Play
00:00 / 00:00
It's been one of those weeks where the bad news just kept piling on: Death
in Gaza and in Syria, unanswered questions about a plane crash in
Ukraine, a botched execution in Arizona and an ebola outbreak in West
Africa, and so much more.
For a number of Takeaway listeners, it was all too much. "I tend to be an anxious person anyway, and with everything going on in the world on top of the usual stresses of life it's just overwhelming," one listener told us. "I want to stay informed but sometimes need to know when to turn the news off."
John Cassidy, a staff writer at The New Yorker, found himself trying to figure out how to stop watching the bad news when it followed him along on vacation recently. In a new piece for NewYorker.com, he reflects on the value and shortcomings of a "news blackout."
And rather than just feel helpless, if you want to do something for people caught up in these conflicts across the globe, visit some of these trusted organizations, like the American Red Cross, the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
For a number of Takeaway listeners, it was all too much. "I tend to be an anxious person anyway, and with everything going on in the world on top of the usual stresses of life it's just overwhelming," one listener told us. "I want to stay informed but sometimes need to know when to turn the news off."
John Cassidy, a staff writer at The New Yorker, found himself trying to figure out how to stop watching the bad news when it followed him along on vacation recently. In a new piece for NewYorker.com, he reflects on the value and shortcomings of a "news blackout."
And rather than just feel helpless, if you want to do something for people caught up in these conflicts across the globe, visit some of these trusted organizations, like the American Red Cross, the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
- Taking a News-Out The New Yorker
Like for example that moment each day when leaving work. We push those exit doors open, feel the sun on our faces, breath reasonably fresher air, feel like school kids on the last day of school, the world looks so awesome, so full of potential - then POOF! Its gone. Gone. Because then the car is too hot and we keep putting off having the AC fixed, or to park in the shade. Then we see the package on the back seat that we keep forgetting to mail. Or the shopping list is staring up at you from the console. You planned to go for a run after work, but forget to pack socks. The kids need to be picked up, dropped off, the dog washed. Etc, etc. Its all more drudgery...which is truly what the American Life is all about.
Trudging along, doing everything you told yourself you would never do, but lo and behold the so called American NEED for a too cool, too fast, too expensive, parking lot living car, and/or too big Mcmansion, and clothes you keep outgrowing all weigh you down, and you make excuse after excuse as to why YOU must live this way. So each day, that exit from work becomes one of the few highlights of your day. Those few seconds when all is good again.
Those are what we're really living for.
Life IS grim. Deal with it. And for those Sensitive types - get over it already. No one falls for that, "Im just a sensitive type." We all know its You looking for attention. That your mommy didnt put your atrocious artwork on the fridge like the other kids.
http://www.mediafreestore.com
http://transitiontownmedia.org
Let me give you a lesson:
So, next week I will be going to Hollywood to waste my time pitching great ideas to Hack Producers. I told my girlfriend who is already there waiting for me, that with the world being what it is," I wouldn't be surprised if my plane crashed into Disney."
She said,"If that happened I would commit suicide."
I said,"I know, Disney is a special place but we'll always have Universal."
Expressing dark thoughts in a cavalier way, can be a great outlet for dealing with bad news, and lets also remember that yesterdays news is trash that nobody cares about even if history just repeats itself in tomorrows headlines.
So, in conclusion, I've lost it...Oh yeah, based on yesterdays headlines, these are the good times, cherish today, it will only get worse tomorrow.
Am I writing a manifesto, no, more like a manifisto!
Pay no attention to me, I only use 90 percent of the part of the brain that I don't use.