TOUR THE WORLD

TOP 6 MOST VISITED TOURIST PLACES IN AMERICA

2010-01-25T01:05:00.000-08:00

1. TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK

Times Square, the most bustling square of New York, is known for its many Broadway theatres, cinemas and super signs.

Times Square has all sorts of fun, exciting and informative tours to explore other parts of the city. You can Choose from walking, bike, bus, food, limo, TV, landmark, ethnic or water tours.

Times Square Alliance estimates an average of more than 2,000 pedestrians traversing a block of 7th Avenue during a 15-minute weekday period.

2. THE LAS VEGAS STRIP, NEVADA

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and entertainment.

Enticing over 31 million visitors,about 80 percent of the city’s total (39.2 million) visitors, a year with its million-gigawatt smile and globetrotting attractions, Las Vegas Strip is more than glitz and gambling. – [Source: National Scenic Byways Program]

3. NATIONAL MALL AND MEMORIAL PARKS, WASHINGTON D.C

National Mall & Memorial Parks contains some of the oldest protected park lands in the National Park Service.

Many of the nation’s iconic public landmarks are found in the 1,000-plus acres of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, including the Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Memorials, and the Korean and Vietnam War Veterans Memorials.

4. FANEUIL HALL MARKETPLACE, BOSTON, MA

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which gets 20 million visitors, encompasses four historic places in one location — Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market, all set around a quaint cobblestone promenade where jugglers, magicians and musicians entertain the visitors.

There are more than 100 places to eat, shop and drink at this historic site.

5. DISNEY WORLD'S MAGIC KINGDOM LAKE, BUENA VISTA, FL

The most popular of Disney’s Florida attractions saw a 2.5 percent increase [17.1 million] in visitation compared with 2006, according to the TEA/ERA Theme Park Attendance Report.

How the Magic Kingdom has managed to maintain its charm and appeal over the years is a lesson in simplicity. It has stayed true to its original vision, a place where families could gather in a clean and safe environment to enjoy the time they spend together.

6. DISNEYLAND PARK ANAHEIM, CA

Walt Disney’s original theme park features eight themed lands with classic Disney characters, favorite attractions, live entertainment, and parades.

With nearly 15 million visitors last year, the original Disney park, had a record season according to the TEA/ERA.

Currently the park has been visited by more than 515 million guests since it opened, including presidents, royalty and other heads of state.

THE PYRAMID EGYPT

2010-01-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

However, the Egyptians started constructing them after 2700 B.C. and were built as tombs for the Pharaohs. The most well-known and the largest pyramids of Egypt are the Pyramids at Giza which are said to be the largest ever built, and the Great Pyramid at Giza took 23 years to complete for about a work force of 30,000. About 118 pyramids have been identified and are very popular with people from all over the world.

The shape of Egyptian pyramids is thought to represent the primordial mound from which the Egyptians believed the earth was created. The shape of a pyramids is thought to be representative of the descending rays of the sun, and most pyramids were faced with polished, highly reflective white limestone, in order to give them a brilliant appearance when viewed from a distance. Pyramids were often also named in ways that referred to solar luminescence. For example, the formal name of the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur The Southern Shining Pyramid, and that of Senwosret at el-Lahun was Senwosret is Shining.

While it is generally agreed that pyramids were burial monuments, there is continued disagreement on the particular theological principles that might have given rise to them. One theory is that they were designed as a type of "resurrection machine."[7]

The Egyptians believed the dark area of the night sky around which the stars appear to revolve was the physical gateway into the heavens. One of the narrow shafts that extends from the main burial chamber through the entire body of the Great Pyramid points directly towards the center of this part of the sky. This suggests the pyramid may have been designed to serve as a means to magically launch the deceased pharaoh's soul directly into the abode of the gods.

All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile, which as the site of the setting sun was associated with the realm of the dead in Egyptian mythology.[8]
In 1842 Karl Richard Lepsius produced the first modern list of pyramids, in which he counted 67. A great many more have since been discovered. As of November 2008, 118 Egyptian pyramids have been identified.[3]

The location of Pyramid 29, which Lepsius called the "Headless Pyramid", was lost for a second time when the structure was buried by desert sands subsequent to Lepsius' survey. It was only found again during an archaeological dig conducted in 2008.[9]

Many pyramids are in a poor state of preservation or buried by desert sands. If visible at all they may appear as little more than mounds of rubble. As a consequence archaeologists are continuing to identify and study previously unknown pyramid structures.

The most recent pyramid to be discovered is that of Queen Sesheshet, mother of 6th Dynasty Pharaoh Teti, located at Saqqara. The discovery was announced by Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, on 11 November 2008.[4][10]

All of Egypt's pyramids, except the small Third Dynasty pyramid of Zawyet el-Amwat (or Zawyet el-Mayitin), are sited on the west bank of the Nile, and most are grouped together in a number of pyramid fields. The most important of these are listed geographically, from north to south, below.

MACHU PICCHU IN PERU

2010-01-14T06:12:00.000-08:00

Machu Picchu (Quechua: Machu Pikchu, "Old Peak", pronounced [ˈmɑtʃu ˈpiktʃu]) is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,430 metres (8,000 ft) above sea level.[1] It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu is one of the most familiar symbols of the Inca Empire.

The Incas started building it around AD 1430 but it was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Although known locally, it was largely unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, an American historian. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction.

Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.[1] Since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and is considered a sacred place.

Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are located in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had removed from Machu Picchu in the early twentieth century.
Machu Picchu in Peru, which means ‘Old Peak,” is one of the most enigmatic ancient sites in the world. According to legend, Machu Picchu was a long time ago considered to be a sacred place. The credit for the creation of the extraordinary city goes to the Inca people who have erected many stone structures and turned the place into an art form.

Two thousand feet above the Urubamba river, these ruins consist of baths, temples, palaces and about 150 houses, all very well preserved. These gray granite structures, some of which weigh more than 50 tons are so perfectly sculpted that they are nothing less than architectural genius. They were rediscovered by a Yale archaeologist in 1911. The ethereal beauty, the workmanship and history of the place attracts millions of tourists each year.
Machu Picchu lies in the southern hemisphere, some 13 degrees south of the equator.[9] It is 80 kilometers northwest of Cusco, on the crest of the mountain Machu Picchu, located about 2,450 metres (8,000 ft) above mean sea level, over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) lower than Cusco, which has an altitude of 3,600 metres (12,000 ft).[9] As such, it had a milder climate than the Inca capital. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America, one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Latin America[10] and is the most visited tourist attraction in Peru.

The year at Machu Picchu is divided between wet and dry seasons, with the majority of annual rainfall falling between the months of October through to April, however rain can fall any time of the year.[9]

Machu Picchu is situated above the Urubamba Valley. The cliffs of Machu Picchu drop vertically for 600 metres (2,000 ft) to the Urubamba River at their base. The location of the city was a military secret, and its deep precipices and mountains provide excellent natural defenses. The Inca Bridge, an Inca rope bridge, across the Urubamba River in the Pongo de Mainique, provided a secret entrance for the Inca army. Another Inca bridge to the west of Machu Picchu, the tree-trunk bridge, at a location where a gap occurs in the cliff that measures 6 metres (20 ft), could be bridged by two tree trunks. If the trees were removed, it would leave a 570 metres (1,900 ft) fall to the base of the cliffs, also discouraging invaders.

The city sits in a saddle between the two mountains Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu,[2] with a commanding view down two valleys and a nearly impassable mountain at its back. It has a water supply from springs that cannot be blocked easily, and enough land to grow food for about four times as many people as ever lived there. The hillsides leading to it have been terraced, not only to provide more farmland to grow crops, but to steepen the slopes which invaders would have to ascend. There are two high-altitude routes from Machu Picchu across the mountains back to Cusco, one through the sun gate, and the other across the Inca bridge. Both easily could be blocked if invaders should approach along them. Regardless of its original purpose, it is strategically located and readily defended.

N-CUBE: NEW NIGERIAN NIGHTMARE FACES JURY TODAY

2010-01-08T10:08:00.001-08:00

DETROIT – Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was tackled by a passenger on board a packed U.S. jetliner on Christmas as flames shot from his clothes. President Barack Obama calls him a "suspected terrorist." And an al-Qaida branch has taken responsibility.

The young Nigerian man arrived at federal court in Detroit Friday for his arraignment on charges that he failed to detonate a chemical-laden explosive on the Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight. U.S. Marshals Service said Abdulmutallab was in a dark Chevy Suburban that drove into an underground entrance. Outside the courthouse, authorities set up metal barricades outside the courthouse and limiting foot traffic in the area. A protester stood holding a sign that read: "No U.S. Rights For Terrorists."

Experts say that with so much evidence stacked against Abdulmutallab, his defense team is left with few options as the case moves forward.

Attorneys outside the case say the 23-year-old's lawyers can challenge incriminating statements to the FBI, seek a mental-health exam for Abdulmutallab — and seriously consider a plea deal.

"This is not a case of mistaken identity or a whodunit. For the defense, it's damage control," said Joseph Niskar, a defense lawyer who was involved in a 2001 terrorism case in Detroit that fell apart for the government.

A federal grand jury indicted Abdulmutallab this week on six charges, including one that could put him away for life: the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction to kill nearly 300 people. That weapon, according to the government, was an explosive hidden under his clothing. The FBI says Abdulmutallab tried to detonate it with a syringe of chemicals.

