Working Capital from $10,0000 to $250,000                           ChannelPartnersCapital.com

Please Donate to the Salvation Army
Click the Kettle

 

At last count, we are one/third to our goal of $4,000.

Latest Dollar Amount and List of Donors is Online

The form gives you the choice:

• Please don't show my name on the person's/team's page
• Please don't show my donation amount on the person's/team's page
• Leave a private message for the participant/team captain

This year the Salvation Army is doing the Online Kettle differently. In the past, they had individual teams donations sent to the main headquarters, where they distributed across the company. This year they have localized it.

Leasing News has selected "Alameda County" where the Salvation Army is helping those in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire, as well as many others who are being evicted in a crackdown of such living conditions. It is expensive to rent or purchase a residence in Silicon Valley, so many have taken shared housing, which was not being enforced.

Your donation will help.

Kit Menkin

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Election Over, Confidence Rebounds to Leasing Industry
ELFF December Report

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s December 2016 Monthly Confidence Index reveals that confidence in the equipment finance market is 67.5, one of the largest jumps this year, going from the November index of 54.6., with equipment finance executives
expressing post-election optimism.

Richard A. Baccaro, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Ascentium Capital: "I’ve been supportive of a business leader in the White House who understands how to drive an economic revolution in the US; through a combination of growth and tax breaks.

"President Elect Trump’s administration and policies will be pro-business.  Having said that; I don’t expect every decision to be executed perfectly as there are always some unintended consequences.

"This appears to be the start of a new chapter for American businesses of all sizes. God Bless America"

William H. Besgen, Senior Advisor, Vice Chairman Emeritus, Hitachi Capital America Corp.: “I believe that with the election now over there will be a more stable and hopefully a more positive business environment, which will translate to an increase in financing opportunities.”

John Boettigheimer, Centra Funding, LLC / 4 Hour Funding Plus LLC: "I am very optimistic for the post-election.  Whether you like Trump or not, the equipment finance market is focused squarely on small business owners and this is one demographic that Trump carried in the election.  In my dealings with our customer’s, many of them felt empowered by the results.  They view the results of the election as a vote for a pro-business environment.  Since the election, we have seen a very large surge in new applications."

Robert Boyer, President, Susquehanna Commercial Finance, Inc. “The results of the election should lead to a more favorable business environment over time. The anticipation of this has already had a positive impact and is beginning to shift the mindsets of business leaders and investors. I am concerned about the potential negative impact the anticipated tax reform may have on our industry segment.”

Harry Kaplun, President, Specialty Finance, Frost Bank: "“A more business friendly administration will provide economic stimulus to all sectors of the economy.”

Paul J. Menzel, CLFP, President, Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc., A subsidiary of Umpqua Bank: "2017 could turn out to be a banner year for our industry for a few reasons. We are already seeing a bounce in business sentiment from the election with the promise of less regulation and lower taxes. This should spur investment in capital equipment in the short run. Combine these factors with rising interest rates providing an incentive to lock in fixed rate, term financing to acquire equipment and you have the potential for growing demand for leasing. That is my traditional assessment. But not much has been traditional over the last few years so we should also be ready for the unexpected. It will be an interesting ride regardless."

David Normandin, Managing Director, Commercial Finance Group, Hanmi Bank: “I am optimistic as the election cycle is finally behind us, and regardless of the side, people will begin to accept it and move forward. I also think an interest rate increase will be healthy, and I believe that we will see that happen this coming year.”

David T. Schaefer, CEO, Mintaka Financial, LLC.:  “I’m hopeful that we are moving into a more favorable business environment which will create a more optimistic outlook. Certainly having the election behind us is less of a distraction.”

December 2016 Survey Results:

• 48.4% of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, an increase from 13.8% in November. 45.2% of respondents believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, a decrease from 69.0% in November.6.5% believe business conditions will worsen, a decrease from 17.2% the previous month.

• 38.7% of survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase over the next four months, an increase from 13.8% in November.54.8% believe demand will “remain the same” during the same four-month time period, down from 69.0% the previous month.6.5% believe demand will decline, down from 17.2% who believed so in November.

• 22.6% of the respondents expect more access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions over the next four months, an increase from 13.8% who expected more in November.77.4% of executives indicate they expect the “same” access to capital to fund business, a decrease from 82.8% the previous month. None expect “less” access to capital, a decrease from 3.4% last month.

• 41.9% of the executives report they expect to hire more employees over the next four months, an increase from 34.5% in November.48.4% expect no change in headcount over the next four months, a decrease from 55.2% last month.9.7% expect to hire fewer employees, down from 10.3% in November.

• 71.0% of the survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get “better” over the next six months, an increase from 17.2% in November.25.8% of survey respondents indicate they believe the U.S. economy will “stay the same” over the next six months, a decrease from 65.5% the previous month. 3.2% believe economic conditions in the U.S. will worsen over the next six months, a decrease from 17.2% who believed so last month.

• In December, 48.4% of respondents indicate they believe their company will increase spending on business development activities during the next six months, an increase from 37.9% in November.51.6% believe there will be “no change” in business development spending, a decrease from 58.6% the previous month. None believe there will be a decrease in spending, a decrease from 3.4% who believed so last month.
  
  

 

 

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Maxwell Dean Cash was hired as new Leasing and Business Finance Officer, Exchange Bank, Santa Rosa, California. He is based in the San Francisco office.  Previously, he was Vice President, Lease Origination ATEL Capital Group (January, 2013 – October, 2016, after serving as Account Executive (2012-2013). Prior, he was Sales Development Representative, icix (January, 2012 – November, 2012); Sales Internship, ChinaVest (2011 – September, 2011); Sales Trainee within Venture Capital Division, ATEL Ventures (2007 – 2007). Organizations: USC Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management, Board Member, Starting September, 2014. USC College Libertarians, President (August, 2010 – January, 2012). Equipment Lease and Finance Association, member, starting August, 2012. Association of Finance Professionals, Member, Starting January, 2013. Olympic Club, Member holding Golf Privilege, Starting May, 2014. USC Marshall Family Business Center, Board Member (Starting January, 2015). Kairos Society, Member (January, 2008 – May, 2011). Certifications: High Impact Presentations, Dale Carnegie Training, Starting May, 2013. Sales Success, Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc., Starting August, 2014. Council of Supply (CSCMP SFRT) Young Professionals Membership. Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, License 369437, Starting February, 2015. Languages: French.
Education: University of Southern California, Bachelor's Degree, International Business (2007 – 2011). Activities and Societies: President of US College Libertarians USC Entrepreneur club Kairos Society. Urban School of San Francisco (2003 – 2007). Town School K-8 school, Becoming a man (1994 – 2003.) Activities and Societies: Student council Treasurer (2002-2003); Student Council Vice President (2001-2002.)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwellcash

Ray Morandell was promoted to Executive Vice President, National Sales Direct, Crestmark Bank, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He joined the bank November, 2008.  Previously, he was at Textron Financial Corporation, starting 1999 as Vice President, Business Development; promoted June, 2007, Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager. Prior, he was Vice President, Business Development, GE Capital Corporation (January, 1998 – June, 1999); President & CEO, RPM Financial Group, Inc. (1993 – 1998); Vice President, Corporate Banking & Structured Finance, PNC Bank (1986 – 1993); AVP, Commercial Lending, FNB of Cochranton (May, 1985 – 1986); Trust/ Investment Associate, FNB of Pennsylvania (June, 1982 – May, 1985). Honors & Awards: Six Sigma Quality Improvement Green Belt and Project(s) Leader. Textron Financial Champion's Club 2010-2011. Textron Financial President's Club 2008-2011. Pennsylvania Small Business Administration Origination Award 1987. Courses: PNC Bank, Dale Carnegie Professional Presentation. Education: Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Graduate Degree, Banking Applications (1986 – 1988). Allegheny College, BS, Economics (1978 – 1981). Activities and Societies: Allegheny College Economics and Investment Council
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-morandell-74147b23

