Radiance Capital, Tacoma, Washington
Bulletin Board Complaint

Radiance Capital announced it was in a wind down as of January 5, 2009 (1) Tom Price, who purchased Radiance Capital was charged with $400 million scam, according to the Tacoma News (2) . He and his partner have filed bankruptcy, but there are several lawsuits and other claims. The announcement in January, 2009 regarding Radiance Capital was “The company will continue to manage and service the existing portfolio. For the foreseeable future, there are no plans to fund or originate new finance transactions.” (1)

Ash Patel, C.V.K. Subs, Inc. dba Subway, KNH Subway Holding, LLC & Subway 18252, LLC, Warrenton, Virginia provided documents and testimony that Mike Price of Radiance Capital, father of Tom Price (3) was claiming Radiance Capital was the owner of the equipment and a purchase option of $4,995.13. (no sales tax, but a $150.00 transfer agreement) was due on an Equipment Finance Agreement (4). He also produced a copy of the invoice showing the sold to was "S.V.K..." (5).

In addition to copy of faxes, which did not include any evidence of additional signed documents or a “balloon payment,” he also included the transcription of a voice mail from Mike Price:

"At your executed lease signed an Equipment Finance Lease, agreement and They call in the FAA. And if there's a 0 in there. That means you have no right the bike. The equipment at all. And so what we do is we offer to sell it to you at the end, and standard in the industry is 10% which would be the $4,995.13. So I wanted to explain it to you and then. Secondly, you know. And as I explained dash, but I'll tell you that we've been trying to get in contact with you for ohh. Geez, probably 2 months, maybe 3 months and I left messages. Or you end out and for top on. Happy phone number we have. The other number we had for you is no longer in use. And. And then I X. And since we were unable to do to get catch up with you. We turned it over to an outside company and they went into pictures. I'll be equipment out location where our equipment is. And then when we still haven't heard from you there and we started out over to another outside company and what they do was a co-op and pick up our equipment, hey. So that's kinda where we're at and those, please, Derner includes the equipment what we've at so far. As far as reviewing our every month so we can get picked up. E, the cost. On the outside company that still has the request to go pick up the equipment I have not stopped that, because I'm not gonna stop until we get there, you can get this thing satisfied, or Well, the other direction, okay. That's where you stand. And I'll call back and let you know that I talk to you Well, I left a message, okay."

Leasing News sent four emails, a fax, all including the EFA contract and invoice, and made three telephone calls to obtain a comment or statement.

Mike Price returned the call, leaving the following voice mail: "I don't want you to call Radiance Capital again. I hope you understand that! "

(1) http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/January%202009/01-05-09.htm#sold

(2) Tom Price/Hyun Um $200/$400 Million BK with charges of scamhttp://leasingnews.org/archives/Jul2011/7_28.htm#scam

(3) Mike Price pays nearly a half-million in yacht tax-evasion case
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/TaxEvasion.htm

“T&W, Tacoma, Washington (05/06) Paul B. Luke, CPA 50, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced to one year in prison, three years of supervised release and $1.2 million in restitution. According to records in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Luke created a fraudulent lease agreement in order to draw more than $1 million from a line of credit T&W had with Bank of America. The money was used to pay T&W's employees, and the company later defaulted on the $1.2 million loan and went out of business. (8/2001) Mike Price, formerly of T&W Leasing, Resigns from Westar Financial. (7/2001) T&W Mike Price charged with evading taxes on $3.2 million yacht. (10/2000) filed Chapter 11. Creditors meeting on 12-4-00 Seattle. Case # 00-10868 US Bankruptcy Court Western District of Wash. 206-553-7545. Debtor Attorney-Marc Barreca 206-623-7580.”
http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm#tw

(4) EFA Agreement and supportive documents
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Signed_Radiance_Agreement_Subway.pdf

(5) Invoice from Seller of Equipment, Sold to: C.V.K.
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Signed_Radiance_Agreement_Subway.pdf

 

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Classified Ads---Asset Management

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

San Francisco, CA Ten years experience setting residuals, negotiating leases and remarketing equipment across a broad spectrum of large ticket asset types including marine, intermodal, mining, energy, manufacturing. geoffwalshe@yahoo.com

Located near Dallas Extensive experience in valuation/remarketing of IT and telecom assets. Established network of customers and vendors. Strong leasing background Located near Dallas contact: leasevalue@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

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

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How Did Leasing Stock Do in Yesterday’s Surge?

While the Dow was up 490.05 points (4.4%) and NASDAQ was up 104.83, here are the changes in leasing company stock (General Electric covers a lot more than leasing, but is included due to GE Capital, as well as Resource America has other entities besides LEAF Financial.)

CIT
Yesterday Close: 31.7
Today Close: 33.86

GATX
Yesterday Close: 39.04
Today Close: 42.69

General Electric
Yesterday Close: 14.92
Today Close: 15.91

Marlin Business Services
Yesterday Close: 11.72
Today Close: 13.0

Microfinancial (TimePayment)
Yesterday Close: 5.68
Today Close: 5.8

Resource America (LEAF)
Yesterday Close: 4.77
Today Close: 4.94

 

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joins

Companies who notify lessee in advance of lease expiration    
and require their discounter to also notify lessee in advance

Name In Business Since Contact Website Leasing Association	Employees	Geo Area	Dollar Amount	Business Reports	A	B	C	D	E
Vehicle Lenders Group, LLC   2005 Curt Webster 516-922-7447, Ext. 104 Curt@VehicleLendersGroup.com www.TrucklendersUSA.com  ELFA	8 NY, 4 CA, 5 Ohio	46 states	$15,000 avg. trans. $52,000		Y	Y	N	N	Y

A -Accepts Broker Business | B -Requires Broker be Licensed | C -Sub-Broker Program | D -"Private label Program" | E - Also "in house" salesmen

“We always notify our customers in advance of the termination.  A customer can always purchase lease unit as long as all charges connected with the lease are paid in full (tax, tickets, and excise tax if any).  We never have a problem with customers buying their vehicles.  We do have some customers that request we sell their vehicles at auction and we charge a sale fee and pay off our account.”
    Curt Webster, CVLE

(Click on Company Name to See Their Statement)

ABCO Leasing Advantage Funding Agility Ventures LLC Allegiant Partners American Leasefund, Inc. Balboa Capital Corp. BancLease Acceptance Corporation Bank of Ozarks Leasing Bankers Capital Bank of the West, Indirect Equipment Finance Black Rock Capital BSB Leasing Calfund Capital Technology & Leasing, LLC Cobra Capital, LLC Commerce National Bank Dakota Financial, LLC Direct Capital

eLease Five Point Capital, Inc Forum Financial Services, Inc. Gonor Funding GreatAmerica Leasing Madison Capital Manufacturer's Lease Plans, Inc Marquette Equipment Finance Mesa Leasing Maxim Commercial Capital Mount Pleasant Capital National Machine Tool Financial Corporation Navitas Lease Corp. Northwest Leasing Company Pacifica Capital Pawnee Leasing Corporation Standard Professional Services, LLC TEAM Funding Solutions Vehicle Lenders Group, LLC

Full List:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Pages/lease_expiration.html

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Please send Leasing News and ask them to subscribe. We are Free!

