This Day in History July 2, 1982

I have to admit I don't remember this one, but it certainly is intriguing.  It was on this date in 1982 that Lawrence Richard Walters ("Lawn Chair Larry" or "Lawn Chair Pilot") took flight in his homemade "airship."   He had always wanted to be a pilot, but his poor eyesight kept him from realizing his dream. He was but a simple truck driver, but he decided to fulfill his dream anyway.

He attached 40 weather balloons (that had been filled with helium) to his lawn chair.  He planned to fly over Long Beach and the Mojave Desert. He had planned to use a pellet gun so he would slowly lose altitude, but it did not quite work that way.  He soared high very quickly, and he spent about two hours at 16,000 feet.  When he decided to descend, he did use his CB radio to contact the tower at the Long Beach airport, and they were amazed at the transmission they were receiving!  He did use his pellet gun, and he ended up landing in a residential neighborhood in Long Beach.

He was arrested and fined $4000 (which was later reduced to $1500).  He gave his lawn chair to a local boy (and later wished he had given it to the Smithsonian).  Although he had some notoriety as a result of this, the end of his life is extremely sad.  He went to his favorite spot on October 6, 1993, (Angeles National Forest) and shot himself in the heart.  It is a suicide that truly does not make sense.

I guess this just shows that realizing dreams and gaining notoriety does not necessarily make one happy.  The only reasons I can find listed are a loss of his girlfriend and failure to find steady work.  How sad.

For more information, please check out:
http://darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid1998-11.html
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6112
http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/Walters-BalloonRide.htm
http://www.markbarry.com/lawnchairman.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walters

Hip Swag: Win Louis Vuitton Monogram Tote-Week #2 (Ends 7/9) WW

Welcome to Week #2 of

Win This Bag
sponsored by HipSwap
hosted by Sidetracked Mom’s Blog

“Win This Bag” is a 6-week event that will feature 6 weekly giveaways. There will be one designer handbag given away every week! Each bag will be an authentic, recognizable designer brand such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach, or Fendi. Our 6^th week will feature a highly coveted designer handbag and you will have the option to claim bonus entries for each of the 5 weekly “Win This Bag” giveaways you entered leading up to this grand finale! So, enter each weekly giveaway to increase your odds of winning!

Here’s what really separates this event from any other handbag giveaway you may have seen before… some of these handbags will come to you directly from a celebrity’s closet! That’s right –

Thanks to HipSwap, you have the opportunity to win the exact bag that may have been on the arm of a famous celebrity!

About our Sponsor:

HipSwap is a mobile and web marketplace that connects buyers and sellers locally and nationally. It enables people to discover what’s inside the most fabulous closets, homes, and shops in neighborhoods and cities across America. HipSwap currently offers delivery service in Los Angeles and New York with its iconic pink delivery van.

Now, on to this week’s Giveaway!

This week, you have the chance to win a Louis Vuitton Monogram Tote supplied by Celebrity Consignment Shop, Encore Closet!

This is a 100% guaranteed authentic Louis Vuitton monogram canvas “tote” style shoulder bag. The traditional monogram canvas has been Louis Vuitton’s symbol since its introduction in 1896 and widely recognized as an elite status symbol around the world. This handbag has style and functionality which makes it a perfect everyday bag, whether you are taking it to the office or doing your errands. This is a classic bag that is sure to be chic and stylish for years to come.

Come on, you know your want this bag!  All those fashionistas out there--get busy entering!  Perfect for the end of summer and on to the fall!

And, be sure to check out HipSwap’s post on How To Spot A Fake Louis Vuitton bag!

How to Enter:

1. Create a HipSwap account. You will be asked to enter your name, email and zip code. If you do not live in the United States, please enter your City and Country in the Zip Code field.

