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National Business Development Manager 
With seven years experience including current existing book of business. Remote Office Okay. Click here for more info.

Western Finance & Lease, a subsidiary of Western State Bank established in 1901, solicits originations throughout the US and provides
funding solutions for a wide range of industries.
.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010


Singer/Songwriter/Musician Billie Joe Armstrong born February 17, 1972 Oakland, California, perhaps best known as the lead vocalist, chief songwriter and guitarist for the rock band Green Day (Our youngest Katie’s favorite band since she was young; when they were unknown outside the S.F. Bay Area.)
http://www.greenday.net/billiejoe.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KKKxauJw2o


Headlines---

Classified Ads---Asset Management
  Placard---How Dinosaurs became Extinct
 LEAF 1st Quarter Down 69%
  Down to 271 employees to 377 year before
Marlin Leasing: “What Me! Worry?”
 by Christopher Menkin
  Classified Ads---Help Wanted
 The List—Up-dated January, 2010
Sales makes it Happen---by Steve Chriest
  Rethinking Customer Loyalty
 Marlin Completes $80.7 MM Securitization
  Hattiesburg, Mississippi--Adopt-a-Dog
News Briefs---
 Domino Pizza Leasing Grows w/ Parent in UK
  Stanford Victims sue Antigua, Carib bank
   40% in US lack high-speed Internet
    Scottie Sadie wins Westminster after protest
 Lone voice warns of debt threat to Fed
  You May have Missed---
     "Gimme that Wine"
    Today's Top Event in History
     This Day in American History
     Winter Poem
      SuDoku
       Daily Puzzle
        GasBuddy
  Weather, USA or specific area
     Traffic Live----

######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”



[headlines]

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Classified Ads---Asset Management


Haverhill, MA
Started in credit and collections 30 years ago with a private agency. My skills are negotiating with Attorney's, Insurance Companies & Large & small companies.
cityofpa@earthlink.net | Resume

Minneapolis, MN
16 years leasing experience from micro to large ticket market, variety of equipment. Most recently calling on vendor telecom dealers in Upper Midwest.
golfadm@yahoo.com

Santa Barbara CA
(will relocate)
Experienced Asset Manager of various portfolio's for a bank, broker and leasing company. Utilized specialized remarketing companies to maximize collateral values. Worked remote two years.
geoff.taylor@verizon.net | Resume


For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

Other e-Mail Posting Sites:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Posting_sites.htm

[headlines]

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Send Leasing News to a colleague and ask them to subscribe. It is free. No log in or form to fill out. Send email to kitmenkin@leasingnews.org with subject: subscribe.


[headlines]

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LEAF 1st Quarter Down 69%

Down to 271 employees compared to 377 year before


LEAF Financial Corporation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“Originations of new equipment financing for the three months ended December 31, 2009 were $46.6 million as compared to $148.4 million for the three months, ended December 31, 2008, a decrease of $101.8 million (69%). Our originations have been and we expect they will continue to be impacted by the state of the credit markets and the reduced ability of our funds to reduced obtain financing to acquire portfolios of leases and loans from us.

“Our borrowing capacity under our warehouse line of credit was reduced from $150.0 million to $125.0 million as December 31, 2009. We expect that our finance revenues will continue to decline next quarter as the limit on our borrowings was further reduced to $100.0 million in the January 29, 2010 amendment, which extended of the credit facility to March 31, 2010. The lower credit limit requires us to reduce the size of the portfolio of leases and loans we originate and hold on our balance sheet prior to selling them to our investment entities, thereby decreasing our commercial finance revenues.

Page 32, Resource America 1st Quarter SEC Filing, 2010

“In conjunction with the January 29, 2010 amendment that extended the maturity of the facility to March 31, 2010, the limit on borrowings was further reduced to $100.0 million. As a result, LEAF expects that it will monitor and scale back its commercial finance business to accommodate the limited availability of debt financing to its investment entities, including if necessary, the sale of certain portfolio assets to meet required repayment of this facility (could this be Dwight Galloway’s operation in Columbia, South Carolina? editor)

Page 43, Resource America 1st Quarter SEC Filing, 2010

“As a result of the reduction in our warehouse borrowings and the sale of commercial finance assets to our investment entities, the commercial finance assets we managed for our own account at December 31, 2009 decreased by $29.0 million (17%) to $135.0 million as compared to $164.0 million at December 31,2008… “

“As of December 31, 2009, we managed approximately 98,000 leases and loans that had an average original finance value of $25,000 with an average term of 54 months as compared to approximately 105,000 leases and loans that had an average original finance value of $23,000 with an average term of 52 months as of December 31, 2008.”

Page 32, Resource America 1st quarter SEC Filing, 2010

“Revenues—Three Months Ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the prior year period. We attribute these decreases primarily to the following:

  • $3.7 million decrease in commercial finance revenues. our finance revenues decreased principally due to the deconsolidation of LCFF, a $195.00 million portfolio, as of March 2009 and to a lesser extent, from the reduced borrowing limit under our warehouse line of credit,

  • A $755,000 decrease in asset acquisition fees, resulting from the decrease in leases sold to our investment entities to $30.9 million. The difficulty in obtaining and maintaining debt financing by our investment funds has limited their ability to acquire equipment financing from us. Consequently, we have reduced our commercial finance originations to match the asset acquisition capabilities of our funds, and

  • a $1.7 million decrease in management fees. Our management fees include fees we receive to service the commercial finance assets we manage, offering fees earned for raising capital in our investment entities as well as fees received for originating loans for those entities. During the three months ended December 31, 2009, management fees earned to service leases decreased by $707,000 due to runoff in assets under management and the discontinuance of management fees from LEAF I which has entered its liquidation phase. In addition, net capitalized loan origination costs decreased by $1.0 million as a result of reduced originations.

“Costs and expenses---Three Months Ended December 21, 2009 as Compared to the Three Months Ended December 31, 2009. We attribute the decrease primarily to:

  • a $1.5 million reduction in wages and benefits. In response to lower origination volume and assets under management, we have reduced payroll and other overhead costs and have continued to eliminate redundant positions. In total, we have reduced the number of full-time employees in our commercial finance operation by 106 to 271 as of December 31,2009 from 377 at December 31, 2008; and

  • a $1.4 million reduction in other costs and expenses. This decrease is due to the decline in assets managed, which resulted in reduced costs to service our portfolio, primarily legal costs, and to our ongoing cost saving and consolidation efforts. These efforts target eliminating overhead redundancies occurring through our acquisitions and taking advantage of efficiencies obtained by operating on a single platform.”

