Asked to compare her visit to Mr. Mosbacher 's Mrs. Hills replied I did n't hear every word he spoke but as a general proposition I think we have a very consistent trade strategy in the Bush administration

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Yet more than one American official who sat in with her during three days of talks with Japanese officials said her tone often was surprisingly conciliatory

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I think my line has been very consistent Mrs. Hills said at a news conference Saturday afternoon

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I am painted sometimes as ferocious perhaps because I have a ferocious list of statutes to implement

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I do n't feel very ferocious

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I do n't feel either hard or soft

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I feel committed to the program of opening markets and expanding trade

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When she met the local press for the first time on Friday Mrs. Hills firmly reiterated the need for progress in removing barriers to trade in forest products satellites and supercomputers three areas targeted under the Super 301 provision of the 1988 trade bill

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She highlighted exclusionary business practices that the U.S. government has identified

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But her main thrust was to promote the importance of world-wide free trade and open competition

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She said the trade imbalance was mainly due to macroeconomic factors and should n't be tackled by setting quantitative targets

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At her news conference for Japanese reporters one economics journalist summed up the Japanese sense of relief

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My impression was that you would be a scary old lady he said drawing a few nervous chuckles from his colleagues

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But I am relieved to see that you are beautiful and gentle and intelligent and a person of integrity

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Mrs. Hills ' remarks did raise questions at least among some U.S. officials about what exactly her stance is on U.S. access to the Japanese semiconductor market

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The U.S. share of the Japanese market has been stuck around 10 % for years

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Many Americans have interpreted a 1986 agreement as assuring U.S. companies a 20 % share by 1991 but the Japanese have denied making any such promise

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At one of her news conferences Mrs. Hills said I believe we can do much better than 20 %

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But she stressed I am against managed trade

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I will not enter into an agreement that stipulates to a percentage of the market

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Japan 's wholesale prices in September rose 3.3 % from a year earlier and were up 0.4 % from the previous month the Bank of Japan announced Friday

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The wholesale price index stood at 90.1 compared with a 1985 base of 100

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Ports of Call Inc. reached agreements to sell its remaining seven aircraft to buyers that were n't disclosed

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The agreements bring to a total of nine the number of planes the travel company has sold this year as part of a restructuring

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The company said a portion of the 32 million realized from the sales will be used to repay its bank debt and other obligations resulting from the currently suspended air-charter operations

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Earlier the company announced it would sell its aging fleet of Boeing Co. 707s because of increasing maintenance costs

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A consortium of private investors operating as LJH Funding Co. said it has made a 409 million cash bid for most of L.J. Hooker Corp. 's real-estate and shopping-center holdings

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The 409 million bid includes the assumption of an estimated 300 million in secured liabilities on those properties according to those making the bid

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The group is led by Jay Shidler chief executive officer of Shidler Investment Corp. in Honolulu and A. Boyd Simpson chief executive of the Atlanta-based Simpson Organization Inc

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Mr. Shidler 's company specializes in commercial real-estate investment and claims to have 1 billion in assets Mr. Simpson is a developer and a former senior executive of L.J. Hooker

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The assets are good but they require more money and management than can be provided in L.J. Hooker 's current situation said Mr. Simpson in an interview

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Hooker 's philosophy was to build and sell

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We want to build and hold

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L.J. Hooker based in Atlanta is operating with protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code

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Its parent company Hooker Corp. of Sydney Australia is currently being managed by a court-appointed provisional liquidator

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Sanford Sigoloff chief executive of L.J. Hooker said yesterday in a statement that he has not yet seen the bid but that he would review it and bring it to the attention of the creditors committee

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The 409 million bid is estimated by Mr. Simpson as representing 75 % of the value of all Hooker real-estate holdings in the U.S.

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Not included in the bid are Bonwit Teller or B. Altman & Co. L.J. Hooker 's department-store chains

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The offer covers the massive 1.8 million-square-foot Forest Fair Mall in Cincinnati the 800,000 square-foot Richland Fashion Mall in Columbia S.C. and the 700,000 square-foot Thornton Town Center mall in Thornton Colo

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The Thornton mall opened Sept. 19 with a Bigg 's hypermarket as its anchor the Columbia mall is expected to open Nov. 15

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Other Hooker properties included are a 20-story office tower in midtown Atlanta expected to be completed next February vacant land sites in Florida and Ohio L.J. Hooker International the commercial real-estate brokerage company that once did business as Merrill Lynch Commercial Real Estate plus other shopping centers

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Other ) ( NNP Hooker ) ( NNS properties ) ) ( VP ( VBN included ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ 20-story ) ( NN office ) ( NN tower ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ midtown ) ( NNP Atlanta ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN completed ) ( NP-TMP ( IN next ) ( NNP February ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ vacant ) ( NN land ) ( NNS sites ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Florida ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Ohio ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP L.J. ) ( NNP Hooker ) ( NNP International ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ commercial ) ( NN real-estate ) ( NN brokerage ) ( NN company ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB once ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( NP ( NN business ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNP Merrill ) ( NNP Lynch ) ( NNP Commercial ) ( NNP Real ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC plus ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NN shopping ) ( NNS centers ) ) ) ) )


