Song on my mind... "Dance of the Shepherdess" by Hugo Alfvén

If the media covers this world crisis the same way it covered the terrorist attacks or the Gulf War, then it will be a non-stop barrage of special reports and breaking news. I don't think I'm ready to be inundated with that many graphic images, scrolling updates and terror alerts.

Over a year ago, I remember finally just shutting everything off. I stopped reading the newspaper headlines, surfing the news sites and watching the nightly television reports. There were certain TV shows or movies that I just couldn't stand to view. Instead, I read novels, listened to music and watched comedies. The return of baseball seemed like a godsend.

Eventually, I opened my eyes and uncovered my ears to world events. I started by listening to NPR and found that I could handle the calm voices and tempo of the reporting. I could stay informed without feeling overwhelmed. In due time, I felt secure enough to return to the mainstream media.

But since Monday night, I've again reduced my news intake to public radio and a few select news sites. I'm not going to take any chances this time around. I figure that the best way to defend myself against the oncoming media assault is with a few preemptive measures of my own.