The price cut one analyst said appeared to be aimed even more at Europe where consumption of Brazilian juice has fallen

( S-2 ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT The ) ( NN price ) ( NN cut ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD one ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD appeared ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN aimed ) ( ADVP ( RB even ) ( RBR more ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-4 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN consumption ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ Brazilian ) ( NN juice ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN fallen ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


It 's a dollar-priced product and the strong dollar has made it more expensive in Europe the analyst said

( S ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ dollar-priced ) ( NN product ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ strong ) ( NN dollar ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBR more ) ( JJ expensive ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )


New York futures prices have dropped significantly from more than 2 a pound at midyear

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNS futures ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN dropped ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB significantly ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 2 ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN pound ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NN midyear ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Barring a cold snap or other crop problems in the growing areas downward pressure on prices is likely to continue into January when harvesting and processing of oranges in Florida reach their peak the analyst said

( S ( S-TPC-2 ( PP ( VBG Barring ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ cold ) ( NN snap ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NN crop ) ( NNS problems ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN growing ) ( NNS areas ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ downward ) ( NN pressure ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNS prices ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ likely ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP January ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN harvesting ) ( CC and ) ( NN processing ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS oranges ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Florida ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP reach ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN peak ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )


Energy


Although some analysts look for profit-taking in the wake of Friday 's leap in crude oil prices last week 's rally is generally expected to continue this week

( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN Although ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT some ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP look ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN profit-taking ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN wake ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Friday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN leap ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ crude ) ( NN oil ) ( NNS prices ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN rally ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB generally ) ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


I would continue to look for a stable crude market at least in futures trading said William Hinton an energy futures broker with Stotler & Co

( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB look ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ stable ) ( NN crude ) ( NN market ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS futures ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP William ) ( NNP Hinton ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN energy ) ( NNS futures ) ( NN broker ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Stotler ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co ) ) ) ) ) )


Friday capped a week of steadily rising crude oil prices in both futures and spot markets

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Friday ) ) ( VP ( VBD capped ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN week ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB steadily ) ( VBG rising ) ) ( JJ crude ) ( NN oil ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( CC both ) ( NNS futures ) ( CC and ) ( NN spot ) ( NNS markets ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


On the New York Mercantile Exchange West Texas Intermediate crude for November delivery finished at 20.89 a barrel up 42 cents on the day

( S ( PP-LOC ( IN On ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Mercantile ) ( NNP Exchange ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP West ) ( NNP Texas ) ( NNP Intermediate ) ( NN crude ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP November ) ( NN delivery ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD finished ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 20.89 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN barrel ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 42 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN day ) ) ) ) ) )


On European markets meanwhile spot prices of North Sea crudes were up 35 to 75 cents a barrel

( S ( PP-LOC ( IN On ) ( NP ( JJ European ) ( NNS markets ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB meanwhile ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN spot ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP North ) ( NNP Sea ) ( NNS crudes ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 35 ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 75 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN barrel ) ) ) ) ) ) )


This market still wants to go higher said Nauman Barakat a first vice president at Shearson Lehman Hutton Inc

( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT This ) ( NN market ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBZ wants ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RBR higher ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Nauman ) ( NNP Barakat ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ first ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Shearson ) ( NNP Lehman ) ( NNP Hutton ) ( NNP Inc ) ) ) ) ) )


He predicted that the November contract will reach 21.50 a barrel or more on the New York Mercantile Exchange

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD predicted ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP November ) ( NN contract ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB reach ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 21.50 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN barrel ) ) ( QP-1 ( CC or ) ( JJR more ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Mercantile ) ( NNP Exchange ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


There has been little news to account for such buoyancy in the oil markets

( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX There ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ little ) ( NN news ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB account ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ such ) ( NN buoyancy ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN oil ) ( NNS markets ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Analysts generally cite a lack of bearish developments as well as rumors of a possible tightening of supplies of some fuels and crudes

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( ADVP ( RB generally ) ) ( VP ( VBP cite ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lack ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ bearish ) ( NNS developments ) ) ) ) ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS rumors ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ possible ) ( NN tightening ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS supplies ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NNS fuels ) ( CC and ) ( NNS crudes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


There also are recurring reports that the Soviet Union is having difficulties with its oil exports and that Nigeria has about reached its production limit and ca n't produce as much as it could sell

( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX There ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( VBG recurring ) ( NNS reports ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Soviet ) ( NNP Union ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG having ) ( NP ( NNS difficulties ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN oil ) ( NNS exports ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Nigeria ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB about ) ) ( VBN reached ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN production ) ( NN limit ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB produce ) ( NP ( NP ( RB as ) ( JJ much ) ) ( SBAR ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Many traders foresee a tightening of near-term supplies particularly of high-quality crudes such as those produced in the North Sea and in Nigeria

( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Many ) ( NNS traders ) ) ( VP ( VBP foresee ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN tightening ) ) ( PP ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ near-term ) ( NNS supplies ) ) ) ( PP ( ADVP ( RB particularly ) ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ high-quality ) ( NNS crudes ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT those ) ) ( VP ( VBN produced ) ( PP-LOC ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP North ) ( NNP Sea ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Nigeria ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The following issues were recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( JJ following ) ( NNS issues ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB recently ) ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Securities ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Exchange ) ( NNP Commission ) ) ) ) ) )


American Cyanamid Co. offering of 1,250,000 common shares via Merrill Lynch Capital Markets

( NP ( NP ( NNP American ) ( NNP Cyanamid ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN offering ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 1,250,000 ) ( JJ common ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ( PP ( IN via ) ( NP ( NNP Merrill ) ( NNP Lynch ) ( NNP Capital ) ( NNP Markets ) ) ) ) )


Limited Inc. offering of up to 300 million of debt securities and warrants

( NP ( NP ( NNP Limited ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN offering ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN up ) ( TO to ) ( CD 300 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN debt ) ( NNS securities ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNS warrants ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Nuveen California Performance Plus Municipal Fund Inc. initial offering of five million common shares via Alex Brown & Sons Inc. John Nuveen & Co. Prudential-Bache Capital Funding and Bateman Eichler Hill Richards

( NP ( NP ( NNP Nuveen ) ( NNP California ) ( NNP Performance ) ( NNP Plus ) ( NNP Municipal ) ( NNP Fund ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ initial ) ( NN offering ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD five ) ( CD million ) ) ( JJ common ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ( PP ( IN via ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Alex ) ( NNP Brown ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Sons ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NNP John ) ( NNP Nuveen ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( NP ( NNP Prudential-Bache ) ( NNP Capital ) ( NNP Funding ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Bateman ) ( NNP Eichler ) ( NNP Hill ) ( NNP Richards ) ) ) ) ) )


PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. proposed offering of 1.5 million common shares of which 700,000 shares will be offered by PacifiCare and 800,000 shares by UniHealth America Inc PacifiCare 's 71 % via Dillon Read & Co. Inc. Goldman Sachs & Co. and Dean Witter Reynolds Inc

