It's a good thing Michael Jackson didn't go with the "over my dead body" ultimatum.

Despite the comebacking King of Pop's legal objections, a Beverly Hills auction house is going ahead with a planned sell-off of nearly 2,000 pieces of furniture, clothing and other Jackson memorabilia that the company was asked to cart off from Neverland Ranch last year.

Some of the items on the block, such as a few of the Thriller artist's jewel-encrusted gloves (including the glove), a black fedora and a couple of MTV Video Music Awards, will be on display starting Wednesday at the Hard Rock Cafe in NYC's Times Square.

"It will be the last time you can see these items publicly unless they're purchased by a major museum," Julien's Auctions proprietor Darren Julien told the New York Daily News.

But while Julien is championing the goodies for sale, he is still required to go through the motions in court.

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Elvis fans are "All Shook Up" over a new collection of memorabilia on sale at a New York City auction house. The trademark powder blue-and-gold jumpsuit and matching cape Elvis Presley wore at his 1972 concert at Madison Square Garden is up for sale in a weeklong online auction.

After the concert, Presley gave the jumpsuit to legendary songwriter Joyce (Dottie) Rambo, who wrote many tunes for the King, for her birthday. She put it away and it wasn't seen again until her daughter discovered it after the 74-year-old Rambo was killed in a tour bus accident last year.

"Nobody knew where it was," said Pete Siegel, who is auctioning off hundreds of pieces of Elvis memorabilia for sale online at gottahaverockandroll.com.

The jumpsuit is expected to fetch more than $150,000.
 

NEW YORK (AP) — The federal government announced Thursday it intends to shake up New York's congested airports by bringing in new airlines in an effort to reduce delays and lower fares.

The controversial program is designed to bring more competition and efficiency by auctioning off the right to take off at some of the nation's most desired — and most delayed — airports. Airline carriers will be allowed to bid for slots at LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International.

Over five years, the Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to take 10% of flight slots at those airports away from current airlines and auction them. The proceeds will go to airport improvements. In the first auction set for Jan. 12, 23 LaGuardia slots would be sold and 18 slots each at Newark and Kennedy.

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said the move will reduce delays and lower air fares. "Without slot auctions, a small number of airlines will profit while travelers bear the brunt of higher fares, fewer choices and deteriorating service," she said.

Airlines, airports and lawmakers reacted with anger. The Air Transport Association, which represents the large carriers that would have to give up slots, vowed to sue to block the regulation. It argues that auctions will increase fares as airlines pass on the costs to passengers.

Opponents cited an opinion last month by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, that said such auctions are illegal.

"It is simply shocking that the DOT is unabashedly continuing this ideological battle despite the staunch opposition from the entire aviation community," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

The Justice Department said the government has the authority to hold the auctions.

The Bush administration and Peters have signaled for about a year that they wanted to impose the auctions despite growing opposition and the end of Bush's term. The first auction comes eight days before a new president takes office.

With so few slots at stake initially, it will be difficult for an airline to buy enough to set up a beachhead at one of the airports, said airline industry analyst Roger King of CreditSights.

"You really have to have a market share to have any effect on consumer behavior," King said.