2. Once registered, you can earn additional entries by:

a. Pinning your favorite HipSwap bag on Pinterest

b. “Liking” HipSwap on Facebook

c. Following @HipSwap on Twitter

d. Tweet with the hashtag #winthisbag for daily bonus entries

e. Following the blogs who are bringing you this awesome giveaway

To be credited, all entries must be completed using the Giveaway Tools widget below. You can complete as many or as few entries as you’d like but remember, the more you do, the better your odds of winning! Plus, once you are following all of your hosts, entering each subsequent weekly Win This Bag Giveaway will be even faster & easier!

Good luck!

The Giveaway Tools Widget will load below this line. For those of you not familiar with Giveaway Tools, it is VERY similar to Rafflecopter but has been said to be a faster & easier way to enter giveaways. Let me know what you think! As always, thank you for visiting my blog and entering our giveaways! Good luck to you! ♥

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This giveaway is open to entrants worldwide 18 years of age or older, except where prohibited by law. No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received. This promotion is no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook and is Facebook-compliant. To qualify to win, you must complete, at minimum, the mandatory entry on the Giveaway Tools form. All entries will be forwarded to our sponsor for the purpose of randomly selecting a winner. Winners will be notified by email from a HipSwap representative. Winners will have 72 hours to respond or risk forfeiting their prize. Prize may re-awarded solely by the Sponsor’s discretion. Prize fulfillment is the sole responsiblity of the sponsor. This blog may not be held liable for Sponsors who do not fulfill prize shipments. The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. We reserve the right to publicly publish winners’ names and/or likeness. By entering this giveaway, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

"Listening to Africa" Tribute Books Blog Tour Book Review

Listening to Africa's Summary

Poet Diana M. Raab travels to the heart of Africa with her family to experience the beauty and fascination of another world. During her safari, she observes the distress, the delight, and the dignity of the humans and animals who live there and parallels them with her own quest for health.

Listening to Africa's Reviews
“Diana M. Raab makes a pilgrimage from the 'familiar neon of home’ in America to Africa, bringing her family, her passion and her pen. Her moving words carry us with her in narrative poems re-plete with vision, humor and irony. In her inner and outer journey, the poet transforms fear and sadness into beauty and love as her heart opens 'in this place which will remind you of your reason for living.’”
- Susan Wooldridge
author of poemcrazy: freeing your life with words

“Diana M. Raab takes us on a joyous poetic journey of words and photos. She juxtaposes her wisdom, essential wellness and depth of feeling in exploring four-legged friends, illness, and hope, making this an extremely powerful collection."
- Cara Nusinov
author of Unrequited Loves and Other French Kisses

Listening to Africa by Diana M. Raab

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Poetry is something that has been a part of since I was in elementary school, and I always appreciate well-written poetry that takes simple (and even complex) experiences and ideas and puts it into memorable stanzas and poetry lines.  And I think you will see this detailed in this particular book of poetry about Africa.

I have never visited Africa, but after reading this poetry, I feel that I have a better understanding of the world that is Africa.  I believe Raab's poetry is as dynamic as an artist's renderings, and I can highly recommend this to anyone who would like to get a glimpse of Africa in an easy-to-read but artistic form.

I was impressed with the way the author took such simple and sometimes profane concepts and scenes and turned them into an intriguing line of poetry.  While this is not classic poetry or even rhyming poetry, I think everyone can take a few moments and read this for himself or herself.  It is well worth the time--the book is short, easy-to-read, and full of pictures.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

View all my reviews

Diana Raab's Bio:

Diana M. Raab is a memoirist, essayist and poet. She has a B.S. in Health Administration and Journalism, and an RN degree from Vanier College in Montreal, in addition to an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Spalding University’s Low-Residency Program.

Diana has been writing from an early age. As a child of two working parents, she spent a lot of time crafting letters and keeping a daily journal. A journaling advocate and educator, Diana teaches creative journaling and memoir in workshops around the country. She frequently speaks and writes about the healing powers of writing.

She’s the award-winning author of eight books, and the author of over 500 articles and poems. Her release is Writers on the Edge: 22 Writers Speak About Addiction and Depression, co-edited with James Brown, which is a compilation of essays by renowned writers discussing how addiction has influenced their literary lives. She is also editor of Writers and Their Notebooks, a collection of essays written by well-known writers who keep journals.

