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	As a child everyone called him the “Black Prince,” or just “The Prince,” a nickname given to by his mother before he was born. Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother remembers, having miscarried four or five times, she did not think she would carry him to term. But Tupac she said, “wanted to be in this world.” She remembers while in her cell, (she was in jail until she was 8 months pregnant) she would pat her belly and say, “This is my prince. He is going to save the black nation.”		As a child everyone called him the “Black Prince,” or just “The Prince,” a nickname given to by his mother before he was born. Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother remembers, having miscarried four or five times, she did not think she would carry him to term. But Tupac she said, “wanted to be in this world.” She remembers while in her cell, (she was in jail until she was 8 months pregnant) she would pat her belly and say, “This is my prince. He is going to save the black nation.”
	An epic-like beginning and reminder throughout his life no doubt, one I am sure to some extent he couldn’t help but internalize. His life without a father and later with a crack addicted mother in Oakland, California gave him a clear understanding of the hard life he later rapped about.		An epic-like beginning and reminder throughout his life no doubt, one I am sure to some extent he couldn’t help but internalize. His life without a father and later with a crack addicted mother in Oakland, California gave him a clear understanding of the hard life he later rapped about.
-	As a rapper Tupac spoke out against racism, poverty, violence and the ghetto-life of a black man. In his songs, he also preached about a complete equality for all. But his debut album 2Pacalypse Now, was excessively violent, particularly towards the police. It was highly criticized, didn’t do well on the charts, and was eventually publicly denounced because of a police death attributed to the album.	+	As a rapper Tupac spoke out against racism, poverty, violence and the ghetto-life of a black man. In his songs, he also preached about a complete equality for all. But his debut album 2Pacalypse Now, was excessively violent, particularly towards the police. It was highly criticized, didn’t do well on the charts, and was eventually publicly denounced because of a police death attributed to the album.
		+
		+	The Violence
	He found himself on the other side of the law all too often and in 1993 he was arrested and served time for sexual assault. It was the gang violence, ghetto and thug life that he charged and warned against so often, that grew to heights in his own life that even he couldn’t control.		He found himself on the other side of the law all too often and in 1993 he was arrested and served time for sexual assault. It was the gang violence, ghetto and thug life that he charged and warned against so often, that grew to heights in his own life that even he couldn’t control.
	The violence eventually took his life on September 13, 1996, at the age of 25, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was shot four times in a drive by shooting. He died of cardiac arrest and respiratory failure six days later. Tupac would however, not be forgotten, and many believe he is still alive today.		The violence eventually took his life on September 13, 1996, at the age of 25, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was shot four times in a drive by shooting. He died of cardiac arrest and respiratory failure six days later. Tupac would however, not be forgotten, and many believe he is still alive today.
		+
		+	Legendary Status
	Tupac Amaru Shakur was born June 16, 1971. A poet, actor and American hip hop artist, he rose to greatness as a rapper. He sold 44.5 million albums in the U.S. and 73 million worldwide. Tupac is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best selling rap/hip-hop artist of all time. Still considered the greatest rapper of all time he has also reached (urban) legend status.		Tupac Amaru Shakur was born June 16, 1971. A poet, actor and American hip hop artist, he rose to greatness as a rapper. He sold 44.5 million albums in the U.S. and 73 million worldwide. Tupac is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best selling rap/hip-hop artist of all time. Still considered the greatest rapper of all time he has also reached (urban) legend status.
	As legend has it, through his studies of Niccolό Machiavelli, and more specifically “The Prince” and Sun Tzu’s “Art of War,” he gleaned a new persona, and the moniker Makaveli. This representation has had an interesting affect on Tupac’s mythology.		As legend has it, through his studies of Niccolό Machiavelli, and more specifically “The Prince” and Sun Tzu’s “Art of War,” he gleaned a new persona, and the moniker Makaveli. This representation has had an interesting affect on Tupac’s mythology.
