The World

The world is the United States president saying one thing, then another, then another thing. It makes only some people ridiculously happy because they get to speak about it incessantly.

The world is vehicles that become murder weapons throughout Europe… because why not?

The world is political figures constantly trying to one-up each other just to say they're better, even though when they die they'll all become dust.

The world is businesses that try to innovate even when they've reached maximum saturation. It's only because they feel they must always expand.

The world is taking advantage of debt, reselling it, gouging on interest, passing it around, and forgetting about it via bankruptcy.

People wonder when I hesitate to acknowledge others' thoughts that human beings are the pinnacle of creation.

June

What is it about the month of June?

What comes readily to mind with June is when I feel really bluesy… like really. I'd thought about it and it has been recurring, but I haven't been able to trace the cause.

But this June, with the terrorist attacks, and anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre, and then the UPS murder-suicide-ish, the London building fire, the Virginia baseball game shooting, and any more things that have made major news in rapid succession… It's almost wow-ing if it weren't that the world has a lot more examples of thing that happen every second of every day.

We can't keep track of them all, but if it were possible I'd love to know if June has some kind of edge in the tragedies department.

June 2008's Honoured Dead

· Carlin, George, 71: profane and prolific comedian whose 'Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television' routine led to a landmark Supreme Court indecency ruling in 1978; slated to receive (posthumously) the 2008 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor; Santa Monica, CA, June 22, 2008.

· Charisse, Cyd, 86: dancer and actress who waltzed through MGM musicals of the 1950s, notably with Fred Astaire in The Band Wagon (1953) and Silk Stockings (1957), and Gene Kelly in Brigadoon (1954); she was married to the singer Tony Martin for 60 years; Los Angeles, CA, June 17, 2008.

· d'Harnoncourt, Anne, 64: historian of modern art and director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1982-2008; Philadelphia, PA, June 2, 2008.

· Diddley, Bo, 79: pioneer rock n' roll guitarist and songwriter who combined rhythm and blues with rock and roll in a unique beat; best known for his songs 'Who Do You Love,' and 'Bo Diddley;' Archer, FL, June 2, 2008.

· Ferrer, Mel, 90: actor, director and producer who starred in the films Lili (1952), War and Roses (1956) and The Sun Also Rises (1957), and appeared on television in Falcon Crest (1981-84); directed Audrey Hepburn, his fourth wife, in several movies; Santa Barbara, CA, June 2, 2008.

· McKay, Jim, 86: television sports journalist who covered 10 Olympic Games for ABC television, and hosted the series Wide World of Sports (1961-98); Monkton, MD, June 7, 2008.

· Russert, Tim, 59: television journalist who moderated the political affairs show Meet the Press (1991-2008), and served as NBC's Washington Bureau Chief; earlier, served as chief of staff (1977-82) for NY (D) Sen. Daniel Moynihan, and counselor (1983-84) to NY Gov. Mario Cuomo; Washington, DC, June 13, 2008.

· Saint-Laurent, Yves, 71: French fashion designer who transformed fashion, notably emphasizing pants and military-inspired peacoats in early collections, and often drawing inspiration from street styles as well as artists such as Picasso and Matisse; Paris, France, June 1, 2008

· Tudor, Tasha, 92: author and illustrator of nearly 100 children's books; Mother Goose (1944), and 1 is One (1956) named Caldecott Honor books for her illustrations; Marlboro, VT, June 18, 2008.

· Winston, Stan, 62: Academy Award-winning special effects and make up artist, best known for his dinosaur creations in the Jurassic Park films (1993 & 1997), and work on The Terminator films (1984, 1991 and 2003); Malibu, CA, June 15, 2008.