Since the failed attack, security at airports in the U.S. and around the world has tightened as the Obama administration acknowledged government missteps in the near-catastrophe.

On Thursday, Obama said anew that the government had the information that might have prevented the botched attack but failed to piece it together. He announced about a dozen changes designed to fix that, including new terror watch list guidelines and wider and quicker distribution of intelligence reports.

On Sunday, Obama's counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan, said Abdulmutallab would be offered a plea deal in exchange for valuable information about his contacts in Yemen and elsewhere.

Abdulmutallab's lawyers did not return messages from The Associated Press seeking comment, and Detroit's new U.S. attorney, Barbara McQuade, said no offer has been made yet.

"We'll take the case one step at a time," said McQuade, who handled national security cases before her promotion. "If he wants to plead guilty he has the right to do that. ... We need to prepare as if this case is going to trial."

Some attorneys, however, doubt that Abdulmutallab would really want to help the United States by cooperating with investigators.

"A person who wants to blow himself up in an airplane over Detroit is not looking to shave some time off in the big house," said Lloyd Meyer, a former terrorism prosecutor at the Guantanamo Bay prison. "I have no doubt he will welcome the world stage of a federal courtroom. They want a public forum. They want the spotlight to show why they are holy warriors against the great Satan."

Abdulmutallab's defense is being handled by Detroit federal defenders including the head of the office, Miriam Siefer, a highly regarded lawyer.

"I don't know if they would find a lawyer who would do a better job," said longtime local defense attorney David Steingold.

But Abdulmutallab's lawyers didn't get the case until he was charged the day after the failed attack. By then he had talked to investigators about training with al-Qaida operatives in Yemen.

"They may be able to challenge his statements, whether he was given Miranda rights," said Keith Corbett, a former organized-crime prosecutor in Detroit. But beyond any incriminating words, "you still have a large number of witnesses who saw things in a confined space. That's going to pose a serious problem to the defense."

Indeed, with the syringe, the fire, explosive material, burns and other evidence, "it's almost a classic smoking gun case — a smoking pants case," Steingold said.

In announcing the indictment Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder said the investigation already had produced "valuable intelligence" about the failed attack.

But the more time that elapses, the less valuable his information could be for any plea deal, Corbett said.

"If he cuts a deal in six months, he's had no contact (with foreign allies) for six months. The answer lies in what information he has, like names, training facilities," Corbett said. "For any significant reduction in his sentence, he would have to be in a position of giving the government what it really wants."

THE SEVILLE CATHEDRAL AND THE GIRALDA

2010-01-02T02:44:00.000-08:00

The Giralda (named for the giraldillo or weather vane on its summit) was the minaret of the mosque that stood on the site now occupied by Seville Cathedral.

Topped with four copper spheres that could be seen for miles around, the Moorish tower was used both to call the faithful to prayer and as an observatory over the city.

The tower took 12 years to build (1184-96) and was the culmination of Almohad architecture. It is considered the finest of the three great Almohad minarets: the others are in the Moroccan cities of Rabat and Marrakesh.

La Giralda was so venerated by the Moors that they wanted to destroy it before the Christian conquest of the city in 1248. This was prevented by King Alfonso X, who declared that "if they removed a single stone, they would all be put to the sword." The Giralda thus preserved, it became the bell tower of the Christian cathedral (begun 1402).

Several additions were made to the Giralda in the Renaissance era, following an earthquake (1356) that destroyed the original copper spheres that topped the tower. Four more levels were added at the top for the belfry (1560-68), which was topped by an Italian bronze sculpture of "Faith." Balconies were also added.

WHAT TO SEE
The tower structure beneath the bells is that of the original minaret. Its simple beauty derives from the shadows formed by blocks of brick trelliswork, different on each side, and a succession of arched niches and windows. Despite the Renaissance additions, La Giralda remains one of the most beautiful monuments of the Islamic world.

The tower's inner construction is nearly as impressive as the outer. There are no stairs. Instead, there is a series of 35 gently inclined ramps that are wide enough to allow two guards on horseback to pass. The long climb is richly rewarded with glimpses of the cathedral's buttresses and gargoyles on the way up and a dazzling view of Seville at the top.

Entrance to the tower is from inside the cathedral, to the left of the Capilla Real in the northeast corner. It is open the same hours as the cathedral and the cost is included with cathedral admission.

It formerly had a defensive mission as it was joined to the Alcazar (Royal Palace) by a piece of wall. That is the reason why it has ramps instead of stairs (riding a horses inside was easier that way). March 11th 1198 can be taken as the inauguration date. That day, three huge and golden spheres were placed on the top and remained there until the fateful day of August 24th 1356 when the earthquake pulled them down. The Giralda got its definitive shape on august 13th 1568 when the belfry and weathervane were added.

CHARTRES CATHEDRAL: FRANCE

2009-12-31T05:12:00.000-08:00

Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres), a Latin Rite Catholic cathedral located in Chartres, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of Paris, is considered one of the finest examples in all France of the Gothic style of architecture. The current cathedral is one of at least four that have occupied the site.

From a distance it seems to hover in mid-air above waving fields of wheat, and it is only when the visitor draws closer that the city comes into view, clustering around the hill on which the cathedral stands. Its two contrasting spires — one, a 105 metre (349 ft) plain pyramid dating from the 1140s, and the other a 113 metre (377 ft) tall early 16th century Flamboyant spire on top of an older tower — soar upwards over the pale green roof, while all around the outside are complex flying buttresses.

The cathedral was the most important building in the town of Chartres. It was the centre of the economy, the most famous landmark and the focal point of almost every activity that is provided by civic buildings in towns today. In the Middle Ages, the cathedral functioned sometimes as a marketplace, with the different portals of the basilica selling different items: textiles at the northern end; fuel, vegetables and meat at the southern one. Sometimes the clergy would try to stop the life of the markets from entering into the cathedral. Wine sellers were forbidden to sell wine in the crypt, but were allowed to do business in the nave of the church and avoid the taxes which they would have to pay if they sold it outside. Workers of various professions, such as carpenters and masons, gathered in the cathedral seeking jobs.

The plan is cruciform, with a 28 metres (92 ft) long singled-aisled nave, and short transepts (three bays deep) to the south and north. The east end is rounded with a double-aisled ambulatory, from which radiate three deep semi-circular chapels (overlying the deep chapels of Fulbert's 11th-century apse) and four much shallower ones, one of which was effectively lost in the 1320s when the Chapel of St Piat was built.

The cathedral extensively used flying buttresses in its original plan, and these supported the weight of the extremely high vaults, at the time of being built, the highest in France. The new High Gothic cathedral at Chartres used four rib vaults in a rectangular space, instead of six in a square pattern, as in earlier Gothic cathedrals such as at Laon. The skeletal system of supports, from the compound piers all the way up to the springing and transverse and diagonal ribs, allowed large spaces of the cathedral to be free for stained glass work, as well as a towering height.

The spacious nave stands 36 metres (120 ft) high, and there is an unbroken view from the western end right along to the magnificent dome of the apse in the east. Clustered columns rise dramatically from plain bases to the high pointed arches of the ceiling, directing the eye to the massive clerestory windows in the apse.

ZULJANA IN FRANCE...........

2009-12-31T05:07:00.000-08:00

Žuljana – one of most beautiful and most attractive places at the southern side of Peljesac Peninsula, situated in the bay of the same name, surrounded width numerous beaches, splendid Mediterranean climate and centennial olive-groves. The inhabitants (the 200 of them) deal predominantly whit wine-growing and fishing, and are traditionally fine hosts to the numerous tourist that have been visiting the place since as early as 1942.

zuljanaThe numerous beaches, coast indentation and the crystal clear see are perfect for sport fishing, sailing, surfing, diving and other sea activities. Your stay here will be made even more attractive by your visiting the four beautiful and attractive early medieval churches, walking and mountaineering through the dense pine woods in fresh air and the possibility of encountering some of the numerous forest animals living here (rabbits, mouflons, pheasants).

There is also the possibility of visiting Dubrovnik, the Mljet National Park and its lakes, Medugorje, Korčula and many well-known places in the close vicinity. Accommodation is available in private apartments, guest room of the 1 st and 2 nd category and camps, all of them just next to the sea.

Catering is available in restaurants and private apartments, and your kind hosts will always offer you fresh fish, natural and ecological foot and the top quality wines “ZULJANA” and “SVETA ANA”. Your other needs will be satisfied in several shops and the post-office.

TEARS, PRAYERS MARK ASIAN TSUNAMI ANNIVERSARY

2009-12-26T05:23:00.000-08:00

PHUKET, Thailand – Buddhist monks chanted on white-sand beaches in Thailand and thousands prayed at mosques in Indonesia to mark the fifth anniversary of the Asian tsunami that left 230,000 people dead.

The devastating Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami struck a dozen countries around the Indian Ocean rim. Its towering waves wiped out entire coastal communities, devastated families and crashed over tourist-filled beaches the morning after Christmas. Survivors waded through a horror show of corpse-filled waters.

In Thailand, hundreds of residents and foreigners returned to the beaches on the island of Phuket to recall one of the worst natural disasters of modern times.

