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12 days to Christmas

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Classified Ads---Job Wanted---Senior Management

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

Europe 25+ yrs exper. management roles Chase, AT&T Capital, Heller Financial, SFS. Develop biz from “scratch to success”. Looking for challenging & pioneering job. Email: frans@alliedproperty.net

Philadelphia, PA 27 yrs. exp. sales, ops., credit, strategy, P&L mngmet. Most recently created & executed the biz plans for 2 highly successful Bank-owned small ticket leasing subsidiaries. email: mccarthy2020@comcast.net

Philadelphia Metro Area - 30 Years experience Healthcare sales/ management- 3 years experience newly create "small-ticket" healthcare division. Good success - Mitch Utz 215-460-4483 Email: mitutz@msn.com

Southern CA 20 years exp. as hands-on leasing CFO, managing accounting, treasury, FP&A, including securitizations, Great Plains/FRx, budgets, risk management.  MBA.  Also available as interim Controller/CFO, consultant. Email: leasecfo@gmail.com

Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

LEAF Financial Press Release Misleading
by Christopher Menkin

Crit DeMent, Chairman, CEO, LEAF Financial Corporation

“'Completing our fourth securitization so far this year continues to demonstrate that the ABS market is back for equipment leasing as an asset class, as once again the bonds in this transaction were sold to a wide variety of institutional investors,' said Crit DeMent, Chairman and CEO of LEAF. 'An active securitization market is a vital part of a well-rounded funding strategy for an independent lessor. The rebound of the market will give LEAF an even greater ability to service our many equipment vendor partners by financing their small business customers'.”

It is this which is not accurate, in my opinion:
“The rebound of the market will give LEAF an even greater ability to service our many equipment vendor partners by financing their small business customers.”

While Mr. DeMent is the Chairman-elect of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, and this might give him more creditability, the above comment is as misleading as I view the announcement of the securitization.

The news that Bob Hunter, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, on the Executive Board, is gone, Bill Conway laid off, Vice-President of Credit, Colleen White, Director of Operations laid off, and a host of others, as well as the facts 2009 SEC LEAF filings showed 377 employees; February down to 271; reportedly to 113 in July, closes down LEAF Specialty, 80 in Missouri, should be enough indication as to who is left at LEAF Financial in Philadelphia

Here are the numbers from the LEAF III SEC Filing that pertain to the press release:

1.) The recent $200M securitization was to pay off the West LB line, that line was due in June 2010. 2.) Note that LEAF raised $120M for LEAF III from 2524 investors (limited partners) in 2007.
3.) Note that the investors lost an aggregate of $46,348,000 since starting the Leaf III Fund in 2007.

Footnote: 10K LEAF III:
The point is the “limited partner funds” concept appears to be a total failure for LEAF.

It looks to me if LEAF Financial was run like a regular leasing company, they would by bankrupt and so would Resource America. It appears the parent is no longer interested in lease financing, as again evidenced by the closing of the profitable Dwight Galloway LEAF Specialty Finance and negotiations to cancel the real estate lease, as well as evidenced of the layoffs of salesmen and key management, and SEC filings.

Leasing News requested a statement or comment on the above, that was sent to Mr. DeMent along with the footnote to substantiate the opinion.

Leasing News looks forward to any opinion from LEAF Financial on the numbers from the 10K LEAF III.

Highlights Financial SEC 10-K Filing:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/10KLEAFIII_1210.pdf

LEAF Equipment Leasing Income Fund III LP--Form 10-K.pdf:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/LEAFForm10K_1210.pdf

Resource America cuts LEAF Financial’s Allowance
   by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_08.htm#resource_cuts

Gary DiLillo, President 216-658-5618 or gary@avptc.com Comprehensive personal property tax outsourcing services. Click here to see what our clients say about us.

 

Bank Beat---Another internet Bank hits the dust

The four branches of Earthstar Bank, Southampton, Pennsylvania were closed with Polonia Bank, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, to assume all of the deposits of Earthstar Bank, except for certain out-of-state certificates of deposit (CD).

The bank is the 151st FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the second in Pennsylvania. Founded January 8, 2001 the bank grew to three branches in Philadelphia and one in Southampton and as of September 30, 2010 had 30 full-time employees.

It original intention:
"The bank will initially open a small bank office that will offer conventional banking services through traditional delivery channels. However, its ultimate strategy is to focus on electronic delivery of financial services primarily through the Internet. Upon opening, the bank will have an Internet web page that will be largely a marketing brochure. Then, within a short period of time, it will launch a transactional web page where customers can view account activity, transfer balances and pay bills over the Internet. Eventually, the bank plans to expand its Internet presence by offering a wider range of electronic products and services to a broader geographic region."
http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/bankdecisions/DepIns/earthstar.html

The bank lost $3.1 million year-end 2008, lost $6.8 million year-end 2009, to a $1.1 million loss September 30, 2010 with $7.7 million in non-current loans and charge offs of $801,000, mostly real estate except for $339,000 in commercial and industrial loans. During the same period the bank equity went from $6.2 million to $3.2 million $2.27 million with a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 2.84%.

As of September 30, 2010, Earthstar Bank had approximately $112.6 million in total assets and $104.5 million in total deposits. Polonia Bank agreed to purchase approximately $77.1 million of the failed bank's assets. The FDIC will retain most of the assets for later disposition.

The FDIC and Polonia Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $45.8 million of Earthstar Bank's assets.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $22.9 million.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10264.html

The four branches of Paramount Bank, Farmington Hills, Michigan, were closed with Level One Bank, Farmington Hills, Michigan, to assume all of the deposits. Formed February 12, 1998, the bank went from 66 full time employees September 30, 2009 to 33 full time employees September 30, 2010.

The Bank lost $5.47 million year-end 3008, lost $9.9 million year end 2009 to a loss of $10.2 million September 30, 2010 after charge offs of $3.1 million in 1-4 family residential homes, $2.5 million in nonfarm nonresidential property loans, and $923,000 in land development and construction loans, as well as $936,000 in commercial and industrial loans. . Bank equity in same time period went from $17 million to $12.6 million to $2.57 million with a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 1.24%.

Paramount President and CEO Michael Maher said he had been trying to find investors to recapitalize the bank since last year, but evidently could not find any. Investors in the bank lost everything. A total of about $19 million of brokered deposits held by Paramount won't be assumed by Level One. Instead, that money will be repaid by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to the brokers.

"It is not surprising that Paramount Bank was unable to find a buyer or raise additional capital. Michigan’s economy has been under severe stress from the large loss of manufacturing jobs and the State’s unemployment rate is 12.8%, second only to Nevada at 14.2%. In addition, Paramount’s loan portfolio was devastated by poor lending decisions.

The FDIC estimates that the loss on closing Paramount will amount to $90.2 million, which represents a staggering 35.7% of Paramount’s total assets. Despite the economic troubles in Michigan, Paramount is only the fifth bank in the State to fail this year. Florida leads the nation with 27 banking failures."
http://problembanklist.com/paramount-bank-farmington-hills-michigan-closed-by-regulators-0255/

As of September 30, 2010, Paramount Bank had approximately $252.7 million in total assets and $213.6 million in total deposits. The FDIC and Level One Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $233.1 million of Paramount Bank's assets.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10263.html

Tracking Bank Failures Map:
http://graphicsweb.wsj.com/documents/Failed-US-Banks.html

List of Bank Failures:
http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html

Bank Beat:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Bank_Beat.htm

Leasing 102
by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

Collection Fees and Late Charges

I have watched for years as the percentage for late charges has risen. In the beginning we were alone at the 5% level, but it did not take long for the world to join us and then we moved to 10% on smaller deals with a stated dollar minimum. Then many lessors’s moved to a five day grace period from ten days, and then eventually it became not uncommon to see “0” days grace period.

This is all part of the growth of fees, such as document fees, early termination fees, and a host that are quite creative.

The problem with the collection fee changes is that it now punishes the good customers along with the chronic past dues.

Due to the difficulties in this economy, as well as the increased costs of collection, there is pressure to find a happy median. Here are some thoughts for your consideration.

A few years ago I got together with my accountant and we tried to analyze the true cost of our collection department. We averaged the number of phone calls, past due notices, personnel costs, rent and other associated costs to see just what our true collection expenses where. Then we began to determine what it cost us to do each function. I wanted to charge collection costs to those that caused it to avoid charging high fees across the board.

