Snow--Rain Hits NorthWest Leasing Companies

Seattle, WA - Wednesday, January 18, 2012

"Financial Pacific shut down at noon as Federal Express suspended delivery. Worst snowfall is over, but black ice is worse. We will see today, Thursday...but please, send apps anyway!!!"

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Paul J. Menzel, CLP
President & CEO
FINANCIAL PACIFIC LEASING, LLC

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Classified Ads---Controller

(These ads are “free” to those seeking employment or looking
to improve their position)

Chicago, IL experienced in lease accounting, operations, management, and Sarbanes-Oxley. Seeking position with equipment lessor. Would consider contract assignments or relocating. Email: leasecontroller@comcast.net

Southeastern, MI Controller & Management experience w/ equip lessors &broker. MBA, CPA w/ extensive accounting, management, securitization experience with public and private companies. Willing to relocate. Email: Leasebusiness@aol.com

Southern CA 20 years exp. as hands-on leasing CFO, managing accounting, treasury, FP&A, including securitizations, Great Plains/FRx, budgets, risk management.  MBA.  Also available as interim Controller/CFO, consultant. Email: leasecfo@gmail.com

Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

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

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U.S. Bancorp Loan Products Up, but Not Lease Financing

U.S. Bancorp reported net income of $1,350 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 and while new lending activity saw a $17.6% increase on a quarter basis, $70.0 billion, Leasing Financing saw a 3% decline compared to the previous 4th quarter and 4.5% decline for the full year:

Lease Financing

2011 Fourth Quarter	$5,834
2011 Third Quarter	$5,860
2012 Fourth Quarter	$6,012
Full Year 2011	$5,910
Full Year 2010	$6,188

Click to view larger

Leasing Financing

	Allowance for Credit Losses	Net Charge-Off Ratios
2011 Fourth Quarter	21	1.43
2011 Third Quarter	9	.61
2011 Second Quarter	13	.88
2011 First Quarter	14	.94
2010 Fourth Quarter	17	1.12

In the total allowance for credit losses the fourth quarter 2011 was $5,014 million compared to the previous fourth quarter of 2010 at $5,531 million.

Tier 1 capital ratio 10.8%. The Tier 1 common equity ratio was 8.6% at December 31, 2011, compared with 8.5% at September 30, 2011, and 7.8% at December 31, 2010.

In a conference report U.S. Bancorp Chairman, President, and Chief executive Officer Richard K. Davis said the bank will continue to build loans in 2012, but at a slower pace than in the fourth quarter. "I think the fact that there is loan growth at all says that the economy is doing pretty well," he said in the conference call with analysts.

The bank's increase in loans was "broad-based geographically and by size of business," Chief Financial Officer Andrew Cecere told Reuters. But anything related to housing is "certainly not growing," he said.

Stock analysts refer to the bank as a "regional bank" although the bank has 3,012 branches and 5,323 bilingual ATM (http://www.usbank.com/locations/) and at least would be a “Super Regional Bank.” The definition mayh ang up on not being in the top 5 or a world wide presence.

USB stock closed at $29.08 although Seeking Alpha has opinions it should be selling for $40.00 a share.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/318802-u-s-bancorp-is-worth-40

Fourth Quarter 8-K:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/US_Bank_SEC_filing_Q4.pdf

Please send Leasing News to a colleague and ask them to subscribe.
We are free! No log-in requirements…

 

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More Branches Closed but also More Opened in 4th Quarter

 

There has been a sudden sale of branches and look for a number of them to also be closed or merged with existing branches as banks shift to better economic areas.

Overall, banks slowed the pace of branch closures in the fourth quarter, even though they still closed more branches than opened. There were 345 closings nationwide in the fourth quarter of 2011, which is 8% less than the 375 closings in the third quarter of 2011. At the same time, 329 branches opened in the fourth quarter, 6.13% more than the 310 openings in the third quarter.

Going against the trend of consolidation and cost cutting is JPMorgan Chase & Co., according to SNL Financial, who reports JP Morgan Chase has continued its branch-opening binge, opening 62 locations in the third quarter of 2011 and 116 in the fourth quarter. Eighty of those locations were in California and another 27 were in Florida. The bank now plans to open about 175 branches in 2012, down from previously quoted 250 to 300, to fulfill Community Reinvestment Act requirements. The majority of them will open in Florida and California."

