A lil somthing 4 de ladies

Vin Diesel Biography

Courtesy of Disney

Birthdate: July 18, 1967Birthplace: New York, New YorkReal Name: Mark Vincent
Vin Diesel Gets His Start
Long before Vin Diesel was heating up the big screen, he was a bit of a hooligan. When he was just seven, Vin and some friends were caught attempting to vandalize a local theater. Instead of calling the cops and having the boys arrested, the lady who worked at the theater made them do some acting workshops. After that, Vin continued to hone his acting skills by preforming in plays around New York City.

Vin Diesel's Breakthrough Role
At the start of his career, Vin Diesel had a tough time getting any good roles, so he decided to write, direct and act in his own film. His first flick was titled Multi-Facial and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. A few years later, Vin wrote another movie called Strays, a flick about his days as a nightclub bouncer. His talents grabbed the attention of big-time Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, who was so impressed with Vin Diesel's movies that he created the role of Private Carparzo for him in Saving Private Ryan.
Vin Diesel - Action-Hero Turned Babysitter

Since his Hollywood debut, Vin Diesel has become one of the most recognized action-heroes of our time. Vin Diesel teamed up with Paul Walker for the racing flick, The Fast and the Furious. He then went on to star in flicks like xXx and The Chronicles of Riddick. Vin Diesel traded in his tough-guy persona for a while to become a glamourized babysitter in the Disney flick, The Pacifier. Keep your eyes on the big screen cuz Vin's got a ton of films coming out soon!

Vin Diesel - Did U Know?
· Vin Diesel's real name is Mark Vincent.
· Vin Diesel has a twin brother named Paul Vincent.
· Before setting his sights on acting, Vin worked as a night club bouncer in New York.
· He was the voice of the main character in the animated movie The Iron Giant.
· Vin Diesel is 6'2".
· Vin Diesel has signed on to play Agent 47 in the big screen adaptation of the Hitman video games. The movie is due out sometime in 2007.
· Vin Diesel is a gamer! He plays everything from the latest Xbox games to Dungeons & Dragons and even makes his own award-winning video games.
Vin Diesel Says...
"It's flattering when I connect to people who are really conscious and know what they're talking about and aren't just saying, 'You've got a hot body.' To hear these people talk about my roles as though they're in a film class is incredibly flattering. It's good to know that people understand what you're doing."

Related Stories:
· The Pacifier DVD Review
· Fashion Police - Who's Hairlines Are Hurtin'?
· Taylor Lautner Interview · More Celebrity Bios!

Tribute Tuesday...

Aaliyah, was an American R&B singer, dancer, model, and actress. She was a Grammy Award-winning recording artist. Introduced to audiences by R&B singer R. Kelly, Aaliyah became famous during the mid-1990s with several hit records from the songwriting/production team of Missy Elliott and Timbaland, and their associate Steve "Static" Garrett.
Notable for recording several hit records, including several number one R&B hits, a number one pop hit, and nine top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, She also modeled for Tommy Hilfiger and starred in two motion pictures before her death in a 2001 plane crash at the age of 22.

Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York on January 16, 1979 to Michael and Diane Haughton, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. Her name means "Highest, Most Exalted, The Best" in Arabic. Aaliyah pronounced as Ah-lee-yah was brought up as a Roman Catholic with her older brother Rashad Haughton. Diane Haughton, Aaliyah's mother, also a vocalist, encouraged Aaliyah's career. Her uncle, Barry Hankerson, is a prominent individual in the music industry and Aaliyah's aunt, through marriage to Hankerson, is Gladys Knight, a legendary soul singer with Gladys Knight & the Pips.
Aaliyah appeared on the TV talent show program Star Search at age ten, singing her mother's favorite song, "My Funny Valentine". Although she did not win, Aaliyah worked with an agent in New York and began to attend auditions for TV shows, including Family Matters.
Following her appearance on Star Search Aaliyah performed on stage in Las Vegas with Gladys Knight. In her early teens, Aaliyah attended the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, and graduated as a dance major with a 4.0 GPA average.

In 1997, Aaliyah appeared on the soundtrack album for the Fox Animation Studios animated feature Anastasia, singing the pop version of "Journey to the Past". The song was nominated for an Academy Award, and Aaliyah performed the song at the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony, becoming the youngest female recording artist to perform at the ceremony. Not only was Aaliyah the youngest female to perform but she was the youngest African American to have the nominee for Best Original Song.
Aaliyah had a hit in 1998 with "Are You that Somebody" (number one airplay U.S. eight weeks), the main single from the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack. Its video was the third most-played on MTV that year, and the song's success helped make Aaliyah a household name.
In 2000, she co-starred with Jet Li in the martial-arts film Romeo Must Die, which debuted at number one at the box office. Aaliyah and Timbaland executive produced the film's soundtrack album and Aaliyah contributed four songs: "Are You Feelin' Me?," "I Don't Wanna," "Come Back in One Piece," a duet with DMX, and the international number one hit "Try Again." Aaliyah made history once more when "Try Again" became the first song to ever reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 based solely on the strength of its radio airplay, without any single sales factored in. After the huge success of "Try Again" at radio, a 12" maxi single was released for consumer purchase. The radio-only single, "I Don't Wanna", (which was also featured on the soundtracks for the films Next Friday and Romeo Must Die) peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
In 2001, Aaliyah went to Australia to co-star with Stuart Townsend in the film Queen of the Damned, an adaptation of the Anne Rice novel of the same name. Aaliyah also recorded most of her third studio album, Aaliyah.

Death
On August 25, 2001, at 6:49 pm, just after wrap up filming of the "Rock the Boat" video was completed in the Bahamas, Aaliyah and seven friends boarded a twin engine Cessna 402B (N8097W) piloted by Luis Morales III. It is believed that this aircraft was headed to Opa-locka Airport near Miami, Florida, when the flight crashed shortly after takeoff. The pilot and all eight passengers were killed. Her remains are interred at Ferncliff Cemetery in New York, USA.

