Free Republic

As home to pop legend Michael Jackson, Neverland Ranch housed a working locomotive, a Ferris wheel and other amusement park rides, a 10,000-volume library and a zoo. But could the opulent Santa Barbara County estate become home to California's newest state park? A resolution is in the works to order state parks officials to study converting the roughly 2,600-acre property into a state park. The state NAACP is backing the idea, and a lawmaker has signaled he is on board to carry the legislation. "I think Michael's history is world history and I think it would become the No. 1...

China has taken jobs and even the Hummer from the United States. Tom Qian of Shanghai Daily reports that Qiu Xuefan, vice director of Wenzhou Chamber of Commerce, has announced plans to construct a smaller version of Neverland at Xianghua Town of Chongming County, which is about an hour drive from downtown Shanghai. The project which will cover 667,000 square meters is expected to cost 100 million yuan (US$14.6 million) and be completed in a year. Meanwhile Gerald Posner of the Daily Beast reports that a senior executive of Colony Capital which controls the original Neverland states that it will...

When Michael Jackson died in late June, Patricia Becht's younger children asked her about his ranch, Neverland. It was a place for kids to go, she told them, and it was similar to heaven. Going to such a place, she said, would be part of their suicide plan. Becht, of South St. Paul, was charged Friday with first-degree premeditated murder of her 10-year-old son and attempted first-degree murder of her 11-year-old daughter, who is recovering at a metro hospital. Becht gave them and herself an overdose of anti-psychotic medication, court documents say. She had planned her acts so meticulously that...

China is planning to build its own version of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch on an island near Shanghai, state media said on Wednesday. The Shanghai Morning Post said the first phase of the project on Chongming Island will be completed within a year and will cover 7.2 million square feet (667,000 square meters). Named after the home of Peter Pan, Neverland Ranch was a Jackson's whimsical retreat - replete with carnival rides, a coterie of animals, two trains and a Disney-like station. The total cost of China's version is expected to be around 100 million yuan ($14.6 million). The tribute...

form intended to be disrespectful to Michael Jackson or his family. His death is tragic and sad, much like the life he led. He has had a tremendous and lasting impact on the music industry, but, as usual, the media has embarrassed themselves with the amount of coverage they have given this story. The frenzy will only escalate once the actual funeral services are held at The Staples Center on Tuesday. According to the Associated Press: “More than 1.6 million fans registered for tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial service over the two-day registration period that ended Saturday.

Inside Neverland: The stunning photographs of Michael Jackson's empty fantasy By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE 03rd July 2009 Gone is the zoo with its elephants, tigers and giraffe. The exotic snakes have long since slithered away, and the amusement rides have been dismantled. The gates to Michael Jackson's fabled Neverland Ranch swung open yesterday to reveal a shell of the fantasy the boy-man had created when he was the King of Pop. [Pics in URL]

Michael Jackson's passing appears to even be attracting the attention of extraterrestrials. Last week our resident ufologist Michael Cohen received an email from a man claiming to have seen a luminous green UFO hovering over Neverland Ranch the morning after the day Jackson died. Since putting out this story we have received about a dozen other emails claiming to have seen UFOs over Neverland in the last week. Some witnesses describe glowing lights while others claim to have seen out and out flying saucers. One grieving Michael Jackson fan claims to have seen the same glowing green light we originally...

Abandoned by Michael Jackson after a humiliating child molestation trial in 2005, the late singer's Neverland Ranch could now become one of the biggest draws in the world as a memorial to the King of Pop. Jackson's family has said there are no plans for a funeral or burial of his body at the ranch in central California after his death last week. But the rural playground inspired by Jackson's alter-ego, Peter Pan, would remain an attraction in a region already visited by tourists, and it could rival Elvis Presley's Graceland as a future venue for his millions of fans...

LOS OLIVOS, California (AFP) – The plans for Michael Jackson's funeral remain uncertain, but that did not stop Desiree Crossley and her family from camping out for hours outside of his Neverland ranch. Reports that the King of Pop would be laid to rest at his sprawling fantasy estate prompted a near stampede here to the rolling hills of Santa Barbara wine country, with hundreds of media satellite trucks parking outside the gate. As newscasters broadcast live in multiple languages and traffic crews hurriedly erected no-parking signs, Crossley waited with a friend in foldable chairs, her two daughters sitting in...

