I certainly don’t get Bieber fever

Image via WikipediaWhat do so many people see in Justin Bieber?

Now I admit that in my day I swooned over the likes of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and even Andy Williams. I loved music by Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini, and Johnny Mercer. I love music. And I wonder what ever happened to it.

Sorry, but I just can’t put Justin Bieber into the same category as these greats whose music will live on timelessly. People are still enjoying John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Three generations have known The Beatles’ classics. And Elvis—everybody on the planet knows Elvis’ music.

Will Justin Bieber’s music stand the test of time? I don’t think so. At least not from what I heard last night when he performed on Dancing with the stars. He performed a number with Boyz II Men. Those guys have talent. They so outshined Bieber that I was almost embarrassed for him.

I admit this was really my first exposure to Bieber, so I hope I’m not characterizing him unfairly. I have heard his song “Baby” and except for it being a catchy tune, I doubt it will ever be a classic. In fact, it is now a little annoying.
Now this is not to say that Justin Bieber isn’t a stand-up guy. I also watched the clip of Ellen where he donated $100,000 and a free performance to poor students at a school in Las Vegas. That was very charitable of him. Put into perspective though, what is $100,000 to someone whose net worth is nearing $100 million?

Bieber started out as a cute kid who could sing, but he seems to be so strongly influenced by black performers that he emulates them. He’s no Usher, John Legend, Seal, or Michael Jackson, artists with their own particular style and sound.

I’m sorry, there is just something wrong about a baby-faced white kid, his pants slung far below his waist, as he tries to saunter on stage singing as if he is black. He isn’t. If he can sing, I didn’t notice. I’ve heard American Idol contestants that sounded better.

In my opinion, if Justin Bieber has a future in the music business, he should develop his own style and his own brand and stop trying to be a wannabe.

Drugs are everywhere

Is everybody on drugs?

If there is any good to emerge from the hype surrounding Michael Jackson's death, it is my hope that it could cause people to wake up about drugs. I don't mean illegal drugs. That is another discussion altogether. I refer to prescription drugs. How many pills do you take every day? And do you really need them? Do they interact with other pills you take, which could cause more harm than good? How many times do you visit a doctor and walk out with a new prescription? How many times have you asked your physician about a drug you saw on television?

Isn't it time to start looking into our own medicine cabinets and kitchen cabinets? Maybe we should consider whether our doctors care more about pushing pills and masking our symptoms than curing what ails us. If there is more of an interest to satisfy the bottom line of pharmaceutical companies which also enriches the doctor at our expense, isn't it time to find a new physician?

If Michael Jackson's death wasn't a wake-up call, how about the reports that our oceans and lakes and streams are being polluted by discarded pharmaceuticals. Read one of many examples here. Or what about the potential for a worldwide pandemic spread by birds that could build an immunity to the influenza-fighting Tamiflu, found in river water? Read story here.

It seems to me the pervasiveness of drugs in today's culture is conducive to addiction and worse. Drugs are meant to cure our ills, but how many of us are becoming ill because of them? And how many of us are exposed to them even if we don't physically put them into our bodies?

Drug pushers used to be identifiable as thugs and unsavory characters hanging around street corners. Now drug pushers are attractive actors and actresses who sell everything from a cure for male sexual dysfunction, altering a female's reproductive cycle, and mood-enhancement. Their message fills our television and computer screens on a regular basis, one after another with their almost subliminal messages. Frankly I'm sick of it. This stuff needs to be taken off the air. Congress is considering a bill to tax the drug ads, but it is being fought by TV networks. Read more.

What is happening today is far different from the 60-second Alka-Seltzer commercials decades ago where Speedy, a cute little character, advertised a substance to make our tummies feel better. That commercial was helpful. Today, the commercials can be harmful as people attempt to self-medicate when they have no idea what they are doing. Have you noticed that during the lengthy commercials, there are a few seconds devoted to potential side effects? Those few seconds are tantamount to reading the fine print. It is there, but who notices?

