He Deserves Everything He Gets

The New York Times is generous enough to send me items of "breaking news."  I have just received an item concerning Jesse L. Jackson Junior who is charged in connexion with dubious election expenses:

U.S. Files Charges Against Jesse L. Jackson Jr. in Campaign Funds Case

The Justice Department filed fraud and conspiracy charges on Friday against former Representative Jesse L. Jackson Jr., saying that he used about $750,000 in campaign money for personal expenses that included a Michael Jackson fedora and cashmere capes.

The 10-page document filed in federal court by prosecutors in Washington offered details of Mr. Jackson’s use of campaign money. He has agreed to plead guilty to the charges, although a date for him to accept the plea deal before a judge has not yet been set.

Mr. Jackson’s wife, Sandra Stevens, was also charged with one count of filing false tax returns.

Anyone who would buy a "Michael Jackson Fedora" deserves a longish stretch in "The Big House" in my opinion! 

$750,000?  Crikey! That would pay even for a Michael Jackson-style funeral!

Until the next time.

Jacksonballs III

Luxurious: Image: Daily Telegraph

Well, it seems that I misunderstood the Telegraph's article to which I referred in my article last Saturday. Today the Jacksongraph says that Jackson's coffin cost £15,000, so I suppose they meant $25,000 in the previous piece.

Still an enormous waste of money - unless of course one is in the entertainment business!

Until the next time.

Jacksonballs II - A Question of Taste

London's Daily Telegraph, is it seems, continuing its trend - and no doubt fulfilling its editor's ambition - to becoming the most "dumbed-down" newspaper in Great Britain; it should rename itself The Daily Jacksongraph.

It is possible that in the paragraph above, I have maligned unfairly the current editor: perhaps he is required to act at the behest of the rather sinister owners, the strange Barclay twins. Nevertheless it would be something if they could make an effort to correct all the appalling typos (and poor grammar) that appear at least on the website.

Bizarre: The Barclay Twins. Picture source: This London

Yesterday the Telegraph reported that Jackson is to be buried in a "$25,0000" (sic) coffin. As this coffin, which rejoices in the name "Promethean," is made of bronze, gold-plated and lined with blue velvet to boot, I suppose that the price is $250,000.

The "Promethean" Coffin. Image: Daily Telegraph

This revolting extravagant display puts me in mind of two anecdotes.

First, following a visit to the home in Nashville of Ike and Tina Turner, a journalist was asked his opinion of the place. He replied "Incredible, I would not have thought it possible to spend three million dollars at Woolworths."

Second is a report I once read in a newspaper, of a man who left in his will £25 to "anyone who after my cremation, will deposit my ashes in the nearest convenient dustbin."

Now THAT was style.

Until the next time

Jacksonballs*

Yesterday I spoke with my mother on the telephone. She told me that she had removed the first four pages of her newspaper since she is not remotely interested in all the hullabaloo about the death of Michael Jackson. I agreed 100%.

The last occasion I can recall that raised all this absurd and exaggerated public grief was the death of the Princess of Wales.

The problem with this self-feeding "grief frenzy" is that it gives an opportunity to many public figures to spout rubbish. After Princess Diana died we had the smarmy performance of prime minister Tony Blair; this time the one that (unfortunately) caught my ear was Jackson chum and black activist Al Sharpton. Mr Sharpton observed in his wisdom that Jackson had, long before Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama brought black people to the fore (he used the ludicrous phrase "person of colour").

Mr Sharpton should read a book or two.

Admittedly, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong were not renowned for their dancing but I think that I would be correct in saying that they were moderately successful (world stars in fact) and they were around long before any of the Jacksons were a twinkle in the eye of their allegedly rather unpleasant father.

Finally I should add that I consider that Michael Jackson was very talented and an excellent entertainer although he did nothing for me - not my sort of thing. There was however one song which I always enjoyed - largely I have to say because of the contributions of Steve Lukather and Eddie van Halen. Sorry, embedding is forbidden:

BEAT IT

A death is indeed a death, but right now I would prefer to think about Neda.

Until the next time.
* Thanks to Private Eye

Wacko Jacko Reinvents Himself?

"Bad"  Source: here

Michael Jackson has excelled himself: he has become a Muslim and may be seen in the picture above elegantly turned out in some sort of black tent.

There is no doubt that Jackson is talented.  Really I have to say it's all very sad.  Perhaps now he will be greeted by Mr Whippy in Somalia?  Better give up the dancing (at least with ladies) Michael (now "Mikaeel").

???????????????

Until the next time