LJWorld.com / Archive for Tuesday, December 25, 2007

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What do you most look forward to on Christmas?

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2007 Sports: Year in Review

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The Morning Rush: City set when it comes to salt and sand

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6:00 a.m.

Father’s absence inspires presents: By Eric Sorrentino; December 25, 2007 in print edition on 1A; Joe and Leanne Peel have been married for 13 years and have spent every Christmas of their marriage together. Unfortunately, 2007 has presented the Peel family with an uncontrollable situation. Joe Peel is a U.S. Army Specialist and will be stationed in Iraq until May. This is the first Christmas that he will be away from his wife and their three children, Torrie, 14, J.D., 12, and Haleigh, 11.

6:00 p.m.

Sand, salt supplies suffice: By George Diepenbrock; December 25, 2007 in print edition on 1A; Old Man Winter hasn’t given Douglas County road crews much of a break. To combat the snow last weekend, the county had two 17-member crews using eight full-size dump trucks to spread sand and salt on the roads.

Video: Snow no match for sand and salt
Photo gallery: Photos- First days of winter

All stories

6News video: Holiday interrupted by house fire: December 25, 2007; For most it was a merry Christmas, but for one family the holiday was interrupted with a house fire.
6Sports video: KU players home for holidays: December 25, 2007; There's no time like the holidays, and even Bill Self and Mark Mangino found time to be home for Christmas.
6News video: Letters to Santa returned to sender?: December 25, 2007; Thousands of letters make their way to the north pole each year, but how does Santa Claus have time to answer all of them?
6Sports video: Mangino, Beamer share similarities: By DJ Whetter; December 25, 2007; Both Frank Beamer and Mark Mangino have taken very different paths to success, but they may be more similar than you think.
6News video: Local businesses open for Christmas: December 25, 2007; Most Lawrence establishments are closed for the holiday, but for some businesses the open signs shine as brightly as Christmas lights.
6News video: “Eight wonders of Kansas” deadline approaching: December 25, 2007; The deadline is fast approaching to choose the most fascinating things in the Sunflower State.
6News video: Kansas home for evergreen expert: By Laura McHugh; December 25, 2007; When you think of Christmas trees, the rolling hills of north east Kansas may not come to mind, but that's exactly where one national expert on evergreens calls home.
6News video: Courthouse construction stays in family: December 25, 2007; The construction on the Douglas County courthouse continues, but something unexpected was found before it all started.
6News video: Community dinner feeds 900: December 25, 2007; It takes an army to pull together a community Christmas dinner.
Bring on 2008: There’s always next year; ‘07 was one to forget; By Jim Litke - Associated Press Sports Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B1; 2007 was a lousy year in sports unless you were a fan of the pro teams from Boston, the semipro ones from the University of Florida or the real student-athletes from Appalachian State.
Former Jayhawk upbeat despite release: Family man Simien intends to finish rehab, return to NBA next season; By Gary Bedore; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B1; Wayne Simien didn’t forget his Kansas roots during his two seasons with the Miami Heat. “The whole city was tired of me bragging about the ’Hawks. Now with the ’Hawks in the Orange Bowl, the whole city gets to see what I was talking about,” former Kansas University power forward Simien said of KU’s football Jayhawks, who will play against ACC champion Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3 in Miami.
Commentary: Bulls’ mess much more than a coach: Skiles is the scapegoat, but Chicago’s problems go much deeper than the man on the bench; By Rick Morrissey - Chicago Tribune; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B2; The headline on the Bulls’ Web site read, “Skiles relieved as Bulls Head Coach.” It should have read, “Skiles relieved to be former Bulls Head Coach.”
Texas Tech player leaving: December 25, 2007 in print edition on B2; Texas Tech backup defensive tackle Brian Jones plans to skip the Gator Bowl and won’t return for his senior season because he earned a degree in three years.
Yankees have hefty luxury tax again: Club owes $23.88 million for overspending on players; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B2; The New York Yankees did accomplish something this year: They lowered their luxury tax for the second straight season.
Bulls fire head coach after disappointing 9-16 start: By Andrew Seligman - Associated Press Sports Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B4; The Chicago Bulls were sure this was their season to challenge for the Eastern Conference championship. If they do, it’ll be with a new coach. The Bulls fired Scott Skiles on Monday, hoping to shake up a team with one of the worst records in the Eastern Conference.
