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[bacasper]

Maybe we should try to apply this to the entire country - if the USA went kaput, could its debt be easily and entirely wiped out?

MJ�s gigantic debt �wiped out in 5 months'

ANI 29 November 2009, 01:15pm IST

The money needed to pay off Michael Jackson�s huge debts has been raised within five months after his death.

The King of Pop�s estate has apparently grossed almost half-a-billion dollars through the music CD royalties and box-office collection of the film �This Is It.�

Also, there has been an additional income from the sale of Jackson souvenirs and memorabilia, reports the Daily Star.

However, administrators of Jackson�s estate, John Branca and John McClain, still face close to six lawsuits.

The cases include a 300-million-dollar action filed by New Jersey based company AllGood Entertainment. The company claims that the singer had backed out of a TV reunion concert with his brothers in Texas. Administrators said solutions may be reached �by early in the New Year�.

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Michael Jackson's weird art revealed

Jacko art's a Michaelangelo

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

Last Updated: 11:29 AM, December 8, 2009


Thank heaven for little boys.

In a 1999 painting he commissioned, Michael Jackson strikes the same pose as Michelangelo's statue of David with rippling abs, bulging pecs and smooth, marble-white skin -- surrounded by a bevy of male cherubs.

The work, by artist David Nordahl, is just one of hundreds of private portraits the Gloved One ordered up over the years that depict him in an idealized light. They were revealed last week in a book about Jackson's life.

In the larger-than-life canvases, Jackson emerges as King Arthur, a superhero, even an angel -- all drawn to his specifications.

"He thought it was great with a little 'tongue-in-cheek' flavor," said Nordahl of the oil-on-canvas work "Michael."

The artist painted hundreds of works for Jackson and reportedly earned $150,000 for the larger canvases. Jackson spent millions building up his private collection.<

Nordahl made Jackson a Peter Pan-like figure in "The Storyteller" and added his sister Janet to the lower-left foreground in the shape of a fairy.

The paintings can be seen in "Michael Jackson Opus: The Ultimate Celebration of an Icon," a 450-page tome published this week by Kraken Opus.

wild painting at link

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MICHAEL JACKSON'S THRILLER MAKES CONGRESS ARCHIVES

MICHAEL JACKSON's classic THRILLER video will go down in U.S. history as a national treasure - the 1983 promo is set to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

The work of the late King of Pop is the first music video
to make it into the archives, which preserves original copies of classic film, TV and other recordings at the Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center near Culpeper, Virginia.

However, Library officials will have to battle to obtain a copy of the horror video for preservation because it's currently the subject of a lawsuit between music video director John Landis and the tragic star's estate.

Landis, who directed and co-wrote the Thriller script, filed suit against Jackson in January 2009, claiming he's owed royalties for his work on the video.

Thriller will be entered into registry on Wednesday (30Dec09) alongside 24 other films including 1979's The Muppet Movie, 1957 sci-fi epic The Incredible Shrinking Man, Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), and Jezebel (1938), which starred Bette Davis.

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Michael Jackson theme park

Work is expected to begin this year on a 100-acre Michael Jackson entertainment complex in Gary, Ind., that would include a museum, performing arts center, hotel, golf course and theme park inspired by the pop singer's Neverland Ranch (such as the ride pictured above). "Everything is in the planning stages at this point, but we're moving on a fast track, and we're looking forward to actually breaking ground sometime in 2010," said Odie Anderson, president of the Jackson family project in the pop singer's hometown.

Anderson said the Indiana theme park would include rides found at Jackson's 2,700-acre Neverland Ranch near Santa Barbara, Calif. It's not yet clear whether the park would include all the same attractions. The $1 billion project would be built over 10 years, starting with the museum, arts center and hotel, then golf course and theme park.

� Brady MacDonald, Tribune Newspapers

[NovaKart]

Guess it's the only reason anyone would ever go to Gary, Indiana. Maybe some people will drive out from Chicago.

