March 11, 2013. This was the date that I decided I would begin my little experiment. I would avoid any and all influence from the outside world. I would not visit any website dealing with current events, read any headline at the news paper stand, watch any cable or local news channel, and most painfully, not listen to NPR in the morning drive into work. If my co-workers were talking about an event, I would put in my headphones and listen to music. I have made every effort to shield my life from the outside world. In the past three months, with the exception of two days during which I was forced to watch the local news for fear of a tornado in my area, I have consumed absolutely zero media. Even during these times I would mute the channel during world and local news.
My goal was to see what it is like to live with your head in the sand. A large portion of the United States can not even tell you who the current or last vice president was, let alone anything that is going on in the world. This type of ignorant bliss was something I often longed for. To not know the tragedies of the world, to be shielded from everything, and to live within my own world view and personal bubble.
At first it was incredibly hard. We do not realize how much we rely on media to fill a void in our lives, to kill time, etc. We take everything we hear, and although much of it does not affect us personally, we take national headlines, form opinions, get upset, and it does become part of us. In the beginning of this experiment, I felt a feeling of abandonment. I knew SOMETHING was happening, but I didn't know what. I didn't feel safe.
A funny thing happened about a week in though. I started to feel, good? I'm struggling for the correct word for it. Destressed probably. Like a weight of burden was gone, even though I myself was never truly burdened by world news.
I have filled my life with family, friends, work, video games, and completing tasks around the house. So now I, having zero knowledge of what has happened in the world. The last thing I remember was the beginning effects of the sequester, NYC banned large sodas, and Pope Benedict had past away.
It is with great excitement (and a bit of fear, as I seriously have very little knowledge of what has happened in the world outside of my home), that I will now go back (via internet archive) and using cnn to explore the past three months of the world that I have missed. I invite you to come along with me (maybe you'll remember some things you have forgotten). I will be going through each day and recapping the current headlines. If any dates are skipped, it is simply because there is no major news this day, or it is a continuation of the previous day.
March 11, 2013
Rome Abuzz for Selection of New Pope - The conclave is currently gathering to selection the replacement for Pope Benedict
http://web.archive.org/...
No Winner in First Vote to Elect New Pope - After a first vote, there is no clear winner for Pope
http://web.archive.org/...
March 12, 2013
Mars Could Have Hosted Life!
http://web.archive.org/...
March 13, 2013
New Pope is Chosen! White Smoke over the Vatican! Bergoglio (Frances 1) of Argentina, noted for his opposition for same sex marriage is chosen as new Pope!
http://web.archive.org/...
House GOP Warily Holds Out Hand to Obama - Obama plans to meet with house GOP to sidestep leadership
http://web.archive.org/...
March 14, 2013
Carnival Cruise Ship Has Power Failure
http://web.archive.org/...
GOP Doubles Down after Meeting with Obama
http://web.archive.org/...
March 15, 2013
R-Rob Portman Reverses his stance of Same sex marriage (HOLY SHIT!)
http://web.archive.org/...
March 17, 2013
Two Teens Found Guilty in Steubenville Rape Case
http://web.archive.org/...
March 19, 2013
Harry Reid - Assault Weapons Ban Will Not Pass
http://web.archive.org/...
March 20, 2013
Isreal Warns Obama about Chemicals Weapons in Syria
http://web.archive.org/...
March 22, 2013
Due to Sequester, FAA closing 149 Control Towers
http://web.archive.org/...
3 Dead at Quantico Marine Base
http://web.archive.org/...
March 23, 2013
Senate OKs First Budget in 4 Years
http://web.archive.org/...
Meteor Lights Up East Coast
http://web.archive.org/...
North Korean Propaganda Video Shows White house being blown up
http://web.archive.org/...
March 25, 2013
Supreme Court Hears Same Sex Marrage Battle (Biggest Story for next 3 days)
http://web.archive.org/...
March 28, 2013
Pope Washes Prisoners Feet
http://web.archive.org/...
April 1, 2013
US Moves Radar Platform off North Korean Coast
http://web.archive.org/...
April 2, 2013
Kerry- US will do what is necessary
http://web.archive.org/...
April 5, 2013
Roger Ebert Dies, Gives Heaven Two Thumbs Up
http://web.archive.org/...
April 6, 2013
Son of Rick Warren Commits Suicide
http://web.archive.org/...
April 8, 2013
The Iron Lady is No More, Margaret Thatcher Dies
http://web.archive.org/...
April 10, 2013
Man Killed After Firefighters taken Hostage
http://web.archive.org/...
April 13, 2013
Kobe Tears Achilles Tendon
http://web.archive.org/...
April 15, 2013
Terror Attack Hits Boston Marathon
http://web.archive.org/...
I'd like to take a moment here. While this event took place, it was nearly impossible to shield myself from this, especially in the following days. However, with exception of 1 newspaper cover, I know nothing of the events that took place. (taking a few minutes to read about it). Holy shit is all I can say after reading this now. Really wishing I hadn't. I'm sure there will be a huge block of stories on this in the following days, so please forgive me, but this will be the only mention of it in my blog. I'm sure everyone knows what happened.
April 18-20, 2013
Texas Plant Explosion, 14 bodies recovered
http://web.archive.org/...
