CBS 2 Morning News
Every morning when you wake up, the CBS 2 Morning News team will bring you the latest news, weather and traffic that will impact your day. Watch Jim Williams and Kristyn Hartman with the morning headlines, Ed Curran with your forecast, Kris Habermehl live from Chopper 2, and your morning's entertainment news from Bill Zwecker.
And start your weekends off with a cup of coffee and the Weekend Morning News team! Suzanne Le Mignot and Mike Puccinelli bring you the news you need to know on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and Mary Kay Kleist has your weekend forecast.
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Saturday, March 22
So maybe we should consider ourselves lucky, because relatively speaking, this really wasn't that bad of a snowstorm – not even for this time of year. In 1930, we got 19.2 inches of snow on March 25 and 26. In history, there are only two single snowstorms where more snow fell, in January 1967 and January 1999 (remember that one? Click here for our coverage). Even the Blizzard of 1979 that got a mayor thrown out of office had lower snow totals than this 1930 incident that happened in so-called spring, although the '79 blizzard was on top of 7 to 10 inches that had already fallen a couple weeks earlier.
Nor is this in any way out of the ordinary for this time of year. People keep telling us this is a "spring snowstorm," but "spring" is just a word. Snowstorms in late March or well into April are not some freak occurrence. In 1966 and 1989 it snowed in May. And the latest snowfall ever? June 2, 1910. That's right, June.
Yes, we have license to gripe about this snowstorm – I've already done my fair share. But maybe we should have some sympathy for our friends up in Wisco. Consider this – in Lake Forest, they got about 7 inches of snow, which was not enough to stop Rob Kleinert (that's him in the picture) from playing tennis in his shorts. In Milwaukee County, they had 14 inches, and Waukesha County, Wisconsin, they got 15 inches.
O'Hare Airport had cancellations and delays. Mitchell Airport was closed.
So when you think about it, we've had it easy.
Rafael reports on some unhappy campers at O'Hare.
Read the latest on the snow.
Read More About The Snowstorm | Get Your Latest Weather Trak Forecast | 
LIVE WeatherTrak Radar | LIVE Traffic Reports | 
National Airport Delays | O'Hare Flight Information | Midway Flight Information
Monday, March 17
No, Ed and Roseanne aren't wearing some sort of high-tech camouflage clothes, they're just wearing green for St. Patrick's Day. So what you're seeing is the magic of the green screen. If you ever wondered how all those weather maps and other cool graphics show up on the wall behind our meteorologists during when they do the forecast, it's because the weather cameras digitally remove anything green from the display and replace it with the graphics we want you to see. 
Of course, Ed completely forgot that when he put on a green tie for work and when Roseanne saw the graphics showing up on the TV screen, she just had to see what would happen when she walked in front of the green screen wearing her green jacket.
The International Home and Housewares Show is in town this week at McCormick Place. It's the largest show of its kind with 2,100 exhibitors. Vince Gerasole is there to check out some of the latest gadgets and gizmos to make your life at home a bit easier. Here are some of the items he found so far:
• Battery operated milk frother by Bodum
$29.00 -- Froths milk and also makes mousses. Microwave safe, 2 AA batteries provide the power.
• Luggage Scale by Taylor
$25.00 -- Weigh your luggage before you get to the airport.
• Green Mop/Eco-Friendly by Clean Ideas (from Mexico)
$10.00 -- 90 percent of the green mop yarn is made of recycled materials including plastic soda bottles and textiles.
• Power Dish Brush by Dawn
$6.00 -- Battery powered rotating bristles power through grease and grime making cleaning faster and easier.
• Scraper Sponge with Superfabric by Dawn
$4.00 -- Superfabric scrubber material is non-abrasive and stain and cut resistant.
• KNORK by Phantom Express
$22.00 -- Integrates the functionality of a fork and a knife. It looks like a traditional fork, but the rounded edges, when rocked, work like a knife.
• LumPod by Maverick Ventures
$5.00 --Light pod that sticks on your cell phone or a dog leash or night stand.
