Percentage of consumers who plan to ask their friends, family and loved ones for necessities instead of luxuries this holiday season, according to a survey by Black and Decker and Zogby International: 70%

Percentage of respondents who want an even split of practical and luxurious gifts: 17%

SO MANY CHIEFS

Percentage of administrative professionals who support one to two managers, according to a survey from the International Association of Administrative Professionals: 45%

Percentage who support three to four managers: 28%

Percentage who support five to 10: 18%

Percentage who support 11 or more: 5%

SHORT ON CASH

Percentage of consumers who say increased credit card rates, penalty fees, etc. is one of the key financial difficulties they're facing, according to the Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker Index: 15.1%

Percentage who say they are unable to afford medical bills or medications: 13.7%

Percentage who have missed payments on a major bill: 9.2%

Percentage who have lost or reduced their health care coverage: 7.6%

LET IT SNOW

Year that an airplane flew over Mount Greylock in Massachusetts dropping ice crystals into a cloud, creating the first artificially precipitated snow, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1946

Because of this experiment by scientist Vincent Schaefer, year that the first snow-making machinery went into regular use at a resort in the Catskill Mountains: 1952

COUNT BLESSINGS

Despite job losses, foreclosures and climbing interest rates, percentage of Americans who are feeling more grateful than at this time last year, according to a survey commissioned by the Chinet brand of disposable tableware: 43%

Percentage of U.S. adults who tell friends, family and colleagues every week that they're glad to have them in their life: 51%

Percentage who express that sentiment daily: 24%

COUPON LIFESTYLE

Percentage of American households that use coupons, according to Experian Marketing Services: 66%

Percentage of coupon-using households that obtain their coupons from newspapers: 70%

IDLE THOUGHT

"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist."

— Salman Rushdie