Friendship™.

I just noticed that the back of my cereal box, here, has a blurb that reads:

The Nurturing Corner
Here Are Five Great Ways to Show Your Kids You Care:

• Ask them about their day
• Tell them your favorite stories about them growing up
• Eat breakfast together
• Give them at least one hug each day
• Read them a bedtime story

Which reminds me of something I saw yesterday, an ad in the theatre, before Insomnia (which had excellent performances, by the way, but I think will be ultimately forgettable) -- An ad that featured a sad young boy left out of the games his peers were indulging in (an overweight sad young boy, mind you, since of course pretty and perfect people never lack for friends and happiness), whose miserable and benighted life was uplifted by another, more handsome child, who deigned to come over and actually interact with him. The message and motto of this ad was "Friendship: Pass It On." The ad was paid for by "The Foundation for a Better Life" or somesuch, whom I deeply suspect are Mormons.

My point -- and bear with me, there is one -- is simply this: If we, and by we I mean society as a whole, have reached such a nadir that it has become necessary to advertise "friendship" and "caring for one's offspring," then perhaps -- if I may make an indelicate suggestion here -- perhaps we're fucked. Totally royally fucked, as in, the human race may have been a good idea, and all, but it's time to pack it in and leave it all to the roaches.