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Golden anniversary of the pill
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the approval of the birth control pill by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1960. As even golden anniversaries go, this is a big one. The pill, which was first manufactured in Illinois by G.D. Searle and Company, literally changed everything for women.

Yielding to nonsense
A General Assembly unable to pass the laws that are needed must pass something, and so busies itself passing laws that are not. One of these is Illinois House Bill 43, which in round figures demands that drivers must stop to allow a pedestrian to cross a street via any crosswalk.

Wall Street profits, subsidies and lobbyists
Citigroup has just announced that its profits for just the first three months of this year totaled an incredible $4.4 billion, Goldman Sachs’ haul was $3.5 billion, JPMorgan Chase grabbed $3.3 billion and Bank of America took $3.2 billion.

laundrysong from the
(both sing): bring your dirty duds to the washarolla bring your drippy duds to the dryarolla put your laundry in we begin to spin (last lines in unison) agitate, agitate, agitate fluff’n’dry, fluff’n’dry, fluff’n’dry.

LETTERS
What a thrill to see the article “Dancing without the stars” by Julie Cellini [May 6]. My wife and I were also honored to have been included in this story. Sharon and I have been fortunate to work with and under instructors Pat Lytakker and Kim Beachy. On behalf of all dancers and instructors, thank you, Illinois Times,.

Both sides to blame for the budget mess
Long gone are the days when the appropriations committees had any input. Also vanished is the “budgeteers” system, when appropriations chairpersons and experts from each caucus would sit down to hash out the budget’s details. Instead, all of the work is now being done by staff at the leaders’ absolute direction.

HUNDRED DOLLAR HOUSE
One hundred dollars doesn’t go very far anymore, but it can still buy a house – if you’re lucky. The Springfield Area Homebuilders Association is raffling off a $250,000 house for charity, and that crisp Benjamin Franklin in your wallet could be the key to open the door.

Opponents: New sex offender laws won’t help
Senate Bill 3084, known as the retroactive sex offender registration bill, would require lifetime registration for certain sex crimes committed more than 15 years ago.

HE CONNECTED PEOPLE AND PLANTS
Thomas D. Hoerr, Sr., former president of Green View Companies, headquartered in Dunlap, received the Paul Ecke Jr. Commercial Award from the American Horticultural Society on May 11. Hoerr, who died in 2009, was active in several garden-centric civic groups, such as Peoria City Beautiful, which works to beautify the city of Peoria.

Bill will curb mercury pollution mercury
Illinois environmentalists, manufacturers and lawmakers are turning up the heat in the fight against mercury pollution. The Mercury Thermostat Control Act, passed unanimously by the House and Senate, requires manufacturers to collect and recycle the mercury in older thermostats.

Steal these ideas
Abraham Lincoln uttered those words in his famous farewell speech to Springfield almost 150 years ago. Since then, Springfield has undergone numerous transformations, riding the tide of change while retaining the pioneer spirit that settled this area in 1818.

All the Midwest’s a Stage
If you’re looking for a tale to warm the heart you’ll find it in one of several moments contained in the letters Stage exchanges with his birth mother, who gave him up for adoption after getting into trouble, as her condition was described in those days, at age 19.

ObamaComics
Ward will be signing his controversial comic, facial thumbtacks and all, at Barnes

RealCuisine Recipe
Mostarda – sometimes called Mostarda di frutta – is a classic Italian condiment. It is somewhat like a chutney in that it combines fruit and a savory element. In mostardas that element is mustard.

Rhapsody for rhubarb
Rhubarb: it’s a leafy vegetable that makes such delicious pie that early Americans called it “the pie plant.” It’s a beautiful perennial in the garden: forming a four- or five-foot mound of ruffled leaves with glimpses of ruby red stalks underneath.

RealCuisine Recipe
Pie may be the quintessential rhubarb dessert, but this upside-down cake also is a delicious showcase for it. Whenever a recipe calls for brown sugar, I almost always use the dark brown, because it has more flavor. (Incidentally, Meijer’s own brand of dark brown sugar is significantly darker – and more flavorful– than any other I’ve ever found.

Movie times
PLEASE NOTE: Kerasotes listings are for Friday, May 14 through Thursday, May 20. Bracketed show times are Sat-Sun only matinees or Fri-Sat only late shows. All times are subject to change. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800-FANDANGO. For reviews of other films, visit www.

Rusty first act can’t slow down Iron Man 2
Stark finds that having revealed that he’s Iron Man was perhaps not the best career move. Senator Stern (Garry Shandling) wants to rein him in and put him under government control. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., wants to recruit him for a new peacekeeping organization.

Drummers’ delight
As you can see by this short selection of jokes, drummers take a beating and are always on the short end of the stick. Granted there are plenty of slams about other musicians, but people who pound on things and call it music receive no mercy from those playing the melodic instruments.

BAND SPOTLIGHT
Hailing from a region of Connecticut and western Massachusetts called Connectivania by this six-member rock band, the group claims to “introduce elements of epic ambience and melody unseen by most bands in today’s realm of heavy music.

PUB CRAWL
Dates, times and locations are subject to change, so we suggest calling before attending an event..

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

FESTIVAL
The St. Andrew’s Society of Central Illinois Pipes and Drums will play at the Springfield Highland Games competing against almost 20 other bands from around the country.

TRAVEL
If you haven’t seen the new clock tower above the renovated Union Station, a station that now houses a visitor’s center among other organizations, this is the weekend to visit both.

PETS
Families and their well-behaved furry friends are invited to Stuart Park, north of the intersection of Route 97 and Veteran’s Parkway along Winch Road, for a romp in the park and more as Capitol Canine Training Club celebrates its 45th year. Walk the sunny and shaded paths leisurely.

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 15th day of April, 2010 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Sangamon County, stating that JEFF L.

WORKSHOPS
$10 a week for 30 words. To place your ad, contact your display rep or e-mail your ad and contact information to nbulli@illinoistimes.com.

FIND LOCAL BIZ
Promote your local biz in print and online Call Nan for details - 753-1724.

THE ADVICE GODDESS
I was extremely offended by your response to the woman whose female friend has a mustache. Your only suggesting ways to get her to remove it was very anti-feminist. I have female friends with facial hair. Instead of waxing it, they say, “Screw American standards of beauty.

NEWS QUIRKS
A sheriff’s deputy in Okaloosa County, Fla., arrested a 27-year-old driver after pulling her over for an improper taillight because she couldn’t spell her name. She said she was Coronica Jackson, but spelled it C-o-r-i-c-a. Her passenger nudged her, and she respelled it C-o-r-n-a-i-c-a.