Support your local public radio station

Recently I canceled my cable television service and began donating to my local public radio station. It occurred to me that I spend more time listening to the radio than I watch TV, so it made perfect sense. The radio is on most of the time I'm home, and practically all the time I'm in the car.

If you listen to local public broadcasting, I highly recommend supporting the station with a monthly donation.

Why should I donate to public radio?

Being a well-rounded human being includes being versed in current events. There is no better place to learn about current events than public radio. The past few decades has seen a trend in media towards sensationalism and focusing on controversy. I turned to public radio when I got sick of only hearing 10-second sound bite yelling matches and hosts and guests talking over each other. It wasn't educational, it was just frustrating. Today's hosts aren't interested in informing the public on the real issues, but on getting to the controversy. Hosts will often interrupt a guest who is explaining their viewpoint to ask them about the petty argument, or to frame the issue in that particular network's narrative. I've also noticed the media focuses on the politics behind issues (who said what, what that means politically, etc) instead on what the issue actually is, and how it affects people.

Public radio, on the other hand, perhaps because of its format, or maybe because they have higher journalistic standards, takes the issues seriously, and will provide 10-minutes for a guest to explain themselves, with the host not interrupting the guest, but still asking tough questions. When I first heard this, it was a breath of fresh air.

And more than just politics, every issue is provided quality air time, from science, history, and anthropology, to law, music and culture. Everything is so well discussed, it's exhilarating.

A few anecdotes:

• When an author or actor is being interviewed for their latest project, the interview is in depth, and the story is discussed as it relates to culture and humanity, and often compared to earlier works.
• Every week, the Supreme Court decisions are detailed with background on where the case began, and its implications on future court decisions. The discussion amongst the judges is broken down, with each side of the issue being given.
• A local food show has weekly updates on new products in the local farmer's market, and reviews of local restaurants, detailing the best dishes on the menu, and fascinating interviews with farmers or food policy experts.

Because time is important, I can't afford to waste my time with the trivial bickering found in most modern media formats.

Another benefit I get from my local public station is music. Not every public station has music, but mine has a great selection of music from very knowledgeable deejays, and even a very eclectic program hosted by Henry Rollins.

Public radio relies on donation

Public radio stations receive a lot of money from organizations and businesses, but the vast majority of their budget comes from listener support. As non-commercial broadcasters, they are not making a profit, and there are no commercial advertisements. This is becoming even more critical as the current Congress is threatening to cut funding for public radio, even as over half of the population of the United States uses public media each month. An organization called 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting has a lot of information on why public media is important, and what you can do to help.

Don't murder people

In memoriam:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

S'mores, bright embers, and cold-early mornings... Ahh camping!

"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean."
-John Muir

I find it kind of funny to talk about camping just days after the winter solstice, and that incredible eclipse. But I am. That's because I look forward to the warmer months when friends and I get out to the Great Outdoors and revel in the beauty and the mountain air. Living here in Colorado I can look out my home's windows and see mountains. I'm very lucky.

One of my fondest childhood memories was when my family went camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The funny thing is I can't for the life of me tell you how long we were there, but I can still remember the ice cold water in the stream, and the pines towering overhead.

As I mentioned, I live in Colorado. While there are plenty of outdoorsy activities, and camping that I can do, typically my biggest regret when the leaves begin to change is that I haven't been outside enough. This might sound a wee-bit cheesy but there is almost something magical about sleeping in a tent in the middle of nowhere. It is there that you can easily leave your work stress and worldly cares behind. Even better if you can find a place remote enough that your cell phone doesn't even work.

Camping shouldn't be as complex as our day to day living, so I tend to ridicule those people who go "camping" in an RV. They drag along all the amenities, to include satellite TV, and then miss out on the beauty around them. Camping should be simple, because the more simple it is the more we can love the experience.

Life doesn't get much better than when you sit around a camp fire with your closest friends. You can be laughing at the ridiculous (but true) stories they're telling or completely silent staring into the crackling flames; either way you feel more alive than you have in awhile.

Maybe I'll write a post at some point where I can outline some basic gear you should have. If you live near an REI they have free classes you can take to teach you everything from navigating with a compass to snowshoeing to avalanche survival to packing for a 3 week trip of Europe.

"The mountains are calling and I must go."
-John Muir