Jaguars could cause trouble in playoffs: By Mark Long - Associated Press Sports Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B4; When the Jacksonville Jaguars last made the playoffs in 2005, they hardly scared anyone. The New England Patriots even treated their season finale like an exhibition game, welcoming a loss and a first-round matchup with Jacksonville. No one seems eager to face the Jaguars (11-4) this time around, and for good reason.
Commentary: No way Belichick benches regulars: By Jim Litke - Associated Press Sports Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B4; After leaving his starters on the field late in meaningless games all year long to punish dissenters and the disbelieving, there’s no way New England coach Bill Belichick would sit them down for the regular-season finale at the New York Giants.
San Diego wins fifth straight contest: Tomlinson takes over NFL rushing lead with 107 yards, TD; By Bernie Wilson - Associated Press Sports Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B4; John Lynch met LaDainian Tomlinson head-on early in the first quarter, a collision of two star players following a simple two-yard run. Normally they’d get up and get ready for the next play. Not this time. Tomlinson’s helmet came off and Lynch took it with both hands and threw it about 10 yards, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and the wrath of the crowd.
Jayhawks’ Christmas wish list: What I’d buy the players; By Gary Bedore; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B6; ’Tis the season to be jolly … and to give gifts. That said … here are the Christmas presents I’d provide to Kansas University’s basketball players if such generosity was allowed by the Scrooge-like NCAA.
Poll shuffled, but top 3 hold steady: By Jim O’Connell - Associated Press Basketball Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B6; Last week’s three big-time matchups caused plenty of movement in the Associated Press college basketball poll Monday, except at the top.
Jayhawks’ giving receivers: Energized by newcomers, corps reaches new heights; By Matt Tait; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B8; In years past, when NFL running backs cracked the 1,000-yard mark, they often showed their appreciation to the linemen that helped them get there by gifting Rolex watches or taking the hogs out to expensive steak dinners.
Disabled assistant to travel with UH: ‘Wheelchair-bound, non-speaking coach’ to make first road trip, and it’s a doozy; By Jaymes Song - Associated Press Sports Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B8; He spends hours on the football field, but his feet never touch the turf. His specialty is dissecting offenses, but he’s never played a down.
Commentary: Jilted fans, save yourselves from embarassment: By Dave Curtis - The Orlando Sentinel; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B8; The holidays are times for forgiveness — old arguments settled over eggnog, lovers’ spats ending under the mistletoe. The exception is college football, which seems to see villains born in December.
Boy looks to score an ice rink: Dakota Zinn, 11, thinks a skating facility could be just what the city of Lawrence needs; By Kristi Henderson; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A3; What’s a boy to do when he wants to play hockey in Lawrence? He could go to Overland Park, where Kansas University’s ice hockey club plays. Or, if the weather would stay cold enough, long enough, he could play on a frozen pond. But, if he’s like 11-year-old Dakota Zinn, he might try to get an arena built here in town.
Report: Population nears 300,000: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A11; Despite slow progress in rebuilding some neighborhoods, New Orleans’ population is nearing 300,000, or about 65 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina size, according to a new report.
Military prosecutors uphold cluster bomb use: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A2; The Israeli army on Monday said it will not press charges against officers who ordered the use of cluster bombs during last year’s war in Lebanon, brushing off international criticism that the weapons unnecessarily put Lebanese civilians at risk.
‘No one has given up’ on K.C.: Associated Press; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B9; The Kansas City Chiefs have dropped eight straight, the franchise’s worst skid since losing nine in a row in 1987. The latest loss was a 25-20 setback Sunday at Detroit.
Woman says letter she wrote as a girl asking JFK to save Santa not political: Associated Press; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B12; Over the years, Caroline Kennedy sometimes wondered about a third grader who wrote to her father, President Kennedy, worried that Russian bomb tests at the North Pole would kill Santa Claus.
On the record: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A4; A 47-year-old Lawrence woman reported the theft of a 1995 Mazda worth $3,000 to Lawrence Police on Saturday. The incident occurred between 3 p.m. Dec. 15 and 9:38 a.m. Saturday in the 500 block of Frontier Road.
