By Melissa Cuppett

“You know, for kids.”

Whenever Norville Barnes (played by Tim Robbins in the movie “The Hudsucker Proxy”) showed someone a sketch of his would-be invention — a perfect circle on a piece of paper — he’d follow it with that line. And his invention, the hula hoop, is something most of us would place in that “for kids” category, along with flying kites and maybe even jumping rope. But these and other activities from childhood can offer a fun way for adults to get more exercise.

And most adults could stand to exercise more. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics found a notable lack of leisure-time physical activity among the respondents in its 2005 National Health Interview Survey. (According to the survey, “Vigorous leisure-time physical activity is defined as the respondent performing vigorous activity for at least 10 minutes. Vigorous activity is that which causes heavy sweating and a large increase in breathing or heart rate.”) The findings include:

• 62 percent of adults never engaged in any periods of vigorous leisure-time physical activity lasting 10 minutes or more each week, with 24 percent of adults engaging in such activity three or more times per week; and

• 57 percent of men never engaged in vigorous leisure-time physical activity lasting 10 minutes or more each week, compared with 66 percent of women. Twenty-six percent of men engaged in such activity three or more times per week compared with 22 percent of women.

Also, a greater percentage of adults in the South — which, in the survey, includes both West Virginia and Virginia — never engaged in such activity compared with adults in other regions.

In a separate look at adults’ physical activity, “Physical Activity Among Adults: United States, 2000 and 2005,” the National Center for Health Statistics found that adults were becoming less active, be it vigorous or otherwise: “Between 2000 and 2005, there was an increase in the percentages of adults who spent their usual daily activity sitting, did not lift anything during their usual daily activity, and did not engage in any leisure-time physical activity. During this time period, the percentages of adults who walked during their usual daily activity, lifted heavy loads during their usual daily activity, and engaged in regular leisure-time physical activity decreased.”

The report also notes what we all know, even if we still spend much of our time sitting at desks or on couches: “The positive influence that physical activity has on health has been well established. Among adults, regular physical activity has been associated with a reduced risk of stroke, impaired glucose tolerance, Type 2 diabetes, mortality, and cardiovascular disease incident events. Engaging in physical activity daily has also proven to be helpful in both losing weight and maintaining weight loss.”

So the fact is, most of us need to get moving. Small steps — parking farther from the workplace or store, taking the stairs instead of the elevator — are better than nothing at all, and can help you get on the path to better health. (Consult with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.) We decided to look to childhood for fun ways to introduce more activity into our daily lives. Why not start a new tradition by reviving an old one? Despite what Norville Barnes may have thought, these “toys” aren’t just for kids.

• The Hula Hoop •
The history of the hoop precedes the fictional Norville Barnes; its origin goes back thousands of years. Hoops have been made from bamboo, wood, metal, grasses and vines, notes Mary Bellis at About.com. The modern plastic incarnation, however, was first created in the late 1950s.

According to The Great Idea Finder website, an Australian company made wood rings for sale in 1957, attracting the attention of Richard Knerr and Arthur “Spud” Melin, founders of the toy company Wham-O. The next year, Wham-O manufactured a brightly colored plastic hoop — trademarked the Hula Hoop.

Notes Time magazine in a Dec. 1, 1958, article titled “Hula-la!”: “The bright plastic things were to be seen everywhere — along Paris’ Champs-Elysees, in the stodgiest of London shops, in the geisha houses of Tokyo, even among the smart luggage of the Queen Mother Zaine of Jordan, who was on her way home. Prime Minister Kishi of Japan got one for his 62nd birthday, and a Belgian expedition setting out for the Antarctic announced it was taking 20 along to keep its members fit and happy. Not since the Yo-yo had a U.S. craze spread so far so fast. The hula hoop had circled the globe.”

Today, hoops come in various sizes and weights, with some intended specifically for dance and exercise purposes. Most professionally weighted hoops (usually from 1 pound up to 5 pounds) cost about $25 to $50; start with an online search to feel out your choices.