A moment of silence was observed on Phuket's Patong Beach, a popular strip of hotels and restaurants, to mark the moment the tsunami struck.

Buddhist monks in bright orange robes chanted prayers. Onlookers wept and embraced.

Giorgio Capriccioli, an Italian who lives on Phuket, carried a bouquet of white flowers into the ocean.

He waded knee-deep in water that five years ago was clogged with corpses and cast the flowers adrift to honor the memory of two friends. His wife owns several beach-front shops but decided not to go to work the morning the tsunami struck.

"My wife would be dead if it weren't for the fact that she were pregnant and didn't go to work that day," he said at a ceremony that also attracted suntanned tourists in skimpy swimsuits, as well as Thai villagers.

The ceremonies on Phuket were to culminate in the evening with candle-lighting ceremonies and the release of hundreds of light-filled lanterns into the sky.

Thousands of survivors in Indonesia's Aceh province, which was hardest-hit, held prayer services at mosques and beside the mass graves where tens of thousands were buried. Indonesia's loss of about 167,000 accounted for more than half the total death toll.

The tsunami was sparked by a 9.2-magnitude underwater earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra — the mightiest earthquake in 40 years.

In Aceh, on the island of Sumatra, the quake toppled homes and buildings and sent panicked communities rushing into the streets. About 20 minutes later, a wall of water up to six stories high surged in from the sea. Traveling at jetliner speed, the wave carried with it toppled trees, crumpled cars and refrigerators. It sent people scrambling up the sides of buildings and in search of higher ground.

On Saturday's anniversary, Indonesian villagers briefly panicked when another strong earthquake struck deep under the sea off the eastern coast, officials said. Residents in Saumlaki, about 1,680 miles (2,700 kilometers) east of the capital Jakarta, said the magnitude 6.0 quake caused an electricity blackout, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.

Indonesia sits above a series of fault lines that make the vast island nation one of the most earthquake-prone places in the world. This year, another earthquake measuring magnitude 7.6 struck off West Sumatra on Sept. 30, killing hundreds of people and toppling hundreds of homes and buildings.

After the 2004 tsunami, more than $13 billion in aid money poured in from around the world, nearly half for Aceh, where bridges, homes and full city blocks of cement buildings had collapsed. In some communities of the devout Muslim province only the mosque was left standing.

A huge reconstruction effort has rebuilt Aceh, providing more than 140,000 new homes, 2,227 miles (3,585 kilometers) of roads, 1,500 schools and 1,047 hospitals.

"After five years ... the people of Aceh have risen and have a new life," Indonesia's Vice President Boediono told a crowd gathered near Ulee Lheue port in Aceh. Like many Indonesians he uses only a single name

"Their struggle to rise from tsunami tragedy has inspired the people in this country, and around the region," said Boediono.

Traffic across Sri Lanka came to a standstill Saturday as people around the country observed two minutes of silence for the 35,000 people who died there. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake presided over a ceremony in northwestern Kurunegala that was broadcast on live television.

___

BEAUTY OF NATURE: THE GRAND CANYON, USA

2009-12-24T03:39:00.000-08:00

THE GRAND CANYON, USA
A steep gorge by the Colorado River, Arizona in United States, this has the most enjoyable scenery. It is 277 miles in length, 4 to 18 miles in width and about a mile in depth. Scientists are of the opinion that the canyon has been created by the Colorado River over a six million year period.

Native Americans built settlements in the caves within the canyon before the emigration of Europeans. It was also considered to be a site of pilgrimage by the Pueblo people. The first recorded visit to the Grand Canyon by the Europeans was in 1869. Although, it is not the deepest canyon in the world, it is known for its extremely huge size and beautifully intricate landscape. The Grand Canyon National Park is said to be one of the first National Parks in the United States and attracts more than five million visitors a year. Weather conditions in the Grand Canyon vary a great deal between seasons as well as elevation. While winter snow is experienced by the higher elevated forested rims, the inner gorge has a desert temperature because of the low elevation.

The Grand Canyon (Spanish: Gran Cañón) is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the first national parks in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area, and visited it on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery.

The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles (6.4 to 29 km) and attains a depth of over a mile (1.83 km) (6000 feet).[1] Nearly two billion years of the Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted.[2] While the specific geologic processes and timing that formed the Grand Canyon are the subject of debate by geologists, [3] recent evidence suggests the Colorado River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago.[4] Since that time, the Colorado River continued to erode and form the canyon to the point we see it as today.[5]

Before European immigration, the area was inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon ("Ongtupqa" in Hopi language) a holy site and made pilgrimages to it.[6] The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was García López de Cárdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540.[7]

NATIONAL GALLERY LONDON

2009-12-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

In April 1824 the House of Commons agreed to pay £57,000 for the picture collection of the banker John Julius Angerstein. His 38 pictures were intended to form the core of a new national collection, for the enjoyment and education of all. The pictures were displayed at Angerstein's house at 100 Pall Mall until a dedicated gallery building was constructed.

The size of the building – Angerstein's house – was compared unfavourably with other national art galleries, such as the Louvre in Paris, and ridiculed in the press.

A pan 1831 Parliament agreed to construct a building for the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square. There had been lengthy discussion about the best site for the Gallery, and Trafalgar Square was eventually chosen as it was considered to be at the very centre of London. The new building finally opened in 1838.The Painting showing the interior of Angerstein's house, the original home of the Gallery.

The first paintings

Lawrence, 'John Julius Angerstein, aged over 80', 1824 Lawrence, John Julius Angerstein, aged over 80, 1824The first paintings in the National Gallery collection came from the banker and collector John Julius Angerstein. They consisted of Italian works, including a large altarpiece by Sebastiano del Piombo, The Raising of Lazarus, and fine examples of the Dutch, Flemish and English Schools.

In 1823 the landscape painter and art collector, Sir George Beaumont (1753 – 1827), promised his collection of pictures to the nation, on the condition that suitable accommodation could be provided for their display and conservation.

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

2009-12-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

Most people tend to think that the Great Wall was a product of wars (actually of defense), thus its role ought to have been most closely related to battles and bloodshedding. It is, however, not that case. Most time under the Great Wall was actually peace rather than war; the Great Wall, in all times, was connected to the culture, foreign policies, and economy (just think how much could be spent on this super project). Philosophically, the Great Wall speaks well for a growth in the mixed soil of peace and war. It stands for some power, an unbeatable power despite all bitter conditions, known as the Great Wall Spirit among Chinese people.

Besides culture, policies and economy, another essential part that can't be divided from the Great Wall, which is the history of China. The Great Wall, whose building started more than 2,000 years ago, represents a main part of Chinese history, which has a profound influence on China today. So to speak, the Great Wall, in a sense, is history. And you will see that this tendency is reflected in our content. We generally talk about the Great Wall with dynasties who built it, along with events and social aspects of those dynasties, which may branch out as far as to other topics. In this manner of narration, It can be a little loose and sightly off the point, but we think it interesting, and it makes sense to put the Great Wall into the Chinese history.

TAJ MAHAL INDIA : WHAT A FEELING !!!

2009-12-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

Of Mughal architectural design, the Taj Mahal is a true wonder of the world. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan to commemorate his second wife and inseparable companion, Arjumand Banu Begum, (Mumtaz Mahal – ‘Chosen of the Palace), who died in childbirth, with a building unlike any ever seen before. Only the most worthy of architects were involved in its design. The tomb scales the heights of a modern 20-storey building. The white marble is from Makrana, taking on different tones at different times of the day, with imported precious stones. A red sandstone channel, set between rows of cypress trees, compliments the entrance. The main gateway is a large three-storey sandstone structure with an octagonal central chamber. The Quran is inscribed extensively throughout the building. It is clearly a supreme labour of love.

HOW TO REACH TAJ MAHAL
Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal, an embodiment of love and romance, is located in the city of Agra that lies approximately 204 km to the south of Delhi. If you are planning a trip to explore the beauty of this splendid monument then the very first question that comes in your mind is- how to reach the Taj Mahal. We have devoted this section on discussing various ways of traveling to the Taj Mahal in India.

BY AIR
The fastest way of reaching Taj Mahal, Agra is by air. The city of Taj, Agra, has its own airport that is around 7 km from the city center. Indian Airlines operates flights to Agra on a daily basis.

BY RAIL
There is a good network of trains connecting Agra with the rest of the country. Apart from the main railway station of Agra Cantonment, there are other two stations also, that of Raja-ki-Mundi and Agra Fort. The main trains connecting Agra with Delhi are Palace on Wheels, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express.

BY ROAD
There are regular bus services from Agra to a number of important cities. The main bus stand of Idgah has a number of buses running for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
After reaching the city also, you need some sort of local transport to reach Taj Mahal. You can easily get taxi, tempo, auto-rickshaw and cycle rickshaw in the city that will take you to your destination. Prepaid taxis are also available if you want to visit the various places near the city. For the adventurous kind, there are bicycles that can be hired on hourly basis from different parts of the city. Since, diesel and petrol vehicle are not permitted in the Taj Mahal area, you can find battery-operated buses, horse-driven tongas, rickshaws and other pollution-free vehicles there.