Our attorney informed us that to make changes in our fee structure there needed to be language
in our lease agreement that allowed for it. So we added the following language to the rent section:

    The late fees plus collection costs are intended to reimburse Lessor for Lessor's collection costs that are caused by late payment. Such fee plus any collection charges is in addition to all other amounts that Lessee is required to pay Lessor, including default interest.

Then we created a late notice that informed the lessee of our collection costs if they failed to “contact us” regarding the late payment:

    Late Notice

    Your lease payment on account # xxxxxx of $ xxxxx is past due and if not paid by December 10,     20xx will incur a late charge of $ xxxx. If you have already sent this payment please disregard this     Notice. If you have not, please be advised that if you fail to contact us to discuss this past due     payment you will be subject to collection fees for the following services in addition to the late     charge: (I have changed the dollar amounts to make it more current)

    Phone Call $25.00

    Collection letter $50.00

Personal contact $100.00

Email $25.00

We found this late notice to be a great deterrent and I am sure we got paid in front of other creditors with higher late charges. I received a lot of criticism from business peers on the basis that good customers would leave and I was driving off business. But the reality was that these fees paid for my collection department so I did not have to increase my yield requirements to good customers to help pay for operation expenses.

You may ask, how we kept track of all the phone calls and other contacts, to charge the lessees. Here I was way ahead of my time because I paid my collectors a 10% commission on all collected fees. This helped with the recording and the collection. Then each year we evaluated the actual costs and adjusted the fees accordingly. Over time our past dues came down and our collect costs diminished.

With ACH and “0” grace periods we may have to rethink the procedure but it is important to watch over or good lessees who occasionally are past due and not punish them because of current events so be careful of your harsh remedies.

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

He invites your questions and queries.

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

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

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Sales

Account Executives - Inside Sales Calabasas, CA Base salary plus commission. Minimum 1 yr experience. Please send resumes to: jobs@teqlease.com Attn: Mike Lockwood or Russ Runnalls CLP www.TEQlease.com

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

 

 

Wednesday is Last Call Help Want ads—New Prices in January

Now $297.50 includes logo, four lines,
web site with company description.
$25 per extra lines.

30 days plus one week run
if ordered this week, plus half off

Call 408-354-7967 or email: kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

Top Stories---December 6--December 10

Here are the top ten stories opened by readers:

(1) Benchmark Financial Groups, Aliso Viejo, CA
Bulletin Board Complaint
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_08.htm#bbc_bench

(2) First Trillion investors let Galloway team down
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_08.htm#investors

(3) Jim Harris (founder of Allco Leasing) passes away
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_06.htm#harris

(4) Looking for Donna Mount’s Son Quinten
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_10.htm#looking

(5) Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
Identify the Equipment on Lease or Else!
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_06.htm#identify

(6) 43% of our goal!
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_10.htm#goal

(7) Is the New Washington Tax Proposal Good for Leasing?
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_08.htm#new_tax

(8) Resource America cuts LEAF Financial’s Allowance
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_08.htm#resource_cuts

(9) How EFI Bilked Sterling/Braas Pleads Guilty
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_10.htm#efi

(10) Cut taxes with early mortgage payment
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/cut-taxes-with-early-mortgage-payment-1.aspx

Winnemucca, Nevada---Adopt-a-Dog

Buddy

# 2995440
Breed: American Pit Bull Terrier
Size: Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Color: White - With Black
Sex: Male
Age: Young

Buddy is:
housetrained
purebred
good with kids
good with dog
not good with cats
up to date with shots

"This is Buddy. Buddy is about 1 year old. He is a full blooded blue nose pit bull terrier. He is great with adults, kids, and other dogs. He likes to chase cats so he needs to be in a home without cats. He is very mellow and sweet. He is not neutered yet but he will need to be neutered before he can leave our care. He will be neutered soon. Shots are all up to date."

