Welcome to GOP nutland!
While it’s hard to fathom right-wing nuttiness, it’s sure not hard to find these days. We saw it bloom spectacularly recently, popping right out of the head of Todd Akin, the GOP’s Senate candidate in Missouri. The learned congressman gave America a twisted tutorial on the imaginary science of “legitimate rape,” including an astonishing assertion…
Visual expressions
You’ll want to join the Springfield Art Association this year with new interactive and fun features at its Edwards Place Fine Art Fair, held on the grounds of the historic mansion, both Saturday and Sunday. More than 60 artists will display and sell their works, interesting demonstrations will be presented in raku (outdoor kiln firing/Japanese…
Payday loan law doesn’t apply to TitleMax
Debate over short-term loan businesses on MacArthur Boulevard has erupted anew three years after the Springfield City Council restricted the proliferation of businesses that profit from making installment loans. At issue is what constitutes a business subject to the city’s ban on loan establishments locating within 1,500 feet of like businesses on a decaying section…
Judging the judge
The race for a Sangamon County Circuit Court judgeship is not, the participants readily acknowledge, a particularly sexy one. “I don’t think the judicial race is a big draw,” says Tim Londrigan, challenger to incumbent John Schmidt, who was appointed to the bench in 2010. “It does concern me that people don’t give the judicial…
The Hitmen and a Dame
These guys have been playing the popular hits for awhile or, as the promo coyly states, “deez guyz been playing da hits of the 60s, 70s & 80s since 2001,” booking everything from bar gigs to festivals, from political rallies (like for some Barack Obama guy, to mention one) to private functions, all with a…
Cold Light an exercise in tedium
The tepid thriller The Cold Light of Day is the sort of movie that makes you appreciate the genius of Alfred Hitchcock. Its plot of an ordinary man thrown into a case of international espionage is the sort of story that the master director practically invented and over the course of his career honed to…
Third Street better for transit center
Springfield’s consideration of high speed rail has focused on how freight rail interrupts auto traffic, with little discussion of the best location for a combined passenger rail and multimodal transit center. Decreasing use of oil is a vital national interest for economic, environmental and security reasons. Besides reducing reliance on oil, good passenger rail can…
Cheating is the American way
There is no shame in quitting a race you know you can’t win. Lance Armstrong’s shame is the many races he perhaps should have quit rather than win. It was apparently to prevent unsavory facts about his long-rumored doping from coming out into the open that the seven-time Tour de France winner abandoned his years-long…
Rock legends
The legendary 70-80s rock band, Kansas, plays the Prairie Capital Convention Center on Thursday, Sept. 20, with King’s X. Kansas is best known for its eight gold albums and the million-selling gold single, “Dust in the Wind.” Their song, “Carry on Wayward Son,” was the #2 most played track on classic rock radio in 1995…
Multi-media maven
Internationally known New York City multi-media artist, Colette, comes to Benedictine University at Springfield. In connection with her work on display at the school, an opening reception and talk will be Monday, Sept. 17, at the Brinkerhoff House. Colette will discuss her installations, art and artist personas. An installation on campus by the artist will…
When Springfield’s competing streetcars came to blows
Corporate arrogance and malfeasance seem like modern phenomena, but they’re not. Take the story of Springfield’s 1890 “streetcar wars,” for example. Shortly after the Civil War, Springfield got its first “modern” transportation – horse-drawn trolleys. A company organized in 1861 by some local bigwigs, including several of Abraham Lincoln’s friends and peers, established a trolley…
Words a compelling drama
At one point during Brian Klugman’s and Lee Sternhal’s The Words, author Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper) is told that his novel is far too artistic and delicate to be published in today’s market. The same can be said for this movie. It’s some kind of miracle that it’s made it to the big screen, as…
COUNTY WINS ONE
Sangamon County has prevailed in one chapter of a lawsuit filed by the estate of a man who died nearly five years ago after a struggle with guards in the county jail. U.S. District Court Judge Sue Myerscough last week ruled that county employees did not destroy emails or other electronic information about the case…
Alive and welded
What is an appropriate amount of togetherness time for a couple? My 9-year-old son spends half the week with me, plus every other weekend. My girlfriend of a year wasn’t happy with only the other half of my time, so she started joining me and my son. She and I are now together 5 1/2…
AFSCME under siege
What would drive a crowd of unionized state employees to boo the very governor they helped elect? The answer is about $83 billion of pension underfunding, a broken labor contract and a lot of jobs in jeopardy. When Gov. Pat Quinn stood before a crowd of fellow Democrats and union members on Governor’s Day at…
Obama’s ahead, but not like 2008
On the eve of President Barack Obama’s acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention last week, a statewide poll showed the native son was leading his Republican opponent by 17 percentage points here. The poll of 1,382 likely Illinois voters was taken Sept. 5 by We Ask America. It had Obama at 54 percent to…
Rhythms and techniques
Springfield Ballet Company’s Rockballet returns to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS for two exciting performances. The annual merging of ballet, modern, jazz and other dance styles showcases the talent and diversity of the company dancers and guest artists. Choreographers this year are: Hernan Justo and Francesca Genovese of Carolina Ballet Theatre, Julie Tice, formerly with Paul Taylor…
Seven years of Black Sheep
What started as a way for bands to just get a place to play turned into a seven-year success story as a home for all-ages music in Springfield. Snuggled into one long room on the east side of 11th Street just north of South Grand Avenue, the Black Sheep Café does what no one else…
DOLLARS FOR DNA
It was only a few months ago that the former Downstate Illinois Innocence Project expanded its focus statewide and became the Illinois Innocence Project. Adding partners at the three public law schools in Illinois – NIU, UIUC and SIU, the Innocence Project needed a big influx of cash to fund its supercharged mission of working…
Colcannon/Seeskraut
The ISA’s 6th annual Harvest Celebration will be at the Inn at 835 in Springfield 5-9p.m. Sept 16. Space is limited. It’s advisable to get tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are $65 for members of ISA and $75 for non-ISA members. Call Dee at 217-528-1563 for tickets and/or more information. Colcannon/SeeskrautI hadn’t expected Dirks’…
Come and Get It!, the book and the event
Come and Get It! Could there be a more perfect moniker for the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s sixth annual Harvest Celebration on Sept. 16.? Those who come to the celebration always get a fantastic meal, prepared by top area chefs. This year, as well as Springfield’s best, there are also phenomenal chefs from Bloomington and Champaign.…
Letters to the Editor 09/13/12
GAMBLING OUR FUTUREMitt Romney, the devout Mormon, may have lowered his standards to win this presidental election. For decades The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) and its faithful church members have taken a strong and very vocal unalterable stance against gambling in any form, including lotteries, sweepstakes, racetracks and casinos.…
