“So long,” sang Woody Guthrie, “it’s been good to know you.” I’m humming that tune as George W. rides off into the sunset — just an old cowpoke headed back home to his Texas spread. No, he’s not headed to that hokey ranchette in Crawford that Karl Rove insisted he buy in 1999 to spiff up his image as a “Western guy” running for president.

If people can spend $40,000 to add a garage to their home or $10,000 on a new swimming pool, Mark Bauer says, why not invest in solar or wind power? “We drop money into our homes for things that we put value on that have no return on investment,” he says.

Ameren Illinois Utilities has made no secret about what’s going on under those big white tents just blocks away from the Capitol.

In the early ’90s as a lobbyist for Autosense International, Sam Cahnman had state legislation introduced requiring second-time DUI offenders to install breath-alcohol ignition interlock devices in their vehicles.

Rod Blagojevich appears to be coming to terms with the reality that his political fate will soon be sealed. He has acknowledged in recent days that the Illinois Senate is likely to convict and strip him from office.

Dear President Obama, Congratulations on your election and inauguration! Though condolences seem almost as much in order as kudos. Just thinking about the challenges you face makes me want to brew a cup of tea, curl up in a chair and watch cheerful ’60s sitcoms.

Bayless says that for small farmers trying to make a go of growing and raising food sustainably, often it just takes a small grant of $10,000 to $12,000 to “push them over the edge” into profitability by allowing them to purchase things such as a refrigerated truck or build a hoop-house (see photo above).

Relegated to hosting a talk show in Australia, Frost (Michael Sheen) hopes to gain a sense of respectability in the journalistic community when he proposes the idea of a series of interviews with Nixon (Frank Langella).

5:00) 6:45 (Fri-Tues 7:30) 9:20, (Fri-Tues 10:05) ShowPlace East [2:30] 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 Kerasotes listings are for Friday Jan 30 through Thursday Feb 5. All times are subject to change. Bracketed show times indicate Saturday and Sunday matinees. For updates on Kerasotes films, call 1-800-FANDANGO.

A movie about Jeffrey Lebowski, a pot-smoking Los Angelino whose favorite rug is stolen by thugs that mistake him for a well-known millionaire. Lebowski, or “The Dude” as he prefers, embarks on a journey to recover his rug by delivering a ransom for the other Lebowski’s trophy wife.

Ockham’s Razor welcomes one and all to a Meet-the-Band party on Friday at Riverside Rock-n-Roll on Mechanicsburg Road.

8:30pm-12:30am. Code 30, Rebuilt, Cabal Stiffs, Silent Vengence, Today We Fight.

Central Illinois Chapter for National Image Inc. Host Salsa Nights.

Celebrate Black History Month with the University of Illinois at Springfield at the HistoryMakers’ Agents of Change Lecture. The speaker series includes a talk by Carol Moseley Braun, the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate, and the first to serve as assistant majority leader.

The 18th annual Mayor’s Awards for the Arts acknowledges people and businesses who have dedicated their time and life to the arts in Springfield and surrounding areas. The award ceremony is sponsored by the Springfield Area Arts Council and includes six categories of awards that encompass all aspects of the arts.