Current Affairs

Forgive me if this sounds insensitive, but I've reached the saturation point for "remembering Tim Russert" gushiness. They announced on "Meet the Press" yesterday that the end of the program would feature yet another Russert tribute, and I shouted at the TV, "No more! Please stop! He was a great guy and he will be missed, I get it, now let's move on!" When that end segment arrived, Brian what's-his-name (he's not dead yet, so I don't have to care) introduced it by saying, "There was a final tribute for our friend Tim Russert yesterday," and I'm afraid I shouted again. "FINAL?

Everybody panic! We're all going to die!!

Omigod, does this mean that, no matter how careful we are, how many precautions we take, how many risks we try to sue away, we are all, in the end, going to die anyway? Say it ain't so:

Well, this isn't exactly a shock:

The bad boys get more girls. You always suspected it was true and now a psychological study backs it up.

Get sick, get doctor. How hard is that?

GLADSTONE, Ore. - Authorities say a teenager from a faith-healing family died from an illness that could have been easily treated, just a few months after a toddler cousin of his died in a case that has led to criminal charges.

Never bring a pretend bomb to a gunfight:

An attempted bank robbery in Canton played out like a scene from a movie Monday when a man who police say claimed to have a bomb was stopped by a customer armed with a pistol.

[. . .]

Fawzi, who spent six years in the Lebanese army, took matters into his own hands.

I'll be darned:

Veterans seeking treatment at VA medical facilities would be reimbursed for gas mileage at the same rate as federal employees under a bill sponsored by U.S. Reps. Mark Souder and Brad Ellsworth.

The Veterans Travel Equity Act, to be introduced Tuesday, would also eliminate all income and pension eligibility requirements and service-connected disability rating requirements to qualify for the mileage reimbursement.

If newspapers go out of business, who would there be to give us wise advice like this?

With thousands of young people now officially enjoying summer vacation, it's time for everyone to remember that an enjoyable summer is a safe one.

[. . .]

Summer, with its many events, festivals and activities, is a time when people are always on the go. But don't leave safety awareness behind when you're out enjoying this time of year.

Lots of chatter about what a post-Tim Russert "Meet The Press" might look like:

You can't get hugged by nuclear arms -- now get that piece of crap out of my way! I mean right now!!!

Watch out for cars with bumper stickers.