Table Of ContentA1
Cold storm brings Vegas snow, closes I-5 in Calif.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Read Page A3
On Top Of The News Email: [email protected] website: www.arubatoday.com Tel:582-7800 Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Michael Jackson
doctor faces death HEALTH
charge in court
WARNING
LOS ANGELES - Prosecutors
this week begin offering
evidence that Michael
Jackson’s doctor is responsible
for the pop star’s death in a
case that could hinge on who
gave the singer a fatal dose of
a powerful drug he used for
sleep.
Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson’s
physician in 2009, has been
charged with involuntary
manslaughter in the death,
and a Los Angeles judge on
Tuesday starts the preliminary
hearing largely seen by legal
experts as a formality to
determine if enough evidence
exists to bring the physician to
a full trial.
Jackson, one of the best-
selling recording artists of all
time who generated hits like
“Thriller” and “Billie Jean,”
died of a prescription drug
overdose on June 25, 2009, at
age 50, after suffering cardiac
arrest while in bed at his rented
mansion.
Murray has admitted injecting
Jackson with the powerful
anesthetic propofol, which
has been determined to be a
key factor in his death. The
drug is used mostly in hospital
settings, but it was given to
Jackson at home as a sleep aid.
Prosecutors hope to paint
In this Dec. 29, 2010, file photo President Barack Obama waves as he leaves a Honolulu restaurant after dining with
the doctor, who was hired by
family and friends in Hawaii. In the president’s taped his weekly address from Hawaii, where he is spending the holidays
a concert promoter to care
for Jackson before a series with his family, Obama said his New Year’s resolution is to do everything he can to grow the economy, create jobs and
of performances, as a man strengthen the middle class, though he warned that the economic recovery is still fragile as the calendar turns to 2011.
who was in financial trouble Associated Press
and would irresponsibly give Read Page A6
the singer drugs to keep his
paycheck.
Continued on Page B10
A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Labs seek clues after 3,000 birds die in Arkansas
to the Arkansas Livestock the dead. Those species roost had been hit by lighting.
and Poultry Commission and with blackbirds, particularly Back in 1973, hail knocked
the National Wildlife Health in winter. birds from the sky at Stuttgart,
Center in Madison, Wis. Violent weather rumbled Ark., on the day before
Researchers in Georgia also over much of the state Friday, hunting season. Some of the
asked for a set of the dead including a tornado that killed birds were caught in a violent
birds. Test results could be three people in Cincinnati, storm’s updrafts and became
back in a week. Ark. Lightning could have encased in ice before falling
Rowe said many of the birds killed the birds directly or from the sky.
suffered injuries from striking startled them to the point that Rowe said poisoning was
the ground, but it was not clear they became confused. Hail possible but unlikely. She
whether they were alive when also has been known to knock said birds of prey and other
they hit. birds from the sky. animals, including dogs and
A worker with U.S. Environmental Services, a private contractor, Blackbirds have notoriously In 2001, lightning killed about cats, ate several of the dead
picks up a dead bird in Beebe, Ark. on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011 as bad eyesight. If startled at 20 mallards at Hot Springs, birds and suffered no ill
more can be seen on the street behind him. The Arkansas Game
night, they could easily fly and a flock of dead pelicans effects. “Every dog and cat in
and Fish Commission said Saturday more than 1,000 dead black
into the ground, Rowe said. was found in the woods about the neighborhood that night
birds fell from the sky in Beebe. The agency said its enforcement
A few grackles and a couple 10 years ago, Rowe said. Lab was able to get a fresh snack
officers began receiving reports about the dead birds about 11:30
of starlings were also among tests showed that they, too, that night,” Rowe said.q
p.m. Friday.
(AP Photo/The Daily Citizen, Warren Watkins)
New Year’s resolutions?
