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The modern news consumer ignores Weblogs and online citizen journalism at his own peril. But not everyone has the time to keep track of what's going on the Web. With this blog we hope to track the highlights of what's being discussed online so when news breaks from the Web, we're ready.

Will Femia is a Weblog enthusiast who, through good fortune and dumb luck, was introduced to the form as his position as chat producer for MSNBC.com careered into obsolescence. On any given day, Will can be found having already spent an unhealthy amount of time squinting at a computer screen.

Send a message to Will at spotter@msnbc.com



Sorting out the Palin pregnancy Web rumors

Posted: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 2:40 PM by Will Femia
Filed Under:

The funny thing about the story of Sarah Palin's daughter being pregnant is that the Web was full of Palin pregnancy rumors and that wasn't it. The actual rumor, sparked, as far as I can tell, by this now-deleted Daily Kos item had Sarah Palin faking her pregnancy to cover for her daughter's pregnancy. What's ironic is that the most objectionable part of the story - the bald accusation that a teen's belly is actually a baby bump - turned out to be nearly the only true thing about it.

To be clearer, the matter has been settled as false in the minds of everyone still paying attention.

Using the kind of reverse scientific method (a.k.a. utterly unscientific method) found often in Web conspiracies, the cover-up theorists were using photographic evidence to support their theory rather than looking at ALL of the photos and then drawing a conclusion. Ultimately the photos Palin actually looking pregnant did surface.

What's great about this story is that it's a case where using "how do you explain" as a reason to come up with your own explanation simply doesn't work. How do you explain that she's not showing in those pictures? How do you explain her taking an ill-advised plane flight when her water had broken? How do you explain that even her closest staff members didn't realize she was pregnant even at seven months?

It turns out the explanation for all of those is the simplest one: it happened.

What's more, not everyone was unable to notice her pregnant state, and said so at the time
and bloggers could have been spared this whole exercise if they'd done a bit of traditional, non-Google research (like the telephone kind).

Meanwhile, one of the pieces of evidence confirming that Sarah Palin is the mother of her own son yields new blog gotchas. MySpace photo captions suggest that Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter is already married to the father of her unborn son! Gasp!

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Comments

Hi Will, welcome back.

Need I point out the disgusting Liberal bias in the press and particularly at MSNBC?   When you search for "John Edwards", you can hardly find a mention of his Love Child Scandal, but a search for "Sarah Palin" and at least 4 stories appear sliming her pregnant daughter on the first results page alone.


Leave candidates children out of this, MSNBC.

Emma Morrow, Urbana, IL (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 3:15 PM)

the story/rumor originated with the Anchorage local press.

There's a photo of her giving an interview to CBS 11.  It'd be nice to see that video.

Overall though, she has plenty of other issues to confront, I imagine the left will drop this and refocus on the pending ethics violation, connection to the Independence Alaska group, etc.

Chrism (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 3:33 PM)

Stop! Please, Dear God, Please Stop! Enough about Sarah, Bristol, and whose pregnancy is whose. What has this to do with the State of Union? Nothing!!! Just drop it! Listen to what Senator Obama has stated and MSNBC just stop even mentioning it. It ain't news, just personal family business that you media jerks don't have any reason to report.

John, Yamhill, OR (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 4:15 PM)

It doesn't bother me so much that the daugher is pregnant - in fact I think it's great that her family is supporting her position.  What bothers me is the whole picture that surrounds Palin herself:

She's not pro-choice
She doesn't believe in birth control
She doesn't believe sex education should be in schools
She thinks sex education should begin after marriage

So now she has a pregnant daughter.  Do I want her moral values imposed on me?  I don't think so.

Tammy, Kansas City (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 4:45 PM)

The thing that bothers me more than anything in this matter is that it seems like a mother is putting her personal ambitions above family by subjection her daughter to national scrutiny and discussion. Does anyone know how Bristol feels about being outed as an unwed teen mother in front of the whole country?

