Robin McLaurin Williams
July 21, 1951 ---August 11, 2014

 

Comedian, actor, entertainer, perhaps best known for  “Mork and Mindy (1978-1982),” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Dead Poets Society, “ “Good Morning, Viet Nam,” was born July 21, 1951, Chicago, Illinois. Trained in acting at Julliard with roommate Christopher Reeve, Williams has taken risks and shown range in films, winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for “Good Will Hunting” (1997, with Matt Damon & Ben Affleck). He has also won six Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Awards, a Grammy Award, and was a long time bicycle rider and well-known World Wide Web surfer (before Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
http://www.robinwilliams.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RobinWilliams

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Classified Ads---Senior Management

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

Boston, Mass. Accomplished Sales & Relationship Management Professional with business development experience in the financial services industry. Recognized by market leaders as industry expert in Professional Practice financing, as well as Residential Mortgage Lending. Keen insight and understanding of transaction process and financial requirements of customer. Proven record of exceeding sales goals. deb.harold@hotmail.com

Work Remotely Business Development - Are you looking to enter/increase your Healthcare lending? Let me identify and qualify healthcare (all verticals) vendors, distributors, and end users who utilize leasing/financing as a tool to sell equipment for you. Many years experience - contact Mitchell Utz at mitutz@msn.com or  (215) 460-4483.

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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Loans and Leases Hit Highest Since SNL Financial
Started Tracking/Bank Earnings Hit 2nd-Highest Level

By Maria Tor and Salman Aleem Khan

Bank industry earnings continued to climb in the second quarter of 2014.

Loans and leases held by the banking industry, including those held for sale, exceeded $8 trillion for the first time since SNL began tracking the data point in 1991. Loans rose to $8.109 trillion at June 30 from $7.930 trillion at March 31.

Net income among U.S. banks and thrifts reached $40.24 billion in the second quarter, marking the second-highest quarterly level for the industry since SNL began tracking net income in 1991, according to the initial release of banks' regulatory financial data for the three months ending June 30.

This was only surpassed by the first quarter of 2013, when net income totaled $40.36 billion for banks. The third most profitable period was the final quarter of 2006, in the tail-end of the mortgage and real estate boom, when net income hit $40.21 billion.

SNL's data, which is not adjusted for inflation, is based on financial results reported by banks in call reports filed with regulators. Results prior to 2012 include data filed in thrift financial reports. Some banks may amend their results in the weeks leading up to the FDIC's official release of its quarterly banking profile.

Net interest income grew to $105.50 billion during the period ending June 30 from $104.18 billion in the prior quarter and $103.73 billion in the year-ago quarter, while noninterest income increased to $63.49 billion in the second quarter from $59.52 billion in the prior quarter. Noninterest income dropped, however, compared to the year-ago quarter's total of $67.17 billion.

The bank industry's bottom line was also aided by a dwindling provision for loan losses. The aggregate provision for loan and lease losses fell to $6.59 billion in the second quarter from $7.61 billion in the prior quarter and $8.53 billion in the year-ago quarter. Total noninterest expense, on other hand, rose to $104.91 billion from $102.22 billion in the first quarter, while declining compared to the year-ago level of $106.54 billion.

 

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Community Banks Loan Growth Modest, But Positive
SNL Financial Report

By Ken McCarthy and Robin Majumdar

After a dismal first quarter in which loan growth was essentially flat, even the relatively small increase experienced in the second quarter could lead to "upbeat attitudes" in some regions around the U.S.

Median second-quarter loan growth among commercial banks with less than $10 billion in assets, when compared with the previous quarter, came in at 2.28%, an SNL analysis of regulatory filings found. Compared with a year earlier, median growth was up by 5.68%.

When compared with the linked quarter, the West showed the best growth, coming in at 3.31%, according to the SNL analysis. The Southwest region fared second-best with 2.70% growth, while the Southeast produced the weakest result, with a gain of 1.76%.

Growth in the Mid-Atlantic region was 1.99%, and New York-headquartered banks specifically saw quarter-over-quarter growth of 2.23% and year-over-year expansion of 8.94%.

Michael Jamesson, head of consulting firm Jamesson Associates, told SNL that growth for community banks in New York was spotty. He said some banks experienced a solid quarter and rebounded nicely from the winter-impacted first quarter. But at the same time, other institutions continued to labor. Jamesson said many of the second-quarter results were impacted by the degree to which banks were dependent on residential mortgages. He said the refinance business is now "almost nonexistent." Banks that were less dependent on that line in many cases did quite well in the quarter, he said. "I had some clients who had super second quarters," he said.

