Other alliances are underway. If you think the movies this past year have been pitiful, just wait until the big studios control so many theaters they can lock out independent films. When that time comes, we'll all have to go to VCRs to see anything interesting. Already you can check out an amazing variety of stuff, including a series of tapes called Video Romance . One store has them in the Adult section even though they've no sex, nudity or cussing, and are in fact far tamer than the evening soaps.
Home video's an even bigger happening in the Asian American community.
While you might not want to buy a membership for unsubtitled tapes in a language you don't speak, the stores will usually have a video playing while you buy some of their fine foods, clothes, jewelry, toys and housewares. Treat yourself to a view of another culture's pop culture. We close this edition with a call for entries in the first Misc. Helga Lookalike Contest. The Northwest is abundant with the stoic Nordic romantic look now associated with painter Andrew Wyeth's mystery woman, as seen in both Time and Newsweek.