Investigation
NTSB reports indicate that the pilot, Luis Morales III, was not qualified to pilot the plane he was attempting to fly. Morales falsely obtained his FAA license by showing hundreds of hours never flown, and he may also have falsified how many hours he had flown in order to get a job with his employer, Blackhawk International Airways. Additionally, an autopsy performed on Morales revealed cocaine and alcohol in his blood.
Further investigations determined the plane was over its total gross weight by several hundred pounds. Although witnesses claimed that the passengers had been asked to leave some luggage behind, it was later discovered that the passengers, including Aaliyah, had not been informed of the excess weight.
Eddie Golson, president of Pro Freight Cargo Services at Opa-locka Airport, said workers carted "a pickup truck of freight" from the crash site Monday. "That's absurd to think that this pilot got in this airplane with eight other people and a truck full of freight and expected this thing to fly," Golson said. "What the hell was going on?" A baggage handler was reported to have said that no one weighed the passengers or baggage. Two of the passengers, members of Aaliyah's entourage, weighed in the neighborhood of 300 pounds and sat in the rear of the plane, where the baggage was also stored.
The day of the crash was Mr. Morales' first official day with Blackhawk International Airways, a Part 135 single-pilot operation. He had been employed with Golden Airlines, from which he was fired only four hours before the fatal crash. In addition, Luis Morales III was not registered with the FAA to fly for Blackhawk. As a result of the accident, a wrongful death law suit was filed by Aaliyah’s parents and was later settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
Barry & Sons, Inc., a corporation formed in 1992 to develop, promote and capitalize on the musical talents of Aaliyah and to oversee the production and distribution of her records, tapes and music videos, brought an unsuccessful lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against Instinct Productions LLC, (a company hired by Barry & Sons, Inc. in August, 2001 to produce the "Rock the Boat" music video). The case was dismissed since New York State's wrongful death statute only permits certain people to recover damages for wrongful death.

BABALAAS MONDAY... #2

Hola Lazys and germs seeing that it`s the end of BABALAAS MONDAY
and we are getting ready for the tribute !! just "THOUGHT"
i should give you a picture of what is gonna make us look like
next week Monday Again??

EISH NO DOLLAS ON DA RUM KLA GESE!!!!!

HOE RIK JOU WEEKEND $$$$

Babalaas Monday...

George goes to the doctor, but is embarrassed about talking to the doctor,he's afraid he will laugh at him.
"Of course I won't laugh," the doctor said.
"I'm a professional.In over twenty years I've never laughed at a patient." "Okay then," George said, and proceeded to drop his trousers, revealingthe tiniest pe*is the doctor had ever seen. It couldn't have been sizeof a peanut. Unable to control himself, the doctor started giggling, and then fell laughing to the floor.Ten minutes later he was able to struggle to his feet and regain his composure. "I'm so sorry," said the doctor "I really am.....I don't know what came over me.
On my honor as a doctor and a gentleman, I promise it won't happen again. Now what seems to be the problem?"George replied
"It's swollen."

Freaky Friday...Beer & Health...

BEER & HEALTH

What's in our beer?

On average, it takes seven weeks, from barley to beer, to produce a bottle of our standard lager (such as Castle). As the brewing process is a natural one, and cannot be speeded up, this is comparable to other international brands that share a similar climate to South Africa.
Beer contains no fat or cholesterol.
Our beers contain only malted barley, water, hops and maize or rice (Miller Genuine Draft). Yeast transforms the sugars to alcohol, but is not an ingredient as such.
There are no preservatives or additives in any of our beers.
Beer is beneficial in combating heart disease, osteoporosis, stomach ulcers, Alzheimer's and helps reduce the formation kidney stones.
An entire 340ml can of Castle Lite contains only 408kJ and the same unit of a regular strength brew, like Castle Lager, 465kJ. There are about 1 020kJ in 340ml of dry wine. Fifty grams of peanuts contain 1 230kJ
Beer - the forgotten nutraceutical?
Barry Axcell - SABMiller Group Chief Brewer
The beginnings of brewing are lost in the mists of time. Inscriptions on ancient Sumerian tablets show that beer was that beer was brewed at least 6000 years ago and drunk by the rich through straws of gold or lapis lazuli. Its origin, however, may be much more ancient and even go back tot he so-called "dawning of civilization" when men moved from a nomadic existence to one of agriculture some 10 000 years ago. Quite possibly the catalyst in this change of lifestyle may have been the realisation that growing barley could generate the raw materials to produce the "humble pint". The is difficult to separate baking and brewing in the distant past as they were intimately linked and in number of languages the word for "bread" and "brewed" are in fact the same.
Whatever the origins, beer has played an important part in human history. In ancient Egypt, King Rameses III was said to have sacrificed half million jugs of beer to the Gods. An old Egyptian slogan states that "the mouth of a perfectly happy man is filled with beer". By the Middle Ages, beer was seen as very important tot he medieval family and certainly a lost safer to drink than water. The wife was usually responsible for both brewing and baking. During this tome many monasteries became involved in the production of beer which gave beer a seal of "holy approval". The daily allowance of beer at court in Tudor times was around 9 litres! The artist William Hogarth, painted two pictures in 1735 depicting the virtues of beer over gin. The one painting, called "Gin Lane", describes a scene of drunkenness and social chaos whereas the other "Beer Street" depicts respectability and the flourishing of the arts and literature. During the 1800's beer was seen as essential for health and according to Dr Charles Macalister, a consultant paedeatrician in England, teetotalers were looked at as dietetic cranks and sometimes rejected by medical examiners for life assurance on the grounds that they were taking risks in abstaining from what was considered to be an essential food. In the 1950's and 1960's in the UK a number of now famous advertisements on beer and its health benefits were seen. The classic "Guinness is good for you" and by golly, it does you good", are examples of this. However, from the 1970's onwards, many foods and beverages became associated with health concerns.
There were new concerns about chronic diseases, especially cancer. Analytical techniques were developed to detect trace amounts of substances present in food that could be harmful. As these techniques became more sensitive, the levels of compounds that could be detected became lower and lower. What was classed as zero 2 or 3 years ago was now quoted in micrograms, nanograms or even femtograms. Now, of course, consumers expect foods to be totally "risk free". Legislators respond to this by adopting the "precautionary principle" and demand levels of certain substances to be declared. As lower levels of detection become available, the more so-called "hazardous" chemicals are found in food. This can de described as the "analytical paradox". Consequently more and more "food scares" have been reported in the media. The combined effect of all this work is to focus on the health negatives rather than the health positives of food and beverages.
So, arguably, for 99.5% of beer's history is was seen as a nutritious, wholesome product that was an integral part of family life and culture. Only in the last 30 years or so were these values largely overlooked. Interestingly, in the 1990's the general perception was that 'you are what you eat'. In other words, the predominant cause of illness was diet with genetics playing a small part. As we moved into 2000's that perception changed with genetics being seen more as the dominant player in causing illness with being seen more as the dominant player in causing illness with diet being relegated to a much lower percentage. More and more evidence is again accumulating on health benefits of moderate beer consumption.
What was originally called the "wine paradox" has been widely shown to be due to alcohol. Alcohol can protect against heart disease in number of ways:
It can inhibit atheroschlerosis by increasing levels of apolipoprotein A-1 and by increasing levels of high density lipoprotein (HDLP).
Thrombosis (clotting) can be inhibited through lowering of fibrinogen, lowering platelet aggregation and increasing the break-up of clots.
There is a general reduction of stress and coronary arteries are dilated.
There have been many clinical studies worldwide carried out in the last 5 years that support the above observations. Recently (December 1999), Rimm et al (Harvard School of Public Health) in the British Medical Journal published an overview of coronary heart disease research that took a statistical review of clinical studies worldwide. This research showed that 30g of alcohol/day (approx. 2½ beers) increased HDLP on average by 8,3% and Apolopoprotein A1 by 6,5%. He estimated a 25% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease as a result of this alcohol intake over the control groups of abstainers. Beer of course is ideal for moderate alcohol consumption because of its relatively high water content and low alcohol levels.
Figure 1

