Michael Jackson log

Neverland for the Children

2010-03-22T21:14:00.000+02:00

Whenever I’m scanning the web for interesting Michael Jackson news I always check out a blog called A Major Love. It’s a fan made Michael Jackson site that has been created after Michael’s untimely death for fans to share their feelings and experiences of Michael and celebrate his legacy. It has some great content; I suggest you check it out!

After recently visiting amajorlove.com, I found out about a worldwide fan petition that is campaigning to re-open Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch for sick children from around the world so they can experience the magic and love that it once shared.

I think it’s a fantastic idea. You can show your support by visiting http://www.neverland4tc.com/

[Via http://7david7.com]

WebMediaBrands' Latest Acquisition: Social Media News And Tips ...

Michael Jackson "Gone Too Soon"

2010-03-19T13:24:00.000+02:00

Celebrity biographer Ian Halperin – who penned the unauthorized 2009 tell-all Unmasked: The Final Years of [lastfm]Michael Jackson[/lastfm] – is set to release a documentary about the late singer. Halperin has been working on a 88-minute Jackson tribute documentary, entitled Gone Too Soon, which uses audio and video footage of the Thriller singer shot before his death last June. The feature is also expected to include interviews with the King of Pop’s personal manager, chef, spiritual adviser, hairstylist, trainer, bodyguard, and attorney. The film will debut at the MIPTV conference in Cannes, France, next month and will open in limited release in Canada and France June 25, the first anniversary of Jackson’s death.

[Via http://ksfm.radio.com]

MGS Peace Walker delayed 3 weeks News | PSP | Eurogamer

Jackson's biographer making movie about the singer

2010-03-19T05:01:00.000+02:00

Ian Halperin who penned “Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson” is working on a documentary about the late pop singer to be released in June.

Halperin’s tribute documentary titled “Gone Too Soon”, uses audio and video footage of the star shot before his death last June, reports contactmusic.com.

It also includes interviews with the “Thriller” singer’s personal manager, chef, spiritual adviser, hairstylist, trainer, bodyguard and attorney.

According to the filmmaker, the family of the 50-year-old star, who died of acute Propofol intoxication, are aware of the project, though they do not appear in it.

The 88-minute documentary is expected to cover the star’s personal life, including allegations of child abuse, but Halperin insists he is showing a “balanced tribute” to the King of Pop.

“This is the film Michael and his fans deserve,” he said.

Chris Grant, the president of distributors Shine International, is confident the documentary will “eventually be known as a really important piece of the Michael Jackson saga”.

“Ian’s done an incredible job telling the story of what actually happened to Michael. We’ve teased it a bit and the reaction has been tremendous,” he said.

The film will be unveiled at the MIPTV conference in Cannes, France, next month and will receive a limited cinema run in Canada and France June 25, the anniversary of Jackson’s death.

There has been no confirmation about release in other countries as yet.

[Via http://celebrityandglobal.wordpress.com]

Barack Obama Fox News Interview - Bret Baier | Exclusive | Mediaite

Happy St. Pat's / Favorite Irish Stars?

2010-03-17T13:43:00.000+02:00

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Of course today’s blog will be about something – or someone – Irish, so sit tight and we’ll get to it. But first, some news. And, because nothing says bring on the green beer like a multimillion-dollar DVD release, here goes: Avatar will be available April 22. (For format specifics, Fox says they’ll release the big blue moneymaker “in 2D on DVD and Blu-ray on Earth Day, April 22. A four-disc 2D release with numerous extras follows in November, and a 3D version on Blu-ray arrives next year.” So I’d say ‘get yours April 22!’ but I don’t want to insult you in case you’re waiting for the more souped –up version to buy. Speaking of buying, did you know that pretty soon you’ll be able to tell loved ones/ family members/ benefactors & coworkers that what you really, really want for the holidays is “the new Michael Jackson album” and no one will look at you funny? That’s right. According to CNN, the King of Pop left this world in debt, but he also left enough unreleased material for at least 10 new albums over the next 10 years – and us regular folks will actually be able to buy it. They’re going to happen. A Jackson insider says there’s music and more music, enough to “ bring in $250 million to the late pop star’s trust”. Of course it makes you wonder how they’ll do it…will they start playing a “single” on local radio stations? Then will they, say, release new tracks for folks who want to download “the latest” from MJ? And will it be weird when a song gets “leaked” on the internet? Just saying, it seems like sort of a strange posthumous proposition all around. Don’t get me wrong, I’d be right there waiting for it – having eagerly purchased over the years his music on LP, cassette, cassingle, 45, eight-track and CD. Still, let’s hope they handle it tastefully. Now let’s get to St. Patrick’s Day. The day that’s not really a holiday in the US, but the day when thousands of bars are spilling over with patrons by noon who think it should be. With this in mind, let’s talk about Irish stars. There are lots of them in Hollywood. In fact, so many that we may do Favorite Irish Actors and add Favorite Irish Actresses in the weeks to come. But for now, voice your choice in today’s featured poll and let us know which one of these Emerald Isle stars is your favorite:

1) Liam Neeson

2) Pierce Brosnan

3) Colin Farrell

4) Gabriel Byrne

[Via http://blog.peopleschoice.com]

Valley News Live - Local/Regional News

An Interview With Brian Oxman

2010-03-17T05:03:00.000+02:00

Brian Oxman, Joe Jackson’s attorney and Jackson family friend, gives an eye-opening interview. In Part 2, Joe Jackson calls in, and Brian discusses an arrangement Frank Dileo made with AllGood Entertainment (AGE) which resulted in the company bringing a lawsuit against Michael’s estate. (Dileo was Michael’s manager when he died, but not at the time of the arrangement.)

For reference, I am including the interview in which Dileo his business with AGE.

Note: I’d personally like to know what made Frank think he had the authority to discuss business involving Michael. Why did AGE approach him instead of Michael’s manager? Why didn’t Frank refer AGE to Michael’s manager? Also, according to Oxman, Dileo works for Michael’s estate. (That’s a shocker. I had no idea.) THE PLOT THICKENS. What is going on?

The charges against Dr. Homicide have made the Jacksons and their friends mad enough to drop names. The interview with Oxman is no different.

The radio interview (videos) with Brian Oxman is/are brought to you buy Eddie Jones and The Los Angeles Civil Rights Association. The interview with Frank Dileo is by Raffles van Exel

[Via http://loveformichaeljackson.wordpress.com]

ABC News plans paywall by June | Media | guardian.co.uk

Final Destination

2010-03-15T19:32:00.000+02:00

You are gone, and I was supposed to be there, Sue called me today any said that you had all drowned in Colorado. I was so confused. That you had bee swept away by some current, and that this was a couple of of days ago.You left Thursday, and you did Friday. Panthi, they found you first. I was looking forward to see you and you giving me shit about how unreal the camping food was and that you still had to take me out for some real Indian food, because Carbondale didn’t have any. Kurt and Amanda, you were getting married this summer, and you will never take those vows. You were so in love. If I had to model a relationship after the two of yours, I would do it. You had dated since freshman year and all through poet-grad school. We all met in engineering classes. April with gonna come too. And I was gonna come but they told me I couldn’t having surgery so recently. And then April begged out, something about California.

You all decided to go anyway, the Arizona Salt River is just early in the season. I should have been there, spending time with you. This was my idea. I was gonna take my tax return and do it! Fuck Amy! I get you guys to go along with it. The amount of guilt I feel is incredible. And I have no outlet. There is no on to talk to about this. There is never gonna make anything right.

Have you ever seen the movie Final Destination? I think my life is that movie. I almost get beat to death from the person I am with. She gives me a mild concussion. I know, nursey self, what to do. I have gashes on my face and light yellow bruises that were once purple. She shoved me in the counter and bruised my hip and shoulder. I don’t know what else is on my body. I don’t bruise easily. It’s just deep and it hurts like a MF. Car wrecks are a given. And now this– death averted? How can that be? I was supposed to die there? Can’t you see it?

I miss you Panthi, you were my best friend in college, the entire two years I was there. You were going to India this summer. For the first time. When I spoke to you two weeks ago, you were so excited, but you understood I couldn’t come. You would have let me live with you in Seattle. You’re the best gay guy friend I’ve ever had. You’ll always be in my head. You had the best job out in the Pacific Northwest. I envied you.

Kurt and Amanda, I can’t think of the two of you as separate, so I won’t try. You got her coffee every morning. She got the paper off the front stoop. Doctorate’s in engineering. Who would have thought. Perfect for each other in every way. And loved the Beatles to boot. And could do all the MJ dances. You all could. I used to be able to. I fucked my life.

When I imagine the three of you, I’m imagining the good times. The young stupidity. Panthi, you were the first person to ever know I was with her. And you knew that it wasn’t it for me. You just knew these things. You knew everything about me. I wish I had kept in though more than every month or so. I miss you all. This wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

[Via http://mjerin.wordpress.com]

Twitter is down this morning. (Scripting News)

You can own Michael Jackson's furniture

2010-03-15T13:21:00.000+02:00

22 pieces of custom-made furniture from [lastfm]Michael Jackson’s [/lastfm]home are going on the auction block

Julien’s Auctions says a gilded red velvet sofa that seats nine, a leopard-print chair trimmed with ostrich feathers and a pair of velvet armchairs embroidered with gold eagles are among the offerings.

Jackson intended to use the furnishings during his “This Is It” comeback concert run in London.

You can visit a re-creation of the home at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood casino from June 14th to the 25th before the items are sold at auction.

www.juliensauctions.com/

[Via http://wcbsfm.radio.com]

Karl Rove - Meet The Press - Fox News - MSNBC | Mediaite

Brody's Ex- Moved On Up?

2010-03-12T21:10:00.000+02:00

more about “Brody’s Ex- Moved On Up?“, posted with vodpod

Cora Skinner, Brody Jenner’s girlfriend in the pre-Jayde Nicole era, was with her new man, Evan Ross, when TMZ bumped in to them last week. While there were rumors at one point that Cora and Evan were together and even engaged, we hadn’t heard much from them recently, but it seems like they’re still together.

The only thing on TMZ’s mind was what Evan Ross, son of music icon Diana Ross, thought about family friend Jafar Jackson buying a stun gun at 13 years old.

We couldn’t help wondering if Cora has moved up since breaking up with Brody and getting together with Diana Ross’ son? While Brody is probably more famous than Evan individually, the Ross family name carries a lot more notoriety and power than the Jenner name does. So, we ask…

View This Poll

survey

[Via http://hills2city.wordpress.com]

Another Look At FOX News' Hatchet Job On Geert Wilders | NewsReal Blog

Falling asleep on the train is embarrassing

2010-03-12T05:10:00.000+02:00

Its been a long week, I’m pretty tired. Who isn’t?

I got on the train, grabbed a great seat (no one squished in next to me!), and opened my book. I don’t think I even made it through a full sentence; I fell right asleep. I didn’t just take a light snooze though, I full on passed out. When I woke up I was sprawled out, things everywhere, apparently just not giving a crap about people watching me with my mouth fully opened and most likely a little drool coming out.

I quickly got over the embarrassment, I mean what do you want me to do? I’m tired! My only problem at this point – well maybe not my only problem, but my main problem at this point - was that I had to dig deep in order to find some motivation to go to the gym and run 3 miles. This is the last thing I wanted to do, but since I am training for a half-marathon and have made the commitment I decided to just turn off the complaints running through my head and just get ‘er done.

My workout went smoothly and when I was done I was really happy that I pushed through. It’s so easy to complain and to talk yourself out of going to the gym, going outside for a run, going to a class, etc. but you know that once you just shut up and do it you’ll feel great about yourself, maybe even a little proud. Even if throughout the whole workout you can not wait until you’re done and are able to just go home, it’s worth it.

Something that helps me keep my energy up is music. Here’s a playlist with a ton of good songs that’ll help you keep going.

1 – Put it in a love song – Alicia Keys featuring Beyonce

2 – The way you make me feel – Michael Jackson

3 – Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2

4 – White Liar – Miranda Lambert

5 – Call on me (workout remix) – DJ Hush

6 – BlahBlahBlah – Ke$ha

7 – Shots – LMFAO

8 – Good Day – Nappy Roots

9 – Superstition – Stevie Wonder

10 – Sandstorm – Darude

11 – Diva – Beyonce

12 – Shook me all night long – AC/DC

13 – We shall be free – Garth Brooks

14 – Africa – Toto

15 – Imma be – The Black Eyed Peas

16 – Hey soul sister – Train

17 – Don’t stop believing – The Cast of ‘Glee’

18 – Fat bottomed girls – Queen

19 – In my head – Jason Derulo

20 – Beware (Jay-Z remix) – Panjabi mc

21 – Cowboy casanova – Carrie Underwood

22 – Cecilia – Simon and Garfunkel

23 – Ain’t too proud to bed – The Temptations

24 – Fantasy – Mariah Carey

25 – Shoop - Salt n’ Pepa

26 – Telephone – Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce

27 – Rock with you – Michael Jackson

28 – I can’t help myself – The Four Tops

29 – Sexy chick – David Guetta featuring Akon

30 – Jai ho! (you are my destiny) A.R. Rahman featuring Nicole Scherzinger

31 – Mary – Zac Brown Band

32 – Be faithful – Fatman Scoop

33 – Hit me with your best shot – Pat Benatar

34 – I’ve got a rock and roll heart – Eric Clapton

35 – Love, sex, magic – Ciara featuring Justin Timberlake

36 – Love shack – The B-52’s

37 – Tambourine – Eve

38 – Party in the USA – Miley Cyrus

39 – You make my dreams come true – Hall and Oates

40 – Off that – Jay-Z featuring Drake

Yes, I did get a wee bit carried away. Oh well, hope you enjoy! Keep running!

[Via http://thedailycraic.wordpress.com]

Steam News

The Vatican's Favorite Rock Albums...Say What?

2010-03-08T13:27:00.000+02:00

One reason I respect the Catholic Church is that they’ve never felt the need to bow to cultural pressure. Their positions change and soften over time but it’s never immediate. So it was still a shocker when the Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, announced their Top 10 Rock Albums. I’m not surprised that many priests like rock music – most of them grew up with it – but I was surprised that a group of priests got together and decided on the Vatican’s Top 10 Rock Albums.

The Beatles’ 1967 album Revolver got the top spot (as it does on most lists) but the other albums listed were Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Oasis’s What’s the Story, Morning Glory, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors, U2’s Achtung Baby, Santana’s Supernatural, Paul Simon’s Graceland, Donald Fagen’s Nightfly, and David Crosby’s If I Could Only Remember My Name.

Some of them – like Thriller and Achtung Baby – have been on many people’s Top 10 Lists but there are a few that come out of left field. Like Oasis’s What’s the Story, Morning Glory. I really like this album but I’m kind of surprised anyone would put it in their Top 10. Santana’s Supernatural is an odd choice too – but who can resist the allure of “Smooth”?

Then there are the really odd ones: Donald Fagen and David Crosby. I’m sure Donald Fagen’s album is amazing but is it as amazing as his first band Steely Dan’s Countdown to Ecstasy or Pretzel Logic? Probably not. And David Crosby? I’ve never even heard of that album. But given Crosby’s history of drug use I do find the title If I Could Only Remember My Name pretty hilarious.

[NOTE: I can't believe I'm actually dissecting the Vatican's Top 10 Rock Albums list. These are strange times.]

Some of you might be saying “hey, where’s the Bob Dylan?” I didn’t think that because Bob Dylan is almost always a lackluster musician, performer, and songwriter. But the Vatican’s response to that question, which they knew would be posed, is hilarious:

“The article by Giuseppe Fiorentino and Gaetano Vallini said that Dylan was excluded from the list despite his “great poetic vein” because he paved the way for generations of unprofessional singer-songwriters who have “harshly tested the ears and patience of listeners” with their tormented stories.” (Courtesy of the WSJ Article)

Nice! Even die hard Bob Dylan fans can’t argue with the atrocities committed by those who followed in Bob’s wake.

But what do you think about the Vatican’s list?

[Via http://agentcausation.wordpress.com]

Small Business News for March 5, 2010 | Small Business Trends

1st Annual Art Fradieu Oscar Chat

2010-03-08T05:57:00.000+02:00

(Due to our busy schedules, Aaron and I couldn’t do our prediction column as promised. But since there was no way in hell either of us would miss the show live, here is our marathon conversation over IM. Enjoy…)

MALIK: Welcome to the 1st Annual Art Fradieu Oscar Running Diary. My pre-show thoughts: While I like to think it’s as much of a lock as anything, I still feel jittery Mo’Nique will somehow get jobbed out of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Beyond that I’m hoping the Hurt Locker wins Best Picture. Any pre-show thoughts Thomas? Who will be wearing Vera Wang on the red carpet tonight?

ART: I don’t know much about Vera Wang, but I’m with you on Hurt Locker. Best film I saw last year. As for Mo’Nique, I think she wins Best Supporting Actress hands down. In fact, I think she wins it and does the emotional speech thing, “Uh Oh honey, if y’all start playing that music, somebody’s getting hurt…” She will steal the show and have people talking about her moment this week. “Mo’Nique is my hero. So soulful and real.” Wouldn’t surprise me at all.

MALIK: And we’re off! Cristoph Waltz wins Best Supporting Actor, no surprise there. It was actually a good performance in a good film I have to admit. But how about Penelope Cruz eh? Is that accent real? I’ve heard rumors…

ART: Waltz is no surprise at all. I agree, well deserved. As for Penelope Cruz, I’ve heard she’s actually from Cleveland. But, you never know. Yeah. I agree with Up for best animated feature. First ten minutes of that movie almost had a brotha misty eyed. Whatsup with that film Nine? Don’t think I’ve heard one good thing about it.

MALIK: Penelope Cruz brotha! That’s all you need to know… And the Crazy Heart song wins. So far this is a pretty predictable Oscars…

ART: Figured that was a crush of yours, but wasn’t even going there.

MALIK: (laughing)

ART: Yeah, definitely predictable so far. Does Crazy Heart sweep every musical category this year?

MALIK: Probably. The movie wasn’t that bad actually. The big question now is if Jeff Bridges continues to talk in the Oklahoma accent if he wins…

ART: I’m just trying to see if he’s sober.

ART: Wow. Actually thought Tarantino might pull out Best Original Screenplay.

MALIK: I did too. Guess there aren’t as many Tarantino fanboys in the Academy as I guessed. John Hughes gets his own In Memoriam?!?

ART: His generation is in power now in Hollywood.

MALIK: Yeah. Jokes aside, he was either directly or indirectly responsible for A LOT of good movies…

ART: He had a great run.

MALIK: OK, watching this montage I see your point…

ART: And, here comes that song…

MALIK: WHOA! Young Alec Baldwin!!! (laughing uncontrollably)

ART: Yup. Him and Steve Martin worked in Hughes films. Brat pack. Plus Culkin.

MALIK: So…is this a ratings ploy or an Academy tribute?

ART: I guarantee people will be talking about this tomorrow. Just seeing people from their childhood. The answer? It’s both.

MALIK: Am I the only one who noticed the crowd seemed to refuse to throw down the standing ovation?

ART: I saw that too. Part of the perception with Hughes is that his works were more entertainment than art. What’s the verdict on Zoe Saldana?

MALIK: Looking at Zoe makes me want to eat dinner. Great intro for the Short Film category though.

ART: Nice to hear from seasoned pros looking back. Whoa. Brotha sighting.

MALIK: A brotha wins!!!! And he gets cut off!!!!

ART: Why is this woman bogarting?

MALIK: (laughing uncontrollably)

ART: And, what is she talking about? Brotha probably hot!

MALIK: MANNNNNNNNN! I’m still mad for the brotha who got cut off!

ART: Same here. Leave it to Stiller to do blue face. Think Cameron is ticked at this?

MALIK: Doubt it, but is there any doubt Stiller officially gets invited to present every year now? You remember the Joaquin Phoenix move last year…

ART: So, Star Trek takes this one, you think?

MALIK: I still heard a little Crazy Heart accent in Jeff Bridges. Yeah Star Trek deserved that last one.

ART: So far, early on, the highlights of the night? Brotha gets cut off and Tina Fey/Downey Jr.

MALIK: Best Adapted Screenplay – What say you Mr. Writer?

ART: It’ll be interesting to see who wins Best Adapted Screenplay. Not sure. Probably Up In The Air, but there was a debate as to how well the co-writers (one was the director of the film) got along during the process.

MALIK: Really? We’ll talk about that one off the record – no need to give these plebians all the inside Hollywood magic.

ART: Oh. Precious. Black screenwriter. Nice.

MALIK: Go ahead brotha!!! A behind the scenes win at that!

ART: Nice to see this. He’s gotta be the first black screenwriter to win. Nice.

MALIK: Yeah, and the way Rachel McAdams can’t take her eyes off him motivates me.

ART: Yup, figures…

MALIK: Very sincere acceptance speech.

ART: That’s the word that comes to my mind. Good moment. Queen Latifah’s looking good.

MALIK: Yeah she cleans up well. The Governor’s Award ceremony is like a wet dream for film buffs like myself.

ART: Yeah. Each of those is a giant of the industry to say the least. They all get standing ovations from everyone.

MALIK: Damn straight! And Penelope and Javier keeping it real!

ART: Get ready for Mo’Nique to get emotional.

MALIK: Standing O?

ART: Mo’Nique walking with regalness. Nice speech.

MALIK: Gut reaction but I think that was the best acceptance speech by a black winner.

ART: Succinct. To the point. Sincere. Ah. You can always depend on the costume category to give an Oscar to the old English movie of the year. Eh. Least sincere speech of the evening. “I already have two of these awards. This is for the little people who never win.”

MALIK: (laughing) Seriously! How arrogant was that!?! So what do you think of Twilight brotha? I know you’ve seen it.

ART: Haven’t seen it. The Vampire thing never gets me like others.

MALIK: Wait…a horror tribute, introduced by the Twilight kids? Definitely ratings ploy.

ART: Yup. What you know about a young Johnny Depp in Nightmare On Elm Street?

MALIK: I honestly don’t like horror films, only the all time classics like the Exorcist and Psycho.

ART: Same here. Those actually scare you instead of shock you. They got Morgan Freeman doing the narration again? Here’s your Dark Knight…

MALIK: Needless to say, this is the greatest moment in the history of the Academy Awards…

ART: Alright Batman, calm down.

MALIK: So you think Precious has a chance now for Best Picture?

ART: Not really. I still feel like they’ll lean toward Hurt Locker. Getting the Adapted Screenplay was an upset for Precious.

MALIK: We’ll see brotha, we’ll see…

ART: The Hurt Locker is starting to collect the awards now.

MALIK: Very true.

ART: Paul N.J. Ottoson kind of looks like an albino Vampire with that hair.

MALIK: Yeah, kind of stereotypical to have that be the ’sound guy’ isn’t it?

ART: Like he’s been in a cave only working with sound for an entire year.

MALIK: Really! Avatar for best cinematography, that was probably the biggest lock.

ART: Yeah. The film looked great. What you know about CCH Pounder with the general from Avatar. Is that her guy?

MALIK: Don’t know, don’t know… ah, here comes the In Memoriam. I can’t joke with this part.

ART: My mom is a James Taylor fan. Always perfect for reflection.

MALIK: Surprised they opened with Swayze. Well done. No giants like Paul Newman passed this year.

ART: Of course, there’s Mike, but it’s not quite his stage.

MALIK: Yeah as far as ‘Hollywood’ goes he was more a fan than anything else. Not surprised they included him though.

ART: Malden, Swayze and Dom Deluise seem to be the biggest this year.

MALIK: I haven’t seen white girls with this much soul since the Sprite Step Off. Too soon?

ART: (laughing) You gonna be hunted down by every Essence reader in America. Nice overall dance piece, though. Huge fan of scores. These were all solid. Up was a classic. Glad it won for score. I also like Sherlock’s music. Avatar sounded like recycled music from Glory (remember that?)

MALIK: (laughing) That was my first wrong pick tonight. My gut said Up though. And if people don’t know this is tongue in cheek, they should have stopped reading a long time ago.

ART: Avatar won for special effects? That’s crazy.

MALIK: (laughing)

ART: Precious should have got that. Best Director is up next. You figure that Reitman and Tarrantino think they don’t have a chance against a woman, an African American and the king of the world, Cameron.

MALIK: Yeah. I’ll be genuinely disappointed if the cougar doesn’t win now.

ART: She’s got it. But, since you bring it up. If Bigelow looked like an average above 40 year old woman, think she’d be nominated?

MALIK: First thing I’m not responding to in order to protect my future career opportunities.

ART: You done said enough, brotha…

MALIK: (laughing)

ART: Best Editing for Hurt Locker. I’m thinking 90% chance of Best Picture.

MALIK: If Bigelow wins, yeah…

ART: Oh, she’ll win… She’s your new cougar crush, right?

MALIK: (laughing) Settle down, brotha, settle down. I’m gonna have enough explaining to do when this column is over. Esoteric group to present this (Best Actor).

ART: Yeah. It’ll be interesting to see how they relate to each actor.

MALIK: Love Michelle’s speech about family and career. What we aspire to.

ART: And, it’s a challenge for many people in many walks of life.

MALIK: Yes sir.

ART: Ok. Shawshank.

MALIK: Yeah good anecdote.

ART: Nicely done, Tim Robbins.

MALIK: Yeah, and SWAT? I’ve watched that. I’ll leap out of my seat if Jeremy wins.

ART: He’s not winning, but it’s nice to see him there. I remember when Renner was “the guy” I saw in every other commercial. By the way, using other actors to introduce the nominees is still a great way to do it.

MALIK: Agreed. It’s crazy Bridges got his first nomination 6 years before we were born.

ART: Jeff Bridges. No surprise there. The Bridges, a very underrated Hollywood family.

MALIK: Agreed once again. The Thomases will get there soon enough though.

ART: (laughing) If my kids are crazy enough to try this line of work, I’ll support them and wish them well. Been married 33 years in Hollywood? That might be the most amazing thing I’ve heard all night.

MALIK: (laughing)

ART: Forrest always sounds sincere, even if he’s ordering a burrito.

MALIK: I was thinking the same thing. How does he get villain roles?

ART: The lazy eye. Does it every time. These are nice speeches. The best things about these intros is the reaction from the nominees. And, you can tell they have no idea what will be said. What better intro to have than Oprah?

MALIK: You were reading my mind. I think Oprah would be the number one choice to do an intro in our industry.

ART: If/when I have to intro you, I’ll start with “Malik used to dress like Batman, but… actually, he still does…”

MALIK: Is that right brotha? well… If/when I have to intro you, I’ll start with “Aaron is a great writer, but if he asks you to help him move, know you won’t be getting a dinner out of it.”

ART: I’ll look at the camera and go “That’s right!”

MALIK: (laughing)

ART: Is Sean Penn drunk?

MALIK: OH YEAH!

ART: Sandra…Bullock…

MALIK: You can’t leave Sean Penn backstage that long without libation, brotha…

ART: Sandra Bullock’s always been pretty down to Earth.

MALIK: Yeah I met her when we were in school. I guess I can say I’ve met an Oscar winner now.

ART: Aren’t we all hoity toity? I met Clarence Jenkins, the guy who buffs the Oscars…

MALIK: Oh no, the husband was tearing up! Eric Benet Part II

ART: We all know what happened after that, though.

MALIK: Bigelow’s winning…

ART: Yeah, you got Barbara presenting… AND, she led off with it being a woman….

MALIK: What if she would have said, “Or, for the first time, a colored…”

ART: (laughing) Cut to the Tyler Perry section looking angry.

MALIK: Oprah probably would have walked back onstage…

ART: Well, well, well… Bigelow wins. And Cameron made sure to cheer loudly. Good stuff.

MALIK: Yeah. When my daughter tells me she wants to be a director, I’ll be able to look back at this night.

ART: So, here we go. The big one. Best Picture. Hurt Locker.

MALIK: Right to the Point!

ART: Like it.

MALIK: Alright I think we got it.

ART: I like Bigelow, but she’s a little overhwelmed up on stage. Cool. Until next year. That’s a wrap.

[Via http://malikaziz.com]

Steam News

Truly inspired

2010-03-05T21:45:00.000+02:00

I have had a great couple of days. The sun has been shining and yesterday I went up to town to drop my book off for a meeting then had a couple of hours to wonder around the West End. I looked in shops (even bought a couple of things), went to Starbucks, noticed buildings that I hadn’t really looked at before and it was all possible because my folks were looking after the girls for the afternoon. For the first time in nearly three years I felt like Chloë again. No big make up kit to lug around, no heavy portfolio to carry, no buggy to push, no nappy bag and no babies on my hips. Just me.

I then went to St Lukes Church on Old Street where MAC Cosmetics were putting on a master class with the world renowned movie make up artist, Rick Baker. What an amazing man. I sat with my jaw on the floor while he transformed himself, with nothing but paint, into a multi-coloured monster. The church was lit with eerie green lights and the whole process was done to a sound track of horror movie music. When he had finished he told us to watch a short film which comprised of several clips from his movies; Wolf Man, Hell Boy, Star Wars, MJ’s Thriller video, The Grinch, Men In Black, Ed Wood, The Grudge, Gremlins, Tropic Thunder, Enchanted, The Ring, X Men, Norbit, Cocoon, Bigfoot, Click and Nutty Professor to name but a few! He has won several Oscars for his amazing special effects make up and animatronics and rightly so. When the mini film finished he stepped out from behind a curtain dressed in a black cloak, his long silver hair loose and had a fearsome set of teeth in. The scene was set. I managed to grab a quick snap so you could see his incredible work.

An hour later and with nothing but paint, Rick is transformed. WOW!

I was on such a high when I got home and decided that I now want to work on films! Kindly, the wonderful Christina at MAC has said she will send me some of the chromacakes which he used last night so I can start practicing straight away. I will keep you informed!

Today has been nothing extraordinary but just chilled and productive. While the girls were at nursery I managed to write a thousand email, do ten tons of washing and tidy the house. They came home and after a quick nap we spent the afternoon outside in the spring sunshine. The last of the leaves are now gone and the flower beds and vege patch have been cleared out and are ready to go. The girls were so sweet and helpful and decided to dig with me. You can imagine the mess but if you can’t eat dirt and play with worms when you’re a toddler, when can you?!

Finally, Esmeralda snuggled up into bed with first ever duvet and pillow tonight. Bless her cottons, she was so happy. Ah, the simple things. Here’s to another lovely day tomorrow x x

[Via http://chloehonore.wordpress.com]

Intute - Blog - Virtual Training Suite – funding news

Make that change?

2010-03-05T05:49:00.000+02:00

Make that change?? But first “Man in the Mirror”.

It’s so sad to see fans of Michael fighting. Everyone says they understand the message, they want to spread LOVE, but some aren’t doing so. And why?

Michael has a twitter account? Michael has messengers? I don’t know.

Some believe the HOAX. Others don’t. I understand.

But what I really know and believe, is the respect I have for others. All are free to believe and opine, but respecting the each other.

We will not remember the words of Michael only when we are listening to your music, watching their short films, their DVD’s. WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER!!

Think of how Michael was feeling seeing all this. He has always talked openly that he loved us and had the best fans.

We aren’t here to judge anyone. Our mission is to spread the message of Michael and L.O.V.E.

We must do our part.

For all think:

I recall myself and a friend crossing the border into East Berlin before the Wall was torn down. As my friend maneuvered our rented VW to the checkpoint, I pulled back the sunroof and rolled down the windows. Earlier I had cued a tape to play Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” As the guard approached, I hit the play button and turned the volume way up. The guard, who was carrying an automatic rifle, asked for our passports. Instead of responding directly, I said over the top of the music: “Do you like Michael Jackson?” He looked nervously at the guard house and then quickly nodded in approval. For a long moment, his face was covered with an unforgettable smile. But more than signaling his approval, the guard had broken military decorum.

