How bicycling will save the economy (if we let it) | Grist

What will this new bicycle economy look like?
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There aren't very many economic scenarios in this country where everyone wins. But if you had to choose one single thing that could pull our neighborhoods, towns, and cities out of this murky pit of a recession, you'd do well to bet on the humble bicycle.

Increased volcanic activity will lead to even higher food and energy costs - Coeur d'Alene Press: Weather Gems

Volcanoes on Russia's Kamchatka seaboard have been "unusually active" in the last six months, says Aris. He adds, "the clouds of dust and ash have been thrown up into the higher altitudes." This has diverted the frigid Arctic winds, pushing extremely cold air and moderate to heavy snows deep into the U.S., Europe and parts of Asia, including winter-weary China. Edmonton, Alberta, reported a record low on March 8 of minus-26 degrees. It was an even colder minus-31 degrees at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

Just this past week, unusually cold air spilled into north-central China, Mongolia and parts of Russia that resulted in widespread winterkill in many winter wheat regions devoid of snowcover. This will only add to the global shortages of the golden grains in the next several months.

Alabama fire deaths up 43.5% in 2010 tally | al.com

As winter 2010 brought record low temperatures to much of the state, dangerous behavior that can easily lead to fire -- misuse of space heaters, using cook stoves to heat homes -- perhaps became more frequent, Paulk said.