By JEANNIE NUSS, of Beebe, northeast of Little
Associated Press Rock, awoke Saturday to find
Brain can sabotage success
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – thousands of dead blackbirds
Wildlife experts are trying to littering a 1.5-square-mile
solve a mystery that evoked area. The birds inexplicably says Nordgren, who studies
images of the apocalypse: dropped dead, landing on the tug-of-war between
Why did more than 3,000 homes, cars and lawns. willpower and temptation.
red-winged blackbirds tumble Cleanup crews wore white In one experiment, he
from the Arkansas sky shortly suits, gas masks and rubber measured whether heavy
before midnight on New gloves as they spent the smokers could watch a
Year’s Eve? holiday weekend gathering film that romanticizes the
Scientists are investigating the carcasses. habit called “Coffee and
whether fireworks, poison The birds will not be missed. Cigarettes” without taking a
or bad weather might have Large blackbird roosts like one puff. Upping the ante, they’d
forced the birds out of the sky, at Beebe can have thousands be paid according to their
or if a disoriented bird simply of birds that leave ankle- to level of temptation: Could
led the flock into the ground. knee-deep piles of droppings they hold an unlit cigarette
“We have a lot more in places. while watching? Keep the
questions,” said Karen Rowe, Nearly a decade ago, state pack on the table? Or did
an ornithologist with the wildlife officials fired blanks WASHINGTON – Uh-oh, reward of lost pounds. they need to leave the pack in
Arkansas Game and Fish from shotguns and cannons the new year’s just begun and “We all as creatures are hard- another room?
Commission. She said there to move a roost of thousands already you’re finding it hard wired that way, to give greater Smokers who’d predicted
are documented cases of of blackbirds from Beebe, but to keep those resolutions to value to an immediate reward they could resist a lot of
birds becoming confused and in recent years many of the junk the junk food, get off as opposed to something that’s temptation tended to hold the
plunging to earth. migratory birds returned. the couch or kick smoking. delayed,” Volkow says. unlit cigarette and were more
Residents of the small town Bird carcasses were shipped There’s a biological reason Just how that bit of happiness likely to light up than those
a lot of our bad habits are so turns into a habit involves a who knew better than to hang
hard to break they get wired pleasure-sensing chemical onto the pack, says Nordgren.
into our brains. named dopamine. It He now is beginning to
That’s not an excuse to give up. conditions the brain to want study how recovering drug
Understanding how unhealthy that reward again and again addicts deal with real-world
behaviors become ingrained reinforcing the connection temptations.
has scientists learning some each time especially when it But temptation can be more
tricks that may help good gets the right cue from your insidious than how close at
habits replace the bad. environment. hand the cigarettes are.
“Why are bad habits stronger? People tend to overestimate Always snack in front of
You’re fighting against the their ability to resist your favorite TV show? A
power of an immediate temptations around them, dopamine-rich part of the brain
reward,” says Dr. Nora thus undermining attempts named the striatum memorizes
Volkow, director of the to shed bad habits, says rituals and routines that are
National Institute on Drug experimental psychologist linked to getting a particular
Abuse and an authority on the Loran Nordgren, an assistant reward, explains NIDA’s
brain’s pleasure pathway. professor at Northwestern Volkow. Eventually, those
It’s the fudge vs. broccoli University’s Kellogg School environmental cues trigger
choice: Chocolate’s yum of Management. the striatum to make some
factor tends to beat out the “People have this self-control behaviors almost automatic.
knowledge that sticking with hubris, this belief they can Even scientists who recognize
veggies brings an eventual handle more than they can,” it can fall prey.q
U.S. NEWS A3
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Cold storm brings Vegas snow, closes I-5 in Calif.
LAS VEGAS – Gamblers on who was trying to return north
the Las Vegas Strip awoke after visiting relatives in San
to snow flurries Monday Diego. He and a friend were
morning as part of a winter lucky enough to get hotel
storm that turned the main rooms nearby, but hundreds
highway between Southern more didn’t get lodging, and
and Central California into a the cars kept coming.
snowy, icy parking lot. “A lot of people slept in their
Hundreds of motorists cars last night,” said Crandall,
returning from the New Year’s 55.
holiday found themselves Other drivers spent hours
stuck after Interstate 5 was crawling over Interstate 15’s
closed for a second day over snowy Cajon Pass to get
the 4,160-foot-high Tejon back to Los Angeles from
Pass, about 70 miles north of Las Vegas, where there was
Los Angeles. a trace of snow Monday at
The California Highway the official measuring station
Patrol closed a 30-mile stretch near McCarran International
of I-5 shortly after 12:30 p.m. Airport. neighborhoods several miles Amtrak expected to resume conditions.
