I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Michael Jackson died yesterday at the age of 50. I have never considered myself more than a casual fan. I only know his songs that were big hits, and though I own a couple of individual tracks in my iTunes account, I’ve never bought an album. I think Billie Jean is the all time best song to dance to at weddings, though, and my wife counts the Jackson 5’s I’ll be there amongst her favorite songs. He was such an eccentric blend of talent and, for lack of a better word, weirdness. I don’t know why he liked to have children spend the night at his house, or why he dangled his baby out the window on television, or why he altered his appearance through surgery until he was literally beyond recognition. In any case, my thoughts and condolences to his friends and family. Here are some of the things I’ve been reading over the last week or so:
What’s the connection between abortion and careers @ Penelope Trunk’s blog – You have to admire someone like Penelope who is willing to just lay it all on the line. She’s had two abortions, and she talks about it here, concluding that you don’t need to have an abortion to protect your career. I don’t want to weigh in on the political, moral, and philosophical issue that is abortion. I don’t know whether it’s right or wrong. I’m a male, and I’ve never had to make that choice. My parents did, though. I was born to two teenagers (15 and 16 when they found out they were pregnant) who discussed abortion as a possible solution. I’m personally glad they didn’t try to salvage their careers, which I’m sure suffered on some level. I’d like to think that I would have done the same if put in their shoes, but I’ll never know. Penelope is a phenomenal writer when she’s on, and this post is a good one. Check it out.
Why Twitter Is More Fun the Less You Use It @ Deadspin – Will Leitch is another of my favorite writer/bloggers. Here he lets us know how he feels about twitter, and a bunch of other stuff. Plus, he’s a Cardinals fan, which practically makes us brothers. After being on twitter for about a week, I’m already obsessed with it as a news aggregator.
Do you keep money secrets from your spouse @ Free From Broke – I try not to have any secrets from my wife. I usually ask her before I do anything with our money. We are, after all, a team (and a good one, at that). Check out this discussion of where you’re at in that department.
Be Successful by Learning Delayed Gratification @ Bargaineering – This is something that I’m usually really good at. I have been severely tempted lately by the new iPhone. I want one. Why? Because it has a compass. I don’t need a compass, but I think it’s cool that the new iPhone has one;)
Things You Own End Up Owning You @ My Two Dollars – I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to talk about it, so I’m just going to follow that quote with another quote from the club that will remain unmentioned: “Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes. We work jobs we hate so we can buy [junk] we don’t need. We’re the middle children in history, man. We’ve no great war, no great depression. Our great war is a spiritual war, and our great depression, is our lives.” Hopefully you don’t think of your life as a great depression, but I think Tyler’s point is this – stuff won’t make you happy, and money can’t buy you love. Thanks for reading.
I had a post included in a carnival over at Blogging Banks.
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#1 by russds – Path to Peace on June 26th, 2009 - 12:28 pm
Yeah, i was a casual fan as well. But I also respect the hard work and talent he had. I thought a little bit about the lessons that can be learned from his death over at my site. Interesting to think about the changes that happen after a person dies. Thanks for sharing.
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Martina Brooks Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Russds, I like your web site, great in-site can you give me your credentials? ie degrees, jobs?
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#2 by Chessiq = Steve on June 26th, 2009 - 5:40 pm
About Michael Jackson, it is hard to reflect on an individual’s life. I look at my life, and sometimes I don’t understand the things that I do. I look at people who think they understand me or who think I am a nice person, or who think I am patient etc, and I wonder if they will ever know my struggles and moments of weakness – and strength. May be this touches on the post that you had yesterday about Einstein seeking independence. When your every move is being watched, both your strengths and weaknesses are exposed… for better, for worse. May his soul rest in peace.
I hear you on the abortion issue… we both wouldn’t have been here if our parents chose careers or other worldly things over the unborn babies. I suspect that my biological dad (met him once) wanted my mom to abort. My mom chose to keep me… What can I say?
Have a nice weekend!
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Todd Metheny Reply:
June 27th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Hi Steve – new email? I feel like I know exactly what you’re saying about people knowing you but only as well as people can know other people. Each person sees a particular side of you, and all of those sides are different but they’re all you. I’m glad I don’t live under the microscope of a celebrity. Being a blogger is enough celebrity for me;)
I think our parents made brilliant choices. I don’t have children, but I think it’s brave to have them, and keep them. I think wanting to have them is consistent with our physiological desires, but once you have them, obviously it makes life harder. It takes more time, energy and money than before, just to get the same things out of life.
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#3 by myarthritispain58 on June 28th, 2009 - 8:36 am
Michael Jackson is my favorite pop artist ever since i was a child. He is truly the King of Pop and i am saddened by this news.
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#4 by Chessiq on June 29th, 2009 - 6:23 pm
Hey Todd,
New email? Not really. It is my “internet name” – I just decided to start using it again,… and I didn’t want you to welcome me back as if I was a new reader.
I think one of these days I will send you an email – just to discuss life issues. I suspect that I will need some guidance in buying a house or condo or whatever and I could benefit from your knowledge and experience. Hopefully, you won’t mind throwing a few tips my way.
A few days ago, I was thinking about the process that one needs to go through to have a kid. Not the physical aspect of it, but the mental, emotional, and spiritual preparation of it. I don’t recall how much time I spent on it, but I think I am going to add it to my 101 goals in 1001 days list – to write out my thoughts, feelings, assessment, readiness, etc of having kids. I think the thoughts were triggered by your post. So, many thanks!
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Todd Metheny Reply:
June 29th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Hi Steve/Chessiq – Email me any time. If I can help with something, I’d love to. I don’t know that I’ll have all the answers, but if I have a couple maybe it’ll help.
On the issue of having kids – it’s something my wife and I think about somewhat frequently. I want to wait as long as we can but I think her instincts are starting to kick in and she sort of wants to have one soon. Some days I’d like to, too. It’s one of the things I’m most afraid to do, because I want to try to do it well. I’m really worried that I’ll be too harsh or too critical…because sometimes I am. Rachel will help, because she’s so sweet and gentle, and she’s pretty good about reigning me in (most of the time). Hopefully it will all work out. Did you come to any conclusions?
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#5 by Chessiq on June 30th, 2009 - 8:34 pm
Hey Todd,
No, I have not come to any conclusions. I have put it on the 101 goals in 1001 days… so it will be done before the year is over. Whatever the case, I would like to have kids regardless of how great or not great I will be. I would like to be a nice papa, but you cannot always be. Well, I cannot. My comfort is in knowing that my mom and other dad were not always great, but look how I turned out to be!
I doubt that the Doc (Rachel) will wanna have kids while doing residency?! So, you have yourself some time there
About being harsh or critical… well, don’t be so harsh and critical of yourself now… keep that for the kids!
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#6 by Amalia Relation on July 1st, 2009 - 5:57 am
There are so many songs of him that were big hits! I was also a casual fan, but these days, listening to his songs I realised I knew them very well. He was a great musician and a special person!
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