Up Front
Edited by Sheridan Prasso
Talk Show
"At the top of the list for us always arethe economics of the deal itself. Does this deal make sense?" -- Patrick McGurn of Institutional Shareholder Services, adviser to many Compaq and HP investors voting on the proposed merger.
AFTER 9/11
Cracking Down on Fake IDs
The feds may be dangling green cards as rewards in their pursuit of terrorists, but the states are starting to make it tougher for immigrants to obtain a more basic document: a driver's license.
After September 11, at least six states cracked down on lenient licensing procedures, and those measures are taking effect. North Carolina started requiring Social Security numbers and proof of residency as of Nov. 1 to combat a massive fake driver's license network. State officials found 350,000 licenses issued with bogus 999-99-9999 Social Security numbers, and "driver's license" shuttle buses running to Charlotte from at least four Southern states. "A driver's license opens the door to a lot of different benefits," says North Carolina state Representative Larry Justus (R.), who introduced the legislation.
In September, Wisconsin stopped accepting a common immigration document as proof of residency. Virginia will no longer accept personal sworn statements of identity--used by several September 11 hijackers to obtain Virginia IDs. In New Jersey, licenses now expire at the same time as visas; the state is also considering tamperproof digital photos and bar codes. Beginning on Dec. 1, non-citizens in Florida could get a 30-day driver's permit, but licenses require background checks. National standards may be next.
By Brian Grow
EURO PHOBIA
Stress, Italian Style
As if recession and threats of terrorism weren't enough to pop stress barometers, Italy's bank tellers have another reason to worry. Europe's new currency will be introduced on Jan. 1, and the tellers fear an epidemic of what's being dubbed "euro stress." French bank tellers are getting anxious as well.
As a remedy, Italy's bank unions want the government to pay $400 million to the country's 320,000 tellers--or about $1,000, plus benefits, per person. "These people face a lot of problems," says Edgardo Iozia, national secretary of the moderate UilCa union. "There are physical risks because of robberies, professional risks because of counterfeit bills, and the pressures of answering many, many questions from confused customers."
Polls show Italians are among Europe's least prepared for the euro's debut: 40% of citizens say they dread Jan. 1, and 70% of Italy's elderly fear being shortchanged by rounded-up conversions.
Unions point to precedent. "Bankers got $100 each for the millennium bug, for just one day," says Iozia. "This is six months of stress."
By Monica Larner
CAR TALK
Will Led Zeppelin Sell Lead Sleds?
"Been a long time since I rock and rolled." That 1971 Led Zeppelin line is a pretty good description of Cadillac. Fittingly, General Motors' (GM
) luxury division will use the tune to pump up its new ad campaign early next year.
Cadillac could use some adrenaline. It's trying to make a comeback after losing the lead in luxury-car sales to imports. The first of five ads will likely feature the $30,000 CTS, an edgy-styled sedan going on sale in January. Caddy's ad agency, D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, hopes to strike a chord with boomers who once rocked to Zeppelin, but now buy imported luxury cars like Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. Says D'Arcy's Cadillac account head, Joe Garcia: "There will be a lot of emotion in the new advertising."
That's a shift from GM's recent ads, which focused on safety features such as its vehicle stability system and satellite-based navigation.
So some excitement is sorely needed. The question is: Can a bunch of British rockers--who haven't put out an album since 1982--reignite the passion for Cadillac?
By David Welch
THE LIST
Hot Holiday Toys
Hooray for Hollywood. Movies and television shows are generating must-have toys this holiday season.
BOB THE BUILDER, Hasbro, $34.99
Talking toy trucks, based on a TV show
HOGWARTS CASTLE, Lego, $89.99
Lets kids build Harry Potter's school
JAM 'N GLAM BARBIE, Mattel, $12.99
Rockstar Barbie in silver lamé pants and bare midriff
MONSTERS, INC. FIGURES, Hasbro/Thinkway, $32.99
Monsters growl and repeat speech from the movie
XBOX, GAMECUBE CONSOLES, Microsoft, $299, Nintendo, $199
Videogame systems
Data: Toys `R' Us
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Copyright 2001 , by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
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