(no subject)

Back at my parents'. One of the things I won't miss about being here is the non-stop TV news my father seems to be addicted to. The last few days have been wall-to-wall coverage of the Paris attacks. That coverage has reminded me how much I dislike TV news. From one hour to the next there's very little new information to convey, so they fill up the time by scaring their viewers.

It's a successful business model, but I don't have to like it.

What's also striking is the reminder that TV news is a mid- to late-twentieth century medium, for people whose media habits were formed back then. I mentioned to bedfull_o_books that I'm exposed to more prescription drug adverts in my few days here than I am in the whole of the rest of my life combined.

I'm not sure it's the TV that's given me a sour stomach and a headache, but it probably isn't helping.