Paul Menzel, CLP, Reports on ELFA Funding Conference
2005 Leasing News Person of the Year

There was a display of pride in our industry that is as strong as I can ever remember it due to how well leasing fared during the great recession compared to other financial asset classes. Robust and expanding investment in plant and equipment by businesses of all sizes is the last ingredient necessary to put an exclamation point on the industry outlook story.

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association 25th Annual Funding Conference, held at the Fairmont Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, April 9-11th was very successful.

The positive general mood was evidenced by the growth in attendance at both the Funding Conference and the three executive Best Practices Roundtables (Bank, Independent, and Captive) held the day before. Attendance at the Roundtables was up over 30% from 2012. The Funding Conference saw an increase of 15% to 525 in total participation but an increase of 30% in funding exhibitors.

While it is clear there is a lot of capital and liquidity in the leasing marketplace, it is also reflective of the imbalance in the supply & demand forces our industry is contending with. The formal presentations in the Roundtables and the informal private conversations both echoed the consensus opinion that relatively soft demand is frustrating expanded, industry funding capacity.

Exhibitors, dominated by the mid to large ticket segments and bank sources, were all seeking new opportunities to fund assets needed to meet their 2013 goals. Broadening interest and confidence by the banking sector has brought increased funding for our industry. There was widespread acknowledgement that credit was slowly loosening up and pricing spreads have tightened, particularly for the best quality credits. While credit quality of applicants is increasing and approval rates are rising, close ratios continue to languish as a result of the uncertainty in the economy and the bias toward austerity by borrowers.

An increased in hiring and M&A activity is forecasted for 2013 - 2014, particularly by banks. The news of three de-novo bank leasing entrants with goals of $1 Billion in originations each in a relatively short period of time were shared by industry insiders. Expanded leasing activity by banks is expected as loan to deposit ratios (mid 90% in 2007 to mid-60% today) and net interest margins (NIM) are at their lowest points in many years. Leasing assets represent attractive relative yields and incremental growth for traditional banks.

The angst for growth could be seen and heard throughout the conference. However, this was offset by the feelings of content in record low defaults and robust earnings. One could sense giddiness at the prospects for continued prosperity in the industry. Sprinkled around the positive mood were guarded concerns over burdensome financial regulations, new accounting rules, the threat of rising interest rates, and the sustainability of the recovery.

My thoughts were flooded with a variety of memories and impressions. This event represents for me, as one of the organizing members of the inaugural gathering 25 years ago, a realization of how long I have enjoyed a leasing industry that has matured into a vital and important segment of the world’s financial services network.

“Networking” is at the heart of this ELFA conference for the largest leasing sources in the U.S. and throughout the world. Funding sources met with third party originators (TPOs) in an intense speed-dating format that may, or may not, lead to valuable relationships for new business. It is a shining example of capitalism at its best as the leasing industry efficiently deploys capital to small and large businesses to acquire equipment that leads to growth and jobs. There was a sense of pride and optimism by the attendees in their contribution to the economic recovery.

PAUL J. MENZEL, CLP
President and Chief Executive Officer
Financial Pacific Leasing
Federal Way, Washington

Mr. Menzel joined Financial Pacific in 2008. He began his career in leasing in 1975 with Puritan Leasing Company where he became Vice-President and General Manager. He continued in this role after Puritan was acquired by Cal Fed Credit in 1986. When Cal Fed Credit was acquired by Pacific Capital Bank NA (fka Santa Barbara Bank & Trust) in 1996, Mr. Menzel’s role was expanded and he became Senior Vice-President of Community Lending for Pacific Capital. In this role he oversaw the Leasing, Small Business and Indirect Auto Lending units of the Bank, managing over $750 million in assets. In 2007 when Pacific Capital sold its leasing business to LEAF Financial Corporation, he became President of LEAF Third Party Funding. Mr. Menzel, a Certified Lease Professional, is a past Board Member of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association and chaired their Code of Fair Business Practices and Small-ticket Business Council committees. He also served on the Industry Future Council. In 2005 he was named “Leasing Person of the Year” by Leasing News. He earned his BS in Business Administration from UC Berkeley in 1974 and an MBA in Management from Golden Gate University.
http://www.finpac.com/executive_profiles.aspx

Leasing News Person for the year 2005: Paul J. Menzel, CLP
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202006/01-03-06.htm#person

Classified Ads---Credit Manager

(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

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Huntington Bank Hit with $81 Million Judgment
Check Kite Crashes into El Camino Resources

By Tom McCurnin
Leasing News Legal News Editor

Equipment Lessor’s Suit Against Bank for Conspiracy
Ruled Not to Have Merit.

El Camino Resources v Huntington National Bank 2013 WL 1387200 (6th Cir. 2013)

Southern California based El Camino Resources, Ltd., headed by CEO and President David E. Harmon, and operating as a subsidiary of Chg-Meridian U.S. Holding, Inc., according to Bloomberg, learned two lessons the hard way this year. First, know your lessee and vendor. Second, pleading fraud against a National Bank in Federal Court is easier than proving fraud. Regrettably, this was an expensive lesson, as El Camino Resources lost $2 million to a check kiting lessee that used a phony vendor with non-existent equipment. And Huntington Bank is out $81 million to the estate of Teleservices.

In the original court hearing, El Camino Resources stated they “…lost $11.8 million with Cyberco and wants a ‘full, unfettered examination’ of Huntington.

“El Camino especially wants to know what alarms, if any, went off at Huntington when Cyberco was paring its debt with checks written from Teleservices Group, a phony equipment vendor created by company executives.

“Did Huntington recognize that Teleservices checks were signed by the same Cyberco executives who regularly dealt with the bank?

" ‘There was no logical business reason why a supplier to Cyberco should be paying millions of dollars to Huntington,’ El Camino Resources attorney John Graham said.” (1)

The facts follow on this latest case:

El Camino Resources, Ltd., as lessor, entered into multiple leases with Cyberco for computers allegedly sold by vendor Teleservices. Allegedly, Teleservices sold Cyberco over $50 million dollars in such computer equipment. El Camino Resource’s leases totaled almost $12 million dollars.

In reality, Cyberco was a sham, and its CEO was an ex-felon. The vendor Teleservices did not supply any equipment and remitted all the lease proceeds back to Cyberco, which used them to fund lavish lifestyles of its principals. Much of the money went into foreign bank accounts in Pakistan.

Cyberco’s bank was Huntington National Bank, and in 2002, it developed suspicions that Cyberco was either money laundering or check kiting. Ultimately, the Bank terminated its relationship with Cyberco, and recovered its loans and overdrafts in August, 2004.

El Camino Resources’ leases were booked in October, 2004.

In November, 2004, the FBI raided Cyberco and shut the operation down.

El Camino Resources filed suit against Huntington National Bank in 2007, alleging that the Bank pocketed the lease proceeds and had knew or should have known about the Cyberco fraud. The Bank defended and filed a Motion for Summary Judgment arguing that actual knowledge, as opposed to a “knew or should have known” standard was required, and that El Camino Resources failed to prove the Bank’s complicity. El Camino Resource’s case was thrown out.

Paralleling this case was a companion bankruptcy case for Cyberco and Teleservices, where the trustee, on behalf of the creditors of Cyberco and Teleservices, alleged a preference claim, that the Bank’s receipt of the monies in late 2004 was a preference. The Bankruptcy Court ruled that the Bank was willfully blind to the fraud occurring under its nose, and after a 13 day trial, awarded the estate a judgment against the Bank in the sum of $81 million dollars.

Armed with that bankruptcy finding, El Camino Resources pressed its action against Huntington National Bank with vigor, appealing the dismissal. However, what it didn’t realize is that a preference claim has much different standards to a fraud claim, and the findings of a bankruptcy court could not be rubber stamped in different action. On appeal, the 6th Circuit held that “actual knowledge is required to prove a claim of aiding and abetting a fraud.” The Court noted that while many of Cyberco’s transactions were suspicious, the Bank did not understand how Cyberco worked or what its relationship was with Teleservices. The Court specifically ruled that the findings in the bankruptcy court did not establish “actual knowledge,” only a lack of good faith. Thus the 6th Circuit affirmed the dismissal of El Camino Resource’s complaint, cementing their loss at around $2 million dollars.

The lessons for the equipment lessor here are obvious:

First, know your customer. I was shocked to read that the head of Cyberco was an ex-felon and that financial statements were generally not provided to the bank nor El Camino Resources. I could understand a lessor on a copier deal would do minimal underwriting, but these deals totaled almost $12 million dollars.

Second, pre-qualify the vendor. For any size lease, the vendor needs to be pre-qualified and have been in business for a set number of years. The fact that Teleservices simply funneled the money directly to Cyberco leads me to believe that no one did bank references or any underwriting of the vendor.

Third, inspect the equipment. Heck, on the simplest of copier deals, the lessor verifies receipt. On almost $12 million dollar in leases it would seem prudent that someone would Quiktrak the equipment, if not have an officer of the lessor personally visit the site and verify the equipment’s existence.

Finally, as stupid as the Bank might have been to have gone along with fraud, that doesn’t equate to actual knowledge, and a District Court will be reluctant to foist the responsibility of El Camino Resource’s own poor underwriting on and equally stupid bank.

In this specific case which was argued Jan. 24, 2013 -- April 08, 2013, the bottom line is that El Camino Resources is now out $2 million dollars plus fees, and the Bank is out $81 million to the estate of Teleservices. That $81 million dollar ruling is subject to review by a District Court, and I would presume would be appealed to the 6th Circuit, so the Bank’s loss is not yet written in stone.

(Note: Richard J. (Rick) Remiker was named president of Huntington Equipment Finance May, 2010, and was not involved with Cyberco.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases-test/huntington-bank-to-grow-its-equipment-finance-capabilities-richard-j-remiker-selected-to-lead-national-expansion-96295883.html )

1. CyberNET creditors eye Huntington Bank for answers http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/CyberNet1.htm

Leasing Companies Sue Huntington Bank
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/June%202007/06-27-07.htm#hunt

El Camino Complaint http://www.leasingnews.org/PDF/ElCaminoComplaint2013.pdf

Westlaw El Camino Resources decision
http://www.leasingnews.org/PDF/WestlawElCaminoDecision42013.pdf

Find Law El Camino Resources v. Huntington National Bank
http://www.leasingnews.org/PDF/el_caminovshuntington.pdf

Tom McCurnin is a partner at Barton, Klugman & Oetting in Los Angeles, California.

Tom McCurnin
Barton, Klugman & Oetting
350 South Grand Ave.
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Direct Phone: (213) 617-6129
Cell (213) 268-8291
Email: tmccurnin@bkolaw.com
Visit our web site at www.bkolaw.com
Previous Tom McCurnin Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org

Previous Tom McCurnin Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/leasing_cases.html

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Leasing 102
by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

Regulation or Licensing?

There have been some articles as well as dialogue in the National Association of Equipment Leasing LinkedIn Group talking about regulating brokers or financial intermediaries. Some of the pressure comes from customers that have been misinformed about the true nature of their transaction or were taken advantage up due to their ignorance of the complex nature of leasing. We have all heard about lessees that have felt that lessors are “whores” and “vagabonds” who fail to explain the true nature of the lessees responsibilities and then hold the lessee “up”.

While there are problems in any industry, there are many solutions and I suspect regulation is one of them. However, whenever regulations occur they usually do more to restrict activities then enhance them.

One method to solve the problems comes from proper education of both the customer base and the leasing industry. However, we still have a lot of lessors who declare “I have been in the leasing business for over thirty years and I know all there is to know about leasing”. My question is: “Then why not take the CLP (Certified Leasing Professional) exam to confirm it?” You may find that your knowledge is a bit short.

The more people that carry the CLP on their business card, the more the customer base will wonder why other lessors do not carry it. When it is explained to the customer base that it is like the difference between a CPA and a bookkeeper they will question doing business with someone that has not been certified. In addition the education of leasing personnel will upgrade the quality of the leasing profession.

The Leasing industry has passed through many phases over the last thirty to forty years. The swinging door of people through our business has caused some to believe that some improper procedures or incorrect approaches are acceptable because no one has discovered their errors. It is of major importance that the rules and regulations from tax, legal and accounting are understood and followed.

I know some lessors prefer not to know what is necessary to know to obtain a CLP because it will look poorly if they fail. However, the more we can show the customer base that we are policing ourselves the better it will be for all of us.

It may come to some type of more strict than in California, if we fail to raise the standards and the quality of our face to the lessees.

Leasing News is running a series on “Why I Became a CLP,” I suggest to read one or two, or contact me directly for more information.

Why I Became a CLP---
http://www.leasingnews.org/CLP/Index.htm

Mr. Terry Winders, CLP, has been a teacher, consultant, expert witness for the leasing industry for thirty-five years and can be reached at WindersConsulting@yahoo.com or 502-649-0448

He invites your questions and queries.

Previous #102 Columns:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Leasing_102/Index.htm

(This ad is a “trade” for the writing of this column. Opinions
contained in the column are those of Mr. Terry Winders, CLP)

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Business Development Officer Baltimore-Washington DC Area Existing client base a plus, work from corporate office as needed. Salary plus commission structure, benefits, expense plan. Allan Levine 443 796 7337 Nancy Pistorio 443 796 7325 Email: Alevine@madisoncapital.com or npistorio@madisoncapital.com A great place to work www.madisoncapital.com 35 years equipment & vehicle financing full service direct funder for small to mid-ticket transactions, with syndication abilities for large ticket.

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

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“How do I know if the interviewer is interested?”
Career Crossroad---By Emily Fitzpatrick/RII

Question: When on a phone interview, how do I determine if the interviewer is interested?

