“All the Money” Worth All the Trouble
The notion in public relations is that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. That certainly has been disproven this year what with the many accusations of sexual assault leveled at many in Hollywood and beyond. Director Ridley Scott certainly wasn’t going to let all of his hard work and that of his cast and…
“Showman” an Empty Spectacle
Director Cecil B. DeMille, amassed a fortune, entertained millions and skewed their perception history with his historical epics. With King of Kings, The Plainsman, The Buccaneer and many others, he bent facts to his narrative will, included just enough truth to make his films seem significant and amped up the action to generate a form…
No mere bump on a log
The Illinois Bicentennial looms. In the Illinois that exists, the Rauner administration looks forward to beer parties and pantomime shows. In the Illinois of my daydreams, historians scribble away at biographies of the state’s best (not necessarily most famous) citizens. People like Springfieldian Logan Hay, for example. By the end of his life in 1942,…
The great scamazon
In September Amazon, the $136-billion-a-year, multi-tentacled monopolist, sparked a prairie fire of excitement among state and local economic development officials when it coyly announced its intention to build a second corporate headquarters in Someplace, North America. CEO Jeff Bezos baited his location-subsidy trap with red meat, announcing that Amazon “expect[ed] to invest over $5 billion…
Will Rauner ever get to be in charge?
“I’m not in charge,” Gov. Bruce Rauner said recently, “I’m trying to get to be in charge.” Rauner said he’ll “get to be in charge” by taking away House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Democratic majority next year. Madigan, Rauner says, is “really” in charge of Illinois. The Republicans need to win nine net seats. So, can…
Letters to the Editor 12/21/17
WASTE IN CITY GOVERNMENT I did a little research on the sizes of several police departments in Illinois and found that Springfield has more per capita than other cities of comparable size. My property tax continues to rise, mainly to support the police and fire retirements. There are really no investigative reports; those tough guys…
Editor’s note 12/21/17
Nobody laid a glove on the popular and confident Mayor Jim Langfelder during his appearance at Citizens Club last week. In answer to questions, the mayor made clear he has no intention of reducing police or fire personnel. This is despite growing evidence that Springfield can ill afford its force that numbers far more than…
A presidential Christmas
Learn how past presidents celebrated holidays during the newest exhibition at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, titled “Holidays at the White House: A Presidential Christmas.” The exhibit, which opened Nov. 17 and runs though Dec. 31, showcases photos, videos and artifacts from the Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations.…
A zany Christmas comedy
On Friday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m., take in a performance of Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold. The play is written by the creators of Late Nite Catechism and sponsored by Sterling Tax Service and Solomon Colors. During this hilarious holiday mystery, Sister, played by actress Mary Zentmyer, assembles a living…
Homestyle holiday breakfast
This Christmas Day, enjoy a hot breakfast in a comfortable and cordial atmosphere. The 14th annual Holiday Interfaith Breakfast, hosted by Temple B’rith Sholom, offers attendees a hearty meal in between the hustle and bustle of church services, gift exchanges and family gatherings. The breakfast consists of fluffy scrambled eggs with a chili-verde sauce, roasted…
You flooze, you lose
I’m a married lesbian in my 50s. I blew up my happy marriage by having an affair with somebody I didn’t love and wasn’t even that attracted to. Now my wife, whom I love very much, is divorcing me. Why did I cheat on her? I don’t understand my own behavior. – Lost There are…
Love thy neighbor
Military families often suffer from isolation, and the problem is even more pervasive at the holidays. Here’s how one couple went above and beyond to provide love, peace of mind and a few good meals to a military family in need of support. When Army Captain Chase Burnett was relocated to Fort Campbell in Kentucky,…
Hometown shopping hero
We humans are social creatures, and nothing highlights our need for human interaction and goodwill like the holiday season. That’s why many shoppers prefer to patronize local stores, where a staffer might greet them by name, and help them select the perfect gift. For some, that experience is worth paying a few dollars more, even…
Want to give back? Here’s how to do it
We’re moved to express our gratitude to those in need and those who have made a positive impact on our community. And many times, we feel the urge to do something that goes beyond a spoken “thank you.” For some, that involves volunteerism and service of their own. For many others it involves donating to…
A mysterious blessing
This is Roy French’s annual Christmas memóir. Mr. Houck came early to the Sangamon Valley while it was still a wilderness without many inhabitants. He came before the land was surveyed so his fields stretched from the big sycamore tree to the east to the large cottonwood on the creek bank to the west. All…
A medieval state
The inmate was mumbling. Shaking. Clearly in a psychotic state and whispering about a black hole. The black hole had already demanded, and received, his blood once, the inmate told Dr. Pablo Stewart, a psychiatrist who visited Pontiac Correctional Center last fall to determine whether the state was abiding by a settlement agreement crafted to…
31st Night
Every New Year’s Eve since Dec. 31, 1987, the Springfield Area Arts Council has thrown a downtown party featuring a wide variety of entertainment. This year’s First Night Springfield promises to be no exception, with kid-friendly fun in the afternoon and music ranging from blues to cowboy yodeling to DIY punk, not to mention the…
Chuck and Churchill
With his many larger-than-life roles, it’s a bit disconcerting to discover that Gary Oldman’s presence is far from domineering. Soft-spoken and standing a trim 5 feet 8 inches, his personality fills the room. He has no reason to shout and rend the scenery – his quiet confidence and his past achievements do that on their…
Oldman shines in compelling Hour
One of the mistakes that can occur when looking at the past is that we tend to see things more positively than they actually were. The inclination to buy into the notion of “the good old days” speaks to the power and deceptive nature of nostalgia. I think there’s a certain degree of this at…
Remember December
Happy winter solstice, and merry whatever to you all. It’s that time of year, of course, and one of the best ways to enjoy the holidays is through music. Perhaps enough is enough of the holiday stuff, but getting out and about to see what local musicians have to offer is a real gift to…
James Armstrong
Known the world over (well, practically) as the “Ambassador of the Blues,” Springfield is proud to claim James Armstrong as a resident. With a jazz guitarist for a father and a blues singer for a mother, James was practically born to play music and started his first band in seventh grade. He took off with…
Make a hit with holiday hors d’oeuvres
Looking for fresh, seasonal flavors that will add some variety to this year’s holiday soirée? These are a few of my favorite party recipes that are either very quick to prepare or can be made several days ahead of time. If you’ve been invited to a party, talk to your host first before showing up…
Paradox
Paradox Holidays are portrayed as times ofrejoicing but as we all come to know they are often fraught with grief. It seems appropriate to share this poem again (I used it in 2014) at this anxiousseason. It was written by my mother in1925; I have it in a booklet, Mirrors, that she printed for my…
