I'm on CNN.com reading the day's news and events. I knew before I logged on it would be a gruesome affair. Lately, there have been some seriously heinous events reported. I'm no sociologist, but it seems to be pretty bad compared to even five years ago. I am unclear as to whether there are more horrible things happening every day, or if the media is just reporting more of it. So allow me to give some examples of what story lines I am reading on ONE page of the news online.

Police: Mom Tried To Suffocate Daughter In Kudzu Patch

Baby Abandoned In Storm Drain Dies

Metro Atlanta Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

Man Accused Of Slicing Cat's Throat

Contractor Not Guilty Of Dog Spray Painting

Pandemic Flu Vaccine Production To Fall Short

Woman Catches Fire During Surgery, Dies

Bees Sting Man More Than 200 Times

Gov't Stands By As Mercury Taints Water

Man Says He Hid Wife's Body For 2 Years

Wow, quite a news day.

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Garden hose duct-taped to mouths full blast. So much, in so many ways. Always at our fingertips, in our pockets, on our skin, in our wallets and under our eyelids. More flavor, more access, more use, more input, more opinion, more friends than we really have. More beat and more chocolate than ever before. Our circles set us free while they entwine us in a tangle of our own reflection. We look good, but we feel bad. Scan it send it click it work it. Touch screen speed and mainstream greed and bits of the world that bring empty calories to our plate. Hate spills and eyes lock, children learn, we hate them for it. Days to come morphing grotesque, but still we pound the rocks.