|
Motivated Sales Person
Burbank, California
Long established lessor, "app. only" to
$100K, commercial & structured
transactions up to $10 million.
Call Jim McFeeters
818-843-8686 X25
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Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Headlines---
Archives: "Let's Get Some Positive News"
Linda Kester, January 8, 2001
Classified Ads----Credit
Sales Makes it Happen--Terry Winders,CLP
Lessees,Lessor's Not on the Same Wavelength
Association Meetings Open to Non-Members
ELA: Admin. FY 2007 Budget Proposals
Classified Ads---Help Wanted
ELA Service Management Interchange
Cartoon----
Fitch Ratings Upgrades GATX
Willis Lease Finance $32.9MM
Jim Ward joins LeaseInspection.com
News Briefs---
You May have Missed---
Sports Briefs---
California Nuts Brief---
"Gimme that Wine"
Calendar Events
Today's Top Event in History
This Day in American History
######## surrounding the article denotes it is a "press release"
Archives, February 8, 2001:
Linda Kester: "Let's Get Some Positive News"
Every time I see an addition to your "list", it concerns me that it is making people discouraged about our industry. Here are some points that might help your readers have a more positive outlook:
1. The Equipment Leasing Association, www.elaonline.org , forecasts that 2001 business investments in equipment will be 882 billion dollars. Up from 820 billion in 2000 and 738 billion in 1999. Equipment leasing volume is also predicted to be 280 billion dollars up from 260 in 2000 and 234 billion in 1999.
2. There were a lot of irrational players (funding sources) that are either gone or are having significant problems. They were trying to buy market share with low rates. They had bad business strategies. A lot of the good guys who know what they're doing, are still doing well. I recently talked to an executive at a large leasing company, and I asked him
"Who is your biggest competitor?" His response was: "The irrational player whose rates are too low and buys too many bad credits." Those are most of the competitors who are going under.
3. Dun & Bradstreet stated that in the years 1997 through 1999 a record number of new businesses were started. Those businesses are now becoming two to four years old which are the standard credit requirements most funders require.
4. Rates are low and have just come down further.
5. Most experts are projecting that we are not headed towards a recession, but rather continued growth at a slower pace. According to The National Federation of Independent Business web site, www.nfib.com , there will still be economic growth in the coming year, just slower in 2001 than it was last year. They are predicting that gross domestic product will rise 1 to 4 percent this year.
6. With some of those other business failing, a lot of high performing sales people have been recently laid off. This may be your first opportunity in years to upgrade your sales force. If your sales force isn't performing as well as you like you can either train them (my new CD program, Prospecting Tips for Leasing Sales Professionals , can help with that), or replace them with some of the high talent available right now.
It is an easy time right now in our business? No. Are some leasing companies thriving? YES!
There are more small businesses out there investing in equipment and looking for leases. It may not be growing as fast as it has over the past five years, but with more irrational players leaving the market and rates as low as they are, you too can thrive in these times.
Linda Kester is founder of The Institute for Personal Development (IPD). IPD offers exciting and interactive training for leasing sales professionals.
More information is available at www.lindakester.com . Linda can be reached at (856) 489-6558, or by e-mail at linda@lindakester.com.
(The web site is still up, but it looks like the last article entered was dated September 06, 2003. The information still is valid, plus look at the success of her clients. Editor )
[headlines]
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Classified Ads----Credit
Atlanta, GA.
10 yrs experience in credit/collections/recovery/documentation in the leasing industry. P&L responsibility, team builder & strong portfolio mgnt skills.
email: mortimerga@adelphia.net
Boston Ma.
Challenging position where my skills, professional experience, organization, leadership, strategic thinking, creativity, energy, passion, competitive nature will enable me to define opportunities and personal development.
Email: bernd.janet@verizon.net
Corona, CA.
VP credit Consumer Credit prime/sub prime Auto lending/leasing/mortgages. 20+yrs exp. If you are looking for someone to affect the bottom line I am that person. Will relocate.
Email: amosca2000@yahoo.com
Fort Lee NJ
3 Years Experience. Looking in NJ/NY.
Email: angitravis@mail.com
Credit: Irvine, CA, I have over 16 years of Credit/Collection experience in the finance industry. Prompt results, extremely effective and knowledgeable, professional, excellent manager and team player.
Email: newportresources@sbcglobal.net
Los Angeles, CA
Over 15 years experience in Credit/Operations with Small Ticket and transactions up to $500,000.00. CLP, with excellent relationships with most major lenders.
Email: jonbh123@earthlink.net
New Jersey, NJ
Credit Analyst with 10+ years experience in small-ticket lending up to $500,000. Experience with both vendor-direct and with brokers.
Email: b.leavy@worldnet.att.net
New York, NY.
V.P. Credit & Collections w/23 years exp.looking for a situation where I can utilize my varied & extensive knowledge of credit/collections/risk-management & leasing.
Email: rcouzzi@yahoo.com
Credit: Sausalito, Ca
Sr. Corp. officer, presently serving as consultant, fin. service background, M&A, fund raising, great workout expertise, references
Email: nywb@aol.com
Orange, CA.
