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Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga gets a 2010 Chevrolet Corvette from GM

Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga may have just missed a perfect game on Wednesday night, but General Motors tried to help make up for it--with a 2010 Chevrolet Corvette convertible. Galarraga retired the first 26 Cleveland Indians batters in order on Wednesday night. The would-be final batter, Jason Donald, appeared to ground out, but umpire Jim Joyce ruled him safe in a controversial call that later that night he admitted was wrong.

Senate passes cash-for-clunkers extension

The Senate added $2 billion to "cash for clunkers" on Thursday, ending a week of suspense about whether the popular new program would have to shut down for lack of funds. The bill, identical to the one that passed the House last week, now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature. The administration has pushed hard for the new funding.

Big Three Truck Premieres

Once just a local agricultural fair, the State Fair of Texas, Dallas, has now become the launch platform of choice for automobile manufacturers to present new trucks. Texas is an immense market for pickup trucks and this year, the Detroit Three were there, along with Toyota, to present world premieres. And for the auto executives that make the trip down, the Texas Fair is surely the easiest assignment they will get each year: people in Texas like full size trucks and buy them as personal vehicles not because they need their capacity but rather because "it's Texas here, y'know".