Just about this time in 2003, when I was working in the newsroom of a newspaper, I decided to blackout my own news watching and reading from June 1 through Labor Day weekend. I thought a break might help me to clear the mental cobwebs and have a refreshed outlook for my job. I mean, it was feeling like someone who works at a bakery—after awhile, none of it is appealing anymore.
I am by no means a news expert. I know only what interests me, what may pertain to my life. I read those headlines which, for some unknown reason, might cause me to want to take a look. I get really irritated by finding a story that turns out to be what I call a “non-story.” I’m sure there will be some of those included along the way.
Now that we have blogs, I decided to write about this break from the brutal, boring, bogus, and brainless stories that attack, attract and distract my attention with every click of the mouse.
If I was reading the news daily, as is my usual habit, which of these stories would I have read if I wasn’t on hiatus from paying attention to news? and why? Which ones need no further reading because the headline says all I need to know? Which ones are relatively useless?
I’m not posting or commenting on local news. I read three online newspapers every day—two from where I used to live, checking for people I knew or obituaries. I read the one online that used to employ me and I read Patch.com for my area. (Full disclosure, not purposely promotional: I am a contributing writer for Patch.com, so I want to keep up with at least my area’s stories. Sometimes I wander for a look at the Patch.com’s from where I used to live, as well, but there is only so much time in a day.)
I haven’t watched local TV news in about 10 years. The stories were mostly repeats of city murder and mayhem and only an occasional story of interest to my life and safety.
Here are headlines as copied from Yahoo! online news items under Top Stories under the News and World tabs. Sports and Entertainment are not covered because I don’t follow sports at all and entertainment seldom contains real news. The headlines in color have my comments following.
Read it for curiosity’s sake, to stir your own opinion or just for nothing. Comments/discussion welcome.
June 1
Explosions and street fighting grip Yemen capital (Reuters)
Reuters – Renewed fighting in Yemen’s capital between a powerful tribal group and President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s forces has killed at least 19 people this week and rocked Sanaa with explosions, officials said on Wednesday.
Syrian forces shell town kill 41, lawyer says (Reuters)
Blast hits hotel in Libya’s rebel-held Benghazi (Reuters)
Japan PM to offer to resign in autumn or later: report (Reuters)
Honduras readmitted to OAS after coup (Reuters)
Syria’s Embattled Dissidents Grapple with Government Hackers, Wiretappers and Imposters (Time.com)
AP sources: US, Pakistan partnership on mend (AP)
41 killed in deadly Yemen street battles (AP)
Smoking gun elusive in deadly E.) coli outbreak (AP)—Keep an eye on this story to see if it affects food here.
Iconic Bosnian teen hurt in war reflects on Mladic (AP)
June 9
NATO: No troops on ground in post-conflict Libya (AP)
NATO’s top official said Wednesday the alliance won’t put troops on the ground in Libya to keep order once the civil war ends and it will be up to the United Nations to help the north African country toward its future once Gadhafi is no longer at its helm.) (AP)—In an attempt to understand world events, this would cause me to read more but I doubt it would shed enough light on the situation to help me understand much.
US stocks edge lower; McDonald’s sales disappoint (AP)
EU health chief won’t criticize Germany on E.) coli (AP)
Senate showdown over limiting debit card fees (AP)
Weiner latest NY lawmaker caught in sex scandal (AP)
Iran to triple nuke output, use better centrifuges (AP)
Turkey offers Syrians refuge, West pushes U.N. vote (Reuters)
Militant attack in Pakistan’s northwest kills at least (Reuters)
Fighting turns southern Yemen town into “hell” (Reuters)
Western, Arab talks to focus on Libya “end-game” (Reuters)
Defiant Iran plans big rise in nuclear enrichment (Reuters)
In Yemen, a High-Stakes Power Game as Saleh Is in Limbo (Time.com)
June 10
Gingrich says ‘strategic difference’ led to staff exodus
Obama allies frustrated by White House inaction on jobs—Heavy sigh…
Kansas City girl, 5, may face murder charges in drowning—I can wait weeks to find out how this develops. The absurdity of the charge both irritates and intrigues me, but mostly irritates. NO 5-year-old is morally or personally responsible for killing anything. They just don’t know anything at that age.
