Kathy Plonka
Matt Smith, top, greets fellow Coeur d'Alene firefighter Justin Wearne (cq) near the top of an 85 foot tree near downtown Coeur d'Alene on Monday. The fire department helped decorate to top of the tree.

Spotlight: Don't forget to check out the Idaho Statesman's Talking Points to read releases straight from the Idaho congressional delegaton here.

*Surprise! Surprise! posts Bubblehead/The Stupid Shall Be Punished -- Idaho drivers are the best in the nation, according to an insurance company survey here.

*Julie Fanselow/Red State Rebels warns fellow Demos that local races are as important as those higher up the ticket here.

*Brent/Chronic Discontent posts about a 44-year-old skateboarder, "Big Mike" Jeansonne, who suffered a head injury and died at a Nashville, Tenn., skate park here.

*Somewhere between Star Wars costumes for Halloween and Santa Clauses at department stores, we've lost Thanksgiving, complains Inland Empire Girl here.

*Marmitetoasty/Twaddle Everyday Rubbish tells her now 18-year-old son, Sam, that's she's grown him and now she's pushing him into adulthood here.

HBO Blog Numbers (for Monday, Nov. 19): 8406 page-views and 4894 unique views.

Meanwhile, Free In Idaho reminds us that today's National Ammo Day here; IdaBlue is worried about the Idaho Demo message here; Rob's Idaho Perspective spotlights influential people in life here; Idaho Escapee admits he's never been a rah-rah person here; Mrs. T has finished her quilt here; Toad's "Atrophy" here; JBelle's check list here; and Idawa wonders where all the engineers have gone here.

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