For adults, and adult beginners in particular, a kid-size hoop will be more difficult to use, notes hooping.org magazine. The website suggests buying or making your own hula hoop, aiming for one that hits somewhere between your stomach and chest when you stand with it in front of you. (You can make a hoop with poly tubing, a ratcheting PVC cutter, insert-connectors and a hairdryer, plus colorful tape for decoration. For complete directions, see Link - Click here If you must use one made for a child (which run as low as about $2.50 apiece), just trying to hoop it up — and bending down to pick it up off the floor, over and over — can get your heart beating faster.

To use the hoop, stand with one foot slightly in front of the other and shift your weight back and forth from foot to foot. You don’t have to move a lot to get the hoop spinning. And be patient — it will take awhile to get the hang of it. Take 15 minutes at a time to work on your technique. You also may want to try spinning the hoop on each arm, which is easier.

• The Frisbee •
Wham-O is also responsible for the popularity of the Frisbee, which turns 50 this year.

The flying disc’s name was inspired by that of baker William Frisbie’s company, which opened in 1871 in Bridgeport, Conn., according to information at About.com. College students took to tossing and catching the company’s empty pie tins, which were embossed with the words “Frisbie’s Pies.” Walter Frederick Morrison and Warren Franscioni created a plastic disc called the Flyin’ Saucer in 1948, followed by Morrison’s Pluto Platter in the 1950s, according to The Ultimate Handbook website. Wham-O’s Knerr and Melin bought the rights to his design, and since 1957 millions of children, adults and dogs have enjoyed the fruits of that decision.

Two notable sports utilize the Frisbee. Ultimate Frisbee is a team sport that resembles football, soccer and basketball. “A game of Ultimate is played by two seven-player squads with a high-tech plastic disc on a field similar to football. The object of the game is to score by catching a pass in the opponent’s end zone. A player must stop running while in possession of the disc, but may pivot and pass to any of the other receivers on the field,” according to information on the Ultimate Players Association’s website. “Ultimate is played in more than 42 countries by hundreds of thousands of men and women, girls and boys.”

Disc golf — or Frisbee golf — is played on courses set up at parks, or at impromptu courses made up by players at parks or other green spaces, according to the Professional Disc Golf Association website. “Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee,” according to the site. “The sport was formalized in the 1970s, and shares with ‘ball golf’ the object of completing each hole in the fewest number of strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest number of throws). ... It is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, male and female, regardless of economic status.”

If it’s been awhile since you tossed a Frisbee yourself, you can pick one up for under $10. Glow-in-the-dark discs and 50th anniversary versions are among the many options available at local stores and online. More information about the rules and tips for Ultimate Frisbee and disc golf is available online.

By Samantha Perry

Like an ever-determined dreadful slug making its way to a tasty flower garden, they’ve been creeping up on us throughout these early years of the 21st century. “They” being fashions from the 1980s — those chaotic, atrocious and, at times, just plain awful styles we believed to be “like, totally” cool a mere quarter-century ago.

Now, having matured well beyond my teenage years in the ’80s, I’d prefer to light a match to my tongue than ever utter the words “like, totally” again.

Or wear my hair super blond, super-permed and super poufed.

Or sport any suit with shoulder pads rivaling those of a football player.

Or pull a pair of rainbow-colored leg warmers over my calves.

What were we thinking? Perhaps it was all the hair spray fumes we inhaled in our attempts to stretch our locks to new heights that resulted in temporary style insanity, but, for whatever the reason, the era certainly underscored new lows in fashion.

We should have known trouble was on the horizon during the early 1980s when super-tight designer jeans suddenly became the rage. Remember the young Brook Shields proclaiming “Nothing comes between me and my Calvins” in the famous advertising campaign? The reason: Nothing could fit between her skin and the jeans.

