Ask Amy
Marital stink about ring in the drink - September 17, 2011 - Dear Amy: More than a month ago my husband of 11 years lost his wedding ring while we were on a family river trip.
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Fred Mitchell's Around Town
Better 2nd baseman? - September 15, 2011 - Hall of Fame Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman never has lacked for an opinion on controversial topics.
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Barbara Brotman
Woman vs. machine: Was I playing iTunes or was iTunes playing me? - September 12, 2011 - It's all over now, my little battle with iTunes, and I'm not even sure who won. Though considering that the iTunes Store, App Store and iBookstore took in $1.4 billion in the three months ending in June, I have a sneaking suspicion.
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Steve Chapman
Needed: A panic vaccine - September 15, 2011 - Cancer treatment has made great progress in recent decades, but the tragedy is that so much of our effort to combat this scourge is just that: treatment. Once a disease appears, there is only so much that can be done. It would be far cheaper,...
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Teddy Greenstein
BMW Championship should be last for Cog Hill - September 10, 2011 - Cog Hill will open its doors this week to 70 world-class golfers not named Tiger Woods.
David Haugh's In the Wake of the News
Playing while grieving - September 17, 2011 - As usual, there was no stopping Walter Payton.
Melissa Harris' Chicago Confidential
Opposites attract, keep nonprofit Chicago's Women's Business Development Center growing - September 16, 2011 - For 25 years, Hedy Ratner and Carol Dougal have been co-presidents of Chicago's Women's Business Development Center, a nonprofit that certifies and helps build women-owned firms.
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Globetrotting by Philip Hersh
Did Yohan Blake just make it seem dopey to watch track? - September 16, 2011 - Dare I say that Yohan Blake would have won the world title in the 100 meters last month even if Jamaican compatriot and defending champion and world record-holder Usain Bolt had not been disqualified for a false start?
Jon Hilkevitch's Getting Around
Cookies strike fear on flight - September 12, 2011 - What was universally understood as a simple, gracious gesture in the past now can easily become the raw material that breeds suspicion and fear a decade after the Sept. 11 attacks.
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Ask Rex Huppke: I Just Work Here
Bullies bad for bottom line - September 18, 2011 - As a species, it seems we're doomed to interact with jerks.
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Chris Jones
Curious Theatre Branch at the MCA, getting ready for ... what? - September 16, 2011 - THEATER REVIEW: "Still in Play: A Performance of Getting Ready" at MCA Stage ★★ ... Jenny Magnus and her tribe, the Curious Theatre Branch, have been doing their own deeply personal thing for some 25 years now, in large theaters and...
Gregory Karp
Comparing health insurance plans to become easier - September 16, 2011 - If you've tried shopping for health insurance, you know how frustrating it can be, because much of the language isn't in plain English and too often the actual costs are hidden or unclear.
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John Kass
Obama's Solyndra scandal reeks of the Chicago Way - September 18, 2011 - The Solyndra scandal cost at least a half-billion public dollars. It is plaguing President Barack Obama. And it's being billed as a Washington story.
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Julia Keller
Less than meets the eye - September 17, 2011 - A friend of mine was fired from her first job as a TV newscaster. Her crime? She was, the news director told her with a straight face, "distractingly voluptuous." He'd considered several remedies — tying back her thick reddish-gold hair,...
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Rick Kogan's Sidewalks
Prime rib, a relish tray -- it must be a supper club - August 26, 2011 - The supper club, as defined by Bun E. Carlos, drummer for the band Cheap Trick, is "meat and more meat … lots of beverages … locally or family owned … a real special thing."
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Greg Kot
Kids These Days growing up fast and on tour - September 16, 2011 - When Kids These Days debuted in July 2009, at a West Side club, the first song they played was an expansive cover of James Brown's "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World."
Gail MarksJarvis
Rally eases stock losses - September 18, 2011 - You'd think we'd be feeling better.
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Nina Metz
Chicago Close-up: Hitch's classics and 2 near-misses - September 16, 2011 - Among the many Alfred Hitchcock films that have become ingrained in pop culture, two lesser-known titles on are the bill for this week's Hi-Def Hitch Film Fest at the Wilmette Theatre, offering a rare chance to see them on the big screen.
Clarence Page
Ron Paul's harsh definition of 'freedom' - September 18, 2011 - Let's be fair to U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. Contrary to a widespread impression, the libertarian-minded Paul did not say during a recent Republican presidential debate that people without health insurance should be left to die. It is only his...
