kueytoc

Introducing... Obertan 08/07/2009 14:19, Report by Nick Coppack United’s new signing may be something of an unknown quantity in England, but over in France they’ve been singing his praises for years. In fact, Gabriel Obertan was being tipped for the top long before he even made his senior debut for Bordeaux as a 17-year-old. So what sort of player is the France U21 international? And what can United fans expect from his first season at Old Trafford? To find out, we spoke exclusively to BBC 5Live’s European football expert Andy Brassell... How highly rated is Obertan in France? He’s a terrific player, although, to be honest, I think some people in France are quite surprised by the transfer. He’s been on the cusp of something great at Bordeaux for a while now – he made his debut at 17 – but he hasn’t quite kicked on and forced himself into the side on a regular basis. Despite that, I think he’ll be a really good fit at United. What are his main attributes? He’s a very versatile player and the way United play you need your frontmen to be mobile and flexible. He’s a right-sided attacker, but he can also drop back into midfield or play as a second striker. He could probably also play in central midfield, and I expect his adaptability is one reason Sir Alex was interested in him. He went through the famous Clairefontaine football academy so he has a lot of technical ability and he’s also very quick. So he’s not a like-for-like replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo? No, I don’t think you can compare him to Ronaldo or claim he’ll be a direct replacement – they’re different sorts of players. However, like Ronaldo when he first came to England, there’s an element of the unknown around Obertan, which could work in his favour. Remember, though, Obertan’s played about 100 first-team games already and he’s played in the Champions League, so he has decent experience under his belt. In that sense, he’s maybe better prepared for England than Ronaldo was when he first arrived. Obertan also understands his attributes very well: he’s direct and has plenty of tricks, but he’s not going to over-elaborate or do them for the sake of showing off. Are we talking about a future star? Well, a lot of people in France think he could become something really special. He hasn’t quite progressed at the rate people had hoped after his debut at 17, but he’s also been a little bit unlucky. Last year, for instance, Bordeaux played Roma in the Champions League and Obertan started terrifically. Bordeaux went 1-0 up and things were looking really good. But then their centre-back was sent off and Obertan was sacrificed for a defender and Bordeaux ended up losing. Similar things have happened on one or two other occasions and there was a feeling that it just wasn’t going to happen for him at Bordeaux, a feeling that luck just wasn’t going his way. He was sent out on loan to FC Lorient for the second half of 2008/09. They’re not exactly a big club… That’s true, but he did very well at Lorient. And the fact that Bordeaux sent him on loan to a struggling side shouldn’t be seen as a negative. I think it served two purposes: it said to him that he needed to play more games and start making some progress, but it also would have provided a valuable education. Lorient are a modest club without bells or whistles – he would have been forced to work hard there and roll his sleeves up and get stuck in. While he was there he played for France U21s against England U21s in Nottingham. France won that night, Obertan was the best player on the park and scored the first goal. That performance was a good indication of what he’s capable of. Realistically, how much can United fans expect to see him this season? He’s relatively unknown so I don’t think too much will be expected of him. There won’t be too much pressure. I see it almost as a free season for him to ease himself into the club. I definitely wouldn’t like to see him go out on loan – he has such fantastic players to learn from at United and because he’s tall, pacy and has tricks I think he’ll work really well as an impact substitute against tired defenders. I can see him playing about 25 games this season. Can he cope with the rigours of the English game? Absolutely. I think the French league, in general, is a great finishing school for life in England. It’s physically tougher than most other leagues in Europe – certainly the Spanish, Portuguese, German or Italian leagues – so that helps players prepare for the Premier League. Most players who have come from France to England are quite physical and get stuck in – people like Drogba and Essien at Chelsea and even Bassong at Newcastle. Obertan is a big guy – 6ft 1in – he’s quick and he can handle himself against defenders. I think that’s something that would have really appealed to United.

Burying Michael at Neverland a Never-Ending Story Thu., Jul. 9, 2009 11:10 AM PDT by Whitney English, Ashley Fultz and Breanne L. Heldman We may not know exactly where Michael Jackson's body is, but we do know at least one place it isn't—Neverland Ranch. Santa Barbara County Communications Director William Boyer tells E! News that the Jackson family has not applied for a permit to do anything at Neverland Ranch and has not been in contact with the county for any reason. "We haven't had any formal contact with the Jackson family or their representatives about any aspect of a burial, funeral, memorial service, nothing regarding Mr. Jackson at Neverland Ranch," Boyer says. "The important thing to note here is there has been no contact with the county about any aspect of this. There's been no formal application, no request, nothing." Should the family decide the famed grounds be the star's final resting place, the process to bury his remains there would be considerably lengthy and involved. Kim Brown, spokesperson for the California Department of Consumer Affairs, tells E! News the Jackson family would first have to obtain a "certificate of authority" from the California Funeral and Cemetery Bureau in order to bury M.J. on private property. This certificate allows a private property to "operate as a cemetery." So far, "one has not been issued," Brown says. If it were (or when it is), it would be public record. To obtain a certificate of authority, one must submit a variety of documents, including a zoning permit in Santa Barbara, a deed to the property, a map of the proposed cemetery site and several other applications. Brown tells E! News it's up to a family how long it takes to gather the necessary requirements. "It really depends on going to the county to get those zoning permits," he says. "And then they have to get a cemetery manager, somebody appointed as that." Once all the documents are set, Brown claims it takes the state about "seven to 30 days" to process. "Once you get all of that and submit it to the state, then the state works as rapidly as possible to issue a certificate of authority," he explains. "It's not an overnight process." Planner Kimberley McCarthy of the Santa Barbara Planning and Development Department also confirms to E! News, "At this time, I do not know of any application that has come in concerning Neverland Ranch." An employee at the Los Angeles County Public Health office also tells E! News that an amendment to Jackson's death certificate has not been issued. Reports say La Toya Jackson will be issuing a statement Friday about their plans for the burial. Her rep has not returned a request for comment. As for turning the space into a type of Graceland-like attraction, Boyer claims the Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors would be the ones to approve it. "Many of the people that live here in Santa Barbara County look upon Santa Barbara County as paradise," he says. "The quality of life here, protecting the environment, protecting public safety, are very important issues for the county. Something like that would definitely change the land use from the agricultural land use that it's currently zoned for, to a different type of zoning. That type of the use would be a policy decision that our Board of Supervisors would need to take care of." While the King of Pop may not be buried (at least not right away) at his fabled abode, at least one of his most famous symbols will follow him to the grave: his sparkly glove. Jeffrey Relf, a rep for Gaspar Gloves, confirms to E! News that they designed a Swarovski crystal white "kidskin" leather glove for the star's final outfit. According to Relf, M.J.'s stylist of 24 years, Michael Bush, and sister La Toya were both very involved in dressing Michael and making him "look amazing and appropriate" when he was laid to rest. "La Toya wanted to make sure Michael Bush styled Michael in the way that people know him as looking," he tells E! News. "Within that, they were going over what gloves, because you know Michael had tons of gloves and some of the gloves were custom, which is what my client Dorothy [who owns Gaspar Gloves] did for him. La Toya wanted the glove to look luxury enough, so Michael Bush looked through the archive and found the one that Dorothy designed for him 10 or 12 years ago, and that’s what they chose." The Thriller had worn Gaspar Gloves for more than 20 years. As for who would actually see Michael in his last outfit, that remains unknown. Relf says he doesn't know if there was an open casket, but says some people probably saw him since there was such an emphasis on making him look "appropriate" for the occasion.

