Jules and Associates Attorney "Cease & Desist Demand"
by Christopher Menkin, Editor/Publisher

Charles L. Kreindler, Attorney
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

A letter was sent by email and Federal Express by Attorney Charles L. Kreindler in behalf of Jules and Associates, Inc., Los Angeles, California, regarding a Bulletin Board Complaint and use of the Evergreen clause. The email included his "bio" in the signature, so the receiver would know who he was:

"Mr. Kreindler was a Federal Prosecutor in Los Angeles from 1989-1997. In that role, Mr. Kreindler investigated and prosecuted a variety of criminal offenses including health care fraud, defense procurement fraud, tax evasion, bank fraud, money laundering, international theft, murder, and counterfeiting."
(1)

The "Cease and Desist Demand" stems
from the August 29, 2011 Bulletin Board Complaint:

===============

Jules and Associates, Los Angeles, California
Bulletin Board Complaint

This concerns a $230,879.34 lease for:
One (1) set of internally illuminated fabricated aluminum letters with logo and One {1) set of non-illuminated foam letters with logo. One (1) single faced non illuminated menu board display. Furnish Kitchen Equipment and design New Grid Ceiling, Two Rest Rooms, Two 6 Ton HVAC Units along with various repairs and installation. Firefly Technologies Phoenix Point of Sale Software (Exhibit A” for the lease)

for Jensen's Complete Shopping, Inc. 102 S. Sunrise Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262

The lessee has had three leases with Jules and Associates, and in the beginning stated in writing they want to exercise the 1% purchase option, and on April 11, 2011 Adam Zack, Vice-President wrote a letter of notice to purchase for 1%. It is also obvious from the nature
of the equipment it is not something you want to return, particularly with a 1% purchase option.

In this lease, the letter was not certified, and was considered late: 
Paul Richards, Jules & Associates, Regional Manager responded, "…you were required to give your 180 day notice on Lease Agreement No. 20070221, Schedule 1 but I don’t see that you gave it. On Lease Agreement No. 20070221, Schedule 2 it doesn’t end until 2013 so you have plenty of time to give your notification on that one. You had given proper notice on the previous three deals that we closed out in the past but give me a call and we can discuss Schedule 1."

The Evergreen Clause in the contract states "...PROVIDED LESSEE NOTIFIES LESSOR (BY CERTIFIED MAIL) AT LEAST ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) DAYS PRIOR TO THE FINAL REGULAR RENTAL PAYMENT (SPECIFIC TO THE RESPECTIVE SCHEDULE) OF LESSEE'S INTENT OF OPTION CHOICE, LESSEE MAY EXERCISE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS: 1) PURCHASE ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT FOR ONE (1%) PERCENT OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT COST; 2) RETURN ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT; 3) EXTEND THE LEASE FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTH PERIOD AT THE RATE DELINEATED ON THE RESPECTIVE SCHEDULE, SHOULD LESSEE NOT GIVE PROPER NOTICE AS INDICATED ABOVE, THE LEASE SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE MONTH PERIOD AT THE RATE DELINEATED ON THE RESPECTIVE SCHEDULE"

1% is $$2,308.79. The monthly payments are $6,743.99 plus California sales/use tax for 36 months (.02921). The additional six months are $40,463.94 and if the 1% notice is not made or purchase not concluded, the contract calls for an additional three months.

Leasing News made several telephone calls, with one call answered with the promise to be returned, but was not. There were many emails since August 18, 2011, for a comment or a statement. None was received.

This appears to be what Leasing News has written editorials and been campaigning regarding the abuse of Evergreen Clauses. As in all Bulletin Board Complaint, we leave it up to readers to make their own opinion, but to Leasing News the complaint appears legitimate.

Copies of the contract, letters:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/jensensfoods.pdf

=============

In this complaint, not only were there several emails to officers of the corporation regarding obtaining a statement, a comment, their viewpoint to the complaint, as well as emails and telephone conversations with Leticia Moreno of Jules and Associates as the complaint appeared to be a legitimate complaint and a request for a response. None was ever received.

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

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

As stated in our Complaint Bulletin Board Procedures, Leasing News acts as an ombudsman; "Leasing News role was to determine if the complaint was "legitimate," meaning valid, and if not resolved, which might means "negotiated," "compromised," or "settled," it would appear in Leasing News as well as the Complaint Bulletin Board. It was never the role to say who is right or who is wrong, although some are quite obvious, such as an Evergreen Clauses on $1.00 purchase options..."(2)

Leasing News has been consistent in its position regarding the apparent abuse of the Evergreen Clause:

• While Evergreen clauses are legal in 45 states (3), Leasing News has been campaigning about their abuse for over five years, including this recent editorial:
  http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2011/6_30.htm#editorial

• Publishing a list of Companies who notify lessee in advance of lease expiration and require their discounter to also notify lessee in advance:
  http://www.leasingnews.org/Pages/lease_expiration.html
  

• Publishing a list of Companies Who Do Not Notify Lessee regarding termination nor have such a standard for their discounters:
  http://leasingnews.org/archives/Aug2011/8_29.htm#new

• Leasing News has been very active in asking for leasing companies position on Evergreen Clauses, printing all sides, such as:
  http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2011/6_22.htm#renewal

• And response:
  http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2010/6_01.htm#ln_reaction

• As well as many stories:
  http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Evergreen.htm

There are many more articles as Leasing News has not been silent about this issue.

(1) Charles L. Kreindler biography, link on his email signature:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/kreindler_charles.pdf

(2) Bulletin Board Complaint Procedure:
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2011/9_16.htm#bbc_update

(3) Five States Evergreen Illegal:
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2011/6_30.htm#wisconsin

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Classified Ads---Senior Management

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

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

NY, NJ, PA, DE Proven abilities in Client Management, Business Development, Operational Efficiency, and Asset Management. Results-oriented, develops strategies to build and strengthen business, improve customer experience. cedenicola15@yahoo.com/ resume

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

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

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

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

 

Uh-Oh! More on Dwolla "Instant Transfer"

In testing the Dwolla transfer from a bank to another bank account or merchant for a 25 cent fee, it appears this only applies to money that is kept in your Dwolla account and also sent to another Dwolla account.

Transferring money to your Dwolla account from your bank account can be three to five days, as learned from trying the system. Transferring money from your bank account to another Dwolla account can also take three to five days. It means the money must be in your Dwolla account to transfer to another Dwolla account.

It appears the main benefit would be to merchants who do not pay the credit card fee, and for users: to purchases where the merchant does not take a credit card for under a specific dollar amount. The merchant has to have a Dwolla account.

Transferring from your bank account to another bank account can take three to five days, depending on the bank, they note, and it appears the system is set up for Dwolla to basically be the bank. Their profit then comes from the “float” of daily balances.