Similarly, when we returned to the West through Austria, the guard stationed there responded to my question by first placing his machine gun on the ground. Then he grabbed my closest hand with both of his and said: “Yes, oh yes. Michael Jackson!” Not far away, hidden in a clump of bushes and trees, I saw the dark, sinister presence of Soviet tanks.

Gerald L. Campbell

Please, let’s stop the hate, let us sow love.

Instead of just thinking. Let’s act!

By Soldiers of Love

Love Overcomes Virtually Everything

[Via http://soldiersoflove.wordpress.com]

Sony, Konami file Arc trademarks News | PS3 | Eurogamer

[News] U-Know Yunho Will Sing 7 Songs for This Is It

2010-03-03T13:10:00.000+02:00

Daftar lagu U-Know Yunho yang akan bernyanyi di Korea untuk konser peringatan Michael Jackson, yang akan diadakan di Memorial Peace Plaza di Yongsan, Seoul pada 27 dan 28 Maret, telah diumumkan.

Pada konser, U-Know Yunho akan menyanyikan tujuh lagu dalam konser ini. Antara lain lagu no. 1 Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, serta lagu-lagu hit lain seperti ‘Wanna be startin somethin’, ‘Smooth Criminal’ dan ‘Jam’. Ia juga menyiapkan ‘Man in the Mirror’ dan ‘Black or White’ dengan vokalis Vann Johnson dan Tony Terry yang akan mengunjungi Korea untuk konser tersebut.

U-Know Yunho akan berangkat ke LA pada tanggal 5 Maret untuk berlatih dengan tim. U-Know Yunho berangkat ke Las Vegas untuk mempelajari tarian koreografi dengan tim dan juga untuk berbicara tentang isi konser dengan master konser Morris Pledger.

Morris Pledger akan merilis lagu Michael Jackson yang berjudul ‘This Is It’ pada awal konser sebagai lagu kenangan yang didedikasikan untuk Michael Jackson.

source: [mk+DNBN]

translation credits: jeeelim5@tohosomnia.net

shared by: tohosomnia.net

===================================================

Sukses buat Yunho oppa! Kami semua udah nggak sabar pengen lihat aksimu di konser ini! Hwaiting!!

[Via http://pinkrazy.wordpress.com]

Small Business News for March 1, 2010 | Small Business Trends

Song of the Day #591: 'Rock With You' - Michael Jackson

2010-03-03T05:03:00.000+02:00

I was listening to Off the Wall the other day, and especially digging this song. The album isn’t quite the equal of Thriller but it’s a terrific funk/pop record.

Started wondering what ever happened to Michael Jackson. He just sort of disappeared after Dangerous.

Turns out he died last year. How did I miss that? Must have been drowned out by all the coverage of Farrah Fawcett’s passing.

I salute you, Jacko! You will be missed.

Girl, close your eyes

Let that rhythm get into you

Don’t try to fight it

There ain’t nothin’ that you can do

Relax your mind

Lay back and groove with mine

You got to feel the heat

And we can ride the boogie

Share that beat of love

I wanna rock with you (all night)

Dance you into day (sunlight)

I wanna rock with you (all night)

Were gonna rock the night away

Out on the floor

There ain’t nobody there but us

Girl, when you dance

There’s a magic that must be love

Just take it slow

cause we got so far to go

When you feel that heat

And were gonna ride the boogie

Share that beat of love

I wanna rock with you (all night)

Dance you into day (sunlight)

I wanna rock with you (all night)

Were gonna rock the night away

And when the groove is dead and gone (yeah)

You know that love survives

So we can rock forever, on

I wanna rock with you

I wanna groove with you

I wanna rock with you

I wanna groove with you

I wanna rock (all night) with you girl (sunlight)

Rock with you, rock with you girl (yeah)

Dance the night away

I wanna rock with you (yeah) (all night)

Rock you into day (sunlight)

I wanna rock with you (all night)

Rock the night away

Feel the heat feel the beat

Rock you into day (sunlight)

I wanna rock – rock the night away

[Via http://meetinmontauk.com]

SANYO Releases New “eneloop bike” Electric Hybrid Bicycle ...

Captain EO YEAH!

2010-03-01T21:50:00.000+02:00

Yesterday my girlfriend and I decided to go to Disneyland. Living in the LA area, it wasn’t such a big deal. But, what was a big deal was the confirmation of a rumor we had been hearing for the past few weeks. Captain EO is back!

Now the last time I watched Captain EO I was a wee lad with no idea of what true awesomeness was. It all looked cool back in the day. As an adult and having every inch of my childhood handed back to me on a silver platter I was a bit skeptical on how good Michael Jackson could possibly be. After all Transformers, G.I. JOE and Dragonball were presented to me last year chopped all to hell. To my surprise Captain EO was better than I could have possibly imagined.

Okay so let me explain. Do you remember the 80s? Sure hair and clothes were a bit off, but the 80s were the golden years. America was good and proud, television cartoons were experiencing a golden age and Michael Jackson could do no wrong. He was at the top of his game. He had his best music in the 80s not to mention his most favorably memorable music videos. And… he was black. There were no rumors of him sleeping with children or monkeys or whatever. He wasn’t crazy, or he wasn’t portrayed as crazy in the media. He was good and that was awesome.

This is what Captain EO reminds us of. Michael Jackson is good. 80s Michael is good. And he’s at the top of his game in this movie. This movie was well worth the 45 minute wait that I had to endure. Everyone in the theater was pumped. We cheered as the Michael rose into frame for the first time. The crowd went crazy when he Moonwalked for not even half a second. And the electricity could be felt as the first dance number was cued with audience simultaneously shouting out with Michael, WHOOOO!!! There are no special edition FX to throw you out of the movie. It’s all the same old school special effects, stop motion and 3D magic that makes Captain EO a classic.

[Via http://retrodojo.wordpress.com]

News briefs - Daily Tribune: Breaking news coverage for ...

A Brief History of the High Five

2010-03-01T13:30:00.000+02:00

History!

I was recently sent a link to the BLHFL (Bud Light High Five League) by a friend who cannot wear wrist watches because of his compulsive propensity to connect palms. Apparently, the good people of Bud Light (who I am no longer compensated by) have decided to create a web-based competition that captures the best in high fives, double fives, double foot-fives, need for speeds, reverse slaps, flip backs, high-lows, low-highs, back agains, front agains, snap-dragons, open-pounds, sock-puppet hugs, thumblers, trifectas and palmies from around the world.

After doing a little research on the high five, I realized that while there is now a definitive home for the current state of the open-handed slap, there is no definitive bullet point record of the high five’s history. So, without further ado, I present…

A Brief History of the High Five

1278: Upon hearing that the Habsburgs’ have taken control of Austria, Rudolph I slaps the raised hand of a stranger then kills that stranger. Later, the movie Rudy is written about the birth of this influential European House, but is turned into a feel good football movie during extensive rewrites.
1849: The first prospector, Fuzzy Wiggins, discovers gold in California, but loses his arm to a bear on the way back to town. He hires a blacksmith to make him a golden arm, but runs out of gold and is left with his hand in the raised, open-palmed position, leading to a life full of fives.
1861: Having heard the story of a gold-armed man people travel to slap the hand of for good luck, President-elect Lincoln high fives his way from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. for his inauguration.
1944: Franklin Delano Roosevelt high fives a 19 year-old Lenny Bruce after Bruce tells him the one and only joke about wheelchairs he’s ever heard and laughed at.
1945: Franklin Delano Roosevelt is asked by his wife to stop high fiving every person he meets on the street. FDR refuses and adds “High Fiving” as part of the Secret Service training.
1956: After a precipitous rise, the Low Five takes over as the preeminent form of casual, hand contact related greeting. Some believe it is a result of a general weakening in our countries shoulder strength because of Communism.
1968: JG Ballard writes a passionate letter to The New Yorker explaining the misappropriation of the high five as a form of hello. Ballard argues persuasively that high five’s be returned to their original intent as a celebratory gesture.
1974: People Magazine is launched to capture compelling high fives from around the world, but changes direction and becomes a home for meaningless lists after its founder is left hanging by an old friend during a softball game.
1988: Michael Jackson and Michael J. Fox and Michael Jordan work together to found the MJMJFMJHFFKF. Their plan to sell pictures of the three of them high-fiving to raise money for kids fails after their acronym is confused for a foundation that offers mining jobs to stutterers.
2009: Jason Marziani breaks the record for most high fives in an hour during the Philadelphia Brewer’s Bar Crawl.
2010: ???

Twenty-ten, much like the rest of the future, is wide open for all sorts of history making, high-five related and otherwise.

[Via http://everydayoff.wordpress.com]

In the news | Arkansas News

No wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise

2010-02-26T21:12:00.000+02:00

The next day, I stop in to see a new client. She stated that she doesn’t drink milk, like over 60% of my kids, and wants water. The cafeteria wouldn’t give her water and then when they did it was warm.

The water battle has been going on for 4 months. The chef and kitchen staff caught kids and staff washing their hands under the water container. Kitchen yanked the container. I thought we made a truce that a tray of water would be out at every meal so that the kids could ask staff and get a glass. Resolution vaporized.

So I have dehydrated kids that don’t get enough food. Riots, clients butt naked running through halls screaming, maintenance crew who should have stock in dry wall and joint compound, staff with fat lips. No further explanation needed.

Pick your battles, line up your ducks and be clear of purpose.

I make haste to the cafeteria. Neither the chef or the second in command is there. I ask where is the tray of water. Old Kitchen guy has no idea what I am talking about and begins to tell me why the water is not there.

“I know why the water isn’t here, but we talked about the need for water. It’s water. The kids need water.”

“They washed their hands in it and we took the water–”

“I know why the water was taken away, but you are supposed to provide water in cups.

Look I supported the kitchen in your decision, but you cannot deny people water. I back you up whenever I can, but people who need water get very angry. Is the chef going to be here?”

“You need to talk to the chef.”

“Thank you, I will.”

I went to my office and tried to think of how else to get water.

I called Chef and left a message saying how much they have solved smaller problems, but we have to solve this water thing. I say how much I appreciate his help [which is true] and that we should be able to resolve this easily. I refrain from screaming, yelling or attacking anyone’s lack of follow through or knowledge. I never called Chef before, but I am really tired of not getting little, stupid stuff like this done.

I sat and thought about anyone else who could get water. The powers that be don’t really care. They are trying to keep the place open. Nursing is useless because they are trying to keep people from choking other people. Besides the kids won’t even let them take photos when they get hurt, refuse meds and refuse to get vitals done for who knows what reasons. Unit staff has been complaining to me about water for months, so they have no power. The only other place the kids go is to school. I go down to school.

“School secretary? Can the kids have water bottles in class?”

“I have no policy on that. Let’s talk to the principal.”

I like the secretary and the principal. In fact, all but one of the teachers is very nice.

The principal in incredulous that the kids can’t get water.

“Who do you report to, Marty?”

“Nobody.”

“Who hired you?”

“They left the second week I was here.”

“What department are you in?”

“My own. I am my own department.”

“What about the head of nursing?”

“Yes, maybe her. I am on their email list.” I do not say that I have asked for a job description, mission statement or reason d’etre for months with no response.

The principal doesn’t scoff, but is slightly bemused that I use email almost solely to communicate. I don’t have a phone. My office has no windows so carrier pigeon is out. Goofy me. I use email and personal appearances.

The principal says he will talk with her in a morning meeting and see if she has any clout. We discuss some short comings of staff, but leave out any derrogatory terms. We all know what we are talking about.

He says to me, “So you came down here to vent. That’s okay. Come down anytime.”

Yes, I came to find out a piece of information. I was going to leave, except he wanted to know more about my inquiry. This gave me a door for venting. And I left with at least knowing a little more about the power structure.

I had an update for the diet order list which is held in the kitchen. I went to the kitchen even though I knew the staff there was ready to knock me into the middle of next week. They do not know how to handle me at all. They constantly think I am trying to get them fired or chastise them. But, I bend over backward to be nice, listen to their ridiculous nutrition notions and be the “Happy, Middle-aged White Lady.” I was checking out part of our tray line which is not used as a possible salad bar.

Old kitchen guy said, do you need something. I felt like he thought I was going to steal something.

“No. I’m good. Thanks.”

“What do you need over here?”

“I’m checking out plumbing.”

“What?”

“I’m checking out plumbing.”

He had no idea what to do with that.

” . . .Okay . . .”

I was seeing if the pipes led to a drain for ice needed for a salad bar. But line up ducks first.

The staff said, “the chef’s in his office”, before I could say anything. Chef was putting papers together and obviously in a big hurry.

“Water is back on the line.”

Neither one of us made eye contact.

“Great. Perfect. The unit staff said they would hand out the glasses so no one gets funky with the water. I ordered a book of volume recipes for Meatless Mondays. I’ll email you ones I think would work.”

“Great. Here are today’s menu. I’ll send up tomorrow’s with the evening snack.”

“I’ll take them up to the units.”

“Great.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Nope. We fine here.”

“Okay.” And I am out of the kitchen.

Now, I have to go to each of Unit Supervisors and explain the water thing and hope they will do what I told Chef they would.

The first floor gal was happy and actually smiled at me. The first time since I was hired.

The second floor, Mr. D.

“Well, it’s about time.”

“So, if you could hand out the water.”

“You know how this happened?–”

He goes on to tell me an inaccurate Readers’ digest version. I nod.

” –And besides where else could the kids get water?”

“How about the water fountains?”

He looks amazed.

“I wouldn’t let my kids drink out of those. Do know what is in that water? They probably have never cleaned those pipes. There’s gotta be lead and everything else in those water fountains. [blah, blah, blah]

He fails to realize that the water in the cafeteria is fed by the same pipes. Whatever.

I leave and find the other Unit staff. I give them the menus. They are all impressed that we have water again. I ask again about the fruit sent up with the evening snack and explain that even if the kids don’t eat it, we need to have it available.

Mr. D says, “My kids don’t eat it. I end up throwing it away. It’s a waste.”

Mr. D is at least 60 pounds overweight. I write this not to get on his case, but to illustrate that he has little knowledge of weight management. One of the things our kids come in with is food insecurity. Just having the fruit available means there is food around when you want it. It can begin to eliminate one of the fears some clients come in with. They may able to deal with another issue other than fear of hunger. But, I digress.

I find out there is a huge snow storm hitting my town. School and after school activities are cancelled. My husband who drives through monsoons says to get home before it gets dark. Everything is wet and will turn to ice. I want to leave ASAP, but I promised the girls that I would do yoga.

I find the motivated one, who said, definitely, in the morning.

“No, I don’t want to do it now.”

“You know, I stayed late to conduct this yoga class because you told me you were going to be there. I should have left already because there is a winter storm alert where I live. But when I say I’ll do something, you can take it to the bank. So, I now see that I have possibly put my life in danger with the weather so that you can say no.

“You need to realize that your words hold consequences. If you agree in the morning, you need to follow through on your commitment.”

I went to the little bodega to check out healthy snacks for the kids. Alan asked me to check them out. I pick up 3 bags of multi-grain pretzels. One for Alan, one for me and one for Little Annie since we had discussed snacks. I appreciated her attention. She actually thanks me.

I left and found the 3 that begged me to hold class. They wanted to go. Great! Abby, Little Annie and Bambi get ready for class. Others join, but leave when they realize that I am serious about them needing to take off their shoes. Two more show up. One is Stacy. She drags along Brownie. Brownie complains, but does some of the work.

It is raining. The girls are trying, but unfocused. Little Annie is doing really well. Abby is qvetching. They need to run. I suggest running up and down the steps. Extremely popular. We go to walk up the steps, run them 3 times and walk them once.

After running up 4 flights once, the pissing and moaning begins to crescendo. I find Little Annie in the hallway/landing in front of the door to go back to her unit. The door is locked, so she comes back out. It is possible to get out the first floor door, but you have to pass people. We are now walking/running/pissing/moaning and still managing to have fun.

Then, we all realize that Little Annie is missing. The girls look in the hall/landings for each floor. No Annie. Now, I am worried. She wasn’t on a list for AWOL, but it could happen at any time.

The girls wonder what happened and make some comment about her getting out. I say, “She better not have. This is my job, and I don’t take kindly to people messing with putting food on my table.”

We get on the Unit. The Unit Supervisor, who smiled the first time at me after the return of water, says that Little Annie is on the floor. She knocked on the door until someone let her in. There is no re-assuring smile. All that good will snuffs out like a flame before me.

I’m not sure, but I may have to get my wrists slapped. So be it. Little Annie and I will have a talk when I return next week.

I am checking out the sun for a good garden spot. I am checking possible grants. I received the book with vegan recipes for food service directors. I will print out the weight charts this weekend. I have a list of appointments with kids to discuss their weight.

The next step is figuring out what is on the commodities list that we can use. Creating meals from legumes and whole grain products. Price animal products versus plant based.

I found a nice fat porpoise.

[Via http://martydaveyrd.wordpress.com]

iTunes reaches 10 billion download milestone | iLounge News

Amazing Michael Jackson Artwork

2010-02-24T13:48:00.000+02:00

A friend found this floating around the web. It’s an amazing painting of Johnny Depp and Michael Jackson. If you are the artist, or know who is, I’d like to put your name and links here! One of Johnny Depp’s dreams as an actor is to play Michael Jackson. I look forward to the film- he is such a talented actor, who gets into so many roles.

[Via http://extrememichaeljackson.wordpress.com]

Apple posts third new iPhone TV spot | iLounge News

Captain EO is BACK!!!

2010-02-24T05:05:00.000+02:00

Captain EO, the old Tomorrowland 3-D movie starring Michael Jackson, has now officially landed his ship back at Disneyland Resort today with a well-recieved response to this comeback. Disney Parks Blog posted a video of the show’s reopening today, which I inserted below this post, with fans wearing EO shirts, some people remoting Michael Jackson’s moonwalk at the park’s entrance, and many people standing in line and watching the show once again. According to movieline.com, the show was their “best morning ever”. However, not all of the effects are present due to the “Honey” theater settings so there are no lasers or smoke like in the old show, but now, the glasses are yellow (unlike the purple ones from the ’80’s-’90’s showing) and the floor still shakes as the ship lands.

video src: disneyparks blog

[Via http://mobilethemeparknewscase.com]

iPhone Street Fighter IV costs $10 News | iPhone | Eurogamer

Operation: lets milk every last drop we can from Michael Jackson

2010-02-22T13:55:00.000+02:00

Good news everyone! The Jackson family are going to continue to milk the Michael Jackson money cow for a little bit longer. I’m of course talking about the comeback of the Jackson 5 (with Janet Jackson). I’m also reading that the Jacksons apparently have a reality TV show called ‘The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty’. Am I the only one who is mildly disgusted by these blatant money making attempts from this family?

Maybe I’m being harsh, the reunion was rumoured before Michael Jackson’s death. But I feel there is a definite attempt from the media (mainly American), his family and general population of the world to milk every last thing from Michael. Can’t we just let him go? Do we need to talk about him all the time? Do we need a thousand documentaries on his life, final tour and death? Do we need to hear from Joe Jackson again, a man from everything I’ve been told and read about him seems to be a complete bastard? The answer is no people. Sure buy his albums, discuss his music. But don’t support his family making money from his death. Do we need a Jackson 5 reunion? Do we need their reality TV show? Again, the answer is no.

[Via http://itsframpton.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Newsweek Poll: Public opposes Obama health care ...

i'm into boybands

2010-02-19T21:40:00.000+02:00

..or maybe not?

i was on my way to school one day, listening to music. all of a sudden this really weird song came on and i literally asked myself, when i had let myself put a boyband song on my ipod. instead of looking at my ipod i started guessing who sang this song. i thought was that freaky boyband blue (seriously, who calls their band blue? so depressing). anyways, i could not remember when i’d ever had a blue song on my computer so i had to look at ipod to see if this could be true and i swear, i would never have guessed that it was .. wait for it (i’ve never really understood why people say this but if it makes it more exciting) .. michael jackson!

i don’t if i’m the only thinking this song sounds like one that was written for some lame boyband but go ahead and judge for yourselves. the song is 2000 watts by michael jackson;

[Via http://catjaa.wordpress.com]

The Big Picture » Blog Archive » News Dots

Michael Jackson - Tribute (Movimiento Urbano) (2009) ESTRENO!

2010-02-17T21:30:00.000+02:00

01 Motown Records – You Rock My World (Version Movimiento Urbano)

02 Chris Brown, Diddy, Polow Da Don, Mario Winans, Usher and Boyz II Men – Better On The Other Side

03 Omega Feat Michael Jackson – Remember The Time

04 50 Cent – Where You Are

05 Fergie – Beat It

06 Jayko – El Mundo Frente A Ti

07 Akon – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’

08 Jamie Foxx Feat Ne-Yo – I`Ll Be There

09 50 Cent – Respect It Or Check It Nigga

10 Kanye West – Billie Jean

11 Beyonce – I Can’t Help It

12 Yung Berg Feat Lil Wayne – We Miss You

13 Mala FeLos Tiguere

14 Nelson De La Olla – Viviras Forever

15 Billie Jeans (Merengue Remix)

16 Bellie Jean (Bachata Remix)

Descargar Por HotFile

[Via http://daniel890.wordpress.com]

No more patches or DLC for Op Flash News | Eurogamer

We Are The World 25 For Haiti - Official Video

2010-02-15T13:53:00.000+02:00

Recorded on February 1st, 2010, in the same studio as the original 25 years earlier (Henson Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios) “We Are The World 25 For Haiti”, in which Jones and Richie serve as executive producers and producers, was created in collaboration with executive producers Wyclef Jean, Randy Phillips and Peter Tortorici; producers Humberto Gattica and RedOne; and co-producers Rickey Minor, Mervyn Warren and Patti Austin to benefit the Haitian earthquake relief efforts and the rebuilding of Haiti.

Academy Award-winning writer-director Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby), whose own personal efforts as well as those of Artists for Peace and Justice have already saved countless lives in Haiti, filmed the private recording session to create the accompanying video and behind-the-scenes production, and serves as Film Director and as an Executive Producer with Jones, Richie, Jean, Phillips and Tortorici.

The 25th Anniversary recording features over 80 artists and performers. The recording of We Are The World 25 For Haiti embodied the same enthusiasm, sense of purpose and generosity as the original recording 25 years ago. Every one of the artists who participated, regardless of genre or generation, walked into the room with their hearts and souls completely open to coming together to help the people of Haiti.

The 25th Anniversary recording features over 80 artists and performers. The recording of ‘We Are The World 25 For Haiti’ embodied the same enthusiasm, sense of purpose and generosity as the original recording 25 years ago. Every one of the artists who participated, regardless of genre or generation, walked into the room with their hearts and souls completely open to coming together to help the people of Haiti.

Artists For Haiti Quincy Jones – Executive Producer Kid Cudi Lionel Richie – Executive Producer Usher Wyclef Jean – Executive Producer Will.I.Am Rickey Minor – Producer Kanye West Redone – Producer Ll Cool J Carlos Santana Issac Slade (Aka The Fray) Jennifer Hudson Snoop Dogg Jamie Foxx Nicole Richie Sugarland Trey Songz Adam Levine Ethan Bortnick Jason Mraz Taryll Jackson Earth Wind &Amp; Fire Taj Jackson Natalie Cole Tj Jackson The Jonas Brothers Vince Vaughn T Pain Drake Brian Wilson Freda Payne Justin Bieber Faith Evans Nicole Scherzinger Robin Thicke India.Arie Rashida Jones Julianne Hough Barbra Streisand Mary Mary Jimmy Jean Louis Melanie Fiona Enrique Iglesias Bebe Winans Zac Brown Mya Lil Wayne Tyrese Gibson Tony Bennett Anthony Hamilton Josh Groban Raphael Saadiq Sean Garrett Gladys Knight Harry Connick, Jr. Keri Hilson Al Jardine Joel &Amp; Benji Madden Bone Thugs And Harmony (Bizzy Bones) Heart Ar Rahmen Brandy Fergie P!Nk Mary J. Blige Musiq Soulchild Orianthi Miley Cyrus Mann Akon Nipsey Hussle Jordin Sparks Iyaz Celine Dion Keith Harris Rob Thomas Nikka Costa Katharine Mcphee Toni Braxton Jeff Bridges Farnsworth Bentley Randy Jackson Plain Pat Patti Austin Il Trio

[Via http://newsgurulive.com]

Saturday News: The Tools of Ignorance - Pinstripe Alley

Dedicated to You Michael I Love You

2010-02-15T05:52:00.000+02:00

Two Is Better Than One (Ft. Taylor Swift) Boys Like Girls

I remember what you wore on our first date

You came into my life

And I thought hey

You know this could be something

‘Cause everything you do and words you say

You know that it all takes my breath away

And now I’m left with nothing

‘Cause maybe it’s true, that I can’t live without you

Well maybe two is better than one

There’s so much time, to figure out the rest of my life

And you’ve already got me coming undone

And I’m thinking two, is better than one

I remember every look upon your face,

The way you roll your eyes, the way you taste

You make it hard for breathing

‘Cause when I close my eyes and drift away

I think of you and everythings okay

And finally now, believing

And maybe it’s true, that I can’t live without you

Well maybe two is better than one

There’s so much time, to figure out the rest of my life

And you’ve already got me coming undone

And I’m thinking two, is better than one

Yeah, yeah

I remember what you wore on the first day

You came into my life

And I thought hey

Maybe it’s true, that I can’t live without you

Maybe two is better than one

There’s so much time, to figure out the rest of my life

And you’ve already got me coming undone

And I’m thinking

Oooh I can’t live without you

‘Cause baby two is better than one

There’s so much time, to figure out the rest of my life

And I’ve figured out with all that’s said and done

Two, is better than one

[Via http://angelbabe43.wordpress.com]

Sebelius, Solis Announce Nearly $1 Billion Recovery Act Investment ...

Michael Jackson - This is it (2009) [DVD-Reautoría] [Inglés][Musical][rs - mu]

2010-02-12T21:09:00.000+02:00

Ficha técnica:

Ver Spoiler TITULO ORIGINAL Michael Jackson’s This Is It

OTROS TÍTULOS

DIRECCIÓN Kenny Ortega

REPARTO

AÑO 2009

PAÍS Estados Unidos

PRODUCTORA Sony Pictures Entertainment / Sony Music Entertainment / AEG Live

GENERO Documental / Musical

AUDIO INGLES 5.1

SUBS INGLES, FRANCES, ESPAÑOL (APLICANDO PARCHE)

Reseña:

Ver Spoiler Película documental realizado con el material grabado durante los últimos ensayos de Michael Jackson, que preparaba su regreso a los escenarios antes de morir. La mayor parte del montaje del filme fue rodado en junio de 2009 en el Staples Center de Los Ángeles y The Forum en Inglewood, en California, cuando Jackson preparaba su ‘This is it’, la serie de 50 conciertos que iba a ofrecer en el O2 Arena de Londres.

Caps:

Ver Spoiler Está imagen ha sido redimensionada. Haz click en está barra para ver la original. La original mide 853×480.

Está imagen ha sido redimensionada. Haz click en está barra para ver la original. La original mide 853×480.

Parche para tener subtitulos en español:

Ver Spoiler 1. Bajar el programa para aplicar el parche Aplicador de parche

2. Bajar el parche para este dvd que añade subtitulos en español: Parche subs en español

3. Y manos a la obra:

a) Ejecutar el programa para aplicar el parche: IDVDAplicator.exe.

b) Seleccionar la imagen del dvd original: cahcodrilo-estoestodo.iso

c) Seleccionar el parche en español: parche.spa.this.is.it.dvd.bdiff

d) Seleccionar la carpeta donde van a guardar la nueva ISO parcheada

e) Finalmente le dan a aplicar y listo. Comienza el proceso que dura entre 10 a 15 min (aprox).

MU links 1gb c/u http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9LI7QPDI http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V76A5UA4 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SLO6B1FU http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FVWJ2J2G http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BFRKIPM5 RS links 200mb c/u http://rapidshare.com/files/325412150/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part01.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325411298/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part02.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325413693/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part03.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325412676/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part04.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325413055/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part05.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325412981/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part06.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325411107/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part07.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325410334/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part08.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325409613/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part09.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325413106/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part10.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325410020/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part11.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325412482/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part12.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325410102/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part13.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325412427/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part14.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325409790/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part15.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325412272/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part16.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325413527/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part17.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325410555/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part18.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325411330/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part19.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325412994/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part20.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325410285/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part21.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325413395/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part22.rar http://rapidshare.com/files/325411804/cahcodrilo-estoestodo.rs.iso.part23.rar Sin password

Sugerencia: Prueben este dvd en un dvdrw antes de quemarlo para ver si les funciona en su reproductor de mesa.

[Via http://daniel890.wordpress.com]

Energy and Global Warming News for February 11th: Utilities ...

The End of the Internet?

2010-02-12T05:28:00.000+02:00

Written by Jeff Chester

The nation’s largest telephone and cable companies are crafting an alarming set of strategies that would transform the free, open and nondiscriminatory Internet of today to a privately run and branded service that would charge a fee for virtually everything we do online.

Verizon, Comcast, Bell South and other communications giants are developing strategies that would track and store information on our every move in cyberspace in a vast data-collection and marketing system, the scope of which could rival the National Security Agency. According to white papers now being circulated in the cable, telephone and telecommunications industries, those with the deepest pockets–corporations, special-interest groups and major advertisers–would get preferred treatment. Content from these providers would have first priority on our computer and television screens, while information seen as undesirable, such as peer-to-peer communications, could be relegated to a slow lane or simply shut out.

Under the plans they are considering, all of us–from content providers to individual users–would pay more to surf online, stream videos or even send e-mail. Industry planners are mulling new subscription plans that would further limit the online experience, establishing “platinum,” “gold” and “silver” levels of Internet access that would set limits on the number of downloads, media streams or even e-mail messages that could be sent or received.

To make this pay-to-play vision a reality, phone and cable lobbyists are now engaged in a political campaign to further weaken the nation’s communications policy laws. They want the federal government to permit them to operate Internet and other digital communications services as private networks, free of policy safeguards or governmental oversight. Indeed, both the Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are considering proposals that will have far-reaching impact on the Internet’s future. Ten years after passage of the ill-advised Telecommunications Act of 1996, telephone and cable companies are using the same political snake oil to convince compromised or clueless lawmakers to subvert the Internet into a turbo-charged digital retail machine.

The telephone industry has been somewhat more candid than the cable industry about its strategy for the Internet’s future. Senior phone executives have publicly discussed plans to begin imposing a new scheme for the delivery of Internet content, especially from major Internet content companies. As Ed Whitacre, chairman and CEO of AT&T, told Business Week in November, “Why should they be allowed to use my pipes? The Internet can’t be free in that sense, because we and the cable companies have made an investment, and for a Google or Yahoo! or Vonage or anybody to expect to use these pipes [for] free is nuts!”

The phone industry has marshaled its political allies to help win the freedom to impose this new broadband business model. At a recent conference held by the Progress and Freedom Foundation, a think tank funded by Comcast, Verizon, AT&T and other media companies, there was much discussion of a plan for phone companies to impose fees on a sliding scale, charging content providers different levels of service. “Price discrimination,” noted PFF’s resident media expert Adam Thierer, “drives the market-based capitalist economy.”

