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Crisis in college education
A common narrative emerged in conversations with employees from large universities, large community colleges, and small colleges.

The new Know Nothings
The late Daniel Moynihan, who represented New York in the upper chamber of Congress in the days when the U.S. still had senators, once observed that while everyone is entitled to his opinion, he is not entitled to his own facts.

Soft landing for bankers, hard times for everyone else
By the laws of economics, if not physics, those bonuses should fall to earth this year, because the bankers have performed poorly.

namespoem #2
I tell our grieving guest, I like that you call us all “dear heart” that’s what my mother called me talie says.

How a pro-choice group defeated Brady
A look at Cook County results showed that Brady vastly underperformed the Republican pro-choice Mark Kirk’s numbers in several northern Cook townships. Kirk is a north suburban resident, so he was expected to somewhat outperform Brady. Yet Kirk won New Trier Township by 4,535 votes, while the anti-abortion Brady won it by just 537.

The Ambassador of Salsa
Pulsing Latin rhythms echo through the cavernous gymnasium at Springfield College, as a handful of college students take their first few steps into the world of salsa dancing. Some glide gracefully across the floor, while others seem to move with leaden feet, but each of them is smiling.

DINING TO DONATE
If you went out to eat in Springfield on Nov. 16, you might have made a difference in someone’s life without even knowing it. That’s because 20 restaurants in Springfield volunteered to give 10 percent of their proceeds for the day to the United Way of Central Illinois’ “Dine United” program, which supports local health and human services programs.

COLLECTING COATS
Eastside Pride Citizens for a New Direction is planning its fifth annual coat drive for Saturday, Dec. 4. Held at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, at 908 S. Martin Luther King Dr., the drive will accept clean coats, hats, gloves and scarves from 9 a.m. until noon.

Coal miners find common ground with anti-coal author
Asked if he was a proponent of coal as he waited for a lecture featuring an anti-coal author to begin, Mark Bloom, sporting an International Coal Group jacket and sitting next to his Williamsville mine’s safety inspector, responded, “Isn’t everybody?” Well, no, not exactly.

IEPA vows to step up factory farm enforcement
In a letter dated Nov. 1, IEPA responded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and several Illinois-based environmental groups that claimed IEPA was not effectively regulating confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) under the federal Clean Water Act.

It’s a zoo out here
The lively Rainier, one of the creatures that makes a winter trip to the zoo worthwhile, is bigger and more huggable-looking than the ferrets that belong in her biological family. Her exhibit, funded primarily by the Springfield Zoological Society, hosts a waterfall at the back, twisted tree stumps up front and sculpted cliffs throughout.

It’s a zoo out here
“Layoffs were the last thing we wanted to do,” says zoo director Talon Thornton, adding that most other line items took hits as well. He highlights the fact that salaries, before the layoffs, made up about $549,000 of the zoo’s $711,000 budget in fiscal year 2009-2010.

It’s a zoo out here
“In my group, there were individuals who were unhappy [with the changes]. I think all of us were,” zoo society president Dave Ploskonka says.

It’s a zoo out here
“That’s another thing that’s been hard for us who’ve been laid off – just seeing the time, the care and the money they spend on these animals that aren’t even being used,” Madura says. “All of the zookeepers, if I could say that we agree on one thing, it’s that if we had our choice, we would have a reptile building.

Holiday Calendar
Check out our Holiday Calendar each week until January for holiday events and activities. Events are subject to last minute changes, so we suggest phoning prior to attending. Send your holiday events one week or more in advance to calendar@illinoistimes.

Holiday Calendar
Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Children’s Holiday Store.

Holiday Calendar
Dana-Thomas House Foundation Member Reception.

Holiday Calendar
Check Illinois Times next week for more holiday events..

Community Wish List
The Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery provides free emergency, temporary care for children from birth through age 6 who may be at risk of abuse or neglect or whose parents are experiencing some type of crisis. The nursery operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Let’s go slow
The assortment of counter-clogging cookware you need to braise, bake or warm a holiday menu can be replaced by this year’s one must-have appliance: the slow cooker. This trusty tool, which cooks weeknight chili or sloppy joes when time can’t be spared, works magic on elegant cuisine.

Books un-covered
The best gadgets for the (geeky) bookworm on your list.

Want more than just an e-book reader?
Want more than just an e-book reader?.

Books un-covered
Cruz Reader $199.99.

Cheap, easy and eco, too!
Arriving at Pat Smith’s home for her holiday party, one might think her little tree, perched on a table and adorned with a delicate strand of lights, is an homage to “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” But actually, the little tree makes a big statement about Smith’s commitment to the environment.

