Michael Jackson (1958–2009) was an American recording artist,
entertainer, and philanthropist. He debuted on the professional music
scene as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971
while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in
subsequent years, Jackson became an influential figure in popular music
and the first African-American to have a strong crossover following on
MTV. He donated and raised hundreds of millions of dollars for
beneficial causes, and is recognized by Guinness World Records for
supporting more charities than any other musician. Other aspects of
Jackson's life—including his changing appearance and personal
relationships—generated controversy. Though he was accused of child
sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack
of evidence and Jackson was not charged. In 2005, he was tried and
acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other
charges. Jackson's achievements include multiple world
records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—the
estimated sale of over 750 million albums worldwide, and dozens of
awards, which have made him the most awarded recording artist in the
history of music.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1530:
The Augsburg Confession, the primary confession of faith of the
Lutheran Church, was presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at
the Diet of Augsburg.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburg_Confession>
1876:
Black Hills War: United States Army Colonel George Armstrong Custer
was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in present-day Big Horn
County, Montana.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Armstrong_Custer>
1938:
Douglas Hyde became the first President of Ireland after the office was
established by the Constitution of Ireland in 1937.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Hyde>
1950:
The Korean War began with North Koreans forces launching a pre-dawn
raid over the 38th parallel into South Korea.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War>
1996:
The Khobar Towers bombing in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, left 19 American
servicemen dead and 372 of many nationalities wounded.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khobar_Towers_bombing>
2006:
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped in a cross border raid from
the Gaza Strip on the crossing Kerem Shalom, and has been held hostage
by Hamas since.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilad_Shalit>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
prolix (adj):
1. Tediously lengthy.
2. Tending to use large or obscure words that few understand
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/prolix>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people
what they do not want to hear.
--George Orwell
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Orwell>