The Sentinel from Carlisle, Pennsylvania • 57

Sunday, August 3, 2008 Cumberland The Sentinel -Page F13 TV ratings Where are all the Olympic enthusiasts? Ml 1 rkr- I i 1 JjfJml t' The top broadcast network shows for the week ended July 27, based on total viewers 1. NBC's "America's Got Talent" 13.24 million 2. ABC's "Wipeout" 9.98 million 3. CBS's "Two and a Half Men" 9.76 million 4. CBS's "60 Minutes" 9.52 million 5.

Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance Wednesday" 8.60 million 6. CBS's "NC1S" 8.52 million 7. CBS's "Criminal Minds" 8.44 million 8. Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance Thursday" 8.38 million 9. CBS's "CSI: Miami" 8.13 million 1 0.

Fox's "House" 7.9 million The top cable network shows for the week ended July 27, based on total viewers 1 TNT's "The Closer" 7.06 million 2. ESPN's "NASCAR Sprint Cup" 6.67 million 3. Disney Channel's "Best of Hannah and Miley" 5.86 million 4. USA's "Monk" 5.06 million 5. USA's "WWE Raw" 4.96 million 6.

USA's "Bum Notice" 4.76 million 7. TNT's "Saving Grace" 4.57 million 8. Food Network's "The Next Food Network Star" 4.51 million 9. USA's "WWE Raw" 4.49 million 10. USA's "Psych" 4.48 million Source: Nielsen Media Research USA Today best-sellers 1.

"Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown) (F-P) 2. "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer (Little Brown for Young Readers) (F-H) 3. "The Shack" by William P. Young (Windblown Media) (F-P) 4. "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown) (F-H) 5.

"The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow (Hyperion) (NF-H) 6. "Playing for Pizza" by John Grisham (Dell) (F-P) 7. "The Dangerous Days Of Daniel by James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge (Little, Brown) (F-H) 8. "Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox" by Eoin Colfer (Hyperion Books for Children) (F-H) GregBakerAP Performers wait to go on stage during a cultural and sports show to celebrate the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square Friday. On TV Are you ready for some handball? The Beijing Olympics start Friday and I am pumped.

I'm one of those people who will watch just about anything related to the Summer Games. In 2004, 1 found myself actually caring who won a Whitewater kayaking competition, not so much because there was an American competing (there wasn't) or because I'm outdoorsily inclined (I'm not). Really, it was because it was the only Olympic sport on at midday, and I needed something to watch on my lunch hour. I remember watching the 1980 Olympics on a small black and white TV with my parents, screaming with delight at Mary Lou Retton's gold medal in the '84 Games, and seeing every minute of every game played by the original Dream Team in 1992. I guess it never occurred to me that the rest of the world didn't share my fascination with all things Olympic.

I realized this the other day when my husband declared that no one seemed to be excited about this year's Games. Excuse me, I begged to differ. I most certainly do care about everything from Michael Phelps' new bathing suit to Paul Hamm's aching hand to that Jamaican guy's chances at the 100-200 dash double. (I care, but I don't remember his name.) A straw poll at the dinner table determined that I was indeed the only person who cared, though in my defense one of the four participants is only 3 years old and doesn't understand what the Olympics is. He just likes to agree with his dad.

So I decided to see if that was indeed the case. Was I the only one who cared about the Olympics? Not if you believe Scarborough Research. Its sports marketing division put out a study earlier this week that upholds my contention that there are many, many others who share my Olympic-sized Olympic passion. The study found that 57 percent of U.S. adults are Summer Olympics fans, just under the proportion of NFL fans (60 percent) and Winter Olympics fans (58 percent).

The Olympics is pretty far ahead of college football, at 44 percent, and Major League Baseball, which ranks fourth at 51 percent. The study found out lots of other odd things about Olympics fans, too. For example, people who live in Spokane, and Denver, are looking forward to the upcoming Games more than any other geographic group, Donald's, one of the Games' sponsors. Nearly half visited one in the past month. They are big grease enthusiasts in general, being 7 percent more likely to eat at a fast-food restaurant than the rest of the population.

But perhaps they feel entitled. They're a pretty active bunch they're 13 percent more likely to have gone running this year and 19 percent more likely to have gone biking than the average person. Olympics fans are apparently concentrated in the West. Six of the top 10 cities most excited about the Games are located in the West. But the Harrisburg area is no slouch when it comes to Olympic fans.

