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Treasures from faraway seas
The advantage of pursuing an education in a bookshop rather than a school is that at the bookshop young readers can pick out books that teachers and parents think aren’t good for you. I had bought several books by the historian Richard Hofstadter, then the DeWitt Clinton Professor of American History at Columbia University.

Cutting taxes creates jobs
While the national unemployment rate is currently 9.9 percent, unemployment in Rock Island is 10.2 percent, up from 5.5 percent in November of 2008; 12.5 percent in Sterling, up from 7 percent; and at a staggering 13.8 percent in Decatur, up from 7 percent.

Disclosing the meekness of the ‘DISCLOSE’ bill
At last, after weeks of analyzing, calculating, pondering, consulting and crafting, Democratic leaders in Washington have unveiled their much-awaited legislative response to the Supreme Court’s January decision in the infamous case of Citizens United.

LETTERS
What happens when there are no hazardous waste dropoffs like this? Items get thrown down the drain, on the ground or into the garbage. Much of this ends up in our groundwater with serious potential health consequences.

farewelltopaul poem
nephews nieces cousins of all ages we searched the serene chicago cemetery sunday alone except for the myriads of departed but where was our departed the heirs who carried his coffin through the february drifts said he’s here somewhere the snow was over the tombstones then but now with sun and grass and flowers .

A Republican gets thrown out into the cold
Rep. Biggins infuriated his fellow Republicans by switching his position and voting for a $3.7 billion borrowing plan supported by Democrats. The money would be used to make the state’s annual pension payment.

SCHOOLS ARE CEREAL SAVERS
You’ve probably seen them in the cereal aisle at the grocery store: bags of bargain cereal with one-off names like Cinnamon Toasters, Apple Zings and Honey Nut Scooters. The titan of bagged cereals, the Minneapolis, Minn.

Passion for punishment
Dan Billingsley and Jason Beeler of Springfield admit they have a problem. Their shared addiction taxes their bodies and consumes their very lives, but these aren’t your usual junkies. Their high comes from grueling triathlon races comprised of swimming, cycling and running.

LET’S TALK TOMLIN
In “An Evening With Lily Tomlin,” Tomlin will portray more than a dozen characters onstage, from a six-year-old girl to a disgruntled telephone operator. Following the performance, Tomlin will participate in a question-and-answer session with the audience.

Helping others help others
The largest private funder of health and human services in Sangamon County, United Way gathered donations from 9,200 individuals and companies. The donations will fund social service programs meeting basic needs as well as programs providing lifelong learning beyond the classroom or promoting community education.

Few consequences for four-wheeler vandalism
Jo Hendrickson and her husband, Dave, of Hendrickson Farms in Rochester have dealt with both teenagers and adults using their property as a makeshift track for everything from dune-buggies to go-karts to four-wheelers, with one group even lodging their truck into a mudhole, ruining crops and causing damage.

Springfield gets serious about cycling
It’s a good time to be in the bike business, says Rich Moscardelli, manager of Ace Bike Shop on MacArthur Boulevard in Springfield. Among the hip trends this season are saving money, getting in shape and green living – all factors that push people to ride bikes.

Late-in-life journey
Palisades is little more than a concrete bunker with small rooms for parking the elderly. There Cora deals with all the sights and smells that accompany such places, including resident feuds and bad food. She describes the hallway at dinner time as where “the walkers and wheelchairs make a slow-motion stampede for the dining room.

Canning food, from Napoleon to now
The sweet-sour vinegary smell hit me as soon as I got off the school bus. I wrinkled my nose, wishing I could get back on the bus and go someplace – anyplace – else. Nana was making her prize-winning chilli sauce, as she did each September.

Movie times
PLEASE NOTE: Route 66 Drive Inn listings are for Friday, June 4 through Thursday, June 10. All times are subject to change. For more information on AMC films visit amcentertainment.com or phone 1-888-AMC 4FUN. For reviews of other films, visit www.illinoistimes.

Sex 2: Narcissism cont.
This is all meant as a lark, and for most of the film’s bloated running time, the girls’ adventures are engaging if not overly original. While Samantha tries in vain to hold off menopause, Carrie finds herself tempted by her ex-love Aiden (John Corbett) while Charlotte worries her husband is going to stray.

SOHO number six
When it comes to outdoor music festivals in Springfield, only one event supports live, original music with predominantly area talent.

BAND SPOTLIGHT
Based in not-so-faraway Normal, Dan and the gang list themselves as an original rock and roll band, which is pretty cool when you think about it. No hyphens or hype, invented categories or inverted genres, just a guy writing good songs with a fine band backing him up.

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.

THEATER
All the Pigeons Productions presents this feel-good, funny play written by actor and prolific playwright Jeff Daniels about public TV employee, Annie, who looses her faith in God, men and PBS, even going so far as to tell viewers that Big Bird will die if they don’t send money to the station.

ART
With the MacArthur extension open, the folks at the MacArthur Boulevard Business Association hope commerce along this southwest corridor picks up. Perhaps one of their classiest solutions to draw people to the area is their fine-art fair held every Saturday in June.

ECOLOGY
Learn how everyday actions here in the Midwest impact the oceans while celebrating the 50th birthday of Dr. Seuss’s book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish..

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 May, 2010 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Sangamon...

NEWS QUIRKS
Georgia’s Gwinnett County has asked some 180 county workers to return more than $39,000 they received in bonuses 16 years ago. Authorities blamed the overpayments on a payroll anomaly that occurred when the county adjusted employees’ payroll cycles.

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.

THE ADVICE GODDESS
Ohh! I finally get what you’re saying! For the longest time, I was resenting you for telling women they shouldn’t ask men out. I had this impression of you wanting ladies to just sit in a corner waiting for a strong, burly man to come to our rescue.

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