Record snowfall in the Southern Alps

Les Abriès and nearby Ristolas claim nearly 4 meters snow depth on the upper slopes at 2000 meters altitude and 2.40 meters at the bottom of the runs. Currently a record for France. The resort says there is 5 meters at the top of the resort at the Colette de Gilly. Unfortunately an avalanche has swept away a pylon of the drag lift which accesses the sector. It will be out of action until mid January.

The area has yet to get back to normal. Some pistes are still blocked with avalanche debris, particularly broken trees. Yesterday the Aiguiller lift was finally repaired. However there are still occasional power cuts. Yesterday a number of homes lost power.

Cold weather warning after cyclist’s death - Daily Post North Wales

THE brother of a cyclist who froze to death after attempting to cycle from a pub to his caravan has warned about the increased risk of hypothermia after drinking even small amounts of alcohol.

Cold weather keeps Ugg boots going strong after trend cools: Times Argus Online

It was lunchtime on a recent weekday, and Chicago's downtown Nordstrom store was grimly recession-quiet — except for one spot: the Ugg section of the shoe department.

There, it was frenzied. Women filled every seat, pulling on and off the warm sheepskin boots; stacks of giant Ugg boxes were scattered about.

Comedian Gregory to perform at AAC winter event

"James doesn't tip-toe through life as if he's walking on broken glass or egg shells. That style is evident on stage as well. He is not politically correct. Much of his humor is centered on brilliant observations of crazy relatives and people obsessed with the slightest change in weather conditions -- now referred to as global warming. He delights in poking fun at modern sensitive parents and out of control environmentalists. Gregory has been quoted as saying, 'If you want me concerned about endangered species, you need to convince me we're about out of chickens,'" according to his bio.

"The James Gregory show turns the clock back to a time when life was simpler; to a better time, before the death of common sense and a time when people sat on the front porch and actually talked to each other without a cell phone in their ear."