Michael Jackson

I am not a huge Michael Jackson fan, however over the years I have enjoyed some of his music.

It will be a great loss that he has passed on. As an American living in this awesome country I wanted to check out Hollywood and Michael's star. Can you say PURE CRAZINESS ... the amount of people that were there was ASTOUNDING. The amount of guards and police officers surrounding the star (which you could no longer see) was AMAZING. After spending a day at Universal Studios, Hayley and I went to Mels dinner parked the truck and headed down the street (i figured no real reason to know exactly where the star was we would just follow the crowds) we crossed over Hollywood blvd near the Kodak theater as the crowds were greater on that side of the street and we saw a line for what i kept wondering what it was for (i didn't ask though) upon walking a bit more we realized that this was the line to place an item on or near his star and take a picture (um can you say no way were we going to wait in this line rumor was that it was over a 2 hr wait) we went to the Graumm's theater took some pictures (hayley had never been on Hollywood blvd) and then we tried to leave well you can not leave the way you came (people were tense and pissy) and it was almost impossible to keep walking as you were cutting people off who waited in the line to see the star well but some struck of luck an officer was watching many of us debate this scenario and opened a line up for us to walk by ... I did manage quite a few pictures of the star the officers surrounding the star kept saying just click it and move on and come back another day. Can you see us and Michael's star covered in flowers, animals signs cards and so much more and this is how we got to be a part of POP CULTURE HISTORY. We crossed back over Hollywood blvd and that is where i snapped the picture of the people waiting in line and the crowd around the star (as you can plainly see the star was been set off by barricades). I almost forgot to mention the amount of street vendors trying to sell michael items such as posters and shirts. I was amazed to say the least!!!

Today in History

October 17

1777
British Gen. Burgoyne surrendered in Saratoga, N.Y. during the American Revolution.


1931
Mobster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion for which he was sentenced to 11 years in prison.






1933
Albert Einstein arrived in the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany.


1979
Mother Theresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the poor in Calcutta, India.






1989
An earthquake measuring 7.1 in magnitude killed 67 and injured over 3,000 in San Francisco.

7 wonders of the world

I use to say that i wanted to see the 7 wonders of the world .. the odd thing is that do i want to see the old ones or the new ones --
The original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is a list that has no doubt long frustrated intrepid travelers. Six of the seven structures on the list haven't existed for centuries, and must be forever imagined, never seen. (And one of the seven, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, may never have existed at all, according to some historians.)
Herodotus is believed to have started the original list, way back in the 5th century B.C., so it's no surprise that the architectural marvels he praised were not around for modern man to admire. But as of 7/7/07 travelers should take note: a new list is out, one that's modern in both origin and scope, and each of the structures on it can be viewed in person.
100 Million Votes
The new Seven Wonders of the World was compiled by popular vote over a six year period by a nonprofit group headed by Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber. In 1999 Weber began collecting suggestions from Internet users around the world. A list of over 200 nominations was narrowed down to 70, and then to 21, and finally to 7. The group reported more than 100 million votes, received via the Internet and cell phone messages, which, if true, makes this the largest poll ever conducted.
Not everyone has welcomed the list with open arms. Egyptian officials were not pleased that the Pyramids of Giza, the only original wonder that still exists, had to compete in the contest. Eventually the organizers decided to remove it from the voting and make it an honorary choice (making it a list of eight). And the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) did not support the contest, pointing out that the results reflected only the opinions of the cyber voters.
But for Warner and other organizers, the contest was a way to celebrate cultural diversity and history, and to encourage travel and communication. Half of the money raised during the contest will be used to fund the preservation and restoration of monuments around the world, including a giant Buddha statue destroyed by the Taliban in 2000 in Afghanistan.

The new list:
The Great Wall of China
This 4,160-mile wall was built to protect China from invading Huns, Mongols, and other tribes, and to unite fortifications into one defense system. Begun in the 7th century B.C., the barricade took hundreds of years to build, and ranks as the world's longest man-made structure-and is apparently the only one visible from space.

PetraJordan
This ancient capital city was built around 9 B.C. during the
reign of King Aretas IV and continued to flourish during the
Roman Empire. It is now visible in its pink stone ruins and
carved façade.

Christ Redeemer StatueBrazil
Standing 125 feet tall atop the Corcovado Mountain high above Rio, this statue took five years to build. Constructed in France by sculptor Paul Landowski, it was shipped to Brazil in pieces, and then carried up the mountain by train, where it was reassembled.
Machu PicchuPeru
This "city in the clouds" was built 8,000 feet above sea level in the
15th century by Incan emperor Pachacutec. Abandoned by the Incas,
the city remained unknown until it was rediscovered by an explorer in 1911.
Pyramid at Chichen ItzaMexico
The center of Mayan civilization in its day, Chichen Itza is still visible in several structures, including the pyramid of Kukulkan.



