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Independent, unbiased and fair news about the Leasing Industry
kitmenkin@leasingnews.org
   

 

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.


Thursday, December 22, 2011





Today's Equipment Leasing Headlines

Crit DeMent Surprise Happy Holiday Greetings
 Our Salvation Army Kettle Exceeded Goal
  Classified ads-Employment Web Sites
ELFA Reports November Business $6.3 Billion
   New Hires--Promotions
    Classified Ads---Help Wanted
  Equipment Lessor Saved by Exculpatory Language
    by Tom McCurrin
     Leasing Books—for yourself or gifts to a colleague
  Special Christmas Edition, Part II
    DVD recommendations by Fernando F. Croce
 Happy Holidays form the NAELB Board and Staff
   Christmas Poem
    Military This Christmas---Hello, Dashiell & Kimberly
     Cedar Rapids, Iowa Adopt-a-Dog
News Briefs---
 U.S. Bank buys $700 million credit portfolio from BofA
  Ritchie Bros. final 2011 auction sets new records
   Independent Contractors on the Rise
    Existing home sales rise
     Mortgage activity slides with rates down
      Housing bust nearly over as prices, incomes balance
       Paying Down Your 30 year Mortgage vs. Refi
        U.S. exporters brace for cutbacks in European bank lending
      Sun-Times sold to group of local investors
       The 10 Worst TV Shows of 2011
         Tom Brady mansion almost done
           Steve Jobs awarded a Grammy

Broker/Funder/Industry Lists | Features (collection)
Top Ten Stories Chosen by Readers | Top Stories last six months
 

Owning a Schwab Franchise
by Fred St. Laurent
  You May Have Missed---
     What to Eat This Winter

      SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer
   Sports Briefs---
     Football Poem
      California Nuts Briefs---
        "Gimme that Wine"
   This Day in American History
     SuDoku
      Daily Puzzle
       GasBuddy
        Weather, USA or specific area
          Traffic Live----

######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release” and was not written by Leasing News nor information verified, but from the source noted. When an article is signed by the writer, it is considered a “by line.” It reflects the opinion and research of the writer. It is considered “bias” as it is the writer’s viewpoint.

 


[headlines]
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Crit DeMent Surprise Happy Holiday Greetings


Yes, this was sent by LEAF CEO/President Crit DeMent, as we obviously are on his mailing list---and we do appreciate the good will---and especially the card, and invite you to open it:

 



[headlines]
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Our Salvation Army Kettle Exceeded Goal

U.S.A.

$3,675 at Press Time

A last minute appeal to Leasing News readers brought the kettle to over its $2,500 goal… and when John Caulfield of Forum Financial Services, Richardson, saw that we had hit the $1,525 mark, he matched the $1,000 point raised and donated $1,000, as was his challenge to readers.

I greatly appreciate the last minute donations that put us over the top, and the many emails from those who wished continued success and happy holidays.

Thank you all---in our next edition I plan to list those who contributed.

Again, thank you very much.
    Kit Menkin


 

(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/

 


[headlines]
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Classified Ads---Employment Web Sites

Here is a list of top internet job web sites, several specializing in financial, money, and leasing, too.

www.adams-inc.com
www.affinitysearch.com
www.bajobs.com
www.careerbank.com
www.careerbuilder.com
www.careerpath.com
www.careerjet.com
www.craigslist.org
ELFA Career Center
www.FinanceLadder.com
http://www.findhow.com/
www.hotjobs.com
www.indeed.com
www.jobs.net
www.jobs-applications.com
www.jobssearchengine.net
www.jobsearchusa.org
www.JobSpin.com
www.jobsinthemoney.com
www.ladders.com
www.leasingworld.co.uk
www.lessors.com
www.MarketingJobs.com
www.monitordaily.com
www.monster.com
www.monstertrak.monster.com/
www.Postonce.com
www.RecruiterConnection.com
www.resumeblaster.com
www.snagajob.com/part-time-jobs/
www.toplanguagejobs.com
www.vault.com
www.vetjobs.com
www.worktree.com
www.worldleasingnews.com

Here are Open Positions at Leasing Funders/Various Locations
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/open_funder.html

[headlines]
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ELFA Reports November Business $6.3 Billion


As predicted in Leasing News (1), the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association MLFI-25 finds November new business volume at $6.3 billion, an increase over October $6 million, better than 2010 at $4.5 billion, but not as good as 2009 $7.1 billion. While the September, 2011 was higher, the trend toward a very good fourth quarter continues, particularly if the spike in December carries through as it has every year of the MFLI-25 report.


Rick Remiker,
President, Huntington Equipment Finance

“The equipment leasing and finance industry has held its own over the past few quarters and favorably weathered several macroeconomic challenges, " Rick Remiker, President, Huntington Equipment Finance said. "2012 will bring greater opportunities as companies replace aged equipment and invest in newer technology and expanded capacity. And it’s going to be a very Merry Christmas.”

(1) October MFLI-25 Report:
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2011/11_23x.htm#volume

ELFA MLFI-25 Participants

ADP Credit
BancorpSouth Equipment Finance
Bank of America
Bank of the West
BB&T Bank
BMO Harris Equipment Finance Company
Canon Financial Services
Caterpillar Financial Services
CIT
De Lage Landen Financial Services
Dell Financial Services
EverBank Commercial Finance
Fifth Third Bank
First American Equipment Finance
GreatAmerica
Hitachi Credit America
HP Financial Services
Huntington Equipment Finance
John Deere Financial
Key Equipment Finance
M&T Bank
Marlin Leasing
Merchants Capital
PNC Equipment Finance
RBS Asset Finance
SG Equipment Finance
Siemens Financial Services
Stearns Bank
Suntrust
Susquehanna Commercial Finance
US Bancorp Equipment Finance
Verizon Capital
Volvo Financial Services
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance

 



[headlines]
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New Hires--Promotions



Virgil Akin appointed Manager for the Forth Worth Texas Service Center of Utility Equipment Leasing Corporation, Waukesha, Wisconsin. The Fort Worth Texas Service Center, serving the entire southwestern market including the states of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Previously he was "...Operations Manager and Account Manager for Performance Truck in Rosenberg, Texas, a Kenworth dealer. Earlier he served as Parts Operations manager for Riggs Caterpillar of Little Rock and Texarkana, Arkansas. He served as General Manager of Arkansas Contractors Equipment and Supply in Springdale Arkansas and Service and Parts Manager for Red River Equipment Company of Texarkana, Texas. Virgil is focused on customer satisfaction and looks forward to supporting UELC customers in the southwestern states.” Texarkana College. Texas High School / Texarkana, Texas.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/virgil-akin/34/a21/782

Chris McKinley appoint Vice President Key Equipment Finance Government Finance, Superior, Colorado; working out of Reston, Virginia. Previously he was Business Development, Technology Finance, GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance (July, 2008-November, 2011), Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance (April, 2006-July, 2008), Regional Sales Manager GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance (June, 2003-April, 2006). Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business MBA, Marketing (2001 – 2003).
http://www.linkedin.com/in/cmckinley

Gavin Shea appointed senior vice president and term equipment finance manager for Umpqua Bank Commercial Banking Center in Walnut Creek, California; "...where he is charged with leading the bank's leasing and finance portfolio....A 14-year commercial banking veteran, Shea comes to Umpqua Bank from Wells Fargo where he was director of sales, overseeing commercial lending to small- and mid-sized companies throughout the U.S." "Roseburg, OR-based Umpqua Bank is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation with locations between San Francisco and Seattle, along the Oregon and Northern California Coast, and in Central Oregon and Northern Nevada."

Bill Weaver named Principal at Global Capital Markets, Irvine, California. Previously he was Managing Director Investment Bank, Culver Capital Group (October, 2009-December, 2011), Managing Director CRESCO Capital Partners (October, 2005-October, 2009), Senior Partner, Markwood Capital (1991--2005), Business Analyst, Geneva Companies (1989-1991), Lab Tech, Beckman Instruments (1976-1980).Series 79 - Investment Banking Exam FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority License CRD# 101180,Series 7 - General Securities Representative Exam FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., Series 63 - Uniform State Law FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Agents & Brokers: Life and Disability Insurance Analyst, California Department of Insurance Education California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Bio Chemistry
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bill-weaver/0/116/19



[headlines]
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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.

 

[headlines]
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Equipment Lessor Saved by Exculpatory Language
by Tom McCurrin


Most leasing professionals know that the lessor never warrants the quality of the equipment it leases, and relies upon waivers contained in the equipment lease. In the case of GE Capital Information Technology Solutions, Inc. v. Campbell Ads Slip Copy, 2011 WL 5835909 (N.D.Ind. 2011), those waivers came into play, and saved the day for the lessor.

In Campbell Ads, the lease was for a very large commercial copier, but regrettably for the lessee, Campbell Ads, the copier never worked as promised out of the box. The lessee stupidly stopped making payments to the lessor, and the lessor sued in District Court. The lessee thought the best defense was a good offense, and filed a Counter-Claim for breach of warranty against the lessor.

The lessor filed a Motion to Dismiss the Counter-Claim, claiming that the waiver of the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose were contained in the lease, and therefore, the Counter-Claim was not well taken.

The Court agreed, and dismissed the Counter-Claim.

As for analysis of the decision, the Court did not plow any new ground here, and seemed to quickly reach the correct result. It should be noted that the Court allowed the Counter-Claim as against the supplier. On a practical level, all copiers are sold with a service contract, and unless the supplier was out of business, it was a mystery why the lessee simply didn’t work with the vendor to correct the problems. Since the vendor was Ikon Office Solutions, a national company, it would seem that the Counter-Claim was more of a ploy than a meritorious Counter-Claim.

There are few tips for the leasing professional here, except that waiver of warranties matter is not just boilerplate.

Tom McCurnin
Barton, Klugman & Oetting
350 South Grand Ave.
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Direct Phone: (213) 617-6129
Cell (213) 268-8291
Fax: (213) 625-1832
Email: tmccurnin@bkolaw.com
Visit our Web Site at:  www.bkolaw.com

GE Capital Case:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/GE_Capital_Case.pdf


Why Choose Advanced Property Tax Compliance?

Dedicated to the leasing industry
click here to learn more.

Hear What Our Clients say about us
click here

Gary DiLillo, President 440.871.0555 or gary@avptc.com



[headlines]
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Leasing Books


Books on Equipment Leasing by Source:

  Master Index

             
              Books
              Direct Purchase
              Certified Leasing Professional (CLP) Foundation
              Fiction

 




[headlines]
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Leasing News: Special Christmas Edition, Part 2
By Fernando F. Croce

To round up our two-part cinematic Yuletide special, here are five top choices for old and new holiday classics. So check Netflix, gather family and friends, and give yourselves an early Christmas present.

It’s a Wonderful Life
(Frank Capra, 1946): The story of the joys and travails of everyman George Bailey (James Stewart) in the small town of Bedford Falls has long achieved a reverential spot in American pop culture. Who can forget Lionel Barrymore as a modern-day Scrooge, Henry Travers as Clarence the guardian angel, and George’s joy as he finds his daughter Zuzu’s flower in his pocket? Still, there's a darker side to director Frank Capra's vision that many viewers miss even today, a thin line that separates the American Dream from a nightmare and mingles hope with despair. It’s this balance, along with the deeply felt performances of Stewart, Donna Reed and Thomas Mitchell, that gives this classic its enduring power, charm and grace. Not to be missed.

