…and this is a 
I know! He's dead! But that's one corpse that you know isn't going to rest easily.
First, the ghouls are out in force. "psychic" ghoul James Van Praagh says he's been having conversations with Jackson's ghost; ghoul enabler Oprah Winfrey has quickly snatched him up to appear on her show and make the entire country disgusted.
Sylvia Browne, quick to gnaw the scraps off the bones, now claims that she has been chatting with the dead guy. Coming in second means she gets the consolation prize of appearing on the Montel Williams show.
There is now a video circulating about that claims to have captured Jackson's ghost walking through a hallway in Neverland. Oh, the ignominy of it all: lively, talented, enthusiastic black kid, reduced to creepy, wispy white man, and now at the end, seen as nothing more than a compression artifact.
Finally, after the flesh has been stripped from his bones, something has to be done with those untidy scraps of discarded mortality, lest they interfere with subsequent myths about his faked death and new life frolicking about with Elvis. There will be a memorial service. A huge, overblown, expensive memorial service to the tune of $2.5 million. Would you believe there is a poll about who should pay for it?
Should California Taxpayers Pay For Michael Jackson's Memorial?
Yes, absolutely, 100%. 46.73%
They should pay for some of it, and the Jacksons should also help pay. 22.43%
No, this is not their responsibility. 30.84%
They can't be serious. A dead wealthy popular entertainer with an extremely checkered reputation should not be receiving a state-sponsored funeral.
(via Tommy Holland's Vision)
Comments
Posted by: shyster | July 6, 2009 8:09 PM
As you know, Farah Fawcett died.
Well, she went to heaven and met St. Peter. He said, "You were a kind, beautiful and talented person. We don't usually do this but if there is something you would like I will try to arrange it."
She said, "I would like for all of the children in the world to be safe and happy."
The next day Michael Jackson died of unknown causes.
Posted by: Andyo
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July 6, 2009 8:10 PM
I don't think that in the video is a compression artifact. It does look like a shadow of somebody walking, perhaps perpendicularly to the wall out of the shot. If it's sunlight or a very far away light source the size of the shadow shouldn't change. In any case it could be a shadow from anywhere in that room.
Posted by: Andyo
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July 6, 2009 8:14 PM
Sorry, there should be a comma after "perpendicularly to the wall" above.
Posted by: Reginald Selkirk | July 6, 2009 8:17 PM
I'll bet he's been telling the two of them different things just to have a laugh by confusing people.Posted by: Yakaru | July 6, 2009 8:18 PM
The quickest to cash in was Deepak Chopra - immediately after his death he on CNN claiming Jackson was asking him for prescription drugs.
Of course it's fine for a doctor to ignore confidentiality in such a case, and of course Deepak was telling the truth. It must be very difficult for someone like Jackson to get a prescription in Hollywood.
Posted by: Wowbagger, OM | July 6, 2009 8:19 PM
Was he wealthy when he died, though? I heard he was something like $400 million in debt - though I imagine there's a heck of a lot pouring into his estate, since everyone's gone nuts buying his albums. He has the top 3 albums in Australia, and another 12 in the top 100. Apparently, even his singles are selling again.
Which makes me wonder - if they liked him that much, why didn't they buy his stuff when he was alive?
Posted by: Yakaru | July 6, 2009 8:21 PM
The quickest to cash in was Deepak Chopra - immediately after his death he on CNN claiming Jackson was asking him for prescription drugs.
Of course it's fine for a doctor to ignore confidentiality in such a case, and of course Deepak was telling the truth. It must be very difficult for someone like Jackson to get a prescription in Hollywood.
Posted by: gypsytag | July 6, 2009 8:22 PM
yes yes MJ is sooo interesting but alas i have a serious question.
Somebody claiming to be a biologist posted a claim on youtube that most mutations are bad.
I was under the impression that the majority of mutations were neutral.
Any help would be appreciated. Everything i look up seems to indicate this but i want to be sure.
It seems that if most mutations were bad it would have some serious negative affects on us.
Posted by: felixthecat
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July 6, 2009 8:24 PM
He cannot be a ghost yet because his brain has been removed from his body, and the body is being buried brainless:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/2009/07/05/michael-jackson-to-be-buried-without-his-brain-115875-21495043/
In the meantime, his astral force is resting in a pan of grease:
http://noticias.terra.com.br/popular/interna/0,,OI3851955-EI1141-ABG,00.html
You have to admit, MJ did a really fine job with that grease pan.