Raab is the author of two memoirs, Regina's Closet: Finding My Grandmother's Secret Journal, winner of the 2008 National Indie Excellence Award for Memoir and Healing With Words, the 2011 Mom's Choice Award Winner for Adult Nonfiction.

She is also a registered nurse who teaches in the UCLA Extension Writers' Program and at various writing workshops across the country. She is the author of four poetry collections, My Muse Undresses Me (2007);Dear Anais: My Life in Poems for You (2008), winner of The Reader Views Award and an Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award; The Guilt Gene (2009); and Listening to Africa (2012).

Her poetry and prose have appeared in national journals and anthologies such as Rattle, Rosebud, Litchfield Review, Tonopah Review, Writers' Journal, A Cafe in Space, the Toronto Quarterly, Common Ground Review, The Smoking Poet, Snail Mail Review, New Mirage Journal, Lucidity, Blood and Thunder, Jet Fuel Review, Ascent, and The Huffington Post.

Paperback
Price: $16.00
Pages: 80
ISBN: 9781936482184
Publisher: Antrim House
Release: April 18, 2012

Amazon buy link

Antrim House buy link

Diana Raab's Web Site

Diana Raab's Blog

Listening to Africa's Facebook

Diana Raab's Twitter

Diana Raab's Goodreads

Listening to Africa's Goodreads

Diana Raab's Red Room

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook

Listening to Africa blog tour site

For the Luck of Liberty Giveaway Hop (Ends 7/8) U.S.

Welcome to the For The Luck of Liberty Giveaway Hop! Nearly 90 bloggers are participating in this event in order to celebrate Independence Day! This event is hosted by BloggerPR and will run from July 2-8, 2012. Each giveaway prize is valued over $25.00, so you are bound to find something you love! Help us celebrate July 4th and win some prizes in the meantime! Good Luck!

I am so excited to be finally getting a chance to review and giveaway a product I have heard so much about--and tried to win in the past! If you have been looking around the blogosphere at all over the past couple months or so, I am sure you have seen this product come up a lot. I know I have! I love recipes and cooking, and years ago, I used an old computer program called "Master Cook," and I thought it was great. But after a while, I felt like it had outlived its usefulness, and it was back to doing my meal plans the old fashioned way.

That has all changed now. Welcome to the easiest way to save and share your favorite recipes! When I tell you that this the only recipe software you will ever need! And the exciting thing is that is actually five products in one! It is an electronic cookbook, a recipe manager, menu planner, grocery shopping assistant, and a personal home nutritionist.

As i started using it, I was fascinated to discover that I could search thousands of recipes online. You can save those recipes. You can create menu plans. Are you wondering about the nutrition content of a recipe? I was, and when I clicked that button, I was amazed to see such a detailed nutrition box come up! I am committed to eating healthier, and this is the very program that I plan to use.

One thing I never liked about my other recipe software was that it was difficult to add a picture if you did not do it when you entered the information initially. Not so with Cook'n. I can add a picture and even add a video. I also like that you can easily e-mail recipes to others. And it will automatically generate a shopping list that is arranged by aisles based on your menus! I also plan to use the capture feature so I can easily get recipes off the internet. This is a program I plan to use as I plan recipes for this week and for many weeks to come.

Be sure to follow them on facebook and check back often since they do weekly giveaways!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.


