Pumpers gotta pump
Drugs. In the world of fitness – and by extension – sports, they have become an issue impossible to ignore. Even though most of us amateur runners, cyclists and other athletes will never deal with steroids personally, we are constantly barraged by allegations about or confessions by the names we admire: Lance Armstrong, Mark…
Letters to the Editor 7/22/10
BAGWELL’S BUCKSTim Bagwell wants to go to Congress and spend money [see Guestwork, July 15]. He envisions expanded rail carrying manufactured freight, but fails to identify or suggest how Illinois will attract manufacturers. If it’s just a train thing then sure, let’s build train tracks. I suspect there are other factors to overcome. For evidence…
Census shows more minority businesses
When Michael Pittman first began publishing the Capital City Courier newspaper in Springfield in 2006, he wanted to address issues facing an African-American audience – issues he says often aren’t important to mainstream media. “It was something I always wanted to do,” Pittman says. “The emphasis for me was being an alternative source of news…
Women help Quinn close the gap
So, why did Gov. Pat Quinn close the gap with Republican state Sen. Bill Brady in Rasmussen Reports’ latest poll? There’s a one-word answer: women. Rasmussen’s newest poll had Brady ahead of Quinn 43-40. That’s a pretty hefty swing from the firm’s June poll, which had Brady with an eleven-point lead, 47-36. Many political observers…
Conservative think tank to Illinois: TURN RIGHT
When barbers employed by the state earn an average annual wage of nearly $66,000, compared to the average Illinois private sector barber’s $27,600, something is amiss, says the increasingly visible Illinois Policy Institute, which bills itself as a nonpartisan research organization attempting to bring specific ideological solutions to public policy. The example, meant to show…
Inception a dynamic, moving mind-bender
Christopher Nolan’s Inception is the movie I’ve been waiting for. Whip-smart, exciting and ultimately poignant, like any good science fiction film it brims with ideas and possibilities. Taking us on a thrilling ride of the imagination, it uses its elaborate plot and visual effects to challenge and thrill us rather than bludgeon us into submission.…
Cool Vietnamese rice noodle bowls
Marinade: Five garlic cloves, minced 1 heaping teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder (see note below) 2 T. peanut or other vegetable oil 1 1/2 T. fish sauce (see note below) 1 T. light brown sugar 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 lb. thin-cut meat – a beef skirt or flank steak, pork steaks or thin-cut…
Yvonne Gage
Since her appearance on the music world stage at a young age, Yvonne Gage has set high standards for vocalists in the world of jazz and R&B. Signed early on by RFC/Atlantic Records and later by CIM/CBS Records, Gage primarily focused on the European dance music market where her distinctive voice propelled many a Euro-dance…
Access 4 could return soon
After seven months of silence, Springfield’s public access television channel may soon return to the airwaves, but the group trying to secure the channel’s future has no means to produce new content. When Comcast cable company closed its Access 4 studio on Dec. 4, 2009, the 70-plus locally-produced shows on Springfield’s public access television channel…
Keep cool with noodles and summer rolls
What do you think it’s going to be like tonight? It’s going to be hot and wet. That’s nice if you’re with a lady, but it ain’t no good if you’re in the jungle!” – from the movie, Good Morning Vietnam Day after day the temperature keeps climbing into the mid-90s, and the forecast isn’t…
Chris Miller’s in town
Let me take you all back a few years (how about roughly 25 or so?) to revisit an interesting time in Springfield’s live music history when several unique music venues operated in the area. Most near and dear to my heart were Crow’s Mill School and the Romany Club. Crow’s Mill, on Toronto Road, is…
Cyrus a humorous look at the pitfalls of love
There’s that old maxim that if something seems too good too be true, it probably is. That certainly is the case for John (John C. Reilly) in Jay and Mark Duplass’ Cyrus, a darkly comic look at love and its pitfalls. John’s been divorced for seven years and hasn’t truly recovered. However, when he meets…
Creative writers
Hop on board for an adventure in words, wisdom, food, music and the soothing sights of water with Springfield Poets and Writers and Women Writers Association. The evening opens with dinner and drinks for purchase, Dave Tell playing the flute, door prize giveaways and books for sale. Open mic follows, emceed by Linda McElroy. All…
The city’s blind eye