• Handpresso by Handpresso
$150.00 -- Make espresso anywhere, camping, golf course, etc.
• Portable Boot/Glove Dryer by Caframo
$50.00 -- Dries boots and gloves
• Pepper King by Cole & Mason
$50.00 -- Baseball Bat Shaped Pepper Mill
• Get-It Finger Guard by iSi
$7.00 -- Silicone grabber.
• Shiatsu Foot Massager by HoMedics
$40.00 -- Dual rollers recreate thumb pressure --- toe touch control to add heat to the massage.
• Rotato by Starfrit
$24.00 -- Powered hands-free potato peeler
• Grabbit Salt and Pepper Grinders by Chef'N
Rabbit-shaped salt and pepper grinders
• Veggichop by Chef'N
$30.00 -- With a pull string it chops vegetables.
• Knuckle Guard by Kitchen Aid
$20.00
• Head Cheffs by Fiesta Products
$10.00 -- A bit of personality added to your kitchen utensils
• Fizzitup by Fizzitup
$10.00 -- 2-liter carbonated soda dispensed to the last drop.
• Nessie Light by Lumisource
$25.00
• Holstein Pots and Pans
$140.00 Set of 7 pieces. High design at affordable prices.
• Touch to go can opener by Viatek
$20.00 -- Opens a can by itself
• Red Dragon Humidifier by Crane
$35.00
• 24/7 Bags by Flip & Tumble
$12 each
Best of the Home and Housewares Show Part One | Part Two
Remember last week when we encouraged you to eat a Twinkie in honor of a little girl nicknamed Twinkie who was about to have surgery for a rare dermoid cyst? Well, we have some good news, she's about to go home from the hospital. The Morning News Team has more on that and a look at what might be the world's greatest haircut.
Growing up as a kid in Chicago, Ed was always fascinated with the city's underground areas and he still is. The History Channel has a whole series of shows on the underworlds of various cities. Ed had a preview of tonight's episode, focusing on Chicago.
Morning News Playlist
"The Irish Rover" - The Irish Rovers
"When Love Comes To Town" - U2
"Take Me To The River" - The Commitments
"Sidewinder" - The Irish Rovers
"Destination Nowhere" - The Commitments
"Even Better" - U2
"Chain Of Fools" - The Commitments
"Beautiful Day" - U2
Sunday, March 16
If you're trying to eat healthy this Easter and you don't think brunch at a restaurant helps you meet that goal, we have some cooking ideas you might want to try next Sunday. Registered Dietitian Melissa Joy Dobbins of the Midwest Dairy Council will join us today, during National Nutrition Month, to remind us about the food groups to encourage and to share three easy and elegant recipes, all of which include nutrient-rich foods that have the most vitamins and minerals for the fewest calories.
Super Spinach Salad
Cheddar and Mushroom Breakfast Squares
Crunchy Banana-Strawberry Parfaits
For more on healthy eating this Easter, try the following links:
www.3aday.org
www.midwestdairy.com
For millions of children around the world, life or death comes down to clean drinking water. UNICEF wants to change that, and they're sponsoring The Tap Project here in Chicago and in several other cities. Today until Saturday, UNICEF is asking Chicagoans to pay $1 for tap water when they dine out. That $1 supplies a needy child with safe drinking water for 40 days. For a list of participating restaurants and more information, click here.
Saturday, March 15
Yesterday and the day before it was warm and springlike outside, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, but today it's a little colder, so Rafael had to wear his hat. They always say about 50 percent of heat loss is through the head, so when it gets cold, you have to wear your hat.
What's that you say? That hat is funny-looking and not especially warm, and it must be for some special purpose?
Don't be ridiculous. That is just a regular plain old winter hat, which happens to be rather puffy and has green and white stripes on it. You can wear it any time of year.
And you know what? You can say Erin Go Bragh any time of year too.
The downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade kicks off this morning at noon at Balbo and Columbus drives, and they're dyeing the river green at 10 a.m.
