inure: to harden somebody to something: to make somebody used to something unpleasant over a period of time, so that he or she no longer is bothered or upset by it Here is a google trend for you. It shows the beginning of the decline in our interest in coverage of the ongoing gulf oil spill. I don't bring it up to make you feel bad for going on with your life. I certainly have. I even went to the beach last weekend and sarcastically told my wife during the ride down that one day we'll reminisce about swimming in the ocean to our grandchildren who will react with a mix of disbelief and disgust ( The ocean!? Gross! ). My better half didn't find it amusing and used it as a case in point for why it's generally better if I don't talk. She's right. Anyway, it's a familiar trend. We dispoil it, feel guilty for a bit then move on (read: forget about it). While we watch with increasing passivity as THE GULF OF MEXICO is turned into a toxic wasteland , I can...