( NP ( NP ( NNP PacifiCare ) ( NNP Health ) ( NNP Systems ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( VBN proposed ) ( NN offering ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ( JJ common ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-2 ( IN of ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( CD 700,000 ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN offered ) ( PP-3 ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP PacifiCare ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ=1 ( NP ( CD 800,000 ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ( PP=3 ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP UniHealth ) ( NNP America ) ( NNP Inc ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NNP PacifiCare ) ( POS 's ) ) ( CD 71 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN via ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Dillon ) ( NNP Read ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NNP Goldman ) ( NNP Sachs ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Dean ) ( NNP Witter ) ( NNP Reynolds ) ( NNP Inc ) ) ) ) ) )


Pricor Inc. offering of one million new shares of common stock and 300,000 shares by holders via Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. and J.C. Bradford & Co

( NP ( NP ( NNP Pricor ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN offering ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD one ) ( CD million ) ) ( JJ new ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ common ) ( NN stock ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 300,000 ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NNS holders ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN via ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Drexel ) ( NNP Burnham ) ( NNP Lambert ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP J.C. ) ( NNP Bradford ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co ) ) ) ) ) )


Trans World Airlines Inc. offering of 150 million senior notes via Drexel Burnham

( NP ( NP ( NNP Trans ) ( NNP World ) ( NNP Airlines ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN offering ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 150 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NP ( JJ senior ) ( NNS notes ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN via ) ( NP ( NNP Drexel ) ( NNP Burnham ) ) ) ) )


CONCORDE trans-Atlantic flights are 2,400 to Paris and 3,200 to London

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP CONCORDE ) ( JJ trans-Atlantic ) ( NNS flights ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( CD 2,400 ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Paris ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 3,200 ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP London ) ) ) ) ) ) )


In a Centennial Journal article Oct. 5 the fares were reversed

( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Centennial ) ( NNP Journal ) ( NN article ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 5 ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNS fares ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN reversed ) ) ) )


Tandem Computers Inc. preparing to fight with International Business Machines Corp. for a piece of the mainframe business said it expects to post higher revenue and earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 30

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Tandem ) ( NNP Computers ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG preparing ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fight ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP International ) ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Machines ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN piece ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ mainframe ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB post ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NN revenue ) ( CC and ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ fiscal ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( VP ( VBD ended ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Sept. ) ( CD 30 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Tandem said it expects to report revenue of about 450 million and earnings of 35 cents to 40 cents a share

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Tandem ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 450 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 35 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 40 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The results which are in line with analysts ' estimates reflect a continued improvement in our U.S. business said James Treybig Tandem 's chief executive officer

( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS results ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN line ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS analysts ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP reflect ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ continued ) ( NN improvement ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NNP Treybig ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Tandem ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ chief ) ( JJ executive ) ( NN officer ) ) ) )


In the year-earlier period Tandem reported net income of 30.1 million or 31 cents a share on revenue of 383.9 million

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NN period ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Tandem ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 30.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 31 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 383.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Tandem expects to report the full results for the quarter next week

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Tandem ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ full ) ( NNS results ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( IN next ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Analysts have predicted that the Cupertino Calif. company will report revenue of 430 million to 460 million and earnings of 35 cents to 40 cents a share

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN predicted ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Cupertino ) ( NNP Calif. ) ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 430 ) ( CD million ) ( TO to ) ( CD 460 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 35 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 40 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Commenting on the results for the quarter Mr. Treybig said the strength of the company 's domestic business came as a surprise to him noting that sales in every region of the U.S. exceeded our plan

( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG Commenting ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS results ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Treybig ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN strength ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ domestic ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD came ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN surprise ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG noting ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT every ) ( NN region ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD exceeded ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NN plan ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The company 's U.S. performance was helped by a record quarter for new customers he said

( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN performance ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN helped ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ record ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NNS customers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )


Tandem makes fault-tolerant computers machines with built-in backup systems that run stock exchanges networks of automatic tellers and other complex computer systems

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Tandem ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ fault-tolerant ) ( NNS computers ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NP ( NNS machines ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ built-in ) ( JJ backup ) ( NNS systems ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP run ) ( NP ( NP ( NN stock ) ( NNS exchanges ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS networks ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ automatic ) ( NNS tellers ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( JJ complex ) ( NN computer ) ( NNS systems ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Tomorrow the company is scheduled to announce its most powerful computer ever which for the first time will bring it into direct competition with makers of mainframe computers

( S ( NP-TMP ( NN Tomorrow ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN scheduled ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB announce ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( ADJP ( JJS most ) ( JJ powerful ) ) ( NN computer ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ever ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( NN time ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB bring ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ direct ) ( NN competition ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS makers ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ mainframe ) ( NNS computers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Tandem 's new high-end computer is called Cyclone

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Tandem ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ new ) ( JJ high-end ) ( NN computer ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN called ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Cyclone ) ) ) ) ) )


Prices for the machine which can come in various configurations are 2 million to 10 million

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Prices ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN machine ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB come ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ various ) ( NNS configurations ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( QP ( CD 2 ) ( CD million ) ( TO to ) ( CD 10 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) )


Analysts expect the new computer to wrest a hefty slice of business away from IBM the longtime leader in mainframes

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ new ) ( NN computer ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB wrest ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ hefty ) ( NN slice ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB away ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP IBM ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ longtime ) ( NN leader ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS mainframes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


We believe they could siphon perhaps two to three billion dollars from IBM over the next few years said George Weiss an analyst at the Gartner group

( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP believe ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB siphon ) ( NP ( QP ( RB perhaps ) ( CD two ) ( TO to ) ( CD three ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NNS dollars ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP IBM ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN over ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ next ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP George ) ( NNP Weiss ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJR Gartner ) ( NN group ) ) ) ) ) )


That will spur Tandem 's growth

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB spur ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Tandem ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN growth ) ) ) ) )


I 'd be disappointed if the company grew by less than 20 % next year said John Levinson an analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co

( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( MD 'd ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ disappointed ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD grew ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR less ) ( IN than ) ( CD 20 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ next ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP John ) ( NNP Levinson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Goldman ) ( NNP Sachs ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co ) ) ) ) ) )


IBM is expected to respond to Tandem 's Cyclone by discounting its own mainframes which analysts say are roughly three times the price of a comparable system from Tandem

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP IBM ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB respond ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Tandem ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NP ( NNP Cyclone ) ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG discounting ) ( NP ( NP-TPC-3 ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ own ) ( NNS mainframes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( QP ( RB roughly ) ( CD three ) ( NNS times ) ) ( DT the ) ( NN price ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ comparable ) ( NN system ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP Tandem ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Obviously IBM can give bigger discounts to users immediately said Mr. Weiss

( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( ADVP ( RB Obviously ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP IBM ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB give ) ( NP ( JJR bigger ) ( NNS discounts ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS users ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB immediately ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Weiss ) ) )


But Mr. Treybig questions whether that will be enough to stop Tandem 's first mainframe from taking on some of the functions that large organizations previously sought from Big Blue 's machines

( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Treybig ) ) ( VP ( NNS questions ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ enough ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB stop ) ( NP-2 ( NP ( NNP Tandem ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ first ) ( NN mainframe ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG taking ) ( PRT ( RP on ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS functions ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ large ) ( NNS organizations ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB previously ) ) ( VP ( VBD sought ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Big ) ( NNP Blue ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS machines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The answer is n't price reductions but new systems he said

( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN answer ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN price ) ( NNS reductions ) ) ( CC but ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NNS systems ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )


Nevertheless Tandem faces a variety of challenges the biggest being that customers generally view the company 's computers as complementary to IBM 's mainframes

( S ( ADVP ( RB Nevertheless ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Tandem ) ) ( VP ( VBZ faces ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN variety ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS challenges ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJS biggest ) ) ( VP ( NN being ) ( SBAR-PRD ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS customers ) ) ( ADVP ( RB generally ) ) ( VP ( VBP view ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS computers ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( ADJP ( JJ complementary ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP IBM ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS mainframes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Even Mr. Treybig is reluctant to abandon this notion insisting that Tandem 's new machines are n't replacements for IBM 's mainframes

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( RB Even ) ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Treybig ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ reluctant ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB abandon ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN notion ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG insisting ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Tandem ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ new ) ( NNS machines ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NNS replacements ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP IBM ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS mainframes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


We 're after a little bigger niche he said

( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( PP-PRD ( IN after ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( JJ little ) ( JJR bigger ) ) ( NN niche ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )


Inland Steel Industries Inc. expects to report that third-quarter earnings dropped more than 50 % from the previous quarter as a result of reduced sales volume and increased costs

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Inland ) ( NNP Steel ) ( NNP Industries ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBD dropped ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 50 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ previous ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN result ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ reduced ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN volume ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ increased ) ( NNS costs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


In the second quarter the steelmaker had net income of 45.3 million or 1.25 a share including a pretax charge of 17 million related to the settlement of a suit on sales of 1.11 billion

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ second ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN steelmaker ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 45.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.25 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ pretax ) ( NN charge ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 17 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( ADJP ( VBN related ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN settlement ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN suit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 1.11 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The company said normal seasonal softness and lost orders caused by prolonged labor talks reduced shipments by 200,000 tons in the latest quarter compared with the second quarter

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ normal ) ( JJ seasonal ) ( NN softness ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ lost ) ( NNS orders ) ) ( VP ( VBN caused ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJ prolonged ) ( NN labor ) ( NNS talks ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD reduced ) ( NP ( NNS shipments ) ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( CD 200,000 ) ( NNS tons ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ second ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


At the same time the integrated-steel business was hurt by continued increases in materials costs and repair and maintenance expenses as well as higher labor costs under its new contract

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN At ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ same ) ( NN time ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN integrated-steel ) ( NN business ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN hurt ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NP ( JJ continued ) ( NNS increases ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS materials ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN repair ) ( CC and ) ( NN maintenance ) ( NNS expenses ) ) ) ) ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NN labor ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ new ) ( NN contract ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The service-center business was hurt by reduced margins and start-up costs associated with its Joseph T. Ryerson & Son unit

( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT The ) ( NN service-center ) ( NN business ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN hurt ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( JJ reduced ) ( NNS margins ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ start-up ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( ADJP ( VBN associated ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Joseph ) ( NNP T. ) ( NNP Ryerson ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Son ) ( NN unit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The company said it is beginning to see some shipping-rate improvements in both the intergrated-steel and steel-service-center segments which should result in improved results for the fourth quarter

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG beginning ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB see ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( JJ shipping-rate ) ( NNS improvements ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( CC both ) ( DT the ) ( NN intergrated-steel ) ( CC and ) ( NN steel-service-center ) ( NNS segments ) ) ) ( SBAR-3 ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB result ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ improved ) ( NNS results ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Inland said its third-quarter results will be announced later this week

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Inland ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NNS results ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN announced ) ( NP-TMP ( RB later ) ( DT this ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


In the year-earlier third quarter when the industry was in the midst of a boom the company had net of 61 million or 1.70 a share on sales of 1.02 billion

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-earlier ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN midst ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN boom ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( NN net ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 61 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.70 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.02 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Honeywell Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. received Air Force contracts to develop integrated circuits for use in space

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Honeywell ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP International ) ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Machines ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Air ) ( NNP Force ) ( NNS contracts ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB develop ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ integrated ) ( NNS circuits ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN use ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN space ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Honeywell 's contract totaled 69.7 million and IBM 's 68.8 million

( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Honeywell ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN contract ) ) ( VP ( VBD totaled ) ( NP-2 ( QP ( CD 69.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ=1 ( NNP IBM ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NP=2 ( QP ( CD 68.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) )


Boeing Co. received a 46.7 million Air Force contract for developing cable systems for the Minuteman Missile

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Boeing ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 46.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NNP Air ) ( NNP Force ) ( NN contract ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG developing ) ( NP ( NP ( NN cable ) ( NNS systems ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Minuteman ) ( NNP Missile ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


General Dynamics Corp. received a 29 million Air Force contract for electronic-warfare training sets

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP General ) ( NNP Dynamics ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 29 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NNP Air ) ( NNP Force ) ( NN contract ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN electronic-warfare ) ( NN training ) ( NNS sets ) ) ) ) ) )


Grumman Corp. received an 18.1 million Navy contract to upgrade aircraft electronics

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Grumman ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 18.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NNP Navy ) ( NN contract ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB upgrade ) ( NP ( NN aircraft ) ( NNS electronics ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Avco Corp. received an 11.8 million Army contract for helicopter engines

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Avco ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 11.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NNP Army ) ( NN contract ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN helicopter ) ( NNS engines ) ) ) ) ) )


Of all the ethnic tensions in America which is the most troublesome right now

( SBARQ ( PP-TPC-2 ( IN Of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ( DT the ) ( JJ ethnic ) ( NNS tensions ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP America ) ) ) ) ) ( WHNP-1 ( NP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( SQ ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ troublesome ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB right ) ( RB now ) ) ) ) )


A good bet would be the tension between blacks and Jews in New York City

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( JJ good ) ( NN bet ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN tension ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NNPS blacks ) ( CC and ) ( NNPS Jews ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP City ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Or so it must seem to Jackie Mason the veteran Jewish comedian appearing in a new ABC sitcom airing on Tuesday nights 9:30-10 p.m. EDT

