Friday, August 29, 2008

Headlines---

Correction: Ex-Leaf Employee List
    Correction: Hon. Cormac J. Carney
        Classified Ads—Legal/Lease Attorneys
105 degrees in Saratoga, California
    Lease Police New Feature---Up-Date
        Rates to Go Up/Credit to Continue to Tighten
Classified Ads---Help Wanted
    PACCAR no more physical damage insurance
        Menkin-Kalinski Laws
Fernando’s View by Fernando F. Croce
Two Movies/Three DVD's for this Weekend
    Hope claims helping 2 million foreclosures
Ralph Petta: Leasing Remains Consistently Strong
    Why haven't mortgage rates declined?
        The Key National Finance “WiKey”
    San Diego: Economic indicators: Recession
Iraq and China Sign $3 Billion Oil Contract
    Caterpillar looks for record sales on China
        Boeing could lose billions in a strike
            Dell's earnings tumble 17%
                News Briefs---
Should you buy shares in a law firm?
You May have Missed---
    "Gimme that Wine"
        Calendar Events
            Snapple Real Facts
Today's Top Event in History
    This Day in American History
        Baseball Poem
            SuDoku
                Daily Puzzle
GasBuddy
    Weather, USA or specific area
        Traffic Live----
News on Line---Internet Newspapers
New Orleans, Louisiana

######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”

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Correction: Ex-Leaf Employee List

Perhaps due to the size, there were technical difficulties in Wednesday edition, which eventually was replaced with a URL link to access the list.

Please go to:
http://leasingnews.org/items/PCB_LEAF_Team_list.gif

[headlines]

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Correction: Hon. Cormac J. Carney

Operation Lease Fleece: What are they doing today?

Hon. Cormac J. Carney

“I enjoyed your update on Operation Lease Fleece, which is reaching the appropriate legal result.  On a less serious note, as a fellow Bruin when the Federal Judge now presiding over this matter, Cormac Carney, played for the Bruins, he was a standout wide receiver.”
 
Irwin Wittlin
Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP

(Error corrected on line. Thank you for letting us know. Editor)

Judge Cormac J. Carney Biography
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/August%202008/08-27-08.htm#ops

Operation Lease Fleece up-date:
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/August%202008/08-27-08.htm#ops

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Classified Ads—Legal/Lease Attorneys

San Diego, CA
Experienced in-house corporate, equipment leasing and financial services attorney seeks position as managing or transactional counsel. Willing to relocate.
Cell Phone: 760-533-4058;
Email: sandidq@msn.com

Birmingham, Alabama The lawyers of Marks & Weinberg, P.C. have over 30 years experience in dealing with virtually every type of equipment financing and are recognized throughout the industry for prompt, practical solutions and exemplary service. They offer cost-conscious, effective lease enforcement and good counsel. Email: Barry@leaselawyer.com Website: www.leaselawyers.com	California, National: city: Riverside Ellen Stern - get results, reasonable pricing; numerous industry contacts, nearly 30 yrs exp.in SoCal, 20 yrs equip.: CFL license specialist, documentation, work-outs, litigated collections, recoveries; deal-maker. Email: leaselaw@msn.com | UAEL
Kenneth C. Greene California & Nevada Hamrick & Evans, LLP, Universal City , LA; San Francisco Bay Area, No.Calif. & Nevada. Call for free consultation (828)763-5292 or (415) 806-2254, kgreene@hamricklaw.com	Connecticut, Southern New England: EVANS, FELDMAN & BOYER, LLC Collections, litigation, documentation, portfolio sales and financing, bankruptcy. We represent many of the national and local leasing companies doing business in this state. Past chairman EAEL legal committee. Competitive rates. email: rcfeldman@snet.net     EAEL
Law Firm - Service, Dallas, TX. ELA Mayer regularly practices in leasing, secured financing, project development and finance and corporate finance. email: dmayer@pattonboggs.com Website: www.pattonboggs.com	Los Angeles, Statewide: CA.     "ELA" Aggressive creditors rights law firm specializing in equipment leasing handling collection matters on a contingency, fixed fee or hourly basis. email:RGarwacki@prodigy.net
Los Angeles -statewide: CA      "ELA " Practice limited to collections, bankruptcy and problem accounts resolution. Decades of experience. 10-lawyer firm dedicated to serving you. Call Ronald Cohn, Esq. (818)591-2121 or email. Email: rrcohn@aol.com	Long Beach, CA Wagner & Zielinski,  successfully representing lessees/ lessors.  Not a member of any leasing organization, therefore not beholden to special interests.  Richard Wagner (562) 216-2952 www.wzlawyers.com
Long Beach CA. Paul Bent -- 30 years experience in all forms of equipment leasing, secured lending, and asset based transactions, from analysis and deal structuring to contract negotiations to closing to private dispute resolution. (562) 426-1000 www.paulbent.com	National: Coston & Rademacher: Business attorneys serving the lease-finance industry since 1980. Transactional, documentation, corporate/finance, workouts, litigation, bankruptcy, portfolio management. Chicago-based national practice. Jim Coston, CLP (Members: UAEL, ELA, MAEL). email: Jcoston@costonlaw.com Website:www.costonlaw.com
St. Louis County , MO. - statewide: Schultz & Associates LLP., collections, negotiation, and litigation. Also register and pursue recovery on foreign judgments. Contingency and reasonable hourly rates. Ronald J. Eisenberg, Esq. (636) 537-4645 x108 reisenberg@sl-lawyers.com www.sl-lawyers.com	Westport, CT: We represent finance companies, banks, lessors, etc., in replevins/seizures, collections and bankruptcy matters in Connecticut and New York. Flat fee, contingency and hourly rates. Email: rchinitz@replevinlawyer.com

