Leasing Recruiter William H. Rowe Passes Away
Age 60, Rancho Santa Margarita, California

William H. Rowe
November 24, 1956 – April 4, 2017

“Bill Rowe, a longtime member of the equipment finance and leasing industry, died suddenly of natural causes on the 4th of April, 2017 while away on business in Chicago. Among other places, he worked for GTE Leasing and First American Equipment Finance and for the past 9 years at CTR Executive Search as an industry recruiter.  I first met Bill almost 25 years ago and knew him as a man of highest integrity who I was privileged to call my friend.
 
“Bill leaves behind his wife Anne, sons Joel and Austin, daughters Aubrey and Cheyenne, son-in-law Michael and daughter-in-law Kinzie, along with 7 grandchildren, his mother, a brother and a sister.   Last June, his son Geoff was killed in an auto accident.

“Services will be held at 10am on Saturday, April 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30522 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688. Flowers can be sent to O’Connor Mortuary, 25301 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653.  All are welcome.

“A Go Fund Me account (https://www.gofundme.com/relief-for-the-rowes) has been established to help the family with immediate expenses. 

“Condolences can be sent to his wife Anne at 18 Via Pelayo, Rancho Santa Margarita, California 92688.  I’m sure she’d appreciate hearing from those who knew Bill professionally.”

Cam Pittman
Managing Director
Direct Equipment Finance
Bank of the West
 

Obituary:
http://www.oconnormortuary.com/obituaries/William-Rowe-12/#!/Obituary

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New Hires---Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Timothy Bonagura was hired as a "direct team salesman" by Marlin Business Services, Mount Laurel, New Jersey, to "... focus exclusively on offering Marlin’s full suite of credit products and services directly to Marlin’s existing small business customers." He is located in the Greater Boston Area.  He previously was Finance Manager, Direct Capital Corporation.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-bonagura-9381a016/

Austin Eames was promoted to Healthcare Representative, Key
Equipment Finance, Superior, Colorado. He joined the firm June, 2016 as Sales Associate.  Previously, he was Summer Internship, Melt Sports and Entertainment Marketing (May, 2015 - August, 2015): Manager, Rose Hill Wine and Spirits (January, 2015 – May, 2015); Food Service, Cosmo's Pizza (April, 2014 - August, 2014); Interview Specialist, The Network (May, 2012 - August, 2013); Assistant Manager, Vector Marketing (May, 2010 - August, 2011); Food Runner, Studio Movie Grill (May, 2009 - August, 2010). Education, University of Colorado Boulder, Marketing and Finance, Senior (2012 - 2016). Activities and Societies: Pi Kappa Alpha.  Centennial High School (2008-2012). https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-eames-377573ba/

"Kris Ham was promoted to vice president, credit officer for TCF Equipment Finance where she assumes the management role for the health care underwriting team. Ham is a graduate of UNI with a bachelor's degree in finance. She has been with TCF since 2006 and recently served as assistant vice president, credit officer."

Richard J. Henderson, Jr., was promoted to First Vice President and Leader of the Franchise and Direct Teams, Marlin Business Services, Mount Laurel, New Jersey. He is located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. “Marlin has over 300,000 lifetime small business customers and is originating thousands of new small business customers per month,” said Edward J. Siciliano, Marlin’s Chief Operating Officer. “I truly believe that this new structure under the leadership of Mark and Rick will create the alignment of resources and focus needed to support our small business customers as well as achieve our growth objectives.”  Henderson joined Marlin September, 2015, with his previous position as First President & Channel Leader Direct Originations. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Direct Capital a Division of CIT Bank, N.A., CIT Group (NYSE:CIT) (April, 2002 - Auguste, 2015); Management Consulting and Recruiting, Engineering & Technology Industries (1995 - 2002). Associations: Member, Parish Finance Council & Parish Compensation Subcommittee, Corpus Christi Parish (September, 2013 - Present); Ambassadors Club Member, The Dynamic Catholic Institute (March, 2012 - Present);ELFA Business Council Steering Committee Member, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (January, 2003 - February, 2014). Education: Saint Anselm College, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Business Administration. Activities and Societies: Thesis. Organization Development Principals & The Work Place: Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society. Research Assistant to Chair of the Department of Social Sciences. One of Two Selected Department Statistics/ Mathematics Peer tutors for 1994. https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardhendersonjr/

Dan Michalek was hired as CEO, FinanceApp, Chicago, Illinois & Aliso Viejo, California.  Previously, he was Founder & CEO, Open Markets (September, 2010 - December, 2016); Director, Founder & Former CEO, PayNet, Inc. (1999 - 2016); Founder & CEO, Connor Capital Corporation (1994 - 2001); National Accounts Manager, American Express (1988 - 1994); Account Manager, Citicorp (1986 - 1988).  Education: Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. Executive MBA, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related support Services (2012-2014); Texas Christian University, B.B.A., Marketing (1982 - 1986). Activities and Societies: President, Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.  Loyola Academy High School (1978 -1982). https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmichalek/

Susan O'Donovan was hired as Chief Financial Officer, Nations Equipment Finance, Norwalk, Connecticut. Previously, she was Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives & Finance Projects, Castleton Commodities International (January, 2013 - March, 2017); CFO, Consultant, Jabrem Consulting, LLC (Caldwell management team) (April, 2012 - January, 2013); Senior Vice President, Plainfield Asset Management (November, 2007 - 2009); Senior Controller, Private Equity, Wexford Capital(July, 2006 - November, 2007); Vice President & Controller (Family Office) Smith Management LLC (July, 2000 - July, 2006); Manager of Finance Reporting, General Electric Capital (March, 1999 - July, 2000); Vice President, ContiFinancial Corporation/Continental Grain Company (April, 1991 - March, 1999); Manager, Price Waterhouse (August, 1983 - March, 1991).Education:  University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business.  Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA.) Accounting (1979 - 1983).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-o-donovan-85778a11/

Janet Perez was hired as Vice President, Business Development, Lendistry, Brea, California.  Previously, she was Sales Finance Manager, World Business Lenders, LLC (January, 2016 - March, 2017); Finance Specialist, World Business Lenders, LLC (November, 2015 - January, 2016); Executive Team Lead Asset Protection, Target (December, 2014 - September, 2015); Founder - El Modena Scholars Program, Community Action Partnership (July, 2013 - September, 2016). Languages: Spanish. Organizations:  The Elite OC. Long Beach Community Action Partnership (Currently, Chair, Audit Committee, Finance Committee). California State University, Fullerton Alumni Association, business Finance, Business Titans, Hispanic/Latino.  Newport Beach chamber of Commerce (February, 2016 - Present). Education: University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business (2016 - 2016). Latina Global Executive Leadership Program (LGELP). California State University, Fullerton, B.A., Political Science and Government; Economics (2013-2014).  Chartered Financial Institute, CFA Level-1, Candidate (2017). https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-perez-5803ba74/

Sam J Puma was hired as Financial Solutions Consultant, Presidio Technology Capital, Newport Beach, California. Previously, he was Regional Sales Manager, Technology, Creekridge Capital (May, 2015 - March, 2016); Account Executive, Dell Financial Services (May, 2011 - July, 2014); National Account Manager, GoWest Equipment Leasing (April, 2009 - March, 2011); Regional Sales Manager, GE Commercial Finance, Capital Solutions (May, 1999 - January, 2009); National Account Manager, Oliver-Allen Corporation (1993 - 1998).  Education: University of Utah, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science and Government.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-j-puma-02560510/

Mark E. Scardigli was promoted to Senior Vice President and Leader of Marlin Business Services Indirect Team, Mount Laurel, New Jersey. He joined the firm February, 2001, as Vice President, Healthcare; promoted May, 2009, First Vice President, May, 2009. Prior, he was Director of Sales, Advanta (July, 1992 - January, 2001). Volunteer: ELFA Small Ticket Business Council Steering Committee. Education: Temple University, Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Marketing (1988 -1991).  Misericordia University, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services. Columbia University Graduate School of Business, Executive Education Program.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-scardigli-5a4397a/

