Mom

The mom who insists on sitting in during her son's job interview. The dad who calls an employer to ask why his daughter didn't get the job. These are the kinds of stories experts say are increasingly common in a sputtering economy as more parents become involved in their kids' career searches and development. As the unemployment rate hovers around 9.6 percent in the Chicago area, recent surveys show desperate moms and dads are going to extremes to give their children an edge, inserting themselves into a rite of passage that recent college graduates traditionally have undertaken on their own. Experts say parental involvement, especially in a tough job market, can sometimes work in a candidate's favor.

From Derrick Rose's Poohdini to Brian Urlacher's barbed wire to Dennis Rodman's ... entire upper body, Chicago athletes have shown a taste for tattoos. The Bears are no different, and while Urlacher's barbed wire bicep may be the best known body art among current Bears, he is barely adorned compared with many of his teammates. Among these are Gabe Carimi and D.J. Moore, who share a passion for images, meaning and ink. RedEye sat down with both players at their homes earlier this season and got the stories behind their tattoos.

Some like their pizza cut in squares, while others swear by slices. For as long as we've been stuffing our faces with delicious food, there have been conflicts about the way we eat it. Addressing such fervent foodie issues, we are proud to introduce Food fight. Are you for or against canned cranberry sauce? FOR The book isn't always better than the movie adaptation, and by the same logic, fresh foods aren't always better than processed ones. When it comes to cranberries, I like them plopped in front of me with all the dazzling special effects - extra sugar, jelly coating and, yes, even that ribbed can shape.

Like it or not, the countdown to the holidays has begun. Between the family fights, the travel headaches and the present-budget woes, everyone could use a stiff drink. Luckily, there are plenty of new spots popping up in Chicago to accommodate the holiday blues. From comfort food like your mom used to make in Wicker Park to video games with a side of beer in Edgewater and budget-friendly cocktails in Lincoln Park, there's a little something for everyone. The Snuggery 15 W. Division St. 312-337-4349 Finn McCool's is out and The Snuggery is in at this Gold Coast location.

People say the dog is man's best friend. With the way men melt for a cute pooch like a Slurpee in the sun, I've got to believe it. My dog, Figaro, is good at reeling in the bachelors, all right, and having men approach my dog first makes me less likely to run away in nervous terror. Yet there is a problem: Figaro is a horrible wingman. A good wingman will get the sexy singles interested and then pass the torch at the appropriate moment. Figaro, on the other hand, can't quite figure out the right time to let me take over.

Is your dad a chill guy? Mine is. He's funny, he's about as maternal Mr. Mom as it gets, and he rarely gets mad. Except around the holidays. Growing up, I always associated Christmas with the one time each year we would actually see my dad rage the hell out. Not in a way that should elicit an uncomfortable face from you right now, but in a hilarious, tomato-faced, wide-eyed, “Sonova...!”-exclaiming and, now, extremely nostalgic way. Think about it: Every single thing you loved about Christmas as a kid was single-handedly responsible for Dad Anger everywhere: Mutant Christmas trees, impossible-to-wrap presents, inclement weather ... . So I ask: Is Christmas really just out to destroy our fathers?

MTV has another docu-series in the works and is looking for young people who "play the role of parent" for their parents. The show will be titled "My Child Does It All. " For more info, see the release below: MTV is currently seeking people that play the role of the parent while their mother is going through a hard time. If you're the one in the family who takes care of everyone and everything, then this might be the show for you. Do you feel like you are picking up the slack for your parents?

Four years after she appeared on the cover of RedEye with her mom, who doubled as her roommate when she lived at home, Caroline Manley has flown the coop. Manley was featured in a November 2007 RedEye cover story about the boomerang generation - 20-somethings who move back home after graduation. At the time, Manley was a 23-year-old recent University of Illinois grad trying to save money as she worked as a case manager for the elderly. She was living rent-free with Mom in the Gold Coast in the meantime.

** (out of four) At some point in their lives, everyone believes they should follow the “signs” that the universe presents and see where they lead. That's still what 30-year-old, mom's-basement-dwelling Jeff (Jason Segel) thinks, and that philosophy leads him on a wild escapade around Baton Rouge where his brother (Ed Helms) suspects his wife (Judy Greer) is having an affair. The guys' mom (Susan Sarandon) also wonders which work colleague is sending her instant messages, claiming to be her secret admirer.

Jeah girl, it's like he's living in there now! Highly decorated Olympic swimmer and all-around village idiot Ryan Lochte's new show, "What Would Ryan Lochte Do?" premieres at 9 p.m. Sunday, which means only one thing: huge publicity blitz. Ryan talked to Cosmo about his turn-ons (independence) and turn-offs (smoking) when it comes to the ladies. We've got some ideas of our own about Lochte's likes and don't-likes, as Chief Keef would say. LIKES  -- Multiple piercings (where Mom can't see them)