Fears that the United States faces a period of stagflation grew as a slug of fresh data suggested the economy continues to slow as the cost of living rises.

January 2008

I am seriously cranked I am missing SNOWDEATHSTORM2008! in Spokane. I LOVE big snow, the bigger the better. I was 10/11 when Spokane's biggest SNOWDEATHSTORM hit in 1968/69 and have the fondest memories of missing weeks of school that winter and sledding every day with my buddies. It was glorious. A true winter wonderland. That was the winter the dress code for girls in the Central Valley School District requiring skirts and dresses was suspended to permit the gals to don pants due to the frigid cold and deep snow. The next year the school district tried to reinstate the code but the kids and parents told them to go to hell. After the Winter of Love, man, it wasn't groovy to be uptight about pants and jeans, man/The Unbearable Bobness of Being. More here.

Businesses Unharmed in California Wilfires

RAMONA, CAWhile most manufacturers and shop owners escaped unscathed from the recent wildfires that swept through Southern California, most reported some form of business disruption. Ellsworth was forced to evacuate its headquarters in Ramona, setting up a temporary administrative center in Oceanside. The companys inventory and manufacturing are still intact. Ellsworth has continued filling standing orders, and orders taken from Interbike. The bad news is that the organic avocado grove that the company worked to restore on their administrative premises was burned in the fire, said George Patten, who handles public relations for Ellsworth. The grove houses the administrative, design and warehouse buildings at the Ellsworth headquarters. Oakley, located in Orange Countys Foothill Ranch, got an up close and personal look at the Santiago fire.

Ghana 1-0 Namibia: Agogo earns ANC win

Junior Agogo scored the only goal as Ghana laboured to a 1-0 victory against dogged Namibia in the African Nations Cup on Thursday.

The hosts seemed to struggle to get into gear as the Brave Warriors put up stubborn resistance in the Group A clash in Accra, with Agogo's 41st-minute strike proving the difference.

The win put Claude Le Roy's team on six points and in a strong position to qualify, while Namibia remain pointless after losing their opening game to Morocco, but it was a much improved performance from the Southern Africans.

Ghana predictably made the early running and Sulley Muntari hit a spectacular bicycle kick early on which flew straight at Attiel Mbaha from the edge of the penalty area and brought the crowd to life.

Four minutes later Laryea Kingston's teasing cross from the right was well struck by Quincy Owusu-Abeyie from eight yards, but Mbaha pushed the danger away superbly with his feet.

Year in Review - Sport

Apparently three blind mice were to blame for their 6-0 loss in the A-League decider, and John Kosmina was forced to resign after causing more embarrassment to the club than Carl Veart and Ross Aloisi put together.

Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore are Australia's new surfing world champions, while Cadel Evans is the world's top-ranked cyclist. Even though he came second in France.