Blended Family doesn't blend well - January 7, 2012 - Dear Amy: My wife and I have lived in a blended family for 30 years. It always has been a rocky road with her and my two boys, and now my older son and my wife do not speak.
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The Michigan Avenue Bowl needs great running game - January 4, 2012 - If you tried to navigate quickly past slow-moving crowds on the packed sidewalks downtown last week, no doubt you had the same thought I did:
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Mirror images? - January 5, 2012 - Back in 2007, when Barack Obama was running for president, a mildly surprising bit of news emerged: He and Dick Cheney were eighth cousins. Today, though, it appears that report was wrong. Judging from Obama's record in office, the two are...
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Hard to say which way NU is headed - January 1, 2012 - HOUSTON — It was a frustrating season, and not just for Northwestern's players, coaches and fans.
Getting rid of Zambrano money well spent - January 6, 2012 - Consider it adding $15 million to the cost of renovation at Wrigley Field. That is the amount Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts invested to keep his clubhouse free from the contamination of Carlos Zambrano.
Future starts here for health care, education and transportation innovators - December 25, 2011 - For my final column of 2011, I'm taking a peek into the future, circa 2016, featuring three teams of Chicagoans who expect to shape the future of health care, education and transportation.
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Eberling makes quick adjustment to world-class bobsledding - January 4, 2012 - Katie Eberling had finished an excellent volleyball career as a four-year starter at Western Michigan. She was student-teaching, getting ready to graduate last spring, applying for elementary education jobs, thinking her days as a high-level...
Chicago's 2011 pothole tally hits record - January 2, 2012 - The tally on Chicago's rutted streets and alleys is in, and it's a record: Crews filled more than 600,000 potholes in 2011, or about 25 percent more than in 2010, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.
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Balancing a criminal record and a resume - December 25, 2011 - My New Year's resolution is to go from being simply "America's most beloved workplace-advice columnist" to "World's most beloved workplace-advice columnist."
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Idina Menzel headed to Ravinia - January 5, 2012 - The Ravinia Festival announced Thursday that Idina Menzel, the original star of “Wicked” (she won a Tony as Elphaba on Broadway in 2004) and also now known for her work on “Glee,” will make her first appearance at the...
2011: Amish, autos, flights, lights - December 30, 2011 - Don't work for a dead horse. Don't change your car oil every 3,000 miles. Don't book airfare on weekends.
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Thinking outside the box to honor thy politicians - January 6, 2012 - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, our all-powerful Rahmfather, appears ready to name a public building after Chicago's late former first lady Maggie Daley, perhaps the Chicago Cultural Center.
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Where the girls aren't - January 6, 2012 - During an appearance in late December on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight," Jane Fonda was asked which man from her past she would choose to accompany her to a desert island.
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Some of our favorite things - December 16, 2011 - In the spirit of Santa Claus and the boldface tradition of gossip columns, here are some holiday gift ideas, some Sidewalks Suggestions.
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Van Halen to play 2 Chicago shows - January 5, 2012 - Van Halen announced its first tour in four years Thursday, including dates Feb. 24 at the United Center and April 1 at the Allstate Arena.
High school resume can win a great deal - January 6, 2012 - Q: I have four children, and the oldest is a senior and going to college next fall. I'm fearful that I make too much money (mid-$100s) and I don't have much saved, so borrowing, grants and scholarships seem to be my best option. My daughter...
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Bernie and the Bull: one documentary's opening, the other's pending - December 30, 2011 - Comedy doesn't work without rhythm, and for a stand-up who relied on storytelling as consistently as Bernie Mac, cadence was everything. "Lemme explain something to you about the Mac man," he's heard purring in the opening moments of the new...
Romney's Glass Ceiling - January 4, 2012 - Republicans will support Romney against Obama, even if they have to pinch their noses.
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'The Devil Inside': Don't blame the pope for this one -- 1 star - January 6, 2012 - The words, somber and undeniably true, hit the screen: "The Vatican did not endorse this film nor aid in its completion." No, the Holy See apparently is waiting to back an exorcism movie that's a little less hilariously lame.
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Smith holds power in shuffle - January 3, 2012 - If you closed your eyes and listened to Ted Phillips and George McCaskey talk about Jerry Angelo on Tuesday afternoon you might think you were at a retirement party listening to toasts for a beloved company man.
There's little holiday cheer for housing affordability - December 23, 2011 - Most of the front-line workers who have helped consumers prepare for the holidays still can't afford to buy homes, even in a year of vastly improved housing affordability.
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Giants rely on Eli - January 7, 2012 - As one of the NFL's most tradition-rich franchises, the Giants always have taken an old-fashioned approach to winning.
Trumpeter Tito Carrillo makes a powerful 'Opening Statement' - January 7, 2012 - Friday was a big night for trumpeter Tito Carrillo.
Time for Big Z to step to plate - January 7, 2012 - The Marlins re-signed Greg Dobbs on Tuesday, giving him $3million over two years.
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Power to the people via social media - January 4, 2012 - Verizon Wireless, like Bank of America before it, advanced its proposed surcharge with military precision — that is to say the precision of the U.S. 7th Cavalry in the Battle of Little Bighorn in June 1876, Custer's Last Stand.
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State Supreme Court clarifies law on noncompete agreements - December 23, 2011 - In an era when workers change jobs frequently either voluntarily or involuntarily, clearly defining the rules of a competitive labor market is paramount.
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Unanswered email reaches the boulder stage - January 6, 2012 - King Sisyphus, as you may remember from your study of ancient mythology, was the poor guy who forever rolled a boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down, doomed for eternity to toil at a task he could never finish.
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Rev. Freeman: Search for meaning is the cornerstone of faith - January 2, 2012 - For some, the new year is an opportunity to reconnect with their spirituality. Find a church home. Resolve to give back to the community. Rekindle that search for divine meaning. How folks arrive at their relationship with God, or their higher...
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Chi-town and chorizo - January 5, 2012 - Vera is a Spanish restaurant that feels like a local pub. That's not a complaint.
Elder, CSO bring insights to Berlioz, Byron and the Bard - January 6, 2012 - Mark Elder's ability to connect with audiences on both musical and verbal levels, also his knack for enlivening outwardly standard symphonic programs with deeper resonances, has been increasingly evident in his work with the Chicago Symphony...
The keys to maintaining your weight loss - January 4, 2012 - Some good news on the weight-loss front. Even if you've been a total flop before — regaining all the weight you lost and 10 pounds on top of that — you can be a dieting success.
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Your weirdest interviews - January 6, 2012 - Our column about some of the most bizarre questions asked by employers during interviews in 2011 brought in quite a bit of feedback. Here were some of the wacky questions (and answers) readers shared with us through emails and on Facebook.
Problem Solver: Airline scrambles booking, charges; customer stuck on hold for hours - January 5, 2012 - When she booked her flights on Virgin America's website, Angela Bahng thought she had snagged a good deal.
Young Republican sees Romney as a winner … - January 6, 2012 - Today, Chicago attorney and political commentator Kyle Stone, executive board secretary of the Chicago Young Republicans, joins Tribune columnist Eric Zorn for a dialogue about the presidential race.
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Venezuela's embarrassment - January 3, 2012 - Hugo Chavez, the peacock president of Venezuela, called President Obama a "clown" a few days ago, and "an embarrassment." My suggestion, President Chavez: If you want to find an embarrassing clown, look in the mirror.
Steelers could rattle Tebow with 5-man rush - January 7, 2012 - The Steelers defense can generate pressure and take away the hot reads from Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow in Sunday's wild-card matchup with its zone blitz concepts. By rushing five and dropping six into coverage, the Steelers can force Tebow to...
The eight scenarios in which Stacy Keibler would be paid $25,000 for a special appearance - December 20, 2011 - "George Clooney may have hired a bodyguard for new girlfriend Stacy Keibler (who reportedly keeps the actor posted on Keibler's doings, whenever he's not around), but she likely won't complain. Thanks to her Clooney connection, Keibler's fee...
Leaving Iraq - December 27, 2011 - There's a genre of fiction called alternative or "what if" history. As in, what if Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee defeated the Union at the Battle of Gettysburg? Or, what if Hitler had not been born?
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Careful training can ease dog's anxiety about riding in the car - January 5, 2012 - Q: We're planning a driving trip in January. Our Standard Poodle is very nervous in cars. Any suggestions? -- D.M., Clayton, WI
Mitt Romney's dog days - December 30, 2011 - Surely you've heard the story about Mitt Romney's dog. If you haven't, just wait. The more desperate the GOP primary campaign gets, the more likely you are to hear it again.
Umami: It's the bomb - January 1, 2012 - Food comes in four flavors: sweet, sour, bitter and salty. And now, umami. Which means yummy.
MLS grants equal opportunity to see listings - January 5, 2012 - Q: A friend of mine told me that my Realtor should be able to see listings before they are publicly posted on an MLS website. Therefore, she should be able to let me see a home that will be sold before everyone else does.
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GOP elite divided against itself - December 28, 2011 - I've made a disturbing discovery: I am a member of the conservative "establishment." I feel like Michael Douglas at the end of "Falling Down": "I'm the bad guy?"
2011: Out with a whimper, not a bang - January 5, 2012 - It proved as hard to break up the bankrupt European Union as it was to create it. For all the hundreds of stories predicting the imminent end of the union, insolvent Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain still hung in. Apparently if these debtors...
