Excuses, excuses
As President George W. Bush’s position on Iraq has become more embattled and folks in the White House have become increasingly isolated, it’s fallen to right-wing scribes and pundits to provide the commander-in-chief with some means of escape from the disaster he’s created. So I thought I’d walk you through a few recent right-wing attempts…
Showing all nations the way
A federal judge will hear arguments next week in a dispute between the National Foreign Trade Council and the state of Illinois over the constitutionality of the state’s Act to End Atrocities and Terrorism in the Sudan. The key hearing, set for Wednesday, Jan. 3, could decide whether public pension funds will have to get…
First anniversary
My first column of 2006 was about a New Year’s Eve wedding marred by a thief who filched a fistful of cards from the gift table at the happy couple’s reception. What made this petty thievery especially newsworthy wasn’t the value of the cards — which, it turns out, contained almost $1,000 in cash and…
Making an honest dip
Whether you’re eating alone or having a party, one simple dish that can bring a zestful joy to your table and palate is guacamole. Just as the Aztecs did 700 years ago, all you do is mush up a couple of avocadoes; squeeze in some lime juice; toss in some chopped peppers, tomatoes, and onions,…
What a year!
Legend has it that the Greeks invented the custom of using an infant to symbolize the New Year sometime around 600 B.C. It makes sense — babies are full of hope and promise, packaged to resemble softer, cuddlier versions of their forebears, and bundled with a certain quota of toothless drool and poop. Baby 2006…
Not our fault
According to a study released by the Center for American Progress and the Center for Progressive Reform, at the end of November, 8.7 million Illinoisans — 70 percent of the state’s residents — are breathing dangerous levels of smog. That makes sense, given that Illinois leads the nation in the number of new coal-fired power…
Letters to the Editor
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. POLITICIANS NO BETTER THAN VOTERS Fletcher Farrar ended his commentary “Can the governor, like Bush, change his tune? [Dec. 14] with a quote:…
Christmas Stories
Click here for Christmas Stories 2006!
Meet the new champs
Do we really need another football flick? If the film in question is We Are Marshall, then the answer is a wholehearted “yes!” Based on the tragic events of Nov. 14, 1970, when a charter flight carrying the Marshall University football team crashed near Huntington, W. Va., the film is a testament to those who…
People’s Poetry
lovepoem #4 Lullaby (My mother wrote this lullaby for my oldest sister, on her first Christmas,1925.) 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 baby, sleep. Sleep, little baby, my arms…
Stew for serenity
Lately, life at my house has been a roller coaster. Family duties of an intensive-care-unit variety have sucked me in and sucked me dry. When I finally did get some down time, the last thing I wanted to do was exert more energy to cook. Instead, I gravitated in the direction of carryout menus and…
Queen Helen
Helen Mirren appears to be headed for her first Oscar, for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen. So far she has swept the critics’ awards for her introspective performance of the stoic queen. In a role that forbids the open expression of emotion, Mirren miraculously conveys all we need to know about…
A taste of Italy
There must be Italian somewhere in my background. I’m sure of it, even though a cursory glance at my family tree reveals a mongrel mix of German, Irish, and Welsh. What else could explain my love for Italian food? Well, it’s more than just love. Italian food seems somehow right, feels like home — even…
A need for weed
A number of products, including paper and clothing — even food and beer —are made from hemp. What is it about hemp that makes it so versatile — and why is it illegal to grow in the United States? Is it also illegal in Canada? What did the first Gutenberg bible, Christopher Columbus’ ropes and…