Brian Stulman was promoted to President, eProdigy Financial, New York, New York. He joined the firm April, 2015 as Executive Vice President. Previously, he was Director of Sales, NextWave Funding (January, 2010 - March, 2015); Owner, NPP (January, 2004 -January, 2010).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-stulman-7aa04326/

Paul Vella was promoted to Director of Operations, Equilease, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He joined the firm May, 2014 as Digital Marketing Manager; promoted September, 2014, Sales and Marketing Manager. Prior, he was Marketing Manager, Image Dental Laboratory (2010 - 2013); Brand Manager/Art Director, Origin8 Graphics (2000 - 2010).  Education: University of Waterloo, Bachelor of Arts (BA), English.   Humber College, Graphic Design.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-vella-09149b1a/

Kelly Ward has rejoined Capital Alliance Group as Funding Coordinator, Santa Ana, California.  Previously, she was Credit Manager, US Business Funding (February, 2017 - March, 2017); Director of Funding, BridgePoint Capital (Auguste, 2015 - February, 2017); Senior Funding Coordinator, Capital Alliance Group (October, 2013 - August, 2015); Operations Manager, TCB Marketing Solutions (November, 2008 - June, 2013). Education: Truckee Meadows Community College. Business Administration and Management, General. Centennial High School, High School Diploma (1994 -1999).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ward-b0248ab6/

 

 

 

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How to Obtain a Help Wanted Ad

Cost Logo on top is free, as well as the web address and information about the address at the bottom. Lines are $595 for the first four and $40 for each additional line or space. The ad will appear for 21 days. For returning advertisers during the year, Leasing News offers 30 days and a reduced rate. Note: most ads point to a full job description as well as click to an email address. kitmenkin@leasingnews.org Leasing News puts a "help wanted" on top of the "masthead" so it is the first thing that a reader sees when they open the news edition or go to the website. The ad is changed in each news edition. It is designed to be a "display ad," not a "classified ad." In addition to the masthead position, the "help wanted" ad also appears in the "news briefs" section, the second most-read section, and it is rotated in each news edition. It is not hidden. It is clearly visible. The full section of "help wanted ads” also appears in each news edition, in each edition, as well as appears on the web site. It also is not “hidden.” The idea of the ad is to draw attention, and have the reader interested in what the company offers from the advertisement rather than a "job description." Most ads then direct the reader to their website for a full job description, if interested, or to a separate flyer. The main idea is to get the reader to make an inquiry.

2016 California DBO Enforcement Numbers Rise
“Finder” Exemption Comments eMail by Friday, April 14

DBO posted a productive and successful 2016 for enforcement of the laws it administers.  DBO collected nearly $2.9 million in restitution for consumers compared to $920,000 in 2015.

Other highlights: 

• Overall in 2016, DBO enforcement actions, including administrative actions and desist and refrain orders, increased eight percent.  That included an 11 percent increase in desist and refrain orders and a seven percent rise in administrative actions. 

• California Finance Lenders Law (CFLL) actions increased 62 percent.  This was due, in part, to an initiative to revoke licenses for net worth deficiencies and because more entities petitioned to have their suspended CFLL licenses reinstated. 

• DBO collected 32 percent more in penalties in 2016 for a total of $9,066,102.

 Proposed Finders Exemption for Broker-Dealers 
The DBO has noticed modifications to proposed regulations that would implement a new exemption for finders from the broker-dealer requirements under the Corporate Securities Law of 1968.  The exemption was created by statute in 2015 (Assembly Bill 667, Wagner).

A copy of the Notice of Modification and 15-Day text can be found on the DBO’s website here.  The deadline to submit comments is Apr. 14.  Comments may be emailed to regulations@dbo.ca.gov.

Eric Davies Is DBO’s New Special Administrator for CFLL

Eric Davies has been named Special Administrator for the Department of Business Oversight’s (DBO) California Finance Lenders Law (CFLL) program.  The promotion took effect Mar. 13.  Eric previously served as supervising examiner for the DBO’s Division of Corporations.  He has been with the DBO for 30 years, and has spent the majority of that time working with the CFLL. 
Eric has served on DBO’s Management Call Report committee where he helped develop the current mortgage call report.  He also helped develop the California-state-specific test questions for mortgage loan originators.  Eric graduated from California State University, San Diego with a degree in accounting and earned his CPA license while working at the DBO.

 

 

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Sales Makes It Happen

Sales Managers:
10 Things You Can Do to Help Make Your Sales Reps Successful
By Jim Acee

I believe that sales management is more than a position of observe and dictate from afar. To be an effective leader of sales reps, you must be actively engaged with your sales team to help make them successful.

 Companies today tend to pay extra to hire experienced reps to save on the cost and risk of developing people. Sales management, in many cases, has become lazy, leaving these experienced sales reps to their own devices, to succeed or fail on their own accord. If they make it, great! If they don’t, bad hire. If you are relying on sales reports to tell you how well your sales team is doing, it’s too late.

The list below lists 10 things you can do to help make your sales reps successful.

• Develop your sales reps

The high cost of training and development has caused many organizations to forgo the expense, mistakenly thinking that experienced sales reps don’t need any development. This is a mistake on a few levels, not least of which is that training is too expensive and it takes sales people time away from selling. I used lunch & learns and early morning sales meeting to do training as a way of reducing time away from selling while improving skills. You can find all kinds of free PowerPoint sales skills presentation online with a simple Google search. With today’s technologies, like Skype, you can offer training for your outside sales teams and not have to wait for the annual sales meeting.

• Traveling with sales rep

Sales management is more than managing spreadsheets. If you have an outside team, travel with them as much as feasible. Getting out in the field gives you the opportunity to access your team’s skills, 1:1 training and reinforcement of good practices. I always used windshield time with my sales reps to review and/or develop sales call planners prior to their meeting. Traveling with sales reps will keep you from having to rely on stale data and anecdotal information about what is going on in their territory.

If you are an inside sales manager and don’t travel, you can do the same thing by doing joint phone calls with your sales reps. Same principal, you just need to devote the time.

• Regular 1:1 meetings

Monthly 1:1 meetings with your sales reps will give you a clear window into what is going on in their territory. Group sales meetings, while useful for many things, are not replacements for individual meetings. They don’t need to be elaborate: an activity review; top 10 customer/prospect review; information update from you, should be able to cover everything in an hour.

• Set clear activity goals

I am a believer in the old saying ‘work a plan and the plan will work.’ Setting specific activity goals like number of cold calls weekly, number of face to face meeting, current customer touches, CRM usage, expense usage, etc. If you don’t have a clue on the amount of activity needed, look at your most successful reps to get an idea of what level of activity is helping make them successful and adjust as needed.

• Tracking activity

Sales activities equal sales. If you wait until the month end sales report comes out to see how your sales reps are doing, it’s too late. Monitoring your activity expectations through your 1:1 meetings, top prospects/customers, daily sales reports or CRM is essential to inspecting what you expect.

• Sales reports

The problem with most sales reports is that the information is stale. Even though the sales number may be up to date, if your sales cycle is more than just a few days long, the more important information may be the tracking of the incremental activity it takes to generate the final sale. That could be the number of proposals or quotes generated, credit submittal/approvals/declines or any of the other incremental steps prior to recording a sale. Whether your sales cycle is 30 days or 120 days, you should have benchmarks for each step of the sales process.

• Support your sales rep

Many of the problems sales people create with internal departments result in self-inflicted wounds. While coaching is almost always needed with this type "A" individual to temper their treatment of internal staff, don’t let yourself fall into the trap of throwing your sales rep under the bus when internal staff start complaining. You will only reinforce the internal staffs’ distain for the sales team. Instead, stay neutral until you get all the detail from both sides and address any behavior issues with your sales rep one on one. There is no quicker way to get your sales rep labeled as a problem child as when you start agreeing with the internal team before you have all the facts.