( S ( CC Or ) ( ADVP-PRD-TPC-1 ( IN so ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD must ) ( VP ( VB seem ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Jackie ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ veteran ) ( JJ Jewish ) ( NN comedian ) ) ( VP ( VBG appearing ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NNP ABC ) ( NN sitcom ) ) ( VP ( NN airing ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Tuesday ) ) ( NNS nights ) ) ) ( PRN ( NP-TMP ( CD 9:30-10 ) ( RB p.m. ) ( NNP EDT ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Not only is Mr. Mason the star of Chicken Soup he 's also the inheritor of a comedic tradition dating back to Duck Soup and he 's currently a man in hot water

( S ( ADVP ( RB Not ) ( RB only ) ) ( SINV ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( NP-PRD-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN star ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Chicken ) ( NNP Soup ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN inheritor ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ comedic ) ( NN tradition ) ) ( VP ( VBG dating ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB back ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Duck ) ( NNP Soup ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB currently ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN man ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ hot ) ( NN water ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Here in neutral language is the gist of Mr. Mason 's remarks quoted first in the Village Voice while he was a paid spokesman for the Rudolph Giuliani mayoral campaign and then in Newsweek after he and the campaign parted company

( SINV ( ADVP-LOC-PRD-TPC-1 ( RB Here ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ neutral ) ( NN language ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN gist ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS remarks ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN quoted ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB first ) ) ( PP-LOC-2 ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Village ) ( NNP Voice ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP-3 ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ paid ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Rudolph ) ( NNP Giuliani ) ( JJ mayoral ) ( NN campaign ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( RB then ) ( VP ( PP-LOC=2 ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Newsweek ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP=3 ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP he ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN campaign ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD parted ) ( NP ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Mr. Mason said that many Jewish voters feel guilty toward blacks so they support black candidates uncritically

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ many ) ( JJ Jewish ) ( NNS voters ) ) ( VP ( VBP feel ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ guilty ) ( PP ( IN toward ) ( NP ( NNS blacks ) ) ) ) ) ) ( IN so ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP support ) ( NP ( JJ black ) ( NNS candidates ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB uncritically ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


He said that many black voters feel bitter about racial discrimination so they too support black candidates uncritically

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ many ) ( JJ black ) ( NNS voters ) ) ( VP ( VBP feel ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ bitter ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( JJ racial ) ( NN discrimination ) ) ) ) ) ( IN so ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( ADVP ( RB too ) ) ( VP ( VBP support ) ( NP ( JJ black ) ( NNS candidates ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB uncritically ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


He said that Jews have contributed more to black causes over the years than vice versa

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNPS Jews ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN contributed ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR more ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ black ) ( NNS causes ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN over ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ( PP-2 ( IN than ) ( ADVP ( FW vice ) ( FW versa ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Of course Mr. Mason did not use neutral language

( S ( PP ( IN Of ) ( NP ( NN course ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VB use ) ( NP ( JJ neutral ) ( NN language ) ) ) ) )


As a practitioner of ethnic humor from the old days on the Borscht Belt live television and the nightclub circuit Mr. Mason instinctively reached for the vernacular

( S ( PP ( IN As ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN practitioner ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ ethnic ) ( NN humor ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ old ) ( NNS days ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Borscht ) ( NNP Belt ) ) ( NP ( JJ live ) ( NN television ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN nightclub ) ( NN circuit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB instinctively ) ) ( VBD reached ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN vernacular ) ) ) ) )


He said Jews were sick with complexes and he called David Dinkins Mr. Giuliani 's black opponent a fancy shvartze with a mustache

( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNPS Jews ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sick ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNS complexes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD called ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP David ) ( NNP Dinkins ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Giuliani ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ black ) ( NN opponent ) ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ fancy ) ( NN shvartze ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN mustache ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


If Mr. Mason had used less derogatory language to articulate his amateur analysis of the voting behavior of his fellow New Yorkers would the water be quite so hot

( SQ ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RBR less ) ( JJ derogatory ) ) ( NN language ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB articulate ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ amateur ) ( NN analysis ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN voting ) ( NN behavior ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN fellow ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP Yorkers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( MD would ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN water ) ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB quite ) ( RB so ) ( JJ hot ) ) ) )


It probably would because few or none of the people upset by Mr. Mason 's remarks have bothered to distinguish between the substance of his comments and the fact that he used insulting language

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( ADVP ( RB probably ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ few ) ( CC or ) ( NN none ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS people ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ upset ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS remarks ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN bothered ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB distinguish ) ( PP-CLR ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN substance ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS comments ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN fact ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD used ) ( NP ( JJ insulting ) ( NN language ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


In addition some of Mr. Mason 's critics have implied that his type of ethnic humor is itself a form of racism

( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS critics ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN implied ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN type ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ ethnic ) ( NN humor ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-ADV ( PRP itself ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN form ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN racism ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


For example the New York state counsel for the NAACP said that Mr. Mason is like a dinosaur

( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NN example ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NN state ) ( NN counsel ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP NAACP ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRD ( IN like ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN dinosaur ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


People are fast leaving the place where he is stuck

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS People ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB fast ) ) ( VBG leaving ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN place ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN stuck ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


These critics fail to distinguish between the type of ethnic humor that aims at disparaging another group such as Polish jokes and the type that is double-edged aiming inward as well as outward

( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT These ) ( NNS critics ) ) ( VP ( VBP fail ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB distinguish ) ( PP-CLR ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN type ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ ethnic ) ( NN humor ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ aims ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG disparaging ) ( NP ( DT another ) ( NN group ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( JJ Polish ) ( NNS jokes ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN type ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ double-edged ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG aiming ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB inward ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( RB outward ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The latter typically is the humor of the underdog and it was perfected by both blacks and Jews on the minstrel and vaudeville stage as a means of mocking their white and gentile audiences along with themselves

( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ latter ) ) ( ADVP ( RB typically ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN humor ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN underdog ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN perfected ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT both ) ( NNPS blacks ) ( CC and ) ( NNPS Jews ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN minstrel ) ( CC and ) ( NN vaudeville ) ( NN stage ) ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN means ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG mocking ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( ADJP ( JJ white ) ( CC and ) ( JJ gentile ) ) ( NNS audiences ) ) ( ADVP ( IN along ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP themselves ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


In the hands of a zealot like Lenny Bruce this double-edged blade could cut both the self and the audience to ribbons

( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS hands ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN zealot ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( NNP Lenny ) ( NNP Bruce ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ( JJ double-edged ) ( NN blade ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB cut ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN self ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN audience ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS ribbons ) ) ) ) ) )


But wielded by a pro like Jackie Mason it is a constructive form of mischief

( S ( CC But ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBN wielded ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN pro ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( NNP Jackie ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ constructive ) ( NN form ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN mischief ) ) ) ) ) )


Why constructive

( SBARQ ( WHADVP ( WRB Why ) ) ( FRAG ( ADJP ( JJ constructive ) ) ) )


