For one, countries need a financial cushion if they fall out of sync with the rest of the euro area, much the way federal transfers provide a cushion for U.S. states.

WSJ: Troubles in Euro Zone Offer Chance to Fix Its Flaws

Google began rolling out the service in the Kansas City metro area last fall, following years of planning, and is already cited as the fastest ISP in the United States by Netflix.

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With sales in a free fall, Penney is counting even more on an overhauled home area, being rolled out this month, to help it recover from a disastrous year.

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"As we arrived, although people were trying to clear the roads, the snow was continuing to fall and it was just making it much more difficult to get to people and to get them back out of the area, " he said.

BBC: Motorists freed from trapped cars