Miracle on 34th Street
(George Seaton, 1947): Often a supporting player in Christmas movies, Santa Claus gets his own starring role in this warm and witty family favorite. Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn in a delightful, Oscar-winning performance) visits New York City and takes a job at a department store run by Doris (Maureen O’Hara), whose little daughter Susie (Natalie Wood) doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. When he tries to prove that he’s not just playing Santa but is Santa, he has to prove his own sanity to the judicial system and, more importantly, to the children of the world. Wise, affectionate, and offering a pretty sharp message about letting the season’s craven commercialism getting in the way of its true meaning.

A Christmas Story
(Bob Clark, 1983): Another iconic Yuletide movie, Bob Clark’s charmer is known to play on TV for days on end during Christmas season marathons. It’s easy to see why. Depicting the holiday through the eyes of a precocious nine-year-old boy, it glows with nostalgia and bubbles with irresistible humor. All young Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wants is to survive childhood and get a BB gun from Santa, but things rarely go as planned when your parents (Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin, both wonderful) think pink bunny suits make good gifts. In a movie filled with classic scenes, none is more memorable (or funnier) than Ralphie’s visit to a very cranky department-store St. Nick.

Bad Santa
(Terry Zwigoff, 2003): Billy Bob Thornton is at his comic best in this rollicking dark comedy, which goes out of its way to turn every Yuletide tradition on its ear. Thornton stars as Willie, a con-artists brimming with foul habits (including smoking, drinking, and chasing women) who is hired to play St. Nick as part of a plan to break into a department store’s safe. His Christmas Eve scheme starts to unravel, however, when Willie grudgingly befriends a smart-alecky 8-year-old (Brett Kelly) who teaches him the true meaning of the holiday. Directed by Terry Zwigoff ("Ghost World"), it’s a kind of anti-"Miracle on 34th Street" that keeps coming up with hilarious new ways to be crude. It may not be the best choice for a family-friendly audience, though anybody looking for a drop of vinegar in their eggnog will gulp it down to the last drop.

A Christmas Tale
(Arnaud Desplechin, 2008): One of the most interesting filmmakers working today, French director Arnaud Desplechin offers a tragicomic banquet with this irresistible seasonal story. It follows the travails of the Vuillards, a large family often plagued by emotional and physical upheavals but is determined to put all troubles aside and pull through for the sake of the beloved matriarch Junon (French cinema legend Catherine Deneuve). With a record number of squabbling relatives and uncomfortable secrets, however, it’s a job easier said than done. Even though there’s no shortage of drama, the movie’s mood remains exhilarating, buoyed by strong emotions and an exceptional cast. With the holidays drawing near, audiences will have the chance to discover a new Christmas favorite to set aside the old classics. With subtitles.

[headlines]
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Happy Holidays form the NAELB Board and Staff

 


[headlines]
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Christmas Poem


Usually Barry Marks, attorney and Alabama poet, sends in a holiday poem. This time he submits one from his good friend Jim Ferguson:

“Festivus”

(with apologies and admiration
for the creators of the ‘Seinfeld’ episode)

My Christmas was indeed a metal pole
Implanted in its tripod upon the sculpted carpet floor
Casting its shadow across the driftwood manger scene,
Where Mary and Joseph stood in their faded robes
And like the sheep bewildered by it all.
The tinsel looking needles protruded from artificial limbs,
Aluminum rods thrust into the color coded holes
But which reflected the marvelous light:
The light that moved like magic, merging the hues
That radiated from the color wheel and
Gave birth to dancing flames upon the ceiling,
Chasing ember orange with slaking blue
Now purple as the red rotated around
And finally green into its calming place.
That’s how I learned the message of the day,
That even in the ugly modern world,
Beauty may come to rest
In the unlikeliest of places--
On our suburban living room wall
Or in the animals’ rank forgotten stall.

© Jim Ferguson 2011

 

[headlines]
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Military This Christmas---Hello, Dashiell & Kimberly


(What does a Navy man do with his Navy Seal girl friend?
---On their day off, go cruising on his Columbia
in the Atlantic Ocean, of course!)

We have military all over the world, as well as civilian support, all employees of the government. As I understand it, they are appreciative about the Veteran Administration Hospital being up-dated, cleaned up, benefits for family increased for those on war duty, training and help when back from serving their country, and better weapons and more modern equipment than they had when they first arrived in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as two helicopters for the Osama Bin Laden operation where only one was recommended, but Obama chose otherwise and said to send two (this was not only in the news, but verified from highly reliable sources).

I missed speaking with my son on his birthday, December 19th, as we generally always talk on the telephone on his birthday. His mother died of cancer when he was coming out of being a teenager, and we became extremely close. Today he sent me an email he was not near a telephone and couldn’t say anymore---and I got an impression he was on another mission. He doesn’t like me to write in Leasing News about what he is doing as he says the enemy reads the internet, and if captured, they could use information about him against him.

But he never said anything about printing his photographs:


2000--one of my favorites

 


Dash & Sue at Naval Graduation, Great Lakes, Illinois

 


In Iraq

 



Boarding boats in hostile water, various parts of the world
he was first down into the holds as he was the smallest

 


Riverene

 


Off Duty in Iraq (even on secure base they wore side arms)

 


(Iraq Again)

I have a lot more photos, but I wish he and his steady girlfriend, and all those who serve our country the best Christmas and holiday and hopefully 2012 will be a lot better than this year.

