Marlin Wins Court of Appeal Reversal in Trial Court Which
 Denied "Full Fair and Credit" to Default Judgement on Lease

By Tom McCurnin
Leasing News Legal Editor

Trial Court Misapplied Extrinsic Fraud Exception to Forum Selection Clause

Marlin Bus. Bank v. Stevens Auction Co. (Miss.App. 2017) 227 So.3d 438.

Equipment lessors have used forum selection clauses for decades now, mostly, the use of such clauses has been enforced. Typically, the lessor will file suit in its home state, then domesticate the judgment in the lessee’s state. I’ve never seen such a strategy backfire except when the forum selection clause was defective. In this case, the forum selection clause was fine; the defense was the equipment was defective and thus, the lessee claimed, the lease was procured by fraud.  This sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But a trial court in Mississippi actually bought this argument.  Thankfully, there are courts of appeal. The facts follow.

This is a typical, garden-variety lease. Stevens Auction Company, located in Aberdeen, Mississippi, leased a video surveillance system from Marlin Business Bank. The equipment was supplied by Security Depot, a Georgia-based company. Pursuant to the lease, the sum of $217 was due at delivery with payments of the same amount to be paid over the sixty-month lease term. The work order provided an option to purchase the equipment. The lessee made the first two payments then defaulted with a balance owing of $11,000. The lease contained a forum selection clause and Marlin sued in Pennsylvania. The Mississippi lessee failed to answer the Pennsylvania lawsuit, and a default judgment was entered in Pennsylvania.

Marlin then filed papers in Mississippi to domesticate the judgment.  The lessee opposed the domestication, claiming the lease was procured by fraud, because the equipment did not work as promised.  But no evidence was introduced as how equipment failed to work.  The hearing was conducted by counsel only.  Somehow, the Mississippi trial judge bought the argument that the equipment was defective (without any testimony) and refused to give the Pennsylvania judgment “full faith and credit.” 

On appeal, the Mississippi Court of Appeals reversed.   The court stated that it is well settled that a foreign judgment will be presumed valid in this state unless "the party attacking the judgment affirmatively shows its invalidity.  There were several problems with the lessee’s arguments:

• Jurisdiction is Key.  Since the lessee did not assert a lack of jurisdiction, e.g., that the forum selection clause was invalid, then Pennsylvania had jurisdiction to enter the judgment.
• Assuming there is jurisdiction, then the judgment may only be set aside for “extrinsic fraud.”  Extrinsic fraud is fraud which deprives one of the opportunity to be heard or is not involved in the actual issues.  No such testimony was received and the issue was beyond the jurisdictional scope of the hearing. 

Therefore, the court of appeal reversed the ruling by the Mississippi trial judge. 

What are the takeaways here?

•  First, I’m Consistently Surprised by the Wacky Rulings of Mississippi Courts.  How the trial court determined that there was “fraud” without taking any testimony is a head scratcher for me.  This particular county is very small with a total population of 35,000, so the judge’s exposure to commercial litigation may not be as deep as elsewhere.  Thankfully, there is a court of appeals in Mississippi. 

• Second, This Case Confirms Why Forum Selection Clauses Are So Important in Equipment Lease Cases.  Can you imagine having a lease collection case heard by this judge? 

•  Third, Although the Lease Balance Was Small, the Lessor Stuck to This Case.  I applaud Marlin Business Bank for pursuing this case with a balance of only $11,000.  The Bank made good law and didn’t allow a hick judge in a backwater county to push the bank around.  Good for them.  They get a golf clap. 

The bottom line to this case is that forum selection clauses are essential in these small dollar leases.  The bank’s lawyers made good arguments and made good law. 

Marlin Bus. Bank v Stevens Auction Co. (4 pages)
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/MarlinvStevens2017.pdf

Tom McCurnin is a partner at Barton, Klugman & Oetting in Los Angeles, California.

Tom McCurnin
Barton, Klugman & Oetting
350 South Grand Ave.
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Direct Phone: (213) 617-6129
Cell (213) 268-8291
Email: tmccurnin@bkolaw.com
Visit our web site at www.bkolaw.com
Previous Tom McCurnin Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org

Previous Tom McCurnin Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/leasing_cases.html

 

 

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Sandi Conklin was promoted to Portfolio Manager, GreatAmerica Financial Services, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  She joined the firm May, 2014 and previous position was Account Support Advisor II. Previously, she was Customer Service Representative, Principal Financial Services Group (May, 2006 - April, 2014); Customer Service Representative (September, 2003 - May, 2006). Volunteer: Leaser and School Organizer, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois (September, 2009). Volunteer Assistant Coach, AYSO (August, 2010 - June, 2014).  Leader, Awana (September, 2016 - Present). Education: Capril College, Cedar Reports, LMT, Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage. North Cedar High School, High School Diploma (1998 - 2002). https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandi-conklin-62098557/

Steffan Fehrenbach was hired as Financial Associate, Innova Financial Group, Cincinnati Area, Kentucky.  Previously, he was Small Business Owner, Oakley Bros, LLC (January, 2015 – Present). Sr. Sales Manager Summit Funding Group, Inc. (January, 2013 - September, 2015); Logistics Account Executive, Total Quality Logistics (September, 2009 - October, 2010); Project Manager, Complete Controls (November, 2007 - July, 2009). Education: Xavier University. Bachelor's Degree, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business Administration/Management, Dean's List. (2015 - 2017). Activities and Societies: Phil Theta Kappa Honor Society.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffan-fehrenbach-78130159/

Alan Haire was hired as National Account Manager, Archer Capital, Denver, Colorado.  Previously, he was Strategic Credit Optimization and Restoration Expert, Bradburn Group (July, 2016 - November, 2017); Credit Consultant, National Credit Care (December, 2015 - July, 2016);  Credit Consultant, Continental Credit (December, 2015); Building Consultant, Armstrong Steel (May, 2015 - October, 2015).  Education: Winnacunnet High School, Hampton, NH.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-haire-57a2b842/

Ryan Little was hired as Managing Director, Venture Leasing, Trinity Capital Investment, Chandler, Arizona. Previously, he was Manager, Mid-Market, Currency Capital (June, 2015 - December, 2017); Sales Manager, Balboa Capital (June, 2006 - June, 2015).  Volunteer Experience: Worship Leader and Volunteer, Athletes in Action.  Education: Harvard University, Bachelor of Arts (BA), Economics (2003 - 2006). Activities and Societies: Athletes in Action.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-little-7a42a782/

