By Blue Rose on Sunday, 30 of August , 2009 at 9:00 am
Pop star Michael Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide from drug overdose on Friday, fueling speculation his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, may soon be charged with manslaughter or another crime.
The Los Angeles County Coroner said in its ruling that the powerful anesthetic propofol, which is used in surgery and has been dubbed “milk of amnesia” by some doctors, as well as the sedative lorazepam were the primary drugs responsible for Jackson’s sudden death on June 25 at the age of 50. Other drugs found in the singer’s body were midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine and ephedrine.
Los Angeles police said they will refer the case to prosecutors for possible criminal charges when they have completed a probe into Jackson’s death. In previous court filings, police have said Murray, who was with the singer the day he died, was being investigated for manslaughter. Murray, a heart specialist with offices in Houston and Las Vegas, was hired to care for the singer while he prepared for the concerts, and he was at Jackson’s bedside the day he died.
The doctor previously has admitted to police that he administered propofol, which has a milky appearance and is used to sedate patients, to help Jackson sleep.
Police have looked into the activities of other Jackson doctors including his dermatologist. On Friday the California Attorney General’s office said it will begin an independent investigation of several physicians whose names have come up in the Los Angeles police probe. Murray’s attorney cautioned that the probe is not complete, nor are all the details of Jackson’s death known.
“We will not be responding until we get a full autopsy report, including the entire list of drugs found in Mr. Jackson, their quantities, and all other data that would allow independent medical experts to analyze and interpret,” attorney Ed Chernoff said in a statement.
The coroner said the complete toxicology report remained sealed at the request of Los Angeles police and prosecutors. The list of drugs in Jackson’s system provided by the coroner on Friday reads like a cocktail of sedatives, painkillers and one stimulant. Midazolam, which is similar to propofol, is used to make patients drowsy during procedures such as colonoscopies.
Diazepam, the generic version of Valium, is used to calm anxiety, while lidocaine is a painkiller and ephedrine is a stimulant. Defense attorney Steve Cron, a professor at Pepperdine University School of Law, said Murray could face up to four years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Forensics expert Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky, who chairs the Department of Science at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said prosecutors, would look at the amount of propofol and other drugs in Jackson’s system, whether errors were made in administering drugs in combination, and whether Murray gave proper dosages or a lethal dosage.
Jim Cohen, a professor of law at Fordham University, said Murray could put up a vigorous defense. “It’s not an open and shut case,” he said. “Everyone says can only be administered in a hospital setting. I’m sure they’ll find some expert who says that’s preferred, but preferred doesn’t mean it’s required.”
By Blue Rose on Friday, 21 of August , 2009 at 8:02 am
Benigno Servillano Aquino, Jr. (November 27, 1932 – August 21, 1983), popularly known as Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. and by his nickname Ninoy, was a former Philippine senator, governor, vice governor and mayor, and a leader of the opposition to the rule of Ferdinand Marcos. He was assassinated at the Manila International Airport (later renamed in his honor) upon returning home from exile in the United States. His death catapulted his widow, Corazon Aquino, to the limelight and subsequently to the presidency, replacing the 20-year Marcos regime.
Malacañang has declared this day, Ninoy Aquino Day, a special nonworking day in commemoration of his 26th death anniversary.
Policemen have been deployed in areas where activities are expected to be held, such as the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City, and the Ninoy Aquino monument in Makati City, among others. Metro Manila still retains its heightened alert status because of the mass actions held recently.
Apart from providing area security and crowd control, police are also expected to manage traffic and prevent congestion in major roads where crowds are expected to gather.
Normal status remains in other areas in Luzon and Visayas, while the full alert status remains in Mindanao because of sporadic clashes between rebels and government troops, he added. Groups planning to hold protest actions or activities are required to seek the appropriate permits before conducting any program in public places.
By Blue Rose on Saturday, 15 of August , 2009 at 4:00 am
Something drew my attention, this amazing “Are You Ready for Marriage?” quiz from a 1970 Girls’ Romances. It’s actually pretty reasonable, for a life-decision quiz. The bad news: “Are You Qualified for Marriage?” Answer the questions on your own to know.
1. If he can’t support you, do you earn enough to live comfortably without either family’s help?
- Define “comfortably.” Also, define “help,” “family,” and “enough.”
2. Is there enough money in the bank — in his account, yours, a joint bank account – to meet any emergency? If not, how long will it be before enough funds are available?
-Define “emergency.” Ok, then: Late middle age, if there’s no inflation. With inflation, never.
3. With rentals on the increase, can you afford quarters that you are accustomed to?
-YES! (Granted, I’m accustomed to roaches, mice, and no AC, but really who isn’t these days?)
4. Have either of you a source from which to borrow money should the need arrive?
-Does the bank count? Cause if so, I’m giving that a YES.
