I recently received a note from Karina Villa, a candidate for state representative in the 49th District of the Illinois House of Representatives.
The 49th District takes in parts of DuPage and Kane counties, including portions of Batavia, where I reside. Not familiar with Villa? Neither was I until I found a campaign piece with her name, photo and signature at my front door. It was an adequate piece, but one important item was missing—Villa’s party affiliation. Nothing in the piece identified her as a Democrat or Republican.
So I visited Villa's website, where I expected her party affiliation to be clearly stated at every posted page. Nope. Nothing there either. So, here’s a political candidate that doesn’t want us to know which political party she represents. It was an interesting omission, particularly when considering Villa lists “transparency” as a top priority.
A visit to with the Illinois State Board Elections website provided access to several documents Villa’s campaign filed with the state. Villa is in fact a Democrat, according to a report filed by Citizens For Karina Villa, her campaign committee.
Campaign disclosure reports filed with election officials stated Villa’s organization had a little more than $68,600 on June 30, the deadline for filing quarterly campaign reports. Contributors to Villa’s effort during the reporting period included several individuals, a few unions, and the Democratic Party of Illinois, according to the report. Two items in the quarterly report caught my attention.
The Committee to Elect Victor French, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 14th Congressional District in the 2018 primary, donated $4,600 to Villa’s campaign. French, a public high school teacher, finished fourth in a field of seven candidates. Lauren Underwood won the primary contest.
Villa’s campaign made two payments of $3,250 each, one in May, the second in June, to Jason Arredondo. The payments were made for staff and consulting work, according to Villa’s report. Arredondo is a managing partner at Prevailing Priorities, a Chicago-based consulting firm, according to his page at Linkedin.com
I do not know if Arredondo advised Villa to omit her party affiliation from her campaign material and website. However, the omission appears to be part of a strategy to avoid identifying Villa as a Democrat running in a traditionally Republican district. It is a common tactic, but I think it a deceitful one.
Villa’s website homepage promotes her as a “fresh start” and a “new voice,” but in my view she relies on the tired old campaign tricks we’ve come to expect from Illinois politicians. And there's nothing fresh, new, or appealing about any of that. —Thanks for reading. Please email questions and feedback to kbottswrites@gmail.com.
I want to take a few minutes to remember Henry Hathaway, an American film director who was born March 13, 1898 and died Feb. 11, 1985.
His parents named him Henri Leopold de Fiennes, but he became Henry Hathaway when he started working in movies. During a career that began in 1930 and continued through 1974, Hathaway directed 67 movies and worked with many of Hollywood’s most popular stars, including Gary Cooper, James Stewart, John Wayne, James Cagney, Dean Martin, David Niven, Richard Conte and Robert Mitchum.
Hathaway is credited with drawing out impressive work from his stars and with helping to establish actors Karl Malden, Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson.
Hathaway’s movies were popular with audiences but frequently received mixed reviews from critics, who often noted he was a “contract’ director for the studios, reliable but not particularly creative. It’s an arguable point, but somewhat accurate - Hathaway was a contract director, and his films reflected studio priorities.
His films typically featured strong supporting casts that included some of the best character actors of their time, including Walter Abel, John Doucette, Dean Jagger, Hugh Marlowe, and Cameron Mitchell. I think the supporting casts made Hathaway’s movies memorable as well as entertaining.
I like Hathaway’s work because I find his movies engaging and entertaining, valuable qualities that contribute to the affection audiences have for his films decades after they were released.
Here’s a chronological list my favorite Hathaway films, ones that I believe represent the essential Hathaway collection.
The Lives of the Bengal Lancers (1935) - Gary Cooper stars in an action film set in India. The movie received six Academy Award nominations, including best director, best film editing and best picture.
The Real Glory (1939) - Gary Cooper stars again; this time as an army doctor working in the Philippines. David Niven, Reginald Owen and Broderick Crawford also appear.
Brigham Young 1940 - This one is from the era of Hollywood’s bio pictures that often contained as much fiction as nonfiction. Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell star, with Dean Jagger in a supporting role.
