Leasing News Bulletin Board Complaints
By Kit Menkin, editor

2017 was the first year there were no "complaints" on the Leasing News Bulletin Board.* It does not mean there were no complaints. They were either all settled or went to court.

Leasing News is getting more complaints about interim rent charges as well as Evergreen Clause extra payments. Our role is to verify the information, go over the contracts and correspondents, often discussing with one of the attorneys on our "against Evergreen Clause abuse."  Often they believe the salesman when he said it was a $1.00, they claim. There is no documentation as well as the salesman is no longer around (in the times a salesman is found, none have remembered the lease) and more importantly, on the face of the contract it says "Fair Market Value" or there is no purchase option document. What they don’t know if often the salesman shares in the “interim rent” and “residual” as additional commission.

Now before you say, “the lessee should have read the contract before signing it,” there are many leasing companies who have a side letter that states "fair market value" is $1.00, and they say this is done for "tax reasons" as the purchase option can't appear on the contract. Or sometimes the original proposal says "fair market value" as does the contract, but the lessee says he was told by the salesman it would not be very much at the end. “This is done for tax purposes.” I have heard this from small machine shop owner to a CFO and President of a 50 truck shipping company. And then there is Shopko with 300 stores nationwide.**

Interim rents are always brought up, especially in the larger lease transactions when the CFO discovered they are not “lease payments.”

Recently, there have been complaints from brokers not being paid their commission. They are often difficult to document and lessees don't want to get involved or the broker doesn't want to get the lessee involved.

The 179 Depreciation takes away a lot of the small and middle market lease tax advantage. Couple that with the "Ripoff Reports" and other internet social media comments, as well as what a Google search will find,  many customers are moving to business loans and Equipment Finance Agreements, away from leasing. Besides no complaints, there often is no “down:” 100% financing. Merchant Advance financing is also easy, painless, and fast with many small businesses liking the concept of shorter term rather than a longer time of payments. Many have very quick approvals, too.

And finally there are complaints from the other side about regulations, rules, and filling out annual reports to get a license to conduct leasing and finance business in a state. “Why do I have to do this?” “We don’t need more regulations!”

*"Complaints" Bulletin Board
http://www.leasingnews.org/bulletin_board.htm

** Balboa Capital and Shopko Settle Their Much Litigated
  $1 Million Dollar Plus perhaps $300,000 Attorney Fee Case
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2017/10_25.htm#balboa

 

 

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Tom McCurnin
Leasing News Advisor
Leasing News Legal Editor

Tom McCurnin

Barton, Klugman & Oetting
350 South Grand Ave.
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Direct Phone: (213) 617-6129
Cell (213) 268-8291
Fax: (213) 625-1832
Email: tmccurnin@bkolaw.com
www.bkolaw.com

As of February, 28, 2018, Mr. McCurnin has written 688 articles for Leasing News since March 16, 2007. (1) He has contributed to other media, including major newspapers as well as bank and law publications. He also has represented and appeared for Leasing News as pro bono attorney. He is the number one legal consultant for news stories and general business matters serving as our Richard Boone, better known as "Paladin."

Recent Trial Experience:

• Successfully defended major California bank on midnight deadline case
• Successfully defended major California bank on forged endorsement claim
• Prosecuted RICO action on behalf of major national commercial finance company recovering over $1 million dollars
• Successfully defended real estate trust on consumer notice issue
• Successfully defended major California manufacturer on products liability action
• Prosecuted numerous actions on behalf of equipment lessors
• Defended Trade Secret Case
• Defended Usury Claim
  

Before becoming a principal partner with Barton, Klugman & Oetting, he worked as an inside attorney for Rockford Industries and American Express Business Finance.
He is a member of the State Bar of California; Federal Bar Association; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Financial Lawyers Conference-Los Angeles; Independent Bankers Association; California Bankers Association; Los Angeles Commercial Law Committee.

Law School: Drake University (J.D., 1975) 
College: University of Iowa (B.A., 1972)

He is an accomplished musician, world traveler, as well as active in animal rescue, particularly Labrador Retrievers. His main hobbies are Class V White Water River Rafting, Wilderness Canoeing and Camping, Woodworking and Home Building, Historic Home Renovation, Muscle Car Restoration, Labrador Retriever Rescue Foundation.

(1) Leasing Cases by Tom McCurnin
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top
%20Stories/leasing_cases.html

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Top Reputable Company Seeking
Equipment Leasing Account Executive

Equipment Leasing Account Executive What sets CoreTech apart from other equipment leasing companies is our team members and impeccable reputation. Are you unhappy with the ethics of your company and the promises made to you? Come to Newport Beach and join us. To learn more, please click here www.coretechleasing.com CoreTech specializes in medium to large size companies and firms Over 100 law firms trust CoreTech for their leasing needs, why wouldn't you?

   

 

 

  

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LinkedIn Advice on Passwords
Don’t Get Hacked

• Make sure you update your password on LinkedIn (and any site that you visit on the Web) at least once every few months.
(Most of us will never do this, until we are hacked.)

• Do not use the same password for multiple sites or accounts.
(I have many multiple passwords, as well as do not save any passwords or let the computer do so. I keep them in a "flash stick" as well have them printed out should the "flash stick" fail

(It happened to me once, and won't forget that.) I have heard from many readers about their email address book being hacked and reports of intrusions. Don't save passwords at sites, have many multiple passwords, even though it is a big hassle.

• Create a strong password for your account, one that includes letters, numbers, and other characters.
(I go to Google, create passwords, and they have web site programs that create these to the security situation choose. I use these on all financial and sites I consider very important. I know a hacker can get in anywhere, but the more difficult, it will keep the amateurs out, is my thinking.)

• Watch out for phishing emails and spam emails requesting personal or sensitive information.
(Most of the tricks are very obvious, so be very careful in what you open. As well as have an up-dated anti-virus/malware program.)

Kit Menkin 

 

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Equipment Leasing and Finance Association Reports
January New Business Volume Up 10 Percent Year-over-year

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The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross section of the $1 trillion equipment finance sector, showed their overall new business volume for January was $6.9 billion, up 10 percent year-over-year from new business volume in January 2017. Volume was down 46 percent month-to-month from $12.8 billion in December, following the typical end-of-quarter, end-of-year spike in new business activity.