But as Rafael found out, they start super-early at McFadden's, at 1206 N. State St., where they opened at 7 a.m.
On St. Patrick's Day weekend, you'll never have a hard time finding a party. Whether you want to eat corned beef and cabbage and listen to bagpipers and fiddlers, or just knock back some Irish car bombs (that's Guinness with Bailey's Irish cream, in case you didn't know), there's something for every taste.
With that in mind, here are our picks for planning your weekend nights.
• Jury's (4337 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-935-2255), in the Lincoln Square-Northcenter neighborhood, is a great place to check out for St. Patrick's Day. It's named for the famous hotel in Dublin, and the interior oozes elegance and class, with lots of dark wood and Irish touches.
But everyone there is down to earth and the food is fabulous. Go there on Wednesdays for burger nights, where you'll get a deal on their yummy cheeseburgers. And we've been fans of those cheeseburgers at CBS 2 for a long time – Steve Baskerville picked Jury's as having some of the best cheeseburgers for our Best of Chicago series back in 1997.
But this weekend is definitely a time to get to this classy bar and grill. They have a corned beef and cabbage special, and you can order a Guinness, Bailey's, or Irish whiskey to go along with it. While you're there, be sure to sign up for their e-mail list for invites to their wine events and other fun specials.
• Just down the street from us here at CBS 2, you'll find Timothy O'Toole's (622 N. Fairbanks Ct., 312-642-0700. And it's a favorite after-work spot for quite a few of us.
The authentic Irish pub is located on the corner of Fairbanks Court and Ontario Street, and they're telling everyone to come by for a pint after the parade. There's plenty of green beer and bagpipers to go around.
They also have corned beef specials, contests and Irish dancers. And for an extra Irish kick, you can do a shot with the live "leprechaun."
Then tomorrow, the fun begins early at 10 a.m. Irish breakfast will be served, featuring Irish soda bread, Guinness French toast, Irish bacon and sausage, black pudding, and much, much more.
• And take an Irish Cruise on Wendella Sightseeing Boats. It may not be Dublin's River Liffey, but the Chicago River is the focal point of many early Irish settlements. On the cruise, you'll learn about the first Irish settlement in Chicago, and you'll find out more about Bridgeport, or as it was first called, Hardscrabble.
Bagpipers will serenade the crowd as the boat pulls away from the dock. Onboard, you can enjoy a cash bar and an Irish snack. So cruise the green river today only, at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. It costs $23 for adults and $11 for kids under 11.
And if you can't make it today, make a plan to check out one of the architecture tours or the wine and waves tour.
We were treated this morning to a quick peek at the fancy footwork of the Trinity Irish Dancers, who have won 28 world titles and are currently world champions.
We were treated this morning to a quick peek at the fancy footwork of the Trinity Irish Dancers, who have won 28 world titles and are currently world champions.
Watch the number they performed for us.
For more information, or to sign up for classes throughout the Chicago area, call toll free, 877-326-2328, or click here for their Web site.
Lest we get shortsighted, Easter Sunday is just over a week away. If you're looking for some alternative decorations that don't revolve around the theme of chicks and rabbits, you could make an Easter warthog or an Easter aardvark. But you don't want to do that.
If you're looking for some fun and creative decorations, we have a solution.
Liv and Belle Gerasole, the hosts of Spatulatta.com and the daughters of our Vince Gerasole, joined Joanie this morning with some simple things to make.
More From Spatulatta.com
And of course, there are plenty of places we didn't mention above where there are parties, specials or just regular good times going on, either today, Monday, or both. Here are just a few:
Downtown Area:
Emerald Loop, 216 N. Wabash Ave.
D4 Irish Pub, 345 E. Ohio St.
Corcoran's Grill & Pub, 1615 N. Wells St.
Fadó, 100 W. Grand Ave.
Kitty O'Shea's, Chicago Hilton and Towers, 720 S. Michigan Ave.
McFadden's, 1206 N. State St.
