Okay, weird. Emphasis mine...
Michael Jackson returned to the stage at a star-studded World Music Awards in London last night, but only managed to sing a few lines of his hit "We Are The World." Jackson was at the event to collect a Diamond Award for selling more than 100 million albums. But what was billed as a spectacular comeback for the world's biggest star fell flat. Fans outside the Earls Court venue were left fuming when Jackson failed to greet them and then revealed he wouldn't be performing - despite reports he would sing live in the British capital for the first time in nine years. Inside, the arena was only half full. The superstar did make it onstage to join a gospel choir performance of the 1985 song he co-wrote with Lionel Richie - but he barely uttered a line. Jackson was presented the Diamond Award by Beyonce Knowles and also a Guinness World Record for Thriller, the biggest selling album of all time. During an emotional speech, Jackson thanked his friends, family and fans. He said, "I'm greatly humbled by this award. It was my dream that thriller would become the biggest selling album ever. I thank God and you for it's success. There have been so many who have loved and stood by me for the 25 years I have been in the entertainment industry. I'd like to thank my children particularly. Paris, Prince Michael and Blanket (Prince Michael II) for their unconditional love. I love all my fans from the bottom of my heart."
So weird that the Peabody in Memphis just came up. My sister is pushing to go there for New Years. I'd never heard of it before yesterday.
I've been to the Peabody. With Matt the Bruins Fan.
Best Hotel Ever
The Intercontinental really IS swank. And conveniently close to excellent shopping....
When I graduated high school in 1985 (as previously noted, a very good year for buffista graduations), I stayed with a friend at the Pierre in NY. Her mother was
living
there. Her dad was also in town, but at The Regency. We got giggly drunk on champagne and spent the night looking out the window at all the cabs. We didn't realize until leaving the next day that Cher had been in the next room. Good times.
The Intercontinental really IS swank.
Really? It always seems a little sketch to me. )I've had drinks in the lounge, though never stayed there.) But it just seems kind of...forgotten. A little Hyperionesque, even.
How old should a child be before she is taught about... gay penguins? What about gay penguins raising a chick together?
SHILOH, Ill. - A picture book about two male penguins raising a baby penguin is getting a chilly reception among some parents who worry about the book's availability to children — and the reluctance of school administrators to restrict access to it.
The concerns are the latest involving "And Tango Makes Three," the illustrated children's book based on a true story of two male penguins in New York City's Central Park Zoo that adopted a fertilized egg and raised the chick as their own.
Complaining about the book's homosexual undertones, some parents of Shiloh Elementary School students believe the book — available to be checked out of the school's library in this 11,000-resident town 20 miles east of St. Louis — tackles topics their children aren't ready to handle.
Their request: Move the book to the library's regular shelves and restrict it to a section for mature issues, perhaps even requiring parental permission before a child can check it out.
For now, "And Tango Makes Three" will stay put, said school district Superintendent Jennifer Filyaw, though a panel she appointed suggested the book be moved and require parental permission to be checked out. The district's attorney said moving it might be construed as censorship.
Filyaw considers the book "adorable" and age appropriate, written for children ages 4 to 8.
[link]
The article has a link to a slideshow of 51 penguin pictures....
I saw this material at the fabric section at Wal-Mart in Newmarket, Ontario in Canada. The fabric label reads "100% unknown."
It would be a good idea to figure out what the fabric is made of before they decide to sell it, let alone make a label for it.
There's a picture of the label. The label also says, "Luxury Fur Assortment."
[link]
Blanket (Prince Michael II)
Maybe he's using the lesser-known French pronunciation
Blahn-kay.
I'm trying to think of swank hotels. There was that one in Century City. And the one in Princeton. I blank on the names.
More coffee need.