15 years exper., looking for a new home. Have handled both middle/ large ticket transaction, plus muni & international finance.
email: equiplender@aol.com
Senior Credit Officer
experienced in middle-market leasing; structured, vendor and 3rd party to the fortune 1000. Proactive team builder, originations capable with strong work ethic.
Email: kyletrust@hotmail.com
For a full listing of all "job wanted" ads, please go to:
http://216.66.242.252/AL/LeasingNews/JobPostings.htm
To place a free "job wanted" ad, please go to:
http://216.66.242.252/AL/LeasingNews/PostingForm.asp
[headlines]
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Sales Make it Happen
Lessees, Lessor's Not on the Same Wavelength
By Terry Winders, CLP
One of the most important tasks a lease salesperson has to master is the art of discovering what type of lease the customer needs. The language of leasing is usually confusing to the potential lessee. We use terms that are not found in the finance books of most schools and just assume that the lessee understands what they are requesting. Therefore we need to ask some probing questions to make sure what the customer is requesting.
What does the term "non-cancelable" mean? It is a subject that rarely discussed with a potential lessee and they usually disregard it anyway. But it helps separate a lease from a loan for legal purposes and also protects the Lessor from early terminations in times of lowering rates. So a discussion with the lessee is necessary to avoid future disagreements.
The better you probe for the correct answers the better understanding you will have on what lease product to fit the lessee's request. It will also demonstrate to the customer your knowledge and desire to find what is the best terms and conditions by the type of lease that they choose.
When analyzing the repercussions of a lease, many terms have multiple meanings. The first is the use of "depreciation." Income tax depreciation is different from GAAP depreciation and so when a lessee says I want to depreciate the equipment what are they talking about?
Many proprietors and partnerships pay an "alternate minimum tax," despite all this talk about taking the depreciation, or may want to spread it more equally over the term of the lease.
Also the term "operating lease" is misused by all of us. It is not a tax term. It is an accounting term. When the customer says they want to "expense" the rent payments and they use the term operating lease, very often they mean a tax lease.
We all know that any question has three answers they come from the differences between income tax, accounting, and legal. The terms used in each are the same but the response is different because the rules are different.
It is easy to grasp the differences if you keep in mind that for federal income tax they are looking at the "use" of the equipment to determine who has the right to the capital recovery benefit's (depreciation). Another point, you don't want to give them accounting advice, but give them options, explain the options, and hopefully make the decision because of your full explanation, and the confidence they have in you that you know what you are talking about.
The most confusing of all is the names we apply to types of leases such as Synthetic Lease, First Amendment Lease, TRAC lease???? The poor customer only wants what they want so you need to explain the terms and conditions of your transaction and try and avoid using the type of lease to convey the lessee' reasonability's. Try to keep it simple and not overwhelm them with words that are "foreign" or you are naming just to impress them. Don't put yourself in the position of having to try to sell their tax accountant, who in reality also wants their client to make the decision.
The many terms used in equipment leasing must be understood by both Lessor and Lessee. It is important to question your customer closely so that a clear picture, not an ambiguous brush stroke emerges.
Rely on a complete statement of goals, not a few bits of jargon that can mean different things to different people. The lessee's satisfaction and your profits are a direct result of this good communication.
Terry Winders, CLP
Lease training and Consulting
502-327-8666
leaseconsulting@msn.com
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[headlines]
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Leasing Association Meetings Open Non-Members
SAVE THIS DATE!
First Meeting in 2006
Bringing together Funders, Brokers and Services
Wednesday February 8, 2006
5:30 P.M.
Location: Ajo Al's Mexican Restaurant
5101 N. 16 th Street
Phoenix , AZ 85016
Fee $1 5 .00
NO HOST BAR/COMPLIMENTARY HORS D 'OEVRES
DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS: JANUARY 30, 2006
Mark your calendars and read your AZELA Emails!
For more info contact:
Pat McCann Co-chairperson @ 480 218 0535 or universal5@cox.net
Bernice Truczkowski Co-chairperson @480 -949-0710 or elf1@prod igy.net
What to bring: Business Cards, Listening Devices, Willingness to meet Additional Lessors, Funders , Additional Financial Services People! Funders that already committed to give presentations: Team Equipment Leasing, Allegiant Partners, Dakota Financial, Pacific Capital Bank, Financial Pacific Leasing, Fair Lease Commerical , Padco Leasing , Specialty Funding and many more
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2006 UAEL Networking Happy Hour
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Who: All UAEL Members and Non-Members who would like to network with other members of the leasing community.
What: Networking session along with kicking off the New Year!
Where: Dave and Busters:
1-25 at Colorado Blvd (Midway Room)
Denver , CO 80222
Phone: 303-759-1515
Time: 4:30 PM until 7:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 for Members, $30.00 for Non-Members
Includes: One drink ticket, Munchies, Separate Networking Room, Fun, and Business Opportunities!
All Payments must be made out to UAEL:
78120 Calle Esatado, Ste 201, La Quinta, Ca 92253; #760-564-2227 Or Kim@uael.org You can also pay online at www.uael.org
For any questions please contact:
Scott Woodring - Pawnee Leasing Corporation #800-864-4266
scott@pawneeleasing.com
or
Skip Wehner - 5280 Financial # 303-309-6888 skipw@5280financial.net
[headlines]
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ELA Comments on Administration's FY 2007 Budget Proposals
ELTnews
On February 6, the Administration submitted its budget proposals for FY 2007, and the Treasury Department submitted its "General Explanations of the Administration's Fiscal Year 2007 Revenue Proposals." Unlike recent submissions, the Treasury submission did not include any anti-leasing tax proposals. In February 2004, for example, the Treasury recommendations served as the basis for many of the anti-leasing provisions which were included in the JOBS Act (P.L. 108-357) in 2004.
One of the key themes in the Administration's FY 2007 budget is competitiveness and the importance of enhancing our ability to assess and mitigate financial risk both domestically and internationally. During the consideration of these proposals as well as congressionally sponsored proposals, ELA will continue to stress the role of the equipment leasing and finance industry in fostering economic competitiveness by ensuring the availability of leasing capital and ensuring the maximum flexibility of financing options for asset acquisitions and business expansion.
For the U.S. to have an efficient capital market it must have a diverse breadth and depth of capital. Leasing capital is distinguishable from and has a very different risk profile than either debt capital or business equity capital. The availability of all three types of capital allows businesses to better chose which risks to retain, which risks to transfer and which risks to share. This in turn makes our capital markets more efficient and our economy more competitive.
Notably, the Treasury submission did not call for major tax reform and did not include any legislative recommendations in response to the November 2005 report of the President's Advisory Panel on Tax Reform. These recommendations may be forthcoming but are unlikely to receive serious consideration in the short term.
[headlines]
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Classified Ads---Help Wanted
Funding Manager
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FUNDING MANAGER: Seeking a very organized, detail oriented Funding Manager with experience in discounting consumer
and commercial auto loans and leases.
Top salary. Send resume via email to ekaye@advantagefunding.us
or fax to 718 392 5427.
About the Company: Advantage Funding is the leader in automotive and equipment lease financing, Long Island City, NY.
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Independent Regional Sales Manager
|
Independent
Reg. Sales Managers:
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia. Other positions available nationally. Vehicle & Equipment Funder.
Earnings potential is unlimited. Two years outside leasing/finance sales, proven track closing deals. Est. customer base/vendors a plus. Click here for more info.
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Sales Person
|
Motivated Sales Person
Burbank, California
Long established lessor, "app. only" to
$100K, commercial & structured
transactions up to $10 million.
Call Jim McFeeters
818-843-8686 X25
|
|
[headlines]
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ELA to Launch ELA Service Management Interchange
ELTnews
The Equipment Leasing Association will launch a new web-based service for its members that will benefit both Equipment Lessors and their Service Providers. The ELA Service Management Interchange (ELASMI) will help facilitate a broad spectrum of leasing-related services. The objective is to generate new business opportunities for service providers, build tighter business relationships between members, improve service levels, and create efficiency through online information exchange and real-time activity tracking. The initial launch will be geared towards equipment management related services, but the ELA plans to extend this service across other areas of the leasing industry by this summer.
By bringing all service activities "online", service requests, status updates and documentation - the sources of headache - are automated, consolidated, managed and standardized within a secure web site. Equipment Lessors will benefit by having a single point to manage all service activities, real-time audit trails for compliance and immediate access to the industry's growing list of service providers. Service Providers will gain immediate access to new business opportunities and will benefit from a suite of service management tools to manage their service operations. As a hosted ELA sponsored service, participants can be "live" quickly without the burden of additional software, hardware or IT investment.
"We see strategic value in a unified industry approach where all members can benefit and participate. The ELA has made a long-term commitment to this initiative", said Michael Fleming, ELA President.
The ELA will be introducing this service to asset managers and their service providers at the upcoming ELA Equipment Management Conference and Exhibition in Tampa, February 12-14th. The ELA expects this service to be live for its members in early April 2006.
For more information, please visit
http://www.elaonline.com/Services/
[headlines]
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[headlines]
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### Press Release ###########################
Fitch Ratings Upgrades GATX; Outlook Remains Positive
Fitch Ratings-Chicago-: Fitch has upgraded GATX Financial Corp.'s (GATX Financial) ratings as follows:
--Senior debt to 'BBB-' from 'BB';
--Commercial paper to 'F3' from 'B'.
Fitch has also assigned an 'BBB-' Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to GATX Financial, whose Rating Outlook remains Positive. Approximately $1.3 billion of debt securities are covered by Fitch's actions.
GATX Financial is the principal operating subsidiary of GATX Corp. (GATX), a specialized equipment finance and leasing holding company. To eliminate the impact of double leverage, Fitch analyzes GATX Financial at the GATX level.
