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Show & Cmmntasy Page 2 Orem-Geneva Times Wednesday, September 8, 1993 editorial Soft porn spreading like weeds in new TV fare Here we go again. The previews of new fall television viewing can be summed up thus: sillier, more violent, and more vulgar. One can always hope the previews do not accurately portray what the show's are about, but you can be sure they portray what the producers think people want to see. The producers apparently live in a sick, insane and depraved world and the writers they hire apparently have lost their zest for plot, adventure, heros, challenge, chal-lenge, clean comedy, deep drama, inspiring inspir-ing tales and motivating appealing stories. Do we have to take it? One group says NO. The American Family Association is appealing to citizens to petition against such shows as NYPD Blue to be aired on ABC (Channel 4) on September 17. After viewing the pilot, Stu Shlossman, senior vice president of the advertising agency BBDO, said, "If you're a publicly held company, you don't want to get letters from shareholders asking why you are supporting soft-core porn on TV." Liberal TV critic Tom Shales wrote about the "four-letter words and explicit (for television) bedroom scene" in the pilot If this sickens you, too, write to ABC Affiliate KTVX Channel 4, 1760 S. Fremont Dr., Salt Lake City. Adultery is rampant on television. Killing is an every-day occurrence. And there are no words too filthy, or too graphic to be used daily. Nothing is held sacred. And what is sacred or held dear is usually ridiculed. What is the purpose of all this trash? Just to make money? It probably does make money, but so do the movie greats. In fact the greatest money-makers of all time have been pretty good stuff: Gone With the Wind, Sound ofMusic, ET, Swiss Family Robinson, etc. There have been some pretty great made-for-television movies and sitcoms. But more and more often the classy ones are replaced with mundane, junky trash. Even more insidious is the trend toward pornography. Its soft now, but....! If you think it doesnt hurt, or it can just be turned off, talk to the two girls, aged 7 and 12, who were forced to watch X-rated movies before, during and after they were horribly sexually abused by a neighbor. The doctor who later examined them said they will never have a normal sexual relationship. (Data by "Enough is Enough" Campaign of the National Coalition Coali-tion Against Pornography). Even worse, children are killed every day by porn-fed perverts. Ask any officer at the scene of such a killing what was found in the suspect's home. PORNOGRAPHY PORNOG-RAPHY IS ALWAYS PRESENT. One man who killed, said from prison, "I wish Td never seen that first magazine!" And now we have it live in our own homes via the TV screen. To help or for more information, write: National Headquarters, Dr. Jerry Kirk, President, 800 Compton Road, Suite 9224, Cincinnati, OH 45231 California Care Coalition, Mrs. Irma Diaz Sandoval, Executive Director, 221 East Walnut, Suite 242, Pasadena, CA 91101 "Enough is Enough!" Campaign Office, Of-fice, Mrs. Dee Jepsen, National Campaign Cam-paign Director, 10523 Main Street, Suite D, Fairfax, VA 22020 National Law Center for Children and Families, Mr. H. Robert Showers, President, P.O. Box 388, Alexandria, VA 22314 noer 1 irnpanoqbst By Clyde E. rtr&$mf&fflZ For Laborers on Cbor Day The dedicated worker shines, totay, As one who thflkes the wheels of commerce roll In well directed thorowghtares of tame. A hiodieMHt of pride along the wy Directs the workers efforts, on the whole, And Adds 4 lofty luster to their nie. Proficient And productive reputations Are whut the workers earnest labors earn. Their services and products are the nation' s Assurance of a burgeoning return. Salute the lengthy labor of the worker Who denigrates the faults of any shirker! The worth of work we laud and celebrate, Along with those who labor to perform; For those who build to magnify the (and, Can count on Hilllions who appreciate! They know that any fearsome quake or start Will signal those who eoe to lend a hand. As millions labor for the common good, They bring to life the hopes of one and all; And working for a cause, well understood, They guarantee this (and shall never fail! The workers earn a fitting accolade For worthy contributions they have made! A century ago, the Knights of Labor Proclaimed September's Monday as the first; And Labor Cay received Its proper name. The holiday was spread to every neighbor, Till tabor Cay was really well rehearsed, And every working person won aeeUtim! In Eighteen Eighty-Seven, Oregon Became the first to legalise the day. The others followed, not to be outdone, And now, (t is a federal holiday. So, thank the many citizens who work: The butcher, baker, steetworker and clerk! And don't forget the builder of your house; The postal worker, teacher at your school. The mason, welder, carpenter, the cop; The printer, waitress, sewer of your blouse. The bus driver, the lifeguard at the pool; The chef, the nurse, the reaper of your crop. Computer worker, software sales and wrapper; Musician And mortician, actor, too; The miller, medic, milliner, And mapper, Mechanic And the keeper In the oo: They all deserve our heartiest applause! On Labor Day, this holiday, we pause To offer them these vigorous salutes. And honor their exemplary pursuits! Orem-Qeneva limes USPS 411-700 Published each Wednesday for $10.00 per year by the Orem-Geneva Orem-Geneva Times, 546 South State Street, Orem, Utah 84058. Second Class postage paid at Orem, Utah 84057 . POSTMASTER! Send address changes to the Orem-GenevaTimes, P.O. Box 65, Orem, Utah 84059 Letters to the Editor Missing a quilt from Shell? Dear Editor, While we were visiting in Orem from out of state, our eighteen-year-old retarded son attended a showing of West Side Story at the Shell. When he returned from he was carrying a comforter that he insists (through simplified sign language) was given to him. We questioned him thoroughly and returned to the scene, but we have been unable to locate the owners, and they have not claimed it from lost and found. 