Children in adult bodies want to live in Neverland. But Neverland doesn’t exist, and it never will. That’s why it’s called Neverland. In fiction, people who never grow up enjoy amusing adventures in which the dangers are imaginary. In reality, people who never grow up may enjoy themselves for a time, but sooner or later the all-too-real dangers they ignored catch up with them. And then their fantasy world will be lost to foreclosure, and their real world will become distinctly unpleasant, or even lethal. But then it will be too late.

Michael Jackson Neverland Ranch Appears in Foreclosure Report(ml-implode.com) 2007-11-06 Some kind souls alerted us to the fact that Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch has appeared in the November 5th, 2007 Foreclosure Detail Report for Santa Barbara county (full report here). While the looming foreclosure of Neverland Ranch has received some coverage, this would appear to be hard confirmation of the event... and indication that it is still underway.

ACTON - Two tigers from Michel Jackson's Neverland have found a new home in the Antelope Valley. On Saturday, actress and animal advocate Tippi Hedren spoke to the felines from behind a metal fence. The 6-year-old Bengals came from Michael Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch in Los Olivos a month ago. Hedren explained that when Jackson decided to close his zoo, veterinarian Martin Dinnes recommended the sanctuary for their new home. The tigers were a little cranky because of the move. After weeks in a quarantine camp - standard practice for new Shambala residents - the duo took a few days...

Dutch pedophiles are launching a political party to push for a cut in the legal age for sexual relations to 12 from 16 and the legalization of child pornography and sex with animals. The Charity, Freedom and Diversity (NVD) party said on its Web site it would be officially registered Wednesday, proclaiming: "We are going to shake The Hague awake!" The party said it wanted to cut the legal age for sexual relations to 12 and eventually scrap the limit altogether. "A ban just makes children curious," Ad van den Berg, one of the party's founders, told the Algemeen Dagblad...

Jackson's ranch closed after staff go unpaid By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles (Filed: 11/03/2006) Michael Jackson has been ordered to shut down his fantasy-themed Neverland Valley Ranch and fined nearly £100,000 for failing to pay his employees or maintain proper insurance. California officials closed the sprawling estate in the Santa Ynez valley, Santa Barbara, and barred workers from the property after discovering that the singer had allowed the compensation policy protecting employees to lapse in January. Michael Jackson failed to pay his employees Jackson, 47, who has spent much of his time in Bahrain since he was acquitted last...

If the King of Pop Converts to Islam by Daniel Pipes March 7, 2006 Michael Jackson, the king of pop, is "on the verge" of converting to Islam, CBS News reported last week. If that's true, it fits into a recurring and important African-American pattern. Rumors of Mr. Jackson's conversion first surfaced in November 2003, a month after his arrest on child-molestation charges. Saeed Shabazz, a reporter for the Nation of Islam's publication, The Final Call, announced that Mr. Jackson had joined the organization. He added that NoI's leader, Louis Farrakhan, "sees a lot of spirituality in Michael." But the...

State: Jacko not paying wages, insurance. Whither the llamas? MARCH 9--Citing Michael Jackson's failure to cover his employees with required insurance, California state labor officials today effectively closed the singer's Neverland Ranch and fined him $69,000, The Smoking Gun has learned. Investigators with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement arrived at the sprawling Los Olivos estate this morning and served the below work stoppage order on a security guard. Additionally, in a March 7 letter, the state apprised Jackson that more than 30 workers have filed unpaid wage claims against him and that he owes those employees more than $300,000,...

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Celebrity lawyer Nancy Grace savagely attacked a Michael Jackson fan outside the Santa Maria courthouse yesterday, as the vigil preceding the jury's verdict in Jackson's child molestation trial continued. Grace, 45, was conducting sidewalk interviews among legions of Jackson faithful when a man in the crowd yelled, "Who let you out of your cage, Tweety Bird?" Before the man could escape—which would have been difficult, as he was in a wheelchair—Grace slung him to the ground, leapt on top of him, and bit his right ear, severing the earlobe. "I'm damn sick and tired of...

MIDI - BEAT IT He has a lusting sometimes for little boys To him their genitals are seen as Michael's toys His fans outside the court had erupted with great joy 'Cause he beat it...Michael beat it Like Kennedy, his alcohol was his friend He did things even DemocRATS cannot defend The West Coast jury pool is just stupid, don't pretend He beat it...the molestor walks free He beat it...beat it...justice is again defeated First there was O.J....Robert Blake too If you're a child, he's after you He beat it, he beat it...he beat it, he beat it Like...