They are not insured by the FDIC or appear regulated as the banking industry.

Gary DiLillo, President 440.871.0555 or gary@avptc.com Comprehensive personal property tax outsourcing services. Click here to see what our clients say about us.

Leasing 102
by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

“Not the End of the Leasing World”
---Compensation in 2012

The current rumor is that the accounting changes will take effect starting in January of 2013, but it appears that that date could change if modifications from the current request for comments are disregarded. Many financial people think the new requirements to capitalize all existing leases, including Real Estate leases, will have a major negative effect on the economy as many major companies will be outside their loan covenants. There may be a lot of “sale-lease backs” and early terminations as lessees brace for the new rules.

Transparency also may change the dimensions and definitions to improve business decisions as business adjusts to new accounting standards. Certainly accountants, attorneys and software companies will do well struggling with communicating the changes.

The small ticket market place and perhaps a good part of the middle market will not feel the change as most transactions are “capital leases” or discounted and there is little tax advantage for the lessor.

Many of the leasing companies who really write “true leases” will work within the new standards. It is not the end of the leasing world.

No matter what, the trend is apparent, and it certainly appears that equipment leasing will become equipment financing because a large portion of our leasing companies have been selling Article 9, non-true leasing and have not been educating the business public on the benefits of true leasing. The accounting requirements have held center stage for the past few years. Equipment finance will put us in competition with manufacture programs, banks and other lenders where rate becomes the deciding factor. This will put a lot of strain on margins and commissions.

Part of the business plan for 2012 needs to include how much compensation is going to be needed to meet the marketing objectives and the back office performance, keeping in mind the pending accounting changes. The most difficult leasing company to work for is one that changes the requirements each year. If you plan to make adjustments, you had better have a solid reason to do so. However, there are a lot of reasons to adjust your compensation plans with the turmoil in the market place today.

The main emphasis for compensation needs to be on margin. Margin is a function of term and the larger the transaction size the longer the term. Small transactions need to have higher rates to compensate for the smaller term. Higher rates are harder to sell so you need to have additional advantages to offer such as a faster turnaround time, or a lot of payment flexibility. A computer based pricing program is a must and training on how to sell with answers to questions on how the accounting changes will affect the transaction in the future.

The old management style will need to change not only due to accounting, but the changes in internet and software development in developing and finding both vendor and direct business. Do you need to refocus your product selection? If so how will the compensation plan support that effort? Do you have the ability to offer a broad range of leasing or finance alternatives? How long can you survive if the market place changes and begins to look for different type of financial product? Next year will be a transition year which will require a lot of flexibility in both your business plan and your compensation plans.

Clearly the success of any leasing company will be tied to funding. Part of any compensation plan is how and when the funding happens and what if any part does the recourse or non recourse play into the margin. For independent lessor’s they should take note that the bank regulators are coming down hard on banks that finance leases and are requiring a lot of new controls to prevent the losses sustained the last year or two. Therefore funding will require more effort and better quality credits. This will place a lot of extra work on your back office so they will require a compensation plan that will point them in the right direction.

Correct and complete documentation will become the norm instead of sloppy and incomplete forms. I would tie the compensation plan in the back office to the problems that they should handle or draw attention to prior to funding. Do not ignore the back office when setting marketing compensation.

Perhaps there should be compensation for good performance and for company margin at year end so everyone is pulling in the same direction. Once I created a program for the credit department based on only credit quality that centered on lack of charge offs. You know what happened …very few credits were acceptable. Therefore everyone needs to be tied to company performance as well as individual performance.

I think business will get better, especially for those who are competitive and not afraid of the future.

My last suggestion is how important it is that you match the training to your abilities and the markets you serve. It is becoming a market that requires a “complete” understanding of the rules and regulations that control commercial equipment leasing like; tax laws, the new accounting requirements, and both Article 9 and Article 2A of the UCC. If you need any tests on these subjects to use in your training—please don’t hesitate to contact me at anytime.

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

He invites your questions and queries.

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

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

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Carlsbad, California Vendor Account Manager - Strong background w/emphasis application-only marketplace - Commission Only and Results Oriented Sales Professional - Relationships in place to provide immediate opportunities - Vendor marketing and program development experience Documentation/Funding Coordinator Coordination of all documents with the Lessee and Vendor, Insurance, Vendors Invoices, Title Processing, and Equipment Deliveries. Experience with Vision and Salesforce.com -- big plus email- resumes@ilslease.com

 

Interviewing Leasing Professionals With Proven Track Record and Established Book of Business. Envision Provides: 1) Monthly Base Salary 2) Established Funding Sources 3) Fun Working Environment 4) Full Benefits (Health Insurance, 401k) 5) Aggressive Commission Structure. Resumes To: careers@envisioncapitalgroup.com Contact: Stephanie Cruz (949) 225-1740 Envision Capital Group is dedicated to providing the best in class products and service to our employees, customers, vendors and partners in the small and middle ticket commercial finance industry. With over 50 years of combined experience we have the knowledge, skills, abilities and relationships to help you reach your goals.

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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Steve Hudson Element Financial Stock (EFN)

• Close: $4.75
• Day Low: $4.65
• Day High: $4.8
• Volume: 401,752

(Canadian Dollars)

“The 41,700,000 subscription receipts issued by Element at $4.20 per subscription receipt on October 28, 2011 have been exchanged, on a one-for-one basis, for common shares of the amalgamated company. The $162.5 million of net proceeds from the private placement have been released from escrow and are now available to Element to fund future growth. Following the completion of the exchange of the Subscription Receipts and the amalgamation with Mira, Element will have 66,373,421 common shares issued and outstanding, on an undiluted basis.”

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At Last! Positive News for Equipment Leasing & Finance 2012
Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation Forecast

"Overall, investment continues to be a bright spot in the U.S. economy. In particular, investment in equipment and software has grown steadily for eight straight quarters. Expectations for 2012 are that growth will moderate slightly, but remain positive overall."

"Credit market conditions are improving slowly as demand for financing grows and supply constraints gradually ease. However, the growth rate of investment in equipment and software is likely to remain moderate until demand puts more pressure on capacity. Based on an outlook for moderate economic growth in 2012, and the overhang of excess industrial capacity, investment in equipment and software is expected to increase by 8-10 percent in 2012, compared to about 10.5 percent in 2011.

"The macro outlook for 2012 is for a slow improvement, as impediments to growth are expected to gradually dissipate, with more positive cyclical trends kicking in later in the year. Compared to the consensus forecast of 2.0 percent growth for 2012, a slightly faster growth rate of 2.4 percent is predicted. This implies that the unemployment rate will remain at 8 percent or higher by the end of 2012."

