Monday Friends Report, December 16, 2008

Here in Mid-Michigan, the opinion has been almost totally in favor of the government giving the needed loans to the Big-3 automakers. Many of our people have made their livings working for one of the companies, or have been dependent in other ways upon their success.

If the government will come through with that money (there are still possibilities, one of them being Bush) it will make this holiday season even better. Below I give some others reasons why this holiday is wonderful.

Although we have a bitterly cold wind blowing here in mid Michigan, driving wind chills to below zero, and even though freakish rains in the past few days melted a lot of the snow, there are still predictions for more snow and the prospects that we will have a white Christmas.
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What's up with some people here

DASHMANN says he has been bad-mouthing Bush for 8 years, now suddenly, the fate of his pension from G.M. may be in Bush's hands. "If this decent and maybe final act of his administration comes to fruition, I guess I would have to owe him a big one that will make subsequent criticism from me very difficult indeed.

ALICE - says that we can't count on the U.S. pulling out the Blackwater Guards and other private forces when our troops come out of Iraq. Apparently, they aren't part of the settlement with Iraq.

FELIX - recalls that it was ten years ago this week when he was 'through-hiking the A-T' (Appalachian Trail) that he met and had a stare-down with a bobcat.

TRASE and SCOT - report that so far, the baby is still biding its time. The arrival of this child will make this holiday even more wonderful than it already is.

MICHIGAN BUCKS - reminder: The match between the U.S. Women's Soccer team and China, set for a 7:30 PM kickoff Wednesday night (Dec. 17) at Ford Field in downtown Detroit. Watch it when it appears on T.V. if you can't go in person. These are two of the greatest teams ever.

DIGG S - has taken a new job in California, and we'll miss him in this neck of the woods. He says: "Finally made it to LA after a 2400 mile journey cross the country in a 22' truck with my car on a trailer (I've earned my trucker creds.) while making a brief detour in Moab, Utah to see the Arches National Park (highly recommended). Settling in slowly and haven't bothered to unpack 90% of my stuff. Goes to show how little one really needs day to day."

MARSHA - has returned safely from Cancun.

GIGI - is telling the world that she is completely A-OK after her last checkup. She's a miracle survivor and proud of it! Another reason this is a wonderful holiday season.

PAM - says that her husband is recovering very well from recent surgery. Another reason why this is a wonderful holiday season.
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What Some People are Reading and Talking About:

SPARTY - sends a short article from the Detroit Free Press ( CLICK ) discussing the unfairness of foreign trade practices which add a tax to American cars, while foreign cars often have the tax refunded.

The $20,000 American car exported to Germany is saddled with the VAT (Value Added Tax) at the border -- which is imposed not just on the base price of the car, but the shipping and insurance costs as well -- and winds up costing $25,792 in Germany.

BILL from WNNCO - Commenting on the deepening crisis: "I keep saying that the next year will be "great theatre", however the reality is I hope that we just survive the next year. There are a lot of things that are at risk of collapsing. Not most things but a lot of things. The only selfish hope I have is that we are not majorly wounded by all of this."


JERRY: presents a different look at the problem:
(Click on picture to enlarge it)


SANDY (and others, actually) - sent a quotation from Garrison Keillor about Obama's election:

The world expects us to elect pompous yahoos, and instead we have us a 47-year-old prince from the prairie who cheerfully ran the race, and when his opponents threw sand at him, he just smiled back. He'll be the first president in history to look really good making a jump shot.

He loves his classy wife and his sweet little daughters. At the same time, he knows pop music, American lit and constitutional law. I just can't imagine anybody cooler.

DASHMANN - really liked this commentary by Robin Williams about the Obama election:
CLICK
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Some Humor folks sent in :

from BILL from WNNCO : Why you shouldn't piss off a mathematician:
(click to enlarge the picture)


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forwarded by MIKE ALMOST FROM CARROLLTON:

The Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in
Washington DC this Christmas season.
This isn't for any religious reason, they simply have not been able to
find Three Wise Men in Washington ,
nor could they find a virgin.

There was no problem,however, finding enough asses to fill the
stable.

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BILL - sends this example of what the new Obama government will bring us, a new Form 1040: 
click to enlarge


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from JOE -



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from JERRY