Ford, Firestone clash over blame in accidents
■ In a goverment-arranged meeting in
Venezuela to negotiate compensation,
Firestone refused to show up.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CARACAS, Venezuela
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. refused to
attend a government-arranged meeting
Wednesday with victims of accidents
involving Firestone tire failures on Ford
Explorers, saying it could not be blamed
for the vehicles going out of control.
Ford Motor Co.’s Venezuelan sub
sidiary did send representatives to the
meeting, and offered to set up a commit
tee to negotiate compensation for vic
tims. Ford said it felt “as betrayed as the
Venezuelan people” by Firestone, which
it said hid information about tire prob
lems.
The meeting with some 50 victims,
called by Venezuela’s consumer protec
tion agency, quickly became the latest
battleground for what has become an
open war between the two companies
over who is to blame for at least 150 fatal
crashes worldwide involving Firestone
tires. In many cases the tires were on
Explorers.
Ford contends tread is peeling off the
Firestone tires, causing vehicles to crash.
Firestone contends the Explorer is unsta
ble and its suspension system may have
contributed to tire failure, charges Ford
disputes.
Although summoned by the govern
ment agency, Bridgestone/Firestone
declined. To attend "would imply an
admission of guilt that is not ours,”
according to Ana Cecilia Colmenarez,
legal director for the company’s sub
sidiary in Venezuela.
Bridgestone/Firestone "has emphati
cally maintained it has no responsibility”
for the accidents, she told the agency’s
director, Samuel Ruh, in a letter.
Colmenarez said the tire company
was cooperating with a government
investigation into the cause of tire
blowouts, allowing a prosecutor to visit a
tire plant in the city of Valencia on
Wednesday.
The consumer protection agency’s
legal adviser, Steleo Pebreanez, said
Bridgestone's absence “implies they have
no desire to reach a reconciliation.”
He said the companies must cooper
ate in reaching a settlement with victims,
or would face fines of up to $11,600 for
each victim. The government wants both
companies to compensate a total of 104
victims for deaths, injuries and damage
to vehicles.
Japan’s Bridgestone Corp., the parent
of Bridgestone/Firestone, posted 18.90
billion yen, or $172.8 million, in profits
for the six months ended June 30. During
the same period, Ford earned $1.5 billion
on revenue of $87.4 billion.
Ford sent lawyers, its purchasing
manager and about 50 mechanics to the
meeting.
Andres Mezgradis, legal counsel for
Ford ofVenezuela, urged the accident vic
tims to work with a Ford committee on
quickly determining compensation,
arguing lawsuits could take years to
resolve. •
In a prepared statement, Ford legal
director Irene de Fuentes said “as a seri
ous company,” Ford believed reaching
settlements “is the best way to help those
affected by the problems associated with
Firestone tires.”
Ford also gave the government test
results that “confirmed the stability and
maneuverability of Ford Explorer sport
utility vehicles,” said Ford sales director
Hector Rodriguez.
“We all know that the problem is with
“Firestone didn’t give us all
the information and we feel
as betrayed as the
Venezuelan people
Hector Rodriguez
Ford sales director
the tires,” Rodriguez said.
"In 1999, while Firestone was assuring
us that the tires had no problems, they
were secretly compiling information and
data about defective tires,” Rodriguez
said.
"Firestone didn't give us all the infor
mation and we feel as betrayed as the
Venezuelan people. It’s time that
Firestone assumes its responsibility and
indemnify victims.”
Venezuela’s Congress is also looking
into the controversy, and two accident
victims gave brief testimony before a
panel that oversees transportation issues.
The panel planned to summon the local
company’s leaders, Jorge Gonzalez of
Firestone and Emanuel Cassingena of
Ford, to testify Oct. 11.
NASA: Discovery launch complex
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -
NASA is holding out hope that
the rain will stop and the sky will
clear before tonight’s planned
launch of space shuttle
Discovery.
