MICHAEL JACKSON COMING TO DVD

When tickets for the last set of Michael Jackson shows went on sale in London, they sold out quickly. 750,000 people bought tickets for the 50-night “This is It” concert. According to reports, the promoters, AEG Live, behind the “This Is It” Michael concerts recorded enough material of Jackson’s rehearsals that they will be able to release at least one live CD/DVD.

20TH ANNIVERSARY WATER ICE TRUCK

On Monday, June 15, 2009, VILLA along with sponsors Nike and 100.3 The Beat, began a summer grassroots initiative to refresh the City of Brotherly Love by means of a water ice truck. Yes….you read it right! VILLA has a water ice truck all summer long and will be visiting neighborhoods around its stores and hitting up other key events, selling water ice for ONLY $.20 cents. This initiative is to celebrate VILLA’s 20th Anniversary. During the week, the truck will be at The Chosen League at Cherashore Playground (10th & Onley) from 7pm to 9pm. This is a summer basketball league sponsored by Nike and VILLA. This will be an exciting summer for VILLA, so keep your eyes open for VILLA’s 20th Anniversary Water Ice Truck coming to a neighborhood near you!

THE DEATH OF MICHAEL JACKSON

Music icon Michael Jackson, whose fame spanned from his childhood with the legendary Jackson 5 to a superstar solo career that earned him the nickname ‘King of Pop,’ died Thursday afternoon at a Los Angeles hospital at the age of 50. Brother Jermaine confirmed Jackson’s death from suspected cardiac arrest at a press conference Thursday evening. “It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home. However, the cause of his death is unknown until results of the autopsy are known,” Jermaine said.

This is truly is a sad day. Michael Jackson was and still is a true inspiration to to us all. To his signature moves and hart felt music. It hurts our harts deep to hear that one of our long term icons that we grew up mimicking as children even into adulthood has left us. We at the VILLA want to send our prayers to the Jackson family and fans. Yet Michael Jackson may not be present on earth, his music will still live on.

WILL THE WORLD REALLY END 2012?

Knowing the ending of life on earth itself has made scientist come up with countless theories. At the turn of the 21st century, conspiracy theorists claimed that the Y2K bug was only a small part of the end. The new century would bring about total destruction, and no one would survive. Others believe that Earth is slated for another ice age, which will kill off all living things.

­In 2006, Mel Gibson produced a movie about the Mayan culture. “Apocalypto”, which follows one man’s journey from slavery back to his family. In the movie, a young woman prophesies that a man will bring an end to the Mayans and wipe out their civilization. In the real world, some theorists don’t believe a man will be the end of the Mayans, instead a spiritual event will be the cause.The Mayan calendar even gives us a date for this theoretical event: Dec. 21, 2012.

What’s your thoughts on this theory?

FINED $1.92 MILLION IN DOWNLOADING SUIT

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) continues his quest against illegal file-sharing, and won a victory last week when it was awarded a $1.92 million judgement against a 32-year-old woman from Minnesota.

According to reports, Jammie Thomas-Rasset was found guilty in an earlier case in which she was ordered to pay $222,000 for the same songs. However, that case was declared a mistrial, and she opted for a new trial instead of settling with the RIAA like 30,000+ others before her to get hit with suits from the organization.

That decision turned out to be the wrong one, when a federal jury on Thursday (June 18) found Thomas-Rasset liable for file-sharing, fining her $1.92 million for allegedly downloading 24 songs.

NORTH KOREA MAY FIRE ICBM TOWARD HAWAII

The missile, believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles, would be launched from North Korea’s Dongchang-ni site on the northwestern coast, said the Yomiuri daily, Japan’s top-selling newspaper.The missile launch could come between July 4 and 8, given the North’s propensity to launch on U.S. holidays.

While the newspaper speculated the Taepodong-2 could fly over Japan and toward Hawaii, it said the missile would not be able to hit Hawaii’s main islands, which are about 4,500 miles from the Korean peninsula.

South Korea’s Lee said Wednesday in Washington that was essential for China and Russia to “actively cooperate” in getting the North to give up its nuclear program, suggesting the North’s bombs program may trigger a regional arms race.