Newbie Confessions

Since I'm very new at blogging, I wonder how much do you reveal in a blog? Are there rules of etiquette for the whole thing, or at least guidelines in blogging decorum? I remember when I was fairly new at Facebook – I only signed up this year – I wrote a wall post where I wasid that I wanted to strangle my housemate for leaving our shared bathroom at such a horribly disgusting state (trust me, if you're bathroom were in the same condition, you would have screamed for blood). A friend then kindly warned me that setting up such a post is dangerous. I initially wondered why, and them I began conjusring up Grisham-like scenarios, wherein I was wrongfully accused of my housemate's death . And my conviction was based solely on that Facebook post. i immediately deleted the said wall post. And since then, I've been extra-careful of whatever I put on my Facebook page, either written posts, pictures or group that I've joined. This censure was also strengthened when several of my students' parents became my friends.

And also, given that I'm using my real name. I initially planned this to be anonymous, but I thought that stamping my name on this makes me accountable in being more diligent in posting. I do not know how much of me should I put out there. This is definitely not going to be my journal, as some people treat their blogs. I prefer to do those the good ole' fashioned way.

So going back to my question – how much can I reveal in this blog?

In Memory

This reaction would be almost two months late, but just wanted to put up a post about Michael Jackson's death. Well, not his death exactly, but what it led me to...okay, this is confusing. Let me just rehash what happened. So that day I found out MJ died, I was stunned. Who wouldn't be? He's like Coca-Cola (or Pepsi, if you want to be more logically correct) - a brand name known in almost all corners of the world and across all ages. He is just super popular. Plus, I was a child of the 80's, and was so mesmerized by the MV of "Thriller" (totally ruined zombie movies for me, everytime I see them I expect them to break into dance). There I was, initially stunned, and then I immediately thought of Jim Henson.

You heard it right. Jim Henson. And you ask what's the connection? Well, they both started significant changes for the etertainment industry. MJ was the King of Pop, and JH was the King of the Muppets. Plus, the peak of their careers was during the 80's, when I was as impressionable as a bucket of play-doh. And they both had a sudden death at a youngish age.

So while everyone was glued to their TV sets watching the news and the memorial coverage, I was searching videos of JH's memorial on YouTube. And let me tell you, his was hands down much better and more meaningful than MJ's. It was a big funeral, but not 2 auditoriums big. The most famous celebrity who performed was Big Bird. I'm guessing none of the songs they had sung reached the Billboard Top 40. But it was much more honest, and their grief and celebration was not marred by the glitz and pompousness. Both brought me to tears (I admit it with only the tiniest bit of shame), yet the child in me was more regretful for the loss of the more humble man.

This is a clip from JH's funeral that brought me to (more) tears and also inspired me. It was the last song in the medley performed by his muppeteers, and I was really awe-struck when almost all of his muppets came out.



This the version that came after the funeral, during the Muppet Show special. The muppets were trying to show a tribute for JH, but apparently they had no idea who he was. They even thought he was an accountant, since it was his signature that was on their paychecks. I thought they won't be presenting Kermit, because Jim Henson IS Kermit, but seeing Kermit the Frog at the end of the song turned me into a complete blubber. (Trivia: The whole production team made sure this segment is done in just one take.)



Cheers!