That last story is very heartwarming, but there is also an element of danger lurking beyond the cute and fluffy surface of the squirrels, as recent events in Ohio, Iowa, and Siberia clearly demonstrate. The Iowa story is of particular interest to me because it occurred in the closest metro area to my hometown, so I'm familiar with the businesses mentioned and therefore am especially moved by the tremendous hardships they were forced to endure by this squirrelly disaster: "Mama Nick's Circle Pizzeria lost power for nearly two hours. As a result, the restaurant was forced to open half an hour late, which affected the lunch buffet. At Varsity Cleaners on West 11th Street, computers shut down and the register didn't work for an hour and a half, said Leone Simpson. Customers picking up dry cleaning either had to pay the exact charge or by check. 'I made an 86 cent tip because one customer didn't have the exact amount,' she said."