April 22, 2013
Al Queda Train Plot Thwarted in Canada
http://web.archive.org/...
April 23, 2013
Charges Dismissed in Texas Ricin Case
http://web.archive.org/...
April 25, 2013
Timesquare NYC to be next target of Tsarneavs'
http://web.archive.org/...
April 26-27, 2013
Mississippi Man Arested in Ricin Case
http://web.archive.org/...
Factory in Bangladesh Collapses, Killing 334
http://web.archive.org/...
Sarin Gas Used in Syria, Crosses Redline?
http://web.archive.org/...
April 29, 2013
35 Hurt in Prague Explosion
http://web.archive.org/...
April 30, 2013
Morning After Pill Okd for 15 year olds
http://web.archive.org/...
May 1, 2013
US Cargo Plane Crashes in Afghanistan (VIDEO)
http://web.archive.org/...
3 Arrests Made in Boston Case, Roommates of Tsarneav
http://web.archive.org/...
May 2, 2013
Chris Kelly (of KrisKross) Dies
http://web.archive.org/...
May 3, 2013
NRA Convention - Rally Against Gun Control
http://web.archive.org/...
May 5, 2013
Did Isreal Fire Rockets Into Syria?
http://web.archive.org/...
May 6, 2013
Bride and 4 friends Die in Limo Fire
http://web.archive.org/...
May 7, 2013
Three Women Freed from Sexual Captivity, Held for Years
http://web.archive.org/...
May 9, 2013
Jury Finds Jodi Arias Guilty of Murder
http://web.archive.org/...
May 10, 2013
Boston Bomber Tamerlan Tsarneav Buried in Virginia
http://web.archive.org/...
May 11, 2013
IRS Targets Tea Party Group, Knew of Targeting.
http://web.archive.org/...
May 12, 2013
Barclays Probed over Saudi Prince Ties
http://web.archive.org/...
May 13, 2013
Gosnell Guilty of Murder
http://web.archive.org/...
May 14, 2013
Angelina Jolie undergoes double masectomy
http://web.archive.org/...
Russia orders Explusion of US Diplomat, Accused of being CIA spy
http://web.archive.org/...
AP Blasts feds for phone record search
http://web.archive.org/...
May 20, 2013
Massive 2 mile wide tornado slams Moore, Oklahoma, school leveled
http://web.archive.org/...
May 23, 2013
Boyscouts to Allow gay youth (but not scout leaders)
http://web.archive.org/...
May 24, 2013
Bridge Collapses in Washington State.
http://web.archive.org/...
May 26, 2013
President Obama Tours Moore, Oklahoma
http://web.archive.org/...
May 27, 2013
EU lifts ban on arming Syrian Rebels
http://web.archive.org/...
May 28, 2013
Marijuana, Fights, and Guns not to be allowed as evidence in Trayvon Martin case
http://web.archive.org/...
May 29, 2013
Ricin found in bloomburg letter
http://web.archive.org/...
June 1, 2013
939 detained in Turkey Protests
http://web.archive.org/...
June 2, 2013
IRS in Hotseat over Overspending
http://web.archive.org/...
June 3, 2013
Court Marshal of manning Begins
http://web.archive.org/...
June 4, 2013
Over 100 students kicked off plane
http://web.archive.org/...
Sunscrean reduces skin aging
http://web.archive.org/...
June 5, 2013
84 Year Old Wins $370M
http://web.archive.org/...
June 6, 2013
NSA Accused of collecting phone records of all americans
http://web.archive.org/...
June 7, 2013
Shooting at Santa Monica College
http://web.archive.org/...
June 9, 2013
Edward Snowden Comes Forward as Leak Provider, NSA Phone Records and Internet Communication
http://web.archive.org/...
June 11, 2013
Put W in the Win column (for your affection)
http://web.archive.org/...
June 12, 2013
States Move to Arm Teachers
http://web.archive.org/...
Snowden says US hacks China
http://web.archive.org/...
June 13, 2013
Syria Crosses Redline, Uses Chemical Warfare
http://web.archive.org/...
Guess Who's Back, Back in Town, IQ Drops 50 Points
http://web.archive.org/...
June 14, 2013
US to send small arms to Syrian Rebbels
http://web.archive.org/...
Fires continue to Ravage Colorado
http://web.archive.org/...
June 15, 2013
Turkish Protestors Driven from Zuccotti, I mean, Taksim Square
http://web.archive.org/...
June 16, 2013
Putin warns west of siding with "cannibals"
http://web.archive.org/...
June 17, 2013
Sorry if I missed any major headlines. I am amazed at how much stuff has happened while I've been "away". I can't honestly say I'm any better for having now read all of this. Kind of wishing I had just kept myself in the shadows.
So let's sum up the past 3 months.
New Pope who hates homosexuals
GOP Still asshats
Sorry Boston :(
Bashar Poisoning own people
I can no longer "jump jump"
IRS is Fucked
The government really does know everything we do
Malibu Barbie is Back
And people like Bush.
Yep, putting my head back in the sand. See you in three months!
10:49 AM PT: Figured I would repost this again today, as I have no choice but to be engaged in society. Thank you all for the positive posts! After tonight I will be "going back under". See you all in September!