informage

Coming direc' outa Wil Wheaton's mum, apparently! I've found that abstaining from all TV news, as I've beeing doing for the last couple of months, give or take a couples of samples of Japanese and Malaysian TV, has had a striking effect. Watching one or two BBC video reports with my bleeding edge South African ADSL (it bleeds here, believe me) I've experienced the return of a certain malaise in my global perspective. I prefer to have my experiences of sentience come direc' from the source, not mediated through the glass, knowit aye.

Tip: Mental Clarity: Taking a News Fast

Been feeling stressed out after watching or reading the news lately? A "news fast" - avoiding news on the television, newspaper or the Internet for a few days or even a week - may be in order. It is a good way to gauge how you react to and process news, and how the news affects you. If a news fast seems outlandish, consider the following:

* Both local and national network news have increased their emphasis on crime, even as U.S. crime rates continue to decline. This is particularly true of local news.

* Studies show that violence, death and other negative images can provoke changes in mood and aggravate anxiety, sadness and depression.

* Feelings of depression and sadness can lead to a negative view of your own life. Perceiving the world as violent, unsafe and hostile can have negative effects on your body, as well. By taking a news fast, you can develop a more conscious relationship with the media - and promote greater mental calm within yourself. When you spend more time in harmonious mental states, your body will function better, and anxiety and overstimulation may be minimized.