Benjamin Pimentel was hired as Head of Content, BlueVine, Redwood City, California. Previously, he was Writer, Small Business, NerdWallet (March, 2015 – December, 2016); Senior Content Strategist (User Experience Lead), Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (September, 2014 – February, 2015); Technology Reporter, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal Digital Network (October, 2007 – September, 2014); Public Relations Manager/Writer, Stanford Graduate School of Business  (May, 2007 – October, 2007); Business Technology Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com (August, 2001 – May, 2007); Metro Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com (June, 1993 – August, 2001); Reporter, The Seattle Times (May, 1991 – July, 1991). Languages: Filipino.  Honors & Awards: First Place, Outstanding Commentary, New America Media, 2012. Philippine National Book Award for Fiction for the novel "Mga Gerilya sa Powell Street" ("The Guerrillas of Powell Street"), 2007. Second Place, Technology Story, Peninsula Press Club, for report on the use of sophisticated visualization technology for autopsies, 2006. Best Investigative Reporting, Press Club of the East Bay Awards, for report on the U.S. military’s environmental legacy in the Philippines, 2001. Filipinas Magazine Achievement Award for Communications, 2001. Golden Gate Award, 37th San Francisco International Film Festival, for the documentary "Toxic Sunset," 1994. Best Ecology Documentary, 3rd Eat Bay Video Festival, for "Toxic Sunset," 1993. Organizations: Asian American Journalists Association; Society of American Business Editors and Writers. Education: University of California, Berkeley, Master's, Journalism (1990 – 1992); University of the Philippines, BA, Political Science (1981 – 1985). Activities and Societies: Philippine Collegian. UP Philosoc. Ateneo de Manila University. High School
(1977 – 1981.)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpimentel

Edward Puerto was hired as VP, New Business Development, Nebula Capital, LLC., to open in 2017 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Previously, he was Senior National Account Manager, GRP Funding LLC (April, 2011 – November, 2016); Founder, Restaurant Financial Group LLC. (2007 – April, 2011); VP, ISO Development, ARF Financial LLC (January, 2005 – January, 2007); Account Executive, CAN Capital (January, 2003 – January, 2005). Languages: Spanish. Education: University of California, Santa Barbara, BS, Psychology (1995 – 1998). St X (1988 – 1991).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-puerto-4382a311

Gina Proia was hired as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, CIT Group, Inc., New York City. She joined Ally Financial Inc. (formerly GMAC Financial Services), December, 2006, with last position in this time period as Executive Director, Global Media Relations & Financial Communications.  She was promoted June, 2009, as SVP & Chief Communications Officer. She was hired as Public Relations & Lifestyle Communications, General Motors, 2001; promoted, 2004, Financial Communications. She began her career as Managing Director, PR Agency (1994-2001). Organizations: Jump$tart Coalition, Board Member (2014 – 2016). Museum of American Finance, Communications Executives Advisory Panel Member, Starting January 2016. Additional Organizations
Arthur W. Page Society, NIRI, PRSA, AWE (Advancing Women Executives.)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-proia-a44a2a

Traci Stadler was promoted to Equipment Finance Officer, Business Bank Team at Key Equipment Finance. In this role, Stadler will lead equipment financing activities for Western regions of New York and Pennsylvania. Stadler spent the last 16 years of her career in equipment finance with First Niagara Leasing. She joined Key Equipment Finance when KeyCorp acquired First Niagara in October. Stadler joined First Niagara Leasing as Vice President of Sales and broker division in 2000, following six years as vice president of sales for Empire National Leasing in Buffalo, NY. She was named Vice President and Sales Representative for the business banking division in 2010. She has been an active member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association and the National Equipment Finance Association. Volunteer Experience & Causes: Board of Directors Member, Gildas Club of WNY (January, 2010) Worked on the Board of Directors, Volunteered, assisted and participated in the fund raising events, Susan G. Komen WNY (June, 2000 – Present). Participated in annual race, Volunteer in the Walking and Enrichment Program, SPCA Serving Erie County (February, 2003 – January, 2005). Animal Welfare, Participated and volunteered in their dog walking and enrichment program. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Nebraska Chapter
Fund Raising, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (April, 2007 – Present). Fund raising for the association.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/traci-stadler-985a5526

The State of Financial Search Marketing in 2017
– RankBrain!

FinTech #102 by Brittney Holcomb

The shift has arrived. In 2017, digital marketing will completely shift from being keyword focused to being user experience focused. This is mainly because of how Google will start ranking websites in search engine results using their artificial intelligence machine learning system: RankBrain.

RankBrain will begin to study user patterns and behaviors online so they are able to predict what a user is going to search for without the user actually have to type in specific keywords. With personal assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Home more widely used now, content development and marketing strategies have to be geared towards predicting what our audience is going to search online, what questions they may be seeking answers for, what resources they need, etc.

Not only is Google going “total robot” on us but they also may be going “total Mobile” too. Just in 2016, 63% of Google searches happened on desktops, while 94% of searches happened on Mobile devices. With such a large audience using mobile devices for search, Google is testing out a separate ranking system just for mobile devices. This would mean websites would rank differently on mobile devices than they do on desktops. Mobile rankings would take precedence over desktop rankings because of how widely used mobile is for searching now.

One thing to make sure of moving into 2017 is that your website is mobile responsive and also that your websites page load speed is fast. Google has launched accelerated mobile pages (AMP) to help websites obtain fast page load speed for mobile devices. Definitely something to keep in mind when enhancing your users’ mobile experience.  Users on mobile devices tend to have a short attention span when it comes to obtaining results which is why having a fast page load speed is vital to producing the best mobile user experience.

If you’re not sure if your audience is using desktops or mobile more, you can locate this data within your Google Analytics dashboard. Analytics will tell you exactly what devices your audience is using the most to locate your business.

The emphasis on using RankBrain to understand and predict user behavior is so that as a search engine and as small businesses, we are able to give a more personalized online experience to our users.

Along the same lines as the rollout of artificial intelligence and mobile focused marketing, comes the importance of optimizing your business to rank locally in your city or state. Google as well as personal assistants like Alexa and Siri, pull local business information first when presenting results to search queries. If your business isn’t optimized for local search you will miss the opportunity to outrank larger brands right in your hometown.

Another way we want to continue to tweak our marketing strategy to embrace the digital assistants and RankBrain movement is to create more content that is focused on natural language rather than keywords. This goes hand in hand with identifying pain points of our audience, predicting questions they will ask Google, and then building content around those questions. We also want to create various content pieces for users in every stage of the sales funnel so that we are always providing the most accurate message to each of them on their journey to making a decision into a conversion.

Google has always despised marketing strategies that build content around keywords which is why they are using RankBrain as a way to serve results related to what the user is actually looking for rather than just based on keywords. Content that would rank well in a RankBrain world would be any pieces that are resourceful, helpful, and informative content that the user can engage with and use as a solution to their pain point.

In 2017 Google will also be moving away from deeming successful social media marketing by followers and likes and more so by engagement and interaction users are having with your social accounts. This is directly related to creating more useful content around questions your audience is frequently searching. Providing these answers initiates an engagement between your and the user.

Lastly, Google is looking to rank https:// URLs higher than those with just the http://. The additional “s” stands for ‘secure’ website. Almost every large financial company and bank has already implemented this. While it is not a confirmed ranking factor yet, I do foresee this becoming vital for financial companies in particular.

A lot to take in and tweak on the marketing front as we move into the New Year.

Brittney Holcomb is the Director of Paid Search at The Finance Marketing Group. She works exclusively with finance companies and banks to help better develop their business online through digital marketing strategies. Brittney has been trained by some of the top leaders in the industry giving her a vast knowledge she is able to pass along to her client base.

Email: brittney@financemarketing.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittney-holcomb-02101834

Previous Financial Technology Articles
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/fintech.html

 

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NATIONWIDE SALES POSITIONS AVAILABLE Healthcare, Commercial and Industrial We are a premier small ticket and middle market full service equipment finance company. Our compensation programs are aggressive and include full insurance benefits, matching 401k, etc. Positions are available for well experienced industry professionals with an established book of business originating equipment finance transactions. Please email your resume to sschachtel@bankozarks.com or call directly at 973-768-7501 Bank of the Ozarks was recognized as the top performing bank in the United States, based on financial performance, five years in a row, 2011-2015. • Rated as “well capitalized” – the highest available regulatory rating • Publicly traded company on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, symbol OZRK • Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas • Chartered in March 1903, a 111-year heritage 256 Offices, 18.5 billion in assets, second quarter 2016 net income of over 54 million www.bankozarks.com/equipment Bank of the Ozarks We are an equal opportunity employer and give consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local law. Member FDIC.

