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Key Provisions in the New Economic Recovery Act
    By Caity Roach, Editor, Coleman Report

Sunday night, the President signed the $900 billion coronavirus economic aid bill which passed in both the House of Representatives (359-53) and the Senate (92-6) on December 21, 2020. The legislation, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, includes over $300 billion in coronavirus aid for small businesses as well as a $1.4 trillion resolution to fund the government through September 2021.

Key provisions from the legislation include:

• $284 billion for another round of forgivable PPP loans.
• PPP borrowers who already received a loan may obtain a second draw if they have 300 or fewer employees, have used or will use the full amount of their first PPP loan, and can show a 25% gross revenue decline in any 2020 quarter compared with the same quarter in 2019.
• First time PPP borrowers may obtain a PPP loan under the original terms in the CARES Act.
• 60% of PPP loans must be used to cover payroll.
• One-page borrower certification for  PPP loans less than $150,000. The SBA must create the simplified application form within 24 days of the bill’s enactment and may not require additional materials unless necessary to substantiate revenue loss requirements or satisfy relevant statutory or regulatory requirements.
• Expands PPP forgiveness to include some worker protection and facility modification expenditures to comply with COVID-19 federal health and safety guidelines.
• Income exclusion and expense deductions for payments made on Section 7(a) SBA loans, including PPP.
• Borrowers with eligible SBA loans will receive an additional 1112 payments for three months of principle and interest starting in February 2021. The payments are capped at $9,000 per month.
• The $10,000 EIDL advance will no longer be deducted from a borrower’s forgiveness amount.  The SBA will issue rules to ensure that borrowers are made whole if they received forgiveness and the EIDL advance was deducted from that amount.
• Expenses paid with forgiven PPP loan proceeds are tax-deductible.  This overrides previous IRS guidance disallowing deductions for these eligible expenses. 

For more comprehensive guidance on SBA lending under the new Consolidated Appropriations Act, sign up for Coleman’s Everything Lenders Need to Know about PPP Lending & Forgiveness 3.0 Webinar. 

Source: 
HR113: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
Coleman Report, 28081 Marguerite Pkwy.
#4525, Mission Viejo, CA 92690
bob@colemanreport.com

 

17 New Certified Lease & Finance Professionals
Brings Total to 974 End of Year 2020

The Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) Foundation is pleased to announce that 17 individuals, who recently sat through the 8-hour online CLFP exam, have passed.  They are:

Andrew Belliveau, CLFP
Director, Business Capital and Capital Equipment Finance Controller, CIT

Abigail Betz, CLFP
Senior Financing Specialist
Navitas Credit Corp.

Heather Broadwell CLFP Associate
Lease Administrator
CoreTech Leasing, Inc.

Bruno Camara, CLFP
Strategy and Business Operations Lead
Cisco Systems Capital Corporation

Jose Cortez, CLFP
Staff Accountant
CoreTech Leasing, Inc.

Daniel Dudley, CLFP
AVP, Customer Success
Odessa

Scott Fry, CLFP
Director of Operations
Global Financial & Leasing Services LLC

Bijo Joseph, CLFP
Senior Business Analyst
Odessa

Amy Hall, CLFP
Director of Lease Administration
CoreTech Leasing, Inc.

Nicholas Housewright, CLFP
Lease Servicing Specialist IV
CoBank Farm Credit Leasing

Kimberly King, CLFP
Sales & Marketing Representative
Navitas Credit Corp.

Stephanie Kouloumberis, CLFP
Documentation and Funding Manager
Complete Capital Services, Inc.

Leonard Lane, CLFP
SVP, Product Management
Odessa

Chunan Liu, CLFP Associate
Senior Business Analyst, Solution Architecture
Odessa

Joshua Shull, CLFP
Director of Sales
Global Financial & Leasing Services LLC

Steven (Brad) Thresher, CLFP
First Vice President
BancorpSouth Equipment Finance

Robert Wallace, CLFP
Senior Marketing
CoreTech Leasing, Inc.

When asked why she pursued the designation, Ms. King, who attended the Odessa online ALFP stated, “I start each day asking myself, ‘what more can I do for my team? The company I work for, our broker partners, myself?’”  It’s simple, investment.

“Investing in my future and expanding upon my understanding of every aspect of this amazing industry we’re a part of, doesn’t just benefit me, it adds value that I can take back and share with my team and provides me an avenue to be a better representative to not just to our broker partners but, to our industry.”

The CLFP designation identifies an individual as a knowledgeable professional to employers, clients, customers, and peers in the equipment finance industry. There are currently 974 active Certified Lease & Finance Professionals and Associates in the United States, Canada, India and Australia. For more information, visit http://www.CLFPFoundation.org.

 

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Academy for Certified Lease & Finance Professionals
One OnLine Virtual Open

A screen shot from the first day of the first online Academy for Leasing and Finance Professionals by U.S. Bank Equipment Leasing

The Academy for Lease and Finance Professionals (ALFP) is a three-day event designed to fully prepare an individual to sit for the CLFP exam assuming the attendee has already self-studied. During the first two days, all of the required sections of the CLFP exam are covered in-depth and on the third day, the exam is offered, but not mandatory.

Students are strongly advised to have read and studied The Certified Lease & Finance Professionals' Handbook prior to attending the class in order to ensure success.

Ascentium Capital - Private
Online ALFP
Jan 7 – 9, 2021
4141 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(Keyser Conference Room)

KEY Equipment Finance
Online Public ALFP
February 22 – 25, 2021
9:00am – 5:00pm. Central.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Reid Raykovich, Executive Director: Reid@clfpfoundation.org

About Academy
https://clfpfoundation.org/academy-for-lease-and-finance-professionals/

 

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Scott Brandt was promoted to Vice President, Credit, DLL, Des Moines Metropolitan Area.  He is located in Johnston, Iowa. He joined the firm August, 2011, as Credit Underwriter II; promoted January, 2013, Senior Credit Underwriter; promoted October, 2014, IF Credit Manager, Large Ticket; promoted April, 2019, Director Retail Credit. Previously, he was Credit Analyst II, First American Bank (February, 2008 - August, 2011); Credit Analyst & Compliance Manager, Bank Iowa (June, 2006 - February, 2008); Loan Documentation Specialist, Wells Fargo (May, 2005 - June, 2006). Licenses & Certifications: Blue Lean Certified, DLL Continuous Process Improvement.  Education: Upper Iowa University, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Management (2015 - 2017). Activities and Societies: Summa Cum Laude.  University of Northern Iowa. Bachelor's degree, Finance and Real Estate 3.58 (2005). https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-brandt-376761b5/