Receivables over 30 days were 1.90 percent, up from 1.50 percent the previous month and up from 1.70 percent the same period in 2017. Charge-offs were 0.34 percent, down from 0.48 percent the previous month, and down from 0.43 percent in the year-earlier period.

Credit approvals totaled 76.9 percent in January, down from 77.6 percent in December. Total headcount for equipment finance companies was up 1.9 percent year over year. Previously, headcount was elevated due to acquisition activity at an MLFI reporting company.

Separately, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) in February is 73.2, easing from 75.3 in January, which was an all-time high level for the index.

ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta said, “A confident commercial sector of the U.S. economy showed itself with double-digit growth in the dollar volume of financed equipment for the month of January. Despite a spike in delinquencies, which bears a watchful eye for signs of deterioration in credit markets in the coming months, the New Year gets off to a strong start for the equipment finance industry. Business owners continue to expand their operations and acquire productive assets, even as interest rates edge up ever so slightly and the Fed is poised to cool an overheated economy.”

James Cress, Vice President and General Manager, Stryker Flex Financial, said, “The equipment finance industry enjoyed a great year in 2017 and is maintaining that momentum through January as evidenced by this month's MLFI. Optimism continues to be fueled by tax reform and favorable interest rates. Potential borrowers planning for the upcoming lease accounting changes in 2019 have spurred a wave of innovation towards consumption models and managed services agreements in lieu of traditional financing products. Barring larger macroeconomic events, all of this should result in a dynamic and growing equipment finance market in 2018.”  

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The MLFI-25 is a time series that reflects two years of business activity for the 25 companies currently participating in the survey. 

Full Listing of MLFI Participants

• Bank of America Leasing
• Bank of the West
• BB&T Bank
• BMO Harris Equipment Finance
• Canon Financial Services
• Caterpillar Financial Services
• CIT
• Citizens Asset Finance
• Dell Financial Services
• DLL
• EverBank Commercial Finance
• Fifth Third Equipment Finance
• First American Equipment Finance
• Frost Bank
• GreatAmerica Financial Services
• Hitachi Credit America
• Huntington Equipment Finance
• John Deere Financial
• Key Equipment Finance
• LEAF Commercial Capital Inc.
• M&T Bank
• Marlin Leasing
• Merchants Bank Equipment Finance
• PNC Equipment Finance
• SG Equipment Finance
• Siemens Financial Services
• Stearns Bank
• Stonebriar Commercial Finance
• TCF Equipment Finance
• TD Equipment Finance
• US Bancorp Equipment Finance
• Volvo Financial Services
• Wells Fargo Equipment Finance

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FDIC-Insured Institutions Report Net Income
of $25.5 Billion in Fourth Quarter 2017

• Quarterly Net Income Is 40.9 Percent Lower than a Year Ago Largely Due To One-Time Changes from the New Tax Law
• Excluding Changes from the New Tax Law, Estimated Quarterly Net Income Would Have Been $42.2 Billion, Down 2.3 Percent from a Year Ago
• Net Interest Income Rises 8.5 Percent from Fourth Quarter 2016
• Total Loan and Lease Balances Increase $164.1 Billion During the Fourth Quarter
• "Problem Bank List" Falls Below 100

FDIC Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg
"Notwithstanding the one-time impact of the new tax law, the overall performance of the industry continued to be positive."

Commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reported aggregate net income of $25.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017, down $17.7 billion (40.9 percent) from a year ago. The decline in net income is primarily due to one-time income tax effects from the new tax law, including the revaluation of deferred tax assets and repatriation of income from foreign subsidiaries. Financial results for the fourth quarter of 2017 are included in the FDIC’s latest Quarterly Banking Profile released today.

“One-time charges resulting from the new tax law resulted in banks reporting lower net income in the fourth quarter and full-year 2017,” Gruenberg said. “Despite the decline in net income, the banking industry continued to show steady improvement. Loan balances grew, net interest margins increased, asset quality remained stable, and the number of ‘problem banks’ continued to fall.”

Gruenberg continued: “Community banks also were affected by one-time tax charges. However, their net interest income increased, net interest margins improved, and their loan growth outpaced that of the overall industry.”

“The operating environment for banks, however, remains challenging. An extended period of low interest rates and an increasingly competitive lending environment have led some institutions to reach for yield. This has led to heightened exposure to interest-rate risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk. These risks must be managed prudently for the industry to continue to grow on a long-run, sustainable path.”

Highlights from the Fourth Quarter 2017 Quarterly Banking Profile

Quarterly Net Income Is 40.9 Percent Lower than a Year Ago: In the fourth quarter, 5,670 insured institutions reported quarterly net income of $25.5 billion, down $17.7 billion (40.9 percent) from a year ago. Higher income taxes, coupled with higher noninterest expense and loan-loss provisions, lowered quarterly net income. Excluding one-time income tax effects, estimated quarterly net income would have been $42.2 billion, a decline of 2.3 percent from a year ago.

Full-Year 2017 Net Income Declines 3.5 Percent: The banking industry reported full-year 2017 net income of $164.8 billion, down $6 billion (3.5 percent) from 2016. Without the one-time tax charges in the fourth quarter, estimated full-year 2017 net income would have been $183.1 billion, an increase of 7.2 percent from 2016.

Community Bank Net Income Falls 14.2 Percent from a Year Ago: The 5,227 insured institutions identified as community banks reported net income of $4.1 billion in the fourth quarter, down $681.4 million (14.2 percent) from a year ago. Excluding one-time income tax charges, estimated fourth quarter net income would have increased by 17 percent from a year ago. Net operating revenue rose $1.6 billion (7.2 percent), as net interest income was up $1.6 billion (9.4 percent) and noninterest income declined $30.9 million (0.6 percent). Loan-loss provisions declined $29.9 million (3.5 percent), while noninterest expenses were $502.8 million (3.4 percent) higher.

Net Interest Income Rises 8.5 Percent from Fourth Quarter 2016: Net interest income totaled $129.5 billion in the fourth quarter, up $10.2 billion (8.5 percent) from a year ago. More than four out of five banks (86.4 percent) reported an improvement in net interest income from a year ago. The average net interest margin was 3.31 percent in the fourth quarter, up from 3.16 percent a year ago.

Total Loan and Lease Balances Increase $164.1 Billion during Fourth Quarter: Total loan and lease balances increased 1.7 percent from third quarter 2017. All major loan categories increased during the fourth quarter. Credit card balances increased $69.6 billion (8.8 percent) from the previous quarter, commercial and industrial loans grew $24.5 billion (1.2 percent), and residential mortgage loans rose $21.7 billion (1.1 percent). Over the past year, loan and lease balances increased $416.1 billion (4.5 percent).

Noncurrent Loan Rate Remains Stable, While Net Charge-Off Rate Increases Slightly: The amount of loans that were noncurrent – 90 days or more past due or in nonaccrual status – increased $1.5 billion (1.3 percent) during the fourth quarter. Noncurrent balances increased for residential mortgages (up 2.8 billion, or 5.2 percent) and credit cards (up $1.2 billion, or 11.5 percent), but declined for commercial and industrial loans (down $1.7 billion, or 8.5 percent). The average noncurrent loan rate remained unchanged at 1.20 percent from the previous quarter. Net charge-offs increased $1 billion (8.6 percent) from a year ago, as the average net charge-off rate rose from 0.52 percent to 0.55 percent.

“Problem Bank List” Falls Below 100: The FDIC’s Problem Bank List declined from 104 to 95 during the quarter, the lowest number of problem banks since first quarter 2008. Total assets of problem banks declined from $16 billion in the third quarter to $13.9 billion. During the quarter, merger transactions absorbed 64 institutions, two institutions failed, and one new charter was added.

Deposit Insurance Fund’s Reserve Ratio Rises to 1.30 Percent: The Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) balance increased $2.2 billion during the fourth quarter, to $92.7 billion on December 31, driven by assessment income, including surcharges on large banks. The DIF reserve ratio rose to 1.30 percent from 1.28 percent at the end of September. Estimated insured deposits rose 0.8 percent in the fourth quarter.

# # #

Quarterly Banking Profile
Insured Institution Performance, Fourth Quarter 2017
Community Bank Performance, Fourth Quarter 2017
Deposit Insurance Fund Trends, Fourth Quarter 2017
Chairman Gruenberg’s Press Statement

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NASA Astronaut Kimbrough to Deliver Keynote Address
at National Vehicle Leasing Association 2018 Conference

Menomonee Falls, Wis. – The National Vehicle Leasing Association (NVLA) announced Tuesday that NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough will serve as keynote speaker of the 2018 NVLA Annual Conference, to be held April 18-20 at Estancia La Jolla near San Diego.

Kimbrough will share the inspirational story of his journey from West Point to Commander of the International Space Station, where he served as commander of the orbiting laboratory for nearly six months.

NVLA president Chris Pontarelli, Vice President of Jacksonville-based GT Leasing, said Kimbrough is the perfect keynote speaker for the 2018 NVLA Conference, which marks the 50th anniversary of the association of choice for the independent vehicle leasing community.   

“Much like the space program, the independent vehicle leasing community has a strong history, but faces many challenges and opportunities in the future,” said Pontarelli. “Shane Kimbrough’s inspirational presentation will encourage conference attendees to challenge conventional wisdom and expand their horizons.” 

Kimbrough was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in 2004. He completed his first spaceflight in 2008 on STS-126, where he spent 16 days on the mission to expand the crew living quarters to accommodate a six-member crew.

In 2016, Kimbrough flew on the Expedition 49/50 mission where he served as Commander of the International Space Station for nearly six months. During Expedition 50, Kimbrough performed four spacewalks, logging over 26 hours. He now has a total of six spacewalks, over 39 hours outside the orbiting laboratory, and a total of 189 days in space. 

NVLA Conference Chairman Ed Kaye, Co-founder and Vice President of Access Commercial Capital, said Kimbrough’s presentation dovetails nicely with the theme of the 2018 NVLA Annual Conference: Honor the past, embrace the present and define the future. 

“The 2018 NVLA Annual Conference will feature top-notch speakers and engaging panel discussions on the most important topics in leasing,” said Kaye. “The diverse program features something for everyone, including a review industry best practices, an examination of current trends and a look at the issues that will shape our industry in the future.”

Founded in 1968, NVLA provides educational opportunities, promotes responsible legislation and communicates with members regarding developments and trends in vehicle leasing. NVLA promotes the leasing concept while encouraging the highest ethical and professional standards. Membership is made up of independent leasing companies, automobile dealerships, banks, credit unions and suppliers of goods and services to lessors.

For more information about the NVLA Annual Conference, please visit www.nvla.org 

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Labrador Retriever/Mix
Golden, Colorado  Adopt a Dog

Ravi
ID: 197821
Male
Age: 1 year
Weight: 65 lbs.
Adoption Fee: $250

"Hello, my name is Ravi and I am social and energetic boy! I am a creature with energy to burn. Fetch anyone! I am looking for an owner who is excited to teach me new things. My adoption fee includes my spay or neuter surgery, initial vaccinations, a bag of Purina Pro Plan food, a microchip and a voucher for a free veterinary office visit. Let's visit!"

How to Adopt
https://foothillsanimalshelter.org/services/adopt/how-to-adopt/

Foothill Animal Shelter
580 McIntyre Street
Golden, Colorado 80401

Hours
M-F: 11 - 7
Sat-Sun: 10 - 6

303.278.7575
info@fas4pets.org

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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Collector / Collections / Consultant / Communications

Collector: Atlanta, GA Asset Recovery Specialist. We get your money or we get your > equipment back for you. Physical Asset Recovery Experts! E-mail: mcrouse911@joimail.com	Collector: Cleveland, OH  Huntley Capital & Associates is your solution to late payments, no payments, and asset recovery. Call 216-337-7075.  Email: ghpatey@msn.com
Collections: Dallas, Texas Contingency Fee basis. Receivables Outsourcing. We are a fully bonded nationwide licensed agency. We collect for nationally known banks and leasing companies.  800-886-8088.	Collector: Los Angeles, CA Expert skiptracers covering Southern California. We locate skips, judgment debtors and collateral. When you can't get the job done in house, give us a call at 1-800-778-0794. E-mail: ceo@interagencyLA.com
Collector: Louisville, KY We are a full service collection agency with attorney network. 21 years experience. Please call Jon Floyd, VP at 1-800-264-6850  email: jfloyd@collectcsg.com	Collector: Louisville, KY  Euler Hermes/UMA 92 year old Global Receivables Outsourcing. Presence in 143 Countries. Work w/ 4 out of 5 Fortune 500 firms. Contingency Fee Structure. 20% off first time clients.! Andrew.Newton@eulerhermes.com 1-800-237-9386 x 205.
Consultant - Europe Offering support in Europe to US based financial institutions and captives >30 years of international experience Remote Advisory/Consultancy/Interim/Project Management services Huge network in the financial industry Fluent in Dutch, English, French, German https://nl.linkedin.com/in/fransjansen frans.jansen@leasingservices.nl	Collector: Milwaukee, WI  We specialize in ATM machine reposession and remarketing. We can get you top dollar for your inventory. E-mail: bdperry1@yahoo.com
Collector: Nationwide End of lease negotiations & enforcement. Third-party collections. Skip-tracing. Background checks. Credit & asset investigations. 15+ years in leasing industry. Providing services to clients nationwide. 800-824-0234 johnkenny2@verizon.net	Collector: Saint Louis, MO Complete commercial collection agency. Licensed bonded in all states and will out performed any other agency! Call 1-800-659-7199 ext.315 E-mail: jfloyd@lindquistandtrudeau.com
Consultant: Nationwide 25 yrs. experience: Creating/Refining Business Plans to raise capital· Credit Underwriting support/policy/procedure development · Operations Support/policy/procedure development. Call: 610-246-2178, McCarthy Financial, LLC, David.mccarthy@mccarthy-financial.com	Consultant: Burlington, CT We provide our clients with a full range of consulting services such as portfolio conversions, reconciliation, custom programming and leasing operations utilizing InfoLease.  Email: info@new-millennium-assoc.com
Consultant: Europe 15 years doing deals/running own technology leasing company – looking to advise/ lead new entrants to take advantage the European market opportunity. www.clearcape.co.uk or  kevin.kennedy@clearcape.co.uk	Consultant: Henderson, NV Focus on new business development and process efficiencies to create incremental revenue and profitability. Executive level vendor experience, and satisfied outsourcing clients. Incredible track record. E-mail: rbutzek@cox.net
Consultant: Sausalito, CA Lease trainer and consultant. 50 years in equipment leasing. Expert in transaction analysis, financial statement analysis, credit, packaging, structuring. Presents highly popular classes and workshops. E-mail:BoTei@aol.com	Consultant: North of Detroit, MI  INFOLEASE EXPERT - 18 years experience. Since being downsized in 2002, working as a consultant for several leasing companies. Seeking consulting projects nationwide.  E-mail: darwint@prodigy.net
Consultant: Ridgefield CT. Lisa Lersner w/20 years exp. specializing in leasing technology now providinglessor selection andmanagement services, includingthe securing of debt and equity and acquisition guidance services. Email: LLersner@leasefinanceconsulting.comGo to www.leasefinanceconsulting.com	Communications:Chassell, MI Cartoons on business, finance & computers. Use for your presentations, website, newletter, direct mail projects etc. Fees are negotiable.  Email: dan@danscartoons.com  Go to http://www.danscartoons.com

 

News Briefs----

World First Law Firm to Exceed $3 Billion in revenue
  Challenge for anyone Atop the Am Law 100
https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2018/02/22/latham-breaks-3-billion-barrier-after-another-banner-year/ 

Amazon paid no US income taxes for 2017
  after topping $5.6 billion in income in 2017.
https://www.sfgate.com/business/tech/article/Amazon-paid-no-US-income-taxes-for-2017-12713961.php

State Comptroller sues Wynn Resorts over handling
   of sex harassment accusations/Could Lose License
https://nypost.com/2018/02/26/comptroller-sues-wynn-resorts-over-handling-of-sex-harassment-accusations/

8 GE board members are heading for the door
 Longest-Serving Members of 17-person Board
https://nypost.com/2018/02/26/ge-names-three-new-board-members-as-stock-dives/

GE Adds Accounting, Finance Experts to Board
former FASB head Leslie Seidman/former AT&T CFO Thomas Horton
http://ww2.cfo.com/governance/2018/02/ge-adds-accounting-finance-experts-board/

NLRB Goes Back Joint Employer Ruling/Restaurant employees,
especially franchise operators, will greatly be affected by this decision
https://www.foodnewsfeed.com/fsr/legal/nlrb-goes-back-joint-employer-ruling?utm_source=fs_insider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20180227

PayPal Settles FTC Charges Venmo Failed to Disclose Info
 To Consumers about the Ability to Transfer Funds and Privacy Setting
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/02/paypal-settles-ftc-charges-venmo-failed-disclose-information

Trump Budget Calls for Mandatory Nationwide E-Verify Use
  new fees for immigration enforcement, processing
https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/Pages/Trump-Budget-Mandatory-Nationwide-EVerify-Use.aspx

Indian techies look to Canada
   as the American Dream turns into an H-1B nightmare
https://qz.com/1215625/the-h-1b-nightmare-has-turned-indian-techies-onto-the-canadian-dream/

Amazon expands its smart-home bet
   with acquisition of doorbell maker Ring
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-expands-its-smart-home-bet-with-acquisition-of-doorbell-maker-ring/

 

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You May Have Missed---

Switzerland has a stunningly high rate of gun ownership
  — here's why it doesn't have mass shootings
http://www.businessinsider.com/switzerland-gun-laws-rates-of-gun-deaths-2018-2 

Video: Ronald Reagan on the difference between
   military rifles and self-defense
https://qz.com/1217254/video-ronald-reagan-on-the-difference-between-military-rifles-and-self-defense/

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Winter Poem

Warm Winter Brew

This is an easy thoughtful gift.  Just put this poem with a packet of apple cider and tie on a cinnamon stick with a piece of raffia.  Or use a packet of hot chocolate mix.  What could be easier!