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Occupy Wall Street has changed the national conversation - January 4, 2012 - In 2012, Americans will go to the polls and vote for who they want to represent them in Washington. But, as 2011 showed, the real political momentum is not to be found in Washington. Our institutions have let us down, not only by failing to prevent...
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What home seller can do when buyer is in default - January 6, 2012 - Q: We have a purchase agreement with buyers that states they will close, as a cash sale, on or before a specific date. This agreement was signed one month before that closing date.
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Free guide for spotting promising careers - January 4, 2012 - DEAR JOYCE: My brother is coming home from Iraq and will be getting back into the civilian world, including the job world. I know that vets get transition assistance, but I'd like to do my part to help, too. What was that free government website...
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The hollow democracy - January 5, 2012 - Maybe they're trying to remind us that democracy isn't merely a matter of casting that little vote once every Leap Year -- but, far, far more significantly, it's about getting that right to vote in the first place, keeping that right, and having it...
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A tragic story about our cosmic destiny - January 2, 2012 - — Huge excitement. Two Earth-size planets found orbiting a sunlike star less than a thousand light-years away. This comes two weeks after the stunning announcement of another planet orbiting another star at precisely the right distance...
Bears inspire little confidence - January 5, 2012 - I'm going to ask a favor of the Bears for the next time they have news they know the majority of their fans will like. Issue a press release. That will be ample.
Top 5 personal coaching myths - December 24, 2011 - Personal coaching is all the rage. Harvard Business Review reports that coaching is a $1 billion a year industry, but just what is a personal coach, professional coach or life coach, and why are so many executives and individuals using them to...
There was just one Hitch - December 19, 2011 - WASHINGTON — The Republicans' final debate preceding the Iowa caucuses is suddenly uncompelling. There is nothing to do but write about Christopher Hitchens, whose death has made the world immeasurably less interesting.
Board's gift to owners takes the joy out of reserves - January 6, 2012 - Q. Our board has waived the assessments for all unit owners for December over the past two years as a holiday gift. They have taken money from the reserves to make up that amount in the budget. I believe this is a violation of the Illinois...
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Ron Paul's popularity in Iowa a sign of a war-weary America - January 3, 2012 - PARIS -- The opinion polls' forecast that Rep. Ron Paul would do well in the Iowa Republican caucus has surely not been evidence of a surge in Iowa of hostility to the Federal Reserve and to free trade. If Paul comes out at or close to the top in...
Foolish consistency, or just foolishness? - January 4, 2012 - "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson.
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Bank checks out tenants in foreclosed apartment - January 6, 2012 - Q: We live in an apartment building that was recently taken over by the bank at foreclosure. The bank gave us a 90-day notice to move, and also delivered a questionnaire that asked for information about our relationship with the prior owner, our...
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Santorum gets his (brief) moment in the sun - January 5, 2012 - Mitt "Landslide" Romney may have won the Iowa caucuses by a whopping eight votes, but everybody knows the real winner was former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.
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Daniel Craig: 'Tattoo' comparisons don't matter - December 29, 2011 - There haven't been too many more anticipated films than the recently released "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara and directed by David Fincher ("The Social Network").
Mark Russell - January 6, 2012 - From our sports desk -- the pitiful Washington Redskins are cursed because of that problematic name: Washington.
Best advice of 2011 - December 19, 2011 - As many of you sit underneath brilliantly lit trees today opening gifts from "Santa," I'd like to add a few gifts for you to unwrap and launch you into 2012 with more peace, power and productivity. As my loyal readers know, I review my best...
'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.
The Justice Department's identity problem - December 29, 2011 - Is there, or should there ever be, a point when a state is no longer penalized for its discriminatory past?
Joe Trost's Corner Kicks soccer blog | Let's talk about rankings - November 10, 2011 - There will always be debates when it comes to rankings.
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From shipping pallets to temporary shelter - January 7, 2012 - Sometimes an interesting idea is something you stumble upon. Literally. Just ask Suzan Wines, a New York architect who was casting about for inspiration for a competition to design temporary shelters for refugees.
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Oversold service despised - December 24, 2011 - Q: I have a 2003 Toyota Camry with 35,000 miles on it. An oil change technician recently advised me to get my radiator flushed, transmission fluid changed and power steering fluid changed. He also noticed a rust colored stripe on the serpentine...
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What it was, was football - November 10, 2011 - WASHINGTON — A few millennia from now, when archaeologists from an ascendant Brazil or Turkey or wherever sift the shards of American civilization and find the ruins of the Big House in Ann Arbor, Mich., they will wonder why a 109,901-seat...