| Ponce: Puerto Rico's second city steps out
Second cities, the stepdaughters of the urban world, have always had trouble emerging from the shadows of their more glamorous big sisters. And ever since it was founded in 1692 on the island's southern coast between a mountain range and the Caribbean Sea, Ponce has had to contend with San Juan's pre-eminence. It was San Juan that settlers chose as the island's seat of government and center of commerce. It was San Juan where developers built glittery casinos and high-rise hotels. And San Juan is where cruise ships deposit thousands of tourists every day. But in the last few years, Ponce has started making a serious effort at big-city respectability. Tourist visits jumped 8 percent from 2005 to 2007, partly because three airlines — Continental, JetBlue and Spirit — now offer direct flights from the continental United States to Ponce's renovated airport.
Christmas: The season when trash means cash
The worst are so dismal it makes one shudder to approach the bookshop tills they surround. No Christmas stocking filler succeeds, in the first place, without being a potential impulse buy. Had Ben Schott not taken care to typeset and illustrate his series of Miscellanies so beautifully, they would never have sold in the quantities they did. Had Eats, Shoots and Leaves been called Why Punctuation Matters, Lynne Truss would not be hailed as the patron saint of the pedant. However, the defining emotion generated by many stocking fillers is slight disappointment. It looks pretty, its title makes you laugh, but after Christmas lunch it accompanies you to the loo - and is best kept there. .
Palestinian suicide bomber attacks shopping centre
A Palestinian suicide bomber has attacked a shopping centre in a remote southern Israeli town, killing one woman and wounding nine other people. Militants claimed the attacker infiltrated Israel from Egypt, fuelling Israel's concerns that it was left more vulnerable to assault after Gaza militants blew up the border with Egypt. Police said they killed a second attacker before he had a chance to detonate his explosives belt. The severed head of the suicide bomber lay in a pool of blood next to his shot comrade. An offshoot of moderate Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement claimed responsibility for the attack, complicating recently revived peace talks. Militants said other attackers were already inside Israel, poised to carry out further assaults.
Cockrel withdraws his choice of City Council attorney
Detroit City Council President Ken Cockrel Jr. announced today that he is withdrawing his choice of Robert W. Palmer to serve as the councils independent attorney to represent its efforts to oppose Mayor Kwame Kilpatricks appeal to stop the release of key documents in the text message scandal. .
Mayor defends downtown ‘infill’
As the largest source of tax revenue in New Haven and an essential player in the downtown area, Yale would play a central role in the mayor's expansion efforts, he said. The proposed addition of two new residential colleges — which DeStefano said he has supported since the University officials approached him with the idea years ago — would have both positive and negative impacts on the city, he said. In the past, Yale's growth has generated more jobs, but sometimes at the cost of valuable property that could potentially be used for commercial purposes, he said, though the two new colleges would not be located downtown. “The only problem with sleeping with a friendly 800-pound gorilla is sometimes it rolls over in its sleep," DeStefano said, citing Leonard Smart, the associate director of the Greater New Haven Business and Professional Association.
TODAY'S VOTE
Police have been called in and the council has ordered an urgent review after claims its parking arrangements across the town could be illegal. If the allegations are proved, the council could have to pay back thousands of fines imposed on motorists. .
Two evangelists lose clout on ORU's board
For more: Read the latest ORU stories, view the lawsuit and other documents and watch slide shows and video.
Creflo Dollar resigned from the regents, and Benny Hinn is now a "regent emeritus" with no voting power.
The evangelist Creflo Dollar has resigned from the Oral Roberts University board of regents, and another evangelist, Benny Hinn, has lost his status as a voting mem ber of the board.
ORU's spokesman Jeremy Burton confirmed Wednesday that Dollar had resigned and that Hinn had been named a "regent emeritus" without a vote on the board.
Both refused last week to respond to a Senate inquiry into lavish spending by evangelists.
A Canadian businessman, Richard Pearson, has been named to ORU's board of business regents.