	Machiavelli’s The Prince was published posthumously 5 years after his (Niccolό’s) death. As many of Tupac’s fans know, he has also had several works published posthumously.		Machiavelli’s The Prince was published posthumously 5 years after his (Niccolό’s) death. As many of Tupac’s fans know, he has also had several works published posthumously.
	What has come to be known as “Machiavellian Intelligence,” is to rule and have power by any means necessary, while being revered, and seen as wise, having ethics and constitution by those around you. It is clear Tupac identified with this philosophy. Machiavelli also put a high priority on and was dedicated to the art of war. It was no surprise Tupac also studied Tzu’s treatise. Being known as the oldest living military treatise, the The Art of War explains the highly effective strategy of faking one’s death––And Tupac’s legend was born.		What has come to be known as “Machiavellian Intelligence,” is to rule and have power by any means necessary, while being revered, and seen as wise, having ethics and constitution by those around you. It is clear Tupac identified with this philosophy. Machiavelli also put a high priority on and was dedicated to the art of war. It was no surprise Tupac also studied Tzu’s treatise. Being known as the oldest living military treatise, the The Art of War explains the highly effective strategy of faking one’s death––And Tupac’s legend was born.
		+
		+	Life After Death
	After Tupac’s death he was quickly cremated without an autopsy or a viewing and his memorial services were cancelled––adding to his mystique. And on the inside of his “Makaveli” album released after his death, the inscription reads “Exit: Tupac Enter: Makaveli.” Whether Tupac is dead or still alive and well, he has one clear and powerful message: THUGLIFE…The Hate yoU Gave ‘Lil Infants Fucks Everybody. He may not have saved the black nation, but he clearly has a solid idea of what would save us all.		After Tupac’s death he was quickly cremated without an autopsy or a viewing and his memorial services were cancelled––adding to his mystique. And on the inside of his “Makaveli” album released after his death, the inscription reads “Exit: Tupac Enter: Makaveli.” Whether Tupac is dead or still alive and well, he has one clear and powerful message: THUGLIFE…The Hate yoU Gave ‘Lil Infants Fucks Everybody. He may not have saved the black nation, but he clearly has a solid idea of what would save us all.


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		+	Angelina Jolie:
		+	“Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness!”
		+
		+	What makes you just want to eat Angelina Jolie whole? Is it her unbridled beauty or her god-like body? Her divine flesh can be likened to that of the most succulent olive –– (she is) dark and mysterious. The salty, oily tastes are not only mouth-watering but are both essential to life and unmistakably of an ancient world. Now, don’t forget the pit (Pitt) –– ‘lest you choke to death on it if you aren’t careful. Oh yes! And Brad Pitt, that just makes her even more tantalizingly luscious.
		+	Feasting your eyes upon her you can’t help but notice she is unafraid of marking on this beautiful canvas. Her tattooed body is like a road map to her illustrious life. With unabashed honesty and humility, she doesn’t just wear it on her sleeve but all over her whole body. Family, love, spirituality, strength, passion, truth, justice, it is all there for the world to see.
		+
		+	Tattooed Expressions
		+	An “h” Rune-shaped on the inside of her left wrist for her brother James Haven (allegedly for Timothy Hutton because they were dating when she got it). But she has been reported as saying the “h” is for Haven and they are extremely close especially because of her parents’ split. On her left shoulder is a fairly large Buddhist Thai prayer of protection and luck for her son Maddox. This covers up (the first tattoo she had ever gotten) the Japanese kanji for “death,” which was said to remind her to live. The coordinates to the birthplaces of her adopted children (Maddox and Zahara) now take the place where “Billy Bob” used to reside on her left upper arm.
		+	Through her tattoos Angelina continues to expresses herself spirituality using several cultures, languages and symbols. Her left forearm bears a quote by Tennessee Williams: “A prayer for the wild at heart kept in cages.” She has a large black Latin cross on her left hip. And next to it, on her lower stomach, the Latin Quote: “Quod me netrit me destruit,” which means “what nourishes me also destroys me.”
