Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 37

2C DETROIT FREE PRESSTHURSDAY, MAY 30, 1991 Readers leave better tips poor restaurant service ft' I SI fill Sonyjias announced a new approach to compact high-fidelity audio. Digital mini disc players, to be 1 1 enough to fit in a shirt pocket Compactiisc IS Second-chance films have first-rate appeal Dear Ann Landers: It's wet noodle time; I can't believe you said that waitress deserved a good tip for "excellent" service. Why in the world should "Glen Cove, N.Y." leave any kind of tip to a waitress who was hitting on her dinner companion? Would you advise a man to Mini discs Size: 2 12 in. wide Recordable? tM-, Aetna! hlt-c) HI 1 IX ne of the fun things about home video is III that it gives "sleepers," movies that are 1 1 1 worth seeing but for some reason few 11 people do, a second chance. Yes Play time; 74 min.

1 i 1AMDEBS Sound i Near CD quality I I. tip a waiter who was making a play for his girlfriend? Your correspondent got shortchanged. Terry from Royal Oak, Mich. Dear Terry: You aren't the only one who thought my response to that letter was a turkey. Read on: Dear Ann Source: SoWSb'rggip 1 dut -Mi ill Knight-Ridder Tribune NewsJEFF PULASKI NEW SPIN ON CDS pleasing personality and was extremely articulate and beautifully dressed.

The woman said she was visiting in Montreal, staying with her grandmother who lived down the street in the next block of apartments. She said her home was actually in Toronto. The woman told us that her sister was being held at the police station because she had received a traffic ticket for not wearing a seat belt. The police would not let her out of jail, according to "Sis," until she came up with the bond money. The woman said her sister had phoned and asked her to bring down $517 as soon as possible.

So she went immediately to the automatic bank teller and got $500, which was the limit. Since her grandmother was not at home and none of the immediate neighbors was in, she had come to the next block of apartment buildings to see if she could borrow $17. We were completely sucked in and gave her the money. She thanked us profusely and promised to return the $17 the following day. Of course, we have not set eyes on the woman since.

That experience taught us a lesson. Pass it along, Ann. I'm sure we weren't the first people she conned, and we won't be the last. Josie in Montreal Dear Montreal: Stories like yours make me sad because an experience such as the one you described will understandably sour you on being kind to strangers, and in the future you will probably refuse someone who is honorable and decent. If possible, the best thing to do is check out a story before giving anyone money.

Dear Ann Landers: Mom says you are a twin. Do you and your sister have the same fingerprints? V.P., East-lake, Ohio Dear V.P.: No two human beings have exactly the same fingerprints not even twins. Ann Landers appears Sunday through Friday in the Free Press. Write her and other columnists at P.O. Box 828, Detroit 48231.

LA TimCreator tvndkates ox- inars tne case ims weeK, witn "Popcorn" (1990; RCA; R) a nifty and campy horror film about a crazed killer who decides to make his own horror film. The twist here is that few in the audience realize, as they cheer him on, that they could be the next victims. Also nice is the way the makers of this movie did so with a firm understanding of what made us all go to the drive-in back in the '50s (besides the kissing), plus, they added a liberal dose of humor. Also out, and well worth seeing is "The Neverending Story II" (1991; WB; PG). Falkor the Luck Dragon, the Rock Biter, Atreyu and most of the other colorful characters from the original "Neverending Story" return for a new adventure in Fantasia.

Anyone who missed the original "Neverending Story" is in for a double treat by catching the first movie. But either holds up well on its own. For The Kids "Little Rascals III" (1991; Republic; $9.98 each. 30 minutes each): Six more volumes are available, each with two episodes from the famed short comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. The paired titles are: "Bored of Education" and "Arbor "Rushin' Ballet" and "Lucky "Pay as You Exit" and "Kid From "Night Gales" and "First Round "Bear Facts" and "Hook and and "Roamin' Hobday and "Free Eats." "Kissyfur" (1991; Celebrity; $29.99 each.