REICHSTAG BERLIN GERMANY: AN EDIFICE TO BEHOLD

2009-12-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

Originally designed by Paul Wallot (completed 1894), the history of this awe-inspiring building is intertwined with its noble architecture. A monumental building with four immense facades, it has a huge portico with eight Corinthian columns in front.

Suffering from arson in 1933 and war-torn soon after, the Reichstag has been twice restored (latterly by Lord Norman Foster & Partners). He restored much of the original elements, removing the internal additions and mezzanine floors added after the war by Paul Baumgarten, and inserted the glass dome, which is now the most prestigious tourist spot in Berlin.

The glass-paneled dome has brought more light into the parliamentary chamber, orchestrating light around the dome and building as never before. The dome, with its spiraled climb-ramps, provides outstanding views over Berlin.

Built as a result of an architectural competition, the Reichstag was originally designed by Paul Wallot and completed in 1894. It is a bombastic building, with an overscaled above-ground basement level and four monumental facades. The main entrance is approached via a large flight of steps to a hugh portico with corinthian columns.
During the night of 27 February 1933, the Reichstag was burned, destroying the interior and the dome which surmounted the building. After further damage during the Second World War, a restoration of sorts was carried out between 1958 and 1972. This included internal additions and mezzanine floors.
After reunification, another architectural competition resulted in Foster and Partners being appointed to restore the building as a parliamentary center. Foster removed the mezzanine floors inserted by Paul Baumgarten and added a new glass dome to the room. The dome is much celebrated and one of the primary tourist attractions of Berlin. A glass panel in the dome allows visitors to view down into the parliamentary chamber beneath. Much larger than expected, the dome provides great views of the city. Its two spiralling ramps leading visitors to the top provide changing vistas and lighting within the dome itself.

FRANCE : DISNEYLAND VERSION OF PARIS

2009-12-17T07:10:00.000-08:00

Disneyland Resort Paris, originally known as Euro Disney, is a theme park run by Euro Disney SCA, 39% of which is owned by The Walt Disney Company, in Marne-la-Vallée near Paris. Construction began in 1988 and the theme park complex officially opened on April 12, 1992, but attendances were low and there were protests by those who thought a Disney park in France would harm French culture.

In October 1994, the former Euro Disney changed its name to Disneyland Paris, and now to Disneyland Resort Paris. By 1995, Disneyland Paris started to attract more visitors and what began as a near failure for the Walt Disney Company has become more successful.
Disneyland Resort Paris is between the original Disneyland and the much larger Walt Disney World in size. Disneyland Paris has five major sections: its version of the Disneyland theme park (Magic Kingdom, essentially); the Walt Disney Studios Park, a theme park similar to Walt Disney World's Disney/MGM Studios; its version of the Disney Village; the Disney Hotels area; and Golf Disneyland.

The park is easily reached by car. When coming near Paris, large billboards with Mickey Mouse on them will point the way. The park also has its own train station where the TGV (named Thalys when coming from Brussels) stops and its own RER (commuter train) station, so when visiting Paris you can hop on the RER and stop right in the park.

Be aware though that the park lies outside of the central Paris metrozones and that you need to buy a (slightly) more expensive ticket to avoid a fine (and to be able to go through the exit turnstiles at the station).

The Disneyland Resort Paris web site (disneylandparis.com) now offers guests the world over the possibility of buying tickets to the Disneyland Resort Paris Theme Parks on line

With just a few clicks of a mouse, visitors to disneylandparis.com can save precious time and buy a dated or undated theme park entry passport on a secure booking engine. Three different types of ticket are available:

* 1 day dated passport, valid for a fixed date. The ticket can be used to access either the Disneyland Park or Walt Disney Studios Park. Postage costs are included in the price of a 1 day dated ticket. Disneyland® Paris: your dream stay is just a few clicks away!
* 1-day Classic passport, valid one day in the three years following its purchase date for either the Disneyland Park or Walt Disney Studios Park with the exception of certain dates (variable price and validity according to the season). Postage cost:50 pence per ticket). Disneyland® Paris: your dream stay is just a few clicks away!
* 3 day "Hopper Classic" passport, valid for any three days in the three years following its issue date, offering unlimited access to the two theme parks. Disneyland® Paris: your dream stay is just a few clicks away!

Tickets for special events, such as "Halloween Parties, Christmas..." in Disneyland Park are also available to purchase on-line.

Sometime ago, Disneyland Resort Paris introduced the option of buying packages (hotel, breakfast, theme park tickets, etc) on-line in seven languages. With the addition of ticket sales only, guests now have even more choice and flexibility.

The disneylandparis.com web site is directly interfaced with the Central Reservation System, meaning that theme park ticket availability and quotes are available in real-time. After receiving a confirmation by mail, guests will receive the passport within an 8 - 10 day period of them being purchased.

The disneylandparis.com Internet site is available in the six main European languages, and is the official web site for Disneyland Resort Paris: the number 1 tourist destination in Europe.

The Resort incorporates two theme parks, seven themed hotels and a range of dining and entertainment options. A visit to Disneyland Park offers guests the chance to discover the magic of Disney fantasy and stories in 3-D and meet their favourite Disney characters.

The new theme park, Walt Disney Studios Park, offers an interactive, behind-the-scenes discovery of the very best in cinema, animation and television. Seven themed hotels with a total capacity of 5,800 rooms enable guests to stay in the heart of the magic.

The Resort also features the Disney Village entertainment and shopping complex and Golf Disneyland, a 27-hole golf course.

Taking into account the increasing popularity of the Resort, new hotels are opening close to the resort, including the 152-room Elysée Val d'Europe, which opened this summer.

Three more hotels are currently being built, and are set to open their doors in the spring of 2003, offering an additional 1,500 rooms to the resort room capacity. Numerous hotels in the Ile de France region, just a few kilometres from the resort, cater for all tastes and budgets, and offer guests the chance to discover the theme parks as well as the neighbouring region.

TIMES SQUARE : CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE

2009-12-16T05:35:00.000-08:00

* NEW YEAR'S EVE

Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31st, the eyes of the world turn once more to the dazzling lights and bustling energy of Times Square. Anticipation runs high. New Year's Eve at the symbolic center of New York City has become more than just a celebration - it's a global tradition. The world holds its breath...and cheers as the clocks strike twelve. As the famous New Year's Eve Ball descends from the flagpole atop One Times Square, an estimated one million people in Times Square, millions nationwide and over a billion watching throughout the world are united in bidding a collective farewell to the departing year, and expressing our joy and hope for the year ahead.

* CELEBRATING NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TIMES SQUARE.

The Times Square New Year's Eve celebration features star-studded musical performances, balloons, pom-poms, confetti, a colorful pyrotechnic display and about a million of your closest friends. Click here for answers to the questions we are often asked about New Year's Eve in Times Square.
* GOOD RIDDANCE DAY - MONDAY, 12/28
New Yorkers and visitors alike are invited to join us in mashing a year’s worth of bad hairstyles, loathed music, fashion disasters and regretted romances into an unrecognizable pulp of bad karma and negative vibes.

USA AT HER BEST : NIAGARA FALLS , MAGIC KINGDOM PARK , LIBERTY STATUE

2009-12-15T06:47:00.000-08:00

NIAGARA FALLS

Welcome to the only official tourist information site for Niagara USA. Niagara-USA.com has the most comprehensive list of Niagara Falls attractions, hotels, restaurants, and events to make planning your Niagara Falls vacation easy. Known as one of the most beautiful wonders of the world, Niagara Falls is sure to take your breath away.

MAGIC KINGDOM PARK

Magic Kingdom theme park, one of 4 Theme Parks in Walt Disney World Resort, captures the enchantment of fairy tales with exciting entertainment, classic attractions, backstage tours and beloved Disney Characters.

Designed like a wheel with the hub in front of Cinderella Castle , pathways spoke out across the 107 acres of Magic Kingdom theme park and lead to these 7 whimsical lands:

* Main Street, U.S.A.® area
* Adventureland® area
* Frontierland® area
* Liberty Square
* Fantasyland® area
* Mickey's Toontown® Fair area
* Tomorrowland® area

Travel through these lands and see how fantasy becomes reality when you learn how to be a pirate, match wits with funny monsters and conquer mountains. Get swept up in the spectacle of splendid parades and fireworks shows at Magic Kingdom theme park—it's here that dreams come true for children of all ages.
The statue's steel framework was made by French engineer Gustave Eiffel, better known as the man behind the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Thanks to an ingenious construction consisting of copper plates attached to the metal framework, the statue is flexible enough to withstand heavy storms. Large iron bars attach the framework to a central pylon.

LIBERTY STATUE

The Statue of Liberty was constructed in Paris, France. It took nine years before it was completed in 1884 after which it was sent to the USA in 214 crates. Even before the arrival of the statue, Bartholdi himself had traveled to the Unites States to discuss the location of the statue with president Ulysses S. Grant. Eventually it was decided tot erect the statue at a small island in the harbor of New York City. Today the island is known as Liberty Island.

The biggest and most embarrassing problem was the construction of the pedestal, which had to be paid for by the Americans themselves.
The statue's torch was displayed in Madison Square park for six years - from 1876 until 1882 - in an attempt to spark interest and attract funds. But it was only after publisher Joseph Pulitzer published the names of those who
Statue of Liberty
Liberty Island
donated money for the project that the funds started flowing in. Eventually, the statue was erected 10 years late, in 1886, when it was officially inaugurated by president Grover Cleveland.

