Homers
Untitled Document Something funny happened at City Council last week. OK, that’s hardly news. Something funny always happens at City Council. This time, however, was unusual, because it involves us — your friendly, locally owned newspaper: A city official was ordered to read Illinois Times. As you probably know, we’re a free-circulation newspaper, with no home delivery…
Change of plans
Untitled Document Members of the Friends of Brad Will — the Illinois-born videojournalist killed one year ago — recently disrupted congressional hearings on a new security cooperation initiative between the U.S. and Mexico that President George W. Bush announced in October. Dubbed the Merida Initiative by the White House and Plan Mexico by some detractors…
Sam again
Untitled Document Ward 5 Ald. Sam Cahnman is at it again. Just two weeks after the City Council approved his ordinance calling for City Water, Light & Power bills to be rounded up to help the homeless, Cahnman introduced a measure last week to help another Springfield sector — residents of mobile-home parks. Cahnman’s new…
When suckers were good
Untitled Document Before the amazing, revolutionizing automated teller machine, America went to the bank to do its business. Every week, like clockwork, for deposits and withdrawals, we’d walk or drive to the neighborhood branch, queue up with our neighbors, and wait our turns to hand over our bank books to the nice teller. It was…
People’s Poetry
Untitled Document milkbusiness poem #1mrs george downey of 347 hinsdale street quit taking milk whenmy grandfather raisedthe price from fiveto five and one quartercents she said I will neverpay more than a nickelfor a quart of milk © Jacqueline Jackson 2007 You’ve surely heard it said that the old ought to move over to make…
The assassin’s brother
Untitled Document The lone robber entered the Farmers Bank of Liberty at 9:10 a.m. on Friday May 30, 1980. He didn’t bark any demands, and he didn’t hand the teller a note. The gun in his left hand spoke for itself. He placed a crumpled plastic bag on the counter. As the teller stuffed cash…
Party in your freezer
Untitled Document Scenario No. 1: It’s 4 p.m. on a Saturday. You’re standing in an incredibly long checkout line with your contribution to the Secret Santa gift exchange at tonight’s Christmas party, and you’ve just remembered that you’re supposed to bring an appetizer as well. You’re already running behind: You still have to battle the…
Curb their materialism
Untitled Document With the year’s biggest gift-giving holiday just weeks away, your kids are probably already busy making lists, specifying all the things they absolutely must have this year. You wonder, exactly how did those little angels turn into greedy consumers? Lan Chaplin, a marketing professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has studied the…
Lend a hand
Untitled Document Illinois Times invites local nonprofit organizations to tell our readers what they need — in addition to financial support — for the holidays. If your organization’s not included here, please e-mail your request to editor@illinoistimes.com. This list will be updated weekly through Dec. 20. American Red Cross 1045 Outer Park Dr., 217-787-7602 The American…
Holiday highlights
Untitled Document Holiday Hall and Fine Craft Exhibition Through Dec. 15. From more than 40 central Illinois artists, an array of handmade gifts including coin purses, jewelry, sculpture, and paintings. Proceeds benefit the artists and Springfield Art Association’s gallery. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St. (217-523-2631) Christmas at Dana-Thomas House Through Dec. 30. The…
Giving wisely
Untitled Document According to the Chicago-based American Institute of Philanthropy, 1.8 million nonprofit organizations are out there hoping to win your donation dimes or dollars. Having so many charities available raises some important questions: How do you responsibly choose where to give — and how can you know whether you’ve selected a legitimate organization? Where…
Au revoir, Air Rendezvous
Untitled Document On Oct. 30, Kim Curry packed up her office at the airport and carried out the last remnants of the Springfield Air Rendezvous. The popular capital-city air show had been permanently grounded, and, after 14 years as coordinator, Curry’s job was over. All that remained were three boxes of plastic name-badge holders, a…
Congressional betrayal
Untitled Document President George W. Bush’s approval rating is down to a new low of 24 percent. Before Democrats gloat, however, note that Congress’s approval rating, in the same Zogby Poll, is down to — brace yourself — 11 percent. If the Democratic leadership wonder why they score so low, they might whisper the name…
Enchanted enchants
Untitled Document What does it say that Disney’s Enchanted pulled in $50 million over the course of the long Thanksgiving weekend to set a new record for that period? Surely the Mouse Factory’s savvy advertising arm had something to do with this big haul, as did the fact that there wasn’t another family-oriented film in…
Hellbent on having happy holidays
Untitled Document Let’s give joy to the world and ring silver bells (or if you want just jingle bells) as we deck the halls then wish you a Merry Christmas here in our central-Illinois winter wonderland. Making up silly sentences using Christmas carol titles and lyrics is a new way I’ve discovered to pass time.…
Letters to the Editor
Untitled Document We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address, and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to Letters, Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705; fax 217-753-3958; e-mail editor@illinoistimes.com. THIS YEAR, I FOUND THE COURAGEI just read the Dusty Rhodes column and want to express my appreciation [“Love and Skittles,”…
When cats attack
Untitled Document Should cats stay in or go out? They do kill wildlife, including birds, but aren’t they just taking the place of natural predators that once did the same? Most environmental advocates believe that keeping cats indoors is better for both the health of the felines themselves and for their prey. Scientists estimate that…