90 minutes each): Two more tapes with animated episodes from popular NBC TV series. Individual titles are "The Birds and the Bears" and "Life's a Circus." BY STEPHEN ADVOKAT Free Press Communications Writer AT fHitriral auHirt rarv Sony Mini Disc is littk, and it can record, too A VHS tape, Super VHS I tape, CD disc), Interactive CD. Consumers used to Landers: Serving a dinner in a nice restaurant means more than just bringing the food out of the kitchen and placing it in front of the patron. That waitress ignored "Glen" and fawned over her escort. Of course, the waitress had no way of knowing that the woman was picking up the tab.

But that's not the point. The service Glen got was lousy while the waitress was extremely attentive to her gentleman friend. You don't reward that kind of nonsense with a 20-percent tip. I would have left her a dime. Marion, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

Dear Marion: I could fill the page with the complaints I received about my advice on that one. To all who wrote, I would like to say you are right. My reply was dumb, and I am ashamed of Dear Ann Landers: You performed a great service to your readers when you printed the letter from the mother of "Elyse," the lying drug addict who conned everybody she knew. Listen to this: "Elyse," or her exact clone, showed up' at our door last October. She was a total stranger, was rather pretty, had a And that's exactly what will need to be done for consumers to consider trying a new format.

1 Another consideration will be the confusion factor. With so many formats ning around out there, consum-; ers are understandably con- fused and skittish about putting down their money for a system that could be outdated within a. few years. "I don't know if there is a market for it or not," says David Lachenbruch, an editor with TV Digest, a prominent electronics trade publication. Lachenbruch says that--among Sony's challenges' will be the matter of trying to explain why consumers will still want CD players once they've seen the Mini Disc system.

Not only will the new sys-' tern sound very good, it will be capable of recordhg, something CD players have been unable to do. A frugal consumer wonder why he or she needs a CD player when the Mini Disc system would do just about as well in the living room wall unit while taking up half the space. For the moment, Lachenbruch says the best advice is to do nothing and watch the Mini Disc rollout from afar. Whatever its price, the his--tory of the electronics industry suggests that products contin-' I ually come down in price over the years. IaI, .7.1 it i 3 xf 3-year-old can do well in preschool S5 system will meet those interests.

The system is targeted for in-car use and for those who like to take their music on the go. It's small, which is a plus for crowded dashboards. It's also not likely to skip, potholes or no, because even if its optical pickup is jolted off track, the units continue playing for about three seconds by producing data stored from the disc. After about three'seconds, the optical scanner should be able to get back on track. Because it uses disc technology, the system should sound better than tape, but to the very discerning ear, not quite as good as a conventional CD.

It should also make it easy to access a particular song within seconds like CDs do. Nevertheless, it's far too early to know whether the public will find this new music system any more appealing than its DAT precursor. Sony isn't saying how much it plans to charge for its new music system. Philips is expected to charge between $300 and $500 for its system. Another wild card is what pre-recorded music will be available for the new music formats.

Pre-recorded DAT tapes were rare and expensive, costing as much as $20 or more. Sony, having bought the CBS music library, has a wealth of material it could make available on its Mini Disc system. Documentary be able to count on a major change in the way they listen to music about every 25 years. But consumer electronics technology accelerated in the 1980s and '90s. Now consumers have to worry not only about what gadgets to buy, but whether those gadgets will become outdated before you've had a chance to whittle down the credit card balance.

Brace yourself. Here comes another example. At the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago this weekend, Sony is expected to show hundreds of retailers its latest home entertainment introduction: a new digital music system that's smaller than a CD and will enable you to record music onto 2.5-inch discs. Called the Mini Disc system, it will use discs that are about half the size of conventional compact discs. Nevertheless, they'll be able to record up to 74 minutes of music, about the same amount that you'd find on a regular 5-inch compact disc.

This is the second new audio format consumers can expect within the next year. Philips N.V. of the Nether- lands already has announced plans to introduce its own, mini music system, dubbed DCC. Both of these formats come on the heels of digital audio tape (DAT). After years of legal wrangling between the music and the electronics industries, DAT finally was introduced into the U.S., only to be greeted by indifference by consumers, largely because of its expensive pricetag ($1,200 or more for a DAT player).

