Photo: Pete Souza/the White House

Last Friday, President Obama met with a very special  group of visitors at the White House. The guests and their canine companions were from the Helen Keller National Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The center offers intensive rehabilitation training for deaf-blind youngsters and adults. The five students, two staffers, and three volunteers from the center were on tour in Washington, DC.

Last week was Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness week. The Helen Keller National Center was established in the late 1960s by Congress. Helen Keller, a deaf and blind author, political activist, and lecturer died at the age of 87 in 1968. As a child, Keller’s world of isolation was opened up with language by her teacher, Anne Sullivan. That breakthrough is at the heart of the famous play and movie called, “The Miracle Worker.”

Convicted swindler Bernard Madoff will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Today a New York Judge sentenced 71-year-old Madoff to the maximum term, 150 years. Many of Madoff’s victims, who were in court, broke out in applause when the sentence was announced.

Earlier in the proceedings, Madoff apologized to his victims for what is estimated to be at least a $50 billion fraud. Madoff was convicted of running the largest Ponzi scheme ever. In court today, some of his victims spoke bitterly of how the scheme had wiped out their finances and damaged their lives.

Last Friday, in a $170 billion legal judgment against Madoff, the government reportedly seized all of his property, which will now be liquidated and used to pay back some of the money owed to more than a thousand investors.

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” seriously cleaned up during its first five days of domestic release. Since opening on Wednesday, the sci-fi action sequel has earned an estimated $201 million, the biggest five day opener behind, “The Dark Knight.” For the weekend, “Transformers 2″ raked in around $112 million. So without a doubt, “Transformers 2″ is the new number one movie in America.

The “Transformers” series is based on a group of novels, toys, and cartoons dating back to 1984.  In “Transformers 2″ alien robot-type creatures that can morph into machines, vehicles, and other mechanical objects battle it out on Earth; caught in the middle are the humans. “Transformers 2″ stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, and Tyrese Gibson.

Last weekend’s top flick, the romantic comedy “The Proposal” still managed to woo enough moviegoers to land in second place with around $18.4 million. Another comedy, “The Hangover” followed in third with about $17.4 million.

The Disney animated 3D film, “Up” came in fourth with an estimated $13 million, followed by the new movie, “My Sister’s Keeper,” in fifth place with around $12 million. This is a family drama about Anna, a young girl who is conceived as the genetic match for her older sister stricken with leukemia. However, when asked to donate a kidney to her sister, Anna sues her parents for medical rights to her own body. The movie stars Alex Baldwin and Cameron Diaz. “My Sister’s Keeper” is based on the 2004 novel of the same title by best selling author, Jodi Picoult.

Photo: Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times — Fans line up to view Michael Jackson’s star and pay their last respects.

Photo: Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times — a fan reaches under a barricade to touch the star of Michael Jackson in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Photo: Barbara Davidson/Los Angeles Times — Fans celebrate the life and music of Michael Jackson in the Leimert Park area of L.A.  

 Funeral arrangements are underway for Pop Idol, Michael Jackson. Last night at around 9:30 p.m., the Los Angeles County Coroner released Jackson’s body to a local mortuary. An autopsy was completed yesterday, but L.A. County Coroner’s Office Spokesman Craig Harvey said more tests are needed to determine the exact cause of death. Harvey stated there was no sign of trauma or ”… indication of foul play.”  Those toxicology tests will take an extra 4-to-6 weeks.

The King of Pop died suddenly on Thursday. Jackson was rushed from his rented West Los Angeles home to UCLA Medical Center by paramedics. The 50-year-old singer had apparently stop breathing. Doctors tried to revive him, but failed. Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m.

The reaction to the superstar’s death has been overwhelming. Internet websites crashed from the huge traffic, radio stations have been playing his music nonstop, and fans around the world have gathered to remember the legendary entertainer’s incredible career and body of work. Jackson reportedly sold 750 million albums worldwide, 100 million of those were for “Thriller,” considered the best-selling album of all time. The night before he died, Jackson was working on a spectacular comeback tour and rehearsing in the Los Angeles area.

Meanwhile, there continues to be speculation that prescription drugs played a part in Jackson’s death. Police are reportedly trying to reach Dr. Conrad Murray, who was Jackson’s live-in physician. Murray was reportedly at Jackson’s home when he died. Investigators spoke with Murray on Thursday, but want to question him again. Murray’s car, which was parked at Jackson’s home, has been impounded by police because it may contain evidence that could help unravel the mystery of what killed the music icon.

More photos related to the death of Michael Jackson on the Los Angeles Times website.

Photo: Reuters/stringer —Michael Jackson performing in Latin America in 1993

The end of an era. Pop Superstar Michael Jackson died today after suffering what may have been a heart attack. There are reports that the singer was not breathing and without a pulse when paramedics arrived at his West Los Angeles home at 12:30 p.m.

