POP-CULT ROUND-UP

Item One: I’d say it’s pretty obvious that Michael Jackson will be found ‘not guilty’ at this point, which is not, of course, the same as innocent. Making a jury decision on this horrendously prosecuted case doesn’t strike me as that hard. But when I ask myself what I think he may actually have done, I just don’t know. I’m horrified by any sexual exploitation – even of a minimal kind – of a child. But every time I try and think of the minutiae of the Jackson case, I just feel nauseated and mentally change the subject. One thing is obvious: Jackson is psychologically damaged in ways I cannot even begin to understand. Item Two: Paula Abdul did something very dumb and unethical. She should quit the show. Item Three: the boyfriend and I rented “Meet The Fockers” the other night. About as bad a movie as I have seen in years. We saw “The Interpreter” last night. Highly recommended, grown-up cinema. You know: what used to be the norm.