South Boston Online has used this editorial headline before.  But first, let’s ask a question.  Despite the holiday, did you notice how quiet it was last weekend?

     That’s unusual, because it’s vacation week and the kids are out.  Also, the Olympics are in their second week, and the U.S. leads the gold medal count.  They’re being broadcast regularly from Turin.  The Red Sox have started spring training.  War and the faltering economy are still out there.  So why the feeling of silence?

     We think that it’s because the incessant Entwistle Saga dropped off the news.  Neil Entwistle is in jail without bail, and will be back in court in March.  At this point, there’s nothing whatever left to say, and there really never was all that much to begin with.

      Now, the murders of Rachel Entwistle and Lillian, their nine-month-old infant, are certainly newsworthy.  Even though they are very grisly – what could be worse than shooting an infant? – the media are obliged to report such occurrences.  The trip that Neil Entwistle took to England is reportable news, as are the pornographic scams on the Internet he is supposed to have pulled off.

     But despite the horrible nature of Rachel and Lillian Entwistles’ deaths, Neil Entwistle’s story can be summed up in a sentence or two.  He says he went to England after discovering the bodies, but did not report the discovery to the police.  A few weeks later, he was indicted, extradited, brought back, arraigned, and put in jail to await trial in March.  That’s it – factually, there’s nothing more.  Who did what, and whether Entwistle’s activities on the Internet have any bearing on the case, will be decided as we always do in America – by a jury of Entwistle’s peers, not by the media.

     There are many issues out there that need our attention.  The Massachusetts House and Senate are locked in a disagreement over medical coverage for uninsured residents.  If they don’t act soon, the Commonwealth stands to lose over $300 million in supporting federal funds.  That’s $1 million a day.  Very important news?  We think so (See our January 12 editorial on page two).  Yet, where is the media coverage?  Who is holding our legislators’ feet to the fire?

     Late last week, the Mayor announced plans for a downtown skyscraper more than a fifth of a mile high.  Harvard University unveiled major plans for its Allston-Brighton campus.  Now that’s news for everyone to consider, not just business and real estate interests.

     It ‘s not only serious issues that were shorted, in our opinion.  How much coverage was taken away from the Olympics by the Entwistle case?  Perhaps interviews with Nancy Kwan, who sustained a groin injury, or with Bode Miller, who DQed himself out of contention, or with Lindsey Jacobellis, who hot-dogged a gold medal away, would have been more interesting.

    If you need a lift, refresh yourself with a quick glance at the indomitable human spirit in New Orleans. Just take a look at the smiles on the faces of the Krewes, who are celebrating the Mardi Gras there, no matter what.  That’s news!

     But what did we actually see and hear?  A constantly repeated action shot of Neil Entwistle’s head being guided into a cruiser by a State cop.  We heard that his facial expressions were “confused”, “defiant”, and “nonchalant”.  For all we know, he actually had gas pains, since prison food isn’t all that great.  We heard that the families on both sides were distressed.  And we found out that those frizzy blonde commentators (all “live”, by the way) were favoring blusher with a brown tone this season.

     Let’s see, what else?  Oh, we guess that’s about it.

You know, Massachusetts has considered bringing back the death penalty.  We could strap convicted felons down and force them to read, watch, and listen to the media.  They would be bored to death in less than 24 hours.  On the other hand, that would violate the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishments”.

     Just wait till March, when the Entwistle Saga returns.  Enough, already!