The consortium was put together by Hoare Govett the London-based investment banking company that is a subsidiary of Security Pacific Corp

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We do n't anticipate any problems in raising the funding for the bid said Allan Campbell the head of mergers and acquisitions at Hoare Govett in an interview

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Hoare Govett is acting as the consortium 's investment bankers

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According to people familiar with the consortium the bid was code-named Project Klute a reference to the film Klute in which a prostitute played by actress Jane Fonda is saved from a psychotic businessman by a police officer named John Klute

( S ( PP ( VBG According ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ familiar ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN consortium ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NN bid ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( JJ code-named ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NNP Project ) ( NNP Klute ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN reference ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN film ) ( NX-TTL ( NNP Klute ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-3 ( IN in ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN prostitute ) ) ( VP ( VBN played ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NN actress ) ( NNP Jane ) ( NNP Fonda ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN saved ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ psychotic ) ( NN businessman ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN police ) ( NN officer ) ) ( VP ( VBN named ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP John ) ( NNP Klute ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


L.J. Hooker was a small home-building company based in Atlanta in 1979 when Mr. Simpson was hired to push it into commercial development

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The company grew modestly until 1986 when a majority position in Hooker Corp. was acquired by Australian developer George Herscu currently Hooker 's chairman

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Mr. Herscu proceeded to launch an ambitious but ill-fated 1 billion acquisition binge that included Bonwit Teller and B. Altman & Co. as well as majority positions in Merksamer Jewelers a Sacramento chain Sakowitz Inc. the Houston-based retailer and Parisian Inc. the Southeast department-store chain

( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Herscu ) ) ( VP ( VBD proceeded ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB launch ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( ADJP ( JJ ambitious ) ( CC but ) ( JJ ill-fated ) ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NN acquisition ) ( NN binge ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD included ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Bonwit ) ( NNP Teller ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP B. ) ( NNP Altman ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN majority ) ( NNS positions ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Merksamer ) ( NNP Jewelers ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Sacramento ) ( NN chain ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sakowitz ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Houston-based ) ( NN retailer ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Parisian ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Southeast ) ( NN department-store ) ( NN chain ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Eventually Mr. Simpson and Mr. Herscu had a falling out over the direction of the company and Mr. Simpson said he resigned in 1988

( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Eventually ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Simpson ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Herscu ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN falling ) ( RP out ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN direction ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Simpson ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD resigned ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Since then Hooker Corp. has sold its interest in the Parisian chain back to Parisian 's management and is currently attempting to sell the B. Altman & Co. chain

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In addition Robert Sakowitz chief executive of the Sakowitz chain is seeking funds to buy out the Hooker interest in his company

( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP Sakowitz ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( NN executive ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Sakowitz ) ( NN chain ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG seeking ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS funds ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Hooker ) ( NN interest ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The Merksamer chain is currently being offered for sale by First Boston Corp

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Reached in Honolulu Mr. Shidler said that he believes the various Hooker malls can become profitable with new management

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These are n't mature assets but they have the potential to be so said Mr. Shidler

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Managed properly and with a long-term outlook these can become investment-grade quality properties

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The Bronx has a wonderful botanical garden a great zoo its own charming Little Italy on Arthur Avenue and of course the Yankees

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However most people having been subjected to news footage of the devastated South Bronx look at the borough the way Tom Wolfe 's Sherman McCoy did in Bonfire of the Vanities as a wrong turn into hell

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But Laura Cunningham 's Bronx her childhood Bronx of the '50s is something else altogether

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In a lovely novelistic memoir Sleeping Arrangements Knopf 195 pages 18.95 she remembers an exotic playground peopled mainly by Jewish eccentrics and the occasional Catholic real oddballs like her sexpot friend the hell-kitten Diana age five

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Ms. Cunningham a novelist and playwright has a vivid and dramatically outsized sense of recall

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She transforms her Bronx of the emotions a place where the flats of mediocrity are only relieved by steep descents into hysteria into the Babylonian Bronx a world simmering with sex and death and intrigue

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In the Babylonian Bronx Jewish working-class people lived in drab Soviet-style buildings glamorized with names like AnaMor Towers after owners Anna and Morris Snezak whose lobbies and hallways were decorated with murals of ancient Syrians and Greeks friezes of Pompeii

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For Ms. Cunningham the architectural discombobulation matched the discrepancy she felt living in the AnaMor Towers as a little girl outwardly ordinary inwardly ornate owing all inspiration to heathen cultures

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Sharp-witted and funny but never mean she 's a memorialist a bit like Truman Capote if he 'd been Jewish and female and less bitchy

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Little Lily as Ms. Cunningham calls herself in the book really was n't ordinary

