Happy Brithday Barack Obama

Obama's birthday treat

Barack Obama sings 'Happy Birthday' to reporter on own birthday

On his own 48th birthday, US President Barack Obama turned the spotlight on a reporter also celebrating her special day.

Mr Obama sang "Happy Birthday" and presented Helen Thomas, the doyenne of the White House press corps, with cupcakes and a single candle to celebrate her 89th birthday, before planting a kiss on her cheek.

The outspoken Thomas, who has covered every president since John F Kennedy, spoke quietly to Mr Obama, who ignored reporters' shouted questions about his own birthday and ex-president Bill Clinton's mercy mission to North Korea.

"Helen wished for world peace, (and) no prejudice, but she and I also had a common birthday wish," Mr Obama said.

"She said she wishes for a health care reform bill," Mr Obama said, referring to his signature domestic reform legislation, working its tortuous way through Congress.

Thomas, a former UPI wire service reporter who now works for Hearst Newspapers, has a place of honour in the front row of the White House briefing room, and first worked the White House beat in 1961.

Mr Obama celebrated his own birthday by largely avoiding reporters, and holding a lunchtime meeting with a 57 of the 60 Democratic senators and independents who largely control the fact of his domestic agenda in Congress.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that Mr Obama celebrated his birthday at the weekend with a trip to the Camp David presidential retreat surrounded by family and friends.

The president indulged his passion for basketball, and even had a game of tenpin bowling – scoring a 144 – a much better showing than his widely ridiculed attempt to bowl during an embarrassing 2008 campaign photo-op.

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Top 10 Ways To Celebrate 4th Of July

It's that time of the year again to celebrate America's independence from the British by consuming large amounts of alcohol, eating a lot of food, and watching fireworks go off in the sky. From shaking your boo-tay at the Echoplex, to watching fireworks with the L.A. Galaxy, Metromix has all the scoop for where to party, eat, or just hang out on the biggest holiday of the year.

Here we suggest some incredible ways to spend the Great Day. Also, hoping some suggestion's from you that needs to be here in this list .

1.cake:-

Check out SusieCakes' Fourth of July menu. Bring some of these to the barbie, and you'll be Uncle Sam's favorite citizen.

• "The Fireworks" Vanilla cupcake (Red, white, and blue sprinkles baked into vanilla cupcake batter, topped with vanilla buttercream frosting) .
• Chocolate cupcake with Chocolate buttercream (Topped with red, white, & blue star-shaped sprinkles) .
• Classic Red Velvet (Topped with white cream cheese frosting & red, white, & blue star-shaped sprinkles) .
• Summer Berry Icebox (Chiffon cake layered with vanilla pudding, Chantilly, fresh strawberries & blueberries arranged into an American flag) .
  
• Red Velvet with Inscribed "Happy 4the of July!"
• Blueberry Crumble Pie (plump blueberrries topped with streusel and baked in a flaky,hand-rolled crust) .
  
• Lemon Meringue (Perfectly tart lemon topped with a delicious meringue topping) .
  
• Star-shaped frosted sugar cookies (topped with royal icing with red & blue sanding sugar border) .
  
• Susie's Sweetheart Sandwich cookies (Filled with vanilla butter cream & topped with star-shaped cut-out) .
  

2.Fireworks:-

A perfect and budget friendly, family outing for the Fourth of July, the Los Angeles
Memorial Coliseum will host the Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza, a full 60 minute firework show that will light up the Los Angeles skyline in celebration of Independence Day. As the biggest fireworks show in the city, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum offers the best
seats in the city to watch the breath-taking display for free!

The L.A. Galaxy will host their annual Fireworks Extravaganza after the club’s match on the 4th of July against the New England Revolution, sponsored by Macy’s. The first 10,000 fans will receive a Macy’s Galaxy bandana.

Don't forget to be patriotic. This is a time for remembrance and who be.tter to help you with that than your family. The fireworks also occur once a year so take them seriously. This is not disney world and you can't see them everyday, so watch every second.

