The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 56

TFATI T1RF Educational TV on CD-ROM is a great way to learn for all ft "jm 1 4B 1 1 7 f1" fITP III ii THE COURIER-JOURNAL FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1997 EDITOR: GREG JOHNSON PHONE: 582-4667 FAX: 582-4665 I -mm 1 ll Itl Eureka! I've hit on another way to enjoy TV in front of my PC. Discovery Channel Multimedia produces educational software and games, some in conjunction with the network's specials and series, and maintains an Internet site. A network on BY DUREIL HAU. THE COURIER-JOURNAL As our photo models illustrate, the larger the family group, the more the drain on the family finances at arts events. Some arts groups work to bring down ticket prices for families County, isn't the only wince at the cost of family to see a production Louisville's professional children's theater.

This are $12. One is positively compared with other family Louisville's arts community. During the holidays at Theater, tickets to most of "A Christmas a family of four cost There was a similar "Hansel and Gretel" Kentucky Opera or Nutcracker from the Louisville are positively cheap with tickets for the ing "Man of La Mancha" will cost a family of four $119, including discounts, for the most distant seats in Whitney Hall. So how many families can afford this? Apparently not enough. That's what is behind Tuesday night's free-for-kids performance of the Broadway Series' "Smo-key Joe's Cafe," which is already sold out.

The series is joining Broadway theaters in New York in the "Kid's Night on Broadway" promotion to get more children and their parents into the theaters. Broadway Series President Brad Broecker, a board member of the League of American Theaters and Producers, which is a By FRAN ELLERS The Courier-Journal MYREHM has been sold on Stage One: The Louisville Children's Theatre ever since she taught school and took her first-graders to one of "the theater's many school performances. So when Rehm's daughter was 2'2, she decided to take her to one of the trademark "participation" plays, "Three Little Pigs." She called the ticket office and was surprised to find that the tickets were $10 each, even for a toddler. Rehm, who lives in eastern PNC Bank Jefferson parent to taking her of year tickets But Stage cheap fare in Actors performances Carol" for $65 to $95. range for from the "The Ballet.

And those compared Bicycle helmets help prevent crash injuries, study finds By SANDRA G. BOODMAN jury Prevention and Research Center in Seattle educational approaches, and these changes anA Vior Wil Ioqcttipc wiTito that 9Q nprrpnt nf hi. shniilri hp wirlplv imnlpmpntfifl." Post and her wrote mat ot di- should be widely implemented. The Washington Bicycle helmets offer wearers substantial protection against serious injury and death, even in cases of crashes involving bikes and motor vehicles. That's the conclusion of University of Washington researchers in a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers studied the cases of more than 3,390 cyclists who sought medical treatment for head injuries at seven hospitals and five people who died of head injuries at the scene of such accidents. Diane C. Thompson of the Harborview In 5tW Vv ASSOCIATED PRESS Helen Gurley Brown is stepping down as Cosmopolitan editor after 32 years. Torch passed to another 'Cosmo girl' By TIM WHITMIRE Associated Press It's a classic piece of advice from Jj Cosmopolitan, No. 4 on a list of 10 things to do when you wake up on a "bad beauty "Stick face into a bowl of ice cubes and water breathe through a snorkel; try to stay under for 10 minutes, though you can pop up and j.

down. (Helen Gurley Brown invent- ed this The pointer aimed at tighten- ing pores is vintage Helen Gurley Brown, the 74-year-old primped- and-preened, oh-so-thin figure who for 32 years has personified the "Cosmo girl" for whom her maga- zine is written. Now she's stepping down, saying farewell with a special issue that hit newsstands this week. Brown, who has said only that her departure was by "mutual agree- ment with management" at the Hearst sounded reluctant to be leaving. 5 "Now I don't have something," she said.

"I don't have the product and I don't have the power. Don't kid yourself about that." Brown, who will still oversee Cos- Jj mo's 29 international editions, is succeeded by Bonnie Fuller, a 40- year-old Canadian who successfully launched the American edition of the fashion and beauty magazine Marie Claire. The new editor's task will be to freshen a magazine whose relevance I- has waned in the two decades since the end of the sexual revolution. But, declaring deep respect for the '1 franchise built by Brown, Fuller promises no radical changes. "I think that the typical Cosmo i reader is going to be opening that magazine and finding everything she's always been familiar with, she said.

She promises to maintain the magazine's emphasis on practical advice on relationships, work, fash- ion, health, beauty and sex. But the graphics are being fresh- ened. More photos are being added. And the clearest break is Fuller's I apparent determination to bring a new edge to Cosmo's articles. Brown has been criticized for keeping issues like AIDS and sexual harassment off the pages of Cosmo, but the Fuller era opens with a March feature on four heterosexual couples living with the human im- munodeficiency virus and new drugs developed to combat HIV.

April will bring a story on sexual harassment. One Brown tradition already is out the window: "No centerfolds," I' Fuller said firmly when asked the fate of Brown's male pinups. Brown's final issue features two. Asked whether the cover would continue to show a model with a plunging neckline and lots of cleav- age, Fuller said only that the covers will continue to project an image of "confidence and empowered sexual- I ity." Under Brown, Cosmopolitan be- came the best-selling women's mag- azine in the world. Circulation reached 3 million in 1985 and re- mains about 2.5 million today, de- spite a flood of new women's maga- zines in the market.

Critics have argued that Cosmo's take on what its cover headlines call "the man-woman thing" is dated. "Stock the fridge with his favorite things Don't touch anything on his desk. Try not to nag Don't ever criticize him in public," a feature in the February issue ad- vises. I Brown argues that today's femi- j- nists spend too much time blaming men for women's problems. See COSMOPOLITAN Page 5, col.

1, this section INDEX Ann Landers Comics Stamps Television 10 10,11 5 10 i WWW sponsor of the evening, said Broadway is realizing that tickets are out ot range for many families. And while there's no evidence that young audiences are dramatically declining in Louisville, in New York, theater attendance among young people dropped by more than a fourth between 1980 and 1992, according to the theater league. Broecker said he and other league members are gently pushing Broadway producers toward "the concept of being more flexible" on prices. See YOUR KIDS Page 4, col. 1, this section In a separate study also published in the Dec.

25 issue of JAMA, researchers led by Thompson found that bicycle helmets were effective in preventing certain types of serious facial injuries. The team found that wearing a helmet reduced injuries to the midface the eyes, ears, nose, cheeks and forehead by about 65 percent. But they offered no protection from injuries involving the lower face the teeth, lips, mouth and jaw which can be particularly disfiguring and can have serious long-term medical consequences. red wine' Neil Wellinghhurst is the buyer responsible for the varied, interesting and inex pensive wine list at Judge Roy Bean restaurant on Bardstown Road. Though he describes himself as "a complete wine snob" who doesn't drink cheap wine, he has a basic piece of advice for someone looking for bargains: "If it says 'cabernet' or 'merlot' or 'pinot it's too expensive." "I go looking for Rhone style, syrah or zinfandel.

They are big in flavor and inexpensive in price. They have intense flavors and spiciness that goes with our Southwestern food," he said. Rhone wines go well with virtually all Mediterranean foods and grilled foods, including grilled vegetables. The Parallel 45 can be found for $8.99. Zinfandels add zest to dining.

Is there a food in your life you really love spicy potato chips or soft-shelled crab, Chinese vinegar or frozen pierogi, pimento cheese or seeSess watermelon? We want to love it too. Tell us where you find your quality food by writing Sarah Fritschner at The Courier-Journal Features, 525 W. Broadway, P.O. Box 740031, Louisville, Ky 40201-7431 Catch the Caper The 10th annual Cardinal Caper a postgame party and charity auction benefiting tne Family Place will follow the University of Louisville men's basketball game against UCLA tomorrow. G3 line site isn't unusual anymore.

But Discovery Multimedia has taken the interactive game one step further by providing informational and educational CD-ROM titles for viewers of all ages to enjoy. Consider one of my favorite Discovery Channel shows, "Connections2." Host James Burke takes seem ingly unrelated twists and turns throughout history and the world to show how even the most obscure events can prove to be profound. IT'S NO WONDER the "Connections" CD-ROM has outsold all the other titles that Disovery offers. But it's just one of many presentations that allow viewers to control the information and action on screen. You can choose from a variety of fun activities based on history, culture and facts.

Not only is the CD interactive with the viewer, it's symbiotic with the series. You find yourself using information from the show in the CD puzzles as you try to make historic sense of events, relationships and discoveries throughout the ages. And the CD naturally stokes your interest in the show. Other award-winning titles that correspond to a Discovery series include "The Beer Hunter," "Beyond Planet Earth," "How Animals Move," "In the Company of Whales" and "Ocean Planet Smithsonian." Though the titles target different audiences, there's no reason why a grownup can't enjoy a challenge through a pulse-pounding game or why a youngster can't dig into mature subjects. And Discovery's mission, "Explore Your World," certainly isn't restricted to any age set.

Anyone interested in this concept will appreciate the hours of exciting, intense and intellectual challenges the CDs provide. IN "OPERATION: Weather Disaster," you hook up with Team Xtreme to bring the forces of nature back into balance in increasing levels of difficulty. "SkyTrip America" lets you take a time machine anywhere and any time in America to meet famous people, explore places and witness events crucial to U.S. history. "Nile: Passage to Egypt" explores the mysteries and history of the lands along the Nile River and lets you challenge the Great Ramses II to the ancient game of Senet.

"Invention Studio," Discovery Multi-media's latest endeavor, lets you build and test your own inventions in its Gadgetorium. If your invention is a success, you proceed to the Patent Office. If you need a little inspiration, you can watch one of 16 videos on different aspects of inventing. In the Machine Shop, you can put together a toaster, an electromagnetic bell, a robot DJ and much more. And, of course, you can find out about other inventors and their creations in the Maximachine.

