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Cheating is the American way
There is no shame in quitting a race you know you can’t win. Lance Armstrong’s shame is the many races he perhaps should have quit rather than win.

Editor’s note
This week we say goodbye to Illinois Times publisher Sharon Whalen, who is relocating to Sarasota, Fla. Ten years ago I asked her to help me take back the paper and build it up again after it had almost slipped away. She came in as a temporary consultant but stayed on to pour her heart and soul into IT.

Third Street better for transit center
Decreasing use of oil is a vital national interest for economic, environmental and security reasons. Besides reducing reliance on oil, good passenger rail can bring more activity to the city center. It’s important that Springfield pick a location that will encourage use of mass transit.

Welcome to GOP nutland!
We saw it bloom spectacularly recently, popping right out of the head of Todd Akin, the GOP’s Senate candidate in Missouri. The learned congressman gave America a twisted tutorial on the imaginary science of “legitimate rape,” including an astonishing assertion of his belief in medical mojo.

LETTERS
GAMBLING OUR FUTURE Mitt Romney, the devout Mormon, may have lowered his standards to win this presidental election.

Obama’s ahead, but not like 2008
If you look at the 17-point spread between the two candidates, it’s a blowout, although not as big as his gigantic 25point victory back in 2008. If you look at where Obama’s numbers are right now (less than four points above 50 percent), you might consider that this race could have the potential to tighten up quite a bit, at least compared to 2008.

Payday loan law doesn’t apply to TitleMax
At issue is what constitutes a business subject to the city’s ban on loan establishments locating within 1,500 feet of like businesses on a decaying section of MacArthur Boulevard.

DOLLARS FOR DNA
It was only a few months ago that the former Downstate Illinois Innocence Project expanded its focus statewide and became the Illinois Innocence Project.

COUNTY WINS ONE
U.S. District Court Judge Sue Myerscough last week ruled that county employees did not destroy emails or other electronic information about the case in bad faith and, further, that no relevant evidence likely existed in records that were destroyed after the 2007 death of A.

Judging the judge
The candidates can’t answer questions on issues that they might one day be called upon to consider in court, so voters can’t know answers to such questions as whether they would rule in favor of the right to carry concealed firearms or have an abortion.

AFSCME under siege
When Gov. Pat Quinn stood before a crowd of fellow Democrats and union members on Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair last month, the usually sympathetic group booed so loudly that not a word of Quinn’s speech could be heard. Quinn wasn’t the only Democrat on the stage booed that day, but he was the main target.

Come and Get It!, the book and the event
Could there be a more perfect moniker for the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s sixth annual Harvest Celebration on Sept. 16.? Those who come to the celebration always get a fantastic meal, prepared by top area chefs. This year, as well as Springfield’s best, there are also phenomenal chefs from Bloomington and Champaign.

When Springfield’s competing streetcars came to blows
Shortly after the Civil War, Springfield got its first “modern” transportation – horse-drawn trolleys. A company organized in 1861 by some local bigwigs, including several of Abraham Lincoln’s friends and peers, established a trolley line up and down Fifth Street in 1866, according to the Nov.

Words a compelling drama
The film could have been botched in so many different ways. It would have been easy to turn this into an overwrought melodrama of the sort Nicholas Sparks has gotten rich on. Instead, Klugman and Sternhal take their time developing the characters and allow us to understand their desires as well as their flaws.

PUB CRAWL
Two Trick Pony w/ Kentucky Knife Fight.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Hitmen and a Dame
These guys have been playing the popular hits for awhile or, as the promo coyly states, “deez guyz been playing da hits of the 60s, 70s & 80s since 2001,” booking everything from bar gigs to festivals, from political rallies (like for some Barack...

Seven years of Black Sheep
What started as a way for bands to just get a place to play turned into a seven-year success story as a home for all-ages music in Springfield. Snuggled into one long room on the east side of 11th Street just north of South Grand Avenue, the Black Sheep Café does what no one else has done – remained open as an all-ages venue.

THE CALENDAR
with Bassmaster Toyota Trucks All- Star Week. Live music on four stages, fishing industry exhibits, kids play area, festival food vendors and more. Free. Nelson Park, Decatur, 217-423-4222. Multicultural Fest.

ART | Visual expressions
You’ll want to join the Springfield Art Association this year with new interactive and fun features at its Edwards Place Fine Art Fair, held on the grounds of the historic mansion, both Saturday and Sunday.

ART | Multi-media maven
Internationally known New York City multi-media artist, Colette, comes to Benedictine University at Springfield. In connection with her work on display at the school, an opening reception and talk will be Monday, Sept. 17, at the Brinkerhoff House. Colette will discuss her installations, art and artist personas.

DANCE | Rhythms and techniques
Springfield Ballet Company’s Rockballet returns to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS for two exciting performances. The annual merging of ballet, modern, jazz and other dance styles showcases the talent and diversity of the company dancers and guest artists.

MUSIC | Rock legends
The legendary 70-80s rock band, Kansas, plays the Prairie Capital Convention Center on Thursday, Sept. 20, with King’s X. Kansas is best known for its eight gold albums and the million-selling gold single, “Dust in the Wind.” Their song, “Carry on Wayward Son,” was the #2 most played track on classic rock radio in 1995 and went to #1 in 1997.