Stephen Karlowsky was promoted to Director, Value Recovery, ATB Financial, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  He joined the firm January, 2014, Director, Equipment Finance; promoted, December, 2017, Director, Vendor Programs. Prior, he was Senior Account Manager, HSBC Leasing (September, 2011 - December, 2013); Regional Manager, Desante Financial Services, Inc. (Now CWB Maximum Financial ) (April, 2006 - December, 2008); Director/BDM Western Canada, Dell Financial Services (CIT) (1999 - 2006); Vice President, Health Care, Western Canada, Newcourt Financial (now CIT Financial) (July, 1991 - October, 1999).  Education: University of Alberta Business. Management Certificate Program (1992 - 1994). Red River College, Business (1976 - 1979). https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-karlowsky-a3bab31a/

Wayne Tentler was hired as Executive Vice President of Sales, 36th Street Capital Partners, LLC, Morristown, New Jersey. He is located in Sarasota, Florida. Previously, he was Managing Director and Commercial Leader, Global Financing, Chain Asset Management Solutions (September, 2019 - December, 2020). He joined GE Capital, September, 2008, as FMP Intern; promoted July, 2009, Financial Management Program Trainee (FMP); promoted July, 2011, Lead Pricing Analyst; promoted September 2012, Assistant Vice President; promoted April, 2014, Senior Vice President; promoted June, 2017,,Senior Vice President & Global Leasing Leader. Prior was Assistant Head Tennis Professional, Silver Spring Country Club (June, 2006 - May, 2008); Tennis Professional Four Season Racquet Club (September, 2003 - May, 2008).  Education: Western Connecticut State University, Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Finance (2005 - 2009). Rollins College (2004 - 2006). Staples High School (2002 - 2004). King Edward VII School (1998 - 2002). https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynetentler/

 

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

 

The 5 Real Reasons You Didn't Get Hired
By Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners

(They aren't what you think, then again maybe they are)

I have been in the executive recruiting for just about 20 years (I can’t believe it) and have been through two major down turns, 2001 and 2008, The real reasons that people don’t get the role that they interview for haven’t  changed. 

Here is a list of most common complaints I hear in the marketplace from hiring teams.

1. You Stink.  Physically you smell - too much perfume, cologne, body odor, bad breath, smoke, and a host of other things. From a sensory point of view, smell is the number one thing people remember most

2. You Talk Too Much.  Many people get nervous when they interview and end up getting diarrhea of the mouth. Usually when this happens, you need to plug it up but most often they insert their foot as a stop gap - game over!! We have one mouth and two ears for a reason.

3. You are an A** Hole.  Arrogance is a key reason why people don’t get hired. If you are condescending, sarcastic and drop F bombs you are not getting the job, period

4. You are Late.   If you are late for an interview without any good reason and don’t call the person you are supposed to be meeting with to let them know, it shows you don’t have any respect for people’s time and will be late for everything else

5. You are Clueless.  If you don’t do research, understand the product and don’t know how you can offer a solution, then why did you go on the interview anyway? Don’t waste the hiring manager’s time and more, importantly don’t waste yours.

Getting your dream job (even if it isn’t) is difficult, so why screw it up by not having common sense and courtesy. A first round interview is a like a first date, treat it as such.
 klubin@zrgpartners.com


Ken Lubin
Managing Director
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klubin/

"What is the Ultimate Hire? The Ultimate Hire is the professional that every business, team or leader needs in their organization. This is the high performance individual that always rises to the top, brings the team to the next level and can significantly add to the bottom line. The Ultimate Hire is the person that you can't afford to be without. Finding, Attracting, Hiring and Retaining these professionals is critical to the success of your business. We have identified these traits and can help you find these top professionals."

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Trebels Group Found Guilty $350,000
Dallas School Bus Sale/Leasebacks

Pictures from the Past---1996---IFC Credit Corp

“Standing, left to right: Rudolph Trebels, CLP; Patrick A. Witowski
Seated: Dale Volkamer, CLP; Scott Kreissl, Gary Trebels, CLP “
June/July 1996 UAEL Newsline

A settlement of $350,000 was passed and adopted by the Commissioners Court of Dallas County, State of Texas, as noted by a Leasing News reader regarding the founders of IFC Credit, who filed $150 million bankruptcy in 2009 (1)

"Be it resolved and ordered that the Dallas County Commissioners Court does hereby approve that the Dallas County Commissioners Court, on behalf of Dallas County Schools Dissolution Committee ("DCSDC"), pursuant to Texas Senate Bill 2018, does authorize the final settlement of all claims against Rudy Trebels, Lee Trebels, Brian Trebels, Brent Trebels, Equipment Leasing Group of America, LLC and Wedgewood Investment Group, LLC in matter styled Dissolution Committee For The Former Board Of Trustees of Dallas County Schools v. Robert Leonard, et. al., Cause No. DC18-09831, in the 14th District, Dallas County, Texas, for THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS ($350,000.00) and that the County Judge is authorized to executive any documentation required for this settlement on behalf of DCSDC. (2)"

Add in the lawyers costs and it could be all in around $450,000 -$500,000

(1)  July 29, 2009
IFC Credit $150 Million Bankruptcy
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jul2016/07_29.htm#archives

 (2) settlement and case 13 pages
 https://dallascounty.civicweb.net/document/650689

  (3) Articles in Leasing News
http://leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/IFC_stories.htm

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The Best of 2020 in Film
by Fernando Croce

As the year winds down and we look forward to 2021, it’s time to take stock of its most indelible cinematic achievements. So we offer a list, in alphabetical order, to help viewers catch up with the gems they may have missed and the discoveries that do the medium justice.

American Utopia: Director Spike Lee teams up with Talking Heads founder David Byrne for an exceptional recording of the singer’s Broadway show. Capturing Byrne’s unique and vibrant presence in a string of knockout numbers ranging from classics to newer hits, the film joyously captures his characteristic blend of political protest and performance. A worthy companion piece to the marvelous Talking Head concert film “Stop Making Sense,” this is a thrilling meeting of music and cinema.

