Readable

Good reads, on a day when the sun finally shines:

• Mega-airline time. US Airways is bidding to buy Delta Airlines. Cynics among us will point out that it's another sign that airlines aren't the best run businesses in the world: Delta is just emerging from bankruptcy court; if the bid is accepted, creditors will receive about 50 cents on the dollar, according to the NY Times.
• The voice of commercialization at Christmas speaks. Target Corp. will make a donation to the Salvation Army, but don't expect to hear the bell-ringing outside the company's stores again this year. (Minneapolis Star Tribune.)
• The debate over whether or not the world's oil supplies are now on a downhill slide continues. Here's a new study that challenges some previous assumptions about so-called "peak oil." (Kansas City Star.)
• Cleveland's efforts to rebuild that area's economy, similar to those in Rochester, are starting to show signs of trouble. (Plain-Dealer.)
• As Rochester pursues economic development through entrepreneurship, here is one community it might want to tap into. (Associated Press via Sun-Sentinel of Florida.)