Take me out to the news game!

As a common citizen of the world, I have little control over the many events that make up the daily news. However, I find myself rooting for certain stories and booing others, much like an arm-chair sports fan hoping to cheer his team to victory through the screen. In my case the home team is truth, justice, human rights, the environment, technology, and progress. They are pitted against authoritarianism, corruption, greed, lies, and ignorance. My team is definitely the underdog. Here's my own play-by-play of this week's world events:

Go Team! (encouraging rallies by progress and justice)

• Al Gore's energy speech -- Though it is nothing more than a statement, the fact that a powerful and important figure like Al Gore is putting it out there gives it wings.
• Serb war criminal caught -- A vindication of international legal institutions, and a reminder that even dictators don't escape justice.

Foul Ball! (signs that regressive negative forces are gaining the upper hand)

• Consumer debt trap -- Powerful faceless corporations have reduced America's lower classes into financial slavery
• Olympic news networks on tight leash -- The Chinese Communist Party is increasingly using its economic power as leverage to get foreigners to toe its propaganda line.

Team Schadenfreude (this is a special category for unfortunate events that in actuality could lead to positive changes)

• Ford on the brink of bankruptcy -- The age of gas-guzzlers is over, Detroit. Did you miss the memo?