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Grammys 2010: Jackson Children Accept Lifetime Achievement Award

Prince and Paris Jackson�s acceptance speech

At last night�s Grammy Awards, Prince and Paris Jackson, the two eldest children of Michael Jackson, took to the stage to accept the award for Lifetime Achievement the Recording Academy bestowed on the late King of Pop. Visibly emotional, the two thanked the fans and pledged they would continue to support all the causes Michael also fought for while alive, as MTV can confirm.

Though rumors about their appearance had been circulating a couple of days before last night, when the two were introduced by Lionel Richie, the audience still was somehow surprised. They did not come alone though, as their cousins also walked on the stage with them, to offer them the much needed support in what must have been a truly difficult time. And difficult it was, judging by Prince�s stuttering and the fact that Paris seemed barely able to hold back the tears, as also were doing some A-listers from the audience.

�We are proud to be here to accept this award on behalf of our father, Michael Jackson. First of all, we�d like to thank God for watching over us for the past seven months. And our grandmother and grandfather for their love and support. We would also like to thank the fans. Our father loved you so much because you were always there for him. Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity. Through all his hard work and dedication, he�s helped with many charities and donated to all of them. Through all his songs his message was simple: love. We will continue to spread his message and help spread the word. Thank you. We love you, Daddy,� Prince said.

Though he stumbled more than once, Prince managed to deliver his speech, all the while maintaining his poise and composure, as MTV also noted. Paris was also equally shaken but to the point. �Daddy was supposed to be here, Daddy was gonna perform this year. He couldn�t perform last year. Thank you, we love you, Daddy,� Paris said to the applause of the entire audience. The two and their cousins were afterwards escorted off the stage.

video at link

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Michael Jackson Documentary World Premiere

Filmmaker Larry Nimmer Takes an Exclusive Tour Through Neverland Ranch

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
By Sarah Colburn

On Wednesday, February 10, area filmmaker and Emmy award-nominee Larry Nimmer�s presented the local community with a different perspective of Michael Jackson�s story than he believes it has received from government officials and media. Nimmer worked as a documentary producer for Jackson�s defense team in his 2005 child molestation trial and was granted unprecedented access to Jackson�s Neverland Ranch estate. Michael Jackson: The Untold Story of Neverland details a different narrative than the one presented by the media during the trial, exposes fabricated allegations from Jackson�s accusers, shows the Sheriff�s raid of Jackson�s ranch, reveals outtakes from Martin Bashir�s documentary Living with Michael Jackson, and features some of Jackson�s most classic career highlights.

Nimmer emphasized in an interview with The Independent that the documentary is not �super polished� and believes that the documentary �adds a fresh, new voice� to the lineup at the SBIFF. He narrates the film himself, and while the documentary is one person�s perspective of the events surrounding the Jackson controversy, it examines the facts and allows the viewer to create his or her own opinion regarding Michael�s guilt or innocence.

According to Nimmer, the documentary was submitted to the SBIFF last year and was rejected, but since Jackson�s death a more solid fan base has formed around Jackson�s life and career, and he has become a more sympathetic subject. Nimmer stated that, �There weren�t many people who stood up for him during his trial and while he was alive, but it was my honor to present the facts and defend his reputation.� Since Jackson�s death, Nimmer has witnessed fans talking about who supported him before his death, and reflects that maybe it says something about our society and the media that �someone has to die� to make headlines.

Nimmer had the honor of meeting Jackson during the documentation of Neverland and was impressed by his �modest, soft spoken, self-effacing� demeanor. In The Untold Story of Neverland, Nimmer aims to show that Jackson �was a real person who was being taken advantage of by the people he helped and by media officials.� Nimmer respects Jackson for holding onto his child-like innocence even though that very demeanor was what was attacked used against him by government officials and the media.

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NY ♥ MJ!

Michael Jackson Mural to Adorn "Bad" Brooklyn Subway Station

By MARIEL SMITH
Updated 12:15 PM EST, Tue, Feb 16, 2010

This is a Brooklyn-bound G-train, the next stop is: Michael Jackson immortalized at Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets.

The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership negotiated an agreement to create a mural of the late King of Pop at the entrance of the Hoyt-Schermerhorn train station, the New York Post reports.

