R.I.P. King of Pop

While I realize that I'm way behind everyone else who managed to write about this mere hours it happened, I still must make my statements. I was at work when my co-worker received a text message that the "child molesting pervert is dead." First of all that's not how I wanted to receive the news. Secondly, I imaging whoever sent that message will not have even one millionth of the impact on the artistic world as Michael Jackson's monkey. Right, not Jackson himself, the monkey. Please, have some respect. A man is dead.

But this brought up some interesting discussion. As casual bystanders and even benefactors of Michael Jackson's work, we can view him in one of three ways. He was either a child predator who deserved punishment, in the eyes of the law, a man charged but never convicted of a heinous crime and just merely an oddball, or one of the greatest and most significant contributors to the art world.

A friend of mine pointed out that for my generation, this is probably as devastating as when my parent's generation heard about the death of John Lennon. I of course had to point out that Lennon was taken but some selfish ass who wanted to be significant. Although tests haven't been completed, I'm sure no bullets were involved yesterday.

But then we now have to break out the conspiracy theories. Jackson was broke and hounded by those who both loved and hated him. It seems like the time to fake a death and fade into obscurity. Strangely with all the skeptics (or is that true believers?) who will file him in the ranks of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Tupac, he will be hunted, dead or alive.

Yes, with the plastic surgery, molestation allegations, and hanging of child from balcony antics we tend to forget the 13 number one hits, the greatest selling album of all time, and the introduction of a dance craze that wasn't lame like the Macarena. You cannot deny the legacy and the impact he has had on the world. This isn't like Heath Ledger where we will never know what he would have contributed to the world. I would say Jackson gave the world more than his fair share.

All possible nasty remarks aside, thank you for your artistic contribution to the world. I hope you have found peace.

I'm Keeping My Five Dollars

Today I was standing in line at Wendy's and hoping that I can feed six people for under twenty bucks. My niece is next to me and made the comment that she wants to try their new coffee Frosty thing but hates the commercials. Based on the commercials, she's going to pass.

I was astounded. Despite the thirteen year age difference, we have had the same reaction. A refusal to buy something based on the commercial. I find that strange that the advertising is having the exact opposite intended effect. (I'd comment that it's ironic, but I fear that I will use the word incorrectly. Damn you Alanis Morissette!)

I think back and I remember long conversations with my boyfriend about boycotting Burger King because of that creepy plastic king mascot they now have. (And the Star Trek King-Ons made me shake my head disapprovingly, even in an empty room.) The end result was I love those chicken sandwiches. I'll just give up TV until the wave of ads pass.

Even worse was those Subway five dollar sandwich commercials. First of all, they had two rounds of ads with the annoying song. Then they jump to the "everyday people" singing the song and laughing as they got it wrong. Because that song has entered our culture and now everyone knows it. Like how we "want our bay-back-baby-back-baby-back ribs" or "we'd like to give the world a Coke". Then the "go online and do your own commercial" happened. How dare you insult me this way. I spit on your campaign.

And don't get me started on the Quiznos talking toaster sexually harassing the employee commercial. I've decided I'm going to Togo's from now on. It helps that they have the superior sandwiches, but I shall remain firm on my decision.

So what does this mean that these quite trivial reasons are keeping me from patronizing establishments? Probably that I need to get out more. Or more accurately, I need to stay in and learn to cook. That is, while the TV is off.