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[jakesbrain]

I was kind of wondering about the latest developments in Iran, but I've been around to all the major news-network sites, and the articles about Iran are suddenly much harder to find, what with all the huge pictures of Michael Jackson plastered all over the place.

Comments

[jakesbrain]

I have to confess, my first thought when I heard about Michael was "Oh God. This is going to be even worse than when Elvis died." I mean, it's fair enough to mourn the man and say our farewells, but for God's sake let's not be morbid about it and drag it out for months. (Or worse, even years; I've been talking to people who are predicting the rise of Michael's-not-dead conspiracy theories within the week. As a matter of fact, looking up "Michael Jackson faked death" will get you about 200,000 results on Google.)

Not to mention that Farrah Fawcett died, too, but after 3 PM yesterday nobody gave a shit about her.

[jakesbrain]

Also: I saw a panel cartoon this morning of the Pearly Gates opening... but at the bottom it said "Philip Simmons, Blacksmith, 1912-2009" -- and the gates were all of intricately wrought iron.

I got the point immediately. Everyone has something to contribute. Every death is an incalculable loss to the world, not just the famous deaths. Why do we constantly pick and choose whose deaths we care about -- and why does everyone keep picking the same people?

[jakesbrain]

And it'd take an expert or a Charlestonian to know who Philip Simmons was.