Green with envy

Earth Day may be a couple of months away but we've already seen a definite increase in the use of our green content. Face it, stories about recycling, saving gas and using less energy are no longer alternative. Instead, they're about as mainstream as they come. And what was once a specialized advertising niche is now a viable ad-dollar outlet for numerous businesses, including grocery stores, hardware stores, heating and AC providers, auto dealers and more. 

If you're still trying to figure out how you can make money off of eco-aware stories, don't be afraid to try something new. How about your classifieds? After all, what's more green than selling a used bike or computer instead of sending it to a landfill? Ebay trumpeted their green credentials last year. Why not your paper or Web site?

-Marco
 

Desk toys, unite!

Next Next Sunday's Chicago Tribune CareerBuilder page will feature a "We Asked You" feature about desk toys, in which readers share their favorite desk toys with us. I have quite a few items for idle hands on my own desk, including these two wind-up toys that my six-year-old daughter persuaded my wife into buying for me while in line at a Border's last year. My favorite desk toys, Buckyballs, are now at home, where they are continually manipulated into various shapes by my children. I took them home after a co-worker told me they were an H1N1 breeding ground, since so many people touch them. Oh well. TMSer Matt Maldre took the photo. Matt is probably the King of All Desk Toys, since his workspace is usually dominated by a Mr. T doll, stuffed luchadores and whatever else he finds online or on his way to work.

-Marco

Olympic gains

We've added several new features to our site, including a weekly column by Dr. Eric Heiden, five-time Olympic gold medalist speed skater turned orthopedic surgeon. Heiden's column offers advice to readers on lifelong fitness principles developed over decades as a top-notch skater and cyclist, physician and consultant to sports teams. It makes a great addition to your health page, section or site and you can begin using it today, just as the Winter Olympics begin.