 

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Tempe, Arizona 5 Independent Sales Representatives Most Aggressive Commission Plan • Supplier Leads From Distribution & Manufacturer Semi-Captive Programs • Fantastic Work Environment • Experienced Sales Only Full Job Description Click Here www.leasestation.com

National Sales Representative Direct, vendor based, small ticket ($10K-150K) leasing company looking for experienced sales representatives. If you need more support, flexibility and a stronger source of funds call Falcon. Want to learn more - click here www.falconleasing.com

For information on placing a help wanted ad, please click here:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Hwanted/Hwanted-post.htm

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

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Christmas: Best Time to Advertise for New Employee

Leasing News Help Wanted Ad Pricing

Help Wanted Web Ad New Programs Classified Ad Section (rotates chronological above headlines and also appears in Classified Ad section.) * 21 days in a row: $595 four lines (a space is a line) ($40 each additional line or space) Design work is free. Logo is free as well as company description not to exceed the number of lines of the ad. Also free: click to a click to a web site or a full description of the position. Ads are placed in the "Help Wanted' section by category, alphabetical, with the ad with the most lines first in the group. They appear on the web site and in each news edition at the top in a rotation basis per issue. * Help Wanted” ads  appear in each issue on a chronological basis above the top headline as a courtesy. This position is not available as a paid position, but is generally on a rotation basis.  At the same time, the ad continues in the classified help wanted section in the news edition and web site, so in effect appears twice. Leasing News reserves the right to refuse advertising, particularly to a company that has appeared in the complaint bulletin board

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New Hires--Promotions

Lou Altobelli was hired as Director, Sales Market Leader Healthcare at CIT, Greater Chicago area. Previously he was Vice-President, Business Development, US Bank Equipment Finance (April, 2008-November, 2011), Relationship Manager, GE Healthcare, GE Healthcare Financial Services (March, 2003-April, 2007), National Sales Manager, Healthcare, HPSC, Inc. (June, 2002-March 2003), VP-Director of Sales Healthcare, American Express Business Finance (April, 1999-June, 2002), Director of Sales & Business Development (Healthcare Group), GE Vendor Financial Services (January, 1997-April, 1999), Vice-President of Sales, Healthcare, Trans Leasing (March, 1981-March, 1996).Northern Illinois University BS Mgmt, Management(1978 – 1980).Activities and Societies: Delta Upsilon Fraternity
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lou-altobelli/9/492/a9b

Bob Heron named regional vice president of sales for First Financial Healthcare Solutions, Placentia, California, to support customer base through the Southeast and manage new office located in St. Augustine, Florida. Previously was with TD Equipment Finance, Inc. for six years, serving last as vice-president. "Prior to that, Heron was with Tokyo Leasing for eight years, most recently as senior executive vice president. Heron holds a BS from St. John’s University, along with an MBA from New York Institute of Finance. The new office is located at 4436 Coastal Highway, St. Augustine, FL, 32084, (904) 547-2819.

Eric Kraheck named Vice-President, Commercial Equipment Finance at M&T Bank, Greater Philadelphia area. Previously he was Vice-President & Sr. Relationship Manager, CoBank, Farm Credit Leasing (March, 2009-November, 2011), Vice-President, Sovereign Bank, Equipment Finance & Leasing (February, 2005-February, 2009). Albright College B.S., Accounting, Activities and Societies: Football, Track, and Zeta Omega Epsilon social fraternity. Widener University M.B.A., Finance. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/eric-kraheck/10/359/8b9

Dan Kramer was hired as Executive Vice-President and General Manager, CoActiv Capital Partners, Horsham, Pennsylvania. Previously he was Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, ICON Capital Corp. (2007-November, 2011), Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager, GMAC Commercial Asset Finance (January, 2003-March, 2006), Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager, ORIX Financial Services (2002-2003), President, Kramer, Clark & Company ( January, 1990-February, 2001), Sales Manager, Diversified Asset Financial, Chrysler Capital (1985-1987), District Manager, GE Capital (1981-1983), District Manager, US Leasing (1978-1980). Rowan University BA, Finance http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dan-kramer/25/8b3/940
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dan-kramer/10/810/345

Dawn Mahoney, Esq. has been hired as Contracts Specialist at UTC Power, a United Technology Company. Previously she was Assistant General Counsel, Micro Financial, Inc (parent Company of TimePayment Corp.) (July, 2007-November, 2011) Massachusetts School of Law JD, Litigation, Corporate Law (2003 – 2006). Bridgewater State College Bachelor of Science, Political Science/International Relations (1996 – 2000). Activities and Societies: Student Exchange Program, Manchester Metropolitan University, Alsager Campus, UK
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dawn-mahoney-esq/6/537/190

Dave Marano was hired as Sales Manager at Marlin Business Services. Previously he was Assistant Vice-President, CIT (April, 2008-November, 2011). Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Camden 1994
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dave-marano/5/102/17

Tom Myers has joined Madison Capital, Owings Mills, Maryland, as vice-president of business development. "Prior to joining Madison Capital, he held the position of vice president, small business banking at Bank of America. Throughout his career, Myers has held sales and management positions at GE Capital, TCF Equipment Finance, FCC Equipment Financing and ORIX Credit Alliance."

 

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Leasing News "The List" ---October

"The List"
--- Mergers, Acquisitions & Changes
"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"--

Puget Leasing, Bellevue, WA (10/11) An insider told Leasing News "First Sound Bank has effectively closed the Puget Sound Leasing operation and has dispensed with brokers. They are only booking direct deals generated by bank sales people." Website down, people let go. ((10/11) Puget Sound Leasing/First Sound Bank gets delay on $2.3M verdict, as they can't pay it, as well as attorney fees. (10/11) Jury ruled in favor of First Sound Bank once "on its breach of contract claims against Larasco, Inc., Louis Secord, and Richard Secord based on the Asset Purchase Agreement" rewarding damages of $1,244,751. However, they also ruled against the "breach of fiduciary duty" and "breach of contract claims" in favor of Larasco and the Secords, but they did rule in favor of Louis Secord breach of contract against First Sound Bank based on "employment agreement," awarding $2,077,767, and the same with Richard Secord, awarding $1,484,767

Triple Point Capital, Menlo Park, CA (10/11) "...provider of customized debt financing, leasing and direct equity investments to high growth venture capital-backed companies, announced today that it has closed on $1 billion of private capital funds."

Ascentium Capital, Kingwood, Texas (10/11) Len Baccaro company merges with Ascentium (he was Exec. VP sales with First Sierra prior to acquisition by American Express.)

Marlin Leasing, Mount Laurel, NJ (10/11) Officers Exercise a lot of Stock Options http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2011/10_19.htm#stock

Mesa Leasing, San Diego, CA (10/11) suspends general lease funding "...because its principle investor has suspended funding because of concerns about the economy."

Alphabetical List:
http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm

Chronological List:
http://www.leasingnews.org/list_chron_new.htm

Comprehensive personal property tax outsourcing services We accept file exports and integrate personal property tax information with all lease management or accounting software. No other firm offers the combination of individual attention, software capabilities expertise, "full disclosure" and web port accessibility to information more than we do. Click here to learn what our clients say about our service Gary DiLillo, President 440.871.0555 or gary@avptc.com

 

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Mark You Calendars for Lease Conferences Next Year

Leasing Association 2012 Conferences

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National Equipment Finance Summit
March 22-24, 2012
San Diego, CA

---

 

April 17-19
24th Annual National Funding Conference
Fairmont Hotel
Chicago, Illinois

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April 26-28, 2012
Denver Sheraton Downtown Hotel
Denver, Colorado

---

 

AGLF/ELFA Public Sector Finance Forum
May 9 - May 11
Doubletree Magnificent Mile
Chicago, Illinois

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October 21-23
ELFA 51st Annual Convention
JW Marriott Desert Springs
Palm Desert, California

 

To view Leasing Association Events-Meetings Open to All, please click here.

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U.S.A.

(Please click on kettle to donate)

---

CANADA

(Please click on kettle to donate)

---------------

Note: Note: URL that follows allows you to choose your Country of
residence and method of payment:
https://secure20.salvationarmy.org/

Top Leasing Web Sites---Updated

These sites are not only chosen because they have one of the best web pages but also have many regional views and other sites linked to them. Most leasing web sites have poor ratings or are not rated by Alexa (the lower the number, the higher on the list of being opened by viewers.)

Most leasing companies web sites do not appear in the Alexa regional rating, and even popular ones are over 500, the cut off point.

The change from the last two times ratings from Alexa have been taken show CIT is now first, with Direct Capital losing its number one position. Great America has fallen the most and Five Point Capital has improved the most.

A small company in McKinney, Texas is now on the list, but not included in the top five as leasing is only a small part of their business.

Please find some time to look at each of their web sites and admire the quality of why they have the most visits (Hint: More than likely, the more sites linking, the higher the readers as referred by these other sites---and when they are not referred much, the sites are deleted by Google and others, so you may stack the deck for a month, but only fooling yourself.).

 

CIT Group
www.cit.com
US Alexa Traffic Rating: 49,864
(Up from May: 65,571)
Sites Linking In: 634
(up from May: 317)

Direct Capital
http://www.directcapital.com/
US Alexa Traffic Rating 84, 672
(down from May: 56,452)
Sites linking in: 377
(Up from May: 136)

Five Point Capital
http://www.fivepointcapital.com/
Alexa Traffic Rank: 230,491
Sites Linking in: 81

GreatAmerica Leasing
http://www.greatamerica.com/
US Alexa Traffic Rating: 418, 625
(Down from May: 190,851
Sites Linking In: 83
Up from May: 24

Honorable Mention

CProfit
www.cprofit.com
US Alexa Traffic Rating: 78,951
Sites Linking In: 234

Alexa, the Web Information Company
http://www.alexa.com/

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Beige Book---Overall Banking Lending Activity Increases

"Overall bank lending activity increased slightly since the previous report. New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Kansas City reported increased loan demand. Several Districts reported an increase in home refinancing activity. Richmond reported mixed loan activity. Boston noted plentiful financing and favorable terms for premier properties, while financing remains harder to obtain for riskier properties and for those in secondary and tertiary markets. Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and San Francisco noted relatively unchanged loans. Atlanta saw soft loan demand as companies continued to reduce their debt loads and limit expansion and capital improvement plans.

"Changes in credit standards and credit quality varied across Districts. Philadelphia noted that credit quality continued to improve but at a slower rate. Kansas City saw stable or improving loan quality. Dallas noted that the quality of loans outstanding continued to improve, with contacts reporting a decline in problem loans. San Francisco saw a slight improvement in overall credit quality. Cleveland, Chicago, and St. Louis noted relatively unchanged credit quality. Boston, Richmond, and Atlanta saw some tightening of standards. In New York, bankers reported declining delinquency rates for commercial and industrial loans, but no change in delinquencies for other loan categories."

Boston
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/1.htm

New York
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/2.htm

Philadelphia
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/3.htm

Cleveland
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/4.htm

Richmond
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/5.htm

Atlanta
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/6.htm

Chicago
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/7.htm

St. Louis
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/8.htm

Minneapolis
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/9.htm

Kansas City
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/10.htm

Dallas
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/11.htm

San Francisco
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/12.htm

Full report
www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2011/20111130/FullReport.htm

Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croc

Two major Oscar hopefuls (“The Descendants” and “Hugo”) score at the box-office, while DVD releases offer amiable comedy (“Our Idiot Brother”), eccentric documentary (“Cave of Forgotten Dreams”) and classic drama (“12 Angry Men”).

In Theaters:

The Descendants (Fox Searchlight Pictures): Following a seven-year absence from the screen, Oscar-winner Alexander Payne ("Sideways") returns with this perceptive comedy-drama, which has already gathered plenty of Oscar buzz. George Clooney stars as Matt King, a Hawaiian landowner whose life is suddenly turned upside down when his wife (Patricia Hastie) goes into a goa after a skiing accident. Finding himself with two daughters (Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller) he knows little about, he's further startled by news that his wife was having an affair. Over the course of a trip from Oahu to Kauai, he starts to contemplate his life and career, leading to some unexpected emotional decisions. By turns poignant and humorous but always human, Payne's film combines the natural beauty of Hawaii with a tough-minded look at relationships.

Hugo (Paramount Pictures): Martin Scorsese, the man behind such hard-hitting movies as "Taxi Driver" and "Goodfellas," would seem like an unlikely choice to direct a children's picture. And yet, this lovely adaptation of Brian Selznick's book is not only one of the year's most enchanting films, but also Scorsese's most affecting movie in years. Set in 1930s Paris, it tells the story of Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield), a 12-year-old boy who, after the death of his father, finds refuge behind the walls of the train station. While trying to sort through his family inventions, he befriends a mischievous girl (Chloe Grace Moretz), keeps one step ahead of a bumbling inspector (Sasha Baron Cohen), and meets film pioneer Georges Melies (Ben Kingsley). A valentine to movies, this is a heartfelt fantasy enchants from beginning to end.

Netflix Tip: Since his debut in the late 1990s, Alexander Payne has proven himself as a cutting yet humanistic chronicler of his characters' foibles. With "The Descendants" already expected to reap a few Oscar nominations, it's time to hit Netflix and get acquainted with his tart worldview. There's "Citizen Ruth" (1996), "Election" (1999), "About Schmidt" (2002) and, of course, the award-winning "Sideways."

On DVD:

Our Idiot Brother (The Weinstein Company): Continuing his run of endearing slackers and hipsters, Paul Rudd gets another enjoyable showcase in this warm comedy about family relations and personal growth. Rudd plays Ned, who leads an uncomplicated life in a farm with his girlfriend and dog. When a series of comic circumstances land him in jail, however, he finds himself shacking with his three sisters, Natalie (Zooey Deschanel), Liz (Emily Mortimer) and Miranda (Elizabeth Banks). While still deep inside his bubble of mellowness, Ned becomes aware of each sister’s emotional crisis, and tries to become closer to them. Can he overcome his huddles and prove that he’s not such an idiot after all? With a terrific cast and gentle, character-based humor, the film supplies a welcome contrast to the year’s raunchier comedies.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (IFC Films): A tireless cinematic explorer, legendary German director Werner Herzog (“Grizzly Man”) takes viewers on another entrancing journey with this one-of-a-kind documentary. Gaining exclusive access into the Chauvet caves in the south of France, Herzog takes his cameras into rocky formations and wall drawings which have somehow remained in outstanding condition for 30,000 years. A filmmaker always fascinated with the extremes of human endeavor in fictional features as well as documentaries, Herzog explores with palpable awe and characteristically off-kilter humor the space we still shared with mankind’s ancestors. The result is an eye-filling tour of humanity’s earliest remains, with the extra bonus of a 3-D presentation that tests the format’s visual possibilities rather than just relying on its spectacle.

12 Angry Men (Criterion): Dramas don't come much more tense than this acclaimed 1957 classic, which is being re-released in a top-flight Criterion DVD edition. Taking place mostly inside a single cramped room as jury members ponder a murder case, it starts like an open-and-shut case but soon grows into a confrontation that's both a human debate and a detective investigation. All of the juries are certain that the young accused is guilty of murder, except one of them (played by Henry Fonda), who has doubts about their verdict. What follows is a riveting tale that, focusing on characters' anxieties, prejudices and unexpected heroism, becomes as exciting as any action movie. Legendary director Sidney Lumet ("Network") works wonders with the claustrophobic setting, aided by a remarkable ensemble that also includes Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam and Jack Klugman.

Stratham, New Hampshire -- Adopt-a-Dog

Addie

Labrador/Shepherd Mix
Spayed Female
3 Years Old

Dog Adoption Form

http://www.nhspca.org/images/forms/adoption_application_dogs2005.pdf

New Hampshire SPCA
Phone: 603-772-2921
email: info@nhspca.org
Adoption Center

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday
Closed Wednesdays
Stratham, New Hampshire
Directions:
http://www.nhspca.org/map.html

http://www.nhspca.org/index.html

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/

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

---------------------------

Football Poems

“Some time . . . when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then... but I'll know about it, and I'll be happy.”

spoken by Pat O'Brian about George Gipp, played by Ronald Reagan

Knute Rockne--All American [1940]

 

 

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California Nuts Briefs---

In California, Asking Voters to Raise Taxes
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/us/in-california-a-push-for-tax-increases-on-the-2012-ballot.html?hp

See the list of cars purchased for California legislators
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/11/see-the-list-of-cars-purchased-for-california-legislators.html

Transportation officials approve $1 million for Marin bike and pedestrian projects
http://www.marinij.com/sausalito/ci_19443646

Feds find 32 tons of pot in Calif. border tunnel
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2011/nov/30/drug-tunnel-yields-record-seizure-of-36-tons-or-ma/

 

--------------------------

“Gimme that Wine”

 

Wine on tap is the hot new trend
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111130/LIFESTYLE/111129548?Title=Wine-on-tap-a-hot-new-trend-

San Joaquin Winegrowers: The Times They are A-Changing
http://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataid=94697

Gallo Speaks: Rare Address by Winery CEO
http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&
content=94720&htitle=Gallo%20Speaks%3A%20Rare%20Address%20by%20Winery%20CEO&

California Pinot Noir dubbed Wine of the Year
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-11-23/news/30435295_1_
sonoma-coast-wine-spectator-wines

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

     1641 - Massachusetts became the 1st colony to give statutory recognition to slavery. It was followed by Connecticut in 1650 and Virginia in 1661.   
    1814 - The shallow-draft steamboat Enterprise, completed in Pittsburgh under the direction of keelboat captain Henry Miller Shreve, left for New Orleans to deliver guns and ammunition to Gen. Jackson.  
    1824-In the 1824 presidential election no candidate received an electoral majority. John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts received 84 votes: Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, 99: Secretary of State William H. Crawford, who had suffered a stroke and was effectively out of the running, 41: Henry Clay, 37: John C. Calhoun of South Carolina was elected vice president. On February 9, 1825, John Quincy Adams was chosen as president by the House of Representatives.
    1831 - The coldest December of record in the northeastern U.S. commenced. Temperatures in New York City averaged 22 degrees, with just four days above freezing, and at Burlington VT the temperature never did get above freezing. The Erie Canal was closed the first day of December, and remained closed the entire month.
    1842-Midshipman Philip Spencer, son of the Secretary of War, was hanged from the yardarm of the U.S.S. Somers, a brig of war, while at sea in West Indian waters. Boatswain Samuel Cromwell and Seaman Elisha Small were hanged at the same time. They were convicted, at a court-martial held on shipboard, of inspiring to organize a mutiny, murder the officers, and turn the ship into a pirate cruiser. The commander of the Somers was Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, who was exonerated by a court of inquiry. It was quite a “scandal” upon their return. There were questions as to whether a mutiny even actually occurred or if this was just paranoia on the part of the captain, Commander Alexander Slidell MacKenzie, who over the course of the 6-month training cruise is purported to have ordered 2,265 lashings. This incident inspired Herman Melville to write “Billy Budd,” and is commonly held to be the major factor that precipitated the establishment of the Naval Academy. Somers was in the Gulf of Mexico off Vera Cruz at the opening of the Mexican War in the spring of 1846; and, but for runs to Pensacola for logistics, she remained in that area on blockade duty until winter. On the evening of 26 November, the brig, commanded by Rahael Semmes [later commanding officer of CSS Alabama], was blockading Vera Cruz when Mexican schooner Criolla slipped into that port. Somers launched a boat party which boarded and captured the schooner. However, a calm prevented the Americans from getting their prize out to sea so they set fire to the vessel and returned through gunfire from the shore to Somers, bringing back seven prisoners. Unfortunately, Criolla proved to be an American spy ship operating for Commodore Conner. On December 8, 1846, while chasing a blockade-runner, Somers capsized in a squall and sank with the loss of 32 of her 76 crew. In 1986, her remains were found in 110 feet of water about a mile off Isla Verde.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/somers2.htm
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s/somers.htm
    1847-Birthday of Julia Moore, known as the "Sweet Singer of Michigan," was born in a log cabin at Plainfield, MI. A writer of homely verse and ballads, Moore enjoyed remarkable popularity and gave many public readings before realizing that her public appearances were occasions for laughter and ridicule. Her poems were said to be "so bad, her subjects so morbid and her naiveté so genuine" that they were actually gems of humorous genius. At her final public appearance she told her audience: "You people paid 50 cents to see a fool, but I got $50 to look at a house full of fools." Moore died June 17, 1920, near Manton, MI.
http://www.flint.lib.mi.us/about/programs/jmoore/bio.html
http://www.wmich.edu/english/txt/Moore/
    1878- Birthday of Arthur Spingarn, an American Jew, one of the original founders of NAACP, chairman in 1914, and the prestigious NACCP Springarn medal is named after him.” The purpose of this medal is twofold — first to call the attention of the American people to the existence of distinguished merit and achievement among American Negroes, and secondly, to serve as a reward for such achievement, and as a stimulus to the ambition of colored youth. This prestigious award is in the form of a gold medal that is valued at one hundred dollars. To make certain that this award is continued on an indefinite basis, Joel E. Spingarn bequeathed in his will twenty thousand dollars to the NAACP “to perpetuate the lifelong interest of my brother, Arthur B. Spingarn, of my wife, Amy E. Spingarn, and of myself in the achievements of the American Negro.” If this organization fails to continue, the Spingarn Medal is to be managed by the president of Howard or Fisk University.”
http://www.thurgoodmarshall.com/gallery/tm19.htm
http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1349/
MoorlandSpingarn_Collection_a_great_experience
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?faid/faid:@field(TITLE+@band
(spingarn+arthur+b+++))
    1891-Basketball created: James Naismith was a teacher of physical education at the International YMCA Training School at Springfield, MA. To create an indoor sport that could be played during the winter months, he nailed up peach baskets at opposite ends of the gym and gave students soccer balls to toss into them. Thus was born the game of basketball.
http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/Naismith.htm
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/naismith/
    1892-Birthday of African-American painter Minnie Evans, born Long Creek, North Carolina, considered one of America's great unique visionary folk artists.
http://www.outsider-folk-art.org/education/Minnie_Evans.asp
http://www.lyonsdenbooks.com/html/dreams.htm
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/evans_minnie.html
    1894-Canada, Yukon Order of the Pioneers: The Yukon Order of Pioneers held its founding meeting on this date at Forty mile, Yukon. It began as a vigilante police force to deter claim jumping and later inaugurated Discovery Day (Aug 17), a statutory Yukon holiday commemorating the discovery of gold on Bonanza Creek in 1896.
    1896-Frank Broaker of New York City became the first “Certified Public Accountant, receiving Certificate Number One from the New York State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners. Broaker became the first secretary of the New York Board of CPA Examiners. He organized a school to prepare individuals to sit for the CPA examination. Broaker was criticized for publishing a book in 1897 entitled The American Accountants Manual, which contained questions and answers from the first CPA exam. He kept the proceeds from the sale of the book. He also was charged with forming a society of accountants with himself as president. It was alleged that Broaker had led prospective members of the society to believe that the Board of Regents might be willing to waive the CPA exam for those who were members. The Board of Regents responded to these complaints by appointing James T. Anyon to replace Broaker.
http://www.nysscpa.org/cpajournal/1996/1096/newsviews/CPAcen.htm
    1909-The first payment to a Christmas savings club at a bank was made this day. It was started by the Carlisle Trust Company, Carlisle, PA. The idea originated with Merkel Landis, the bank’s treasurer. When I was younger all kids had such a “savings account.” Today most money is spent to make monthly payments to credit cards and kids are not encouraged to save. Do you have a Christmas savings account, or even a vacation savings account?
    1911-Birthday of Walter Alston, baseball player and baseball Hall of Fame manager, born at Venice, OH. Alston struck out in his only major league at-bat, but he became one of the game’s most successful managers. Working under a series of one-year contracts with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1954 through 1976, Alston won seven National League pennants and four World Series. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983. Died at Oxford, OH, October 1, 1984.
