Pictures from the Past

Gail Whitehouse, 1995

(former General Manager, American Leasing, Santa Clara, California, 1998 joined Trinity Capital, San Francisco, California, part-time, then full time, now Vice-President, Systems Application Manager at Bank of the West, San Francisco
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/gail-whitehouse/13/988/100

Classified Ads---Sales

(These ads are “free” to those seeking employment or looking
to improve their position)

Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

Repeal of 1099 Provision Goes to President for Signature

One of the most controversial aspects of the Health Care Bill was the reporting of all payments to corporations, expanding 1099 requirements in 2012. Presently the 1099 provisions requires reporting from all businesses payments totaling over $600 per year to partnership and proprietorships (including employees above payroll such as cash, gifts, bonuses.) The new provision would have raised an expected $19 billion to help pay for health reform. It also would have recording transactions to foundations, political activity groups, and criminal groups as well as terrorists as the payments could be matched against banking and tax return records in this computer age. It would also have been able to track many of the transactions where sales tax was not being paid to states

After passing the House of Representatives, Tuesday the Senate, who in February voted 71-17 to repeal the provision, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan voted 87-12 to pass the bill to change the law. It now goes to President Barack Obama, who has stated in his State of the Union speech he would accept the change, despite his concerns about how to replace the money the provision would have raised, or the benefits of the change in the regulation to include corporation payments.

[headlines]
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Funders Looking for a Broker List---Up-date

Mesa Leasing has announced in addition to California, they are now accepting leases from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.

Mesa funds problem credits, off beat equipment, and start ups. They look for additional collateral to support the lease transaction, which can be real estate, but they state it is generally other equipment.

A -Accepts Broker Business | B -Requires Broker be Licensed | C -Sub-Broker Program
| D -"Private label Program" | E - Also "in house" salesmen

Full List with Footnotes with access by index: http://www.leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/New_Broker.htm

[headlines]
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New Chairman of Truck Renting/Leasing

Terrence " Terry" Dubowick was named 2011-2012 chairman of the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA). A member of the Truck Leasing & Rental Association Board of Directors since 1999, he previously was the Association’s Vice Chairman.

Dubowick is Director Leasing for Mack Trucks, previously his was Director Leasing for Volvo Trucks North American for seven years and District Manager of Penske Truck Leasing for three years.

He began career in 1982 with Hertz Penske Truck Leasing in Northern New Jersey where he was initially responsible for sales and later district management. In 1991 he joined AMI Leasing as the Metro Region Operations Manager accountable for branch locations from lower New York State through Maryland. He joined Mack Leasing System as the Northeast Region Manager in 1995 and was appointed Director in 1998. Currently Terry’s responsibilities include developing national account and dealer full service lease, rental and contract maintenance business across the Southeast and Southwest regions of the U.S.

Mack Leasing System and Volvo Truck Leasing System are business entities of Mack Trucks Inc. and Volvo Trucks North America, respectively, both of which are part of the Volvo Group. – a $42 billion company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden and employing approximately 100,000 people. Volvo is the one of world’s largest manufacturers of heavy-duty engines, and the second largest producer of heavy-duty trucks. The Volvo Group is also a global leader in buses, construction equipment, marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace technology and financial services. All of the Group’s businesses are focused on delivering commercial transportation solutions.

Terry and his wife Carol reside in North Carolina and have two children, Michael and Pilar.

TRALA, Alexandra, Virginia, was founded 1978 " to provide a unified and focused voice for the truck renting and leasing industry. TRALA's membership includes more than 500 leasing and rental firms and 100 suppliers that make up nearly the entire truck renting and leasing industry.

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

High Compensation to High Achievers Leasing Subsidiary of a National Bank Holding Company looking for experienced professionals (10+ years of experience in commercial finance industry) who can originate a volume of bank-qualified credits (primarily SEC reporting companies). Average transaction size from $1-20MM. Enjoy private office in our Southern California location. We offer excellent commission with a draw. Send resume in strictest confidence to: rose.jones98@yahoo.com

Operations Manager Los Angeles, CA Join one of the Monitor's Top Ten Independent Finance and Leasing Companies doing middle and large ticket transactions. Going on 22 years of successful, repeat business with an excellent reputation in the finance/lease community. Please email resume to: operations@julesandassociates.com We will contact you for a personal interview at our office in the financial district www.julesandassociates.com Jules and Associates, Inc. has been in business for over 20 years.

Syndication Manager Rancho Cucamonga, CA Knowledge of transportation industry a plus, but not required. Compensation commensurate with experience contact: wdalton@crlease.com We can finance or lease any make or model of truck, bus, or equipment

Marketing Genius Riverside, California Create, Design, Coordinate convention/trade shows marketing calls, remarketing assets/website Send resume: Dreynolds@a-zresources.com www.a-zresources.com A-Z Resources captive affiliate to a major business distributor founded in 1975, join our staff, generating over $120 million in combined sales.

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

[headlines]
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Full Report---What's Hot and What's Not in Equipment Leasing



(Lowest Score Being the Best)

What equipment will be popular to lease, and what perhaps to avoid or downplay, can be learned from the 155 responses, 93% were lessors, asset-based lenders, or financial advisors, and 7% were service providers, to the excellent report from the Independent Equipment Company, with the assistance of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.

"This year's results show that respondents felt that very strong (positive) future equipment leasing opportunities would exist in medical (+252), oil/gas/energy (+133), hi-tech/computer (+102), truck/trailer (+63), and machine tools (+47), while being greatly diminished in plastic (-49), automobiles (-76), construction (-83), FF&E (- 102), and printing - falling to a new record low of (-229).

It is interesting to note that this year's top and bottom scores, medical (+252), and printing (-229) are almost exact opposites, clearly showing preference within the industry. Also, as previously mentioned, this year printing broke the 21 year all-time low set by automobiles (-181) in the 2009 survey.

“ Overall, survey respondents rated six (6) equipment types very highly (+20 or greater), and six (6) equipment types very low; a slight improvement over last year.

"Thus, these results indicate that leasing companies continue to be very selective about which equipment types to focus on."

It is important to read the reports synopsis of what equipment managers and leasing companies remain optimistic in some of their equipment outlooks, yet decidedly pessimistic in others. From the Independent

Equipment Company:

1. Specifically, medical equipment was the clear winner in this year’s survey, finishing in first place for a record sixth year in a row. In addition, this sector also showed the greatest increase in residual values (+23) of all equipment types. This very strong finish is believed to highlight the medical industry’s preference for leased equipment, which continues unabated, driven by demographics linked to the ‘baby-boomer’ generation. This flies in the face of the potential negative impact that healthcare “reform” could have on the sector, along with various potential DRA reimbursement cuts, rules, etc., aimed at the industry, potentially making used equipment more desirable.