GREECE : ACTIVITIES THAT KEEPS YOU GOING IN THE ANCIENT CITY

2009-12-15T06:06:00.000-08:00

A list of things to do in Greece while on vacation could get real long real quick. On both mainland Greece and throughout the islands, the countryside shifts from mountains and gorges, to valleys and miles of coastline. Throughout Greece, historical ruins lay claim to ancient civilizations and an array of churches and medieval edifices serve as reminders of those who came afterwards. Just trying to figure out which museums to visit in Greece could be a most difficult endeavor. Greece truly offers something for everyone. From nature lovers to museum buffs, beach bums to food connoisseurs, a Greece vacation is just the answer. On the surface Greece seems to have it all. Once you dig a little deeper, you realize that is really does. The following are some ideas for things to do in Greece.

VISIT THE HISTORIC SITES IN ATHENS

When considering things to do in Greece, it only seems natural to schedule an itinerary for Athens. Athens has some of the most famous attractions in Greece, from the Acropolis to the Parliament Building at Syntagma Square. The world class museums in Athens, like the National Archaeological Museum and the Benaki Museum, are more than worthy of a visit, and will give added insight and understanding into the many historic Greece attractions spread throughout the country. Wander around the ancient agora and visit the Kallimarmaron stadium to see where the ancient Panathenaic Games were held.

SOAK UP SOME SUN IN THE GREEK ISLANDS

This is easily among the top things to do in Greece. Especially in the summer, the beaches of Greece are at the top of the list of attractions in Greece. While you can find plenty of isolated and serene beaches on both the mainland and the islands, the summer nightlife found at many island beaches is among the best in all of Europe. On islands like Crete, Santorini and Mykonos, the beaches are the place to be in the summer. Scores of tourists and native Greeks head to the Greek islands beaches to enjoy the refreshing blue waters of the Aegean Sea and take in the evening sunsets. There are also many naturist beaches in the Greek islands, if you are looking for them.

TAKE IN A SHOW DURING THE HELLENIC FESTIVAL

Every summer in Athens, the Hellenic Festival is in full swing, and it is among the most popular and significant events in Greece. The Hellenic
Festival celebrates the performance arts and at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus theatre, musical and dance performances by international and national artists are featured. The ancient theatre provides a stunning venue for such shows. There are also popular music concerts held during the festival atop Lykavittos Hill and theater performances at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus and the Little Theatre of Epidaurus. Where better to see a recreation of a Greek tragedy than in Athens?

TAKE A BUS AND GUIDED TOUR TO OLYMPIA

Among the many attractions in Greece, the ruins at Olympia are one of the most popular. From Athens, or the city of Pyrgos, you can arrange a guided tour to these ruins to get the full appreciation. Tourist attractions in Greece rarely get more historically significant than this. Olympia was the location for the ancient Olympic Games and here you will find the remnants of an old stadium and sprinting track, as well as the ruins of the once great Temple of Zeus. The Temple of Zeus once housed the great Statue of Zeus, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

VISIT THE SOARING ROCKS AND MONASTERIES OF METEORA

First of all, the landscape is amazing here. The rocks of Meteora are a conglomeration of natural rocks at the edge of the Pindus mountains that rise to form pinnacles in the sky. These rocks were a place of refuge for monks who built an amazing series of monasteries dating back to the 13th century. Of the original 24 monasteries, only 6 remain, and they are almost unbelievably perched among the rocks. The Church of the Metamorphisis is the most famous remaining monastery and offers a wonderful small museum. This area easily ranks among the best Greece attractions.

TAKE A WINE TOUR ON THE ISLANDS OF CRETE AND SANTORINI

Greek wine is steadily gaining popularity, and as if these islands weren’t already among the top tourist attractions in Greece, you can add a wine tour on them to your list of things to do in Greece. On the island of Santorini, the volcanic-rich soil makes for some unique tasting wines. On Crete, wine production can be traced back in history to the Minoans, and visiting one of today’s wineries is a nice diversion in between enjoying the mountains and beaches of Crete.

ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES of the THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

This popular festival figures in among the things to do in Greece. It is the most important film festival in the Balkans region and likely only follows the Venice Film Festival of Italy and the Cannes Film Festival in France as Europe’s best film festival. World famous directors and actors come to celebrate emerging artists and international films while enjoying the other Greece attractions found in Thessaloniki. This festival is held every November.

ARRANGE AN ECO-TOUR

There are many, many options for tours in Greece, and with so many tourist attractions in Greece to choose from, those who particularly enjoy the outdoors can arrange to take an eco-tour. Greece is a beautiful country with dramatic landscapes featuring soaring mountains, picturesque gorges and stunning beaches. One of the best ways to take in the countryside is by getting out with an eco-tour to see it firsthand. Take a bike tour on the island of Crete, go rock climbing near Meteora, or schedule a jeep tour to some of the unknown, yet magnificently gorgeous back country areas.

GO BIRDWATCHING

Greece has 11 wetland areas that are of international importance, not to mention over 190 important areas for birds. Among the top places to birdwatch are the Nestos Delta and Prespa Lakes. Nestos Delta is located in Thrace, and Prespa Lakes is found in Macedonia. Among the kinds of avian counterparts you can expect to encounter in Greece are eagles, storks, pelicans and herons. Although recent wildfires had a rather devastating effect on Greece’s Mt. Parnitha National Park, a recent bird count turning up turtle doves, peregrine falcons, magpies, red-rumped swallows and other species has done a lot to reassure many that the park’s wounds will eventually heal.

NIGERIA : SEE NAIJA BETTER AT OBUDU CATTLE RANCH , CALABAR

2009-12-15T05:59:00.001-08:00

* This site is an independent review of the Obudu Cattle Ranch. This site is not the official Obudu Cattle Ranch site. *

The Obudu Cattle Ranch now known as the Obudu Mountain Resort is found in the Obaniku Local Government area of the northern part of Cross River State.It is an area where the wonderful work of nature can be appreciated with its awesome and almost indescribable views.

It is about 30 minutes drive from Obudu town and is about 332km;an equivalent of about five hours drive from Calabar,the state capital. The Obudu ranch also has provision for access by air with its small airstrip and presidential helipad.The airstrip now attracts flights from Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt via Calabar to the strip during peak periods.The flights are run by Aerocontractors.

Available is a cable car system which brings guests from the resort entrance at the bottom of the mountain to the ranch at the hill top.It is claimed to be one of the longest cable car facilities in the world.

At the ranch is located a breathtaking water park with facilities for swimming and water slides for all tourists.Other attractions include cattle on the ranch which are bred on the Ranch for their fresh milk, butter, meat and cheese.Horses,waterfall,golf course,canopy walk,organized bonfires and beautiful views of mountains and the country-side. There is also a honey and yoghurt factory, and the ancient Anape village. The Tinapa Resort can also be a part of the package for any interested tourists.

The ranch equally boasts of conference centers, as well as bungalows and chalets of varying sizes and styles to accommodate your budget. The presence of well rated restaurants also ensures that you get quality meals while at the Ranch.

The ranch community further offers a medical facility,night club, school, police post and staff quarters.

If you are looking for the place to go to with that special person,a business-oriented retreat,family holiday or you just need to take time off your busy schedule,Obudu Cattle Ranch is the perfect place(see videos).Grab your gear and get ready to have an experience of a lifetime!

DUBAI : NEED A FEEL ?????

2009-12-15T05:42:00.000-08:00

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN DUBAI

Dubai has some of the most luxurious and lively places and tourist attractions in the world. These sites not only play host to descending tourists and shopaholics, they also shield the raw beauty of unexplored desert domain from the rest of the world. With TSI Holidays outbound tourist packages, you can explore the famous with the lesser known attractions and events on your tour to Dubai.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Tourists throng the malls and traditional souks in Dubai even in the off festival season. The main draw is the reasonable pricing made possible by the lifting of taxes. With a vast variety and types of brands and products including luxury goods such as automobiles, clothing labels, fashion accessories, gold and silver jewelry, carpets, and furniture available for the cheapest possible price, Dubai gets you coming back year after year.

Shop at the Gold Souk, Deira Old Souk and Spice Souk (for fresh fishes and Mediterranean spices), Electronics Souk (for white goods), Naif Souk and Al-Wasi Souk on your tour to Dubai with TSI Holidays packages.

EVENTS

The Dubai Shopping Festivals organized each year makes Dubai a shopper's paradise. The Dubai World Cup (horse race), PGA Desert Classic Golf Tournament, camel racing, F1 and other sports events create ample interest among fans and betting enthusiasts.

TSI Holidays offers tour bookings and travel packages for outbound tours to Dubai. You may also enter your tour related query in the form below.

LONDON'S GREAT IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

2009-12-15T05:22:00.000-08:00

Under the cover of the Second World War, for the first time in history, industrial methods were used for the mass extermination of a whole people.
Holocaust Exhibition, IWM London
The Holocaust Exhibition uses historical material to tell the story of the Nazis' persecution of the Jews and other groups before and during the Second World War.

Taking as its starting point the turbulent political scene in Europe immediately after the First World War, the exhibition traces the rise of the Nazi party, how antisemitism as a Europe-wide phenomenon made a fertile seedbed for Hitler's anti-Jewish beliefs, the perversion of science to support Nazi race theory, the isolation of German Jews, the refugee crisis and the advent of so-called 'Euthanasia' policies in 1939.