 

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

FDIC Board Approves 2017 Operating Budget,
Down 46 Percent from Peak in 2010

The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today approved a $2.16 billion operating budget for 2017, down 2.4 percent from 2016 and 46 percent lower than the peak in 2010 at the height of the financial crisis. The Board also approved an authorized staffing level of 6,363 positions for 2017, a 2.6 percent decrease from 2016 and 32 percent lower than the peak in 2011.

"This is the seventh consecutive reduction in the FDIC’s annual operating budget," FDIC Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg said. "These reductions are made possible by continuing steady improvement in the health of the U.S. banking industry. The FDIC remains focused on fulfilling its mission while prudently managing costs."

Attachments:
Proposed 2017 Operating Budget Memorandum
2017 Operating Budget Exhibits

###

Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation's banks and savings associations, 5,980 as of September 30, 2016. It promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars—insured financial institutions fund its operations.

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

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for appraisals
and equipment valuations provided by Ed Castagna)

 

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Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

Suspenseful romance (“Allied”) and poignant drama (“Manchester by the Sea”) come to theaters, while DVD releases offer affecting animation (“Kubo and the Two Strings"), a wide-ranging documentary (“Lo and Behold”), and a master’s autumnal visions (“Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams”).

Allied (Paramount Pictures): Following period turns in “Inglourious Basterds” and “Fury,” Brad Pitt returns to World War II in this engagingly old-fashioned romantic drama from Oscar-winning director Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump”). Pitt plays Max Vattan, a Canadian intelligence officer whose latest mission is to eliminate a German ambassador in Nazi-occupied Casablanca. Her partner in this deadly assignment is Marianne (Marion Cottilard), a French Resistance fighter who poses as his wife as they head into treacherous territory. The two grow to love each other, and hope to pursue their relationship after their mission is finished. Instead, suspicion and fear threaten to poison the love they feel for each other. Can romance be more dangerous than espionage? With gorgeous craftsmanship that’s reminded critics of “Casablanca” and Hitchcock, the film is a consistently entertaining tangle of intrigue.

Manchester by the Sea (Roadside Attractions): Having established himself in “You Can Count on Me” and “Margaret” as a poet of thorny emotions, writer-director Kenneth Lonergan serves up another rich and intense portrait of people at difficult crossroads with this acclaimed drama. In his best performance yet, Casey Affleck stars as Lee Chandler, a Massachusetts janitor whose quiet demeanor hides depths of pain. His life takes a sharp turn with the death of his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler), which leads him back to the seaside town of Manchester. While coming to terms with being the new guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges), Lee must also face a tragic past involving his ex-wife Randi (Michelle Williams). With tender compassion for its wounded characters, Lonergan’s film is a textured, poignant snapshot of heartbreak.

Netflix Tip: Though best known for his dashing role in the TV series “Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” Robert Vaughn (1932-2016) also had a prolific film career across a variety of genres. So check out Netflix for some of his best roles, including the original “The Magnificent Seven” (1960), “Bullitt” (1968), and “The Towering Inferno” (1974).

On DVD:

Kubo and the Two Strings (Universal): Long a notable animation supervisor (“Coraline,” “ParaNorman”), Laika Studio chief Travis Knight moves to the director’s chair with gorgeous results in this accomplished stop-motion adventure. Set in medieval Japan, the story follows Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson), a 12-year-old equipped with an eye-patch and magical powers inherited from his mother. When his vengeful relatives threaten his peaceful existence, the pint-sized samurai must track down the armor that could protect him, as well as unlock secrets of the past. Accompanied by Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey), he forges ahead in his journey. With a visual vibrancy that references lush Japanese art, Knight’s film is an emotional and mature gem that respects its audience’s imagination.

Lo and Behold (Magnolia Pictures): An irrepressibly offbeat artist with a bottomless hunger for adventure, veteran German filmmaker Werner Herzog (“Grizzly Man”) turns his gaze to the Internet in this wide-ranging documentary. Subtitled “Reveries of the Connected World,” the film is divided into various sessions, each looking at a different side of a planet where technology seems to simultaneously bring people and things closer and pull them apart. Going back to the very beginnings of the Internet and investigating its repercussions on the human race, Herzog visits people affected by online troubles and travels to isolated communities still unaware of phones. Contemplating technical advancements with eccentric humor and characteristic compassion, this is another engaging entry in the legendary director’s long oeuvre of exhilarating explorations.

Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams (Criterion): One of cinema’s most dynamic auteurs in his youth, Japanese master Akira Kurosawa (“Seven Samurai”) mellowed with age and turned to serene introspection in his later years. This collection of short, magical narratives is a splendid example of his autumnal artistry, a free-flowing string of lyrical visions based on the director’s dreams. Among the stories is a retelling of ab old legend about children and forest animals, a grim remembrance of wartime terrors, a memorable visit by Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (played by none other than Martin Scorsese), a glimpse of an apocalyptic netherworld, and a tranquil view of life-worn resilience. Sometimes unsettling, sometimes sentimental, Kurosawa’s surreal mosaic is a most worthwhile journey, offering beauty as startling and as ephemeral as its eponymous reveries. With subtitles.

Terrier Mix
Seattle, Washington  Adopt-a-Dog

Izzy
Female
Spayed
Current on vaccinations
Prefers a home without dogs, cats and young children

Meet Izzy! Izzy is an 18-month old Terrier mix searching for her forever home in the greater Seattle area. Izzy is a complete and total sweetheart! She is a happy-go-lucky girl who will be sure to put a smile on anyone's face with her goofy antics and big personality. Izzy is extremely treat motivated; this smarty pants already knows a ton of commands and would be an excellent student in an advanced manners class. She would thrive as your one and only in the home as she can be easily overwhelmed by the constant presence of other dogs. Izzy is a very active girl and needs a lot of fenced space to run, run, run. No apartments or townhomes for this lady! If you have an empty spot next to you on the couch or a peanut butter-filled Kong, she will surely be your best friend!

Izzy is fully vetted, spayed, and microchipped. If you are interested in scheduling a meet and greet with Izzy, please call Emerald City Pet Rescue at (206) 557-4661.

Emerald City Pet Rescue
2962 1st Avenue South B
Seattle, WA 98134
206-557-4661
info@emeraldcitypetrescue.org

Open 7 days a week
10am - 7pm Monday-Friday
10am - 6pm Saturday
12pm - 5pm Sunday

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

 

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Leasing/Finance Conferences 2017
Save the Dates

January 31, 2017 - February 1, 2017
Asset Based Capital Conference
Encore at Wynn
Las Vegas, Nevada

Chapter Events
http://community.cfa.com/abcc2017/home

Jeffery Walsh, Event Director
Commercial Finance Association
(212) 792-9399 |  jwalsh@cfa.com

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March 22, 2017
16th Annual IMN/ELFA
Investor Conference
New York, New York

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March 15, 2017 - March 17, 2017
2017 National Equipment Finance Summit
Renaissance Long Beach Hotel
Long Beach, California
March 15, 2017 -  March 17, 2017

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April 4 - April 6, 2017
29th Annual National Funding Conference
Chicago, Illinois

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April 5, 2017 – April 7, 2017
National Vehicle Leasing Association
Hilton Nashville Downtown
121 Fourth Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Register

Contact: Elizabeth Schlicht
eschlicht@nvla.org 
414-533-3300

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April 27, 2017 - April 29, 2017
NAELB 2017 Annual Conferences
Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel
& Memphis Cook Convention Center
Memphis, Tennessee

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May 3, 2017 - May 5, 2017
37th Annual AGLF Conference
Omni Interlocken Resort
Broomfield, Colorado

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October 4, 2017 - October, 6
2017 Funding Symposium
JW Marriott Buckhead
Atlanta, Georgia

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October 11, 2017 - October 13, 2017
Lend360
Fairmount Dallas, Texas
http://www.lend360.org/