Answer: A phone interview is the first step in generating a job offer; however, they are difficult as you are not able to gauge interest via body language. Besides the outright, “let us set up a face-to-face interview,” here are some cues:

What is your current compensation and what are you looking for?

• This is a direct question and could knock you out of the running – too much or too little could ruin your chances

• Provide a vague answer or answer with a question “what is the pay range”

Do you have a degree?

• If you do, great answer directly

• If not, ask what they are looking for – you may want to relay that you have a diverse educational background

• If you have not taken higher-education classes or obtained your degree, be honest about it – maybe earning a living was a priority, or maybe you intend to return to school

• Whatever you do, do NOT inflate your educational background

How much experience do you have?:

• Ask for qualifications, take notes and provide appropriate responses

Do yourself a favor and just ASSUME the interviewer is interested

Emily Fitzpatrick
Sr. Recruiter
Recruiters International, Inc.
Phone: 954-885-9241
Cell: 954-612-0567
emily@riirecruit.com
Invite me to Connect on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/pub/emily-fitzpatrick/4/671/76
Also follow us on Twitter #RIIINFO

Career Crossroads Previous Columns
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/crossroad.html

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CLP Spotlight--Bud Callahan, CLP
Past President, Retiring from the
Board of National Association of Equipment Brokers

CLP Spotlight

Bud Callahan, CLP
National Equipment Leasing, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana

What events in your life, from child to adulthood, have helped shaped you?
When I was 21 years old I was sent to Vietnam. I grew up very quickly! I started off in electrical engineering to get an associate degree at ITT and decided to join the Air Force Reserve to avoid being drafted and sent to Vietnam.

It turned out that our Air Force Reserve unit was the only one to be called up! We flew C-119 aircraft that were converted into gunships in Vietnam. We flew at night protecting our troops on the ground and never lost a soldier. All 350 of our unit came home too. I was proud to have served.

What so far, has been the highlight of your life?
I would say getting married and the birth of my first child have to be right up there at the top!

What is your secret to success?
“Working smarter, not harder”. Remember, “Don’t flog a dead deal!” Time is money. Don’t be too busy with a dead deal to miss the new one that has just come in the door.

What hurdles did you overcome to get where you are today?
Probably the biggest hurdle was the 23% Prime Rate back in 1978. I made it to the other side! We called it the “Baptism with Fire”! Then we eventually entered the Reagan years and it was much easier. With ITC, being able to sell it too, and Safe Harbor Leasing it was the most fun we had in the industry!

We understand you are a pilot – how long have you been flying?
I’ve had my pilot’s license since 1984, but my stint in the Air Force was when I caught the flying bug.

Would you recommend book, program, website for other members / colleagues?
There are two books that are must reads – “Who Moved the Cheese” by Dr. Spencer Johnson and “A Peacock in the Land of Penguins” by BJ Gallagher-Hateley and Warren H. Schmidt

If you won $50,000,000 in the lottery, what would you do with the money?
I would pay off my house, buy a better airplane and continue to live just like I do now.

In the movie about your life, who would you cast to play you?
Gary Sinise. I’d pick Gary because I especially like all that he does for our troops.

If you could be a super hero, what would be your super power and why?
I would be Donald Trump on steroids and I’d fix the economy!

Would you like to share an interesting hobby or accomplishment?
I guess my proudest accomplishment was to receive the Grand Master Sales Award from Ford Motor Company five years in a row. Only 50 people in the country are presented with this award. It was also a great honor to be recognized by my peers in this industry as a CLP. My most humbling experience was to have been elected President of the National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers.

What is the most interesting place you have ever visited or traveled to?
The Callahan Farm owned by my great, great grandfather in Ireland. I have a piece of his home in a display case in my basement.

What advice would you give a new broker?
To a new broker, I would advise them to find a seasoned veteran to “buddy” up with and learn the business, called on-the-job-training (OJT), and then after two years break out on their own. The knowledge that you would gain about our industry from working with a leasing veteran is invaluable. It is worth sharing the points you earn on the transactions. NAELB has a list of seasoned veterans who have volunteered to mentor new brokers. Every new broker member should take advantage of this opportunity. 

"Memory Shock" Now Audio and CD

Written by leasing industry veteran, Barry Reitman, his award winning book on improving your memory is not only available in paperback or eBook, but now comes with a special 4-Volume CD or Audio (which you can also purchase separately).

The Book AND The Audio Course - Combo Deals!

•How to remember names & faces - business and social events

•How to remember calendar dates and appointments

•How to remember school work and test material

•How to do public speaking without notes!

•How to remember job requirements, product numbers, specs

•How to remember where you put the car keys

•How to prepare for job interviews - and wow them!

•How to remember long and short numbers, phone numbers

•Be confident in all situations

More Information here:http://www.memoryshock.com/BOOKCDPACKAGE.html

The book makes a great gift and the audio is perfect for a grandmother or grandfather present as well as a gift for yourself.

Business Development Officer Baltimore-Washington DC Area Existing client base a plus, work from corporate office as needed. Salary plus commission structure, benefits, expense plan. Allan Levine 443 796 7337 Nancy Pistorio 443 796 7325 Email: Alevine@madisoncapital.com or npistorio@madisoncapital.com A great place to work www.madisoncapital.com 35 years equipment & vehicle financing full service direct funder for small to mid-ticket transactions, with syndication abilities for large ticket.

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Top Stories --April 8-April 12
(You May Have Missed)

Here are the top stories opened by readers:

(1) Archives - April 8, 2009
SunBridge Capital Pushed into Chapter 11
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_08.htm#archives

(2) More on Popular Equipment Finance
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_10.htm#popular

(3) Do you know what the average CLP earns?
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_10.htm#clp

(4) Leasing Association Membership Echoes Economy
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_08.htm#memberships

(Tie) (5) Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
Why Lease?
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_08.htm#why_lease

(Tie) (5) “What To Expect When Seeking Business Financing”
---Direct Capital Guide PDF Includedhttp://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_12.htm#direct

(7) Archives---April 12, 2002
Commercial Money Center Exposed
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_12.htm#archives

(8) Sales Makes it Happen by Christopher Menkin
Ten Advantages in Leasing
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_08.htm#advantages

(Tie) (9) ---Update: Leasing Companies Out of Business
plus No Longer taking Broker/Discounting Business
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_12.htm#out

(Tie) (9) Solar Leasing/Financing Grows 1st Quarter
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_10.htm#solar

(11) Cartoon—Jim Merrilees at IRS
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_10.htm#cartoon

(12) New Hires---Promotions
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2013/4_12.htm#hires

Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croc

"Jurassic Park 3d" and "Room 237" offer contrasting looks at modern classics, while new DVDs serve up great times bloody ("Django Unchained"), cozy ("Hyde Park on Hudson") and hilarious ("This Is 40").

