Hanging with a bad boy
Untitled Document I have to admit, I was nervous. For me, having a private interview with Anthony Bourdain was the equivalent of a diehard Republican’s going quail hunting with Dick Cheney or a NASCAR fan’s getting some one-on-one time with Dale Earnhardt Jr. For those who’ve never heard of Bourdain, he’s a chef and author who…
The cult of Jodorowsky
Untitled Document His is hardly a household name, but the influence of Alejandro Jodorowsky goes beyond name recognition. His best-known film is El Topo (1970), which translates to The Mole, a cult classic that created the midnight-movie phenomenon of the 1970s. He was the world’s premier director of weird cinema before David Lynch stole his…
The price of pork
Untitled Document Neighbors who oppose the big hog farm under construction near the Buckhart Tavern now have to put their money where their mouths are. Last week, Sangamon County Circuit Judge Leslie Graves granted a preliminary injunction halting farmer Bob Young’s construction of a hog-confinement facility on Buckhart Road, less than a mile from the…
Wild thing
Untitled Document To call it the “Showdown at Lusk Creek Wilderness” would be an exaggeration; the scene would be better described as an informal negotiation. On this Saturday afternoon in May, an invisible line is being drawn across a muddy road in Pope County. On one side stands John Wallace, binoculars draped around his neck,…
Pulse of the state
Untitled Document As you probably know, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has flatly ruled out an income- or sales-tax hike in exchange for a property-tax cut and more money for education. House Speaker Michael Madigan has said that there isn’t sufficient support in his Democratic caucus to pass an income- or sales-tax hike. But a recent poll…
Divestment redux
Untitled Document An amendment to the state’s Sudan-divestiture law was approved by the Illinois House this week. Senate Bill 1169, sponsored by Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins, D-Chicago, makes technical changes to the Illinois’ definition of prohibited transactions, directing the state to “disassociate from genocide and terrorism in Sudan.” The bill is designed to fix a…
The off-shoring of local news
Untitled Document Here in Austin, Texas, a TV station fired its news director and didn’t replace him. Instead, the conglomerate owner decided to put the news director of its Tampa, Fla., station in charge of our “local” news coverage. Rumor has it that the Tampa guy had once visited our fair city, so apparently that…
People’s poetry
Untitled Document graduationpoem #1 Ared fox ran away HEran far far away HISmother had no telephoneHADNOtelephone and he was all alonethose are the words we sangfrom a grade-school songbookI always felt a pang for that foxwas he lost forever there was nosecond verse to reassure meyears later I heard an orchestra playbrahms’ academic festival…
The name game
Untitled Document One upon a time when honesty was prized and a man was defined by his work, Mort the Barber stopped cutting hair. As far as anyone knew Mort had been cutting hair in our small town since hair was called fur — but no more! The town had slandered him, publicly accused him…
Surrender, monkeys
Untitled Document The French, to paraphrase F. Scott Fitzgerald, are different from you and me. They take their dogs to cafés and leave their kids at home with filles au pair. Their television shows pingpong from jiggling bare breasts to jousting philosophes. Is it any wonder that no one seemed the least bit scandalized 23…
Letters to the Editor
Untitled Document 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. EMBRACE THE SMELL OF LIVE BACONAs a small child back in the ’70s, I spent many days in the bar in…
What’s in a name?
Untitled Document Would a tree still be a tree if we called it a rock? Would a kiss still be a kiss if we said it was a burp? Would jellybeans be jellybeans if we named them road apples? I’m sure you get the point: Everything is what it is, no matter what we call…
Diesel danger
Untitled Document Are children breathing in dangerous exhaust fumes by riding the school bus? More than 24 million children ride the bus to school every day and as a result are regularly exposed to harmful diesel-exhaust emissions. Major components of diesel exhaust include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, and tiny soot particles that carry substances…
The comet, not the tail
Untitled Document Here’s a curious book for June: 26 personal essays on weddings — and, occasionally, nonweddings. They touch on such subjects as plans, preparations, etiquette, gift registries, the dress, the budget, and more, including “Should you have sex on your wedding night?” (Conclusion: You’re exhausted and you’ve already had it anyway, unless you’re buying…
Killing time
Untitled Document Kevin Costner has been trying to shake his all-American image for quite some time, but the public isn’t buying it. Moviegoers love Costner when he’s cast as a romantic lead (The Bodyguard, Tin Cup), in a Western, or in anything that has to do with sports. However, throw him in a role that…
The “assault on reason” in Illinois
Untitled Document What is wrong with the Illinois legislature? By now many are asking how democracy got broken here and how it can be repaired. A General Assembly session that began with progressive ideas on health care and education — along with rare willingness by the governor and legislative leaders to raise taxes to pay…
Watering tips for vegetable gardens
Untitled Document Each vegetable has a critical time during its growth when lack of adequate moisture can be a serious problem. “Hot, dry weather leads to high moisture deficiency in vegetable gardens,” says Maurice Ogutu, a horticulture educator with the University of Illinois. Unless vegetables get adequate moisture throughout the growing season, he says, gardeners…
Strawberries now!
