How’s the news?

I was at dinner earlier in the week and a friend looked at me and said, “How’s the news?” I had a one word response. “Horrible.”

That was before we had our latest mass shooting in America. Somehow, the week managed to get worse.

You know it’s bad when your employer has a Zoom counseling session for its employees to make certain we are holding up under the stress. I kinda felt like I worked for Michael Prince Capital and Maggie Siff was “checking in.” (The finale of “Billions” is coming on Sunday. I’m thinking about that a lot. I know it’s already streaming. Don’t tell me anything. Please!)

I digress.

The news these days is awful. What I’m seeing out of the Middle East truly sickens me. How is this going to end? I think one way… badly.

Israeli soldiers launched another round of ground raids in Gaza. It’s a prelude to the expected full ground invasion.

How will the U.S. manage to stay out of this? I fear we are already in. Our military conducted air strikes in Syria. The target? Militant groups tied to Iran.

These strikes are in retaliation to drone and rocket attacks against U.S. forces.

And now, another mass shooting in America. Maine. Maine? I heard one of the residents say that you expect this in Texas or Florida, but not here.

As I write this, the gunman is still on the run. Schools, businesses and offices are closed. I can’t imagine being there and worrying what might happen next.

A bowling alley and a bar. That’s where he struck. It was Wednesday evening. Kids bowling. Adults out for a little fun in the middle of the week. 18 people killed. 13 wounded.

I’ve heard people say recently that they expect gun violence to happen to them. It’s not a question of if, they say, but when? I’m starting to feel that way myself.

How’s the news, they asked? This week, it’s horrible.