For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

Leasing Recruiters:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Recruits/index.htm

To place a free “job wanted” ad here, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

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105 degrees in Saratoga, California

We’re having a heat wave. First day 102; today 105. The previous night the crickets were going nuts and it felt like it was in the 80’s at 10pm. Today it was even too hot to go into the swimming pool. Maybe tomorrow? Prediction is 103!!!

Have a happy Labor Day weekend!!!!

Kit Menkin and staff

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Lease Police New Feature---Up-Date

The following announcement was sent to Lease Police members:

“Lease Police. Com has now collected data over 190 Subscribers, 169 suspicious "Alerts", over 3000 repossessions, and a data base in excess of over 15,000. Having a "bird’s eye" view of the entire industry allows us to identify high risk vendors and their tendencies early. For example: over 75% of working capital and unauthorized sale/leaseback schemes are initiated by vendors operating from a residence or mail-stop. With this in mind, we have just added a new feature to all Vendor and Lessee reports.

“You will now find a box labeled "SHOW MAP" on every Lease Police report. By clicking "SHOW MAP", you will get a satellite view of the Vendor or Lessee's location which can be zoomed in to get a better view. If the streets have blue lines then that area click on the small man which will allow you to have a STREET VIEW with a ground level panoramic picture all directions. This latter effect presently covers 30-40% of larger metropolitan areas and is growing daily. Now you can actually see your vendor's or lessee's location. This is the first of what we hope will be many new buttons to augment your investigation needs.

“One last thought...As you discover vendors/ lessees operating from residences or mail stops drop me a line on them. While they are not yet ‘Alert’ material they nevertheless deserve mentioning in the Comments section of their report. Please let me know what you think of this new feature or any new suggestions to enhance the quality of our reports.”

Regards,

Bernie Boettigheimer, CLP
President
Lease Police, Inc.
972-361-8111
972-692-8091-fax
214-549-3426-cell
bernieb@leasepolice.com

(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)

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Rates to Go Up/Credit to Continue to Tighten

by Christopher Menkin

“Who asked you!?” I hear that all the time in trying to follow-up a story about a company changing its program or disclosing information. Unless it is “good news” or “promoting” why someone should do business with them, they don’t want to see their name in Leasing News.

Here is an example of a major change. While most “approvals” contain a clause for “material financial change” or “catch alls” for “mis-information,” Radiance Capital, Tacoma, Washington is not only increasing rates on approved leases, but stating all leases will now have all credit redone at funding and if there are downside changes, the approval may be withdrawn.

• “We will re-pull credit on ALL approved deals in for funding and any material change in the financial condition of our lessee/PG may result in the approval being rescinded.” (1)

Radiance Capital issued the following statement upon Leasing
News’ request:

“As the economic environment continues to weaken, Radiance Capital has seen a significant deterioration in the credit quality of the borrower from the time of approval to the time of funding. Given this trend, the company is pulling a second credit bureau prior to funding. This change – effective immediately – will mitigate the risk of funding transactions that have a higher potential to default.

“Our investors remain financially committed to our business by ensuring that our leverage ratio of 4:1 is well below the industry standard for companies such as Radiance. As market conditions improve, we will review and adjust our underwriting policy as needed.”

