(AP) Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans Thursday at the culmination of a labor protest that brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth.

The arrest of the 32 protesters, many of whom wore costumes representing famous Disney characters, came at the end of an hour-long march to Disneyland's gates from one of three Disney-owned hotels at the center of a labor dispute.

Those who were arrested sat in a circle on a busy intersection outside the park holding hands until they were placed in plastic handcuffs and led to two police vans while hundreds of hotel workers cheered and chanted.

The protesters were arrested on a misdemeanor count of failure to obey a police officer and two traffic infractions, said Sgt. Rick Martinez of the Anaheim police. They were cited and released, Sgt. Chris Schneider said.

The dispute involves about 2,300 maids, bell hops, cooks and dishwashers at three Disney-owned hotels: the Paradise Pier, the Grand Californian and the Disneyland Hotel.

The workers' contract expired in February and their union says Disney's latest proposal makes health care unaffordable for hundreds of employees and creates an unfair two-tier wage system. The union also says Disney wants to create a new category of part-time employees who would receive greatly reduced benefits.

"The Bird's Nest" - National Stadium in China where the track and field competitions will take place as well as the opening and closing ceremonies! These were the fireworks during the dress rehearsals this week.

My Olympic Memories!

I remember growing up in Atlanta and being so excited ever year that the olympics rolled around! I would watch them on TV and my parents would even let me put the protable TV in my room (I didn't have my own) so I could watch the late night events because they knew I love them so much!

I first fell in Love with the Summer Olympics when as a first grader, I sat glued to the TV watching 14-year-old Nadia Comăneci of Romania score seven perfect 10s and won three gold medals, including the prestigious All Around. I loved her! And then, Dorothy Hamill  won the Gold in Ladies Figure Skating in the Winter Games, and gues how I begged to get my hair cut?!

I was devasted when the USA boycotted the 1980 Olympics, mostly because I was too young to understand why we had to.


In 1984 - I fell in love with Skier Jure Franko who won Yugoslavia's first Winter Olympic medal; a silver in the giant slalom. Bill Johnson became the first American to win an Olympic downhill event. And the Summer games where here in the USA in LA! I thought that was such a cool thing! Mary Lou Retton became the first gymnast outside Eastern Europe to win the gymnastics all-around competition. What a smile!

1988 I had just started college and between classes I cheered my heart out for the Jamaican Bobsled team in Calgary in the Winter! The Summer game in Korea were a big accomplishment for a girl who rides horses like me...For the first time in history all the dressage events were won by women. Also, Remember how fast US sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner was as she won three gold medals and a silver on the track?

By 1992, I was in college at Auburn University and we had parties near campus to watch Auburn Grad Charles Barkley & the American Dream Team play Basketball. It was the first admittance of professional players. Bonnie Blaire kicked tail in the Winter games in Speed Skating. I was newscaster at a local station by then and remember every headling being about her!

It was weird in 1994. For the first time, the Winter Olympics were not held in the same year as the Summer Games . Of course we were all more concerned with Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan battle in court than on the ice!

The 1996 Olympics were my most heart breaking ever! It was held in my hometown and I couldn't go!  My parents went to a ton of the events and took great photos! You can imagine how scared I was when I heard the news of the bombing at Olympic Park. I called all of my friends and family to make sure none of them were hurt!  other greats that year:

• Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic torch during the opening ceremonies of the games and received a replacement gold medal from the 1960 Summer games.
• We were first introduced to Kurt Angle of the United States won the gold medal in 100 kg (220 lb) freestyle wrestling while suffering from a fractured neck. You know him now from WWE!
• Kerri Strug and the Magnificent 7 Gymnast! Yep! I cried!

The 1998 Winter games in Japan were awesome because Women's ice hockey was contested at the Olympic Games for the first time ever, and the U.S. beat the Canadians 3-1 for the gold medal.

The 2000 Summer games were held in Sydney Australia and my 2 Friends Paul & Eloise actaully went! They emailed me pictures and called with updates. It was AWESOME!

2002's winter games were back in the states in Utah and it wasn't too great for the us. American Sarah Hughes won the gold medal in figure skating. American and heavy favorite Michelle Kwan fell during her long program and received the bronze medal.

As I have gotten older and more busy...it's been difficult to keep up with them but my goal is to jump back on the band wagon this year! Go TEAM USA!~

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BEST PARTY SCHOOLS!

Jacksonville, FL -- The University of Florida can add another national title to its list: best party school in the country.

A Princeton Review survey of 120-thousand students says the Gators beat out West Virginia University to claim the top spot.

The University of Florida has made the top 20 party school list for the past 15 years, but has never been number one.

A university spokesman says the party school reputation comes from the school's athletic success.

The university is known for wild celebrations following national championships in football and basketball.

Following is a list of the top party schools in the nation, according to Princeton Review's survey of 120,000 students.

1. University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

2. University of Mississippi, University, Miss.

3. Penn State University, University Park, Pa.

4. West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va.

5. Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.

6. Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Va.

7. University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.

8. University of Texas, Austin, Texas.

9. University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, Calif.

10. Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.

11. University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H.

12. University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

13. University of Colorado, Boulder, Co.

14. Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.

15. Tulane University, New Orleans, La.

16. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill.

17. Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.

18. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.

19. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

20. Loyola University-New Orleans, New Orleans, La.

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Graceland, Myspace Holding Anniversary Competition
One lucky Elvis Presley fan will get a chance to sing next month at Graceland. It's been almost 31 years since Presley died at his Memphis manse. Each summer, thousands of fans from around the world gather at Graceland the week of August 16th to mark the occasion. This year, Graceland has joined MySpace for a nationwide "Elvis Week Karaoke Contest." Participants can go MySpace's karaoke site at ksolo.myspace.com and get in on the competition by recording their versions of one of three Elvis songs: "Hound Dog," "If I Can Dream" or "Suspicious Minds." The winner gets to perform at Graceland on August 12th. Recordings can be submitted until August 4th.