Today we saw the death of journalism in America, and proof the tail is literally wagging the dog. Parents known to have a tenuous hold on reality claim their 6 year old child climbs into a weather balloon and launches it. To corroborate they rely on a sibling’s testimony. So the media goes nuts, launching helicopters and satellite trucks. Authorities, who probably want to first figure out what is going on, are forced to respond in force lest they look uncaring. So for 2 hours, the nation is held breathless as the balloon flutters across Colorado. The media crows how Australia and China are following the story. In the end, the child is not on the balloon, but hiding in plain sight. But no one took the time to step back and take a breath, and actually look into the veracity of the source. I have a feeling the whole world is laughing at our cable news run society. I, for one, feel nauseous.