Number Ones has fallen two places in the UK Album Chart to #32.

Source: BBC Radio 1

A Solvang lawyer who has a civil-rights lawsuit pending against Santa
Barbara County prosecutors took a step Friday toward running for District
Attorney.

Gary Dunlap, 64, took out a petition that candidates can use to reduce their
filing fees, according to Marlene Veatch, Santa Maria supervisor of the
county Elections Division.

The signature in lieu of filing fees process, which ends Feb. 23, is often
the first step taken by candidates running for office.

Dunlap did not return calls for comment late Friday.

Candidates for district attorney don’t have to file for candidacy until
March 10. If no candidate receives a majority of votes during a June 6
primary, the race will be decided Nov. 7 during a run-off election.

The district attorney position pays $121,056 annually.

Assistant District Attorney Christie Stanley, who supervises prosecutors in
Santa Maria, is the only other person who has expressed interest in
replacing retiring District Attorney Tom Sneddon.

Sneddon will leave office in December 2006 after his sixth four-year term.

“I welcome any opponents,” Stanley said Friday. “And I plan to win the
race.”

Dunlap has sued the District Attorney’s Office and accused Stanley and other
prosecutors of violating his civil rights, inflicting emotional distress and
interfering with his law practice by wrongfully prosecuting him on charges
of suborning perjury and witness tampering.

A federal judge has set an Aug. 7 trial date for the $10 million lawsuit,
which is to take place in Los Angeles.

A Santa Maria jury in 2003 acquitted Dunlap of six felony counts, including
suborning perjury, witness intimidation, filing false documents and
preparing false documents.

Dunlap pleaded no contest to misdemeanor marijuana possession and an
infraction for possessing drug paraphernalia, two violations that surfaced
when his home and office were searched as part of the investigation.

Stanley declined comment on the pending civil case.

Source: Santa Maria Times

Geraldo: Ever since his June accquital on child molestation charges, Michael
Jackson as you know has been engulfed in controversy, raniging from the
bizarre to the comic, everything from reports on his being broke to his
begging for a job to mistreatment of his exotic animals back on his
Neverland Valley Ranch.

But forget the rumors because today we set the record straight about the
rumors about the once King of Pop Michael Jackson.

MJ video clip from the Feb 2005 interview with Geraldo: Summary comments:
Celebrities are always a target — the bigger the star, the bigger the
target — They come after celebrities — we are targets….

Geraldo: Living on the other side of the world in the tiny Persian Gulf
country of Bahrain has not kept the pop star out of the crosshairs. Court
filings and claims against him continue to plague the beleagued idol,
perhaps straining his legendary forture and his health.

Just a shortlist of recently published claims include Jackson on the edge of
financial ruin, Jackson’s ex-wife wanting her kids rescued from the middle
east and another that he owes $48 million in fees related to his rights to
the Beatles musical catalog. Then there’s the claim regarding Michael’s
Neverland Ranch, where if the claims? by animal activists, federal
inspectors found his exotic animals in good health after a surpirse
inspection.

Trying to remain out of the eye of the storm in the US, the KOP remains
living in Bahrain with his children, where he is putting the final touches
on his long awaited hurricane relief song which features artists like Snoop
Dogg, Babyface and R. Kelly among many others and is due now for release
next month.

_____________________

Joining me now to sort fact from fiction is Michael Jackson’s spokesperson,
my friend, Raymone K. Bain.

G: Hi Raymone!

RB: Hi Geraldo (she was wearing a black suit with white piping and a three
string pearl necklace)

G: First of all Raymone, you know the rumor that swept the world that he is
on prescription drugs, on Demoral, that he is abusing these drugs and he’s
very, very ill —

RB: Hmm — Not true. I’ve seen him, I’ve spent time with him, we’ve been on
the phone and there’s so many other people who have been speaking to him
recently — there’s so many people who have spoken to Michael in the last
several months, that can verify the fact that he is not drowning in drugs.
It is unbelievable how some of these reports are dissiminated.

G: But how often do you speak with him?

RB: I have been speaking to him quite a lot because as I’ve said, he has
been ‘hands-on’ with regards to work–

G: So when was the last time you spoke to him?

RB: Yesterday.

G: Just yesterday.

RB: Yes. um hmm.

G: Okay so he is focused and you think that he is physically in good shape.

RB: Well I know he’s physically in good shape — I’ve seen him, I’ve been in
his presence, my team has been in his presence, the artists have been
speaking to him constantly back and forth about this project that we’re
hoping will help tremendously down in the southern –

G: ‘I Have This Dream’ — now when is this song being released?

RB: We are looking at releasing it mid-month — in February — mid to late
February.

G: And will the proceeds will be going to Katrina relief?

RB: Yes.

G: Was he looking for –

RB: Absolutely not –

G: — begging for a job in Bahrain?

RB: Absolutely NOT! I was astounished in looking at some major reputable
news organizations where the headlines were: ‘Michael Jackson looks for a
job’! The truth is is that a multi-billion dollar entertainment conglomerate
has asked him if he would consider becoming an advisor helping to bring
entertainment enterprises to the Middle East.

Don’t believe 90% of what you read because 9 times out of 10, it isn’t true.
And this record is happening, we have some absolutely fabulous artists who
are participating and we are hoping that it will help tremendously down in
the Gulf region of this country

Source: MJFC

Animals are not being mistreated at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, federal officials have concluded.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent an inspector to the 2,600-acre ranch in Central California last month in response to a complaint from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA based its complaint on European tabloid reports that animals are being kept in substandard conditions.

“I’m unaware of any violations of the Animal Welfare Act at Neverland,” Darby Holladay, a spokesman with the USDA in Washington, D.C., said Tuesday.

Brian Oxman, a lawyer for Jackson, welcomed the USDA’s determination.

“That’s very nice and we appreciate it,” he said.

Lisa Wathne, PETA’s captive exotic animals specialist, said the group did not try to confirm the tabloid reports before making its complaint.

“Because Neverland is not open to the public, it’s very difficult to get information about the place. But when we hear accusations like that - and many accusations - we have to take note,” she said.

Jackson’s ranch has been home to elephants, giraffes, snakes, orangutans, tigers and a crocodile.

Wathne said PETA plans to file a similar complaint with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because African elephants and orangutans are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Source: Associated Press

Michael Jackson is rumoured to attend tonights London premiere of 50 Cent’s new movie.

The eccentric singer has allegedly asked the hip-hop star for tickets to the first night of ‘Get Rich Or Die Tryin” - but is waiting to see if it will be safe for him to attend.

A source told Britain’s News of the World newspaper: “Michael really wants to go but it’s up to security to decide if it will be safe enough on the night.”

Michael Jackson’s official publicist is yet to confirm whether or not the King Of Pop will attend.

Source: Lifestyle

Rod Temperton is one of the most influential men in R&B/Pop music having written hits for Michael Jackson, George Benson, Quincy Jones, Heatwave, Brothers Johnson and Patti Austin among others.

Born in Cleethorpes, he is the most successful songwriter in his field having penned titles such as Thriller, Off the Wall, Rock With You, Give me the Night, Love X Love, Razzamatazz, Boogie nights, Always and Forever, Stomp and Baby, Come to Me.

Despite his incredible success, Rod has remained the ‘invisible man’ of music…until now.

BBC Radio 2 (United Kingdom) will be running an hour long documentary on the life of Rod Temperton on January 28. The show includes interviews with Rod,
himself, Quincy Jones, George Benson, Johnny Wilder, Michael McDonald, Patti Austin, Siedah Garett, Barry Blue plus his latest project,
English singer Emily Friendship and archive material from Michael Jackson.

The programme has been produced by Wise Buddah Creative in conjunction with Fresh Air Production.

Producer, Jed Pitman: “I was brought up listening to music by Rod Temperton and was amazed to find so few people knew of his output. Most people think that all of Michael Jackson’s hits were written by the man himself, not by a white guy from northern England. His was a story which needed to be told.”

Source: BBC Radio 2 (UK)

Michael Jackson has been accused of animal cruelty by US campaigners who are demanding an investigation into conditions on his Neverland ranch.

Pressure group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has written to authorities asking it to look into allegations of animal neglect.

Peta spokeswoman Lisa Wathne said she had seen photos showing animals surrounded by pools of urine.

“Photos [of Neverland] make it clear that the animals are being held in what can only be described as cruel conditions,” Lisa Wathne, spokeswoman for PETA, told the London Mirror. “They’re abysmal, little more than holding cells. Jackson must close this place and relocate the animals to an accredited zoo or sanctuary.”

