The news came filtering in through different media - phone calls, SMS, instant messages, e-mail - but the message was the same - Michael Jackson is dead! This was 365 days ago but the message is still processing in some minds.

History

The King of Pop had put in over four decades of hard work, as debatably, the world's greatest entertainer ever. From humble beginnings in little Gary, Indiana, USA, the young man born Michael Joseph Jackson on August 29, 1958, the eighth of his parents' 10 children, would conquer the world.

His story has been told endlessly. We all have our versions. There have been countless newspaper headlines, numerous magazine articles, several TV specials and more. Whatever the case, MJ is, for all intents and purposes, a phenomenon. With all the extensive coverage on his life - professional and amateur - we each have more than enough to go on to claim a personal bond with the larger than life super-duper-star, even referring to him on first name basis.

When the world practically stopped on June 25, 2009 at the shocking news of his passing, it just went to show the profound effect he had on several generations. Yet, even in death, the legend continues and there is no stopping Michael. According to a Billboard report (see chart), Jackson has made approximately $1 billion (approx. N149 billion) since his death. Modern technology, primarily the internet, will also make it hard to forget Michael, or easy to remember him, depending on how you choose to look at it.

During his storied career, Wacko Jacko, as he was cruelly or comically christened (depending on who you ask), suffered public scrutiny regarding allegations of inappropriate relations with minors; his sexual orientation; perceived arranged marriages; his Neverland Valley Ranch home; the paternity of his three children; his claimed vitilago and many other unflattering positions. Some chose to focus on these darker patches of his lifetime in the aftermath of his untimely demise but for the most part, the reason the world embraced and elevated him is what keeps us and his memory going - his music.

Keeping the thrill alive

In the clubs today, in the midst of the Souljah Boy Tellems, Terry Gs and Jay Seans, an MJ classic is usually only a few spins away. The Hip-Hop generation, many of who were either unborn or attempting to walk (he was already moonwalking) at the height of his star in the Thriller era, has embraced this fallen star with open arms. Even disaster, in the form of the devastating Haiti earthquakes, led to the stars of today - misguided or otherwise - congregating to regurgitate Michael's love offering alongside Lionel Richie, "We Are the World," towards relief efforts for the displaced Haitians. The power of music seems to know no bounds and few, if any, managed to masterfully wield its magic wand with such magnificent ministration as Michael Jackson. As comedian Martin Lawrence once joked, "Who else could say ‘I'm jamming in Bucharest?'" Such was the power and reach of Michael.

He harmonised with family (the Jackson 5, Janet, 3T), jammed with rock icons (Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Slash), wrote history with legends (Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie), bounced with Hip-Hop heads (The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Heavy D), laughed with comedians (Eddie Murphy, Chris Tucker), parleyed with sex symbols (Brooke Shields, Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Iman), hung with hoops stars (Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal), inspired a generation (Usher, Justin, Britney, Chris Brown), was loved by queens (Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Princess Di) and befriended a chimp (Bubbles). Such was the diverse demeanor of MJ that he transcended gender, genre and genotype.

Thankfully, he has left us with a robust body of work to last a lifetime. Ask five people their favourite Jackson album and possibly get five different answers. Ask me and I'll say Bad. Ask fifteen their favourite song and expect a similar outcome. For me, it's "Human Nature," and it is this same human nature that made us judge and mourn the man in equal measure. He was, after all, human, although the extent of his talent, naturally, made us revere him, often to the point of worship. A year on from his physical passing, not much has changed.

‘If they say why, why?'

Love him, hate him or misunderstand him, you cannot deny or even ignore his genius and sheer brilliance. He lived many of his last years in seclusion, so it's like he's just gone out of sight again. Unfortunately for the three children he loved so much, the sad truth is, his body of work is what will ultimately be taken as his lasting legacy on this unforgiving planet. Many of us loved him too and are just selfish like that. Regardless, our hearts must go out to them as they continue to live life under the public microscope, the unfortunate cross their father tried so hard to ensure they wouldn't have to bear. His song "Leave Me Alone," on behalf of his kids, comes to mind but we won't because we can't! It is not in our human nature to do so.

What is, though, is our penchant to mourn the passing of a loved one, even though we know that day must come, carrying with it the promise of a better life ahead for the dearly departed. Many said he was gone too soon like his 1991 song title but I prefer to alter the Motown 25 tag line and say, "Michael Jackson... yesterday, today and forever.".

Walk the moon...