    1912-Harry Arthur “Cookie” Lavagetto, baseball player and manager born at Oakland, CA. Lavagetto was the first manager of the Minnesota Twins, but he is best remembered for breaking up Floyd Bevan’s bid for a no hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series. Lavagetto doubled with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, spoiling Bevan’s effort and wining the game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Died at Orinda, CA, August 10,1990.
    1914 - Following the outbreak of World War I, the nation's markets temporarily shut down to safeguard against a debilitating bear run. But, this day, traders were back at it again, at least on the West Coast, where the San Francisco Stock & Bond Exchange became the first U.S. exchange to re-open its doors for business.
    1913-The first drive-in gas station was opened by Gulf Refining Company at the intersection of Baum Boulevard and St. Clair Street, Pittsburgh, PA. The station remained open all night and provided free crankcase service. Thirty gallons of gasoline were sold the first day. Frank McLaughlin was the first manager.
    1913 - a 6 day Front Range snowstorm began, ultimately producing 45.7 inches of snow at Denver, CO, the biggest single snowstorm on record for that city.
    1921-The first airship filled with helium gas was the semi rigid cigar-shaped Navy dirigible C-7. It contained 181,000 cubic feet of gas and was powered by two motors. It was tested at Hampton Roads Base, Hampton Roads, VA, and on December 4 made a round trip from Hampton Roads to Washington, DC. Lieutenant Commander R.F. Wood was the pilot.
    1929 –Bingo invented and manufactured by Edwin S. Lowe. Bingo has grown into a five-billion-dollar-a-year charitable fund-raiser. He got the idea from “Beano” played at carnivals for
several centuries. Here is the story:
http://www.starlightonlinebingo.com/history.html
    1933-Birthday of alto sax player Jimmy Lyons, Jersey City, NJ
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,461272,00.html?artist=Jimmy+Lyons
    1934-First “Let’s Dance” broadcast on NBC with Benny Goodman Band.
    1934-- Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio was born in Hilo, Hawaii. The trio was credited with starting the folk craze of the late 1950's and early '60s with their hit recording of "Tom Dooley" in 1958. The Kingston Trio had a clean-cut collegiate image which helped them win acceptance among the trendy college crowd. The trio broke up in 1968.
    1934 - Singer Billy Paul is born in Philadelphia. His biggest hit is the million-selling No. 1 song "Me and Mrs. Jones."
    1935—Woody Allen ( Allen Stewart Konisberg) born Brooklyn, NY.: actor, writer, producer (Oscar for Annie Hall; Sleeper, Manhattan, Bullets over Broadway.)
http://torp.priv.no/woody/
    1935-Birthday of blues singer/actor Lou Rawls ("A Natural Man," "You've Made Me So Very Happy"), born Chicago, IL.
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0712675/
http://www.lourawls.com/
http://www.barberusa.com/adult/rawls_lou.html
    1937---- Don Everly of the Everly Brothers was born in Brownie, Kentucky. The brothers were one of the most important acts of early rock 'n' roll. Their music, a mixture of close country harmonies over a rocking beat, resulted in two dozen chart entries, including such number-one records as "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and "Cathy's Clown." The brothers broke up in 1973, reunited in 1983 and again in 1985. They had a big return touring with Simon and Garfunkle, who said
they were trying to imitate the Everly Brother when they began singing.
    1938-Birthday of drummer Sandy Nelson, born Santa Monica, CA. He was the drummer in my dance band along with Frank Cook, played rock’n’roll, had a hit record later called “Teen Beat” in 1959, but in 1963 a motorcycle accident cost him a leg. I introduced him to Jan and Dean as well as Bruce Johnson who were at University High School. I think I met Nelson there in my first year, and at the time, he wanted to be a disc jockey as my other high school friend is today, Chuck Southcott, who later drove me back and forth to school in his 1956 Chevy. Nelson learned the sound from going to many burlesque shows, where he told us he watched the drummer and listened to the rhythm as it was very unique. We also took him to see Ben Pollock, as I remember, who was the first “boom-chick-a-boom drummer.”
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Sandy_Nelson.html
http://www.tsimon.com/snelson.htm
http://www.spaceagepop.com/nelson.htm
http://gemm.com/q.cgi?rb=SPACEAGEPOP&wild=Sandy+Nelson
http://www.cdlagoon.com/8911207.html
    1939-Birthday of Lee Buck Trevino, golfer, born Dallas, TX.
http://www.asiangolfmonthly.com/highlights/greatest/14.htm
http://www.golfdigest.com/features/index.ssf?/features/gd200205myshot.html
    1939--Birthday ofjazz pianist Joe Sample, co-founder of the Crusaders.
    1940-- ASCAP informs bandleader Glenn Miller that, due to publishing concerns, he can't use "Moonlight Serenade" as his theme. Instead, Miller picks "Slumber Song."
    1940-Birthday of Richard Pryor, actor, comedian (Blue Collar, Stir Crazy, "The Richard Pryor Show"), born Peoria, IL.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/marktwain/pryor_bio.html
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/P/htmlP/pryorrichar/pryorrichar.htm
    1941-Formation of the Civil Air Patrol: The Director of Civilian Defense, former New York Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, signed a formal order creating the Civil Air Patrol, a US Air Force Auxiliary. The CAP has a three-part mission: to provide an aerospace education program, a CAP cadet program and an emergency services program.
http://cap.gov/about/history.html
    1944-Duke Ellington records “I’m Beginning to See the light,” ( Victor 20-1618)
    1945- - Bette Midler is born in Paterson, N.J. She is named after actress Bette Davis. She wins a best new artist Grammy in 1974. Her biggest hits are the million-sellers "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "From a Distance." She is nominated for an Oscar in 1979 for "The Rose" and appears in such films as "Outrageous Fortune," "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" and "Beaches."
http://delveintothedivine.cjb.net/
http://www.betteontheboards.com/boards/index.html
    1945-- Burl Ives makes his concert debut at New York's Town Hall.
    1945 - The New York premier of Paramount's The Lost Weekend, starring Ray Milland in a brilliant performance, was on this date. The film earned Oscars and Golden Globe awards for Best Picture, Best Actor for Milland, and Best Director for Billy Wilde. Milland and the film were also honored at the Cannes Film Festival.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000549B1/lksmsubsite-sub-dv-asin-20
/104-3191958-8595946
http://www.flickfilosopher.com/oscars/bestpix/lostweekend.shtml
http://www.dvdmg.com/lostweekend.shtml
    1945-Lionel Hampton cuts, “Hey-Ba-Ba-Re-Bop,” (Decca 18754)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000IB1N/steinede-20/
104-3191958-8595946
    1949-- RCA Victor introduced the 45 rpm record. It was designed as a rival to Columbia's 33 1/3 rpm long-playing disc, introduced the previous year. The two systems directly competed with each other to replace 78 rpm records, bewildering consumers and causing a drop in record sales. By the end of 1949, all the major companies, except RCA, had committed themselves to the LP record, seemingly putting an end to the 45. Even RCA itself announced it would issue its classical library on 33 1/3 rpm discs. But RCA was not ready to admit the demise of the 45 rpm record. The company spent $5-million publicizing 45 rpm as the preferred speed for popular music. The campaign worked. Buyers of non-classical records turned increasingly to the 45 rpm record, so that by 1954, more than 200-million of them had been sold. And all the major companies now were producing both 33 1/3 and 45 rpm records.