Whether Calvin Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt or Chic, girls usually had to lay back across their beds, suck in their tummies and then stretch, pull and tug to get the jeans zipped and buttoned. But that was the easy part when compared to having to actually stand up and move.

As the decade progressed, we had an array of tops to complement our ridiculously constricting jeans. There were the Izod polo shirts, monogrammed sweaters, the “Flashdance”-inspired shoulder-baring sweatshirts and, for a dressier look, the ever-popular blazers. These bore the most unusual rectangular silhouette, which was made even more pronounced by the ultra-padded shoulders and giant buttons made of faux gold or silver.

And what blazer-and-jean ensemble would be complete without a pair of colorful pumps — matching the blazer, a handbag or both — paired with pastel socks adorned with lace, à la Madonna?

With the surge in popularity of MTV, the influence of video-inspired styles on the masses was a major cultural trend. From Michael Jackson’s red jacket and one-gloved fashion fad to Boy George’s jaunty hat, teens were mimicking their favorite musicians’ styles in more ways than clothing.

Who can forget Moon Zappa’s infamous “Valley Girls” song, which spawned a coast-to-coast following of California wanna-be teen girls spouting phrases like “tubular,” “grody to the max” and “gag me with a spoon!”

Pardon me, but I’m beginning to gag from the memory of it all.

Through the decade, the fashions did evolve — from bad to just-as-bad. Our jeans loosened somewhat and became stone-washed, ripped and riddled with holes. Whether worn through or torn out intentionally, I can recall a point in my teen years when every pair of my favorite jeans had no knees. Paired with my favorite well-worn, faded Mickey Mouse sweatshirt, it was the ultimate sloppy look.

Of course, no ’80s ensemble would be complete without the heavy makeup — think ultra-black mascara and super-thick eyeliner — and those notorious mane attractions.

While other decades had their bad fashion moments, the 1980s epitomized some of the worst hairstyles. We bleached, highlighted, permed, poufed, spiked, feathered, layered, curling-ironed, hot-rolled and crimped our locks, in order to achieve “high hair,” “big hair” and “mall chick hair.”

There were a few more subtle styles, such as the “rat tail” — one long strand of hair hanging down the back of an otherwise short cut, and sometimes braided for special occasions such as prom.

In retrospect, perhaps we can’t be faulted too much for our lapse in fashion judgment. Recall the trends and entertainment that surrounded us.

With our boom boxes blaring songs such as “Beat It,” “Footloose,” “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Walk Like An Egyptian,” we were becoming addicted to Rubik’s cube and video games like “Pac-Man,” “Asteroids,” “Space Invaders” and “Frogger.”

On television, we became obsessed with finding out “Who shot J.R.?”, while also watching such shows as “Design-ing Women,” “Murphy Brown,” “Dukes of Hazzard,” “Three’s Company,” “The A Team,” “Miami Vice,” “Knight Rider,” “CHiPs,” “Char-lie’s Angels” and “Facts of Life.”

The decade’s motion pictures actually spawned a few classics, such as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Risky Business,” “Indiana Jones” and “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

Yet despite the flicker of taste and sensibility at the box office, one has to wonder why designers would want to bring back any style from this decade renowned for being fashion senseless? Who knows? But, like it or not, bits and pieces from this era are slowly making their way back into closets.

Recent years have brought a resurgence of one-shouldered tops, aviator shades, lingerie worn as daywear, vintage imprinted tees, lace trim, bright and tight tanks, plastic beaded necklaces, leggings and — believe it or not — jelly shoes!

Why, oh why, would fashion aficionados choose to revive some of these most dreadful styles? Many of us who experienced the ’80s trends firsthand have no desire to ever go there again. The first time we could blame it on the ignorance of youth. Now we have no such excuse.

I’ve heard many Baby Boomers often joke that they “can’t remember the ’60s.” It’s regrettable the same can’t be said for the ’80s.

Prerogative Editor Samantha Perry was a teenager during the 1980s.