Kit Menkin

[headlines]
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Cedar Rapids, Iowa-- Adopt-a-Dog

 

Peanut & Reesie

Medium • Young • Female


Peanut



Peanut & Reesie

Peanut and Reesie are adult chocolate labs. They have a genetic condition that causes them to lose their eyesight and have legs that are half the height of labs without their condition. They get around just great and enjoy playing with each other and other dogs, but would prefer a home without cats. Due to their condition they rely on each other quite a bit and are not able to be adopted to separate homes. They are UTD on vaccinations and have both been spayed. If you have room in your heart and home for these sweet dogs, please call us at 319-362-0274. Indoor Homes Only and a Fenced in Yard are required for their safety.”

Peanut & Reesie Last Hope Animal Rescue, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA • 1-630-544-8482 • Mfrugoli2004@yahoo.com

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

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

 


News Briefs----

U.S. Bank buys $700 million credit portfolio from BofA
http://www.startribune.com/business/136024838.html

Ritchie Bros. final 2011 auction sets new records
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ritchie-bros-conducts-final-auction-of-2011-and-sets-new-records-2011-12-21-7000

Independent Contractors on the Rise
http://www3.cfo.com/article/2011/12/tax_irs-independent-contractors-dol-employee-classification-working-capital-liquidity

Existing home sales rise
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2011/12/21/Existing-home-sales-rise/UPI-97631324484031/

Mortgage activity slides with rates down
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2011/12/21/Mortgage-activity-slides-with-rates-down/UPI-38791324484699/

Housing bust nearly over as prices, incomes balance
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2011-12-21/home-prices/52149756/1

Paying Down Your 30 year Mortgage vs. Refi
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/paying-down-30-year-mortgage-vs-refi.aspx?ic_id=Top_Financial News Center_link_1

U.S. exporters brace for cutbacks in European bank lending
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-exporters-brace-for-cutbacks-in-european-bank-lending/2011/12/21/gIQA3n8KAP_story.html

Sun-Times sold to group of local investors
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-suntimes-sold-to-group-of-local-investors-20111221,0,3139659.story

The 10 Worst TV Shows of 2011
http://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/yahoo-tv/10-worst-tv-shows-2011-001127338.html

Tom Brady mansion almost done
http://www.boston.com/Boston/names/2011/12/tom-brady-mansion-almost-done/6eI3AGklVOmuTvaI7WwinM/index.html?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed3

Steve Jobs awarded a Grammy
http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_19594248


 

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



You may have missed---

Owning a Schwab Franchise
by Fred St. Laurent
http://www.riabiz.com/a/10415618



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

 

SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer


What to Eat This Winter
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=984&page=2


 

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

 


Sports Briefs----

4 former players suing NFL over concussions
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/4-former-players-suing-1267844.html

Superbowl moving beyond the tube to the web
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/supersized_bowl_3qjihnhp7aAyE6oh4LIFi

S.F., PG&E probe outages at 49ers game
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/21/MNJC1MEQ9C.DTL



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

 

Football Poems

“Every Good Boy Does Fine”

I practiced my cornet in a cold garage
Where I could blast it till the oil in drums
Boomed back; tossed free throws till I couldn't move my thumbs;
Sprinted through tires, tackling a headless dummy.

In my first contest, playing a wobbly solo,
I blew up in the coda, alone on stage,
And twisting like my hand-tied necktie, saw the judge
Letting my silence dwindle down his scale.

At my first basketball game, gangling away from home
A hundred miles by bus to a dressing room,
Under the showering voice of the coach, I stood in a towel,
Having forgotten shoes, socks, uniform.

In my first football game, the first play under the lights
I intercepted a pass. For seventy yards, I ran
Through music and squeals, surging, lifting my cleats,
Only to be brought down by the safety man.

I took my second chances with less care, but in dreams
I saw the bald judge slumped in the front row,
The coach and team at the doorway, the safety man
Galloping loud at my heels. They watch me now.

You who have always homed your way through passages,
Sat safe on the bench while some came naked to court,
Slipped out of arms to win in the long run,
Consider this poem a failure, sprawling flat on a page

David Wagoner's “Traveling Light :From Collected Poems, 1956-1976

When my kids were growing up, I only had a few rules about participating in different activities: if you started something you had to finish it; if you played you had to do your best; and, you could always quit at the end of the season if you wanted to, it was your choice, not mine. As a result, they both seem to have grown up more confident than I ever was and are both willing to risk many things I never would.

All of us are probably haunted by our failures, but the real failures are those who are afraid to take the chances to do what they really want to do. There's no reason to play football, or participate in one particular activity, but it's a mistake not to play football or participate in a play simply because you're afraid you will fail. Failure is less destructive than not giving life a chance.

Needless to say, I don't consider this poem a failure.

    loren



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

 

 


California Nuts Briefs---


Oakland's Quan doubts city can stop port closure
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/21/MNMO1MFG41.DTL&tsp=1

LA Mayor Calls for Cuts to Offset Occupy LA Costs
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/12/21/mayor-calls-for-budget-cuts-to-offset-millions-in-occupy-la-costs/


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



“Gimme that Wine”

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


One third of Bordeaux properties “for sale”
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2011/12/one-third-of-bordeaux-properties-for-sale/?goback=.gde_130451_member_86143733

Foppiano family faces off in court
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111220/ARTICLES/111229951

Edgy Wine Names: Message On A Bottle
http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-winemakers-get-sassy-with-cheeky-names-20111219,0,4808389.story

Wine lovers to profit from falling prices
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/uk-usa-wine-prices-idUSLNE7BJ01W20111220

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Sets New Record
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/san-francisco-chronicle-wine-competition-sets-new-record-135891138.html

California to smash records as sales surge
http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/529615/california-to

 

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

[headlines]
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This Day in History