Adopt a year-round Christmas tree
Rather than buying a live tree every year or a fake one that will eventually end up in a landfill, consider raising an indoor potted evergreen that thrives year-round and does double-duty as a Christmas tree. Plus, it will grow right alongside you and your loved ones.

New takes on old holiday sides
They’ll appear on countless Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables throughout America, as they have for decades: green bean casserole made with canned green beans, canned cream of mushroom soup, and canned fried onions; and candied yams or sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows.

RealCuisine Recipe
When the potatoes are done, cut in half lengthwise. Holding each half with a pot holder, scoop the flesh into the bowl with the chile/butter. Mash with a potato masher or electric mixer until they’re smooth and thoroughly combined with the chile butter.

RealCuisine Recipe
This recipe is adapted from New Orleans chef Donald Link’s cookbook, Real Cajun. Link’s three restaurants, Herbsaint, Cochon and Butcher are wildly popular – on a recent visit to Cochon, there was a crowd waiting to get in at 9 p.m. on a Monday.

Morning Glory a delightful surprise
Fledgling television producer Becky (McAdams) may lack experience in the Manhattan media world but she makes up for that with a sense of enthusiasm that would charm the most cynical. Good thing, because she’s taken on a job no one wants, overseeing Daybreak,.

Movie times Nov. 12-18
AMC listings are for Friday, Nov. 19 through Thursday, Nov. 25. This week’s listings are incomplete because of upcoming holidays. Bracketed movie times are Saturday/Sunday only matinees and Friday and Saturday late shows. All times are still subject to change.

RIP Raoul
My best buddy and music mate left this world at about 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2010. Raoul took the great gig in the sky where the whiskey never stops flowing and smoking bans don’t exist, in that special place where no one ever stiffs the musicians on pay and the audience loves whatever you play.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Dale Armstrong with Ronnie Engel
In honor of National Drum Month, Prairie Drum presents two world-class drummers with roots in central Illinois in an evening of entertainment and education. Dale Armstrong, a Bloomington native, moved to Nashville 30 years ago and made his mark as one of the most sought after studio and live drummers in Music City, USA.

PUB CRAWL
You asked for it, we asked for it, and now we've all got it - Pub Crawl listings are now arranged alphebetically by venue so you can find your favorite bar and see what bands play there this week..

PUB CRAWL
Within These Ruins, Battalion, Scavenger, Domination, Wraith, Beyond These Treacherous Walls.

Norman Bemelmans in Concert
Internationally acclaimed pianist Norman Belmelmans takes to the Rammelkamp Chapel stage Nov. 20 as part of the Fine Arts Series at Illinois College. Playing for the public since the age of seven, Belmelmans studied under international luminaries: Jean Houpt, Stefan Bardas, Richard Cass, Patrizia Benkman and Ozan Marsch.

THE CALENDAR
Dates, times and locations are subject to last-minute changes, so we suggest calling before attending the event..

THE CALENDAR
Central IL Singles and Couples Dance.

THE CALENDAR
Thanksgiving Perspectives: Omnivore’s Dilemma.

Memorial’s Festival of Trees
Looking for something to do over Thanksgiving week? Memorial Medical Center and Foundation offers a sneak peek at Christmas that is sure to push you into the holiday mood at its Festival of Trees.

The Nutcracker All Jazzed Up
This jazz, tap and hip hop rendition of the classic ballet is performed by DCDS In Motion, a group of dancers from Dance Creations Dance Studio owned by Janet Cripe, who directs the performance. The mission of the group is to perform, expand their talents and participate in community projects to help others.

Youth Night
springfieldil@drinkingliberally.org.

More events, more details in our online calendar at illinoistimes.com
More events, more details in our online calendar at illinoistimes.com.

THE CALENDAR
Pat Smith Memorial Service featuring a Book Reading.

PUBLICNOTICES
CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS IN PROBATE ESTATE OF VIRGINIA ELIZABETH WEAVER, deceased. NO. 2010-P-00626 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of VIRGINIA ELIZABETH WEAVER. Letters of Office were issued on October 28, 2010, to RICHARD E.

NEWSQUIRKS
When condoms aren’t enough Laptop computers with WiFi can damage DNA and decrease sperm motility after only four hours’ exposure, according to a study by the American Society for Reproduction, which blames microwave radiation.

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.

FINDLOCALBIZ
Horsefeathers Antiques Gifts / Wild Hare Cafe.

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

AMY ALKON
Guys pay a lot of attention to my drop-dead gorgeous friend when we go out. So, what can you do if you’re her not-as-pretty sidekick? I can honestly say I’m cute, especially when I’m all dressed up.