Posted by: MadScientist | July 6, 2009 8:25 PM
Gee, and I thought the Australians were stupid for shucking out millions of bucks for a farewell party when one its wealthiest residents died. It seems like there were more foreigners than neonatives outraged by such a waste of public money.
If the fans want to pay for it they can go buy tickets and use their own money; California has better uses for the money than entertaining a few thousand pop star fanatics. Dead people really don't care what the hell you do with them.
Posted by: CalGeorge | July 6, 2009 8:28 PM
Should California Taxpayers Pay For Michael Jackson's Memorial?
Where's the "FUCK No" option?
Posted by: JGG | July 6, 2009 8:32 PM
> "Was he wealthy when he died, though? I heard he was something like $400 million in debt"
Yes, but he had a massively lucrative portfolio of songs in his posession (with Beatles songs and others), which is worth more than his debts. That, combined with all the money that was still coming on from royalties of his own music, the real estate of Neverland and other personal posessions, made him still a rediculously rich man.
Posted by: LBBP | July 6, 2009 8:41 PM
That's what I was wondering.
Posted by: rrt | July 6, 2009 8:46 PM
The poll has changed. Now the second and third options are "The Jacksons should pay for part of it" and "AEG should pay for it."
Posted by: James | July 6, 2009 8:49 PM
Palluxo doesn't look to me to be a very credible source.
Posted by: Mona | July 6, 2009 8:59 PM
So the tax payers can pay $2.5 million for a funeral of some creepy guy who just happens to be famous, but can't pay for health care for the neediest of it's people? There is something horribly wrong with the nation when I have been in pain for months with an injury because I have no insurance, but the state will pay for people to say goodbye to someone they have never even met.
Posted by: Alex Deam
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July 6, 2009 9:03 PM
You should give him a state funeral. Over here, we gave Darwin and Newton state funerals, and they never gave back as ghosts or zombies or whatever, so why wouldn't that work on Michael Jackson?
Posted by: Marcus Ranum | July 6, 2009 9:14 PM
Uh, he appeared on my breakfast toast this morning. You can clearly see his one glove and sunglasses. And I was cured of not being able to urinate - a condition that I had suffered for at least 20 minutes prior. Miracle!
I'll sell the toast for anyone who wants it: $4,000. I have a whole loaf of them, for $40,000 (1/2 off the slice price!) These miracle michael toasts can help make your life better while simultaneously making mine better! You'll be incontinent and I'll buy another sports car.
Posted by: Otto | July 6, 2009 9:29 PM
Please, can we keep MJ off Pharyngula?
Please?
Posted by: Mrs Tilton | July 6, 2009 9:47 PM
California should pay for his funeral... with IOUs.
Posted by: Hans | July 6, 2009 9:48 PM
That's no compression artifact. The light in the room at the end of the hall is very, very bright. It looks like there's some light source there, a lamp for video recording, and someone is walking in front of the light, casting a shadow on the wall.
Posted by: Don | July 6, 2009 9:51 PM
Third option is now "AEG should pay for it." I liked it better before - I don't give a damn who pays for it, as long as it's not funded by taxes.
Posted by: Demonhype | July 6, 2009 10:11 PM
Sylvia Browne. Ugh.
My mom thinks she's aces. Quotes her at me all the time, or used to until I made it fairly clear that I considered her a con artist and felon. These days, a simple eye roll at the name is enough to get her to angrily retort, "well, I know you don't like her/believe in her" and then drop the subject promptly.
It helped that I brought up another of her big heros, Edgar Cayce, and stated that I think he was at least honest. That regardless of whether he had powers or whether I believe he had powers, I don't think he was just conning it up for the money and prestige.
Browne, now, is clearly cynically manipulating the credulity of the woo crowd. I haven't pressed it with my mom, though, because while she is just silly enough to believe in Browne, she's not stupid enough to spend $700 on a reading or any other such crap and only reads her books second hand or through the library. If she was, I'd be a bit more vocal.
That said, I was waiting for the inevitable conspiracy theory/ghost sightings to explode on the scene. 3..2...1....
Seriously, while I'm kind of sympatheic to MJ and his family(kind of a sad guy in a lot of ways, and no childhood of his own), I don't see that his death merits this sort of circus. I cried when Carlin died, but that was also because the guy reminded me of my own father with more pinache, but even his death wouldn't have deserved such a hubub. This is getting pathetic.
