There have been lots of celebrity deaths this past week. Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett and Billy Mays.

It cannot be said that Ed McMahon didn’t live a long, full life. I don’t really have much of a connection with him, but I wish his family well. I’m just wondering who will deliver oversized cheques from Publisher’s Clearinghouse now?

Farah Fawcett’s primary claim to fame was her looks. Anyone who watched the Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner (in which she was one of the roasters) realizes that there really wasn’t much going on inside her head. Her career was already in the past, and, to be honest, I didn’t think she was even as pretty as all that . . . but then, I’m actually, unlike many men, not partial to blondes, and I really can’t stand non-thinkers. I’m very sorry she had to go in such a slow and painful way. Again, sympathy to her fans and family and fans.

Michael Jackson . . . where the hell do I begin? How about good riddance? I will admit that I was briefly a fan in the early 80’s, before Pepsi set him on fire (literally), and I will grant that he had a hard childhood. Apparently, his father was a rat bastard. None the less, as I see it, he failed to rise above that, and ended up being a strange, scary, sick, and, I believe, dangerous individual. I know no charges of paedophilia stuck, but if I had children, they wouldn’t be allowed within 100 metres of him. I know there are people who still like him, and I’m offending their idol, but that’s tough. I came to my senses before I came of age, and I feel that a paedophile has been removed from circulation. Unfortunately, I also believe in reincarnation, so he’s probably going to be back.

Then there’s Billy Mays. Yeah, I know, he’s a salesman. I have always enjoyed watching him work, though. No nonsense, just flat out: here’s what I’m selling; here’s what it does; here, watch this! How can you argue with that? I never did buy any Oxi-Clean or Orange Glow, but I did enjoy the show. So long, Billy, you will be missed.