Whenever I happen to be in a new city on vacation, I inevitably wind up watching at least one local news program. You’d think this would create a sense of continuity — they have news in Iowa, we have news in Alabama. But I actually feel even more disoriented, as if I were listening in on someone else’s dirty little secrets.

“Stuckeyville police arrested Clem Foster of Dogpile Flats for indecent exposure and illegal possession of fireworks today…” I just know some local viewer is shaking her head and muttering ‘Oh, that Foster boy. He just ain’t right. Got himself all naked with those …