not_deterministic.py

import sys
import numpy as np
import random

sys.argv += ["--dynet-mem", "1000", "--dynet-seed", "10", "--dynet-gpu-ids" , "1" ]
from dynet import *

random.seed(10)
np.random.seed(20)


def extract_words_from_train(f_train):
    words_count = {}
    words = []
    for l in open(f_train):
        l = l.split()
        for w in l:
            if w not in words_count:
                words_count[w] = 0
            words_count[w] += 1

    for w in words_count:
        if words_count[w] > RARE_WORD:
            words.append(w)
    return words


def ff_all_sent_graph(sentence):
    renew_cg()
    f_init = builder.initial_state()
    f_words = [lookup(lookup_words, w) for w in sentence[:-1]]
    f = [x.output() for x in f_init.add_inputs(f_words)]

    W = parameter(W_p)
    b1 = parameter(b1_p)
    U = parameter(U_p)
    b2 = parameter(b2_p)

    losses = []

    for (vec, next_word) in zip(f, sentence[1:]):
        mlp = U*(rectify((W*vec)+b1))+b2
        losses.append(pickneglogsoftmax(mlp, next_word))
    return esum(losses)

#TODO parameters
NUM_LAYERS = 1
INPUT_DIM = 300
HIDDEN_DIM = INPUT_DIM
W_DIM = 200
EPOCH = 1
RARE_WORD = 0

f_train = "train_short.txt"
f_test = "test_short.txt"

words = extract_words_from_train(f_train)
words.append("<s>")
words.append("<UNK>")
word_num = len(words)
words_to_num = {n:i for i,n in enumerate(words)}
UNK = words_to_num["<UNK>"]

model = Model()
trainer = AdamTrainer(model)

builder = VanillaLSTMBuilder(NUM_LAYERS, INPUT_DIM, HIDDEN_DIM, model)

lookup_words = model.add_lookup_parameters((word_num, INPUT_DIM))
b1_p = model.add_parameters((W_DIM,))
b2_p = model.add_parameters((word_num,))
W_p = model.add_parameters((W_DIM, INPUT_DIM))
U_p = model.add_parameters((word_num, W_DIM))

total_loss = 0

for i,s in enumerate(open(f_train),1):
     sentence = s.split()
     sentence = ["<s>"] + sentence
     sentence = [words_to_num.get(w, UNK) for w in sentence]

     loss = ff_all_sent_graph(sentence)
     print loss.value()
     total_loss += loss.value()

