( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Jim ) ( NNP Unruh ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Unisys ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN president ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG approaching ) ( NP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN caution ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Jim Unruh Unisys 's president said he is approaching next year with caution


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN strength ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ world-wide ) ( NN economy ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ suspect ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB see ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ much ) ( NN revenue ) ( NN growth ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS cards ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He said the strength of the world-wide economy is suspect and does n't see much revenue growth in the cards


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN price ) ( NNS wars ) ) ( VP ( VBG flaring ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB up ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS parts ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN computer ) ( NN industry ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( PP-TMP ( IN through ) ( NP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He also said that the price wars flaring up in parts of the computer industry will continue through next year


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN move ) ) ( PP ( IN toward ) ( NP ( JJ standard ) ( VBG operating ) ( NNS systems ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ means ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS customers ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN locked ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ traditional ) ( NN computer ) ( NN supplier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB force ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS prices ) ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RP down ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He said the move toward standard operating systems means customers are n't locked into buying from their traditional computer supplier and can force prices down


( S-2 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRP-PRD ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB why ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Unisys ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG overhauling ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ whole ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ needs ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB prepare ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN world ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-4 ( IN in ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN profit ) ( NNS margins ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( JJR lower ) ) ( SBAR ( IN than ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-5 ( NN computer ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That he said is why Unisys is overhauling its whole business It needs to prepare for a world in which profit margins will be lower than computer companies have been used to


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN approached ) ( NP ( DT this ) ) ( PP-CLR ( RB not ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN response ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ temporary ) ( NN condition ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ fundamental ) ( NN change ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( PP-CLR ( IN through ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Unruh ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

We 've approached this not as a response to a temporary condition in the industry but as a fundamental change the industry is going through Mr. Unruh said


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NNS information-systems ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN high-growth ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ confident ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP we ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( JJ tremendous ) ( NNS assets ) ) ( PP-2 ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The information-systems industry is still going to be a high-growth business and we 're confident that we have tremendous assets as a company


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB minimize ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS challenges ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ near ) ( NN term ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But we do n't minimize the challenges of the near term


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS Securities ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB even ) ( RBR more ) ( JJ cautious ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG having ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN burned ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB repeatedly ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Unisys ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Securities analysts were even more cautious having been burned repeatedly on Unisys this year


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Some ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN predicted ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 4 ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( ADVP ( IN up ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( RB fully ) ( VBN diluted ) ) ( CD 3.27 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 680.6 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some had predicted earnings of more than 4 a share for this year up from last year 's fully diluted 3.27 a share on earnings of 680.6 million


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS losses ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 673.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN through ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( CD nine ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 382.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 2.22 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ( ADJP ( RB fully ) ( VBN diluted ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN revenue ) ) ( VP ( VBD inched ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB up ) ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 1.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 7.13 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 7.03 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But the company said Friday that it had losses of 673.3 million through the first nine months compared with earnings a year earlier of 382.2 million or 2.22 a share fully diluted as revenue inched up 1.4 % to 7.13 billion from 7.03 billion


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Unisys ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( ADVP-MNR ( ADVP ( RB little ) ( RB better ) ) ( SBAR ( IN than ) ( S ( VP ( VB break ) ( ADVP-CLR ( JJ even ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And Unisys is expected to do little better than break even in the fourth quarter


( S ( IN So ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Steve ) ( NNP Milunovich ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP First ) ( NNP Boston ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG cutting ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS earnings ) ( NN estimate ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 2 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 3 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So Steve Milunovich at First Boston said he is cutting his earnings estimate for next year to 2 a share from 3


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG feeling ) ( SBAR-CLR ( IN like ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB too ) ( JJ high ) ) ( S-TMP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB begin ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB with ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

I was feeling like I was too high to begin with he said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Weil ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Weil ) ( CC & ) ( NNPS Associates ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB remain ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ wonders ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( RB even ) ( IN that ) ( JJ low ) ( NN target ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRD ( IN at ) ( NP ( NN risk ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Weil of Weil & Associates said he will remain at 1 a share for next year but said he wonders whether even that low target is at risk


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ break-even ) ( NN point ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB much ) ( JJR lower ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( SQ ( VBZ is ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ low ) ( RB enough ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD asked ) ) )

The break-even point for next year is much lower but is it low enough he asked


( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG Reflecting ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN concern ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Unisys ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( DT a ) ( JJ further ) ( CD 75 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 16.25 ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ composite ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ) ) ) )

Reflecting the concern Unisys stock fell a further 75 cents to 16.25 in composite trading Friday on the New York Stock Exchange


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Small ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( JJ recent ) ( NN trend ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRD ( IN like ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN dream ) ) ( VP ( VBN come ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ true ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ more-affordable ) ( NNS rates ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN employee-health ) ( NN insurance ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB initially ) ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Small businesses say a recent trend is like a dream come true more-affordable rates for employee-health insurance initially at least


( S ( CC But ) ( RB then ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP wake ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN nightmare ) ) ) ) )

But then they wake up to a nightmare


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( JJ reasonable ) ( JJ first-year ) ( NNS rates ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN followed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNS increases ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 60 ) ( NN % ) ) ( QP ( CC or ) ( JJR more ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( VBN covered ) ( NN employee ) ) ( VP ( VBZ files ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( NN claim ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP complain ) ) )

The reasonable first-year rates can be followed by increases of 60 % or more if a covered employee files a major claim they complain


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Insurance ) ( NNS premiums ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( JJ small ) ( NNP Maryland ) ( NN concern ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD went ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 130 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR less ) ( IN than ) ( CD two ) ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ last ) ( NN increase ) ) ( VP ( VBG coming ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( CD three ) ( NNS workers ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD developed ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( VBN herniated ) ( NN disk ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Insurance premiums for one small Maryland concern went up 130 % in less than two years the last increase coming after one of its three workers developed a herniated disk


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( EX There ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ distinct ) ( NN possibility ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB lose ) ( NP ( PRP$ my ) ( NN job ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN over ) ( NP ( DT this ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN employee ) ) ( NP ( NNP Karen ) ( NNP Allen ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Floor ) ( NNP Covering ) ( NNPS Resources ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NP ( NNP Kensington ) ) ( NP ( NNP Md. ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB recently ) ) ( VP ( VBD told ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ congressional ) ( NN hearing ) ) ) )

There 's a distinct possibility that I may lose my job over this the employee Karen Allen of Floor Covering Resources Kensington Md. recently told a congressional hearing


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP She ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ her ) ( NN employer ) ) ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB afford ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rate ) ( NNS increases ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( VBZ fears ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( MD wo ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB find ) ( NP ( NP ( DT another ) ( NN job ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN benefit ) ( NN plan ) ) ( VP ( VBG covering ) ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NN ailment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

She said her employer ca n't afford the rate increases and she fears she wo n't find another job with a benefit plan covering her ailment


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NP ( NN employee ) ( CC and ) ( NN employer ) ) ( ADVP ( RB alike ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN worry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ widespread ) ) ) )

For employee and employer alike the worry is widespread


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Surveys ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB repeatedly ) ) ( VP ( VBP show ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN small-business ) ( NNS owners ) ) ( VP ( VBP rank ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NX ( NX ( NN availability ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( VBG rising ) ( NN cost ) ) ( PP-1 ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN health ) ( NN insurance ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJS biggest ) ( NNS concerns ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Surveys repeatedly show that small-business owners rank the availability and rising cost of health insurance as one of their biggest concerns


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP House ) ( NNP Energy ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Commerce ) ( NNP Committee ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN health ) ( NN subcommittee ) ) ( VP ( VBN headed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNP Democratic ) ( NNP Rep. ) ( NNP Henry ) ( NNP Waxman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP California ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NNS complaints ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ small ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ( VP ( CONJP ( RB not ) ( RB only ) ) ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB reasonably ) ( VBN priced ) ) ( NN employee-health ) ( NN insurance ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS claims ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB often ) ) ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( NP ( NN coverage ) ) ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( DT all ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT a ) ( NN worker ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN termed ) ( S ( ADJP-PRD ( RB medically ) ( JJ uninsurable ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The House Energy and Commerce Committee 's health subcommittee headed by Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman of California is looking into complaints that small businesses not only ca n't keep reasonably priced employee-health insurance if claims are filed but often ca n't get coverage at all if a worker is termed medically uninsurable


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ old-fashioned ) ( NN name ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN position ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ sick ) ( NNS people ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP need ) ( NP ( NN health ) ( NN insurance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Rep. ) ( NNP Waxman ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

I have an old-fashioned name for people in that position sick people who need health insurance Rep. Waxman says


( S ( SBAR-NOM-SBJ ( WHNP-1 ( WP What ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( VP ( VBG seeing ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN mockery ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN idea ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN insurance ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VP ( VB collect ) ( NP ( NNS premiums ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ healthy ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VB dump ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ sick ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB let ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP them ) ) ( VP ( VB pay ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ own ) ( NNS bills ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

What we 're seeing now makes a mockery of the idea of insurance collect premiums from the healthy dump the sick and let them pay their own bills


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Some ) ( NNS lawmakers ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB seek ) ( NP ( NP ( NN legislation ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB limit ) ( NP ( RB overly ) ( JJ restrictive ) ( NN insurance ) ( NNS policies ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some lawmakers may seek legislation to limit overly restrictive insurance policies


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN concern ) ) ( VP ( VBZ grows ) ( PP-CLR ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( VBN increased ) ( NNS efforts ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS insurers ) ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB woo ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN small-business ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The concern grows out of increased efforts by the insurers to woo the small-business market


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN As ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( JJR larger ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB increasingly ) ) ( VP ( VBP self-insure ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( VBP use ) ( NP ( NNS reserves ) ) ( S-PRP-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pay ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ own ) ( NNS workers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( JJ medical ) ( NNS bills ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN insurance ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN turned ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN small-employer ) ( NN market ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB once ) ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN backwater ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

As larger companies increasingly self-insure or use reserves to pay their own workers ' medical bills the insurance industry has turned to the small-employer market that was once a backwater for them


( SINV ( S-TPC ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Insurance ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB offer ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ good ) ( NN rate ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT no ) ( NN one ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sick ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN roll ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS dice ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Rosemary ) ( NNP Heinhold ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Small ) ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Service ) ( NNP Bureau ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN group ) ) ( VP ( VBG representing ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 35,000 ) ( JJ small ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( JJ nationwide ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Insurance companies will offer a good rate if no one is sick but it 's a roll of the dice says Rosemary Heinhold of the Small Business Service Bureau a group representing 35,000 small businesses nationwide


( FRAG ( NP ( NP ( CD One ) ( NN case ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN cancer ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ high-risk ) ( NN pregnancy ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ sick ) ( NN infant ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS rates ) ) ( VP ( VBP go ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB up ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 40 ) ( NN % ) ( TO to ) ( CD 60 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ) ) )

One case of cancer or a high-risk pregnancy with a sick infant and rates go up 40 % to 60 %


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN Small-business ) ( NNS people ) ) ( VP ( VBP end ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBG paying ) ( NP ( NP ( NN insurance ) ( NNS premiums ) ) ( ADJP ( IN worth ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD two ) ( TO to ) ( CD three ) ( NNS times ) ) ( DT the ) ( NN cost ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN illness ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Small-business people end up paying insurance premiums worth two to three times the cost of one illness


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN group ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN member ) ( NNS companies ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN denied ) ( NP ( NN insurance ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ individual ) ( NNS workers ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ medical ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD ranged ) ( PP ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ mild ) ( JJ cardiac ) ( NN condition ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ psychological ) ( NN counseling ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN divorce ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NNS hemorrhoids ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN overweight ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition the group says some of its member companies have been denied insurance because individual workers had medical problems that ranged from a mild cardiac condition to psychological counseling after a divorce hemorrhoids and overweight


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Health ) ( NNP Insurance ) ( NNP Association ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP America ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NNS insurers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN trade ) ( NN group ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ acknowledges ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ stiff ) ( NN competition ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN among ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS members ) ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB insure ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS businesses ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ likely ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( JJ good ) ( NNS risks ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN coverage ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN aggravated ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN problem ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN small-business ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Health Insurance Association of America an insurers ' trade group acknowledges that stiff competition among its members to insure businesses likely to be good risks during the first year of coverage has aggravated the problem in the small-business market


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ rapid ) ( NN rate ) ( NNS increases ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB directly ) ) ( VP ( VBN tied ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBG soaring ) ( NN cost ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN health ) ( NN care ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But it says that rapid rate increases are directly tied to the soaring cost of health care


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Some ) ( NN business ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP blame ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN problem ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ tough ) ( NN competition ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN insurance ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some business analysts blame the problem on tough competition in the insurance market


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN insurance ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBP use ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS policies ) ) ( VP ( VBN aimed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG excluding ) ( NP ( JJ bad ) ( NNS risks ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS competitors ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

They say insurance companies use policies aimed at excluding bad risks because their competitors do


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ general ) ( NN practice ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBR more ) ( JJ difficult ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB combine ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ small ) ( NNS groups ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( JJR larger ) ( NNS groups ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( ADVP ( RB thus ) ) ( VP ( VBG spreading ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN risk ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJR larger ) ( NN base ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS premiums ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But the general practice makes it more difficult to combine small groups of people into larger groups thus spreading the risk over a larger base of premiums


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP 'm ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VBG accusing ) ( NP ( NNS insurers ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN dereliction ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN duty ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP Patricelli ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNP Chamber ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Commerce ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD told ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Waxman ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN panel ) ) ) )

I 'm not accusing insurers of dereliction of duty Robert Patricelli of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce told Mr. Waxman 's panel


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP You ) ) ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB ask ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD one ) ( NN carrier ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB underwrite ) ( PP-PRP ( IN on ) ( NP ( JJ social ) ( NNS grounds ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( WDT that ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB destroy ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN marketplace ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

You ca n't ask one carrier to underwrite on social grounds when that might destroy it in the marketplace


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Rep. ) ( NNP Waxman ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Democratic ) ( NNP Sen. ) ( NNP Edward ) ( NNP Kennedy ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Massachusetts ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN proposed ) ( NP ( NP ( NN regulation ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB deal ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN problem ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Rep. Waxman and Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts have proposed regulation to deal with the problem


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN proposal ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( RB just ) ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN legislation ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB require ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS businesses ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB provide ) ( NP ( NN health ) ( NNS benefits ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN idea ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB strongly ) ) ( VBN opposed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( JJ small ) ( NN business ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-3 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VP ( VB compound ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ insurance-cost ) ( NNS problems ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The proposal is just part of legislation that would require businesses to provide health benefits an idea that is strongly opposed by small business who say it would just compound the insurance-cost problems


