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Breaking The News For 160 Years

(NAPSI)-The stories behind some of the great stories in history, and the daring and dedication of the reporters who told them, are recounted in "Breaking News: How The Associated Press Has Covered War, Peace, and Everything Else" (Princeton Architectural Press).

It's an edge-of-the-seat account about those AP reporters who often risked their very lives to gather and report the news, revealing their insights and personal perspectives, along with on-the-spot photographs that provide a breathtaking front-row seat as history was being made.

Did you know that:

• In 1849, Daniel H. Craig was hired to establish the agency's first office outside the U.S., in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where newspapers on ships from Europe could be obtained before they reached Boston. As AP's first foreign correspondent, Craig delivered exclusive news of an attempt to assassinate Queen Victoria in London that year, and it was relayed to AP in New York by ship, horseback and telegraph.
• On the road to Burma in 1944, AP correspondent Frank Martin, observing a tribe of Naga headhunters singing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" as the skeletons of 30,000 refugees lay nearby, reported that the tribe had learned the song from a missionary they had later beheaded.
• After Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis in 1968, AP reporter Kathryn Johnson was welcomed into the King household in Atlanta, sometimes cooking bacon and eggs for mourners and hungry children, but also filing stories from the Kings' home.
• As the last Americans fled Vietnam in 1975, AP Saigon bureau chief George Esper served Coca-Cola and stale pound cake to two North Vietnamese soldiers before calmly writing the bulletin announcing the fall of Saigon.

These are just a few of the fascinating facts in this gripping tour through 160 years of national and international news, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters and punctuated by iconic, unforgettable photos. With a foreword penned by the late David Halberstam, the book can make a terrific present for any lover of news, sports, history or all of the above.

It's available at bookstores, online booksellers and from the publishers at www.papress.com

Keep the flu out of your house this year

(NAPSI)-Many American parents have discovered that keeping their children safe from the flu is both easier and more important than they realized.

Studies show that otherwise healthy but unvaccinated daycare and school-age children are prime targets for influenza, commonly called "the flu."

Once infected, children shed more of the influenza viruses than do infected adults, and they do so for a longer time. That's why they're so often at the center of an outbreak in the family or the community.

A staggering 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu each year. More than 200,000 people end up hospitalized due to flu complications, and about 36,000 people die each year from influenza.

"We lost our little girl, Emily, to the flu, and unfortunately, she wasn't vaccinated. It's that simple and that awful," says Families Fighting Flu spokesperson Joe Lastinger.

Through its Flu's Gonna Lose campaign, Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases (PKIDs) encourages everyone to avoid the potentially severe consequences of influenza by learning what can be done to prevent infection.

These are some simple steps to take to keep as healthy as possible during flu season:

• Get vaccinated. Every year, a new vaccine is developed to combat that year's particular virus, so annual immunization is necessary.
• Wash hands. Frequent handwashing keeps lots of germs out, including influenza. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer.
• Stay home if you don't feel well. Keep germs from spreading.
• Use tissues to block a sneeze or cough. If no tissues are available, use your sleeve. This helps prevent the spread of germs. Don't forget to wash your hands afterward, even if using a tissue.

Preschoolers can be contagious before they show symptoms of infection, and they're contagious longer than adults. Because this age group gets so many upper respiratory infections a year, it's hard to tell if the infection is influenza; so, with your health care provider's supervision, err on the side of caution and vaccinate those 6 months of age and older

Dr. Jon Abramson, former chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Infectious Diseases, says: "Flu is a serious disease, and prevention through vaccination provides the best chance for avoiding the disease altogether."

Influenza is a largely preventable disease. Vaccination protects not only the individual, but also the youngest and oldest members of the community-those most at risk not only for infection, but for the complications that can arise from infection.

You can learn more online at www.pkids.org.

Motorcycle Riders Flock To Wisconsin's Fall Foliag

(NAPSI)-Many believe it would be tough to find a better pairing than Wisconsin's autumn scenery and the unobstructed view from a motorcycle. Just ask any of the 30,000 to 40,000 cycle enthusiasts who take part in the annual Tomahawk Fall Ride, now in its 26th year.

Held every September, this rally raises funds for muscular dystrophy and gives riders the chance to tour two nearby Harley-Davidson plants-as well as Wisconsin's picturesque Northwoods.

Though Milwaukee's Harley-Davidson Museum won't open until 2008, enthusiasts can tour the company's Tomahawk facilities as well as its plant in Wauwatosa, a Milwaukee suburb.

There, visitors are immersed in company heritage with a Harley-Davidson engine timeline-from the classic Flathead to the contemporary Twin Cam 88. On the factory floor, Sportster and Buell powertrains take shape on the assembly line and engines are hot-tested to ensure they meet the company's standards.

Prime fall-color viewing lasts six to eight weeks in Wisconsin, with colors peaking first along the Lake Superior shoreline and throughout Wisconsin's Northwoods in mid- to late-September. Here are a few of the state's more popular touring areas for both motorcycle and auto enthusiasts:

The Hilltop Color Tour features the state's highest points. Driving north on I-51, visitors can't miss Rib Mountain State Park. At its peak, 1,940 feet above sea level, a 60-foot-tall observation tower provides a breathtaking vantage point for seeing the Wisconsin River Valley.

