so....

[dianora2]

Did anything newsworthy happen today? *innocent look*

Yeah. Crazy, huh? Very sad about Farrah, she was sick for so long. Michael Jackson... well, I don't have much emotion beyond shock. I mostly hope that we're not going to suddenly whitewash him (INTENTIONAL PUN, I AM GOING TO HELL) and pretend that he was some saintly soul. At the very least he acted inappropriately with multiple children and at worst he sexually abused them. And I admit that one of my first thoughts upon hearing of his death (from my hairdresser, which was surreal) was that at least now maybe his children will have a shot at a relatively normal life.

But damn, "Off the Wall" was a good album. ;) (I was never a fan of his, but there's no better way to guarantee my shaking my booty than some "Rock With You.")

ETA: Okay, I'm REALLY going to hell, because this tweet from Blake Lewis made me laugh: "I don't think I have ever cried this much. I just played P.Y.T on repeat for about 30mins. I can't believe this. So sad." Really, Blake? Really?

Meanwhile, Ethan Zohn continues to struggle with cancer and this second video of his broke my heart.

Note to RedState [Republicans]: How to Stop the Gloating.

I was totally okay with the SYTYCD eliminations tonight. And boy, Toni Basil is a crappy judge. Oh, and tonight's opening number was HOT.

The second half of the Real Housewives of NJ reunion was...uncomfortable. The one good part was that Teresa barely opened her mouth.

Message for New Yorkers: Ben & Jerry's is giving away their new Flipped Out at Prospect Park on Sunday. And McCarren Park on Saturday.

Message for New Yorkers and Angelenos: Pinkberry is giving out free small servings of their new flavors between 5 and 9 PM tomorrow. I will be there!

One superficially piece of good news today, Law & Order UK has been renewed for a second season. More Jamie, yay.

ETA: Ben Linus Bobblehead, with Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Juliet on the way.

Comments

[pookha.livejournal.com]

Since I am new to the SYTYCD world, why was she a crappy judge? Her eyes are amazing though. Very pretty. :)

Happy with the results though!!

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just thought everything she was tedious and annoying. It may have just been me. LOL. By the end I was FFing through half her "critiques."

[pookha.livejournal.com]

I am always most interested in Nigel anyway! I could take or leave Mary.

[yahtzee63.livejournal.com]

I hope we don't whitewash Michael Jackson either, but I definitely feel like I'm in mourning for that era of my childhood. Hey, middle age. I knew we were hanging out, but hadn't realized you were here to stay.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I definitely get that. Like I said, I was never a fan of his, so I don't have that connection.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

It's obviously different if you're younger: I remember making pedo jokes about Michael Jackson and Macaulay Culkin when I was in grade school. That said, I do love his music.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm so much older than you that the reason I love "Rock With You" is because of my fond memories of roller skating to it. *g* I don't care for anything later than "Thriller" though.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

I used to hide behind the couch to Thriller. And play Moonwalker in the arcade.

[girlunravelled.livejournal.com]

i think you and i went to the same roller rinks ;)

[soaked-in-stars.livejournal.com]

INTENTIONAL PUN. I LOVE YOU.

[juliedarling.livejournal.com]

I mostly hope that we're not going to suddenly whitewash him (INTENTIONAL PUN, I AM GOING TO HELL) and pretend that he was some saintly soul. At the very least he acted inappropriately with multiple children and at worst he sexually abused them.

Thank you for being the only person I've yet heard to say that. I find all the memorializing to be in pretty poor taste, tbh, because I know it has to be hurtful to his (alleged) victims and their families. I know he wasn't convicted, etc., but neither was O.J., and if he died tomorrow, I doubt there would be this kind of outpouring. And MJ conceded to the incredibly inappropriate behavior with the children; the abuse was the only thing he didn't admit to. I mean, I'm sorry he died and I'm sorry for the pain and grief his family is suffering. But I think the media and public flailing is kind of overkill.

[twinparadox.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. I feel the same way.

The hyperbole makes me nauseous. As a Beatles fan, I'm admittedly biased, but when the news outlets are saying he was bigger than the Beatles, and comparing his death to John Lennon's...uh, no. (Not that Lennon was without character flaws, but I really don't see how their deaths are in any way similar.)

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

but when the news outlets are saying he was bigger than the Beatles, and comparing his death to John Lennon's...uh, no.

Ugh. WTF?

[bigboobedcanuck.livejournal.com]

I admit that one of my first thoughts upon hearing of his death (from my hairdresser, which was surreal) was that at least now maybe his children will have a shot at a relatively normal life.

Ditto! Then I thought, Perhaps this was Blanket's revenge. I wouldn't blame the kid.

[greycoupon.livejournal.com]

I saw the TMZ article yesterday and they referred to the little one as "Blanket". I thought it was rather mean to be snarking when the man just died.

I shouldn't be surprised he actually called the kid that I guess. Here's hoping some sane person gets custody...umm, I'm not sure who that would be.

[greycoupon.livejournal.com]

It feels weird to me. I'm 27. I was two when Thriller came out but I grew up listening to his music and it was awesome. Around middle school things got weird with the first round of molestation claims.

Then he married Lisa Marie and things just got weirder and weirder. I can see a lot of him recapturing his childhood, (I don't have a high opinion of his father pimping out his kids to support the family). Neverland was freaky and some of things in the auction catalog a few months back were seriously scary. It was an 8 year old's paradise.

At the very least he was a disturbed man who didn't understand adult/child boundaries and grasp that sleeping in the same bed as kids is NOT OKAY. After the first round of allegations he really learned nothing.

It seems likely he was guilty of what he was accused of. I do think he just couldn't grasp he was doing anything wrong. I should say I am NOT a supporter and I thought he was likely guilty the first time around.

I've seen many people feeling sympathy for "young Michael". That seems to work. The amazing wonderkid from teh Jackson 5 who did Thriller. His influence was huge.

Bigger than Elvis? I keep seeing that comparison and hearing it right now in chatter at my office. His early career did have a huge influence on the music scene. Certainly NOT bigger than the Beatles. Of course John and Elvis, while having demons of their own, were never accused of henious crimes like Michael.

Wow, that got long winded. So in conclusion, YES, don't white wash the man.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think mourning the kid that was is the way to go. It's a tragic story, for sure -- his father was a horrible person, and that combined with fame at such a young age clearly messed MJ up in many ways. It's hard for me to imagine NOT having complicated feelings about the whole thing, you know?

I feel like both Elvis and the Beatles had a *longer* lasting effect, too -- MJ became fairly irrelevant to the pop scene at large years ago -- but I also wasn't alive for those first two acts so can't say for sure. ;D