In Theaters:

Jurassic Park 3D (Universal Pictures): Steven Spielberg scored a monster hit with this thrilling 1993 adventure, which is now being re-released in theaters giving its already cutting-edge special effects the extra boost of 3-D technology. Based on a Michael Crichton novel, the story follows a group of scientists led by Dr. Grant (Sam Neill) as they venture into a mysterious island for a preview of a theme park run by John Hammond (Richard Attenborough). The problem? The novelty of this place is a slew of cloned dinosaurs, and a power breakdown causes these creatures to run amok. Can the characters escape before becoming the lunch of their own experiments? Featuring jaw-dropping stunts, rousing humor and, of course, unforgettable dinosaurs, Spielberg's cinematic rollercoaster continues after twenty years to exude the same sense of wonder that first made it a favorite of a whole generation of moviegoers.

Room 237 (IFC Films): Have you ever lose yourself within a movie's many possible interpretations. A lot of people have when it comes to Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror classic "The Shining," as we hear in this clever, hugely entertaining documentary. With its open-ended narrative and maze-like structure, "The Shining" has always invited movie buffs to theorize about it, and director Rodney Ascher assembles a group of its most creative fans and lets them explain what it all means. Is the movie Kubrick's metaphor about the difficulties of artistry, of dealing with his own genius? Or is it a deliberately bungled studio assignment that functions as a symbolic representation of the Holocaust? Maybe it's a veiled confession about NASA having faked of the moon landing? No matter how ridiculous the theories get, the film is never less than delicious in its portrait of obsessive movie buffs.

On DVD:

Django Unchained (The Weinstein Company): After last addressing World War II in "Inglourious Basterds," Quentin Tarantino takes his bold vision to the 19th-century in this astonishing tale, set in the American South in the years before the Civil War. Jamie Foxx stars as Django, a former slave who teams up with a German bounty hunter named King (Christoph Waltz) to track down his missing wife Hildy (Kerry Washington). Their long and brutal search takes them to the lavish mansion of Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), a cruel landowner who specializes in slave fights. Will they be able to keep up their disguise as they get deeper and deeper into deadly territory, especially as another slave (Samuel L. Jackson) grows suspicious? Mixing violence, emotion and humor with a master’s unpredictable touch, Tarantino offers both a rousing adventure and a trenchant history lesson.

Hyde Park on Hudson (Universal): Fans of the cozy Oscar winner "The King's Speech" will certainly enjoy this tasteful account of a weekend between historical figures, directed by Roger Mitchell. Told from the perspective of a shy secretary named Daisy (Laura Linney), the story chronicles the events leading up to the meeting between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and the King and Queen of England (Samuel West, Olivia Colman) on the verge of World War 2. However, their encounter is complicated by the several intertwined relationships behind the scenes, including the philandering FDR's romance with Daisy. Taking an atmospheric, lighthearted look at the human picadillos of the political game, the movie has an impeccable supporting cast and gives Murray plenty of room to show off his jaunty touch as a foxy Roosevelt.

This Is 40 (Universal): Writer-director Judd Apatow continues his streak of personal comedy with this bittersweet account of the highs and lows of married life. Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann), two supporting characters from Apatow's earlier hit "Knocked Up," get the center stage this time around as a married couple facing their dreaded 40th birthday. In addition to their troubles raising two daughters and dealing with their own fathers, they struggle with financial woes as Pete's small-time records company goes through a rough spot. But will the couple's many irritations tear them apart, or can their emotional bond hold things together? Like his previous movies, Apatow's newest blends laughs with sentiment by using a loose, often improvisatory feel that gives plenty of chance to the cast to grow their characters.

Collector/Collections/Consultant/Communications
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(Providing Services and Products)

Collector / Collections / Consultant / Communications

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Collector: Nationwide End of lease negotiations & enforcement. Third-party collections. Skip-tracing. Background checks. Credit & asset investigations. 15+ years in leasing industry. Providing services to clients nationwide. 800-824-0234 johnkenny2@verizon.net	Collector: Saint Louis, MO Complete commercial collection agency. Licensed bonded in all states and will out performed any other agency! Call 1-800-659-7199 ext.315 Email:  jfloyd@lindquistandtrudeau.com
Consultant: Nationwide 25 yrs. experience: Creating/Refining Business Plans to raise capital· Credit Underwriting support/policy/procedure development · Operations Support/policy/procedure development. Call: 610-246-2178, McCarthy Financial, LLC, David.mccarthy@mccarthy-financial.com	Consultant: Burlington, CT We provide our clients with a full range of consulting services such as portfolio conversions, reconciliation, custom programming and leasing operations utilizing InfoLease.  Email: info@new-millennium-assoc.com
Consultant: Europe 15 years doing deals/running own technology leasing company – looking to advise/ lead new entrants to take advantage the European market opportunity. www.clearcape.co.uk or  kevin.kennedy@clearcape.co.uk	Consultant: Henderson, NV Focus on new business development and process efficiencies to create incremental revenue and profitability. Executive level vendor experience, and satisfied outsourcing clients. Incredible track record. E-mail: rbutzek@cox.net
Consultant: Sausalito, CA Lease trainer and consultant. 38 years in equipment leasing. Expert in transaction analysis, financial statement analysis, credit, packaging, structuring. Presents highly popular classes and workshops. E-mail:BoTei@aol.com	Consultant: North of Detroit, MI  INFOLEASE EXPERT - 18 years experience. Since being downsized in 2002, working as a consultant for several leasing companies. Seeking consulting projects nationwide.  E-mail: darwint@prodigy.net
Consultant: Ridgefield CT. Lisa Lersner w/20 years exp. specializing in leasing technology now providinglessor selection andmanagement services, includingthe securing of debt and equity and acquisition guidance services. Email: Email  leasefinanceconsulting.com	Communications:Chassell, MI Cartoons on business, finance & computers. Use for your presentations, website, newletter, direct mail projects etc. Fees are negotiable.  Email: dan@danscartoons.com  Go to http://www.danscartoons.com

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Chihuahua Cross/Whippet
Novato, California Adopt-a-Dog

Casper
Animal ID: 167534
Male
Color: Cream
Age: Young Adult
Weight: 17.8 lbs.
Neutered

“Casper comes to us as an owner surrender. His first owner lost their home and the second did not have time for Casper. He is now looking for a forever home he can call his own. Casper is a sweet, cute, energetic little guy who loves toys and tug games but is a little unsure of new people and situations. This is probably due to lack of early socialization.

“Casper most likely did not have a lot of experience with people and stable dogs in his first 12 weeks of life. He is still young so some of those deficiencies can still be made up. Casper is very intimidated by large dogs and barks at them to tell them to go away. He is better with dogs his own size but it still takes him time to become comfortable with them. Once he is comfortable he is fine and will play. Casper does, however, prefer people to other canines. Dog parks are not the place for Casper.

