Just another rant here. Maybe its because things that I didnt pay attention to as much when I was younger seem to have some sort of effect on me, even if it is minimal but I think I am done watching the news...pretty much for good. Actually let me rephrase that : I think I'm just going to get weather, traffic and sports daily.
For one, the new favirote word seems to be "gunman". I think I hate this word. No, I hate it. I dont know what I can do to stop this problem, and I'm aware of the political policy we have here so please before it turns into one, lets just agree that its a bad thing.
So pretty much I wake up in the morning, get ready for work and my local news goes to murder, people killed in a fire, pirates, war and overall real life death and destruction. Thats 1st thing in the morning. Great way to start the day.
Then I turn on the computer and aol comes up. Its either celeb garbage or "scientists fear the worst". Almost ALWAYS am I subject to having an end of the world scenario thrown in my face due to global warming, a meteor, the ozone, giant flying robot sharks etc.
Dinner time comes around where you kind of deflate, converse with your family, friends or loved ones and eat. At that same time I'm once again hearing about murder and "death" and basically the worst of the worst.....then it happens again, right before I go to sleep!!
Then it hit me...THIS IS ABSURD!!, and its not theyre fault! Its mine. Shut it off...thats all. Shut it off. If something of monumental proportions is going to happen, theyre going to announce it on sports radio or my basic classic rock stations anyway right?
I will tune in to the cable stations just to see how the economy, president and thing of national nature are going, but even that will be brief and once or twice a week.
Theres a weather channel that does traffic and weather, nothing else and nothing more. Also being the sports buff I am I have every darn bell and whistle on my phone to get everything ESPN has to offer.
NOW...here are my questions.
1. Is there anyway to make UMA my homepage? Also for the record Mike C. just cured me of the Swine Flu I didnt have. I'd much rather turn my computer on and see this, then the crap thats comming up.
2. Are you telling me there is no good news? None?? Why the hell doesnt my local news try something new? Why not report on all the healthy children that were born today? The advances in medicine? You mean to tell me that there is NO progress for the animals put on the endangered species list? None????.....All the talk about pollution, no one in the United States planted a tree??
I just think that might be something right there, how about "The Good News" and we'll report on upbeat and happier things to get your day and evening started off.
Im sorry for the book...but it this thought has been wearing on me all day!
Jess
I hear ya... The rationale, I belive, is that bad news sells. People don't tune in to hear good news. There is definitely a trend from the past 10-15 years to focus on the negative and not the positive. I remember there used to be some "lite" news mixed in with the news but now, if that does happen, it's entertainment news and not "ha ha" funny news.
I wonder what would happen if you tuned into the Weather Channel for a bit. You'd probably wake up to "Extreeme Tornado Terror" and "Typhone Carnage" and "When will the next Earthquake Hit?".
Oh and you can easily make UMA your home page. If you're on a PC (XP), go to "Tools"/"Internet Options"/"General" and "Home Page". If you are on the page you want to be your home page, just select "Use Current" under "Home Page".
Good luck!
Jasen
Hi Jess, Thank you kindly for your post. I do not watch the news, read the paper, or listen to talk radio. I do not watch commercial television. I listen to a classic rock radio station, or my old time radio programs or watch movies or my favorite TV shows on DVD. Or, as one can tell, I spent a lot of time here at the UMA.
To make this your home page (which I have done) is open "tools" on your browser tool bar. Click on "options" and set up your home page with the url: http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?action=forum and you are ready to go. Have a pleasant and relaxing evening. David
Quote from: hammett1 on April 30, 2009, 05:51:23 PM
Have a pleasant and relaxing evening. David
Thank you so much David. Have a pleasant evening as well!
Jess
i've always said being informed never made anyone a happier person.
i stopped reading and/or watching the news years ago once i figured out their pattern. i pay some cursory attention to several stories, and a bit more in-depth on others, but generally it's not something i do every day.
most newspapers have some light, local news. during the summer it's a cinch there's some tripe in there on cute ways kids beat the heat. i've personally always loved the concise and insightful information about the economy or some such important issue that only comes from asking a bunch of unemployed people at a bar half-tanked at noon. or when the newscaster says, 'find out which food is being pulled off the shelves for salminella poisoning after the break.' they call a string of commercials 'the break' as if 'the action news' you've just injested requires a few minutes to absorb in all its awesome glory.
and it's just obvious how they string people along to get to the weather. and when they *finally* get around to it, you have to slog through a bunch of crap like dew points and wind direction. to be honest, i completely forget what the dew point is, and even if i remembered you can rest assured it has absolutely no bearing on my life, and for the people who are concerned about the dew point i'm wagering doesn't need some prognosticator to give it to them. and my wife's knees, after four knee surgeries, is as accurate in not more so than the 'dopplar 2000: the area's most advanced weather system.' pfft!
you're right, b, were it not for death tolls, there'd be no news as far as these people are concerned.
You are so right Jess, I stopped watching tv years ago. I leave all the Worlds troubles to Superman! I read the guide then set the timer to tape the shows I want and thats it, if I miss a good programme then so be it I'll catch it another time. In the U.K a newcaster came up with the very thing you mentioned and insisted that the late night news always ended on a light note so that people could go to bed stress free.
I agree with you Lagoon. I can't stand watching the news anymore. Is life really as bad as it sounds? I say "NO"!
Dad always said 'A little knowledge is a terrible thing'. The implication, of course, is that enough of the right information is wonderful and needed, but a little truth mixed in with a lot of b.s. is nothing but a bummer and leads to seeking MORE info which is usually flawed and the cycle continues until you're addicted to garbage and paranoia.
So set the UMA to your homepage. Make a good game or puzzle site part of your daily or nightly routine.
Throw books into the mix. YES even books have b.s. in them too but they tend not to barrage you with war, sex, violence and fear in the space of ten seconds with some talking head shouting your death at you in big red white and blue letters.
Don't hide your head in the sand, but step back from the info-dicted society we've become. Most of the info we're addicted to is false trash anyway.
Mike C.
P.S. LOVE the 'cured me of my swine flu' line, hahah! Glad to be of service! ;)
Quote from: mike c on April 30, 2009, 09:24:57 PM
P.S. LOVE the 'cured me of my swine flu' line, hahah! Glad to be of service! ;)
Haha..yes thank you again! You're a pro at this!!
that's why he makes the big bucks.