Chicago Sun-Times :: Today's Columists ::

'Black people don't commit suicide'

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

There's an old saying in the African-American community, passed down from generation to generation, that goes a long way toward explaining some of what transpired here last week after the death of Chicago School Board President Michael Scott.

Grief alone doesn't explain Daley's rant

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Grief and anger, like clouds of a coming storm, moved back and forth across the landscape of Mayor Daley's face in public appearances last week.

At 60, she's got attention of men again

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

When I turned 50, I noticed that I seemed to have become invisible to the opposite sex.

Winfrey brings joy, hope, levity to women's lives

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

One day last season, Oprah Winfrey had a show with a teen couple contemplating whether it was time for them to have sex.

How can Oprah leave us like this?

BY HEATHER HAVRILESKY — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Do you feel helpless and betrayed? Is your breathing rapid and shallow, your pulse racing? Do you feel angry, confused, hurt? Have you felt this way ever since you heard that Oprah Winfrey will be ending her talk show in September 2011?

Getting to the bottom of Obama's bow

BY JONATHAN DRESNER — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

President Obama's visit to Japan drew criticism from the American right because he bowed to Emperor Akihito. Most of the criticism hinged on whether it's inappropriate for an American head of state to bow to another head of state. Some critics were nuanced enough to note that mutual bows are appropriate greetings in Japan, but suggested that Obama's bow was inappropriately deep and therefore servile.

Dem goes rogue, likes Palin's book

BY SANDRA TSING-LOH — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Now hold your horses, you snarky, lefty, NPR-listening, New York Times-subscribing readers. I haven't jumped ship to declare Sarah Palin herself "great." I'm from California; I am not a creationist; I am not pro-life; I have never shot a moose.

L.A. bound Oh oh Oprah!

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

The big question? Is Oprah moving kit and kaboodle to L.A.?

Focus placed on finances for 13- to 33-year-olds

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Edward Sandrick wants his 20-something peers to understand the value of saving and handling money, and he intends to offer the advice online. Sandrick, 25, of Naperville, on Friday won third place and a grant from Mobilize.org, a nonprofit group aimed at increasing civic activity by the millennial generation -- ages 13 to 33 -- so he can create downloadable spending and wealth diaries for cell phones, handheld devices, smart phones and other computers.

Bears' history with QBs indicates systemic problem

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

Holy ghost of Sid Luckman, what have we here? With the arrival of Jay Cutler, the Bears' long search for a franchise quarterback was supposed to be over. But the early returns have been less than inspiring, as Cutler has thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes and failed in the red zone more often than not. This reality begs a question: Are Bears quarterbacks doomed to fail?

Susan Boyle's debut doesn't deserve hype it's getting

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Jim DeRogatis: When it comes to tragic spectacles in this sorry age of reality television, beyond even the pathetic sight of Patti Blagojevich eating bugs on "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!," falls the obnoxious exploitation of Scottish homebody Susan Boyle.