    1950 - Eighth Army and X Corps began withdrawing in the face of the massive Chinese offensive. The U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, the British 27th Brigade and the Turkish Brigade, began to fight their way south from the Kunu-ri area through the bloody Gauntlet, under continuous fire from Chinese forces occupying the terrain commanding the route to safety. The 2nd Infantry Division was virtually destroyed during the Battle of Kunu-ri where over 4,000 men were lost. The division's overall combat capability was rated equivalent to a single regimental combat team by the end of the action. The ROK Capitol Division withdrew under heavy pressure to Pukchong.
    1950 - Task Force MacLean/Faith, composed of elements of the U.S. 7th Infantry Division's 31st and 32nd Infantry Regiments, was annihilated east of the Chosin/Changjin Reservoir. Only 385 soldiers of its 3,200-man force were able-bodied following their withdrawal.
    1950 *WINDRICH, WILLIAM G. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company I, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Vicinity of Yudam-ni, Korea, 1 December 1950. Entered service at: Hammond, Ind. Born: 14 May 1921, Chicago, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a platoon sergeant of Company I, in action against enemy aggressor forces the night of 1 December 1950. Promptly organizing a squad of men when the enemy launched a sudden, vicious counterattack against the forward elements of his company's position, rendering it untenable, S/Sgt. Windrich, armed with a carbine, spearheaded the assault to the top of the knoll immediately confronting the overwhelming forces and, under shattering hostile automatic-weapons, mortar, and grenade fire, directed effective fire to hold back the attackers and cover the withdrawal of our troops to commanding ground. With 7 of his men struck down during the furious action and himself wounded in the head by a bursting grenade, he made his way to his company's position and, organizing a small group of volunteers, returned with them to evacuate the wounded and dying from the frozen hillside, staunchly refusing medical attention himself. Immediately redeploying the remainder of his troops, S/Sgt. Windrich placed them on the left flank of the defensive sector before the enemy again attacked in force. Wounded in the leg during the bitter fight that followed, he bravely fought on with his men, shouting words of encouragement and directing their fire until the attack was repelled. Refusing evacuation although unable to stand, he still continued to direct his platoon in setting up defensive positions until weakened by the bitter cold, excessive loss of blood, and severe pain, he lapsed into unconsciousness and died. His valiant leadership, fortitude, and courageous fighting spirit against tremendous odds served to inspire others to heroic endeavor in holding the objective and reflect the highest credit upon S/Sgt. Windrich and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
    1954-Senator Joe McCarthy silenced by the US Senate: Joseph McCarthy, a relatively obscure senator from Wisconsin , announced during a speech in Wheeling, WV, that he had a list of Communists in the State Department. Over the next two years, he mad increasingly sensational charges and in 1953 McCarthyism reached its height as he held Senate hearings in which he bullied defendants. In 1954 McCarthy’s tyranny was exposed in televised hearings during which he took on the Army ( at twelve years old I remember watching them and not understanding how they could take him serious as he looked like he was drunk,) during which he took on the Army and on December 1,1954, the Senate voted to silence him. McCarthy died May 2, 1957.
http://mccarthy.cjb.net/
http://www.webcorp.com/mccarthy/wcmmlv2b.gif
    1954—Top Hits
Mr. Sandman - The Chordettes
Teach Me Tonight - The De Castro Sisters
The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane - The Ames Brothers
More and More - Webb Pierce
    1955- African-American seamstress Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person as required by law; the action triggers a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, led by Martin Luther King Jr., changes history in the United States. Her arrest triggered a yearlong boycott of the city bus system and led to legal actions which ended racial segregation on municipal buses throughout the southern US. The event has been called the birth of the modern civil rights movement. Historians consider this the first longest and largest mass boycott by civil rights protestors. It lasted from 1955 to 1956, 381 days. The protest was led by a young minister, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Eventually the city agreed to treat all riders equally and to hire African-Americans as bus drivers. Interstate buses and other transportation still had restrictions on where African-Americans sat. Rosa McCauley Parks was born at Tuskegee, AL, Feb 4, 1913.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec01.html
http://www.grandtimes.com/rosa.html
http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/parks01.html
http://www.tsum.edu/museum/
    1957- Ed Sullivan presents three rock and roll acts, each making its national television debut, on his Sunday evening show: Buddy Holly & the Crickets, playing "That'll Be the Day," Sam Cooke, singing "You Send Me" and the Rays perform their hit "Silhouettes."
    1958--The Phil Spector written "To Know Him Is To Love Him" was the number one song in the US for The Teddy Bears. The trio consisted of Spector, along with two friends, Marshall Leib and Annette Kleinbard.
    1958- Songwriter Neil Sedaka signs with RCA Records as a solo artist.
    1960-Bobby Darin took time out from his busy recording schedule to marry actress Sandra Dee. Bobby had put four songs on the singles chart that year, including "Beyond the Sea", "Clementine", "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" and "Artificial Flowers". The couple would divorce in early 1967.
    1960-A San Diego, California quintet called Rosie And The Originals reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a crudely recorded ballad called "Angel Baby". Written by the group's 14 year old singer, Rosie Hamlin, the song held the position for six weeks and stayed on the chart for three months.
    1960 - Teen idol Bobby Darin marries actress Sandra Dee.
    1964 - In two crucial meetings (on this day and two days later) at the White House, President Lyndon B. Johnson and his top-ranking advisers agree, after some debate, to a two-phase bombing plan for North Vietnam. Today Intel is building a facility that is ten times as large as a football field to produce semiconductor chips.
    1966-California folk-pop vocal group, the Mamas and the Papas earn their fourth gold record for their album, "Cass, John, Michelle & Denny."
    1966-ALBANESE, LEWIS Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 5th Battalion (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 1 December 1966. Entered service at: Seattle, Wash. Born: 27 April 1946, Venice, Italy. G.O. No.: 12, 3 April 1968. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Albanese's platoon, while advancing through densely covered terrain to establish a blocking position, received intense automatic weapons fire from close range. As other members maneuvered to assault the enemy position, Pfc. Albanese was ordered to provide security for the left flank of the platoon. Suddenly, the left flank received fire from enemy located in a well-concealed ditch. Realizing the imminent danger to his comrades from this fire, Pfc. Albanese fixed his bayonet and moved aggressively into the ditch. His action silenced the sniper fire, enabling the platoon to resume movement toward the main enemy position. As the platoon continued to advance, the sound of heavy firing emanated from the left flank from a pitched battle that ensued in the ditch which Pfc. Albanese had entered. The ditch was actually a well-organized complex of enemy defenses designed to bring devastating flanking fire on the forces attacking the main position. Pfc. Albanese, disregarding the danger to himself, advanced 100 meters along the trench and killed 6 of the snipers, who were armed with automatic weapons. Having exhausted his ammunition, Pfc. Albanese was mortally wounded when he engaged and killed 2 more enemy soldiers in fierce hand-to-hand combat. His unparalleled actions saved the lives of many members of his platoon who otherwise would have fallen to the sniper fire from the ditch, and enabled his platoon to successfully advance against an enemy force of overwhelming numerical superiority. Pfc. Albanese's extraordinary heroism and supreme dedication to his comrades were commensurate with the finest traditions of the military service and remain a tribute to himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army