Kansas Guard units come home for holiday: Associated Press; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B14; Many Kansas and Missouri families got their Christmas wish this weekend, as area National Guard units returned home for the holiday before going to Iraq. A bus carrying 54 Kansas National Guard members from Fort Bliss, Texas, arrived Sunday at the armory in Lenexa, Kan.
Protect your pets from the cold: December 25, 2007 in print edition on C1; Winter cold can pose a serious health and safety issue for dogs and cats. To help keep pets warm and safe when the temperature drops, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers the following guidelines.
Pears with Clementines: December 25, 2007 in print edition on C1; Pears with Clementines
Borrow a hotel’s sleek, impersonal look to sell your own home: McClatchy Newspapers; December 25, 2007 in print edition on C1; If you want to sell a home, look at a hotel. Most specialize in depersonalized and clutter-free areas designed for mass appeal. That concept is a winner in residential real estate, home stagers say.
Official says 19 nuclear power plants planned: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A2; Iran plans to build 19 more nuclear power plants and will soon solicit international bids for their construction, a lawmaker said.
Big Brother wanted to play sports, video games: December 25, 2007 in print edition on C2; Montez, a 9-year-old, wants to know if you are interested in being his friend through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County program.
Watchful eyes: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A13; To the editor: Being somewhat cynical, when I read the first sentence of Ms. Cottrell’s Dec. 15 letter to the editor, I thought she was going in a totally different direction. Instead of the Senate investigating the profligate leaders of a few megachurches, I thought that she was going to suggest that the spending habits of the Senate (and the House) should be investigated.
It’s a service: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A13; To the editor: Here they go again. The economic-political powers that be are contemplating something that is the exact opposite of what the future will require: Cut back service in public transportation. There’s lots of talk about how much it costs, of how it does not pay for itself. I suggest you look up “service” in your Funk & Wagnalls.
Special gift: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A13; To the editor: Your Sunday story on Sue Mozykowski, founder and guiding spirit of Sunshine Acres Preschool, made me recall the year that she, then Sue Kean, was the leading lady in “The Ballad of Black Jack.” When an outstanding talent joined the cast, I sometimes wrote additional lyrics to showcase the newcomer. In Sue’s case, I wrote an entire song and the lines needed to fit it in.
Donor again slips $1,000 bill into kettle: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A8; Salvation Army Major Richard Hathorn knew when and where it would happen, but he still doesn’t know who slipped the $1,000 bill into one of the charity’s Christmas kettles.
Putin wants satellite device to track his dog: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A8; Russia’s satellite navigation system is still taking shape, but President Vladimir Putin already has a plan for how to use it: to keep tabs on his black labrador.
Commodities: December 25, 2007 in print edition on B13; Wheat prices pulled back, while corn and soybean prices rose Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade. Wheat for March delivery fell 13.5 cents to $9.355; March corn rose a penny to $4.445; March oats closed flat at $3.055; January soybeans gained 3.5 cents to $11.81.
Ethanol plant expected to be largest in Kansas: Production began Monday at Arkalon site; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B13; Conestoga Energy officials said the largest plant yet to be built in Kansas started production Monday. The Arkalon Ethanol plant is set to produce 110 million gallons a year, which is a 50-million-gallon greater capacity than the Gateway Ethanol plant in Pratt, according to the Kansas Corporation Commission’s most recent figures.
Big Dig death settled with family for $6M: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A2; The family of a woman killed when the ceiling of a Big Dig tunnel collapsed on her car last year has agreed to a $6 million settlement with the company that supplied the epoxy blamed for the accident, an attorney said Monday.
Salvation Army gets coin worth $1,000: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A6; A platinum coin estimated to be worth more than $1,000 couldn’t fit in a Salvation Army kettle, so the donor handed it over to the bell ringer. An unidentified person donated the coin Friday outside a Belk department store in Pensacola.
Building collapses; at least 3 killed: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A2; A 12-story building collapsed Monday in Egypt’s Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, killing at least three people, according to rescuers and the state-run news agency MENA.
Boyda visits Iraqi war zone, sees progress: By Scott Rothschild; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A3; U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., who has been a vocal critic of President Bush’s policy in the war in Iraq, on Monday visited troops in Iraq and said the situation appears to be improving.
Jazz great Oscar Peterson dies at 82: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A2; Oscar Peterson, whose speedy fingers, propulsive swing and melodic inventiveness made him one of the world’s best known and influential jazz pianists, has died. He was 82.
Minivan crashes into TV studio during newscast: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A11; A minivan crashed into the glass exterior wall of a downtown TV studio, jarring the building and startling the anchorman delivering the 10 p.m. news.
Santa appears wearing outfit suited for Mrs. Claus: By Richard Winton and Andrew Blankstein - Los Angeles Times; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A2; A famous Hollywood location had a seasonally appropriate visitor Sunday night. But when the man got out of his car in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, it was clear this was anything but a standard visit from Santa Claus.
Body found, identified as that of missing woman: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A11; A body found in the crawl space of an apartment building was identified Monday as that of a missing Marshall University student.
Robbery suspect shot, wounded at mall: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A11; A robbery suspect was shot and wounded by police in the parking lot outside a suburban Atlanta mall on Monday, authorities said.
Weather eases in upper Midwest: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A2; Sunny conditions on Monday helped road crews deal with the remnants of a blustery snowstorm that blacked out thousands of homes and businesses and was blamed for at least 22 traffic deaths in the upper Midwest.
Father’s absence inspires presents: Tonganoxie family stuffs stockings to send to Iraq; By Eric Sorrentino; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A1; Joe and Leanne Peel have been married for 13 years and have spent every Christmas of their marriage together. Unfortunately, 2007 has presented the Peel family with an uncontrollable situation. Joe Peel is a U.S. Army Specialist and will be stationed in Iraq until May. This is the first Christmas that he will be away from his wife and their three children, Torrie, 14, J.D., 12, and Haleigh, 11.
KU professor working with Georgians on elections: Diana Carlin is helping create debates that will entice voters in Eastern European country; By Jonathan Kealing; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A3; On Jan. 5, the people of Georgia go to the polls to elect a new president. No, the Peach State is not seceding from the union again, but the ex-Soviet republic of Georgia is about to undergo elections. And Kansas University professor Diana Carlin is in the country now, helping them set up debates as the nascent democracy feels its way through another election.
Overthrown leader plans return to Thailand soon: By Rungrawee C. Pinyorat - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A11; Thailand’s leading parties wooed possible partners for a coalition government on Monday, a day after allies of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra came out on top in the country’s first election since he was ousted in a September 2006 military coup.
Weather cooperates with most holiday travelers: By Andrew DeMillo - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A2; Many Christmas Eve travelers around the country got what they wished for — few airport delays and highways that were mostly clear, despite a deadly weekend snowstorm in the Plains and the Midwest.
Woodling: Merry Kansas musings: By Chuck Woodling; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B1; Rockin’ around the Christmas tree while wondering whatever happened to Brenda Lee …
Bush offers holiday greetings to troops: By Maura Reynolds - Los Angeles Times; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A11; President Bush spoke by telephone Monday to 10 U.S. servicemen and women stationed in Iraq and elsewhere around the world to thank them for serving their country and spending the holiday season away from their families.
Voting deadline for ‘8 wonders’ nears: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A5; Kansans have less than a week to vote for their state’s eight wonders.
Pope calls on faithful to find time for God: By Ariel David - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A11; Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful to set aside time in their lives for God and the needy, as he ushered in Christmas early today by celebrating Midnight Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Endangered ferrets return to Kansas: The rare animals are back in the state after a 50-year absence; Associated Press; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A5; Endangered black-footed ferrets are back in Kansas after being a no-show for at least 50 years. Last week, 24 of the rare ferrets were released on private ranch land in Logan County. They used to be a common sight in Kansas and across the Great Plains, but that was before a lot of the prairie turned to cropland and prairie dog villages were poisoned.
