April 15--National Geographic says Abraham Lincoln's tomb in Springfield "has all the historical character of an office lobby." That's harsh. But, as in a lot of state of Illinois facilities, there's a guy there who's done nothing for, like, 150 years.
Olive Garden is providing tablets at tables at all its U.S. restaurants, but don't get too excited. They're touch screens so you can order and pay for your meal, not Tums because you're already paying.
The Transportation Security Administration has fired a pair of Denver officers for a scheme that enabled a male screener to fondle men he signaled he found attractive. Remember when the worst thing you had to worry about in an airport was having to watch CNN?
A Chicago campaign donor is suing former Rep. Aaron Schock, saying he was misled by the House's onetime rising star. That's one way to take money out of politics: Allow those disillusioned by what candidates actually do to get their donations back.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel told "Crooklyn" filmmaker Spike Lee he doesn't like that Lee wants to call his movie about local violence "Chiraq," a portmanteau of Chicago and Iraq. But the only politician with a legitimate gripe about reputational damage from the title is former French President Jacques Chirac.
Speaking of sensitive leaders-turned-movie-critics, there will be no Russian release of "Child 44," a Hollywood thriller set in the 1950s Soviet Union. In Russia, they think it gross to see grisly crime on screen. In Hollywood, they see grisly crime and think only of the gross.
HBO has ordered a Tom Hanks-produced miniseries on the Wright Brothers. Must be pilot season.
The Boston Braves invested in a slew of ballpark improvements and a paint job ahead of their 1946 opener, 69 years ago Thursday. The paint was so fresh in fact that 330 fans found their clothes smeared with green. Hey, at least their restrooms worked.
philrosenthal@tribune.com
