There's Nothing Michael Jackson Couldn't Buy

By James Ziebarth

If you are reading FoxNews.com then you have seen that Michael Jackson's monthly expenses while living and up keeping the Neverland Ranch, was costing the celeb almost $2.5 million a month to maintain. All of this for a mansion, some carnival rides, and a zoo? I "can see" where he was coming from...NOT!!!!

Michael Jackson was deeply in debt. According to the excerpt from FoxNews.com...."Michael Jackson left behind $400 million worth of debt". Michael Jackson had produced "Thriller", the best-selling album of all time. He had multiple number 1 singles. How on earth did Michael Jackson manage to rack up so many unpaid bills.

Michael Jackson had not put out any significant new material since 1997. He had racked up tens of millions of dollars in legal fees. These fees came from his child molestation trial. Michael Jackson was also notorious for his spending. FoxNews.com reported he had 75 card registered under his name.

"Documents filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court in September of 1999 show that Jackson spent $95, 700 on the gardening alone to maintain the sprawling Neverland Ranch. Security costs totaled another $51,900. Upkeep on his famous zoo/amusement park was another $66,200 and housekeeping/PR expenses stood at around $60,200 bringing the grand total monthly household expense to an astonishing $358,600" FoxNews.com.

Michael Jackson had also racked up unbelievable personal expenses. His personal/property insurance cost $120,000. He spent $25,600 caring to his medical needs. Michael Jackson was also a gift giver. He spent $42,600 on gifts. Yet, he only spent $100 a month on entertainment. I guess the entertainment does not count Neverland Ranch. The dollar figures came from FoxNews.com.

Looking at Michael Jackson's monthly expenses it is easy to see a problem. His monthly expenses totaled $2,339,300. A staggering amount, even for a Double Diamond superstar.

While my degree in Accounting is yet to be official, I can still add and subtract. Almost $30 million a year just up keeping the Neverland Ranch? Are you serious? This does not even include his other guilty pleasures. Plastic surgery, anesthesia, narcotic pain pills, underage slumber parties, and the cost of lawyers to fight off "child molestation charges." When you start racking up more bills then your total combined income, you will eventually find yourself in debt. I think Suze Orman would agree with me on this.

Good luck in Heaven Michael Jackson, do us a favor and stay away from the "Underage Angels.

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The Flaming Lips: Best Seven Studio Albums

By Jason V. Dobbins

The Flaming Lips 12th album, Embryonic, is set to come out sometime this year. With that in mind, here's a look back at the best seven Lips albums to date. They are ordered by time not by greatness!

In a Priest Driven Ambulance (1990) - This album took what The Lips were doing in the 1980s and to the next level. In my opinion it's their first good album (I know some old school Lips fans love their '80s stuff, but not me.)

Hit to Death in the Future Head (1992) - I think Hit to Death... is an underrated Lips album that deserves far more praise than it gets. I hear a big advance from Priest... to Hit to Death... as far as sonic experimentation and psychedelia.

Transmission from the Satellite Heart (1993) - This is the album that first brought them widespread attention. This is almost entirely because of the song "She Don't Use Jelly" which is actually one of their least impressive songs in my opinion. Of course, it often works out that way, doesn't it?

Clouds Taste Metallic (1995) - I think this is the album that works as sort of the encapsulation of the best of the previous three albums. If you are wanting to start digging into the Lips back catalog after first being introduced to the band with their more recent work, this is probably the album to start with.

Zaireeka (1997) - This album is actually four albums that you play at once. You read that correctly. It's really too much to describe here. If you are someone interested in experimental music and experiencing music (rather than merely listening to it) then I definitely suggest you look into this release further.

The Soft Bulletin (1999) - The most perfect Lips album to date in my opinion. I think it's easily among the greatest albums of the 1990s. A modern day classic that should be heard by anyone who takes "pop music" seriously.

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002) - To many who have discovered the Lips more recently this is the Lips best album. While I do think it's a brilliant album I do think The Soft Bulletin is a superior album.

About the Author:

The Flaming Lips former lead guitarist Ronald Jones is a hero to many budding experimental rock guitarists. If you want to learn how to rock like Jones then try Jamorama Online Guitar Lessons which are 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Buy Jamorama Online Guitar Lessons right now.

