Back from Emmett's first all-star game this summer, as they attempt to defend their titles. They beat South Oakland 12-3. A good start.

Back from dinner with kat perez. Very fun to think we both were NYistas not too long ago and now we're both here.

Watching some of the MJ stuff. When Al Sharpton calls him normal, I kinda get twitchy. But what is the stuff that MJ had to endure (I do mean that nonsnarkily)? I mean, other than the scalp catching on fire.

I'm also baffled by the people who suddenly decide to play when it's reached a huge payoff amount. People! Many more people are playing. Your odds have gotten even worse.

I don't think that's true. Their chance of winning something is pretty much the same, as that's determined by the distribution of possible draws, not by the number of people playing. The average payoff equals the total amount paid out divided by the number of people playing, so for instance, if they've tripled the jackpot, you'd need more than three times as many people playing to give worse odds. I don't see that happening - the marginal number of people you attract should decline with every million.

It is true that lotteries (and scratchies) have very poor payout ratios for games of chance (pokies and casinos offer better). The reason they can do that, of course, is people like the heavy positive skew - the small chance of the huge payoff, instead of a bigger chance of a modest payoff.

But what is the stuff that MJ had to endure (I do mean that nonsnarkily)? I mean, other than the scalp catching on fire.

His dad beating him straight up and sideways for all of his childhood and most of his adolescence, for one. And secondly, being a child star has its own challenges.

But I could never see Al Sharpton (he is no "Reverend") for the rest of my life and it would be too soon. Pretty much the same for Jesse Jackson and Don King.

People I can't get enough of? Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson. I adore those women beyond all reason. And Jennifer Hudson knows from tragedy.

But what is the stuff that MJ had to endure (I do mean that nonsnarkily)?

Abusive father? Growing up in the spotlight? Being the family's meal ticket?

Relatedly, four of the five popular music channels I get (V, V2, Max, MTV and VH1) are doing Michael Jackson.

I'm more than a little troubled by my feeling that Sharpton seemed to be including his, uh, interface with the police experience in that, too.(This is just my overall feeling, mind you) But just being black doesn't make him Hassled By the Man cause he can't have little kids in his bed.

But I could never see Al Sharpton (he is no "Reverend") for the rest of my life and it would be too soon. Pretty much the same for Jesse Jackson and Don King.

Haven't seen any of the MJ stuff, and I've no doubt it's awful. But for a while my Tivo was picking up Sharpton's morning talk show, and hand to dog, it's interesting, and rational, and generally has on a panel of people with actually differing viewpoints who get pretty deep into actual issues.

Kind of mind-fuck, really.

I think most people who turn into characatures started out with some actual substance, which remains under the Image. I mean, look at Jerry Springer.