Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tobias]

Who gives a shit. People are starving somewhere in the world. We're seeing a global decline that put many into a permanent depression, and the media are talking about a story that got old two hours after it first broke. Do people live such uninteresting, meaningless lives they have to follow this story incessantly?

[bacasper]

[bacasper]

Week Ending July 5, 2009: All Michael, All The Time

Posted Wed Jul 8, 2009 11:47am PDT by Paul Grein in Chart Watch

Michael Jackson has three of the five best-selling albums in the U.S. for the second week in a row. Number Ones sold 339,000 copies this week and would have held at #1 on The Billboard 200 if catalog albums were eligible to compete on that chart. (The 2003 compilation sold a little more than twice as many copies this week as NOW 31, the album that holds the #1 spot.) Thriller sold 187,000 copies and would have jumped from #3 to #2 if catalog albums were invited to the party. The Essential Michael Jackson sold 125,000 copies and would have dropped from #2 to #5. (Billboard excludes catalog albums from the big chart on the theory that new albums need the spotlight the chart provides more than past hits do.)

Jackson's catalog of solo albums sold 800,000 copies this week, up from 422,000 copies last week. (This was the first full week following Jackson's death on June 25. Last week's total reflected just four days of sales.) Billboard reports that 82% of the Jackson albums sold this week were CDs (vs. digital downloads). Last week, 43% of the Jackson albums sold were CDs. I think this shows that on a special album, people want the CD as a keepsake. (What a retro concept!)

Jackson's total song download sales this week, including hits with his brothers, stand at 2.2 million downloads, down just a little from 2.6 million last week. A total of 47 songs that feature Jackson are listed on the Hot Digital Songs chart. (This is down just a bit from last week's eye-popping total of 50.)

Number Ones racked up the biggest weekly sales total in Nielsen/SoundScan history for a catalog album (excluding Christmas albums). Jackson also held the old record, which he set in February 2008, when Thriller 25 sold 166,000 copies in its first week. Number Ones also posted the biggest one-week sales tally for an album by a deceased performer since the Notorious B.I.G.'s Duets: The Final Chapter debuted in December 2005 with first-week sales of 438,000.

Number Ones has sold 564,000 copies so far this year, which puts it at #18 on Nielsen/SoundScan's running list of the best-selling albums of 2009. If it keeps going like this, it could topple Taylor Swift's Fearless as the #1 album for the year-to-date. (Fearless has sold 1,352,000 copies since Jan. 1.) This will (in all likelihood) be only the third time in Nielsen/SoundScan history that an album by a deceased performer has ranked among the year's top 10. 2Pac's All Eyez On Me was the #6 album of 1996 (he died on Sept. 13 of that year). The Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death was the #6 album of 1997 (he died on March 9 of that year).

This is the third time that Thriller has posted sales of 100,000 or more units in a week in the Nielsen/SoundScan era (which dates to 1991). As noted above, the album sold 166,000 copies when a 25th anniversary edition was released in February 2008. It sold 101,000 last week, in the aftermath of Jackson's death. Thriller is the only the second catalog album (again, excluding Christmas albums) to top the 100,000 sales mark more than once since 1992.

[bacasper]

MJ: Keep my dad away from kids

Oh, the irony! Some thought MJ should be kept away from kids.

It seems that there is always someone who thinks someone else should be kept away from kids.

[bacasper]

Jackson was murdered. He was murdered by the combination of money-grubbing parents, an ambitious prosecutor by the name of Joe Sneddon, and a sensationalist press which repeated every lurid allegation regardless of truth.

Jackson lived for exactly two things: his music and children. With those first allegations, they were both essentially taken away from him. That was the beginning of his demise as his spirit began to die that day.

LaToya: Michael was murdered

By Caroline Graham
Last updated at 2:23 PM on 13th July 2009


The grieving sister of superstar Michael Jackson last night blamed �a shadowy entourage� of manipulative hangers-on for effectively �murdering� the King of Pop.

In a moving and revealing interview, La Toya Jackson, who was closer to her vulnerable brother than anyone else and was asked to sign his death certificate, portrayed Michael as a lonely and isolated figure at the mercy of a money-motivated clique.

She accused them of cutting him off from his family and friends and forcing him, largely against his will, to sign up for the gruelling commitment of 50 concerts at London�s O2 arena.

She believes her brother was fed addictive drugs by handlers who wanted to control his moods. She says they regarded him as a �cash cow� and exploited him at every turn. It was this, she believes, that led directly to his death.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1199092/La-Toya-Jackson-Michael-murdered--I-felt-start.html#ixzz0LDF6qaoc&C

[Goku]

Errr...

