Graffiti is a type of deliberate human markings on property. Graffiti can take the form of art, drawings, or words, and is illegal vandalism when done without the property owner's consent. Its origin can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as the Roman Empire and Ancient Greece. Graffiti originally was the term used for inscriptions, figure drawings, etc., found on the walls of ancient sepulchers or ruins, as in the Catacombs, or at Pompeii. It has evolved to include any decorations inscribed on any surface that are considered to be vandalism or pictures or writing placed on surfaces, usually outside walls and sidewalks, without the permission of the owner. Thus, inscriptions made by the authors of a monument are not considered graffiti.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1861: With the Italian unification almost complete, King Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia assumed the title as King of Italy. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Emmanuel_II_of_Italy)

1861: Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the first (and only) President of the Confederate States of America. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Davis)

1885: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was first published. It was subsequently banned. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Huckleberry_Finn)

1932: The Empire of Japan established Manchukuo, a puppet state in northeastern China during the Sino-Japanese War. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchukuo)

1943: Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's Propaganda Minister, delivered the Sportpalast speech to motivate the German people when the tide of World War II was turning against Germany. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goebbels)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

"Teachers are those who use themselves as bridges, over which they invite their students to cross; then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own." -- Nikos Kazantzakis (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nikos_Kazantzakis)