Deadly fungus strikes Joplin tornado survivors, volunteers—An unpleasant development and I feel a need to be aware of it in case there is some way I can help at some point. Meanwhile, prayer is all I have for them.
Passenger strips naked, forcing pilot to turn plane around
South Beach ‘B-Girls’ admit guilt in scam targeting men—I’m nowhere near South Beach and I’m not a man, so I don’t care one second about this.
Syrian troops sweep through north; unrest kills 32
Gates: NATO alliance future could be ‘dim, dismal’
Finally, an E.) coli answer: It was the sprouts—Good to know and I don’t usually eat sprouts. The headline says it all and I don’t need to read more.
Argentina, Uruguay airports closed due to volcano
Gadhafi forces kill 22 rebels in Misrata shelling
Mexico’s narcos adopt Lauren-style polo shirts
Paris bar honors The Doors; may have to close them
Spain nabs 3 suspected of global cyber attacks
Environmental activists sailing to Libyan waters
CIA chief on visit to repair ties with Pakistan
June 11
Highlights but no bombshells out of Sarah Palin’s email so far—I can only imagine what these “leakers” thought they were going to find in Palin’s emails. Are they looking for coven spells or national secrets? Stupid.
Somalia says it killed Africa’s top al-Qaida operative
Fighter jets intercept plane near U.S. presidential retreat—Curious to know the details and glad the Prez is all right (I assume he’s all right or I would have seen serious bulletins and friends would have advised me of otherwise.)
Missing Alaska sled dog musher turns up alive, safe
Panama hands U.S. first ever loss in group stage of Gold Cup
Troubles continue for IMF after hackers cause ‘major breach’
1998 US Embassy blasts suspect killed in Somalia—Good. I won’t miss him. Headline says it all.
Blasts kills 34 in Pakistan, as CIA chief visits
Hostile Syrian border region challenges regime
For Afghan civilians, May was grim milestone
Family, activist among 11 killed in Iraq attacks
Libya rebels battle into key oil port near Tripoli
Environmentalists, tuna fishers battle at sea—I’m curious to know what this is about and if it affects my canned tuna purchases.
Bahrain opposition rally draws more than 10,000
Brennan says Somali action setback for al-Qaida—Good.
Clinton warns Africa of ‘new colonialism’—Hmmm. What does this mean in the grand scheme of things?
June 12
Pressure mounts for Weiner amid new photos Boehner jokes
Scientists find trio of genes linked to migraine headaches
Syria troops storm town with helicopters; mass grave found
Report: Couple charged with fencing 271 stolen Picassos—What grabs my attention is how many works of art are involved. So I told my husband the headline and said, “How does someone HIDE so many and get away with it?” to which he quipped, “You have to have a lot of hiding places and roll them up really tight!”
Emotional Tyson, Stallone inducted into boxing’s hall of fame–Sports should never be a front page story, in my opinion. Sports has its own section in print and online.
Will breached Miss. River levee be rebuilt? More flood worries
Turkey’s ruling party wins election
Libya’s rebels claim resurgence; government denies
Hamas rejection bodes poorly for unity talks
Chileans living near volcano urged to stay away—They need to be “urged”?
NATO at the crossroads after Gates speech
Syria’s army seizes back restive town after mutiny
Jordan’s king bows to demand for elected Cabinets
Afghanistan: Pakistan to target insurgents
Bye-Bye bidets! US troops leaving Saddam palaces—Could be amusing and if it has photos of the beautiful palaces with our happy soldiers, all the better.
Expert: Weaker Africans to benefit from free trade
One of Billions 