****Announcement****************************************

Gerry Egan New NEFA Executive Director

Raleigh, NC — The National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Gerry Egan as Executive Director beginning in 2011. Mr. Egan has over thirty years experience in the equipment leasing and financing industry and has a history of active participation in industry associations. He is past president of the National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers who has contributed many education programs, specializing in video presentations and webair. He also has been a writer for several leasing media publications including Leasing News, Monitor Magazine and Monitor Online, as well as the World Leasing News. He is a favorite lecturer and teacher at leasing conferences and is very well known, especially in the broker community.

Incoming NEFA President Chris Enbom of Allegiant Partners

"We're very pleased to have a well known industry veteran join us as Executive Director,” Enbom said." Our strategy has always been to make our membership, our conferences, and all our educational and networking offerings as timely and helpful as possible and, with all the changes our industry is going through, Gerry's experience will help us stay focused on and maintain leadership in doing that."

Gerry responded, "Some of the most profitable things I accomplished in my own small leasing business came to me as a direct result of listening to and sharing ideas with other professionals at various industry events. I'm excited by the opportunity to help NEFA continue and to expand on that tradition."

Leasing News Article February 27, 2003

"Jamie, my wife, knows your son is in the Navy, and since you asked me to send you a picture, she suggested I send you this one. Guess which one is the current president of NAELB (National Association of Equipment Leasing, so here it is. (The guy in the middle, that’s why you got the job, you listen to all sides. Editor ) It was taken in 1970 in San Diego. I was a land-based sailor, trained as a hospital corpsman.

More about Gerry Egan:
http://forequipmentleasing.com/Joomla/content/view/25/45/

*****Announcement***************************************

 

We Support FASB Recommendations

Leasing News’ Comment Letter to IFRS Foundation
(International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation)

(On 17 August 2010 the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) published for public comment joint proposals to improve the reporting of lease contracts. The proposals are one of the main projects included in the boards’ Memorandum of Understanding. The proposals, if adopted, will greatly improve the financial reporting information available to investors about the financial effects of lease contracts.)

Leasing News, Inc.
www.leasingnews.org
18736 Montewood Drive
S aratoga, California 95070

December 14, 2010

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to you as the editor and publisher of www.leasingnews.org, according to Alexa and Web Trend, the most read finance and leasing industry trade publication and web site in the United States and perhaps the world (1).

The major banks and financial institutions through their associations have mounted a major campaign against reform, especially what appears in the latest FASB regulation regarding personal property and its disclosure on financial statements. The latest is to postpone it until it is "perfect."

The fact is the overwhelming majority of Leasing News readers are in favor of the new regulation as it brings transparency and full disclosure to all parties concerned, including investors, creditors, lessors, as well as governmental agencies who regulate full disclosure. More importantly, it gives instruction to accountants to include all debt on a financial statement, not just in a footnote or no mention at all.

Financial statements should be accurate, not have hidden items.

The new regulation will be not only good for the industry by giving full disclosure, but more than likely, the proposed rules will increase "operating" or "true leases" by making them shorter term, perhaps generating more sales of new equipment and software, and overall not only insure "truth in lending" but also create more business through the use of more modern equipment and software.

The majority of leasing news readers believe the new regulations will have a positive affect on creating both capital and operating leases.

It is time for change, not to go back to the past with tricks and games, but full disclosure.

Yours truly,
Christopher Menkin
Editor/Publisher
www.leasingnews.org

(1) USA and Worldwide Alexa Report
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_10.htm#alexa

Classified Ads---Asset Management/Collections

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

Haverhill, MA Started in credit and collections 30 years ago with a private agency. My skills are negotiating with Attorney's, Insurance Companies & Large & small companies. cityofpa@earthlink.net | Resume

Minneapolis, MN 16 years leasing experience from micro to large ticket market, variety of equipment. Most recently calling on vendor telecom dealers in Upper Midwest. golfadm@yahoo.com

Santa Barbara CA (will relocate) Experienced Asset Manager of various portfolio's for a bank, broker and leasing company. Utilized specialized remarketing companies to maximize collateral values. Worked remote two years. geoff.taylor@verizon.net | Resume | Reference 1 | Reference 2

Seattle, WA 16 years experience small-ticket market; collections management, bankruptcy, litigation; strong vendor network; CLP Certification 2000- Pinnacle Capital since 2003, previously Irwin Business Finance, Financial Pacific westongerry@gmail.com Resume

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

 

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.

Leasing Companies Out of Broker/Discounting Business

These are companies who are either out of business who worked with independent equipment leasing brokers or no longer are doing business with independent equipment brokers within the last year. This is not a list of companies who do not do business with independent equipment brokers.

To learn a brief reason why the company is on the list, please click to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm

To find the stories about this company, please go to our archives, perhaps do a search “sort by
date:” http://www.leasingnews.org/archives.htm

Advantage Business Capital, Lake Oswego, Oregon
AEL Financial, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
*(No longer taking new broker business)
Alliance Financial, Syracuse, New York
Balboa Capital, Irvine, Ca
Bankers Healthcare Group, Weston, FL.
C and J Leasing Corp, Des Moines, Iowa
Carlton Financial Corporation, Wayzata, Minnesota
Chesterfield Financial, Chesterfield, Missouri
Churchill Group/Churchill Leasing, Jericho, NY
CIT Group (limited)
Columbia Bank Leasing, Tacoma, WA
Commercial Equipment Lease, Eugene, Oregon
Concord Financial Services, Long Beach, California
Court Square, Malvern, Pennsylvania
Creative Capital Leasing Group, LLC, San Diego, CA
Direct Capital, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Diversified Financial Service, Omaha, NE
Dolsen Leasing, Bellevue/Yakima, Washington
Equipment Finance Partners, a division of Altec, Birmingham, Alabama
Evans National Leasing, Inc., Hamburg, NY
Enterprise Funding, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Excel Financial Leasing, Lubbock Texas
First Corp.(IFC subsidiary), Morton Grove, Illinois
First Federal Financial Services, Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
First Republic Bank, San Francisco, CA
Frontier Capital, Teaneck New Jersey
GCR Capital, Safety Harbor, Florida
GE Capital, Conn (limited)
Global Funding LLC., Clearwater, FL
Greystone, Burlington, MA
Heritage Pacific Leasing, Fresno, CA
Hillcrest Bank Leasing, Overland Park, KS
Huntington Equipment Finance, Vendor Finance Group, Bellevue, Washington
IFC Credit Corp., Morton Grove, Illinois
Irwin Financial (Irwin Union Bank), Columbus, Indiana
Irwin Union Bank, F.S.B. (Louisville, Kentucky)
Lakeland Bank, Montville, NJ
LaSalle Systems Leasing
Leaf Specialty Finance, Columbia, South Carolina
LEAF Third Party Funding, Santa Barbara, Ca.
Lombard, part of Royal Bank of Scotland, worldwide
Marlin Business Services, Mount Laurel, NJ (accepting no new brokers,
      they may have opened for a select fee, but no more at this time, they say.)
Marquette Business Credit Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
M&T Credit (Bank)
MericapCredit, Lisle, Illinois
Merrill Lynch Financial
Midwest Leasing Group, Livonia, Minnesota
National City, Cleveland, Ohio
Navigator (Pentech subsidiary) San Diego, California
OFC Capital, Roswell, Georgia
Old National Bank, Evansville, Illinois
Pentech Financial, Campbell, CA
PFF Bancorp, Inc, Pomona, CA
Pinnacle Business Finance, Fife, Washington
Pioneer Capital Corporation, Addison, Texas
PredictiFund, a subsidiary of Capital Access Network, Inc
Popular Finance, St. Louis, Missouri
Radiance-Capital, Tacoma, WA
Rational Technology Solutions, Rolling Meadows, IL
Sandy Springs, Olney, MD
Sovereign Bank, Melville, New York
Specialty Funding, Albuquerque, NM
Sun Trust Equipment Finance & Leasing, Baltimore, Maryland
SunBridge Capital, Mission, Kansas
Suncoast Equipment Funding Corp., Tampa, Florida
TCF Equipment Finance, Minnetonka, Minnesota
TechLease, Morgan Hill, California
Textron Financial
Triad Leasing & Financial, Inc., Boise, Idaho
Union Capital Partners, Midvale, Utah
US Bank, Manifest Funding, Marshall, Minnesota
     (new requirement: large yearly funding)
US Bank, Middle-Market, Portland, Oregon
Velocity Financial Group, Rosemont, Illinois
VenCore, Portland, Oregon
Vision Capital,San Diego, California
Wachovia Bank Leasing
Washington Mutual Financial
Western Bank, Devils Lake, ND
Westover Financial, Inc., Santa Ana, California

