Monday morning friends report.

What some friends and family are thinking about, doing, e-mailing, or saying recently.
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ALICE - asks that we take notice of the plight of the large gorillas. They are more endangered than ever, between the murder of them and the outbreak of Ebola.
CLICK FOR STORY

We should point out that gorillas are among our closest relatives, that Alice is a professional genealogist, and that she is saying this is a picture of her Uncle Ishmael.

If you would like to contribute to the cause of saving the gorillas, you can join the effort DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND or make a contribution, or even adopt a gorilla.
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BILL from WNNCO - says that his American flag has been stolen from in front of his house. He replaced it and tried to make it more secure, but the second one was stolen as well. He believes there is a terrorist cell operating here.
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DASHMANN- related the story of a couple of high school football players from Flint Southwestern Academy who were released from jail in order to play ball. He thinks this should not be allowed, and in fact, after the outcry, the school has decided not to allow it --- any more.

You can read about it DETROIT FREE PRESS ARTICLE or FLINT ARTICLE
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MARSHA - Her team, South Carolina, has won all its games so far. Not only that, Carolina's Mascot, "COCKY", is in the running for the Best Mascot in the country. No Michigan team is in the running, so she would like you all to go vote for her mascot HERE
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BILL from WNNCO - sent this picture of the largest diesel engine being built in Japan. It is 89 feet long and produces 109,00 horse power. He is planning to buy one and "shoehorn" it into his work van. He'll be the baddest ass on Gratiot Road.

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SCOT - is sailing along with a new modem. His service is provided by a satellite company that began shutting off his old modem's functions and forced him into a new hookup. This is aggravating since he makes his living online.

But the real news about SCOT is that he is chuckling real loud because he's always said that the Iraq War was nothing but an oil war, and now Alan Greenspan agrees with him!

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PETRAEUS/BETRAY US update:

Among BIRCHES contributors, there didn't seem to be support for either the "Betray Us" ad in the papers, or for the General himself. In fact, most people had nothing at all to say about it. These are the comments I got back:

BILL - "MoveOn.org is no different than other political organizations or directed media such as Fox or the Washington Post. They publish comments that are directed to their readers and do not necessarily give an equitable analysis of situations. They are geared to throw raw meat to lions, i.e., people that believe whatever is stated or printed even when they know it is not correct.

"The military community is comparably structured as the political community in that this is their religion and they worship it accordingly, regardless of whether reasonable or not. General Petraeus is going to support the action while he is active as a commander. He must do so as it is his "duty". What idiot would think that the General would come back and state that the war is hopeless and that we should get out immediately. This action would result in his removal from leadership and jeopardize any plans he has to get his men safely out of this mess or on a more fantasy based thought, WIN....whatever that would be."


DASHMANN - “Lies, damn lies. ----statistics”

"General Petraeus is another good soldier like Colon Powell. He realizes what he has to do to keep his job. He never criticized the Bush administration and danced all around Congress' questions to present the best possible face to the war. It was very painful to see him struggle with balancing the truth and the realities of the Iraq atrocity."

SPARTY - "This play on his name was used by either Keith Olberman or Jon Stewart weeks ago."

(So, MoveOn didn't make it up.)

STEVE - "Sounds like a buncha that edu-speak. Sounds like uppity folks way of trying to bring down 'merica and help the terrorists. It's September 11!!! have you forgotten when them Iraqi, rag heads crashed planes into them buildins'? "