John G, OH (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 4:46 PM)

I'm very late to the conspiracy party, but I must say I'm curious (the similarity to the Bree storyline in Desperate Housewives may be one reason).

Seriously, there's only one question I have. Which is worse? That Palin faked pregnancy to avoid her daughter's coming to light? Or that she flew/drove 3000 miles after her water broke carrying a premature, special needs baby?

IMO, that's a mind-boggling "just happened."

Bowseat93 (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 4:59 PM)

To MSM, keep talking about Palin!  Show your true mean streak and I hope how the general public feels about you rubs off on Obama/Biden!!

Peter, Chicago (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:00 PM)

When you run on a platform of family and moral values it has everything to do with it.  If this had been Joe Biden's daughter believe me the conservative sharks would have circled that like a steak buffet.  You are fooling yourself to say that's not true.  What is more disheartening is the fact that she was chosen merely to pickup female and evangelical votes rather than because she is the most suitable candidate to govern our great country if needed.

Scot M Winston-Salem, NC (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:10 PM)

right on John. The media is turning this election into a soap opera. It is very disheartning that even when the campaigns try to stay on topic, the media will not let them.

Lois, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:13 PM)

Call me crazy, but it dawned on me with all these silly Palin rumors and stories that this might have actually been the planned effect.  Call it "Palin Distraction 2008".  The Republicans and Democrats have very smart people leading their efforts.  I can't believe that a lot of these Palin stories were a surprise to the Republicans.  It's probably part of the plan to draw the media away from Obama and distract voters from the real issues while making the Democrats appear spineless to be hammering away at a mother of five.  Of course the ones doing the hammering is the media, but most people think "liberal media" (unless its Fox).  Obama is doing the right thing by basically saying lay off the family and NOT focusing on Palin.  McCain is the candidate he's focused on.

Jonathan Keel, San Antonio, TX (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:28 PM)

Someone needs to explain the decision to fly while 8 mos pregnant and not go to a hospital after her water broke. I don't know any mother who would do this and can't fathom how or why it happened, especially given her prolife stance.

Marie, Howell, MI (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:37 PM)

I love how right wingers will gleefully dig into any tiny (or untiny) bit of dirt about democratic candidates and/or sitting presidents regardless of whether or not its a "personal matter"... but when something spicy surfaces regarding one of their own all of a sudden thats off limits.  Can't have it both ways, red-staters.

Marc S., Conshohocken, PA (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:46 PM)

I agree!  All of this baby talk is distracting us from the actual issue -- that Sarah Palin is disturbingly far from being ready to lead this country, and John McCain is placing her disturbingly close to having to do just that!

Joe, Kansas City (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:50 PM)

Nice try Emma... You are making something out of nothing.  The first article under "John Edwards" was about his affair, remember there was no admission to a child.  Don't you remember how they interrupted network TV on all channels to bring that news to bear? Edwards has been around a lot longer; so it makes sense that many stories would refer to past events other than the aforementioned affair. (I would right this off more too Microsoft's crappy Live Search than to a biased MSNBC.)  On the other hand, Palin came on to the scene last week and the relatively few stories that come up are about, well, controversy.

I will agree with you that MSNBC and every network are hypocrites.  How can you with one breath say personal matters should stay personal, and then with the very next breath start broadcasting the girl's picture about and asking pundits to analyze every possible outcome?

This is why cable news is ruining America.  They play both sides and incite 'discussion' amongst the populous.  Only, 'discussion' is a guise to create tension and anger to pull in more viewers.  Case in point, the Don Imus quote: if that story had been left alone, he could have kept his bigoted remarks between himself and his listener's; instead, cable news thought important to subject those women to a barrage of sound clips of his degrading words.  Wouldn't it have been more respectful not to shove it their face what some hateful radio show host thought of them?

