Yoko Ono...to nix parole for John's killer! PBS Special to highlight NYC in 1970s!

The Dakota

(Home of Lennons & set for Rosemary's Baby)

"I remember the day that George Harrison was shot," he noted sadly to his co-workers around the water cooler.

Boy, this guy's memory was shot to hell, I mumbled to myself.

Imagine that!

A Beatle fan mixing up his mop-headed Liverpudlians!

"John Lennon" I cried out frustrated across the busy hall, shaking my head in disbelief.

George passed away from cancer, I muttered to myself, half disgusted.

As to John's death, well, I vividly recall that fateful day in 1980 when John was shot down in cold blood and a pall fell over the country.

Three decades after John Lennon's death, Yoko notes that she still opposes the killer's parole because he remains a potential threat.

Of course, that dark day remains uppermost in my mind, because of eerie events that befell me a couple of days earlier on December 6th.

I was deep in slumber, wrestling with a kaleidescope of images in a disturbing symbolic dream, when I suddenly felt myself lose balance - then slowly slip backward and down - against the rough surface of a cold brick wall.

When I glanced up, I spied a shadowy figure step out of the darkness, and point a gun at me.

No! No! No!

Suddenly, the stranger fired a couple of  shots in my direction.

As I started to fall into what seemed like a bottomless pit, I was jolted awake, and found myself sweating upright in bed muttering to myself.

"Someone's going to be shot. A famous person is going to be shot."

But, who?

That was the frustrating part.

I didn't have a clue!

A couple of days later, the awful news streaked at lightning speed on airwaves around the globe, amidst a lot of hysteria.

"John Lennon has been shot!"

That was thirty years ago. 

Today, the drama continues to unfold, albeit in a practical way.

Next month, Mark David Chapman - who is currently in jail for senselessly murdering John in 1980, is up for parole.

At a press junket to promote a PBS special, Ono noted to reporters, that she is still vigilante in her efforts to ensure that the parole request by Chapman is denied.

Not out of vengeance, but for practical reasons, she explained calmly.

At his last hearing, Chapman (who claimed to be a devoted fan of Lennon when he was originally apprehended so many moons ago) insisted that he was ashamed and sorry for gunning down the popular Beatle.

He told the parole board he understood the gravity of his actions and was a changed man.

But, is he?

Yoko worries that Chapman might be a danger to her, other family members, and perhaps even himself.

Ms. Ono expressed these concerns at a Television Critics Association event this past week where she was originally invited to discuss an upcoming PBS Special on Lennon slated for broadcast in the fall.

The documentary takes a foray into the artistic life of Lennon in New York in the 1970s.

"LennonNYC" is scheduled to be air on Nov. 22nd as part of the "American Masters" public TV series and includes rare studio recordings, concert film out-takes and home movies.

According to producer Susan Lacy, Yoko generously provided access to archive material, and was also interviewed for the special.

For Yoko Ono, the ambitious project amounted to a golden opportunity to unmask the mystique of John - and thus - reveal warts-and-all what a three-dimensional person he actually was in the flesh.

The irony of the NYC connection did not escape her.

For years, John fought U.S. Immigration Officials and the Department of Justice (who tried to barr his legal status in the U.S. because they deemed him an undesirable based on a much-publicized marijuana conviction) to remain in the U.S. and and set up a nest with Yoko in New York City.

Tragically, becoming a resident of the U.S., ended up cutting his life short unexpectedly.

It causes me to wonder now-and-then if it would behoove a sentient being to "let go" on occasion and allow the Lord's plan to unfold as it should.

It may save us from an early departure or impending disaster!

http://www.julianayrs.com

*I pine to take up residence in the Dakota!

Michael Jackson...fans celebrate life of Pop Star at impromptu wake at UCLA! (re-post)

By late afternoon, once the shocking news of Michael Jackson's death streaked across theInternet - and beyond into local businesses and the cozy homes of devoted fans - the skies here in picturesque Westwood were black with helicopters buzzing the frenzied masses below.

Meanwhile, on land routes that normally accessed the state-of-the-art UCLA hospital with ease, were now cordoned off for the most part as University security hand-directed the traffic flow in a bold-faced effort to avoid a potentially dangerous gridlock

Two dozen or so media outlets were inclined to screech to an abrupt halt in their vehicles and park along the median strip haphazardly - at which point - they bolted up to the front doors of the medical facility where the Pop Icon passed into spirit a few scant hours ago.

It was an impromptu media blitz, if ever there was one, and was reminiscent of the debacle that followed in the wake of Elvis' death decades ago.

