The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 1

Monday, February 20, 1995 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE Judy Hill The Cartoon Network hopes to ride to success on the coattails of three girl superheroes and other new animated characters. hmmm" w-: Network wants to give cartoons a woman's touch Wanted: more female animators. In its search for new cartoon characters, the Cartoon Network wants to showcase the work of female animators, says network President Betty Cohen. But that has turned into a difficult task because animation is still a male-dominated profession, says Mike Lazzo, vice president of programming for the network. Most of the ideas being offered to the network are coming from male artists, he says.

Only a couple of women have pitched ideas, Lazzo adds. "We were close to a deal with one woman, but she gave it up to work on a feature film. We're still looking, and we're hopeful that out of the 48 new cartoons, some will be created and directed by a woman." Women artists can be found working on the assembly line at cartoon studios. But only in recent years have a few moved to the forefront in the creation of animated material. One is Faith Hubley, winner of three Oscars in recent years for her animation.

"There are very good women animators out there, some at studios and some working as independents. But until recently it has been difficult for them to move into the top positions because of a sexual bias that historically has dominated the animation industry," says Hope Parker, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles-based Women in Animation support group. Only a year old, Women in Animation has 300 members. The group calls attention to the unsung female animators of the past and encourages advancement for today's female animators. Cartoon Network President Cohen agrees that "the whole tradition of animation has not done a good job in mentoring women." She says the Cartoon Network and Hanna-Barbera are making "a proactive search to involve women animation directors in this project." The shortage of female artists in creative See WOMEN, Page 5 Wilson saga raises even more issues Now, wait a minute.

I'm a little confused about the news conference last week held by a group of Sandra Wilson's friends confirming their support for the Hillsborough County commissioner and suggesting that reporters stop writing revealing stories about her. For those of you who haven't kept up with the Wilson saga, here's a synopsis: Wilson was an administrator at Hillsborough Community College (HCC) when she was appointed in 1994 by Gov. Lawton Chiles to fill the seat of the late Sylvia Kim-bell on the commission. Wilson who is paid $81,698 a year by HCC decided to run for the seat, which pays $58,671. At the time, she said she would quit the HCC job and devote herself to the commission.

But she didn't resign from HCC and now holds two jobs paid for by the taxpayers. Wilson also has acknowledged that she failed to file federal income tax returns for several years in the 1980s. It also has been revealed that she has been delinquent paying property taxes and fines. At the news conference, the group told reporters that Wilson's constituents know her better than the media, they elected her and are proud of her. The bottom line is that they want the media to lay off the commissioner.

Now, wait another minute. Speaking for 20 First of all, more than 20 people voted for Sandra Wilson in the November election and more than 20 people live in the district she serves. So the group that spoke to the press last week certainly can't claim anything other than that they are 20 people who support Wilson. Does their view represent every one of the people who voted for Wilson or who are her constituents? Of course not. Certainly there are others who voted for Wilson or live in her district who find her actions unfortunate.

Certainly some of them would not have supported her had they known she would continue to collect both salaries, or that she hadn't filed federal income taxes for several years or that she had not paid property taxes on time or that she had racked up thousands of dollars in code violations on property she owned. For a group to ask the press not to pursue information about an elected official merely because they support her is presumptuous, at best. People who hold public office or who run for public office, people who spend the public's money, people being paid by the public should be scrutinized by the public. Harry said it best To paraphrase Harry Truman, if they can't stand the heat, they need to get out of the kitchen or stay away from the stove. Wilson's constituents ought to be able to consider her actions when they go to the polls during her next campaign.

Some will forgive her. Some will not. That's politics. That's fair. But the Wilson saga brings up other, broader, questions that are even more troubling.

Are we naive in our expectations of public officials? Are our standards for their behavior too high? Do we ask too much? We are all, after all, only human. So in an age when personal responsibility seems in short supply, is it too much to hope that more public officials stand out as role models? That they either keep their campaign promises or explain clearly, honestly, candidly to their constituents why they can't or won't? Is it too much to hope that when they make a mistake or one in their past is revealed that they have the courage and character to face it, take the consequences and not try to kill the messenger? Stories by WALT BELCHER Tribune Staff Writer TAMPA hen animator Craig McCracken was an art student in college, he thought it would be cool to create a cartoon about "three cute little girls who could kick the butts of big macho bad guys." His student film, "Whoopass Stew," about a trio of kindergarten kids Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup who "fly around and beat up people," later helped him land a professional job at the Hanna-Barbera studios in Hollywood. Now at age 23, after working on such TV projects as the cable cartoon "2 Stupid Dogs," he brings his three creations to television tonight as part of an ambitious project at the Cartoon Network to find new animated characters. Like many of today's young animators, McCracken, who grew up in Southern California, started drawing as a child. He grew up on a steady diet of comic books and animated TV programs.

