nd listen to programs like the McNeal/Leher News Hour. Otherwise, I almost always listen to the radio while studying. I find that I am able to concentrate more if I have some sort of music on while reading, especially if I need to absorb difficult material. However, I have to be careful about the type of music I listen to while studying: soft rock or classical seem to be the best to allow me to retain information, if the music is to vocal or "busy" I concentrate more on the music than on my reading or studying. When this happens, or when I am in a particular need for relaxing music, I turn to CD's or cassettes.
Besides listening to radio for entertainment and information, I find that I use the local newspaper and national newsmagazines to supplement and detail the information I need about the world at large. For instance, I spend about a half hour per day reading the newspaper, and about 3 hours per week reading magazines such as Time or Newsweek. In this amount of time I do not pretend to read either the newspaper or magazines in a thorough manner, rather I scan the pages for relevant or interesting material that appeals to me, or will contribute in some way to my collegiant work. This is especially true in Time or Newsweek I often skip whole sections in order to devote more time to a specific article or set of articles.
I watch television only sporadically, and only if the program interests me. I have certain favorites that I watch each week, Alien Nation and L.A. Law, for example. However, most of my television watching is with the nightly news if I am home at the right time, with PBS specials, and with the weekly program 60 Minutes. I have friends who study in front of the television, however, I find it far too distracting especially the commercials.
For entertainment, I enjoy seeing the newest films. I try to see at least one film per week if my schedule permits, in this test week I was able to view two. Mo...