DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES 1 JULY 1961 – 31 AUGUST 1997

Diana, Princess of Wales was killed in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. The vehicle in which the Princess was travelling was involved in a high-speed accident in the Place de l'Alma underpass in central Paris shortly before midnight on Saturday, 30 August.

Princess Diana was a popular international media icon of the late 20th century as the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981.

POET SEAMUS HEANEY DIES AGED 74

Seamus Heaney, acclaimed by many as the best Irish poet since WB Yeats, has died aged 74.

Heaney was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995 "for works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past".

Over his long career he was awarded numerous prizes and received many honours for his work.

7 UNUSUAL MYTHS AND THEORIES ABOUT THE MOON

Created by a fiery planetary explosion about 400 billion years ago, the moon has comforted man for thousands of years. It's been everything from a god to a compass, and the only cosmic body human beings have ever visited. Explore some of the fascinating, surprising or simply bizarre theories that earthlings have entertained about the moon throughout history.

1. Full moons make you crazy.

Since ancient times, full moons have been associated with odd or insane behavior, including sleepwalking, suicide, illegal activity, fits of violence and, of course, transforming into werewolves. Indeed, the words “lunacy” and “lunatic” come from the Roman goddess of the moon, Luna, who was said to ride her silver chariot across the dark sky each night. For thousands of years, doctors and mental health professionals believed in a strong connection between mania and the moon. Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, wrote in the fifth century B.C. that “one who is seized with terror, fright and madness during the night is being visited by the goddess of the moon.” In 18th-century England, people on trial for murder could campaign for a lighter sentence on grounds of lunacy if the crime occurred under a full moon; meanwhile, psychiatric patients at London’s Bethlehem Hospital were shackled and flogged as a preventive measure during certain lunar phases. Even today, despite studies discrediting the hypothesis, some people think full moons make everyone a little loony.

I HAVE A DREAM - MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered this speech on August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Washington, D.C., Lincoln Memorial.

More than 200,000 Americans gathered in Washington, D.C., for a political rally known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Organized by a number of civil rights and religious groups, the event was designed to shed light on the political and social challenges African Americans continued to face across the country. The march, which became a key moment in the growing struggle for civil rights in the United States, culminated in Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream" speech, a spirited call for racial justice and equality.

FULL TEXT AND VIDEO AND AUDIO OF THE SPEECH

You can practice the speech with the following karaoke.

MOTHER TERESA 26 AUGUST 1910 - 5 SEPTEMBER 1997

Mother Teresa of Calcutta was born on 27 August 1910. She always wrote her birthday as the 27 August because that was the day of her baptism, which was always more important to her than her birth.

Who was Mother Teresa?

Mother Teresa birth name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. At the age of 18 she became a nun in Ireland and chose the name of Sister Teresa, in memory of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

What is Mother Teresa famous for?

Mother Teresa is famous all over the world for her work with the poor in India. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying.

THE NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL SUNDAY 25 & MONDAY 26

Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls,(make sure you visit Mama’s Jerk Station, on the corner of Portobello Rd and Oxford Gardens) over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill carnival

revellers.

Starting its life as a local festival set up by the West Indian community of the Notting Hill area, it has now become a full-blooded Caribbean carnival, attracting millions of visitors from all over the globe. With many astonishing floats and the sounds of the traditional steel drum bands, scores of massive sound systems plus not forgetting the hundreds of stalls that line the streets of Notting Hill. The Notting Hill Carnival is arguably London’s most exciting annual event.

The Notting Hill Carnival used to get under way on the Saturday with the steel band competition. Sunday is Kids’ Day, when the costume prizes are awarded. On Bank Holiday Monday, the main parade takes place. It generally begins on Great Western Road, then winds its way along Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and then Ladbroke Grove. In the evening, the floats leave the streets in procession, and people carry continue partying at the many Notting Hill Carnival after parties.

MALAGA FAIR 2013: THE BIGGEST IN ITS HISTORY

The Fair in Malaga in August is the biggest festival in our city. This year will be the longest yet, it will last for 11 days from the 17th until the 24th of August. The Malaga Fair 2013 will surprise you in many ways: from the decorated streets through the historic centre and fairground rides, the horseriders that pass by, with the verdial and Sevillian dancers, to the bull fighters or simply the excitement from the malagueños and tourists.