Sudhir’s Revolutionary Web Resource Launches January 11th

Sudhir Amembal's Global Leasing Resource (GLR) is set to launch January 11th, 2011 with what will be a revolutionary, comprehensive database of over 375 finance and leasing companies; almost equally divided between the United States and the rest of the world. Many consider the launch a milestone in the leasing industry as it combines the global database (which comes with a comprehensive, user-friendly search engine) with market intelligence gathered from emerging and mature leasing economies. Once active, the collection is expected to have over 600 finance and leasing listings by the end of 2011.

GLR plans to keep the database of listings as current as possible by submitting a quarterly request to all listed companies to update the information submitted. It also can be up-dated on line by companies submitting new information.

How far this on line resource will grow is not known as the world leasing expert, Sudhir, himself does not know how many leasing companies there are in the United States, let alone the world. In the United States, one can arrive at a count of the members that belong to various associations (see below), but then there are many non members as well as commercial banks, community banks and even credit unions that may offer lease finance. He states certain leasing economies like China are regulated, where one can precisely arrive at the number of companies under the regulator’s umbrella. By last count this number was 170. However, even in countries like China where he travels often to lecture, it is impossible to know the number of companies such as dealers, distributors and rental companies who may offer lease finance, that operate outside the scope of regulation.

While there are finance and leasing associations all over the world with directories, their lists contain basically the members of the association, mostly a telephone and email directory, and are also restricted to member's access only. For instance, the 2009 count for the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association membership (ELFA) has 92 banks and 142 “independents.” The National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers had 66 “funders,” with many of them members of ELFA, too. In both associations, the list is only available to members.

Subscription is free through 2011 at Global Leasing Resource, and an opportunity for all to test the database and its information. It will require a subscription in 2012.

To learn more or to subscribe, please go to here:
http://www.globalleasingresource.com/

Letters?---We get eMail!

(Mostly in chronological order)

Collection Fees and Late Charges
Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_13.htm#fees

"Terry Winders, CLP, article about late fees and collection fees was spot on."

Bob Underwood
Specialty Funding
505.797.7141 ext 102 505-872-0422 fax
800.440.5137 toll free 866-865-6836 toll free fax
505.263.9543 cell www.specialty-funding.com

LEAF Financial Press Release Misleading
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2010/12_13.htm#misleading

"Crit DeMent may be trying to build up creditability for his next job someplace. The business model for Leaf Financial was patterned from his previously company called Fidelity Financial, also in Philly. I heard they started having the same troubles there but were able to get out by selling the portfolios to a large bank. The parent company wanted to dump Fidelity. The same people that managed Fidelity are at Leaf today....There are stories on all these guys that will be interesting reading later.

“My thought is there's another story coming - the one where the investors sue Leaf because of how they purchased and managed the portfolio funds. Obviously the losses in the funds are/were higher than the norm for the leasing business, even in the down market. Leaf was buying chunks of junk deals other would not to build up the portfolios fast to get acquisition and management fees. Leaf was getting upwards of a 2% fee when they put a deal in the portfolio funds plus the management fee. The investors got ....."

(Name With Held)

(Mr. DeMent was contacted for a comment or statement. Editor)

"I enjoy reading your newsletters, they are very informative. It's been a while since I've seen anything about Lease Police and I was wondering if they are still operating. We have a couple of vendors we would like to make other leasing companies aware of and thought Lease Police may be the best venue to do so. Any information you could provide would be very much appreciated."

Sincerely,
Christina Lindsey
Vendor Relations
Conrad Financial
800-364-7290 x 104
800-435-7290 fax
christina@conradleasing.com
www.conradleasing.com

(Bernie Boettingheimer, CLP, has not written any articles recently, but I can assure you he is very active. He recently moved to 1400 Preston Road, Plano, Texas 95093 214-549-3426 boettig@sbcglobal.net- Editor)

"Greetings to my many valued contacts and colleagues in the World Leasing News arena. I’ll be moving on from WLN as of Jan. 1, and to introduce you Abigail Sutton (abigail.sutton@gmail.com), who will be taking over as WLN editor. I've passed on contacts and correspondence to her, so you can expect to hear from her soon.

I'll still be working with her and you for the next few weeks - and if we have something in the pipeline, you'll still hear from me, in tandem with Abigail.

"Thanks so much for your help and contributions since I've been working on this project (Aug. 2008 - time sure does fly).

“If I can be of any other help to you, my freelance contact is bethdaddono@comcast.net.

"Again - many thanks, and wishing you a healthy and well financed 2011!"

Beth D'Addono
Travel Editor, Bucks Living
ASJA, Les Dames d'Escoffier
Vice President, Society of American Travel Writers
http://bethdaddono.com
Twitter:@bethdaddono
610-667-3538

Automatic Garage Door Opener for your Motorcycle
You May Have Missed---
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C-Bxifv2Pk

"Actually there is a feature sold for motorcycles that works with the headlights. When you flash them the doors will open."

