Imette St. Guillen argued with Bouncer from ‘The Falls’, Darryl Littlejohn,

The heinous murder of Imette St. Guillen shocked the collective conscience and souls of all. The sadistic rape and murder of Imette and the manner in how she was found instills not only fear that the perpetrator has not yet been arrested, but also the will and drive for all to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
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Barry Bonds – Steroids, Balco, and the Truth – Not Just the Cream

A new report on Sports Illustrated’s web site shows the sordid truth of his true dependence on steroids in his vain attempt to pass Babe Ruth and Henry Aaron for the home run record in major league baseball. The combination of steroids, human growth hormones, and other strength enhancers is horrifying,

…when Bonds broke Mark McGwire’s single-season home-run record (70) by belting 73, Bonds was using two designer steroids referred to as the Cream and the Clear, as well as insulin, human growth hormone, testosterone decanoate (a fast-acting steroid known as Mexican beans) and trenbolone, a steroid created to improve the muscle quality of cattle.

BALCO tracked Bonds’ usage with doping calendars and folders — detailing drugs, quantities, intervals and Bonds’ testosterone levels — that wound up in the hands of federal agents upon their Sept. 3, 2003 raid of the Burlingame, Calif., business.

But, wait, it gets worse.

According to the book, Bonds gulped as many as 20 pills at a time and was so deeply reliant on his regimen that he ordered Anderson to start “cycles” — a prescribed period of steroid use lasting about three weeks — even when he was not due to begin one. Steroid users typically stop usage for a week or two periodically to allow the body to continue to produce natural testosterone; otherwise, such production diminishes or ceases with the continued introduction of synthetic forms of the muscle-building hormone.

Bonds called for the re-starting of cycles when he felt his energy and power start to drop. If Anderson told Bonds he was not due for another cycle, the authors write, Bonds would tell him, “F— off, I’ll do it myself.”

Here is a man who is trying to set the home run record and be the greatest of all time. This is not the role model I want my young boys to following. Major League Baseball needs to step up and address this issue forcefully.

Between Mark Maguire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro , and Barry Bonds abuses of steroids, how are the fan to trust anything in baseball. And baseballs greatest asset was the fun with statistics that everyone would follow. Ruth and Aaron’s home run records, Gehrig’s consecutive hitting streak, and  Cal Ripkin, Jr. consecutive games played are all things that baseball fans know and treasure.

And then these idiots destroy the trust we have as fans, and make the records empty shells.

To paraphrase a politician, “I knew Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds, you are no Hank Aaron.”

Legacy of Natalee Holloway; Parents Join Kids on Spring Break

In the aftermath of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway on Aruba, there have been many differences in how parents and students look at that annual right of passage known as Spring Break. One is a , “Break from Tradition: Parents Join Kids on Spring Break.”

The annual spring break trip is turning into a family affair for many students. Their parents say they’re going with them.

A local travel agency says more parents are traveling with their kids now because of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
(WQOW)

Parents are taking notice of the events that have occurred in Aruba and “they want to make sure their kids play it safe.”

In other cases many college students plan to play it more safe and stay close to home as they have seen what occurs with laws and customs outside the United States; Co-Eds Plan To Play Safe During Spring Break, Some Concerned Over Holloway’s Disappearance.

But some are opting out of the tradition this year.

The unsolved disappearance of Natalie Holloway, 18, in Aruba last year has scared some students and their parents away from exotic destinations.

The message of the Natalee Holloway disappearance and subsequent investigation in Aruba is a much discussed event. As much as many wish to over look or down play the event as an isolated event; it is hardly isolated if it happened to one of your friends or family members. Safety is a huge issue and one that should never be taken lightly. One only needs to look at Natalee Holloway and her parents struggles for answers.

But the islands do have less of an appeal to some people, including Jill Swenson.

“I’m just going home, actually, to hang out with my family,” Swenson said.

Many kids are heading home, haunted by what happened to Holloway.

“I know it’s a concern of mine because my mom mentioned it to me when we were interested to Florida she was afraid of us going and it kind of affected my decision to stay home,” Swenson said.

The fact that individuals are learning from a horrendous situation that is the Natalee Holloway disappearance at least adds a silver lining to a very black cloud.

Charles Porter Arrested in Nigerian Scam

For those of you familiar with the Internet Nigerian Scams comes the following …

Charles Porter was arrested Feb. 27 after he allegedly took part in a bogus check scam. He was reportedly working with Nigerian scam artists in what authorities say included an unusually large amount of bogus checks.

Porter was arrested Feb. 27 after he allegedly walked into a Main Street bank and tried to cash $5,000 worth of cashier and treasurer’s checks from the country of Aruba, Officer Mike Diebold said.

The bank refused and called police.

Porter is charged with attempted theft, forgery, receiving stolen property, having counterfeit trademarks on the documents and tampering with records or identification.
(VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH)

R.I.P – Kirby Puckett . Dana Reeves

Dana Reeves, 44

Dana Reeves, widow of actor Christopher Reeves, passed away at age 44 yesterday after losing the battle with lung cancer. Dana stood by Christopher Reeves after he was paralyzed from a riding accident in 1996.

Reeve died Monday of lung cancer, said Kathy Lewis, president and CEO of the foundation.

“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and staff of the Christopher Reeve Foundation, we are extremely saddened by the death of Dana Reeve, whose grace and courage under the most difficult of circumstances was a source of comfort and inspiration to all of us,” Lewis said in a statement. via the AP

 “Dana will always be remembered for her passion, strength and ceaseless courage that became her hallmark,” Lewis said. “Along with her husband, Christopher, she faced adversity with grace and determination, bringing hope to millions around the world.”

Kirby Puckett, 45

Kirby Puckett, hero to Minnesota Twins fans passed away after a severe stroke over the weekend. Kirby was a world series hero and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame after having to retire early due to having a severe case of glaucoma. He leaves behind 2 children, Catherine and Kirby Jr.

“He was revered throughout the country and will be remembered wherever the game is played,” commissioner Bud Selig said. “Kirby was taken from us much too soon – and too quickly.”

“There are a lot of great players in this game, but only one Kirby,” pitcher Rick Aguilera said when Puckett announced his retirement. “It was his character that meant more to his teammates. He brought a great feeling to the clubhouse, the plane, everywhere.”

And this is an interesting if not a sad fact:

Indeed, Puckett was the second-youngest person to die having already been enshrined at Cooperstown, Hall of Fame spokesman Jeff Idelson said. Only Lou Gehrig, at 37, was younger. via the AP

Rest In Peace, Kirby and Dana…