Net Neutrality

To ward off the prospect of virtual toll booths on the information highway, some new media companies and public-interest groups are calling for new federal policies requiring “network neutrality” on the Internet. Common Cause, Amazon, Google, Free Press, Media Access Project and Consumers Union, among others, have proposed that broadband providers would be prohibited from discriminating against all forms of digital content. For example, phone or cable companies would not be allowed to slow down competing or undesirable content.

Without proactive intervention, the values and issues that we care about–civil rights, economic justice, the environment and fair elections–will be further threatened by this push for corporate control. Imagine how the next presidential election would unfold if major political advertisers could make strategic payments to Comcast so that ads from Democratic and Republican candidates were more visible and user-friendly than ads of third-party candidates with less funds. Consider what would happen if an online advertisement promoting nuclear power prominently popped up on a cable broadband page, while a competing message from an environmental group was relegated to the margins. It is possible that all forms of civic and noncommercial online programming would be pushed to the end of a commercial digital queue.

But such “neutrality” safeguards are inadequate to address more fundamental changes the Bells and cable monopolies are seeking in their quest to monetize the Internet. If we permit the Internet to become a medium designed primarily to serve the interests of marketing and personal consumption, rather than global civic-related communications, we will face the political consequences for decades to come. Unless we push back, the “brandwashing” of America will permeate not only our information infrastructure but global society and culture as well.

Why are the Bells and cable companies aggressively advancing such plans? With the arrival of the long-awaited “convergence” of communications, our media system is undergoing a major transformation. Telephone and cable giants envision a potential lucrative “triple play,” as they impose near-monopoly control over the residential broadband services that send video, voice and data communications flowing into our televisions, home computers, cell phones and iPods. All of these many billions of bits will be delivered over the telephone and cable lines.

Video programming is of foremost interest to both the phone and cable companies. The telephone industry, like its cable rival, is now in the TV and media business, offering customers television channels, on-demand videos and games. Online advertising is increasingly integrating multimedia (such as animation and full-motion video) in its pitches. Since video-driven material requires a great deal of Internet bandwidth as it travels online, phone and cable companies want to make sure their television “applications” receive preferential treatment on the networks they operate. And their overall influence over the stream of information coming into your home (or mobile device) gives them the leverage to determine how the broadband business evolves.

Mining Your Data

At the core of the new power held by phone and cable companies are tools delivering what is known as “deep packet inspection.” With these tools, AT&T and others can readily know the packets of information you are receiving online–from e-mail, to websites, to sharing of music, video and software downloads.

These “deep packet inspection” technologies are partly designed to make sure that the Internet pipeline doesn’t become so congested it chokes off the delivery of timely communications. Such products have already been sold to universities and large businesses that want to more economically manage their Internet services. They are also being used to limit some peer-to-peer downloading, especially for music.

But these tools are also being promoted as ways that companies, such as Comcast and Bell South, can simply grab greater control over the Internet. For example, in a series of recent white papers, Internet technology giant Cisco urges these companies to “meter individual subscriber usage by application,” as individuals’ online travels are “tracked” and “integrated with billing systems.” Such tracking and billing is made possible because they will know “the identity and profile of the individual subscriber,” “what the subscriber is doing” and “where the subscriber resides.”

Will Google, Amazon and the other companies successfully fight the plans of the Bells and cable companies? Ultimately, they are likely to cut a deal because they, too, are interested in monetizing our online activities. After all, as Cisco notes, content companies and network providers will need to “cooperate with each other to leverage their value proposition.” They will be drawn by the ability of cable and phone companies to track “content usage…by subscriber,” and where their online services can be “protected from piracy, metered, and appropriately valued.”

Our Digital Destiny

It was former FCC chairman Michael Powell, with the support of then-commissioner and current chair Kevin Martin, who permitted phone and cable giants to have greater control over broadband. Powell and his GOP majority eliminated longstanding regulatory safeguards requiring phone companies to operate as nondiscriminatory networks (technically known as “common carriers”). He refused to require that cable companies, when providing Internet access, also operate in a similar nondiscriminatory manner. As Stanford University law professor Lawrence Lessig has long noted, it is government regulation of the phone lines that helped make the Internet today’s vibrant, diverse and democratic medium.

But now, the phone companies are lobbying Washington to kill off what’s left of “common carrier” policy. They wish to operate their Internet services as fully “private” networks. Phone and cable companies claim that the government shouldn’t play a role in broadband regulation: Instead of the free and open network that offers equal access to all, they want to reduce the Internet to a series of business decisions between consumers and providers.

Besides their business interests, telephone and cable companies also have a larger political agenda. Both industries oppose giving local communities the right to create their own local Internet wireless or wi-fi networks. They also want to eliminate the last vestige of local oversight from electronic media–the ability of city or county government, for example, to require telecommunications companies to serve the public interest with, for example, public-access TV channels. The Bells also want to further reduce the ability of the FCC to oversee communications policy. They hope that both the FCC and Congress–via a new Communications Act–will back these proposals.

The future of the online media in the United States will ultimately depend on whether the Bells and cable companies are allowed to determine the country’s “digital destiny.” So before there are any policy decisions, a national debate should begin about how the Internet should serve the public. We must insure that phone and cable companies operate their Internet services in the public interest–as stewards for a vital medium for free expression.

If Americans are to succeed in designing an equitable digital destiny for themselves, they must mount an intensive opposition similar to the successfulchallenges to the FCC’s media ownership rules in 2003. Without such a public outcry to rein in the GOP’s corporate-driven agenda, it is likely that even many of the Democrats who rallied against further consolidation will be “tamed” by the well-funded lobbying campaigns of the powerful phone and cable industry.

About Jeff Chester

Jeff Chester is executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy (www.democraticmedia.org), a Washington, DC-based nonprofit. He is the author of Digital Destiny: New Media and the Future of Democracy (The New Press). more…

[Via http://afteramerica.wordpress.com]

News Of The Day

shocking fact of the day

2010-02-10T21:05:00.000+02:00

michael jackson weighed 136 pounds as has been recorded in his autopsy report. now, i’m not going to dive into my weight here but WHAT THE F???? i mean, i knew he was skinny and all, but 136 is not too far off from my weight and i am not 69 inches tall and we all know i’m aging and shrinking. so 136 for a grown man is clearly not enough. geez…

oh, and when i read that he had tattoos, i was all like “wow, i wonder what motif. maybe some starts somewhere?!”. nope. he had his eyebrows, lips, and hair tattooed. mh, kind of uncreative for someone with this creativity inside. my 2cents.

i’m still fighting the ladybug infestation and while i am happy to read that others have been suffering from this as well (i like it when others are miserable as well i still can’t think of a solution. maybe i should get white out and mark them. this way i’ll know how many there are. but they can’t fly if i white-out-glue their wings together, right? gosh, this seems to be tricky… i don’t want to hurt them but i want to get to the root of the problem and that includes a census. census 2010 if anyone understands that joke

franzi

[Via http://lifestartsnow.wordpress.com]

NBC's Todd: Fox News Trying To 'Undermine' MSM | NewsBusters.org

Michael Jackson Still Dead

2010-02-10T05:18:00.000+02:00

Recent shocking reports show that Michael Jackson is still dead. Despite the recent media surge focusing on the upcoming Jackson trial, medical exams have shown that although his career has come back to life Jackson himself remains cold and in the ground.

“It doesn’t make sense” said local Jackson fan “Michael Jackson’s career always gets a jump start whenever he is in a trial”. While it is true that Jackson’s popularity rose in the child molestation trials, forcing him into many more public appearances, Jackson remains uncharacteristically silent about his upcoming murder trial.

While most agree that his death really helped his popularity, making us forget virtually every eccentric quark of the last two decades, many feel as though its time for Jackson to move on.

“I just hate it when a celebrity gets all hung up on some new fad” said a fan “I mean its just pathetic when people can’t move on”

[Via http://thedailymud.wordpress.com]

SourceForge.net: Some good news: SourceForge removes blanket blocking

What is involuntary manslaughter?

2010-02-08T21:41:00.000+02:00

Dr. Conrad Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson

Beth Karas and Ann O’Neill

CNN

To prove involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors will have to convince jurors that Michael Jackson’s doctor took risks he shouldn’t have — and that other doctors wouldn’t have, legal experts say.

“It’s not the same as malpractice,” said Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School. To prove a physician’s actions are criminally negligent, she added, “it has to be really extreme for no good reason.”

Jackson, 50, died on June 25 after Dr. Conrad Murray gave him several prescription medications over the course of a sleepless night, according to court records.

Keep Reading…

[Via http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com]

NYT To Break David Patterson News Tomorrow, Resignation To Follow ...

Monday Morning JetLawg

2010-02-08T05:46:00.000+02:00

In the news . . .

Google and NSA team up to fight cyberattacks.

Scientists discover energy teleportation.

Seventh Circuit upholds prison ban on Dungeons & Dragons against First and Fourteenth Amendment challenge.

Australian copyright holders lose ability to compel ISP assistance. Meanwhile, new Aussie law takes hack at political speech anonymity.

FBI wants ISPs to keep logs.

YouTube movie rental experiment a small success.

More news in the e-book world: Amazon faces backlash from publisher over book prices.

FDA reports large increase in amount of fines for pharmaceutical companies since beginning of Obama administration.

Superbowl and other popular sports events lead to rise in questionable auction/Craigslist listings.

NFL Players Association wins case over league preventing owners from dismantling the supplemental revenue sharing pool.

Hulu website may end free ride for popular television shows.

Prosecutors in Michael Jackson case planning to bring manslaughter charge via a preliminary hearing rather than grand jury indictment.

Popularity of “catfight” videos shows YouTube’s inability to filter out potentially illegal conduct.

Curious George and Thomas & Friends toymaker agrees to $200,000 settlement for lead paint violation.

Former wide receiver Michael Irvin accused of rape and files $100 million countersuit.

[Via http://jetl.wordpress.com]

Miadhu News – Weekly address: President discusses economy

Bowl of Super Refill

2010-02-05T21:10:00.000+02:00

Not much turns steely old Ed Honcho weepy. Powerful onions. United Way commercials. Puppies. Most movies starring Sandra Bullock. Hummingbirds. United Way commercials. Lost socks. A plastic bag dancing like a whisper in the breeze. Babies. The Barrow Whalers. Pretty nature. Clothes that clash. People mad at me. United Way commercials.

But I have to admit, when I read this story, I sobbed like a kid with a boo-boo. Such grief. Such sorrow. Such will to triumph. Anthony Hargrove’s come a long way from where he started.

And it got me thinking (that’s what I do, after all, along with cry a lot)… what about everyone else? Where did they come from? How far have they made it? Well, here’s a look.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, as you surely know, is from New Orleans, birthplace of the Praline.

Colts receiver Reggie Wayne, as you may not know, is also from New Orleans (well, technically the unincorporated bits just outside of town), birthplace of the Muffuletta.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is from Austin, TX, famous for “keeping it weird“.

Saints receiver Marques Colston is from Harrisburg, PA, home of the Pennsylvania Farm Show (yes, those are made of butter), the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in America.

Colts secondary man Jacob Lacey is from Garland, TX, a Chen Tao stronghold, and went to Naaman Forest High School.

Colts secondary man Melvin Bullitt is from Garland, TX, birthplace of Mookie Blaylock, and went to Naaman Forest High School.

Saints kicker Garrett Hartley is from Southlake, TX, headquarters of Travelocity, and went to Carroll High School.

Saints third-string quarterback Chase Daniel is from Southlake, TX, recently named by Forbes the most affluent neighborhood in the U.S., and went to Carroll High School.

Colts receiver Hank Baskett, known in the tabloids as the man who married and impregnated this “girl next door”, is from Clovis, NM, namesake of the Clovis Culture, a people that roamed the North American continent 13,000-13,500 years ago, arguably its’ first inhabitants.

Colts offensive lineman Charlie Johnson is from Sherman, TX, where Jesse James spent his honeymoon.

Saints offensive lineman Carl Nicks is from Salinas, CA, hometown of Grapes of Wrath author John Steinbeck.

Saints head coach Sean Payton is from Naperville, IL, known for its’ Millennium Carillon, designated as a Grand Carillon with 72 bells, one of only four worldwide to hit six octaves.

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney is from Bloomfield, CT, home of the New England Muscle Bicycle Museum.

Colts defensive lineman Raheem Brock is from Philadelphia, birthplace of the Hoagie.

Saints tight end David Thomas is from Wolfforth, TX, known as the hometown of Saints tight end David Thomas.

Saints linebacker Scott Shanle played 8 man football in St. Edward, NE, known as the hometown of Saints linebacker Scott Shanle.

Colts receiver Pierre Garcon is from Greenacres, FL, home to democratic senator Dave Aronberg, formerly Assistant Attorney General, and head of the case against Miss Cleo.

Colts defensive lineman Daniel Muir is from Riverdale Park, MD, known for its’ abundance of Sears “Honor-bilt Modern Homes”, pre-fabricated homes from Sears that were apparently all the rage in the early-mid 20th century.

Saints secondary man Randall Gay is from Brusly, LA, home of the Cinclare Sugar Mill, one of the last remaining vestiges of southern Louisiana’s sugar history.

Saints backup quarterback and starting holder Mark Brunell is from Santa Maria, CA, very near Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, and location of his child-sexual-abuse case.

Colts running back Joseph Addai is from Houston, named America’s fattest city five of the past nine years by Men’s Fitness Magazine.

Colts linebacker Gary Brackett is from Glassboro, NJ, renowned for having Ronald Reagan speak at the commencement ceremonies for Glassboro High School in 1986, the first sitting president ever to do so at a high school graduation.

Saints offensive lineman Jon Stinchcomb is from Lilburn, GA, home of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, one of the largest and most elaborately decorated in the country.

Saints defensive end Will Smith is from Utica, NY, renowned for Riggiefest, a celebration of its’ signature dish, chicken riggies (AKA Utica riggies).

Colts receiver Austin Collie is from El Dorado Hills, CA, enduring the alarmingly high levels of asbestos occurring naturally, and found by the EPA to be centered near his former high school, Oak Ridge.

Colts punter Pat McAfee is from Plum, PA, home of Oakmont Country Club, which has hosted more U.S. Opens than any other course.

Saints secondary man Roman Harper is from Prattville, AL, birthplace of Wilson Pickett.

Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is from Excelsior Springs, MO, filming site of Adam at Six AM, Michael Douglas’ first starring role.

Colts secondary man Kelvin Hayden is from Chicago, birthplace of the Chicago Style Hot Dog.

Colts linebacker is Clint Session is from Pompano Beach, FL, home of the Goodyear Blimp Spirit of Innovation.

Saints receiver Devery Henderson is from Opelousas, LA, renowned worldwide as the hub of Zydeco music.

Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey is from Ada, OK, home of bigfoot, apparently.

That ought to tide you over until the game on Sunday. Everyone has a story, some are just more interesting.

[Via http://edhoncho.com]

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Great news: Fiorina's campaign promising ...

We Are the World Class of 2010?

2010-02-05T13:11:00.000+02:00

Yes, it’s official. There’s been an announcement that there will be a remake of the ever-popular song, “We Are the World,” composed by the late and great Michael Jackson. The singers will be the ones of our generation. A bad decision? Yes.

I’m not completely against it. I mean, the cause is good, it’s going to the Help Haiti Relief. But, I think it’s just an excuse to make a version of the famous song with the artists of 2010 stamped on it. 20 years from now, people will be listening to the 2010 version of the song, most probably, and not the original version. And let me tell you, the original version of the song is, without a doubt, better. I know, I know. How can I judge the two versions when the 2010 remake isn’t even out yet? I just feel like the artists of the previous version are much more talented than today’s artists.

Let’s face it. Our generation’s artists are composed of singers who can barely sing yet make millions because of what we call, technology. Voice alterations, syncs, and sometimes even downright screaming is what makes up our music industry nowadays. In fact, there are only a handful of real singers.

Don’t get me wrong. The electro-pop, dance music we hear today isn’t a bad thing. I am actually a huge fan of songs like Tik Tok, I Gotta Feeling, Boom Boom Pow, Replay, Watcha Say, Good Girls Go Bad, Bad Romance, and other songs like that. All I’m saying is that artists who can’t really sing shouldn’t be included in the remake.

But honestly, singers like Celine Dion, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Rihanna, Fergie, Kris Allen, Alicia Keys, Nick Jonas, Jason Mraz, David Archuleta, Ne-Yo, Lenka, Vanessa Hudgens, and other singers with nice voices, should be included. I’m not a Justin Beiber anti-fan, but I just think he’s too young for it. He’s got a chipmunk voice, that’s all.

I’m not even going to start on Miley Cyrus.

Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato both have OK voices, but I feel like they should push more. Their voices aren’t really that well-developed yet. So they’ll have to wait until they become MJ material. Don’t misjudge me, though. I adore them both. I just think they should sit out on this one.

I guess I’ll have to wait until the official song gets released. When it does, I’ll write a review on it. Hopefully, I’ll be able to prove myself wrong after hearing the output. Fingers crossed.

–Denise. ♥

[Via http://justdenise.wordpress.com]

News to know: Google Tablet; Mobile OS updates; iPad; Murdoch ...

Michael Jackson

2010-02-03T13:49:00.000+02:00

The one and only

How can you not adore him? The greatest performer ever~~~what can I say? I love him…

I have a quiz to sit for tomorrow and I’m busy downloading his documentaries….I guess we all know how well I’m gonna do tomorrow. =)

Anyway, there are so many of his songs that I really love. Ben will always be my favourite but currently, One day in your life is on repeat…I love the lyrics and the melody……the passion in his voice especially when he’s singing a ballad is breathtaking. R.I.P Michael <3

One day in your life

you’ll remember a place

Someone’s touching your face

You’ll come back and you’ll look around you

One day in your life

You’ll remember the love you found here

You’ll remember me somehow

Though you don’t need me now

I will stay in your heart

And when things fall apart

You’ll remember one day…

One day in your life

When you find that you’re always waiting

For the love we used to share

Just call my name

And I’ll be there

You’ll remember me somehow

Though you don’t need me now

I will stay in your heart

And when things fall apart

You’ll remember one day…

One day in your life

When you find that you’re always longing

for the love we used to share

Just call my name

And I’ll be there

[Via http://nana2202.wordpress.com]

Olympus unveils the affordable Pen: Digital Photography Review

2010 Grammy Awards Performances

2010-02-03T05:36:00.000+02:00

So of course we had to pay tribute to the remarkable artist and entertainer, Michael Jackson. Whether he was disliked or loved.. his message was simple: Spread Love. Producer, Ken Ehrlich told ET’s Kevin Frazier,

“The people that we picked to perform this 3D version of ‘Earth Song’ are the people that I really feel Michael would have wanted to be there — Celine Dion, who was always one of Michael’s favorites. Carrie Underwood, who we talked about the night that I met with him. Usher, who we know he loved. Smokey Robinson, his mentor. And Jennifer Hudson, who performed at the memorial service that we did, but was also someone that Michael really admired a lot.”

Lady Gaga with her heel-less heels and outrageous wardrobe presents “Pokerface” with a following performance with Elton John. This chick stands out for sure with her many many outfits… but the world loves her music regardless.

And finally, Beyonce. {smile} I thought her performance was amazing… a little bit too much at the end with the head banging lol.. but awesome nevertheless. She really put her all into this one and it was probably one of her best live performances in her career thus far. Check it out.. if you missed it.

[Via http://crismusicent.wordpress.com]

ABC News Specials Breakdown: America's Health Insurance Crisis ...

Michael Jackson Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at 2010 Grammys

2010-02-01T13:40:00.000+02:00

Prince and Paris Jackson

The big night for the music industry has come, and one of the biggest artists in history has been given a proper tribute. During the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, thousands gathered to honor the late and great Michael Jackson.

Several performers were included in the tribute, which was aired during the Grammy telecast. Aside from the musical numbers, there was a 3D mini movie of Jackson’s Earth Song, which was designed for the This is It Tour.

Those who performed for the tribute were Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood and Usher. They were highly praised for their act, which definitely was a highlight of the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. The crowd even leapt up for a standing ovation right after.

On behalf of the beloved artist, Michael Jackson’s children graced the stage to receive the trophy. Prince and Paris Jackson were handed the Michael Jackson Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award for their father, which led them to thank the evening’s guests. Joining Prince and Paris for the event were their cousins, who stood by them throughout.

Prince Michael showed his appreciation for all his father’s fans. This was followed by an announcement of the family’s love of charity projects, in the hopes of sharing their philanthropic passion with the rest of the world.

“Through all his songs, his message was simple: love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world,” Prince said.

He also expressed his gratitude for his grandparents, who were there to support the two through the last seven months since the death of Michael Jackson. Meanwhile, his sister Paris went on to thank the crowd that gathered to make this moment special. She also added that her dad would have wanted to perform for this year’s Grammys, since he was unable to do so in 2009.

The tribute certainly was a commendable way of showing respect for the late Michael Jackson. He may have had his share of Grammy Awards during his career, but this Lifetime Achievement one truly counts.

[Via http://cherokeebillie.wordpress.com]

» Polar News & Notes: January 2010 News Roundup » Beyond Penguins ...

Grammys 2010

2010-02-01T05:41:00.000+02:00

Just finished watching the Grammys 2010…First time ive ever really bothered to watch the actual show lol. I wasn’t particularly impressed to be honest…

Performance of the night HAS to go to DRAKE, LIL WAYNE and EMINEM. I stayed up specifically to see Drake, and he never failed to entertain me. Eminem KILLED it. Love his bit in “Forever” I think its amazing that he was nominated and hasn’t even got an album out yet! Sad shame he never won tho!

The most entertaining performance was Pink’s…She was doing her acrobat thing again..Looked amazing

()

She looked Fabulous on the Red carpet too!

Wasnt too impressed with Beyonce’s performance, it was quite boring to be honest. be she had a nice outfit! However…She never thanked God in her speech which is what she used to do but we just say nada in that topic…

Maxwell did a lovely performance of Pretty wings (i used to DETESTE that song, but im secretly liking it lol) And there was a tribute for Michael Jackson (r.i.p) Not the best of tributes, but his kids were there to collect his award.

Now on to the CLOTHES! Which is the real reason why i watched it….

Imma start off with Miss Gaga…Never fails to draw attention to herself lol…i do love her though!

Cannot lie Rihanna’s dress was quite cute, a bit heavy on the eye make up tho…

An Older Rihanna aka Ms Blige

Keri Hilson looked H.O.T

Mya Looking stunning as always! People are going to start speculating that their a couple now (or are they? i don’t know lol)

Not Sure what ciara’s been playing at lately…Why ? Her stylist should be sacked, and she must invest into a MIRROR immediately!

Taylor Swift won album of the year…Not quite sure WHY but this is what happens when 10 year olds have too much pocket money and can buy albums. Tut Tut Tut…Nice dress though.

*Sighs* What was Ke$ha thinking?? She looked Drugged…

Beyonce looked Beatiful, Two outfit changes of course!

Didn’t like this dress Katy Perry was wearing, i usually love her outfits…but im not feeling it!

Everyone looked fabulous (or attempted to anyway) But this is how Akon turned up? I dunno what event he thought he was going to. I hope this picture was taken BEFORE he got dressed.

Thats a quick round up, might do some later on if i find images that interest me….

MissCherry.x

[Via http://misscherry89.wordpress.com]

News Corp Pays $500M to Valassis in Price-Fixing Lawsuit | The Wrap

Indicted

2010-01-29T05:11:00.000+02:00

WOW

That is all I can say! Ruffin Poole was indicted on 51 charges. He’s being described as ex. NC Gov Easley’s right hand man. He showed up at the Federal Building in downtown Raleigh this morning…in cuffs. I was at the Fed Building this afternoon handing out press packets to local news affiliates for Waterfront Sportsman and the EIC.

I stood across the street talking with a member from our group and as I looked at the Fed Building I thought to myself, “My god…what have we become?”

When I read the press packet information I just shook my head in sadness, disgust, and anger at the opening sentence, “How much damage has the Hunt/Easley/Perdue dynasty of misappropriations of environmental funds done to Homeland Security and the well being of our military and their families in the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) plan?”

How could you? That’s what I would ask these gov’t officials. We ALL have to live on this Earth…regardless of our political affiliations, ethnicity, social class, creed, religious beliefs, etc. etc. etc. Why would elected “trusted” officials ALLOW, CONDONE, and ASSIST in acts that have harmed and killed people in NC. Why would they? How could they? How do they sleep at night? How do they look their children and grandchildren in the face KNOWING the water they drink is contaminated? And to allow our military bases to become contaminated is LOW. I come from a military fam and know quite a few ppl still enlisted. Our military personnel and their families go through a lot…and now they have to be exposed to toxic waste on the bases in NC. Disrespectful, dishonorable, and shameful.

I’ve been working withWFS and EIC for almost a year and not once have I felt that they should give up. The only thing I’ve felt is that the group should not have to exist. We shouldn’t have to band together to expose these atrocities, because these atrocities shouldn’t even be happening. We shouldn’t have to witness the spreading of sludge on the grounds of an elementary school. We shouldn’t have to be banding together protesting the mining of Uranium in a climate that’s not suitable to do so. We shouldn’t be witnessing our shorelines disappearing. We shouldn’t be getting sick from drinking and bathing in tap water. We shouldn’t have to watch our govt officials and their constituents get indicted for the mess that they’ve done.

To quote Michael Jackson, “Look what we’ve done to the world…look what we’ve done.”

[Via http://waterfrontsportsman.wordpress.com]

Metro 2033 arriving in March News | Eurogamer

He calls me Mighty Teacher

2010-01-27T21:48:00.000+02:00

Where “he” is The Child, and the time is right after I have poked and prodded him to do his practice drills. I’d hoped for a relaxing return to work after two days out sick, but that was not what my students saw fit to toss at me. Glad to see me and profoundly curious as to why I’d been gone, I spent the entire day involved in one kind of scheme or another. With such a volume of incidents to choose from (and so little time to write about them), I would normally Quick Quips this. But a lot of what happened was situational and so doesn’t lend itself readily to Quips, quick or otherwise.

So, as of today, we have a new style of posting. I’m calling them the: “I Can’t Exactly Choose, Raccoon Enjoy All Memories”. “Raccoon” doesn’t have any significance, I just wanted the acronym to spell “ice cream” and I couldn’t think of what to do with the “R”.

So, here we go. ICE CREAM:

~ I showed my first year students Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal and was rewarded with love and adoration because we like him that much. I have no idea what cosmic forces of the universe came together to inspire such a rabid devotion to a man that they didn’t even know about this time last year (I suppose his death has something to do with this), but I do not question the phenomenon. I just find more videos for them to watch.

~ As I briefly mentioned above, The Child was in rare form on Wednesday. The students were supposed to go through a series of exercises in one of their drill books, and he wanted to copy the answers down from the answer key. After feigning complacency so that he’d put the answer key on top of his desk, I stole it and then prompted, prodded, bullied, nagged, flattered and bribed him until he actually tried the exercises himself.

It was probably one of the more glorious battles we’ve ever had, but that was because I knew that I could win so I was willing to pull out all the stops to get him to do his work. The Child has a variety of moods – sometimes he tells me that he doesn’t want to work and he really means it (and God Help Me if I try to change his mind), and sometimes (like yesterday) he says that he doesn’t want to work and what he really wants is attention. My victory was so fantastically thorough that he worked on all of his assignments until the end of the period. I was gifted with the title of Mighty Teacher just as the bell rang. I don’t intend to let him forget this – it could very well be leverage for our next encounter.

~ I had to give a speaking check to my third years during fourth period. We were working in an empty classroom, and one student came in and actually asked me to extend his speaking check so that we could chat. I suspect that part of this may have been thanks to the test that he was taking with the other third years. Still, whatever the reason, it was a most interesting chat and I had fun with it. I’d actually like to make him a character, so we’ll go ahead and call him Obama for now (because it sounds kind of like his last name). Obama is a funny guy – I’ll be sure to properly introduce him at a later time.

~Right before lunch I went to talk to Mary Sunshine and The Savant came up and snarked at me. I snarked back, and although I can’t remember for the life of me what was said, at the time it was absolutely hilarious and (if memory serves me correctly) eventually degenerated into both of us just shouting “OKAY” at each other.

~ With the powers of my laugh alone, I reduced my lunch table to a mass of giggling hysteria. That was entertaining.

~ My sixth years from the elementary schools came by today for a two-hour orientation about middle school life. I had a lot of work to do, but decided to attend the first half of the meeting so that they could see me and feel (perhaps) slightly comforted by a familiar face. I think that it worked – a number of them came up to chat and ask how my winter vacation was. I was particularly amused by how they took the opportunity during breaks to scout out the school. Some of them have never been to the middle school before and after six years at the same elementary school, they were ravenously curious about this new building. Sixth graders in the middle school setting always remind me of a bunch of puppy dogs.

~ And last but not least, one of my memories from yesterday is total dread because I have about 32 letters to write between now and 12:15 on Friday. It is going to take some divine intervention to make this happen.

It’s a new world, it’s a new start

It’s alive with the beating of a young heart

[Via http://earthdragonette.wordpress.com]

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Great news: Noted deficit hawk to ...

Michael Jackson Goes To Prom

2010-01-27T12:59:00.000+02:00

Don’t run screaming when a young Michael Jackson shows up with your prom date, complete with old school Afro and a signature bow tie.

I think Rihanna did it better- a few jehri curls and some sleek military blazers. There are better ways to channel the King of Pop.

lcl

For more Michael, click here.

http://www.amazon.com/goodbye-Billie-Jean-meaning-Michael/dp/0557182743/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1264556744&sr=1-1-fkmr0

[Via http://extrememichaeljackson.wordpress.com]

Red Hat News | Oracle's Java Opportunity

Plano Blockbuster hosts large Thriller dance

2010-01-25T21:43:00.000+02:00

The Blockbuster location at 5960 West Parker Rd. in Plano will host a Michael Jackson-themed vigil/party tonight in anticipation of the midnight release of This Is It on DVD and Blu-ray.

Plano’s Dance Zone by Sarasue’s Academy will send dancers to — um — dance Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” dance, with performances beginning at 9 p.m. The dancers will also instruct attendees on duplicating smooth moves.

Naturally, those in attendance will have the first opportunity to purchase the This Is It DVD or Blu-ray (beginning at midnight); there will also be unspecified Blockbuster prizes up for grabs.

Admission is, of course, free. (What, you thought the Blockbuster folks would be so crass as to actually charge admission for the opportunity to sell stuff to you? Shame, shame!)

credit: Pegasus News

[Via http://cleandallas.wordpress.com]

World Bank waives Haiti debt payments - Yahoo! News

How Michael Jackson Saved Sesame Street (175/365)

2010-01-22T04:56:00.000+02:00

I’m a little late with a Christmas post, but it was only recently that I ran into what I’m posting today.

I think many people are familiar with the holiday special Christmas Eve on Sesame Street which was created in 1978 and still aired annually to this day. However, there was another Sesame Street Christmas special that was created the very same year called A Special Sesame Street Christmas, which sounded like a trainwreck! First of all, it wasn’t produced by the Children’s Television Workshop for PBS like Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (as well as the regular series). Bob Banner, The guy who did The Carol Burnett Show put it together for CBS. Basically, it was really low budget and stripped down… very un-”Sesame-Street” like. He used only three of the muppets (Big Bird, Oscar, and Barkley) and four of the regular human cast! The rest of the budget was spent on special guest stars. The only GOOD thing to come from this special was that Michael Jackson was one of them.. if only briefly!

To view humorous write-up of the special which goes into greater detail, click here.

