Wild Winter Weather

A storm combining snow, ice, and rain is causing chaos throughout the midwest and is expected to continue through New Year's Day. In particular, it has recently caused a 100-car pileup in Fargo, ND on Interstate 94. As a result of the pileup and worsening weather conditions of snow and wind, the interstate closed. The pileup originally started when two semi-trucks jackknifed on Thursday night. Highway Patrol were even having to rescue drivers by snowmobile and foot because the visibility and road conditions were so terrible. Three people were taken to the hospital. Out towards Denver they received the heaviest snow of the season on Friday morning and even parts of Wyomig and New Mexico are preparing for freezing temperatures and stormy weather. Phoenix, AZ also woke up to temperatures below freezing Friday morning because the storm had left a snowy mix of precepitation on the edges of the city the day before. People were shocked upon seeing snow because it is so rare there. Strong winds have also creates snow dunes on rooftops, streets, and yards across mountanious areas of Arizona. Because of this, two major thoroughfares in northern Arizona were closed, which stranded people just south of the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff. New Mexico, Colorado, Wyomig, Montana, and Nevada also all have major roadways shut down due to the storm. Up to a foot of snow is predicted to fall in the Denver and Colorado Springs area while the eastern plains are expected to get about 7 inches. Ski resorts are happy for the snow, but it has trapped some skiers on the mountain and prevented others from coming. This is because roads have been closed to those resorts because of dangerous conditions and the threat of avalanches. United Airlines has had to cancel 32 flights from Denver on Thursday alone. This storm has had a significant portion of the country in its clutches and is causing trouble for many.

This story first caught my attention because of its headline, "100-Car Pileup in Fargo, ND." I travel that area of Interstate 94 quite often because I take saxophone lessons from a college professor that lives up there. In fact I was there only two days ago, and it's amazing to me how drastically things can change in such a short amount of time! When something like this huge pileup occurs, I wonder if there was any way in could have been prevented. The only thing I can think of is if they could've closed Interstate 94 before conditions become so bad that the pileup occured. Today with our technology we have gotten pretty precise and accurate in predicing weather, so maybe it should become policy to shut down major highways and interstates before conditions become terrible. Of course, I also understand people have places to go and that would cause people to get upset, especially if conditions aren't bad yet, but at least it would ensure people's safety. I also found it shocking how places as far south as New Mexico and Phoenix, AZ are seeing snow! That, I'm sure, doesn't happen very often! One of my friends in in Phoenix right now for vacation, and I'm sure the family she was visiting has given them a hard time about bringing Minnesota's weather to Phoenix. It is kind of ironic how that works! I think what these storms remind us is that we aren't all-powerful. Some things are out of our control, like mother nature. In a way, these storm humble us and force us to slow down and re-examine our life in the midst of our busy schedules.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40861490/ns/weather/

Holiday Shopping Shows Income Gap

Some analysts and investors are reporting this year that "the American consumer is back," but in actuality, it's "some consumers." This shopping season has shown America the big picture of the growing income gap between upper and lower income households. This is largely due to the unemployment outlook. Those on the higher end are feeling more secure in their jobs and their incomes increasing, so they are willing to buy much more this year. Statistics say that the unemployment rate for those with a college degree is at 5%. However, those on the lower end are facing an unemployment rate of about 16% and a decrease in wages. This causes them to not feel very secure in their jobs and forces them to focus on necessities. Retailers that cater to low-income families, such as Wal-Mart are seeing decreases in revenue, while retailers geared towards high income families are experiencing their best sales this season of the past three years. Some days they have even had to close their stores because they ran out of merchandice! These high-income households are so confident in spending because in the third quarter this year they've seen their household net worth jump up by $1.2 trillion because the stock market saw a $1.9 trillion rise in financial assets. People who are weathy are now very willing to pay top dollar for luxury brands. Online retailers are also showing strong sales this year as they are up 12% overall. Still though, low-income households are having a hard time, largely due to the falling value of real estate and the fact that they don't own any stocks or bonds. The "rich" are the ones spending this year and who are increasing overall spending data, while the "average" and low-income people are not. Overall, the American consumer is still depressed, but a growing number are not.

