Jackson to open Neverland

[PeacefulWarrior]

Sorry about the bad link[^], just go to:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/27/neverland.ap/index.html

and click on the special "Urban Legends" spot to see what I was trying to link to.[]

[Nick]

Michael Jackson was once a normal looking kid who could sing. Massive doses of dysfunction in his personal family life, extraordinary wealth and fame at a young age, and too much plastic surgery gives the result you see today. It strikes me as sad because what is really important isn't wealth, fame and beauty, but rather knowing and learning our true spiritual nature while helping others.

It's good that those charities are getting something from the Neverland event. Although you can speculate about the true charitable motives because the money donated constitutes a tax write-off.

Very best,

[PeacefulWarrior]

Some diversion for all of you sick of what's been going on lately here in the AstralChat forum:

Jackson to open Neverland ranch to 500 guests
Wednesday, August 27, 2003 Posted: 3:46 AM EDT (0746 GMT)

ALSO: click on this link for a suprise:
javascript:CNN_openPopup //('/interactive/entertainment/0302/mjackson.urban.legends/frameset.exclude.html','620x430','toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,width=620,height=430')[


Singer Michael Jackson is opening his California ranch to 500 guests on September 13.

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Like a real-life Willy Wonka, Michael Jackson has announced plans to open his carnival-style Neverland Ranch estate to 500 guests.

The invitation-only event, set for September 13, is a one-time-only gathering, complete with dinner, magicians, games and a tractor-trailer full of stuffed animals, according to Jackson publicist Stuart Backerman.

Tickets for two people cost $5,000, with $1,000 from each sale being divided among three charities. Jackson will keep the rest -- Backerman said it would pay for costs of the party.

Jackson's Neverland Ranch, in Santa Barbara County, includes an amusement park with bumper cars, a merry-go-round and a Ferris wheel.

Guests also will receive a "goodie bag" worth about $1,000 and an original painting by Brazilian artist Romero Britto.

Backerman said 250 tickets will go on sale, potentially worth $1.25 million. The maximum $250,000 charitable donation will be split between the Make-A-Wish Foundation for sick children; Oneness, dedicated to erasing racism through art and music; and E Ai Como E Que Fica, a Rio de Janeiro group that provides food, clothing and medical care to impoverished children.

Jackson's former financial advisers settled a lawsuit against him in June that suggested he was overburdened with debt and near bankruptcy. That has led to speculation that the Neverland property, recently assessed at $12.3 million, would go on the market.