HarrisburgLan-casterLebanonYork ranks No. 23 on the list with 60 percent of residents identifying themselves as Summer Olympics fans. That's above the national average and ahead of such past host cities as Los Angeles, St. Louis and Atlanta. It also suggests my husband needs to expand his straw poll.

Chances are come Friday, I won't be the only one in our neighborhood tuning in to NBC. Toni Fitzgerald Tonl's Takes n7 CD) 7 DENTURE CENTERS, INC res Hk Dentures Starring As lorn As 1 I Best bet on TV this week "Olympic Opening Ceremonies," Friday at 8 p.m. on NBC The Games open with one of the trademark weirdo ceremonies. Some 10,000 people will participate in this one, but it should be more interesting to see who doesn't, as in who boycotts over China's human rights record. Now Offering Financing Present This Coupon For :20 OFF: For 90 Days At 0 Mosi Dental Insurance Qf.

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The study finds that rabid Olympics fans are also big fans of Mc- To enter log onto: cumberlinLcoml contests 'Dear Diary' dishes on evil stepmom On Books THIS WEEK'S BIG WINNER (t! anet Harder ofCarlise, PA LarissaBoyer Turning the Page $25 Winner of Gas or Grocery Gift Card. PLAY-EVERY DAY. WIN BIG. an entry. You talk about what is going on in your life and the problems you are facing.

It's basically a way to vent. So if a person has been writing in a diary since her father gave it to her at age 15 (as Jade says in the very beginning of "Dear wouldn't it be safe to assume there are hundreds of entries chronicling Jade's life? If so, wouldn't you think Jade might've mentioned the evilness of her mother before instead of waiting until a final entry? Also, when telling the story of her mother, Jade introduces characters (i.e. her siblings, husband, etc.) as if she has never mentioned them before. Being the most important people in my life, I would certainly talk about my siblings and husband in my diary consistently. It just doesn't make sense the way the novel was written to be a diary entry even if it is Jade searching within to find forgiveness for her mother by revisiting her troubled past.

Despite the consistency issues, "Dear Diary" is a poignant story with a wonderful voice. It's a great read, especially for any daughter who has had issues with her mother before, which I can assume is pretty much every female in the world. It seems to me that many authors write their stories based on events that have actually happened to them. It makes sense since we can write best about what we know best. Now according to Donna Kshir, her second novel, "Dear Diary: Oh, Mother," isn't based upon anyone's actual life story, but it's realistic enough that it could be.

Jade is now an old woman with children and grandchildren. Her husband has passed away, but life has been successful and full of love, a life she has chronicled for years in her diary. Now she feels it is the time to retire her diary with a last entry one she is devoting to the biggest problem in her life, her mother. The final diary entry turns into a 60-page sob story covering a lifetime of emotional abuse from her (step)mother and siblings. Notably, Jade tricks her mother into "approving" of Jade's marriage to a much older man by getting pregnant.

Many other awful occurrences depict a mom cruel enough to be the wicked stepmother to Cinderella. The problem with the novel isn't story or talent, though, it's consistency. Not only did I catch a fact In Focus Title: Dear Diary: Oh, Mother Author: Donna Kshir Publisher: Wheatmark Release Date: July 2008 Pages: 60 List Price: $11.95 rnw The Sentinel I'l Ill 1 1 cumberlink.comcontests DETAILS IN TODAY'S PAPER; that wasn't consistent with something written earlier in the book, but the whole concept of the final diary entry was sort of wonky. Over the years I've tried several times to keep a diary. It never works I inevitably get too busy after a few days and the journal lays on my desk for months collecting dust.

But I do know the basics of writing I 1 I I I 2 3M i 1 Mail toLe Sentinel Summer, Summer Sizzling Swepstakes, PO Box 130, Ctf'sle, PA 17013 or enter online atcumberlinkcomlcontests TODAY'S MYSTERY WORD(S): 717-245-2382 im.csiiskpetrolcum.com NAME: HEATING OILS MOTOR FUELS SERVICE STREET: CITY: PHONE: TODAY'S DATE: EMAIL: HOW DO YOU GET THE NEWSPAPER? HOME SUBSCRIPTION BUY AT STORENEWSPAPER RACK OTHER ft rsSUM A it em. HEATING COOLING PLUMBING DESIGN LAYOUT PLAY EVERY DAY. kluU WIN BIG. 1 1524 Commmt Avenue Carlike, PA J70I5 717-245-2382 uww.CPlmechanfcaI.com.