2. Oil/gas/energy finished in second place this year, after finishing in third place in the last survey. This sector showed a slight improvement in preference (+2) and also finished just behind medical with the second largest increase in residual value position (+22). This finish continues to reflect optimism by some over opportunities in ‘clean energy’ technology and equipment. In addition, a drilling boom has developed in the natural gas/oil segment which has caused solid increases in drilling rig values.

3. Machine tools finished in third place with a minor increase (+1) in preference over last year. This ranking is believed to be linked to the dramatic turnaround in the domestic and the global manufacturing sector which caused sales in the primary market to increase by over 85%. This ranking is also believed to be linked to financing choices relative to smaller ticket size opportunities related to one-off deals, or large vendor product line financings, or entire manufacturing plant fundings. Furthermore, the secondary market for machine tools has also improved dramatically over the past year.

4. Truck/trailer finished in fourth place with a sharp increase of (+9) in preference; the same increase as in last year’s survey. There is significant renewed optimism in this equipment type as sales of both new and used truck/trailers increased smartly along with prices. In addition, the freight tonnage index has been steadily improving every month.

5. Hi-tech/computers rounded out the top five showing a moderate decline in preference (-6) from last year’s score. This industry continues to operate on very low margins yet has a very large secondary market base. Thus, volume is important. Over the past year, hi-tech/computer market has been status quo.

6. Aircraft finished in sixth place showing a significant improvement in preference (+9) over last year’s survey. However, it ranked third from the bottom in change of residual position. This indicates that respondents view this equipment market as being in a turnaround position with improvement showing in the commercial sector, and optimism rising in the beleaguered business jet segment. However, the rising price of fuel could negatively impact profits in this industry.

7. Meanwhile, rail finished in seventh place with a moderate decline in preference (-4). This is believed to be linked to improving, but still somewhat soft conditions within this industry caused by a significant number (300,000+) of rail cars in storage. It is believed that once this problem has been resolved, the stage will be set for a strong turnaround within this market segment.

8. Containers/chassis finished in eighth place with an improvement in preference of (+3) over last year’s survey. This market’s segment is experiencing a tremendous comeback over a cataclysmic 2009 wherein current production volume has increased by some 10 times and day rates have nearly doubled. Conditions in this segment are very strong and look to remain so into the near future.

9. Construction finished in ninth place, the same place as last year with a slight decline in preference (-2). The market conditions for this segment are still somewhat soft although resellers are experiencing shortages in certain types of used equipment. This seems to be the result of the drastic declines in new equipment sales over the past two years. Market conditions for this segment are expected to remain soft for at least the next two years. This could present an opportunity to buy low and sell high in the near term.

10. Telecom finished in tenth place with a moderate decline in preference (-4) over last year’s survey. This equipment segment seems to be turning the corner in demand with major capex expansions being undertaken in order to significantly increase broadband capacity related to video and data transfer. In addition, the industry is also ramping up LTE (Long Term Evolution) to accommodate 4G mobile phones. Sales in the primary market and secondary market are expected to increase for the foreseeable future. Also, sales of IP PBX systems remain strong.

11. Marine/Intercoastal finished in eleventh place with a sizeable decrease in preference (-7). This preference decline is believed to be related to the supply and demand problems in the container shipping segment wherein deliveries of new container ships are rapidly outpacing shipping demand. Also, used marine vessel prices have improved only slightly over the past year. In addition, the offshore vessel market for the GOM has been adversely impacted by the drilling moratorium; however, intercoastal market conditions are quite good.

12. Automobiles finished in twelfth place with no net improvement in preference from last year. This equipment type has experienced increased sales in both the primary and secondary markets. New equipment sales are expected to increase for the third year in a row, and late model used car prices have increased so much they are impinging on new car prices. Also, the leasing penetration rate has increased in this sector.

13. Plastic finished in thirteenth place from last year’s eleventh place, showing a moderate decrease in preference of (-4). Currently, this market segment is experiencing a turnaround in almost all categories, with the sales of new injection molding equipment actually increasing after years of steady decline, and used prices increasing by 20% to 30+% year over-year. Thus, the stage has been set for a comeback in this equipment segment.

14. Next, FF&E finished in second to last position, after finishing fourth to last in the 2010 survey and also showed a moderate decline in preference of (-5). Even though sales in the primary market are forecast to increase this year, conditions in this secondary market remain bloated and are expected to remain so for at least another year or two. Also, some are skeptical of the industry’s forecast showing improvements in sales, considering the high unemployment rate and somewhat muted outlook for job creation, both having adverse impacts on office space. However, the outlook for bankruptcies shows improvement thus a potential flood of more used equipment on the market should be averted if the domestic economy stays on track.

15. Finally, printing equipment finished in last place, for the second year in a row with a decline in preference of (-2). This equipment type also had the steepest decline in assumed residual values of all equipment types; a dismal showing. The economics surrounding this industry are not healthy, as more and more publications, flyers, newspapers, etc. move away from print media to digital. Nonetheless, the industry appears to have bottomed during 2010 and is undergoing a slow and deliberate turnaround albeit working with a smaller end user base. Thus, price declines are slowing and discounts related to new equipment sales are falling. Market participants generally have a feeling of ‘cautious optimism’.

FINAL COMMENTS

This year marks the first year of positive survey results after two straight years of very negative findings. However, the results of the survey have improved annually from 2009's bottom. Thus, it is apparent that most, if not all equipment types – hit inflection points around December of 2009 with steady improvements following. In spite of this, knowledgeable operating lessors with solid marketing experience, may take a contrarian view to parts of this survey, and consider a sharp drop in popularity for a given equipment type to be an opportunity for future business success.

The Equipment Company reports lists the following comments received from the 155 responses about the greatest threats to the secondary market, and show that fear itself is still something to fear; don't let it depress you, just be concerned that those reporting continue to be aware about:

• the cost of financing for small/medium businesses which buy used equipment;

• slower economic growth than expected, rising interest rates;

• more bank foreclosures resulting in government attempts to manage bank lease

• portfolios, lacking the general knowledge and resources necessary to maximize portfolio values;

• access to capital to finance used equipment purchases;

• continued weak recovery, compared to past recoveries, with GDP growth rate weak and unemployment high;

• potential double dip recession negatively affecting Capex budgets;

• lack of liquidity;

• double dip recession;

• global economic recession, trade war, high interest rates, and continued regulations that obsolete equipment too quickly;

• poor economy and record high government debt;

• software re-licensing fees and OEM support;

• the overall economy;

• struggling economy, unemployment, housing (lack of new starts);

• slowing economy;

• $4.00+ gasoline; and

• downturn in the economy.
  

Full Report "What's Hot, What's Not:”
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/ELFA_hotnot411.pdf

New ELFF Study on Lessors Now Available

"The Place of Independents", written by Michael Fleming, CAE, and David Wiener, both from The Alta Group, has been published by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation (ELFF).

David Weiner says the report details both projections and certain traits for this market segment, including the impact of the recent economy and what opportunities still exist.

• What is the future role of independent equipment leasing and finance companies?

• How much has it changed from their past role?

• Will they be able to continue, in some fashion, to capitalize on the various market opportunities presented by the exits of many lessors?

• Are the changes to their role, if any, permanent or cyclical?

"Historically, independents have sustained a successful place in the industry, holding dominant market share largely due to an ability to seize opportunities quickly. However, in the last few years, however, consolidation and the aggressive growth of captive leasing companies and bank lessors have relegated independents to third place. But even with a relatively small market share today, their market size of $200 to $250 billion in new business volume annually presents a large and diverse playing field in which medium and large independent companies may find good niche markets and develop valuable specialties.

"The study addresses what can be learned from independents historically successful efforts to help design the future success strategy for independents.”

Foundation contributors can access the report for free. Non-donors may purchase a copy for $300.

To order:
https://www.store.leasefoundation.org/cgi-bin/msascartdll.dll/ProductInfo?productcd=Independent2011

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for investigations
and background information provided by John Kenny)

### Press Release ############################

Record Amount of Idle Money in US Bank Accounts

Nearly $6 trillion is sitting idle in checking, savings and MM accounts – seventy-five cents of each deposit dollar earning less than half of one percent in interest. Highest amount of liquid deposits in US banking history.

SAN ANSELMO, Calif. – A new analysis from Market Rates Insight (MRI, www.marketratesinsight.com) reveals that a historic-record amount of money is sitting idle in liquid accounts, such as checking, savings and MM, earning an average of less than one half of one percent in interest (44 basis points). As a point of reference, the annual inflation rate in February 2011 was 2.1 percent – nearly five times the average yield on these accounts.

In March 2011, total liquid deposits in domestic accounts reached a record high of $5.9 trillion. Never before in the history of US banking was such a large amount of money held in liquid accounts. The increase in liquid-account balances is attributed to increase in new deposit money as well as money that was moved from maturing CD accounts to checking, savings and MM accounts.

Liquid money now makes up a record of 75 percent of total deposit balances in the US bank accounts. In the last three years, March 2009-March 2011, nearly 13% of total deposits shifted from term accounts, such as CDs, to checking, savings and Money Market accounts. In March of 2009, during the last recession, liquid accounts balances made up 62.2 percent of total deposits. By March of 2011, liquid accounts balances, as percentage of total balances, reached a new height of 75 percent.

“The fact that a record amount of money is sitting idle in liquid accounts despite dismal returns is a vote of no confidence in the economy,” said Dan Geller, Ph.D. Executive Vice President at Market Rates Insight, “it is an indication that consumers are not yet confident enough about the prospects of economic recovery, and are reluctant to make a time commitment with their money.”

About Market Rates Insight
Market Rates Insight (MRI, www.marketratesinsight.com) is a reputabae provider of competitive-pricing information and analysis to financial institutions. MRI’s competitive data is complete, detailed and timely, which allows for the highest level of pricing precision. Therefore, the use of MRI’s competitive data ensures greater pricing optimization, and subsequently, improved profitability. In addition to competitive-pricing data, MRI also conducts pricing analysis and provides tracking of industry indexes. MRI’s indexes, published weekly in the National Pricing Indicators, are the industry standard for deposit pricing, and are viewed weekly by executives of banks and credit unions through video, audio and print channels.

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Global Medical Equipment Rental and Leasing Market
to Reach $56 Billion by 2017

The healthcare industry is booming, backed by growing elderly population; rising incidence of chronic diseases; increasing national expenditure on healthcare; and a growing need for medical procedures, products, and services. However, with rapid advancements in technologies, and surging prices for medical equipment, hospitals, healthcare practitioners, physicians, clinics and nursing facilities find it difficult to maintain their budget. Medical equipment leasing comes to the rescue in this scenario. Rental and leasing of medical devices is fast catching up in the healthcare sector, repelling the traditional loan and credit purchase system. Rental and leasing of medical equipment is an affordable and quick solution for hospitals, nursing homes, physicians, which are presently constrained by the availability of limited funds due to the recent global economic recession. Leasing enables saving working capital, gives option for purchasing the equipment, and allows up gradation to new technology. The commonly leased medical equipment includes X-ray machines, ultrasound systems, patient monitoring equipment, and laboratory equipment. The surging cost of imaging equipment led to a shift in the purchase model adopted by several hospitals and clinics.

The medical equipment leasing represents a complex market globally, and varies according to the type of equipment used in a particular country. Europe represents the single largest regional market for medical equipment rental and leasing worldwide, as stated by the new market research report on Medical Equipment Rental and Leasing.

Leasing is growing as the most preferred alternative method for financing medical technology in countries such as France, Germany, and the UK, due to the budgetary constraints faced by most of the hospitals in Europe. The German medical equipment market is the largest in the European region. The US represents the next important market for medical equipment, trailing behind the Europe. However, growth is expected to emanate from Rest of the World market, which is forecast to exhibit the fastest compounded annual growth of more than 7.0% during the analysis period.

The penetration of medical equipment lease financing in the US has been relatively low until 5-6 years ago, owing to the lack of awareness about leasing, reduction in reimbursements, and regulations influencing physician referrals. However, the scenario has changed in recent years, with currently about 35% to 40% of medical equipment in the US being leased.

Major players profiled in the report include Access Equipment Leasing, Agfa Finance Group, Baxter Capital Corporation, Elekta Group, GE Healthcare Financial Services, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., IBM Global Financing, Philips Medical Capital, Siemens Financial Services and Stryker Corporation.

