12/25/06

W-TRB

Your Morning News from Flint MI USA
Channel 12.5
Part of the TRB Broadcasting Network

Date: 12/25/06

Merry CHRISTmas.......

QUOTE OF THE DAY
Celebrate life and peace..
Mattie

INTERNATIONAL

-Army Capt. Jonathan Bodenhamer, 29,

Sacrifice: War's burden falls on the few Army Capt. Jonathan Bodenhamer, 29, is a heart warming face of the war this Christmas. He has just returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq and is delighting in spending the season with his wife and 7-month-old daughter, enjoying the foods and lifestyle of the America he says he loves and has fought to protect. "It's great, outstanding," Bodenhamer says by phone from Belton, Texas.

The contrast between his Christmas this year and that of the 134,000 troops still in Iraq couldn't be more stark. In Iraq, the troops are surrounded by hardship and a frenzy of violence. Back home, the frenzy is one of excess: shoppers battling for parking spaces in malls, snapping up everything from flat-panel TVs to the latest video games......
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20061222/cm_usatoday/facesofchristmas

-What does the Pope say on 12/25/06

..urged a solution to conflicts across the world, especially in the Middle East and Africa, in a Christmas Day address that included an appeal for the poor, the exploited, and all those who suffer.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_re_eu/pope_christmas

-What are Iraqi Christians doing on 12/25/06

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Umm Salam draws her curtains across her windows, then settles into an armchair in a living room festooned with colored lights and a portrait of Jesus on the cross. Her Christmas tree glitters in the corner
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_celebrating_christmas

-Can it happen here?

A Widening Gap Erodes Argentina's Egalitarian Image By LARRY ROHTER A growing divide between rich and poor is vexing Argentines and challenging their image of their society. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/25/world/americas/25argentina.html?th&emc=th

-Pigs celebrate!

Pork No Longer Paves the Road to Re-election By TIMOTHY EGAN The abuse of earmarks cost two senators and four House members their seats in the last election. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/25/washington/25pork.html?th&emc=th

NATION

-Goodbye James Brown

the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_en_mu/obit_brown

-Health Care

Shift in Congress Puts Health Care Back on the Table Expecting a Mixed Reaction Across the Aisle, Democrats Plan to Offer Ideas on Drug Cost, Safety (By Christopher Lee, The Washington Post)

GENESEE AND FLINT AREA

- FROM FLINT TALK

HOLIDAY GREETING FROM THE BIGGIE ENTITY, REACTING TO THE Moore letter
"If the daily death toll continues at this rate, sometime on Christmas Day a U.S. soldier will die in Iraq and, with his or her death, more U.S. troops will have been killed in Iraq than all the people lost on 9/11 (2,973)." frankly the comparison of the two "numbers" is meaningless. go have another egg nog, MM, the no-fat kind. as for me, nothing screams Chrsitmas like watching that cult-classic, "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" being played nearly non-stop on TV. wow. what were those writers on when they conceived that. And worse, the production values of the movie made the writing seem like Masterpiece Theatre. Perhaps I'll dream of "Santa Claus Conquers the Terrorists" in lieu of visions of sugar plums tonight. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
http://www.flinttalk.com/post-7004.html#7004

- FLINT TOWN TALK

The Ballad of Ambrose by
Trackerjohn, 12/25/06It doesn't matter does... by mlinton, 12/24/06
I agree... by diane2, 12/25/06
MERRY... by sleepingNtn, 12/24/06
Hi, Church Lady! by BigLouRich, 12/24/06
MERRY CHRISTMAS by cliorezz, 12/24/06

see: http://www.mlive.com/forums/flint/index.ssf

-FLINT CITIZEN

In the paper Mark Perry said that a lot of these millionaires are likely working class people. There are people at GM that can make $100,000 a year. If you invest $10,000 a year for 30 years at 10% return you should have about a 1.8 million dollar nest egg. Even at $5,000 a year for 30 years at 10% you should have $900,000 plus a 100,000 home would put you at a net worth over over 1 million dollars. For being such a big GM area it seems like we should have a lot more millionaires.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Flintcitizen/


From Talk Back

WHAT GIVES: Swartz Creek School District officials stated that they have only one person in their technology department. Isn't the subcontractor that drives the red IT department van in the technology department? He has been issued an office and a cellphone. It looks like he is a school employee and is part of the IT department.

Swartz Creek

Flint

WHAT'S THE POINT? Why have principals or a police liaison officer in the schools if they don't follow through with punishment if the student does something wrong? I hope they don't wait until someone gets hurt.

- Flint

WHAT A WASTE: Brendan Savage's column Holiday Wishes XIII that was in Tuesday's paper made no sense. I never heard of anybody on the list. It was a waste of ink.

- Flint Township

SAD DAY: What has the world come to when you have to pay to see Santa Claus? I can't believe Courtland Center will not let your children see Santa if you do not buy a picture.

- Flint

DREAMING OF GREEN: I'm tired of listening to Channel 12 news and them begging for snow. Everybody does not like snow. I don't care if it ever snows. If they want more snow, why don't they move to Antarctica?

- Flint

REAL PROBLEM: Sheriff Pickell needs to try to find out how all the guns and drugs are coming into Genesee County instead of worrying about what is going on in the Flint School District. And Mr. Leyton needs to stop plea bargaining with these gangsters and prosecuting them for murders, instead of letting them off the hook with a slap on the hand so they won't be out on the street in four years to kill again.