"Animal Planet," a CD-ROM that will be available next month, will explore the animal kingdom with breathtaking graphics and lush panoramic views of eight distinct ecosystems, complete with natural ambient sounds. More than 1,100 life forms will be profiled in-depth, including full color photos and text descriptions of anatomy and skeletal structure. The "Animal Planet" CD-ROM was inspired by Animal Planet, the third member of Discovery Networks, along with Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel. THREE NEW GAMES will be published in 1997 under the Planet Explorer label. The first, "WatchWorld," is a fast-paced, addictive online game akin to a hyper-Scrabble game, to be launched in March.

"Byzantine: The Betrayal," a graphic adventure game filmed on location in Istanbul, Turkey; and "Evolution," a real-time, multiplayer strategy game, will be released in October. For more information about CD-ROMs and other products from Discovery Multimedia, call (800) 678-3343 or visit its Website at http:llmultimedia.dis-covery.com. Kevin Baker's column runs each Friday in Features. Call her at (502) 582-4475, fax her at (502) 582-4388 or e-mail her at telekevaol.com "Invention Studio," Discovery Multimedia's latest endeavor, lets you build and test things. Tryi ft If.

11 I KEVIN BAKER Even experts appreciate 'cheap Broadway Series. See colleagues percent cyclists were wearing helmets at tne time ot their accidentSj Researchers found that wearing a helmet reduced the risk of head injury by 69 percent and lowered the chance of severe brain injury by 74 percent. The protective effect of helmets was seen among riders in all age groups. And while some research has suggested that children younger than 6 need a different type of helmet than older riders, Thompson's team found no evidence to support that contention. "Helmet use," they concluded, "can be increased by a combination of legislative and consumers and a moneymaker for California vineyards.

Seeger stresses that it's the red zinfandel that's "delicious and a great value." It's priced as low as $8.99 for the reserve. Fossi Rosso: Every once in a while an uncharacteristic bargain slips into the marketplace. Joseph, at Liquor Outlet, has spotted one. Fossi Rosso is a "declassified Chianti Clas-sico," which means the vintner didn't meet aging requirements to get his official "D.O.C" classification. So, according to Joseph, the wine was blended with other Chianti wines into an incredibly delicious blend, non-vintage and non-expensive.

At $5.99 per bottle, it may prove popular, but the circumstances make its availability a onetime thing. "Once it's gone, it's gone," Joseph said. Salice Salentino: Southern Italy produces many grapes but not much quality. Only occasionally is there a name worth remembering. In Apulia, in the heel of the boot, you'll find one.

Salice Salentino is a wine made from the area's native negroamaro grape. Wine experts say that Salice Salentino is a "durable wine" that's a great candidate for aging. Priced at around $6.99 a bottle, it's a natural to buy by the case and drink over time. I'm not a wine expert, but I do know that you can drink Salice Salentino the day you buy the bottle, that it is the perfect full-bodied table wine for informal meals from steak to spaghetti, and that it's simple enough to be sipped on its own. Paul Jaboulet Parallel 45: This is a Rhone wine from one of France's biggest and most familiar exporters.

Rhone wines include the more famous Chateauneuf du Pape and contain a variety of the same grapes. INSIDE Cooking for the Ox You can learn to cook special foods to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Ox, which begins Feb. 7. Christine Wu Wade will teach a class featuring these dishes at Crane House, the Asian cultural center. C2 Anne Joseph is the fine-wine buyer for the Liquor Outlet stores in Louisville.

She's paid to taste wine. She's paid to take notes on wine. She's paid to know about wines and be able to recommend them to customers. When she goes home, she doesn't want to taste, take notes or think about wine. She wants to eniov it.

So when she goeshome, she drinks inexpensive red wine. In fact, many people who love wine love red wine. And many people who love red wine can't afford to drink "great" red wines when they're not do- count0" aneXPenS6aC" SARAH FRITSCHNER it possioie to annK well and not spend a fortune. Here's how some wine enthusiasts do it. Sutter Home red zin fandel: Adam Seeger, di IN SEARCH OF GREAT FOOD rector of restaurants at the Seelbach Hotel, has put together one of the most diverse lists of affordable wines in a Louisville restaurant.

He describes his favorite cheap red wine as a big, spicy, full-bodied wine that's great with burgers and pizza. Its overtones are fresh-cracked black pepper, dark berries and cedar. It's an ironic pick. Sutter Home vineyards invented white zinfandel years ago when they ac-cidently removed the skins of the grapes too soon from the fermenting wine. The result was a blush-colored wine that distributors, legend has it, were required to sell against their better judgment.

The rest is history. Though white zinfandel is not esteemed as a great wine, it is popular with Long-distance cheerleader in it 1 Terry Meiners, who cheers the Green Bay Packers on his WHAS radio show, won't be at the Super Bowl to see his beloved team play. He'll watch the game in his own living room to "savor every play." G2 i.