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Wow, yesterday it was news of Ed McMahon and now today two more stars pass - Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

It's sad that such a talent has moved on to the other side with so many unanswered questions. My thoughts go out to his three children and family. What an amazing entertainer, he will be missed!

Michael Jackson, the show-stopping singer whose best-selling albums -- including "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad" -- and electrifying stage presence made him one of the most popular artists of all time, died Thursday, CNN has confirmed.

Wow, after years of battling colon cancer, an American icon has passed.

This poster back in the 1976 established her sex appeal and status as a sex symbol for the rest of her life and introduced little boys and men to many a grateful image for personal reasons, ahem.  It sold 12 million copies!

One of the original Charlie's Angels, Farrah went on to make made for TV movies, big screen movies and even Broadway.

She married "Six Million Dollar Man" actor Lee Majors, whom she later divorced after nine years and has been with Ryan O'Neil since. She also appeared in Playboy in 1995.  Thanks for the memories!

Well today was our annual trek to the Del Mar Fair, currently the San Diego County Fair, but I can't seem to bring myself to say the longer version, to see the latest gadgets, gizmos, flowers, woodwork, photography, and culinary delights.

People watching is always fun and a carni-folk afternoon is worth the price of admission. With the high price of parking and entry tickets (we had already paid $46 before we hit the gates...) Dave and I discussed how we had no idea how parents can bring their families and afford the day. It must be a $200-$300 day event and definitely something that must be saved up for in these economically challenged times.

We entered to the fine aroma of corn grilling on the open coals! A quick slab of butter, a shaker of seasoned salt and Parmesan cheese and I was reveling in the fact I had for once planned ahead and lost 12 pounds a few weeks prior. Not an ounce of guilt today!

We made the rounds of food booths; looking at everything from deep-fried Twinkies, Snickers and now even Reeses bars to the 10lb BBQ Turkey drumsticks, pizza, Australian potato chips, battered artichoke hears, sausage and beef sandwiches to mesquite chicken and settled on a pastrami grilled sandwich with jalapenos for Dave and a grilled Mediterranean chicken kabob for me... delicious!

Next we made our way over to the flower section. I am taken back at the brilliance of nature and these amazing astrids, dahilas, orchids and roses take my breath away. The images don't do justice and the fragrance was heavenly.

We then cruised the endless booths where we dodged parents who thought they can command the right-of-way because the have strollers, countless fashion-risk-takers, arguing couples, ice cream dripping children, men eating wedges of fudge standing at tool exhibits, women who should not be wearing cut off belly showing shirts, and speeding wheel chair kamikazes. The food gadget salespeople, Cham-wow pitchmen, jacuzzi displays and latest in food storing and cookware were endless as were the Russian doll and spiritual Targot card readers! I even got a new wallet and Dave a few tool items.

Next we found the wonderful Chinese chair massage booth, had a quick 10-minute pick me up rub down and hit the ground running to see the rest of Carnitown. After a few hours and what seemed like miles, we found refuge in two wonderful massage chairs and worked the remotes for a while.

After that we went outside to watch the bunji jumpers try and hold their food in, and weaved through the crowds over to the woodwork and photography buildings. As we made our way out we came across the Web Design entries that were relegated to the back of a stairwell. I had no idea that there was a Web Design exhibit and made a mental note to submit next year for sure.

Well, one last snack for me was a cherry lemonaide and a Hot dog on a Stick, slathered in mustard. Although my dogs were barking I passed on the infamous Footsie-Whootsie machine; I had no more spare change! No dinner tonight, I am happy, content and shared another laugh filled day with my favorite person. More pictures in the Photos page...

In order to meet the demand for their leather bags, Hermes has succumbed to breeding crocodiles on Australian farms for the sole purpose of becoming accessories!!!

Yikes! Customers have been known to wait for years for Hermes bags which can cost up to $50,000!!!

"It can take three to four crocodiles to make one of our bags so we are now breeding our own crocodiles on our own farms, mainly in Australia," says Patrick Thomas, chief executive of the luxury line. "Hermes already faces a major challenge producing 3,000 crocodile bags a year. The world is not full of crocodiles, except the stock exchange!"

Just in case you missed this. He is a true leader and makes me proud again...

Here is the latest news update from Equality California:

The California State Senate passed the Harvey Milk Day Bill today in a 24-14 vote with bipartisan support. The bill, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D -- San Francisco) and sponsored by Equality California (EQCA), calls for a "day of special significance" in honor of slain civil rights leader Harvey Milk. The bill also seeks to educate Californians about the former San Francisco City Supervisor, who became the nation's first openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) person elected to political office in a major city.

"Harvey Milk risked everything to change the course of history and to advance civil rights for the LGBT community," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "There is no one else more fitting to be honored in this way by the state of California."

Milk's groundbreaking service as an openly gay official helped bring LGBT people out of the closet and into civic life. During his time in office, he was responsible for both passing San Francisco's first gay-rights ordinance and helping to defeat the controversial Briggs Initiative, which sought to ban gay and lesbian teachers from public schools. Milk, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, was assassinated in November 1978.