% alcohol (w/v)
Beer 3 - 5
Wine 10 - 15
Spirits 30

% water (w/v)
Beer 92 - 95
Wine 85 - 90
Spirits 70

Traditionally, beer has been seen both as a source of moderate alcohol and as a source of nutrients.
Figure 2
Beer 1S a good source of nutrients

INGREDIENT

Total carbohydrate g/100ml
Beer 1,5 - 3
Wine 0,1 - 6
Milk 5

Total protein g/100ml
Beer 0,2 - 0,6
Wine 0,02
Milk 4,7

Total fat (lipid) g/100ml
Beer -
Wine -
Milk 3 - 4

Fibre g/100ml
Beer 0,5 - 1
Wine -
Milk -

Vitamins mg/100ml
Beer 2 - 2,5
Wine 0,1 - 0,4
Milk 2

Antioxidant phenolics mg/100ml
Beer 20 - 60
Wine 30 - 74
Milk -
Table after Baxter, D World Brewing Congress, Orlando 2000
Ferulic acid is a phenolic antidoxidant that can protect blood lipoproteins from oxidants. Not only does beer contain ferulic acid but more importantly it is also bioavailable. Beer is also a good source of minerals as it is high in potassium, low in sodium, high in magnesium and also contains significant amounts of calcium, phosphate and silicon. The latter is important for healthy bones and although it is common in cereals it is generally not easily absorbed. However in beer, it is much more bioavailable (Bella et al, Lancet, 1994).
Health benefits Associated with Moderate Beer Consumption

Heart
Alcohol 4
Wine 4
Beer 4

Osteoporosis
Alcohol 4
Wine 4
Beer 4

Helicolacter
Alcohol -
Wine 4
Beer 4

Alzeheimers
Alcohol -
Wine 4
Beer 4

Kidney Stones
Alcohol -
Wine -
Beer 4

After Baxter, D. W.B.C., Orlando
During the malting process, whereby barley is germinated and kilned under controlled conditions, a number of important nutrients are formed. For example, the folate (a vitamin) content of malt increases sixfold. Sprouted cereals have long been seen as a nutrients food so it is not suprising that much of their goddness is carried through into the beer itself.
Very recently a number of hop compounds have been shown to exhibit anti-cancer as well as anti-cancer as well as antioxidant properties. Preliminary studies have also indicated that hop compounds may be important in preventing osteporosis, ulcer formation, cardiovascular disease and may even protect against liver disease. There is also a growing body of evidence that phytoestrogens derived from hops in beer are beneficial to health for both men and women.
All this evidence is really telling us what has been known for the best part of the last 6000 years: that beer, in moderation, is a wholesome and nutritious drink. This idea of beer as a 'nutraceutical' - a pleasant form of acquiring some essential nutrients can build on this foundation and re-position beer as THE alcohol drink of moderation. If you can live longer and healthier by savouring this 'golden nectar', what an added bonus!

Warning!!!

1. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol may cause you to wake up with a breath that could knock a buzzard off a wreaking dead animal that is one hundred yards away.
2. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like an idiot.
3. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell the same boring story over and over again until your friends want to assault you
4. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol may cause you to thay shings like thish.
5. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell the boss what you really think of him.
6. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol is the leading cause of inexplicable rug burn on the forehead.
7. WARNING: Consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, handsomer and smarter than some really, really big guy named Psycho Bob.

Thirsty Thursday

Tanit Phoenix

Models: Tanit Phoenix, model, actress
Tanit seems to be turning her attention more and more to acting. And she's just returned to South Africa from shooting a Bollywood movie in India. Read all about it here.
The Crazy Monkey movie: Straight Outta Benoni will be released in April 2006.
Date of Birth: 24 September 1980, South Africa.
Well I was wrong in my prediction that she will be the 2006 FHM Sexiest Women in South Africa. That went to Carla la Reserveé.
Tanit Phoenix recently starred in the South African hit comedy Crazy Monkey presents: Straight Outta Benoni. South African glamour girl Tanit Phoenix is set to take the international modelling world by storm after Maxim Magazine nominated her for its annual Woman of the Year Awards, due to take place in Berlin this month. Phoenix has been nominated in the 'Who's That Girl?' category, which forms part of the overall Woman of The Year 2003 Awards. Other nominees include Halle Berry, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Aniston in the actress category, and Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears and Pink in the pop category. The awards ceremony will be televised live throughout Europe. Phoenix shot to fame in Germany after appearing in a shower gel advert. Various high-profile modelling assignments followed, among them a feature shoot for Maxim.

Sagte transie's ...