Jim Merrilees
JimMerrilees@rtrservices.com

Flash2Pass Powersports Garage Door Opener System
Powersports Garage Door Opener System from Flash2Pass Technologies

Features:
· Turns your existing headlight hi-beam switch into a transmitter for your automatic garage door opener or gate
· Radio frequency works up to approx. 75 feet
· Works on most garage door openers manufactured since 1982
· No remote transmitter to get lost or stolen
· No batteries to replace

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/70/14570/ITEM/Flash2Pass-Powersports-Garage-Door-Opener-System.aspx

"I had contacted you about one year ago praising you for your Adopt-a-Dog section within Leasing News, and I would like to thank you once again for making people aware of the thousands and thousands of animals around the country that are in dire need of a safe home and loving care. I have been a volunteer for an animal rescue service over the past 7 years and I have a strong appreciation and respect for the people who both help the animals and for those who make others aware of the adoption services. I hope that you might point out that cats are available for adoption as well as dogs. There is no reason to publish my message to you but I simply wanted to thank you once again for what you are doing."

Sincerely,
Richard Abrams
Eagle One Financial Corporation
36100 Avenida De Las Montana
Cathedral City, CA 92234
Tel: 760-699-8975
Fax: 760-699-8976
rabrams@eagleonefin.com
www.eagleonefin.com

Sending files on the Internet
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_10.htm#sending

"Here's another program that I've used for years (strange name, but it works perfectly). It integrates directly into MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other programs; appears just like a printer when you click to print a document.

"It converts a document that you're in (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to a PDF file. But it works by appearing in the list of printers.

"So to make a Word doc into a PDF, just click Print, then select Bullzip from the dropdown (instead of the printer), click OK and it makes a PDF from Word. Very nice.

"And it's free"

Bullzip PDF Printer
www.bullzip.com

Best regards,
Paul

Paul Bent, Principal
(562) 426-1000
(562) 492-1199 fax
pbent@thealtagroup.com
www.thealtagroup.com

http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_15.htm#varion

"Thanks Kit, glad to hear that we’re trying to break some ground here. I did notice on the list two other Canadian based companies, namely; Lease Quest and Can-World Finance, so we thought there might be some interest.

"We are a relatively young organization and one of our main challenges is exposure so we’re always looking for avenues to increase our brand recognition. In terms of immediate business to be gained, it will probably be limited, but over time as we expand across Canada, I’m sure our foray’s into the US market will become more so.

"Thanks again for your time, and for what it’s worth I read the Leasing news daily, and I know others in the Canadian market does as well, as there is nothing like your site in Canada, and it is a valuable resource to gain information on trends in the industry."

Regards,
Geoff

Geoff Smiley
Regional Manager - Western Canada
gsmiley@varion.ca
Direct 604-982-3002
Mobile 604-999-8245
Fax 604-990-9675
110 - 889 Harbourside Drive
North Vancouver, BC V7P 3S1

Full List:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Brokers/broker_Lessor.htm

First Portland Portfolio

"The play in this instance is to restart a company with the four legs of the stool in place at the beginning---(1) substantial senior debt, revolving, bank lines, (2) considerable deal flow from loyal vendors, (3) good and talented people at all levels, and, (4) a platform of software and processes conducive to growth under control. I think we have the plan to make that happen, while we successfully repair some of the damage to some of the victims. But, as I said before, it takes many small steps to get there. We are, however, well on the way.

"We have a lot of the bases covered and are now talking to potential investors about raising $10 million to accomplish our goals. The six-year IRR is very attractive for them and a liquidity event to get there seems very realistic. If you think of anyone interested in something like this, all or a significant piece of the total, please let me know or have them use your name as an introduction. One of my mottos is “Givers get.” Enough said.

"We are still pushing forward and I remain optimistic."

Len Ludwig
4500 SW Kruse Way Suite 350
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
D 503.675.3133
C 503.330.7513
F 503.675.3136

"Perhaps if you highlighted social service agencies from across the country every so often in your newsletter, it may create the awareness for others to step forward if they have been thinking about providing foster care for a family and child in need. You may never know how many individual's lives you may touch by providing such an additional segment to your newsletter. The equipment leasing and finance industry has provided excellent careers for many people across the country, and you have the platform through your newsletter to be a difference maker in many families and children's lives by adding such a segment regarding foster care.

“Although I felt a little uncomfortable approaching you regarding this, I felt I had to take the risk to reach out to you. You know, if you didn't start the adopt a dog segment of your newsletter, then I wouldn't even have had the awareness in my mind to consider getting a pet from a shelter or rescue organization. Just imagine the good that can be done if you highlighted foster care as well.”

Gary Trebels
gtrebels@yahoo.com

State Foster Care Information Websites
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp_website.cfm?rs_id=17&rate_chno=AZ-0002E

Includes website links to foster care information provided on State child welfare agency websites in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. Links to State foster care information in Spanish are provided when available.

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

Classified Ads---Help Wanted

Western Finance & Lease, a bank-owned finance company founded in 1990, provides financing for small to lower middle market vendor originations. An expert in this market segment, Western solicits Vendor originations throughout the United States and provides financing solutions for a wide range of industries. With history dating back to 1901, Western State Bank maintains a well performing portfolio with a solid deposit base to support its finance and lease originations. We are seeking an experienced National Business Development Manager to generate profitable sales volume in various segments including, but not limited to Healthcare, Survey / Mapping, Franchise or Rental. This position is responsible for developing finance programs with manufacturers, distributors and vendors with the expectation of providing annual sales volume of $10MM +. Qualified candidates should possess a minimum of 10 years sales experience in the leasing/finance industry with a proven track record of success in sales and an existing book of business. A college degree is preferred. Western offers a competitive compensation plan that includes a base salary along with an uncapped commission structure and incentives for new program activations. Also offered are a full benefit package that includes 401K, Employee Stock Ownership Plan, health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance. Western provides a great work environment, unsurpassed service levels and a dedicated support staff. Please apply by emailing cover letter and resume to wflsales@wf-l.com or by mailing to Western Finance and Lease, Attn. Chad Palmer or Laurie Bakke, P.O. Box 640, 503 Highway 2 West, Devils Lake, ND 58301.

Territory Manager-Enterprise Accts-
West Coast @ Oracle Corporation in San Francisco, California

Salary: 135,000.00 - 160,000.00 Location: San Francisco, California
Employer: Oracle Corporation Type: Full Time - Experienced
Category: Sales Required Education: 4 Year Degree

Oracle Financing, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, is chartered to provide customers with financing and leasing solutions for their acquisition of Oracle’s and other third party’s IT products and services.

We have a position open in the San Francisco Bay area.

Oracle Financing is in search of an experienced and successful leasing and financing sales professional to be added to our sales team. Only those with proven sales experience in the leasing and financial services industry should apply. Experience in IT financing, MBA and/or Commercial Banking a plus.

The essential functions the North American Strategic Accounts (NASA) Territory Sales Manager include the following: - Solicit end-user leasing and loan transactions - Build Relationships with Oracle’s Sales Management and Field Sales personnel. - Train Oracle Sales personnel on the benefits of leasing and loan structures - Lead generating and marketing activities - Complete transaction coverage from lead generation through documentation signing

1-800-633-0738

 

 

Last Call---2010 Help Wanted Special

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

$25 per extra lines.

30 days plus one week run
if ordered today

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

Orders Placed after Today: New Help Wanted Ad Price
Offer Expires Today

Should "venting" online lead to people being sued?

LinkedIn Group: Online reporters and editors

Comment by Maude Campbell
Contributing staff writer at Cleveland Scene
Medical editing, writing, and media consultant at Campbell Communications

This is where the people who want to call themselves "citizen journalists" are going to eventually land themselves in pecks of trouble. They want the glamour of the title just because they can write and distribute something but they generally have no notion of the laws and media ethics that can pop up to haunt them.

The case I read about recently, and I believe it was a YELP post but I'm not certain, was a libel suit and it wasn't that the reviewer posted their opinion. YELP is an opinion site, and as long as one posts something that is opinion, I doubt anyone would successfully sue, unless for some reason a judge looked at the whole site and decided that it was not at all clear that it was an opinion site. Doubt that would happen.

Anyway, a person had a bad restaurant experience and posted on the site, but the trouble was, there was a statement in the post that could be an act of libel. Instead of just complaining about the service and saying how long it took, or whatever, the poster made a statement like, "Meanwhile, I saw the owner leaving with a prostitute," to try and explain the poor service and inattention to customers. It was something like that.

The owner, in fact, was seen with a female business associate or client of his who was not a prostitute.

Even in an opinion post, or op-ed piece in print, if you make what sounds like a statement of fact and it is untrue, it is libel. The poster could have instead written, "the owner was leaving with a woman who looked like a prostitute," or "the owner left with a woman who I thought dressed like a prostitute," and THOSE statements would have been opinion and I doubt a lawsuit would fly. But, the statement written was worded as a fact, it was untrue, so it sent up the libel flag. The poster wasn't being sued because of what he said in the rest of the post about his bad experience. So no one was being sued just for "venting."

Kit mentioned the public figure issue and in general, business owners are not public figures but considered under the law to be private citizens, for whom, privacy laws apply. So, in this case, suppose the owner was in the back room of the place with a prostitute, and the poster had to go peer through the keyhole to discover this, and then posted his statement of fact. The poster could still be sued for invasion of privacy. If the owner paraded the prostitute through the restaurant to all the customers and the post said so, then the owner would likely not have a very good leg to stand on in court.

If the restaurant owner had achieved celebrity status in the community, say he was Wolfgang Puck or something, then a court might consider him a public figure and things are different for public figures and celebrities. In general, they are not protected by privacy laws because they have deliberately put themselves in the public spotlight. So, if the poster looked through the keyhole and saw the city council president with a prostitute, it is fair game and there wasn't an invasion of privacy. It would be just the same as if the public figure paraded the prostitute around openly.

In the US, real journalists, defined so far by the courts as those employed by a professional news organization (of which YELP is not one, as far as I know), have a little bit more protection. They actually could write "the council president left with a prostitute," the statement can be untrue because the person wasn't a prostitute, and the council president could not successfully sue unless he could show that the journalist intended malice when he/she wrote the inaccurate statement. So journalists have the malice protection, but it only applies to public figures. If a professional journalist, let's say the restaurant critic for a newspaper or online news site, wrote the statement about the restaurant owner who is not a public figure, they would be in the same boat as the YELP poster.

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

 

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

 

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

FDIC "…turned the corner on financial institution failures"

The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today approved a $4.0 billion Corporate Operating Budget for 2011, down slightly from the 2010 budget the Board approved last December.

"I am happy that we are able to see a slight drop in next year's budget while devoting new resources to implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act," said FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair. "We appear to have turned the corner on financial institution failures, but significant post-resolution work remains. Staff met the challenge to find savings to offset a portion of the additional resources needed to carry out our new responsibilities under the Dodd-Frank Act. This budget provides sufficient funding to resolve additional failures as they occur and to position the FDIC for the new challenges that lie ahead."

In conjunction with its approval of the 2011 operating budget, the Board also approved an authorized 2011 staffing level of 9,252 employees, up about 2.5 percent from the current 2010 authorization of 9,029. On a net basis, all of the new positions are temporary as are 40 percent of the total 9,252 authorized positions for 2011. Temporary employees have been hired by the FDIC to assist with bank closings, management and sale of failed bank assets, and other activities that are expected to diminish substantially as the industry returns to more stable conditions. There were 140 bank failures in 2009 and 151 so far in 2010.

"It is important for the public to understand that the FDIC's operating budget does not in any way involve the use of taxpayer funds," said Chairman Bair. "All of the FDIC's operating expenses are paid from the Deposit Insurance Fund—the DIF—which is fully funded by the industry through deposit insurance premiums."

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

Thomas Bunn Joins SquareTwo Financial's Board of Directors
Former KeyCorp executive to help oversee debt purchasing company

DENVER, Colorado -- SquareTwo Financial, a leader in the $40 billion asset recovery and management industry, announced that Thomas W. Bunn, former vice chairman at KeyCorp, has joined the SquareTwo Financial board of directors.

Bunn served as vice chairman at KeyCorp and president of Key National Banking from 2005 until 2008. In this role he was responsible for multiple lines of business, including corporate and investment banking; real estate banking; equipment finance; global treasury management; bank capital markets; and Victory Capital Management. Bunn joined KeyCorp in 2002 as president of Key Corporate and Investment Banking. During his tenure at Key, Bunn served as a member of the management committee and executive council, as well as a director of both KeyBank, N.A., and Victory Capital Management. Prior to joining Key, Bunn was the managing director and head of global debt capital markets at Bank of America, where he served for 24 years.

"Tom has extensive experience in the financial services industry and is universally respected by banking and finance professionals," said Paul A. Larkins, president and CEO of SquareTwo Financial. "He is our eighth board member, and we are fortunate to add yet another highly accomplished strategically-minded professional to our board."

"SquareTwo Financial is uniquely positioned for growth and excellence in the debt purchasing and asset management industry," said Bunn. "Paul Larkins has put together a solid executive leadership team, as well as an impressive core of directors, and I'm excited to be elected to help guide this innovative, growing company."

Bunn earned his bachelor's of science degree in business administration from Wake Forest University and his MBA in finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a member of the Wake Forest University board of trustees and the Babcock School of Business board of visitors. He also serves on the board of Southern Weaving Company and is on the board of advisors for Sound Harbor Partners.

About SquareTwo Financial:
SquareTwo Financial is a leader in the $40 billion asset recovery and management industry. Through its award-winning technology and unique Partners Network, SquareTwo Financial creates a more effective way for companies and consumers to resolve their debt commitments. Fortune 500 companies in the health care, automotive, banking and credit card industries trust SquareTwo Financial to manage their debt portfolios. The company's national network of legal partners is dedicated to treating consumers fairly and ethically. SquareTwo Financial is based in Denver, Colo. Visit www.squaretwofinancial.com for more information.

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

Seattle, Washington---Adopt-a-Dog

Name: Roscoe
Breed: Lhasa Apso / Poodle, Standard
Gender: Male
Size: Medium
Age: 2 years
ID #: 11916892

"Roscoe is a 2 year old Lhasa-Poodle mix. He is a sweet little guy just waiting for us to find him his own home. In the meantime our volunteers will be giving him lots of TLC while he enjoys our remodeled kennels. Stop by and visit Roscoe at the Seattle Humane Society, we'll keep the tails wagging.

"As with all of our dogs, Roscoe has been neutered, micro-chipped, vaccinated and behavior tested. He will go home with a certificate for an examination by a King County veterinarian and an identification tag. PLUS, most dog adoptions include six weeks of training in one of our on-campus dog behavior courses - a great way to start off on the right paw!"

This pet comes with an implanted 24PetWatch microchip and free registration into the 24PetWatch pet recovery service. For more information call 1-866-597-2424.

This pet also is eligible for 30 days of pre-paid pet health insurance. For more information please visit www.sheltercare.com or call 1-866-375-PETS.

Donate to Save Animals' Lives

Adoption Hours
Monday - Friday: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Saturday - Sunday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

VISIT Our Pets In Person
Seattle Humane Society
13212 SE Eastgate Way
Bellevue, Washington 98005-4408
425.641.0080

Adoption Procedure:
http://www.seattlehumane.org/adopt/process
http://www.seattlehumane.org/adopt

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/\

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

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

News Briefs----

Federal Reserve to stay the course
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/12/14/Federal-Reserve-to-stay-the-course/UPI-69621292360030/

More Than 400 Lawsuits against Agencies
http://www.collectionscreditrisk.com/news/more-than-lawsuits-against-agencies-creditors-3004320-1.html

Senate spending bill contains thousands of earmarks
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/14/AR2010121405271.html?hpid=topnews

Computer prices reverse course, start to rise
http://chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2010/12/computer-prices-reverse-course-start-to-rise.html

 

 

 

You May have Missed---

Ben Franklin’s Nation---by David Brooks
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/opinion/14brooks.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage

Don’t miss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo

 

 

 

Sports Briefs----

Spurning Rangers, Yankees, Lee tosses curveball to market
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/phillies/2010-12-14-cliff-lee-signs_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

 

California Nuts Briefs---

Brown tells educators budget woes worse than he thought
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_16857120?nclick_check=1

America's Cup in SF bid gets unanimous backing
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=79072

 

 

 

“Gimme that Wine”

Washington Vineyards Hit by Early Freeze
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/44215

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

Fine-tuning Champagne - without a dose of sweetness
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/12/FDT11GLL6K.DTL

Mouton 08 nearly doubles in value
http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/509776/mouton-08-nearly-doubles-in-value

Rombauer Family One Million Dollar Challenge­ for Napa Valley Hospice & Adult Day Service
http://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataid=81864

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

      

