Charles Dickens vs. Homer Simpson

I've always said that Homer Simpson represents mankind.... today anyway.  One of my favorite Simpson scenes involves Bart being held hostage on the top floor of a building.  All of Springfield has gathered in to oooo and aaahhh.  The police chief, unsuccessful in his hostage negotiations, hands the bullhorn to Homer.  Homer looks up with a frightened and anxious look on his face... lifts the bullhorn to his mouth... "Baaaarrrt?" he asks almost mournfully.  "Yeah..." calls down Bart.  Homer, looking sad and dumbfounded, asks "Do you know where the remote is?"

We spent over 8 years without a television, spring of 1992 to fall of 2000.  1991 to 1992 was my first year of law school, and the television severely interfered with my ability to study.  It was difficult to overcome the addiction, but once we finally broke free from the mind-numbing control of the boob-tube, we began to think clearly, engage in long conversations, and to read.  I read 5x more classic literature in those 8 years than I ever did in high-school and college.... and I appreciated it.

Earlier this week, I read about a report issued by the University of Wisconsin concerning America's Most (and least) Literate Cities.  79 of the largest cities in the U.S. were studied in terms of the literacy behaviors of their citizens. (i.e. buying newspapers, buying books, checking materials out of libraries, etc.)  I was surprised and disappointed to see that 5 of the 10 cities at the very bottom of the list were in Texas.  El Paso came in dead last.

So now here's my dilemma.  I read contracts, memos, law reviews, emails, and other documents all day long at work.  For the past few years, I've enjoyed coming home and vegging out.  But I'm setting a bad example for my kids, and they'd be so much smarter if I could pull out of this "ignorance is bliss" tailspin I'm in.  I know what I need to do.... I need to buy a good book, stay away from the computer, get comfortable on the couch in the den, make sure no one turns on the TV, and read for a change.