Good Lord Margaret. I had no idea Michael Jackson was this popular. I realize now, of course, that it was as plain as the nose on my face… OK. Bad joke. But even if you were hiking on the Appalachian Trail this non-Father’s Day weekend, it was almost impossible to avoid the news and entertainment coverage of Michael Jackson’s death. I wasn’t a fan, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t respect his talent… even if I didn’t understand it – all that jumping around like he had ants in his pants.
But I have to say, after watching all these reports, his life seemed out of control even while he was in control of it and it seems to still be out of control now that he is no longer living. And that Joe Jackson is a real piece of work. He seems to be depreciating an asset rather than mourning a son. (It’s an accounting term, Dear. Ask Howard to explain it to you.)
I remember when this happened to Elvis and that sweet Marilyn Monroe. At some point Michael Jackson stopped being a human being and instead became a widget. And now it seems we are giving three more kids to the couple who manufactured the Jackson widgets. Life goes on… Will we ever learn?
Watching all this mad-dash coverage, it occurs to me that if you tore him down in life then it’s a tad bit hypocritical for you to now prop him up in death. Did I mention Joe Jackson was a piece of work? But we seem to be evolving into a nation of hypocrites. And as someone who believes evolution should be taught in school, I am more than a little worried about this evolutionary cycle.
If it were up to me, I would establish a few rules right about now regarding hypocrisy. Something along the lines of:
- If you’re Michael Jackson’s father now is not the time to be enjoying the limelight.
- You can’t be Pro-Life and Pro-War at the same time. If one of these dispositions has to be in your cadre, then pick one and live with the consequences.
- You can’t deny the right to marry to some and then cheat on your spouse. The right to happily marry belongs to all no mater how unhappy it makes you.
- You can’t tolerate the atrocities of one President for eight years and then assign the consequences to one who follows. From this day forward everything was Reagan’s fault.
- The Christian Right should be forced to spend a week in Iran. May the best radicals win.
- The Real Housewives should actually be housewives.
About that last one. I mean it. Really.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis seem to be the most fun puppies at all times. They will brighten your day and make you feel loved.
By: Corgi Dogs on September 12, 2011
at 12:42 AM
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By: tariely on March 15, 2010
at 7:05 AM
[...] I judged him on his appearance and preyed on his eccentricities. Like a bully in the school yard, I built myself up by tearing him down. Now the compensation for my actions is a guilty [...]
By: Man in the Mirror « Bacon Makes It Better on September 19, 2009
at 4:26 PM
lol, I love your blog. But C’mon, you don’t have atleast ONE favorite Michael song? Tell the truth…lol.
By: toddyenglish on August 4, 2009
at 7:20 AM
I have been away from the computer for quite a while due to health issues but I wanted to get my 2 cents worth in here….
Everyone is going to have their own interpretations of the wierd shit that MJ did… thats fine… I don’t care! He was in California, I am here…. I have enough wierd shit here to deal with! I do not have the time, will, nor the energy to even care about MJ’s personal life!
I want to hear the music and see the videos. I grew up with all that music! I hear Billie Jean and it reminds me of some of the best times of my life jamskating with this older guy at the rink named Willie. I hear Beat It and I think of Americas Best Dance Crew. I hear Will You Be There and I think about Free Willy and some of the similarities between the character and my childhood. I could go on about how MJ’s music reminds me of significant positive times in my life but I think you all get the point!
Let MJ rest in peace… Write a book after the autopsy is done, I will read it after the media has forgotten about MJ and I have finished my masters degree, met the man of my dreams, married him and had the 2.3 children that American families are supposed to have typically have etc etc etc….
Until then all I care about is the music and the dance moves!
By: ddddd on July 25, 2009
at 1:45 PM
Now as far as Ms. Palin is concerned….she put her foot in her mouth, let her struggle. And thank the man above she did not get into office. The problems Obama is trying to solve would not compare to the probles Ms. Palin would erect. The U.S. would be in more trouble than we could ever imagine. Why anyone would even consider her for office is beyond me. What in the heII was McCain thinking? Or was he.