Meteorologist John Weems
put the odds of acceptable
launch weather at 60 percent.
“It's just a matter of timing,”
Weems said Wednesday. "I’ve got
faith.”
Discovery is scheduled to
blast off at 9:38 p.m. today on a
crucial space station construc
tion mission. It will be the 100th
launch for the nearly 20-year
old space shuttle program, a
milestone overshadowed by the
complexity of the flight.
Seven astronauts will attach
steel framework and a docking
port to the international space
station. Four back-to-back
spacewalks are planned.
"It is one of the most com
plex station assembly flights that
we will conduct,” said shuttle
program manager Ron
Dittemore.
Even though another battery
has failed inside the station’s
new living quarters, no spares
will fly aboard Discovery -
there’s neither time nor room.
Instead, spares will be launched
on a Russian cargo ship in
November, said space station
manager Robert Cabana.
Six of the eight electricity
producing batteries in Russia’s
Zvezda module are working,
which is more than enough to
support the first permanent
crew, Cabana said. One battery
failed after it was installed bv
shuttle astronauts last month;
the second had to be turned off
by Russian flight controllers ear
lier this week.
The first residents will deal
with the problem after they
move in. NASA astronaut Bill
Shepherd and his two-cosmo
naut crew are scheduled to lift
off aboard a Russian rocket from
Kazakstan on Oct. 30 and arrive
at the space station two days
later.
In the two years that the
space station has been in orbit,
the Russian-made batteries
have been the No. 1 problem.
Boeing engineer Ed
Gholdston blamed poor quality
control.
“They worked awfully fast to
get some of this stuff put togeth
er,” he said. “It was a little too
fast.”
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ALTERNATIVE TAN
13TH & P 56TH & HWY 2 48TH & R 1
435-3111 421-1511 466-1201 I
•New Edgewood • Expanding
Location South 48th & R
of Target 30+ Units
Suffixes may help .kids
sidestep .sex, .xxx sites
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEWYORK- New Internet
domain address proposed for
next year could simplify Web surf
ing worldwide.
As the Internet becomes
increasingly clogged, Web users
digging for family friendly sites
might one day be able to type .kids
instead of .com. More lurid mate
rial, on the other hand, might be
found after a search of the suffix
.sex or .xxx.
The new dot addresses could
be in use early next year. The
organization handling the expan
sion expects to announce the list
of new suffixes by Nov. 20, mark
ing the first major growth in more
than a decade.
Adding suffixes to the Internet
is akin to adding area codes to the
national phone system to accom
modate the growing number of
customers.
The Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers,
selected by the federal govern
ment in 1998 to handle address
policy for the Web, said Tuesday
that it has accepted 47 proposals
for new domain-name suffixes.
The bidding process ended
Monday.
Currently, anyone can register
a name ending in .com, .net or
.org if it is not already in use. Four
other suffixes are reserved for spe
cific groups, such as .edu for edu
cational institutions. There are
244 regional suffixes.
Internet registration compa
nies had to pay a nonrefundable
$50,000 application fee, which
they would, in theory, recoup
through fees charged to register
Web sites with the new suffixes.
Nineteen companies submit
ted a plan for three new suffixes,
.info, .site and .web, as global
alternatives to .com, .net and .org.
Other plans proposed split
ting the Internet into separate
channels for kids, businesses and
nonprofit groups.
Brass Rail
Est. 1935
There’s no cover on Thursdays and
we offer the best specials in town!
The First 100 People Wearing a Bra get
Drink Specials all Night!
25 f, Drinks, 8-9
50^ Drinks, 9-10
$1 Drinks, 10-11
$1.50 Drinks, 11-12
FREE Pool from 7-11 Every Night!
Thank you for your patience with the
construction of our new addition inside.
Our new bathrooms will be done in a few weeks.
1436 O St.
U.S. Bank
bought
by Firstar
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS - Firstar
Corp. is buying U.S. Bancorp,
parent of Lincoln’s U.S. Bank,
for about $21 billion in stock in
a deal that would create the
nation’s ninth largest banking
company and extend the con
solidation in the financial serv
ices business.
The company formed by the
deal announced Wednesday
would have more than $160 bil
lion in assets and operations in
24 Western and Midwestern
states from California to Ohio.
U.S. Bancorp, the holding
company of U.S. Bank, has a
large presence in Nebraska and
Iowa. The deal was expected to
have little or no consumer or
employment impact in the two
states, bank officials told the
Omaha World-Herald.
ine aeai is me largest m me
financial services industry since
last month’s $35 billion merger
pact between Chase Manhattan
and J.R Morgan.
The dealmaking is driven by
the notion economies of scale
will improve efficiency and pro
duce savings for their cus
tomers. Critics argue the deals
will reduce competition in the
banking industry and drive
financial services fees higher.
The Firstar-U.S. Bancorp
deal has been approved by the
boards of both companies and
they expect it will be completed
in the first quarter of 2001, sub
ject to shareholder and regula
tory approval.
The combined company
will do business under the U.S.
Bancorp name and be head
quartered in Minneapolis,
where U.S. Bancorp is currently
based. Firstar is based in
Milwaukee.
Under terms of the deal,
Firstar will swap 1.265 of its
shares for each share of U.S.
Bancorp.
jLfuavu uxi x xxjiui o tiuaiug
price TUesday of $22.25 a share,
that would make the deal worth
$28.15 for each U.S. Bancorp
share, 21 percent more than
U.S. Bancorp’s closing price
Hiesday of $23.19.
Shares of Firstar were down
$3.25 to $19 in late morning
trading Wednesday, while
■ shares of U.S. Bancorp rose 18.7
cents to $23,375.
Jerry Grundhofer, president
and chief executive of Firstar,
will continue in those positions.
“We are both devoted to
high standards of customer
service, and we have a lot of
other strengths to offer each
other in areas ranging from
sales culture to information
technology,” Grundhofer said.
Firstar has about $74 billion
in total assets, nearly 1,200
banking offices and more than
2,200 ATM locations across the
country.
U.S. Bancorp has $86 billion
in assets and operates approxi-,
mately 1,000 banking offices in
the Midwest and West.
Classifieds
(402)472-2588
FAX: (402) 472-1761
dn@unl.edu
$5.25/15 words
$3.50/15 words (students)
$0.15 each additional word
$0.75 billing charge
$0.75/line headline
Deadline: 4 p.m. weekday prior
200s for sale
205 Bicycles For Sale
Used men’s bicycle, $20. Call (402) 742-5515,
leave message.
210 Books For Sale
Literally hundreds of National Geographies,
some collector sets. Call for information on
issues and prices. Call (402) 770-3347.
216 Computers For Sale
Computer
Apple iMac, 7 months new, grape, 400MHz
Power PC, G3 processor, 64MB ram, 10GB HD,
slot loading DVD. Rom drive, built in 56K v.90
modem, comes with all pre-installed software
PLUS, a Zip drive. Totally excellent condition, I’ll
miss this computer, but you'll love it! No ship
ping, no taxes. Great deal for a great computer.
$1,150. Call (402) 770-3347.
HP 8670 Computer. Intel Pill 600mhz, 128mb
ram, 30gb HD, DVD, CD-RW, 56k modem, NIC,
SmbAGP Graphics. Loaded with software. 5
year extended warranty. $900 OBO.
402-327-9114.
IBM, Dell, Compaq, Toshiba Laptops. Prices
from $295. 30-Day Warranty visit
www.usedlaptops.com.
PC Software for Sale
Titles include: Magic: The Gathering Encyclope
dia ($25), Rainbow Six ($20), Rainbow Six:
Rogue Spear ($25), WWII Fighters ($10), and
Mechwarrior 3 ($20). All titles in excellent condi
tion and include1 original box and manuals. Call
476-5079, evenings please.
Used computers starting at $175 and up. Also,
parts and upgrades. Call Mike at 477-6977 or
474-1472.
220 Furniture For Sale
Brown hide-a-way couch (makes into a bed) and
peach chair. Only $50 for both OBO. Call Jessi
ca after 6pm, or leave message. 402-327-8696.
Full and Queen size mattress sets. New and in
plastic. Never used. 10 years warranty. Retail for
$439 and $639. Sell for $165 for the Full, Queen
$195.477-1225.
Grey Queen hide-a-bed with matching love seat.
Good condition. $200 or best offer. 423-0242
240 Misc. For Sale
Aquarium For Sell
5 Gallon aquapum, excellent condition. Comes
with filter, cleaning tools and water solutions,
rocks, plants and four small, very cute healthy
fish. $35 for all. Total bargain for this complete
setup! Call (402) 770-3347,
Alto Saxaphone
King 613 Alto Saxaphone with everything In
cluded. Meyer mouthpiece, orginal case plus
hard gig bag, music stand, instrument stand,
beginning thru advanced music books, padded
neckstraps, and more. Asking $290 OBO. Call
Tim in Lincoln at (402) 423-7882.
Answering Machine
Panasonic cordless digital answering machine,
black, excellent condition, one year new. $40.
Call (402) 770-3347,
. Arcade Games
Street Fighter II Champ. Edition and Final Fight
fullsize upright arcade games. Perfect for the
house gameroom or dorm room (it will fit, I
promise) 477-0397.
BARTENDERS MAKE $100-$250 PER NIGHT!
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! CALL NOW!!
1-800-981-8168 ext. 9073. -_
SOUND/RECORDING System
6 channel/4 track mixer, power amp, mics,
stands, speakers, accessories. Quality/Clean,
486-0382, 540-2316.
dn@unl.edu
240 Misc. For Sale
Mid 70’s Kustom 200w. powered. 6-channel
P.A. with two 15 inch cabinets and two horns.
$350. 423-0242.
Surplus City
Scooters, camoflauge, airsoft pistols, jeans and
much more. 3241 South 13th. 420-5151.
TI-89 Graphing Calculator with manual &
graphlink, $120.477-7691.
Work from home, $25 an hour part-time to $75
an hour full-time. 1-888-570-4848. rich
esbeginhere.com
260 Sporting Goods
Yakima Racks and Accessories. All good condi
tion. Towers, cross bar, bike tray, ski mounts,
and security cable. Towers for car with rain gut
ters (1A- raingutters) $65, Roundbar (crossbar
58”) $30, bike tray (sim. to CopperHead) $60.
PowderHound ski accesory- $50, 6ft. security
cable $15. This is an excellent deal! Call (402)
770-3347.
265 Stereos/TVs For Sale
19" color TV with remote control, $40. 25” color
TV with remote control, $80. Call (402)
742-5515, leave message.
MOVING-NEED TO SELL!!
Great Stereo System, Sony Receiver and
cd-player. Huge Cerwin Vega Speakers. Full
transferable warrantee. $900, want $650 o.b.o.
call 310-0979.
270 Ticket Exchange
Dixie Chicks
Floor Seats
4 seats, row 7 and 3 seats, row 12. Call
402-731-9389, leave message. Cash only.
amore28@aol.
Two Dixie Chicks tickets, $200 or BO. Call Jill
at 486-4393.
Will buy up to 6 tickets to Iowa State. Call
438-4409.
290 Vehicles For Sale
‘87 Mercury sable for sale. Very good V6 en
gine,automatic, air condition,cruise,power steel
ing, power mirror, 125k,looks good,runs great.
Asking $1250(a free rio300 mp3 player will go
with the car). Telephone: 474-3047, email:
gg1999@yahoo.com.
‘91 Honda Civic DX 2 door hatch back, 5 speed,
a/c, cd player, in great shape, 101K $3,200. Call
484-8992.
‘96 CHEVY Cavalier Z24, 1 owner,
sound/security system, p/w, p/I, tinted win
dows, car cover & front end bra included, great
maintenance record, 74K, $8100 obo. Call
402-310-0169.
1988 Dodge Shadow ES 107K. Black w/ tan in
terior. Good body, runs good. Needs approxi
mately $600 work. Bluebook $2200, asking
$1200. Call 477-7691 for details.
1992 Ford Rannger XLT, Ext Cab, Power Steer
ing, Air Conditioning, AM/FM Radio, Cassette,
132k miles, V-6, White w/ gray interior, bed liner,
looks and runs great. $4000 OBO 438-7697.
1995 Ford Probe. Black, leather, sunroof, p/w,
p/I, a/c, cd, 5spd. $6500 OBO, 464-3474.
1st $3000 takes it!
1993 Pontiac Sunbird, white, excellent condi
tion. 489-1855.
Sell your CAR or TRUCK with pictures FREE on
the internet at www.ezcariocator.com.
300s Services
300 Adoption
A young, happily married couple with much
to give want to share their love, laughter
and zest for life with a newborn. Medi
cal/legal expenses paid. Please call Sue
and Tom at 888-810-0852.
310 Automotive
1987 Nissan Sentra station wagon for sale.
Power steering, A/C, AM/FM cassette, 5 speed,
116 K miles. $1200.436-7284.
For Sale: 1994 Mazda Protege DLX. Excellent
condition, A/C, PS, cassette, 4 dr., $3,450.
483-4887.
350 Health and Fitness
Attention
Need 31 people who seriously want to lose
weight. Great business opportunity. Flexible
hours. Call (402)730-3745 or 1-888-390-5645.
Natural Herbal
Breast Enlargement
Safe, effective, and affordable. Please visit
www.figureplus.com, 1-888-603-9800. Distribu
torships also available.
365 Legal Services
Auto Accidents & DWI
Other criminal matters, call Sanford Pollack,
476-7474.
Auto Accidents/DWIs
And all other criminal and civil matters, call
Franklin E. Miner, 423-4417.
Automobile Accidents
and DWI
Call Jeffery F. Dean at 435-2424. 24 hour line.
370 Misc. Services
720 Snow Board Shop
New at 720 Snow Board shop: Burton, stocking,
boards, boots, bindings, and accessories from
this great company. Also at 720 Snow Board
shop: Northways, Never Summer, and Drake.
Selected items marked down plus package
deals on boards, boots, and bindings. 720
Snow Board Shop has a complete setup for tun
ing boards for the upcoming season. 27th and
Vine, 475-2453.
370 Misc. Services
Cycle Works
our bike i
Don’t put your bike away just yet. The expert
mechanic staff is waiting to tune up or upgrade
your bicycle with the newest and greatest part.
Expert repairs on all makes and models with
quick turn-around time. Close to campus, 27th
and Vine. 475-2453.
For all your insurance needs: auto, home, health,
life and business, call Jim Wallace at American
Family Insurance, 1340 L St., Lincoln, NE 68508
or call 402-474-5077.
Need Affordable Health
Insurance?
Call 24 hours. 477-8383.
NEED PAPERS TYPED?
Reasonable rates. Rush jobs extra. 464-3013.
378 Pregnancy
Free
Pregnancy Test
Birthright is a confidential helping hand. Please
call for appointment or more information,
483-2609. Check out our website
www.birthright.org.
400s Housing
400 Roommates
2 roommates needed for either 2 bedroom
apartment or 2 bedroom house. Both close to
East Campus. F. 325-6893.
Christian guy needs clean, N/S roommate be
tween now and December. Roommate is qettino
married. 484-7062.
daily neb. com