John McDonald was promoted to Senior Credit Underwriter, Vice President, City National Capital Finance, Baltimore, Maryland. He joined the firm March, 2017.  Previously he was Credit Analyst, Bridge Funding Group, Inc. (March, 2015 – March, 2017); Credit Risk Officer, SunTrust Equipment Finance and Leasing (April, 2007 - February, 2015).  Education: Towson University.
Bachelors Management. Activities and Societies: Sigma Chi.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mcdonald-a472999/

Peter Nguyen was promoted to Business Development/Partner Manager, Currency, San Francisco, California. He joined the company October, 2015, as Head of Sales, San Francisco. Prior, he began his career at Balboa Capital, October, 2000, as Account Executive; he was promoted January, 2005, Sales Manager; promoted January, 2008, Branch Manager. Volunteer: Head Football Coach, California Football Academy (March, 2017 - President).  Volunteer, Danville Sea Devils (April, 20017 - Present). Education: California State University, Long Beach. Marketing, Business Administration and Management, General Activities and Societies: Zeta Epsilon Tau, American Marketing Association.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/petertn829/

Josie Ramirez was hired as Senior Business Development Manager, Flash Funding, Houston, Texas. Previously, she was Business Development Manager, Riviera Finance (December, 2000 - November, 2017); Business Development Representative, Sterling Resource Funding Corp. (December, 2007 - February, 2009); Business Development Representative, Riviera Finance (December, 2000 - December, 2007). Languages: Spanish.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/josieramirez/

Jennie Villano was hired as Vice President of Business Development, Kalamata Advisors, LLC., Greater New York Area. Previously, she was VP of Sales, Pear Capital Business Funding, LLC., (April, 2016 - November, 2016). https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-villano-613979115/

Joseph Yurosek was hired as Market President, California, Fifth Third Bank.  He is based in Orange County.  Previously, he was at Comerica Bank, joining October, 1996, Regional Group Manager/Middle Market Bank; promoted December, 2015, Market President; Promoted April, 2007, Regional Group Manager/Middle Market Banking. He began his career as Relationship Manager, Sanwa Bank (June, 1991 - September, 1996).  Education: University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business. Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance. (1999). California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Bachelor of Science (BS), Accounting and Finance (1991).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-yurosek-0515273/

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Asset Manager Los Angeles, California Class 8 through Class 6 Trucks Manage repossession, valuation, refurbishing, remarketing trucks and equipment Exp. owner-operator trucking business a must To learn more, please click here www.maximcc.com "Helping Owner-Operators Break through Credit Challenges"

 

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Pay Per Click Advertising and AdWords #101
FinTech #102 by Alex Vasilakos

All companies want to see their websites or URLs appear at the top of search engine rankings. However, earning increased exposure through organic search results isn’t something that happens overnight. Ideally, your digital marketing campaign should be a mix of paid search tools and organic optimization. However, not all paid search options may be ideal for your niche. Understanding how to stretch your online advertising dollars helps to not only optimize your budget, but it also allows for flexibility if you choose to refocus your efforts from one paid method to another.

If you’re new to paid search tools, AdWords might be the ideal method for you to start with. AdWords utilizes the “pay-per-click” advertising philosophy: You set an advertising budget, and only pay when your ads are clicked upon. When displaying your ads, you bid for certain keywords and phrases associated with your service sector. When those phrases are put into a search engine, your ads appear.

Getting the Most Out of Your Campaign

Sounds simple enough, right? However, without the right guidance, you can easily blow through your PPC budget without generating the results that you want. They key to your success lies in the selection of your keywords and phrases. Consider the following tips when contemplating which you want to bid on:

• Understand the different types of matches: You have options when it comes to selecting your keyword matches. Exact match only displays your ads when the user’s word or phrase matches yours exactly. Phrase match allows for variations of a phrase. Broad match lessens the triggering criteria even further and allows your ads to show up on any searches Google deems to be relevant. A modified broad match category also exists which allows you, not Google, to determine relevancy.

• Bid according to match types: Bid higher on exact matches as these offer the most highly targeted advertising. Reserve funds to bid on phrase and modified broad matching, while avoiding broad matches altogether.

• Avoid negative keywords: Phrase and modified broad matching criteria includes a range of keywords to help determine relevancy. Generally, any keywords that don’t match buying signals are considered to be negative. Thus, when creating your criteria, avoid words that could cause your ads to appear in results not aimed at customers. For example, you wouldn’t want to appear in an informative search where a user is simply looking to learn more about your industry.

Additionally, consider your campaign settings. These allow you to further customize your matching criteria. Consider your target audience’s typical search behaviors (i.e., when they’re online, their demographics) and adjust your settings accordingly.

Utilizing PPC and AdWords as part of your online marketing strategy can be a great, low-risk way to help drive traffic to your site as you’re waiting for your organic Search Engine Optimization efforts to catch up. As you can see, however, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Taking the aforementioned tips into account will help you to avoid missteps and maximize your marketing costs.

Alex Vasilakos
Director of Marketing
The Finance Marketing Group
Alex@financemarketing.com 
Office: 518-591-4645x102 / Fax: 518-677-1071
90 State Street, Suite 1500, Albany, NY 12207
Currently, Alex works exclusively with financial services companies but his depth of knowledge and experience can help design and implement long-reaching strategies for businesses across all industries.

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

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2018 World Leasing Yearbook Available
6,000 Global Contacts

The 39th edition of the World Leasing Yearbook is the only guide which covers the entire world’s leasing and asset financing markets in one single volume is now available. 364 pages giving direct access to 5,000 companies and over 6,000 contacts from all sectors of the industry is supplied on disk making the data searching and downloadable. Price is US$519.

Hard copy is available.

Table of Contents
https://www.researchandmarkets.com/publication/mzflnhi/4433205

For questions and how to order:
https://www.researchandmarkets.com/publication/mzflnhi/4433205

More 2018 World Leasing Yearbook 2018 Information
https://www.researchandmarkets.com/publication/mzflnhi/4433205

The Meteoric Rise of Venmo
with Apple Pay Cash Following

By Felix Richter, Statista

Earlier this week, Apple started rolling out Apple Pay Cash, a feature that lets Apple device users in the United States send money to friends and family via iMessage. The feature will eventually be available to all Apple users on compatible iPhones, iPad and Apple Watches in the United States. Having been announced at Apple’s annual developers’ conference in June, the direct competitor to services such as Venmo and Square Cash was originally supposed to launch in September but has been delayed for unknown reasons.