Adoption fee: $100 to cover cost of neuter

Contact this rescue group to adopt Buddy ...
Rescue Group: Kindred Spirits Animal Rescue

Pet ID #: 2995440
Contact: Angela Jeannotte Rogers
E-mail: kindredspiritsanimalrescue@yahoo.com
Phone: (208) 206-9831
- Let 'em know you saw "Buddy" on Adopt-a-Pet.com!
Website: http://www.kindredspirits.org

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

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

News Briefs----

Storm socks Midwest, cancels flights, closes roads
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101213/ap_on_re_us/us_winter_storm_midwest

Former Citicapital/GE Capital Fraudulent Lessor gets 10 Years
http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/logan-carver/2010-12-10/white-collar-criminal-bound-federal-slammer

Former EFI Senior VP set to plead guilty Jan. 5
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/323369

ePlus Recognized by Everything Channel's CRN Magazine as One of the Top Healthcare VARs
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=208339

A Secretive Banking Elite Rules Trading in Derivatives
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/business/12advantage.html?src=me&ref=homepage

 

 

You May have Missed---

Paris, France Panorama
http://www.paris-26-gigapixels.com/index-fr.html

 

 

 

Sports Briefs----

Video: Jets coach trips Dolphins player during game
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Video-Jets-employee-trips-Dolphins-player-durin?urn=nfl-294916

Bears still in 1st but don't measure up to Pats
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-1213-bears-haugh-chicago--20101212,0,5840505.column

Oakland Raiders give up big plays, watch lead and playoff hopes take a hit in loss to Jacksonville Jaguars
http://www.contracostatimes.com/sports/ci_16843091

49ers rout Seahawks 40-21, stay alive in NFC West
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/12/SPG81GPO2K.DTL&type=sports

Don't write the Rams off just yet
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/article_4a2e16f5-9260-51a0-966d-d9b79b854d75.html

Defense dominant as Chargers crush Chiefs, stay alive
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2010/dec/12/its-make-or-break-time-chargers/

The Huddle
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/12/jets-coach-rex-ryan-considered-benching-qb-mark-sanchez-vs-dolphins-1/1?loc=interstitialskip

 

California Nuts Briefs---

Richmond offers itself as pre-San Francisco interim site for America's Cup sailing event
http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_16835396?nclick_check=1

49ers legends Montana, Eddie DeBartolo plan luxury hotel, entertainment venue across from Santa Clara stadium site
http://www.mercurynews.com/southbayfootball/ci_16841394?nclick_check=1

 

 

 

“Gimme that Wine”

The Top 10 Wine Stories of 2010
http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/December-15-2010/The-Top-10-Wine-Stories-of-2010/

James Suckling on Wine
http://jamessuckling.com/chateau-margaux-part-one--2000-2003.html

Top 100 Wines for 2010
http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/December-15-2010/The-Top-10-Wine-Stories-of-2010/

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com

http://www.wine-searcher.com/

US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/

Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas/\

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

    1577 - English seaman Francis Drake sets out from Plymouth, England, with five ships and 164 men on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World and explore the Pacific Ocean. Three years later, Drake's return to Plymouth marked the first circumnavigation of the earth by a British explorer. After crossing the Atlantic, Drake abandoned two of his ships in South America and then sailed into the Straits of Magellan with the remaining three. A series of devastating storms besieged his expedition in the treacherous straits, wrecking one ship and forcing another to return to England. Only The Golden Hind reached the Pacific Ocean, but Drake continued undaunted up the western coast of South America, raiding Spanish settlements and capturing a rich Spanish treasure ship. Drake then continued up the western coast of North America, searching for a possible northeast passage back to the Atlantic. Reaching as far north as present-day Washington before turning back, Drake paused near San Francisco Bay in June 1579 to repair his ship and prepare for a journey across the Pacific. Calling the land "Nova Albion." Drake was the first captain to sail his own ship all the way around the world--the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan had sailed three-fourths of the way around the globe earlier in the century but had been killed in the Philippines, leaving the Basque navigator Juan Sebastiýn de Elcano to complete the journey. In 1581, Queen Elizabeth I knighted Drake, the son of a tenant farmer, during a visit to his ship. The most renowned of the Elizabethan seamen, Sir Francis Drake later played a crucial role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
    1621 - Under the care of Robert Cushman, the first American furs to be exported from the continent leave for England aboard the Fortune. One month before, Cushman and the Fortune had arrived at Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts with 35 settlers, the first new colonists since the settlement was founded in 1620. During Cushman's return to England, the Fortune was captured by the French, and its valuable cargo of furs was taken. Cushman was detained on the Ile d'Dieu before being returned to England. Within a few years of their first fur export, the Plymouth colonists, unable to make their living through cod fishing as they had originally planned, begin concentrating almost entirely on the fur trade. The colonists developed an economic system in which their chief crop, Indian corn, was traded with Native Americans to the north for highly valued beaver skins, which were in turn profitably sold in England to pay the Plymouth Colony's debts and buy necessary supplies.
    1666- Frederick Phillips in New Amsterdam ( the future New York City) cornered the market in wampum* by creating a shortage, considered by historians as the first “ financial corner” of the marketplace in the New World. He buried several hogsheads ( a large barrel or cask holding anywhere from 63 to 110 gallons of it in order to force those who had to use this medium of exchange to purchase wampum from him at a higher price. (* wampum were tubular beads made from specific oyster shells and used as an exchange of value by various Indian tribes, often sewn into belts or garments.)
    1769-Dartmouth College is chartered.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec13.html
    1774- Contrary to popular belief, the first battle of the Revolutionary War was not the Battle of Lexington on April 17.1775, but happened on this date in 1774. Major John Sullivan of the Granite State Volunteers, later a major general in the Continental Army, captured by the British, helped Washington against General Howe. He led 400 patriots that attacked Fort William and Mary at New Castle, New Hampshire, in Portsmouth Harbor. They bound the commander of the fort and frightened the soldiers away, capturing 100 casks of power and small arms. The news of this victory spread over New England the next few months, leading up to the Battle of Lexington.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/framers/sullivan.html
    1818- Birthday of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United Sates, born at Lexington, Kentucky. Died at Springfield, Illinois, July 16, 1882.
    1835- Birthday of Phillips Brooks, American clergyman and composer born at Boston, Massachusetts. Perhaps best remembered for his lyrics for the Christmas carol “ O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Brooks died at Boston, Jan. 23,1893.
    1843-- "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens published, 6,000 copies sold
    1861- Battle of Alleghany Summit WV, a bitter winter killed most wounded
and other soldiers, too.
http://www.paralumun.com/waralleghany.htm
http://docsouth.unc.edu/robson/robson.html
    1862-General Robert E. Lee with 80,000 Confederates repulsed General Burnside with his 150,000 Federals at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. After hard fighting along the Massaponax River, Burnside lost almost 14,000 troops. The victory spurred Lee to take his army and invade the North, who’s march was discovered by accident in Gettysburg, PA. Burnside was put in this position due to General McClennan’s defeats as well as his political attempts to raise money to run for president. Lincoln eventually would go against
