Michael Jackson dead at 50

Pop star Michael Jackson has died after suffering a heart attack, it has been reported. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics had rushed to the singer's home near Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA, after receiving a 911 call. He was rushed to a hospital, but he had already passed away.The cause of Jackson's death was reportedly an overdose of prescription drugs, which he had obtained legally from his doctor.Jackson was living in Los Angeles while rehearsing a series of 50 sold-out shows in London, the LA Times has reported. The tour was to have been his comeback following his acquittal on charges of child sexual abuse.

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Dropping even the pretense of an independent media

ABC is going to be broadcasting prime-time "news" from the White House, all about the Obama plan for health care. Supposedly, viewpoints other than those put forth by our Glorious Leader will provided by everyday citizens in attendence at a "town-hall style" event where Our Glorious Leader will take uncensored, unedited questions.When the Republicans pointed out that a "news broadcast" in an environment dictated and controlled by Our Glorious Leader's press office and security staff, ABCNews' Senior Vice President Kerry Smith offered this very disingenious response:"ABCNEWS alone will select those who will be in the audience asking questions of the president. Like any programs we broadcast, ABC News will have complete editorial control. To suggest otherwise is quite unfair to both our journalists and our audience." Those out there who think for yourselves will be wondering HOW ABC is going to select who will be in the audience and who will ge to ask questions given that the Secret Service (or anyone really) can deny anyone access to the environment around our Glorious Leader by labeling them a security risk. ABC News has NO control over ANYTHING within the White House. To claim otherwise is an insult to the intelligence of the American people.It's tragic that we no longer have a truly independent media in this country. One more half step, and we will have an oligarchical dictatorship.

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David Carradine dead at 72

David Carradine, best known for his leading role of Kwai Chang Caine on TV's "Kung Fu" in the 1970s, died Wednesday in Bangkok, where he was shooting a film, his manager confirmed Thursday. He was 72. According to manager Chuck Binder, the movie's producer went to Carradine's hotel room and found that he had passed away. Binder told Fox News the death is "shocking and sad. He was full of life, always wanting to work ... a great person." Other reports offer more details and more lacivious accounts that indicate that Carradine died from aphyxiation during a sex game gone wrong. Some truly insane reports make the claim that he was murdered by Ninjas trying to protect their martial arts secrets. (No, I'm not making that up.)Married five times and divorced four, he is survived by his widow, Annie Bierman, whom he married in 2004. (On a personal note... while Carradine was passing away, I was probably writing the entry for the Carradine-starring turkey "Future Force" for 150 Movies You Should Die Before You See, my forthcoming book. Coincidences are funny things.)

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