Photographs, documents, newspapers, artefacts, posters and film offer stark evidence of persecution and slaughter, collaboration and resistance.

Holocaust Exhibition, IWM London
A funeral cart from the Warsaw Ghetto sits adjacent to diaries and photograph albums of those who died through hunger and disease; part of a deportation railcar - given by Belgian Railways - is on display; visitors can walk up to a wagon once heaved by slave labourers in a concentration camp.

Contrasting with the story of industrialised murder is that of the men, women and children who endured Nazi policies and in most cases died as a result of them.

Toys, diaries, photograph albums, story books, hand-made mementos - these remnants show individual efforts at survival, while the testimony of eighteen survivors of the Holocaust brings a fresh and haunting perspective to the narrative; how families responded to the direst circumstances; the resilience and luck which allowed some to survive.

The Holocaust Exhibition is not recommended for children under 14.

Children under 11 are not permitted.

Museum staff reserve the right to remove from the exhibition anyone causing a
disturbance to others.

CL DEBATE: MAN UNITED, ARSENAL AND CHELSEA DREAM DRAWS AND KNOCKOUT NIGHTMARES

2009-12-10T04:12:00.000-08:00

English clubs have dominated the knockout rounds of the Champions League in recent years, but this is the first time since the 2005-06 edition that not all of the Premier League's four entrants have made the last 16.

However, Liverpool's failure serves only to highlight their domestic rivals' success, as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all finished top of their respective groups.

Now, with the draw for the knockout rounds looming, we take a look at who the Prem powers might fancy facing - and who they will definitely want to avoid.

ARSENAL

Group stage results

Dec 9 Olympiakos 1-0 Arsenal
Nov 24 Arsenal 2-0 Standard Liege
Nov 4 Arsenal 4-1 AZ Alkmaar
Oct 20 AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Arsenal
Sep 29 Arsenal 2-0 Olympiakos
Sep 16 Standard Liege 2-3 Arsenal

Potential opponents

Bayern Munich
CSKA Moscow
Inter
Lyon
Milan
Porto
Stuttgart

Dream: Stuttgart

The Germans may have blasted out of their group with an impressive win over Unirea Urziceni, but that result is hardly indicative of where they are at. Arsenal will fancy their chances against a side who currently reside in the drop zone in the Bundesliga.

Nightmare: Inter

Perfect one | Mourinho never lost in league to Arsenal

Although the Nerazzurri's recent efforts in the knockout rounds have left much to be desired, coach Jose Mourinho's record against the Gunners is exemplary. Arsene Wenger never once bested 'the Special One' in the Premier League during the latter's time at Chelsea.

CHELSEA

Group stage results

Dec 8 Chelsea 2-2 APOEL Nicosia
Nov 25 Porto 0-1 Chelsea
Nov 3 Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
Oct 21 Chelsea 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Sep 30 APOEL Nicosia 0-1 Chelsea
Sep 15 Chelsea 1-0 Porto

Potential opponents

Bayern Munich
CSKA Moscow
Inter
Lyon
Milan
Olympiakos
Stuttgart

Dream: Olympiakos

The Greeks scraped through the group phase thanks to a Matchday 6 win over a depleted Arsenal side, and they won't be expected to progress any further. Besides, the Blues have form here, having knocked them out last term.

Nightmare: CSKA Moscow

Moscow misery | Return trip would be a mental test

The Russians showed in the group stage that they're no mugs against top opposition, and an away leg at the Luzhniki Stadium - the scene of Chelsea's shoot-out demise to Manchester United in the 2008 final - could prove as much a mental test as a footballing one for Carlo Ancelotti's men.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Group stage results

Dec 8 Wolfsburg 1-3 Manchester United
Nov 25 Manchester United 0-1 Besiktas
Nov 3 Manchester United 3-3 CSKA Moscow
Oct 21 CSKA Moscow 0-1 Manchester United
Sep 30 Manchester United 2-1 Wolfsburg
Sep 15 Besiktas 0-1 Manchester United

Potential opponents

Bayern Munich
Inter
Lyon
Milan
Olympiakos
Porto
Stuttgart

Dream: Lyon

Down and out | Juninho and Lyon failed last season

OL's record against Europe's best is not a flattering one despite routinely advancing from the group stages, and Manchester United are no exception. The Red Devils dealt easily with the French powerhouse on the way to the 2008 title, and they will back themselves to do so once more.

Nightmare: Milan

There are few impasses Sir Alex Ferguson hasn't managed to negotiate during his time at Old Trafford, but Milan is one of them. United have met the Italians twice in the knockout stage in the past six years, and twice the Rossoneri have triumphed.

TIDER WOODS AMBULANCE

2009-12-08T09:44:00.000-08:00

Scandals are raining on Tiger Woods.

Tiger Woods Ambulance, a new mysterious story hits the most controversial sportsman of last week or so.

It has been reported that an ambulance has been called on the tiger woods home for medical treatment of an unidentified patient from Wood’s home.

The unconfirmed reports suggested that a 911 call was received from Wood’s home for medical assistance. The patient first refused hospitalization but then a middle aged blonde lady was transported to hospital through ambulance. It has been reported that the lady was Wood’s mother in law. She was released from hospital after getting required treatment.

Its happening too much for the top golfer Tiger Woods, it started with Wood’s car accident that revealed the status of Woods and his wife’s relationship. Afterwards, the game begins with girls who claimed to be the Wood’s companion for pleasure, and now an ambulance scandal.

The reports are also suggesting that Woods and his wife breakup has already taken place and Woods mother in law reached her daughter’s house to support her in this regard.

Now, we are in search of the situation that what exactly happened at Woods home to the patient (mother in law) but we are really looking forward for Woods to come up and clear his positions in a list of scandals for last few weeks. Woods should step up to fix the things.

Fans of Woods are really looking forward to see him again in a golf course as they got bored listening and watching scandals of Tiger Woods.

LAWYERS FIGHT TO HALT OHIO EXECUTION CONDEMNED AS HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION

2009-12-08T09:41:00.000-08:00

I am sure we all remember the story of Romell Broom:

A death row inmate has been given a week’s reprieve after executioners were unable to find a vein to administer a lethal injection.

Convicted killer Romell Broom even tried to help, by turning on his side and flexing his fingers to make his veins stand out, as the victim’s family looked on from behind a screen.

But after two hours, officials at Lucasville prison in Ohio gave up and took the condemned man, who began to sob at one point, back to his cell.

State governor Ted Strickland ordered a week’s reprieve for the 53-year-old former heroin addict.

Well, now the state of Ohio are determined to get it right when it comes to the execution of Kenneth Biros, although the method they propose using is controversial in the extreme, as Ohio are proposing using a technique normally reserved for the putting down of pets.

Barring last-minute appeals and stays of execution, Kenneth Biros, 51, will be put to death using a massive overdose of an anaesthetic. It would be the first time that a single-drug lethal injection had been administered, in contrast to the triple-drug cocktail that has become the norm in the 37 American states that have death row prisoners.

Opponents of the death penalty and lawyers involved in the Biros case have decried the move towards the single-drug method as over-hasty.

Tim Sweeney, Biros's lawyer, said: "This truly is experimentation and a more careful look needs to be taken by the courts before this new method can be used."

Ohio has moved to this method despite the fact that no doctor can be found to vouch for this new technique.

Charles Wille, a state prosecutor, told Associated Press: "Somebody has to be first. This plan is consistent with a long history of states attempting to take a very difficult social responsibility and make it less difficult."

Richard Dieter, head of the Death Penalty Information Centre in Washington, said that it was only because of the extraordinary nature of executions in the US that Ohio would be permitted to test out a new method on humans. "In other countries or in any medical field there would be all kinds of restrictions about doing things to experiment on human beings. It would never be allowed."

Under the Nuremberg Code, which stemmed from Nazi medical experiments, doctors must abide by strict rules relating to human experimentation, including that any test must be voluntary and for the social good. But executions are not covered by the code.

Amnesty International are arguing that this amounts to human experimentation, and it's hard to argue with that when one hears arguments along the lines of, "Someone has to be first."

The death penalty is, to me, simply a barbaric thing for any society to carry out. But Ohio is taking that barbarity to new heights, by literally experimenting on human beings regarding new - untested - ways to kill them.

JOHN DAILY WEIGHT LOSS

2009-12-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

John Daly Weight Loss is the latest buzz. Two-time major winner John Daly’s latest bid to resurrect his career is for his own benefit and not to prove his detractors wrong, the American said on Wednesday. Daly, 43, is rehabilitating by losing weight and trying to give up a diet and lifestyle that saw him balloon to nearly 280 pounds less than three months ago. Daly, who is famously known as ‘Wild Thing’ on tour, underwent gastric band surgery in February to reduce the size of his stomach and consequently the amount of food he could eat. John Daly Weight Loss
This has resulted in the massive weight loss – including losing a whole stone in the past two weeks. Surprisingly, the change in weight has had an equally dramatic on Daly’s golf, with the man who has always advocated a ‘grip it and rip it’ mentality recently complaining of a lack of feeling in his hands.