his cabinets wishes and chose Ulysses Simpson Grant, although he was told “Grant drank too much” at Washington dinner parties.
http://www.nps.gov/frsp/fredhist.htm
http://www.civilwarhome.com/fredricksburgbattle.htm
http://www.nps.gov/frsp/fburg.htm
    1864- Battle of Fort McAllister GA as General Sherman gets ready to attack Savannah.
http://web.ask.com/searchcp?q=Battle+of+Fort+McAllister+GA&t=Battle+Fort+
McAllister+GA&cache=00*dfxr&url=http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/
ga028.htm&page=&ws=1
    1878 -Los Angeles, CA fell to 30, the lowest at that time for December.
    1903 –Birthday of drummer Sonny Greer
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Sonny%20Greer.html
    1911 -- American poet Kenneth Patchen born. Pioneered jazz poetry ("Kenneth Patchen Reads with the Chamber Jazz Sextet"). For more than thirty years, Patchen lived with a severe spinal ailment that caused him almost constant physical pain. The weight of this personal battle was compounded by his sensitivity to greater issues of humanity, and his poetry paid special attention to the horrors of war. With his work he tried to create a kind of sanctuary for the reader, apart from reality, where larger-than-life characters were motivated by their loving and benevolent natures. Kenneth Patchen died in 1972.
http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?45442B7C000C0401
http://www.connectotel.com/patchen/
http://www.bopsecrets.org/PS/rexroth1.htm
http://opening.hefko.net/gi_patchen.html
    1913-Birthday of Archibald Lee Wright, better known as Archie Moore, at Benoit,MS. One of the most colorful fighters ever. Moore boxed from the mid-1930s to 1963, holding the light-heavyweight title for a record nine years. For much of his career, he fought an average of once a month. Moore let an aura of celebrity surround him; he lied about his age, at an unusual diet, married five times and spoke out on a variety of political and social issues. Died at San Diego, CA., Dec 9,1998,
    1915 - A heavy snowstorm kicked off the snowiest winter in modern records for western New England.
    1918-Birthday of the “Mad Russian, “ William Vukovich, Sr. born William Vucerovich at Frsno, CA. Vukovich began racing midget cars in 19387 and picked up his career after World War II. Known as the “Mad Russian” for his hell-bent style, he won the 1953 Indianapolis 500 from the pole and the 954 race as well. Ahead again in the 1955 race, he crashed on the 57th lap. Died at Indianapolis, IN, May 30, 1955.
    1925- Actor/Comedian/Singer Dick Van Dyke born West Plains, Mo.
    1927 -- James Wright born Martin's Ferry, Ohio. American poet of the postmodern era who writes of sorrow, salvation, & self-revelation. Much of his work draws upon the images of nature & industry found in his native Ohio River valley.
    1928 - The George Gershwin composition, "American in Paris", had its debut performance by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Walter Damrosch.
    1928 -- Clip-on tie designed.
    1929 - Hoagy Carmichael and Louis Armstrong recorded "Rockin’ Chair" on Columbia records and cylinders.
    1932- the great Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Band cuts last date for Victor, 1932.
    1936 - Green Bay won the National Football League championship after they beat the Boston Redskins, 21-6. It was Boston's last game, as they became the Washington Redskins in 1937.
    1937 - Japanese forces took the Chinese city of Nanking (Nanjing). Over the following six weeks, in one of the worst atrocities of World War II, they killed an estimated 200,000 Chinese in what became known as the "Rape of Nanking."
    1938- Birthday of Gus Johnson, Jr., basketball player born at Akron, OH. Johnson played at the University of Akron, Boise Junior College and the University of Idaho. He was drafted by the Washington Bullets and helped make them a perennial contender for playoff honors. Johnson was the prototype of the power forward. He could score from the corner and was one of the first players to use the slam dunk. He finished his career with the Phoenix Suns. Died at Akron, OH, April 29,1987.
    1939 - In World War II, the battle of the River Plate took place off the coast of South America between the British cruisers Exeter, Ajax and Achilles and the German battleship Graf Spee.
    1940- Lester Young splits from the Count Basie Band.
    1940 - Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded the two-sided jump tune, "The Anvil Chorus", for Bluebird Records in New York. The 10-inch, 78 rpm record was six minutes long.
    1941- The first Ace in World War II was First Lieutenant Boyd David Wagner of Johnstown, PA. While serving in the Army Air Corps in the Philippines, Wagner was attacked by five Japanese pursuit planes. He shot two plans out of the air and machine-gunned 12 on the ground, leaving five burning. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
    1944-- Japanese kamikaze crashes into US cruiser Nashville, killing 138.
http://www.multied.com/Navy/cruiser/Nashville.html
http://www.steelnavy.com/Nashville.htm
    1945- singer June Christy signs contract with Capitol Records ( records 18 post-Stan Kenton albums).
