Blog rolling
Untitled Document Political blogs have been getting a bad rap in newspapers for years, but they’re rapidly coming of age and already having an impact on campaigns throughout Illinois this year. Take, for example, Peoria, which probably has more political bloggers per capita than anyplace else in the state. Peoria’s daily newspaper has had an…
When evil lurks
Untitled Document Having put an indelible stamp on the American film scene with such diverse and challenging films as Raising Arizona, Fargo, and The Big Lebowski, brothers Joel and Ethan Coen now carry the burden of great expectations. As of late, many feel that the filmmakers have failed to realize the potential they exhibited in…
Good neighbors
Untitled Document More than 100 good neighbors attended a Cool Town Meeting on Sunday, Nov. 4, at the home of another good neighbor, First Presbyterian Church. Along with Saturday’s rally outside the federal building, the meeting was Springfield’s response to the national “Step It Up 2007: National Day of Climate Action” effort. In addition to…
Buy into a holiday shopping boycott
Untitled Document Female shoppers, beware. Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving, considered one of the biggest shopping days of the year — is lurking at the end of the month, raising the risk of a postholiday debt hangover. Twenty-three percent of Americans will not pay off their holiday debt until March or later, equaling…
Have your pie and celiac, too
Untitled Document The carb train has just pulled into town, making all local stops along the holiday highway until New Year’s Day. For many of us, the next six weeks are more like a ride on a runaway train, a fast and furious double-fisted eating frenzy that includes too much booze, fat, sugar, and flour.…
Turkey Day tutorial
Untitled Document This Thanksgiving, most of us will join family and friends to celebrate the good fortunes in our lives and eat until we feel like stuffed turkeys. Every year since 1863 we have celebrated the traditional American Thanksgiving Day. President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November a day to give thanks for…
Do it yourself
Untitled Document It’s bedazzling, lopsided, and made with love. But what exactly is it? No matter. As soon as a child utters that magical phrase “I made it myself,” it is accepted and displayed on the fridge. Although handmade gifts are cherished when they are from children, there can be a bit of a stigma…
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. NOEXCUSEFORLOSINGRECRUIT Talk about one rotten apple spoiling the bushel! And even if it was two or three, what a shame that…
The all-natural flimflam
Untitled Document Is it true that all the CEOs and lawyers at big food corporations get their job training from flimflam artists at carnival sideshows? These executives are always trying to twist language, pervert meaning, and distort laws in various crass commercial efforts to flimflam consumers. The latest example is a push by food giants…
Gov. Henry Horner, martyr to good government
Untitled Document In 1961, after a long day of working on a promotional film at New Salem, 83-year-old Carl Sandburg granted Tom Littlewood an interview about Sandburg’s old friend Henry Horner, the two-term governor of Illinois who died in 1940. “Horner was the Real Goods,” said the poet and author, who had shared with Horner…
Klutzo’s last act
Alleged pedophile A. Paul Carlock, the subject of an Illinois Times article last week, died Friday at St. John’s Hospital after a struggle with Sangamon County jailers. Tony Sacco, chief deputy in the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, says that at 7:30 a.m. officers attempted to transport Carlock to the hospital because he had been behaving…
People’s poetry
Untitled Document politicopoem #4 dynasty talk is going onbeware of voting for hillarywe’ve had enough too muchof the bushes and look at allthose kennedys if they hadn’tbeen killed off but who seeschelsea going into politicsso what if she does we’ve hadtwo good adamses plus twodistinguished rooseveltseven though fifth cousinsplenty of senators gores bayhswisconsin all the…
Holiday highlights
Untitled Document Memorial Medical Center’s Festival of Trees Through Nov. 25. A holiday tradition featuring more than 100 decorated trees, wreaths, and centerpieces along with entertainment, gingerbread cookies, and a children’s craft area. Orr Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds (www.memorialsfestivaloftrees.com) Holiday Hall and Fine Craft Exhibition Through Dec. 15. From more than 40 central Illinois artists,…
When recycling is dangerous
Untitled Document Is it true that refilling and reusing some types of plastic bottles can cause health problems? Most types of plastic bottles are safe to reuse at least a few times if properly washed with hot soapy water — but recent revelations about chemicals in Lexan (plastic No. 7) bottles are enough to scare…
And now, the rest of the turkey
Untitled Document “The heavenly aroma still hung in the house. But it was gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad! No turkey gravy! Turkey hash! Turkey à la king! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, all gone!” — Ralphie Parker, A Christmas Story When the Bumpuses’ dogs sneaked in and dragged…
Odds and ends
Untitled Document Don’t tell anybody, but Springfield really is an odd place — or, at least, there are many odd things about it. With gift-giving season officially in full swing, we gave ourselves the task of finding some Springfield oddities that would make dandy presents this holiday season. Invariably, the more we shopped, the more…
’Twas the night before Thanksgiving
Untitled Document Regular readers of this column are surely aware by now that Thanksgiving Eve is Springfield’s busiest bar night of the year, thanks to the booze-swilling public and measured by the cash registers of participating nightclubs. It certainly makes sense when you think about it. Almost everyone has the next day off for Thanksgiving…
Slowly but surely
Untitled Document When Illinois Times first wrote about Dorothy Milford [see “The way back home,” April 5, 2007], this widow raising six grandchildren ages 5 to 13 had already been forced to move twice in less than two years — first due to lead paint found in her own home, and then because of lead paint…
Lend a hand
Untitled Document Illinois Times invites local nonprofit organizations to tell our readers what they need — in addition to financial support — for the holidays. If your organization’s not included here, please e-mail your request to editor@illinoistimes.com. This list will be updated weekly through Dec. 20. American Red Cross 1045 Outer Park Dr., 217-787-7602 The American…
Feeding the hungry
Untitled Document Michele Tucker, executive director of Kumler Neighborhood Ministries, says she doesn’t want to see families go without on Thanksgiving. That’s why her organization and others around Springfield are kicking their efforts into overdrive this week to ensure that families are well equipped and well fed during the holidays. Tucker…
Love and Skittles
Last Christmas, we had some relatives come visit. Stop the presses, right? It seemed pretty mundane to me, too, at the moment I so casually tossed out the invitation: “Hey, why don’t you and Derrion come to our house for the holidays?” It was only after I hung up the phone that the magnitude of…