"Trends in equipment investment include:

• “Computers & software equipment investment will remain healthy, but is likely to slow down somewhat.
• “Medical equipment is on watch for a leveling-off in investment spending. Investment growth rates, while positive, have softened for six straight quarters and could bottom out in late 2012. Still, near-normal growth is anticipated in the next 3-6 months.
• “Industrial equipment investment will likely be hampered by macro-trends, which may cause some deceleration in growth from what appears to be a recent peak in the growth rate.
• “Transportation equipment investment should remain solidly positive, but is unlikely to maintain the rapid growth rates of 2011."
• “Construction equipment investment is likely to slow in the immediate near term, but could be buoyed by the energy and housing sectors later in 2012.
• “Agriculture equipment investment is likely to decelerate slightly in the next 3-6 months.
  

Full 2012 forecast:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/EconomicOutlook_1211.pdf

"The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides vision for the equipment leasing and finance industry through future-focused information and research. Primarily funded through donations, the Foundation is the only organization dedicated to future-oriented, in-depth, independent research for the leasing industry. Visit the Foundation online at http://www.LeaseFoundation.org. “

Career Crossroad—
"Hard Time Securing New Sales Role"

Question:

I have in a sales role for years within the equipment leasing industry … having a hard time securing a new Sales Role – any suggestions?

Answer:

It is VERY tough out there for Sales Candidates (in all industries, not just equipment leasing / finance) … companies won’t accept just any applicant. True Sales Executives have to work extremely hard (and smart) to be able to hit the types of production numbers they used to. They have to have not only the proven knowledge, skills, but a following to prove it.

Companies are looking for Reps that hit a certain yearly production and have deals / relationships to bring to the table; as they cannot afford to make hiring mistakes. They prefer someone who can hit the street running and produce results. It is a good idea to have past customers, and better yet, vendor references on a sheet of your resume.

I may suggest being open to working on a commission-only basis or draw basis until you “prove” yourself. If you are good business development rep, you can reinvent yourself and hit numbers similar to the ones you used to hit before the economy took a nose dive. If you need more advice, please contact me!

Emily Fitzpatrick
Sr. Recruiter
Recruiters International, Inc.
Phone: 954-885-9241
Cell: 954-612-0567
emily@riirecruit.com
www.riirecruit.com

Previous Career Crossroad columns:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/crossroad.html

 

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Salvation Army Kettle Donations to Date

U.S.A.

At press time, $975

(Please click on kettle)

You can have the donation to your community
or specific Salvation Army Service.

CANADA

At press time, $150

(Please click on kettle)

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

 

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OCC Definition Small and Intermediate Bank

The Office of the Comptroller of the Current has completed their annual adjust to the asset-size thresholds to define small bank, small savings association, intermediate small bank, and intermediate small savings association under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations.

• "Intermediate small bank" or "intermediate small savings association" means a small institution with assets of at least $290 million as of December 31 of both of the prior two calendar years, and less than $1.160 billion as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years.

• "Small bank" or "small savings association" means an institution that, as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years, had assets of less than $1.160 billion.
  

In either case, if assets are less than $1.60 billion, you are a small bank.

Rise of the Monster Banks:
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2011/9_19.htm#bank_beat

Bank Beat—Florida again, and Arizona

Two branches of Premier Community Bank of the Emerald Coast, Crestview, Florida were closed with Summit Bank, National Association, Panama City, Florida, to assume all of the deposits.

Founded in September 5, 2006, there were 21 full time employees at the two offices, one in Crestview and one in Fort Walton. September 30, 2011 Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio -1.34%.

Located in Okaloosa County, the area is known as the Emerald Coast due to its "natural, sugar-white beaches are the most beautiful in the world. Blue-green waters lap the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico, thus the name Emerald Coast. Bayous, lazy rivers, and green forests complement the shoreline, making this region truly a place of peacefulness and beauty."
http://www.arc.net/company/okcounty/reloc.htm

The problems basically were nonfarm nonresidential properties where the primary source of repayment is the cash flow from the ongoing operations activities of the owners of the property. Mortgages are held or liens are placed on business property such as hotels, motels, churches, clubs, lodges, association buildings, golf courses, recreational and similar property."
  FDIC definition

January 21, 2011 a serious consent order was issued, which followed a $5.2 million charge off, $14.3 million loss, and dropped in equity from 2009 $17.4 million to $3.1 million in 2010. September 31, 2011 the charge off was $9.9 million, of that $7.2 in nonfarm nonresidential.

The map of bank failures at the end of this column show the South hit hardest by residential and business property loan losses. In reality, the bank since forming in 2006 had only two years of profitability, and not over $200,000 combined.

(in millions, unless otherwise)

Net Equity
2006 $19.1
2007 $19.1
2008 $19.8
2009 $17.4
2010 $3.1
9/31 -$1.1

Profit
2006 -$862,000
2007 $46,000
2008 $122,000
2009 -$2.1
2010 -$14.3
9/31 -$4.3

Non-Current Loans
2006 0
2007 0
2008 $1.6
2009 $5.8
2010 $12.0
9/31 $13.9

Charge Offs
2006 0
2007 0
2008 $53,000 ($13,000 construction and land, $40,000 commercial/industrial loans)
2009 $2.1 ($1 1-4 family residential, $870,000 nonfarm nonres., $145,000 const./land)
2010 $5.2 ($3.7 construction/land, $1.3 1-4 family, $204,000 nonfarm/nonland)
9/31 $9.9 ($7.2 nonfarm/nonres.,$1.7 1-4 family, $909,000 construction/land, $17,000 individuals)

Construction and Land, 1-4 family multiple residential, Multiple Family Residential, Non-Farm Non-Residential loans.

As of September 30, 2011, Premier Community Bank of the Emerald Coast had approximately $126.0 million in total assets and $112.1 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Summit Bank, National Association agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and Summit Bank, National Association entered into a loss-share transaction on $98.0 million of Premier Community Bank of the Emerald Coast's assets.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $31.2 million. http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2011/pr11194.html

The three branches of Western National Bank, Phoenix, Arizona were closed with Washington Federal, Seattle, Washington, to assume all of the deposits. Founded February 2, 2005, there were 21 full time employees at their two offices in Scottsdale and one in Phoenix, from a high of 54 employees as of December 31, 2007. September 30, 2011 Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 1.19%.

Nonfarm nonresidential loans here saw equity drop from $19 million in 2009 to $7.6 million in 2010 and $1.7 million September 30, 2011 after the tremendous loss of $11.7 million year-end 2010 and September 30, 2011 $6.2 million. The charge offs in 2010 were $5.3 million in nonfarm/nonresidential, followed by $3.1 in 1-4 family homes (mortgages) and this year the trend was continuing.