Below is a write-up of Michael Jackson’s roll in Sesame Street. I edited out the beginning part because it was a little too negative for my liking and this is my blog and I can do as I please . However, you can view the original here.

How Michael Jackson Saved Sesame Street

by Joe Hennes

Long before MJ [gained a bad rep], he crossed paths with the Muppets a few times. The most notable example is his appearance in A Special Sesame Street Christmas, the goofy special nobody saw because Christmas Eve on Sesame Street completely overshadowed it. Michael’s afro (and Michael) passed by Oscar’s can to donate the book, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Ghosts”, to the Scrooge-ified grouch. He doesn’t count to (Jackson) 5, he doesn’t Moonwalk in the shape of the letter R, he doesn’t organize a cadre of celebrities to sing about how we are the world. He just hands Oscar a book and exits, stage right. Check out the video below for Michael’s cameo, which is sandwiched in between Ethel Merman singing the Christmas classic, “Tomorrow,” and the moustacioed Smothers Brother dressed as an astronaut.

Michael was parodied and referenced a few times here and there: a Muppet Babies comic book cover, “Beat It” in the Muppet Show on Tour show, “Billie Jean” light-up sidewalks in the “I’m Gonna Always Love You” music video. But Jackson only had one other significant connection to Sesame Street, which Chris Cerf related at a book signing last winter.

For all of the musical parodies that Sesame Street produced, very few of them resembled the original song enough to warrant legal action. “Letter B”, a parody of The Beatles’ “Let It Be”, had the unfortunate distinction of being too similar to the original. Northern Songs, which owned the Beatles’ library, threatened to sue the Children’s Television Workshop for $5.5 million. Thankfully, before the case went to trial, Michael Jackson swooped in on wings of angels and purchased the Beatles catalog. He decided not to pursue legal action, and CTW was only fined $50, which Cerf paid out of his own pocket.

Did Michael decide to drop the suit because of his appearance in A Special Sesame Street Christmas? If so, maybe the special wasn’t so bad after all. It might’ve saved Sesame Street $5.5 million (minus $50, of course). And we’ll just tack that on as one of the many, many ways Michael Jackson left his mark on the world.

More MJ Muppet trivia pulled from wikia:

-[In Muppet Babies,] Baby Kermit portrayed Michael Jackson in issue #18 of the Muppet Babies comic book.

-Jackson’s song “Beat It” was included in the 1985 stage show The Muppet Show on Tour: 2nd Edition.

-Sequences parodying the video for “Billie Jean” featured in the video clip for “I’m Gonna Always Love You.”

-A clip of Jackson’s “Beat It” video appears in the fourth season Muppet Babies episode, “Twinkle Toe Muppets.”

The Muppet Babies as Michael Jackson on the cover of Muppet Babies issue #18.

Kermit, dressed as Michael Jackson for the live show The Muppet Show on Tour: 2nd Edition.

[Via http://mj365.wordpress.com]

Bay Area News Project Strikes Content Deal With The New York Times

Top 10

2010-01-20T13:30:00.000+02:00

Iata o clasificare cu cele mai vizualizate filme pe youtube, folosind criteriul de cautare “michael jackson” sau cum spunea un prieten (misel lacson).

1: ☆”Britains Got Talent ♥ Connie Talbot, age 6, WOWs Simon Cowell !”

2: Michael Jackson – BEST EVER MOONWALK

3: we are the world

4: Michael Jackson – Thriller PV

5: *Michael Jackson – Earth Song *

6: Michael Jackson – Thriller live (1987)

7: michael jackson – moon walk

8: Michael Jackson Ghost? During CNN Larry King Interview with Jermaine Jackson

9: How to moon walk like Michael Jackson

10: Michael Jackson Will You Be There

Preferatele mele sunt nr 2 si nr 10, dar cu siguranta nu va intereseaza asta.

Melodia de pe fundalul nr 2 se numeste Sound System – Holy Ghost

Intrebarea e: Valoarea lui este determinata doar de niste cifre?

[Via http://binesirau.wordpress.com]

MetsBlog.com – News: Bengie Molina signs with Giants

Bjork (171/365)

2010-01-18T05:36:00.000+02:00

I love Michael Jackson so much. He’s got a ridiculous, outrageous, stubborn faith that magic still is with us.

-Björk, 1997

I capped this from another site:

Here is the transcript for the “In Camera” interview with Bjork. I never knew Michael was such a big Bjork fan!

Below is the video for the song “Alarm Call”. It was rumored that the song was inspired by Michael Jackson:

“Alarm Call”

I have walked this earth

And watched people

It doesn’t scare me at all

I can be sincere

And say I like them

It doesn’t scare me at all

You can’t say no to hope

Can’t say no to happiness

I want to go on a mountain-top

With a radio and good batteries

And play a joyous tune and

Free the human race

From suffering

It doesn’t scare me at all

I’m no fucking buddhist

But this is enlightenment

The less room you give me

The more space I’ve got

It doesnt scare me at all

You can’t say no to hope

Can’t say no to happiness

It doesn’t scare me at all

I want to be on a mountain-top

With a radio and good batteries

And play a joyous tune and

Free the

A-human race

From suffering

It doesn’t scare me at all

This is an alarm-call

So wake-up, wake-up now

Today has never happened

And it doesnt frighten me

It doesn’t scare me at all

You can’t say no to hope

You can’t say no to happiness

It doesn’t scare me at all

[Via http://mj365.wordpress.com]

Breaking news: Bears DE Adams dies - Big Blue View

Disaster in Haiti (167/365)

2010-01-13T21:38:00.000+02:00

I’m doing today’s entry about Haiti instead of Michael. If you’re reading this, please consider donating what you can while being mindful of people trying to take advantage of this tragedy for their own personal gain. Please research the charity prior to donating.

Here are some charitable organizations that offer aid to Haiti.

To help easily and immediately, simply text “HAITI” to “90999″ and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. (Source)

Quake-stunned Haitians pile bodies by fallen homes

By JONATHAN M. KATZ, Associated Press Writer

Photos by Daniel Morel. (Please be aware that clicking on his linked name will take you to photos which may include one or more dead bodies)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital Wednesday after a powerful earthquake crushed thousands of structures, from schools and shacks to the National Palace and the U.N. peacekeeping headquarters. Untold numbers were still trapped.

It seemed clear that the death toll from Tuesday afternoon’s magnitude-7.0 quake would run into the thousands. The Roman Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince was among the dead, and the head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission was missing.

International Red Cross spokesman Paul Conneally said a third of Haiti’s 9 million people may need emergency aid and that it would take a day or two for a clear picture of the damage to emerge. The United Nations said the capital’s main airport was “fully operational” and open to relief flights.

Aftershocks continued to rattle the capital of 2 million people as women covered in dust clawed out of debris, wailing. Stunned people wandered the streets holding hands. Thousands gathered in public squares to sing hymns.

People pulled bodies from collapsed homes, covering them with sheets by the side of the road. Passers-by lifted the sheets to see if loved ones were underneath. Outside a crumbled building, the bodies of five children and three adults lay in a pile.

The prominent died along with the poor: the body of Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot, 63, was found in the ruins of his office, said the Rev. Pierre Le Beller of the Saint Jacques Missionary Center in Landivisiau, France. He told The Associated Press by telephone that fellow missionaries in Haiti had told him they found Miot’s body.

The United States and other nations — from Iceland to Venezuela — said they would start sending in aid workers and rescue teams. The international Red Cross and other aid groups announced plans for major relief operations in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country.

Many will have to help their own staff as well as stricken Haitians. Taiwan said its embassy was destroyed and the ambassador hospitalized. Spain said its embassy was badly damaged.

“Haiti has moved to center of the world’s thoughts and the world’s compassion,” British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.

Tens of thousands of people lost their homes as buildings that were flimsy and dangerous even under normal conditions collapsed. Nobody offered an estimate of the dead, but the numbers were clearly enormous.<

"The hospitals cannot handle all these victims," said Dr. Louis-Gerard Gilles. "Haiti needs to pray. We all need to pray together."

An American aid worker was trapped for about 10 hours under the rubble of her mission house before she was rescued by her husband, who told CBS' "Early Show" that he drove 100 miles (160 kilometers) to Port-au-Prince to find her. Frank Thorp said he dug for more than an hour to free his wife, Jillian, and a co-worker, from under about a foot of concrete.

An estimated 40,000-45,000 Americans live in Haiti, and the U.S. Embassy had no confirmed reports of deaths among its citizens. All but one American employed by the embassy have been accounted for, State Department officials said.

Even relatively wealthy neighborhoods were devastated.

An AP videographer saw a wrecked hospital where people screamed for help in Petionville, a hillside district that is home to many diplomats and wealthy Haitians as well as the poor.

At a destroyed four-story apartment building, a girl of about 16 stood atop a car, trying to see inside while several men pulled at a foot sticking from rubble. She said her family was inside.

"A school near here collapsed totally," Petionville resident Ken Michel said after surveying the damage. "We don't know if there were any children inside." He said many seemingly sturdy homes nearby were split apart.

The U.N.'s 9,000 peacekeepers in Haiti, many of whom are from Brazil, were distracted from aid efforts by their own tragedy: Many spent the night hunting for survivors in the ruins of their headquarters.

"It would appear that everyone who was in the building, including my friend Hedi Annabi, the United Nations' secretary-general's special envoy, and everyone with him and around him, are dead," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on RTL radio.

But U.N. peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy would not confirm that Annabi was dead, saying he was among more than 100 people missing in its wrecked headquarters. He said only about 10 people had been pulled out, many of them badly injured. Fewer than five bodies had been removed, he said.

Brazil's army said at least four of its peacekeepers were killed and five injured, while Jordan's official news agency said three of its peacekeepers were killed and 33 injured. A state newspaper in China said eight Chinese peacekeepers were known dead and 10 were missing — although officials later said the information was not confirmed.

Much of the National Palace pancaked on itself, but Haiti's ambassador to Mexico, Robert Manuel, said President Rene Preval and his wife survived.

The quake struck at 4:53 p.m., centered 10 miles (15 kilometers) west of Port-au-Prince at a depth of only 5 miles (8 kilometers), the U.S. Geological Survey said. USGS geophysicist Kristin Marano called it the strongest earthquake since 1770 in what is now Haiti.

Most Haitians are desperately poor, and after years of political instability the country has no real construction standards. In November 2008, following the collapse of a school in Petionville, the mayor of Port-au-Prince estimated about 60 percent of buildings were shoddily built and unsafe normally.

The quake was felt in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, and in eastern Cuba, but no major damage was reported in either place.

With electricity out in many places and phone service erratic, it was nearly impossible for Haitian or foreign officials to get full details of the devastation.

"Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Henry Bahn, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official in Port-au-Prince. "The sky is just gray with dust."

President Barack Obama offered prayers for the people of Haiti and said the U.S. stood ready to help. Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, said a disaster response team would fly in Wednesday.

Edwidge Danticat, an award-winning Haitian-American author was unable to contact relatives in Haiti. She sat with family and friends at her home in Miami, looking for news on the Internet and watching TV news reports.

"You want to go there, but you just have to wait," she said. "Life is already so fragile in Haiti, and to have this on such a massive scale, it's unimaginable how the country will be able to recover from this."

[Via http://mj365.wordpress.com]

Sarah Palin Debut On FOX News 'The O'Reilly Factor' (VIDEOS ...

Human Nature on Piano (166/365)

2010-01-13T05:10:00.000+02:00

I found this piano version of “Human Nature” earlier and thought it was beautiful and worth sharing.

From the pianist’s Youtube info:

Me, Terese @ Young Artist Piano Recital 09 – Human Nature by Michael Jackson

To People asking for sheet music: Unfortunately I seem to be having problems when emailing the sheet music to people, it doesnt work all the time, Im very sorry I know how much you want to learn it and I really wish everybody could but I dont think I am able to email it. I will try, but it might not work.

If youre interested, I bought the sheet music at

www.musicnotes.com

[Via http://mj365.wordpress.com]

NBC's Olympics news team: Colbert a 'genius'--The Live Feed | THR

The last Prince vs Michael @ Madrone

2010-01-11T21:04:00.000+02:00

Join us for Prince vs Michael at Madrone this Saturday night before we move to a bigger venue in February. On this special night we will premiere the exclusive DJ Design remix of Prince’s song The Ballad of Dorothy Parker.

The PRINCE vs MICHAEL Experience

with dj’s Dave Paul and Jeff Harris

Saturday, January 16th @ Madrone Art Bar

500 Divisadero Street @ Fell, San Francisco, CA 94117

music starts at 9pm / $5 / 21+

The Prince vs Michael Experience – BIGGER AND DEFFER

You asked for it, you got it. We’re moving to a bigger location!

Larger dance floor, two bars, coat check, and free booth reservations available for birthday & bachelorette parties. Beginning in February, The Prince vs Michael Experience will take place every 2nd Saturday of the month at Milk Bar on Haight street. As usual, no dress code. Dress up or throw on a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. It’s all about good times, and the boogie!

The PRINCE vs MICHAEL Experience

with dj’s Dave Paul and Jeff Harris

Saturday, February 13th @ Milk Bar

1840 Haight Street @ Stanyan, San Francisco, CA 94117

9pm – 2am / $5 before 11pm, $10 after 11pm / 21+

[Via http://bombhiphop.wordpress.com]

The state of the art of news « BuzzMachine

The 5 Greatest Michael Jackson Moments in Comics (164/365)

2010-01-11T05:45:00.000+02:00

My older brother was a huge comic book lover. His excitement about the medium was contagious so entering my teens, I also ended up getting into them. I knew Michael was a fan of them, as well, so I decided to google Michael Jackson + comic books to see if I could find any trivia to post. Here’s one of the sites:

The 5 Greatest Michael Jackson Moments in Comics

by Laura Hudson

The King of Pop is dead. Michael Jackson passed away to the sadness and shock of millions of fans worldwide — including me. Some of my earliest musical memories involve songs like “Bad” and “Beat It,” and I still remember standing in front of a mirror at age 8, trying to imitate the “leaning” trick in the “Smooth Criminal” video, falling over again and again. His music was irresistible and brilliant, and despite his best tracks coming out anywhere from 15 to 40 years ago, they still sit at the top of my iTunes — and remain embedded in the minds of hundreds of millions.

Although he lived his life in the spotlight from a very young age — and spent a great deal of his later years in the tabloids — one thing that few people seem know about Jackson is that he not only loved comics, but influenced the comics industry in some interesting ways.

If nothing else, check out #1 — It’ll knock your socks off.

5. He Made a Guest Appearance in the “Longshot” Comics (Kind Of)

Although not an “official” appearance, “Longshot #2″ featured a flashback sequence where the X-Men hero Longshot recalled flying through the air on jetpacks with a handsome, dark-haired man who looked an awful lot like Michael Jackson — and happened to be named Jackson.

4. He Dressed Statues of Himself Like Batman

Earlier this year, Jackson auctioned off a whole host of comic book stuff, including “a life-size replica of Batman and his complete molded rubber costume mounted to a base. The Batman suit is fitted over a life-size replica of the likeness of Michael Jackson.” So basically, a statue of himself dressed as Batman.

3. He Took His Kids Comic Book Shopping

Last fall, Jackson took his three kids — Paris, Prince Michael and Prince Michael II (a.k.a. Blanket) — to peruse the racks at LA’s famed Golden Apple comic shop. Granted, they showed up in crazy Halloween masks and got mobbed by the press, but you gotta appreciate a parent who wants to share his love of comics with his kids.

2. His 3-D “Moonwalker” Comic Helped Bankrupt Blackthorne Publishing

The 1989 3-D “Moonwalker” comic, based on the Jackson video of the same name, was put out by 3-D comics publisher Blackthorne Publishing, which paid enormous licensing fees for the property, thinking it would be an automatic hit. Sadly, they thought wrong, and the comic flopped — a significant financial hit that helped sink Blackthorne later that year.

1. He Almost Bought Marvel Comics

For real. In the ultimate “What If…?” story, Jackson met with Stan Lee and businessman Peter Paul in 2000 to discuss the possibility of buying Marvel Comics. As The Comics Journal reported, “Jackson, who was an avowed fan of Lee’s work at Marvel, was reportedly interested and sat down with Lee and Paul to discuss the possibilities. [Jim] Salicrup, who was also present, recalls Jackson saying to Lee, ‘If I buy Marvel, you’ll help me run it, won’t you?’” The deal ultimately fell through when the current owner refused to accept less than $1 billion.

[Via http://mj365.wordpress.com]

Fox News' Shameless Christian Crusade | Media and Technology ...

Publications

2010-01-08T13:34:00.000+02:00

I’ve recently had publications you might want to check out. The first is a brief essay in the Mark Fisher’s excellent collection, The Resistible Demise of Michael Jackson, called “The King of Pop’s Two Bodies”. It’s an allegorical (in Benjamin’s sense) interpretation of the Thriller album and videos as eerily chronicling Michael’s real-life downward spiral. The book also has great pieces by Mark, David Stubbs, Alex Williams, Steve Shaviro, Evan Calder Williams, Dominic Fox, Owen Hatherley, and many others. Also, if you have read it or plan on doing so, consider posting a review on the Amazon US page, which got hit early with a few rather harsh ones.

The second is a paper in the current special issue of the International Journal of Zizek Studies, Zizek in Tehran, called “Iran’s Utopian Melancholy”. It’s a bit problematic, but came out rather well I think. It also is relevant to the debate about revolution spurred by my last post. You can get the pdf here.

[Via http://planomenology.wordpress.com]

Android News Roundup | Android Phone Fans

Michael Jackson's Memorial Service Nominated For NAACP Image Award.

2010-01-08T05:44:00.000+02:00

Michael Jackson’s funeral has been nominated for an Outstanding Variety award by the NAACP Image Awards. (Crickets) (Crickets) (Crickets) No disrespect, but …. were we supposed to be entertained? As much as I enjoyed the service, uh … I just have mixed feelings about it. What do y’all think?

-”The BklynBandette.” Mr. Hollywood’s Co-Defendant.

[Via http://heavenhollywood.wordpress.com]

Dorgan's Retirement Could Be Good News for Climate Legislation ...

2010

2010-01-06T13:38:00.000+02:00

Happy New Year everyone! Boy oh boy, are we happy to be starting a new year. Can’t imagine 2010 could be any crummier than 2009, right? As we get this year underway, seems that every form of media is talking about the highs and lows of 2009, and there certainly were plenty of both.

We continued to struggle through the economic crisis and faced the loss of some great, and not so great, talent: MJ, Farrah, Patrick, Teddy, and let’s not forget Billy Mays.

But there were bright spots among all those low points: Susan Boyle, the hot air balloon boy, the Gosselins, and Bo the “first dog” of the USA. Hopefully you read the humor in this last line-up.

But so it goes, and so we carry on. Here’s wishing you and your’s a happy new year. We hope its full of peace, hope, joy and prosperity.

[Via http://graciebags.wordpress.com]

Nightly News: Sebastian Stan Stars Opposite Ashley Greene ...

Does Michael Jackson has 100’s of Secret Children ?

2010-01-06T05:17:00.000+02:00

Michael Jackson secretly donated semen to an astonishing 200 sperm banks on four continents between 1991 and 2009 in a sweeping and unprecedented bid to leave his genetic “mark” – and legacy of love – on every race. Read More

FREE SAMPLE-Learn Remote Viewing,ESP,Lucid Dreaming,more GO TO PAGE

Learn to get people to do want YOU want them to GO TO PAGE

Are we all engineered by Aliens ? READ STORY

Why is this terrifying so many ? READ STORY

[Via http://parabook.wordpress.com]

40 million DS units sold in Europe // News

Pro-Social Song Lyrics and Empathy - New Research

2010-01-04T21:19:00.000+02:00

I stumbled across an article this afternoon about prosocial song lyrics and people’s attitudes and behavior’s after listening to such music. It is some interesting research, and I have seen much like it, discussing the impact of music/lyrics on our feelings, thoughts and behaviors.

In general, music does not = people behaving a certain way. Much like just playing let’s say, violent video games does not equal you will be violent. What cultural products like this do is create environments and social realities, that can make some actions easier to enact. Hence, living in a violent culture or unsocial culture, being expose to similar media, hence make it easier to do such things. But just watching or listening to something does not guarantee behavior.

Anyways, that said, the article was interesting and basically found that students who listened to pro-social song lyrics as opposed to neutral song lyrics were more likely to be empathic, and help the other researcher when they spilled some items during the study, filled in fragment words with pro-social words, (like “give” for g—), asked what the would do if a friend’s children needed a place to stay after their parents tragic death, or how they felt about reading an essay about someone’s personal troubles.

There are plenty of numbers and Likert scales later, but listening to these lyrics produced more emphatic feelings and actions amount that research group.

Pro-Social Lyrics: “Heal the World” (Michael Jackson), “Ein bißchen Frieden” (Nicole), “We Are the World” (Liveaid), and “Help” (Beatles), “Love Generation” (Bob Sinclair) and “Feed the World” (U2 with Band Aid).

Neutral Lyrics: “On the Line” (Michael Jackson), “Spiel um deine Seele” (Peter Maffay), “An Englishman in New York” (Sting), and “Octopus’s Garden” (Beatles), “Rock This Party” (Bob Sinclair) and “Vertigo” (U2).

The only problems I have with this study was song choice, clear definition of pro-social, and how do you account for the sonic qualities of music’s effect on emotions?

1). I think the artists should have been varied. Too much Michael Jackson, Beatles, and U2 (not that I don’t like either of them). I would not have repeated artists, and I would have added some more female musicians. (Of course I would).

2). What exactly is pro-social? Is it song lyrics about helping people, giving money/time, being nice, not being racist/sexist/classist, non-violent lyrics, or just lyrics about getting out there and not hiding in you room twittering?

3.) The actual music, not just lyrics can affect our thoughts and actions. Doesn’t your heart beat thump faster when you hear a fast-paced drum line? Doesn’t your pulse slow down when you hear a slow, smooth bass line? We listen to music at times to change our emotions and actions. Some people listen to music to pump them up before a football game, others to feel better about a bad breakup.

I think this research is great, just a few unclarified issues from my point of view.

If you can, you can read the article here: http://psp.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/35/11/1500

Effects of Songs With Prosocial Lyrics on Prosocial Behavior: Further Evidence and a Mediating Mechanism by Tobias Greitemeyer at University of Sussex, 2009.

Photo Credit: Sheet Music by jrossol, Woman Holding Microphone by skyfaller on Flikr Creative Commons.

Until next time, rock on!

[Via http://jukeboxheroines.wordpress.com]

Low favorables: Dems rip Rasmussen - Alex Isenstadt - POLITICO.com

Op-Ed Writer Paul Solomon's Year In Review: 2009

2010-01-01T05:04:00.000+02:00

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger became a household name last January 15th when he landed U.S. Airlines flight 1549 safely in the Hudson River despite losing power minutes after takeoff. All 155 passengers and crew, including a baby, were saved. The man known as “Sully” became an instant hero.

The year ended with another airline story. This time there was another hero, an unlikely passenger by the name of Jasper Schuringa. The Dutch passenger jumped on “Underwear Bomber”, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, after the 23-year-old student allegedly tried to detonate explosives he had hidden in his crotch, as Northwest Airlines flight 253 was on its descent into Detroit. The 289 passengers and crew were safe, although shaken up.

The media jumped on the “Underwear Bomber” story, making it the biggest story of 2009. Of course, that’s because the Christmas Day incident was the last major story of the decade. It didn’t hurt that after a few days of waffling on the subject, the Obama Administration admitted lapses in national security.

President Obama blamed “human and systemic” failures for the terror attempt. Then Dick Cheney burst back onto the scene and blamed Obama for “pretending we are not at war.” It should be noted that Obama just sent 30,000 troops to Afghanistan and the U.S. military has taken out more terrorists in 2009 with unmanned Predator drones and other strikes than in any year of the Bush Administration.

The fact that the Nigerian “Underwear Bomber” was trained in Yemen and was on a terrorist watch list (but not on the no-fly list) is a little unnerving. Also troubling is that his actions should have set off alarms at the two airport checkpoints prior to entering the U.S. He paid $3,000 cash, had no luggage, and was dressed for a trip to Southern California, not Detroit. I’m not saying that we should use racial profiling, but it seems odd that the guy wasn’t pulled aside at any checkpoint.

More troubling in the discussion of airplane security is the fact that it is up to the public, and not trained law enforcement, to be in charge of apprehending suspects. The near-disaster brought back memories of 9/11, when passengers joined together to foil one airliner from reaching its destination, the White House. They all died, but they died as heroes.

What is the head of the Transportation Security Administration doing to prevent further attacks? Nothing, because the TSA is still waiting for leadership as the Republican party has blocked President Obama’s nomination, former FBI agent and security expert Erroll Southers. The TSA is an important part of national security and has been politicized to the point of having no power to do anything. The Republicans are blaming Obama for taking too long to appoint someone to fill the post. Obama nominated Southers in September. South Carolina Republican Jim DeMint has been the major obstacle to nominating a TSA chief. The TSA is the division of Homeland Security that oversees airport security, but DeMint is concerned that Southers might let TSA screeners join a labor union. DeMint called the failed bombing attempt a “perfect example of why the Obama Administration should not unionize the TSA.” He claims unionization of TSA workers would give the “union bosses” the power “to veto or delay future security improvements at our airports.”

In between airline stories, there were other highlights in 2009. The historic inauguration of Obama, on a cold day in January, brought more than a million people to the National Mall in Washington D.C., to witness the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States. “We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America,” Obama said in his inaugural address. It may not be all that original, but Obama’s oratorical skills made it possibly the sound bite of the year, except, of course, for the unusual breach of Congressional decorum when Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted “You lie!” during a speech to Congress in September. Wilson blurted out his famous line immediately after Obama said, “There are those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal aliens. This too, is false. The reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.” So much for health care reform.

The economy went from bad to worse to a little better. Sarah Palin cashed in on her memoir “Going Rogue” as most Americans were going broke. President Obama continued Bush’s policies of bailing out failed banks and the auto industry. The swine flu, renamed H1N1, was deemed a major pandemic, but most of us are still waiting to see what all the hype was about. As the news media were fixated on two wars and a cratering economy, a little political scandal seemed to come as a breather.

Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina, a Republican, saw his presidential ambitions go up in smoke as he made national news by disappearing after telling aides he was going for a hike on the Appalachian Trail on June 18th. He surfaced six days later, saying that he actually had been in Argentina “with his soul mate.” The media went wild… Until Michael Jackson died a few days later.

The news of Michael Jackson’s untimely death at the age of 50 caught the media by surprise, but they stayed with the story, even delving into Anderson Cooper’s discovery of Jackson’s old friend Bubbles the Chimp, whom he dressed in matching clothes and taught to do the “moonwalk”. Bubbles has been found living in retirement in Florida.

From “Balloon Boy” to Tiger Woods, pop culture news gave Americans a respite from the actual horrors of two wars and the global economic catastrophe. Carrie Prejean went from first runner-up in the Miss USA 2009 beauty pageant to media star when she famously objected to same-sex marriage in favor of “opposite marriage”.

While we’ve all been trying to figure out how our government gets anything done, as the health care reform bill passed in the House and got torn apart in the Senate, President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, and everyone scratched their heads wondering why.

As the symbol of economic excess, Bernie Madoff, is serving 150 years for bilking investors of millions of dollars, the economy is slowly making its way back. Cash For Clunkers was supposed to be a much-needed boost to the auto industry, but overall sales fell over 25%. General Motors and Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection.

After hijacking the news media for much of the year, the Michael Jackson story ended on a fitting note. As the year wrapped up, it was announced that the “Thriller” video has been added to the film archives of the Library of Congress, the first music video to be so honored.

“And that’s the way it was…”

-Walter Cronkite (1916-2009)

http://www.paulsolomon.blogspot.com

[Via http://psolo.wordpress.com]

Carl Pope: The Best News from 2009

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' to be Preserved in US Film Registry

2009-12-30T13:37:00.000+02:00

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video was selected by the National Film Preservation Board as the first ever music video to be named to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. The library selects films that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant after reviewing hundreds of titles nominated by the public and consulting with the National Film Preservation Board. As one of 25 films to be inducted for preservation, the John Landis directed Thriller video will join our nation’s treasures in the world’s largest archive of film, TV and sound recordings along with 1979 “The Muppet Movie” which was the first time Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy graced the big screen.

Source

[Via http://exposedtolife.com]

AMERICAblog News: Outrage as China executes Briton with mental ...

Michael Jackson 25 Miles Lyrics

2009-12-30T05:11:00.000+02:00

Twenty-five miles from home, girl

My feet are hurtin’ mighty bad

Now I’ve been walkin’ for three days

And two lonely nights

You know that I’m mighty bad

But I got a girl waitin’ for me

That’s gonna make this

trip worthwhile

You see, she’s got the kind

Of lovin’ and kissin’

Make a boy go stone wild

I got to keep on walkin’

Oh I got to walk on

Let me tell you, y’all

I’m so tired

But I just can’t lose my stride

I got fifteen miles to go now

And I can hear my baby

callin’ my name

It’s as if, as though

I’m standin’ at her front door

And I can hear that doggone thing

Now I’ll be so glad to see my baby

And hold her in my arms one more time

[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/8dCd ]

And when I kiss her lips

I turn backward flip

And I forget about these feet of mine

I got to keep on walkin’

Oh I got to walk on

Let me tell you, y’all

I’m so tired

But I just can’t lose my stride

Yeah I got to walk on

Let me tell you, y’all

Hope my feet don’t fail me now

I got five more miles to go

I got nine, eight, seven

Six, oh six

I got five more miles to go now

Over the hills just around the bend

Although my feet are tired

I can’t lose my stride

I got to get my baby back again

I got to keep on walkin’

I got to walk on

Let me tell y’all

I’m so tired now

But I just can’t lose my stride

Oh, I got to walk on

Let me tell you now

I’m so tired

But I just can’t lose my stride

I got to walk on

[Via http://vvaavv.wordpress.com]

Peter Orszag to Wed ABC News Reporter - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

Joey L. Dowdy's "Make Me Sexy, Make Me Groove!" LESSON 101

2009-12-28T21:46:00.000+02:00

Wouldn’t you like to be the person everyone is talking about for a change? You know what I mean, “Yes You, The Hot One!” The one who enters into a room and, “BINGO” all eyes surround you. Have you ever wondered what makes the hot ones so attractive?

How did they develop their magnetic appeal? Is it just by the way they look? Is there a certain vibe? What makes them so SEXY? What do they have that most others don’t, but would like to get? Is there a secret or possibly a magic formula?

Sure! Looks do play a role when someone is classified as having the “It factor.” However, what works for one may not work for the other which could signify that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

But I believe there’s more to it than just looks. There are other elements that make a person stand out from the crowd. That if you want to be Hot & Sexy it takes work, but more than that it’s a true realization. It’s a realization that starts from within. And it starts with the connection of learning how to move and use your body. Finding Your Groove!

I believe there’s a sexy side to everyone yet you may have to dig a little to find it, but that’s okay, it’ll be a fun discovery.”

But the first step is to identify your unique qualities and characteristics that will help you to “Put Your Best Foot Forward.”

Did you know Movement & Dance is, “ The Original Body Language?” Not only does it have great physical fitness benefits, like helping you keep a nicely trim body, it also stimulates your brain for more creative and productive thinking power, it uplifts and refreshes your spirit as well.

Movement & Dance has a way of speaking and communicating with out saying a SINGLE word, it sends out signals that convey certain messages. The movement becomes your voice. It’s a lesson 101 that can help you create your own Uniqueness, Hotness, and Sexiness. It has transformational Groove Power. How?

