I bopped to his tunes in high school and college but never bought an album and never thought he was nearly as "all that" as everyone else seemed to do. Personally, I find Prince (under whatever name) to be both more talented and creative musically, and at least as good a dancer.

The posthumous near-deification of this very, very strange person is, IMO, nauseating. Al Sharpton calling him "a giant among civil rights leaders" is utterly ridiculous and incredible (as are most of the opinions Sharpton inflicts upon the public).

I get the whole escapism thing, really - as a source of entertainment. Not as a way of life. And not at the expense of innocents.

Au revoir, Michael. May you find more peace in the afterlife than you had here.