By Sara Helmadollar

It’s a universal fact — shoes cannot make you fat. Therefore, women love them.

Interestingly enough, as much as I, too, adore prancing about in a great pair of shoes, my obsession is flawed. Since I’ve been old enough to understand the impact of shoes in a woman’s life, I’ve struggled with my own personal fashion demon — my feet (also affectionately known as my “Barney Rubbles”). My feet are short and square-looking. And they have a striking resemblance to Barney Rubble’s feet — fat toes and all. I’m certain that once people actually see my feet, they immediately wonder how I even walk on them. Not my favorite feature.

When I began researching this story about women and footwear, I started delving into my own relationship with shoes. Since shoes and I have a sordid and painful history, I decided my own experience would not suffice. So I asked a handful of girlfriends: “Why do women love shoes?”

“Women love shoes because no matter what size you are, you can always wear great, stylish shoes,” Deana said. This theory overwhelmingly topped the mound of responses from the women I spoke with.

Another friend, Geralann (who stands only a smidgen over 5 feet), said not only does the dependability of wearing the same size shoes year after year lend support for her self-esteem, but high heels can make her look even thinner, which really helps in the confidence category.

“I love shoes because they always look good on me. It doesn’t matter how much I weigh, I always wear the same size shoe,” she said. “In fact, the higher the heel the skinnier I look! If I find a pair that gives me 3 inches in height and comfortable — I’m sold! I’ve even spent more on a pair of good shoes than I have for my entire spring wardrobe.”

I began wondering how we — the female race — ended up here. When did wearing shoes become pleasurable because they don’t add pounds to our thighs? When did we begin wearing shoes to protect our hearts instead of our feet?

Although it’s hard to say when and where the first pair of shoes was invented, historians do know that shoes were created to protect the feet from rough terrain and inclement climates. Many studies show that the earliest shoes were made from what was handy — bark, large leaves and grass — and then tied with vines.

During the 20th century, a variety of shoe styles and designers would rise and fall in the fashion industry. From the 1920s bar shoes to 1940s utility styles to 1960s stiletto heels to 1970s platform soles, shoes became an acceptable social drug. Simply put, shoes became a stimulant that made women feel good. As a result, shoes became a show of social status and fashion awareness, and an instant pick-me-up for a lady with the blues.

Since we live in a culture where too much emphasis is often placed on the way we look, do women become brainwashed to search the world over for shoes that enhance their physical appearance and don’t make them feel bad about their looks? While I do not condone this concept, for argument’s sake, let’s say there’s insecurity instilled in every female, and that’s why shoes are safe. And if that is the case, then is a shoe fix really that bad? It beats other — possibly more harmful and expensive — obsessions.

Besides, regardless of the psychology behind the obsession, the bottom line is that great shoes give me and most other women a great sense of confidence.
Take a sassy set of heels for example. Women don’t walk in heels — they strut. And nothing feels better. Talk about a confidence boost. And maybe if we walk the walk, we’ll also talk the talk.

“A good pair of shoes can make you feel better … so you stand taller and therefore appear more confident,” Deana said.

I couldn’t agree more. Now … what to do about my freakishly square feet?

The enormous Hillsville, Va., flea market is coming up this Labor Day weekend. Seems like a good reason to begin our online posts of autumn stories with this one by Janeen Rose. (Note the tips at the bottom.)


Shopping at a flea market is a great way to find everything and anything you need, from antiques to appliances, toys to a Superman comic book, or perhaps just a pint of homemade apple butter.

Although there is no official history of the “flea market” or how it got its name, a couple theories exist. Both stories reference Paris in the 1860s. One theory (which I prefer to hope is untrue) contends that the name comes from fleas infesting furniture sold at open-air markets. The other theory suggests that marketing merchants were forced to “flee” elsewhere to continue their trade due to the redesign of Paris streets.