• Recognize performance

You don’t have to wait until the annual meeting to recognize sales reps that are doing a good job. A personal call to them and/or congratulating them in a group email/sales meeting recognizing their accomplishments goes a long way. Feeding the ego of your sales reps will help driving continued performance.

• Don’t let poor performance slide

No one wants to intentionally fail at their job. Work with your sales reps to develop a plan (don’t dictate it) to turn around their flagging numbers. They will know what needs to be done, sometimes they just need a fire lit under their butt to move them along. Put it down in writing and agree to the activities and goals with a stated timeline.

• Know your sales reps personal and career goals

My greatest reward as a sales manager has been to see my sales reps succeed and watch them grow both personally and professionally.  Review of your team member’s goals and aspirations as a regular part of your annual review with them.

Jim Acee  
 (m) 484-883-9618
jjacee@verizon.net
He has a rich background, serving as
DLL Country Sales Manager;
Vice President, Syndication Buy Desk; 
Vice President, Field Sales, Wells Fargo Capital Finance;
Managing Director, Vendor Leasing, US Bank;
Director of Sales, US Bancorp (formerly BCL). https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-acee-578a03b

Previous Jim Acee columns plus Sales Makes it Happen
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.html

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Leasing/Finance Conferences 2017
Save the Dates

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April 27, 2017 - April 29, 2017
NAELB 2017 Annual Conferences
Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel
& Memphis Cook Convention Center
Memphis, Tennessee

John Boettigheimer, President, CEO, Centra Leasing, Inc/4 Hour Funding LLC,
will be covering the conference for Leasing News.

2017 Conference Exhibitors
(As of April 7, 2017)

360 Equipment Finance
4 Hour Funding
Advantage Funding
Bankers Capital
BGAL Financial & Insurance Group
Black River Business Capital
Blue Bridge Financial
Bryn Mawr Funding
BSB Leasing
Channel Partners Capital
CLFP Foundation
Cobra Capital
Commercial Funding Partners, LLC
Dakota Financial LLC
Equipment Leasing Group of America
Equipment Insurance Direct
Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc.
First Federal Leasing
Global Financial & Leasing Services
Hanmi Bank
instaCOVER
Ironwood Finance, Inc.
JB&B Capital, LLC
KS StateBank, Baystone Government Finance
Marlin Business Bank
Navitas Credit Corp
NCMIC
North Mill Equipment Finance
Orange Commercial Credit
Paradigm Equipment Finance, Inc.
Pawnee Leasing Corporation
Quality Leasing Co., Inc.
Quiktrak, Inc.
RapidAdvance
SLS Financial
TEAM Funding Solutions
Tetra Financial Group
TradeRiver USA
US Financial Services, Inc.

Agenda
http://iwantmy.naelb.org/events/events-agenda

Speakers
http://iwantmy.naelb.org/events/event-speakers

Pricing
http://iwantmy.naelb.org/events/events-pricing

Hotel
http://iwantmy.naelb.org/events/events-hotel

Conference Information
http://iwantmy.naelb.org/events/event-description?CalendarEventKey=d1aee2bb-e740-4e78-8967-eac8da75e4fe&Home=%2fhome

2017 GOLD SPONSOR PRESENTATIONS

Join NAELB Gold Sponsors, RapidAdvance and Quality Leasing for a deep dive into what these two companies have to offer. From 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm on Thursday, April 27, attendees will get the opportunity to learn how these companies can benefit their businesses.

 RAPIDADVANCE

Join RapidAdvance to learn how offering your clients a working capital solution in addition to traditional equipment financing can help them grow their business and earn you additional fee income. RapidAdvance has funded over $1.1 Billion of growth capital to small and medium sized businesses since 2005 by providing them a variety of working capital products to meet their specific needs. Let us show you how to effectively market working capital to your clients and prospects while letting RapidAdvance do most of the work for you.   

QUALITY LEASING CO.

Join Jim Plummer and the Quality Leasing Co. team for an in-depth look at how this 60-year old story-source reviews, underwrites, and funds your B & C-credit deals.  Specializing in titled vehicles, manufacturing, and heavy equipment-Quality Leasing can fund almost any commercial asset from $30K up to $3MM as long as the customer profile supports the transaction. Come learn how Quality's big-picture review process and personalized approach to each transaction set them (and in turn, you!) apart from the competition!

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May 3, 2017 - May 5, 2017
37th Annual AGLF Conference
Omni Interlocken Resort
Broomfield, Colorado

Conference Information:
http://www.aglf.org/conference-landing-page

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October 4, 2017 - October, 6
2017 Funding Symposium
JW Marriott Buckhead
Atlanta, Georgia

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October 11, 2017 - October 13, 2017
Lend360
Fairmount Dallas, Texas
http://www.lend360.org/

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October 17, 2017 - October 19, 2017
2017 56th Annual Convention
Gaylord Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, Florida

"Our registration is now open and we anticipate over 600 brokers to attend based on the success of last year and growth we experienced."

Kris D. Roglieri
kris@commercialcapitaltraining.com
Commercial Capital Training Group
www.CommercialCapitalTraining.com

For More Information:
www.naclb.org

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October 22, 2017 - October 24, 2017
2017 56th Annual Convention
Orlando, Florida

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October 22, 2017 -  October, 26, 2017
The Palazzo and Sands Convention Center
Venetian Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada

 

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Leasing News: Fernando’s View: Easter Edition
By Fernando Croce

Though Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving all boast a long list of holiday-themed movies, Easter-related movies are rarer but no less inspiring. With Easter Sunday right around the corner, take some time off from hunting eggs and chocolate bunnies and check Netflix for these classic holiday choices.

King of Kings (Nicholas Ray, 1961): “Ben-Hur” and “The Greatest Story Ever Told” may be better-known Hollywood Biblical epics, but this retelling of the New Testament may be the most passionate version. From the birth in Bethlehem to the Crucifixion, the film follows Jesus (played by the underrated Jeffrey Hunter) in a large-scale yet intimate portrait of his telling encounters with John the Baptist (Robert Ryan), Barabbas (Harry Guardino), and Judas (Rip Torn). Better known for “Johnny Guitar” and “Rebel Without a Cause,” Nicholas Ray might seem like an unusual choice to direct the movie, and yet his affinity for troubled outsiders works inventive and poignant wonders here, keeping a humane rather than grandiose eye on epic sequences like the Sermon on the Mount.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail (Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin Jr., 1971): Specialists in stop-motion holiday shows such as “Here Comes Santa Claus,” Rankin/Bass Productions supplied their own Easter special with this engaging and tuneful short. The story follows Peter Cottontail (voiced by Casey Kasem), a bunny next in line to be the Easter Bunny’s successor in the noble art of delivering chocolate eggs. However, the position is also coveted by the malicious January Q. Irontail (Vincent Price), which leads to a race with disastrous results. When the mysterious Sassafras (Danny Kaye) turns up to give Peter a second chance, can things be reverted before it’s too late? Full of colorful animation and catchy songs, this is a bouncy seasonal effort that deserves more recognition.

Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977): Woody Allen scored one of his most beloved hits with this irresistible blend of romance and neuroticism. Charting the ups and downs of a most mismatched couple, the film stars Allen himself as Alvy Singer, an intellectual New Yorker with a faltering career as a comic, who looks back at his relationship with Annie Hall (Diane Keaton, in an Oscar-winning performance). An aspiring singer from the Midwest, Annie accompanies Alvy in a series of misadventures—but can the two of them remain together despite their differences? Employing a stream of consciousness comic style that includes asides to the audience, fantasy sequences, animation, and an unforgettable Easter family dinner, Allen serves up a hilarious but also moving meditation on the winding road of love.

Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979): Those who like their Easter weekend viewing with a dash of irreverence should enjoy this rollicking satire from Britain’s legendary comic troupe Monty Python. The eponymous Brian (Graham Chapman) is an Everyman muddling through Biblical times, who ends up being mistaken for none other than The Messiah. Dealing with everybody from Pontius Pilates (Michael Palin) to miracle-hungry crowds to his own overbearing mother (Terry Jones), Brian stumbles his way to a crucifixion peculiarly scored to a cheery ditty known as “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” Though not as well-known as “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” the film amply showcases the group’s sense of absurdity, poking fun of one institution after another.

Of Gods and Men (Xavier Beauvois, 2010): French director Xavier Beauvois’s acclaimed account of the real-life plight of a group of monks in volatile territory makes for deeply stirring viewing. Based on controversial events that took place in 1996, the movie takes place in and around a Christian monastery in a small Moroccan village, where eight French monks lead a peaceful life with the Arab locals. Their idyll comes to an end, however, when an organization of religious extremists starts conducting terrorist acts in the area, forcing them to make a decision that might cost them their lives. Full of wrenching moments and strong acting by Lambert Wilson and Michael Lonsdale, the film is a powerful tribute to the strength of human faith during difficult times. With subtitles.

Shepherd Mix
Rancho Santa Margarita, California  Adopt-a-Dog

Bonia
Female
12 -13 years old
Small: 25 lbs.
Color: Tan/Yellow/Fawn
#ID 8513059

Bonita's Info...
"I am already spayed, up to date with shots, good with kids, and good with dogs."

Bonita's Story...
"Hello, my name is Bonita. I think I am a retriever mix and estimate I am 12-13 years old. I came into the I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue fold recently after being “accidentally” discovered in Mexico. I am currently in foster care in Aliso Viejo. I am being treated very well during my healing process. I have a scheduled appointment to visit my friends at the Pet Hospital in Orange shortly to get an overall health assessment.

"Though I am an older dog, I really believe I am still a puppy although not as hyper as a puppy. I am definitely a people lover and get so excited whenever anyone comes in the house or goes by my front window. My foster family had to put a basket under the window for me to step up to actually see out the window. My tail is usually going “90 miles” an hour whenever spoken to, but especially at feeding time.I do not chew on anything nor jump up on people.

"I am potty trained and I am working on some basic commands as well as name recognition. So far, I believe I am making excellent progress and will continue working hard. I picked up the foster household routines quickly including when it’s time to go to bed in my gated kitchen. I am proud to say I have not had any household accidents!!

"My foster family keeps telling me how special I am and how sweet I am. I must admit I do have a charming disposition. I have settled in quite nicely in a low key household with people who give me lots of love and attention."

Adoption Fee: $250

Rescue Group: I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue
Pet ID #: 8513059
Contact: I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue
E-mail:
rescue@icaredogrescue.org
Website:
http://www.icaredogrescue.org
Address:
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

Adoption fee includes

Shots up to date of adoption
Micro-chip

"We also require to stay second on the micro-chip info for life and have a life time return policy on all our rescue dogs adopted out."

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

 

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News Briefs---

ZRG Partners Fastest Growing Search Firm In the Americas
  67% Rise in Revenue Since Last Year
http://huntscanlon.com/zrg-partners-fastest-growing-search-firm-americas/ 

London is world leader in financial technology, report shows
  Prediction UK will make greater global fintech
http://www.lsbf.org.uk/blog/news/innovation-technology/london-world-leader-financial-technology-report-shows/109932

What Cities Across America Can Learn
     From Atlanta’s Financial Tech Boom
http://www.adweek.com/digital/what-your-city-can-learn-from-atlantas-financial-tech-boom/

More trouble for restaurants: Loyal customers are cutting back
  Poll of 1000 Consumers
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/10/more-trouble-for-restaurants-loyal-customers-are-cutting-back.html

Trump’s travel ban is hitting luxury hotels the hardest
Travel Here from Middle East/North Africa Down 20%
http://nypost.com/2017/04/12/trumps-travel-ban-is-hitting-luxury-hotels-the-hardest/

 

 

[headlines]
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You May Have Missed---

Speaking Tips from Don Rickles
  by Dan Janal
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/speaking-tips-from-don-rickles-dan-janal

[headlines]
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Poem

Only A Little Something

The little farmer's cow walked into the field, stepped on one and was gone. But after all it was only a cow and the little farmer was a little farmer not because he was a small yellow man but because his farm was so tiny it did not really have borders and nothing to put a fence around. And the family all of them ate the cow for days and made soup only it was not a cow. I suppose it was an ox. No, a water buffalo. And the field was some sort of wet rice field. Yes, a paddy. And the little farmer was sad because he did not have a water buffalo to help him till the paddy or work the land however they do far away where he lives and he knew that unless something good happened he would not be able to feed his family and they might starve and die and leave the farm untended for whoever wanted it, land mines and all. But after all he was only a little farmer on a little farm far away from us.

 Barry Marks, Esq.

 

[headlines]
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Sports Briefs----

St. Louis sues NFL for moving Rams to L.A.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/st-louis-suing-nfl-over-rams-relocation/article_501e2349-c9c9-5a70-9743-2583f89948d9.html

Ranking the best NFL QBs drafted in the first round
     in the past 10 years
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/04/12/first-round-qbs-ranking-draft-best-picks-andrew-luck-cam-newton/100273972/

49ers Rumored to be Ready to Give Up on
   Running Back Carlos Hyde
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2703263-49ers-rumored-to-be-ready-to-give-up-on-carlos-hyde

[headlines]
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California Nuts Briefs---

Rising home prices in California concern economists,
     prompt action by lenders
http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article143006489.html

Trump border walls to be built in Otay Mesa
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/economy/sd-fi-wall-location-20170410-story.html

Solar hits big, brief milestone in California
http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Solar-hits-big-brief-milestone-in-California-11063785.php

 

[headlines]
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“Gimme that Wine”

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

25 Celebrity Wines Ranked Worst to Best
http://www.thewrap.com/25-celebrity-wine-ranked-worst-best-sting-angelina-jolie-brad-pitt/

Getting to Know California’s Best Unsung Wine Regions
http://www.winemag.com/2017/04/11/getting-to-know-californias-best-unsung-wine-regions/

The world's most valuable liquor company is now Chinese
http://money.cnn.com/2017/04/10/investing/china-moutai-diageo-alcohol-drinks/

