Well, the thing is, since I've been living outside the US, I've had to defend so many times America, that I need to keep up with the things that happen.  And here in Germany, I know some people that are very much inot current affairs, which for me is fun, so I try to be informed in case anyone comes and says something that is not really what happens...  that, and I only have CNN and BBC in English!!! LOL!