13 Rue Madeliene (1946) - James Cagney, Richard Conte and Walter Abel star in a World War II tale about secret agents and betrayal.
Call Northside 777 (1948) - James Stewart, Richard Conte and Lee J. Cobb star in this story about a Chicago reporter’s efforts to re-open an old murder case. It’s a classic.
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951) - James Mason, Jessica Tandy and Richard Boone star in a movie that generated some controversy when released just six years after the end of World War II. Many argued it presented a sympathetic portrayal of the German general. Maybe so, but Mason delivers an impressive performance.
O Henry’s Full House (1952)- (“The Clarion Call” segment.) Hathaway is one of five directors in this anthology film featuring five of O. Henry’s stories. It’s an interesting production that’s worth watching. The cast includes Marilyn Monroe and Richard Widmark.
Niagara (1953) - A film noir thriller starring a smoldering Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten. Some steamy stuff from back in the day.
Prince Valiant (1954) Robert Wagner, James Mason and Janet Leigh star in a tale about a Viking Prince’s efforts to earn a knighthood in King Arthur’s Court. It's campy and a long way from "Game of Thrones", but still enjoyable, and the kids can watch it, too.
Garden of Evil (1954) Gary Cooper, Susan Hayward, Richard Widmark, Cameron Mitchell and Hugh Marlowe star in this often overlooked western about adventurers recruited to save a woman’s husband. He’s trapped in a gold mine deep in Apache territory.
North to Alaska (1960) An odd romantic comedy starring John Wayne, Stewart Granger, Capucine (a true beauty), Ernie Kovacs and Fabian.
How the West Was Won (1962) - Hathaway, John Ford and two other directors contributed to this epic that follows an ensemble cast through the westward expansion.
The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) - John Wayne, Dean Martin, Earl Holliman, James Gregory, Michael Anderson Jr., George Kennedy, Dennis Hopper and John Doucette star in this tale about four brothers determined to find out who was responsible for swindling their mother and killing their father.
Nevada Smith (1966) - Hathaway takes another look at the revenge theme; this time with Steve McQueen, Karl Malden, Arthur Kennedy, Suzanne Pleshette, Martin Landau, and Brian Keith. McQueen is hunting the three men who killed his parents. The running time (126 minutes) could have been trimmed to make a tighter story, but this is worth watching for the wonderful supporting cast, particularly Brian Keith’s performance. Watch also for Martin Landau.
5 Card Stud (1968) Dean Martin, Robert Mitchum, Roddy McDowell, Yaphet Kotto and Inger Stevens star in a story about a poker game that ends in a lynching. Things get interesting when someone starts killing men who were at the card table that night. I consider this one of Hathaway’s most entertaining movies. It also serves as a fine representative of the type of westerns Hollywood produced in the late 1960s - movies that featured familiar themes (revenge) mixed with film techniques some considered gimmicky.
True Grit (1969) - The first (and in my opinion best) of the two versions of this story about a girl who hires a federal marshal to hunt the man who killed her father. John Wayne won an Oscar for his work, and the supporting cast is wonderful.
– Thank you for reading. Comments and feedback are always welcome. Send email to kbottswrites@gmail.com. Savor the coffee and make the most of your day.
Illinois Policy offers this interesting look at some of the challenges facing Decatur, Il, including a steady decline in residents. The city’s various taxes do not appear to be helping the situation, according to the article. The piece reminded me of a point an old economics professor stressed in a class I took a long time ago: governments can’t tax their way out of weak economic conditions.
I know the challenges facing local governments are complex, but sometimes old truths succinctly capture reality and aptly apply. Sadly, such lessons are lost to many officials today.
Job polarization and prime-age men
About 1.9 million prime-age men are unemployed and might be out of the workforce for good due to job polarization, according to a recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Industry Week recently shared details from the report and they’re worth considering.
