jackson "not guilty"

thanks to a blackberry message from d. i was able to rush to a tv set and watch the denouement of the jackson trial/extravaganza. i was quite surprised at the verdict --i had expected that the jury would be reluctant to find him guilty on the most serious charges because of the checkered past of the accuser's mother (the whole family really). but it seemed inevitable that they would find him guilty of one of the lesser charges for which ample supporting (and believable)
testimony had been given. jackson's lawyers must have given quite a summation and the judge's instructions (98 pages) overwhelming and confusing.
perhaps the one heartening take home message is that in the u.s. today you can be a total freak in looks and behavior and member of an historically oppressed minority group and still get a sympathetic hearing in court (at least if you are a world-famous -superstar-multi-millionaire).
i'm not betting that his musical career is over. if his mind and body has the endurance (which isn't a sure thing--he looked very frail and spaced out during the trial) he could have at least one round of a very successful world tour given his fan base and now over-the-top notoriety.