     1696-Birthday of William Oglethorpe, English general, author and colonizer of Georgia. Founder of the city of Savannah. Oglethorpe was born at London. He died June 30, 1785, at Cranham Hall, Essex, England.
http://www.ourgeorgiahistory.com/people/oglethorpe.html
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/hogarth3.htm
    1727-Birthday of William Ellery, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, born at Newport, RI, and died there Feb 15, 1820. During the British occupation of Rhode Island, Mr. Ellery's house was burned and much of his other property “injured.”
http://www.williamellery.com/
http://www.colonialhall.com/ellery/ellery.asp
    1770 -Birth of Father Demetrius Gallitzin, a Dutch Catholic priest. Arriving in America in 1792, he spent his remaining years as a frontier missionary, building up the Catholic church in parts of PA, MD, VA and WV. Gallitzin became known as the "Apostle to the Alleghenies."
http://www.slider.com/enc/21000/Gallitzin_Demetrius_Augustine.htm
http://www.gsd1.org/business/GlendaleBoatSales/history.htm
http://www.catholicism.org/PAGES/gallitzin.htm

    1775-Esek Hopkins of Rhode Island became the first Commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy and severed until January 2, 1778. He also got into trouble with Congress for interpreting his orders rather broadly in diverting his fleet from its announced destination of Charleston to the Bahamas, where he made a successful raid on military stores. Congress sacked him anyway. Some say his real crimes were a hot temper and an unguarded tongue. Others say he had secret orders. Among his officers was First Lieutenant John Paul Jones, who helped take New Providence. This was the first American naval victory. Commodore Hopkins flew on this first and on other voyages the Gadsden flag, designed by a man from Charleston, Carolina, with a coiled rattlesnake and the motto ``Don't Tread on Me.''
http://www.worldsfinestnavy.com/EsekHopkins.html
http://www.famousamericans.net/esekhopkins/
http://www.sat.quarterman.org/who/essexhopkins.html
http://www.sat.quarterman.org/gif/gadsden1.gif
    1807 -- Congress passes the Embargo Act, which halts all trading completely. It is hoped that the act will keep the United States out the European Wars.
    1815-Birthday of Henry Highland Garnet, early Black abolitionist leader, leader of both emigration to Liberia and freedom in the United States.. Later in life, Garnet turned to religion and lost a lot of his influence on the issue of slavery, but he continued to fight for the cause and helped to improve the lives of former slaves. In 1881 he was appointed to a position in Liberia, but died only two months after he arrived in 1882.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2949.html
http://www.africawithin.com/bios/henry_garnet.htm
http://www.ugrworkshop.com/hgarnet.htm
http://raider.muc.edu/~horninme/G7%20henry_highland_garnet.htm
    1828 - Rachel Jackson, beloved wife of Andrew Jackson, died of heart disease just weeks before her recently elected husband was inaugurated as president of the United States.
Believing she was a free woman, Rachel married Andrew Jackson in 1791. Two years later, the couple discovered that Robards was finally suing for divorce--on the grounds of adultery and desertion. The divorce was granted, and in 1794, the couple quietly remarried. Yet, for the rest of her life, Rachel was unjustly slandered for her irregular marriage. The gossip became particularly painful during the 1828 presidential campaign when the 37-year-old scandal was resurrected as a campaign issue. Andrew Jackson defeated his opponent John Quincy Adams, but when Rachel died soon after the election, Jackson bitterly attributed her death to "those vile wretches who...slandered her."
    1829 - The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad opens the first passenger railway line.
    1833- Mercer University was chartered in Penfield, Georgia under Baptist support. In 1871 the college moved its campus to Macon, Georgia.
http://www2.mercer.edu/About_Mercer/default.htm
    1839 - The second of triple December storms hit the northeastern U.S. The storm produced 25 inches of snow at Gettysburg, PA, and gales in New England, but only produced light snow along the coast.
    1849-In California Gov. Burnett was inaugurated, and Military Governor Riley immediately resigned. Legislature selected Col. John C. Fremont and William M. Gwin as U.S. senators to take their seats when California wins statehood.
    1862-Birthday of Connie Mack,, Baseball Hall of Fame manager and executive born Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy at East Broofield, MA. Mack was a mjajor league catcher who became the original manager and co-owner of the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901. He managed the team, always wearing street clothes and signaling to his players with a scorecard, through the 1950 season and retired after the 1953 season The Mackmen often finished as also rans, but his te4ams did win nine pennants and five world Series. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937. Died at Germantown, PA, PA. Feb 8,1956.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec22.html
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/mack_connie.htm http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Mack_Connie.stm
    1864 - Union General William T. Sherman Lincoln. Sherman captured Georgia's largest city after his famous "March to the Sea" from Atlanta. Savannah had been one of the last major ports that remained open to the Confederates. Along the way, his troops destroyed nearly everything that lay in their path. Sherman's intent was to wreck the morale of the South and bring the war to a swift end. For nearly six weeks, nothing was heard from Sherman's army. Finally, just before Christmas, word arrived that Sherman's army was outside Savannah. A Union officer reached the coast and found a Union warship that carried him to Washington to personally deliver news of the success. Sherman wired Lincoln with the message, "I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton."
    1869-Birthday of Edward Arlington Robinson, three-time Pulitzer Prize winner best known for his short dramatic poems, including "Richard Cory" and "Miniver Cheevy." Born at Head Tide, ME, and died at Los Angeles, CA, Apr 6, 1935.
http://robinson.bokardo.com/biography.phtml
    1882 - 1st string of Christmas tree lights was created by Thomas Edison.
    1883-Birthday of Arthur Wergs Mitchell, leading “New Deal” Black politician, from Illinois. Died May 9, 1968
http://www.system.missouri.edu/upress/spring1997/nordin.htm
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000805
http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/493/Arthur_W_Mitchell_political_pioneer
    1886-The first accounting society (national) was the American Association of Public Accountants, formed in New York City. The first president was James Yalden.
    1888-Birthday of Dr Chancellor Williams, historian and author of “Destruction of Black Civilization.”
http://saxakali.com/Saxakali-Publications/runoko8.htm
http://www.raceandhistory.com/Historians/chancellor.htm
http://aalbc.com/reviews/chancell.htm
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/search-ng.gsp?search_constraint=3920&
search_query=Williams%2c%20Chancellor

