Organizing and consolidating information dealing with simplifying life since January 2006, to help those considering a lifestyle change as well as those expert at living an abundant life in a frugal way.
I stumbled across a video by Anne Graham Lotz on YouTube yesterday and it was comforting to hear that she was feeling exhausted from all the bad news being reported these days, too.
As I discussed in my last post, I'm declining that invitation to be bummed and depressed from all these evil reports by trying to laugh more and working hard to find things to laugh about -- in my day, on the screen.
And I've signed up for Anne Graham Lotz's "God is Speaking" program as she discusses below -- for the first eight days in August, listening to the Word for two 30-minute segments, and focusing on what God is saying.
You can sign up too, if you're interested (or if you just want to learn more about what is being offered) at the God is Speaking website.
I don't know about you, but the daily news is getting downright overwhelmingly depressing for me these days.
And it's not like reporting really bad news is a trend. I remember those daily Vietnam War casualty reports given by Walter Cronkite, and my mother crying over them. And all those assassinations: JFK, RFK, MLK Jr. ....
My 8th grade health teacher, Mrs. Barnes, was famous around our middle school because she had an official Bomb Shelter in her house, in case of the Big One. And she was serious about it. She and her family were ready.
And I bet you remember where you were when the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded in mid-air, against a bright blue sky, killing all 7 crew members. Such a sad day.
So, no, horrible and heart-wrenching news stories are not some recent development -- but it sure seems different to me today.
I feel bombarded by badness, like evil is having a Heyday. I wonder if you feel it too.
Right now, I limit myself to checking online news once or twice a day -- but that's because I need to keep my work schedule and not get sidetracked surfing the web. When I visit my preferred news sites, I leave them weary and worn-out. You?
Recently, I began thinking about having a No News Weekend -- just avoid any news stories for 48 hours. Because I really could use a breather.
Maybe I'll do that. Maybe I won't ... it seems wrong somehow, irresponsible.
I Have Discovered Jeanne Robertson
But there is one thing that I am doing to help me feel better in these dark and depressing days, and that is finding ways to have a good laugh.
She's hilarious! Added bonus: you'd feel safe having your grandmother or your baby granddaughter listening with you as watch her stuff.
Truly gifted. Why don't more people know about her? Why isn't she setting on talk show couches? I dunno.
But I'm very thankful she's got lots of YouTube videos available for me to watch. Because I need a good laugh, and Jeanne Robertson knows how to be funny.
Thanks to Gimundo, a wonderful site of good news stories, here's a video of a cute little cat that will smile for you. Betcha it will make you smile, too, as you watch it:
It's getting ridiculous. SNL already has skits about them, and you can't watch 30 minutes of TV these days (some simplifiers don't even watch TV, me? I still like things like Lonesome Dove and Casablanca ....) without seeing a drug being advertised.
I find it entertaining to watch how they try and creatively include all the side effects into the advertisement without scaring the YouKnowWhat out of you. My favorites are the ones with LOTS of side effects, like that fake-doctor one ....
Anyway, I went surfing for the answer to my question, WHY are we seeing these? And here's what I found:
1. Over at the FDA, there's a Truth in Advertising section where doctors reportedly LIKE the advertisments, saying things like (most popular response) they provide "better discussion with patient" (53%) and patient more aware of treatments (42%).
2. I learned over at Consumer Reports that these ads are called "DTC," Direct to Consumer, and they're only expected to increase. Great.... I also learned that Consumer Reports began its own campaign on these ads, and their video reports can be seen here.
3. Democracy in Action has started a campaign to outlaw these DTC drug advertisements. They, along with many other organizations, have endorsed the Public Health Protection Act - and if you want to tell your members of Congress that you support this Act, their site gives you a direct email capability. Meanwhile, Consumers Union has a petition to the FDA going over at their site, asking the FDA to ban DTC ads.
Me? I don't think they should be on television, and it's getting laughable at how prevalent they are becoming. Didn't the doctors and hospitals do a good enough job dispensing their products? Do they really need to tout their miracle cures directly to our families during the evening sitcom or weekend football game? Seems to insult the physician and the patient, IMHO.
One thing that I expect to rise right along with them: the personal injury attorneys' advertisement for all the drugs and devices that have been recalled, seeking victims of bad drugs in the marketplace. You know, like Avandia, Crestor, Prempro, Risperdal, Vioxx, Bextra, ....
"FORBESLIFE EXECUTIVE WOMAN, which will be launching in October, has as its mission: "To provide Forbes' community of executive women with luxury lifestyle content that they value and respect ... and they won't find anywhere else." The publisher asks: "Powerful women turn to Forbes for business insights. But where do these women - who have everything except time - turn when they want upscale lifestyle intelligence?" Based on a quick scan of the magazines' features and departments, that lifestyle seems to include an awful lot of shopping..." [Emphasis added.]
I debated about posting on this blurb ... then I thought, what the heck. This, and Lesley Seymour all in one week: don't you know that she's gonna subscribe to this rag, for the latest in "upscale lifestyle intelligence"? Of course she is.
How can anyone possibly know if they are buying the right brand, the right label, taking the right vacation, wearing the right jewelry, if they don't have reference manuals? Lemmings need leadership.
Who am I to criticize? I'm a former big-firm attorney who several years ago woke up and decided much of the way that I lived my life was wrong. Morally wrong. And, stupid to boot. So, I changed. I'm still evolving, I suppose.
But, I think that my past gives me a license -- as a former member of the Club -- to laugh at "upscale lifestyle intelligence." Geez Louise.
And, to pray for all those trapped in this -- what did Mary Hunt call it? Oh yes, "entitlement, greed, and self-centeredness". Right.
What do I do now? I'm a professional writer (which means I'm paid to put words on screen, or on paper) and I finally found a place where that Atticus Finch feeling really exists: I represent abused and neglected children in the local Children's Court.
One last thing before this rant is over. This afternoon, I was chuckling because I have found my very favorite purse of all time: you know, the one that is just perfect. It comes from Ross, on sale for $19.00 -- and after I spent all that money on Prada. LOL LOL LOL
