Michael Jackson: 1958 – 2009

So unless you've had your head buried in the sand over the past month (or in the Big Brother house), you will know that Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest on the 25th June 2009. He was 50 years old. What gave more of an impact to Jackson's death was the fact that it happened just weeks before he was due to perform 50 gigs at his last ever tour, ironically called 'This Is It'. Jackson had called it his 'final curtain call', but this arrived sooner than everyone had anticipated.

Becoming obsessed with his untimely death after reading every last piece of information I could get my hands on, writing about it myself was the only way I could allow myself to be satisfied with his story.

The simple outline of what happened is like this; Michael Jackson collapsed at home in his rented mansion in the hills of LA. Paramedics were called on the emergency line at 12.22pm by a Jackson employee. (In my head this raises suspicion, as the identity of whoever made the call is still not clear). His personal doctor was present and unsuccessfully attempted resuscitation. Jackson was pronounced dead at about 2.26pm local time at the UCLA hospital in Los Angeles and his brother Jermaine Jackson officially announced the tragic news to the rest of the world. Astonishingly, it was TMZ, an online celebrity gossip page, who reported it first.

Naturally with Jackson's high celebrity status, there was to be thorough investigation. But a dark cloud now lingers over Michael Jackson's death as things don't seem to add up and people are starting to play the blame game; who's fault was it?

In the earlier days of Michael's death, many speculated that the tour itself could be to blame, as he was described to look 'frail' and 'weak' due to exhaustion from his rehearsals. With Michael's age, this theory of innocence could have made sense if it wasn't for the suspicion that drugs may have been the reason that rapidly leaked into the media.

A raft of friends and employees have come forward since the death to give details about Jackson's addiction to painkillers that some say may have lasted for as long as 20 years. In addition to this, Michael's personal doctor, Dr Conrad Murray, told police of a cabinet in Jackson's home where many highly powerful drugs could be found. A nurse employed by Jackson has also come forward to reveal that he pleaded with her for Propofol, a dangerous anaesthetic, saying he needed it to sleep. That tallies with a report from the TMZ website that the drug, brand name 'Diprivan', was found at his house after he died and is now said to be the primary cause of death. So was it simply an accidental overdose of an addict? A seemingly typical way for a musical legend with a drug addiction to die. Or is that just part of the truth used to cover up the rest of the story?

Always wanting to be the best that he could be for his fans, it has been suggested that perhaps Jackson knew that he was too old and unable to go through with the tremendous amount of gigs lined up for his tour and was terrified of letting anyone down. After all, he had been in the limelight from such a young age and all he knew was fame. How could he cope with failing? Suicide then, cleverly covered up with drug abuse stories and the use of Propofol, would be the best way out. Maybe even assisted suicide, with the help of Dr Conrad Murray. He did disappear after Jackson's death; strange behaviour for someone who has a clear conscience. Or is there more to it?

The doctor's role in this story is slightly hazy at the moment because of the difference in reports that newspapers and online sources are giving. At the beginning, Dr Conrad Murray was 'not a suspect', but the latest updates are pointing towards the idea that police believe he actually administrated the drug Propofol that allegedly killed Michael Jackson. After a search warrant was issued to find any evidence of manslaughter, it has been revealed that Dr Conrad Murray gave Jackson an IV drip of the powerful anesthesia. But TMZ claims that, according to multiple law enforcement sources, Murray told the police this himself, just two days after Jackson's death. Why then, was this not mentioned or even taken into account earlier? Something must not be right.

An IV drip of Propofol allows a constant, steady infusion of the drug for a period of time determined by the person administering it. It is considered reckless in the medical community for a doctor to administer an IV drip of Propofol without the patient being monitored by an EKG, which sounds an alarm when the patient's pulse drops too low. No EKG was found in the house. Another device, known as a pulse oximeter, is used to determine the oxygen saturation in the patient's blood. If the patient's breathing slows to a dangerous level, an alarm alerts the treating physician. Again, no oximeter was found in the house. So what now? Is this a case of gross negligence? And what does this mean in American law?

Nothing can be confirmed until the toxicology report is completed next week. This report will reveal which drug is the primary cause of Michael Jackson's death, even though Propofol has already been named by many sources. If this is confirmed, Dr Conrad Murray will most likely be facing charges for manslaughter. But until then, the story continues.

It saddens me to think that Michael Jackson still suffers. The media never let us to forget that his life was never straight forward and it seems that his death isn't going to be any easier. Yet I do believe that his day will come when all of this controversy and scandal will buried for good and the King of Pop can finally rest in peace.