Finn McCool's, 15 W. Division St., 1941 E. Algonquin Rd., Schaumburg, and 72 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake
The Kerryman, 661 N. Clark St.
South
Cork and Kerry, 10614 S. Western Ave.
Dubliner, 10910 S. Western Ave.
Cullinan's Stadium Club, 11610 S. Western Ave.
Keegan's, 10618 S. Western Ave.
McNally's 11136 S. Western Ave.
Mitchell's Tap, 3356 S. Halsted St.
Sam Maguire's, 39 Orland Square Dr., Orland Park
North/Northwest:
Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St.
Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, 3905 N. Lincoln Ave.
Glascott's Groggery, 2158 N. Halsted St.
The Hidden Shamrock, 2723 N. Halsted St.
Galway Arms, 2442 N. Clark St.
Mystic Celt, 3443 N. Southport Ave., where Poi Dog Pondering will appear live as part of WXRT's "Shamrock and Roll" live broadcast.
Fearon's Public House, 3001 N. Ashland Ave.
Wilde, 3130 N. Broadway
Irish-American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave.
Vaughan's Pub, 2917 N. Sheffield Ave. and 5435 N. Northwest Highway.
Chief O'Neill's Pub, 3471 N. Elston Ave.
Tommy Nevin's, 1450-1458 Sherman Ave., Evanston
West
FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn
Molly Malone's, 7652 Madison St., Forest Park
Claddagh, 1702 Cottage Dr., Geneva
Tommy Nevin's, 3032 English Rows, Naperville
Mahoney's Pub and Grille, 551 N. Ogden Ave.
And long though that list may seem, these of course, are just a few of the venues to celebrate Lá Fhéile Pádraig in the city and suburbs. E-mail us above if you know of a good venue that's not on this list.
Friday, March 14
Look at that picture in the corner. I made it bigger than usual just so you can take it in.
It's a shot from a slideshow of models and other folks who hit the beaches in Los Angeles last summer.
You are not there. But you can pretend you are. You can pretend you're that guy surfing and it'll be just like you're doing it for real, even if you're really sitting in your living room or study with the heat on in a bathrobe and bedroom slippers. It's virtual. It's just like the real thing, if not better.
Does this sound completely and totally absurd? Well, some experts say it's not.
Online webcams have been set up to stream video from spots all over the world, and some proponents say they're perfect for escaping to a nice warm beach or hitting the slopes, without even leaving your home.
Psychologists say these streaming vacations are real stress relievers. Maybe they are, but is it really like the real thing if you're sitting at work or in your home office watching the webcam in a swiveling office chair in front of your computer, watching it snow outside, smelling the stale odor of steam heat in a dry room, and seeing stacks of junk mail and jars of multicolored paper clips in your peripheral vision? Is it really just like surfing, or being served a mai tai on a white-sanded beach, or skiing through the Swiss Alps?
Well, I don't know. I've never tried it. Maybe it is.
Maybe if you watch this video, you'll be full and satiated, even though you have eaten nothing.
Maybe by listening to this clip with a headset, you'll get up thinking you've walked away with a really terrific haircut, even though your hair is still as shaggy as it was before you started.
And maybe by watching this video, you'll get a good 30-minute workout, even though you've burned exactly 0 calories sitting there in your office chair.
But me, I'd miss the outside world after a while. Especially when I noticed my skin was turning gray.
With oil and gas prices at record levels, the belt-tightening continues for most Americans.
Paul Larson, an equities strategist at Morningstar, an independent investment research firm in Chicago, joined us this morning with more on the long-term effects of these high prices.
More About Morningstar
The news business is a competitive one, but there are certain contests that just aren't worth it. The activity in this next clip from El Paso, Texas, is one of them.
The drivers of these news vans from El Paso's channels 4 and 7 decided to drag race. The guys off camera in the foreground seem to think the idea is hilarious and are cheering them on.
Ironically, the subject of the story both news crews were covering? Drag racing. Good thing it wasn't a fire.
We were talking yesterday about the proper way to apologize, and analyzed New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's apology as he resigned from office earlier this week.
