Saturday, May 29, 2010
The La Brea Tarpits
Most people travel to Los Angeles thinking about the glitz and glamour, the movie stars, and the history associated with show business. However, something less known, but still fascinating to see, are The La Brea Tar Pits located in the heart of Los Angeles close to the Miracle Mile district. The destination includes a series of over 100 tar pits, of which more than 650 species of plants and animals have been found and identified; these fossils date back as many as 40,000 years.Although called “tar pits”, it’s more accurate to refer to them as “asphalt pits”, since that’s actually the material that’s being produced. Asphalt is usually created through a process that brings it from petroleum. Natural occurring asphalt pits are rare today, but they were more prevalent in early times. The pits helped cultures develop ships because of asphalt’s waterproof qualities; it was also used to make weapons. Today, we mostly use asphalt for roofing and roadways.
It might not seem all that exciting to go look at a mass of thick, black liquid bubbling out of the ground, but it’s actually fascinating when you think of the history of the pit. Many full fossils of animals throughout history, including saber-toothed tigers, bears and mammoths, have been pulled from these pits, and most of them are fully intact. It takes your breath away to see them and wonder just what else might be in there. To date, no dinosaur bones have ever been discovered, and only one set of human bones has been uncovered, belonging to a woman from nearly 9,000 years ago.There are two interesting things about tar pits. One, most of the animals stuck in tar pits are predator and not prey. Two, along with animal bones, asphalt preserves smaller things like dust, insects, bits and pieces of wood and plants, and very small microfossils. The preservation of remnants in asphalt gives researchers a better understanding of the surrounding area’s history.
One thing you won’t notice with the naked-eye, but is fascinating to know, is that there are living organisms in the tar pits. Bacteria feeds off the asphalt and “burps” the methane that makes the tar pits bubble. An early theory suggested that heat may have been the source of the bubbles.Right next to the La Brea tar pits is the Page Museum, where you can learn all about the history of the tar pits and some of the animals that have been recovered from them.
The 2010 Mille Miglia classic car rally kicked off Thursday in Italy featuring a caravan of incredibly gorgeous and historic Mercedes-Benz models. A total of 15 classic and rare Mercedes made the journey to Italy – nine Mercedes 300SL Gullwings, three Mercedes SSK's, one Mercedes SS, one Mercedes 220A and one W194 prototype I – the largest factory team turnout for the event. Also on hand for Mercedes are ex-Formula 1 drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. The first leg saw the drivers get underway from the northern Italian city of Brescia, with the teams traveling a total of 120 miles through Sirmione, Castel D'Ario and Cento before reaching Bologna. In the longer second stage of the journey drivers made their way from Bologna south through Repubblica Di San Marino and Rieti, meeting at the Italian capital of Roma and then looping back to Brescia again. In total, drivers traveled roughly 870 miles with total driving times of about 35 hours, and all 15 of the Mercedes team vehicles successfully completed the race.
Paul Klee Art
Paul Klee was a Swiss painter of German nationality. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. He was, as well, a student of orientalism. Klee was a natural draftsman who experimented with and eventually mastered color theory, and wrote extensively about it.
Sulja Slim
James Tapp, Jr. (September 9, 1977 – November 26, 2003)[1], better known by his stage name Soulja Slim, was an American rapper who achieved modest success on Master P's No Limit record label. He is known for his guest appearance on the U.S. #1 hit "Slow Motion" by fellow rapper Juvenile.[2]James Tapp was born in the Magnolia Projects in the 3rd Ward of New Orleans Tapp released his debut album, Soulja fa Lyfe, on Parkway Pumpin' Records in 1994 under the name Magnolia Slim. In 1995, he released the four-song e.p. The Dark Side on Hype Enough Records. In the same year, the song "The Dark Side" appeared on No Limit Records double-CD compilation Bouncin' and Swingin' . In 1998, Tapp, now calling himself Soulja Slim, released Give It 2 'Em Raw on No Limit Records with his single and video "From What I Was Told." Soulja Slim was convicted of armed robbery and incarcerated.[1] He reappeared three years later with Streets Made Me, which was again released on the No Limit label. From there, he started his own label, Cut Throat Committy Records and released Years Later in late 2002. In 2003, he released Years Later...A Few Months After, his last album before his death. The album featured the hit "I'll Pay for It". In 2003 he also collaborated with fellow New Orleans rapper Juvenile to make the song "Slow Motion". The song was released on Juvenile's album Juve the Great and reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Soulja Slim and Juvenile's first #1 hit, and as the song was released after Soulja Slim's death he became only the sixth artist to have a posthumous #1 hit.
Soulja Slim has a son named A'darryl, born in 1994. At the time of his Death Soulja Slim was said to be in connection with over 6 murders in the New Orleans area.
[edit] Shooting and death
On Thanksgiving Eve November 26, 2003 Slim was en-route to a performance when he was shot four times; three times in the face, and once in the chest, in front of his mother's home in the 8th Ward/Gentilly area.[3]
[edit] Discography
1994: The Dark Side (as Magnolia Slim)
1998: Give It 2 'Em Raw
2001: The Streets Made Me
2002: Years Later
2003: Years Later...A Few Months After
2005: Greatest Hitz
Friday, May 21, 2010
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