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Editor’s note
We are pleased to announce that James Bengfort has joined Illinois Times as advertising director. James has been in the newspaper business since 1996 and comes to Springfield after serving since 2005 as associate publisher of UrbanTulsa, the alternative weekly in Tulsa, Okla.

End tax cuts for richest 2 percent like me
Congress faces an important decision about which tax cuts to extend. A few weeks ago, the Senate passed President Obama’s proposal to extend the Bush and Obama tax cuts for every American on the first $250,000 of their household income – including every penny of income for 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses.

Endangered repose
Ever notice that there is only two letters’ difference between dog and blog? The dog and blogger are kin to the extent that too many of each are noisily eager to share their ignorance with everyone else. I have had dog owners patiently explain to me that their animals’ incessant shouting is really “talking.

Labor Day thoughts on a ‘jobless recovery’
As those attached to the Dow Jones Average can attest, the economy is now perking along quite nicely, with the Dow up 57 percent since the dark days of 2009, presently soaring above 13,000.

LETTERS
RAPE IS RAPE I really could care less what Missouri Congressman Todd Akin recently said regarding rape victims, stupid as it was, especially for someone running for office.

Quinn’s “Framework for Gambling” takes center stage
For instance, nowhere in his veto message did Quinn mention slots at tracks. Quinn had been an adamant foe of allowing the horse racing industry to set up “mini casinos” at their facilities because it would result in an over-saturation of the market..

A Rolex shows up at Goodwill
“The production manager brought it over to me, kind of excited,” recalls John Lancaster, e-commerce manager for Goodwill. “I said, ‘Yes, I’ll take that.’ ” This wasn’t Lancaster’s first foray with a Rolex. One found in a donation box ended up selling for more than $3,000, he recalls.

Garbage time
If and when aldermen finally do get around to discussing how to pick up trash so that it doesn’t end up in alleys and vacant lots and innocent yards in dark of night, Steve Combs, president of the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association, has...

Do not pass go, do not collect $200 – no, wait
For more than a month, Parsons has been telling Sangamon County associate judge Steven Nardulli, who is presiding in Parsons’ divorce case, that he intends to declare bankruptcy. During an Aug. 29 hearing in the divorce case, Nardulli ordered Parsons to do it by midnight last Saturday.

The GOP ambitions behind the Mitt Romney facade
My choices were less reasonable. At that very moment, Lynyrd Skynyrd was playing an exclusive gig downtown, Log Cabin Republicans were gathering at a bar called The Rusty Pelican and throngs of delegates, dignitaries and media were gaping at bright, shiny things dangled by the Tampa Bay Host Committee at Tropicana Field.

The Possession, a September surprise
Bornedal does a wonderful job slowly building a sense of dread around the mysterious object. While some may complain that the story moves too slowly, the director’s approach is vital in building towards its effective conclusion.

Get pickled
Along with the pros, they’re discovering traditional pickles from around the globe: an astonishing array of Asian pickles, including Japanese pickled plums and oily, mouthnumbing Szechwan pickles of China, to pickled red onions from Mexico’s Yucatan...

PUB CRAWL
Suns of Circumstance - Happy Bday Mike.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Room 306
BAND SPOTLIGHT | Room 306.

A Brewhaus adieu
In a heartbreaking time for me, after 18 and a half years of being booked at the Brewhaus every Sunday, my streak has come to an inglorious end. Management at the club wants to “shake things up” and so they did. Bands looking to play Sundays can contact general manager Nate Short.

THE CALENDAR
Sep 07-08, 6:30-10pm Fri-Sat, 10am- 5pm Sat, 19th Century music and dancing throughout pioneer village and bluegrass music in outdoor theater evenings. $4, $10 family donation suggested. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 217-632-4000.

THEATER | Breakout musical
The musical Spring Awakening.

FUNDRAISER | Dog gone good party
Pet owners and their four-legged friends, car enthusiasts and supporters of the Animal Protective League and Springfield Parks Foundation are in for a treat at Paws and Power, Sept. 9 at Southwind Park. Dog party (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) participants receive a gift bag, frozen treat and paw painting.

FESTIVAL | Seafood and ale
The third annual Springfield Oyster and Beer Festival features local and nationally-recognized craft beer vendors, oysters, other seafood selections, and traditional “pub grub.” Held outside in the parking lot of The Inn at 835, rain or shine, admission tickets include a tasting glass and five drink tickets.