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October 17, 2017 - October 19, 2017
  Third Annual Conference

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October 22, 2017 - October 24, 2017
2017 56th Annual Convention
Orlando, Florida

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October 22, 2017 -  October, 26, 2017
The Palazzo and Sands Convention Center
Venetian Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada

 

News Briefs----

RapidAdvance's Mark Cerminaro is deBanked's
   November/December Cover
http://debanked.com/2016/12/rapidadvances-mark-cerminaro-is-debankeds-novemberdecember-cover/

Dollar Surges as U.S. Prepares for Higher Rates
a 14-year high after Fed raises interest rates/first time in 2016
http://www.wsj.com/articles/dollar-surges-as-u-s-prepares-for-higher-rates-1481803627

Mortgage rates rise
  in the shadow of the Federal Reserve's rate hike
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-analysis-121416.aspx?ic_id=Top_Financial%20News%20Center_link_1

 

 

 

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--You May Have Missed It

14 Most Loyal Dog Breeds
http://tipsociety.com/14-loyal-dog-breeds/?utm_source=gemini&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ts-dog-1

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American Football Poem

Ode to the Rams

by Nancy

'Twas two weeks before Christmas
When all through the dome
Not one Rams point was spotted
Not even at home

The Vikings were lined up
All smiling with glee
For they knew that the Rams
Would soon be "History"

Just when Kurt say's to Faulk
What more can they do?
Moss spread out his wings
And like "Santa" he flew!!

With home field advantage
The Vikes catch their plane
With dreams of a ring
And a Super Bowl Reign

But I heard them exclaim
As they left the Rams home
Come see us sometime
At our own METRODOME!!

 

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Sports Briefs----

Surrender Baalke! How 49ers’ G.M. went from golden boy to Grinch
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article121114758.html

How are 49ers going to get this quarterback conundrum right?
http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/12/14/49ers-options-at-quarterback-next-season-and-beyond-are-full-of-question-marks/

Balke Could End up with the Broncos
http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/sources-trent-baalke-could-end-broncos

Equity Value More IMport to Yorks than Winning Games
  says Steven Young
http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/steve-young-equity-value-more-important-yorks-winning-games

Patriots claim ex-Cardinals WR Michael Floyd off waivers
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2016/12/15/michael-floyd-new-england-arizona-cardinals/95487946/

 

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California Nuts Briefs---

See where wealth is concentrated in California
http://www.sacbee.com/site-services/databases/article2584745.html#emlnl=Todays_Top_Stories

Marin supervisors give green light for purchase of Buck’s Landing
http://www.marinij.com/environment-and-nature/20161213/marin-supervisors-give-green-light-for-purchase-of-bucks-landing

Sea Ranch home with amazing views sells in less than a week
http://blog.sfgate.com/ontheblock/2016/12/15/sea-ranch-home-with-amazing-views-sells-in-less-than-a-week/

Environmentalists challenge Squaw Valley expansion
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article121188713.html

Hundreds vie for UC Davis top job
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article120872773.html

Anthony’s Fish Grotto Plans Jan. 31
    Closing for San Diego Restaurant
http://www.sdbj.com/news/2016/dec/14/anthonys-fish-grotto-plans-jan-31-closing-san-dieg/

 

Sometimes Growing Your Profits Means Thinking Out of the Box Receivables Management LLC has built their reputation spanning two decades with unmatched Professionalism, Honesty, Integrity and the ability to earn its Equipment Leasing clients an average of 30% on residual income • End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement • Third-Party Commercial Collections john@jkrmdirect.com | ph 315-866-1167 www.jkrmdirect.com

 

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

The $6 Wine Voted Best In The World Is Now In The US
  (Yes, Of Course It's At Walmart)
http://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/the-6-wine-voted-best-in-the-world-is-now-in-the-us-yes-of-course-its-at-walmar.html

Wine industry divided over proposed bottle labeling rule
http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/wine-industry-divided-over-proposed-bottle-labeling-rule/article_ccb83947-d733-57a7-ba05-81423494589a.html

Berkeley wine store owner who stole $45 million sentenced
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Berkeley-wine-store-owner-who-stole-45-million-10797297.ph

Napa's Most Ageworthy Chardonnay
http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2016/12/napa-s-most-ageworthy-chardonnay

The evolving wine industry in North Dakota
http://www.inforum.com/variety/4179105-evolving-wine-industry-north-dakota