     loss.backward()
     trainer.update()
     if i == 100: break

train_short.txt

 aer banknote berlitz calloway centrust cluett fromstein gitano guterman hydro-quebec ipo kia memotec mlx nahb punts rake regatta rubens sim snack-food ssangyong swapo wachter 
 pierre <unk> N years old will join the board as a nonexecutive director nov. N 
 mr. <unk> is chairman of <unk> n.v. the dutch publishing group 
 rudolph <unk> N years old and former chairman of consolidated gold fields plc was named a nonexecutive director of this british industrial conglomerate 
 a form of asbestos once used to make kent cigarette filters has caused a high percentage of cancer deaths among a group of workers exposed to it more than N years ago researchers reported 
 the asbestos fiber <unk> is unusually <unk> once it enters the <unk> with even brief exposures to it causing symptoms that show up decades later researchers said 
 <unk> inc. the unit of new york-based <unk> corp. that makes kent cigarettes stopped using <unk> in its <unk> cigarette filters in N 
 although preliminary findings were reported more than a year ago the latest results appear in today 's new england journal of medicine a forum likely to bring new attention to the problem 
 a <unk> <unk> said this is an old story 
 we 're talking about years ago before anyone heard of asbestos having any questionable properties 
 there is no asbestos in our products now 
 neither <unk> nor the researchers who studied the workers were aware of any research on smokers of the kent cigarettes 
 we have no useful information on whether users are at risk said james a. <unk> of boston 's <unk> cancer institute 
 dr. <unk> led a team of researchers from the national cancer institute and the medical schools of harvard university and boston university 
 the <unk> spokeswoman said asbestos was used in very modest amounts in making paper for the filters in the early 1950s and replaced with a different type of <unk> in N 
 from N to N N billion kent cigarettes with the filters were sold the company said 
 among N men who worked closely with the substance N have died more than three times the expected number 
 four of the five surviving workers have <unk> diseases including three with recently <unk> cancer 
 the total of N deaths from malignant <unk> lung cancer and <unk> was far higher than expected the researchers said 
 the <unk> rate is a striking finding among those of us who study <unk> diseases said dr. <unk> 
 the percentage of lung cancer deaths among the workers at the west <unk> mass. paper factory appears to be the highest for any asbestos workers studied in western industrialized countries he said 
 the plant which is owned by <unk> & <unk> co. was under contract with <unk> to make the cigarette filters 
 the finding probably will support those who argue that the u.s. should regulate the class of asbestos including <unk> more <unk> than the common kind of asbestos <unk> found in most schools and other buildings dr. <unk> said 
 the u.s. is one of the few industrialized nations that does n't have a higher standard of regulation for the smooth <unk> fibers such as <unk> that are classified as <unk> according to <unk> t. <unk> a professor of <unk> at the university of vermont college of medicine 
 more common <unk> fibers are <unk> and are more easily rejected by the body dr. <unk> explained 
 in july the environmental protection agency imposed a gradual ban on virtually all uses of asbestos 
 by N almost all remaining uses of <unk> asbestos will be outlawed 
 about N workers at a factory that made paper for the kent filters were exposed to asbestos in the 1950s 
 areas of the factory were particularly dusty where the <unk> was used 
 workers dumped large <unk> <unk> of the imported material into a huge <unk> poured in cotton and <unk> fibers and <unk> mixed the dry fibers in a process used to make filters 
 workers described clouds of blue dust that hung over parts of the factory even though <unk> fans <unk> the area 
 there 's no question that some of those workers and managers contracted <unk> diseases said <unk> phillips vice president of human resources for <unk> & <unk> 
 but you have to recognize that these events took place N years ago 
 it has no bearing on our work force today 
 yields on money-market mutual funds continued to slide amid signs that portfolio managers expect further declines in interest rates 
 the average seven-day compound yield of the N taxable funds tracked by <unk> 's money fund report eased a fraction of a percentage point to N N from N N for the week ended tuesday 
 compound yields assume reinvestment of dividends and that the current yield continues for a year 
 average maturity of the funds ' investments <unk> by a day to N days the longest since early august according to donoghue 's 
 longer maturities are thought to indicate declining interest rates because they permit portfolio managers to retain relatively higher rates for a longer period 
 shorter maturities are considered a sign of rising rates because portfolio managers can capture higher rates sooner 
 the average maturity for funds open only to institutions considered by some to be a stronger indicator because those managers watch the market closely reached a high point for the year N days 
 nevertheless said <unk> <unk> <unk> editor of money fund report yields may <unk> up again before they <unk> down because of recent rises in short-term interest rates 
 the yield on six-month treasury bills sold at monday 's auction for example rose to N N from N N 
 despite recent declines in yields investors continue to pour cash into money funds 
 assets of the N taxable funds grew by $ N billion during the latest week to $ N billion 
 typically money-fund yields beat comparable short-term investments because portfolio managers can vary maturities and go after the highest rates 
 the top money funds are currently yielding well over N N 
 dreyfus world-wide dollar the <unk> fund had a seven-day compound yield of N N during the latest week down from N N a week earlier 
 it invests heavily in dollar-denominated securities overseas and is currently <unk> management fees which boosts its yield 
 the average seven-day simple yield of the N funds was N N down from N N 
 the 30-day simple yield fell to an average N N from N N the 30-day compound yield slid to an average N N from N N 
 j.p. <unk> vice chairman of <unk> grace & co. which holds a N N interest in this <unk> company was elected a director 
 he succeeds <unk> d. <unk> formerly a <unk> grace vice chairman who resigned 
 <unk> grace holds three of grace energy 's seven board seats 
 pacific first financial corp. said shareholders approved its acquisition by royal <unk> ltd. of toronto for $ N a share or $ N million 
 the thrift holding company said it expects to obtain regulatory approval and complete the transaction by year-end 
 <unk> international inc. said its <unk> & <unk> unit completed the sale of its <unk> controls operations to <unk> s.p a. for $ N million 
 <unk> is an italian state-owned holding company with interests in the mechanical engineering industry 
 <unk> controls based in <unk> ohio makes computerized industrial controls systems 
 it employs N people and has annual revenue of about $ N million 
 the federal government suspended sales of u.s. savings bonds because congress has n't lifted the ceiling on government debt 
 until congress acts the government has n't any authority to issue new debt obligations of any kind the treasury said 
 the government 's borrowing authority dropped at midnight tuesday to $ N trillion from $ N trillion 
 legislation to lift the debt ceiling is <unk> in the fight over cutting capital-gains taxes 
 the house has voted to raise the ceiling to $ N trillion but the senate is n't expected to act until next week at the earliest 
 the treasury said the u.s. will default on nov. N if congress does n't act by then 
 clark j. <unk> was named senior vice president and general manager of this u.s. sales and marketing arm of japanese auto maker mazda motor corp 
 in the new position he will oversee mazda 's u.s. sales service parts and marketing operations 
 previously mr. <unk> N years old was general marketing manager of chrysler corp. 's chrysler division 
 he had been a sales and marketing executive with chrysler for N years 
 when it 's time for their <unk> <unk> the nation 's manufacturing <unk> typically jet off to the <unk> <unk> of resort towns like <unk> <unk> and hot springs 
 not this year 
 the national association of manufacturers settled on the <unk> capital of indianapolis for its fall board meeting 
 and the city decided to treat its guests more like royalty or rock stars than factory owners 
 the idea of course to prove to N corporate decision makers that the buckle on the <unk> belt is n't so <unk> after all that it 's a good place for a company to expand 
 on the receiving end of the message were officials from giants like du pont and <unk> along with lesser <unk> like <unk> steel and the valley queen <unk> factory 
 for <unk> the executives joined mayor william h. <unk> iii for an evening of the indianapolis <unk> <unk> and a guest <unk> victor <unk> 
 champagne and <unk> followed 
 the next morning with a police <unk> <unk> of executives and their wives <unk> to the indianapolis motor <unk> <unk> by traffic or red lights 
 the governor could n't make it so the <unk> governor welcomed the special guests 
 a buffet breakfast was held in the museum where food and drinks are banned to everyday visitors 
 then in the guests ' honor the <unk> <unk> out four drivers crews and even the official indianapolis N announcer for a <unk> exhibition race 
 after the race fortune N executives <unk> like <unk> over the cars and drivers 
 no <unk> the drivers pointed out they still had space on their machines for another sponsor 's name or two 
 back downtown the <unk> squeezed in a few meetings at the hotel before <unk> the buses again 
 this time it was for dinner and <unk> a block away 
 under the stars and <unk> of the <unk> indiana <unk> <unk> nine of the hottest chefs in town fed them indiana <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> and <unk> <unk> with a <unk> <unk> 
 knowing a <unk> and free <unk> when they eat one the executives gave the chefs a standing <unk> 
 more than a few <unk> say the <unk> treatment <unk> them to return to a <unk> city for future meetings 
 but for now they 're looking forward to their winter meeting <unk> in february 
 south korea registered a trade deficit of $ N million in october reflecting the country 's economic <unk> according to government figures released wednesday 
 preliminary <unk> by the trade and industry ministry showed another trade deficit in october the fifth monthly setback this year casting a cloud on south korea 's <unk> economy 
 exports in october stood at $ N billion a mere N N increase from a year earlier while imports increased sharply to $ N billion up N N from last october 
 south korea 's economic boom which began in N stopped this year because of prolonged labor disputes trade conflicts and sluggish exports 
 government officials said exports at the end of the year would remain under a government target of $ N billion 
 despite the gloomy forecast south korea has recorded a trade surplus of $ N million so far this year 
 from january to october the nation 's accumulated exports increased N N from the same period last year to $ N billion 
 imports were at $ N billion up N N 
 newsweek trying to keep pace with rival time magazine announced new advertising rates for N and said it will introduce a new incentive plan for advertisers 
 the new ad plan from newsweek a unit of the washington post co. is the second incentive plan the magazine has offered advertisers in three years 
 plans that give advertisers discounts for maintaining or increasing ad spending have become permanent <unk> at the news <unk> and underscore the fierce competition between newsweek time warner inc. 's time magazine and <unk> b. <unk> 's u.s. news & world report 
 alan <unk> recently named newsweek president said newsweek 's ad rates would increase N N in january 
 a full <unk> page in newsweek will cost $ N 
 in mid-october time magazine lowered its guaranteed circulation rate base for N while not increasing ad page rates with a lower circulation base time 's ad rate will be effectively N N higher per subscriber a full page in time costs about $ N 
 u.s. news has yet to announce its N ad rates 
 newsweek said it will introduce the circulation credit plan which <unk> space credits to advertisers on renewal advertising 
 the magazine will reward with page bonuses advertisers who in N meet or exceed their N spending as long as they spent $ N in N and $ N in N 
 mr. <unk> said the plan is not an attempt to shore up a decline in ad pages in the first nine months of N newsweek 's ad pages totaled N a drop of N N from last year according to publishers information bureau 
 what matters is what advertisers are paying per page and in that department we are doing fine this fall said mr. <unk> 
 both newsweek and u.s. news have been gaining circulation in recent years without heavy use of electronic <unk> to subscribers such as telephones or watches 
 however none of the big three <unk> recorded circulation gains recently 
 according to audit bureau of <unk> time the largest <unk> had average circulation of N a decrease of N N 
 newsweek 's circulation for the first six months of N was N flat from the same period last year 
 u.s. news ' circulation in the same time was N down N N 
 new england electric system bowed out of the bidding for public service co. of new hampshire saying that the risks were too high and the potential <unk> too far in the future to justify a higher offer 
 the move leaves united illuminating co. and northeast utilities as the remaining outside bidders for ps of new hampshire which also has proposed an internal reorganization plan in chapter N bankruptcy proceedings under which it would remain an independent company 
 new england electric based in <unk> mass. had offered $ N billion to acquire ps of new hampshire well below the $ N billion value united illuminating places on its bid and the $ N billion northeast says its bid is worth 
 united illuminating is based in new haven conn. and northeast is based in hartford conn 
 ps of new hampshire <unk> n.h. values its internal reorganization plan at about $ N billion 
 john rowe president and chief executive officer of new england electric said the company 's return on equity could suffer if it made a higher bid and its forecasts related to ps of new hampshire such as growth in electricity demand and improved operating <unk> did n't come true 
 when we <unk> raising our bid the risks seemed substantial and persistent over the next five years and the rewards seemed a long way out 
 that got hard to take he added 
 mr. rowe also noted that political concerns also worried new england electric 
 no matter who owns ps of new hampshire after it emerges from bankruptcy proceedings its rates will be among the highest in the nation he said 
 that attracts attention 
 it was just another one of the risk factors that led to the company 's decision to withdraw from the bidding he added 
 wilbur ross jr. of rothschild inc. the financial adviser to the troubled company 's equity holders said the withdrawal of new england electric might speed up the reorganization process 
 the fact that new england proposed lower rate increases N N over seven years against around N N boosts proposed by the other two outside bidders complicated negotiations with state officials mr. ross asserted 
 now the field is less <unk> he added 
 separately the federal energy regulatory commission turned down for now a request by northeast seeking approval of its possible purchase of ps of new hampshire 
 northeast said it would <unk> its request and still hopes for an <unk> review by the ferc so that it could complete the purchase by next summer if its bid is the one approved by the bankruptcy court 
 ps of new hampshire shares closed yesterday at $ N off N cents in new york stock exchange composite trading 
 norman <unk> N years old and former president and chief operating officer of toys r us inc. and frederick <unk> jr. N chairman of <unk> banking corp. were elected directors of this consumer electronics and appliances retailing chain 
 they succeed daniel m. <unk> retired circuit city executive vice president and robert r. <unk> u.s. treasury undersecretary on the <unk> board 
 commonwealth edison co. was ordered to refund about $ N million to its current and former <unk> for illegal rates collected for cost overruns on a nuclear power plant 
 the refund was about $ N million more than previously ordered by the illinois commerce commission and trade groups said it may be the largest ever required of a state or local utility 
 state court judge richard curry ordered edison to make average refunds of about $ N to $ N each to edison customers who have received electric service since april N including about two million customers who have moved during that period 
 judge curry ordered the refunds to begin feb. N and said that he would n't <unk> any appeals or other attempts to block his order by commonwealth edison 
 the refund pool may not be held <unk> through another round of appeals judge curry said 
 commonwealth edison said it is already appealing the underlying commission order and is considering appealing judge curry 's order 
 the exact amount of the refund will be determined next year based on actual <unk> made until dec. N of this year 
 commonwealth edison said the ruling could force it to slash its N earnings by $ N a share 
 for N commonwealth edison reported earnings of $ N million or $ N a share 
 a commonwealth edison spokesman said that tracking down the two million customers whose addresses have changed during the past N N years would be an administrative nightmare 
 in new york stock exchange composite trading yesterday commonwealth edison closed at $ N down N cents 
 the $ N billion <unk> N plant near <unk> ill. was completed in N 
 in a disputed N ruling the commerce commission said commonwealth edison could raise its electricity rates by $ N million to pay for the plant 
 but state courts upheld a challenge by consumer groups to the commission 's rate increase and found the rates illegal 
 the illinois supreme court ordered the commission to audit commonwealth edison 's construction expenses and refund any <unk> expenses 
 the utility has been collecting for the plant 's construction cost from its N million customers subject to a refund since N 
 in august the commission ruled that between $ N million and $ N million of the plant 's construction cost was <unk> and should be <unk> plus interest 
 in his ruling judge curry added an additional $ N million to the commission 's calculations 
 last month judge curry set the interest rate on the refund at N N 
 commonwealth edison now faces an additional <unk> refund on its <unk> rate <unk> <unk> that the illinois appellate court has estimated at $ N million 
 and consumer groups hope that judge curry 's <unk> N order may set a precedent for a second nuclear rate case involving commonwealth edison 's <unk> N plant 
 commonwealth edison is seeking about $ N million in rate increases to pay for <unk> N 
 the commission is expected to rule on the <unk> N case by year end 
 last year commonwealth edison had to refund $ N million for poor performance of its <unk> i nuclear plant 
 japan 's domestic sales of cars trucks and buses in october rose N N from a year earlier to N units a record for the month the japan automobile dealers ' association said 
 the strong growth followed year-to-year increases of N N in august and N N in september 
 the monthly sales have been setting records every month since march 
 october sales compared with the previous month inched down N N 
 sales of passenger cars grew N N from a year earlier to N units 
 sales of medium-sized cars which benefited from price reductions arising from introduction of the consumption tax more than doubled to N units from N in october N 
 texas instruments japan ltd. a unit of texas instruments inc. said it opened a plant in south korea to manufacture control devices 
 the new plant located in <unk> about N miles from seoul will help meet increasing and diversifying demand for control products in south korea the company said 
 the plant will produce control devices used in motor vehicles and household appliances 
 the survival of spinoff cray computer corp. as a fledgling in the supercomputer business appears to depend heavily on the creativity and <unk> of its chairman and chief designer seymour cray 
 not only is development of the new company 's initial machine tied directly to mr. cray so is its balance sheet 
 documents filed with the securities and exchange commission on the pending spinoff disclosed that cray research inc. will withdraw the almost $ N million in financing it is providing the new firm if mr. cray leaves or if the <unk> project he heads is scrapped 
 the documents also said that although the <unk> mr. cray has been working on the project for more than six years the cray-3 machine is at least another year away from a fully operational prototype 
 moreover there have been no orders for the cray-3 so far though the company says it is talking with several prospects 
 while many of the risks were anticipated when <unk> cray research first announced the spinoff in may the <unk> it attached to the financing had n't been made public until yesterday 
 we did n't have much of a choice cray computer 's chief financial officer gregory <unk> said in an interview 
 the theory is that seymour is the chief designer of the cray-3 and without him it could not be completed 
 cray research did not want to fund a project that did not include seymour 
 the documents also said that cray computer anticipates <unk> perhaps another $ N million in financing beginning next september 
 but mr. <unk> called that a <unk> scenario 
 the filing on the details of the spinoff caused cray research stock to jump $ N yesterday to close at $ N in new york stock exchange composite trading 
 analysts noted yesterday that cray research 's decision to link its $ N million <unk> note to mr. cray 's presence will complicate a valuation of the new company 
 it has to be considered as an additional risk for the investor said gary p. <unk> of <unk> group inc. minneapolis 
 cray computer will be a concept stock he said 
 you either believe seymour can do it again or you do n't 
 besides the designer 's age other risk factors for mr. cray 's new company include the cray-3 's tricky <unk> chip technology 
 the sec documents describe those chips which are made of <unk> <unk> as being so fragile and minute they will require special <unk> handling equipment 
 in addition the cray-3 will contain N processors twice as many as the largest current supercomputer 
 cray computer also will face intense competition not only from cray research which has about N N of the world-wide supercomputer market and which is expected to roll out the <unk> machine a direct competitor with the cray-3 in N 
 the spinoff also will compete with international business machines corp. and japan 's big three hitachi ltd. nec corp. and fujitsu ltd 
 the new company said it believes there are fewer than N potential customers for <unk> priced between $ N million and $ N million presumably the cray-3 price range 
 under terms of the spinoff cray research stockholders are to receive one cray computer share for every two cray research shares they own in a distribution expected to occur in about two weeks 
 no price for the new shares has been set 
 instead the companies will leave it up to the marketplace to decide 
 cray computer has applied to trade on nasdaq 
 analysts calculate cray computer 's initial book value at about $ N a share 
 along with the note cray research is <unk> about $ N million in assets primarily those related to the cray-3 development which has been a drain on cray research 's earnings 
 <unk> balance sheets clearly show why cray research favored the spinoff 
 without the cray-3 research and development expenses the company would have been able to report a profit of $ N million for the first half of N rather than the $ N million it posted 
 on the other hand had it existed then cray computer would have incurred a $ N million loss 
 mr. cray who could n't be reached for comment will work for the new colorado springs colo. company as an independent contractor the arrangement he had with cray research 
 regarded as the father of the supercomputer mr. cray was paid $ N at cray research last year 
 at cray computer he will be paid $ N 
 besides messrs. cray and <unk> other senior management at the company includes neil <unk> N president and chief executive officer joseph m. <unk> N vice president engineering malcolm a. <unk> N vice president software and douglas r. <unk> N vice president hardware 
 all came from cray research 
 cray computer which currently employs N people said it expects a work force of N by the end of N 
 john r. stevens N years old was named senior executive vice president and chief operating officer both new positions 
 he will continue to report to donald <unk> president and chief executive officer 
 mr. stevens was executive vice president of this <unk> holding company 
 arthur a. hatch N was named executive vice president of the company 
 he was previously president of the company 's eastern edison co. unit 
 john d. <unk> N was named to succeed mr. hatch as president of eastern edison 
 previously he was vice president of eastern edison 
 robert p. <unk> N was named senior vice president of eastern utilities 
 he was previously vice president 
 the u.s. claiming some success in its trade <unk> removed south korea taiwan and saudi arabia from a list of countries it is closely watching for allegedly failing to honor u.s. patents <unk> and other <unk> rights 
 however five other countries china thailand india brazil and mexico will remain on that so-called priority watch list as a result of an interim review u.s. trade representative carla hills announced 
 under the new u.s. trade law those countries could face accelerated <unk> investigations and stiff trade sanctions if they do n't improve their protection of intellectual property by next spring 
 mrs. hills said many of the N countries that she placed under <unk> degrees of scrutiny have made genuine progress on this touchy issue 
 she said there is growing <unk> around the world that <unk> of <unk> rights <unk> all trading nations and particularly the creativity and <unk> of an <unk> country 's own citizens 
 u.s. trade negotiators argue that countries with inadequate <unk> for <unk> rights could be hurting themselves by discouraging their own scientists and authors and by <unk> u.s. high-technology firms from investing or marketing their best products there 
 mrs. hills <unk> south korea for creating an <unk> task force and special enforcement teams of police officers and prosecutors trained to pursue movie and book <unk> 
 seoul also has instituted effective <unk> procedures to aid these teams she said 
 taiwan has improved its standing with the u.s. by <unk> a <unk> copyright agreement <unk> its trademark law and introducing legislation to protect foreign movie producers from unauthorized <unk> of their films 
 that measure could <unk> taipei 's growing number of small <unk> <unk> to pay movie producers for showing their films 
 saudi arabia for its part has vowed to enact a copyright law compatible with international standards and to apply the law to computer software as well as to literary works mrs. hills said 
 these three countries are n't completely off the hook though 
 they will remain on a <unk> list that includes N other countries 
 those countries including japan italy canada greece and spain are still of some concern to the u.s. but are deemed to pose <unk> problems for american patent and copyright owners than those on the priority list 
 gary hoffman a washington lawyer specializing in <unk> cases said the threat of u.s. <unk> combined with a growing recognition that protecting intellectual property is in a country 's own interest prompted the improvements made by south korea taiwan and saudi arabia 
 what this tells us is that u.s. trade law is working he said 
 he said mexico could be one of the next countries to be removed from the priority list because of its efforts to craft a new patent law 
 mrs. hills said that the u.s. is still concerned about disturbing developments in turkey and continuing slow progress in malaysia 
 she did n't elaborate although earlier u.s. trade reports have complained of videocassette <unk> in malaysia and <unk> for u.s. pharmaceutical patents in turkey 
 the N trade act requires mrs. hills to issue another review of the performance of these countries by april N 
 so far mrs. hills has n't deemed any cases bad enough to merit an accelerated investigation under the so-called special N provision of the act 
 argentina said it will ask creditor banks to <unk> its foreign debt of $ N billion the <unk> in the developing world 
 the declaration by economy minister <unk> <unk> is believed to be the first time such an action has been called for by an <unk> official of such <unk> 
 the latin american nation has paid very little on its debt since early last year 
 argentina <unk> to reach a reduction of N N in the value of its external debt mr. <unk> said through his spokesman <unk> <unk> 
 mr. <unk> met in august with u.s. assistant treasury secretary david mulford 
 <unk> negotiator carlos <unk> was in washington and new york this week to meet with banks 
 mr. <unk> recently has said the government of president carlos <unk> who took office july N feels a significant reduction of principal and interest is the only way the debt problem may be solved 
 but he has not said before that the country wants half the debt <unk> 
 during its centennial year the wall street journal will report events of the past century that stand as milestones of american business history 
 three computers that changed the face of personal computing were launched in N 
 that year the apple ii commodore pet and tandy <unk> came to market 
 the computers were crude by today 's standards 
 apple ii owners for example had to use their television sets as screens and <unk> data on <unk> 
 but apple ii was a major advance from apple i which was built in a garage by stephen <unk> and steven jobs for <unk> such as the <unk> computer club 
 in addition the apple ii was an affordable $ N 
 crude as they were these early pcs triggered explosive product development in desktop models for the home and office 
 big mainframe computers for business had been around for years 
 but the new N pcs unlike earlier <unk> types such as the <unk> <unk> and <unk> had <unk> and could store about two pages of data in their memories 
 current pcs are more than N times faster and have memory capacity N times greater than their N counterparts 
 there were many pioneer pc <unk> 
 william gates and paul allen in N developed an early <unk> system for pcs and gates became an industry billionaire six years after ibm adapted one of these versions in N 
 alan f. <unk> currently chairman of seagate technology led the team that developed the disk drives for pcs 
 dennis <unk> and dale <unk> two atlanta engineers were <unk> of the internal <unk> that allow pcs to share data via the telephone 
 ibm the world leader in computers did n't offer its first pc until august N as many other companies entered the market 
 today pc shipments annually total some $ N billion world-wide 
 <unk> <unk> & co. an australian pharmaceuticals company said its <unk> inc. affiliate acquired <unk> inc. for $ N million 
 <unk> is a new <unk> pharmaceuticals concern that sells products under the <unk> label 
 <unk> said it owns N N of <unk> 's voting stock and has an agreement to acquire an additional N N 
 that stake together with its convertible preferred stock holdings gives <unk> the right to increase its interest to N N of <unk> 's voting stock 
 oil production from australia 's bass <unk> fields will be raised by N barrels a day to about N barrels with the launch of the <unk> field the first of five small fields scheduled to be brought into production before the end of N 
 esso australia ltd. a unit of new york-based exxon corp. and broken hill <unk> operate the fields in a joint venture 
 esso said the <unk> field started production tuesday 
 output will be gradually increased until it reaches about N barrels a day 
 the field has reserves of N million barrels 
 reserves for the five new fields total N million barrels 
 the <unk> and <unk> fields are expected to start producing early next year and the <unk> and <unk> fields later next year 
 esso said the fields were developed after the australian government decided in N to make the first N million barrels from new fields free of <unk> tax 
 <unk> <unk> corp. said it completed the $ N million sale of its southern optical subsidiary to a group led by the unit 's president thomas r. sloan and other managers 
 following the acquisition of <unk> <unk> by a buy-out group led by shearson lehman hutton earlier this year the maker of <unk> <unk> decided to <unk> itself of certain of its <unk> businesses 
 the sale of southern optical is a part of the program 
 the white house said president bush has approved duty-free treatment for imports of certain types of watches that are n't produced in significant quantities in the u.s. the virgin islands and other u.s. <unk> 
 the action came in response to a petition filed by <unk> inc. for changes in the u.s. <unk> system of preferences for imports from developing nations 
 previously watch imports were denied such duty-free treatment 
 <unk> had requested duty-free treatment for many types of watches covered by N different u.s. tariff <unk> 
 the white house said mr. bush decided to grant duty-free status for N categories but turned down such treatment for other types of watches because of the potential for material injury to watch producers located in the u.s. and the virgin islands 
 <unk> is a major u.s. producer and seller of watches including <unk> <unk> watches assembled in the philippines and other developing nations covered by the u.s. tariff preferences 
 u.s. trade officials said the philippines and thailand would be the main beneficiaries of the president 's action 
 imports of the types of watches that now will be eligible for duty-free treatment totaled about $ N million in N a relatively small share of the $ N billion in u.s. watch imports that year according to an aide to u.s. trade representative carla hills 
 magna international inc. 's chief financial officer james mcalpine resigned and its chairman frank <unk> is stepping in to help turn the <unk> manufacturer around the company said 
 mr. <unk> will direct an effort to reduce overhead and curb capital spending until a more satisfactory level of profit is achieved and maintained magna said 
 stephen <unk> currently vice president finance will succeed mr. mcalpine 
 an ambitious expansion has left magna with excess capacity and a heavy debt load as the automotive industry enters a downturn 
 the company has reported declines in operating profit in each of the past three years despite steady sales growth 
 magna recently cut its quarterly dividend in half and the company 's class a shares are <unk> far below their 52-week high of N canadian dollars us$ N 
 on the toronto stock exchange yesterday magna shares closed up N canadian cents to c$ N 
 mr. <unk> founder and controlling shareholder of magna resigned as chief executive officer last year to seek unsuccessfully a seat in canada 's parliament 
 analysts said mr. <unk> wants to resume a more influential role in running the company 
 they expect him to cut costs throughout the organization 
 the company said mr. <unk> will personally direct the restructuring <unk> by <unk> <unk> president and chief executive 
 neither they nor mr. mcalpine could be reached for comment 
 magna said mr. mcalpine resigned to pursue a consulting career with magna as one of his clients 
 lord <unk> <unk> chairman of english china <unk> plc was named a nonexecutive director of this british chemical company 
 japanese investors nearly <unk> bought up two new mortgage <unk> mutual funds totaling $ N million the u.s. federal national mortgage association said 
 the purchases show the strong interest of japanese investors in u.s. <unk> instruments fannie mae 's chairman david o. maxwell said at a news conference 
 he said more than N N of the funds were placed with japanese institutional investors 
 the rest went to investors from france and hong kong 
 earlier this year japanese investors snapped up a similar $ N million mortgage-backed securities mutual fund 
 that fund was put together by blackstone group a new york investment bank 
 the latest two funds were assembled jointly by goldman sachs & co. of the u.s. and japan 's daiwa securities co 
 the new seven-year funds one offering a fixed-rate return and the other with a floating-rate return linked to the london interbank offered rate offer two key advantages to japanese investors 
 first they are designed to eliminate the risk of prepayment mortgage-backed securities can be retired early if interest rates decline and such prepayment forces investors to <unk> their money at lower rates 
 second they channel monthly mortgage payments into semiannual payments reducing the administrative burden on investors 
 by addressing those problems mr. maxwell said the new funds have become extremely attractive to japanese and other investors outside the u.s. 
 such devices have boosted japanese investment in mortgage-backed securities to more than N N of the $ N billion in such instruments outstanding and their purchases are growing at a rapid rate 
 they also have become large purchasers of fannie mae 's corporate debt buying $ N billion in fannie mae bonds during the first nine months of the year or almost a <unk> of the total amount issued 
 james l. <unk> <unk> executive vice president was named a director of this oil concern expanding the board to N members 
 ltv corp. said a federal bankruptcy court judge agreed to extend until march N N the period in which the steel aerospace and energy products company has the exclusive right to file a reorganization plan 
 the company is operating under chapter N of the federal bankruptcy code giving it court protection from creditors ' lawsuits while it attempts to work out a plan to pay its debts 
 italian chemical giant montedison <unk> through its montedison acquisition n.v. indirect unit began its $ <unk> tender offer for all the common shares outstanding of erbamont n.v. a maker of pharmaceuticals incorporated in the netherlands 
 the offer advertised in today 's editions of the wall street journal is scheduled to expire at the end of november 
 montedison currently owns about N N of erbamont 's common shares outstanding 
 the offer is being launched <unk> to a previously announced agreement between the companies 
 japan 's reserves of gold convertible foreign currencies and special drawing rights fell by a hefty $ N billion in october to $ N billion the finance ministry said 
 the total marks the sixth consecutive monthly decline 
 the <unk> downturn reflects the intensity of bank of japan <unk> intervention since june when the u.s. currency temporarily surged above the N yen level 
 the announcement follows a sharper $ N billion decline in the country 's foreign reserves in september to $ N billion 
 pick a country any country 
 it 's the latest investment craze sweeping wall street a rash of new closed-end country funds those publicly traded portfolios that invest in stocks of a single foreign country 
 no fewer than N country funds have been launched or registered with regulators this year triple the level of all of N according to charles e. simon & co. a washington-based research firm 
 the turf recently has ranged from chile to <unk> to portugal 
 next week the philippine fund 's launch will be capped by a visit by philippine president <unk> aquino the first time a head of state has kicked off an issue at the big board here 
 the next province 
 anything 's possible how about the new guinea fund <unk> george foot a managing partner at <unk> management associates of <unk> mass 
 the recent explosion of country funds <unk> the closed-end fund mania of the 1920s mr. foot says when narrowly focused funds grew wildly popular 
 they fell into <unk> after the N crash 
 unlike traditional <unk> mutual funds most of these <unk> portfolios are the closed-end type issuing a fixed number of shares that trade publicly 
 the surge brings to nearly N the number of country funds that are or soon will be listed in new york or london 
 these funds now account for several billions of dollars in assets 
 people are looking to stake their claims now before the number of available nations runs out says michael porter an analyst at smith barney harris upham & co. new york 
 behind all the <unk> is some <unk> competition 
 as individual investors have turned away from the stock market over the years securities firms have scrambled to find new products that brokers find easy to sell 
 and the firms are stretching their <unk> far and wide to do it 
 financial planners often urge investors to diversify and to hold a <unk> of international securities 
 and many emerging markets have <unk> more mature markets such as the u.s. and japan 
 country funds offer an easy way to get a taste of foreign stocks without the hard research of seeking out individual companies 
 but it does n't take much to get burned 
 political and currency gyrations can <unk> the funds 
 another concern the funds ' share prices tend to swing more than the broader market 
 when the stock market dropped nearly N N oct. N for instance the mexico fund plunged about N N and the spain fund fell N N 
 and most country funds were clobbered more than most stocks after the N crash 
 what 's so wild about the funds ' frenzy right now is that many are trading at historically fat premiums to the value of their underlying portfolios 
 after trading at an average discount of more than N N in late N and part of last year country funds currently trade at an average premium of N N 
 the reason share prices of many of these funds this year have climbed much more sharply than the foreign stocks they hold 
 it 's probably worth paying a premium for funds that invest in markets that are partially closed to foreign investors such as south korea some specialists say 
 but some european funds recently have skyrocketed spain fund has surged to a startling N N premium 
 it has been targeted by japanese investors as a good long-term play tied to N 's european economic integration 
 and several new funds that are n't even fully invested yet have jumped to trade at big premiums 
 i 'm very alarmed to see these rich <unk> says smith barney 's mr. porter 
 the newly <unk> premiums reflect the increasingly global marketing of some country funds mr. porter suggests 
 unlike many u.s. investors those in asia or europe seeking <unk> exposure may be less <unk> to paying higher prices for country funds 
 there may be an international viewpoint cast on the funds listed here mr. porter says 
 nonetheless plenty of u.s. analysts and money managers are <unk> at the <unk> trading levels of some country funds 
 they argue that u.s. investors often can buy american depositary receipts on the big stocks in many funds these so-called adrs represent shares of foreign companies traded in the u.s. 
 that way investors can essentially buy the funds without paying the premium 
 for people who insist on jumping in now to buy the funds <unk> 's mr. foot says the only advice i have for these folks is that those who come to the party late had better be ready to leave quickly 
 the u.s. and soviet union are holding technical talks about possible repayment by moscow of $ N million in <unk> russian debts owed to the u.s. government the state department said 
 if the debts are repaid it could clear the way for soviet bonds to be sold in the u.s. 
 however after two meetings with the soviets a state department spokesman said that it 's too early to say whether that will happen 
 <unk> with the talks the state department said it has permitted a soviet bank to open a new york branch 
 the branch of the bank for foreign economic affairs was approved last spring and opened in july 
 but a soviet bank here would be <unk> unless moscow found a way to settle the $ N million debt which was lent to the country 's short-lived democratic <unk> government before the communists seized power in N 
 under a N law the johnson debt default act as amended it 's illegal for americans to extend credit to countries in default to the u.s. government unless they are members of the world bank and international monetary fund 
 the u.s.s.r. belongs to neither organization 
 moscow has settled <unk> debts with other countries in recent years at less than face value 
 the state department stressed the <unk> debts as the key to satisfying the johnson act 
 but the soviets might still face legal obstacles to raising money in the u.s. until they settle hundreds of millions of dollars in additional debt still outstanding from the world war ii <unk> program 
 in another reflection that the growth of the economy is <unk> off the government said that orders for manufactured goods and spending on construction failed to rise in september 
 meanwhile the national association of purchasing management said its latest survey indicated that the manufacturing economy contracted in october for the sixth consecutive month 
 its index inched up to N N in october from N N in september 
 any reading below N N suggests the manufacturing sector is generally declining 
 the purchasing managers however also said that orders turned up in october after four months of decline 
 factories booked $ N billion in orders in september nearly the same as the $ N billion in august the commerce department said 
 if not for a N N surge in orders for capital goods by defense contractors factory orders would have fallen N N 
 in a separate report the department said construction spending ran at an annual rate of $ N billion not significantly different from the $ N billion reported for august 
 private construction spending was down but government building activity was up 
 the figures in both reports were adjusted to remove the effects of usual seasonal patterns but were n't adjusted for inflation 
 kenneth <unk> economist for society corp. a cleveland bank said demand for exports of factory goods is beginning to <unk> off 
 at the same time the drop in interest rates since the spring has failed to revive the residential construction industry 
 what sector is stepping forward to pick up the slack he asked 
 i draw a blank 
 by most measures the nation 's industrial sector is now growing very slowly if at all 
 factory <unk> fell in september 
 so did the federal reserve board 's <unk> index 
 yet many economists are n't predicting that the economy is about to slip into recession 
 they cite a lack of imbalances that provide early warning signals of a downturn 
 inventories are closely watched for such clues for instance 
 economists say a buildup in inventories can <unk> cutbacks in production that can lead to a recession 
 but yesterday 's factory orders report had good news on that front it said factory inventories fell N N in september the first decline since february N 
 this <unk> to the soft landing scenario said elliott <unk> an economist at donaldson lufkin & jenrette securities corp 
 i do n't see any signs that inventories are excessive 
 a soft landing is an economic slowdown that <unk> inflation without leading to a recession 
 the department said orders for <unk> goods those intended to last fewer than three years fell N N in september to $ N billion after climbing N N the month before 
 orders for durable goods were up N N to $ N billion after rising N N the month before 
 the department previously estimated that <unk> orders fell N N in september 
 factory shipments fell N N to $ N billion after rising N N in august 
 shipments have been relatively level since january the commerce department noted 
 manufacturers ' backlogs of unfilled orders rose N N in september to $ N billion helped by strength in the defense capital goods sector 
 excluding these orders backlogs declined N N 
 in its construction spending report the commerce department said residential construction which accounts for nearly half of all construction spending was off N N in september to an annual rate of $ N billion 
 david <unk> economist for the mortgage bankers association predicted the drop in interest rates eventually will boost spending on single-family homes but probably not until early next year 
 spending on private <unk> construction was off N N to an annual rate of $ N billion with no sector showing strength 
 government construction spending rose N N to $ N billion 
 after adjusting for inflation the commerce department said construction spending did n't change in september 
 for the first nine months of the year total construction spending ran about N N above last year 's level 
 the government 's construction spending figures contrast with a report issued earlier in the week by mcgraw-hill inc. 's <unk> dodge group 
 dodge reported an N N increase in construction contracts awarded in september 
 the <unk> counts money as it is spent dodge counts contracts when they are awarded 
 the government includes money spent on residential <unk> dodge does n't 
 although the purchasing managers ' index continues to indicate a slowing economy it is n't <unk> an imminent recession said robert <unk> chairman of the association 's survey committee and director of materials management at pitney bowes inc. stamford conn 
 he said the index would have to be in the low N N range for several months to be considered a forecast of recession 
 the report offered new evidence that the nation 's export growth though still continuing may be slowing 
 only N N of the purchasing managers reported better export orders in october down from N N in september 
 and N N said export orders were down last month compared with N N the month before 
 the <unk> managers ' report also added evidence that inflation is under control 
 for the fifth consecutive month purchasing managers said prices for the goods they purchased fell 
 the decline was even <unk> than in september 
 they also said that vendors were delivering goods more quickly in october than they had for each of the five previous months 
 economists consider that a sign that <unk> pressures are <unk> 
 when demand is stronger than suppliers can handle and delivery times <unk> prices tend to rise 
 the purchasing managers ' report is based on data provided by more than N purchasing executives 
 each of the survey 's indicators <unk> the difference between the number of purchasers reporting improvement in a particular area and the number reporting a worsening 
 for the first time the october survey polled members on imports 
 it found that of the N N who import N N said they imported more in october and N N said they imported less than the previous month 
