While most Michael Jackson fans have Thriller rated as his or her favorite video, I’ve been a sucker for Smooth Criminal. There’s something about the gangster period of time in which this video is set, the tip of the cap to Fred Astaire, that white suit which makes him stand out from all the others, that coin hitting the jukebox, and above all else, that lean that just came out of nowhere. The first time I saw that lean, as a kid, I wondered if it was real or not, and tried it myself.
Yes, I know, Michael Jackson the man was a very troubled individual, but I really admire Michael Jackson the artist. And yes, I can differentiate the two.
My very first cassette tape was Thriller. I know most covers of that album only has a picture of him, but I remember the one with the baby tiger. Maybe the tiger was on the inside flap? I can’t remember.
I can remember putting that tape in my jambox and cranking up the speakers with my neighborhood friends breakdancing in a circle.
I can still cut a pretty decent rug. Trust me.
I have really enjoyed watching all of his videos over this weekend on MTV, VH1, BET, and a few other channels. For me, as of right now, it’s not getting old. But I can understand why it might be for those that didn’t really follow him or listen to his music.
I actually watched the BET Awards last night. They changed a whole lot of the format of the show up in just a few days to honor Jackson. Jamie Fox did a good job, changing from MJ costume to MJ costume.
Bel Biv Devoe performed – that took me back to good times.
Believe it or not, last night wasn’t the first time I watched the BET Awards.
The old and new Uhura (Star Trek) presented the award, but the new Uhura started the presentation without the older one because she was in the ladies room. Just awkward.
I was so jealous in the second grade when my friend Jamie was the first to show up to school with a zipper jacket.
Someone on the radio mentioned when he sang ABC with the Jackson Five, you could hear the innocence. I thought that was a pretty insightful and correct.
I think he really set himself apart when he appeared at the 25th anniversary of Motown show on NBC. He actually got a phone call from Fred Astaire after that performance. Now that’s pretty cool.
Most meaningful and touching Michael Jackson song: Man in the Mirror The video itself is pretty moving.
One person that should be most thankful for Michael Jackson is Weird Al – he would never have had the success without Jackson. I took a peek at his website, no mention of Jackson’s passing.
I think I do a pretty good job of making my state registration and safety stickers on my windshield align up properly.
Those stickers are made so that if removed, they are ruined. But when you get a windshield replaced, those folks are pretty good at transferring them from the old windshield to the new one.
I hear the new Toll Tags from the NTTA are nothing more than just a sticker.
Toll roads in DFW are starting to multiply like rabbits.
I was talking to someone a few years younger than me who somewhat recently moved to Lubbock and is looking for a church home. She said she prefers mainline over evangelical, but above all prefers a traditional worship experience where the choir must wear robes. In DFW, I saw a robed choir, or a traditional worship service (no drums or guitars, overhead projectors, etc) is a rarity. If I had to guess, I would say only 10% of churches in DFW offer such a service.
There’s nothing wrong with a traditional service, but I think it’s just a sign of the times that that form or worship is dying out. It makes me wonder what worship will look like around DFW and the nation twenty years from now.
I never feel comfortable writing “that that” or “have had.”
"It makes me wonder what worship will look like around DFW and the nation twenty years from now."
If Christian Europe is any sort of guide, services in the U.S. will be sparsely attended. The continent is covered with many beautiful churches and cathedrals but the interest seems to be dying away. Two devastating World Wars may be to blame.
Weird Al did mention Michael jackson's death twice on his Twitter account:
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Oh man. Can't believe it. RIP Michael Jackson.
3:54 PM Jun 25th from web
………………….
Sorry, but my feelings about the MJ tragedy cannot be adequately articulated in 140 characters.
10:46 AM Jun 28th from Twitterrific
Dallas had about 10 years or so to make some major improvements in their system to cut down on pollution, and pretty much didn't do anything about it. They saw it coming a few years back and instead of making a mad dash for change, they gave up their chance to continue to receive federal funding and went ahead and started extending toll roads. Apparently it was easier to toss up some toll booths than make any kind of attempt to work on the pollution problem in DFW. To give you an idea as to how bad it is, when flying over NYC, you can see everything perfectly without any kind of obstruction due to pollution. When landing in DFW most recently, I could barely see the ground at just over 3000 ft up (per the inflight computer screen readout). The air quality continues to deteriorate. I blame the massive amount of 4×4 vehicles that have never seen a dirt road in Dallas for everything.
I know a church in Lubbock that offers a traditional service. In fact I know this church very, very well. 😉
"It makes me wonder what worship will look like around DFW and the nation twenty years from now."
If Christian Europe is any sort of guide, services in the U.S. will be sparsely attended. The continent is covered with many beautiful churches and cathedrals but the interest seems to be dying away. Two devastating World Wars may be to blame.
Weird Al did mention Michael jackson's death twice on his Twitter account:
…………………..
Oh man. Can't believe it. RIP Michael Jackson.
3:54 PM Jun 25th from web
………………….
Sorry, but my feelings about the MJ tragedy cannot be adequately articulated in 140 characters.
10:46 AM Jun 28th from Twitterrific
Dallas had about 10 years or so to make some major improvements in their system to cut down on pollution, and pretty much didn't do anything about it. They saw it coming a few years back and instead of making a mad dash for change, they gave up their chance to continue to receive federal funding and went ahead and started extending toll roads. Apparently it was easier to toss up some toll booths than make any kind of attempt to work on the pollution problem in DFW. To give you an idea as to how bad it is, when flying over NYC, you can see everything perfectly without any kind of obstruction due to pollution. When landing in DFW most recently, I could barely see the ground at just over 3000 ft up (per the inflight computer screen readout). The air quality continues to deteriorate. I blame the massive amount of 4×4 vehicles that have never seen a dirt road in Dallas for everything.