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/

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

       1773 - In the celebrated Boston Tea Party, in a nonviolent political protest, the Sons of Liberty in Boston, dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships in Boston harbor and threw their cargoes of tea, 342 chests worth 18,000 British pounds into the water (initially referred to by John Adams as "the Destruction of the Tea in Boston). The action was the climax of growing colonial opposition to the growing set of import taxes, including the “Tea Act.” As Europeans developed a taste for tea in the 17th century, rival companies were formed to import the product from China. In England, Parliament gave the East India Company a monopoly on the importation of tea in 1698. When tea became popular in the British colonies, Parliament sought to eliminate foreign competition by passing an act in 1721 that required colonists to import their tea only from Great Britain. The East India Company did not export tea to the colonies; by law, the company was required to sell its tea wholesale at auctions in England. British firms bought this tea and exported it to the colonies, where they resold it to merchants in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston. Until 1767, the East India Company paid an ad valorem tax of about 25% on tea that it imported into Great Britain. Parliament laid additional taxes on tea sold for consumption in Britain. These high taxes, combined with the fact that tea imported into Holland was not taxed by the Dutch government, meant that Britons and British Americans could buy smuggled Dutch tea at much cheaper prices. The biggest market for illicit tea was England.  By the 1760s, the East India Company was losing £400,000 per year to smugglers in Great Britain, but Dutch tea was also smuggled into British America in significant quantities. In 1767, to help the East India Company compete with smuggled Dutch tea, Parliament passed the Indemnity Act, which lowered the tax on tea consumed in Great Britain, and gave the East India Company a refund of the 25% duty on tea that was re-exported to the colonies. To help offset this loss of government revenue, Parliament also passed the Townshend Revenue Act of 1767, which levied new taxes, including one on tea, in the colonies. Instead of solving the smuggling problem, however, the Townshend duties renewed a controversy about Parliament's right to tax the colonies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party
    1811 - The first of the powerful New Madrid, MO earthquakes, with an estimated magnitude of 7.7, struck the central Mississippi Valley.
    1826 - Benjamin Edwards rode into Mexican-controlled Nacogdoches, TX and declared himself ruler of the Republic of Fredonia.  The Fredonian Rebellion (December, 1826–January, 1827) was the first attempt by Anglo settlers in Texas to secede from Mexico.     
    1828 – Birthday of John Beatty (d. 1914), Sandusky, OH.  Brigadier-General (Union volunteers).
http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/6734/mcms.html
http://famousamericans.net/johnbeatty1/
    1863 - Confederate President Jefferson Davis names General Joseph Johnston commander of the Army of Tennessee. Johnston replaced Braxton Bragg, who managed to lose all of Tennessee to the Union during that year. He fought at the First Battle of Bull Run and commanded the Army of Northern Virginia during the early stages of the Peninsular Campaign in 1862. When he was wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines on May 31, Lee replaced Johnston. After recovering from his wounds, Johnston was sent to coordinate the operations of the armies the Tennessee and Mississippi regions. Since he did not have a command of his own, Johnston resented this duty. In 1863, Johnston made a futile attempt to relieve John C. Pemberton's army at Vicksburg. He wanted Pemberton to fight his way out of Vicksburg, but Union General Ulysses S. Grant had Pemberton trapped. The surrender of Pemberton's army put additional stress on the already strained relationship between Johnston and President Davis. After the campaigns of 1863, however, Davis felt he had little choice but to name Johnston commander of the Army of Tennessee. The Confederates were losing large sections of territory to the Union. Bragg was literally maneuvered right out of Tennessee during the summer, although he engineered a victory at Chickamauga before laying siege to Union troops at Chattanooga. When Grant broke the Confederate hold on Chattanooga in November, Bragg resigned his command. Davis reluctantly appointed Johnston to save the situation in the West. Johnston took the field with his army in the spring of 1864, when Union General William T. Sherman began his drive toward Atlanta. Johnston employed a defensive strategy that avoided direct battle with Sherman but which also resulted in lost territory as Johnston slowly backed up to Atlanta. Johnston's command lasted until July 1864, when Davis replaced Johnston after the Army of the Tennessee was backed into Atlanta. Ironically, the Union Army considered him one of the best leaders of the Confederate troops, as he was quite effective. Jefferson Davis did not see it that way.
http://tennessee-scv.org/camp28/johnstonbio.html
http://www.swcivilwar.com/jjohnston.html
    1863 - Birthday of George Santayana (d. 1952), Philosopher and author, Madrid, Spain. At the age of nine, he immigrated to the US where he attended and later taught at Harvard University. In 1912, he returned to Europe and traveled extensively. It was Santayana who said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
    1864 - Union troops defeated Confederate forces on the second day of battle at Nashville, essentially knocking the Confederate Army of Tennessee out of the Civil War. Union General George Thomas attack on the army of Confederate General John Bell Hood at Nashville was a major defeat for the Confederacy. Hood's drastically outnumbered forces retreated, and only some heroic rear-guard action prevented the total destruction of the Confederate army.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec16.html
    1867 - Elizabeth Johnson Harris (d. 1942) birthday, one of the first African-American female writers.
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/harris/#sarah
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/collections/african-american-women.html
    1869 - Decree by US Emperor Norton I, historically America's greatest and most enlightened ruler, demands that Sacramento clean its muddy streets and place gaslights on streets leading to the capitol.
http://www.zpub.com/sf/history/nort.html
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist1/norton.html
    1870 - Negro Methodist Episcopal Church founded in Jackson, TN. Its name was changed in 1954 to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The denomination today is comprised of approximately 3,000 congregations.
    1884 - William Henry Fruen of Minneapolis received a patent for a vending machine that dispensed liquid automatically. When a coin was inserted in the slot, a uniform supply of liquid was released from a reservoir.
    1889 - The Players League formally organized with Colonel E.A. McAlpin of New York as president. The league prohibited player transfers without the player's consent, excess profits will be split between the capitalists and the players, and prize money will be awarded to the teams in the order of their finish.
    1893 - Anton Dvorak's “New World Symphony” premiered at the newly erected Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic playing. The composer attended and enjoyed enthusiastic applause from the audience. The symphony contains snatches from black spirituals and American folk music. Dvorak, a Bohemian, had been in the US only a year when he composed it as a greeting to his friends in Europe.
    1901 - The famous story, "Peter Rabbit," by Beatrix Potter, was printed for the first time, complete with Potter's watercolor illustrations. Ms. Potter had come up with the Peter Rabbit concept eight years earlier when she sent a story, told in pen and ink drawings, to a five-year-old who was sick in bed. The first story about the ill-behaved rabbit was meant to cheer up the little boy. Of course, all good little boys and girls remember that Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail were the good little bunnies who went down the lane to gather blackberries. But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight to Mr. McGregor's garden, and squeezed through the gate. First he ate some lettuce and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes ... and he got too fat ... and Mr. McGregor is coming ... and we gotta get out of this garden ... and it's getting late ... we will have to finish this later.
    1901 - Margaret Mead (d. 1978) birthday, Philadelphia.  U.S. anthropologist who revolutionized thinking about primitive life and female adolescent sexuality by raising questions about the assumptions of rigid social mores in all cultures. In 1949, she published “Male and Female: A Study of the Sexes in a Changing World” which contrasted gender roles in various societies, the importance of the mother in the development of the children's adult lives, and the different opinions on women's roles in raising children. It examined traditional male-female relationships, using observations from the Pacific and the East Indies for reference in discussing such topics as the mother's influence in perpetuating male and female roles and the different concepts of women's roles in marriage.
http://mead2001.org/index.html
http://www.mead2001.org/Biography.htm
    1905 - Sime Silverman published the first issue of "Variety," the weekly show biz magazine. The first issue was 16 pages in length and sold for a nickel. "Variety" and "Daily Variety" are still going strong and have become the industry standard.
    1907 - The American Great White Fleet began its circumnavigation of the world.  The popular nickname for the US Navy battle fleet that completed the circumnavigation of the globe from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909, by order of President Theodore Roosevelt, it consisted of 16 battleships, divided into two squadrons, along with various escorts.  Roosevelt sought to demonstrate growing American military power and blue-water navy capability. Hoping to enforce treaties and protect overseas holdings, the U.S. Congress appropriated funds to build American sea power. Beginning with just 90 small ships, over one-third of them wooden, the navy quickly grew to include new modern steel fighting vessels. The hulls of these ships were painted a stark white, giving the armada the nickname "Great White Fleet."