Bacurau: Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho offers a raging portrait of upheaval with this unique blur of genres. Set in the fictional arid town of Bacurau, the story charts a series of increasingly surreal events that take place in the wake of the death of the town’s matriarch, widening the rift between warring groups interested in local water rights. As tensions rise, the film fascinatingly shifts tones from realistic rural drama to surreal suspense, forging a timely snapshot of rebellion.

Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets: Documentary and fiction are beguilingly blurred in this compelling drama, set in the last day of a Las Vegas bar. As a host of customers (“played” by non-professional locals, adding to the tangibly real atmosphere) drop by for a drink and a story, a rich mosaic of humanity emerges, illustrating the sundry facets of alcoholism but also the humility, humor and offhand poetry of faces and places. A one-of-a-kind, soulful experiment worthy of Robert Altman.

City Hall: The greatest living documentarian, Frederick Wiseman turns his complex, comprehensive and compassionate gaze to local politics in this engrossing chronicle of the people and issues of Boston’s city hall. Though the subject sounds dry and the running time daunting, the picture is never less than engaging thanks to the filmmaker’s interest in the human lives behind the institutions, offering a number of miniature real-life dramas. The intricate and generous portrait that emerges makes for bracing viewing.

The Cordillera of Dreams: Veteran Chilean documentarian Patricio Guzman continues to examine the crossroads of history and geography with this poetic, visually majestic portrait of the Andes. Though it hardly starves for breathtaking footage of the towering glaciers which comprise the mountainous terrain, this is no mere travelogue. Instead, Guzman uses the setting as a complex backdrop in an intelligent and vital essay on the trauma of the past and the continuous struggles of the present.

First Cow: Kelly Reichardt brings her customary spare, stripped-down naturalism to this touching view of struggle and friendship in early American life. Set in Oregon in the 1820s, it centers on a pair of mismatched travelers who start a business, examining how that affects human bonds in the past as well as in the present. The result is a leisurely morality fable of would-be heroes and entrepreneurs, of communities and outsiders, unfolding like a lost Western from the 1970s.

Sound of Metal: Screenwriter Darius Marder makes an impressive directorial debut with this absorbing drama about loss, change, and transcendence. Riz Ahmed delivers a beautifully unsentimental performance as a heavy-metal drummer who develops sudden problems with his hearing and reluctantly looks for support with a local community for the deaf, finding himself suspended between familiar and newfound cultures. Patient yet immersive, the film assuredly fuses imagery and sound with stylistically adventurous, deeply moving results.

Tommaso: Legendary bad-boy filmmaker Abel Ferrara presents his tenderest work yet with this intimate, rewarding drama about a man very much like himself. Longtime Ferrara collaborator Willem Dafoe is marvelous as Tommaso, an American director living in Rome with his younger wife and daughter. Structured as a series of humble and revealing quotidian sequences, this self-portrait is at once jagged and soulful, a candid gem that showcases Ferrara’s grungy verve as well as his poignant side.

The Traitor: Veteran Italian director Marco Bellocchio is in top form in this robust, absorbing account of real-life mafioso Tommaso Buscetta. Spanning several decades, it bounces from Brazil to Italy to America as it contemplates a mosaic of sanctuaries, testimonies, and vendettas. Lengthy, at times brutal but consistently riveting, this saga sharply analyzes the contradictions of the fascinating figure at its center. It would make a great double-bill with last year’s Scorsese masterpiece “The Irishman.”

Vitalina Varela: Portuguese director Pedro Costa creates a masterpiece of lugubrious humanism with this evocative, visually stunning mix of fictional drama and documentary. Following a middle-aged Cape Verde woman who immigrates to Lisbon shortly after the funeral of her husband, the film depicts her journey of death, struggle, redemption, and the search for dignity in painterly compositions keyed to the emotions of the characters. More mood piece than straightforward narrative, this is demanding yet beautifully moving cinema.

Labrador Retriever
Santa Rosa, California  Adopt a Dog

Paisley
Female
80 lbs.
6 Years old (Jan., 2021)
Black

From Paisley’s current owners: Paisley will be six in January 2021. She weighs 80 lbs. and is an owner surrender. The current family has had her for two years. This is a sweet dog who is good around children. However, due to her weight her new family should take her weight into consideration. Paisley needs someone who is an experienced handler. She is super mellow in the house with the exception of being an alert barker, a trait some people like. Once a stranger enters the house, she is super sweet. She tends to be shy with new people. Paisley is afraid of bottles and sticks. She does not like the touch command. When she hears this command, she cowers. Her current foster has worked with her and she can now follow these commands: Sit Stay Wait Down Spot (go to her bed) Shake. She is also trained to sit before eating. Before entering the house from the back yard, she has been trained to sit until she hears the “release” command. Before jumping out of a backseat, she has been trained to “wait” until she hears the release command. Paisley has had extensive group and private training. She knows the command “heel” but will disregard it when she sees a cat or turkey or squirrel; she will get excited and want to chase. She can be afraid of fireworks. The vet prescribed medication for that: a sedative plus trazodone. Plus, she needs to sleep with her family in their bedroom and on their bed during this time. If given the opportunity to run out an open door, she will take it. But she returns in a few minutes. She has been trained to wait when emptying a trunk of groceries knowing she will receive a treat when the groceries are in the house and the door is closed. She is current on all available shots, including Bortadella. She has narrow ear canals and they need to be cleaned weekly. She is accustomed to this procedure. Paisley has arthritis but don’t tell her; she runs like a puppy! We give her glucosamine every morning. She is up to date on heartworm and flea/tick medication. She is located in Sonoma County where is has a wonderful vet.

What Paisley’s rescue rep says: Paisley is a great dog and we would love to find her a home that will continue to work on her leash skills and get her the exercise she needs. She is well trained and has been given a wonderful home for the last two years. She should not be in a home with cats and she should be fine in a home with another dog. She is big for a female so someone that will be her leader on her daily walks. Paisley can be afraid/sensitive of a few things: brushes, spray bottles and beer bottles. The current owner things she may have been abused in her previous home. She goes to doggie day care and has no issues with other dogs. She likes to ride on the car and she is a very sweet girl.

Medical Information: Spayed and has all her shots. She is up to date on heartworm and flea/tick medication.