Whatever the origins, flea markets exist around the world, and the shopping method is universal: Vendors and patrons bargain until striking a price that makes both sides happy. It is that simple. The United States has about 5,000 flea markets, swap meets or collectible markets, with an estimated more than 100 million shoppers annually.

One of the largest flea markets in southern West Virginia is at Pence Springs in Monroe County, W.Va. It is open every Sunday, April through October. Another large flea market that is open year-round is The Greenbrier Valley Flea Market at the state fairgrounds in Fairlea, W.Va. It is open every Tuesday and Saturday. In Bluefield, W.Va., a flea market is held each Saturday during the summer at the parking building downtown. For more information about regional flea markets, tour the Southern West Virginia Convention & Visitor’s Bureau website at Link - Click here

Part of the fun of flea marketing is feeling like you have made the deal of the century. There’s a fine line between treasure and junk, but it’s barely perceptible since what one person considers junk, another person treasures.

Marketing tips:

What to wear
— Layered clothing — it may be chilly in the morning and hot in the afternoon
— Comfortable walking shoes
— Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
— Poncho — sometimes you get the best deals in poor weather due to thinning crowds
— Limited jewelry — displays of wealth discourage bargaining
— Something attached to you to keep money safe

What to bring
— Tape measure — make sure your purchases will fit when you get them home
— Camera — take pictures of items of interest
— Bring along a small cart or wagon to tow purchases
— Water and perhaps snacks (they can be toted in your wagon)
— Cash with some smaller bills and checks for large purchases; most vendors don’t accept credit cards

Happy hunting
— Arrive early! The early bird gets the worm.
— Make a list to set priorities so you don’t waste time.
— Be open-minded — think outside the box.

Lingo, etiquette and how to “dicker”
— “Is that a firm price” sounds better than “Will you take” a certain amount of money “for this?”
— Don’t expect a dealer to change his prices because you saw “one just like it” on the other side of the market.
— “Is this actually old?” is questioning a dealer’s integrity. If you are in doubt, ask about the history of the piece.
— Ask a dealer to hold items until the end of the day only if you have purchased them.
— Haggle for a better price, but remember the vendor is there to make a living, so let the other party save face.
— Be serious about your offers.
— The more items you buy the more room for negotiation.
— Keep your poker face on — the slightest drool and the dealer will know you’ll pay any price.
— Show your hand: As a last resort, pull your cash out and say, “This is all I’ve got,” and the dealer may be willing to take it just to avoid packing the item back up.

Now you’re ready to start your treasure-hunting expedition! You may not find something wonderful on every shopping trip, or you may buy something and later decide it is not so perfect after all, yet the thrill of the hunt is often what we remember fondly.

And always remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

What are the best "chick flicks"? What qualifies as a chick flick? Read the top-10 lists from two local guys, then share your comments here or in the message boards.

From Charles Owens, city editor for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph:
(For the record, not everyone thinks women aren't into "Star Wars" and other films listed below. I have seen nine of the 10 movies on Charles' mostly unconventional list, and would be much happier to watch "Casino Royale" or "Die Hard" again instead of "Thelma and Louise." -- Melissa Cuppett)

A quick Google search for the word "chick flick" concludes the word is slang for a movie that appeals mainly to women. It includes a couple of suggestions of popular chick flicks, including "Pretty Woman," "Beaches," "The Princess Diaries," "Steel Magnolias," "Gone With the Wind" and, of course, "Titanic."

I was surprised to see that movies such as "Alien Vs. Predator," "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith" and "Terminator 2" didn't make the final cut. Come on, ladies — those are some great movies you are missing.

If you want romance, tragedy and an epic saga, you need to look no further than "Revenge of the Sith." You have the doomed relationship between the young Jedi Anakin and his secret wife, Padme. In order to save her life, Anakin is ultimately forced to betray the Jedi order, joining forces with a dark Sith Lord who gains control of an evil empire that ultimately conquers the entire galaxy. Oh, and Anakin gets fried by volcanic lava, and is reborn as the half-human, half-machine Darth Vader, one of modern cinema's greatest villains.