It may not be as serious as the real estate troubles in the 1980's...

Charles Keating, accompanied by his wife Mary Elaine,
leaves the federal building in downtown Phoenix.
Republic File Photo

But in case your forgot:
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2011/11/03/20111103biz-centennial-1980-arizona-business.html

(in millions, unless otherwise)

Net Equity
2005 $11.2
2006 $22.6
2007 $23.8
2008 $24.5
2009 $19.0
2010 $7.6
9/31 $1.7

Profit
2005 -$806,000
2006 $491,000
2007 $763,000
2008 $360,000
2009 $5.7
2010 -$11.7
9/31 -$6.2

Non-Current Loans
2005 0
2006 0
2007 $861,000
2008 $389,000
2009 $17.3
2010 $14.9
9/31 $22.4

Charge Offs
2005 0
2006 0
2007 $166,000 ($166,000 1-4 family residential properties)
2008 $244,000 ($142,000 1-4 family residential, $55,000 commercial, $47,000 constr./land)
2009 $3.3 ($1.8 nonfarm, nonresidential, $1 1-4 family, $270,000 commercial, $203,000 const./land)
2010 $9.2 ($5.3 nonfarm/nonresidential, $3.1 1-4 family, $784,000 commercial/ind., $56,000 cons.)
9/31 $3.0 ($1.4 nonfarm/nonresidential, $713,000 1-4 family, $68,000 indiv, $55,000 multi-fam)

Construction and Land, 1-4 family multiple residential, Multiple Family Residential, Non-Farm Non-Residential loans.

As of September 30, 2011, Western National Bank had approximately $162.9 million in total assets and $144.5 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Washington Federal agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $37.6 million.

http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2011/pr11195.html

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

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

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

 

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Top Stories December 12--December 16

Here are the top ten sorties opened by readers:

(1) Ascentium Capital Copying First Sierra?
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2011/12_12.htm#ascentium

(2) New Classified Ad Section
Open Positions at Leasing Funders/Various Locations
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2011/12_14.htm#funders

(3) Equipment Lessor Gets Stung in Assignment Trap
by Tom McCurrin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2011/12_14.htm#stung

(4) Global Leasing Toolkit Now Available
Long Time Project Complete
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2011/12_12.htm#toolkit

(5) Resource America "deconsolidates" LEAF Financial
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2011/12_16.htm#deconsolidates

(6) Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
“Business Plans for 2012”
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2011/12_12.htm#plans

(7) Operation Lease Fleece Sentencing Donnybrook
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2011/12_14.htm#sentencing

(8) Operation Lease Fleece Kirk A. McMahan Sentencing
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2011/12_16.htm#sentencing

(9) HP Introduces "Step Payment" FMV Lease Program
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hp-offers-business-savings-with-two-leasing-promotions-2011-12-13

(10) New Hires---Promotions
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Dec2011/12_16.htm#hires

 

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

David Cohen and Helen Mooney celebrate 25 years
with Firestone Financial

NEWTON, MA – – David Cohen, President and CEO and Helen Mooney, Senior Inside Sales Representative both celebrated their 25th anniversary with Firestone. “People who achieve this type of accomplishment must be adaptable, willing to change and able to learn. David and Helen both have these qualities. They are highly regarded and respected by ever major manufacturer, distributor, and operator in the industry” said Scott Cooper, Firestone’s CFO.

The awards were presented during Firestone’s annual employee Holiday party on December 14th. David Cohen contributed his personal success and that of the organization to the past and present employees. “So many things were so different 25 years ago but one thing remains true, we have the most talented, hard working people. We invest in our relationships with our customers and each other and that is why I am so proud to be celebrating 25 years at Firestone.”

In receiving her award Helen Mooney praised the company and her coworkers, “I have had the opportunity over the years to work with great teams, but I don’t think anything compares to who we have at Firestone today.”

Pete Aldrich from the Inside Sales team also celebrated his 10 year anniversary. In receiving his award Pete acknowledged the closeness of the Firestone team, “When I came here 10 years ago I was told I was joining a family and sure enough 10 years later nothing could be truer.”

The company also acknowledged employees with five years of service. Recipients include Adam Bronkella, Credit Manager, Kurt Engelhardt, Inside Sales, Chuck Lambert, Sr. Credit Analyst, Liz McNeil, Accounting Manager and Frank Moreschi, Asset Management.

About Firestone Financial
Since 1965, Firestone Financial has been helping businesses by provided equipment financing nationwide. Our focus is on cultivating long term relationships in the industries that we serve. Today we provide competitive financing solutions for the carnival, vending, fitness, coin-op, and amusement industries. To learn more, call 1.800.851.1001 or visit www.firestonefinancial.com.

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

San Juan Capistrano, California-- Adopt-a-Dog

Pierre

“Pierre is a 4 yr. old neutered PooChon (Poodle-Bichon) who came to The Ark severely underweight from malnutrition. He is doing well in his foster home where he has been getting all the love and nutrition he could possibly want. Pierre is a sweet lovable boy and is most happy in a lap.”

Rexy

“Rexy is a one year old female Labrador mix. She is a very sweet girl who loves people and other dogs. She would be a great addition to any family.”

The Ark of San Juan
P.O. Box 117
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
Phone: 949-388-0034
email: arkofsanjuan@cox.net

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 www.jrkrmdirect.com • End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement • Fraud Investigation • Credit Investigations • Asset Searches • Skip-tracing • Third-party Commercial Collections The Solution to Your Credit & Accounts Receivable Needs John Kenny 315-866-1167 |  John@jkrmdirect.com

 

News Briefs----

Insider Bank Loans at Crescent Bank and Others
http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/12/17/2554840/new-data-shows-insider-loans-spiked.html

$7 Billion Ponzi Scheme: Investors await justice
http://www.chron.com/business/article/Investors-get-nowhere-as-Stanford-case-crawls-2409875.php

Bank of America Shares Hit $4.99, one-year low
http://www.forbes.com/sites/halahtouryalai/2011/12/19/bank-of-america-shares-avoid-4-99-but-hit-one-year-low/

AT&T drops $39 billion bid for T-Mobile USA
http://www.ajc.com/business/at-t-drops-39-1264971.html

Indian Billionaire Kotak’s Bank Reaps Margins Goldman Can Envy
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-19/indian-billionaire-kotak-s-bank-reaps-margins-goldman-can-envy.html

Saab files to unwind its assets
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2011/12/19/Saab-files-to-unwind-its-assets/UPI-93271324324840/

Madoff’s ex-controller pleads guilty in NYC
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/enrica-cotellessa-pitz-pleads-guilty-to-role-in-madoff-fraud/2011/12/19/gIQAhmmo5O_story.html

