I think it’s time that we finally accept the fact that NO ONE is perfect! No matter how much money or fame someone has, they also have flaws. Case in point, a photographer snapped this picture of actress Jennifer Love Hewitt in a bikini on the beach.

No it’s not a flattering picture, but to be honest, not very many people look good in a “butt shot.” Unless you do 500 lunges and squats a day and restrict your calories intake to 1200 a day, 365 days a year, you’re going to have some dimples somewhere. But a lot of people have been posting mean, rude and downright nasty comments about the picture, prompting Hewitt to fight back.

Hewitt says she doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with the way she looks in a bikini. She says, “A size 2 is not fat! Nor will it ever be.” And she adds, being a size 0 doesn’t make you beautiful.” She says she’s been silent for a long time about the way women’s bodies are constantly scrutinized. And says she’s not upset for herself, but for all the girls out there that are struggling with their body image.

But it’s not just girls struggling. Older, mature women also have issues with their bodies. Take Dr. Donda West for example.

She’s educated, accomplished, acclaimed, rich, the mother of a rap superstar, etc. and was 58 years old. But even she felt the need (pressure) to change her body. In the end, it may have cost her, her life. You can’t help but ask yourself, “Is this quest for perfection really worth it?”

Here's an update on an earlier blog about the Salt Lake City judge that ordered a television reporter to produce a story or go to jail.
Judge James L. Shumate TV Reporter Katie Baker (click on the picture for more info)

Judge James L. Shumate decided to let television reporter Katie Baker “off the hook” after she did a story on complaints about a program that’s being proposed to help the homeless. Shumate watched it and thought it fit the bill of a story that served the public interest. But Baker says she never intentionally complied with the ruling.

Shumate hauled Baker into court and hit her with “contempt of court” charges back in September for interviewing a potential juror before the trial of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs. Apparently the judge barred reporters from doing so until after the trial. As her punishment, the judge ordered Baker to produce a public interest story or face jail time and/or fines. Baker says she didn't know about the judge's order.

The ruling caused a stir in the national journalism community, prompting letters from the Society of Professional Journalists and other organizations asking the judge to reconsider.

He did, but only because Baker did the story. But Baker says that's not why she did it. I say, all's well that ends well!

Did you know CLTV has covered Chicagoland's news for 15 years? January 1, 2008 marks 15 years of exceptional coverage of news, weather, and sports. To celebrate, we decided to take a look back at some of the big stories that shaped the channel and Chicago as the years passed. On the CLTV front page, click on the CLTV Turns 15 tab and watch video clips from as far back as 1993. Also watch The Birth of CLTV. This video was produced in 1994, looking back at the first year of CLTV. Wow, we've changed a lot!

We would love to hear your thoughts about CLTV. If you've got something to say, let us know.
Or, if there's a particular story that you would like to see again, here's your chance!

Piggybacking on my colleague Tonya's blog on the Jennifer Love Hewitt pictures, I agree too much emphasis is placed on young girls these days based on appearances in Hollywood.
However, with that said, I did cock my head this morning in question as I watched the Today show discussion on the topic. Natalie Morales was talking to Jessica Weiner, author of “Do I look fat in this?”. The discussion centered around women accepting their bodies and appearances and not allowing Hollywood to dictate how their size makes them feel. The topic is one I first must say I completely agree with and one, which is crucial for young women to grab a hold of early. But I was a little surprised to see a large woman; I would say obese, telling women to love their bodies.
The obesity rate in the US is astonishing and we all know the health problems associated with obesity. So is it okay to love your body if you’re obese? Or instead of loving your body people should be taught to love their LIVES, and take responsibility to make them healthier?
Which is more important; living with an unhealthy goal of perfection or loving an obese body with potential health concerns.
Both are big problems, the question is which problem is bigger?

I sat down on Monday and found I had five delivered boxes sitting at my feet staring up at me. The result of a late weekend night buying spree initiated by stress over getting all of my holiday gifts in time. And as I threw on my coat ready to deliver the soon to be gifts to my car.. I blushed. Have I made the holidays too impersonal?

I am not a shopper. I don't like it, never have. Give me the quickest and easiest way to get the job done and I'm happy. Which is fine if I'm buying for myself, but I have to admit.. using it to pick up presents for my nieces and nephew who I adore, made me feel like a fraud. I say that with a caveat, that I only bought some things online. I have forced myself to stores this year in search of other gifts I wasn't so sure of. But given the thought they might need to return something, and I have to hand over an online receipt, made me feel slightly embarrassed.

