With the talk of Uncle Walter continuing apace, amid the loony rantings of Freepers and the decent and honorable memorials elsewhere, there has been — perhaps — a well-judged critique, in this Guardian obituary:

Astonishingly, no one thought to question the phrase that became his professional trade mark, intoned at the end of each nightly bulletin: “And that’s the way it is.”  That, in fact, was simply the way it appeared to Cronkite. As one of the founding fathers of America’s network television news and as managing editor of the CBS evening news for 19 years, his evaluation of world events helped shape his country’s electronic reporting into the extraordinarily insular and inadequate chronicle it has become. That, in turn, opened the door to Rupert Murdoch’s current brand of unashamedly partisan news coverage.

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You want shrill?  I got your shrill right here. 

You know her.  Her reputation precedes her, and clears out a room faster than a skunk.  Ladies and gentlemen: I give you Wendy Long’s Twitter feed.

WHOA…..Schumer was just overcome with emotion talking about the Nancy Drew stories Soto read! Historic moment. 

Stuart Smalley just said “I may not be a lawyer…” I can’t resist: but he plays one on tv?

If Durbin thinks “calling balls and strikes” is “easy,” let’s put him behind plate in Wrigley Field and see how he does.

Whitehouse says all Soto has to do is “promise” she will “use the WIDE discretion of a SupCt Justice wisely.” Tough one.

Admittedly, this is somewhat tame.  As was the day on the whole, frankly.  Tomorrow, when the questioning gets rolling, her feed might be quite amusing.

Well, the Sotomayor hearings start tomorrow.  For those of you dear readers who have yet to scan the list of actors to search for the man or woman who is most likely to bring the crazy, we present the following viewer’s guide.

But also: if you are having trouble heckling at a moment of great stupidity, from home or office, we — as a service to you — have included some helpful suggestions.

And now… introducing… the key players in the drama that is to unfold.

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The Chicago Tribune today reported that… well…

On Sunday, while most of America was recovering from Fourth of July fireworks and cookouts, the Hoffman Estates-based retailer launched an online boutique called Christmas Lane at Sears.com and Kmart.com. It also set up Christmas decor shops at 372 Sears stores, including one at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg.

Sears typically waits until Nov. 1 to unveil its holiday merchandise, said Sears spokeswoman Natalie Norris-Howser. But with the recession putting a crimp in spending, the retailer is hoping to attract holiday shoppers early.

Yes.  You read that right.  Christmas sales on July 5.

[ADD: In other silly news from the Prairie State: Roland Burris has had enough.  One and done for the man.  Now then: I have to go.  I need tinsel, dammit!]

Ladies and gentlemen: it’s been a long day. We need some culture, I think. I give you Sviatoslav Richter and Rita.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDUTTRGOJdE

Item, per Washington Post:

D.C. Council member Marion Barry was arrested last night and charged with stalking a woman after the woman reported that Barry was “bothering her” as the two traveled in separate vehicles in Anacostia Park, police said this morning.

Is the correct response…

(A) If only the Nats had that kind of determination.

(B) No drugs involved?  That arrest shouldn’t count, then.

(C) He was in a rush to a rally supporting traditional marriage.  That’s all.

(D — all together now!) Bitch set him up.

Oh, dear. Not the huge Hawaii shot they were planning on, but still a bit of the boom from North Korea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx9IudapxHQ

Perhaps everybody over there should have a beer and relax. ISO 9001 Certified beer, no less.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw-qT4Ycb2o