Michael Jackson's sister La Toya says he was 'killed' Sun Jul 12, 1:33 am ET LONDON (AFP) – Michael Jackson was killed by a band of greedy hangers-on , his sister La Toya alleged in interviews with British Sunday newspapers. The King of Pop's sister spoke about her younger brother's death and the aftermath with The Mail on Sunday and the News of the World weeklies. "I believe Michael was murdered, I felt that from the start," the 53-year-old said. "Not just one person was involved, rather it was a conspiracy of people. He was surrounded by a bad circle. Michael was a very meek, quiet, loving person. People took advantage of that. "Less than a month ago, I said I thought Michael was going to die before the London shows because he was surrounded by people who didn't have his best interests at heart. La Toya said she had ordered a private autopsy. Jackson, one of the world's most popular entertainers, died on June 25 at the age of 50. "Michael was worth more than a billion dollars. When anyone is worth that much money, there are always greedy people around them. I said to my family a month ago, 'He's never going to make it to London'. He was worth more dead than alive." Murder under Californian law can include killings that are not premeditated. La Toya accused a "shadowy" group of cutting her sibling off from his family and friends and forcing him to sign up for 50 comeback concerts at London's O2 Arena, shows billed "This Is It". They saw him as a "cash cow" and "got him hooked on drugs... I think it shocked his system so much it killed him," she claimed. "I am not going to stop until I find out who is responsible. Why did they keep the family away? It's not about money. I want justice for Michael. I won't rest until I find out what -- and who -- killed my brother." La Toya said Jackson was found in the bedroom of his physician Doctor Conrad Murray. "Michael walked from his room to Doctor Murray's room. What happened in there we don't know," she said. La Toya said she was driving to see Jackson in hospital when her mother screamed down the phone: "He's dead!". "I nearly crashed my car," she said. "My legs went weak... They took me up to the area where Michael had been taken. Mother was crying and Michael's kids were crying." She also claimed jewellery was missing from his house and no cash was found, despite the fact he regularly kept more than a million dollars around. La Toya said the family had an open coffin viewing before the public memorial in Los Angeles' Staples Center arena. She put one of his sequined gloves in the coffin, while his daughter Paris, 11, put a one half a heart-shaped "mood necklace" around his wrist, keeping the other piece. La Toya said it was Paris's idea to speak at the memorial. Of Jackson's children, she said Paris wanted to be an entertainer, Prince Michael was "assertive", while Blanket was "very funny, a real prankster like his father." La Toya said her brother would "absolutely not" be laid to rest at his Neverland ranch and added that Jackson's brain, removed in the autopsy, had been put back in his body. La Toya said Jackson wanted to give up music and become a film director. "The first one was to be a horror film called 'Thriller'," she said. "'This Is It' really was the end. He didn't want to perform any more." She said Jackson updated his will roughly every five years, "so we expect another one to emerge from 2007".