Okay, now I'm being Captain Obvious. Also, what else should I expect? Most people are too stupid to talk to, which is why I come to Pharyngula! :)
Posted by: Utakata | July 6, 2009 10:25 PM
I am glad I'm not wealthy or famous. Being wierd is easier to be.
Posted by: Texas Reader | July 6, 2009 10:29 PM
The L.A. times says the money the state will spend will not be on the funeral itself - it will be for things like paying off duty policeman to work traffic.
I'd love to see the promotional company have to pay for this BUT will it set a dangerous precedent? If a bunch of atheists decided to have a demonstration or march would the city then insist the group pay for the extra police used to work the event and handle traffic? I know that exercising free speech is very different from holding a memorial service that will disrupt the city but I'm concerned about this.
Posted by: Snoof | July 6, 2009 10:30 PM
@6
There's your problem. Everything posted on Youtube should be ignored. It's one of the biggest repositories of stupid I've ever come across, and I remember AOL.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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July 6, 2009 10:35 PM
I'll be so glad when Jackson is buried. Then CNN will stop being the Michael Jackson channel: "All Michael all the time!"
Posted by: peter | July 6, 2009 10:37 PM
A few years ago I happened to see a memorable appearance of Sylvia on the "Montel Williams Show". For those of you unfamiliar with her "work", she communicates with the dead and tells their surviving loved ones what they're doing and thinking these days.
On this particular episode, one woman in the audience claimed to have seen an apparition, and wanted Sylvia to tell her if it was the "angel" of her recently-deceased mother. No, replied Sylvia, it was a "spirit" - she then proceeded to explain at length the differences between "angels", "spirits", and "ghosts".
Another audience member stood up and said (paraphrasing) "ever since we moved into our new house last year, strange things have been happening. Doors slam when there's nobody to slam them. We hear strange voices at night. Small dead animals have appeared on our porch. And one time, my four-year old daughter told me, 'there's someone in my room'. I went to her room and saw no one there, but she pointed into the corner and said 'Look, don't you see him?'. Sylvia, I think this might be a demon - am I right?"
Sylvia replied, "No, dear, your don't have to worry about that - there's no such thing as demons".
Posted by: Quiet Desperation | July 6, 2009 10:41 PM
You think it's bad elsewhere, try it here in Southern California. I just hope my morning commute tomorrow isn't hosed by the hordes of worshippers. It's going to be worse than the Hajj to the giant Hellraiser puzzle box in Mecca.
On the plus side, MJ is being buried without his brain, so little to no chance of him arising as a zombie. And Bill Handel at KFI might be on the air to give the play by play, and he will *NOT* be kind to the worshippers. Must remember to bring my portable radio to work.
Posted by: Quiet Desperation | July 6, 2009 10:49 PM
California should pay for his funeral... with IOUs.
Ha! Probably, although maybe all the companies involved and the family might consider ponying up some scratch. As someone above mentioned, his assets outweigh his debts.
On the other hand, maybe it will push the state into total bankruptcy which is what most of us here are rooting for at this point. Sacramento (aka NeoRome) and it's army of incompetent fiddlers can burn to the ground for all anyone cares anymore. Eff every last one of them- Rep, Dem or whatever. Maybe we can build a better government on your unlamented ashes, or at least draw districts that don't deliver extremist sociopaths into every elected position.
Posted by: Weaponsofmassdeception | July 6, 2009 10:59 PM
OT, but MJ isn't news to me.
Crash a poll to offset the hot air from all the news vans covering the corpse?
Carbon Offset Pointless Poll
If you're really bored you can delete cookies and keep voting!
Posted by: JSW | July 6, 2009 11:04 PM
A ghost video? That's nothing. I happen to have a video of him rising bodily from his grave and leading a dance routine with a bunch of zombies!
Posted by: BobbyEarle
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July 6, 2009 11:20 PM
Hmm, anything happening in Iraq these days?
Posted by: W. H. Heydt | July 6, 2009 11:30 PM
I don't like the poll...too mixed. There is no way to say "hell NO, the taxpayers shouldn't cover a dime of it."