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/

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

     1721 - John Hanson (d. 1783), first U.S. President under the Articles of Confederation, was born in Port Tobacco, MD. He was the heir of one of the greatest family traditions in the colonies and became the patriarch of a long line of American patriots.  His great-grandfather died at Lutzen beside the great King Gustavus Aldophus of Sweden; his grandfather was one of the founders of New Sweden along the Delaware River in Maryland; one of his nephews was the military secretary to George Washington; another was a signer of the Declaration; still another was a signer of the Constitution; yet another was Governor of Maryland during the Revolution; and still another was a member of the first Congress; two sons were killed in action with the Continental Army; a grandson served as a member of Congress under the new Constitution; and another grandson was a Maryland Senator. Thus, even if Hanson had not served as President himself, he would have greatly contributed to the life of the nation through his ancestry and progeny.  The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation. This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the Revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.
He was the first President to serve a full term after the full ratification of the Articles of Confederation.  Like so many of the Southern and New England Founders, he was strongly opposed to the Constitution when it was first discussed.  The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one-year term during any three-year period. He remained a confirmed anti-federalist until his untimely death. Six other presidents were elected after him:  Elias Boudinot (1783), Thomas Mifflin (1784), Richard Henry Lee (1785), Nathan Gorman (1786), Arthur St. Clair (1787), and Cyrus Griffin (1788) - all prior to Washington taking office. George Washington was the first President of the United States under the Constitution we follow today. And the first seven Presidents are forgotten in history.
    1787 – “The Contrast,” by Robert Tyler, became the first professional United States play to be presented on the stage.
    1813 - The first federal government mandate of factory standardization was made with a contract specifying interchangeable parts. The contract was with Colonel Simeon North of Berlin, CT. The contract was for 20,000 pistols at $7 each to be produced within five years. It stipulate that the “component parts of the pistols are to correspond so exactly that any limb or part of one pistol may be fitted to any other pistol of the 20,000.” Colonel North established his pistol factory in 1810 in Saddle Hill, a suburb of Middletown. The factory produced about 10,000 pistols a year.
    1818 - The US Senate ratified the Rush-Bagot amendment to form an unarmed US-Canada border.
    1849 - A severe freeze from Georgia to Texas killed cotton while snow lay on the ground at Charleston, South Carolina.
    1850 - California Legislature passed the Foreign Miners Tax that required non-American born miners to pay a monthly $20 tax. This was the first anti-Chinese legislation in California. It was a lot of money in its day.
    1851 – Famous lighthouse storm occurred in New England, a massive tidal flooding with storm-force winds. Gigantic waves destroyed Minot Light at Cohasset, Massachusetts with two keepers lost. Great shipping losses and coastal erosion occurred.
    1854 - Birthday of Lucy Craft Laney (d. 1933), Macon, GA.  A free black woman opened what became the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute in Augusta, Georgia that grew from five students in a basement to a four-acre campus of almost 1,000 students.
    1861 - President Abraham Lincoln made a call for volunteers to serve three months, the day after the surrender of Fort Sumter, South Carolina. His call was for 75,000 volunteers. The first regiment to respond to the call was the Ringgold Light Artillery of Reading, PA, known as the "First Defenders," commanded by Dr. John Keys. Their first engagement took place on September 24, 1861, at Hanging Rocks, West Virginia. When men were not volunteering, a draft was called with a fee if you did not join. More than one hundred thousand soldiers were hired to fight for the North. Many of these were immigrants, expressly brought over, says Shelby Foote,” by companies newly formed to supply the demand.”  More than eighty-five thousand Americans who were drafted in the war got out of going by paying a $300 commutation fee. Among these were banker J.P. Morgan and Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., father of President Theodore Roosevelt. So many young men with means remained civilians that northern universities were able to enroll about as many students from the North during the war as they had before when students came also from the South. No doubt the people who stayed home later suffered guilt feelings, but the fact is they did stay home. And more than two hundred thousand Americans who joined the Union Army subsequently deserted. (Shelby Foote, “The Civil War: A Narrative” (1863).
    1863 - Congress abolished slavery in the District of Columbia. One million dollars was appropriated to compensate owners of freed slaves and $100,000 was set aside to pay District slaves who wished to emigrate to Haiti, Liberia or any other country outside the US. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/apr16.html
    1865 - Birthday of Grace Livingston Hill (d. 1947), Wellsville, NY.  She was an author who published more than 78 novels from 1887 to 1947 that sold more than four million copies. Almost all of the books use a girl protagonist, usually in a rural environment, who faces a series of moral and physical challenges and solves them with great moral fortitude and certainty. They are being reprinted today.
    1868 - The Senate voted on one count in the impeachment proceedings of President Andrew Johnson. The vote fell one short of the two-thirds majority needed to take action. On May 26, further charges similarly failed and he was acquitted.
    1867 - Birthday of Wilbur Wright (d. 1912), born at Milville, IN, aviation pioneer.  The Wright brothers are considered the "fathers of modern aviation."  They followed the research of German aviator Otto Lilienthal and when Lilienthal died in a glider crash, the brothers decided to start their own experiments with flight. Determined to develop their own successful design, Wilbur and Orville headed to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, known for its strong winds.  On December 17, 1903, they succeeded in flying the first free, controlled flight of a power-driven airplane. An extraordinary achievement, Wilbur flew the plane for 59 seconds over 852 feet.  The Wright brothers soon found that their success was not appreciated by all. Many in the press, as well as fellow flight experts, were reluctant to believe the brothers' claims. As a result, Wilbur set out for Europe in 1908, where he hoped he would have more success convincing the public and selling airplanes. In France, Wilbur found a much more receptive audience and, in 1909, Orville joined his brother in Europe, as did their younger sister, Katharine. The Wrights became huge celebrities there, hosted by royals and heads of state, and constantly featured in the press. The Wrights began to sell their airplanes in Europe, and then returned to the United States in 1909.  The brothers went on to become wealthy businessmen, filling contracts for airplanes in both Europe and the United States.
    1869 - The first African-American US Consul was Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett, Consul General to Haiti, where he served from this date until November 27, 1877.
    1873 - In the Colfax Massacre in Grant Parish, Louisiana, 60 blacks were killed. The dispute over the government of Louisiana continued to escalate. Republican officers of Grants Parrish were holed up in the city of Colfax. Blacks from the surrounding area feared an attack, so they entrenched themselves in front of the court house. A huge white mob attacked. The day was a massacre, as somewhere between 60 and 100 local blacks were killed even as they tried to surrender. The white mob suffered only 3 casualties. The battle for the courthouse of Colfax, Louisiana has been renamed the Colfax Massacre. All of the blacks in the area and governor Kellogg were spared only because the President ordered the federal troops to intercede and stop the white mob before they moved to another area, killing all the blacks and their white sympathizers. The New Orleans Times' headline the next day read, "War at Last!!" They also warned other white sympathizers to beware. The majority of the white people in Louisiana supported the "Colfax Massacre," and the systematic annihilation of blacks and the white sympathizer governments.
    1880 - A tornado near Marshall, MO, carried the heavy timbers of an entire home a distance of twelve miles.
    1889 - Birthday of Charles Spencer Chaplin (d. 1977), better known as “Charlie Chaplin,” famed film comedian, who portrayed “The Little Tramp,”
born in London, England. Film debut in 1914. Knighted in 1975. In his autobiography Chaplin wrote: “There are more valid facts and details in works for art than there are in history books.”
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~pringle/silent/chaplin/filmography.html
    1900 - The first book of postage stamps was issued, selling two-cent stamps in books of 12, 24 and 48 stamps.
    1905 - An endowment for a college teachers’ pension fund was established by Andrew Carnegie, who donated $10,000,000 of personal money to create the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
