Andy Taylor Says Bye Bye to Duran Duran

To be honest with you, who knew they were even together? However, it appears that Andy Taylor, the bands founding guitarist,  has left the band  right before Duran Duran begins a set of US dates. I am not sure if I am reminded of Spinal Tap or Rock Star by these actions and comments from these aging rock stars. 

A statement on the group’s Web site said the relationship with Taylor had become unworkable.

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Housing Prices Drop While Sales Increase and Rents Rise

This sounds like a market working perfectly. While the rest of the media is clamoring about the real estate market experiencing its biggest drop in home prices in 35 years, the smart money was watching 2 other statistics. Rental prices are rising very quickly and homes are selling at a higher rate than was to be expected.

So it sounds like a market that was oversold is correcting and demand is building up. To read more about how housing market economics work and more on todays housing announcement, go to the Real Estate Bloggers for the rest.

Missing Persons Updates: George Smith, Jennifer Kesse & Trenton Duckett

The following are updates on three of the most past covered cases in the news. It is hard to imagine after all the time that has gone by, none of the three missing person cases have provided answers for their parents. Our hearts go out to each one of their parents. All parents of missing loved one’s deserve a conclusion. Check up the most recent updates at Missing & Exploited.

Judge dismisses law suit against cruise line by family of Missing Honeymooner George Smith

Jennifer Kesse Missing for Nine Months … The Search Continues

Screen Analysis in the case of Missing Trenton Duckett Proves Inconclusive

President George W.Bush Signs the US – Mexican Border Fence Bill … its a Start … Kinda

This morning President George Bush signed the “Secure Fence Act” into law.

President Bush signed a bill Thursday authorizing 700 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to give Republican candidates a pre-election platform for asserting they’re tough on illegal immigration. (Yahoo News)

It is about time someone  does something, even though it is far to little with the threat at hand. A note to all politicians, this best not be window dressing. Nor should this be the end.

“We have a responsibility to enforce our laws,” he said. “We have a responsibility to secure our borders. We take this responsibility serious.”

Border security is an important topic as it deals with the issue of illegal immigration and national security. If politicians do not think that this issue does not resonate with the electorate they best think again. If you do not think this will be an issue in 2006 and especially in 2008, you are foolish.

Take a listen to what people who really care about border security have to say. On Sunday Dana Pretzer of Scared Monkeys radio discussed these very issues and the impact of border security on the upcoming elections  with Carmen Mercer, Vice President,  of The Minute Man Project. (interview: 12:00 — 29:40) Below are just some of Carmen’s comments:

• “Well we have always thought that terrorists have gone, have come across the border and entered this   country illegally and we  now we have the proof with the report from the Tancredo office …”
• “… even though the Senate has approved the 700 miles of fence and the President still has to sign it …”
• “Our goal is really  to out Minutemen into our Government … to make sure  that the country  is put back into its original state that it was supposed to be in.”
• “The American public is not going to sit back. You know, its an avalanche that cannot be stopped anymore and we have been doing this for almost 5 years Dana and we’re certainly are not going to stop now. We will  not stop until our border are secure …”

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Case of Tuberculosis Detected in Horacio Oduber Hospital (HOH) in Aruba

A case of infectious tuberculosis (tbc) as been detected in Aruba. It appears that this is the second reported case of the highly contagious disease in Aruba this year. The other being in July.

Tbc is a contagious infection disease, caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis.  It is being spread by particles in the air coming from the coughing or sneezing of a patient.  Most of the time, tbc starts in the lungs, but can spread to other organs.  Harms explained that Aruba runs a high risk of getting tbc cases on the island.  “Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic are risk countries.

The hospital reports that the patient has been isolated to prevent any further contamination. Those patients that were in the same ward are being tested.

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