Michael Jackson -- Thriller to the End

By J Ziebarth Jimbo365xlm Lee Ziebarth James Lee

Gary, Indiana, would change forever on August 29, 1958. That is the day that Michael Jackson made his debut. Michael was born into music. His daddy, Joseph Walter Jackson performed with The Falcons, an Rhythm and Blues band. His mom, Katherine Esther Scruse was a God fearing Jehovah's Witness. Although he had limited success, Joseph would find recognition and fortune on the backs of his children.

Joseph had achieved little musical success; however, Joseph was determined to achieve fortune at all costs. He saw a chance to turn his kids into a group. Initially, the group was composed of Michael's older brothers. At the age of eight, Michael Jackson joined the group. Michael was assigned to backup vocals and dancing. Michael and his brother Marlon were promoted to lead singers. Joseph then changed the group's name to The Jackson Five.

success would find The Jackson Five. Critics have argued that The Jackson Five would not have made it without Michael Jackson. They may be right. Michael Jackson was the standout musician from the start. He struck out on a solo career in the late 1970s. Thriller was released in 1982, spent 80 weeks on Billboards Top 200, and earned Double Diamond status.

Adding the title of author to his arsenal in 1988, Michael would release Moon Walk. His personal autobiography that took four years to complete and would go on to sell over 200,000 copies.

1982 was a banner year for Michael Jackson. However, the year between 1984 and 1985 would prove to have its ups and downs. Michael spent $47.5 million to purchase the Beatles music catalog. That expenditure would turn me green but I am not Michael Jackson. The low point on the year was being burned on his scalp. He was burned during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.

Title of singer was not enough for Michael Jackson. He released his first book, Moon Walk, in 1988. Moon Walk was an autobiography that took Michael Jackson four years to write. Over 200,000 people purchased the book.

1988 would also see the beginnings of the infamous Neverland Ranch. Michael Jackson purchased real estate near Santa Ynez, California. He spent $17 million building a zoo, movie theatre, and a Ferris Wheel. Michael Jackson also hired a security staff of over 40 people. Neverland would be appraised for over $100 million in 2003.

In 1996, Jackson would enter his second marriage with his dermatology nurse, Deborah Rowe on November 14. Together they would have two children: a son named Michael Joseph Jackson,Jr-now known as Prince Michael Jackson, and a daughter, Paris Katherine Michael Jackson. The couple would divorce 3 years later in 1999 while still remaining friends, and with Debbie Rowe giving full custody of the children to Jackson.

A third child would be born to Michael Jackson in 2002. Jackson would never reveal the identity of the child's actual mother. All he would confirm is that the child was conceived using his sperm cells with a surrogate mother and an artificial insemination.

In 2003, Michael Jackson would once again be accused of child molestation. He would officialy be charged with 7 counts of molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to a minor. The minor in this case would turn out to be 13 year old Gavin Arvizo. Once again Jackson would deny all charges.

His trial, People vs. Jackson, would officially begin on January 31, 2005 and would last for a period of only 5 months. The trial ended with Jackson being acquitted on all counts.

Prior to his death in 2009, Jacko was in the process of a "Come Back" show. It was scheduled to take place at London's O2 arena and had sold tickets for an astounding 50 sold out concerts. They were to officially begin on July 13, 2009, with the last show taking place on March 6,2010. The ticket sales had already broken numerous records, according to Jackson's website.

On June 25,2009, Jacko would collapse at his rented mansion in Los Angeles. All attempts at rescuing him by his personal physician would be unsuccessful. Los Angeles Paramedics would receive a call at 12:22 p.m (PDT), and would arrive three minutes later at Michael Jackson's residence. According to sources on the scene, Jackson was not breathing and CPR was administered. The CPR would continue for an hour while en route to a local Los Angeles hospital, where Jackson would be pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. local time.

His memorial would be held on July7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angles. His casket was present at the memorial, which was broadcast live all around the world and watched by up to one billion people, but no information would be released about the final resting place of Michael Jackson's body. RIP Michael "King of Pop" Jackson.

About the Author:

The world will miss Michael Jackson King of Pop. You should not miss one minute of celebrity news. Subscribe to Jim's Celebrity News to stay on top of all the celebrity gossip.

The Beatles Mono Mix Album Box Set: The Orignal LP Mono Mixes On Compact Disc For The First Time

By Roger R. Temperton

For the majority of The Beatles career (all the way up until the last couple of years) mono was the main way that people listened to music and thus the mono mixes of their albums were the ones they spent most of their time on. The stereo mixes (that have been on CD since the 1980s) were basically "thrown together" while the mono mixes were worked on until they were perfect.