Sand, salt supplies suffice: Recent rounds of ice, snow haven’t wrecked county stockpiles; By George Diepenbrock; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A1; Old Man Winter hasn’t given Douglas County road crews much of a break. To combat the snow last weekend, the county had two 17-member crews using eight full-size dump trucks to spread sand and salt on the roads.
L.J. done ‘til ‘08: RB will sit for 8th game; By Doug Tucker - Associated Press Sports Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B9; The broken foot Larry Johnson sustained Nov. 4 turned out to be season-ending after all. Kansas City coach Herm Edwards confirmed Monday that Johnson would not play in the season finale at the New York Jets, meaning the two-time Pro Bowl running back has lost the better part of a season in the prime of his career.
Networks wish you a Merry Christmas: By Kevin McDonough; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B12; Is it Christmas Day or Groundhog Day? The proliferation of marathons and repeat viewings may leave some viewers wondering.
People in the news: December 25, 2007 in print edition on B12; • Rapper arrested at airport with loaded gun • Michelle Rodriguez reports for jail term • Amy Adams ambivalent about stardom, career
Horoscopes: December 25, 2007 in print edition on B12; Let others strut their stuff this year, even if a side of you would like to steal the limelight more often. You have nothing to prove, as you will discover. You are starting a new, loving life cycle. Your abilities make you a star. You will shine through any haze. You have much to share. Friends support you in nearly any idea or project. Let your immediate horizons open up.
Bills target religious discrimination in school settings: By Sean Murphy - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A4; A pair of state lawmakers have introduced measures designed to protect students from religious discrimination, but some former teachers question whether such measures are necessary.
Little green laptops prove a hit in remote Peruvian village: By Frank Bajak - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A12; Doubts about whether poor, rural children really can benefit from quirky little computers evaporate as quickly as the morning dew in this hilltop Andean village, where 50 primary school children got machines from the One Laptop Per Child project six months ago.
Dangers of crack versus cocaine in dispute: By Denise Lavoie - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A12; During some of the bloodiest years of the drug wars of the 1980s, crack was seen as far more dangerous than powdered cocaine, and that perception was written into the sentencing laws. But now that notion is under attack like never before.
Christmas conditions improving in Iraq war zone: By Jamie Gumbrecht and Laith Hammoudi - McClatchy Newspapers; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A9; In a war zone, Christmas sometimes is as much about compromise as it is about celebration. Yousif Akhsho Youmara, who owns an auto-body repair shop in Baghdad, remembers the glorious Christmases of his youth, when family members would stay the night and Muslim and Christian guests would drop by for days. “Life used to be more cheerful. Not like now,” he recalled.
Token of appreciation: It’s never too late to teach children how to properly acknowledge gifts; By Kristi Henderson; December 25, 2007 in print edition on C1; The presents are unwrapped, and the kids are playing with their new toys. But if you want Santa to think your kids are nice and not naughty next year, you might want to think about teaching them to send a thank-you note.
Angle meeting date changed: December 25, 2007 in print edition on C1; January’s Angle meeting will be a week later than usual. The Journal-World’s teen advisory board, will meet Jan. 10, and members will tour Free State Studios, 644 N.H.
Double Take triggers reader dialogue throughout 2007: By Dr. Wes Crenshaw & Julia Davidson; December 25, 2007 in print edition on C1; Wes: This is our last Double Take of the year. In 2007, John, Julia and I discussed teen sexuality, sex offenses, the increasingly manic lifestyle our teens face and the effect it has on their mood, their sleep and their ability to focus in school. We’ve prompted many lines of online debate representing all sides of the issues, some of which were exceptionally intelligent.
Ballroom dancing gaining favor as next potential Olympic sport: By Suzette Laboy - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on C2; Both Evgeny Dyachenko and Inna Ivanenko spend hours in the gym lifting weights. Five, six days a week they practice at the ballet bar to keep their legs and backs strong, squeezing in yoga or pilates classes to help with their stretching.
Many parents of fat children in denial about kids’ problem: By David Runk - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A7; A startling number of parents may be in denial about their youngsters’ weight. A survey found that many Americans whose children are obese do not see them that way.