Sadly, many women aren't very excited about the whole "Star Wars" mythology. I don't understand why.

Nevertheless, as a guy challenged to envision his Top 10 chick flicks of all time, I find it difficult not to include "Revenge of the Sith" in the Top 10. By request of the Prerogative editors, my choices for the Top 10 "chick flicks" of all time are:

1. "Titanic." Yep, the big boat sinks. No real surprise here. But hey, I knew Anakin was going to become Darth Vader as well, and that didn't stop me from camping out for "Revenge of the Sith." "Titanic" also includes a love story, and some actor called Leonardo DiCaprio. Apparently the women like him. At three hours, the film was a little too long for my taste. But there was some action at least, and a big boat sinks. So it's earned the top spot on my list.

2. "Pretty Woman." Yes, the classic modern-day Cinderella story. Julia Roberts plays a prostitute who falls in love with a rich guy who can't drive a stick shift. Actually, it's a great movie, and I've seen it multiple times. Guys, as well as ladies, can't go wrong with "Pretty Woman."

3. "Dirty Dancing." Great music, great dancing and decent acting. It's a classic that a guy and a lady can watch together over and over again. No boat sinks here, and nobody gets their skin melted off by a massive volcanic eruption. But good stuff nevertheless.

4. "Aliens" — the 1986 sequel to the classic 1979 "Alien." Sigourney Weaver kicks alien butt. Need I say more? Actually, many women don't like this movie. I guess it has something to do with the slimy, nasty and overall ugly aliens. That's the problem with more modern-day special effects: Sometimes they are a little too realistic.

5. "Die Hard." Bruce Willis shoots, stabs and blows up a bunch of terrorists in order to be reunited with his estranged wife. Now that's definitely true love.

6. "Dawn of the Dead" (the 2004 remake). A small group of survivors are trapped inside a mall full of flesh-eating zombies. The ultimate date movie!

7. "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King." The spectacular culmination of Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and the conclusion of the battle for Middle Earth. Women actually liked this one. Gollum was kind of cute — until he went all psycho at the end. Women liked Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen. Guys liked Liv Tyler — and I guess Gollum? Actually, take that back about Gollum. He was ugly.

8. "Casino Royale." Bond is back, and cooler than ever. Women apparently like this James Bond — note the scene where he takes his shirt off and walks on the beach. Men like the explosions, gunfire and the Bond girls. Oh, and it's actually a prequel, which is kind of cool. We get to find out how James became Bond. Kind of like how Anakin became Vader. No nasty lava or skin melting here; Bond is simply betrayed by a lovely woman.

9. "Independence Day." You can't go wrong with this classic. Will Smith is cool, and apparently popular with the ladies. Lots of great explosions and gunfire. Stuff blows up really well in this movie — and that's always a big plus for us guys. Basically, the aliens invade our planet in a big way. On the Fourth of July, we fight back — and somehow we manage to destroy all the aliens.

10. "Stars Wars: Episode 4 — A New Hope." Come on — we all know and love the original 1977 masterpiece, "Star Wars" (later retitled as "Episode 4: A New Hope"). Luke joins the swashbuckling Han Solo and the furry Chewbacca on a suicide mission to the giant planet-destroying Death Star in order to rescue Princess Leia from the clutches of the evil Darth Vader (who used to be Luke's dad Anakin before he got fried by a nasty case of lava in "Episode III"). Luke doesn't realize Leia is his sister, and they start kissing. It's kind of freaky. The women liked Han Solo. The guys — well, I guess we liked Chewbacca (kind of in a Gollum-type way).

•••From Tom Colley, executive editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph:

With 38 years of marriage, millions of movies and six decades of real-life experience in the touching area of relationships, I feel some credentials for looking back at what is called here, "chick flicks." (Rhett and Scarlett, please forgive us.)