What are your feelings using the Internet to spread holiday cheer? Are gift cards a lazy way out, or a thoughtful way to allow friends and family to spoil themselves? And are we all too focused on gift giving, instead of giving cheer?
Lets hear your shopping etiquette.

Drew Peterson's face has been all across TV and newspaper headlines in Chicago for months and now he's diving into the Internet business. Peterson, or someone from his camp, has set up a website DefendDrew.com hoping to raise donations for his legal defense. It crashed Tuesday, according to his attorney, after receiving more than a million hits.

If you've been following the case, in a nutshell, Drew Peterson is the former Bolingbrook Police Sergeant now considered a suspect in the disappearance of his wife Stacy. Stacy went missing in October. Drew has denied any involvement in her disappearance. Family members and some law enforcement believe she is likely dead. Drew has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Prior to being named a suspect in this case, Peterson submitted his resignation to the Bolingbrook Police Department and is now drawing a pension, which could be as high as $6,000 a month. Now he wants the public to help pay for his legal fees?

Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky, says DefendDrew.com is being moved to a more powerful server to accommodate the traffic. He also believes the number of Web site hits shows his client has many supporters. The money generated is supposed to go into a trust used for legal fees, and to hire a private investigator to look for Stacy.

Are those really supporters logging on, or just people interested in a very bizarre case? I looked; I'm not donating money. I'm curious to see the reasoning behind the 'private investigator'. Can't Peterson work with the Illinois State Police in the search for Stacy? If he helped them wouldn’t it help cut down on costs to him, or his adoring supporters?

You're probably wondering where I've been. Well I haven't been on vacation, that's for sure. I've been working on a special project, our annual "Chicago Magazine's Chicagoans of the Year" program. The honorees this year are fascinating. This is my 2nd time doing this show and each time I finish, I feel like I should be doing more to help others. The magazine version of the program will be on magazine stands soon. And CLTV's version begins airing on December 22nd. We're in the process of editing it now. In the meantime, here's a peak at the cover shot for the magazine story.

For all you web video junkies out there, we'd like to introduce you to chicagolive. It's video for Chicago, about Chicago and - with your help - by Chicago. There's already a ton of great video available to view, with new clips being added all the time - including videos uploaded and suggested by you, the online readers.

To kick things off, chicagolive is searching for the funniest holiday video. So after you've rolled the camera on the kids going nuts for their gifts or the dog knocking down the Christmas tree, upload it to chicagolive. Your video may be featured on the homepage of the site and air on CLTV New Year's Day.

So, you might say my mom raised me right.

She was a big believer of tipping well for exceptional service. She also believed in tipping a minimum amount even for average service because service folks need to make a living.

But, do you tip extra during the holidays?

The answer, it seems, is yes. At least for those who provide services all year 'round (i.e. Hair Stylist, Postal worker, etc.)

But where do you draw the line?

Today, the pizza I ordered for lunch was nearly an hour late arriving. It was too late for me to eat right away.. and ended up being cold as a Vermont icicle in January by the time I was able to make more time.

Keep in mind that another co-worker (a very nice woman) took delivery for me and gave the driver a $4.00 tip. That amounts to a 40% tip for a late delivery. She said "Well, it's Christmas!"

True.

Don't get me wrong, the guy would have gotten *something* for his trouble.

But for as much as we yearn sometimes for better customer service, is it right to reward someone for poor performance--even if it's the holiday season?

If you'd like to read the suggested amounts for holiday tipping check out this article:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/17/pf/holiday_tipping/index.htm

Okay..
Forbes.com just released its list of Hollywood's most Influential Infants. Which almost seems like it should be an oxymoron to me, but whatever.. here goes.

5. Pax Jolie-Pitt
4. Sean Preston Federline
3. Zahara Jolie-Pitt
2. Suri Cruise
1. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt

The countdown is based on A-list babies with the most effect on pop culture, and was whittled down by the number of press clippings and consumer appeal. Oh.. and of course they had to be under the age of 5 which is why Forbes says Maddox Jolie-Pitt didn't make the list.
A fascinating or freakish study.. You decide.

