Positive websites and videos that celebrate MJ

[MJJLaugh]

Patch Adams

This evening a movie that I love and adore was on TV again, so I tipped a friend and watched it myself again after so many years. It was touching, heartbreaking, funny and groundbreaking for what we now know as the clini-clowns, the clowns who visit ill children in the hospital to brighten their day. Does that remind you of someone ? Michael visited thousands of children in hospitals with arms full of gifts, so in a sense Michael was a Patch Adams too. The Patch Adamses of this world do not care about rules and conventions but about life, loving, genuine care and laughter for healing. Through their inner drive and need to help others they become a shining light and a beacon of hope.
If you haven't seen it, see this movie, it's worth your time!
~ MJJLaugh

The real Patch Adams

Excerpt from an interview with Michael dated April 13, 1999:

When asked how he unwinds nowadays Michael answered that he has stopped secluding himself at home and has began to get out into the public more often. "Well I've stopped been such a recluse now. My friend Elizabeth Taylor has got me out. Every thursday we go to the movies together. She is Godmother to my son Prince and we get on so well. I said I could get Warner Brothers to put aside a studio just for us to watch films in private, but she forces me out. She's the only person who can get me out in public. We walk in, sit down, watch our film and walk out. And every time we leave the audience all stand up and applaud us. It's funny. The last one we saw was Patch Adams which we loved. It was so touching, it made me cry. It's a true story about a man who takes the time to make children happy. That's what I'd like to be considered as."

Patch Adams Trailer





Healing Through Humour - Patch Adam's 25th Annual Russia Tour

 

[_nita]

All the posts and stories are so great and beautiful! :wub:

 

[Ashtanga]

The movie Patch Adams is wonderful. :heart:

 

[4veryoung]

MAN OF THE YEAR: MICHAEL’S UNIVERSE
http://respeconize.com/?p=1498
Black radio, the medium upon which Black Radio Exclusive Magazine (BRE) was founded, literally grew up with Michael Jackson, and it has been through those eyes and ears that the little kid from Gary, Indiana not only heard his first James Brown licks but also his own music as it fanned the world. The professionals in radio and the music industry who were welcomed aboard and helped contribute to the MJ phenomenon recall many of those moments when they learned firsthand the work ethic, discipline, passion and pursuit of excellence through which Michael defined not only his artistry but his very lifeform—a template upon which to build a better world.

About Hold my Hand music video:

The video is a tribute to all that Michael stands for–life, in all its permutations…love, and its power…. A video of memory, healing and joy.—Mark Pellington, director of video for “Hold My Hand” (duet with Akon)

My first personal encounter with Michael Jackson began early in my career. He actually was the first big star I had the opportunity to interview live in the studio on-air followed by a chance to MC the Jackson’s Concert while in Hartford at WKND in the late ‘70s. I also had a chance to work with him in the studio directing and recording his voiceover to be inserted into a Jackson’s Concert radio spot. During that session I witnessed first-hand Michael’s discipline for perfection. The collective time I was able to spend with him formed my initial respect and admiration for an artist who would soon become the King of Pop. I found him always to be a consummate professional, very cooperative, genuinely friendly, with a good sense of humor.

As his solo career ascended to superstardom, there have been special occasions that have led our paths to meet again along the way. I remember in the ‘80s having exclusive access to broadcast live from the sold out Victory Tour Concert at RFK stadium on the Top 40 station Q107 where I did evenings in DC, reporting all the onstage action and excitement to those unable to be there. It was there I really observed and felt the powerful force of Michael Jackson.

It was at rehearsal in the ‘90s the day before the Soul Train Music awards–the year Michael was to perform and to be honored–where Don Cornelius happened to introduce me to someone in Michael’s camp. Before I knew it an impromptu private invitation had been extended to me and my family to join Mr. Jackson inside his personal luxury motor home parked backstage. We were greeted by a very cordial, jovial and mild mannered Michael Jackson. He seemed very relaxed yet very professional. It was an enjoyable visit. He told me he invited me in to express his appreciation for the support I’d given him in the past and as Program Director in New York. He also said he was thankful to all of Black Radio for all the support provided to him and his brothers through the years.

You may recall, later that evening while practicing some moves in his hotel room he broke his leg. However the next day his passion and strong tenacity earned even greater respect by all as he performed live in a wheel chair.

As a groundbreaker, passionate musicmaker, dance master and trendsetter… Michael Jackson changed the game worldwide and continues to do so with his new album Michael.

As a fan from the days of the Jackson Five, it’s been a privilege to know the world’s greatest entertainer and humanitarian. I wholeheartedly salute BRE’s Man Of The Year, Michael Jackson!—Vinny Brown, Executive Vice President, Taxi Productions UAC KJLH-FM (102.3), Los Angeles

I can still remember the first time I saw the Jacksons on the “Ed Sullivan Show.” I said to my brother, “This little kid Michael cannot be from this planet!—Doc Wynter, Clear Channel Sr. VP Urban Programming

Simply, Michael Jackson broke all the barriers: Radio, MTV and World appeal. He crossed over to mainstream white America like no artist ever did before him and hasn’t done since. Black radio was there from the beginning starting with the Jackson 5 phenomenon and we have followed Michael all the way.–Phil Michaels-Trueba, PD Cox UAC WHQT-FM (Hot 105), Miami, Florida

I was press director for the Bad tour. Michael Jackson was simply the greatest performer ever. And as great as he was as a performer, he was an even better human being.–Michael Mitchell, Tour Press Director Bad Tour, currently Vice President Marketing and Strategic Partnerships New Product Development, TIME LIFE, Fairfax, Virginia

The measure of a man is what he gives back. Through all of Michael Jackson’s endeavors he was the ultimate humanitarian.–Joe Gorham, Music Director Howard University UAC WHUR-FM (WORLD 96.3/HD2), Washington, D.C.

After seeing two of Prince’s incredible shows over the weekend I couldn’t help thinking what life would be like had MJ been able to make the comeback we saw glimpses of in the rehearsal footage. Aside from Prince and a few others who live on, we’re quickly running low on the art of putting on a show. One only has to spend 10 minutes watching any TV/cable awards show these days to know this. All the explosions, nakedness and poorly choreographed steps we see today couldn’t replace ONE of Michael’s “moonwalks.” All I can say is Michael, the WORLD misses you! Your time, dedication, sacrifice and financial support will never be forgotten. Your life itself was a gift to all of us!—Skip Dillard, PD Inner City Broadcasting UAC WBLS-FM (107.5), New York City

I’ve been very fortunate to work with some of the best, from Frank Sinatra to Elton John, Dylan to Garth Brooks…and, then there was Michael. Mike was more fun than Barnum and Bailey, exciting, incredibly smart, with unbelievable and unequaled gifts. There is no doubt he was the greatest entertainer of all time.—Norman Winter, More Than the Norm

 

[4veryoung]

continued...

On the occasions that I talked with Michael, I found him to be very attentive, a very good listener, and he was very much in control of that group even though he was the youngest member. He knew his place on stage, and as quiet as he seemed to be with his soft-spoken voice, when he was on stage, he was in command…There was something about him that was attractive. He had two decades of greatness, and it’s easy to see that staying power was not going away. When he walked into a room, even CEOs of major companies acted like groupies, running to the stage, doing everything they could to get autographs. His persona was gigantic, and his talent matched that. Michael’s music is his legacy…–“Super” Jay Johnson, ABC/Citadel Media, Dallas, Texas

When I first met Michael Jackson, he was 10 years old. A friend of mine, Mavis Staples of the world-famous Staples Singers, introduced me and said, “You are not going to believe this.” She was right…I was knocked off my feet. Without a shadow of doubt, Michael Jackson was the greatest entertainer ever to grace the face of this earth. The pop culture world is measured by this man—a man who had a good and kind soul. During one of the tours, he wanted to visit Haiti. When we arrived, it was a cultural shock for all of us, but to see the hurt on Michael’s face—at these poverty-stricken people—it was devastating to him. He was real quiet all the way back.