Posted by: aratina cage
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July 6, 2009 11:33 PM
The memorial service is not state sponsored. The $2.5 million is LAPD's estimated cost of securing multiple sites dedicated to the memorial and to prevent gang activity that could spark rioting. They will also have to cordon off Westboro Baptists from justifiably irate fans. The LA Times has the scoop as its top link right now.
Posted by: michele | July 6, 2009 11:37 PM
It's certainly not where I want my taxes going. And Michael died the same day as Farrah #1.
Posted by: Standard Curve
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July 6, 2009 11:40 PM
I could have lived the rest of my life completely happy with not hearing Michael Jackson's music, now it is hard to avoid. Not even NPR has been safe.
Posted by: Paper Hand | July 6, 2009 11:57 PM
@ #8
Somebody claiming to be a biologist posted a claim on youtube that most mutations are bad.
I was under the impression that the majority of mutations were neutral.
Yes. Most mutations are neutral. It was once believed that most mutations are harmful, before details of DNA were known. We now know that most mutations have no effect. Of those mutations that do have visible effects, however, the majority are harmful, that much is true. Of course, the harmful mutations are selected against, and remain rare. The rare beneficial mutations, on the other hand, are selected for and become more common. That non-silent mutations are mostly harmful is a natural consequence of natural selection - millions of years of evolution have already selected most of the beneficial mutations.
Posted by: Zar | July 7, 2009 12:05 AM
MJ would never return as a ghost. Everybody knows he'd come back as a dancing zombie. Some fan you are, dramatic Youtube video maker!
Jackson was friends with a number of awful newagers, including everybody's favorite spoony bard Uri Gellar. Surrounded by blood-sucking enablers who don't stop milking the MJ cash cow even after the guy dies. Stay classy! They should be forced to watch the Leave Me Alone video Clockwork Orange style.
Though at least Sylvia Browne offers hope and compassion, right?
Posted by: ExurbanMom | July 7, 2009 12:21 AM
What's worse than this is the new show on the Cartoon Network, called 'The Othersiders.'
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/theothersiders/
Yes, instead of giving kids some mindless cartoon fun, let's teach the kids about ghosthunting and spirits at age 8 or so. Gag.
Posted by: MikeM | July 7, 2009 12:26 AM
Man, that is one slammed little server right now. I had to find the video elsewhere.
http://www.examiner.com/x-9259-Miami-Celebrity-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Michael-Jacksons-ghost-video-what-do-you-believe
Sooo Ssssspoooookyyyy.
I'm scared, people!
(There's a poll here, too. "Yes, that's his ghost!" is winning. My brain hurts.)
Posted by: blf | July 7, 2009 1:17 AM
If the LAPD were to chuck Sylvia Browne and the Westboro Baptists into a deep dark dank dungeon somewhere and lose the key, I'd happily pay them 2,5M$. (I've never heard of this James Van Praagh woo-woo, but tossing it and Oprah Winfrey in as well seems like value-for-money.)
Posted by: Tired | July 7, 2009 1:27 AM
Will this ever end? I heard someone asked for a third (!) autopsy. MJ will be on display in a glass coffin. Psychics claim to talk to him even though he's, you know, dead.
When can I start reading the news again?
Posted by: baryogenesis | July 7, 2009 1:29 AM
Then, there's always the Hitler version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELyTBXzfQJ8
Posted by: Tired | July 7, 2009 1:30 AM
Oh, and no he shouldn't have a state-sponsored funeral. He may have been the king of pop or whatever, doesn't mean he was an actual king. Aren't state-sponsored funerals for poor people anyway?
Posted by: natural cynic | July 7, 2009 2:02 AM
You just knew that it wouldn't be long before MJ pareidolia strikes. Odball on Olbermann has the details. He shows up on the scar left from a cut branch of a tree.
Posted by: Greymalkin | July 7, 2009 2:16 AM
If that 'ghost' would have been moonwalking in the background, I would actually be impressed (not to be confused with convinced).
Ghosts don't exist, or at least no one has ever produced any evidence that they do. Until them, I'm filing them in the bullshit draw of my personal archives, along with God, Allah and all other creatures of myth.
Posted by: Greymalkin | July 7, 2009 2:22 AM
If that 'ghost' would have been moonwalking in the background, I would actually be impressed (not to be confused with convinced).
Ghosts don't exist, or at least no one has ever produced any evidence that they do. Until them, I'm filing them in the bullshit draw of my personal archives, along with God, Allah and all other creatures of myth.
