letters 11-25-04
Letters policy We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity. Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois 62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com ALL THE NEWS PRINT TO FIT Blackburn College is a picture book-lovely…
sound patrol 11-25-04
Arcade Fire Funeral (Merge) Funeral, the first CD from Montreal’s the Arcade Fire, came out in September, and already it’s induced scores of worshipful music writers to churn out drool-slick paeans to the young sextet’s astonishing genius. Hard as it is to imagine that any band could live up to the hype, somehow this one…
backstage pass 11-25-04
It’s Thanksgiving, and that means the start of the Christmas season. The holiday theater season kicks off next week with A Yuletide Festival of Song and Dance, a show by the Mature Mob that’s being presented Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 2-5, at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. This year’s production, in which Mrs. Santa Claus and…
movie reviews
Great doesn’t begin to describe Alexander Close to the end — but not close enough — of Oliver Stone’s ambitious historical drama Alexander, the Macedonian king of the title finds himself facing a mutinous army that’s reached the end of its rope. Having fought in more than 50 battles and traveled more than 10,000 miles…
quick takes 11-25-04
WHINE AND CHEESE Abe is back, with cheesecake on the cover — and we’re not talking about Maria Libri, the fox from Fox 55. Benjamin Lowder’s on-again, off-again bimonthly magazine has returned to newsstands after a summer-long hiatus, and the cover story is a recipe for “ultracreamy cheesecake.” (Directions: “Drizzle with raspberry sauce and serve…
The reawakening
“There can be no purpose more inspiriting than to begin the age of restoration, reweaving the wondrous diversity of life that still surrounds us.” Ñ Edward O. Wilson, The Diversity of Life After traveling north on Route 97 near the town of Havana, I see the Nature Conservancy’s sign for the Emiquon Preserve, the only…
The day after
Travis Schutte and Dave Linn, co-owners of Secret Recipes Inc. of Chatham, were up to their elbows in turkeys in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. They prepared more than 85 complete turkey dinners for customers who wanted to eat a home-cooked meal at home without having to cook. But having lots of leftover turkey…
now playing 11-25-04
This weekend treat yourself to a triple dose of hot rockin’ blues from the good doctor himself when Springfield Shaky doles out three gigs in five days. First, Shaky (sorry, can’t tell you his real name) does his regular 7:30 to 1 slot starting Thursday night (doesn’t that seem like a very long time?) at…
prairie notes 11-25-04
In November, the last autumn colors vanish into piles of dry leaves and the prairie hardens itself for the coming winter. Here at Prairierth Farm, the crops are at last all gathered and the cattle will soon be coaxed in from the summer pasture. The once-magnificent summer prairie has become a dismal brown and gray,…
Hot potato
Former Springfield Police Chief John Harris was recently a contender for the top cop job in nearby Charleston. Over the weekend, sources associated with the Charleston Police Department said Harris’s résumé appeared to impress the mayor and at least three of the four city council members in Charleston, and his selection as chief seemed certain.…
The axman
“Blago the Ax” is the name some state employees now use to refer to Gov. Rod Blagojevich. In an attempt to raise revenue, his cash-strapped administration has slashed the state-employee headcount by as much as 20 percent from just two years ago, according to statistics compiled by the state’s largest labor union. Census Bureau data…
lend a hand
LEND A HAND Illinois Times invites area non-profit organizations to submit holiday wish lists. To participate, send a brief description of your organization and a summary of your needs. Fax the information to 217-753-3958 or e-mail editor@illinoistimes.com.There is no charge for this service. Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery 1011 N. Seventh St., 217-525-6800, www.miniobeirne.org The Mini…
Special perspective
Fair warning: This column could get sloppy. Normally I try to plug this space with something newsy, something issue-oriented, some kind of meaty food for thought. But signs suggest that today, for a limited time only, I can take a break from controversial current events and simply say something nice for a change. First sign:…
music notes 11-25-04
n Greg Fundis and company, known to the rest of the world as 56 Hope Road, make another Springfield appearance on Friday at Jazz Central Station, atop the mighty Hilton. The Chicago-based group has been stopping in town every few months while pursuing an aggressive grassroots-booked touring schedule. After a crisscrossing of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana,…
Knoepfle 11-25-04
november proverb well I do believepie are triangledand a turkey with one leggets more to the gobblethan a three sided square © John Knoepfle 2004
Which side are you on?