I have been very fortunate to be raised with James Brown, to work with Elvis Presley and to know Michael Jackson. It just don’t get no better than this, to know Michael Jackson—the man, the pioneer, the humanitarian. There are so many who owe this man so much.—Lonnell “King Ro” Conley, Announcer and Blues Director Jazz City Radio

I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Jackson a few years ago at BET CEO Debra Lee’s home. Down to earth. That sums him up, and he deserves every accolade bestowed upon him!—Rosalind R. Ray, Esq, Co-Manager The O’Jays

Michael should be the Man of Every Year! He was truly a nice person who put his everything into everything he did. He was more gifted than anyone I’ve ever known.—Ron Isley

Michael has always had a big heart. One time he came to Atlanta at the request of me and then President Jimmy Carter and his appearance enabled us to immunize some 37,000 pre-school kids. He was phenomenal.—former UN Ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young

Some people spend their lives loving Michael as a fan.

Some people fulfill their life’s dream working with Michael as a colleague.

Some people were blessed to know Michael as a friend.

I have experienced all three and my life is enriched because of it.

There are a million beautiful and personal memories of Michael worth more than the most precious thing the world has to offer.

I will cherish those memories forever. –Greg Phillinganes, musician, artist

Though it ended way too soon, Michael’s life was beautiful. Sure there were some sad times, but Michael Jackson accomplished everything he dreamed of.

My memories of Michael are of a 10-year old, whose passion was to be the greatest entertainer in the world and he was willing to work as hard and do whatever it took to become what he indeed became—the undisputed “King of Pop” the world over. What kid wouldn’t give his right arm to fulfill his wildest childhood dreams? Michael loved it all…every moment on stage, every moment in rehearsal. Michael loved creating what had never been done before. He loved everything and everybody. Especially his fans. Off stage Michael was shy, soft-spoken and child-like. But when he took that stage in front of his screaming fans, he turned into another person, a master, a “take no prisoners” showman. It was kill or be killed. I mean, Michael was awesome!!! Totally in charge. In fact, the more I remember and talk about Michael Jackson, the more I feel the “King of Pop” is not big enough for him. I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.–Berry Gordy, Founder of Motown

Michael was truly the greatest performer. When he hit that zone, no one could touch him. I remember him doing three shows in a row and Justin Timberlake was supposed to join him onstage, but when Justin came out, he just froze and Michael was poppin’! Awesome! He didn’t need the special effects or anything else; he was the real performer.

And you could see him going into that spiritual zone backstage when he was getting ready for a show. He was always calm, relaxed, smooth. He would do his own makeup and take a few minutes alone in his dressing room where he had a picture of The Three Stooges that he liked on the wall. Then he would very calmly emerge and just blow the audience away. Even in Japan on his comeback tour when he was a little nervous about how people felt about him then, he always had the utmost professionalism and was always on time, and again, just blew them away.

I’ve had the opportunity to talk with people like Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey, but the relationship with Michael was very special. Every time I left him, I’d be sad seeing him standing on the porch waving good-bye. He was always so welcoming, so hospitable. He was never about selfishness or harming anyone. He was always about trying to be closer to God, to be Christ-like. He loved more than he was loved and was always trying to get closer to God, to do the right thing even though it wasn’t always what he wanted to do. And whenever he was tested, he looked for his strength within, from bringing God into his body and putting him first in his life. Michael was really very spiritual and put God in control of his life.

He was truly blessed by God.

Japan has more orphanages than any place in the world and Michael wanted to do something for them while he was there so we picked one to visit that just so happened to be supported by Bill and Melinda Gates. Michael would arrive with no publicity and with multiple toys for each child. His own kids would go with him and he would be educating them as to what was going on. The kids were delighted, but Michael would also take the time to personally shake the hands of each of the nuns at the orphanage thanking each of them for taking care of the children.

And people just melted around him. One time when he was taking his kids to Disneyland, word had gotten out that he was coming and everyone knew his favorite ride was Peter Pan, so there was gridlock by the time he arrived. But he just held his hands up and the crowd opened up like parting the Red Sea. Then he would watch the parade from the Main Street rooftop and eat hot dogs and French fries with his kids. I thank God everyday that I was graced by this angel and am reminded even moreso that we can’t take our time here for granted. There is no tomorrow promised and you’ve gotta let people know you love them. That’s what Michael was about.—Qadree El-Amin, Southpaw Entertainment

 

[Ashtanga]

4veryoung thanks for posting! Great quotes about Michael. :wub:

 

[MJJLaugh]

MIchael Jackson Fashion


He's bad, he's bad, and I know it. And the way he makes me feel, it really turns me on, and knocks me off my feet. And when I've been a victim of, a selfish kind of love, I remember the time when he held me like the river Jordan and asked me, 'Annie, are you OK?' Which was weird because my name is Lindsay.

Regardless, I love Michael's music and I love, love, love the outfits. From the 70's fro to the 80's glove to the 90's jackets to the 2000's surgical mask, MJ's looks were always memorable and iconic. My favorite decade was the 90s-- what was yours?

Nothing says 1970s like afros, bell-bottom suits, and platform boots. The Jackson 5 performed on the “Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” in September, 1972 when Michael was thirteen-years old. Looking good, Mike!

The glove, the sequins, the girl. Jackson, seen here with Brooke Shields in 1980, started a fashion craze with his one covered hand and military jacket.

n 1985, the King of Pop channeled monarchs of yesteryear with this imperial coat, complete with sash and adoring subjects. Aviators added for affect.

This 1992 outfit may have inspired current stars like John Mayer, Britney Spears, and Bruno to rock similar, uh, underwear-as-outerwear looks. And if this was a photo flip-book, I feel like a crotch grab would only be a few flips away.

He’s not gonna spend his life being a color, and damn it, we’ll agree with him. In 1993, Jackson updated his 1980 glove-and-military-jacket look and wore this modern number for his “Dangerous” tour where songs “Black and White” and “Remember the Time” were big hits.

Rain or shine, dry ice or wet ice, Jackson was ready to take the stage… and the field. Who can forget these catcher’s pads from his 1997 tour?

The HIStory tour in 1997 was my all-time favorite. And no one does this look better than Michael. I’m looking at you, Timberlake.

To be succinct, things were weird in 2002. But I like his blush.

Jackson wore all black to the World Music Awards in 2006. Happy to see he still loves the aviators he helped popularize back in the 80s. That night, Chris Brown paid tribute to Jackson when he performed “Thriller” in a red-leather pantsuit.



Michael Jackson Fashion Style - Come Together


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Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lindsay-mannering/michael-jackson-fashion-w_b_221686.html

 

[MJJLaugh]

Michael and pure, unconditional love


Michael has inspired me in so many ways, into becoming who I am supposed to be and being okay with that, loving myself as I am. But also reaching out to others and reflecting inwards.
But above all Michael showed me what pure, unconditional love is. Loving without expecting anything in return, wholeheartedly, completely, Divinely.

Have you ever asked for a sign, so you know you're on the right path, know which house to buy, as a confirmation of an impression on the soul and a print on your heart ? I had asked for a sign to confirm that pure, unconditional love I felt for Michael as his gift to me ( and countless others too, no doubt, since we are all One). The next day a friend of mine gave me a little card with a rosequartz heart and the printed text : "Rose quartz is the stone of pure and unconditional love. Pass it on...."
She had given all her best friends the same little card as a token of appreciation of the friendship. When I read the text I inhaled sharply and started to cry.
There is more between heaven and earth than we may ever fully know.
~ MJJLaugh

"Love's gift cannot be given, it waits to be accepted."
— Rabindranath Tagore


"Love is an endless mystery, because there is no any reasonable cause that could explain it."
— Rabindranath Tagore

“But if you don't have that memory of being loved, you are condemned to search the world for something to fill you up. But no matter how much money you make or how famous you become, you will still feel empty. What you are really searching for is unconditional love, unqualified acceptance. And that was the one thing that was denied to you at birth.”
~ Michael Jackson, 2001

Speechless - Piano


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Source:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/36913.Rabindranath_Tagore


http://michaelsguardian.blogspot.com/2010/07/michaels-perfect-soul-mate.html

 

[Desired.]