    1948 - After an 11 1/2 month strike, the American Federation of Musicians went back to work. During the strike there was also an 11½-month ban on phonograph records.
    1949 - The American League said no to a proposal to revive the spitball, outlawed since 1920. Many pitchers still tossed the spitter anyway.
    1950----Top Hits
A Bushel and a Peck - Perry Como & Betty Hutton
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
Nevertheless - Jack Denny
I’m Moving On - Hank Snow
    1951 - U.S. Air Force George A. Davis, flying a F-86 Sabre jet out of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, was credited with four aerial victories against MiG-15s, the largest number of kills by a single pilot in one day during the war. These victories made Davis the first "double ace" of the Korean War. A double ace has 10 enemy kills.
    1958----Top Hits
To Know Him, is to Love Him - The Teddy Bears
Problems - The Everly Brothers
Queen of the Hop - Bobby Darin
City Lights - Ray Price
    1960 - The first of three Middle Atlantic snowstorms produced a foot of snow at Baltimore MD. A pre-winter blizzard struck the northeastern U.S. producing wind gusts as high as 51 mph, along with 16 inches of snow at Nantucket MA, and 20 inches at Newark NJ.
    1961-- Jimmy Dean's Big Bad John album is country music's 1st million $ seller
http://www.epinions.com/content_3866271876
    1961 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," The Tokens
    1962 - A severe Florida freeze occurred. Morning lows reached 35 degrees at Miami, 18 degrees at Tampa, and 12 degrees at Jacksonville. It was the coldest December weather of the 20th century and caused millions of dollars damage to crops and foliage. In Georgia, the morning low of 9 degrees below zero at Blairsville established a state record for the month of December.
    1962 - A severe Florida freeze occurred. Morning lows reached 35 degrees at Miami, 18 degrees at Tampa, and 12 degrees at Jacksonville. It was the coldest December weather of the 20th century and caused millions of dollars damage to crops and foliage. In Georgia, the morning low of 9 degrees below zero at Blairsville established a state record for the month of December.
    1966----Top Hits
Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys
Mellow Yellow - Donovan
Lady Godiva - Peter & Gordon
Somebody Like Me - Eddy Arnold
    1968 - A severe coastal storm produced high winds and record early snows from Georgia to Maine. Winds reached 90 mph in Massachusetts, and ten inches of snow blanketed interior Maine.
    1969 - Arlo Guthrie released "Alice's Restaurant."
    1973 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "The Most Beautiful Girl," Charlie Rich.
    1974 - Former Beatle George Harrison was invited to lunch by President Gerald R. Ford. At the White House, the two exchanged buttons, Ford giving George a WIN (Whip Inflation Now) pin and Harrison giving the President an OM (Hindu mantra word expressing creation) button.
    1974----Top Hits
Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
When Will I See You Again - The Three Degrees
Cat’s in the Cradle - Harry Chapin
She Called Me Baby - Charlie Rich
    1975 – Saturday Night Live is first produced “delayed recording.” The late-night television variety show, Saturday Night Live, did not broadcast live for the first time on this date. NBC was concerned that the host for that evening's show, popular comedian Richard Pryor, would utter some obscene words or phrases. Pryor had promised that he would not use foul language, but as most of his stand-up routine consisted of four-letter words, the possibility existed that he would accidentally, or purposefully, "let loose." The show's executive heads decided that the show would be placed on a 5-second electronic delay. Two expletives spoken by Pryor were determined unsuitable for television and were deleted before they hit the airwaves.
    1975-David Bowie's "Golden Years" and Foghat's "Slow Ride" are released.
    1978 - The Philadelphia Mint struck the first Susan B. Anthony dollar coins, with 1979 dates and the first “P” mintmark since the silver nickels of World War II. Denver production began on January 9, 1979, and San Francisco minting began on February 2, 1979. The Susan B. Anthony dollar, the first coin to honor a woman, was not a hit with the public for several reasons, most importantly because it was often mistaken for a quarter, which was about and eighth of an inch smaller in diameter.
    1982----Top Hits
Mickey - Toni Basil
Maneater - Daryl Hall & John Oates
The Girl is Mine - Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney
Redneck Girl - The Bellamy Brothers
    1983 - In professional basketball, Detroit and Denver played for 3 hours, 11 minutes. The Pistons won, 186-184, during triple overtime. NBA records for single-game were set for most points by two teams; by one team; assists; and field goals. Kiki Vandeweghe of the Denver Nuggets scored a career-high with 51 points.
    1985 - In a first for movies, the murder mystery, "Clue", opened featuring three different endings. Newspaper ads said which ending was playing at which theatre.
    1986 - In the school's 62-year history, Duke University won its first NCAA team championship when the Blue Devils’ soccer team beat Akron, 1-0.
    1986 - Madonna's recording of Open Your Heart entered Bilboard's Top 40 pop charts on this date, and later peaked at Number 1 for a week. The song stayed on the charts for 14 weeks.
