It's easy to get discouraged by the daily news, even for those of us whose business it is to bring you the headlines.

Of course, as any radio talk show host will tell you, the news is often lost in the spin. That is, there is often good news to be found in bad and vice versa. So today, The Fives debuts its silver lining edition: Five stories that have an upside.

1. Gas prices have well exceeded the $4 per gallon level

Certainly, nobody likes paying $60 to $100 everytime they fill up their tank. So how can it be good news that gas prices rose another dime nationally over the past week?

Well, first off, prices are on the rise internationally, not just in the United States. In particular, China made a move to raise prices for both gasoline and diesel, a move many believe might ultimately lower demand.

The same holds true here in South Dakota, where last week's alarming news was that the gas tax was off 38 percent in May. Once again, though, a slack in demand at least won't force prices up more.

2. George Carlin dead at 71

Many, including myself, were saddened by the news that counterculture comedian George Carlin died Sunday at age 71. Although he was more famous for his acid tongue and raunchy dialogue, it was his fascination with words that always enthralled me.

The highly prolific Carlin produced a staggering amount of comedy in his time, touring relentlessly through the years, appearing on late night TV, HBO specials, comedy albums and a wide assortment of films.

That enough is likely silver lining enough, but consider the fact that he survived three heart attacks and two open heart surgeries over the years, a fact that can't be ignored that he hung around for a long time - a lot longer than many thought he ever would.

3. The value of the U.S. dollar is fueling high gas prices, inflation

Economic mayhem created in the wake of the subprime mortgage crisis, a wobbly Wall Street and the continuing threat of recession have sent the value of the dollar spiraling.

And inflation is beating down the door. In May, producer prices rose 7.2 percent.

Import prices have also skyrocketed. Last month, they rose 17.8 percent, the biggest rise ever. Even if you take oil and energy out of the picture, the rise was the biggest since the early 1990s.

So where is the silver lining in all that?

Well, when you live in a tourism based economy such as the Black Hills, look over the pond for your answer.

European tourism could be on the rise as it may never get better for those whose Euro based economy is one of the few that have remained relatively stable in the past few years.

In the first quarter, international visits to the U.S. rose 15 percent and spending increased by 20 percent. Even closer to home in Canada and Mexico, visitation is skyrocketing, with our neighbors to the north visiting 26 percent more in March 2008 than in March 2007 and a comparative 31 percent for our visitors to the south.

4. A changing weather pattern soaks the nation's midsection

The devastation of the 2008 floods throughout the upper Midwest continues to roll out, but it looks like the worst of it is behind.

That being said, the worst is pretty bad. Massive evacuations, hundreds of city blocks under water in Iowa, and entire planting seasons lost to the raging flood waters created by an unusually rainy June.

In South Dakota, though, flooding was more centralized. Belle Fourche and Box Elder took it on the chin with swollen cricks soaking homes and even eroding away yards, but in comparison to the flooding in neighboring Iowa, it doesn't seem all that bad.

The silver lining exists on two fronts for South Dakotans.

Most immediately in these parts (these parts meaning West River), there is the eradication of the persistent drought that has clung to the region for the better part of the new century.

A year ago, much of West River was firmly in drought. Today, it is only one heat wave away. But it has disappeared from all but the most southwestern part of the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Meanwhile, with a good chunk of Iowa's corn crop lost to flooding, other portions of the Corn Belt - including eastern South Dakota - will benefit. Already in demand with increased ethanol usage and increased feedlot usage, farmers who are able to bring their crop to harvest will likely reap the benefits of an unusually wet June.

5. Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez injures ankle, fails to secure win

It's rare when a silver lining can be found with the above headline, but Hernandez had a much better night than one would think.

First off, the injury isn't all that bad, and he's not expected to miss his next start in the rotation.

Secondly, although he didn't get the win, his team did defeat the New York Mets and their ace Johann Santana on Monday night. It's just that Hernandez's injury came a few outs short of the minimum five inning requirement to record a win.

Lastly, and most impressively, Hernandez may not have gotten the win, but he did get the game winning RBI when he became the first American League pitcher in 37 years to hit a grand slam. See video at ESPN.com.