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She was raised for the first eight years by her mother Rosie whom she remembers as a loving liar who realigned history to explain why Lily 's father did n't live with them

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Rosie reinvented this man who may or may not have known about his child as a war hero for Lily 's benefit

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Rosie died young and Lily has remembered her as a romantic figure who did n't interfere much with her child 's education on the streets

( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NN Rosie ) ) ( VP ( VBD died ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ young ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Lily ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN remembered ) ( NP ( PRP her ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ romantic ) ( NN figure ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB interfere ) ( ADVP ( RB much ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NN child ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN education ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS streets ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The games Bronx children played holding kids down and stripping them for example seem tame by today 's crack standards but Ms. Cunningham makes it all sound like a great adventure

( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNS games ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bronx ) ( NNS children ) ) ( VP ( VBD played ) ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S-NOM ( VP ( VP ( VBG holding ) ( NP ( NNS kids ) ) ( PRT ( RP down ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG stripping ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN example ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VB seem ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ tame ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( NN today ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN crack ) ( NNS standards ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ms. ) ( NNP Cunningham ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( DT all ) ( VP ( VB sound ) ( PP-PRD ( IN like ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ great ) ( NN adventure ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Without official knowledge of sex or death we flirted with both she writes

( S ( S-TPC-1 ( PP ( IN Without ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ official ) ( NN knowledge ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN sex ) ( CC or ) ( NN death ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBD flirted ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT both ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( VBZ writes ) ) )


She analyzed families by their sleeping arrangements

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP She ) ) ( VP ( VBD analyzed ) ( NP ( NNS families ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN sleeping ) ( NNS arrangements ) ) ) ) )


Her friend Susan whose parents kept reminding her she was unwanted slept on a narrow bed wedged into her parents ' bedroom as though she were a temporary visitor

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ Her ) ( NN friend ) ( NNP Susan ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP$ whose ) ( NNS parents ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD kept ) ( VP ( VBG reminding ) ( NP ( PRP her ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ unwanted ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD slept ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ narrow ) ( NN bed ) ) ( VP ( VBN wedged ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NNS parents ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN bedroom ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( IN though ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ temporary ) ( NN visitor ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Her friend Diana 's father was a professional thief they did n't seem to have any bedrooms at all

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Maybe Lily became so obsessed with where people slept and how because her own arrangements kept shifting

( S ( ADVP ( RB Maybe ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Lily ) ) ( VP ( VBD became ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB so ) ( JJ obsessed ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS people ) ) ( VP ( VBD slept ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP=1 ( WRB how ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP$ her ) ( JJ own ) ( NNS arrangements ) ) ( VP ( VBD kept ) ( S ( VP ( VBG shifting ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


When Rosie died her uncles moved in and let her make the sleeping and other household arrangements

( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Rosie ) ) ( VP ( VBD died ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ her ) ( NNS uncles ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD moved ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB let ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP her ) ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( UCP ( NN sleeping ) ( CC and ) ( JJ other ) ) ( NN household ) ( NNS arrangements ) ) ) ) ) ) )


They painted the apartment orange pink and white according to her instructions

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBD painted ) ( NP-1 ( DT the ) ( NN apartment ) ) ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ orange ) ( JJ pink ) ( CC and ) ( JJ white ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NNS instructions ) ) ) ) ) )


With loving detail she recalls her Uncle Gabe an Orthodox Jew and song lyricist who rhymed river with liver in a love song and Uncle Len a mysterious part-time investigator who looked like Lincoln and carried a change of clothing in a Manila envelope like an undercover President on a good-will mission

( S ( PP ( IN With ) ( NP ( JJ loving ) ( NN detail ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( VBZ recalls ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( NNP Uncle ) ( NNP Gabe ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NX ( NX ( NNP Orthodox ) ( NNP Jew ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( NN song ) ( NN lyricist ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD rhymed ) ( NP ( NN river ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN liver ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN love ) ( NN song ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Uncle ) ( NNP Len ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ mysterious ) ( JJ part-time ) ( NN investigator ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VP ( VBD looked ) ( PP-PRD ( IN like ) ( NP ( NNP Lincoln ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD carried ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN change ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN clothing ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Manila ) ( NN envelope ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( PP-PRD ( IN like ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ undercover ) ( NN President ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ good-will ) ( NN mission ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


They came by their strangeness honestly

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBD came ) ( PP-CLR ( IN by ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN strangeness ) ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB honestly ) ) ) )


Lily 's grandmother no cookie baker excised the heads of disliked relatives from the family album and lugged around her perennial work-in-progress Philosophy for Women

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Lily ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN grandmother ) ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN cookie ) ( NN baker ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD excised ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS heads ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ disliked ) ( NNS relatives ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN family ) ( NN album ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD lugged ) ( PRT ( RP around ) ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( JJ perennial ) ( NN work-in-progress ) ) ( NP-TTL ( NP ( NN Philosophy ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS Women ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The book loses some momentum toward the end when Lily becomes more preoccupied with dating boys and less with her delightfully weird family

