Brenda Martin overjoyed to be home

EDMONTON - The anger and bitterness that consumed Brenda Martin during more than two years in a Mexican prison disappeared the moment she landed on Canadian soil today.

"She said that was the most exciting feeling in the world to land on Canadian soil," said Deb Tieleman, Martin's childhood friend and leader of the public campaign to free Martin. "The minute that plane landed in Canada the bitterness just evaporated.

"She is overwhelmed with gratitude to everyone who has helped her and it is seriously genuine," said Tieleman after speaking with Martin by telephone from the Grand Valley Institution in Kitchener-Waterloo. "Her attitude, her whole demeanour has changed."

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Letters published in the Times

Having the ability to keep paying to fight in order to satisfy his I-am-always-right attitude (Cook) and that of his followers -- priceless -- since the taxpayers are picking up the tab.

When will the taxpayers of El Paso see that this is not about Asarco, this is about individuals who want change based on what they want and how they view their city (not ours).

You don't penalize a business for following the rules, all the while saying you want to draw new business here.

Asarco now, Western Refinery next, maybe Helen of Troy É followed by whatever other industry the mayor and his cohorts choose as their target.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Embrace your critics for they point out your faults."

We are not perfect, Mr. Mayor, but just because you were elected mayor by a small margin of voters does not make you perfect.

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Hamlin climbs to 4th in points - roanoke.com

The hottest driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series the last five races? It's not Kyle Busch, winner at Talladega last weekend. It's not points leader Jeff Burton. It's Denny Hamlin.

He enters this weekend's race at Richmond International Raceway with five consecutive finishes of sixth or better, including a victory at Martinsville. Hamlin has climbed from 19th to fourth in points during that run.

While Hamlin makes his move, many of the questions he hears are about teammates: Kyle Busch's early-season success or Tony Stewart's contract saga.

Consider the Chesterfield, Va., native, the forgotten driver at Joe Gibbs Racing.

"It's just motivation when we don't get the press that I feel like we deserve,'' Hamlin says.

Hamlin and his team are noted for using unfavorable preseason predictions as motivation.


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Fans quick to acquit Anthony

The road to forgiveness started early.

Long before tipoff, as a matter of fact.

Sitting about five rows up in Section 126, longtime season-ticket holders Jan and Jerry Selinfreund expected Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets to redeem themselves in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Pick yourself up, dust yourself off," Jan said. "It's a whole new ballgame."

When the capacity crowd gradually filed into the arena, Nuggets fans echoed that sentiment in unison, cheering Anthony wholeheartedly during pregame introductions.

Apparently, there ain't no quit among the die-hard fans.

"I don't want to blame a player," Jerry Selinfreund said. "Even when I'm down on a player, it's usually for a very short time. I bounce back because we're fans. This is our city."

About 48 hours after proclaiming he, his coaches and his teammates "quit" in Game 3 against the Lakers, Anthony was not treated as a hostile witness in his own house.


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Nigeria: Woman Stabs Husband to Death

The biblical saying that he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from God, became the opposite in the case of Salisu Lawal, who, three years ago, took one Kuburat Lowole as wife.

Crime Guard gathered that trouble reared it's ugly head in their home few months later, following heated argument between the couple which most times degenerated into fighting. The situation became tensed when, according to a neighbor, Salisu lost his job and consequently his relevance as the head of the home as he could no longer meet some of his obligations. The couple's face-me- I -face-you one -room apartment at Number 80, Kadara street in Ebute-Metta area of Lagos was therefore known for unnecessary noise and destruction of property at every given time.

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Never too late to get started; fitness program aimed at women over age 45

Frances Stewart has decided it is time for her to get in shape.

The 53-year-old Chatham resident was among the 120 women over the age of 45 that attended the 'My Turn . . . My Time' workshop at the Wheels Inn on Saturday.

Stewart said she has developed several health problems over the years as result of being overweight. Even walking to an office near her home "is an achievement on its own," she said.

By adding some exercise into her daily routine, Stewart said her health would probably improve.

"You have to have a goal," she said.

Stewart admits that it can be overwhelming to start a fitness regiment at her age, however the top deterrent for her so far has been a lack of motivation.

"It's important to have a different attitude," she said.


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Botswana: Empowerment : Batswana Businesses Should be Efficient

We are committed to the development of our country and especially in supporting her citizens who run businesses.

But this gesture almost always leaves us exasperated and irate, chucking out all we have learned in yoga and other success motivation exercises due to poor service delivery. When we heard of a glass cutting business in Mochudi, we were over the moon to support them by buying window panes from them. After cutting the window panes, we were told that they had run out of wrapping paper.

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