"It's Going to Be a Disaster": Associate Says Jackson Was Too Weak for Major Comeback Whitney English and Natalie Finn – Sat Jul 11, 1:28 pm ET Los Angeles (E! Online) – One of the dreamers who tried to reboot Michael Jackson's career says the late King of Pop wasn't fit enough to hit the stage for the "greatest comeback show ever" two years ago, let alone this summer. "It would have happened had I assessed that Michael was capable mentally, emotionally, vocally to do it. At the end of it, we decided no, he wasn't," Jack Wishna, president of consultancy CPAmerica and the orchestrator of Jackson's return to the U.S. after a year spent living abroad, exclusively tells E! News. The idea that they danced around from mid-2006 to mid-2007, and again earlier this year, was to have Jackson in residence at a Las Vegas hotel, where he'd star in a concert spectacular called Michael Jackson Presents that would also feature guest appearances by the latest R&B hitmakers. "Michael says, 'I have this huge statue of me in full regalia, moon boots,'" Wishna recalled. "I want the hotel to encase it in the wall and the nights I'm in performance the statue comes out to the center of the strip so the world knows that I'm here," Jackson said, according to Wishna. "It would come out on a conveyor belt." But though concert promoter AEG Live said that Jackson passed a physical with flying colors earlier this year, Wishna maintains that the 50-year-old artist had been in a "weakened state" and wasn't able to do three shows a month in 2007, much less maintain a more rigorous schedule now. "He would get hurt if he had to do a regimen of performances," Wishna said. "You really have to be fit to go up on stage to do that." So, earlier this year, he and Jackson instead discussed creating a show in the guise of LOVE, Cirque du Soleil's ode to the Beatles, that the King of Pop would not actually be in. But then, Wishna said, he found out Jackson had hooked up with AEG for his London engagement. "He said it should be fine," Wishna recalled. "In my heart I knew he didn't get better from the time I was with him. He was thin and weak. It's going to be a disaster. I would never put him into a show that way. I don't know who the doctor is that certified him for it. I didn't think [Jackson] was capable of doing it." Wishna said he never saw Jackson using drugs, but that he wouldn't have had any trouble obtaining whatever he wanted—oftentimes from people who didn't have his best interests at heart. "There were so many people around him that were enablers," the exec said. "It was one thing after another that just made it very bizarre." "Michael has a lot of people around him that cut deals and sometimes Michael doesn't even know what those deals are," he added. "So many people have been around him. At every turn it's like he's his worst enemy because of the people that are around him." "If you opened your mouth he'd alienate them and get rid of them," Wishna said of the members of Jackson's entourage who failed to acquiesce to his demands. "Nobody told him 'don't do this, don't do that.'" Sadly, Jackson isn't around to tell anyone to do anything on his behalf anymore. But Wishna feels that he knows what the Thriller purveyor would say about one thing. "In Ireland, when I spoke to Michael, I said, 'Come back and go back to Neverland.'" And Jackson said, "I never, never, never want to go back to Neverland. Never." "My thought is if someone buries him in Neverland he will come up out of the ground like in Thriller and strangle them," Wishna said, referring to rumors that Jackson's family is still considering a bid to inter Jackson on the grounds of his once-beloved ranch. "I tried to get rid of Neverland for him. He would never set foot back on Neverland. He never wanted to go there, never wanted to sleep there— never, never."

U mean THIS ???

Yeah tat's the ONE...Count-Gobi Dracula !!!...Ahhh ha ha ha.

Jackson, healthy or not? Depends on who's talking AP - Sunday, July 12 LOS ANGELES - In his final days, Michael Jackson was robust and active. Or dangerously thin and frail. Begging for access to powerful prescription drugs. Or showing no signs of ever having used them. It depends on who's talking. A dizzying collection of puzzle pieces about Jackson's health and habits has come to light since his death on June 25. With as much as a month before a toxicology report determines the cause, more are sure to emerge. Each is likely to fuel further speculation. None is sure to produce a satisfying conclusion. Some who knew him even seem to contradict themselves. Here's what's known so far: * During his final rehearsal at the Staples Center, Jackson was captured on video doing his signature moonwalk and dance spins. Randy Phillips, CEO of concert promoter AEG Live, told CNN he was "a healthy, vibrant human being." * Phillips later told ABC concert organizers feared that Jackson was losing weight and showing signs of wear and tear. He said he hired a staffer whose purpose was to remind Jackson to eat. * Dr. Arnold Klein, Jackson's dermatologist, who said he last saw Jackson less than a week before he died, told CNN's Larry King that the singer was in "very good physical condition," in "a very good mood," and "was very happy." * Klein also told CNN that he had given Jackson the painkiller Demerol but warned him about using the powerful sedative Diprivan. He also confirmed that Jackson was a former drug addict who went to rehab in England. * "The Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno, who was helping Jackson prepare for a planned series of London concerts, told The Associated Press that he never saw Jackson take drugs, act aloof or speedy, and the singer wasn't frail when he last saw him at the end of May. "I've never seen him look better," he said. * Two of Jackson's former confidants, medium Uri Geller and ex-bodyguard Matt Fiddes, said they tried in vain to keep the pop superstar from abusing prescription drugs. Geller said he suffered a terrible falling-out with Jackson over the issue, but not before he had to "shout at Michael, to scream at Michael" in an effort to confiscate the singer's stocks of medication during his travels in England. * The drug Diprivan, an anesthetic widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness, was found in Jackson's residence, a law enforcement official told the AP. Also known as Propofol, the drug is given intravenously and is very unusual to have in a private home. * Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse, told the AP she repeatedly rejected his demands for Diprivan. But a frantic phone call she received from Jackson four days before his death made her fear that he somehow obtained Diprivan or another drug to induce sleep. * Akon, the Senegalese R&B singer and producer with whom Jackson recently recorded songs, told Billboard.com that "Michael is just one of the healthiest people that I know. He was pressuring me to stay healthy, like, 'Akon, eat right. What are you doing out there on the road? Are you eating? Are you exercising? Are you drinking a lot of water?'" * Klein said Jackson had been suffering from lupus _ a chronic disease where the immune system attacks the body's own tissue _ and a skin disorder known as vitiligo. * Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered CPR on Jackson's bed, rather than a hard surface, "with his hand behind his back to provide the necessary support" because the singer was so frail, the doctor's attorney, Edward Chernoff, said. * Chernoff also told the AP that Murray never gave or prescribed Jackson the painkillers Demerol or OxyContin, and said the doctor didn't give the pop star any drugs that contributed to his death. * Among other things, Murray's lawyers have acknowledged it took up to 30 minutes for paramedics to be summoned to Jackson's home after he was found unresponsive. * Jackson's family requested a private autopsy in part because of questions about Murray's role, the Rev. Jesse Jackson has said. * Kevin Mazur, a photographer documenting the Staples Center rehearsals for a tour book, told the AP that Jackson looked in perfect health. "He was very upbeat, very happy, having a good time with the dancers," Mazur said. * Spiritual teacher Dr. Deepak Chopra told the AP he had been concerned since 2005 that Jackson was abusing painkillers and spoke to the pop star about suspected drug use as recently as six months ago. Chopra said Jackson, a longtime friend, personally asked him for painkillers in 2005; Chopra said he refused. * Los Angeles police chief William Bratton said detectives are looking at his prescription drug history and trying to talk with his numerous former doctors. He also says police are waiting for the coroner's report before ruling out any possibilities in their "comprehensive and far-reaching" probe, which includes the Drug Enforcement Agency and the state attorney general's office. Associated Press writer Michael R. Blood contributed to this report.

