Dear Christine,
I think the idea that keeping up 24-7 with the news is keeping you informed is a mistake. I have been reading the newspaper everyday for the past 10 years and though it is addictive I don't think it necessarily gives me a better overview than a weekly newspaper or magazine would give me. Watching no television certainly hasn't made a difference (save for the fact that I am not in the know of the latest gossip). News consists by necessity of a mixture of things that are of importance to our world and items that in the long run do not turn out to be so important.
All this just to say, it is OK to leave the news the news. If it is of importance it will get back to you. Much more important things are to be learned in 3D actual reality, by a little stream.

Actually, it was the message of Archbishop Celestino Migliore, but no doubt the Pope would agree:
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It comes down to "working less, wanting less, spending less," thus reducing the impact each person has on the environment, Archbishop Celestino Migliore told participants gathered in Columbus for the second in a series of regional Catholic conversations on climate change April 14. [In the interests of context, the full quote was "In the States this movement is often expressed in terms of so-called voluntary simplicity, that is, a way of life that tends to involve patterns of working less, wanting less and spending less. In other parts of the world, it focuses on a radical criticism and opposition to the current economic and market systems."]
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That last bit, about "other parts of the world," sounds rather like liberation theology, which I am glad to see is thriving, in spite of much hierarchical opposition, even in the highest circles.

"Working less" can easily work for those who "want less" and "spend less."  Unfortunately, in this country at least, our health care depends on our being employed full-time.  That is why we need a system of guaranteed health care for everybody, independent of the contributions of employers per full-time employee.  This would be a much happier and culturally stronger country, if we could make a living with an array of part-time employment options.

"Knowing less" is not quite right, Christine, though I know what you are getting at.  The happiness of us human beings, the good life for us, depends on our always learning things.  The question is, What things?  And where should we go to learn them?

Watching the news can indeed become addictive.  I started watching CNN during the OJ trial, and I have subsequently turned into a zombie.  Well, not quite, but I see the problem.  For example, I wish I had never heard of Paris Hilton, and wish I never hear anything about her again.  On the other hand, in this household the almost daily showing of photographs of dead servicepeople, who died in Iraq and Afghanistan, at the close of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, is sacramental.

So, I agree with Waterman.

And there can be no doubt that your efforts with your daughters are the way to go.  Hopefully they will not get bitten by turtles -- who would have thought that turtles other than snapping turtles might bite?; so see, I learned something, and am happier for it -- , but even so, apparently BioD's daughters survived.

Similarly, I have no idea what a "Mary Jane pipe" is.  Whether it would be really valuable for me to learn what it is, who can say?  But I know it would give me a bit of pleasure.

Lucky for BioD that he was not arrested as a negligent parent, for allowing his daughters to play around with dangerous wildlife! : )

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.

Mark Twain, Letter to Mrs Foote, Dec. 2, 1887
US humorist, novelist, short story author, & wit (1835 - 1910)

I'm glad to see I've nailed down at least half the recipe for success.

Erik, thanks for the links. I'll defitely check those out.