 while acknowledging one month 's figures do n't prove a trend mr. <unk> said it does lead you to suspect imports are going down or at least not increasing that much 
 items listed as being in short supply numbered only about a dozen but they included one <unk> milk and milk <unk> 
 it 's an odd thing to put on the list mr. <unk> noted 
 he said that for the second month in a row food processors reported a shortage of <unk> dry milk 
 they blamed increased demand for dairy products at a time of exceptionally high u.s. exports of dry milk coupled with very low import quotas 
 <unk> <unk> in new york contributed to this article 
 here are the commerce department 's figures for construction spending in billions of dollars at seasonally adjusted annual rates 
 here are the commerce department 's latest figures for manufacturers in billions of dollars seasonally adjusted 
 judging from the <unk> in <unk> <unk> 's a wild sheep chase <unk> N pages $ N baby boomers on both sides of the pacific have a lot in common 
 although set in japan the novel 's <unk> is almost entirely western especially american 
 characters drink <unk> dogs <unk> <unk> b. <unk> and watch bugs bunny reruns 
 they read <unk> <unk> and talk about <unk> and <unk> 
 they worry about their careers drink too much and suffer through broken <unk> and <unk> affairs 
 this is japan 
 for an american reader part of the <unk> of this engaging novel should come in recognizing that japan is n't the <unk> society of contemporary american <unk> 
 it 's also <unk> to read a japanese author who clearly does n't belong to the <unk> <unk> school of writers who <unk> the notion of the unique japanese <unk> by outsiders 
 if a wild sheep chase carries an implicit message for international relations it 's that the japanese are more like us than most of us think 
 that 's not to say that the <unk> plot of a wild sheep chase is rooted in reality 
 it 's <unk> and often funny 
 a <unk> <unk> <unk> hero sets off for snow country in search of an <unk> sheep with a star on its back at the <unk> of a <unk> <unk> <unk> with a stanford degree 
 he has in <unk> his <unk> girlfriend whose sassy <unk> mark her as anything but a <unk> <unk> 
 along the way he meets a <unk> christian <unk> who offers the hero god 's phone number and the sheep man a sweet <unk> figure who wears what else a <unk> 
 the 40-year-old mr. <unk> is a publishing <unk> in japan 
 a more recent novel norwegian wood every japanese under N seems to be <unk> in <unk> <unk> has sold more than four million copies since <unk> published it in N 
 but he is just one of several <unk> writers tokyo 's <unk> pack who are <unk> the <unk> charts in japan 
 their books are written in <unk> contemporary language and usually carry hefty <unk> of <unk> 
 in robert <unk> 's you <unk> have macmillan N pages $ N the <unk> give way to baseball in the <unk> version we would be hard put to call a game 
 as mr. <unk> describes it <unk> baseball is a mirror of japan 's <unk> <unk> of hard work and harmony 
 <unk> is japanese for team spirit and japanese <unk> have miles and miles of it 
 a player 's commitment to practice and team image is as important as his <unk> average 
 polls once named tokyo giants star <unk> <unk> a <unk> <unk> <unk> soul as the male symbol of japan 
 but other than the fact that <unk> is played with a ball and a bat it 's <unk> fans <unk> return <unk> balls to stadium <unk> the strike zone <unk> depending on the size of the <unk> ties are permitted even welcomed since they <unk> <unk> the shame of defeat players must <unk> by strict rules of conduct even in their personal lives players for the tokyo giants for example must always wear ties when on the road 
 you <unk> have <unk> is the often amusing <unk> of how american <unk> <unk> to two per team fare in japan 
 despite the enormous sums of money they 're paid to stand up at a japanese plate a good number decide it 's not worth it and run for home 
 funny business <unk> N pages $ N by gary <unk> is anything but 
 it 's the <unk> complaint of an <unk> american whom sony <unk> for a year while he was on a <unk> <unk> in tokyo to the regret of both parties 
 in sometimes amusing more often <unk> even vicious <unk> mr. <unk> describes how sony <unk> even the most mundane aspects of its workers ' lives at the <unk> office where employees are assigned lunch partners and at home in the <unk> company <unk> run by a <unk> <unk> 
 some of his <unk> about japanese management style are on the mark 
 it 's probably true that many <unk> put in <unk> overtime just for the <unk> of solidarity that the system is so <unk> that only the assistant manager can talk to the manager and the manager to the general manager and that sony was <unk> of letting a young short-term american employee take on any responsibility 
 all of this must have been <unk> frustrating to mr. <unk> who went to sony with degrees in business and computer science and was <unk> to <unk> another <unk> 
 but sony ultimately took a lesson from the american management books and fired mr. <unk> after he committed the social crime of making an appointment to see the venerable <unk> <unk> founder of sony 
 it 's a shame their meeting never took place 
 mr. <unk> certainly would have learned something and it 's even possible mr. <unk> would have too 
 ms. <unk> the journal 's deputy editorial features editor worked in tokyo for three years 
 more and more corners of the globe are becoming free of tobacco smoke 
 in singapore a new law requires smokers to put out their cigarettes before entering restaurants department stores and sports centers or face a $ N fine 
 <unk> and private clubs are exempt from the ban and smoking will be permitted in bars except during <unk> hours an official said 
 singapore already bans smoking in all theaters buses public elevators hospitals and fast-food restaurants 
 in malaysia <unk> <unk> <unk> a deputy minister in the prime minister 's office launched a <unk> week at the <unk> institute of technology near kuala lumpur and urged other schools to ban <unk> smoking 
 south korea has different concerns 
 in seoul officials began visiting about N cigarette <unk> to remove illegal <unk> and <unk> advertising imported cigarettes 
 south korea has opened its market to foreign cigarettes but restricts advertising to designated places 
 a marketing study indicates that hong kong consumers are the most <unk> in the N major markets where the survey was carried out 
 the study by the backer spielvogel bates ad agency also found that the colony 's consumers feel more pressured than those in any of the other surveyed markets which include the u.s. and japan 
 the survey found that nearly half of hong kong consumers <unk> what it identified as <unk> values compared with about one-third in japan and the u.s. 
 more than three in five said they are under a great deal of stress most of the time compared with less than one in two u.s. consumers and one in four in japan 
 the <unk> cabinet endorsed finance minister <unk> <unk> 's proposal to build a $ N million conference center for a joint meeting of the world bank and international monetary fund two years from now 
 the meeting which is expected to draw N to <unk> was going to be held at the central plaza hotel but the government balked at the hotel 's conditions for undertaking necessary expansion 
 a major concern about the current plan is whether the new center can be built in such a short time 
 <unk> arafat has written to the chairman of the international olympic committee asking him to back a palestinian bid to join the committee the <unk> liberation organization news agency <unk> said 
 an official of the palestinian olympic committee said the committee first applied for membership in N and renewed its application in august of this year 
 the plo in recent months has been trying to join international organizations but failed earlier this year to win membership in the world health organization and the world tourism organization 
 a beijing <unk> assistant has become the first <unk> chinese to get aids through sex the people 's daily said 
 it said the man whom it did not name had been found to have the disease after hospital tests 
 once the disease was confirmed all the man 's associates and family were tested but none have so far been found to have aids the newspaper said 
 the man had for a long time had a chaotic sex life including relations with foreign men the newspaper said 
 the polish government increased home electricity charges by N N and doubled gas prices 
 the official news agency <unk> said the increases were intended to bring <unk> low energy charges into line with production costs and compensate for a rise in coal prices 
 in <unk> news south korea in establishing diplomatic ties with poland yesterday announced $ N million in loans to the financially strapped warsaw government 
 in a victory for environmentalists hungary 's parliament terminated a multibillion-dollar river <unk> dam being built by <unk> firms 
 the <unk> dam was designed to be <unk> with another dam now nearly complete N miles <unk> in czechoslovakia 
 in ending hungary 's part of the project parliament authorized prime minister <unk> <unk> to modify a N agreement with czechoslovakia which still wants the dam to be built 
 mr. <unk> said in parliament that czechoslovakia and hungary would suffer environmental damage if the <unk> <unk> were built as planned 
 czechoslovakia said in may it could seek $ N billion from hungary if the <unk> contract were broken 
 the <unk> dam ca n't be operated solely at peak periods without the <unk> project 
 a painting by august <unk> set a <unk> price record when it sold at auction in stockholm for $ N million 
 <unk> ii was painted in oils by the playwright in N 
 after years of decline <unk> in france showed a N N <unk> last year with N more couples <unk> <unk> in N than in the previous year the national statistics office said 
 but the number of <unk> last year N was still well below the N registered in N the last year of increasing <unk> 
 <unk> ltd. said it agreed to issue N million canadian dollars us$ N million of N N senior debentures due nov. N N together with N bond purchase warrants 
 the toronto-based real estate concern said each bond warrant <unk> the holder to buy c$ N principal amount of debentures at par plus accrued interest to the date of purchase 
 the warrants expire nov. N N 
 the issue will be <unk> into fixed-rate u.s. dollars at a rate the company said is less than N N a spokesman declined to elaborate 
 lead underwriters for the issue are <unk> <unk> inc. and <unk> dominion securities inc. both toronto-based investment dealers 
 <unk> said it expects to complete the issue by the end of the month 
 as an actor charles lane is n't the <unk> of charlie <unk> 's spirit 
 steve martin has already laid his claim to that 
 but it is mr. lane as movie director producer and writer who has been <unk> with <unk> <unk> 's little tramp in a contemporary way 
 in N as a film student at the purchase campus of the state university of new york mr. lane shot a place in time a <unk> black-and-white film about a <unk> artist a man of the streets 
 now N years later mr. lane has revived his artist in a <unk> movie called sidewalk stories a <unk> piece of work about a <unk> tramp 
 of course if the film contained dialogue mr. lane 's artist would be called a homeless person 
 so would the little tramp for that matter 
 i say contained dialogue because sidewalk stories is n't really silent at all 
 <unk> marc <unk> a college friend of mr. lane 's who earns his living playing the double bass in classical music <unk> has prepared an exciting <unk> score that tells you what the characters are thinking and feeling far more precisely than <unk> or even words would 
 much of mr. lane 's film takes a highly <unk> view of life on the streets though probably no more <unk> than mr. <unk> 's notion of the tramp as the <unk> free spirit 
 <unk> in lovely black and white by bill <unk> the new york streets of sidewalk stories seem benign 
 on wall street men and women walk with great purpose <unk> one another only when they <unk> for <unk> 
 the artist hangs out in greenwich village on a strip of sixth avenue <unk> by <unk> <unk> and other <unk> <unk> 
 this clearly is not real life no crack dealers no <unk> men selling four-year-old copies of <unk> no one <unk> up in a <unk> box 
 the artist has his routine 
 he spends his days <unk> <unk> or trying to 
 at night he returns to the <unk> building he calls home 
 his life including his <unk> with a competing <unk> artist seems <unk> 
 he is his own man 
 then just as the tramp is given a blind girl to cure in city lights the artist is put in charge of returning a <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> whose father has been murdered by <unk> to her mother 
 this <unk> child turns out to be a blessing and a <unk> 
 she gives the artist a sense of purpose but also <unk> him to the serious <unk> of his <unk> life 
 the <unk> at the <unk> mission seem far <unk> when he has to <unk> a little girl into one of them at night 
 to further load the stakes mr. lane <unk> up a highly <unk> <unk> for the artist with a young woman who owns her own children 's shop and who lives in an expensive <unk> apartment building 
 this story line might <unk> more strongly if mr. lane had as strong a presence in front of the camera as he does behind it 
 mr. lane 's final purpose is n't to <unk> the artist 's <unk> existence 
 he has a point he wants to make and he makes it with a great deal of force 
 the movie ends with sound the sound of street people talking and there is n't anything <unk> or <unk> in those rough beaten voices 
 the french film maker <unk> <unk> has managed another kind of weird achievement with his story of women 
 he has made a harsh brilliant picture one that 's <unk> about a character who viewed from the most sympathetic <unk> would seem <unk> 
 yet this woman <unk> <unk> carries historical significance both as one of the last women to be executed in france and as a symbol of the <unk> government 's <unk> 
 while <unk> <unk> with the germans during world war ii in the deaths of thousands of resistance <unk> and <unk> its officials needed a <unk> <unk> <unk> 
 <unk> a <unk> <unk> was their woman 
 she became an <unk> <unk> and continued because it enabled her to buy <unk> cocoa and other <unk> <unk> 
 she was <unk> and in one <unk> job killed a client 
 her <unk> was <unk> and brief 
 although she was kind and <unk> to her children she was <unk> to her <unk> husband she openly brought her <unk> into their home 
 as presented by mr. <unk> and played with <unk> intensity by <unk> <unk> <unk> called <unk> <unk> in the film was not a nice person 
 but she did n't deserve to have her head <unk> off 
 there is very little to recommend old <unk> a confused <unk> of the carlos <unk> novel of the mexican revolution 
 most of the picture is taken up with endless scenes of many people either fighting or eating and drinking to <unk> victory 
 i mention the picture only because many bad movies have a bright spot and this one has gregory peck in a <unk> loose and energetic portrayal of an old man who wants to die the way he wants to die 
 video tip before seeing sidewalk stories take a look at city lights <unk> 's tramp at his <unk> 
 boeing co. said it is discussing plans with three of its regular japanese suppliers to possibly help build a larger version of its popular N <unk> 
 the discussions are still in preliminary stages and the specific details have n't been worked out between the seattle aerospace company and <unk> heavy industries ltd. mitsubishi heavy industries ltd. and fuji heavy industries ltd 
 the three japanese companies build the body sections of the N accounting for a combined N N of the aircraft 
 japanese press reports have speculated that the japanese contribution could rise to between N N and N N under the new program 
 if boeing goes ahead with the larger N the plane could hit the market in the mid-1990s 
 this is the year the negative ad for years a secondary presence in most political campaigns became the main event 
 the irony is that the attack commercial after getting a boost in last year 's presidential campaign has come of age in an <unk> election year with only a few <unk> scattered across the country 
 but in the three leading political <unk> of N the negative ads have reached new levels of <unk> raising fears that this kind of <unk> empty of significant issues is <unk> in a new era of campaigns without content 
 now says joseph <unk> a pioneer in political television the idea is to attack first last and always 
 a trend that started with the first <unk> of politics accelerated with the <unk> of the television age and became a <unk> art form in N has reached an entirely new stage 
 to get people 's attention these days says douglas <unk> a political consultant your tv ad needs to be bold and entertaining and more often than not that means <unk> 
 and unlike a few years ago you do n't even have to worry whether the ad is <unk> 
 in N as often as not the principal fights in the major campaigns are prompted by the ads themselves 
 take a look then at the main attack commercials that set the tone for tuesday 's elections in new york city new jersey and virginia 
 new york city 
 the screen <unk> with a small tight <unk> shot of david dinkins democratic candidate for mayor of new york city 
 david dinkins failed to file his income taxes for four straight years says a <unk> male voice 
 and then this television commercial paid for by republican rudolph giuliani 's campaign and produced by roger <unk> the master of negative tv ads really gets down to business 
 mr. dinkins the ad charges also failed to report his campaign contributions accurately <unk> his links to a failing insurance company and paid a convicted <unk> through a phony organization with no members no receipts and no office 
 david dinkins says the <unk> why does he always wait until he 's caught 
 nasty <unk> says john <unk> mr. dinkins 's issues director designed to <unk> a case of political corruption that simply does n't exist 
 <unk> by the giuliani ads mr. dinkins 's tv consultants robert <unk> and david <unk> finally <unk> a negative ad of their own 
 the screen shows two distorted <unk> photos presumably of two politicians 
 compare two candidates for mayor says the announcer 
 one says he 's for banning <unk> bullets 
 the other has opposed a ban on <unk> bullets 
 one claims he 's pro-choice 
 the other has opposed a woman 's right to choose 
 funny thing says the <unk> both these candidates are named rudolph giuliani 
 who 's telling the truth 
 everybody and nobody 
 it 's a classic situation of ads that are true but not always fully accurate 
 mr. dinkins did fail to file his income taxes for four years but he insists he voluntarily admitted the oversight when he was being considered for a city job 
 he was on the board of an insurance company with financial problems but he insists he made no secret of it 
 the city 's campaign finance board has refused to pay mr. dinkins $ N in matching funds because his campaign records are incomplete 
 the campaign has blamed these reporting problems on computer errors 
 and says mr. dinkins he did n't know the man his campaign paid for a <unk> effort had been convicted of <unk> 
 but say mr. dinkins 's managers he did have an office and his organization did have members 
 mr. giuliani 's campaign chairman peter powers says the dinkins ad is deceptive 
 the other side he argues knows giuliani has always been pro-choice even though he has personal reservations 
 they know he is generally opposed to <unk> bullets but that he had some reservations about the language in the legislation 
 virginia 
 democratic <unk> gov. douglas wilder opened his gubernatorial battle with republican marshall coleman with an abortion commercial produced by frank <unk> that analysts of every political <unk> agree was a tour de force 
 against a shot of <unk> <unk> on an american flag an announcer talks about the strong tradition of freedom and individual liberty that <unk> have <unk> for generations 
 then just as an image of the <unk> of thomas jefferson <unk> from the screen the announcer continues on the issue of abortion marshall coleman wants to take away your right to choose and give it to the politicians 
 that commercial which said mr. coleman wanted to take away the right of abortion even in cases of rape and incest a charge mr. coleman denies changed the dynamics of the campaign <unk> it at least in part into a <unk> on abortion 
 the ad prompted mr. coleman the former virginia attorney general to launch a series of advertisements created by bob goodman and designed to shake mr. wilder 's support among the very women who were attracted by the abortion ad 
 the coleman <unk> featured a <unk> of a young woman in <unk> and the ad suggested that she was <unk> an <unk> courtroom <unk> 
 a voice says <unk> now do n't you have <unk> 
 then an announcer <unk> it was douglas wilder who introduced a bill to force rape victims age N and younger to be <unk> about their private lives by lawyers for accused <unk> 
 so the next time mr. wilder talks about the rights of women ask him about this law he tried to pass 
 mr. wilder did introduce such legislation N years ago but he did so at the request of a <unk> a common legislative technique used by lawmakers 
 the legislation itself noted that it was introduced by request and in N mr. wilder introduced a bill to protect rape victims from <unk> <unk> 
 people have grown tired of these ads and coleman has gotten the <unk> of being a negative <unk> says mark <unk> a political scientist at mary washington college 
 wilder has managed to get across the idea that coleman will say anything to get elected governor and more important has been able to put the <unk> for all the negative <unk> on coleman 
 mr. coleman said this week that he would devote the remainder of the political season to positive <unk> but the truce lasted only hours 
 by tuesday night television stations were carrying new ads featuring mr. coleman himself raising questions about mr. wilder 's <unk> to rape victims 
 new jersey 
 the attacks began when democratic rep. james florio aired an ad featuring a drawing of <unk> and a photograph of mr. florio 's rival republican rep. jim courter 
 remember <unk> says a female voice 
 consider jim courter 
 and then this commercial produced by bob <unk> gets down to its own mean and <unk> business 
 pictures of <unk> oil <unk> <unk> into focus and the female voice <unk> that hazardous waste on his mr. courter 's property the neighbors are suing for consumer fraud 
 and the nose on mr. courter 's face grows 
 the only fraud involved cry mr. courter 's <unk> is the florio commercial itself and so the courter campaign has responded with its own <unk> commercial produced by mr. <unk> 
 in this one the screen <unk> with photographs of both candidates 
 who 's really lying asks a female voice 
 florio 's lying the voice goes on because the barrel on courter 's land contained heating oil was <unk> up and caused no pollution 
 mr. courter 's long nose <unk> while mr. florio 's grows 
 who 's telling the truth 
 stephen <unk> a political scientist at new jersey 's <unk> institute says it 's another example of an ad that 's true but not fully accurate 
 barrels were dumped on the courter property a complaint was made but there is no evidence the barrels were a serious threat to the environment 
 even so according to mr. <unk> the ad was devastating because it raised questions about mr. courter 's credibility 
 but it 's building on a long tradition 
 in N on route to a re-election rout of democrat frank <unk> gop gov. nelson rockefeller of new york appeared in person saying if you want to keep the crime rates high <unk> is your man 
 a seat on the chicago board of trade was sold for $ N down $ N from the previous sale last friday 
 seats currently are quoted at $ N bid and $ N asked 
 the record price for a full membership on the exchange is $ N set aug. N N 
 japanese investment in southeast asia is <unk> the region toward economic integration 
 interviews with analysts and business people in the u.s. suggest that japanese capital may produce the economic cooperation that southeast asian politicians have pursued in fits and starts for decades 
 but japan 's power in the region also is <unk> fears of domination and <unk> fresh policy questions 
 the flow of japanese funds has set in motion a process <unk> these economies will be <unk> together by the great japanese investment machine says robert <unk> vice chairman of goldman sachs international corp 
 in the past five years japanese companies have tripled their commitments in asia to $ N billion 
 in thailand for example the government 's board of investment approved $ N million of japanese investment in N N times the u.s. investment figure for the year 
 japan 's commitment in southeast asia also includes steep increases in foreign assistance and trade 
 asia 's other <unk> countries are following japan 's lead and pumping capital into the region 
 in taiwan and south korea rising wages are forcing manufacturers to seek other overseas sites for <unk> production 
 these nations known as asia 's little <unk> also are contributing to southeast asia 's integration but their influence will remain subordinate to japan 's 
 for <unk> countries such as thailand and malaysia the investment will provide needed jobs and spur growth 
 but asian nations ' harsh memories of their military domination by japan in the early part of this century make them fearful of falling under japanese economic <unk> now 
