Correction: Your Dog Advisor
The Best Dog Cooling Mat for Summer

The link was not in the original posting, but added. I think it was important to bring it up again for those with dogs and other animals in the heat wave for an inexpensive product that is helpful for your pet. - Editor.

Link to Article:
https://yourdogadvisor.com/dog-cooling-mat/

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ELFA Reports July New Business Down 3% from June
Credit Approvals up to 72.9% compared to 71.5%

 (Chart: Leasing News)

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index showed their overall new business volume for July was $9.1 billion, up 3 percent month-to-month from $8.9 billion in June. Year-to-date, cumulative new business volume was down 1 percent compared to 2019.

click to make larger
 (Chart: ELFA)

 

ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta said, “The July data gives voice to anecdotal evidence from ELFA members that, in the face of rising Covid-19 cases in some areas of the country, equipment demand remains solid in certain market sectors and weak in others.  Some middle market businesses and corporate customers continue to operate in pre-pandemic form.

“Low interest rates, a gravity-defying equities market, and abundant liquidity all serve to provide fuel for a strong housing market; however, too many small businesses and the hospitality and restaurant sectors are struggling to turn a profit and keep their people employed. This is not sustainable long-term, and the hope is that, as we move into the third quarter, economic growth turns a corner and Americans return to work.”

Stefan Breuer, Managing Director, MUFG Americas Capital Leasing & Finance LLC, said, “Continued incremental improvements in the reported leasing indices have been supported by the enormous stimulus programs of the past several months and the high level of liquidity in the financial markets. Our primarily large corporate customer base has been focused on resizing and prioritizing their capital expenditures and on executing funding programs in the current market environment.

“Recent stimulus program delays and the upcoming national election uncertainties for many clients appear to be a growing concern and seem to be providing an incentive to complete transactions without delay.”

Separately, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) in August is 48.4, an increase from the July index of 45.3  

Receivables over 30 days were 2.40 percent, down from 2.60 percent the previous month and up from 2.00 percent the same period in 2019. Charge-offs were 0.73 percent, up from 0.71 percent the previous month, and up from 0.37 percent in the year-earlier period.

Credit approvals totaled 72.9 percent, up from 71.5 percent in June. Total headcount for equipment finance companies was down 2.3 percent year-over-year.

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click image to make larger

click image to make larger

click image to make larger

(Chart: ELFA)

Full Listing of 35 MLFI Participants

Bank of America Global Leasing
Bank of the West
BB&T Bank
BMO Harris Equipment Finance
Canon Financial Services
Caterpillar Financial Services
CIT
Citizens Asset Finance
Dell Financial Services
DLL
Fifth Third Bank
First American Equipment Finance, a City National Bank Company
Frost Equipment Leasing and Finance
GreatAmerica Financial Services
Hitachi Capital America
HP, Inc.
HPE Financial Services Company
Huntington Equipment Finance
John Deere Financial
Key Equipment Finance
LEAF Commercial Capital Inc.
M&T Bank
Marlin Capital Solutions
Merchants Bank Equipment Finance
PNC Equipment Finance
Societe Generale Equipment Finance
Siemens Financial Services
Stearns Bank
Stonebriar Commercial Finance
TCF Capital Solutions, a division of TCF National Bank
TD Equipment Finance
TIAA Commercial Finance, Inc.
US Bancorp Business Equipment Finance
Volvo Financial Services
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance

 

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

 

Developing Strong Leaders for the
Commercial Equipment Leasing/Financing Industry
By Scott Wheeler, CLFP

Connecting with Your Peers

Do you miss the interaction in an active office?

Are you tired of virtual meetings that never quite provide you with the motivation you need?

Is your productivity decreasing because you need to better connect with your peers?

Salespeople depend upon self-motivation and self-drive. However, sales professionals feed off one another; originators are competitors; and top producers like continuous interaction with others that are striving for similar goals. Originators like to share their successes and challenges with their peers. During the last few months, much of the interconnectivity has been less than motivational, and at times, actually a distraction. Top producers are motivating themselves and others during these times of disconnect in a variety of ways:

• Top producers are mentoring junior originators, sharing what is working and motivating others to be successful. One of the best means of self-motivation is to motivate others.

• Small groups of originators are creating daily and weekly contests to compete against one another and to create a competitive environment for success.

• Top originators are avoiding casual phone conversations with co-workers which focus on the negatives. These water cooler complaint sessions are non-productive in the office and even more so while working remotely. 

• Originators are connecting with top producers in other companies and other industries to gather outside suggestions and to share success. One originator hosts a weekly evening happy hour with five neighbors who are all sales professionals. They all share their single largest new opportunity generated in the last week.

• A sales team has replaced their office success bell (rung when an originator exceeds his daily/weekly/monthly goals) with an automated computer alarm (which is a recording of the office bell) that notifies everyone in the company when success occurs. The bell continues to share success throughout the organization and inspires others to be part of the growth.

Originators and sales teams are being creative. They are working together to better support one another. Top originators are becoming champions and leading others to be more successful. There are plenty of new opportunities in the market for those originators who are motivated to be leaders and are focused on success. 

Wheeler Business Consulting has been providing consultative services to companies and individuals to help them prepare for "what comes next."

Wheeler Business Consulting has facilitated over 100 individual coaching sessions with seasoned professionals over the past three months. These remote sessions focus on individual strategies to sell in the new economy and positioning professionals and companies to succeed. Old tactics may need to be revised to prepare for the future.

Basic skills may need to be polished; team building and relationship building is essential. Time management is critical. Wheeler Business Consulting is participating in ongoing strategic planning meetings with management teams to offer an alternative perspective of "what ifs" and what unintended consequences may arise tomorrow from decisions made today. It is the industry-wide perspective that Wheeler Business Consulting provides that helps companies and individuals to make better decisions.     

Wheeler Business Consulting works with management teams to further develop their talent, to identify and strengthen weak links within their organization, and to improve overall efficiencies. Wheeler Business Consulting works with banks, independents, captives, origination companies, and investors in the equipment leasing and finance arena. We provide training, strategic planning, and acquisition services. Scott Wheeler is available to discuss your long-term strategy, to assist your staff to maximize outcomes, and to better position your organization in the market.