Visitors coming from any direction may want to tour the Bayfield Peninsula/Apostle Islands area. The Apostles are a chain of 22 islands in Lake Superior off Wisconsin's northern tip. While 21 of the 22 islands are a National Park Service property and not accessible to motorcycles, Madeline Island is reachable by car ferry from the picturesque port town of Bayfield. All of the islands can be seen by tour boat. Both the islands and the Lake Superior coastline feature captivating sandstone cliffs, sea caves, stunning rock formations and historic lighthouses.

Motorcyclists may also want to spend a day meandering along Wisconsin's Great River Road-Highway 35. Recognized as a National Scenic Byway, Highway 35 parallels the Mississippi River for 250 miles from Kieler to Prescott, weaving through nostalgic river towns, lush wildlife refuges and numerous historical sites.

The Great River Road forms the western boundary of Wisconsin's unglaciated area, a unique topographical region that offers some of the best riding in the Midwest, according to Peter Egan, editor-at-large for Cycle World and Road & Track magazines.

"The area bordered by Interstates 90/94 on the east and north, the Mississippi River on the west and the Illinois state line on the south is absolutely fantastic for motorcycle touring," says Egan. "It is very hilly and rural, with winding two-lane roads that cross creeks and bridges, climb ridges, flow down into valleys and roll through lots of quaint small towns with biker-friendly cafes."

In addition to the Great River Road, Egan recommends riding in the Elroy/Kendall/Ontario area (near Wildcat Mountain State Park); touring down the Kickapoo River Valley through LaFarge, Viola and other small towns along Highway 131; and cruising along the Wisconsin River Valley on Highways 14 and 60 in Sauk and Richland Counties. He is also fond of the rural highways and county roads in Green and Lafayette counties, including the trip from New Glarus to Darlington.

For more information about driving tours, updates on peak fall-color conditions and free travel-planning guides, visit travelwisconsin.com or call the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's 24-hour, live-operated, toll-free number, 800-432-TRIP.

Pears make a great addition to a spicy fish tacos

(NAPSI)-It's no fish tale that Americans should eat more fruits and vegetables. Adding fruit to a main dish can be a great place to start. Have fun, try unique combinations and get creative as you help your family meet its nutritional needs.

Seafood chefs have done just that with the following easy-to-prepare recipe that is made with nutritious fresh fish, traditional Latin seasonings and juicy, ripe pears.

The pears add a boost of fiber and vitamin C to the meal and, at just 100 calories per serving, they're also a low-cal way to include more potassium in your diet. And since they're bursting with sweetness, adding pears is a smart way to serve fish to even the most finicky of eaters.

Spicy Fish Tacos with Pear Mango Salsa

Prep time: 35 minutes
Cooking time: 20 to 25 minutes
Makes: 6 servings

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin, ground
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, ground
• 6 (4-oz.) fish fillets, fresh or frozen, thawed
• 2/3 cup USA pears, cored, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1/2 cup mango, peeled, pitted, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1/2 cup red grapes, sliced
• 1 tablespoon red onion, minced
• 1 tablespoon jalapeño pepper, seeded, minced
• 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 12 (6-inch) flour tortillas
• Preheat oven to 350° F.

Whisk oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, salt and cayenne pepper in small bowl; set aside. Place fish in single layer in 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Pour oil and lime juice mixture over fish and refrigerate 30 minutes. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until fish is opaque, flakes with fork. Mix pear, mango, grapes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro and salt in bowl. Serve fish and salsa on warm tortillas.

Visit www.usapears.org for more recipes and tips.

Preparing Your Child-And Yourself-For Preschool

(NAPSI)-Your child's first day of preschool may be just around the corner, but you may already be concerned that she won't make it into college because she hasn't perfected counting to 10 ... in French.

With morning TV shows doting on pint-size geniuses and neighbors prepping their tots for top-notch private school interviews, many parents are feeling the heat to get their child's academic career off to a good start. If your child is still a few ABCs away from your comfort zone, don't worry; there are other tips and tricks for ensuring preschool readiness:

• Ease separation anxiety. If your child hasn't experienced much time away from you, think about arranging a weekend with Grandma, or a few nights with a babysitter. If you aren't able to help your child adjust to the separation in advance, talk to your child's teacher about allowing you to linger during his first few days in school.
• Enforce a schedule at home. Preschools usually follow a predictable routine: story time, snack, art time, playground, music time. If your child doesn't keep to a schedule and each day is different from the last, it can help to standardize her days a bit before she starts preschool. Start by offering meals on a regular timetable. You can also plan to visit the park each afternoon, or set-and stick to-a bedtime routine.
• Introduce your child to technology. Today's schools are more wired than ever as technology becomes an increasingly integral part of life. And chances are your child is already more familiar with your television remote control, DVD player, computer and cell phone than you are. But there are other, more age-appropriate technology products out there designed just for preschoolers. LeapFrog's ClickStart My First Computer is one example of a safe way to introduce 3- to 6-year-olds to early keyboarding and mousing skills on a keyboard that plugs into the TV.
• Practice playing with others. Many preschool activities, such as "circle time," give children a chance to play and learn together, but also require them to sit still, listen to stories and sing songs. If your child isn't used to facilitated group activities, you can start introducing them yourself. Take her to story time at the library, or sign her up for a class to help her get used to playing with other children.