David, Galveston, TX (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:02 PM)

How does Bristol's pregnancy pertain to the issues at hand? If there's one thing wrong with the media is that they are all tabloid fodder. It's just as bad as a communist, state owned newspaper, they are overly protective and careful about their words, while american media likes to blow things out of proportion and even go as far as falsify their news, much can be distorted and altered like an abstract image. If this is what journalism is like for media coverage, then im sorry, that's not a real job.

Ophelia, Mt. View, CA (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:03 PM)

The Evangelical and Conservative voters have a right to know what kind of  family values she actually lives by as apposed to what she will be selling on the ticket.
Is she not a pro-lifer?
Had the baby been aborted, I'm sure many would feel that the public would have needed to know that kind of info.

Thomas Mc (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:03 PM)

Emma-  I'm with you.  A liberal press and a hot story about a Republican...more more can they ask for?

The press should judge Palin on her work experience, not on her family life.   Palin was not the cause of her daughters pregnancy.   There is no fault to be made here.   I was waffling on McCain, and the choice of Palin as VP has only solidified my vote for him.

This lady is a real person with a real family (warts and all).   I would prefer her to a politico like Biden any day.

Chuck C. (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:12 PM)

Enough about Bristol Palin, but certainly not about Sarah Palin. She is the Republican vice-presidential nominee. Her judgement in taking the so called "ill advised flight" is an issue. She was carrying a child she knew had Down syndrome, and her water broke a month early. Sound medical advice is to go to a hospital immediately due to the risk of infection. Sarah Palin instead chose to take two flights before going to a hospital. Airplanes are not the cleanest of environments, and 36,000 feet in the air is no place to give birth to a premature child. Perhaps she wanted an abortion after all ? Either way, her judgement is questionable at best. At worst, she is the anti-thesis of the pro-life candidate she proclaims to be. I believe such matters of judgement are relevant in choosing a person who could be one heart-beat away from taking over for the oldest president in US history.

Dino La Guardia, Dayton, OH (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:14 PM)

John Edwards...not running for anything
Sarah Palin, whose international affairs resume includes being 8 miles across the Bering Strait from Russia and who has used earmarks and employed lobbyists to secure those earmarks, who never returned the money earmarked for the Bridge To Nowhere but re-appropriated it, who is against sex eduation in school, who is the handpicked candidate from the Alaska Independence Party, who may have used political power to meddle in a personal issue and commissioned her AG to do an independent investigation about it.......is running
I would hate to think what Karl Rove would have done with the Bristol Palin information.  He'd have her gynocologist on an anti Democrat commercial in a NY minute
and as an aside...if you dont want your kids in the political and public spotlight, then keep them off the cover of People Magazine and choose another career path

Bruce New Brunswick NJ (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:21 PM)

Will,

Now that we have knocked down the idea that she was knocked up, there is a photo of her making the rounds as a bikini clad gun lover. But, it turns out to be untrue as well...

http://rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/09/this_is_the_sarah_palin_bikini.php

phil, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:23 PM)

John, it matters only if it were true.  If Gov. Palin was covering up for her daughter's pregnancy (which now seems impossible), that demonstrates a lot of things that matter in the future potential president (considering McCain's age).  It demonstrates a total lack of judgement, an overriding sense of morality that invalidates any view in which unmarried sexual relationships are not sinful, and an extremist position that values public perception over a mother acknowledging her child.  I would say that Bristol being pregnant at 17 has nothing to do with Gov. Palin's ability to be VP or President, though it does clearly illustrate the ridiculous ineffectiveness of Palin's "abstinence or you go to hell" position.

Darrell, PA (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:30 PM)

That's not a pregnancy photo.  What a cover up.

Lisa (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:34 PM)

To John in Yamhill Oregon. Her daughter is pregnant at 17, is choosing to have the child and it has nothing to do with Sarah Palins judgment? Why don't you do some research on what the chances are for a child born to someone under 18 are[broken family, lack of education, taking from society]. Also you might say who you voted for in the last 2 elections and who you are going to vote for this election.  Stop, please, dear god, plse stop. And please try to be a little less articulate,  using other words than "jerk".  