^^Beautiful. :heart:

 

[MJJLaugh]

When Babies Smile

"The smile that flickers on a baby&#8217;s lips when he sleeps- does anyone know where it was born? Yes, there is a rumor that a young pale beam of a crescent moon touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud, and there the smile was first born in the dream of a dew-washed morning."
&#8212; Rabindranath Tagore

When dreamers dream and kiss their lover
And rainbows weave and splash their color
Those are moments so gloriously alive
We take the plunge, take the dive
Into the abyss
We are suspended awhile
Those are moments when babies smile.

Those are moments when fate is unsealed
Nothing is impossible and we are healed
We can soar, we can fly
Walk on fire, navigate the sky
In the light of a glittering star
There&#8217;s no distance, nothing is far
Those are moments of innocent guile
In the glow
We are suspended awhile
Those are moments when babies smile.

Those are moments when the heart is tender
When seascapes gleam in magnificent splendor
When the laughter of Heaven reverberates the Earth
And we are renewed in a new birth
In a timeless Eternity
In the angels? fraternity
We romp and roll
The playground of our soul
In the twilight
We are suspended awhile
Those are moments when babies smile.

Those are moments we&#8217;re one with God
All is well, nothing is odd
In silent reflection
We feel our perfection
We are the source, we are the crucible
Nothing can hurt us, for we are invincible
There is no sin, there is no sinner
We can only win, we have felt the glimmer
In the bliss
We&#8217;re floating awhile
Those are moments when babies smile.

Kingdoms topple, lose their class
Civilizations crumble, ages pass
Turbulent tempests ravage the seas
Violent killings, despite our pleas
But dewdrops sparkle when children play
Tyrants cry, there&#8217;s nothing to slay
Fairies dance and goblins sing
All are crowned, all are king
In the Garden
We frolic awhile
Those are moments when babies smile.
~ Michael Jackson, Dancing the Dream

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[_nita]

^ So beautiful! :wub:

 

[MJJLaugh]

MUsic - Nourishment for the Soul

Have you ever pondered on the true meaning of music ? And by music I mean inspirational music, music as nourishment for the soul. This can be classical music or pop music, or any variety in between. So, I'm not asking you what you like or dislike, but rather that kind of music that inspires you to follow your dreams, the kind of music that lifts you up and gives you wings.
When I was very young I grew up listening to classical music. We had this big old-fashioned radio with myriads of holes and wires at the back. Being just a child and mesmerized by the Nutcracker Suite or Fur Elize to name a few, I was convinced that God must be inside that radio, because such beautiful music surely came straight from the heavens.
No longer a child, I don't inspect the back of old radios to find God, but there is still a mysterious quality to the music that touches my heart and lifts my soul to soar.
~ MJJLaugh


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"When children listen to music, they don't just listen. They melt into the melody and flow with the rhythm. Something inside starts to unfold its wings - soon the child and the music are one."
~ Michael Jackson


"What one wishes is to be touched by truth and to be able to interpret that truth so that one may use what one is feeling and experiencing, be it despair or joy, in a way that will add meaning to one's life and will hopefully touch others as well. This is art in its highest form. Those moments of enlightenment are what I continue to live for."
~ Michael Jackson

"My favorite music is an eclectic mix. For example, I love classical music. I'm crazy about Debussy. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Clair de Lune. And Prokofiev. I could listen to Peter and the Wolf over and over and over again. Copland is one of my all-time favorite composers. You can recognize his distinctive brass sounds right away. Billy the Kid is fabulous. I listen to a lot of Tchaikovsky. The Nutcracker Suite is a favorite. I have a large collection of show tunes also --Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, Lerner and Loewe, Harold Arlen, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and the great Holland-Dozier-Holland. I really admire those guys."
~ Michael Jackson

"I've always wanted to be able to tell stories, stories that came from my soul. I'd like to sit by a fire and tell people stories, make them see pictures, make them cry and laugh, take them anywhere emotionally. I'd like to tell tales to move their souls and transform them. I've always wanted to be able to do that. I sometimes feel I could do it."
~ Michael Jackson



"And my goal in life is to give to the world what I was lucky to receive: the ecstasy of divine union through my music and my dance."
~ Michael Jackson

"I wake up from dreams and go "Wow, put this down on paper." The whole thing is strange. You hear the words, everything is right there in front of your face."
~ Michael Jackson



"People ask me how I make music. I tell them I just step into it. It's like stepping into a river and joining the flow. Every moment in the river has its song."
~ Michael Jackson

"To live is to be musical, starting with the blood dancing in your veins. Everything living has a rhythm. Do you feel your music?"
~ Michael Jackson


"A star can never die. It just turns into a smile and melts back into the cosmic music, the dance of life."
~ Michael Jackson (Dancing the Dream)

Michael Jackson - One Day in Your Life

Just listen closely to the lyrics....









Sources:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1354250.Michael_Jackson

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/michael-jackson/articles/24054/title/tao-jackson

 

[MJJLaugh]

Michael Jackson and the Dover ferry captain

A photograph of Michael Jackson meeting P&O ferry captain Pat Hammond has turned up in an old building in Dover.

A team at the Eastern Docks is cataloguing over 40 photo albums which date back to the 1880s.

Other finds include a letter from Winston Churchill thanking the staff at the docks and recognising the sacrifice made by people in Dover during WWII.

The team's mammoth task of sorting through records of the port's history is now entering its third year.


Turned out to be Michael Jackson. Didn't know him. Called him Malcolm by mistake.
~ Basil Kidd, photographer

Dover Harbour Board employees Chris Knight, Bob Wainwright, Andy Rintoul and Andy's father, Ian Rintoul, who all have a passion for the port and its history, are cataloguing the photographs.

The photograph was taken by Deal photographer, Basil Kidd.

Judith Gaunt, who wrote a book about Kidd's archive of photos said: "Basil wrote of the picture that he had been asked to go to the port to take a photograph of a famous pop star who would be travelling on the P&O Pride of Dover.

"Basil did most of the ferry companies photographs in those days. He recalled 'turned out to be Michael Jackson. Didn't know him. Called him Malcolm by mistake.' But he did get his autograph."

Your comments:

I was lucky enough to be on duty when MJ travelled. I was an Assistant Purser at the time. We were running a little late because of bad weather. I happened to have a hand held radio listening to the communications between the bridge and shore side. All that was being said was MJ is on his way wont be long now, we didn't know who it was at the time. We were standing by when out of the lift came some 5 or 6 huge fellows and in the middle was MJ (Michael Jackson) he was taken to the Function Room as quickly as possible, but it soon got around the vessel and people were trying to get in to see him. I spent the whole crossing with him and watched him practice his dance routines, and listen to bird song through his fantastic stereo gear. I was lucky enough to get a signed photo, which i still have today.
Tony Finnis

I was part of a small group going on a daytrip from Dover to Calais and the ferry left during poor weather mid morning. As the boat was halfway to Calais news was circulating which included the crew that Michael Jackson was on board and in a part of the boat sectioned off away from the rest of the passengers which we assumed was the captain's cabin. When the boat arrived there was a mini bus with blacked out windows, first off, leaving the ferry and we were told that was carrying Michael Jackson and that he was heading for Paris.
R Shayler

***** and his entourage took over the function room on board so they could get some peace and quiet en route to tour on the Continent. His people called our people about an hour before he travelled to say he was on the way. Legendary Deal snapper Basil Kidd took the picture and it made front page of Today. The skipper is Captain Pat Hammond who was Senior Master.
Brian Rees, P&O