Jackson 'This Is It' waxwork on show in London AFP - Friday, July 10 LONDON (AFP) - - A waxwork of Michael Jackson made to mark his planned "This Is It" London comeback concerts went on show in the British capital on Thursday. The US singer, who died on June 25, had been due to play 50 gigs at London's O2 Arena from July 13. The depiction of Jackson at Madame Tussaud's waxwork museum shows him in his prime in a classic performance pose, matching the "This Is It" concert posters. Only Queen Elizabeth II, who has been replicated 20 times by Madame Tussaud's, has been depicted more than Jackson. "As the response to his tragic death has shown, Michael Jackson was one of the most powerful forces in contemporary music and culture and he has remained one of the most popular personalities at Madame Tussauds throughout his career," said spokeswoman Liz Edwards. "We enjoyed a very special relationship with Michael and this is the 13th time we have portrayed him, a reflection of that popularity. "It was always our intention to make this figure a celebratory one, signalling his much-anticipated return to the stage but also acknowledging all of his incredible achievements. "We hope it will still be a celebration." Jackson's new figure was created using information gathered at a sitting the singer gave in 1989, together with extensive photography and research to reflect the "This is It" image. The star is dressed in a black Fedora hat, white v-neck T-shirt, sparkly black jacket, white glove, black ankle-length trousers, white socks and black loafers. "I have produced 100 waxworks but they don't come any tougher than Jackson's," said the sculptor Stephen Mansfield. One of the first fans in, Mark Crew, 29, from Yeovil in southwest England, wore a Jackson-style outfit in tribute. "I am absolutely thrilled by this new version... there is something timeless about this waxwork," he said. "I was concerned about which version of Jackson they would choose to imitate -- I don't think fans would have wanted him symbolised in his latter years." Matt Blank, spokesman for the World Michael Jackson Network, said: "The new waxwork will undoubtedly be very popular. It is in this sad time that people need to share their grief, not just through tears but also through celebrating the life and legacy of the 'King of Pop'."

Oh yeah...forgot to add that CF also got two Candy Cane Hogfish ( è–„è·ç‹) aka Bodianus sepiacaudus.

Where did U buy this niceez bubbly MUSHIE ?

HOT TIP - And if U examine closely in one of their GOBY nano tanks, U will find a sweet little Flaming Prawn Goby aka Discordipinna griessingeri !!!

CF...got a juvenile 2.5 inch size Chrysurus Angel aka Pomacanthus chrysurus. Also known as the Ear Spot Angelfish, the Chrysurus angel fish is one of the few marine angelfish imported from Africa. The adult Chrysurus angelfish has a blue/black body fading to a tan color around the head. The vertical stripes of the Chrysurus angel are white on the body with electric blue lines around the face. The Chrysurus angel has a striking yellow tail. May eat some soft corals and nip at large Polyped stony corals, zooanthids and clams. Smaller specimens are less risky. When they are available, the Chrysurus angel is an exceptional choice for anyone interested in keeping rare angelfish and the dedicated hobbyist should move fast !

It's the expen$$$ive sibling of Yellow Rose Antenna Goby aka Stonogobiops nematodes. I'm still trying to find its latin name.

CF...also have Sri Lankan exotic Goby, Long-finned Fairy Wrasseys, Yashas pair, somewhat rare nice-sized Griffis Angel aka Apolemichthis griffisi. Hurry Hurry !!! Note: Popular among rare angelfish enthusists, this species is among the safer choices for the reef aquarium, other than members of the genus Centropyge or Genicanthus. Does well in captivity like the closely related but slightly more obtainable Goldflake Angel. The Griffis Angel is ususlly around 3"-4", rarely are they much larger or smaller. This is generally an exceptionally passive fish and it should be housed only with docile tankmates. Although certainly not without risk, this is among the safer "full sized" angels that is kept in reef aquariums.

CF...got one & only Indian Butterflyfish/Headband Butterflyfish/Oblique-banded Butterflyfish aka Chaetodon mitratus...3 inch size. The Indian Butterflyfish is one of the easiest butterflyfish to keep in the aquarium and will work well with a variety of tank mates ! The Indian Butterflyfish or Headband Butterflyfish is one of these very handsome and attractive marine fish. It is a very popular butterflyfish among aquarists but commands a high price. No special care is needed to maintain the Indian Butterflyfish. It will immediately accept foods even when first introduced to the aquarium, and It will take a variety of foods. When it is well acclimated it will go up to the surface to take foods from its keepers. Though not a very quick swimmer, it swims freely and usually spends a good deal of its time in the open water. Many reef-keepers hope to keep it in a mini reef, but like many butterflyfish it can be a coral eater if living corals are maintained. It can be kept for several years with twelve years being the record.

Smells like REEF Spirit !!!