I find this article hesitantly optimistic. I think it's heartening because it's saying that there are some people who are willing to spend money--and alot of it--again. Although these are just the weathy Americans, at least it's some. It's been 3 years since the weathy have spent as much as they are now.This may be one of the first signs that the economy is turning around. I mean, low-income families can never really spend alot money, because they just don't have it. They may not be buying as much as before the recession, but I don't think they were ever really able to make purchases like the high-income households, and therefore they probably wouldn't have as much of an effect on the overall consumer statistics and economy. I do find it unfortunate, though, that there has to be such a gap between the "rich" and the "poor." There is something not right in our government if the rich can continue to get richer while the poor continue to get poorer, which is what seems to be happening. If we truely are coming out of the recession, then I would think both ends would be seeing improvements, not just the weathy. That's why I'm hesitant to believe this article is a "good sign."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40593905/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/

A Town's Battle for Tolerance

In Sidney, New York, a town of about 6,000 and located 150 miles north of New York City, there has been a debate over religious tolerance that has sparked the attention of the nation. In November of 2009, a Sufi Muslim man, Amir Celoski, was killed in a car accident and was the first to be buried in a Sufi cemetary located on Wheat Hill Road in the town. Nine months later, it ignited a huge controversy after a second Sufi man was buried there. At a meeting with the Board of Supervisors in the town, the leaders voted to investigate the Sufi graves. The Sufis had gotten burial permits and followed the proper procedures, but the town Supervisor, Robert McCarthy, still called the graves illegal and said the bodies should be dug up and removed from their town. He said, "You can't just bury Grandma under the picnic table." McCarthy then became a symbol for Muslim-bashing everywhere. Sidney soon attracted the label of an Islamophonic, backwards, and ignorant town. In response, many people in the town bonded together and spoke out against the Board of Supervisors. Over 150 people who had never been to a town meeting or even ever met a Muslim showed up after hearing the accusations against the Sufis and shouted, "Shame on you," and "Apologize," to the Board members. They believe what the Board of Supervisors had done was wrong and wanted to make it right. The Board soon dropped the cemetary issue, but the movement that it had caused within the town was far from over. These people who were fighting for tolerance went to the Sufi center 8 miles from town and also talked with the shiek. They were determined that Sidney would become a prime example of tolerance and understanding. Both sides of the issue still run high in the town, however, with McCarthy supporters holding meetings promoting that all Muslims are terrorists, the Sufis have pictures of Osama Bin Laden at their center, and that the town would still be better off if they dug up their graves and left. The people counteracting that, lead by Han Hass, have been talking with national media, writing letters to town leaders and state officials, and attending meetings of the new group, "Concerned Citizens for Responsible Sidney Government." They are determined to end predjudices and hurtful assumptions that all Muslims are storing weapons, are a cult, or planning something evil. The Sufis in the town are extremely grateful and the town shiek has said, "this can show the world that we can live peacefully as Muslims and non-Muslims, that we can share the same land, that a small town can show the whole country is not mirred in Islamophobia." Others say it fills their heart that people whom they never knew would reach out and help them, and want to get to know them. The people leading this movement insist that we must get to know these Muslims as individuals-the mother giggling at her 14 month year old son, the old man and his walker he needs to walk into his mosque, the beekeeper-so on and so forth. McCarthy still insists, though, that his sole purpose was to decrease tax dollars. He thought that could be accomplished by getting rid of the cemetary. He denies that his proposal had anything to do with them being Muslim. Of course, many people in the town beg to differ. They are working to bring the Muslims justice and to encourage that all fear of them will go away if you only take the time to get to know them.

I found this story very moving. Often we would like to think that today, in 2010, our country has progressed enough to not be prejudiced or condeming to other cultures, religions, and races. Unfortunatly this is not the case. Personally, I think some of the people we are most judgemental upon are Muslims. The reason for this fear of Muslims is rooted in 9/11, which does make sense. However, we need to realize that the Muslims who carried out the attacks were part of an extremist group who view jiihad as a battle against other people and religions and have a hatred of Americans in particular. The vast majority of Muslims are NOT this way. They are peaceful people who view jiihad as an internal struggle to become a better person. I think that our accusations against Muslims in our country is just terrible. This story is a perfect example of it. Here were these peaceful Sufi Muslims living in small town America, and all they wanted was to bury one of their loved ones who had died. They got a permit and went through all the right procedures, and a few months later were told they may have to dig their loved ones up and take them somewhere else. How awful! These Sufis hadn't done anything against the law or anything wrong at all! I'm so glad people in the town stood up against the Board of Supervisors and told them that what they did was wrong. It makes me proud that they have been taking the time to get to know these Muslims as people, not just inaccurate stereotypes. And what have they found out? That they are normal human beings just like us. Yes, they have some different customs, viewpoints, and religious views than the majority of Americans who are Christians like myself, but we need to be accepting and tolerant of each other so that we can live as one country in peace. Since the foundings of our country, we have prided ourselves upon the fact that we are a place of religious freedom and the "melting pot" of many different people. Then because of that we have become one of the most successful countries in the world. Why would we ever want to go backwards and virtually "outlaw" other peoples? I think it's because we're scared of differences, but we have always prided ourselves on that and we need to continue to!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40629213/ns/us_news-life/