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN book ) ) ( VP ( VBZ loses ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( NN momentum ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN toward ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Lily ) ) ( VP ( VBZ becomes ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RBR more ) ( JJ preoccupied ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG dating ) ( NP ( NNS boys ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADJP ( RBR less ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP her ) ( ADJP ( RB delightfully ) ( JJ weird ) ) ( NN family ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


For the most part though there 's much pleasure in her saucy poignant probe into the mysteries of the Babylonian Bronx

( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS most ) ( NN part ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB though ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( POS 's ) ( NP-PRD ( JJ much ) ( NN pleasure ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ her ) ( JJ saucy ) ( JJ poignant ) ( NN probe ) ) ( PP ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS mysteries ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Babylonian ) ( NNP Bronx ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The Bronx also figures in Bruce Jay Friedman 's latest novel which flashes back to the New York of the '50s

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Bronx ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBZ figures ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Bruce ) ( NNP Jay ) ( NNP Friedman ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS latest ) ( NN novel ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ flashes ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB back ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS '50s ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


But both the past and present worlds of The Current Climate Atlantic Monthly Press 200 pages 18.95 feel cramped and static

( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT both ) ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( NN past ) ( CC and ) ( JJ present ) ) ( NNS worlds ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP-TTL ( DT The ) ( JJ Current ) ( NN Climate ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( NNP Atlantic ) ( NNP Monthly ) ( NNP Press ) ) ( NP ( CD 200 ) ( NNS pages ) ) ( NP ( CD 18.95 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP feel ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ cramped ) ( CC and ) ( JJ static ) ) ) )


For his sixth novel Mr. Friedman tried to resuscitate the protagonist of his 1972 work About Harry Towns

( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ sixth ) ( NN novel ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Friedman ) ) ( VP ( VBD tried ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB resuscitate ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN protagonist ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( CD 1972 ) ( NN work ) ) ( PP-TTL ( IN About ) ( NP ( NNP Harry ) ( NNP Towns ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Harry is now a 57-year-old writer whose continuing flirtation with drugs and marginal types in Hollywood and New York seems quaintly out-of-synch

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Harry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ 57-year-old ) ( NN writer ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( NP ( WP$ whose ) ( VBG continuing ) ( NN flirtation ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS drugs ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ marginal ) ( NNS types ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ seems ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB quaintly ) ( JJ out-of-synch ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Harry fondly remembers the old days of the early '70s when people like his friend Travis would take a psychiatrist on a date to analyze what Travis was doing wrong

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Harry ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB fondly ) ) ( VBZ remembers ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ old ) ( NNS days ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( NNS '70s ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN friend ) ( NNP Travis ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN psychiatrist ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN date ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB analyze ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-1 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Travis ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG doing ) ( ADVP-MNR ( JJ wrong ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


An L.A. solution explains Mr. Friedman

( SINV ( FRAG-TPC-1 ( NP ( DT An ) ( NNP L.A. ) ( NN solution ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ explains ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Friedman ) ) )


Line by line Mr. Friedman 's weary cynicism can be amusing especially when he 's riffing on the Hollywood social scheme the way people size each other up immediately canceling the desperate ones who merely almost made it

( S ( NP-ADV ( NP ( NN Line ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NN line ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Friedman ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ weary ) ( NN cynicism ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ amusing ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( ADVP ( RB especially ) ) ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBG riffing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Hollywood ) ( JJ social ) ( NN scheme ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN way ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NNS people ) ) ( VP ( VBP size ) ( NP ( NP ( DT each ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ other ) ) ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( S-ADV ( ADVP-TMP ( RB immediately ) ) ( VP ( VBG canceling ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ desperate ) ( NNS ones ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB merely ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB almost ) ) ( VBD made ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Harry has avoided all that by living in a Long Island suburb with his wife who 's so addicted to soap operas and mystery novels she barely seems to notice when her husband disappears for drug-seeking forays into Manhattan

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Harry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN avoided ) ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT that ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG living ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Long ) ( NNP Island ) ( NN suburb ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN wife ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB so ) ( JJ addicted ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NN soap ) ( NNS operas ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN mystery ) ( NNS novels ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP she ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB barely ) ) ( VBZ seems ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB notice ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-4 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ her ) ( NN husband ) ) ( VP ( VBZ disappears ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ drug-seeking ) ( NNS forays ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NNP Manhattan ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


But it does n't take too many lines to figure Harry out

( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( RB too ) ( JJ many ) ( NNS lines ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB figure ) ( NP ( NNP Harry ) ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


He 's a bore

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN bore ) ) ) )


This small Dallas suburb 's got trouble

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ( JJ small ) ( NNP Dallas ) ( NN suburb ) ) ( VP ( POS 's ) ( VP ( VBD got ) ( NP ( NN trouble ) ) ) ) )