LIFTING THE VEIL ON JACKO'S KIDS INSIDE THEIR STRANGE & AMAZING FANTASY LIVES AT NEVERLAND By DAVID K. LI and LACHLAN CARTWRIGHT IN LOS ANGELES AND CHUCK BENNETT IN NEW YORK Last updated: 11:20 am, July 9, 2009 Michael Jackson's sudden death may give his three beloved children something he could never provide -- a chance to be themselves. The King of Pop devoted his life to creating a fairy-tale Never Neverland for his three young heirs, a world where the reality around them was hidden behind masks or the burly frames of professional bodyguards. Prince Michael Joseph, 12, Paris Michael, 11, and Prince Michael II, a k a "Blanket," 7, have never attended a day of school. They've never known a neighborhood friend. They sleep together in the same room. And the only outsiders they know are strangers their father would bring in to entertain them. Last Christmas Eve, Jacko and his dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, -- the suspected father of the two oldest children -- arranged for Carrie Fisher to surprise the kids by reprising her role as Princess Leia in "Star Wars" at their rental mansion in Holmby Hills, Calif. "Michael brought the kids down in their pajamas and said, 'This is Princess Leia,' " said family friend Stephen Price. "They were so excited! She did her famous speech for them -- the 'Help me, Obi-Wan' speech." "They are the greatest kids you'll ever meet," Price told Us Weekly of the Jackson kids. "They didn't act like they had silver spoons in their mouths. They are nice and not Hollywood brats. Paris is very polite, a little reserved. Prince is the most outgoing. And Blanket is a sharp kid, but also pretty quiet. When I asked what he wanted for Christmas, he said, 'I just want a stuffed animal.' " To entertain his kids, Jacko would often take them on midnight shopping sprees in stores specially opened just for them. They hopscotched around the globe from California to Las Vegas to Bahrain to Ireland to New Jersey to Switzerland. He showered the children with indulgences. In 2007, he shut down parts of the New York, New York Hotel in Las Vegas so he and the kids could play video games and ride the roller coaster. And the kids would show up bleary-eyed at bookshops and toy stores around the world for private shopping sprees at 2 or 3 a.m. They ate Jackson's favorite -- KFC -- for lunch and dinner. "Prince I, Paris and Prince II were his life," Michael's longtime pal Dieter Wiesner told Life & Style. "He made breakfast for them -- a lot of people don't know this side of Michael." Perhaps best of all from a child's perspective -- no school. "I'm going to build a computer school on the grounds [of Neverland]," Jackson said in an interview. "How can they go into society? He's Prince Michael Jackson. She's Paris Katherine Michael Jackson. It would be too difficult." He also fathered by example -- and showed them how to take responsibility for themselves, one record producer told Jackson biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli. Prince Michael once spilled popcorn on the studio floor, and the producer bent over to clean up the mess, fearing Jacko would have a diva-like tantrum. Instead, the megastar apologized. "He's my kid. I'll clean up after him," Jackson said, according to Taraborrelli. The producer recalled, "I looked down and there's Michael Jackson on his hands and knees picking up his son's popcorn. I'm not sure you would see Madonna doing that." Jackson did his best to prevent his kids from becoming brats, friends said. "He wanted them to have a chance at a childhood which he never had," friend Price recalled. "He wanted to make sure they played, because they are kids first and foremost. He made sure they were taken care of, but he understood the difference between a need and a want. He knew to give them a solid foundation to be good people, and that's what I saw in these kids: bright, intelligent, good people." Others in Jackson's inner circle agreed. "He wasn't a disciplinarian but he didn't let the kids run the roost or be spoiled rotten," Stuart Backerman, a former adviser and publicist for Jackson from 2002 to 2004, told The Post. He recalled a moment in 2004 when he walked through Neverland's kitchen and a 6-year-old Paris spit out her food -- drawing a quietly stern reaction from Jackson. "Michael looked up and told her, 'We don't spit out food and we don't talk badly about other people in this house, and we have good manners,' " Backerman recalled. "It didn't mean anything to me at the time, but now as I look back, it reminds me what kind of parent he was." Jackson insiders say their eccentric father did his best to instill a steely self-confidence in his children. Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, Paris Michael, exemplified that strength when she took the microphone at his memorial service on Tuesday to say before a crowd of 20,000 -- and millions watching worldwide -- "Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine." "Without getting over-mushy about it, it might have shown Jackson did a pretty damn good job raising those kids," Backerman said. "She's no shrinking violet, this kid, as you saw. She might have been hidden by veils and skulking around because of the privacy issues all these years, but she showed herself to be a maturing preteen girl." Still, there was much to be concerned about. Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie, was Jacko's first wife and refused to have his babies. She said that the King of Pop was too emotionally immature to raise a child. The two were divorced within two years of their marriage. Prince Michael Joseph and Paris Michael were born after Jackson's second wife, Debbie Rowe, the nurse at his dermatology clinic, was artificially inseminated. Rowe played no part in the children's lives, but she has hinted at a custody challenge in the wake of Jackson's death. News reports have said the sperm donor may well have been Klein, Rowe's boss who has been oddly close to the children, although he denied those reports yesterday. "We never saw [Rowe]," a Neverland staffer told Jackson biographer Taraborrelli of life after Prince Michael was born in 1997. "The baby was cared for by a team of six nannies and six nurses, who worked in shifts so that there were always two nurses and two nannies by his side. They were kept under constant video surveillance, which was monitored by members of Jackson's security team. "The day team did exercise drills with the baby to build up his strength. The night team read and sang to him. But it was as if he had no mother," Taraborrelli reported. Another nanny said the air quality in Prince Michael's room was measured hourly, all utensils were thrown away after every use, and toys were tossed each night to be replaced the next day. Next Monday, Judge Mitchell Beckloff of Los Angeles Superior Court will hear Michael's mother Katherine Jackson's petition for permanent custody of the kids.

Obertan shocked at United move Eurosport - Thu, 09 Jul 14:33:00 2009 France U21 winger Gabriel Obertan is in shock at his sudden move to Manchester United. Obertan has secured a four-year contract at Old Trafford, after leaving Bordeaux for a reported £3 million. Obertan told French radio station RMC: "I knew they had been following me for a few years but I did not think it was going to happen this season." He ended last season on loan to Lorient, where he scored one goal in 15 appearances and made only six starts. However, he was named the most valuable player at the Toulon youth tournament last month. That prompted United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to move in and increase his attacking options following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. Obertan added: "We had no longer been in too much contact until the England Under-21s game where I played well for France and scored a goal. "That helped things along. We spoke again, and I ended up signing. "He (Ferguson) has put me at ease. "He said to me that he knows my pros and cons. It's my potential that interests him. He has confidence in me. It is flattering and surprising. "But I know I still have a lot of work to do to get to that (Ronaldo's) level." PA Sport

GO for It mate !

