Until the DC-area sniper is caught, I propose that CNN be renamed Sniper News Network. We’re concerned about the murders, and we feel for the victims and their families, but I feel like the media is trying to whip us all into a panicked frenzy. People are emailing or texting me, asking if I’m okay; when I’m hardly even in the sniper’s haunt-zone, and even if I were, the probabilities of my being targetted remain low.

But all media-related cynicism aside, kudos go out to the Guardian Angels, who have been pumping gas for concerned residents in the affected area. Brave and noble deeds, those.