- Flint

I LIKE THAT OLD TIME ... : I heard on NBC News recently that baby boomers like me are the biggest buying force in the industry, more so than teens. And most boomers are buying rock 'n' roll. So can we have fewer reviews on rappers in the Entertainer and have more on our rock 'n' roll heroes?

Swartz Creek

NICE JOB: It was really nice to see the old photos of Clio in the New Lucky's restaurant in
Vienna Township. It would be nice to see more of those around the city of Clio. And kudos to Barb Modrack of The Clio Messenger and The Flint Journal for the article on the photos.

- Grand Blanc

REAL REASON: The reason I don't like GM OnStar is because one, you have to pay extra for the basic system and two, even if you don't subscribe to it, your movements can still be tracked.

- Holly

BAD IDEA: Regarding The Journal's article on mainstreaming special education kids into the general classroom: As someone who has worked as a volunteer in the Flint School District and has seen what happens when these kids get into the general classroom I am very much against it. These kids are very disruptive, screaming, yelling, pounding on things.

- Flint
http://www.mlive.com/columns/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1167045683132250.xml&coll=5


Don't link Poplar to Dems

FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
MUNDY TOWNSHIP
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITIONMonday, December 25, 2006
JOURNAL READER

I agree with William Henke ["Poplar Dems' Problem," Your Views, Dec. 11, Page A10] in his supposition that Flint Councilwoman Jackie Poplar was guilty of a huge ethical lapse, if not a criminal offense, when she demanded a contribution to her scholarship fund in exchange for her vote in transferring liquor licenses.

However, I don't think Henke's partisanship references are appropriate or necessary. They are divisive as most partisanship finger-pointing is. Whatever party, this woman is dead-on guilty and she knows it. Her self-defense is antagonistic and inflammatory as well. She is supposed to be a role model for her constituents who do not live in the "silver slipper" as she referred to wealthier zones in the area.

Ironically and sadly enough, the poor people that Poplar represents are often those most in need of role models exhibiting integrity and honor.

Poplar is teaching her people that the ends justify the means, regardless of ethics or rules. What a leader, what a role model.

Julie K. Clark
Mundy Township
http://www.mlive.com/columns/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1167045627132250.xml&coll=5#continue


-NERD ALERT

Flaws Are Detected in Microsoft's Vista By JOHN MARKOFF Researchers and hackers have found potentially serious flaws in Microsoft's new Windows Vista operating system. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/25/technology/25vista.html?th&emc=th

-MICHAEL MOORE ALERT

Some Christmas Pudding from Michael Moore
December 24, 2006
Dear friends,
What better way to get the Christmas dinner conversation going than with some fun facts!
This is the first of THREE Christmases left under President George W. Bush. THREE.
Ok, that's not too cheery. Let me try again.
If the daily death toll continues at this rate, sometime on Christmas Day a U.S. soldier will die in Iraq and, with his or her death, more U.S. troops will have been killed in Iraq than all the people lost on 9/11 (2,973).
On second thought, skip the politics for a day and just enjoy the pie.
Merry Christmas to each of you, and peace on earth, wherever we Americans have dropped in.
Yours,Michael Moorehttp://www2.blogger.com/ym/Compose?To=mmflint@aol.comhttp://www.michaelmoore.com/
see biggie response above

- ON THIS DAY

On Dec. 25, 1991, Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev went on TV to announce his resignation as the eighth and final leader of a Communist superpower that had already gone out of existence.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/20061225.html

-GUEST EDITORIAL

Christmas "AND IT CAME to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed." So begins the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke. There's some historical dispute about whether such a decree was issued around that time, but let that pass, too. It's an important part of the story now, a story not just of divinity, as it's seen by Christians, but of humanity -- and for all of us.... (The Washington Post)

For more Flint MI USA news see:
Flint Talk
http://www.flinttalk.com/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Flintcitizen/

The Laundry Room
http://www.thelaundryroom.us/

Flint Area Citizen Internet Advocacy US
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Flintcitizen/

Flint Town Talk
http://www.mlive.com/forums/flint/index.ssf

Legal Help
http://attorneybankert.com/

Family Rights articles
http://terrybankert.blogspot.com/

Parents in Child Protective proceedings
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/child_neglect_abuse/

Flintlist Flint Area Citizen Buy & Sell & Swap
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Flintlist/

The Uncommonsense
http://www.downtownflint.com/

Terry Bankert My Space
http://www.myspace.com/113559892

You Tube [Coming in 2007]
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=terrybankert

TV 12 Forum
http://forums.go.com/abclocal/WJRT/forum?start=0&forumID=73

East Village Magazine
http://www.eastvillagemagazine.org/

Contact us at :
attorneybankert@yahoo.com

WITH YOUR COMMENTS OR NEWS ITEM.

See: The "In My Opinion" Show. With Host Ronald Barry Robinson and Friends. Seen every Saturday at 6 P.M. and Wednesday at 8:30 P.M. on Comcast Cablevision Channel 17.

WFLT 1420 AM every Saturday morning 9am to 9:30 pm KNOW THE LAW with attorney Terry Bankert talking about Family Rights

Sphere: Related Content