Crafty Leeds

As I had said in my inital blog, Credit Crunch What, there has rarely been a better time to get creative. But it is easier said than done. With unemployment levels still rising in the UK, I felt it was necessary to investigate what the city of Leeds has to offer to begin a more creative approach to one's career, and to offer information about where to get started.

Verity Britton is Leeds' example of someone who has taken the opportunity to do something new and inventive. After working for ten years on the radio, she finally decided to hang up her headphones and head for new horizons. Inspired by both her mother and grandmother's passion for knitting, Verity has recently opened up her own shop, Baa Ram Ewe in Headingley, which sells everything to do with knitting, from yarn to buttons.

Verity believes that the recession has actually helped her - the unit of her shop was empty for months before she swooped in and waved her magic needle. "You just have to be smart and develop good business knowledge," says Verity. "I didn't have a clue when I first started out!"

Verity arranges knitting workshops at Baa Ram Ewe for anyone to come along, whether you are a pro knitter or just starting out. It's a good place to start if you're looking to learn a new skill. "The craft industry is massive at the moment because people prefer to spend their money on something more unique and special."

In shunning the more expensive high street brands, crafty sorts looking for that unique twist to store bought outfits are increasingly deciding to customise their own attire. Thanks to people like Verity, Leeds is fast becoming the capital of the UK's handmade revival. I've highlighted some of best craft stores in the city to help with your new favourite hobby.

Baa Ram Ewe
Verity's new Headingley wool shop sells everything to do with knitting, like yarn, needles, books, buttons and clothing. They also host workshops and crafts events such as their free Knit and Knatter nights every Thursday, along with lessons for beginners. Or if you just fancy somewhere cosy to sit and chat, then feel free to sit in the shop and knit the hours away.
87 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3PS, 0113 278 1788. www.baaramewe.co.uk

Buns and Roses
Leeds' newly revived Women's Institute aims to provide women with educational opportunities and the chance to expand their horizons, plus they've been doing all sorts of crafty things such as a knitting night called Thread Zeppelin. And just to prove how these folks are bringing the W.I. bang up to date, you can even follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Every 3rd Thursday of the month at Mojo Bar, 18 Merrion Street, Leeds LS1 6PQ. www.bunsandroses.co.uk

The Bowery
The amazing gallery/cafe is across the road from Baa Ram. Not only can you kick back and have a coffee, this place offers workshops for both children and adults such as digital photography, glass making, jewellery making, sewing and drawing. There are also free clubs you can join such as book clubs and artist networks which are great for meeting others with similar interests.
54 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2AL, 0113 224 2284, www.thebowery.org

Fabrication
Located next to the Corn Exchange in an 18th century textile building, Fabrication is available for hire by designers looking for a large space to work on their creations, plus access to professional equipment needed to improve their business standards. They also host exciting workshops and craft clubs.
11 Crown Court, Leeds LS2 7DG, 0113 243 9140. www.fabric-ation.co.uk

Factory 4 Workshop
A social enterprise run by a group of Leeds graduates. The workshop provides numerous services to local people, with open access to woodworking, screen printing and jewellery making as well as space for other creative applications.
Sheepscar Street South, Leeds LS7 1AD

Factory Boy

Andy Warhol, that guy in the 60s with the Campbell soup can,was not only famous for his brillo pads or techni-colour prints of Marilyn Monroe; he also dabbled underground, 'directing' what he liked to call 'films' which would allow many New Yorkers an iconic existence and 15 minutes of fame.

Amongst those people was a personal favourite of mine, Edie Sedgwick. After watching the film Factory Girl, I became completely transfixed on Edie and her story. She was her own downfall; naive and vulnerable - a strong scent quickly picked up by Andy and his consorts. Her life became a small tragedy within its self and of which many would blame Warhol, as it is believed by some that he lured Edie into a world of freakish acts and drug abuse. He proclaimed her as a 'superstar', only to exploit Edie for the same reasons. But that was the way. It was the art scene after all; anything goes... right?

Well after Edie's reign was over in 1968, (she was still alive at this time, she died later in the 70s from an overdose) Warhol and fellow Factory worker Paul Morrissey discovered a new superstar. His name was Joe Dallesandro. Approached on the street, Joe was told he was a 'fine specimen of a man' and had the potential to become an underground superstar - not so dissimilar to what Edie Sedgwick was told. And again, Joe was young and eager so he fitted right into the Factory.

