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Jon Mark Beilue: Gift cards will stop the insanity
Experience is a great teacher, and experience taught me to give up when trying to surprise someone like my wife with a Christmas/birthday/anniversary gift. If I'm told the store, the aisle, the table, the color, the sales associate, the brand - and it's written down - it's even money I'll get it right. If I strike out on my own for that something that's a surprise and they like it, it's an absolute fluke if they do. Such as a very recent birthday when I bought a jewelry box from Penney's for my wife because (a) it would have been perfect on the dresser, and (b) it was the first thing I saw in a nice display when I walked in the store. "Would it hurt your feelings if I took this back and..." No, not at all. In fact, it just reaffirmed I should have bought a gift card in the first place so you could go and shop and take your time and find the perfect item.
Multimedia Index
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Feb. 8, 2008 Video: PG 'NewsNOW,' 2/8/2008 .
New Cars: Saturn Aura, BMW 3 Series Coupe and More
Since all its body panels are metal, it hits the street with narrower gaps and sexier lines than earlier, plastic-body Saturn models. There are two Auras, the base XE and our choice, the XR, with its 252-hp 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic. However, there are a few hints that Saturn may still be a half step away from the majors. While the interior is done well, some rock-hard surfaces and the lack of grab handles prove annoying with the miles. — DON CHAIKIN .
Amid storm recovery, more deaths reported
The Washington State Department of Transportation estimates that Interstate 5 will reopen Thursday after dark. The freeway was closed Monday over a 20-mile stretch of I-5 near Centralia by flooding water from the Chehalis River. The closure was between mileposts 68 and 88 in both directions. "Tomorrow morning we're going to go out there and take a really good look at it," said Melanie Coon, information specialist with WSDOT. "But we are encouraged with how fast the water is receding." Coon said that at milepost 80 at one point, water from the river rose to about 10 feet above the highway surface. Earlier today, Coon had estimated I-5 would open Friday, but revised her estimate after getting more information. Continue reading "State estimates Interstate 5 will reopen late Thursday" » .
Filed under: ClevelandBrowns
The NFL regular season has come to a close and the Cleveland Browns just missed making the playoffs. A few weeks ago it sure looked like they were in good shape as far as the post season was concerned, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Still, the Browns did register a victory over the San Francisco 49ers in their final game and there will be high hopes for this team entering the 2008 season. The Brownies finished with a 10-6 record, far exceeding expectations for this team entering 2007. This is the first time this franchise has reached a double digit win total since they re-entered the league in 1999. They provided many thrills for their die hard fans this season and belive me it was long overdue. I grew up in Cleveland and have been a life long Browns fan, so the following opinion might be a bit bias.
Leaders for today and tomorrow
With this issue, Internet Retailer introduces its Hot 100 online retailing web sites100 sites that in the opinion of the editors reflect the best of whats happening in retail on the web. The Hot 100 for 2008 represent the range of online retailing, from small to large, well known and not so well known, and include chains, catalogers, online-only merchants and brand name manufacturers. They have in common the willingness to innovate and set the standards in online retailing. This years sites range in size from Amazon.com and Dell.com, which set the pace of innovation while finding ways to build customer relationships and sales, to such smaller sites as RomanicosChocolate.com, which has used the Internet to build a national following for its delicacies. This is the ninth year we have recognized the best retail web sites.
Glow-in-the-dark undies light up life
LINGERIE is set to lighten up, thanks to a North Coast mum. Jan Hawley of Oxley Island has juggled family, full-time work and countless hours working through the night to develop her glow-in-the-dark lingerie range, Intimoglow. "It's sensual and fun," Mrs Hawley said of her collection. Her range of bras, camisoles, knickers and suspenders went on sale in December - it has been years in the making. She was inspired when she spotted the glamorous glowing lace at an Italian mill when she was working as a fabric importer. A growing family put the idea on the backburner before she hunted down another Italian company to produce the lace for her. She currently sells on-line and said business had really picked up in the lead-in to Valentine's Day.
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