 because of budget constraints in washington the u.s. encourages japan to share economic burdens in the region 
 but it <unk> yielding political ground 
 in the coming decade analysts say <unk> relations will be tested as tokyo comes to terms with its new status as the region 's economic <unk> 
 japan 's swelling investment in southeast asia is part of its economic evolution 
 in the past decade japanese manufacturers concentrated on domestic production for export 
 in the 1990s spurred by rising labor costs and the strong yen these companies will increasingly turn themselves into <unk> with plants around the world 
 to capture the investment southeast asian nations will move to accommodate japanese business 
 these nations ' internal decisions will be made in a way not to <unk> their largest aid <unk> largest private investor and largest lender says richard <unk> director of the international business and research program at the university of southern california 's graduate school of business 
 japanese money will help turn southeast asia into a more <unk> economic region 
 but analysts say asian cooperation is n't likely to parallel the european common market approach 
 rather japanese investment will spur integration of certain sectors says kent <unk> a specialist in east asian economies at the <unk> wilson school for public and <unk> affairs at princeton university 
 in electronics for example a japanese company might make television picture <unk> in japan <unk> the sets in malaysia and export them to indonesia 
 the effect will be to pull asia together not as a common market but as an integrated production zone says goldman sachs 's mr. <unk> 
 countries in the region also are beginning to consider a <unk> for closer economic and political ties 
 the economic and foreign ministers of N asian and pacific nations will meet in australia next week to discuss global trade issues as well as regional matters such as transportation and telecommunications 
 participants will include the u.s. australia canada japan south korea and new zealand as well as the six members of the association of southeast asian nations thailand malaysia singapore indonesia the philippines and <unk> 
 in addition the u.s. this year offered its own plan for cooperation around the pacific <unk> in a major speech by secretary of state james baker following up a proposal made in january by australian prime minister bob <unk> 
 the baker proposal <unk> washington 's intention to continue playing a leading political role in the region 
 in asia as in europe a new order is taking shape mr. baker said 
 the u.s. with its regional friends must play a crucial role in designing its architecture 
 but maintaining u.s. influence will be difficult in the face of japanese dominance in the region 
 japan not only <unk> the u.s. in investment flows but also <unk> it in trade with most southeast asian countries although the u.s. remains the leading trade partner for all of asia 
 moreover the japanese government now the world 's largest aid <unk> is pumping far more assistance into the region than the u.s. is 
 while u.s. officials voice optimism about japan 's <unk> role in asia they also convey an <unk> of caution 
 there 's an understanding on the part of the u.s. that japan has to expand its functions in asia says j. michael <unk> undersecretary of commerce for trade 
 if they approach it with a <unk> <unk> attitude there will be a net gain for everyone 
 some asian nations are <unk> about washington 's demand that tokyo step up its military spending to ease the u.s. security burden in the region 
 the issue is further complicated by uncertainty over the future of the u.s. 's leases on military bases in the philippines and by a possible u.s. troop reduction in south korea 
 many <unk> regard a u.s. presence as a desirable <unk> to japanese influence 
 no one wants the u.s. to pick up its <unk> and go home mr. <unk> says 
 for their part taiwan and south korea are expected to step up their own investments in the next decade to try to slow the japanese <unk> 
 they do n't want japan to <unk> the region and <unk> it up says <unk> lee professor of east asian politics at the university of pennsylvania 
 <unk> rice could hardly believe her eyes 
 while giving the comprehensive test of basic skills to ninth <unk> at greenville high school last march N she spotted a student looking at <unk> sheets 
 she had seen cheating before but these notes were <unk> 
 a <unk> is an example of a profession in trade and finance 
 at the end of world war ii germany surrendered before japan 
 the <unk> conference committee is used when a bill is passed by the house and senate in different forms 
 virtually word for word the notes matched questions and answers on the <unk> section of the test the student was taking 
 in fact the student had the answers to almost all of the N questions in that section 
 the student surrendered the notes but not without a protest 
 my teacher said it was ok for me to use the notes on the test he said 
 the teacher in question was nancy yeargin considered by many students and parents to be one of the best at the school 
 confronted mrs. yeargin admitted she had given the questions and answers two days before the examination to two <unk> geography classes 
 she had gone so far as to display the questions on an overhead <unk> and <unk> the answers 
 mrs. yeargin was fired and prosecuted under an unusual south carolina law that makes it a crime to breach test security 
 in september she pleaded guilty and paid a $ N fine 
 her alternative was N days in jail 
 her story is partly one of personal <unk> 
 she was an <unk> teacher who won <unk> and inspired students but she will probably never teach again 
 in her wake she left the <unk> and anger of a principal who was her friend and now calls her a <unk> of colleagues who say she brought them shame of students and parents who defended her and insist she was treated <unk> and of <unk> officials stunned that despite the <unk> nature of her actions she became something of a local <unk> 
 mrs. yeargin 's case also <unk> some light on the dark side of school reform where pressures on teachers are growing and where <unk> testing has enhanced the temptation to <unk> 
 the N statute mrs. yeargin violated was designed to enforce provisions of south carolina 's <unk> laws 
 prosecutors alleged that she was trying to bolster students ' scores to win a bonus under the state 's N education improvement act 
 the bonus depended on her ability to produce higher <unk> scores 
 there is incredible pressure on school systems and teachers to raise test scores says walt <unk> an education professor and testing specialist at boston college 
 so efforts to beat the tests are also on the rise 
 and most disturbing it is educators not students who are blamed for much of the wrongdoing 
 a <unk> study released in september by friends for education an <unk> n.m. <unk> group concluded that outright cheating by american educators is common 
 the group says standardized achievement test scores are greatly inflated because teachers often teach the test as mrs. yeargin did although most are never caught 
 evidence of widespread cheating has surfaced in several states in the last year or so 
 california 's education department suspects adult responsibility for <unk> at N schools that changed wrong answers to right ones on a statewide test 
 after numerous <unk> of questionable teacher help to students texas is <unk> its security practices 
 and sales of <unk> booklets for classroom instruction are booming 
 these materials including <unk> school publishing co. 's scoring high and learning materials are nothing short of sophisticated <unk> sheets according to some recent academic research 
 by using them teachers with administrative blessing telegraph to students <unk> the precise areas on which a test will concentrate and sometimes give away a few exact questions and answers 
 use of scoring high is widespread in south carolina and common in greenville county mrs. yeargin 's school district 
 experts say there is n't another state in the country where tests mean as much as they do in south carolina 
 under the state 's education improvement act low test scores can block students ' promotions or force entire districts into <unk> <unk> <unk> that can mean <unk> 
 high test scores on the other hand bring recognition and extra money a new computer lab for a school grants for special projects a bonus for the <unk> 
 and south carolina says it is getting results 
 since the reforms went in place for example no state has posted a higher rate of improvement on the <unk> <unk> test than south carolina although the state still posts the lowest average score of the about N states who use the sat as the primary college <unk> examination 
 critics say south carolina is paying a price by stressing improved test scores so much 
 friends of education rates south carolina one of the worst seven states in its study on academic cheating 
 says the organization 's founder john <unk> <unk> mrs. yeargin is a way for administrators to protect themselves and look like they take cheating seriously when in fact they do n't take it seriously at all 
 paul <unk> director of testing for the south carolina department of education says mr. <unk> 's allegations of cheating are <unk> without foundation and based on unfair <unk> 
 partly because of worries about potential abuse however he says the state will begin keeping closer track of <unk> preparation booklets next spring 
 south carolina 's reforms were designed for schools like greenville high school 
 standing on a <unk> hill in a <unk> area of this old textile city the school has educated many of south carolina 's best and <unk> including the state 's last two governors nobel prize winning <unk> charles <unk> and actress <unk> <unk> 
 but by the early 1980s its glory had faded like the yellow bricks of its broad <unk> 
 it was full of violence and gangs and kids cutting class says linda ward the school 's principal 
 crime was awful test scores were low and there was no <unk> in <unk> programs 
 mrs. ward took over in N becoming the school 's seventh principal in N years 
 her immediate predecessor suffered a nervous breakdown 
 prior to his term a teacher <unk> to death in the halls <unk> by a student 
 <unk> mrs. ward says the school was having trouble serving in harmony its two <unk> and evenly split student groups a <unk> white elite from old <unk> neighborhoods and blacks many of them poor from <unk> inner city neighborhoods 
 mrs. ward resolved to clean out <unk> in the school 's faculty and restore safety and she also had some new factors working in her behalf 
 one was statewide school reform which raised overall educational funding and <unk> in a new public spirit for school <unk> 
 another was nancy yeargin who came to greenville in N full of the energy and ambitions that reformers wanted to reward 
 being a teacher just became my life says the <unk> mrs. yeargin a teacher for N years before her dismissal 
 i loved the school its history 
 i even <unk> about school and new things to do with my students 
 while mrs. ward fired and restructured staff and struggled to improve <unk> mrs. yeargin worked <unk> days and fast became a student favorite 
 in N and N she applied for and won bonus pay under the reform law 
 encouraged by mrs. ward mrs. yeargin taught honor students in the state teacher <unk> program a reform creation designed to encourage good students to consider teaching as a career 
 she won grant money for the school advised <unk> ran the <unk> club proposed and taught a new cultural <unk> class in western <unk> and was chosen by the school <unk> as teacher of the year 
 she was an <unk> lady she had it all together says <unk> <unk> a freshman at the university of south carolina who had mrs. yeargin in the <unk> class last year 
 she says that because of mrs. yeargin she gave up ambitions in architecture and is studying to become a teacher 
 mary beth <unk> a greenville <unk> <unk> also says mrs. yeargin inspired her to go into education 
 she taught us more in western <unk> than i 've ever learned in other classes says <unk> green a greenville senior 
 in the classroom students say mrs. yeargin distinguished herself by <unk> teaching approaches forcing kids to pair up to complete classroom work or using <unk> type <unk> 
 on <unk> she came to work to prepare study plans or sometimes even to polish the furniture in her classroom 
 she just never gave it up says mary <unk> mary beth 's mother 
 you 'd see her <unk> <unk> in the stands at a football game 
 some fellow teachers however viewed mrs. yeargin as <unk> and too yielding to students 
 mrs. ward says she often defended her to colleagues who called her a <unk> 
 pressures began to build 
 friends told her she was pushing too hard 
 because of deteriorating hearing she told colleagues she feared she might not be able to teach much longer 
 mrs. yeargin 's extra work was also helping her earn points in the state 's <unk> program 
 but the most important source of points was student improvement on tests 
 huge gains by her students in N and N meant a total of $ N in bonuses over two years a meaningful addition to her annual salary of $ N 
 winning a bonus for a third year was n't that important to her mrs. yeargin insists 
 but others at greenville high say she was eager to win if not for money then for pride and recognition 
 mary elizabeth <unk> another <unk> teacher says she believed mrs. yeargin wanted to keep her standing high so she could get a new job that would n't demand good hearing 
 indeed mrs. yeargin was interested in a possible job with the state teacher <unk> program 
 last march after attending a teaching <unk> in washington mrs. yeargin says she returned to greenville two days before annual testing feeling that she had n't prepared her <unk> geography students adequately 
 when test booklets were passed out N hours ahead of time she says she <unk> questions in the social studies section and gave the answers to students 
 mrs. yeargin admits she made a big mistake but insists her <unk> were correct 
 i was trying to help kids in an unfair testing situation she says 
 only five of the N questions were geography questions 
 the rest were history <unk> finance subjects they never had 
 mrs. yeargin says that she also wanted to help lift greenville high school 's overall test scores usually near the bottom of N district high schools in <unk> carried annually by local newspapers 
 mostly she says she wanted to prevent the damage to <unk> that her <unk> students would suffer from doing badly on the test 
 these kids broke my heart she says 
 a whole day goes by and no one even knows they 're alive 
 they desperately needed somebody who showed they <unk> for them who loved them 
 the last thing they needed was another <unk> blow 
 school officials and prosecutors say mrs. yeargin is lying 
 they found students in an advanced class a year earlier who said she gave them similar help although because the case was n't tried in court this evidence was never presented publicly 
 that pretty much <unk> any <unk> that she was out to help the poor <unk> child says joe watson the prosecutor in the case who is also president of greenville high school 's <unk> association 
 mrs. yeargin concedes that she went over the questions in the earlier class adding i wanted to help all students 
 mr. watson says mrs. yeargin never complained to school officials that the standardized test was unfair 
 do i have much <unk> for her mr. watson asks 
 not really 
 i believe in the system 
 i believe you have to use the system to change it 
 what she did was like taking the law into your own hands 
 mrs. ward says that when the cheating was discovered she wanted to avoid the <unk> public disclosure that a trial would bring 
 she says she offered mrs. yeargin a quiet resignation and thought she could help save her teaching certificate 
 mrs. yeargin declined 
 she said something like you just want to make it easy for the school 
 i was <unk> mrs. ward recalls 
 it was like someone had turned a <unk> in me 
 to the <unk> and <unk> of her <unk> and legal authorities and perhaps as a measure of the <unk> of standardized tests <unk> yeargin won widespread local support 
 the <unk> hearing at which she was dismissed was crowded with students teachers and parents who came to testify on her behalf 
 supportive callers <unk> unfair testing not mrs. yeargin on a local radio talk show on which she appeared 
 the show did n't give the <unk> of mrs. yeargin 's <unk> saying only that she helped students do better on the test 
 the message to the board of education out of all this is we 've got to take a serious look at how we 're doing our <unk> and our testing policies in this state said the <unk> host 
 <unk> in the greenville newspaper allowed that mrs. yeargin was wrong but also said the case showed how testing was being <unk> 
 the radio show <unk> us says mrs. ward 
 partly because of the show mr. watson says the district decided not to recommend mrs. yeargin for a first-time offenders program that could have <unk> the charges and the conviction from her record 
 and legal authorities <unk> up an investigation worthy of a murder case 
 over N witnesses mostly students were interviewed 
 at greenville high school meanwhile some students especially on the <unk> <unk> were crushed 
 it 's hard to explain to a <unk> why someone they like had to go says mrs. ward 
 soon <unk> appeared in the <unk> that carried the school 's familiar <unk> <unk> <unk> on the front 
 on the back the shirts read we have all the answers 
 many colleagues are angry at mrs. yeargin 
 she did a lot of harm says <unk> rice who had discovered the <unk> notes 
 we work damn hard at what we do for damn little pay and what she did cast unfair <unk> on all of us 
 but several teachers also say the incident <unk> doubt on the wisdom of evaluating teachers or schools by using standardized test scores 
 says <unk> key a <unk> teacher the incentive pay thing has opened up a can of <unk> 
 there may be others doing what she did 
 mrs. yeargin says she pleaded guilty because she realized it would no longer be possible to win <unk> and because she was afraid of further charges 
 mrs. ward for one was relieved 
 despite the strong evidence against mrs. yeargin popular sentiment was so strong in her favor mrs. ward says that i 'm afraid a jury would n't have convicted her 
 since <unk> first touched slate <unk> have wanted to know what 's on the test 
 these days students can often find the answer in <unk> <unk> and <unk> their teachers give them in the weeks prior to taking standardized achievement tests 
 the <unk> section of the widely used california achievement test asks fifth <unk> what is another name for the roman <unk> <unk> 
 it also asks them to add <unk> and <unk> 
 <unk> in a <unk> <unk> called learning materials sold to schools across the country by <unk> school publishing co. contain the same questions 
 in many other <unk> there is almost no difference between the real test and learning materials 
 what 's more the test and learning materials are both produced by the same company <unk> a joint venture of mcgraw-hill inc. and macmillan 's parent britain 's maxwell communication corp 
 close parallels between tests and practice tests are common some educators and researchers say 
 <unk> booklets software and <unk> are a booming publishing <unk> 
 but some practice products are so similar to the tests themselves that critics say they represent a form of <unk> cheating 
 if i took these preparation booklets into my classroom i 'd have a hard time <unk> to my students and parents that it was n't cheating says john <unk> a <unk> city mich. teacher who has studied test <unk> 
 he and other critics say such <unk> aids can defeat the purpose of standardized tests which is to gauge learning progress 
 it 's as if france decided to give only french history questions to students in a european history class and when everybody <unk> the test they say their kids are good in european history says john <unk> an <unk> n.m. <unk> and founder of an educational research organization friends for education which has studied standardized testing 
 standardized achievement tests are given about N million times a year across the country to students generally from <unk> through eighth grade 
 the most widely used of these tests are <unk> 's cat and comprehensive test of basic skills the iowa test of basic skills by <unk> <unk> co. and <unk> <unk> <unk> inc. 's metropolitan achievement test and stanford achievement test 
 sales figures of the <unk> materials are n't known but their reach into schools is significant 
 in arizona california florida louisiana maryland new jersey south carolina and texas educators say they are common classroom tools 
 <unk> says well over N million of its scoring high <unk> books have been sold since their introduction N years ago with most sales in the last five years 
 about N sets of learning materials teachers ' <unk> have also been sold in the past four years 
 the materials in each set reach about N students 
 scoring high and learning materials are the <unk> preparation tests 
 michael kean director of marketing for <unk> <unk> the <unk> division that publishes learning materials says it is n't aimed at improving test scores 
 he also asserted that exact questions were n't <unk> 
 when referred to the questions that matched he said it was <unk> 
 mr. <unk> the <unk> and william <unk> a michigan state university education professor concluded in a study last june that cat test versions of scoring high and learning materials should n't be used in the classroom because of their similarity to the actual test 
 they devised a <unk> scale <unk> one point for each <unk> measured on the cat test to rate the <unk> of test <unk> to the <unk> cat 
 because many of these <unk> the <unk> of <unk> figures metric measurement of volume or pie and bar <unk> for example are only a small part of the total <unk> <unk> mr. <unk> says the preparation <unk> would n't <unk> too many if their real intent was general instruction or even general <unk> with test procedures 
 but learning materials matched on N of N <unk> 
 scoring high matched on N 
 in cat sections where students ' knowledge of <unk> <unk> sounds is tested the authors noted that scoring high concentrated on the same sounds that the test does to the exclusion of other sounds that fifth <unk> should know 
 learning materials for the <unk> contains at least a dozen examples of exact matches or close parallels to test items 
 rick <unk> senior editor of scoring high says that messrs. <unk> and <unk> are ignoring the need students have for becoming familiar with tests and testing format 
 he said authors of scoring high <unk> avoid <unk> exact questions but he does n't deny that some items are similar 
 when scoring high first came out in N it was a publication of random house 
 mcgraw-hill was <unk> 
 in a N advisory to educators mcgraw-hill said scoring high should n't be used because it represented a parallel form of the cat and <unk> tests 
 but in N mcgraw-hill purchased the random house unit that publishes scoring high which later became part of <unk> 
 messrs. <unk> and kean say they are <unk> of any efforts by mcgraw-hill to modify or <unk> scoring high 
 <unk> corp. said it completed the acquisition of sacramento savings & loan association from the <unk> & <unk> c. <unk> foundation for $ N million 
 the <unk> s&l which has N branch offices in north central california had assets of $ N billion at the end of september 
 new york-based <unk> is an insurance and financial services concern 
 the purchase price includes two <unk> companies 
 the department of health and human services plans to extend its <unk> on federal funding of research involving fetal-tissue transplants 
 medical researchers believe the <unk> of small amounts of <unk> tissue into humans could help treat <unk> <unk> and such <unk> diseases as <unk> 's <unk> 's and <unk> 's 
 but anti-abortionists oppose such research because they worry that the development of <unk> using fetal-tissue transplants could lead to an increase in abortions 
 james mason assistant secretary for health said the ban on federal funding of fetal-tissue transplant research should be continued indefinitely 
 he said the ban wo n't stop privately funded <unk> research or federally funded fetal-tissue research that does n't involve transplants 
 department officials say that hhs secretary louis sullivan will support dr. mason 's ruling which will be issued soon in the form of a letter to the acting director of the national institutes of health 
 both dr. mason and dr. sullivan oppose federal funding for abortion as does president bush except in cases where a woman 's life is threatened 
 the controversy began in N when the national institutes of health aware of the policy implications of its research asked for an hhs review of its plan to <unk> <unk> tissue into the brain of a patient suffering from <unk> 's disease 
 the department placed a <unk> on the research pending a review of scientific legal and ethical issues 
 a majority of an <unk> panel recommended late last year that the research continue under carefully controlled conditions but the issue became <unk> in politics as anti-abortion groups continued to oppose federal funding 
 the dispute has hampered the administration 's efforts to recruit prominent doctors to fill prestigious posts at the helm of the nih and the centers for disease control 
 several candidates have withdrawn their names from consideration after administration officials asked them for their views on abortion and fetal-tissue transplants 
