GLT's Sound Ideas

Experimental fiction is emerging from the thickets of post modernism. ISU English Professor Chris Breu has a new book out addressing this shift, Insistence of the Material. In this conversation with GLT's Charlie Schlenker, Breu argues for the value of attending to the material world and how that physical world sets limits on social and individual life.

As the Normal Sesquicentennial celebration kicks off, GLT begins a series of interviews with the people who are offering lectures as part of Normal 150 events. Today, the topic is the early years of Normal. GLT's Charlie Schlenker talks with retired ISU Historian Paul Holsinger and asks why Normal was a good place for settlement in the first place. Holsinger says the answer was not obvious.

The Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Children's Home was a fixture in Normal for 110 years. As the community celebrates its 150th anniversary, Ruthie Cobb chats with Charlie Schlenker about the orphanage. She's says the home had a singular statewide impact as well as a local one.

GLT aired Charlie's feature on a book put out by the ISSCS Historical Society in 2007.

In  the development of Normal, transportation has been a key theme. WGLT's Charlie Schlenker is interviewing all of the lecturers for the "Normal 150" celebration.  Terry Ryburn and Mike Matejka share their thoughts on why Normal developed the way it did.

As the Town of Normal observes its sesquicentennial, there are things in its history that should be recognized but not celebrated. In our continuing series of "Normal 150" interviews, GLT's Charlie Schlenker talks with a retired ISU historian about racial segregation. Mark Wyman says the division of whites and blacks in Normal was similar to other cities in Illinois.

  Bryan in La Grange, Illinois has a hibiscus plant that's not thriving and hopes host Patrick Murphy can solve the problem.

Organizer Mark Nybakke talks about the upcoming Bloomington/Normal Zombie Walk, including what pudding and a crossbow have to do with the fundraiser.

For some, the body is a temple.  For other, it's a canvas...a way to express a unique point of view.  A new exhibit at Illinois State University's Milner Library explores the various ways people can express themselves with tattoos and piercings, and how body art has gone from the underground to mainstream.

Occasionally we send Jon Norton out to local record stores to listen to what customers are hearing as they browse the bins.  Norton's trip to Uptown Normal this week pumped some new heavy metal in his hear holes.

The clock is ticking down on the number of days left to visit one of the foremost Native American archeological sites in the U.S. The Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown, IL is scheduled to close under Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposed budget cuts. Archeologist Alan Harn has spent the past 53 years studying the Native American human remains and artifacts there for clues about these early settlers.

Rhiannon Giddens performed at Bloomington's Castle Theatre on September 18th. She's touring behind her new CD, "Tomorrow is My Turn," produced by T Bone Burnett. Giddens is the co-founder of The Carolina Chocolate Drops. Her first solo CD is a convincing collection of diverse American styles, from country to gospel to blues. From her home in southern Ireland, Giddens spoke with GLT's Bruce Bergethon.

The Jan Brandt Gallery in Bloomington celebrates National Hispanic Heritage month by displaying works by Mexican-American artists.  During the installation of some of those works, Laura Kennedy spoke with an artist whose prints and sculptures have been inspired by recent tragic events in Mexico...

The community budget task force has presented its final recommendations to Aldermen and the community. Aldermen also took action on one of the funding recommendations in the task force presentation - a one-percent sales tax increase. WGLT's Mike McCurdy talked with two members of the task force during Sound Ideas.

Riding a bicycle from Chicago to St. Louis is a long ways on a bike. But it’s no comparison to the vast distances in the galaxy or universe, distances measured in light years or the distance light travels in a year. Dr. Lucianne Walkowicz is an astronomer with Chicago’s Adler Planetarium and a TED Senior Fellow. She’s also in the middle of a 300 mile bike ride, designed to bring some perspective to the universe.

A young artist is hoping to challenge preconceived ideas about mental illness in her latest work.  Laura Kennedy walked through the exhibit at the Rachel Cooper Gallery at Illinois State University.

There's danger afoot in the garden!  Host Patrick Murphy talks about some noxious plants to avoid.

  When our plants experience too much rain in the spring, it can be bad news all summer long.  Host Patrick Murphy grosses out sidekick Laura Kennedy with an explanation of what he calls 'plant snot.'

Host Patrick Murphy has an appreciation for farmers, plus some canning advice.

  David Davis is 200! Hear about the party to celebrate Judge Davis, plus how the David Davis Mansion is holding the fort in tough economic times.

  Get a preview of "Noises Off," the new show at Community Players in Bloomington.

Artist Brian Simpson talks about the new thing in art collecting:  3x5 artist cards.

  Listen up!  Dr. Matt Fraker talks about the most common ear issues that can impact our pets.

  Dr. Tim Anderson talks about the dangers of summer heat for our pets.

Get some pet grooming tips from the pros in this episode of Animal House.

The Town of Normal is following its twin to the south and developing a new comprehensive plan. The plan, when finished, will guide the Town for the next two decades. The City adopted its plan, guided by the McLean County Regional Planning Commission, earlier this year. And the Town of Normal plan won’t be adopted until late 2016, leaving plenty of time for community and citizen input.

Many equate putting money into the stock market with gambling. There are many similarities, especially when the market is as volatile as it's been lately. But there are even more similarities than you probably would have ever imagined. Willis Kern has more during Sound Money.

Proven financial practices and solid economic data often take a backseat to gambling-type behavior when it comes to personal investing. During this edition of Sound Money, Willis Kern tries to find out if that kind of activity is ever the right way to approach financial matters.

Western legend Wild Bill Hickock was born in Troy Grove, Illinois about an hour and twenty minutes north of Bloomington-Normal. Actor Walt Willey grew up in nearby Ottawa, Illinois before making his career on the soap opera All My Children. Willey learned of the central Illinois connection to Hickok only later in life, and was entranced by James Butler Hickok when he was looking for a one man show to do.

Most of us like to think we are sound financial stewards, basing our planning on solid economic data and proven practices, but that's not always the case. In this edition of Sound Money, Willis Kern explores the world of Behavioral Finance.