The above is characteristic as to what is being experienced by funders, including syndicators. Leasing News receives many of these notices, including lease rate sheets from readers. Rates have been going up. Cost of funds and operation plus reserves have gone up for lenders. In addition, readers all over the United States, the direct side, the captive side, the broker side report credit is tightening, The public SEC filings reinforce what private companies are telling Leasing News: leasing business origination is slowing down, the economic environment continues to weaken and they question where is the light at the end of the tunnel. Most readers tell us privately their business is off. Publically, everyone puts on the positive face: “business is good!!!” as if they are trying to surprise you or even talk themselves into believing it.

While the prime bench rate is low, other conditions are affecting the “supply” side. In addition, demand is also diminishing. This marketplace is not good for business, especially for those who make their living financing equipment, software, and vehicles. A low tide sinks all boats. Yet inflation continues to grow, which is more detrimental to the ability of families and businesses to make payments or have the ability or desire or courage to take on more debt.

The business columnist have been running many stories that the Federal Reserve is seriously considering raising the benchmark lending rate. The Fed has already been raising costs to banks
for services and reserve requirements, but the hint of slowing down inflation is certainly serious---as it exists and continues to grow.

With yesterday’s report that the Gross domestic product, or GDP, grew at a 3.3 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, the fastest pace in nearly a year, perhaps look for prime rate to rise faster than many predict.

Those who believe nothing will happen until after the presidential election are forgetting history. Former president George Bush believes one of the main reasons he lost the election is because former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan didn’t lower the prime rate fast enough. First, Greenspan did not do this personally, although he certainly did have an influence. (2) Greenspan is an acknowledged Republican, even today, although he criticized current Republic spending and the high deficit in his most recent book. (3)

The Federal Reserve is supposed to be non-partisan. It is supposed not to be influenced by the president or US treasury secretary. A rate increase before the election is viewed as not being helpful to the present administration or the incumbent president’s political party. Therefore, thinking is the benchmark rate won’t be raised until December or early next year. As important, the lag time may not see results until nine to twelve months!

Whether the prime is raised or is not, funders are finding increased expense in syndication, bank warehouse loans, requirements, and with profits down, the lenders are going to increase rates to improve their operating costs and bottom line. Inflation continues to grow, certainly to be more felt during the winter months in the Northern states.

The question is then will the Fed raise the rate at their September 16, 2008 or October 28-29, 2008 meeting?

To make your prediction, please go to:
http://www.hubdub.com/m11589/What_will_the_Federal_Reserve_do_with_the_bench
mark_interest_rate_at_the_next_meeting_in_September

December may be too late to see a turn around in 2009, no matter
who is elected.

Happy Labor Day!!!

(1) Full Radiance Capital Announcement
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Rad_Cap_LLC.pdf

About Radiance Capital:

Radiance Capital LLC is a privately held “B Credit” finance company currently based in Tacoma, Washington. Radiance provides equipment financing through a small broker channel for transactions ranging from $5,000 to $75,000 on a nation level. For more information on Radiance Capital, visit the company’s website at
http://www.radiance-capital.com.

(2) “While seemingly theoretically economically correct, in the real world there are often very different results from the Fed's use of monetary policy. Thus between 1990 and 1992, Greenspan himself lowered the Fed rate from about 10 % to almost 3%, a drop of almost 7 full points, worth almost $700 billion in stimulus to the economy. However, since this $700 billion was channeled into the economy through the banking system, its ‘normal’ lag time of between 6 and 12 months, was delayed almost one year longer, until the last quarter of 1992, just in time to help the new President Bill Clinton, but about 3 months too late to help the first George Bush get reelected.”
http://www.southerndomains.com/SouthernBanks/top.html

(3) "The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World,"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2461415.ece
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1897807/posts

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Classified Ads---Help Wanted

Vendor Sales Specialists

VENDOR SALES SPECIALISTS LEASING SALES PROFESSIONALS Like selling vendor programs and large transactions? Enjoy international financing programs? Prefer the advantages of a commission only environment with the security of health and welfare benefits? CLICK HERE to find out how to have fun again.

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PACCAR no more physical damage insurance

While PACCAR Financial Corp. has opened its second used truck center near Spartanburg, S.C, it has also announced effective August 25, 2008, they ceased offering Physical Damage Insurance coverage.