Check This Out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhD7q7gVF6k

[Via http://jjgroove01.wordpress.com]

Skipper Cesc is Gunners' super-sub | Latest News | Football News ...

My Sound of Music

2009-12-28T05:20:00.000+02:00

The Von Trapp family were the Partridge Family of their day but without the annoying pastels and giant flowers randomly painted on walls. A string of silver-throated talents from old to young, this family did more to further my love of singing than any other early influence. I suspect I even subconsciously believed that the girl of my dreams would have dark lovely hair and would angelically sing and as she waited for me before dates about being sixteen going on seventeen and what not. Maybe that’s why I’ve found it particularly difficult to get over my last girlfriend who could easily gain entry into a Von Trapp family reunion, or could at least organize the event.

Singing was a part of my childhood for many years. I even sang the co-lead in a Presidents Day play in grade school. I was Lincoln. My hated childhood nemesis was George Washington. I always wished there had been an impromptu duel between us in that play, me singing about ending slavery with an Attack au Fer, he with a parry and a quip about the one dollar bill, the fight culminating with blurred steel and shouts of honesty vs. equality. Of course, I prevail in an ironic twist of my blade as Washington collapses beside his father’s felled cherry tree, red fruit tumbling out to the shocked parents below.

But soon my voice would be shattered by puberty and singing next to my mother in church, her eyes full of happiness, would lose its appeal in the paradigm of a my teenage years. The next years were sung like the plains of America, if mildly beatific, without range. But I did have one interesting solo just out of college where I sang David Lee Roth’s interpretation of “Just a Gigolo”, forced by a girl I was obliged to tip my hat to at a bar one evening. To say I dominated the audience with my Karaoke interpretation would not illustrate how Prince-like I used the mic and how somewhere in the distance, Ol’ Blue Eyes was golf clapping. The professional singers in the audience turned inwardly toward their drinks as the crowd cheered and women’s knees buckled.

If I’ve learned anything from the recording industry, it’s better to go out like Salena than like Michael. So I quit while I was ahead. Nothing for years. But then I met the girl. And I got to date her. A song for any season not just in voice but in heart, she gilded any harmony. She said I had a nice voice after a very brief a capalla, though I’m uncertain how much of this was uncomfortable pity to her professional ear. But my three-year old niece says she like to hear me sing. For her, I only sing crooner-style Christmas songs with lots of embellishment to help swing my audience of she, dinosaur and birdie. And she’s very forgiving considering I forget most of the lyrics and just repeat the one part I know two or three times. Sometimes she even dances.

It’s nice to sway an audience and though my girl is now gone, and though we never sang together, thoughts of remembering her through singing seems like a nice waste of time for me while driving to and from work each day. Maybe one day, if the universe shifts just far enough, she and I will meet up again on grassy hills above Salzburg to sing our duet. If not, I’ll just sit up there and try to enjoy the silence, save for the brushing sound of the wind.

[Via http://jonhillenbrand.wordpress.com]

Dave Barry's Blog: HOLIDAY NEWS ROUNDUP

Top Ten Most Fascinating People of 2009

2009-12-23T20:51:00.000+02:00

After reviewing many news articles, thinking of popular events, and watching Barbara Walter’s top ten show on ABC last week, I have come up with my own top ten of the most fascinating people of 2009. This list, in my mind, was based on people who made an impact on others lives and who made people think, what is that person really like under the surface?

10. Lady Gaga

I agreed with Barabra Walters and I think that this women needs to start off my top ten list as well. I believe that she made a huge impact on the pop music scene in 2009. Her pop single “Poker Face” made huge waves on the radio and she is the first artist to have four number ones on one album, “Fame”. What I like about Lady Gaga as well is she is not afraid to take risks, with her out there outfits, performances, and her music. She likes to over look boundaries and when people see Lady Gaga they want to learn more about the women because of how she presents herself. She still has a huge future ahead of her and I strongly believe that her new album, “The Fame Monster” is even better than “Fame” and she has a great lead into being a pop culture icon.

9. Stephanie Meyer

This women deserves my number nine spot for her writing in the popular book series, Twilight. Twilight is the best selling book of 2008 and sold 85 million copies worldwide of the popular vampire novel series. Meyer, who was a mormon housewife turned best selling author, was ranked in the Forbes 100 most powerful celebrities as #26 and was awarded USA Today’s Author of the Year in 2008. Her books became one of the biggest box office smashes in 2009 with Twilight and her second novel The New Moon making in about 13.9 million on the opening week. Meyer got the idea for Twilight in a dream she had about a girl falling in love with a vampire. I bet Meyer is living in a dream world right now with all the success she has had with the popular book series and the fan base she has built up.

8. Elizabeth Edwards

This woman deserves my number eight spot because of all the grievances and media backlash her family has been through. She is the wife of John Edwards, who in the earlier part of the year revieled that he cheated on his wife with a woman named Rielle Hunter. Recently the media has reported that John Edwards is the father of one of Rielle Hunter’s children. Not only on top of the cheating accusations and confessions, Elizabeth is battling with breast cancer. In the spring she announced her breast cancer is back and in an incurable form. Elizabeth stuck with her husband and they currently are trying to figure out their problems in their home in North Carolina. I respect Elizabeth’s decisions to try to work out problems with her husband and to stick by his side. I believe she is a strong women for battling with breast cancer and then having to deal with the media and a broken heart. Elizabeth Edwards is a smart, strong women and many people should look up to her for her courage and strength.

7. Nadya Suleman

Nadya Suleman goes by many names: crazy, fame seeker, insane, but her most common one is “octomom”. In March 2009, Suleman gave birth to not one, not two, not even three, but EIGHT children. This caused a media stir and many people protested one women have so many children to feed and raise. On top of these eight children, Suleman also has six older children residing with her mom. Many people criticize Suleman for her homemaking ways and question if this woman has enough money and resources to take care of these 14 children. Suleman reportedly signed a contract with a reality television show that will start to air in the fall based off her hectic lifestyle. I picked Suleman as my number seven because of the public’s growing fascination with this women.

6. Taylor Swift

If you havent heard of this girl, I will guarantee you have heard of her number one song “Love Story”. God it’s played on the top 40 radio every other minute. Lets be real, Taylor Swift has it going on. She has a number one hit album Fearless, which has stayed on the billboard top 100 list for 11 consecutive weeks in a row. Love Story and You Belong With Me has blown up on the radio scene and not to mention she is dating hottie Taylor Lauder from Twilight. I picked Swift for number six because of her success on and off the stage. I believe how Swift handled the Kanye West explosion at the VMA’s was pure class and that she did not deserve that. I agree with Kanye a bit, Beyonce’s video was bomb, but Taylor deserved that award as much as Beyonce did. Another aspect that I like about Taylor Swift is that she writes her OWN songs. She can sing too, which is a huge perk in the music business these days(Miley take a hint from Swift). She has had so much success and she is not even 21 yet. Go Taylor and keep up the good work.

5. Ted Kennedy

I will never forget the quote one of my good friends said to me on the day of Ted Kennedy’s death, “Finally, three irish brothers in heaven together, knowing they did good things for their country.” Kennedy was an accomplished Senator from Massachuset. Kennedy is the fourth longest seat holder in Senate history serving 46 years in the democratic party. Known as the “Lion of the Senate” he has passed 300 bills and has fought on many issues including immigration, AIDS, civil rights, and education. His everlasting battle with cancer has brought the aspect of universal health care into the limelight and he fought for every single step of the way. I picked Senator Kennedy as my fifth choice because he shows to the American people that if you want it you fight for it. That’s exactly what Senator Kennedy did.

4. Susan Boyle

I remember the first time I was watching “Britain’s Got Talent” and Susan Boyle walked on the stage, I thought exactly what was going through Simon Cowell’s mind, “oh give me a break.” Than she opened her mouth. She now has a hit album out I Dreamed a Dream, which was the best-selling album of the decade with 701,000 copies sold in its first week. I picked Susan Boyle because I believe she proves a point to the world by not to judge a book by its cover. That is exactly what she did and she proved everybody wrong with her voice and her success. Congrats Susan you deserve this fame!

3. “Balloon Boy”

I remember turning on my television set and seeing an air craft floating around Colorado with a supposedly missing boy cramed in it. A couple of hours later, I learned that this whole drama was a hoax. Falcon Heene, the missing boy who was supposedly in the floating aircraft was found in his attic after his dad, Richard, yelled at him. The family did it for a publicity stunt and a chance to get another reality television spot after their stint in Wife Swap. Now the parents of Falcon are both expecting some jail time. I picked Falcon as my number three because it just goes to show you how much one family can control the media and people’s minds.

2. Michael Jackson

Only a few words can describe Michael Jackson: a legacy during his lifetime and after. He made a scene during his early years becoming the greatest pop icon with his smash hits, Thriller and Beat It. He kept on the media scene in his later life with not so positive accusations about his involvement with teenage boys. The sudden death of Michael Jackson in the summer caused a huge stir in the world. His death became the most popular story of 2009 and the after effects were shocking. A movie, “This Is It” became a box office smash, his music was widely recognized again, and it is reported that Michael Jackson made enough money to recover from his debt for his death. I picked Michael Jackson because I believe that he is a amazement in what he did in his lifetime and the effect he had on people when he passed. People loved him and will always.

1. Chesley ”Sully” Sullenberger

On January 15th, across the world nobody could stop talking about Sully and his heroic ways. Chesley Sullenberger safely landed a US Airline jet plane on the Hudson River and saved 155 people lives after striking geese and causing the engines to disable. He truly is an American hero and deserves a lot of recongintion for his quick ways and thinking. Many people’s lives could have been lost. Thankful for a smart pilot and a River, lives were saved and grievances were lost. Thanks Sully.

[Via http://wayrandomthoughts.wordpress.com]

News of First Major Progressive Legislation in 30 Years Enrages ...

Michael Jackson's FBI File Released

2009-12-23T04:56:00.000+02:00

Michael Jackson’s FBI file was released today, detailing various aspects about the pop star’s life. The releasing of the file includes the FBI’s investigation into the singer’s child molestation allegations made against him by a 13 year-old boy in 1993 and the 2003 child molestation case he faced in Los Angeles, CA when another 13 year-old boy made similar allegations.

But the file didn’t reveal much that the public didn’t know already. The file included heavily redacted documents, photocopied tabloid articles and what would be considered the most sensational of the bunch, a plot to kill the singer and then president, George H.W. Bush.

“Frank Paul Jones had a history of threatening to kill the president and had been arrested numerous times outside the White House, according to investigatory reports. In rambling letters collected by the FBI, Jones claimed to be the son of John Gotti, demanded money and pledged to “commit mass murder at a Michael Jackson concert.” A Los Angeles federal judge sentenced him to two years in prison in 1993 for mailing threatening communications to Jackson.” (La Times)

But it seems like the FBI really didn’t do much, as local authorities did most of the heavy lifting. Yes, the FBI had to be involved with most of the cases because of the federal charges and alleged threats made against Mr. Jackson, but it seems like they let the local authorities handle all the work.

Lazy asses.

Door closed.

-Damien

[Via http://closethedoorplease.wordpress.com]

Brittany Murphy's Sad Days Revealed | Fancast News

Same Old Song And Dance

2009-12-18T13:35:00.000+02:00

If you want a classy Christmas Number One, look no further than these guys.

I wasn’t going to write about this story but it’s still bubbling away and after reading a few articles and blogs I’ve been compelled to add my bit.

“He doesn’t deserve to be stuck in the middle of this fight. A campaign aimed at harming his chart position is unnecessary.” Simon Cowell

“He put his heart and soul into every single week of The X-Factor and I cannot bear to see him lose out to a mean campaign that has nothing to do with his efforts.” Cheryl Cole

“He’s just some kid with a career ahead. I’ve got nothing against that. But it would be kind of funny if Rage Against The Machine got it instead.” Sir Paul McCartney

Forgetting about the Facebook campaign, the choice of single to battle against the X-Factor machine, and whether it succeeds or not, the fact is the likes of Cowell and Cole seem to think that the X-Factor winner has a God-given right to go straight to a Christmas number one with their debut single. They don’t. There are no rules against a campaign trying to get a song to number one for whatever reason. If a campaign has enough backing then so be it. The motives for it may not be decent, but this sort of thing has been done before with little complaint (Mysterious Girl, anyone?).

Joe McElderry has done really well to win the over-sentimental national karaoke competition. He seems like a really nice lad with plenty of years ahead of him to get corrupted by life when it finally chews him up, spits him out and squishes him to the pavement like it does to everyone. But this Rage Against The Machine campaign isn’t directed at him. Some fans think it’s a form of mass-bullying – but the same thing would have happened if Stacey, Olly, Larry, Curly, Moe, or God help us, those disgusting Irish twins won the show. The X-Factor bigwigs should know how the charts work.

Cowell is pissed that there’s a fight for number one. Shouldn’t there ALWAYS be a fight for number one?! It’s no fun if there’s an obvious winner to anything in life. Cole is irked that Joe’s been working really hard for the past…three months during the live shows. That’s almost as much hard work as bands like Rage Against The Machine have had to put in, in their…18-year existence. Yes.

Whether you like the campaign or not is irrelevant to me. I haven’t joined the Facebook group, because I don’t really care about the campaign itself. The charts have been pointless for years. My granny could have been number one lately and I wouldn’t have known about it. Nope, I join more important Facebook groups such as ’A line has been crossed when Space Raiders are no longer 10p’, ‘Claudia Winkleman is crap‘ and ‘Girls, stop flicking your bean to Twilight and go make me a bacon sandwich‘.

So on Sunday afternoon when the radio will be playing utterly dire tracks from the likes of Tinchy Stryder and Well.I.Suck, I shall sit cross-legged next to the fire with my Santa hat on, raiding a selection box while listening to cassette-quality recordings of REAL Christmas classics such Earth Song, Stay Another Day and 2 Become 1.

On second thoughts, I hope I can’t find those.

[Via http://rainingdreaming.wordpress.com]

News Corp. to Sell Subscriptions on Sony Reader - Bits Blog ...

20 Watts' Best of 2009: #12 Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster

2009-12-18T05:21:00.000+02:00

20 Watts' Best of 2009 ranks Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster at #12

PREVIEW: VISIT Lady Gaga’s Website

TOP TRACK: “Bad Romance”

Michael Jackson. David Bowie. Madonna. Kanye West. Critics and fans alike don’t typically utters the names of pop legends with moderation in mind. It’s a good thing that Lady Gaga doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word. Last year’s The Fame may have put Gaga on the map, but this year’s follow-up The Fame Monster gave us more new material and reminded the musically-inclined populace yet again that mass-consumed songwriting can indeed be a venue for true talent.

If you really want to know why The Fame Monster is one of the best albums of the year, you hardly need to look further than the video for lead single “Bad Romance” for proof. Lady Gaga literally sets potential suitors ablaze with the over-the-top display that colors the majority of her work — but on The Fame Monster the material is all darker, and all more vindictive. Each song is either a biting critique or a forlorn lament, and Gaga’s voice bounces beautifully over the eclectic production throughout, from Darkchild, Fernando Garibay,RedOne, Ron Fair, and others.

We see an angrier side of Gaga on The Fame Monster — and perhaps a more broken, vulnerable side of her as well. Gaga’s heartbreak-torn vocals on songs like “Alejandro” or “Telephone” (featuring Beyonce) would have been out of place alongside the hedonistic abandon of “Poker Face” or “Just Dance,” but adhere thematically to every other song on the record. This makes The Fame Monster as much a concept album as its predecessor was, in no way a bad thing. In eight songs Lady Gaga’s shown us yet another side of fame and kept herself more than fresh. Let’s just hope she can keep it up.

– Eric Vilas-Boas

[Via http://20watts.wordpress.com]

Joe Trippi: FOX News contributor: The Swamp

Trigger's Year in Review

2009-12-16T21:20:00.000+02:00

Well, Kevin and Abe have already put together two excellent “best of”/”favorites” lists for 2009, both of which have made my end-of-the-year albums-to-buy list longer than it already was (this is always the time of the year where I go pretty hog-nutty on buying new music, given the proliferation of best-of recommendations and whatnot), so I decided to take a slightly different approach and put together a half-assed year-in-review playlist, something that attempts to capture the pop-cultural spirit of 2009. And any playlist with such a focus wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging that the world breathed one giant collective sigh of relief when news broke that the King of Pop had kicked the bucket. (Sorry, MJ fans.) For 40-odd years, the world couldn’t take their eyes off Michael Jackson, first because he was a super superstar, a child prodigy who channeled Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, James Brown, a young man who developed a mystique, sound, choreography, etc., that took pop music and dance to never-before-reached heights, and then because of the complete and utter trainwreck his life—and face—had become. In the first 20 years of his career, the world looked on because, yes, we were thrilled and we couldn’t believe what we were seeing. In the latter 20 years, the world looked on because we couldn’t look away, as much as we wanted to. On that note, let’s raise our guarded glasses. Here’s one of my MJ faves, ”Rock With You.” Rest in peace, Michael. Fortunately for us, though, at the tail end of 2009, Tiger Woods entered the fray to take a lot of the heat off MJ, especially as news of MJ’s tendencies to remove his nose and to pee in a glass in front of his guests really started to capture the public’s imagination. Balloon Boy & Family and the Salahis made valiant efforts at garnering the spotlight, but eventually they were exposed for simply being pathetic attempts at shameless self-promotion. What we really needed was a good old-fashioned fall-from-grace story, one in which a lilly-white-clean world-class athlete and cultural icon is exposed for being nothing more than a cliche—a philandering horn-dog, PED-pumping, control freak—and Tiger delivered big time. To wit, the surprisingly catchy Tiger Woods Slow Jam is a must for any 2009 Year in Review playlist. And isn’t that what 2009 is all about? We knew that mainstream news channels are to journalism as to what professional wrestling is to sports, but it seemed like news coverage treaded new, shaky ground this year in that tabloids, internet gossip sites, and the TMZs of the world were suddenly being treated like credible sources. Established public figures spent and are spending an incredible amount of resources and energy to protect their image and privacy, while every where we look there’s a new wanna-be reality star fabricating some outlandish stunt to attract attention. For what it’s worth, there’s no better artist and no better song that puts these sentiments to music than 2009 newcomer Lady Gaga and her single “Paparazzi.” (If you get a chance, check out this NPR story on Lady Gaga. Pretty interesting…) Perhaps 2009 will be remembered as the Year of Exposure or, maybe, the Year of Being Exposed. As this recent article in the Washington Post points out, in an effort to stand beneath their own little piece of the spotlight, more and more indie bands are attempting to stand apart from the fracas of the Internet, the preponderance of bands on every corner of Brooklyn, and the white noise of mainstream media by simply doing what comes naturally: getting naked. As a parent, I’m not sure how I feel about my son eventually stumbling across a vidcap of Wayne Coyne’s rockwurst (which by the way is exposed at 4:54 of the this video [Nice penis, Wayne]), but I guess there are worse things he could discover on the ‘net. Here’s a suitable-for-viewing-at-work version of Matt and Kim’s “Lessons Learned.”

Plenty has been written about how iTunes/myspace/YouTube/[insert file-sharing app] has changed music-buying (or lack thereof) habits, and how the music industry has struggled to adapt to changes in consumers’ listening/buying/sharing/downloading habits, etc. Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how I personally now go about engaging and sharing music, particularly in comparison to how I was first introduced to the great records of my youth. To summarize, I now purchase and download music from iTunes and occasionally buy a used CD (but only if it’s cheaper than the $9.99 iTunes price!), whereas I first encountered the songs of, for instance, Motown, Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis, and the Beatles by hanging out with my dad as a little kid while he spinned one classic record after another. Looking back, I now realize how cool and special an experience that was. And it wasn’t just about listening to the records; it was also about handling and flipping each record, dropping the needle, and studying the covers and reading the liner notes, and it was all a very tangible, almost ritualistic experience . Now that I’m a dad I think about how I’m going to share music with my boy. Will I dial up some mp3s on my laptop? Don’t be silly. Will I burn some tracks for him onto a CD-R? Of course not. What’s more likely, assuming I don’t show up on Uncle Abe’s doorstep asking to borrow The White Album on vinyl (and Abe, I’m starting to come around), is that my kid will show me how he’d like to engage music; chances are, it will take the form of dad jamming his boy’s cute little ass off on Rock Band (or some other video game), which is a type of pleasure our folks obviously couldn’t share with us. I’m not sure which type of experience is better—sharing a record or exchanging licks via Rock Band—but as a dad, and a good consumer, I want both options. I want every option. And for that reason, my final entry for my 2009 year-in-review playlist is “The Beatles Rock Band.” For a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse on the making-of, see this article from The New York Times Magazine.

[Via http://rockwurst.wordpress.com]

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Good news: Pelosi a finalist for Time's ...

My First-Ever University Term Has 2 Days Left

2009-12-16T13:34:00.000+02:00

Two exams left…The dreaded Statistics exam – admittedly, I put WAY more focus on the courses I was interested in, pulling an “A” in the Multiple Murder course, for example, and a decent mark in the Forensic Psychology course as well…Though Social Work will be my Master’s degree (and perhaps my eventual Ph.D). All of it is related, so knowledge is always worthwhile.

Anyway, the Stats final is Friday, then Philosophy on Saturday, which won’t be a problem at all. Stats – that’s my greatest challenge, and I’m going all out to pull off a pass. Fortunately, for my Masters program, they only look at my 4th year marks for admission, so by then, I’ll have a much better footing. After selling my car, moving to a foreign city and living in a student house with 19-year olds, it’s been one heck of an adjustment. The wonderful part is that I’m moving in with my girlfriend in the new year, so things will be so much more calm and stable at that time. We’re both going to finish our schooling in Brantford, then get the heck out of here, since we much prefer other cities to this one.

My MSW will be done in my hometown of Kitchener, so that will be great. I already have some great contacts in the field of social work, so my heart knows that this is all very worth it investment-wise. I’m so very proud of my girlfriend for returning to school as well!! Life is too short to settle for less than we desire!

With that said, ‘time to go nail the Stats exam. I’m studying with someone who has an amazing mark so far, so she’s going to help me master the review for the final. Once Stats is directly related to my field, I’ll ACE it.

P.S. – It’s almost Montreal time!! (Can I NOT mention New Years Eve in just one post?) ;o)

Heck no.

- Jeff Emmerson

[Via http://jeffemmersonmyautobiography.wordpress.com]

Surfing The Mets - NY Daily News

Poptastic Day: Mama-se, Mama-sa, Mama-makossa

2009-12-14T21:41:00.000+02:00

Do you ever look something up online and take so many strange turns that you end up reading up on a topic that has nothing even remotely to do with the original search? Me, ALL the time – it’s like wiki-ADD. The other day I started off wanting to know why Pluto (the dwarf planet, not the Disney dog) was demoted only three years ago.* Somehow, and I can’t for the life of me remember how, I’ve become an expert on where the phrase ‘mama-se, mama-sa, mama-makossa’ comes from. True story! Well, I say “expert”, I mean I now know as much as the person who wrote the Wikipedia entry.

You may have heard the phrase around the playground, it’s been used by a plethora of artists as varied as the Blood Hound Gang and Rihanna. I first heard it in Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” and have been trying to get it out of my head since that first listen years and years ago. I found out that Makossa is a musical style popular in West and Central Africa in which traditional African music is mixed with Jazz, Highlife and Soul. Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango popularized the sound with his hit, “Soul Makossa”, now known as a forerunner of disco.

The single was originally a B-side and released in 1972. David Mancuso, the New York based, self-proclaimed “musical host” used to spin records in his building at the very first, underground dance parties, known as The Loft. To this day, he refuses to call himself a DJ, but he is slowly being recognized as a major influence in the history of the DJ. Anyhoo, he got a hold of a copy and started playing it regularly at these underground, Loft parties. The song became high in demand but there were only a handful of copies, so it was sold out in a jiffy. The smart people at Atlantic licensed it and reproduced it en masse, but not before a couple dozen other bands had covered and released the song, trying to hitch a ride on its popular coattails. Moreover, artists have been using “mama-se, mama-sa” in some form or another ever since, and continue to do so.

The original Manu Dibango song is ridiculously catchy and so freakin’ funky it’s gonna makes you want to cut a rug, heck make that twelve rugs. It doesn’t take any stretch of the imagination to see why this song is known as a prime example of proto-disco.

Manu Dibango – Soul Makossa

Here are some songs that perpetuate the popularity of the phrase:

Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ A Tribe Called Quest – Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts)

*In the unlikely event anyone was reading this hoping for an answer to the Pluto question: it wasn’t till 2006 that the term “planet” was first truly defined by the International Astronomical Union. Pluto only covers two out of three criteria that make a planet a planet and ever since it gets bullied by the other 8 proper planets. Poor, tiny Pluto.

[Via http://onehundredb.com]

MetsBlog.com : News: Padres Sign Kevin Correia to One Year Deal

Aught Lang Syne: Tim's Video Hitlist

2009-12-11T12:55:00.000+02:00

I want to make one thing clear from the start: This is my hitlist. John, Josh, and Pierre had nothing to do with it, and I don’t want to sully their reputations or that of the blog as a whole in presenting it. You know what I think about music.

But the following is a list of eight music videos from the Aughts, loosely defined as “my favorites.” I was late to the music video party, not getting MTV until it stopped playing music videos.*

*I mean “getting” there in the sense that I did not have it as a channel on my television. I did understand what MTV was.

If you want to make the case that I don’t “get” music videos, go ahead.

Alien Ant Farm — “Smooth Criminal”

It’s kind of ridiculous that this was the first music video I really liked, especially considering I didn’t understand ANY of the allusions to Michael Jackson videos. Maybe that’s why I liked it: It seemed original and cool. And even though it lost its originality, it’s still cool.

Plus, I find this version of “Smooth Criminal” as a song better than MJ’s, as untenable as that seems.

Johnny Cash — “Hurt”

This would be my pick for the greatest video of the decade. And I know far too little about Johnny Cash to add anything else.

Seabear — “Arms”

There are two types of people in this world: People who find this video irreproachably cute, and people who are heartless. I briefly pushed for spring break in Reykjevk after seeing this, although, some of that had to do with the Icelandic financial crisis, too. (I owe a long overdue hat tip to Emily Collette Wilkinson at The Millions for introducing me to this video, this song, and this band.)

OutKast — “Hey Ya”

My reasons for liking “Hey Ya” are neither original nor enlightening. The video lives up to the song, which is probably the best of the decade, regardless of what John S or Pitchfork says.

Mute Math — “Typical”

Do you realize what is going on? It’s all backwards! Like, they had to learn to sing and play guitar and drums and all backwards! HOW IS YOUR MIND NOT EXPLODING???

Steriogram — “Walkie Talkie Man”

My affinity for this song was short-lived and driven mainly by a similar affinity for MVP Baseball 2004. Nevertheless, it’s hard to describe this video—which despite its use of yarn and not Legos, reminds me of Legos*—as anything except “really cool.”

*And I know the White Stripes did, in fact, use Legos in “Fell in Love with a Girl,” but I still prefer this video because I have a semblance of an idea of what is going on.

Beyonce ft. Shakira — “Beautiful Liar”

Do I really need to go into why this one makes the list? I can’t think of two other artists I would prefer to collaborate in a visual medium than these two. I also like to think that putting the two on the same team, as it were, raised both their games the same way Kobe and LeBron being on the Olympic team did for them.

The fact that they look weirdly alike and that the video itself falls well short of its potential—have you seen “Baby Boy” or “She Wolf”?—only means they should revisit the template sometime next decade.

Robin Sparkles — “Let’s Go to the Mall”

Because ‘80s nostalgia—or making fun of Canada—never get old.

[Via http://npinopunintended.wordpress.com]

Apple (AAPL) China News Bad For RIM (RIMM) – 24/7 Wall St.

SMH.. They still making money off MJ

2009-12-11T05:32:00.000+02:00

The following companies have been sued by the company that has the rights to distribute shirts, posters, and other Michael Jackson memoribilia, Bravado International Group — They are allegedly selling bootlegged stuff in violation of the copyright. Here’s the list:

Jin Cha, OK Sportswear, EZ Sportswear, Chang Oh Kim, Chuck Kim, Eden Sports, Justin Ju, Sy Sports, Susan Lee, Susan Yoon, Lee’s Family Inc., Green T Corp, Kyung Sook Ma, Cesar Igiesias, Bling Bling Inc., Kauh Un Lee, Arthur Berman, Wacky Planet, Wackyplanet.com, Theplanetshops.com, David Ahoubian, D&T Distribution, Paris Fashions, Clothing Island, Clothingisland.com, Print Liberation, Jaime Dillion, Nick Paparone, Dr. Jay’s, Inc., Maggi Fashion Wholesale, Mansour Rokhsarzadeh, Azizi Afshin, Afshin Azzi, Bargain Wholesaler, Wholesaleclothing.com, TBwholesaler.com, Top Brands, Wholesaler, Ahmad Jamhour, Oz Communications, Crazytees.net, Otto Suarez, Olga Lyons, Shop Rumor, Anooshk Zakarian, Esther Lee, Keum Sportswear, Chang Song Lee, African American Dollar Store, Edna Clement Swan, Jack Leiberman, Progressiverags.com, Skreened, Daniel Chrstopher Fox, Shiekh, Shiekh Shoes, Incrediblegifts.com, Daniel Lassoff, Shaky City Blues, Mario Ontiveros, Main Collection, Main Sportswear, Su Young Cho, MB Sportswear, Choung Choe, Right Thang, Hyo Jang Yoon, Buy Me4rchant, Buymerchant.com, Craig Mentham, Steal Deal, Abraham Davood, Michael Davood, Ebby Davood, The Wild Side, The Wildside.com, Kingsley Syme, Kingley Symes, Setup Site, Harrington Outlets, ObamaTShirts.com, Sour Candy, Shoe Blanace International, Yak Shoe, Wholesale Situation, Jason Aref, Julio Aref, Watch Time, Aziz Ali, Unishow, Gary Chen, rena Chen, Amiline.com, Jian Zhu, Gravity Trading…. AND, Tony in Chong.

Smh, they stilllll making money off the man and he been gone for a minute…

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/#ixzz0ZM44jhEV

[Via http://immaculatebacktalk.wordpress.com]

News Roundup: Peter Bhatia Named Editor At The Oregonian; Terror ...

Music in cloud city

2009-12-09T05:35:00.000+02:00

There are as many definitions of cloud computing as people who venture them. Some include software as a service in the mix; others describe it strictly as the infrastructure portion of things. I subscribe to the one that is simplest as an end user and consumer: Cloud computing is any processing provided to me by a third party over the net. Period.

Why can I be so bold as to disregard all other definitions? Because cloud computing is neither a discipline nor a science, there is no regulation for it, no union for cloud workers, no nothing. Cloud computing is a concept and a buzzword in the full extent of its definition. Companies are already using it to show how fashionable and up to date they are and I’m sure soon men will use it in pick up lines to dazzle girls: “You know baby… I cloud a lot.”

I love the possibilities of the cloud and understand the skeptics that find issue with the security of their critical data. I would not confide in any web cloud service to handle my sensitive info just yet. For now I keep my skeletons in the closet and my dollars under the mattress, but these fears are part cultural barrier part sensible lack of faith in a new model that still needs adjustment: Did you ever read the terms and conditions for any of these services?

