The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 28

a i 2-C Friday, Aug. 22, 1986 The Philadelphia Inquirer 4 "Getting the word: Why the reading list is blacklisted i The thing I like about the citizen teensors we now have in this country '(and there are more of them all the We) is that they worry not only about what their own families are reading, but yours as well, Buddy Bloonose, a block warden tor the Rev. Abner Ick, is a frequent visitor to my house. He usually comes in through the kitchen window while I'm eating cornflakes. The 'other day he said to me, "Mind if I icheck your library to see if you have any secular humanist literature stashed away?" "By my guest," I told him.

"But you're wasting your time. I wouldn't know a secular humanist book if it jumped up and bit me." anything that violates the teachings of the Rev. Ick, you can take it with you." "We're doing this for your own good," Buddy said. "I know that, or I wouldn't let you into my house." "Our job is to clean up America, and the only way to do that is to alert the people to dangerous reading." "Let me ask you a question: Where does the Rev. Ick get the time to read all the printed material he attacks on television?" "He doesn't read it himself.

He has Avengers reading it for him." "Reading stufr for the Reverend must be a wonderful job." "There's no fun in reading it. It's banning it that gives our followers a purpose in life. Every Avenger wants to ban Jane Austen." "I didn't know Jane was on the Reverend's hit list" "No one has filled children's minds with more sinful garbage. Thanks to the Rev. Ick, all the schools in the country have been notified." "Buddy, I can see where your people would want to keep their own bookshelves clean, but why us? We dont even belong to your sect" "Because if you read banned books, you'll burn in hell.

These are not my words, but those of the Rev. Ick, who is within an arm's throw of the Lord." "Granted," I said, "but let's assume that the list of other distinguished book-burners does not match yours. This means I can't read anything." "The Avengers' list is the only one to follow because it has been blessed on television by the Rev. Ick." "Back to the question. If I'm not an Ick follower, why are you inflicting your philosophy on me?" "Because the Rev.

Ick believes that if you don't throw out your books, you will be condemned to a fiery inferno in the afterlife." "Does he really want to control our lives?" "All he's trying to do is keep the secular humanists from capturing your soul." "How can the secular humanists capture my soul? I've never met even one of them." "The secularists get into your home through the printed word. Go into any bookstore and see how much mischief the devil is making." "You people really have a lot of work to do." "Book-burning can be exhilarating if you know what you're looking for." "What can I do to make sure I don't buy a book I shouldn't?" "Send $100 to the Rev. Ick, and he'll tell you how to become a born-again reader." Ry ART BUf IIWALI) cant take your word for it. My organization, the Avengers of the Printed Word, asked me to see for myself. We won't stand for filth in your house." "No problem there," I assured him.

"We burned everything the Avengers put on their blacklist. If you find 'i 'I 'sj a 'NEWSMAKERS Defectors defect to another circus Keeping screws tightly in place By GENE AUSTIN few Iflfcg. Doit I i iJk Ih (It 4 n. k. if 1 AW I ft A.

Associated Press interviewed more than 25,000 guests as a TV talk-show host, called it quits Wednesday. The last show will be aired Sept 5. After 23 years and 5,520 shows, Merv Griffin is almost in tears after taping his last production in Los Angeles. Griffin, who Bolts and screws that work loose can be dangerous as well as annoy-ing. Please tell us how to keep the screws in our steel lawn furniture from working loose all the time.

Is there a way? E. Butler Fortunately, there is an easy way to many screws and bolts used in metal fixtures and equipment. Securing fasteners is especially important in such devices as children's play equipment, lawnmowers and bicycles, where a loose fastener could accident or injury. A simple solution is to coat the threads of the loose fastener with a Vibration-resistant sealer, such as Duro's Lock-It. This so-called liquid 'lockwasher is a resin that fills spaces ground the threads of a fastener and iprevents loosening.

The fastener can be removed, however, if force is ap-'plied with a wrench or screwdriver. i Thread-locking liquid is sold in small tubes at most home centers 'and hardware stores. A single drop secure a typical fastener. One frequent use of thread-locking liquid is keeping the small screws in eyeglasses from working loose. I recently installed a large new double-glazed window and primed the bare wood of the frame.

What should I use to finish the window? W. Bolstridge Use a high-quality, exterior-grade trim paint to finish the window, but you might have a problem. A finish should be applied no more than two weeks after the application of the primer. If more than two weeks has elapsed, scrub down the primer with a detergent and water, rinse, and prime again. It's best to pick the finish paint and Vprimer at the same time, because Vsome paints and primers are designed specifically for use with each other.