Scott A. Wheeler, CLFP
Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410 877 0428
Fax: 410 877 8161
Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

 

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released a new report today that draws on UNWTO data to quantify the devastating impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on global tourism. It warns that up to 120 million tourism jobs are at risk with the economic damage likely to exceed $1 trillion in 2020 alone.

“It is imperative that we rebuild the tourism sector,” Mr. Guterres said, in order for it to “regain its position as a provider of decent jobs, stable incomes and the protection of our cultural and natural heritage.” The UN Secretary-General stressed tourism’s role as one of the most important economic sectors, providing livelihoods to hundreds of millions of people while “boosting economies and enabling countries to thrive.”

Due to restrictions imposed in March when the coronavirus started spreading rapidly around the world, international travel came to a screeching halt in April and May, resulting in international tourist arrivals that trailed last year’s total by almost 60 percent through the first five months of 2020. Depending on when travel restrictions will be fully lifted, the World Tourism Organization expects international tourism receipts (i.e. spending by international tourists) to drop between $910 billion and $1.2 trillion this year, which would set the global tourism industry back by 20 years.

By Felix Richter, Statista

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Earlier this year, the UN’s World Tourism Organization published estimates on how big the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on international tourist arrivals could be. The most positive of the three scenarios published in May assumed that travel restrictions would be lifted in July. Even under this scenario, which has already turned out to be too optimistic with international travel still severely restricted, the UNWTO expected international tourist arrivals to drop by 58 percent this year compared to 2019.

Looking at newly released data for the first five months of 2020, the UNWTO’s estimates weren’t far off. As the following chart shows, international tourist arrivals were down 56 percent globally for the five months ending May 2020 compared to the same period of 2019. Considering that most travel restrictions only came into effect in mid-March, it can be expected that the numbers would look at least as bad, if not worse, if June and July figures were included. With the recent uptick in new infections in the United States and across Europe proving a major setback in efforts to reanimate the ailing tourism sector, millions of people are fearing for their livelihood, especially in regions heavily dependent on the influx of international tourists.

By Felix Richter, Statista

 

 

While overall retail sales in the United States have rebounded relatively quickly following an unprecedented dip due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some retail categories are still trailing 2019 sales levels by a significant margin halfway through 2020. Sales of clothing and accessories stores for example have been almost 40 percent lower in the first six months of 2020 compared to the previous year, with electronics retailers and bookstores also heavily hit by the pandemic.

The temporary freeze in consumer spending as well as the gradual shift to online shopping accelerated by stay-at-home orders could turn out to be the final nail in the coffin for many struggling retailers. According to estimates from Coresight Research, a market intelligence company focusing on the retail industry, retail store closures could spike this year, with the company's latest forecast predicting 20,000 to 25,000 stores to shutter this year.

By Felix Richter, Statista

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

AccrueMe™ to Provide $100 Million in Funding
to Successful Amazon Sellers

Investment Company Offers Growth Capital with
 No Interest Payments and No Loss of Ownership

 

PEAR RIVER, N.Y., - AccrueMe™ announced today its commitment to providing a total of $100 million in growth capital to Sellers who have at least six months of profitability on Amazon. Unlike any other type of financing available today, AccrueMe doubles a Seller's capital with no interest payments, no monthly payments, no personal guarantees, and no loss of ownership in the Seller's business. In return, AccrueMe receives a temporary, small percentage of the Seller's profits.

Donald Henig, co-founder of AccrueMe, said,"Our finance model is unique in that Sellers receive capital to grow their business risk-free and without the worry of making payments even during months with lower sales. Instead of giving them a loan like a bank would, we invest money directly into their business while asking for no monthly payments and no permanent business ownership.

 "We only make money when the business makes a profit, and that's by earning a percentage that is representative of half of what we've invested, so the Seller always benefits."

Funding without liabilities or debts can free Amazon Sellers to focus on growing their business. With double the capital, which is typically four times the funding any traditional lender would provide, Sellers can purchase products with higher margins, have less competition in the marketplace, and have the strength to capitalize on a greater rate of buying opportunities. And with no payments required, Sellers benefit from constant reinvestment of the growth funds and the ability to grow faster than on their own or with a loan.

Samuel Kotch, Co-founder of AccrueMe, remarked, "This type of financing has never been done before. We want to help Amazon Sellers grow larger and more profitable at a quicker pace while also being financially responsible. In return, our company shares in a small percentage of the profits, but only temporarily – only for as long as the Seller wants to use our capital to grow.

 "We have the power to disrupt how financing will be done in the future."

Sellers interested in learning more can use the AccrueMe™ Calculator to see how growth capital could benefit their business' profitability. AccrueMe is an example of a company that is focused on serving the growing number of Amazon Sellers. Like other service providers, such as Amazon Sellers Lawyer, AccrueMe is part of a budding industry dedicated to supporting e-commerce businesses.

About AccrueMe LLC:
AccrueMe™ is a one-of-a-kind FinTech company based in NYC offering unique growth capital to Amazon Sellers with no required payments and no loss of ownership.  The model was tested over the past 12 months and is now backed with $100,000,000 to invest in successful Sellers.  AccrueMe invests in the Seller on a temporary basis and doesn't receive any permanent ownership. Interested Sellers can access tools to customers

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

 

 

 

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

July Used Truck Metrics Show Volumes Up YTD,
but Average Price, Miles & Age Down Same Time Period

COLUMBUS, IN – According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes were up 13% year-to-date against the first seven months of 2019, with average price, miles and age all below July 2019 ytd rates, down 15%, 1%, and 8%, respectively. Near term, the report also indicated that used Class 8 sales volumes rose, up 15% sequentially, with average price unchanged month-over-month, and average miles and age virtually flat, down 1% each, compared to June.

Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research, remarked, “July’s strong sales can, in part, likely be attributed to the weakness in late spring sales, driven by stay-at-home orders. That said, the remainder of the year continues to be overshadowed by uncertainty, as businesses evolve to new sales models and small truckers enter and leave the market.”

