In Repair » Entertainment

Michael Jackson’s Final Day

Brian — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:57:04 +0000

Last night, while searching for images of Michael Jackson, I stumbled across this one taken shortly before his death. He was being fitted with part of the costume that he would be wearing during his scheduled “This Is It” tour. It is easy to see how unhealthy he was, which is why I am often amazed by those close to him claiming that he looked and acted like he felt great. It’s a tragedy that no one intervened to save him from himself.

The Associated Press has created a timeline of Michael Jackson’s last day. Here are the highlights:

Wednesday, June 24, sometime in the afternoon
Michael Jackson came downstairs and joined his children for their last meal together. His chef, Kai Chase, had prepared a light meal of seared tuna, organic salad, and juice, because Michael wanted something light before his planned rehearsal later in the day. According to Chase, Michael was in a great mood, looked well, smiled, joined in a prayer, and said, “Thank you, God bless you.”

Wednesday, June 24, 7pm
Michael left his rented mansion in an Escalade driven by his bodyguard and traveled to the Staples Center, where he reheared several songs, including “Billie Jean,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and “Smooth Criminal.” He also rehearsed “Thriller” in full costume for the first time. Everyone involved said he was in good shape physically and very excited about the technical aspects of the shows that he would soon be performing in London. Rehearsal ended around midnight. Michael hugged his dancers, thanked everyone, said, “Good night” and “God bless you.”

Thursday, June 25, shortly after midnight
Jackson’s bodyguard remembers seeing Dr. Conrad Murray’s car parked in the driveway as he returned Michael to the mansion. After being escorted to the foot of the stairs, he began complaining of fatigue and saying he needed sleep.

Thursday, June 25, 1:30 am
Dr. Murray claims in a police affidavit that he had been concerned about Michael’s addiction to propofol, and had not given him the drug for two nights. He continued this approach by giving Michael a 10-milligram tablet of Valium.

Thursday, June 25, 2:00 am
Because the Valium had provided no apparent effect, Murray administered 2 milligrams of lorazepam intravaneously.

Thursday, June 25, 3:00 am
Michael still wasn’t able to sleep, so Murray gave him a 2-milligram dose of midazolam.

Thursday, June 25, 5:00 am
Jackson remained awake, so Murray administered 2 milligrams of lorazepam.

Thursday, June 25, 7:30 am
Because Michael was still unable to sleep, Murray injected another 2 milligrams of midazolam. He lay restlessly on his bed, surrounded by several oxygen bottles and a porcelain doll.

Thursday, June 25, 10:40 am
Murray finally relented to Jackson’s repeated demands for propofol, and injected 25 milligrams of the white liquid drug into the IV drip. Murray claims that he remained by Michael’s bedside for 10 minutes, then went to the bathroom. When he returned two minutes later, he found Jackson not breathing.

Thursday, June 25, 11:18-11:51 am
Phone records show that Murray made at least three different phone calls – one to a friend, a patient, and his Las Vegas clinic.

Thursday, June 25, 12:13 pm
Murray left a message with his personal assistant, saying, “Call me right away, call me right away.” When Williams returned his call, he said, “Get here right away. Mr. Jackson had a bad reaction.”

Williams called a security guard, who rushed upstairs to find Jackson lying on the bed with his eyes and mouth open and his arms outstretched. Murray was administering CPR with one hand.

Michael’s two oldest children, Prince and Paris, entered the room and began crying before being quickly escorted outside.

Murray instructed the security guard to pick up vials with rubber tops and place them in a bag. After completing this task, Murray told the guard to call 911.

Thursday, June 25, 12:27 pm
Paramedics arrived and noted that Jackson had no pulse and wasn’t breathing. Murray claimed that he could still feel a pulse in Michael’s upper thigh area, but no one else was able to feel it.

After unsuccessfully completing two rounds of resuscitation attempts, the paramedics wanted to discontinue treatment. Murray insisted that it continue in the ambulance.

Thursday, June 25, 1:07 pm
Jackson was driven to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where doctors went so far as inserting a balloon pump into his body to circulate blood.

Thursday, June 25, 2:26 pm
Jackson was pronounced dead. Murray began crying, told Michael’s children that their father had died, and asked to return to the house. Michael’s security team advised against it, but Murray indicated he would take a cab.

Source

Michael Jackson Quote Addressing Gay Rumors

Brian — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:40:13 +0000

“I know it’s not true, so it doesn’t bother me. I’m sure we must have plenty of fans who are gay. That doesn’t bother me in the slightest, but I’m not gay.” – Michael Jackson in an interview with Steven Ivory, 1978

*Not that it matters either way, I just find this stuff really interesting. ;)

Dancing Inmates Perform Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’

Brian — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:04:32 +0000

Watch these smooth criminals from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center get down to Michael Jackson music! The ending is fantastic.

Never Can Say Goodbye

Brian — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:10:13 +0000

I scurried into Walmart this afternoon to look for a small computer desk. Office stores are hard to come by in our small town, and although I don’t usually like the quality of their furniture, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to look.

As our computer needs and habits change, we’ve found ourselves relying on the two notebooks much more than the desktop that occupies the large, L-shaped desk in the spare bedroom. Because space is a real commodity in our home, it makes sense to replace it with something smaller. Anyway, that’s another blog post. Back to my story.

So, I’m browsing Walmart’s pitiful selection of fake wood furniture, when I hear a sound that stopped me dead in my tracks.

You knock me off of my feet now, baby! Whoooooooo!

As the bass line to “The Way You Make Me Feel” began blaring throughout the store, I forgot all about furniture and starting looking for the source. Just as I turned the corner, I saw the most beautiful of sights. An oasis of Michael Jackson merchandise in the middle of retail hell. Sparkly Jackson jewelry, t-shirts, handbags, buttons, posters, books, and CD’s lined the shelves.

