RogerMatile
@ram1946.bsky.social
Retired weekly newspaper editor, photographer, reporter, graphic artist. Local history columnist, & public history nerd. Blogging local history & microhistory at History on the Fox. Volunteer local history museum director.
So...woke up this morning to see this on our deck--enough snow to track a cat. Since this is Nov. 10, according to my grandfather's weather wisdom, that means we'll have 10 snows this winter. Given global climate change, though, that's pretty doubtful...
November 10, 2025 at 1:20 PM
So...woke up this morning to see this on our deck--enough snow to track a cat. Since this is Nov. 10, according to my grandfather's weather wisdom, that means we'll have 10 snows this winter. Given global climate change, though, that's pretty doubtful...
Something I reposted exactly a year ago seems to have worn unfortunately well:
October 27, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Something I reposted exactly a year ago seems to have worn unfortunately well:
In case you were wondering what Trump's ridiculous 'ballroom' will look like, here you go. Here's hoping the next Dem President will personally drive the demolition dozer that destroys this architectural carbuncle:
October 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
In case you were wondering what Trump's ridiculous 'ballroom' will look like, here you go. Here's hoping the next Dem President will personally drive the demolition dozer that destroys this architectural carbuncle:
Look what just fell out of my copy of "Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West!" Boy, were those the days or what? Borders Books AND Tapes!
October 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Look what just fell out of my copy of "Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West!" Boy, were those the days or what? Borders Books AND Tapes!
Last 2025 Wisconsin northwoods sunset for us; we head south to Illinois tomorrow morning...
October 8, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Last 2025 Wisconsin northwoods sunset for us; we head south to Illinois tomorrow morning...
About ready to head back south and home tomorrow but this was the view out of the front window of our Wisconsin fishing cabin this morning as I enjoyed my morning brew...
October 7, 2025 at 8:13 PM
About ready to head back south and home tomorrow but this was the view out of the front window of our Wisconsin fishing cabin this morning as I enjoyed my morning brew...
Sunrise hit the west side of Butternut Lake in Wisconsin's northwoods just right this morning as the fall color is reaching its peak up here. And there's still a lot of it despite the weekend's wind and rain...
October 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Sunrise hit the west side of Butternut Lake in Wisconsin's northwoods just right this morning as the fall color is reaching its peak up here. And there's still a lot of it despite the weekend's wind and rain...
Cleaning out a drawer up here at our fishing cabin in the northwoods and came across this bad boy. How many of you remember these fuses, along with the screw-in types, in the days before circuit breakers? Also cigars, even the smart little ones, cost just a bit more than 7.5 cents these days.
October 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Cleaning out a drawer up here at our fishing cabin in the northwoods and came across this bad boy. How many of you remember these fuses, along with the screw-in types, in the days before circuit breakers? Also cigars, even the smart little ones, cost just a bit more than 7.5 cents these days.
This guy's obviously nuts. What's really scary is that he's essentially running the U.S. Government now, whispering his violent lies into the ear of our criminal, delusional President:
October 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This guy's obviously nuts. What's really scary is that he's essentially running the U.S. Government now, whispering his violent lies into the ear of our criminal, delusional President:
It's a quiet morning up here on Butternut Lake in Wisconsin's northwoods...
October 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
It's a quiet morning up here on Butternut Lake in Wisconsin's northwoods...
Can't argue with this, but that was then:
September 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Can't argue with this, but that was then:
Canadian tourists are not stupid. A lot of us would avoid the U.S. as well if we didn't already live here; it's just not safe for foreign visitors any more and won't be until Trump's gone.
September 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Canadian tourists are not stupid. A lot of us would avoid the U.S. as well if we didn't already live here; it's just not safe for foreign visitors any more and won't be until Trump's gone.
Silly, but it made me laugh this morning:
September 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Silly, but it made me laugh this morning:
Getting dressed for our local antifa board meeting. Then it's to Panera for a Pick Two!
September 23, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Getting dressed for our local antifa board meeting. Then it's to Panera for a Pick Two!
I admit to being continually gobsmacked that Trump was able to find so many amoral, totally unethical people to staff his regime:
September 20, 2025 at 1:10 AM
I admit to being continually gobsmacked that Trump was able to find so many amoral, totally unethical people to staff his regime:
How and why one small northern Illinois village got its own early 19th Century industrial suburb. Post hoisted from the archives over at History on the Fox:
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2024/04/17/t...
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2024/04/17/t...
September 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
How and why one small northern Illinois village got its own early 19th Century industrial suburb. Post hoisted from the archives over at History on the Fox:
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2024/04/17/t...
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2024/04/17/t...
In case it's still not clear to you the Republican Party is flat-out lying about who causes political violence in this country, check this out. The Cato Institute is right-wing although they claim to be libertarian:
September 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
In case it's still not clear to you the Republican Party is flat-out lying about who causes political violence in this country, check this out. The Cato Institute is right-wing although they claim to be libertarian:
In 2025, our small northern Illinois town is observing the 190th anniversary of its creation:
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/f...
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/f...
September 12, 2025 at 9:41 PM
In 2025, our small northern Illinois town is observing the 190th anniversary of its creation:
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/f...
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/f...
When life gives you lemons, at least be happy you've got a cure for scurvy...
September 12, 2025 at 12:11 PM
When life gives you lemons, at least be happy you've got a cure for scurvy...
All you blue collar workers who idolize and voted for Trump: Boy, do you know how to pick 'em!
September 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
All you blue collar workers who idolize and voted for Trump: Boy, do you know how to pick 'em!
Thanks, Republicans! This ought to put to rest those ridiculous charges that you have no idea how to create a thriving economy:
September 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Thanks, Republicans! This ought to put to rest those ridiculous charges that you have no idea how to create a thriving economy:
Useful rule of thumb from Anniefortruth:
August 29, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Useful rule of thumb from Anniefortruth:
Human critics aren't bad enough; now we writers have to deal with judgmental machines as well...
August 13, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Human critics aren't bad enough; now we writers have to deal with judgmental machines as well...
So according to a top Republican, TACO Don's Director of National Intelligence is a treasonous liar, who fits right in with the rest of the gang of treasonous misfits he's installed in the U.S. Government:
August 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
So according to a top Republican, TACO Don's Director of National Intelligence is a treasonous liar, who fits right in with the rest of the gang of treasonous misfits he's installed in the U.S. Government:
Summer vacation's getting short for school kids, which reminded me of one 19th Century Oswego, IL area farm girl whose parents sent her off to Aurora to high school in the 1870s. Lizzie Wheeler's story is up over at the blog:
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2025/08/03/a...
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2025/08/03/a...
August 3, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Summer vacation's getting short for school kids, which reminded me of one 19th Century Oswego, IL area farm girl whose parents sent her off to Aurora to high school in the 1870s. Lizzie Wheeler's story is up over at the blog:
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2025/08/03/a...
historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2025/08/03/a...