    1894-The United Sates Golf Association, the governing body for golf in the US, was founded at a meeting of representatives from five golf clubs.
    1904-Birthday of Kenneth Rexroth, Beatnik Poet. Well-known San Francisco personaltiy,died June 6, 1982 in Montecito, California.
http://www.charm.net/~brooklyn/People/KennethRexroth.html
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/m_r/rexroth/rexroth_lif
http://www.rooknet.com/beatpage/writers/rexroth.html e.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1556591713/
102-8569588-7388914?v=glance

    1910-Birthday of trumpet player Reunald Jones (Count Base Band) born Indianapolis, In. Died, 1989. One of the “Jones Boys.”
http://www.centrohd.com/biogra/j2/reunald_jones_b.htm
http://www.52ndstreet.com/reviews/mainstream/vajonesboys.html
    1913-Pianist Dudley Alonzo Brooks(Elvis Presley band) born Los Angeles, Ca.
    1914-The mood to ban alcohol as a means of ending alcoholism and its abuse
in the United States had it first test in the first alcohol prohibition vote taken in Congress that showed the House of Representatives with a dry majority. The representatives voted 197-189 in favor of a resolution to provide a constitutional amendment banning the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages. The resolution, offered by Representative Richmond Pearson Hobson of Alabama, failed to win the necessary two-thirds majority, but the mood and politics regarding prohibition was certainly changing. Hobson became known as the anti-alcohol crusader. Richmond Pearson Hobson was one of the great heroes of the Spanish-American War, following only Theodore Roosevelt and George Dewey. Hobson's fame and popularity was the result of leading an unsuccessful attempt to block the harbor of Santiago de Cuba by sinking the collier MERRIMAC in the entrance. Despite the fact that the effort was a failure, and Hobson and his crew were captured by the Spanish, he became a hero anyway. As a result of his status as a war hero, he was later elected to Congress, and became a prominent crusader for alcohol prohibition. He introduced the first national alcohol prohibition bill in 1911.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000667
http://www.samford.edu/groups/amhf/id35.htm
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/people/hobson/
    1919-Singer Lil Green ( Lillian Johnson) born Clarksdale, MS “Why Don’t You Do Rights” was her big hit, later to be the theme song of Peggy Lee.
http://www.oafb.net/once29.html
http://www.geocities.com/theblueslady.geo/LilGreen.html
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,551235,00.html?artist=
Lillian+%22Lil%22+Green