Fans held brightly-colored signs etched with loving tributes - and on occasion - broke into a hypnotic chant.

"Michael! Michael! Michael."

Did they half expect their Crown Prince to rise up from the dead - and "moon walk" once last time - before taking a final bow forever?

One fan turned up the sound on his CD Player - and within minutes - bodies were writhing to the strains of the "Man in the Mirror".

My own included.

Catchy little ditty, that!

Did the emboldened hordes descend on Michael's final resting place because the image of the man - though distorted and misguided at times - still inspired them to recognize the power of song?

All of the media heavyweights were in attendance, too.

(MTV, CNN, NBC).

Each news team waited patiently (albeit a bit frustrated with the cards they had been dealt) for the doors of the temporary press room to swing open wide so they could surge forward - animals that they are - and stake a claim at a News Conference guaranteed to satisfy not only their audiences but the curious madding crowd to boot.

One reporter next to me in line shrugged.

"What can the doctors or Police Officials tell us that we don't already know?"

She answered her own question in a cynical tone of voice.

"Time of death. Who he is survived by. Yada Yada Yada."

On the contrary, I pointed out.

In this instant case, enquiring minds were probably pining for all the juicy tidbits.

Was the death accidental?

"No way," one reporter snapped back incredulous at the thought.

Was the unexpected death brought on by natural causes, his own hand, or due to drugs?

Also, there were nagging questions surrounding the hour of death.

Allegedly, Jackson died at approximately 1:21 pm this afternoon.

But, for some inexplicable reason, the legendary POP star was not pronounced dead until about two hours later at approximately 3:23 pm.

I know.

I was sitting at a computer terminal when MSNBC flashed a news alert to that effect.

Bottom line?

Expect the unexpected.

And, a lot of drama, Hollywood-style!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Michael Jackson...dead @ 50! (re post)

I popped the last morsel of a late lunch in my mouth, took a swig of the remains of my Coke, and headed out the door and across campus.

Suddenly, a helicopter buzzed overhead and made a beeline for the UCLA medical center, just down-a-ways a tad.

Excited students and members of the faculty gazed skyward as whispers filtered about the campus that inside Michael Jackson was struggling for his life.

According to a Los Angeles Times news-bite on the Internet minutes ago, Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda reported to the newspaper that Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home,  so CPR was performed on the unconscious Pop Star.

Meanwhile, over at TMZ.com, Harvey Levin's team speculated that Mr. Jackson suffered cardiac arrest.

A family spokesperson noted that Mrs. Jackson is en route to the medical facility to be at her son's side.
Updates to follow hourly as details of Jackson's medical condition and prognosis filter in

UPDATE: 3:23 pm (Thursday June 25th)


MSNBC has just reported that Michael Jackson has been pronounced dead at the age of 50!

UCLA State-of-the-Art Medical Center

http://www.julianayrs.com

Joe Jackson...brings wrongful death suit against Dr. Murray!

A year has passed and still no resolution to the Dr. Conrad Murray intrigues which triggered a criminal charge of involuntary manslaugther.

On the eve of the anniversary of Michael Jackson's mysterious demise, Joe Jackson has announced that he is bringing a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor in the Civil Courts.

So, it appears that the Jackson's may conceivably find themselves in-and-out of court alot.

Over the years, I'v been involved in a couple of lawsuits (as a plaintiff), and I learned one great lesson in life.

To me, in my current frame of mind, lawsuits amount to lawyers and their clients chasing each around the courthouse until one of the parties runs out of paper (money!).

If compromise is all that is needed to end the dispute, I say, go for it!

On another front, a frenzy has erupted once again regarding intriguing aspects of the pending manslaughter case.

Night-time talk show hosts (Larry King, for example) are pouring over the events of that fateful day, and are once again  inclined to cry "conspiracy" and "murder".

At this point it is difficult to sort out fact and myth.

The one  thing that Americans do know, is that Michael Jackson died way before his time, and that someone in the dark shadows must be held accountable.

That's justice.

http//www.julianayrs.com

Dr. Conrad Murray...hid incriminating evidence! Conflicting allegations rev up intrigues...

The plot sickens!

According to sources, Dr. Conrad Murray halted CPR on ailing Pop Star - Michael Jackson - that fateful day last June, in order to scoop up incriminating evidence (such as dirty syringes and empty vials once-containing dangerous controlled substances) that may have established habitual drug abuse to prying eyes.

The flames have been fanned by an eye-witness to the intriguing events.

