It's remarkable how quickly the zeitgeist responds to such an event as his death. I was playing a gig today, July 4th, and heard the first of what will probably turn out to be many jokes on the subject. To wit -

Farrah Fawcett died, went to heaven and God granted her a wish. She asked God to protect the children so he knocked off Michael Jackson.

Funny? Perhaps, but it shows the level of charge that folks have about him.