This was reported in the East Kent Mercury at the time with another photo including in it the well known local photographer Basil Kidd. I seem to remember that Jackson was travelling to Paris as part of a world tour and had been invited up on to the Bridge.
David Waring

The picture is of Captain Pat Hammond on the Pride of Dover in about 1988. The singer was (if I remember rightly) on his way to Belgium and did not wish to fly. I was serving as Purser on this ship - but was not on duty at the time. He paid for full use of the function room - which later became an enlarged Duty Free Shop!
Fred Isherwood

Michael travelled on the P&O Cruise from Dover to Calais during his Bad world tour after his Wembley concerts, due to bad weather conditions he had to take the cruise instead of flying. He kept a low profile and the 2,000 passengers on board had no idea, he spent most the time in his Limo. He travelled on the pride of dover I believe. Hope that helped.
Birchey

The master of Pride of Dover in the photograph with Michael Jackson is Pat Hammond (Patrick Edward HAMMOND). A very fine Gentleman. I am reminded that whilst master of Pride of Dover I met MJ's sister, Janet Jackson, travelling from Calais to Dover. Pat left slightly before me. In his time, Pat Hammond, Senior Master in the P&O Dover fleet, was part of the back-bone of the company.
Graeme Boxall


Source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9425000/9425782.stm

 

[MsCassieMollie]

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2009/11/michael_jackson_harry_benson_article

Photographer Harry Benson Flashes Back

I first met Michael on a hillside in Colorado in 1984. He was on the famous Victory Tour with his brothers.

Michael was the first to come running over to help when I slipped going up a steep muddy hill. I was fine, but a couple of lenses got covered in mud. That was the first time Michael took a liking to one of my brown Scottish tweed sports jackets, so I took it off and gave it to him. He seemed pleased by my gesture and immediately put it on, put both arms out and twirled around in the bright sunlight while I photographed him running and jumping. On stage that night he glittered in sequins. I flew back to New York with the photographs.

The momentum of the Victory Tour kept building, so I joined Michael in Philadelphia for more photos. The same thing happened again. This time it was a gray Harris tweed jacket. I saw him looking closely at the colors in the tweed. They seemed to fascinate him, so again I gave him my jacket. Sometime later I was amused to see a news clip of Michael actually wearing the jacket, running into a limo, mobbed by fans.

In 1985 I photographed Michael at the &#8220;We Are the World&#8221; all-night recording session in Los Angeles, conceived to raise money for the starving children of Africa. Quincy Jones posted a sign that said, &#8220;Leave your egos at the door,&#8221; and the 45 stars who participated did just that. The artist known as Prince kept telephoning to say he was thinking of coming. Quincy told him to hurry, as they had begun working. I overheard Michael say, &#8220;Prince will never come while I am here.&#8221; When Prince called again, Quincy told him not to bother; it was all over.

On first encounter, Michael seemed shy. He spoke in the very soft, high-pitched voice recognizable to the world, but, oddly enough, after about 10 minutes his tone deepened, although he still spoke very softly. I find that many powerful people, heads of state and such, speak very softly. They don&#8217;t have to shout to get your attention. Try to hear what they say the first time&#8212;they don&#8217;t like to repeat. Michael was like that. An hour later, when we met again, it was like starting over&#8212;again, the high-pitched, quiet voice, which morphed into something deeper after about 10 minutes.

When I saw Michael in 1995, again my tweed jacket was coveted, so again I gave it to him. He put it on for the photographs with new bride Lisa Marie Presley.

In 1997 I visited Neverland to photograph Michael with his firstborn, Prince Michael. While he was feeding Prince, the baby&#8217;s face became covered with food. Michael joked, &#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s Linda Blair time,&#8221; referring to the actress in the film The Exorcist. The baby was happy and laughing. Later, we took Prince upstairs to his room, where Michael gave him a bottle and held him until he went to sleep, singing little songs to him, something about Daddy&#8217;s baby. Michael told me Prince had inspired him to write more music than he had written at any other time in his life.

The following day Michael took me into the rehearsal studio where he had refined the moonwalk. He told me he often brought Prince there to watch him practice in front of the mirrored wall and said they would dance together someday. I was convinced that was going to be the next act. Prince sat playing with a microphone and watching his father&#8217;s every move. Michael told me the moonwalk was very easy to do. &#8220;Just do this, Harry, and pull your foot back.&#8221; Needless to say, I wasn&#8217;t stupid enough to try.

Standing outside his bedroom was a wax figure of a queen&#8217;s Household Cavalry guard. The bedroom itself was dark and quite plain, in tones of beige and brown, and, to be honest, a bit depressing. Adjacent to the bed was a huge, red, thronelike chair ornately trimmed in gilt. Above the mahogany four-poster was a painting of a blond Jesus.

Michael was easy to work with and delighted in showing me his home. All the photos were done quickly. That&#8217;s the thing people forget&#8212;you have to work quickly so that your subject doesn&#8217;t become bored. When Michael asked what I wanted him to wear, I said, &#8220;Just be yourself. Wear what you feel comfortable in.&#8221;

One could see how Neverland could take Michael&#8217;s mind off all his worries and transport him from the reality of his stressful life. He had everything he wanted there. I got the impression that in no way was Michael a recluse. He read the papers and kept up with the news. Once he asked me what I thought of the Reagans, who were in the White House at the time. He was also curious to know what the Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was like, as Michael had seen my photograph of him. Michael made a point of knowing who was who, while all the time those sad eyes were searching, looking closely at me. Occasionally he would break into a laugh, but mostly he was just looking.

Although I wasn&#8217;t close to Michael, we were friendly and respectful of each other, and that&#8217;s really all you want, someone who allows you to do your job. I will miss him. We will all miss his immense talent.

 

[MJJLaugh]

Michael and the Making of "Scream"

"Scream" is cited primarily as an aggressive, retaliatory song directed at the tabloid media and their coverage of the child sexual abuse accusations made against Michael Jackson in 1993. "Scream" was written, composed and produced by Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson; Michael played many of the instruments. It incorporates elements of pop, electrorock, new jack swing, dance-pop, and funk. Recording for Scream took place at the Hit Factory in New York City and at Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina, Minnesota in December 1994. The song was leaked to radio stations early, despite Epic Records' attempt to keep it off air until the official release date.

Generally well received amongst critics, it has been compared favorably to other accomplished pieces by Jackson. It went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award and an American Music Award. The corresponding music video remains one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed pieces; it won numerous MTV Video Music Awards and a Grammy. At a cost of $ 7 million, it was listed in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive music video ever made, however director Mark Romanek has refuted the claim saying that there were two other music videos from the same era which cost "millions more" than the video for "Scream".[2] The imagery in "Scream" has been replicated in several contemporary pieces, including "No Scrubs" by TLC, "Shawty Get Loose" by Lil Mama, "Stay the Night" by IMx and Walkin' on the Moon by The-Dream.

In the HIStory album booklet there is an image of Gottfried Helnwein's 1981 watercolor "Das Lied / The Song", which is an image of a distressed child huddled in the corner of a room, screaming up at the ceiling. Jackson's handwritten lyrics to "Scream" were scrawled on the wall beside the child. Towards the end of the booklet is a copy of a child's letter to the President of the United States, Bill Clinton, asking him to end war, pollution and to stop the negative press reports about Jackson.


Janet Jackson wanted to be involved with the project as a show of sibling support.It was the first time they had worked together since 1982, when Janet provided backing vocals on "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)".Janet said that it was "very fun" working with her brother again and that seeing her brother's work was "interesting". "Scream" was written, composed and produced by the Jackson siblings, with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.It was the first time Michael Jackson had worked with Jam and Lewis, although Janet had worked with them successfully on numerous occasions. The album was created with the intention of following half R&B and half pop/rock themes, the same themes that brought Jackson success on his prior album, Dangerous. Jackson was credited for playing instruments such as keyboard, synthesizer, guitar, drums and percussion on the single and album.