Loves of Ondine was the first film that Joe made with Warhol and Morrissey. It was a 23 minute piece of footage where Joe wound up shooting a wrestling scene with another guy clad only in his underwear. He was orginally just invited to come along where Warhol and Morrissey were shooting an impromptu marathon movie in Warhol's building apartment. But Morrissey's camera quickly found its way toward the ambivalent, good-looking Joe and the rest is history. He received a lot of praise and attention for his role which led to his second film being made, Lonesome Cowboys. The papers constantly wrote about how beautiful Joe was and the more movies he made, the more of a frenzy the media found themselves in. He became an improbable pioneer of the male sexual revolution and the first film actor to be glorified as a nude sex symbol. Basically Joe was a hit, and Warhol and Morrissey knew it. Ka-ching.

There was undoubtedly a lot of sex and nudity on screen with his films, and god knows what off screen with more drug abuse and love affairs, but this is where Joe's story differs to Edie's.
While Warhol seemed to admire Joe for his sex appeal and beauty just like he did with Edie, Morrissey saw Joe's potential as a serious actor. Lucky for him, Joe went on to make more movies with Morrissey, including Frankenstein and Dracula, which marked a drastic shift in the types of films Joe was associated with and opened up more opportunity in the future. Joe never collapsed under the weight of taboo, whereas Edie's drug addiction and mental instability made her weak and brought her to her knees. Joe was completely uninhibited, and renowned for his 'walk-on-the-wild-side demeanor'. He couldn't be exploited. Perhaps he was just as bizarre as they were in the Factory but this worked for him; Joe Dallesandro is still around today and is still an reasonably respected actor.

I never knew pigs flu

Finally the credit crunch seems to have taken a step back from the media this week and allowed us to all have a breather. But wait - there's a new problem that we apparently have to worry about; the 'swine flu', also known as deadly pig germs.

It was first discovered in Mexico, where it has been reported to have taken 80 -150 lives, (depending on which newspaper you chose to read, which makes me squint my eyes suspiciously) and now Britain claims to have 2 victims itself after a Scottish couple so kindly brought it back from their holiday in Mexico, probably in their hand luggage. Experts have predicted that this epidemic could potentially take the lives of 150 million human beings across the world.

It is admittedly a little daunting. One could wake up one morning with a sore throat and be dead by the time Coronation Street hits ITV at 7.30pm, or so it has been said... in so many words. But is it really a serious reason to start putting your house under quarantine just yet? I'm not so sure.

As with the credit crunch, we've all been there before; the bird flu for instance or mad cow disease which is slightly different, but worrying for all the same reasons. Society didn't go bonkers and run rampage back then, so there's definitely no need to start screaming in the streets that we're all gonna die. I'm not saying I do not believe this swine flu exists; I'm no medical expert. But I do believe as a Briton that we have no reason to be taking drastic measures if our throats start to tingle slightly either. Just avoid Mexico and the USA for a couple of months to let those poorly pigs get better.

And the good news is that you don't need to be passing off a beautiful bacon sarnie after a heavy night either; you cannot catch the flu from the meat its self. The virus is completely airborne and catchable from contimated areas. Where's the worry if you're thousands of miles away from an infected area? That's my way of thinking anyway. If you take my advice and are unlucky enough to catch the swine, then I shall take full responsibility. What do I know after all?

Bigger Than Barry: A not-so-big interview with Bobby Barnes.

Alright so this 'interview' was more a set of questions thrown at Bobby Barnes, (one of the founders of Baz) via Facebook, who then threw a couple of witty answers back at me about a month later! Bon apetite mes amis...

So who runs Bigger than Barry apart from yourself?
The 'Dream Team' consists of Kieran ' The Doctor' McInerney, a potato picking, pissed up immigrant. And one Sam 'Deadcat' Baylis, who is the singer in The Scarlet Harlots.

When and where was the first Bigger than Barry held?
21st December 2006. In the upstairs room of a grotty pub in Brum called The Ben Johnson. Famed for shootings during the 80's gun boom.

And why is the night called 'Bigger than Barry'?
Barry Austin. Worlds Fattest Man. Simple.

Birmingham and Leeds aside, where else does Barry roll?
Barry's Rolls are everywhere! Sheffield and Nottingham are pretty lively, we're planning on hitting Manchester, Bristol & Cardiff in due time.

How would you describe the music played at Barry?
Grimey, Grubby, Gritty, Dutty, Whyney, Hypey, Nicey Niceness. It's hard to put a finger on it, but I think that covers it.

