Some news items from today:

1. The immigration reform debate goes on and on (Allahpundit, via Michelle).
2. Looks like the Taliban just got their a$$es kicked trying to reclaim lost turf in Afghanistan.
3. A Louisiana hurricane preparedness drill involving a FEMA trailer park gets cancelled yesterday due to miscommunication over controlling jurisdictions. 8 days to go, fellas. Let’s get your act together…
4. A summer blockbuster featuring Al Gore lecturing about global warming.

Sigh.

It may have only recently started to feel like summer where you are, but here it’s going up to 104 and the Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching. A perfect day to ponder some less-than-serious items:

Good to see Barbaro’s prognosis looking better with each passing day.

I didn’t realize the PGA Tour was still playing. Is it just me, or does it seem as if there have been no real tournaments with real players since New Orleans?

I’ve got some Goodboys golf and staring-at-the-ocean-and-wondering-what-the-heck-life-is-all-about time to look forward to this summer, so some light reads to pass the time on East Coast-bound red-eyes will be a necessity:

Phil Spector: Out of His Head – Sure, dude’s awaiting trial for murder, but his body of work and “Wall of Sound” fame makes him a long-time TGWS favorite.
Here, There, and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles – Acclaimed Beatles’ recording engineer Geoff Emerick’s reminiscence of what it was like assisting the Fab Four and their producer George Martin churn out classic albums from Revolver onward.
SMiLE: The Story of Brian Wilson’s Lost Masterpiece – Dominic Priore’s perspective on the Brian Wilson classic started in 1966, but not completed until 2004.

And, for at-home viewing on those nights when the thermometer never drops below 95:
Mark Twain, by Ken Burns – As bonafide ‘Twainaholic’, I can’t believe I never knew this film even existed.
Apollo 13 Anniversary Collection – Not in my Top Ten (a Top Twenty, perhaps), but one of Tracey’s all-time faves.
Joe vs. the Volcano – The first of the three Hanks/Ryan romantic comedies, definitely one of my Top Tens. Why? It’s a quirky cult classic, seemingly dumb on the surface, but with deeper messages abounding throughout.

Finally, there’s this summer-related news item about the possible benefits of lemonade. What, no pineapple juice-favored boat drinks?