 antonio novello whom mr. bush <unk> to serve as surgeon general reportedly has assured the administration that she opposes abortion 
 dr. novello is deputy director of the national institute of child health and human development 
 some researchers have charged that the administration is imposing new ideological tests for top scientific posts 
 earlier this week dr. sullivan tried to <unk> these charges by stressing that candidates to head the nih and the <unk> will be <unk> by standards of scientific and administrative <unk> not politics 
 but the administration 's handling of the fetal-tissue transplant issue <unk> many scientists 
 when scientific progress moves into <unk> ground there has to be a role for society to make judgments about its applications says <unk> <unk> associate dean of the yale medical school 
 the disturbing thing about this abortion issue is that the debate has become <unk> so that no mechanism exists for finding a middle ground 
 yale is one of the few medical institutions conducting privately funded research on fetal-tissue transplants 
 but dr. <unk> warns that dr. mason 's ruling may discourage private funding 
 the <unk> of federal funds and the climate in which the decision was made certainly do n't provide any incentive for one of the more visible foundations to provide support he said 
 despite the <unk> over transplants federal funding of research involving <unk> <unk> will continue on a number of fronts 
 such research may ultimately result in the ability to <unk> damaged <unk> or to turn off genes that cause cancer or to regulate genes that cause down 's syndrome the leading cause of mental <unk> according to an nih summary 
 the nih currently spends about $ N million annually on fetal-tissue research out of a total research budget of $ N billion 
 <unk> hope that two new england states will allow broader interstate banking boosted nasdaq 's bank stocks but the over-the-counter market was up only slightly in lackluster trading 
 the nasdaq composite index added N to N on <unk> volume of N million shares 
 in terms of volume it was an <unk> beginning for november 
 yesterday 's share turnover was well below the year 's daily average of N million 
 in october the busiest month of the year so far daily volume averaged roughly N million shares 
 the nasdaq N index of the biggest <unk> stocks gained N to N 
 the index of the N largest nasdaq financial stocks rose modestly as well gaining N to N 
 but the broader nasdaq bank index which tracks thrift issues jumped N to N 
 the bank stocks got a boost when connecticut bank & trust and bank of new england said they no longer oppose pending legislation that would permit banks from other regions to merge with connecticut and massachusetts banks 
 the two banks merged in N 
 bank of new england 's shares are traded on the new york stock exchange 
 the stocks of banking concerns based in massachusetts were n't helped much by the announcement traders said because many of those concerns have financial problems tied to their real-estate loan portfolios making them <unk> takeover targets 
 but speculators anticipating that connecticut will approve a law permitting such interstate banking soon immediately bid up shares of connecticut banks on the news 
 a lot of the stocks that have been under water finally saw a reason to uptick said george <unk> head trader of banking issues in shearson lehman hutton 's otc department 
 the biggest <unk> was northeast bancorp which surged N N to N 
 the stamford conn. concern has agreed to a buy-out by bank of new york in a transaction with an indicated value of about $ N a share that expires next august 
 ed <unk> a <unk> conn. money manager who follows bank stocks said the announcement effectively gives the deal the green light 
 mr. <unk> said northeast bancorp also fared well because takeover stocks have returned to favor among investors 
 another otc bank stock involved in a buy-out deal first constitution financial was higher 
 it rose N to N N 
 first constitution has signed a merger agreement with <unk> l.p. and <unk> corp. under which all of its common shares will be acquired for $ N each or $ N million 
 among other connecticut banks whose shares trade in the otc market society for savings bancorp based in hartford saw its stock rise N N to N N 
 <unk> added N to N N shares of <unk> a new london-based bank holding company rose N to N N 
 among other banking issues <unk> savings association <unk> more than N N with a gain of N N to N N 
 the pennsylvania bank agreed to be acquired in a merger with <unk> corp. of pennsylvania for $ N a share 
 valley federal savings & loan a california thrift issue gained N to N N after reporting a third-quarter loss of $ N million after an $ N million pretax charge mostly related to its mobile home financing unit 
 dan e. <unk> valley federal 's president and chief executive officer said the one-time charge substantially <unk> future losses associated with the unit 
 he said the company 's core business remains strong 
 he also said that after the charges and assuming no dramatic <unk> in interest rates the company expects to achieve <unk> earnings in N 
 weisfield 's surged N N to N N and ratners group 's american depositary receipts or adrs gained N to N N 
 the two concerns said they entered into a definitive merger agreement under which ratners will begin a tender offer for all of weisfield 's common shares for $ N each 
 also on the takeover front jaguar 's adrs rose N to N N on turnover of N million 
 since the british auto maker became a takeover target last month its adrs have jumped about N N 
 after troubled heritage media proposed acquiring pop radio in a stock swap pop radio 's shares tumbled N to N N 
 heritage media which already owns about N N of pop radio proposed paying pop radio shareholders with shares of a new class of heritage media preferred stock that would be convertible into four shares of heritage media 's common 
 rally 's lost N N to N N 
 the restaurant operator said it has redeemed its rights issued monday under its shareholder rights plan 
 the fast-food company said its decision was based on discussions with a shareholder group giant group ltd. in an effort to resolve certain disputes with the company 
 giant group is led by three rally 's directors burt sugarman james m. trotter iii and william e. trotter ii who earlier this month indicated they had a N N stake in rally 's and planned to seek a majority of seats on rally 's <unk> board 
 sci systems slipped N to N on volume of N shares 
 the <unk> ala. electronic products maker said it expects to post a significant loss for its fiscal first quarter ended sept. N 
 in the year-earlier period sci had net income of $ N million or N cents a share on revenue of $ N million 
 the internal revenue service has threatened criminal sanctions against lawyers who fail to report detailed information about clients who pay them more than $ N in cash 
 the warnings issued to at least N criminal defense attorneys in several major cities in the last week have led to an outcry by members of the organized bar who claim the information is protected by <unk> privilege 
 the irs warnings stem from a N law that requires anyone who receives more than $ N in cash from a client or customer in one or more related transactions in the course of trade or business to report the payment on a document known as form N 
 the form asks for such details as the client 's name social security number <unk> number and details about the services provided for the payment 
 failure to complete the form had been punishable as a <unk> until last november when congress determined that the crime was a felony punishable by up to N years in prison 
 attorneys have argued since N when the law took effect that they can not provide information about clients who do n't wish their <unk> to be known 
 many attorneys have returned incomplete forms to the irs in recent years citing <unk> privilege 
 until last week the irs rarely acted on the incomplete forms 
 this form forces a lawyer to become in effect a witness against his client said neal r. <unk> president of the national association of criminal defense lawyers 
 the irs is asking lawyers to <unk> a criminal problem to the government added mr. <unk> a miami lawyer who has heard from dozens of attorneys who received letters in recent days and has himself received the <unk> irs forms sent by certified mail 
 mr. <unk> said that clients who pay cash may include alleged drug dealers who do n't have domestic bank accounts 
 these individuals may not necessarily be under investigation when they hire lawyers 
 mr. <unk> said there also may be other circumstances under which individuals would n't want the government to know they had retained criminal defense lawyers 
 filling out detailed forms about these individuals would tip the irs off and spark action against the clients he said 
 the defense lawyers ' group formed a task force this week <unk> by new york attorney gerald <unk> to deal with the matter 
 the american bar association 's house of delegates passed a resolution in N <unk> the irs reporting requirement 
 michael ross a new york lawyer who heads the aba 's grand jury committee said that lawyers are prohibited by the aba 's code of ethics from disclosing information about a client except where a court orders it or to prevent the client from committing a criminal act that could result in death 
 mr. ross said he met with officials of the irs and the justice department which would bring any enforcement actions against taxpayers to discuss the issue last may 
 at that meeting he said the justice department assured him that enforcement procedures would n't be threatened against attorneys without further review and advance notice 
 mr. ross said irs officials opposed the justice department 's moderate stance on the matter 
 but in the letters sent in recent days christopher j. <unk> of the irs computing center in detroit told attorneys that failing to voluntarily submit the requested information could result in <unk> enforcement action being initiated 
 in some cases the irs asked for information dating back to forms it received in N 
 a spokesman for the irs confirmed that there has been <unk> <unk> about incomplete <unk> but he declined to say why the letters were sent to lawyers now 
 individuals familiar with the justice department 's policy said that justice officials had n't any knowledge of the irs 's actions in the last week 
 lawyers worry that if they provide information about clients that data could quickly end up in the hands of prosecutors 
 prosecutors need court permission to obtain the tax returns of an individual or a business 
 but they have obtained N forms without court permission and used the information to help develop criminal cases 
 some criminal lawyers speculated that the irs was sending the letters to test the issue 
 in a number of recent cases federal courts have refused to recognize attorneys ' <unk> that information relating to fees from clients should be confidential 
 the war over federal judicial salaries takes a victim 
 often judges ease into more lucrative private practice with little fanfare but not federal judge <unk> a. ramirez in sacramento calif 
 on tuesday the judge called a news conference to say he was <unk> effective dec. N to join a san francisco law firm 
 the reason the refusal of congress to give federal judges a raise 
 a couple of my law <unk> were going to pass me in three or four years and i was afraid i was going to have to ask them for a loan the judge <unk> in an interview 
 federal judges make $ N annually in february congress rejected a bill that would have increased their pay by N N 
 judge ramirez N said it is <unk> for judges to make what they do 
 judges are not getting what they deserve 
 you look around at professional <unk> or accountants and nobody <unk> an eye 
 when you become a federal judge all of a sudden you are <unk> to a <unk> sum 
 at his new job as partner in charge of federal litigation in the sacramento office of <unk> <unk> & <unk> he will make out much better 
 the judge declined to discuss his salary in detail but said i 'm going to be a high-priced lawyer 
 <unk> <unk> union troubles are no laughing matter 
 <unk> <unk> trudeau is suing the writers guild of america east for $ N million alleging it mounted a campaign to <unk> and punish him for crossing a <unk> ' picket line 
 the dispute involves <unk> productions inc. a tv production company in which mr. trudeau is a <unk> 
 mr. trudeau a writers guild member also was employed as a writer for <unk> which was covered by a guild <unk> agreement 
 the guild began a strike against the tv and movie industry in march N 
 in his lawsuit mr. trudeau says the strike illegally included <unk> and the <unk> refused to honor the strike against the company 
 a spokesman for the guild said the union 's lawyers are reviewing the suit 
 he said disciplinary proceedings are confidential and declined to comment on whether any are being held against mr. trudeau 
 mr. trudeau 's attorney norman k. <unk> said the <unk> consists mainly of the guild 's <unk> threats of disciplinary action 
 mr. <unk> said a guild disciplinary hearing is scheduled next monday in new york 
 mr. <unk> who will go before the disciplinary panel said the proceedings are unfair and that any punishment from the guild would be <unk> 
 in addition to the damages the suit seeks a court order preventing the guild from <unk> or <unk> against mr. trudeau 
 abortion ruling upheld 
 a federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that the u.s. can bar the use of federal funds for <unk> programs that include <unk> services 
 a department of health and human services rule adopted in N prohibits the use of so-called title x funds for programs that assist a woman in obtaining an abortion such as abortion counseling and <unk> 
 the rule also prohibits funding for activities that encourage promote or advocate abortion 
 title x funds are the single largest source of federal funding for <unk> services according to the opinion by the second u.s. circuit court of appeals in new york 
 the panel ruled that the restrictions do n't violate the freedom of speech of health care <unk> and that the limits on counseling services do n't violate the rights of pregnant women 
 inquiry clears texas judge of bias in comments on homosexual murder victims 
 dallas district judge jack <unk> had sparked calls for a judicial inquiry with his remarks to the press last december two weeks after sentencing an <unk> defendant to N years in state prison for killing two homosexual men in a city park 
 the judge was quoted as referring to the victims as <unk> and saying they would n't have been killed if they had n't been <unk> the streets picking up <unk> boys 
 but robert r. murray a special master appointed by the texas supreme court said judge <unk> did n't breach any judicial standards of fairness although he did violate the state 's judicial code by commenting publicly on a pending case 
 <unk> that the judge has never <unk> any bias or <unk> mr. murray concluded that he would be <unk> in any case involving a homosexual or <unk> as a victim 
 mr. murray also said judge <unk> 's comments did n't <unk> the judiciary or the administration of justice 
 the report is subject to review by the state commission on judicial conduct which is <unk> to impose sanctions 
 gaf trial goes to round three 
 attorneys in the third <unk> trial of gaf corp. began opening arguments yesterday in the manhattan courtroom of u.s. district judge mary johnson lowe 
 in an <unk> indictment the government has charged gaf a wayne n.j. specialty chemical maker and its vice chairman james t. sherwin with attempting to manipulate the common stock of union carbide corp. in advance of gaf 's planned sale of a large block of the stock in november N 
 the first two gaf trials ended in <unk> earlier this year 
 this trial is expected to last five weeks 
 switching to the defense 
 a former member of the prosecution team in the <unk> affair joined the chicago firm of mayer brown & <unk> 
 michael r. <unk> a member since january N of the <unk> trial team in the prosecution of oliver north became a partner in the washington d.c. office of the <unk> firm 
 he will specialize in white-collar criminal defense work 
 mr. <unk> N also has served as deputy chief and chief of the narcotics unit for the u.s. attorney 's office for the southern district of new york based in manhattan 
 <unk> tire & rubber co. said it has reached an agreement in principle to buy buildings and related property in albany ga. from <unk> inc 
 terms were n't disclosed 
 the tire maker said the buildings consist of N million square feet of office manufacturing and <unk> space on N acres of land 
 fujitsu ltd. 's top executive took the unusual step of publicly <unk> for his company 's making bids of just one yen for several local government projects while computer rival nec corp. made a written <unk> for <unk> in the same practice 
 meanwhile business and government leaders <unk> the computer makers and <unk> about the broader statement the companies ' actions make about japanese <unk> pricing 
 fujitsu said it bid the equivalent of less than a u.s. penny on three separate municipal contracts during the past two years 
 the company also disclosed that during that period it offered N yen or about $ N for another contract 
 but fujitsu japan 's no. N computer maker is n't alone 
 nec one of its largest domestic competitors said it bid one yen in two separate public auctions since N 
 in both cases nec lost the contract to fujitsu which made the same bid and won a <unk> <unk> 
 all the contracts were for <unk> contracts and involved no hardware or software 
 the ministry of international trade and industry summoned executives from the companies to make sure they understood the concern about such practices according to a government spokesman 
 these cases lead to the loss of the firms ' social and international credibility a ministry statement said 
 japan 's fair trade commission has said it is considering investigating the bids for possible <unk> violations 
 we would like to <unk> for having caused huge trouble fujitsu president <unk> <unk> read from a prepared statement as he stood before a packed news conference at his company 's downtown headquarters 
 the bids he added were contrary to common sense 
 nec released a statement saying we feel sorry for having caused trouble to society a form of <unk> common in japan for companies caught in embarrassing situations 
 japanese companies have long had a reputation for <unk> short-term profits to make a sale that may have long-term benefits 
 but the growing controversy comes as many practices historically accepted as normal here such as politicians accepting substantial gifts from businessmen or having <unk> affairs are coming under close ethical scrutiny 
 the fire is also fueled by growing international interest in japanese behavior 
 so far there have been no public overseas complaints about the issue 
 but in one of the auctions in question international business machines corp. made a bid substantially higher than the fujitsu offer according to the <unk> 
 the <unk> bids touch on issues central to the increasingly <unk> trade debate 
 foreigners complain that they have limited access to government procurement in japan in part because japanese companies unfairly undercut them 
 the u.s. government in recent years has accused japanese companies of <unk> slashing prices on semiconductors and <unk> products fujitsu and nec make 
 asked whether the bidding <unk> would hurt <unk> relations mr. <unk> said this will be a minus factor 
 the <unk> controversy first came to a head last week when the city of hiroshima announced that fujitsu won a contract to design a computer system to <unk> its waterworks 
 the city had expected to pay about N million yen $ N but fujitsu essentially offered to do it for free 
 then wednesday fujitsu said it made a similar bid to win a library contract in <unk> <unk> two weeks earlier 
 it also said that in july it bid N yen to design a system for the <unk> <unk> library and two years ago it bid one yen to plan the telecommunications system for <unk> <unk> 
 the company said it has offered to withdraw its bids in hiroshima and <unk> 
 the municipalities said they have n't decided whether to try to force the company to go through with the contracts 
 fujitsu and nec said they were still investigating and that knowledge of more such bids could emerge 
 mr. <unk> insisted that headquarters had n't approved the bids and that he did n't know about most of the cases until wednesday 
 other major japanese computer companies contacted yesterday said they have never made such bids 
 one yen is not ethical <unk> <unk> an official at <unk> the japan federation of economic organizations said 
 profit may be low but at least costs should be covered 
 papers 
 <unk> group inc. agreed to acquire atlantic publications inc. which has N community papers and annual sales of $ N million 
 terms were n't disclosed 
 <unk> is a closely held media firm run by former cbs inc. president john <unk> 
 tv 
 price communications corp. completed the sale of four of its tv stations to <unk> inc. for $ N million in cash and notes retaining a N N equity stake in the new concern 
 <unk> was formed by <unk> communications corp. and <unk> capital 
 <unk> stores inc. which owns and operates a chain of specialty retail stores said october sales rose N N to $ N million from $ N million a year earlier 
 sales in stores open more than one year rose N N to $ N million from $ N million 
 furukawa co. of japan said it will acquire two construction machinery plants and a sales unit in france formerly <unk> to <unk> industries inc. of the u.s. 
 the company said it made the purchase in order to locally produce <unk> operated <unk> 
 last october the company also bought a <unk> manufacturing plant in <unk> west germany from <unk> 
 furukawa said the purchase of the french and german plants together will total about N billion yen $ N million 
 structural dynamics research corp. which makes <unk> engineering software said it introduced new technology in mechanical design <unk> that will improve mechanical engineering productivity 
 <unk> 
 money market <unk> N N 
 a average rate paid yesterday by N large banks and thrifts in the N largest metropolitan areas as compiled by bank rate monitor 
 b current annual yield 
 guaranteed minimum N N 
 lsi logic corp. reported a surprise $ N million third-quarter net loss including a special restructuring charge that reflects a continuing <unk> slowdown in semiconductor demand 
 in september the <unk> maker said excess capacity and lagging billings would result in an estimated $ N million to $ N million net loss for the third quarter 
 but company officials said yesterday that they decided to take a $ N million pretax charge for the period to cover a restructuring of world-wide manufacturing operations citing extended weakness in the market as well as a decision to switch to more <unk> production techniques 
 over the summer months there has been a slowing in the rate of new orders from the computer sector our primary market said wilfred j. <unk> chairman and chief executive officer 
 in addition recent industry forecasts for N indicate a slow environment at least until midyear 
 as a result the company said it decided to phase out its oldest capacity and make appropriate reductions in operating expenses 
 the $ N million net loss <unk> N cents a share 
 not counting the extraordinary charge the company said it would have had a net loss of $ N million or seven cents a share 
 a year earlier it had profit of $ N million or N cents a share 
 revenue rose N N to $ N million from $ N million 
 the charge partly reflects a switch from older <unk> to <unk> <unk> silicon <unk> with which to <unk> chips 
 related to that decision the company said it was converting its santa clara calif. factory to a research and development facility 
 a spokesman declined to speculate about possible reductions in force 
 this is a company that has invested in capacity additions more aggressively than any other company in the industry and now the industry is growing more slowly and they are suddenly poorly positioned said michael stark chip analyst at robertson <unk> & co 
 i think the stock is dead money for a while 
 yesterday 's announcement was made after markets closed 
 u.s. chip makers are facing continued slack demand following a traditionally slow summer 
 part of the problem is that chip buyers are keeping inventories low because of jitters about the course of the u.s. economy 
 <unk> co <unk> lake n.j 
 william g. <unk> former chairman and chief executive officer of general public utilities corp. was elected a director of this maker of industrial and construction equipment increasing board membership to N 
 the dollar posted gains against all major currencies yesterday buoyed by persistent japanese demand for u.s. bond issues 
 while market sentiment remains cautiously bearish on the dollar based on sluggish u.s. economic indicators dealers note that japanese demand has helped <unk> the dollar against the yen and has kept the u.s. currency from plunging below key levels against the mark 
 at the same time dealers said the u.s. unit has been locked into a relatively narrow range in recent weeks in part because the hefty japanese demand for dollars has been offset by the mark 's strength resulting in a <unk> 
 jay <unk> with capital insight inc. reasons that while the mark has posted significant gains against the yen as well the mark climbed to N yen from N yen late tuesday in new york the strength of the u.s. bond market compared to its foreign counterparts has helped lure investors to dollar-denominated bonds rather than mark bonds 