Allegedly, when Alberto Alvarez (a logistic's director) was summoned to Michael Jackson's side on the eve of his death, the pop singer was lying in his bed with an IV attached to his leg, mouth open wide, and no apparent sign of life.

Murray continued to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as Alvarez continued with CPR.

Their frenzied life-saving efforts proved to be fruitless - at which point - Michael Jackson was declared dead.

On the heels of that somber pronouncement, Murray allegedly dashed out of the hospital facility, to carry out a bizarre task.

Murray insisted that he needed to pick up some cream from Jacksons upscale rental home in the Valley - "so people wouldn't find out about it" - Alvarez asserted to investigators in recent days.

But, Dr. Murray's lawyer was quick to pooh-pooh the notion that his client tried to hide drugs.

In fact, the attorney - Ed Chernoff - accused Alvarez of giving different accounts on two separate occasions when interrogated by Police investigators in charge of the case.

"He didn't say any of those things, then two months later, all of a sudden, the doc is throwing bottles into the bag," Chernoff sniffed to reporters.

"Alvarez's statement is inconsistent with his previous statement. We will deal with that at trial."

The Los Angeles coroner ruled Jackson's death was a homicide triggered by an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives which were administered to Jackson (by Dr. Murray) to alleviate a bout of insomnia which was troubling the Pop Star.

Propofol is usually restricted to medical facilities, and generally administered by a qualified professional in a strict controlled setting, with constant monitoring to prevent potential mishap.

In a nutshell, propofol depresses breathing and heart rate while lowering blood pressure, a potentially deadly combination when not properly administered by a health care professional.

The prosecutor's office has alleged - by virtue of an involuntary manslaughter charge - that Dr. Murray's failure (negligence?) to abide by proper protocol resulted in Michael Jackson's untimely demise.

Now it appears that more serious charges may be lurking on the horizon!

Physician be thy name!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Corey Haim...death certificate deferred! Monkey on back kept actor down...

Although it has been widely reported that Corey Haim died from a drug overdose, the Los Angeles Coroner's office has stopped short of that conclusion, until a full autopsy report is in.

According to city officials, the cause of the child star's death is still unknown.

Pending the completion of a thorough investigation by the book, the Coroner's office was inclined to issue a death certificate at the end of the week, with a footnote that underscored that until further notice the immediate cause of death was deferred.

In the early hours of dawn on March 10th (2010), Corey Haim complained of flu-like symptoms, before collapsing at the Oakwood Apartments in the Valley.

Investigators found four perscription medication - Valium, Vicodin, Soma and the antipsychotic Haloperidol - in the  month-to-month rental he shared with his mother Judy.

While no illegal drugs were found that fateful day, sources have confirmed that Haim illegally obtained written perscriptions for drugs such as OxyContin, which added a mysterious twist to the tragic events.

As of this date, for instance, it has not been established if the troubled actor ever used the drug previously, or if he intended to have the prescription for the one in his possession filled.

The question as to whether or not the former drug addict's past and/or previous addictions led to his death in the prime of life still remains up in the air.

It has been confirmed with certainty, though, that Haim was suffering from pneumonia (which has firmly established that he was under the weather that evening with a legitimate ailment that needed attending to).

The  L.A. County Coroner's Office is waiting for toxicology results to determine if there were fatal levels of drugs in his system, which could have stopped Corey's heart from pumping healthy on the eve in question.

Prescription drugs such as - Valium, Vicodin and Soma - all slow  down the respiratory rate and could stop a person's breathing when taken while pneumonia is present.

With that in mind, investigators may be able to wrap up the report, in the near future.

Meanwhile, it should be noted for the record, that Haim's mother was informed that Corey suffered from pulmonary congestion and an enlarged heart.

But, no explanation was given as to what triggered the death, for the aforementioned reasons.

Haim starred in a string of teen-oriented box offices hits in the 1980s.

In "Lucas", Corey Haim crafted a stand-out performance, which I reported on just recently after a tribute screening at a Revival House (New Beverly Cinema) in Hollywood.

Post: 03/13/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/03/corey-haimspooky-night-at-lucas.html

Unfortunately, Haim's promising movie career was derailed by an addition to drugs, which was widely reported in the press.

Although Haim struggled to regain ground in the form of a sizzling comeback, Hollywood-style, the monkey on his back fought back and kept him down.

Understandably, Corey Haim fans mourn the untimely demise of a gifted actor.

http://www.thetattler.biz

Jacqueline Kennedy...Steven Spielberg pitching script! Jackie O's dark days...