These original mono mixes are finally being released on CD (for the first time ever) on September 9th of 2009. Many Beatles fans are excited to hear these mono mixes because they could be considered to be the "real" versions of these classic albums, after all they are the mixes that the band worked on the most.

On 9/9/9 The Beatles Mono Box Set will be released and it will include The Beatles first 10 studio albums with their original mono mixes. It will also include Help! and Rubber Soul in their original stereo mix (the first time this original stereo mix will be heard on CD.) Along with all of these albums, there's also a compilation titled Mono Masters which contains all of The Beatles non-album songs mixed in mono.

The Beatles final three studio albums (Abbey Road, Let It Be, & Yellow Submarine) are not included because they were never mixed in mono. By 1969 mono had been completely phased out.

So why are Help! and Rubber Soul included in a stereo mix along with their mono mix? Because these original mono mixes (the ones released on LP in 1965) have actually never been released on CD before (because new stereo mixes were made in the '80s when the albums were first put on CD.) They are included in this box set because this box set is really all about preserving the history of The Beatles original 1960s releases.

If you are curious to hear these original stereo mixes of Help! and Rubber Soul then The Beatles Mono Box Set lets you cure that curiosity!

So what about the Mono Masters compilation? It's the mono version of it's stereo counterpart, Past Masters. It contains all of The Beatles non-album tracks in their original mono mixes.

"She Loves You," "Ticket to Ride," & "We Can Work It Out" are among the many huge Beatles hits that never made it on a Beatles studio album and are thus included in the Mono Masters set.

The Beatles Mono Box Set is the only place you can find these mono versions of The Beatles albums because they are not being sold separately.

About the Author:

You can Order Beatles Remastered CDs online now to make sure you get what you want. The Beatles Mono CD Box Set is a limited edition with only 10,000 copies produced so you should order ASAP if you really want it.

A Quick Look At Sacramento Concerts

By Antonion Davinci

If you are interested in attending a Sacramento concert, you will not be by yourself! You are amongst many music lovers and theater goers that are attracted to the spot every year. Each year, hundreds of concerts take place in Sacramento that spans throughout all 12 months. So, whatever time of year you plan to visit Sacramento, there will be a show on for you to enjoy.

Sacramento has very good venues namely the Arco Arena, where many of the best entertainers and musicians of the day have headlined. All venues host a range of local talent and international performers and there are shows to cater for all age groups and musical tastes. Artists that are lined up to play in a Sacramento concert in 2009 include the Jonas Brothers, Kings of Leon, Beyonce, Nickelback, Metallica and No Doubt.

Besides providing a great platform for musical talents, Sacramento concert venues also host theatrical shows and dance performances. You may even enjoy a comedy show in one of the many smaller and more intimate venues. If you are a visitor, make sure to look up the concert schedules before booking your trip. It is definitely worthwhile to see if you can catch a few different shows.

Arco Arena usually is used for the most famous names in entertainment and the Empire Events Center generally is frequented by a younger audience. There are many new acts that play at Sacramento concerts, as the venue supports new talent. It may be interesting for you to discover a new band while you are there.

The local community in Sacramento take avid interest in the arts and are committed to promoting the genre. Back in the 50s, the Sacramento Community Concert Association was formed to bring concerts into Sacramento. As a result of their hard work and enthusiasm, many talents are drawn to the region to perform including newcomers and renowned professionals.

To stay in touch with the upcoming events and the Sacramento concert schedules, it is best to directly contact the venue that will be hosting the performance; they will happily provide you with the information or you can easily look up then information on the internet, as all the venues have their own website. You may also contact the Chamber of Commerce for a full listing of the concert schedules.

About the Author:

Davinci Limousine Inc. will transport you safely and in style to the sacramento concerts of your choosing. Stop by http://www.davincilimousine.com to view various options and packages available to you.

The Eagerly Awaited Samurai Deeper Kyo DVD Volume 1 Is At Long Last Here.

By Kian A Wilkins

Samurai Deeper Kyo is a DVD series based on the manga series by Akimine Kamijyo which is set to be released in July 2009. Set in the 1600s, the Volume 1 DVD includes the first 7 episodes of the 26 that have been on TV. The story is about two characters by the name of Demon Eyes Kyo and Kyoshiro and they embark on an epic sword fighting tale.