Warm Winter Brew  © 2001 by Shirley Thomas  @ CraftSayings.com
Brrrrr!  It's cold out today.  Inside I think we should stay.  So I'd like to share with you  my special warm winter brew.

I filled it with the whistling of birds,  a bit of spring too pretty for words,  the sweetest scent of the first flowers  and the freshness of spring showers.

I packed it full of laughter so fine,  laced with lots of dazzling sunshine,  that I picked on a summer day  along with some fun and play.

I put in the sound of leaves rustling  and flying in the air all bustling.  And I put in just a little nip of wind  to give it a bit of a kick, my friend.

So sip and think of days to come.  They'll be filled with lots of fun...  Getting together with friends too,  and like this, warming thru and thru!

http://www.craftsayings.com

Try this. Take your spouse out to lunch, just the two of you, at least once a week. Make a Friday or Saturday date. And demonstrate your youth with a fun thought, just as above.

 

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Sports Briefs---

Papa John's, NFL Officially End Joint Sponsorship Contract
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22597858/papa-johns-nfl-end-sponsorship-deal

Aaron Rodgers, Packers Have Made Progress Toward New Contract
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22598371/green-bay-packers-president-mark-murphy-says-there-progress-new-contract-aaron-rodgers

Roger Goodell Expected to Demand Millions of Dollars
    From Jerry Jones
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/sports/football/roger-goodell-jerry-jones-nfl.html

First QB decision made, a much bigger QB decision
     looms for the Vikings
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/first-qb-decision-made-much-182852636.html

Levi’s Stadium vendor Centerplate slashes 759 Santa Clara jobs
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/26/levis-stadium-vendor-centerplate-slashes-759-santa-clara-jobs/

10 players who could be stars of the NFL scouting combine
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2018/02/26/nfl-combine-players-watch-stars-sam-darnold-saquon-barkley/372735002/

The night Stephen Curry scored 54 points at MSG
    and changed basketball forever
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2018/2/27/17054786/stephen-curry-warriors-knicks-golden-state-54-points-madison-square-garden

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California Nuts Briefs---

Reports of California immigration sweep are true:
    ‘More than 100 arrests’
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Reports-of-California-immigration-sweep-are-true-12714833.php

“Largest storm of the year” to bring up to seven feet
      of snow to Sierra Nevada
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/02/27/largest-storm-of-the-year-to-bring-up-to-seven-feet-of-snow-to-sierra-nevada/

Report: Climate Change Could Ruin California’s Farming Industry
https://www.courthousenews.com/report-climate-change-could-ruin-californias-farming-industry/

October wildfires drive up car sales in Sonoma County
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/business/8010546-181/october-wildfires-drive-up-car

 

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Alaska Airlines just added 18 cities to its ‘wine flies free’ program
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/26/alaska-airlines-just-added-18-cities-to-its-wine-flies-free-program/

Paradise Ridge Winery faces rebuild challenges after Santa Rosa fire
http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/northbay/sonomacounty/8025324-181/paradise-ridge-winery-sonoma-rebuild

2015 Bordeaux: Every Bottle Tells a Story...
http://www.vinous.com/articles/2015-bordeaux-every-bottle-tells-a-story-feb-2018