Paisley is located in: Santa Rosa
If you are interested in adopting Paisley,
please contact Rescue Rep Liz at liz@jobshopsf.com
Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc.
http://www.labrescue.org/about.html

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Bob Teichman Retires, Shari Lipski Named Chair
Paul Menzel, Vice-Chair, Leasing News Advisory Board

Robert “Bob” Teichman, CLFP, retires as Leasing News Advisory Board Chairman, serving for 15 years. He is one of the original founders of Leasing News, a friend of publisher-editor Kit Menkin for 50 years.  He remains on the board in emeritus status. (1)

Vice-Chair Shari L. Lipski, CLFP, becomes chair of the Leasing News Advisory Board. Principal, ECS Financial Services, she has been vice-chair since January, 2019. (2)

Paul Menzel, CLFP, is now Vice Chair. In 2005, Paul was named “Leasing Person of the Year” by Leasing News. He presently is Vice Chair of the Alta Group (3)

(1) Robert “Bob” Teichman, CLFP
http://leasingnews.org/Advisory%20Board/Teichman_Bob.htm

(2) Shari L. Lipski, CLFP
http://leasingnews.org/Advisory%20Board/lipski_shari.htm

(3) Paul Menzel, CLFP
http://leasingnews.org/Advisory%20Board/menzel_paul.htm

Advisory Board
Ben Carlile	Maxim Commercial Capital, Los Angeles, CA
Ed Castagna	InPlace Auction, Melville, NY
Steve Crane, CLFP	BSB Leasing, Englewood, CO
Dale Davis	Endeavor Financial Services, Costa Mesa, CA
Phil Dushey	Global Financial Services, Manhattan, NY
Ken Greene, Esq.	Kenneth Charles Greene Law Offices, Westlake Village, CA
Shawn Halladay	Pitney Bowes Bank, Salt Lake City, Utah
Ed Kaye	Schickler Kaye PLLC, New York, NY
Bruce Kropschot	Kropschot Financial Services, Naples, FL
David C. Lee	North Mill Equipment Finance, Norwalk, CT
Allan Levine	Madison Capital, LLC., Owings Mills, MD
Bruce Lurie	Douglas-Guardian Services Corporation, Houston, TX
Paul Menzel, CLFP	The Alta Group, Santa Barbara, CA
Don Myerson	BSB Leasing, Colorado, HI
Reid Raykovich, CLFP	CLFP, Seattle, WA
Hugh Swandel	Meridian OneCap Credit, Burnaby, B.C.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Christopher Menkin	Saratoga, California
Associate Publisher/Webmaster
Rick Jones	Brentwood, California
Advisory Board/Associate Editor
Ralph Mango	Reston, Virginia

News Briefs---

Treasury and IRS begin delivering second round
      of Economic Impact Payments to millions of Americans
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-and-irs-begin-delivering-second-round-of-economic-impact-payments-to-millions-of-americans

Federal Reserve extends termination date of Main Street
     Lending Program facilities to January 8, 2021
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20201229a.htm

U.S. home prices rise at fastest pace
    in more than 6 years
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/29/us-home-prices-rise-at-fastest-pace-in-more-than-6-years-.html

U.S. to allow small drones
    to fly over people and at night
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/us-allow-small-drones-fly-people-night-rcna214

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You May Have Missed---

Operation Warp Speed at a crawl: Adequately vaccinating
     Americans will take 10 years at current pace
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/current-rate-it-ll-be-10-years-americans-adequately-vaccinated-n1252486

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Sports Briefs---

NFL hot seat index: Five coaches who could
     be in trouble once 2020 season ends
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2020/12/29/nfl-hot-seat-adam-gase-doug-marrone/4073128001/

Bill Belichick can’t dodge the quarterback question forever
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/29/sports/bill-belichick-cant-dodge-quarterback-question-forever/

Josh McDaniels ‘absolutely’ wants to be a head coach again
http://www.theredzone.org/Blog-Description/EntryId/85379/Josh-McDaniels--absolutely--wants-to-be-a-head-coach-again

NFL Power Rankings, Week 17:
    Steelers back in top 10, Patriots hit new low
https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-17-steelers-back-in-top-10-patriots-hit-new-low

Tom Brady’s move to Tampa Bay could have looked desperate.
    Instead it has proved defining.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/12/29/tom-brady-bucs-playoffs/

3 things to know about Rob Gronkowski’s
    first season in Tampa Bay
https://www.boston.com/sports/rob-gronkowski/2020/12/28/rob-gronkowski-tampa-bay-buccaneers-2020-season

Warriors are fortunate to play in S.F.
    where coronavirus exemption favors them
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/Warriors-are-fortunate-to-play-in-S-F-where-15832689.php

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California Nuts Briefs---

California to extend stay-at-home orders
      as hospitals hit breaking point
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/California-hospital-crisis-levels-off-but-15832642.php

Southern California hospitals resort to
    ‘crisis care’ practices amid COVID surge
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article248153120.html

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

2020 Wine Industry Merger and Acquisition Review
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=239884

Eight Ways Wine Will Change in 2021
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-28/eight-ways-wine-will-change-in-2021

Wine Country adds new ultra-luxury resort
     in the midst of a pandemic shutdown
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/montage-healdsburg-opening-pandemic/index.html

The World's Best Burgundies
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2020/12/the-worlds-best-burgundies

California Wine Country job market reels during coronavirus pandemic
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/industrynews/california-wine-country-job-market-reels-during-coronavirus-pandemic/

Best of Unfiltered 2020
https://www.winespectator.com/articles/best-of-unfiltered-2020

