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Video gambling is the new crack
Becoming law in July 2009, the Illinois Video Gambling Act allowed Illinois more gambling and more video gambling/slot machines (VGMs) than Nevada.

Just extra money
For a day or two in late November, it was just like the old days on Wall Street — well, like 2008, anyway. The National Association of Realtors had reported that house sales had risen 10.1 percent in October, several times higher than predicted, and that sent stock prices up.

Obama’s war
Wait, wait, wait — hold it right there. Cut the music, slow the rush and let’s all ponder what Barack Obama, Robert Gates, Stanley McChrystal and Co. are getting us into ... and whether we really want to go there.

LETTERS
Regarding “Bob Waldmire’s farewell tour” [by Bill Crook, Nov. 26]: A wonderful article about an interesting man. I had the pleasure of running into Bob at his final art show. Bob was his usual generous self and I thanked him for being him. His artwork is a must-have for a true fan of Route 66.

musicpoem # 17
another on my unalloyed pleasure list is playing in a good string orchestra playing cello playing a fugue you hear the tune three times on the upper strings one by one before you come in then you come in on the ground floor the foundation of it all...

A better campaigner than he is a governor
Indeed. Quinn has never been an “A-List” campaigner. He has never really understood what it took to win a really big race — and it’s showed whenever he’s tried. He ran for secretary of state and was clobbered by George Ryan. Two years later he ran for U.S.

SANTA’S HELPERS
Christmas stockings filled with goodies like travel-sized hot cocoa, instant soup and granola bars are now headed to troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries overseas, thanks to the Peoriabased Operation Santa — one of the nation’s largest stocking drives.

HIGH-SPEED, SLOW START
The city, county and Illinois Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that an impact study would be conducted to measure the effects of a proposed highspeed rail expansion on Third Street and 10th Street.

Larry Washington civil-rights lawsuit declared mistrial
Larry Washington and Jennifer Jenkins filed suit in March 2007 against the city of Springfield and several police officers, accusing them of conspiracy and false arrest.

Springfield schools waiting for federal recovery funds
But few schools have seen a cent of the money, says Larry McVey, managing principal of Title 1 programs for District 186. The money is routed from the federal government to state governments, then to state agencies, municipal governments, schools and private contractors – with a bureaucratic approval process at each step.

Disability advocates address city’s ADA procedures
The volunteer organization has helped tackle barriers that people with disabilities encounter around the city, such as rocky sidewalks and curbs that don’t have cuts for wheelchairs.

The upside of the down economy
Inside, the store is eerily quiet. Barely audible is the cheery music that trickles through speakers overhead, and the usual jolly crowds of holiday shoppers are replaced by a handful of solitary bargain hunters sprinkled sparsely through the aisles.

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

Movies to the rescue!
Illinois Times film critic Chuck Koplinski offers up his very own top five holiday flicks for your enjoyment..

Community Wish List
Forever Home Feline Ranch is an organization created to provide a “forever home” to every cat in need. The ranch is a sanctuary where cats have a second chance to live a full life in a nocage, no-kill environment.

This Life Ain’t Pretty
Statistics are often hard to remember. We might forget that 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS or that the global total is more than 30 million. We might not know that 25 percent of them don’t know they have a disease.

Savory holiday gifts
Caramelized onions are incredibly unctuous, with a rich mouth feel that belies the small amount of oil used. They are so delicious and have so many uses that I try to always keep some in my refrigerator. The only preparation that takes much time is slicing the onions.

Fine buoyed by De Niro’s return
His journey takes him cross country with stops in New York, Chicago, Denver and Las Vegas. At every turn he realizes each of his children are troubled, despite putting on a good face.

In Serious Man, glass is half empty
To say that Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) is being tested is an understatement akin to calling the Grand Canyon a big hole in the ground.

Movie times
PLEASE NOTE: Kerasotes listings are for Friday, Dec. 11 through Thursday, Dec. 17. Bracketed times are Sat. and Sun. matinees or Fri. and Sat. evening shows. All times are subject to change. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800-FANDANGO. For reviews of other films, visit www.

Brass band restoration
The VBB, brainchild of the husband and wife musician team of R.Todd Cranson and Rose Schweikhart Cranson, formed in 2009 with Todd as artistic director and Rose as executive director with a cast of local brass enthusiasts numbering around 15 participating in the group.

PUB CRAWL
8:30pm-12am. Mathien: Hip-Hop and Soul from Chicago.

BAND SPOTLIGHT
Talk about diverse styles in the Springfield music scene should include the Samba Llamas, who move and groove within a class of diversity all alone.

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

ART
Who doesn’t love Tuscany’s ambience and old world charm? See the beauty captured by the distinctive and fresh eyes of eight Robert Morris University students who studied for five weeks under international photographer David Weiss (once a student of Annie Liebowitz).

HOLIDAY
Select your seat around a roaring bonfire and croon Christmas carols with others, accompanied by bells. This free family singalong and outdoor holiday shindig even has cookies and hot cocoa and a free souvenir songbook for everyone in attendance. Santa visits from 5-5:30pm.

NATURE
Even though winter hasn’t officially arrived, bundle up and take a closer look at the garden on the cusp of the prairie’s winter preparation. Join arborist Larry Miller for a December hike and learn to identify trees by their buds, see what birds flock the feeders and spy other late fall wonders.

FAITH
Dress in your warm coat, gloves and hat for a 20-minute outdoor journey with a wise man through scenes where costumed characters reveal the story of Jesus’ birth. Journeys start every four minutes and end at a live nativity..

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 12th day of November, 2009 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of...

NEWS QUIRKS
Police investigating a drive-by shooting at a home in Buchanan, Wis., found auto glass in the street and deduced the shooter had forgotten to lower his car window before firing five shots. Appleton’s Post-Crescent reported that a check of area auto glass repair shops led to Andrew J.

THE ADVICE GODDESS
Twenty-five years ago, when I was 18, I had a several-month affair with an older married woman, ending when I met my wife. The woman’s still with her husband, who still hates me. My wife knows nothing about the affair, but we live in a small town and are starting to run into these two at parties.

LOCAL BIZ DIRECTORY
Get your local biz in the IT Directory 13 weeks for $13 per week (up to 25 words) Call – 753-1724 classifieds@illinoistimes.com.