“PACCAR Financial has been helping Peterbilt and Kenworth truck owners for more than 40 years with innovative purchase and lease plans that can be customized to meet individual needs…The SC location offering an extensive selection of Kenworth and Peterbilt used trucks to Paccar dealers, non-Paccar dealers, independent wholesalers, and retail fleet and owner-operator buyers.”

Recently Paccar Leasing Company (PacLease) announced it has expanded its North American franchise network expansion with the addition of three new full-service lease locations in Michigan.

Zacks reports "truck retail sales during the first half of the year dampened due to the increase in diesel prices along with the depressing housing market scenario and lower auto production. The company lowered its Class 8 retail sales expectation from 175,000 215,000 trucks to 150,000- 165,000 trucks for 2008… (noting) With PacLease in Europe, the company expects to see continued Financial Services growth in Europe. The company expects 2008 industry sales in Europe to be at a record of 350,000-360,000 units.
http://register.zacks.com/ucd/step1.php?ALERT=YAHOO_ZER&d_alert=ZER_CONF&
ADID=YAHOO_CONTENT_ZER&t=PCAR

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(circa 1977)

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Fernando’s View

By Fernando F. Croce

Out in Theaters:

The House Bunny (Columbia Pictures): After marvelous comic roles in movies like “Lost in Translation,” “Just Friends” and “Smiley Face,” Anna Faris is quickly becoming one of the unsung treasures of American films. She’s the main attraction in this fluffy comedy from the makers of “Legally Blonde,” and her almost Zen-like levels of ditziness are more than enough reason to see it. She plays Shelley, a cheerful Playboy bunny whose stay at Hugh Hefner’s mansion is suddenly curtained when she hits the age of 27 (which, she’s told, amounts to almost 60 in “Bunny years”). As she lands in a sorority house and wins the heart of a campus geek (Colin Hanks), the film moves toward predictable you-go-girl uplift. Faris keeps it zinging along, however, with one inspired bit after another.

The Rocker (20th-Century Fox): Robert “Fish” Fishman, a former Eighties rock star now reduced to living with his parents, seems like a role that Will Ferrell passed on because he was too busy. It may be a good thing he did, because it allows Rainn Wilson (TV’s “The Office”) to bring his own inspired brand of nuttiness to the movie. Now a miserable insurance company clerk, Fish gets the chance to relive his old glory days when his nephew Matt (Josh Gad) asks him to replace the drummer for his garage band. Like “The House Bunny,” “The Rocker” is a slim comedy energized by a fabulous performance, and the joy comes from watching the usually wry Wilson cut loose in a tornado of costumes, headbands, and guitar riffs that brings to mind Jack Black in “School of Rock.”

New on DVD:

Chicago 10 (Paramount): History meets animation in Brett Morgen’s intriguing account of the political tumult around the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, which led to the notorious trial of such high-profile protesters as Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Bobby Seale. As students and flower-power dissidents clash with the police outside, the courtroom becomes a media circus complete with brawling witnesses and pranks pulled by the defendants. In addition to a reminder of this important chapter in American history, the picture is also a fascinating mix of documentary footage, commentary, and above all a display of stop-motion animation that gives life to the participants in a striking manner reminiscent of “Waking Life.”

Redbelt (Sony): Long famous for his unique brand of wordplay in such works as “House of Cards” and “Glengarry Glen Ross,” David Mamet branches out into action in this enjoyable tale of betrayal, self-worth and martial-arts. Mike Terry (the excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor) runs a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy in Los Angeles, and refuses to corrupt his skills by stepping into the ring for competitions. A string of events involving a movie star (Tim Allen) and a nervous lawyer (Emily Mortimer) forces him to defend his honor by enlisting into a crooked bout. The story may be an adult version of “The Karate Kid,” but Mamet combines his trademark punchy dialogue with a new feeling for muscular confrontation, bringing them together into a crowd-pleasing climax.

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (Walt Disney/Touchstone): Halloween comes early this year, thanks to this marvelous new DVD issue of Tim Burton’s 1993 stop-animation classic. Despite being crowned Pumpkin King at Halloween Town, Jack Skellington dreams of something besides macabre costumes and haunted houses. After a dose of Christmas spirit following a visit to the North Pole, Jack decides to spread holiday cheer the only way he can—kidnapping Santa Claus and delivering the presents himself. Brimming with memorable characters, catchy tunes, and a beautiful blend of the prankish and the poignant, it’s a one-of-a-kind fantasy that deserves to be revisited.