Michael's Golden Casket by Mike Krumboltz 13 hours ago Michael Jackson's memorial was anything but subtle. Anyone who watched the touching yet bizarre event is bound to have a lot of questions. Among the most popular queries currently in Search: Was MJ's golden casket really, well, made of gold? The answer: Sort of. A company named Batesville constructed the casket. According to its official site, the casket is "solid 48 oz. bronze with 14k gold hardware." Batesville made a similar casket for James Brown back in 2007, and has also constructed caskets for Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Hope. Perhaps that's why Batesville, Indiana, is also known as "Casketville, USA." The level of interest in Michael's particular casket, the "Promethean" model, is tremendous. Since yesterday, queries on "gold casket," "michael jackson's casket," and "how much did michael jackson's casket cost" have all hit high notes. Oh, and about that cost...according to WTHR.com, the velvet-lined vessel sells for around $25,000. Even in death, the King of Pop was an extravagant guy. Interestingly, while we know a lot about the casket, Mr. Jackson's final resting place remains something of a mystery. E! Online speculates that because the Jackson estate filed for a burial permit in Los Angeles and not Santa Barbara, home of MJ's Neverland Ranch, the odds of his being buried on his property are slim. One thing is for sure—wherever Michael's final resting place may be, his golden casket will likely inspire many visitors. We're guessing security will be tight.

Resolution honoring Jackson faces GOP opposition Associated Press - July 8, 2009 1:50 AM PDT WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee may have trouble keeping the promise she made at Michael Jackson's public memorial for a House resolution that "forever" honors the late pop star. Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, took the stage Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and hoisted a framed copy of the resolution, embossed with a gold seal. The measure will be debated on the House floor, she said. For that framed, embossed resolution to be completely legit, it must first get past some opposition. Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican who called Jackson a "pervert, child molester, pedophile" in a video he posted on YouTube this week, vowed Tuesday to do "whatever I have to do" to oppose honoring Jackson. Without mentioning King by name, Jackson Lee noted at the memorial that Michael Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges. She blasted critics who "don't understand the hearts of entertainers" and "don't know how they heal the world on behalf of America." "We understand the Constitution. We understand laws and we know people are innocent until proven otherwise. That is what the Constitution stands for," Jackson Lee said, clutching the framed resolution in front of her shiny white suit. Her legislation, House Resolution 600, lists several charitable acts by Michael Jackson over his long career and proclaims him as an American legend, musical icon and world humanitarian. He is, Jackson Lee said, "someone who will be honored forever and forever and forever and forever and forever." In the House, non-controversial resolutions honoring a person who has died or carried out a noteworthy accomplishment normally move quickly from committee to the House floor and then pass on a voice vote. The Michael Jackson resolution, introduced June 26, is awaiting action in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, of which Jackson Lee is a member and King is not. An opponent could ask for a recorded vote, which then requires a two-thirds majority for passage. So far, Jackson Lee's resolution has just one co-sponsor, Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif. Jackson Lee hosted a 2004 meeting in her Capitol Hill office that brought Michael Jackson together with ambassadors to the U.S. from African countries. At the time, Jackson was considering a tour to raise money to fight AIDS. However, he was also facing child molestation charges and was unable to leave the country without court permission. Even so, Jackson was greeted by screams, applause and flashing cameras. Jackson also visited Iraq veterans at Walter Reed Hospital while in Washington.