Americans average $4,155 on gas in 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-gas-takes-its-biggest-bite-out-of-family-budget-in-30-years-20111219,0,4691738.story

Associated Bank to close 21 branches, including 2 in Madison
http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/associated-bank-to-close-branches-including-in-madison/article_201549d2-28e4-11e1-a242-001871e3ce6c.html

Golf Industry: Consolidating/Myrtle Beach example
http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/12/17/2554959/the-state-of-the-golf-industry.html#storylink=omni_popular

The New York Times Co. tentatively agrees to sell The Press Democrat
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111219/BUSINESS/111219511/1350?Title=N-Y-Times-Co-tentatively-agrees-to-sell-The-Press-Democrat

Bon Jovi not dead: Rumor was Twitter fiction
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jon-bon-jovi-death-275490

 

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You may have missed---

Retiring CEO of Costco takes a look back on his legacy
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017040471_sinegal18.html

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SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

 

What Does 300 Calories Really Look Like?
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1260

 

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Sports Briefs----

San Francisco 49ers earn a meaningful victory
http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_19582809

Blackout(s) at Candlestick
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2011/12/19/blackout-at-candlestick/

Raiders' robust start veers toward ugly end
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/19/4131964/gfdgfdg-fdgfdgfd-hghgfhgfh.html

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Football Poems

Oakland Raiders Déjà Vu

As I look upon Our Oakland’s side
I wonder, where is the Raider pride?

Our team has stood the test of time
but can we beat the next in line,

I fear the worst, as we fall
We lack the excellence to conquer all,

I read words of anger, disappointment, and hate
I wonder has this team sealed its fate,

A nation divided will never prevail
As we chase this AFC west trail,

Have we lost all hope and respect
While teams take us as neglect,

This silver lining has faded to grey
As I look forward to another day,

I say this team will stay Silver and Black
as long as the nation don't turn its back.

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California Nuts Briefs---

California first dog Sutter Brown lands his own page on Jerry Brown's website
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/19/4131898/the-buzz-california-first-dog.html

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

2011 California Vintage: Light and Late to Lead to Elegant Wines
http://www.drinksmediawire.com/afficher_cdp.asp?id=9505&lng=2

Foppiano heirs in bitter fight over Healdsburg winery's future
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111218/ARTICLES/111219529/1334/news?Title=Foppiano-heirs-in-bitter-fight-over-Healdsburg-winery-s-future

A fine season to break out sweet wines
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/18/FD981MCHJQ.DTL

Wineries abound in Alabama: Your guide to 13 of them (with video, photo gallery)
http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2011/12/wineries_abound_in_alabama_you.html

Long Island Robust Despit the Rains
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/nyregion/li-white-wines-survive-rains-of-growing-season.html?_r=4

