April yard sale of Michael Jackson’s glitzy memorabilia in Beverly Hills faces lawsuit

Controversy has been sparked by forthcoming auction of some 2,000 items of Michael Jackson’s interesting memorabilia from his once-glorious 2,800 acre fantasy estate, the Neverland. The sale pieces which have been exhibited in the Newbridge Silverware Museum in Ireland drew crowds of Jackson’s curious fans and admirers.

Set in April in Beverly Hills in California, Darren Julien, president of the the Julien Auctions said it is moving ahead with the 4-day sale slated on April 22 to 25, 2009, in spite of demands from Jackson’s representatives and lawyers to postpone the sale because of “danger” posed on the auctioneers. The company handling the sale hopes it will prevail over in a lawsuit in which Jackson asserted he did not give permission to sell many of his personal belongings.

Included in the sale are Jackson’s personal items, decorative arts, and fascinating antiques which are estimated to raise $10 to $20 million—- cash that the legendary King of Pop badly needs at this time of financial difficulty. Five percent of the sale will be allotted to charity. (Photo Credit: LA Times/ AFP/ Getty Images x 2; European Pressphoto Agency)=0=

RELATED BLOG: “Michael Jackson’s white sequined glove for sale” Posted by mesiamd at 12/15/2008

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Lucid interval in acute brain injuries: a crucial lesson on Natasha Richardson’s death

The death of Broadway star and movie actress Natasha Richardson illustrates the necessity for quick trauma management in cases of acute brain injuries. In hindsight, Richardson didn’t go to the hospital immediately after she banged her head during a ski accident in Mont Tremblant, a luxury resort in Quebec, Canada.

She had a lucid interval and a feeling of wellness not unusual in some victims of head injury. At that crucial time, blood seeped from a torn blood vessel between the brain and skull creating an epidural hematoma, an enlarging blood clot that was big enough to cause her demise. The New York medical examiner confirmed the epidural bleeding from blunt trauma that caused her death.

Richardson, the daughter of famed actress Vanessa Redgrave was conscious and well soon after the ski accident. She refused early on to be brought to the nearest hospital, hence a delay of about 4 hours before life-saving treatment was instituted. Only when she experienced headache, a sign of rising pressure within the enclosed cranium that she decided to go for the doctors’ aid.

There are questions whether an early medical intervention could have saved her life. Perhaps yes. There is a short golden period in those suffering from acute epidural bleed when doctors can still save a life. From Canada, she was flown to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City where she passed on a day later.

The coffin bearing the remains of the talented celebrity was taken out of the Greenwich Funeral Home in Manhattan. Lights of Broadway were dimmed to pay tribute to Miss Richardson, a Tony award winner and a member of a family of distinguished movie and theatre thespians. (Photo Credit: Mickey Strikes; Reuters/ Eric Thayer)=0=

RELATED BLOG: “Broadway star Natasha Richardson died of brain injuries in a ski accident” Posted by mesiamd at 3/19/2009

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Broadway star Natasha Richardson died of brain injuries in a ski accident

Forty-five year old Natasha Richardson, daughter of well-known actress Vanessa Redgrave died on March 18, 2009 in Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, New York following a ski accident in Montreal Canada. The acclaimed movie personality was with her husband Liam Neeson and two children in the resort.

“Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha,” the statement said. “They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”—- Yahoo News/ AP (03/18/09, Italie, H)

The star of the Tony award-winning Broadway revival Cabaret, Natasha apparently suffered head injuries during a ski training fall in Mont Tremblant resort in Quebec.

Richardson was not wearing a protective headgear during the accident last Monday. The movie celebrity was initially asymptomatic, but was admitted at a local hospital in Canada after complaining of headaches. She was later flown to New York City for further treatment, but died not long after hospital confinement. The granddaughter of reknown British actor Sir Michael Redgrave and the niece of actress Lynne Redgrave, her death was announced by Alan Nierob, her husband’s publicist. (Photo Credit: AP/ Joel Ryan) =0=

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Rap artist Francis Magalona, 44, dies of leukemia complications

“The country has lost a modern-day artist, a nationalist in his own creative way. Francis M. used music and fashion to promote love of country among Filipino youth.” —Sen. Bong Revilla

Entertainment world in the Philippines grieves the passing of popular rapper-composer Francis Magalona (1964-2009,) a 44-year old father of eight, of leukemia, in Medical City Hospital, Mandaluyong, Metromanila.

Following the disclosure of his illness last year, Magalona was treated with a series of chemotherapy which brought the cancer in remission. However, the ebullient husband of Pia Arroyo succumbed to severe infection—sepsis following a bout of pneumonia.

The celebrated singer was waiting for a bone marrow transplant before his death on Friday, March 6, 2009. His remains were brought to Christ the King Memorial Chapel at Green Meadows in Quezon City. (Photo Credit: fadedmilkyway)=0=

UPDATE: On March 11, 2009, Wednesday, Francis Magalona’s remains were cremated.

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A footnote from Madonna’s nude photo

If only to remind us that it’s the culture, value judgment, and sensibility of the 21st century that people are living, Madonna’s nude photo taken when the singer was just 20 years old trying to make ends meet, fetched for a record sell of $35,500.

The astounding amount is enough to stave off hunger of more than 35,500 indigent families in the Third World for a day or feed greater than 1,167 poor families for one month.