We had a comment this morning on that segment with apology expert Beth Foley, including her contention that Spitzer should apologize for being a hypocrite.
Send us your comments, by clicking here.
Mascots are supposed to be fun, silly and cartoonish. When they get into a knock-down drag-out hair-pulling tooth-spitting fight, they're not so fun anymore. But frankly, they're still pretty silly. And cartoonish.
At a basketball tournament, Eli the Eagle of Oral Roberts University and Jaws the Jaguar of IUPUI got into a scuffle that ended up getting both of the students portraying them in big trouble.
This is at least the second time this has happened and has been caught on video. If it keeps up, it's probably going to stop being news, a la the "no longer weird" category in the column "News of the Weird."
And now today's installment of "ideas I wish I'd had when I was 7 years old." You see, when I was about 7 years old, my creative energy was spent singing songs about people "carrying one million thousand million bunches of bananas," or wrapping a piece of Play-Doh in various layers of construction and tissue paper and an entire roll of masking tape, leaving an object that looked something like a large potato and wouldn't even have made a good paperweight.
It's more than 20 years too late now, but I wish I'd been Finn O'Toole Boire of Davis, California. He publishes his very own newsletter for his neighborhood, and he does it all himself. He writes, types, prints and delivers.
For millions of children around the world, life or death comes down to clean drinking water. UNICEF wants to change that, and they're sponsoring The Tap Project here in Chicago and in several other cities. CBS is also a sponsor.
As Al Wyatt of the agency Energy BBDO explains, all you have to do is donate a dollar when you order tap water from several local restaurants.
For a list of participating restaurants and more information, click here.
Morning Music Playlist:
The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
New Soul - Yael Naim
Say It Right - Nelly Furtado
Vertigo - U2
Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera
Don't Let Me Get Me - Pink
American Baby - Dave Matthews Band
Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
S.O.S. - Rihanna
Hollywood - Collective Soul
Song Beneath the Song - Maria Taylor
All You Wanted - Michelle Branch
Thursday, March 13
Adam here. There are very few dates when I could tell you exactly what I was doing 15 years earlier. But I can today.
On this day 15 years ago, I was at the Museum of Science and Industry. I was standing for several hours in front of a science fair board showcasing my seventh grade project testing the relative effects of various kinds of artificial light on the growth of radish plants, competing against kids from all the other private schools in the city. They put me next to a girl named Eve, and somehow I don't think it was a coincidence. About halfway through the afternoon, I came down with a really bad cold, and looked miserable when a bunch of family friends paraded into the exhibition hall to see me. And it was snowing violently outside. It was all worth it, though.
It just so happens that on the news this morning, we were at the Museum of Science and Industry. But today, it's not snowing violently, it's partly cloudy outside with a high of 53 degrees. And we didn't go there to stand in front of a science fair board showcasing a seventh grade project testing the relative effects of various kinds of artificial light on the growth of radish plants. That would be awfully boring to show for two hours on the news.
Instead, we saw a really exciting new exhibition there, where they show and even manufacture beautiful stained glassware before your very eyes. It's "The Glass Experience," and it shows you how glass creations are made, and how glass has been vital throughout history.
The MSI's Geoffrey Curley joined us this morning to talk about the exhibit, while the glassmakers were in action.
More From The Museum Of Science And Industry
"Being a (fill in the blank) means never having to say you're sorry." It's a clichéd line that is about as true as such statements as "the sky is purple" or "John Wayne rode an anteater." Everyone has to say he or she is sorry from time to time.
And when people with any degree of public recognition apologize, they come under intense scrutiny, and their apologies are deconstructed and criticized. If it is stated as "I'm sorry if anyone was offended," odds are they won't get away with it.
The pressure is perhaps the highest when you have to say you're sorry in front of TV cameras, as New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer did, the pressure is even higher to get it right. But did he?
Apology expert Beth Foley from the litigation communications company Zagnoli McEvoy Foley joined us with some analysis and tips for regular folks.
