I was just thinking about

... tuning out the news, not letting NPR be my soundtrack, not hanging out with the 'rents much to watch TV. Just sent an email to a pal on exactly this subject. Instead, XM's jazz and trance stations, my CDs, reading about Perse and wondering which critics I Just Have To Address, and which I can skip (answer, there appear to be four in the Have To column). And, I've been sitting, and letting be a little more. You know that thing you do when you think about meditating: you want to do it perfectly, and the desire for that perfection is the very first thing you have kill off? Hi. I'm PRSC and I want to meditate perfectly, and that's my reason for not doing it. Hi, PRSC...

But, then, look:

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): One goal of meditation is to empty the mind of its obsessively generated thoughts, rationalizations, and images. Alas, much of the media functions as a reverse meditation machine. Not only does it stir up your own mental clatter, it also floods you with the
seething surge of other people's private pandemoniums. Furthermore, it delivers this rattling racket with entertaining words and brilliant color and crystalline sound, driving it as deeply into your psyche as your own flotsam. Keep this in mind throughout February, which is Clean Out Your Brain Month. Cut way back on your media intake. Snack lightly rather than gorging continually.

Sweet. Reverse meditation machine. How good is that?!

Also, had a rocking good conversation with one the Murdoch anthology authors on the phone. She's cool, and now I have three new books to read. For fun. It's FUN to talk about literature and philosophy with someone else who thinks those are great toys too. I miss it. I've missed it for a long time. It's probably why I'm editing that book.