Speaking of giveaways, I have some great news.  Not only am I able to offer one copy of this software to my readers, but I am able to offer two--(I got another copy to give away through another promotion with which I was involved).  So, I get to give two of my U.S. readers a copy of this amazing software.  All you need to do is enter the rafflecopter form below by 9:00 P.M. Pacific time on July 8.  And then be sure to hop on to the other blogs so you have the chance to win even more amazing gifts!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mom's Monday Mingle #10

I really enjoyed this last week, so I thought I would link up again.  Here are the rules:RULES:1. Please follow each hostess. They are 1-4 in the list!Naptime Review-HostessAt Home Take 2- HostessLittle Becky Homecky-HostessMystery Hostess2. Please comment on each blog. We do FOLLOW back and we really love all the comments!3. Try to visit at least 4 blogs that interest you. Just don't throw your name into the link up, hoping to gain followers. Participate, make friends, and have fun! I know I have made a lot of great blog friends ;) 4. Grab our button and share with others. The more the merrier!So be sure to click on the button to go back to the main host and add your link!

Pump Up Your Book Presents Two For Eternity Virtual Book Publicity Tour Book Tour and Giveaway (7/20) U.S.

Join Carl Alves, author of the historical fantasy book, Two For Eternity (Weaving Dreams Publishing), as he virtually tours the blogosphere May 14 – July 13,2012 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

ABOUT TWO FOR ETERNITY

Two for Eternity is a historical as well as a contemporary, fantasy thriller that takes many controversial interpretations of history.

From ancient Egypt and Babylon, through the time of Christ in Judea, spanning the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and through World War II, Raiken and Vrag engage in inhuman battles of will. Vrag pulls the strings of malevolent leaders, and causes endless destruction and chaos. His immortal counterpart and enemy, Raiken, defends humanity and opposes him at every turn.

The stakes have never been higher, as Vrag sets his sights on the destruction of society. The twin brothers battle one last time to settle their score for eternity.

Two For Eternity by Carl Alves

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is only the second time travel book I have ever read, and indeed, this one is so completely different than any I have ever read.  It not only appeals to time travel enthusiasts but historians as well.  The age-old battle of good versus evil is a main thrust of the book, and if you can set all your preconceived notions aside, you just might find yourself buying into this book.

I was very pleased that the profanity was almost nonexistent, and there were no bedroom scenes.  In addition to that, the scenes depicting violence were realistic and often repulsive but exceptionally well-done.  Raiken and Vrag were well-developed characters, and the hatred between these two "supernatural" beings made for quite an interesting tale.

I was intrigued by the different interpretations that the author brought to well-known historical events such as Egypt, the time of Christ, and WWII.  The spin that he put on the tale of Columbus truly made me think that perhaps the story I was taught in elementary school may have left a few things out.  It is something I need to research for myself.

I struggled most with the reincarnation of these two characters throughout history.  I also would have liked to have seen Raiken turning to Christ every time after his encounter with the Son of God.  Instead, Raiken seemed to assimilate into the popular religions of his time and country.  Christ was still hailed as supreme when it was convenient, but it would have been nice to have seen Him figure into the story a little more.  I also would have liked to have known where these two came from.  Was Raikan an angel and Vrag a demon?  I never felt like I truly understood.  But maybe I wasn't intended to.

Time travel is something that I often cannot embrace very easily.  If you like time travel and history, you may just find this book a real treat.  Otherwise I may suggest that you steer your interests towards other books.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

View all my reviews

ABOUT CARL ALVES

Carl went to Boston University majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Carl graduated with a BS degree, and has since worked in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries. He later graduated from Lehigh University with an MBA degree.

His debut novel “Two For Eternity” was released in 2011 by Weaving Dreams Publishing. His novel “Blood Street” will be published by True Grit Publishing in November, 2012. His short fiction has appeared in various publications such as Sinister City, Alien Skin and Glassfire Anthology. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and has attended the Penn Writers Conference.

You can visit his website at www.carlalves.com.

The author, Carl Alves, was very generous in sending me an extra copy of this book to give away.  So that is what I am going to do. This will be open to the U.S. only (due to shipping costs), and all you need to do is enter the rafflecopter form below by 9:00 P.M. Pacific time July 20.  Best of wishes!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cruising for Giveaways Hop (7/1) Charisma Media

Can it really be July?  Really?  Enter your giveaways here!


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Welcome to Cruising for Giveaways Hop! This hop is brought to you by Charisma Media!