 <unk> trade is the driving force in the market said tom <unk> a vice president with banque paribas in new york but i 'm not convinced it will continue 
 who knows what will happen down the road in three to six months if foreign investment starts to erode 
 in late new york trading yesterday the dollar was quoted at N marks up from N marks late tuesday and at N yen up from N yen late tuesday 
 sterling was quoted at $ N down from $ N late tuesday 
 in tokyo thursday the u.s. currency opened for trading at N yen up from wednesday 's tokyo close of N yen 
 douglas madison a corporate trader with bank of america in los angeles <unk> the dollar 's recent solid performance against the yen to purchases of securities by japanese insurance companies and trust banks and the sense that another wave of investment is waiting in the wings 
 he contends that the perception in japan of a <unk> u.s. response to sony corp. 's announcement of its purchase of columbia pictures entertainment inc. has been temporarily <unk> 
 he cites the recent deal between the mitsubishi estate co. and the rockefeller group as well as the possible white knight role of an undisclosed japanese company in the georgia-pacific corp. takeover bid for great northern nekoosa corp. as evidence 
 the <unk> maturity in november of a 10-year japanese government <unk> bond issue valued at about $ N billion has prompted speculation in the market that investors <unk> the bonds will diversify into dollar-denominated instruments according to mr. madison 
 it remains unclear whether the bond issue will be rolled over 
 meanwhile traders in tokyo say that the prospect of lower u.s. interest rates has spurred dollar buying by japanese institutions 
 they point out that these institutions want to lock in returns on high-yield u.s. treasury debt and suggest demand for the u.s. unit will continue <unk> until rates in the u.s. <unk> 
 the market again showed little interest in further evidence of a slowing u.s. economy and traders note that the market in recent weeks has taken its <unk> more from wall street than u.s. economic indicators 
 dealers said the dollar merely drifted lower following the release wednesday of the u.s. purchasing managers ' report 
 the managers ' index which measures the health of the manufacturing sector stood at N N in october above september 's N N and also above average forecasts for the index of N N 
 some dealers said the dollar was pressured slightly because a number of market participants had boosted their expectations in the past day and were looking for an index above N which indicates an expanding manufacturing economy 
 but most said the index had no more than a minimal effect on trade 
 on the commodity exchange in new york gold for current delivery settled at $ N an ounce down N cents 
 estimated volume was a moderate N million ounces 
 in early trading in hong kong thursday gold was quoted at $ N an ounce 
 the cosby show may have <unk> turned around ratings at nbc since its debut in N and the <unk> family still keeps millions of viewers laughing thursday night on the network 
 but some of the tv stations that bought cosby reruns for record prices two years ago are n't laughing much these days 
 the reruns have helped ratings at many of the N network affiliates and independent tv stations that air the shows 
 but the ratings are considerably below expectations and some stations say they may not buy new episodes when their current contracts expire 
 meanwhile stations are <unk> because many of them say the show 's distributor viacom inc. is giving an <unk> either sign new long-term commitments to buy future episodes or risk losing cosby to a competitor 
 at the same time viacom is trying to persuade stations to make commitments to a different world a <unk> of cosby whose reruns will become available in N 
 viacom denies it 's using pressure tactics 
 we 're willing to negotiate says dennis <unk> executive vice president of marketing 
 we 're offering this plan now because we feel it 's the right time 
 but says the general manager of a network affiliate in the midwest i think if i tell them i need more time they 'll take cosby across the street 
 viacom 's move comes as the <unk> market is being flooded with situation <unk> that are still running on the networks 
 one station manager says he believes viacom 's move is a <unk> strike because the company is worried that cosby ratings will continue to drop in <unk> over the next few years 
 cosby is down a full ratings point in the week of oct. N over the same week a year ago according to a.c. nielsen co 
 mr. <unk> at viacom says the ratings are rising 
 and executives at stations in such major markets as washington <unk> r.i. cleveland <unk> n.c. minneapolis and louisville ky. say they may very well not renew cosby 
 dick <unk> the general manager of <unk> the <unk> station in miami for example says the show has been a major disappointment to us 
 at the prices we were charged there should have been some return for the dollar 
 there was n't 
 neil <unk> the general manager of <unk> the cbs affiliate in louisville says cosby gets the station 's highest ratings and he 's pleased 
 but he adds i feel pressured disappointed uncomfortable and frankly quite angry with viacom 
 the life insurance co. of georgia has officially opened an office in taipei 
 david <unk> the company 's representative in taiwan said atlanta-based life of georgia will sell conventional life-insurance products 
 life of georgia is part of the <unk> <unk> group based in the netherlands 
 in this era of <unk> competition for ad dollars a lot of <unk> magazines are getting pretty <unk> with advertisers <unk> over them in articles and offering pages of <unk> space 
 so can a magazine survive by downright <unk> its nose at major advertisers 
 garbage magazine billed as the practical journal for the environment is about to find out 
 founded by brooklyn n.y. publishing entrepreneur <unk> <unk> garbage made its debut this fall with the promise to give consumers the straight <unk> on the u.s. waste crisis 
 the magazine combines <unk> pieces on topics like <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> on such things as what happens after you flush your toilet and <unk> pieces on alleged environmental offenders 
 garbage editors have dumped considerable energy into a <unk> <unk> through supermarket <unk> in a bid to identify corporate america 's good guys and bad boys 
 in one feature called in the <unk> editors point out a product they <unk> to be a particularly bad <unk> 
 from an advertising standpoint the problem is these offenders are likely to be some of the same folks that are major magazine advertisers these days 
 with only two issues under its belt garbage has <unk> some would-be advertisers and raised the <unk> of others 
 campbell soup for one is <unk> its <unk> <unk> microwave product was <unk> in the premiere in the <unk> column 
 the magazine 's editors ran a giant <unk> of the product with <unk> pointing to the packaging 's <unk> foam <unk> and <unk> film all plastic items they say are <unk> 
 it 's precisely the kind of product that 's created the municipal landfill monster the editors wrote 
 i think that this magazine is not only called garbage but it is practicing <unk> garbage <unk> a spokesman for campbell soup 
 he says campbell was n't even contacted by the magazine for the opportunity to comment 
 modifications had been made to the <unk> <unk> product at the time the issue was printed he says making it less an <unk> than was portrayed 
 he admits though it is n't one of campbell soup 's better products in terms of <unk> 
 campbell soup not surprisingly does n't have any plans to <unk> in the magazine according to its spokesman 
 some media experts question whether a young magazine can risk turning off madison avenue 's big <unk> 
 you really need the campbell <unk> of the world to be interested in your magazine if you 're going to make a run of it says mike white senior vice president and media director at ddb needham chicago 
 the economics of magazine publishing pretty much require that you have a pretty solid base of big-time ad <unk> he adds 
 the first two issues featured ads from only a handful of big advertisers including general electric and <unk> coors but the majority were from companies like waste management inc. and <unk> international firms that do n't spend much money advertising and ca n't be relied on to support a magazine over the long haul 
 a waste management spokeswoman says its ad in the premiere issue was a one-time purchase and it does n't have any plans to <unk> in future issues 
 we do n't spend much on print advertising she says 
 but ms. <unk> the magazine 's editor and publisher contends garbage can survive at least initially on subscription revenues 
 individual copies of the magazine sell for $ N and yearly <unk> cost $ N 
 it is of course printed on recycled paper 
 according to ms. <unk> <unk> journal corp. her publishing company printed and sold all N copies of the premiere issue 
 the first and second issues sold out on <unk> she says and the magazine has orders for N <unk> 
 asked whether potential advertisers will be scared away by the magazine 's direct policy ms. <unk> replies i do n't know and i do n't care 
 i 'm not saying advertising revenue is n't important she says but i could n't sleep at night if the magazine bowed to a company because they once took out an ad 
 ad notes 
 interpublic on tv 
 interpublic group said its television programming operations which it expanded earlier this year agreed to supply more than N hours of original programming across europe in N 
 it said the programs largely game shows will be provided by its <unk> television unit along with <unk> international a producer and distributor of game shows of which it recently bought N N 
 it said that volume makes it the largest supplier of original tv programming in europe 
 interpublic is providing the programming in return for advertising time which it said will be valued at more than $ N million in N and $ N million in N 
 it plans to sell the ad time to its clients at a discount 
 new account 
 <unk> financial corp. philadelphia named <unk> palmer brown & <unk> philadelphia as agency of record for its $ N million account 
 the business had been handled by <unk> <unk> baltimore 
 at&t fax 
 american telephone & telegraph 's general business systems division new york awarded the ad account for its fax product line to ogilvy & mather new york a wpp group agency 
 billings were n't disclosed for the small account which had been <unk> at young & rubicam new york 
 first campaign 
 enterprise <unk> inc. breaks its first national ad campaign this week 
 the st. louis firm specializes in <unk> <unk> those provided by insurance companies for cars damaged in <unk> 
 developed by <unk> free & <unk> new york the $ N million campaign pitches enterprise 's <unk> service and its free <unk> and <unk> service 
 <unk> associates 
 young & rubicam said it completed its acquisition of <unk> associates a san francisco <unk> firm 
 acquisition 
 <unk> communications pittsburgh acquired <unk> & co. a los angeles <unk> and <unk> firm 
 terms were n't disclosed 
 sea containers ltd. said it might increase the price of its $ <unk> buy-back plan if pressed by temple holdings ltd. which made an earlier tender offer for sea containers 
 sea containers a hamilton <unk> shipping concern said tuesday that it would sell $ N billion of assets and use some of the proceeds to buy about N N of its common shares for $ N apiece 
 the move is designed to ward off a hostile takeover attempt by two european shipping concerns <unk> holding ag and <unk> plc 
 in may the two companies through their jointly owned holding company temple offered $ N a share or $ N million for sea containers 
 in august temple sweetened the offer to $ N a share or $ N million 
 yesterday sea containers ' chief executive officer james <unk> said in an interview that under the <unk> plan sea containers would end up with a cash surplus of approximately $ N million 
 about $ N million of that would be allocated to the buy-back leaving about $ N million he said 
 that $ N million mr. <unk> said gives us some flexibility in case temple raises its bid 
 we are able to increase our price above the $ N level if necessary 
 he declined to say however how much sea containers might raise its price 
 mr. <unk> speculated that the <unk> that sea containers has means that temple would have to substantially increase their bid if they 're going to top us 
 temple however <unk> criticized sea containers ' plan yesterday <unk> it as a highly conditional device designed to <unk> management <unk> shareholders and prevent them from accepting our superior cash offer 
 a spokesman for temple estimated that sea containers ' plan if all the asset sales <unk> would result in shareholders receiving only $ N to $ N a share in cash 
 the lower figures the spokesman said would stem from preferred shares being converted to common stock and the possibility that sea containers ' subsidiaries might be required to place their shares in the open market 
 temple added that sea containers is still mired in legal problems in <unk> where the supreme court has temporarily barred sea containers from buying back its own stock in a case brought by <unk> and <unk> 
 the court has indicated it will rule on the case by the end of the month 
 temple also said sea containers ' plan raises numerous legal regulatory financial and fairness issues but did n't elaborate 
 mr. <unk> said reaction to sea containers ' proposal has been very positive 
 in new york stock exchange composite trading yesterday sea containers closed at $ N up N cents 
 the transportation department responding to pressure from safety advocates took further steps to impose on light trucks and vans the safety requirements used for automobiles 
 the department proposed requiring stronger <unk> for light trucks and minivans beginning with N models 
 it also issued a final rule requiring auto makers to <unk> light trucks and minivans with <unk> belts for rear seats beginning in the N model year 
 such belts already are required for the vehicles ' front seats 
 today 's action transportation secretary samuel skinner said represents another <unk> in the ongoing program to promote vehicle <unk> safety in light trucks and minivans through its extension of passenger car standards 
 in september the department had said it will require trucks and minivans to be equipped with the same <unk> <unk> that have long been required on passenger cars 
 the big three auto makers said the rule changes were n't surprising because bush administration officials have long said they planned to impose car safety standards on light trucks and vans 
 safety advocates including some members of congress have been urging the department for years to extend <unk> requirements to light trucks and vans which now account for almost one-third of all vehicle sales in the u.s. 
 they say that many vehicles <unk> as commercial light trucks actually carry more people than cargo and therefore should have the same safety features as cars 
 they did n't have much luck during the reagan administration 
 but now there seems to be a fairly <unk> effort to address the problem said chuck <unk> vice president of communications for the insurance institute for highway safety 
 we 're in a very different regulatory environment 
 sen. john <unk> r. <unk> praised the department 's actions noting that <unk> crashes account for almost half of all <unk> deaths 
 we could prevent many of these <unk> with minimum <unk> standards he said 
 sen. <unk> and others also want the department to require additional safety equipment in light trucks and minivans including air bags or automatic seat belts in front seats and improved <unk> protection 
 the department 's <unk> proposal would apply to vehicles weighing N pounds or less 
 the <unk> would be required to withstand a force of N times the <unk> weight of the vehicle 
 during the test the <unk> could n't be depressed more than five inches 
 in detroit a chrysler corp. official said the company currently has no <unk> <unk> and shoulder belts in its light trucks but plans to begin <unk> them in by the end of the N model year 
 he said chrysler fully expects to have them installed across its <unk> line by the sept. N N deadline 
 chrysler said its trucks and vans already meet the <unk> resistance standard for cars 
 john <unk> executive engineer of ford motor co. 's <unk> office said ford trucks have met car standards for <unk> resistance since N 
 ford began <unk> the <unk> belts in trucks with its <unk> crew <unk> <unk> in the N model year 
 the new <unk> <unk> vehicle set for introduction next spring will also have the <unk> belts 
 mr. <unk> said he expects ford to meet the deadline easily 
 consolidated rail corp. said it would spend more than $ N million on N <unk> <unk> for <unk> autos 
 the <unk> <unk> scheduled for delivery in N will be made by <unk> manufacturing co. a chicago heights ill. division of closely held <unk> industries inc. <unk> ill 
 this year the railroad holding company acquired N such <unk> 
 sir peter walters <unk> chairman of british petroleum co. until next march joins the board of this cement products company on dec. N 
 sir peter will succeed sir john <unk> N who <unk> as blue circle nonexecutive chairman on june N 
 bank of new england corp. said it has held talks with potential merger partners outside new england although it added that nothing is imminent and it has n't received any formal offers 
 the discussions were disclosed as the bank holding company said that it has dropped its longstanding opposition to full interstate banking bills in connecticut and in massachusetts 
 later yesterday a massachusetts senate committee approved a bill to allow national interstate banking by banks in the state beginning in N 
 currently both massachusetts and connecticut where most of bank of new england 's operations are allow interstate banking only within new england 
 richard <unk> vice chairman of bank of new england told the dow jones professional investor report certainly there are those outside the region who think of us <unk> as a good partner 
 we have and i 'm sure others have considered what our options are and we 've had conversations with people who in the future might prove to be interesting partners 
 he added there 's nothing very hot 
 mr. <unk> did n't elaborate about who the potential partners were or when the talks were held 
 a bank spokeswoman also declined to comment on any <unk> matters but said the company decided to drop its opposition to the interstate banking legislation because prevailing sentiment is in favor of passage 
 bank of new england has been hit hard by the region 's real-estate slump with its net income declining N N to $ N million or N cents a share in the first nine months of N from the year-earlier period 
 the company recently said it would sell some operations and lay off N N of its work force altogether reducing employment to less than N from about N 
 it recently signed a preliminary agreement to negotiate exclusively with the bank of tokyo ltd. for the sale of part of its leasing business to the japanese bank 
 <unk> products inc. cut its quarterly dividend to five cents a share from N cents a share 
 the reduced dividend is payable jan. N to stock of record dec. N 
 the <unk> <unk> maker of hair accessories and other cosmetic products said it cut the dividend due to its third-quarter loss of $ N or N cents a share 
 in the year-ago quarter the company reported net income of $ N million or N cents a share 
 the company also adopted an anti-takeover plan 
 michael henderson <unk> group chief executive of this u.k. metals and industrial materials maker will become chairman in may succeeding ian butler N who is retiring 
 mr. butler will remain on the board as a nonexecutive director 
 rally 's inc. said it has redeemed its rights outstanding issued monday in its shareholder rights plan 
 the company said holders of stock of record nov. N will receive <unk> of one cent a share as the redemption payment 
 the fast-food company said its decision was based upon discussions with a shareholder group giant group ltd. in an effort to resolve certain disputes with the company 
 giant group is led by three rally 's directors burt sugarman james m. trotter iii and william e. trotter ii who last month indicated they hold a N N stake in rally 's and plan to seek a majority of seats on rally 's <unk> board 
 when warren <unk> <unk> of <unk> 's leap wine <unk> in <unk> valley announced a $ N price tag for his N <unk> N cabernet this fall few wine shops and restaurants around the country balked 
 this is the peak of my <unk> experience mr. <unk> declared when he introduced the wine at a dinner in new york and i wanted to single it out as such 
 it is in my <unk> the best wine <unk> 's leap has produced and with fewer than N cases available it is sure to sell quickly 
 the price is a new high for california cabernet <unk> but it is not the highest 
 diamond creek N lake <unk> cabernet weighed in this fall with a <unk> price of $ N a bottle 
 one of the fastest growing segments of the wine market is the category of <unk> wines limited in production of <unk> quality or so perceived at any rate and with <unk> high prices 
 for years this group included a stable of <unk> <unk> first <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> grand <unk> <unk> <unk> and la <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> or <unk> <unk> <unk> sweet wines <unk> <unk> or <unk> <unk> from germany and <unk> <unk> <unk> from <unk> 
 these first magnitude wines ranged in price from $ N to $ N a bottle 
 in the last year or so however this exclusive club has taken in a host of flashy new members 
 the <unk> have <unk> in price to meet the competition and it almost seems that there 's a race on to come up with the <unk> single bottle among current releases from every major wine region on the globe 
 france can <unk> the lion 's share of high-priced bottles 
 <unk> 's first <unk> from N and N are $ N to $ N each except for the smallest in terms of production <unk> <unk> which costs around $ N 
 these prices seem rather modest however in light of other french wines from current <unk> 
 <unk> <unk> the leading <unk> now goes for well over $ N a bottle for a lighter vintage like N the <unk> rich N runs $ N 
 in champagne some of the prestige <unk> are <unk> toward $ N a bottle 
 the first champagne to crack that price barrier was the N salon de <unk> <unk> de <unk> 
 the <unk> salon is $ N 
 <unk> <unk> at $ N a bottle sells out around the country and <unk> 's <unk> de champagne <unk> de <unk> is <unk> upon that level 
 the great <unk> of the <unk> valley have soared in price as well 
 e. <unk> 's N <unk> <unk> la <unk> for example is $ N 
 none of france 's wine regions can steal a march on <unk> however 
 the six wines of the <unk> de la <unk> N of the most precious acres of <unk> anywhere in the world have <unk> <unk> price <unk> for several years now 
 with the N vintage they soared higher la <unk> $ N <unk> $ N <unk> $ N 
 another small <unk> estate <unk> has just offered its N <unk> for $ N 
 from italy there is angelo <unk> <unk> at $ N a bottle <unk> <unk> 's la <unk> a $ N cabernet from <unk> and <unk> <unk> at $ N 
 spain 's <unk> <unk> <unk> N released only in its <unk> year is $ N as is australia 's <unk> <unk> N 
 there are certain <unk> wines that can command these higher prices says larry shapiro of <unk> 's one of the largest wine shops in dallas 
 what 's different is that it is happening with young wines just coming out 
 we 're seeing it partly because older <unk> are growing more scarce 
 wine auctions have almost exhausted the limited supply of those wines mr. shapiro continued we 've seen a dramatic decrease in demand for wines from the <unk> and <unk> which go for $ N to $ N a bottle 
 some of the newer wines even at $ N to $ N a bottle or so almost offer a bargain 
 take lake <unk> cabernet from diamond creek 
 it 's made only in years when the <unk> <unk> perfectly the last was N and comes from a single <unk> of <unk> that yielded a mere N cases in N 
 owner al <unk> originally planned to sell it for $ N a bottle but when a retailer in southern california asked is that wholesale or retail he <unk> the matter 
 offering the wine at roughly $ N a bottle wholesale $ N retail he sent merchants around the country a form asking them to check one of three answers N no the wine is too high N responses N yes it 's high but i 'll take it N responses N i 'll take all i can get N responses 
 the wine was shipped in <unk> cases instead of the usual N but even at that it was spread thin going to N retailers in N states 
 we thought it was <unk> expensive said sterling <unk> wine director at <unk> 's in <unk> ill. one of the top stores in suburban chicago but there are people out there with very different opinions of value 
 we got our two <unk> and they 're gone 
 mr. <unk> <unk> that he thinks <unk> prices have come about because producers do n't like to see a hit wine dramatically increase in price later on 
 even if there is consumer resistance at first a wine that wins high ratings from the critics will eventually move 
 there may be <unk> reaction initially said mr. <unk> but as the wine is talked about and starts to sell they eventually get excited and decide it 's worth the <unk> price to add it to their collection 