The celebrated socialite - and former wife of one of the most-respected Presidents in U.S. History - is to be the subject of a screen biopic if Steven Spielberg has any say in it.

Spielberg, arguably one of the top power-brokers in Hollywood today, has jumped on board the project in the capacity of Producer.

The screenplay - written by Noah Oppenheim (a former producer on the "Today" show) - intends to focus an insightful lens on Jackie O's last dark days at the White House in the aftermath of her husband's assassination in Dallas, Texas.

The twist?

Oppenheimer's material is allegedly written from the point of view of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

A toughie, when you consider that most of the principals in the modern-day tragedy - Jackie Kennedy, son John F. Kennedy Jr., Robert F. Kennedy - even Senator Edward Kennedy (who passed away to spirit in recent months) - are no longer with us in the actual flesh.

Does Oppenheimer intend to rely on the recollections of daughter Caroline Kennedy?

Or, does he have a parcel of heretofore unpublished documents (and/or private letters) to draw on to breath some new life into the highly-scrutinized age-old saga? 

And, now that the issue has been raised, I am inclined to wonder - too - if the project has received a blessing from the Kennedy clan (what's left of 'em).

Inquiring minds want to know!

Curiously, years ago, I was hired to play a Secret Service Agent on the TV Show - The Twilight  Zone (CBS) - for an episode on time travel which featured a re-enactment of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas.

With startling detail, the producers recreated the infamous limo scene - where Jackie jumped out of her seat in the open motorcade and onto the rear trunk - shortly after John F. Kennedy was shot.

I was in that scene, in addition to others at a mansion that doubled as the White House, which focused on events triggered by the shocking tragedy.

I wonder, will Spielberg also push for a flash-back of that black day in American history?

If so, maybe I should dust off my dark suit, and keep my eye out for audition calls!

World stunned by Onassis marriage!

Warhol portrait of friend Jackie O!

http://www.thetattler.com

Michael Jackson...Conrad Murray's lawyers gearing up for mistrial! Syringe may be auctioned...

The scuttlebutt in legal circles is that the lawyers for Conrad Murray are laying the groundwork for a mistrial in the event there is a guilty verdict against their client.

Murray has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in respect to the administration of controlled substances which were the result of Michael Jackson's death last year.

Allegedly, prosecutors have been withholding pertinent documents and information relevant to the upcoming trial proceedings.

During the "discovery" process, legal counsel on both sides are required to share their paperwork so that each party can ably prepare their stragedy, court arguments, line of defense, and what-have-you.

In a court of law, there are not supposed to be any last-minute "surprises", or conduct which prevents a fair hearing on the issues.

Dramatic cliff-hangers are rare in a court of law and tend to be of the strictly fictional kind found on low-brow serials on the old boob tube.

The kind of bill-of-fare offered up by the likes of Judge Judy around the soap hour are geared towards ratings and and bon-bon-chewing armchair jurists sitting in judgment at home throughout the heartland.

When the stakes are high, though, lawyers can be quite fierce about protecting their work product.

And, they'll fight tooth-and-nail to protect the fruits of their labour and the rights of their client.

Of course, there are many ways to surmount the discloure problem in the event an attorney is not acting above board or ethically.

At the request of either party, the Judge may impose sanctions (penalties) to deter such reprehensible conduct in the future.

And, either party (including the bench-warmer) may request disciplinary action by the State Bar.

An  attorney is also within his rights to file a "motion" to compel opposition counsel  (even an IN PRO PER litigant)) to comply with requests for copies of evidence, complete witness lists, factual information, and so forth and so on.

Meanwhile, on another front, it was reported by one high-profile blogger this morning, that a syringe used by the doctor to adminster drugs on Jackson was never destroyed according to normal procedure and may be offered up for auction in the future.

Creepy!
 
 

 

http://www.thetattler.biz

The Oscars...Farrah Fawcett Memorial snub! Shame...

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences omitted the name of Farrah Fawcett from the touching Memorial at the 82nd Annual Oscar Ceremonies on Sunday March 7th, I assumed that an oversight was the cause of the grievous error.

However, when Ryan O'Neil - and a handful of friends, family and fellow actors - expressed their dismay on the Academy's failure to include Farrah, I sat up and took notice.

In the wake of the uproar that followed, I was quite shocked to learn that Fawcett's name (and image) were not left out of the memorial by accident, but due to the deliberate (thoughtless) actions of the powers-that-be at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.

When cornered on the controversy, a spokesperson for the prestigious organization argued that Ms. Fawcett was more commonly-known as a TV actress - and that for good reason - she was a likely candidate for inclusion at the Annual Emmy Awards instead.