I want to insulate the inside walls of my basement, but I've been told this can cause buckling of the basement walls daring very cold weather. Will you comment on this? V. Antony Insulating basement walls is a good idea in most areas, but it can create problems in places with very cold climates, such as Alaska, Minnesota and northern Maine. In such areas, extreme frost penetration can cause heaving of an insulated foundation. Most homeowners don't have to worry about frost damage, but those who live in states with very cold climates should consult local energy experts before insulating basement or crawl-space walls.

My split-level home is 17 years old, and I am beginning to think it is time for a new asphalt-shingle roof, even though the present roof doesnt leak. What are the advantages and disadvantages of putting new shingles over the existing shingles? What type of shingles would be best for the new roof? Howard The main advantage of putting new shingles over old is that some money can be saved ly not requiring the roofer to remove and dispose of the old shingles. An extra layer of shingles will have a slight insulating effect, but this is not really significant. No more than two layers of shingles should be put on a roof, however. A disadvantage of putting new shingles over old is that extra weight is added to the roof and the roof structure might be weakened if it is not strong enough to support the extra weight.

Another disadvantage is that new roofing placed over old might not be perfectly flat because of curling or lumps in the old shingles. I recommend fiberglass-based asphalt shingles for any new roofing because they are lighter and more fire-resistant than felt-based shingles. A carpenter installed a new porch floor for our house and gave it a heavy coating of linseed oil In a week, he gave the floor another coat of clear wood preservative. The result is that the floor is sticky. What do you suggest? E.

Wolff Clear wood preservative is best applied to bare wood, where it will penetrate the surface. I'm not familiar with the technique used here, and I don't recommend it. The stick-ness might clear up on its own in time, but if it persists. I'd try briskly wiping the surface with a rag moistened with paint thinner (mineral spirits). If that doesn't work, paint remover might be needed to remove the gummy finishes down to the bare wood.

Once the wood is restored to good condition, it should be coated every couple of years with water-repellent preservative. Readers' questions and comment! are welcome and should be sent to Gene Auitin, The Inquirer, Bon 8263, Philadelphia 19101. Questions cannot be answered personalty. By W. Speers lnidrr Sutl Writer Nikolai and Lin Nikolski, the Soviet high-wire act who ran away from the Moscow Circus and last week joined Ringling Bros, and Barnum Bailey Circus, left the latter Wednesday and signed a one-year contract with three-year-old, Miami-based Circus USA.

The couple, who defected from the Soviet Union Aug. 4 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and were given asylum in the United States several days later, are to debut Oct. 1 in a shopping mall near Miami and, after a month of similar appearances, to go on a national tour. The Nikolskis said they chose Circus USA because it performed under an old-fashioned, three-ring tent and because the pay was better. "Ringling is the best circus," said Una Nikolski, "but they have long contracts.

It's the reason we left the Moscow Circus for freedom." A Ringling spokesman said the circus had no contractual problem with the Nikolskis. Accusations denied Julio Iglesias denied allegations in a $300,000 suit against him that he karate-chopped a St. Louis hotel guard and racially insulted him. "Before entering my hotel room at Omni International, I exchanged friendly greetings with the hotel security guards in the lobby," the singer said in a prepared statement issued late Wednesday. "I did not say or do anything offensive to the guard.

In truth, I would never intentionally offend anyone. This is not my style. Entertainment is my life, and I enjoy making people happy." In his suit, Stephen demons alleged that Iglesias, on checking into the hotel Monday, struck him on the neck after telling him that "I don't like your color." Brace in yarmulke In what is looking more and more like a publicity stunt cooked up by the El Al airline to boost Israel's tourism, Little Sun Bordeaux, 13, celebrated his bar mitzvah yesterday in an hour-long ceremony at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Despite the hoopla surrounding the event the mood was dignified as Little Sun, in skullcap, prayer shawl and moccasins, prayerfully placed his hands on the wall. From a traditional distance, his mother, Armalona Greenfield, wept.

"This is the greatest day of my life," the boy said. Pressed to reply to those who dispute her son's relationship to Sioux Chief Crazy Horse, Greenfield said, "He is not the direct grandson but a direct descendant" She also corrected earlier assertions that Little Sun was in line to be the Sioux chief, saying the honor could be given only by a council of Sioux elders. Greenfield also said she divorced Little Sun's father, Dallas Chief Eagle Bordeaux, 10 years ago and is married to Robert Greenfield, a construction worker who is half-Cheyenne and half-Lithuanian. He's No. 11 Stevie Winwood, since the 1960s one of significant influences on British rock, has hit the top of the charts for the first time.