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

Over 2 Million Foreclosures Prevented In Past Year
By Hope Now Alliance Members

Number of homeowners helped in July 2008 sets another monthly record

Washington, D.C) – HOPE NOW, the private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, counselors, and investors that has been working aggressively over the past year to prevent foreclosures today announced that over 2 million homeowners have avoided foreclosure and have been able to stay in their homes due to the unwavering efforts of HOPE NOW and the broader mortgage industry.

HOPE NOW also announced that the number of foreclosures prevented in July 2008 was at a record high for the second consecutive month, and was 6 percent higher than the number of foreclosures prevented in June.  Compared to July 2007, the number of foreclosures prevented has increased by more than 54 percent.

In July 2008, HOPE NOW mortgage servicers helped homeowners avoid foreclosure by completing more than 192,000 mortgage workouts.  Workouts include both modifications to the terms of existing mortgages and repayment plans.  All workouts are intended to be permanent changes that, barring a life event such as a job loss, death, or illness, will enable the homeowner to stay in the home as long as he or she wishes to do so.

“The industry’s overwhelming commitment to helping homeowners avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes is undeniable and steadfast,” said HOPE NOW’s Executive Director Faith Schwartz.  “Because of HOPE NOW’s vast and multifaceted efforts, more than 2 million families and the communities in which they live are much better off today than they otherwise would have been.”

The HOPE NOW report estimates that on an industry-wide basis:

• The total number of foreclosures prevented by mortgage servicers since July 2007 has risen to nearly 2.07 million.
• Mortgage servicers provided loan workouts for approximately 192,000 borrowers in July, an increase of 11,000 loan workouts over June.
• Approximately 112,000 of the homeowners with prime and subprime mortgages helped by servicers in July received repayment plans; approximately 80,000 received loan modifications.
• Nearly 52 percent of homeowners with subprime loans received modifications.

A summary table of the results is attached and can be found at
http://www.hopenow.com/media/press_release.php.
According to Schwartz, the rapid pace of foreclosure prevention by HOPE NOW members is likely to accelerate further in the coming months due to the alliance’s continuing efforts to reach out to millions of homeowners through mailings, the HOPE Hotline, and the regional homeowner workshops it has been holding around the country.  
 
“At the same time Tropical Storm Fay was raging, more than 3,600 people attended the homeowner workshops held in Florida last week,” she said.  “These targeted efforts led by the HOPE NOW alliance clearly demonstrates the sheer volume of homeowners that will continue to be helped in the coming months.”
 
Because of several factors, the numbers reported by HOPE NOW differ from those reported by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), and other regulators.  For example, OCC collects information from 9 nationally chartered banks, OTS collects information from 5 federally chartered thrifts, and HOPE NOW collects data from 23 companies with a variety of charters and regulators.  HOPE NOW members report approximately 38 million loans, substantially more than the number included in either the OCC or OTS reports.
 
The HOPE NOW survey estimates the effort by the total mortgage lending industry to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.  By contrast, OCC and OTS only provide data from the largest chartered institutions they oversee.  
 
None of these differences invalidate the information in any of the reports.

ABOUT HOPE NOW
 
HOPE NOW is an alliance between counselors, mortgage market participants, and mortgage servicers to create a unified, coordinated plan to reach and help as many homeowners as possible.
 
The Homeownership Preservation Foundation’s HOPE Hotline (1-888-995-HOPE), which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, receives an average of more than 4,000 calls a day. There is no cost to homeowners for using the HOPE Hotline.
 
HOPE NOW coordinates a nationwide campaign to reach homeowners who may be at risk of losing their homes.  So far, HOPE NOW has sent almost 1.9 million letters.  About 18 percent of homeowners receiving the HOPE NOW-coordinated letters have contacted their servicer, six times more than the routine 2-3 percent response rate servicers receive when they send their own mailings.
 
In the past seven months, HOPE NOW has connected thousands of homeowners with their lender and/or a HUD-certified housing counselor at workshops in 20 different cities in California, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Florida, Massachusetts, Florida and Indiana. Additional workshops are being scheduled so that more troubled borrowers can be helped.
 
In addition, HOPE NOW members recently agreed to make substantial additional efforts to contact homeowners whose mortgages will reset in the coming months and to further expedite the process used to determine how best to keep them in their homes.