"Harvey Milk is an inspiration to Californians who believe in fairness and equality," said Senator Leno. "He fought for many of the issues we value today, including access to education, public transportation, affordable housing and protecting the environment. Harvey Milk gave his life for what he believed in, and with that courage and sacrifice he gave hope to an entire generation of gay and lesbian people whose basic humanity and freedom had been denied and dishonored," he said.

The legislation was originally introduced last year by Sen. Leno, but Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the measure at the time, claiming Harvey Milk was not well known enough beyond San Francisco. Since that time, however, Harvey Milk has become a focal point of national conversation following the release of the successful biographical film Milk, for which both actor Sean Penn and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black received an Academy Award. In March, Penn joined Equality California's campaign publicly calling for the day; earlier this month, Black testified before a Senate Committee on the need to appropriately honor the civil rights leader.

The bill will now go before the Assembly.

Ah the lucky up in San Francisco!

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs opens at the de Young on June 27, 2009 and runs through March 28, 2010. For more information on the exhibition, visit www.deyoungmuseum.org/tut.

Here is a link to the latest edition of the de Young Podcast of the "behind the scenes" upcoming exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. AEI senior vice president and exhibition designer Mark Lach answers questions about his role in the exhibition, his favorite objects from the tomb of King Tut, and more.

deyoungpodcast015

Ever since my mom took me to the first time the Tut exhibit came to San Francisco I was hooked on Egypt. I later took a class at Mesa College on Egyptology and met the most interesting professor, Arlene Wolinski,  who encouraged me to keep in touch, as she sometimes went on trips to Egypt. Well, she kept my number and called one day. We were so excited and the trip (s) are ones I will never forget. It is really something else to have a world renowned Egyptologist give you a personal tour of the entire country and hear the history, not tourist stories from vendors to make a buck, or shall I say baksheesh.

Dave and I have had the opportunity to visit my favorite destination twice now, in 2004 and again in 2008. And what adventures and fun we have had. I recommend to anyone to go visit this amazing, historical and very friendly country. As many of the people there said, "We love Americans, we don't George Bush." Well we have a new sheriff in Washington DC and I think the world is looking at us a lot differently these days. Thank God for that! Enjoy the pictures (sorry there are so many, but I couldn't help myself).

Here is a gallery of images from our trips:

"I know a lot of people who used to be gay; I don’t know anybody who used to be black."

- Miss California Carrie Prejean's preacher, pastor Miles McPherson.

Well I beg to differ... look below!

SPOILER ALERT... some of these are truly scary!

Here are some other crazies who took the nip and tuck a bit too far:

Jackie Stallone

The surname might have given it away, but this is Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone’s mother. Famous for claiming she can talks to dogs about the future, she also once set up a psychic hotline which would charge callers for advice. Now she’s relatively famous for what looks like a little too much plastic surgery.

Donatella Versace

Brother of the late famous Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace and a fashion designer herself, it’s a pity that Donatella couldn’t design her own face, or – depending on your opinion of the clothes she makes – maybe that’s a good thing.

Pete Burns

Former frontman of the British band Dead or Alive, Pete is most famous for having sung the song “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)”. Pete has since had extensive cosmetic surgery performed on his face, as you can probably guess.

Michael Jackson

I just had to post one again! I especially like the nose debris... But honestly, does this really need to be explained?

Carrot Top

Scott Thompson, the comedian, is better known by his stage name of Carrot Top and is famous for his hair and particular brand of prop comedy. Also, probable surgery.

Dennis Avner

Also known by his Native American name of Stalking Cat, this man has undergone incredible extensive surgery in order to look like his totem animal, the tiger. Modifications include: extensive tattooing, transdermal implants to allow whiskers to be worn, subdermal implants to change the shape of the face and the filing and shaping of the teeth to make them look more like a tiger’s.

Tl;dr? This is man…Who wants to be a cat.

Amanda Lepore

The first four letters of her name might give the game away, as Amanda was originally born a man. Famous for fashion, partying and modeling, as well as having undergone extensive surgery to change genders.

Michaela Romanini

Famous for…I’m not sure exactly what. But don’t you agree that Italian socialite Michaela has a face that isn’t going to be forgotten any time soon?

Michael Savage, the radical  and nationally-syndicated talk-radio show host (that airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network) - and founder of Rockstar Energy Drink has been banned from entering the United Kingdom, because of his disgusting track record of hateful comments when it comes to issues like homosexuality (gays should get HIV and die), Islam (Muslims should be hung from lamp posts with their guts hanging out) and autism (just kids who are spoiled brats who need to be told to knock it off).

Others joining Savage on this list are a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, two members of a Russian skinhead gang, Rev. Fred Phelps, and the leader of an American neo-Nazi group, among others.  See the company that Michael Savage keeps...and perhaps the company that Rockstar Energy Drink keeps?

The UK's Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, told the London Times that naming these people enabled others to see the type of hateful and dangerous behavior that won't be tolerated in the country.

"Coming to this country is a privilege. We won't allow people into this country who are going to propagate the sort of views... that fundamentally go against our values," Smith said.

Reviewing his site for details I came across this ad: