Transaction Platforms; Italian Weddings; Gross-Ups

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

TRANSACTION PLATFORMS

   Today's WALL STREET JOURNAL has a large "E-COMMERCE" special section.
Nothing much new, however.  From that section, 10-23-2000, pg. R42, col. 2:

   A slew of companies are racing to open up the newest frontier of real
estate on the Internet: "transaction platforms," in which all the documents
involved in a home purchase can be uploaded to the Internet and transferred
back and forth between all parties in milliseconds.

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ITALIANS OF THE NORTH & ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

   From the FINANCIAL TIMES, 23 October 2000, pg. 10, col. 5:

_On a wavelength_
_with the Danes_
Language is not a problem--but doing business with the "Italians of the
north" requires tact, argues Sergey Frank
(...)  Throughout Scandinavia, communication is characterised by calmness and
understatement.  This applies to Danes, too, although they are known for
being more temperamental than Swedes and Norwegians and are sometimes
described as the "Italians of the north."

   Nah.  Can't be I was just there.  They have Starbucks and Pizza Hut.
   Across the street from the library, the Bread place is selling "Italian
Wedding Soup."  A web check shows that this is "escarole soup."  What Italian
wedding did they take it from?

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UPPER DECILE

   From the FINANCIAL TIMES, 23 October 2000, pg. 10, Business Education
section:

   Some make vague hints about how salaries with them are in the "upper
decile" (whatever that means).

(Does it mean they're centimillionaires?--ed)

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GROSS-UP

   From the FINANCIAL TIMES, 23 October 2000, pg. 6, col. 6, Mastering
Management section:

   All other compensation typically includes "gross-ups" to cover for tax
liabilities, perquisites, preferential discounts on stock purchases,
contributions to benefit plans and severance payments.

   Gross-up.
   I've seen people "up."  It's gross!