    1900 - Birthday of Polly Adler was born Pearl Alder (d. 1962) in Russia.  She was the operator of the most famous New York house of prostitution. After having been raped while working as mill girl in a Brooklyn factory, she had an illegal abortion from the resulting pregnancy. She then abandoned her orthodox Jewish life and sought the bright lights of show business. Almost accidentally she began procuring women for gangster friends to avoid poverty. She vowed "to be the best goddamn madam in America." With a combination of panache, publicity, and bribery she did so, hosting the sensual pleasures of government officials, actors, business tycoons, and gangsters for several decades. Arrested a number of times, she served only 24 days in jail (her male clients none) from 1924 to 1943 when she retired and moved to Los Angeles. Even "reformer" Thomas Dewey, the New York city district attorney who parlayed crime into a bid for the presidency was unable to close her down. Her autobiography “A House is Not a Home” (1952) was an international best seller translated into most languages and it was made into a movie.
        1908 - The first Oakland car is sold to a private owner. The Oakland Car Company was the creation of Edward Murphy, the founder of the Pontiac Buggy Company. Murphy was one of the most respected designers in the carriage industry. He decided to enter the car business, and invited Alanson Brush, the designer of the Brush Runabout, to join him. Brush had been a chief engineer at Cadillac; his contract with Cadillac included a no-competition clause that had just ended when he met Murphy. Anxious to get back into the design race, Brush built a car for Murphy that was ready in 1908. Oakland ran independently for less than a year before it was purchased by William C. Durant and absorbed into Durant's holding company, General Motors. Durant's purchase of Oakland is often regarded as mysterious, considering the company had enjoyed little success and had produced less than a thousand cars at the time Durant purchased it. Often accused on "intuitive" business practices, Durant claimed that his purchase of Oakland, while exhausting his cash flow, provided GM with a more impressive portfolio on which to base their stock interest. Nevertheless his decision to purchase Oakland, later called Pontiac, forced Durant out of control of GM.
    1908 - Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah was established http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/
natural_bridges/national_monument.html
    1909 - Birthday of Eudora Welty (d. 2001), Jackson, MS.  Short story writer and novelist, her stories focus on small town Mississippi. She won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize in fiction for “The Optimist's Daughter.”
     1919 - Birthday of American composer Arthur St Germaine
    1919 - Singer and actor Howard Keel (d. 2004) was born in Gillespie, Illinois. Keel's strong baritone was featured in such 1950's movie musicals as "Annie Get Your Gun," "Show Boat, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Kismet." His career was revived in the 1980's with a featured role on the television series "Dallas."
     1924 - Birthday of Henry Mancini (d. 1994), born Enrico Nicola Mancini at Cleveland, OH. Mancini made his mark in Hollywood composing film scores and songs. Newly discharged from World War II service, Mancini entered the music industry in 1946, becoming a pianist and arranger for the newly re-formed Glenn Miller Orchestra, led by 'Everyman' Tex Beneke. After World War II, Mancini broadened his skills in composition, counterpoint, harmony and orchestration during studies opening with the composers Krenek and Tedesco.  In 1952, Mancini joined the Universal Pictures music department. He was a perennial winner at the Oscar and Grammy award ceremonies during the 1960's and '70s and has won more of both than any other pop artist. He won 20 Grammy Awards and four Oscars. Mancini wrote "Moon River," Song of the Year in 1961, and "Days of Wine and Roses," which won the same award two years later, was the theme for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Mancini's "Music From Peter Gunn" was album of the year in 1958 and his recording of "Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet," on which he played piano, was a million-seller in 1969. Also film score for ‘Victor/Victoria.” He also composed “The Pink Panther” and “Mr. Lucky.”
    1926 – It is considered one of the greatest Opening Day pitchers’ duels in MLB history.  Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators and Eddie Rommel of the Philadelphia A’s, battled for 15 innings when the Senators pushed across the only run to win 1-0.  The game was the record for longest Opening Day contest until 2012 when the Toronto Blue Jays went 16 innings against the Cleveland Indians.    1933 - Franklin Falls, New Hampshire was buried under 35 inches of snow.
    1935 - The radio comedy program, “Fibber McGee and Molly,” starring Jim and Marian Jordan, premiered on the NBC Blue Network.
    1937 - One of Stan Laurel's and Oliver Hardy's best features, “Way Out West,” opened in theaters. Critics liked it, saying the film moved well, and the comic duo performed a charming soft-shoe dance. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Film Score.
    1935 - On snowy day and near freezing day as the band plays Jingle Bells at Boston's Braves Field, Babe Ruth makes his National league debut as he homers and singles off Giants' legend Carl Hubbell. Although the Braves beat New York, 4-2, the team will go on to win only 37 more games this season.
    1938 - Gene Krupa’s first big band debuts at Steel Pier, Atlantic City.
    1939 - Dusty Springfield, Britain's leading female vocalist in the mid-1960's, was born Mary Isobel Catherine O'Brien in London. She took her stage name from a folk group called the Springfields, which she formed with her brother Tom. After the Springfields broke up in 1963, Dusty had a successful solo career, with such hits as "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and "Wishin' and Hopin'." She also sang the original theme song for "The Six-Million-Dollar Man," but the song was later dropped from the television series.  In 1987, Springfield combined with the Pet Shop Boys for a top-ten hit, "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" The Pet Shop Boys later co-wrote and produced tracks for her 1990 album 'Reputation' - which included the PSB penned hits “In Private” and “Nothing Has Been Proved,” the latter included in the Bridget Fonda film, “Scandal.”
    1940 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit:  “In the Mood,'' Glenn Miller Orchestra. The recording receives a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1938.
    1940 - The first Major League no-hitter on opening day.  Bob Feller of the American League Cleveland Indians retired 15 men in a row from the fourth inning to the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox, winning 1-0.
    1940 - On Opening Day, Franklin D. Roosevelt's errant ceremonial first pitch smashes a Washington Post camera. The Chief Executive is not charged with a wild pitch as Red Sox hurler Lefty Grove blanks the Senators, 1-0.
    1943 - Hallucinogenic effects of LSD discovered in Basel, Switzerland, Albert Hoffman, a Swiss chemist working at the Sandoz pharmaceutical research laboratory, accidentally consumed LSD-25, a synthetic drug he had created in 1938 as part of his research into the medicinal value of lysergic acid compounds. After taking the drug, formally known as lysergic acid diethylamide, Dr. Hoffman was disturbed by unusual sensations and hallucinations.  Widespread use of the so-called "mind-expanding" drug did not begin until the 1960s, when counter-culture figures such as Albert M. Hubbard, Timothy Leary, and Ken Kesey publicly expounded on the benefits of using LSD as a recreational drug. The manufacture, sale, possession, and use of LSD, known to cause negative reactions in many of those who take it, was eventually made illegal across the United States.
    1944 - The destroyer USS Laffey survives horrific damage from attacks by 22 Kamikaze Japanese aircraft off Okinawa.
    1944 - An F4 tornado tracked 40 miles through Franklin, Hart, and Elbert counties in Georgia and through Anderson and Abbeville counties in South Carolina. 25 were killed and 120 were injured. Damage totaled $1 million.
    1944 - Jack Casady, bass player with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, was born in Washington, DC. The Airplane was one of the most important groups to emerge from the San Francisco area during the 1960's. "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" were their big hits. Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen from the Airplane formed the group Hot Tuna in 1970.
    1945 - Troops of the United States 7th Army entered the German city of Nuremberg.
    1945 - The Nazi concentration camps at Belsen and Buchenwald are liberated by British and American forces respectively. Jena is captured by US 3rd Army units. To the south, US 7th Army forces take Bamberg.
    1946 - Singer Al Green was born in Forest City, Arkansas. Such hits as "Let's Stay Together," "I'm Still In Love With You" and "You Ought To Be With Me" made him one of the leading soul music stars of the 1970's. Many of his later recordings were gospel records, and he became a minister in a Memphis Pentecostal church.
    1946 - The musical, “Annie Get Your Gun,” featuring songs by Irving Berlin and starring Ethel Merman, debuted on Broadway.