The ability to send money to friends is a feature that has been long-awaited by Apple Pay users who had to rely on competing services such as Venmo for such functionality up until now. The PayPal-owned payment app Venmo has grown fairly popular over the past few years, as Millennials in particular seem to enjoy the convenience of sending money by the touch of a finger. As our chart illustrates, the total payment volume processed by Venmo has risen from $2.1 billion in the third quarter of 2015 to $9 billion in the most recent quarter.

It’ll be interesting to observe whether Apple Pay Cash can put a dent in Venmo’s growth trajectory. While Apple has the advantage of direct integration within iMessage on millions of Apple devices, Venmo has a head start and is available across different platforms.

 

 

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

CSC Leasing Names Perrin President, Albright CFO
Jonathon Albright, Chief Financial Officer

John Perrin, President
CSC Leasing

Jonathon Albright, Chief Financial Officer
CSC Leasing

CSC Leasing, a 30-year old equipment leasing company from Richmond, VA, named John Perrin President and added Jonathon Albright as Chief Financial officer.

Perrin was formerly Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CSC. He has been with the company for three years and previously spent 38 years at International Paper.

Albright previously served as chief financial officer at Barclaycard UK and Senior Vice President at JP Morgan Chase, Borro Group and TDX Group.

John Corey, CEO and co-founder of CSC, commented, “We are delighted to add new leadership and align our staff to offer the very best financial solutions to our clients.

 “These organizational changes are exciting for us, as we continue to expand our leasing services into new markets. These additions and changes are essential to prepare our portfolio for growth. It also ensures long-term sustainability as we face dramatic changes in the business world.”

CSC also made several additional personnel moves:

Rawleigh Taylor, formerly an Account Manager for the sales team, was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Taylor has been with CSC for seven years.

Mason Corey was named Director of Asset Management. He previously served as an Asset Specialist, and has been with the company for five years.

Sam Corey, formerly Director of Asset Management, was named Vice President, Pricing and Underwriting. He has been with the company for nine years.

Katie DeFebo was named Assistant Administration Manager, with responsibility for supervising the purchasing and administrative departments. She previously served as Leasing Administrator, and has been with the company for 11 years.

CSC Leasing believes that the value of technology comes from using it, not owning it. Our foremost goal is to help companies obtain the equipment they need to achieve their business goals, at the lowest possible cost. We do this by providing innovative and competitive leasing programs, which are flexible and tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients - always with a focus on the long-term relationship.
https://www.cscleasing.com/

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Call for Breakout Session Proposals for
National Equipment Finance Association Summit March 14-16

Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa

NEFA Members and their friends are great business people, great learners …and great teachers!
 
Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is a hallmark of NEFA.
 
Right now, we’re looking for people and ideas for breakout sessions at our upcoming 2018 Finance Summit to be held at the Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada.  We’re already hard at work on the program so if you have an idea you want to present, you need to click here to let us know now:
http://media.mycrowdwisdom.com.s3.amazonaws.com/
nefa/s3courses/Request2018SummitSessions/index.html
 
Please click here to let us know what your session idea is and how you’d present it.  It’ll only take you a couple of minutes, but the benefits will be felt by Summit Attendees ─and by You─ for years to come.
 
Thanks for your interest in being a part of it!

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

Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

Subtle passion (“Call Me by Your Name”) and vibrant animation (“Coco”) make for a contrasting double-bill at the box-office, while new DVDs offer bruising action (“Atomic Blonde”), a fanciful love story (“Your Name”), and a rambunctious comic fantasy (“Jabberwocky”).

In theaters:

Call Me by Your Name (Sony Pictures Classics): A specialist in humid emotions that sneak up on the viewer, Italian director Luca Guadagnino (“A Bigger Splash”) does some of his most subtle work in this poignantly wistful romance, set in the summer of 1983. In a seaside villa in Lombardy, 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothee Chalamet) luxuriates in the local beauty with his family. His holiday, along with his life, is changed by the arrival of Oliver (Armie Hammer), a twentysomething medical student who comes to work with Elio’s father (Michael Stuhlbarg). Soon, Elio finds himself beguiled by the awakening of a new desire—one that grows more intense by the day. Directing a script from veteran filmmaker James Ivory, Guadagnino charts the characters’ passion with impeccable grace, aided immensely by the performances by Chalamet and Hammer.

Coco (Walt Disney Studios): The latest from Pixar, this animated fable is right up there with the studio’s vibrant and heartwarming best. A melodic soul clashing with his family’s generations-old ban on music, young Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming like his hero, famous musician Ernesto (Benjamin Bratt). Things take a strange turn when he enters the mythical Land of the Dead, where he befriends a group of colorful ghoulies—in particular Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal), a mischievous spirit who helps him unearth the secrets behind his family’s tuneful aversion. Attuning its palette to the swirling tones of the Dia de los Muertos in Mexican culture, directors Alfred Molina and Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”) imagine a gorgeous junction of worlds, in which characters living or spectral contribute to one's identity.

Netflix Tip: Though best-known to TV watchers from her appearances in the series “Touched by an Angel,” Della Reese (1931-2017) led a lengthy and varied career that tackled music as well as film. So check out for some of her movie roles, which include “Harlem Nights” (1989), “The Distinguished Gentleman” (1992), “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate” (1996), and “Dinosaur” (2000).

On DVD:

Atomic Blonde(Focus Features): Having worked as a stuntman in movies from “Fight Club” to “John Wick,” director David Leitch knows a thing or two about staging action. The certainly brings much of that expertise to this devilish thriller, though the sparks come mainly courtesy of star Charlize Theron, whose toughness brings the comic-book trappings to bold life. She plays Lorraine Broughton, a suave and deadly spy whose latest mission brings her to Berlin in the late ‘80s, where espionage swirls as the Wall is about to tumble. With oddball station chief Percival (James McAvoy) by her side, she investigates an ever-widening web of international intrigue. Combining Bond-style machinations with rough-and-ready brutality, this rousing combat bonanza packs plenty of punch, thanks in no small part to Theron’s kicky gusto.