Sunday because of blowing “You don’t come to Las Vegas west of the Strip got one or normal service Monday after The man fell 80 and 100
snow. Blizzard conditions and think, ‘Hey, it’s going to more inches of snow, and a weekend weather stoppage. feet to his death from a cliff
eased to light snow flurries snow,’” said Josh Hansen, up to 6 inches of snow fell Snow, freezing temperatures ledge in Snow Canyon State
early Monday but the road 22, of Los Angeles, who was overnight in Pahrump, a high and subzero wind chills had Park north of Santa Clara,
remained clogged with snow posing with friends amid desert community about 60 led Burlington Northern Santa KSTU-TV reported. He was
and patches of ice, and the flurries next to the iconic miles west of Las Vegas. Fe to halt passenger traffic on among a group of three hikers
Highway Patrol said the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. The weather service predicted its tracks, while freight trains who became stranded on a
freeway probably will remain “It’s really weird.” more snow at elevations as ran at slower speeds. hazardous climb.
closed for hours as snow National Weather Service low as 1,500 feet. On Sunday, In Utah, officials found the Authorities rescued the
plows struggle to clear the meteorologist John Adair suburban Santa Clarita just body of a missing hiker two other men Sunday,
mountain route. said there won’t be any north of Los Angeles got a Monday morning after the Washington County Sheriff-
“It took us two hours to go five accumulation near the hotels rare snowfall. search was halted late Sunday elect Cory Pulsipher told The
miles,” said Charlie Crandall, and casinos, but foothills In Montana and North Dakota, because of cold and dangerous Spectrum of St. George.q
Pa. allows dumping of tainted waters from gas boom
discharging water into rivers. discharges from the Marcellus than 44,000 barrels of well
At least 3.6 million barrels Shale have sometimes failed. wastewater to a treatment
of the waste were sent to For example: facility in Hatfield Township,
treatment plants that empty Of the roughly 6 million a Philadelphia suburb. Those
into rivers during the 12 barrels of well liquids liquids ultimately were
months ending June 30, produced in a 12-month discharged into a creek that
according to state records. period examined by The AP, provides drinking water to
That is enough to cover a the state couldn’t account 17 municipalities with more
square mile with more than 8 for the disposal method for than 300,000 residents. Cabot
1/2 inches of brine. 1.28 million barrels, about a acknowledged it should not
Researchers are still trying fifth of the total, because of have happened.
to figure out whether a weakness in its reporting People in those communities
Pennsylvania’s river system and incomplete filings had been told repeatedly that
discharges, at their current by some energy companies. the watershed was free of gas
The natural gas boom drinking water. levels, are dangerous to Some public water utilities waste.
gripping parts of the U.S. has In the two years since the frenzy humans or wildlife. Several that sit downstream from big “This is an outrage,” said
a nasty byproduct: wastewater of activity began in the vast studies are under way, some gas wastewater treatment Tracy Carluccio, deputy
so salty, and so polluted underground rock formation under the auspices of the plants have struggled to stay director of the Delaware
with metals like barium and known as the Marcellus Environmental Protection under the federal maximum Riverkeeper Network, an
strontium, that most states Shale, Pennsylvania has Agency. for contaminants known as environmental group. “This
require drillers to get rid of been the only state allowing State officials, energy trihalomethanes, which can is indicative of the lack of
the stuff by injecting it down waterways to serve as the companies and the operators cause cancer if swallowed adequate oversight.”
shafts thousands of feet deep. primary disposal place for the of treatment plants insist that over a long period. The situation in Pennsylvania
Not in Pennsylvania, one of huge amounts of wastewater with the right safeguards in Regulations that should have is being watched carefully by
the states at the center of the produced by a drilling place, the practice poses little kept drilling wastewater out of regulators in other states, some
gas rush. technique called hydraulic or no risk to the environment the important Delaware River of which have begun allowing
There, the liquid that gushes fracturing, or fracking. or to the hundreds of thousands Basin, the water supply for 15 some river discharges.