		+	Also on her left upper arm she bears a tribal dragon and on her lower back, Bomeon-style tribal patterns and another dragon. The Arabic word for “determination” or “strength of will” is scribed on the inside of her right arm (also covering a tattoo she shared with Billy Bob). On her back just below her neckline you’ll find the words “Know Your Rights.” She as well has a Roman numeral 13 on the inside of her right inner forearm.
		+	Some of her tattoos have published explanations and some do not, but any on looker is sure they mean something deep.
		+	Her newest inked expression is a Thai tiger placed above the dragon on her lower back. This extra large 12 inch tiger is the (Chinese) living symbol for strength and power, generally also a symbol inspiring fear and respect. Angelina flew to Bangkok to meet with Sompong Kanphai for the engraving. He is the same artist who gave her the prayer tattoo for her son. “I returned to Sompong,” she is reported as saying, “because his first tattoo has brought me such good luck.”
		+	There, the English-language daily photographed the smiling Angelina. The artist is quoted as saying he “chanted an ancient hymn to bless the tattoo to ensure that its bearer would be rich and powerful.”
		+	Jolie had fallen in love with Cambodia while filming Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001. Because of her well known humanitarian work and her subsequent adoption of her Cambodian born son, Maddox, she was offered (Cambodian) citizenship by the (Cambodian) Prime Minister Hun Sen. The thing to remember about her tattoos is they are constantly in flux, and as fearlessly as she commits to having them done she just as quickly and easily will have them lasered off.
		+
		+	Relationships
		+	You can’t possibly miss her tattoos and dark/alternative side. She is candid about her severed relationship with her father, her changing her name to Jolie, and professes honestly about her bi-sexuality. It is also well known that she had youthful aspirations of becoming a funeral director. It has been reported she has an affinity for knives, and snakes.
		+	The vile of Billy Bob’s blood she wore around her neck during their marriage, is infamously dark. Married once before, blood was also a part of her previous marital union. Her family consisting of adopted children Maddox and Zahara has only been heightened by her (somewhat) recent coupling with Brad Pitt and the birth of their daughter Shiloh (meaning: the peaceful one). There are reports that the family stays close together even when Pitt and Jolie are working on new films, it seems the tumultuousness of her personal life of the past has visibly receded.
		+
		+	Professional Life
		+	At 31 (on June 4) Angelina is a gale force to be reckoned with and one cannot fail to see the other side of her life. She has also been a successful fashion model, an Academy Award-winning American Actress, and has to her credit: three Golden Globes, two Sag awards, two Emmy nominations and an Oscar for Best supporting Actress for her work in the film, Girl Interrupted.
		+	Jolie’s successful film career is only matched by her prestigious appointment (August 27, 2001) to the position of Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. (Before she was given this position) On her first visit to Cambodia during the filming of Tomb Raider, she became aware of the poverty and humanitarian crisis worldwide.
		+	Jolie has said, “I discovered things about what’s happening in the world….Cambodia was really and eye opener for me.” Deeply affected by her experience, she turned to the UNHCR wanting to learn more about poverty stricken areas around the world. Jolie first visited Sierra Leone for 18 days in February of 2001.
		+	She has said that these first missions shocked her. Later in August she visited Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan and donated $1 million dollars for Afghan refugees in response to an emergency appeal by the UNHCR. Impressed by her interest and devotion she was named Goodwill Ambassador.
		+	Since then she (and recently with Brad by her side) continues to devote a tremendous amount of her time, efforts and money to this cause. She has visited Namibia, Thailand, Ecuador, Kenya, Kosovo, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Russia, Chad, Lebanon, and many more places where people are desperately in need.
		+	Jolie has further promoted awareness of these humanitarian issues by filming the movie Beyond Borders filmed in 2002. She also published (a book) Notes from My Travels. It is a collection of journal entries chronicling her early UNCHCR field missions from 2001-2003. In May of 2005, Jolie filmed The Diary of Angelina Jolie & Dr. Jeffrey Sachs in Africa. Sach’s United Nations Millennium Project hopes to work with the locals and end poverty, hunger and disease in Sauri, Kenya.