His single, "Higher Love" tops Billboard's "Hot 100" this week, bouncing Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" from No. 1 to No. 3. But the Material Girl's album True Blue held the top spot for the third week in a row. Sick-bay report Cesar Romero will be in traction for about a week at St.

John's Hospital in Santa Monica, for treatment of a herniated disk. The actor, who plays Jane Woman's husband on TV's Falcon Crest, was stricken while on location for the show in the Napa Valley of California. A spokeswoman for the show said Romero, 79, didn't do anything to provoke the condition but "just started hurting." Mickey Rooney, 65, is sporting a nose full of stitches after being bitten by a Doberman pinscher Monday when the dog turned on him as he played with it in West- lake Village, Calif. "He feels like it was his fault," said a publicist. Former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos walked to his car at the Rehabilitation Center of the Pacific in Honolulu after 40-minute surgery Wednesday to remove a cataract from his right eye.

Forrest Tucker, 67, was hospitalized for the second time in eight days yesterday when he collapsed in Los Angeles on his way to a ceremony to install his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A spokeswoman for Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center said the actor, who played Sgt. OTtourke in TV's Troop, was "doing better" but added that the family did not want his aliment disclosed. On Aug. 14 Tucker became ill aboard an airplane flight and was treated at a St Louis hospital for exhaustion.

Strategy shift The case of Traci Lords, the movie sex queen who threw the X-rated movie business into a tiz-. zy last month when it became known she starred in a slew of sex films as a minor, is now being investigated by federal authorities instead of the Los Ange- County District Attorney's office to ensure better chances of convictions. Under Calfornia law, producers and distributors of Lords' films can only be prosecuted if they were aware she was underage. Federal law doesn't require their knowledge of her age. Lords, who turned 18 last May 7, told prosecutors she used a fake driver's license to get into her first porn movie in 1984 when she was still IS.

Sweet scent Susan Lucci of TV's All My Children has replaced Joan Collins for Revlon's Scoundrel perfumes. The soap star's been using the line for three years. "Now I'm wearing it for profit," she said. "This is the stuff dreams are made of, and I feel like I'm in an Audrey Hepburn movie." Apple-blossom time Atlantic City will establish a GI Entertainers Hall of Fame in connection with a reunion planned for later this year of some of the 350,000 military men and women who trained, served or convalesced there during World War II. Initially inducted will be 20 show-business figures, selected from among the many who either served or performed in the resort during the war.

Among them are Jackie Gleason, Donald O'Connor, Rosemary Clooney, Clark Gable, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, the Marx Brothers, Joe DiMaggio and Dinah Shore. Other possibles are Ronald Reagan, who marched with ex-wife Jane Wyman, Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable in a 1944 Broadwalk parade. Contributing to this article were the Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters and USA Today. Si It 2 On health By Gabe Mirkin Mickey Rooney Cesar Romero Peopletalk Harry Haim injuries decline. Older people need to be extremely careful when they stretch.

Their muscle fibers are not very elastic and can tear when stretched. If you do stretch, always warm up first. Never stretch or exercise cold muscles, or you will invite injury. Your muscle temperature is about 98 Fahrenheit at rest, and muscles at that temperature are stiff and likely to tear. If you exercise at an easy pace for at least five minutes, you can raise the temperature of your muscles by several degrees, making them more pliable and less likely to tear.

Once your muscles are warm, you can stretch them slowly and gently without bouncing or jerking. Bouncing increases your chances of injury by making the muscles contract suddenly. Don't stretch further than you can comfortably hold for at least five seconds. Stop immediately if you feel pain. Have a question? Write to Dr.

Qese Mirkst, The PNadslphie Inquirer. New York Times Syndicate Special Featurae. 200 Park Ave, New York. N.Y. 10164.

Stretching is a ritual performed by almost every athlete and exercise Runners do it to stretch the muscles and ligaments in the backs of their legs before a big race. Aerobic-dance students do it to stretch their legs and backs before class begins. Baseball pitchers do it to stretch their legs, shoulders and throwing arms before heading for the mound. i All these people stretch because they believe it will improve their 'performance and help prevent injury. They are only half-correct.

