Darkness must go down the blogwatch of night’s dreaming…

Colby Cosh: “And, as a result of all this, the wounded-to-killed ratio for American forces in the Second Gulf War (and the Afghanistan conflict) hasn’t been three or four to one. It’s more like ten to one. To put it another way, the United States has arguably made more progress in saving the lives of wounded soldiers since 1991 than the human species did in all history before that date. …

“On the other hand, American society is now being flooded with maimed veterans whose injuries would been unsurvivable in earlier ages. VA hospitals are already feeling the pinch. Economically, war will now become more costly, and there will be more disfigured vets to chastise the public conscience with their presence. One wonders which effect–fewer dead, or more crippled–will prove psychologically stronger in the end.” (more)

Dave Tepper: “Personally, I think 80s music works because it’s essentially two-faced and ironic.”

“‘Precious’ Suffering.” Via Dappled Things. “John Paul’s personal Calvary.”