Because despite all the media prattle about comedy and politics not mixing they are similar in one respect Both can serve as mechanisms for easing tensions and facilitating the co-existence of groups in conflict

( S ( FRAG ( SBAR-PRP ( IN Because ) ( S ( PP ( IN despite ) ( NP ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT the ) ( NNS media ) ( NN prattle ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( S-NOM ( NP-SBJ ( NN comedy ) ( CC and ) ( NNS politics ) ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VBG mixing ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ similar ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN respect ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Both ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB serve ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS mechanisms ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VP ( VBG easing ) ( NP ( NNS tensions ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG facilitating ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN co-existence ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS groups ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN conflict ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


That 's why it 's dangerous to have well-intentioned thought police on college campuses and elsewhere taboo all critical mention of group differences

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( SBAR-PRD ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB why ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ dangerous ) ) ( S-2 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ well-intentioned ) ( NN thought ) ( NNS police ) ) ( UCP-LOC ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN college ) ( NNS campuses ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADVP ( RB elsewhere ) ) ) ( VP ( VB taboo ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ( JJ critical ) ( NN mention ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN group ) ( NNS differences ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


As Elizabeth Kristol wrote in the New York Times just before the Mason donnybrook Perhaps intolerance would not boil over with such intensity if honest differences were allowed to simmer

( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN As ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Elizabeth ) ( NNP Kristol ) ) ( VP ( VBD wrote ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Times ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( IN before ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Mason ) ( NN donnybrook ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB Perhaps ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN intolerance ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VB boil ) ( PRT ( RP over ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ such ) ( NN intensity ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ honest ) ( NNS differences ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN allowed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB simmer ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The question is if group conflicts still exist as undeniably they do and if Mr. Mason 's type of ethnic humor is passe then what other means do we have for letting off steam

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN question ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBARQ-PRD ( SBAR-ADV ( SBAR ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN group ) ( NNS conflicts ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBP exist ) ( PRN ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB undeniably ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN type ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ ethnic ) ( NN humor ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ passe ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB then ) ) ( WHNP-1 ( NP ( WP what ) ( JJ other ) ( NNS means ) ) ) ( SQ ( VBP do ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( PP-2 ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG letting ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ( NP ( NN steam ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Do n't say the TV sitcom because that happens to be a genre that in its desperate need to attract everybody and offend nobody resembles politics more than it does comedy

( S ( VP ( VB Do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB say ) ( SBAR ( FRAG ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN TV ) ( NN sitcom ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBZ happens ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN genre ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ desperate ) ( NN need ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB attract ) ( NP ( NN everybody ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB offend ) ( NP ( NN nobody ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ resembles ) ( NP ( NNS politics ) ) ( ADVP ( ADVP ( RBR more ) ) ( SBAR ( IN than ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( VP ( NP ( NN comedy ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


It is true that the best sitcoms do allow group differences to simmer yuppies vs. blue-collar Bostonians in Cheers children vs. adults in The Cosby Show

( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ true ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJS best ) ( NNS sitcoms ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( VP ( VB allow ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN group ) ( NNS differences ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB simmer ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( FRAG ( FRAG ( NP ( NP ( NNS yuppies ) ) ( PP ( IN vs. ) ( NP ( JJ blue-collar ) ( NNPS Bostonians ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Cheers ) ) ) ) ( FRAG ( NP ( NP ( NNS children ) ) ( PP ( IN vs. ) ( NP ( NNS adults ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP-TTL ( DT The ) ( NNP Cosby ) ( NNP Show ) ) ) ) ) )


But these are not the differences that make headlines

( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT these ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB not ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS differences ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP make ) ( NP ( NNS headlines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


In Chicken Soup Mr. Mason plays Jackie a Jewish bachelor courting Maddie Lynn Redgrave an Irish widow and mother of three against the wishes of his mother Rita Karin and her brother Michael Brandon Maggart

( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Chicken ) ( NNP Soup ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( VP ( VBZ plays ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Jackie ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ Jewish ) ( NN bachelor ) ) ( VP ( VBG courting ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Maddie ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NNP Lynn ) ( NNP Redgrave ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ Irish ) ( NN widow ) ( CC and ) ( NN mother ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD three ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS wishes ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN mother ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NNP Rita ) ( NNP Karin ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NN brother ) ( NNP Michael ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NNP Brandon ) ( NNP Maggart ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


It 's worth noting that both disapproving relatives are immigrants

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ) ( VP ( POS 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ worth ) ( NP ( VBG noting ) ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT both ) ( JJ disapproving ) ( NNS relatives ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NNS immigrants ) ) ) ) ) ) )


At least they both speak with strong accents as do Jackie and Maddie

( S ( PP ( IN At ) ( NP ( JJS least ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( DT both ) ( VP ( VBP speak ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ strong ) ( NNS accents ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( SINV ( VP ( VBP do ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Jackie ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Maddie ) ) ) ) ) )


It could n't be more obvious that Chicken Soup is being made from an old recipe

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBR more ) ( JJ obvious ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-TTL-SBJ-2 ( NNP Chicken ) ( NNP Soup ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG being ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ old ) ( NN recipe ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


And a safe one imagine if the romance in question were between an Orthodox Jew and a member of the Nation of Islam

( S ( FRAG ( CC And ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ safe ) ( CD one ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( VB imagine ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN romance ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN question ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( PP-PRD ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NNP Orthodox ) ( NNP Jew ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN member ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Nation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Islam ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Back in the 1920s the play and movie versions of Abie 's Irish Rose made the theme of courtship between the assimilated offspring of Jewish and Irish immigrants so popular that its author Anne Nichols lost a plagiarism suit on the grounds that the plot has entered the public domain

( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Back ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS 1920s ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN play ) ( CC and ) ( NN movie ) ( NNS versions ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP-TTL ( NP ( NNP Abie ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Irish ) ( NNP Rose ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN theme ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN courtship ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ assimilated ) ( NN offspring ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( ADJP ( JJ Jewish ) ( CC and ) ( JJ Irish ) ) ( NNS immigrants ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB so ) ( JJ popular ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN author ) ) ( NP ( NNP Anne ) ( NNP Nichols ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD lost ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN plagiarism ) ( NN suit ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS grounds ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN plot ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN entered ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ public ) ( NN domain ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


And it has remained there as evidenced by its reappearance in a 1972 CBS sitcom called Bridget Loves Bernie whose sole distinction was that it led to the real-life marriage of Meredith Baxter and David Birney

( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN remained ) ( ADVP-LOC-PRD ( RB there ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( VP ( VBN evidenced ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN reappearance ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( CD 1972 ) ( NNP CBS ) ( NN sitcom ) ) ( VP ( VBN called ) ( S ( S-TTL-PRD ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bridget ) ) ( VP ( NNP Loves ) ( NP ( NNP Bernie ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP$ whose ) ( JJ sole ) ( NN distinction ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD was ) ( SBAR-PRD ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD led ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ real-life ) ( NN marriage ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Meredith ) ( NNP Baxter ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP David ) ( NNP Birney ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Clearly the question with Chicken Soup is not whether the pot will boil over but whether it will simmer at all

