Opinions

Keep records of vital information for elderly parents

Sometimes we make assumptions about the information that we have or don’t have when it comes to our parents, grandparents or other seniors in our lives. Unfortunately the moment we realize that the information we need is not available is usually during a crisis.

Taking stigma off incontinence

Watching daytime TV, and all of the commercials for incontinence products, one might think that incontinence is a normal part of life and aging.

Winter Leaves Me Senseless

There are a few facts about winter that so directly affect my daily life, I feel compelled to share them with you this week. Fact: The weather pretty much stinks for at least four months straight – if not longer. Fact: There isn’t a whole …

The ‘Doggone’ Grocery Shopping

Like most moms, the burden of the “unexpected” on any given day tends to fall on me. Who forgot to do what. Who has some little emergency that needs immediate help and turns Mom’s day upside down. Over this holiday season, I got an unexpected …

This Apple has sour taste

Dear Fixer: I cannot download any apps on my iPhone. It says my account is disabled. After I sent a request to the Apple support email address, I received a response from an iTunes adviser who said it appeared that my account had been disabled due to “chargeback orders” they had received from my credit card issuer.

Art of compromise is what’s needed now

In the aftermath of last week’s election, I’ve been listening to my friends on the right and the left. They are saying the same thing, and that’s what worries me.

Christmas shopping, philosophically speaking

Now that that pesky presidential election is over, it’s time to concentrate on what’s really important. Christmas shopping. But before you can shop, you have to decide what to get friends and family, collectively known as loved ones.

Stop ‘straw buyers’ of guns

For years Chicago and Cook County officials have been pushing a law that would help close the spigot of guns flowing illegally into the city. So far, the National Rifle Association has blocked the law in Springfield, but officials here should keep pushing. The so-called …

How about veggie McDonald’s here?

McDonald’s is opening two vegetarian-only restaurants. Not, unfortunately, in one of the hipper neighborhoods of Chicago, or even somewhere in California. But in India — in Amritsar and Katra. This makes sense. For reasons of religion and tradition, Indian diets tend to be low in …

Shouldn’t there be protocol for texting?

Over the last years, I’ve voiced my opinion on texting, its tendency toward poor grammar, interrupted sleep and grunt-like conversations with our kids. But today, I confide a personal concern about America’s preferred method of quick communication. It’s just too quick for me. You know …

Nothing like Lake Bluff Opening Day

I’m a sucker for Lake Bluff Baseball’s Opening Day! It’s tiny Lake Bluff at its best, as these wonderful volunteer dads and moms devote ridiculous amounts of time to the lucky kids who play in the Lake Bluff Youth Baseball Association. Most of the games …

Our View: State should be better to business

One business magazine now rates the Badger State’s business climate in 2011 at 17th in the nation. Compare that to Illinois which, in the eyes of the nation’s top CEOs, is ranked 48th.

Springfield passes the buck again

To Springfield Democrats, the gift of elephantine debt on local jurisdictions is merely collateral damage.

A ‘Moneyball’ lesson in life: ‘Get on base’

I’ve decided that the correct answer for just about any question this spring is: “He gets on base.” That answer comes from one of last year’s best movies, “Moneyball.” That simple phrase answers the questions put to Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland A’s, …

I miss Duke -- and I don’t mean John Wayne

I’ve rarely spoken about Duke, who has been sharing my office for almost 30 years. Duke has always been a beautiful green-and-yellow “Blue Amazon” parrot who loves me and my daughter Wendy, spending lots of time on our shoulders, walking around the office with us. …