Cover Story
Best Films and Scenes of 2021
In his seminal memoir, Adventures in the Screen Trade, screenwriter William Goldman wrote that there is one truism in Hollywood – “Nobody knows anything.” Case in point, the gross for the opening weekend of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story was $10.5 million. Stop and think about that – the great American filmmaker of the last…
metaphor poem, future thoughts
metaphor poem, future thoughts so long old year you had memorable memories hello new year let’s hope for more I think though I’m at the age where I should be writing out my last wishes – of course we should all do this at any age – no telling what’s coming down the pike –…
A degree or an education?
We live in a society that extols the virtues of degrees and diplomas – but not lifelong learning. In Springfield, we honor Abraham Lincoln, our state’s native son, who, despite having little formal schooling, was able to teach himself and become our greatest president. But today when it comes to politicians, Americans have a different…
Hog-killin’ time
When the days have grown short and the weather stays cold, people used to say, “It’s hog-killin’ time.” Before we had packing plants and supermarkets, farm families depended on their fields and flocks for sustenance, and the tedious process of whole hog butchering usually took place in cold weather. Breaking down a 200 to 300-pound…
New year news
Welcome one and all to 2022, a current calculation of time based on our concoction called the Gregorian calendar. Throughout the year, several other New Year’s eves and days are acknowledged at various times in other cultures, but here in the good ol’ USA and lots of spots around the globe, last weekend was when…
Art show provides funding for kids in foster care
The reasons youngsters end up in foster care hardly paint a pretty picture of our society: abuse, neglect, addiction, abandonment. But a Springfield-area nonprofit is using pretty pictures to help foster kids throughout Sangamon County. Artsy: An Art Fair for Kids in Care! is an annual event where art donated by local professionals and amateurs…
Turning over a new leaf
Last week marked the end of two years of legalized cannabis use in Illinois, and as growers, distributors and dispensaries seek licenses and Illinoisans over the age of 21 ponder their options as consumers, a state-funded effort is afoot to reach out to those whose past cannabis convictions can now be expunged or vacated. New…
“I can’t breathe”
One inmate told state police that Jaimeson Cody said “I can’t” when Sangamon County jail guards ordered him to put his hands behind his back. Two others told investigators that Cody said, “I can’t breathe” as Sangamon County jailers struggled to put him in handcuffs, then a restraint chair last April 27. Cody, 39, never…
Editor’s note 01-06-22
Sound political advice can translate into real-world advice the rest of us can use. David Axelrod, who was senior adviser to Barack Obama, has suggestions for President Joe Biden’s handling of the stalled Build Back Better legislation. They could be New Year’s resolutions. 1. Talk less about Build Back Better and more about COVID, which…
For hope in 2022, read this book
“Where there’s life, there’s hope,” my husband’s Swedish grandmother used to say. Renowned conservationist Jane Goodall provides greater insights to hope in her 2021 book coauthored with Douglas Abrams, The Book of Hope, A Survival Guide for Trying Times. It’s a stimulating read for a new year. With so many challenges facing the world today,…
Reining in government spending will be tough
With a $1 trillion infrastructure package on the books and the Biden administration’s $1.8 trillion “Build Back Better” measure preoccupying the Senate after passing the House, government spending is very much on Americans’ minds. In public meetings, I frequently hear people say that government’s share of the economy is too big, and it’s likely that…
The importance of self-work
Instead of an article downplaying New Year’s resolutions and intentions, let’s consider how this type of work can be crucial for us. We tend to overlook the basic principle of personal growth and the impact it can have on how we view others and the world at large. Reflecting, changing and challenging ourselves allows us…
Letters to the editor 01-06-22
ALTERNATIVE TO TURN LANES I have lived and owned property on MacArthur Boulevard for over 40 years. I am very familiar with the controversies surrounding the intersection in question (“Heavy traffic,” Dec. 23). I have reviewed the proposed alterations, and am surprised at the lack of concern shown for the properties that are being affected…