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN small-business ) ( NNS lobbyists ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP support ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN idea ) ) ( VP ( VBN included ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Kennedy-Waxman ) ( NN bill ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NNS laws ) ( CC or ) ( NNS regulations ) ) ( VP ( VBG requiring ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR greater ) ( NN use ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN community ) ( NN rating ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( S ( VP ( VBZ pegs ) ( NP ( NNS rates ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN use ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN health ) ( NN care ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN community ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( JJ large ) ( NN group ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN designed ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB prevent ) ( NP-4 ( NN insurance ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG taking ) ( NP ( JJ only ) ( JJ low-risk ) ( JJ small ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNS clients ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But small-business lobbyists say they support the idea included in the Kennedy-Waxman bill of new laws or regulations requiring greater use of community rating which pegs rates to the use of health care by a community or other large group and is designed to prevent insurance companies from taking only low-risk small companies as clients


( SINV-2 ( CC But ) ( ADVP-PRD-TPC-1 ( JJ first ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN list ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS priorities ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP National ) ( NNP Federation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Independent ) ( NNP Business ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ( S-SBJ ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB prohibit ) ( NP ( NP ( NN state ) ( NNS laws ) ) ( VP ( VBG requiring ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN inclusion ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN specialty ) ( NNS items ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( JJ psychiatric ) ( NN care ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ basic ) ( NN health ) ( NNS plans ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But first on the list of priorities says the National Federation of Independent Business is to prohibit state laws requiring the inclusion of specialty items such as psychiatric care in basic health plans


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Such ) ( NNS requirements ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP argue ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP make ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ difficult ) ) ( S-2 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB provide ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ basic ) ( JJ low-cost ) ( JJ health-benefits ) ( NN package ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Such requirements they argue make it difficult to provide a basic low-cost health-benefits package


( SINV ( S-2 ( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN Before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Wisconsin ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD mandated ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN mental-health ) ( NN care ) ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN covered ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( NP-PRD ( QP ( RB only ) ( CD 70 ) ) ( NN mental-health ) ( NNS clinics ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( CD 400 ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Carolyn ) ( NNP Miller ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NNP NFIB ) ( NN lobbyist ) ) ) )

Before the state of Wisconsin mandated that mental-health care be covered there were only 70 mental-health clinics in the state now there are 400 says Carolyn Miller an NFIB lobbyist


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP She ) ) ( VP ( VBZ contends ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ similar ) ( NNS mandates ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN driven ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NN insurance ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( NP-EXT-1 ( CD 20 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-LOC-2 ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Maryland ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( NP-EXT=1 ( CD 30 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-LOC=2 ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP California ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

She contends that similar mandates have driven up insurance costs 20 % in Maryland and 30 % in California


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN insurance-industry ) ( NN association ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB strongly ) ) ( VBZ disagrees ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBN proposed ) ( NN community ) ( NN rating ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( SINV ( S-2 ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB save ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN dollar ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ argues ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NNP Dorsch ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP HIAA ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Washington ) ( NN counsel ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The insurance-industry association also strongly disagrees with the proposed community rating which does n't save one dollar argues James Dorsch HIAA 's Washington counsel


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ healthy ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ( VP ( VB subsidize ) ( NP ( JJ unhealthy ) ( NNS ones ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ gives ) ( NP ( DT each ) ( NN employer ) ) ( NP ( JJR less ) ( NN incentive ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS workers ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ healthy ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It just makes healthy businesses subsidize unhealthy ones and gives each employer less incentive to keep his workers healthy


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Dorsch ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP HIAA ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG working ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN proposal ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB establish ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RB privately ) ( VBN funded ) ) ( NN reinsurance ) ( NN mechanism ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB help ) ( S ( VP ( VB cover ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ small ) ( NNS groups ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( NP ( NN insurance ) ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG excluding ) ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( NNS employees ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Dorsch says the HIAA is working on a proposal to establish a privately funded reinsurance mechanism to help cover small groups that ca n't get insurance without excluding certain employees


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS complexities ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN insurance ) ( NN problem ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP make ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN outcome ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ difficult ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB predict ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The complexities of the insurance problem make the outcome difficult to predict


( S ( CC But ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Ms. ) ( NNP Allen ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN employee ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP$ whose ) ( NN back ) ( NN problem ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD triggered ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ huge ) ( JJ insurance-rate ) ( NN increase ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN issue ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ simple ) ) ) )

But to Ms. Allen the employee whose back problem triggered a huge insurance-rate increase the issue was simple


( SBARQ-2 ( WHNP-1 ( WP What ) ( NN good ) ) ( SQ ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( VBG having ) ( NP ( NN health ) ( NN insurance ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( VBD asked ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB so ) ( JJ expensive ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ becomes ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ impossible ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( QP ( RB only ) ( CD one ) ) ( JJ major ) ( NN claim ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

What good is having health insurance she asked when it 's so expensive that it becomes impossible to keep after only one major claim


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP CMS ) ( NNP Energy ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB begin ) ( S ( VP ( VBG paying ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ 10-cent-a-share ) ( NN quarterly ) ( NN dividend ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ first ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( CD 1984 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

CMS Energy Corp. said it would begin paying a 10-cent-a-share quarterly dividend the company 's first since 1984


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Consumers ) ( NNP Power ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ main ) ( NN unit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP CMS ) ( NNP Energy ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD ran ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ financial ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 4.2 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NNP Midland ) ( JJ nuclear ) ( NN plant ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN abandoned ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ nuclear ) ( NN facility ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1984 ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN construction ) ( NNS delays ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ high ) ( NNS costs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Consumers Power Co. now the main unit of CMS Energy ran into financial problems over its 4.2 billion Midland nuclear plant which was abandoned as a nuclear facility in 1984 because of construction delays and high costs


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP CMS ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB nearly ) ( VBN done ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG converting ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Midland ) ( NN plant ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ gas-fired ) ( NN cogeneration ) ( NN facility ) ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN cost ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 600 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

CMS is nearly done converting the Midland plant to a gas-fired cogeneration facility at a cost of 600 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP CMS ) ( NN management ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Thursday ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD planned ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB recommend ) ( S ( VP ( VBG paying ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ modest ) ( NN dividend ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN board ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS directors ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD met ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

CMS management said Thursday that they planned to recommend paying a modest dividend when the board of directors met Friday


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN dividend ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN paid ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Nov. ) ( CD 22 ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN record ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Nov. ) ( CD 7 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The dividend will be paid Nov. 22 to shares of record Nov. 7


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD suffered ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 270 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1985 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ financial ) ( NN situation ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBG improving ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( RB then ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company suffered a loss of 270 million in 1985 but its financial situation has been improving since then


Base Data


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNS Computers ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB once ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN art ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS marvels ) ) ( VP ( VBN bought ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( CD three ) ( NNS years ) ) ( IN ago ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP Are ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ obsolete ) ) ) )

Computers that once were the state of the art The marvels bought three years ago Are now obsolete


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN As ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB queasily ) ) ( VBP start ) ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN search ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS replacements ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP know ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ new ) ( CD one ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP purchase ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS hopes ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB do ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN Despite ) ( NP ( NP ( DT every ) ( NN wonder ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBN stated ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ Means ) ( UCP ( NP ( JJR more ) ( NN speed ) ) ( NP ( JJR more ) ( NNS graphics ) ) ( NP ( JJR more ) ( NN memory ) ) ( ADVP ( RB too ) ) ( CC But ) ( ADJP ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RBR more ) ( RB quickly ) ) ( IN out ) ( JJ dated ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

