. . .but I will try to give it a German spin.

We were out jogging today – the first time since pretty much ever – and passed a shop posting the Bi.ld Zeit.ung out in front. It seems that standardbearer of German journalistic quality saw fit to publish the photos of the dead or dying singer as he was being transported to the hospital and cpr was being performed.

While I think I would not go as far as saying that the photos shouldn’t be taken – (You never know what else might show up on a photo that might assist a later investigation) – I am not sure that I undertand the kind of people who will pay money to see them or who want to publish them.

I think one would call it pietätslos. I am surprised that they didn’t draw the line somewhere. What’s next, the post mortem photos?

For the non-Germans – yes the paper has a web page. I am not linking to it here. (And no the same photo is to my knowlege not posted there. Given that it’s a tabloid, it might still not be SFW.)

The paper is also one of the more common targets of the critical Bildblog – here is their post on the Bil.d Ze.itung’s coverage of the story. They don’t address the photo issue.

Re: MJ – love thriller – In the 80s, the roller skating place used to show the video on the big screen at some point during the birthday parties they held there.
You never know what the story is when allegations are made against wealthy people because there are gold-diggers out there as well, but there seemed a lot that wasn’t right with him and I was inclined to believe the charges. The positive tone of the media reaction has, therefore, really surprised me. What’s clear is that everyone was convinced that he was deeply troubled and likely very unhappy. If anything this should make all of us take a moment to be grateful for those positive family relationships we have and that measure of happiness which we have, even without millions. For the religious there’s certainly a thought or two about death, mercy, peace and a thing or two more in there as well.