Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 27

Decatur, Illinois Saturday, February 17, 1996 LIFESTYLE D3 kg) ysS Li Ls? Lr isy mil Kids prefer name cereal in blind test We had the group do a blind taste test comparing five of the nation's 10 best-selling breakfast cereals Kellogg's Froot Loops, Kellogg's Raisin Bran, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Kellogg's Rice Krispies and General Mills' Cheerios with store-brand copies from Publix and Winn-Dixie. Their assignment was simple: By EVELYN PETERSEN Knight-Ridder Writer FOR Tell us which one you like best. And since the group required By ROBIN FIELDS Knight-Ridder Writer chaperones anyway, we put the pan elists mothers to work, too, in an identical test pitting Kellogg's Corn Flakes against private-label corn flakes. Sure enough, in all six comparisons, a majority preferred name-brand cereal. Before taking the first mouthful, most of the moms acknowledged they had preconceived notions that store-brand cereals wouldn't taste as good.

The majority said they bought several boxes of name-brand cereal each month, using coupons to combat sticker shock. Several moms said they feared even slight differences might put off their picky eaters. "I have to buy what she likes or I'm stuck with a collection of partly used cereals," Michele Maik of Sunrise, said of her daughter, Sari, 8. "Then it becomes bird food." "Get that one, Mommy," the little rug rat shouts, one tiny, imperious finger pointing at Tony the Tiger or Cap'n Crunch. Mom gives in.

Or maybe she chooses a less sugary breakfast cereal. Either way, she gripes about the price, about $2.50 to $3.75 for a 20-ounce box. And she's not alone. Complaints about the high cost of name-brand cereals even reached Washington last year, prompting two congressmen to call for a Justice Department antitrust investigation into the $8-billion-a-year cereal industry. Since children rule the cereal aisle, we enlisted six pint-sized dictators, aged 5 to 10 and rabid breakfast enthusiasts all, to find out if name-brand cereals deliver in the crunch.

TIES THAT DON'T BIND: It don't mean a thing 'less you've got that ring. American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers president Sandra Murphy says: "When it comes to the law of cohabitation, like the old Paul Simon song, there really are 50 ways to leave your lover. People who live together should have a clear and mutually agreed upon understanding of what the terms of their living together are, as well as what the law is in their particular state so that slings and arrows of love don't unexpectedly turn out to be financial ones." SECOND TIME AROUND: Have you reunited with a long-lost lover? It's surprisingly common, California State University psychology professor Nancy Kalish says. Her studies found that when people reunited with their first loves after 25 -years or so, there was a 75 percent chance of staying together. "There's kind of a spiritual connection, like God brought them back together," she said.

ALIMONY RE-EXAMINED: Remember alimony? Twenty-five years ago, the entry of large numbers of women into the work force eliminated the awarding of alimony in the vast majority of cases. But because of the continuing gulf in the living standards of men and women after their breakups, despite the new earning power of women, the Chicago Tribune reports there's a movement to reinstate alimony and make some no-fault divorces more difficult to get. Hollywood meets software in kids' market Q. Please write a column that urges parents to supervise teens who are new, inexperienced drivers. As an auto insurance representative and a parent of teen drivers, I am both knowledgeable and concerned about parents who assume that if their teens have had driver's education they are ready to drive independently.

Statistics prove that new drivers are at the highest risk for accidents, which is why the rates for 16- to 20-year-olds are so high. Drivers under 20 account for only 6.5 percent of licensed drivers, yet their accident rate is three times greater than for drivers over age 20. This is due to a lack of supervised driving experience, and kids do not get it in today's driver's ed. classes. S.H., Traverse City, MI A.

I fully agree. The time between driver's education and the ability to get a driver's license is far too short. School driver's education classes are woefully inadequate in providing actual driving experience. Unless these things change, parent involvement riding with teens as they drive and coaching them is the only way to make them safer drivers. Parents must assess the teen's driving abilities and work to correct problems.

According to the National Institute of Highway Safety, driving is 90 percent thought process and 10 percent physical coordination. The thinking skills of teen drivers improve when parents supervise. Do teens check the mirrors and use seat belts? Do they follow too close? Use signals? How are their turning and passing skills? Freeway skills? Parking skills? Can they drive well at night? Have they driven in bad weather? How long can they drive without signs of fatigue? Are they able to concentrate with other teens in the car? Do they keep rules set by parents about the use of the car? A car weighs thousands of pounds and has lots of power. It is a lethal weapon in inexperienced hands. For the sake of their children's lives and the lives of others, parents must take the time to coach their new drivers.

Evelyn Petersen is a consultant and author on early childhood and parenting education from Interlochen, Mich. By JEAN NASH JOHNSON Knight-Ridder Writer Pluggers the "Winnie-the-Pooh Animated Storybook," the "Lion King Activity Center" and the "Pocahontas Animated Storybook." The four titles dominated sales in 1995 and shows no sign of letting up. Other software companies last year saw the potential of the market. In November, Sound Source Interactive released "Babe the Movie Book" and Viacom Media released its version of last summer's adventure film "Indian in the Cupboard." Planning or making software while movies are filmed helps the product stay true to the film, and makes it cheaper to produce, companies say. For example, when Disney releases its "Toy Story Animated Storybook" in March, kids can hear nearly all the original voices for the characters, including Don Rickles as Potato Head and John Ratzenberger as Hamm, the piggy bank.

Tom Hanks' brother Jim fills in as Sheriff Woody. A similar release, IBM's "Jungle Book," is due out in March and will be the company's first interactive movie project. It is based on the 1994 Children's software developers are headed for Hollywood. They've been successful using characters and stories developed for the movies in storybooks and games for the computer. Now, companies such as Disney Interactive and IBM's Fun Games division are making the software alongside movie editors, directors and producers, releasing it when the film reaches theaters.