		+	To date Angelina is caring of her new family, maintains a successful career in film and continues to work tirelessly for refugees all around the world. She has added to her repertoire of causes, a free education for all children. She recently promoted this year’s Global Education Week and garnered a pledge of $16 Million dollars from UK Chancellor Gordon Brown in support of a “universal free education.”
		+
		+	Sources used:
		+	(1) http://www.wikipedia.org
		+	(2) http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34215.asp
		+	(3) http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoo/celeb-jolie.htm
		+	(4) http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2004/07/angelina_jolie_thai_tiger_tatoo/
		+	(5) http://www.people.aol.com/people/package/event/0,26325,1183475,00.html
		+	(6) http://www.holymtn.com/astrology/tiger.htm
		+
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	She is very hot. She is Jon Voight's daughter.		She is very hot. She is Jon Voight's daughter.


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		+	"A Clear Reflection from the Metal[lica]: Where are they now, a brief history, the life and times"
		+	6/29/06
		+
		+	I couldn't believe we grew up together. To think, if their gene pool had mixed with mine, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, or Robert Trujillo could have been my older brother.
		+	They respectively (but in no sensical order) were born in 63, 63, 62,64, and me -- 67.
		+	Metallic hit the Rock Richter Scale in the early eighties with such elemental potency, that to this day, they are still practically synonymous with the term Metal. I had no idea at the time that they were not long time Rock legends. (Aaah...you can just hear the drum roll with that intro!)
		+	To think they worshipped at the same alter, of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and Deep Purple, just like me!
		+	They too lived through the Cold War, the Divorce Era, a world without microwaves, cell phones and computers. We are GenX and our cult film is the Breakfast Club. And more importantly, they can recall a world of 45 records, 8-tracks, and tapes (the small ones). They too can remember when a byte was just an unfortunate run-in with a mosquito or a dog.
		+	Now, as we are all in our 30's and we do what any 30 year old worth a salt would do, we reflect with a little clarity, a little confusion, and a whole lot of soul.
		+	I joyfully humble myself before these Rock demi-gods caressing the (writing) privilege that is mine. This is my story, this is Metallica.
		+
		+	Where Are They Now...
		+	Just two Saturdays ago! 17 June 2006, Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, the venue is Imola, Italy; and the event is the Heineken Jammin' Festival. Metallica rounded out their short European Tour. Only four days early they broke the 1997's attendance record in Estonia with 78,000 fans. People came from all over the world to see them.
		+	Nine p.m. The Darkness performed, followed by the Italy-USA soccer match (They tied 1:1); everyone was really here to see Metallica! The show started promptly at 11 o'clock. It was a great opening with “Creeping Death,” “Fuel,” and “Wherever I May Roam.” After that James announced a new song. It was long and the arrangements of tempos and styles varied; it was sometimes heavy sometimes "nu."
		+	Another pinnacle moment in the show, James read from the big screens announcing the 20th Anniversary celebration of Master of Puppets. James wailed and the band hammered-out the songs with incredible authenticity to the original sounds of 1986.
		+	Then it was time to pay honor and respects. On the eighth song of the Master of Puppet's set, “Orion,” the screens lit up with a photo of Cliff Burton, his name, and the dates of his birth and death. James said, "God bless Cliff Burton" and sent a kiss to the heavens.
		+	With a moment to catch our breaths, Metallica played more of the classics: “Sad But True,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “One” and ended the concert with “Last Caress,” and “Seek & Destroy."
		+	James thanked the crew and Kirk tried to say farewell in Italian. To say the least, something was lost in the translation. As Rob was making fun of him, Lars spoke the last words for the band, "It's great to have our last show here in Italia! We'll see you next year with a new record and a new tour!"
