SIDE SALAD - Everything crunchy is good.

LYNCH MOB

It's hard for me to be truly compassionate for the bombing victims in Spain. Or worry about political instability in South Korea. Or begin to absorb that a new report says children abducted or recruited to fight in wars suffer horrific atrocities.

I'm sorry, but there are more pressing issues on my mind at the moment...

Like the fact that John Lynch, a 32-year-old multimillionaire surfer boy free safety from San Diego, a man who was the soul of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a conscience for a community, is suddenly out of work.

I am unable to think of anything else at this moment except for the fragile nature of his future. My soul weeps for his sudden and unexpected dismissal. Can't everyone see this man is hurting? How can any of us enjoy our lives when we all know that he's only going to go to another team and make millions more while still being regarded as an icon in this town, which embraced him as its native son? How can you sleep knowing he'll still be married to a wonderful woman and be a father to beautiful children while performing for an audience of millions who revere him for his comedic soup commercial talents?

Have you people no consideration for the desperate fate of others? Can you think of no one but yourselves?

There are times I lose faith in humanity's capacity to engender love. This is one of those times.

My soul feels so empty.