Posted by: Psi Wavefunction | July 7, 2009 2:25 AM
The UC system is crashing into flames with ridiculous paycuts and general financial mayhem, there's rumours of plans to shut down the entire state parks system, state employees are laid off by the thousands... yeah, sure, let's go ahead and fund this memorial!
Posted by: Greymalkin | July 7, 2009 2:26 AM
If that 'ghost' would have been moonwalking in the background, I would actually be impressed (not to be confused with convinced).
Ghosts don't exist, or at least no one has ever produced any evidence that they do. Until them, I'm filing them in the bullshit draw of my personal archives, along with God, Allah and all other creatures of myth.
Posted by: Tired | July 7, 2009 2:28 AM
Psi Wavefunction #49
Have they considered raising taxes?
Posted by: Lloyd | July 7, 2009 2:38 AM
As others have mentioned the $2.5 million isn't for the funeral, it's to keep his hordes of fans at bay, none of whom are invited to the funeral but will show up anyway even after being repeatedly told to stay away. So really, it seems that the state of California is just picking up the tab for their own citizen's stupid behavior.
Seems similar to when fans of sporting teams riot through a city after a big win. Do the teams always pick up that tab?
Posted by: Greymalkin | July 7, 2009 2:43 AM
If that 'ghost' would have been moonwalking in the background, I would actually be impressed (not to be confused with convinced).
Ghosts don't exist, or at least no one has ever produced any evidence that they do. Until them, I'm filing them in the bullshit draw of my personal archives, along with God, Allah and all other creatures of myth.
Posted by: Felix | July 7, 2009 3:11 AM
If they think the state should pay for the memorial, why not go all the way and demand full sponsorship of builing MJ a mausoleum. Heck, why not a Pyramid.
Posted by: Felix | July 7, 2009 3:19 AM
Sylvia Browne was careless enough to make some very precise predictions for this year in her 'Christmas address'. Every single time she mentioned an event with two or more specifics (region, month, vehicle type), she was wrong. I checked personally.
- bank robbery in Vegas in June involving a truck (she even mentioned the truck company), bank robbers escape: didn't happen
- liner (ship) going aground, passengers thrown or jump into water: didn't happen
- terrorist attack near Paris: didn't happen
She has a trick that she tries about every year: predicting with hindsight. Like, 'three deaths of celebrities whose names begin with K will occur next month'. Then, when maybe only two happen, she says that the first of the three already happened some weeks before, completely ignoring that this is not what she predicted. Her brainless fans don't register the lies.
Posted by: Giselle | July 7, 2009 3:24 AM
I just wanted to comment on this, "Oh, the ignominy of it all: lively, talented, enthusiastic black kid, reduced to creepy, wispy white man".
Do you know a condition named Vitiligo? So I would like to ask you what do you think is more creepy, wispy whatever? a guy who seems white or a guy who seems like a cow, black & white. I don't think Michael took the wrong decision, he had no choice.
About the ghost, I'm a filmmaker, I know how to set lights to make shadows but to get a shadow of a crew person or to anything, you need a wall behind and this shadow is crossing the middle of the hallway. What I would like to know is if this shadow was seen life on TV or someone just edited and added the shadow with photoshop and later put it on the internet.
Posted by: Giselle | July 7, 2009 3:27 AM
I just wanted to comment on this, "Oh, the ignominy of it all: lively, talented, enthusiastic black kid, reduced to creepy, wispy white man".
Do you know a condition named Vitiligo? So I would like to ask you what do you think is more creepy, wispy whatever? a guy who seems white or a guy who seems like a cow, black & white. I don't think Michael took the wrong decision, he had no choice.
About the ghost, I'm a filmmaker, I know how to set lights to make shadows but to get a shadow of a crew person or to anything, you need a wall behind and this shadow is crossing the middle of the hallway. What I would like to know is if this shadow was seen life on TV or someone just edited and added the shadow with photoshop and later put it on the internet.
Posted by: Andyo
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July 7, 2009 3:33 AM
aratina cage #35:
Wait a minute... LA gangs, vs. MJ fans, vs. WB churchers? Why the hell would ANYONE want to prevent that? I say SELL FREAKING TICKETS!
