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Forget Iran - Michael Jackson is dead!
That's what all news channels feel like tonight. Absolutely no one cares about anything else.
Yesterday, it was all about the brave Iranian reformers, today - screw them, let's talk nonstop about Michael Jackson. Better yet, let's all watch the same old clips over and over.
OK, Jackson was a big star, in his own league, talented but weird, and everyone is naturally sad that he passed on. It's a big story, partly because his death was very sudden.
But, come on, what the heck, where the rest of today's news? Something! Anything? No, I'm asking for too much.
Update: Oh, wait, no, I was wrong. There is one other news item today: Farrah Fawcett is also dead. It's like I've got three identical People channels today.
Yesterday, it was all about the brave Iranian reformers, today - screw them, let's talk nonstop about Michael Jackson. Better yet, let's all watch the same old clips over and over.
OK, Jackson was a big star, in his own league, talented but weird, and everyone is naturally sad that he passed on. It's a big story, partly because his death was very sudden.
But, come on, what the heck, where the rest of today's news? Something! Anything? No, I'm asking for too much.
Update: Oh, wait, no, I was wrong. There is one other news item today: Farrah Fawcett is also dead. It's like I've got three identical People channels today.
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I feel ya.
I am feeling the same way. I was already bummed about the distraction that Sanford was becoming and then MJ dies... Farah at least left me looking in to facts about sexually transmitted cancers because she died of anal cancer. I am not suggesting that hers was caused by an STD but I know of only one other person that died of anal cancer and it was due to and STD. It just got me thinking...(at least that was something purposeful to ponder).
I commented something similar to the following on the blog suggesting President Obama needs to admit he's a smoker blah, blah, blah...
We need more journalists and less 'news generators'. The news generators create stories off of commentary, gossip, and soap opera sensationalism... which is nothing I am hungry for.
I am shocked that these businesses stay afloat financially... that america can financially support so much 'tabloid' journalism.
How can it be a good thing when your audience wants to tune you out and turn you off?
Are there really enough people interested in this stuff to make this financially viable?
June 26, 2009 4:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Aren't you expecting too much? I mean, this is the American media we're talking about, right?
Remember, all that breathless cable news coverage over whether Nancy Pelosi had been informed of Bush administration approved torture, and how little coverage was given to the requisite predicate for such coverage - that the Bush administration approved torture?
June 26, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is up to the people of Iran, to throw off their corrupt Government.
What more would you have US do?
Meddle?
30+ years ago the people of Iran deposed one bad Government, they wanted Mullah Control despite the warnings about such a government.
When the majority get fed up, they'll have a bloody Revolution like we did when we threw off the yoke of King George and the British Crown.
Until then what more can WE DO?
June 26, 2009 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Asking for intelligent reporting and commentary on Iran is not suggesting that we 'interfere'.
June 26, 2009 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know who to trust. As you put it
'Asking for intelligent reporting and commentary on Iran is not suggesting that we 'interfere'. "
Accurate News has been replaced with PROPOGANDA.
Michael Jacksons music transcended the pettiness of political strife
Man in the Mirror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zpTQCQEFhg
June 26, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ya know, normally I would agree with your point.
But then this conundrum came to mind: I thought of what I know about Generation X and younger of urban Iran. And I thought that many of them might be nearly as avid consumers of news of Michael Jackson's death as Americans of the same generation, if they could/can access it, that is. It does seem kind of silly the way people invest so much in a single figure, but then this is something common to all cultures, and even with political leaders. I don't buy at all that it's an American thing. (Oh just one example: it wasn't Americans that started what grew to be a huge pile of flowers in front of Buckingham Palace when Lady Di died and a grief mania that thereby spread around the world.) I even suspect with Michael Jackson that there will be more "grief" coverage in other countries than in the U.S., because in the U.S. more had grown quite cynical about him...I think of Japan or in certain places in Africa, Michael Jackson as an icon for people of a certain age might mean a lot more than here, and they will naturally want news on it as a manner of marking some kind of milestone.
June 26, 2009 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well said, artappraiser.
I feel that much of the reason for the world's fascination with Michael Jackson and for his status as an popular icon is because he reflects both our hopes and fears about ourselves. Our triumphs and our failures. Our incongruous dualities. We saw simultaneously in this one man what humans can be at our most scintillating and talented best, and at our most disturbing and weird worst. An amazing person who lived an amazing life.
June 26, 2009 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why is it I can only come up with one song that I remember?*
* "Beat It", or Weird Al's version, "Eat it".
June 26, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hesitate to hazard a guess as to why you remember as many or more Weird Al parody songs as Michael Jackson songs.
June 26, 2009 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just realized that I don't remember any of Michael Jackson's songs. He seemed to sing about something while he danced and all, but I could never remember what it was.
July 1, 2009 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't agree that your obsession with Iran is any more newsworthy than the nation's obsession with Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson means a lot to an entire generation of americans coming of age.
He'll never be back. Iran will be.
So back off.
June 26, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink