Position Wanted – Credit
Work Remotely or Relocate for Right Opportunity

Orlando, Florida - Will work remotely

As a Commercial Credit Analyst/Underwriter, I have evaluated transactions from sole proprietorships to listed companies, across a broad spectrum of industries, embracing a multitude of asset types. Sound understanding of balance sheet, income statement and cash flow dynamics which impact credit decisions. Strong appreciation for credit/asset risk.
rpsteiner21@aol.com
407 430-3917

Each Week Leasing News is pleased, as a service to its readership, to offer completely free ads placed by candidates for jobs in the industry. These ads also can be accessed directly on the website at: http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

Each ad is limited to (100) words and ads repeat for up to 6 months unless the candidate tells us to stop. Your submissions should be received here by the end of each week.

Please encourage friends and colleagues to take advantage of this service, including recent graduates and others interested in leasing and related careers.

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Leasing News Top Stories
February 4 - February 8

(Stories most opened by readers)

(1) Top Four Leasing Company Websites
          in North America
By Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2019/02_06.htm#four

(2) Part II   - Texas Bankruptcy Court Grants Worthless
 Non-Dischargeable Judgment for Equipment Lessor
      By Tom McCurnin, Leasing News Legal Editor
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2019/02_04.htm#texas

(3) Marlin Business Services Changes Name and Logo
   Now "Rebranding" as Marlin Capital Solutions
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2019/02_08.htm#marlin

(4) Marlin Business Services 2018 Results
    Earnings Call Transcript Highlight
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2019/02_04.htm#marlin

(5)  New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
        and Related Industries
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2019/02_08.htm#hires

(6) Not Many Franchise Funders Work with Brokers
          By Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2019/02_06.htm#not

(7) The CEO of the biggest mall owner in the US says
   They May be Turned into office spaces, gyms, even hotels
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/01/simon-ceo-david-simon-says-hes-nervous-about-retail-bankruptcies.html

(8) 17 New Certified Lease & Finance Professionals
       New Total Professionals and Associates 661
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2019/02_06.htm#clfp

(9) These are the 10 biggest banks in the country now
   after the BB&T-SunTrust merger
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/07/here-are-the-biggest-us-banks-with-bbt-suntrust-merger-knocking-off-pnc-to-be-the-sixth-largest-lender.html

(10) Equipment Lessor Wins Battle to Determine its
        Trac Lease was a True Lease in Bankruptcy
           By Tom McCurnin, Leasing News Legal Editor
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2019/02_08.htm#equipment

 

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Credit Analyst Norwalk, Ct. Remote Location Considered 2 Years Min. Experience Collateral knowledge of over-the-road trucking assets, construction equipment, material handling, vocational units and machine tools is desired Call Maria Borges-Lopez: (203) 354-6090 or e-mail your resume to HumanResources@nmef.com Please click nmef.com/careers/ for more information www.nmef.com Providing small-ticket equipment financing for businesses across the country through our dedicated referral source network

 

RapidAdvance Rebrands to Rapid Finance
Growing with the Industry

Originally President and Chief Operating Officer, now Chairman of the Board, Jeremy Brown, noted, "When RapidAdvance was established in 2005, we selected our brand name based on where our industry was at the time as well as the value add our solution and our company brought to our partners and to our clients. In 2013 our company was acquired by Rockbridge Growth Equity. We became part of the Family of Companies that includes Quicken Loans and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"We’re changing our name because our company, the types of clients we serve and the types of organizations we partner with have expanded and evolved. We now serve much broader business types, work with a greater array of partners, and offer multiple financing solutions to help small businesses grow."

Today the transactions are approved in 24 hours with funds deposited to our clients in just 3 days.  The company specializes in Small Business Loans, Merchant Cash Advance, Healthcare Cash Advance, Bridge Loans, Lines of Credit, Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans, Factoring, Asset Based Loans, and Commercial Real Estate Loans.
https://www.rapidfinance.com/

"We have built that brand into an industry leader and an organization of over 200 people that diligently serve small businesses every day." Brown added.

"These changes, along with our dedication to providing excellent service, will enable us to empower small businesses and to maintain our position as the go to resource for our clients and our partners.

"We look forward to having you join us on our next chapter as we continue to grow and service small businesses together."

For more information:
Please contact Jeff Schubert
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Direct: 240-514-5811
Mobile: 770-714-9000
JSchubert@rapidfinance.com

 

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Sales Makes it Happen—by Christopher Menkin

“Types of Leases being used on the Street”

In presenting a lease, you should be aware of all the types of leases that are available to the lessee. You should be familiar with them, even if your company does not offer them.
It is a misconception to think there are only three types of leases:

1. Return the equipment (in working and satisfactory order at your expense)
2. $1.00 (Dollar out) a capital lease/finance
3. 10% residual (10% of the cost to lessor, not just the equipment,
   meaning often labor, delivery, and sales tax is included).
   Depending on the equipment, most often still a capital lease.
4. 10% guaranteed, often called a P.U.T. Purchase upon terms.
   The lessee must pay 10%, generally if the lessor so requires,
   is the most often term utilized. Still considered a "capital lease."
5. Fair Market Value---This is often not spelled out regarding
   the evaluation of FMV; perhaps the dispute resolution in the
   contract may be the legal resolution procedure. On the street,
   it generally means the difference between the wholesale price
   and the retail price, used often in vehicle FMV determination.
   Often, three dealer, wholesale and retail are averaged to
   determine FMV.
6. There are sub-definitions that may fit this:
    a.TRAC Lease
   A lease that contains a special provision called a "terminal rental adjustment clause. The transaction looks and works like a balloon loan because the lessor transfers all residual value risk to the lessee.
   Most commonly used in the vehicle leasing FMV's, particularly if fits a "blue book" end valuation.
   b.PRO Lease
   Often considered an opened ended lease, although there are those who on certain equipment define it as requiring an extra 12 or specified payments and then abandon the equipment.
   c. This is an in-between lease, often called a Synthetic Lease,
   a financing agreement structured to be treated as a lease for accounting purposes, but as a loan for tax purposes. 
   
   

In addition to these residual definitions, there are other types of leases.

* Master Lease---Increments until all equipment delivered.

**Deposit Lease---Deposit to seller of equipment, interest only until equipment delivered and accepted.

The Master Lease pays for equipment on a schedule of delivery of equipment, with the lessee paying

"interest" interim rent until all the equipment is delivered and accepted, then the lease will start.
The Deposit Lease gives the seller a 25% or 50% or even 75% up-front deposit on the order. The lessee pays interim "interest" rent until all the equipment is delivered and accepted, then the lease will start.

One of the most popular are the deferred payment lease:

60 DAY DEFERRAL PLAN "A"
A 60 Day Deferral Program in which the Lessee pays one month Security Deposit with documentation and then is not invoiced until 60 days after funding. Technically, the lessee does not make a first payment for ninety days after acceptance of equipment.

90 DAY DEFERRAL PLAN "B"
This is a true 90 day Deferral Plan. With this program, one or two months security deposit is collected at the signing of the lease, and the lessee pays $25.00 for each of the first 3 months followed by the normal term of 36, 48, or 60 months.

120 DAY DEFERRAL PLAN
(Technically a 120 day plan as payment 4 due on fourth month)
One month security deposit is collected at the signing of the lease. The lessee pays $25.00 for each of the first 3 months followed by the normal term of 36, 48, or 60 months.

$19.95 Security Deposit
Used in small ticket leases more often than note is requesting minimal upfront costs to enter into a lease. That program is the $19.95 Security Deposit Program. With this program, the customer simply pays the $19.95 and is billed for the first payment.

7 x $100 PROGRAM
The lessee pays a $100.00 Security Deposit and has their first six payments at $100.00. This is followed by 30, 42, or 54 payments.

6 x $99 PROGRAM
With this program, the lessee pays two (2) Security Deposits totaling $198.00. Their first six payments are $99.00 followed by 30, 42, or 54 payments remaining in the lease.

STEP UP RATE PROGRAM
The Step Up Rate Program with reduced monthly payments for the first twelve months of the 3 to 5 year term leases offers attractive benefits for a number of different lessee's needs. It is an effective advantage to those customers who are particularly interested in maximizing their benefits versus cost during their first year of equipment use.

Waive Payment Voucher
The lessee may tailor their own payment plans with an option to remit up to three (3) vouchers a year, and six (6) vouchers total during the term of their lease, instead of making a full lease payment.

Requirements include:
1. Available on 36, 48, 60 month term only.
2. Lessee may utilize up to three vouchers per year, but not more than three consecutive payments.
3. Lessee pays $25.00 plus use tax with each voucher instead of a full lease payment.
4. Lessee must be current.

Annual, Semi-Annual, and Quarterly Payment Plan
Payments are made annually, semi-annually, or quarterly. This is popular for municipalities or government funded organizations.

Seasonal Payment Plan
This is for companies who have off seasons where they can choose three consecutive months they do not need to make a "monthly" payment. In effect, they make nine payments per year.

 

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Leasing News Advisor
Edward P. Kaye, Esq.

Edward P. Kaye
Access Commercial Capital, LLC
3000 Marcus Avenue, Suite 3E01
Lake Success, New York 11042
(516)444-3621 Direct Dial
(800)571-3900 Toll Free
(516)213-1182 Fax
ekaye@accesscapital.biz
www.accesscapital.biz

Ed Kaye is a longtime supporter of Leasing News, contributing articles as well as features. He is an attorney, admitted to the bar of the State of New York, 1994, as well as has a MA and BA from the University at Albany. He is presently serving as the President of Directors of the National Vehicle Leasing Association.

He began his career as an Account Executive, Term Leasing, then Auto Tech Leasing Associates. In 1997, he co-founded The Advantage Funding group of companies, serving as President, CEO and General Counsel. He and his partners sold the company in 2014. The following year he was Co-Founder, Managing Member, and General Counsel of Access Commercial Capital, LLC., an independent specialty vehicle and equipment finance and leasing company which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of United Leasing and Finance of Evansville, IN.

Married to Linda Kaye for 31 years. They have two children, Matthew, age 26, a media operations technician at NBC Universal, and Allison, age 21, a finance major at Penn State University. He is an avid tennis player and enjoys spending time with his family and the outdoors.

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SLIM Capital Reviews Some Deals
Shows Broker Deals Accomplished

 

$525,000 Tank Cleaning System

(CREDIT ONLY) ZERO DOWN
This trucking company hauls mineral oils and ethanol but has to have his tankers professionally cleaned when switching between loads. To date, they have had to travel upwards of 300 miles and pay close to $500 per tank cleaning. With this system, not only does our client reduce costs and drive time associated with the required cleaning, but is also able to offer the service to other trucking companies and generate enough revenue to offset the lease payments, thus generating a new profit center for his business. The savings alone substantiate this expense, but added revenue makes this a no-brainer.

$200,000 2019 Dump Truck

(STORY Credit, Security Deposit)   
This contractor had recently been awarded a lucrative quarry contract to haul local loads. After learning about some large tax liens, SLIM took the extra steps to examine the nature of the liens and get comfortable with the current status. To offset the credit challenges, we took a security deposit to mitigate the risk factors to fulfill the financing request. Hauling has never been so Sweet!
        
        
$73,000 Specialty Backdrop Printer

(Stock Portfolio as Collateral)
After having recently lost his Wife and Business Partner to illness, this specialty backdrop printer had suffered considerable setbacks in the business and did not have the credit to qualify for direct financing. After reviewing his assets, we noticed a sizable stock portfolio. We took the portfolio as collateral and financed the much needed printer to help this business owner and husband recover.

$180,000 Refinance MCA Debt & Cash Out

(Real Estate Secured)  
This produce transportation company had taken on expensive Merchant Cash Advance debt and needed to reduce his expenses to grow and build his fleet. We were able to take his commercial property as collateral, refinance his debt and offer him $80,000 of additional working capital; ALL while REDUCING HIS MONTHLY PAYMENTS! WINNER- WINNER!
        

$150,000 for a Car Wash Tunnel System

(CREDIT Only)    
An existing car wash operator was looking to upgrade his car wash equipment and needed to move fast to support his seasonal demands. Despite having tax liens and delinquencies reporting on his credit, we were able to offer him 100% prefunding to get his equipment ordered and ready for installation ahead of the Spring rush!

“SLIM Capital, LLC is a nationwide direct finance company that specializes in securing hard assets to structure financing transactions as well as Credit Based Financing Decisions. We consider equipment with a strong secondary market value, real estate and other assets that can be easily monetized as collateral. Give us a call or email us with any deals that you think might be a fit.”

Shervin Rashti, CLFP
shervin@slimcapital.com
Direct: 310-499-2506

Stephanie Cruz
stephanie@slimcapital.com
Direct: 949-274-8958

Jeff Brannon
jeff@slimcapital.com
Direct: 949-981-0431

SLIM Capital, LLC
Beverly Hills, CA | Orange County, CA
www.slimcapital.com
deals@slimcapital.com
310-499-2562

The $80 Trillion World Economy
  in One Chart

 

www.visualcapitalist.com

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Bank of the West Escapes Bankruptcy Trustee's
   Contest of its Fixture Filing

By Tom McCurnin
Leasing News Legal Editor

Trustee’s Conclusory Complaint Incorrectly Demonstrates a Gross Misunderstanding of Jersey Fixture Filing Law, or Was the Lawsuit a Shakedown? 

Nisselson v. Bank of the West (In re Cocoa Servs., L.L.C.) 2018 Bankr. LEXIS 1132 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2018, Nos. 17-11936-JLG, 17-01182-JLG).

Fixture filing used to be a complicated, arcane process involving lawyers and title companies.  However, since 2001, most states have streamlined the process and it is so easy a caveman could do it. In today’s case, a Bankruptcy Trustee contested a New Jersey fixture filing without realizing that the law changed in New Jersey 17 years ago and without actually pleading specific facts which would entitle him to relief. All this was done on the last day in which the action could have been filed.  The facts follow.

Bank of the West is an equipment finance company. Cocoa Services is a processor of cocoa beans in New Jersey. In 2014, Cocoa financed a large acquisition of machine tools with Bank of the West to the tune of $5.3 million. This was a complicated credit involving over 22 different documents.  Key to the documents was a fixture filing for the leased real estate made in accordance with N.J. Stat. § 12A:9-501 which included a UCC-1 filed in the county and a real estate waiver signed by Cocoa and one of the owners of the property where the collateral was located and recorded. Bank of the West also held a broad form blanket security interest in the collateral of Cocoa. The recorded real estate waiver had some superficial mistakes as to the spelling of the property owner and the address. 

Cocoa filed bankruptcy and Bank of the West, as the largest creditor with a blanket security interest, participated in a cash collateral motion. A cash collateral motion is a process whereby the debtor seeks permission to use collateral of a secured creditor in exchange for a replacement lien in the same or additional collateral. The bankruptcy court approved the cash collateral motion and gave other creditors 60 days to challenge the replacement liens. 

Transmar Commodity Group is the parent of Cocoa and was a very large unsecured creditor of Cocoa.  It also filed bankruptcy and Alan Nisselson was appointed trustee. 

On the 59th day after approval of the cash collateral motion, he filed an adversary complaint against Bank of the West seeking to deem Bank of the West as being unsecured due to a defect in its security interest and seeking to de-value BOW’s security interest in the collateral because Bank of the West was under-secured. Creditors which hold collateral whose value is more than the amount of the obligation are over-secured. 

The adversary complaint was terribly drafted. While it did in fact make those allegations, the Trustee did not support the allegations with specific facts, the loan documents, the cash collateral filings, nor any of the UCC documents. The Trustee merely relied upon some conclusory allegations in his complaint. I usually don’t cite case law in these articles, but the United States Supreme Court has made it very clear that complaints must contain specific facts which would entitle the party to the relief requested. Ashcroft v Iqbal, 566 U.S. 662 (2009). The adversary complaint was nothing but empty conclusions and clearly violated that pleading standard. 

Bank of the West filed a motion to dismiss in the adversary action which alleged that the loan documents gave Bank of the West a valid first priority lien, the fixture filing was accomplished correctly, and Bank of the West attached a plethora of documents including all the loan documents, the UCC-1 filings, the fixture filings, and the cash collateral filings. In short, Bank of the West did superficially mention the pleading standard but generally attacked the complaint on the merits. 

The Trustee then filed an opposition to the motion and then argued a series of facts from which it might be possible that Bank of the West’s security interest was void, including the failure to file a proof of claim, the fixture filing had a mistake on the address of the property, and the specific list of collateral was different than the broad forms of collateral stated elsewhere in the loan documents.  The Trustee also alleged that the owner of the property in question and the signature of the property owner to the real estate waiver was “suspicious.” The Trustee objected to the introduction of the loan documents. 

In response to the opposition, Bank of the West noted that it seemed like the Trustee had filed the adversary complaint without all the loan documents, the Trustee took a position different than that alleged in the adversary complaint with stronger, better, and different facts, and that the adversary complaint was simply void of actual, well-pleaded facts. 

The Court heard oral arguments on the issues and issued a lengthy and highly technical written opinion. Suffice to say the bankruptcy court struck most of the documents relied upon by both sides, for the reason that the adversary complaint did not attach nor discuss the loan documents, therefore, they could not be considered by the bankruptcy court. The bankruptcy court then lambasted the Trustee for filing a complaint which was virtually void of any facts, and consisted of mere legal conclusions, couched as facts. In order to protect itself from appeal, the bankruptcy court did consider the documents and ruled that the fixture filing was correct. 

Ultimately for Bank of the West, the key holding was that under New Jersey law, a secured creditor may make a non-fixture filing or can make a fixture filing at the county level. Bank of the West filed both and while there may have been some warts connected with the fixture filing, there was no allegation by the Trustee that challenged the adequacy of the UCC-1 financing.  Although there were some minor problems with the fixture filing, it was not serious misleading. The failure to file a proof of claim was not required, as the obligation was disclosed in the petition and schedules. 

The bankruptcy court dismissed the Trustee’s adversary action.The creditor Bank of the West won, the Trustee lost.

What are the takeaways here?

• First, For Lawyers, Allege Facts, Not Conclusions. The Bankruptcy Court lambasted the Trustee for claiming the loan and security documents did not create a valid lien, without any specific facts evidencing that the lien was invalid.  It was incredulous that a lawyer would file this bare-bones complaint on the last day it could be filed, in light of the recent case law. This is especially true when in bankruptcy there are usually very short deadlines for filing such actions. In such instances, there is not enough time to cure the mistake by amendment. 

• Second, Bankruptcy Trustees are Shakedown Artists. I think it is unfair that a Trustee can use his or her powers to file adversary actions that are incredibly weak on facts and without merit. While this is common in preference actions, I usually don’t see this type of shakedown for loans for which a cash collateral order has been granted. I don’t have a lot of advice to give creditors here, other than stuff happens, when your borrower files bankruptcy. Get your ducks in a row when you book the loan. 

• Third, The Fixture Filing Was Not Perfect.  he real estate waiver had the wrong mailing address, and the wrong name of the property owner. While the UCC was amended in 2001 to allow for easier fixture filings, if a creditor is going to do a real estate waiver, make it 100% accurate. While the fixture filing was not perfect, it was good enough. I think for a loan of this size, it would have been better to have it 100% perfect. 

The bottom line to this case is that notwithstanding the 2001 amendments to the UCC to make fixture filings easier, Trustees in a bankruptcy context will allege anything to shake down creditors.  If confronted with such shakedowns, look at the adversary complaint to see if it actually alleges

Nisselson v. Bank of the West (in re Cocoa Servs) (25 pages)
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/NisselsonvBankWest2019.pdf

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

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

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

Labrador Retriever
Bethesda, Maryland  Adopt a Dog

Bella
Female
Age: 3
Good with Kids 4+, Dogs
Needs: A loving forever home with a physical or invisible fence

"Bella is a fox lady”

"Bella is a sweet girl who loves to get attention. She's appropriately named, because ""Bella"" means beautiful; and she's one lovely fox red lady. And she's not just beautiful, but fun and smart too! She knows sit, stay, come, shake and no. Bella is longing for her furever home with maybe some kids to play fetch with, or another dog to play tug with, and definitely a yard to play in. Watch Bella and fall in love at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8mQBDciU8Q"

LAB RESCUE OF THE LRCP, INC
E-mail us: info@lab-rescue.org
Lab Line: (301) 299-6756
https://www.facebook.com/LabRescueLRCP/

Lab Rescue LRCP is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization committed to rescuing, vetting, and finding loving homes for nearly 1,000 dogs each year in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and North Carolina.

We are a virtual organization with Lab Rescue dogs fostered in homes throughout Virginia and Maryland. We can only do the lifesaving work that we do with the generous support of our donors and volunteers.

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

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NACLB 2019 Conference Officially Open
Largest Broker Conference in the Country

Kris D. Roglieri, Co-Founder of National Alliance of Commercial Loan Brokers, announces, “This year, for our 5th annual conference, we are taking it back to the city where it all started - Las Vegas! Save the date for October 4th - 6th at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa. Last year, we had over 850 attendees and this year we are anticipating over 1,000 attendees for our 5th anniversary event. NACLB continues to be the most profitable conference for banks and lenders, and the most valuable informative gathering for brokers, with so much more to offer this year.”
What you can expect this year:

• Over 120 lenders will be in attendance representing all areas in lending including but not limited to: SBA, Alternative Lending, MCA, Bridge Loans, Fix and Flip Financing, Commercial Real Estate Lending, CMBS Loans, Equipment Leasing and Financing, Sale Lease-back Financing, Project Financing, Unsecured Business Lines of Credit, Equity Financing, Hud and FHA Financing, and much, much, more.
• NEW: Our Marketing Round Table discussion. This 3-hour event is open to all lenders and brokers to learn effective ways to market your business and services.
• More Education Breakout Sessions and New Topics added: This year we have added the topic of "Broker Licensing and What You Need to Know."
• Our 5th Annual Poker Tournament and Networking Event.
• Guest Keynote "To Be Announced Soon." 