The rating actions reflect the overall improvement in financial performance in GATX's core businesses, particularly the railcar segment, and strengthened risk profile resulting from management restructuring initiatives made over the last five years. During this period, management has sought to reduce much of the financial cyclicality, which has been present in GATX's business historically. On Dec. 2, 2005, GATX announced that it will sell approximately $450 million of older aircraft. While GATX reported a $120 million after-tax charge in connection with announcement, Fitch favorably views management's decision to sell the older aircraft as this action should remove some of the variability in the Air group's operating results. Additionally, the sale should allow management to redeploy the capital used to support these assets for investment in more attractive equipment.
Aside from the improvement in GATX's operating metrics, the company's rating strengths center on its demonstrated asset knowledge and market leadership, particularly in the railcar segment, improved asset quality, and capitalization. Rating concerns focus on the economic cyclicality inherent in the company's businesses, future growth strategies, and the transparency of joint ventures.
Overall financial performance, particularly in the rail segment, has steadily improved over the past three years. However, GATX' financial results reported during this period have included a number of nonrecurring items that were primarily related to management's restructuring initiatives. This trend continued in 2005 as GATX recognized an after-tax charge of $120 million related to the write-down of air assets targeted for sale and $10 million of expenses associated with repatriation of foreign earnings. Net income from continuing operations for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005 totaled $115 million compared to $72 million, excluding one-time gains totaling $87 million, for the same period a year earlier. The increase in net income from continuing operations was driven by a combination of strong asset utilization which led to improved lease pricing. Favorable lease rate renewal pricing in the Rail segment and a higher average numbers of railcars on lease were the primary drivers of the increase in GATX's net earnings during 2005. At Dec. 31, 2005, GATX's North American rail and owned aircraft utilization rates were 98% and 100%, respectively.
A key difference in GATX's risk profile at year-end (YE) 2005 versus YE 2000 is the company's business mix. As a result of GATX's exit from the technology and venture finance businesses and reduced operating scale in Air and Specialty, Fitch believes that the company will be less exposed to economic cyclicality in future periods. Sustainable operating results are more consistent with a higher rating. Over the near term, Fitch believes that better market conditions, particularly stronger overall demand for railcar equipment, will likely lead to improved GATX's profitability in 2006.
After reporting significant credit deterioration from 2001-2003, GATX reported solid asset quality in 2004 and 2005. Annual net charge-offs and asset impairments expenses have steadily declined from $185 million in 2001 to $14 million in 2004. Net charge-offs plus asset impairment expenses for year ended Dec. 31, 2005 totaled $89 million, which includes $74 million related to wholly-owned aircraft targeted for sale. The overall decline in credit costs is directly attributed to aggressive provisioning and asset revaluation activities undertaken in 2002 and 2003, improved market conditions, equipment demand, and better than anticipated results from the liquidating component of the specialty finance portfolio. More importantly, the aircraft charge in 2005 should position GATX to better weather the next economic downturn and allow management to be opportunistic if assets become available.
Additionally, since Fitch's last rating action, all measures of capitalization and leverage have improved due to a combination of lower managed assets, defined as on-balance sheet assets plus off-balance sheet operating leases, and increased equity. GATX's equity base strengthened due to a combination of improved operating results and a reduction in the company's quarterly common stock dividend beginning in 2004. GATX's equity base is solid as goodwill represented only 8% of common equity at Dec. 31, 2005.
Managed leverage, defined as total on-balance sheet debt plus off-balance operating leases, divided by tangible equity has declined substantially to 4.38 times (x) at YE 2005 from 7.60x at YE 2002. On a risk-adjusted basis, GATX' capitalization has improved substantially since 2002. Fitch believes that this trend will continue as management focuses on growing the Rail business.
Tracing its roots to 1898, GATX Financial is a wholly owned subsidiary of GATX and operates through three business segments: GATX Rail, GATX Air, and GATX Specialty Finance. Through these businesses, GATX Financial combines asset knowledge and services, structuring expertise, partnering, and risk capital to provide business solutions to customers and partners worldwide. GATX Financial specializes in railcar, locomotive, and aircraft operating leasing.
[headlines]
### Press Release ###########################
Willis Lease Finance Corporation Closes 9% Preferred Stock Offering Raising $32.9 Million
SAUSALITO, Calif.-- -Willis Lease Finance Corporation (Nasdaq:WLFC - News), a leading lessor of commercial jet engines, announced that it has completed a public offering of 3,475,000 new shares of preferred stock raising $32.9 million in net proceeds.
"This successful offering expands our capital base and provides additional funds we need to grow over the next few years," said Charles F. Willis, President and CEO. "Initially, we will use the proceeds to reduce our short-term debt. Over time, we expect to leverage this new capital with additional debt to grow our portfolio.
"I am very pleased with the successful financings we have completed over the last six months," said Willis. In addition to the just-completed preferred offering, in August we closed the first engine securitization consisting of $228 million in term notes which extended the term of over half of our debt to between 13 and 15 years. In addition, the securitization consisted of $113 million in warehouse notes representing new funding availability. In November we increased the size of our revolving credit facility by $18.5 million to $168 million. We have already started to take advantage of our additional funding capabilities. In the fourth quarter of 2005 we invested over $90 million in equipment purchases. The demand in the market for leased engines is very strong; and we are excited about the growth opportunities ahead."
The 9% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (Nasdaq:WLFCP - News) carries a monthly dividend of $0.075 per share, with a $10.00 liquidation preference per share. The preferred shares were offered by the Company through underwriters led by Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc.
Willis Lease Finance Corporation leases spare commercial aircraft engines, parts, and aircraft to commercial airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair and overhaul providers. These leasing activities are integrated with the purchase and resale of used and refurbished commercial aircraft engines.
ts, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Willis Lease Finance Corporation
Robert M. Warwick, 415-331-5281
www.willislease.com
[headlines]
### Press Release ###########################
Jim Ward joins LeaseInspection.com
Jim Ward has accepted the position of Director of Fulfillment for LeaseInspection.com. The position requires the ability to work with inspectors and coordinate all customer requests for inspection services. Mr. Ward has personally inspected hundreds of real estate properties and learned first-hand what it takes to perform quality inspections that are consistently on time. Previously, Jim served as a senior production coordinator for the opening/closing ceremonies of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, providing the strategy to recruit and train the 1200+ volunteers who participated.
www.leaseinspection.com
[headlines]
### Press Release ###########################
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News Briefs---
Muttering at the World Bank
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/07/AR2006020701911.html
Consumer credit grows in 2005 at slowest pace in 13 years
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20060207-1222-consumercredit.html
Credit card ABS remains strong after bankruptcy reform, Regulation AB
http://www.absnet.net/include/showfreearticle.asp?file=/headlines/2.htm
Wal-Mart to Open About 1,500 New Stores
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/02/07/D8FKLVQG0.html
Home sales expected to slow, but not sink in '06
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2006-02-07-resales-toll_x.htm
A-B bets darker beer can brighten high end
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/
AD2CC9BFF0BEDFF98625710E001D5B30?OpenDocument
If Royal Caribbean builds it, 6,400 could come
Cruise line orders world's largest passenger ship
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2006/02/07/
if_royal_caribbean_builds_it_6400_could_come/
[headlines]
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You May Have Missed
South African takes top prize at Mavericks
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/13814946.htm
View Slideshow of West Coast Surf Contest
http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/story/mavericks020706/index.html
Video
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2006/02/07/MNGP1H460G9.DTL&o=0
[headlines]
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Sports Briefs----
The "official" story of the Super Bowl
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002789194_hawk07.html
Bitter Holmgren may face large fine for ripping officiating
http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spsbox074617104feb07,0,3443682.
story?coll=ny-sports-print
NFL Stands Behind Its Officiating Crew
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR2006020602041.html
Montana chose to be with family
Ex-49ers QB defends spurning pregame ceremony
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/07/SPG9IH41CO1.DTL
Davis, Steelers aide set to meet
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/13815485.htm
[headlines]
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California News Briefs---
Over 106,000 students applied to get into the 10-campus University of California this fall, setting a record for applications.
82,841 applications were from prospective freshmen.
Applications from in-state students were up nearly 8 percent, while those from out-of-state applicants rose by about 5 percent, according to date released by UC. International freshman applications were up about 16 percent.
Applications from all racial and ethnic groups were up, including blacks and Hispanics who are considered an underrepresented minority at UC. Applications from black students increased 11.5 percent while applications from Hispanic students were up 11 percent.
Applicants will find out in March whether they made it into UC.
Last year, UC offered admission to about 63,500 students. The university expects to increase that by about 5,000 students, to about 68,500, for this fall. 38,500 will be denied.
[headlines]
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"Gimme that Wine"
Professor makes model for less expensive wine
http://thetartan.org/2006/2/6/news/wineprof
Dennis Collins Honored as 2005 Industry Person of the Year; Passion is the Philosophy He Lives
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&
newsId=20060204005002&newsLang=en
www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/
If you want to know if you got a value for your wine, or what the wine price is today, go to www.winezap.com Type in the vintage (year) and name of the producer with wine type or geographic area, such as 1995 Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac. Even 1995 Lynch Bages will work, or 1999 Viader
[headlines]
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Calendar Events This Day
Smile Day
Laugh and Get Rich Day
Recognition of laugher's power to add to the bottom line. People are more effective and tend to remember things better, and laughter helps to lower the turnover rate.
Boy Scout Day
Rebel Day
[headlines]
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Today's Top Event in History
1889- The first production of steam tractors were loaded on a car at San Leandro, California, designed and made by Daniel Best. They were called the Best Tractor. Until gasoline powered engines came along, the steam tractor was the Best.
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
This Day in American History
1517- Francisco Hernandez de Cordova sailed from Cuba with three ships to procure slaves for the mines as Columbus was bringing many slaves back to Europe. He landed on the Isla de las Mujeres, to which he gave this name because the idols he found . He and his crew became the first Spaniards to purposefully reach the mainland of what is now Mexico . He died after an encounter with Mayan Indians. Some say he landed in Florida, where he actually passed away from the wounds from the battle.
http://www.isla-mujeres.net/history.htm
http://www.yucatantoday.com/destinations/eng-campeche.htm
http://www.tourbymexico.com/campeche/champo/champoto.htm
http://www.famousamericans.net/firstspanishgovernorofsouthamericapedrariasdayila/
1735- The first opera produced in the colonies was performed at the Courtroom, at Charleston, SC. The opera was Flora; or the Hob in the Well , written by Colley Cibber.
1820- Birthday of William Sherman, Union General Sherman, especially remembered for his devastating march through Georgia during the Civil War and his statement "War is hell." Died at New York, NY, Feb 14, 1891.
1829-Birthday of Captain John Newton Sloan, a remarkable man thought found dead during the Civil War, but survived in a heroic manner.
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Delta/3843/man.htm
1835 - A severe cold wave gripped the southeastern U.S. The mercury dipped to 8 above at Jacksonville FL, and to zero at Savannah GA. Orange trees were killed to the roots.
1837- The first vice-president elected by the Senate was Richard Mentor Johnson, who was chosen by the Senate because no candidate had received a majority of the electoral votes. He served from March 4, 1837 to March 4, 1841, under President Martin Van Buren. In the future, president and vice-president were to run on one ticket.
1835 - A severe cold wave gripped the southeastern U.S. The mercury dipped to 8 above at Jacksonville FL, and to zero at Savannah GA. Orange trees were killed to the roots.
1851 - Birthday of American feminist writer Kate Chopin born, St. Louis, Missouri.
http://www.accd.edu/sac/english/bailey/chopink.htm
1865- Martin Robinson Delany, received his commission and became the first Army major who was African-American. He was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina.
1881- Frederic Ives, a photographer at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY received a patent for a halftone printing plate for reproducing photographs in books, magazines, and newspapers. In 1878 he converted negative into a screen gelatin relief from which he made a printing plate with good fidelity. He further developed this, which revolutionized the printing industry.
1885-- The City of Tokio arrived in Honolulu carrying the first 944 official migrants from Japan to Hawaii.
1887- President Cleveland signs the Dawes Land Allotment Act, dissolving Indian tribes as legal entities. It distributes territory held in common by American Indian nations to individual families. Each family is to get 160 acres. All other land will be sold, with proceeds going to an educational trust fund.
The Dawes Land Allotment Act entitled each family on the Great Sioux Reservation to own 160 acres. Since the reservation contained twice the land needed for allotments, the law dispossessed the Sioux of half their rightful territory. The Act ultimately results in the loss of tens of millions of acres of treaty land. "The commune shall give way to the dignity and rights of American citizens . . . the heathen idols shall give place to the Christian altars, and . . . the tribal organization shall be broken up and the individuality of the Indian encouraged and developed, and the lands unnecessarily reserved for them opened to the pioneer [so that] intelligence and thrift may find lodging there."
http://www.csusm.edu/nadp/asubject.htm
http://www.csusm.edu/nadp/a1887.htm
1889- the first production of steam tractors were loaded on a car at San Leandro, California, designed and made by Daniel Best. They were called the Best Tractor. Until gasoline powered engines came along, the steam tractor was the Best.
1899- blues guitarist and singer Lonnie Johnson was born in New Orleans. More respected for his playing than his singing, Johnson developed his distinctive style as early as 1927 when he recorded with Louis Armstrong's Hot Five. Johnson's 1948 recording of "Tomorrow Night" was very popular, spending seven weeks on Billboard's rhythm-and-blues chart, and even making the top 20 of the pop chart. From the mid-1960's, he spent much of his time in Toronto. Lonnie Johnson suffered a stroke after a serious accident in 1969, and died the following year.
1906- Birthday of Henry Roth, American author who gained first international fame with his novel Call It Sleep (1934). Originally seen as an important proletarian novel of the 1930s, it was soon out of print and forgotten, but in the 1960s it was hailed as the finest Jewish-American novel of the first half of the century and one of the richest modernist novels to appear in America. Roth published no other novels until 1994, working several jobs, among others as a precision metal grinder, mental nurse, poultry farmer, and teacher. Died 1995.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/henryr.htm
http://www.nagasaki-gaigo.ac.jp/ishikawa/amlit/r/henry_roth21.htm
1906-Birthday of 1906 -- Chester F. Carlson, inventor of the photocopier, born Seattle, Washington.
1910- The Boy Scouts of America was founded at Washington, DC, by William Boyce, based on the work of Sir Robert Baden-Powell with the British Boy Scout Association.
1911-Birthday of American Poet Elizabeth Bishop born Worcester, Massachusetts; winner of a Pulitzer Prize for her book of poems, North and South, in 1956.
1915- The Clansman, or the Birth of the Nation, 12 reels, produced by D.W.Griffith, and starring Henry Walthall and Lillian Gish, with a cast of 18,000 people and 3,000 horses premiered at Clune's Auditorium, Los Angeles. It was based on the Clansman by Thomas Dixon. It was the first movie to gross $50 million, an astronomical sum in those days. Two performances were presented daily. There was a matinee at 2:30pm, admission 25 cents and 50 cents, and an evening show at 8:om, admission 75 cents.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb08.html
1919-trombonist and band leader Buddy Morrow birthday
http://www.spaceagepop.com/morrow.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/52924/
ref=pm_dp_ln_m_6/102-6604306-8652139
1925- birthday of Jack Lemmon, Stage, screen and television actor, born John Uhler Lemmon III at Boston, MA. Often paired with actor Walter Matthau, he starred in such films as The Odd Couple, The Fortune Cookie and The Front Page . He was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning in 1955 for his supporting role in Mister Roberts and in 1974 for his leading role in Save the Tiger . Other films included Some Like It Hot, Days of Wine and Roses and Grumpy Old Men . He also starred in television versions of Inherit the Wind and Twelve Angry Men , and won an Emmy in 2000 for the TV movie Tuesdays with Morrie . He was a favorite for many years at the Bing Crosby, now AT&T Golf Tournament in Pebble Beach, CA. He died at Los Angeles, CA, June 27, 2001.
1926- alto sax player Pony Poindexter birthday, New Orleans, LA.
1926- Beat author Neal Cassidy born Salt Lake City, Utah
http://www.rooknet.com/beatpage/writers/cassady.html
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/1010/
http://www.intrepidtrips.com/pranksters/neal/index.html
http://ezone.org/ez/e2/articles/digaman.html
1929- Eddie Condon's Hot Shots ( Jack Teagarden, Mezz Mezzrow, Joe Sullivan ) record: " I'm Gonna Stomp," " Mr. Henry Lee." Victor V-38046 )
1931- Birthday of James Dean, American stage, film and television actor . He achieved immense popularity during a brief career. He is considered an "icon" today to several generations. Born at Fairmont, Indiana. Best remembered for his role in" Rebel Without a Cause" with Natalie Wood. Died driving his Porsche convertible at a very high speed on a desert highway near Cholame, CA, Sept 30, 1955, at age 24. Stamp collectors made the US postal stamp bearing Dean's likeness the most popular stamp of 1996.
http://www.jamesdeangallery.com/
http://www.jamesdean.com/index.php
1932- birthday of John Williams, pianist, conductor ( formerly with Boston Pops) composer ( scores for Jaws, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List ) , New York City, New York.
http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/biography.html
1936 - The temperature at Denver CO plunged to a record 30 degrees below zero.
1937-Birthday of Shirley Bassey, Welsh-born popular British and American singer at her zenith in the 60s and 70s. Although her strong voice carried well on records, her forte was concerts and cabaret acts. Among her best known renditions are "For All We Know" and "Never, Never, Never."
1941- folksinger Tom Rush birthday, Portsmith, NH.
http://www.tomrush.com/index.shtml
1950- Man o'War was voted the greatest race horse of the first half of the 20 th century in a poll conducted by the Associated Press. Man o' War raced as a 2- and 3- year old, winning 20 of 21 races and setting five track records.
1951---Top Hits
My Heart Cries for You - Guy Mitchell
Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page
If - Perry Como
There's Been a Change in Me - Eddy Arnold
1952- Webb Pierce entered the Billboard country chart for the first time with "Wondering." Pierce dominated the country charts in the 1950's with his pure honky-tonk sound. Between 1952 and '62, he placed 44 songs on the Billboard chart, 38 of which made the top ten. Pierce's influence can be heard in the music of such contemporary country artists as Ricky Skaggs and Dwight Yoakam.
1954 - Beat author Jack Kerouac, hitchhiking from NY on the 27th of January, visits Neale and Carolyn Cassady in Los Gatos, California, not too far from where I live. . Kerouac's interest in Buddhism begins as he reads Dwight Goddard's A Buddhist Bible; he also begins writing "Some of the Dharma." In March Kerouac settles in San Francisco.
1956-Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" and the Teen Queens' "Eddie, My Love" enter the R&B chart.
1956- Buddy Holley signs a recording contract with Decca Records, one which mistakenly drops the "e" from his last name. Buddy, knowing a good thing when he sees it, drops the letter from his name as well.
1958-The Quarrymen perform at the Wilson Hall in the Garston section of Liverpool, England. Afterwards, member Paul McCartney introduces his friend George Harrison to John Lennon.
1959---Top Hits
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters
The All American Boy - Bill Parsons
Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price
Billy Bayou - Jim Reeves
1960- Mark Dinning's "Teen Angel" hits #1
1960- the US Congress opened hearings on payola, whereby a radio station or its employees, usually a disc jockey, accept payment for broadcasting records. Among those accused were DJs Alan Freed and Dick Clark. Clark was called the most influential person in the popular music industry because of his interests in music publishing and record companies. But he denied any wrongdoing and escaped the inquiry virtually unscathed. Alan Freed was not so fortunate. He had few friends in the music business because of his practice of playing records by black artists rather than white cover versions. When the investigation started, Freed was blackballed. And when he finally came to trial in 1962, he was a broken man. Freed pleaded guilty to two counts of commercial bribery, was fined $300 and received a suspended sentence. He never worked in radio again and died in January 1965. Congress eventually outlawed payola, and the offence was punishable by a maximum $10,000 fine. But the significance of payola was greatly diminished by this time because of the growth of Top-40 radio. Disc jockeys were governed by a rigid play list and were not allowed to choose their own music.
