Michael Jackson died two years ago today

The 2nd anniversary of Michael Jackson's death will be marked by fans who've converged on Los Angeles from around the world. Some cinemas will screen This is It. Tomorrow Juliens Auctions will sell dozens of items of Jackson memorabilia, including one of the two leather jackets the singer wore for the Thriller video. The list price is $200,000-$400,000. Also on sale are a Jackson glove and the wig he wore for the London news conference when he announced his This is It comeback.

Meanwhile, there could be a further delay in the trial of Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray. The judge is allowing a defense request to view many hours of rehearsal footage for This is It. The trial may not get underway until sometime in October, because of the time it will take to watch the rushes.

Royal visit to LA may highlight plight of underprivileged

The LA media can not get enough of the upcoming visit to California by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It is actually a fascinating itinerary. The expected red carpet galas will focus on business and promoting young British talent. Perhaps more interesting is a scheduled visit to LA's Skid Row, the city's homeless enclave. They will also attend a 'job fair' for veterans. Skid Row is more than a row. It is akin to a moderately sized neighborhood comprising 50 square blocks. I have spent some time there recently and will be reporting on the plight of LA's homeless veterans for a Radio 4 documentary next month. To the "shame" of many, some US war heroes are living in squalor. Others are barely living at all.