( S ( ADVP ( RB Clearly ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN question ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP-TTL ( NNP Chicken ) ( NNP Soup ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB not ) ( SBAR-PRD ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN pot ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB boil ) ( PRT ( RP over ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB simmer ) ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( DT all ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


So far the bubbles have been few and far between

( S ( ADVP-TMP ( IN So ) ( RB far ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS bubbles ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( UCP-PRD ( NP ( JJ few ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADVP ( RB far ) ( RB between ) ) ) ) ) )


Part of the problem is the tendency of all sitcoms ever since the didactic days of Norman Lear to preach about social issues

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN problem ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN tendency ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( NNS sitcoms ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( ADVP ( RB ever ) ) ( IN since ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ didactic ) ( NNS days ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Norman ) ( NNP Lear ) ) ) ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB preach ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( JJ social ) ( NNS issues ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


To some extent this tendency emerges whenever the show tries to enlighten us about ethnic stereotypes by reversing them

( S ( PP ( TO To ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN extent ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ( NN tendency ) ) ( VP ( VBZ emerges ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB whenever ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NN show ) ) ( VP ( VBZ tries ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB enlighten ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( JJ ethnic ) ( NNS stereotypes ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG reversing ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


For instance Michael dislikes Jackie not because he 's a shrewd Jewish businessman but because he quits his well-paying job as a salesman in order to become a social worker

( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NN instance ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Michael ) ) ( VP ( VBZ dislikes ) ( NP ( NNP Jackie ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( RB not ) ( SBAR ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ shrewd ) ( JJ Jewish ) ( NN businessman ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( SBAR ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ quits ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ well-paying ) ( NN job ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN salesman ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN in ) ( NN order ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB become ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ social ) ( NN worker ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Even more problematic is the incompatibility between sitcom preachiness and Mr. Mason 's comic persona

( SINV ( ADJP-PRD-TPC-1 ( ADVP ( RB Even ) ( RBR more ) ) ( JJ problematic ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN incompatibility ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( NN sitcom ) ( NN preachiness ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ comic ) ( NN persona ) ) ) ) ) )


The best moments in the show occur at the beginning and the end and occasionally in the middle when Mr. Mason slips into his standup mode and starts meting out that old-fashioned Jewish mischief to other people as well as to himself

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJS best ) ( NNS moments ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN show ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP occur ) ( PP-TMP ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN beginning ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( CC and ) ( ADVP ( RB occasionally ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN middle ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ slips ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ standup ) ( NN mode ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( NNS starts ) ( S ( VP ( VBG meting ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( JJ old-fashioned ) ( JJ Jewish ) ( NN mischief ) ) ( PP-CLR ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS people ) ) ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP himself ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


But too often these routines lack spark because this sitcom like all sitcoms is timid about confronting Mr. Mason 's stock in trade ethnic differences

( S ( CC But ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB too ) ( RB often ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT these ) ( NNS routines ) ) ( VP ( VBP lack ) ( NP ( NN spark ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT this ) ( NN sitcom ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( NNS sitcoms ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ timid ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG confronting ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN stock ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN trade ) ) ) ) ( NP ( JJ ethnic ) ( NNS differences ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


I 'm not suggesting that the producers start putting together episodes about topics like the Catholic-Jewish dispute over the Carmelite convent at Auschwitz

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP 'm ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VBG suggesting ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( VP ( VB start ) ( S ( VP ( VBG putting ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB together ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS episodes ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS topics ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Catholic-Jewish ) ( NN dispute ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Carmelite ) ( NN convent ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Auschwitz ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


That issue like racial tensions in New York City will have to cool down not heat up before it can simmer

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT That ) ( NN issue ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ racial ) ( NNS tensions ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP City ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB cool ) ( PRT ( RP down ) ) ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VB heat ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB simmer ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


But I am suggesting that they stop requiring Mr. Mason to interrupt his classic shtik with some line about caring for other people that would sound shmaltzy on the lips of Miss America

( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP am ) ( VP ( VBG suggesting ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VB stop ) ( VP ( VBG requiring ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Mason ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB interrupt ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ classic ) ( NN shtik ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN line ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG caring ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS people ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB sound ) ( ADJP-PRD ( NN shmaltzy ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS lips ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Miss ) ( NNP America ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


At your age Jackie you ought to know that you ca n't make soup without turning up the flame

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN At ) ( NP ( PRP$ your ) ( NN age ) ) ) ( NP-VOC ( NNP Jackie ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( MD ought ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB know ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NN soup ) ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG turning ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN flame ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Amid a crowd of crashing stocks Relational Technology Inc. 's stock fell particularly hard Friday dropping 23 % because its problems were compounded by disclosure of an unexpected loss for its fiscal first quarter

( S ( PP-LOC ( IN Amid ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN crowd ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( VBG crashing ) ( NNS stocks ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP Relational ) ( NNP Technology ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB particularly ) ( RB hard ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG dropping ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 23 ) ( NN % ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN compounded ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NN disclosure ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ unexpected ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ fiscal ) ( JJ first ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The database software company said it expects a 2 million net loss for the fiscal first quarter ended Sept. 30

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN database ) ( NN software ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( JJ net ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fiscal ) ( JJ first ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( VP ( VBN ended ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Sept. ) ( CD 30 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


It said analysts had been expecting a small profit for the period

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBG expecting ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ small ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN period ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Revenue is expected to be up modestly from the 26.5 million reported a year ago

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN Revenue ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB up ) ( RB modestly ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( QP ( CD 26.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN reported ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Relational Technology reported net income of 1.5 million or 12 cents a share in the year-earlier period

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Relational ) ( NNP Technology ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 12 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NN period ) ) ) ) ) )


While our international operations showed strong growth our domestic business was substantially below expectations said Paul Newton president and chief executive officer

( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ our ) ( JJ international ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( VP ( VBD showed ) ( NP ( JJ strong ) ( NN growth ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ our ) ( JJ domestic ) ( NN business ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( ADVP ( RB substantially ) ) ( IN below ) ( NP ( NNS expectations ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Paul ) ( NNP Newton ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( JJ executive ) ( NN officer ) ) ) ) )


A spokesman said the company 's first quarter is historically soft and computer companies in general are experiencing slower sales

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ first ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB historically ) ( JJ soft ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN computer ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( ADJP ( JJ general ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG experiencing ) ( NP ( JJR slower ) ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Mr. Newton said he accepted the resignation of Thomas Wilson vice president of corporate sales and that his marketing responsibilities have been reassigned

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Newton ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD accepted ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN resignation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Thomas ) ( NNP Wilson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ corporate ) ( NNS sales ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ his ) ( NN marketing ) ( NNS responsibilities ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN reassigned ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The company said Mr. Wilson 's resignation was n't related to the sales shortfall