Tam added, “Regardless of July’s volumes, used truck sales are spotty, with some dealers and sales reps very busy, while others are experiencing very slow sales.” He concluded, “Another part of July’s success may be attributed to new or first-time buyers entering the market, attracted by near-record spot freight rates, with some customers who might otherwise have purchased a new truck turning to the late model, low mileage used trucks instead, after new truck production was halted in the spring to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

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

 

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

FDIC-Insured Institutions Reported Lower Profitability
but Strong Liquidity and Higher Capital Levels in 2nd Quarter

• Aggregate Quarterly Net Income Declined Due to Continued Economic Uncertainty
• Net Interest Margin Compressed at Record Rate
• Deposits Expanded by More Than $1 Trillion for Second Consecutive Quarter
• Deposit Insurance Fund Increased to Record $114.7 Billion, while Reserve Ratio Falls to 1.30 Percent Due to Inflow of Deposits
• Community Banks Registered a 3.2 Percent Increase in Net Income Year Over Year

— FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams
"Although economic stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect bank earnings, the industry has remained a source of strength for the economy. Banks of all sizes supported their customers and communities, including by originating more than $480 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans in the second quarter." 

WASHINGTON—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today reported that commercial banks and savings institutions saw a decrease in net income of 70 percent from a year ago, while liquidity and capital levels remained very strong to meet loan demand and absorb any losses in the future.

For the 5,066 commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the FDIC, aggregate net income totaled $18.8 billion in second quarter 2020, down $43.7 billion (70.0 percent) from a year ago. The decline in net income is a continuation of uncertain economic conditions, which drove an increase in provision expenses. Financial results for second quarter 2020 are included in the FDIC’s latest Quarterly Banking Profile released yesterday..

“Lower levels of business activity and consumer spending – combined with uncertainty about the path of the economy and the low interest-rate environment – contributed to higher provisions for loan and lease losses, as well as a decrease in net interest margins. Notwithstanding these disruptions, however, the banking industry maintained strong capital and liquidity levels at the end of the second quarter, which will protect against potential losses in the future,” McWilliams said.

Highlights from the Second Quarter 2020 Quarterly Banking Profile

Mergers and New Bank Openings Continued in the Second Quarter: During the second quarter, one new bank opened, 47 institutions were absorbed through mergers, and one bank failed.

Quarterly Net Income Declined by 70.0 Percent from a Year Ago: The decline in net income is primarily a result of an increase in provision expenses of $49.1 billion to $61.9 billion. Slightly less than half (47.5 percent) of all institutions reported annual declines in net income. The share of unprofitable institutions increased from a year ago to 5.4 percent. The average return on assets ratio fell from 1.38 percent in second quarter 2019 to 0.36 percent.

Net Interest Margin Compressed at Record Rate: The average net interest margin fell by 58 basis points from a year ago to 2.81 percent, the lowest level ever reported in the Quarterly Banking Profile. Net interest income fell by $7.6 billion (5.4 percent) from second quarter 2019, marking a third consecutive quarterly decline. The decline in yields on earning assets (down 119 basis points) contributed to the decline in net interest income. Less than half (42.2 percent) of all banks reported annual declines in net interest income.

Community Banks Registered a 3.2 Percent Increase in Net Income Year-Over-Year: Reports from 4,624 FDIC-insured community banks reflect annual net income growth of $202.5 million. Despite a 273 percent increase in provision expenses to $2.4 billion and continued net interest margin compression, more than half of all community banks reported higher net income. This increase was primarily attributable to higher revenue from gains on the sale of loans (up $1.4 billion or 142.2 percent) and gains on the sale of securities (up $299.8 million or 130.7 percent). Community banks reported strong loan growth of 13.5 percent year-over-year, driven by lending activity related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The net interest margin for community banks compressed 17 basis points year-over-year to 3.51 percent, as the decline in average earning asset yields outpaced the decline in funding costs.

Loan and Lease Balances Increased on Quarterly and Annual Basis: Total loan and lease balances rose by $33.9 billion (0.3 percent) from the previous quarter. Quarterly results were mixed among the major loan categories. The commercial and industrial loan portfolio reported the largest quarterly dollar increase, up $146.5 billion (5.8 percent). Most of this growth was driven by the implementation of the PPP, as $482.2 billion in credit was extended by the banking industry to businesses.

Conversely, consumer loans declined $67.1 billion due to reductions in credit card balances. Over the past 12 months, total loan and lease balances grew by 6.7 percent, slightly below the annual growth rate of 8 percent reported last quarter.

Asset Quality Metrics Showed Slight Declines: The total noncurrent loan rate (i.e., 90 days or more past due or in nonaccrual status) rose by 15 basis points from the previous quarter to 1.08 percent, and total noncurrent loans increased by $15.9 billion (15.5 percent) from the previous quarter. The total net charge-off rate rose by 7 basis points to 0.57 percent from a year ago, and net charge-offs increased by $2.8 billion (22.2 percent) from a year ago. Overall, noncurrent loan and net charge-off volumes remained relatively low.

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

Border Collie Mix
Seattle, Washington  Adopt-a-Dog

Daisy

ID #43378908
Female
1 Year, 8 months
Medium Size
Color: Black/White
Spayed
Declawed: No
Site: Seattle Animal Shelter
Location: Foster Care

        
Daisy is in a foster home and is currently not at the shelter. Please find info below on how to adopt her, thanks.

I'm a ton of fun and affectionate - I want to be with my people and am super happy to meet most new ones.  I'd love a new home with a large fenced yard in a quiet neighborhood with little traffic or a rural area. No apartments or townhouses with postage stamp yards. I am very worried about cars driving by so please don't make me live someplace where I have to walk on busy streets.  You need to have experience with herding dogs as well as training experience. I have gone home with people who couldn't help me succeed so I need someone dog savvy. Nose work, agility, or herding would be great activities for me after you help me get settled in your home.
 
Being young and a high energy breed means I need training and your attention. I'll need slow introductions to new environments.  I'm not the kind of dog to leave in a crate while you're at work all day - I need calm activity - playing inside and out, learning tricks and being with my people. I've learned some new tricks and I'm working on loose leash walking and polite greetings. Right now I get overexcited meeting people and dogs so we are working on that.
 
I should be your only dog for now. I do love other dogs and would benefit from having dog play dates, but I need you to be able to focus on me for now. I have met children and am thrilled to snuggle up to them but shouldn't live with children under 12. Thanks!

