KILGOROUND

ON THE RADIO this morning, a woman being interviewed refused to describe herself as unemployed. She preferred, she said, to be referred to as a "recessionista."

SOMEHOW, American Public Radio finds the most interesting folks to interview.

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LONGVIEW'S Relay for Life raised $125,000 for the American Cancer Society. Assuming a population of 75,000, that's $1.67 per capita.

KILGORE'S Relay for Life team raised $101,000. Assuming a population of 11,500, that's $8.78 per capita. At $90,000, Henderson did pretty doggone well, too.

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MOST of us now know more about the automobile business than we've ever known. Maybe more than we ever wanted to know.

AS a result of the "economic meltdown" we get

stories about how many cars each company produces, how much each owes, how many employees, potential synergies from manufacturing the same car for the U.S. as for the rest of the world, etc.

THE way this thing with Chrysler is working out, the government is - in practical terms - giving Fiat a $6 billion head start. We're helping to pay off Chrysler's debt so Fiat won't owe as much - $2 billion and change - and guaranteeing other costs of about $4 billion.

IT'S sort of like you and I co-signed the note for Fiat.

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IF your interest in history extends beyond Texas, one of the best online sources of historical data that we've come across is maintained by the New Mexico History Museum.

THE museum's web site, www.nmhistorymuseum.or g, is worth a visit.

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THERE'S some agitation in D.C. to get the feds to bail out "financially troubled" newspapers.

THINK you have a hard time believing the media now? Just wait until the (insert name of big city here) newspaper is in debt to the politicians.

AND I'd like a private word, please, with the newspaper publisher who would accept it.

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ONE can't help but wonder how much the "overblown media hype" caused folks to take precautions which minimized the effects of the swine flu.

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Those blowing out the birthday candles between Saturday and Wednesday are Bettie Rhodes, Susan Sullivan, Jean Morris Thornton, Ramon Merkley, Brenda Wheeler, Ashley Martin, Joe B. Cruseturner, Kimberly Burton.

Cliff Harder Jr., Marci Moore, Jeff Matthew Sullivan, Tammy Williams, Kay Young, Bill Fette, Ronnie Hellen, Alma Casey, Jeffery Scott Price, L.D. Roper, Kelly Jackson, John D. Daniels, Terri Phillips, Janice Valdetero, Janna Bennett, Shawn Carter, Janice Stanley, Travian Clayborn.

Louie Jordan, Annette Castles, W.R. Crim, Bart Crowley, Nannette Wickham, Judy Sheffield, Darryl Primo, Mrs. J.C. Manning, Susan Metcalf, Lane Barrett, Anna Mae Smith, Rena Dykes, Mrs. J. Robert McCollum, Devin Warren, Joseph Sullivan, Lindsey Toon, Keli Cole.

Bill Brantley Jr., Martha A. Clark, Gypsey JoAllen Jones, Brialyn Mellucca.

Celebrating anniversaries between Saturday and Wednesday are Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Wright.

Allen and Norma Barrilleaux.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brantley, Jack and Mary Bernethy.