Your Name (Funimation Films): An enormously successful box-office hit in its native Japan, this intricately fanciful animated feature finds emotional resonance in a most peculiar premise. Stuck in a small town full of traditional rituals, high-schooler Mitsuha (voiced by Mone Kamishiraishi) dreams of a more exciting life. Meanwhile, young Taki (Ryunosuke Kamiki) works in a Tokyo restaurant and yearns to be an architect. The two are suddenly braided when what seems to be a dream switches their bodies, so that one learns about the other by living their lives. A strong bond develops between them, yet their budding love is threatened by a potential cosmic disaster. Directed by Makoto Shinkai, the movie is playfully graceful, visually gorgeous, and profoundly romantic. With subtitles.

Jabberwocky (Criterion): Having gotten his start with animation in the legendary “Monty Python” show, director Terry Gilliam (“Brazil”) made his live-action debut with this wild fantasy-comedy from 1977. Taking its jumping-off point from the Lewis Carroll poem, the film envisions a medieval world teeming with gnarly characters. At its center is Dennis Cooper (Michael Palin), an earnest bumbler determined to win the love of his rotund neighbor (Annette Badland). What he finds instead is a village under attack by a mysterious creature, and he’s quickly enlisted by King Bruno the Questionable (Max Wall) to play the brave knight. Can the stooge become a hero in this topsy-turvy land? Crammed with Gilliam’s trademark off-the-wall gags, this underrated jamboree plays like a companion piece to the classic “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

Labrador Retriever Mix
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Adopt a Pet
http://www.adoptapet.com/

News Briefs----

Congress averts shutdown,
  sends Trump stopgap spending bill
http://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article188501269.html

G.E. to Cut 12,000 Jobs in Power Division
  Save $1 Billion--to cut Dividend Second Time
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/business/general-electric-power-jobs.html?mtrref=news.url.google.com

Sonoma Valley Bank trial draws to a close
Bank Executives & Attorney for Borrower Rip Off Bank?
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7724495-181/sonoma-valley-bank-trial-draws?artslide=0

Lending Club Shares Take a Hit from Disappointing
  Forecast as Net Loss Expect $6 to $10 Million
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lendingclub-hot/lendingclub-shares-take-a-hit-from-disappointing-forecast-idUSKBN1E12PF?il=0

BoeFly Tops $6.0 Billion of Volume
  on Its Online Small Business Lending Marketplace
https://przen.com/pr/boefly-tops-6-0-billion-of-volume-on-its-online-small-business-lending-przen-33227123

FASB Leasing Tweak Offers ‘Big Relief’
   wouldn’t have to apply the new standard to 2017 & 2018
http://ww2.cfo.com/accounting/2017/12/fasb-leasing-tweak-offers-big-relief/

Resurgent Samsung Ruled Smartphone Market in Q3
   Ahead of Apple Almost Two to One
https://www.datamation.com/mobile-wireless/resurgent-samsung-ruled-smartphone-market-in-q3.html

Six Trends Transforming US Manufacturing Industry
 By Michelle Russell, www.just-style.com
https://www.just-style.com/news/six-trends-transforming-us-manufacturing-industry_id132269.aspx

Bank of America Turns to Electrification of Cash
    to Reduce Operational Costs
https://bankinnovation.net/2017/12/bank-of-america-turns-to-electronification-of-cash-to-reduce-operational-costs/ 

BofA to buy back additional $5 billion of its own shares
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/bank-of-america-to-buy-back-additional-5-billion-of-its-own-shares-2017-12-06

Ford Will Build Electric Cars in Mexico, Shifting Its Plan
instead equip a Michigan factory to make electric and hybrid models
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/business/ford-plant-electric.html

 

 

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You May Have Missed---

One of the world's biggest video-game services, Steam,
   has stopped accepting bitcoin because it's so volatile
http://www.businessinsider.com/valve-owned-steam-has-stopped-accepting-bitcoin-2017-12

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The Autumn Wind

"The Autumn wind is a pirate 
Blustering in from sea 
With a rollicking song he sweeps along 
Swaggering boisterously

His face is weather beaten 
He wears a hooded sash

With his silver hat about his head 
And a bristly black moustache

He growls as he storms the country 
A villain big and bold

And the trees all shake and quiver and quake 
As he robs them of their gold

The Autumn wind is a Raider 
Pillaging just for fun

He'll knock you 'round and upside down 
And laugh when he's conquered and won"

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Sports Briefs---

Ryan Shazier undergoes spinal stabilization surgery
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000889243/article/ryan-shazier-undergoes-spinal-stabilization-surgery 

A’s thought they had a deal
 They didn’t reckon on Laney’s faculty
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/A-s-thought-they-had-a-deal-They-didn-t-12411544.php?t=def6e19b90

Steelers kicker Chris Boswell believes Bengals intended to injure him
http://www.theredzone.org/Blog-Description/EntryId/67052/Steelers-kicker-Chris-Boswell-believes-Bengals-intended-to-injure-him

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California Nuts Briefs---

Wine country wildfire costs now top $9 billion,
  costliest in California history
http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article188377854.html#

Oroville Dam: He looted while thousands fled,
   and got a life sentence
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article188558049.html

 

 

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

10 Restaurants with Huge Wine Lists
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/Restaurants-with-Huge-Wine-Lists

Petaluma Gap becomes new Sonoma County wine appellation
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/business/7736379-181/petaluma-gap-becomes-new-sonoma?artslide=0

Newton Introduces a New Range of Single Vineyard Cabernets
https://www.winebusiness.com/newreleases/?go=getArticle&dataId=193100

The Long Island Wine Industry Must Foster its Own Transformation
http://thecorkreport.us/2017/12/the-long-island-wine-industry-must-foster-its-own-changes/

James Suckling Top 100 Wines of 2017
https://www.jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-reports/top-100-italian-wines-2017/

Canada’s Wine Shipping Laws Go to Court
https://www.winesandvines.com/news/article/193063/Canadas-Wine-Shipping-Laws-Go-to-Court