Some stuff I do in cloud city:

My blog is hosted at WordPress.com.
My blog’s e-mail is hosted at Google via Google Apps.
I use Google spreadsheets, documents and sites to collaborate with co-workers.
I backup non sensitive information in my online backup service (yes, in case you are wondering, there is porn among that)

Those are just a few. I do a lot more. I cloud baby.

I would like to play the divination game for a while and venture some changes I believe will happen in one of my favorite areas: Music.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the best selling album of all times. It sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide. I’m sure those sales came in an array of formats: vinyl records, compact discs, cassette tapes and possibly more, but let’s just say, for the sake of argument that all those were CDs. That assumption results in 100M plastic cases, 100M booklets, 100M CDs, etc.

Think of all the effort, environmental strains and elevated costs for such a distribution model when all you need is a single copy in a server (purists are welcome to add all the mirroring they want, the overall idea remains) to be accessed by 100M people instead. Would Mohammad go to the mountain if the mountain had wheels?

Nowadays you pay for downloading the song and basically for the right to listen to the song as many times as you want. The important thing, however, is the latter, because coupling that with a song stored in the cloud, you will be able to listen to that song wherever you want: your home computer, your office computer, your car stereo with wireless connection, etc. The present model is online shopping; my bet is the next model will be online shopping plus cloud storage.

I admit I like buying a CD in a brick and mortar shop, but I believe it’s purely a cultural thing. If recording music was invented today surely the distribution model would not be imprinting it in a piece of material, packaging it and delivering it, would it?

There is a very powerful piece by Nicholas Carr describing the dumbness produced by having all music in the universe available at whim. I seriously recommend you read it. I happen to agree with Nicholas, but I’m afraid the music industry is re-shaping to be something radically different and there is nothing we can do about that.

How long until you can do a jam session online with you playing the guitar in Argentina and the drummer and bass player in Australia?

How long until a wave widget for collaborative songwriting is created?

Let’s cloud baby, let’s cloud like vapor.

Shuje

On my next post I will uncover Michael Bay’s secret alchemy technique for turning everything into crap. While you wait, post your comments below or mail them to shuje@holoom.com

[Via http://holoom.com]

Organizing for America | Cloe Axelson's Blog: Morning News

This Is It OST

2009-12-07T13:17:00.000+02:00

This Is It OST (2009)

Tracklist:

Disc 01:

1. Wanna Be Startin Somethin 6:03

2. Jam 5:39

3. They Dont Care About us 4:45

4. Human Nature 4:06

5. Smooth Criminal 4:17

6. The Way You Make Me Feel 4:59

7. Shake Your Body Down To The Ground 3:54

8. I Just Cant Stop Loving You 4:12

9. Thriller 5:57

10. Beat It 4:18

11. Black Or White 4:16

12. Earth Song 6:46

13. Billie Jean 4:54

14. Man In The Mirror 5:20

15. This Is It 3:37

16. This Is It Orchestra Version 4:55

Disc 02:

1. Shes Out Of My Life Demo 3:19

2. Wanna Be Startin Somethin Demo 5:43

3. Beat It Demo 2:05

4. Planet Earth Poem 3:15

Download: Copy Below Links and Paste in Browser.

http://rapidshare.com/files/306347431/mjtisit.zip

[Via http://origin2x.wordpress.com]

Former Fox News Host Rips Glenn Beck, Kicks Fox | NewsBusters.org

These are a few of my favorite things (pt 5) (150/365)

2009-12-07T05:38:00.000+02:00

I think going to give up the fight with my poor internet service tonight and post another “Favorite things” pic post quickly to be sure to make the “deadline” tonight (lol, so srs).

So, once again, some of my favorite MJ photos:

Part 4

Part 3

Part 2

Part 1

[Via http://mj365.wordpress.com]

Fashion News (December 4)

On This Day ...

2009-12-04T13:35:00.000+02:00

1660 – Composer Andre Campra was born.

1667 – Composer Michel Pignolet de Monteclair was born.

1879 – Composer Sir Herbert Hamilton Harty was born.

1961 – Gene Chandler’s “Duke of Earl” was released.

1976 – Tommy Bolin of Deep Purple died of a drug overdose at the age of 25.

1980 – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones made the announcement of their decision not to re-form Led Zeppelin in the wake of the death of drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham.

1987 – Metallica released the “Cliff ‘Em All” video collection.

1988 – Roy Orbison gave his final concert in Akron, OH. He died two days later.

1995 – Michael Jackson appeared with legendary mime Marcel Marceau at New York news conference promoting a Jackson special airing on HBO.

2001 – Gene Simmons’ book “Kiss and Make-Up” was released.

[Via http://virtualmusiccomposer.wordpress.com]

SingStar reaches 20 million sales // News

Video Break: Maxwell's Magic Take On Michael

2009-12-04T05:50:00.000+02:00

To introduce myself…Hi, Sesi ladies! I’m Jennifer, and I’ll be music blogging for you guys here at Sesi Magazine! So let’s get the music playing!

With the passing of the King of Pop, a influx of music stars have been dishing out their tributes to the music of Michael Jackson. It didn’t take long before R&B/Soul crooner, Maxwell would blanket his velvety vocals over a classic Michael cut in the form of 1982’s, “Lady In My Life”. He stepped up to the mic to perform the track at Wednesday night’s Grammy Nominations concerts, where the soul man himself racked up five Grammy noms, including one for Song of the Year for single, “Pretty Wings”.

Always the charmer, Maxwell, lushly executed the massive Thriller ballad, making it his own and making the ladies swoon in the process.

[Via http://sesimagazine.wordpress.com]

Google Ending Unlimited Free Access To Subscription News - Google ...

Michael Jackson, John Travolta, Tiger Wood Solange Magnano, Etc.

2009-12-02T21:17:00.000+02:00

12/1/2009

Michael Jackson, John Travolta, Tiger Wood Solange Magnano, Etc.

12/02/09

Dear reader:

Buenos Aires, Argentina (CNN) –, Solange Magnano, 37, died in a hospital after being transferred from a clinic where she underwent an elective surgery on her buttocks on Wednesday, the agency reported. Is there anyone famous I did not write about in my endless flow of newsletters over the years? It seems they all have something in common and that is a huge ignorance of the Cosmic Code’s impartial regulations. There is no way for me to recall any of these famous heads and their particular *crime but one thing is sure they all infringed the rules by omitting God’ signs and all have pay a very heavy price in the process.

Tiger Woods apologized for “transgressions” that let his family down — the same day a magazine alleged he had an affair. Again Tiger wood would rather be seen as a cheater only than a drunk too and the decoy is indeed working well. The stars don’t lie while Scorpio *sex / secret / police, the stars did their job Neptune *alcohol / emotion /deception, played also his vital part in the famous golfer’s drama and indeed alcohol was consumed or abused. But unless you possess Cosmic Consciousness you can only go from the *physical evidence. Yet, another very famous but unaware soul * Solange Magnano lost her life in the name of ignorance too and so many more are on the way. While the stars do not favors stars celebrities in the game of stupidity, you the reader, anywhere you are on this planet reading me, you may also be their next victim, have you thought of it? That will be true if you do not expand your own understanding of the Cosmic rules and oblige by the rules of the Divine.

Like so many celebrities and millions of other unlucky dead or alive souls, the decision to undergo surgery when she felt like *or imposed by the busy schedule of her physician, cost Solange her precious life. Her death could have been easily avoided, had she been lucky enough to consult me before making this decision. I would have INDEED strongly advised her to read Moon Power advices carefully on these days and counsel her NOT to go under the knife during a deadly Plutonic window, especially knowing that born in 1971, she inherited also a *nefarious dragon’s tail in Leo.

Leo rules children, fame, the stage, and the ego but with the dragon’s Tail in this sign LIFE itself can easily be snapped and its unlucky owner is seriously prone not only of a great dose of heartaches but heart problems even failure. But how do I know so much about ALL dragons by house and signs? Well, sad enough he touched me closely when my younger brother Vincent, who was born with such a dragon’s tail, lost his life accidentally during a Plutonic window at the tender age of 15 years old. Talk about hand on experiences… and for what sometime I ask myself? When this priceless wisdom is not appreciated or even worth $10 buck per month by some people enjoying and learning for years with me, unwilling to pay a little to reward me by joining my VIP list. Life, success, happiness, pure wisdom, predictions, valuable, funny entertainment including safety is indeed priceless and seems so cheap for some of these readers. I guess when I finally stop feeding greed I can only hope for their own sake to finally join others who rewarded my constant efforts to educate the world.

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Do you remember Selena Quintanilla-Perez? 1971-1995? Yes she was born like Solange the same year in 1971 with the same dragon’s Tail in Leo, and she died very young because of a dispute involving children. Well had she know my work too I would have counseled her to be extra cautious dealing with anything involving her kid’s group and chances are if I was to check at both departed souls, their *personal DRAGON DATES must have been dead on NEGATIVE on the day they met with their early deaths. Doing anything when you feel like or coming up with any excuses to ignore God’ sign is simply gambling with your own death. Yes indeed every single human beings, without exception should heed the stars before making any move and again YOU reader, you’ve got this God sent option at your service with my expertise and indeed, while you are not rich nor famous, you are certainly much more lucky than any and all celebrities in the world who never heard of my work and I.

Given the chance you have to know about my work, chances are any of these supremely wealthy people would own a copy of my book and Moon Power would be sitting next to their bed and consulted regularly every night for any and all of their busy schedules, future events, public performances or most of all, surgeries.

If you take the time to read some of my previous newsletters especially those titled “Rich and Famous but Ignorant” from http://newsletter.drturi.com/ or simply read “What is a Cult Leader or a Deceiving Neptunian?” from http://www.drturi.com/daily.php you may save yourself some serious troubles.

If they can afford hundreds of thousands of dollars for plastic surgery trust me they could also invest in my book or better my VIP cosmic Code newsletter because $10 per month is NOTHING to anyone really. $10 bucks to save thousands or your precious life, or anyone you care is WORTH spending and still, thousands of you reading each and every one of my FREE dragon newsletters will still find excuses to spend this $10 buck somewhere else. SHAME I say, for I have been working so hard for years trying to convince you that I own some serious divine keys here. You had ample time to check my work, especially when my predictions are blasted non-stop on every major public top websites such as Myspace, Twitter and Facebook with DATED predictions. Did you read the last one posted a couple of day ago?

Here you go again but will you make a note of it and let the future ONCE MORE prove me right?

SOS TO THE WORLD – NATURE DEVASTATING FORCES AT WORK! DEC. 3/4/5 and 30TH 2009. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FORCED TO RELOCATE. PASS THIS ON – READ MORE AT http://newsletter.drturi.com/ or http://cosmiccode7.ning.com/

Now go to http://certifiedpsychics.com/?gclid=CJutiofitp4CFQQMDQodVCn5Cg and ask any of these certified psychics or those on these big websites to do what I do regularly and DEMAND them to post dated predictions such as the one above. Yes you must be joking Dr. Turi if you think any of these souls will take a chance with their *trade, names and integrity in public FOR FREE.

But when this prediction comes true *again, will you make your move and invest in YOU, YOUR future, YOUR life with them or me? OMG! A true Prophet is as rare as can be and even my challenges have not been met by anyone of the millions of others, *mediums, astrologers, psychics, spiritual professing their art to be the finest, the most accurate offered by an angel, a monk they visited in India or God himself. But where is the solid proof? And that’s the difference between me and anyone else in this trade.

While I had to stop collecting and posting the millions of emails of endorsements in my website a long time ago * http://www.drturi.com/tests.php the constant flow poring from all over the world never really stops… This is why it is so important when dealing with your fragile psyche to AVOID suffering a psychic *accident. Yes a bad performance could indeed like any cosmetic surgery SCAR you for the rest of your life and taking chances with these *gifted Sunday spiritualists, without checking their performances, education, predictions is as bad as Solange or Selena ignoring God’s rules and especially the signs above in the heavens.

Your physical body demands serious cautions before anything PHYSICAL is done to it. And so is your SPIRIT! The human *etheric / spiritual body is much more sensitive and vulnerable than its obvious physical envelop. Our infantile regulating science do not *yet perceive the spirit as a separate entity in itself and do not consider it as important with various spiritual treatments. This remark may not necessarily be accurate with a proficient educated advanced Hypnotherapist, psychotherapist a psychologist or a psychiatrist of course. Again all depend of the inherited UCI *Unique Celestial Identity allowing such deep perception.

“Knowledge is Power, ignorance is EVIL!” Period, you make a mistake you will have to pay for it! Because we don’t not have a FDA for psychics or a SSHF *Safe Spiritual Health Food organization yet in place, you are the sole responsible of your decision to undergo a safe MRIS * Magnetic Resonance Imaging of your Spirit.

Medical science is well aware of the limits of the physical human body and still tremendous errors are made daily. Within the realm of the spirit there are also powerful hidden forces at work that are unknown to the majority of spiritual violators and the victims. And this does bring about *errors of a humongous magnitude.

An average of 195,000 people in the USA died due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors in each of the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, according to a new study of 37 million patient records by HealthGrades, the healthcare quality company.

Sad enough because this Neptunian profession is not accepted yet, as valuable by our moronic science thus I could not find any solid record but guess what? In the UK alone over FIVE millions people visit psychics a minimum of 3 times a year! Imagine that. But how many people do we have right here in the US doing the same thing? Certainly much more than five millions for sure thus I let you do the math reader and guess how many of these lost souls have been either deceived, abused or worse suffered a psychic accident. While ALL psychics I know are driven to really help you from the bottom of their heart and some are indeed fabulous, the mechanics behind the predictive *art and its manifestations are much more complex trust me. If I was the President of the non existent “SSHF *Safe Spiritual Health Food” I would make it the law for everyone of these savior psychic souls to master all about the creative forces of the subconscious, its interaction with the Supraconcious in time and space and its direct relationships with the Cosmic Code. I will also make it mandatory to learn all about Hypnotherapy and most of all of course Astropsychology. http://www.drturi.com/astroclass.php

And all they have to offer you is an unproven *gift and a sincere desire to help you and your future? You may as well allow your *dentist to remove a tooth with a hammer and a chisel after ingesting a shot of tequila or your *surgeon to use a chain saw to remove your appendix. Yes this may sound funny but without the proper education the dangers are very real and what is even worse is that these millions of people have NO clue and become the prime target for disaster. Again too many people from all walks of life have lost their lives or suffered scars that will never dissipate because they DID NOT KNOW that there is such a thing called “psychic accident”.

http://th04.deviantart.net/fs10/300W/i/2006/123/e/3/Religion_by_StarDragon77.jpg

Now there is absolutely NO difference between a “psychic accident” and “religious poisoning” I may add. Do you really expect a child brought up with a fear of hell to grow up normally or slowly become psychotic, depressive even suicidal? What type of future or hopes this spiritual victim will have when he is assured daily that the end of the world is near? OMG there is no difference between an ignorant psychic wanting to make a few bucks on Sunday than you local Minister, be sure of that. Both are lost Neptunians and their victims totally ignorant of the steady hypnotic detrimental spiritual carving he endured since childhood. The same technique build terrorists, they are schooled very early to kill anyone who do not endorse their belief…

http://www.popandpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/suicidebomberkid.jpg”/>

Young Victim of a Political / Religious System Humans are machine of habits that becomes robotically acting their stars and without education *Cosmic Consciousness the will *or the part of God stronger than the stars, CAN NOT be applied!

Some people may read my words critically and *assume I own a HUGE ego or again *assume this is a great sale technique to gain more clients or even think I am envious or what ever, when actually people I simply and honestly CARE about you, that’s all. The pile of work sitting on my desk can only assure me that not only I speak the truth but also many smart souls did not buy into Neptunians lies and investigated me thoughtfully before confiding their psyche with full trust to me. And that is the purpose of this newsletter to serve and protect as good as any cop would do on the battlefield. Every job demands responsibility and this *psychic field is badly understood but indeed a vital spiritual service that needs serious regulations.

The battered human spirit needs regeneration or DIE and anything spiritual even if it’s purely deceiving or poisoning is sad enough better than nothing at all. And this is why psychics and ministers alike are assured to make a living because as it stands now there is nothing else available to them. That would indeed change really fast if, with your help, I had the option to reach the mass and finally satisfy humankind’s desperate thirst for true wisdom. www.drturi.com/orders3.html

So far my pearls of truth are slowing catching up the attention of many people world wide and my obnly way of *recruiting more VIP’s and afford my television project is to keep writing more free newsletters. But my time is becoming more and more precious with so much I have to do and feeding the greedy majority of the readers unwilling to pay $10 a month for my priceless, unmatchable predictive gift is coming to an end. Much of the new VIP’s are coming from the good words and great endorsements my current VIP’s

I am seriously considering totally STOPPING wasting more of my pearls with FREE newsletters so reader make the most of this one…it may be my last one reaching your mailbox. Meantime to all my faithful supporters and all my current and future VIP Cosmic Code subscribers I say thank you for your trust in my work and your well-appreciated patronage.

Blessings to all

Dr. Turi

DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND JOIN US ASAP!

ACT NOW! go to http://www.drturi.com/orders3.html

USE THE DEAL NOW – THURSDAY DECEMBER THE 3RD IS THE LAST DAY! 90 mn Taped Full Life Reading $160 *regularly $310

VIP taped Live Telephone Reading $400 *regularly $800

Remember you can read all about the service you want at http://www.drturi.com/readings.php but you can only order by calling (602) 265 – 7667 I am expecting tons of calls so please try again if the line is busy or leave a message for Terania.

ON THE AIR BY POPULAR DEMAND DECEMBER 9TH 2009

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/journeyintothelight/2009/10/14/dr-louis-turi–nostradamus-psychic-predictions-ufos-2012-and-astropsychology

DECEMBER 11TH , 2009 DON’T MISS THIS TV SHOW!

http://www.ufoshows.com/photos/DSC03227.JPG

http://www.ufoshows.com/cosmic.htm

DR. TURI AND KYLE DAYTON

http://www.ufoshows.com/cosmic.htm

2010/2011/2012 Universal Predictions Email Kyle Dayton if you want to be part of the audience or for any information – http://kyledayton@yahoo.com

NEED CLEANSING? READ! http://www.drturi.com/cabwording.php

COMPLETE THE FORM FIRST!

http://www.drturi.com/cabhealingform.php

You certainly do not want to miss this special two-day event December 5th and 6th 2009 at the H1 Gallery in California.

ART48LA AND HSTUDIO LOS ANGELES ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT

***PHOTOART***

WITH INTERNATIONAL RENOWN ARTIST SENATOR PASQUAL BETTIO

And His Guest of Honor Dr. Turi

http://cosmiccode7.ning.com/events/photoart-1

KEEP DR. TURI VOICE ALIVE!

www.drturi.com/orders3.html

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ME FROM

http://cosmiccode7.ning.com/

Question? Help? Talk to Terania – 602-265-7667

[Via http://drturi.wordpress.com]

505 Games to publish NaturalMotion's Backbreaker // News

Michael Jackson week - X Factor.

2009-12-02T13:50:00.000+02:00

So, in honour of Janet performing on the Sunday show this week, it’s Michael Jackson week on the X Factor. Considering the MJ renaissance we had earlier this year, I think we all found ourselves experiencing Jacko overload, but hopefully it has been long enough now for us to hear all the songs again. After all, they are great songs.

But what will everyone do?? There are rumours flying around, but nothing has been substantiated yet. Will Danyl shake his booty again? Or will it be back to ballads for him? Will Stacey and Joe change it up, and prove they are more versatile? Will Olly finally pull off a big note, and have his X Factor moment?

The bookies seem to think it is a foregone conclusion that Stacey and Joe will be in the final… But will they? Or are the viewers starting to find them a bit dull, and – dare I say it – a bit Vegas. Sure, Joe has a fabulous voice, but can he do a current pop song, and sound relevant? And can Stacey veer off her current course, where she is on an express train to Celine Dion-ville?

Luckily for Dan-fans (or Fanyls as they are becoming known) Jacko week should suit him down to a tea. I hope he does something sexy, and edgy, and pulls out some more moves – but perhaps slightly less G-A-Y than last week! (I mean, his Relight My Fire performance was definitely fun, but might not appeal to everyone!)

And of course, the other rumour is that only one song will be MJ and the other will be personal choice. Which is when it gets really interesting, because you can see the songs that they really want to sing…

So, I promise to keep you all posted with song choices as they come to light. And in the meantime, enjoy JLS from Michael Jackson week last year, performing the only number that sticks in my mind from that week (apart from the carcrash that was Rachel’s Dirty Diana!) – The Way You Make Me Feel.

[Via http://thebigcheeseblog.wordpress.com]

Google News Makes A Concession To Whining Publishers: Only First ...

REAL TIME AS 11:20

2009-11-30T13:39:00.000+02:00

8,0

5,8

4,7

2,6

[Via http://grupoaudienciadatv.wordpress.com]

News – Tiger Woods' Mother-in-Law Addresses Rumors to Us ...

Michael Joseph Jackson

2009-11-30T05:39:00.000+02:00

This is a note I just wrote on my Facebook in response to a status I saw on my home page. It was from a girl I went to school with, and it said this; “Michael Jackson is better off dead, amen”. Two of my close friends “liked” the status, and the anger it instilled in me is indescribable. I wrote this kind of as a rebuttal to their ignorance and hatefulness, but it turned out to mean so much more to me. I may not have been listening to Michael Jackson for the LONGEST time, but I can tell you one thing, he was an amazing person, and I am finally seeing why people get so mad about this blatant ignorance that people are exhibiting. He did not deserve to be treated this way, and to say that someone is better off dead, well I just can’t believe someone would talk that way. Anyway, I wanted to put this on my blog, mostly because I just like things that I write to be on my blog as well. But, maybe someone out there who hates Michael Jackson as much as these people on my Facebook do, can read this and start to change their line of thinking. Mostly I just don’t want people to believe these lies anymore, but I realize that it’s futile to try to change someones thinking if they don’t want to change themselves. I hope that there are people like that out there; that do want to change. Otherwise, just leave him alone from now on?

Rest in Peace Michael, you deserve no less.

“Your personal opinion about Michael Jackson means nothing. The facts mean something. The fact that he was found innocent by a jury of his peers means something. The fact that you people, are not that jury, and you do not have the right to judge him, or to condemn him. You cannot just appoint yourself to this pedestal and think that you can pretend that you’re so high and mighty that you get to say whatever you want about whoever you want. You’re entitled to your opinions, but that’s only when your opinion can be argued for or against. This opinion is completely wrong. It’s cruel and it’s inhumane. How can you be happy that someone is dead when you didn’t even know the man? What a sad error in judgment, and a pathetic lapse of human emotion.

I know what you’ll say. You’ll say that I didn’t know him either. You’ll say that I’m overreacting. You’ll say that I’m only doing this for attention, or that I only like him because he’s dead. Trust me, none of these things are true, well except for the fact that I didn’t know him. I’ll tell you who I do know. I know a lot of cruel people. I know a few people who I never thought could be so cold, and now that I know who you people are, I no longer want anything to do with you. You can tell me that I’m overreacting, trust me; I’m expecting it. That’s fine. But I also think that I can argue that you are overreacting. This goes for all of you out there who agree that Michael Jackson is better off dead. What a horrible thing to say.

Oh, yes, I seem to have forgotten… he did molest those boys didn’t he? Oh, actually, no..? He didn’t? He was found innocent? Well that’s news to me. I really thought that Jordan Chandler knew what Michael’s penis looked like. Oh no? That was just a horrible rumor spread around by the media? He couldn’t accurately describe Michael’s genitals? Well then why does everyone think he correctly described it? Don’t you think that if Jordan Chandler could’ve accurately described the penis of a man who he claimed molested him, that there would have been a trial, and that Michael probably would’ve went to jail? You think the defense attorney’s would’ve just let that piece of evidence slide? No. They wouldn’t have, and they didn’t, because Jordan could NOT describe it.

Interesting isn’t it? The Arvizo’s case, well that was interesting too. The second time Michael was accused of child molestation. The mother of the boy who was accusing Michael had actually gotten into trouble before, in an incident at a JC Penny’s. She basically accused the security guards from JC Penny’s of beating her, but when she was at the police station she had no cuts or bruises, and looked completely fine. Two days later she came back with bruises and said that the guards “twisted her nipple 25 times” and sexually molested her. Now, I’ve never been molested, but I’m pretty sure if I was that I wouldn’t remember how many times they twisted my nipple, let alone would I be COUNTING the number of times it happened. Janet Arvizo got $20,000 for this conspiracy, but I guess it just wasn’t enough money for her. She needed to go after someone bigger than a JC Penny’s.

Oh and when they took Michael to court, didn’t they have the same two lawyers as the Chandler’s did 20 years ago? That must be just a coincidence, right? And the fact that their case was modeled very similarly to the Chandler’s case, that’s also just a coincidence. I mean, maybe Michael just molested the two boys similarly? Yeah, of course. They weren’t trying to trap him though. Of course not.

Actually I’m not even going to continue defending him. I was born in this country and I know what goes on in this world. The law system says that every man is innocent until proven guilty, but I know it to be the opposite here. Why is Michael Jackson the one exception to this rule? He shouldn’t be, and instead of all of his fans (millions of them) having to defend him constantly, I think that the people who think he was guilty should have to prove it. Please, find me some evidence that he was guilty. I mean, the court transcripts are out there somewhere right? I know my friend has read part of them in various books and sources like that. I mean, if you really want to prove it to me that Michael Jackson was guilty, go out and read the books about it. Find the actual evidence and read it for yourself, and if you still believe that he is guilty from that, I might take a look.

But you won’t do that will you? You all are too lazy to question what you hear on the radio, news, or the TV. Isn’t that right? You don’t want to look up the real answers to this conspiracy because you’re all too stubborn to think that you might be WRONG. Whoa…that’s a new word isn’t it. Being wrong is a wonderful thing that you all have in common, but don’t let me just tell you what I know. You might as well figure it out for yourself. Really, go look up some things about Michael Jackson. Look up some books or articles that were written by people from the courtroom during the trial and find out for yourself whether or not he was really guilty. If you do decide to look, which I know you probably won’t, please don’t have your evidence be from a tabloid or gossip column. Do yourselves a favor and don’t continue to embarrass yourselves.

No, I know you’re just getting angrier at the fact that I’m challenging you with this. I’m terribly sorry but I just don’t understand why you are all still obsessing over this. It just doesn’t make any sense. Michael Jackson is dead. You finally got what you wanted right? Why can’t you just move on? Why must he still be attacked and criticized? You should probably just let it rest now. Just an opinion. But that really doesn’t mean anything does it? The fact is; he was found innocent in the most recent case. The fact is; Evan Chandler and the Arvizos were money hungry bastards who lied about the molestations to extort money from a very popular and rich entertainer as Michael was. The fact is; you don’t care about the facts. You make me sick.”

[Via http://disaster117.wordpress.com]

ABC News Says 'No' To Adam Lambert, 'Yes' To Chris Brown | TV ...

Thrifting for Michael Jackson by Jess Burg

2009-11-27T21:30:00.000+02:00

Im excited to introduce you to our very first guest-blogger post by fellow thrift guru, Jess Burg. Jess is the real deal. I’ve seen her sport some of the wildest, most rare thrift threads out there folks. She will be contributing here all week and hopefully a lot more in the future. She brings a good female perspective on thrift culture and a great fashion mindset to Things I Found, (something that I feel this blog has been sorely lacking.) Here is her first inspiring piece about how Michael Jackson fuels her thirst and tastes when it comes to thrifting. Enjoy!

- – - -

I want to get closer to Michael Jackson in any way possible. Being that I feel robbed of my first idol and self-proclaimed God all too soon, thrifting makes for a good coping mechanism. In theory, I can always find something to remind me of him and the legacy he left.

It used to be, the one item that was easily found in any thrift store was an old beat up vinyl copy of Thriller. When Michael passed, mourning fans and others who tried to sell them on eBay seized every last copy. Still there are many MJ gems to be discovered. Common thrift item such as crazy leather jackets, shoulder padded blouses with pop-up collars, patent leather ankle boots or even the right glove. Once you stop and look, it’s undeniable; his stylistic influences are all over the thrift store. I call his style “sexy tough.”

Some of my favorite Michael inspired items include the following:

A glittery silver knitted blouse with padded shoulders I wore one New Years Eve. A black, hybrid combo of mesh and cotton t-shirt with gold embroidery separating the two textures. I like wearing it when I know serious dancing will ensue. A few studded black belts that resemble those he sported in the “Bad” video. Then, my pride is the high tops I found. The funny thing about the day I found them is I bought them not knowing what they were. For $20 I became the proud owner of a pair of limited edition, Michael Jackson LA Gear high top sneakers. They are so tough! The shoe is modeled similar to early 90s basketball high tops except I’ve never seen B-ball shoes covered in luminous silver studs. In typical LA Gear fashion, two kinds of laces, black and silver sparkle, weave in and out of the shoe. Black leather straps with silver tips and little silver buckles adorn the tops and outer side of the shoe. On the tongue, the sanctified insignia of the King of Pop, knees bent and on his toes, replicating the same move in Moonwalker. A perfect 7.5 fit, I believe that these sneakers chose me. I’ve maybe worn them out of the house twice. I will have them for the rest of my life and honor them as the holiest of all memorabilia. They will be passed down to my children’s children in hopes that his prophecies of “Take a look at your self and make that change,” will one day come true.

- Jess Burg

[Via http://thingsifoundatthethriftstore.wordpress.com]

PS Home gets Red Bull Flugtag News | PS3 | Eurogamer

España apuesta por el mercado nacional

2009-11-27T12:57:00.000+02:00

Últimamente los artistas españoles están en todas partes. Triunfan dentro y fuera de casa, es magnífico dado que al mercado español de música siempre le ha costado mucho romper fronteras. Sin embargo, no vengo a hablaros sobre los logros que los artistas españoles están logrando fuera de nuestro país. Prefiero hablaros de los discos más vendidos esta semana dentro del territorio nacional.

Esta semana encabezan la lista artistas nacionales y no es hasta la octava posición cuando aparecen discos extranjeros. Así pues, comienzo con los tres discos que se han colado en el “top 10” dominado por españoles.

La octava posición es para nada más y nada menos que “The Time Of Our Lives” de Miley Circus. Todavía no estamos en navidades así que intuimos que esta jovencita está conquistando el corazón de muchos caballeros o, más bien, la ilusión de muchas pequeñas que también sueñan con ser princesas. La novena posición es para Michael Jackson con “This is it”, una posición bastante baja si se tienen en cuenta las expectativas que habían puesto en el disco. El décimo puesto (y con esto acabo con los grupos extranjeros) es para Bon Jovi y su “The Circle”.

Encabezando la lista de Top10, Joaquín Sabina se convierte en el número uno, siendo la entrada más fuerte de la semana gracias a “Vinagre y Rosas”. Un disco que además ya le ha proporcionado el Disco de Platino en muy poco tiempo, lo que refleja las ganas de que este personaje volviera a por todas. El segundo puesto es para unos hermanos que se hacen llamar Estopa. No sabemos si su protagonismo en el cómic “Estopa Ultimate” ha dejado algún superpoder a los hermanos Muñoz; lo que si sabemos es que su público ha querido celebrar con ellos su “X Anniversarium”. Llegamos al tercer puesto con “Paraíso Express” de Alejandro Sanz que durante su primera semana en el mercado ya fue Disco Platino, según las listas de Promusicae. Lo celebraríamos con él, pero es imposible acceder a su persona para darle la enhorabuena.

Pasado el oro, el plata y el bronce vamos a la cuarta posición con Mecano y “Siglo XXI”, un recopilatorio más de la banda que incluye el tema María Luz. Le sigue El Barrio con “Duermevela”, Fito & Los Fitipaldis con “Antes de que cuente diez” y David Bisbal con “Sin mirar atrás”.