Trouble with a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool

( S ( FRAG ( NP ( NP ( NN Trouble ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ capital ) ( NN T ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBZ rhymes ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN P ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBZ stands ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN pool ) ) ) ) ) )


More than 30 years ago Prof. Harold Hill the con man in Meredith Willson 's The Music Man warned the citizens of River City Iowa against the game

( S ( ADVP ( NP ( QP ( RBR More ) ( IN than ) ( CD 30 ) ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Prof. ) ( NNP Harold ) ( NNP Hill ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ con ) ( NN man ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Meredith ) ( NNP Willson ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NX-TTL ( DT The ) ( NN Music ) ( NN Man ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD warned ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS citizens ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP River ) ( NNP City ) ) ( NP ( NNP Iowa ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN against ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN game ) ) ) ) )


Now kindred spirits on Addison 's town council have barred the town 's fanciest hotel the Grand Kempinski from installing three free pool tables in its new lounge

( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ kindred ) ( NNS spirits ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Addison ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN town ) ( NN council ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN barred ) ( NP-1 ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN town ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS fanciest ) ( NN hotel ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Grand ) ( NNP Kempinski ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG installing ) ( NP ( CD three ) ( JJ free ) ( NN pool ) ( NNS tables ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ new ) ( NN lounge ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Mayor Lynn Spruill and two members of the council said they were worried about setting a precedent that would permit pool halls along Addison 's main street

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mayor ) ( NNP Lynn ) ( NNP Spruill ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ( NNS members ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN council ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ worried ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG setting ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN precedent ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB permit ) ( NP ( NN pool ) ( NNS halls ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN along ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Addison ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ main ) ( NN street ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


And the mayor in an admonition that bears a rhythmic resemblance to Prof. Hill 's warned that alcohol leads to betting which leads to fights

( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN mayor ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN admonition ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ bears ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ rhythmic ) ( NN resemblance ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Prof. ) ( NNP Hill ) ( POS 's ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD warned ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN alcohol ) ) ( VP ( VBZ leads ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NN betting ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ leads ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS fights ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The council 's action is yet another blow to a sport that its fans claim has been maligned unjustly for years

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN council ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN action ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( ADJP ( RB yet ) ( DT another ) ) ( NN blow ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN sport ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS fans ) ) ( VP ( NN claim ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN maligned ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB unjustly ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Obviously they 're not in touch with what 's going on says Tom Manske vice president of the National Pocket Billiards Association

( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( ADVP ( RB Obviously ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( RB not ) ( PP-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN touch ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-2 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( PRT ( RP on ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Tom ) ( NNP Manske ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP National ) ( NNP Pocket ) ( NNP Billiards ) ( NNP Association ) ) ) ) ) )


Pool is hot in New York and Chicago he insists where upscale suit-and-tie places are adding tables

( S-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NN Pool ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ hot ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Chicago ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ insists ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ upscale ) ( JJ suit-and-tie ) ( NNS places ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG adding ) ( NP ( NNS tables ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


With today 's tougher drunk driving laws he adds people do n't want to just sit around and drink

( S-1 ( PP ( IN With ) ( NP ( NP ( NN today ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJR tougher ) ( JJ drunk ) ( NN driving ) ( NNS laws ) ) ) ( PRN ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ adds ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS people ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB want ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VB sit ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB around ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB drink ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Besides rowdy behavior seems unlikely at the Grand Kempinski where rooms average 200 a night and the cheap mixed drinks go for 3.50 a pop

( S ( ADVP ( IN Besides ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJ rowdy ) ( NN behavior ) ) ( VP ( VBZ seems ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ unlikely ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Grand ) ( NNP Kempinski ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS rooms ) ) ( VP ( VBP average ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 200 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN night ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ cheap ) ( JJ mixed ) ( NNS drinks ) ) ( VP ( VBP go ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 3.50 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN pop ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


At the lounge manager Elizabeth Dyer wo n't admit patrons in jeans T-shirts or tennis shoes

( S ( PP-LOC ( IN At ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN lounge ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN manager ) ( NNP Elizabeth ) ( NNP Dyer ) ) ( VP ( MD wo ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB admit ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS patrons ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS jeans ) ) ( NP ( NNS T-shirts ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NN tennis ) ( NNS shoes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


But a majority of the Addison council did n't buy those arguments

( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN majority ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Addison ) ( NN council ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( DT those ) ( NNS arguments ) ) ) ) )


Introducing pool argued Councilwoman Riley Reinker would be dangerous

( S-1 ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( VBG Introducing ) ( NP ( NN pool ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBD argued ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Councilwoman ) ( NNP Riley ) ( NNP Reinker ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ dangerous ) ) ) ) )


It would open a can of worms

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB open ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN can ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS worms ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Addison is no stranger to cans of worms either

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Addison ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN stranger ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS cans ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS worms ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB either ) ) ) )


