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Is this any way to run an election?
The only suspense come election time in places such as Russia and Belarus and almost any of the Central Asian republics is not who wins but by how much.

Heartbeat of the Democratic reform movement
It read like just another obituary written about someone who’d lived a very long time: “Doris Haddock died peacefully in her family home,” it began. “Born in 1910, she lived through two world wars and the Great Depression. She is survived by her son, eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Hymn from the musical “The Endless Pavement”
O hail to thee O great tv who fills our waking hours early and late and in between we spend our lives before the screen plenty to do stare at the view it’s inviting it’s exciting it’s delighting it’s afrighting no need to think of what to do just...

LETTERS
Frankly, the redistricting process in Illinois is embarrassing and unfair; it is a black spot on the list of problems in Illinois that needs to be rectified. A great way to do this is by supporting the Illinois Fair Map Amendment.

Quinn can’t blame feds for education hole
One thing the interviewers returned to again and again was how Quinn’s proposed budget cuts over a billion dollars from education spending. The governor wants to stop those cuts with a one percentage point income tax surcharge. Quinn has warned that, without a tax hike, the schools would suffer.

BPA-free babies
Illinois environmentalists, public health organizations and child safety advocates are seeking to ban Bisphenol A (BPA), an industrial chemical used in making plastics, from reusable food and beverage containers, including baby bottles, water bottles and spill-proof cups.

GIANT ROBOT ATTACKS SPRINGFIELD
Over the long winter, Taylor transformed an old, broken Yamaha motorcycle and some extra scrap metal into the futuristic android that now guards his driveway. The sculpture doesn’t move, Taylor says, but his future creations might. He is currently working on a similar robot sculpture that should be done in a week or two.

SIMPSON THE SPRAWL-FIGHTER
Ward 2 Alderman Gail Simpson addressed the local chapter of the Sierra Club March 23 and aired her frustration about not only how the east side of Springfield’s development has been forgotten by city leaders, but also with the lack of longrange planning from the city.

Illinois prison population declines
In a report titled, “Prison Count 2010,” Pew says the number of inmates in state prisons nationwide dropped .4 percent in 2009 – the first decline since 1972. That equates to about 5,700 fewer prisoners, out of about 1.4 million in state prisons across the United States.

SIU study pushes breast cancer survivors to exercise regularly
She’s faced breast cancer both personally and professionally, as a 14-year survivor of the disease and as a research nurse for breast and ovarian cancer.

Central Illinois bands in Texas
Austin, Texas — At the South by Southwest music festival, the spring break of the music industry, sensory overload is practically guaranteed.

Home delivery
The third child and first daughter of a midwife, Tanner grew up around women who had their babies at home. She was taught that certain medications and procedures are needed for ill mothers or babies, but that birthing shouldn’t be treated as a process to “endure and get through.

Getting to know the natives
Dr. Michael Wiant, director of the Illinois State Museum’s Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown, is going to tell the story of these often overlooked peoples on Saturday, March 27 at Buffalo Hart Presbyterian Church in Buffalo Hart, northeast of Springfield.

Hunter shoots and misses
There’s not one original idea in the screenplay by Sarah Throp. Obviously riffing off the Robert De Niro-Charles Grodin comedy Midnight Run,.

A Wimpy movie
Despite the energetic turns from the cast and Freudenthal’s quick pacing, the predictability of this affair ultimately brings it down. That being said, I would be remiss if I said nothing about the fine effort from Robert Capron as Greg’s best friend, Rowley.

Movie times
PLEASE NOTE: Kerasotes listings are for Friday, Mar. 26 through Tuesday, Mar. 30. Bracketed show times are Sat-Mon only matinees. All times are subject to change. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800-FANDANGO. For reviews of other films, visit www.illinoistimes.

Perfect pastoral evenings
The humidity hung around us like a wet blanket. It had rained for days, and more rain was predicted for later, but right now it was merely a threat – or promise, depending on how you looked at it. It was the kind of midsummer weather that makes you want to hang out with a big glass of iced tea (mostly ice) or escape indoors to air conditioning.

Here’s what Prairie Fruits Farm is cooking up for this season’s dinners
Yogurt, crème fraiche, sweet cream, butter and cheese – this dinner is all about the wonders of milk. Drawing from “three milks”– fresh cow, goat and sheep milks – the eclectic menu will features dishes from both the American heartland and around the world that highlight the diversity of milk.

BAND SPOTLIGH
Now residing in Bloomington, the “girl and her acoustic guitar” comes fresh off of a solo swing through Indiana, Kentucky and Georgia for her first Springfield show in awhile.

PUB CRAWL
subject to last-minute changes, so we suggest calling before attending the event..

Goodbye to Jerry
Last Thursday a dear friend and fellow musician passed away. The loss is nearly incomprehensible, completely shocking and devastating. As easy as it is to say people die every day, and they do, when a death occurs that is so tragic and so personal, the feelings of grief come over and over in pounding waves of sadness.

THE CALENDAR
Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233..

THEATER
Your kids’ eyes will light up with delight seeing the musical ice version of their favorites The Little Mermaid.

BUSINESS
Budding entrepreneurs of health care innovations such as information technology products, research tools or services, patient care enhancements and medical devices or drug development have a chance to learn from experts April 1.

WORKSHOPS
Promote your class, workshop or fundraiser here. Up to 30 words $10 per week; additional words .35 per word, per week. Contact your display ad rep OR email your ad (and contact info) to nbulli@illinoistimes.com.

ART
During the noon hour at the Springfield Art Association’s Michael Victor II Art Library learn more about the man who painted Demon Sitting,.

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 1st day of March, 2010 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Sangamon...

NEWS QUIRKS
A woman who police said tried to rob two credit unions in Memphis, Tenn., fled empty-handed both times because tellers couldn’t figure out what she wanted. The first attempt ended with the frustrated robber throwing her holdup note at the teller and running away after the teller couldn’t understand her mumbling.

FIND LOCAL BIZ
Private, professional, prompt. 1305 Wabash, Ste E., 698-3900 www.aplusduiservices.com.

Panic womb
Your advice to “Shell-Shocked,” the guy with the “baby crazy” wife, ignored how he obviously hasn’t read much about pregnancy at 40-plus. At 42, this woman’s lucky if she gets pregnant at all, and she’s stuck with a guy who wants to “wait.” If they want kids, they can’t wait a single day.