The most egregious misinterpretation of Michael Jackson’s will, which was released yesterday: that he “dissed” ex wife Debbie Rowe by indicating she wouldn’t receive any money.

This is what happens when lay people get their hands on legal documents. Jackson specifically cited Rowe because at the time, in 2002, he was in the middle of paying her millions as part of their divorce agreement. She was well taken care of, in fact. They each had that understanding.

Because the will was executed in July 2002, it was three years before Jackson’s child molestation trial. A lot changed over the years. At one point, when Jackson’s finances were a mess, he ceased paying Rowe on the court-appointed schedule. Her personal situation was endangered, as I reported at the time. Jackson’s lack of payment then caused a problem with their custody agreement. The other problem in 2005 was that Jackson had been overwhelmed by the Nation of Islam. Rowe ‘ who is half-Jewish ‘ was worried that this could affect her children. It was a bad time.

On January 14, 2004, I first wrote about Rowe’s concerns. Jackson didn’t like that, or the fact that Rowe complained publicly that she had no idea what was going on in his child-molestation case. From the time he was arrested in November 2003′ through his trial in the winter of 2005, she never heard a word from him. In the summer of 2004, Jackson cut Rowe off financially, claiming that she violated their confidentiality agreement by doing a TV interview about her horse farm.

Rowe was incensed, and rightly so: she had always defended Michael. In February 2003, after the “Living with Michael Jackson” TV special raised question about Jackson and children, Rowe went on TV a couple of weeks later and defended him. He didn’t even thank her.

By the end of 2004, Rowe had had her parental rights reinstated by a family court judge.

She nevertheless testified on Jackson’s behalf in April 2005 about his fitness as a parent. Her testimony helped sway the jury to acquit Jackson of child molestation and conspiracy charges. Jackson took the children to Bahrain in the summer of 2005, but sent them back with their nanny, Grace Rwaramba, for a supervised visit a few months later. All custody and visitation issues between Jackson and Rowe were settled, finally, in September 2006. Rowe was also made “whole” at that point, receiving the money that was due her from Jackson.

Remember the other day when I told you Nancy Malnik found her personal pictures of Michael Jackson all over the Internet? Someone stole them from her Facebook page and sold them to a website. Yikes! Nice friends.

Now Nancy has decided to put all her pics online for free at Facebook. “This way, no one can make money off of them,” she told me. The photos are mostly taken in Florida, with Michael’s kids and the Malniks’ kids circa 2002-2003.

Some of the photos of Michael are priceless, especially ones taken in a supermarket. Talk about worlds colliding!

You can see the pics at Facebook; search “The real Michael Jackson…friend and father.” And thanks to Nancy for making them free to everyone.

AEG Live has released the first video clip of Michael Jackson’s rehearsal two nights before he died, on June 23. Jackson and his dancers perform “They Don’t Care About Us” and it’s, frankly, thrilling. Michael looks lean and mean, totally coherent, clear-eyed and in control. He doesn’t look frail, fragile or confused. So much for the idiotic comments from sources that “he knew he was going to die” or anything else like that. More clips should be coming soon, and they will continue to show that there was no indication that the pop star wouldn’t be breathing just days later. His death remains a mystery and a tragedy. What a shame if, as so far indicated, it turns out to have been an accidental overdose that did him in.

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With all the talk of Michael Jackson this week, I thought it might be nice to remember that brother Jermaine, who appeared on the “Today” show today, has had hit records, too.

Back in 1984, after “Let’s Get Serious” topped the charts, he released a terrific album with Clive Davis on Arista. The album featured’‘”Do What You Do”‘“Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming”‘with Michael on vocals, and a duet with Whitney Houston, who was just starting out. About four years later, Whitney told me she’d had an affair with Jermaine at the time.

Why Jermaine did not go on from there and have a big solo career is anyone’s guess. Bob Jones, Michael’s longtime aide (now deceased) wrote in his self-published book that Michael purposely thwarted the careers of all his siblings so he could be the only star in the family. I don’t know if I believe that. Janet Jackson had a false start with a dud album before her “Control” record broke out like crazy and established her.

Jermaine’s hits shouldn’t be forgotten or written off as ’80s trivia. Frankly, he would do well to get a band together and hit the road playing small clubs.’ I’m sure he still has the chops. As long as the material is strong, he can sing. Don’t forget: it’s his deeper voice that makes and “I’ll Be There” a memorable Jackson 5 record.

It’s a coincidence: the first new book about Michael Jackson is on its way, due from the publisher on July 27. It had been set for October, but the publisher’Hal Leonard Books’has moved up the release date.

“In the Studio with Michael Jackson” is written by Bruce Swedien, Jackson’s premier producer and recording engineer. Swedien, working under Quincy Jones, and then Michael himself, recorded all of Michael’s major solo albums. He’s the man behind “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Dangerous,” and “HIStory.” He won four Grammy Awards along the way, and was nominated for 12.

I spoke with Swedien today by phone from his studio. He told me that despite stories on the wire, there is NOT a lot of extra Jackson material from the studio that can be repackaged or released. He said, “There might be one or two songs that didn’t make it from each album. But they’re not finished. There aren’t vocals for everything.”

One song Swedien does think was completed but not used is one of his favorites. “It’s called “Don’t Be Messin’ Around.” Michael plays piano on it, and it’s just beautiful. Oh my god, there’s nothing like it.”

Swedien is still grieving over Jackson’s death although they hadn’t worked together in a while. And, of course, Jackson died owing him money’about a half million dollars. I don’t expect Swedien’s going to come looking for it since he hasn’t already. He told me, “I don’t say anything bad about Michael in my book, it’s nothing but good stuff.”

Little by little we’re able to fill in the blanks from Michael Jackson’s last few weeks.

Now it turns out that back on May 5th he ran into an old friend and not only told her that he felt great, but showed off, too.

Joanne Horowitz manages Kevin Spacey and other actors. But back in the 1970s she worked in the music business and was the publicist for Studio 54. It was then that she met Michael, around the time of “Off the Wall.” They hit it off, became great pals, and for a while she was his guide in New York.

Flash forward to this past May 5th: Horowitz was in Beverly Hills waiting to see her dermatologist. From one of the adjacent examination rooms she heard a lot of noise, thudding on the ground and hitting the walls.

“I asked the doctor what was going on,” Horowitz told me last night. “He said it was Michael Jackson, practicing dance moves.”’Horowitz’told the doctor, Arnold Klein, Michael was her old friend. Klein went next door and told Jackson, who came running in.

“We were so happy to see each other, It had been 25 years,” said’Horowitz. “He was in great shape, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. He showed off his body ‘ flexing his muscles, he also lifted his shirt to show me his new six pack. He said he’d been working out for the new tour. He was very proud. He looked very fit. He wasn’t wearing any makeup, either. And he had no bodyguards with him. He was just on his own.”

Horowitz and Jackson reminisced about the old days, and Michael bragged to her about being a father. He invited her to the London shows, and even signed a CD for her that Klein kept in his office.

“He said everything was going great but he’d just gotten off the phone with someone about that auction, and he wasn’t happy about that. But he seemed like the old Michael.”

Horowitz did tell me she’s been very dismayed about the coverage of Jackson since his death, especially the notion presented by tabloids, tmz.com and other outlets that the performer “wanted to die” and other crazy ideas.

“That couldn’t have been further from the truth,” Horowitz tells me.