“His exercise should be long walks with his owner and toy games such as tug. Introduce Casper to lots of new experiences slowly. Use positive reinforcement to make these experiences pleasant. Let him take things at his pace and don't put too much pressure on him. Sign him up for a Family Dog I class. Classes are great for building confidence and a bond with a new adopte

“Casper really likes high value chews and is somewhat possessive of them. He is willing to trade for something better but it may be best not to allow him things he finds very important. Because of this he is not appropriate for small children. Older kids ages 16 and up should be fine. A pre-adoption consultation is required to discuss this issue.

“Casper is a really sweet dog who given some time and consistent leadership should make a wonderful lifelong companion.”

Marin Humane Society location.
Phone (415) 506-6225
Fax (415) 382-1349
Address: 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd. Novato

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

Adopt a Pet
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News Briefs----

JPM, Wells profit on cuts says Bloomberg
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/jpm_wells_profit

Investment Banker Pleads Guilty Hiding $3.5 Billion mortgage loss
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/banking_big_in_plea

Billionaire Koch brother wins $12.38 million bad wine verdict
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2013/04/13/Billionaire-Koch-brother-wins-1238-million-bad-wine-verdict/UPI-76171365905160/

One Year Count to the end of Windows XP Support
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2033609/prepare-now-to-survive-the-end-of-windows-xp.html

Reefer containers set to pay their way under pool plan
http://theloadstar.co.uk/reefer-containers-set-to-pay-their-way-under-pool-plan/

More than 40 percent of Georgia homes are underwater
http://www.ajc.com/news/business/economy/more-than-40-percent-of-georgia-homes-are-underwat/nXJ3N/

Ebooks Growth is Up, Both Traditional and Self-Published
http://smallbiztrends.com/2013/04/ebooks-growth-up.html

Windows 8 Did Not Cause PC Sales Slump
http://www.techweb.com/news/240152856/windows-8-did-not-cause-pc-sales-slump.html

As PC Sales Decline, Tablets Surge - to $64B in 2013
http://www.mobilitytechzone.com/topics/4g-wirelessevolution/articles/2013/04/12/334074-as-pc-sales-decline-tablets-surge-64b-2013.htm

Dubai Lamborghini Police Patrol Car
http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/photos/dubai-police-unveil-lamborghini-patrol-car-slideshow/dubai-police-lamborghini-photo--121186135.html

[headlines]
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---You May Have Missed

10 Classic American Muscle Cars
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-classic-american-muscle-cars-153459794.html

[headlines]
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SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

6 Principles to Say “Yes” to Weight Loss
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/slideshow.asp?show=82

[headlines]
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Spring Poem

    AS OTHER TIME

  by W.H.Auden

For us like any other fugitive,
Like the numberless flowers that cannot number
And all the beasts that need not remember,
It is today in which we live.

So many try to say Not Now,
So many have forgotten how
To say I Am, and would be
Lost, if they could, in history.

Bowing, for instance, with such old-world grace,
To a proper flag in a proper place,
Muttering like ancients as they stump upstairs
Of Mine and His or Ours and Theirs.

Just as if time were what they used to will
When it was gifted with possession still,
Just as if they were wrong
In no more wishing to belong.

No wonder then so many die of grief,
So many are so lonely as they die;
No one has yet believed or liked a lie,
Another time has other lives to live.

[headlines]
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Sports Briefs----

Highlights and Analysis From Masters
http://onpar.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/live-updates-on-final-round-of-the-masters/?hp

Photos show Tiger Woods may not have deserved a two-stroke penalty
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/golf--photos-show-tiger-woods-may-not-have-deserved-a-two-stroke-penalty-204353354.html

Knicks clinch second seed in Eastern Conference, matchup with Celtics
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/knicks_clinch

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[headlines]
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California Nuts Briefs---

[headlines]
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“Gimme that Wine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8

Scientists Question Impact as Vineyards Turn Up in New Places
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/science/earth/scientists-question-impact-as-vineyards-turn-up-in-new-places.html?ref=dining&_r=0

Sip and sit: Places to enjoy rosé outdoors

New York Declares War On Wine

Auction Napa Valley Sells Out in Record Time

Oh, Canada: A nation of beer drinkers turns increasingly to wine
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/oh-canada-a-nation-of-beer-drinkers-turns-increasingly-to-wine/article11049861/?cmpid=rss1

Tina Fey's Deleted Wine Scene
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/48295

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

   1741 - birthday of Charles Willson Peale, American portrait painter (best known for his many portraits of colonial and American Revolutionary War figures) was born at Queen Anne County, MD. His children Raphael, Rembrandt, Titian and Sarah were also artists. Died at Philadelphia, PA, Feb 22, 1827. ttp://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/peale_charles_willson.html/
    1741 - birthday of Charles Willson Peale, American portrait painter (best known for his many portraits of colonial and American Revolutionary War figures) was born at Queen Anne County, MD. His children Raphael, Rembrandt, Titian and Sarah were also artists. Died at Philadelphia , PA , Feb 22, 1827.        
    1783-Peace with Britain until 1812. Through seven long years of warthe longest war the United States ever fought until Vietnam---the army under Washington remained true to the cause. But the spirit of sacrifice even among army men wasnt universal. Desertions became so common that some scheduled attacks had to be canceled for lack of men to fight them; Gelb tells of a general in the South who discovered in the midst of a major assault that the seven thousand troops under his command had dwindled to only three thousand, resulting in a disastrous rout. Its estimated that up to a third of the soldiers in the Revolutionary army deserted. Some left to return home to their families or to join their state militias, but probably most got tired of the war or were scared of dying.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/apr15.html
    1817-the Erie Canal was authorized. When completed and open for traffic on October 26, 1825, this 360 mile wide canal connecting the waters of Lake Erie at Buffalo with the waters of the Hudson River at Albany, New York became a major transportation hub for the growth of the area.
    1817-Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc founded the first US public school for the deaf, Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons (now the American School for the Deaf), at Hartford, CT.
    1829-Birthday of Dr. Mary Harris Thompson - U.S. physician. She founded Chicago Hospital for Women and Children and was the first female surgeon in the U.S. She studied a year with the Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell, the first woman doctors. When in training in a regular hospital, she received a great deal of the same kind of sexually harassing ridicule that the Blackwells had received while studying to be doctors. 
     1843-birthday of Henry James, novelist and critic, born at New York, NY. Among his best-known works are The Portrait of a Lady, Washington Square and The Ambassadors. James died Feb 28, 1916, at London, England.http://classiclit.about.com/msub-hjames.htm 
     1850-birthday of John Longyear, American capitalist, landowner, philanthropist, one-time mayor of Marquette, MI. Disapproving of a railway route through Marquette, he caused his home, a stone castle-like showplace, to be torn down in 1903 and moved, stone by stone and stick by stick, in more than 190 freight cars and re-erected at Brookline, MA. Born at Lansing, MI, he died May 28, 1922. 
     1850-First City Charter went into effect as San Francisco was incorporated as a city. During the year ended today 60,244 men and 1979 women arrived in San Francisco. 
     1862 -- Thomas Wentworth Higginson receives a letter from Emily Dickinson containing four poems, which launches her "career." Only a few are published in her lifetime. 
     1865 - Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America, died at 7:22 a.m. Lincoln had been shot in the back of the head the previous evening while attending a performance of "Our American Cousin" at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C. The assassin, John Wilkes Booth, escaped, only to be hunted down and shot to death. Lincoln was carried to a boarding house across the street from the theatre. He never regained consciousness. This was Booth second attempt, but a change in Theater plans a month earlier thwarted it. When this became known, it was thought the April 14th assassination was planned byna group. In the afternoon of the 15th, Vice-president Andrew Johnson was sworn in as 17th president of the United States. He completed Lincolns term and changed the course of reconstruction. Five days earlier, General Lee had surrendered at the Appomattox Court house, virtually ending the war. It would be eleven days later that General Joseph E. Johnson surrendered the Confederate Army of Tennessee to General Sherman near Durham Station, NC, and a few weeks later, on May 10th, Jefferson Davis was captured at Irwinville, GA, by a contingent of General James H. Wilsons cavalry, led by Lt. Col. Benjamin Pritchard.
    1865-Birthday of Emily Smith Putnam, first dean of Barnard College and the writer of a major historical study of women: The Lady: Studies of Certain Significant Phases of Her History (1910). Both as a dean, a trustee, and a teacher she was one of the great women who developed Barnard into a major educational opportunity for women. She resigned as dean in 1899 to marry and then became a trustee of the college to continue her drive to equalize Barnard's academic relationship with Columbia University. She returned to teaching at Barnard in 1914, permanently retiring in 1930. She authored a number of important historical studies and biographies. 
     1869-birthday of Thomas Hart Benton, an artist whose work was indicative of the American style of painting known as Regionalism. His works of life in the Midwest and South were not always flattering to their subjects, but his style became known as a truly American style of painting. He was born at Neosho, MO, and died at Kansas City, MO, Jan 19, 1971898-birthday of trumpet player Theodore Wingie Carpenter, St. Louis, MOhttp://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/benton_thomas_hart.html 
    1873 - A famous Easter blizzard raged across Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. Gale force winds blew the wet snow into massive drifts; however there were few deaths due to the sparse population and due to the gradual increase of the storm.
    1886 - A devastating tornado, 800 yards in width at times, cut a twenty mile path through Saint Cloud MN killing 74 persons. The bottom of the Mississippi River was said to have been seen during the tornado's crossing. Eleven persons were killed at a wedding party near the town of Rice.
    1894 - Birthday of jazz/blues singer Legend Bessie Smith. She was known as the Empress of the Blues. Her voice and songs tore the heart out of her listeners as she demanded they weep, laugh, and then face life as it was dealt. Her first recording, "Downhearted Blues," sold two million copies. She was queen of all she surveyed during the 20s and early 30s but a disastrous marriage and unwise financial decisions left her impoverished. Her more than 150 records are greatness preserved and her one movie St. Louis Blues that was banned for being too realistic is part of the Museum of Modern Art movies section. 
Her vocal greatness was recognized early by the great Ma Rainey who hired the 12-year-old to sing in her minstrel review. Like so many of her sister blues singers, the bottle became her refuge in a life that just didn't seem to hang together. Unlike Billie Holiday who went the same disastrous booze and drugs route, her voice continued strong. She died in 1937 after an automobile accident in Mississippi. A white hospital refused her admittance and she died on the operating table of the black hospital some miles away.http://www.blueflamecafe.com/index.htmlhttp://bluesnet.hub.org/readings/bessie.html 
     1896--Birthday of May Edward Chinn - although considered one of the first Black women physicians in New York City, she was half Amerind. Her mother was a full-blood from the Chickahominy tribe. It was her mother whose respect for education drove her. Her research work led to the development of the Pap smear to detect cervical cancer. She was the first non-white woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital. For years she was only allowed to practice medicine at Harlem hospital which necessitated her starting her own private practice. During her training she road ambulances as a paramedic, one of the first women to do so in the U.S. Chinn's father escaped slavery from a Virginia plantation at the age of11. MC continued in private practice until she was 81. 
     1898--Birthday of Molly McGreethe - U.S. comedic radio actor. During the golden era of radio, she was the Molly of one of its most popular shows, Fibber McGee and Molly. She portrayed the much suffering wife married to a dreaming impractical husband. Well, it was funny on radio. 