    1986 - "The Way it Is", by Bruce Hornsby and the Range, hit #1 for a week in the U.S.: “That’s just the way it is; Some things will never change. That’s just the way it is; Aw, but don’t you believe them.”
    1987 - A major winter storm produced high winds and heavy snow in the Southern Rockies and the Southern High Plains. Snowfall totals in New Mexico ranged up to 25 inches at Cedar Crest, with up to three feet of snow reported in the higher elevations. Winds of 75 mph, with gusts to 124 mph, were reported northeast of Albuquerque NM. El Paso TX was buried under 22.4 inches of snow, including a single storm record of 16.8 inches in 24 hours. The snowfall total surpassed their previous record for an entire winter season of 18.4 inches. Record cold was experienced the next three nights as readings dipped into the single numbers. High winds ushering unseasonably cold air into the southwestern U.S. gusted to 100 mph at Grapevine CA
    1987 - A major winter storm produced high winds and heavy snow in the Southern Rockies and the Southern High Plains. Snowfall totals in New Mexico ranged up to 25 inches at Cedar Crest, with up to three feet of snow reported in the higher elevations. Winds of 75 mph, with gusts to 124 mph, were reported northeast of Albuquerque NM. El Paso TX was buried under 22.4 inches of snow, including a single storm record of 16.8 inches in 24 hours. The snowfall total surpassed their previous record for an entire winter season of 18.4 inches. Record cold was experienced the next three nights as readings dipped into the single numbers. High winds ushering unseasonably cold air into the southwestern U.S. gusted to 100 mph at Grapevine CA.
    1988 - Cold arctic air spread from the Great Lakes Region to the Appalachian Region. Twenty-five cities, mostly in the northeastern U.S., reported record low temperatures for the date. The low of 12 degrees below zero at Albany NY was their coldest reading of record for so early in the season. Saranac Lake NY was the cold spot in the nation with a low of 28 degrees below zero.
    1989 - Strong northwesterly winds, ushering bitterly cold arctic air into the central U.S., produced squalls with heavy snow in the Great Lakes Region. Snowfall totals in Upper Michigan ranged up to 24 inches at Manistique. Nine cities in Arkansas and Texas reported record low temperatures for the date, including Calico Rock AR with a reading of 4 degrees above zero.
    1989 - Strong northwesterly winds, ushering bitterly cold arctic air into the central U.S., produced squalls with heavy snow in the Great Lakes Region. Snowfall totals in Upper Michigan ranged up to 24 inches at Manistique. Nine cities in Arkansas and Texas reported record low temperatures for the date, including Calico Rock AR with a reading of 4 degrees above zero.
    1990----Top Hits
Because I Love You (The Postman Song) - Stevie B
From a Distance - Bette Midler
Something to Believe In - Poison
I’ve Come to Expect It from You - George Strait
    1991- North and South Korea signed a treat of reconciliation and nonaggression, formally ending the Korean War---38 years after fighting ceased in 1953. This agreement was not hailed as a peace treaty, and the armistice that was signed July 27,1953, between the UN and North Korea, was to remain in effect until it could be transformed into a formal peace.
    1995-- US Federal Court votes that Cable companies must carry local stations
    1997-- 63rd Heisman Trophy Award: Charles Woodson, Michigan (CB)
http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/12841
http://www.collegefootballnews.com/Top_100_Players/
Top_100_Players_34_Charles_Woodson.htm
    1998 - Voters in Puerto Rico rejected United States statehood.
    1998 -- Baltimore and Minnesota combine to set an NFL record with three kickoff return touchdowns in the same game, all in the first quarter of the Vikings' 38-28 victory. Corey Harris and Patrick Johnson score for the Ravens while David Palmer turns the trick for Minnesota. Vikings kicker Gary Anderson sets an NFL record when he converts his 34th consecutive field goal.
http://images.nfl.com/history/images/1213.jpg
    2000 - Republican George W. Bush claimed the presidency five weeks after Election Day and a day after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down further recounts of disputed ballots in Florida. Democrat Al Gore conceded, delivering a call for national unity.
    2002 - A powerful Pacific storm system plowed into the western United States during the 13th-16th, producing high winds, heavy rains, significant mountain snowfall and causing 9 deaths (Associated Press). Rainfall amounts exceeding 10 inches occurred in parts of California, and wind gusts over 45 mph produced up to 1.9 million power outages during the period.

American Football Poem

S.F. 49ers

Jane Griffin

Gold helmets shine in the sunlight.
The jerseys are loose and the pants are tight.
Those were the only things shining this year.
After so many losses, there's no reason to cheer.
That's what all thought but one loyal fan
Because not matter what, I believe that they can.
I know we could have won the Superbowl
If our kicker was able to make a field goal.
Many times when we could have won the game,
Because of special teams, we left the field in shame.
We'll have to wait until next season
To be the ones doing the teasin'.
The Superbowl will be our mission.
After all it's 49ers tradition.