Who does Barry like to play with?
Barry Likes to play with Tomb Crew, Toddla T, Mumdance, Oneman, Martelo, Andy George, Rusko. The new breed, we're all about the same age, so have the same influences, environments growing up and great haircuts. (WAFRO!!!)

Tell me about the Ibiza Invasion...
Ibiza is gonna be sickly, we're taking a couple of DJ's, load of bods, and some dutty tunes and taking over the white isle for 5 days. We've got our own hotel. BARRY TOWERS. And using clubs like Ibiza Rocks. Get ready for that!!!

Any tricks up your sleeve to make Barry even BIGGER in the future?
More tricks than David Blaine in a box. If I was to tell you though I'd get kicked out of your mum's magic circle.

So there you have it; a few words from a very droll kind of fellow indeed. I give you Bobby Barnes - creator, player, joker, ginger...!

Bigger Than Barry!

There’s a big guy breaking through the Yorkshire Border - straight from Birmingham and tearing up Leeds. If anyone asks, he goes by the name of Barry and he’s not the sort of bloke you can miss.

If you’re gagging for something a little bit different and you like your music grimy, then Bigger than Barry is the night you’ve been looking for. You’ll have never heard anyone drop bass like Baz before and he loves to bring some of his mates a long to help him out; Toddla T, Rusko, Drop the Lime and Tomb Crew are just a handful of his mob. The tunes these boys produce are massive so you might want to think carefully about what shoes to wear to this occasion. They’ll get you going mad for it and nobody likes a toe bleed...!

And Barry being a considerate kind of fellow in these financially uncertain times, all drinks at this shindig are dirt cheap. So get a few Jagerbombs down your neck and he’ll have you all hyped up like a kid on Panda Pops! He’ll also have an after party sorted if you’re up for it.

No-one is doing anything quite like this in Leeds at the moment because it’s not just about the music, it’s almost political. Barry’s definitely got a few things to say that you’ll all wanna hear. So put your gladrags on, tell all your mates and get yourself involved. It’s gonna be bigger than your mum’s roast dinners!


*Bigger than Barry, every 2nd Tuesday of the month @ Wire. Doors: 10.30pm - 2am.

Mother Uggers

I have to rant about this somewhere in which my words can reach people other than my friends! May I start with two words: Ugg boots.

Reading a magazine yesterday I stumbled across a page of photos taken of random people in the streets of Leeds. The idea of the page is to capture the 'unique' outfits these people have on and information about where they bought certain items from so that us readers can go purchase them ourselves. Now there were 15 people on this page and 5 of them were wearing Ugg boots. UGG BOOTS. *Shakes head*.

I remember when I was back at school and these boots conquered fashion magazines for a good few months and fair enough, they were something new and exciting for girls to wear. But that was a good 5 years a go... and people are STILL wearing them FAR TOO MUCH! I mean I get it; they're warm for the winter and extemely comfortable. Fair play. But really? Have you seen the state of them? They're not exactly the prettiest footwear on the market and they make your feet look massive. I can't help but feel angered by the amount of girls I see walking around wearing them. On my first day in Leeds I saw a group of girls all wearing a pair and I must admit, it made my blood boil slightly. Whatever happened to originality in this supposed revolutionary era?

There are alternatives to these horrific creations which are also warm and comfy AND they'll add a bit of style to one's outfit. Doctor Martens for example are gonna hit this season with a storm which look cool with just about anything. Yeah OK so they need a little wearing in because they'll give your feet a hard time at first, but give them time and they'll be the best thing to have on as you go about your day. That's what they're all about after all. And what about vintage boots? Nottingham and Leeds are full of amazing little vintage shops with hundreds of unique styles. I have a pair that have lasted me years and they're just as comfy and warm as any other pair of decent boots. Wellies are always cheap and cheerful and they're good for rainy days too!

You see, I believe too many girls have fallen into the Ugg trap because they don't know of any better solutions. It's human nature to copy off each other because as a race we are so afraid to be different. Don't get me wrong; by writing this I am not claiming to be the ultimate fashionista myself! I too make many fashion mistakes. But in the words of Peter Griffin, Ugg boots really grind my gears! If you truly enjoy the image of Uggs then fair enough, your style is your own and I am in no place to dictate about what you should wear. But if it's just warmth and comfort you're after, have a gander at something else; explore fashion! You may suprise yourself.

In the mean time save the Mother Uggers for a trip to Switzerland or something. You know, lots of snow. Then they'll truly serve a purpose in life.

Rant over.