The research report titled "Medical Equipment Rental and Leasing: A Global Strategic Business Report" announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of the Medical Equipment Rental and Leasing markets, current market trends, key growth drivers, an insight into the global leasing industry, recent industry activity, and profiles of major/niche global as well as regional market participants. The report provides annual sales estimates and projections for Medical Equipment Rental and Leasing market for the years 2009 through 2017 for the following geographic markets - US, Japan, Europe, and Rest of World. Also, a six-year (2003-2008) historic analysis is provided for additional perspective.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit - www.strategyr.com/Medical_Equipment_Rental_and_Leasing_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world's largest market research publishers. The company employs over 800 people worldwide and publishes more than 1200 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers thousands of smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports, and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

#### Press Release #############################

The Alta Group Strengthens its Latin American Unit

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, –The Alta Group’s Latin American subsidiary has expanded the responsibilities of four Alta professionals and added two senior managers to serve the growing equipment leasing and finance industry in Latin America.

Rafael Castillo-Triana

“We have reinforced our senior management team to support clients operating throughout Latin America, but especially in the areas of most promising economic development, namely Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia,” said Rafael Castillo-Triana, CEO of The Alta Group Latin American Region, LLC. Brazil is the “B” in BRICs, the largest growing economies worldwide; Mexico is leader of the N-11, the Next 11 largest growing economies; and Colombia is the “C” in CIVETS, which is the next group of countries with the most promising development, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Rafael Castillo-Triana, recently named CEO of The Alta Group Latin American Region, has led Alta’s Latin American operations for the past 12 years. He has been instrumental in Alta’s role as a core think tank for the Latin American equipment leasing and financing industry. Alta provides the most comprehensive information database available about equipment leasing in Latin America, through its annual release of The Alta LAR 100 Reports ©, and has successfully organized the Annual Latin American Leasing Conference © for the past nine years. Multilateral organizations have also tapped Castillo-Triana’s knowledge to benefit the development of leasing industries in emerging markets such as Madagascar, Tanzania, Ghana, Cameroon, Rwanda, Jordan, Yemen, the West Bank and Gaza, Kenya, and most recently Georgia.

Juan Neil Dodds

Juan (John) Neil Dodds, who joined Alta in 2009, has been appointed Senior Managing Director, Leader of the Vendor Financing Practice for Latin America and related Emerging Markets, as well as Co-Manager of coverage for the Southern Cone of the Americas, comprising the Mercosur countries and Chile. Dodds has extensive experience in vendor financing and asset management, having played key roles at CNH, AT&T Capital Corporation, CIT Group Inc., and Banco Comafi.

Guillermo Berretta

Guillermo Berretta, an Alta professional since 2009, has been named Senior Managing Director, Leader of the M&A and Funding Procurement Practice, as well as Co-Manager of the Southern Cone of the Americas. Berretta has extensive experience as former regional Chief Financial Officer for Argentina, Brazil and Chile for CIT Group, Inc., and CFO for The Capita Corporation de Argentina, under Banco Comafi’s control.

Raul Valencia del Toro, Esq.

Raul Valencia del Toro, Esq., recentl joined Alta as Senior Managing Director, Leader of the Legal Advisory Practice and Country Manager for Mexico. Valencia del Toro is a well respected attorney specializing in equipment leasing and financing, who was instrumental in the latest reforms to the leasing laws in Mexico. As Leader of the Legal Practice, Valencia del Toro directs Alta’s comprehensive network of Latin American law firms focused on equipment leasing, and builds on the expertise of other members of the team to provide legal advisory services in transactional matters, creditor rights representation, and corporate governance. While Alta does not practice law in the United States, the team based in Mexico and in each Latin American country provides in-country and cross border legal advice, relying upon the expertise, legal database, and guidance coming from the global resources of The Alta Group.

Valencia del Toro is assisted by Carlos Javier Ruiz Priego, who assumed the role of Executive Manager for the Legal Practice and the Mexican equipment leasing and financing market.

Melvin Lobo Dinis

Melvin Lobo Dinis, a seasoned professional in the Central American leasing industry based in San Jose, Costa Rica, recently joined Alta as Senior Managing Director, Leader of the Professional Development Division of The Alta Group Latin American Region, LLC, and Regional Manager for Central America and the Caribbean. Lobo is a former leasing executive for Banco Cuscatlan, Bantec (now trading as Scotialeasing), Improsa and other significant players in Central America. His solid foundation and training skills are currently serving the educational and professional development needs of the Latin American leasing industry.

Arnaldo Pieruccini

Arnaldo Pieruccini, an experienced professional with more than 40 years experience in the equipment leasing industry, is Senior Managing Director, and Country Manager for Brazil. He joined Alta in 2003. Pieruccini is supported by Luiz Gastão Leães Filho, Esq., a Brazilian attorney with more than 15 years of business and legal expertise focused in equipment financing.

Alta’s senior management team and consultants in Latin America provide clients with market entry support, strategic direction, human resources development, funding procurement, legal and tax advisory, accounting services and equipment vendor development. Additionally, governments in emerging markets count on the expertise of the team to reinforce their equipment leasing industries as engines for economic development, Castillo-Triana said.

### Press Release ##############################

Austin, Texas-- Adopt-a-Dog

Gaspar
Age: 1 Year Old
B reed: Poodle Mix
Adult Weight: 17 lbs.

Video:

Talk about a SWEET little dog! Gaspar was rescued from Town Lake after his family decided they no longer wanted him. Why we honestly can't imagine because he's a great dog! He's a spunky 1 year old Poodle Mix that has done wonderfully with other dogs, kids and even cats! He is house trained and has transitioned wonderfully into his foster home.

Gaspar is neutered, current on vaccinations, heartworm negative and micro chipped. Also included in his adoption is 30 days free health insurance!

Adoption Procedure:
http://www.austindog.org/adoption/adoption-information.html

http://www.austindog.org/

Adopt-a-Pet by Leasing Co. State/City
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Adopt_Pet.htm

Adopt a Pet
http://www.adoptapet.com/

--- News Briefs

Fed members raise specter of higher interest rates

Online ACH Services Starting To Have An Effect, NACHA Say

Billionaire Udvar-Hazy’s Air Lease Files for IPO

Caterpillar chief assures Quinn that company staying in state

Boeing details metal fatigue that ripped hole in 737

Chat Show Host Wendy Williams Out Dancing with the Stars

--- You May Have Missed

No recession for U.S. pets
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2011/04/05/No-recession-for-US-pets/UPI-61111302039783/

Sports Briefs----

Maroon Magic: A&M women's basketball team wins national title
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/headlines/20110405-maroon-magic-am-women_s-basketball-team-wins-national-title.ece

Sharks clinch the division with win over Kings
http://www.examiner.com/sports-in-san-jose/sharks-clinch-the-division-with-win-over-kings

Can Tiger Woods Rebound at the Masters?
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/04/05/tiger-woods-less-of-a-punch-line-but-less-of-a-winner/

The Huddle
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/index

((Please Click on Bulletin Board to learn more information))
(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)

“Gimme that Wine”

TWine Divorced From Food? Let’s Be Adults About It
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/dining/06pour.html?_r=1&ref=dining

Swanson Vineyards serves copious whimsy with wine
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/01/TREC1HV1N7.DTL&type=travel

French lab invests in St. Helena wine-testing startup
http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/32048/french-lab-invests-in-st-helena-wine-testing-startup/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Demand turnaround on radar for Central Coast wine grape growers
http://westernfarmpress.com/grapes/demand-turnaround-radar-central-coast-win

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com

http://www.wine-searcher.com/

US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/

Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas/\

Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm

    6-BC--Many Biblical scholars believe this date to be the actual date of the historical birth of Jesus Christ. The actual day of the month has never been declared, although many believe it is the 6th day of April, due to the many changes in what we now have as the present day calendar. Most scholars believe the correct year is 6BC. This is also the week of Jewish Passover. It should also be noted the Bible (John 18:28; 19:31) indicates that Christ was crucified on the eve of a Passover, and we know that it was sometime around the year AD 30. The Roman Catholic Church has December 25 and that is the accepted tradition, based primarily with many customs from non-Christian festival( Roman Saturnalia, Mithraic sun’s birthday, Teutonic Yule, Druidic and other winter solstice rites.)The Greek Orthodox Church and other orthodox churches celebrate on January 7 based on the old calendar ( Julian.)
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~sanhub/jcbirth.htm
http://www.holidays.net/passover/story.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~jptandy/tandyland/jesusbth.htm
    610 - Lailat-ul Qadar: The night that the Koran descended to Earth. Muhammad is believed by his followers to have had a vision of Gabriel. The angel told him to recite in the name of God. Other visions are supposed to have Gabriel lead Muhammad to heaven to meet God, and to Jerusalem to meet Abraham, Moses and Jesus. These visions convinced Mohammad that he was a messenger of God.
    1712-The first rebellion of African-American slaves in a colony occurred in New York City. Six whites were killed. The militia was called out to suppress the revolt. Twenty-one African-American salves ( some accounts say 12 ) were executed by hanging, and six committed suicide. Three decades later, in 1741, a rash of suspicious fires caused fears of another slave rebellion to sweep the city. Although no conclusive evidence of a slave conspiracy were uncovered, several slaves were coerced into confessing and implicating others. By the time the hysteria died down, thirty-one slaves and four whites had been hanged.
In the years after the American Revolution, the state of New York enacted legislation to gradually emancipate its slaves. By the first decade of the nineteenth century, the institution of slavery had ceased to exist in New York and most other northern states.
    1830- James Augustine Healy, the first black Roman Catholic bishop in America, was born to an Irish planter and a slave on a plantation near Macon, Georgia.
http://www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/website/features/healy0805.htm
http://www.famousamericans.net/jamesaugustinehealy/
http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bhealy.html
    1735- The first Moravians from Europe arrived in America. Invited by colonial governor James Oglethorpe, ten males of the "Unitas Fratrum" landed in Savannah, Georgia after sailing from England in February.
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/mora-toc.htm
http://www.moravian.org/history/
    1777-The first Marine officer killed in service was John Fitzpatrick, a second lieutenant in the Continental Marines, who was killed when the Alfred, a 24-gun frigate under command of Captain Samuel Nicholas, was attached off Block Island, RI, by the 20-gun H.M.S. Glasgow.
    1786-Birthday of Sacagawea (also Sacajawea), American explorer, a legend as the reason of the success of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition.
http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/inside/saca.html
    1830- Under the leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr. , The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded with six members in a log cabin at Fayette, NY. The event occurred in the home of Peter Whitmer. Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, declared that an angel of God had shown him gold plates of which was engraved a divine scripture, The Book of Mormon, which he has translated. The official title of the Mormon Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints.
    1846-- Dred Scott claims freedom. Slave Scott files a declaration according to which, two days earlier, his owner had "beat, bruised, and ill-treated him" and imprisoned him for twelve hours. Scott adds that he claims to be a free man by virtue of his past residence in free territories.March of 1857, Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney -- a staunch supporter of slavery -- wrote the "majority opinion" for the court. It stated that because Scott was black, he was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue. The decision also declared the Missouri Compromise of 1820, legislation which restricted slavery in certain territories, unconstitutional. While the decision was well-received by slaveholders in the South, many northerners were outraged. The decision greatly influenced the nomination of Abraham Lincoln to the Republican Party and his subsequent election, which in turn led to the South's secession from the Union.
Peter Blow's sons, childhood friends of Scott, had helped pay Scott's legal fees through the years. After the Supreme Court's decision, the former master's sons purchased Scott and his wife and set them free. Dred Scott died nine months later.
    1853-The City of Portland, Oregon, known as the “City of Roses” established.
    1862-Battle of Shiloh. General Ulysses S. Grant’ s Union forces at Shiloh, or Pittsburgh Landing, TN, were attack by a large force under General Albert Sidney Johnston. After heavy fighting, the first day of the battle ended without a conclusive victory for either side. Grant was reinforced before the Confederates on the second day and Confederate General Beauregard, in command after Johnston’s death the previous day, ordered a retreat back to Orinth, MS, leaving the Federal troops in a stronger position in Tennessee than before the battle. Losses on both sides totaled more than 23,000.
    1865--EDDY, SAMUEL E. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 37th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Sailors Creek, Va., 6 April 1865. Entered service at: Chesterfield, Mass. Birth: Vermont. Date of issue: 10 September 1897. Citation: Saved the life of the adjutant of his regiment by voluntarily going beyond the line and there killing one of the enemy then in the act of firing upon the wounded officer. Was assailed by several of the enemy, run through the body with a bayonet, and pinned to the ground, but while so. situated he shot and killed his assailant.
    1865-- At the Battle of Little Sailer's Creek, one fourth of Lee's army is cut off by Union troops pursuing him to Appomattox.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va093.htm
http://www.historynet.com/magazines/civil_war_times/3036776.html
    1866 ---Birthday of Joseph Lincoln Steffens, journalist and famous muckraker.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Steffens
    1868 -Mormon church leader Brigham Young, 67, married his 27th and last wife, Anna Eliza, who wound up suing him for divorce.(In all, Brigham Young's wives bore him 47 children., and was married 27 times, according to a source considered by historians as “accurate;” however, others believe she was his 18th wife.) “ Eliza soon dropped from the role of ordinary wife to that of neglected wife; and finally, July 28, 1873, she sued Brigham for divorce, and demanded a substantial share of his fortune. It is necessary to pause here for a moment to repeat a caution given several times before. Ann Eliza Webb posed as Brigham's nineteenth wife, and custom has fixed that as her number. There is just as good warrant for calling her the twenty-ninth, or the hundred and nineteenth. At the time of her marriage there were known to be eighteen other women with whom Brigham had sustained or was sustaining marital relations. Careful search probably would have doubled the number, and not even Brigham could have told to hove many women he had been "sealed." The marriage ceremony was sufficient to cover cohabitation in every case; and no domestic census-taker could have drawn the line between the three sorts of spouses. Brigham’s answer to this divorce suit was a bit startling. He pleaded that there was no marriage between himself and the plaintiff which the laws of the United States recognized; and therefore, there was no occasion for divorce. Judge McKean was plainly embarrassed by the situation, yet quite as plainly determined to use it to the injury of the Mormon emperor. On February 25, 1875, McKean ordered Brigham to pay Ann Eliza $3,000 for attorney's fees and $500 per month alimony pending a final decision. Brigham's attorneys took an exception, and prepared to appeal to the supreme court of the territory. The delay thus occasioned did not suit judge McKean. On March 8, he cited Brigham to appear before him, and show cause why he should not be punished for contempt of court in not having paid the required money. Brigham appeared in court three days later, and after a short argument by his attorneys, was sentenced to pay a fine of $25 and to be confined one day in the penitentiary. He was taken to his home by the deputy marshal, and after dining and being supplied with some clothing, was driven to the jail. Here, he was locked for a short time in a cell, and then allowed to pass the night in a room opening off the warden's office. The following day, March 12, 1875, he walked out free, into the arms of a worshipping crowd who had assembled to do him homage.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/s_z/young.htm
http://www.helpingmormons.org/mormon_empire.htm
http://www.helpingmormons.org/mormon_empire.htm
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/s_z/young.htm
    1882-Birthday of Rose Schneiderman, a pioneer in the battle to increase wages and improve working conditions for women. Rose Schneiderman was born at Saven, Poland, and her family immigrated to the US six years later. At age 16 she began factory work in New York City’s garment district and quickly became a union organizer. Opposed to the open-shop policy, which permitted nonunion members to work in a unionized shop, Schneiderman organized a 1913 strike of 25,000 women shirtwaist makers. She worked as an organize for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGUW) and for the Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL), serving as president for more than 20 years. During the Great Depression President Roosevelt appointed her to his Labor Advisory Board---the only woman member Died August 11,1972, at New York, NY.
1883, Vernon Dalhart, the first singer of country songs to gain national attention, was born in Jefferson, Texas. Dalhart, whose real name was Marion Try Slaughter, was not really a country singer. He began his career singing pop songs and light opera selections. But it was when he turned to hillbilly songs in 1925 that Dalhart made music history. His recording of "The Prisoner's Song" and "The Wreck of the Old 97" was the biggest-selling non-Christmas hit of the pre- rock 'n' roll era. Dalhart recorded for more than 30 labels and under dozens of pseudonyms. He died on September 15th, 1948.
    1896- The first modern Olympics formally opened at Athens, Greece, after a 1,500 year hiatus. There were 311 competitors, all men, representing 13 nations. The very first race was the opening heat of the 100 meters, won by Francis Lande of the US. He finished fourth in the final won by another American, Thomas Burke. The first Olympics were funded by the sale of commemorative stamps and medals and by a gift of one million drachmas from George Averoff, an architect.
    1900-Jim Jeffries, 250 pounds, knocked out Jack Finnegan, 180 pounds, in 55 seconds of the first round at Detroit, MI, to win the heavyweight boxing championship title. It is the first, and only bout, won in under one minute.
    1904- The Fidelity Contract Company, Rochester, New York, became the first installment finance company to purchase installment contracts from retail dealers. They eventually became the Bankers Commercial Corporation of New York City.
    1907 - The War Developement has decided to retain the military prison at Alcatraz and not transfer it, as it was proposed, to Angel Island or the Presidio. Officials contend that Alcatraz affords the best opportunity for taking care of prisioners and preventing their escape. The battalion consisting of companies E, F, G and H, 22nd Infantry, will withdraw fro mthe Island, and permanent prison guard will be substituted.
    1909- The St. Canadian credit union of Massachusetts, NH, was charged with the help of Alphonese Desjardins, Canadian credit union pioneer, and became the first credit union in the United States.
    1909- Robert E. Peary reached the North Pole after several failed attempts. The team consisted of Peary, leader of the expedition: Matthew A. l-Jenson, a black man who had served with Peary since 1886 as ship’s cook, carpenter and blacksmith, and then as Pear/s co-explorer and valuable assistant and four Eskimo guides—Coquesh, Ootah, Eginwah and Seegloo. They sailed July 17, 1908, on the ship Roosevelt, wintering on Ellesmere Island. After a grueling trek with dwindling food supplies, Henson and two of the Eskimos were first to reach the Pole. An exhausted Peary arrived 45 minutes later and confirmed their location. Dr. Frederick A. Cook, surgeon on an earlier expedition with Peary, claimed to have reached the Pole first, but that could not be substantiated and the National Geographic Society credited the Peary expedition.
    1917-The US Enters World War I, which began in 1914. 1917. Two days after the US Senate voted eighty-two to six to declare war against Germany, the US House of Representatives endorses the declaration by a vote of 373 to fifty, and the US enters World War I. Four days earlier, President Woodrow Wilson [28 Dec 1856 – 03 Feb 1924], who initially sought a peaceful resolution to the war in Europe, appeared before a joint session of Congress and urged a declaration of war, citing Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare against US vessels traveling in the Atlantic.T he first US “Doughboys” landed in France June 27, 1917.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/apr06.html
    1918-bassist Red Callendar born Richmond, VA.
    1924-Tenor Sax player Charlie Rouse born, Washington, DC
http://www.eyeneer.com/Reviews/Current/yeah.html
    1927-Baritone sax player Gerry Mulligan born at New York, NY. He performed with many great jazz musicians including Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker and Duke Ellington, and is credited with helping create the cool-jazz movement with Miles Davis. Mulligan died Jan 20, 1996, at Darien, CT.
    1928-Birthtday of James Watson, discoverer (with Francis Crick) of the structure of DNA, born Chicago, IL
    1929-Birthday of pianist, composer, conductor Andre Previn, born Berlin, Germany.
http://www.cdandlp.com/item/2/0-1601-14-1-0/1318764_Andre_Previn_Shelly_Mann.html
    1931-Nine black youths went on trial at Scottsboro, AL, accused of raping two white women on a freight train. All were convicted in a hasty trial, but by 1950 were free by parole, appeal or escape.
    1936 - a massive pair of tornadoes, rated F4 on the Fujita scale, killed 203 persons, injured 1600, and caused over 13 million dollars damage in Gainsville, Georgia. The business district of the town was almost entirely destroyed as the tornado left a 4 block wide path of destruction in its wake. The largest death toll in one building in US history from a single tornado occurred when then Cooper Pants factory collapsed and caught fire. 70 people were killed.
    1937-guitarist/song writer Merle Haggard born Bakersfield, CA.
http://rollingstone.com/artists/bio.asp?oid=3135&cf=3135
http://www.merlehaggard.com/
    1938—Teflon invented. Polytetraflouroethylesne reside was invented by Roy J. Plunkett while he was employed by E.I. Du Point de Nemours & Co. Commonly known as Teflon, it revolutionized the cookware industry. The substance or something similar coat three-quarters of the pots and pans in America at the time of Plunkett’s death in 1994.
    1939-Harry James records “Two O’Clock Jump” Brunswick 8337.
    1940—Duke Ellington Band records, “Jack the Bear, “ “KoKo,”
    1944-Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and Papas was born in Long Beach, California. She married John Phillips, leader of the Mamas and Papas. The group's first album in 1965 yielded three hit singles - "Monday, Monday," "California Dreamin"' and "I Call Your Name." After several more albums in the mid-'60s, the group broke up. A new lineup of The Mamas and Papas began touring in the '80s, with MacKenzie Phillips, John's daughter, replacing Michelle Phillips and Spanky MacFarlane replacing the deceased Cass Elliot.
    1945-Two US destroyers, two ammunition ships and a tank-landing ship were sunk off the coast Of Okinawa when the Japanese Air Force launched 355 kamikaze (suicide) pilots against the Allied fleet in Operation Floating Chrysanthemum.
    1947-The American Theatre Wing bestowed the first annual Tony awards for distinguished service to the theater.
    1952---Top Hits
Wheel of Fortune - Kay Starr
Anytime - Eddie Fisher
Please, Mr. Sun - Johnnie Ray
(When You Feel like You’re in Love) Don’t Just Stand There - Carl Smith
    1953-Birthday or guitarist/bassist Jerome Harris, Flushing, NY
http://www.jeromeharris.com/mywork/index.cfm
http://www.jeromeharris.com/
    1954- TV Dinner is 1st put on sale by Swanson & Sons.
http://www.fiftiesweb.com/pop/tv-dinner.htm
http://www.cnn.com/FOOD/news/9903/31/tv.dinner/
    1956- Paramount Pictures signed Elvis Presley to a three-picture contract only five days after his first screen test. The test was at the suggestion of producer Hal Wallis who had seen Presley on the Dorsey Brothers' TV show. Elvis was to be paid $100,000 for his first movie, $150,000 for the second and $200,000 for the third.
    1956 - Capitol Tower, the home of Capitol Records in Hollywood, CA, was dedicated. The building was the first circular office tower designed in America. It is 13 stories tall and 92 feet in diameter. At night, a light at the tip of the tower blinks the letters "H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D" in Morse Code.
    1956--The Beach Boys record "California Girls", which will reach number three in the US by August.
    1957-Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" is released.
    1957-The Toronto quartet, The Diamonds, peak at #2 on the Billboard chart with "Little Darlin'".
    1957--Perry Como's "Round and Round" hits #1.
    1958 - Arnold Palmer won his first major pro golf tournament by capturing the Masters in Augusta, GA (and the coveted green jacket). Palmer defeated defending champion Dough Ford for the honor. Palmer was 28 years old and had been a pro since 1954 after he won the National Amateur title.
    1959 - Hal Holbrook opened in an off-Broadway, critically acclaimed, presentation of "Mark Twain Tonight". Quotes include: “It is best to read the weather forecast, before we pray for rain.”; “The more things are forbidden, the more popular they become.”; “Modesty died when clothes were born.”; “Be good and you will be lonesome.”; and “Familiarity breeds contempt - and children.”
    1959--Bruce Johnston joins the Beach Boys as permanent replacement for Brian Wilson. My high school friend and piano player for my band often called on me as a replacement for "gigs" he got for groups. He is perhaps best known as the composer and songwriter of "I write the songs, " made famous by Barry Manilow.
    1959 - America’s funny men, Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis and Mort Sahl, and comedic actor Tony Randall, along with the Great Britain’s outstanding actors, David Niven and Laurence Olivier, entertained the guests of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science at the 31st Annual Academy Awards ceremony. The audience filled the RKO Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles with applause for the Best Picture of 1958: "Gigi" (Arthur Freed, producer). "Gigi" also won Oscars for Best Director Vincente Minnelli; for Frederick Loewe’s (music), and Alan Jay Lerner’s (lyrics) for the Song, "Gigi"; for Best Music/ Scoring of a Musical Picture (André Previn); for the Best Writing/Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Alan Jay Lerner); for Best Cinematography/Color (Joseph Ruttenberg); for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration/Black-and-White or Color (William A. Horning, E. Preston Ames, Henry Grace, F. Keogh Gleason); for Best Costume Design/Black-and-White or Color (Cecil Beaton); and for Best Film Editing (Adrienne Fazan). One would think there weren’t any awards leftover for any other movies. But, the Best Actor award went to David Niven for "Separate Tables" as did the Best Supporting Actress Oscar (Wendy Hiller). Susan Hayward was honored for her Best Actress role in "I Want to Live!" and Best Supporting Actor was Burl Ives in "The Big Country". Other notable movies of 1958 ... some award winners, some not ... "Auntie Mame", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "The Old Man and the Sea", "Some Came Running", "Teacher’s Pet", "South Pacific", "The Young Lions", "Bell, Book and Candle", "Vertigo", "Damn Yankees", "Marjorie Morningstar", and "The Defiant Ones".
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148765.html
    1959-Fabian's "Turn Me Loose" enters the Billboard Pop chart, where it will eventually reach number 9
    1960---Top Hits
The Theme from "A Summer Place" - Percy Faith
Puppy Love - Paul Anka
Sink the Bismarck - Johnny Horton
He’ll Have to Go - Jim Reeves
    1963--the Kingsmen record "Louie Louie."
    1965--The Beach Boys record "California Girl."