    1907 - Eugene H. Farrar became the first singer to broadcast on radio. He sang from the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. The song? "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?"
    1915 - Birthday of trombonist Turk Murphy (d. 1987), Palermo, CA.
http://www.sfmuseum.org/bio/turk.html
http://www.sftradjazz.org/collection.html
http://www.jazzbymail.com/artists/tmjb.html
http://www.sftradjazz.org/photos.html
http://www.sftradjazz.org/92.html
http://www.ragtimebymail.com/albums_mmr/mmr11.html
http://www.jazzbymail.com/albums_mmr/mmr09.html
http://www.stompoff.com/albums1000/1027.html
(I have in my shellac collection, the first record he made with Lu Watters, too. I saw him many, many times in San Francisco at his own club and the Fairmont. Tony Bennett was a big Dixieland fan and was often there. Turk Murphy began playing in “Frisco” (the word used in several of the tunes he wrote, although today considered a “no-no”) dance bands as early as 1930. In 1939, he teamed with the legendary Lu Watters, joining Waters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band which began a steady engagement at the Dawn Club in the basement of the Monadnock Building on Market between Third & Annie Streets. In 1960, he opened his first “Earthquake McGoon's” on Broadway, named for the then-popular Al Capp cartoon character.
    1916 - Writer Theodore Weiss (d. 2003) born Reading, Pa.
http://www.princeton.edu/pr/news/03/q2/0418-weiss.htm
    1917 - Birthday of A.C. Clarke (d. 2008), Minehead, UK. Sorry to break the tradition of American History, but being a science-fiction buff, he is one of my favorite writers, so he is now an adopted American. Yes, I am a “Trekkie,” too. I have all the badges on my office wall, plus many Star Trek items on my bookcase. Also a Western fan. At age 14, I wrote four western paperbacks that were published (I made $40 each).
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/aclarke.htm
    1917 - An ice jam closed the Ohio River between Warsaw, KY, and Rising Sun, IN. The thirty-foot-high ice jam held for 58 days, and backed up the river a distance of 100 miles.
    1922 – EDWARDS, WALTER ATLEE, MEDAL of HONOR
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Sea of Marmora, Turkey, 16 December 1922. Born: 8 November 1886, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 123, 4 February 1924. (Medal presented by President Coolidge at the White House on 2 February 1924.) Other Navy award: Navy Cross. Citation: For heroism in rescuing 482 men, women and children from the French military transport Vinh-Long, destroyed by fire in the Sea of Marmora, Turkey, on 16 December 1922. Lt. Comdr. Edwards, commanding the U.S.S. Bainbridge, placed his vessel alongside the bow of the transport and, in spite of several violent explosions which occurred on the burning vessel, maintained his ship in that position until all who were alive were taken on board. Of a total of 495 on board, 482 were rescued by his coolness, judgment and professional skill, which were combined with a degree of heroism that must reflect new glory on the U.S. Navy.
    1928 - Science-fiction great Philip K. Dick (d. 1982) was born Chicago, Illinois. American science fiction writer par excellence. Author of “Flow My Tears the Policeman Said,” ”Crack in Space,” “Man in the High Castle,” “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,” “Time Out of Joint,” etc.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/pkdick.htm
    1930 - Birthday of flute player Sam Most (d. 2013), Atlantic City, NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~wigwise/sammost.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~wigwise/index.htm
    1930 - Golfer Bobby Jones won the first James E. Sullivan award as the nation's best amateur athlete. The award was established by the Amateur Athletic Union to honor its former president and is presented annually to the athlete who “by his or her performance, example, and influence as an amateur, has done the most during the year to advance the course of sportsmanship.”
    1933 - Birthday of organ player Johnny “Hammond” Smith (d. 1997), Louisville, KY.
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,543346,00.html?artist=
Johnny+%22Hammond%22+Smith
    1937 – The first escape from Alcatraz, San Francisco.  Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe filed through iron bars in the prison's mat shop in the industries building and escaped on a very foggy day, preventing them from being spotted by guards in the watch towers. The two jumped into the water and were never seen again, but the severe weather conditions at the time have led to a consensus that they drowned in the bay and their bodies were swept out to sea by the strong current in San Francisco Bay.
http://zpub.com/sf50/alcatraz/
    1940 - Bob Crosby and his Bobcats backed up brother Bing as "San Antonio Rose" was recorded on Decca Records.
    1941 - The first submarine from the United States to sink a Japanese ship in World War II was the USS Swordfish, commanded by Lt. Chester Carl Smith, which torpedoed the 8,662-ton Japanese freighter Atsutusan Maur under destroyer escort off the coast of Indochina. The Swordfish was 311 feet long and displaced 2,350 tons. The Ship was destroyed by a mine on its 13th patrol in January, 1945, near Okinawa, with the loss of all aboard.
    1944 - German V-2 strikes Antwerp bioscope (638 killed)
http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/gal114/SpaceRace/sec200img/213l3p3.jpg
http://www.hrw.com/science/si-science/earth/spacetravel/spacerace/
SpaceRace/sec200/sec210.html
http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/gal114/SpaceRace/sec200/sec211.htm
    1944 - US 2nd Infantry division occupies "Heartbreak Crossroads" at a vital crossroads near a cabin named Wehlerscheid, north of Krinkelt-Rocherath, Belgium. In early December, the U.S. V Corps trucked the Division from positions it had held in the south to Krinkelt-Rocherath, twin villages adjacent to Elsenborn Ridge and near the southern tip of the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. http://ranger95.crosswinds.net/divisions/99th_elsenborn_ridge.html
    1944 - Birthday of guitarist John Abercrombie, Port Chester, NY.
http://www.ejn.it/mus/abercrom.htm
http://www.johnabercrombie.com/
http://www.guitarspecialist.com/johnabercrombie.htm
    1944 - Battle of the Bulge: A German offensive was launched in the Belgian Ardennes forest, where Hitler had managed to concentrate 250,000 men. The Nazi commanders, hoping to minimize any aerial counterattack by the Allies, chose a time when foggy, rainy weather prevailed. The initial attack by eight armored divisions along a 75-mile front took the Allies by surprise and the 5th Panzer Army penetrated to within 20 miles of crossings on the Meuse River. US troops were able to hold fast at bottlenecks in the Ardennes, but by the end of December, the German push had penetrated 65 miles into the Allied lines (though their line had narrowed from the initial 75 miles to 20 miles). By that time, the Allies began to respond and the Germans were stopped by Montgomery on the Meuse and by Patton at Bastogne. The weather then cleared and Allied aircraft began to bomb the German forces and supply lines by December 26. The Allies reestablished their original line by January 21.
    1944 - McGARlTY, VERNON, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company L, 393d Infantry, 99th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Krinkelt, Belgium, 16 December 1944. Entered service at: Model, Tenn. Born: 1 December 1921, Right, Tenn. G.O. No.: 6, 11 January 1946. Citation: He was painfully wounded in an artillery barrage that preceded the powerful counteroffensive launched by the Germans near Krinkelt, Belgium, on the morning of 16 December 1944. He made his way to an aid station, received treatment, and then refused to be evacuated, choosing to return to his hard-pressed men instead. The fury of the enemy's great Western Front offensive swirled about the position held by T/Sgt. McGarity's small force, but so tenaciously did these men fight on orders to stand firm at all costs that they could not be dislodged despite murderous enemy fire and the breakdown of their communications. During the day the heroic squad leader rescued 1 of his friends who had been wounded in a forward position, and throughout the night he exhorted his comrades to repulse the enemy's attempts at infiltration. When morning came and the Germans attacked with tanks and infantry, he braved heavy fire to run to an advantageous position where he immobilized the enemy's lead tank with a round from a rocket launcher. Fire from his squad drove the attacking infantrymen back, and 3 supporting tanks withdrew. He rescued, under heavy fire, another wounded American, and then directed devastating fire on a light cannon which had been brought up by the hostile troops to clear resistance from the area. When ammunition began to run low, T/Sgt. McGarity, remembering an old ammunition hole about 100 yards distant in the general direction of the enemy, braved a concentration of hostile fire to replenish his unit's supply. By circuitous route the enemy managed to emplace a machinegun to the rear and flank of the squad's position, cutting off the only escape route. Without hesitation, the gallant soldier took it upon himself to destroy this menace single-handedly. He left cover, and while under steady fire from the enemy, killed or wounded all the hostile gunners with deadly accurate rifle fire and prevented all attempts to re-man the gun. Only when the squad's last round had been fired was the enemy able to advance and capture the intrepid leader and his men. The extraordinary bravery and extreme devotion to duty of T/Sgt. McGarity supported a remarkable delaying action which provided the time necessary for assembling reserves and forming a line against which the German striking power was shattered.
