In the world of entertainment and pop culture, the right music can have a profound effect on a situation. The Imperial March makes Darth Vader's appearance in "Star Wars" both ominous and magnificent. The indie rock soundtrack compiled by Zach Braff transformed "Garden State" from a cute indie film into a movie that spoke to a generation and launched the careers of several fringe bands. A swell of triumphant lyric less notes on "Biggest Loser" tells you it's time to share in the emotional rise or fall of a contestant as they're informed of the week's weight loss. And the opening notes to the song "Thriller" lets 1500 Pilipino inmates know it's time to break into a choreographed dance routine in the yard.

On June 25^th, 2020, two years will have passed since American pop legend (and frequent headline maker) Michael Jackson passed away from cardiac arrest brought on by abuse of the drug propofol. Though it's easily argued that the King of Pop's best songs had already been recorded, the footage from the planned "This is It" tour made it crystal clear that Michael Jackson, "Entertainer", still had some moves to share with his fans during the 50 dates scheduled at London's O2 Arena between July of 2020 and March of 2010. It's shameful, really, to think what could have been. Concert wise, that is.

Which got us thinking: what if MJ hadn't stopped with his planned tour dates? What if he had lent his image, songs, or opinions to some of the major happenings of the last couple years? What follows are the Top 5 situations over the past 12 months we would have loved to see Michael Jackson's name attached to.

5) Heidi Montag's Plastic Surgery

Over a career that spanned nearly five decades, Michael Jackson's dalliances in plastic surgery were constant fodder for tabloid magazines and inquiring minds who questioned the rationale behind Jackson's ever changing appearance. Considering that his efforts were seemingly focused on one body part (his nose), it's curious to try and gauge what Jackson's take would have been on 20-something Montag's head to toe reconstruction. Not content to adjust just her nose, Montag- a stunning starlet before her surgeries- underwent procedures that ranged from simple (liposuction) to bizarre (part of her facial reconstruction included having her ears pinned back). We'd like to think that Michael would have taken a stance of solidarity in this situation, standing beside Heidi in her quest for physical perfection. Not that anyone would have taken her any more seriously as a result, but at least she'd look a little less…plastic.

4) Michael Jackson as Cameo Actor (Movies)

As amazing- nay, amazeballs- as it was to see Mike Tyson's mug in "The Hangover" franchise, how fantastic would it have been for the Wolfpack to run into MJ doing a legacy show in Vegas? Or hiding in the backroom of some dirty Bangkok bar? For that matter, with his pale complexion he could easily have slapped on a little glitter and played a small- but soulful- role in one of the "Twilight" movies. Don't tell me Stephenie Meyer couldn't have penned a part for Gloved One (clearly worn as protection from the sun).

3) The Use of Michael Jackson as a Gauge for Career Damage Due to Scandal

Back in the early 90's- long before news was made, broken or exacerbated by texting (Rep. Weiner's graphic messages), facebook, uncensored twittering (Roger Ebert's controversial comments on the death of Ryan Dunn), and all manner of evolved methods of instantaneous data delivery- Michael Jackson had to weather quite a storm of scandal involving allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. Though Jackson was never convicted of the crime, his name was still raked through the mud on television and in print.

Though it's impossible to say what impact social media would have had on Jackson's case, it would be interesting to be able to use it as a thermometer to grade the severity of a situation. For instance: Mel Gibson has seemingly tarnished his reputation and career beyond repair following a DUI, anti-semitic remarks, and a tape where he uses racial slurs and is implicated in domestic violence. Better or worse than MJ? Using after-scandal product sales (album sales for Jackson, ticket sales for Gibson) as a measure, Gibson would be dubbed the more severe scandal having brought in less than $1 million at the box office for his latest film, "The Beaver"; Jackson's post-scandal release, "HIStory", sold over seven million units. Sorry, Mel.

2) Michael Jackson as a Cameo Actor (Television)

Several shows on TV could have easily incorporated Jackson into story arcs where he played himself or a fictional character. High atop the list of fantasy appearances would be a Jackson 5 era appearance on "Mad Men". With the series moving through the 60's, it's easily believable that Don Draper would have occasion to take his kids to a Jackson 5 concert at the Apollo. Or perhaps he could have played a creepy serial killer nemesis for Michael C. Hall to study on "Dexter". He could have even duetted with "30 Rock" star Tracy Jordan on a re-issue of "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" with a "Thriller" theme. The possibilities are endless!

1) The Use of Michael Jackson Songs for Ridiculously Appropriate Soundtracks

With the amount of crazy behavior that's been chronicled in the media in just the last six months or so, we'd like to suggest the following Michael Jackson songs be used when speaking of their respective headliners.

"Thriller"- The Dallas Mavericks' NBA Finals victory over the Miami Heat

"PYT (Pretty Young Thing)"- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's indiscretions with a 17-year-old prostitute

"Beat It"- Anything to do with Charlie Sheen's firing from "Two and a Half Men", Oprah Winfrey's parting from syndicated daytime television, "surprise" withdrawals from "The Bachelorette", or Brett Favre's(potential)retirement from the NFL.