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

This Day in History

    1765 – Eli Whitney (d. 1825) was born in Westborough, Massachusetts Bay Colony.  American inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin. This was one of the key inventions of the Industrial Revolution and shaped the economy of the Antebellum South.  Whitney's invention made upland short cotton into a profitable crop, which strengthened the economic foundation of slavery in the US. Reportedly one of his slaves invented the device, but Blacks could not file for a patent.  Despite the social and economic impact of his invention, Whitney lost many profits in legal battles over patent infringement for the cotton gin. Thereafter, he turned his attention into securing contracts with the government in the manufacture of muskets for the newly formed United States Army. He continued making arms and inventing until his death in 1825. 
    1776 - George Washington's retreating Continental Army crossed the Delaware River from New Jersey to Pennsylvania.
    1850 - The first female African-American college graduate was Lucy Ann Stanton of Cleveland, OH, who graduated from Oberlin College, Oberlin OH, receiving the Bachelor of Literature degree. 
http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/holdings/finding/RG5/SG4/S3/graduates.html
    1861 - William “Billy” Durant (d. 1947) birthday, Boston, MA.  Almost forgotten by US history. He was a leading producer of carriages at Flint, Michigan; promoter of the Buick car; co-founder of Chevrolet and founder, in 1908, of General Motors. He lost, regained and again lost control of GM, after which he founded Durant Motors, went bankrupt in the Great Depression, and operated a Flint bowling alley in his last working years. He died a penniless man.
http://www.classiccar.com/articles/william_durant.asp
    1863 - President Abraham Lincoln issued a" proclamation of amnesty and reconstruction," offering full pardon to all southerners who voluntarily took a "prescribed oath." When the Civil War was over, there was great political strife toward forgiving the South and various plans that Abraham Lincoln had in place were ignored, except for this proclamation, which also halted the hanging of Jefferson Davis as hatred was more popular at the time than coming together as one nation. Historians believe that if Abraham Lincoln were not assassinated, he would have changed the history of Southern reconstruction and would have united the nation with this action. President Lincoln issued another proclamation on March 26,1864. President Andrew Johnson issued supplemental proclamations on May 29, 1865, September 7, 1867, July 4, 1868 and December 25, 1868.
    1879 - Louisiana ratifies a new state constitution, also moving the state capital from New Orleans to Baton Rouge
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec08.html
    1886 - Birthday of Diego Rivera (d. 1957), at Guanajuato, Mexico. Mexican painter whose murals became center of political controversy.
http://www.diegorivera.com/
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/rivera_diego.html
    1894 - James Grover Thurber (d. 1961) was born at Columbus, OH.  American humorist and artist, long-time contributor to the New Yorker.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/thurber.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~ritter/thurber/index.html
    1894 - Popeye creator Elzie Crisler Segar (d. 1938) was born at Chester, IL. Originally called Thimble Theater, the comic strip that came to be known as Popeye had the unusual format of a one-act play in cartoon form. Centered on the Oyl family, especially daughter Olive, the strip introduced a new central character in 1929. A one-eyed sailor with bulging muscles, Popeye became the strip's star attraction almost immediately. Popeye made it to the silver screen in animated form and, in 1980, became a movie with Robin Williams playing the lead.
http://home.earthlink.net/~thimbletheatre/ecsegar.html
    1912 - Clarinetist Irving Fazola was born Irving H. Prestopnik (d. 1949), New Orleans, La. 
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/fazola_irving/bio.jhtml
http://www.centrohd.com/biogra/f2/irving_fazola_b.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/
195844/104-3191958-8595946
    1913 - Trumpeter-violinist Ray Nance (d. 1976) born Chicago, Ill, with Duke Ellington from 1940 to 1963.
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,472065,00.html?artist=Ray+Nance
http://trumpetjazz.netfirms.com/Artists/Ray_Nance.html
http://www.theiceberg.com/artist/24957/ray_nance.html
    1917 - A severe winter storm struck the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes. Buffalo, NY was buried under 25 inches of snow with wind gusts to 78 mph. 26 inches fell at Vevay, IN with drifts to 14 feet
    1923 - Norman Rockwell’s “Christmas,” one of his earliest covers for the Saturday Evening Post when they were still in black and red, depicted a trio performing Christmas carols. In Rockwell's biography, he reveals that not one of his three models had an iota of musical talent.
http://posters.barnesandnoble.com/search/Product.asp?userid=
4Z1KKRMDX1&WRK=3346590
http://www.satevepost.org/
http://www.nrm.org/norman/
    1925 - Birthday of Sammy Davis, Jr. (d. 1990), born at New York, NY. The son of vaudevillians, he first appeared on the stage at the age of four. He made his first film appearance in “Rufus Jones for President” in 1931. He then joined the Will Mastin Trio. The popular song-and-dance team was popular on the night club circuit and, as Davis matured, his singing, dancing and impersonations became the center of the act. Davis began performing on his own in the 1950s, headlining club engagements, appearing on television variety shows and making numerous records. His Broadway debut came in 1956 in the hit musical “Mr. Wonderful,” and in the late '50s and early '60s he starred in a number of films, including a series with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack.
http://www.sammydavisjunior.com/ http://www.celebritystorm.com/bluesandjazzandfolk/pics/SammyDavisJr/
    1933 – Comedian Flip Wilson (d. 1998) was born in Jersey City.  best known for his television appearances during the late 1960s and 1970s. In the early 1970s, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series, “The Flip Wilson Show.”  The series earned Wilson a Golden Globe and two Emmys, and at one point was the second highest rated show on network television.  At this time, there was no one hotter in TV than Wilson.  Wilson also won a Grammy Award in 1970 for his comedy album “The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress.”
    1937 - Birthday of James MacArthur (d. 2010), Los Angeles, California.  Played Danny "Danno" Williams, the reliable second-in-command of the fictional Hawaiian State Police squad in the long-running television series “Hawaii Five-O”... “Book ‘em Danno, murder one.”  Son of actress Helen Hayes.
http://www.jamesmacarthurfanclub.com/biography.shtml
http://www.jmdigitalscrapbook.com/javaindex.html
    1938 - The temperature at La Mesa, CA, soared to 108 degrees to set a U.S. record for the month of December.
    1938 – The birthday of The Iceman, Jerry Butler, Sunflower, MS.  The original lead singer of the Impressions and a 1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Butler co-wrote “For Your Precious Love” (which is ranked No. 327 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time).  The Impressions auditioned for Chess and Vee-Jay, eventually signing with the latter where they released "For Your Precious Love" in 1958. It became The Impressions' first hit and gold record.  He co-wrote, with Otis Redding, “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” in 1965. Butler's solo career had a string of hits, including the Top 10 successes "He Will Break Your Heart," "Find Another Girl," "I'm A-Telling You" (all written by fellow Impression Curtis Mayfield and featuring Mayfield as harmony vocal), the million selling "Only the Strong Survive," "Moon River," "Need To Belong" (recorded with the Impressions after he went solo), "Make It Easy on Yourself," "Let It Be Me" (with Betty Everett), He serves as a Commissioner for Cook County, IL, having first been elected in 1985. As a member of this 17-member county board, he chairs the Health and Hospitals Committee, and serves as Vice Chair of the Construction Committee.
    1940 - Birthday of David Carradine, born John Arthur Carradine (d. 2009), Hollywood, California. He was known for his leading role as a Shaolin monk in the 1970s television series “King Fu.”  The oldest child of actor John Carradine and his wife Ardanelle Abigail (McCool).  He was a half-brother of Bruce, Keith, Christopher, and Robert, and an uncle of Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.  http://www.ieway.com/~ckbales/david.html
http://www.davidcarradine.org/
    1940 - The Chicago Bears won the NFL championship by defeating the Washington Redskins, 73-0, the most one-sided victory in the league’s title game. Played at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC, the Bears won the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy. This game was also the first professional football championship game broadcast on radio. The Mutual Broadcasting System paid $25,000 for the rights to the game, which was broadcast by Red Barber. 
    1941 - Jimmy Dorsey band records, “Tangerine,” Decca 4123
    1941 - Trumpet/flugelhorn player Franco Ambrosetti born Lugano Switzerland
http://www.weinmanntours.ch/current/artists/franco_ambrosetti/franco_ambrosetti.html
http://www.enjarecords.com/FRANCO_AMBROSETTI.htm
http://www.inderbinen.com/franco.htm
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/ambrosetti_franco/bio.jhtml
    1941 - America's Pacific fleet lay in ruins at Pearl 
Harbor following the dawn sneak attack by Japanese forces on December 7.  President Franklin Roosevelt requests, and receives, a declaration of war against Japan. Leaning heavily on the arm of his son James, a Marine captain, FDR walked haltingly into the House of Representatives at noon to request the declaration from the House and address the nation via radio. "Yesterday," the president proclaimed, "December 7, 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory." Roosevelt's 10-minute speech, ending with an oath-"So help us God"-was greeted in the House by thunderous applause and stamping of feet. Within one hour, the president had his declaration of war, with only one dissenting vote, from a pacifist in the House. FDR signed the declaration at 4:10 p.m., wearing a black armband to symbolize mourning for those lost at Pearl Harbor. On both coasts, civilian defense groups were mobilized. In New York, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia ordered the rounding up of Japanese nationals, who were transported to Ellis Island and held in custody indefinitely. In California, antiaircraft batteries were set up on Long Beach and the Hollywood Hills. Reports on supposed spy activity on the part of Japanese Americans began pouring into Washington, even as Japanese Americans paid for space in newspapers to declare unreservedly their loyalty to the United States. War is also declared upon Japan by British, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the Free French, several South American countries. China declares war upon Germany, Italy and Japan. The latter is a formal declaration only as a de facto state of war has existed between China and Japan for 7 years. Montanan Jeanette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress and a dedicated lifelong pacifist, casts the sole Congressional vote against the U.S. declaration of war on Japan.
    1941 - Japanese troops occupy the city of Shanghai and capture a small US garrison in the foreign section.
    1941 - A US tanker was shelled by a Japanese submarine off Cape Mendocino.
    1941 - USS Wake (PR-3), a river gunboat moored at Shanghai, is only U.S. vessel to surrender during World War II.
    1941 - The Japanese attack begins with the capture of Bataan Island and the creation of an airstrip for plane refueling. Japanese invasion troops leave Paulau for the Philippines. The main attack begins with massive air bombardment which reduces the American defenses to 17 B-17's and less than 40 fighters. Most of the planes are destroyed on the ground. American General Douglas MacArthur has under his command 130,000 troops (20,000 Americans). His plan to defend the island becomes nonviable after the destruction of the main portion of his air force and the losses at Pearl Harbor.
    1941- Fears of offending American public opinion by violating Thailand's neutrality have prevented the British from preparing defenses in Thailand and difficulties with Thai border guards prevent a quick response to the Japanese landings further north.
    1941 - Japanese aircraft attacked Wake Island within hours of the fateful attack on Pearl Harbor. Marines of the 1st Defense Battalion and Marine Fighting Squadron 211 resisted Japanese invasion attempts for over two weeks before finally succumbing to an overwhelming force. A small Japanese landing force leaves Kwajalein escorted by a cruiser and two destroyers.
    1941 - Japanese General Yamashita began his attack against the British army at Singapore. General Tomoyuki Yamashita earned the name “Tiger of Malaya” for his masterful capture of Singapore and the whole Malay Peninsula from the British, who had a superior number of troops. Yamashita’s forces landed on the northern Malay Peninsula and southern Thailand on December 8, 1941, and moved rapidly southward toward Singapore, which surrendered on February 15, 1942. The peninsula and Singapore remained under Japanese control throughout the war. Later in the war, while defending the Philippines from Gen. MacArthur‘s return, Yamashita's troops wantonly slaughtered more than 100,000 Filipinos in Manila. He was later tried and executed for war crimes.
    1942 - Eight PT boats (PT 36, PT 37, PT 40, PT 43, PT 44, PT 48, PT 59, and PT 109) turn back 8 Japanese destroyers attempting to reinforce Japanese forces on Guadalcanal.
    1943 - U.S. carriers sank two cruisers and down 72 planes in the Marshall Islands.
    1943 - Birthday of James Morrison (d. 1973), Melbourne, FL.  Singer, songwriter, known as "The Lizard King," lead singer of The Doors, Jim Morrison is considered to be one of the fathers of contemporary rock. http://www.americanlegends.com/morrison/
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/morrison.htm
http://www.thedoors.com/band/jim/?fa=home
    1944 - An American naval force, commanded by Admiral Smith and consisting of 3 heavy cruisers and a destroyer escort, bombarded Iwo Jima.
    1944 - On Leyte, the US 77th Division advances from its beachhead to within 1 mile of Ormoc. Attacks by the Japanese 26th Division, near Buri, are repulsed by other US forces.