[Via http://rockolafm.wordpress.com]

News Dissector Blog » Blog Archive » Financial Crisis Update ...

Las nuevas tarifas de la ANDA para el agua potable y alcantarillado

2009-11-25T05:47:00.000+02:00

Antes de entrarle al tema les menciono que hay un viejo refrán popular que dice:

“No hay que caer de lo sublime a lo ridículo”

!Ojo y no les vaya a pasar lo de Michael Jackson!

Partir del hecho que la proporcionalidad del consumo es la base para racionalizar el subsidio es una aberración de primer orden que ni siquiera valdría la pena tomar en cuanta como elemento de base para cualquier argumentación seria que pueda elucubrarse a partir de esta bastante poco inteligente teoría.

ANDA tiene que utilizar la tecnología más apropiada para efectuar un censo catastral, mancomunado a las bases de datos del Ministerio de Hacienda y alcaldías, para poder determinar los radios de acción objeto de la segregación de la tarifas y que dicho trabajo debe hacerse sobre la base dogmática que tanto pregona el FMLN: el que tiene más que pague más, que por cierto es bastante correcta desde el punto de vista de la proporcionalidad del ingreso y de la paupérrima distribución de riquezas que se vive en El Salvador (y en todo el mundo).

Por cierto que para esto podrían apoyarse en el sistema de información comercial que recientemente se diseño para ANDA y que según me cuentan se conoce con el nombre de “CASIOPEA” y del que ni siquiera ha querido mencionar públicamente que existe el Ing. Gómez porque parece que a criterio de él dicho sistema fue elaborado por un “Arenero”

Ese sería un esfuerzo serio para la conversión integral del sistema tarifario y que subsanaría eficientemente las adversidades financieras que atraviesa la institución para poder brindar un servicio que no solo no es subsidiado sino que se trabaja bajo un régimen de pérdidas en la ecuación explotación/facturación que no ha querido ser actualizado hasta la fecha por el desgraciado efecto e impacto político que esto representa.

Es el momento adecuado de hacerlo, pero hay que hacerlo bien.

Desafortunadamente …. (siempre hay peros) … vale la pena mencionar lo siguiente:

El senil presidente de la autónoma, Ing. Francisco Gómez, no tiene pelos en la lengua para presentarse ante las cámaras de televisión para dar a conocer sus versiones, bastante sui generis por cierto, de la realidad de ANDA, de la situación del agua potable, sobre la factibilidad del servicio, sobre las nuevas tarifas y no tiene el mas mínimo resquemor de atacar a diestra y siniestra a “todo aquello que huela a ARENA.”

El susodicho pseudo titular de la institución trata a toda costa de despotricar las peores patanadas en contra de sus adversarios políticos y de forma altanera, mal educada y prepotente trata de venderse como la panacea del conocimiento ingenieril en materia de agua potable y drenajes.

No obstante lo anterior, debo ser enfático al señalar que muchas de estas situaciones no son más que producto de la senilidad misma, tal como lo dejan ver en Radio Cadena Mi Gente y de lo que hago mención porque me parece un punto importante que nace de una institución es de “izquierda recalcitrante” de la mas pura. ¡Conste que lo dicen ellos! , yo únicamente lo comparto.

Se entiende que el Ing. Gómez trabajo para ANDA en 1986 y según él universo se detuvo en esa fecha y que todo en ANDA esta igual a su regreso 26 anos después.

Aparentemente el referido ingeniero no se ha enterado que en el ultimo cuarto de siglo se invento la Internet, que cayo el muro de Berlín, que ya existen los teléfonos celulares, que los niños dispone de juegos de video bastante mas adelantados que los Ataris que el talvez conoció, que el mundo se globalizo, que la tecnología ha cambiado dramáticamente el curso de la naturaleza y que estamos enfrentando una crisis mundial económica, política, dogmática, religiosa y fanática. Habría que informarle que en el presente siglo las transmisiones de televisión son a colores y que los aparatos de tubos catódicos han sido reemplazados por otros del tipo LCD y plasma.

Parece que tampoco se ha enterado que en estos últimos 25 años crecieron desmesuradamente los grupos oligárquicos mundiales que han explotado a todo el planeta manteniéndolo al borde de un colapso financiero, social y económico, que aparecieron los grupos ilegales que se dedican a extorsionar, aparecieron los Talibanes, cayo el régimen de Sadam Hussein, los EEUU vivieron la pesadilla del Septiembre 11 y en todo el planeta se experimenta un desmesurado calentamiento global.

Habría que contarle que el “Pato Alfaro” de la KL ya esta en otro mundo que Albertico y Aniceto tampoco están más con nosotros, que Matthies Hill defraudó plata a lo loco, que condenaron a Pinochet, que todo el cono sur se volvió de izquierda y que los tangos de Agustín Lara, los boleros de la Billos y las cumbias de los Hermnos Flores ya son cosa del pasado y que ahora se baila Raeggeton y Perreo.

Todo esto parecería no lo sabe el Ing. Gómez y por ende parecería que tampoco es muy adicto a la lectura, a la investigación y talvez ni siquiera de los noticieros televisivos.

Ya en ANDA él ha sido feliz haciendo valer su minúsculo poder y se ha conformado con despedir y contratar a su santo antojo al mismismo estilo de las administraciones de ARENA, PCD y PDC. Por supuesto que la peor aberración ha sido la adicción a contratar a sus concubinas como empleadas de la institución en detrimento del personal calificado que pensó eran “Areneros” “faltos de confianza”

El referido presidente, en su estilo de administración, no pasa de ser un diminuto e insignificante clon de “Don Nadie” (quiera él que se le comparara con el famoso presidente al que mandó a callar el Rey de España), claro que sin el grado de notoriedad de este último y mucho menos a’ a tener jamás la capacidad de conducir las riendas de lo que tiene a cargo con el debido liderazgo.

Ahora nos anuncia que ANDA nos recetará “nuevas tarifas” y ni siquiera se da cuenta que el dimensionamiento de las mismas carece del mas mínimo sentido común y que el plan de focalizar el subsidio no es ni siquiera, ni remotamente cerca de lo que él ha planteado en nombre de la institución.

Pero Don Eugenio Calderón de Canal 4 ha hecho famosa una frase bastante singular y que aplica muy bien a conductas erróneas y anormales como la del Ing. Gómez

¡¡VAYA USTED A SABER!!

[Via http://guanakolandia.wordpress.com]

Big News Bucks Unlikely From Bing? Journalism Could Be The Loser ...

Michael Jackson Oxford University Speech

2009-11-25T04:59:00.000+02:00

With the recent leaks of taped phone conversations of Michael Jackson saying ’shocking’ things about some jewish people, I thought I would post this speech that he gave at Oxford University. Michael Jackson was a genius; in my humble opinion, whatever he said he said for a REASON. The speech he gave at Oxford is a true reflection of his genius and gives the full context of how he thought and proves that he was MUCH MUCH more than an ‘entertainer’.

Reference:

http://www.michaeljackson.com/cn/node/93244

The Kids – Oxford Speech Oxford University, March 2001 by Michael Jackson

Thank you, thank you dear friends, from the bottom of my heart, for such a loving and spirited welcome, and thank you, Mr President, for your kind invitation to me which I am so honoured to accept. I also want to express a special thanks to you Shmuley, who for 11 years served as Rabbi here at Oxford. You and I have been working so hard to form Heal the Kids, as well as writing our book about childlike qualities, and in all of our efforts you have been such a supportive and loving friend. And I would also like to thank Toba Friedman, our director of operations at Heal the Kids, who is returning tonight to the alma mater where she served as a Marshall scholar, as well as Marilyn Piels, another central member of our Heal the Kids team. I am humbled to be lecturing in a place that has previously been filled by such notable figures as Mother Theresa, Albert Einstein, Ronald Reagan, Robert Kennedy and Malcolm X. I’ve even heard that Kermit the Frog has made an appearance here, and I’ve always felt a kinship with Kermit’s message that it’s not easy being green. I’m sure he didn’t find it any easier being up here than I do! As I looked around Oxford today, I couldn’t help but be aware of the majesty and grandeur of this great institution, not to mention the brilliance of the great and gifted minds that have roamed these streets for centuries. The walls of Oxford have not only housed the greatest philosophical and scientific geniuses – they have also ushered forth some of the most cherished creators of children’s literature, from J.R.R. Tolkien to CS Lewis. Today I was allowed to hobble into the dining hall in Christ Church to see Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland immortalised in the stained glass windows. And even one of my own fellow Americans, the beloved Dr Seuss graced these halls and then went on to leave his mark on the imaginations of millions of children throughout the world. I suppose I should start by listing my qualifications to speak before you this evening. Friends, I do not claim to have the academic expertise of other speakers who have addressed this hall, just as they could lay little claim at being adept at the moonwalk – and you know, Einstein in particular was really TERRIBLE at that. But I do have a claim to having experienced more places and cultures than most people will ever see. Human knowledge consists not only of libraries of parchment and ink – it is also comprised of the volumes of knowledge that are written on the human heart, chiselled on the human soul, and engraved on the human psyche. And friends, I have encountered so much in this relatively short life of mine that I still cannot believe I am only 42. I often tell Shmuley that in soul years I’m sure that I’m at least 80 – and tonight I even walk like I’m 80! So please harken to my message, because what I have to tell you tonight can bring healing to humanity and healing to our planet. Through the grace of God, I have been fortunate to have achieved many of my artistic and professional aspirations realised early in my lifetime. But these, friends are accomplishments, and accomplishments alone are not synonymous with who I am. Indeed, the cheery five-year-old who belted out Rockin’ Robin and Ben to adoring crowds was not indicative of the boy behind the smile. Tonight, I come before you less as an icon of pop (whatever that means anyway), and more as an icon of a generation, a generation that no longer knows what it means to be children. All of us are products of our childhood. But I am the product of a lack of a childhood, an absence of that precious and wondrous age when we frolic playfully without a care in the world, basking in the adoration of parents and relatives, where our biggest concern is studying for that big spelling test come Monday morning. Those of you who are familiar with the Jackson Five know that I began performing at the tender age of five and that ever since then, I haven’t stopped dancing or singing. But while performing and making music undoubtedly remain as some of my greatest joys, when I was young I wanted more than anything else to be a typical little boy. I wanted to build tree houses, have water balloon fights, and play hide and seek with my friends. But fate had it otherwise and all I could do was envy the laughter and playtime that seemed to be going on all around me. There was no respite from my professional life. But on Sundays I would go Pioneering, the term used for the missionary work that Jehovah’s Witnesses do. And it was then that I was able to see the magic of other people’s childhood. Since I was already a celebrity, I would have to don a disguise of fat suit, wig, beard and glasses and we would spend the day in the suburbs of Southern California, going door-to-door or making the rounds of shopping malls, distributing our Watchtower magazine. I loved to set foot in all those regular suburban houses and catch sight of the shag rugs and La-Z-Boy armchairs with kids playing Monopoly and grandmas baby-sitting and all those wonderful, ordinary and starry scenes of everyday life. Many, I know, would argue that these things seem like no big deal. But to me they were mesmerising. I used to think that I was unique in feeling that I was without a childhood. I believed that indeed there were only a handful with whom I could share those feelings. When I recently met with Shirley Temple Black, the great child star of the 1930s and 40s, we said nothing to each other at first, we simply cried together, for she could share a pain with me that only others like my close friends Elizabeth Taylor and McCauley Culkin know. I do not tell you this to gain your sympathy but to impress upon you my first important point : It is not just Hollywood child stars that have suffered from a non-existent childhood. Today, it’s a universal calamity, a global catastrophe. Childhood has become the great casualty of modern-day living. All around us we are producing scores of kids who have not had the joy, who have not been accorded the right, who have not been allowed the freedom, or knowing what it’s like to be a kid. Today children are constantly encouraged to grow up faster, as if this period known as childhood is a burdensome stage, to be endured and ushered through, as swiftly as possible. And on that subject, I am certainly one of the world’s greatest experts. Ours is a generation that has witnessed the abrogation of the parent-child covenant. Psychologists are publishing libraries of books detailing the destructive effects of denying one’s children the unconditional love that is so necessary to the healthy development of their minds and character. And because of all the neglect, too many of our kids have, essentially, to raise themselves. They are growing more distant from their parents, grandparents and other family members, as all around us the indestructible bond that once glued together the generations, unravels. This violation has bred a new generation, Generation O let us call it, that has now picked up the torch from Generation X. The O stands for a generation that has everything on the outside – wealth, success, fancy clothing and fancy cars, but an aching emptiness on the inside. That cavity in our chests, that barrenness at our core, that void in our centre is the place where the heart once beat and which love once occupied. And it’s not just the kids who are suffering. It’s the parents as well. For the more we cultivate little-adults in kids’-bodies, the more removed we ourselves become from our own child-like qualities, and there is so much about being a child that is worth retaining in adult life. Love, ladies and gentlemen, is the human family’s most precious legacy, its richest bequest, its golden inheritance. And it is a treasure that is handed down from one generation to another. Previous ages may not have had the wealth we enjoy. Their houses may have lacked electricity, and they squeezed their many kids into small homes without central heating. But those homes had no darkness, nor were they cold. They were lit bright with the glow of love and they were warmed snugly by the very heat of the human heart. Parents, undistracted by the lust for luxury and status, accorded their children primacy in their lives. As you all know, our two countries broke from each other over what Thomas Jefferson referred to as “certain inalienable rights”. And while we Americans and British might dispute the justice of his claims, what has never been in dispute is that children have certain inalienable rights, and the gradual erosion of those rights has led to scores of children worldwide being denied the joys and security of childhood. I would therefore like to propose tonight that we install in every home a Children’s Universal Bill of Rights, the tenets of which are: 1. The right to be loved without having to earn it 2. The right to be protected, without having to deserve it 3. The right to feel valuable, even if you came into the world with nothing 4. The right to be listened to without having to be interesting 5. The right to be read a bedtime story, without having to compete with the evening news 6. The right to an education without having to dodge bullets at schools 7. The right to be thought of as adorable – (even if you have a face that only a mother could love). Friends, the foundation of all human knowledge, the beginning of human consciousness, must be that each and every one of us is an object of love. Before you know if you have red hair or brown, before you know if you are black or white, before you know of what religion you are a part, you have to know that you are loved. About twelve years ago, when I was just about to start my Bad tour, a little boy came with his parents to visit me at home in California. He was dying of cancer and he told me how much he loved my music and me. His parents told me that he wasn’t going to live, that any day he could just go, and I said to him: “Look, I am going to be coming to your town in Kansas to open my tour in three months. I want you to come to the show. I am going to give you this jacket that I wore in one of my videos.” His eyes lit up and he said: “You are gonna GIVE it to me?” I said “Yeah, but you have to promise that you will wear it to the show.” I was trying to make him hold on. I said: “When you come to the show I want to see you in this jacket and in this glove” and I gave him one of my rhinestone gloves – and I never usually give the rhinestone gloves away. And he was just in heaven. But maybe he was too close to heaven, because when I came to his town, he had already died, and they had buried him in the glove and jacket. He was just 10 years old. God knows, I know, that he tried his best to hold on. But at least when he died, he knew that he was loved, not only by his parents, but even by me, a near stranger, I also loved him. And with all of that love he knew that he didn’t come into this world alone, and he certainly didn’t leave it alone. If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can he dealt with. A professor may degrade you, but you will not feel degraded, a boss may crush you, but you will not be crushed, a corporate gladiator might vanquish you, but you will still triumph. How could any of them truly prevail in pulling you down? For you know that you are an object worthy of love. The rest is just packaging. But if you don’t have that memory of being loved, you are condemned to search the world for something to fill you up. But no matter how much money you make or how famous you become, you will still fell empty. What you are really searching for is unconditional love, unqualified acceptance. And that was the one thing that was denied to you at birth. Friends, let me paint a picture for you. Here is a typical day in America – six youths under the age of 20 will commit suicide, 12 children under the age of 20 will die from firearms – remember this is a DAY, not a year – 399 kids will be arrested for drug abuse, 1,352 babies will be born to teen mothers. This is happening in one of the richest, most developed countries in the history of the world. Yes, in my country there is an epidemic of violence that parallels no other industrialised nation. These are the ways young people in America express their hurt and their anger. But don’t think that there is not the same pain and anguish among their counterparts in the United Kingdom. Studies in this country show that every single hour, three teenagers in the UK inflict harm upon themselves, often by cutting or burning their bodies or taking an overdose. This is how they have chosen to cope with the pain of neglect and emotional agony. In Britain, as many as 20% of families will only sit down and have dinner together once a year. Once a year! And what about the time-honoured tradition of reading your kid a bedtime story? Research from the 1980s showed that children who are read to, had far greater literacy and significantly outperformed their peers at school. And yet, less than 33% of British children ages two to eight have a regular bedtime story read to them. You may not think much of that until you take into account that 75% of their parents DID have that bedtime story when they were that age. Clearly, we do not have to ask ourselves where all of this pain, anger and violent behaviour comes from. It is self-evident that children are thundering against the neglect, quaking against the indifference and crying out just to be noticed. The various child protection agencies in the US say that millions of children are victims of maltreatment in the form of neglect, in the average year. Yes, neglect. In rich homes, privileged homes, wired to the hilt with every electronic gadget. Homes where parents come home, but they’re not really home, because their heads are still at the office. And their kids? Well, their kids just make do with whatever emotional crumbs they get. And you don’t get much from endless TV, computer games and videos. These hard, cold numbers which for me, wrench the soul and shake the spirit, should indicate to you why I have devoted so much of my time and resources into making our new Heal the Kids initiative a colossal success. Our goal is simple – to recreate the parent/child bond, renew its promise and light the way forward for all the beautiful children who are destined one day to walk this earth. But since this is my first public lecture, and you have so warmly welcomed me into your hearts, I feel that I want to tell you more. We each have our own story, and in that sense statistics can become personal. They say that parenting is like dancing. You take one step, your child takes another. I have discovered that getting parents to re-dedicate themselves to their children is only half the story. The other half is preparing the children to re-accept their parents. When I was very young I remember that we had this crazy mutt of a dog named “Black Girl,” a mix of wolf and retriever. Not only wasn’t she much of a guard dog, she was such a scared and nervous thing that it is a wonder she did not pass out every time a truck rumbled by, or a thunderstorm swept through Indiana. My sister Janet and I gave that dog so much love, but we never really won back the sense of trust that had been stolen from her by her previous owner. We knew he used to beat her. We didn’t know with what. But whatever it was, it was enough to suck the spirit right out of that dog. A lot of kids today are hurt puppies who have weaned themselves off the need for love. They couldn’t care less about their parents. Left to their own devices, they cherish their independence. They have moved on and have left their parents behind. Then there are the far worse cases of children who harbour animosity and resentment toward their parents, so that any overture that their parents might undertake would be thrown forcefully back in their face. Tonight, I don’t want any of us to make this mistake. That’s why I’m calling upon all the world’s children – beginning with all of us here tonight – to forgive our parents, if we felt neglected. Forgive them and teach them how to love again. You probably weren’t surprised to hear that I did not have an idyllic childhood. The strain and tension that exists in my relationship with my own father is well documented. My father is a tough man and he pushed my brothers and me hard, from the earliest age, to be the best performers we could be. He had great difficulty showing affection. He never really told me he loved me. And he never really complimented me either. If I did a great show, he would tell me it was a good show. And if I did an OK show, he told me it was a lousy show. He seemed intent, above all else, on making us a commercial success. And at that he was more than adept. My father was a managerial genius and my brothers and I owe our professional success, in no small measure, to the forceful way that he pushed us. He trained me as a showman and under his guidance I couldn’t miss a step. But what I really wanted was a Dad. I wanted a father who showed me love. And my father never did that. He never said I love you while looking me straight in the eye, he never played a game with me. He never gave me a piggyback ride, he never threw a pillow at me, or a water balloon. But I remember once when I was about four years old, there was a little carnival and he picked me up and put me on a pony. It was a tiny gesture, probably something he forgot five minutes later. But because of that moment I have this special place in my heart for him. Because that’s how kids are, the little things mean so much to them and for me, that one moment meant everything. I only experienced it that one time, but it made me feel really good, about him and the world. But now I am a father myself, and one day I was thinking about my own children, Prince and Paris and how I wanted them to think of me when they grow up. To be sure, I would like them to remember how I always wanted them with me wherever I went, how I always tried to put them before everything else. But there are also challenges in their lives. Because my kids are stalked by paparazzi, they can’t always go to a park or a movie with me. So what if they grow older and resent me, and how my choices impacted their youth? Why weren’t we given an average childhood like all the other kids, they might ask? And at that moment I pray that my children will give me the benefit of the doubt. That they will say to themselves: “Our daddy did the best he could, given the unique circumstances that he faced. He may not have been perfect, but he was a warm and decent man, who tried to give us all the love in the world.” I hope that they will always focus on the positive things, on the sacrifices I willingly made for them, and not criticise the things they had to give up, or the errors I’ve made, and will certainly continue to make, in raising them. For we have all been someone’s child, and we know that despite the very best of plans and efforts, mistakes will always occur. That’s just being human. And when I think about this, of how I hope that my children will not judge me unkindly, and will forgive my shortcomings, I am forced to think of my own father and despite my earlier denials, I am forced to admit that me must have loved me. He did love me, and I know that. There were little things that showed it. When I was a kid I had a real sweet tooth – we all did. My favourite food was glazed doughnuts and my father knew that. So every few weeks I would come downstairs in the morning and there on the kitchen counter was a bag of glazed doughnuts – no note, no explanation – just the doughnuts. It was like Santa Claus. Sometimes I would think about staying up late at night, so I could see him leave them there, but just like with Santa Claus, I didn’t want to ruin the magic for fear that he would never do it again. My father had to leave them secretly at night, so as no one might catch him with his guard down. He was scared of human emotion, he didn’t understand it or know how to deal with it. But he did know doughnuts. And when I allow the floodgates to open up, there are other memories that come rushing back, memories of other tiny gestures, however imperfect, that showed that he did what he could. So tonight, rather than focusing on what my father didn’t do, I want to focus on all the things he did do and on his own personal challenges. I want to stop judging him. I have started reflecting on the fact that my father grew up in the South, in a very poor family. He came of age during the Depression and his own father, who struggled to feed his children, showed little affection towards his family and raised my father and his siblings with an iron fist. Who could have imagined what it was like to grow up a poor black man in the South, robbed of dignity, bereft of hope, struggling to become a man in a world that saw my father as subordinate. I was the first black artist to be played on MTV and I remember how big a deal it was even then. And that was in the 80s! My father moved to Indiana and had a large family of his own, working long hours in the steel mills, work that kills the lungs and humbles the spirit, all to support his family. Is it any wonder that he found it difficult to expose his feelings? Is it any mystery that he hardened his heart, that he raised the emotional ramparts? And most of all, is it any wonder why he pushed his sons so hard to succeed as performers, so that they could be saved from what he knew to be a life of indignity and poverty? I have begun to see that even my father’s harshness was a kind of love, an imperfect love, to be sure, but love nonetheless. He pushed me because he loved me. Because he wanted no man ever to look down at his offspring. And now with time, rather than bitterness, I feel blessing. In the place of anger, I have found absolution. And in the place of revenge I have found reconciliation. And my initial fury has slowly given way to forgiveness. Almost a decade ago, I founded a charity called Heal the World. The title was something I felt inside me. Little did I know, as Shmuley later pointed out, that those two words form the cornerstone of Old Testament prophecy. Do I really believe that we can heal this world, that is riddled with war and genocide, even today? And do I really think that we can heal our children, the same children who can enter their schools with guns and hatred and shoot down their classmates, like they did at Columbine? Or children who can beat a defenceless toddler to death, like the tragic story of Jamie Bulger? Of course I do, or I wouldn’t be here tonight. But it all begins with forgiveness, because to heal the world, we first have to heal ourselves. And to heal the kids, we first have to heal the child within, each and every one of us. As an adult, and as a parent, I realise that I cannot be a whole human being, nor a parent capable of unconditional love, until I put to rest the ghosts of my own childhood. And that’s what I’m asking all of us to do tonight. Live up to the fifth of the Ten Commandments. Honour your parents by not judging them. Give them the benefit of the doubt. That is why I want to forgive my father and to stop judging him. I want to forgive my father, because I want a father, and this is the only one that I’ve got. I want the weight of my past lifted from my shoulders and I want to be free to step into a new relationship with my father, for the rest of my life, unhindered by the goblins of the past. In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe. To all of you tonight who feel let down by your parents, I ask you to let down your disappointment. To all of you tonight who feel cheated by your fathers or mothers, I ask you not to cheat yourself further. And to all of you who wish to push your parents away, I ask you to extend you hand to them instead. I am asking you, I am asking myself, to give our parents the gift of unconditional love, so that they too may learn how to love from us, their children. So that love will finally be restored to a desolate and lonely world. Shmuley once mentioned to me an ancient Biblical prophecy which says that a new world and a new time would come, when “the hearts of the parents would be restored through the hearts of their children”. My friends, we are that world, we are those children. Mahatma Gandhi said: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Tonight, be strong. Beyond being strong, rise to the greatest challenge of all – to restore that broken covenant. We must all overcome whatever crippling effects our childhoods may have had on our lives and in the words of Jesse Jackson, forgive each other, redeem each other and move on. This call for forgiveness may not result in Oprah moments the world over, with thousands of children making up with their parents, but it will at least be a start, and we’ll all be so much happier as a result. And so ladies and gentlemen, I conclude my remarks tonight with faith, joy and excitement. From this day forward, may a new song be heard. Let that new song be the sound of children laughing. Let that new song be the sound of children playing. Let that new song be the sound of children singing. And let that new song be the sound of parents listening. Together, let us create a symphony of hearts, marvelling at the miracle of our children and basking in the beauty of love. Let us heal the world and blight its pain. And may we all make beautiful music together. God bless you, and I love you.

[Via http://betaamentoring.wordpress.com]

Microsoft Offers To Pay News Corp To "De-List" Itself From Google ...

BOX OFFICE (USA 20-22 Nov)

2009-11-23T13:42:00.000+02:00

”NEW MOON”, ¡el tercer estreno más taquillero de la historia!

Que tal amigos,hoy vamos a revisar el box office semanal de EE.UU. Como era de esperar,vemos el tan ansiado estreno de ”New Moon”,al final no pudo ser. ‘New Moon’ se ha quedado a las puertas de ser el estreno más taquillero de la historia americana con una cifra de vértigo: $140,70 millones.

Tan sólo a 18 millones de ‘El Caballero Oscuro’ quien en su día relegó a ‘Spiderman 3′ por 4 millones. Todos creímos que la marca era batible viendo que el Viernes fijó la mayor recaudación de un estreno por la madrugada. No obstante los fans de la saga le otorogaron ese mismo día el 50% de sus ingresos con $72 millones ($43 el Sábado y casi $25 hoy Domingo). De todas formas, ‘Luna Nueva’ puede presumir de un récord al alcance de muy pocos, el de la mayor recaudación de toda la historia en su estreno mundial con nada más y nada menos que $258,80 millones.

El fenómeno teen protagonizado por Kristen Stewart y Robert Pattinson seguramente establezca nuevos récords con su tercera entrega, ‘Eclipse’. El guardian de Gotham y el hombre arácnido pueden dormir tranquilos hasta el estreno estas mismas navidades de lo nuevo de Cameron, ‘Avatar’.

Sin embargo hay más vida allá de los vampiros, y es que ‘The Blind Side’, quien debuta también este fin de semana, ha dado la campanada logrando unos excelentes $34,51 millones.

La cinta catastrofista de Roland Emmerich, ‘2012′, desciende del primer al tercer lugar para sumar otros $26,50 millones a su montante de $108,22 en un par de semanas. Cuarta vemos a ‘Planeta 51′, la gran apuesta animada del cine español donde se narra una historia de invasiones extraterrestres desde la perspectiva inversa, es decir, desde el punto de vista de un planeta alienígena aterrorizado por la posibilidad de ser invadidos por humanos. La cinta, que ha costado más de sesenta millones de dólares ha recaudado $12,60 millones. Quizá no se ha estrenado en la semana que más le convenía pero seguro que el público americano la da una oportunidad la semana que viene. ‘Cuento de Navidad’ cae del segundo al quinto lugar y recauda $12,23 millones a sus $79,79 en tres semanas.

Sexta vemos a ‘Precious’ con $11,00 millones seguida de lo nuevo de Clooney, ‘Los hombres que miraban fijamente a las cabras’, quien en su tercera semana suma otros $2,77 millones a sus $27,62 totales. La comedia ‘Todo incluido’ Lleva siete semanas en lista y recauda otros $1,95 millones. Cierran la lista el thriller‘The Fourth Kind’ y ‘Un ciudadano ejemplar’ con $1,73 y $1,61 millones respectivamente.

[Via http://allseriestrekvar.wordpress.com]

Google Optimizes Google News for Android | Android Central

Siedah Garrett Pays Tribute (136/365)

2009-11-23T05:32:00.000+02:00

Sieda Garret duetted with Michael in “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, Co-wrote “Man in the Mirror” and sang with him on tour. I made an entry with a short interview posted here.

Here is a Youtube from this past summer of her singing “Man in the Mirror” in Agape. I really appreciated what she mentioned before the performance about how all the news stations were asking for interviews from her, but she declined because…. well, they didn’t ask her the Tuesday before.

[Via http://mj365.wordpress.com]

Google's News Experiments & The Quest To Solve The “Read State” Issue

Today: Poor boys.

2009-11-20T21:36:00.000+02:00

This is not a good week for the man and male dog in my life. Nick left Monday morning for a week-long business trip in Omaha, and if the Omaha part wasn’t bad enough, he landed in Nebraska with a fever of 103. He’s now down a few degrees and managed to get a flight back to Boston. Nothing like a day trip to Omaha! Remind me to delete this post immediately if his fellow passengers all come down with one of the flus.

And then there’s Clark. I don’t think he had any idea what he was in for this week, but I have a feeling he did at some point yesterday… More specifically, when the doggie drugs wore off and he realized he was missing a couple… parts.

I honestly tried to pep talk myself into taking the dog to get neutered on my own, while Nick was away, without going too mental. I even made a proactive call to the vet to make sure I didn’t need to do anything ahead of time (I have no idea what that might involve. Was I thinking I’d prep him for surgery?). Regardless, the dog seems to be doing just fine, with the exception of 3:30 this morning when he went totally batty.

This morning’s whining resulted in a call from our door person, informing us that someone had complained about the noise. My 4 AM instinct was to leave a note reading as follows:

We’re sorry to wake you, but think of it this way: It could be worse. You could’ve been neutered. –Your neighbors

Fortunately for everyone, I was too tired to execute this brilliant communique. Speaking of sorry, I’m terribly sorry Nick’s under the weather, but I’m kind of extremely glad he came home, so Clark (and our building mates) can be mad at both of us. Just kidding. Neutering is a good thing. I cannot believe I just typed that. I’m probably going to vom.

Also On Tap for Today:

Buy a Michael Jackson face mask
Take a serious nap
Count down the days until Thanksgiving and then count down the days until Christmas

How are the men in your life holding up? And how are you warding off the flu?

PS2 officially hits Brazil // News

Silver (133/365)

2009-11-20T05:10:00.000+02:00

I realize something is missing

I climb to the top of it all

I keep crashing down, crashing down

You say to me,

“Don’t cry, I know you’ll make it.”

