We are a news-devouring society.

The news comes at us from all directions. As I open my eyes in the morning my hands fumble for the radio dial even before I reach for my eyeglasses. Next, as I don my clothes for the day's activities, the TV is switched on for the traffic bulletins. The automobile radio continues the input of reports from all over the world. At 6:30 p.m. the TV networks sum up all the "news of the day," along with commentary. At 11 p.m. "the news" puts me to bed so that I can get some sleep before I start the whole process again.

In between the news reports we are forced to live our lives, earning a living, raising a family, eating our meals and finally retiring at night, all wrapped around and sandwiched between news reports.

The paper lying in the driveway gives us the stock market results to let us know if we are still solvent. The bold front page headlines scream out at us as if we all were deaf, dumb and blind. "How dare you not know that So and So just shot So and So. Turn to page 3."

"Give us 22 minutes and we will give you the world."

The teletype in the background enhances the immediacy. This urgent plea is almost a call to arms. They report two murders in Brooklyn or the Bronx. Twenty-two minutes later they repeat the same story. In one hour and six minutes we have heard the crime three times. We wonder, "Is that six people who were shot or have we just heard the same story told three times?"

Even our home computers deliver the loud messages.

In some manner, shape or form we must detach ourselves from the media blaring at us from all directions. The trial of Saddam Hussein in Iraq is important but must we know all the minor and picayune details? I think not.

We can't walk through our modern society with our heads buried in the ground like ostriches. Also, we can't carry the burden of the blaring headlines in our guts all day or we will get upset stomachs.

We must be informed, that is essential.

What to do? What to do?

Solution: Go to the library and take out a book on a subject in which you have an interest. Take a CD (a nice quiet musical one) and place it in the CD player. Pour a glass of wine and relax. The news will take care of itself.