> There is so much out there in our society in general that
>exists only to make a buck for somebody else at the expense of our health and
>happiness.  I decided a long time ago, in my early 20's, that I didn't want
>anybody else controlling my life, consciously or unconsciously and so I began
>to explore.  This is my life, my one and only life (as far as I know!) and I
>intend to continue to live it with as much awareness, knowledge, health and
>happiness as I am able.
>It takes a lot to combat all that is out there.  I have disconnected from the
>mainstream as much as is comfortable to reduce negative influences.  My hubby
>and I have two TV's but they are connected to neither cable or an antenna.
> We can watch videos but do so rarely.  We almost never go to movies.
>I really try to protect myself from the dominant paradigm.  Don't listen to
>the radio.  Stopped long ago all the "women's magazines" telling me I have to
>look a certain way to be acceptable (to whom, I began to wonder), for
>example.  Stopped going to malls except when absolutely unavoidable, and so
>on.

Sandy: your words sound like music to my ears!
Explanation: I have no TV set at home since december 1995. I don't know how
long it will last, but until now it has been a very positive decision. It
improved the comunication with my wife, it improved the desire of reading in
my 5 years old son, it closed the doors of my home to the lots of garbage
that the companies try to sell you (beers, cigarettes, brutal sex, excess of
violence, fried chicken, coke's, burgers, Pizza Hut... you can complete the
other thousands). I know that TV sets have 1% of good things that I am
loosing and I was thinking about doing what you did: no antenna, no cable,
only VHS. Maybe I will copy you.