TODAY IN HISTORY DEC-7

2009-12-07T09:59:00.000-08:00

Today is Monday, Dec. 7, the 341st day of 2009. There are 24 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Dec. 7, 1941, Imperial Japanese warplanes attacked the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, as well as other American and British bases in the Pacific; the pre-emptive raids prompted the United States to enter World War II.

On this date:

In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1796, electors chose John Adams to be the second president of the United States.

In 1808, electors chose James Madison to be the fourth president of the United States.

In 1836, Martin Van Buren was elected the eighth president of the United States.

In 1909, in his State of the Union address, President William Howard Taft defended the decision to base U.S. naval operations in the Pacific at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, instead of in the Philippines. Chemist Leo H. Baekeland received a U.S. patent for Bakelite, the first totally synthetic plastic.

In 1946, fire broke out at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta; the blaze killed 119 people, including hotel founder W. Frank Winecoff.

In 1972, America's last moon mission to date was launched as Apollo 17 blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

In 1983, in Madrid, Spain, an Aviaco DC-9 collided on a foggy runway with an Iberia Air Lines Boeing 727 that was accelerating for takeoff, killing all 42 people aboard the DC-9 and 51 aboard the Iberia jet.

In 1987, 43 people were killed after a gunman aboard a Pacific Southwest Airlines jetliner in California apparently opened fire on a fellow passenger, the two pilots and himself, causing the plane to crash.

In 1988, a major earthquake in the Soviet Union devastated northern Armenia; official estimates put the death toll at 25,000.

Ten years ago: NASA scientists all but gave up hope of contacting the Mars Polar Lander, last heard from four days earlier as it began its descent toward the Red Planet.

Five years ago: Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan's first popularly elected president. The House of Representatives passed an intelligence network overhaul measure, 336-75. Amway co-founder Jay Van Andel died in Ada, Mich., at age 80. Singer Jerry Scoggins, who performed ''The Ballad of Jed Clampett,'' the theme song to ''The Beverly Hillbillies,'' died at age 93.

One year ago: President-elect Barack Obama introduced retired Gen. Eric Shinseki as his choice to head the Veterans Affairs Department. Actress-singer Barbra Streisand, actor Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who received Kennedy Center Honors.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Eli Wallach is 94. Linguist and political philosopher Noam Chomsky is 81. Bluegrass singer Bobby Osborne is 78. Actress Ellen Burstyn is 77. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., is 72. Broadcast journalist Carole Simpson is 69. Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench is 62. Country singer Gary Morris is 61. Singer-songwriter Tom Waits is 60. Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, is 57. Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Bird is 53. Actress Priscilla Barnes is 52. Former ''Tonight Show'' announcer Edd Hall is 51. Rock musician Tim Butler (The Psychedelic Furs) is 51. Actor Jeffrey Wright is 44. Actor C. Thomas Howell is 43. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens is 36. Pop singer Nicole Appleton (All Saints) is 34. Country singer Sunny Sweeney is 33. Actress Shiri Appleby is 31. Pop-rock singer Sara Bareilles is 30. Singer Aaron Carter is 22.

Thought for Today: ''What man strives to preserve, in preserving himself, is something which he has never been at any particular moment.'' -- George Santayana, Spanish-American philosopher (1863-1952).

TIGER WOODS MISTRESSES, HOLLY SAMPSON TIGER WOODS AND TIGER WOODS PERKINS WAITRESS AND MINDY LAWTON

2009-12-07T09:56:00.001-08:00

December 7: Tiger Woods misstresses, Holly Sampson Tiger Woods and Tiger Woods Perkins waitress and Mindy Lawton. There is no end to Tiger Woods’ tale. Till now nine women have surfaced on the scene, all claiming that they were having affairs with the golf champion.

The latest to boast of dallying with Tiger is a 26-year-old former cocktail waitress in Orlando. Like others she dropped a bombshell, claiming to have nearly two-year affair with him before and during his marriage to Elin Nordegren.

The waitress comes in the news after New Yorker Cori Rist surfaced. She also had claimed that she had started an affair with the golf great after meeting him on the Manhattan club scene. She became his sixth alleged mistress.

The number seven position was occupied by cocktail waitress. There were others also who remained tight-lipped.

"She had not come forward until this point out of respect for Mr. Woods and because she wanted to remain anonymous," informed one source.

"This woman was 20 when Tiger approached her . . . She was a VIP cocktail server," he said.

"Her relationship was not a one-night stand. It was long-term, and it was witnessed by many people in this community . . . She has detailed knowledge of his life, his habits." Also O'Quinn declared that Tiger's marriage was a sham.

TIGER WOOD : 'PERSONAL FAILING' LET FAMILY DOWN

2009-12-03T04:26:00.000-08:00

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Tiger Woods disclosed his "personal failings" in a 317-word statement on his Web site that did not delve into details, except to say that he "let my family down" and regrets it "with all of my heart."

Still to be determined is whether this closes a shocking saga involving one of the biggest names in sport.

In the last week, Woods has faced intense media scrutiny after a car accident outside his home in the middle of the night and sordid allegations of affairs. Finally, on Wednesday, Woods acknowledged he had "not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves."

The statement followed an Us Weekly cover story of a Los Angeles waitress claiming she had a 31-month affair with the world's No. 1 golfer. Woods' words were posted three hours after the magazine released a voice mail — provided by the waitress, Jaimee Grubbs — that Woods left on her phone three days before he rammed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and tree outside his Florida home.

"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart," Woods said on his Web site. "I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves."

He did not mention the allegations of an affair, only that he would deal with "my behavior and personal failings" alone with his family.

Along with a public apology, the man who has pursued privacy as relentlessly as he has chased major championships made another plea for privacy.

"Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions," he said.

The investigation into Woods' accident ended Tuesday when the Florida Highway Patrol issued a $164 citation for careless driving. The inspection of his personal life is seemingly just beginning.

Woods' career — as a golfer, a pitchman and perhaps the most recognized athlete in the world — has been largely without blemish since he turned pro at age 20.

Three of his sponsors — Nike, Gatorade and EA Sports — expressed support or commitment to Woods. Gillette said it had no plans to change its marketing programs. AT&T declined comment.

In the most critical comment from a player, Jesper Parnevik said he owed an apology to Woods' wife, Elin, a former Swedish model who once worked as a nanny for the Parnevik family.

"We probably thought he was a better guy than he is," Parnevik told the Golf Channel from West Palm Beach, Fla., where he is in the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying.

Windermere police said Woods' wife told them she smashed out the back windows of his SUV with a golf club to help get him out after he struck a fire hydrant and tree.

"I would probably need to apologize to her and hope she uses a driver next time instead of a 3-iron," Parnevik said, adding that he has not spoken to Woods since the accident.

"It's a private thing, of course," the Swede said. "But when you are the guy he is — the world's best athlete — you should think more before you do stuff ... and maybe not 'just do it,' like Nike says."

But other professional athletes had sympathy for Woods.

Jason Taylor walked into the Miami Dolphins' locker room and saw ESPN running a tease about Woods. He reached up and turned off the TV. "Nobody's damned business," Taylor said.

Minnesota Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell lives in the same Isleworth gated community as Woods outside Orlando, Fla., and said it was "crazy" in the neighborhood. He said his wife told him paparazzi were everywhere and helicopters hovered overhead.

"My wife is a blonde and wears sunglasses in Florida, so every time she comes out of the gate, they're snapping pictures," Longwell said. "It's a different thing than we've ever faced down there. It's certainly a new wrinkle to it.

"You just pray for his family," Longwell said. "You pray for his wife and kids. Just pray that if what's coming out is true that he can learn from it and move on."

Most players at the Chevron World Challenge — hosted by Woods, who withdrew earlier this week — offered him support, even as they were curious how he crashed his car in the wee hours of Friday morning.

"He's trying to make it as private as he can, and it's just hard, because everybody is trying to get a piece of information on really what happened," said Steve Stricker, who regularly exchanges text messages with Woods, but hasn't heard from him since the accident.

"I think his image is going to take a bit of a shot," Stricker said. "I think I'd like to see him come on TV and just pour it out a little bit and show what's happened. I don't know if that will ever happen."

In its final report released Wednesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said Woods caused $3,200 in property damage, was not wearing a seat belt and was traveling 30 mph in a 25 mph zone.

The six-page report — which did not include statements from Woods, his wife or any witnesses — said Woods' SUV rubbed up against bushes, crossed over a curb, onto a grass median and into a row of hedges before striking the fire hydrant and a tree. Damage to his Cadillac Escalade was estimated at $8,000.

Far more damaging to his image was the Us Weekly cover story.

Grubbs told the magazine she met Woods at a Las Vegas nightclub the week after the 2007 Masters — two months before Woods' wife gave birth to their first child.

In the voice mail released by the magazine, a man says to Grubbs:

"Hey, it's, uh, it's Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Um, can you please, uh, take your name off your phone. My wife went through my phone. And, uh, may be calling you. If you can, please take your name off that and, um, and what do you call it just have it as a number on the voice mail, just have it as your telephone number. That's it, OK. You gotta do this for me. Huge. Quickly. All right. Bye."

The Associated Press could not confirm Woods was the caller.

Woods' limited response after the crash — the first statement Friday spoke of a "minor accident" — fueled speculation about a domestic dispute.