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Wilson ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN resignation ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBN related ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN shortfall ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Relational Technology went public in May 1988 at 14 a share

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Relational ) ( NNP Technology ) ) ( VP ( VBD went ) ( NP-PRD ( NN public ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP May ) ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 14 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) )


It fell 1.875 a share Friday to 6.25 a new low in over-the-counter trading

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( NP ( CD 1.875 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 6.25 ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( JJ low ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ over-the-counter ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ) )


Its high for the past year was 16.375 a share

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ Its ) ( NN high ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ past ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD 16.375 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) )


In the previous quarter the company earned 4.5 million or 37 cents a share on sales of 47.2 million

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ previous ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 4.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 37 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 47.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The chemical industry is expected to report that profits eroded in the third quarter because of skidding prices in the commodity end of the business

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN chemical ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS profits ) ) ( VP ( VBD eroded ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( VBG skidding ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN commodity ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Producers of commodity chemicals the basic chemicals produced in huge volumes for other manufacturers have seen sharp inventory cutting by buyers

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Producers ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN commodity ) ( NNS chemicals ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ basic ) ( NNS chemicals ) ) ( VP ( VBN produced ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ huge ) ( NNS volumes ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS manufacturers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN seen ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ sharp ) ( NN inventory ) ( NN cutting ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NNS buyers ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Once the chief beneficiaries of the industry 's now fading boom these producers also will be reporting against exceptionally strong performances in the 1988 third quarter

( S ( S-ADV ( NP-PRD ( NP ( RB Once ) ( DT the ) ( JJ chief ) ( NNS beneficiaries ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( RB now ) ( VBG fading ) ) ( NN boom ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT these ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBG reporting ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB exceptionally ) ( JJ strong ) ) ( NNS performances ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 1988 ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


For some of these companies this will be the first quarter with year-to-year negative comparisons says Leonard Bogner a chemical industry analyst at Prudential Bache Research

( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS companies ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ year-to-year ) ( JJ negative ) ( NNS comparisons ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Leonard ) ( NNP Bogner ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN chemical ) ( NN industry ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Prudential ) ( NNP Bache ) ( NNP Research ) ) ) ) ) )


This could be the first of five or six down quarters

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD five ) ( CC or ) ( CD six ) ) ( JJ down ) ( NNS quarters ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Perhaps most prominent Dow Chemical Co. which as of midyear had racked up eight consecutive record quarters is expected to report that profit decreased in the latest quarter from a year earlier if only by a shade

( S ( S-ADV ( ADVP ( RB Perhaps ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBS most ) ( JJ prominent ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP Dow ) ( NNP Chemical ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( PP-TMP ( IN as ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN midyear ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN racked ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( CD eight ) ( JJ consecutive ) ( JJ record ) ( NNS quarters ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( SBAR ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBD decreased ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( RB only ) ( FRAG ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN shade ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Though Dow has aggressively diversified into specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals the company still has a big stake in polyethylene which is used in packaging and housewares

( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN Though ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dow ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB aggressively ) ) ( VBN diversified ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( NN specialty ) ( NNS chemicals ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNS pharmaceuticals ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ big ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN polyethylene ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN packaging ) ( CC and ) ( NNS housewares ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Analysts ' third-quarter estimates for the Midland Mich. company are between 3.20 a share and 3.30 a share compared with 3.36 a year ago when profit was 632 million on sales of 4.15 billion

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNS Analysts ) ( POS ' ) ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Midland ) ( NNP Mich. ) ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( PP-PRD ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 3.20 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 3.30 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 3.36 ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( ADVP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( QP ( CD 632 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 4.15 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


A Dow spokeswoman declined to comment on the estimates

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT A ) ( NNP Dow ) ( NN spokeswoman ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB comment ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


At the investment firm of Smith Barney Harris Upham & Co. the commodity-chemical segment is seen pulling down overall profit for 20 companies representative of the whole industry by 8 % to 10 %

( S ( PP-LOC ( IN At ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN investment ) ( NN firm ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Smith ) ( NNP Barney ) ( NNP Harris ) ( NNP Upham ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ commodity-chemical ) ( NN segment ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN seen ) ( S ( VP ( VBG pulling ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RP down ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ overall ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 20 ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ representative ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ whole ) ( NN industry ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 8 ) ( NN % ) ( TO to ) ( CD 10 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


You will find the commodities off more than the others and the diversified companies about even or slightly better says James Wilbur a Smith Barney analyst

( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP You ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB find ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS commodities ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB off ) ( ADVP ( ADVP ( RBR more ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS others ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ diversified ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB about ) ( JJ even ) ) ( CC or ) ( ADJP ( RB slightly ) ( JJR better ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NNP Wilbur ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Smith ) ( NNP Barney ) ( NN analyst ) ) ) )


First Boston Corp. projects that 10 of the 15 companies it follows will report lower profit

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP First ) ( NNP Boston ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBZ projects ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD 10 ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 15 ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ follows ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NN profit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Most of the 10 have big commodity-chemical operations

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJS Most ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 10 ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( JJ big ) ( JJ commodity-chemical ) ( NNS operations ) ) ) )


Still some industry giants are expected to report continuing gains largely because so much of their business is outside commodity chemicals

( S ( ADVP ( RB Still ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT some ) ( NN industry ) ( NNS giants ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( NP ( JJ continuing ) ( NNS gains ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( ADVP ( RB largely ) ) ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( RB so ) ( JJ much ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN outside ) ( NP ( NN commodity ) ( NNS chemicals ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Du Pont Co. is thought to have had steady profit growth in white pigments fibers and polymers

( S ( NP-SBJ-4 ( NNP Du ) ( NNP Pont ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN thought ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ steady ) ( NN profit ) ( NN growth ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ white ) ( NNS pigments ) ) ( NP ( NNS fibers ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNS polymers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Moreover the Wilmington Del. company is helped when prices weaken on the commodity chemicals it buys for its own production needs such as ethylene

( S ( ADVP ( RB Moreover ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Wilmington ) ( NNP Del. ) ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN helped ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-4 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS prices ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP weaken ) ( PP-LOC-3 ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN commodity ) ( NNS chemicals ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ buys ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ own ) ( NN production ) ( NNS needs ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NN ethylene ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Analysts are divided over whether Du Pont will report much of a gain in the latest quarter from its Conoco Inc. oil company

( S ( NP-SBJ-5 ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN divided ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Du ) ( NNP Pont ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ much ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN gain ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( PP-1 ( IN from ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Conoco ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( NN oil ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The estimates for Du Pont range from 2.25 to 2.45 a share

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Du ) ( NNP Pont ) ) ) ) ( VP ( NN range ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.25 ) ( TO to ) ( CD 2.45 ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) )


In the 1988 third quarter the company earned 461 million or 1.91 a share on sales of 7.99 billion

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 1988 ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 461 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.91 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 7.99 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Du Pont declined to comment

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Du ) ( NNP Pont ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB comment ) ) ) ) ) )


Monsanto Co. too is expected to continue reporting higher profit even though its sales of crop chemicals were hurt in the latest quarter by drought in northern Europe and the western U.S.

( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Monsanto ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( ADVP ( RB too ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( S ( VP ( VBG reporting ) ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NN profit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( RB even ) ( IN though ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN crop ) ( NNS chemicals ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN hurt ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NN drought ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ northern ) ( NNP Europe ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ western ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The St. Louis-based company is expected to report again that losses in its G.D. Searle & Co. pharmaceutical business are narrowing

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( ADJP ( NNP St. ) ( JJ Louis-based ) ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB again ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS losses ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NP ( NNP G.D. ) ( NNP Searle ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ( JJ pharmaceutical ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG narrowing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Searle continued to operate in the red through the first half of the year but Monsanto has said it expects Searle to post a profit for all of 1989

( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Searle ) ) ( VP ( VBD continued ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB operate ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN red ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN through ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( NN half ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Monsanto ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Searle ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB post ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 1989 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Most estimates for Monsanto run between 1.70 and 2 a share

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJS Most ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Monsanto ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP run ) ( PP-LOC ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.70 ) ( CC and ) ( CD 2 ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) )


A year ago the company posted third-quarter profit of 116 million or 1.67 a share on sales of 2.02 billion

( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD posted ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 116 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.67 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.02 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Monsanto declined to comment

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Monsanto ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB comment ) ) ) ) ) )


But the commodity-chemical producers are caught on the downside of a pricing cycle

( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ commodity-chemical ) ( NNS producers ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN caught ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN downside ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN pricing ) ( NN cycle ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


By some accounts on Wall Street and in the industry the inventory reductions are near an end which may presage firmer demand

( S ( PP ( IN By ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( NNS accounts ) ) ( PP-LOC ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Wall ) ( NNP Street ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN inventory ) ( NNS reductions ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN near ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN end ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB presage ) ( NP ( JJR firmer ) ( NN demand ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


But doubters say growing production capacity could keep pressure on prices into the early 1990s

( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS doubters ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( VBG growing ) ( NN production ) ( NN capacity ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( NP ( NN pressure ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNS prices ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( NNS 1990s ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


In the latest quarter at least profit is expected to fall sharply

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fall ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB sharply ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


For Himont Inc. how far down it is we do n't know says Leslie Ravitz at Salomon Brothers

( SINV ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NNP Himont ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ) ( S-TPC-3 ( SBAR-TPC-2 ( WHADJP-1 ( WHADVP ( WRB how ) ( RB far ) ) ( RB down ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB know ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Leslie ) ( NNP Ravitz ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Salomon ) ( NNP Brothers ) ) ) ) )


The projections are in the neighborhood of 50 cents a share to 75 cents compared with a restated 1.65 a share a year earlier when profit was 107.8 million on sales of 435.5 million

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS projections ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN neighborhood ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 50 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ( NAC-1 ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 75 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ restated ) ( CD 1.65 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( ADVP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( QP ( CD 107.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 435.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Himont faces lower prices for its mainstay product polypropylene while it goes forward with a heavy capital investment program to bolster its raw material supply and develop new uses for polypropylene whose markets include the packaging and automobile industries

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Himont ) ) ( VP ( VBZ faces ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN mainstay ) ( NN product ) ) ( NP ( NN polypropylene ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ goes ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB forward ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ heavy ) ( NN capital ) ( NN investment ) ( NN program ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB bolster ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ raw ) ( NN material ) ( NN supply ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB develop ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NNS uses ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN polypropylene ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP$ whose ) ( NNS markets ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP include ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN packaging ) ( CC and ) ( NN automobile ) ( NNS industries ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The company based in Wilmington Del. is 81%-owned by Montedison S.p A. Milan which has an offer outstanding for the Himont shares it does n't already own

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBN based ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Wilmington ) ) ( NP ( NNP Del. ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ 81%-owned ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Montedison ) ( NNP S.p ) ( NNP A. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Milan ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN offer ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ outstanding ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Himont ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB already ) ) ( VP ( VB own ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


At Quantum Chemical Corp. New York the trouble is lower prices for polyethylene higher debt costs and the idling of an important plant due to an explosion

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Some analysts hedge their estimates for Quantum because it is n't known when the company will book certain one-time charges

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But the estimates range from break-even to 35 cents a share

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In the 1988 third quarter Quantum earned 99.8 million or 3.92 a share on sales of 724.4 million

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Another big polyethylene producer Union Carbide Corp. is expected to post profit of between 1 a share and 1.25 compared with 1.56 a share a year earlier when the company earned 213 million on sales of 2.11 billion

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Himont Quantum and Union Carbide all declined to comment

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British Aerospace PLC and France 's Thomson-CSF S.A. said they are nearing an agreement to merge their guided-missile divisions greatly expanding collaboration between the two defense contractors

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The 50-50 joint venture which may be dubbed Eurodynamics would have combined annual sales of at least 1.4 billion 2.17 billion and would be among the world 's largest missile makers

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After two years of talks plans for the venture are sufficiently advanced for the companies to seek French and British government clearance

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The companies hope for a final agreement by year-end

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The venture would strengthen the rapidly growing ties between the two companies and help make them a leading force in European defense contracting

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In recent months a string of cross-border mergers and joint ventures have reshaped the once-balkanized world of European arms manufacture

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Already British Aerospace and French government-controlled Thomson-CSF collaborate on a British missile contract and on an air-traffic control radar system

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Just last week they announced they may make a joint bid to buy Ferranti International Signal PLC a smaller British defense contractor rocked by alleged accounting fraud at a U.S. unit

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The sudden romance of British Aerospace and Thomson-CSF traditionally bitter competitors for Middle East and Third World weapons contracts is stirring controversy in Western Europe 's defense industry

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Most threatened by closer British Aerospace-Thomson ties would be their respective national rivals including Matra S.A. in France and Britain 's General Electric Co. PLC

( SINV ( VP-TPC-1 ( ADVP-MNR ( RBS Most ) ) ( VBN threatened ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJR closer ) ( NNP British ) ( NNP Aerospace-Thomson ) ( NNS ties ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ respective ) ( JJ national ) ( NNS rivals ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Matra ) ( NNP S.A. ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP France ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Britain ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP General ) ( NNP Electric ) ( NNP Co. ) ( NNP PLC ) ) ) ) ) )


But neither Matra nor GEC unrelated to Stamford Conn.-based General Electric Co. are sitting quietly by as their competitors join forces

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Yesterday a source close to GEC confirmed that his company may join the Ferranti fight as part of a possible consortium that would bid against British Aerospace and Thomson-CSF

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