There's an economic theory called the Prisoner's Dilemma. A Catch 22 of sorts. And it goes that two partners in crime are being interrogated separately, and have the choice to confess or not. If they both choose not to confess they each receive a small sentence. If one confesses while the other doesn't, the prisoner who confesses receives the smallest sentence possible, while the one who doesn’t confess receives the longest/worst sentence possible. Finally, if they both confess they receive sentences worse than those if they had colluded and both held out.

The most common occurs when both prisoners confess. Why? It would make sense for both to hold out. The problem is, that knowing the other party is not going to confess, gives you an incentive to confess.

This problem of reaching a sub-optimal result occurs constantly in our society. It's called compromising. If everyone where to be true to their ideals we would know doubt live in a better world. But the incentive for one person to compromise their ideals becomes so great, that most fall back into the trap.

Car enthusiasts aside, most people actually don't derive any benefit from owning an expensive car other the hubris they receive. So it would make sense for everyone to spend a minimal amount of money on their car; no one has a better car than anyone else; and no one feels bad about their poorer circumstances. Unfortunately, there would be huge incentive for one ego driven person to purchase an expensive car, thereby giving them extreme status within the society. This in turn drives others to match or better that car; and the downward spiral begins.

Take satisfaction in sticking to your guns. Don't compromise, even if it means you lose a little here and there. Take pride in not bragging. Take pride in not giving a damn what others think. Be an idealist. Every vote counts, even if your cause doesn't win.

Here are a few tracks - reasonably obscure - who may not have won. So this is my vote. Put yours in the comments; and feel free to tell us how your own End TV goal is going. Cheers guys. Free the Mind.

Love of Diagrams

Download: Love of Diagrams - No Way Out.mp3

Convoj

Donload: Convoj - My Time Keeping Heart.mp3

The Ark

Download: The Ark- Tell Me This Night Is Over.mp3

Here's an avenue; work. The past three days have been psychotically busy; TV has been non-existent in my world. It could be said that TV is the domain of the bored, but we already know that. So get busy, sleep only 5 hours a day, and forget that you own an idiot box.

Came across a Strokes cover the other day, and thought it might be nice to share. Strokes remixes and covers are somewhat scarce aren't they?

For those of our readers geared towards the End TV angle, The Strokes are as fine as they come. A lack lustre third album indeed, but lets not forget the masterpieces that were Is This It and Room on Fire. The covered track comes from the latter, taken independently and out of context - as albums always should be - I feel the better album. The track is "Reptillia". I've posted both the original and the cover by FourPlay String Quartet. They're out of Sydney, Australia, and the cover features on their album released earlier this year, entitled, Now To The Future. Most will agree The Strokes version by far takes the cake, if not only for Casablancas' vocals (or just having vocals for that matter). But I think this an interesting exercise nonetheless; and as intended I've posted the cover first.

Download: Reptilia (The Strokes Cover).mp3 - FourPlay String Quartet
Download: Reptilia.mp3 - The Strokes

Something to note given the reference to an Australian band: There are calls by federal politicians in Australia for the Australian version of Big Brother to be taken off the air; in part due to allegations of sexual misconduct on the show. While shows like Big Brother hold the particular scorn of End TV, we feel the problem is not that Big Brother is screened, but rather that people watch it.

Free the Mind folks - It's a beautiful day outside.

At the risk of turning End TV into a music blog I'm going to post the new, yet to be released Rapture single "Get Myself Into It" below; to be featured on their forthcoming second album Pieces of the People We Love. Is it a step back from the heights of House of Jealous Lovers and Out of the Races? It's just a tad too nice and safe. Is that the antithesis of this blog? If enough people think so I'll take it down. At the very least it may encourage some to check out The Rapture's 2003 debut, Echoes - a sublime distraction. Here's hoping for a great new Rapture album - release date: September 4.

Well there's a rather large spider on my wall - I think it's looking at me - and it's making me uncomfortable. So I go now. Free the Mind - End TV.

Download: Get Myself Into It.mp3 - The Rapture

An Afterthought: Hate to say it, but there's something very Hard-Fi - "Cash Machine" going on here...

Once we have a new avenue - once we have experienced that first change - things start to become easier. The key now is to use your new project to abstain from TV for a period of time. It doesn't need to be long - but it does need to be at a time when in the past you would have sat down and watched. This takes a decent amount of self-control. Just keep thinking of the benefits of not watching TV - and essentially force yourself to go do something else (namely your new activity). You might be about to reach for the control. Stop yourself.

Now some of you might be thinking, "I like TV; I want to watch TV." And this raises a critical issue. The qualm in fact is not with watching a specific television show, but rather (a) watching too much; and the more critical issue of (b) channel surfing. Channel surfing television watching is the true mind sapper and time waster. There is no regular storyline that you are tuning in to see - there is no specific show amounting to an artistic endeavour - it is merely a mechanism to stop thinking. When you channel surf, your mind is idle and unstimulated; and there lies the key problem. This is the focus of the End TV movement. In the previous paragraph we discussed abstained from TV. We can add to this, by emphasizing the importance of above all, refraining from channel surfing TV. At the beginning, to make this easier, it is better to refrain from all television (even shows you specifically want to watch). This however, is a point of choice. And it should be noted that End TV does not overly frown on watching specific shows, like a series that you are following. Rather End TV's objection is with the two points mentioned above.

So, hopefully you now have some more time on your hands. Please feel free to comment below on how your new hobby/project/job/venture is going.

I'll leave you with another indie number. This is a remix by the Portuguese DJ Allen, of indie band Bloc Party's track Helicopter. The original track came from Bloc Party's 2005 debut album Silent Alarm – well worth the listen.

Download: Helicopter (Santa Monica Remix).mp3 - Bloc Party

Start with what we know...

Before we begin, I think it best to look more closely at our goal - the movement that is End TV. Interestingly, we can equate the aim of abstaining from watching television, with that of the aim to find self fulfillment. How can we work TV out of our lifestyles? By focusing on our own personal development; by making clear unassisted decisions, defining actions and ventures we want to undertake; and finally by undertaking these ventures without concern as to how others will perceive you.

Where to start? Given the rather large mountain we have to climb, I think it best to start with what we know. So what do you know best? Where do your skills lie? What do you know more about than most? Work on this area; increase your knowledge/ability in this area; become closer to that of an expert, a connoisseur. This will obviously be easier than jumping right into something new; we are wading into the shallow end here. You will however feel a sense of achievement, one of personal development. But, also try something completely new - even if it be to just dip your toe into the water. I'll kick things off, and kill two birds with one stone (other than creating this blog that is):

I know music. In particular, I know indie music. So today, I'll recommend a track for which the End TV readers can listen. You can download it from the link below, from Limewire, Bittorret, or buy the track or album - whatever floats your boat. I've always had positive responses from people I've given this track to; some of whom have found it to be a gateway into the world of indie music. The band is The New Pornographers; the track is The Laws Have Changed, from their 2003 album Electric Version. In recent times they've become somewhat of a stalwart of the indie music scene - particularly their chief songwriter Carl Newman. Check it out. For those who aren't familiar with indie music, I hope it's something fresh, and something to inspire.

Download: The New Pornographers - The Laws Have Changed.mp3

Finally, I'll ask any interested soul to add a comment about something they know. Whether it be related to music (as above), a book, food, an idea, a sport; anything to substitute for the act of watching TV. All is welcome. Nothing can be too obscure, or common, small or great.