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### Press Release ###########################
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News Briefs----

Ralph Petta: Leasing Remains Consistently Strong
http://www.financialweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/REG/808279987/1036

Why haven't mortgage rates declined?
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/mortgages/20080828-why-no-mort
gage-rate-decline-a1.asp

The Key National Finance “WiKey”
http://www.worldleasingnews.com/article.aspx?sid=YrItVniimrc=&pid=
6xWx1IO6+WE=&ptype=YrItVniimrc=

San Diego: Economic indicators leave little doubt area is in recession
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20080828-1429-bn28sdecon.html

Iraq and China Sign $3 Billion Oil Contract
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/28/
AR2008082802200.html

Caterpillar looks for record sales on China
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-china-caterpillar,0,1936507.story

Boeing could lose billions in a strike
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/
2008-08-28-boeing-workers_N.htm

Dell's earnings tumble 17%; poor foreign sales blamed
http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/earnings/2008-08-28-dell_N.htm

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You May have Missed---

Should you buy shares in a law firm?

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/11998567/c_11999656?f=home_todayinfinance

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“Gimme that Wine”

September: California Wine Month
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/27/WIDQ1290VM.DTL

Wine Book: '1001 Wines You Must Taste Before You Die'
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/21/WI3312B8CI.DTL

French wine export volumes fall, values rise in 1H
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D92QNRMG0.htm

Vineyard properties remain a hot buy
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/08/27/news/local/
doc48b4e9519ad59368923913.txt

Big winery category drawing fire
http://www.mercurynews.com/foodheadlines/ci_10311569?nclick_check=1

In new venture, veteran winemaker Richard Sanford stays true to himself
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/wineadviser/2008140344_winecol27.html

(This is a free “ad” for our good friends the Bateman’s,
proprietors of Thunder Mountain Kona coffee)

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
The London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-ex) is an electronic exchange for fine wine.
http://www.liv-ex.com/

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Calendar Events This Day

Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day

More Herbs, Less Salt Day
http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/August/herbsaltday.htm

Slovakia: National Uprising Day
National holiday. Commemorates resistance to Nazi occupation in 1944.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lo.html

Saint feast Days

• St. Sabina
• St. Medericus
• St. Adelphus
• St. Basilla
• St. Velleicus
• St. Sebbi
• St. Candida
• St. Edwold
• St. Hypatius and Andrew
• St. Hyperdulia
• Bl. Richard Herst
• St. Nicaeas and Paul

http://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/aug.php

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Potato chips were invented in Saratoga Springs in 1853 by chef George Crum.  They were a mocking response to a patron who complained that his French fries were too thick.

[headlines]

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Today's Top Event in History

1967- Final TV episode of "The Fugitive". The series originally started on September, 1963. Dr. Richard Kimble ( David Janssen) was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death for his wife’s murder, but escaped from his captors in a train wreck. This popular program aired for four years detailing Kimble’s search for the one-armed man(BillRaisch) who had killed his wife, Helen ( Diane Brewster). in the meantime, Kimble himself, was being pursued by Lieutenant Phillip Gerard ( Barry Morse). The final episode aired this day in 1967 featured Kimble extracting a confession from the one-armed man as they struggled form the heights of a water tower in a desert amusement park. That single episode was the highest-rated show ever broadcast until 1975. The TV series generated a hit movie in 1993 with Harrison Ford as Kimble and Oscar-winner Tommy Lee Jones as Gerard. (Feb. 28,1983, M*A*S*H, concluding a run of 255 episodes, this 2 ½ hour finale became the most-watched television show at that time---77 percent of the viewing public was tuned in. Cheers last episode on August 19,1993 did not beat this rating nor did Seinfield last on May 14, 1998 nor did my most favorite show, “Mad About You.” on May 24, 1999.
http://www.tvtome.com/MadAboutYou/
(Helen Hunt and co-star, Paul Reiser, were both given $1,000,000 per episode salaries for the 1999 TV season of "Mad About You".

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This Day in American History

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Baseball Poem

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SuDoku

The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. What could be simpler?

http://leasingnews.org/Soduku/soduko-main.htm

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Daily Puzzle

How to play:
http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm

Refresh for current date:
http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm

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http://www.gasbuddy.com/
http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_Map_Gas_Prices.aspx
http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_Mobile_Instructions.aspx

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Weather

See USA map, click to specific area, no commercials

http://www.weather.gov/

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Traffic Live---

Real Time Traffic Information

You can save up to 20 different routes and check them out
with one click, or type in a new route to learn the traffic live.

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News on Line---Internet Newspapers

New Orleans, Louisiana

http://www.nola.com/news/

*Other on line newspapers:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Newspapers.htm

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