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Show Ramblin' On The lead show of Conneca fascinating tions, series shown recently on PBS, dealt with something which we are all e of now - a blackout. Using the infamous power outage New York City as an that blackened rator James Burke d i just how Thats educational televison. I dont want to watch that. It's so boring, is a common response to anything being shown on PBS. The problem is, that opinion is basically wrong. Take Poldark, one of the more popular series among the limited PBS following, for example. Heres a brief synopsis of what took place in that program during its multiweek run. Does this sound boring? Poldark (the hero) was an 18th century mine owner in a rather impoverished part of Cornwall, England. He returned to his homeland after it was presumed that he had been killed fighting against the American Revolutions, only to find that his fiance had married another man. Not even a Dear John letter. Shaken terribly by this discovery, Poldark nonetheless finds himself mix Instead, Id like to focus on the medium that made Connections available to millions of American viewers. Thats not to say that anywhere close to millions watched it. Hardly so. And to my way of thinking thats a tragedy, because the reason the show was ignored by so many people is absurd. Connections was on PBS. Thats the major strike against it. When most people look through TV Guide and see that a show is on Channel 7, dependent modern civili- zation is on electricity. And how, once that dependency is threatened by a breakdown, society tends to deteriorate. City, looters and went wild. Fortunately for us, Salt Lake City is not New York City. About the only ex- - West Valley theyll reject it out of hand. But this isn't a column about the blackout. Like everyone else Im bored with it and all the garbage that caused it. example, author and nar- Thursday, Jan. 15, 1981 by Mike Gorrell amjie of unleashed aggression I witnessed Thursday was at lightless intersections where drivers adopted an attitude of stay put, buddy, until Im through, then you can go. Order did not reign supreme. well-awar- WEST VAUEY VIEW j ed up in shipwrecks, murder, food riots, drunken brawls, a daring attempt to rescue an English doctor from a French prisoner-of-wa- r camp during the French Revolution and a dual to the death. Boring? Not to mention a running feud with George Warleggan, one of the most loathsome characters ever to grace a television series. Including J. R. Ewing. Of course, Poldark also had its love sequences. But a comparison of its treatment of adultery with that of a commercial television show is like a comparison of the Hotel Utah to one of those little fleabag hotels west of the Salt Palace. Or take I, Claudius. Anyone who saw that brilliant program will say right away that it was anything but boring. How can anything that a state legislator tries to ban from the airwaves be boring? Why then, dont people watch these shows? Several are quite funny, most have writing far superior to anything shown in prime time, and the acting is far better than the classless T&A groups. passes and know what has caused them to change. Theyre far more real, and as a result more easy to relate to and have compassion for, than the persons in strictly prime time. Nobodys all good, or all bad. one-side- d First of all, believe, is that built-i- n resistance stemming back to the days when public televison actually was that old, boring, straight-lace- d educational television. A second factor is that Americans really are that dumb and actually do enjoy watching all that garbage on TV. Hate to admit it, but Im afraid its so. Thirdly, most viewers havent tried to develop the patience needed to watch and appreciate the quality of those programs, most of which are shown once a week. For those viewers who do, patience reaps rewards. Its just like reading a good book. Because in these shows, characters develop. You can see them change as time I Its that quality of personality that enabled Upstairs, Downstairs, probably the most