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Michael Phillips
'Night Moves' kept adults in mind in pairing crime, movies - September 16, 2011 - Opening this week, "Drive" is the latest film to tell a story located at the intersection of the Hollywood film industry and underworld crime. The character, Driver, played by Ryan Gosling, makes his living as a part-time stunt driver for the...
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Mike Mulligan
Kreutz's presence will be felt Sunday - September 13, 2011 - There was always a hint of menace to Olin Kreutz as he dominated the Bears locker room for the past 13 seasons. Bright, funny, valiant, ruthless, dangerous, a thousand words wouldn't be enough to capture the guy's spirit. The stories are legendary,...
Mary Ellen Podmolik
NVR in stealth mode in Chicago market - September 16, 2011 - NVR Inc., the nation's third-largest homebuilder, isn't making much noise about it, but the company just stuck its toe in the local homebuilding sandbox.
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Dan Pompei
Melton key to Bears defense - September 17, 2011 - NEW ORLEANS — If the Bears defense looked different against the Falcons, it's because it was.
Howard Reich
World Music Fest gets Chicago dancing - September 16, 2011 - A deep chill settled over the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park on Thursday night, but that didn't stop the brave souls who gathered there from dancing the night away.
Phil Rogers
Another successful season for Sandberg managing Triple-A - September 17, 2011 - Ryne Sandberg has done it again.
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Phil Rosenthal
BlackBerry doesn't get Envoy's message - September 17, 2011 - The Envoy offered a vision of the future, but those in charge at Motorola failed to grasp its message.
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Ameet Sachdev's Chicago Law
Pending patent overhaul divides Chicago lawyers - September 9, 2011 - Google Inc.'s $12.5 billion deal to acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. is evidence of the importance businesses place on patents. But there is a problem with the U.S. patent system.
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Mary Schmich
Three women and the Emmys - September 18, 2011 - Faith and Jill Soloway have spent the past week in a basement dressing room of the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles with their old Chicago friend Jane Lynch, cracking jokes that, for better or worse, you will not hear on the Emmys Sunday night.
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Dawn Turner Trice
Chicago woman helps bring clean water to residents in Bangladesh - September 12, 2011 - Two years ago, Tasmiha Khan was visiting her extended family in Bangladesh, lounging around with cousins in a cushy part of Dhaka, when she couldn't shake a feeling of restlessness.
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Phil Vettel
Prepare to sip, swirl and swallow at gourmet fest - September 15, 2011 - A few things you should know about the fourth annual Chicago Gourmet, which returns to Millennium Park:
John von Rhein
From Muti to Mussorgsky, an eventful season - September 16, 2011 - Autumn is when Chicago's classical music organizations put some of their fanciest wares on the market. More presenters are doing so than ever, leaving audience members to face an ever more bewildering array of choices. Which events you opt to...
Ellen Warren
Plus-size ladies' wish lists for shopping zen - September 16, 2011 - What do women want? That's a question for the ages. Let a roomful of psychologists figure it out.
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Jen Weigel
Pet stories - September 16, 2011 - Readers had strong reactions to our recent column about the rise in pet theft, and how you can protect yourself and your pet. Here were some comments in e-mail and on Facebook.
Jon Yates' "What's Your Problem?"
Homeowner on the lookout for her window order — for a year - September 15, 2011 - The Fortis Builders salesman said the windows would be custom-built and installed in 30 days.
Eric Zorn
Legal victory would be a PR defeat for teachers union - September 16, 2011 - Losing this legal battle would be better for the Chicago Teachers Union, though it would stand to weaken its position should similar fights erupt over other issues in years to come. Graciously surrendering now would be best.
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Julia Allison: Social Studies
How does fashion wear social media? - September 13, 2011 - DEAR JULIA: I follow your Twitter and see you're in New York for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I'm a big fashionista myself and I'm curious to know how the industry feels about social media.
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Matt Bowen
Bears brace for Saints' exotic blitzes - September 17, 2011 - The Saints under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will use multiple looks Sunday in New Orleans to manipulate the Bears' protection schemes and pressure quarterback Jay Cutler. Mike Martz's offense should expect unique blitz packages from the...
Dennis Byrne
How to save a sinking business - September 13, 2011 - This open letter is based on an interview I conducted with a contractor who's desperately trying to keep his head above water. He isn't named for obvious reasons.
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Meghan Daum
Save the nation — buy now - September 16, 2011 - Remember the famous Stanford marshmallow study of 1972? It asked children at a campus nursery school to choose between eating a marshmallow (or a cookie or a pretzel, depending on their preference) right away or waiting while the researcher stepped...