Icons in Illinois Agriculture
The latest edition of Illinois Farm Bureau’s Partners magazine offers a fine report about John Deere and Cyrus McCormick and the significant contributions they made to agriculture, not only in Illinois but throughout the world. The edition includes other items, including Joanie Stiers’ touching column remembering her family’s dog. Spend some time with the edition. I think you'll enjoy it.
And finally
March 2, 1985: Madonna releases the single “Crazy For You”. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
– Thank you for reading. Comments and feedback are always welcome. Email me at kbottswrites@gmail.com. Savor the coffee and make the most of your day.
Industry Week recently shared an interesting read about two plans to create a “hyperloop” that would connect Chicago with manufacturers in Pittsburgh or Cleveland (depending on final plans for the project) and points in between. The “hyperloop would move freight and people from Chicago to the last stop in the chain in a matters of minutes rather than hours.
Proponents of the two plans under consideration include Elon Musk and Richard Branson.
The proposals promise to improve the distribution of goods and materials, a key goal as online commerce continues to capture a larger share of wholesale and retail markets.
I admit I don't understand all the physics and engineering needed to make the proposed system work, and proponents acknowledge they are a long way from establishing the basic components. Nevertheless, I am excited about the possibilities and grateful for the talented people who are working on the plans.
A mini van for boomers
Perhaps I'm showing my age, but I like what Ford is doing with its efforts to adapt its Transit from a cargo and service vehicle to a mini van for boomers, according to this report from AARP. I was a fan of the Transit when it was first introduced as a cargo van and appreciate how Ford has revised the vehicle's from a small delivery vehicle to a commercial mini bus and now to a mini van marketed to active older drivers. I look forward to following Ford’s effort with the conversion and wish the company well with the effort.
Illinois News Network and Illinois politics
I recommend the Illinois New Network to those interested in reading about
public policy and politics. ILNews offers stories covering topics from
agriculture and health to schools and the outdoors.
I don’t follow
politics as much as I did years ago, but I still enjoy reading a good report
from time to time, and I think ILNews does a good job of providing straight, balanced coverage. Visit
their website and look them over. Read what ILNews is all about. If you
like what you see, register for their daily electronic newsletter. I
receive it and enjoy looking at what they're offering, even if I don't make time to read the individual articles.
And speaking about Illinois politics
Amanda Vinicky at Illinois Issues provides this look at the history behind the process for picking lieutenant governors in Illinois. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor today run as a ticket and are elected as a team, following a 2010 change in state election law. Prior to that change, state law allowed voters to nominate candidates for the offices separately, even if the two candidates were not working in tandem. The pre-2010 process produced odd and interesting results, as Vinicky details in her report. It’s worth a read.
I suppose it’s appropriate to have a No. 2 in place in the event the governor is unable to serve, but I think most would agree that Illinois has a strange and mostly dismal record when it comes to its lieutenant governors, regardless of the process used to select them.
– Thanks for reading. Please email comments and feedback to kbottswrites@gmail.com. Savor the coffee and make the most of your day.
 |
| Tonga Guy |
Is Tonga Guy a branding genius?
I can’t figure out if Olympian Pita Taufatofua,
Tonga Guy in popular culture, is a genius at personal branding, an
unusually gifted athlete, or both. Tonga Guy became a social media
sensation at the 2016 summer Olympics when he marched shirtless and
oiled up during the opening ceremonies. He competed in the taekwondo tournament then. He’s now representing Tonga in cross country skiing at
the winter Olympics in South Korea
and has people wondering how he will dress for the today’s opening
ceremonies.
Most of us never get the chance to compete in any
high-profile competition. It must be a true blessing to compete at both
a summer and a winter Olympics. But is Tonga Guy a competitive athlete,
or a dude riding a branding strategy?
A commitment to culture
This report in Industry Week offers some good points companies and other organizations should consider when refining their “culture”. A variety of elements contribute to a successful culture, including some lighter items such as free snacks and ping pong. In my view, the most crucial component can be found in the “Golden Rule” - treat others as you want them to treat you. There are variations on the theme, but the essence is a commitment to show others the respect and kindness you hope they will extend to you. Without that simple foundation, all you really have left is free snacks.