Jackson doctor denies drug link after tributes AFP - Thursday, July 9 LOS ANGELES (AFP) - - A dermatologist linked to the investigation into Michael Jackson's death has denied giving the star dangerous drugs as mystery shrouded the King of Pop's final resting place. As the dust settled on an emotion-filled Los Angeles memorial watched by up to one billion fans worldwide according to some estimates, attention returned to the role of drugs in Jackson's tragic demise. Investigators are reportedly looking into five doctors who treated the superstar in the past and have zeroed in on a powerful sedative -- Diprivan -- discovered at Jackson's rented mansion after his death. Diprivan is commonly used to induce unconsciousness in hospital patients ahead of major surgery and experts say it should only be administered by a trained anesthesiologist. Jackson's long-time dermatologist Arnold Klein on Wednesday denied he was the source of the drugs found but said he had often been concerned that other medical professionals were supplying the singer with medications. "I didn't give him this crap that they're talking about," he told ABC television's Good Morning America. "How am I going to prescribe Diprivan when I don't understand how to use it?" However Klein later told CNN in an interview he had been aware that Jackson had used Diprivan in the past. "I knew at one point he was using Diprivan when he was on tour in Germany," he said. "He was using it with an anesthesiologist to go to sleep at night and I told him he was absolutely insane." Klein, who said he treated Jackson three days before his mysterious death on June 25 at age 50, believes that any doctor found to have supplied the star with drugs should be prosecuted. "I say that anyone who makes someone an addict or gives a person potentially dangerous substances directly to them to use, like propofol is a criminal," Klein told ABC, referring to the generic name for Diprivan. Klein revealed that Jackson appeared to be in good health a few days before his death. "He was not in terrible pain when I saw him. He danced in the office. He was very happy and dancing," he said. "I saw nothing at that point in time that would make me worry whatsoever but I always was concerned about him because I always worried about other doctors," Klein said. "Here's the problem with Michael: no matter what he wanted, someone would give it to him," added Klein. Meanwhile Klein gave a cagey denial when questioned on CNN about a report that he was the biological father of Jackson's two eldest children with ex-wife Debbie Rowe. "To the best of my knowledge, I'm not the father," he said. Meanwhile unidentified sources close to the investigation told CNN and ABC Wednesday that Jackson's body had been riddled with needle marks and collapsed veins consistent with intravenous use of a drug like Diprivan. The Los Angeles coroner's office has said no final cause of death will be revealed until results of exhaustive toxicology tests are confirmed in the next four weeks. A gold-plated coffin bearing Jackson's body took center stage at a star-studded but somber send-off at the Staples Center on Tuesday. However the whereabouts of Jackson's body remained a closely guarded secret on Wednesday, with uncertainty likely to fuel speculation that the singer's remains may yet end up at his beloved Neverland Ranch northwest of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times reported on its website the body was in safekeeping and no final decision had been made about a time or place for burial. Jackson's daughter Paris, 11, grabbed international attention with her heartbreaking comments at her father's memorial on Tuesday. "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much," Paris said before dissolving into tears and being comforted by Jackson's family. Television ratings released Wednesday by media group Nielsen revealed 31.1 million Americans tuned in for the memorial, making it the third-most watched funeral in US history. Only the funerals of former President Ronald Reagan in 2004, seen by 35 million and Princess Diana in 1997, (33.2 million) attracted higher numbers. Jackson sold more than 750 million albums during a four-decade career that was tainted by repeated allegations of child abuse, his startling physical transformation and his eccentric behavior. Nielsen: 30.9 million watched Jackson memorial AP - Thursday, July 9 NEW YORK - Just under 31 million people in the United States watched the Michael Jackson memorial on television. Nielsen Media Research says that's a smaller audience than for Princess Diana's funeral or President Barack Obama's inauguration _ but it's still impressive in today's TV world. Millions more watched video streams on their computers. The Jackson memorial on Tuesday afternoon was carried live on some 19 different networks, including all the big broadcasters and cable news stations. By comparison, President Obama's inauguration in January had an audience of nearly 38 million. Nielsen says 33.2 million people in the U.S. watched Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.

Michael Jackson's final resting place a mystery By MARK KENNEDY, Associated Press Writer Mark Kennedy – 41 mins ago LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's glimmering casket took center stage at the Staples Center, sitting for more than two hours as celebrities memorialized the King of Pop under the watchful eyes of millions. And when the ceremony was over, it was gone. By law, the golden casket that presumably held Jackson's body should be exactly where his death certificate says it is: back at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills cemetery, the site of a private family memorial service held before the Staples ceremony. Los Angeles County records show the cemetery as the temporary location, where it must stay until those records are officially updated. But where Jackson's body will eventually be laid to rest remained a mystery, fed by the same level of rumor and speculation that surrounded much of his life. Will he be interred at Forest Lawn? Is Neverland Ranch still a possibility? What if he's not buried at all, but cremated? The family isn't talking — and may not even have decided yet. The casket was first seen leaving the mortuary at Forest Lawn, where it got into a hearse for the 10-mile trip to the Staples Center. But before the service even started, the hearse was seen leaving the facility — empty — and wasn't spotted again. But to keep in good standing with the law, the casket would have needed to return to Forest Lawn at some point, presumably after the crowds went home and the television cameras were long gone. Robert J. Biggins, a former president of the National Funeral Directors Association, said Jackson's body is likely in his casket which he identified it as a custom-made, top-of-the-line coffin made by the Indiana-based Batesville Casket Company that is called a "Promethean." The casket is probably in a temporary holding area — perhaps a mausoleum — pending a final location, he said. "This happened so quickly that it's something that has to have an awful lot of thoughtful consideration," said Biggins, who is the owner of Magoun-Biggins Funeral home in Rockland, Mass. "This is bigger than your average burial." Conjecture about Jackson's final resting place has been as fraught as the rumors about where his memorial service would be held in the days before the Staples Center was announced. His 5-page will, signed in 2002, does not include final wishes for his body. Forest Lawn is one likely possibility. If Jackson is buried there, he would join other celebrities such as Liberace, Gene Autry, Bette Davis and Andy Gibb. Recently deceased actor David Carradine and "Tonight Show" sidekick Ed McMahon also are buried there. The Jackson family seems divided over whether the body should go to Neverland, which would surely turn the Santa Barbara County ranch into a West-coast Graceland. But Jackson abandoned the 2,500-acre estate after going into seclusion following his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005, and many of the things that made it unique — the merry-go-round, Ferris wheel and zoo — are gone. Billionaire Thomas Barrack, who owns Neverland in a joint venture with Jackson, has expressed an openness to the idea of having the singer's body buried at the ranch. The family would need to get permission from local land-use officials to bury Jackson on private property, then submit an application and paperwork with the state Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. The state application would then need to be approved by the funeral board, a process that could take anywhere from seven to 30 days. Beyond that, accessibility remains an issue at Neverland. A single two-lane highway leads to the property about 130 miles north of Los Angeles, and infrastructure changes would likely be necessary to accommodate the additional traffic. Another possibility is cremation. State law requires that the person who has control of the cremated remains obtain written permission of the property owner or governing agency to scatter on the property. Funeral experts said the delay in Jackson's funeral may be due to the fact that such celebrity deaths create logistical, security and legal headaches. "One of the issues you're going to run into with any high-profile name, whether it be a former president of the United States or somebody of Michael Jackson's stature, is what does the cemetery — if it's to be a burial — do to establish security, to protect the remains, to protect the privacy of the family during the service, to protect remains afterward and what kind of built-in overhead comes with it," said Paul Elvig, former president of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association. Experts said even a two-week delay between death and funeral is not unusual. The body of singer James Brown was kept in a sealed gold casket inside his South Carolina home for more than two months before being interred in 2007 at the home of one of his daughters. "You're probably talking more about an impatient public and an impatient press wanting to know what's going to happen and that impatience needs to be understood," Elvig said. "If a body's been properly prepared by an embalmer, it can be held for a considerable period of time with minor touchups to it." Biggins said he is even encouraged by the delay. "I think the fact that there's this pause is a wonderful thing because it's being given thoughtful consideration," he said, "to make sure this is done right and this is done in a way that honors his legacy."