The display is still being planned with no word on who will design the artwork, which will be displayed on the front of an office building at 45 Hoyt Street.

The location holds special significance because the Hoyt-Schemerhorn station is where director Martin Scorsese directed Jackson in the iconic 1987 music video "Bad."

"We see this as a great opportunity to potentially establish Hoyt-Schermerhorn�s role in American pop culture and as a tourist destination to attract people to a part of Downtown Brooklyn already rapidly growing," Joe Chan, president of the partnership told The Post.

Since the project will be shown on property belonging to real estate company Beneson Capital, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's permission is not required.

This is not the first time a Hoyt-Schermerhorn Jackson tribute was proposed -- Last fall, the MTA rejected City Councilwoman Letitia James� suggestion to rename the station after the "Thriller" singer and hang up a plaque of him.

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Jackson signs record-breaking deal

Sony eases Jackson estate�s debt woes

By Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson in New York

Published: March 16 2010 18:51 | Last updated: March 16 2010 18:51

A record-breaking deal worth more than $200m between Sony and the estate of Michael Jackson has transformed the late singer�s finances, paving the way for a slew of new commercial ventures and a refinancing of the debts that were hanging over him when he died in June.

The deal clears up any uncertainty over Sony�s rights to music Jackson had written but not released. When he died, he was out of contract to Sony Music for new music, but had a distribution deal for his old albums until 2015.

full article at link

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The Michael Jackson spin move penalty kick does not work

By Brooks Peck

The paradinha, or "little stop," just before a penalty kick is a move that's more popular in Brazil right now than Justin Bieber at a Twilight-themed birthday party. Despite calls to ban the move, there is always someone trying to make a thing like this even more obnoxious than it already is. The man in this video is that someone.

During a Showbol (a form of indoor football) match between Flamengo and Sao Paulo, Flamengo's no. 10 thought he'd take this up a notch with his penalty kick in a 0-0 game by adding a spin to his pause before shooting. The initial stop caused the goalkeeper to bite and dive to one side, but by the time the shooter completed his spin and kicked the ball, the keeper was able to get his bearings and snatch the ball with ease.

In the end, this Flamengo player learned a couple of valuable lessons. One, that spinning around just before shooting does not help with power or placement of the shot. And two, that trying to be a show-off can result in a deservingly epic fail.

short clip at link

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This has got to be the best MJ impersonator ever Unfortunately, he might have gone a bit too far this time.

Michael Jackson impersonator charged with sexually assaulting boy

April 17, 2010

By Angie Favot

Ricardo West is shown in this January 2010 photo. (Photo by E.L. Conley)

LINCOLN PARK �� A 22-year-old Michael Jackson impersonator could face life in prison if convicted on 12 counts of sexual misconduct with a juvenile.

Ricardo West of Allen Park was arraigned Friday afternoon before 25th District Judge David Bajorek.

He is being held in the Wayne County Jail without bond pending a preliminary examination of the evidence against him. The exam is set for 9 a.m. April 26 back in 25th District Court.

West was arrested Wednesday in Allen Park. The case was not heard in 24th District Court because Judge John Courtright recused himself and Judge Richard Page was unavailable.

West is charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison upon conviction; three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, a 15-year felony; four felony counts of use of a computer to solicit a crime; one count of child sexually abusive activity; and two counts of accosting children for immoral purposes.

Police said West confessed to sending sexually explicit and graphic e-mails and text messages, including nude pictures of male body parts, to a preteen boy. Also, during rehearsal of a stage production he was working on, he admitted to sexually assaulting the same boy in a bathroom.

continues at link

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How are Michael Jackson�s kids holding up?

His sister says they�re �doing fine�; their godfather says Paris is strongest

By Mike Celizic
TODAYshow.com contributor
updated 9:43 p.m. ET April 26, 2010

Michael Jackson�s three children went through some difficult days after their father�s sudden death 10 months ago, the singer�s eldest sister said Thursday, but now, surrounded by nurturing family members, they are recovering well.

