The News

Until a few weeks ago, I was a subscriber to the local newspaper, the Lubbock Avalanche Journal.  I am not sure when the last avalanche occurred in Lubbock, but the journal makes sense.  When I moved to Lubbock in 1977, the Lubbock Avalanche  and the Lubbock Journal were a morning and evening newspaper. I can not tell you when they merged into a morning edition only. But I can tell you that for most of the time that I have lived in Lubbock since 1977, I have been a newspaper subscriber.

The cost of the newspaper has skyrocketed. Last year, the cost was $130 or so.  I thought it was too much, but I did like having the newspaper hard copy at home, and I used the newspaper for linings under the cat litter pans and food dishes. 

This year, the price went up to $180. That was more than I wanted to spend. I will do something else to  have underlinings for the cat pans and dishes.

It has felt very uncomfortable not to get the newspaper every day. I did not read it thoroughly, as did Lisenby, but I checked it out.  Headlines, stories to my interest, events, sports, entertainment, puzzles and games.

For the last 10 or more years, I have not watched the local news.  I have watched the Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/, and that is the site that gave me most of my news.  In addition to the local newspaper, I did get headlines, online from The Austin Statesman and The New York Times.   I also read the online version of The Recorder the newspaper for my hometown area, published out of Greenfield, Massachusetts.

So, with the end of my hard copy newspaper subscription, I have changed my habits and lifestyle.  I watch the morning, evening, and sometimes night time news. I do not listen closely, but pay attention if a story means something to me. I get frustrated that something that I hear during the early evening news is presented not only in the late news, which I understand, but the next day's morning news, as if it is fresh information. But it is not.  I think that is shoddy reporting.

During my drive time to and from work, I listen the the local NPR radio station: KTTZ. The Morning Edition  and All Things Considered has wonderful news stories, in depth interest stories, and is generally of high quality.

I was visiting with co-workers today. I was amazed at their lack of local awareness about the news.  So this makes me wonder. If they do not know about the local news, are they also unaware of the national news. Are they unaware of "The Sequester" that will impact all of our lives, mostly negatively. What else do they not known about that is happening in our world?

I thought I was not very aware or informed, but when I compare my awareness to my colleagues, I know A LOT!