Fans of Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien will be happy to hear, they're coming back with fresh shows on January 2nd. But will fans really be happy? A better question is will they laugh? Leno and O'Brien are suppose to be comedians, but most, if not all of their material comes from writers. And they are, of course on strike. So this will be a true test of Leno's and O'Brien's comedic abilities. O'Brien is already trying to lower expectations and quiet hecklers. He issued a statement yesterday saying "of course, my show will not be as good. In fact, in moments it may very well be terrible." The fact that O'Brien is willing to put that on paper makes me wonder why he's make so much money. The only contract information I could find for O'Brien is he made about $2 million in 1997. Leno makes an estimated $27 million. That's an awful lot of money for someone who expects to bomb on national television.

Attention Chicago postal customers: We don't have the slowest service.

In Oberlin, Kansas, a Christmas card dated December 23rd, 1914 just arrived to its destination. It was mailed to Ethel Martin, apparently from her cousins in Alma, Nebraska.

The postmaster in Orberlin says he's boggled by this mail mystery.

Okay, I admit that this is a cute story. That's why I wanted you to know about it.

It does, though, illustrate a lesson I recently learned. Christmas cards are okay to be late but you should always certify your important mail, folks.

According to the United States Postal Service website it's an extra $2.65.

I wish I would have done that a few months ago while sending in a gym membership cancellation. According to them, they never got it. Because of that, it's costing me an extra $223.50 in past dues.

That's a lot of extra lifting. Unfortunately, it's my wallet that's feeling the burn... not my muscles.

My last internet gift should arrive Christmas Eve.. whew!
That said.. a lot of stores are staying open late, or around the clock to accommodate us last minute shoppers.
Who are the real last minute shopping scrappers? Post your down to the wire stories! We want to hear how close you cut that Christmas deadline.

CLTV turns 15 years-old in January. To celebrate, we have produced a fantastic program called "CLTV: 15 Years and Counting". The program features many of the top news stories covered by CLTV over the past 15 years. Some of the topics include the Bulls 6 championships, the Baby Richard legal battle, and the deadly heat wave of 1995.

This special program first airs on Friday, December 28 at 11am. But, you can catch it at all of the times below:

-Friday, December 28 - 11am and 3pm
-Saturday, December 29 - 10am and 4pm
-Sunday, December 30 - 10am and 4pm
-Monday, December 31 - 11am and 3pm
-Tuesday, January 1 - 5am, 9am, and 2pm
-Wednesday, January 2 - 10am and 8:30pm
-Saturday, January 5 - 10am and 3:30pm
-Sunday, January 6 - 10am and 3:30pm

Since 1994, Chicago Magazine has "honored a handful of people whose actions have changed life in the region for the better." Who are this year's Chicagoans of the year? According to Chicago Magazine, they are "Our Chicagoans of the Year for 2007 are a champion of the disabled, an African American publisher, a world-renowned chef, a mother who turned loss into hope, a lifesaving animal lover, a kid helping other kids, and a longtime advocate of tolerance and diversity."

Starting today, CLTV will be airing a half-hour special featuring the honorees. If you missed any profiles, or want to see them again, you can watch them here on the blog.

Kwanzaa is upon us. The cultural celebration began December 26th and goes until January 1st. You've probably heard of Kwanzaa by now. If you haven't, Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor in the Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach created Kwanzaa in 1966. Click here to learn more. Even though Kwanzaa is considered an African American holiday, everyone can benefit from Kwanzaa’s primary purpose, to celebrate family, community and culture. To do that, each day, a person focuses on the Nguzo Saba, the 7 principles. They are Umoja (Unity), Kuji-chagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). On the last day of Kwanzaa, which is the first day of the New Year, celebrants are to ask themselves the following questions "Who am I, am I really who I am, and am I all I ought to be?" If you ask me, these are questions EVERYONE should be asking himself or herself. Happy New Year!!!

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg may want to run for the White House in '08.

Bloomberg is a billionaire and ran as a Republican in 2001 and 2005. However, he is now officially an Independent and would run as one for the Presidency.

The rumblings aren't anything but a whisper draft campaign at this point but it could pose a problem for both sides of the political spectrum.

Bloomberg is seen by many as having a "less is more" sense of government involvement in private lives and likes to run a fiscally tight ship.

However, like the man he succeeded as New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, he's socially--well, more accepting of other views.

That makes him attractive to both Republicans and Democrats.

The talk is right now that Bloomberg might jump into the race in the Spring if it looks as though the major party candidates will be polar opposites. For example: Mike Huckabee vs. Barack Obama or John Edwards.

Bloomberg could be seen as a middle ground guy.

He has the cash to run on his own. He has the personality to get more than his share of coverage.

Not since Ross Perot in 1992 has a third candidate had the chance to really make a White House election so interesting for those who watch politics.