The failure of Evansville, Ind.-based Integra Bank NA and purchase by an in-market competitor Old National Bancorp gave Indiana the distinction of having the most branch closings in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to SNL Data.

SNL Financial

"The average branch when it is fully mature makes $1 million, and it's also critical for credit cards, small business, mortgage and middle market and private banking," Chairman, President and CEO Jamie Dimon said in a December investor presentation, according to SNL Financial. "You can't build those businesses without branches. So, when we look at the value of the branch system, it's still very high."

SNL Financial

Comparatively, competitor Bank of America Corp. had a net negative of 36 branches in the second half of 2011, opening five branches and closing 41. Two-thirds of the closures happened in the third quarter.

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted 

National Business Development Manager with minimum seven years experience and current book of business. Strategically located throughout US in various targeted industries. Click Here for more info. Western Equipment Finance, a subsidiary of Western State Bank established in 1901, solicits originations throughout the US and provides funding solutions for a wide range of industries

Senior Accountant NYC 5 Year accounting, prefer bank or finance experience. CPA preferred. Full description, please click here. Please send resume to: financecompanyhr@gmail.com www.easternfunding.com A Commercial Finance Subsidiary of a publicly held bank, growing rapidly, is successful and has a dynamic, exciting culture.

 

For information on placing a help wanted ad, please click here:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Hwanted/Hwanted-post.htm

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

ICON Capital--$1 Billion Lease Acquisitions-Update
Where is Paul Weiss Today?

The archive in January 17th edition had a press release from 2003 showing "$1 billion of acquisitions since its current management team acquired the company in August, 1996. ICON is almost 20 years old but shifted its strategy to acquiring larger leases in the secondary market when Beaufort J. B. Clarke, Paul B. Weiss and Thomas W. Martin acquired the company in the 1996 buyout."

It was followed with a January 17, 2008 archive, noting, "In 2006, one of the founders Paul B. Weiss resigned as President of ICON Capital and as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICON Holdings...(and)... One of the key founders of ICON Capital, and its chairman at the time, Beaufort J. B. (Beau) Clarke died in London, England in April 2007."

Here is an update from Paul Weiss:

"I usually read Leasing News at around 6am with a cup of coffee to help kick out the cobwebs (mine not yours). I saw your top headline today about the success of ICON and was slow to realize that his was an archive story about a press release that I had written more than a couple of years back!

"The story continued from where you left it inasmuch as, sadly, Thomas W. Martin also died not too long after, and I gather ICON itself has gone new directions too.

"With the benefit of five years since I sold my almost half of the company, the only worthy update is that our new business at Panthera thrives and we are blessed with significant private equity support. We have made investments in railcars, locomotives and aircraft and will expand greatly in 2012. Additionally my current partner Sean Hoel left ICON around the time I sold; he was the architect of the recent deals mentioned in that old press release.

"While more players than ever have identified the residual value based lease as a source of profit and possible lessee value add, more players than ever doubt the future of that business. Banks certainly have been squeezed out of the true leasing business, leaving what I see as a large opportunity for more flexible equity to enter the segment. It is this same condition that lead Beau Clarke and I to acquire ICON in 1996, specifically that there was an enormous place for equity if we could find it. Today the capital markets have shifted seismically...  to some that seemed securitization would make everyone a principal in the mid 1990s. Well, that wasn't likely to have legs. We watched a defunct large bracket investment bank make portfolio decisions when acquiring pools from us which we found laughable.

"Today big private equity firms impact in many ways that were barely imaginable back then. We are glad to be deploying some equity under this new world order, thankfully with just a couple of investors not 30,000 as was the case in my ICON days.

"Interesting for you no doubt is that the longevity of Leasing News gives you perspective and archival gems from lo those many years ago."

Besr
PW
paul@pantheraleasing.com

(The new ICON fund is an Oil and Gas Fund. Editor)

Why Choose Advanced Property Tax Compliance?

