Friday Footnote

It’s been a busy week, but no, we did not go hiking, I mean to Argentina.  Kevin moved, and I took to the high seas.  So, without further ado, I give you some completely mindless links related to the mainstream news this week.   There is very little true literary connection.  Instead, I give you celeb-obsession, fake journalism and one from the “in case you missed it” vault.  Some Friday afternoon time wasting, if you will.  My governor  needs some dirty emailing help.  Can some please start a mock Sanford-email site?  I never liked the King of Pop, but, while I’m not too broken up about that whole thing (you know that whole death thing…), let’s examine his financial relationships with private equity.  Farrah hair is gone.  In case you missed it, there’s an article about the last song Kurt Cobain recorded.  [Disclaimer: I do believe he was murdered by a Courtney Love henchman, but I don't doubt the depths of his depression]   To bring some levity back to the fold, a light-hearted Onion link is included.  Finally, Happy 35th Birthday Derek Sanderson Jeter! — Andrew Geer

– Dearest, You are glorious and I hope you really understand that. You do not need a therapist to help you figure your place in the world. You are special and unique and fabulous in a whole host of ways that are worth a much longer conversation. — Mark Sanford in The State

– Michael Jackson delighted people around the world with his music, inspired countless amateur moonwalkers with his moves and had an untold, but surely huge, effect on the sales of individual white gloves.  The pop superstar, who died unexpectedly on Thursday, also kept a lot of people in high finance very busy. His wealth, and, later in his career, his expanding debt, became fodder for deals with private equity firms like Fortress Investment Group and Colony Capital as well as big banks like Citigroup and Bank of America.  –Michael Jackson in The New York Times

– I don’t have much to add to the many Farrah Fawcett stories and tributes that are appearing today, except to say that a few years ago, I actually watched her reality show, “Chasing Farrah,” and she seemed like a fairly smart, grounded and kind person. Being famous takes its toll on the perspective of many stars, but Farrah seemed able to see her life realistically and with a sense of humor. — Farrah Fawcett in The Chicago Tribune

– Famed literary giant and notorious recluse J.D. Salinger, who has not published any new work since 1965, came out of hiding Monday to gush about the new film Terminator Salvation, offering the world its first glimpse into his private life since his last interview nearly 30 years ago. — J.D. Salinger and Terminator Salvation in The Onion

– Immediately after the suicide of Kurt Cobain, lead singer of the rock band Nirvana, last April, MTV broadcasted almost continuously an hourlong “Unplugged” special that the band had recorded the previous fall. The final song on the program was unexpected: it was the only one not previously recorded by Nirvana or even written by an alternative rocker. Called “Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” it had the cadences of an old ballad or blues tune and lyrics that Mr. Cobain’s deathly rasp made absolutely haunting. — Kurt Cobain in The New York Times