    1791-The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, became effective following ratification by Virginia. The anniversary of ratification and of effect is observed as Bill of Rights Day. The constitutional amendments were drawn up by James Madison and were declared in force this day, having been passed by both houses of Congress and ratified by their required number of states. The first of them established religious freedom, freedom of speech and press, the right to assemble, and the right to petition the government. The amendments were submitted to the states by the First Congress on September 25,1789. The first state to ratify was New Jersey, which acted on November 20,1789. Originally both houses passed 12 amendments, but two of them---on the proportion of representatives and on compensation—failed to secure the requisite number of states and ratifications.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec15.html
    1792-The first life insurance offered by a general insurance company was offered by the Insurance Company of North America, organized in Philadelphia, PA with a capital of $600,000 on December 10th. The first policy was issued this day. Only six policies were written in five years, and in 1804 the life insurance feature was a discontinued. The first president was John Maxwell Nesbitt. He was a co-founder of the Bank of North American with Robert Morris, who both helped finance the revolutionary war.
http://www.famousamericans.net/johnmaxwellnesbitt/
    1814-Twenty-six “Federalist party” Delegates from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, who opposed the War of 1812, met to plan secession from the United States. Known in history as “The Hartford Convention,” it lasted until January 5, 1815. They voted not to secede.
http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/rcah/html/ah_040800_hartfordconv.htm
http://civilwar.bluegrass.net/secessioncrisis/hartfordconvention.html
http://www.usconstitution.net/hartford.html
http://www.primaryresearch.org/PRTHB/Dane/Norton/norton.htm
    1839 - The first of triple storms hit Massachusetts Bay. The storm produced whole gales, and more than 20 inches of snow in interior New England. There was great loss of life at Gloucester MA
    1854-The first street-cleaning machine of importance was employed by Philadelphia, PA. This was a historic event, as most city streets were quite dirty, which not only hampered transportation but was quite unsanitary. According to a contemporary account, it consists of “a series of brooms on a cylinder about two feet six inches wide, attached to two endless chins, running over an upper and lower set of pulleys, which are suspended on a light frame of wrought iron behind a cart, the body of which is near the ground. As the cart wheels revolve, a rotary motion is given to the pulleys conveying the endless chains and a series of brooms attached to them; which being made to bear on the ground successively sweep the surface and carry the soil up an incline or carrier plate, over the top of which it dropped into the cart.” 
    1862 - Nathan B. Forrest crosses the Tennessee River at Clifton with 2,500 men to raid the communications around Vicksburg, Mississippi. 
    1862 - In New Orleans, Louisiana, Union Major General Benjamin F. Butler turns his command over to Nathaniel Banks. The citizens of New Orleans hold farewell parties for Butler, "The Beast," but only after he leaves. 
    1864 - The battle at Nashville begins.
    1869 -- Norton I, Emperor of the United States & Protector of Mexico, & the greatest American ruler in history, leaves San Francisco to seek his yearly tribute from the legislature & lobbyists. He inspects the new capitol during the gala ball celebrating the buildings’ inauguration.
http://www.zpub.com/sf/history/nort.html
http://www.notfrisco.com/nortoniana/index.html
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/norton.html
    1874-The first child abuse prevention organization was the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, founded in New York City by Henry Bergh, Elbridge Gerry, and James Wright. Initial funding was provided by Cornelius Vanderbilt. Bergh had earlier founded the American Society for the Prevention
Of Cruelty to Animals in 1866.
http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/3979/mcms.html
    1874-The first reigning king to visit the United States was David Kalakaua, King of the Sandwich Islands(Hawaii), who was elected king on February 12, 1874, by a vote of 39-6. He embarked on the USS Benicia on November 17,1874 and was received at the White House, Washington, DC, by President Ulysses Simpson Grant. Congress tendered him a reception on December 18. He arranged for a treaty of reciprocity, which was concluded on January 30,1875. He returned to his country on February 15 on the USS Pensacola.
http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/9419/mcms.html
http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/9430/mcms.html
http://www.royalty.nu/America/Hawaii.html
http://www.hawaii-nation.org/palace.html
http://kristinzambucka.com/kala.htm
    1890-Sitting Bull is murdered by soldiers after he had surrendered, then claimed he was trying to escape. Famous Sioux Indian leader, medicine man and warrior of the Hunkpapa Teton band. Known also by his native name, Tatanka-yatanka, Sitting Bull was born on the Grand River, SD. He first accompanied his father on the warpath at the age of 14 against the Crow and thereafter rapidly gained influence within his tribe. In 1886 he led a raid on Fort Buford. His steadfast refusal to go to a reservation led General Phillip Sheridan to initiate a campaign against him which led to the massacre of Lieutenant Colonel George Custer's men at the Little Bighorn, after which Sitting Bull fled to Canada, remaining there until 1881. He later joined the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and toured the US and Europe. When the government tried to take more land from the Indians, he became active again. A copy of the days newspapers about his death is noted below, and this is from Don Russell, “The Lives and Legends of Buffalo Bill(Norman, Okla, University of Oklahoma Press, 1960., page 132:) “At the outbreak of the Ghost Dance War, the War Department ordered the arrest of Chief Sitting Bull. Although the Sioux chief was , by 1890, quite old and had lost much of his power within the tribe, the army still feared him as a great anti-white leader. Forty-three Indian policeman, with the backing of two troops of the Eight Calvary just three miles away, were sent to make the arrest.
“ An hour before dawn the Indian police arrived at Sitting Bull’s cabin. At first the old chief offered no resistance; but when a few policemen tried to speed things up by dressing him roughly, he became angry. A crowd of Sitting Bull supporters gathered. Almost ready to leave, the chief demanded that the Indian police saddle his horse.
“Sitting Bull’s was no ordinary horse, but an equine from the staged, show time West. It had belonged to Buffalo Bill, and Sitting Bull had performed special tricks with it when the Indian had traveled with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. When Sitting Bull left the show to return to the Indian nation, Buffalo Bill, in friendship, gave the trick horse to him as a gesture of the showman’s gratitude.
“As the Indian police dragged and pushed Sitting Bull from his cabin, words were exchanged between the chief’s supporters and his abductors. Suddenly, Sitting Bull announced that he was not going. Shots rang out, and with the first volley Sitting Bull was struck dead, one bullet entering from the front and another from behind. Both bullets were fired by the Indian police.
“Oddly, when the shooting started, Sitting Bull’s horse took the cue for his act in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. With bullets flying everywhere, Indian police and Sitting Bull partisans scurrying for cover, the horse began to perform his tricks. Right in the middle of the newly anointed battlefield, he sat down and raised one hoof. Terror-stricken, some of the Indian police thought Sitting Bull’s freed spirit had entered his horse and made the animal do the act. The battle continued for thirty minutes. Fourteen people, from both sides, were killed.
“ Sitting Bull’s horse, incredible, was not injured, and an Indian policeman rode him to Fort Yates with news of the battle. Eventually, the chief’s horse was returned to Buffalo Bill, who put him back to work in the Wild West Show. In 1893, at the Chicago Columbian Exposition, the Wild West Show’s cavalry standard bearer rode Sitting Bull’s old horse.”
http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=14051
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/acs/1890s/woundedknee/sitbull.html
http://www.powersource.com/gallery/people/sittbull.html
http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/1048/mcms.html
http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/12621/mcms.html
http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/1376/mcms.html
http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/17502/mcms.html
    1895-birthday of composer Any Razaf, Washington, DC, died February 3, 1973,Los Angeles
http://www.riverwalk.org/proglist/showpromo/razaf.htm
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Delta/2810/razaf.htm
http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/malagasy/razaf.html
    1896—Breaking all records, 1,096,509 shares of stock were traded at the New York Stock Exchange; over one million shares of stock.
