The Dana Pretzer Show - Tonight - Friday, Dec. 29th - Special Guests Clint Van Zandt & Tim Miller

Tonights Guests:

• 9:00 Clint Van Zandt: Topic: Are we safer today then we were Sept 10th 2001. Also how much influence does the media have in high profile case investigations.
• 9:30 Tim Miller of Texas EquuSearch: Tim Miller will be discussing recent searches that TES has been doing in the case of missing 17 year old Erica Bradley in Allendale, SC and 26 year old Jason Roark in GA and much more …  

 Standard Podcast [84:07m]:  Download

Aruba’s Tourism Still in the Tank for August 2006 even after a Concerted Marketing Campaign

As the rest of the Caribbean sees increases in their tourism, Aruba continues to not even break even. Does anyone in Aruba want to rethink the notion that the “Natalee Holloway” situation with go away in 4 days? Do you still doubt Scared Monkey’s June 2, 2005 initial post, This Can’t Be Good For Tourism, Where’s Natalee Holloway?

It is hard to imagine that Aruba’s tourism numbers have still not stabilized after all this time following the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Eventually, after the disastrous 2005 and 2006 decline in tourism Aruba will have to hit rock bottom and show some type of increase. However, even with what little increase they may show the tourism numbers in Aruba are far from what they once were. Especially factoring in the fact that many Caribbean islands are showing rapid increases. The bad news continues in the CBA report for October 2006.

Year to date for the first 8 months of 2006 stay over visitors are down nearly 10%. This while tourism is up across the Caribbean. From the Aruba Central Bank:

• In October 2006, money supply shrank by Afl. 9.7 million or 0.4 percent to Afl. 2,463.6 million. This contraction was the result of an Afl. 8.3 million outflow of funds to abroad and an Afl. 1.4 million decrease in net domestic assets.
• In August 2006, the number of stay-over visitors and their nights spent on the island
  declined by 0.9 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively, compared to the corresponding
  month in 2005.
• In the first eight months of 2006, stay-over visitors and total nights spent on the island shrank by 9 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively.
• According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the average occupancy rate of the hotels for October 2006 shows a contraction of 6.2 percentage points to 73.7 percent, compared to the corresponding month a year earlier.

(click on doc to enlarge)

More disastrous economic numbers are reported from the CBA from the second quarter in Aruba. Couple these continued poor results with the upcoming 2007 BBO “turnover tax”, Royal Caribbean no longer docking in Aruba and the tax battle with Valero.

Quarterly bulletin for the second quarter of 2006

• The Centrale Bank van Aruba (the Bank) mentions in its Bulletin of the second quarter of 2006 that available information indicates a weakening in current business conditions in the second quarter of 2006. Indicative hereof is that the Partial Economic Activity Index (PEAI), as published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), showed a 2.0 percent decline in the volume of business activities, compared to the corresponding quarter a year earlier.
• Compared to previous surveys, a decline in the optimism for the coming months has also been noticed. The performance in business conditions is affected by an ongoing weak performance in the tourism sector, as indicated by the numbers of stay-over visitors and nights spent on the island, which declined by 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively.
• Gross tourism receipts decreased by 4 percent, while the average hotel occupancy rate recorded a 6.3 percentage points decline to 74.4 percent.
• Inflationary pressures remained unabated in the second quarter of 2006. The quarterly
  average inflation rate remained high at 3.9 percent
• This improvement reflected mainly a decrease in payment arrears to government-related institutions (including the AZV) and suppliers of goods and services of, respectively, Afl. 29 million and Afl. 9 million. However, total government debt surged by Afl. 119 million (7 percent) to Afl. 1,882 million, compared to the second quarter of 2005, reflecting increases in both domestic and foreign debt of Afl. 69 million (7 percent) and Afl. 50 million (6 percent), respectively. The debt-to-GD (GDP 2005) ratio rose by 3 percentage points to 47 percent.

Missing NC Twins, Tyler and Holly Needham, Believed Taken to Canada by Biological Mother Allison Lee Quets

17 month old twins, Holly Ann Needham and Tyler Lee Needham, are believed to have been taken across the US/Canadian border by their biological mother, Allison Lee Quets.

Holly Ann Needham

Tyler Lee Needham

If reports are correct, Allison Lee Quets just escalated this kidnapping and has created a real mess for herself. Not only has she taken these children across state lines, she has now escalated the problem by going across international borders.

Read the full story at Missing & Exploited.

Rush, what Rush? Saddam Hussein Transferred to Iraqi Custody … He’ll Be Executed by Saturday

Update: Saddam to Be Executed Tonight

Breaking News … Lawyers: Saddam Is No Longer in U.S. Custody; Judge: Execution to Happen By Saturday. Why wait for Sunday, when there is no time like the present? Some people earn their advancement to the head of the line. There will be no delays, no appeals and no nonsense. Saddam Hussein has been transferred from American to Iraqi custody. This represents one of the last steps in the execution of Saddam Hussein. According to the Iraqi Judge … Saddam Hussein will be executed by Saturday. Can anyone imagine just how long the delay process would take place in the US judicial system to execute Saddam?