U should get another piece...cos' it could turn to MALE in no time.

Michael Jackson won't fade from limelight soon By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney – 28 mins ago LOS ANGELES – The public mourning of Michael Jackson may be done, but the saga that was his personal life is far from over. Nothing made that more clear than the one surprise of Tuesday's memorial service, watched by millions around the world: the emotional speech by Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, Paris-Michael. "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father I could imagine," she said, dissolving into tears and turning into the arms of her aunt Janet. "I just want to say I love him so much." Custody of Jackson's three children is one of the biggest legal issues still in play. In his 2002 will, Jackson made his wishes clear — his three children should remain under the care of his mother, Katherine. Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of Paris and her 12-year-old brother, Prince Michael, has indicated she may seek custody. The surrogate mother of Jackson's youngest child, 7-year-old Prince Michael II, is unknown. A custody hearing was scheduled for Monday. As the world paused to remember Jackson, authorities released his death certificate, which did not list a cause of death. The official determination will likely wait until toxicology results are completed, which could be weeks away. Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said Jackson's brain, or at least part of it, was still being held by investigators and would be returned to the family for interment once neuropathology tests were completed. Investigators have honed in on drugs that were administered to the insomniac Jackson. The powerful sedative Diprivan, which is usually administered by anesthesiologists in hospitals, was found in his home, according to a law enforcement official. Jackson's final resting place was another unknown. Some have suggested burying him at his former home Neverland Ranch but special permission is needed. A private memorial was held at a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills that is the resting place of many stars, but it does not appear Jackson will be buried among them. No plans have been announced for Neverland, but it's already drawn comparisons as a potential West Coast version of Graceland. Then there's Jackson's money. He died deeply in debt, but with tremendous star power, earning potential and an estate potentially worth $500 million. Former Sony Music chairman and CEO Tommy Mottola has said Jackson left dozens of songs that included newer material and leftover works from some of his biggest albums. Mottola predicted the potential playlist was bigger than the one left behind by Elvis. The singer also left behind an elaborate production dubbed "The Dome Project," which could be Jackson's last complete video piece. Little is publicly known about the production, but its existence has been confirmed by two knowledgeable sources who spoke to The Associated Press on condition they not be identified because they signed confidentiality agreements. There also is more than 100 hours of footage of preparations for his London concerts, which were canceled because of his death. Randy Phillips, president and CEO of concert promoter AEG Live, said last week that the company also has enough material for two live albums. On Tuesday, about 20,000 people gathered inside the Staples Center on Tuesday for a somber, spiritual ceremony, watched by untold millions more around the world. Crowds gathered outside Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York to soak it in. In Santiago, Chile, national police band played "We Are the World" during the traditional guard change at the presidential palace. About 50 fans lit candles and laid flowers in the main square in Stockholm, as "Billie Jean" and "Earth Song" poured out of a small stereo. In London, dozens of fans sheltered under umbrellas against the rain as they watched the event on a big screen outside the 02 Arena, where Jackson was to have performed 50 comeback shows starting next week. Many more stayed dry at home after the BBC announced it would cancel scheduled programming and show the ceremony live. "His whole life was a global broadcast in a way, so I suppose it's fitting that his death also is," said barista Robert Anderson, 26, in London. Calculating just how many people in total watched the ceremony — around the world and across all platforms — will take several days and even then will likely have to resort to an approximation, given the huge variety of outlets. In Los Angeles, a star-studded lineup of performers closely linked to Jackson's life and music remembered Jackson as an unparalleled singer, dancer and humanitarian whose music united people of all backgrounds. "Don't focus on the scars, focus on the journey," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, whose fiery eulogy was one emotional high point of the service. "There wasn't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with!" he said to Jackson's three children in the front row, drawing the longest ovation of the service. Unlike Jackson's life, the ceremony was not spectacular, extravagant or bizarre. Outside the arena, however, the celebrity-industrial complex that Jackson helped create was in full swing. More than 3,000 police officers massed downtown to keep the ticketless at bay. Helicopters followed the golden casket as it was driven over blocked-off freeways from Forest Lawn cemetery to the Staples Center. A bazaar of T-shirts, buttons, photos and other memorabilia sprouted in the blocks around the memorial. Movie theaters played the service live and people paused around the world to watch. Inside, however, the atmosphere was churchlike, assisted by an enormous video image of a stained-glass window with red-gold clouds blowing past that was projected behind the stage. The Rev. Lucious W. Smith of the Friendship Baptist Church in Pasadena gave the greeting, standing on the same stage where Jackson had been rehearsing for a comeback concert before his death on June 25 at age 50. The ceremony ended with Jackson's family on stage, amid a choir, singing "Heal the World." "All around us are people of different cultures, different religions, different nationalities," Rev. Smith said as he closed the service. "And yet the music of Michael Jackson brings us together." Deficit-ridden Los Angeles asked Jackson fans to help pay the bill for police and other public servants needed for the entertainer's memorial service. A Web site was posted Tuesday seeking donations to cover the costs, estimated at between $1.5 million and $4 million, according to Matt Szabo, a spokesman for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. But Jack Kyser, founding economist of the Kyser Center for Economic Research of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, estimates the city could rake in $4 million from the event, thanks to the throng of media and other visitors who stayed at hotels, ate at restaurants and shopped in Los Angeles. Kyser believes the city also got a major image boost because the memorial service went off without any major problems. "This thing went off very smoothly," Kyser said. "I think you had some good exposure for downtown and for the entire city."