Human gods?

With the recent tragic deaths of Michael Jackson and Steve McNair of NFL football fame, there are some interesting questions being posed. How do we remember celebrities and sports heroes in death? What legacy do these famous icons leave behind? The polished accolades of a shining star or the sordid details of the fallen?

Certainly over the last decade or more Michael Jackson, despite his musical legacy and genius has led a very strange life, to say the least. From the obvious over the top plastic surgery, sexual abuse allegations and subsequent trials, marriages to Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe, the births of his until recent times, mystery children, bizarre public behavior, feuding with his family etc., MJ, has left quite the dark twisted tale.

Steve McNair, the 3-time NFL Pro Bowl QB, who led his team to the Super Bowl in 2000 and NFL Co-MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003, was by all accounts an all around great guy, the favorite son of Nashville Tennessee, a family man who loved his wife and four sons, a tough no-nonsense football player, was taken tragically in a murder-suicide by of all people, his 20 year old girlfriend, tragic indeed!

Now what? Is their mythical god-like status tarnished? Do we just ignore the obvious chinks in their armour and remember only their exploits?

Or are we, the ever adoring fans, society at large, setting ourselves up for the eventual fall? We basically idolize and grant god-like status to our celebrities and sports heroes. Are we as a society not to blame for this unprecedented fame and flame out, of these bright lights?

After all, the recent tragic deaths of Michael Jackson and Steve McNair, accompanied with the twisted aftermath in each case has proved once again, that we are only human!!

He's Alive!!

A poll of three thousand people was conducted in Britain recently, to determine which dead person Britons would most like to meet. Some of the people in the top ten were Martin Luther King, Freddie Mercury, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and William Shakespeare. All great people and of course all very dead, well, except for maybe, Elvis!

Number one on the list of dead persons Britons would most like to meet is, surprise, surprise, Jesus! This is not surprise, surprise, Britons would most like to meet Jesus! This is surprise, surprise, Britons think Jesus is dead!!

Come on people, Jesus is very much alive!! I don't want to get all preachy and such, but in the first chapter of the Book of Acts, it is recorded that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after his crucifixion and resurrection on numerous occasions. Right up until his ascension to heaven in verse 9-11, Jesus was very much alive and is very alive today. Read for yourself http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201:1-11;&version=31;

In John 14:2-3 (NKJV), Jesus says, "² In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

Sounds alive to me!

Britons and indeed the world, you can't believe half the account and not the other!

An article on this poll can be read at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5474600/Jesus-and-Princess-Diana-lead-poll-of-dead-people-we-most-want-to-meet.html

Winner?

By now we have all heard that Scottish singing sensation, Susan Boyle, has finished second on Britain's Got Talent. There is no shame in her taking second place. She is already a winner, in the fact that she took a great risk and placed herself on the line, to the point where except for that beautiful voice, she could have been humiliated. The fact that she survived the interview process alone, is a mere miracle of human determination!

Susan would have faced may detractors along the way. We live in such a pretentious, superficial world, that fake has become the new norm. Let's face it, if Sarah Vaughan or Ella Fitzgerald were alive today, they wouldn't stand a chance, yet they are regarded as divas. Today, female vocalists have to look like fashion models or porn stars to achieve success. We can trust that the music industry will tart up, up and coming female singers, i.e., Alicia Keys, to ensure their success and of course, the almighty $$$ bottom line.

So, cut Susan some slack. She may have suffered a slight break down or responded harshly to the media in recent weeks, under intense media hype and scrutiny, but she embodies the underdog in us all!

Susan Boyle, has won for all of us!!

First Post

Well, there... I have finally arrived into the world of blogging. As if anyone really cares what I think, except for maybe my wife on odd days or my children on even days or maybe not, so much.





I am not even sure what I will be writing about, but from time to time I will post some of my rambling thoughts, on news items, pop culture, sports, my world and the world at large. Let's face it, these are some interesting times we live in!





For example, the whole premise of American Idol, is to vote for the best vocalist in the lineup. Fair enough, vocalists who don't make the grade are ceremoniously released. (by the way someone is making a boat load of money off this show and all of the spin off merchandise; hint last name rhymes with towel)



But people are paying over a hundred dollars a pop to go to a concert of a person (last name rhymes with tears, which is what you'll get after seeing her concert) who doesn't sing. (according to my sources, lip-synced entire concert in a big city where the Raptors play)





Interesting.... if you can't sing, you get booted off American Idol and miss out on becoming America's new pop singing sensation. Coming full circle, people then pay sweet money to see someone who doesn't sing!!



Reminds me of that old Arsenio Hall catch phrase back in the day, "things that make you want to go (say) hmmmmmm!"




There, I did it. Got that off my chest.