Bored? Tired? Sick of it all? Trapped in an Infomercial? Needing a Change of Scene? Call up your Local Corporate Non-News to say WTF!!?

Here's a simple, universal action that can always help and never harm: hold your local press accountable for what they tell you.

Stuff that's in the news: "X starlet stuns in red mini"... "brangelina trademark mocha style jello before cheating...", "i did not lose ten pounds said former porn star addict", "X car will take you far, consumes 10% less gas and comes with a solar fash light and lego windmill set for your kids", "royal inauguration begins...", "police officer stubs his toe on duty", "iran bla bla we want to bomb them", "austerity measures...", "henry kissinger to speak with bush at gala...protesters run over by over eager attendees trying to get in"... barf.

Stuff that's not in the news: "Just down your block is an aging nuclear reactor leaking tritium into the worlds largest freshwater lake that happens to be your drinking source", "Your Country Leader wants to destroy or prevent your healthcare so that they can buy a bunch of useless planes that scare and hurt people", "Tar Sands oil is only going to last about 30 years and rob the world of its only boreal forest, destroy all the lake in the area, and destroy the way of life for First Nations People for Chump Change"... WTF Corporate Press!

Which story gets more coverage? Which seems more relevant?

It can't hurt. Next time you learn about an issue that is near and dear to your heart such as predicted oceans extinction, destruction of the amazon, tar sands, suppression of democracy, nuclear power, and beyond... call any press you like any time - there's always NO reason why they aren't reporting this stuff. If you want to go further, invite your friends, invite your online prospects, invite your bad reruns... let everybody call and ask for what they want to read. Sometimes one phone call pointing out the obvious: "ahem, 3000 people are outside protesting this issue, and I'm not reading it..." really makes a difference.

Oh, and seek out cool media. Each country has its own sources, but look for media that is not based on advertising dollars, and that covers issues that you aren't seeing elsewhere. Two examples, off the top of my head, are The Real News, The Watershed Sentinel, and Democracy Now.