Page 1

The Illinois budget is broken
The day after Veterans Day, we were reminded of another long-running war of attrition, in which clueless elected officials have been squandering resources in ways that threaten our security over the long term. No, not the fighting in Helmand Province, but in the General Assembly.

How to prevent breast cancer
One simple test could end up saving thousands of women’s lives. Yet, for those without health insurance, the test comes too late. According to the American Cancer Society, this year alone an estimated 40,170 women will lose their lives to breast cancer.

The worthiness of banker charity
This was no street evangelist ranting at the passing crowd, but the archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England. His sharp admonition was pointed directly at a particular set of sinners who undoubtedly had never given any thought to the morality of their actions: the barons of global banking.

LETTERS
To make up for his total job losses while serving the 17th district as congressman and district director, Congressman Hare should focus on bringing in at least 10 more terrorist prisons. One prison only makes up for the job losses of Maytag and Seaford.

kidquote thanksgiving poem #3
thank you dad and mom for buying a race track but remember I left it on my floor and everybody stepped on it thank you for buying that race track and the four batteries to the race track but this time I want a skateboard.

Hynes hasn’t beat up Quinn yet
Since then, Hynes has spent close to $2 million on TV ads, but Quinn has matched him pretty much dollar for dollar. And while Hynes stopped running network TV ads on Nov. 11 and went dark on cable last week, Quinn was up with a positive bio ad last week on both network and cable.

Senate ethics panel admonishes Burris
The United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics said in a publicly released “Letter of Qualified Admonition” that Burris had inappropriate contact with the now-impeached governor in seeking an appointment to the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

SAFETY NET
Madigan recently surveyed 4,200 Illinois schoolchildren in third through 12th grade to see if the youngsters are using cell phones and Internet technology. Last week her office released the results, which show that nearly 90 percent of the students who are 14 years and older have cameras on their cell phones and can send text messages.

LINCOLN’S FACEBOOK
Brothers Phillip and Peter Kunhardt certainly have, and the result of that research is their new book, Lincoln, Life-Size, in which photographs of the 16th president are enlarged to life-size and accompanied by descriptions from Lincoln’s friends, colleagues and acquaintances.

Employee union blasts plans to sell Thomson prison
Governor Pat Quinn has announced a plan to sell the $145 million prison to the federal government, saying the sale would create thousands of new jobs and relieve the overcrowded federal prison system.

County seeks landmark status for Illiopolis water tower
The central Illinois plant, located two-anda-half miles southwest of Illiopolis, was built in 1942 and eventually became one of the leading munitions production facilities in the country. Sixty-seven years later, one of its key structures could soon join the list of local landmarks.

Bob Waldmire’s farewell tour
Last month Bob Waldmire made public what he has known for some time – that he has colon cancer and he probably won’t live much longer. Last Sunday, Nov. 22, “Bob’s Last Art Show” was held at his family’s famous Cozy Dog Drive In.

Holiday Calendar
Find some holiday fun with this week’s compilation of Springfield area events and activities..

Community Wish List
The Springfield YMCA was established in 1874 and has continuously served the Springfield area for 135 years. It began as an organization serving boys and young men, but over the years has broadened its services and target population to meet the changing needs of the community.

Cheap and cheerful
Glaze your ham in Dr Pepper. The soda imparts a sweet, fruity glaze onto the ham. Celeb chef Alton Brown recommends soaking the ham in clean water for two days (changing the water twice a day) to remove excess salt, then placing it in a roasting pan and dousing it with a liter of soda and a cup of sweet pickle juice.

RealCuisine Recipe
This tangy soup, with its bright and lively flavors, is a perfect antidote to holiday overindulgence, but it’s great any time. It takes little more than half an hour from start to finish, and there’s only about 10 minutes of actual prep involved: opening a can of tomatoes, chopping a pepper and onion, and blending the soup before serving.

Soup and bread
Ah, the weekend after Thanksgiving! I enjoy Thanksgiving and preparing Thanksgiving dinner, really, I do, but there’s something special about the weekend afterwards. The cooking marathon is over, and I can relax with my husband, Peter, and whichever of my kids and family are around.

RealCuisine Recipe
Most quick yeast breads are indeed quick, but lack the depth of flavor of their slower-rising cousins. That’s because during slow rising, the yeast and flour have time to interact and develop character. This bread is an exception, and it’s because of the flavor that potato brings to the party.

Blind Side uses old playbook to jerk tears
Without question, Michael Oher’s story is remarkable. The young man was the son of a crack addict and homeless as he entered high school. Fate showed him a kind hand as he was accepted into Memphis’ Briarcrest Christian School.

Movie times
PLEASE NOTE: Kerasotes listings are for Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Thursday, Dec. 3. All times are subject to change. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800-FANDANGO. For reviews of other films, visit www.illinoistimes.com.

The biggest night out
We all know by now that Thanksgiving Eve is the biggest party-out, bar-going night of the year, right? According to experts such as MSNBC and Mike Parkes at the Brewhaus, the night before the turkey feast surpassed New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day years ago as the biggest night out of the year.

PUB CRAWL
Sherman, 8pm-12am. Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon.

BAND SPOTLIGHT
NIL8, very likely the longest-running, continuously together rock band in Springfield area history, continues to draw crowds, produce original music and entertain at a magnificent level after some 25 years on the local scene.

THE CALENDAR
Submit calendar listings at www.illinoistimes.com.

MUSIC
If you’re ready to ring in the holiday season as early as possible after Thanksgiving, don’t miss the Bells in Motion concert Saturday. Sixteen ringers, under the direction of Mike Lamb, play your favorite holiday selections, including traditional, jazzy and modern arrangements.

HOLIDAY
Downtown Springfield Inc. Old Capitol Holiday Walk’s opening ceremony begins Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. Representative Raymond Poe lights a 25-foot balsam fir on the southeast corner of the Old State Capitol lawn where the ceremony takes place. Lincoln Magnet School Choir performs.

FILM
Oil remains one of the chief current issues of our time. This film presents an in-depth look at the uncomfortable reality of our addiction to, and conflict over, the slimy stuff, with commentary from international energy experts.

MUSIC
Local internet sports-radio host Eric Pedigo emcees an evening of rockin’ music to raise funds for the Central Illinois Foodbank, whose shelves have bare spots from the growing community need in tight economic times.

PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTICE UNDER ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME ACT STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF SANGAMON TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Notice is hereby given that on 29th day of October, 2009 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Sangamon County, stating that DANIEL R.

NEWS QUIRKS
A man approached a clerk at a restaurant in Haverhill, Mass., declared he had a gun and demanded money from the register. When the clerk insisted on seeing the gun, the man fled. North Andover’s Eagle Tribune reported police found suspect Adam Alsarabi, 22, hiding in the woods, gunless.

LOCAL BIZ DIRECTORY
Candles, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, and Arbonne. Home

THE ADVICE GODDESS
My boyfriend is moving across the globe. I love him deeply, but he says he’s battling commitment phobia, doesn’t think I’m “the one,” struggles to say “love” and doesn’t have butterflies in his stomach for me anymore. Instead of breaking up now, he wants to play it by ear after he leaves.