Rebbie Jackson also said there may be some prosecution surprises in store when Dr. Conrad Murray goes on trial for his role in her brother�s death. �There�s an ongoing investigation, so I have to be very careful about what I say. But I think there�s going to be some interesting results for everyone,� she told TODAY�s Matt Lauer in New York.

So far, Murray, Jackson�s personal physician, is the only person charged in the superstar singer�s death. He is accused of involuntary manslaughter for administering a lethal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol to Jackson at the Los Angeles home he was renting.

Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36708287/ns/today-today_people/#ixzz0mIdaTTLu

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Now you can Moonwalk like Michael!

Ubisoft unveils new Michael Jackson game'

Tuesday, June 15 2010, 15:16 BST
By Andrew Laughlin, Technology Reporter

Ubisoft has unveiled a new multiplatform video game which will enable players to "step into the shoes" of Michael Jackson.

Titled Beat It, the game will be released on DS, PSP, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 this Christmas. It will also be compatible with the new PlayStation Move and Xbox Kinect motion controllers.

Ubisoft chief executive Yves Guillemot unveiled the title last night during the publisher's E3 press conference, before introducing an energetic performance by a troupe of dancers.

The game will involve players trying to emulate Jackson's dance moves and vocals to a range of his songs, including 'Billie Jean' and 'Beat It'.

In a statement, Ubisoft said: "The game is family entertainment at its best and will provide an interactive experience that enables players to step into the shoes of Michael Jackson himself and re-live his most iconic performances through their own singing and dancing."

John Branca, co-executor of Jackson's estate, added: "Michael always pushed every limit when it came to technology to give his fans unforgettable entertainment experiences, whether it involved his videos, his recordings or his concerts.

"Now, with this interactive product, we have the chance to bring Michael, the artist, into households around the world in a perfect match of Michael's artistry and the family entertainment which he always highly valued."

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...on in his sister's tastes.

Janet Jackson Defends Dating Younger Men

Janet Jackson says there is nothing wrong with dating younger men.

The 44-year-old singer-and-actress says it�s her prerogative if she wants to go out with younger guys and insists an age gap shouldn�t get in the way of love.

Jane, the sister to the late Michael Jackson, has recently been linked to millionaire businessman Wissam Al Mana who is almost a decade younger than her.

Speaking about the criticism that comes with having a toy boy, Janet said, �It�s horrible. It�s really awful.

�And I have to believe it was a man that started that. Mother always raised us to believe that age was just a number. All of us � my sisters, my brothers � we�ll just tell you our ages because it�s all about where you are mentally and how you feel about yourself.�

Janet, who is the youngest of the Jackson family, believes she is more confident now then ever before.

The star, who was in a seven-year relationship with music producer Jermaine Dupri, added in an interview with Essence magazine, �There comes a time when you don�t give an �F� what people say or think. You just do your thing because it�s finally about you and not in a selfish way but in a great way.�

[El Exigente]

Former Michael Jackson bodyguard says he may be dad of Blanket son

UPI News Service, 09/27/2010

A bodyguard Michael Jackson employed in England says he donated sperm and could be the father of the late pop star's 8-year-old son Blanket.
...
British martial arts expert Matt Fiddes told The Sun newspaper he agreed to help Jackson in 2001 after the singer said he wanted an "athletic" child.

Fiddes claimed Jackson offered him nearly $800,000 for his sperm, but he said he turned the money down and donated it for free.

Blanket was born the following year, he added.

Michael Jackson's mother Katherine is now the legal guardian of Blanket, as well as his older brother Prince Michael and sister Paris. Blanket's mother has never been identified.

"Michael never told me himself that Blanket is my son but he took my sperm and the child is the spitting image of me," Fiddes said. "He told me he wanted an athletic child and that is what he has got. I don't want Blanket thinking I am telling everyone he is definitely my son because I'm not sure. I don't want anything from the estate or their money. Katherine Jackson has already denied me the right to see Blanket but if she were to die I would be straight over there."

Nice to know Blanket has someone who cares is something should happen to Katherine.