from gas wells is only partially State regulators, initially of people who rely on those million people in four states, New York also sits over the
treated for substances that caught flat-footed, tightened rivers for drinking water. were circumvented for many Marcellus Shale, but Gov.
could be environmentally the rules this year for any But an Associated Press review months. David Paterson has slapped a
harmful, then dumped into new water treatment plants found that Pennsylvania’s In 2009 and part of 2010, moratorium on high-volume
rivers and streams from but allowed any existing efforts to minimize, control energy company Cabot fracking while environmental
which communities get their operations to continue and track wastewater Oil & Gas trucked more regulations are drafted.q
A4 US NEWS
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Navy probes racy onboard videos by carrier chief
Live or the Family Guy,” women’s bare shoulders imply visits, traffic safety, water
said Houston native Misty they are nude. conservation, ship cleanliness,
Davis, who worked on the Other clips in the video show a etc.”
Enterprise’s weapons systems man in drag and a mock rectal A phone listing for Honors was
during her 2006-2010 tour. examination. not immediately available. He
It’s clear from the videos that Navy Cmdr. Chris Sims said is a 1983 alumnus of the U.S.
Honors, who took over the in a statement sent to The Naval Academy and was a
ship’s command in May, had Associated Press that the naval aviator before holding
already gotten complaints videos “were not acceptable command. He attended the
when some of them were then and are not acceptable in U.S. Naval Fighter Weapons
made. “Over the years I’ve today’s Navy.” School, also known as Top
gotten several complaints Executive officers and other Gun.
about inappropriate material leaders “are charged to lead The newspaper reported that
during these videos, never to by example and are held the videos were made during
NORFOLK, Va. – Videos East at the time the videos me personally but, gutlessly, accountable for setting the the Enterprise’s two six-month
just coming to light show the were made and is weeks from through other channels,” proper tone and upholding the deployments to the Middle
crew of a Navy aircraft carrier deploying again. he said in the introduction standards of honor, courage East in 2006 and 2007.
got an eyeful on shipboard The Virginian-Pilot newspaper to the video posted by the and commitment that we Commissioned in 1961, the
TV: Gay slurs, suggestive reported on the videos in its newspaper. He goes on to use expect sailors to exemplify,” Enterprise is the world’s first
shower scenes and mimicked Sunday editions and posted an a derogatory term for gays and he said. Sims said U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft
masturbation in clips made edited version of one video on tells his critics: “This evening, Fleet Forces Command “has carrier. It is scheduled to sail
not by some sailor run amok its website. all of you bleeding hearts why initiated an investigation into two more deployments before
but by the ship’s second-most It’s not immediately known don’t you just go ahead and the circumstances surrounding it is decommissioned in 2013.
powerful officer. why the images are surfacing hug yourselves for the next 20 the production of these It can carry a crew of more
The Navy said Sunday it now. The Virginian-Pilot minutes or so, because there’s videos.” In a statement to the than 5,800.
will investigate the “clearly quoted anonymous crew a really good chance you’re Virginian-Pilot on Friday, The commanding officer of
inappropriate” videos shown members who said they raised gonna be offended.”Next however, the Navy said it the Enterprise at the time the
through the nuclear-powered concerns aboard the ship comes a sequence of what had put a stop to videos with videos were made, Lawrence
ship’s closed-circuit television about the videos when they appear to be outtakes in which “inappropriate content” on the Rice, was later promoted to
system as part of an onboard aired, but they were brushed Honors and others curse, Enterprise several years ago. the rank of the rear admiral
movie night. The star of the off. followed by clips in which he “It is unfortunate that copies and had been assigned to the
videos, made in 2006 and But a former crew member and others are shown making of these videos remained Norfolk-based U.S. Joint
2007, is Capt. Owen Honors, who says she saw the videos hand motions that mimic accessible to crewmembers, Forces Command, but is no
who now commands the while serving praised Honors masturbation. especially after leadership longer there, a spokeswoman
USS Enterprise but was its as “the best the Navy has Honors segues to the next took action approximately said.
