Woman Disputes Internet Toll Connections 
Franklin Twp. Resident Says Her Computer Accessed America Online With A Local
Number But Her Bill Says A Danville One Was Dialed.

Alexander Doohaluk

TARA LASKOWSKI tlaskowski@leader.net
 Thursday, January 31, 2002 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 20A 





One week without TV. That's seven days without "Jeopardy," "Regis and
Kelly," "Judge Judy," "Friends" or "David Letterman." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's 168 hours devoid of laugh tracks, commercial breaks and news
flashes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Can your family do it? My family cannot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I've already brought it up. My father laughed. He'd go crazy. He is the
person who needs to have a television on in every room of the house, tuned to
the same channel, so, as he moves from place to place, he won't miss anything. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We are a family that is somewhat addicted to television. We never miss an
episode of "Survivor." For Christmas this year, I received every episode of
"Twin Peaks" and was extremely excited about it. Marathons of "The Twilight
Zone" or the "Honeymooners" are a reason to stay in for the weekend. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When I was younger - my dad tells me - he used to have three small
televisions stacked on top of each other so that he could watch three
different sporting events at the same time. He may have kissed the ground in
gratitude when they invented picture in picture television. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The other night, my mother and I were sitting with a neighbor at the
kitchen table. Flipping through the channels, my mother complained loudly that
there was nothing on. Yet, the television remained on, some random channel
blaring in the background. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Why don't you shut it off?" I asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Then it's too quiet," she answered. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Then I realized how dependent we had become on television. There it sits,
someone recently said, like a noisy lamp, in the background. Always on. We get
calls in the daily Times Leader SAYSO column about annoying commercials, TV
weathermen, bad language. No one ever thinks to turn off the television for
awhile, or turn down the volume. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Two summers ago I lived in an apartment in Selinsgrove for three months
without a television. My roommate and I decided it would be too much of a
hassle - and too expensive - to order cable for only a few months, and so we
lived without it. At first I thought it would be difficult, but it was
actually quite a relief. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Instead of coming home from work and plopping down in front of the tube, we
found other, more interesting ways to amuse ourselves. We took trips to
Wal-Mart in the middle of the night and found crafts to make. We put together
puzzles, took walks, visited friends. (Of course, I will admit we still walked
the block and a half to our friend's house to watch "Survivor" every week -
but even that was more for the social aspect than to pump the TV fever in our
veins.) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I try not to watch too much television. I'll admit I like the cheesy game
shows and the court shows, but I would rather read, listen to music, or play
pool with my dad than watch a sitcom merely because it is on. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although I have a few shows I watch each week, television does not consume
me and I'm glad that it doesn't. The bigger challenge for me these days seems
to be giving up my computer for one week. Now that might be a problem. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As far as our challenge to find a family willing to go one week without TV
- I'll admit, I can see how it may be a challenge. I may have done it for a
summer, but I was also comforted by the fact that most shows were reruns. One
week means no movies, no news, no video games. It may mean missing an episode
of "Will and Grace" or "Law and Order," but it will bring surprising results. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Try eating a longer dinner, with more courses. Or playing a board game.
Listen to a musical on a compact disc, or read that book you've been meaning
to finish for years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Take us up on the challenge - I think you may be surprised. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And even if you don't learn anything, look on the bright side" Whatever
shows you miss will eventually be aired again in syndication or reruns. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 *** &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tara Laskowski is a member of the Times Leader Neighborhood News team. You
can e-mail her at tlaskowski@leader.net or call her at 831-7371. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 *** &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To enter the Times Leader-Mountaintop's Week Without TV contest, call
editor Renita Fennick at 829-7246 or fill out the entry form on Page 12 of
this ediition. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

1 Week Without Tv