If you missed 2018's NACLB Conference, here is a video of last year's event. https://youtu.be/hEHUXf6ux_Y

Reserve your ticket now for our early bird special.
Our 5th annual conference will be another record-breaking event that will outperform and offer more value than all other associations and conferences alike.

Early Bird Special (Limited Time Only) - $499.00

Visit Our Website to Learn More

News Briefs----

The U.S. Cut Taxes. Why Will Fewer Folks Get Refunds?
 21 % of taxpayers didn’t have enough taken out of their paychecks
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-09/the-u-s-cut-taxes-why-will-fewer-folks-get-refunds-quicktake

As Foxconn changes Wisconsin plans,
     job promises fall short
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-foxconn-plant-hiring-target-20190205-story.html

 

 

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You May Have Missed---

Bankshot BB&T-SunTrust: Three big question
  By Paul Davis, American Banker
https://www.americanbanker.com/opinion/bb-t-suntrust-three-big-questions

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Snow Day
By Barry S. Marks, Esq.

Leah and Lauren
are building a house
out of cushions
from the love seat and sofa.

They bring treasures
to fill the room
a Lambchop pillow
a jewelry box
dolls that have name
and a few that do not.

I say that it's further argument
against replacing the Berber with hardwood, 
at least before next year;
you are willing to compromise
on French doors and a canopy.

And still the snow falls,
now down, now side-ways,
enveloping the house, changing 
the landscape, remaking the world.

We will cook soup today, 
hearty with beef and cabbage
and crowd around the fireplace
instead of the t.v.

"This is my idea", Leah announces.
"Yes", answers Lauren, "It's my idea, too."

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Sports Briefs---

Lindsey Vonn Wins Bronze Medal in Final Career Race;
   'I Laid It All on the Line'
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2820209-lindsey-vonn-wins-bronze-medal-in-final-career-race-i-laid-it-all-on-the-line?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

Magic Johnson says he plans to ‘hug’ Lakers to help them
  get over trade rumors, hopes team can ‘stay together’
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2019/2/9/18218742/la-lakers-news-magic-johnson-addresses-trade-rumors-playoff-push-hug

Jim Harbaugh says Michigan should 'build statue' for Tom Brady
http://www.theredzone.org/Blog-Description/EntryId/75055/Jim-Harbaugh-says-Michigan-should--build-statue--for-Tom-Brady

Alliance of American Football Excites With Big Plays, Big Ratings on Opening Night
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/10/alliance-american-football-opening-night-highlights-ratings

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California Nuts Briefs---

SF Salesforce Transit Center repairs, reinforcement will take months
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/saleforce-transit-center-officials-move-forward-with-steel-girder-repair/546404/ 

Facebook unveils new vision for big
  Willow Village complex in Menlo Park
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/02/08/facebook-unveils-new-vision-for-big-willow-village-complex-in-menlo-park/

Robot-made coffee and burgers in SF?
  How automation is affecting jobs
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/02/10/robot-made-coffee-and-burgers-in-sf-how-automation-is-affecting-jobs/

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Millennials' Tasting Room Revolution
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2019/02/millennials-tasting-room-revolution

NZ’s Mt. Difficulty sold to Foley Family Wines for $52m
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2019/02/nzs-mt-difficulty-sold-to-foley-family-wines-for-52m/

Wine Enthusiast magazine honors Winiarski
https://napavalleyregister.com/wine/wine-enthusiast-magazine-honors-winiarski/article_be6ea762-eea9-5388-9010-0a99aef95f47.html

Berger on wine: The myths of decanting
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/lifestyle/9212601-181/berger-on-wine-the-myths

Dom Pérignon 1990-2009: ‘The mother of all DP tastings’
https://www.decanter.com/premium/dom-perignon-1990-2009-the-mother-of-all-dp-tastings-408751/

Ice Wine Market Growth analysis, key manufacturers,
business overview, Growing at a CAGR during 2019-2025
https://spotherld.com/2019/02/08/ice-wine-market-growth-analysis-key-manufacturers-business-overview-growing-at-a-cagr-during-2019-2025/

Release of key California wine grape reports delayed
  to April after federal shutdown
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/northbay/sonomacounty/9263628-181/california-wine-grape-crush-acreage-reports

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

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This Day in History

     1751 - The first hospital to open in the United States was the Pennsylvania Hospital, opened in Philadelphia, PA, through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond. A temporary hospital was erected in 1751 in a private house on High (now Market) Street before the permanent building opened on February 11, 1752.  This was the first hospital to give free treatment to the poor and to offer humane treatment to the insane.
    1790 - Pennsylvania Society of Friends petitioned Congress to emancipate slaves.
    1801 - President elected by the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives started debating who would be president. After the election of 1800, the electoral vote stood as follows: Thomas Jefferson 72, Aaron Burr 73, John Adams 65, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney 64, and John Jay 1. It was quite a debate, with Alexander Hamilton working behind the scenes to elected Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton detested Burr and his principals, whose dislike for each other led Aaron Burr to challenge him to a pistol duel on July 11, 1804. There were 35 ballots, all deadlocked as each state had one vote. On the 36th ballot, February 17, barely two weeks before a new president was to be inaugurated, Jefferson was elected President. Delaware and South Carolina cast blank ballots, with the result that the vote was 10 states for Jefferson and 4 for Burr. Aaron Burr was elected vice-president.
    1805 - Sacajawea gives birth to Jean-Baptist Charbonneau while leading Lewis & Clark Expedition. As hoped, Sacagawea's services as a translator played a pivotal role in securing horses from the Shoshone. Jean Baptiste's presence also proved unexpectedly useful by helping to convince the Indians the party encountered that their intentions were peaceful-no war party, the Indians reasoned, would bring along a mother and infant. When the Corps of Discovery returned east in 1805, Charbonneau, Sacagawea, and Jean Baptiste resumed the fur-trading life. Little is known of Sacagawea's subsequent fate, though a fur trader claimed she died of a "putrid fever" in 1812 at a Missouri River trading post. True to a promise he had made to Sacagawea during the expedition, Clark paid for Jean Baptiste's education at a St. Louis Catholic academy and became something of an adoptive father to the boy. A bright and charismatic young man, Jean Baptiste learned French, German, and Spanish, hunted with noblemen in the Black Forest of Germany, traveled in Africa, and returned to further explore the American West. He died in 1866 en route to the newly discovered gold fields of Montana.
    1808 - Judge Jesse Fell experimentally burned anthracite coal to keep his Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania home warm on this winter day. He showed how cleanly and cheaply the coal burned as heating fuel. As a result, that area of northeast Pennsylvania would become an important coal mining area for generations. Those who came to the area to work the coal mines were called ‘coal crackers.'
    1811 - President Madison prohibits trade with Britain for 3rd time in 4 years. On June 1, 1812, he asked Congress to declare war. The young Nation was not prepared to fight; its forces took a severe trouncing. The British entered Washington and set fire to the White House and the Capitol. But a few notable naval and military victories, climaxed by Gen. Andrew Jackson's triumph at New Orleans, convinced Americans that the War of 1812 had been gloriously successful. An upsurge of nationalism resulted. The New England Federalists who had opposed the war--and who had even talked secession--were so thoroughly repudiated that Federalism disappeared as a national party.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jm4.html
http://courses.smsu.edu/ftm922f/Documents/madBritdoctrine.htm
    1812 - Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry signed a law changing the state's electoral boundaries to ensure a Republican majority. One grotesquely shaped new district, described as looking like a salamander, results in the coining of the word gerrymander. The move gave rise to the term "gerrymandering."
    1836 - Mount Holyoke Seminary, the first woman's college in the U.S. is chartered at South Hadley, Massachusetts.
    1847 - Birthday of Thomas Edison (d. 1931), at Milan, OH.  American inventive genius and holder of more than 1,200 patents (including the incandescent electric lamp, phonograph, electric dynamo and key parts of many now-familiar devices such as the movie camera, telephone transmitter, etc.) Edison said, “Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” His birthday is now widely observed as Inventor's Day.
    1854 - San Francisco Gas Company turned on first coal gas lamps. The occasion was celebrated at a grand banquet at the Oriental Hotel. The gas illuminated 86 lamps and the Metropolitan Theatre.
    1856 - President Franklin Pierce warns "border ruffians' and the Free State men in Kansas to stop fighting. In May, 1854, the Missouri Compromise, which stated that slavery would not extend above the 36'30" line, was repealed in favor of Stephen Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska. Compromise which held that popular sovereignty in each territory would decide the slavery issue. Pro-slavery Missourians flooded into Kansas and eventually there were two governments in Kansas Territory, each outlawing the other.   The conflict was fought politically as well as between civilians, where it eventually degenerated into brutal gang violence and paramilitary guerilla warfare. The term "Bleeding Kansas" was popularized by Horace Greeley’s New York Tribune.  Bleeding Kansas was demonstrative of the gravity of the era's most pressing social issues, from the matter of slavery to the class conflicts emerging on the American frontier. Its severity made national headlines which suggested to the American people that the sectional disputes were unlikely to reach compromise without bloodshed, and it therefore directly presaged the Civil War.  Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state in January 1861, but partisan violence continued along the Kansas–Missouri border for most of the war.
    1861 - The US House unanimously passed a resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state. 
    1882 - Birthday of Joe Jordan (d. 1971), piano player, songwriter, Cincinnati, OH
http://www.jass.com/jordan.html 
http://www.trachtman.net/ragtime/classicpianorags.htm
    1899 - Perhaps the greatest of all arctic outbreaks commenced on this date. The temperature plunged to 61 degrees below zero in Montana. At the same time a "Great Eastern Blizzard" left a blanket of snow from Georgia to New Hampshire. The state of Virginia took the brunt of the storm, with snowfall totals averaging 30 to 40 inches.
    1890 - President Benjamin Harrison orders 11 million acres of Sioux Reservation territory open for settlement. This will eventually lead to a revitalization movement known as the "Ghost Dance" that sprang up among the Sioux Indians of the western plains. These rituals held that an Indian Spirit soon would destroy the whites and return stolen lands. Federal troops will confront a band of Sioux-a non-violent group who had left the reservation fearful of being caught up in the Indian awakening-at Wounded Knee in the Dakota badlands. In this last battle waged on December 29, 1890, the U.S. Army massacred 150 Sioux men, women, and children; only 25 soldiers were killed. With the battle of Wounded Knee and the final distribution of Indian lands, the frontier era of American history had finally passed. 
    1899 - -15ºF (-26ºC), Washington DC (district record) 
    1899 - -61ºF (-52ºC), Montana (record low temperature 19th century).
    1908 - Birthday of Philip Dunne (d. 1992), American screenwriter and director, was born at New York, NY. In 1947, he joined directors John Huston and William Wyler to found the Committee for the First Amendment which campaigned against the committee for the First Amendment, which campaigned against the “blacklisting” in Hollywood of anyone suspected of being a communist by the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was also a founder of the Screen Writers Guild.
    1910 - Birthday of singer, guitarist, arranger John Mills, Jr. (d. 1936) of the Mills Brothers, Piqua, OH.
http://www.themillsbrothers.com/
http://www.themillsbrothers.com/phototour.htm
http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/productm.jsp?
product=3184022&template=dec6
    1910 – Frank Crosetti (d. 2002) was born in San Francisco.  He grew up in North Beach in San Francisco, the neighborhood that also claims Tony Lazzeri, the DiMaggios and Charlie Silvera as natives.  As the longtime shortstop for the New York Yankees, he was on 8 World Series champions.  Crosetti became third base coach with the Yankees in 1946 and was part of an additional nine World Series championships.  Those combined 17 World Series championships are the most in Major League history.
