Speaking of rewhitening D.C. Public Schools, what's with Sammy Sosa's new face? The one he brought along to last week's Latin Grammy awards in Las Vegas.

Thankfully, it's all clear now, this question of whether Sosa is trying to lighten his skin.

Read More "Sosa’s Whitening: “I Don’t Think I Look Like Michael Jackson”" »

Eddie Turner's image says, so simply, what we are all feeling.

(N.B.: Turner's girlfriend passed this on to me; it is not posted on his Web site but you should read that anyway.)

Michael Jackson's memorial service monopolized every media outlet yesterday and seems to be the only national news event worth covering this morning.  It was poignant, it was tasteful, but what does it have to do with Washington?  Everything, according to Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), who spoke at the service yesterday and announced House Resolution 600. Oh yes, here comes the Michael Jackson tribute resolution, and it is lengthy.  They praise him for his humanitarian efforts and then proceed to list every kind thing he did.  For example, "in 1994, Michael donated $500,000 to Elizabeth Taylor's AIDS Foundation."  Good to know.

Apparently, watching the funeral online was an important part of yesterday's Congressional schedule.  Politico posts this message from the head of the House's tech operations.

"The Michael Jackson event is causing even more inbound Internet BW usage.
We are monitoring both Internet connections and they are maxed out at 155 Mbps inbound."

More District news, plus Obamas in Russia after the jump. Read More "Our Morning Roundup: Busted Edition" »

Still, this video showing the Fuhrer reacting to news of Michael Jackson's death is brilliant.

It's no surprise that all Michael Jackson memorabilia is being bought excessively around the world since he died on Thursday.  Time and Newsweek already released commemorative issues showing Jackson at various times through his career, the MJ cover band Who's Bad sold out not one, but two shows at the 9:30 Club on Friday night and three of his albums sold upwards of 100,000 copies each over the past 5 days.

But if the music, creepy cover bands, and glossy magazine covers aren't enough, you can now buy a poster announcing his death.  From The Washington Post.  The newspaper is selling copies of its "commemorative Michael Jackson edition" online for upwards of $50 each.  Normally, these commemorative editions are released for such momentous occasions as presidential elections and inaugurations, wars, invasions, and other momentous events.  Deaths of notable people certainly qualify as momentous events, but it's a depressing thing to commemorate.  And the commemorative edition looks nothing like the actual cover of Friday's Post, where Jackson only covered a third of the front page.

Michael Jackson was iconic and he deserves to be remembered that way.  But a $50 print of a fake newspaper cover might not be the way to remember him.

In case you missed it: here's all you need to know about yesterday morning's federal court hearing on CFSA: In CFSA Case, Nickles Plays Defense; Judge Hogan Critical Of CFSA Director Selection Process.

Dee Does the District decides to not open up about getting terminated by DCPS. But this doesn't stop her from opening up about getting terminated by DCPS:

"I’ve decided to forego a big post in regards to my termination due to pending legal action and for my own personal privacy. Although I am deeply disappointed and incensed by the sweeping terminations, I feel relieved in a sense to be out of this broken system. I already have a number of upcoming interviews lined up at charters and in Northern Virginia and I’m looking forward to moving on to a school to values me and treats me like a human being."

Read More "Our Morning Roundup: Goodbye Used Car Lots" »

Management of the Washington Post is impressed with how the paper handled the Metro crash and the death of King of Pop Michael Jackson. Memo, after the jump, says it's now time for the sports section to shine.

Read More "Washington Post Happy with Coverage" »

From an email to Post employees:

Pay tribute to the King of Pop with a commemorative poster, available for
sale at the main entrance of NW for $5.

As an employee of The Washington Post, you're receiving first notice about
this special opportunity.

Good morning, City Desk readers. Did you miss me? Dave didn't--dude told me to "bring it hard" this week, and I will. I'll start by saying all this love for Michael Jackson seems pretty fucking bizarre. Last time this guy was in the limelight, 2/3 of the country was outraged that he got away with child molestation. Now MJ kicks the bucket and all we can talk about is Off the Wall and Thriller? What about the wine? The touching? The kids-only ranch?
Read More "Our Morning Roundup: Let The Michael Jackson Idolatry Begin" »

A short time ago, Washington City Paper called the L.A. Coroner's Office for confirmation on the rumors concerning the King of Pop's alleged death. 

When Washington City Paper asked for confirmation, we were put on hold. 

We are still on hold. 

While we wait, we revel in the memory of having watched (already) Al Sharpton's press conference, Michael Eric Dyson's faux scholarly take (seriously, this guy is a vampire), and MSNBC's Keith Olbermann interview an Access Hollywood "reporter."

Shit, we're no longer on hold.

Read More "WCP Confirms Michael Jackson’s Death" »