user locations: pete_nice
heaven’s gate house
from cults posted in history by pete_nice
In March of 1997, thirty-nine bodies were found in this 7-room, 9,200 sq ft mansion north of San Diego.
The grisly scene was the result of a mass suicide by the Heaven's Gate cult. A mixture of Christianity and science fiction, the cult was led by Marshall Applewhite. Partially influenced by Star Trek, the group killed themselves so their souls could join an alien spaceship hidden in the tail of the passing Hale-Bopp comet.
view full location details...the parsonage
from scientology, rocket science posted in history by pete_nice
Jack Parsons was known as the "James Dean of the occult set."
An early dabbler in rocketry, his work with collaborators in the field became the basis for JPL.
Parsons interest in sexy-time occult practices made his three-floor mansion a swingin' good time for parties. He attracted numerous bohemians and eccentrics to rent rooms there, including writer and religion founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Hubbard lived there long enough to dominate the house with charisma, and then to take off with Parsons' mistress, Sara Northrup Hollister.
As a free love advocate, he got over it, and eventually sold the Parsonage to invest in a yacht-selling scheme with L. Ron. El-Ron took the money but didn't provide any boats, so that was the end of their friendship.
view full location details...buttonwood agreement
from stock market posted in history by pete_nice
On May 17, 1792, an agreement between 24 stockbrokers was made under a buttonwood tree.
The founding document of the New York Stock Exchange reads as follows:
"We the Subscribers, Brokers for the Purchase and Sale of the Public Stock, do hereby solemnly promise and pledge ourselves to each other, that we will not buy or sell from this day for any person whatsoever, any kind of Public Stock, at a less rate than one quarter percent Commission on the Specie value of and that we will give preference to each other in our Negotiations.
In Testimony whereof we have set our hands this 17th day of May at New York, 1792."
Today, the document is in the Museum of American Finance down the street at 48 Wall Street (view here).
view full location details...hollywood high school
from john ritter, carol burnett posted in television by pete_nice
There is a 50 ft mural of John Ritter on the exterior of Hollywood High School (class of '66).
view full location details...auto circus impound lot
from the big lebowski (1998) posted in movies by pete_nice
The Dude finds his stolen car at the Auto Circus Impound Lot.
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