Here I am in Africa! It seems a little strange to be looking at the Indian Ocean in their winter.

We had a long layover in Heathrow, which we spent in the airport lounge. They had BBC on the whole time, and it was all about Michael Jackson. There were a few snippets about Iran, but then back to Michael. Okay, I thought, he was about to have a big concert there, so I kinda get it. However, then the same thing happened here on the TV in South Africa! I had no idea he had that kind of popularity. I could have understood the American news going all out because that's what they do. But I was surprised.

I can't say I was shocked, though, to see that he had died.

Sadly Jackson-mania is simply just another manifestation of the way in which relatively unimportant people are lionised simply because of the jobs they do.

When Michael Jackson the author died, his death didn't even make national new. Yet I would think that his championing of the cause of good beer worldwide gave as much happiness to as many people as did the pop singers girations.

There has been rather excessive coverage.
In fact I think that over Friday and Saturday there were more hours of MJ than of Wimbledon (and that's on all day during the two weeks of the competition.)

On Friday night you could watch an hour documentary at 8 on one channel, switch channels for another hour at 9, switch again for another hour at 10, catch the news (including Michael Jackson) at 11 and then switch back to your original channel for another hour at 11:10.

I'm sure he was a good performer and entertainer but this seems a bit over the top to me.

Definitely OTT in my opinion. It also annoyed me that throughout the news, even when they were covering some other story, the news tickers at the foot of the screen kept saying something like NEWSFLASH: Michael Jackson dies or similar, for 24 hours and more after the event.

I found myself yelling (metaphorically) I KNOW ALREADY!

Who?

Here's an e-mail I received yesteray.

Due to the fact that Michael Jackson is 98% plastic. he will now be melted down and made into Lego blocks so little kids can play with him for a change.

Oh, dear.

I guess I struck a nerve, but I hear all of you. I was surprised at the amount of news it was given. I had wondered if, for once, the rest of the world gave it too much news, while the Americans were being sensible. I asked my daughter how our news was. As I might have imagined, our news was nonsensical (insensible? what?) too, at least according to her.

On another subject, I always chuckle a bit at international meetings. The can't call us the United States...it's always the United States of America. That sounds odd to me, but I suppose there are other united states.

Yeah, like Mexico! (Estados Unidos Mexicanos)

I am so glad to read this thread. A few hours after receiving multiple email news alerts that Michael Jackson was dead, my husband and I sat down to watch the evening news on ABC, which, incredibly, we thought, devoted the majority of its newscast to the death. I turned to my husband and said "Am I the only person in the universe who doesn't give a rip that he's gone?" ("No.") Since then, every friend I have spoken with has felt the coverage is just completely insane, out of whack, OTT. I was surprised to see BBC news reports, broadcast by CNN, of people in the UK weeping in the streets over this. I have to say, that aside from the bouncy beat, I just never admired the Jackson Five (they seemed robotic) or Michael's dancing or singing, especially as he got older and weirder. Now almost a week later, we can still get All MJ, All the Time on the cable news stations. I may have to turn off my TV until he's buried--or forever, if he's stuffed and left on public display like Lenin at the Kremlin.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why his departure from this world is bigger news than what is going on in Iran, Iraq and South Carolina!

Wordmatic

His death ISN'T news.

But it is a moneymaker for news media.

I also have to question the sanity of those lining up outside Neverland Ranch in anticipation of his funeral. The date hasn't been set yet, but a woman was interviewed who said she is prepared to wait outside for days, sleeping in her car which is stocked with groceries and other necessary items.

The question I have for her is:
Would you do the same if someone in your family died? I doubt it.

quote:

His death ISN'T news.

But it is a moneymaker for news media.

Indeed; particularly TV. It is also a very cheap way to fill airtime. They have plenty of stock footage available and can get lots of talking heads into the studio who will pontificate on all aspects of the matter until the cows come home in return for the publicity.

Rather unusually, the newspapers (at least the ones I've seen) seem to have been rather more restrained in their coverage. Not by much, though ...

"Am I the only person in the universe who doesn't give a rip that he's gone?" ("No.")

Of course not. If I were to judge by my circle of friends, American-rules football is not very popular at all. But, if I were to ask around outside that circle I'd find that it's a rather popular sport after all. I have met some folks in the past few days for whom the news of the event of MJ's passing on was big news and rather important. So, I've just shrugged it off. I've pretty much stopped listening to TV and radio "news" as most of it does not concern me in the least, though I must admit, advertisers are buying airtime to hock their wares, so they must think folks are watching and in a position to buy a new crappy car or shoes that don't fit and will fall apart soon anyway. I was in a nearby restaurant (sushi) the other night, and was aghast at a huge wall hanging (folk art tapestry of MJ in denim recycled from old jeans). The chef, or his wife and daughter, or the owner of the building, or who knows whom had had it hung and obviously it meant something to them. As it did to the legions of MJ's fans. I never sought out MJ's brand of pop, but I liked a few things he did, especially the earlier stuff. But his oeuvre to one side, I think most peoples' problems with MJ was he was a certifiable kook, writ large. A sad little creature, only a few years younger than myself, who was as much a pathetic victim of the same media who lionized and merchandised him. Ah, well, I just don't know, but ...

If someone who looked and acted like MJ, but minus his money, moved into your neighborhood, would you keep the kids indoors?

would you keep the kids indoors?

Don't have any kids. My bad.

quote:

would you keep the kids indoors?

I live in San Francisco, where people who look and act like MJ don't get a second look, except from tourists. My kids have never had any problems.

TV: Tele-Voyeurism

As for the Wikipedia's "United States" entry, well, let's just say I consider that over the top. Come now. Were we to survey the world and ask where the United States is, they'd know. I know that for sure because I have been at international conferences (am currently at one now), and the attendees always do. Sometimes we just put ourselves down for no reason. I guess we get that from the British.

And, as for MJ, I am now feeling a little differently. Yes, I did enjoy his music. Further, I wouldn't let my kids stay at any "star's" home, but I'd surely have welcomed his living near us. The parents all had accountability in those instances; they wanted a part of the money.

Oh well, I guess I am just a little crabby tonight. After all, I did start the thread. I hadn't quite expected the intensity of responses.

quote:

Come now. Were we to survey the world and ask where the United States is, they'd know.

Of course they would; it's just that it is not an accurate name.

If you were to undertake the same survey and ask where "Americans" live, most would suggest the USA. But that, too, is incorrect. Far more Americans live in that part of the Americas that is not the USA than live in the USA. Indeed, the population of the USA only makes about 70% of the populace of North America, the remainder lives in Canada and Mexico.

If the purpose of language is communication then I'd say that anyone who uses "United States" to mean anything other then "The United States of America" and anyone who uses "Americans" to mean anything other than "citizens of the USA"* is deliberately trying to miscommunicate. I'll bet that there isn't one in ten thousand English speakers who would, in normal discourse, understand anything else by either term.

*Outside of certain specific academic contexts.

quote:

I'll bet that there isn't one in ten thousand English speakers who would, in normal discourse, understand anything else by either term.

I entirely agree - and that was the point I was trying, maybe unsuccessfully, to make. Although both Canadians and Mexicans are Americans in the true and full sense of the term, nobody in either of those countries would be pleased to be called "American".

quote:

and that was the point I was trying, maybe unsuccessfully, to make.

Really? I surely misinterpreted your post then. So sorry.