Well I think Michael Jackson was awsome in terms of music. Also, I think he genuinely liked kids and his life was very abnormal dealing with stardom and his father who gave him a lot of insecurities.

I don't think he was a pedophile. I think quite clearly from all his songs it was apparent that he at the very least understood what it was like to be infatuated with girls. Assuming he wrote his songs, PYT, billie jean, and a lot of the other songs were about girls and how hot they were.

I can't imagine one could write songs about something they never felt or experienced.

Anyways, he DID seem to always have genuine concern for children. Just because he shared his bed doesn't mean anything sexual happened. It's true a bed is where sexual things occur but that doesn't mean being in a bed is sexual.

Not to mention there clearly wasn't enough evidence beside testimony (with a looooootttt of motivation behind it) to find him guilty.

If people think I find MJ innocent because I like his music, it's not true. Clearly if there was enough evidence I would slam him as much as the next guy. But overall, he had a troubled youth and lots of phsychological issues to deal with in missing his childhood. Seemed like he projected innocence and a time of life with being a child.

He saw himself as a protector of children and that was his own self created persona and he ran with it. Well hope he finds peace in that great cloud in the sky... he's probably moonwalking on it as we speak.

[bacasper]

Another view of MJ. This was emailed to subscribers of Claudia McNeely.

Rteacher, what do you think of this?

Michael Jackson - Earth Angel

Over the years, many public figures have embodied specific energies in order to assist the rest of humanity. Princess Diana embodied the energy of the Goddess of Love, Terri Schiavo embodied the Victim Goddess, Anna Nicole Smith embodied the energy of the Wild Woman Goddess, and now Michael Jackson has shown us the Earth Angel.

Many times, an Angelic Being will decide to incarnate on the earth. I have known many Earth Angels over the years. Earth Angels are very loving and tender and have a very hard time coping with the way humans treat each other. Because of this, most Earth Angels end up taking drugs and many die of suicide.

Michael Jackson was a very gentle, tender, loving person. He was abused by his father as a child and never really got to have a childhood. Because of this, he loved being with children and acting child-like. He never wanted to grow up and he wanted to give other children the opportunity to have the childhood that he never had. He loved children because they never hurt him, but eventually, even they turned on him out of greed, so he became a recluse.

Over the years, Michael's skin became lighter and lighter. Whether through skin bleaching or a skin disease, I see this as his attempt to return to his Angelic form, to return to the Light. He subconsciously remembered being a being of Light, and did not like having black skin. He wanted to be Light once again.

Michael reportedly took prescription medications in an attempt to sleep. He had a hard time sleeping, but it was only in the sleep state that he could visit his home in the Angelic Realm. His desire for this deep sleep is what caused his death.

Michael personified the Earth Angel, and by embodying this for us, he has shown us that Earth Angels exist and how fragile they really are. His death releases this energy for us to access in our own transformation to Earth Angels.

Thank you Michael for all you have done!

By Claudia Mc Neely www.askclaudia.com

[On the other hand]

[itaewonguy]

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Doc claims he fathered Michael Jackson's 2 children

Press Trust of India, Sunday July 19, 2009, London

In a new development to the custody battle of Michael Jackson's three children, his dermatologist has claimed that he is the biological father of the pop star's two elder children.

Dr Arnold Klein, Jackson's dermatologist for last 25 years, is reportedly planning to apply for the guardianship of Prince Michael, 12 and Paris, 11 and consulting his lawyers about his options.

"Arnie is planning to fight for custody of Prince Michael and Paris. He says he can prove he is their father with Debbie," a close friend of the doctor told Sunday Mirror.

Klein was Debbie Rowe's boss when she married Jackson in 1996 and he has never rejected the claims about being the secret sperm donor for Prince and Paris, who many point out have a close physical resemblance to the doctor.

Jackson's mother Katherine, 79, was awarded temporary custody of Prince Michael, Paris and the singer's youngest child, son Blanket, after his death.

She is applying for the permanent custody of the three children, but her lawyers are now in talks with Rowe, who wants some access to Prince Michael and Paris. A custody hearing has been postponed till August 3.

Jackson left his estimated $500 million fortune to his three children and his 2002 will, which names Katherine and soul diva Diana Ross as children's guardian, provides for a substantial amount to the caretaker.

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Dr. Conrad Murray has not been confirmed as a suspect, but neither has he been ruled out.

Lawyer: Police look for Michael Jackson manslaughter link

Reported by: Associated Press
Last Update: 7/22

HOUSTON -- Authorities searched the Houston clinic of Michael Jackson's doctor Wednesday, and his attorney said they were seeking evidence of manslaughter.