She recently wrote a blog posting on the subject, which you can read here.
Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, Christian Bale, and Bill Zwecker. What do these men have in common?
They've all been Batman.
You didn't know Bill was Batman? Well, he is. As a follow-up to our shoestring-budget promotional spot yesterday, we now present this. Bill is Batman, and Kris Habermehl joins him as Robin.
Which are smarter – dolphins or people? An absurd rhetorical question? Maybe, but maybe not.
This might be an argument in favor of dolphins. Some people in New Zealand spent several hours trying to get a pair of whales off the beach and back into the water.
But a dolphin showed up and did the job almost instantly.
Want to get down for a reggae jam? Whose music would you put on?
Bob Marley, perhaps? Peter Tosh? Desmond Dekker? How about Prince Charles?
Yes, that's right, Prince Charles. He and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, joined this drumming session in Jamaica with some Rastafarian musicians. They might have some work to do in the rhythm department.
And now a very un-reggae song:
"Short People" by Randy Newman. Ever heard it?
Don't get upset; the whole song is meant as a statement of irony. And take this story in that spirit too.
A new study says shorter people, especially men, tend to be more jealous than the average person. Learn more by clicking here, complete with a clip of Danny DeVito with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And this story has it all. It's incredibly weird, and best of all, it lends itself marvelously to tawdry, juvenile bathroom humor.
Police in Kansas are investigating the case of a woman who spent two whole years in the bathroom, most of it on the toilet. When she was removed, she was stuck to the toilet by what have been termed "natural means." Yeah, I don't want to know either.
All I have to say is that if I were in the bathroom that long, I'd be pooped. (Sorry, I just couldn't resist).
Morning Music Playlist:
Gimme More - Britney Spears
The Way I Are - Timbaland
You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse
Over My Head - The Fray
Snow (Hey Oh) - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Jammin' - Bob Marley and the Wailers
Babylon - David Gray
The Way You Move - Outkast
All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow
All Good Things - Nelly Furtado
Can't Get You Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
Pretty Vegas - INXS
Catch My Disease - Ben Lee
Wednesday, March 12
They are more powerful than a frigid forecast and hotter than an extra-alarm fire. They are faster than a train zooming past a traffic jam on the Kennedy, stronger than the steel X-beams of the John Hancock Center, and funnier than an antelope juggling cantaloupes.
It's Sassy Susie, Raucous Roseanne and Meteorology Man Ed. They'll save the day before breakfast.
So what do you think of our new promotional spot? Admittedly, we had only a shoestring budget to put it together, but Roseanne, Susan and Ed just couldn't pass up the opportunity to capitalize on our new 2 Investigators promo spot, featuring our resident superheroes Pam Zekman and Dave Savini.
Watch the 2 Investigators promo here.
In a recent installment of Dan's Daily Briefing, producer Dan Kraemer met with graphic artist Al Szopinski to find out how that promo was made. Find that out here.
There's lots of captivating news this morning in the world of politics.
First, the presidential election. Barack Obama won Mississippi yesterday and returned to Chicago last night. But there's new controversy now, stemming from comments made by Geraldine Ferraro, Walter Mondale's vice presidential candidate back in 1984, who is now a major Clinton fundraiser. Critics say her remarks on a Fox radio show suggested she believed Obama's success was due to his race.
Jennifer Miller reports on the comments, Clinton's immediate choice to distance herself from them, and Obama's reaction to them.
Derrick Blakley has reaction from local politicians.
Read More On This Story
Second, right now we're waiting to hear the latest developments in the scandal that has ensnared New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
CBS 2 sister station WCBS-TV, CBS 2 New York, reports that high-ranking officials are saying Spitzer is going to resign this morning. Read more here.
Late last night, Spitzer apparently said he was going to use his resignation as a bargaining chip with the feds. Marcia Kramer of WCBS reports.
WCBS's Andrew Kirtzman reports on the details we're learning of Spitzer's secret life.
Jay Levine compares the Spitzer case to a Chicago case involving a high-end prostitution ring in the 1980s.
