jackson: i was just so over that pajama phase...

as if we don't have enough fun stuff to, well, make fun of, it seems that michael jackson was spied at a bahrain mall this week clad in — wait for it — that's right, the traditional dress of women in the gulf: the full black robe known as an abaya, gloves, and a veil hiding his face. he was with three children, who appeared to be his own, though one can hardly tell as they, too, had faces concealed by scarves.

apparently jackson is in the process of negotiating a job with a company there that plans to set up theme parks and such in the middle east. hmmm.

and another fun tidbit for you; according to the sydney morning herald, this is not the first time jackson has made news in the middle east. last november, he "...stirred controversy in the united arab emirates by entering the ladies room in a shopping mall. his publicist said jackson ... did not understand the arabic sign on the door and left the bathroom when he realized his mistake. but local newspapers reported that the performer was applying makeup in the woman's toilets in a dubai mall. jackson's host, mohammed bin sulayem, dismissed the story as rumor."

what's that old saying? "with friends like that who needs enemies?"

well, with "news" like this, who needs entertainment?