Food pantries start stocking health care: By Lauran Neergaard - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A7; An out-of-work David Thomas walked into a Milwaukee food pantry just seeking groceries. Thomas learned he was a stroke waiting to happen and got blood pressure medicine along with his bread. Food pantries have long aimed to help heal hunger. A new project aims to see how well they can help heal high blood pressure, diabetes and other ailments, too.
Season of contrasts: Remembering all the people who feel less than joyful today can help us all be more grateful for the gifts that have come our way.; J-W Editorials; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A13; In some ways, it’s the contrasts that make Christmas most meaningful. Because of the generosity of Kansas businesses and individuals, more than 400 members of the Kansas Army National Guard are spending Christmas with their families back in Kansas. More than $146,000 was donated to bring home Guard members who might not have been able to afford the trip on their own.
Old Home Town - 100 years ago: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A13; From the Lawrence Daily World for Dec. 25, 1907: “‘The business we have done this Christmas has beaten last year’s business to death and last year we set a high-water mark,’ one leading merchant said as the holiday rolled around. More people spent more money on more things than ever before, we have learned.”
Old Home Town - 40 years ago: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A13; A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Chester Whitebread of Lawrence on Christmas Day at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was the only local baby born on Dec. 25 at LMH.
Old Home Town - 25 years ago: December 25, 2007 in print edition on A13; A Christmas-time storm that dropped more than four feet of snow on parts of Colorado caused two deaths and left thousands stranded. Lawrence had some precipitation but nothing of a serious and traffic-tying nature.
McCain could make miracle comeback: By Peter Brown; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A13; For those who believe in miracles, there is the legitimate possibility that John McCain could win the Republican presidential nomination. If so, he’ll make Bill Clinton’s comeback kid of 1992 look like a piker.
Farmer forecasts winter by examining pig spleens: By James MacPherson - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A8; Paul Smokov doesn’t need radar or other high-tech equipment to forecast a major snowstorm on the prairie. He consults pig spleens. “It looks like a normal year with no major storms,” said the 84-year-old Smokov, peering at two of the brown, glistening, foot-long organs on his kitchen counter like a Gypsy gazing into a crystal ball. “That’s what the spleens tell me.”
Earning the gift of financial freedom: By Michelle Singletary; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B13; Last year about this time, I wanted to see if I could help four people — two single women and one couple — accomplish their New Year’s resolutions to save more money and get out of credit card debt.
A welcome surge of shopping: Last-minute buyers bring relief to nation’s retailers; By Anne D’Innocenzio - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on B13; Just weeks ago, the holiday shopping season seemed headed for disaster. But in the waning hours before Christmas, the nation’s retailers got their wish — a last-minute surge of shopping that helped meet their modest sales goals, according to data released late Monday by research firm ShopperTrak RCT Corp.
Gift cards offer procrastinating men a last-minute reprieve: By Ylan Q. Mui and Michael S. Rosenwald - The Washington Post; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A6; David Merlin-Jones stood in front of the gift card rack at a Safeway in Silver Spring, Md., Monday and just stared. His wife had sent him there for groceries, but he soon realized that he could finish his Christmas shopping as well. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a wad of expired coupons and scraps of paper. Somewhere in there was his 10-year-old daughter’s wish list.
No room in the inns: All ye faithful come to Bethlehem: By Dalia Nammari - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A6; Encouraged by renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Christian pilgrims from around the world converged on Jesus’ traditional birthplace Monday to celebrate Christmas — a palpable contrast to the sparse crowds of recent years.
Mormon temple opening lifts spirits — and real estate market: By John Miller - Associated Press Writer; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A14; After selling houses in this Mormon college town for two decades, Ted Whyte knows what some of his customers want: a home near the new Mormon temple. If only he could use that in his ads.
Astronomers hoping asteroid crashes into Mars: By Julie Sevrens Lyons - San Jose Mercury News; December 25, 2007 in print edition on A14; If many scientists get their Christmas wish, an asteroid the size of a Boeing 737 jet will slam into Mars late next month, potentially leaving a crater more than half a mile wide.

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