Ups and downs

Ups to King Hill and Dan Rose. The pair last month completed a deal that gave Rose the assets of his former company, FutureNext, and provided Hill’s DigiKnow with a larger customer base and expanded operations in Dallas. A good success story in troubled economic times.

Downs to terrified investors who threw salt on the wounds of Americans by creating a selling frenzy after the tragic events in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Whatever happened to unwritten rules that help stabilize an economy rather than harm it?

Ups to area businesses that joined rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts in New York and Washington, D.C., following September’s terrorist attacks. Bottom lines went out the window as business leaders stepped up to help out without worrying about what it would cost them.

Downs to Northeast Ohio gas station owners who jacked up prices within hours of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Profiteering from tragedy is a callous business practice.

Ups to patriotism, which has returned with a bang after years of indifference about America. It’s an unfortunate way to receive a long-overdue wake-up call.