Notes on a Funeral

The funeral of Michael Jackson. Watching it from numerous points of view, it was interesting to follow some thoughts on Facebook, as Brooke, Magic, Smokey, Jermaine and the child scored points while Al Sharpton seemed to annoy everyone. Perhaps it was the hour, it was morning and everything seemed oddly out of place. Mariah Carey sang what felt like a raw voice. One half expected commercials. Salon did a great job in having Mary Elizabeth Williams write a minute-by-minute account of the show:

2:35 p.m. John Mayer does Lite FM guitar version of "Human Nature." Eyes closed.

Jackson rolls over in coffin.

2:30 p.m. Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan offer a dignified reminder of Jackson’s charity work, and assure his children they’ll always have family.

As they depart the stage, let us take a moment to note that we will likely not see another lineup of grieving brothers in sunglasses and single, sparkly gloves in our time.

Unless it catches on.

Read it all here.