So I just finished reading Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities and wow, reading the end of that book was like slowly watching a train crash into a fuel truck before the whole mess cartwheels off a cliff. This was obviously Wolfe's intention because no matter how uncomfortable the plot became, I could not stop reading. The main lessons I learned from this novel are 1) be proactive about your legal defense if you feel you may have committed or been involved in a crime, 2) having nothing to hide is your best defense from slanderous accusations and 3) it is quite possible for even the most strident and passionate outcry against inequality to be motivated by personal gain. Looking back on similar real-life situations such as the recent Duke rape case, I worry this country may be too ready to rush judgment for the sake of seemingly popular political correctness.Ok, its definitely time to get off the soapbox and go to sleep....