1 We assume that some people probably loaned it to him to sit on and that he disappeared with it immediately after the show, havingmisunderstood their intent. We would appreciate it if the owners would call his grandfather at 225-6940, either to claim the comforter or to verify that it was given to him. Sincerely, Mrs. W. E. Smith A message from State Fire Marshal "Get out, stay out: your fire safe response" NFPA announces theme for National Fire Prevention Week October 3-9, 1993 Having a working smoke detector to warn you of a fire is only part of the battle against fire deaths, say the experts at the National Na-tional Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a nonprofit membership organization headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. "People need to understand how quickly fire in their homes can spread, and to stay out once they are safely safe-ly out of the building," says NFPA's Meri-K Appy, assistant vice president for Public Affairs and Education. Because people too often are not well prepared to evacuate a fast-growing fire, NFPA decided to make Escape the focus of this year's Fire Prevention Week, October Oc-tober 3-9, 1993. The theme for the national commemoration is "Get Out, Stay Out: Your Fire Safe Response." You may only have a very few minutes to safely escape a fire, and NFPA teaches people to resist any temptation to reenter re-enter a burning building. "Firefighters are equipped and trained to go into a fire, we are not, Ms. Appy adds. "Sadly, people who make the tragic mistake mis-take of re-entering a burning building may suffer injury or death as a result." Fire Prevention Week is observed ob-served each year in North American and several European countries in remembrance of the Great Chicago fire of 1871, in which 250 people died. Held every October, it is the full week - Sunday through Saturday which includes October 9, the anniversary an-niversary of the Fire. "Every household should develop a home fire escape plan and practice it with all occupants at least twice a year," Ms. Appy says. "Further, we all need to get in the habit of identifying escape routes wherever we are, so we can get out quickly in the event of a fire or other emergency." The Association As-sociation recommends that fire drills be conducted regularly in the work place and at schools, day-care centers, nursing homes, and all places where people gather for extended periods. A good escape plan includes knowing know-ing two ways out of every room and a meeting place outside. Approaching its 100th anniversary, an-niversary, the National Fire Protection Association has led the way to fire safety since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit non-profit organization is protecting people, their property, and the environment from the effects of fire and related hazards through education, codes and standards, research, and technical advisory services. The Association publishes pub-lishes the National Fire Codes, 280 fire codes and standards adopted and enforced throughout the world, and also publishes fire safety educational materials including in-cluding the Learn Not to Burn Curriculum. Sparky the Fire Dog is the Association's mascot. NFPA headquarters is in Quincy, Massachusetts, USA. Mom's Farm By Harold McCown The Folks came visiting a few weeks ago. Well, the Folks and a couple of my sister's rug rats. While they were here we decided to go out and visit Mom's old farm. Now, this farm was homes-teaded homes-teaded just east of Vernon by her father. They grew wheat (when the wild horses and deer would leave it alone), and they also had a few fruit trees. Mom said Grandpa didn't mind so much the horses eating some of the wheat - if they just wouldn't roll in it! Well, we headed on out there, past Fairfield and Camp Floyd. -)n out across the desert; and after some tries, finally drove out on it. Didn't take much. Just fighting weeds and sand on the dirt roads. However, those in the back seat didn't much like how I went across the railroad tracks! Thought they were on an "E" ride at Disneyland. We looked at the land. It isn't much. Seems to be only good for raising rattlesnakes, rodents, and sagebrush. Oh, and deer! The rug rats went wild seeing the ',' deer. . , I looked around and saw what seemed to be a worthless piece of Public hearings set on lighting districts Public hearings will be held September 14 at 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. to consider renewal of lighting light-ing districts 37 and 36 respectively-Lighting District 37, was originally created on Jan. 4, 1973 as Lighting District Number 8. Under current ordinance, Lighting Light-ing Districts must be renewed every 10 years. The new Lighting District involves in-volves maintenance of 21 light poles and 21 9,500 lumen sodium vapor light fixtures and electrical power to operate the light fixtures. fix-tures. If approved during the hearing the svstem will be operated on an all night schedule from Nov. 1, 1993 to oct. 31, 2003. The total annual cost of the improvements is estimated to be $2,820.20. Each property owner in the district shall pay an abutter's portion of approximately approximate-ly $.372 per year per linear foot of property frontage abutting on a public street where the