In the song, Jackson tells the media to stop pressuring him and to stop misrepresenting the truth. It was Michael Jackson's first song that contained profanity—with the word "******" in the lyrics "Stop pressuring me/Stop pressuring me/Stop ****** with me"—which was thought of as an unusual choice for Jackson, considering his appeal with the younger audience. "Scream" incorporates elements of pop, R&B, hip-hop, funk and rock.





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Source:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream/Childhood

 

[4veryoung]

Michael Jackson: The Boy Who Brought Me to Tears

Renowned photographer Henry Diltz, whose work has appeared in Life, Rolling Stone and the New York Times, captured the Jackson 5 multiple times in the 1970s. He reconnected with their lead singer Michael Jackson, who had since become the biggest pop star on the planet, in 1985 to document the famed 'We Are the World' charity single recording sessions. He witnessed Michael the boy, the man, the transcendent genius and the troubled superstar, from two feet away.

Michael was always very quiet. His older brothers were a lot more loose and outgoing, always joking and laughing. But Michael came alive onstage -- almost like he lived for those moments.

In the early '70s, I went to a small concert at a school for blind children in L.A. I was sitting cross-legged two feet away from Michael with all these kids in the front row. His voice had such a pure quality to it that it just released something in you. I could see all the kids listening and moving, so enthralled by the music. He just sang so amazingly beautiful. It was so joyful and such an outpouring of angelic sound that it released something in me, and tears started rolling down my face.

At 'We Are the World,' he really isolated himself. Here was a whole room of the most famous singers in the world -- Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Ray Charles -- and they were all shaking hands laughing and talking. Some of them had never met each other before. It was like the most amazing party, like a dream where you're surrounded by all the hero singers in the pop and rock world. But Michael kind of stood off in the corner behind a potted palm tree. It was quite odd; he didn't really come out and mix with everybody. He was off by himself, like it was overwhelming. That was the last time I saw him in person.

He changed his appearance so dramatically from the shots I took when he was a little boy to the way he looked in the end you'd never know it was the same person. He was obviously always troubled by something. He had this heavy thing on his shoulders. He was very internal, very introspective, and he lived in his head. Life is meant to be joyful, we're supposed to have fun, and it was sad that he was so isolated.

I'm sure that Michael is finally released from the torment that he had in this lifetime. He's free and he doesn't have to deal with that anymore. It's all of us who he left behind who are unhappy, because we don't have him here. But we certainly have all of his records and videos, which is fantastic.

http://www.spinner.com/2009/06/27/michael-jackson-the-boy-who-brought-me-to-tears/
____________________________________________

Dont like the 2nd to the last part...but still a good read.

 

[Alma]

Yes, that part was off. Not saying that as a biased admirer, but that person didn't know him to be saying the things they did. Michael had his happy, joyous moments, and even when sad, he said he forced himself to laugh. Other people would've been dead long long time before. Michael was deeply attuned to reality and was very much aware of both the joyous and terrible things in the world. He made a difference in many people's life, helped children and other people with their illnesses, even near-death experiences. He was one of the most deeply reality-anchored people. And many are mistaking idealists with the air-headed, when they couldn't be more wrong. Many idealists are that way because of fully knowing and experiencing the other side of the coin of life and want to change that. He didn't complain about it, he was sad about it, but did something about it, he was an active observer, underestimated to a great extent. He was also an active dreamer, working for them to come to life, not only for his sake, but the sake of other people. And everybody has got the right to escape in their protective world, that saved Michael from all the hell he'd been through - by retiring to innocence and safety.

Thank you for posting, the rest of the article was better. ..

 

[MJJLaugh]

Love and Freedom


Michael, to me, embodies pure love. Everyday I tell him that I love him and I thank him for the inspiration he provided so freely in so many ways. Inspiration to believe in truth, honesty, joy, kindness, to embrace my inner child, to help selflessly, to continue my spiritual quest on roads less traveled through which I gained new insights.
My love and gratitude towards Michael are greater than words can express, greater than my heart can bear, greater than can be sung or danced about. So great is this love that it must be shared and extended to others, known and unknown alike.
This love asks nothing in return, it just quietly accepts the gift that only asks to be given in equal measures to others, in freedom, so the world may become a better place.
Thank you Michael! :heart:
~ MJJLaugh


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Love is a funny thing to describe. It's so easy to feel and yet so slippery to talk about. It's like a bar of soap in the bathtub - you have it in your hand until you hold on too tight. Some people spend their lives looking for love outside themselves. They think they have to grasp it in order to have it. But loves slips away like that wet bar of soap. Holding on to love is not wrong, but you need to learn to hold it lightly, caressingly. Let it fly when it wants. When it's allowed to be free, love is what makes life alive, joyful and new. It's the juice and energy that motivates my music, my dancing, everything. As long as love is in my heart, it's everywhere.
~ Michael Jackson, Dancing the Dream

"Power said to the world,
"You are mine."
The world kept it prisoner on her throne.
Love said to the world, "I am thine."
The world gave it the freedom of her house."
— Rabindranath Tagore (Stray Birds)

Source:

http://www.michaeljacksontributeportrait.com/articles.php?articlecat_id=30

 

[claudiadoina]

Who was Michael being?

Michael Jackson knew far more about spirituality and the structure of the Universe than he let on. Some of his training was from Deepak Chopra whom he called to ask for meditation instructions. Dr. Chopra introduced Michael to meditation and taught him about the inner self. Michael already understood far more about meditation than most of us even before his tutelage by the Indian doctor. How? He already was a master of movement and dance. Dancing is a form of moving meditation. Music is a transcendental realm all by itself.

"Transcendental" takes us somewhere else, beyond the ordinary, past the waking consciousness, beyond the boundaries of the possible and into the land of magic, mystery and mysticism. Michael was a student of Walt Disney who was a master at creating transcendental experience. Disney's films transported us into another realm, a place where the normal rules of physics and the laws governing physical life do not apply. In Disney's world animals talked, people could fly and being a changeling through shapeshifting was perfectly normal and frequent.

A kiss, a nod, a sword, magical words, a potion, a song, wishing on a star and so many other things that appear ordinary could transform. Disney characters were masters of metamorphosis--transforming from one state to another. The stars of Disney's land of magic and make-believe always became something beyond their dreams. Disney never ridiculed people's dreams nor were they discounted or dashed for long. Disney encouraged and subliminally told us without words that we could be so much more.

Michael encouraged us the same way through his music, dance and the films he produced. Michael understood magic, metaphor, allegory and archetype and he understood what happens when the magic dies and one settles into the cynical world of the grown up mind. In touch with his inner child and Divine Blueprint, Michael recognized and knew the piece of God (or Allah, Buddha, Krishna and so on) that every human inherits from the Universe no matter their faith and spiritual path. He was intimate with his "Inner Michael" and the Source from which the spark got its fire. Michael knew what could happen if that spark ever faded; the downward spiral would begin. Is it inevitable? Michael didn't think so. He encouraged everyone to embrace such "elementary things."

Michael also was familiar with martial arts, another path to the energy of the Divine. Superhuman strength and stamina comes from tapping into a Universal energy or Presence and that is what practicing martial arts does. It provides discipline and focus and a kind of meditation where the mind meets the body in an extraordinary way. He also knew yoga and used yoga stretches to warm up his body for dance. Martial arts also use voice in the creation of force and energy that can be harnessed for powerful expression.

The combination of ritual movement, voice and chant will quickly alter one's consciousness from ordinary to blissful. Kirtan, which is a Hindu inspired musical event that includes music, movement and chant can bring one to a state of ecstasy within minutes. Kirtan is the practice of chanting the various names for God in Sanskrit which is an ancient esoteric spiritual language. It holds a code and a frequency that brings one within reach of bliss and Divinity.

We are not what and who we appear to be. There is so much more that we are and can become. Spiritual discipline and practice over time develops an energetic strength that when tapped, creates metaphysical or beyond physical abilities. Many world religions hold this information in their mystical and esoteric teachings. Many cultures had mystery schools where they taught spiritual training and discipline to gain secret knowledge. Egyptian mystery schools graduated priests and priestesses who embodied Divine qualities. The Pharaoh was not only a king, but was also considered a god.

There is energy in ritual and there is purpose in its performance. The major religions at their mystical core teach the "more" that we are. They view humanity as "one" and preach the golden rule to do unto others what you would want for yourself. Some faith traditions keep that information in seclusion and only for those considered advanced students or adepts; some, over centuries have lost or forgotten the meaning behind the ritual, the chant, the incense, and the religious rites.

Michael embraced people from all faiths and from all cultures of the world. He saw the Divine in the transcendental and Divinity in the human. He saw this special unadulterated and undimmed light in the hearts of children. Unspoiled by the cynical and demanding world, he saw the innocence, unconditional love, unshakeable faith and endearing trust that children operate from as the keys to transforming the world. He loved them and resonated with them because he was them and he saw the world through those transcendental eyes. He saw the world not as it was and is but as a blank canvas for what is possible. He loved "elementary things' because that is where God hides.

Michael is not the first person on this planet to see that "being like the little child" was an answer to the problems of mankind and the human condition. He identified with them. He was one of their ranks. He knew "a child will lead them." Despite the indoctrination, the urgings, admonishments, insults and attacks, Michael retained that vibrational frequency of love and innocence that the uncompromised child knows; he
embodied it. You know the one--the one that will lead them to the "Wild Divine."

Blessings and Peace,
Rev. B
"One Wordsmith" at Inner Michael
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=J0j1l&m=KSKnJ15nvIU0oS&b=bTdKqGpjSsjleRlbStaC5w

 

[MJJLaugh]

Love, Form and Essence

One of my favorite quotes from Dancing the Dream is:
"You and I were never separate
It's just an illusion
Wrought by the magical lens of
Perception

There is only one Wholeness
Only one Mind
We are like ripples
In the vast Ocean of Consciousness."

Any separations we have - whether they're based on race, religion, culture, politics, group affiliation... or simply a difference of opinion - are an illusion. The truth is that we all share the same heart. We are all part of the same ocean, the same symphony of life.

"Everything you see has its roots in the unseen world. The forms may change, yet the essence remains the same. Every wonderful sight will vanish; every sweet word will fade, but do not be disheartened, the source they come from is eternal, growing, branching out, giving new life and new joy. Why do you weep? The source is within you and this whole world is springing up from it.

Plunge, plunge into the vast ocean of Consciousness, let the drop of water that is you become a hundred mighty seas. But do not think that the drop alone becomes the ocean. The Ocean too, becomes the drop.” - Jelauddin Rumi




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Source:

http://www.michaeljacksontributeportrait.com/article.php?article_id=183

 

[MJJLaugh]

Michael Jackson and Nelson Mandela

1996 - Michael visits South Africa for a few days, arrives in Johannesburg, where he attends a private birthday for President Nelson Mandela. Mandela invited about 2000 children to the party.

Michael took time off from touring, to visit South Africa where not only did he attend a private birthday party for the country’s President Nelson Mandela, he revealed he was writing a song about him. "I was working on it last night (19th July)," he said. "This is a wonderful, lovely man. I love Nelson Mandela very much."
Mandela, stepping out on to a patio to greet the media, turned to Michael and said,
"I can see who is the world leader. I have never seen so many journalists!"
During the press conference in Sun City, Michael announces that his upcoming HIStory World Tour would reach South Africa.

Nelson Mandela poses with Michael Jackson before cutting a birthday cake for his 78th birthday at Hilton College in Kwazulu-Natal.

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While in South Africa, Michael also took time to visits the black township of Soweto, where he laid a wreath of flowers at the memorial to honor the youngsters who were shot dead by South Africa’s security forces during the 1976 Apartheid riots; and renders a bouquet of white roses, carnations and lilies in remembrance of 11-year-old leukemia victim, Jaymee Bowen.

Michael Jackson hugs former South African President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, South Africa, on July 20, 1996

Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Nelson Mandela

Does anyone know what the object is that Michael is holding ?

Michael Jackson and Nelson Mandela at Mandela's Cape Town residence, on March 25,1999.

Invictus = Invincible( in Latin)

Within the video you can read the poem "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley which strengthened Nelson Mandela during his long stay in captivity, despite all his hardships he stood strong all tall, just like Michael did during all of his trials and tribulations and unfair representations by most of the press. So in a sense this poem is for both these extraordinary men!


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Sources:

http://mjjtime.blogspot.com/2010/07/today-in-mjj-history_18.html

http://www.metrolyrics.com/michael-jackson-pictures-pic-11568.html

 

[MJJLaugh]

What More Can I Give

"What More Can I Give" (also "Todo Para Ti" in Spanish) is a song written by American musician Michael Jackson and recorded by a supergroup of singers following the September 11 attacks in 2001. The inspiration for the song had initially come to Jackson after a meeting with the President of South Africa Nelson Mandela in the late 1990s. The song was to be premiered at a Jackson concert, but the singer failed to perform it. The song also failed to gain an official release, despite the pop singer having stated that it would be issued as a charity single for the refugees of the Kosovo War, which ended in 1999.

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Jackson rewrote "What More Can I Give". Jackson and other artists recorded the new version of the song shortly afterward; the other artists included Nick Carter, Beyoncé Knowles, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey and Usher. In addition, a Spanish language version of the song was recorded. Entitled "Todo Para Ti", his lyrics were adapted into Spanish by the musician Rubén Blades.

"What More Can I Give" was scheduled for release as a charity single, in the hope that $50 million would be raised to aid the survivors and the families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The plan, however, never came to fruition and the reasons why have varied between sources and the individuals involved.

MIchael Jackson was originally inspired to write "What More Can I Give" after a meeting with anti-apartheid activist and President of South Africa Nelson Mandela in 1999. The songwriter stated that during a conversation with the then-President, the concept of giving was discussed by the pair. The singer revealed that it was during this interaction that the words "what more can I give" came into his mind and he began writing. With the first version of the song completed, Jackson intended to premiere it at his Michael and Friends – What More Can I Give concerts, staged in Munich, Germany and the South Korean capital Seoul in June 1999. Ultimately, Jackson did not perform the song at the concerts and it remained unreleased.

"What More Can I Give" was also intended to be released as a charity single to aid the Kosavor refugees who had been forced out of their home during the Kosovo War (1998–1999). Jackson revealed his intentions for the release in an interview with the British tabloid newspaper the Daily Mirror. The pop singer stated that television footage of the war upset him and that he wanted to go to Yugoslavia to hug every one of the suffering children.


Following the events of September 11, Jackson rewrote "What More Can I Give" and expressed his views on the song, writing and music. "I'm not one to sit back and say, 'Oh, I feel bad for what happened to them[...] I want the whole world to sing ["What More Can I Give"], to bring us together as a world, because a song is a mantra, something you repeat over and over. And we need peace, we need giving, we need love, we need unity."


I believe in my heart that the music community will come together as one and rally to the aid of thousands of innocent victims. There is a tremendous need for relief dollars right now and through this effort each one of us can play an immediate role in helping comfort so many people.
~ Michael Jackson, 2001

Michael Jackson With Friends - What More Can I Give


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"Todo para ti" Michael Jackson y Amigos (high quality audio)


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Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_More_Can_I_Give

 

[4veryoung]

How Our Children Will Remember Michael Jackson

A year ago, on June 25, 2009, I was at my local pool watching my two daughters swim when a friend called to tell me that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital. I instinctively knew that he was going to die, and an hour later, my prediction was proven true. I gathered with my neighbors, shocked at his untimely death.

