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Leasing News is a web site that posts information, news, and
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kitmenkin@leasingnews.org
Seeking career minded business development Since 1969, Macrolease has been operating |
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Archives---February 28, 2002
Bob Fisher Resigns from Fisher-Anderson Leasing
---Forms New Company
Classified Ads---Sales
ELFA Reports Lease Business Down from Previous Month
by Christopher Menkin
Classified Ads---Help Wanted
Leasing Industry in the Employee Expansion Mode
by Christopher Menkin
Open Positions at Leasing Funders/Various Locations
New Hires---Promotions
CLP Spotlight--Terrence "Terry" Wood, CLP
NY Court Upholds Lease Protections for Equipment Lessor
By Frank Peretore & Scott Chait
The Seven Safest Banks in America
Wallst247
Failed banks: Class of 2013
By Aarti Kanjani and Robert Clark, SNL Financial
AZELA First Meeting in 2013
Terry Winders, CLP, Custom Built Poker Tables
---Order One for Father’s Day
Side Effects/No are New Films
New DVD's Argo/Skyfall/Cloud Atlas
Reviews by Fernando Croce
Schnauzer (Miniature/Westie) West Highland White Terrier
Kingwood, Texas Adopt-a-Dog
News Briefs---
Storm brings deaths, travel problems, power losses
Business spending plans gauge hits 13-month high
Bank profits up 37% in 4 Quarter
---More loans offset low interest rate
Complete 4th Quarter Bank FDIC Report: Profits Up!
Yahoo's Marissa Mayer and Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg stir
up the work/life balance pot in all new ways
Broker/Funder/Industry Lists |
Features (collection)
Top Ten Stories Chosen by Readers |
Top Stories last six months
You May have Missed---
SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer
Sports Briefs---
California Nuts Brief---
"Gimme that Wine"
This Day in American History
SuDoku
Daily Puzzle
GasBuddy
Weather, USA or specific area
Traffic Live----
######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”
and was not written by Leasing News nor information verified, but from the source noted. When an article is signed by the writer, it is considered a “by line.” It reflects the opinion and research of the writer.
Please send Leasing News to a colleague and ask them to subscribe.
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Archives: February 28, 2002
Bob Fisher Resigns from Fisher-Anderson Leasing
---Forms New Company
"Kit,
Thank you for your e-mail concerning my situation. By way of background, MarCap Holdings Corporation headquartered in Chicago currently owns Fisher-Anderson, L.C. 100%. This past year, December of 2001, I sold my final interest in Fisher-Anderson.
"Effective February 28th 2002 I have resigned to pursue another opportunity. My leaving FA was made on amicable terms with MarCap. As you are aware I have been active in our industry for 20 plus years and felt the time was right to refresh and pursue a new venture. Fisher-Anderson, L.C. remains active in the small ticket arena.
"This opportunity will be in the leasing industry. It is currently in the development stage and as such there are no "major announcements" at this time. The new company will be called Firerock Capital, Inc. and will be incorporated in Iowa. I will keep both you and your readers advised as things develop."
Bob Fisher, CLP
b.fisher@firerockcapital.com
TODAY, February 28, 2013
Senior Vice President, Business Development
Ascentium Capital, Kingwood, Texas
www.linkedin.com/pub/bob-fisher/1b/496/82b
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Classified Ads---Sales
(These ads are “free” to those seeking employment
or looking to improve their position)
| Central Valley, California 6 years sales, management, marketing, business development, budget planning, finance. Proven track record challenging and competitive situations. Expert: healthcare, banking, and entrepreneurship. dsp559@outlook.com| Resume |
| Garfield, NJ 15 years experience small to large ticket sales exp. All types of equipment industries. Vendor & direct. Self motivated. Work with leasing company or broker. Tony Lio tonylio@optonline.net |
| Montgomery, AL Individual with 10 years advertising sales exp. & 7 years insurance sales exp. Wants independent contractor situation in Alabama. Work with leasing company or broker. 334-590-5133 E-mail: billmcneal2003@yahoo.com |
Orange County, CA |
San Francisco Bay Area: |
| Texas/Oklahoma 15 year lease vet looking for plact to take business.great references. all major equipment types. open to compensation. please contact if interested. E-mail: bankingdallas@yahoo.com |
| Remote MBA, CLP, 20 yrs. experience, highly energy. Ethics, high volume producer Work from remote sales location, for national, independent Lessor/broker Commission only preferred. E-mail: stefitony@yahoo.com |
Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm
All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm
 |
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ELFA Reports Lease Business Down from Previous Month
by Christopher Menkin
(Leasing News Chart)
According to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, the MFLI-25 group, a select group of ELFA members, report New Business dropped from December of $11.5 billion to $5.9 billion in January. As you will note, in comparison to the 4th quarter of 2012, it was not a good month, going from the average of $8.5 billion to $5.9 billion.
MLFI-25 New Business Volume
(Year Over Year Comparison)
click image to make larger
January is usually a down month as is the first quarter of the last few years. The previous January was $5.9, meaning 2013 was higher. Other media highlighted the press release, showing business was up from the previous January, but this is quite misleading. The reality is the momentum has slowed down. It is obvious that business is not sure of what will happen, but if the classified ad section is any indication, there is a shortage of leasing personnel available to meet the demand of the many leasing and finance companies who see opportunity in the marketplace. The trend may be a typical slow first quarter, but business picking up thereafter (that’s my bet):
(Leasing News Chart)
Credit approvals were slightly down.