Huh?

What  nonesense!

To validate their ludicrous dumba** position, officials noted that Gene Barry didn't make it into Academy Heaven either (on the same grounds).

When a reporter astutely noted that Michael Jackson was included in the tasteful memorial, an official quickly defended the Academy's position,  with an even flimsier excuse.

"Michael was in a recent film that was successful," he asserted for the record.

While I don't begrudge Jackson his well-deserved nod, the aforementioned excuse for inclusion (in view of the Fawcett fiasco) is hollow; after all, the Jackson project was pieced together after his death and was a documentary (not a feature film he was hired to act and/or perform in).

Because Ms. Fawcett was one of the most successful actresses in the business in recent years (and a highly respected performer in Hollywood circles who performed in three major areas of the entertainment field such as TV, feature film and the stage ) the Academy should be ashamed for its shocking disrespectful actions.

In my humble opinion, Ms. Fawcett's stature in the "acting profession" entitles her to mention - in any and all memorials - no matter what the specific medium.

Get a grip on reality, and show a little compassion next time, you shameless Academy losers!

Candidate for inclusion in Grammy Memorial?

http://www.thetattler.biz

Michael Jackson...tributes, media frenzy, & ugly underbelly warts & all! July 7th spectacle pulled off without hitch...

Sure was!

The morning newspapers were all awash with coverage of the Michael Jackson send-off in downtown Los Angeles yesterday - with the big spotlight focused squarely on the star-studded Memorial Service - which did not disappoint.

Usher, Mariah Carey - even one of the Jackson boys - graced the tastefully-decorated stage to perform on cue during the much-ballyhooed televised event that was simultaneously broadcast with lightning speed around the globe.

Reporters left no stone unturned in their treasure hunt for newsworthy gems.

There were up-close stills of fans wearing their hearts on their sleeves - and a bevy of high-profile entertainers captured on film in a poignant moment or two as they were solemnly whisked in by motorcade.-

And - to underscore just how exclusive MJ's final gig was - aerial views of curious throngs being kept at bay.

But, it was the awesome spectacle of the gold casket being ceremoniously hoisted up and tenderly placed just beyond the footlights and in the eye-line of grief-stricken mourners, that caused tears to well up in the most stalwart of onlookers in the packed stadium.

Usher, Mariah Carey - even one of the Jackson boys - sang out and touched the hearts of dedicated fans and family members in tow - even rapt viewers glued to the boob-tube at home - without an ounce of melodrama clouding the uplifting renderings that swept everyone within earshot away.


In spite of an angelic presence which wafted over the proceedings, a little drama was injected into the scenario, nonetheless.

A few cynics were inclined to wonder aloud if an estranged sibling (La Toya Jackson) would alight with the inner family circle - thus confirming - that an untimely passing of a loved one has the capacity to heal all wounds.

On this occasion, it surely did.

Speculation that two former wives (gosh, he had more spouses than you could toss a stick at, in spite of the fact gossip-mongers alleged he was "gay") might attend - even pass a civil word between 'em - fell flat when it was evident there would be no-shows by either.

One awkward moment just about upset the apple-cart, too.

CBS reported in a News Flash that an irate man disrupted the Memorial Service outside of Staples briefly when he shouted out angrily that the King of Pop was a child molester.

In tandem with his unexpected outburst, a posse of cohorts thrust up a half-a-dozen or so hand-made signs, that sullied the dearly departed's name and reputation further.

The LAPD quickly rushed in and ejected the rabble-rauser - at which point - an AP photographer jockeyed into position and ably captured a still to bolster the report broadcast live online at the CBS website.

Because the incident was in sharp contrast to the ongoing peaceful events - and a pay-out to one alleged victim to the tune of an astounding $20 Million still raised a spectre of doubt long after charges were officially dropped - I was inclined to pen a post on behalf of Journalistic Ethics.

To ignore the ugly incident would have been morally wrong, in my estimation.

A short time later, a news update informed viewers that after a brief discussion with the disgruntled protester, the men-in-blue were inclined to release the upstart without filing charges.

In spite of a logged account, top brass at the LAPD proceeded to misrepresent the facts at the end of the frenzied day - either to save face - or to protect the image of the force.

"There were no arrests, no traffic incidents, no uses of force by officers, and nothing resembling a problem," Bratton stated for the record matter-of-fact without batting an eye.

Golly, was the crusty old Police Chief, just clueless about what went down?

For starters, he was way off-base on one count.