Resistance was futile.

A few minutes later, I was standing in the checkout lane with my plunder. “Do you love Michael Jackson?” asked the checkout girl as she roughly tugged a hanger from the neck hole in a t-shirt.

“I love Michael Jackson!” I proudly announced. “I have since ’91,” I added to make sure she knew I wasn’t one of those born-again fans who only started liking him again after he died.

She made a little smirk and said, “I don’t like him.” And just like that, the thrill was gone.

As I made my way to the car with my merchandise, I considered what she must have thought of me; a 35-year-old man buying clothing and jewelry adorned with a pop star that she cares nothing about.

Poor girl. She just doesn’t know what she’s missing.

Telling The Truth

Brian — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:59:05 +0000

“Why not just tell people I’m an alien from Mars. Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight. They’ll believe anything you say, because you’re a reporter. But if I, Michael Jackson, were to say, ‘I’m an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight,’ people would say, ‘Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is nuts. He’s cracked up. You can’t believe a single word that comes out of his mouth’.” – Michael Jackson

Lady Gaga – Bad Romance Video

Brian — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:32:03 +0000

Lady Gaga has been around for a while now, but I just saw her “Bad Romance” video last night and fell in love with it. She’s outrageous, but also very talented and artistic.

Michael Jackson's Death Officially Ruled As Homicide

Brian — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:48:18 +0000

Michael Jackson’s death certificate has been amended to include “homicide” as the official cause of death, reflecting the results of a 6-month police investigation. The original certificate that was issued on July 7th, 2009, just days after Jackson’s death, did not include a cause of death.

Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician who administered Propofol to Jackson, is expected to be charged and prosecuted for gross negligence for his direct role in Jackson’s death. Murry has already hired a lawyer who specializes in Propofol cases, and continues to deny any responsibility for killing the pop star.

More details and a copy of the updated certificate are available here.

HQ Photos From Michael Jackson 'This Is It' Rehearsals

Brian — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:11:31 +0000

A few more photos of the King of Pop rehearsing just before his death in June.

Michael Jackson's Handwritten Letter To Photographer

Brian — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:21:44 +0000

Several years ago, Michael Jackson penned a very personal and heartfelt letter to his friend, William Pecchi Jr. Pecchi had worked in Michael’s film Moonwalker and was asked to accompany Jackson during his Bad tour to film crowd reactions. He often rode in the vehicle with Michael and this letter was a result of one of their conversations. This letter, which is being presented for auction, offers a brief glimpse into the mind of a genius and humanitarian.

Pecky,

I very, very seldom write letters, but in this moving occasion I couldn’t help myself. I want to thank you for putting the effort forward to capture the magic and excitement of the people of the world. What you do is a very personal and powerful medium to me. It is the art of stopping time, to perserve a moment that the naked eye cannot hold, to capture truth spontaneous truth, the depths of excitement in human spirt. All else will be forgotten, but not the films. Generations from now will experience the excitement you’ve captured; it truly is a time capsule.

I will not be totally satisfied until I know you’re at the right angle at the right time, to capture a crescendo of emotion that happens so quickly, so spontaeously. What you have done was good, but I want the best, the whole picture, cause and effect. I want crowd reaction wide lens shots – depths of emotions, timing. I know we can do it. It is my dream and goal to capture TRUTH. We should dedicate ourselves to this. The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication. There is no other way to perfection than dedication, perseverance. Just tell us what you need to make it happen. Take the leadership to direct the other cameramen.

I enjoy working with you that is why I asked you to come, you have a gentle spirit that’s very likable. Maybe I look at the world through rose colored glasses, but I love people all over the world. That is why stories of racism really disturb me. You hurt my heart and soul when you told me of your boyhood in Texas. Because in truth I believe all men are created equal. I was taught that and will always believe it. I just can’t conceive of how a person could hate another because of skin color. I love every race on the planet earth. Prejudice is the child of ignorance.

Naked we came into the world and naked we shall go out. And a very good thing too, for it reminds me that I am naked under my shirt, whatever its color. I’m sorry to bring up such past news, but in the car I was hurt by what you said. I’m so happy that you have managed to overcome your childhood past. Thank God that you’ve graduated from such beliefs of ignorance. I’m glad I’ve never experienced such things. Teach your kids to love all people equally. I know you will.

I speak from my heart saying I love you and all people, especially the children. I’m glad God chose me and you.

Love M.J.

Autopsy: Michael Jackson Was Healthy Before Death

Brian — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:18:41 +0000

The Associated Press had obtained a copy of Michael’s autopsy report.

Michael Jackson was healthy before his death, according to The Associated Press, which obtained a copy of Jackson’s autopsy report.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s report listed Jackson at a healthy weight for a man of his height (136 pounds). Jackson also had a strong heart and his major organs were normal, according to the report.

Some minor health problems were found: Jackson had arthritis in the lower spine and a few fingers as well as mild plaque buildup in his leg arteries. The most alarming issue was Jackson’s lungs, which were chronically inflamed and had reduced capacity, according to the report. The autopsy noted that his lung condition was not severe enough to have either caused or contributed to his death, however.

According to the coroner’s office, Jackson’s June 25 death was caused by “acute propofol intoxication,” with two other sedatives listed as contributing factors. Last month, the coroner’s office ruled Jackson’s death a homicide.

Dr. Conrad Murray administered propofol and the two other sedatives to help Jackson sleep, according to court documents. Murray is the target of manslaughter investigation, according to Los Angeles police. No criminal charges have been filed.