After its previous mayor committed suicide last year an investigation disclosed that town officials regularly voted on their own projects gave special favors to developer friends and dipped into the town 's coffers for trips and retreats

( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN After ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ previous ) ( NN mayor ) ) ( VP ( VBD committed ) ( NP ( NN suicide ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT an ) ( NN investigation ) ) ( VP ( VBD disclosed ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN town ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB regularly ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD voted ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ own ) ( NNS projects ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD gave ) ( NP ( JJ special ) ( NNS favors ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN developer ) ( NNS friends ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD dipped ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN town ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS coffers ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS trips ) ( CC and ) ( NNS retreats ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The revelations embarrassed town officials although they argued that the problems were n't as severe as the media suggested

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS revelations ) ) ( VP ( VBD embarrassed ) ( NP ( NN town ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN although ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD argued ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB as ) ( JJ severe ) ) ( SBAR ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS media ) ) ( VP ( VBD suggested ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Now comes the pool flap

( SINV ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( VP ( VBZ comes ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN pool ) ( NN flap ) ) )


I think there 's some people worried about something pretty ridiculous Councilman John Nolan says

( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT some ) ( NNS people ) ) ( VP ( JJ worried ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( NN something ) ) ( ADJP ( RB pretty ) ( JJ ridiculous ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Councilman ) ( NNP John ) ( NNP Nolan ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )


I thought this was all taken care of in The Music Man

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBD thought ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT this ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( DT all ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( NP-CLR ( NN care ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP-TTL ( DT The ) ( NN Music ) ( NN Man ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The Treasury plans to raise 175 million in new cash Thursday by selling about 9.75 billion of 52-week bills and redeeming 9.58 billion of maturing bills

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NNP Treasury ) ) ( VP ( NNS plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 175 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NN cash ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Thursday ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VP ( VBG selling ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 9.75 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ 52-week ) ( NNS bills ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG redeeming ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 9.58 ) ( CD billion ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( VBG maturing ) ( NNS bills ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The bills will be dated Oct. 26 and will mature Oct. 25 1990

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NNS bills ) ) ( VP ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN dated ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 26 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB mature ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 25 ) ( CD 1990 ) ) ) ) ) )


They will be available in minimum denominations of 10,000

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ available ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ minimum ) ( NNS denominations ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 10,000 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Bids must be received by 1 p.m. EDT Thursday at the Treasury or at Federal Reserve banks or branches

( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS Bids ) ) ( VP ( MD must ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN received ) ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( NP ( CD 1 ) ( RB p.m. ) ( NNP EDT ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Thursday ) ) ( PP-LOC ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Treasury ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Federal ) ( NNP Reserve ) ( NNS banks ) ( CC or ) ( NNS branches ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


A group of Arby 's franchisees said they formed an association to oppose Miami Beach financier Victor Posner 's control of the restaurant chain

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The decision is the latest move in an escalating battle between the franchisees and Mr. Posner that began in August

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At the time a group called R.B. Partners Ltd. consisting of eight of Arby 's largest franchisees offered more than 200 million to buy Arby 's Inc. which is part of DWG Corp

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DWG is a holding company controlled by Mr. Posner

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One week later Leonard H. Roberts president and chief executive officer of Arby 's was fired in a dispute with Mr. Posner

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Friday 42 franchisees announced the formation of an association called A.P. Association Inc. to preserve the integrity of the Arby 's system

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The franchisees owners or operators of 1,000 of the 1,900 franchised Arby 's in the U.S. said We have concluded that continued control of Arby 's by Victor Posner is totally unacceptable to us because it is extremely likely to cause irreparable damage to the Arby 's system

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We support all efforts to remove Victor Posner from control of Arby 's Inc. and the Arby 's system

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The group said it would consider among other things withholding royalty payments and initiating a class-action lawsuit seeking court approval for the withholdings

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In Florida Renee Mottram a senior vice president at DWG responded We do n't think any individual or group should disrupt a winning system or illegally interfere with existing contractual relationships for their own self-serving motives

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General Motors Corp. in a series of moves that angered union officials in the U.S. and Canada has signaled that as many as five North American assembly plants may not survive the mid-1990s as the corporation struggles to cut its excess vehicle-making capacity

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In announcements to workers late last week GM effectively signed death notices for two full-sized van assembly plants and cast serious doubt on the futures of three U.S. car factories

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GM is under intense pressure to close factories that became unprofitable as the giant auto maker 's U.S. market share skidded during the past decade

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The company currently using about 80 % of its North American vehicle capacity has vowed it will run at 100 % of capacity by 1992

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Just a month ago GM announced it would make an aging assembly plant in Lakewood Ga. the eighth U.S. assembly facility to close since 1987

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Now GM appears to be stepping up the pace of its factory consolidation to get in shape for the 1990s

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One reason is mounting competition from new Japanese car plants in the U.S. that are pouring out more than one million vehicles a year at costs lower than GM can match

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Another is that United Auto Workers union officials have signaled they want tighter no-layoff provisions in the new Big Three national contract that will be negotiated next year