The frontal shot was taken for a measly $25 in a 1979 photo session with the then obscure Madonna Louise Ciccone before she became the well-known Madonna, the celebrity of the musical world. The photo was bought by an unidentified European buyer at a price more than twice than originally expected in a New York auction on February 12, 2009. (Photo Credit: Tony Barton PD) =0=

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Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps apologizes for smoking marijuana

Michael Phelps, most admired Olympic swimmer with 8 gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Games apologized for being caught smoking marijuana. The popular 23 year old with multi-million product endorsements on his sleeve had a picture by a British newspaper showing him inhaling pot. The incident allegedly occurred in a party at the University of South Carolina in November last year, prompting South Carolina’s sheriff’s office to investigate for criminal wrong-doing.

“I’m 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me,” he said. “For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public — it will not happen again.”—CNN.com/crime (02/03/09)

Many said his quick apology was appropriate for damage control. In 2004, pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated (DUI,) Phelps was sentenced to 18 months probation for which he also apologized.

Role models like him run the danger of alienating fans and product sponsors if similar incidents occur in the future. The marijuana incident reveals the error-proneness of the young sports celebrity who supports the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, a group which aims to rid competitive sports of prohibited drugs. More infractions by personalities like Phelps make the public wonder if social decorum has been so compromised in the present generation. (Photo Credit Alexandre Battibugli) =0=

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Michael Jackson’s white sequined glove for sale

King of Pop Michael Jackson had known what economic downturn means early on. Before the money crunch of Wall Street hugged the news, Michael already met his own financial rut. Because of insolvency, Neverland, his fabled private 2,800-acre (1,100 hectares) amusement park in Los Olivos, California was a subject of foreclosure proceedings. Last month he had to settle out of court with a Bahraini prince on a lawsuit of a failed music deal. This is on top of a child molestation case he had ot endure a few years back.

The 50-year old reclusive music star is now about to tap cash from his personal effects. It was announced that the famous beaded white glove he used in the “Billie Jean” video will be put out for sale along with other items. To woo the highest bidder, the glittery glove and some 2,000 pieces of his memorabilia will be auctioned to realize cash, part of which will be used to support charities.

Jackson’s story continues to befuddle his fans. His life tells of a tragi-comic tale of a ride in a world that is often solicitous, but at times— harsh and forbidding. Looking at the state of things, what is clear is money problem affects not only the poor but the super rich as well. (Photo Credit: www. Bongo News.com) =0=

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Filipinos in Style: 10 helicopters eclipses the bride in a fabulous wedding in Davao

Not often heard of in the economy-battered country like the Philippines, a fabulous wedding held on Saturday, October 18, 2008 brought a fleet of 10 helicopters to the Seagull Mountain resort in Davao City for the wedding of Jeliza Farah, the daughter of Pres. Sec. Jesus Dureza to Rodford Uy.

Two of the helicopters were said to be government-owned, the others private. There must be a lot of “ahs and ohs” from the poor folks in the village where the spectacular fly-by of the entourage occured. A banana magnate, a mining official, a prominent protestant pastor, and a host of Pinoy glitterati were in attendance in the wedding solemnized by the local archbishop. Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo, former Pres. Fidel Ramos and National Sec. Adviser Norberto Gonzales stood as sponsors. The local police, members of the military, and the Presidential Security Group had to be called to restrain the crowd.(Photo Credit: Salvan)=0=

Paul Newman, actor & philanthropist, at 83

“Every time I get a script it’s a matter of trying to know what I could do with it. I see colors, imagery. It has to have a smell. It’s like falling in love. You can’t give a reason why,” said Paul Newman, 83, the award-winning legendary actor who played roles in more than 50 films which included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Nobody’s Fool, and The Hustler. He died Saturday, September 27, 2008 in Connecticut of cancer said publicist Jeff Sanderson.

Survived by wife and fellow star Joanne Woodward, five children, two grandsons, and a brother, the handsome Newman, an iconic versatile movie celebrity received several acting nominations and won his Oscar for his role in “The Color of Money.” He was awarded in 1986 “in recognition of his many and memorable compelling screen performances and for his personal integrity and dedication to his craft.” In 1994, he won a third Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, for his charitable work.” AP Movie News (09/27/08)

Detached from Hollywood life, he loved car racing and had been known for his philantrophic work for disadvantaged children and those stricken with cancer and life-threatening illnesses. His vinegar-and-salad dressing company prospered and its profits amounting to about $175 million was donated to charities. One of the most enduring personalities in the movie world, a fine human being, Paul Newman is mourned and will be sorely missed. Photo Credit: http://www.cowboydirectory.com; gosssiprocks =0=

Fashion in Manila

Not to be outdone by fashion events in Paris, New York, London, or Tokyo, the Bench Denim and Underwear Fashion Show pushed through in Manila with a rousing display of skin, entrepreneurship, and imagination in July 25, 2008.

Among the models was popular comedienne Ruffa Mae Quinto who appeared in Araneta Coliseum with an underwear that hinted how hot it could be when midnight fell in the city. Her dazzling intimate attire combined rooster’s feathers and miniscule wavy cloth, dazzling the eyes of the audience and driving the crowd’s heart aflutter.

With the incandescent whiteness of an Edison bulb and crisp softness of a halogen light, her smooth alabaster legs were breath-taking as the naughty curves of her butt. Her firm bosom (erect like her lordotic spine,) stood as though the national anthem was played all along.

Celebrities like Alessandra de Rossi, Sam Milby, Diether Ocampo, Rachelle Go, Priscilla Meirelles, Angelica, Panganiban, Sarah Geronimo, John Pratts, Robi Domingo, Kim Chiu, Wendell Ramos, Valerie Weigmann, Gerald Adnerson, Egay Falcon, JC de Vera, Rayven Cruz, Shaine Magdayao, Dingdong Dantes, Margaret Wilson and many others were in attendance. Mabuhay! (Photo Credit: Pep) =0=