successful PBS offering ever, to sweep the Emmy Award for best dramatic show several years running. The show had class. Its characters became part of your family. Like host Alistair Cooke, who has become a close friend of every Masterpiece Theater fan Ive ever talked to, I fell in love with Miss Georgina. Couldnt help but. There are many more shows on PBS that, like Upstairs, Downstairs, could be put into a category of shouldnt be missed. - Court Case Load Booms WEST VALLEY. The Statistics for November City Justice of the are in brackets: Peace Court handled 33 - Assault and Battery: percent more cases in 21(13); - Possession of NarDecember than in the previous month, the cotics: 20 (11); - Theft and Petit courts monthly report shows. Larceny: 80 (37); -- Intoxication: 24 (17); The courts total case - Bad Check Offenses: load for December was 93(91); 2,465, topping Novembers total of 1,825 by - Speeding : 456 ( 390 ) ; License Violations: Fines amounting to 131(97); - Parking Tickets: 288 $34,585 were imposed. -- -- - one-thir- d. Collections totaled $30,564 for the city $4,019 for the state. (105); and - Other Violations: Non-movin- g 559 (492). Records show the Those figures compare number of animal ofed during November, fenses declined from 52 with the city collecting in November to 40 last and the state month. $17,395 The number of small The December $4,573. figures are all highs for claims and other civil the city court since its cases filed in the court climbed by 25 percent, establishment in July. Broken down into in- from 15 in November to dividual categories, new 20 in December. Of the 17 small claims highs were set in nearly every area considered handled, seven were setin court records. tled or dismissed and The number of cases four were disposed of by involving traffic of- a default judgment. fenses jumped from The case load handled 1,441 to 2,023, with new by the court has increased each month since the highs in each category. Court clerks had an- citys incorporation on ticipated the sharp in- July 1. Total monthly case crease because December was the first month loads since that time in which the impact of are: July, (507); Authe creation of a traffic gust, (959); September, enforcement unit within (1,343); October, the City Police Depart(1,805); November, ment became evident. (1,825); December, The City Commission (2,465). in October approved the addition of 11 officers to form a traffic division. Uaxuutg Emphasis was placed on controlling drinking THE LEGISLATURE drivers and speeding If UHAlOt till MRTON motorists in school Dilfricf It zones. Cases involving drivThis legislative session ing under the influence (DUI) increased from is proclaimed by sev59 in November to 92 the eral of the long time following month, court legislators to present records show. Judge L. more challenges than Bruce Larsen handed any of the . down 11 DUI convictions other ses- - ' and dismissed two cases sions of during the month; while 51 other offenders pleadyears. Most of ed guilty. Increased case loads the bills also were recorded in before us of the following areas. to $20,603 in fines impos- recent are normal nature YWCA Is some co- Three Green Sheet area locad tions are hosting classes that are getting under way this week. Effective Parenting is starting this week at the Kearns Family Life Center, 4115 W. 5295 South. Taught be Etta Timmerman, the class runs through March 10. Sessions are scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. an The Fit You, aerobic dancing and exercise class emphasizing total body fitness with Rebby Diehl as instructor, meets on YWCA-sponsore- and Tuesdays Thursdays at the Kearns Library, 5350 So. 4220 West, and at Granger high, 3690 So. 3600 West. Sessions of the course, which concludes March 17, will be held at the library from 10 to 11 a.m. and at the school from8to9:30p.m. Further information is available by calling the YWCA at 355-280- 4. HUGE SELECTIONS: HELP YOVRSELF TO SA VINOS are several bills being presented, most not affecting the individual citizens much, but 10C, Col. 5) -- HIRE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES: SEUSTA- - firodl savings WALLA BERKLINE SERTA MATTRESSES WAY recliner in velvet cover. Reg. $454.95 L- CONTEMPORARY MODERN Berkline recliner in glove-sof- t . 