Free Wine App
https://www.nataliemaclean.com/mobileapp/

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/

This Day in History

     1813 - Iroquois warriors and British troops capture Buffalo, New York.
http://history.buffalonet.org/1801.html 
    1828 - First coffee planted in Hawaii (Kona) 
http://www.konacoffeefest.com/history.html 
http://www.mauicoffeeco.com/history.html
http://www.konacoffee.com/about.html 
http://www.kona-coffee-council.com
    1835 - Cherokees were forced to move across the Mississippi River after gold was discovered in Georgia. A minority faction of Cherokee agreed to the emigration of the whole tribe from their lands by signing the Treaty of New Echota. The Treaty of New Echota resulted in the cession of all Cherokee land to the U.S. and provided for the transportation of the Cherokee Indians to land beyond the Mississippi. The removal of the Cherokee was completed by 1838.
    1847 - Birthday of John Peter Altgeld (d. 1902), born in Germany. He was a very popular and progressive Governor of Illinois, first serving on the Cook County Supreme
Court.
(Lower half of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec30.html)
    1853 - Gadsden Purchase in Mexico City; the treaty settled the dispute over the exact location of the Mexican border west of El Paso, giving the U.S. claim to approximately 29,000 square miles of land in what is now southern New Mexico and Arizona, for the price of $10,000,000. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis sent James Gadsden, U.S. Minister to Mexico, who negotiated the treaty with General Antonio López de Santa Anna, President of Mexico. The plan was to set in motion land to build a southern continental train route to California. The civil war halted many developments, including this one.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec30.html
    1862 - The Union ironclad ship USS Monitor, which achieved fame after her battle with the Merrimac, sank of Cape Hatteras during a storm. Sixteen of her crew were lost. As the Monitor pitched and swayed in the rough seas, the caulking around the gun turret loosened and water began to leak into the hull. More leaks developed as the journey continued. High seas tossed the craft, causing the ship's flat armor bottom to slap the water. Each roll opened more seams, and by nightfall on December 30, the Monitor was in dire straits. At 8:00 p.m., the Monitor's commander, J.P. Bankhead, signaled the Rhode Island that he wished to abandon ship. The wooden side-wheeler pulled as close as safety allowed to the stricken ironclad, and two lifeboats were lowered to retrieve the crew. Many of the sailors were rescued, but some men were terrified to venture onto the deck in such rough seas. The ironclad's pumps stopped working and the ship sank before 16 crew members could be rescued. Although the Monitor's service was brief, it signaled a new era in naval combat. The Virginia's arrival off Hampton Road terrified the U.S. Navy, but the Monitor leveled the playing field. Both sides had ironclads, and the advantage would go to the side that could build more of them. Northern industry would win that battle for the Union.
    1867 - Birthday of Simon Guggenheim (d. 1941), American capitalist and philanthropist, born at Philadelphia, PA. He established, in memory of his son, the John Somin Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
    1880 - The temperature at Charlotte, NC, plunged to an all-time record cold reading of 5 degrees below zero, a record which was equaled on the 21st of January in 1985.
    1890 - Birthday of trumpet player/band leader Charlie Creath (d. 1951), born Ironton, MO. Led bands from 1916-1940.
http://www.redhotjazz.com/creath.html 
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,539301,00.html
http://www.bluesworld.com/OTHERPRE.html
     1903 - A fire in the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago killed 588 people; public outrage led to new theater safety codes across America.
     1905 - Former Idaho governor Steunenberg was assassinated for his role in quelling a miners' strike in 1899.  He was wounded by a powerful bomb that triggered when he opened the gate to his home in Caldwell, Idaho. A former newspaper editor, Steunenberg entered Idaho politics in 1890, when he was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1896, he won the Idaho Governor's seat as the head of a coalition of Democrats, Populists, and Republicans who supported the use of silver to back currency. Generally perceived as a friend to labor and the "little man," Steunenberg won a second term as governor in 1896. During this term, he was confronted with one of the most divisive and violent western battles between labor and management of the 19th century. Miners in the rich silver districts near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, had been struggling to unionize and gain better pay and working conditions since 1892. Radicalized by their initial defeats, an increasing numbers of miners began supporting the violence-prone Western Federation of Miners (WFM), which advocated aggressive tactics and worker control of industry. Alarmed by the growing influence of the WFM, Coeur d'Alene mine owners attempted to bust the union in 1899, and the WFM responded by blowing up one mining company's huge and costly concentrators with dynamite. Disturbed by the miners' violent tactics, the hitherto pro-labor Steunenberg heeded the demands of the powerful mine owners and turned against the WFM, requesting that the federal government send in troops. The soldiers placed the region under martial law and herded hundreds of miners into makeshift prisons, ignoring their constitutional rights to know the charges and evidence against them. Steunenberg's actions restored order in the Idaho silver mines, but also earned him the lasting enmity of many radical WFM members. Six years later, the radicals took their revenge by sending a professional assassin named Harry Orchard to Caldwell. The professional hit man was responsible for planting the bomb that killed the former governor. Orchard was captured, tried, and sentenced to life in prison, and his guilt has never been seriously disputed. However, many were convinced that the plot to kill Steunenberg was supported not just by a radical minority within the WFM, but also by its top leadership. WFM secretary-treasurer William "Big Bill" Haywood was brought up on charges of criminal conspiracy but was found not guilty largely as a result of famous Chicago lawyer Clarence Darrow's brilliant defense. Haywood went on to found the even more radical Industrial Workers of the World.
    1910 – Paul Bowles (d. 1999) was born in Jamaica, Queens, NYC.  Composer, author, husband of writer/playwright Jane Bowles. 
http://www.charm.net/~brooklyn/People/PaulBowles.htmlhttp://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/HRC/HRHRC/paulbowles.html
    1912 - The Haas Brothers patented “crepe,” first produced in France the same year, and commenced production in the United States.
http://64.70.222.59/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store
_Code=CrepeSuzette&Category_Code=corsets
http://tirocchi.stg.brown.edu/essays/print/parmal.html
    1915 - Birthday of singer Brownie McGhee (d. 1996), Knoxville, TN .
http://www.io.com/~tbone1/blues/ECblz/bromcg.html 
http://www.bluesaccess.com/No_26/brownie.html
http://yazoobluesmailorder.com/vesta13056.htm 
    1917 – State low temperatures:  -32ºF in Mountain City, TN and -37ºF in Lewisburg, WV.
    1917 - A great cold wave set many records in the northeastern U.S. The mercury plunged to 13 degrees below zero at New York City, and to 15 degrees below zero at Boston. Temperature readings dipped below zero at Boston five nights in a row. Berlin, NH hit 44 degrees below zero in the "Great World War I Cold Wave", and Saint Johnsbury, VT reached 43 degrees below zero.
