Family finds drama in cell phones

The penguins are going crazy at the San Francisco Zoo.

Dozens of them are doing laps for hours in the penguin pool. It has zoo keepers scratching their heads.

All 52 of the birds are involved in a daily frenzy of circle swimming. Six penguins from Ohio reportedly started it all. No doubt, they were excited by Ohio State's bowl win.

The penguins clearly have embraced healthy exercise. Perhaps they've watched too many old Richard Simmons' tapes.

There's clearly a conspiracy here.

Of course, conspiracy has become the watchword in our house.

We've been watching DVDs of the first-season TV episodes of "24."

As parents, our evening schedule during the school year is a busy one. We seldom have time to lock onto a single show.

At any rate, we were clueless about "24." Oh sure, we saw the promos last year. We knew it involved some secret agent plot.

But it wasn't until Joni rented a DVD of the first four episodes from last season that we got hooked on the show.

We're trying to get through all 24 episodes in a single week.

It's always good to have some family goals even if it does involve the CIA, death, deception and terror.

Not since the invention of the digital clock has there been this much attention focused on time. Even the commercials are accounted for with the ticking clock which keeps counting down the seconds, minutes and hours.

It makes you feel like you are watching a time bomb. You don't know when it will explode.

This series has turned the cell phone into a star. Not a scene goes by that someone isn't talking on a cell phone. The bad guys have them. The good guys use them. No one seemingly goes anywhere without a cell phone.

What's even more amazing is the fact that no one's cell phone battery runs dead and there's always crystal clear reception.

This show has turned the desk job into high suspense. Agents are pulling out cell phones even more than they do their guns.

The plot alone is enough to drive even the most sedate penguin into a frenzy. There's no evidence that the zoo penguins have seen the show or even talked to agent Jack Bauer.

But you could see how such a show might have penguins swimming laps.

Of course, while our family is immersed in the first-season episodes, the show is well along into its second season.

Our friends advise us not to jump into the middle of the second-season series. They say we should wait until this summer and catch it on tape too.

There's something to be said for such advice, particularly when it comes with a pause button.

But in the meantime we've embraced the first year's episodes with the kind of excitement that people once reserved for the "Twin Peaks" TV show.

The great thing about this series is that it shows just how much stuff people can cram into a single day if they don't take time to sleep.

As parents, we know a single day can be a busy one. You certainly notice that when you're juggling work, family obligations, laundry, bills, and finding time to serve as your kids' taxi service.

On top of that, both your daughters are busy trying to sell Girl Scout cookies. There's a real conspiracy there and it involves your wallet. But at least it's tasty.

It's certainly food for thought even for the penguins at the San Francisco Zoo.

Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.