FLORIDA man Christopher Bishop was run over by his pickup truck after it was accidentally put into gear by his rambunctiou bulldog, Tassey.

The St Petersburg Times said according to a Hernando Couty Sheriff's Office report, Bishop, 43, was searching for oil leaks under the vehicle on sunday when Tassey hopped into the open driver's door and knocked the pickup into gear.

The Ford F-150 Truck rolled over the left-side of Bishop's body, but he was able to get up and stopped the truck from further movement or hitting a fence.

After several hours of pain, he went to the Pasco Regional Hospital where he was being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Stigma is the roof under which most parents build shelter in our society when it comes to cases as delicate as child molestation and defilement. The steady increase in the rate of child defilement is alarming as it is fast becoming a kind of tradition for some

citizens who accept it as a norm in parts of the country. In some of these cases, children as young as nine months to four years are victims of these indecent and inhuman acts by adults who sometimes are related to them and should normally be their guardian. With some of the very few cases reported to the Police being handled with kids gloves on the part of the law enforcement agents who on most times, release the perpetrators of this crime back into the society with justice truncated, one begins to wonder if the future of the Nigerian child is not jeopardized and endangered when basic rights as essential as fundamental as protection and care are hard to come by.

This is the story of a four- year- old girl; defiled, deflowered and infected by an alleged 45-year-old man and supposed uncle. At the age of two this child could recite her country’s National Anthem and express herself, she was bright and without a care in the world. Her family was her pride and her parents, aunties and uncles were her heroes.

But she may never understand why one of her heroes will choose to put her through the path of brutality, wickedness and an unholy experience sexually when she is just too young to be sexually exploited..

She is a victim of child defilement; severally raped by her 45 year Uncle who did it over and over and over again. Now she is infected with about four different sexually transmitted diseases and may soon join the millions of cases of Vesico-Vaginal-Fistula (VVF) victims left rejected across the country for a fault that is not theirs. Doctors cannot tell if she has contracted the dreaded HIV/AIDS which requires a window period to really show up in tests conducted. She was somebody’s daughter; a child that looked up to the society for guidance and now, she has become a victim to the many ills and challenges she was supposed to face later in life as an adult.

She lived with her grandparents, an auntie and uncles in Maraba, a suburb between Abuja and Nassarawa State and an area where child defilement is fast becoming a daily occurrence with no justice ever recorded. She came from a broken home as her parents were separated; her father is based in Port-Harcourt while the mother is working and living in Abuja.

Due to the many challenges facing single parents, her mother designed a visitation schedule where she would be with her child every weekend with her four -year-old daughter at the paternal family house. On one of her regular visits, her daughter in her limited, shy and withdrawn attitude typical of an innocent child told her mother how her uncle always ‘touches’ her.

A little inquiry into how ‘Uncle’ touches her revealed more than she could bear. she first of all did what any sane thinking person should do; she reported the matter to her ex-father-in-law and daughter’s grandfather under who’s roof the abominable act was perpetuated.

If the revelation from her daughter dazzled her, the response she got from an elder shocked the living day lights out of her.

“Don’t worry, things are under control and the issue has been taken care of,” the grandfather said. The mother gave in to second thoughts and decided not to press the issue any further.

Alarmed and devastated and with little money in her pocket, she decided to take the girl to the hospital for an examination and almost fainted when the doctor, after examining the little child, gave her a bombshell; “Madam, I’m afraid to tell you that your four-year-old baby is no longer a virgin.”

She was experiencing a situation that was even very hard to imagine; when she was shown the vagina of her little child, she needed no telling to understand what the doctor’s report was showing; “When the doctor showed her to me, she was open...she was open. My precious daughter has been used and who knows how long this has been going on,” she said. t became clear to this mother of a sullied girl that she was alone in her battle to bring her child’s molester to pay for what he did to her daughter.

Her confrontation with her ex-husband’s family took a turn for the worse and she was seen as a troublemaker who wanted to bring shame to the family by involving the police and the law. The family sadly, owns an educational facility with even the alleged perpetuator of the sinful act owning and operating a Nursery and Primary School.

This is sadly one out of many childhood molestation cases that occur within Maraba and other suburbs around. While investigating this story, various cases of child molestation were reported to the police and redirected on domestic grounds. Even the Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ojukwu attested to the fact that many of the families that reports this kind of case always want to label it a family affair and always settle out of the corridor’s of justice and the Nigeria Police will be so blinded to release a dangerous pedophiles back to the society where, maybe, they continue with their nefarious abuses on children and minors.