John, Phoenix, Az (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 7:11 PM)

To whom it may concern:

If you forget the whole baby thing and the so called cover up. How can you justify he lack of judgement, putting her baby life in danger. The very premise that she is running on as being a maverick is totally false. She wanted the bridge to no where, before she was against it. She hired lobbyist to get money for her as Mayor of Wisilla. She received funds for her town of 9,000. She received almost as much money a town of 200,000. How do you explain this? Where is the Maverick? She fought corruption in Alaska is that a big statement if all the politicians there were corrupt. She is to the far right of the party. She is worst than Limbaugh! Does not support a woman right to choose under any circumstances, even in cases of rape or incest. Look at her creditials not the label they are claiming she is.

Anthony (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 7:11 PM)

If Palin wants everyone to stop using her family politically, she needs to stop talking about her son.  Oh, I guess that's different?  She also needs to stop talking about the Iraq war as if it were some Christian Crusade.

Tacoma Tuddo (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 7:24 PM)

Leave Sarah alone.  What a woman does with her own body is her own business.  Remember that when the Republicans try to tell you what to do with your body.

Dan Ari, Boston MA (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 7:29 PM)

Heres the deal.If Sarah cant keep up on the activites of her children, how in the world can she keep up with roughly 300 million citizens.If the kid cant keep her drawrs up,at least teach her about BIRTH CONTROL !!Very bad role model.Sounds like another Britany Spears.

Dennis Tarman, Byesville Ohio (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 7:50 PM)

At least Governor Palin is sticking by her family - Obama lets his brother and family in Africa live in poverty while he lives the good life.

David Yount, Rock Hill, SC (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 8:04 PM)

I wish that the media would rise above this very obvious bias that pretty much the whole world is aware of. It makes you- yes you, the media, look very unprofessional and quite frankly unworthy of our trust. Who cares if Sarah Palin's daughter is pregnant. Does that make Sarah unworthy of the VP spot? It doesn't matter in the least. Teenagers have sex... believe it or not its true. Some end up pregnant- it happens. Enough with inflating Obama's ego and get down to the real issues at hand. We want facts, not who is more popular in Hollywood than who- Or another story that defaces a very capable McCain running mate.  

Lindsay Schaffer (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 8:07 PM)

14 hours after her water broke and contractions started till she got to a hospital to deliver her medically fragile baby?  Seriously, that does not exhibit good judgment, to my mind....

DRK , Sugar Land, TX (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 8:17 PM)

She is a public figure . If she choose to accept that position, she knew what she was exposing herself to.  I would choose to protect my child, but again, I am not running for VP either.

Meche, California (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 8:27 PM)

Of Emma Morrow, Urbana, IL, not finding anything about John Edwards' affair, I searched "John Edwards" and "scandal" and 1.6 million hits popped up.  "John Edwards scandal" and "John Edwards affair" had over 89,000 and 200,000 hits, respectively.  So, ranting about an imagined "liberal bias" in the press is probably about as real as a unicorn.  But I agree with Emma that family members should be left out of the campaign gutter.  There should be more discussion about policies and budget matters.

Bruce H., Camarillo, CA (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 8:40 PM)

I am sick of these right wingers who cry foul when an unflattering story about the family of one their candidates surfaces.  What would they be saying if Obama had a pregnant 17 year old daughter?  You bet your ass they'd be jumping all over the story.

Another thing I'm sick of:  John McCain claiming to put country.  His Vp choice is all about winning an election.  It is scary to think Palin could be one heart beat away from the Presidency.  It's also irresponsible to put her there.

rich, atlanta ga (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 8:43 PM)

To all those who think the media went to far and this is just a private family matter. This lady wants to be the vice president of the United States, and she feels that teens should only get abstinence for birth control. Well as someone, mentioned life happens, no big deal should not be an issue. Sure, it does and maybe that is why we would like teens to make a much more informed decision about sex than just say no. Realistically how do you expect kids of today to do that? Now this lady is bringing in her daughter's boyfriend to the convention. This is a private matter she herself is bringing to the fore front be prepared and don't be a hypocrite throwing rocks at everyone else but when it's you it's just a mistake and no harm done.

