Bad! You know it- really, really bad...

* The LA Times reports that the Michael Jackson memorial cost LA $1.4 million. Last month, we shelled out like $1.1 million for the Lakers parade. The claim is that these monies come from our "disaster fund", which includes 'unusual events'. Really? The LAUSD is laying off something like 3000 teachers this year. This is far more a disaster. You're telling me that the Jackson family doesn't have 1.4 mill' to offer? Michael may have been "broke" by celebrity standards, but come on...perhaps that metallic coffin was a bit extravagant. What is wrong is this country that we throw tons of money toward celebrity/pop icon events, and leave our cities and communities without infrastructure repair, quality public education, and the appropriate government services? Our priorities are completely out of whack.