#WhatsHappening for January 12, 2017

Hey kids. It's Thursday. One more day until we can kick off the weekend.

Just FYI- the weather forecast for Saturday is calling for a high of 64° and a low of 49°, so we don't have to worry about being icebound again.

Today's word of the day (via email from Arcamax): 

malversation \mal-vur-SAY-shun\ (noun) - Misconduct, corruption, or extortion in public office. 

I think we're going to need to keep this one handy.

So, there's evidently a comedy coming out called Urban Myths that has cast Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson and Stockard Channing as Elizabeth Taylor.

The only shot I could find that wasn't scary.

And the film has managed to upset the Jackson family.

The first issue for them: Fiennes is white. Yes, I realize Mike was African American- I just wonder if he did. I don't buy the skin disease thing (unless it was directly related, somehow, to the incredible amounts of plastic surgery he underwent). Also, it's a comedy. Still, I guess I get their reasoning. I'm guessing Eddie Murphy would've jumped the the chance to play MJ. 

The second issue: "...(How) obviously intentional it was for them to be this insulting..." Paris Jackson, via Twitter. Ms. Jackson, please see pretty much any comedy. There is always some level of insult.

Third issue (via same series of tweets): Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor "worked through blood sweat and tears for ages to create such profound and remarkable legacies." That they tarnished themselves. So the filmmakers are calling them out on it.

We all want to idolize our friends and family. They'd be the first to tell you they don't deserve it.

Richard Carpenter has filed suit against Universal Music Group to recover what he claims are millions in royalties owed from licensing Carpenters songs for online services.

The suit seeks more than $2 million in royalties and was also filed on behalf of the estate of his sister, Karen Carpenter.

The suit is one of a number filed after an appellate court ruled in a case involving Eminem's record label that music downloads from services such as iTunes should result in higher royalty payments for digital downloads than for physical recording is sold.

Carpenter says the duo's "recordings are among the best sellers in the history of popular music and after 48 years continue to contribute a substantial amount to UMG/A&M's annual bottom line. It seems only fair that these companies account fairly to my sister's estate and to me."

Birthdays today include: Melanie Chisholm of Spice Girls; Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan; Rob Zombie; Charlie Gillingham of Counting Crows; Per Gessle of Roxette; Cynthia Robinson of Sly & The Family Stone; and William Lee Gordon of Oak Ridge Boys. #MusicalBirthdays