Scattered “Bourne” a High-Tech Headache
There’s not much to Jason Bourne, the fifth entry in Universal Pictures’ spy franchise. To be sure, it resembles a movie and passes as an action film by today’s standards, which is pretty low indeed. There’s little in the way of story, nothing resembling character development and were it in cahoots with the company that…
“Café” Familiar but Fine
There’s nothing really new where Woody Allen’s 48th film, Café Society is concerned and that’s fine. While other directors are certainly guilty of covering the same ground more than once (John Ford – Westerns, Alfred Hitchcock – Thrillers, etc.) it certainly didn’t detract from their overall quality or entertainment factor of their work. That’s certainly…
Gill challenges signature barrier to ballot
A perennial candidate for public office is challenging Illinois’ signature requirements for gaining ballot access in elections, saying the requirements violate the U.S. Constitution. If the lawsuit succeeds, it would drastically lower the bar for candidates in Illinois to get their names before voters in elections. David Gill is a physician from Bloomington who previously…
“Beyond” Delivers Good, Not Great “Trek”
There’s never a moment where you feel as though the Star Trek crew is going through the motions in their latest big screen adventures Star Trek Beyond, though there is a sense of familiarity to it all. Three films into the reboot of the exploits of the original crew, director/producer J.J. Abrams has successfully mined…
Revising a revision
The Illinois Executive Mansion as depicted on a postcard from the 1920s. IMAGE COURTESY OF ILLINOIS DIGITAL ARCHIVES You know how it is. You repaint the living room, and suddenly the furniture looks shabby. So you replace that, which makes the carpet look worn. Over on Jackson Street, they finally fixed the leaky roof on…
What’s next for the Bernie Sanders revolution?
Jim Hightower PHOTO BY LARRY D. MOORE Outside of Bernie Sanders’ circle, a multitude of Bernie supporters are not waiting on a smoke signal from headquarters. With the primaries over, a mushrooming, percolate-up creativity has already burst into new organizing projects that are advancing this energized populist movement. Here are just two examples: The People’s…
The tables have turned
PHOTO BY ALAN SOLOMON/TNS During the second quarter of 2012, the Illinois House Republican Organization’s largest reported campaign expenditure was a $12,612 payment to the Internal Revenue Service. Indeed, six of HRO’s ten largest expenditures that quarter were for IRS payments, most likely quarterly withholding. But four years later, the HRO’s spending focus is solidly…
Letters to the Editor 7/28/16
During his eight-year tenure in office, US President Barack Obama has added about 15 million jobs to the American economy, halved annual deficits and immensely increased gay rights – among other things. PHOTO BY OLIVIER DOULIERY/TNS FEEL BETTER, NOT BITTERBy now we all have read how disappointed all the Erika Holsts out there are,…
Editor’s note 7/28/16
During this week when Democrats are celebrating a historic achievement by a woman, one who has accumulated a record of public service through decades of hard work in the trenches, this newspaper nominates its own candidate for woman of the year. This week Beth Irwin, our senior sales representative, marks her 30th anniversary on the…
Anniversary of America’s forgotten war
The Korean conflict from 1950-53 is often called “America’s Forgotten War.” For the families of Americans killed or missing there, it is anything but forgotten. This week (July 27) marks the 63rd anniversary of the end of hostilities in the three-year conflict, which came on the heels of World War II and involved 24 nations,…
Booze, brains and brawn
On Saturday, July 30, join Springfield’s Animal Protective League and 10 downtown bars for the APL’s Second Annual Underdog Crawl. The fun begins at Balen’s Bar and Grill with registration and complimentary breakfast from 8-10 a.m. The crawl officially begins at 10 a.m., when teams proceed to each of the 10 bars to complete a…
Celebrate local
The Sixth Annual Downhome Music, Beer and Art Festival boasts three stages of continuous live music by 23 local, original bands; more than 100 craft beers by local, regional and national brewers and distributors; food by local vendors; and shopping from local artists and artisans. The festival also includes a kids’ area with inflatables and…
The Doctor Is In
No matter your sport, fitness regimen or skill level, all athletes must learn to properly care for their bodies. Athletes of all sports and skill levels are invited to join Springfield Clinic at the east building on their main campus this Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 6:30 through 8:30 p.m., for a “The Doctor Is In”…
People who needle people
PHOTO COURTESY AMY ALKON Amy Alkon A female friend overheard me on the phone with my boyfriend and became concerned. He and I tease each other relentlessly, calling each other mean silly names, but it’s all in fun. Though we have a very loving relationship, she thinks the teasing is a sign of submerged anger.…
Fixing the People’s House
Image courtesy of Vinci Hamp Architects. The Illinois Executive Mansion has fallen into disrepair before. At least this time, no one is trying to demolish it. The mansion has been the Springfield residence of Illinois governors stretching back to 1853, but it has been 44 years since the mansion was last renovated. A plan unveiled…
A diversity check of Illinois’ RNC delegation
Illinois Rep. John Cabello, R-Rockford, says he is the only Republican member of the Illinois House of Hispanic origin. PHOTO BY AMANDA VINICKY The GOP has been talking for years about the need to do more minority outreach: Illinois leaders like former Gov. Jim Edgar said at the Republican National Convention in 2008 that it…
City settles pregnant stun gun lawsuit
Sgt. Edward Higginson, shown here at a Coffee with a Cop event on July 11, was accused of using excessive force in a lawsuit filed by a pregnant woman whom Higginson shocked with a stun gun in 2013 following a struggle. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE The City of Springfield settled a lawsuit last week filed…
Silliness obscures Moms’ message
Kristen Bell as Kiki, Mila Kunis as Amy and Kathryn Hahn as Carla in Bad Moms. PHOTO COURTESY STX Entertainment Having found success after writing the Hangover trilogy, Jon Lucas and Scott Moore set out to show that women can act just as stupidly as men with Bad Moms. Much to their own and their…
Downhome and doings
Ayo Abitogun and HISO music groups play Wet Bar in downtown Springfield on Friday night. Ready or not, here comes the last weekend in July 2016, jam-packed with all kinds of cool music events to make the time fly by even faster. The sixth annual Downhome Music, Beer and Art Festival held at Seventh and…
Kelsey Hickman
From her days as a teenage singer fronting Still Kickin’, the popular Midwest band based out of Springfield, Kelsey Hickman seemed poised for stardom. After Still Kickin’ split in 2013, Kelsey did what many aspiring country singers before her have done and headed for the bright lights of Music City, USA, Nashville, Tenn. After a…
Simple suppers for steamy nights
Grilled Vegetable and Fresh Goat Cheese Sandwiches PHOTOS BY ASHLEY MEYER It’s hot outside and, as much as I love to cook, these days I will do almost anything to avoid turning on my stove. Here are some of my favorite tips for eating real while keeping cool. Stocking up your freezer with cooked grains…
A taunting deficit
CARTOON BY CHRIS BRITT
summer advice poem #11
if a bear steals your backpackand you’re alone on the trailstarving you can eat porcupineflesh raw it even provides itsown toothpicks of course if youare a vegetarian you’ll have tomake do with nuts roots berries
