[Mari]

Dear Friends,

I get worked up/stressed about the political process even though I know that the candidates and media machinery is designed in fact to get us worked up -- good job they do.

I'm sitting here thinking about January 3, 2008 and how we will know the results of the Iowa Caucus on Jan 4. That's dumb. I don't know why I feel so such stake in the outcome. It is not really going to matter to me in any way, shape, or form. And yet I OBSESS.

I think that I will take a 100% break from Television news until after November 4, 2008. I like to be informed, but I can do that by checking a web site or two on the Internet here and there.

A few years ago I cut down on TV news considerably. Not is it time for a 100% boycott.

Maybe I can spend time/energy focusing on keeping myself level and maybe even happy sometimes (There's a thought!) -- it takes so much work to do this and I don't need tv messing it up.

I guess that this is one of my resolutions.

Mari

[Mari]

I have not exactly turned the TV off yet. It is still on.
Right now, they are yammering on about how cold it is.

It is exactly 57 degrees.

Man, talk about getting us excited about a non-issue.

If I had an Orange Crop/other agricultural crop to protect against frost THURSDAY NIGHT/Friday Morning, I might be concerned about the weather, but I would not be getting my info from the news.

What are those tv people good for?

OK. I turned it off.
That's it.

Now, time for bed.
Take care people. Be good to yourselves.
M.

[dreambeliever128]

It was cold here in CO. last night. My hot water pipes are froze. I am sitting here waiting for them to thaw in hopes I have no breaks. I should listen to the weather more.

As far as the news on the presidency, I don't watch a lot of it either. You are right the new media wants us to get riled up.

If you were sitting here with me now, we would have a great conversation about it though. I actually went around 2 years campaining for certain parties when election time came up.

I send messages constantly to the Gov. of Co. and have written to **** Chaney a few times. I want them to know how I feel. I wish other people would get more involved in getting this country back on the right track.

Anyway, it is good not to watch too much of the News. Bill watched the Fox news all of the time. I believe some of it kept his blood pressure up a lot.

I am pretty obsessed with the next election also, therefore I don't watch much about it on tv. How much of it is lies anyway?

Hope you start feeling better soon.

Ada

[Mari]

Dear Ada,
I hope that the pipes are safe.

Yes, conversations about politics are fun and I like listening to others' input, but the news is dreadful. I live in Florida, so we seem to never even get a break between elections.

M.

[majikbrat]

I have been taking time off from the TV news for about 6 years. It really helps. I still watch it if there is something big going on. Local extreme weather etc. But mostly I get my news from the net. That way I only have to read what I really want to know.

Hope you start feeling better soon

Suzz

[DMACK]

Dear Mari

When i feel at my lowest, everything around me seems magnified...i go through stages of writing out lottery numbers from the last 6 months and try to see patterns...i watch the news also... intensely and get morbidly upset with life arround me... i then switch to dvds and watch film after film some repeatedly... it sounds a bit OCD but i now realise its part of me... i strive to break the chain asap.....

US politics/elections in itself is a long winded process and i can see the compulsion... more so if you desire change in someway...

But i'm a firm believer in 'too much of one thing makes you sick' theory......

David