 it 's just sort of a <unk> thing with some people added larry shapiro 
 they like to talk about having the new red rock <unk> one of diamond creek 's <unk> or the dunn N cabernet or the <unk> 
 producers have seen this market opening up and they 're now creating wines that appeal to these people 
 that explains why the number of these wines is expanding so rapidly 
 but consumers who buy at this level are also more knowledgeable than they were a few years ago 
 they wo n't buy if the quality is not there said <unk> martin of martin wine <unk> in new orleans 
 or if they feel the wine is <unk> and they can get something equally good for less 
 mr. martin has increased prices on some wines like <unk> hills <unk> now $ N just to slow down movement but he is beginning to see some resistance to high-priced red <unk> and <unk> and <unk> in the $ N to $ N range 
 image has of course a great deal to do with what sells and what does n't and it ca n't be forced 
 wine merchants ca n't keep <unk> <unk> in stock but they have to push salon <unk> <unk> even lowering the price from $ N to $ N 
 it 's hardly a question of quality the N salon is a beautiful wine but as mr. <unk> noted people have their own ideas about value 
 it 's interesting to find that a lot of the expensive wines are n't always walking out the door 
 in every major market in the u.s. for instance you can buy <unk> la <unk> or <unk> virtually all of the first growth <unk> except <unk> as well as <unk> one and <unk> from california and at the moment the <unk> 's leap N <unk> N 
 with the biggest <unk> period of the year looming as the holidays approach it will be interesting to see how the <unk> fare 
 by january it should be fairly clear what 's hot and what 's not 
 ms. <unk> is a free-lance wine writer in new york 
 signs of a slowing economy are increasing pressure on the federal reserve to cut short-term interest rates but it is n't clear whether the central bank will do so 
 a survey by the fed 's N district banks shows economic growth has been sluggish in recent weeks while upward pressures on prices have <unk> 
 the economy is clearly slowing says robert black president of the richmond federal reserve bank 
 if you look at the third quarter as posting roughly N N growth i do see some slowing in the fourth quarter agrees kansas city fed president roger <unk> 
 nevertheless both mr. <unk> and mr. black say the slowdown so far is no cause for concern 
 we 're coming closer to <unk> the stated objective of slowing the economy to a point where hopefully some downward trend in prices will occur said mr. <unk> 
 bush administration officials are looking to the fed to bring down rates and financial markets seem to be expecting easier credit as well 
 i think the market had been expecting the fed to ease sooner and a little more than it has to date said robert johnson vice president of global markets for bankers trust co 
 the fed cut the key federal funds interest rate by about N percentage point to N N after the oct. N stock market plunge but has shown no sign of movement since 
 the report from the fed found that manufacturing in particular has been weak in recent weeks 
 the philadelphia fed for instance reported that manufacturing activity continues to decline for the fourth month in a row 
 and in the chicago district the report said a manufacturer of capital goods noted slower orders for some types including defense equipment petroleum equipment food packaging machinery and material handling equipment 
 retail sales also were reported slow in most districts particularly for discretionary <unk> items such as furniture home appliances and consumer electronics 
 and construction also was described as slow in most areas 
 despite the economic slowdown there are few clear signs that growth is coming to a halt 
 as a result fed officials may be divided over whether to ease credit 
 several fed governors in washington have been pushing for easier credit but many of the regional fed presidents have been <unk> such a move 
 mr. black said he is pleased with the economy 's recent performance and does n't see a lot of excesses out there that would tilt us into recession 
 there is always a chance of recession added mr. <unk> but if you ask me to put a percentage on it i would think it 's well below a N N chance 
 <unk> hotel & restaurant co. said its planned rights offering to raise about $ N million was declared effective and the company will begin mailing materials to shareholders at the end of this week 
 under the offer shareholders will receive one right for each N common shares owned 
 each right <unk> the shareholder to buy $ N face amount of N N bonds due N and warrants to buy N common shares at N cents a share 
 the rights which expire nov. N can be exercised for $ N each 
 <unk> which owns and operates hotels said that <unk> group inc. has agreed to exercise any rights that are n't exercised by other shareholders 
 <unk> a cleveland merchant bank owns about N N of <unk> 
 <unk> corp. a specialty steelmaker said N workers at a plant in <unk> ohio began a strike after the united steelworkers local N rejected a new contract on tuesday 
 the previous contract between <unk> 's ohio steel tube division and the union expired at midnight tuesday 
 the union vote to reject the proposed pact was N 
 <unk> said it does n't expect a <unk> strike 
 it said it has taken measures to continue shipments during the work <unk> 
 the treasury said it plans to sell $ N billion in notes and bonds next week but said the auctions will be postponed unless congress acts quickly to lift the federal debt ceiling 
 michael <unk> deputy assistant secretary for federal finance said the treasury may wait until late monday or even early tuesday to announce whether the <unk> are to be <unk> 
 unless it can raise money in financial markets mr. <unk> said the federal government wo n't have the cash to pay off $ N billion in treasury bills that mature on thursday 
 without congressional action the treasury ca n't sell any new securities even savings bonds 
 but despite <unk> <unk> over the debt ceiling which has become <unk> in the fight over cutting capital-gains taxes congress is almost certain to act in time to avoid default 
 each day that congress fails to act will cause additional disruption in our borrowing schedule possibly resulting in higher interest costs to the taxpayer treasury secretary nicholas brady said in a speech prepared for delivery last night to a group of bankers 
 to avoid these costs and a possible default immediate action is <unk> 
 the securities to be sold next week will raise about $ N billion in cash and redeem $ N billion in maturing notes 
 the new securities part of the federal government 's regular quarterly refunding will consist of 
 $ N billion of three-year notes to be auctioned tuesday and to mature nov. N N 
 $ N billion of 10-year notes to be auctioned wednesday and to mature nov. N N 
 $ N billion of 30-year bonds to be auctioned thursday and to mature aug. N N 
 the treasury also said it plans to sell $ N billion in <unk> cash management bills on thursday 
 they will mature dec. N 
 none of the securities will be eligible for when-issued trading until congress approves an increase in the debt ceiling clearing the way for a formal offering mr. <unk> said 
 the treasury said it needs to raise $ N billion in the current quarter in order to end december with a $ N billion cash balance 
 auctions held in october and those scheduled for next week will raise a total of $ N billion 
 the remaining $ N billion could be raised through the sale of short-term treasury bills two-year notes in november and five-year notes in early december the treasury said 
 in the first three months of N the treasury estimates that it will have to raise between $ N billion and $ N billion assuming that it decides to aim for a $ N billion cash balance at the end of march 
 lancaster colony corp. said it acquired <unk> foods inc. in a cash transaction 
 terms were n't disclosed 
 <unk> a maker and marketer of frozen <unk> and <unk> pasta based in <unk> iowa has annual sales of about $ N million lancaster said 
 investors took advantage of tuesday 's stock rally to book some profits yesterday leaving stocks up fractionally 
 bond prices and the dollar both gained modestly 
 the dow jones industrial average finished less than a point higher to close at N in moderate trading 
 but advancing issues on the new york stock exchange were <unk> ahead of declining stocks N to N 
 long-term bond prices rose despite prospects of a huge new supply of treasury debt this month 
 continuing demand for dollars from japanese investors boosted the u.s. currency 
 analysts were disappointed that the enthusiasm investors showed for stocks in the wake of georgia-pacific 's $ N billion bid for great northern nekoosa <unk> so quickly 
 the industrial average jumped more than N points tuesday as speculators rushed to buy shares of potential takeover targets 
 but with the end of the year in sight money managers are eager to take profits and cut their risks of losing what for many have been exceptionally good returns in 
 economic news had little effect on financial markets 
 as expected a national purchasing managers ' report indicated the nation 's manufacturing sector continues to contract modestly 
 the federal reserve 's <unk> book a summary of economic conditions across the country indicated that the overall economy remains in a pattern of sluggish growth 
 in major market activity 
 stock prices rose fractionally in moderate trading 
 big board volume totaled N million shares 
 bond prices were up 
 the treasury 's benchmark 30-year bond gained about a quarter of a point or $ N for each $ N of face amount 
 the yield fell to N N 
 the dollar rose 
 in late afternoon new york trading the currency was at N marks and N yen compared with N marks and N yen 
 mitsui mining & <unk> co. posted a N N rise in pretax profit to N billion yen $ N million in its fiscal first half ended sept. N compared with N billion yen a year earlier 
 net income more than tripled to N billion yen from N billion yen a year earlier 
 eaton corp. said it sold its pacific sierra research corp. unit to a company formed by employees of that unit 
 terms were n't disclosed 
 pacific sierra based in los angeles has about N employees and supplies professional services and advanced products to industry 
 eaton is an automotive parts controls and aerospace electronics concern 
 investor harold simmons and nl industries inc. offered to acquire georgia gulf corp. for $ N a share or about $ N billion stepping up the pressure on the commodity chemicals concern 
 the offer follows an earlier proposal by nl and mr. simmons to help georgia gulf restructure or go private in a transaction that would pay shareholders $ N a share 
 georgia gulf rebuffed that offer in september and said it would study other alternatives 
 however it has n't yet made any proposals to shareholders 
 late yesterday georgia gulf said it reviewed the nl proposal as well as interests from third parties regarding business <unk> 
 georgia gulf said it has n't eliminated any alternatives and that discussions are being held with interested parties and work is also continuing on other various transactions 
 it did n't elaborate 
 analysts saw the latest offer as proof that mr. simmons an aggressive and persistent investor wo n't leave georgia gulf alone until some kind of transaction is completed 
 he has <unk> on their <unk> like a pit bull says paul <unk> a vice president with morgan stanley & co 
 he appears to be in it for the long haul 
 mr. simmons and nl already own a N N stake in georgia gulf 
 mr. simmons owns N N of valhi inc. which in turn owns two-thirds of nl 
 nl is officially making the offer 
 mr. <unk> was n't surprised by the lower price cited by nl saying he believes that $ N a share is the most you can pay for georgia gulf before it becomes a bad acquisition 
 georgia gulf stock rose $ N a share yesterday to close at $ N a share while nl shares closed unchanged at $ N and valhi rose N cents to $ N all in new york stock exchange composite trading 
 j. <unk> martin nl president and chief executive officer said nl and mr. simmons cut the price they were proposing for georgia gulf because they initially planned a transaction that included about $ N million in equity and a substantial amount of high-yield subordinated debt 
 however the junk-bond market has collapsed in recent weeks <unk> the likelihood that such a transaction would succeed 
 now he said the group plans to put in several hundred million dollars in equity and finance the remainder with bank debt 
 he also said that the group reduced its offer because it was n't allowed to see georgia gulf 's confidential financial information without agreeing that it would n't make an offer unless it had georgia gulf 's consent 
 in a letter to georgia gulf president jerry r. <unk> mr. martin asked georgia gulf to answer its offer by tuesday 
 it was n't clear how nl and mr. simmons would respond if georgia gulf <unk> them again 
 mr. martin said they have n't yet decided what their next move would be but he did n't rule out the possibility of a consent solicitation aimed at replacing georgia gulf 's board 
 in other transactions mr. simmons has followed friendly offers with a hostile tender offer 
 although georgia gulf has n't been eager to negotiate with mr. simmons and nl a specialty chemicals concern the group apparently believes the company 's management is interested in some kind of transaction 
 the management group owns about N N of the stock most purchased at nominal prices and would stand to gain millions of dollars if the company were sold 
 in the third quarter georgia gulf earned $ N million or $ N a share down from $ N million or $ N a share on fewer shares outstanding 
 sales fell to $ N million from $ N million 
 a licensing company representing the university of pennsylvania added johnson & johnson to its lawsuit challenging a university faculty member over rights to <unk> <unk> medicine 
 university patents inc. based in <unk> conn. said it seeks johnson & johnson 's profits from sales of <unk> estimated at $ N million a similar amount of punitive damages and the right to license <unk> elsewhere 
 in may university patents filed a suit in federal court in philadelphia against albert m. <unk> a researcher and professor at the university of pennsylvania school of medicine who developed <unk> in the 1960s to combat <unk> 
 dr. <unk> <unk> the medicine while employed by the university but later licensed the <unk> to a division of johnson & johnson 
 in new <unk> n.j. a johnson & johnson spokesman declined comment 
 criticism in the u.s. over recent japanese acquisitions is looming ever larger in the two countries ' relations 
 officials from both nations say the u.s. public 's <unk> about japanese investment could color a second round of <unk> economic talks scheduled for next week in washington 
 not that washington and tokyo disagree on the japanese acquisitions indeed each has come out in favor of <unk> investment in the u.s. 
 where they disagree is on the subject of u.s. direct investment in japan 
 the u.s. wants the removal of what it <unk> as barriers to investment japan denies there are real barriers 
 the <unk> talk <unk> up by recent japanese investments in the u.s. is focusing attention on the differences in investment climate even though it 's only one of many subjects to be covered in the <unk> talks known as the structural <unk> initiative 
 the japanese should see this rhetoric as a signal of the need for a change in their own economy says charles <unk> u.s. assistant treasury secretary who has been in tokyo this week <unk> discussing the impending negotiations with government and business leaders 
 we have a long history of maintaining an open <unk> policy mr. <unk> says 
 u.s. investors should have a greater opportunity at direct investment in japan 
 the japanese <unk> openly about the u.s. public 's <unk> 
 one clear sign of japan 's nervousness came this week when a spokesman for japan 's foreign ministry devoted nearly all of a regular half-hour briefing for foreign journalists to the subject of recent japanese investments in the u.s. 
 we believe that it is <unk> important for those japanese business interests in the u.s. to be more aware of the <unk> and concerns of the american people said the spokesman <unk> <unk> 
 at the same time though he <unk> the media for paying such close attention to japanese investment when other foreign countries notably britain are acquiring more american assets 
 fears that japanese investors are buying up america have <unk> sharply in the past several weeks with sony corp. 's purchase of columbia pictures entertainment inc. from coca-cola co. and mitsubishi estate co. 's acquisition of a N N holding in rockefeller group the owner of some of <unk> manhattan 's most exclusive real estate 
 even before those moves added fuel the fires of <unk> had been well <unk> by the highly publicized experience in japan of one u.s. investor t. boone pickens jr 
 the texas <unk> has acquired a N N stake valued at more than $ N billion in an <unk> company <unk> manufacturing co 
 but he has failed to gain any influence at the company 
 <unk> has refused to grant mr. pickens seats on its board <unk> he is a <unk> trying to pressure <unk> 's other shareholders into buying him out at a profit 
 mr. pickens made considerable political <unk> with his troubles in japan 
 the senate finance committee <unk> by a fellow <unk> democratic sen. lloyd <unk> last month urged u.s. trade representative carla hills to use mr. pickens 's experience in talks with tokyo to highlight this problem facing americans who seek access to the japanese capital markets 
 while mr. <unk> and japanese officials say the question of investors ' access to the u.s. and japanese markets may get a disproportionate share of the public 's attention a number of other important economic issues will be on the table at next week 's talks 
 among them are differences in savings and investment rates corporate structures and management and government spending 
 each side has a <unk> of recommendations for the other 
 the u.s. says it is anxious for results 
 we feel very strongly that we really need action across the full range of issues we 've identified and we need it by next spring mr. <unk> says 
 both sides have agreed that the talks will be most successful if negotiators start by focusing on the areas that can be most easily changed 
 but they have n't <unk> what those might be 
 after the first set of meetings two months ago some u.s. officials complained that japan had n't come up with specific changes it was prepared to make 
 the japanese <unk> that the first round was too early to make concessions 
 just to say the distribution system is wrong does n't mean anything says a ministry of international trade and industry official 
 we need to clarify what exactly is wrong with it 
 that process of <unk> out <unk> is likely to take time the japanese say no matter how badly the u.s. wants quick results 
 for instance at the first meeting the two sides could n't even agree on basic data used in price discussions 
 since then a team of about N <unk> and u.s. commerce department officials have crossed the globe <unk> consumer prices 
 by monday they hope to have a <unk> of documents both sides can trust 
 little by little there is progress says the <unk> official 
 both sides are taking action 
 <unk> <unk> contributed to this article 
 while worry grows about big japanese investments in the u.s. japan 's big trading companies are rapidly increasing their stake in america 's smaller business 
 for japan the controversial trend improves access to american markets and technology 
 but for small american companies it also provides a growing source of capital and even marketing help 
 take the deal with candela laser corp. a <unk> mass. manufacturer of high-tech medical devices which three years ago set its sights on japan as an export market 
 partly to help clear the <unk> obstacles facing any overseas company trying to <unk> japan tiny candela turned to mitsui & co. one of japan 's largest trading companies for investment 
 in a joint-venture deal mitsui <unk> candela through tokyo 's bureaucratic <unk> 
 it eventually secured ministry of health import approval for two candela laser products one that breaks up kidney stones and another that <unk> skin <unk> 
 at last count candela had sold $ N million of its medical devices in japan 
 the deal also gave mitsui access to a high-tech medical product 
 they view this as a growth area so they went about it with a <unk> approach says richard <unk> a candela vice president 
 indeed for many japanese trading companies the favorite u.s. small business is one whose research and development can be <unk> for future japanese use 
 the japanese companies <unk> many small u.s. companies with promising products or ideas frequently putting their money behind projects that commercial banks wo n't touch 
 japanese companies have financed small and medium-sized u.s. firms for years but in recent months the pace has taken off 
 in the first half of N alone japanese corporations invested $ N million in minority positions in u.s. companies a N N rise from the figure for all of N reports venture economics inc 
 the needham mass. concern tracks investments in new businesses 
 in addition of course some of the japanese investments involved outright purchase of small u.s. firms 
 heightened japanese interest in american small business parallels an acceleration of investments giving japanese companies control of large highly visible u.s. corporations such as columbia pictures entertainment inc 
 only this week it was announced that mitsubishi estate co. had acquired a N N stake in rockefeller group which owns new york 's prestigious rockefeller center 
 while the small deals are far less <unk> they add to japanese <unk> of the u.s. market 
 as the deals also improve japanese access to american technology and market knowledge they feed american <unk> in this area too 
 even a <unk> product like plate glass can catch a trading company 's fancy if there 's a strategic fit 
 free state glass industries of <unk> va. a small <unk> of architectural glass was <unk> under its original management 
 last year mitsubishi international corp. the new york-based arm of mitsubishi corp. bought controlling interest in the glass company in a joint venture with ronald <unk> a glass industry executive and mitsubishi consultant 
 the deal is <unk> designed to give mitsubishi a window on the u.s. glass industry says <unk> <unk> an executive in mitsubishi 's general merchandise department in new york 
 it 's not just a simple investment in a small company mr. <unk> says 
 we want to see the glass market from the inside not the outside 
 mitsubishi 's investment in free state is very small less than $ N million mr. <unk> says 
 mr. <unk> declines to comment on the arrangement 
 trading companies such as mitsubishi mitsui c. <unk> & co. and <unk> corp. which make many of the japanese investments in small u.s. concerns have no u.s. counterpart 
 these <unk> integrated combines some of which got their start in japan 's <unk> period deal <unk> in commodities construction and manufacturing 
 they operate ships and banks 
 all the <unk> are looking for new business says arthur <unk> adviser to the president of mitsui u.s.a. using the japanese term for the largest of the global trading houses 
 adds <unk> <unk> senior vice president of c. <unk> america inc. we have a great interest in making investments particularly in new ventures 
 a host of electronics firms in california 's silicon valley were financed with <unk> venture capital 
 profit at least in the short term is usually a secondary goal 
 strategic objectives not financial return drive many of the deals says a venture economics spokesman 
 in investing on the basis of future transactions a role often performed by merchant banks trading companies can cut through the <unk> that <unk> owners often face with their local commercial banks 
 it 's the classic problem of the small businessman says malcolm <unk> managing director of trading alliance corp. of new york 
 people are <unk> at the door to take his product but he does n't have the working capital to make the thing and commercial banks are very <unk> 
 they want assets they want a balance sheet which has no <unk> to the business a company can generate 
 adds mitsui 's mr. <unk> unlike corporations in this country trading companies are n't so much interested in a high return on investment as they are on increasing trade flows 
 to the extent they can do this they 're quite content to get a return on investment of N N to N N 
 mr. <unk> says mitsui has N u.s. subsidiaries in which it holds N N interest or more and the trading company hopes to double the number of its u.s. affiliates in N 
 sales by these subsidiaries in the fiscal year ending last march were more than $ N billion 
 a N N to N N return on $ N billion ai n't <unk> mr. <unk> says 
 hudson general corp. 's president and chief executive officer alan j. <unk> resigned 
 mr. <unk> N years old could n't be reached for comment 
 a company spokesman declined to elaborate on the departure 
 hudson general which provides maintenance fueling and other services to airlines and airports reported a loss for its most recent fiscal year and last month omitted the semiannual dividend on its common shares 
 mr. <unk> who had been with the company more than N years and had been president since N will act as a consultant to hudson general 
 his duties as chief executive will be assumed by chairman jay b. <unk>