The latest from The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com
- LAPD Under Scrutiny After Jackson's Death
- Michael Jackson Memorial Set For Tuesday
- Greg Archer: Michael, Farrah: Why We're Fascinated and What We Should Do About It
- U.S. Says It Will Preserve Secret Jails for Terror Case
- Dr. Josh Dines and Dr. Rock Positano: Jumper's Knee Affects Tennis Players
- Lloyd Garver: A Straight-Shooting Pastor
- Goldman Sachs: The Great American Bubble Machine
- Hardee's A-Hole Ad: A Nasty Commercial (VIDEO)
| LAPD Under Scrutiny After Jackson's Death | Top |
| LOS ANGELES — The investigation of Michael Jackson's death is widening as questions intensify about the drugs he took, the doctors who provided them and the actions of police. Why didn't police seal the mansion where he had been living? Why didn't they get immediate search warrants? Why did they tow away a doctor's car right after the death but not declare the home a crime scene? And why was Jackson's sister Janet allowed to move possessions out of the mansion two days after the death, before police searched it? Los Angeles police say proper procedures were followed based on the circumstances officers encountered when they were called to the home at 12:21 p.m. on June 25. A doctor was attending to Jackson and stayed with him when he was placed in an ambulance at 1:07 p.m. There was no sign of foul play. Others say police should have assumed it was possible a crime occurred and taken precautions to ensure the scene was not disrupted so evidence wasn't lost or tainted. "If I was the chief detective on the case, I would have said, 'We don't know what's going on. We should seal the scene,'" said defense attorney Harland Braun, who has represented celebrities including Robert Blake, Roseanne and Gary Busey. "You always have to think of the worst-case scenario and you have to think fast. I would have sealed the scene just because it was Michael Jackson." Whether the Jackson probe turns into a criminal investigation hinges on what evidence emerges involving the drugs. Charges could be brought if authorities determine Jackson had been overly prescribed medications, if he had been given drugs inappropriate for his medical needs, or if doctors knowingly prescribed Jackson medications under an assumed name. It's still not known what caused Jackson's death at age 50. The pop star went into cardiac arrest in his bedroom and his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, performed CPR while an ambulance was called, according to Murray's lawyers. Murray has spoken to police and authorities say he is not a suspect, though his actions have come under scrutiny because his own lawyers acknowledge it may have taken up to a half-hour for an ambulance to be summoned. An autopsy was conducted but results are not expected for several weeks. The Jackson family had a second autopsy performed and those results also are pending. On Wednesday, The Associated Press learned Los Angeles police asked the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist in the investigation. DEA agents participated in the investigation of the 2007 overdose death of Anna Nicole Smith at a Florida hotel. California Attorney General Jerry Brown investigated her former boyfriend and two of her doctors. Brown handed the investigation over to the Los Angeles district attorney's office, which filed charges of conspiring to provide Smith with prescription drugs. Brown said the suspects broke the law because Smith was a "known addict." The former boyfriend and doctors denied the charges. The DEA also probed whether painkillers found in actor Heath Ledger's system after his death last year were obtained illegally. Federal prosecutors did not charge anyone. Jean Rosenbluth, a University of Southern California law professor, said the agency's involvement in the Jackson case suggests authorities are looking into whether drugs came from out of state. Murray lives in Las Vegas and is licensed to practice in Texas, Nevada and California. Federal drug regulations include controls over whether and how frequently a doctor can write prescriptions over the phone, and DEA agents could be looking to see if these rules were broken, Rosenbluth said. "You can't just get on the phone and continue to prescribe something for someone without having seen them for a long period of time," she said. Jackson had a well-known history of using prescription medications, especially painkillers. Following his death, Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who had worked for Jackson, told the AP she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug Diprivan, also known as Propofol. It's a potent anesthetic used in operating rooms and it would be highly unusual to have it in a private home. Uri Geller, a former Jackson confidant, said he tried to keep Jackson from abusing painkillers and other prescription drugs, but others in the singer's circle kept him supplied. "When Michael asked for something, he got it," Geller said in a telephone interview from his suburban London home. Jackson had