The 50-year-old music legend was rushed to UCLA Medical Center where efforts to revive him failed. Some of Jackson’s family members, along with the media, converged on the hospital. Also, a large crowd of onlookers and distraught fans gathered in front of the facility. Then at 2:26 p.m. this afternoon, the pop star was pronounced dead. Now it’s up to the Los Angeles Coroner to determine the exact cause of death.  

Jackson was reportedly rehearsing for a series of 50 concerts set to kick off in London next month. After years out of the public eye, Jackson announced the series of performances on March 5, 2009 as “… the final curtain.” Thousands of fans bought tickets and were looking forward to seeing a moon-walking Jackson deliver some electrifying performances.

Michael Jackson, born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958, stepped into the spotlight as an extremely talented child and lead singer of the “Jackson 5.” That group of brothers was successful, but Michael became a superstar after going solo in 1971. Some of his most popular albums are ”Off the Wall” (1979), “Thriller” (1982), and “Bad.” “Thriller” is considered the best selling album ever. The music video, “Thriller,” was a ground breaker as well. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards. Also, Jackson starred in the movie musical “The Wiz” (1978), a take-off on the classic “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” story.

Michael Jackson’s career had its ups and down, and so did his personal life, which included bizarre behavior, strange changes in his appearance, the 2005 trial for child molestation in which he was acquitted, and two marriages and two divorces. One of his ex-wives is Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie. Jackson leaves behind three children, millions of fans, and a phenomenal music legacy.   

Los Angeles Times/1978 Publicity Photo

After a courageous battle with cancer, 1970s icon Farrah Fawcett died this morning at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. The actress was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, a year later it spread to her liver. A few weeks ago, a documentary of Fawcett’s personal battle with the disease called “Farrah’s Story” was broadcast on television.

 Fawcett was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on February 2, 1947. She began modeling as a college student. A 1970s pin-up poster of Fawcett in a red swimsuit has become a classic and made her a sex symbol. The actress became a star after appearing as Jill Munroe on the first year of the television series, “Charlie’s Angels” ( 1976) with Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. Fawcett sought more serious roles such as that of a battered wife in the TV movie, “The Burning Bed” (1984), which won her critical acclaim.

Fawcett was married to actor Lee Majors from 1973 to 1982. Her long time companion, actor Ryan O’Neal, was at her side when she died. O’Neal and Fawcett have a son, Redmond. Fawcett was 62.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank City Hall

In the course of business as usual at last night’s meeting, the Burbank City Council made some decisions involving issues which are continuing to generate debate and controversy. During public comments, Jose Sandoval, a volunteer coach for the Burbank Parks & Recreation Department for 16 years, returned to speak to the council members again.

Sandoval coaches five teams and about 80 kids, mostly from low income and single parent homes. Some of the baseball players are physically challenged as well. On May 18, 2009, Sandoval got into an altercation with an umpire and was ejected from a game. Sandoval was suspended for the rest of this season, despite a lot of protest and pleading from parents and his players. Many of the parents claim Sandoval is being treated harsher than other coaches in similar situations. At a hearing on June 8, arranged by the Parks & Recreation Department, that suspension was upheld and extended until next May, according to Sandoval.

Sandoval asked for the council’s help in getting documents from that hearing before his day in court. That’s right, a dispute with a baseball umpire has become a criminal matter. Sandoval got a letter on Monday, June 22 ordering him to appear in Burbank Superior Court on July 2, 2009 to answer to a misdemeanor charge of battery, Section 242 of the Penal Code.

The city council members and City Attorney Dennis Barlow said they were unaware that Sandoval was being prosecuted for his involvement in that altercation. Still, the beleaguered coach was assured he would receive the documents he requested by tomorrow.

Also, speaking during public comments, long time Burbank resident Mike Nolan, who demanded to know, “how much money,” is being spent on lawyers and investigations and “how many claims” are there against the city. Nolan has asked these questions before. However this time, after some discussion about  ”preserving the integrity” of the investigations, the council and city attorney grudgingly agreed to provide Nolan with some information.

Later in the meeting, the council voted 4-to-1 to include an addendum to the police commission application. That addendum would include three items requiring applicants to reveal if they have been convicted of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude or have been on probation. Councilman Gordon, who voted against the addendum, pointed out the police commission application never asked these sort of questions before and, “… I don’t think the city has suffered for it.”

Council Member Anja Reinke argued the addendum would help  ”… protect the city.” When Gordon suggested the answers to the questions by the candidates could taint “…their reputations.” Reinke led the charge to have the addendum classified as confidential, something the city attorney said he would have to check to see if they could do legally.

Gordon opposed the confidentially, saying it sends the wrong message when the council should be about providing transparency, especially in light of the council’s controversial removal of John Brady from the police commission. Council Member/Mayor Gary Bric countered by saying he has received, “…very positive feedback” to the way the council ousted Brady from the police commission. Applicants are now being sought for consideration to fill that vacant seat. It will be interesting to see who steps forward and volunteers to go through this dubious process.