Good evening,
I know the last thing anyone wants to come here and read about is Michael Jackson, but I just have to post a bit of commentary. Michael Jackson is what he is -innocent until proven guilty, of course- but who are these parents that let their kids SPEND THE NIGHT AT A GROWN MAN'S SLUMBER PARTY???????????? Charge them and put them on trial too.


Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch Raided

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. - Investigators conducting a criminal probe
swarmed Michael Jackson (news)'s Neverland Ranch on Tuesday. The
purpose of the search was not disclosed.

Jackson and his three young children were not at the ranch at the
time of the raid, his spokesman, Stuart Backerman, told The
Associated Press. He said that for three weeks Jackson and his family
have been in Las Vegas, where Jackson was filming a video.


Backerman declined further comment, saying he lacked detailed
information about the investigation.


Sixty to 70 personnel from the Santa Barbara County sheriff's and
district attorney's offices served a warrant about 8:30 a.m. as part
of an "ongoing criminal investigation," Sgt. Chris Pappas said.


Detectives were expected to be gathering evidence all day. No one was
arrested, and as of midday there was no arrest warrant issued, Pappas
said at a command post.


The district attorney's office had no comment, said legal secretary
Debbie Popp.


The $12.3 million Santa Ynez Valley property, which has a mansion,
its own zoo and amusement park with bumper cars, a merry-go-round and
Ferris wheel, has often been the site of children's parties.


More than 10 years have passed since the 45-year-old singing
superstar faced a child-molestation investigation in a case that
never resulted in criminal charges.


The singer who had international hits with the albums "Thriller"
(1982), "Bad" (1987) and "Dangerous" (1991), saw his career begin to
collapse in 1993 amid allegations he molested a boy. Jackson
maintained his innocence, and charges were never filed. He reportedly
paid a multimillion-dollar settlement.


Jackson is also connected to Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano,
who has begun serving federal prison time for possessing illegal
explosives, and is being investigated about whether he secretly taped
conversations of celebrities and their lawyers.


Pellicano, 59, reportedly worked for Jackson while the singer was
under investigation for child molestation in the early 1990s.


As the raid was under way, Court TV reported that the warrant was
tied to allegations brought by a 12-year-old boy. That could not
immediately be confirmed by The Associated Press.


In a television documentary broadcast on ABC earlier this year,
Jackson said he had slept in a bed with many children. "When you say
bed you're thinking sexual," the singer said. "It's not sexual, we're
going to sleep. I tuck them in. ... It's very charming, it's very
sweet."


As of last December, when Jackson interacted with young fans outside
a lawsuit hearing in Santa Maria, Calif., he was still inviting
children to his home for parties.


The search came on the same day Epic Records released "Number Ones,"
a greatest hits collection featuring Jackson's new single, "One More
Chance." On Nov. 26, CBS is scheduled to air a Jackson special
consisting mainly of old concert footage.


Jackson caused an international uproar last year when he displayed
his baby, Prince Michael II, to fans by dangling him briefly from a
fourth-floor balcony in Germany, where he had gone to accept an award.


Jackson called the incident a "terrible mistake," and Berlin
authorities said the actions were not punishable.


Not much is known about Prince Michael II, whose mother has not been
identified. The singer's 6-year-old son, Prince Michael I, and
5-year-old daughter, Paris, were born during his marriage to Debbie
Rowe, his plastic surgeon's nurse, which ended in 1999.

He was also married to Lisa Marie Presley (news), Elvis's daughter,
between 1994 and 1996.

Jackson routinely keeps the children's heads covered with cloth while
escorting them in public - and he usually sports a surgical mask
himself when out and about. He has said he wants to protect them from
the public eye.

The "King of Pop" amassed a half-billion-dollar fortune over the past
20 years, but his former financial advisers have said, in a lawsuit
last spring, that he is saddled with debt and teetering near
bankruptcy. Current financial advisers have denied that claim.

Jackson has appeared weak and ghostly pale at many of his recent
public appearances, and his own attorneys have said has been involved
in nearly 1,000 lawsuits.

In June, he suffered a suspected anxiety attack during a visit to
Indianapolis to deliver a deposition in a lawsuit and his doctor said
the singer was weak, dizzy and dehydrated.

In a separate Santa Maria lawsuit hearing earlier this year, the
singer hobbled into court on crutches with his left foot wrapped in
bandages because of swelling from what he described as a spider bite
and delayed testimony because he said he was too ill to appear in
court.

When he did finally testify, he giggled during questioning and made
comical faces at people in the courtroom.