multiple doctors and many others like Geller who came in and out of his life. Which people are being interviewed by police is unclear because the LAPD has said virtually nothing about the probe. "I am not going to make any comments on the investigation," Commander Patrick Gannon, the designated police spokesman on the Jackson case, said by e-mail Thursday. Any evidence would be turned over to the district attorney's office, which has final say on criminal charges. One of the key questions is why it took four days for police to issue a search warrant and remove medications from Jackson's home. In the meantime, several people, including Janet Jackson, removed unknown items from the home. Although the home wasn't declared a crime scene, police did tow Murray's car the evening of the death to look for potential evidence. Vernon J. Geberth, former commanding officer of the Bronx Homicide Task force in New York, said police should have known they were dealing with an extraordinary situation. "If it's a high-profile person, you have to do more than you would do ordinarily," he said. Still, Geberth, who now acts as a private forensic consultant, said he believes the LAPD acted appropriately. "Having a doctor present altered the equation. It was not a homicide scene. It was an emergency medical scene," he said. Police spokesman Lt. John Romero declined to comment when asked if the LAPD was reviewing its handling of the investigation. Rosenbluth said if the case ends up as a criminal prosecution, any defense attorney would seize on the LAPD's failure to immediately seal Jackson's home. "If you can get even one juror think, I don't know, maybe somebody fiddled with the medicine before the police came in and collected it, that's reasonable doubt," she said. "All that the defense attorney needs is one juror." More on Michael Jackson | |
| Michael Jackson Memorial Set For Tuesday | Top |
| LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson's memorial service has been set for Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and was Jackson's promoter, called a press conference for Friday at 10 a.m. to announce details, according to a press release from the office of the Jackson family's publicist. Randy Phillips, AEG's chief executive, said tickets would be free. He was not sure how they would be distributed. But Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine said the Jackson family should consider delaying the public memorial to allow more time to plan. He also said the cash-strapped city can't afford to pay police overtime. "If you can imagine 100,000 people show up and you have 20,000 capacity (at the Staples Center), there is not sufficient room. Now you have a crowd-control problem," Zine said. With the July Fourth holiday weekend "it's the worst time ... to work something out." More on Michael Jackson | |
| Greg Archer: Michael, Farrah: Why We're Fascinated and What We Should Do About It | Top |
| Welcome to the aftermath of Michael Jackson's death. Take your shoes off. Stay awhile. The sudden passing last week of the King of Pop, and the death of Charlie's Angels alum/artist Farrah Fawcett , have brought out the news cameras and spawned a smorgasbord of big bold headlines. So, now that the red carpet has been rolled out for the biggest media blitz of the year, what have we really learned? •That Jackson left an indelible imprint in the hearts and minds of millions? (We already knew that.) •That the passing of Fawcett, a courageous lady whose brave efforts to be seen as a serious actress -- and a cancer victim who was determined never to give up yet destined to go out with dignity -- would somehow be overshadowed by Jackson's death? (We saw that one coming.) •That we've already forgotten that Ed McMahon , Billy Mays , Fred Travalena , Gale Storm and Karl Malden died in the past week, too? (R.I.P. Ed, Billy, Fred, Gale and Karl.) Here's the thing: The media soiree surrounding the death of Jackson and, to some extent, Fawcett, could be teaching us something on a deeper level. We need to ask ourselves, why we were so fascinated -- and still seem to be -- by these individuals in the first place? What was it that caused us to take a second look and, inevitably, be enthralled? Most likely, we were inspired by them. But, if that is/was the case -- if we were truly inspired by Jackson and Fawcett and McMahon and Mays and Travalena and Storm and Malden -- then we really ought to take that fascination and idolization and ask ourselves what we can do with it. Grieving is inevitable. Let's not underestimate the significance of that. But in the 21st century Twitterverse we suddenly find ourselves in, we tend to immortalize and idolize that pretty thing "out there" and often sit in a state of static fascination about it, taking few positive actions to "pay it forward." (See Right Wing Christianity 101.) We're bigger than that. We're stronger than that. I propose that Jackson, Fawcett et al arrived -- and left -- not only to spark admiration, but also to give us an opportunity to take the gifts they left behind, and give something back to ourselves and to the people in our lives. What's the alternative? To be left stranded in our living rooms in front of the wide screen, simply bug-eyed and transfixed, our hanging jaw scraping the carpet as we give birth to a serious case of rug-burn? (To all shag carpet hanger-ons: Don't say I didn't warn you.) Farrah Fawcett: 1947-2009 Ed McMahon: 1923-2009 Karl Malden: 1912-2009 Fred Travalena: 1942-2009 Billy Mays: 1958-2009 Gale Storm: 1922-2009 **Photo of Jermaine Jackson (top), at Neverland Ranch in an NBC interview with Matt Lauer, taken by Trae Patton. More on Michael Jackson | |