5. Rather than estimate roughly how much your joint expenses will be, have you written down, as precisely as possible, where and how your income will be spent, including not only food, clothing and shelter, but such nitty-gritty details as your facial makeup, stockings, accessories, his shaving cream and blades, laundry, toothpaste, and all the other essentials?
- BO-RING! Does writing “a lot” down count? (In good news, my stocking budget is an affordable $0.)
6. Are you sacrificing anything for marriage – school, a career, giving up certain friends?
- NO. See #1. Wait, is this supposed to be a YES?
7. Have you given up certain things because he dislikes them, and has he done the same?
I think “sleeping with other people” qualifies, yes?
8. Have you ever done something together like working to complete a chore at work or school, shoveled snow or mowed the lawn, painted a room, or combined your monies to buy something?
-Heck, YES! We combined monies for a Rollo only yesterday! And haven’t they been following? We don’t have a lawn.
9. Do you associate with married friends your own ages?
-A couple of our friends are thinking about getting married before she has the baby. Sometimes we see them for drinks – okay, not that much since she got pregnant, I guess. But only because she hasn’t been answering our emails. Whatever, her mom’s in town, I know that’s stressful. She’s got a few years on us, but we’re talking ballpark, right?
10. Do you argue often over trifling matters? And do either of you insist on being right?
-Okay, so yesterday he refused to pet a dog because he bites his nails compulsively, and this kind of became a thing because I was like, is it worth offending my parent’s neighbor because you’re so neurotic and infantile? Why don’t you just wear a Hazmat suit, Howard Hughes?
11. Do you love him less after a scrap, or do you continue to love him just as much?
-Well, he agreed on the dog thing, so we’re good.
12. Do you give up your friends that he dislikes?
-Um, just because I used to date someone and almost married him before you, doesn’t mean he isn’t awesome!
13. Even if it hurts him, and puts you in a bad light, can you tell him the truth?
-About what? No, really, what is this getting at? That that one friend of his is super-creepy and really skived me out when I ran into him on the street and he started talking about socks? Cause we handled that.
14. Do you consult your mother, an older sister, or a friend when you have a problem?
-Well, that’s kind of what we pay a shrink for. Where do you think the stocking budget’s going?
15. Can you make a decision and hold to it in spite of criticism of older people?
-You mean that bum on the corner who insulted my new shoes? It hurt, but I’m still wearing them – sometimes.
16. Can you defy your mother’s and/or father’s wishes and stick to it, whether it’s an important or trifling matter?
-Hell, given her druthers, my mom would take me off meds! So, yeah. But look, she hates the big glasses so much, sometimes it’s just not worth it for one dinner. Isn’t compromise adult, too?
17. Are you uncomfortable being alone at night if he has to go out of town on business or goes bowling with the boys or must train for two weeks during the summer with his military or naval service unit?
And whether we’re talking about the creepy friend with the socks.
20. Can you ignore your own bad mood to pull him out of his?
-If by “ignore” you mean “treat with pudding,” then, YES.
21. Can you prepare all of his favorite dishes?
-Well, I’m sure I could prepare that hippy-dippy brown rice-tofu thing he’s so into, but that doesn’t mean I will. So, YES?
22. Do you retain leftovers from your meals know how to prepare them attractively?
-Well, I take a relativist’s approach to “attractiveness.”
23. Can you sew his socks, iron his shirts, press his trousers, mind ferrying his clothes back and forth from the tailor and laundry, his shoes from the cobbler?
-If I got to take an actual “ferry,” I would do this. So I’m giving myself a YES.
24. Have you ever decorated and furnished a room?
-Funny you should ask: I just bought the freakiest antique doll, which I placed under a jar on the mantelpiece. Wow, I’m on a roll!
25. Do you insist that he adhere to your tastes, styles, and colors?
-Yes. Moving on. Purple is for wizards and Lisa Frank.
26. Are you efficient in housekeeping – sweeping, dusting, polishing, washing windows, even to such details as cleaning the blinds and tidying the closet?
-If by “efficient”, do they mean, it doesn’t take up a disproportionate amount of my time? Cause if so, that’s a YES.
27. Are you willing to get up every morning to prepare his breakfast and see him off to work as well as taking care of yourself before going to business or school?
-”Going to business” in the next room really facilitates this. And I mean, he’s welcome to some of the coffee.
28. Has he ever seen you when you’re aware that you don’t look your best – your face smeared with facial cream, hair in curlers or bundled up in a bandanna, or showing the effects of a bad cold, or made dirty from housecleaning?
-Well, of course not.
29. Have you ever seen him when he’s not at his best – in need of a shave, a haircut, un-pressed apparel, showing the effects of a cold, wearing old clothes to putter around the house?
-You know, I really prefer to avoid people who show “the effects of a cold.” It sounds like said people really need a tissue.
30. Have you considered that you will be married to this man, that you will spend the rest of your life with him until deaths do you part?
- Whoa, whoa, whoa. Can we get back to the china pattern now, please?