executive officer the second to offer” and said the skits segment by saying, “Finally four years ago to ensure any The video posted by the
in command when the videos were welcome entertainment let’s get to my favorite topic future videos reflected the newspaper included clips
were made. onboard. chicks in the shower.” Next are proper tone,” the Navy said. of past “movies” Honors
The Norfolk-based Enterprise “It’s no worse then anything shown clips of pairs of women It also said the videos “were had made including several
was deployed in the Middle you’d see on Saturday Night and a pair of men pretending intended to be humorous skits statements in which he holds
to shower together. No nudity focusing the crew’s attention his higher-ups blameless for
is shown, but the men’s and on specific issues such as port the material.q
U.S. NEWS A5
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Year’s fi rst partial solar eclipse occurs Tuesday
LOS ANGELES – Early risers The next time will be in 2029. about three-quarters of the sun
in Madrid, London and Paris There is no total solar eclipse will be hidden.
take note. this year. The greatest eclipse will occur
The moon will appear to nip A solar eclipse happens when over Sweden where about
a bite out of the sun Tuesday, the moon lines up between the 85 percent of the sun will
a spectacle that will be visible sun and the Earth. This casts be blocked. A sunset eclipse
at sunrise across much of a lunar shadow on the Earth’s will be visible from Russia,
Europe. surface and obscures the solar Kazakhstan, Mongolia and
The partial solar eclipse can disk. During a partial solar northwest China.
also be seen from northern eclipse, only part of the sun is Williams College astronomer
Africa, the Middle East and blotted out. Jay Pasachoff planned to be
central Asia, where it will Tuesday’s eclipse will begin in Israel and meet up with a
occur at sunset. in northern Algeria. As the local astronomy club to test
Tuesday’s solar show is the moon’s shadow travels east, out his cameras and other
fi rst of four partial eclipses of western Europe will wake photography equipment instead will educate fellow fi lters to avoid eye damage.
the sun to occur this year. The up to a sunrise eclipse. In during the eclipse. sun chasers to resist staring “It will be a run-the-mill
last time there were this many Madrid, a little more than half Since partial solar eclipses directly at the sun. Instead, partial solar eclipse, but it’s
partial solar eclipses was in of the sun’s diameter will be yield little information of people should peer through more fun than a lunar eclipse,”
1982. covered. In London and Paris, scientifi c interest, Pasachoff commercially available solar Pasachoff said.
U.N. Dedicates 2011 to Forests’ Health Attorneys for Fla. mother
violated order
ORLANDO, Fla. – A judge
has ruled that attorneys for a
Florida mother charged with
killing her 2-year-old daughter
have violated a court order to
turn over information about
expert witnesses who will
testify on her behalf.
Circuit Judge Belvin Perry said
Monday in Orlando that Casey
Anthony’s defense attorneys
missed deadlines last month.
Prosecutors had asked that
the attorneys be fi ned $500 a
day until they provided the
information. But the judge They’ve fi led a motion asking
says they will have to pay an that sex-related questions
amount to be determined later. from an interview detectives
The judge also ordered that the had with Anthony Rosciano
experts must provide written not be allowed.
reports about what they will Detectives asked Rosciano
The new year has a new name among on Earth, the climate that shapes our present and say at trial. Anything not in the whether Anthony was
environmentalists. The U.N. General Assembly future - they all depend on forests. 2011 must reports or in depositions will “clingy” when she had sex,
declared 2011 to be the International Year of be the year when the world recognizes the vital not be allowed at the May trial. whether they used protection,
Forests. importance of healthy forests to life on earth - for She has pleaded not guilty whether Anthony had any
The moniker will be used to raise awareness all people and biodiversity.” in the death of her daughter sexually transmitted diseases
about how to improve the health of all types of Throughout 2011, the IUCN will highlight new Caylee. and where they had sex.
forests, which cover 31 percent of the Earth’s land research fi ndings, promote restoration work and Attorneys for a Florida mother Defense attorneys say the
surface, according to an environmental group build upon recent successes of the international accused of killing her daughter questions are irrelevant.