Dr. Conrad Murray had been interviewed by police as a witness to the pop star's death, but has not been considered a suspect. Police have said little about the probe, neither confirming or denying the possibility of criminal charges.

Los Angeles police and agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration went through the Armstrong Medical Clinic on Wednesday for about 2 1/2 hours. Authorities said they were searching for documents.

"The search warrant authorized law enforcement to search for and seize items, including documents, they believed constituted evidence of the offense of manslaughter," Ed Chernoff, Murray's attorney, said in a statement posted on his law firm's Web site. The Harris County warrant remains sealed and unavailable to the media.

Chernoff said agents left with "a forensic image" of a computer hard drive and 21 documents.

Houston police surrounded the building as the investigators went inside at about 10:30 CDT. DEA spokeswoman Violet Szeleczky said about 20 people were in the Armstrong Medical Clinic, including employees.

A neighborhood crowd gathered to watch the raid until agents left after 1 p.m. and Houston police told reporters and the onlookers to leave the clinic's property.

Murray has emerged as a central figure in the investigation. The doctor, who had been recently hired by Jackson, was with him in his mansion and tried to revive him.

Szeleczky said the agents were looking for Murray's records, not drugs, but wouldn't specify further. She declined to say how the search related to Jackson's death.

The search of Murray's office hard drive indicates authorities are looking not just for patient records but also for e-mails either between the doctor and Jackson or orders for prescription drugs, said Harland Braun, a prominent Los Angeles defense attorney who has represented doctors in cases involving administration of drugs.

more at link

[itaewonguy]

[bacasper]

It certainly seems odd that a healthy man should drop dead at home with a physician present.

Manslaughter investigation targets Murray

(AP) � 1 day ago

LOS ANGELES � Michael Jackson's personal doctor is the target of a manslaughter investigation into the singer's death.

A search warrant filed in a Houston court Thursday allowed authorities to seek evidence of whether Dr. Conrad Murray committed manslaughter.

Murray is the cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died June 25.

Los Angeles police and federal drug agents used the warrant to seize items Wednesday from Murray's clinic in Houston.

The doctor's lawyer previously indicated authorities were seeking a manslaughter probe, but the warrant marks an official confirmation of the investigation.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is above.

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Do you think Murray feels the noose tightening around him yet?

Jackson's doctor administered powerful drug that may have killed him

Posted: July 28, 2009

Reported by: THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation into Michael Jackson's death says the pop star's personal doctor administered the powerful drug that authorities believe killed him.

Jackson regularly received the anesthetic propofol to go to sleep. The official, who requested anonymity because the probe is ongoing, told The Associated Press on Monday that Dr. Conrad Murray gave Jackson the drug the last night of his life.

Murray was with Jackson when he died June 25 and has been identified in court papers as the subject of a manslaughter investigation.

Murray's lawyer has said the doctor didn't prescribe or administer anything that should have killed Jackson.

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According to this unconfirmed report, it was an aide who administered the fatal injection.

Michael Jackson �killed by aide�

Michael Jackson was allegedly killed by an aide who gave him a shot of powerful painkiller Demerol while his doctor slept.

5 August 2009

Michael Jackson was allegedly killed by an aide while his doctor slept.

The pop legend � who died of a suspected cardiac arrest on June 25 � had been given surgical anaesthetic Propofol by his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray earlier in the day and is thought to have awoken when the drugs wore off and demanded pain relief.

However, Murray was asleep at the time so one of Michael�s aides reportedly gave him a shot of powerful painkiller Demerol and the combination of the pain relief and Propofol � also known as Diprivan - is thought to have triggered a fatal heart attack.

An insider told Britain�s The Sun newspaper: "Murray would set up a system to give Michael a steady intravenous release of Diprivan through the night.

"But this time Michael woke up before Murray did and asked one of his aides for some Demerol.

"The aide gave it to him, but it was too soon after receiving the anaesthetic. That's what killed him."

When Murray � who is being investigated for manslaughter � awoke he found the 50-year-old star had stopped breathing and desperately tried to revive him.

Murray is said to have confessed to Los Angeles police about administering Propofol � which should only be given in a hospital environment - two days after Michael died.

However, his lawyer has always insisted Murray denies giving the �Thriller� singer anything that killed him.

Michael is thought to have first taken Demerol in 1984 to help ease the pain of the burnt scalp he suffered while filming a Pepsi TV commercial.

Meanwhile, Michael�s sister La Toya believes her brother is performing for the angels in heaven.

Writing on her blog, she said: �Michael, after 50 years of waiting, God has finally called you home to do what you do best.

�He shared your extraordinary talent with us all for many decades and now it�s time for you to spread your wings to a much higher level, which of course I know you will do, and join the other angels and give them an incredible eternal performance.