Dedicated to the leasing industry click here to learn more. Hear What Our Clients say about us click here Gary DiLillo, President 440.871.0555 or gary@avptc.com

 

 

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Leasing Association Membership Fees

	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2003	2002	2001	2000
AGLFA	274	250	238	265	277	255	255	255	203	263	343	250
EAEL	*	*	*	183	181	196	198	180	191	216	227	240
ELFA	565	582	604	700	741	768	817	780	732	862	873	850
NAELB	617	696	847	1021	1089	950	731	648	480	433	415	475
UAEL	*	*	*	289	314	314	314	297	248	378	379	589
NEFA	191	210	274

Leasing Association Membership at beginning of each year

Individual/Governmental/Not-for-Profit Organization $350

Limited Membership $750
Basic Membership $1,250
Industry leader Membership $2,500

http://www.aglf.org/categories

Regular Membership Dues

Size	Annual Dues (US)		Size	Annual Dues (US)
$0 - $20 Million	$2,805		$1.5-$2.0 Billion	$22,950
$20-$50 Million	$4,080		$2.0-$3.0 Billion	$33,150
$50-$250 Million	$6,120		$3.0-$5.0 Billion	$40,800
$250-$500 Million	$8,160		$5.0-$10 Billion	$51,000
$500-$800 Million	$10,200		$10-$25 Billion	$56,100
$800M-$1 Billion	$14,280		$25 Billion +	$66,300
$1.0 - $1.5 Billion	$17,850

Associate Member Dues

Number of Employees (For the entire company)	Annual Dues
1-5 Employees	$3,570
6+ Employees	$5,100

Other Member Types

Member Type	Flat rate dues level
Arranger Member Dues	$6,120
International Member Dues	$3,519
Investor Member Dues	$6,120

http://www.elfaonline.org/pub/about/membership/qa.cfm#

Kesha Robinson
krobinson@elfaonline.org
Director of Membership
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association
P (202) 238-3432
C (202) 436-1588

NAELB:
$329 for a broker
$865 for a funder
$695 for an associate
$165 additional broker
$260 funding and associate
$30 processing fee

www.naelb.org

Broker/Lessor <$10MM
Originating funded transactions that total between $0 and $10 million a year. $ 445

Broker/Lessor $10MM to $20MM
Originating funded transactions that total between $10 and $20 million a year. $ 895

Broker/Lessor > $20MM
Originating funded transactions that total above $20 million a year. $995

Funding Source < $50MM Originations
Funding transactions that can be originated internally and externally that total between $0 and $50 million a year. $1495

Funding Source > $50MM Originations
Funding transactions that can be originated internally and externally that total above $50 million a year. $2495

Service Provider < 6 People
Service provider to the leasing industry employing fewer than six leasing employees. $1295

Service Provider > 6 People *
Service provider to the leasing industry employing six or more leasing employees.

* Note: Larger companies (dedicating fewer than six employees to leasing/financing) have the option to pay the $1295 fee listed directly above. $2495

www.nefassociation.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=11

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

New president charts the way ahead
for National Equipment Finance Association
Written by Brian Rogerson

Hugh Swandel

Earlier this month (January) Hugh Swandel, managing director of The Alta Group Canada and founder of Swandel and Associates, was elected president of the board of directors of the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA).

The NEFA is a US-based, association of equipment finance and leasing professionals with a Canadian component.

Swandel told Asset Finance International that the NEFA serves small- to middle-sized independent equipment finance companies, lessors and certain brokers. He explained: “The association was formed from the 2008 merger of two organizations, the United Association of Equipment Leasing (UAEL) and the Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors (EAEL).”

“The result,” he added, “is a strong organization able to offer enhanced programs, premium networking opportunities and a far greater geographic and industry segment diversity.”

Swandel is also on the board of directors of the Canadian Finance and Leasing Association (CFLA) and a member of the US Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA).

Around 35% of NEFA members, principally service providers, are also members of the ELFA. The cross-border aspect of the association means that it is enriched by the Canadian members.

He confirmed that the association welcomes a wide range of brokers – especially those “who seriously want to grow their business”.

Spate of consolidation

As with most leasing trade associations the NEFA has been hit by the recession which heralded a spate of consolidation and consequent fall in membership.

“However,” he said, “I see a lot of positive trends at present. Those members who remain in the association are the ‘best of breed’ who have found a way of succeeding by remaining profitable, maintaining margin and keeping defaults low. The replacement of equipment in North America is proceeding well although there is still much inventory that needs absorbing into the economy.”

“But greater liquidity is apparent, pricing has gone down and leverage reduced. In short, many companies are making more money.”

