.”

The fact that there are only six at-large spots this spring for non-conference champions isn’t a worry to the Salukis.

“It doesn’t concern us at all,” Cox said. “We’re even more excited about it now.”

Record chase

Anthony Knighton

SIU senior defensive end Anthony Knighton, who has started every game in his career (35) is only three sacks away from setting the career school record.

Knighton has 21 career sacks and is trailing school record holder James Phillips (1977-80), who had 23.5 during his time in Carbondale.

Knighton is also fifth all-time for SIU in tackles for loss (36.5). The school record is 48, set by Bryan Archibald from 1998 to 2001.

New face in MVFC

Today’s game at North Dakota is the second all-time meeting between SIU and the Fighting Hawks.

This also marks the first game for North Dakota as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Defensive switch

Senior Qua Brown, who was in the transfer portal before returning to SIU for the spring season, will start today at free safety for the Salukis.

He takes over for Colorado transfer Aaron Maddox, who started against Southeast Missouri in SIU’s lone fall game and had an interception.

Ranked and ready

The Salukis enter the spring season ranked 13^th nationally by Athlon Sports, up six spots from their previous ranking.

SIU moved up on the strength of its 20-17 victory against regional rival Southeast Missouri in October.

“I’m excited for everyone that’s involved in the program – mainly the players,” SIU head coach Nick Hill told the media this week about the opener of the eight-game, MVFC-only schedule. “I’m excited we are here.”

About North Dakota

The Fighting Hawks will start redshirt freshman Tommy Schuster at QB. His backup is true freshman Quincy Vaughn.

All five starting offensive linemen started at least eight games each last season.

The team has loads of experience on its 3-4 defensive alignment. Nine of the 11 starters today are juniors or seniors. The defense ranked in the top 40 nationally against the pass in 2019.

Where you can watch

The game will air on ESPN+ online with a noon kickoff from Grand Forks, N.D. The SIU radio call is available at CILFM.com.

Oakley Union School District–Google Maps

“My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes,” President Ronald Reagan, 1984.

“And when you’re a star, they let you do it. Grab them by the p—y. You can do anything.” Donald Trump, 2005

“It’s really unfortunate that they want to pick on us because they want their babysitters back,” Lisa Brizendine, Oakley Union Elementary School Board president, 2021.

Yup, those hot mics will catch you. Especially during this time of Zoom meetings, you better know what is being broadcast versus what is in the sanctity of your own private group.

But as a former member and president of the Board of Education of District 125, solely comprised of Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, I sort of get it. Most people run for election to a school board not for some sort of ego trip, not for the perks (minimal) or monetary benefits (none) but to give something to their community. They spend long winter nights hearing about curriculum and the latest ‘new math” philosophy, they spend months negotiating teacher contracts, they look under rocks for the next up-and-coming superintendent superstar, who their district probably won’t have enough tax revenue to afford, anyway.

Sometimes they deal with problems of their own making, such as poor hiring, disciplinary processes, or financial planning. Sometimes it can be unequal enforcement of district boundaries or giving an athlete too much leeway. But in general, school board members follow one star–to give the students in their district the best possible education under the circumstances in which they find themselves.

And then COVID-19 comes and turns everything on its head. Follow the science, or follow the old president, or follow the new one? Think first about the students, or about the teachers, or about the parents? Or put it all in a blender and hope it turns out for the best?

So sometimes you vent. Let’s be honest. Doctors bitch about their patients, lawyers mock their clients, presidents fantasize about blowing up countries. And sometimes school board members say things they shouldn’t–but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t trying to do what is right. Judge them by what they accomplish not the sometimes foolish things they say.

Speaking of school board accomplishments, Steve Frost, Fei Shang, and Gary Gorson, three Stevenson School Board incumbents, are running as a slate for re-election in the spring election. I served with Steve and Gary, and marvel at the wonderful stewardship they have provided for the district. If you live within the bounds of District 125, please give their StevensonExcellence slate your vote on April 6th.

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