    1897-Birthday of trumpet player Ed Allen, Nashville, TN
http://www.tulane.edu/~lmiller/raeburn/edallen.htm
    1906--Birthday of Betty Smith, novelist best known for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943).
    1911-Bandleader Stan Kenton born Wichita, Kansas “Salt Peanuts!”
http://kenton.crispen.org/biography.html 
http://52ndstreet.com/kenton/bio.htm
    1925-Birthday of trumpet player Jimmy Nottingham, Brooklyn, NY
http://www.centrohd.com/biogra/n1/jimmy_nottingham_b.htm
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,474141,00.html?artist=Jimmy+Nottingham
    1927-Birthday of sax player Gene Quill, Atlantic City, NJ
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,482073,00.html?artist=Gene+Quill
    1929-Birthday of pianist Barry Harris, Detroit, MI
http://members.tripod.com/~hardbop/harris.html
http://www.barryharris.com/
    1932-Birthday of vocalist/song writer Jesse Belvin, San Antonio, TX
http://www.johnnyspencer.info/imagetexts10/goodnightmyloveJB.htm
http://www.electricearl.com/dws/belvin.htm
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/belvin_jesse/bio.jhtml
    1934-Birthday of Trombonist Curtis Fuller, Detroit, MI
http://members.tripod.com/~hardbop/fuller.html
http://www.thejazzfiles.com/JazzFuller.htm
http://www.fantasyjazz.com/catalog/fuller_c_cat.html
    1935-Birthday of drummer Dannie Richmond, New York City
http://www.theiceberg.com/artist/25299/dannie_richmond.html
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Dannie_Richmond.html
    1938 - Washington sends its fourth note to Berlin demanding amnesty for Jews. 
    1939 - The epic film "Gone with the Wind" had its world premiere in Atlanta, introduced by its producer David O. Selznick.
http://www.newline.com/sites/gonewind/history/
    1941 - On Victor Records, Lena Horne recorded the classic torch song that became her signature: "Stormy Weather".
http://media.rollingstone.com//assetaudio_old/1/60/16076/
373_16076_5_2250_4500_15205_9_1_191.rm
http://www.classicmoviemusicals.com/horne.htm
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=38524&cf=7690
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/horne_l.html
    1942-Dave Clark, musician (leader of the Dave Clark Five, "I Like It Like That"), born London, England.
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/6742/daveclark.html
http://www2.rpa.net/~theboltons/DC5main.htm
http://www.daveclarke.com/
    1943-Battle of San Pietro: A German panzer battalion inflicted heavy casualties on American forces trying to take the 700-year-old Italian village of San Pietro, before withdrawing from the town. San Pietro was reduced almost entirely to rubble. The American movie director John Huston, serving as an Army lieutenant, filmed the battle for the military. So graphic was the film that it was described as antiwar by the military brass at the War Department. The film was cut from five to three reels before censors allowed it to be released in 1944. It was later re-edited for the television series "The Big Picture."
    1943-The first Marine officer of Chinese descent was Wilbur Carl Sze, commissioned a second lieutenant. He was born in Washington, DC, and at the age of five went to China, where he remained for 11 years before returning to the United States.
    1943-King Cole Trio records,” Sweet Lorraine.”
    1944-Glenn Miller, 40, crashes in the English Channel
http://www.glennmillerorchestra.com/history.html
    1944-Invasion of Mindoro, Philippines. After the usual barrage from naval guns, the US 24th Division landed on Mindoro, the largest of the islands immediately south of Luzon (the most important island of the Philippines). American soldiers easily advanced eight miles inland, took the perimeter of their beachhead and started construction of an airfield. Japanese kamikaze counterattacks, however, sank two motor torpedo boats and damaged the escort carrier Marcus Island, two destroyers and a third motor torpedo boat, making Mindoro a more costly conquest than the island of Leyte had been.
http://www.grunts.net/army/24thid.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~scottie16/index.html
    1944-The first US Army generals to wear the five-start insignia were Henry Harley “Hap” Arnold, Dwight David Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, and George Catlett Marshall, who appointments were ratified by the Senate this day. The grade of General of the Army was established by act of Congress on December 14, 1944.
    1944-The first US Navy admirals to wear the five-star insignia as Admirals of the Fleet were Ernest Joseph King, William Daniel Leahy, and Chester William Nimitz, whose appointments were ratified by the Senate this day. The grade of fleet admiral of the Navy was established by act of Congress on December 14, 1944. 1949-Birdland opens in New York City
http://www.birdlandjazz.com/main.html
http://www.josefhuber.com/Birdland.mid
    1944--VLUG, DIRK J. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 126th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date. Near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 15 December 1944. Entered service at: Grand Rapids, Mich. Birth: Maple Lake, Minn. G.O. No.: 60, 26 June 1946. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty when an American roadblock on the Ormoc Road was attacked by a group of enemy tanks. He left his covered position, and with a rocket launcher and 6 rounds of ammunition, advanced alone under intense machinegun and 37-mm. fire. Loading single-handedly, he destroyed the first tank, killing its occupants with a single round. As the crew of the second tank started to dismount and attack him, he killed 1 of the foe with his pistol, forcing the survivors to return to their vehicle, which he then destroyed with a second round. Three more hostile tanks moved up the road, so he flanked the first and eliminated it, and then, despite a hail of enemy fire, pressed forward again to destroy another. With his last round of ammunition he struck the remaining vehicle, causing it to crash down a steep embankment. Through his sustained heroism in the face of superior forces, Pfc. Vlug alone destroyed 5 enemy tanks and greatly facilitated successful accomplishment of his battalion's mission.
    1945 - A record December snowstorm buried Buffalo, NY, under 36.6 inches of snow, with unofficial totals south of the city ranging up to 70 inches. Travel was brought to a halt by the storm.
    1954-“Davy Crockett” premieres on TV. This show, a series of five segments, can be considered TV's first miniseries. Shown on Walt Disney's "Disneyland" show, it starred Fess Parker as American western hero Davy Crockett and was immensely popular. The show spawned Crockett paraphernalia, including the famous coonskin cap (even after we found out that Boone never wore a coonskin hat). 
    1962 - The first album to make fun of a United States President became the United States' #1 LP. The album was Vaughn Meader’s "The First Family", which stayed at #1 for three months.
http://www.galleons.net/ogr/featured_vaughn_meader.htm
http://www.soundportraits.org/in-print/magazine_articles/vaughn_meader/
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/1985/life.html
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m2822/4_23/69434761/p2/article.jhtml?term=
    1954 -- Kirk Douglas/James Mason movie "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" released.
    1958- In its year-end survey, Billboard rates the top pop tune of 1958 as Domenico Modugno's "Volare," the top R&B tune as Chuck Willis' "Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes," the best selling LP as the original cast album of "My Fair Lady" and the best-selling EP as Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock."
    1959- The Everly Brothers record "Let It Be Me" in New York City, the first time they've recorded outside of Nashville and the first time they've recorded with strings.
    1961-- Adolf Eichmann, the former German Gestapo official accused of a major role in the Nazi murder of 6 million Jews, is sentenced by a Jerusalem court to be hanged. 
    1962 - The Boston Celtics' Bob Cousy set a National Basketball Association record as he scored his 5,926th field goal. His career highlights included the NBA’s 1957 MVP Award, and the record set on March 21, 1953 for 30 free throws in one game when the Celtics played the Syracuse Nationals. Four of the free throws were made in overtime.
http://www.cmgww.com/sports/cousy/bcousy.html
    1965-- The United States drops 12 tons of bombs on an industrial center near Haiphong Harbor, North Vietnam. 
    1967-- President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the meat bill in the presence of Upton Sinclair, the author of the controversial book The Jungle.
    1967- Beatles release "Christmas Time is Here Again"
http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/B/Beatles/Beatles%20-%20Christmas%
20Time%20(Is%20Here%20Again)%20lyrics.htm
    1967-The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" LP goes gold.