    1944 - FRYAR, ELMER E., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company E, 511th Parachute Infantry, 11th Airborne Division. Place and date: Leyte, Philippine Islands, 8 December 1944. Entered service at: Denver, Colo. Birth: Denver, Colo. G.O. No.: 35, 9 May 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Fryar's battalion encountered the enemy strongly entrenched in a position supported by mortars and automatic weapons. The battalion attacked, but in spite of repeated efforts was unable to take the position. Pvt. Fryar's company was ordered to cover the battalion's withdrawal to a more suitable point from which to attack, but the enemy launched a strong counterattack which threatened to cut off the company. Seeing an enemy platoon moving to outflank his company, he moved to higher ground and opened heavy and accurate fire. He was hit, and wounded, but continuing his attack he drove the enemy back with a loss of 27 killed. While withdrawing to overtake his squad, he found a seriously wounded comrade, helped him to the rear, and soon overtook his platoon leader, who was assisting another wounded. While these 4 were moving to rejoin their platoon, an enemy sniper appeared and aimed his weapon at the platoon leader. Pvt. Fryar instantly sprang forward, received the full burst of automatic fire in his own body and fell mortally wounded. With his remaining strength, he threw a hand grenade and killed the sniper. Pvt. Fryar's indomitable fighting spirit and extraordinary gallantry above and beyond the call of duty contributed outstandingly to the success of the battalion's withdrawal and its subsequent attack and defeat of the enemy. His heroic action in unhesitatingly giving his own life for his comrade in arms exemplifies the highest tradition of the U.S. Armed Forces.
    1945 - The Toyota Motor Company received permission from the occupation government to start production of buses and trucks--vehicles necessary to keep Japan running. After World War II ended with Japan's surrender on September 3, 1945, Japan remained under Allied occupation ruled by an occupation government. Its war industries were shut down completely. This was the first rumble of the postwar auto industry in Japan.
    1945 - Top Hits
“It’s Been a Long, Long Time” - The Harry James Orchestra (vocal: Kitty Kallen)
“That’s for Me” - Dick Haymes
“It Might as Well Be Spring” - The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Billy Williams)
“It’s Been So Long Darling” - Ernest Tubb
    1946 - The first snow-melting apparatus using pipes embedded in the sidewalk was tested by Best and Company, a department store in New York City, which installed a system of 15 coils comprising 4,530 feet of pipe. A solution of about 67 percent water and 33 percent antifreeze by volume was circulated as protection against freezing temperatures as low as five degrees below zero. The system was put into full operation during a blizzard on December 26.
    1949 - As they steadily lose ground to the communist forces of Mao Zedong, Chinese Nationalist leaders depart for the island of Taiwan, where they establish their new capital. Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek left for the island the following day. This action marked the beginning of the "two Chinas" scenario that left mainland China under communist control and vexed U.S. diplomacy for the next 30 years.
    1950 - Ralph J Bunche becomes the first Black person awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp?startpage=S0363.htm
http://www.nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/1950a.html
http://www.ralphbunche.com/
http://www.pbs.org/ralphbunche/
    1953 - President Eisenhower delivers his "Atoms for Peace" speech, which leads to an American program to supply equipment and information on nuclear power to schools, hospitals, and research institutions around the world.
    1953 - Top Hits
“Rags to Riches” - Tony Bennett
“Many Times” - Eddie Fisher
“Vaya Con Dios” - Les Paul & Mary Ford
“There Stands the Glass” - Webb Pierce
    1953 - Los Angeles, California became the third largest city in the United States, edging out Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the distinction in a special census. Today Los Angeles is the second largest United States city and the 16th most populated city in the world.
    1953 – Actress Kim Basinger was born in Athens, GA.  She won the Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG Award, all for Best Supporting Actress, for her performance as Lynn Bracken in the 1997 film “L.A. Confidential.”  Basinger came to prominence playing Bond girl Domino in the 1983 film “Never Say Never Again” and went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Memo Paris in “The Natural” (1984). She also starred in the controversial erotic romantic drama “91/2 Weeks” (1986) and as Vicki Vale in “Batman” (1989), which remains the highest-grossing film of her career.
    1956 - "Singing The Blues" by Guy Mitchell tops the Billboard chart for the first of an eleven week stay. Marty Robbins' version of the same song was released simultaneously and peaked at number 17.
    1958 - "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville and the Chipmunks entered the Billboard Top 40 chart on its way to a four week stint at #1.
    1959 - The first movie with scent was “Behind the Great Wall,” a travelogue of modern China, presented at the De Mille Theatre, New York City. The film depicted a tiger hunt, fishing with cormorants, a May Day parade in Beijing and other scenes. The scent was forced through ceiling vents by the Aromarama process. 
http://www.tvguide.com/movies/database/showmovie.asp?MI=19386
    1959 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Heartaches by the Number," Guy Mitchell.
    1961 - The Supremes begin recording their third single, the Smokey Robinson penned "Your Heart Belongs To Me," which will become the group's first Billboard charting record, peaking at #95.
    1961 - The Beach Boys first recording, "Surfin'," is released on Candis Records, a small LA-based company, becoming a local hit in Los Angeles, California, but only making it to #75 nationally. The song was written by Brian Wilson and his cousin Mike Love and recorded with Brian's brothers, Carl and Dennis and their friend Alan Jardine. Carl played acoustic guitar, Al played double bass and Brian kept time on a garbage can.  The surfing music craze wouldn't sweep across America for another year. By the time "Surfin’ Safari" hit Top 40, in September 1962, the Beach Boys were riding a wave of popularity. 
    1961 - Top Hits
“Please Mr. Postman” - The Marvelettes
“Goodbye Cruel World” - James Darren
“The Twist” - Chubby Checker
“Big Bad John” - Jimmy Dean
    1962 - International Typographical Union's striking workers closed nine New York City newspapers. The strike lasted 114 days, before it ended on April 1, 1963, affecting a total of 5,700,000 readers. The loss of coverage made people turn on radio and television. The San Francisco Chronicle basically just closed this department as they announced all typeset is now digital, not with film or negatives that made print. Hot lead typesetting, linotype, went out in the early 1960’s.
    1963 – 19-year-old Frank Sinatra, Jr. was abducted at gunpoint from his hotel room at Harrah's Casino in Lake Tahoe, California. Two days later, he was released unharmed after his father paid the kidnappers' $240,000 ransom demand. Three amateur criminals were rounded up within a week and later tried, convicted and sent to prison.
    1963 - Lightning caused the crash of a jet airliner killing 81 persons at Elkton, MD
    1964 - Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://www.almaz.com/nobel/peace/MLK-nobel.html 
    1965 - On Broadway, Humphrey Bogart’s wife, Lauren Bacall, opened in "Cactus Flower," also starring Barry Nelson. The production ran for 1,234 performances, and was awarded Best Play honors.
    1967 - Traffic's "Mr. Fantasty" LP is released.