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

     1606-Three small ships, departed London, England, bound for America,( "Susan Constant", "Godspeed" and "Discovery", destined for America. Captain Christopher Newport commanded the three tiny ships, which are now on display at Jamestown village in Virginia) where the royally chartered Virginia Company's approximately 120 persons established the first permanent English settlement Jamestown, Virginia. They arrived May 14,1607. When the next ship arrived a year later with additional provisions, there were no survivors. What happened is still a mystery today. It is believed that the survivors joined Indian tribes, and were not murdered or died from disease as there
was no evidence to this conclusion. This was not the first attempt at permanent settlement in the United States. The Norwegians, Dutch, Spanish, and perhaps even Africans, landed here and established colonies. Many of them were invaded by subsequent landings, some were assimilated into Indian life, such as in New Foundland, Florida and the islands, where it is believed Africans were the first to land in this area, including South America.
    1669-History records the first rebellion by colonists happened against an English governor in Delaware, Governor Francis Lovelace, and was led by Marcus Jacobson, “The Long Finne, who claimed to be the son of General hans Christoph Konigsmark. He was trapped and turned over to the English commandant. On December 20, 1669, he was condemned for insurrection in the first trial by jury in Delaware. He was lashed in public, branded with a letter R, and sold in chains as a slave in Barbados.
    1790-The first cotton mill to spin cotton yarn successfully was stated by Samuel Slater in Pawtucket, RI. It was 40 feet long, 26 feet wide, and two stories high, with an attic. Power was obtained from the old fulling mill water wheel in Ezekiel Carpenter’s clothier’s shop on the east bank of the Blackstone River. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, in his report of December 5, 1791, said, “ The manufactory at Providence has the merit of being the first in introducing into the United States the celebrated cotton mill, which not only furnishes materials for the manufactory itself but for the supply of private families, for household manufacturing.”
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec20.html
    1790 - In Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 23-year-old British subject Samuel Slater began production of the first American spinning mill. The British jealously guarded their technological superiority in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, making it illegal for machinery, plans and even the men who built and repaired them to leave the country. After serving a 7-year mill apprenticeship in England, Slater recognized the potential offered in America. He memorized the plans for intricate machine specifications, disguised himself as a farm worker and in 1789 sailed to a new life across the Atlantic. Slater entered into a partnership with Rhode Island merchant Moses Brown and built a small spinning mill--the equivalent of 72 spinning wheels. At first, Slater's Mill employed only a handful of children between the ages of 7 and 12, but by 1800, he had more than 100 employees. By the time of Slater's death in 1835, he owned or had an interest in 13 textile mills and left an estate of almost $700,000. From this small beginning, America's own Industrial Revolution grew.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec20.html 
    1803-One of the greatest real estate deals in history was completed , when more than a million square miles of the Louisiana Territory were turned over to the US by France, for a prize of about $20 per square mile. This almost doubled the size of the US, extending its western border to the Rocky Mountains. 
    1820 - Missouri enacted legislation taxing placing a $1 tax “ on every unmarried free white male, above the age of 21 years and under 50 years.” 
    1821- The first record of a “Christmas tree” was mentioned in the diary of Matthew Zahm of Lancaster, PA. Sahm and other German immigrants to Pennsylvania brought the custom of decorated trees from their homeland.
    1833- birthday of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd (born near Bryantown, MD, In the hysteria of the time, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for giving medical aid to disguised John Wilkes Booth, fleeing assassin of Abraham Lincoln. Imprisoned four years before being pardoned by President Andrew Johnson. Died on Jan 10,1883.
    1849--A major event in San Francisco as 25 women arrived on different vessels today. 
    1856 -Newberry College was chartered in Newberry, SC, under Lutheran auspices. The campus moved to Walhalla, SC, in 1868, but returned to Newberry in 1877
http://www.newberry.edu/
    1860- In response to the victory of Republican Abraham Lincoln in the presidential election six weeks before, the South Carolina legislature voted to secede from the US, the first state to do so. “ ...are hereby repealed; and that the Union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States under the name of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved.” Within six weeks, five more states seceded. On February 4, 1861, representatives from the six states met at Montgomery, Alabama, to establish a government on February 9, Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America. by June 1861, 11 states had seceded from the Union.
    1868- American industrialist, businessman and founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Harvey Samuel Firestone was born at Columbiana County, OH. A close friend of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and John Burroughs, Firestone was also author of two books about rubber. He died at Miami Beach, FL, Feb 7,1938.
    1880 - Broadway, New York's main thoroughfare, was illuminated by electricity for the first time, between 14th and 26h Streets.
    1881- Wesley Branch Rickey, Baseball Hall of Fame player, manager and executive born at Lucasville, OH. Rickey was baseball’s most innovative general manager. He invented the farm system, instituted unique training and teaching methods and, most prominently, signed Jackie Robinson to play major league baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967. Died at Columbia, MO, Dec 9,1965.
http://newschannel2000.com/sh/sports/columnist/stories/
columnists-20000821-134738.html
    1886- Hazel Virginia Hotchkiss Wightman, tennis player born at Healdsburg, CA., Known a the “Queen Mother of Tennis,” Wightman was a championship player, an instructor, a benefactor and the donor of the Wightman Cup, a trophy offered for competition between teams of women players from the US and England. Died at Chestnut Hill, MA. December 5, 1974.
    1893- Georgia passed a statue against lynching, “ an act to prevent mob violence in this state...” Violators were guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment of up to 20 years. If death resulted, a murder charge could be instituted.
    1895- Susanne Langer, a leading American philosopher, author of Philosophy in a New Key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite, and Art, was born at New York, NY. Her studies of esthetics and art exerted a profound influence on thinking in the fields of psychology, philosophy and the social sciences. She died at Old Lyme, CT, July 17, 1985. 
    1907-Birthday of lyricist Paul Francis Webster, New York City , Died March 22,1874,Los Angeles, CA.
http://www.imdb.com/Name?Webster,+Paul+Francis
http://awards.fennec.org/w/webster_paul_francis.html
http://www.basstabs.net/tab/bass/Paul_Francis_Webster.asp
    1914 - The high temperature of 28 degrees at Atlanta, GA, was their earliest daily high below the freezing mark.
    1918-Birthday of saxophone player John Hardee, Corsicana, TX “Hardee was a multi-instrumentalist who played piano, mellophone, C-melody saxophone, alto, and tenor sax. He worked with Don Albert as a tenor player before returning to college. After graduation, he worked as a band director in Texas and also played the clarinet in the military band. Hardee went to New York to pursue his musical career, and worked with Tiny Grimes from 1946 to 1948. Most of the work he recorded was done on 78 rpm records at the precise time that the LP format was killing off 78s as the recorded medium of choice. His work wasn't released on LP and was lost and forgotten for some time, even though his playing put him on a par with Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster. So what happened? Basically a crisis of self-confidence. The jazz scene in New York was extremely competitive at the time, and Hardee simply didn't have the stomach for it. He felt that he could have filled the chair vacated by Ben Webster in the Duke Ellington orchestra, and the recorded evidence, now available on CD, supports that assertion. I strongly recommend either the Chronological Jazz Series release John Hardee: 1946-1948 or the EMI import John Hardee Swingtettes: Tired. We're very lucky to have these performances saved and available for our pleasure. Had Hardee continued to be part of the New York scene he would undoubtedly have become a major tenor player whose contribution and influence would still be widely discussed. Hardee returned to Texas, teaching in Dallas for most of the rest of his life. No doubt he passed on a lot of wisdom to the kids who learned music from him.” Marshall Bowden
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_mucontrib.php/mu_artist=John+Hardee/