The problem with the protester was obviously a serious one - why else would it be deemed necessary to detain the individual for a brief spell out on the sidelines - out of harm's way?

Notwithstanding that glaring falsehood, the AP photo posted here clearly establishes that the LAPD did - in fact - forcibly "haul" a gentleman away in a less than polite or orderly fashion!


I understand now why the melee in MacArthur's Park last year didn't faze the Chief one bit .

For the LAPD, that was just a routine salute to the Citizens of this fair city, eh?

Fortunately for the LAPD, reporters were too-hyped over the glittering non-stop real-time events unfolding before 'em, to give a rat's a** about one embarrassing moment well-heeled guests preferred to cast a blind eye to.

Sure, I applauded one Congresswoman who had the b**s to lash out and condemn the ugly interruption in no uncertain terms, which cast a momentary pall on the Memorial Service.

And, for good reason.

At a funeral - friends, family, and members of the community - are entrusted with the serious task of ensuring there is a loving send-off on the deceased's day-of-all-days.

What of judgment, you say?

Left to the good Lord, of course!

But, documentarians are not barred from drafting a thumbnail character sketch on any sentient being who walked this mortal coil (celebrated or not) to ensure the annals of history resonate with truth and are not bound with fluff.

Therefore, in spite the fact a Steve Lopez column in today's morning newspaper agitated a smattering of die-hard Michael Jackson admirers who waxed annoyingly near-and-far that the journalist's less-than-flattering portrait was in poor taste on the heels of the Memorial Service, I say "kudos" go out all-around.

Oscar Wilde said it best:

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."

http://www.julianayrs.com

Michael Jackson...tickets! Gone, Gone, Gone...

If you're as antsy as me, you probably checked your e-mail box non-stop yesterday, to determine if you'd been blessed with a couple of coveted tickets for Michael Jackson's Memorial Service downtown Tuesday (July 7th) at the Staples Center.

Fortunately, Ryan Seacrest zipped off a tweet and I was warned in advance that the organizers for the much-anticipated Jackson service, were not going to contact ticket recipients until Monday, July 6th (today).

So, I slipped out the door at dusk last night and hit the nightclub circuit to catch the tail-end of the 4th of July festivities.

This morning, when I plucked up the Los Angeles Times to give it a quick peruse, I suddenly spied a newspaper article which noted briefly that a handful of winners were informed by e-mail communication at about 5:45 pm yesterday afternoon of the outcome of their entries in the draw .

One thrilled couple back East were jubilant that their names were selected by the high-tech computer that must-have whizzed through the entries like lightning and quicker than you can say google!

At first, they were highly-suspicious, according to the reporter.

"They thought they were being scammed."

But, under close-scrutiny, they determined they pulled off the invite of the decade!

Heh, these folks deserve the privilege.

Imagine that, the dedicated fans are laying out cold hard cash to book flights, and fly in from out-of-town to attend the Memorial Service.

later, when I first logged on to the Internet - and opened up Yahoo - I didn't spy one peep from the Jackson folks.

Boo Hoo!

But, when I was scrolling down the in-box a couple of minutes later - an e-mail communication from staples.com - caught my eye.

I clicked on the link not knowing what to expect.

Darn, it was a polite message informing me that the computer ticket-picker, passed me by.

Here it is verbatim:

Thank you for your registration. Sorry, we regret to inform you that your registration to attend the Public Memorial Service for Michael Jackson was not selected. Hundreds of thousands registered, but only a few can be in attendance. S

Even still, I think the event-planners exhibited a lot of class!

I mean, instead of leaving a host of wistful hopefuls twisting in the wind - they were truly thoughtful enough to inform us first-hand - before the lucky few started boasting near and far.

Hats off to Staples, the Jackson's, and the whole slew of handlers organizing the event.

Cool, dudes!

Ironically, a curious news item published nearby in the same edition of the Los Angeles Times, caught my attention - and likewise - signalled that Jackson organizers may have to put up with uninvited guests, nonetheless.

According to the management at Staples, Barnum & Bailey is set to ring up the curtain on their 5-day Circus extravaganza at the stadium day-after tomorrow.

Get this!

Just shy of the hour the Jackson entourage, invited guests, and fans are scheduled to descend on the staples center to pay their last respects, a herd of Elephants is slated to parade down the causeway, too!

Although the organizers were trying to avoid a zoo-like atmosphere at the Memorial Service - ironically, as fate would have - a 3 ring Circus will head up the funeral procession!

Getting hit with a bit of bird sh** may be lucky, but a paddie of Elephant dung, I wonder?