Stretching may help you to be a better athlete, but it has not been shown to prevent injuries. Stretching makes your muscles longer. The extra length allows the muscle fibers to generate more power so you can run faster, jump higher, throw farther and lift heavier weights. Overzealous stretching can injure you. If you are injured frequently, stretch more gently to see if your You can't say that Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds have no sense of humor.

When one dials Carrie's LA. home, this gag message is delivered with great elan by Debbie: "Hello, dear. This is Carrie's mother. I've decided to reunite with Carrie's alleged father to provide her with some additional values that she seems to be clearly lacking. I think you can appreciate what a tremendous sacrifice this is for me.

So, if you'd like to leave a message for Carrie, Eddie or myself, one of our lawyers will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you, dear. And good luck, dear." The star of Milos Formin'i recent Columbia University film class, 26-year-old Jay Russell, is now in Little Rock, Ark. thanks to his teach 's enthusiastic recommendation directing End of the Line with Wilford Brimley, Kevin Bacon, Mary Steenburgen, Levon Helm, Holly Hunter, Henderson Forsythe, 'Barbara Barrie and Bob Balaban. Another 26-year-old just rang up his film-directing debut in Los Angeles: John Stockwell, an actor who specializes in High School Harrys (My Science Project, Christine), sat this one out behind the camera, directing David Neidorf, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Barry Corbin in Undercover, a narc melodrama he wrote with Scott Fields.

John Huston, 80, who directed father Walter and daughter Anje-lica to Oscars, is giving his son a break: Tony Huston will script his father's next, from James Joyce's short story "The Dead." Would you believe Peter OToole's younger daughter, Pat, is a street musician over in London? Richard Chamberlain will have the Noel Coward-Rex Harrison role when Blithe Spirit is summoned back to Broadway Dec. 16, with Geraldine Page officiating as Madame Arcati. She'd like to see others enabled to go from welfare to well-being By ANN LANDERS would benefit. Especially the taxpayers. Please tell them.

I Could Be Anyone Dear I have, but they dont listen. It hag long been my contention that the vast majority of people would rather work than sponge. Wake up out there! Train these people and quit handing them money. Dear Ann Landers: The column about the gal caught naked with that football helmet on her head has got to be the knee-slapper of the year! I am a Los Angeles city fireman, married to "Cleopatra" over 40 years. When I'm on platoon duty at the fire station, she also likes to clean house in the nude.

A few weeks ago, I came home off-duty unexpectedly and there she was, stark naked, waxing the floor under the grand piano! I grabbed my camera and took a picture of her. It's a beaut. I would dearly love to send it to you as proof that the female of the species is far more unstable than the male. One day I will write a book about the crazy situations women have got themselves into and called the fire department to help them out of. Your column makes my day.

Keep at it Annie. LA. Fireman 30 Years Now Dear LA I plan to. Thanks for a good laugh. Dear Ann Landers: Because you have the ear (and trust) of so many, I'm hoping you will help make the public aware of what I believe to be a serious misconception that has been promoted by television and movies for years.

I'm talking about the idea that a person can jump or dive through a closed window without harming himself. Ann, how many times have we seen the hero or villain tuck in his head, burst through a closed window, and continue to chase without a scratch? This is a dangerous and irresponsible image. Children should be taught that broken glass can be extremely dangerous. I know of one young man who nearly bled to death after imitat ing his TV hero. Please encourage media people to stop showing this irrational escape or to portray it as realistically dangerous.

Failing this, at least parents may be moved to discuss it with their children when they see an actor go through a window unharmed, and to point out to them the very real peril of broken glass. R.C. in LA. Dear R.C.: Thanks for providing a good basis for discussion at the nation's dinner tables. Am Landers' booklet "Sea end the Teenseer" explains every aspect ot seiuol behavior, for a copy, send $2 and a kma.

seM-eddressed. stamped envelope (39 cents postsoel to Arm Landers. The PMadelpraa Inquirer. Bos 11996. Crweao.

K. 60811. i Dear Ann Landers With all the media coverage on "welfare reform" these days, I'd like to put in my nickel's worth. My salary wasn't nearly ienough to support a child, so the welfare department enrolled me in WIN, a self-improvement program. They sent me to business college, paid my tuition, provided me with supplies, and gave ine a small monthly stipend to live on.

I graduated with a 3.98 grade average and have quadrupled my previous learning ability. I am now a homeowner with a nice par (paid for), nice furniture (paid and nice clothes (paid for). Welfare reform really works. If the welfare department would give America's single mothers marketable skills instead of just handing them a check every month, the recipients could improve their standard of living and learn what it is like to have dignity and self-esteem. Everyone 1.