People’s poetry
The Flowers You missed the flowers of late summer,When the black-eyed Susans would return your gaze,Compass their petals outward, bright sunlight raysOf wasted effort while you slumber.I cut pink bright stars for your bedside,Which provide contrast to hospital whitenessAnd your drug-induced coma, bringing lightnessTo your true state, about which best lied. Tea roses blush outside…
Letters to the editor
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 COURAGEOUS VICTIMS MADE REDPATH PAY Michael Redpath’s behavior is neither unusual nor…
Better than nothing
As Michael Redpath celebrated his last day of freedom with a gathering at his North End home, his neighbors quietly rejoiced. Several women who live near Redpath’s house on North 22nd Street tell Illinois Times that the convicted child molester would come to their homes uninvited, offering to help with yardwork and other chores. They say…
For peace on earth
If you’re old enough, news that President George W. Bush authorized the National Security Agency, apparently without legal authority, to monitor the private communications of American citizens must seem awfully familiar. This sort of monitoring has been pursued before, when technology was less sophisticated and less intrusive, becoming especially notorious during the administrations of Lyndon…
Jacqueline Jackson
Lovepoem # 4 Lullaby (My mother wrote this lullaby for my oldest sister, on her first Christmas 1925. I’ll send the music on request.) Sleep, little baby, the daylight is fading; Dim yellow stars the dark heavens adorn; Once, long ago, in a Bethlehem manger The little Lord Jesus was born. Lullaby, lullaby, sleep, little…
Rosemary’s nephew
It was obvious that George Clooney belonged in movies as soon as he burst upon the scene as Ace, an emergency-room technician, in E/R. Have I confused anyone yet? This was back in 1984, 10 years before the better-known ER hit television, and the failure of Elliott Gould’s sitcom didn’t exactly boost Clooney’s career. Clooney’s…
Marina V revisited
It was two years ago when we last checked in with Russian-born, Illinois College-educated singer/songwriter/keyboardist Marina Verenikina. At the time, Verenikina and her partner, Springfield native Nick Baker, were living in Los Angeles, hard at work trying to break into the music business. As big news goes, there’s not too much to report: No major-label…
Love for sale
More classic films were produced by the Hollywood studio system during the 1930s and ’40s than during any other period in cinema history, and though many of these movies seem quaint and naïve today, they had solid scripts as their foundation. Although I love discovering modern features that remind me of films from that bygone…
G-Rod’s poseurs
I was told a few weeks ago by a very good source that Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign had assigned people to monitor my Web log. You may know that in addition to this weekly newspaper column I publish a daily political newsletter called Capitol Fax. I also run a political blog called thecapitolfaxblog.com, featuring posts…
They come bearing gifts
Dear Bill O’Reilly: As a godless liberal, I have no reason to like you. Your unctuous smirk and smarmy patter got on my nerves when you were a lowly late-night infotainer; since you’ve resurrected yourself as a right-wing demagogue, you’ve gone from annoying to insufferable. But Christmas time’s a-comin’, after all, and in the spirit…
Chopped down
In February, Garrison Group Inc. president Todd Smith unveiled a plan to develop a 3-acre high-end shopping center at the corner of South Grand and MacArthur avenues, where the vacant Esquire Theatre now stands. On Nov. 30, Kerasotes, the Springfield-based movie-theater chain that owns the site, declined to extend an option, in effect killing the…
Ministering, not preaching
All of the pundits and consultants are unanimous these days about what Democratic Party candidates must do to gain political favor: emulate Republicans by wearing religion (specifically Christianity) on their sleeves, making alliances with evangelical churches, and openly engaging in “faith politics!” The pundits and consultants are, of course, wrong. Yes, professing one’s heartfelt spiritual…
A blissful sound
Mi and L’au Mi and L’au (Young God Records) You don’t know Mi and L’au, but you know a couple like them: beautiful, blissfully in love, and, well, sometimes a bit of a drag. They’re so into each other, so deeply connected and complete in themselves, that being around them feels vaguely creepy, as if…
People’s poetry
This sonnet, a reflection of the darkness of wartime, is also an apt description of any night faced with fear. I like the way in which the poet identifies with the young man and at the same time makes us see that in certain instances we are totally alone, save perhaps those who have faith…
Landlord journal
My tenant came by first thing this morning and turned in his key, just as he had said he would. He said that he had swept up as much of the broken glass as was possible and, again, that he was sorry about what happened. If he could be so polite and responsible about moving…
Earth Talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: What are the implications of the increasing breakup of Antarctica’s large floating ice shelves in recent years? — Gaertner Olivier, Brussels, Belgium Ice shelves are thick plates of ice that float on the ocean around much of Antarctica. Snow, glaciers and ice flows feed these large plates in the colder months. In…
Dee-Whee!
