Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Wed, Aug 12 1992 Date: Wed, 12 Aug 92 04:31:16 EDT Message-ID: 08-12 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update Aug. 12, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network AIDS THEMES TO SURFACE IN FILMS: There's been lots of talk around Hollywood lots lately about gay-themed and AIDS-aware films. Bios about gay-rights pioneer Harvey Milk and the FBI's homophobic J. Edgar Hoover are in the works. Plus, Disney bought rights to a new novel about a white, married-with-kids baseball player who falls in love with a black teammate. COUPLES `REGISTER' FOR MORTGAGE: In a number of states, couples-to-be can now "register" for a mortgage down payment as well as for china and crystal. The Arbor Home Bridal Registry was launched this past spring in eight Eastern states by Arbor National Mortgage of Westbury, N.Y. A registry program started last year by Weichert Realtors of Morris Plains, N.J. is available through several banks in its seven-state area. (For more, see special Mortgage package below.) MORE TELECOMMUTING FROM HOME: The number of corporate employees who work at least part-time from home has grown 20% this year. A Link Resources survey shows about 6.5 million people are working from home this year. That's up from 5.5 million people in 1991, 4 million in 1990 and 3 million in 1989. NETWORK TV FIGHTING FOR SHARE: The Network Television Association is increasing its efforts to tout network TV as the preferred broadcast medium for advertisers. The group is in the process of issuing a new network TV viewer retention study that indicates network viewers are not flipping past commercials, with the emergence of cable stations. GARLIC IS MORE POPULAR: Garlic has become increasing popular in the USA. More than 135,000 people showed up in Gilroy, Calif., - the garlic capital of the world - two weekends ago for its annual garlic festival. Some festival-goers eat garlic because it makes food taste great. Others eat it to help protect themselves against cancer and heart disease and might ease or alleviate bacterial and yeast infections. GARLIC USED TO TREAT AILMENTS: Garlic has been used for millenia to prevent and treat ailments, says biochemist and researcher on aging Stephen Fulder, and only in the past few decades has modern medicine encroached on the territory of herbal treatments that once were learned by rote in every household. Fulder says garlic can lower total blood cholesterol while raising the beneficial type of cholesterol. PENSIONS PROBLEMS ARE GROWING: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. could end up covering $40 billion in retirement benefits for millions of U.S. workers whose companies are not adequately funding their pension plans. "The insurance program is facing growing problems from poorly funded pension plans of troubled companies," said James B. Lockhart III, the agency's executive director. BUDGET STORES DOING WELL: Budget-conscious shoppers helped boost earnings at Wal-Mart and J.C. Penney the second quarter. That's bad news for more upscale retailers such as Nordstrom, whose earnings were hurt. Limited Chairman Leslie Wexner said the difficult economic environment is no excuse for its disappointing second quarter. He blamed below-standard merchandise for flat earnings. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON MORTGAGE: FIRM PROVIDES PAYMENT CARDS: Arbor National Mortgage of Westbury, N.Y., reports a deluge of inquiries into its mortgage down payment program; 12 couples have signed up so far. Participants get cards to tuck inside wedding invitations, which give Arbor's number. Anyone interested in a bit of subtlely can rely on word of mouth. Gift checks go directly into a money-market account that Arbor sets up in the couple's name. REGISTRY BOOSTS MORTGAGE PLAN: Arbor National Mortgage will pay $100 toward closing costs for people who use its Bridal Registry. A 30-year fixed-rate loan from Arbor now runs 7 3:4%. Participating couples earning no more than 115% of their area's median income can put as much as 33% of household income toward the mortgage payment and 38% toward all debt. Normally, borrowers are limited to 28% and 36% respectively. ANYONE CAN OPEN PACKAGE: Weichert's registry is less frilly. Banks simply open an account; the couple gets the news - and deposit slips - out. Until such registries spread, couples in theory could play copycat. Anyone can open an account, call it a down payment fund and then spread the word to guests. (End of package.) Trends & Marketing Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM