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September 13, 2001 The internet message is to wear red, white, and blue on Friday. I am wearing that today, and will continue to have our flag outside our building at half-mast until Justice is done so we do not forget those that have died, and the brave people who are trying to save lives and protect us. We had over 100 American flags that we have given out, and encourage everyone to display our country’s flag to show we are still standing. See today’s “Day in History” as this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star Spangled Banner.” editor ________________________________________________________________ Headlines—
D&B Changes Ratings for Companies in New York City AIG Issues Preliminary Estimate Losses From Tuesday's Terrorist Attacks Old Kent Appears to Have Closed Down Westar Financial Signs Leasebanc as Fourth Private Label Partner High-tech firms prepare to help after terrorist attacks GE, Honeywell appeal EU decision to block merger Marlin Leasing Raises $7 Million Capital Grown Reader Reaction Terrorist Attack “It
will be brief, mild;
recovery due in
early '02”,
says UCLA report
—USC
Tomorrow?---
#### denotes press release _________________________________________________________ Phil is OK. Kit, I spoke to Marc Dushey, Phil's son this morning. Phil, Marc, and everyone in their office is OK. > David Marks Marketing Director FNF Capital, Inc. (800) 380-0359 x534 ~~ Hi Kit this is Phil Dushey. I have got about 15 calls within the last 2 days to find out if I am okay. My computer is all messed up so I hope you get this email. New York is really crazy now , most of the bridges and tunnels are still closed and only a handful of trains are working The city is pretty much closed down but its amazing how life continues. I will write more when my computer is working. Philip Dushey ~~~~ Old Kent Closed Down??? ( Leasing news had over a dozen e-mails returned from Old Kent readers. Some asked to change their e-mail address, and we asked Susan M. Adamatis to let us know what was happening. editor) For those on a job search: I was recently let go by Old Kent Leasing in Chicago after Old Kent Financial Corporation was acquired by Fifth Third Bank. The leasing division was dissolved and all of us were out of a job. I can tell you that nearly all of the employees including myself found their new positions by Networking. I did not find my position through a recruiting firm, internet, or local classifieds. Call your contacts at other leasing companies, brokers and even vendors. I am actually working for a vendor now managing all of their leasing and working with their sales staff. While I am no longer a lessor, I am still in touch with all the lessors because I now need them for funding. You would be surprised at just how many people you know in the industry when the word gets out that your business has closed. Our country is going through a very tough time economically and emotionally in light of the recent tragedy. Realizing that the last thing people need now is to be unemployed on top of all this, don't let it make you feel you need to drop out of society. There are jobs for leasing professionals out there, they just may not be with a leasing company. Hang in there. Regards, Susan M. Adamatis ( The classified section is in prototype and hopefully will be on line by as early as the end of next week. editor ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dun & Bradstreet Announcement to their Customers IMPCRTANT NOTICE TO OUR VALUED
D&B CUSTOMERS: We share with you the sorrow
and pain we all
feel as a result
of the tragic events
that occurred on
Tuesday. Our thoughts
and prayers especially
go out to those
who lost friends
and family members, D&B is closely monitoring
the recovery from
these tragic events.
We are using our
wide range of resources
and tools to collect
information on businesses
affected. We are
updating our files
on impacted businesses
as we collect the
information, Given
the extent of the
situation, gathering
information will
take time, in the meantime, we are making
the following immediate
changes: For many businesses that were
located in the World
Trade Center Towers
(zip code 10046),
we are suspending
delivery of D&B
predictive scores
immediately. Because
many customers use
these scores in
an automated environment,
this suspension
was put in place
to account for the
possibility of a
change in business
performance before
an automated decision
is reached and relied
upon. If you wish to assess the financial
condition of these
businesses prior
to the events of
Tuesday, September
11, 2001, you are
advised to promptly
check the DSP Business
Information Report
or D&P Comprehensive
Report. Additionally,
DSP is making special
efforts to obtain
and provide updated
information on these
businesses, including
information formally
issued by them, If you are conducting business,
or looking to do
business, with customers
or prospects located
south of 14th Street
in New York City
(zip codes 10002,
10004, 10005, 10006,10007,
10012, 10013, 10014,
10041, 10048, 10038,
10279 and 10281),
please be advised
that we have not
excluded any of
the impacted businesses
from our files.
These businesses
are now being investigated
and on some of our
information reports
you will notice
that “INV’
appears in place
of the D&B Rating. This indicates that DSP is
investigating the
business and will
notify you of the
results, upon your
request. If you
are a current marketing
customer, you may
choose to include
or exclude these
impacted businesses
when you order information
from D&E. We are making these moves to
support both the
information needs
of our customers
and the businesses
that have been impacted
by these tragic
events, Although
this event has significantly
impacted all of
our lives, we will
do our best to do
whatever we can
to help you. As
always, we appreciate
your confidence
in DSP. Please visit the DSP Web site
at www.dnb.com,
or the DSP Customer
Service Center at
l.800.234,3667 for
the latest information. _----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### ############################### ###################### AIG Issues Preliminary Estimate of Losses Resulting From Tuesday's Terrorist Attacks
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- --American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has issued a preliminary estimate of its total expected losses resulting from Tuesday's terrorist attacks. Based on information available at this time, AIG's net pretax losses are expected to approximate $500 million. AIG Chairman M. R. Greenberg said, "We remain intensely focused on providing immediate assistance and relief to those who have suffered losses relating to this enormous national tragedy. Our crisis teams are in place, functioning on a twenty-four hour basis, and they are prepared to process claims. "It is impossible for any company to precisely estimate total losses at this time. Although AIG's property insurance coverage’s on the World Trade Center complex are minor, as the world's largest commercial insurer, we expect to receive claims from many insured across a wide range of coverage’s. These losses will not impact the solid financial condition of AIG, the strongest insurance and financial services company in world." It should be noted that this news release may contain forward-looking statements. AIG refers you to the AIG Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 for a description of the business environment in which AIG operates and important factors that may affect its business. AIG is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligations to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result if new information, future events or otherwise. AIG is the leading U.S.-based international insurance and financial services organization and the largest underwriter of commercial and industrial insurance in the United States. Its member companies write a wide range of commercial, personal and life insurance products through a variety of distribution channels in approximately 130 countries and jurisdictions throughout the world. AIG's global businesses also include financial services and asset management, including aircraft leasing, financial products, trading and market making, consumer financial, institutional, retail and direct investment fund asset management, real estate investment management, and retirement savings products. American International Group, Inc.'s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the stock exchanges in London, Paris, Switzerland and Tokyo. CONTACT: American International Group, Inc. Investment Community Charlene Hamrah, 212/446-3122 News Media Joe Norton, 212/446-3108 ### ################################ ###################### ### #################### ########################## Westar Financial Signs Leasebanc as Fourth Private Label Partner
TUMWATER, Wash. & AUSTIN, Texas- Westar Financial Services Incorporated (OTC:WEST), the leading automobile e-finance company, announced today that it will provide its private label solution to LEASEbanc(TM), an online financial institution providing vehicle leasing. "LEASEbanc is a pioneer in online auto leasing with a complete, customer-friendly solution that is gaining support across the country," said Darcy Huffman of Westar's Strategic Alliance Group. "We view this alliance as an excellent opportunity to expand our Internet based business channel." LEASEbanc is the sole provider of vehicle leasing services for E-loan (Nasdaq:EELN), LendingTree (Nasdaq:TREE), NADAGuides, and DriveHome.com, the Citi/Associates auto finance site (NYSE:C). "Westar's leading-edge decisioning and communications technologies, coupled with its exclusive lease securitization capabilities, provide a unique and complete system to support our growing automotive leasing business," stated Jerry Thompson, CEO of LEASEbanc. "Their unique technology supports a first-rate customer service team, which mirrors our dedication to provide LEASEbanc customers with a high-tech and high-touch experience." "We are delighted that our combination of technology and service meets LEASEbanc's need for quality, efficiency and precision," said R. W. Christensen, Jr., President and CEO of Westar. "LEASEbanc is a nationwide service and extends the geographic penetration of our private label business. We are particularly excited about the opportunities in the Texas market due to recent elimination of certain taxes on leased property." WEST is the leading publicly traded automobile-oriented e-commerce financial portal and ASP. Westar originates, decisions, commits to and fulfills consumer financings for itself or others. Westar completed the first entirely electronic Internet automobile purchase and lease transaction in October 1999. The company operates in the western states and nationally through alliances with AmSouth Bancorporation, Mellon Bank, USAA FSB and others. For more information on Westar visit www.westarfinancial.com. LEASEbanc redefines auto leasing by providing its partners and customers with an end-to-end leasing solution that embraces the emerging trend of online vehicle financing and combines high-tech and high-touch in a unique way to offer a low cost, customer- focused vehicle leasing experience to consumers. For more information on LEASEbanc visit www.leasebanc.com. Statement regarding "Forward Looking Statements": Statements concerning future performance, developments or events, levels, expansion of operations, growth of consumer financial originations, quality of the company's lease portfolio, the ability to place securitizations, success of the e-commerce model, trends in interest rates, overhead expense variations, results of the year-end audit, various statements concerning expectations for growth or profits and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward-looking statements which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which might cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations. CONTACT: Westar Financial Services Incorporated R.W. Christensen, Jr., 360/754-6227 #### ############################# ###################### Excerpts from Thursday’s Equipment Leasing Association Newsletter ELA Extends Sympathies ****************************** ELA wishes to extend its deepest concern, prayers and sympathies to everyone affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Three member companies--Fuji Bank And Trust Company; Thacher, Proffitt & Wood; and The Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Ltd.--were housed in the World Trade Center. We are also aware of people who were visiting the World Trade Center buildings at the time of the attack. We mourn members of our industry and their loved ones, along with all the victims of the attack. We are thankful for the expressions of sympathy we have received from European colleagues and members, members from across the United States, and other associations. God bless America. *********** The E-Leasing Newsletter is SPONSORED by: *********** Ask not what you can do for Quiktrak, but what Quiktrak can do for you! Inspections: Equipment, Collection, Site & Vendor Superior online service: ordering, job status & report transmittal Largest base of qualified inspectors in the U.S. & Canada Only service provider to guarantee an inspector onsite within 24 hours of your order Contact Quiktrak at 800-927-8725 or www.quiktrak.com ELA Calendar ****************************** For more information on the events listed below, or to view ELA's entire calendar, visit the ELA Conference & Training Home Page at http://www.elaonline.com/events/ and click on the links to programs of interest to you. September 19, 2001 UCC Revised Article 9 telephone seminar http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/teleconf/ September 20, 2001 2001 Fundamentals of Credit in the Equipment Leasing & Finance Industry The Westin San Francisco Airport, San Francisco, CA http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/fundcredit/ October 1-3, 2001 Principles of Leasing Workshop Hyatt Regency Woodfield, Schaumburg, IL http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/principles/ October 3-5, 2001 Municipal Leasing Forum La Mansion del Rio, San Antonio, TX http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/municipal/ October 11, 2001 MAEL's 20th Annual Meeting The Metropolitan Club, Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois http://www.mael.org
October 17, 2001 Managing the Leasing Relationship Hilton Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/manage/index.cfm October 28-31, 2001 40th Annual Convention Boca Raton Resort and Spa, Boca Raton, FL http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/annconv/ November 7-8, 2001 2001 Fundamentals of Credit in the Equipment Leasing & Finance Industry Four Points Hotel Chicago O'Hare, Schiller Park, IL http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/fundcredit/ November 13-14, 2001 Annual Investors Conference The Westin Copley Place Hotel, Boston, MA http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/investor/ CONVENTION DEADLINE APPROACHING! ****************************** SEPTEMBER 24 is the deadline for being included on the pre-registration list--Get Going Now! "When the Going Gets Tough..." ELA 40th Annual Convention October 28-30 Boca Raton Resort & Club Business is waiting for you in Boca, and we can prove it! Just check out the Convention Attendee "Lite" list at http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/AnnConv/attendees.cfm, containing the names of everyone currently registered for the convention. These people are all headed for the leasing industry¹s premier networking and informational event. Is your name there? If not, Get Going and register TODAY for the ELA 40th Annual Convention. Registrations received by September 24 will be included in the pre-registration list, which includes full contact information and will be available ONLY to those individuals who are registered for the convention. Remember, "When the Going Gets Tough"...the Tough Don't Stay Home! Complete convention information, including an important update on Hotel Accommodations, is now available online at http://www.elaonline.com/events/2001/AnnConv/ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ GE, Honeywell appeal EU decision to block merger ASSOCIATED PRESS STAMFORD, Conn. -- General Electric Co. and Honeywell International Inc. filed appeals yesterday of the European Union's decision to block their $41 billion merger. The EU announced July 3 it was blocking the GE-Honeywell agreement, the first time it ever bore sole responsibility for stopping an all-American deal. The appeals were filed with the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg. "We believe there were errors of substance and procedure," said Gary Sheffer, a GE spokesman. "It is intended to overturn the decision based on these errors." But a decision on the appeal could take years, so even a successful appeal would be too late for the merger to go forward, Sheffer said. "We believe that it's not feasible for the appeal to be decided in time for completion of the merger," Sheffer said. GE wants to refute the commission's finding that the company has a dominant position in the jet engine market. That ruling, if allowed to stand, could make it difficult for GE to make future acquisitions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------### ################################ ################ MARLIN LEASING RAISES $7 MILLION OF GROWTH CAPITAL MOUNT LAUREL, NJ – Marlin Leasing Corp., announces that Wachovia Capital Associates has invested $7 million of equity into the company. "This latest fund raising effort strengthens Marlin’s standing as a leading provider of small-ticket lease financing," says Daniel P. Dyer, Marlin Leasing’s CEO. "Proceeds will be used to further expand our growing nationwide tele-sales presence." About Marlin Leasing: With over 40,000 customers, Marlin Leasing provides creative funding programs to vendors and end-users nationwide. Today they employ over 150 individuals in three locations: Mount Laurel, NJ, Denver, CO and Atlanta, GA. For more information, call Marlin Leasing’s corporate headquarters at 1-888-479-9111, or visit their web site at www.marlinleasing.com. About Wachovia Capital Associates: Wachovia Capital Investments is a private equity affiliate of Wachovia Bank N.A., a subsidiary of Wachovia Corporation. Wachovia Capital Associates provides growth capital into established, profitable companies in the business services, financial services communications and specialized manufacturing industries. Wachovia Corporation, with dual headquarters in Atlanta and Winston-Salem, N.C., is a leading financial services company serving regional, national and international markets. Wachovia has assets of $70 billion, ranking 14th among bank holding companies in the nation. Sites of Reference: ( courtesy of ELAonline.com ) #### ############################ ##################-
__________________________________________________________________ It will be brief, mild; recovery due in early '02, says UCLA By Thomas Kupper UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER The recession Americans have feared for nearly a year is now under way and will probably last until the beginning of 2002, according to a widely followed forecast released yesterday. But the UCLA Anderson Forecast, which foresaw a mild recession for 2001 nearly a year ago, continued to say the downturn would be relatively brief and mild -- even factoring in the impact of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. "The recession forecast has a couple of negative quarters to round out this year," Anderson Forecast director Edward E. Leamer said. "A recovery begins in the first quarter of next year and is in full swing by midyear." The forecast comes as the U.S. economy teeters on the edge of recession by nearly any reference, including the most common one: consecutive quarters of negative growth. Gross domestic product grew just 0.2 percent in the quarter through June. Leamer said the question of whether growth actually turned negative is less significant than the trend. He said other data, notably for manufacturing and employment, are following a classic recessionary pattern. "There has never been this kind of decline in capacity utilization in manufacturing that hasn't been labeled a recession," Leamer said. "The rise in unemployment isn't decisive yet, but it is getting very close." UCLA forecast that the GDP number also will be negative when data for the third quarter are calculated. The economists predicted GDP will fall 1 percent in the third quarter and 1.1 percent in the fourth. UCLA previously had forecast that GDP would turn negative in the second quarter, but the economists narrowly missed the mark. The forecasters listed several reasons to think the national recession will be short. They include a shift in the economy away from the volatile manufacturing sector, better management of inventories and a less pronounced boom-and-bust cycle in housing than in previous recessions. They said it is less clear that California is in a recession at this point, though they predicted it will be soon. Growth rates in many service industries have fallen close to zero, and UCLA predicted that the state will lose jobs during the current quarter. However, the forecasters said the situation remains more promising for San Diego County than for the rest of the state. The region continues to add jobs, unlike Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, and its office vacancy rate of 7.4 percent is the lowest in the state. They also said the problems confronting the state's economy have changed. "This forecast sees greater weakness from the national recession and the global slump but less coming from the electricity situation," UCLA economist Tom Lieser said. "That latter problem is in the process of being converted from a short-term crisis into a longer-term vexation."
( We are looking for USC’s rebuttal. editor ) __________________________________________________________ Reader Reaction Terrorist Attack I have never written in before, but I find it hard to believe anyone was unappreciative of the amount of information you imparted to all of us yesterday. You and a 6 inch black & white TV were our main source of information throughout yesterday. It was a day that turned us all into information junkies to help us cope with our sense of sorrow, shock, mourning, & rage. I personally was glad you were there for us yesterday, and I pray for all those missing loved ones, and those, like you, whose children will be part of our reaction. I find myself loving my family a little more today. Thank you, Soni Levy J.G. Capital Corp. ~~~ If you lost subscribers because of what you were trying to do yesterday then good riddance. They are obviously more concerned about their own situation than what is going on in the world around them. Keep them off your list. ( name with held at our request, he wanted us to use his name. ( Leasing News policy is to inform and educate. We print all sides and invite all sides, whether we agree or don’t agree is not our role. We are here to inform. When we lose a reader, we lessen our ability. We are trying to build our readership. We do not charge, nor do we intend to charge, and also to be as accurate and fair as possible, there is no sponsorship, banners, or advertising. We also support all equipment leasing associations and attempt to promote their membership and events. editor )
~~~ Hal has a tremendous power point presentation on the series of events. We don’t send downloads or attachments, but if you contact he or I, one of us will send it to you as an attachment Hal T. Horowitz Search West 340 North Westlake Blvd., Suite 200 Westlake Village, CA 91362 Pho: 805-496-6811 ext. 231 Fax: 805-496-9431 Pager: 818-318-9900 hal.horowitz@searchwest.com http://horowitz.searchwest.com It is my mission to collaborate with my clients in order to further their success by identifying professionals of uncommon ability to whom my clients might not otherwise have access and who will make a valuable contribution to my clients' goals. ~~~ Let us pray for those that have died and suffered in this terrible tragedy, and keep our sons and daughter in the military out of harms' way. Kit Menkin
~~~ Concur with you...further not forget the thousands of American lives lost to protect Americans' freedoms by apathy, inaction, passive rhetoric, and political desk pounding. This country was born on the courage and blood of Americans defending its shores and its way of life...and we must do that now. War is called for here...notwithstanding the fact that no one especially fathers of sons and daughters (like me) want them in harms way...but this godless cowardice must be revenged. John Manalli ~~~~ Art and Mohammed I was born and raised in NYC (I have lived in Phoenix for 25 years now(and was a police officer there in my younger days). I watched the WTC being built as a teenager. You would take dates to the Jersey side and see the clouds descend over many of the top floors. Quite a sight. NYC will recover better than most expect.2 of my best friends, one a NYC Fire Lieut. (best man at my wedding),another a Fire Capt (friends since grammar school) were there yesterday. I was very glad to hear they were safe today. Unfortunately, word is we may have lost another good friend and firefighter from our youth along with many other fine men, women and lovely children of all races and creeds. I grieve their loss. We must punish those responsible fully and with the fearsome, righteous wrath of the American people but we must also not let this tragedy change our nation's core principles. Guard your Constitution and it's Bill of Rights at this terrible time. There are those who would propose easy, knee jerk solutions. James Madison wrote "Those who exchange their liberty for security, deserve neither and will soon lose both.” Lastly, I started a deal last week with someone named Mohammed from Long Island, NY. Today we are still working that deal. Mohammed and I spoke this am and spent a few moments comforting each other over yesterday's events. He is still Mohammed and I am still Art. Then we got down to business as 2 people trying to better the lives of their family and community by working together because that is the American way. We can offer no better tribute to the victims and show these animals who did this that we are better than them and we will not be cowed into fearfulness nor forced to change our way of life. art ohagan ____________________________________________ Russian Support I am forwarding this to you as you may want to print this in Leasing News. As you may remember I participated in training a group of leasing professionals from Russia this past spring. I stay in touch with them via e-mail. This one was from St. Petersburg. I took a particular liking to these folks. While it's not conclusive evidence I think it supports the fact that, for once, the US has the sympathy of much of the world that probably would not have been that sympathetic in years past. š Bob Rodi President LeaseNOW, Inc. drlease@leasenow.com <mailto:drlease@leasenow.com> www.leasenow.com <http://www.leasenow.com> 1-800-321-LEAS (5327)x 101 -----Original Message----- From: Tanya Pozdnyakova [mailto:tania-inc@peterlink.ru] Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 2:06 PM To: Rodi Robert N. Subject: From Saint-Petersburg! Dear Robert! We are very, very sorry to hear about this tragedy in your country. It is an outrage and we cannot put into words our feelings about it. We are - Tanya, Sergey, Mikle are very worried about you. This tragedy in your country hurt us very, very much. We are thinking about you and very worried. We can not believe in it. The part of out heart with you and with your country... We hope that you and your family in safety. Please, when you will have opportunity, let us to know how are you.... Sincerely Tanya, Sergey, Mikle Your friends from Saint-Petersburg -------------------------------------- Canadian Support We printed this in yesterday’s Leasing News. We were told in one e-mail it was ten years old, another from a Congressional record, another a radio commentator, and another a newspaper article. We have received it back over two or three dozen times, perhaps to include us and acknowledge we have printed it. Perhaps it has gotten mixed up in all the transmissions, but since so many people have sent it to us, perhaps they overlooked it yesterday, so we again publish it for all: America: The Good Neighbor. Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record: "This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States. When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it. When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped. The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans. I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times - and safely home again. You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at . Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here. When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those." Stand proud, America! Wear it proudly!! ~~~~ Just an FYI, this was forwarded to me earlier today: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14 "Flags Across America" With hope that Manhattan is covered in flags so that every bit of film footage shows our red, white, and blue; and to show those terrorists that we Americans stick together, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14 is "Flags Across America." All Americans are asked to display the American flag either in their homes or cars. Let's keep the meaning of UNITED in "United States". Pass this onto as many people as you know. THANK YOU. Shari L. Lipski, CLP Marketing Manager Edwin C. Sigel, Ltd. slipski@edwinsigel.com 800-826-7070 ext. 111 847-291-1190 Fax _______________________________________________________ Rachelle from Pennsylvania This morning I took the long way into work. I live outside of Philadelphia on the edge of Valley Forge National Park. I stopped for gas, read the posters for a prayer vigil, no price gauging here, and maneuvered into the long line of traffic that always seems bogged down. Like the rest of the country my radio is tuned to the news channel. As I approached the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation, I heard Mayor Guiliani of NY had requested six thousand body bags and the tears rolled down my cheeks. My children live near by. My son, Josh is a college counselor. My daughter, Dana, is a sixth grade teacher at the Millennium Charter School in West Chester, PA. Yesterday I spoke with Dana. Her class was very low key. Her "kids" needed to feel useful (my word). They spent a great deal of the day making cards, writing letters of hope and condolence to unknown families, so much like their own. They decided to make friendship pins, sell them, and make a difference. I feel great pride and hope. Our children, they are the future. The American Flag flies over the Freedom Foundation. The roaming deer, usually an annoyance, are a striking contrast to our world today. Friends, Family, America, be safe. Rachelle Rachelle Gansky rachellekg@earthlink.net ~~~~ Tuesday - 2 American, 2 United To BE American is to BE United. Let us continue strong in our resolve make this the last such horror as we pray for the victims, their families and for those in our Military and Law Enforcement who are called to preserve our Liberty. Executive Solutions for Leasing and Finance, Inc. Terry Waggoner 5555 Holly Ridge Drive Camarillo, CA. 93012 Phone: 805.383.8922 Fax: 209.821.7252 Email: terrywaggoner@exsolutions.com Web Page: http://www.exsolutions.com ~~~ don't panic... Darren A. Gardner, CLP ALLIANCE CAPITAL CORPORATION "Specializing in Equipment Financing" Charlotte * Los Angeles * New York * Phoenix 480-443-0002 ext. 211 * www.alliancecap.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- High-tech firms prepare to help after terrorist attacks By Michael Liedtke ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN FRANCISCO – As rescue workers sifted through the rubble of the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Wednesday, major high-tech companies prepared to help restore the computing systems demolished in the terrorist attacks. As they reached out to shell-shocked businesses and government agencies, most of the high-tech giants said it's still too early to know how much work lies ahead. "We don't know if there is going to be heavy demand or moderate demand. We just know there is going to be more demand," said Steve Swasey, a spokesman for PeopleSoft Inc., a maker of business software that had several customers in the World Trade Center. SAP North America, which provided business software in both the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, "is ready to do whatever we can," said spokesman Bill Wohl. "We want to help, but we have to give our customers time that they need to deal with their personal losses." One of the biggest unknowns in the tragedy is how much of the lost data was backed up in centers located in other parts of the country. The scores of financial services firms with offices in the World Trade Center undoubtedly had backup systems that copied data every day, if not every few moments, so customer records should be secure, said Gartner Group analyst David Schehr. Many other companies and other government agencies probably weren't so careful and those oversights will cause some daunting problems once they try to get back to business, analysts predicted. "Some companies are going to learn where they had holes in their (backup) systems and it could be painful," warned Joshua Greenbaum, a technology industry analyst with Enterprise Applications Consulting in Daly City. To help customers recover data and replace systems, Round Rock, Texas-based Dell Computer Corp. dispatched workers to New York and Washington D.C. for technical support, said spokesman Mike Maher. Like most tech companies, Dell also offers assistance over its 24-hour customer support lines. Most big companies have developed disaster recovery plans for times like these, according to technology industry representatives. Deprived of their offices, many companies initially will set up temporary locations in so-called "hot" sites equipped with computers, Internet access and other essential office equipment. Even if the companies have good disaster recovery programs, they probably will need some assistance from the tech companies that make the hardware and software that run their computing systems, analysts said. "What we're doing specifically is looking at what resources they need – maybe some additional technical resources or access to equipment or parts or things of that nature," said Kevin Coyne, director of enterprise services for Sun Microsystems Inc., a Palo Alto-based maker of computer networking equipment. In the months ahead, many high-tech companies also will be flooded with orders for new equipment and software from customers that must replace lost personal computers, networking equipment and printers. Some tech firms already are reviewing customer records to anticipate what might need to be replaced. As businesses reassemble their computing systems, it's even more likely they will buy hardware and software designed to run their critical operations on the Internet, analysts predicted. By targeting two of the world's biggest complexes, Tuesday's attacks served as "a sad and depressing affirmation of the Internet business model," Greenbaum said. Rather than concentrate their workers and precious data in such visible locations, more businesses will probably make it easier for employees to do their jobs online so employees can work from just about anywhere. "Companies are going to have become more decentralized," Schehr said. "If what happened (Tuesday) is a harbinger of the future, maybe more workers are going to want to work in Ottumwa, Iowa, than New York."
***** 1814, Francis Scott Key was aboard a ship that was delayed in Baltimore harbor by the British unsuccessful bombardment on Fort Henry Key, and he had not choice but to anxiously watch the battle. That experience and seeing the American flag still flag over the fort the next morning inspired him to pen the verses that coupled with the tune of a British musician’s popular drinking song, “Anacreon in Heaven,” became our official national anthem in 1931, 117 years after the words were written. The commander of the Fort knew the British would be attacking and had a second flag made by Betsy Ross that was ten times the size of the fort’s flag so it could be seen from far away as a sign of defiance to the British and to show the people of the land the resolve not to surrender the fort.
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