    1967--LYNCH, ALLEN JAMES Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). place and date: Near My An (2), Binh Dinh province, Republic of Vietnam, 15 December 1967. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 28 October 1945, Chicago, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Lynch (then Sp4c.) distinguished himself while serving as a radio telephone operator with Company D. While serving in the forward element on an operation near the village of My An, his unit became heavily engaged with a numerically superior enemy force. Quickly and accurately assessing the situation, Sgt. Lynch provided his commander with information which subsequently proved essential to the unit's successful actions. Observing 3 wounded comrades Lying exposed to enemy fire, Sgt. Lynch dashed across 50 meters of open ground through a withering hail of enemy fire to administer aid. Reconnoitering a nearby trench for a covered position to protect the wounded from intense hostile fire, he killed 2 enemy soldiers at point blank range. With the trench cleared, he unhesitatingly returned to the fire-swept area 3 times to carry the wounded men to safety. When his company was forced to withdraw by the superior firepower of the enemy, Sgt. Lynch remained to aid his comrades at the risk of his life rather than abandon them. Alone, he defended his isolated position for 2 hours against the advancing enemy. Using only his rifle and a grenade, he stopped them just short of his trench, killing 5. Again, disregarding his safety in the face of withering hostile fire, he crossed 70 meters of exposed terrain 5 times to carry his wounded comrades to a more secure area. Once he had assured their comfort and safety, Sgt. Lynch located the counterattacking friendly company to assist in directing the attack and evacuating the 3 casualties. His gallantry at the risk of his life is in the highest traditions of the military service, Sgt. Lynch has reflected great credit on himself, the 12th Cavalry, and the U.S. Army.
    1968- Grace Slick, performing with the Jefferson Airplane on the "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," appears in blackface and raises a black-leather glove in the black power salute at the conclusion of "Crown of Creation." The incident is one of several which leads to the show's cancellation the following season.
    1971-The firsts secret Service agents who were woman were Laurie B. Anderson, Sue A. Baker, Kathryn I. Clark, Holly A. Hufschmidt, and Phyllis Frances Shantz, former agents of the Executive Protective Service.
    1973- American Psychiatric Association declares homosexuality is not mental illness.
    1973-Sandy Hawley became the first jockey to win 500 races in a single year when he rode Charlie Jr. to victory in the third race at Laurel Race Course in Maryland.
    1973---Charlie Rich followed his number 15 hit, "Behind Closed Doors" with a number one smash on the Hot 100, "The Most Beautiful Girl".
    1974-Pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter was ruled a free agent by arbitrator Peter Seitz who decided that Oakland A’s owner Charley Finley had not fulfilled the terms set forth in Hunter’s contract. Hunter later signed to play with the New York Yankees.
    1974 - Baltimore Colts quarterback, Bert Jones, set an NFL record by when he completed seventeen consecutive passes in a game against the New York Jets. 
http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/jonesbert.shtml
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0396075037/avsearch-bkasin-20/
104-3191958-8595946
    1978 - United States President Jimmy Carter announced he would establish diplomatic relations with China from January 1, 1979, and break off relations with Taiwan. 
    1979 - Chris Haney and Scott Abbot invented the game "Trivial Pursuit". 
http://www.trivialpursuit.com/trivialpursuit/about.vm
    1979-Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" hits Number One on the U.K. pop chart before subsequently finding similar success in the U.S.
    1980 - Dave Winfield signed a ten-year contract with the New York Yankees for a paycheck between $1.3 and $1.5 million, making him the wealthiest player in United States team sport history. It was said the total package for the outfielder was worth over $22 million. 
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/winfield_dave.htm
    1982 - Paul "Bear" Bryant announced his retirement as head football coach at the University of Alabama after 232 victories and only 46 losses. 
    1983 - The remaining 80 United States combat soldiers in Grenada withdrew. -- just over seven weeks after the United States-led invasion of the Caribbean island. 
    1986- CIA director William Casey suffers a cerebral seizure.
http://govfigures.freeservers.com/casey.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140113142/inktomi-bkasin-20/
ref%3Dnosim/104-3191958-8595946
    1986 - In New York City, violinist Isaac Stern arrived in a horse-drawn carriage to cut the ribbon on the renovated Carnegie Hall. 
http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~san/stern.html
http://www.newstribune.com/stories/092301/ent_0923010935.asp
http://www.carnegiehall.org/intro.jsp
http://www.musicbase.org/STE001.html
    1986 - Kenny Rogers cut a 17 million dollar deal with the Dole Food Company, to become the highest-paid celebrity pitchman. 
http://www.kennyrogers.com/
    1987 - A major winter storm hit the Great Lakes Region, intensifying explosively as it crossed northern Illinois. High winds and heavy snow created blizzard conditions in southeastern Wisconsin. Winds gusted to 73 mph, and snowfall totals ranged up to 17 inches at LaFarge. The barometric pressure at Chicago IL dropped three quarters of an inch in six hours to 28.96 inches, a record low reading for December. Up to a foot of snow blanketed northern Illinois, and winds in the Chicago area gusted to 75 mph. O'Hare Airport in Chicago was closed for several hours, for only the fourth time in twenty years. High winds derailed train cars at Avon IN. Light winds and partly sunny skies were reported near the center of the storm, a feature typical of tropical storms.
    1988 - High pressure in the Pacific Northwest and low pressure in the southwestern U.S. combined to produced high winds from Utah to California. Winds gusting to 70 mph in the San Francisco area left nearly 300,000 residents without electricity. Winds in Utah gusted to 105 mph at Centerville.
    1989 - A couple of low pressure systems spread heavy snow across the northeastern U.S. Up to two feet of snow was reported along Lake Erie in northeastern Ohio, and up to ten inches was reported in Connecticut. Heavy snow squalls developed over Michigan for the third day in a row. Three Oaks MI reported 25 inches of snow in two days. Twenty-six cities in the north central U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date. The low of 10 degrees below zero at Wichita KS was a December record for that location.
    1993 - Delegations from 117 countries approved by consensus a GATT trade treaty aimed at opening up international markets. 
    1993 - Called "a beautiful film about the holocaust horror", Steven Speilberg's haunting black-and-white film Schindler's List opened in United States theaters. Starring Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, and Caroline Goodall, the film won many awards, including Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. 
    1995 - The United Nations Security Council authorized NATO to take over peacekeeping operations in Bosnia in a resolution spelling the end of one of the United Nations' toughest field missions. 
    1995 - Southeast Asian nations signed a treaty banning the possession, manufacture and acquisition of nuclear weapons and created a nuclear arms-free zone from Burma and Vietnam in the north to Indonesia in the south. 
    1995 - European Union leaders christened their planned new single currency the "Euro." 
    1995--- The Ted Williams Tunnel in Boston is opened as the Splendid Splinter leads the way.
    1997-Mike Gartner of the Phoenix Coyotes became the fifth player in NHL history to reach the 700-market in regular-season goals scored. Gartner tallied at 10:41 of the first period against the Detroit Red Wings in a game that ended in a 3-3 tie.
    1997-The SF 49ers retired #16, the number on Joe Montana's jersey.
    2002 -- Indianapolis wide receiver Marvin Harrison catches nine passes for 172 yards and two TDs to break Herman Moore's single-season reception record (123). Harrison finishes the year with 143 catches.
http://images.nfl.com/history/images/1215.jpg
    2005 - Freezing rain and ice pellets fell throughout portions of the southeast U.S. The accumulation of ice caused about 683,000 utilities customers to lose power from northern Georgia northward through the western Carolinas. The power outages were the result of ice accretions of up to three-quarter inch in thickness. The ice storm was blamed for at least four deaths.
    2009-With U2 leading the way by making over 311 million dollars, several classic rockers were among the top earning touring acts of the year, including Madonna ($222 million), Bruce Springsteen ($156 million), AC/DC ($135 million), Billy Joel and Elton John ($90 million) and Tina Turner ($86 million).

American Football Poem

A champion is one who gets up when he can't.

Jack Dempsey

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Take pride in how far you have come; have faith in how far you can go.

Unknown

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Tough times don't last, tough people do.

Unknown

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If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you think you'd like to win, but you think you can't,
it's almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you've lost.
For out in the world you'll find,
success begins with a fellow's will.
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself,
before you can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go,
to the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later the man who wins,
is the man who thinks he can.

Unknown