For years now, Illinoisans dismayed by their elected officials’ failure to clean up the messes they made on the voters’ behalf could console themselves with the thought, “Well, it could be worse.” And it was, in California. Its state government confirms the truth of the old saying that California is just like the rest of […]
Illinois
Posted inNews
Fracking bill draws harsh criticism in Statehouse
In the formerly quiet towns of western North Dakota, there are new strangers arriving every day. New housing is being erected at a breakneck pace, and newfound wealth is flowing quickly into the rolling hills because of the wealth flowing out of them. Hydraulic fracturing of the Bakken Shale rock formation has created an oil […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Poetry makes nothing happen – everyone should watch this
Love it! Just received this awesome VlogBrothers You Tube video titled “Poetry Makes Nothing Happen: Thoughts on Ai Weiwei from the Indianapolis Museum of Art.” Wow … artists, poets and all other creatives and noncreatives (though according to Julia Cameron there is no such thing as a noncreative) need to watch this well done expo on […]
Posted inNews
Oil wells not so well
Paula Cook has had it with oil. She and her husband, Jim Cook, live on the 65-acre farm Paula’s ancestors owned 100 years ago. Located outside Edinburg, about 20 miles east of Springfield, the farm hosts a series of oil wells operated by Springfield oil company Bi-Petro, Inc. The oil wells were installed before Paula […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Talk about flip-flopping
Flip-flops are on my mind. And no, I don’t have a shoe or foot fetish. My feet just love to be comfortable and naked; my toes just love to be free. And warm weather means I can break out the flip-flops and sandals. Thanks be to the Egyptians. Thanks to America for falling in love […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Poets and painters gone wild
May 11-12, 2013 turned out to be a gorgeous weekend! It did not rain the Saturday before Mother’s Day as weather forecasters had predicted. Dr. Dolittle Day at Henson Robinson Zoo was sunny and warm (with just the right touch of wind, notice the flag above) — a perfect day for folks in central Illinois […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Come on in, click this line: It’s Poetry, Etc.
Welcome to Poetry, Etc. Welcome poetry lovers and curious souls (ha, ha … didn’t you know you can’t write “souls” in poetry, or “soul” they say)! Welcome to my new poetry blog at Illinois Times. I’ll be writing about all things poetry including what I find poetic in life. If it weren’t so hokey I […]
Posted inNews
Bloodbath in Beason
Logan County state’s attorney Jonathan Wright was raging. With trial scheduled to start in just three weeks, defense attorney Daniel Fultz had tainted the jury pool by granting an interview to a television news reporter, Wright told the judge as the defense attorney buried his head in his hands, as though deep in thought or […]
Posted inOpinion
Superfast road to the future
James Krohe Jr. In “Unplugged” (March 28, 2013) I wondered aloud about why Illinois’ internet service is so backward. Certainly one of the factors is the near-monopoly of such service enjoyed by the big telecommunications firms. It’s an interesting topic about which more might be said. Is the solution more competition to bring down prices […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Grow spinach, tasty, cool and easy
The arrival of yellow daffodils, green lawns and garden fresh salad are sure signs of spring. Leafy greens are among the easiest vegetables to grow, according to a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “You are sure to enjoy the best-tasting salad with greens that you have grown,” promised Jennifer Fishburn. “Spring greens such as […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Home sweet ‘green’ home
When Harv Koplo and Annette Chinuge met at Sangamon State University during the 1970s they had no idea their interest in preserving the earth would lead them to become pioneers for sustainable living in Springfield. “Nobody had heard of green or sustainable, but that doesn’t mean the principles weren’t there,” said Chinuge. “I think it […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Beat the heat with less air conditioning
It doesn’t seem possible, but 60 years ago people survived without air conditioning. Not only did they survive, but they may have even enjoyed life more, since they actually went outside in summertime and talked to their neighbors. Today the only people without it are the poor and radical environmentalists doing their part to avert […]