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

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

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

This Day in History

  1646-- Roger Scott was tried in Massachusetts for sleeping in church.
    1778 ---The Rhode Island General Assembly authorized the enlistment of slaves during the American Revolution. About 200 blacks soon joined the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, the only all-black regiment of the war. In August 1778, they defended Newport during the Battle of Rhode Island. In 1750, more than 10 percent of Rhode Island's population was black -- the highest concentration of blacks in New England. Rhode Island was the first colony/state to establish a public school for blacks (1773), to outlaw the importation of slaves (1774), and to declare free the children born of slave mothers (1784). Segregation in Rhode Island's public schools was outlawed in 1866, and a law forbidding interracial marriage was repealed in 1881. 
    1793-The Senate election of Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin of Pennsylvania presented his credentials this day, but his election was declared void. . He was born in Switzerland, and immigrated to the United States in 1780. On December 2, a petition was presented alleging that he had not been a citizen of the United Sates for the nine years required by the Constitution. The trial began on February 28, 1794, after he had served a year, and on February 28 the Senate declared his election void. Gallatin was later elected to the House of Representatives, where he served from March 4,1795 to March 3,1801. A motion passed on the first day of the trial required that the Senate chamber “ be provided with gallery, which shall be permitted to be open every morning so long as the Senate shall be engaged in their legislative capacity, unless in such case as may in the opinion of the Senate require secrecy.” Born in Geneva, Switzerland, January 29, 1761. Democrat. Delegate to Pennsylvania state constitutional convention, 1790; member of Pennsylvania state house of representatives, 1790-92; U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1793-94; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 11th District, 1795-1801; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1801-14; U.S. Minister to France, 1815-23; U.S. Minister to Great Britain, 1826-27. His portrait appeared on the $500 U.S. Note in the 1860s. Died in Astoria, Queens, Queens County, N.Y., August 12, 1849. Entombed at Trinity Churchyard, New York, N.Y. Gallatin counties in Ill., Ky. and Mont. are named for him. See also: congressional biography. Books about Albert Gallatin: John Austin Stevens, Albert Gallatin: An American Statesman; L. B. Kuppenheimer, Albert Gallatin's Vision of Democratic Stability.
http://currencygallery.org/vignettes/gallatin.htm
http://gallatinky.tripod.com/Gallatin.html
    1797- Mary Lyon, born near Buckland, MA, became a pioneer in the field of higher education for women. She founded Mount Holyoke Seminary (forerunner of Mount Holyoke College) in South Hadley, MA, in 1837 at a time when American women were educated primarily by ministers in classes held in their homes. Mount Holyoke was one of the first permanent women's colleges. She died Mar 5, 1849, at South Hadley.
    1827- The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad became the first commercial railroad for passengers and freight.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb28.html
    1844 -- During an official inspection tour of the U.S.S. Princeton, a 10-inch gun (the Navy's largest at the time) blew up, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Kilmer, and 10 others. President John Tyler, who at the time of the explosion was in a cabin below with Miss Julia Gardiner (the daughter of one of those killed) was unharmed. They subsequently married. Tyler was the first of the three presidents to be married while in office. Between his two wives, he fathered 14 children- seven by each woman.
http://www.exploredc.org/index.php?id=82
http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/rodman.html
    1849-During the California Gold Rush, the first shipload of prospectors arrive in San Francisco Bay from the East Coast via South America's Cape Horn. The prospectors join the thousands of gold-seekers who had already traveled to California by land to reap the rewards of California's newly found riches. Over a year earlier, near Coloma, California, gold was discovered on the property of Johann A. Sutter by James W. Marshall. After the find was assayed in Sacramento, modest prospecting in the area showed favorable results, and in the summer of 1848, eastern newspapers published the first reports of the newly discovered gold fields. As there had been false claims of gold in California before, the majority of the US public treated Sutter's claims with skepticism. 
However, in December of the same year, President James K. Polk corroborated "the accounts of the abundance of gold" found in the recently acquired territory, and the California Gold Rush began. By the spring of 1849, tens of thousands of prospectors had set out for El Dorado, often abandoning their farms, their jobs, and their families. By the end of 1849, some 55'000 people had arrived by land and another 25'000 had made their way by sea. In 1850, California's rapidly increasing population encouraged Congress to grant statehood to the territory. Although many of California's original "Forty-Niners" returned to their home states empty-handed, tens of thousands made a living in California, and by 1852, the population at the time of Marshall's discovery — 14'000 non-Indians — had grown to 250'000 Californians.
    1861- The Confederate government bond was authorized today “ to raise money for the support of the government and to provide for the defense of the Confederate States of America.” The bond issue limit was $15 million.
    1861 -Congress creates Colorado Territory. In July 1858, a band of prospectors working streambeds near modern-day Denver found tiny flecks of gold in their pans. Since the gold-bearing streams were located in the foothills not far from the massive mountain named for the explorer Zebulon Pike, the subsequent influx of hopeful miners was termed the Pike's Peak gold rush. By the spring of 1859, an estimated 50,000 gold seekers had reached this latest of a long series of American El Dorados. The Congressional designation of new western states and territories had been bogged down for several years as southern and northern politicians fought over whether slavery would be permitted in the new western regions. By 1861, the South had seceded, clearing the way for the northern politicians to begin creating free-labor states. On this day in 1861, Congress combined pieces of Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico to make a large rectangle of land it designated Colorado Territory.
    1876-American composer John Alden Carpenter, born Park Ridge, IL, Died 1951
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/composer/carpenter.html
http://www.teachervision.com/ce6/people/A0810557.html
http://www.press.uillinois.edu/f01/pollack.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1560984007/inktomi-bkasin-20/
102-1682336-8966565
    1882-Birthday of Geraldine Farrar, born Melrose, MA American-born opera singer who studied in Europe and became the toast of the continent before being offered a contract at the Metropolitan Opera in 1906. She overworked her voice which broke in a performance in 1913. She returned after a rest and amassed a record of 493 performances of 29 roles including 95 as Butterfly. She and Arturo Toscanini were reportedly lovers for seven years and before that she and Crown Prince Frederick Wilhelm of Germany had been lovers. For her verve and modern life-style she drew a legend of "Gerry-flappers" women fans. , Died March 11, 1967
http://search.eb.com/women/articles/Farrar_Geraldine.html
http://www.cantabile-subito.de/Sopranos/FarrarBio/farrarbio.htm
http://www.silentsmajority.com/PhotoGallery3/farrar.htm