The short ride home was difficult for me -- when one of my favorite MJ songs, "Rock with You," came on the car radio, I began to cry. Once home, with the news of Jackson's death on every channel, I called my sister and we cried together. She reminded me of our copy of his "Off the Wall" record, then shared with me -- for the first time -- that she would sleep with the album cover (so that's where it was!), pretending that the teen idol was her boyfriend.

With most radio stations and music television channels playing Jackson's body of work nonstop for the month following his death, something wonderful happened -- my youngest daughter, Jillian, who was 8 at the time, was heavily exposed to his great talent. Mesmerized, she fell in love with Michael Jackson, the artist.

Together Jillian and I watched a young Michael perform with his brothers in the Jackson 5, and reunite as an adult with his siblings in concert. We studied his videos, the storylines, choreography and the guest stars featured, including Macaulay Culkin, Michael Jordan, Eddie Murphy, Naomi Campbell and even Marlon Brando. My daughter was in heaven when we went to see This is It!, the movie featuring footage of the preparation for Jackson's 2010 tour that never came to be. Observing Jillian taking it all in was very moving -- her eyes lit up as she perched on the edge of her seat absorbing the King of Pop's raw performance footage. We left the theatre exhilarated, but sad that he wasn't alive to tour and perform the show featured in the documentary. Even sadder was the fact that we'd never see him perform in person.

Jillian is now the proud owner of two oversized MJ t-shirts that she rotates on a regular basis, so I, of course, must make sure a spare is always clean. She used her birthday iTunes gift cards not to buy current pop music, but instead to purchase only Michael Jackson songs. She loves to dance and sing along and when I watch her, I see such joy and happiness -- the same emotions my sister and I experienced listening to Michael.

Now 9, Jillian is still fascinated by Michael Jackson, but she knows little about his personal life, trials and tribulations. She isn't aware of the scandals surrounding Michael Jackson, and I have no plans of telling her any time soon. I prefer that her love of MJ remain what it is -- pure, unadulterated adoration of an the entertainer who has contributed so heavily to music worldwide .

On this first anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, my sister plans on joining thousands of others at New York City's Apollo Theater tribute. Jillian and I will be happy to pop some corn, stay at home and watch the tributes, videos and movies all over again. After all, he created the music for us to share, enjoy and be entertained.

Read More http://www.ivillage.com/how-our-children-will-remember-michael-jackson/1-a-213444#ixzz1J147th8M

 

[MJJLaugh]

Innocence (Written by Michael Jackson)






It's easy to mistake being innocent for being simpleminded or naive. We all want to seem sophisticated; we all want to seem street-smart. To be innocent is to be 'out of it'.
Yet there is a deep truth in innocence. A baby looks in his mother's eyes, and all he sees is love. As innocence fades away, more complicated things take its place. We think we need to outwit others and scheme to get what we want. We begin to spend a lot of energy protecting ourselves. Then life turns into a struggle. People have no choice but to be street-smart. How else can they survive?
When you get right down to it, survival means seeing things the way they really are and responding. It means being open. And that's what innocence is. It's simple and trusting like a child, not judgmental and committed to one narrow point of view. If you are locked into a pattern of thinking and responding, your creativity gets blocked. You miss the freshness and magic of the moment. Learn to be innocent again, and that freshness never fades.


from the book
**DANCING THE DREAM by Michael Jackson**
(published 1992)
****************************************
Song : Imagine (Jhon Lennon)
Singer Alice (aka altoidsful/ARmusicAR)

 

[MJCHIRS]

Thx dude :d

 

[MJJLaugh]

Ohio Photographer Remembers the Jacksons

DAYTON, Ohio – Firefighter Vernon Holman worked as a chief photographer for the Dayton newspaper Jet Stone News in 1979. One of his tasks was to photograph the Jacksons, (Tito, Marlon, Jackie, Randy and Michael) in concert at the University of Dayton Arena for their Destiny tour. Though he can't remember the show's date, Holman said his first encounter with the group remains fresh in his mind, making a lasting impression on him.

After arriving to the arena, Holman was approached by a man working with the Jacksons, who was interested in his photographs. "I went to the show, and right at the beginning a guy came up to me and asked if I was a photographer," Holman said. "He said his name was Steve Manning and said he was with CBS records." Manning had a history with the Jackson family. He was the Jackson 5's fan club president and remains close with the family today.

Holman said Manning wanted photographs of the show for Epic Records because the Jacksons were using a new stage that night. "The stage was elevating in the air and spinning around," he said. "[Steve said] Dayton was going to be [the Jacksons] first time using the stage." Holman photographed the show, but wasn't sure if Manning was serious about pictures being taken.

After the concert, Manning approached Holman before he left. "When I told him I had the pictures, [Steve] said, ‘I need some pictures of the guys in the dressing room,'" Holman said. "That's when I thought, ‘Wow, this guy's for real.' The guys were very kind and gracious."

When the Jacksons returned to UD Arena a couple years later, Holman returned to photograph the group. While there, the Jacksons road manager Wanda Fields, who was in charge of the tour, approached him. At the time, Holman had a photography partner named Marsha Gebhardt. Fields asked Holman if he and Gebhardt would be the Jacksons photographer while in town and said they were staying at a hotel near the Dayton Mall. Holman agreed, but said he could only help when he wasn't working. "Being a Dayton firefighter had me on different work hours," he said. "We worked 24 hours on and 48 hours off."

His time with the Jacksons in Dayton created the opportunity for him to photograph the group in three other cities – Cleveland, Columbus, Ohio and Detroit. He said he appreciates his memories with the group, but one moment involving Michael motioning him on stage stands out.

In the middle of the Jacksons show in Columbus, Holman said Michael was dancing and waving at him to come on stage. "I kept looking at him, but wasn't sure if he was actually calling me out there," Holman said. "[The road crew] looked at me and said, ‘Vern, he wants you out there.' The roadies were always playing jokes, so I didn't believe them."

Holman said he wasn't going to walk on stage, but changed his mind after Randy's tutor Rose Fine, (who spent previous years traveling with the Jackson 5) told him to. "We always listened to Rose," he said. "We had this saying, ‘Whatever Rose says, goes.' I asked her, ‘Rose, is he talking to me?' She said, ‘Yes honey, he is. He wants you out there.'"

Holman ran on stage with his camera toward Michael. "He whispered in my ear and asked, ‘Can you keep up with me?'" He said speaking of Michael. "I said, ‘Yeah I can keep up with you.'" Holman began getting close-up photographs of Michael and the rest of the Jacksons. He said Michael wanted photographs of him dancing close to the edge of the stage. "When the show was over I looked at Michael and said, ‘Man, don't you ever do that to me again,'" he said. "Michael laughed and we both laughed together."

By the time he and the group reached Detroit, Holman and Michael created a signal. "He would hold his hands a certain way and that would be my cue," Holman said. "That's when I knew to run out on stage."

When the Jacksons had free time, Holman said the group did things individually. "Randy was always with Rose doing his school work," he said. "Tito stayed locked in his room, working on a model airplane, and Marlon and Jackie were [in relationships.] They would fly back and forth to their home a lot."

Holman said he spent a lot of his time with Michael. "Michael would just stay in his room or on the tour bus," he said. "I would hangout on the bus with him."

Vernon Holman

Holman said he is grateful for his time spent with the Jacksons and remembers them as gracious individuals. He said he appreciates the group because working with them gave him future opportunities. "I was a stringer for Jet and Ebony magazine and got to travel to neat places like South American, New Zealand and Paris," he said. "A guy named John Baker was my new photography partner and we got to spend two weeks in South America together."

After Michael died June 25, 2009, Holman reflected on his memories and said, "He was just a great, caring guy. Michael was truly a great person. I want to thank him."

