Some news stories ...

Not sure how long this post will last. The title, "Some see poetry in Charlie Sheen's 'Adonis DNA'" is pretty spectacular. This AP piece was spread far and wide in local newspapers, all of the major station web feeds, etc. Here's the problem... this guy has clearly been self medicating a probably undiagnosed (though you never know, it may have been diagnosed long ago...) mental illness. I guess there is a very slim chance that he is faking it. Given what we know about undiagnosed mental illness allowed to run amok, is this really the response we should be giving: figuring out how to profit from watching a man self-destruct?? These are the times that make me wonder if there is any compassion or humanity in the world. It makes sense now that Giffords' attacker slipping by so many unnoticed. We walk by people in need all the time, and the most we can think to do is figure out how to profit from them or to laugh at them. This is serious dysfunction on so many levels.

For another take on the issue, much more nuanced and responsible, I might add, here is Michel Martin's interview with two journalists who also happen to have drug addiction issues.

To lighten the mood a little, I loved this story. If you have ever read Walter Dean Myers or watched a child you know and/or love devour one of his books, it will warm your heart.