Q7

An output of 500 bhp and 738 ft.-lbs. of torque – Audi is unveiling an engine which sets new standards in the diesel sector. The majestic V12 TDI power unit with its capacity of six litres endows the high-performance Audi Q7 SUV with sports car credentials. It is the harbinger of a wide-scale model initiative, as Audi seeks to make major inroads into the US market with its diesel models – courtesy of a new emission control technology which cuts emissions drastically.The Audi Q7 V12 TDI raises the bar in the burgeoning sports utility vehicle segment. A time of just 5.5 seconds for the dash from zero to 100 km/h and an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h give the high-performance SUV sports car calibre. Its six-litre twelve-cylinder diesel unit demonstrates the tremendous technological expertise at Audi's fingertips. 18 years after the Ingolstadt brand invented the modern-day TDI engine, it is presenting it in an all-new high-tech, range-topping guise.
Audi makes the vital breakthroughs
All of the diesel engines from Audi deserve the tag of 'sporty' on account of their impressive performance – the six and eight-cylinder 2.7 TDI, 3.0 TDI and 4.2 TDI units serve to underline this. The pioneering role that Audi assumes in the field of diesel technology stems from the peerless expertise it has amassed over recent decades. Audi engineers have been responsible for one vital breakthrough after another – the most important of these was the world's first ever TDI engine to be fitted in a passenger car, which Audi introduced in 1989.Last year, Audi demonstrated the dynamic potential of diesel power in most memorable fashion on race tracks around the world. The V12 TDI in the R10 sports prototype unleashed in excess of 650 bhp and left its petrol-engined competitors in its wake in each of the eight races it competed in. Highlights of this winning streak included its triumph at the gruelling Le Mans 24 Hours as well as its victories in the LMP1 category of the American Le Mans Series.The trend towards diesel engines is gathering strength all the time in the United States too. Audi is firmly convinced that the TDI engine represents the powerful and economical alternative for the future of motoring, and is therefore preparing a model drive to bolster this trend. The Q7 3.0 TDI is expected to hit showrooms in the USA in late 2008. Thanks to the exceptionally low emissions resulting from its cutting-edge Bluetec technology, this engine even complies with the US Tier II Bin 5 standard which places extremely tough demands on nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions.
SCR catalytic converter for reducing nitrogen oxide levels
At the core of the Bluetec technology is a catalytic converter known by the abbreviation of SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction). The second system component takes the form of an auxiliary tank which contains a carbonyl diamide solution. The solution is injected in small doses into the exhaust system where it decomposes into ammonia, which then breaks down the nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and water. The arrival of the ultra-clean Bluetec diesel engines will see Audi hold true to its tradition of always being at the very forefront of diesel technology.

Tribute Tuesday...

Today's tribute goes out to the Volkswagen Type 2 "Microbus/Caravelle was the second automotive line introduced by German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen. It was a van introduced in 1950, initially based on Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1, also known as the "Beetle". The Type 2 is generally considered to be the forerunner of modern cargo and passenger vans. The Type 2 spawned a number of imitators both in the United States and Europe including the Ford Econoline, Dodge A100 and the Chevrolet Corvan, the latter even adopting the Type 2's rear-engine configuration. Updated versions of this line are still being actively produced in international markets.

The idea for the Type 2 is credited to Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon, who drew the first sketches of the van in 1947. The aerodynamics of the first prototypes were not good but heavy optimization took place at the wind tunnel of the Technical University of Braunschweig. The wind tunnel work paid off, as the Type 2 was aerodynamically superior to the Beetle despite its slab-sided shape. Three years later, under the direction of Volkswagen's new CEO Heinz Nordhoff, the first production model left the factory at Wolfsburg.
Unlike other rear-engine Volkswagens, which evolved constantly over time but never saw the introduction of all-new models, the Transporter not only evolved, but was completely revised periodically with variations referred to as versions "T1" to "T5," although only generations T1 to T3 (or T25 as it is called in Ireland and Great Britain) can be seen as directly related to the Beetle

The Type 2 was among the first commercial vehicles in which the driver was placed above the front wheels. As such, it started a trend in Europe, where the Ford Transit among others quickly copied the concept. In the United States, the Corvair-based Chevrolet Corvan cargo van and Greenbrier passenger van went so far as to copy the Type 2's rear-engine layout, using the Corvair's horizontally-opposed, air-cooled engine for power. Except for the Greenbrier and a mid-70s water-cooled version from Fiat, the 850 Microbus — neither of which were produced in great numbers — the Type 2 remained unique in being rear-engined. This was a disadvantage for the early "barndoor" Panel Vans, which couldn't easily be loaded from the rear due to the engine cover intruding on interior space, but generally advantageous in terms of traction and interior noise.

Another trend that the Type 2 may not have started, but that it certainly gave momentum to, is the use of nicely-trimmed commercial vans as people carriers. This first took hold in the United States in the 1960s, aided by tongue-in-cheek advertising by the Doyle Dane Bernbach agency.
During the hippie era in the United States, the Bus became a major counterculture symbol. There were several reasons: The van could carry a number of people plus camping gear and cooking supplies, extra clothing, do-it-yourself carpenter's tools, etc. As a "statement", its boxy, utilitarian shape made the Type 2 everything the American cars of the day were not. Used models were incredibly cheap to buy — a majority were hand-painted (a predecessor of the modern-day art car). Some Bus enthusiasts (especially for antiwar activists) would replace the VW logo with a painted peace symbol up front. Since that time, however, the original 1950–1967 Type 2 (primarily the pre-1956 barn-doors) has become a collector's item with special variations reaching into the North American five-figure price territory.