Libby Banda, Austin, Texas (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:01 PM)

I am from Philippines. your politics is not as dirty as ours :(

Sheila, Quezon City, Philippines (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:03 PM)

Not news? Boloney-Sarah Palin threw her daughter under a bus. She knew that accepting the VP nomination would ensure the scrutiny that goes with it would be heaped on her family. Especially her young pregnant daughter. Her politics aside, she is a  looking after her own interests, not her daughters.

Now that there are 2 'unplanned' pregnancies in that family, perhaps she should bone up on birth control before her youngest daughter is in the news too.

Heidi K. madison, WI (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:04 PM)

Thanks for picking a keeper of a VEEP, John!  You've certainly made things much more interesting.  You've also lost my independent vote for not showing due diligence in a critical decision.  This pick actually matters John, even though you seem to think not.  Actions speak louder than words.

Randy, Lansing, Michigan (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:04 PM)

Everything about Sarah Palin's life is up for scrutiny.

If she were a Democrat, Every news channel would be going after her 25 hour per day.

She is the one decided that accepting McCain's invitation was more important than her family, and any expectation of 'privacy' they might have entertained.  Privacy, what a joke!  Her party has been systematically dismantling the Constitution and stripping any semblance of privacy from the public for years.

By the way, what party does she belong to...the Alaskan Independence Party?  Advocate secession much, do you?  So much for 'Country First'...which country, Alaska? Why doesn't she trade in that over-sized US flag pin for an Alaskan flag pin?  

Go back to Alaska, eat some moose, and read about what Vice Presidents of The United States do for a living, because you are a joke!

You've Got to Be Kidding Me, Right? (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:05 PM)

Palin's daughter's pregnancy would not be a big deal if Republicans did not force Abstinence Only on our schools.  Obviously Bristol needed a little more sex education than that.

Parc, Cincinnati OH (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:06 PM)

Emma, if you had looked you would have seen that the MSNBC site search brings up references in chronological order. The reason there are more references to the Palin story is that it is new, where as the Edward's story is old. That's how news works.

However Bristol isn't running for office and she has enough problems having her pregnancy reported by every new agency around the world, so we should let her be.

ja (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:19 PM)

I don't believe that the rumor has been quashed by one phone call. For me, mother, grandmother the fact that she went back to work 3 days after the baby was born tells me a lot about the situation. Either the baby is not her's or she is a mother in name only and for all her middle class posturing turned the care of a three day old special needs baby over to a hired care giver. These folks always seem to have ways of not directly caring for the kind of children they insist other people have.

Tina Young Alpharetta GA (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 10:00 PM)

When you build a political career on abstinence-only education and evengelical support (which condemns premarital sex), having an unmarried teenage pregnancy under your own roof IS an issue.

So enough from the folks saying it's not relevelent or to leave the girl out of it. It's unfortunate that the girl is caught in the middle of this, but it's still an issue, as it calls into question Palin's ability to manage her own household (let alone the nation), it calls into question her character, and it calls into question her ability to do the job.

CF, Dickenson, ND (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 10:01 PM)

I think that the conservative Republicans are being extremely hypocritcal.  They ask that we should all listen to Obama "now" when he says that family is off limits.  What does this tell us: 1) That Obama "makes sense" and "should be listened to" this week as he he chooses to take the moral high-road when it reflects badly on a Republican. 2) The Republicans weren't touting the hands off family policy a few months ago when they attacked Michelle Obama for her statement (J. Edwards is highly
irrelevant at this juncture becaue he isn't even on the ticket anymore.)