Don Dziedzina
Archery season hinges on Know your bow for archery season Arrow pointng up for archery season - September 16, 2011 - The archery deer season is only two weeks away, and the prospects look good. I'll be heading to Franklin County in Southern Illinois.
Leah Eskin
Word of the day - September 18, 2011 - Words come in handy so often, we've decided to stock up. At breakfast, we click the vocabulary app. At dinner, we hand out points for usage. It's the sort of project that can fritter away the whole week.
Ilyce Glink
Straightening out a wrong property line - September 13, 2011 - Q. We found out that the property line between my home and my neighbors' home is different from what the builder said when he sold us our home.
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Jonah Goldberg
Debate jars Perry out of sweet spot - September 15, 2011 - Mitt Romney and Rick Perry are exactly where they want to be.
Benny Kass
Does foreclosure wipe out all liens? - September 18, 2011 - Q: In a recent column you said that "a foreclosure by a first-trust (lender) will wipe out any subordinate liens." But that is not necessarily the case, is it?
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Joyce Lain Kennedy
Find right company contact for job - September 18, 2011 - Q. I'm getting conflicting advice about identifying the person with whom I should pursue employment inside a company. You always seem to know the right answer. Help? -- J.S.
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Charles Krauthammer
In America's pantheon: King in word and stone - August 29, 2011 - WASHINGTON — It is one of the enduring mysteries of American history — so near-providential as to give the most hardened atheist pause — that it should have produced, at every hinge point, great men who matched the moment. A...
Dan McNeil
Bears remain a good investment - September 15, 2011 - Chances are excellent you've heard that the key to smart investing is a diverse portfolio.
Robert Pagliarini: Your Other 8 Hours
How "little bets" lead to extraordinary outcomes - September 12, 2011 - In January of 1996, Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin began working on a research project at Stanford University. Over the past decade and a half, what began as a project to understand and prioritize library searches has transformed into...
Kathleen Parker
Planet of the godly - August 30, 2011 - WASHINGTON — Rick Perry's rapid lead over previous Republican front-runner Mitt Romney was predictable. But it is not a good sign for Republicans hoping to reclaim the White House and further highlights the crucial battle within GOP circles:...
Mark Pearlstein
On condo leases, declaration is decisive - September 9, 2011 - Q: I am the treasurer of a small condominium association. We provide our house rules to each owner. The rules state that no more than three units will be rented at any given time. Our declaration does not state anything about limiting the number...
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Leonard Pitts
News flash: Congresswoman has a spine - September 1, 2011 - I am pleased to report the sighting of an artifact so rarely seen among Democrats that it has become the stuff of legend and conjecture, like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster. It is called a spine.
Janet Portman
Tenant fired up over neighbors' outdoor grilling - September 16, 2011 - Q: I rent an apartment in a large complex. My lease prohibits "outdoor cooking of any kind" except in the picnic areas near the pool and children's play areas. But this provision is routinely ignored by residents, many of whom have small...
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Dean Richards
Matt Damon takes a cue from 'Contagion' - September 9, 2011 - LOS ANGELES — Stock up on surgical masks and rubber gloves. When you see the new Matt Damon movie "Contagion," I promise that you won't want to touch anyone or anything. The film follows the spread of a virus from China all over the world,...
Daneen Skube: Interpersonal Edge
Body language at work - September 12, 2011 - Q. How does nonverbal communication fit into the workplace? Is there a way to understand what people say with their bodies at work?
David Sobolewski
'We had bigger goals' - March 21, 2011 - Obviously, the Benet team and community had an extremely rough time with the unexpected end to the season.
Joe Trost's Corner Kicks
Boys soccer | Joe Trost's Corner Kicks: Metea Valley's Solomon juggles soccer, baseball and basketball - September 15, 2011 - Metea Valley's Ryan Solomon doesn't live and breathe soccer year-round like many players in the Chicago area.
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Mary Umberger
Multigenerations, one home - September 16, 2011 - For many of us, and for many reasons, home is getting to be a more crowded space.
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Bob Weber
Buying a used car? Here's what mechanic should check - September 7, 2011 - Q: I watch a lot of court shows and there are a lot of car cases. The judge inevitably says, "Did you have a mechanic check the car out?" I did that once. My mechanic looked at me and said, "What do you want me to check?" Not being a mechanic I had...
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George Will
Question time for the Republicans - September 5, 2011 - WASHINGTON — Wednesday's Republican "debate" in California will not resemble the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates, in which one candidate spoke for 60 minutes, the other responded for 90 minutes, and his opponent had 30 minutes for rebuttal....