There’s always been a silver lining to a DUI conviction. For one thing, you never know whom you’ll meet during the mandatory 10-hour class on the dangers of alcohol that’s attended by most everyone convicted of drunken driving. Aside from members of the opposite sex, there’s always a chance that you’ll meet a celebrity. After…
Dream team?
The fact that Ron Gidwitz and Steve Rauschenberger have teamed up to run as a ticket may seem a bit odd at first, but it makes sense in more ways than one, and it’s probably their best shot at winning next spring. Rauschenberger, you already know, dropped out of the Republican gubernatorial race to run…
Great ape
From the very first frame of the new King Kong, director Peter Jackson sets out to dazzle us. His Depression-era New York City is a grimy, vibrant urban jungle whose residents struggle to survive. Among them is unemployed actress Ann Darrow (a luminous Naomi Watts), who, despite a string of bad breaks, still believes that things…
Bits of Springfield
Haven’t figured out what to give this holiday season? We sent our intrepid reporters all over Springfield, looking for interesting and offbeat gift possibilities and emphasizing, whenever possible, local businesses and items unique to the capital city. Here’s some of what they found. VISIONS OF SUGARPLUMS ’Tis the season to indulge, and treats from Incredibly…
A matter of conservation
The Illinois Civil Service Commission will meet in Chicago today, Dec. 15, to hear the final appeal of 11 former state natural-resources employees who claim they were unfairly laid off earlier this year. If successful, says Gary Leach, executive director of the Illinois Federation of Public Employees, a labor organization working on their behalf, the…
Hometown talent under the tree
Lost Survivor By Thomas R. Jones Like Henry Fielding’s famous novel (whose hero shares a name with Lost Survivor’s author), this is a coming-of-age story. But Johnny Douglas isn’t wandering the English countryside. In his world, the jungles of Vietnam, there are no lace cuffs, only flak jackets and the desire that overrides every other,…
Jacqueline Jackson
strangledcrypoem # 1 I DON’T WANT A CAT I DON’T NEED A CAT but tell me more © Jacqueline Jackson 2005
Give the gift of gardening knowledge
During the winter months, outdoor garden activities are few, but it’s still a great time to learn. Books, garden catalogs, and seed catalogs are a good way to start, but a more exciting option is to learn with others in a gardening program. Registration for an upcoming program would make a great gift for a…
Adieu, elevator shoe
Back in 1997, jazz saxophonist Frank Trompeter was fascinated by electronica and trip-hop and began wondering how those sounds would translate into live music. Along with drummer Ted Keylon, Trompeter began an experiment that became the band elevator shoe. After the addition of bassist Bruce Williams and guitarist Ocean Alexander in early 1998, the group…
Pesticide testing on kids
I’m whopper-jawed. I’m stunned. I’m sick. I’m disgusted. I’m fuming. If you thought that you could no longer be shocked by anything the Bush administration does, you’ve obviously not heard of the latest inhuman, totally depraved, appalling bit of evil coming out of Bush’s EPA. These so-called environmental and health protectors have proposed a new…
Eye on ISP
The legal wrangling among officers of the Illinois State Police continues with a nationally televised news show to be broadcast this week and a new lawsuit set for trial in January. On Saturday, the CBS news show 48 Hours Mystery will focus on the 1986 Paris, Ill., murder of newlyweds Dyke and Karen Rhoads. Although…
Letters to the editor
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 THE NEXT BEST THING Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your article…
Slick companies
The political tide has shifted back to ’60-style disenchantment, which could open the door to a return of activism in the movies. Some stars have always spoken their minds, but moving the soapbox to the actual movies may have greater impact. Syriana, a tale of shenanigans in the oil industry that stars George Clooney and…