200 free shows

The Malaga Fair programme lists 200 free shows in 2013, that range from street performances from the verdiales dance group, traditional Malgueño dancing concerts with famous Spanish singers and groups, such as Andy and Lucas, Chambao and El Sueño de Morfeo; child rides, without forgetting the 15 expositions that you can visit in 9 museums and enabled spaces in the Birthplace of Picasso, el CAC (Centro de Arte Contemporáneo) or the Carmen Thyssen Museum, amongst others. There will be also other events which you can pay to see, such as the bullfighting in “La Plaza de La Malagueta”.  

History

The origin of the Malaga Fair came from the commemoration of the conquest of the city from the Moors by the Catholic Kings on the 19th August 1487. This year it will take place on a working day and the festivities will take place the day before, in other words, the 18th August, the day of the patron saints in Malaga, “San Ciriaco” and “Santa Paula”. 

Fair by day

The Malagueño festivals in August can be enjoyed in many ways in 2 different areas. During the morning and afternoon you can find “los feriantes” in the city centre. The historic streets are decorated with coloured lanterns, the bars serve drinks and tapas, folk groups sing and dance and the youths enjoy the more recent music in discos and pubs. 

Fair by night 

A little further away from the centre, next to the Palacio de Congresos, in the area known as“Cortijo de Torres”, an artificial enclosure is built for the festivities in Malaga. Although there is lots of life throughout the day, there is much more at night-time, where many of the “fiesteros” move to the centre. Here there are numerous stalls to eat drink and dance in; attractions for teens and children, and, above all, something which draws the most attention to foreign visitors, the horse drawn carriages with riders and passengers wearing traditional Andalusia clothes.

Come to Malaga! Come to the fair! In 11 days of festivities you will find every type of entertainment adapted to your likes and preferences in one of the most loved cities in Spain. 

MALAGA FAIR 2013: 9 Activities and Events You Won’t Want to Miss

Once again, anyone who visits the city during this week long festivity will be treated to a whole host of fun and entertaining activities and events. We’ve gone through the 26 page official programme for the ‘Feria’ and picked out – what we feel to be – some of the more interesting events on the calendar. Live music, bullfighting, museum exhibitions, Kids activities, Flamenco Shows are just some of the treats awaiting you!

Here’s the list:

1)      The official opening of the Fair on the Malagueta Beach (next to the port). You’ll witness a fabulous firework display with music and a free live concert with local singer Vanesa Martin. (Friday 16th August at midnight)

2)      ‘Ciudad de Malaga’ Horse and Carriage competition in the Malagueta bullring. (Sunday 18th August at 10.00pm)

3)      Magical Pirate Fair with games, workshops, storytelling, theatre, magic show and lots more. Located in Calle Alcazabilla this activity is available from 12.00pm to 3.30pm on the 19th, 20th,21st,22nd, 23rd and 24th August.

4)      Various free concerts in the ‘Auditorio Municipal’ located in the main fair ground. Highly popular Spanish artists such as Chambao, Merche and Andy y Lucas will be delighting crowds from 11pm most evenings. (See full guide for exact dates).

5)      Bullfighting: Throughout the week, those of you interested in watching a traditional bull fight will be spoilt for choice with some of the greatest matadors visiting the Malagueta bullring throughout the week.

6)      Flamenco Festival in the ‘Auditorio Municipal’ at the main fair ground. (11.00pm on the 21st August)

7)      The day fair in Malaga’s historic centre. Lots of great food, drink and lots of flamenco dancing!

8)      Museum exhibitions: Throughout the week, many of the city’s museums will be putting on special exhibitions; if you’re an art lover, you won’t want to miss this!

9)      Historical Parade to commemorate the conquering of the city by the Catholic Kings in 1487. (25thAugust at 7.00pm)

For a full copy of the Official Programme for the fair, please CLICK HERE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OBAMA!

Barack Obama was born 4 August 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Why is Barack Obama famous?

Barack Obama is the present President of the United States and the first African-American ever to hold the office of U.S. Commander-in-Chief.  
Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States on 4 November 2008, and sworn in on 20 January 2009.

Quick Facts about Barack Obama

Born: August 4, 1961 (Hawaii)
Lives in: Chicago, Illinois
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Height: 6′ 1″ (1.87m)
Family: Married wife Michelle in 1992, 2 daughters Malia and Sasha
Parents: Barack Obama, Sr. (from Kenya) and Ann Dunham (from Kansas)