Japanese machinery builders suffer from low equipment investments

According to the account settlements for the fiscal year ending in March, many major Japanese makers of textile and apparel machinery suffered sales decreases as equipment investments in the textile and apparel industries remained at a low level. Even for operating profits, the textile and apparel machinery business of Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd. registered a a growth of 15.9%, while the textile machinery business of Toyota Industries Corp. registered losses.

Toyota reported that its consolidated sales of textile machinery in the fiscal year ending at the end of March decreased by 8% from the previous fiscal year to 30,705 million yen. Textile machinery registered operating profits of …

Justices Skeptical of Gun Ban

The Supreme Court appeared ready Tuesday to endorse the view that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own guns, but was less clear about whether to retain the District of Columbia's ban on handguns.

The justices were aware of the historic nature of their undertaking, engaging in an extended 98-minute session of questions and answers that could yield the first definition of the meaning of the Second Amendment in its 216 years.

A key justice, Anthony Kennedy, left little doubt about his view when he said early in the proceedings that the Second Amendment gives "a general right to bear arms."

Several justices were skeptical …

Walnut Acres Cuban black bean soup scores

Walnut Acres Organic

Cuban Black Bean Soup

Price: $2.89

One cup: 150 calories, 0 g

fat, 630 mg sodium

***

Walnut Acres, which has been making organic foods since 1946, hasadded two new soups to its line. The Cuban black bean, with kernelsof crunchy yellow corn, is as warming as the sun. It's tomato-based,with celery, carrots, red bell peppers and organic brown rice. Tasty!

The other …

Implications of the new FCC anti-slamming rules

In late December 1998, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules to combat slamming - the unauthorized switching of a consumer's telephone service. The rules eliminate the so-called "welcome package," require verification on inbound, as well as outbound, telemarketing orders and require verification on carrier freezes (in which the local company agrees not to change the customer's service without direct instructions from the customer). In addition, the FCC decided to absolve consumers from any payment to alleged slammers for the first 30 days of service.

Of all the changes, however, the most surprising was the FCC's decision to put the first round of slam ming …

MVP Jackson leads Storm past Mercury in Game 1

SEATTLE (AP) — Lauren Jackson had 23 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Seattle Storm to an 82-74 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

Jackson, who won her third WNBA MVP award before the game, set a team playoff record for rebounds.

Svetlana Abrosimova added 16 points for the Storm, Le'Coe Willingham had 10, and Sue Bird handed out 10 assists in Seattle's 19th straight home win.

Penny Taylor scored 16 points and Candice Dupree added 15 for the Mercury. Diana Taurasi, who averaged 22.6 points during the regular season, scored nine on 2-of-15 shooting.

Seattle held the Mercury 25 points below their postseason …

Dubai state-linked companies hit by new downgrades

A top international credit rating firm is further cutting its ratings on six Dubai state-linked companies because it says it cannot assume the government will stand behind their debt.

Moody's Investors Service said it made the cuts Tuesday following statements by government officials since Dubai announced plans to restructure its Dubai World …

Bulls make their point vs. pesky Stoudamire

The Bulls were built big for a specific purpose two summers ago:to beat the Orlando Magic in the 1996 Eastern Conference finals.

That big team clicked so well, it set an NBA record of 72regular-season victories, swept the Magic and won a fourthchampionship in the 1990s.

Now the Magic is in descent, and that king-sized roster couldmean trouble for the Bulls as they face a playoff sequence thatmight include games against some of the league's best point guards- Rod Strickland of Washington, Tim Hardaway of Miami and Gary Paytonof Seattle.The Bulls got a preview of the potential for trouble Mondaynight when pesky point guard Damon Stoudamire led the …