We've found that the current economic crisis has so many negative components that it justifies a new term: Vorteconomics.

The Federal Reserve, in what can only be described as an extremely rare weekend action, boldly moved Sunday night to provide lower the discount rate from 3.5% to 3.25%, along with additional actions to provide cash to Wall Street investment houses that may be financially squeezed. The unique action intended to prevent a spreading credit crisis from crushing the American economy.

Early this morning, the Federal Reserve Bank lowered both the market rates and discount rates in an emergency move to stave off an anticipated major sell off in the markets.

Long before the political season began, the topic of the Iraq and Afghan wars were top of the chart in the political discussion of the nation. As the candidates announced, each came out with a public position on the matter, pro or con.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has told the Singaport Straits Times that US forces are not welcome in Pakistan in their hunt for Osama Bin Laden or any other Al Qaeda leaders. He made it extremely clear that the US military mission would be unwelcome and "against the sovereignty of Pakistan".

Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain won the New Hampshire primaries for their parties.

Senators Christopher Dodd (D - Conn) and Joe Biden (D - Del) have withdrawn from the Presidential race after significant losses in Iowa.

Defining human collateral, we refer to it as the effort a business owner and those working with or for him or her put into the operation of an enterprise, whether that entity be new, acquired or inherited.

Lending to small businesses without a business plan is risky business.

The economy today is in oddly similar conditions to that of 1928-29 before the New York Stock Exchange crash of October 29th, 1929.

The assassination of Benizir Bhutto in Rawalpindi, Pakistan recently has sent economic, political and financial ripples throughout the world.

In the world of food and beverage, government is a willing, though sometimes disinterested party to the marketing and growth of agribusinesses.

In an important article in the Louisville-Courier's Sunday Business section, our Chairman, Robert Angelone, has been quoted on the subject of international pizza chain expansion.

Making the choice between one country or another to decide where your company will expand is not an easy task for any business leader. One must weigh issues such as marketshare, costs required to set up your business in that country and so many other factors that it becomes overwhelming.