146000

Every day 146,000 people die.

I'm watching CNN, CBC, BBC and the round the clock news feed is talking about Michael Jackson (and Farah Fawcett). Of course he was a great artist, musician and the King of Pop. Like most people upon hearing death I was saddened, reminded of my youth, reminded of my mortality.

The adulation is understandable.

But he was a freak. Not just weird, freak. But you know after being accused of molesting kids he still had them sleep in his bed. He fed kids alcohol - the infamous and creepy sounding "Jesus Juice".

I know he had demons but a lot of people have demons and most of those people don't take it out on others. He was a tortured man, yes. I feel sorry for him as a boy. Clearly his chances of being mentally healthy were slim. But in a rush to celebrate his great accomplishments we shouldn't apologize for his sins.

I'll remember him best as the zombie in Thriller. I'll think of him as the wunderkind lead singer of the Jackson 5. I hope the kids he may have damaged got the help they need.

We mourn ambivalently.

Today there is no news of Iran, Sudan or North Korea. It is as if those places don't exist.

It's almost like the sickest thing of all is the blinding light of celebrity.

Every day 146,000 people die. May they all rest in peace.