HOW TO ADOPT - Please fill out a Dog Adoption Application, available at http://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/forms.htm
and email it to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foster Dog Program at adoptionreview@gmail.com.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Many of our dogs will receive numerous applications, and the Seattle Animal Shelter asks for your patience during the process of finding the very best match. If you have questions about this dog that have not been answered above, please contact us at sasfosterdogs@gmail.com. If you would like to arrange to meet this dog, you must submit an adoption application. Thank you!

Adoption Fee: $275
includes: Recommended vaccinations.
Microchip and registration.

Adoption Survey:
http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/AnimalShelter/

City of Seattle Animal Shelter
Address: 2061 15th Ave W, Seattle, WA, 98119
Phone: 206-386-7387 (PETS)

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Your Dog Advisor
How Much Exercise Should a Dog Get

https://yourdogadvisor.com/how-much-exercise-should-a-dog-get/

Your Dog Advisor Collection
http://leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/dog.html

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"Succeeding in the New Environment"
SFNet Webinar August 26 -27 3:00 - 6:00 pm ET

Join us online August 26-27 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. ET as we bring together the young professionals of the secured finance industry to hear from industry leaders, connect with peers, and discover together how to find success in the post-COVID environment.

Panelists from across our industry will share their expertise and experience, including leaders from BMO Harris Bank, CIT Northbridge, Connection Builders, Context Business Lending LLC, Goldman Sachs, Huntington Business Credit, HYPERAMS LLC, Otterbourg P.C., PNC Business Credit, Republic Business Credit, Siena Lending Group, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, Wilmington Trust, Wingspire Capital

In addition, you are invited to attend our first-ever virtual cocktail networking party. In each of four virtual rooms we'll feature a spirit, with tasting tips and drink ideas. Mixologists and representatives from OurVodka, Verve Wines, El Guapo bitters and Raines Law Room will join us for this fun-filled hour. Click the Details button below for drink recipes and information about the companies

Register today to guarantee your spot at this event.

Members $75
Non-Members $175

Details
https://www.sfnet.com/home/events/event-detail/2020/08/16/def

Registration
https://ams.sfnet.com/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcod

News Briefs----

US consumer confidence falls in August
     to lowest in 6 years
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-coronavirus-consumer-confidence-falls-20200825-zmqz5rcxpjc3bgwehoj2vestvu-story.html

Is COVID stress finally emerging in bank results?
    BMO's numbers argue "yes"
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/finance-banking/covid-stress-finally-emerging-bank-results-bmos-numbers-argue-yes

American Airlines to furlough, lay off 19,000 workers in October
   40,000 fewer employees by October than when the pandemic struck
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/american-airlines-furlough-layoff-thousands-workers-october

More than 5,000 mail-order prescriptions delayed
    at Cook County Health amid postal service changes
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-cook-county-health-prescriptions-delayed-post-office-20200824-eu7xrpzv5ne3vdydiuunukuiem-story.html

Salesforce’s quarterly revenue surges past $5 billion;
     Benioff sees ‘all-digital world
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Salesforce-s-quarterly-revenue-surges-past-5-15514537.php

Trump Organization faces questions
     over Chicago tower loan
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/trump-organization-faces-questions-over-chicago-tower-loan

Behind the Cancellation of James Beard Awards,
     Worries About Chefs’ Behavior and No Black Winners
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/dining/james-beard-awards-cancel.html

 

[headlines]
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You May Have Missed---

This portable charger has over 10,000 5-star reviews
    and costs $20
https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/This-portable-charger-has-10-000-5-star-reviews-15513965.php

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Sports Briefs---

49ers will begin season without spectators
    at Levi’s because of pandemic
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/49ers-will-begin-season-without-spectators-at-15513673.php

Lions cancel practice to speak out against Jacob Blake
    shooting: 'We are all brothers'
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/08/25/detroit-lions-cancel-practice-speak-jacob-blake-shooting/3435089001/

Eli Manning Selling His Super Home in Summit, NJ, for $5.25M
https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Eli-Manning-Selling-His-Super-Home-in-Summit-15512860.php

Opinion: Roger Goodell can have change of heart,
     but can't change history on protests
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/nancy-armour/2020/08/24/nfl-roger-goodell-changes-heart-but-cant-change-history-protests/5622208002/

Jerry Jones looking for compromise regarding national anthem
http://www.theredzone.org/Blog-Description/EntryId/83182/Jerry-Jones-looking-for-compromise-regarding-national-anthem

Philadelphia 76ers fire coach Brett Brown after seven seasons
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29732808/sources-philadelphia-76ers-fire-coach-brett-brown-7-seasons

Lionel Messi tells Barca he wants to leave,
    signaling end of era
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/lionel-messi-tells-barca-he-wants-to-leave-signaling-end-of-era/

Yastrzemski homers on 30th birthday,
    Giants beat Diamondbacks 6-1
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/yastrzemski-homers-on-30th-birthday-giants-beat-diamondbacks-6-1/

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California Nuts Briefs---

Bay Area’s tens of thousands of fire evacuees:
    When can we go home?
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/08/25/bay-areas-tens-of-thousands-of-fire-evacuees-when-can-we-go-home/

California unemployment agency not answering 60% of calls
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/25/california-unemployment-agency-not-answering-60-of-calls/

‘Derogatory and offensive.’ Tahoe ski resort Squaw Valley
     to change its name. What we know
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article245236525.html?ac_cid=DM267313&ac_bid=1895260166

In evacuated Guerneville, life is at a standstill
     as LNU Complex threatens to destroy it
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/In-evacuated-Guerneville-life-is-at-a-standstill-15512134.php

California Wildfires: Ranchers and shelters rush
    to save hundreds of animals left behind
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/25/california-wildfires-ranchers-and-shelters-rush-to-save-hundreds-of-animals-left-behind/

California fires: Burned redwoods at Big Basin, other parks will   
    recover soon, experts say studies after other fires in redwood         
       forests found trees turned green in months
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/24/california-fires-burned-redwoods-at-big-basin-other-parks-will-recover-soon-experts-say/

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Wildfire smoke is already risking nearly all of one
     Sonoma winemaker's 2020 wines
https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/Wildfire-smoke-is-already-risking-nearly-all-of-15513392.php

Long Forgotten, France’s Beaujolais Wine Is Back
     and Better Than Ever
https://robbreport.com/food-drink/wine/beajoulais-is-back-2944325/

