THE TRUTH IS FLEXIBLE IN ARUBA

Cow Power, Its Merits And Failings

By Roger, Boycott Blogger

In my state of Vermont, where winters are cold and fuel scarce, the utilities are testing generating electricity from a substance that is plentiful here: cow manure.This "Cow Power" program is aimed at promoting a renewable energy source, and given the importance of dairying in Vermont, no lack of the material is likely.

Aruba is not home to dairy herds; its flat landscape and barren soil would not suit them. But it has at least one refinery, and should be well adapted to solar power. So "cow power" is not a concern to Aruba. But it seems that a related material is plentiful indeed.

What could this be? Well, consider Karen Jenssen's remark that by the end of January we were going to see some fireworks in Aruba about the Natalee Holloway case. Well, maybe they ran out of matches.

Or consider the recent appearance of Daddy and Mrs. van der Sloot on Good Morning America. We were told about the hate mail they'd received (but they didn't show any samples, didn't complaint to police as far as I know, and didn't identify any of the alleged senders), about the transformation of Joran (to say that he was no longer the same boy suggests some kind of improvement, but I doubt it), about Beth's need to explain herself (maybe "I'm searching for my daughter, last seen in your son's company" isn't clear enough?), etc.

Of course, the Laurel-and-Hardy lineup could have explained a few things themselves. Such as why Daddy brought Joran to the casino, drinking and gambling, in violation of the law. Or why Daddy may have destroyed evidence by taking his son's Web site off the Internet. Or why Daddy denied saying "No body, no case," when Karen Janssen said specifically on the June 29 "Scarborough Report" that he did say exactly that, on the first day after the disappearance.

Truth seems to be flexible in Aruba. For instance, Gerald Dompig said that the Texas Equusearch people would be welcome back to Aruba to do a new search ... but the government might or might not cooperate with them. Or all the hoopla about a search of the sand dunes based on a tip from a "very, very reliable source" (Jossy Mansur's words) ... a friend of Joran. Or the interviews with Mountain Brook teens who were on the ill-destined Aruba trip ... interviews about which we have heard nothing.

Or here's an example from June 11 on Fox News: a spokesman for the Aruban Minister of Justice told Fox News that Natalee Holloway was confirmed dead and that authorities knew the location of her body. However, he later retracted the statement, saying he was the victim of a "misinformation campaign."

Sure is hard to get the facts straight, isn't it? I guess it must be, when one Aruban can't trust another. (Just wondering, how many people do they have on such a small island to make these reports and contradict each other?)

But you get my point ... cow power isn't prevalent in Aruba. But a related substance is.