You won't find fleeting fantasies of the origins of Darth Vader or Bruce Willis here, or a dawn of the dead here. (Who in the world are the real reporters sitting in our newsroom? Chick flicks? What's happening to the charm of romanticism?)

At any rate, I accepted this challenge to help bring some sanity to the idea of best romantic films. Yes, I know I'm over 30, but, really, romantic themes on the silver screen help immeasurably to the perpetuation of our American population.

With no further need to discuss that point, here are 10 heart pumpers that, for the time we're captivated by the magic of movies, will add some soul to the squeeze sitting beside you.

1. "Doctor Zhivago" (1965) — A relationship sustained through a brutal revolution and extreme adversity is flawlessly presented in this film version of the Boris Pasternak masterpiece. "Zhivago" is generally recognized as the best movie not to have won the Best Picture Oscar, although it won five other Academy Awards. I was lucky enough to see the Washington, D.C., premiere and dine in a fancy Georgetown restaurant afterward. A magic night with magic entertainment! Julie Christie as the unforgettable Laura is immortalized in poems written in defiance of harsh government control by Zhivago, a young doctor who falls for the woman of his dreams after he is married and has a family. She remains in his heart until his death as an aging romantic.

2. "Gone With the Wind" (1939) — The film icon of American culture, with a sweeping American backdrop, populated by people who experience true American adventures of the heart. Whether you love Scarlett or hate her, she always inspires a spirit of survival, even if complicated with determination and heartbreak. But the dashing Clark Gable always inspired a swooning fantasy among his female audiences. (Yes, we've all heard this forever.)

3. "Casablanca" (1942) —The best picture ever made makes my list for one reason: Ingrid Bergman and those filtered black-and-white closeups of her face. What chick could equal that, even in fantasy? And that immortal line by Bogart, "We'll always have Paris." Sacrifice for love, underscored.

4. "Steel Magnolias" (1989) — The perfect ensemble casting ever. Period. The movie is so female-only, it makes men feel like a spare tire in the trunk of a car that never has a flat. Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Olivia Dukakis, Shirley MacLaine and Julia Roberts keep a Louisiana soap opera bouncing between belly laughs and tears that rivets everyone's attention.

5. "Walk the Line" (2006) — Johnny and June by two good actors. While hardcore Cashers may cringe at some of the historical detail, the real story is the everlasting pursuit of love and an everlasting love affair. Reese Witherspoon earned every ounce of her Oscar.

6. "Ghost" (1989) — Love after death. It can't get better than that. The Demi Moore-Patrick Swayze scorcher is awesome (don't forget "Unchained Melody"!), but the real entertainment is Whoopi.

7. "An Affair to Remember" (1957) — The movie that immortalized a love rendezvous atop the Empire State Building. No top-10 chick flick list could ignore Cary Grant. (Who says chicks can't be mature?)

8. "The African Queen" (1952) — Hepburn and Bogart. A spinster gets a real-life lesson from its chief advocate and she never looks back. A true classic.

9. "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) — Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? This Oscar winner traces the lives of several returning World War II soldiers and we find that no, a relationship can be out of sight and lost forever. While the relevance of the movie in the post-war era was painfully obvious to some, nothing's really changed in 2007. Affairs of the heart are indeed timeless.

10. "Thelma and Louise" (1991) — Bankrupt lives find a final fling. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis take a wild ride of ultimate freedom with nowhere to go and pay the price. What fun!

The summer issue of Prerogative comes out tomorrow. If you aren't sure where to get a copy, e-mail or call us (check out the Contact Us page). We've expanded from 72 to 84 pages to accomodate more features and sections. Be sure to tell us what you think!

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Along with samples of articles from our print magazine, we will gradually add some online-only features, including blogs and staff profiles. The first of these new features will be the Prerogative Culture Club blog, which will look at culture-related news, from fashion ad controversies to the Oscars and more.

Please join our creative director, Melissa Cuppett, in the discussion at Culture Club. (Note: The link will take you outside the Prerogative website).

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