    1967-Birthday of Reggie Sanders, baseball player, born Florence, SC.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4737
    1962—Top Hits
Big Girls Don’t Cry - The 4 Seasons
Return to Sender - Elvis Presley
Bobby’s Girl - Marcie Blane
Mama Sang a Song - Bill Anderson
    1969-The first US Air Force chief master sergeant who was African-America was Thomas N. Barnes of Chester, PA, who entered the Air Force in April, 1949. He became a master sergeant this day and chief master sergeant of the Air Force on October 1, 1973, for a two year terms. He retired July 31, 1977. He died 17, 2003.
http://www.chiefsgroup.org/barnes.htm
http://www.af.mil/bios/bio_4609.shtml
    1968 - Janis Joplin makes a final appearance with Big Brother & the Holding Company.
    1970—Top Hits
I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family
The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Montego Bay - Bobby Bloom
Endlessly - Sonny James
    1971-Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. of the US Navy became the first astronaut to become an admiral. He also was the first American astronaut to be launched into space. During his Apollo 14 walk on the Moon in 1971, Shepard took two golf balls that he had smuggled in his spacesuit and used an implement from the tool cart to execute what he called a "sand-trap shot," the only golf shot ever made on the Moon. He died at the age of 74, July 22, 1998, after a long battle with leukemia.
http://www.cnn.com/US/9808/01/shepard.memorial/
    1972-Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" is released in the US where it will reach #1. The tune causes much speculation about who Carly was singing about, with popular guesses that included Mick Jagger (who sang uncredited backing vocals on the song), Cat Stevens, Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson (with whom she had had brief relationships), her unfaithful fiancé William Donaldson, and her ex-husband, James Taylor.
    1972-Paul McCartney and Wings release "Hi, Hi, Hi." It reached #10 in the US early the next year. The song was written by Paul and Linda McCartney. It "...became a staple of Wings' live shows in the 1970s.In the UK, the song was banned by the BBC for its sexually suggestive lyrics, although it reach # in the UK. The BBC also assumed that the title phrase, "We're gonna get hi, hi, hi" was a drug reference. The specific lyrics objected to is the apparent phrase "get you ready for my body gun"; McCartney has said that the correct lyrics are "get you ready for my polygon", an abstract image, and later said, "The BBC got some of the words wrong. But I suppose it is a bit of a dirty song if sex is dirty and naughty. I was in a sensuous mood in Spain when I wrote it." Wikipedia
    1973-- The Carpenters' "Top of the World" hits #1.
    1977-Billy Joel's fifth album, "The Stranger," becomes his vehicle to stardom, making it to #2 and containing the hits "Just the Way You Are," "She's Always a Woman," "Movin' Out" and "Only the Good Die Young."
    1978—Top Hits
MacArthur Park - Donna Summer
How Much I Feel - Ambrosia
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond
Sweet Desire - The Kendalls
    1980 - IBM delivered its 1st prototype PC to Microsoft. IBM selected Microsoft to create MS-DOS, the operating system for its first PC. Steve Ballmer arrived from Proctor & Gamble as an assistant to Gates. Paul Allen bought the QDOS operating system (Quick and Dirty Operating System) from a rival company for $50,000. It was renamed MS-DOS and licensed to IBM. The IBM 5150 PC standardized the marketplace.
    1982 - Epic Records releases "Thriller," Michael Jackson's first solo album in three years. It will yield four smash singles "This Girl is Mine" (a duet with Paul McCartney), "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Billy Jean" and "Beat It." It is the best-selling album of all time, with worldwide sales of more than 40 million copies.
    1982-Michael Jackson's milestone album "Thriller" is released. For a time, it becomes the best selling album in Rock history.
    1986—Top Hits
You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi
The Next Time I Fall - Peter Cetera with Amy Grant
Hip to Be Square - Huey Lewis & The News
Touch Me When We’re Dancing – Alabama
    1988 - Squalls in the Great Lakes Region produced up to a foot of snow in Ashtabula County OH, up to ten inches in Erie County PA, and up to a foot of snow in western New York State.
    1989-Zamboini Medical Alert!!! The Center for Disease Control revealed in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” that the fumes from a Zamboini ice machine could make fans at a hockey game sick if the rink is not properly ventilated.
    1989--a Spokane, Washington, funeral director revealed that jazz saxophonist and pianist Billy Tipton, who had lived his life as a man, was a woman. Tipton played for years in the US northwest after a career with several big bands. He appeared to have a wife and adopted three sons.
    1991 -- Miami quarterback Dan Marino sets an NFL record when he goes over 3,000 yards passing for the eighth time in his career in Miami's 33-14 win over Tampa Bay.
    1993-Jack Nicklaus won the Disney World Open to become the first golfer to earn more than $2 million in career winnings.
    1994-US Congress passed the GATT Treaty: Fallowing the lead of the House of Representatives, the US Senate voted 76-24 to approve the Uruguay Round provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The worldwide trade pack is intended to reduce tariffs by a third, eliminate trade quotas and protect intellectual property. The GATT agreement is expend to add $300-500 billion to the global economy through the year 2005. In January, 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) became the successor to GATT.
    1997-Kenny G, whose real name is Kenny Gorelick, set a world record when he held a note on his saxophone for 45 minutes and 47 seconds. That record has since been broken by Geovanny Escalante, who held a sax note for 1 hour, 30 minutes and 45 seconds, using a technique that allows him to blow and breathe at the same time.
    1997-Sprewell Chokes Coach: Basketball player Latrell Sprewell of the Golden State Warriors, provoked, he said, “by a lot of verbal abuse,” choked his coach, P.J. Carlesimo at practice and threatened to kill him. The Warriors suspended Sprewell for 10 games, and the terminated the remaining three years of Sprewell’s $32 million, 4-year contract, and then the NBA suspended him for a year. The NBA Players Association filed a grievance on Sprewell’s behalf, and on March 4, 1998, arbitrator John Feerick reinstated the contract and reduced the suspension to five months. Two weeks before the season, the New York Knicks acquired Latrell Sprewell from Golden State for John Starks, Chris Mills and Terry Cummings. In 2004, he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves.
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/latrell_sprewell/index.html?nav=page
    2002 - Heavy lake effect snow fell downwind of the U.S. Great Lakes. Buffalo, New York reported 16 inches of snow, with thundersnow reported late in the afternoon. While the eastern U.S. experienced much colder than normal temperatures on December 1, much of Alaska was basking in above average warmth. Many daily temperature records were set across this region through the beginning of the month.
    2005-- The Red Sox have petitioned a judge to keep the ball used to record the last out of 2004 World Series making the team World Champs for the first time in 86 years. Former first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who caught the ball after being thrown by Keith Foulke, loaned it to Boston but continues to claim ownership of the sensational sphere.