T1

T1c Kombi

Subaru Sambar microvan retro-Kombi conversion
The first generation of the VW Type 2 with the split front window, called the Microbus or Splittie among modern fans, was produced from March 8th, 1950 through the end of the 1967 model year. From 1950 to 1956, the T1 was built in Wolfsburg; from 1956 it was built at the completely new Transporter factory in Hanover. Like the Beetle, the first Transporters had a 1.2 L, 25 hp (19 kW), air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine mounted in the rear. The 36 hp (22 kW) version became standard in 1955 while an unusual early version of the 40 hp (25 kW) engine debuted exclusively on the Type 2 in 1959. This engine proved to be so uncharacteristically troublesome that Volkswagen recalled all 1959 Transporters and replaced the engines with an updated version of the 40 hp (25 kW) engine. Any 1959 models that retain that early engine today are true survivors. Since the engine was totally discontinued at the outset, no parts were ever made available.
The early versions of the T1 until 1955 were often called the T1a or "Barndoor", owing to the enormous rear engine cover, while the later versions with a slightly modified body (the roofline above the windshield is extended), smaller engine bay, and 15 in (381 mm) wheels instead of the original 16 in (406 mm) ones were called the T1b. From the 1963 model year, when the rear door was made wider (same as on the T2), the vehicle was referred to as the T1c. 1963 also saw the introduction of an optional sliding door for the passenger/cargo area instead of the standard outwardly hinged doors.
In 1962, a heavy-duty Transporter was introduced as a factory option. It featured a cargo capacity of one metric ton (1,000 kg) instead of the previous 750 kg, smaller but wider 14 in (356 mm) wheels, and a 1.5 L, 42 DIN hp (31 kW) engine. This was so successful that only a year later, the 750 kg, 1.2 L Transporter was discontinued. When the Beetle received the 1.5 L engine for the 1967 model year, its power was increased to 44 hp DIN (32 kW).
German production stopped after the 1967 model year; however, the T1 still was made in Brazil until 1975, when it was modified with a 1968-79 T2-style front end and big 1972-vintage taillights into the so-called "T1.5" and produced until 1996. The Brazilian T1s were not identical to the last German models (the T1.5 was locally produced in Brazil using the 1950s and 1960s-era stamping dies to cut down on retooling, alongside the Beetle/Fusca where the pre-1965 body style was retained), though they sported some characteristic features of the T1a, such as the cargo doors and 5-stud (205 mm bolt circle) rims. Brazil production air-cooled vehicles (including the VW Brasilia) are a rare find in the USA and usually sought after by collectors.
Among American enthusiasts, it is common to refer to the different models by the number of their windows. The basic Kombi or Bus is the 11-window (a.k.a. 3-window bus because of three side windows) with a split windshield, two front cabin door windows, six rear side windows, and one rear window. The deluxe model featured eight rear side windows and two rear corner windows, making it the 15-window (not available in Europe). And the sunroof deluxe with its additional eight small skylight windows is, accordingly, the 23-window. From the 1963 model year, with its wider rear door, the rear corner windows were discontinued, making the latter two the 13-window and 21-window respectively.

T2

1972 T2a Bus
In 1968, the second generation of the Type 2 was introduced. It was built in Germany until 1979, with production shifting to Mexico in 1980 and to Brazil in 1996. Models before 1971 are often called the T2a, while models after 1972 are called the T2b.
This second-generation Type 2 lost its distinctive split front window and was slightly larger and considerably heavier than its predecessor. Its common nicknames are Breadloaf and Bay-window, or Loaf and Bay for short. At 1.6 L and 48 DIN hp (35 kW), the engine was also slightly larger. The new model also did away with the swing axle rear suspension and transfer boxes previously used to raise ride height. Instead, half-shaft axles fitted with CV joints raised ride height without the wild changes in camber of the Beetle-based swing axle transmission. The updated Bus transaxle is usually sought after by off-road racers using air-cooled VW components.
The T2b was introduced by way of gradual change over three years. The 1971 Type 2 featured a new, 1.6 L engine with dual intake ports on each cylinder head and was rated at 50 DIN hp (37 kW). An important change came with the introduction of front disc brakes and new wheels with brake ventilation holes and flatter hubcaps. 1972's most prominent change was a bigger engine compartment to fit the larger 1.7 to 2.0 L engines from the VW Type 4, and a redesigned rear end which eliminated the removable rear apron. The air inlets were also enlarged to accommodate the increased cooling air needs of the larger engines.
This all-new, larger engine is commonly called the Type 4 engine as opposed to the previous Type 1 engine first introduced in the Type 1 Beetle. This engine was called "Type 4" because it was originally designed for the Type 4 (411 and 412) automobiles. There is no "Type 2 engine" or "Type 3 engine", because those vehicles did not feature new engine designs when introduced. They used the "Type 1" engine from the Beetle with minor modifications such as rear mount provisions and different cooling shroud arrangements.
In the Type 2, the VW Type 4 engine was an option for the 1972 model year onward. This engine was standard in models destined for the US and Canada. Only with the Type 4 engine did an automatic transmission become available for the first time in the 1973 model year. Both engines displaced 1.7 L, rated at 66 DIN hp (49 kW) with the manual transmission and 62 DIN hp (46 kW) with the automatic. The Type 4 engine was enlarged to 1.8 L and 68 DIN hp (50 kW) for the 1974 model year and again to 2.0 L and 70 DIN hp (52 kW) for the 1976 model year. As with all Transporter engines, the focus in development was not on power, but on low-end torque. The Type 4 engines were considerably more robust and durable than the Type 1 engines, particularly in transporter service.

Late 1970s T2
1973 also saw the most noticeable exterior changes. The front turn indicators were squared off from the previous version and set higher in the front valence, above the headlights. Larger taillights were added to comply with U.S. lighting requirements as were larger bumpers. Crash safety improved greatly with this change due to a compressible structure behind the front bumper. This meant that the T2b was capable of meeting US safety standards for passenger cars of the time, though being vans they were not required to. The only thing that shrunk on the new model, or so it seemed, was the large and distinctive "VW" emblem on the front of the early model.
Later model changes were primarily under the skin. By 1974, the T2 had gained its final shape. Very late in the T2's design life, during the late 1970s, the first prototypes of Type 2 vans with four wheel drive were built and tested.
The T2 also has the distinction of being the basis for one of the most sought-after and valuable toys in US-history. In 1969, Mattel introduced a new model to their line of Hot Wheels die-cast toy cars. This was the "Beach Bomb," a customized Type 2 complete with surfboards. The prototypes had the surfboards placed in the car, sticking out from the rear window. These "Rear Loaders" turned out to have an excessively high center of gravity, making them prone to tip over in banked curves, so the Beach Bomb was completely redesigned. The production model had its body sectioned to reduce height, a counter weight added to its base, and the surfboards were placed inside widened rear fenders to create a lower center of gravity, resulting in the nickname "Side Loader". Only a few dozen of the prototype "Rear Loaders" have survived, with only two of them painted in "Spectraflame Hot Pink". One of these Hot Pink Rearloaders was sold privately in 2000 for $72.000 while the other sold in 2004 for over $50.000.
The T2c, so called since it got a slightly raised roof — by about 10 cm — in the early 1990s, was built for the South American and Central American markets. The T2c was produced in Mexico until 1991* with the 1.6 L air-cooled Type 1 engine, and from 1991 until 1996 with water-cooled engines from the VW Golf (a VW/Audi 1.4L). Since 1997, the T2c has been built in Brazil with air-cooled engines for the Brazilian market and with water-cooled engines for the Mexican market, the latter easily identified by their large, black-coloured, front-mounted radiators. 1
Since production of the original Beetle was halted in late 2003, the T2 remained the only Volkswagen model with the traditional air-cooled, rear-mounted boxer engine when the Brazilian model shifted to water-cooled on December 23, 2005. Previously, the watercooled T2c was sold in Mexico between 1991-2002.
The shift to water-cooled engines is in response to Brazil's emission laws which go into effect for 2006 and beyond. The new water-cooled engine will run on petrol as well as alcohol, which costs about 50% less than ordinary fuel. 2 The engine is a EA-111 1.4 8v Total Flex. 1390 cm³, 78 hp on petrol, and 80 hp when run on ethanol.