So, with that failure under its belt, why is Sony launching yet another mini music system? "When the Walkman came out, it allowed you to take good sound wherever you went," said a Sony spokesman. "But there were some things people were unsatisfied with, such as disability, stability and the rapid access of a computer disc." Sony hopes its Mini Discv Q. I'm an RN, and I work part-time. This lets me enjoy our 3-year-old son most of the week. We send him to a Montessori preschool in the mornings and some afternoons.

I've been getting fots of flak from friends and relatives who say he's too young for preschool EVELYN PETERSEN i farent talk ft "ii i 11 in "Gulf Wan The Complete Story" (1991; StrandVCI; $19.95. 120 minutes): A no-nonsense account, based on coverage by England's ITN news service, of Operation Desert Storm. "Operation Desert Storm: The Victory" (1991; Turner; $14.98. 90 minutes): The second part of two-part documentary on the Persian Gulf War, based on coverage by CNN. "And in the case of a comj- pieieiy new recording ma--chine," he says, "it's still a good make an informed judgment about whether going to preschool every day is too much, too soon.

Your RN training in observing and recording will help here. Is your son having the freedom of active play and movement that he needs to nurture his physical growth? Does he spend most of his time sitting with an activity, or does he have opportunities for hands-on learning and sensory exploration? Are there plants, animals, paint, sand, water and clay? Can he make his own music and dance? Are there many opportunities for pretending and for spontaneous conversations with adults and other children? All these things are developmentally appropriate for 3-year-olds. In the past five years I have seen many differences among Montessori centers. Many are incorporating the activities in physical movement, socialization, active play and creative expression that I've listed above. In some, the focus is on learning through interactions with a carefully planned and orderly environment.

Your decision will be based on what's best for your 3-year-old and on what you value as a parent. Evelyn Petersen is a consultant in early childhood and parenting idea to wait and see what kind Video Magazines software (pre-recorded music) is available." Sony says it intendsx to start selling its new system in late 1992. "Teenvid" (1991; BMG; 40 minutes): First issue of the music video magazine aimed at teens. Guests include Malcolm-Jamal Warner and New Kids on the Block. "Video Sheet Metal" (1991; Warner Reprise; $16.98.

60 minutes): First issue of a music video magazine dedicated to heavy-metal rock. Guests include Anacrusis, Soundgarden and Sonic Youth. anJ should be home with me. He seems to love his preschool, and except for his being tired in the afternoons, I don't think this is a problem. Still, I feel guilty about sending him.

Do you think 3 too young? Kay, Salt Lake City ll Whether or not he is too young depends on both the type of preschool experience he is having and his own" personality. Another factor is your own values. One thing you could telt'your friends is that researchers agree that high-quality child care outeide the home in the early years negative effects on children. you are also fortunate because you. can visit your son's preschool, observe him during the activities and Other Releases SH" The Sony system is targeted for in-car use and 7: for those who like to take their music on the go.

Book shows how to help homeless Trump Castle stack deck "Diplomatic Immunity" (1991; Fries; $89.95. 95 minutes): Bruce Boxleitner, Billy Drago, Meg Foster, Robert Forster. Drama: Boxleitner is a Marine sergeant who resigns from the service to hunt down the man who murdered his daughter and escaped justice under the protection of diplomatic immunity. "Femme Fatale" (1991; Republic; $89.98. 96 minutes): Colin Firth, Lisa Zane, Billy Zane, Scott Wilson.

Suspense: When newlywed Firth's bride vanishes, his search for her reveals her seamy past. "The Fifth Monkey" (1990; RCAColumbia; 93 minutes): Ben Kingsley, Mika Lins. Drama: Brazilian peasant Kingsley sets out for the city to sell four chimps he has found, and comes to love them. "Warlock" (1991; Vidmark; $19.95. 103 minutes): Julian Sands, Richard E.

Grant, Lori Singer. A daft, often repulsive brew that ought to be called "Every Witch Way but Loose." A slumming Sands is a time-traveling warlock roaming Los Angeles and killing at random. The devil, unable to order it from the Book of the Month Club, has commissioned Sands to find a special witches' bible. TRUMP CASTLE II $49.95 Capstone Software, for IBM and compatibles with CGA graphics and above. Mouse and hard drive recommended.

