The odds that Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai will be the only major car manufacturers left standing at the end of the recession decreased a little today.  Ford announced that it has somehow slashed its debt by $9.9 billion. Unlike Chrysler and GM, Ford hasn't received federal aid, which makes this achievement all the more impressive.  CEO Alan Mulally observed in a statement, "As with our recent agreements with the UAW, Ford continues to lead the industry in taking the decisive ...