T3

Mid-1980s T3 Kombi
The T3, known as the T25 in Britain and Ireland, and Vanagon in the US, was built from 1979 to 1991 (or 1992 if one includes the Syncro) and was the third distinct generation of the Type 2. It featured an all-new mechanical design that matched the T2 in length and height, but was wider by 12 cm and considerably heavier. Additional interior space was created by lowering the engine compartment; the rear door is 75% larger than the T2's. The suspension and almost all mechanical components were completely changed, and frontal crash protection was greatly increased. The body was considerably squared-off, though retaining the overall impression of previous versions. Body variants remained the same as before.
Until 1982, the T3 was available with the same air-cooled engines as the T2. Starting in 1981, water-cooled diesel engines were available options and for 1984, water-cooled gasoline boxer engines replaced the previous air-cooled ones.
From 1985, the T3 Syncro represented the first production Type 2 with four-wheel-drive. The Syncro drive system was full-time four wheel drive, with drive to the front axle controlled by a viscous coupling that delivered power when required. European Syncros were normally fitted with front and rear pneumatically operated differential locks to improve traction. These were not normally fitted to US-spec Vanagons due to fears over product liability.

Late 1980s T3 Caravelle Syncro
Engine size and performance grew considerably over the T25's production run, from the 1.6 L, 50 DIN hp (37 kW) and 2.0 L, 70 DIN hp (52 kW) air-cooled engines to 1.9 L water-cooled powerplants rated at 60 DIN hp (44 kW) or 78 DIN hp (57 kW) to the top-of the line 2.1 L, 112 DIN hp (82 kW) (95 hp for vans with catalytic converters) fuel-injected version. Likewise, the diesel engine grew to 1.9 L and 65 DIN hp (48 kW). There was a turbodiesel option, but only in 1.6 L, 70 DIN hp (52 kW) trim. The 1.9 L turbodiesel upgrade was not available until the introduction of the T4.
In its home market, the T3 was replaced by the T4 for the 1990 model year, but some Syncro models and vehicles for Deutsche Post and the German military continued to be produced in Graz, Austria until 1992. The last German-built T3s were the very sought-after "Limited Last Edition" models of which 2,500 were built.
Meanwhile, the T3 was still being built in South Africa, with a slightly modified body (larger windows, different ventilation, less room above the engine), fuel-injected four and five-cylinder inline engines and new equipment packages. South African T3 production was halted in 2002.

Like the Beetle, from the beginning, the Type 2 earned many nicknames from its fans. Among the most popular, at least in Germany, are VW-Bus and Bulli (or Bully). The Type 2 was meant to be officially named the Bully, but Heinrich Lanz, producer of the Lanz Bulldog farm tractor, intervened. The model was then presented as the VW Transporter and VW Kleinbus, but the Bully nickname still caught on.
The official German-language model names Transporter and Kombi (Kombinationskraftwagen, "combined-use vehicle") have also caught on as nicknames. Kombi is not only the name of the passenger variant, but is also the Australasian and Brazilian term for the whole Type 2 family in much the same way that they are all called VW-Bus in Germany – even the pickup truck variations. In Mexico, the German "Kombi" was translated as "Combi", and became a household word thanks to the vehicle's popularity in Mexico City's public transportation system. In Peru, where the term Combi was similarly adopted, the term Combi Asesina (Murdering Combi) is often used for buses of similar size, due to the notorious recklessness and competition of Lima bus drivers to get passengers. The Portuguese people also have a particular name for it: they name it "Pão-de-Forma" (Breadloaf) because its design resembles a bread cooked on a form. Similarly, in Denmark, the Type 2 is referred to as "Rugbrød" (Rye bread). Finns dubbed it Kleinbus (mini-bus), as many taxicab companies adopted it for group transportation; the name "kleinbus" has become an appellative for all passenger vans.
The Australian band Men at Work made the use of the Kombi name somewhat popular in other parts of the world by using it in the first line of their 1981 hit record Down Under: "Travelling in a fried-out Kombi ...".
In America, however, it is a VW bus, a "vee-dub," a hippie-mobile, hippie bus, or hippie van, and a "combie", Microbus or a Transporter to aficionados. The early versions produced before 1967 used a split front windshield (giving rise to the nickname "Splitty"), and their comparative rarity has led to their becoming sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. The next version, sold in the USA market from 1968 to 1979, is characterised by a large, curved windshield and is commonly called a "bay-window". It was replaced by the Vanagon, of which only the Westfalia camper version has a common nickname, "Westy".

Vuil Topic

Ek se fede my ma se kinders, hoe rik dit? Hoe was die weekend? Waar was jy, Where were you, Unolikayi?

Eish honne the weekend was mos off the hook! I was bloming by my bra's house on saturday, just slat a braai, gang beers and kinders. The ouens was k@k drunk, singing on the karaoke, still slating the R-E-S-P-E-C-T, playing pool and just going k@k on.

My broe, saturday was nca but yesterday hond, it was just de shit. You know, it was sunday, the best day of the week. The day where the beers taste like some more jack. What did you dalla cause if where not by Totties yesterday then you missed out big time gazi!

I wys you my broe, when we got there, they tell us the damage is R40. Now you must know its January and we still with 4 transie's full of the braza. That's mos gang chelt, think of all the alcohol you can buy with that! So we parked out side under a tree. I know, a tree in the dale, hard to believe isn't it? Anyway, we were bloming outside checking now where must go but drinking while we deciding what to do. After so two hours when i can get up I look mos left, the street is mos full, a bash my broe. After so another two hours if i can look to my right, 5 borrels rum on its back, k@k drunk with us.

Ja ne, the weekend was best!

Ok my mothers children, second half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Babalaas Monday...

