Now Playing 11-6-03
Howdy friends and neighbors. Come on in and take a gander. Hope you see something you like. “There is no ‘alt’ in my country,” claims Thad Cockrell, a young country crooner from North Carolina. With two albums produced by the highly-praised and little-known musician, Chris Stamey, and backed by plenty of critical acclaim, the picker…
Knoepfle 11-6-03
evening with television on the screen the hero saves a woman from her ex the filthy sociopath the hero has been divorced on his own for twelve years he wonders should he ask her out or not on a date I consider this with two crackers and some chocolate milk © John Knoepfle 2003
If he shows, he’ll have to blow out 124 candles
In 1908, in his poem “On the Building of Springfield,” the celebrated poet Vachel Lindsay wrote: Let every street be made a reverent aisle, Where music grows and beauty is unchained. At the time of his death 23 years later, Lindsay’s star had faded — and his hope for a Springfield where “beauty is unchained”…
Your Turn . . . 11-6-03
Letters policy We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime telephone. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity. Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois 62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com My most difficult years I joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in September…
Bards of the Sangamo 11-6-03
SonnetI seek the fields, the woods, and gentle streams, In hopes to pass some calm, refreshing hours; But Ah! how weak are all my idle dreams — Love, love alone my bleeding heart devours. Or if mine eye a glance of pleasure shew On some sweet object — hill or circling plain — Quick comes…
Movie Review
And so the saga of the messiah Neo (Keanu Reeves) ends with a bang instead of a whimper in The Matrix Revolutions. Too bad. Since the original made its debut in 1999, Andy and Larry Wachowski’s sequels have taken on an air of self-importance. Reloaded, the second entry in the series, caused the curious to…
Power play
Commonwealth Edison has come a long way from the bad old days when it was constantly trying to find underhanded, sneaky ways to bill consumers for its overpriced, and then-unfinished, nuclear power plants. ComEd’s service territory was infamous for having the highest electric rates in the Midwest, and the third highest rates in the country.…
“The blood of noble patriots”
Last October, I picked up Illinois Times and read Job Conger’s article, “Dying Colors,” about the disposition of the regimental flags that had been on display in the Hall of Flags in the Howlett Building since the 1930s. The subhead read: “Some grand old flags survived the battle, but are losing the war.” Due to…
Neighsayers
In 1986, with Bill Shoemaker as his jockey, the steed Ferdinand won the Kentucky Derby in a race that’s still considered one of the greatest ever. For Shoemaker, who died on Oct. 12, it was his fourth and final Derby victory. For Ferdinand, it was one of 29 races that earned his owners more than…
Bush ducks soldiers’ burials
On Sunday, fifteen more U.S. soldiers died near Fallujah, Iraq, when a helicopter transport was shot down by enemy fire. Their remains — like those of the other 363 American military fatalities since the U.S. attacked Iraq — will be boxed and sent home for burial. While en route, the coffins will be deliberately shielded…
Room with a view
When Capisce? Ristorante Italiano opened its doors in May, it already enjoyed a built-in advantage: a panoramic view of Springfield no area restaurant could match. Even its manager acknowledges the restaurant’s prime location on the 30th floor on the Hilton Springfield draws customers who may be unfamiliar with its eclectic, authentic Italian menu. “The view…
Mixed bag of nuts
Things got squirrelly this week at City Council — figuratively and literally. The agenda took under half an hour with little discussion and only one dissenting vote (Ward 7’s Judy Yeager, casting her traditional vote against a 3 a.m. liquor license). That left a roomful of partisan politicians with microphones, no script and a lot…
How to serve guests when they’re covered in feathers
This fall consider joining the more than 65 million Americans who enjoy bird watching. You can enjoy the fastest growing hobby in the country (second to gardening) by providing some basic necessities for birds in your backyard. While bird feeders may attract birds in the winter, in order to enjoy birds in your backyard year-round…
We are women, hear us sing
In 1998, Champaign-based Amasong, a chorus consisting of only lesbians and feminists, won a Gay and Lesbian Music Association award — a GLAMMY — for its song, “The Water is Sweet Over Here.” For the gay and lesbian community, GLAMMYs are nearly as good as GRAMMYs. Listening to Amasong sing, a GRAMMY isn’t out of…