By: Cindi on July 25, 2009
at 5:19 AM
I understand the over abundance of information and opinions stemming for Michaels death, but I would hope that it would remain within the family. There are children involved, Katherine, and siblings. There is no place for specuation and rumors….the Jackson Family needs privacy and our decency to leave things lay low for now. Once the correct findings are released, then will be the time for discussion. Otherwise it is just gossip and hear say. And the family and children really shouldn’t have to deal with that along with the passing of their dad and family member. Please…be patient, have some class, for them. Thank you.
By: Cindi on July 25, 2009
at 5:13 AM
A grown man who says “Sharing your bed with a child is the most loving thing you can do” is, a the very least, a sad lonely child himself or, at worst, a pedifile. Either way, kind of gross, don’t you think?
By: Anonymous on July 19, 2009
at 5:35 PM
Found you this morning. Great articles thoroughly enjoyed them. Becoming a fan in one reading. Love you dry sense of humour
By: annickg on July 9, 2009
at 11:00 PM
OMG, grandma Helen. I am sitting here enjoying the gems that come out of your keyboard. I’m quickly becoming a groupie.
By: Lorena on July 9, 2009
at 12:01 AM
“The Christian Right should be forced to spend a week in Iran. May the best radicals win. ”
*Applauds*
Well said.
By: Arcadia Nightfire on July 8, 2009
at 3:27 PM
OMG!!! This is a FANTASTIC post!!!! Can’t say I entirely agree with the last one, though perhaps I don’t understand it and you care to elaborate?
luv to the both of you!
By: Felda on July 8, 2009
at 10:59 AM
Sally, James and all
How about a 100 different parties?
That would make for coalitions that make sense (hopefully)!
Europe survived a multiparty political system for the last one hundred years without too much damage, maybe time the US tried too?
In Germany your in the workings if your party gets more than 5% of the valid votes, THAT’s what I call democracy….
now this is only poor little me dreaming, but……
By: Werner Oderwer Δ on July 7, 2009
at 2:11 PM
Werner,
Thanks for the lessons of German navigation. My son took German language lessons and is quite good at picking up the ear. I will pass your suggestions on over to him.
We don’t plan to see him during the year he is there. That is half the world away for us! Actually, if I did do that trip, I would want to go to Paris… and Italy.
James, I would love to see a third party, not necessarily from the disenchanted Republicans, but from some other base. However, I also think that having different parties make for fraternity/sorority type mentality and is asinine in government policies. Good sense should prevail instead of party loyalty. How about a party called the American party.
By: Honolulu Sally on July 7, 2009
at 1:07 PM
Sorry about your loss gramma rock! Sincere condolences. May granpa rock rest in peace.
By: Easier on July 7, 2009
at 11:55 AM
James, I wasn’t clear about Runaway Train — Eliza does her own song, not a version. This one is about the state of the country and economy.
I wonder about the term “hero” vis a vis McCain. I always think of a hero as one who, intentionally or not, saves another or others or effects some kind of helpful change. I’m amazed that he (and anyone who goes through that kind of experience) survived the imprisonment — am I wrong to not see that as heroic, though?
By: Susan in CT on July 7, 2009
at 10:04 AM
Poolman, I think the TEA Party movement has run its course. It began as grass roots anger over the stimulus bill, and has no central leadership or purpose except “belly aching.” A few people have speculated that once free of the governorship, Sarah Palin could focus and energize the movement.
My worst case senario is a perfect storm of economic collapse and a foreign emergency combining with Sarah Palin’s work with TEA Party protesters. The movement could become a third Libertarian type party. That is only my opinion based on our history. The Republican Party began as a third party. I don’t think it will happen, but it could happen.
I believe TEA Party protesters will be like the diehards who still protest our war or our nuclear weapons. From what I saw most of the TEA Party demonstrators were not natural protesters and became apathetic.
No white surpremists were around here, but their presence doesn’t surprise me in other areas. Associating with a protest movement gives an opportunity to find recruits and to use the movement for its goals which are different from the movement’s.
Survivalist groups did the same during the farm protests, and Marxists like the Weathermen during the Vietnam anti -war protest.
These protest movements are like a grass fire in my opinion. They need fuel to keep them burning.