		+	Before reality could set in, those of us who could wax nostalgic remembered what youth was like; when the sweet, sweaty, crowded, music infested air at a Rock Metal concert made you feel alive for the first time.
		+
		+	History, Life & Times
		+	James Hetfield the founding member of Metallica was born August 3, 1963 in Los Angeles, California. Not unlike most kids, his childhood was riddled with difficulty.
		+	His parents Virgil and Cynthia Hetfield were devout followers of Christian Science. When his mother was diagnosed with cancer, according to their faith, medicine was out of the question. Cancer took his mother and eventually his father as well.
		+	Their deaths spawned a turbulent relationship with religion that would forever be. These deep struggles would find there way into Metallica’s lyrics. "The God That Fails" is about Hetfield’s parents’ death and "Until It Sleeps" is about the cancer that took them.
		+	Music has always seemed to be the perfect place for James to express himself. Though he had been playing piano since he was nine, he readily moved over to the drums. James was known for playing what we now know as Metal, during lunches at high school. Bands like Black Sabbath, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy helped him realize his first group, aptly named Obsession.
		+	James moved after his mother’s death and again after his high school graduation. Phantom Lord and later Leather Charm were two more band incarnations before what later became Metallica. With James now as lead vocals, Charm had some success and the band played a few gigs and recorded a demo. When Hugh Tanner, then guitarist, introduced Hetfield to Lars Ulrich, Metallica was born, and as the say, the rest is history.
		+	With Hetfield at the helm, the band went through a few more band-member changes before settling into: long time (new) lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, Cliff Burton on bass, Lars Ulrich on drums and James as lead vocals and guitar.
		+	With little more than a demo and a few shows under their belts, New York record shop owner Jon Zazula, recruited them to come east and record an album. Released in late 1983, Metallica’s first album, “Kill’em All” took the band’s reputation to new heights in the US and Europe. They recorded two more albums, “Ride the Lightning” in 1984 and “Master of Puppets” in 1985. Continuing to grow, they acquired major new management and a major new label. In 1986 they scored a tour with Ozzy Osbourne and hit the top 30 album charts.
		+	As is the case in life, tragedy strikes and Metallica would not be spared. September 27, 1986, somewhere in Sweden the bus, skid, flipped and Cliff Burton lost his life. Conscious of Cliff’s enormous contribution to Metallica, they knew he would want them to continue on. After more than 40 auditions, Jason Newsted joined the band.
		+	As Metallica continued recording, three more shattering events would shake the foundation of the band. In 2000, Metallica took on Napster and suffered a great backlash from fans and non-fans alike. Being accused of greed and selfishness, it was a public relations nightmare. Metallica’s defense was that they were not apposed to bootleg recordings and performances, but bootlegs were not what Napster was distributing. In 2001 Newsted left the bad and in July of that same year Hetfield entered rehab.
		+	In 2003 Robert Trujillo would join the band in Newsted’s place and the band was off to a fresh and sober start. Although the growing pains didn’t stop the band from recording a new album, St. Anger didn’t find much favor with their fans. In spite of the poor reviews Metallica won a 2004 Grammy for St. Anger.
		+	Getting some counseling for the band and a new producer in 2006, Metallic continues to record, tour and has a new album due to release in 2007.
		+	And like James, Lars, Kirk, Robert and myself, our generation and all those that came after us¬¬––we will never know a world without Metallica.
		+
		+	Authors note: This article was based on information found in the websites: www.metallica.com, www.ecycmet.com and www.wikipedia.com.
		+
		+
	<b>[[Discography]]</b><ul><li>[[Discography/Kill em All\|<em>Kill 'em All</em> (1983)]]		<b>[[Discography]]</b><ul><li>[[Discography/Kill em All\|<em>Kill 'em All</em> (1983)]]
	<li>[[Discography/Ride the Lightning\|<em>Ride the Lightning</em> (1984)]]		<li>[[Discography/Ride the Lightning\|<em>Ride the Lightning</em> (1984)]]

ITT4IAM

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