Text-Message Service Fields Flood of Jackson Queries

By JENNA WORTHAM
In the wake of the sudden death of pop icon Michael Jackson one thing is clear: Fans can’t get enough of him.

Celebrations, vigils and synchronized moonwalks are being coordinated online. Sales of his music on Amazon and iTunes are soaring, according to The Times’ Media Decoder blog. Twitter is still populated with emotional outpourings of grief and messages commemorating Mr. Jackson’s music and legacy.

Mr. Jackson’s death is also prompting some people to ask questions about the life and history of the late singer. Mobile search service kgb, which employs human beings to answer text queries, has been flooded with questions about Mr. Jackson.

A spokesman for kgb said that since the first reports of Mr. Jackson’s hospitalization and death, the paid service — available by texting kgbkgb (or 542542) — has fielded more than 10,000 questions.

Here are some of the most popular questions, along with the answers from kgb’s “special agents” (we’ll save you the 99 cents apiece that kgb would charge you):

Question: In the Michael Jackson video, “Smooth Criminal,” Jackson does a move where he leans forward as his body is straight, while keeping his feet together flat on the ground. Is this move real/physically possible?

Answer: It is physically possible with the special shoes that were made and a trick in the stage floor. Essentially, he was hitched to a peg.

Question: What does the EO stand for in the Michael Jackson exhibit that used to be at Epcot Center?

Answer: “Captain EO” ran from 1986-1994 and starred Michael Jackson. EO is a reference to Eos, the Greek goddess of the dawn.

Question: When was the first time Michael Jackson did the moonwalk in public?

Answer: Michael Jackson showed the world his moonwalk at the Motown 25th Anniversary in 1983 during a performance of “Billie Jean.”