I agree about McCain. I read one of his top choices was Senator Lieberman. They like each other. McCain’s advisers said it couldn’t happen because Lieberman is pro -choice.
I agree, Sarah Palin probably wasn’t properly vetted. Can’t you imagine conversations a few weeks later? “She what!?” In the same tone as at the end of the B 52′s “Love Shack.” The campaign wanted to counterbalance Obama’s convention speech. It was taking him up in the polls, and the party needed something to counterbalance his momentum.
Palin, a popular charismatic female governor with a biography as unusual as Obama’s served their purpose well. She stole the limelight, and her speeches attracted crowds. The Republicans’ poll numbers rose with Sarah and their momentum took them ahead of the Democratic ticket.
Obama was thrashing around as his campaign and the press scoured Alaska for Palin scandals. He didn’t regain his footing until Bush told Congressional leaders the economy needed a big stimulus “yesterday.” Without the banking system crash, I think there was an even chance that Sarah Palin would be Vice President now.
I think Biden gained his place with similar rapid calculations. After Russia invaded Georgia, Obama’s advisers realized that with his slim resume, Obama needed a second banana with gravitas. Unlike Palin, Biden has been in Washington for so many years he is a known quantity.
I also think McCain is a good man, and I have a lot of respect for him. McCain is a genuine hero for what he endured in the Hanoi Hilton. Regardless of what he says, I think his experiences influenced the type of politician he is. He was a horrible presidential candidate.
Susan in CT. Thanks. I will look for Eliza Gilkyson’s version of ‘Runaway Train.” It also has emotion significance for me. The song describes how I felt when returned to the United States and left the Air Force. For some reason, your comment reminded me of the two versions of “Hound Dog”. Elvis and a black woman made their versions into almost two different songs.
PalinShutUp, politicians sometimes let off steam. I don’t see McCain’s “Bomb Iran” joke much differently that Reagan’s joking the missiles were on their way to the Soviet Union or he was exporting farmers. Senator Bob Kerry told a lesbian joke when he thought the microphone was off. Obama said something similarly politically stupid about Bible and gun clingers. I don’t think they should have said those things either, but they don’t concern me much.
I also wish we could get rid of every dictator in the world.
Saddam Hussein said in an interview that he tricked the world into believing he still had weapons of mass destruction. He wanted the Iraq to appear stronger than it was because otherwise, he feared Iran or another enemy would start another war.
Thomas Friedman who supported the war focused on one if our goals which was to establish a democracy in the heart of Muslim territory. It would have far reaching effects as it showed the neighbors an alternative to religious extremist dictatorships. Bush “knew” people wouldn’t buy such gauzy motives for invading a country which posed no immediate threat to us.
WMDs were easier to sell as we know because 9/11 was still fresh in our minds. Most Democrats agreed after they read the same intellegence as Bush. It was a tremendous mistake, because Bush’s making the weapons the raison ‘d etre for the war placed us at great moral risk. I don’t think he even considered the possibililty we wouldn’t find the weapons. Otherwise he wouldn’t have deployed so many soldiers in the hunt when they would be more efficient reestablishing order.
Without the WMD’s we lost our moral standing for the war. I think Bush should have trusted the American people. They might have accepted the long term strategy of nation change. If they didn’t accept such abstractions, we shouldn’t have gone to war.
Democrats owe Bush. I think he unwittingly gave us Obama.
Not to trivialize it, but you know how you feel when you lose your car keys. “WHERE ARE THEY !!?.” I imagine Bush felt the same way. I think Bush followed short term tactics when he should have stuck with the strategy of long term change. If he lied, he lied to himself also.
Iraqi expatriots were our main source of information about conditions and attitudes in country. We relied too heavily on people with agendas’ different from ours. They wanted us to take Hussein out so they could take over.
Some writers have given Iraq’s new government part of the credit for the Iranian protest. They saw an alternative in Iraq. Stepping up to the plate without help from the outside world is a virtual suicide mission.
