Dave's Fiction Warehouse

In which I bloviate about books, TV, movies, politics and other stuff -- all without the aid of ChatGPT!

  • Books
  • Movies
  • TV
  • politics
  • american life
  • Writing
  • Other Stuff

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook

Powered by Genesis

The stuff that really matters

June 27, 2009 by Dave Knadler

The King of Pop giveth, and the King of Pop taketh away. In his last official act, Michael Jackson batted poor Farrah Fawcett straight back to page A8 but also gave South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford some breathing room at a time when it really came in handy. The guy (Sanford) has to be thanking his lucky stars. Those erotic e-mails might have echoed for days had not the King succumbed to all his bad choices at such a fortuitous time.

When a major celebrity dies, it’s bigger than World War II, at least for a day or two. The stars get realigned — literally, because there’s one less of them, and figuratively, because big stories have this way of becoming small when something bigger comes down the line. Who cares about Sanford any more? Who cares about Iran? We are talking Michael Jackson here, who has Touched Us All in ways we will still be discovering years from now. Personally, the coverage I’ve found most poignant is this piece about the time Michael Jackson inadvertantly dropped his sequined glove in the toilet. Hey, I’ve been there bro.

In the New York Times, there’s this story about Shock and Grief Around the World. The former president of South Korea summed it up best: “We lost a hero of the world.” A number of the memorials planned — including one here in Wichita — featured somber moonwalking. A stunned Paul McCartney, putting aside their petty differences over the Beatles catalog, called M.J. a “massively talented boy man.” Even the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who normally shuns publicity, found time to show up at the family home in Encino. But then, we are the world. Maybe it takes a moment like this to make us realize what’s truly important.

More along these lines:

  • breaking bad season four episode 401The goodness that is ‘Breaking Bad’
  • house republicans payroll tax standoffThe suits are ruining the Republic
  • Dude, yer gettin’ a Dell — to write your bookDude, yer gettin’ a Dell — to write your book
  • under the dome stephen kingHey, Steve. I’m back.
  • Too much sharing, not enough contentToo much sharing, not enough content

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Maxine says

    June 27, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    Just commented but Blogger ate my comment. Can't repeat it all now, but thanks – great post.
    The Onion is good on MJ – but I preferred this:
    http://www.theonion.com/content/node/45800?utm_source=onion_rss_daily

  2. Dave Knadler says

    June 27, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    Ha! Love the Onion bit … I confess, I've considered the same petty revenge myself. (As though anyone would notice.)

Recent posts

  • Full frontal Florida
  • Later, alligator
  • A writer on top
    of the short-story game
  • ‘The Passenger’
    will please refrain
  • Floaters in the stream

Recent comments

  • Rachel Kohl on Later, alligator
  • Dave Knadler on Later, alligator
  • John H. on Later, alligator
  • Dave Knadler on Later, alligator
  • Erin Murphy on Later, alligator

FInd something

send dave cash

The obligatory PayPal donation button. Go ahead: Make my day.