Have we got a proposition for you
They create a media buzz. But we don't have anything really wacky." In Esposito's estimation, if Sunday's Super Bowl brings in a record $95 million worth of legalized betting, breaking the $94.5 million handle on Super Bowl XL that Pittsburgh stole from Seattle, prop bets will represent 10 to 15 percent of that figure. That's serious green. The prop bets that are bringing Caesars Palace the most business include any involving Brady and Moss, but Esposito said crossover bets that include stats from another sport played the same day are gaining in popularity. "They really started with props tied to Michael Jordan in the early '90s," Esposito said. "Then with guys like Kobe, Shaq, Oscar de la Hoya. We try to focus on stuff that's interesting." For example, his book offers a bet on whether the Rangers and Canadiens will score more goals in their NHL game Sunday than Wes Welker will have receptions.
Man Marries Dog To Lift Curse
We have all heard the 'man bites dog' stories, but how about a real-life 'man marries dog' tale!This one takes the biscuit, and it could only happen in India, the land of the Kama Sutra. But you won't find this kind of love story between man and beast in the ancient Indian sex manual.
It took place for real during a traditional hindu ceremony at a temple in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The groom in question was a 33-year-old Indian farmer named Selvakumar, and he was wed to a female dog named Selvi. He married his four legged bitch to atone for stoning two other dogs to death and stringing them up in a tree 15 years ago.
He believed the act cursed him and he had been suffering ever since, he told the Hindustan Times. After he stoned the dogs he said his legs and hands got paralysed, he lost hearing in one ear, and his speech was impaired.
Vicious attack and robbery on celebrating 17-year-old
The victim handed over his Motorola mobile phone and £20 cash and his attackers ran off in the direction of Lenthall Avenue. Bill Stock of Thurrock police said: "This was a vicious street robbery and was terrifying for the young victim. "We want to catch the people responsible and would urge anyone with information to contact us immediately." The robber who struck the first blow is described as white, aged 19 to 20, of stocky build with cropped hair and wore a tracksuit. His accomplice, who also struck one of the blows, is described as Afro Carribean, aged 19 to 20, 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build with a shaved head. He is described as being smartly dressed and wore jeans and a jumper. Witnesses to the robbery, which happened just before 2am on Tuesday, January 1, are asked to contact police at Grays on 01375 391212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Blossoms: Major changes add a touch of class to public Hibiscus Golf ...
No golfer attuned to the local circuit over the past five or 10 years would deny that Hibiscus Golf Club wasn't exactly the creme de la creme of choices. A pokey pro shop, a skeleton management and service crew, and no-frills landscaping would bear that out. And yet, the 20 year-old club had a certain attraction for area golfers. It was like an old shoe, accommodating, comfortable, familiar. And, the price was right, considering the plethora of expensive new courses that sprang up in anticipation of boomer-fueled, unbridled growth in the area. But still, Hibiscus Golf Club's economic performance remained static. Three years ago, owner and local entrepreneur David Nassif had a vision: upgrade the club from head to toe, resist going private, and -— most importantly — don't fleece the regulars.
Azinger alters first two days of Ryder Cup format
Paul Azinger has already introduced sweeping changes to the U.S. Ryder Cup team selection process. Now he has altered the format of the tournament. The U.S. captain announced Wednesday that the order of the team matches on the first and second days of the competition will be reversed, meaning there will be four foursomes (alternate shot) matches followed by four four-ball (best ball) matches. As usual, the Ryder Cup will conclude with 12 singles matches on Sunday. In each of the past two Ryder Cups -- routs for the European team -- the four-ball format was used in the morning each day. "I believe it was 1997, I think Seve (Ballesteros) changed it to best ball in the morning and alternate shot in the afternoon. I felt like the Americans had an edge in alternate shot and I think it's partly responsible for why Europe has gotten off to a pretty hot start," Azinger said at a news conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he is competing in this week's FBR Open.
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