Exclusive: Jackson Family Wines Buys Australia's Giant Steps Winery
https://www.winespectator.com/articles/jackson-family-wines-buys-australias-giant-steps-winery

Top Santa Cruz Mountains winery survives fire,
     but owner’s home destroyed
https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/Top-Santa-Cruz-Mountains-winery-survives-fire-15508863.php

Champagne makers may destroy record amounts of grapes
     to save industry from pandemic losses
https://www.kxan.com/news/champagne-makers-may-destroy-record-amounts-of-grapes-to-save-industry-from-pandemic-losses/

Garcetti Extends Outdoor Dining Program
    Through End of 2020 for LA Restaurants
https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/08/21/al-fresco-dining-program-los-angeles-outdoor-dining-covid-coronavirus/

A Deathbed Promise to Achieve a 100 Point Napa Valley Wine
https://www.forbes.com/sites/cathrinetodd/2020/08/22/a-deathbed-promise-to-achieve-a-100-point-napa-valley-wine/#4ae1d69229f0

Free Wine App
https://www.nataliemaclean.com/mobileapp/

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/

This Day in History

     1791 - John Fitch was granted a patent for a steamboat after a dispute on the invention, but it wasn't until 1814 that Fulton and Livingston started steam boating when they began to offer regular steamboat service between New Orleans and Natchez, Mississippi. The boats traveled at the rates of eight miles per hour downstream and three miles per hour upstream. It revolutionized commerce in the area, eventually spreading up the entire Mississippi and other tributaries. 
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/aug26.html 
    1839 - The slave ship Amistad was captured off Long Island. The U.S.S. Washington, a U.S. Navy brig, seized the Amistad York and escorted it to New London, Connecticut.
    1847 - Liberia was proclaimed an independent republic. Freed American slaves founded Liberia. They modeled their constitution after that of the US, copied the US flag, and named their capital Monrovia, after James Monroe, who financed early settlers. Over the decades, 16,400 former slaves made the voyage. They assumed that the 16 native tribes were there to be exploited.
    1862 - The stage is set for the Second Battle of Bull Run when Confederate cavalry under General Fitzhugh Lee enter Manassas Junction and capture the rail center. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia against Union Gen. Pope’s Army of Virginia of a much larger scale and numbers than the First Bull Run fought on July 21, 1861 on the same ground. Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson captured the Union supply depot at Manassas Junction, threatening Pope's line of communications with Washington, DC. Withdrawing a few miles to the northwest, Jackson took up defensive positions on Stony Ridge. On August 28, 1862, Jackson attacked a Union column just east of Gainesville, resulting in a stalemate. On that same day, the wing of Lee's army commanded by Maj. Gen. Longstreet broke through light Union resistance and approached the battlefield. Pope became convinced that he had trapped Jackson and concentrated the bulk of his army against him. On August 29, Pope launched a series of assaults against Jackson's position. The attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides. At noon, Longstreet arrived and took position on Jackson's right flank. On August 30, Pope renewed his attacks, seemingly unaware that Longstreet was on the field. When massed Confederate artillery devastated a Union assault by Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter’s V Corps, Longstreet's wing of 25,000 men in five divisions counterattacked in the largest simultaneous mass assault of the war. The Union left flank was crushed and the army was driven back to Bull Run. Only an effective Union rear guard action prevented a replay of the First Bull Run defeat.  The result was a major victory for the Confederacy.
    1865 - Civil War ends with naval strength over 58,500 men and 600 ships.
    1867 - The National Teachers Association was organized at a national convention attended by representatives of state teachers' associations, who met in the Hall of the Controllers of the Public Schools in Philadelphia, PA. The organization was intended “to elevate the character and advance the interest of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States.”  John L. Enos was chairman. At the conventional held in Cleveland, OH on August 15, 1870, the name was changed to the National Education Association. 
    1873 - The birthday of Lee DeForest (1873-1961) at Council Bluffs, IA.  A brilliant inventor whose inventions include the electron tube, radio knife for surgery and the photoelectric cell, he was also a pioneer in the creation of talking pictures and television. Lee was holder of hundreds of patents but perhaps is best remembered by the moniker he gave himself in the title of his autobiography, “Father of Radio,” published in 1950. So unbelievable was the idea of wireless radio broadcasting that De Forest was accused of fraud and arrested for selling stock to underwrite his invention that would become an essential part of daily life.
    1873 - The first public school kindergarten class was started by the Board of Education of St. Louis, MO, and officially opened September, 1873 in the Des Peres School, with an enrollment of 42. Susan Elizabeth Blow was the teacher. Dr. William Torrey Harris was the superintendent of schools. The concept first started in Germany, thus the name of this organized and public “pre-school” class. 
    1874 - Birthday of Zona Gale (1874-1938) in Portage, WI.  She was the first woman to have a play on Broadway and the first woman to win the Pulitzer (1921) for drama. An ardent feminist and activist, her writing style evolved throughout her life and her later works appear to be the works of a different writer.
    1883 - The biggest explosion in history, the eruption of the Indonesian volcanic island, Karakatoa (Krakatau), was heard 3,000 miles away, created tidal waves 120 feet high, killed 36,000 people, hurled five cubic miles of earth fragments into the air (some to a height of 50 miles) and effected the oceans and the atmosphere for years. 
    1896 - Besse Berry Cooper (1896-2012) was born in Sullivan County, TN. She was an American supercentenarian who was the world’s oldest living person from June 21, 2011, until her death. She was, at the time of her death, the 8th oldest verified person ever and one of only eight people verified to have lived to the age of 116. 
    1901 - The New Testament of the ASV (American Standard Version) Bible was first published. This U.S. edition of the 1881 English Revised Version (ERV) comprised the first major American Bible translation since the King James Version of 1611. 
    1901 – A major figure of the Viet Nam era, Gen. Maxwell Taylor (1901-87) was born in Keytesville, MO.
    1903 - Singer Jimmy Rushing’s (1901-72) birthday, Oklahoma City. 
http://www.harlem.org/people/rushing.html 
http://www.blueflamecafe.com/index.html 
http://www.bigbandmusic.com/malevocals/letterr/rushingjimmy.htm
    1904 - Birthday of Christopher Isherwood (1904-86) at High Lane Cheshire, England.  He lived in the Pacific Palisades when I was growing up and we ran into him often in coffee shops with his close male companion. Isherwood was an author of short stories, plays and novels.  The play and motion picture “I am a Camera” and the musical “Cabaret” were based on the short story, “Sally Bowles” in his collection from the 1930's titled “Goodbye to Berlin,” which contained the line, “I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording not thinking.”
