"Pictures of Rome"*

Since I do not have the time at present to remark at the length this subject deserves, I will simply let the headlines speak for themselves again.  I did not intend to repeat this exercise, but when even I am struck dumb by the Drudge Report's headlines (and on a day when I am in a good mood), the world is in serious trouble.

The following is a selection of headlines on the Drudge Report at 5:00PM Pacific Daylight Time on Friday, July 29, 2011.  It is not exhaustive:


SWEAT CEILING: HOUSE APPROVES DEBT BILL

NO!  22 REPUBLICANS WHO BUCKED BOEHNER

RACING AGAINST CLOCK

EGYPT ISLAMISTS RALLY IN A SHOW OF STRENGTH, CLASHES IN SINAI

OBAMACARE TAX: MEDICAL DEVICE MAKER TO ELIMINATE 1,200 JOBS

HIRING IN CHINA

ILLEGAL ALIENS HEAD SOUTH TO MEXICO IN SEARCH OF "AMERICAN DREAM"

4.9% UNEMPLOYMENT IN MEXICO VS. 9.4% IN U.S.

TSA READYING NEW "BEHAVIOR" DETECTION

TOWN TRACKS EVERY CAR WITH POLICE CAMS

COP PULLING DARE TRAILER CHARGED WITH DUI

MAN'S BURNING BODY FOUND IN LA ALLEY


Is there good news?  Undeniably.

I will get to that, as well, soon enough.

My unsolicited advice is to do what I plan to do this evening (instead of spend too much time at a computer).  Enjoy modern technology and what's left of the vestiges of modern culture, and enjoy the company of friends, while you still can.  Because, contrary to the headlines, most people, however misguided and ignorant, are decent, and enjoyable enough.  I would not be writing this (and you would not be reading this) if that were not the case.  Also, people have free will.  They can change.  So we're not quite doomed yet.

I have serious work to do in the near future, but I'm not going to cancel my plans this weekend.  There's still light in this culture, and I'm going to experience some of it.

I'll be seeing you.

*I regret feeling the impulse to steal from someone who does this better than I yet again, but when someone says something better than you did (even when he's not paraphrasing Deep Purple), there's not much reason not to quote him.