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Columns Archives

Where's the love, O?

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By Ernest Wilkins

Dear Oprah: What's this I hear? You're skipping town?

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How not to spice up your sex life: cherry lube

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Steele on flavored lubricant: "First of all, who is eating lube? Or do some people have taste buds in weird places?"


I've been on a health kick recently.

I started back at the gym with a trainer before work; I stopped eating carbs after dark and cut back on my junk food and alcohol consumption. The added exercise has increased both my metabolism and my sex drive.


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It's a wine holiday

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Happy Beaujolais Nouveau!

What is that, you ask? Tomorrow marks the Thursday in November which, according to French law, is exactly when French Beaujolais producers will be allowed to release the first wines produced from this year's harvest ... otherwise known as Beaujolais Nouveau.
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Breaking down the CTA bus cuts

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Though the CTA reached a deal last week to prevent fare increases for two years, service still got cut. In February, the CTA is set to eliminate nine express bus routes and reduce the operating hours of 41 bus routes.

"Going Public" looked at the 41 bus routes that will see their weekday start and/or end times change. The cuts also will affect weekend service. CTA president Rich Rodriguez told reporters that riders who use these buses at late-night or early-morning hours won't have to travel far for alternate service.

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A social media Thanksgiving

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Nothing says Thanksgiving like turkey, sweet potatoes, football on top of crisp fall leaves and Twitter.

Wait, Twitter? Yes, and Facebook too. Social media can add a whole new twist to your holiday, from the preparations to the dinner and the festivities--even for traveling to visit loved ones.

Here are some of my favorite social media-themed treats.

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We'll do anything for a free T-shirt

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LeBron got a t-shirt. Did you? (AP)


On Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets, down by a point with less than a second remaining, the Bulls' Kirk Hinrich inbounded the ball to Brad Miller, who immediately hit a basket from the top of the key. But not immediately enough, as the refs, upon review, ruled the shot had come after the buzzer--and the Bulls lost.

Still, until Miller hit his shot and a Bulls victory seemed certain, I had never witnessed, in person, a United Center crowd so loud, so jubilant, so alive.

Unless, of course, you count a half-hour prior to that, when the guy with the T-shirt gun approached our section.

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Your wine tasting survival guide

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Getty Images

Wine tasting events at restaurants, wine bars and festivals have become increasingly popular lately.

No doubt tastings are a fun way to meet up with friends and socialize, but they also can be an invaluable tool to help you learn about wine.

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CTA express buses aren't that much faster

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Here is today's "Going Public" column. Rider feedback has been added to the end of the column. Please feel free to add your comments below.

"X" may mark the spot for elimination. The CTA board is expected to vote Thursday on proposed fare hikes and service cuts including the cancellation of nine express bus routes.

The nine routes up for termination are: Nos. X3-King-Drive; X4-Cottage-Grove; X9-Ashland; X20-Washington-Madison; X49-Western; 53AL-South-Pulaski-Limited; X54-Cicero; X55-Garfield; and X80-Irving-Park.
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Twitter lists making tweeting better, easier

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Not since that Chinese restaurant on "Seinfeld" put Elaine Benes on its list have lists generated so much buzz.

Granted, that was the do not deliver list, but Twitter's new list feature could--make that will--revolutionize the service.

One of the biggest complaints up until now about Twitter was its unfriendly system of keeping track of people.

Case in point, as the guy behind @redeyechicago and its nearly 16,000 followers, I miss a lot of important tweets simply because I can't keep up with them.

Lists changes all that but does so much more. Here are four ways to get something out of lists quickly.
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Shows "go gay" for ratings

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Claire and Gretchen on Heroes.


TV shows are known for ratings stunts during sweeps.

Characters get married, have babies, die or visit alternate universes in order to stop an army of organic/mechanical hybrids that eat thermometers to stay alive--which seems plausible now that I've seen it on "Fringe."  

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