In view of Michael's love for animals, all I can offer up in closing is, what a way to go!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Michael Jackson...OD on prescription drugs? I relate to merry-go-round...

When the media roared up to UCLA Medical Center with paparazzi in tow on that fateful day last week when it was announced that Michael Jackson did not respond to CPR efforts - and he consequently succumbed to cardiac arrest - there wasn't much speculation about the cause of the Pop Icon's untimely death.

Personally, it never occurred to me that Jackson was ever an a "drug user" - or abuser - for that matter.

For starters, the talented musician appeared to be obsessively focused on his appearance; therefore, the vain over-the-top efforts to transform his face into that of a handsome young white man were first and foremost in most people's minds.

Notwithstanding, Jackson was a well-informed individual, who was keenly aware that the ravages of alcohol and/or drugs would take their toll on his "looks" over time.

In retrospect, I would have to surmise that three major events in his life may have sent him down the path to his unexpected demise last week.

If you recall, years ago Michael was seriously injured when a special effects stunt went awry and set the Pop Icon on fire.

Apparently, he was in a lot of pain after that incident.

Understandably, he may have used painkillers and other potent drugs to alleviate that problem, and got "hooked".

After that hiccup in his dizzying jet-set lifestyle, Michael was later accused of child molestation - at which point - he was subjected to public scrutiny and scorn (for the first time in the glare of the spotlight), humiliating physical examinations by the LAPD, and intense mental and emotional distress when he was forced to go into a sort-of self-exile for a short period until the worst of the storm passed.

In recent years, bad luck - in the form of financial woes, pending lawsuits, and unexpected falling from Grace with a fickle public, may have pushed a few hyper-sensitive buttons in his troubled psyche and pushed him over the edge.

In that event, doctors may have prescribed sedatives so he could relax - and ultimately - cope with the growing pressures of his personal and professional life spinning out-of-control.

In the event of insomnia - or a sleep disorder - there may have been more heavy-duty drugs prescribed to alleviate the problem.

In today's paper, it was reported - for instance - that a drug that is used primarily as an anesthetic (and not available to the general public) was found in Jackson's house shortly after his death last week.

In particular, there were numerous bottles of "Diprivan", which is normally dispensed by an individual trained to administer anesthesia.

Typically, it's used in hospitals.

An expert in the field - Ethan Bryson - noted for the record:

"It's a very dangerous drug if self-administered or administered by someone not trained in airway management and cardiac life support. You need to have someone who knows what they are doing to administer it."

In the Jackson scenario, the obvious question is this then.

How long after the drug is administered improperly - or in too large a dose - would it take for the individual to go into cardiac arrest?

The answer to that question may be the key to fathoming whether the death occurred by Michael's "own hand" or due to mistake and/or misadventure.

After all, if no one else was in the house when Michael went into cardiac arrest, he must have been the one to provide the lethal does.

Right?

On the other hand - if there were others present in the tony estate that fateful day - and none were medical professionals qualified to administer the drug - an accusing finger would have to point in their direction.

Wouldn't it?

Until those issues are resolved, I don't expect I'll speculate any further.

However, when a newspaper reporert noted that drugs like Diprivan may be prescribed for sleep problems, it struck a chord in me.

A few weeks ago, I disclosed in one of my posts that I was recently diagnosed with a sleeping disorder which was causing me a number of difficulties.

For instance, at night I found it difficult to sleep or get a good night's rest.

During the day, consequently, I often fell asleep while sitting in a restaurant shortly after I plunked into a deep easy chair to relax and sip on a cup of hot tea - and once, if you can believe it - while at the wheel of my car driving down the highway mid-day!

After a number of tests were taken (by virtue of an overnight stay at a clinic where they monitored my sleep patterns and frequency of rem cycles) it was determined that I was being plagued by a sleep disorder (possibly Narcolepsy) which needed treatment.

So, my doctor prescribed a "stimulant" to ingest early in the morning to get me through the day, and a sedative to help me drift off into dreamland at dusk.

I recall the first day I took the pill designed to keep me "focused" and alert.

About two hours after I swallowed the "medicine", my heart started to palpitate furiously.

In addition, I became intensely aware of my surroundings.

In fact, at times, my surroundings appeared to be a bit surreal and intense.

A short while later, I caught myself "smacking" my lips and grinding my teeth a bit.

Suddenly, I realized that the stimulant prescribed for my condition was some form of "meth" or speed.

Albeit, a legally-prescribed one!