    1911 - Emma Goldman is arrested in New York for distributing information on family planning (birth control.)
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb11.html
    1913 - IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) leads rubber strike in Akron, Ohio. The Akron Rubber Workers will do it again in 1936-37, at the General Tire Company of Akron, scene of the first sit-down strike in rubber. The first major strike, in 1913, represented an end of innocence. The action, which included workers from all of Akron's rubber shops, began after the introduction of machinery that made tires easier to build and resulted in lower piece rates for the workers. The strike was loosely directed by the Industrial Workers of the World, a radical group nicknamed the "Wobblies." It lasted more than five weeks. The workers made no gains -- they didn't even manage to shut down the rubber shops. The strike served chiefly to disillusion company executives.
    1914 - Birthday of guitarist Josh White (d. 1969), Greenville, SC.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAwhiteJ.htm
http://www.folkways.si.edu/40081.htm
http://www.umass.edu/umpress/fall_00/wald.html
(he was one of my late father's favorite folksingers along with “Leadbelly” that I can remember his playing when I was very small, maybe five years old.)
    1914 - Birthday of song writer Matt Dennis (d. 2002), Seattle. Wrote “Angel Eyes,” “Everything Happens to Me,” “Will You Still Be Mine?”
http://www.melbay.com/authors/denn.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000056314/
ref=pd_sxp_f/102-2783041-0221764
    1916 - Black feminist and civil-rights activist Flo Kennedy (d. 2000) is born in Kansas City, Missouri. As a lawyer, Kennedy represented Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and H. Rap Brown. In 1966, she founded the Media Workshop to confront racism in media and advertising. In 1972, she formed the Feminist Party and filed an Internal Revenue Service complaint alleging that the Catholic Church violated tax-exempt requirements by spending money to influence political decisions. Kennedy describes herself, "I'm just a loud-mouthed middle-aged colored lady . . .and a lot of people think I'm crazy. Maybe you do too, but I never stop to wonder why I'm not like other people. The mystery to me is why more people aren't like me."
http://rwor.org/a/v22/1090-99/1095/flo_kennedy.htm
http://www.writetools.com/women/stories/kennedy_flo.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131523716/avse
    1916 - Emma Goldman, noted anarchist, is arrested for publically speaking about birth control. A New York state code forbade discussions of health matters in public... and doctors refused to do it in private.
    1918 - Birthday of country music publisher Wesley Rose (d. 1990), Chicago. Wesley and his father Fred are credited with demolishing the barriers between pop and country music by successfully selling the songs of Hank Williams in the pop market. When Williams wrote "Cold, Cold Heart," Wesley Rose traveled from Nashville to New York to try to sell the song. The only person who would listen to him was Mitch Miller, director of pop music at Columbia Records. Miller gave the song to an aspiring young singer named Tony Bennett. Bennett's 1951 recording of "Cold, Cold Heart" sold a million copies.
    1919 - Seattle General Strike ends. Harvey O'Connor's sympathetic “Revolution in Seattle” remains the best book on this event.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0939306018/inktomi-bkasin-20/002-5861649-1425657
Another perspective: Howard Zinn's “People's History of the U.S. Seattle General Strike.”
http://free.freespeech.org/americanstateterrorism/books/PeoplesHistory.html
http://faculty.washington.edu/gregoryj/strike/ 
http://www.washington.edu/uwired/outreach/cspn/curcan/main.html
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/hist_texts/seattle1919.html
    1935 - Birthday of singer Gene Vincent, whose full name was Vincent Eugene Craddock (d. 1971), born in Norfolk, Virginia. He was signed by Capitol Records as an answer to Elvis Presley and his career was launched in 1957 with "Be Bop a Lula." Vincent is supposed to have written the song after reading a Little Lulu comic book. He had only two major hits, then began drinking heavily. A comeback attempt in the late '60s failed and Gene Vincent died of a bleeding ulcer at age 36.
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/index2.html
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/gvbebop.html
http://www.cybernemo.com/les-claviers/partoches/Gene%20Vincent.doc
http://www.webspawner.com/users/GeneVincent/
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rockin.paul/gene.htm
    1937 - United Auto Workers sit-down victory in Flint, Michigan, forcing General Motors to recognize them. The 40-day action at Fisher Body Plant Number One is the longest sit-down strike in history. Employees inside are protected by 5,000 armed workers circling the plant. After police tear-gas attacks, workers fight back with fire hoses. Gunfire wounds 13 workers but the police are driven back. By the time the National Guard arrives, the strike spreads to GM plants across the nation.
http://community-2.webtv.net/uhhuhdotcom/diaryofasitdowner/page5.html
http://bss.sfsu.edu/tygiel/Hist427/1930sphotos/flintsitdownstrike.htm
http://www.uaw2166.org/flint.html
    1937 – Philadelphia Athletics owner Connie Mack was interviewed by Boake Carter, one of the most famous journalists of the period, in a television demonstration by the Philco company to display its new technology. It was the first-ever baseball interview on television, although the audience consists only of selected guests at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, a few miles away from Philco's studio.
    1938 - Larry Clinton Band with Bea Wain records “Martha.”
    1939 - Birthday of pop songwriter Gerry Goffin (d. 2014) was born in Brooklyn. Goffin has been the lyricist for dozens of pop, rock and soul hits, many of them written with Carole King, his former wife. Among the hits the duo wrote were "The Locomotion" for Little Eva, "Up on the Roof" for the Drifters and "One Fine Day" for the Chiffons. A note for trivia buffs - Little Eva was Goffin and King's babysitter at the time of her hit, 1963.  
    1940 - Birthday of singer Bobby (Boris) Pickett, born Robert George Pickett (d. 2007), Somerville, MA.  His novelty "Monster Mash" was a number-one hit in 1962 and has been a perennial holiday favorite ever since. 
http://www.classicbands.com/boris.html
http://www.themonstermash.com/mmdex.html
http://www.themonstermash.com/cgi-bin/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=K90m3W.a4873*Ho5ewWHj7
sHz.a4873*3C1zVI&product=Music
    1941 - Birthday of Brazilian musician and singer Sergio Mendes, Rio de Janeiro.
http://www.spaceagepop.com/mendes.htm
    1943 - General Eisenhower was selected to command the allied armies in Europe.
    1944 - Birthday of drummer Martin Drew (d. 2010), Northampton, England
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/martin%20drew.html
http://homepages.tesco.net/~martindrew/
http://www.p2c2e.freeserve.co.uk/mdbiog.html
http://www.317x.com/albums/m/sergiomendes/card.html
    1945 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin signed an agreement at Yalta, a Soviet city of the Black Sea in the Crimea. The agreement contained plans for new blows at the heart of Germany and for occupying Germany at the end of the war. It also called for a meeting in San Francisco to draft a charter for the United Nations.
    1945 - DAHLGREN, EDWARD C., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant (then Sergeant), U.S. Army, Company E, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division. Place and date: Oberhoffen, France, 11 February 1945. Entered service at: Portland, Maine. Birth: Perham, Maine. G.O. No.: 77, 10 September 1945. Citation: He led the 3d Platoon to the rescue of a similar unit which had been surrounded in an enemy counterattack at Oberhoffen, France. As he advanced along a street, he observed several Germans crossing a field about 100 yards away. Running into a barn, he took up a position in a window and swept the hostile troops with submachine gun fire, killing 6, wounding others, and completely disorganizing the group. His platoon then moved forward through intermittent sniper fire and made contact with the besieged Americans. When the 2 platoons had been reorganized, Sgt. Dahlgren continued to advance along the street until he drew fire from an enemy-held house. In the face of machine pistol and rifle fire, he ran toward the building, hurled a grenade through the door, and blasted his way inside with his gun. This aggressive attack so rattled the Germans that all 8 men who held the strongpoint immediately surrendered. As Sgt. Dahlgren started toward the next house, hostile machinegun fire drove him to cover. He secured rifle grenades, stepped to an exposed position, and calmly launched his missiles from a difficult angle until he had destroyed the machinegun and killed its 2 operators. He moved to the rear of the house and suddenly came under the fire of a machinegun emplaced in a barn. Throwing a grenade into the structure, he rushed the position, firing his weapon as he ran; within, he overwhelmed 5 Germans. After reorganizing his unit, he advanced to clear hostile riflemen from the building where he had destroyed the machinegun. He entered the house by a window and trapped the Germans in the cellar, where he tossed grenades into their midst, wounding several and forcing 10 more to surrender. While reconnoitering another street with a comrade, he heard German voices in a house. An attack with rifle grenades drove the hostile troops to the cellar. Sgt. Dahlgren entered the building, kicked open the cellar door, and, firing several bursts down the stairway, called for the trapped enemy to surrender. Sixteen soldiers filed out with their hands in the air. The bold leadership and magnificent courage displayed by Sgt. Dahlgren in his heroic attacks were in a large measure responsible for repulsing an enemy counterattack and saving an American platoon from great danger. 