The commercial and industrial business in New York has been "difficult" because many businesses do not have enough confidence in their sales to expand in terms of equipment and inventory financing, Jamesson said. So many banks gravitate toward commercial real estate, which Jamesson called the key driver for community banks in the state. "That's the place where they get bigger-ticket items and they tend to have longer amortization periods, so they don't go off the books as quickly," he said. Multifamily is probably the strongest component within that line in New York as it is in many parts of the country, Jamesson said.

Median year-over-year growth was notable in some regions but still hovered mostly in the mid-single digits. The West region produced the strongest median expansion, at 8.45%, while the Southeast struggled the most, generating median loan growth of just 3.97%, SNL found.

The Southwest, including Texas, experienced 7.19% year-over-year growth. Danny Payne, a banking industry consultant and a former Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending commissioner, told SNL that he is seeing comparatively "upbeat attitudes" in Texas and the greater Southwest region despite modest loan growth in the quarter. But banks still seem tentative in attempting to employ any major expansion efforts, he said. "Understandably, many are awaiting the midterm election results to assist in anticipating the political/regulatory factors before any serious longer-term planning," he said. "'Steady as she goes' seems to be the chant in the Southwest."

Payne said third-quarter loan growth should be "fair" and maybe a bit above the second quarter but not significantly so — at least in the Southwest. "There's not too much happening right now. I think we will be getting a much better feel for community banks' longer-term growth strategies [late in 2014 and in the first quarter of 2015]. The future political and regulatory effects are key to many banks in their planning efforts," he said.

Banks between $1 billion and $10 billion in assets had better growth than their smaller counterparts during the quarter and experienced total median loan growth of 3.11%. Residential construction loans were one of a few categories where all asset sizes saw positive results as it grew 2.27% for banks of less than $100 million is assets, 5.30% for those between $100 million and $1 billion, and 8.07% for companies of $1 billion to $10 billion in assets.

Jamesson of Jamesson Associates said there is an underlying concern among community bankers in New York about net interest margins. Many banks toward the end of 2013 realized their investment portfolios took a hit as rates rose, but they also saw stabilizing margins. Those banks believed that if rates continued to rise moderately they would be able to put assets on the books at levels at least similar to those that were exiting. "That optimism I think has pretty much evaporated over the last six months," he said. The 10-year Treasury yield has slipped and banks are not comfortable that margins will not fall as well. At the same time, regulators are "pounding on the table" saying rates will rise significantly, and therefore banks should not take any extension risk. "It's pretty tough for a community bank to generate much of a margin when longer-term rates are coming down and the regulators are saying don't take any risk," he said.

 

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

Element Delivers $0.14 of Free Operating Cash Flow EPS in Q2
on $4.1 billion of Earning Assets

• After Tax Adjusted Operating EPS of $0.11 in line with consensus

• Growth in all four verticals in Q2 adds $0.8 billion in organic originations

• Yield on average earning assets remains stable at 6.96% versus 6.98 % in Q1

• Interest expense on average earning assets decreases to 2.42% from 2.55% in Q1

• Adjusted operating expense ratio continues to decline to 2.19% from 2.22% in Q1

TORONTO, Ontario, - Element Financial Corporation (TSX:EFN) (“Element” or the “Company”), one of North America’s leading equipment finance companies, today reported financial results for the three-month and six-month periods ending June 30, 2014 with organic originations of $0.8 billion contributing to a 7.9 percent increase in the Company’s total earning assets to $4.1 billion as at June 30, 2014 versus $3.8 billion as at March 31, 2014.
Free operating cash EPS was $0.14 for the three-month period and $0.27 for the six month period ending June 30, 2014. Based partly on the continued growth of the Company’s book of railcar assets combined with the growing book of earning assets, the Company is not expected to pay cash taxes for the next twenty years. After tax adjusted operating income per share was $0.11 for the three-month period and $0.21 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2014 in line with the consensus of analyst estimates.

At the end of the period, the Company had 189.5 million common shares outstanding as well as 4.6 million preferred Series A shares, 5.1 million preferred Series C shares and 5.0 million preferred Series E shares outstanding.

Steve Hudson, Chairman/CEO

“Organic origination volumes were strong across each of our four business verticals in Q2 setting Element up to exceed the $3.9 billion pre-PHH origination target that we had established for 2014,” said Steven Hudson, Element’s Chairman and CEO.