ut=0cea001161ce67c0
    1920 - An English-born comedian Leslie Downes, who would later be known as Bob Hope, became an American citizen today. Having lived in the United States since 1908, he became one of the nation's true ambassadors for show business and charity.
    1938- The kinescope, today known as the cathode-ray tube, was patented by Russian immigrant Vladimir Zworykin. It is still used today in computer monitors and television sets.
    1939-Birthday of singer Kim Weston, Detroit, MI
http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/Kim-Weston.htm
    1940- Tony Pastor records “Paradddile Joe.” Bluebird 11008 )
    1942-Birthday of piano player Larry Willis, New York City
http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/artists/larry_willis.htm
http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/reviews/08532.html 
    1943-VOSLER, FORREST T. (Air Mission) Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Corps. 358th Bomber Squadron, 303d Bomber Group. Place and date. Over Bremen, Germany, 20 December 1943. Entered service at: Rochester, N.Y. Born: 29 July 1923, Lyndonville, N.Y. G.O. No.: 73, 6 September 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio operator-air gunner on a heavy bombardment aircraft in a mission over Bremen, Germany, on 20 December 1943. After bombing the target, the aircraft in which T/Sgt. Vosler was serving was severely damaged by antiaircraft fire, forced out of formation, and immediately subjected to repeated vicious attacks by enemy fighters. Early in the engagement a 20-mm. cannon shell exploded in the radio compartment, painfully wounding T/Sgt. Vosler in the legs and thighs. At about the same time a direct hit on the tail of the ship seriously wounded the tail gunner and rendered the tail guns inoperative. Realizing the great need for firepower in protecting the vulnerable tail of the ship, T/Sgt. Vosler, with grim determination, kept up a steady stream of deadly fire. Shortly thereafter another 20-mm. enemy shell exploded, wounding T/Sgt. Vosler in the chest and about the face. Pieces of metal lodged in both eyes, impairing his vision to such an extent that he could only distinguish blurred shapes. Displaying remarkable tenacity and courage, he kept firing his guns and declined to take first-aid treatment. The radio equipment had been rendered inoperative during the battle, and when the pilot announced that he would have to ditch, although unable to see and working entirely by touch, T/Sgt. Vosler finally got the set operating and sent out distress signals despite several lapses into unconsciousness. When the ship ditched, T/Sgt. Vosler managed to get out on the wing by himself and hold the wounded tail gunner from slipping off until the other crewmembers could help them into the dinghy. T/Sgt. Vosler's actions on this occasion were an inspiration to all serving with him. The extraordinary courage, coolness, and skill he displayed in the face of great odds, when handicapped by injuries that would have incapacitated the average crewmember, were outstanding
    1945- Eddie Condon’s club opens in the Village, New York City.
http://search.centerstage.net/music/whoswho/EddieCondon.html
http://www.edsite2.fsnet.co.uk/Eddie%20Condon.htm
    1949 - Harry Belafonte recorded his second session at Capitol Records, waxing the songs "Whispering" and "Farewell to Arms". With eight song recorded and little enthusiasm from record buyers, Capitol decided not to renew the singer’s contract. He relocated to RCA Victor in April, 1952 where he enjoyed a successful career. 
    1949—Top Hits
I Can Dream, Can’t I? - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Jack Leonard)
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Mule Train - Tennessee Ernie Ford
    1952 - Jimmy Boyd hit #1 on the record charts with the Christmas song of the year, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. 
    1954 - The Buick Motor Company signed Jackie Gleason to one of the largest contracts ever with an entertainer. Gleason would produce 78 half-hour long shows over two years for $6,142,500. 
    1956-The Montgomery Bus Boycott came to an end when the US Supreme Court ruling of Nov 13,1956, calling for integration of the Montgomery, AL, public bus system was implemented. Since Dec 5, 1955, the black community of Montgomery had refused to ride on the segregated buses. The boycott was in reaction to the Dec 1, 1955, arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to relinquish her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white man.
    1957—Top Hits
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
At the Hop - Danny & The Juniors
My Special Angel - Bobby Helms
    1957-Just five days before Christmas, Elvis received his draft notice from the US Army. He later told reporters that it's a "duty I've got to fill and I'm going to do it." He will be inducted at the Memphis Draft Board in March of 1958 and assigned to Fort Hood, Texas for basic training for six months. 
    1961-Birthday of Dallas Cowboy premier lineman Nathaniel “Nate” Newton, Jr.
    1965- “The Dating Game” premiered on TV. Another game show developed by Chuck Barns, it typically featured a “bachelorette” who questioned three men who were hidden from her view and decided, based on their answers, which guy appealed to her the most. The couple was then sent on a date, courtesy of the show. Occasionally, a bachelor would question three women. Jim Lange was the host of the network series and two syndicated ones. Elaine Joyce and Jeff MacGregor hosted one season each on the retitled “The New Dating Game.” 
    1965—Top Hits
Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds
Over and Over - The Dave Clark Five
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
Make the World Go Away - Eddy Arnold
    1966- The NBA granted a franchise to Seattle for the 1967-68 season. the SuperSonics, as the team was nicknamed, were joined by the San Diego Clippers, to become the league’s 11 and 12th team.
    1966 -- Otis Redding Show opens at the Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, California.
http://rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=177
    1967-The Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy (He's My Brother)" is released.
    1969 - Leaving on a Jet Plane, recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, jumped into the Number 1 spot on this date on Billboard's Top 40 record charts and was in the top slot for one week. 
    1973—Top Hits
The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
Amazing Love - Charley Pride
    1973 –It is rare that we bring up a person passing away… Multi-talented entertainer Bobby Darin, best remembered for his Grammy-winning single Mack the Knife, died at age 37 at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles while undergoing surgery to remove two artificial valves in his heart which were malfunctioning. According to the biography written by son Dodd, Darin's hospitalization and subsequent death was brought on by not taking prescribed antibiotics before a teeth-cleaning procedure. Darin had a history of heart problems. He did not die of a spinal infection as is commonly rumored. He left a legacy of memories in rock ’n’ roll and pop tunes, as well as on television and in movies (even an Oscar nomination for his role in "Captain Newman, M.D."). The story of Darin being groomed to replace Frank Sinatra at Capitol Records is absolutely true. Unfortunately, Capitol didn’t think the grooming was going so well, and withheld many of Darin’s songs for many years; releasing them in a compilation CD in 1995. Good stuff to listen to: "Splish Splash", "Queen of the Hop", "Dream Lover", "Mack the Knife", "Beyond the Sea", "If I Were a Carpenter", etc. At the end, Darin, who had recorded for Atco, Capitol and Atlantic Records had just begun recording for Motown. 
    1975 - Paul Simon’s "50 Ways to leave Your Lover" jumped on U.S. singles charts. It hit number one (for three weeks) Feb 7, 1976. For you trivia fans out there, this is Paul Simon’s only #1 single (so far). “Just slip out the back, Jack; Make a new plan, Stan; You don't need to be coy, Roy; Just get yourself free...” 
    1975--Eric Carmen's "All By Myself" is released.
    1975 -- Buffalo's O.J. Simpson scores a touchdown (vs. Minnesota) in his 14th straight game. The streak started against the New York Jets on Sept. 21. He was a great
football player, but a murderer, nevertheless.
http://images.nfl.com/history/images/1220.jpg
    1979 - Knots Landing debuted on CBS, starring Ted Shackelford and Joan Van Ark as Gary and Valene Ewing. 
    1980 - Television experimented with football when NBC covered the meaningless NFL game between the New York Jets (4-11) and the Miami Dolphins (8-7) with no announcers in the booth. The only thing heard were field noises and spectators as the pictures tried to get across the emotion of the game. The next day headlines read, "Jets Silence Dolphins 24-17." 1983 - Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins was named NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. He became the first head coach to receive this honor in consecutive years since 1961-62 (when Allie Sherman, of the New York Giants, was so honored). Joe Gibbs took the Redskins to a 14-2 finish in the 1983 season. 
    1981—Top Hits
Physical - Olivia Newton-John
Waiting for a Girl like You - Foreigner
Let’s Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire
All Roads Lead to You - Steve Wariner