    1946 - Top Hits
“Symphony” - The Freddy Martin Orchestra (vocal: Clyde Rogers)
“I Can't Begin to Tell You” - Bing Crosby with the Carmen Cavallaro    
     Orchestra
“Let It Snow” - Vaughn Monroe
“Guitar Polka” - Al Dexter
    1948 - U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall prayed: 'We ask Thee not for tasks more suited to our strength, but for strength more suited to our tasks.'
    1950 - "Rag Mop" by The Ames Brothers hit #1
http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?sid=PK©'DK7f
http://www.dirtywater.com/a2z/a/amesbros/
http://www.singers.com/jazz/vintage/ames.html
    1953 - Chris Connor, with the Stan Kenton Band, cuts “And the Bull Walked Around, Ole.”
    1954 - Top Hits
“Oh! My Pa-Pa” - Eddie Fisher
“Make Love to Me” - Jo Stafford
“Young-at-Heart” - Frank Sinatra
“Bimbo” - Jim Reeves
    1956 - For his third appearance on CBS' Dorsey Brothers Stage Show, Elvis Presley is finally permitted to perform "Heartbreak Hotel." 
    1956 - Birthday of jazz violinist Didier Lockwood (d. 2018), Calais, France
http://www.ejn.it/mus/lockwood.htm
http://www.jazzvalley.com/musician/didier.lockwood
    1958 - Ruth Carol Taylor, a graduate nurse from Ithaca, NY,  became the first African-American woman hired as a flight attendant, by Mohawk Airlines.
    1960 - Water Closet Incident: Jack Paar, then host of “The Tonight Show,” walked out of his late-night TV show. The incident was prompted by NBC's censoring of a slightly off-color “water closet” joke the previous night. After a meeting with the network officials, Paar agreed to return to the show on March 7.
    1961 - Robert C Weaver sworn in as Administrator of the Housing and Home Finance Agency, then the highest federal post by an African American
    1962 - Birthday of singer Sheryl Crow, Kennett, MO.
http://www.sherylcrow.com/
    1962 - Top Hits
“Peppermint Twist” - Joey Dee & The Starliters
“Duke of Earl” - Gene Chandler
“Norman” - Sue Thompson
“Walk on By” - Leroy Van Dyke
    1963 - The Beatles record "I Saw Her Standing There," "Boys," "Do You Want to Know a Secret," "There's a Place," "Twist and Shout" and other songs for their first British album, "Please Please Me" at EMI's Abbey Road studios in London. The session lasts 14 hours despite John Lennon's cold.
    1964 - Fresh from their first appearance on CBS' Ed Sullivan Show, the Beatles leave for Washington, DC in a snow storm in order to give their first US live performance at the Washington Coliseum, with opening acts Tommy Roe, the Caravelles, and the Chiffons. Yet another press conference is given before the show. The performance -- "Roll Over Beethoven," "From Me to You," "I Saw Her Standing There," "This Boy," "All My Loving," "I Wanna Be Your Man," "Please Please Me," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Twist and Shout," and "Long Tall Sally" -- is also filmed by CBS for closed-circuit broadcast.  Because of the stage setup, the band is forced to move its equipment three separate times in order to give everyone in the audience a chance to see them. Afterwards, the group head to a masked ball at the city's British Embassy and then back to their rooms at the Shoreham Hotel. During the party, an unidentified woman cuts off a lock of Ringo's hair without asking him. (Meanwhile, British PM Sir Alec Douglas-Home decides to cancel his trip to the ball for fear of being upstaged by the group.) 
    1966 - Willie Mays became the highest-paid baseball player in both leagues when he signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants for an estimated salary of $130,000 a year.
    1967 - The Monkees saw their second album, "More of The Monkees" leap from position 122 to number 1. The Fabricated Four only provided the vocals and were backed by some of the finest studio musicians around, like Glen Campbell and Neil Sedaka. The L.P. contained the hits, "I'm a Believer" and "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" and was produced by Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager, Tommy Boyce and others. After being pressured by the press, The Monkees announced they'll play their own instruments on all future recordings.
    1967 - The Turtles release their biggest hit, "Happy Together," which will reach #1 in the US in March. 
    1968 - The Bubble Gum music craze gets its start when "Simon Says" by The 1910 Fruitgum Company enters the US record charts, where it will reach number 4. Over the next year and a half, the group will have four more Top 40 hits. 
    1968 - Peggy Fleming wins Olympics figure skating gold medal, Grenoble, France.
http://espn.go.com/abcsports/wwos/peggyfleming.html
http://www.peggyfleming.net/
   1968 - In New York, the new 20,000 seat Madison Square Garden officially opened, making it the fourth arena to be named Madison Square Garden. The arena for sports and entertainment opened with a gala hosted by Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
    1969 - BENNETT, THOMAS W., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, 2d Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry. Place and date: Chu Pa Region, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam, 9-11 February 1969. Entered service at: Fairmont, W. Va. Born: 7 April 1947, Morgantown, W. Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Bennett distinguished himself while serving as a platoon medical aidman with the 2d Platoon, Company B, during a reconnaissance-in-force mission. On 9 February the platoon was moving to assist the 1st Platoon of Company D which had run into a North Vietnamese ambush when it became heavily engaged by the intense small arms, automatic weapons, mortar and rocket fire from a well-fortified and numerically superior enemy unit. In the initial barrage of fire, 3 of the point members of the platoon fell wounded. Cpl. Bennett, with complete disregard for his safety, ran through the heavy fire to his fallen comrades, administered life-saving first aid under fire and then made repeated trips carrying the wounded men to positions of relative safety from which they would be medically evacuated from the battle position. Cpl. Bennett repeatedly braved the intense enemy fire moving across open areas to give aid and comfort to his wounded comrades. He valiantly exposed himself to the heavy fire in order to retrieve the bodies of several fallen personnel. Throughout the night and following day, Cpl. Bennett moved from position to position treating and comforting the several personnel who had suffered shrapnel and gunshot wounds. On 11 February, Company B again moved in an assault on the well-fortified enemy positions and became heavily engaged with the numerically superior enemy force. Five members of the company fell wounded in the initial assault. Cpl. Bennett ran to their aid without regard to the heavy fire. He treated 1 wounded comrade and began running toward another seriously wounded man. Although the wounded man was located forward of the company position covered by heavy enemy grazing fire and Cpl. Bennett was warned that it was impossible to reach the position, he leaped forward with complete disregard for his safety to save his comrade's life. In attempting to save his fellow soldier, he was mortally wounded. Cpl. Bennett's undaunted concern for his comrades at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army. 
    1970 - 10.38" of rainfall, Mt Washington, NH (state 24-hour record)
http://americasroof.com/nh.html
    1970 - Top Hits
“Venus” - The Shocking Blue
“Thank You” (“Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again”)/
   “Everybody is a Star” - Sly & The Family Stone
“I'll Never Fall in Love Again” - Dionne Warwick
“A Week in a Country Jail” - Tom T. Hall
    1970 - "Variety" reported this day that Walt Disney had secretly taken its movie, "Song of the South," out of circulation back in 1958. Originally released in 1946, the live-action/animated flick featuring Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, Uncle Remus and kids, Johnny and Ginny, won an Academy Award in 1947 for the song, "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah." James Baskett won an Oscar for his Uncle Remus role. "Variety" said "Song of the South" was pulled because of ...racist attitudes reflected in the Negro roles in the film.