    1921- The first U.S. commercial radio license assigned to a religious broadcaster was awarded to the National Presbyterian Church of Washington, D.C. Within five years, there were over 60 other licensed religious broadcasters, including KJS_Biola (L.A.), KFUO_Concordia Seminary (St. Louis), and WMBI_Moody Bible Institute (Chicago).
    1921- Country singer Hawkshaw Hawkins was born Huntington, West Virginia. A recording contract in the late 1940's with the King label yielded such hits as "I Wasted a Nickel," "Slow Poke" and "Sunny Side of the Mountain." Hawkins had little success in the 1950's, but on March 3rd, 1963, his "Lonesome 7-7203" entered the charts on its way to number one. Two days later, Hawkins was dead, a victim of the same plane crash in Kansas that killed Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas.
    1937- Lincoln Tunnel (New York NY) opens to traffic
http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/lincoln/
    1938-Birthday of Mateo “Matty” Alou, former baseball player, born Haina, Dominican Republic.
http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/A/Alou_Matty.stm
http://www.yankeeinfo.com/master.asp?id=alouma01
http://www.angelfire.com/va3/steelerchief/images/Matyalou.jpg
    1939- drummer Nick Ceroli born Warren OH Died August 11,1985 He began his professional career with the Ray Anthony band in the late '50s, and progressed through the bands of Lionel Hampton, Terry Gibbs, and Stan Kenton. Never a fan of rock or "pop" music, but rather a mainstream jazz and big band player, Nick nonetheless joined Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass in 1965. He spent five years with that incredibly successful group, lending his talent to an act once described as having "single-handedly returned instrumental music to the American popular consciousness."
http://www.centrohd.com/biogra/c3/nick_ceroli_b.htm
http://members.aol.com/jnetsites/ceroli2.html
    1941 - On Decca Records, Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra recorded "Blues in the Night", which became one of Lunceford’s biggest hits. From 1934 to 1946 Jimmy Lunceford racked up 22 hits more hits.
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_lunceford_jimmie.htm
    1942 - Sue Dauser takes oath of office as Superintendant of Navy Nurse Corps, becoming first woman with the relative rank of captain in U.S. Navy. She was promoted to the rank of captain on 26 February 1944.
    1943-WEB Du Bois elected First black member, National Institute of Arts and Letters
http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/dubois.html
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/dubois
    1944 - During the Battle of the Bulge, General Anthony McAuliffe responds to a German surrender request with a one word answer: "Nuts!"
    1944--DALESSONDRO, PETER J.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company E, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kalterherberg, Germany, 22 December 1944. Entered service at: Watervliet, N.Y. Born: 19 May 1918, Watervliet, N.Y. G.O. No.: 73, 30 August, 1945. Citation: He was with the 1st Platoon holding an important road junction on high ground near Kalterherberg, Germany, on 22 December 1944. In the early morning hours, the enemy after laying down an intense artillery and mortar barrage, followed through with an all-out attack that threatened to overwhelm the position. T/Sgt. Dalessondro, seeing that his men were becoming disorganized, braved the intense fire to move among them with words of encouragement. Advancing to a fully exposed observation post, he adjusted mortar fire upon the attackers, meanwhile firing upon them with his rifle and encouraging his men in halting and repulsing the attack. Later in the day the enemy launched a second determined attack. Once again, T/Sgt. Dalessondro, in the face of imminent death, rushed to his forward position and immediately called for mortar fire. After exhausting his rifle ammunition, he crawled 30 yards over exposed ground to secure a light machinegun, returned to his position, and fired upon the enemy at almost pointblank range until the gun jammed. He managed to get the gun to fire 1 more burst, which used up his last round, but with these bullets he killed 4 German soldiers who were on the verge of murdering an aid man and 2 wounded soldiers in a nearby foxhole. When the enemy had almost surrounded him, he remained alone, steadfastly facing almost certain death or capture, hurling grenades and calling for mortar fire closer and closer to his outpost as he covered the withdrawal of his platoon to a second line of defense. As the German hordes swarmed about him, he was last heard calling for a barrage, saying, "OK, mortars, let me have it--right in this position!" The gallantry and intrepidity shown by T/Sgt. Dalessondro against an overwhelming enemy attack saved his company from complete rout.
    1944-Birthday of Steven Norman “Steve” Carlton, baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, born Miami,Fl.
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/carlton_steve.htm
    1946-Birthday of Diane Sawyer, journalist ("60 Minutes," "Prime Time Live"), born Glasgow, KY.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA_diane_sawyer_bio.html
    1946 -- Otto Graham leads the Cleveland Browns to a 14-9 victory over the New York Yankees at Cleveland Stadium in the first All-America Football Conference championship game
    1947-Drummer Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers cut first record, Blue Note Label.
http://www.audiogalaxy.com/bands/artblakeysjazzmessengers/
http://www.playjazz.com/DR005.html
http://home.ica.net/~blooms/Art1.html
http://800-buy-movies.com/GeneralDVD/gr107322D1.htm
    1948-Birthday of Steve Garvey, former baseball player, born Tampa, Florida.
http://www.thebaseballpage.com/past/pp/garveysteve/
http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/garvest01.shtml
    1949--Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees were born on the Isle of Man. The Gibb family moved to Australia in 1958, and the twins, along with brother Barry, began performing together. The family returned to England in 1966, where the Gibb brothers were signed by producer Robert Stigwood. A hit single, "New York Mining Disaster 1941," and a hit album followed within a year. The teenaged stars were unprepared for their sudden success, and the Bee Gees fell apart in the early 1970s. But in 1977, they contributed several songs to the soundtrack of "Saturday Night Fever." "How Deep is Your Love," "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever" all became number-one hits. And the "Saturday Night Fever" album was the biggest-selling L-P of all time, until Michael Jackson's "Thriller" came along.
    1951---Top Hits
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Slowpoke - Pee Wee King
Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way - Carl Smith
    1952—“Ding Dong School” Premieres on TV. Named by a three-year-old after watching a test broadcast of the opening sequence (a hand ringing a bell), "Ding Dong School" was one of the first children's educational series. Miss Frances (Dr. Frances Horwich, head of Roosevelt College's education department at Chicago) was the host of this weekday show.
http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/dds.html
http://www.missfrances.com/memorabilia_cartoons.htm
http://www.skypoint.com/members/schutz19/dingdon1.htm
    1952-The Modern Jazz Quartet cuts first recording,Prestige label.
http://www.holeintheweb.com/drp/bhd/MJQ.htm
http://www.jazclass.aust.com/lewis.htm
    1955-Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Holiday Jubilee opens in New York. The twelve day show features Count Basie, LaVern Baker, The Cadillacs, The Wrens, The Valentines, The Chuckles and a host of others.
    1956-Elvis Presley had the most charting records this year with 17. Billboard reports Pat Boone was next with five, followed by Fats Domino, Little Richard and the Platters with three each.
    1957 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "April Love," Pat Boone.
    1958- "Chipmunk Song" reaches #1
http://www.poplyrics.net/waiguo/compilations/xmascarols/012.htm
http://www.psci.net/~aa9ai/chip.ra
    1959---Top Hits
Heartaches by the Number - Guy Mitchell
Why - Frankie Avalon
The Big Hurt - Miss Toni Fisher
El Paso - Marty Robbins
    1962-The Rebels' instrumental "Wild Weekend" is released on Swan Records. It makes it to #8 on the pop chart.
    1962-The Tornadoes' "Telstar" becomes the first record by a British group to top the American pop chart. The song was inspired by the launching of the Telstar commu-satellite in July.
    1963- Oakland Raider Tom Flores passes for 6 touchdowns vs. Houston (52-49)
http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/florestom.shtml
http://www.frameposters.com/Posters_Tom_Flores.html
http://www.geocities.com/madnessmike/tom_flores.htm
    1963 -Official 30-day mourning period for President John F Kennedy ends.
    1965 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Over and Over," Dave Clark Five. The song is the group's only No. 1 hit.
    1966-- The United States announces the allocation of 900,000 tons of grain to fight the famine in India.
    1966--- Acting on an earlier order from John Lennon, producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick manage to adjust the tape speeds of two completely different versions of "Strawberry Fields Forever" in order to create the track we know today.
    1967---Top Hits
Daydream Believer - The Monkees
Woman, Woman - The Union Gap
Boogaloo Down Broadway - The Fantastic Johnny C
It’s the Little Things - Sonny James
    1968-President-elect Richard Nixon’s younger daughter, Julie, was married in New York City to Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of the former president.
http://www.jag.org/jn_eisenhower.htm
    1969 -In San Francisco, Radio Free Alcatraz broadcast for first time on Berkeley radio station KPFA.
    1972-- Joni Mitchell's For the Roses album is certified gold
    1972 - Folk singer Joni Mitchell was awarded a gold record for her album, "For the Roses"; which included the song, "You Turn Me on, I’m a Radio".
http://www.jonimitchell.com/
    1973 - Barbra Streisand's hit record, The Way We Were, from the movie of the same title that she starred in with Robert Redford, debuted on Billboard's pop record charts on this date. The song was on the charts for 17 weeks total, and for 3 weeks was Number 1. It was later certified gold, and it won the Academy Awards for Best Song and for Best Original Dramatic Score. The music was written by Marvin Hamlisch, and the lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.
    1974-Center Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins scored the 500th goal of his career in a 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Esposito played from 1963-64 through 1980-81 and finished with 717 regular season goals.
    1975 - On CBS-TV's "All In the Family," Mike and Gloria Stivic, played by Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, had a baby.
    1975---Top Hits
That’s the Way (I Like It) - KC & The Sunshine Band
Let’s Do It Again - The Staple Singers
Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
Convoy - C.W. McCall
    1976 - Production of "Let’s Make A Deal" came to an end. During the games show's 3,200 episodes, Monty Hall gave away an estimated $35 million in prizes and over 20,000 kisses. The show's announcer was Jay Stewart, and Carol Merrill was the spokesmodel.
    1976-Bob Seger begins his breakthrough to stardom as his album, "Live Bullet," goes gold. The album features in-concert versions of "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man," "Beautiful Loser," "Get Out of Denver," "Travelin' Man" and "Katmandu."
    1976-- Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band's Live Bullet album is certified gold
    1977-Not everyone who jumped from the top of the Empire State building committed suicide, as 26-year-old Thomas Helms, who jumped from the observation deck oon the 86th floor landed on a narrow ledge on the85th floor, about 20 feet lower down. He was knocked unconscious for half an hour, but was not seriously injured.
http://www.hockey-fans.com/players/esposito.php
    1978-Faces drummer Kenney Jones becomes the Who's drummer, replacing the late Keith Moon who died two months earlier.
    1979-Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles and Chicago played a political benefit for California Governor Jerry Brown in Las Vegas. That show, and one the night before in San Diego, raised 150-thousand dollars.
    1979-Former studio musician Rupert Holmes had the last number one record of the seventies with "Escape" (The Pina Colada Song). The tune stayed at the top for two weeks and the follow-up, "Him", also made the Top 10. Holmes had previously done studio work for The Drifters, The Platters and Gene Pitney. "Escape" made #23 in the UK.
    1983---Top Hits
Say Say Say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Say It Isn’t So - Daryl Hall-John Oates
Union of the Snake - Duran Duran
Black Sheep - John Anderson
    1984 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Like a Virgin," Madonna. Billboard ranks the song as the top single of 1984.
    1984 - CBS Records it would release Mick Jagger, of the Rolling Stones, first solo album, set for release in February, 1985. After a 20-year career with the self- proclaimed “greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world,” Jagger went solo with the album: "She’s the Boss".
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002IXG/
102-8569588-7388914?v=glance