McCracken's "The Powerpuff Girls" is one of 48 seven-minute cartoons that will debut on the Cartoon Network channel during the next two years. Billed as "World Premiere Toons," three of the shorts from this experiment will air tonight in a special at 8 that will be carried simultaneously on the Cartoon Network, TNT and TBS. 'i 7- 7 VKV Surreal edge In addition to "The Powerpuff Girls," the network will showcase "Dexter's Laboratory," about a boy genius who creates weird inventions; and "Sledgehammer Opossum," featuring the slapstick antics of a silly opossum. "It has a weird, surreal edge to it," says McCracken of his "Powerpuff" girls. See CARTOON, Page 5 Animator Craig McCracken works on "The Powerpuff Girls," one of 48 seven-minute cartoons that will debut on the Cartoon Network.

Escape the crush of work pressure Steps can help get out-of-control stress and demands back in line Independent spirit allures A Chicago Tribune Report Forget facelifts, tummy tucks and other cosmetic enhancements designed to preserve attractiveness as the years pile up. What's most important in ensuring that your ap peal will endure are an independent spirit and ample confidence. That's the opinion of the respondents to Clinique's TruthBeauty Survey who named Katharine Hepburn as By CYNTHIA HANSON of the Chicago Tribune Christine Leatz Pokorny used to answer her telephone each time it rang. She used to respond to e-mail as soon as the message flashed on her computer screen. And she used to check voice mail on weekends.

But not anymore. Pokorny, manager of office technology worldwide for FMC Corp. in Chicago, has taken control of her daily work life: She ignores the phone when she wants to concentrate and returns calls in a block of time she has set aside. She responds to e-mail only twice daily. And she never checks voice mail on weekends, unless a situation warrants special attention.

"I have control over my destiny because I'm managing my time more efficiently and effectively," says Pokorny, author of "Career SuccessPersonal Stress: How to Stay Healthy in a High-Stress Environment" (McGraw Hill, "I've learned that it's OK to say It's critical to alleviating stress." We're all well aware of the link between job stress and negative health consequences. But a new study from Cornell University Medical Center in New York underscores that a lack of control over work duties may heighten the punishing effects of stress. What can you do if your workload and responsibilities seem increasingly out of control? to fit the nature of your career. But if you know when a full-court press is required and plan for it say, you're an accountant and tax season is approaching you'll be better positioned to cope with the pressure. Stay in sync with your boss.

Schedule an appointment to discuss your priorities. You might be devoting too much energy to aspects that don't warrant the effort you invest. Manage time effectively. Before starting, assess how much time you'll need to complete a project. And don't underestimate the effort needed.

"You won't get it done to your satisfaction, you'll be hassled while you do it and your boss won't be happy with the finished product," Pokorny says. Add time to the estimate so a glitch won't catch you off guard. Set limits. When saying "no," Elaine Schwartz, a clinical social worker in Highland Park, 111., recommends the "Two-Plus-One-Plus-One" approach. "Suppose your boss asks you to stay late to finish a project but you've promised to take your daughter to her Girl Scouts meeting," Schwartz says.

"Offer two positive statements 'I really believe in and I think it will be helpful for a lot of Then offer a negative statement 'But I can't stay late And finish with a positive statement 'I'll be here at 7 a.m. tomorrow to finish it for This way, you're doing it in your own time frame." Esther Orioli, chief executive officer of Essi Systems a stress research and health consulting firm in San Francisco, says you must change your mind-set. "When you're dying from a heart attack, you can blame your employer, but you're the one in the hospital," she says. "You're going to say, 'Why didn't I take better care of It's time to stick your toe into the risk zone and stand up for yourself." Here are expert tips for reclaiming control at work: Change what you can. "We are in control of the choices we make and our responses to things around us," says Rebecca R.

Merrill, co-author of "First Things First" (Simon Schuster, $23) and researcher for the Covey Leadership Center in Provo, Utah. You can't control your supervisor's indecisiveness or the incessant threat of downsizings. Focus on what you can control on a daily basis. Set priorities. A personal mission statement may help you identify what's really important and provide a framework for how you handle work demands specifically, when you should turn down an assignment.

"You must take responsibility for managing your time and energy," says Orioli, author of "The StressMap" (Essi Systems, "If you are not spending those resources in a way that fuels you, propels you and replenishes you, then you're going to burn out." Be flexible. Tailor your priorities Hepburn the woman they'd most prefer to age like. Why is Kate the good-looks idol? Here's a sampling of how 37 percent of the 1,001 women 16 and older explained their answer: "She is very strong and well-respected." "She was able to get out of life what she really wanted." "She seems confident about her looks but not obsessed with them." "She enjoys life and is not concerned with what others think." Well, I'm going to try one more time. With Women's History Month approaching, I'd like you to tell me about the women who have had an effect on your life other than a female relative. Historic women, if you please, such as authors, educators, activists, sports figures, whatever.

Write a paragraph or two about why they were important to you and send it by letter, fax or e-mail. Be sure to Include your name and telephone number. Reach Judy Hill online on Prodigy at i 'i TRIB01D. On the Internet at TRIB01Dprodigy.com. Or fax at (813) 259-7676.

Or call (813) 259-7812. Or write co The Tampa Tribune, P.O. Box 191, Tampa, Fla. 33601..