    1947 - Considered the worst industrial disaster in US history, the French-owned Grandcamp, docked at the oil and port town of Texas City, TX, and carrying a load of ammonium nitrate, was discovered to have a smoldering fire in her hold. At 9:12am, as onlookers gathered and a small firefighting team attempted to extinguish the blaze, the ship exploded with tremendous force, immediately killing everyone at the dock area. The resulting fires destroyed the nearby Monsanto Chemical Company and spread through oil pipelines into the city. At 1:00am, another ship, the High Flyer, exploded. The city was left defenseless due to the deaths of almost the entire fire department. There were 576 known casualties, but the most estimate that at least 100 more died in the conflagrations. Thousands were injured. The fires burned for a week. The disaster prompted new regulations on handling chemicals. With thousands of lawsuits, the US Congress passed a special act to settle claims in 1956.
    1947 - Bernard Baruch coins the term "Cold War." Multimillionaire and financier Bernard Baruch, in a speech given during the unveiling of his portrait in the South Carolina House of Representatives, describing relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, says: "Let us not be deceived — we are today in the midst of a cold war."  He called for longer workweeks, no-strike pledges from unions, and no-layoff pledges from management. It was imperative that US business and industry pull itself together, Baruch warned. His complete statement:  "Let us not be deceived-we are today in the midst of a cold war. Our enemies are to be found abroad and at home. Let us never forget this: Our unrest is the heart of their success. The peace of the world is the hope and the goal of our political system; it is the despair and defeat of those who stand against us. We can depend only on ourselves."  The phrase stuck, and for over 40 years, it was a mainstay in the language of American diplomacy. Baruch had served as an advisor to presidents on economic and foreign policy issues since the days of Woodrow Wilson. In 1919, he was one of the US advisers at the Paris Peace Conference that ended World War I. During the 1930s, he frequently advised Franklin D. Roosevelt and members of Congress on international finance and issues of neutrality. After World War II, he remained a trusted adviser to the new administration of Harry S. Truman.
    1947 - Zoomar a device that create close-up and long distance camera shots from a stationary camera lens, was demonstrated by NBC-TV in New York City. The lens would later be scaled down to be used by regular photographers, and not just for television. Today there are many kinds of close-up/long distance lenses, including the zoom lens which was named after the original Zoomar.
    1949 - Birthday of American composer Robert E. Cucinotta, Brooklyn.
    1951 - Peabo Bryson is born Robert Peapo Bryson in Greenville, S.C. He scores several top 10 hits on Billboard's R&B and Soul charts, the biggest of which is the No. 2 song “I'm So into You,'' a 1978 release by Michael Zager's Moon Band featuring Peabo Bryson. Bryson's biggest pop hit is the top 10 song “If Ever You're in My Arms Again'' in 1984.
    1953 - Bill Haley and His Comets made it to the "Billboard" music charts for the first time with "Crazy Man Crazy." It is notable as the first recognized rock and roll recording to appear on the national American musical charts, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Juke Box chart for the week ending June 20, 1953, and #11 for two weeks on the Cash Box chart beginning for the week of June 13. It is also believed to be the first rock and roll recording to be played on national television in the US.    
    1953 – “Titanic,” starring Clifton Webb, Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Wagner, and Thelma Ritter, opened in United States theaters. Filmed in black and white, this gripping film about the sinking of the mighty ship Titanic won an Oscar for Best Script for producer Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch, and Richard Breen.
    1954 – Rookie Henry Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves went 0-for-5 in his Major League debut.
    1956 - CBS unveiled the first national rock & roll show, ABC airs its own: "Rhythm on Parade," which is broadcast live from the Flam Show Bar in Detroit.
    1957 - Polly Bergen starred in "The Helen Morgan Story" in CBS television's presentation of "Playhouse 90."
    1957 - For the first time, television showed an annual stockholders’ meeting. Shareholders of the American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF) watched TV screens in New York City and Chicago, Illinois.
    1957 - Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" went to #1 on the Cash Box best seller list and The Billboard Pop chart, where it would stay for the next eight weeks.
    1958 - Van Cliburn became the first American to win the Tchaikovsky International Piano Contest in Moscow. As a result of his success, Van Cliburn's debut album, a recording of Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto Number One," became the first classical LP to sell a million copies.
    1959 - Five weeks after it entered the Billboard Hot 100, "Pink Shoelaces" by 13 year old Dodie Stevens tops out at #3. She would go on to sing with Sergio Mendes and Brazil '77 as well as Mac Davis, but never had another Top 40 hit.
    1960 - A research study reported that TV commercials “in living color” were over three times more effective than black and white commercials.
    1962 - Top Hits
“Johnny Angel” - Shelley Fabares
“Good Luck Charm” - Elvis Presley
“Slow Twistin’” - Chubby Checker
“She’s Got You” - Patsy Cline
    1963 - "Surfin' USA" by the Beach Boys was released in the US, where it will become the group's second Billboard chart-maker, reaching #3. The song was a note-for-note copy of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" with new lyrics. After Berry sued, he was granted royalties and all further issues of the song gave him writing credit.
    1964 - The Mets new home, Shea Stadium, is christened with Dodgers' Holy Water from the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn and Giants' Holy Water from the Harlem River at the location where it flowed passed the Polo Grounds.
    1965 - The Hollies began their first US tour at the Brooklyn Paramount in New York. It wasn't until the following year that the group cracked the US top ten with "Bus Stop." The English group has had only one very minor hit in America, their Hot 100 cover of Doris Troy's "Just One Look."
    1965 - "Dang Me!" Roger Miller wins in five categories at the seventh annual Grammy Awards.
    1965 - Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" is released.
    1967 - Random House published Ira Levin's controversial novel “Rosemary's Baby.” The best-selling novel was about satanic worshippers and how they involved an innocent woman to bear the child of Satan. The novel was later adapted into a successful film, with ingenue actress Mia Farrow cast in the role of Rosemary. The Catholic Church condemned the film, which contained a disturbing rape scene with the Devil. During its filming, her husband, Frank Sinatra, filed for divorce.
    1968 - Although he had written many of his earlier hits, Bobby Goldsboro enjoys his only US number one record with "Honey," a song composed by Bobby Russell.
    1968 - Baseball’s longest night game came to a close after 24 innings. The game, won by the Houston Astros, took six hours, six minutes to play.
    1970 - Top Hits
“Let It Be” - The Beatles
“ABC” - The Jackson 5
“Spirit in the Sky” - Norman Greenbaum
“Tennessee Bird Walk” - Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
    1971 - Birthday of famed Tejana singer, Selena, born Selena Quintanilla at Lake Jackson, TX. Died March 31, 1995 at Corpus Christi, TX, murdered by the president of her fan club.
    1972 - Apollo 16: Astronauts John W. Young, Charles M. Duke, Jr and Thomas K. Mattingly II (command module pilot) began an 11-day mission that included 71-hour exploration of moon (Apr 20-23). Landing module (LM) named Orion. Splashdown in Pacific Ocean within a mile of target, Apr 27.
    1972 - US resumes bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong after 4 years. In an effort to help blunt the ongoing North Vietnamese Nguyen Hue Offensive, the United States resumes bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong after a four-year lull. In the first use of B-52s against both Hanoi and Haiphong, and the first attacks against both cities since November 1968, 18 B-52s and about 100 US Navy and Air Force fighter-bombers struck supply dumps near Haiphong's harbor. Sixty fighter-bombers hit petroleum storage facilities near Hanoi, with another wave of planes striking later in the afternoon.
    1972 - The orchestral rock ensemble known as the Electric Light Orchestra played its first live show at the Reading (RED'-DING) Festival in England. Their debut album, released in 1971, featured guest soloists from the London Symphony Orchestra.
    1972 – The first players’ strike in Major League history ended
    1973 - Ex-Beatle, Paul McCartney, with the group, Wings, starred in his first television special, "James Paul McCartney." The show featured the new group, which included Paul’s wife, Linda on keyboards and backing vocals.
    1974 - Paul McCartney's LP "Band On The Run" topped the Billboard album chart. It went on to sell over 6 million copies world-wide.
    1975 - A single storm brought 119 inches of snow to Crater Lake, Oregon, establishing a state record.
    1977 - Stevie Wonder enters the soul chart with what will be another of his many Number One hits. "Sir Duke" is a tribute to Duke Ellington which will top the charts next month.
    1977 - Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" is released
    1977 - The ban on women attending West Point is lifted.
    1978 - St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Forsch tossed a no-hitter, downing the Phillies 5-0. A year later, his brother, Ken, would repeat the feat with the Houston Astros, making them the first brothers to pitch Major League no-hitters. Bob tossed a second no-hitter in September, 1983, setting a record for Cardinal pitchers.
    1978 - Top Hits
“Night Fever” - Bee Gees
“Stayin’ Alive” - Bee Gees
“Lay Down Sally” - Eric Clapton
“Someone Loves You Honey” - Charley Pride
    1978 - At the first US power-lifting championships held in Nashua, NH, Jan Todd, a teacher from Nova Scotia, broke her own world record with a dead lift of 453 ¼ pounds. Cindy Reinhoudt won the award for best lifter after squatting 385 pounds, bench pressing 205 pounds and dead-lifting 385 pounds for a 975-pound total.
    1979 - The first female Coast Guard ship commander was Lieutenant (j.g.) Beverly Gwin Kelley, who was appointed to command the 95-foot cutter Cape Newhagen, with a crew of 14, based in Maalaea, Maui, HI. Her assignment included search missions, boating safety, antipollution patrols, and law enforcement.
    1979 - Gloria Gaynor earns a platinum 45 for her hits "I Will Survive." It's the biggest hit of her career and a Number One record for three weeks in March.
    1981 – “Bette Davis Eyes,” by Kim Carnes, rocketed to the Number 1 spot on Billboard's record charts on this date, and remained there for 9 weeks. Carnes received a personal thank-you letter for the song from actress Bette Davis, saying that it had impressed her young grandson.
    1980 - US boycotted the Summer Olympics in Moscow.  The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December, 1979 spurred President Jimmy Carter to issue an ultimatum on January 20, 1980: If Soviet troops did not withdraw from Afghanistan within one month, the United States would boycott the Moscow Olympics in summer, 1980.
    1980 - The 1950s musical “Grease” finally closes its Broadway show after 3,883 performances and earning over $8 million. To this day, it is twelfth on the all-time appearance list.
    1982 - Queen Elizabeth proclaimed Canada's new constitution, severing the last colonial links with Britain.
    1985 - Mickey Mantle, banned for several years from baseball for taking a job as a greeter for an Atlantic City casino, was reinstated. His first act was to throw the first pitch at a home game in New York between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. Mantle was given a standing ovation.
    1985 - "We Are The World," the Quincy Jones produced effort that raised millions to help feed starving people in Africa, topped the Billboard singles chart. The 45 artists that recorded the effort on January 28th were asked to "check their egos at the door."
    1986 - Jack Nicklaus won his sixth Masters Tournament with a 9 under par 279.  At the age of 46, Nicklaus claimed his 18th and final major championship, becoming the championship's oldest winner.
    1986 - Top Hits
“Rock Me Amadeus” - Falco
“Kiss” - Prince & The Revolution
“Manic Monday” - Bangles
“She and I” – Alabama
    1987 - A slow moving storm system produced heavy rain over North Carolina and the Middle Atlantic Coast States. More than six inches of rain drenched parts of Virginia, and flooding in Virginia claimed three lives. Floodwaters along the James River inundated parts of Richmond, VA.     1987 - It was a grand day in New York Harbor. "Bobro 400", a huge barge, set sail within eyesight of the Statue of Liberty with 3,200 tons of garbage that nobody wanted. The floating trash heap soon became America’s most well-traveled garbage can as it began an eight-week, 6,000 mile odyssey in search of a willing dumping site. "Bobro 400" returned to New York Harbor after the lengthy journey - and brought all that garbage back with it!
    1987 - Twist king Chubby Checker, jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and conductor Leopold Stokowski were among the first ten inductees of the Philadelphia Music Foundation Hall of Fame. The others honored for making their mark on music in Philadelphia were singers Pearl Bailey, Mario Lanza and Bobby Rydell, jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, rock 'n' roll pioneer Bill Haley and blues singer Bessie Smith.
    1990 - Thunderstorms developing along a stationary front produced large hail and damaging winds across Oklahoma, with 99 reports of large hail and damaging winds during the evening and early nighttime hours. Thunderstorms produced baseball size hail south of Carney, and wind gusts to 100 mph in the Oklahoma City area which swept away many Federal tax returns being transported from a mail cart to a waiting truck about the time of the midnight deadline. Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City reported a record wind gust of 92 mph.
    1991 - Queen Elizabeth, on a tour of the United States, became the first monarch to address Congress.
    1993 - The quirky film “Benny and Joon,” starring Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, and Julianne Moore, opened across the country. Depp received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
    1995 - The European Union and Canada ended a bitter dispute over fishing rights in the north Atlantic with a deal both sides said would protect threatened fish stocks.
    1996 - The Chicago Bulls became the first NBA team to win 70 games in the regular season by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, 86-90. After this game, Chicago’s record stood at 70-9. The Bulls finished the year at 72-10 and won their fourth NBA title in six years.
    1989 - Madonna's hit single “Like a Prayer” was certified platinum.
    1996 - France Telecom starts Web service. France Telecom unveils a new consumer Internet service, Wanadoo, designed to bring the Internet to a mass audience. Some fourteen million French customers already used the Minitel, a national online system introduced in 1984, which allowed customers to view train schedules, book tickets, and perform other transactions. The company said it would work with Microsoft to develop the network but would distribute both Netscape and Microsoft Internet browsers. France Telecom hoped to avoid cannibalizing its Minitel online service by building Minitel access into Wanadoo. Contrary to popular belief, over 20 countries have a better internet system with a higher percentage of users, including a very high percentage of users with high speed capabilities.
    1997 - Extending their losing streak to 12 with a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies, Cubs set the record for worst start in league history surpassing the overall NL record of 0-11 established by the Detroit Wolverines 1884.
    1998 - Pentagon computers found vulnerable to hackers. The Pentagon announces that a team of ethical hackers discovered security flaws in Defense Department computers. After two weeks of hacking, the security team accessed a US electric power grid that would let the hackers shut down power across the country. The previous February, the Pentagon's unclassified computers had been hit with an organized hack attack targeting personnel records. The Pentagon said it planned to spend about $1 billion a year for several years to improve its computer security.
    1998 - Apple outpaces profit expectations. Apple bounced back from two years of losses: Quarterly reports, released on 16 April 1998, showed that Apple exceeded analysts' profit expectations for the second straight quarter. For the first time in two years, Macintosh shipments began to increase. Apple's recovery would continue with the introduction of the popular iMac the following May.
    1999 - VH1 debuts an Internet radio station, VH1 atWork, with the exclusive live webcast of the "Divas Live" concert. The 24-hour service at www.vh1.com and America Online (keyword: VH1) is the first major branded audio service from MTV Networks.
    2001 - First Union Corp., the 6th largest US bank, announces that it is buying competitor Wachovia Corp. for $13.4 billion in stock, to make under the Wachovia name the 4th biggest US banking company, with $324 billion in assets, trailing only Citigroup Inc., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America. In 2010, it was merged into Wells Fargo.
    2005 - Switchfoot, the Crabb Family and Casting Crowns are the big winners at the 36th annual Gospel Music Assn. Dove Awards, held at Nashville's Grand Ole OpryHouse. Switchfoot is named artist of the year and wins honors for rock contemporary song and shortform video for "Dare You to Move."
    2011 - After four days of deliberation, the jury in the trial of Barry Bonds returned a guilty verdict on the charge of obstruction of justice, while failing to reach a decision on the three charges of perjury the slugger was also facing. Bonds faced up to 10 years in jail for the felony conviction, although probation is a more likely.  Bonds admitted to using the ‘cream’ and the ‘clear’ but said he did not know they were banned substances.
    2012 - Owner of the New Orleans Saints, Tom Benson, purchased the New Orleans Hornets from the National Basketball Association for an estimated $338 million.  They would change their name to the New Orleans Pelicans beginning with the 2013–14 season.
    2013 - China and the U.S. agree to work towards eliminating nuclear weapons in the Korean Peninsula…how’s that working out?
    2014 - Bubba Watson won the Masters Tournament for the second year in a row.

Stanley Cup Champions:
    1939 - Boston Bruins
    1949 - Toronto Maple Leafs
    1953 - Montreal Canadiens
    1954 - Detroit Red Wings
    1957 - Montreal Canadiens
    1961 - Chicago Blackhawks