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Show WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, THE SUMMER UTAH CHRONICLE 20C0 9 Mi is ?Mtll The TlHLfee sup posed to get into books more than that kid did in SHANE MCCAMMON Chronicle Editor in Chief g "The Story." But the problem is, I really like TV, jind books and TV are mortal enemies. If you like one, it's really hard to reconcile the other, and before you know it, you're the kid stuck in the middle of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's marriage. My problem is, I like Joey and Chandler, Regis and Chuck Woolcry, Jerry and Kramer, Bart and Lisa. I like how there's always something cn TV I don't buy that crop that there's nothing ever on. Hell, sometimes I just stare st that weird colored bar code thingy they broadcast in the middle of the night But the greatest thing about TV is that you don't have to think. You can kiil your imagination for a few hours and give your churning brain a little respite from the burden of being productive and creative and Tired of the pressure of being witty? Tune in and David Spade will for you. Sick of having fire a to feel like you need to be productive 24 hours a day? Watch Martha Stewart's show and let her wrinkly fingers Never-Endin- few weeks ago, I had a starring realization. No, I didn't suddenly realize that those unmarked black heltcop'eriT flying over my apartment buTIcfing are Iook-in- g at me, or that my Adam's apple is abnormally large (that happened a long time ago). What I realized is that books are A good. That's right, books are good. Sure, ever since I got to know Curious George and the Lorax, I've had an inkling that these book things ain't half bad But then something weird happened. I stopped liking books. Well, I still liked books, but mostly for aesthetic puiposes: "Yeah, this Beckett novel thing will look good on my bookshelf." The sad thing is, I'm an English major. I'm supposed to love books to sleep with one at night, to have my nose stuck in one every second of the day, to never let a single particle of dust settle on the broken binding. I'm one-lin- er do the walking, her mouth the talking and her brain the uh, producing. But just as I was getting used to a summer schedule heavy on Car son Daly, Ainsley Harriott and Dan Patrick, the cable went out Not literaUy, but figuratively. You see, I got on a plane and headk ed to Austria for a vacation. I packed along a few books for the plane ride (just in case the movies were boring) and never thought that I'd so much as read the first chapter or two during my time. I stayed with two friends of mine and when we had some downtime, it was only natural to pull up a chair and flip on the telly. After all, they spent the last year in the States and got to know Ross and Monica as closely as I had. The first night I was in Austria, 1 sat on my friend's couch and waited for the final game of soccer's Champions League to start. It was going to be a great game and the commentary was going to be as insighiful as the playing spectacular. The only problem was that I didn't understand the commentary. It sounded sort of like this: "Raul hock vixa evinschlob schmuck craxgrinck glice GOAL!!" It was in German (I think). Whatever it was, it wasn't very exciting not even close to Al Michaels or Bob Costas. If you want two-wee- tlate Shopping Fun Again. Join the Old le are seeking candidates world...I just didn't understand any of it.- felt so cut off, so so so foreign, unequivocally bored. Then I remembered that I had a book A book in ENGLISH! A book I could read and maybe understand. A book that would help me pass the time until I determined it was kosher enough to jump in the shower. It was a book by Graham Greene, and it was a damn fine one. I read it in about a week. Suddenly, I couldn't care less about Mulder or Malcolm or Ray Romano. I only cared what happened to The Eoy and Rose and Cubbitt. Sure, it was I wanted to cry. I escapism, just like television. But instead of staring at radio Seattle studio of the recreated Frasier Crane, Graham Greene allowed me to recreate the underbelly of the English resort town Brighton. I've never been to Brighton and I have absolutely no idea how it really looks. I have never been to Central Perk or Springfield or the Soup Nazi's kitchen either. But from what I've seen, they don't compare at all to my Brighton. v, mind-numbing- v part of mx exciting growth in the family value-price- d for the following opportunities: SALES ASSOCIATES CASHIERS SUPERVISORS VISUAL ASSOCIATES SHIPMENT PROCESSING CREW STOCK ASSOCIATES You'll find competitive salaries with a generous employee discount. We are looking for all shifts, including early morning and late night. 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