Bena Mae’s Kitchen: TV Overkill

 FROM THE BLOGS:

What people are saying:

Never in all my born days have I seen a spectacle to compare with television coverage as blatant as the coverage of Michael Jackson’s death this past week. I agree that he was unique. I agree that he was a terrific entertainer, but…he was not the Pope, nor was he a head of state.

The savage way the news media is handling this sad event is unconscionable and has nothing to do with the death of a human being. The feeding frenzy by the media has turned it into a materialistic freak show when they should be treating his death with more respect. But as yet, I have seen no solemnity from any of them. To many people, he was a money-making machine and any exploitation of his passing is business as usual.

One blogger wrote:  "I don’t think you know how many people agree with you. Death is to be honored, respected, and the deceased put to rest as soon as possible. The suspicion does surface that the circus we see now and will see later is designed solely to make money."

And this from another blogger: "Michael was used from the time he was born, first by his father and from the age of eight by managers who look and talk like the old boxers and the Mafia enforcers who are now making a last effort to sell whatever Michael left behind in his miserable life. Michael, rest in peace."

And from a California blogger:  "Yes, we are paying for the funeral… THE TRUST FUND has apparently some millions in it, but the Jacksons and everyone else who wanted and planned his funeral don’t seem to want to step up and pay for it. We have huge potholes in the streets…broken streetlights, trash on the freeways…and now we have to come up with millions to pay for the circus."

I thoroughly understand the outpouring of grief by Michael’s millions of fans. I, too, have mourned the loss of some of my idols of another generation… Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Glenn Miller. But the bottom line in this case appears to be money and greed. I sincerely hope that Michael, this super talented young man who spent his life searching for peace, has finally found it.

RIP Michael.

Look for vine-ripened tomatoes grown on a farm near you; the flavor will far surpass that of tomatoes imported over long distances.

Summer Salad With Feta

5 medium or large ripe tomatoes cut into wedges (if large, the wedges should be cut crosswise in half), or 1 pint of cherry tomatoes cut in half

1/2 cucumber, cut in half lengthwise, seeded if desired, then sliced into half circles about 1/3-inch thick.

Sea salt or fleur de sel and freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup crumbled feta

1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, or 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Toss together the tomatoes, cucumber, salt, pepper, vinegar, and olive oil. Add the feta and herbs, and toss again. Taste, adjust the seasonings, and serve.