Rating: () Rick Ratuff video games Here's a safe bet: If you hate spending lots of money for a computer game that turns out to be a flagrant and relentless advertisement, you will despise the game Trump Castle II. Trump Castle II is a "simulation" of the Atlantic City casino hotel of the same name. You begin in the gaudy lobby with $1,000 to spend. The program lets you wander through the hotel. You can roam into a "Contributions can be made to sponsor a family," says the Coalition on Temporary Shelter's Heath.

COTS assists the homeless with basic needs and self-sufficiency. COTS, with Core City Neighborhood and several other organizations, is sponsoring a transitional housing project in a three-story home on W. Grand Boulevard that is expected to open Aug. 1 for seven families. Local organizations say that although the book offers good suggestions for starters, those methods are just a salve on a much deeper wound.

"The first step is to understand the homeless," says Sister Theresa Bla-quiere, executive director of Core City Neighborhoods, "to understand the dimensions of the housing problem and come to know the people who are-struggling as fellow human beings. "Those suggestions are important, but they're just Band-Aids," Blaquiere says. "We, need the financial resources and changes in the economic system." "What You Can Do to Help the Homeless," published by Simon Schuster, is available in major bookstores for $7.95. Approximately $2 of each book's proceeds will go directly to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. For more information about local volunteer organizations, call the Detroit Urban League at 832-4600, 9-5 weekdays.

Homeless, from Page 1C Suggestions include: Tutoring and caring for homeless children and promoting literacy. Learning to read and getting an education are among the first steps in breaking the cycle of homelessness. Getting clubs, churches, businesses and friends involved. By choosing an issue to focus on and utilizing strength in numbers, groups can make a contribution on the whole. Providing aid as a professional.

For example, lawyers can help homeless people negotiate through social services or inform them of their rights to government assistance. Organizing a food or clothing drive, recycling necessities for resettled households or volunteering at a shelter or ipup kitchen. Convincing the homeless to vote, an ac that can help a person feel like a meihber of the community and can helg secure housing and services. Supplying or helping to furnish permanent housing for the homeless. According to the National Housing Law Project, 2.5 million people were involuntarily displaced from their homes in 1986, while 500,000 low-rent units are losjeach year.

i-The book advocates long-term solution for homelessness while offering ways for the ordinary person to get started. Vintage Films By clicking your mouse on various people's; faces, quote balloons appear to show what are supposedly thinking or saying. Often it's to the effect of: "Wow, I haven't had so much fun in years," or "Come on, seven." Perhaps the most insidious aspect of this game is the gambling itself. Almost every time I gambled in Trump Castle II, I made money. It is pretty easy to turn $1,000 into several times amount.

If this happens to you too, no doubt the Trump organization wants you to think, "Wow, I'm good at this! I would go to Trump Castle tomorrow and bet my life savings if only I could afford the trip." Well, guess what? The game comes complete with a discount coupon for lodgings at the real Trump Castle! Maybe Capstone calls this the "Ultimate Casino Gambling Simulation." I call it craps. great, -good, crummy, 0 ridiculously bad "Bathing Beauty" (1944; MGMUA; $19.98. 101 minutes): Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone, Harry James. Comedy: Skelton's clowning is the highlight of Williams' first movie vehicle. The water ballet finale has become a Hollywood legend.

"Give a Girl a Break" (1953; MGMUA; $19.98. 82 minutes): Marge and Gower Champion, Debbie Reynolds, Larry Keating. Unremarkable musical with Reynolds as one of the hopeful replacements when the leading lady in a Broadway musical walks out. massive guest room, see the pool, the cashier's cages, or visit the restaurant and lounge. Various people appear along the way, usually anxious to let you know how happy they are.

Of course, you also can haunt the various gaming areas where you can play baccarat, craps, video poker, slot machines, and blackjack. With its digitized and partly animated real photographs of giddy people happily wagering away their wages, every aspect of this game is a shameless attempt to dazzle you with the wonders of this over-glitzed hotel. Edited by Stephen Advokat 17.