Posted by: Andyo
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July 7, 2009 3:39 AM
giselle, if the light source is far away enough (as in the sun or something else very far), you don't need the wall to be directly behind the shadow. The thing doesn't look fake actually, the shadow's reflection on the floor is very well done, and supposedly it aired live. Youtube videos of the whole full broadcast also show it.
Posted by: Quiet Desperation | July 7, 2009 4:15 AM
Yes, instead of giving kids some mindless cartoon fun, let's teach the kids about ghosthunting and spirits at age 8 or so. Gag.
Maybe. However, The Real Ghostbusters cartoon was awesome. And one of it's main writers went on to create Babylon 5- yes, avowed atheist J. Michael Stracynzki!
Posted by: Becky | July 7, 2009 4:24 AM
I've been wondering. Do you think his nose will decay?
Posted by: Raiko | July 7, 2009 4:37 AM
They changed the poll answers.
I want none of these. All I care about is that the taxpayers should NOT pay it, but now all I get to choose is taxpayers, taxpayers and Jacksons or AEG. What if I want the AEG and the Jacksons to share it, or don't care either way?
Posted by: Ray Mills | July 7, 2009 5:24 AM
Has anyone mentioned William Gibsons Michael Jackson ref in Virtual Light (I think) That cute little black kid who became an ugly white woman...
Posted by: FlameDuck | July 7, 2009 5:33 AM
Unless that state happens to be California, in which case they're just getting what they deserve. Think of it as the special Proposition 8 tax on bigotry, if it makes you feel better. Unfortunately that's the way it's got to be when you live in a country that defines "Socialism" as "the state provides for those who need" and "Capitalism" or "Free Enterprise" as "the state provides for those who want".Posted by: O-dot-O | July 7, 2009 5:48 AM
> lively, talented, enthusiastic black kid,
> reduced to creepy, wispy white man,
I like Bill Maher's description better:
Only in America could a poor black boy become a rich white woman.
Posted by: O-dot-O | July 7, 2009 5:52 AM
> lively, talented, enthusiastic black kid,
> reduced to creepy, wispy white man,
I like Bill Maher's description better:
Only in America could a poor black boy become a rich white woman.
Posted by: Marlinspike Knotts | July 7, 2009 7:43 AM
Someone else mentioned professional athletic victory
parades--LA Lakers fans put up $850,000 & Lakers &
AEG $1million so that the fans could riot &c. after
the Lakers won the NBA title. What? There was an
NBA final?
Posted by: Alex Deam
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July 7, 2009 7:45 AM
You got the socialism one right, but the capitalism one needs a little work. AFAIK poor people have "wants" too. How about "the state provides for those it has already provided for" for capitalism?
Posted by: marilove | July 7, 2009 10:38 AM
Shyster, I know you're trying to be cute and witty, but you fail. They died on the same day. Leave the jokes to someone else.
Posted by: heh | July 7, 2009 10:51 AM
"an extremely checkered reputation"
So, guilty until proven innocent, then?
Never mind the fact that there is no EVIDENCE of the claims of sexual abuse.
Posted by: heh | July 7, 2009 10:53 AM
"an extremely checkered reputation"
So, guilty until proven innocent, then?
Never mind the fact that there is no EVIDENCE of the claims of sexual abuse.
Posted by: JiminKy | July 7, 2009 11:49 AM
I think the city/state should pay for Michael Jackson's memorial — not the ceremony itself, but all the traffic control, health support and hoopla that surrounds it.
I don't say this because I'm a Jackson fan. I'm not. I think his music was OK, but he became deeply creepy. I say this because I'm considering the massive clusterfuck that will result if taxpayers don't foot the bill, at least up front. You've got to have crowd control, emergency services, etc., or a lot of people will be hurting. And I don't see Jackson's family or personal representatives stepping up to pay for it.
That said, its costs should be charged to Jackson's estate, though who knows when (or if) any money will emerge from that. But this isn't an expense that can wait.
On the bright side, California may get a small boost from the furor. All those people flooding in are going to rent motel rooms, eat at restaurants, and buy all the chintzy souvenirs the locals can crank out. It can be as much of a financial windfall as a burden.
Posted by: Qwerty | July 7, 2009 11:58 AM
Quick, someone warn all the Elvii in Vegas that they'll soon be joined by moon walkers!