An Iraqi judge told the Associated Press Saddam will be executed by Saturday at the latest. A U.S. source in Baghdad said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki wanted to carry out the Butcher of Baghdad’s execution as early as Thursday night, but that it was delayed for logistical reasons, and because of confusion over the Iraqi constitution and the law that governs the tribunal that convicted him of murder. (Fox News)

Saddam handed over to Iraqi custody: lawyer

Yet some how the New York Times thinks that the execution of Saddam Hussein is a “Rush to Hang Saddam”. This coming from the same people who think that the War in Iraq has gone on too long and we should cut and run. A rush to judgment? Is 3 years not enough time for the NY Times? The NYT certainly has a skewed  ideal as to what justice is supposed to be. I think the Kurds may disagree with your definition of justice.

Read more

Mike Tyson Arrested on DUI and Drug Possession Charges

In the “what a surprise” category comes the following. Mike Tyson is in trouble with the law again. The former Boxing Heavy Weight Champion, Mike Tyson, was arrested by police in  Scottsdale, AZ for driving while under the influence and possession of cocaine. What a waste and utter joke Tyson’s life has become. Just a perfect example and a reminder to surround oneself with the right people. From the “Baddest Man on the Planet” to one of the “Saddest”, Tyson has become a cartoon character.

Sgt. Larry Hall said the heavyweight boxer was stopped after his car almost struck a sheriff’s vehicle while leaving the club at about 1:45 a.m.

“He showed signs of impairment, and voluntarily submitted to field sobriety tests,” said Hall, a member of the Buckeye Police Department who was working in the area as part of a holiday DUI task force.

Hall said Tyson was placed under arrest after “showing more signs of impairment” during the field sobriety tests. (AZ Central)

Losing Holiday Weight - Daily Commentary - Friday December 29th, 2006

Dana Pretzer discusses

• Losing the holiday weight while eating what you want with a medical breakthrough

Saddam to be hanged by Sunday

This is good news for the Iraqi people. There are many Bathist loyalists who are participating in the insurrections thinking that they will help Saddam get out of prison and resume a leadership position. By a swift execution of the tyrant, it will cause their will to fight to deteriorate and take a level of pressure off of the newly formed Iraqi Security Forces and US troops.

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, sentenced to death for his role in 148 killings in 1982, will have his sentence carried out by Sunday, NBC News reported Thursday. According to a U.S. military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, Saddam will be hanged before the start of the Eid religious holiday, which begins at sundown Saturday.  via MSNBC.com.

To use crunchy talk, the Iraqi people need closure that Saddam can not come back. A good hanging  will bring that closure and remove another obstacle to peace in Iraq.

UPDATE: Fox News Television is reporting that Saddam has been handed over to the Iraqi Government today, leading to speculation that his demise is imminent. (hat tip Klaasend)

N.C. bar files ethics charges Against Nifong

The State Bar of North Carolina, the governing body for lawyers, has filed charges against Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong today. There have been many inconsistencies in the conduct by the prosecutor that may violate the code of ethics that district attorneys need obey. If Nifong did break the laws that he is paid and entrusted to uphold, he should face the full force and measure of the North Carolina Bar Association.

The North Carolina bar filed ethics charges Thursday against the prosecutor in the Duke lacrosse case, accusing him of breaking four rules of professional conduct when speaking to the reporters about the sensational case. The punishment for ethics violations can range from admonishment to disbarment. Among the rules District Attorney Mike Nifong was accused of violating was a prohibition against making comments “that have a substantial likelihood of heightening public condemnation of the accuser.” The charges will be heard by an independent body called the Disciplinary Hearing Commission, made up of both lawyers and non-lawyers. via the Star-News  More AP

Read NC State Bar Court Documents against Michael B. Nifong

Also covering the story: Captains Quarters, Nifong in Trouble

Former Democratic VP Nominee John Edwards Running again For 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination

In a slow news cycle between Christmas and New Years, former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards throws his hat into the ring for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. Or is it his comb he threw into the race? Let’s not forget one of John Edwards famous “hair scenes” from the 2004 Election, See video here. In any event Edwards is obviously taking advantage of the no political news cycle until Hillary and Obama join the race.

“We want people in this campaign to actually take action now, not later, not after the next election,” the former North Carolina senator said, sounding as much like a recruiter as a presidential campaigner. (AP via Yahoo News)

Edwards will obviously not be running on the “I am a uniter not a divider” theme as in todays announcement he has already brought out the class warfare card.

In his message to supporters, Edwards listed five priorities to change America. Among them: “Guaranteeing health care for every single American,” “Strengthening our middle class and ending the shame of poverty,” “Leading the fight against global warming,” and “Getting America and the world to break our addiction to oil.” (MSNBC)

John Edwards … the every man’s man.

Read more

Timothy McDarrah, Ex US Weekly Gossip Columnist creates his own … Convicted on Sex Charge with a Minor

Timothy McDarrah, 44, a former reporter with the Las Vegas Sun was convicted on sex charges related to soliciting sex with a 13 year old girl. McDarrah had been originally arrested on September 14, 2005 by undercover FBI agents in New York City.

He was charged with one count of using a computer and the Internet “to attempt to entice, induce, coerce and persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity,” according to an indictment handed up in November He was convicted Dec. 20 after an eight-day jury trial in New York, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, according to court documents.

McDarrah, 44, responded in June 2005 to a posting on the craigslist.com Web site offering introductions to the “freshest, youngest” girls in New York, an FBI affidavit said. The gossip writer told an undercover FBI agent, who had posted the advertisement to lure pedophiles, that he would pay $200 for sex with a 13-year-old girl, the affidavit said. (Breitbart)