http://www.sweetstar.com/song/b000002ixg
    1986 - "Sports Illustrated" magazine named Joe Paterno Sportsman of the Year; whose naming marked the second time a coach won the honor. The first coach to do so was UCLA basketball legend, John Wooden. For this issue, the magazine chose to change its logo to a two-line design.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2002/sportsman/master_list/
http://www.gopsusports.com/football/people/paterno/paternobiobody.cfm
http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/Wooden.htm
    1989- 137 cities set record lows for this date. 35 of those cities established new lows for December. New all-time records were set -4ºF in Oklahoma City OK, -6ºF in Tulsa OK, -12ºF in Pittsburgh PA, -18ºF in Denver CO, -23ºF in Kansas City MO, -42ºF in Scottsbluff NE, -47ºF in Hardin MT & -60ºF in Black Hills SD.
    1991---Top Hits
Black or White - Michael Jackson
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday - Boyz II Men
All 4 Love - Color Me Badd
My Next Broken Heart - Brooks & Dunn
    1991-Gregg Allman makes his acting debut as a drug kingpin in the flick, "Rush." Eric Clapton did the excellent music score.
    1993-lake effect snows buried Turin, NY under 45 inches of snow with 5 inches falling in just 20 minutes. Boonville, NY had 31 inches in two days.
    1996-Right wing Brett Hull of the St. Louis Blues became the 24th player in NHL history to score 500 regular-season goals. He tallied goals Nos.498,499 and 500 in a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Another goal, originally thought to be No. 500 was later credited to teammate Sepahne Matteau. Hull and his father Bobby thus became the first father-and-son duo in NHL history to score 500 goals each.
http://www.hockey-fans.com/players/brett-hull.php
    1998 -- U.S. Woman Combat Pilot Sees Action -- December 22, 1998 -- ABOARD THE USS ENTERPRISE (AP) -- The first American woman fighter pilot to see combat action took part in the air strikes on Iraq. Navy Lt. Kendra Williams, 26, flew her FA-18 fighter-bomber as part of the attack force launched from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in the Gulf. Williams, who was raised in Anchorage, Alaska, was among the first group of women allowed to train for fighter duty, military officials said Tuesday. She graduated from jet training at the Naval Air Station in Kingsville, Texas, in 1997.
http://www.ctie.monash.edu/hargrave/williams_k.html
    2005--The internet search engine Google announced that Janet Jackson was the most-searched name during the last twelve months, with people looking for pictures from her so-called "wardrobe malfunction" at Super Bowl 38 when she exposed her right breast.
    2010-The British government declared the Beatles' famous Abbey Road zebra-crossing a national heritage site. Britain's Minister for Tourism and Heritage John Penrose said "This London zebra crossing is no castle or cathedral, but thanks to the Beatles and a 10-minute photo shoot one August morning in 1969, it has just as strong a claim as any to be seen as part of our heritage."

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