3.Bootie LA:-

It's a free country, isn't it? Come celebrate the true spirit of independance at BootieLA, the first and only all-mashup club in town. Dance your face off to a slamming set by resident DJ Paul V and special guest DJ Shyboy. Plus Bootie's resident dance crew R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance) will be back in all their gold-suited glory. Get there before 10 p.m., and admission is only $5, plus a free Bootie CD to the first 100 people through the door.

4.Have a great Meal:-

DJ Crash and Hyatt Century City cordially invites you to XBAR at Hyatt Century City for the 4th of July after party. DJ Crash will be spinning the finest in pop, rock and top 40. Upscale attire required.

5.Circus:-

What better way to spend the 4th than in a big top tent full of circus freaks? The dark, twisted circus/cabaret troupe known as Cirque Berzerk is performing twice this evening (7 p.m. and 10 p.m.) in their massive,1,500-person tent, pitched on the grounds of Downtown's State Historic Park. Rolling out a stable of burlesque beauties, daring aerialists, wicked fire-dancers, plus assorted freaks and mutants, Cirque Berzerk delivers plenty of fodder for your circus-themed bad dreams. Before or after the show, enjoy live music at the Cirque Berzerk bar while watching the Downtown skyline light up with fireworks from nearby Dodgers Stadium.

6.Travel:-

Many workplaces give their workers a three- or four-day weekend in honor of the 4th of July holiday, which affords plenty of travel opportunities. Whether you're going to visit your extended family or just going sightseeing, it's good to get out of town. If you're interested in a more authentic Independence Day experience, check out these points of interest:-

• Boston. The city of tea parties and legendary battles hosts a number of parties, including the Boston Harborfest, which starts in late June and continues through the holiday.
• Chicago. Here you can catch three nights of fireworks from the Navy Pier, see free performances by a number of local bands and pay a visit to Millenium Park.
• Mount Rushmore. This tribute to great American presidents is a can't-miss sightseeing
• venture.
• Philadelphia. The home of the Founding Fathers and the Liberty Bell, Philly offers fireworks over the Delaware River, gospel concerts and a slew of performances in front of Independence Hall.
• Washington, D.C. The nation's capital is the site of numerous celebrations, parades and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

7.Family fun:-

The holiday is also a fine time for a romantic dinner with your significant other. Finding an intimate restaurant shouldn't be too much of a challenge, given the outdoor activities that dominate the weekend schedule.

If you have children, chances are their out-of-school days coincide with your own time off. Take advantage of your leisure time together! The 4th of July weekend usually marks the release of at least one blockbuster movie, and there are always plenty of kid-friendly movies in summer release. A weekday trip to an air conditioned theater could be just what the doctor ordered.You're going to spend time with your family so why not wait out a good spot rather than speed at the last second? Time is not of the issue, but it does help. Get some food to go and stake your claims with plenty of activities to do.

8.Teach Your Kids About the Day:-

Teach Your Kids About The Day Go with them to your local library to check out books about

the heroes who fought for our country. Take them with you to the parade, or to the cemetery to place flowers on a soldier's grave, and explain to them the concept of fighting for something bigger than themselves. Many Web sites, such as FamilyFun.go.com and apples4theteacher.com, offer all sorts of history-based educational activities, from crafts and jigsaw puzzles to coloring pages and word searches. Doing these with your children makes for family bonding and an educational Fourth of July.

9. Enjoy The Myrtle Edward Park Party:-

This event is known as the "Fourth of Jul-Ivar's" Independence Day celebration, held at Myrtle Edwards Park. Formerly known as Elliott Bay Park, the park is located along the Puget Sound from Pier 70 north to Interbay. Fireworks are set off over Elliott Bay, synchronized to majestic music. Beginning in 1964, Ivar's has presented and managed the free event. Celebration events include music on three stages, food booths, games and contests and more. The event is considered the largest privately sponsored fireworks celebration on the West Coast.

10.Patriotic day Face painting:-

Flag Face Painting: Show your patriotic streak at the 4th of July party by dabbing on red, white, and blue face paint. Use water-based face paint to draw a flag, complete with stars and stripes, over children's cheeks, nose, and forehead.