To all conservatives I say this: When Palin chose to run for office she made a conscious choice to do so.  She does not have a right to claim that certain parts of her life are none of my business, because she herself made her life (and the lives and well-being of her children)at issue.  If she has adopted this attitude now, should we also expect the same "none of your business" attitude when she is put into office? I surely hope not! Just as Mrs. Palin and the Republican Party feel that her privacy should be zealously guarded, I similarly feel that my vote is precious and should also be guarded because I as a voter have a right to make a well informed decision.  

Lake, Morgantown, WV (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 10:20 PM)

The "majority" of Americans have teenage sex and in so risk the chance of pregnancy. It's unfortunate for her and her boyfriend to have this unplanned pregnancy. I do respect them for choosing to have the baby and planning on getting married... this is a very common occurance and probably more so in such a remote part of the country. Conversley I find it laughable that the "Hippy-Free love-Flower Power" or the "MEMEME" gen X generation would dare try to judge this girl. I'm very certain this is not how her mom and dad would have like things to have worked out for her. I hope everyone will wish the young couple the best of luck and admire them for respecting the life of the child -I'm neutral on this subjec- but do think it is the honorable choice.

P.S. I'm certain this apparent Dem/Rep are both uncomforable with this situation each find themselves in the normally oposing corner in fights/situations like this....

John Doe, NY, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 02, 2008 11:29 PM)

Who's Sarah Palin? I don't even know why I bothered clicking on this link. But after glancing at a few of your comments... Damn, humanity blows. I still wish I was a tiger.

Calvin (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 12:18 AM)

Obama'a mother when she gave birth to him... 18 years old

Palin's daughter when she gives birth... 18 years old

Alex, Denver CO (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 1:11 AM)

The reason this matters to me . . . Gov. Palin is against Pro-Choice.  Of course she has to support Bristol and Levi.  What mother shouldn't.  While Bristol now has the constitutional right to keep the baby, or terminate it, her Mom would deny others that choice.  Roe v. Wade is a valid right for all women and men who choose not to have an unplanned child.  Poor Levi.  Even if he does love Bristol and want the baby, he's not being given a choice either.  There are just so many better running mates, women and men, that Mr. McCain could have chosen than Sarah Palin.

John White, Honolulu HI (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 1:28 AM)

MSNBC nor CNN mentioned ANYTHING about this crapola,,,but Bill O'Rielly sure did the other day,, 17 minutes of it,,,because "HE HAD TO"....and blamed it all on the two stations that hadn't said a word... me thinks the right wing nut balls started this trash themselves then tried to blame the Dems... typical of Republican's when they have nothing to actually sell.... they attack.... and some people are gullible enough even after 8 miserable years of seeing our country go down the rat hole, with GW Bush... to believe this trash started with Dems....Dems have better things to do... and don't go after kids..or make Mrs Edwards hurt more by going after the stupidity of her husband...

Jkrist Phx Arizona (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 1:29 AM)

This controversy started in Alaska also immediately after the birth in April.  She could have cleared the air just by producing the official birth certificate, or like she is doing now by saying her daughter is pregnant.  Mrs Palin created this dilemma, by first trying to keep it under cover, then by dragging her daughter into the fray.  No one outed her daughter, she did.  That to me shows poor judgement.

GW Atlanta, GA (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 2:57 AM)

I like how the "ill-advised plane flight" graphic is conspicuously missing the constant communication she had with her physicians the entire trip and the fact that she had to be induced after arriving at Mat-Su RMC, but I guess that info wouldn't quite work into the female "galdiator" flow chart scenario thingy.  And what's a "galdiator" anyhoo? :)

If having a daughter who is pregnant (which, I'm assuming from the mass hysteria it's causing in our nation, has never happened before in America) is one of Gov Palin's major flaws then I think she's in a pretty darn good position.  That she's a real mom with a real family and deals with real family issues puts her closer to 95% of the rest of us than any of the other candidates for president or vice, no offense to lawyers, Harvard educated or not.  

Mike, Anchorage, AK (Sent Wednesday, September 03, 2008 4:02 AM)



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