Credit Approval Ratios As % of all Decisions Submitted
(Year Over Year Comparison)
click image to make larger
Number of employees was slightly up
Total Number of Employees
(Year Over Year Comparison)
click image to make larger
Participants in the ELFA MLFI-25:
1.ADP Credit
2.BancorpSouth Equipment Finance
3.Bank of America
4.Bank of the West
5.BB&T Bank
6.BMO Harris Equipment Finance
7.Canon Financial Services
8.Caterpillar Financial Services
9.CIT
10.De Lage Landen Financial Services
11.Dell Financial Services
12.Direct Capital Corporation
13.EverBank Commercial Finance
14.Fifth Third Equipment Finance
15.First American Equipment Finance
16.GreatAmerica Financial Services
17.Hitachi Credit America
18.HP Financial Services
19.Huntington Equipment Finance
20.John Deere Financial
21.Key Equipment Finance
22.M&T Bank
23.Marlin Leasing
24.Merchants Capital
25.PNC Equipment Finance
26.RBS Asset Finance
27.SG Equipment Finance
28.Siemens Financial Services
29.Stearns Bank
30.Suntrust
31.Susquehanna Commercial Finance
32.US Bancorp Equipment Finance
33.Verizon Capital
34.Volvo Financial Services
35.Wells Fargo Equipment Finance
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|
Dedicated to the leasing industry |
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The Seven Safest Banks in America
Wallst247
While Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) was the best performing of the 30 Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks in 2012, it and the money-center banking giant Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) actually do not qualify to be in the safest banks in America, even though the reality is that these banks are almost certain to survive another recession. The Federal Reserve deems them to still be problem banks, and they have so far not been freed up to raise their dividends or to increase share buybacks. That may change ahead, and the reality is that these banks are believed to be strong enough to weather most negative scenarios under the impending stress tests.
Based on the analysis, we anticipate that future lists of the safest banks in America may include 10 or even 12 banks, rather than seven, because many banks only missed one criteria yet exceeded other hurdles handily. We still are not evaluating the community or single-region banks due to size or single geography risks. That being said, many of those community banks have better ratios than any of the larger safest banks in America.
This is the 24/7 Wall St. list of the seven safest banks in America for 2013 to deposit money into, ranked in order of safety, size by assets, and reach. Our rank is based on financial stability, size by assets, and by reach.
7.
BOK Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: BOKF)
Market cap: $4 billion
Total assets: $28.1 billion
BOK Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: BOKF) is small compared to the major banks, but it also had one of the few credit rating upgrades (from Fitch, to A from A-) in 2012. Its net income of $351 million in 2012 may sound small compared to the rest of these banking giants, but it is classified as an overcapitalized bank. The return on assets was 1.32% and the return on equity was 12.23%. Its Tier 1 capital ratio of 12.59% is also high on the list of safest banks, and its Tier 1 common equity ratio under a fully phased in Basel III framework was approximately 12.15%.The bank holding company is based in Tulsa, Okla., and its common branch names in other states are Bank of Albuquerque, Bank of Arizona, Bank of Arkansas, Bank of Kansas City, Bank of Oklahoma, Bank of Texas and Colorado State Bank and Trust.
6.
M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB)
Market cap: $13.4 billion
Total assets: $83 billion
M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB) is based in Buffalo, N.Y., and dates back to 1856. M&T was ranked as number four on our list of America’s safest banks in 2012, but it has dropped to number six due to its pending $3.7 billion acquisition of Hudson City Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ: HCBK), versus its current market cap of $13.4 billion. The bank can absorb this acquisition, as it has a long history of acquisitions, but Hudson City has lost some of its former strength and we have not yet seen what the combined finances will look like after the approval vote in April of 2013.
The bank is in the top 20 largest banks, with more than 700 branches in eight states in the Northeast and eastern seaboard. M&T pays out a dividend of about 2.7% to its common stockholders, and its dividend has been static at $0.70 per quarter going back to 2007. The stock is trading at almost $105, and Wall St. analysts have a consensus price target of $107.64. Its book value per share has not been updated but was $71.58 per share as of the third quarter of 2012.
5.
KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY)
Market cap: $8.9 billion
Total assets: $89.2 billion
KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) earned $827 million in 2012. Its return on assets was 0.96% and its return on equity was 8.5%. The bank represented its Tier 1 common equity ratio as 11.16%. It operates through almost 1,100 retail branches in 14 states in the Rocky Mountains, Northwest, Great Lakes and Northeast. It remains impressive that KeyCorp is on the list of safest banks when you consider that it is headquartered in Cleveland, where many troubled loans arose. The bank pays a 2.1% yield to its common shareholders.
4.
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC)
Market cap: $33.2 billion
Total assets: $305 billion
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is based in Pittsburgh and is the ninth largest bank in America by assets, with expansion taking place in the Southeast. The acquisition of RBC’s branches in the U.S. for almost $3.5 billion was nowhere close enough to change its rank. This deal and a mortgage charge pressured earnings. PNC has almost 2,900 branches in 17 states, and it also has an internal CEO transition taking place. Net income was about $3 billion in 2012, and its return on equity was dragged down to 8.31% from 9.56% a year earlier. Its Tier 1 common capital ratio was 9.6%, and it gave a Basel III Tier 1 common capital ratio projection of 7.3%. PNC pays a dividend of about 2.5% to its common holders and is likely to get approval to raise its payout as it has in 2012 and 2011.
The bank pays a 2.5% dividend yield to its common holders, and it owns more than one-fifth of the great asset management firm BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK), worth close to $8.5 billion.
3.
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB)
Market cap: $63.7 billion
Total assets: $353.9 billion
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) often is overlooked as a money-center bank because it is a super-regional located in Minneapolis. It is the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States and caters to millions of consumers. Its net income was more than $5.6 billion in 2012, with a Tier 1 common ratio of 9.0% and a Tier 1 common equity ratio of approximately 8.1% under the proposed Basel III rules. The bank had a return on assets of 1.65% but boasted a very high return on equity of 16.2%. U.S. Bancorp operates more than 3,000 branch locations and 5,000 ATMs, and its operations are spread out over 25 states. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A) owns more than 61 million shares, now worth more than $2 billion. U.S. Bancorp pays its common shareholders a 2.3% dividend yield, but its finances are strong enough that we expect regulators to approve more dividend hikes and continued share buybacks, as the company applies for them
2.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM)
Market cap: $186 billion
Total assets: $2.4 trillion
Jamie Dimon is still the king of bankers, but the London Whale’s multibillion trading loss, which was overlooked and minimized, helped to remove this bank from being the safest bank in America. A growing shareholder call to split Dimon’s chairman and CEO roles is another point of contention, but the reality is that the bank’s finances are solid and it has the biggest fortress balance sheet of all banks. Dimon even has said under testimony that the only risk to the bank’s failure is a collision of the earth and moon. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) made a profit of $21.3 billion in 2012, with a return on assets of 0.92% and a return on equity of 10.72%. Its represented Basel I Tier 1 common equity ratio was 11.0%, and it projected that its Basel III Tier 1 common ratio was 8.7%.J.P. Morgan has more than 5,600 branches around the nation and is still adding branches each year.
1.
Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC)
Market cap: $188 billion
Total assets: $1.42 trillion
Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) remains the undisputed safest bank in America. This bank makes its money lending and acting as a bank more than through brokerage or investment banking and trading. Its net income in 2012 grew 19% over 2011 to $18.9 billion. The bank’s return on assets was 1.46%, with a return on equity of 13.35%. Wells Fargo represented its Tier 1 common equity ratio as 10.12% under Basel I, and its estimated Tier 1 common equity ratio was 8.18% under current Basel III capital proposals. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A) owns a stake worth more than $16 billion and has reportedly acquired yet more shares. The safest banking giant in America is so safe that it was allowed to raise its dividend ahead of other banks, and it now offers a 2.87% dividend yield to the common holders. While shares trade at almost $36, its book value per share is $27.64, and Wall St. analysts have a consensus target price of $39.30. Wells Fargo has branches in almost every state in America, with more than 9,000 stores and 12,000 ATMs.
Full Story by Jon C. Ogg
http://247wallst.com/2013/02/26/the-seven-safest-banks-in-america-for-2013
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((Please click on ad to learn more))
(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)
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Failed banks: Class of 2013
By Aarti Kanjani and Robert Clark, SNL Financial
Regulators did not close any banks Friday, Feb. 22, keeping the year's total number of failures at three. In 2012, regulators had closed 11 banks through Feb. 24.
As of Feb. 22, the three bank failures thus far in 2013 did not involve a loss-share agreement. In 2012, the FDIC entered loss-share agreements with the buyers of 20 of the 51 closed banks. In 2011, the FDIC entered loss-share agreements with the buyers of 58 of the 92 closed banks.
The median cost to the deposit insurance fund at the time of announcement as a percentage of the failed banks' assets was 22% in 2013, 21% in 2012 and 23% in 2011.
Chicago-based Covenant Bank ($58.4 million)
The bank was established in 1977 and had its sole branch in Chicago. In November 2012, Covenant Bank disclosed the need for an immediate capital infusion. Also that month, the bank was issued a prompt corrective action directive by the FDIC. It had been issued a consent order by the FDIC in June 2011. As of Dec. 31, 2012, the bank's Tier 1 ratio was 2.19%, and its Texas ratio was 397.27%.
(Full Story: http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2013/2_19.htm#bank_beat)
Andover, Minn.-based 1st Regents Bank ($49.6 million)
The bank was established in 2001 and had its sole branch in Minnesota. The FDIC issued the bank a consent order in March 2010. As of Sept. 30, 2012, its equity capital fell to $924,000 and its Texas ratio was 612.51%.
(Full Story: http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2013/1_22.htm#bank_beat )
University Place, Wash.-based Westside Community Bank ($91.9 million)
Westside Community operated two branches in the Tacoma, Wash., area. The bank had previously agreed to sell the company to a group of investors for $5.7 million in August 2012. The FDIC issued a prompt corrective action directive to Westside Community in June 2012. As of Sept. 30, 2012, 32.50% of the bank's assets were nonperforming.
(Full story: http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2013/1_15.htm#beat )
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AZELA First Meeting in 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013 – 5 P.M.
& 1st Annual Golf Tournament
Starfire Golf Club
11500 North Hayden RD
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-948-6000
Keynote Speaker:
Michael Goodman
Speaker, Performance Coach, Author, Trainer
Michael D Goodman, President of Revenue Kinetics, LLC has been in business and sales nearly 40 years in the Phoenix Metropolis. In 2000 he began a private practice in sales training and consulting and since then has also launched AzSalesPros, now the International Sales Pros Association, Authored the Solomon Sales System, Created the American Sales Academy, the League of Sales and Sales Team Six, a mercenary sales organization. In 2011 Michael became a Founding Partner of the John Maxwell Team, a global organization of independent consultants. Michael has helped literally thousands of sales people and hundreds of organizations in Arizona and nationally improve their sales and leadership efforts
Michael is sharing the top tips with the A.Z.E.L.A. on how to succeed when all others are falling behind.
Breaking down complex concepts into simple bite size chunks, stirring in a healthy dollop of humor and blending these with encouraging amounts of enthusiasm; this will be an entertaining and educational recipe of success and gaining ground in 2013.
Fee: $25 members/$35 non-members payable. Golf: $69.00(see attached flyer). Don’t forget about the annual dues of $25.00
Registration includes drink ticket, appetizers, buffet
and time to network with you peers.
Call Today to Make Reservation:
RSVP/Registration form to Bill Matetich: wmatetich@aol.com,
or fax 480-929-0621
For more information please call Bill at 480-231-2139
All Leasing Association Conferences Up-Date:
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2013/2_26.htm#conference
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Terry Winders, CLP, Custom Built Poker Tables
---Order One for Father’s Day
Well-known leasing lecturer, sales trainer, and legal expert, Terry Winders, CLP, hobby is not only playing poker, but building poker tables.
He built one for himself, and when his poker friends came over to play, they wanted him to build one. Now he builds them not only as a hobby, but a side-line business.
“They are all solid walnut except the Base board," he says They are therefore very heavy. I sell the plain ones for $2450, the one with a bumper all the way around for $2695 and the one with the red bumper and chip holders for $2995. I haven't changed the price in years as I enjoy building them.
"The color of the bumpers and the color of the felt can be any color the person wants....The purchaser must pay for shipping....and the chairs are not included."
Bumper all around:
Chip holder and bumpers version
He has built other styles and different versions, but the three above are the most basic.
For more information, call Mr. Terry Winders, CLP, at 502-649-0448 or email him at Leaseconsulting@msn.com
Mr. Terry Winders available as a consultant regarding assisting attorneys in resolving disputes or explaining procedures or reviewing documents as utilized in the finance and leasing industry. He is the author of several books, including DVD's, as well as weekly columnist to Leasing News. He also performs audits of leasing companies as an expert on documentation, and has acted as an expert witness on leasing for litigation in legal and tax disputes, including before the IRS. He also has taught the senior bank examiners, how to review a bank leasing department, for the Federal Reserve in Washington D.C. and has trained the examiners for the FDIC on how to prepare a lease portfolio for sale. 502.649.0488/Leaseconsulting@msn.com |
(This ad is a “trade” for the writing of this column. Opinions
contained in the column are those of Mr. Terry Winders, CLP)
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Send Leasing News to a Colleague. We are free!!!
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Schnauzer (Miniature/Westie) West Highland White Terrier
Kingwood, Texas Adopt-a-Dog
Marco
Color: White-with gray or silver
Age: Young
Size: Small, 20lbs.
Sex: Male
“I am already neutered, housetrained, up to date with shots, good with kids, and good with dogs.”
Marco's Story...
Marco s a real sweetheart. Very loving and good with other dogs.
Rescue Group:Best Friends FurEver
Contact: Trish Pace
E-mail: bffurever@yahoo.com
Let 'em know you saw "Marco" on Adopt-a-Pet.com!
Address: Kingwood, Texas 77339
Our Adoption Process...
We have an adoption contract and an adoption fee that may vary beginning at $95.00.
All potential adoptive families must complete our adoption screening process. When inquiring about an animal, please include information about yourself, family, other pets, work hours, etc Each animal is an individual and we work hard at making the correct match.
We Serve the Following Cities, Towns, and/or Counties... Houston, Texas and Surrounding areas. areas. Primarily Humble, Kingwood and Porter
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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|
((Please click on ad to learn more))
(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)
News Briefs----
Storm brings deaths, travel problems, power losses
http://news.yahoo.com/storm-brings-deaths-travel-problems-power-losses-004952669.html
Business spending plans gauge hits 13-month high
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/27/us-spending-plans-idUSBRE91Q0MI20130227
Bank profits up 37% in 4 Quarter
---More loans offset low interest rate
http://www.courierpostonline.com/viewart/20130226/BUSINESS03
Complete 4th Quarter Bank FDIC Report: Profits Up!
http://www2.fdic.gov/qbp/index.asp?source=govdelivery
Yahoo's Marissa Mayer and Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg stir up the work/life balance pot in all new ways
http://www.mercurynews.com/mike-cassidy/ci_22673959/cassidy-yahoos-marissa-mayer-and-facebooks-sheryl-sandberg
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---You May Have Missed
Best Chinese restaurants in the U.S.
http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/best-chinese-restaurants-in-the-u-s--233318924.html
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SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer
SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer
5 Big, Fat Diet Myths--Busted!: SparkPeople SlideShow
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/slideshow.asp?show=93
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Winter Poem
Shortcut Through the Storm
by Robert Savino
There were too few roads.
There were too many motorists.
My choice was longer in distance,
but far less travelled.
I took a shortcut through the storm,
crawling over the black-iced asphalt,
too close behind Boyd’s black flower car,
in the dreary pitch of Ocean Parkway.
Storm clouds shifting and changing,
pass over, so low, engulf my presence.
I exit in an angel’s breath,
a winged spirit of the Great South Bay,
greeted by Moses at the foot of the bridge,
moments from home and the neon lights
of strip mall shops, that brighten the bus
stop at the corner of Oak Neck Road.
Minutes pass slowly within these hours.
Sounds of snow plows wake me from sleep.
Robert J. Savino is a native Long Island poet and long standing board member of Island Poets. His poems have been published widely, in print, from The Long Island Quarterly to the Haight Ashbury Literary Journal, as well as online in Poetry SuperHighway and Combat Magazine.
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Chiefs' success dependent on whether Alex Smith thrives without Jim Harbaugh
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--chiefs--success-dependent-on-whether-alex-smith-thrives-without-jim-harbaugh
Assuming the worst in Alex Smith trade
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mark-purdy/ci_22680753/purdy-assuming-worst-alex-smith-trade
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California Nuts Briefs---
California lawmakers bite into meaty issue of hot dogs
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/02/california-lawmakers-bite-into-meaty-issue-of-hot-dogs.html
California bill would ban smoking in multi-unit housing
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/27/5223330/california-bill-would-ban-smoking.html
Poll: Most oppose naming SFO for Milk
http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Poll-Most-oppose-naming-SFO-for-Milk-4311571.php
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“Gimme that Wine”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8
New wine competition created for North Coast
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20130227/
$24.5 million deal to protect 20,000-acre Sonoma County forest
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20130226
A Tale of Two Lawsuits Barrel Oak Winery 'wins' special exception as lawmaking body is served with second claim
http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm
Americans No. 1 in wine consumption
http://www.journalnow.com/home_food/food/tidbits/article_6db2b7de-8062-11e2-b06d-0019bb30f31a.html
Monterey County wines share in export trend
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20130226/NEWS0
Falmouth boutique winery seeks to double production
http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/779729-falmouth-bos/779729-falmouth-boutique-winery-seeks-to-double-production
Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile
Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/
US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/
Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas/\
Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm
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This Day in History
1750-Population estimated the number of white inhabitants of all the colonies to be 1,165,000, and the blacks (who were mostly slaves) to be 260,000, distributed as follows: WHITE. BLACK. Massachusetts .. 207,000 3,000 New Hampshire .. 50,000 3,000 Connecticut .. 133,000 3,500 Rhode Island .. 35,000 4,500 New York .. 85,000 11,000 New Jersey .. 73,000 5,000 Pennsylvania and Delaware .. 195,000 11,000 Maryland .. 104,000 44,000 Virginia .. 168,000 116,000 North Carolina .. 70,000 20,000 South Carolina .. 40,000 40,000 Georgia .. 5,000 2,000 Since the English Revolution in 1688--a period of only sixty-six years--the growth of the colonies in population had been marvelous. New England had increased from 75,000 to 425,000; New York , from 20,000 to 85,000; New Jersey , Pennsylvania , Delaware and Maryland , from 47,000 to 372,000; Virginia , from 50,000 to 168,000; and the Carolinas and Georgia , from 8,000 to 135,000. The assertion of a letter of an "American Farmer" was almost literally true when he wrote: "We are all tillers of the earth from Nova Scotia to West Florida . We are a people of cultivation, scattered over an immense territory; communicating with each other by means of good roads and navigable rivers; united by the silken bands of mild government; all respecting the laws, without dreading their power because they are equitable."
1829- Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss was born this day in 1829. He created the world's first pair of jeans—Levi's 501 jeans—for California 's gold miners. They were made of sail canvas and rivets were used along with sail making thread. He dyed them blue to hide the marks from the riveting apparatus, plus to make them appear more attractive. The pants style is still popular today, but now in “designer” styles from full boot to slim leg and more.
1846- George C. Stebbins, American Baptist music evangelist, birthday. A composer of over 1,500 songs during his lifetime, Stebbins is still remembered today for writing the melodies to such hymns as: "I've Found a Friend," "Take Time to Be Holy," "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" and "Jesus is Tenderly Calling Thee Home."
1846- William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody birthday at Scott County, Iowa. He claimed to have killed more than 4,000 buffaloes. Subject of many heroic Wild West yarns. Cody became successful as a showman taking his acts across the US and to Europe .
1870- the first pneumatic subway invented by Alfred Ely Beach , known first as the Beacg Pneumatic Underground Railway, was opened to the public in New York City . It consisted of a circular tube nine feet in diameter and the cars, which were well upholstered, carried 222 person s each way. They were propelled by a rotary blower that drove a blast of air through the tunnel against the rear of the car, carrying it along “ like a sailboat before the wind.”
1870 -- Wyatt Outlaw, black leader of Union League in North Carolina , is lynched. Wyatt Outlaw, the Negro police officer who had fired upon the Klansmen at their first appearance in the county, was head of the Union League, an anti-Ku Klux Group in the County. His death had been determined by certain members of one of the Klan orders. A party of them rode into Graham on the night of February 26, 1870, seized Outlaw in his home, and carried him to a tree in the courthouse square. There they hanged him, leaving on his breast the inscription: "Beware, ye guilty, both black and white.” Many blacks were killed by the Klan, and Black homes and property burned/destroyed for the next sixty-five years, into the late 1920's.
http://www.wm.edu/~srnels/posnc/timeline.html
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncalaman/centennial.html
http://www.ccharity.com/northcarolina/adjutantgenl.htm
1873--By the year the American bison, also called the buffalo, was almost extinct, even though at the start of the nineteenth century estimates placed the North American bison population as high as 60,000,000. Bison were essential to the way of life of the Indians of the Great Plains , who depended on them for food, clothing, and shelter. The symbiotic relationship of the Indians and the bison threatened neither group. However, with the coming of the railroad, professional buffalo hunters, and the settlement of the West, the situation changed. Bison were slaughtered far beyond any' need for food or hides. Although in 1865 about 10,000,000 bison still roamed the plains, by 1890 only 1000 or so were left.
1885-Birthday of 1858, Lavinia Lloyd Dock, nurse, settlement house worker, suffragist. LLD trained as a nurse at Bellevue Hospital, the first American school to follow Florence Nightingale's principles of patient care and nurse self-reliance. LLD nursed during a yellow fever epidemic in Jacksonville, FL, and at the Johnstown, PA flood. She wrote Materia Medical for Nurses (1890), the standard nursing text for a generation. Moved to the Henry Street Settlement house Lillian Wald had created, became a member of Wald's inner circle, and lived there for 20 years. She also wrote A History of Nursing (1907 with Adelaide Nutting which explored the glorious historical past of women's involvement in nursing, until men took over to bring "general contempt" to nurses and "misery" to patients, "until Florence Nightingale came to the rescue." She had to move out of the Henry Street Settlement because of her actions - including arrests - in connection with the radical American Woman's movement.
1887- Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher born at Elba, NE. Alexander won 373 games ( tied for 3rd on all time list) pitching for 20 years with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. he won 30 or more games three times and won the National League earned run average title five times. In Game Seven of the 1926 World Series with St. Louis ahead, 3-2, he staggered in from the bullpen to strike out the New York Yankees' Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded and held New York at bay for the last two innings. Ronald Reagan played Alexander in the moving, The Winning Team. Inducted into the Hal of Fame in 1938. Diet at St. Paul , NE , Nov 4.1950.
1905-violinist/producer Bill Russell born, Canton , MO
http://www.hnoc.org/russell.htm
http://www.delmark.com/delmark.214.htm
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r0401_051.htm
1907 - The United States Congress raised their pay to $7500, for both House and Senate members. The Cabinet members and the Vice President earned twelve thousand. At that time, the Vice President was paid enough to buy half a dozen houses. The richest man in the world, John D. Rockefeller's oil fortune was, at that time, worth no more than $300 million.
1910 - Parts of Washington State were in the midst of a storm which produced 129 inches of snow at Laconia between the 24th and the 26th, a single storm record for the state. A series of storms, which began on the 23rd, led to a deadly avalanche on the first of March. By late on the 28th, the snow had changed to rain, setting the stage for disaster.
1916- American musician, comedian and actor, Herbert John "Jackie" Gleason was born at Brooklyn , NY . Best known for his role as Ralph Kramden in the long-running television series "The Honeymooners." Died at Fort Lauderdale , FL , June 24, 1987.
1917- first jazz record of history: Original Dixieland Jass Band cuts “Livery Stable Blues, “ One Step, “ NYC
1919- Grand Canyon National Park was established, by an act of Congress, An immense gorge cut through the high plateaus of northwest Arizona by the raging Colorado River and covering 1,218,375 acres, Grand Canyon National Park is considered one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the worlD.
1919 -the Lafayette National Park was established, later renamed in 1929, the Acadia National Park , the largest East of the Mississippi
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb26.html
1921-Birthday of Betty Hutton, brash actor/singer best known for her role in the movie Annie Get Your Gun (1950).
1925 – Alto Sax player James Moody Birthday
http://www.jamesmoody.com/
http://www.ricoreeds.com/ricoart/moody.html
1926-First Black middle-weight boxing champion, Theodore "Georgia Deacon" Flowers. Also known as “Tiger” Flowers. He beats Harry Greb in New York , NY to win the title “ -Middleweight Championship of the World>”
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/flowers.htm
http://www.aaregistry.com/detail.php3?id=1457
1929- Antoine (Fats) Domino birthday, the New Orleans r'n'b pianist who has sold more than 65-million records, was born in the Louisiana city. He is the biggest-selling '50s rock 'n' roll artist, with the exception of Elvis Presley. By the time he joined trumpeter Dave Bartholomew's band in the 1940's, he had already mastered the classic New Orleans piano style of such performers as Professor Longhair and Amos Milburn. In 1949, Fats Domino had his first million-seller, "The Fat Man." But it wasn't until 1955, with "Ain't That a Shame," that he attracted the white record- buying public. Domino eventually collected 23 gold singles, for such hits as "I'm In Love Again," "Blueberry Hill" and "I'm Walkin'."
http://www.history-of-rock.com/domino.htm
http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/costello/472/fatsbio.html
http://covers.wiw.org/artist.php/1357
http://www.yesterdayland.com/popopedia/shows/music/mu1257.php
http://www.hoyhoy.com/fats.htm
http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=91
1930 - Seven years after Garrett A. Morgan invented traffic lights, the first red and green signal lights were installed on New York 's Manhattan street corners.
1932- country singer Johnny Cash was born in Kingsdale , Arkansas . In 1954, Cash met guitar player Luther Perkins and bass player Marshall Grant. As Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, they sold a million copies of "I Walk the Line" on the Sun label in 1956. Cash signed with Columbia in 1958, and two years later drummer W.S. Holland was added to make the Tennessee Three. Cash's string of hits for Columbia have included "Ring of Fire," "A Boy Named Sue" and "Folsom Prison Blues." Johnny Cash's records have always been on the border of rock, and have often crossed over to the pop charts. The marching bass lines which characterize many of Cash's songs influenced the work of Waylon Jennings and others in the outlaw country movement of the 1970's. In 1994, Cash's career was revived with the release of "American Recordings," an album of just the singer and his guitar. It was embraced by everyone from traditional country fans to alternative rockers.
http://www.johnnycash.com/
1934 - Federal Communications Commission was created at the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to oversee communication by radio, wire or cable. TV and satellite communication later became part of its charge.
1935—Babe Ruth, Babe Ruth signed a three –year contract with the Boston Braves , after being released by the New York Yankees. He played in only 28 games before retiring in May.
1936- Wallace “Buddy” Werner, skier born at Steamboat Springs, CO. Werner skied on three US Olympic teams and was the first American to break into the sport's top rank by winning important races in Europe . While filming a ski movie, he was overtaken by an avalanche that he attempted to outrace. Died at St. Moritz , Switzerland , April 13, 1964.
1937- Canadian composer, arranger and vibraphonist Hagood Hardy was born in Angola , Indiana . He grew up in Oakville , Ontario and from 1957 to 1961, while studying at the University of Toronto , he had his own jazz group. From 1961 to '67, he performed in the US with such musicians as Gigi Gryce, Herbie Mann, Martin Denny and George Shearing. Hardy returned to Canada in the late '60s, becoming a leading composer of radio and TV jingles. In 1975, his single "The Homecoming," written three years earlier as a Salada Tea commercial, became an international hit. The song won Hardy Juno Awards as best composer and best instrumentalist, and Billboard magazine named him instrumentalist of the year. Hardy died of cancer in Hamilton on January 1st, 1997.
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicPopEncycloPagesH/hardy.html
http://www.channelproductions.com/tribute.htm
1942 - The Academy Awards were presented, for movies that were shown in theatres during 1941. "How Green Was My Valley" won the award for Best Picture. The star of "Sergeant York", Gary Cooper, took home the Oscar for Best Actor and The Best Actress statue was presented to Joan Fontaine for her performance in "Suspicion". "How Green Was My Valley" garnered Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, Donald Crisp and Best Director, John Ford. Mary Astor was voted Best Supporting Actress for her role in "The Great Lie".
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148172.html
1943-guitarist/harmonica player Bob “the Bear” Hite, born
Torrance , CA Died April 5, 1981. Canned Heat lead singer.
http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/ebony/546/chbath.html
http://theoinquirer.com/index-648.html
http://www.putnampit.com/blues.html
http://starbulletin.com/2001/08/31/features/story7.html
http://www.drfeelgood.de/c_heat/ch_songs.htm
http://www.drfeelgood.de/c_heat/
http://www.borderlinebooks.com/us6070s/c1z.html
1944- Sue Sophia Dauser, superintendent of the US Navy's Nurse Corp, was the first woman to receive the rank of Captain. On December 14, 1945, she became the first Navy nurse to receive the Distinguished Service Medal. 1942 - The Academy Awards were presented, for movies that were shown in theatres during 1941. "How Green Was My Valley" won the award for Best Picture. The star of "Sergeant York", Gary Cooper, took home the Oscar for Best Actor and The Best Actress statue was presented to Joan Fontaine for her performance in "Suspicion". "How Green Was My Valley" garnered Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, Donald Crisp and Best Director, John Ford. Mary Astor was voted Best Supporting Actress for her role in "The Great Lie".
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148172.html
1945—Top Hits
Accentuate the Positive - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
I Dream of You - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Freddy Stewart)
Don't Fence Me In - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
I'm Losing My Mind Over You - Al Dexter
1945- Wood Herman cuts “Caldonia.”
1947-harmonica player Paul Oscher born, Brooklyn , N
http://www.pauloscher.com/
http://www.harmonicamasterclass.com/paul_oscher.htm
http://www.thebluesjoint.com/Audio_Room/Paul_Oscher/paul_oscher.html
http://bluesplanet.com/oscher/
1951 - James Jones' novel, ‘From Here to Eternity,' about military life in Hawaii just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, was published in New York by Scribners.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385333641/inktomi-bkasin-20/
102-1682336-8966565
1951--INGMAN, EINAR H., JR. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Cpl.), U.S. Army, Company E, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Maltari, Korea, 26 February 1951. Entered service at: Tomahawk, Wis. Born: 6 October 1929, Milwaukee, Wis. G.O. No.: 68, 2 August 1951. Citation: Sgt. Ingman, a member of Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. The 2 leading squads of the assault platoon of his company, while attacking a strongly fortified ridge held by the enemy, were pinned down by withering fire and both squad leaders and several men were wounded. Cpl. Ingman assumed command, reorganized and combined the 2 squads, then moved from 1 position to another, designating fields of fire and giving advice and encouragement to the men. Locating an enemy machine gun position that was raking his men with devastating fire he charged it alone, threw a grenade into the position, and killed the remaining crew with rifle fire. Another enemy machine gun opened fire approximately 15 yards away and inflicted additional casualties to the group and stopped the attack. When Cpl. Ingman charged the second position he was hit by grenade fragments and a hail of fire which seriously wounded him about the face and neck and knocked him to the ground. With incredible courage and stamina, he arose instantly and, using only his rifle, killed the entire gun crew before falling unconscious from his wounds. As a result of the singular action by Cpl. Ingman the defense of the enemy was broken, his squad secured its objective, and more than 100 hostile troops abandoned their weapons and fled in disorganized retreat. Cpl. Ingman's indomitable courage, extraordinary heroism, and superb leadership reflect the highest credit on himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the infantry and the U.S. Army.
1953—Top Hits
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como
Till I Waltz Again with You - Teresa Brewer
Keep It a Secret - Jo Stafford
Kaw-Liga - Hank Williams
1954 - Singer/songwriter Michael Bolton (Michael Bolotin) is born in New Haven, Conn.
1955--R&B singer LaVern Baker appeals to the United States Congress in a letter to Michigan Representative Charles Digges Jr., to revise the Copyright Act of 1909. She says that recording artists should be protected against "note-for-note copying" of already recorded R&B tunes and arrangements by white artists and arrangers. Her request was denied.
1955-Billboard reports for the first time since their introduction in 1949, 45 rpm discs are outselling the old standard 78. Another change in the industry is also noted. On some New York City jukeboxes, it now costs ten cents instead of five cents to play a record.
1956--Buddy Holly's first recording session for Decca is held in Nashville.
1957--Singer/guitar player Eddie Van Halen birthday, born Holland.
http://www.van-halen.com/
1960-- David Jenkins of the US won the gold medal men's figure skiing at the VIIth Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, Ca.
1961 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Pony Time,'' Chubby Checker. A version of the song by the Goodtimers entered the chart the same week as Checker's version, but only reached No. 60.
1961—Top Hits
Pony Time - Chubby Checker
There's a Moon Out Tonight - The Capris
Surrender - Elvis Presley
North to Alaska - Johnny Horton
1962 - In New York City , the Best Play award winner of 1962, "Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad" opened for 454 performances.
1965-Nineten year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson was killed by state troopers at a voting rights demonstration in Marion , Alabama . As a result, the Selma-to-Montgomery march was organized and took place a month later -- when Dr. King led 20,000 marchers 50 miles east from the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma , Alabama , to the state capitol in Montgomery . Five months later, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, and by year's end, more than 250,000 new black voters were registered
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USACjacksonJL.htm
http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/selma.html
1966-The Beatles' LP "Rubber Soul" rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart, becoming the group's seventh US album chart topper. Paul McCartney conceived the album's title after overhearing someone's description of Mick Jagger's singing style as "plastic soul". To date, the album has sold over six million copies in America.
1967--YABES, MAXIMO Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Phu Hoa Dong, Republic of Vietnam, 26 February 1967. Entered service at: Eugene, Oreg. Born: 29 January 1932, Lodi, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Sgt. Yabes distinguished himself with Company A, which was providing security for a land clearing operation. Early in the morning the company suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and mortar fire followed by a battalion sized assault from 3 sides. Penetrating the defensive perimeter the enemy advanced on the company command post bunker. The command post received increasingly heavy fire and was in danger of being overwhelmed. When several enemy grenades landed within the command post, 1st Sgt. Yabes shouted a warning and used his body as a shield to protect others in the bunker. Although painfully wounded by numerous grenade fragments, and despite the vicious enemy fire on the bunker, he remained there to provide covering fire and enable the others in the command group to relocate. When the command group had reached a new position, 1st Sgt. Yabes moved through a withering hail of enemy fire to another bunker 50 meters away. There he secured a grenade launcher from a fallen comrade and fired point blank into the attacking Viet Cong stopping further penetration of the perimeter. Noting 2 wounded men helpless in the fire swept area, he moved them to a safer position where they could be given medical treatment. He resumed his accurate and effective fire killing several enemy soldiers and forcing others to withdraw from the vicinity of the command post. As the battle continued, he observed an enemy machinegun within the perimeter which threatened the whole position. On his own, he dashed across the exposed area, assaulted the machinegun, killed the crew, destroyed the weapon, and fell mortally wounded. 1st Sgt. Yabes' valiant and selfless actions saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and inspired his comrades to effectively repel the enemy assault. His indomitable fighting spirit, extraordinary courage and intrepidity at the cost of his life are in the highest military traditions and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
1969—Top Hits
Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
Can I Change My Mind - Tyrone Davis
Until My Dreams Come True - Jack Greene
1969 -the "100 hour snowstorm" was in full swing across the Boston area and the rest of New England as well. By the time snow ended on the 28th, Boston recorded 26.3 inches of new snow. Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire was buried under and incredible 77 inches and Long Falls Dam, Maine reported 56 inches. Both Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine set new single storm snowfall records with 33.8 inches and 26.9 inches, respectively. Rockport, Massachusetts measured an impressive 39 inches.
1972 - Harry Nilsson began week #2 at number one with "Without You"; a love song that spent four weeks at the top spot.
1972 -the "Buffalo Creek Disaster" occurred in the Buffalo Creek Hollow of Logan County in West Virginia. A coal slag dam on the middle fork of Buffalo Creek burst sending a 50 foot wall of water down a narrow valley killing 125 people and causing 51 million dollars damage. 3 days of rain atop 6 inches of snow cover prompted the dam break.
1972--Joe Tex's funk record "I Gotcha" enters the Billboard Pop chart and begins its climb to #2. Much the success of the song is rumored to be Tex's slurred delivery of the line "Told you not to play with my affection," which caused many listeners to mistake the last word for one that rhymes with it.
1973-Football player and golfer, Marshall Faulk, born New Orleans, LA.
1975 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Best of My Love,'' Eagles. The song is the group's first No. 1 hit.
1977—Top Hits
New Kid in Town - Eagles
Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
Fly like an Eagle - Steve Miller
Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow - Tom Jones
1979 - The sitcom, "Flatbush", first aired on CBS-TV, featuring the exploits of five, recent, high-school graduates living in a middle-class, Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn New York's Flatbush area. *(Joseph Cali/costar) Presto Prestopopulos, taxi driver and one of five street youths recently graduated from high school who lived in the middle-class Italian neighborhood of Flatbush (Brooklyn). Calling themselves the Flatbush Fungos, the gang also included Adrian Zmed as Socks Palmero, a clothing store employee; Sandy Helberg as Figgy Figueroa, a grocery deliveryman; Randy Stumpf as Joey Dee, a plumber's assistant; and Vincent Bufano as Turtle Romero, a restaurant worker. Also featured were Helen Verbit as Mrs. Fortunato, the neighborhood busybody; and Anthony Ponzini as Esposito, a pool hall owner. The ethnic stereotypes the show portrayed offended Brooklyn's Borough president, who demanded the series be taken off the air before it gave Brooklyn a bad name. In 1979, Brooklyn was known as the garden spot of the United States. CBS cancelled the show after 3 episodes.
1983 - Charley Pride's "Why Baby Why", written by George Jones and Darrell Edwards, topped the country music charts. Jones found national fame in the United States with his own version of the song in 1955.
1983 - Michael Jackson's "Thriller" hit #1 in the U.S. The album spent a total of 37 weeks at number one. The tracks: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Baby Be Mine", "The Girl is Mine" (w/Paul McCartney), "Thriller", "Beat It", "Billie Jean", "Human Nature", "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)", "The Lady in My Life". At last count (2001), "Thriller" was certified for sales of more than 26 million copies by the Recording Industry Association of America, and was in a tie with the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1974" as the best-selling album of all time.
1984 - The last United States Marines in the multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon left Beirut.
1985 - Tina Turner wins Grammys for ``What's Love Got to Do with It'' and ``Better Be Good to Me.''
1985—Top Hits
Careless Whisper - Wham! featuring George Michael
Loverboy - Billy Ocean
Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On - Mel McDaniel
1985 - Tonight was the night of the seventh highest-rated television music show of the 1980s, when a 23.8 share of the viewers watched "The Grammy Awards". The Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Male award was given to Phil Collins for, "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"; Best New Artist for 1984 went to Cindi Lauper, and Best Album of the year award went to Lionel Richie for "Can't Slow Down". Tina Turner was a big winner, taking Best Song, Best Record and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female for "What's Love Got to Do with It".
1986- Robert Penn Warren, the first official poet laureate of the United ,was named by the librarian of Congress, and great historian, Daniel J. Boorstin. Warren was born in Guthrie, KY, in 1905 and won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for volumes of Poetry, and one for his 1946 novel, All the King's Men.
1987-The Tower Commission report on the Iran-Contra affair was critical of Pres. Reagan for failing to understand or control the secret attempt to trade arms to Iran for the release of American hostages being held in Lebanon and divert profits from the sale to the Nicaraguan Contras. The commission appointed by the President in Nov. 1986, said Reagan must take responsibility for the policy, which ended in “chaos” and caused the U.S. much embarrassment abroad. Blame was placed also on Donald T. Regan, the White House chief of staff, whom the president replaced with former Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr., on February 27. It also faulted former National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane & his successor Admiral John Poindexter, and CIA Director William Casey. Casey had resigned on 2 February for health reasons; McFarlane attempted suicide on 9 February; and Regan resigned 27 February. In a television address on March 4, the president said he too “ full responsibility, “ but he did not admitting that the plan for dealing with Iran was basically wrong.
1988 - Eight cities in the central and western U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date, including Lamoni IA with a reading of 67 degrees. Temperatures in North Dakota were as warm as those in Florida.
1989 - An upper level weather disturbance brought snow to parts of the central U.S. which just one day earlier were enjoying temperatures in the 60s. Snowfall totals in Missouri ranged up to nine inches at Rolla.
1990 - Unseasonably cold weather followed in the wake of the winter storm in the northeastern U.S. Ten cities reported record low temperatures for the date, including Syracuse NY with a reading of 10 degrees below zero. Freezing temperatures in southeastern Virginia caused considerable damage to plants and fruit trees. The barometric pressure reading of 30.88 inches at Wilmington NC was February record for that location.
1991 - "Rockline on MTV" premiered with host, Martha Quinn, giving viewers a chance to talk to the stars. The first guest was MC Hammer.
1991- Tim Berners-Lee introduces the Web browser:
Tim Berners-Lee presented an early version of a Web browser to a work group at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland, on this day in 1991. He conceived the Web as a way for physicists at different universities around the world to instantaneously share information. Throughout the next year, he modified the architecture, released early Web browsers on the Internet, and solicited feedback and input from Internet programmers. By late 1991 and early 1992, the Web was widely discussed, and in early 1993, when Marc Andreessen released his Mosaic browser (Netscape's precursor), the Web rapidly became a popular communications medium.
1993-World Trade Center Bombing: A 1,210-lb bomb packed in a van exploded in the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 (mostly from smoke inhalation). The powerful blast left a crater 200 feet wide and several stories deep. The cost for damage to the building and disruption of business for the 350 companies with offices in the Center exceeded more than $591 million. Fifteen people--the fundamentalist Moslem cleric Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman and fourteen of his followers--were indicted for the bombing. Rahman was given a life sentence and the others received prison terms of up to 240 years each. This is considered the first bombing of the United States by foreign terrorists.
1997- Celine Dion won two Grammy Awards for "Falling Into You" - album of the year and best pop album. At the time, "Falling Into You" had sold more than 21 million copies worldwide.
2009-A 10-minute version of The Beatles' "Revolution 1" leaked onto the internet, giving fans a never-before-heard listen of what the White Album sessions must have been like. Only two copies of the take were made when the song was completed on June 4th, 1968. One copy left the studio with Lennon that day and the other remained behind. It is unclear which copy appears on the bootleg, nor how anyone acquired it.
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