Roman ColosseumItaly
This giant, 50,000 seat amphitheater in the center of Rome was built over 2,000 years ago, and still influences the design of sports stadiums worldwide.
Taj MahalIndia
Built in 1630 by a grieving emperor, Shah Jahan, in honor of his dead
wife, this white marble structure combines Indian, Persian, and
Islamic style of architecture.

Today in History -- JULY 3

1608

Samuel de Champlain founded the city of Quebec.

1775

Commander in chief George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Mass.

1863 The Battle of Gettysburg ended.

1890 Idaho became the 43rd state in the United States.

1930
The U.S. Veterans Administration was created by Congress.

1962
Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1958
Aaron Tippin born in Pensacola, Florida

1993 Alison Krauss joined the the Grand Ole Opry

2001
Jimmy Buffett's box set "Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads" certified quadruple platinum

2001
Trisha Yearwood's "Songbook - A Collection" certified quadruple platinum

Today in History - JUNE 27

As my life is boring and I didn't do any layouts, but thanks to Anne on my piffing group i got some great cropper hopper paper sorters and have spent the last 2 nights sorting paper. It is looking good! Thanks Anne.

So for today

1922
The Newbery Medal for children’s literature was first awarded.

1949
Gene Autry recorded the #1 single "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

1950
President Harry S. Truman ordered the Air Force and Navy into the Korean War.

1959
Lorrie Morgan born in Nashville, Tennessee

1969
Police and gays clashed at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, fostering the gay rights movement.

1985
The legendary Route 66, running from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., was decertified, the victim of the Interstate Highway System.

2003
The national do-not-call registry, formed to combat unwanted telemarketing calls and administered by the Federal Trade Commission, enrolled almost three-quarters of a million phone numbers on its first day.

Today in History June 26

1819
The bicycle was patented by W. K. Clarkson.

1906
The first Grand Prix motor race

was held in Le Mans, France.

1976
The CN tower in Toronto opened, the world's tallest

free-standing structure.

1977
Elvis Presley gave his final

concert in Indianapolis, Indiana

1989 ---- DOES ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER WHERE THEY WERE ON THIS DAY!
Alan Jackson signed

with Arista Records; it was his first

recording contract, and he was Arista's

first country artist

1990
The Judds' "Greatest Video Hits" certified gold

2000
The first map of the human genome, which required decoding more than 3 billion biochemical "letters" of human DNA, is completed.

2003
Former South Carolina senator

Strom Thurmond died at age 100.

JUNE 20 - the day i could hear and

Well the flushing and the meds have worked wonders on these old ages ears!

I can hear and the tinnuis in the left ear is almost gone!

It is so cool to hear again and with virtually no pain!

TODAY

1756
British soldiers were thrown into the cell known as the "Black Hole of Calcutta."

1782
The Great Seal of the United States was adopted.

1819
The 320-ton Savannah became the first steamship to cross the Atlantic.

1837
Queen Victoria ascended the British throne.

1863
West Virginia became the 35th state in the United States.

1893
Lizzie Borden, accused of murdering her parents, was found innocent by a jury in New Bedford, Mass.

1967
Muhammad Ali was convicted of violating

Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted.

Today in History JUNE 19

Will also be known to me as the day i could hear again! I have had horrible pains in my ear, i have tried every fol remedy in exsistence to lessen the pain but to no avail so i called the dr and away i went. This visit was a good one. She said no more blood pressure meds (YEAH) i have maintained a 10 pound weight loss (i guess eating right and a little exercise are good for me ... who knew) and the nurse used this high tech equipment to help me hear (NOT) okay so i had horrible ear wax build up caused by allergies (WHO KNEW) they tucked a bowl under my ear got a syringe filled it with water and peroxide and flushed away within 10 min the world was min again ... i could hear everything she was saying ... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh thanks to the wonders of medicine!

Well these things also happened today probably more exicting than my day!

1862
Congress abolished slavery in the U.S. territories.

1867
The first running of the Belmont Stakes.

1934
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was created.

1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved.

1977
Pope Paul VI proclaimed John Neumann, the first male saint from the United States.

1987
The Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law requiring any public school teaching the theory of evolution to teach creationism as well.

Today in History - June 5

1783
Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier gave the first successful balloon flight demonstration.

1884
Civil War hero Gen. William T. Sherman refused the Republican nomination for president with the words, “I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected.”

1933
The United States went off the gold standard.

1947
Sen. George Marshall proposed a plan (Marshall Plan) to help Europe recover financially from the effects of World War II.

1968
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was shot by an assassin and died the next day.

1981
The Centers for Disease Control published the first report about the disease that would later become known as AIDS.

2002
Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home.

2004
Former president Ronald Reagan died.