"Winter blasts hit West, Midwest; Snow, ice prompt closing of roads" by Sandra Chereb, Associated Press | December 27, 2008
RENO, Nev. - Yet another snowstorm closed highways in parts of the West yesterday, the latest in a tiring week of bad weather, and a dangerous sheet of ice in parts of the Midwest contributed to a looming flood problem.
Yeah, that's here now.
Winter storm warnings were in effect yesterday for parts of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and the western Dakotas, and a blizzard warning covered the mountains of southwest Colorado.... Up to 20 inches of snow was forecast in parts of the Rockies, along with wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour....
Oh, crap. I'm not looking forward to another year like last year. Every other day something!
Seven Indiana traffic deaths were blamed on the ice yesterday, adding to four weather-related deaths in that state earlier in the week. In Indianapolis, a fire engine slid head-on into a tree, sending four firefighters to a hospital with minor injuries.
Temperatures could reach the 50s and even 60s in the region today, after subzero readings earlier in the week, and a possibility of 2 inches of rain was forecast in Indiana. The National Weather Service issued flood watches for much of Illinois, saying "the potential exists for very serious and potentially life-threatening flooding."
--more--"
Yeah, despite the ICE which is WORSE this morning! It's RAINING, yet BELOW 32 degrees so we have an ICE SHEET going right now! (Update: the highest it got around here was 34 degrees).
Nevertheless....
"More bargains than bargain hunters; Retailers banking on post-holiday rush to salvage season" by Erin Ailworth, Globe Staff | December 27, 2008
Yesterday looked like a normal, slightly busy day at the mall, not the bargain-buying bonanza struggling retailers had hoped would save them from an already bleak holiday season.
Shoppers stayed away from stores on the day after Christmas for the same reason they bought less before the holiday: the sour economy. With pre-Christmas sales down as much as 5 percent, retailers had pinned their hopes on the postholiday season, when extreme discounting often fills malls again. It wasn't off to a good start....
But some shopping destinations were busier than others. Crowds inside the Natick Collection mall were robust yesterday, and traffic in the parking areas was jammed, according to some shoppers.... Meanwhile, online retailers appeared to perform better than their brick-and-mortar cousins. Amazon.com Inc. said this holiday season was its "best ever."
Looks like business is the next item I dispatch due to time factors -- especially since Israel is murdering Gazans as I type. I'm sick of the bs rubbish on so many issues -- like these two!