    1906 - Birthday of American medical researcher Albert Bruce Sabin (1906-71), at Bialystok, Poland. He is most noted for his oral vaccine for polio, which replaced Jonas Salk's injected vaccine because Sabin's provided lifetime protection. He was awarded the US National a Medal of Science in 1971. 
    1909 – The Cuban Giants, of Trenton, NJ, were the first all-black professional baseball team and they played in the Middle States League.  2B William Bradford was killed by a bolt of lightning while playing a game, as the electricity carried through his spikes, ending his life at age 23. 
    1909 – “Jock Ewing,” actor Jim Davis (1909-81) was born in Edgerton, MO.  Davis had the role as the head of the Ewing family in the CBS series “Dallas” (1978-91).  Before that, his film and TV resume includes dozens of mostly supporting roles.
    1912 – Walter Johnson’s 16-game winning streak ends under American League rules of the time. Against the St. Louis Browns, he relieved with one out and two on in the 7th inning of a tie game. The two runners scored on a single and the Nationals lost, 4-3. The two runs are charged to Johnson, not Hughes, giving him the defeat. Under the National League’s rules, and those of today, Johnson would not be charged with the loss. After the season, AL president Ban Johnson changed the rule to conform with the senior circuit but the damage was done and the streak ended. 
    1920 - The 19th Amendment was certified and became part of the US Constitution. Known as the Woman's Equality Act, it prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex with regard to voting. It was a long time coming, actually submitted in 1868 to Congress and at intervals thereafter without much success. It actually passed the Congress on May 21, 1919, and by the Senate on June 4. It was ratified by Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan on June 10. Tennessee was the 36th state to ratify, on August 18, thus completing the necessary three-quarters of the states to put the amendment into effect. Not all the states ratified this amendment, by the way, while there were states that allowed women to vote in state and local elections, but not national elections. 
    1921 – Ben Bradlee (1921-2014), former Executive Editor of The Washington Post during Watergate, was born in Boston.  He became a national figure during the presidency of Richard Nixon when he challenged the federal government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers and oversaw the publication of Woodward’s and Bernstein’s stories documenting the scandal that eventually forced Nixon’s resignation.
    1924 - Birthday of singer Frances Wayne (1924-78) was born Clara Bertocci at Boston, MA.
    1934 – Tom Heinsohn was born in Jersey City, NJ.  He has been associated with the Boston Celtics for six decades as a player, coach and broadcaster. He played for the Celtics from 1956 to 1965, winning 8 NBA titles, and coached the team from 1969 to 1978, winning two NBA titles.  He is one of only four NBA Hall of Famers to be so honored as both a player and coach.
     1937 - Pumping of bay sand to build Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay is finished. The original intention was to become the city’s airport but holding the city's third World’s Fair took precedence. During World War II, the Navy seized the island and built a Naval Air Station that operated through 1997.
http://www.dictyon.com/treasure/#anchor1256920 
    1927 - Birthday Annie Turner Wittenmeyer (1827-1900) in Adams County, OH, who spent at least $130,000 of her own money and personally carried food and supplies to the front and to wounded soldiers in hospitals during the Civil War. She developed special diet kitchens for army hospitals because the food was so bad.
    1939 - The first Major League baseball game to be shown on television was a double-header played at Ebbets Field between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Both games were televised by station W2XBS, New York City, using two cameras that alternated according to the play. During the intermission, there were appearances by Leo Durocher, manager of the Dodgers, William McKechnie, manager of the Reds, and several players. Hall of Fame broadcaster Walter Lanier “Red” Barber was the announcer.
    1943 - Birthday of Charles Isbell, Sr., author of “This Day in Black History,” Chattanooga, Tennessee. 
http://www.isbell.org/~isbell/home_Charles.html 
    1943 - William Dawson elected Black Democratic Party vice-presidential candidate. 
    1946 - Birthday of composer, singer and producer Valerie Simpson Ashford in The Bronx.  With husband Nick Ashford (1941-2011) they were a husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording artists.  Their compositions were recorded by Ronnie Milsap, ("Never Had It So Good"), Maxine Brown ("One Step at a Time"), The Shirelles and Chuck Jackson. Another of their songs, "Let’s Go Get Stoned," gave Ray Charles a number one U.S. R&B hit in 1966. That same year, Ashford & Simpson joined Motown where their best-known songs included "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough," "You’re All I Need to Get By," "Ain’t Nothin Like the Real Thing," and "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)."  Ashford and Simpson wrote many other hit songs, including “I’m Every Woman” (1978) and "Is It Still Good to You?"  As performers, Ashford & Simpson's best-known duets are "Solid (As a Rock)" and "Found a Cure" (1979). They were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002, recipients of The Rhythm & Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award in 1999, and ASCAP’s highest honor, the Founder's Award, which they received on March 18, 1996.  
    1947 - Don Bankhead became the first black pitcher in the Majors. The Brooklyn Dodger hurler helped his own cause by slamming a home run in his first appearance at the plate. 
    1950 – Dodgers’ C Roy Campanella hit three home runs in a 7 - 5 win over the Reds at Crosley Field.
    1950 - HANDRICH, MELVIN O., Medal of Honor. 
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 5th Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Near Sobuk San Mountain, Korea, 25 and 26 August 1950. Entered service at: Manawa, Wis. Born: 26 January 1919, Manawa, Wis. G.O. No.: 60, 2 August 1951. Citation: M/Sgt. Handrich, Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. His company was engaged in repulsing an estimated 150 enemy who were threatening to overrun its position. Near midnight on 25 August, a hostile group over 100 strong attempted to infiltrate the company perimeter. M/Sgt. Handrich, despite the heavy enemy fire, voluntarily left the comparative safety of the defensive area and moved to a forward position where he could direct mortar and artillery fire upon the advancing enemy. He remained at this post for 8 hours directing fire against the enemy who often approached to within 50 feet of his position. Again, on the morning of 26 August, another strong hostile force made an attempt to overrun the company's position. With complete disregard for his safety, M/Sgt. Handrich rose to his feet and from this exposed position fired his rifle and directed mortar and artillery fire on the attackers. At the peak of this action he observed elements of his company preparing to withdraw. He perilously made his way across fire-swept terrain to the defense area where, by example and forceful leadership, he reorganized the men to continue the fight. During the action M/Sgt. Handrich was severely wounded. Refusing to take cover or be evacuated, he returned to his forward position and continued to direct the company's fire. Later a determined enemy attack overran M/Sgt. Handrich's position and he was mortally wounded. When the position was retaken, over 70 enemy dead were counted in the area he had so intrepidly defended. M/Sgt. Handrich's sustained personal bravery, consummate courage, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect untold glory upon himself and the heroic traditions of the military service.     