    1975 - The movie, "Shampoo," opened. Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn, Jack Warden, Lee Grant (who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress), Tony Bill, William Castle and Howard Hesseman starred. And, making her film debut a year before "Star Wars" made her famous: Carrie Fisher.
    1977 - Clifford Alexander Jr. becomes the first Black Secretary of the Army.
http://www.army.mil/CMH-PG/books/Sw-SA/Alexander.htm
http://www.africanpubs.com/Apps/bios/1004AlexanderClifford.asp?pic=none
http://www.pfdf.org/leaderbooks/alexanderc/
    1977 - 20.2-kg lobster caught off Nova Scotia (heaviest known crustacean in this century. Settlers in the United States report catching 25lb lobsters off the coast of Maine and Massachusetts as “common”). The first Thanksgiving with the Indians was mainly fish and shellfish. Lobster was so common it was considered poor man's food and served indentures servants until they rebelled that they did not want it more than three times a week.
http://octopus.gma.org/lobsters/allaboutlobsters/lobsterhistory.html
http://www.parl.ns.ca/projects/lobster/history.htm
http://octopus.gma.org/lobsters/allaboutlobsters/lobsterhistory.html
http://octopus.gma.org/lobsters/allaboutlobsters/society.html 
    1978 - Top Hits
“Stayin' Alive” - Bee Gees
“(Love Is) Thicker Than Water” - Andy Gibb
“Just the Way You Are” - Billy Joel
“I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love “- Larry Gatlin with Brothers &
              Friends
   1978 - "Longest Walk" begins.  300 Native Americans start march from Alcatraz, in San Francisco, California, to Washington D.C. Organized by American Indian Movement (AIM), the Walk was intended to be a reminder of the forced removal of American Indians from their homelands across the continent, and drew attention to the continuing problems plaguing the Indian community, particularly joblessness, lack of health care, education and adequate housing.
http://www.lovehaight.org/alcatraz.html
http://www.prisontourism.net/aboutalcatraz.html
    1979 - "Elvis," a biography of the late singer, was shown on ABC television. The program won the largest share of the audience in competition with the blockbuster films "Gone with the Wind" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" shown on the other networks.
    1979 - Birthday of Brandy Norwood, McComb, MS.  Grammy Award-winning singer: The Boy Is Mine [w/Monica: 1999]; I Wanna Be Down, Baby, Best Friend, Brokenhearted, Sittin' Up in My Room, Never S-A-Y Never, Top of the World, Have You Ever?, Almost Doesn't Count, U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To), What About Us?).
    1982 - ABC-TV's presentation of "The Winds of War," the miniseries, came to an end. The 18-hour miniseries totaled $40 million in production costs, and, to that time, was the most-watched television program in history; topping another ABC presentation, Alex Haley's "Roots." An estimated 140 million people watched one or more nights of the program.
    1983 - The Rolling Stones documentary, "Let's Spend the Night Together," directed by Hal Ashby, opens in New York during the city's heaviest snow storm this century.
    1983 - The Recording Industry Association of America awards Bob Seger his seventh consecutive US platinum award for the album, "The Distance."
    1983 - The Middle Atlantic Coast States and southern New England were in the midst of a major snowstorm. In Pennsylvania, the storm produced 21 inches at Philadelphia, 24 inches at Harrisburg, and 25 inches at Allentown, establishing record 24-hour totals and single storm totals for those locations. New York City received 22 inches of snow, and 35 inches was reported at Glen Gary, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia. Windsor Locks, CT received a record 19 inches of snow in 12 hours. The storm resulted in forty-six deaths, thirty-three of which occurred when a freighter capsized and sank off the Maryland/Virginia coast. Heavy snow was reported from northeastern Georgia to eastern Maine.
    1985 - Kent Hrbek became the first Minnesota Twins player ever to sign a $1 million contract. As the Twins celebrated their 24th year as a franchise of the American League, the first baseman signed a five-year, $6-million pact.
    1986 - The Chicago Bears' "Super Bowl Shuffle" is certified gold.
    1986 - Top Hits
“That's What Friends are For” - Dionne & Friends
“Burning Heart” - Survivor
“I'm Your Man” - Wham!
“Hurt” - Juice Newton
    1987 - Denver, CO, reported only their third occurrence of record of a thunderstorm in February. Ten cities in the north central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date. Huron SD reported February temperatures averaging 19 degrees above normal. Williston ND reported readings averaging 24 degrees above normal for the month
    1988 - Bitter cold air gripped the north central U.S. Morning lows of 35 degrees below zero at Aberdeen, SD, Bismarck, ND and International Falls, MN were records for the date. Bemidji, MN was, officially, the cold spot in the nation with a low of 39 degrees below zero, however, a reading of 42 degrees below zero was reported at Gettysburg, SD. In the Northern High Plains Region, Baker, MT warmed from 27 degrees below zero to 40 above. . 
    1989 - Future American Idol judge Paula Abdul enjoys the first of her six US number one hits with "Straight Up." 
    1989 - The Rev. Barbara C. Harris, 55, of Boston, was confirmed as the first female bishop in the 450-year history of the Anglican Church. Harris has long advocated social change in the church and society. She's also a long-time member of the Union of Black Episcopalians, a group formed to promote the participation of blacks in the church and eradicate racism in society.
http://www.diomass.org/EpisTimes/Harris_10th_Sched.htm
    1989 - While much of the continental U.S. enjoyed sunshine and seasonable temperatures, a strong weather system over the Hawaiian Islands deluged Honolulu with 2.5 inches of rain. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
    1990 - A winter storm produced up to ten inches of snow in Vermont, and up to nine inches of snow in Aroostook County of northeastern Maine. A three-day snowstorm began to overspread Oregon, and the winter storm produced 29 inches of snow at Bennett Pass. Mild weather continued in the central U.S. La Crosse WI reported a record forty-seven consecutive days with temperatures above normal. 
    1990 - Nelson Mandela, leader of movement for democracy in South Africa, released from prison after 27 years, a major sign of the changing times in the world toward segregation.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/etc/cron.html
    1990 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Todd Eldredge
http://www.toddeldredgenews.com/
http://www.leigh-i-am.com/todd.shtml
    1995 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Todd Eldredge
http://www.toddeldredgenews.com/
http://www.leigh-i-am.com/todd.shtml
    2000 - Space Milestone: Endeavor Mapping Mission. This manned flight spent 11 days in space creating a 3D map of more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface. It will be the most accurate and complete topographic map of the Earth ever produced.
    2004 - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven declares a snow emergency as winds gusting over 70 mph along with heavy snow produces low visibilities and drifts up to 20 feet in northwestern North Dakota. Amtrak train service is interrupted in the region.
    2005 – Jose Canseco’s controversial book, “Juiced,” was made available in certain markets in anticipation to his appearance on the television news show “60 Minutes.” The self-proclaimed godfather of steroids alleged former teammates Mark McGwire, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro, and Ivan Rodriguez, among others, all used illegal performance-enhancing drugs.  While the notion of Canseco and a book may appear to be oxy-moronic, he was later validated when these and others were named in the Mitchell Report in 2007.
    2006 - Snowfall records fell in Philadelphia and Allentown, Pennsylvania, Bridgeport and Hartford, Connecticut, Newark, New Jersey, and Worchester and Boston, Massachusetts. The highest total reported was 30.2 inches at Fairfield, CT. New York City set a record one-day snowfall record of 26.9 inches in Central Park.
    2007 - Artists who won awards at the 49th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles included Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Frampton, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, George Benson and Ike Turner.
    2008 - The Defense Department charged Khalid Sheikh Mohammed with murder and war crimes in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks.
    2009 - Democrat John Dingell of Michigan became the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives with more than 53 years of service.