Stores that are planning to close after Christmas are still selling gift cards through the holidays (even though the cards will be worthless after they close).

There is no law preventing them from doing this. On the contrary, it is referred to as “Bankruptcy Planning”.

Below is a partial list of stores that you need to be cautious about.

• Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
• Ann Taylor 117 stores nationwide closing
• Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine’s to close 150 stores nationwide
• Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
• Cache will close all stores
• Talbots closing down specialty stores
• J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots) Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
• GAP closing 85 stores
• Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
• Wickes Furniture closing down
• Levitz closing down remaining stores
• Bombay closing remaining stores
• Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
• Whitehall closing all stores
• Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
• Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
• Home Depot closing 15 stores
• Macys to close 9 stores after January
• Linens and Things closing all stores
• Movie Galley Closing all stores
• Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
• JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
• Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
• Wilson Leather closing down all stores
• Sharper Image closing down all stores
• K B Toys closing 356 stores
• Loews to close down some stores
• Dillard’s to close some stores

I’m writing an article for a website and I have some questions for flute performers or those who enjoy flute performances.

1. How do you feel about the flute?
2. What kind of emotions or feelings do you experience when you hear a great flute performance?
3. Is there anything you’d like to add or want people to know about the flute and flute performers?

Thanks very much for any contribution you can make. You can leave your comments to this post or reply back to me at chrishowell.is@gmail.com

Be aware that I may be using your responses in my article.

Unemployment is at a 14 year high. Banks and insurance companies are failing. Thousands of homeowners are in foreclosure. Our schools, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure are failing. But at least we don’t live in the worst place in the world right now.

Earlier this week, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said 3,000 more UN peacekeeping soldiers were needed in Congo to bolster a 17,000-member UN force.

Ban also called for a ceasefire so aid workers could get help to at “at least 100,000 refugees” cut off in rebel-controlled areas.

“The conditions in (the refugee camps) are as bad as I have seen them anywhere in Africa,” World Vision spokesperson Kevin Cook told CTV’s Canada AM on Wednesday morning.

Displaced people are in urgent need of water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and other supplies and protection from escalating violence.”

Cook said aid workers are also concerned about the spread of diseases such as malaria, cholera, measles and diarrhea. He also noted that he is not sure how long relief workers would be able to stay in the country if the situation worsens.

UN officials have noted that both sides in the dispute have committed crimes against civilians, including rapes.

“This is probably the worst place in the world to be a woman or a child,” Cook said.

A little perspective is a good thing. Thanks to CTV for the quote.

There are the great unwashed masses out here in America that hope to heavens that our government can get something done soon about the abject mess the country is in. Politics is out. Working together to help America and Americans become strong again is the most patriotic thing the new Administration and Congress can do. This snippet from Marc Ambinder, if true, is good news.

Behind the scenes, Obama himself and many key aides have been making overtures to conservative Democrats.  These Democrats want budget off-sets included with every expensive piece of legislation that Obama sends to the Hill; at the very least, they want the White House to incorporate centrists in decision-making. 

[...]

Importantly, Barack Obama doesn’t seem to be too interested in everyone else’s opinion of how he’s supposed to run his White House. This can only be a good thing (unless you’re a Republican praying for Obama to make a fool of himself). It seems that, much like with the campaign, he has some long term goals and isn’t worried about engaging in small fights over things like his West Wing staffing choices.

Can it be true? Is politics as usual over? Are we returning to that post-911 feeling that brought the country together? We can only hope.

Well, Sarah. It’s back to Alaska with you now. But we’d sure like it if you’d get the hell out of politics. You need to get back behind the anchor desk where you belong. Gawker tells us what Sarah should do now:

Join the cast of The View. This is where it all ends for you, Sarah. You were never going to be President. You never had a shot to be Vice President. You never even had the potential to be a serious political figure of any magnitude outside the strange and backwards frozen state of Alaska. But with a little perseverance you could end up on a couch, on daytime television, flanked by Barbara Walters and Joy Behar, arguing about Michelle Obama’s wardrobe. Embrace your destiny, Sarah Palin. Elizabeth Hasselbeck can’t hang on there forever.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Well, I’ve done it. I voted for Barack Obama this morning and it felt like the right thing to do.  Unfortunately, I don’t think this is going to be a good day for John McCain. I’ve heard pundits say he was on the wrong side of history. That only partially explains McCain’s defeat. He was caught up in a perfect storm of bad luck, bad strategy, and bad behavior that doomed his candidacy. 

First, today’s John McCain looks and acts a lot different than the 2000 version. I think he sold his soul and his values in so many ways to gain the nomination. In for a penny, in for a pound. After the nomination, McCain had to “go for broke” and do all the things he probably wouldn’t have normally done like going negative. That only hurt him. But by now it’s too late. He looks like another dirty politician.

The Bush presidency, Sarah Palin, suspending his campaign, the financial crisis. All bad for him. Here’s a little quote from Politico.com’s Roger Simon: Read the rest of this entry »