The Elimination of Television?

Is TV evil?

I find a bit too much enjoyment in watching TV. It is so easy, to lul down in front of the fluorescent light of television – and time has a habit of flying by… I do not even dare to think of how much time I have spent in front of channels like DR2, NGC and Discovery. The temptation of television is a real problem, for me!

Now let’s just for the fun of it, say that you watch on average of 1,5 hours of TV every day (about average for most people).The tendency is, to watch more in the week-end than the week-day. This ads up to 10,5 hours a week! Try thinking about, what other activities you could be doing? Reading or what about talking with people dear to you. Is watching TV a so fulfilling and important activity for you?! Can this massive consumption of time be justified? Everybody complains that they are so busy: “well do they watch tv?”

I have tried to show moral strength, and various tricks to do something about it. But they did not work. But my last “trick” did the trick! When I moved in my current domicile, I decided to donate my TV to my dear sister. Since I had a tv-receiver in my laptop I thought it would be a hindrance for me thourds watching TV. Well, I still watched some of my favorite shows. The end result, was that I reduced – but still used too much time with the “TV temptress”. I did not go without, but it was a small obstacle. Three months ago, the darnest thing happend – my TV-receiver broke. I had a choice, live without or get the receiver fixed. And I chose the first option.

No, I have no TV problem. The only withdrawal symptoms was that all of a sudden, I had more time to do some of my projects. I am not going to exaggerate the benefits, but feel I more “sharp” and creative in my thinking. These benefits far outweigh the surplus of time. I believe that that far more people doing with out the “TV temptress”.

I suppose that TV ‘pro forma’ has some benefits. The main purpose should be to educate and inform the citizen. But I can’t see this happening – people want to be lulled. Soaps, game and reality shows – are what the people want. If I had a TV, there really isn’t that much I would like to watch (besides zapping from channel to channel)…

The question is, if the “use” of television is harmful for ones mental abilities? And if the answer is “yes”, than it should have some consequences. I believe that TV adherently causes improper and/or excessive use – could even be as negative as passive smoking and other abuses. I would call the “use” of TV, abuse.

If I can’t convince you, take a look on http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/. There is even have a great pod cast (http://turnoffyourtv.libsyn.com/rss), witch Ron Kaufman is the author. He has a very critical view of the influence that the TV-media has on the American society, and other topics like the Irak war, democracy, and current american affair… It’s great and has a sound, and positive message.

I used to have a TV, now I have not.

Sick, am I!

You guessed it, i’m sick – but still only in the physical since. Friday i started of with a small discomfort and now it has escalated to a full fledged flu. I am hot, tried, cold, snotty, annoyed, lack of focus and most of all – bored out of my mind!!! I hate being sick – the sheer lack of energy and inactivity – it’s killing me!!! I feel like a fish – i have to move or else my gills don’t get enough O2…

Here is a picture of the Hawaiian State Fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa (my kindred spirit?).

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking in my state of inertia. One of my conclusions, is that I have been using far too much energy in looking and seeking for my better half. The last six months I have been dating, a hell of a lot. All the energy, I have put inn really hasn’t trickled in to anything I can work with. I’m a patient guy, but maybe i should focus on other areas that give me pleasure. Let me see – family, friends, law degree, clarinet and so on..

I do hope she is out there but so-far, no good. I dislike my solitude, but I’m still single and dealing with it…

This poem hits my soft spot and is how i feel. From my favorite band…

“Small time shot away” – Massive Attack (100th. window)

Took her in
Dropped a line
Turned me on
(I travel I travel)
We never leave each other ’cause we leave each other so cold
Makes it melt away

The easy part is taking yourself in
It’s wartime every time
Shot away

Wipe the smile from your face
It’s getting in the way
It’s wartime every time
She cut me a line and she turned me on
She made it cool
You couldn’t do it if you wanted to
(Believe me believe me)

It’s wartime every time
Small talk every time
It’s my favourite chloroform
It’s pill talk every time
Get it out the way
Friction wound
Shot away

Ricochet
We’re like identical twins
Sucking on the same teat
Spitting out the same things
(I travel far, I travel far)
It’s wartime every time
Small talk every time
It’s my favourite chloroform
It’s pillow talk every time
Get it out the way
Friction wound
Ricochet

Line’em up and knock’em down
Shot away
A shot away
A shot away
A shot away

Well, must sleep and get well…

Can’t sleep…

Sometimes i just can’t sleep, i’m wide awake – not feeling tired and am full of energy. So why not put a couple of pictures in my blog. By the way, these pictures were taken with my dear departed camera, that is no more.

Enjoy….

This is a rather cute picture. It’s Mulan (cute cat) and Baldur (lovable bulldog). You can clearly see, that they were best friends. Baldur is no longer with us. He had arthritis and was in a lot of pain – so he had to be put down. I didn’t like him at first. He snored, had flatulence, threw up all over the place and always begged for scraps. But he had so much charm that you realy couldn’t ignore his “Baldur Charm” – it just grows on you. I do miss him a lot and so does Mulan….

Picture taken in Thorshavn (Faroe Isl.). Ólavsøku is a lot of things – well officially it’s a national holiday where we commemorate Olav II (later canonizes as “Saint Olav the Stout”) and the Faroese Parliament (Løgtingið) opens.

But for me, the true meaning of olavsøku, is meting old friend and family you havn’t seen for a long time and having fun. It’s “sinfull”, peaceful and lively at the same time….

It gives life a capitol “L”.