More From WCBS-TV
Stephen Caliendo of North Central College has analysis on the allegations of racism in the Democratic primary, and the Spitzer scandal.
More about Stephen Caliendo and his project on race and politics.
Economists disagree about whether we've hit a recession, but more job layoffs may be coming.
Howard Emmerman, an employment attorney with Beerman Swerdlove, joined us this morning with some tips of keeping your job, or if it comes to it, dealing with being fired or laid off.
Here's the advice that he left for us:
Six tips to avoid termination:
Develop strong relationships with superiors: Make yourself less indispensable by networking beyond just your own boss and division. Now is also the time to mend any tainted relationship with management and re-establish your position for the future.
Become an expert: Arm yourself with knowledge and become the "go-to" for specific work areas to increase your work value. Be sure to maintain a strong general knowledge of all areas of the company.
Seek involvement in long-term projects: The more you are involved with a long-term timeline, the harder you will be to let go.
Be a corporate cheerleader: Know the company mission, and support it. Don't just attend corporate morale and team-building functions; be on the committees for them.
Don't be a clock watcher: Cutbacks mean more work on the shoulders of everyone. Keep the hard work up and the long hours will pay off.
Remain Positive: Endless worrying is wasted energy that could be applied to keeping your job and further securing your position. Excessive complaining may also hurt you, so keep all work conversations positive.
Five Steps to Follow if you are Fired:
Even though you don't have a vested right to a job, there are a number of reasons for which you cannot be terminated. If you've received favorable performance evaluations and have no legitimate reason for being fired, consider the following actions:
Don't Sign Anything: You may be signing documents which contain hidden releases or stipulations affecting your ability to seek a remedy against your employer, if your termination violated any laws.
Take Notes: If an "exit interview" is conducted and the so-called reasons for your termination are explained, be sure to take notes of who was present and what was said during these interviews.
Say Little And Leave Peacefully: Once fired, your former colleagues can no longer be your confidantes as everything thereafter, is "under the microscope." Keep a low profile and don't make a scene.
Make A Written Request To Inspect Your Employment File: Your employer must permit you to inspect any personnel documents used in determining job performance, even after you've been terminated. You are entitled to inspect these records within 7 working days after making a written request and be sure to make copies of the contents.
Contact A Lawyer To Negotiate Severance Pay Or Continuation Of Benefits: Under the law, you are entitled to various payouts and benefits. Your attorney can verify the entitlements and may be able to negotiate a better severance package.
Remember that polar bear cub Knut, who got all that attention last year? Well, he's pretty much grown up and out of the spotlight now, but we never get tired of polar bear cubs.
These polar bear cubs recently went on display at a zoo in the Czech Republic. They're already eating beef, horsemeat and fish. Well, the beef and fish sound like they could be pretty tasty, but, um, what's that about horsemeat? And why did we have to know that?
Which scene from a Dr. Seuss book would you like to replicate in your town? The dark, gloomy snide field in "What Was I Scared Of?" where possessed pants might attack you at any moment? The wild and screaming beaches where the Sneetches were unable to overcome their biases? Yeah, maybe those are best kept on the pages of the books.
But not Whoville. Several cities and towns across the country are competing to become Whoville for a day, and host a screening of the upcoming animated feature, "Horton Hears a Who."
And finally, we wish we could say spring has come early and the beautiful flowerbeds and waterfalls you saw on our news this morning are found in front yards across the Chicago area.
But it's still March. If you want to see such beauty, you'll have to go to the Chicagoland Flower and Garden Show.
It's on through Sunday, March 16 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Click here to learn more.
Morning Music Playlist:
Beautiful Girls - Sean Kingston
All Good Things - Nelly Furtado
No One - Alicia Keys
Honey - Erykah Badu
Clumsy - Fergie
Give It To Me - Timbaland
Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Steady As She Goes - The Raconteurs
Clocks - Coldplay
Heaven - Los Lonely Boys
Love Song - Sara Bareilles