that’s behind the initiative. The International Year 2010 REDD-plus (Reducing Emissions from want a judge to prohibit Anthony is charged with fi rst-
of Forests will offi cially begin Jan. 24 with the Deforestation and forest Degradation) agenda. testimony about her sex life degree murder for the death
U.N. forum on the topic in New York. Home to 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity and with a witness during her trial. of her 2-year-old daughter
The world’s forests support the planet’s diverse 300 million people, forests provide livelihoods for Casey Anthony’s attorneys Caylee. She has pleaded not
creatures, and keeping forests robust also could 1.6 billion people, almost a quarter of humanity, will make their request during guilty and says a baby sitter
help humanity achieve some of its biggest goals: according to the IUCN. a hearing Monday in Orlando. kidnapped Caylee.
reducing poverty, curbing climate change and Forests store more carbon than the amount
achieving sustainable development, according currently in the atmosphere. Saving them is
to a statement from the International Union for the quickest and most cost-effective means of
Conservation of Nature. The IUCN is a global curbing global emissions, some scientists say.
environmental network of governmental and Halving these emissions between 2010 and 2200
private groups. In ‘Forests 2011’ will be an would save an estimated $3.7 trillion, according
international celebration of the central role of to the IUCN.
people in the management, conservation and “Forests 2011” is the latest branding campaign
sustainable development of our world’s forests,” from the United Nations. 2010 was the
said Julia Marton-Lefèvre, the IUCN director- International Year of Biodiversity, and the decade
general. “The air we breathe, the food, water and of 2011 to 2020 has been named the Decade of
medicines we need to survive, the variety of life Biodiversity.
A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Jerry Brown returns to lead a troubled California
grandfather’s and was used showing most voters believe government and what they revenue assumptions as a
during her wedding to Brown. the state is on the wrong track. are willing to pay for it. After way to balance the budgets on
Brown has predicted a grim He urged lawmakers of both voters rejected an $18-a-year paper.
future for the financially political parties to get out of license fee to stabilize state He promised his version
beleaguered state. Where what he called their “comfort park funding, Brown declared would be painful.
his predecessor, Republican zones” and to “rise above that Californians were “in no “It’s a tough budget for tough
Arnold Schwarzenegger, ideology” for the good of the mood to add to their burdens.” times,” he said.
expressed optimism at every state. The ceremony was a Yet his press aides have not Brown has been engaged
turn, Brown has been realistic scaled-down affair, reflecting quashed speculation that in the budget problem even
since winning the Nov. 2 the austere style of the Brown will try to call a special before his official swearing-
election. California has faced former Jesuit seminarian and election this spring to extend in, visiting lawmakers and
several years of deep budget Buddhism student. a set of temporary tax hikes finance experts in the capital
deficits and is confronting Brown’s speech lasted about approved in 2009. Brown frequently and hold town hall
another estimated at $28 15 minutes, and the only other said he would not raise taxes sessions in Sacramento and
billion through June 2012. speaker listed on the one-page without voter approval, but Los Angeles to discuss the
SACRAMENTO, Calif. Its general fund is $15 billion program was his wife. will need some Republican health of California’s finances
– Democrat Jerry Brown less than it was just three years Students from two charter help to reach the two-thirds and public school system.