Untitled Document Now is the time for all good men, women, and children to have strawberries. Not in February to woo your valentine (there are plenty of other ways to say “I love you”) and not even in September, when we might still be in the mood for a daiquiri. Now, now, now. Did I say…
No money?
Untitled Document The kids are revved up and want to know what’s planned for the 14 long weeks before they have to be back in the classroom. Even with gas at the $3 mark and showing no sign of coming down, you can still have a great summer on a tiny budget. Sangamon County and…
See you in the cornfields
Untitled Document Sure, the skyline isn’t much, and there’s nary a roller coaster in sight, but for a low-key trip out of Springfield, the charming twin towns of Champaign and Urbana may be just what a capital-city resident needs. Whether you want to disappear in a dark theater for hours or push the limits of…
Summer Guide Calendar 2007
Untitled Document Unless otherwise noted, events are in Springfield and Sangamon County. Information for some events was incomplete at press time. Check upcoming editions of Illinois Times for details. MAY Through June 9 Emerging Artists Exhibition of fine art and craft created by youth and adult students of the Springfield Art Association, Springfield Art Association, 700…
Summer Guide 2007
Untitled Document We have a co-worker with boundless energy and a short attention span. You know the type — a little manic, a lot excitable, mostly fun. One of our resident wags came up with the affectionate nickname “Tigger” for this colleague. Because, of course, we’re all adults working in a pressure cooker of a…
Kerasotes summer movie program
Untitled Document Kerasotes is again hosting a summer movie program for kids at ShowPlace East 8, at the Capital City Shopping Center, but there is a change in the way tickets are sold. All tickets will be sold individually at the ShowPlace East 8 box office, beginning May 1, and will not be available by…
Water wonder
Untitled Document Whether you prefer the softly rippling waters of the lake on a summer’s evening or the pink-tinted sky above the lakeshore in the morning, it’s obvious why Rend Lake was recently named an Illinois wonder — and it boasts activities for everyone. Rend Lake — located in southern Illinois, close to the junction…
Summer books
Untitled Document One of the pleasures of summer vacations is a visit to the bookstore or library to pick out those special volumes you plan to take to the cottage or the beach. Pretending that I was about to embark, I did just that, and these are the ones that caught my eye. While perusing…
Break a leg
Untitled Document Summer theaters are offering up the new, the old, and the tried-and-true, so there’s something for everyone on area stages this summer. Here are highlights: The Springfield Muni Opera has a big season that starts with the hit Broadway musical Miss Saigon (June 1-3, 6-10), followed by Peter Pan (June 22-24, June 27-July…
The plane truth
Untitled Document Remember the day when some flights offered breakfast or lunch? At the least, a bag of pretzels and can of soda was standard fare on all flights. These days, even pretzels are a rarity. No-frills flights reflect the financial pressure that passenger airlines face everywhere. As Mark Hanna, executive director of the Abraham…
At the river’s edge
Untitled Document This time of year, office flu is going around. If you’ve ever suffered this malady, you know how the disease progresses: You clock in, get some coffee, scan your e-mail, maybe return a phone call or two. Then you notice sunshine winking through your window. You see foliage swaying slightly, indicating a breeze.…
Float your boat
Untitled Document Just a few hours from Springfield are hundreds of miles of floatable streams that offer an ideal natural playground for exploration, fishing, and relaxation. Many are crystal-clear, spring-fed, and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, including towering limestone bluffs and undisturbed forests. I was first exposed to some of Missouri’s Ozark streams nearly 30 years…
Hot licks
Untitled Document It’s that glorious time of year when central Illinoisans whip out the sunscreen, find the bug spray, dig up the flip-flops, dust off the portable chair, and otherwise prepare for a delightfully fun-filled summer, complete with an abundance of outdoor live music activities. Downtown Springfield is one hopping place these days, and things…
Summer exposure
Untitled Document From far away, it might look like an ordinary field, but once you step inside, you realize that the prairie is alive with bees, birds, and butterflies — and although the prairie can be an allergy sufferer’s nightmare, it’s a photographer’s dream. Summer is the best time of year to shoot the prairies…
Burning up the screen
Untitled Document The summer means blockbuster films, but for some reason the three biggest sequels were released in May. A little distance might have resulted in more money for all. Don’t worry, though — the studios have many more mindless releases to fill out the summer months. All dates are subject to change, and limited…