"The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious," Woods said. "Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect."

Such sordid revelations come at a crucial time for the PGA Tour, which is talking to a dozen companies about tournament sponsorship deals that expire after 2010. The tour also is to begin negotiations next year for a new TV contract.

Neal Pilson, former CBS Sports president who runs his own consulting business, did not think it would affect the next deal.

"We're seeing this in the glare of the day, these incredible revelations," Pilson said. "At some point, he'll play golf and he'll move on. At some point, this will become more embarrassing to the media than Tiger."

TV ratings typically double when Woods is contention, and he has begun his season every year since 2006 at Torrey Pines in San Diego, which starts Jan. 28.

"Ratings will be good for golf. Aren't you going to be watching?" Pilson said. "The ratings for Tiger are going to be higher than they might be ordinarily. I don't think there will be any negative fallout for golf. This is a Tiger Woods story. He happens to be a golfer, but he's a worldwide personality."

___

PLEASURE P

2009-12-03T03:46:00.000-08:00

Pleasure P, a former member of Pretty Ricky and R&B group and singer, has just hit the headlines on the Internet.

And the reason is very unfortunate, and disturbing.

Marcus Cooper aka Pleasure P has allegedly been outed as a child molestor. It has been rumoured that he is also a repeat offender, and the children involved were his own niec and nephew ages 4 and 3 years old.

These rumours also claim that this was the reason her left Pretty Ricky in 2007, but apparently he was actually kicked out by the label and management of the band.

The rumours have come about during a Twitter rant to a blogger by a daughter of a member of a Law Firm who represented Cooper. And she wrote on Twitter about all the allegations saying:

My dad was being paid to cover it up but they owe my dad a lot of money and don’t want to pay him. I first overheard my dad say that it was someone famous but I found out who he was talking about.

This guy Pleasure P got kicked out of a group bc he was hiding that he was a child molester. his managers or whatever hired my dad to keep it quiet so he could get a record deal

The guy Pleasure P molested a 4 yr old child and was about to molest another one when police came and saved the child. Now, the truth is out they’re threatening my family nd telling my dad he’s going to get sued. But they can’t because its a crime.

'LEGION OF EXTRAORDINARY DANCERS' BLOWS UP FOX

2009-12-03T03:11:00.000-08:00

Wowzas. We’ve been hot on Jon M. Chu’s upcoming dance-laden web series The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers for a while now, but this is getting to a new level. The group appeared tonight on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, and blew away the competition. These guys are AMAZING. Seriously, watch the clip above from the show. (right now)

We’re starting to think this could be the first truly international blockbuster web series. And now that Paramount Digital has jumped on board with Agility Studios for a major online distribution push, it just might get there.

No Special effects. No Wires. Real People, Real powers.

We call this project THE LXD.

“The LXD allows us to evolve how we tell stories using dance while creating a platform for the best dancers in the world to do what they do best,” said Jon M. Chu. “For the past year, my team and I have been locked in a room secretly building a project that combines music, dance, story telling, sport and interactive media.”

The dance segment above was choreographed by Harry Shum, Christopher Scott, and Galen Hooks, all of whom are members of The LXD.

A new trailer for the series, which is set to launch in January, is also out and is even better than the earlier teaser:

TOP RATED RESTAURANTS

2009-11-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

Top Rated Restaurants

Below you'll find some great Top Rated Restaurants. You can browse through the Top Rated Restaurants by category or location. Use the side links to find more Top Rated Restaurants, hotels, hot travel deals, tourist attractions, and more.

Our Restaurant Search offers the most advanced way to find the best Top Rated Restaurants from all around the world. Search by location, price range, rating, and hours of operation.

Top Rated Restaurants
North America Restaurants
United States Restaurants
California CA Restaurants
Elk Grove Restaurants
Restaurant Type Venue Name Attraction Review Hours of Operation Price Range Rating Value Rating Restaurant Description
Italian Food Palermo Ristorante Italiano Palermo Ristorante Italiano Review Afternoon to Evening $15 Family owned and operated serving the family's own recipes. The menu is southern Italian, with a variety of seafood and shellfish specialties, as well as an assortment of pasta.

Roseville Restaurants
Restaurant Type Venue Name Attraction Review Hours of Operation Price Range Rating Value Rating Restaurant Description
Thai Restaurants Thai Basil Thai Basil Review Afternoon to Evening $15 One of Sacramento's best Thai food restaurants. Large selection of Thai food dishes. A perfect place to eat family style and sample many different dishes.
Pizza Restaurants Mark & Monicas Sports Grille Mark & Monicas Pizza Review Afternoon to Evening $10 Casual dining pizza list, also has a variety of other foods from seafood to steaks. Variety of fun for the whole family, including arcade games.

Florida FL Restaurants
Fort Lauderdale Restaurants
Restaurant Type Venue Name Attraction Review Hours of Operation Price Range Rating Value Rating Restaurant Description
Catering YaDa Chef YaDa Chef Review Morning to Evening $15 Catering and Personal Cheffing company, serving the greater Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas.

New Jersey NJ Restaurants
Verona Restaurants
Restaurant Type Venue Name Attraction Review Hours of Operation Price Range Rating Value Rating Restaurant Description
Catering Mardi Gras Mardi Gras Review Morning to Evening $35 Culinary Institute of American trained chef with expansive offerings for your event - casual to formal. Full service (food, service, rentals) or store order catering available .

Texas TX Restaurants
Dallas Restaurants
Restaurant Type Venue Name Attraction Review Hours of Operation Price Range Rating Value Rating Restaurant Description
Dessert Restaurants Pop's Corn Shoppe Pop's Corn Shoppe Review Morning to Evening $10 Gourmet popcorn, candy, and food

Europe Restaurants
Norway Restaurants
Honningsvaag Restaurants
Restaurant Type Venue Name Attraction Review Hours of Operation Price Range Rating Value Rating Restaurant Description
Fish and Chips Barents cabin&cruise Barents cabin&cruise Review Morning to Evening $10 Local speciality. Fish burger +

North America Restaurants
United States Restaurants
Idaho ID Restaurants
Boise Restaurants
Restaurant Type Venue Name Attraction Review Hours of Operation Price Range Rating Value Rating Restaurant Description
American Restaurants Falcon Tavern Falcon Tavern Review Morning to Evening $10 The Falcon Tavern is located in Boise Idaho. They serve American Classics, do catering, and also have a bar. Wireless Internet is also available.
American Restaurants Satchel's Grill Satchel's Grill Review Morning to Evening $10 Satchel's Grill is located in Boise Idaho. They serve American breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also deliver.
Thai Restaurants Mai Thai Mai Thai Review Morning to Evening $20 Mai Thai is a Thai restaurant located in Boise Idaho. They offer free delivery if you live within 3 miles. They serve curry, crab, fried rice, noodles, and more.

2009 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS; ADAMS LAMBERT ALBUM PERFORMANCE AMAZES

2009-11-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

The 2009 AMA's became Adam Lambert's show at the end of the night. Adam Lambert's 2009 AMA performance is something that is going to be talked about for quite some time, and might have even over-shadowed the award winning night for Taylor Swift and Michael Jackson. The Adam Lambert performance came at the very end of the 2009 American Music Awards, and didn't serve as only a show ender, but rather a show stopper for everyone that was still watching. And let's face it, many people who were watching the 2009 AMA's were just waiting for Adam Lambert performance anyways, so when he took the stage everyone was already prepared to watch Lambert steal the thunder.

Adam Lambert's AMA performance began innocently enough with the American Idol runner up standing center stage and spinning out a few lyrics to one of his new songs. Then the music kicked in and suddenly his stage was filled with dancers waiting for their moments in the spotlight. Lambert's outfit itself stood out a lot, with a crafted suit that had a shoulder pad that resembled ice picks sticking up into the air. Glammed out in a lot of make-up, he began singing his single, while dancers gyrated around on the stage, each taking a turn dancing with Lambert for a bit before he moved on to the next one. The dancing worked with the beats of the song, but that wasn't what will have grabbed the attention of most viewers at the end of the night.

At one point Lambert takes a seat on a rotating part of the stage as a poll dancer comes down and into his lap. The R-rated moment that followed had him groping the dancer between her legs before he moved on to another part of the stage. Climbing higher on to the oddly constructed scenery, he grabbed one of the musicians (a guy) and gave him a lingering kiss in what had to be shocking for some of the people watching the show. In the same moment it seemed like it was planned and spontaneous, and the entire spectacle continued as Lambert finished off the song with some notes that he held out for extreme effect. When it was over, it wasn't just the performers that were out of breath, but the audience which loved his showy presentation.

Adam Lambert's AMA performance was a really good coming out party as an artist, and it showed how he is going to take that next step forward with his music. Even if someone walks away not liking the "For Your Entertainment" track, its undeniable that Lambert is a real performer in every sense of the word. If he can keep putting on musical numbers such as this one, he could be a great artist to see in concert, and that could lead to a ton of ticket sales if he goes on tour anytime soon. With Adam Lambert's album hitting stores on Monday, November 23rd, this was the perfect way to get people talking about Lambert and thinking about what he might do next. Some of the lyrics may have been a bit rough with all the movement he was undertaking on stage, but his AMA performance is definitely going to be quite memorable for some time to come.