http://nwherald.comThe latest news from the nwherald.com websiteen-usSince words are my chief tools, I’m interested in new ones that enter the lexicon. I was particularly interested when the New Oxford American Dictionary this week selected “unfriend” as its word of the year.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/18/r_nlsqwv0wr16jqbg82ys0ea/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/18/r_nlsqwv0wr16jqbg82ys0ea/index.xmlThu, 19 Nov 2009 07:15:00 GMTJournalism never is as simple as something you heard.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/04/r_zuq9jeertscqjktzo22cza/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/04/r_zuq9jeertscqjktzo22cza/index.xmlThu, 05 Nov 2009 07:15:00 GMTShhhh. What was that?http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/10/28/r_7rs08hbirx21jzwzicajna/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/10/28/r_7rs08hbirx21jzwzicajna/index.xmlThu, 29 Oct 2009 06:15:00 GMTThere are many facets to the breakneck pace of journalism today that we didn’t deal with years ago.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/10/21/r_i8ewrrdptzssijoshohxxa/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/10/21/r_i8ewrrdptzssijoshohxxa/index.xmlThu, 22 Oct 2009 06:15:00 GMTDo you ever wish you had a chance to do some volunteer work but find yourself too busy?http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/10/14/r_cynwhlbrtzcnauaj3qdqxa/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/10/14/r_cynwhlbrtzcnauaj3qdqxa/index.xmlThu, 15 Oct 2009 06:15:00 GMTA week after Chicago’s failed bid for the 2016 Olympics, I’ve engaged in few passionate debates in deference to living more than 50 miles from the site of the proposed games.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/10/07/r_ndvb79vgrxohgiy_xjclpg/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/10/07/r_ndvb79vgrxohgiy_xjclpg/index.xmlThu, 08 Oct 2009 06:15:00 GMTThere are few things journalists hate more than sealed documents.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/30/r_oy53hhfqha7yj9ltzuv0g/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/30/r_oy53hhfqha7yj9ltzuv0g/index.xmlThu, 01 Oct 2009 06:15:00 GMTSometimes you get discouraged by screaming from different sides, selfishness, rudeness, bickering and pettiness.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/23/r_4k5yjnyyqlk6tg10dt0_ya/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/23/r_4k5yjnyyqlk6tg10dt0_ya/index.xmlThu, 24 Sep 2009 06:15:00 GMTHate to admit it, but some newsroom callers got the worst of me this week.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/16/r_dyszdsijqg2c1z0afdpjiw/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/16/r_dyszdsijqg2c1z0afdpjiw/index.xmlThu, 17 Sep 2009 06:15:00 GMTIrrational fear attacks happen more frequently once you become a parent.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/09/r_vwqz5spjtoyf3uvvt8z5rw/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/09/r_vwqz5spjtoyf3uvvt8z5rw/index.xmlThu, 10 Sep 2009 06:15:00 GMTAs I loaded my trunk with a case of wine on the Monday deadline before Illinois sin taxes took effect, it was apparent that I saved about the price of a six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/02/r_jlpgq7clt8cx3nr3amrtca/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/02/r_jlpgq7clt8cx3nr3amrtca/index.xmlThu, 03 Sep 2009 06:15:00 GMTIf you build it, they will come.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/08/26/r_mholeeiqsrgrmzsmd5utfa/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/08/26/r_mholeeiqsrgrmzsmd5utfa/index.xmlThu, 27 Aug 2009 06:15:00 GMTThe news has been relatively fast and furious around here, particularly for summer, so pardon me if I seem cranky or distracted.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/08/19/r_m7y6emb9s6ehnzi1qela0g/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/08/19/r_m7y6emb9s6ehnzi1qela0g/index.xmlThu, 20 Aug 2009 06:15:00 GMTPublic or private school? The question will torment me in the coming year as I’m sure it’s afflicted many.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/08/05/r_vkmrry1swyncyjisjjaca/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/08/05/r_vkmrry1swyncyjisjjaca/index.xmlThu, 06 Aug 2009 06:15:00 GMTSome say justice delayed is justice denied.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/07/29/r_gd7nqtcpstqx5nslmu5_w/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/07/29/r_gd7nqtcpstqx5nslmu5_w/index.xmlThu, 30 Jul 2009 06:15:00 GMTSo far, the early reaction to the name of McHenry County’s new baseball team generally has been met with howls of disapproval.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/07/22/r_gqbnajvqskpzuahjixzlq/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/07/22/r_gqbnajvqskpzuahjixzlq/index.xmlThu, 23 Jul 2009 06:15:00 GMTPrevailing wisdom had Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan sitting in the leather chair of her choice in the governor’s mansion or the one that Roland Burris has been keeping warm in Washington.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/07/08/r_z6uul5qireyuqmlg7dza/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/07/08/r_z6uul5qireyuqmlg7dza/index.xmlThu, 09 Jul 2009 06:15:00 GMTAfter 22 years, the absence of a Crystal Lake Gala Festival this weekend will sadden some, although there’s no doubt that others were happy to see it go.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/07/01/r_eilebexdqwe8ylrk1icaa/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/07/01/r_eilebexdqwe8ylrk1icaa/index.xmlThu, 02 Jul 2009 06:15:00 GMTSpending much of a career covering crime taught me that many clichés about the criminal justice system are unfounded.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/06/24/r_utv_vd3pt2sk4oy3b0iunw/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/06/24/r_utv_vd3pt2sk4oy3b0iunw/index.xmlThu, 25 Jun 2009 06:15:00 GMTMany are watching with anticipation what might happen to local social service agencies whose budgets might be slashed significantly as casualties in a state budget war.http://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/06/17/r_449z1sctqdkzj34v_9sha/index.xmlhttp://nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/06/17/r_449z1sctqdkzj34v_9sha/index.xmlThu, 18 Jun 2009 06:15:00 GMT