     1912- The unsinkable luxury liner Titanic on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, NY, struck an iceberg just before midnight Apr 14, and sank at 2:27 AM, Apr 15. The Titanic had 2,224 persons aboard. Of these, more than 1,500 were lost. About 700 people were rescued from the icy waters off Newfoundland by the liner Carpathia, which reached the scene about two hours after the Titanic went down. It is reported a ship closer did not come to the rescue due to illegalities aboard. Many movies and documentaries about the monumental disaster have been filmed over the years. However, none had the exacting data gleaned by scientists from the 1986 expedition aboard "Atlantis II". Dr. Robert Ballard headed a crew and a robot named Jason in a descent to the deck of the "Titanic" aboard "Alvin", a submersible craft. They returned with information and photos that challenged and verified stories from the past. After years of studying the facts, the 1997 Academy Award-winning film, "Titanic", recreated the ship to the tiniest detail including the design on the elegant china. Although the films love story is fictitious, the true tragedy of the Titanic can now be seen by the world some eight decades later. 
     1917 - Hans Conried (actor: My Friend Irma, Bus Stop, Oh! God: Book 2, Tut & Tuttle, The Monster that Challenged the World; host: Fractured Flickers TV Series and other great cartoons. Also played Uncle Tonoose in The Danny Thomas Show He was a frequent guest on the Jack Paar Tonight Show. A great influence on the humor of This Day in History written by the editor of Leasing News; died Jan 5, 1982.http://www.blockbuster.com/bb/person/details/0,7621,BIO-P+14584,00.html
    1920-birthday of Hilda Simms, American stage and film actress, born Hilda Moses at Minneapolis, MN. She joined the American Negro Theater at Harlem, NY, in 1943 and was given the title role in Anna Lucasta. When the production moved to Broadway in 1944, it became the first all-black production to be performed on Broadway without a racial theme. Simms was the creative arts director of New York State's human rights division, through which she was instrumental in bringing discrimination against black actors to public attention during the 1960s. She died at Buffalo, NY, Feb 6, 1994. 
     1920 - Two security guards are killed during a mid-afternoon armed robbery of a shoe company in South Braintree, Massachusetts. Out of this rather unremarkable crime grew one of the most famous trials in American history and a landmark case in forensic crime detection.Police did manage to catch Boda's colleagues, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, who were each carrying loaded weapons at the time of their arrest. Sacco had a .32 caliber handgun-the same type as was used to kill the security guards-and bullets from the same manufacturer as those recovered from the shooting. Vanzetti was identified as a participant in a previous robbery attempt of a different shoe company. Sacco and Vanzetti were anarchists, believing that social justice would come only through the destruction of governments.Sacco and Vanzetti were found guilty and sentenced to die. However, the ballistics issue refused to go away as Sacco and Vanzetti waited on death row. In addition, a jailhouse confession by another criminal fueled the controversy. In 1927, Massachusetts Governor A. T. Fuller ordered another inquiry to advise him on the clemency request of the two anarchists. In the meantime, there had been many scientific advances in the field of forensics. The comparison microscope was now available for new ballistics tests and proved beyond a doubt that Sacco's gun was indeed the murder weapon. A defense expert was even reported to have remarked upon seeing the new results, "Well, what do you know about that?" Sacco and Vanzetti were executed in August 1927, but even the new evidence didn't completely quell the controversy. In October 1961, and again in March 1983, new investigations were conducted into the matter, but both revealed that Sacco's revolver was indeed the one that fired the bullet and killed the security guards. 
     1922-birthday of Harold Washington, Illinois legislator and Mayor of Chicago (1983-87). Born at Chicago, IL, and died there Nov 25, 1987. Harold Washington was one of the first African Americans to head a major US city. He was instrumental in tearing down Chicago's famed Democratic machine, a holdover from the many decades of domination by the Richard J. Daley administration. 
     1921 - Two mile high Silver Lake, CO, received 76 inches of snow in 24 hours, the heaviest 24 hour total of record for North America. The storm left a total of 87 inches in twenty-seven and a half hours. 
     1923 - Insulin became available for general use on this day. It was first discovered in 1922. Today, insulin is used daily in the treatment of diabetes. It is extracted from the pancreas of sheep, oxen and by other means, including systemization in the laboratory. Insulin, a natural and vital hormone for carbohydrate metabolism in the body, is manufactured by the pancreas. An overabundance of insulin causes insulin shock and leads to a variety of symptoms, including coma. 
     1923 - Dr. Lee DeForests Phonofilm, the first sound-on-sound film, motion picture, was demonstrated for a by-invitation-only audience at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City. The guests saw "The Gavotte", a man and woman dancing to old-time music and "The Serenade", four musicians who played on wind, percussion and string instruments. 
     1927 - Serge Koussevitsky directed the Boston Symphony in the first performance of Frederick Converses symphony, "Flivver Ten Million", a salute to the Tin Lizzie automobile. 
     1927 - New Orleans LA was drenched with 14.01 inches of rain, which established a 24 hour rainfall record for the state. 
     1933--Birthday of Elizabeth Montgomery - U.S. actor. Although she starred in a number of TV films, she will always be remembered for her portrayal of Samantha in the long running TV series Bewitched (1954-72) (and outliving two husbands on the show). 
     1940 - Birthday of Willie (William Henry) Davis (baseball: LA Dodgers [World Series: 1963, 1965, 1966/all-star: 1971, 1973], Montreal Expos, SL Cardinals, Texas Rangers, SD Padres, California Angels) 
     1940--Birthday of Ohil Lesh, born in Berkeley, California. Lesh is a bassist and a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the band's disbanding in 1995, Lesh continued on the tradition of Grateful Dead family music with side project Phil Lesh and Friends, which pays homage to the Dead's music by playing their originals, common covers, and the songs of the members of his band, which changed consistently. Phil and Friends are viewed by many fans as the premier post-Dead band. 
      1942 - Birthday of Walt Hazzard (basketball: 1964 Olympic Gold Medallist: U.S. team; LA Lakers, Seattle Supersonics, Atlanta Hawks, Buffalo Braves, Golden State Warriors; UCLA coach) 
      1943 - birthday of singer Sam Mighty McClain, Monroe, Lhttp://www.blockbuster.com/bb/person/details/0,7621,BIO-P+14584,00.html 
     1945--Lionel Hampton big band, along with gust trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie, play Carnegie Hall, New York City.
    1945-GONSALVES, HAROLD---Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 28 January 1926, Alameda, Calif. Accredited to: California. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Acting Scout Sergeant with the 4th Battalion, 15th Marines, 6th Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, 15 April 1945. Undaunted by the powerfully organized opposition encountered on Motobu Peninsula during the fierce assault waged by his battalion against the Japanese stronghold at Mount Yaetake, Pfc. Gonsalves repeatedly braved the terrific enemy bombardment to aid his forward observation team in directing well-placed artillery fire. When his commanding officer determined to move into the front lines in order to register a more effective bombardment in the enemy's defensive position, he unhesitatingly advanced uphill with the officer and another Marine despite a slashing barrage of enemy mortar and rifle fire. As they reached the front and a Japanese grenade fell close within the group, instantly Pfc. Gonsalves dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the exploding charge in his own body and thereby protecting the others from serious and perhaps fatal wounds. Stouthearted and indomitable, Pfc. Gonsalves readily yielded his own chances of survival that his fellow marines might carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy and his cool decision, prompt action and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service.
     1947-Jacking Robinson became the first black American to play in the major leagues in the 20th century when he made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves. Robinson went 0-for 3 but scored the deciding run as the Dodgers prevailed 5-3. 
     1950-Buck Rogers appears on TV. At first a radio show, "Buck Rogers" premiered on ABC with Kem Dibbs. Buck was an average American who woke up from a cave behind Niagara Falls to find himself in the year 2430. The show featured Lou Prentis as Lieutenant Wilma Deering; Harry Sothern as Dr. Huer and Harry Kingston as Black Barney Wade. Buck was later played by Robert Pastene. 
