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Hurricane Frances still on course to hit here Saturday evening.
I'm still not scared, just taking it much more seriously now.
I think the constant barrage of news coverage is freaking people out. Switch on the radio, and you hear the announcer's voice crack, himself one step away from a panic. Turn on the TV, and you see nothing but evacuation orders and routes, lines of cars at gas stations, crawls along the bottom of the screen, maps and forecasts updating information by the second. It's information overload.
It's good that technology has allowed us to instantly update information. But the news alerts every two minutes -- and the inescapable exposure to this overwhelming level of information -- just serves to make people jittery instead of focused and calm.
Many of us have taken every necessary step to prepare for the storm, whether it be running out for ice, stocking up on supplies, food and water, calling relatives, taping windows and bringing plants inside.
That's really all one can do.
I used to live my life by the Golden Rule: Do unto others.
But in the past few years, my philosophy on life has changed, and the past 48 hours have served to reinforce how I feel:
Worry and be secure in what you do have control over, and don't give yourself an ulcer worrying about what you can't.
Current mood: Resolved
Replies: 4 shoutouts
Will tomorrow's headline be:
SAVE YOURSELVES!
Posted by ~ @ 09/03/2004 11:17 PM EST
I know, and it took the minds of four high-ranking supervisors screeching behind me (I had a guest spot as A1 designer last night) to come up with that one. "In what way can we scare the public today?"
Posted by Huffy @ 09/03/2004 10:57 PM EST
I'm tickled by each day's calm, reasoned headline on the Sentinel's front page.
MILLIONS FLEEING
It's like "War of the Worlds"...
Posted by ~ @ 09/03/2004 08:49 PM EST
Good call, L. That's the only way to stay sane.
Posted by rj @ 09/02/2004 10:11 PM EST