European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Not exactly animated Over modern cartoons miss m \ i is Cindy Chambers columnist the headline left me shaken. A ship �?T90s kids disdain cartoons a it shouted in bold letters. First Nintendo then inflatable Tennis shoes and now this where is the new generation headed and As a Mother How can i avoid responsibility for it Why in my Day cartoons were practically a religious experience. Each afternoon we would Rush Home and plop ourselves in front of the television nearly smashing our Ding Dongs in the process. Then Cape a Ernie a washed up former Weatherman disguised As a Salty sea dog would bring us two Joyful hours of ancient cartoons. There were singing ants and Acme anvils. Pop Eye pulverized Bluto Daffy Duck took on Hitler. Life was Good. I was still musing about the Good old Days when my daughters came in and turned on the television. The familiar just for kids theme song a Melody so pervasive it can Wake a 2-year-old from a sound sleep flooded the room. I watched appalled As the saturday morning lineup began. First there was Din saucers a cartoon based on the premise that futuristic talking dinosaurs come to Earth. The creatures All of whom sound like Peter Graves enlist the Aid of some poorly animated teen agers As they fight a the evil  Why the tyrannous done to just bite the Heads off the teens ending the Lousy show forever is a mystery that can Only be solved by eating pop tarts in front of the television every saturday morning. Next came Chip amp. Dales Rescue rangers a show starring crime solving rodents with voices so shrill you can to understand a word they say. Lets face it a its probably just As Well. Finally there Sjem the tragic Story of a Rock Star with a Boyfriend so dumb lie does no to recognize her when she puts a Pink Streak in her hair. The music video format features such inspiring lyrics As Quot hey Jem fashion hip. Totally awesome at a big  woo. Awesome. That was it. Once More the just for kids theme song filled the air. Once More i asked myself Why an  come up with an ending for the show different from the beginning.  they at least run it backward when its Over no matter. Somehow its filling. These cartoons arc obviously created by evil japanese manufacturers whose plan is to Poison children a minds with so much animated drivel they will run out and buy anything even Nintendo and inflatable shoes. Fortunately 1 know the antidote. Thinking quickly 1 stuck a Rocky and Bull Winkle video in the Var plopped my kids Down in front of the set and handed them each a Ding Dong. Once again life was Good. Cindy Chambers is a military Amity member in Schweinfurt  Judith Martin United feature Syndicate d ear miss manners though i am divorced and have started a new life Many people including my Boss seem to think it is important to let me know each time they come into con. Tact with my sex spouse. If 1 wanted to know where my sex spouse was and what he was doing i would have stayed married to that person. But replying a who cares a makes people think one really does. How can i respond to such remarks gentle Reader miss manners supposes you  want to say a do give him or her my Best a on the grounds that you already did that and it did no to work. But she Points out that the remark is not Only polite but useful in establishing the idea that you arc not in Contact with this person whom you now consider a Mere acquaintance. If you can to manage that however a Mere a really a repeated without visible emotion of any kind will do. Dear miss manners How is a croissant eaten i done to mean a Sandwich made with croissant. Is it Cut with a knife into pieces and then buttered and eaten or is it pulled apart with two Forks some tops Are really crusty and crumbs seem to go everywhere. In be made a Point of Only eating croissants at Home but they arc my favorite breakfast. Gentle Reader two Forks for croissants someone out there is getting inventive. Miss manners admires this but refuses to endorse it. Croissants must be broken with the hands and buttered and eaten one Section at a time. And yes miss manners knows it makes a mess. Would it help if she told you that croissant flakes arc socially acceptable if they stick to the tip of ones nose dear miss manners my Bright 4-year-old Nephew often corrects my use of the word a kid a insisting that he is a child not a baby Goat. This was cute at first but it has become annoying. I looked up the word a kid a and the dictionary explained that it also Means a Young person. We could both be Correct. However his Mother informs me that the word a a kids is rude. Now in a exasperated. I done to want to teach this child kid bad manners but 1 am tired of being corrected when in a not wrong. A mom a however thinks 1 should set a Good example. Gentle Reader and miss manners thinks mom should set the kid a better example. It is time he Learned the difference Between opening an epistemological argument which can be agreeable among consenting parties and correcting a a even pestering a others which is rude. Dear miss manners now that patriotism is becoming fashionable again 1 foresee a dilemma. A recording of Whitney Houston singing our National Anthem at the super bowl is being offered for our radio entertainment. The Star spangled Banner is a Majestic piece and i certainly  discourage its new found popularity. But it has Long been customary for people to stand upon hearing its first strains to face the Flag or the music and to make the appropriate gesture of Salute. How is one to respond respectfully to hearing this recording Over the airwaves in such informal settings As ones own living room ones work place or ones car gentle Reader do not repeat not attempt to stand and put your hand Over your heart when you hear the National Anthem on your car radio. Especially if you Are driving. Miss manners has no objection to your standing in your living room although the etiquette of respect to the National Anthem requires Only standing and saluting for live renditions. But she does object to the anthems being played As background music in a work place or being considered entertainment no matter How beautifully it is rendered. People who sing when the Star spangled Banner is played Are to be commended for both their patriotism and for their memories if they can get beyond the first  k s on s for this week Leo july 23-aug. 22 breakthrough occurs in time to line up your objectives. Trend proclaims rebirth of Romance. A Virgo aug. 23-sept. 22 of lost enjoyable time can be had this evening. Make critical Choice regarding vocational future. Libra sept. 23-oct. 22 Domestic situation improves and brings much needed romantic jubilation. Take brisk walk and get motor muscle exercise. Scorpio oct. 23-nov. 21 Power of concentration proves helpful in dealing with co worker. Executive skills Are highlighted. Sagittarius nov. 22-dec. 20 gracious polished Demeanour pays off Best today. Important signature will be required. Capricorn dec. 21-Jan. 19 Good Day to strike out on individual path making own Way. You la attract romantic adventure. Aquarius Jan. 20-feb. 18 you la seek exposure to out of Way places. Music and entertainment Art forms soothe nerves. You la need to rattle a business Cage Pisces feb 19-March 20 buy yourself something personal. Invitations phone Calls arrive. Aries March 21-april 19 plastic surgery in t necessary. Think about ways of camping up efficiency and refining personal touch. Taurus april 20-May 20 you demonstrate Talent for Wor Smithing and communications. Others Are suitably impressed. Gemini May 21-june 20 keep it simple. A Blockhead wants to make irrelevant changes to your prime directive. It makes Little difference How convincing you Are. Cancer june 21-july 22 take a Bow since there Are accolades coming. Earlier project begins to Harvest fruit. Coplay news service Page 10 a sunday August 11,1991