Holman said he'll never forget his days with the Jacksons, calling them priceless. According to him, he is grateful and said, "I owe it all to God."

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Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/ohio-photographer-remembers-the-jacksons-2815082.html

 

[MJJLaugh]

Michael Jackson, The Inventor

U.S. Patent Law defines an invention as a new, useful process, machine, improvement, etc., that did not exist previously and that is recognized as the product of some unique intuition or genius, as distinguished from
ordinary mechanical skill or craftsmanship.[1] In that respect, Michael Jackson, singer, entertainer, musician, dancer, and the King of Pop, was truly a unique genius.


If you've ever seen the "Smooth Criminal" video (1988), then you've seen the concept for Jackson's invention in action. The scene where Jackson and other dancers lean far forward without toppling over inspired Jackson to create a means to perform this feat onstage.

Prior to Jackson's invention, dancers were required to wear harnesses around their waists connected to cables to allow them to lean forward beyond the center of gravity. This was the method used to create the gravity-defying illusion in the Smooth Criminal video. However, this method also required stagehands to connect and disconnect the cables and limited the movements of the performer.

This made the gravity-defying illusion impossible to perform on a live stage.

Jackson, along with two other individuals, devised a way to make performing the illusion a smooth transition, requiring neither cables nor stagehands. And the performer was free to move about the stage for the remainder of the performance without interruption for connecting or disconnecting cables.

The invention required specialized footwear and a moveable "hitch." The footwear could be attached to and disengaged from the hitch. Once the performer had attached the bottom of the shoe to the hitch, he could then lean far forward beyond the center of gravity, thus creating the same illusion which once required cables, hooks and waistbands.

U.S. Patent number 5255452 was filed on June 29, 1992 and issued on October 26, 1993. Along with Jackson's name, the names of Michael L. Bush and Dennis Tompkins are also credited as being inventors.

The Summary of the Invention describes the use of specialized footwear and the hitch which will create the desired visual effect of the wearer being able to lean forward with the center of gravity well beyond the front
of the shoes.

Jackson was an innovator in both music and dance. But few know he was also credited as an inventor. There is no record of exactly how much of the creation Jackson contributed to, but his name is on the patent.


Yes, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, was an inventor and received a United States Patent in 1993 for an invention titled Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion. Here are some of the images of the Jackson patent, US Patent No. 5,255,452:

n the Description of the Prior Art contained it explains:

Music entertainers and dancers are constantly searching for new and interesting elements which can be incorporated into their musical and dance performances. Interesting stage design, lighting, fog generators, laser light shows, and large video screens all enhance the appealability of live and recorded performances. Many popular music and dance entertainers expend great efforts in enhancing and choreographing their performances and dancing. In the past, a professional entertainer, one of the inventors herein, has incorporated dance steps in his recorded video performances, wherein he and other dancers would lean forward beyond their center of gravity, thereby creating an impressive visual effect. This effect was accomplished by the use of cables connecting a harness around the dancer’s waist with hooks on a stage, thereby allowing the dancer to lean forward at the required degree. However, since this requires stagehands to connect and then disconnect the cables, it has not been possible to use this system in live performances. Moreover, the cables obviously restricted arm and body movements.

The inventor described in the first sentence of the second paragraph above was none other than Michael Jackson.

The Summary of the Invention explains:

The present invention overcomes the above noted deficiencies of the previously employed cable system by providing specialized footwear and a moveable hitch or post to which the specialized footwear can be detachably engaged to allow the footwear wearer to lean forward on the stage, with his or her center of gravity well beyond the front of the shoes, thereby creating the desired visual effect. The invention provides a new design for shoes which will allow his or her performing artist, by engaging the shoes onto an upstanding post positioned to project upwardly from a stage at a predetermined time, to lean forwardly to put his or her center of gravity beyond the front or rear of his shoes, thereby creating the desired gravity defying interesting visual effect.

Claim 1 of the patent covers:

1. A system for engaging shoes with a hitch mans to permit a person standing on a stage surface to lean forwardly beyond his or her center of gravity, comprising: at least one shoe having a heel with a first engagement means, said first engagement means comprising a recess formed in a heel of said shoe covered with a heel slot plane located at a bottom region of said heel, said heel slot plate having a slot formed therein with a relatively wide opening at a leading edge of said heel and a narrower terminal end rearward of said leading edge, said recess being larger in size above said terminal end of said slot than is said terminal end of said slot; and a second engagement means, detachably engageable with said first engagement means, comprising a hitch member having an enlarged head portion connected by a narrower shank portion to a means for raising and lowering said head of said hitch member above and substantially level with or below said stage surface, said head portion being larger in size than said terminal end of said slot and said shank portion being narrower than said terminal end of said slot, wherein said hitch member can be moved through apertures in said stage surface between a projecting position raised above said stage surface and a retracted position at or below the stage surface, and when said head portion of said hitch member is raised above said stage surface, said first engagement means can be detachably engaged with said projecting hitch member, thereby allowing a person wearing the shoes to lean forwardly with his or her normal center of gravity beyond a front region of said shoes, and maintain said forward lean.

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Sources:

http://ipwatchdog.com/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-inventor-of-anti-gravity-illusion/id=4270/

http://www.iptrademarkattorney.com/...-smooth-criminal-lean-anti-gravity-death.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2643795/michael_jackson_the_king_of_pop_as.html?cat=33

 

[mjjmsc]

fansite/fanclub:
www.moonwalker.3x.ro

 

[MJJLaugh]

Michael Jackson - Kindness

All of us can make a difference, every day, through our intention and our random acts of kindness, that ripple out and touch someone else's heart. The lotus grows in the murky mud, through the cold water to the shining surface, breaking through to have the rays of the sun shine on her petals and warm her. May your smile warm a strangers heart. You will never know how you may have impacted their life and given them that little jolt to be courageous and carry on....
~ MJJLaugh

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Some quotes on Kindness


Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
~ Leo Buscaglia

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
~ Mother Theresa

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.
~ Princess Diana

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If you look for a common thread about Michael Jackson’s character from those who know him the best you’ll hear words like, “he was very sweet and loving”, “he was a kind person”, “he went out of his way to help others”. Michael was genuinely interested in the welfare of others as much as in his career. This is a sign of a great soul, of a servant of humanity and a positive person. Michael Jackson was not only an outstanding performer, Michael Jackson was an outstanding human being.


Even before the musical fund raiser ‘We Are The World’ was put together by Michael, he was constantly finding ways to reach out and help other people. ‘We Are The World’ was primarily designed to raise money for aid work in Africa. Michael Jackson was also involved in visiting children in hospitals, spending time with young cancer patients through the Make A Wish Foundation, and contributed to numerous other charities on a regular basis.

He had a special place in his heart for children perhaps because his childhood was lacking so much joy and playfulness that most children experience. This is what prompted him to create Neverland Ranch to proivde a place to invite kids there by the busloads. He wanted to bring people happiness and remind him of the good things in life.

For Michael Jackson, bringing happiness to young people perhaps was also a way for him to heal his own childhood wounds. He recognized that he could make a contribution in the lives of others in some small way. This felt good. Michael was often called an “innocent” person, someone who trusted others while choosing to see the good in those he connected with.

There’s a lesson for us in Michael Jackson’s legacy. Each of us can do so much for one another other to bring greater well-being, deeper happiness, reach out with an act of kindness or compassion. We can all learn from his example to extend ourselves to heal the world one person at a time.

Sometimes people ask what can I do to make a difference? If you look at the life of Michael Jackson’s life the answer is simple. Everywhere you turn you can bring benefit to someone in some way.


Michael Jackson: Remembering his Kindness and Compassion for Others

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Sources:

http://www.yourcause.com/News.aspx?ArticleID=739

http://akinderworld.com/kindness-quotes.html

http://blog.self-improvement-saga.com/2009/11/inpirational-quotes-sayings/

 

[mjj808]

i love this thread...great pictures and testimonials.