The first of 7 episodes on the DVD shows the epic Sekigahara battle in which Kyoshiro and Demon Eyes Kyo, two fearsome warriors, engage in a duel. However, during the fight, a falling star hits the plains and destroys the land leaving Kyoshiro and Demon Eyes Kyo in a cloud of debris and dust. After this shocking scene, the plot continues four years later where an alluring female bounty hunter by the name of Yuya is on the look out for Demon Eye Kyo. On her journey she meets a medicine man who she soon learns is the famous Kyoshiro.

As Yuya takes Kyoshiro into custody, a fierce snake monster attacks them both and Kyoshiro being the kind hearted man he's turned into tries to help Yuya and joins the fight, only to discover that he has the soul of Demon Eyes Kyo inside him and wins the fight with his powers and saves Yuya.

After this discovery, Kyoshiro notices that every time he enters battle or a fight, Demon Eyes Kyo takes over to destroy his enemies. He learns that Demon Eyes Kyo is trying to find his earthly body and return his soul to it's rightful place.

This great story with brilliant sword fighting scenes and high quality animation is also available as a Gameboy Advance or Nintendo DS game and is hugely popular in Japan. With the UK release of the DVD, it's likely that UK audiences will take hold of this fantastic story and marvel at the jaw droppingly good scenes of samurai fighting.

Further volumes of the DVD are expected to be released but as of now, the dates of release are unknown. The DVD series is directed by Junji Nishimura (Ranma ) and because of this you can expect a high quality animated story with plenty of epic battle scenes and heart stopping moments.

If you're interested in this release, you'll be pleased to hear that there's not long to wait - Samurai Deeper Kyo Volume 1 will be released on DVD by MVM on 13th July 2009 and will be priced at 15.99.

About the Author:

Author Kian A Wilkins discusses the release of the eagerly awaited samurai deeper Volume 1 DVD. You can watch the Samurai Deeper trailer by clicking the link.

How To Clean Cymbals

By Amy Nutt

Are you looking for information on how to clean your cymbals without necessarily making them rust? Are you wondering what solutions to use in cleaning the grime off the cymbals? Then you should read this article. Drummers have different tastes and this is the reason you often find some cymbals looking new and shiny while others look old and used.

These all depend on the choice of the drummers. Some drummers like the cymbal looking used and grimy thus giving the impression that it is often frequently used while others hate to see the cymbals dirty and grimy. The look of a new cymbal often excites people like this and gets them itching for the sticks. The truth is that whether cleaned or not, cymbals give off the same sound although some drummers say when it is not clean, and use over a certain period, it give off a "warm" sound.

Apart from this, some drummers worry that their cymbals will have problems being cleaned. Clean cymbals may sometimes give off better sound. But dirt on some kinds of cymbals are known to help reduce their brash sounds. Each drummer really has his preferences. But, if you do not belong to the group of people who feel that dirty cymbals are the "thing", then here's how to clean the cymbal using different methods:

1. Clean with gentle soaps. Most gentle soaps are far better at cleaning the cymbal than more potent solutions. However, the soaps aren't just enough to clean the cymbals and it isn't advisable to use just about any clean cloth. Cymbal cleaners are preferably the best because of their ability to add some shine to the cymbal making it look new in the process. Cymbal cleaners are easily available at any drums or music equipment shop.

2. Avoid cleaning with water as cymbals made of copper tend to turn green when water is consistently used to clean them. Besides water takes off the shine leaving it exposed to rust and corrosion.

3. A combination of vinegar and lemon can help get rid of all the tar. Lemon has always been known as an astringent and has a lot of cleaning ability. To do this, divide a lemon into 2, squeeze one half onto whole surface of the cymbal and use the other to rub the lemon around. If you have a pot cleaner, apply this and rub on the lemon. This will bring out the shine. You can do this for the 2 surfaces. Then apply the vinegar. If you want to keep the label of the cymbal, avoid applying the vinegar to the point and wash off with warm water. Do not leave to air dry. Dry them properly with cotton materials.

4. If you do not like any of these, why not buy the cymbal brand's cream or liquid. These were produced specifically for the cymbals and work like magic all the time, leaving them clean and looking new. The only downside to this is that it could be a bit pricey.

About the Author:

There is an increasing demand for used pianos, and people are all looking for ways to get quality music lessons Vaughan that will offer an ideal educational experience.