    1983- Guy Lafleur of the Montreal Canadians scored the 500th goal of his career in a 6-0 victory over the New York Rangers. Lafleur played 17 years in the NHL and finished his career with 560 regular-season goals.
    1985- Denis Potvin of the New York Islanders assisted on Mike Bossy’s goal against the New York Rangers to earn the 916th point of his career, breaking Bobby Orr’s NHL record for the most career points by a defenseman
    1985 - Robert Penn Warren was designated Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry of the U.S. Library of Congress for 1986-1987. The library has used consultants since 1937, when Joseph Auslander was appointed the first Consultant in Poetry, but Robert Penn Warren was the first to be called Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. 
    1986 - The Bangles’ "Walk like an Egyptian" moved to the top of the "Billboard" "Hot 100". It was #1 for three weeks. “Foreign types with the hookah pipes say; Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh; Walk like an Egyptian...” 
    1988 - Warner Chappell, a division of Warner Communications and the largest music publisher in the world, agreed to pay $25 million for the song "Happy Birthday to You." The song, owned by Birchtree Ltd., reportedly generated $1 million a year in royalty fees. The copyright would expire after the year 2010 and is expected to fall into the public domain.. The melody of probably the most often sung song in the world was composed by Mildred J. Hill, a schoolteacher. Her younger sister Patty Hill was the author of the lyrics which was first published in 1893 as “Good Morning to All, “ a classroom greeting published in the book Songs Stories for the Sunday School. The lyrics were amended in 1924 to include a stanza beginning “Happy Birthday to You.” Now it is sun some where in the world every minute of the day. Although the authors are believed to have earned very little from song. Mildred Hill died at Chicago, Il, June 5, 1916, without knowing that her melody would become the world’s most popular song.
    1988 - Thunderstorms developing ahead of a fast moving cold front produced severe weather in the Upper Ohio Valley and the Middle Atlantic Coast Region during the afternoon and early evening. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 69 mph at Kennedy Airport in New York City, and winds along the cold front itself gusted to 56 mph at Cincinnati OH. The same storm produced snow in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois, with eight inches reported at Rolla MO.
    1989—Top Hits
We Didn’t Start the Fire - Billy Joel
Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
Don’t Know Much - Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
Two Dozen Roses - Shenandoah 
    1989--- Captain Linda L. Bray, 29, became the first woman to command American soldiers in battle, during the invasion of Panama by the U.S. as an MP. She was assigned to lead a force of 30 men and women soldiers to capture a kennel holding guard dogs that was defended by forces of the Panamanian Defense force. Although law forbids women in combat, the distinction between combat and military police in the Panama invasion was hazy. About 620 women were stationed in Panama before the attack and about 170 more women went to Panama in the attack. No women were killed, but 23 American men were. Eight American women lost their lives serving in Vietnam, the Army said.   The 123-member 988th Military Police company commanded by Captain Bray was sent to Panama from Fort Benning, Ga. One Army officer, although stressing the difference in training between that given an MP officer such as Bray and that given combat officers added, "What has been demonstrated is the ability of women to lead, for men and women to work together as a team without distractions, and for women to react in an aggressive manner." 
    The official army report stated Capt. Bray was not in attendance when the initial fighting erupted, but her unit was under fire from snipers while she was on the scene. She oversaw the first stages of the operation by radio from a command center about a half-mile from the kennel. She ordered her troops to fire warning shorts after the Panamanians refused to surrender. The Panamanians replied by firing for about 10 minutes. She ordered the firing of a single warning shot and then later ordered her soldiers to fire M-60 machine guns to the side of the building so as not to hurt the Panamanians. The Panamanians continued to fire until threatened by an artillery attack and then they fled into the woods nearby. When she heard the Panamanians were escaping, she had her driver take her to the kennel to try to stop them. She crawled into a ditch to get closer to the building. No Panamanian bodies were found, but a cache of weapons was recovered.
    1989-The US launched operation “Just Cause,” invading Panama in an attempt to seize Manuel Noriega and bring him to justice for narcotics trafficking. Seven months after Noriega had ruled unfavorable election results null and void, the US toppled the Noriega government and oversaw the installation of Guillermo Endara as president. Although the initial military action was declared a success, Noriega eluded capture. He surrendered to US troops on Jan 4,1990, and was tried, convicted and imprisoned in the US..
    1989 - Low pressure brought thunderstorms and high winds to the northeastern U.S. There were 193 reports of damaging winds with thunderstorms in New York State, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Tornadoes touched down near Seaside Park NJ and McAlevys Port PA. Winds with thunderstorms gusted to 92 mph at Poughkeepsie NY, and reached 94 mph at Newburgh NY. High winds in the Washington D.C. area, gusting to 73 mph, resulted in one death.
    1995 - "Nixon" opened in U.S. theatres. The film starred Anthony Hopkins as Richard M., Joan Allen as the president’s wife, Pat, Powers Boothe as Alexander Haig, Ed Harris as E. Howard Hunt, Bob Hoskins as J. Edgar Hoover, E.G. Marshall as John Mitchell, David Paymer as Ronald Ziegler, David Hyde Pierce as John Dean, Paul Sorvino as Henry Kissinger, Mary Steenburgen as Hannah Nixon, J.T. Walsh as John Ehrlichman, and James Woods played H.R. Haldeman.
    1996-The NBA granted a franchise to Seattle for the 1967-68 seasons. The Super Sonics, as the team was nicknamed, were joined by the San Diego Clippers, to become the league’s 11th and 12th teams.
    1998 - Green Bay’s Brett Favre connected three times with Antonio Freeman in the first half against the Tennessee Oilers en route to a 30-22 victory this day. In doing so, Favre became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 30 or more touchdowns in five consecutive seasons (33 in 1994, 28 in 1995, 39 in 1996, 35 in 1997, and 30 in 1998). 
    1989 - Low pressure brought thunderstorms and high winds to the northeastern U.S. There were 193 reports of damaging winds with thunderstorms in New York State, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Tornadoes touched down near Seaside Park NJ and McAlevys Port PA. Winds with thunderstorms gusted to 92 mph at Poughkeepsie NY, and reached 94 mph at Newburgh NY. High winds in the Washington D.C. area, gusting to 73 mph, resulted in one death. 
    1998- President Bill Clinton was impeached by a House of Representatives that was divided along party lines. He was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice stemming from a sexual relationship with a White House intern. He was then tried by the Senate in January 1999. On Feb 12,1999, the Senate acquitted him on both charges. Clinton was only the second US president to undergo impeachment proceedings. He did not run for re-election because he had served the maximum two terms as president. His wife Hillary was elected to the U.S. Senate from New York.
    1998-Snow flakes fell in San Francisco and low temperature records were made around the Bay with 40 degrees in SF and 35 in Fremont.
    2002-Money making figures for 2002's top grossing Rock artists were as follows: 
Paul McCartney - $126.1 million 
The Rolling Stones - $90 million 
Cher - $67.6 million 
Neil Diamond - $52.2 million 
Britney Spears - $43.7 million 
Aerosmith - $36.3 million 
Eagles - $34.9 million 
'N Sync - $33 million 
The top grossing country artist was Kenny Chesney at $22.7 million. 
    2003- "The Diary of Alicia Keys" gives the young R&B sensation her second No. 1 debut on The Billboard 200.
    2006 - A major winter storm affected Colorado, dumping several feet of snow on areas of the Rocky Mountains. The snowstorm temporarily closed the Denver International Airport. 
    2009-The top 10 most-played holiday songs in the ASCAP repertory this holiday season are: 
1. "Sleigh Ride" (Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish) - played 118,918 times 
2."Jingle Bell Rock" (Joseph Carleton Beal, James Roth Boothe) - played 118,601 times 
3."It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (Edward Pola, George Wyle) - played 101,614 times 
4. "White Christmas" (Irving Berlin) - played 89,348 times 
5. "Winter Wonderland" (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith) - played 77,599 times 
6. "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells) - played 74,360 times. 
7. "A Holly Jolly Christmas" (Johnny Marks) - played 57,948 times 
8. "Little Drummer Boy" (Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone) - played 55,617 times. 
9. "Feliz Navidad" (José Feliciano) - played 51,072 times 
10. "Frosty the Snowman" (Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins) - played 51,068 times