1. ''Petrol''
Little Johnny catches his mom and dad making love dog-style
position.'
What are u doing daddy?' he asks,'
just putting some petrol in your
mommy my boy' his dad replies.'
Jislaaik daddy, mommy must be heavy on fuel coz uncle Sam just filled her up yesterday'

2. A guy goes to the supermarket and notices a beautiful woman wave at him and say hello. He's rather taken aback, because he can't place where he knows her from. So he says, "Do you know me?" To which she replies, "I think you're the father of one of my kids." Now his mind travels back to the only time he has ever been unfaithful to his wife and says, "My God, are you the stripper from my bachelor party that I laid on the pool table with all my buddies watching, while your partner whipped my butt with wet celery?" She looks into his eyes and calmly says, "No, I'm your son's maths teacher."

Freaky Friday...

Holla freaky friday....
The weekend is finally here mense .. so enjoy!!

Our lager,
Which art in barrels,
Hollowed be thy drink.
I will be drunk,
At home as in the travern.
Give us this day our foamy head,
And forgive us our spillages,
As we forgive those who spill against us.
And lead us not into incarceration,
But deliver us from hangerovers.
For thine is the beer.
he bitter and The lager
Forever and ever,
Barmen.

Thirsty Thursday

LeeAnn Liebenberg



First Name: Lee-Ann

Last Name: Liebenberg

Nationality: South African

Ethnicity: South African

Hair Color: Dark brown

Eye Color: Brown

Date of Birth: December 9 1982

Place of Birth: Roodeport, Gauteng, South Africa

Height: 5'8" ; 173cm

Measurements: (US) 34-25-35 ; (EU) 86.5-63.5-89

Dress Size: (US) 4 ; (EU) 34

Shoe Size: (US) 9 ; (EU) 41

Advertisements:
Bon Prix, Edgars, Hennesey Cognac, Perfect Touch, Vasoline

Magazine Covers:
South Africa: 'SL' - March 2003; 'FHM' - November 2003; 'FHM' - September 2004; 'FHM' - August 2005; 'Imagine' - August 2005; 'Essentials' - October 2005; 'Drive' - December 2005; 'Top Billing' - August 2006; 'FHM' - November 2006



Notes:
- Was featured on the cd cover of the Springbok Nude Girls "The Fat Lady Sings" album - Competed in the 2002 Miss South Africa Pageant - FHM SA's Sexiest Woman in the World 2005

Girl Power-Beyonce

Beyonce Signs Endorsement Deal with L'OrealSinger Beyonce Knowles has signed a $4.7 endorsement deal with L'Oreal. The five-year contract calls for her to work 10 days a year for photo shoots and to make promotional and personal appearances within that time. L'Oreal has the option to extend those 10 days to 12 but will pay $25,000 a day for the extra time. Beyonce must keep her hair in "excellent condition" and notify the company if she plans to make "any radical change."

Sagte transie's ...

The new BMW M5 Touring

BMW has announced details of the revised 5 Series Saloon and Touring range, topped off by the new BMW M5 Touring. From its launch in 2003, the E60 5 Series delivered year-on-year sales records and received numerous accolades. The new 5 Series is set to build on that success with more performance, efficiency, practicality and owner appeal. Offering new engine technology to increase performance yet improve economy by up to 25 per cent, and class-leading comfort-focused equipment such as Lane Departure Warning System, the new 5 Series is set to remain the benchmark Executive car.

Powered by the back-to-back International Engine of the Year-winning engine driving through BMW’s unique seven-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox, the new M5 Touring offers up to 1,650 litres of boot space for owners needing to move sizeable loads…… quickly.PerformanceWith the previous M5 Touring (E34) only available in left-hand drive, the arrival of the new M5 Touring marks the first time the high-performance estate has been offered to British customers. Powered by the same normally aspirated 5.0-litre V-10 cylinder engine as its Saloon counterpart, the new M5 Touring redlines at 8,250rpm. 507hp and 520Nm of torque propel the car from zero to 62mph in 4.8 seconds (only 0.1 seconds slower than the Saloon). Without the 155mph electronic limiter the new M5 Touring would be capable of achieving 200mph while still transporting the largest of loads.This balance of ultimate practicality and performance is summed up by Lee Connolly, BMW UK’s Product Manager for the new M5 Touring “The M5 Touring will be the perfect car for delivering supercar owners’ luggage to their holiday homes in France or Spain. Usefully, their luggage will arrive before they do!”TransmissionThese levels of performance are in part made possible by the world’s first seven-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox with Drivelogic in a production car. The gearbox features eleven different change patterns to offer the driver a personally-tuned driving experience - six settings vary speed and response of gear change in a manual mode and there are five automatic modes. A Launch Control function delivers the fastest possible acceleration from standstill.

Traction

Like the Saloon, the new M5 Touring features a three-stage DSC+ traction control system. The default mode offers drivers high levels of performance and stability. M Dynamic Mode allows an enthusiastic driver the ability to push the M5 Touring to, and beyond, the absolute limits of traction, permitting some sideslip and countersteering before the system cuts in and is selected in the M Drive Manager (see below). If the DSC button is pressed, DSC+ is completely disengaged.BMW M’s variable M differential also offers the highest levels of driving stability and traction, especially when accelerating out of high-speed corners, with up to 100 per cent of drive being transferred to the rear wheel with most traction. Finally, the Electronic Damper Control (EDC) system offers three suspension settings to complement the prevailing driving conditions.MDrive Manager packages these programmable settings, so that the touch of a single button sets the car up as required. Like a boy visiting his favourite sweet shop, the M5 driver can select his preferred settings for power, gearbox, EDC and DSC modes, Head-up Display and the degree of Active Seat bolster support, via the iDrive menu. One-touch of the M Drive button on the steering wheel then selects the desired combination and instantly changes the character of the car. One moment the M5 Touring is a placid and practical family car, the next it’s more akin to a track day special.

Tribute Tuesday...

This mornings tribute goes out to yet another successful American rapper and hip-hop retaining legendary status in hip-hop music. He is regarded by some as the greatest MC ever. Christopher George Latore Wallace, also known as Biggie Smalls. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Biggie grew up during the peak years of the 1980s crack epidemic. By the time his debut album Ready to Die was released in 1994, he was a central figure in East Coast hip-hop, and helped to make New York known for its hip-hop scene during a time when the genre was mostly dominated by West Coast artists. He was shot and killed on March 9, 1997 in Los Angeles. His posthumously released double-disc set Life After Death was certified diamond.
Biggie was noted for his storytelling and freestyling abilities, and his easy to understand lyrics. His short career was overshadowed by the Bad Boy/Death Row Records feud dominating the hip-hop scene at the time.

