| Campaigning in hard times
Even though the economy teetered on recession, GDP growth didn't go negative until the third quarter - too late to alter the intoxicated zeitgeist of the '90s. As a result, during that campaign we heard a lot about other things, like a "lockbox" for Social Security (Gore) and "compassionate conservatism" (Bush), but almost nil about the wavering economy that the new President was about to inherit - and voters didn't seem to mind. But studying the calendar only goes so far. That's because there's a lag between economic reality and public perception of economic reality that's tricky to gauge - and it can be lethal to candidates, as President George H.W. Bush learned in 1992. The economy was steaming along at a healthy 4%-plus clip in the third and fourth quarters, but voters ejected him anyway, locked in a mindset from six months earlier when the economy was struggling to emerge from recession.
Fireball mum in fight for life
A MOTHER is fighting for her life after suffering horrific burns when she became a "human fireball". Yvonne Buckley, aged 38, was discovered in flames by her teenage son, Alex, in the living room of their home in Holly Grove, Brownlow Fold. He dashed for help as Ms Buckley's partner rushed to extinguish the flames with his bare hands. .
The Chronicle Local News Blog
Sometimes it's edifying, enlightening, even fun to put local issues into a global context. It may be a small world after all, but things aren't necessarily the same all around the world. Consider, for instance, the hoo-hah raised by North Bay residents over the proposal to levy a $1 to $2 congestion-based toll on Doyle Drive, the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge. The toll would secure a federal grant for Doyle Drive and provide enough funding to get the unsafe, 70-year-old structure replaced. Highway robbery, cry the folks from the North Bay, especially affluent Marin County. Good thing they don't live outside London, which charges a congestion charge or cordon toll, essentially an entry fee, for vehicles driving into the city's central business district.
Motorcycle patrols to resume in springtime
Secondly, they're gas hogs, as motorcycles go. They should have gone with a smaller, lighter bike like an ATK or a Jap bike purpose-made for patrolling. Harleys SUCK! What a waste of money. I will be voting out Palesh and Giannotta when the time comes!!! " .
Trouble in Toyland!
From Aqua Dots to Big Red Wagons, hundreds of toys have been recalled this year. With one of the biggest shopping days of the year coming up this week, most parents are wondering if the presents they plan to put under the tree are safe for their children. Today the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, known as WISPIRG announced results of their annual toy safety survey. The safety survey focused on three main concerns with childrens toys this year: toys with small pieces that could be choking hazards, those with powerful magnets, and toys that contain lead should all be left on the shelves. Half of all toy related deaths are caused by choking. So, before buying your childrens favorite little figurine you want to make sure there are no tiny pieces that could easily fall off and be swallowed.
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