    1968 - TAYLOR, KARL G., SR., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company 1, 3d Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 8 December 1968. Entered service at: Baltimore, Md. Born: 14 July 1939, Laurel, Md. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving at night as a company gunnery sergeant during Operation MEADE RIVER. Informed that the commander of the lead platoon had been mortally wounded when his unit was pinned down by a heavy volume of enemy fire, S/Sgt. Taylor along with another marine, crawled forward to the beleaguered unit through a hail of hostile fire, shouted encouragement and instructions to the men, and deployed them to covered positions. With his companion, he then repeatedly maneuvered across an open area to rescue those marines who were too seriously wounded to move by themselves. Upon learning that there were still other seriously wounded men Lying in another open area, in proximity to an enemy machinegun position, S/Sgt. Taylor, accompanied by 4 comrades, led his men forward across the fire-swept terrain in an attempt to rescue the marines. When his group was halted by devastating fire, he directed his companions to return to the company command post; whereupon he took his grenade launcher and in full view of the enemy, charged across the open rice paddy toward the machinegun position, firing his weapon as he ran. Although wounded several times, he succeeded in reaching the machinegun bunker and silencing the fire from that sector, moments before he was mortally wounded. Directly instrumental in saving the lives of several of his fellow marines, S/Sgt. Taylor, by his indomitable courage, inspiring leadership, and selfless dedication, upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service.
    1969 - Top Hits
“Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” - Steam
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” - Peter, Paul & Mary
“Down on the Corner/Fortunate Son” - Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Okie from Muskogee” - Merle Haggard
    1972 – The first crash of a Boeing 737 occurred after aborting its landing attempt at Chicago Midway Airport, killing 45.
    1977 - Top Hits
“You Light Up My Life” - Debby Boone
“Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” - Crystal Gayle
“How Deep is Your Love” - Bee Gees
“Here You Come Again” - Dolly Parton
    1980 - Former Beatle John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, arrived at New York's Dakota, the apartment house in which they lived, after an early-evening recording session. As they walked through the apartment gates, a lone gunman stopped and fired five bullets into Lennon, killing him almost instantly. The gunman, a crazed fan named Mark David Chapman, did not attempt to escape and was immediately apprehended. Lennon's untimely death set off a week of worldwide mourning, and the murder was considered to be the most shocking in the history of rock music.
    1980 - Pat Benatar receives a platinum record for her debut album, "In the Heat of the Night." The former waitress and bank teller was discovered late one night at the Catch a Rising Star club in New York. Her album made it to the Top Ten and the follow up, "Crimes of Passion," will go to #2.
    1984 - "Out Of Touch" becomes Hall and Oates' sixth US number one single, confirming their status as the most successful duo in Rock history
    1985 - Top Hits
“Broken Wings” - Mr. Mister
“Never” - Heart
“Say You, Say Me” - Lionel Richie
“I Don’t Mind the Thorns (If You’re the Rose)” - Lee Greenwood
    1987 - Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers became the first goalie in NHL history to shoot the puck into the opposing team’s net in a 5-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.
    1987 - A cold front crossing the northwestern U.S. continued to produce high winds along the coast, and heavy snow blanketed parts of the western U.S. Snowfall totals in the mountains of western Nevada ranged up to 18 inches at Heavenly Valley, and near the Boreal Ski Resort, and winds at Reno gusted to 56 mph. Thunderstorms over southern Florida deluged the Florida Keys with up to five inches of rain. Strong winds, gusting to 48 mph at Gage, OK, ushered wintry weather into the Central High Plains. Goodland KS, which one day earlier was 63 degrees, was blanketed with two inches of snow.
    1988 - Santa Ana winds buffeted southern California, with gusts to 92 mph reported at Laguna Peak. The high winds unroofed buildings, and downed trees and power lines, igniting five major fires, and numerous smaller ones. Damage was estimated at 15 to 20 million dollars
    1990 - Stevie B's "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)" reaches No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100, a position it holds for four weeks. Billboard ranks it the top song of 1990.
    1991 - The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ceased to exist, as the republics of Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine signed an agreement at Minsk, Byelorussia, creating the Commonwealth of Independent States. The remaining republics, with the exception of Georgia, joined in the new Commonwealth as it began the slow and arduous process of removing the yoke of Communism and dealing with strong separatist and nationalistic movements within the various republics. Khrushchev was long buried as were many communist leaders who had threatened to “bury the U.S.”
    1991 - Kimberly Bergalis, the first patient believed to have contracted the AIDS virus from a health care professional, died at Fort Pierce, FL. It is theorized she was infected from her dentist while receiving dental care. Her case sparked controversy over how the disease is transmitted and incited calls to ban infected health care professionals form the workplace.
http://www.aegis.com/news/mh/1991/MH911212.html
    1992 - Barry Bonds signs the richest contract in Major League history. Bobby's son will make $43-million over the next six years with the Giants.
    1993 - President Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement which cut tariffs and eliminated other trade barriers among the US, Canada and Mexico. The Agreement went into effect Jan 1, 1994.
    1994 - Top Hits
“On Bended Knee” - Boyz II Men
“Here Comes The Hotstepper” (From "Ready To Wear") - Ini Kamoze
“Another Night” - Real McCoy 
“Always” - Bon Jovi 
    1995 - The Grateful Dead announced they were breaking up, four months after the death of lead guitarist Jerry Garcia.
    1999 - Top Hits
“Smooth” - Santana Featuring Rob Thomas 
“Back At One” - Brian McKnight
“I Wanna Love You Forever” - Jessica Simpson 
“My Love Is Your Love” - Whitney Houston
    2008 - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed told the Guantanamo war crimes tribunal he would confess to masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks; four other men also abandoned their defenses.
    2010 - With the second launch of the Falcon 9 and the first launch of the SpaceX Dragon, Space X becomes the first private company to successfully launch, orbit and recover a spacecraft.
    2011 – Jon Corzine, former governor of New Jersey and former CEO of MG Global and Goldman Sachs, testifies before a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, stating he doesn't know where $1.2 billion of his customers' money has gone.  On January 5, 2017, Corzine and the CFTC agreed to a settlement order requiring Corzine to pay a $5 million penalty for his role in MF Global's collapse. Corzine also agreed to be permanently barred from working for a futures commission merchant or registering with the CFTC in any capacity.