The Iranians, for all of their courage are being arrested and an unknown number have been killed. China successfully surpressed its freedom movement. Hungarians and the Chechs rebelled against the Soviet Union and many were executed. As Gorbachev presided over the dismantlment of the Soviet Union, Communists attempted a coup. Even here, without the help of France, Poland, Germany, and others we would be Canadians. Shay’s Rebellion, the Whiskey Rebellion, and other domestic revolts failed in our own country, because they had no outside support. With such a low chance for success, is it any wonder more people decide to stay out of the game?
I agree that we should help other countries and not take over. As we know, Afghanistan didn’t go well for the British and Soviets, in part because they attempted to impose themselves as foreign invaders. We on the other hand, used disaffection with the Taliban to help Afghans take back their own country.
Many disparet tribes, some sympathetic to Ossama fought with us. The same applies to Iraq. A portion of the country fought with us. In both cases, a percentage of the populations owned the war as much as we did. Coinciding interests are most successful in the long run.
Gramma Rock, as Susan in Ct wrote, we would love to hear about your husband.
When Elvis died, someone said it was a great career move. The same for Micheal. I hope his children get some of the money.
By: James on July 7, 2009
at 8:57 AM
Oh, and for all that DO need German
translations of words phrases etc. here is an EXCELLENT and free dictonary for them Leipzig University, free fast ACCURATE and multilingual.
http://www.leo.org
Spanish and French too, but all to and from German, IF in a squeeze, translate into German first, than into the language you need.
But carefull with multiple meangings, sometimes you get funny results translating over several language steps…..
By: Werner Oderwer Δ on July 7, 2009
at 8:47 AM
Auntie Jean / Sally
Wien is actually the correct austrian pronouncation for over 700 years, so, sorry we don’t misspell it like the English…….
Sally, 75 -80 % of Germans speak english, so in doubt, please just ask, and be carefull, you need LOADS of time if you change in Frankfurt, it is hugh and if your unlucky your run all over the place since they realy love to change gates frequently.
IF you have a connceting flight, get the GERMAN spelling of your destination in advance, IF you use a train, the station is just in the basement of the airport, rather convinient.
Good luck
By: Werner Oderwer Δ on July 7, 2009
at 8:38 AM
greytdog:
Amen to what you said about Congress. The hefty pay raises they regularly give themselves should be tied to minimum wage….. they should increase only together and at the same percentage. As for healthcare, either make what they have available to the rest of us, or ditch theirs and put them on Medicare and see how they like that! They rant and rave about how Detroit’s biggest issues are the pensions and healthcare of retirees, what about the pensions and healthcare of Congressional retirees? Why should we have to fund their retirement? Isn’t SSI good enough for them?
Our only hope as a Nation, to get things back on track, is to get Corporate America out of Washington…. it’s supposed to be about US…. not an artificial entity created for wealth generation.
Oh, and while I’m on my soap box…. it’s time to end tax-exempt status for religion. It was a good idea when created, but religion has become another wealth-generating enterprise just like Corporate America.
Okay, the coffee pot just turned off, so it’s time to fill my cup while it’s still hot and get my a@@ in gear for the day!
Keith in NM
By: Keith in NM on July 7, 2009
at 8:15 AM
Fluxux = Fluxx = Diarrhoea = mental Diarrhoea = brown matter (Nazi, color of SA uniforms) oozing out of mouth?
Or did I realy misunderstand something here?
By: Werner Oderwer Δ on July 7, 2009
at 8:13 AM
Okay you all know I’m nosy. . .especially when folks say “come on over and read. . .” I meander over. I’d found kellabeck’s rant interesting, if belated. But what caught my eye was the statement “Come read my blog if you’re sick of the slavish coverage.” And I liked the blog title – made me curious. I thought this will be fun, a bit of time away from MJ coverage . . and what do I find? TWO posts out of three dedicated to MJ – and from my perspective, both posts extremely racist and very very angry. I’ve never much cared for dancing on anyone’s grave. . .
Same with Palin coverage – she resigned. Who the hell cares what she does? Will she affect the political landscape? maybe. Will she start a third party? Who knows? But there are more important issues facing this country than Palin’s resignation or the was he/wasn’t he debate swirling around MJ.
If only we could get Congress to effin’ focus. . . on something besides their wallets, their 401ks, their investments, & their golden parachute pensions
By: greytdog on July 7, 2009
at 7:58 AM