Another problem that helps the increment recorded in some of these defilement cases is the connivance of elements of the Police who get a report of these crimes and succumb to the bribery from, most times, families of either the girl or the perpetrator. In one of such cases, a 65-year-old man was arrested on the grounds of molesting a nine-year-old girl who was brought to the station, bleeding. The nine-year-old girl was asked to write a statement and put her thumbprint on it, which she did. She was then taken to the hospital for treatment. By evening, the child’s father was recalled to the station by the supposed investigating police officer and told to bring his daughter to make another statement. The father explained that his daughter was traumatized and could not make it to the station to write another statement. For this, the 65-year-old was released from custody on the grounds that there was no indicting statement against him. Even at the time of this investigation, there are fears that the case file involving this four-year old girl has been tampered with and indicting documents like the doctor’s report removed so that when the perpetrator is arraigned in the court, there would not be any evidence to keep in custody and go further with the case. The family has boasted that they have the funds and everything is under control.

“We will solve it our own way; not the police way or in court,” the brother to the perpetrator said.

Most times, only very few cases make it to the court and the number of convictions gotten is criminally poor when compared to the daily occurrence of this dastardly act across the country as in the case of a 32-year-old man who molested a nine-year-old girl. He was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison. Maybe the failure of law and order to such cases gives the needed boost to the upsurge of such pathetic crimes.

Further investigation at the Nyanya General Hospital revealed that the hospital actually was no stranger to cases such as these and certain staff of the hospital who spoke off-camera said there were cases of molestation of children aged as low as nine months. Swept under the rug of “domestic and private issue”, these cases are abandoned along the way and the only victims left to suffer are the children who then grow into troubled and unstable adults. Crime is expected as no society is perfect, but the failure of law and order can be more damaging than crime itself.

The story is far from over and the culture of silence if allowed to continue will result in far reaching and disastrous results whose effects generations to come will be overwhelmed by. A documentary detailing the story of the four-year-old molested by her uncle is underway and will be released after the court proceedings of the case are concluded. This is a call to everyone to stand for what is healthy and right. We are our children and our children are we. The time to act is now.

Click the link below to view the child`s narrative.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1395380896579&ref=mf

By Amaka Awogu

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State in Southern Nigeria, Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi was today impeached by the State House of Assembly following the report of a panel of investigation set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri. T

The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu announced on the floor that the investigative panel set up by the Chief Judge was ready and that the document had been submitted to the House.

Honourable Jonathan Obuebite, who is representing Nembe constituency I, subsequently moved for the adoption of the report of the Panel.

He told the House that "it is no longer story but truism that on the 1st of June 2010, 17 members of the Assembly had signed and served the State Deputy Governor, Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi an impeachment notice."

He stated that the notice followed allegations of gross misconduct by Ebebi, noting that the House subsequently directed the State Chief Judge to set up a probe Panel.

Obuebite called on his colleagues to adopt the report of the Panel as a resolution of the House, saying that the Panel had done a wonderful job in their assignment.

"I hereby move for the adoption of the report of the Panel which had found the Deputy Governor guilty of gross misconduct in the allegations against him," he said.

The motion was subsequently seconded by Hon. Fini Angaye, representing Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency II..

Ruling on the motion, Speaker Seibarugu said that the adoption of the Panel’s report had finally paved the way to end the impeachment procedures even as he asked for permission of members to vote for or against the adoption.

Subsequently, 18 of the 24-member House making two-third voted unanimously to remove Ebebi.

THEWILL recalls that same Deputy Governor who as Speaker in 2005 removed the then Governor of the state, Chief Depreye Alameseigha from office through impeachment.

"By the adoption of the report of the investigative Panel, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi is hereby impeached by the signature of 18 members of this House, that is two-third majority, and so he is hereby removed from office," Seibarugu thundered.

Police gun found at Ondo robbery scene

Barack Obama sacked his military chief in Afghanistan yesterday for criticising his civilian masters.

General Stanley McChrystal was dismissed in the White House after being summoned to a 30-minute meeting with the president.

Obama then paid tribute to the "extraordinary dedication" of Gen McChrystal, the Commander of US and Nato Coalition Forces in Afghanistan.

He added: "But war is bigger than any man or woman, whether a private or a general or a president." Obama said the military chief's conduct "does not meet the standards that should be set by a commanding general".

But he said: "I have great admiration for his record."

Gen McChrystal, who will be replaced by Gen David Petraeus, incurred President Obama's wrath in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

He said he felt the US leader was "uncomfortable and intimidated" in the presence of senior military figures.

