America: Home, Sweet (Cruel) Home

Every time I reenter the States, I am immediately bombarded with the latest gossip fodder sweeping the nation. Every return, in fact, seems to have been defined by these "news cycles." When I came back from Italy in 2006, for instance, I distinctly remember reading on the headlines of every magazine, "FORMER N'SYNC MEMBER IS GAY." Today, I was met with something along the lines of, "TIGER WOODS IS A CHEATING BASTARD." Have to say, didn't really see that one coming. It's kind of sad that I will forever associate my travels with these cruel invasions of privacy, but such is the strength of America's ever-growing media and popular culture. It's good to be home.