 “Trinity industries recently affirmed that US$1 billion of rail car leases are expected to flow to Element in 2014 and we are aiming to exceed this target,” added Mr. Hudson. “The Company has reinforced its capital structure and negotiated improved terms to its senior revolving credit facility that enable Element to gain access to longer-term and lower-cost rated debt market facilities,” noted Mr. Hudson. “Work is well-advanced in discussions with our rating agencies and we expect to be actionable in these rated debt markets by the fourth quarter of this year,” added Mr. Hudson.

At the end of the period, the Company had total available sources of capital of $2.52 billion versus $1.37 billion at the end of the preceding period as a result of the expansion of the Company’s senior revolving credit facility which added $800 million in additional availability and the Company’s US revolving secured borrowing facility which was increased by $350 million to accommodate the growing origination in the US Commercial and Vendor business. The Company’s average financial tangible leverage ratio was 1.79:1 as at June 30, 2014 compared to 1:80 at March 31, 2014. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, on closing the acquisition of PHH Arval and the financing associated with this acquisition, Element’s financial tangible leverage increased to 3.57:1 resulting from the higher debt advance rate on those specific assets and is expected to reach 4.0:1 by the end of 2014.

While Element’s Aviation and Rail verticals have predictable annual origination volumes, these can be subject to less predictable quarter to quarter variances. The Aviation order book tends to see the strongest closings in the fourth quarter accounting for up to 40 percent of annual volumes. Rail originations, which flow to Element in large aggregated transactions, to a lesser extent can also affected by some seasonality.

The Company’s US Commercial & Vendor Finance unit reported new originations of $213.3 million for the three month period ending June 30, 2014 versus $160.5 million originated in the preceding quarter. Originations from Element’s Canadian Commercial & Vendor platform were $158.4 million versus $141.0 million in the previous quarter. Aviation Finance reported originations of $149.4 million in Q2, including $32.4 million of a $100 million facility approved for CargoJet during the period, versus originations of $96.2 million in the preceding quarter. Element’s Fleet Management unit reported originations of $138.2 million in Q2 versus $113.4 million in the preceding quarter. The Railcar Finance vertical, which reported $131.2 million of new railcar leases in Q1 in addition to the acquisition of a US$396 million portfolio of existing railcar leases from Trinity Industries, contributed $133.2 million of new railcar leases in Q2. Organic originations, excluding acquisitions, from all four verticals for the period amounted to $793 million in Q2 for a 23 percent increase over the $642 million of organic originations in the previous period.

Financial revenue for the three-month period ending June 30, 2014 was $75.1 million or 7.91 percent of average earning assets versus $66.5 million in the previous quarter or 7.90 percent of average earning assets. Interest expense was $23.0 million for the three-month period ending June 30, 2014 or 2.42 percent of average earning assets versus $21.5 million in the previous quarter or 2.55 percent of average earning assets. Net financial income for the three-month period ending June 30, 2014 was $52.1 million for the quarter versus $45.0 million in the preceding quarter.

The Company’s adjusted operating expense ratio continued to decline during Q2 to 2.19 percent of average earning assets versus 2.22 percent in the preceding quarter and is on track to achieve the post PHH integration target ratio of 2.0 percent by the end of 2014.

The Company’s allowance for credit losses was $11.8 million or 0.37 percent of finance receivables as at June 30, 2014 versus $11.1 million or 0.40 percent as at March 31, 2014 resulting from slightly lower write-offs during the quarter on larger earning assets base. Delinquencies remained constant during the quarter at 0.40 percent of total finance receivables as at June 30, 2014 compared to 0.40 percent as at March 31, 2014.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(36 pages):
http://www.leasingnews.org/PDF/element_8132014.pdf

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

Leasing Industry Help Wanted
 

 

Collector, Atlanta, GA Experienced, calling 11-90 day delinquent customers, assisting Asset Re-marketer with delinquency reporting, weekly reporting to home office. Sales, Chicago, Atlanta Work out of main office and satellite. Heavy phone sales calling on both independent dealers and end users (cold/warm calling), marketing, weekly reporting to management. Outside territorial salespeople will also be considered. Contact: Michael Testa 312-881-3133 mtesta@secondcityleasing.com www.secondcityleasing.com Financing for Commercial Truck & Trailer, Exotic, High Line, Vintage & Classic Automobiles, Taxi, Livery & Paratransit

 

Leasing Operations Manager San Antonio, Texas Leadership role in building a team focused on credit, documentation and funding functions for a dynamic high growth business operating in both captive and non- captive lift truck markets. Click here for full description. Contact: Monet Pitts, HR Manager mpitts@minercorp.com flexxrl.com Quality Controlled Material Handling Equipment Rent, Finance, or Lease up to 84 months, Maintenace, too.

For information on placing a help wanted ad, please click here:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Hwanted/Hwanted-post.htm 
Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees. 

 

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Sales Makes it Happen by Steve Chriest

Myth of the Sales Personality

The so-called “sales personality” is a myth. Belief in this myth may be as responsible for bad hiring and disastrous promotions by employers, and poor performance by salespeople and sales managers, as anything else in the sales talent management equation.

When managers want to hire sales superstars, they tend to hire people with stereotypical sales personalities – people who are outgoing, talkative, personable and gregarious. And because sales managers – for a host of reasons – prefer this personality type for their teams, they convince themselves that customers will prefer them as well.

Unfortunately, the traits that make up the “sales personality” have little to do with success in the game of sales. It doesn’t hurt, of course, when a salesperson has a pleasant, extroverted personality, but there are lots of outgoing, talkative, personable and gregarious people in the world with pleasant, extroverted personalities. Some are teachers, some are physicians, attorneys, plumbers and circus performers. But just because these folks share some pleasing personality traits doesn’t mean they have the talent or competencies to succeed as sales professionals.

Anyone who has ever hired a salesperson can cite an example of a “sales personality” who failed. Hiring Mary, “Miss Personality Plus”, was a sure bet. Talk about quintessential sales personality traits! Mary had them all. Everyone loved her, especially her customers. Mary could stroll in to see any of her customers, almost anytime, for a casual conversation. No one would think of treating Mary unkindly.

There was only one problem with Mary – she never closed a large order. Mary was a terrific schmoozer. She talked in great detail about her company’s products with her customers, and most customers revealed valuable, “inside information” to Mary. Despite these good relations, Mary’s customers always awarded their largest orders to her biggest competitors.

Mary is a classic example of the disconnect between personality traits and success in the sales profession. Although Mary’s company believed in skills training for their salespeople, the training never helped Mary recognize sales opportunities or close those opportunities. She had a great personality, but she lacked the innate talent, competencies and tendencies to sell a warm blanket to an Eskimo who is wearing only a T shirt in an ice storm.

The manager who hired Mary, unfortunately, used an “off-the-shelf” personality test as the primary methodology for evaluating Mary as a new hire. It is rapidly becoming clear among prominent personnel psychologists that personality tests, while useful in describing personality traits or emotional intelligence, are poor predictors of job performance. These psychologists concluded that “the validities of personality measures are so low that using them for selecting employees should be questioned.”

Instead of measuring Mary’s personal characteristics, the hiring manager could have used a tool to measure the competencies, conduct, traits and temperament that predict actual job behavior. It is critical to know whether Mary can do the job, and to predict with a high degree of accuracy whether or not Mary will do the job.

A statistically validated performance assessment could have given the manager visibility into Mary’s work DNA. How is Mary wired? Does she have high potential for job success as measured against the performance of proven, successful sales professionals? Is she a potential leader? How would her strengths and weaknesses affect performance of the job? To maximize her potential, how should Mary be coached?

A statistically validated performance assessment would have revealed to the manager that Mary, a very nice person with a charming personality, did not possess the innate talent to perform the job she was hired to do. It would have revealed that Mary’s temperament and natural work conduct were incompatible with the on-the-job behavior required for success.

Mary’s failure at her job could have been predicted with 85% accuracy by a performance assessment designed to measure narrow job-related competencies. In Mary’s case, belief in the myth of the “sales personality” caused an unfortunate hire and poor job performance by someone with talents, work behaviors and temperament that were better suited to another job.

About the author: Steve Chriest is the founder of Selling UpTM (www.selling-up.com), a sales consulting firm specializing in sales improvement for organizations of all types and sizes in a variety of industries. He is also the author of Selling The E-Suite, The Proven System for Reaching and Selling Senior Executives and Five Minute Financial Analyst, Basic CREDIT & Analysis Tools for Non-Accountants. He was the CEO of a very successful leasing company and executive at a major company. You can reach Steve atschriest@selling-up.com.

Sales Makes It Happen Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.html

 

 

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The Good Guys: Companies who notify lessee
in advance of lease expiration

These companies do not use language to confuse, perhaps to deceive, with the result an automatic continuation for an additional twelve months of payments. They do not invoke the twelve months on a $1.00 purchase option or an Equipment Finance Agreement.

In its editorial of June 30, 2011, Leasing News recommended that the equipment lessor send a certified letter with return receipt; however, at this time, the acceptance of the word of the president of the company will be accepted until proven otherwise.

http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2011/6_30.htm#editorial

ABCO Leasing Advantage Funding Agility Ventures LLC Allegiant Partners American Leasefund, Inc. BancLease Acceptance Corporation  Bank of Ozarks Leasing  Bankers Capital Bank of the West, Indirect Equipment Finance  Black Rock Capital BSB Leasing Calfund Capital Technology & Leasing, LLC Cobra Capital, LLC Commerce National Bank Dakota Financial, LLC Direct Capital eLease Financial Pacific Leasing Five Point Capital, In Forum Financial Services, Inc. Gonor Funding

GreatAmerica Financial Innovative Lease Services, Inc. Lease-$mart Madison Capital Macrolease Corporation  Manufacturer's Lease Plans, Inc Mesa Leasing Maxim Commercial Capital (Microfinancial)/TimePayment  Mount Pleasant Capital National Machine Tool Financial Corporation Navitas Lease Corp.  Northwest Leasing Company P&L Capital Corporation  Pacifica Capital  Padco Financial Services Pawnee Leasing Corporation Southern California Leasing, Inc Specialty Funding, Albuquerque, New Mexico Standard Professional Services, LLC Stoddard & Associates  TEAM Funding Solutions

(Click on name or go to full list:)
http://www.leasingnews.org/Pages/lease_expiration.html

 

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

Twelve Attorneys Against Evergreen Abuse

The original intention of the Evergreen clause in an equipment leasing contract was to have an alternative to when the lessee did not exercise the residual at the end of the contract. Often the clause calls for an automatic additional twelve months when the residual is not resolved.

In most cases, the lessor notifies the lessee that the residual will be due, often ninety days in advance. However, often there is nothing in the contract that requires the lessor to notify the lessee regarding the expiration of the contract.

Contrarily, many small ticket lessors do not notify the lessee, and automatically continue the lease, often via an ACH or continued billing, which often goes unnoticed until many payments have already been made.

Leasing News would like to see an industry standard that lessees are notified in advance of the expiration of their contract regarding its termination. We support the clause, and the notification requirement is wide open, meaning 90, 60, even 30 days and by telephone or mail.

This list of attorneys agrees with this and will be available to lessees, sometimes able to help them without a fee, or at a reduced rate, in an effort to end the abuse of Evergreen clause leases.

Jim Coston
Coston & Coston LLC
105 W. Adams Street
Suite 1400
Chicago, Illinois 60603
(312) 205-1010
jcoston@costonlaw.com
(In 1998, he was elected to the United Association of Equipment
Leasing Board of Directors, and in 2003-04 was the first
attorney to become UAEL President, very active in his political party.)

Ronald J. Eisenberg
Schultz & Associates LLP
640 Cepi Drive, Suite A
Chesterfield, MO 63005
(636) 537-4645 x108
(636) 537-2599 (fax)
www.sl-lawyers.com
(Proven Leasing Litigator, well respected by all sides)

Ronald P. Gossett
Gossett & Gossett, P.A.
400 Seridan Street, Building I
Hollywood, Florida
954-983-2828
Fax: 954-983-2850
rongossett@gossettlaw.com
(Many cases including NorVergence, Brican, among others, a winner)

Ken Greene
Law Offices of Kenneth Charles Greene
5743 Corsa Avenue Suite 208
Westlake Village, California 91362
Tel: 818.575.9095
Fax: 805.435.7464
Skype: 424.235.1658
kenlaw100@gmail.com
(Ken was involved in the formation of Leasing News and
represented it (pro bono) in the early days.)

Peter S. Hemar, Esq.
Hemar & Associates, Attorneys at Law
2001 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 510
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Telephone: (310) 829-1948
Fax: (310) 829-1352
phemar@hemar.com
(My firm supports the clause giving lessees advance 
notice of the expiration of their contract.)

Brandon J. Mark
Attorney at Law, Admitted in Utah and Oregon
Parsons Behle & Latimer
201 South Main Street, Suite 1800
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Direct Dial 801.536.6958
Facsimile 801.536.6111
www.parsonsbehle.com
BMark@parsonsbehle.com
(His firm represents banks who buy leases, and his
clients refuse to buy these types of leases.)

Barry S. Marks
MARKS & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
Financial Center - Suite 1615
505 North 20th Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
P. O. Box 11386
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
barry@leaselawyer.com
www.leaselawyer.com
205.251.8303
fax 278.8905 (Direct) 251.8305 (Main)
(Well-known to the leasing industry, also Alabama Poet)

Tom McCurnin
Barton, Klugman & Oetting
350 South Grand Ste. 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Voice: (213) 617-6129
Fax: (213) 625-1832
Cell: (213) 268-8291
Email: tmccurnin@bkolaw.com
(Leasing News Advisor/Leasing News Legal Editor,
Well-Known top Leasing Litigator)

Frank Peretore
Peretore & Peretore, P.C.
191 Woodport Road
Sparta, New Jersey 07871
www.peretore.com
(973) 729-8991
peretore@peretore.com
(Experienced leasing attorney, aggressive, author, secretary,
National Equipment Finance Association, ELFA, too)

Ellen Stern
Ellen Michele Stern
17630 El Mineral Rd
Perris, CA 92570
951-443-4000
leaselaw@msn.com
(Long time Southern California leasing attorney, well-respected)

Kevin E. Trabaris, Principal
Trabaris, P.C.
707 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 600
Northbrook, IL 60062
Direct: (847) 205-4377
Mobile: (847) 840-4687
Fax: (848) 260-5768
kevin@trabaris.com
www.trabaris.com
"In my career, I’ve repeatedly seen this provision misused
by unscrupulous lessors and think it’s a bad idea for both
the lessee and the lessor."

Michael J. Witt, Esq.
MICHAEL J. WITT LAW OFFICES
4342 Oakwood Lane
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Tel: (515) 657-8706
Mobile: (515) 868-1067
Fax: (515) 223-2352
witt-law@live.com
(Former Advanta Leasing
and Wells Fargo Equipment Finance attorney)

 

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Bottled Water Comes From the Most Drought-Ridden
Places in the Country

Popular brands like Aquafina and Dasani source from
catastrophically dry parts of the West.

by Julia Lurie, motherjones.com

Bottled-water drinkers, we have a problem: There's a good chance that your water comes from California, a state experiencing the third-driest year on record.

The details of where and how bottling companies get their water are often quite murky, but generally speaking, bottled water falls into two categories. The first is "spring water," or groundwater that's collected, according to the EPA, "at the point where water flows naturally to the earth's surface or from a borehole that taps into the underground source." About 55 percent of bottled water in the United States is spring water, including Crystal Geyser and Arrowhead.

The other 45 percent comes from the municipal water supply, meaning that companies, including Aquafina and Dasani, simply treat tap water—the same stuff that comes out of your faucet at home—and bottle it up. (Weird, right?)

But regardless of whether companies bottle from springs or the tap, lots of them are using water in exactly the areas that need it most right now.

The map above shows the sources of water for four big-name companies that bottle in California. Aquafina and Dasani "sources" are the facilities where tap water is treated and bottled, whereas Crystal Geyser and Arrowhead "sources" refer to the springs themselves.

In the grand scheme of things, the amount of water used for bottling in California is only a tiny fraction of the amount of water used for food and beverage production—plenty of other bottled drinks use California's water, and a whopping 80 percent of the state's water supply goes toward agriculture. But still, the question remains: Why are Americans across the country drinking bottled water from drought-ridden California?

One reason is simply that California happens to be where some bottled water brands have set up shop. "You have to remember this is a 120-year-old brand," said Jane Lazgin, a representative for Arrowhead. "Some of these sources have long, long been associated with the brand." Lazgin acknowledges that, from an environmental perspective, "tap water is always the winner," but says that the company tries to manage its springs sustainably. The water inside the bottle isn't the only water that bottling companies require: Coca-Cola bottling plants, which produce Dasani, use 1.63 liters of water for every liter of beverage produced in California, according to Coca-Cola representative Dora Wong. "Our California facilities continue to seek ways to reduce overall water use," she wrote in an email.

Another reason we're drinking California's water: California happens to be the only Western state without groundwater regulation or management of major groundwater use. In other words, if you're a water company and you drill down and find water in California, it's all yours.

Then there's the aforementioned murkiness of the industry: Companies aren't required to publicly disclose exactly where their sources are or how much water each facility bottles. Peter Gleick, author of "Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession With Bottled Water," says, "I don't think people have a clue—no one knows" where their bottled water comes from. (Fun facts he's discovered in his research: Everest water comes from Texas, Glacier Mountain comes from Ohio, and only about a third of Poland Springs water comes from the actual Poland Spring, in Maine.)

Despite the fact that almost all US tap water is better regulated and monitored than bottled, and despite the hefty environmental footprint of the bottled water industry, perhaps the biggest reason that bottling companies are using water in drought zones is simply because we're still providing a demand for it: In 2012 in the United States alone, the industry produced about 10 billion gallons of bottled water, with sales revenues at $12 billion.

As Gleick wrote, "This industry has very successfully turned a public resource into a private commodity." And consumers—well, we're drinking it up.

Julia Lurie is a Mother Jones editorial fellow. You can reach her at jlurie@motherjones.com

 

John Kenny  Receivables Management • End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement • Fraud Investigations • Credit Investigations • Asset Searches  • Skip-tracing • Third-party Commercial Collections john@jkrmdirect.com | ph 315-866-1167| www.jkrmdirect.com

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

The Death of Watching Live TV in One Chart
by Davie Smith, businessinsider.com

Less than a decade ago, the vast majority of TV viewers watched their programs live. But thanks to the advent of streaming and on-demand video technologies, people are watching live TV less and less, opting instead to watch those programs when it's most convenient.

Based on data from Nielsen, Rentrak and Showtime charted for us by Statista, only about one-third of Showtime viewers watch TV shows like ”Homeland” when new episodes air for the first time. That’s a drastic change from eight years ago, when nearly 70% of Showtime audiences watched shows like “Dexter” live. Of course, this means viewers are watching those same programs at different hours: Roughly 28% of viewers are watching their programs on-demand, while 23% are watching their missed show within 7 days of the live airing. About 17% of people will watch the show they missed later that same day.

[You also can skip through commercials. A huge thank you to TiVo for the invention of a commercially viable digital video recorder that allows one to skip through the commercials!!  Ralph Mango, Assoc. Editor]

German Shepherd
Marin County, California  Adopt-a-Dog

Gretchen
Animal ID: 194410
Sex: Female
Color: Black/Tan
Weight: 50.8 lbs.
Spayed:     Yes
Age: Young Adult
Size: Medium
My health has been checked.
My vaccinations are up to date.
My worming is up to date.
I have been microchipped.

 

A Little Bit About Me

“Lovely young German Shepherd Gretchen awaits the perfect home. She is a sweet dog; surely someone is waiting for that special dog who needs just a little help to become their perfect companion. She is smart, wants to please, is agile and athletic, and could be the right dog for someone looking for a sport dog.

“Gretchen may not have met many men in her past, or maybe met the wrong ones. Or there could be other types of people she does not readily trust. She adapted fairly quickly with the nice man she met here when he spoke her language, asking her to work for some treats and delivering on his promise. She is fairly sensitive to loud voices and harsh statements; a gentle hand with a motivational training style will be just right. Gretchen has amazing potential.

“Of course, a young Shepherd will need a great deal of regular exercise daily for many years to come. She could be good for a family with children over six, if the adults make sure that they do not scare her. And, of course, be sure that she takes a time out if she is too rambunctious!

“Someone should be home most of the time because Gretchen needs to learn that it is okay to be alone. She has the very beginning of crate training. Teaching her will require some patience and ability to judge when to take the "next step". We would be happy to help with information.

“Read up on German Shepherds, think about your life style and then come meet Gretchen. But be careful, she will steal your heart.”

Where can you find me?
I am at the Marin Humane Society location.
You can contact me by
Phone (415) 506-6225
Fax (415) 382-1349
Address 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd. Novato

Marin Humane Society Adoption Center
Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesdays until 6:30 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Holidays.

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

 

[headlines]
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Collector/Collections/Consultant/Communications

Classified ads—
Leasing Industry Outsourcing
(Providing Services and Products)

Collector: Atlanta, GA Asset Recovery Specialist. We get your money or we get your > equipment back for you. Physical Asset Recovery Experts! E-mail: mcrouse911@joimail.com	Collector: Cleveland, OH  Huntley Capital & Associates is your solution to late payments, no payments, and asset recovery. Call 216-337-7075.  Email: ghpatey@msn.com
Collections: Dallas, Texas Contingency Fee basis. Receivables Outsourcing. We are a fully bonded nationwide licensed agency. We collect for nationally known banks and leasing companies.  800-886-8088.	Collector: Los Angeles, CA Expert skiptracers covering Southern California. We locate skips, judgment debtors and collateral. When you can't get the job done in house, give us a call at 1-800-778-0794. E-mail: ceo@interagencyLA.com
Collector: Louisville, KY We are a full service collection agency with attorney network. 21 years experience. Please call Jon Floyd, VP at 1-800-264-6850  email: jfloyd@collectcsg.com	Collector: Louisville, KY  Euler Hermes/UMA 92 year old Global Receivables Outsourcing. Presence in 143 Countries. Work w/ 4 out of 5 Fortune 500 firms. Contingency Fee Structure. 20% off first time clients.! Email 1-800-237-9386 x 205.
Collector: Mandeville, MI International commercial collection services all fees are on contingency on line access. E-mail: rmelerine@collect-now.com  www.drspay.com www.collect-now.com	Collector: Milwaukee, WI  We specialize in ATM machine reposession and remarketing. We can get you top dollar for your inventory. E-mail: bdperry1@yahoo.com
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 E-mail:  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. 50 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	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