I’m in love with you

We were the lovers with silver wings

Flying too high

Melting in the rays of the sun

You say to me

“Don’t cry, I know you’ll make it.”

I’m in love with you,

Starlight

I’m in love with you

We were the lovers in silver,

We were the lovers in silver

Do you think you’ll ever come down?

Starlight

Do you think you’ll ever come down?

And find me now

Reach me now

Who’s gonna find me now?

I got lost

Somehow

“Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

We were the lovers in silver

We were the lovers with silver wings

Wings to fly

Wings that don’t fly, anymore

–The Violet Burning

Energy and Global Warming News for November 18: Promise in 'Cash ...

Michael Jackson molestation accuser commits suicide

2009-11-18T05:43:00.000+02:00

According to the Telegraph from England, the father of Jordan Chandler, a boy who accused Michael Jackson of child molestation, has shot himself dead.

This accusation, by most accounts, was the event that begun the unraveling of Michael Jackson. The Telegraph says:

Evan Chandler, 65, was found dead in his apartment in New Jersey after shooting himself in the head. Police said there was no suicide note.

In 1993, Mr. Chandler, a former dentist, accused Jackson on behalf of his then-13-year-old son.

Mr. Chandler and his son brought a civil lawsuit against Jackson who reportedly settled the case out of court for $20 million (£12 million,) although he always denied wrongdoing.

Perhaps the media will remember the 2006 court case of Jordan Chandler against his father Evan Chandler. Foxnews.com gave this account of what provoked this action:

According to court papers obtained by this column, the young man who, in 1994, settled with Michael Jackson for $20 million was allegedly physically assaulted last year by his own father.

Jordan Chandler, now 26, filed a request for a restraining order against his father on August 5, 2005. The reason for the order was that Evan Chandler, formerly a dentist and an aspiring screenwriter, had allegedly hit Jordan over the head from behind with a twelve and a half pound weight. He’d also allegedly sprayed him in the face with mace and tried to choke him.

I pray that God will have mercy on the soul of Evan Chandler.

I pray that we will not be reading anytime soon about the suicides of Martin Bashir, Nancy Grace, Diana Dimond and other such names.

I do not really know what drove Evan Chandler’s despair, or what the inside story of the Chandlers and Michael Jackson really is. However, I cannot forget one of Michael Jackson’s quotes (adapted from the Bible ) during his second — Gavin Arvizo — child sex molestation travails: “Lies run sprints but the truth runs marathons.” Now that Michael Jackson is dead and Evan Chandler is dead, we may never know the truth from the lie. Then again, maybe Jordon Chandler will write a truthful tell all book.

So what can I say? Save a reminder that whosoever digs a pit with malicious intent shall not only fall in it, but in all likelihood will break a neck. I have recent experience of this with a band of workplace degenerates who contrived a false accusation against me. I post this story, really, to say to those who are falsely accused, persecuted and maligned without cause to prayer without ceasing.

There is a God. He is the Truth.

AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Obama will do ...

Dance Like Someone's Watching

2009-11-16T12:29:00.000+02:00

I heart synchronicity and zeitgeist. A lot.

Example: Two weeks ago I had zero interest in guys who do Michael Jackson dance routines. Less than zero interest. In fact, watching something like that had a good chance of annoying me.

But add a little synchronicity into the mix and I’m all over it.

Remember that busguy post? Check this out.

Completely unrelated to busguy, someone posts a killer video called “Josh’s Commute to Work” which just happens to be about a guy who dances his ass off to a Michael Jackson jam on his way to work in Chicago.

It’s nothing short of amazing (especially when you find out this video was shot and edited in under 24hrs.)

(via Zadi)

News Watch NewsBusters Shout-Out On Obama Refusal To Defend Japan ...

Design da música é isso!

2009-11-16T05:39:00.000+02:00

This is it

Aqui no blog, prestamos a falar sobre tudo aquilo que envolve os acordes, os tons e as letras. Prestamos aqui a falar sobre a áurea da música, sobre o sentido social da arte, sobre a disposição dos artistas em fazer música.

Falamos sobre o conceito que cada artista procura. Sobre a busca de uma música proposital.

Falamos sobre o design da música

Michael Jackson sempre foi conhecido como o Rei do pop, aquele que canta, dança, compõe, interpreta, cativa. “MJ” era o líder de vendas de um álbum – por Thriller, nos EUA.

Só que para quem não conhecia Michael Jackson tão bem, não se sabe se ele era um cantor ou um músico comprometido com o som, com os ensaios, com a própria banda, com os arranjos. Se Michael era realmente o rei do pop ou se parte do que ele significa também era devido a seu produtor Quincy Jones – que foi parceiro dele nos três primeiros álbuns, incluindo Thriller.

E no começo desse ano, Michael ensaiava para a volta aos palcos, para uma turnê de 50 shows que teria sua abertura em Londres.

This Is It é um documentário que dá conta de mostrar as gravações dos ensaios para essa turnê. This Is It são ensaios, e apenas ensaios. São raros os depoimentos, são raras as intervenções.

O filme mostra uma banda perfeitamente ensaiada, executando magistralmente as músicas de MJ, mas não é por isso que This Is It veio parar aqui nas linhas do blog.

A entrega de Michael Jackson aos ensaios é impressionante. Apesar de que suas declarações dizendo que “deus ama a todos” soam um pouco forçadas, a dedicação com a sua própria música é invejável a qualquer músico do planeta.

Ver o sincronismo dos dançarinos, o profissionalismo dos músicos, a preocupação – as vezes até excessiva – do diretor de palco, o trabalho de iluminação, de produção de vídeo. Não tem como não ficar de queixo caído para o preciosismo de This Is It.

Só para o nosso amigo leitor ter uma idéia do que o filme mostra, é possível notar, em diversas e diversas cenas, a perfeição com que MJ executa seus passos, onde a câmera se divide em duas, mostrando dois ensaios diferentes, e a repetição dos passos de MJ é praticamente idênticos.

Tudo é pensado. Tudo é milimetricamente pensado.

Quando falamos aqui no blog, em linhas e entre-linhas, que nada pode ser aleatório, é justamente disso que falamos. De um artista que procura, como o próprio Michael diz em certa cena, levar o espectador a lugares em que ele nunca esteve.

A arte tem de ser responsável pelas emoções que causa ao espectador. E o artista TEM de ser responsável por sua arte.

Ou seja, numa regra de três simples, o artista é responsável pelo espectador. É o artista que escolhe o tanto de trabalho que ele quer ter com um show. E Michael Jackson estava, decididamente, disposto a ir até o fim para fazer um show jamais visto.

Infelizmente, This Is It é o Making Off de um show que jamais existiu. Michael Jackson foi, mas deixa um legado invejável.

O artista desaparece, mas sua obra fica, servindo para sempre de inspiração.

Ins-piração.

por Igor Fediczko

Ashleigh Banfield Joining ABC News: TVNewser

Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough

2009-11-13T05:33:00.000+02:00

Money, that is. It seems the Jackson clan cannot get enough of the late pop icon’s money. In papers filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, November 6, father Joe Jackson requested an allowance from Michael’s estate. According to the documents, 80-year-old Joe’s monthly expenses are estimated at more than $15,000 but he has no income. Joe apparently suffers from diabetes and needs financial assistance for his medical bills, rent for his Las Vegas home, travel, hotel accommodations, and eating out. Consequently, he is seeking a monthly allowance in an undisclosed amount from the estate of his late son. He currently receives $1,700 a month in social security payments. The papers further reveal that over the years, Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, gave her husband Joe money she received from Michael. Mrs. Jackson currently receives monthly allowances of $26,000 for her maintenance and $60,000 for Michael’s children. She was granted this temporary allowance pending receipt of the proceeds of his estate. Mr. Jackson’s request for an immediate hearing was denied.

The lawyer for the administrators of the estate expressed surprise at Mr. Jackson’s request but did say it would be considered. His surprise was undoubtedly shared by many others. The relationship between the father and the son, who died on June 25 of this year, was unpleasant. Michael spoke openly about the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. Their relationship was strained and Joe was not included in Michael’s will. Furthermore, Michael requested that his mother get custody of his children and money, but neglected to mention his father.

It will certainly be interesting to see if the judge in the case considers the history between the two and how the contents of Jackson’s will might affect the decision. If his request is granted, Joe Jackson will profit from an estate that continues to grow in the wake of the singer’s death. There had been speculation surrounding the estate’s value and whether the funds were sufficient to pay all of the expenses related to the singer’s death and to maintain his children. Michael was recently added to Forbes magazine’s list of Top Earning Dead Celebrities and even surpassed Elvis. Jackson’s This is It was sold to Sony, adding $60 million to Michael’s estate. It was a number one blockbuster and grossed over $100 million and is rumored to possibly be an Oscar contender.

– C.G.

Image Source

Pitchfork: New Hot Chip: "Take It In"

Michael Jackson's "This Is It"

2009-11-11T13:40:00.000+02:00

I saw Michael Jackson’s movie “This Is It” last night with my husband and my youngest son. We went because my youngest son wanted to see it, otherwise I don’t think I would have gone.

It was excellent. Michael Jackson was an amazing performer and because so many songs were from the Thriller era, it brought be back to the time when it seemed like everything MJ did was amazing, his face was not as altered and none of the bizarre behaviors were taking place (or they hadn’t made the press).

There were snippets of clips of him in the Jackson 5 with his brothers which brought me back to my childhood! I remember the Jackson 5 cartoon!

I worked as a picture framer in the 1980’s and for some reason I can’t recall, Vincent Price came into the shop I worked –I think it was to sign a photo before it was framed. He was quite old but incredibly gracious and personable. He chatted with us and was asked how he like being in Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. He laughed and said when he read for it, he thought it was for a horror movie, which he, as we all knew, had done more than anyone could ever remember. I asked what he thought when he saw it was on Thriller and he replied, “Oh my dear, when I was first asked, I just read my part into a microphone! I had no idea it was for something as big as THAT!” That is about as close as I ever got to Michael Jackson which made me a Vincent Price fan for life.

I’m glad I saw the movie. I think he was a deeply disturbed guy who had the means to get anything he thought he needed which lead to his early demise. At the start of the movie I kept wondering if Michael Jackson went from his original looks to who he looked like overnight instead of gradually, how horrified would we all be? But as the movie went on, I was taken away with the singing and the dancing which was so good. It’s the first time I’ve felt sorrow and regret about his death. He formed an era of my life.

Catholic Culture : Latest Headlines : Bishop Tobin publicly calls ...

it's taken you this long.

2009-11-11T05:10:00.000+02:00

HELLO!

i want to watch bandslam! ):

i like miss hudgens’ name in the movie; sa5m (the five is silent.) hahahah! very clever. here is a list of longs i’m in love with right now; not in order.

Jump then fall – Taylor Swift
Give in to me – Michael Jackson
99 Times – Kate Voegele
Long Shot – Kelly Clarkson (originally by Katy Perry)
Speechless – Michael Jackson

And a few other songs by A Fine Frenzy. (: you guys should listen to her music. It’s really beautiful. Just search for her songs on YouTube or MySpace.

News – New Moon Star Goes Nude in New PETA Ad – Movies, TV & Music ...

X-Factor: Lets make a Movie

2009-11-09T21:06:00.000+02:00

X-Factors theme this week was Film week. This weeks theme was inspired by the contestants going to a film premiere of a Christmas Disney Film during the week. iWas expecting someone to sing something from Dreamgirls – but that never happened.

To start yesterdays show was Stacey Solomon, singing “Son Of a Preacher Man”. Stacey was told to sex it up, but Stacey was saying she doesn’t know how to “sex it up” Which iFelt was a very contradicting statement! Because – Stacey has a son! To have a son… U must have “Sexed it up” sometime during ur life! Stacey’s performance was – Okay. It wasn’t her best, but she hasn’t done a performance that iCan say was bad. So She gets a past from the negative comments this week. The only thing iCan say about Stacey’s performance is that her hair looked like she was going to the corner shop! If X-Factor’s Hairstylist thinks that Stacey’s hair was “Sexy” they need to go back to school!

Next to perform was Olly. Olly is one of my favorite Contestants left in the competition. But unfortunately this song was very predictable. To be honest iThought Olly would have sung this during big band week, He sang “Twist and Shout by The Isle Brothers”. The dancing was very Olly, and his becoming very predictable! NO – Olly this must change if u want to carry on being my Favorite. iFeel that Olly is holding back! iWant to hear some notes of his belting out! However it was a good performance! As always, Olly’s personality always comes out in his performances but iDo want to see some Soul, or some heart-felt songs for Olly to sing. He is getting TO Predictable!

Lloyd was after Olly. Last week Lloyd was in the Bottom Two, so he had to come back and fight this week. Lloyd sang “Stand By me – Ben E. King” during this performance Lloyd let out the biggest note he has ever done WITHIN HIS LIFE! – Yes – HIS LIFE! This song was the best song choice Cheryl has chosen for Lloyd! iStill don’t think he can win the competition but this week’s performance was sort of the best performance he has done so far!

Jamie came and performed “Crying – Roy Orbinson”. I don’t think Jamie’s performance was the best… but it wasn’t the worst. Simon is defiantly struggling choosing songs for Jamie, as he had to change the original song this week. Jamie does have a Rock voice, and there is Rock Soundtracks, but Jamie will get to predictable! But iCan’t help but say that Jamie doesn’t suit no over genre but Rock! iCan’t help but point out that Jamie had the same clothes he had during the “Diva Week”. Hmmm – I’m not just not to sure on Jamie’s performance, and iDid think he was vulnerable this week!

Lucie Jones performed a song from “Camp Rock” she performed “This Is Me – Demi Lovato”. It was so predictable to me that Lucie was going to perform a Disney soundtrack song! She looks like the type of Teenager to sit there and love The Jonas Brothers, and buy the CD of the soundtrack! Lucie’s performance was Okay, I felt that she felt comfortable! It looked like she felt so comfortable that it looked like she was performing in her room. But it was an alright performance! I thought she would be safe after this performance.

Drama King was next! And he has a new look! Danyl has cut his hair off! It’s about time – because he was looking like Aston from JLS for a HOT minute! The new look on Danyl suits him! I’m not going to lie, he does look like a star now! Danyl sang “Purple Rain” In my eyes no-one can sing Purple Rain like how Ruth Lorenzo did last year! But Danyl can pass! It was Okay. He looks like his yawning when he hits them big high notes. iThink u cannot change Danyl’s cocky/arrogant/over-confident attitude! If his been like that for Years its gonna take him a WHILE to change!

Satan and his Demon’s was next aka John & Edward. They performed Ghostbusters, and tried to hi-Jack Michael Jackson’s Thriller in the performance as well. Let me just post the video because i’m getting fed up of expressing my opinions on these Demon’s every Flipping WEEK!

Joe McElderly was last but not least! And his Performance was the BEST in my eyes! It was the best performance of the night! iWas really touched by this song! He sang “Circle Of Life – Elton John”. I know it’s from the Lion King but this song was so TOUCHING! and his performance was very Heart-felt! Joe has just made it into my favorites to win X-Factor! I never really liked him before, but this week iLiked him! He seems so humble as well! Well done Joe! This week u stepped up on http://ItzMally.wordpress.com

So That was this weeks performances. Who do u think was the best?

Sunday’s Show review coming soon!

News Corp. Considers a Google Ban - Digits - WSJ

Dig if you will

2009-11-09T13:39:00.000+02:00

If Michael Jackson is the soundtrack of my fourth-grade year, Prince is, for me, the sound of fifth grade. I don’t know if this tracks precisely with the release of Thriller and Purple Rain, but I absolutely remember becoming aware of MJ in one classroom and of Prince in another.

I also lived in Minnesota for six years, and at that time (mid to late 1990s), at least, Prince — or, more precisely, talk about Prince — was omnipresent. No dance party was complete without the ritual playing of a Prince song; everyone had their story of seeing/thinking they had seen/knowing someone who had seen The Purple One himself.

I never saw Prince (that I know of! Because he is teeny tiny, you know!), but like any good Minnesotan, legit or temporary, I have Prince stories, and think of them whenever I hear his tunes. I think of the dance my friends performed to “Kiss” when we were in college, which was a hilarious pantomime of shy-girl-busts-out-of-her-shell-and-gets-the-boy. I think of the friend — who was featured in that “Kiss” dance — who took the group of troubled teens he worked with to play basketball at Paisley Park one day, and insisted the hoops were regulation height (because Prince is SO SMALL!). I think of my college classmate who worked as a bouncer at Prince’s club, First Avenue, and of seeing They Might Be Giants in concert at First Avenue in later years, when I worked right down the street.

That’s my Prince ramble for today, after hearing “When Doves Cry” this morning. For some reason my head is all jumbly today and I am having a hard time coming up with anything brilliant.

I do know “Glee” comes back this week. That’ll make everything all better!

Andy Borowitz: Fox News Reports: Millions of Grannies Flee U.S. as ...

UK TV: SPIRITUAL MEDIUM SAYS MICHAEL JACKSON WILL ENJOY LIVE SEANCE

2009-11-06T13:42:00.000+02:00

Derek Acorah

For those who missed my previous post announcing news of this sick/ridiculous TV event click here to read all about it.

Spiritual medium/FRAUD Derek Acorah has now responded to his critics and is convinced that ‘Michael will enjoy tonights live séance”.

Via Digital Spy

“I’m certainly not going into it worried, I’m certainly not thinking that if he doesn’t make contact it’s a bad thing. What I have is a quiet, humbled expectancy.

“The most important thing is that I would like Michael Jackson to communicate with me alongside me. It’s for the right reasons. It’s my opinion that if he does make a breakthrough, he’s gonna enjoy it a lot.”

Acorah also said that he is hoping Jackson will be able to tell his family and fans that he is well and happy.

Asked what he will ask the popstar if a connection is made, he replied: “Firstly, how is he? How is he feeling? What’s the place like where he resides now? Are there people he’s met before? Has he reunited with family members?

“I’d want all of his fans to know that he’s well and that he’s adjusted to the spirit kind of life and maybe he’s quite happy. He can come and go as he pleases.”

The live show will also be hosted by June Sapong who should know better. Are you that desperate for TV work June?

Michael Jackson: The Live Séance airs tonight at 10pm on Sky1 in the UK.

Snack-Sized News Video Site Newsy.com Recruits Traditional Media Vet

Neverland Map (119/365)

2009-11-06T05:07:00.000+02:00

Since I’ve been on a Neverland kick these past couple weeks, I figured for my “simple” post of the day, I’d include the map:

Click on the thumbnail for full-size image:

View the other Neverland entries:

-A fan’s account of Neverland Ranch part 1

-A fan’s account of Neverland Ranch part 2

-Neverland in a way I have never seen it

Google News makes everyone an Editor

Beatles são mais lembrados do que Michael Jackson e Elvis Presley

2009-11-04T13:46:00.000+02:00

Uma pesquisa revelou que a música dos Beatles é mais fácil de ser lembrada do que a música de Michael Jackson e de Elvis Presley.

A pesquisa foi realizada na Europa e conduzida pela emissora de áudio digital Music Choice. Mais de 4 mil pessoas foram entrevistadas.

Os resultados revelaram que 89% das pessoas sabiam a letra inicial da música “A Hard Day’s Night”, dos Beatles, e apenas 23% sabiam o trecho inicial de “Thriller”, de Michael Jackson, e “Blue Suede Shoe”, de Elvis Presley.

Além disso, foi constatado também que o número de mulheres que se lembram da música de Michael Jackson é duas vezes maior que o de homens.

Confira abaixo a música mais lembrada da pesquisa, “A Hard Day’s Night”, dos Beatles.

Twelve and OG International reach compromise over IP rights // News

Small Break (117/365)

2009-11-04T05:32:00.000+02:00

I think I’m going to take a bit of a break from the blog this week. I’m getting really burnt out and, quite frankly, updating is getting to be like a drag to do and it feels like a chore. I don’t want to associate such feelings with this project at all, so I think I just need to step back and get refreshed, then come back with some kick-ass content. I’m still going to keep up the daily postings, but probably only like with Youtubes or photos. Sorry if anybody regularly reads this and is disappointed.

In brighter news, I received an awesome package in the mail today from Sasha Sark who I met through this blog near the beginning of its creation. She put together a few CDs for me with MJ remixes and other goodies as well as included a nice little note with one of my favorite MJ photos. I think these CDs arrived in good timing with my break! Maybe they’ll provide me with a little inspiration to keep up this blog . (Thanks again, Sasha)

By the way, you can check out her blog here. She has a few entries about MJ in there.

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It has Begun

2009-11-02T13:46:00.000+02:00

This is all very new to me, but something i am very much excited and eager to attempt. This is going to be a place where i can express my opinions and reviews of the things that i enjoy in life. Specifically, it will revolve around Movie and DVD, music, games, graphic novels and t.v. show reviews, and maybe the occasional random item i find interesting.

I’ve always been passionate about these things that i enjoy in life, but never really shared my views with many people.

Now i feel is the time to change that.

As i write this i have just come back from seeing Michael Jackson’s ‘This is it’, so i am looking forward to sharing my views on that movie. i will hopefully have that up in the next day or two, so see you then.

Mechanical Shadows

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This Is It

2009-11-02T05:11:00.000+02:00

Em 25 de junho de 2009, o mundo dava o adeus a mais um de seus grandes nomes: Michael Jackson. Foi com grande tristeza que fãs do mundo todo, choraram e testemunharam sua dramática partida para o além. O legado do MJ fica até hoje. É mais fácil achar coovers dele por aí, do que qualquer outra coisa. Crianças o imitam exaustivamente nos programas dominicais, seu moonwalké marca registrada, o seu ”Who’s Bad?” é dito com fervor e suas músicas cantadas e apreciadas por todos.

Só que antes da sua partida, o astro queria encerrar a carreira de outra forma, fazendo uma maratona de shows na Inglaterra, onde segundo ele, “tocaremos o que meus fãs pedirem!”, e dito isso, dirigido por Kenny Ortega (famoso por dirigir musicais, como o recente High School Musical e por cenas dançantes em filmes como Dirty Dancing e Footloose) e contando com uma equipe invejável, o cantor preparava o show da sua vida. Seriam 50 shows empolgantes, maravilhosos, iluminados e megalomaníacos, coisa que só o Rei do Pop poderia proporcionar.

No auge dos seus 50 anos, ainda com o gás do garotinho que cantava ABC e do marmanjo que fazia todo mundo bailar com Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, ele dança, canta, usa e abusa de efeitos especiais, exige de seus músicos e participa ativamente do processo criativo do seu show. Diferente daquele MJ recatado e mais excêntrico que o normal, como infelizmente ficou estigmatizado. Ele se mostra atencioso, ouve, discute, aprende, assume erros e se mostra humano. A realeza é modesta e iria agradar todos os seus súditos.

As 100 horas gravadas para o arquivo pessoal do astro, foram cuidadosamente condensadas em pouco mais de 100 minutos, e renderam um documentário interessante, que não apenas mostrava os bastidores do show que nunca aconteceu, mas mostrava também as facetas de um ídolo que planejava retornar com tudo. Particularmente não colocava muita fé, achava que seria daqueles documentários maçantes, sem graça, movido a depoimentos de pessoas próximas a ele. Mas com 5 minutos de projeção, mudei de idéia e por quase duas horas, fui agraciado com cenas belas, com passagens interessantes, um This Is It fora do comum, digno do Rei!

Começa com entrevistas dos bailarinos do show, do processo de seleção deles, e da emoção de estarem tão pertos de quem tanto os inspirou. O filme não tem a pretensão de divulgar o show, mesmo isso sendo inevitável, mas quer na verdade, nos fazer ver o homem que ninguém via. Em nenhum momento ele é o Michael Jackson que as câmeras flagravam, fraco, doente, feio, mas sim, um Michael Jackson ativo, feliz, animado, e com vontade de dar a volta por cima (por cima de todo furor que tanto lhe atrapalhou a carreira).

Os minutos seguintes são embalados por ensaios animados, e musicas que fizeram história. Smoth Criminal, Beat It, I’ll Be There, Billie Jean (ele ficou devendo o Moonwalk ¬¬), Thriller entre outros sucessos embalam o filme de ponta a ponta. Mas o mais bacana fica guardado para os bastidores das músicas. O processo de criação dos cenários, as coreografias, os efeitos especiais e as filmagens extras que eles fizeram para enriquecer mais ainda o show, tudo deixa o filme mais interessante a cada momento.

Só que de repente, o filme foge da sua proposta (ou pelo menos vi assim), quando insere uma crítica não ácida, mas que incomoda a quem assiste, sobre o meio ambiente.

Os minutos finais giram todo em torno da música Earth Song e ainda conta com palavras do próprio Michael sobre o meio ambiente e a preservação do mundo. Não que eu esteja discordando do sonho do astro, mas apenas acho que usaram de forma errada essa parte e acabaram deixando as coisas meio confusas.

Mas tirando esse pequeno detalhe citado acima, é um filme mais que obrigatório para os fãs. Vi gente chorando no cinema, vi gente cantando no cinema, vi gente dançando no cinema e vi gente gritando ”Michael I Love you!” o tempo todo. Não fiquei incomodado, pelo contrário, acho que ele deve ter ficado feliz com as demonstrações de carinho mundo afora.

E pra quem não curte muito, fica a dica pra conhecer melhor o trabalho que ele deixou para as futuras gerações apreciarem.

O fim do filme deixa uma mensagem clara: o show deve continuar!

Não percam!

Nota: 9,0

This Is It, 2009

Direção: Kenny Ortega.

Duração: 112 minutos.

The Daily Politics - NY Daily News

DAY 18 – WINNING THE LOTTERY

2009-10-30T13:18:00.000+02:00

Winning the lottery

Another thing I’ve been doing lately, is watching Oprah at least once a week. It must have been the Law of Attraction in action that made me watch it yesterday. For, after interviewing two of Michael Jackson’s brothers after the premiere of This is it (I hope to see it this week-end), Oprah went on to interview people who had won the lottery.

What an upbeat show. I loved watching the replay of the scene of the man who had won a million dollars. As Oprah said, when he realized he’d won, he jumped so high that he looked as though he had left his body. On his way to Chicago to be on Oprah, this sweet man was hit by a golf cart at the airport and ended up in hospital. But even the broken arm didn’t dampen his high spirit.

“I’m with you baby,” I thought, imagining myself wearing the same ear-to-ear smile he had on his face, if I’d won a million dollars.

Then there was the woman who won the million-dollar jackpot in Deal Or No Deal. She was laughing all the way to the bank. She could hardly stay in her seat, or string two words together without bursting into hoots of laughter. Poignant for me was the scene where, upon receiving a million dollar check from the Publishers clearing house, a man took the for sale sign outside his house, and with the force of all his pent up emotions stuck it into the garbage!

And what about the school principal – now retired – who won the four and half million-dollar lotto jackpot? Didn’t you love the way he laughed? I did. He was infectious; just looking at him I too was laughing like an idiot.

Watching and listening to him, I realized that this man had won the lottery because he had had every intention of winning. And what’s more, his attitude and expectations are such that he might win it again.

I have bought lottery tickets in my life, haven’t you? But there has always been something, an accompanying elseness that has gone with the buying. A deep down disbelief that such a wonderful thing could happen to me. And… that maybe it is wrong to “waste” money on lottery tickets, or that with millions in my account; I wouldn’t enjoy the things that that money could buy because it would be too easy.

Does that make sense to you?

I was driving to the city with my husband the other day. The drive was the perfect opportunity for some homework, and I slipped the CD that accompanies The Astonishing Power of Emotions, into the CD player. Abraham says that most of us put our raft in the water pointing it upstream. In other words, most of us believe that to get what we want we have to struggle, and if we don’t, if it is too easy to get what we want, we probably won’t enjoy the rewards.

“Aha,” I thought. “That’s me with the lottery, and with a lot of other things for that matter. And I know that, whether he knows it or not, my husband feels the same.”

But, after watching this show, I felt ready to win. By the time the man from the publishers clearing house drove onto the set with his van, and gave one lucky woman $25,000 and everyone else $500, I was jumping up and down as if I was one of the lucky winners. When at the of the show, Oprah told the audience to go to Oprah.com for information on the publishers clearing house search and win, I could hardly wait for her to finish talking. Rearing to go win myself a big prize, I dashed to my laptop, threw it open and… yeah, I am registered. I am so excited! And as soon as I am dressed I’m out the door and on my way to my local gas station to buy a ticket for the mega and one of the lotto and you know the motto; you never know!

Bye for now, from this-soon-to-be LOTTERY WINNER!

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Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)

2009-10-30T05:47:00.000+02:00

Michael Jackson’s This Is It (2009)

Rated G

It was going to be one of the biggest concerts ever. After ten years, Michael Jackson was set to return to the stage. However, days before the final dress rehearsal, Jackson passed away. People all over the world were in mourning. And many wondered what that last show would have been like. This Is It takes video recorded during numerous rehearsals to give us a glimpse of what we might have seen. It also serves as tribute to the man named “The King of Pop”. This is both more and less than a concert recording. It’s less than a concert recording for various reasons which I will outline below. More importantly, it is more than a concert recording because of the glimpse we get not only of Jackson: the man, but also of Jackson:the object of worship.

If you’re walking into the cinema expecting to watch Michael Jackson’s final performance, you’re going to be disappointed. And it’s not an unreasonable expectation, considering the hype, the limited run (only at the cinema for two weeks), and the sale of t-shirts and CD’s at the box office. But this is not a concert. It’s not even a dress rehearsal. Jackson was still in the process of getting the musicians and the dancers to come together and polish their work. What we have here is the promise of something big that we will never see. Jackson himself is holding back. There are numerous dropped lines and false starts. When ever he starts to let go and really put all his effort into his singing, he berates those looking on for encouraging him to waste his voice. What we hear here is not what we would have heard in concert. He was saving his voice for the concert that never was. This Is It is a performance that never gives its all and as a result, it is difficult to feel drawn in by it.

What was of greater interest to me were the interviews with the dancers, musicians and everyone else that was working on this project. They tell us how great an honour it is to be working with Jackson. The opening scene features a group of male dancers auditioning to be part of the show. For them, this was it. This was the dream. Michael Jackson was not only their inspiration but their reason for living. They couldn’t see past this moment because the purpose of their being was now being fulfilled. Michael Jackson was their god.

At one point, one of the crew observes that they are on stage at the Church of Rock and Roll. The stadium was their church and the entertainer was their god. I would have like to have seen some interviews taken after Michael Jackson’s death. I would have liked to have heard the dancer, who at the beginning of the movie had lived to perform on stage with Jackson, only now to have that dream taken away. How did he feel now? Does his life still have purpose now that Jackson was gone and the concert was never going to happen? How did it feel to put your trust in a god that perished?

Michael Jackson was worshipped by many. But he was not God, he was just a man. His legacy may live on. Then again he may be completely forgotten within a century. Those who lived for Jackson are now living for nothing more than a memory. And in time that memory will fade. Don’t put your faith in something or someone that will perish, fail, or fade. Don’t worship anything or anyone that promises much but ultimately can’t fulfill.

Jackson was not God. But Jesus is. He is the one and only way to eternal life. He has proven his worthiness by rising from the dead. Death had no hold on Jesus. And now he sits at God’s right hand, waiting to return. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. (Acts 2:32-33). Put your faith in Jesus. He alone can bring a purpose to your life that will last beyond this world and into the next.

This Is It is an interesting movie. If you’re a massive Michael Jackson fan, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you’re someone who appreciates his music but didn’t break into tears when you heard he’d passed away, you’re probably better off waiting for this on DVD.

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