Spreading the wealth is a good thing
One of John McCain’s goofier political moves came in the last couple of weeks of the campaign when — with eyes darting, arms pumping frenetically and lips sneering — he assailed Barack Obama for saying, “I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” Oh, wailed McCain, that’s vile socialism! And a…
THEY HATE PROP 8
THEY HATE PROP 8 About 160 members and friends of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/ Questioning community gathered outside the Illinois Supreme Court in Springfield over the weekend to protest what they call “hateful ballot initiatives” approved by voters in Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, and, most notably, California, on Nov. 4. Organizers Bret Tate and…
Springfield is stepping up
In Detroit, it’s called the social. In Dallas, it’s called the swing. But in the Land of Lincoln, it’s called stepping. From 9 p.m.-3 a.m. on Nov. 22 at the American Legion #809, 1800 E. Capitol Ave., couples will compete for a $200 prize and bragging rights. Stepping is a dance that builds off of…
Barack Obama’s confident humility
Senator Barack Obama ran a successful campaign about change, and in many ways his election to the presidency marks a revolution in American politics — but it also marks a return. The Founding Fathers believed in people’s power to transform the world — and themselves — through the shared application of reason. Obama embodies this…
Bolt delivers in-your-lap entertainment
If the reaction by the youngsters in the audience at last Saturday night’s preview of Disney’s Bolt is any indication, the new digital 3-D process that was used to make this feature is here to stay. “Oohs” and “aahs” filled the theater as did the sight of young hands reaching towards the screen, trying to…
The First Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
When the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum opened, it was heralded as the first of its kind. However, there was an unofficial version housed in the Lincoln Home from 1884 to 1893. It was run by Civil War veteran Osborn Oldroyd, a man who was as quirky as the museum he created. When Oldroyd began collecting…
A dramatic move on Seventh Street
The twelve-member crew of Expert House Movers carefully eased the 19th-century Maisenbacher House into Seventh Street. east of the Springfield Clinic last Saturday morning. Though the weather was cold and blustery, a crowd gathered to watch the house move north on Seventh Street to its new home at Seventh and Jackson sreets. It moved a…
BOXING DAY
BOXING DAY This weekend, on Saturday, Nov. 22, the parking lot of First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St., will be littered with two dozen refrigerator boxes. No, the church isn’t going out of business. Nor did they get a really good bulk deal on communion wine. In recognition of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness…
LEGAL BILLS MOUNTING
LEGAL BILLS MOUNTING Private attorneys representing fired Springfield Police Department detective Paul Carpenter have billed the city $93,241 for their services defending him over the past 19 months in a civil rights lawsuit filed by a pair of alleged drug dealers. Two other former officers named as defendants in the lawsuit are also being represented…
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. SHARE YOUR VIEWS In regards to Jim Hightower’s article, titled “The change must come from within us” [IT, Nov. 13], I could not…
Barack’s batteries
Untitled Document Whenever Barack Obama opens his mouth, a five-point program comes forth. The clean car arena is no exception. Obama has an ambitious 10-year, $150 billion program that he says will save more oil than the U.S. currently imports from both the Middle East and Hugo Chavez’ Venezuela. Now that he’s been elected, Obama…
