European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 9, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 the stars and stripes sunday december 9,1990business notes retailers fear Unm Erry by Joyce m. Rosenberg a business writer new York a Christmas was on its Way Lovely glorious Beautiful Christmas around which the entire kid year  that was How humorist Jean Shepherd summed up makes headlines for local paper by Joseph Owen Stuttgart Bureau Stuttgart Germany what a Black and White a or maybe Green or Orange depending on your computer Monitor a and read ail Over a in Stuttgart its the military Community newspaper. The 306 users of the Stuttgart military electronic mail system now can Call up excerpts of the Stuttgart citizen at the touch of a computer key. The service became available late last summer at the suggestion of Cecil r. Copeland the  systems adminis Trator. A a a a a a i wanted to try something different and hew to provide extended service the mail users a Copeland said noting that the computer mail system also carries the Stuttgart Community bulletin Job vacancy announcements and other information. \ the computer delivered citizen fills a circulation Gap for command information officer Donna l. Walker the papers editor. The free eight Page weekly newspaper has a print run of 6,200 per Issue. After copies Are distributed to the military housing units snack bars and elsewhere there Arentt enough left for the offices including offices connected to the email system Walker said. A a Quot Copeland said he taught Walker How to modify newspaper stories stored on a Diskette and enter the information into the email system All from her office at Robinson Barracks. She spends to 90 minutes on the task. Quot a a a a initially Walker reproduced the entire newspaper text except for movie schedules and advertisements. Some email users responded by requesting the latter As Well Copeland said. Now she summarizes the news and refers readers to the printed newspaper for More information.  v a a Copeland said he knows of no other military Community that provides its newspaper to email subscribers users outside the Stuttgart network can obtain the elec ironic citizen by sending Copeland a request by a com Puter for it. _ the Holiday season in the 1983 film a a Christmas Story a the talc of a Little boys quest for the Christmas present of his dreams an air  and so it is for millions of children a Christmas is the High Point of their year. But this Christmas is a difficult one for Many of their parents who Are concerned about the Economy and the Middle East and have less Money to spend on toys. Consumers Are in a quandary caught Between financial restraints and wanting to fulfil their children a Christmas wishes. Toy retailers and manufacturers already have Felt the Pinch. Toys r us inc., the nations biggest toy retailer suffered a slump in sales after the iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August that mirrored the drop off in business throughout the retail Industry. Robert Nakasone a toys r us vice chairman acknowledged that these Are Uncertain times but he a hoping for a merry Christmas nonetheless. Retailers and manufacturers Are concerned because even one less toy under a Christmas tree when multiplied by the More than 60 million children age 16 and under in the United states can make for a poor season. Perhaps the most sensitive Atoa is video games which again Are on Many wish lists this Christmas the biggest question is whether the new systems which offer More advanced technology and More sophisticated graphics and sound effects than Nintendo can take Market share from the Industry Leader. Children who have tired of Nintendo games a or whose Nintendo systems have worn out a Are asking for the new units known As 16-bit systems. A bit is the smallest unit of information in a computer and 16-bit systems can process More information and instructions than eight bit systems such As Nintendo. The 16-bit systems which include Nec  tur-Bografx-16 and Sega a genesis must overcome a big obstacle a their  Basic genesis unit has a list Price of $189.95, while the Basic turbografx-16 goes for $159. Those prices done to include game cartridges which can run $50 or More apiece. In comparison Nintendo looks like a bargain. Its Basic unit can be found for under $100 in Many stores and Many o its cartridges sell at a discount because there is a glut of them on the Market. Nintendo a hand held Model game boy also has a Price Edge Over its new competitor necks Turbo express. Game boy has a list Price of $100 while Turbo express lists for $249. #. It All comes Down to How much parents want to indulge their children and How much they can afford to a spend. A a a a. / Paul Valentine an analyst with Standard amp poor a corp., said even manufacturers of traditional toys such As Loiis and action figures Are feeling the effects of cautious Consumers. V a the turmoil in the retail Industry has definitely had this new action toy lets kids pretend they re wrestling with their own personal Hulk Hogan. An Impact Ori the toy Industry a Valentine said. Still some traditional toys Are expected  winners again this season analysts say. A children a love affair with teenage mutant ninja turtles is continuing so the playmates toys inc. Action figures and their spinoffs which include videos books clothes watches and games should do Well. The Simpsons Are expected to be found in varying forms under plenty of Christmas Trees. Manufacturers have licenses from the producers of the popular television series for a Range of merchandise including dolls and plastic figures. Dolls based on the Rock group new kids on the Block have been Selling Well Ever since their introduction earlier this year by Hasbro inc., and they re expected to be a hit again at Christmas. Besides video James and ninja turtles and other action figures a of fare also keen to receive toys based on Hulk Hogan and other wrestling stars. Standard amp poor a Valentine said Tonka inc. S wrestling buddies and Hasbro a world wrestling federation figures have sold Well. A a a stars and stripes bookstores stars and stripes bookstores co Iii cd 2 2 o o cd co 111 cd a o Ltd co you can save december 1 i#1 a a a a moments of revolution is one of our stars and stripes super Saver selections for december discounted 25% or More from cover Price. You la save $5 off the regular Price of $19.95 for this dramatic photographic account of the recent historic events that have reshaped Eastern Europe. Moments of revolution is available for Only $14.95 at your stars and stripes shopping Center Bookstore. Other super Saver titles offered this month include the works of Shakespeare children s bedtime stories Norman Rockwell s Christmas Book pictorial encyclopedias of cats and dogs a history of christianity cookbooks and More. Customers save Money every Day with the numerous Magazine paperback and hardcover titles discounted at stars and stripes bookstores. Customer savings in fiscal 1991 already total More than $200,000. If a user aver is sold out ask the attendant about our Book special order program moments k a Hokk Al  ii h  tax f by met h r w  2 it 3j it it z a h 3 to m Cut cd o o 7c 3 o 30 m co stars and stripes bookstores stars and striped bookstores