Posted by: Stephen R. Whelan | July 7, 2009 1:10 PM
I posted this on the article about MJ's "ghost", and in the event it doesn't get published, I'll add it here:
"Yes. You guys are absolutely right. The ONLY possible explanation is that it is a ghost. It's amazing that you're all able to asses and debate on, not whether or not it IS a ghost (because ghosts' existences are 100% TRUE, right?) but on WHOSE ghost it is! Keep it up guys! That's a friggin SPIRIT on the lose! We have to find it and figure out what it wants! GHOSTS ARE REAL!! MJ IS HAUNTING US! A brief glimmer was seen in the moving background of a camera shot of his house so it HAS to be him!
Wait a second.... oh yeah, he's dead. This is a saddening occurrence, true, and I do not disagree with whatever methods people chose to remember him by. But, to speculate on the absurd idea of a "dead spirit" wandering the corridors of his house is as foolish as the idea of ghosts or haunting spirits. Fiction, people. Fiction."
(Jeez, why the hell didn't I start posting here sooner? Pharyngula is awesome!)
Posted by: Quiet Desperation | July 7, 2009 3:22 PM
I say this because I'm considering the massive clusterfuck that will result if taxpayers don't foot the bill, at least up front.
No one is arguing against that. What people want is the city to be reimbursed afterwards, as was done for the L.A. Lakers victory parade (mentioned by #67 above).
Unless that state happens to be California, in which case they're just getting what they deserve. Think of it as the special Proposition 8 tax on bigotry, if it makes you feel better.
Wow, that made absolutely no sense. :-) So all the gays and straight people like me who opposed H8 should be punished, too? I love when people think with state sized broad brushes.
Posted by: Leon | July 7, 2009 3:25 PM
As aratina cage pointed out, Jackson is not getting a state-sponsored funeral. The money is coming from local government, not the state.
Posted by: Smidgy | July 7, 2009 3:50 PM
Who is actually arranging this memorial service? The Jacksons or AEG? If it's AEG, then they should pay for it. If it's the Jacksons, then there should be an option four - 'The Jacksons pay for all of it'.
Posted by: stogoe | July 7, 2009 4:45 PM
It takes like an 80% vote to raise taxes in California, thanks to their crippling ballot initiative system. So no, California is unable to raise taxes until their government burns to the ground and they draft a new State Constitution.
And the Cartoon Network ghost hunter show is a live-action ripoff of the SciFi network ghost hunter reality show, not an animated narrative like Ghostbusters. Those dumb kids pull every stupid woo argument they can find in the commercials.
I wan't aware that that had happened. That sounds like a good idea; reimburse the city for the freakshow circus funeral.
Posted by: Karey | July 7, 2009 4:46 PM
I don't think its terribly unfair that large figures take up a lot of police power now and then, considering how much money in taxes someone as rich as MJ has shelled out over time. I think its rather disingenuous to act like the local government is donating the staples center or any other services for the funeral. They are doing what we use them for, which is to police when whatever incident occurring requires it.
Posted by: Doctorb | July 7, 2009 5:49 PM
Oh man, that story about MJ being buried without his brain was great. Completely normal until the end, where it points out that he was the scarecrow in The Wiz.
Posted by: Fluffy | July 7, 2009 6:25 PM
It takes like an 80% vote to raise taxes in California, thanks to their crippling ballot initiative system. So no, California is unable to raise taxes until their government burns to the ground and they draft a new State Constitution.
Where do people get this stuff? It takes a greater than 2/3 vote, not 4/5. That being said, it should burn down, but no new state constitution until we get folks in there with functioning brain cells, because there's too many folks who just robotically think "10 Out of money? 20 Raise taxes again. 30 GOTO 10" forever and ever if they could.
And they just *did* raise taxes earlier this year in February. Try paying attention to what's happening to one of the largest economies in the world. It *will* affect you down the road. It was the largest state tax increase in US history, and we are now one of the highest taxed populations in the union. I think New York or some state *might* still have us beat in one or two areas.
Some of you people don't understand what's going on out here. If this legislature could raise taxes to 110%, they would. They are that stupid and that sociopathic. They are batshit insane and completely, utterly corrupt. They'd confiscate *everything* like the freaking Grinch raiding Whoville if they thought they could get away with it.
I know some folks around these parts think taxes can never be too high and they never have negative effects, but the rest of us have to live in objective reality. We can no longer pay the costs of your faith.
Posted by: Jim | July 7, 2009 9:33 PM
They appear to have changed the third choice to:
AEG should pay for it.