| U.S. Says It Will Preserve Secret Jails for Terror Case | Top |
| The government will agree to preserve the secret overseas sites where a defendant in a terror case was once held and, his lawyers say, subjected to harsh interrogation techniques after his capture in 2004, a prosecutor indicated in court in New York on Thursday. Lawyers for the defendant, Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, told a judge this week that they were afraid that the so-called black sites, which were run by the Central Intelligence Agency, would be demolished as the agency has said it will discontinue their use. | |
| Dr. Josh Dines and Dr. Rock Positano: Jumper's Knee Affects Tennis Players | Top |
| As Federer battled in London to earn a record 15th grand slam title, his timing could not have been better. Rafa Nadal, the Wimbledon defending champion and tireless groundstroker, had been plagued by chronic patellar tendonitis that has forced his withdrawal from the tournament this year. Since 2002, Nadal has experienced persistent anterior knee pain and bilateral patellar tendinitis that has limited the durability for his tireless style of year-round play. Patellar tendinitis, affectionately known as jumper's knee, is an overuse injury that most commonly affects the patellar tendon where it attaches to the inferior aspect of the patella (or knee cap). The repetitive, often explosive forces imposed by the quadriceps muscle on the patella can precipitate microtears and degeneration at the tendon's attachment to the patella. Unfortunately, the microtears and associated inflammation exceed the body's intrinsic capacity to heal the injury until the provocative activities are stopped. Some evidence suggests that some athletes with "long" kneecaps and a prominent inferior pole may be predisposed to injury secondary to impingement of the tendon with knee flexion. While basketball players are perhaps most vulnerable to this injury, athletes of virtually every sport can be affected. Males appear to be slightly more affected than females, although a variety of extrinsic factors appear to play a role in developing this injury, including playing on hard surfaces or training for excessively long periods of time. Athletes with patellar tendinitis will usually complain of anterior knee pain. There is focal tenderness at the inferior pole of the patella with the knee in extension. Despite the chronic inflammation, the knee is rarely swollen. The discomfort, however, can diminish the strength of the quadriceps, limiting mobility and potentially predisposing to secondary injuries. Magnetic resonance images or ultrasound of the proximal tendon typically confirms the diagnosis, demonstrating degenerative changes and characteristics of overuse injury. The mainstay of treatment for patellar tendinitis is predicated on rest of the extensor mechanism and the avoidance of all provocative activities. Unfortunately, healing of the microtears can often take months. Chopat straps or braces may provide symptomatic relief by theoretically unloading the tendon. After pain has resolved, physiotherapy focuses on strengthening of the quadriceps and balancing the force couple with the hamstring muscles. In rare circumstances, pain may persist despite these measures. Recently, platelet rich plasma or PRP, has been used in recalcitrant cases. This involves drawing the patients own blood and spinning it down on a centrifuge to isolate the growth factors responsible for the healing process. These growth factors are then injected into the site of the tendonitis to enhance the bodies own healing process. Though it is a newer treatment option, we have had a good degree of success using PRP for this indication thus far. When all conservative measures fail, surgery can be a successful option. Surgery focuses on excision of the damaged portions of the tendon with or without the distal pole of the patella to relieve the inflammation and/or impingement and stimulate a healing response. For Nadal to miss his chance to defend his Wimbledon title, he is clearly in a significant amount of pain from the tendonitis. Hopefully it will respond to the conservative treatment options in time for the US Open Series. | |
| Lloyd Garver: A Straight-Shooting Pastor | Top |