was sworn in Monday as ago, reflecting a sharp drop in schools Brown started the legislative vote necessary to Brown has spent a lifetime
California’s 39th governor, tax revenue from a recession Oakland Military Institute and place any tax or fee measure in politics, including terms as
returning to the office he left that has battered the economy the Oakland School for the on the ballot. the secretary of state, attorney
28 years ago but inheriting of the nation’s most populous Arts opened the ceremony. The new governor will release general and mayor of Oakland,
a much different and more state. Brown, 72, says the Schwarzenegger and former his budget proposal for the but also will be calling upon
troubled state than the one he choices facing California’s first lady Maria Shriver, coming fiscal year next a set of skills learned outside
led then. 38.8 million people are painful former Gov. Gray Davis, Sen. Monday, when he is expected the political arena as he tries
The man who once was ones. Dianne Feinstein and outgoing to deliver voters a series of stark to negotiate with a Legislature
California’s most famous “The year ahead will demand House Speaker Nancy Pelosi choices. He said his budgets that has grown increasingly
bachelor took the oath of office courage and sacrifice,” he were among the roughly 3,000 would not contain “smoke partisan and in many cases
after being introduced by his said after taking the oath from people attending. and mirrors,” an apparent hostile. His years practicing
wife of five years, former California Supreme Court After winning office, Brown reference to spending plans Buddhism in Japan and
Gap Inc. executive Anne Gust Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye. promised to travel California signed by Schwarzenegger working with Mother Teresa
Brown, inside Sacramento Brown noted the toll the and hold what he called a over the past few years that in India may come in handy
Memorial Auditorium. recession has taken on civic dialogue about what often contained accounting as he tries to broker deals with
She held a Bible that was her California and referred to polls Californians want from their gimmicks and unrealistic dug-in lawmakers. q
House GOP sending Obama a
message on health repeal
law is still a long shot. The the budget and the country’s administration intends to keep
House vote would be just debt ceiling. putting into place the law’s
the first, easiest step. But Those votes will be early framework for covering more
House Republicans vow they tests of how the president than 30 million uninsured
will follow up with dozens will maneuver with a divided people. Ultimately, Obama
of attempts to hack away Congress, as both he and still has his veto pen, and
at what they derisively call Republicans look ahead to the Republicans aren’t anywhere
“Obamacare.” next elections. close to the two-thirds
FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2010 file photo, Senate Majority Leader The strategy is not risk-free Most likely, both parties will majorities they would need to
Harry Reid of Nev. is seen in his office on Capitol Hill in for the Republicans, who carry the main issues of the override
Washington. Eager to show who’s now in charge, the House’s new won’t have a replacement plan health care debate into the “Repeal and replace” worked
Republican majority plans to vote to repeal President Barack of their own ready by the time 2012 campaign, when Obama as a campaign slogan to
Obama’s landmark health care overhaul before he even shows up of the repeal vote. But they is expected to seek a second motivate voters concerned
in their chamber to give his State of the Union address.
say there’s no time to lose. term against a Republican about the growing reach of
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Senate Democratic leaders challenger, and House and government under Obama.
By RICARDO ALONSO- — the vote will be Jan. 12, are sending their own “you- Senate control will be up for But a single-minded focus
ZALDIVAR, Republicans said Monday — it don’t-scare-me” message. grabs again. “It’s not going to on repeal could backfire
Associated Press will be just the first in a series In a letter Monday to House be easy; it’s going to be a long, as a Republican governing
WASHINGTON – Eager to of struggles expected to play Speaker-to-be John Boehner, hard slog,” said Rep. Steve strategy. Polls show that some
show who’s now in charge, out in the next few months. they served notice that they’ll King, R-Iowa, an early leader parts of the law are popular,
the House’s new Republican Obama returns Tuesday from block any repeal, arguing it in the health care repeal drive. and many Americans would
majority plans to vote to repeal his holiday vacation, fresh off would kill popular provisions The quick thumbs-down have wanted even bigger
President Barack Obama’s lame-duck legislative victories such as improved prescription vote by the House will have changes. Look for Republicans
landmark health care overhaul late last year, and Republicans coverage for Medicare. “tremendous utility and to try to deny money for the
before he even shows up in will be sworn in Wednesday, Beyond the early health care value,” King said, but it may government to carry out the
their chamber to give his State primed to challenge him after vote, emboldened Republicans take electing a Republican law.
of the Union address. gaining House control in last are straining to challenge the president in Obama’s place to They’ll also attempt to strip
Dramatic as that early fall’s elections. president’s spending priorities, accomplish the overall goal. out sections of it, such as a new
showdown promises to be Full repeal of the health care setting up likely conflicts over All the while, the Obama long-term care program.q
LOCAL A7
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Second National Boa
New Plaza Quiz Night Series kicks
Constrictor sweep
off on Tuesday, January 4
The Second National Boa
Constrictor sweep is planned
for January 9th, 2011. This boa
constrictor capturering activity
will take place in the Colony
from 8:00 to 11:00 A.M. The
meeting point is next to the
large Valero sign. On January
5th, 2011, a training session
will be held at the Centro di
Bario Lago Heights from 8:00
to 9:00 P.M.