The rise of the social media influencers
CBS News looks at the growing influence of social medial influencers in advertising. Individuals with a significant social media presence are more influential than celebrities in moving consumers to a point of purchase, according to the report. It seems familiar faces from social media frequently are the tipping point in a purchasing decision. I find that interesting.
From the Nearly Forgotten Hits file
Feb. 9, 1955: Big Joe Turner releases “Flip, Flop and Fly”. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Many artists have recorded cover versions of the song, but Turner's take on it remains my favorite.
– Thank you for reading. Email comments to kbottswrites@gmail.com. Enjoy the coffee and the Olympic games, and may you find a sense of peace in your day.
I enjoy reading the posts at www.trendhunter.com, because I find the items interesting, and they leave me feeling a bit better connected to contemporary culture. It’s a double bonus, I think.
I am not one who leaps to embrace trends or adopt new fashions. That’s not a big revelation, and most who know me will readily confirm the point. However, I like to keep current, and I strive to learn new practices and refine new skills.
With that in mind, I share this slideshow about some of the social media trends for February, according to Trend Hunter. I think No. 28 in the slideshow is cool, but I can tell you today I am not likely to add “astronaut-themed street wear” to my wardrobe.
Beware the email
The City of Batavia recently suffered a data breach by way of a phishing scam contained in an email that appeared to come from the city administrator and was sent to city employees, according to a report in the Daily Herald.
The scam succeeded in leading at least one city worker to respond to the email, which then allowed the scammers to gain access to a range of confidential employee data, including W2 forms. The incident also involved information about current and former members of the City Council, myself included.
It’s an unfortunate situation, but a good reminder to every organization that each member of the team has a role to play in maintaining secure data networks. Learn from the city's situation.
From the Nearly Forgotten Hits file
Feb. 8, 1992: Right Said Fred reaches No. 1 with "I’m Too Sexy". I can’t say I’m a big fan of the song, but the video always makes me laugh, and that’s entertainment.
And let’s balance Right Said Fred with something a little more substantial. From 1983, here’s The Police with “Wrapped Around Your Finger”.
— Thank you for reading. Email comments to kbottswrites@gmail.com. I hope you enjoy your coffee and find peace in your day.
The continuing decline of local newspapers
Two newspapers in southern Illinois, The McLeansboro Times-Leader and The Mt. Vernon Register-News will cease operations this week, according to a published report, continuing the sad demise of print newspapers.
The Mt. Vernon newspaper published its last edition Feb. 6, and the Times-Leader will end its run Feb. 8, according to the report. The owner of the publications said local economic conditions forced the decision. Technology, consumer preferences, and other elements push newspapers from the marketplace. It's simply the nature of business.
I understand and accept it all. I worked as a print reporter and news editor for more than 30 years. I can recall seeing hints of the coming demise in the early 1980s, so the decline of the newspaper industry did not occur overnight. However, watching a newspaper close its doors is a little like saying goodbye to an old friend, at least it is for me.
A friend on the radio
Marnie Mamminga, author, essayist, and fellow Batavia resident, was featured on Northern Public Radio's Perspective series this morning. Marnie recalled "A Winter Walk in the Woods". It's a brief item. Take a few minutes and listen to Marnie share her memories. I always enjoy listening to Marnie, and it was a delightful surprise to hear her on the radio this morning.
From the Nearly Forgotten Hits file:
Feb. 7, 1995: Simple Minds releases the album “Good News from the Next World,” featuring “She’s a River”. The song and the album enjoyed limited success in the U.S., but the album reached No. 2 in the UK (No. 5 in Canada), and the song peaked at No. 9 in the UK. Pour yourself another cup of coffee and allow Jim Kerr and the boys to explain how she’s a river.
– Thank you for reading. Email comments to kbottswrites@gmail.com. Take one day at a time, and enjoy the coffee.