Giraffes, elephants and crocodiles all live on the California estate, which Jackson bought in 1988. At its height, it boasted a zoo, fairground rides and a steam railway.

“These animals are in enclosures that are completely barren,” Ms Wathne said.

“It looks like a dilapidated roadside zoo. The animals have no enrichment of any kind. They are deprived of everything that’s natural to them.”

She added: “We have heard accusations that employees aren’t being paid and that animals aren’t being fed or that food is only available on a day-to-day basis.

“We have asked the United States Department of Agriculture to investigate, and if they determine the animals are not being cared for properly, to confiscate the animals and release them to accredited sanctuaries.”

Source: BBC / Mirror

Michael Jackson has been accused of animal cruelty at his all-but abandoned Neverland ranch.

Animal rights activists have demanded an urgent probe into conditions at the sprawling estate.

They claim giraffes, elephants and other creatures are imprisoned in squalid and cramped surroundings.

Shocking photographs appear to reveal animals surrounded by their own faeces.

A giraffe seems to be standing in a pool of its own blood while a crocodile swims in a pool little wider than itself.

Elephants appear to be walking among their own excrement, with no sign of keepers.

A spokesman for animal rights’ group PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - called on Jackson to close down the zoo immediately.

Lisa Wathne said: ‘These photos make it clear that the animals are being held in what can only be described as cruel conditions.

‘They are abysmal and little more than holding cells. My message to Michael Jackson would be to close this place down and relocate the animals to an accredited zoo or sanctuary.’

PETA has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging it to launch an investigation into conditions.

Employees at Neverland say the animals’ food supply is fast running out.

One said: ‘There is not much left. I don’t know what will happen after that.’

Jackson, 47, may be forced to sell the 2,700-acre ranch in California’s Santa Ynez Valley to pay off mounting debts.

He bought the estate - which once boasted a full zoo, fairground rides and a small scale steam railway - in 1988 for a reported $17million.

But since he was cleared of child sex charges in June, the once dream home has fallen into disrepair while Jackson and his children have been living in Bahrain as a guest of the country’s Crown Prince .

Staff have been sacked or have simply quit after their wages were not paid, according to sources.

One insider said: ‘Most of the staff have gone. Hundreds of people used to work here - now there are only ten or so.

‘The electricity is only on in some parts of the house. Some rooms have been stripped of everything. Neverland is falling apart.’ It emerged last week that Jackson is being sued by the vet employed to look after the exotic animals at his zoo.

Martin Dinnes, owner of Dinnes Memorial Veterinary Hospital, is claiming that the singer owes him £51,800 in unpaid bills.

Mr Dinnes’s lawyer, Brenton Horner, said that his client had helped Jackson acquire the animals and continues to treat them regularly.

Last night, Brian Oxman, a lawyer for the singer, responded to the cruelty allegations by saying: ‘Michael Jackson does not wish to comment on this story.’

A source close to the family insisted: ‘The animals are being cared for perfectly well.’

Source: London / Mirror

TNG Productions and Silva Entertainment would like to invite you all to
attend an Event which will be unlike any you have seen before. one of music,
dance, magic and much more, bringing together Jackson fans from all around
the world.
The Venue is to be the world famous Hollywood Music Hall in Rotterdam ,
highly prized for its amazing lazer shows and huge stage.

We will also be holding a Jackson Idols Contest so please check the page for
more details on how you can enter, plus there will be many stalls selling
merchandise, and your chance to win some unique signed merchandise by
enterting our Lottery.

Many of the top professional performers will be on stage to amaze you with
their shows, and with the music of the Jackson’s, Michael, Janet and 3T what
better way to spend the night!

The Jackson family have given their full support for this Event and we
expect to have 1000 people attend.

Michael has been invited to the Event!

All the profits made will be going to the Ronald McDonald Children’s Charity
Fund.

We promise to make this a day to remember. and to show that the Jackson
family name will go down in HIStory as the World’s number one entertainers!

info@tng-event.com

Visit: tng-event.com

Source: TNG

UK Charts: Number Ones has fallen one place in the UK Album Chart to #32.

Source: MJ.INF

Australian Charts: In Australia, Number Ones has risen to #9 in the Australian Urban Charts and
is at its highest position since 28th March 2004.

Source: Aria