Swandel’s broad industry experience does not blind him to the negatives. “There is still much unemployment around and house prices are not moving,” he stressed. “And the eurozone crisis will undoubtedly cause an impact in North America with the threat of impairment to liquidity. There is a general feeling of uncertainty which is not helped by the political uncertainty displayed in Washington.”

Notwithstanding the realism of the post-recessionary environment, Swandel’s message as he assumes his presidency is that of optimism. “We need our members to be aware of the best opportunities in the market and use that knowledge to maintain and grow their market share,” he stressed.

Highest accolade

Earlier in his career Swandel was president and chief operating officer of Electronic Financial Group – a Canadian company that launched a multi-lending web-based credit system. Prior to that he spent 10 years with National Leasing Group in a variety of senior positions. In 2006, and again in 2010, he received the Canadian leasing industry’s highest accolade when he was named CFLA Member of the Year.

NEFA is a strong supporter of the concept that conferences and seminars are ideal networking venues to enrich professional expertise – a sentiment Swandel supports from personal experience. “The ability to learn from others was one reason I started to attend conferences,” he explained. “At every conference we try to encourage and stimulate debate and sharing of company experiences.”

NEFA is a strong supporter of the CLP Foundation and its Certified Lease Professional qualification which is designed for leasing professionals internationally who have demonstrated “competency through testing of knowledge, continuing education and a commitment to their business practices and dedication to the industry”. Attendance at NEFA conferences, such as those in San Diego in March 2012 and in Washington DC in September 20102, earns course credits for members.

How does Swandel view his one-year presidency at this crucial time in the economic cycle?

For a start, he succeeds the previous president, Chris Enbom of Allegiant Partners Inc, from a prior position of vice president – so he is well aware of the challenges members face. The decline in membership and revenues caused by the recession is, he insists, already in reverse. The NEFA conferences held during 2011 in Minneapolis and New Jersey showed a healthy increase attendance over previous years.

Smartest people

“Conferences,” he said, “are definitely the places to go in a recession. The issues thrashed out are of mutual benefit and the networking helps to share concerns and possible solutions. Entrepreneurship is the key ingredient in the American finance commitment and the NEFA is by far the best way to meet the grass roots community – and some of the smartest people in the business.”

Swandel’s specialism at The Alta Group includes merger and acquisition (M&A) strategy. He previously worked closely with Bruce Kropschot on M&A in North America and subsequently became involved with The Alta Group when Kropschot joined the consultancy.

Upon handing over the reins of office to Swandel, Enbom stressed: “Hugh has been on the board of both UAEL and NEFA for many years and understand the issues facing associations in the equipment funding space. He will provide good leadership.”

With such a leader it looks like the association could be heading for pole position in leading the equipment finance industry out of recession.

Printed with permission. To Subscribe:
http://www.assetfinanceinternational.com/register-now

Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croc

A muscular action thriller ("Haywire") and a deliciously sardonic comedy ("Carnage") make for a prime pair of new releases, while political and financial dramas ("The Ides of March," "Narrow Margin") share the DVD shelf with one of last year's best films ("Mysteries of Lisbon").

In Theaters:

Haywire (Overture Films): Having already tackled independent dramas, sly heist comedies, modern film noir and multi-character panoramas, unpredictable Oscar-winner Steven Soderbergh ("Traffic," "Ocean's Eleven") follows last year’s creepy “Contagion” by trying his hand at muscular action, with rousing results. Making her bodacious screen debut, former “American Gladiator” star Gina Carano plays Mallory Kane, a highly trained government agent who's given the deadliest assignments. When her own agency betrays her, however, she must dodge the assassins on her trail while attempting to find the truth about their operations. Boasting an exceptional cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas and Antonio Banderas, Soderbergh's inventive, breathlessly-paced thriller marks another intriguing attempt by this genre-hopping filmmaker.

Carnage (Sony Pictures Classics): Veteran provocateur Roman Polanski ("Rosemary's Baby") is in fine sardonic form in this brisk and effervescently nasty chamber comedy. The claustrophobic setting is a small Brooklyn apartment, where two married couples come to deal with the way their children have been fighting. The place belongs to Penelope (Jodie Foster) and Michael (John C. Reilly), whose son was hurt in a scuffle with the son of Nancy (Kate Winslet) and Alan (Christoph Waltz), and things start off cordially enough with all-around apologies and cobbler. In no time, however, their politeness gives way to increasingly rude behavior, as these adults' attitudes turn out to be far more childish than the events that got them there in the same place. Making brilliant use of limited space and drawing impeccable timing from his four exceptional actors, Polanski serves up a biting, hilarious bit of human farce.

