Yabby,

There's no doubt about it, there is no excuse for not being well-informed these days. I still feel reasonably well informed even though I'm not monitoring the news outlets like a used to.

But I wonder how we're all supposed to accommodate the sheer scale of what's on offer in the electronic media? It's truly mind-boggling to have access to so much information...an information overload in many ways. It's so hard to really ruminate on one issue as there is always something else beckoning for attention as well. I, for one, find it hard to resist continually poking around - and I'm not even watching much telly. The reality is that I've simply switched one addiction (telly) for another (internet).

You can do what you like Yabby. I'm jealous though, as I am frustrated that there can be so many channels, but nothing I would like to watch.

I suppose to be 'informed', I would rather read. I hate news sites when you want to read a story only to find a video. Why is everyone obsessed with videos. Sometimes it's just a picture they put up and some guy talking.

The only shortcoming is that I generally get a lot of pronunciations wrong, as I have never heard the words from different languages, only read them.

I don't see you mentioning any kind of entertainment shows, more non-fiction and documentaries and such. I don't see how it's intellectual to reject seeing essentially the same plot regurgitated, often with the same actors, again and again and again.

That's why I think it's people who just haven't heard the same song that many times that can still enjoy that. I feel the same way with sport, and I only really watch series and games that promise to be significant. I don't see how any of it is intellectual or snobby at all Yabbs?

*I will never agree to allow the noise, chaos and commercialism that comes out of that box into my house, into my peaceful private space.*

Well Houllie, that was one example, on this very thread. But its
common, people claiming to only watch ABC or SBS. Some time ago
I was fooling around with one self claimed intellectual, she would
not even have the tv openly showing in her lounge, it was hidden
behind some closed cupboard doors.

Poirot is correct, there is just a mass of information out there,
but I don't see why I should limit my sources to a certain medium.
Ive found interesting stuff on all sorts of channels.

I remember hating history at school, for it was just a matter of
trying to remember names and dates. Yet when I saw the story of
the British industrial revolution on telly, over a number of hours,
I was fascinated! They showed all those old machines, how they
worked, why the canals were dug, I remember thinking how lucky
kids now would be, to see that kind of stuff, unlike me, who just
had to try and remember names and dates.

Nope, I don't watch soapies or sport, personally I'd find them
boring, but I watch some of the cooking shows as I love to eat well,
so enjoy be creative with food. Then comedy of course. Or music.
Why on earth not use the technology that is available so cheaply?

If you want to see some really smart, cute chicks, try Bloomberg.
Even old Warren Buffett can't help himself when he is being
interviewed by Betty Lou or Lynsay Janis :)

I forgot to add that I like to read as well - I mean read a "book" that contains bound paper leaves with print that you hold in your hand, smelling of mustiness or new print. I tend to have several of those on the go at once as is my habit of long standing.

Yabby makes a good point about history. I'm watching a DVD of Italy at the moment hosted by Francesco da Mosto which is so inviting and informative in a way that a book can't accomplish.

I love a good British sitcom.

Dear Poirot,

I've ordered a couple of books to add to my reading list.
One is - "Spaghetti Westerns: Cowboys and Europeans from
Karl May to Sergio Leone," by Christopher Frayling.
I'm into spaghetti westerns in a big way -
and this is a critical
exploration of the ones made at Cinecitta Studios in
Rome from various perspectives. The other book was
recommended highly by a friend - "The Righteous Mind," by
Jonathan Haidt - I'm looking forward to reading them both.

I enjoy DVDs as well. There are so many good ones on my
wish list for Mother's Day - especially British ones.
So many classics to chose from.

Well, must run - the second half of Celebrity Apprentice
is on tonight. Don't want to miss it.

Just to throw a spanner in the works, may I just advise you that many of the shows that are on the tele these days are available to watch online. This means that you can watch them at your leisure, and even though they do contain some ads, they are minimal compared to what is on the box.

I am quite happy to admit to being a box afficionado, mainly because my health doesn't allow me to partake in more physical pursuits, and one can only sit at a computer for so long without becoming even more square-eyed. I have a wide range of shows that I like to watch, but have given up on a lot of news programs since figuring out that they are NOT giving us the facts as they happened, but are trying to influence the way we think (and vote) by issuing information in a manner that exudes their opinions, and not the true state of things. The channel most guilty of this is the one that claims number one status in the free-to-air business.