Learn more at www.leapfrog.com.

Small Attractions Offer Big Halloween Chills

(NAPSI)-For those who believe Halloween is no longer the fun and spine-tingling holiday it was when they were young, there's frighteningly good news: Ripley Entertainment Inc., the venerable "Believe It or Not!" folks, are resurrecting the haunting and quirky nature of the holiday this year.

Halloween is the 20th century version of Samhain, the Celtic celebration held 2,000 years ago in which revelers would don costumes in an attempt to scare away the spirits. This year, attractions within the Ripley family will not only scare away the spirits, but possibly the fearful as well!

It's all part of the legacy of the man who helped fuel America's interest in the bizarre: Robert Ripley. Many of the sites operated by Ripley Entertainment today are an eerie testament to people's continuing quest to discover the unusual, weird and often macabre side of human nature. Unlike most Halloween "haunted houses," the year-round Ripley's attractions always feature live actors, and in October, horror film celebrity guests make personal appearances.

The Carnival of Screams is returning to Ripley's Haunted Adventures in Gatlinburg, Tenn. and Myrtle Beach, S.C. this October for a scary presentation of quirky clowns and sideshow oddities. Adding to the eeriness will be an appearance in Gatlinburg by Bill Moseley, who portrayed Otis Driftwood in the Rob Zombie classics "House of 1,000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects." Doug Bradley, who played Pinhead in the "Hellraiser" films, is set for a visit to Myrtle Beach.

During the Carnival of Screams haunting at Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum in Grand Prairie, Texas, state-of-the-art special effects, live actors and spooky wax people guarantee to take the scare factor up a few levels. Gunnar Hansen, the original Leatherface from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," is coming home to where it all began for a special appearance.

A bevy of creepy clowns will be lurking throughout October at the Haunted Adventure in San Antonio, Texas as well. And to make things extra-sensory scary, guests there will wear glasses to enjoy the macabre 3-D effects throughout the attraction.

If you're looking for "real" ghosts, Ripley's Ghost Train Adventure in St. Augustine, Fla. - the country's oldest and most haunted city - is the place to be. Each guest is provided a calibrated ghost meter and a camera to help in the search. In addition, there's a walking ghost tour, a daytime "Mourning Adventure" for those who like to fill their ghost quotient before noon, costume contests and a late-night ghost watch.

And for those with their own little monsters, a family-oriented "Howl-O-Ween" with a haunted Trick or Treat Trail, spooky storytelling and scary bingo will run for 10 days in late October at Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

For specific times, dates and locations of Ripley's Halloween celebrations, visit www.ripleys.com.

War Diaries: How Troops In War Zones Are Telling T

(NAPSI)-Unlike letters from previous wars, video technology is helping to connect television viewers to the real-world experiences of troops serving on the front, giving people a sense of the Iraq War from the Americans who live it every day. In order to pay tribute to America's military personnel, a cable television channel is bringing the concept of reality TV to a whole new level.

The Military Channel (owned by Discovery Communications) takes viewers behind the lines to hear the personal stories of servicemen and -women and offers in-depth explorations of military technology, battlefield strategy, aviation and history. As the only cable network devoted to military subjects, it also provides unique access, allowing viewers to experience and understand a world full of human drama, courage, innovation and long-held military traditions.

"The Military Channel's mission is to provide a national outlet for our troops' voices to be heard by bringing viewers real-world stories from the front lines from the men and women serving in our armed forces," said Clint Stinchcomb, executive vice president and general manager, Discovery Emerging Networks Group.

Personal Stories

Key examples of the network's programming are "My War Diary" and "Voices From the Front," made by and for the men and women serving on the war front. Unlike previous attempts to document wartime experiences, these series incorporate the stories with footage, personal accounts and even rap videos created by those serving on the front lines in Iraq.

The clips, which are submitted both over the Internet and by soldiers' families, cover a wide range of topics and emotions - from the comical to the terrifying to the awe inspiring. Each episode provides a different perspective on the war in Iraq, adding a new dimension to perceptions of the conflict.

Since the network went on the air, the Military Channel has received hundreds of submissions from troops who served or are still serving in the war zones. Troops can upload their videos - most taken from digital or cell phone cameras - directly through the network's Web site. All submissions are sent to the military for clearance to ensure the safety of military personnel serving in war zones.

Soldiers and their families are invited to submit their own personal videos to tell of their own experience in military theaters.

To learn more or for information on submitting a video clip, visit www.mywardiary.com.