    1918 - John E Hoover decides to be called J Edgar Hoover. He entered the Dept. of Justice in 1917 and served (1919-21) as special assistant to Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer.
(“Lies My Teacher Told Me, “ by James W. Loewan.)
http://www.crimelibrary.com/hoover/hoovermain.htm
    1918 - Birthday of pianist Jimmy Jones (d. 1982), Memphis TN
http://www.harlem.org/people/jimmyjones.html 
    1924 - Edwin Hubble announces existence of other galactic systems
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
http://www.edwinhubble.com/hubble_bio_001.htm 
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dp24ga.html
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/HubbleLaw.html
http://www.nso.lt/cosmos/hubble.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A3547695 1517507
    1926 - Birthday of guitarist James “Jesse” Richard, Mississippi
    1926 - Birthday of pianist Stan Tracey (d. 2013), London ,England
http://home.achilles.net/~howardm/stantracey/st.shtml
 http://www.ejn.it/mus/tracey.htm
    1927 - The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel was incorporated in Los Angeles, CA. Founded in 1923 by evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, the denomination recognizes the significant role that women in ministry. Today, over 40% of its ministers are women.
http://www.foursquare.org/
    1928 - Birthday of singer/song writer Bo Diddley (d, 2008), born Ellas Otha Bates, McCombs, MS.  He auditioned for Chess records in Chicago in 1955 with a song called "Uncle John." When the song was recorded -- the session was produced by legendary blues man Willie Dixon -- the title was changed to the autobiographical "Bo Diddley."  "I'm a Man," "You Can't Tell a Book By Its Cover" and "Road Runner" were some of the other Diddley classics. His hard-driving, rhythmic guitar style influenced some of the early recordings of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds.
http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=88
http://www.guitarsite.com/BoDiddley.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/index_2.html 
    1928- Birthday of tenor saxophone player Jack Montrose (d. 2006), Detroit.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/shop?d=product&id=1
http://art.staviator.com/J/Jack_Montrose.html  http://www.jazzmanrecords.com/jacmonpetjol.html 
http://windmusicplus.safeshopper.com/469/4236.htm?148
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-
/135969/ref%3Dbr%5Fart%5F/104-3547695-1517507
    1931 - Birthday of coach/former baseball player Frank Joseph Torre (d. 2014), New York, NY.  17-year Major Leaguer and older brother of Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre.
    1933 - The temperature reached 50 degrees below zero at Bloomfield, VT. It was the coldest reading in modern records for New England. The temperature at Pittsburgh NH reached 44 degrees below zero.
    1935 - Birthday of Sandy Koufax, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, born Brooklyn, NY.  He pitched 12 seasons for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. Koufax, at age 36 in 1972, became the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  He has been hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.  Koufax's career peaked with a run of six outstanding years from 1961-66, before arthritis in his left elbow ended his career prematurely at age 30. He was an All-Star for six seasons and was the National League MVP in 1963. He won three Cy Young Awards in 1963, 1965 and 1966, by unanimous votes, making him the first three-time Cy Young winner in baseball history and the only one to win three times when one overall award was given for all of Major League Baseball instead of one award for each league. Koufax also won the NL Triple Crown for pitchers those same three years by leading the NL in wins, strikeouts and ERA.  Koufax was the first major league pitcher to pitch four no-hitters and the eighth pitcher to pitch a perfect game in baseball history. Despite his comparatively short career, Koufax's 2,396 career strikeouts ranked 7th in history as of his retirement, at the time trailing only Warren Spahn (2,583) among left-handers. Koufax, Trevor Hoffman, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Nolan Ryan are the only five pitchers elected to the Hall of Fame who had more strikeouts than innings pitched.  In 1999, The Sporting News placed Koufax at number 26 on its list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players." That same year, he was named as one of the 30 players on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. 
    1938 - Historic recording of Meade Lux Lewis, Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons “ Boogie Woogie Prayer.” Vacalion
    1939 - Birthday of Del Shannon, born Charles Westover (d. 1990), Grand Rapids, Michigan. Singer: “Runaway,” “ Hat’s Off to Larry,” “Little Town Flirt,” “ Keep Searchin’ [We’ll Follow the Sun]”; songwriter: “I Go to Pieces.”  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
http://www.history-of
rock.com/del_shannon.htm
http://www.cchr.org/art/eng/page20.htm 
http://www.srv.net/~roxtar/shannon_del.html
    1939 - Birthday of bassist/producer/arranger Felix Pappalardi (d. 1983), Bronx, NY.
http://www.theiceberg.com/artist.html?artist_id=25076
http://www.pappalardi.com/
    1940 - Birthday of drummer Jerry Granelli, San Francisco, CA
http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,437701,
http://www.songtone.com/artists/granelli_link.htm 
http://www.cosmik.com/aa-january00/john55.html 
    1942 - Frank Sinatra opened at New York’s Paramount Theatre backed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra, performed his first solo concert at the Paramount Theatre in New York. This show marked the beginning of the mass hysteria for Sinatra among teen girls, known as bobby-soxers. There was a near-riot in Times Square. The show was scheduled to be a 4-week engagement (his shows turned out to be so popular, he was booked for an additional 4 weeks). An estimated 400 policemen were called out to help curb the excitement. It is said that some of the teenage girls were hired to scream, but many more screamed for free. Sinatra was dubbed ‘The Sultan of Swoon’, ‘The Voice that Thrills Millions’, and just ‘The Voice’. Whatever he was, it was at this Paramount Theatre engagement that modern pop hysteria was born.
    1944 - Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys made their first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Wills had been popular for more than a decade by then, but his western swing style -- a combination of western and big band music -- apparently was not favored by the Opry management. 
    1946 - Davy Jones (d. 2012), lead vocalist of the Monkees, was born in Manchester, England. The Monkees' guitarist, Mike Nesmsith, was born on the same day in 1942. The Monkees were a musical group created by producer Don Kirshner for a television series based on the Beatles' film "A Hard Day's Night." With the help of the songwriting team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, and plenty of studio musicians, the Monkees had a succession of pop hits in the 1960's -- among them, "Last Train to Clarksville" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday."
    1946 - Singer/poet Patti Smith born Chicago.
http://www.oceanstar.com/patti/bio/aristbio.htm
http://www.pattismithland.com/
    1948 - Alfred Drake and Patricia Morrison starred in "Kiss Me Kate" which opened at the New Century Theatre in New York City. Cole Porter composed the music for the classic play that was adapted from Shakespeare’s comedy, "The Taming of the Shrew". The show ran for 1,077 performances on the Great White Way.
    1951 - Top Hits
Slowpoke - Pee Wee King
Sin (It’s No) - Eddy Howard
Down Yonder - Del Wood
Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way - Carl Smith
    1951 – “The Roy Rogers Show” premiered on TV. This very popular TV western starred Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale Evans, as themselves. It also featured Pat Brady as Roger’ sidekick who rod a jeep named Nellybelle, the singing group Sons of the Pioneers, Roger’s horse Trigger, Evan’s horse Buttermilk and a German shepherd named Bullet. This half-hour show was especially popular with young viewers.     
    1952 - Tuskegee Institute reports this is first year in 71 years with no lynchings in the country
http://audible.nolanet.org/itemdetail.cfm?ID=786
http://www.bl.uk/collections/tuskegee.html
    1953 - Trumpet player Chet Baker cuts first strings session for Columbia Records (46174)
    1953 - The film, “The Wild One,” starring Marlin Brando as a leader of tough motorcyclists terrorizing a small town, debuted in New York.
    1953 - The first color television sets went on sale for more than $1,000.
    1954 - Pearl Bailey opened on Broadway in the play, "House of Flowers," about two madams with rival bordellos. Diahann Carroll was also cast in the play, written by Truman Capote. Harold Arlen provided the musical score.
    1954 – Our neighbor in the Pacific Palisades, CA. James Arness made his dramatic TV debut on the "Lux Video Theatre" in "The Chase." The "Gunsmoke" series didn’t begin for Arness until the fall of 1955.
    1954 - The first athlete who was African-American to win the James E. Sullivan Memorial Trophy was Malvin Greston “Mal” Whitfield of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, a half-miler who was the first choice on 252 of 657 ballots cast by a nationwide tribunal of sports authorities and tabulated this day. Whitfield set the Olympic record for 800 meters in London in 1948 and held the world 880-yard record and the 600-yeard indoor record. The trophy, presented annually since 1940 by the Amateur Athletic Union, is the top award for amateur athletes in the United States
    1955 - Anchorage, AK, reported an all-time record snow depth of 47 inches. 
    1957 - Elvis Presley's Elvis' Christmas Album hits #1
    1959 - Top Hits
Why - Frankie Avalon
The Big Hurt - Miss Toni Fisher
It’s Time to Cry - Paul Anka
El Paso - Marty Robbins
    1961 - Jack Nicklaus lost to Gary Player in an exhibition match in Miami, Florida. It was Nicklaus’ first attempt at pro golf. The following year he entered the pro tour, winning $61,868.95, more than any other rookie golfer in history.
    1963 - “Let’s Make a Deal” premiered on television. Monty Hall hosted this outrageous and no-skill-required game show. Our neighbor Bernie Gould was the chief writer (yes, all these shows were scripted for one liners, games, introductions, etc.). Audience members, many of whom were picked to “make a deal” with Hall by trading something of their own for something they were offered. Sometimes prizes were worthless (“zonks”). At the end of the show, the two people who had won the most were given the option to trade their winnings for a chance at the “Big Deal”,” hidden behind one of three doors. A rival of the show ran from 1990 to 1991 with Bob Hilton as the host.
    1967 - Top Hits
Hello Goodbye - The Beatles
Woman, Woman - The Union Gap
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred & His Playboy Band
For Loving You - Bill Anderson & Jan Howard, jumped into the top spot on Billboard's hit record charts, and stayed Number 1 for 3 weeks.
    1967 - "Hello Goodbye" becomes The Beatles 15th Billboard number one hit. The flip side, "I Am the Walrus" reached #56, the lowest ranking for any charted "B" side of a Beatles number one single. John Lennon wrote nonsense words for "Walrus" after learning that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyze Beatles' lyrics. He would later say, "Let the fuckers work that one out."
    1968 - HOWARD, ROBERT L., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 30 December 1968. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Born: 11 July 1939, Opelika, Ala. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Howard (then Sfc .), distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant of an American-Vietnamese platoon which was on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier in enemy controlled territory in the Republic of Vietnam. The platoon had left its helicopter landing zone and was moving out on its mission when it was attacked by an estimated 2-company force. During the initial engagement, 1st Lt. Howard was wounded and his weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion. 1st Lt. Howard saw his platoon leader had been wounded seriously and was exposed to fire. Although unable to walk, and weaponless, 1st Lt. Howard unhesitatingly crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader. As 1st Lt. Howard was administering first aid and removing the officer's equipment, an enemy bullet struck 1 of the ammunition pouches on the lieutenant's belt, detonating several magazines of ammunition. 1st Lt. Howard momentarily sought cover and then realizing that he must rejoin the platoon, which had been disorganized by the enemy attack, he again began dragging the seriously wounded officer toward the platoon area. Through his outstanding example of indomitable courage and bravery, 1st Lt. Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense force. With complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Howard crawled from position to position, administering first aid to the wounded, giving encouragement to the defenders and directing their fire on the encircling enemy. For 3 1/2 hours 1st Lt. Howard's small force and supporting aircraft successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. 1st Lt. Howard personally supervised the loading of his men and did not leave the bullet-swept landing zone until all were aboard safely. 1st Lt. Howard's gallantry in action, his complete devotion to the welfare of his men at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
    1968 - The first Led Zeppelin bootleg, Gonzaga '68, is a recording of tonight's show at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, one of their very first in America and the first ever live recording of the band. 
    1969 - Peter, Paul and Mary received a gold record for the single, "Leaving On a Jet Plane." The song had hit #1 on December 20.
    1969 - President Nixon signs off on tax reform. As the 1960s drew to a close, President Richard Nixon signed off on what was then the most far-reaching tax reform bill in U.S. history. The legislation relieved nine million low-income citizens of the burden of paying taxes; it also slashed tax rates for individuals by 5 percent. It was the most far-reaching tax reform bill in US history passed by Congress. Although it removed 9,000,000 of the very poor from federal tax rolls, it was criticized as a measure that aided the rich. The bill, signed by President Nixon on this day, reduced the tax surcharge from 10% to 5% and extended it for six months, reduced the oil depletion allowance from 27.5% to 22%, closed numerous tax loopholes, and increased Social security benefits by 15%.
    1970 - Paul McCartney sued the other three Beatles to dissolve the partnership and gain control of his interest. The suit touched off a bitter feud between McCartney and the others, especially his co-writer on many of the Beatles compositions, John Lennon. The partnership officially came to end in 1974.
“You get your lawyer
& I'll get mine
We'll all get together
& have a real bad time.”
 George Harrison, "Sue Me Blues
    1971 - Daniel Ellsberg indicted by a federal grand jury for releasing Pentagon papers to the media.
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0838198.html
http://ellsberg.net/index.htm 
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/72nov/ungar.htm 
http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people/Ellsberg/ellsberg98-0.html
    1972 – Officials in Washington, D.C., announce that the peace talks in Paris between National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger and North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho will resume on January 2 President Richard M. Nixon on December 18th ordered a massive air bombardment of military installations in North Vietnam. The heaviest attack since the November, 1968 bombing halt. On December 28, Hanoi agreed to return to the negotiations, and President Nixon ordered a halt to Linebacker II, the intensive bombing campaign of North Vietnam. Nixon initiated the campaign on December 18 when the North Vietnamese, who walked out of the peace negotiations in Paris, refused his ultimatum to return to the talks. During the course of the bombing, 700 B-52 sorties and more than 1,000 fighter-bombers dropped an estimated 20,000 tons of bombs, mostly over the densely populated area between Hanoi and Haiphong. the US (by its own count) lost 15 B-52's & 11 fighter-bombers, with 93 airmen killed or missing. Hanoi claims 76 planes were shot down. Nixon, elected on the campaign with the promise of a "secret" plan to end the war . “The White House tapes” indicate he had none and at the time, was negotiating behind his Secretary of State Kissinger’s back. The North Vietnamese realized that Nixon was going to continue to bomb until they came back to the peace table, no matter what Kissinger was or was not telling them. When the communist negotiators returned to Paris, the peace talks moved along quickly. On January 23, 1973, the United States, North Vietnam, the Republic of Vietnam, and the Viet Cong signed a cease-fire agreement that took effect five days later.
    1975 - Top Hits
Let’s Do It Again - The Staple Singers
Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
Convoy - C.W. McCall
    1975 - Birthday of golfer Tiger (Eldrick) Woods, born Cypress, CA.
    1976 - The Smothers Brothers, Tom and Dick, played their last show at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas and retired as a team from show business. Each continued as a solo artist. They reunited years later for another stab at TV (on NBC) plus concert appearances that proved very successful.
    1976 – “ABBA's Greatest Hits” is certified gold 
    1978 - Ohio State University fired Woody Hayes as its football coach, one day after Hayes punched Clemson University player Charlie Bauman during the Gator Bowl after Bauman intercepted an Ohio pass.
    1979 - Emerson, Lake and Palmer announced they were splitting up. The trio of Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer was enormously popular in the early 1970's with their classically-flavored progressive rock. The trio regrouped in 1986, at first with drummer Cozy Powell substituting for Palmer. But Palmer himself later rejoined Emerson and Lake.
    1980 - The longest-running series in prime-time television history was canceled by NBC. "The Wonderful World of Disney" was axed after more than 25 years on the tube.
    1982 - An uncommon sight in the sky this night, as a ‘blue moon’ appeared. It was not really a blue moon, but one unobstructed by pollution and haze - appearing grayish in color. It was the second full moon of the month; a rare event that attracted many sky watchers. Now you know where the expression, “once in a blue moon” came from.
    1983 - Top Hits
Say Say Say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Say It Isn’t So - Daryl Hall-John Oates
Union of the Snake - Duran Duran
Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You) - Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
    1983 - ‘Dr. J’, Julius Erving, of the Philadelphia 76ers, sank a free throw in the third quarter to become the ninth pro basketball player to score 25,000 points. The 13-year veteran reached his milestone, but the Sixers still lost to the Seattle SuperSonics, 97-93.
    1988 - President Ronald Reagan and President-elect George Bush were subpoenaed to testify at the trial of former White House aide Oliver North on criminal charges stemming from the Iran-Contra affair.
    1985 - IBM-PC DOS Version 3.2 released
http://a1computers.net/pcdoshis.htm|
    1987 - An unusually heavy demand for non-smoking seats aboard a TWA flight from Boston to Los Angeles leads to a complete smoking ban. Toward the end of the flight, 11 passengers protest by lighting cigarettes, & the flight attendant who demands that they be extinguished is physically assaulted. 
    1988 - Unseasonably cold weather prevailed in the southwestern U.S. A week of subfreezing temperatures in southern California claimed the lives of five people. Redding CA was blanketed with four inches of snow. 
    1989 - Extreme cold continued across northern Maine. Milo ME was the cold spot in the nation with a morning low of 38 degrees below zero, and the low of 31 degrees below zero at Caribou ME was a December record for that location. Freezing rain spread across much of Lower Michigan, knocking out electrical power to 1.9 million customers in southeastern Lower Michigan. 
    1991 - A girl was born to Bruce Springsteen and wife Patty Scialfa. It was the couple's second child.
    1991 - Top Hits
Black or White - Michael Jackson
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday - Boyz II Men
All 4 Love - Color Me Badd
My Next Broken Heart - Brooks & Dunn
    1995 - Sir Elton John was named a commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's New Year's honors list. He was honored for his service to music and to charity. John donated millions of dollars to AIDS research.
    1995 - Right-to-Life (sic) gunman John C. Salvi III murders Shannon Lowney of Planned Parenthood & Lee Ann Nichols of Pre-term, women's health care clinics in Brookline, Massachusetts.  Salvi, who worked in a beauty salon in New Hampshire before his murderous rampage, was described by acquaintances as a "very odd" man. Despite his increasingly erratic behavior, Salvi's parents resisted getting professional treatment for him. As his mental state deteriorated, he became a zealous anti-abortion activist. In March 1996, Salvi's trial jury rejected his insanity defense and convicted him of murder. After receiving two life sentences, he killed himself in prison in November 1996.
http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/old-wildcats/spring95/February/February8,1995/03_3_m.html
http://www.standardtimes.com/daily/03-96/03-19-96/1asalvi.htm
    2002 - According to a Nielsen SoundScan survey, total CD album sales were down 10.7% in 2002, marking the sharpest sales decrease from the previous year in the 11-year tracking history. It was the second straight year the market declined, following steady growth since Nielsen first began tracking the US market in 1991. Total album sales in 2002 were 681 million, compared with 762.8 million the previous year. Country album sales posted the largest increase, as sales rose 12.2% from 2001. This rise was largely fueled by such crossover sensations as The Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Alan Jackson, and Faith Hill.
    2006 – Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging for crimes committed against his own people during his rule.
    2018 – Patrick Mahomes became the second QB (Tom Brady) in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 TDs.