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GM officials want to get their strategy to reduce capacity and the work force in place before those talks begin

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The problem however is that GM 's moves are coming at a time when UAW leaders are trying to silence dissidents who charge the union is too passive in the face of GM layoffs

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Against that backdrop UAW Vice President Stephen P. Yokich who recently became head of the union 's GM department issued a statement Friday blasting GM 's flagrant insensitivity toward union members

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The auto maker 's decision to let word of the latest shutdowns and product reassignments trickle out in separate communiques to the affected plants showed disarray and an inability or unwillingness to provide consistent information Mr. Yokich said

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GM officials told workers late last week of the following moves Production of full-sized vans will be consolidated into a single plant in Flint Mich

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That means two plants one in Scarborough Ontario and the other in Lordstown Ohio probably will be shut down after the end of 1991

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The shutdowns will idle about 3,000 Canadian assembly workers and about 2,500 workers in Ohio

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Robert White Canadian Auto Workers union president used the impending Scarborough shutdown to criticize the U.S.-Canada free trade agreement and its champion Prime Minister Brian Mulroney

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But Canadian auto workers may benefit from a separate GM move that affects three U.S. car plants and one in Quebec

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Workers at plants in Van Nuys Calif. Oklahoma City and Pontiac Mich. were told their facilities are no longer being considered to build the next generation of the Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Camaro muscle cars

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GM is studying whether it can build the new Camaro-Firebird profitably at a plant in St. Therese Quebec company and union officials said

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That announcement left union officials in Van Nuys and Oklahoma City uncertain about their futures

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The Van Nuys plant which employs about 3,000 workers does n't have a product to build after 1993

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Jerry Shrieves UAW local president said the facility was asked to draw up plans to continue working as a flex plant which could build several different types of products on short notice to satisfy demand

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At the Oklahoma City plant which employs about 6,000 workers building the eight-year-old A-body mid-sized cars Steve Featherston UAW local vice president said the plant has no new product lined up and none of us knows when the A-body cars will die

( S ( PP-LOC ( IN At ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Oklahoma ) ( NNP City ) ( NN plant ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ employs ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 6,000 ) ) ( NNS workers ) ) ( VP ( VBG building ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ eight-year-old ) ( JJ A-body ) ( JJ mid-sized ) ( NNS cars ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Steve ) ( NNP Featherston ) ) ( NP ( NNP UAW ) ( JJ local ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN plant ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT no ) ( JJ new ) ( NN product ) ) ( VP ( VBN lined ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN none ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ knows ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ A-body ) ( NNS cars ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB die ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


He said he believes GM has plans to keep building A-body cars into the mid-1990s

( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ believes ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP GM ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NNS plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( S ( VP ( VBG building ) ( NP ( JJ A-body ) ( NNS cars ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS mid-1990s ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


At Pontiac however the Camaro-Firebird decision appears to erase UAW hopes that GM would reopen the shuttered assembly plant that last built the plastic-bodied two-seater Pontiac Fiero model

( S ( PP-LOC ( IN At ) ( NP ( NNP Pontiac ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNP Camaro-Firebird ) ( NN decision ) ) ( VP ( VBZ appears ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB erase ) ( NP ( NNP UAW ) ( NNS hopes ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP GM ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB reopen ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ shuttered ) ( NN assembly ) ( NN plant ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB last ) ) ( VP ( VBD built ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ plastic-bodied ) ( JJ two-seater ) ( NNP Pontiac ) ( NNP Fiero ) ( NN model ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The Fiero plant was viewed as a model of union-management cooperation at GM before slow sales of the Fiero forced the company to close the factory last year

( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT The ) ( NNP Fiero ) ( NN plant ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN viewed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN model ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ union-management ) ( NN cooperation ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP GM ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ slow ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Fiero ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD forced ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB close ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN factory ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Union officials have taken a beating politically as a result

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Union ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN beating ) ) ( ADVP ( RB politically ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN result ) ) ) ) ) )


Dissident UAW members have used the Fiero plant as a symbol of labor-management cooperation 's failure

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Dissident ) ( NNP UAW ) ( NNS members ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Fiero ) ( NN plant ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN symbol ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ labor-management ) ( NN cooperation ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN failure ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Population Drain Ends For Midwestern States

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Population ) ( NN Drain ) ) ( VP ( VBZ Ends ) ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( JJ Midwestern ) ( NNS States ) ) ) ) )


IOWA IS MAKING a comeback

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP IOWA ) ) ( VP ( VBZ IS ) ( VP ( VBG MAKING ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN comeback ) ) ) ) )


So are Indiana Ohio and Michigan

( SINV ( ADVP-PRD-TPC-1 ( RB So ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Indiana ) ( NNP Ohio ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Michigan ) ) )


The population of all four states is on the upswing according to new Census Bureau estimates following declines throughout the early 1980s