Conclusion:-

The 4th of July is perhaps the most American of holidays, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate, from honoring the fallen to gazing in wonder at a fireworks display. Whether you're traveling to new places or just spending a quiet evening with friends, Independence Day offers a wealth of activities that aren't always obvious. Stay safe and have fun!

Extreme Viking Festival In Shetland

The Largs Viking Festival started in the 1980s, as a small-scale celebration of the Battle of Largs. The Battle is also commemorated by the monument popularly known as The Pencil.

You cannot miss the importance of Vikings to Largs - with a number of references to Vikings around the town - including street names, the amusement arcade and the Viking who stands outside the Main Street chippie. There is also more serious commemoration such as the Vikingar, which is an interactive exhibit with storytellers telling Viking tales and myths and the yearly Håkon Håkonsson Lecture.

There was also the mysterious painting of the Battle of unknown origin done on the wall of what used to be the Victoria Hotel. Rediscovered some ten years ago sadly it has disappeared once more, since the Victoria Hotel is now no more and even the business which replaced it now lies derelict.

Originally, only a few Viking re-enactors were involved and the organisers attracted some of Largs homegrown talent – such as Benny Gallagher of Gallagher and Lyle, who is still going strong.

Over the years it has grown in size and in importance and so has the entertainment – in past years involving RAF displays over Largs Bay, longships and funfairs and every year a Viking Village is now built on the promenade.

Of course, the best-loved part is the finale on the second Saturday night where a large number of Viking re-enactors take to the field in front of the Pencil and recreate the Battle of Largs in all its splendour, followed by a ceremonial boat-burning and a firework display.

Almost 1,000 Vikings arrived in Shetland to celebrate the islands' Nordic heritage. The guizers, known as the Jarl Squad, came by boat...

...and other, less traditional, modes of transport .

Up Helly Aa festival saw the Vikings march through the Lerwick city streets...

...and quench their mighty Viking thirsts at inns .

The annual event, widely regarded as Europe's biggest and best fire festival, continued as a torchlight procession when night fell .

Tourism chiefs in Shetland estimated a crowd size of 5,000 onlookers as the procession made its way...

...culminating in a 30-foot longboat being set alight .

The festival began in the 19th Century and is descended from the ancient festival of Yule, which the Vikings held to celebrate the rebirth of the sun .

Although it originated as a Norse pagan festival it was then adopted by Christians to celebrate the end of the Christian Holy period with feasting and bonfires ..

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Undie Run 2008

This was probably the biggest we've ever seen. It took 10 minutes for the thousands of students to make it through the Strathmore Ave. tunnel.


Last night's Undie Run was definitely different than years past. After UCLA administrators threatened to ban the event from occurring, the student body stepped in and found a compromise: change the route to end at a more secure and well-lit location. Whether that contributed to last night's lower turnout--around 1,000 students instead of the usual 2,000-3,000--or not, the tradition's flavor has definitely changed. However, for better or worse, those who ran had a blast.




Although the Undie Run has been around since 2002 (in lieu of the Midnight Yell), major media outlets really didn't start to catch on until a few years ago. Last night, ESPN, NBC, FOX News and four LA Times staffers were seen at the event.



One of the other reasons why campus officials wanted to change the route and ending location was because too much damage and repair costs incurred. Here's one part overlooked: everyone is hurdling over this brick fencing into landscaping.




This was probably the biggest we've ever seen. It took 10 minutes for the thousands of students to make it through the Strathmore Ave. tunnel.

UCLA Campus Police did not break out the tactical riot gear for the Fall Quarter.

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Amazing Wedding Marathon

A true wedding marathon took place last week in the small Republic of Artsakh, internationally known as Nagorno-Karabakh.

The fact that they are living in a territory disputed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, didn’t stop the inhabitants of this country to prove their independence by organizing a wedding marathon.

700 pairs united their destinies in a ceremony that will go down in the record books as one of the biggest mass-weddings in history.

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