Because I have written posts about such addictions in the West Hollywood community in the recent past, it was evident to me - that if was not careful - I may end up heading down that unpredictable (dangerous) path, too.

I took a reality check.

Obviously, I would have to monitor myself over time to ensure my firm grasp on things did not "slip" away from me when I was unawares - and ultimately - lead me to a dependence on the drugs.

So, the next day, I broke the pill in two and consumed only half.

Even still, by the end of the day, I was forced to gobble down the sleep aid to relax me.

I was buzzie, felt wide-eyed and drained, and my body was aching and crying out for sleep.

Fortunately, though, I was intelligent enough to figure it out.

If I'm not careful, I may end up on an endless merry-go-round of uppers-and-downers - and eventually - lose control.

But, there were worse concerns on my mind that the physical ups-and-downs.

Within a few days I began to experience moments of euphoria.

Then - a few minutes later - I might into a bit of a depression, without knowing why.

Mood swings, uh-huh!

As the Michael Jackson story started to focus on possible drug abuse last week, it dawned on me then, that perhaps this was how the pop icon got caught up in the downward spiral he may have fallen victim to.

We'll have to wait until the Jury is in to know for sure.

When you consider that some of the drugs seized at the Holmby Hills mansion were written for Michael Jackson in multiple "pseudonyms" (aliases, which were slight variations on the correct spelling of his name) it is easy to understand why eyebrows have been raised and a full-scale investigation is underway.

Were his doctors engaging in a deceitful bold-faced effort to conceal his identity (and the illegal distribution of prescription drugs) from the authorities or the prying eyes of the press?

Today, another thought occurred to me.

A person with a terminal illness might have to administer painkillers on their own in the event there was a sudden seizure or bout of uncontrollable pain which required immediate medical attention to bring relief to the patient.

In the event a doctor was not on hand to administer the drug in a professional capacity, wouldn't the individual suffering from the ailment - or a close friend or associate - have to take up the task then?

Is it possible Michael Jackson had a serious illness he did not want to disclose to the public?

News at 11!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Michael Jackson...how to get tickets for Memorial Service!

Today, when I logged into Twitter, Ryan Seacrest (DJ) was thoughtful enough to post a tweet with instructions on how to take a shot at scooping up (free) tickets to the Memorial Service planned for Michael Jackson to be held here on the West Coast early next week.

Jackson family spokesperson Ken Sunshine (& CEO Tim Leiweke) appeared at a news conference Friday and unveiled the well-thought-out detailed arrangements to commemorate Jackson's recent passing into spirit.

Fans, tourists, friends, plain old folks, paparazzi - even members of the media - are invited to pay their last respects to MJ - and may do so - by entering a draw at staples.com web site.

Info: staplescenter.com.

The Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, July 7th, at the Staples Center (live) in the Nokia theater.

There will be simulcasts on three screens.

The broadcasts will commence at 10 am.

Tickets

There are 17,500 tickets available in total.

11,000 tickets will be handed out to people to attend the service inside the Staples Center.

In addition, 6,500 tickets will be reserved for individuals who wish to view the service from a simulcast at the Nokia theater.

A balance of 9,000 tickets have been reserved for the Jackson family to use at their discretion.

Draw Instructions

Fans have trouble registering due to high traffic at the web-site are asked to be patient!

Once the winners are drawn, they will be notified on Sunday between 11 am and 8 pm, and provided with a Code for a Ticketmaster ticket.

Winners are asked to arrive early at the Staples Center on Monday morning to pick up their two tickets and two wristbands in person.

Winners must pick up their tickets in the manner instructed because there will not be any future distribution of tickets at either the Staples Center or Nokia theatre.

Organizers are also recommending that individuals without tickets wishing to attend watch the Memorial Service from home since no spectators will be allowed to accumulate outside of the downtown Staples Center during the Memorial Service.

Registration

Once an entrant's registration has been received, accepted and processed at the staples site, the following online notice will appear on-screen with these final instructions:

"Your registration for your chance to attend the Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service has been received."

"If your application is successful, you will receive an e-mail on Sunday, July 5, 2009 after 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) with your exclusive unique code and instructions on how to obtain your two free tickets to attend the Public Memorial Service. "

"A valid ticket will be required to enter STAPLES Center & L.A. LIVE area on Tuesday, July 6, 2009."

"Tickets will be distributed for either the public memorial service in the STAPLES Center or at the live television broadcast in the adjacent Nokia Theatre."

"Please add info@staplescenter.com to your address book to ensure successful email delivery."

From moi?

Good luck!

http://www.julianayrs.com/