Just to be fair, I will provide full disclosure of my bias. When I was a small child, my mother and father tried to get me to take a daily multi-vitamin. I refused. Taking the tiny round, candy-coated pill was probably good for me, but I wanted no part of it. I remember it was quite a struggle, for which I finally succumbed. I now take them only occasionally. I still hate taking pills.

To get a much less biased view, check out and weigh into this informational link for the non-profit organization http://prescriptiondrugs.procon.org/

A Congressman named King, the King of Pop, and Truth

The latest Michael Jackson blather comes from Congressman Pete King, R-NY. King recorded a video where he criticizes the media circus surrounding the pop star's recent death and soon-to-be memorial service. He stepped way beyond the boundaries as he calls Jackson a pedophile and pervert. He was highly critical of the media coverage that he said should instead be focused on members of the military who have died in service to our country. He made the statement on the Fourth of July amid a backdrop of flags waving as he stands in front of his Wantagh, NY American Legion post.

Now, while there may be some value to King's questioning the excessive media coverage of Michael Jackson's death, I can't help but wonder about his motives. Whenever I hear a Republican spewing the 'hurrah for the troops' rhetoric, especially in full view of the high-flying stars and stripes and in the shadow of the American Legion, I can't help but be a little suspicious.

There is a funny thing about rhetoric. There is usually some grain of truth buried inside the huge nugget of grandiosity. In my opinion, the media coverage has been over-the-top. It went beyond the "developments" in the case stemming from drugs being found, potential child custody issues, and other newsworthy events.

Unfortunately, King's remarks about celebrating the service of police, firefighters, and members of the military was lost by his name-calling. A lawmaker should know better than anyone that Michael Jackson was not convicted of any wrongdoing. This is the land of law where a man is innocent until proven guilty.

Does this mean I believe Jackson was beyond suspicion, despite his own admission that he slept with little children? Do I think he lied about his relationships with children even at the same time he swore he never had any kind of plastic surgery on his face or that his appearance changed naturally as he grew from a cute little black child to a ghastly-looking white man?

Herein lies the most concrete observation I came away with after years as a journalist. It seems that truth lies in the eye of the beholder. Even though we all grew up believing truth was black and white, we also believed in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Perspective colors the truth. And it is only after establishing the shade of gray that determines truth, can there be belief.

Sick of the Michael Jackson circus

I am getting a little tired of the Michael Jackson circus. I suppose all of the hubbub is reminiscent of the fact that "entertainment" has taken over society. To some, being entertained is more important than working, learning, loving, and even living. Sadly, it has even been reported that Michael Jackson fans are committing suicide. How sick is that?

Then there is Joe Jackson, crawling out from under his rock to promote his latest get-rich-quick scheme before his son is even laid to rest. His lack of emotion about his lost son makes it easy to see why Michael had issues.

Then we have the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and the frenzy that always accompanies their rebel-rousing. I guess that's a black thing. I really don't understand it, since I thought we were all supposed to be the same. Was Michael Jackson even black anymore? He certainly looked white. I believe his skin turned white naturally just like I believe he didn't have plastic surgery on his face, as he told Martin Brashares in his infamous interview. Michael simply did not acknowledge a difference between fantasy and reality.

I recognize MJ's talent. I admit that it was mesmerizing to watch him perform. And I will admit that he changed the face of music, but to ignore his bizarre and potentially criminal behavior he bought his way out of, is to ignore the ground beneath our feet.

It bothers me that society went off the deep end when one entertainer, Michael Jackson, died suddenly, but it virtually ignored the loss, just hours before, of another entertainer, a brave, strong woman, whose death was equally tragic. She was just as revered by her fans as MJ was by his. And Farrah Fawcett was an artist. She was a beautiful woman, who was adored by millions. It is sad that her loss was all by forgotten in the media frenzy over the loss of the King of Pop.

Check this out This is ain interesting piece on the death of Michael Jackson. May he rest in peace!