    1968 -Oakland Police raid the Black Panthers. Eldridge Cleaver arrested with a bullet-shattered leg. Bobby Hutton shot and killed.
    1968---Top Hits
(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Young Girl - The Union Gap
La - La - Means I Love You - The Delfonics
How Long Will My Baby Be Gone - Buck Owens
    1969-Aum, Flying Burrito Brothers and the Grateful Dead Concert at the San Francisco Avalon Ballroom
    1971-- Carly Simon is introduced to James Taylor backstage after her concert at Los Angeles' famous Troubadour nightclub. Instantly smitten, they would marry in November of 1972.
    1971- Willie Mays, a month shy of his fortieth birthday, homers on Opening Day and will hit home runs in the next three games to tie a major league record.
    1971 - Rolling Stone Records formed to promote The Rolling Stones' hits. The Stones' trademark, the lips logo, began seeing wide use. "Brown Sugar" was the Rolling Stones' first on the new label, followed by "Wild Horses", "Tumbling Dice" and Bill Gates’ favorite song, "Start Me Up".
    1971-The Rolling Stones release "Brown Sugar", the first single on their own label, Rolling Stones Records, which introduces the infamous licking-tongue-and-lips logo designed by John Pasche.
    1973-Designated Hitter Introduced: following a rules change approved in January, Ron Blomber of the New York Yankees became the first designated hitting in the American League in their Opening Day game against the Boston Red Sox. Blomberg came to bat for the first time with the bases loaded in the first inning and walked. The Red Sox won, 15-5.
    1973- On Opening Day at Three Rivers Stadium in front of record crowd of 51,695, the Pirates retire Roberto Clemente's uniform number 21 posthumously. The Pittsburgh right fielder died in a plane. crash on New Year's Eve attempting to bring relief aid to earthquake- stricken Managua, Nicaragua.
    1973-The Stylistics received a Gold record for their hit, "Break Up to Make Up".
    1974-- After initially arguing with his record company about releasing it as a single ("it's the same thing over and over"), Billy Joel gets his first Top 40 hit with "Piano Man."
     1974- California's biggest annual rock concert, the California Jam, has its debut in Ontario, CA, featuring performances by The Eagles, Earth Wind and Fire, Seals and Crofts, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and Black Oak Arkansas performing.
    1974--Blue Swede's "Hooked on a Feeling" hits #1
    1975 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Philadelphia Freedom,'' Elton John.
    1976---Top Hits
Disco Lady - Johnnie Taylor
Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
Sweet Thing - Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
You’ll Lose a Good Thing - Freddy Fender
    1977-The Seattle Marines, an American League expansion team, made their regular season debut, losing to the California Angeles, 7-0, at the Seattle Kingdome. Seattle’s previous AL team, the Pilots, played on the 1969 season before moving to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers. The Mariners won their first AL West division title in 1995.
    1977 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Dancing Queen,'' Abba. This is the only No. 1 song by the international phenomenon.
    1978-President Jimmy Carter nominated the first US marine female general, Margaret Ann Brewer. She was sworn in on May 11, 1978, as director of the division for information.
    1979-The punk/new wave group Blondie has its first big hit in the U.S. with "Heart of Glass." The tune goes platinum on this date, two months after it hit Number One.
    1981- “Private Benjamin “premiered on television, modeled after the Goldie Hawn movie of the same name.
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0081918/combined
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/EpisodeGuideServlet/showid-2452/
Private_Benjamin/
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-2452
    1982- the "Great Blizzard of April '82" struck New England, New York and Pennsylvania and dumped 1 to 2 feet of snow. Many places had their greatest April snowstorm ever. Winds frequently gusted to 70 and 80 mph. There was an exceptionally high frequency of simultaneous thunderstorms and heavy snow with numerous lightning strikes reported. Record cold poured in the wake of the storm and many spots were 25 degrees colder than normal the day after the storm. The freak heavy spring snow storm brings subfreezing temperatures across the northeast and Midwest and causes the postponement of home openers for the Yankees, Tigers, White Sox, Brewers, Indians, Phillies and Pirates.
    1984---Top Hits
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) - Phil Collins
Let’s Stop Talkin’ About It - Janie Fricke
    1985 - Country musical group, Alabama went five-for-five as their album, "40 Hour Week", took the top spot on the "Billboard" country chart. For each of the past five years, the group had a number one album. The quartet's popularity continues today. Three of the four are cousins from Fort Payne, Alabama.
    1988 - a powerful storm produced wind gusts to 75 mph in the Chicago area and wind gusts to 92 mph at Goshen, Indiana. The high winds created 25 foot waves on Lake Michigan.
    1989- Dodger hurler Orel Hershiser's scoreless-inning streak ends at 59 in the first inning of a 4-3 loss to the Reds.
    1989 - unseasonably hot weather prevailed in California. Afternoon highs of 91 degrees in downtown San Francisco, 93 degrees at San Jose, 103 degrees at Santa Maria, 104 degrees at Riverside, and 106 degrees in downtown Los Angeles established records for the month of April.
    1992-“Barney and Friends” premiere on TV. Although most adults find it hopelessly saccharine, this PBS program is hugely popular with preschoolers. Purple dinosaur Barney, his pal, dinosaur Baby Bop and a multi-ethnic group of children sing, play games and learn simple lessons about getting along with one another. "Bedtime with Barney" was a 1994 prime-time special.
    1996-The First Korean Victory in baseball. Pitching in relief, Chan Ho Park of the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first Korean to win a major league baseball game. Park pitched four scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs, allowed three hits and struck out four. The Dodgers won, 3-1
    1996-Major League Soccer Debuts: Trying to capitalize on the momentum of the 1995 World Cup, held in the US, Major League Soccer, a new American professional league made its debut. The San Jose Clash defeated DC United, 1-0, on a goal by Erick Wyanalda. The game was played in San Jose before a capacity crowd of 31,683.
    1998-The Dow-Jones Index of 30 major industrial stocks topped the 9,000 mark for the first time.
    1999 - Microsoft's digital download technology, MS Audio 4.0, is unveiled.
    2000-- Elian's dad comes to the US.After months of keeping Juan Miguel Gonzalez in Cuba for a successful propaganda campaign, dictator Fidel Castro correctly decides that now his propaganda is best served by sending the man to the US, not to go to Miami to see his son, but to attract more media attention for some more weeks before at last bringing home the 6-year-old survivor of the shipwreck that claimed the life of his mother, who was fleeing Cuba in hopes of a better life in the United States.
    2003 - Country star Shania Twain picks up the Artist of the Year Award along with the Fan Choice Award at the soldout 32nd annual Juno Awards, held in Ottawa and televised live nationally. The two awards were added to her Country Recording of the Year nod, given out the day before.