    1951 - At the Polo Grounds, Chuck Connors, later TV’s “The Rifleman,” clubbed his 2nd and last Major League homer, a three-run shot off the Giants’ Sal Maglie in the 9th to give the visiting Cubs a temporary 4-4 tie. My father wrote many of “The Rifleman” series
TV shows. Funny, he wrote many of the westerns on TV from his days writing the radio shows.  He never rode a horse; never that I remember visited a ranch or knew any cowboys.
    1957 - The theme from the movie “Tammy and the Bachelor,” called simply "Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds sat at the top of both the Billboard record chart and Cashbox Magazine's best sellers list. Debbie was accompanied by only a piano on the single release, but the movie version included a full orchestra. 
    1957 - The Ford Motor Company rolled out the first Edsel automobile. 110,847 of the cars were built before Ford pulled the plug due to lack of sales. The car was named Edsel for the company founder's son, Edsel Bryant Ford. 
    1960 - Birthday of musician Branford Marsalis, Breaux Bridge, LA. 
    1961 - The NHL Hockey Hall of Fame opened in Toronto, Canada. 
    1961 – Roger Maris, on the way to a record 61, hit his 51st HR, the most homers in Major League history at this point in the season. 
    1964 - Lyndon Baines Johnson was nominated at Democratic convention in Atlantic City, NJ, after assuming the presidency upon the death of John F. Kennedy in 1963.  Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota was nominated for the vice-presidency. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, a joint resolution approving US action in Southeast Asia, was passed by Congress less than twenty days earlier. In September, the Warren Commission would report the assassination of John F. Kennedy was by one lone person, Lee Harvey Oswald, and that Jack Ruby, convicted murderer of Oswald, had had no prior contact with Oswald. In November, Johnson would gain 486 electoral votes over Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, 52, with a popular vote split of 43,126,506 to 27,176,799. The Democrats would gain one senate seat for a 68-32 majority, and 37 House seats for a 296-140 majority. Johnson would think it was his “hawk” stand and being a “leader” that got him the position, not the television ads of the atomic bomb explosions that told this would happen if Goldwater were chosen. The death of JFK was still in everyone's mind, and Johnson being sworn in with Jackie Kennedy on the airplane was vivid. 
    1966 - 13th Floor Elevator, Grace Slick and the Great Society, and Sopwith Camel at the San Francisco Fillmore Auditorium.
    1966 - After seeing a caricature of himself on the scoreboard, an angry Leo Durocher calls the Astrodome's press box to have it removed. When nothing is done, the enraged Cubs manager rips the phone out of the dugout wall and tosses it onto the infield. 
    1967 - The Beatles followed their favorite new lecturer, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, to University College in Bangor, North Wales, along with Mick Jagger and his girlfriend, Marianne Faithfull. After his lecture the group, he held a press conference to announce that they've become his disciples in the "Spiritual Regeneration Movement" and officially renounced the use of all drugs.
    1967 - DAY, GEORGE E., Medal of Honor. 
Rank and organization: Colonel (then Major), U.S. Air Force, Forward Air Controller Pilot of an F-100 aircraft. Place and date: North Vietnam, 26 August 1967. Entered service at: Sioux City, Iowa. Born: 24 February 1925, Sioux City, Iowa. Citation: On 26 August 1967, Col. Day was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in 3 places, and his left knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by hostile forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and severely tortured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Col. Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River, where he encountered U.S. artillery barrages. With the aid of a bamboo log float, Col. Day swam across the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After several unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left hand and thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information to questions put before him. Physically, Col. Day was totally debilitated and unable to perform even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were still flying against the enemy. Col. Day's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces. 
    1967 - Jimi Hendrix's “Purple Haze” was released. “Are You Experienced?” (1968) is the greatest psychedelic blues ever conceived. Classic Albums:  “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” - Electric Ladyland DVD. Great footage of Hendrix and The Experience. This DVD is a rare insight into one of the truest musical genius of the 20th century.
    1968 - The first national political convention to propose African-Americans for the offices of President and Vice-President took place at the Democratic convention in Chicago.  Rev. Channing Emery Phillips of Washington, DC received 67.5 of the 2,622 votes. Julian Bond of Atlanta was nominated on August 29, but declined, as he did not fulfill the necessary age requirement. Once considered the rising star on the political arena, he all but disappeared from national view and died Aug. 15, 2015. 
    1968 - Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley P.T.A." is certified Gold. 
    1968 - Democratic Party Convention in Chicago: Yippie activist Abbie Hoffman protested a decision to forcibly drive people out of the park. Tom Hayden was arrested in the afternoon for a certain squad car incident. Hoffman and Jerry Rubin allegedly urged demonstrators to hold Lincoln Park. Rennie Davis urged demonstrators "Don't let the pigs take the hill (high ground near a statue in the park)." About 3,000 demonstrators gathered chanting, singing songs, and talking and were attacked by police with clubs and tear gas after the 11 pm curfew.  Meanwhile, Mayor Richard Daley opened the Democratic National Convention.
    1968 - The Beatles releases "Hey Jude" b/w "Revolution."
    1969 - Although Elvis Presley has written a soprano part for backup singer Cissy Houston during "Are You Lonesome Tonight?," her actual live performance of it tonight at the International Hotel in Vegas strikes Elvis as amazingly funny for some reason, leading to a collector's classic: a performance where the King cannot stop laughing. "That's it, man, fourteen years right down the drain," he jokes as the song ends.
