Michael Jackson's fashion is pure fascism

Okay, so I'm probably the very last person to notice this, but Michael Jackson's style is a page taken straight from Pinochet's playbook. Take an objective look - epaulets, armbands, sashes - they're all military-inspired at best and dictator-inspired at worst:

This is a picture of Mike around the time of his trial in 2005 wearing his typical armband - whose fascist connotations I don't think I really even have to get into - and the Order of Vienna medal. Other medals that he supposedly wears are antiques from WWI, WWII, and the Civil War.



Here's a performance from Super Bowl XXVII which explicitly evokes military imagery. The outfit he's wearing is pretty similar to the one he - well, the statute of him - is wearing on the cover of HIStory.

I mean, it could be a totally innocuous fashion sensibility, a method of promoting an album or two. Dude isn't the first musical act to evoke military and fascism in their image, but he is the only one, to my knowledge, to achieve such massive popularity, to not reference it somewhat ironically in his music, and to use it consistently over the course of his career (and even now, with his career over). If I really wanted to go into it, I'd reference the fascist efficiency of his tunes or the subliminal appeal of fascism and how he incorporated it into pop music. Or you could just say the he's clearly afflicted with major mental illnesses and grandeur is just one symptom among many. But it's late and I'm lazy... so I'll just suggest these things for now.

"Wait a minute, you have to be 18 to get into the attic!" "Not true! You could be 54!"

I'd really like to get to the bottom of something.  Often, when I go out to eat at nice places, I can't help but revert into a mode where I'm being taken out by my parents.  I tend not to order cocktails, veer toward fish and chicken on the menu, and even act a little more humbly.  It isn't the expense per se, I think it's just that I'm not totally willing to accept the fact that I am or am becoming a relatively mature human being and going out to eat at nice places while paying for it yourself is not a huge deal.  I don't know any other mature adult who makes frequent blog posts about Nintendo, Kanye West, and misfortunate scientists, so I don't think I'm all the way there yet.  However, if I took catalogue of my life right now and compared it to what I was doing, say, ten years ago, I don't think things would be that much different.

• 24: Compulsively watching "The Wire," "Weird Science," "Rushmore."  14: Compulsively watching "Homicide: Life on the Street," "Weird Science," "Mystery Science Theatre 3000."
• 24: Playing Halo 3, Mario Kart, Zelda.  14: Playing Zelda, Tecmo Super Bowl, Mario Kart
• 24: Listening to the Clash, MCR, Kanye West.  14: Listening to Rancid, Smashing Pumpkins, Puff Daddy.
• 24: Being totally awkward at social events, getting drunk.  14: Being totally awkward at social events.
• 24: Going out to eat, paying for it.  14: Going out to eat, not paying for it.