improvements improve-ments are made. Individual property owners in the district have been notified. The district lies approximately within the area of 400 South to 800 South and between 400 East and 700 East. District 36, formerly District 7, involves 26 light poles and lumen sodium vapor lights. The District lies approximately from 1950 South to 1800 South and between 268 East and 549 East. Annual cost to maintain Lighting District 36 is estimated to be $3,447.21. Each property will be assess $0,232 per year per linear foot of frontage property abutting a public street within the district. Helping your child Succeed in school by Lily Eskelsen, president Utah Education Association This year was my 20th high school reunion, and it hit me how things have changed since I graduated in 1973. It makes me feel like a dinosaur just think about it. And thinking of all the new distractions today's kids face. I'd never played a video game. I'd never seen a VCR. I don't remember having cable television. A CD was something you bought at a bank, not a music store. (Cassette tapes were just coming out, but none of us thought they'd ever be as good as 8-tracks.) There were no camcorders, camcor-ders, and movies my mother wouldn't let me buy a ticket to are now in my living room, available to my 12-year to watch on TV after school. Our children will be able to boast to their children of 24-hour entertainment possibilities. Of indoor amusement parks and 14 movie choices at malls with 200 stores. Of arena-sized roms full of realistic video games where glassy-eyed pre-teens could spend the equivalent of a full-tuition scholarship one quarter at a time. Of MTV and Lucy reruns and Sesame Street on demand. And they will, therefore, say with more conviction the same thing that I said about school and you said about school and our parents said about school. "This is boring." They will demand to be motivated before they begin. They will cross their arms and stare at us blankly when we speak of self-discipline. They will say, in all seriousness, "But this isn't fun. Work is boring." And when they go home, they will see little reason to study. They will tell you that they've been bored all day, and now it's time to stuff as many non-stop, action-packed artificial thrills in as possible before bedtime. Teachers know that they could tap dance on the desk while whistling the Hoke-Pokey and still not beat out their mesmerizing mesmeriz-ing competition. Parents know they could shave their heads bald and sing rap songs in their underwear under-wear and kids still wouldn't pay attention to what they're saying. So, well hang tough together. Well each do our part. Teachers will teach. Well do our best to interest and motivate And well set expectations that students are there to learn, not to be entertained. enter-tained. And when they come home and don't want to study because it's boring, youll do your part. You'll look compassionately into their little, anguished faces and say, "So?" real estate. Mom saw it different- ly. She saw the cabins her family had built. The wheat waving at the sky. The rug rats asked her if the wind always blew. She nodded and told them that, as a child, when she was finished with the dishes, she held the dish cloth out and the wind dried it ' She told about the time one of her cousins decided to cross a wash to check out a "funny squirrel". squir-rel". It was a rattlesnake. His father came a-running, picking up a stone as he flew, threw it, and killed the snake before it could harm his son. I didn't know whether to believe her or not until I. remembered he had been a noted pitcher in the baseball leagues during his youth (and into his married life). He was also a championship sprinter. The land isn't like it was way back then. Its wheat fields are long gone as the acreage reverts to native sage brush native. The cabins and trees are gone too. Jqst a few tracks in the sagebrush where others traveled. And the wind steadily blowing. Blowing memories back into Mom's mind... .No, this land isn't worthless. . It's rich memories have secured a place in our family for years to come. Utah Valley State College names presidential ambassadors Nine students at Utah Valley State College (UVSC) have been selected to serve, as Presidential Ambassadors for the 1993-94 school year. New ambassadors are Deena Houston of Orem, Meilissa Layton of Orem, Wendi Lee Er-canbrack Er-canbrack of Pleasant Grove, Maggie Mag-gie Atwood of Pleasant Grove, Nancy Howlett of Elberta, Greg Larsen of Orem, Christian Moore of Provo, Craig Miner of Orem and Wade Griffiths of Orem. Ambassadors are selected to serve UVSC President Kerry D. Romesburg in the greeting ad hosting of campus guests. Other responsibilities include giving campus tours to prospective students stu-dents and visitors, representing UVSC at high school and college fairs, and assisting the office of college relations. "These are some of the sharpest shar-pest students we have on campus," cam-pus," said Bob Rasmussen, UVSC college relations. "Serving a presidential ambassador am-bassador teaches students to communicate well and to present themselves in a professional manner," Rasmussen said. They learn f i "teract with faculty, stu-; dents and dignitaries," he said. , Nancy Howlett, a junior at UVSC studying computer science, is returning to serve a second term as presidential ambassador. am-bassador. "I really enjoy it," she said. "Being an ambassador has , helped me develop public speak-ingabilities,"Howlettsaid. speak-ingabilities,"Howlettsaid. "Ialso get to interact with faculty and people in the community." TIPS We want the scoop on what's happening in Orem. Call in news tips. Orem-Geneva Times 225-1340 i V |