(May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997)

Christopher Wallace was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. He was the only child to Voletta Wallace, a pre-school teacher of Jamaican origin and George Latore Wallace, a welder and small-time Jamaican politician.[3] His father left the family when Wallace was two years old, leaving his mother to work two jobs whilst raising him. At the Queen of All Saints Middle School, Wallace was a good student, winning several awards as an English student. He was nicknamed "Big" because of his size before he turned ten years old.[4] From the age of twelve, he began selling drugs, unbeknownst to his mother.[5]
Wallace transferred out of the private Roman Catholic school that he attended, a his request, to attend the state-funded Westinghouse High School, where Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes were also students. According to his mother, he was still a good student, but developed a "smart-ass" attitude.[3]
At 17, Wallace dropped out of high school and became further involved in crime. In 1989, he was arrested on weapons charges in Brooklyn and sentenced to five years' probation. In 1990, he was arrested on a violation of his probation.[6] A year later, Wallace was arrested in North Carolina for dealing crack. He spent nine months in jail until he made bail.[5]

In March 1992, Biggie featured in The Source's Unsigned Hype column, dedicated to aspiring rappers and was invited to produce a recording with other unsigned artists, in a move that was apparently unusual at the time.[9][10] The demo tape was heard by Uptown Records A&R and producer, Sean "Puffy" Combs, who arranged for a meeting with Biggie. He was signed to Uptown immediately and made an appearance on label mates, Heavy D & the Boyz' "A Buncha Niggas", from Blue Funk.[7] [11]

Biggie (shown alongside Combs) performed the first verse of the Flava In Ya Ear remix, which reached #9 in the Hot 100 in 1994. It marked Biggie's first appearance in a music video directed by Hype Williams. Audio sample (help·info)
Soon after signing his recording contract, Combs left Uptown and started a new label. Biggie followed and in the summer of 1992 signed to Combs' new imprint label, Bad Boy Records. Biggie's first child, T-Yanna, was born on August 10, 1992.[12] With his new daughter in immediate financial need, Biggie continued to sell drugs. Once discovered by Combs, Biggie quit and became a full-time hip hop artist.[7]
Biggie's first single "Cruisin'", released in 1992, failed to chart. He gained his first exposure later in the year on a remix to Mary J. Blige's single "Real Love", under the pseudonym The Notorious B.I.G.; the name Biggie would record under for the remainder of his career. The single peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and was followed by a remix of Blige's "What's the 411".
He continued this success, to a lesser extent, on remixes with Neneh Cherry ("Buddy X") and Bad Boy artist Supercat ("Dolly My Baby", also featuring Combs) in 1993. In April 1993, his solo track, "Party and Bullshit", appeared on the Who's the Man? soundtrack.[12]
In July 1994, he appeared alongside LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes on a remix to label mate Craig Mack's "Flava in Ya Ear", reaching #9 on the Hot 100. This was his first remix to chart that featured solely hip hop artists. In the same year, Biggie collaborated on "Runnin'" (which later appeared on the album One Million Strong) and other songs with rapper Tupac Shakur, a New York City native who he met in Los Angeles. In later years, the two would be involved in a highly publicized feud.

On August 4, 1994, Biggie married R&B singer Faith Evans ten days after they first met at a Bad Boy photoshoot.[13][12] Four days later, Biggie had his first success as a solo artist with double A-side "Juicy/Unbelievable", which reached #27 on the Hot 100 and was certified gold. This was the lead single to his debut album, Ready to Die.
Ready to Die was released on September 14, 1994 and reached #15 on The Billboard 200 chart,[14] eventually being certified four times platinum.[15] Rolling Stone describe the album, released at a time when West Coast hip hop was prominent in the US charts, as "almost single-handedly... [shifting] the focus back to East Coast rap".[16]
The album was autobiographical in part and its production, by Easy Mo Bee, DJ Premier and Combs, made heavy use of '60s/'70s soul samples. It gained positive reviews on release, and has received much praise in retrospect; since its release it has appeared in multiple "Essential Recordings" lists.[16][17]
In addition to "Juicy", the album produced two popular singles. "Big Poppa", which sampled The Isley Brothers' "Between the Sheets", reached #1 on the US Rap Chart in January 1995 and was certified platinum.[18] The album's final single, "One More Chance" featuring Faith Evans, was a loosely related remix of an album track. It was his highest selling single and went platinum in less than two months.[15]
The album was remastered and re-released in July 2004 and November 2006, with two of its samples removed. These were removed following a lawsuit in which Bridgeport Music Inc., owners of part of the Ohio Players catalog, claimed the album's title track sampled "Singing in the Morning" without permission. Bridgeport (who had previously sued over sampling rights) were awarded $4.2 million and between March 19, 2006 and the November 14, 2006 re-release, sales of the album were halted.[19]

After the awards ceremony, Biggie attended a Soul Train Awards party hosted by Vibe and Qwest Records at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.[21] Other guests included Faith Evans, Combs, DJ Quik who arrived with ten members of the Treetop Piru Bloods, and a dozen or so members of the Crips.[4]
On March 9, 1997, at 12:30 a.m. an announcer warned the crowd that fire marshals would soon shut the party down. Biggie left with his entourage in two GMC Suburbans to return to his hotel. Biggie traveled in the front passenger seat alongside his friends, Gregory "G-Money" Young, the driver, Damion "D-Rock" Butler, who sat behind the driver, and Lil' Cease, who sat behind Biggie. Combs traveled in the other vehicle with three bodyguards. The two trucks were trailed by a Chevy Blazer carrying Bad Boy's director of security.[4]
By 12:45 a.m. the street was crowded with people leaving the event. Biggie's truck stopped at a red light just 50 yards from the museum. While waiting for the light to change, a white Toyota Land Cruiser made a U-turn and cut in-between Biggie's vehicle and the Chevy Blazer behind. Simultaneously, a black Chevy Impala pulled up alongside Biggie's truck. The driver of the Impala (an African-American male neatly dressed in a blue suit and bow tie) rolled down his window, drew a 9mm blue-steel pistol and shot numerous rounds into the GMC Suburban; four bullets hit Biggie in the chest.[4]
Wallace was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by his entourage but was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m.