| Whenever I write a column about guns, I get at least a few responses from people who don't call me names, who use proper grammar, and present their arguments in a reasonable manner. So when I heard that a pastor in Louisville, Kentucky had a "Bring Your Gun To Church Day" last Saturday (June 27th) I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't easy. (Before you start firing your angry emails at me, let me make a few things clear: I'm not saying this was illegal, and I'm not calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment. I'm trying to understand why a pastor would want guns in church, because well, it seems a tad inappropriate to me). I spoke to Pastor Ken Pagano of the New Bethel Church, and he seemed like a nice, intelligent guy who just happens to think guns are a very important American tradition, an excellent means of self-defense, and are not out of place in a church. He pointed out to me that you could see paintings of ancient, medieval, and Revolutionary times in which people who were at church had weapons with them. I reminded him that there were many things that were done hundreds of years ago that aren't done today -- like sacrificing goats, having slaves, and avoiding baths. I had read that people were supposed to bring unloaded guns to the church. He clarified this. If you didn't have a license to carry a concealed weapon, you could bring a "cold" (unloaded and holstered) gun. If you legally could carry a concealed weapon, of course, you could bring that gun. Pastor Pagano said that since concealed weapons are concealed, he had no idea how many people in church were armed. And all these guns make the pastor feel safer for his congregation. Obviously, it's an individual thing, but would you feel the calm and peace that you want in a house of worship, knowing that some of the people around you might be carrying hidden guns? A house of worship is not just a building like any other, as Pagano implied before the gun gala. That's one of the reasons why when there is violence in a church, a synagogue, or a mosque that it may seem that much more disturbing to us than when it happens on the street or in a bar. A sanctuary is a special place. That's why they call it a sanctuary. I'm no expert on Christianity, but I believe Jesus was known as the Prince of Peace, not the Prince of Carrying A Piece. One of the purposes of the event was to celebrate the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. The pastor feels the church was an appropriate place to do that. I pointed out that since he loved the Constitution and American traditions so much, what about the "separation of church and state?" Is a church really an appropriate place for making a political statement about weapons? Here's another thought: How would people have reacted if an Imam at an American mosque asked people to bring guns to a service? In fact, how would those same people who went to Pagano's church have reacted? Would they have said, "Good for those Second Amendment-loving Muslims. America needs more Muslims to be carrying guns?" Uh, probably not all of them would have said that. Some would have condemned the act: "You see what a violent people they are? Muslims even bring guns into their house of worship!" But if it takes place in the New Bethel Church in Louisville, Kentucky, it's okay? I had my Bar Mitzvah in a temple in Chicago which, coincidentally, was also called Beth El. Perhaps it's a geographic or a cultural thing, but I can't imagine anyone bringing guns to a service at the Beth El I went to. Maybe some people might sneak in half a sandwich, maybe someone would carry in a picture of that good-looking guy their daughter's engaged to, but a gun? No way. So I guess for me it comes back to inappropriateness. In Hebrew, "Beth El" means, "House of God." It doesn't mean, "House of Guns" in any language. Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Home Improvement" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover. He can be reached at lloydgarver@gmail.com . Check out his website at lloydgarver.com and his podcasts on iTunes. | |
| Goldman Sachs: The Great American Bubble Machine | Top |
| In Rolling Stone Issue 1082-83, Matt Taibbi takes on "the Wall Street Bubble Mafia" investment bank Goldman Sachs. The piece has generated controversy, with Goldman Sachs firing back that Taibbi's piece is "an hysterical compilation of conspiracy theories" and a spokesman adding, "We reject the assertion that we are inflators of bubbles and profiteers in busts, and we are painfully conscious of the importance in being a force for good." Taibbi shot back: "Goldman has its alumni pushing its views from the pulpit of the U.S. Treasury, the NYSE, the World Bank, and numerous other important posts; it also has former players fronting major TV shows. They have the ear of the president if they want it." Here, now, are excerpts from Matt Taibbi's piece and video of Taibbi exploring the key issues. More on Goldman Sachs | |
| Hardee's A-Hole Ad: A Nasty Commercial (VIDEO) | Top |
| This new television commercial for Hardee's "biscuit holes" probably won't entice your appetite -- but it is likely to grab some attention. Take a look: More on WTF | |
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