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Michael Jackson's last show rehearsal - Source: Kevin Mazur/AEG/Getty Images via image.net -
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Weird and wonderful stories were always going to emerge whenever Michael Jackson died and among them is one that has literally come out of the woodwork.
According to CBS 13, a family in the Californian city of Stockton believes the image of the King of Pop appeared on their tree stump the day he died.
Like past religious aparitions of Jesus in toast and the Virgin Mary in chocolate, the family thinks they have got an unusual spiritual image staring right at them from their own front yard.
Felix Garcia has lived in the house for 22 years, and has never noticed the apparent image in his birch tree stump.
"I was standing by that bush, and I looked up and saw that image here," Garcia told CBS.
Many people in the crowd who gathered to look at the stump on Sunday afternoon saw the resemblance, but why would Michael Jackson appear instead of a religious figure, or even any of the other celebrities who recently passed away?
"Because Michael Jackson was an icon to us," said one neighbour.
"To Stockton, Michael Jackson meant more to us than Jesus, to some people. I think they're both about even."
Jackson did visit the city 20 years ago, following the Cleveland School fatal shootings.
From afar, it looks like any other tree. From up close, it looks like any other stump. Not all neighbours are convinced - some say it looks more like a scarecrow, and some say it looks like Jesus.
The family says they don't expect their tree to become a shrine to Jackson, but they do hope that nobody tries to cut it down.
Then there's the ghost...
Going one better, Michael
Jackson's ghost has been spotted at
Neverland.
Fans of the late pop star - who
died of a suspected cardiac arrest on June 26,
aged 50 - claim the image of his spirit can be seen in the
background of a TV show filmed inside his beloved ranch.
During an interview with Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson for
CNN's Inside Neverland TV show, a strange shadow appears on the
wall before crossing the corridor and moving around the room.
Check out the video on YouTube here
Fans believe the shadow is the Thriller singer's spectre, which has returned to his former home from beyond the grave.
Gareth Jones, 26, said: "It's an incredible couple of seconds of footage."
The ghostly apparition was missed by Jermaine, US interviewer Larry King and the film crew who failed to notice its presence during the recording of the show.
However, the video - which was aired a week after Michael's death - has become an internet hit since it was posted on YouTube and hundreds of fans have commented on the footage believing it is the ghost of their idol.
And the brainless burial...
Meanwhile, there are reports that Michael Jackson is going to be
buried without his brain.
News agencies report the late King of Pop's family have been told
his brain will be held back for tests.
The family was given the choice of either waiting up to three weeks
for Jackson's brain to be returned to them or go ahead and bury him
on Wednesday (NZT) without it - which they have decided to
do.
Los Angeles Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said that
neuropathology tests are going to be conducted to see if it holds
any clues to the exact cause of his death.
However, the examination cannot start until at least two weeks
after the death when the brain has hardened sufficiently to slice
it open.
Sources at the coroner's office revealed that his brain was removed
before his body was released to relatives the next day.
Jackson's death is believed to have stemmed from a
suspected overdose of painkillers. His brain will
be tested by a forensic neuropathologist for past drug use and
whether he has suffered overdoses in the past.
According to the source, removing the brain is the "only way to
carry out the tests".
"The tissue has to be examined. I can't tell you how long that is
going to take," The Mirror quoted the source as saying.
Hand over the body
Soon after his death, a woman claiming to be Michael Jackson's wife demanded his body be returned to her .
Nona Jackson, who claims to have had 15 children with the late pop star, filed a 93 page claim to Jackson's estate.
She states in the claim: "All my husband's properties, monies and assets must be transferred to me immediately.
"My husband's body must be returned to the coroner's body or the mortuary immediately (sic)."
In another part of her claim, Nona stated: "Though he died to this earth, he lives with my father, Satan the Devil Khalid Lucifer."
A Los Angeles judge refused her request.
Last year, Nona filed for a restraining order against Michael's ex-wife Debbie Rowe, saying she made it hard to concentrate when she attended award shows with the star.
She also claimed to be the real mother of Jackson's three children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, seven.
Nona - full name Nona Paris Lola Ankhesenamun Jackson - had previously made claims about Jackson in court in 2006 and again in 2007, although none had sufficient evidence to back them up.
Speaking last year, another judge said: "I feel her evidence fails to establish any genetic relationship."
Tour from beyond the grave
Nona and other Jacko fans may yet get to see him perform again,
with plans reportedly being hatched for a hologram image of The
King of Pop to appear on stage beside his brothers for a series of
concerts.
Jacko's dad Joe and his brothers Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie
who were part of the Jackson Five, are behind the idea, according
to News of the World.
They aim to have footage of Michael from his past group and solo
tours projected at gigs next year, the UK paper says.
The Thriller star would be following Elvis Presley, who "toured"
the world in 2006 - nearly 30 years after his death - when a
hologram of him was projected alongside a band and orchestra.
Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
It seems online ticket scalping for his memorial service, the waiting game to find out what caused his death, claims Debbie Rowe is not the mother of Prince Michael and Paris, and an impending custody battle is just not enough for some of the King of Pop's fans.
In life, his extraordinary talent was eventually overshadowed by
his changing appearance through cosmetic surgery, child molestation
allegations of which a jury found him not guilty, and mounting
debts.
In death, Michael Jackson was always destined to bring out the best - or worst - of the admiration of some fans.
And Michael Jackson, being Michael Jackson, might NOT be turning in his grave over their reaction to his passing.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentmotukowhai said on 2009-07-08 @ 22:20 NZDT: Report abusive post
"If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then the pain, sorrow, failure and short life would be a calamity; but if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective." Quote by President Spencer W. Kimball. Take your rest now Michael and do so in peace.
Vaai said on 2009-07-08 @ 14:01 NZDT: Report abusive post
REST IN PEACE KING OF THE POP WE LOVE YOU
jaxlino said on 2009-07-08 @ 12:31 NZDT: Report abusive post
the media killed the princess and they did the same thing with Michael, do they have any respect? now Michael can rest and just watch upon his children ..i saw Miss Rowe being pressured by the media and gosh thats how much in your face they are!! they darn right wanna know your business..I know it's their job but they don't need to ruin peoples lives.. michael i have three words for you.. "GO GET EM"
jaxlino said on 2009-07-08 @ 12:22 NZDT: Report abusive post
RIP my friend, and hope you haunt the media stalkers.. they ***** with your life now it's your turn for revenge..sad to say I honestly and personally think he topped himself because of the media on his tail constantly and they let the whole world know his business, we loved his music, his children and his family not his personal indepth life, he was tired and couldn't fight no more, he had a huge debt that no-one gave a toss about, and now hes gone, all the media is like poor michael... whatever!
boyracer said on 2009-07-08 @ 11:00 NZDT: Report abusive post
Some people will always look at the negative side of things! Thats just the way they are. MJ was a VERY talented individual (Not just a singer and dancer), His message is in his songs (which comes from the heart). I was watching the memorial service this morning and thinking to myself how many people he touched on positively and what he means to them. His music will no doubt live on, and people will know in 20+ years who sang his songs!