Birdy

Too far gone:

Dragan Djuric, 50, of Wichita, Kansas, and his wife were eating ice cream New Year's Eve on the boardwalk at Main Beach when a flock of birds attacked them, Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jeff Calvert said.

One bird hit Djuric's wife in the head and tried to take the ice cream. Djuric was defecated on. The couple dropped the frozen food and Djuric began hitting the birds with a stick, Calvert said. One of the birds — a rare Heermann's gull — sustained a broken wing and was later euthanized.

Djuric was cited and released on suspicion of animal cruelty.

The estimated population of Heermann's gulls is 525,000.

Not so very long ago the preceding would have been a plot abstract for a Monty Python or Saturday Night Live skit. Unfortunately, it's quite real.

Nothing I can write will make anyone understand what a bad sign this is for our society. You either get it or you don't. Unfortunately, those who don't understand what I'm talking about will probably end up ruling the country in fifty years -- more out of sheer preponderance of ignorance than by design, though they'll undoubtedly view it as the latter. I am indescribably grateful that I will not be alive to see the Hell on Earth which will be the end result of their efforts.