"Pinocchio," IBM's interactive game, is scheduled to arrive at computer stores by late summer when the live-action movie debuts. And Disney plans to ship a computer-animated storybook version of "101 Dalmatians" at Christmas, when the live-action adventure arrives at the box office. Software makers hope offering software at the same time as a movie will boost sales, but even animated storybooks released after a movie are Just use a touch-tone phone Thanks Derek Taylor Cnstxd Built, CO. Write to flugxem S2ISWIIlkAoc routed. OR.

adventure film. The software comes with a microphone to allow youngsters to emulate animal sounds and interact with the movie's characters. in demand, says Disney Interactive spokeswoman Carolyn O'Keefe. Sales have been strong since its first project, the "Lion King Animated Storybook." Last year, the company released fr tt Best Bets for Kids 5372 WnnrterWhv 5375 Plugger prozac Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is a research chemist with A.E.

Staley Mfg. Co. Christian Church official to speak DECATUR The Rev. Dr. Richard L.

Hamm, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), will speak at Central Christian Church on Sunday, Feb. 18. for the duration of Lent as a practice in self-denial. Sundays are not included because the early Christians considered every Sunday a celebration of Christ's resurrection. Several area churches will mark Ash Wednesday with special services, listed in today's Church Notes.

Tuesday, Feb. 20, is Id al-Fitr, "the breaking of the fast," for the Islamic faith. It's the last day of the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex during daylight hours as training in submission to God. When Life Gets Confusing," will begin 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb.

18. The Bible study is part of a 50-day Spiritual Adventure in cooperation with churches in North America, India and Nepal. The church will also take part in Decatur United Methodist Community Lenten Services, to be held 7 p.m. each Sunday during Lent at area churches. The first service will be 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 25, at Third United Methodist Church, 1160 E. Locust with guest speaker the Rev. Thomas Busch of Sharon. Ash Wednesday begins Lenten season DECATUR Ash Wednesday, Feb.

21, is the first day of the Lenten season for Christians. Lent marks the 40-day period (not counting Sundays) prior to Easter. The 40 days are representative of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry, and are marked by reflection, repentance and a renewed commitment to one's faith. Some Christians also choose to give up a favorite food or activity Mooth will be assisted by David Hinton of Mount Zion, who has been named First Counselor, and Lance Colbert of Oreana, Second Counselor. Steven Mooth of Decatur will serve a two-year mission in js.

ys. ys Mooth Bishop Hamm will preach at the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services, and will be present at a luncheon and fellowship time following the late service. He is the head of the denomination, which is based in Indianapolis, Ind. RAUPP'S Ml.

HUSH PUPPIES! Hamm In Decatur "Angel" February Special Pale Gold Hamburg, Germany, for the Latter-day Saints beginning this summer. Steven is a 1994 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and attended Southern Illinois University, Car-bondale. He will resume his education after returning from Germany. A farewell service for Steven will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb.

25, at the church, 3955 Lourdes Drive, and an open house will be 5 to 8 p.m. the same day at the home of his parents, 333 Southampton Drive. United Methodists plan Lent activities DECATUR Sharon United Methodist Church will hold Ash Wednesday services at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, including the traditional imposition of ashes on the forehead.

A special Lenten Bible study series, "What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do: Trusting Christ Light Taupe White Red Navy TauDe Bon Aging gracefully can now be achieved without wrinkles, age spots, dilated veins, and other unsightly signs of aging by using several lasers. Dr. Francis Lee of The Lee Institute of Skin and Laser performs these procedures in his In-House Surgery Suite equipped with various lasers and with his experience of 25 years in "Skin Health and Black Patent Black Gray Brown S-N-M-W-EW-5-11 Open 9 AM TO 5 PM Monday thru Saturday and was elected in 1993 to a six-year term. Hamm holds a bachelor's degree in religion from Butler University, Indianapolis, and a doctorate of ministry from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis. Central Christian Church is located at 650 W.

William Decatur. Music workshop slated Tuesday DECATUR A church music workshop and preview of new music will be 9 a.m. to noon and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2000 N.

Main Decatur. The workshop will focus on Prism Music, a publisher of religious sheet music for choir and congregational use. Cost of registration is $19.95 and includes a packet of music, a discount on music (orders and an accompaniment cassette. Mboth named church leader DECATUR Robert Mooth of Decatur was named Bishop of the Decatur Second Ward of the 11 5 3. 139 North Water "This is the best thing I've done for my skin 1 would do it again tomorrow.

"My friends all want to know what my secret is -ffA Planning a wedding reception, shower or rehearsal dinner? to the Decatur Club's 'tis A1 Before "I look in the mirror and see a brand neu) woman SPRING BRIDAL FAIR After "After two weeks of healing, more than twenty years of sun damage is gone." 1 Institute The Lee Francis C. Lee, M.D., S.C. 110 Physicians Plaza East One Memorial Drive Decatur, IL 62526-3991 Telephone (217) 877-7171 Fax (217) 877-7481 Sunday, March 3, 1996 12:00 noon 4:00 p.m. Admission FREE Decatur Club 158 W.Prairie Ave. across from YMCA 429-4208.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Decatur Corner of Mound and MacArthur "Sources of Spirituality: Strength WUhinandAUAroundUs" By Rev. Mary Moore Sunday, Feb. 18 10:15 am Morning Matin 9: 1 5 am Religious Education Offered Daycare Available Of Skin and Laser 217-877-7171 800-834-7172 CALL FOR FREE 'INFORMATION.