    1945 - MURRAY, CHARLES P., JR., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company C, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Kaysersberg, France, 16 December 1944. Entered service at: Wilmington, N.C. Birth: Baltimore, Md. G.O. No.: 63, 1 August 1945. Citation: For commanding Company C, 30th Infantry, displaying supreme courage and heroic initiative near Kaysersberg, France, on 16 December 1944, while leading a reinforced platoon into enemy territory. Descending into a valley beneath hilltop positions held by our troops, he observed a force of 200 Germans pouring deadly mortar, bazooka, machinegun, and small arms fire into an American battalion occupying the crest of the ridge. The enemy's position in a sunken road, though hidden from the ridge, was open to a flank attack by 1st Lt. Murray's patrol but he hesitated to commit so small a force to battle with the superior and strongly disposed enemy. Crawling out ahead of his troops to a vantage point, he called by radio for artillery fire. His shells bracketed the German force, but when he was about to correct the range his radio went dead. He returned to his patrol, secured grenades and a rifle to launch them and went back to his self-appointed outpost. His first shots disclosed his position; the enemy directed heavy fire against him as he methodically fired his missiles into the narrow defile. Again he returned to his patrol. With an automatic rifle and ammunition, he once more moved to his exposed position. Burst after burst he fired into the enemy, killing 20, wounding many others, and completely disorganizing its ranks, which began to withdraw. He prevented the removal of 3 German mortars by knocking out a truck. By that time a mortar had been brought to his support. 1st Lt. Murray directed fire of this weapon, causing further casualties and confusion in the German ranks. Calling on his patrol to follow, he then moved out toward his original objective, possession of a bridge and construction of a roadblock. He captured 10 Germans in foxholes. An eleventh, while pretending to surrender, threw a grenade which knocked him to the ground, inflicting 8 wounds. Though suffering and bleeding profusely, he refused to return to the rear until he had chosen the spot for the block and had seen his men correctly deployed. By his single-handed attack on an overwhelming force and by his intrepid and heroic fighting, 1st Lt. Murray stopped a counterattack, established an advance position against formidable odds, and provided an inspiring example for the men of his command.
    1945 - Prince Fumimaro Konoe, twice Japanese prime minister, committed suicide rather than face war crimes charges. In the 1920s, he had worked to curb army powers and prevent an expansion of the war with China. He helped engineer the fall of the Tojo government in 1944 but was suspected of war atrocities.
    1945 - Top Hits
“It Might as Well Be Spring” - The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Billy Williams)
“White Christmas” - Bing Crosby
“It's Been a Long, Long Time” - The Harry James Orchestra (vocal: Kitty Kallen)
“Silver Dew on the Blue Grass Tonight” - Bob Wills
    1947 – William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain built the first practical point-contact transistor.  Shortly after the end of the war in 1945, AT&T’s Bell Labs formed a solid state physics group, led by Shockley and chemist Stanley Morgan, which included Bardeen and Brattain. Their assignment was to seek a solid-state alternative to fragile glass vacuum tube amplifiers as an internal improvement for the Bell System which was growing the nationwide telephone system at the time.
    1950 - Patti Page's "The Tennessee Waltz" hits #1
    1950 – President Harry Truman declared a state of emergency after Chinese troops enter the fight in support of communist North Korea.
    1951 - In a special preview courtesy of "Chesterfield Sound Off Time," "Dragnet" made it to television. The police drama opened its official run on television January 3, 1952. Trivia fact: Sergeant Friday's boss in the preview was played by Raymond Burr. My father, Lawrence Menkin, wrote several of the episodes of the early editions. They were based primarily on true episodes, including actual police who consulted on and off the set for authenticity. It starred Jack Webb as stoic and determined Sergeant Joe Friday, a man whose life was his investigative work, and who was recognized by his recurring line, “Just the facts, ma'am.”  My father said he was “almost everything” in the series from producer to story editor, a workaholic, very hard to deal with, and one of the reasons he was able to sell him scripts. He made many Los Angeles police friends, meaning the guys on the street, not from the PR department, and brought them along to “pitch stories”. Friday had partners, Barton Yarborough played Sergeant Ben Romero for three episodes. For the rest of the season, Barney Phillips played Sergeant Ed Jacobs and Ben Alexander played his comedic sidekick, Officer Frank Smith. A new version appeared in 1967 with Webb and his new partner, Officer Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan, the father of my very good high school friend). “Dragnet” is also known for its theme music and its narrative epilogue describing the fate of the bad guys. (Here's a side note, my father was driving a 1951 two door brown Pontiac. One day leaving the studio, he got in, said he had a hard time turning the key, but it worked, and when he got home, he didn't have the scripts in the car. He then discovered it was not his car. So he drove to the station where he knew some policemen, and they all had a big laugh, got his car back, and they used the story in one of the episodes but it was Friday's sergeant, I believe, who started the wrong car.
    1952 - Buck Clayton All-Star group jams, Hucklebuck, Robbins' Nest, Christopher Columbus, NYC, on Columbia label.
    1953 - Top Hits
“Rags to Riches” - Tony Bennett
“White Christmas” - Bing Crosby
“Ricochet” - Teresa Brewer
“Caribbean” - Mitchell Torok
    1954 - Willie Mays becomes the first player to win the Most Valuable Player Award in his first full year in the Majors when he easily outdistances Reds first baseman Ted Kluszewski for the honor. The 23-year-old Giants center fielder made his big league debut at the end of May in 1951, but missed the last two seasons due to his military service in the U.S. Army.
    1956 - Elvis Presley leaves the Louisiana Hayride after 50 appearances on the radio show. Broadcast from KWKH in Shreveport, LA, the weekly broadcast made country music stars of several unknowns.
    1960 - A United DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation collided over Staten Island in NY and crashed, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and 6 more on the ground.
    1960 - Lucille Ball took a respite from her weekly TV series to star in the Broadway production of "Wildcat", which opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York City. The show ran for 171 performances.
    1961 - Top Hits
“Please Mr. Postman” - The Marvelettes
“The Twist” - Chubby Checker
“Walk on By” - Leroy Van Dyke
“Big Bad John” - Jimmy Dean
    1961 - Martin Luther King, Jr. and 266 others were arrested in Albany, GA. Considered a major turning point in history, as evidenced by his own words in his autobiography: “On December 16, 1961, the Negro community of that city made its stride toward freedom. Citizens from every quarter of the community made their moral witness against the system of segregation. They willingly went to jail to create an effective protest. “I too was jailed on charges of parading without a permit, disturbing the peace, and obstructing the sidewalk. I refused to pay the fine and had expected to spend Christmas in jail. I hoped thousands would join me. I didn't come to be arrested. I had planned to stay a day or so and return home after giving counsel. But after seeing negotiations break down, I knew I had to stay. My personal reason for being in Albany was to express a personal witness of a situation I felt was very important to me. As I, accompanied by over one hundred spirited Negroes, voluntarily chose jail to bail, the city officials appeared so hardened to all appeals to conscience that the confidence of some of our supporters was shaken. They nervously counted heads and concluded too hastily that the movement was losing momentum. “I shall never forget the experience of seeing women over seventy, teenagers, and middle-aged adults-some with professional degrees in medicine, law, and education, some simple housekeepers and laborers-crowding the cells. This development was an indication that the Negro would not rest until all the barriers of segregation were broken down. The South had to decide whether it would comply with the law of the land or drift into chaos and social stagnation. “One must search for words in an attempt to describe the spirit of enthusiasm and majesty engendered in the next mass meeting, on that night when seven hundred Negro citizens were finally released from prison. Out from the jails came those men and women doctors, ministers, housewives-all of whom had joined ranks with a gallant student leadership in an exemplary demonstration of nonviolent resistance to segregation. “Before long the merchants were urging a settlement upon the city officials and an agreement was finally wrung from their unwilling hands. That agreement was dishonored and violated by the city.” It was inevitable that the sweep of events would see a resumption of the nonviolent movement, and when cases against the seven hundred odd prisoners were not dropped and when the city council refused to negotiate to end discrimination in public places, actions began again.
http://www.stanford.edu/group/king/publications/autobiography/chp_16.htm
http://pbsvideodb.pbs.org/chapter.asp?item_id=7897&chap_id=2ed
in Albany, Georgia.
    1962 - Birthday of William “The Refrigerator” Perry, former football player, born Aiken, SC
    1962 - Only one man ever succeeded in swimming all the way to shore from Alcatraz.  John Paul Scott washed up on the rocks at Fort Point. He was so tired from the swim through the frigid waters of the Golden Gate that the boys who found him thought he was an unsuccessful suicide attempt from the overhanging Golden Gate Bridge and called for help. Police apprehended the exhausted swimmer within minutes of his landfall.
    1965 - Gen. William Westmoreland, Commander of U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam, sends a request for more troops. With nearly 200,000 U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam already, Westmoreland sent Defense Secretary Robert McNamara a message stating that he would need an additional 243,000 men by the end of 1966. Although the high tide of U.S. troop strength in South Vietnam never reached the 600,000, there were more than 540,000 U.S. troops in South Vietnam by 1969.
    1967 - Wilt Chamberlain of NBA Philadelphia 76ers scores 68 points vs Chicago.
    1969 - Top Hits
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” - Peter, Paul & Mary
“Someday We'll Be Together” - Diana Ross & The Supremes
“Down on the Corner/Fortunate Son” - Creedence Clearwater Revival
“(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again” - Charley Pride
    1970 - Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Down On The Corner,” "Lookin' Out My Back Door,” "Travelin' Band,” "Bad Moon Rising,” "Up Around The Bend,” as well as the LPs “Cosmo's Factory,” “Willy And The Poor Boys,” “Green River,” “Bayou Country,” and “Creedence Clearwater Revival,” are all certified gold.
    1971 - Melanie (Safka) earned a gold record for her single, "Brand New Key," about roller skates and love. It hit #1 on Christmas Day, 1971.
