Oh, the horror...

I completely turned off my news radar this past weekend.

With a barrage of final papers due, a portfolio of my work to slap together and some other nuances of life, I decided to not give a damn about the world or what was happening in it for two days.

Then imagine my dismay upon entering the office today — for the last issue of Anno Domini 2010 — and learning that our beloved university mascot, the Bearcat, had been detained by UC's finest for heinous misdeeds during Saturday's football contest with Pittsburgh.

Oh, the horror...as Col. Kurtz would say.

We aren't heartless curmudgeons here at TNR. Under our layers of cynicism, there is some semblance of emotion. We do find some stories heartbreaking to report.

We didn't revel in ecstasy when a professor was charged with stalking...or when someone turned Raymond Walters into a shooting gallery...or when a student tossed a desk at Cincinnati cops this past spring.

We didn't laugh when TNR had to run multiple articles about the deaths of three DAAP students earlier this quarter.

Bad news does keep us employed, no doubting that. In our business, sadly, even bad news is good news. Yet it doesn't mean we enjoy the misery of others or even hope for it.

We have hearts here.

So, in an expression of those hearts, we here at TNR wish you all tidings of good cheer, good luck on your exams and a safe holiday.

As much as we love to write, we aren't dreaming of topping off our holidays by having to write up a story of tragedy.

To quote a former Cincinnati news anchor, "Take care of yourselves...and each other."

Remember that as you all have a great holiday season. We want to see you — not write about you — in January.


-James