The prosecutors in Michael Jackson's child molestation and conspiracy trial apparently feel they've already won their case. On Wednesday night, the whole lot of them — DA Tom Sneddon, Ron Zonen, Gordon Auchincloss, their wives and families — all celebrated at the Hitching Post restaurant in Casmalia. The Hitching Post, cousin of the Buellton restaurant featured in the movie "Sideways," is considered the best restaurant in the greater Santa Maria area. Sneddon was so happy that he actually embraced celebrity crime reporter Aphrodite Jones. She told me he was in a jubilant mood, and the most outgoing of all the...

Bayliffs being sworn in, alternatives have been sent home! This circus is about to be in the hands of the jury! Bets? Predictions?

The child molestation case against Michael Jackson went to the jury Friday after the defense begged the panel to acquit the singer, portraying Jackson as a victim of grifters trying to pull "the biggest con of their careers." "They are trying to profit from Michael Jackson. They think they have pulled it off. They are just waiting for one thing — your verdict." Prosecutors painted a vastly different picture — one of Jackson as a serial child molester and his Neverland Ranch as a predator's lair. "Why would Mr. Jackson do it?" Senior Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen said. "Because...

On the eve of the case going to the jury, someone had to do this. MIDI - GO AWAY, LITTLE GIRL Go away, little boy...go away, little boy You're not supposed to be in bed with me Alright, well, if you insist...you know I cannot resist I have porno movies here, which one shall we see? Go away, little boy...go away, little boy I don't think that I would like it too much in jail Some day I know I'll be caught...some parents cannot be bought So go away, little boy, or I might be posting bail Go away, little...

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police have arrested a 56-year-old American teacher after 500 photographs of naked teenagers were allegedly found during a raid of his Bangkok apartment, police said on Tuesday. Police said the man, who they named as Steven Erik Prowler, had lived in Thailand for six years and taught English at a government school in Bangkok. "During the raid, we found two teenagers who said they just had oral sex with him," Colonel Surat Udomrat told Reuters. The two were aged 15 and 17, police said. In the apartment police said they found 500 postcard-sized photos of naked...

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (Reuters) - The judge in the Michael Jackson molestation trial on Thursday barred prosecutors from calling an expert on domestic violence they hoped would explain the apparently erratic behavior of the accuser's mother for jurors. Judge Rodney Melville also said he would allow evidence showing that Jackson's then-13-year-old accuser and younger brother had masturbated while looking at the pop star's pornography, potentially bolstering defense claims that the boys had run wild at Neverland. Both rulings were setbacks for the prosecution, which is in the final stages of presenting its case to the jury of eight women and...

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — The woman who claims she and her son were victimized by Michael Jackson and his aides admitted Friday that she lied under oath in a past civil case in which she claimed department store security guards victimized her and her son. She vehemently denied, however, that she had any designs on the pop star's fortune. "We will never file a claim against Michael Jackson," the witness said defiantly. "I want justice here." Friday marked a third day of testimony from the woman who alleges that she and her three children were falsely imprisoned at Neverland Ranch...

Michael Jackson is one of the pop culture phenomena of the era of celebrity. Modestly talented in one area, he managed to amass a vast amount of money through clever marketing. With it legitimatizing him, he went on to claim an array of talents that he manifestly lacks. He can dance. That is about it. He is also repulsive and spectacularly stupid. In his interview with the reverend, this lifelong musician made this memorable statement: "I loved the album that Tchaikovsky did — the 'Nutcracker Suite.' It's an album where every song is a great song." I did not actually...

MIDI - BOTTLE OF WINE Bottle of wine...that will do fine Kids are fun when they are not sober We will have fun...it's just begun Mom and dad, let them sleep over I have things planned...here at Neverland When I have the chance, hands go down their pants They love me 'cause I am famous What kind of parent let's them stay here The kind who just can never think clear Bottle of wine...that will do fine Kids are fun when they are not sober We will have fun...it's just begun Mom and dad, let them sleep over Though...

PBS is preparing a Kinsey documentary for Feb. 14th. That is their perverse idea of Valentines Day. Anyway, it is funded in part by the Hugh Hefner foundation. There is a section for "more information" and it does not include anything about Judith Riesman or her book "Kinsey: Crimes and Consequences." She has been Kinsey's number one critic for many years. I would recommend that everyone who reads this go to the site and question them about why Riesman or her book are not included.

Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe has agreed to be a star witness against the singer during his child molestation trial. Ms Rowe, 37, was married to Jackson for three years and is mother of his children Prince and Paris. But she has now formally been added to the state's list of witnesses. Insiders say her testimony is likely to "blow the lid" off Jackson's bizarre lifestyle. Since the allegations of child abuse first surfaced, the former nurse has filed to regain custody of their children. She was said to have signed all rights over to Jackson after their 1999 divorce,...

Photos of naked young boys taken at MICHAEL JACKSON's Neverland Ranch have reportedly been discovered by American authorities. Prosecutors in Jackson's child molestation court case have come into possession of six "disturbing" pictures at the THRILLER singer's mansion in Santa Barbara, California, reports KFI RADIO in Los Angeles. They are said to show young boys in Jackson's bedroom and bathroom. One boy is reportedly naked in the bath while another is allegedly pictured lying face down on the bed.

DUTCH Agriculture Minister Cees Veerman has told parliament that he is planning a formal ban on sexual relations with animals to protect the rights of pets and livestock. He was responding to the complaints of several lawmakers, who were outraged that a man accused of raping horses walked free on the grounds that the animals had not physically suffered from the rape. "I am considering a change to the current law to make all forms of bestiality illegal," Veerman said in a letter to Parliament, adding he hoped to have a draft measure ready within months. A group of parliamentarians...

Jackson claimed farming tax break for Neverland Ranch Saturday, April 3, 2004 Posted: 6:51 PM EST (2351 GMT) (AP) -- Pop star Michael Jackson has saved more than $1 million in property taxes on his Neverland Ranch by claiming the California land conservation tax break, but a year ago, California officials decided he had developed too much of the property to qualify for it. "This is an egregious violation," said Valentin Alexeeff, director of the Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department. Jackson responded by withdrawing from the program. County officials are considering legal action to collect back taxes and...

Reporters desperate for a glimpse of Michael Jackson today accidentally trampled al-Qaeda terror boss Osama bin Laden, whose appearance at the singer’s Neverland ranch went virtually unnoticed. Mr. bin Laden reportedly made the torturous journey from the mountainous region along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to Santa Barbara in the hopes of receiving a signed copy of Mr. Jackson’s new greatest hits CD, “Number Ones.” A recent posting on the official al-Qaeda website alluded to Mr. bin Laden’s wish to have a private meeting with Mr. Jackson in which the self-styled King of Pop could teach the terror chief his legendary “moonwalking”...

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Black show business stars were rallying around pop icon Michael Jackson following his stunning arrest on child sex charges, but mainstream Hollywood maintained a stony silence. As family and some leading figures in the African American community vigorously defended the "King of Pop" against the molestation charges, close friends like Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minnelli remained surprisingly mum. As Jackson laid low at the Green Valley Resort near Las Vegas, where he flew on a private jet Thursday after being booked in Santa Barbara, California, accusations of racist behaviour towards him began to surface. The star's...

NEW YORK - People magazine has named Johnny Depp the "Sexiest Man Alive 2003," saying the actor, known for his "brooding eccentricities," has mellowed since becoming a father. Depp, star of this year's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," has two young children with his girlfriend, French actress and pop singer Vanessa Paradis. "Because he arrived at his new, happy place without selling out, without becoming slick or packaged or politically correct, he is a hero to his fans and an idol to his young co-stars," People says in its Dec. 1 issue. The 40-year-old actor...

<p>November 20, 2003 -- Time to face the music. Bizarro superstar Michael Jackson has been ordered to surrender to police on child-molestation charges that could send him to prison for more than 10 years.</p> <p>A warrant issued in Santa Barbara, Calif. - where the King of Pop enjoys entertaining youngsters at his fairyland-like, 2,600-acre Neverland Ranch - accuses him of committing "lewd or lascivious" acts with a child under 14.</p>

Live news cast....breaking..more follows

Here's just the place to take the kids…Neverland Ranch. Michael Jackson is reported to be opening his personal fun park for the bargain price of just $5,000 a ticket. Wow, take the whole family. 250 tickets will be sold for the one day only event on September 13 with Jackson hoping to make $1 million on the day. On top of filling his pockets with your hard earned cash, he also promises that $1000 fro each ticket will go to charity. Each visitor will receive a limited edition poster of the never released single "What More Can I Give". The...