    1971 - Don McLean's eight-minute-plus (8:32) version of "American Pie" was released. It became one of the longest songs with some of the most confusing (pick your favorite interpretation) lyrics to ever hit the pop charts. Disc Jockeys also liked the song because it allowed them time for “potty breaks” from the microphone. "American Pie" hit #1 on January 15, 1972.  However open to interpretation the lyrics may have been, the song's emotional resonance was unmistakable: McLean was clearly relating a defining moment in the American experience—something had been lost, and we knew it. Opening with the death of singer Buddy Holly and ending near the tragic concert at Altamont Motor Speedway, we are able to frame the span of years the song is covering—1959 to 1970—as the "10 years we've been on our own" of the third verse. It is across this decade that the American cultural landscape changed radically, passing from the relative optimism and conformity of the 1950s and early 1960s to the rejection of these values by the various political and social movements of the mid and late 1960s.   
    1972 - Billy Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones" hits #1
    1972 - The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to go unbeaten and untied in an NFL regular season, then 14-games. The Dolphins beat the Baltimore Colts to earn the honor. Larry King, incidentally, did color for the Dolphins this year on radio.
    1972 - Paul McCartney's single, "Hi, Hi, Hi", was released. It peaked at #10 on the top tune tabulation (February 3, 1973).
    1973 - Buffalo's O.J. Simpson runs for 200 yards against the New York Jets, becoming the first person to top 2,000 yards rushing in an NFL season (2,003).
    1974 - Arbitrator Peter Seitz declared A's ace, Catfish Hunter, to be a free agent as a result of A's owner, Charles Finley, failing to make insurance premium payments on Hunter's behalf, as stipulated in the player's contract. This led to a bidding war among MLB owners, won by the Yankees. Hunter went on to become a Hall of Famer.
    1975 - “One Day at a Time” premiered on TV. This sitcom about a divorced mother raising two girls in Indianapolis starred Bonnie Franklin as Ann Romano, Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli as daughters Julie and Barbara Cooper. Other regulars included Pat Harrington, J., as snarky, tool-belt-wearing maintenance man Dwayne Schneider, Richard Masur as David Kane, Ann's boyfriend, Mary Louise Wilson as neighbor Ginny Wroblicki, John Hillerman and Charles Siebert as Ann's bosses, John Putch as Barbara's boyfriend and Nanette Fabray as Ann's mother. During the course of the series, all three female leads got married and Ann opened her own ad agency.
    1975 - The Bay City Rollers earn a Gold record for their first US single, "Saturday Night." They will go on to have five more Billboard Top 40 hits.
    1976 - Andrew Young named Ambassador and Chief US Delegate to the United Nations. He resigns his congressional seat on January 29, 1977 to take the position.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=Y000028
http://search.eb.com/blackhistory/micro/650/54.html
http://www.manchester.edu/Academic/Programs/departments/econ/files/
museum/black/andrew.htm
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/Byrnes
famous/andrewyo.html
    1977 - Top Hits
“You Light Up My Life” - Debby Boone
“How Deep is Your Love” - Bee Gees
“Blue Bayou” - Linda Ronstadt
“Here You Come Again” - Dolly Parton
    1977 - The Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love" is certified gold
    1978 - Cleveland, Ohio, became the first city in the post-Depression era to default on its loans. Plagued by political sniping between its mayor and city council, as well as an eroding economic base, Cleveland managed to pile up $14 million in debt to a number of local banks.
    1981 - Ray Charles is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6777 Hollywood Blvd.
    1982 - Operating capacity of factories plummets. Heading in to the 1980s, America's economy was hardly in the best shape. Indeed, years of mounting debt and rising inflation had taken their toll on the nation's fiscal health. Alas, the first few years of the '80s provided little change, as the economy did not take well to Reaganomics, President Ronald Reagan's strategy of tax cuts and spending hikes. And, throughout 1982, the government released a stream of financial statistics that suggested that the situation was only growing worse. In July, the Census Bureau announced that the poverty rate had risen to 14 percent, which marked a rapid-fire 7.4-percent increase over its mark in 1980. That same November, the Labor Department revealed that the cost of living had suffered a 6-percent increase during the past twelve months. And, on December 16, the Federal Reserve released a report indicating that the operating capacity of U.S. factories had plummeted to 67.8 percent, the nation's lowest mark since the indicator was introduced in 1948.
    1983 - Replacing Billy Martin (91-71, third place), Yogi Berra is hired for the second time to manage the Yankees. The Hall of Famer's self-exile from Yankee Stadium will last for nearly 15 seasons, after he is dismissed 16 games into the 1985 season despite receiving assurances from owner George Steinbrenner that he would not be fired. Steinbrenner chose to deliver the message to the Yankee great through Clyde King rather than doing so in person, the singular reason Yogi stated he would stay away from the beloved ballpark.  They reunited in 1999 and remained good friends until Steinbrenner’s death in 2010.
    1985 – Mobsters Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti were shot dead in front of Sparks Steak House in Manhattan on the orders of John Gotti, who assumed leadership of New York's Gambino crime family. 
    1985 - Top Hits
“Broken Wings” - Mr. Mister
“Say You, Say Me” - Lionel Richie
“Party All the Time” - Eddie Murphy
“Nobody Falls Like a Fool” - Earl Thomas Conley
    1987 - A Pacific storm battered the coast of California with rain and high winds, and dumped heavy snow on the mountains of California. Winds along the coast gusted to 70 mph at Point Arguello, and winds in the Tehachapi Mountains of southern California gusted to 100 mph at Wheeler Ridge. Snowfall totals ranged up to 24 inches at Mammoth Mountain. Snow fell for two minutes at Malibu Beach, and Disneyland was closed due to the weather for only the second time in twenty-four years. A winter storm which began in the Southern Rockies four days earlier finished its course producing snow and high winds in New England. Snowfall totals ranged up to 19 inches at Blanchard, ME.
    1989 - Fifty-seven cities from the Southern and Central Plains to the Appalachians reported record low temperatures for the date, including North Platte, NE with a reading of 17 degrees below zero. Squalls in the Great Lakes Region produced 18 inches of snow at Syracuse, NY, and 30 inches at Carlisle, IND. Low pressure brought heavy snow to northern New England, with 18 inches reported at Derby, Vermont and Saint Johnsbury, Vermont.
    1992 - IBM said it would make its first layoffs in fifty years. The company announced it would trim its staff by 25,000 employees and dispose of some of the assets of its mainframe business. IBM had long been the leading maker of mainframe computers, but in the late 1990s, demand declined as personal computers became increasingly powerful.  IBM eventually sold its PC business to Lenovo, a Chinese company.
    1993 - Woman-harassing Senator Robert Packwood (R-OR) finally surrenders his diaries to a judge who turned them over to the Senate Ethics Committee. Some of the tapes had been altered. Women's groups had argued for years that Packwood should be brought up on charges of sexual harassment. According to information released to the press, Packwood had a long history of groping women, forcing himself on them using his political power, and in general being a leech. He would eventually resign from the Senate.
http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cas22.htm
    1995 - The Beatles' "Free As A Bird" peaks at number 2 on the UK charts and number 6 in the US. Written by John Lennon and performed by him on piano as a rough demo shortly before he was murdered, the track was completed by the remaining Beatles at Paul McCartney's home studio.1995-The Beatles' "Free as a Bird" peaks at number 2 on the UK charts and number 6 in the US. Written by John Lennon and performed by him on piano as a rough demo shortly before he was murdered, the track was completed by the remaining Beatles at Paul McCartney's home studio.
    1998 - Hundreds of missiles were fired on Iraq in response to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's refusal to comply with the mission of United Nations weapons inspectors.
    2000 - An F4 tornado hits communities near Tuscaloosa, AL, killing 11 people and injuring 125 others. It was the strongest December tornado in Alabama since 1950.
    2002 - After being invited to the Dominican Republic by President Hipolito Mejia, Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh meets one his favorite players, island resident Sammy Sosa. The Dominican outfielder, who is one homer shy of the coveted 500, will have to hit several hundred more to reach the mark of 868 set by the 62-year old during his 22 seasons playing for the Yomiuri Giants.
    2002 – DH David Ortiz was released by the Minnesota Twins. The unheralded player will soon be picked up by the Red Sox, for whom he will develop as one of the most accomplished sluggers in the game.  He retired after the 2016 season, having hit 541 HRs, was a big part of the Sox’ World Series championships in 2004, 2007 and 2013, and is likely to be the first DH to enter the Hall of Fame.
    2010 - Paul McCartney paid tribute to his Beatles band mate John Lennon during an appearance on Saturday Night Live where he performed "A Day in the Life" and then thrilled viewers with a cover version of his late friend's anti-war anthem "Give Peace a Chance."
    2011 - A federal judge sentences former Giants' super-star Barry Bonds to 30 days of house arrest, 2 years of probation, 250 hours of community service, and a $4,000 fine. The all-time home run champion, who is appealing his guilty verdict for the obstruction of justice, could have faced 15 months of jail time, as recommended by the prosecution. Many believe he should have his hitting record deleted from the history books. The perjury charges against Bonds were dropped, but he was convicted of obstruction of justice. This conviction was upheld by an appellate court panel in 2013, but after a rehearing, a larger panel of the court voted 10-1 to overturn his conviction in 2015. He served as a batting coach for the Miami Marlins in 2016 but was not retained for the 2017 season.