    1884- The newly built "war steamer," USS Princeton, cruising on the Potomac River with top government officials as its passengers, fired one of its guns (known, ironically, as the "Peacemaker') to demonstrate the latest in naval armament. The gun exploded, killing Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of State; along with the secretary of the navy and several others. Many were injured. The president of the US, John Tyler, was on board and narrowly escaped death.
    1894- Ben Hecht birthday.. His newspaper column, "1001 Afternoons in Chicago," popularized human interest sketches. His play The Front Page, written with Charles MacArthur, was a hit on Broadway (1928) and on film (1931). He was a successful reporter and his first novel Eric Dorn, resulted partly from his time reporting from Berlin after World War I. Hecht wrote or co-wrote a number of successful movie scripts, including Notorious and Wuthering Heights. Born at New York City, he died there Apr 18, 1964.
    1900 - A massive storm spread record snows from Kansas to New York State. Snowfall totals ranged up to 17.5 inches at Springfield IL and 43 inches at Rochester NY, with up to 60 inches in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State.
    1903-Ford hires the Dodges: Henry Ford hired John F. and Horace E. Dodge to supply the chassis and running gear for his 650 Ford automobiles. They were originally bicycle manufacturers. In providing car bodies for Henry Ford and Ransom Olds, they became largest parts-manufacturing firm in the U.S. by 1910. In 1914, the brothers founded the Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company and began work on their first automobiles. Dodge vehicles were known for their quality and sturdiness. Soon they were among the richest men in America. The influenza epidemic that swept the country in 1920 claimed their lives. Their company was sold to a New York bank, before eventually being purchased by Chrysler in 1928. 
    1932-The last Ford Model A was produced, ending an era for the Ford Motor Company. The successor to the Model T, the Model A was an attempt to escape the image of bare bones transportation that had driven both the Model T’s success and its ultimate failure in the market. The vastly improved Model A boasted elegant Lincoln-like styling, a peppy 40 horsepower four-cylinder engine, and, of course, a self-starting mechanism. The Model A was as affordable as its predecessor, however, and with a base price at $460, five million Model A’s would roll onto US highways between 1927 and 1932.
    1934-Percussionist Willie Bobo ( William Correa) born New York City, NY
http://www.spaceagepop.com/bobo.htm
    1936- Louis Prima records his composition “Sing, Sing, Sin” for Brunswick.
    1939-Guitarist John Fahey born Takoma Park, MD Died Feb. 22,2001
http://www.furious.com/perfect/johnfahey.html
http://www.johnfahey.com/
http://www.musicfringe.com/store/fahey-john/index.htm
http://www.countryjoe.com/fahey.htm
http://www.guitarvideos.com/interviews/fahey/core.htm
http://www.netmagic.net/~snake/fahey/voyager1.htm
    1939-Tenor Sax player Charles Gayle born Buffalo, NY 
http://www.creativemusicarchive.com/artistList_query.asp?artID=
168&artName=Charles%20Gayle
http://www.theiceberg.com/artist.html?artist_id=30947
http://www.jazzpages.com/scheiner/gayle.htm
http://www.furious.com/perfect/charlesgayle.html
    1939-singer/song writer/arranger General Crook born Mt. Byou, MS
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/General%20Crook.html
    1941 -- Happy birthday Alice Brock. 
http://www.answers.com/topic/arlo-guthrie
http://www.guthriecenter.org/main.shtml
http://www.wgbh.org/cainan/article?item_id=1081316
    1942—Guitarist and creator of rock styles Brian Jones birthday, best known as an early guitarist with the Rolling Stones, was born in Cheltenham, England. Jones began playing with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated in the early 1960's, and it was here that he met Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The three began to play on their own and by 1962 were calling themselves the Rolling Stones, after a Muddy Waters song. With the addition of bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts in 1963, the Rolling Stones were complete. By their third single, "It's All Over Now," the band was a sensation in Britain. And in late 1964, they had their first top ten hit in North America, "Time Is on My Side." 
During the British invasion of 1964, the Stones were promoted as rock 'n' roll's bad boys, an image that has remained with them for more than 30 years. By the late '60s, the Stones were billing themselves as the "World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band." In June 1969, Brian Jones announced he was leaving the group because of musical differences ( he was getting heavier into drugs.) He said he was going to form his own band, but less than a month later was found dead in the swimming pool at his home. The coroner's verdict - death by misadventure; July 3, 1969.
http://home.earthlink.net/~hobhead/ 
http://www.angelfire.com/rock2/faithlessjones/
http://www.classicrockpage.com/rrheaven/jones.htm
    1945- the First Charlie Parker-Dizzy Gillespie record date on Guild. “Groovin’ High,” “All the Things You Are,” “ Dizzy Atmosphere.” Clyde Hart on piano, Slam Stewart on Bass, Cozy Cole
on Drums, Remo Palmieri on guitar.
http://www.citypaper.net/articles/052297/article014.shtml
http://www.rhino.com/features/tracks/72260trx.lasso
    1947—Top Hits
For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
The Anniversary Song - Dinah Shore
Oh, But I Do - Margaret Whiting
So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed - Merle Travis
    1951- The US Senate committee headed by Estes Kefauver, D-Tenn., issued a preliminary report saying at least two major crime syndicates were operating in the US.
    1955—Top 
Sincerely - McGuire Sisters
Melody of Love - Billy Vaughn
The Crazy Otto (Medley) - Johnny Maddox
In the Jailhouse Now - Webb Pierce
    1960- Richard Petty won the first grand National (later Winston Cup) stock car race of his career in Charlotte, NC. The victory earned him $800 and set him on the road toward 200 wins on the NASCAR circuit, including seven triumphs in the Daytona 500 and seven NASCAR driving titles.
    1960- the US hockey team defeated Czecholosovkia, 9-4, to win the gold medal at the VIIth Winter Olympic Games at Squaw Valley, CA. 
    1963—Top Hits
Hey Paula - Paul & Paula
Ruby Baby - Dion
From a Jack to a King - Ned Miller
The Ballad of Jed Clampett - Flatt & Scruggs
    1967 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Ruby Tuesday,'' The Rolling Stones. The song is released as the B side to the single ``Let's Spend the Night Together.'' Most American radio stations play ``Ruby Tuesday'' because the other song is so blatantly sexual.
    1968--General Earle Wheeler, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, returns from his recent round of talks with General William Westmoreland in Saigon and immediately delivers a written report to President Lyndon B. Johnson. Wheeler stated that despite the heavy casualties incurred during the Tet Offensive, North Vietnam and Viet Cong forces had the initiative and were "operating with relative freedom in the countryside."
    1970 - Simon and Garfunkle's Bridge Over Troubled Water zoomed to the Number 1 spot on Billboard's record charts on this date, and remained there for 6 weeks. The album and the single went on to win six Grammy awards. 
    1970 -- Bicycles permitted to cross Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Golden_Gate_Bridge.html
http://www.blazingsaddles.com/about.html
http://www.infohub.com/TRAVEL/SIT/sit_pages/3900.html
    1971—Top Hits
One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
Mama’s Pearl - The Jackson 5
Sweet Mary - Wadsworth Mansion
Help Me Make It Through the Night - Sammi Smith
    1971 - For the second time, Jack Nicklaus, ‘The Golden Bear’, won the Professional Golfers Association Championship after completing the cycle of winning golf’s four major titles twice. The Big Four in golf are: The United States Open, the Masters, the PGA Championship and the British Open.