      1952-Franklin National Bank, Franklin Square, NY issued the first bank credit card. Purchases were charged to the bank, which made the payments and then billed the card holders. The service was extended to its branches. The first bank credit card to gain national acceptance was the BankAmericard ( later called Visa) issued by the Bank of America, San Francisco, in 1959. There was no membership fee or service charge. Full-scale services were offered to cardholders and merchants. Mastercard, originally called Master Charge, was founded by a consortium of 77 western banks led by the Wells Fargo bank. 
     1953---Top Hits I Believe - Frankie Laine Doggie in the Window - Patti Page Till I Waltz Again with You - Teresa Brewer Your Cheatin Heart - Hank Williams
      1955- The first franchised McDonalds was opened at Des Plaines, IL., by Ray Kroc, who had gotten the idea from a hamburger joint at San Bernardino, CA, run by the McDonald brothers. On opening day a hamburger was 15 cents. The Big Mac was introduced in 1968 for 49 cents; the Quarter Pounder in 1971 for 53 cents. There are more than 25,000 McDonalds in 115 countries. 
     1956 - General Motors announced that the first, free piston automobile had been developed. 
     1956-Mitch Miller, music director of Columbia Records, engages in a spirited debate with Allan Freed over the "potentially negative effects of Rock 'n' Roll on teenagers" on Eric Sevareid's news program on CBS-TV. Two psychiatrists also joined the discussion. 
     1958-major league baseball came to California as the San Francisco Giants, transplanted from New York, The Polo Grounds, Manhattan,The Bronx, to be exact, opened the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers, formerly of Brooklyn, at San Franciscos Seals Stadium. The Giants shut out their rivals, 8-0. 
     1961---Top Hits Blue Moon - The Marcels Apache - Jorgen Ingmann Dedicated to the One I Love - The Shirelles Dont Worry - Marty Robbins 
      1966-Fifth-Annual San Francisco State College Folk Festival with Malvina Reynolds, Mark Spoelstra, & Richard ("Been down so long it looks like up to me") & Mimi Fariña, The Blues Project, Doc Watson & others. ~Poster artist: Michael Ferguson, From The Art of Rock. 
     1966-The Rolling Stones release "Aftermath", their first LP to feature all original material. 
     1967-The first mass burning of draft cards occurred as 400,000 marched in New York City opposing the Vietnam War. It was the culmination of the April 10-15 Vietnam Week featuring draft card burnings and turn-ins and anti-draft recruiter demonstrations all over the country. In NY speakers included Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., Floyd McKissick, Stokely Carmichael and Dr Benjamin Spock In San Francisco, 100,000 people marched from Second and Market to Kezar Stadium at Golden Gate Park. Vietnam veteran David Duncan gave the keynote speech. 
     1967-Nancy and Frank Sinatra had the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, "Something Stupid", To this day, they are the only father and daughter team to have a US chart topping single. ("Unforgettable" by Natalie Cole and Nat "King" Cole reached #14 in 1991, recorded posthumously with her father.) 
     1967-Birthday of Dara Torres - U.S. swimmer. Dara Torres is the only American woman to win a swimming medal at three consecutive Olympics - and then added a fourth in the 2000 Olympics at age 33.
    1967-The Who's second album, "Happy Jack," was released in the US. The LP contained a ten-minute mini-opera, "A Quick One," which was also the album's title in Britain. 
     1969---Top Hits Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In - The 5th Dimension Youve Made Me So Very Happy - Blood, Sweat & Tears Galveston - Glen Campbell Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone) - Loretta Lynn 
     1971 - George C. Scott refused the Oscar for his Best Actor performance in "Patton" at the 43rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony at LAs Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. He had previously told reporters that he did not want the honor, saying (after the votes had been cast and tallied), It is degrading to have actors in competition with each other. Scott called the Oscar ceremony, a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons. Others who did accept the golden statuette as recognition for their works that evening include: Glenda Jackson, Best Actress ("Women in Love"); Helen Hayes, Best Supporting Actress ("Airport"); John Mills, Best Supporting Actor ("Ryans Daughter"); Fred Karlin (music), Robb Royer and James Griffin (lyrics), Best Music/Song, "For All We Know" from "Lovers and Other Strangers"; and Franklin J. Schaffner, Best Director ("Patton") ... "Patton" (Frank McCarthy, producer) also received the Best Picture honors. Other notable flicks from 1970 (some Oscar winners, some not): "Five Easy Pieces", "Love Story", "MASH", "Tora! Tora! Tora!", "Diary of a Mad Housewife".http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149177.html 
    1972--Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" became an unlikely number one hit after it was featured in the Clint Eastwood film Play Misty For Me. It had been originally released as an album cut three years earlier. After Eastwood included it in his film, Atlantic Records rush released it as a single. 
     1973 - The richest womens golf tournament held (to that day) was won by Mickey Wright. She won the $25,000 first prize in the Colgate-Dinah Shore Golf Classic in Palm Springs, CA. 
     1974-Kidnapped heiress Patricia Hearst is filmed participating in a bank robbery, along with 8 other members of the SLA (Symbionese Liberation Army), in Sacramento, California. 
    1977---Top Hits Dancing Queen - Abba Dont Give Up on Us - David Soul Dont Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston Lucille - Kenny Rogers
    1980 - Country star Willie Nelson held two fundraising concerts in Atlanta, Georgia, for Jimmy Carter's US presidential campaign. 
    1985 - Marvelous Marvin Hagler helped Thomas the Hit Man Hearn go nighty-night a littler earlier than expected, with a third round knockout to retain the world middleweight boxing title. Some have called the fight, the greatest three rounds in boxing history. 
    1985---Top Hits We are the World - USA for Africa Crazy for You - Madonna Nightshift - Commodores Honor Bound - Earl Thomas Conley
    1988 - A weather disturbance off the southern coast of California brought parts of southern California their first rain in six weeks. Rain-slickened roads resulted in numerous accidents in southern California, including a ten car pile-up at Riverside. 
    1989-Roy Orbison had his final Top 10 single on the US chart with "You Got It", four months after he passed away. The song was written by Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty and appeared on Orbison's "Mystery Girl" album that was released posthumously. 
    1990- In Living Color premiered on TV. Fox's sketch comedy series was modeled after "Saturday Night Live." The show was created by Keenen Ivory Wayans. Between skits, the Fly Girls would entertain the studio audience with hip dances (actress Rosie Perez choreographed the dances before breaking into movies). The show featured Wayans, his brothers Damon, Marlon and Shawn, his sister Kim, Tommy Davidson, David Alan Grier, T'Keyah "Crystal" Keymáh, Kelly Coffield, Kim Coles and Jim Carrey before he was Ace Ventura. Some of the most popular recurring characters were Homey, the embittered clown, the flammable Fire Marshall Bill and the effeminate movie critics of "Men on Film." 
     1996 -- The rest of Jerry Garcia's ashes are scattered near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. A small portion had been scattered in the Ganges River in India 11 days ago. 
      1997-in ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the debut of Jackie Robinson in the major leagues, Bud Selig, chairman of baseballs Executive Committee, announced that Robinsons uniform number 42 would be retired by all major league teams. Players then wearing 42 were allowed to continue to do so, but no team would ever assign 42 again. 
     1998-The New York Yankees and the New York Mets each played a home game at Shea Stadium, with the Yankees defeating the Anaheim Angeles, 3-2, in the afternoon, and the Mets beating the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, at night. This unique doubleheader was occasioned by a structural accident at Yankee Stadium. a 500- pound steal beam fell from the upper deck on April 14, forcing New York City to close the park temporarily for inspection and repairs. The Yankees returned to their own home on April 25 beating the Detroit Tigers, 8-4. 
     1999- Astronomers from San Francisco State University working at an observatory n Arizona announced the discovery of the first multi-planet system ever found orbiting around a star other than our own. Three planets orbit the star Upsilon Andromedae, which can be seen with the naked eye. This suggests that the Milky Way probably teems with similar planetary systems. 
    

Stanley Cup Champions This Date
1937 Detroit Red Wings
1952 Detroit Red Wings