They then took millions of dollars in ransom

It has supporters among the Muslim-dominated local residents but has been largely dormant since its top leaders were killed in a series of encounters with troops in late 2006 and early 2007.APPEAL"I am appealing to the Abu Sayyaf to free those people, because they are neutral in any conflict," Gordon said. They have held them for months and secured large ransoms for their release.In 2000, Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped over a dozen Western tourists from a beach resort in Malaysia and brought them to Jolo. They then took millions of dollars in ransom.A year later, the group attacked a luxury resort in the western Philippines and took away about 20 tourists and hotel workers. Compact and Concise: Henry Business Solutions Offers One-Page BusinessPlanning to Jump-Start the New YearBIRMINGHAM, Mich., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ Companies large and smallacross Michigan have a new, easy, and innovative tool available to help withtheir business planning process, now available exclusively through HenryBusiness Solutions (HBS)."The One Page Planning and Performance System is a proven Internet-basedbusiness planning process, and is considered the number one web-based planningtool on the market today," according to HBS Chief Executive Officer PatriciaHenry Poyle, whose company has recently been qualified and licensed to provideand implement the system."In these tough economic times, it's more important than ever fororganizations of all sizes to plan wisely and be able to easily track progressto their plan. "The most usefulaspect is that the system uniquely links business planning and strategy withthe ability to regularly track performance and accountability within anorganization."Typically, a user of the One Page Planning and Performance System can usethe system to plan a mission, vision, and strategies for their organizationthree years out, and to identify implementation goals for the coming year,Poyle explained She added that the planning process is highly flexible.

Itcan be used for a total organization, or adapted to meet the needs of a singleprofit center, project, or program.Companies who have successfully adopted the One Page Planning andPerformance System include Oracle, AOL, Herman Miller, Kaiser Permanente, andIKON Office Systems. For more information, please contact Poyle at (248) 220-1805.ABOUT HENRY BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: HBS is a business coaching andintellectual talent mentoring firm that offers a range of solutions to helpowners, managers, and executives be more successful personally andprofessionally. HBS CEO Patricia Henry Poyle has over 22 years of experienceas a Fortune 100 executive and business strategist. Now they’re jumping ship.Following his team’s latest drubbing, a 30-6 debacle at the hands of the Chicago Bears, Cleveland’s Jamal Lewis announced that he would retire at the end of the season.Lewis sidestepped his way to the Browns in 2007 after six solid seasons in Baltimore (excluding 2001, when missed the entire season due to injury).

The only other Browns back to top 1,000 yards since the team's return in 1999 was Reuben Droughns, in 2005. That Lewis did it twice in two seasons never seemed to be quite good enough for Cleveland fans.This year, he's rushed for 349 yards in six games, having sat out two with injury. Lewis now has 10,456 yards in his career, good for 22nd on the all-time list. Perhaps he’d made up his mind before the season began that it would be his last. He set what was then an NFL single-game rushing record of 295 yards for Baltimore against the Browns in 2003.

He’s clearly slowed in recent years and is not the dominant runner he once was. He also plays for one of the most inept offenses in the league.What’s surprising is that he announced it midseason. The not-so-subtle message The team is in shambles, and it’s just not worth the trouble any longer.Last season, after one particularly dismal performance, Lewis and return specialist Josh Cribbs both suggested that some players on the Browns simply quit. Then-coach Romeo Crennel denied it, as he had to, but coming from two of the team’s toughest players, it had a ring of truth to it.Lewis must be embarrassed by what’s passing for pro football in Cleveland these days and surely wants no part of it any longer. Give him credit for sticking out the rest of the season, and give him his due.