Irreconcilable Differences

The abrupt dismissal of Communist Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang raises immediate uncertainties about the future of economic reform and the course of political succession in China. Hu, long assumed to be the chosen heir of 82-year-old Deng Xiaoping, has been a vigorous supporter of economic liberalization as well as an advocate of more relaxed political controls.

STAMFORD, Conn. - When the parents of Adam Lanza divorced, the settlement left Nancy Lanza with $24,150 a month in alimony payments and able to live a comfortable life to care for her son. Nancy Lanza, 52, was her son's first victim on Friday, shot to death in the spacious home they shared, authorities said. Adam then took his mother's car and some of her guns, went to the Sandy Hook Elementary School, where he forcefully entered the building and opened fire, killing 20 children and six adults before turning a gun on himself.

Men, it's your health and happiness or hers. Women, it's your health and happiness or his. At the end of the day, if there's housework to be done (and there's always housework to be done) and you’re both employed (as almost 52% of married couples with children younger than 6 are), there's only one winner. Grim, yes. But that is the finding of a study published recently in the Journal of Family Psychology , and conducted by researchers from the University of Southern California.

So much for "Forever in Love," Kenny G. Twenty years after that tune came out - and also 20 years after Kenneth Bruce Gorelick and Balynda Benson-Gorelick said "I do" - the smooth-jazz man has filed for divorce. The papers, filed Thursday and obtained by TMZ, cite irreconcilable differences and indicate he's seeking joint custody of their 14-year-old son, Noah. Kenny didn't exactly strike first. Balynda filed for legal separation back in January, according to E! News, a move that's reflected in the paperwork.

The wife of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa filed for divorce Tuesday afternoon, marking the second time she has sought to dissolve their marriage. The move by Corina Villaraigosa, 49, came a day after the mayor publicly accepted responsibility for their separation, saying he felt "a personal sense of failure" about the end of their 20-year marriage.

Less than a year after it was launched, the small but ambitious Vanguard Theatre Ensemble has run into management problems that cast a cloud over its future. Vanguard producer Kevin Aratari and artistic director Terry Gunkel, founders of the storefront troupe, have decided to break up their team effort due to "irreconcilable differences." Aratari said Thursday the official announcement of his departure will be made next week.

Re the article on ABC's "Civil Wars" ("TV Imitating Life, Sort Of," TV Times, Nov. 1): As to Mr. (Harry) Fain's feelings of boredom and disgust at watching our show, there's little I can say. However, he also attacks us for being unrealistic because of our failure to cite "irreconcilable differences" as the basis for most divorces. Someone might point out to Mr. Fain that those big, tall buildings one sees on our show are located in New York. Given that New York remains a fault state, irreconcilable differences are not, in fact, grounds for divorce.

The wife of actor Pat Morita, star of ABC's "Ohara" and "The Karate Kid" films, filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court this week. Yuki Morita, separated from her husband since Oct. 12, cited irreconcilable differences as grounds for the action. Yuki and Pat Morita were married nearly 18 years. She seeks custody of their daughters, Aly Meguni, 16, and Tia Mijuki, 12, spousal and child support, the family's Tarzana home and other property.

Gov. James J. Blanchard and his wife, Paula, filed for divorce today, citing irreconcilable differences in their marriage, and asked for joint custody of their 16-year-old son. The Democratic governor said he will continue to live at the governor's residence in Lansing.

Splitting: Musician Carlos Santana and his wife, Deborah, are divorcing after 34 years, according to documents filed in Marin County Superior Court. She initiated the filing, citing irreconcilable differences. -- In the doghouse: In the wake of a phone call to his son in which Duane "Dog" Chapman used profanity and a racial slur, A&E has canceled an eight-hour "Dog the Bounty Hunter" marathon that was to have begun at 7 tonight.

Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, are taking great pains to keep the details of their pending divorce under wraps by negotiating the terms privately. But legal experts said it's clear Bryant's wife will leave the marriage with a windfall. Vanessa Bryant filed the divorce petition Friday, citing "irreconcilable differences. " The couple then issued a joint statement saying they had "resolved all the issues incident to their divorce privately. " Celebrity couples like the Bryants turn to mediators — often a retired judge — or sit down with their lawyers to hammer out points of contention such as finances, community property and custody of children, allowing them to evade a public spectacle.

Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce Friday from Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, signaling the end of a decade-long marriage during which she stood by his side through allegations of sexual assault and admission of an extramarital affair. In the petition filed in Orange County Superior Court, Vanessa Bryant cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the divorce. In what appears to be an effort to keep the details of their split out of the public eye, the couple said in a joint statement late Friday that they had "resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately.

Maria Shriver filed for divorce Friday, moving to end her 25-year marriage to Arnold Schwarzenegger just weeks after the former governor publicly acknowledged fathering a child with a member of their household staff. Shriver cited "irreconcilable differences" and requested joint custody of their two minor children. The formal filing was met with little surprise: In May, the two announced they were separating, with Shriver moving out of the family's Brentwood mansion. That news was followed by the bombshell that the former movie star had fathered a child with a former employee who had worked for the family for most of Schwarzenegger and Shriver's marriage.

Men, it's your health and happiness or hers. Women, it's your health and happiness or his. At the end of the day, if there's housework to be done (and there's always housework to be done) and you’re both employed (as almost 52% of married couples with children younger than 6 are), there's only one winner. Grim, yes. But that is the finding of a study published recently in the Journal of Family Psychology , and conducted by researchers from the University of Southern California.

Forgive Terrell Owens for thinking that raising a ruckus in Dallas was the point. Both he and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones both knew what they were getting when they tied the contractual knot three years ago. A mirror would have confirmed that. And only one could afford to cause more trouble than he's worth. The only surprising thing about Jones breaking his self-imposed gag order on all T.O.-related matters to announce Owens' release is that it came so soon after they renewed their vows with a four-year, $34 million extension last summer.

Splitting: Musician Carlos Santana and his wife, Deborah, are divorcing after 34 years, according to documents filed in Marin County Superior Court. She initiated the filing, citing irreconcilable differences. -- In the doghouse: In the wake of a phone call to his son in which Duane "Dog" Chapman used profanity and a racial slur, A&E has canceled an eight-hour "Dog the Bounty Hunter" marathon that was to have begun at 7 tonight.

Singer-actress Madonna has had second thoughts about breaking up with her husband actor Sean Penn and has filed court papers to dismiss a divorce petition, officials said today. Madonna filed for divorce from the tempestuous actor on Dec. 4 in Santa Monica Superior Court. She had cited irreconcilable differences in the turbulent 2-year-old marriage. Several court clerks confirmed today that Madonna filed a petition in Santa Monica Wednesday to dismiss her request for the divorce.

At first, Jessica and Carol Reifer of Torrance were puzzled by a picture postcard titled "Los Angeles at Night" (see photo). They wondered if it was "a comment on L.A. culture or L.A.'s lack of night life?" Of course not. With the rolling blackouts, the Reifers are no longer in the dark about the card's meaning. * ENERGETIC GROUP: By the way, isn't it only a matter of time before a rock group calls itself the Rolling Blackouts?

The wife of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa filed for divorce Tuesday afternoon, marking the second time she has sought to dissolve their marriage. The move by Corina Villaraigosa, 49, came a day after the mayor publicly accepted responsibility for their separation, saying he felt "a personal sense of failure" about the end of their 20-year marriage.