In a bizarre story of international friendships gone awry, Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, second son to the King of Bahrain, is suing Michael Jackson in a British court for the sum of $7 million. Jackson had previously purchased Bahrain ’s former Prime Minister’s mansion, and had called himself “increasingly Bahraini” while living there in 2005. He was a guest of the sheikh, and wore a traditional Muslim veil, the black “abaya” which gave him and his children a perfect shot at relative anonymity. Bahrain appeared to enjoy the notoriety. This was around the time of his child-molestation trial, from which he was acquitted, and for which the sheikh paid $1 million up front and another $2.2 million in legal fees. Michael Jackson’s lawyer calls this a gift, and the sheikh calls it a loan. (However, the sheikh also reports paying $450k for Jackson ’s brother Jermain Friday to visit Bahrain and buy a Rolls Royce; the sheikh calls that a gift and has not asked for it to be returned.) The two also jointly owned a record label, 2 Seas Group (a reference to “ Bahrain ” meaning “ Two Seas ”), through which Michael Jackson was expected to produce songs, an autobiography, and a stage play. This was a “combined rights agreement” which apparently Jackson backed out of, after the sheikh had incurred $7 million in expenses toward the project. The agreement specified that the expenses would be paid back out of Jackson ’s royalties. Since the project never went forward, legal teams argue that the $7 million is a loss on an aborted business venture, not a loan that needs to be paid back. In 2006, Jackson moved from Bahrain to Las Vegas, apparently becoming significantly less Bahraini than he had been the previous year, or perhaps just for irony; a Bahraini cleric had expressed worry that Jackson would “turn Bahrain into Las Vegas.” It’s unclear what his friendship with the sheik was like after the move, though the sheikh claims that they were still close personal friends. He did agree that Jackson was a “vulnerable person,” though didn’t agree with Jackson ’s lawyer’s assessment that the singer was “not exactly an astute businessman.” They claim that the funds for the legal trial and for the abortive music deal were gifts, and are now being claimed as loans due to the sheikh’s “mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence.” For the King of Pop with a music career spanning a half-century, one is tempted to agree that a man who needs a $7 million loan and can’t pay it back is probably not an astute businessman. Jackson ’s nanny testified that received a $1 million wire transfer from the sheikh because the singer didn’t have any money; possibly this was because he was having a nanny pay his bills. Jackson tried to remain in Los Angeles during the trial, having petitioned the court to appear through a video link rather than traveling to London due to health concerns, though his doctor eventually cleared him to travel over the weekend. The health concerns, whatever they are, didn’t prevent him from going through a ceremony to convert to Islam at a friend’s house in Los Angeles. He changed his name to Mikaeel… The final chapter of this novella does not seem to be any closer and I honestly doubt it will ever come to any satisfactory conclusion. For more information on Bahrain, visit http://www.bahrainmicroblog.com. For more information on legal matters, visithttp://www.legalmicroblog.com. wholesale swarovski crystals

After nearly a year of silence, the king of pop Michael Jackson is back in the limelight.   You remember him. Right? Come on the guy is a worldwide legend. As an artist he performed great dance move (the moonwalk being the most memorable one), he is listed in the Guinness World Record for “First Entertainer to Earn More Than 100 Million Dollars in a Year” and “First Entertainer to Sell More Than 100 Million Albums Outside the United States”, performed at many of sold out worldwide concerts; as a humanitarian he is listed in the Guinness World Record for supporting 39 charities – I’m sure many though Oprah held the title – , co wrote We Are The World to help the poor in Africa and America and dedicate many other singles to charities; on a personnel level, he is mostly known for his multiple plastic surgeries and skin lightening – I wonder what he checks when he fills out an application: black or white. Sadly his career went downright after sponsors canceled their contracts, addiction to drugs (supposedly due to stress) and, the biggest one, child sexual abuse accusations, first in 1993 then 2005.   He moved to the Persian Gulf island of Bahrain on June 25th 2005. While there, there were rumors going around about him building theme parks. He was once spotted once shopping wearing a robe and a veil. Seems like the culture was very convenient when it came walking around incognito. He also lived in France and Ireland. To celebrate his 50th birthday, an album title King Of Pop was release on August 29th 2008, with tracks voted by fans. The album had different track list according to how the fans of each nations voted. He came back to the US a little over a year ago, and settled in Las Vegas, but managed to stay out of limelight.   After staying in a Palms Suite for several months, Michael now resides in a mansion close to an elementary school which his children attend .Many parents are complaining since the guy was accused of child molestation (more than once) and are worried about their children’s safety. Looks like “Innocent till proven guilty” doesn’t exactly apply to people who have been accused of child sexual abuse.   While in Australia, Michael’s older brother, Jermaine, said that there will be a Jackson 5 reunion and that they were planning on going on tour.   Michael Jackson said in a statement that he be part of it. “My brothers and sisters have my full love and support, and we’ve certainly shared many great experiences, but at this time I have no plans to record or tour with them,” he said. “I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon.”   Does it mean that The King Of Pop is planning a major come back? With the child sexual abuse allegations haunting him, I wonder if it will work. I also wonder if at half a century old, he can still dance as he used. Can you imagine him on stage doing all those moves he used to in the past and breaking his back then being carried off stage on a gurney? Now that would be funny!   The Trailers’ Park Big Movie Fan.The Secret Course