The hype machine has started..........

.........let me start by preceding my rant by admitting that it is always said when people die. Some people, however, seem to get elevated way beyond what they really are.

If you are a total Jackson fan then please don't go reading this and then start hurling abusive comments at me, it's just my ramblings on things...............

Yes Michael Jackson has died and I do feel for his children, family and friends and fans.

The press however are just outrageous. Suddenly Michael Jackson has become a legend and an icon. Suddenly we are expected to forget how they have treated him over the years. What about the stories of baby juggling from hotel windows, the whole "wacko Jacko" image that they built up, the potentially sordid goings on at Neverland, not to mention his complete financial mismanagement....

IMO Jackson wrote some good tunes (but there were more bad than good) and he did appear to be a graet performer when he was firing on all cylinders but let's get a grip here people. It is incredible to think that 9/11 brought the internet to it's knees and now we are hearing that things are creaking since the death of Jackson, WTF? We have a TV on at work on Sky News and it has been Breaking News since the early hours of the morning that "Michael Jackson has died". No offence guys but this is NOT breaking news anymore! The last four hours has been dominated with stories from around the world about Jackson. I am really glad to see that the world has seemingly stabilised for this morning so that any other goings on are deemed as irrelevant next to the passing of a musical icon. Freddie Mercury didn't get anywhere near as much coverage as Jackson and yet to me he personified a true musical legend.

I also found it particularly distateful that the O2 Arena website (where Jackson was due to play FIFTY sold out nights) had the following message:
"At this moment our thoughts are with Michael's children, family and friends. We will announce ticketing information in due course."
It's great that they have a sympathetic message but what exactly is there to announce? Why delay the refund process? The gigs are cancelled and there is no reason for refunds to credit and debit cards to not be made automatically and immediately (except for the fact that the longer the process it takes the more money they can make in interest before refunding).

According to the BBC News website the Mandela Foundation says it regrets 'untimely passing' of Michael Jackson. What do they have to regret? Are they hiding something?

The news is out, Michael Jackson has sadly passed away, move along now people, there is nothing else to see here, maintain your vigils if you must, watch and listen to the tribute shows and buy the soon to be released greatest hits CD and DVD (come on, you kow it IS going to happens) and let's get back to real life...............

Oh, by the way, in case anyone else missed it amidst the "greater" news, Farrah Fawcett died yesterday, my thoughts go out to her children, friends, family and fans.