After his dismissal, Gen McChrystal said in a statement: "I strongly support the presi-dent's strategy in Afghanistan and am deeply committed to our coalition forces, our partner nations and the Afghan people..

"It was out of respect for this commitment - and a desire to see the mission succeed - that I tendered my resignation."

Washington political commentator Gerald Warner slammed Obama by saying: "A bigger man would have been prepared to swallow the minor affront in the wider interest."

He warned the effect on US troops' morale would be "catastrophic".

British Lt Gen Sir Nick Parker has temporarily taken over as the head of the 140,000 Nato troops in Afghanistan - filling in before Gen Petraeus takes up his post.

A Downing St spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is grateful to General McChrystal for his service in Afghanistan, notably through his role in defining and taking forward the current counterinsurgency strategy.

"The Prime Minister told the President of Gen Parker's determination that the mission 'would not miss a beat' during this period."

Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The sacking of Gen McChrystal is a serious blow to the credibility of the alliance and efforts against the Taliban."

MacArthur moment?

In 1951 President Harry S Truman dismissed General Douglas MacArthur as commander in the Korean war after he called for an attack on China if communist forces refused to lay down arms in Korea.

Where there is a will there is a WAY !! With a great percentage of our womenfolk who have embraced Prostitiution and other Vices as a means of survival .The Phrase what a man can do a woman can do even .....Omoyeni is one of the Heroes of This country who face the odds head on and will take No for an Answer.Kudos from us all !

Omoyeni Agbokere is a 35-year-old widow who has taken up a task most women would frown at as a means of survival.

‘First lady’ is what she is fondly called by her colleagues at the motor park, a name which she inscribes on the back of her tricycle (Keke Marwa). Driving a tricycle is not what she ever dreamt of as a career, but her husband’s death forced her to look for a means of survival.

“My husband died two years ago,” she said. “ Before he died, I used to engage in some petty trading because he was the one taking care of most of the family’s needs. When he died, I had to look for a better business to sustain me and my family.”

The mother of two says she has not regretted her decision because she makes enough to take care of her family.

“I have two children, a boy of 12 and a girl of eight. This Keke Marwa business, I see it as something I can use to help my family because it is bringing a daily income. The money I make every day depends on how much I work for the day. I make between N2,000 and N3,000 everyday.”

‘I’m my own boss’

Apart from being lucrative enough to cater for her family’s needs, Mrs Agbokere says she enjoys the flexibility that her work provides. “When I’m tired or when I don’t feel like working again, I can just stop and go home. I have enough time to spend with my children and i can be there for them at any time of the day,” she said.

She plies the Mushin-Oye route several times a day, a task which brings her in contact with different people, some of whom are hesitant to have her drive them because of her gender. “Some passengers who see a woman driving a ‘keke’ for the first time are usually scared. They think that if I drive them, they may fall off the ‘keke’ or even have an accident so they won’t enter. The people who live around here see me driving everyday so they are used to me and don’t get scared.”

With only four months experience in the business, Mrs Agbokere says she is comfortable with it and hopes to continue. “I didn’t buy this ‘keke’ with my money because I can’t afford it. If I had enough money to buy it, I don’t think I would have been driving a ‘keke’. I would have used the money to start another business of my own. But I thank God for what I am doing now. This ‘keke’ is owned by a woman who lives in my area. She gave me to drive and I pay her weekly. By God’s grace, I will soon finish paying for it and the keke would become mine,” says the indigene of Oyo State..

‘The men respect me’

Being the only woman working among so many men, Mrs Agbokere says there are more advantages to it than she thought. “I don’t face as much challenges as I would have expected in this business. The ‘keke’ is quite easy to drive. Also, I am the only woman working among these men and they treat me very well. They respect me a lot. They even pamper me because I am the only woman. The police men I meet on the streets when I am driving my keke are usually very kind to me. Even the Agberos (touts) don’t disturb me when I am working.”

Her husband’s death, she says, has made her stronger and more determined to provide a better future for her children. To women who have had similar losses and setbacks in life, Mrs Agbokere says they should look past their loss and forge ahead. “I advise them not to sit down and fold their hands while waiting for someone to help them. Despite any unfortunate incident in their life, they should not think that is the end of their life.”

Like most business owners, Mrs Agbokere has a dream of expansion for ‘First Lady’. “If I can finish paying the money for this ‘keke’, I will buy another one to give out to someone who will be driving it and paying me daily just like I am doing now, preferably a woman.”