31 - vinyl. Req. $349.95 HEATERVIBRATOR RECLINER fabric. Has d soothing heater and vibrator. M Reg.S234.95 $ f MODERN RECLINER upholstered in brown vinyl. Has three positions. Reg. $124.95 RICH TRADITIONAL Berkline in apricot velvet. Reg. y $424 95. EARLY AMERICAN Berkline in nubby-texture- d nylon. Reg. 454.95. y $O VI OHY lounges, rocks, and reclines. It's upholstered in V I jr Jr vinyl. Reg. $254.95. AQ FOLDING TWIN 5 FULL SIZE UMBRELLAS QUEEN OR KING SIZES LADIES' AND MEN'S STYLES EACH PIECE BEDROOM MARK DOWNS LIVING ROOM MARK DOWNS 368 LOVESEAT IN ITALIAN styling and deep d seat, bock, and arms. Beige velvet cover. Reg. $499.95 MODERN SOFA AND loveseat in chevron n striped velvet with styling. Reg. that's $A M $1239.95 mirror A L or twin sues. Reg. 1139.95 set with twin mirrors, AMERICAN TRADITIONAL queen sik bed twin mght stands, ond chest d drawers Reg $1 649 95 A OOO FRENCH ribbon-boc- k DECORATED lamp with krven- - $1 O I A headboard, ond AMERICAN TRADITIONAL masterpiece with huge queen bed, and two night stands. Reg. 11699 95 SALT LAKE 1030 lost 21ft South 486-333- 3 PROVO Qf bote and shode bedroom with TRADITIONAL tnpie dresser, mirror, ond Reg. 1549 95 ITALIAN PROVINCIAL tnpie dresser, mirror, fullqueen chest, and night stand. Reg. 1924 95 $1495 ' 20 PETITE TABLE ond walnut traditional minor, queen-siz- e headboard, A95 Aw china vote finish vmyl WHITE AMERICAN j OQ CHINA VASE type lompt i assorted shapes ond sizes Several to choose from Your Choice PROVINCIAL tnpie dresser, landscape bed, and night stand. Reg 1709 95 mirror, drawer door dresser, night stond. Reg. 11839.95 $JLQ WO $74.95 Reg. finish. Full cover. Reg. $499.95 LOVESEAT in troditiono! design and antique velvet cover. Reg. plastic tops. BOOKCASE HEADBOARD m distressed TRADITIONAL SOFA in green tapestry cover with loose pillow styling. Reg. $799.95 FRENCH PROVINCIAL sofa with wood trim and brocode diamond-tufte- d cover. Slightly used. LOVESEAT n in early American styling with plaid 1 has lominated $399 95 SOFA AND LOVESEAT in geometric design fabric is great for the modem home. Reg. $1 199.95 CONTEMPORARY lomp with (men unbrello shade Reg $104 95 GLASS AND BRASS base Iomp with eggshell (men- like shode Reg 94 95 GRECIAN URN style bosed lamp with opoque$0 shode Reg. 49 95 BRIDGE LAMP with brats finish ond smooth, 1 3 OFF EARLY OHY A open stock bedroom great for boys Features pme fin- ish with brandings for tnm. Most pieces AMERICAN dresser and diamond-tufte- MODERN SOFA AND loveseat in beige velvet with dual welt trim and exposed oak wood. Reg. while little controversy in others. The real challenge will come in determining the state budget. The tax revenue of the state, as most of us are aware, is not keeping up with the growth we have seen in past years. Even though Utah cannot anticipate the large increases in revenues as has been experienced in past years, the increase in expenditures are going to be sought after by the many pressure groups. If the increases are appropriated, additional taxes are going to have to be adopted or cuts made in existing departments. The tough job of the Legislature is going to be to balance the factions involved. The largest single increases sought are the salary raises.. ..that of the state employe, the judges, school teachers and university personnel. There hundred Fine-quali- ty $1109.95 ntroversy in some, Offering Courses KEARNS. ; When The Inventory Is Too High And Must Be Reduced In A Hurry, There Is Just One Way To Do It, And That Is To Slash Prices Of Merchandise Drastically. We Have Done That On Our Huge Floor And Warehouse Stocks Of Furniture, Carpets, And Draperies. Millions r Of Dollars In Inventory Is Involved In This Great Reduction Sale! 1 1 34 North Sth Watt 373-333- VISA 0 furniture company THE "HOME" FOLKS SOLID VALUES FOR YOUR HOME heodboord, hutch mvror, 294 s99 1199 489 I |