During the height of the Depression, central Illinois was convulsed by a vicious coal-mining war that pitted worker against worker, changed an industry, and altered the course of organized labor. It’s a dramatic story, yet largely unknown. Springfield historian Carl D. Oblinger started digging into the subject nearly 20 years ago, the result of a…
People’s poetry
Poem Buried within a Time Capsuleto Be Unearthed Spring 2097 Citizens, what did you find when awakened this morning? Your sky as blue as ours, a few sparrows rustling among lime-green leaves of April maples? All people fed and housed and free? This would be the great blessing — though a still greater surprise. –…
Logan’s run
When Willis Logan became executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority in 1997, some called him a glutton for punishment. After all, from 1991-97, SHA was ranked among the worst public-housing authorities in the nation. Just a year earlier, the federal government had seized control of the beleaguered agency, forcing Logan’s predecessor, as well as…
earth talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: How can I recycle my unwanted CDs and DVDs? — Mike Wells, Oswego, Ill. Compact discs and digital videodiscs have become the de facto standards for media storage and playback for millions of consumers and businesses around the world. But the very popularity of these inexpensive five-inch-diameter discs made of metal, plastic,…
common sense 11-25-04
One of the most despicable aspects of this year’s presidential campaign was the deliberate, determined effort by the Republican Party to keep people from voting. I don’t just mean the notorious efforts in Florida by First Brother Jeb Bush to purge the voter rolls of thousands of eligible African-Americans; I’m also talking about tactics used…
Soldier of misfortune
Jeremy Hinzman joined the military in early 2001, attracted by the prospect of going to college without incurring debt and being, he says, “part of something bigger than myself.” He completed basic training, and in July 2001 moved to Fort Bragg, N.C., with his wife, Nga Nguyen. He was a “White Devil”: a member of…
commentary 11-25-04
A recent study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has shown that since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, an estimated 100,000 more civilians have died in that country than would have died if the invasion had not taken place. Most of these deaths have been the result of violence, most…
music notes 11-18-04
• Just get out of the way there, Junior. Blues Power is all fired up, with four of central Illinois’ finest muzeekans goosing the throttle, chomping at the bit, and turning up the heat. Frank Herrin, Jerry Turley, Blair Fernandez, and Bad Bill Robinson are squeezing the juice from the electric blues at 8:30 p.m.…
Soar, losers
As the death toll rises in Iraq, thoughts turn to the next strategy for stopping this war. The easiest way would have been to elect John Kerry, but that didn’t work. It might not have worked even if he had won the election — he only promised to be a better warmaker — but it…
letters 11-18-04
Letters policy We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity. Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois 62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com TAX REFORM INSTEAD OF GAMBLING Expanding casino gambling to raise money to…
Knoepfle 11-18-04
writing from the hospital the erratic heart off center slightly unbalanced yes and that is like the rest of the world this is so strange the heart wandering alone everything so quiet © John Knoepfle 2004
Ms. Hatchett’s job
Wanda Hatchett joined the Illinois Department of Transportation as a file clerk just three months after graduating from Lanphier High School. Some 34 years later, after working in a variety of jobs at the state agency, the lifelong Springfield resident now plans to retire. Though just 52 years old, Hatchett has grown weary of toiling…
movie reviews
Soak up a little joy with SpongeBob To say that SpongeBob SquarePants looks at the world through rose-colored glasses is an understatement: He is, without a doubt, the happiest animated household cleaning product ever. Nowhere is this more evident than in his motion-picture debut, which features all of the familiar characters of Bikini Bottom, including…
Alliance hosts unique exhibit of area faculty art
For the first time in the history of the Prairie Art Alliance, organizers have assembled an exhibit of works by faculty at Springfield’s different institutions of higher education, including Robert Morris College, Springfield College in Illinois, Lincoln Land Community College, and the University of Illinois at Springfield. The exhibit represents a break from tradition: Usually…
sound patrol 11-18-04
Carla Bruni QuelquÕun mÕa dit (Na•ve/V2) Don’t hate Carla Bruni because she’s beautiful. If you’re going to hate her, there are plenty of other, better reasons. The 36-year-old Italian-born, French-bred former supermodel has dated Mick Jagger, Donald Trump, and Eric Clapton. Her father is a wealthy industrialist (and respected avant-garde composer); her sister is the…
The right time
Darius Howse didn’t want to go to Speed Dating. Since he worked the night shift, it meant taking time off his job. Worse yet, he would have to find a way to vanquish his “social phobia.” Angela Trowbridge also didn’t want to go to Speed Dating. For her, it meant a long drive to Springfield…
quick takes 11-18-04
SNOOZE NEWS Readers of the State Journal-Register may have been confused by a recent editorial opposing a City Council move to end term limits. The editorial, published Sunday, Nov. 14, criticized the proposed ordinance, which was sponsored by aldermen Chuck Redpath and Irv Smith. Problem is, as Illinois Times reported on Nov. 4, the ordinance…
Woman on a mission
In a large, two-story home on the southeast side, Alyce Lyle hopes to realize her dream of starting her own elementary school. A substitute teacher for nearly 20 years in Springfield’s School District 186, Lyle has long wanted to provide kids an educational experience different from what is being offered in the city’s public school…
Red or white with the holiday bird?
Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without turkey, yams, and cranberry relish. But in addition to the standard holiday fare, how about a bottle of red or white? People are more likely to serve wine with their Thanksgiving feasts than with any other holiday meal, according to Geoff Bland, owner of the Corkscrew Wine Emporium. In…
Winged messenger: Going postal with Terry Pratchett
Please allow me to introduce Mr. Moist von Lipwig, hero of Going Postal, Terry Pratchett’s latest novel in his Discworld series. But before we go any further, a confession: I am a Pratchett latecomer. More people read him than voted for George W. Bush (this may be a stretch, but it’s my review). More than…
now playing 11-18-04
As many in the partying world understand, Thanksgiving no longer is just about turkey and dressing, visiting family, and giving thanks for this best of all possible worlds. No, for many of us, the holiday is all about the night before Thanksgiving and the wonderful opportunity bestowed upon us by the powers that be to…
Films to keep the political fires burning
If you’re suffering from election withdrawal and you need more commentary to feed your political addiction, perhaps a documentary will do the trick. Michael Moore may not have had the effect on the election he’d hoped for with his landmark film Fahrenheit 9/11, but he has set off a flood of films that go where…
Radical Rudy
On a damp Monday night, in a library meeting room, some 15 hardy souls gather to watch a videotape of a man named Claud Anderson giving a speech to a black congregation somewhere in Los Angeles. On the tape, Anderson outlines a history of blacks in America that most people — black or white –…
common sense 11-18-04
I’ve been chastised by Wal-Mart! Imagine my distress. The largest corporation in the world apparently was stung by one of my recent commentaries [see Hightower, “Wal-Mart milks taxpayers,” Oct. 21]. I had pointed out that Wal-Mart, which touts itself as a model of “free-market” success, actually has built its market muscle by squeezing more than…