SHAH ALAM: Four Nigerians who abducted the son of a Nigerian politician studying at a private university in Cyberjaya, were arrested together with their Malaysian and Indonesian girlfriends in Cheras.

Selangor acting CID chief Asst Comm Omar Mamah said the 28-year-old student was abducted while walking along the main road outside his campus on May 23rd and was kapt tied down in a rented terrace house in Bandar Damai Perdana, Cheras for a month.

All four Nigerians and two women in their 20s to 30s were arrested 14 hours after the victim was released at about 1:30am on June 20th, in Cybajaya. All have been remanded until June 27th.

Busted: ACP Omar(centre), his deputy K.C.Khaw(left)

and Inspector Siti Sarah Johari Showing some of the seized items

during the press conference at the selngor police headquarters in

Shah Alam yesterday.

"We were alerted of the abduction after the victim's brother informed the police on May 24th, the day after the incident, upon receiving a call from their parents in Nigeria," he said, adding that the abductors had asked for a RM30,000 ransom.

ACP Omar Mamah said the victim had been hit on the head, back and legs and received outpatient treatment at a hospital in Cyberjaya for his injuries.

"Police also seized three laptops, a camera, 15 hand phones, 11 forged passports as Zimbabwe, Zambia,

Pakistan, Thailand and Philippines passports were found," he said.

ACP Omar Mamah added that the group was also linked to another abduction on Feb.18th, where a Nigerian student from the same versity and her friend were abducted.

Both female students were released on Feb.24th after their families in Nigeria paid a ransome of US$15,000 (RM52,500).

ACP Omar Mamah said that all the four Nigerians do not have valid travel documents.

By EDWARD R. HENRY

edward@thestar.com.my

• No tar, tobacco, carbon monoxide, or ash.
• Get the same amount of nicotine as a regular cigarette.
• Each cartridge costs less than $2 and is equivalent to an entire pack of cigarettes.
• You can save over $1,000 each year.
• You won't "smell" like a smoker any longer.
• Different flavors are available.
• No more second-hand smoke.

When Vanessa received her electronic cigarette trial kit, she passed the device around so everyone could take a closer look. Sure enough, the product looked and felt like a cigarette. The device was also very well made and seemed safe to use. When Vanessa took her first few drags on the device, we all stared in amazement. It looked like Vanessa was smoking in the office, but with one huge difference. There was no tobacco smell and no second-hand smoke. Just a harmless vapor.

We were also able to confirm the money savings claims. Each cartridge was equivalent to approximately 1 pack of cigarettes at a cost of only a couple of dollars each, meaning that smokers who smoke 1 pack per day can easily save over $1,000 per year. Since the device satisfied Vanessa's nicotine cravings, we knew that we had found a product that actually works.

We decided to research exactly what expert medical doctors and product users had to say about Direct E-Cig™ electronic cigarettes. The results were surprising. In fact, the United Health Organization concluded that "In the short time that electronic cigarettes have become popular, the number of people who have been able to quit smoking and stay cigarette free have risen by an estimated 300%. No other methodology has proven so successful in such a short period of time."

Four very well known doctors, from the popular TV show “The Doctors”, have shared great insight with us on the topic of the electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette was featured as one of their top 10 key health trends for 2009.

“The greatest issue with cigarettes is the 500+ other ingredients added, not just the nicotine. Do we recommend this for non-smokers? Of course not, but for current smokers this is the most revolutionary device to date” - Dr. Travis Stork

None of the doctors on the show are smokers, so they used a female smoker, Beverly, as a case study. Beverly had struggled with smoking for 15 years. By day 2, this former "heavy smoker" had eliminated the use of regular cigarettes all together, and was pleased to report that she now only uses her electronic cigarette. She admits that the E-Cigarette is very satisfying and definitely recommends it to other smokers.

• Step #1: A flow sensor will detect that air is traveling through the e-cigarette when the user inhales.
• Step #2:Liquid nicotine and flavoring contained in the cartridge goes into the atomization chamber while the Smart Chip controls the amount.
• Step #3:The Heating Vapor Coil "atomizes" the liquid creating a rich vapor very similar to smoke. While this vapor is enjoyed, the indicator light is signaled.
• Step #4: When the smoker finishes inhaling, the LED in the indicator light fades out. The smoker is free to partake in additional drags on the device.

Smoking In Banned Locations

Thousands Of Smokers Are Making The Switch