Springfield’s 2008 remembrance of the 1908 race riots attempted reconciliation toward the city’s legacy of racism and hate. Despite those efforts, 2009 revealed another chapter in this legacy. One year ago, the city of Springfield was witness to an overt act of racism when a city employee discovered nooses hanging in the workplace. Acts such…
Country rockin’
Rockin’ country band Little Big Town comes to Springfield. This four-piece ensemble sings Little White Church, a snappy tune that sits at number seven on Amazon’s Top 50 Songs of 2010. Special guest country artist and former Dancing with the Stars professional, Julianne Hough, rounds off the show. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a…
The art of stuffed animals
A leopard leaps on top of a downed impala, one claw going for the throat. Its mouth is wide open, preparing for the kill. The prey can only look up in horror as it lives its final moments. This moment was frozen forever and prominently displayed at the National Taxidermist Association Convention July 15-17 at…
Metal master
Sculptor Jeff Garland shows all new pieces of expanded metal sculptures, including a totem pole, at the Botanical Garden through August. View these works Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday noon until 5 p.m. Also, see his solo exhibit of sculpture and oil paintings featuring a political and environmental…
Careless with heroes
We can all be grateful that when a heavy bomber visits our city, it is an occasion for a family outing. In June the “Sentimental Journey,” a restored B-17 Flying Fortress, spent a couple of days at Capital Airport. Crowds gather whenever one of these old beauties from World War II comes to town. Children…
Crab and mango summer rolls
1/2 lb. crabmeat 6 oz. thin rice noodles a.k.a. vermicelli 1/4 c. seasoned (sushi) rice wine vinegar 3 T. light brown sugar 4-5 scallions, cut lengthwise into 2-inch slivers, OR garlic or regular chives OR chives cut into 2-inch lengths 1-2 ripe mangoes, preferably Adolphos, cut into very thin slices 1 seedless cucumber, unpeeled, cut…
Amassed genres
In an effort to resurrect local public access television programming, artists from several genres converge into an orgy of the arts. Hosted by Alan Perry, the benefit begins with comedians Perry, Tree Sanchez, Sarah Smertz, Kathy Zeman and Rich Mansfield interspersed with a runway show featuring vintage, Asian and original clothing designs of Lisa Clemons…
PUPPET MASTERS
Whether small enough to fit on your finger or large enough to engulf your whole body, puppets can be hilarious or tragic, entertaining or terrifying. From the strings of the marionette to the unseen hand inside the ventriloquist dummy, a good puppeteer can make a puppet come to life and reveal truths that are not…
MICROCHIP YOUR BEST FRIEND
The Illinois Humane Society is putting on a microchip clinic and dog wash on Saturday, July 24. The clinic will take place at Car Wash City at 3316 Robbins Road from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the cost is $20. The wash costs $12 for large dogs, $10 for medium dogs and $8 for…
Vietnamese dipping sauce
3 Thai bird chiles OR one Serrano or Jalapeño chile, or more or less to taste 1 tsp. minced garlic 3 T. light brown sugar 2 T. lime juice 4 T. fish sauce (see note below) 1/2 c. lukewarm water 1 T. grated carrot, optional Using rubber or latex gloves, thinly slice the chiles. Put…
Rock opera
The first rock opera, and still one of the most popular, this musical is about the last seven days of Jesus of Nazareth seen through a modern lens. Directed by Laurie O’Brien, it stars Joshua Ratz as Jesus Christ and Brennan Stamps as Judas Iscariot. Jesus Christ, SuperstarJul 23-25, Jul 28-Aug 1, 8:30pmThe Muni815 East…
Jobless ‘recovery’ requires rebuilding America
The good news is that America’s economy continues to grow. The bad news is that most people’s personal economies continue to shrivel. The June report on jobs glows with the happy news that America’s unemployment rate has fallen to 9.5 percent – the best we’ve had in a year! “We are headed in the right…
New law requires testing all rape kits
On July 6 Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation requiring police departments around the state to submit sexual assault kits to a lab for DNA analysis. In the past, some of these kits were not tested for months, and some were even forgotten. A study done by Human Rights Watch showed that out of the 7,494…
Green business
Learn all about the new solar energy system and recycling efforts at FitClub South on July 24. Haenig Electric provides a presentation to the public with a tour of the system following. There will also be other green information available, refreshments and Ace Bike Shop raffles off a Giant Cypress bicycle with more than $350…