    1970 - In San Francisco, the Isle of Wight Pop Festival was underway.  Jimi Hendrix made his last public appearance. Other Isle of Wight artists included The Who, John Sebastian, Donovan, Ten Years After, The Doors, Moody Blues, Kris Kristofferson, Miles Davis, Leonard Cohen, Tiny Tim, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Joan Baez and Jethro Tull. 
    1970 - Jimi Hendrix opened his recording studio in New York City. Because of its state-of-the-art 36-track recording capability, it attracted many top rock groups. 
    1970 - After an all-night jam, the Allman Brothers' Duane Allman asks Eric Clapton if he can attend the recording sessions for his new group, Derek and the Dominoes. Clapton agrees, only on the condition that Allman also play on the sessions. 
    1970 – Betty Friedan (1921-2006) led the feminist movement to a nationwide Women’s Strike for Equality.  Her 1963 book, “The Feminist Mystique” is often credited with sparking the second wave of American feminism in the 20th century. In 1966, Friedan co-founded and was elected the first president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), which aimed to bring women "into the mainstream of American society now [in] fully equal partnership with men".  In 1970, after stepping down as NOW's first president, Friedan organized the nationwide Women’s Strike for Equality on the 50th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote. The national strike was successful beyond expectations in broadening the feminist movement; the march led by Friedan in New York City alone attracted over 50,000 women and men. In 1971, Friedan joined other leading feminists to establish the National Women’s Political Caucus. Friedan was also a strong supporter of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution that passed the United States House of Representatives (by a vote of 354–24) and Senate (84–8) following intense pressure by women's groups led by NOW in the early 1970s. Following Congressional passage of the amendment, Friedan advocated for ratification of the amendment in the states and supported other women's rights reforms: she founded the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws but was later critical of the abortion-centered positions of many liberal feminists.     
    1978 - Italian Cardinal Albino Luciani, 65, was elevated to the papacy as John Paul I. His unexpected, and to some, suspicious, death only 34 days later left a profound sadness for millions of people who had been drawn to him by his warm personality. 
    1978 - Nearly sixteen years after he topped the US record charts with "Sherry," Frankie Valli had the number one song again, with the title track from the musical “Grease.” It went on to sell over 2 million in the States and was also a #3 hit in the UK. 
    1980 - Kansas City Royals 3B George Brett raised his batting average to .407 with four singles and a double in 5 at-bats. 
    1981 - The Mayor of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Marion Dewar, declared today "Paul Anka Day" in honor of its native son. 
    1987 - The Fuller Brush Company announced plans to open two retail stores in Dallas, TX. This was a first for the company that had sold its products door to door for 81 years. 
    1987 - Sonny Bono (1935-98), who once said that he never voted until age 53, announced that he was running for Mayor of Palm Springs, California. Sonny said he was frustrated over the red tape he faced for a remodeling project at his Italian restaurant. He would win the election in 1988 and serve until 1992. He failed in a Senate race later that year but won a seat in Congress in 1996. Bono died in a skiing accident on January 6th, 1998, at the age of 62. 
    1988 - A dozen cities in Texas, Colorado and California reported record high temperatures for the date, including readings of 100 degrees at Pueblo, CO, 106 degrees at Wichita Falls, TX, and 109 degrees at Redding, CA. Afternoon thunderstorms in Utah deluged the town of Beaver with more than an inch of rain in twenty minutes. 
    1990 – In his first game after six weeks on the DL, Kansas City’s Bo Jackson homered in his first at bat, off later Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, to tie a Major League record with four consecutive homers. Bo added a single and double as KC rolled by Seattle, 8-2. 
    1992 - A no-fly zone was imposed on southern Iraq. Operation Southern Watch was orchestrated by the United States, France and Britain. The campaign supported U.N. Security Council resolutions containing Iraq, protecting Kuwait, and keeping pressure on Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime. 
    1996 - With ten-year, $20 million deal, Pro Player, the sports apparel division of Fruit of the Loom, becomes the first sports marketing and products company to have its name used as the moniker for a stadium. The renaming of Joe Robbie Stadium, the home of the Florida Marlins, to Pro Player Stadium sparks controversy as many Miamians believe the name of the benefactor, whose name will be removed, should still be included due to his generosity and efforts to fund the original project. 
    2002 - The first video streaming coverage of a Major League baseball game takes place on the internet. Approximately 30,000 fans visit MLB.com to see the Yankees defeat the Rangers, 10-3. 
    2002 - Derek Jeter becomes only the third player to score at least 100 runs in his first seven major league seasons. The Yankees' shortstop joins Hall of Fame outfielders Ted Williams (Red Sox, 1939-49) and Earle Combs (Yankees, 1925-32) as the only big leaguers to accomplish the feat. 
    2003 - Rolling Stone Magazine named Jimi Hendrix as the greatest guitarist in Rock history. Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Ry Cooder also made the top 10.
    2005 - A post office in Los Angeles was renamed after singer Ray Charles due to its close proximity to the studio where he recorded later in life.
    2014 - Burger King Worldwide Inc. acquired Canadian restaurant chain Tim Hortons Inc. for US$11B and moved its headquarters to Canada. The merger created the third-largest global fast food company, Restaurant Brands International.
    2015 – WDBJ-TV reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward are fatally shot live on TV by an ex-colleague in Moneta, Virginia.  They were interviewing Vicki Gardner, executive director of the local chamber of commerce, when all three were attacked by a gunman. Parker, age 24, and Ward, age 27, died at the scene, while Gardner survived.  The gunman was 41-year-old Vester Lee Flanagan II, also known by the professional pseudonym of Bryce Williams, a former reporter at WDBJ who had been fired in 2013 for disruptive conduct.  After a five-hour manhunt, Flanagan shot himself during a car chase with police officers and died later at a hospital.
    2016 - In the 49ers' third preseason game, QB Colin Kaepernick sat during the playing of the National Anthem prior to the game as a protest against racial injustice, police brutality and systematic oppression in the country.  The following week, and throughout the regular season, Kaepernick kneeled during the anthem. The protests received highly polarized reactions, with some praising him and his stand against racism and others denouncing the protests. Kaepernick became a free agent after the season and remained unsigned, which observers have attributed to political reasons.