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN population ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( CD four ) ( NNS states ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN upswing ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NNP Census ) ( NNP Bureau ) ( NNS estimates ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( VBG following ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS declines ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN throughout ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( NNS 1980s ) ) ) ) ) ) )


The gains to be sure are rather small

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS gains ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sure ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB rather ) ( JJ small ) ) ) )


Iowa for instance saw its population grow by 11,000 people or 0.4 % between 1987 and 1988 the Census Bureau says

( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Iowa ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN instance ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD saw ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( NN population ) ) ( VP ( VB grow ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 11,000 ) ( NNS people ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( CD 0.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN between ) ( NP ( CD 1987 ) ( CC and ) ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Census ) ( NNP Bureau ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )


Still even that modest increase is good news for a state that had n't grown at all since 1981

( S ( ADVP ( RB Still ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( RB even ) ( DT that ) ( JJ modest ) ( NN increase ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ good ) ( NN news ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN state ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN grown ) ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( DT all ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( CD 1981 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Between 1987 and 1988 North Dakota was the only state in the Midwest to lose population a loss of 4,000 people

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN Between ) ( NP ( CD 1987 ) ( CC and ) ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP North ) ( NNP Dakota ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ only ) ( NN state ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS Midwest ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB lose ) ( NP ( NN population ) ) ( NP-ADV ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 4,000 ) ( NNS people ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Six of the 12 midwestern states have been growing steadily since 1980 Illinois Kansas Minnesota Missouri South Dakota and Wisconsin

( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD Six ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 12 ) ( JJ midwestern ) ( NNS states ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBG growing ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB steadily ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( CD 1980 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Illinois ) ) ( NP ( NNP Kansas ) ) ( NP ( NNP Minnesota ) ) ( NP ( NNP Missouri ) ) ( NP ( NNP South ) ( NNP Dakota ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Wisconsin ) ) ) )


The Northeast has been holding its own in the population race

( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Northeast ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBG holding ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ own ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN population ) ( NN race ) ) ) ) ) ) )


Seven of nine states have grown each year since 1980 including New York which lost 4 % of its population during the 1970s

( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD Seven ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD nine ) ( NNS states ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN grown ) ( NP-TMP ( DT each ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( CD 1980 ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD lost ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN population ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS 1970s ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


And although Pennsylvania and Massachusetts suffered slight declines earlier in the decade they are growing again

( S ( CC And ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN although ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Pennsylvania ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Massachusetts ) ) ( VP ( VBD suffered ) ( NP ( JJ slight ) ( NNS declines ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RBR earlier ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN decade ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG growing ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB again ) ) ) ) )


At the same time several states in the South and West have had their own population turnaround

( S ( PP-TMP ( IN At ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ same ) ( NN time ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ several ) ( NNS states ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP South ) ( CC and ) ( NNP West ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN had ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ own ) ( NN population ) ( NN turnaround ) ) ) ) )


Seven states that grew in the early 1980s are now losing population West Virginia Mississippi Louisiana Oklahoma Montana Wyoming and Alaska

( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD Seven ) ( NNS states ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD grew ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( NNS 1980s ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VP ( VBG losing ) ( NP ( NN population ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP West ) ( NNP Virginia ) ) ( NP ( NNP Mississippi ) ) ( NP ( NNP Louisiana ) ) ( NP ( NNP Oklahoma ) ) ( NP ( NNP Montana ) ) ( NP ( NNP Wyoming ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Alaska ) ) ) )


Overall though the South and West still outpace the Northeast and Midwest and fast-growing states like Florida and California ensure that the pattern will continue

( S ( S ( ADVP ( RB Overall ) ) ( ADVP ( RB though ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP South ) ( CC and ) ( NNP West ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBP outpace ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Northeast ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Midwest ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ fast-growing ) ( NNS states ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( NNP Florida ) ( CC and ) ( NNP California ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP ensure ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN pattern ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


But the growth gap between the Sun Belt and other regions has clearly started narrowing

( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN growth ) ( NN gap ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Sun ) ( NNP Belt ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS regions ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( ADVP ( RB clearly ) ) ( VP ( VBN started ) ( S ( VP ( VBG narrowing ) ) ) ) ) )


More Elderly Maintain Their Independence

( S-HLN ( NP-SBJ ( JJR More ) ( JJ Elderly ) ) ( VP ( VBP Maintain ) ( NP ( PRP$ Their ) ( NN Independence ) ) ) )


THANKS TO modern medicine more couples are growing old together

( S ( NP-ADV ( NP ( NNS THANKS ) ) ( PP ( TO TO ) ( NP ( JJ modern ) ( NN medicine ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJR more ) ( NNS couples ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG growing ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ old ) ) ( ADVP ( RB together ) ) ) ) )


And even after losing a spouse more of the elderly are staying independent

( S ( CC And ) ( PP-TMP ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( IN after ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG losing ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN spouse ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJR more ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ elderly ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG staying ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ independent ) ) ) ) )