It's sad to think what could have been if Michael Jackson was still with us, but it's heartening to know that the legacy he left will be entertaining us long into the foreseeable future.

You are a successful web event organizer in your city, and people know you even before the internet. You never believed you need an online presence, as you were able to find your customers using other ways. However, sooner or later, you will feel a drop in the number of clients that want to work with you, and you might not even know the cause of this.

During the last decades, many event organizers realized the importance of having a website, which is today a necessity in the industry, not a luxury.

The term ‘web events’ defines a gathering of people organized online, even if it takes place in the real world. A web event might also be an online meeting with hundreds of people, possibly today, with apps such as Skype or Zoom.

Why would a website be useful?

Web event websites today are not only boards where people advertise concerts and art gatherings. They can be a complete source for interested people to choose what they want and whenever they want. An event planner website can help organizers to take care of all the aspects of organizing, from hiring staff to buying food and finding a location.

It is how event planners save time and money, and this is how they can gain a competitive advantage.

A traditional would need several people to look for a location for an event, some more to hire staff, and a massive marketing team to advertise the event. With a web event website, all these tasks can be undertaken by a few people. It is the modern side of event planning that gathers more popularity as we speak.

Sure, event planning is about meeting people and negotiating. Traditional people in the industry are still keen on this style, but they lose business, and other new players surely have a competitive advantage on the market.

But I am not a programmer…

You don’t have to be one. Modern such as WordPress allows you to put a website online in minutes, and to have it customized for your company. You can add widgets for bookings and payment, and you can create a unique look that will surely be appreciated by your visitors.

Choose a company that would install this CMS on your domain, but which can also give you customer support and advice. Primarily if you never built a website before, they will surely be of help.

Website vs. Marketplace

New phone apps allow event planners to find the right customers for their services, but also to hire temporary staff and buy supplies for any type of event. Phone apps gain popularity in the niche, and they are surely recommended. But in the end, a complete event management company needs to have a website, a mobile app, and also to be present in a marketplace.

and a great domain name for your event planning business, and start building your online presence today!

1/9/2020

Eagle Watching: Head to to go eagle watching. While you are there take the kids for a ride on the ferry, and check out the Piasa bird. The ferry is 6.50 each way.

1/7/2020 – 1/11/2020

Disney on Ice

Where: Scottrade Center

Price: $15.00 – $17.00

1/9/2020 – 1/11/2020

Longhorn Rodeo

Where: St. Charles Family Arena

When: 7:00pm

Price: $14.00 – $29.00

1/17/2020

Loop Ice Carnival

Where: University City

Price: Free

1/17/2020 – 1/19/2020

Cardinal’s Winter Warm-up

Where: Millennium Hotel Downtown St. Louis

Price: Adults- $40.00, Children 5 – 15- $10.00, Under 5- Free

1/28/2020 – 2/1/2020

St. Louis Auto Show

Where: America’s Center Downtown St. Louis

Price: Adults- $9.00, Children 6 – 12- $5.00, Under 6- Free

If you would like your event added to next month’s event listing, please contact me at stlparentingexaminer@gmail.com

A recent article in USA Today reports that in 1983, Queen Elizabeth of England had a speech prepared for her in the event of the outbreak of a nuclear war, similar to the one her father, King George VI gave at the beginning of World War II.

The text of the speech, obviously never given, was released along with a number of other classified documents by the British government under the "30 year rule."

1983 was a year in which concern that a global thermonuclear war had reached new heights, largely due to President Reagan's policy of confronting the Soviet Union. The Nuclear Freeze Movement, which proposed stopping the building of all nuclear weapons, was at its height. The movement at that time was passing resolutions opposing the deployment of nuclear Pershing and cruise missile in Western Europe to counter Soviet SS-20s and attempting to elect leaders, including a new American president, who agreed with its agenda. An FBI investigation suggested that while the Nuclear Freeze Movement was not controlled by the Soviets, it was heavily influenced by the KGB.

1983 also saw the airing of a movie, "The Day After," that purported to show what the effects of a nuclear war would have been in and around a small town in Kansas. "Threads" a British version aired the following year.Both movies caused comment and controversy,

The Queen's speech was obviously never given, and might not have been in any case if conditions after an initial nuclear exchange had prevented it, was an attempt to provide comfort and encouragement to the British people in what would have been the darkest hour the human race would have every experienced.

"My message to you therefore is simple. Help those who cannot help themselves, give comfort to the lonely and the homeless and let your family become the focus of hope and life to those who need it."

Despite fears to the contrary, a global thermonuclear war never occurred. President Reagan's strategy brought about the end of the Soviet Union and with it a global catastrophe that would have occurred if the two super powers were ever to clash.