Page 35, Resource America 1st Quarter SEC Filing, 2010

Resource America is the “parent” of LEAF Financial Corporation, showing a net income attributable to common shareholders of $971,000 for the first quarter of 2010 compared to a loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders of $3.3 million for the first quarter of 2009.

Jonathan Cohen, Resource America CEO and President commented, "Our first fiscal quarter showed solid profitability after the two previous quarters were essentially break even.

“We are seeing the benefits from having narrowed our focus on our real estate, corporate loans and leasing businesses. In doing so, we have tailored our approach and our business models to changed economic times, but we have maintained our long-standing objective of developing and growing businesses with scalable platforms.

“The financial crisis of 2007-2009 did cause great damage, but we are now seeing many opportunities in our businesses. Including commitments from institutional and joint venture partners, we have approximately $500.0 million of capital to invest.

“As we continue to raise capital in this environment for our managed businesses, including Resource Capital, Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. and Apidos Opportunity Fund, we will focus on profitability across all of our businesses."

(He didn’t note leasing. The SEC filing as noted in the article above shows much downsizing and a change of direction away from the lease broker marketplace especially. Kit Menkin, editor).

Resource America SEC, First Quarter, 2010:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Resource_America_Quarterly.pdf

Full Resource America Press Release:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Resource_America_IR_Feb_10.pdf

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Marlin Leasing: “What Me! Worry?”

by Christopher Menkin


Prior to income tax Marlin Business Services, Mount Laurel, New Jersey (NASDAQ: mrln) shows a $179,000 profit for the first three months of December 31, 2009 compared to a $4.8 million loss the year before with a year-end profit of $347,000 compared to a loss of $3.1 million the prior year. Management has cut overhead and proven the old adage: “It is not sales that make a profit, but management.”

After taxes, the profit is $461,000 for three months ending December 31, 2009 compared to a loss of $7.3 million the previous period with a year-end profit of $1 million compared to a loss of $5.2 million the previous year.

(Dollars in Thousand) Three Months Ended December 31 Year Ended December 31
  2009 2008 2009 2008
Income (loss) before income taxes 640 (12,226) 1,383 (8,391)
Income tax expense (benefit) 179 ( 4,878)   347 (3,161)
Net income (loss) 461 ( 7,348) 1,036 (5,230)

$84.7 million of additional capital has brought the equity to $84.6 million, where last year-end $83.6 additional capital brought the equity to $146.6 million.

Leases have dropped from 5,558 12/31/2008 to 2,205 with sales reps going down from 86 to 38 resulting in volume going down from $58 million to $20 million. The decline is evident in the chart, as the company shut down the broker program January, 2009, decided to go direct sales only, but is down today to 38, according to their SEC filings.

Quarter Ended:

12/31/2008 3/31/2009 6/30/2009 9/30/2009 12/31/2009
New Asset Production:           
# of Sales Reps  86 58 33 34 38
# of Leases 5,558 3,811 1,831 1.1916 2.205
Leased Equip. Volume $58,098 $36,280 $15,811 $16,813 $20,031
Approval Percentage 47% 41% 36% 38% 44%




(Marlin Board Meeting)

Evergreen and other statistics were not in the SEC 8K filing or press release, which resulted in major profit in previous filings, primarily from copier business that made up over 20% of their equipment leases.

It is interesting to see the profit from insurance was $5.3 million:

  3 mos. end,2009 3 mos. end,2009 Y/E 2009 Y/2008
Insurance income 1,279 1,537 5,330 6,252
(in thousands)        

On October 9, 2009, the Company closed on a $75,000,000 three-year committed funding facility with the Lender Finance division of Wells Fargo Foothill. The facility reportedly will be used to fund new lease originations.

While the following three items were noted in the Marlin press release, it appears Marlin was looking for money and last Friday completed a $80 7 million TALF eligible term securitization (see press release in this issue). The bank deposits and ratio’s were at the point the company was eligible for a government loan, which certainly will be used to benefit small businesses.

At December 31, 2009, the Company had outstanding $95 4 million of leases and loans funded through its banking subsidiary, Marlin Business Bank, and has $80 3 million in FDIC- insured deposits outstanding at an average borrowing rate of 3.16% with a weighted average term to maturity of 2.7 years. Fourth quarter 2009 average deposit outstandings were $82 million at a weighted average interest rate of 3.35%.

"Looking back on the economic turmoil and capital market crisis that unfolded in 2009, I am pleased with the management team's success navigating the challenges that confronted the business," says Daniel P. Dyer, Marlin's CEO.

"In 2009, we successfully executed on our risk strategy to strengthen the credit fundamentals of the business leading to improving charge-off and delinquency trends through 2009. On the funding side, we added new capacity to complement the funding provided through our bank depository, Marlin Business Bank," added Dyer. "Entering 2010, we're very excited about the future and the attractive opportunities to grow the business and serve the borrowing needs of customers."

The company has changed direction from its original Advanta model away from the independent broker market with the employees to serve these applications---and perhaps was the first to note the coming economic changes, planning perhaps two years ahead, making some serious, bold decisions.

SEC Filing:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Marlin_SEC_2_16_10.pdf

Full Marlin Press Release with Financial Statements:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Marlin_Q4_2009.pdf

Previous Stories:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Marlin_Leasing_2008.htm

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Classified Ads---Help Wanted

Sales

Newport Beach, CA / New York, NY
20 openings CA/4 NY - Min. 1yr exp.
Est. customer/vendor a plus. Base plus comm.
Info@eaglebusinessfinance.com

Eagle Business Finance is a national Leasing company offering brokered and internal funding services from $1,000 to $2,800,000
www.eaglebusinessfinance.com





5 Years+ Small Ticket or Middle Market Exp.
with Established Customer/Vendor relationships.
Remote Office or On Site/ Jobs@TEQlease.com
Attn: Mike Lockwood or Russ Runnalls CLP

TEQlease Provides Customized Equipment
Leasing Solutions For Businesses Nationwide
www.TEQlease.com


National Business Development Manager 
With seven years experience including current existing book of business. Remote Office Okay. Click here for more info.

Western Finance & Lease, a subsidiary of Western State Bank established in 1901, solicits originations throughout the US and provides
funding solutions for a wide range of industries.
.
 

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

 


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The List—Up-dated January, 2010


--- Mergers, Acquisitions & Changes
"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"—



Chronological Up-dates
http://www.leasingnews.org/list_chron_new.htm

Alphabetical Up-dates
http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm

January, 2010 Synopsis:

GMD International, Inc. dba Nolatek of Houma, La.(01/2010) Operation closed after Texas bank foreclosed on the $3.9 Million loan and has repossessed its collateral. Various leasing companies and banks are involved and may exceed $50 million. The founder, a French citizen, has returned to France. The company is closed and there is no corporate officer to file a bankruptcy and it appears the lenders involved do not see any such purpose in doing so as much of the collateral does not exist, and it appears others have claimed (taken) what was left.

