People talk 06/09/03

'Idol' judges auctioning off chairs for charity

HOLLAND, Mich. -- Office chairs used by judges on the Fox TV series "American Idol" will be auctioned off to benefit cancer-related charities.

Judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson have each autographed their respective seats, made by Holland-based Trendway Corp.

Abdul's will be auctioned off to benefit a Michigan branch of the American Cancer Society on Aug. 22.

The chair signed by Jackson will benefit Chicago's The Common Thread for the Cure Foundation. Cowell's chair will be auctioned by a yet-to-be announced charity.

The "American Idol" judges aren't the only stars offering seats for a cause.

Last month, recliners designed by the cast of NBC's "Friends" were auctioned off to benefit a Michigan AIDS charity, bringing in $125,000 on eBay.

Jacko's attorney calls lawsuit 'ridiculousness'

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Jackson's attorney said that the copyright lawsuit his client is facing borders on "ridiculousness."

Jackson has been ordered to give a deposition in a lawsuit alleging that the Jackson Five used the name of another band and two of their songs without license on an album.

"The ridiculousness of this whole thing is that when these songs came out, Michael Jackson was nine years old and for him to have a recollection of what was going on 30 years ago, it's absurd," said Jackson's attorney, Robert Meyer, on Friday.

Gordon Keith, the man who signed the Jackson Five to his Gary-based Steeltown Records in 1967, and musician Elvy Woodard accuse Michael, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon Jackson of infringing on the trade name Ripples & Waves, which was the name of another Gary band during the 1960s.

Jackson failed to appear for the deposition on May 21 after he was hospitalized for a suspected anxiety attack.

A judge ordered him to return to Indianapolis by June 13 to complete the deposition.

Nude artist calls Spain photos successful

BARCELONA, Spain -- More than 7,000 people gathered at daybreak Sunday and shed their clothes to take part in artist Spencer Tunick's largest work yet -- an installation featuring a sea of nude bodies covering a central Barcelona avenue.

The New York native has achieved worldwide renown for his work, which often features large numbers of nude people posing in urban settings.

Though he refers to his art as "temporary site-related installations," he is best known for the photographs he takes of these events.

"I want people to feel uncomfortable that they've demonized the body," Tunick said in an interview with The Associated Press shortly before staging his Barcelona installation. "I want them to feel uncomfortable at first and then realize it's just skin."

He called the Barcelona installation a great visual success. "I created a river of bodies like I've never made before. It was an amazing pink and tan carpet."

Barbara Bush receives honorary degree

PORTLAND, Maine -- Former first lady Barbara Bush received an honorary degree and delivered the commencement address at the University of New England's College of Osteopathic Medicine.

"Even before you hang out your shingles, you are real heroes in my mind," she told the graduates at Saturday's ceremony.

Mrs. Bush received an honorary doctor of humane letter from the college, which specializes in teaching primary-care physicians.

The medical college, which graduated 104 osteopathic physicians Saturday, is Maine's only medical school and the only osteopathic medical school in New England.

-- From wire reports