1963- less than two months after defeating the Houston Oilers in the second championship game of the American Football League, the Dallas Texans, owned by Lamar Hunt, moved to Kansas City and were renamed the Chiefs.
1964- during the congressional debate over the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Representative Martha Griffiths delivered a memorable speech advocating the prohibition of discrimination based on sex. Her efforts resulted in adding civil rights protection for women to the 1964 Act. She later successfully led the campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment in the House of Representatives.
1964-Songs released today include the Temptations' "The Way You Do the Things You Do" on Motown, the Beach Boys' "Fun, Fun Fun" is out on Capitol and the album "Beatlemania in the USA!" by the Liverpools is released on Wyngate Records.
1964- The Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" enters the pop charts.
1964-Max Firetag, publisher of "Louie Louie" as recorded by the Kingsmen for Wand Records, denies Indiana Governor Matthew Welsh's claim that the song is "pornographic." Firetag offers $1,000 to anyone who can find anything "suggestive" in the song's lyrics.
1964- Billy Kidd and Jim Heuga became the first American men to Win Olympic medals in Alpine skiing when they captured the silver and bronze medals respectively, in the slalom at the IXth Winter Olympics at Innsbruck, Austria.
1965-The Supremes' "Stop in the Name Of Love" is released.
1967---Top Hits
I'm a Believer - The Monkees
Georgy Girl - The Seekers
Kind of a Drag - The Buckinghams
There Goes My Everything - Jack Greene
1969- The Supremes and Temptations' album TCB enters the charts.
1968-Ex-Cream guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker and ex-Traffic keyboardist and singer Stevie Winwood announce they are forming a new band and auditioning for a bassist, with the addition of ex-Family bassist Rich Grech, the band will become the "supergroup" Blind Faith.
1973- Carly Simon is awarded a gold record for her single "You're So Vain," the only Number One song of her career. Many speculate as to the identity of the song's subject. Many assume it's Mick Jagger, whose voice can be clearly heard singing behind Simon in the chorus. However, it turns out that the subject is actor Warren Beatty.
1975 - For the first time in U.S. history, a woman, Betty S. Murphy is named chair of the National Labor Relations Board, the first woman member of the board. On this same day, for the first time in U.S. history, a woman, Ella Grasso of Connecticut, takes office as the first woman governor elected in her own right.
1975---Top Hits
Fire - Ohio Players
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
Boogie on Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
Then Who Am I - Charley Pride
1982-- Cher makes her Broadway debut in Come Back To The Five And Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.
1983---Top Hits
Africa - Toto
Baby, Come to Me - Patti Austin with James Ingram
Shame on the Moon - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Inside - Ronnie Milsap
1986- The musical "Evita" ended its eight-year run in London. The show earned 32-million dollars and was performed 2,913 times during its run at the Prince Edward Theatre. Based on the life of former Argentine President Juan Peron and his wife, Eva, the show remained popular even at the height of the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in 1982.
1987 - A powerful storm produced blizzard conditions in the Great Lakes Region. Winds gusted to 86 mph at Janesville WI and Cleveland OH received 12 inches of snow. North winds of 50 to 70 mph raised the water level of southern Lake Michigan two feet, and produced waves 12 to 18 feet high, causing seven million dollars damage along the Chicago area shoreline. It was the most damage caused by shoreline flooding and erosion in the history of the city of Chicago
1987- Nancy Lopez won the 35 th LPGA tournament of her career, the $200,000 Sarasota Classic, and earned induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
1989 - A winter storm over California produced snow from the beaches of Malibu to the desert canyons around Palm Springs, and the snow created mammoth traffic jams in the Los Angeles Basin. Sixteen cities in the western U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date. Marysville CA reported an all-time record low reading of 21 degrees above zero.
1990 - Unseasonably mild weather prevailed across the south central and eastern U.S. Twenty-two cities, including five in Michigan, reported record high temperatures for the date. The afternoon high of 53 degrees at Flint MI surpassed their previous record by ten degrees, and the high of 66 degrees at Burlington IA exceeded their old record by eight degrees.
1991---Top Hits
The First Time - Surface
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C & C Music
Factory featuring Freedom Williams
Play that Funky Music - Vanilla Ice
Daddy's Come Around - Paul Overstreet
1996- the National Football League approved the transfer of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. Owner Art Modell agreed to leave the team's nickname and colors in Cleveland and later decided to call his team the Ravens. The NFL awarded Cleveland an expansion franchise in 1998.
1997-The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-5, in overtime, to make Coach Scotty Bowman the first NHL coach to reach the 1,000-win plateau.
2000---Top Hits
I Knew I Loved You- Savage Garden
Thank God I Found You- Mariah Carey Featuring Joe
Columbia
What A Girl Wants- Christina Aguilera
Get It On Tonite- Montell Jordan
2002 -XIX Winter Olympics opens in Salt Lake City UT/Québec City.
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