As we queasily start The search for replacements we know The new one we purchase in hopes it will do Despite every wonder that 's stated Means more speed more graphics more memory too But also more quickly out dated


Bern Sharfman


( NP-TTL ( NNP Curdling ) ( NNP Confession ) )

Curdling Confession


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP know ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS dividends ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ due ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-5 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-4 ( NNS bonds ) ) ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN retired ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( CC But ) ( SBAR-NOM-SBJ ( WHNP-2 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ gets ) ( PP-CLR ( IN by ) ( NP ( PRP me ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( DT every ) ( NN time ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ Is ) ( SQ-PRD ( VBZ has ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN milk ) ) ( VP ( VBN expired ) ) ) ) ) )

I know when dividends are due When bonds should be retired But what gets by me every time Is has the milk expired


Ralph Shaffer


Daffynition


( NP ( NP ( NN Tithing ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN Obedience ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN one-tenth ) ( NN Commandment ) ) ) ) )

Tithing Obedience to one-tenth Commandment


Len Elliott


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Companies ) ) ( VP ( VBN listed ) ( PP-LOC ( IN below ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ quarterly ) ( NN profit ) ) ( ADJP ( RB substantially ) ( JJ different ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN average ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS analysts ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Companies listed below reported quarterly profit substantially different from the average of analysts ' estimates


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN followed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( CD three ) ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ minimum ) ( JJ five-cent ) ( NN change ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ actual ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN per ) ( NP ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The companies are followed by at least three analysts and had a minimum five-cent change in actual earnings per share


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( VBN Estimated ) ( CC and ) ( JJ actual ) ( NNS results ) ) ( VP ( VBG involving ) ( NP ( NNS losses ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN omitted ) ) ) )

Estimated and actual results involving losses are omitted


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN percent ) ( NN difference ) ) ( VP ( VBZ compares ) ( NP ( JJ actual ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ 30-day ) ( NN estimate ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( CD three ) ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( NNS issues ) ( NP ( NNS forecasts ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ past ) ( CD 30 ) ( NNS days ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The percent difference compares actual profit with the 30-day estimate where at least three analysts have issues forecasts in the past 30 days


( S ( ADVP ( RB Otherwise ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ actual ) ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN compared ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ 300-day ) ( NN estimate ) ) ) ) ) )

Otherwise actual profit is compared with the 300-day estimate


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD rumored ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ potential ) ( NN takeover ) ( NN target ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( CD six ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NNP Dutch ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN sought ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN approval ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN up ) ( TO to ) ( CD 25 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Nashua Corp. rumored a potential takeover target for six months said that a Dutch company has sought U.S. approval to buy up to 25 % of Nashua 's shares


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Nashua ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB immediately ) ) ( VP ( VBD responded ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VP ( VBG strengthening ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ poison-pill ) ( NN plan ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG saying ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB back ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN up ) ( TO to ) ( CD one ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 10.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( QP ( CD 9.6 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ outstanding ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Nashua immediately responded by strengthening a poison-pill plan and saying it will buy back up to one million of its shares or 10.4 % of the 9.6 million outstanding


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP$ whose ) ( JJ major ) ( NN business ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S-PRD ( VP ( VBG selling ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS copiers ) ) ( NP ( JJ facsimile ) ( NNS machines ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( VBN related ) ( NNS supplies ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Reiss ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co ) ( NNP B.V. ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Netherlands ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD filed ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN request ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Federal ) ( NNP Trade ) ( NNP Commission ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Hart-Scott-Rodino ) ( NNP Act ) ) ) ( PP-2 ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN permission ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 15 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN stock ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR less ) ( IN than ) ( CD 25 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Nashua whose major business is selling copiers facsimile machines and related supplies said Reiss & Co B.V. of the Netherlands filed a request with the Federal Trade Commission under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act for permission to buy more than 15 million of Nashua 's stock but less than 25 %


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Previously ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN affiliate ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Unicorp ) ( NNP Canada ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD disclosed ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR less ) ( IN than ) ( CD 5 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Daniel ) ( NNP M. ) ( NNP Junius ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN treasurer ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Previously an affiliate of Unicorp Canada disclosed a stake of less than 5 % in Nashua according to Daniel M. Junius Nashua 's treasurer


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN fluctuated ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB sharply ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN takeover ) ( NN speculation ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG rising ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ high ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 42.875 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP June ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 29.75 ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP March ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Nashua 's stock has fluctuated sharply on takeover speculation rising to a high for the year of 42.875 a share in June from 29.75 in March


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN had ) ( NP ( JJ weak ) ( NNS results ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB so ) ( RB far ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( S-NOM ( NP-SBJ ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBG declining ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 43 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 13.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.43 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN decline ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 713.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN through ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( CD nine ) ( NNS months ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But the company has had weak results so far this year with earnings declining 43 % to 13.7 million or 1.43 a share on a 4 % decline in revenue to 713.5 million through the first nine months of the year


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ Its ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN slumped ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB recently ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG closing ) ( ADJP ( JJ unchanged ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 29 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ composite ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN price ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN market ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 278.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Its stock has slumped recently closing unchanged Friday at 29 a share in composite trading on the New York Stock Exchange at that price the company has a market value of about 278.4 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Nashua ) ) ( VP ( VBD announced ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Reiss ) ( NN request ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ) ) ) ) )

Nashua announced the Reiss request after the market closed


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Junius ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN intention ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S-PRD ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB remain ) ( NP-PRD ( DT an ) ( JJ independent ) ( JJ public ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Junius said Nashua 's intention is to remain an independent public company


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD amended ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN shareholder ) ( NNS rights ) ( NN plan ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG reducing ) ( PP-CLR ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 10 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 20 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN level ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN ownership ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN outsider ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB trigger ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN issuance ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS holders ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS rights ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ additional ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ( JJ common ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( JJ half ) ( NN price ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company said it amended its shareholder rights plan by reducing to 10 % from 20 % the level of ownership by an outsider that would trigger the issuance to other holders of rights to buy additional shares of Nashua common at half price


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN board ) ) ( VP ( VBD authorized ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN purchase ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( IN up ) ( TO to ) ( DT an ) ( JJ additional ) ( CD one ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition the company 's board authorized the purchase of up to an additional one million shares


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN Under ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN program ) ) ( VP ( VBN approved ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB specify ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ( NN amount ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Nashua ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN purchased ) ( NP ( CD 481,000 ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN through ) ( NP ( NNP Sept. ) ( CD 29 ) ) ) ) ) )

Under a program approved by the company in 1987 that did n't specify a share amount Nashua had purchased 481,000 shares through Sept. 29


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Alex ) ( NNP Henderson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Prudential-Bache ) ( NNPS Securities ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN performance ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ atrocious ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( ADVP ( RB nonetheless ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ attractive ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ classic ) ( NN breakup ) ( NN candidate ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN similarity ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN between ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( CD four ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Alex Henderson an analyst at Prudential-Bache Securities said that while Nashua 's performance this year has been atrocious the company nonetheless is attractive as a classic breakup candidate because there 's no similarity between its four businesses


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD estimated ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN breakup ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 55 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) )

He estimated the breakup value at 55 a share


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VP ( VBG selling ) ( NP-1 ( JJ Japanese-made ) ( NX ( NX ( NNS photocopiers ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( JJ facsimile ) ( NNS machines ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC-2 ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( NP=1 ( NN copier ) ( NNS supplies ) ) ( PP-LOC=2 ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NNP Nashua ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( CD three ) ( JJ other ) ( JJ major ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS labels ) ( CC and ) ( NNS tapes ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS data ) ( NN storage ) ( NNS disks ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS computers ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ mail-order ) ( NN photofinishing ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition to selling Japanese-made photocopiers and facsimile machines in Europe and copier supplies in the U.S. Nashua has three other major businesses labels and tapes data storage disks for computers and mail-order photofinishing


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Doskocil ) ( NNP Cos. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ its ) ( NN bank-debt ) ( NNS payments ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN extended ) ( PP-CLR ( IN until ) ( NP ( NNP May ) ( CD 31 ) ( CD 1990 ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB give ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR more ) ( NN time ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Wilson ) ( NNP Foods ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( JJ retail ) ( CC and ) ( JJ fresh ) ( NN meat ) ( NNS operations ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Doskocil Cos. said its bank-debt payments have been extended until May 31 1990 to give it more time to sell its Wilson Foods Corp. retail and fresh meat operations


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( S ( VP ( VP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB repay ) ( NP-2 ( NP ( QP ( CD 58 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN debt ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP-3 ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Dec. ) ( CD 31 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( NP=2 ( QP ( CD 15 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP-TMP=3 ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP March ) ( CD 31 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company was to repay 58 million in debt on Dec. 31 and 15 million on March 31


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD acquired ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN debt ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD paid ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 155 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB purchase ) ( NP ( NNP Wilson ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company acquired the debt when it paid 155 million to purchase Wilson last year


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT An ) ( NN agreement ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Wilson ) ( NNS assets ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 150 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN cash ) ( CC and ) ( NNS notes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD collapsed ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ late ) ( NNP September ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN buyer ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBN controlled ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP George ) ( NNP Gillett ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB secure ) ( NP ( NN financing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

An agreement to sell the Wilson assets for 150 million in cash and notes collapsed in late September when the buyer a company controlled by George Gillett could n't secure financing


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bio-Technology ) ( NNP General ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS tenders ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 97.9 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( ADJP ( CD 7.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( JJ convertible ) ( JJ senior ) ( VBN subordinated ) ( NNS notes ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ due ) ( NP-TMP ( NP ( NNP April ) ( CD 15 ) ) ( NP ( CD 1997 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 96 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( ADJP ( CD 11 ) ( NN % ) ) ( JJ convertible ) ( JJ senior ) ( VBN subordinated ) ( NNS debentures ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ due ) ( NP-TMP ( NP ( NNP March ) ( CD 1 ) ) ( NP ( CD 2006 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Bio-Technology General Corp. received tenders for 97.9 % of its 7.5 % convertible senior subordinated notes due April 15 1997 and 96 % of its 11 % convertible senior subordinated debentures due March 1 2006


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( NN exchange ) ( NNS offers ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD expired ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS holders ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT each ) ( CD 1,000 ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS notes ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB receive ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( CD 250 ) ) ( NN face ) ( NN amount ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Series ) ( NNP A ) ( ADJP ( CD 7.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( JJ senior ) ( VBN secured ) ( JJ convertible ) ( NNS notes ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ due ) ( NP-TMP ( NP ( NNP Jan. ) ( CD 15 ) ) ( NP ( CD 1995 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( CD 200 ) ( JJ common ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ) )

In exchange offers that expired Friday holders of each 1,000 of notes will receive 250 face amount of Series A 7.5 % senior secured convertible notes due Jan. 15 1995 and 200 common shares


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NP ( DT each ) ( ADJP ( CD 1,000 ) ) ( NN face ) ( NN amount ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS debentures ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS holders ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 250 ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Series ) ( NNP B ) ( ADJP ( CD 11 ) ( NN % ) ) ( JJ senior ) ( VBN secured ) ( JJ convertible ) ( NNS notes ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ due ) ( NP-TMP ( NP ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 15 ) ) ( NP ( CD 1998 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( CD 200 ) ( JJ common ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) )

For each 1,000 face amount of debentures holders received 250 of Series B 11 % senior secured convertible notes due Oct. 15 1998 and 200 common shares


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Bio-Technology ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB genetically ) ( VBN engineered ) ) ( NNS products ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( UCP ( NN human ) ( CC and ) ( NN animal ) ) ( NN health ) ( NN care ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN exchange ) ( NN offer ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB reduce ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN interest ) ( NNS payments ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Bio-Technology a New York maker of genetically engineered products for human and animal health care said it made the exchange offer to reduce its interest payments


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP E.W. ) ( NNP Scripps ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN acquired ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Georgia ) ( NN cable ) ( NN television ) ( NN company ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Massachusetts ) ( NN publishing ) ( NN firm ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

E.W. Scripps Co. said it has acquired a Georgia cable television company and a Massachusetts publishing firm


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNS Terms ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( NNS deals ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN disclosed ) ) ) )

Terms on both deals were n't disclosed


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS media ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD purchased ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Cable ) ( NNP USA ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RB privately ) ( VBN held ) ) ( NN cable ) ( NN television ) ( NN system ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Carroll ) ( NNP County ) ) ( NP ( NNP Ga. ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN suburb ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Atlanta ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The media company said it purchased Cable USA Inc. a privately held cable television system in Carroll County Ga. a suburb of Atlanta


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN system ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN under ) ( NP ( NN construction ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB serve ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN market ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 7,600 ) ( NNS homes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The system is still under construction and will serve a market of 7,600 homes


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN acquired ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sundance ) ( NNPS Publishers ) ( CC and ) ( NNPS Distributors ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( NN family ) ( VBN owned ) ) ( NN producer ) ( CC and ) ( NN distributor ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ educational ) ( NNS materials ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Littleton ) ) ( NP ( NNP Mass ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company also has acquired Sundance Publishers and Distributors Inc. a family owned producer and distributor of educational materials in Littleton Mass


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN Since ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN founding ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1818 ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN standard-bearer ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Ivy ) ( NNP League ) ( NN look ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN eschewed ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ flashy ) ( NNS sales ) ( NNS promotions ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN fashion ) ( NNS trends ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS rules ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJS most ) ( NNS retailers ) ) ( VP ( VBP live ) ( PP-CLR ( IN by ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Since its founding in 1818 Brooks Brothers the standard-bearer of the Ivy League look has eschewed flashy sales promotions and fashion trends the rules that most retailers live by


( S ( CC But ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN with ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS sales ) ( NN growth ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sluggish ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ other ) ( NP ( NNS men ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS stores ) ) ( VP ( VBG putting ) ( PRT ( RP on ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN heat ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ venerable ) ( NN retailer ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB no ) ( RB longer ) ) ( VP ( VB afford ) ( NP ( PDT such ) ( DT a ) ( JJ smug ) ( NN attitude ) ) ) ) )

But with sales growth sluggish and other men 's stores putting on the heat the venerable retailer can no longer afford such a smug attitude


( S ( RB So ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS weeks ) ) ( IN ago ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS thousands ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ( VBP charge ) ( NNS customers ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS customers ) ) ( VP ( VBN conditioned ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB wait ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ twice-yearly ) ( NN clearance ) ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD got ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN surprise ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN invitation ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB come ) ( ADVP-DIR ( IN in ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( DT any ) ( CD one ) ( NN item ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 25 ) ( NN % ) ) ( ADVP ( IN off ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So two weeks ago thousands of Brooks Brothers charge customers customers conditioned to wait for twice-yearly clearance sales got a surprise an invitation to come in and buy any one item for 25 % off


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN During ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ four-day ) ( NN promotion ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNS shoppers ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Short ) ( NNP Hills ) ( NNP N.J. ) ) ( NN store ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD lined ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pay ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ big-ticket ) ( NNS items ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( NNS coats ) ( CC and ) ( NNS suits ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

During the four-day promotion shoppers at the Short Hills N.J. store lined up to pay for big-ticket items like coats and suits


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( RB not ) ( NP-PRD ( DT all ) ) ) )

That 's not all


( S ( S ( VP ( VBG Departing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN newspaper ) ( NNS ads ) ) ( VP ( VBG featuring ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ prim ) ( NNS sketches ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN suit ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN coat ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG marketing ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( VBN updated ) ( NN image ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NN campaign ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ carries ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN slogan ) ) ( NP-TTL ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Surprise ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Departing from its newspaper ads featuring prim sketches of a suit or a coat Brooks Brothers is marketing an updated image in a new campaign that carries the slogan The Surprise of Brooks Brothers


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD One ) ( NN color ) ( NN photo ) ) ( VP ( VBZ displays ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN rainbow ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN dress ) ( NNS shirts ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN tied ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN knot ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT another ) ( NN picture ) ) ( VP ( VBZ shows ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS neckties ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ bold ) ( NNS designs ) ) ) ) ) ) )

One color photo displays a rainbow of dress shirts tied in a knot another picture shows neckties with bold designs


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN message ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ loud ) ( CC and ) ( JJ clear ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB not ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( PRP$ your ) ( NN father ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ) ) )

The message is loud and clear This is not your father 's Brooks Brothers


( S ( PP ( IN As ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ national ) ( NN ad ) ( NN pitch ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB show ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RBR less ) ( JJ preppy ) ) ( NP ( NNS women ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS clothes ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG moving ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB away ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ floppy-tie ) ( NN business ) ( NN stereotype ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

As part of its national ad pitch Brooks Brothers will show less preppy women 's clothes moving away from its floppy-tie business stereotype


( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD One ) ( NN ad ) ) ( VP ( VBZ shows ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( JJ bright ) ( JJ red ) ) ( NN jacket ) ) ( VP ( VBN paired ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ black ) ( NN leather ) ( NN skirt ) ) ) ) ) ) )

One ad shows a bright red jacket paired with a black leather skirt


( S ( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN ad ) ( NN copy ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ cheeky ) ) ) ) ( SBARQ ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB How ) ) ( SQ ( MD can ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NNP Wall ) ( NNP Street ) ( JJ hot ) ( NN shot ) ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( CD one ) ) ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ( NN suit ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ your ) ( NN portfolio ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And the ad copy is cheeky How can you be a Wall Street hot shot without at least one Brooks Brothers suit in your portfolio


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ hopes ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( VBG shaking ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ time-honored ) ( NNS traditions ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VP ( VB attract ) ( NP ( NP ( RBR more ) ( JJ young ) ( NNS men ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJR more ) ( NNS women ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB change ) ( NP ( NP ( NN consumer ) ( NNS perceptions ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN range ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN merchandise ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Brooks Brothers hopes that shaking its time-honored traditions will attract more young men and more women and change consumer perceptions about its range of merchandise


( SINV ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNS men ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB only ) ) ( VP ( VBP buy ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS shirts ) ( CC and ) ( NN underwear ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB here ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR younger ) ( NNS customers ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB only ) ) ( VP ( VBP buy ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN job ) ( NN interview ) ( NN suit ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB here ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP William ) ( NNP Roberti ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chief ) ( JJ executive ) ( NN officer ) ) ) ( PP-4 ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ) ) ) )

We have men who only buy their shirts and underwear here or younger customers who only buy their job interview suit here says William Roberti chairman and chief executive officer of Brooks Brothers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP want ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP them ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR more ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN wardrobe ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB here ) ) ) ) ) ) )

We want them to buy more of their wardrobe here


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Industry ) ( NNS watchers ) ) ( VP ( VBP agree ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB long ) ( JJ overdue ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG updating ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ buttoned-down ) ( NN image ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN stunted ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN growth ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Industry watchers agree that Brooks Brothers is long overdue in updating its buttoned-down image which has stunted its growth


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBN acquired ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP May ) ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJ British ) ( NN retailer ) ( NNP Marks ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Spencer ) ( NNP PLC ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( JJ annual ) ( VBG operating ) ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 41.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 290.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

When acquired in May 1988 by British retailer Marks & Spencer PLC Brooks Brothers ' annual operating profit was about 41.8 million on sales of 290.1 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Roberti ) ) ( VP ( VBZ concedes ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 750 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN takeover ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS sales ) ( NN growth ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ dramatic ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Roberti concedes that since the 750 million takeover sales growth has n't been dramatic


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 11 ) ( NNS months ) ) ( VP ( VBD ended ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP March ) ( CD 31 ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( VBG operating ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ 52-store ) ( NN chain ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD totaled ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 40.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 286.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For the 11 months ended March 31 operating profit at the 52-store chain totaled 40.5 million on sales of 286.8 million


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN As ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ jumps ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN fashion ) ( NN fray ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBG playing ) ( NP ( VB catch ) ( IN up ) ) ) ) ) )

As Brooks Brothers jumps into the fashion fray it will be playing catch up


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Many ) ( NNS clothiers ) ) ( ADVP ( RB especially ) ) ( NP ( NNP Ralph ) ( NNP Lauren ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN cashed ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ recent ) ( NN popularity ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( VBN updated ) ( UCP ( NP ( NNP Ivy ) ( NNP League ) ) ( CC and ) ( JJ English ) ) ( NNS styles ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Many clothiers especially Ralph Lauren have cashed in on the recent popularity of updated Ivy League and English styles


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( VBG keeping ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNS men ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJR broader ) ( NN fashion ) ( NN scope ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN today ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS businessmen ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG dabbling ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( JJ English ) ( CC and ) ( JJ Italian ) ) ( NNS suits ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( JJ conservative ) ) ( CC but ) ( RB not ) ( ADJP ( JJ stodgy ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In keeping with men 's broader fashion scope today businessmen are dabbling in English and Italian suits that are conservative but not stodgy


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ rigid ) ( NNP Ivy ) ( NNP League ) ( NN customer ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN bread ) ( CC and ) ( NN butter ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB meanwhile ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG becoming ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ extinct ) ) ) ) )

The rigid Ivy League customer Brooks Brothers ' bread and butter meanwhile is becoming extinct


( S ( RB Thus ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN lost ) ( NP ( NNS customers ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS stores ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP offer ) ( NP ( JJR more ) ( NN variety ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Paul ) ( NNP Stuart ) ) ( NP ( NNP Barneys ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Louis ) ( NNP Boston ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Thus Brooks Brothers has lost customers to stores that offer more variety such as Paul Stuart Barneys New York and Louis Boston


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB no ) ( RB longer ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lock ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Ivy ) ( NNP League ) ( NN customer ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ status-conscious ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS clothes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Charlie ) ( NNP Davidson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Andover ) ( NNP Shop ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ traditional ) ( NP ( NNS men ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN store ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Cambridge ) ) ( NP ( NNP Mass ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Brooks Brothers no longer has a lock on the Ivy League customer who is status-conscious about his clothes says Charlie Davidson president of the Andover Shop a traditional men 's store in Cambridge Mass


( S ( PP-MNR ( IN By ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG making ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN break ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NN tradition ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG seeking ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ delicate ) ( NN balance ) ) ) ) )

By making a break from tradition Brooks Brothers is seeking a delicate balance


( S ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ promotes ) ( NP ( NN fashion ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB too ) ( JJ much ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN shop ) ) ( VP ( VBZ risks ) ( S ( VP ( VBG alienating ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN old-line ) ( NNS customers ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG emphasizing ) ( NP ( NN value ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ risks ) ( S ( VP ( VBG watering ) ( PRT ( RP down ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ high-minded ) ( NN mystique ) ) ) ) ) ) )

If it promotes fashion too much the shop risks alienating its old-line customers by emphasizing value it risks watering down its high-minded mystique


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Fashion ) ( NN industry ) ( NNS consultants ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBP question ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( JJ significant ) ( NNS strides ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS women ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN given ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( NN customer ) ( NN base ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBR less ) ( VBN established ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ conservative ) ( NN business ) ( NN dress ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS women ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRD ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN decline ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Fashion industry consultants also question whether the company can make significant strides in its women 's business given that its customer base is less established and that conservative business dress for women is on the decline


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN aim ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( IN for ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( CD 20 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ total ) ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB come ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS women ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN department ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ current ) ( CD 12 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Brooks Brothers ' aim is for 20 % of total sales to come from the women 's department up from the current 12 %


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NN Everybody ) ) ( VP ( VBZ forgets ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NN fashion ) ( NNS cycles ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ classic ) ( NN merchandise ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ observes ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Carol ) ( NNP Farmer ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ retail ) ( NN consultant ) ) ) )

Everybody forgets that there are fashion cycles in classic merchandise observes Carol Farmer a retail consultant


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP-1 ( NNS women ) ) ) ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( VBG dressing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN success ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( JJ real ) ( JJ structured ) ) ( NN way ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( IN over ) ) ) )

For women dressing for success in a real structured way is over


( S ( PP ( IN Despite ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS challenges ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Marks ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Spencer ) ) ( VP ( VBZ sees ) ( NP ( JJ big ) ( NN potential ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG noting ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NX ( NX ( ADJP ( RB widely ) ( VBN recognized ) ) ( NN name ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( JJ global ) ( NN presence ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Despite these challenges Marks & Spencer sees big potential in Brooks Brothers noting the widely recognized name and global presence


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Marks ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Spencer ) ) ( VP ( VBZ plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB open ) ( NP ( ADJP ( QP ( RB roughly ) ( CD 18 ) ) ( JJR more ) ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS stores ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ next ) ( CD five ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Marks & Spencer plans to open roughly 18 more U.S. stores in the next five years


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN business ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ robust ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( CD 30 ) ( NNS outlets ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS shops ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Brooks Brothers says business is robust at its 30 outlets in Japan and two shops in Hong Kong


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Marks ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Spencer ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBG considering ) ( S ( VP ( VBG opening ) ( NP ( NNS stores ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( IN across ) ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( ADVP ( RB sometime ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN future ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Marks & Spencer is also considering opening stores across Europe sometime in the future


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Alan ) ( NNP Smith ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Marks ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Spencer ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NP ( NNP North ) ( NNP America ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Far ) ( NNP East ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN focus ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S-PRD ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB boost ) ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG broadening ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN merchandise ) ( NN assortment ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN while ) ( S ( VP ( VBG keeping ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ traditional ) ( NN emphasis ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Alan Smith president of Marks & Spencer North America and Far East says that Brooks Brothers ' focus is to boost sales by broadening its merchandise assortment while keeping its traditional emphasis


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ British ) ( NN parent ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBG streamlining ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ continues ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NP ( RB almost ) ( DT all ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN merchandise ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB recently ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD shut ) ( NP ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( CD two ) ( NN shirt ) ( NNS plants ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Paterson ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP N.J. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN closed ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS boys ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NNS departments ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( QP ( DT all ) ( CC but ) ( CD 20 ) ) ( NNS stores ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The British parent is also streamlining Brooks Brothers which continues to make almost all of its merchandise recently shut one of its two shirt plants in Paterson N.J. and has closed boys ' departments in all but 20 stores


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBG remodeling ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS stores ) ) ) ) )

Brooks Brothers is also remodeling its stores


( S ( NP-TMP ( NNP Wednesday ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB unveil ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN refurbishing ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN flagship ) ( NN store ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Madison ) ( NNP Avenue ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Wednesday it will unveil a 7 million refurbishing at its flagship store on Madison Avenue


( S ( PP ( IN With ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB newly ) ( VBN installed ) ) ( NNS escalators ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN store ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ retains ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN signature ) ( NN wood-and-brass ) ( NN look ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBR less ) ( VBG intimidating ) ) ) ) )

With newly installed escalators the store retains its signature wood-and-brass look but is less intimidating


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJR More ) ( NNS shirts ) ( CC and ) ( NNS sweaters ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN laid ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNS tables ) ) ) ( PP ( RB instead ) ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG sitting ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN behind ) ( NP ( NN glass ) ( NNS cases ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN so ) ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS customers ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VP ( VB walk ) ( ADVP-DIR ( IN up ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB touch ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Roberti ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

More shirts and sweaters will be laid out on tables instead of sitting behind glass cases so that customers can walk up and touch them Mr. Roberti says


( S ( SBAR-PRP ( IN Because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS biggest ) ( NN growth ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN menswear ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ casual ) ( NN sportswear ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG chasing ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR more ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Because the biggest growth in menswear is in casual sportswear Brooks Brothers is chasing more of that business


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ entire ) ( JJ second ) ( NN floor ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Madison ) ( NNP Avenue ) ( NN store ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ casual ) ( NN sportswear ) ) ( VP ( VBG featuring ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS items ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ ski ) ( NNS sweaters ) ) ( NP ( NN leather ) ( NNS backpacks ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 42 ) ) ( NN wool ) ( NN baseball ) ( NN hat ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN store ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN crest ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The entire second floor of its Madison Avenue store is now casual sportswear featuring items such as ski sweaters leather backpacks and a 42 wool baseball hat with the store 's crest


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN centerpiece ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN overhaul ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Roberti ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NP ( NNS men ) ( POS 's ) ) ( VBN tailored ) ( NN clothing ) ( NN department ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN added ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NX ( NX ( NN suit ) ( NNS styles ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( NNS fabrics ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The centerpiece of the overhaul according to Mr. Roberti is the men 's tailored clothing department where Brooks Brothers has added new suit styles and fabrics


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN perception ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( IN out ) ( RB there ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( IN that ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB very ) ( JJ conservative ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( ADVP ( RB only ) ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ( NP ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN type ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN suit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Roberti ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG referring ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Brooks ) ( NNPS Brothers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN signature ) ( JJ three-button ) ( NN sack ) ( NN suit ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NX ( NX ( JJ center-vented ) ( NN jacket ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( JJ boxy ) ( NN fit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The perception out there is that we are very conservative and we only sell one type of suit Mr. Roberti says referring to Brooks Brothers ' signature three-button sack suit with a center-vented jacket and boxy fit


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VP ( VBZ offers ) ( NP ( NP ( RBR more ) ( JJ two-button ) ( NNS versions ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS suits ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ tapered ) ( NN fit ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But it now offers more two-button versions and suits with a tapered fit


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP It ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBZ plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB add ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS suits ) ) ( VP ( VBN cut ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ athletic ) ( NNS men ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJR broader ) ( JJ upper ) ( NNS bodies ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It also plans to add suits cut for athletic men with broader upper bodies


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Next ) ( NN spring ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( QP ( RB nearly ) ( CD 30 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS suits ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( JJ pleated ) ( NNS pants ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( RB virtually ) ( NN none ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN couple ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ( IN ago ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Next spring nearly 30 % of its suits will have pleated pants compared with virtually none a couple of years ago


( SINV ( VP ( VBZ Says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Roberti ) ) ( S-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP want ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB turn ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN customer ) ) ( PRT ( RP on ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Says Mr. Roberti We want to turn the customer on


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN envelope ) ) ( VP ( VBZ arrives ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN mail ) ) ) ) )

The envelope arrives in the mail


( S ( S ( VP ( VB Open ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD two ) ( JJ soulful ) ( NNS eyes ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN boy ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ brown ) ( NN face ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP peer ) ( ADVP-DIR ( IN out ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN page ) ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB pleadingly ) ) ) ) )

Open it and two soulful eyes on a boy 's brown face peer out from the page pleadingly


( SQ ( VBZ Does ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN tyke ) ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ good ) ( NN mind ) ) ( VP ( IN about ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN wasted ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Does the tyke have a good mind about to be wasted


( SQ ( VBZ Is ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN victim ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Gramm-Rudman ) ( NNS cuts ) ) ) ) )

Is he a victim of Gramm-Rudman cuts


( S ( S ( INTJ ( UH No ) ) ( CC but ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBN endangered ) ) ( ADVP ( PDT all ) ( DT the ) ( JJ same ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( PRP$ His ) ( JJ new ) ( NN sitcom ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP ABC ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ needs ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN following ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB stay ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN air ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

No but he 's endangered all the same His new sitcom on ABC needs a following to stay on the air


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP ABC ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN had ) ( NP ( JJ much ) ( NN luck ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS shows ) ) ( VP ( VBG featuring ) ( NP ( NNS blacks ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ recent ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( JJ new ) ( NN arrival ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN bit ) ) ( JJ desperate ) ) ) ) )

ABC has n't had much luck with shows featuring blacks in recent years and the producers of one new arrival are a bit desperate


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP-TTL ( NNP Homeroom ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN show ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ black ) ( NN ad ) ( NN executive ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ gives ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN boardroom ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ fourth-grade ) ( NN classroom ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG flunking ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS ratings ) ( NN test ) ) ) ) )

Homeroom a show about a black ad executive who gives up the boardroom for a fourth-grade classroom is flunking the ratings test


( S ( IN So ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS producers ) ( NNP Alyce ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Topper ) ( NNP Carew ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD spun ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNPS Rolodexes ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD gathered ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS names ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ black ) ( NN opinion ) ( NNS makers ) ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB mount ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ direct-mail ) ( NN campaign ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So producers Alyce and Topper Carew spun their Rolodexes and gathered names of black opinion makers to mount a direct-mail campaign


( S ( PP-MNR ( IN By ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG wooing ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN core ) ( JJ black ) ( NN audience ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP figure ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN show ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ alive ) ) ( PP-TMP ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ) ( IN until ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN spring ) ( NN semester ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

By wooing a core black audience they figure they might keep the show alive at least until the spring semester


( S ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( VBG Using ) ( NP ( JJ direct ) ( NN mail ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN TV ) ( NN show ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRD ( IN like ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG fishing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN whale ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( VBN breaded ) ( NN hook ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Using direct mail for a TV show is like fishing for whale with a breaded hook


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP It ) ) ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN done ) ) ) )

It just is n't done


( S ( CC But ) ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( VBG employing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN kind ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ gut-wrenching ) ( NN plea ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ black ) ( NN consciousness ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADVP ( RB even ) ( RBR more ) ) ( JJ unusual ) ) ) ) )

But employing this kind of gut-wrenching plea to black consciousness makes it even more unusual


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Still ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Carew ) ) ( VP ( VBZ thinks ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-4 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB reach ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ good ) ( NN chunk ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( QP ( CD three ) ( JJ million-plus ) ) ( JJ black ) ( NNS homes ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ needs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG mailing ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( QP ( RB almost ) ( CD 10,000 ) ) ( NNS blacks ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP form ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-2 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ calls ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( NN grapevine ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Still Mr. Carew thinks he can reach a good chunk of the three million-plus black homes he needs by mailing to the almost 10,000 blacks who form what he calls the grapevine


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN grapevine ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBN organized ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ( CC and ) ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP know ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ exists ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Carew ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG referring ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( RB often ) ( ADJP ( RB uncannily ) ( JJ small ) ) ( NN world ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ black ) ( NX ( NX ( NNS professionals ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( NN community ) ( NNS leaders ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The grapevine is n't organized but you and I know it exists says Mr. Carew referring to the often uncannily small world of black professionals and community leaders


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RB very ) ( JJ personal ) ) ( JJ ethnic ) ( NN style ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Carew ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

This is a very personal ethnic style Mr. Carew says


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP want ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ( UCP ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN barber ) ( NNS shops ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN beauty ) ( NNS shops ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG standing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN line ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rib ) ( NNS joints ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBG talking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN show ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

I want people in the barber shops and the beauty shops and standing in line at the rib joints to be talking about the show


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP want ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ white ) ( NNP America ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB talk ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB too ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP 'm ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBN convinced ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN grapevine ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-NOM-PRD ( WHNP-1 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBG happening ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

I want white America to talk about it too but I 'm convinced that the grapevine is what 's happening


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP ABC ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ aware ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN action ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN mailing ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN sent ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN network ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN blessing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

ABC says it is aware of the producers ' action but the mailing was sent without the network 's blessing


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN letter ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN fact ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ takes ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN jab ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP ABC ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG being ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN laggard ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ black ) ( NN programming ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The letter in fact takes a jab at ABC for being a laggard in black programming


( S ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Meanwhile ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NNP Sunday ) ( NN evening ) ( NN show ) ) ( VP ( VBZ struggles ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB stay ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB afloat ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN against ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ tough ) ( NN competition ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-TTL ( NP-TPC-3 ( NN Murder ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN She ) ) ( VP ( VBD Wrote ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN grapevine ) ( NN idea ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG threatening ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB turn ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN weed ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN tactic ) ) ( ADVP ( RB apparently ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN inspired ) ( NP ( NN sample ) ( NNS viewings ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS accolades ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ slow ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG coming ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Meanwhile as the Sunday evening show struggles to stay afloat against the tough competition of Murder She Wrote the grapevine idea is threatening to turn into a weed The tactic apparently has inspired sample viewings but accolades are slow in coming


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Doug ) ( NNP Alligood ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ black ) ( NN advertising ) ( NN executive ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ tracks ) ( NP ( JJ black ) ( VBG viewing ) ( NNS patterns ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ gives ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNPS Carews ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN A ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN marketing ) ( NN moxie ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB alone ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ lukewarm ) ( NN reaction ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Doug Alligood a black advertising executive who tracks black viewing patterns gives the Carews an A for marketing moxie but is n't alone in his lukewarm reaction


( S-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Some ) ( NNS shows ) ) ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB impress ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some shows just do n't impress he says and this is one of them


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NP ( NNP Margaret ) ( NNP Thatcher ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ instinctive ) ( NN response ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN upheaval ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NN government ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S-PRD ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB promise ) ( NP ( NP ( NN business ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( ADJP ( JJ usual ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Margaret Thatcher 's instinctive response to the latest upheaval in her government is to promise business as usual


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ last ) ( NN thing ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( VBZ needs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That may be the last thing she needs