Mar Vista Financial, Villa Park, California (01/2010) Jamie Chisick, founder and president of Mar Vista Financial, Villa Park, California, is a co-founder along with his brother Brad Chisick of Nationscapital Mortgage, found guilty in 2005 in Olympia, Washington and ordered to pay $712,527.19 in restitution to 120 Washington state consumers.

“Jamie Chisick is banned from the industry in Washington State for 20 years and must pay fines totaling $292,800.00." Another firm involving Jamie Chisick, First Alliance Mortgage went bankrupt. The California Department of Corporations has Jamie P. Chisick named as president of Mar Vista Financial with an expired license as of 5/17/2008
http://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp?License_id=01280771

Equipment Acquisition Resources, Palatine, IL (01/2010) Sheldon Player side of the story regarding Greyhound conviction. (01/2010)FBI Investigating Equipment Acquisition Resources. Timothy Nieder, TMN Financial, Park Ridge, Illinois, who was a broker of many of these leases reportedly takes his own life.

Axis Capital, Grand Island, Nebraska (01/2010) States Triton Holdings Securities and Exchange Commission and the Texas State Securities Board not affecting them, investment in Axis by Triton: "The Triton Financial receivership has no effect on the operations of Axis Capital Inc., and the receiver's only position is as trustee for the shares securing the equity infused into Axis Capital Inc."

Lakeland Bank, Oak Ridge, NJ. (01/2010) reports a Net Loss for the year ended December 31, 2009 of $5.4 million, compared to Net Income of $15.2 million reported for 2008.

Brican America, Miami, Florida (01/2010) Brochure explains how advertising plan works.

Financial Pacific, Federal Way, WA. (01/2010) Completes the renewal of its $100 Million Term Credit Facility with WestLB AG. The lending relationship between the two financial institutions was originally established in 2001.
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2010/1_15.htm#finpac

Marlin Leasing, Mount Laurel, NJ (01/2010) Stock hits $10.75.

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Sales makes it Happen


by Steve Chriest

Rethinking Customer Loyalty

Customer loyalty is a major concern for everyone in business today, perhaps because there appears to be so little loyalty among so many customers. At best, loyalty is fleeting among many customers, and at worst, it simply isn’t part of their thinking.

I am always amazed at how many books are written each year on the subject of customer loyalty. These books are written and read, I think, because we don’t want to face the reality of pervasive disloyalty in the business world. We do a good job for our customers, we treat them fairly, our pricing is competitive and we remain loyal to our customers. So why aren’t they more loyal to us?

At the risk of sounding cynical, customer loyalty really is a simple concept, and for me can be boiled down into the following statement: Customers are loyal so long as the rewards of loyalty outweigh the rewards of disloyalty! Approached from this understanding, the challenge of gaining customer loyalty may not become easier, but surely comes into clearer focus.

To make matters more challenging, providing “good service” to customers today will not guarantee continued loyalty. I was shocked to discover that 80% of customers who switch leasing companies rate the service of their previous leasing company as “satisfactory to good.” Good service is no longer good enough to guarantee customer loyalty!

It takes more than remembering a birthday through Plaxo or LinkedIn or sending an occasional joke or making a telephone call or interceding in a question regarding a problem with insurance or a payment.

Making sure the purchase option is what it is supposed to be is certainly a service, but keeping customers loyal in these extremely competitive and lonely times continues to be more challenging than ever for most of those in sales. While all of us are concerned about creating new sales, don’t forget your attention in keeping current customers “loyal.”

About the author: Steve Chriest is the founder of Selling UpTM (www.selling-up.com), a sales consulting firm specializing in sales improvement for organizations of all types and sizes in a variety of industries. He is also the author of Selling The E-Suite, The Proven System For Reaching and Selling Senior Executives and Five Minute Financial Analyst, Basic CREDIT & Analysis Tools for Non-Accountants. He was the CEO of a very successful leasing company and executive at a major company. You can reach Steve at schriest@selling-up.com.

Sales Makes it Happen articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.html

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

Marlin Completes $80.7 Million Term Debt Securitization

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., -- Marlin Leasing Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marlin Business Services Corp. (NASDAQ: MRLN), announced today the completion of a $80.7 million term asset-backed securitization. The two senior classes of notes issued under the securitization constitute eligible collateral under the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) program.

This transaction was Marlin's tenth term debt securitization and fifth to earn a AAA rating. As with all prior term debt securitizations, this financing provides the Company with fixed-cost borrowing and will be recorded "on-balance sheet." A portion of the proceeds of this issuance was used to repay the full amount outstanding under the company's CP conduit warehouse facility.

"We are pleased to announce the completion of our 2010 term securitization," said Daniel P. Dyer, CEO of Marlin Business Services Corp. "The positive market reception and AAA credit ratings reflect Marlin's reputation for disciplined underwriting and strong credit culture backed by our strong balance sheet."

This was a private offering made to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by Marlin Leasing Receivables XII LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marlin Leasing Corporation. Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, Inc., and DBRS, Inc., rated the transaction, with the two senior classes receiving A-1+/R-1(high) and AAA ratings from these agencies. The effective weighted average interest expense over the term of the financing will be approximately 3.13%.

About Marlin Business Services Corp.

Marlin Business Services Corp. is a nationwide provider of equipment leasing and working capital solutions primarily to small businesses. The Company's principal operating subsidiary, Marlin Leasing Corporation, finances over 100 equipment categories in a segment of the market generally referred to as "small-ticket" leasing (i.e. leasing transactions less than $250,000). The Company was founded in 1997 and completed its initial public offering of common stock on November 12, 2003.

(SEC filing: Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

On February 12, 2010, the Registrant's subsidiary, Marlin Leasing Receivables XII LLC, closed on the issuance of a term note securitization in the amount of $80,663,000, representing the Registrant's tenth term securitization. This issuance, which was made to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, has five different classes of notes. Each class of notes has its own final maturity date (ranging from February 2011 to January 2016), and the effective weighted average interest expense over the term of the financing will be approximately 3.13%. Each class of notes is assigned one of the following ratings by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, Inc. and DBRS, Inc., respectively: A-1+/R-1(high); AAA/AAA; AA/AA; A/A; and BBB/BBB. The A-1+/R-1(high) and AAA rated classes qualify as eligible securities under the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility ("TALF") program established by the Federal Reserve. This financing is recorded as an "on-balance sheet" transaction and is collateralized by certain of the Registrant's direct financing leases and loans. A portion of the proceeds of this issuance was used to repay the full amount outstanding under the Registrant's CP conduit warehouse facility. The Registrant issued a press release on February 16, 2010 announcing this closing of this transaction, and a copy of that press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.)

Copy of SEC filing:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Marlin_2_16_10.pdf

SEATTLE

  

Meet and learn from Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

Leasing #102 columnist for Leasing News,
long time educator and trainer

Sales and Operations
click here for course information and to register

April 12th until Noon on the 14th
Seattle, Washington
Hosted by Financial Pacific

$395.00 Paid in Advance for first person from company
$345 with each additional attendee 

"Certified Leasing Professionals attending this seminar will earn CPEs (Continuing Professional Education)
Credits toward their recertification"

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

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


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Hattiesburg, Mississippi--Adopt-a-Dog


MOLLY-I CAN GO HOM
Labrador Retriever [Mix]
Medium Adult Female Dog Pet ID: 8940479

“MOLLY-I CAN GO HOM is up-to-date with routine shots and spayed/neutered.

“All dogs will be neutered/spayed, given routine vaccinations, microchipped, treated for intestinal worms, and tested for heartworms before leaving the shelter. To find out more about our organization, adoption fees, and to get a map to our shelter visit www.SouthernPinesAnimalShelter.org

Southern Pines Animal Shelter
1901 North 31st Avenue
Hattiesburg, MS
601-544-6632
spasmgr@comcast.net

Adopting Your Pet The adoption fee is $70.00 for dogs and cats & $75.00 for puppies and kittens

The adoption fee includes your new pet already spayed or neutered, dewormed, heartworm or feline leukemia tested, and up-to-date with routine vaccinations (except rabies). All pets are also identified with a 24PetWatch microchip and 30 days of low cost pet insurance is available to the adopter for $1.00 to help with any vet bills you may incur after the animal is adopted.

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=15690750
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/MS17.html

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

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

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News Briefs----

Domino Pizza Leasing Co. Grows with Parent in UK
http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1211890&SMap=1

Victims of Stanford scam sue Antigua, Carib bank
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iH4Hcngqy2y6YFAcECbpwvGgsD5AD9DTJOG00

40% in US lack high-speed Internet
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011099286_broadband17.html

Sadie the Scottie wins Westminster after protest
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/02/14/sports/s091903S30.DTL
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/sports/17dog.html?hp

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You May have Missed---

Lone voice warns of debt threat to Fed
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c918b8dc-1b37-11df-953f-00144feab49a.html


((Please Click on Bulletin Board to learn more information))
(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)


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“Gimme that Wine”


Try the Red: Napa Learns to Sell
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/dining/17napa.html?ref=dining

Welcome to California: Bargainland
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/41737

New Zealand Youths with Promise --Eric Asimov
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/dining/reviews/17wine.html?ref=dining

California wine retailers pursue suit to pry open Texas market
http://www.sacbee.com/business/story/2539052.html

Economy, imports strike wine grapes
http://westernfarmpress.com/grapes/wine-grapes-imports-economy-0215/

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

US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/

Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas/

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

The London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-ex) is an electronic exchange for fine wine.
http://www.liv-ex.com/

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Today's Top Event in History

1958 - The greatest snowstorm of the mid 20th century struck the northeastern U.S. The storm produced 30 inches of snow in interior New England, including more than 19 inches in 24 hours at the Boston Airport. The same storm produced up to three feet of snow in the Middle Atlantic Coast Region, with 14 inches at Washington D.C., and 15.5 inches at Baltimore MD. The storm resulted in 43 deaths and 500 million dollars damage over the Middle Atlantic Coast States

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This Day in American History

    1621 - Miles Standish was appointed 1st commander of Plymouth colony.
    1755--Birthday of Catherine Littlefield Greene, perhaps the actual inventor of the cotton gin but every book on the subject differs as to the extent of her contribution. At the very least had the detailed idea of how it worked but it was Eli Whitney who filed for the patent. Some say he improved upon the original. He lived on the Greene's plantation. She showed Whitney how to clear the device of seeds and how the machine worked. Another said it was her idea and she had Whitney, a mechanic, make the device and he patented it because a woman couldn't hold a patent at the time. . Despite the social and economic impact of the invention, Whitney lost his profits in legal battles over patent infringement as his original intention was to form a business to clean cotton, not produce machines. He died at age 59 of prostate cancer on January 8, 1825, in New Haven, CT, leaving a widow and four children.
    1761-Still surviving today in some East Coast communities, and considered landmarks as they exist today are “milestones” between cities. There were stone blocks with mileage to mark the highways. Originally they were set by the directors of an insurance company known as the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. On this day, they agreed” to apply their fines ( a forfeiture of one shilling for not meeting precisely at the hour appointed, and two shillings for total absence) in purchasing Stones to be erected on the Road leading from Philadelphia toward Trenton, the distance of a mile from another with the Number of miles from Philadelphia, to be cut in each stone, and Thos, Wharton and Jacob Lewis are requested to Contract for the same. On May 15,1764, at five o'clock in the morning, the two men starting out from front and Market streets, taking with them the Surveyor General of the Province, and plated a stone at the end of every mile. They planed the 29 th milestone near the edge of the Delaware River, and gave their two remaining stones to be planted on the Jersey side of the road to New York. 
http://www.route40.net/history/milestones/index.shtml
http://www.societe-jersiaise.org/alexgle/stonejsymilestones.html
http://www.geocities.com/jphistoricalsociety/markers.html
    1801-Presidential candidate Thomas Jefferson won support of a majority of congressional Representatives displacing incumbent John Adams. Jefferson's triumph brought an end to one of the most acrimonious presidential campaigns in U.S. history and resolved a serious Constitutional crisis. Republican Jefferson
(an offshoot of the Democrat-Republican party ) defeated Federalist John Adams by a margin of 73 to 65 electoral votes. When presidential electors cast their votes, however, they failed to distinguish between the office of president and vice president on their ballots. Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr each received 73 votes. With the votes tied, the election was thrown to the House of Representatives. There, each state voted as a unit to decide the election. Burr publicly professed support for Jefferson, is fellow Republican, but did nothing to take himself out of the race, even though the Republicans intended that Burr become vice-president. Many Federalists favored Burr for president, but Alexander Hamilton, the leading Federalist, detest Burr and worked behind the scenes on Jefferson's behalf, despite his disagreement with Jefferson's policies. For six days, Jefferson and Burr essentially ran against each other in the House. Votes were tallied over thirty times, yet neither man captured the necessary majority of nine states. Eventually, a small group of Federalists, led by James A. Bayard of Delaware, reasoned that a peaceful transfer of power required the majority choose the President, and a deal was struck in Jefferson's favor. On the 36 th ballot, this day, barely two weeks before a new president was to be inaugurated, Jefferson received a majority vote when certain Federalist gave up their support of Burr. Burr was elected Vice-president. Jefferson was inaugurated on March 4, 1801. Adopted in 1804, the Twelfth Amendment, to the Constitution provides that electors "name in their ballots the person voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as vice president." Just three years after his vice-presidential inauguration, Aaron Burr shot and fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Hamilton, a longtime political antagonist of Burr, played a key role in breaking the congressional stalemate in Jefferson's favor.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb17.html
    1817-The first gas streetlight was lit. The first gas street lights through a city were installed in Baltimore, MD. by the Gas Light Company in 1817. On June 19, 1816, the mayor and council authorized the company, whose officers included the artist Rembrandt Peale, to lay pipes for the manufacture and distribution of gas “to provide for more effectually lighting the streets, squares, lanes and alleys of the city of Baltimore.” Coal gas was used. The first engineer of the company was David Pugh.
    1864 - The Confederate hand-propelled submarine Huntley, armed with a ram torpedo, attacked the USS Housatonic in the Charleston Harbor. His torpedo was a mine placed onto the end of a long pole. When the Huntley hit the Housatonic with the mine, the resulting explosion sank both vessels. This was the first time in US Warfare that a submarine successfully sank another ship.
    1865-Fort Sumter Returned to Union Control: After a siege that lasted almost a year and a half, Fort Sumter in South Carolina returned to Union hands on this date. The site of the first shots fired in the American Civil War, the fort had become a symbol for both sides during the war. As Union attempts to retake it by shelling diminished the fort's capacity with large bombardments, Southern forces managed to hold out with few casualties.
    1865-Columbia, South Carolina was set afire while being entered by federal troops under General William Tecumseh Sherman. Bales of cotton were put to the torch, perhaps by Confederates to prevent their falling into federal hands. Strong winds scattered the burning cotton across most of the city. On 11 February 1865, Sherman learned that only a cavalry unit was between him and Columbia. This was ample proof that his strategy of indirect approach was effective since the Confederates were more concerned about protecting Augusta and Charleston than the state capital. Sherman occupied Columbia on 18 February 1865. When Sherman's forces entered the city, they found it littered with broken furniture and other household items left by the pillaging Confederate soldiers and civilians. The railroad depot and a large storage building had been burned to the ground. Bales of cotton piled in the middle of many streets had been torn open, and lint was flying around. Fires were still burning when the initial troops entered the city and they turned to putting out the fires. That night the smoldering cotton bales, fanned by the high winds and possibly fueled by drunken soldiers and civilians, spread a great fire. Union soldiers attempting to put out the fire could only look on in misery as it consumed building after building. The next the population looked out on their city and saw vast destruction. While two-thirds of the city remained standing that morning, churches, most stores, and many of the most expensive houses were in ruins. Although Sherman did not order the city burned, the simple fact that he was there when the city was burnt placed the blame clearly on his shoulders to many Southerners. When Sherman left Columbia on 20 February 1865, Sherman's soldiers again acted on Sherman's total war policy and put to torch anything of military value. It was his goal to stop all modes of supply transportation which started with blocking traffic up the Mississippi and Atlantic Ocean ports, with an emphasis on destroying railroad junctions and the tracks themselves.
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/I?cwar:1:./temp/~ammem_V8LM::displayType=
1:m856sd=cwpb:m856sf=03379:@@@

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/I?cwar:3:./temp/~ammem_V8LM::displayType=
1:m856sd=cwp:m856sf=4a40429:@@@

http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/hargrett/barnard/jpgs/plate53.jpg
http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/hargrett/barnard/jpgs/plate54.jpg
http://www.archives.nd.edu/barnard/sbio.html
http://members.aol.com/x69xer/odds.html#therailroads
    1876 - In Eastport, Maine, Julius Wolff was credited as the first person to can sardines in metal. Although the canning of sardines in bottles began in Europe in 1834, it was not until the Franco-Prussian War of the early 1870s cut off the supply to America, that the opportunity was provided to can sardines in America. In 1875 the commission house of Wolff and Reising, under the direction of Julius Wolff, began its first successful American sardine cannery in Eastport. At its greatest extent there were 22 sardine factories in Eastport at one time. The cans were soldered together in three pieces, a time consuming process. In 1903 machine-made and machine- sealed cans replaced the three-piece soldered cans.
http://www.qbyv.com/history_of_can.htm
http://www.port-louis.org/en/_fishing.html
http://www.worldandi.com/specialreport/2002/april/Sa22204.htm
http://www.stavanger.museum.no/Eng/Hermetikk/hermhist.htm
http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-misc/cannery-row.html
http://www.kosherquest.org/html/Condiments%20&%20Cannd%20Goods%202001.htm
http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nmfs/herr1.html
http://www.mainepreservation.com/dayswork/images/SARDINE1_000.jpg
http://www.mainepreservation.com/dayswork/images/Eastprt_000.gif
    1897-The Parent-teacher association ( national) was organized as the National Congress of Mothers in Washington DC, by Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst at a meeting attended by 2,000 persons. At the annual meeting of March 9,1908, the name was changed to the National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations. On May 9,1924, the name was changed to the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.
    1899-The first six-day bicycle race, featuring two-man teams, came to an end at New York's Madison Square Gardens. The race finished in a blizzard that was sweeping the entire Northeast and Southeast of the United states. The winning team of Charles Miller and Frank Waller rode a combined distance of 2,733 miles.
    1902--Birthday of Marian Anderson, described as the greatest voice of the 20th century. First woman of color to sing with the Metropolitan Opera. She sang with the major orchestras and opera companies of the world and performed before major heads of state. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963. In 1939 when the Daughters of American Revolution (DAR) refused to allow her to sing in their hall because of her race, Eleanor Roosevelt, among others, quit the organization and organized an outdoor concert at the Lincoln Memorial instead.
    1908-Walter Lanier “Red” Barber Birthday. One of the first broadcasters inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, "Red" Barber was born at Columbus, MS. Barber's first professional play-by-play experience was announcing the Cincinnati Reds opening day on radio in 1934. That game was also the first major league game he had ever seen. He broadcast baseball's first night game (in Brooklyn) on Aug 26, 1939, the game in which Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, and while a Yankee radio announcer he called Roger Maris's 61st home run in 1961. "Red" Barber died Oct 22, 1992, at Tallahassee, FL.
    1908-Birthday of Flash Gordon, also known as Clarence Lindon “Buster” Crabbe, Olympic gold medal swimmer, bron at Oakland, CA. Crabbe's first-place finish in the 400-meter freestyle was the only swimming medal won by an American at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. After his swimming career was over, he played Tarzan, flash Gordon and Buck Rogers in the movies. These appeared on early television, and I very well remember both Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. By the way, there were no residuals for any of the actors, writers, directors of any movies until 1960. Residuals for “made for TV” shows were limited to five payments until 1979 when it went to nine payments. There were other minor changes, but it was not until 2001 that expanded this. Buster Crabbe died at Scottsdale, AZ, 1983 and never received any residuals for his movies on TV.
    1913-The first Modern art exhibition of importance opened at the 69 th Regiment Armory in New York City. The controversial exhibition, organized chiefly by the American modernist painter Arthur Bowen Davies, scandalized the public with such avant-garde works as Marcel Duchamp's “Nude Descending a Spiral Staircase.” More than 250,000 visitors received their first look at paintings by Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Edward Hopper, Henri Matisse, John Marin, Charles Scheeler, and others.
    1923-Birthday of clarinet player Buddy DeFranco, born Bonifacio Ferdinando Leonardo Defranco ,Camden, NJ
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,421834,00.html?artist=Buddy+DeFranco
http://www.npr.org/programs/jazzprofiles/archive/defranco.html
http://www.buddydefranco.com/
    1926-Lee Holby birthday, composer, concert pianist, born Madison, WI.
    1930 - Eureka, CA, reported an all-time record high of 85 degrees, a record which lasted until September of 1983.
    1936-James Nathaniel “Jim” Brown birthday. activist, actor, Pro Football Hall of Famer, born St. Simons Island, GA.
    1936 - The temperature at McIntosh SD plunged to 58 degrees below zero to establish a state record
    1938-Slim Gaillard and Slam Stewart cut “Flat Foot Gloogie.”
    1941- Singer Gene Pitney was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He first gained fame as a songwriter, penning "Hello Mary Lou" for Rick Nelson and "He's a Rebel" for the Crystals. In 1961, Pitney went into the recording studio himself, playing and overdubbing every instrument and multitracking his vocals. The result was his first hit, "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away." Gene Pitney had more than 20 chart singles during the '60s, including "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance," "Only Love Can Break a Heart" and "It Hurts to Be in Love."
    1944--JOHNSTON, WILLIAM J. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company G, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Padiglione, Italy, 1719 February 1944. Entered service at: Colchester, Conn. Birth: Trenton, N.J. G.O. No.: 73, 6 September 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. On 17 February 1944, near Padiglione, Italy, he observed and fired upon an attacking force of approximately 80 Germans, causing at least 25 casualties and forcing withdrawal of the remainder. All that day he manned his gun without relief, subject to mortar, artillery, and sniper fire. Two Germans individually worked so close to his position that his machinegun was ineffective, whereupon he killed 1 with his pistol, the second with a rifle taken from another soldier. When a rifleman protecting his gun position was killed by a sniper, he immediately moved the body and relocated the machinegun in that spot in order to obtain a better field of fire. He volunteered to cover the platoon's withdrawal and was the last man to leave that night. In his new position he maintained an all-night vigil, the next day causing 7 German casualties. On the afternoon of the 18th, the organization on the left flank having been forced to withdraw, he again covered the withdrawal of his own organization. Shortly thereafter, he was seriously wounded over the heart, and a passing soldier saw him trying to crawl up the embankment. The soldier aided him to resume his position behind the machinegun which was soon heard in action for about 10 minutes. Though reported killed, Pfc. Johnston was seen returning to the American lines on the morning of 19 February slowly and painfully working his way back from his overrun position through enemy lines. He gave valuable information of new enemy dispositions. His heroic determination to destroy the enemy and his disregard of his own safety aided immeasurably in halting a strong enemy attack, caused an enormous amount of enemy casualties, and so inspired his fellow soldiers that they fought for and held a vitally important position against greatly superior forces.
    1944 - The Japanese naval base at Truk, Caroline Islands, was bombed by Allied aircraft destroying 201 planes.
http://www.ecophotoexplorers.com/chuuk.asp
http://www.saipan1.com/phm/maps/truk/index.htm
http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camplists/other/truk.html
    1945--*HAMMERBERG, OWEN FRANCIS PATRICK Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 31 May 1920, Daggett, Mich. Accredited to: Michigan. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a diver engaged in rescue operations at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 17 February 1945. Aware of the danger when 2 fellow divers were hopelessly trapped in a cave-in of steel wreckage while tunneling with jet nozzles under an LST sunk in 40 feet of water and 20 feet of mud. Hammerberg unhesitatingly went overboard in a valiant attempt to effect their rescue despite the certain hazard of additional cave-ins and the risk of fouling his lifeline on jagged pieces of steel imbedded in the shifting mud. Washing a passage through the original excavation, he reached the first of the trapped men, freed him from the wreckage and, working desperately in pitch-black darkness, finally effected his release from fouled lines, thereby enabling him to reach the surface. Wearied but undaunted after several hours of arduous labor, Hammerberg resolved to continue his struggle to wash through the oozing submarine, subterranean mud in a determined effort to save the second diver. Venturing still farther under the buried hulk, he held tenaciously to his purpose, reaching a place immediately above the other man just as another cave-in occurred and a heavy piece of steel pinned him crosswise over his shipmate in a position which protected the man beneath from further injury while placing the full brunt of terrific pressure on himself. Although he succumbed in agony 18 hours after he had gone to the aid of his fellow divers, Hammerberg, by his cool judgment, unfaltering professional skill and consistent disregard of all personal danger in the face of tremendous odds, had contributed effectively to the saving of his 2 comrades. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
    1945--HERRING, RUFUS G. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Naval Reserve, LCI (G) 449. Place and date: Iwo Jima, 17 February 1945. Entered service at: North Carolina. Born: 11 June 1921, Roseboro, N.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of LCI (G) 449 operating as a unit of LCI (G) Group 8, during the preinvasion attack on Iwo Jima on 17 February 1945. Boldly closing the strongly fortified shores under the devastating fire of Japanese coastal defense guns, Lt. (then Lt. (j.g.)) Herring directed shattering barrages of 40mm. and 20mm. gunfire against hostile beaches until struck down by the enemy's savage counterfire which blasted the 449's heavy guns and whipped her decks into sheets of flame. Regaining consciousness despite profuse bleeding he was again critically wounded when a Japanese mortar crashed the conning station, instantly killing or fatally wounding most of the officers and leaving the ship wallowing without navigational control. Upon recovering the second time, Lt. Herring resolutely climbed down to the pilothouse and, fighting against his rapidly waning strength, took over the helm, established communication with the engineroom, and carried on valiantly until relief could be obtained. When no longer able to stand, he propped himself against empty shell cases and rallied his men to the aid of the wounded; he maintained position in the firing line with his 20mm. guns in action in the face of sustained enemy fire, and conned his crippled ship to safety. His unwavering fortitude, aggressive perseverance, and indomitable spirit against terrific odds reflect the highest credit upon Lt. Herring and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
    1949 - Richard (Dick) Button beat his competitors in Paris, France, to hold onto the men's figure skating championship world title. Button is now a figure skating commentator at events around the world for American television, including Olympics competition.
    1949-Pianist George Shearing records “September in the Rain.”
    1952-Top Hits
Slowpoke - Pee Wee King
Cry - Johnnie Ray
Anytime - Eddie Fisher
Give Me More, More, More (Of Your Kisses) - Lefty Frizzell
    1954 - In the United States, Doris Day's single, "Secret Love", became the #1 song. From the motion picture, "Calamity Jane", the song spent 3 weeks at the top of the music charts.
    1955--At the recommendation of R&B artist Lloyd Price, Richard Penniman, who is currently leading an ensemble called Little Richard and The Upsetters, sends a demo tape to Specialty Records founder Art Rupe. After some initial reluctance, Rupe will sign Penniman to a contract that will pay the singer a half cent for every record sold.
    1958 - The greatest snowstorm of the mid 20th century struck the northeastern U.S. The storm produced 30 inches of snow in interior New England, including more than 19 inches in 24 hours at the Boston Airport. The same storm produced up to three feet of snow in the Middle Atlantic Coast Region, with 14 inches at Washington D.C., and 15.5 inches at Baltimore MD. The storm resulted in 43 deaths and 500 million dollars damage over the Middle Atlantic Coast States
    1958 - Former star of the New York Giants football team, Frank Gifford, signed a seven-year film contract with Warner Brothers, which did not make him a movie star despite the studio's expectations. Gifford then went into broadcasting. His first job was as a sportscaster for New York's WCBS-TV, before he moved to WABC-TV in New York, then went to network television as the primary play-by-play announcer. Eventually Gifford became color commentator on ABC's "Monday Night Football". Frank married Kathie Lee Gifford of "Regis and Kathie Lee” and last hard he was involved in an affair that sold many tabloids.
    1960--After achieving more than 15 million in sales with Cadence Records, The Everly Brothers sign a ten year, $1 million contract with Warner Brothers records.
    1960- Elvis Presley received his first gold album for "Elvis," which included such songs as "Rip It Up," "Old Shep" and "Ready Teddy."
    1960-Top Hits
Teen Angel - Mark Dinning
Handy Man - Jimmy Jones
The Theme from "A Summer Place" - Percy Faith
He'll Have to Go - Jim Reeves
    1962 - The Beach Boys first hit, "Surfin'" swept California. They had a national hit in the United States when "Surfin' Safari" hit the music charts in August of this same year.
    1962 - Gene Chandler took the #1 spot with "Duke of Earl" for a three week stay. The song also hit #1 on the rhythm & blues charts. Out of the 6 songs Chandler recorded, "Duke of Earl" was his biggest hit. His only million seller was 1970's "Groovy Situation". Curtis Mayfield wrote several hits for Chandler, such as: "Just Be True","What Now" and "Nothing Can Stop Me". Chandler's real name is Eugene Dixon. From 1969 to 1973, he owned his own record label, Mr. Chand, but his million seller was recorded for Mercury Records in 1970.
    1963-Michael Jeffrey Jordon birthday, former basketball player, former minor league baseball player, born Brooklyn.
    1964--Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass appear in their first major concert in Los Angeles. Over the next three years, they will become one of the most successful instrumental acts in history, achieving twelve Billboard Top 40 hits.
    1965 - Comedienne Joan Rivers her first guest appearances on NBC-TV's "The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson". Later she became Carson's permanent guest host until signing for a late-night show deal with FOX television. Johnny was not impressed and wouldn't allow her back on his show.
    1965- "The Tennessee Waltz" was declared Tennessee's state song. The tune provided hit records for Patti Page, Cowboy Copas and its composer, Pee Wee King. Page's recording featured one of the first uses of multitracking in which the singer appeared to sing harmony with herself.
    1966 - RCA Victor awarded Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler a gold record, for the album and the single of "The Ballad of the Green Berets". Sadler, recorded one other single, "The "A" Team", for the label. He served in Vietnam until a leg injury from a Viet Cong booby trap sent him home. In 1988, Sadler was shot in the head during an attempted robbery at his Guatemala home. He suffered brain damage and at 49 years old, died of heart failure in November, 1989 in Tennessee.
    1966--The Beach Boys begin recording sessions for Brian Wilson's masterpiece, "Good Vibrations". Multiple layered overdubs spread out over eleven sessions would make this the most expensive single ever recorded to date. Although the record would top charts around the world and sell millions of copies, it would be The Beach Boys' last to reach the Billboard Top 10 for ten years.
    1968-Top Hits
Love is Blue - Paul Mauriat
I Wish It Would Rain - The Temptations
(Theme From) Valley of the Dolls - Dionne Warwick
Skip a Rope - Henson Cargill
    1968 - In Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opened.
    1969- Bob Dylan began recording at Columbia Studios in Nashville with Johnny Cash. Few of the tracks laid down were ever released officially, although a bootleg album "The Dylan- Cash Session" made its appearance.
    1971 - James Taylor made his prime time television debut on The Johnny Cash Show, singing Fire and Rain and Carolina On My Mind.
    1971-Elton John U.S. debut goes gold. His first U.K. LP, "Empty Sky" is not issued in the States until 1975, by which time John has become a rock star of the first magnitude. He arrived in the States under much publicity in the summer of '70 and was hailed by Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times as the first Superstar of the Seventies. "Elton John" hit #4
    1972- Pink Floyd premiered "Dark Side of the Moon" in concert at London's Rainbow Theatre. When the album of the same title was released a year later, it made Pink Floyd one of rock's biggest acts. "Dark Side of the Moon" sold more than four-million copies. In 1980, it became the longest-charting rock LP in Billboard's history at 303 weeks. It was still on the album charts eight years later.
    1972-Jonathan Edwards is awarded a gold record for "Sunshine," the lone hit for the Virginia folkie. He handles his brief fame in typical laid-back fashion. Instead of buying himself a fancy Porsche, he got himself a fancy truck
    1972-Green Day singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong is born.
    1972-President Richard Nixon left the White House to visit Red China. He was the first president to visit a nation not recognized by the federal government. This was also the first trip to China, the world's most populous nation, by any American president. Accompanied by a small army of journalist, he arrived in Beijing on Fe4brtuary 21 for talks with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai. Later that year, Nixon became the first president to visit the Soviet Union when he arrive in Moscow on May 22 for a summit with Soviet leaders. Among the agreements that were reached during the visit was the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty, singed by President Nixon and the Soviet leader Leonid I. Brezhnev on May 26, which limited both nations to 200 antiballistic missiles each, divided between two defensive systems.
    1975-John Lennon releases "Rock n' Roll," his final record before a self-imposed five year exile from the music business. It reaches #6 on the chart and doesn't stay for long, falling fast.
    1976-Top Hits
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
Love to Love You Baby - Donna Summer
You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate
The White Knight - Cledus Maggard & the Citizen's Band
    1976- the Eagles "Their Greatest Hits" album was released. It would eventually sell more than 22 million copies in the US, second only to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
    1976-Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatrical society gives its annual "Women of the Year" award to Bette Midler. Upon accepting, she comments: "This award characterizes what the American male wants in a woman--brains, talents and gorgeous tits." Saw her recently at the San Jose Compaq Arena, “Kiss My Brass,” and she was better than ever, more topical than ever, and just plain terrific.
    1979-“A Prairie Home Companion” premieres on radio. This popular live variety show debuted locally on Minnesota Public Radio in 1974 and was first broadcast nationally on Feb 17, 1979 as part of National Public Radio's Folk Festival USA. It became a regular Saturday night program in early 1980. Host Garrison Keillor's monologues about the mythical Lake Wobegon and his humorous ads for local businesses such as Bertha's Kitty Boutique, Powdermilk Biscuits and the Chatterbox Cafe were accompanied by various musical groups. Broadcast from the World Theater in St. Paul, MN, the show went off the air in 1986. A series of programs were done for cable TV, and Keillor continues to write works of fiction (Lake Wobegon Days). In 1994, "A Prairie Home Companion" went back on the air on Public Radio International.
    1983- Linda Ronstadt, Nicolette Larson, Chaka Khan, Dave Mason and Helen Reddy were the hosts of a skating party in Los Angeles to raise campaign funds for California Governor Jerry Brown's presidential campaign. He then began to date Linda Ronstadt, and it is said their trip un-married to Africa together was the down fall of his candidacy for President.
    1984-Top Hits
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Joanna - Kool & The Gang
Jump - Van Halen
That's the Way Love Goes - Merle Haggard
    1989-Chicago Flag Display Controversy. An exhibit at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, titled What is the Proper Way to Display a US Flag?, consisted of a ledger for viewers to write their impressions but required the viewers to stand on a US flag mounted on the floor to reach the ledger. The exhibit by art student Scott Tyler prompted protests from veterans' groups, a failed lawsuit and an introduction of legislation by Senator Bob Dole to make displaying a US flag on the floor or ground a crime. Although that legislation didn't pass, Congress continues to introduce legislation against flag desecration, most recently in 1999.
    1989-Top Hits
Straight Up- Paula Abdul
Lost In Your Eyes- Debbie Gibson
Wild Thing- Tone-Loc 2
The Lover In Me- Sheena Easton
    1990-Aerosmith appears on Saturday Night Live where they perform a version of the Wayne's World theme song during a skit in which they appeared as themselves.
    1990-- The biggest winter storm of the season hit the Pacific Coast Region. In northern California, snow fell along the coast, and two day totals in the mountains ranged up to 67 inches at Echo Summit. Snowfall totals in the mountains of southern California ranged up to 48 inches at Green Valley, with 46 inches reported at Big Bear. Up to two feet of snow blanketed the southern Cascade Mountains of Oregon, and 20 to 35 inches were reported in the northern Cascades of Oregon. Up to ten inches of snow blanketed Seattle WA.
    1990 - "Opposites Attract", by Paula Abdul with The Wild Pair, was #1 in the U.S. for the second of three weeks. On the Country chart, "On Second Thought", by Eddie Rabbitt, was #1 for the first of two weeks.
    1994-Top Hits
The Power Of Love- Celine Dion
All For Love- Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting
The Sign-Ace Of Base
Breathe Again- Toni Braxton
    1996 - "One Sweet Day", by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, was number one for the 12th of 16 weeks. Now that's what we call a smash! "Bigger Than The Beatles", by Joe Diffie was beginning a 2-week run at #1 on the Country music chart.
    1998-The US won the first Olympic gold medal ever awarded in women's hockey, defeating Canada in the final, 3-1, in the Nagano Winter Olympics. The American team was led by captain Cammi Granto and goalie Sarah Tueting.
    1999-Top Hits
Angel Of Mine- Monica
...Baby One More Time- Britney Spears
Believe- Cher
Heartbreak Hotel- Whitney Houston Feat. Faith Evans
    2000 - Windows 2000 Professional Edition was released. Windows 2000 was an “the next generation NT operating system” that Microsoft said took four years and cost over $1 billion to develop.
    2008--Little Richard (Richard Penniman--1955 today )got a standing ovation from a crowd of 2,400 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville without playing a single note. The 75 year old Rock 'n Roll pioneer was seated at the rear of the auditorium during a concert by The Temptations and The Four Tops when he was introduced by The Temp's Otis Williams.

[headlines]

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Winter Poem

Canadian Winter

by Jelaluddin Rumi

Sometimes it feels like
it is always winter here
In our "snowy north"
as others call it
while they ask us, with sly smiles,
if we live in igloos, and use dogsleds
to get around.

I could move, I suppose.
Someplace warm, where
I could grow
Morning Glories instead of Marigolds
And not have to read about hockey
eight months of the year.

But here, there is a breathless anticipation
of the seasons change.
We are all watchful eyes
for the first buds on trees,
And the last of the ice
flowing away down the river.

So I think I will stay
In my "snowy north".
Where the hoarfrost on the trees stands out
so clear against the cold air
it makes your heart hurt just to look at them
And the borealis dance over the fields in May
Calling me to remember
the joyous flow of life.

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SuDoku

The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. What could be simpler?

http://leasingnews.org/Soduku/soduko-main.htm

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Daily Puzzle

How to play:
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Refresh for current date:
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Weather

See USA map, click to specific area, no commercials

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Traffic Live---

Real Time Traffic Information

You can save up to 20 different routes and check them out with one click,
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Independent, unbiased and fair news about the Leasing Industry.
 

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