  

News Briefs----

Hawaii Escapes Major Hurricane Damage
http://shar.es/1n5AMb

Flood aftermath continues: Most highways into Detroit still impassable; cities declare emergencies
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140812/NEWS/140819970/most-highways-into-detroit-still-impassable-after-flooding-zoo#

Cervus Equipment Completes Acquisition of Peterbilt Ontario Truck Centres
http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140812-910468.html

SDG&E Becomes First Utility to Test Drones
http://www.energybiz.com/article/14/07/sdge-becomes-first-utility-test-drones

Postal Service loses $2 billion in second quarter
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/11/us-usa-postal-results-idUSKBN0GB1UM20140811 

Exploiting the ISIS Vulnerabilities in Iraq
http://online.wsj.com/articles/michael-pregent-and-michael-weiss-exploiting-the-isis-vulnerabilities-in-iraq-1407884145

Robin Williams: 6 Great Clips from His Best Movies
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/08/11/six-of-robin-williamss-best-performances-video/?mod=trending_now_1

Leasing Operations Manager San Antonio, Texas Leadership role in building a team focused on credit, documentation and funding functions for a dynamic high growth business operating in both captive and non- captive lift truck markets. Click here for full description. Contact: Monet Pitts, HR Manager mpitts@minercorp.com flexxrl.com Quality Controlled Material Handling Equipment Rent, Finance, or Lease up to 84 months, Maintenace, too.

 

[headlines]
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--You May Have Missed It

Systems Admins Face Mounting Frustrations
http://www.baselinemag.com/careers/slideshows/systems-admins-face-mounting-frustrations.html


[headlines]
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SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

The Loopholes of Food Labeling
What Food Manufacturers Don't Want You to Know
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=153

[headlines]
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Baseball Poem

Stop Action

Slowly as in an underwater dance
the shortstop dips to take the ball
on a low hop, swings back his arm, balancing
without thought, all muscles intending
the diagonal to the first baseman's glove.

As the ball leaves his hand, the action stops —
and, watching, we feel a curious poignancy,
a catch in the throat. It is not this play only.
Whenever the sweet drive is stopped
and held, our breath wells up like the rush

of sadness or longing we sometimes feel
without remembering the cause of it.
The absolute moment gathers the surge
and muscle of the past, complete,
yet hurling itself forward — arrested
here between its birth and perishing.

Written by Conrad Hilberry, published in
“Line Drives,” 100 Contemporary Baseball
Poems edited by Brooke Horvath and Tim Wales,
published by Southern Illinois University Press

[headlines]
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Sports Briefs----

Steve Ballmer Takes Over Ownership of Los Angeles Clippers
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-nba-steve-ballmer-owner-clippers-20140812-story.html

NBA files counterclaim against Donald Sterling
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-nba-donald-sterling-20140812-story.html

Peyton Manning miffed at camp fight
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11343712/peyton-manning-miffed-denver-broncos-fight-camp

Grant Cohn: Refs hold hard line on holding
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/sports/2525291-181/grant-cohn-refs-hold-hard

 

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

California Nuts Briefs---

Santa Clara County has highest median household income in nation, but wealth gap widens
http://www.mercurynews.com/News/ci_26312024/Santa-Clara-County-has-highest-median-household-income-in-nation-but-wealth-gap-widens

California passes cellphone 'kill switch' bill
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/214921-california-passed-cellphone-kill-switch-bill 

Federal board approves 144- mile high-speed rail route
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/12/6622704/federal-board-approves-144-mile.html

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

“Gimme that Wine”

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

Wine industry help sought for study on quality of red wines
http://www.recorderonline.com/news/wine-industry-help-sought-for-study-on-quality-of-red/article_5dff7f86-2172-11e4-ad9a-001a4bcf6878.html

The really big ruckus over 'Two Buck Chuck'
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101910833

Chianti Wine's Origins Found Down a Well: Photos
http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/chianti-wines-origins-found-down-a-well-140811.htm

NZ bucks global trend with wine increase
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/lifestyle/wine/10369943/NZ-bucks-global-trend-with-wine-increase

2014 Proposals Now Accepted for the Vintage Report Innovation Award Presented by Bank of the West
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2014-proposals-now-accepted-for-the-vintage-report-innovation-award-presented-by-bank-of-the-west-270776881.html

Profiles of 2014 CFO Awards-winners in Sonoma, Marin, Napa Counties
http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/96385/profiles-of-2014-cfo-awards-winners/

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