National Opinions

Time for Wild to show some pride

The Wild logo is stitched in the carpet in the center of the locker room. Wild players, particularly a few veterans, take delight in berating anyone who has the audacity to dip a toe over the line, on accident or even if the guilty party is unaware of the unwritten rule.

Antron Brown favored to win top-fuel title

LOS ANGELES-On Feb. 21, it will be two years since Antron Brown and Susan Zimmer never met and became joined forever. It was Brown's 200th-something National Hot Rod Association event, Zimmer's first.

Dave on Demand: The television week in review

I like to think I'm big enough to admit it when I've been wrong. (Given the frequency of my errors, that makes me pretty immense.)

Zombies, then comic books? A winning 1-2 punch on AMC

In the age of the DVR, caring about audience flow is supposed to be, well, so 2007. We record what we want, we watch when we can.

Finally, real mortgage relief for homeowners

The following editorial appeared in the Kansas City Star on Friday, Feb. 10:

A little heart-to-heart on Valentine's Day

What's that scary holiday where you're encouraged to dress up, hope for a trick or a treat, and expect candy? Where chatting up a virtual stranger after dark seems normal? When whispering voices warn to be afraid, to be very afraid, especially if you're on your own?

http://www.ginabarreca.com

Raising a better bebe: After the 'Tiger Mother', is America ready for the French version?

A little more than a year has passed since the publication of Amy Chua's "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" - the paroxysm-inducing guide to raising better children through belittlement, intimidation and tyrannical music practice - and already we have version 2.0. Pamela Druckerman's "Bringing Up Bebe" alleges that it's the French who could teach indulgent, over-scheduling, helicoptering American parents a thing or two about rearing les enfants.

Connections make Verano

If there's a single car that demonstrates the benefits of General Motors Co.'s global engineering and brand strategy, it's the 2012 Buick Verano.

How far the U.S., and democracy, has fallen in Egypt

Nothing better illustrates America's sliding status in today's Arab world than Egypt's decision to try 16 Americans who work for pro-democracy groups there.

Catholics, contraception and the heretic faithful

One of my most conservative friends is Catholic, but he is not a "conservative Catholic." In my book, he'd only be a conservative Catholic if he opposed the death penalty (he supports it), opposed abortion (he believes women should have the right to chose) and engaged in natural family planning (he appreciates the fact that all women he's had sex with, including his wife, used the Pill or another artificial contraceptive to avoid unwanted pregnancy).

Payroll tax deadline approaches again

The following editorial appeared in the Baltimore Sun on Wednesday, Feb. 8:

Gay marriage is a dead political issue

Eight years is an aeon in politics. Witness the waning potency of the gay-marriage issue.

http://www.dickpolman.blogspot.com

Komen, Planned Parenthood furor can help donors rethink criteria for giving

Too bad the brief but seismic split between Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood didn't explode in time for the Jan. 22 anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Will more money buy an Alzheimer's cure?

The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Thursday, Feb. 9:

Will 'super PACs' ruin politics?

The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Thursday, Feb. 9:

Long trip no excuse for Blackhawks' skid

CHICAGO - How easy it would be to blame "Disney on Ice" for the Blackhawks resembling a Mickey Mouse operation at the start of their longest road trip since 1994.

G-8, NATO summits will hit us where we live

If President Barack Obama and Mayor Rahm Emanuel really care about Chicago, they'll cancel the G-8 and NATO summits scheduled for May.

The upside of Greece's devastating debt crisis

The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday, Feb. 8:

So you want to be an astronaut?

The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday, Feb. 8:

For the pro athlete, it's just a job

Within hours of creating one its most glorious moments, the pro sports world exposed one of its dirty little secrets.

Chipper Woods bringing galleries back to his side

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -According to a new Forbes magazine poll, Tiger Woods is the second most disliked athlete in America. He is ranked just behind Michael Vick, the convicted dogfighting criminal. He is ranked just ahead of Plaxico Burress, who also did prison time, on a gun charge.