Volunteers are invited to
participate at this second sweep
and are requested to register
at [email protected].
Questions may also be sent to
this email address.
The Boa Constrictor Taskforce
was instated by the Minister
of Integration, Infrastructure
and Environment, Mr. Bennie
The new year has hardly begun or Café sun, or moon, may be the subject of an the scores. Questions are asked in Dutch
Sevinger, in an effort to keep
the Plaza in the Renaissance Marketplace easy or hard question. Many quiz lovers and in English, in Spanish too if there are
the numbers of boas in Aruba’s
is making the quiz fanatics on the island greatly enjoy the Tuesday evenings at Spanish speakers in the audience. There
nature as low as possible.
The Boa Constrictor is an happy with its new Quiz Night Series. Café the Plaza; they have formed teams are eight rounds of questions per evening;
invasive species and forms a This 8-week brain squeezing happening and wrack their brains to come up with one is an audio round and one a picture
serious threat to Aruba’s fauna. takes place on Tuesday evenings; the right answers. The Plaza Quiz Nights round. Quizzers can form teams of a
A conservative estimation questions range from music to movies to start at 8 pm sharp; quiz master Evert maximum of five participants. The entry
illustrates that more than geography and history to current events Bongers and his lovely assistant Petra fee is AWG. 5,-- per person. Sponsor of
17.000 birds were consumed and medicine. Everything under the van Haren pose the questions and keep the Quiz Night Series is Pepia Est.q
island wide in 2010 by the boa.
The first national sweep was
held on December 12th, 2010.
More than 120 volunteers
participated in this national
event. The taskforce is very
happy with such a large turn-
out, but still hopes that the
numbers of volunteers at
national sweeps will increase.
During the boa training session
planned on January 5th,
instructions will be given about
how to identify the different
snake species in Aruba’s
wildlife and how to capture a
boa in a very easy way.q
A8 LOCAL
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
El Gaucho pampers Divi’s Executives
Oranjestad – The Department of Human dinner together every year, and love the
Resources and the Accounting Department bonding experience, laughing and sharing
of Divi Resorts enjoyed an elegant evening with friends and colleagues. This year’s
of fine food and wine at El Gaucho outing was especially entertaining, as it
Argentine Grill in honor of the holiday continued past-dinner, long into the night,
season and the New Year celebrations. The at Garufa Cocktail Lounge just across the
members of both departments go out for street from El Gaucho.
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LOCAL A9
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Deafening pagara rings inthe New Year at De Suikertuin
Traffic in the Wilhelminastraat was halted for a December 31 was celebrated with deafeningly As the evil ghosts fled, a glass of champagne
while last Friday afternoon when bartender Alan loud noises; the year 2011 is certainly going to was raised to good luck, happiness and cheer for
of De Suikertuin restaurant unrolled a mega be fantastic, judging from the terrifying racket everybody at De Suikertuin. Cheers!q
pagara to ring in the New Year. all over.
A10 LOCAL
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Radisson Casino Enjoys Year End Activities
Palm Beach – Two exciting tournaments took winner Felix Marakowsky, staying at the Junior Mora cleared $200 and 3rd place winner
place at the Casino at the Radisson before Radisson, each pocketing a handsome $1,170 Mercedes Tromp received $100.
New Year’s and immediately thereafter. The take; 3rd place winner, Walter Sturm staying New Year’s Eve at the Casino delivered a thrill-
Casino concluded 2010 with a suspenseful at the Bucuti Beach Resort won $720, and 4th filled night with a great number of surprise
Poker Tournament and opened 2011 with an place winner Miguel Marcano, staying at the prizes, awarding casino patrons with gift
entertaining Slot Tournament. Amsterdam Manor, received $432. certificates for beauty treatments at Larimar Spa,
On Thursday, December 30th, 2010, 1st place The Slot Tournament on Saturday, January 1st, dinners at the resort’s AAA, 4-star rated Sunset
winner Alberto Franco staying at the Westin, 2011, featured 4 lucky winners; 1st place winner Grille restaurant and buffet passes to Gilligan’s
chop split his earnings with another 1st place Francis Fecurda won $300, 2nd place winner, Restaurant.q
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