Surprises-not #5:

[jrittenhouse]

• Craft stores and online stores that sell handmade stuff are doing well as cheap gift-things with the recession.  Me, I’m worthless at handmade gifts, unless you make ‘em on a computer.
• People (and primates) will believe lies and deceive each other far more than dolphins will. I say we elect dolphins.
• Yes, the non-US based automakers are doing

Comments

Day-care problems:

[jrittenhouse]

See also:
http://www.dollarsandsense.org/blog/2008/12/more-working-parents-cant-afford.html

Also noted: Borders Books impeding implosion

[jrittenhouse]

Thanks to Paul Riddell:
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/70507-distributor-cautions-on-borders-us.html
and
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2008/12/23/publishing/print.html

Re: Also noted: Borders Books impeding implosion

[stoutfellow]

I assume you mean "impending"? (Impeding implosion strikes me as probably a good thing....)

[stickmaker]

According to today's _All Things Considered_ the court - among other things - told the parents that since an earthquake is a natural disaster the government is not responsible.

Chinese stuff

[hazelchaz]

Jim, my father's got a whole bunch of Chinese language books. Mostly Mandarin. Textbooks on Chinese, and a whole bunch of books in the language.

Would you or your family have any interest in these?

Re: Chinese stuff

[jrittenhouse]

Yes, we would!