    1972 -- Radical Angela Davis trial starts, San Jose, California. Davis worked to free the Soledad (Prison) Brothers, African-American prisoners held in California during the late 1960s. She befriended George Jackson, one of the prisoners. On August 7, 1970, during an abortive escape and kidnap attempt from Marin County's Hall of Justice, the trial judge and three people were killed, including Jackson's brother Jonathan. Although not at the crime scene, Davis was implicated when police claimed that the guns used had been registered in her name, plus she had visited the prisoners as an attorney with her briefcase never being searched. Davis fled underground. She was captured in New York City in August 1970, but was freed eighteen months later and cleared of all charges in 1972 by an all white jury. She teaches today at UC Santa Cruz.
http://voices.cla.umn.edu/authors/AngelaDavis.html
http://www.disinfo.com/pages/dossier/id91/pg1/
    1974 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Seasons in the Sun,'' Terry Jacks.
    1977- Orca was born in captivity, a six-foot, 125 pound calf, at Marineland, Los Angeles, CA. She was the off-spring of Cork, a 16-year—old, 11-ton orca. Orcas are also known as killer whales.
    1979—Top Hits
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? - Rod Stewart
Fire - Pointer Sisters
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Every Which Way But Loose - Eddie Rabbitt
    1982-the J. Paul Getty Museum receives a $1.2 billion bequest left to it by the late J. Paul Getty. The American oil billionaire died in 1976, but legal wrangling over his fortune by his children and ex- wives kept his will in probate until 1982. During those six years, what was a originally a $700 million bequest to the museum nearly doubled. By 2000, the endowment was worth $5 billion--even after the trust spent nearly $1 billion in the 1990s on the construction of a massive museum and arts education complex in Los Angeles.
    1983-(Feb 29) “M*A*S*H: The Final Episode: concluding a run of 255 episodes, this 2 1/2-hour finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and episode, Amen" was the most-watched television show at that time-77 percent of the viewing public was tuned in, topping the "Who Shot JR.?" revelation on "Dallas." The show premiered in 1972. The series was based on the 1970 Robert Altman movie and a book by Richard Hooker. Set during the Korean War, the show aired for 11 years (lasting longer than the war). It followed the lives of doctors and nurses on the war front with both humor and pathos. The cast included: Alan Alda as Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, Wayne Rogers as Captain John "Trapper John" Mcintyre, McLean Stevenson as Colonel Henry Blake, Loretta Swit as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, Larry Linville as Major Frank Burns, Gary Burghoff as Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly, William Christopher as Father Francis Mulcahy, Jamie Farr as Corporal Max Klinger, Harry Morgan as Colonel ShermanPotter and Mike Farrell as Captain B.J. Hunnicut.
http://timstvshowcase.com/mash2.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/rickstvshows/mash.html
    1984- Singer Michael Jackson won a record eight Grammy Awards at the presentation ceremony in Los Angeles. But he lost the best song award to "Every Breath You Take," written by Sting for the Police. Jackson's Pepsi commercial - the one in which he was injured when his hair caught fire - premiered that day on MTV.. He broke the previous record of six awards set by Roger Miller in 1965. The reason: the biggest selling album of all time, "Thriller", which sold more than 35-million copies around the world soon after its release in 1983. 
    1987—Top Hits
Livin’ on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Jacob’s Ladder - Huey Lewis & The News
You Got It All - The Jets
I Can’t Win for Losin’ You - Earl Thomas Conley
    1987 - A powerful storm produced severe thunderstorms in Louisiana and Mississippi early in the day. About mid morning a monstrous tornado touched down near Moselle MS and grew to a width of two miles as it passed near Laurel MS. The tornado traveled a distance of 40 miles killing six persons, injuring 350 others, and causing 28.5 million dollars damage. The tornado swept homes right off their foundations, and tossed eighteen wheel trucks about like toys. Strong straight line winds associated with the powerful storm system gusted to 70 mph at Jonesboro AR and Carbondale, IL.
    1991-IBM announced it would cut up to 10'000 workers from its payroll. IBM struggled to keep up with small, fast-moving technology firms, but its tremendous size and inertia weighed it down. In another effort to turn the company around, IBM hired former chairman of R. J. R. Nabisco, Lou Gerstner, as CEO in 1993. Gerstner was IBM's first leader brought in from outside the company.
    1991 - The Record Plant in Hollywood closes. Among the albums recorded at the recording studio and rock hangout were the Eagles' ``Hotel California,'' Fleetwood Mac's ``Rumours'' and Stevie Wonder's ``Songs in the Key of Life.''
    1992-The Star Trek television series exhibit opened at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., opens an exhibit honoring the original Star Trek television series.
    1993 - United States Federal agents battled it out with members of an armed religious cult in Waco, Texas. Four agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and two cult members were killed and 12 agents were wounded during the shoot out. The agents planned to arrest Branch Davidian cult leader, David Koresh, on federal firearms charges, but were taken by surprise when cult members began firing on them with heavy weapons.
    1994- Hewlett-Packard announces a new line of ink-jet printers. The resolution of the printers doubled from 300 to 600dpi and the cost went down, instead of up. A economic color ink-jet printer was in the works.
    1994- Canadian singer Celine Dion made her New York debut at Town Hall. Reviews were mixed. New York Newsday reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli described Dion as "a classy, upscale alternative for people who think of Mariah Carey as a shopping mall superstar." The New York Times' Stephen Holden was less kind, dismissing Dion's songs as "the kind of generic pop anthems that win international song competitions and that Olympic athletes use to accompany their routines."
    1996- Canadian singer Alanis Morissette won four major Grammy Awards, including album of the year and rock album of the year for "Jagged Little Pill." She also picked up trophies for best rock song and best female rock vocal performance, both for her single "You Oughta Know." Canadians picked up a total of 11 Grammys, including two by Joni Mitchell for her album "Turbulent Indigo." Faith Hill won the best country album Grammy for "The Woman In Me." Hootie and the Blowfish are named Best New Artist
    1997- The Food and Drug Administration implemented restrictions on retailers that required them to check the ages of all customers younger than 27 to prevent persons under 18 years of age from buying tobacco. Store owners caught selling cigarettes and other tobacco products to minors faced federal fines of $250 per violation. All states already had laws banning the sale of tobacco to persons under 18, but enforcement was erratic.
    1997-Netscape announced it had created alliances with VeriFone and CyberCash, a developer of Internet-payment software, to foster secure online purchases. 1994 Hewlett-Packard announces a new line of ink-jet printers Hewlett-Packard said it would introduce a new line of ink-jet printers this week in 1994. The company planned to double the resolution of existing ink-jet models, from 300 to 600 dpi. The company also planned to introduce a color ink-jet printer that would improve the accuracy of color printouts.
    1998 - My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion's runaway hit single from the film Titanic, went to Number 1 on the pop charts, and was in the top spot for 2 weeks.