Netflix Tip: An experienced hand at creating tension in cramped spaces, Roman Polanski is no stranger to darkly funny chamber stories. So after "Carnage," check out the Polish master's earlier claustrophobic classics, ranging from "Knife in the Water" (1962) and "Cul-de-sac" (1965) to "Bitter Moon" (1992) and "Death and the Maiden" (1994).

On DVD:

The Ides of March (Sony): George Clooney steps behind the camera as a director and co-writer of this engaging, tautly made portrait of the unsavory dealings taking place during a frantic political campaign. Clooney also stars as Mike Norris, a charismatic Ohio governor going for the presidential nomination, though the film's center is Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling), an up-and-coming young staffer whose astute handling gets Norris closer and closer to the White House. However, his relationship with an intern (Evan Rachel Wood) soon opens Stephen's eyes to the darker side of politics, and the movie's tone gradually shifts from sexy comedy to brooding thriller. With the help of an outstanding cast (which also includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti and Marisa Tomei) and without resorting to preachiness, Clooney serves up an entertaining, cautionary tale of power and disenchantment.

Margin Call (Roadside Attractions): A nation's economic troubles become the stuff of human drama in this shrewd, all-star ensemble piece, which follows a group of characters facing their company's financial meltdown. Taking place at a New York investment bank over the course of a day, the plot kicks off as mass layoffs and tense meetings leave veteran traders as well as rookies anxious about their futures. Chief among them is chief trader Sam (Kevin Spacey), who finds himself smack in the middle of risky maneuvers with CEO John (Jeremy Irons) and executive Sarah (Demi Moore), where a single wrong decision can crumble dozens of relationships. Dealing with a subject that could have easily been dry, director J.C. Chandor and a stellar cast instead deliver a thorny portrait of the dangers of Wall Street that crackles with relevance.

Mysteries of Lisbon (Music Box): When Chilean filmmaker Raul Ruiz passed away last year, he left behind dozens of engaging, one-of-a-kind cinematic puzzles, including this lavish, sprawling period drama. Ruiz's last movie, and one of his finest achievements, it details a web of 19th-century intrigue worthy of Charles Dickens. Taking place in various European locations, the plot centers on Pedro (played as a child by Joao Arrais, as an adult by Jose Alfonso Pimentel), a young Portuguese orphan whose hardships take on a fairy-tale air as he learns about his mother and enters aristocratic society. However, his story turns out to be just one strand in a rich tapestry of desire, nobility and betrayal that keeps expanding and encompassing more and more characters. A feast of ingenious twists and turns, this is a grand farewell to one of modern cinema's most unpredictable figures. With subtitles.

San Rafael, California-- Adopt-a-Dog

GEORGIO

Terrier Mix

“For us, it was love-at-first-sight!

But that's too easy. Sure, he's a good looking boy, but he is more than that: Young (about one year), friendly, sweet, happy, small (weighs 8 lbs) and wanting a permanent home with loving dog parents. He has all applicable vaccinations AND a MICROCHIP, too. Adoption Fee: $250 includes everything.”

All Creatures
ANIMAL CARING SOCIETY
P. O. Box 3664 / San Rafael, California 94912
415-456-1941 Line 2
email to: lyncat1@sbcglobal.net
www.allcreaturesmarin.org

Application:
http://www.allcreaturesmarin.org/index_002.htm

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

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

 

John Kenny Receivables Management www.jrkrmdirect.com • End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement • Fraud Investigation • Credit Investigations • Asset Searches • Skip-tracing • Third-party Commercial Collections The Solution to Your Credit & Accounts Receivable Needs John Kenny 315-866-1167 |  John@jkrmdirect.com

News Briefs----

As snow slows, officials warn of icy roads in Pacific Northwest
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/18/us/northwest-winter-storms/?hpt=hp_t3

Malvern Hill's Lawrence J. Smircich Passes Away
http://leasingnews.org/items/smirich.pdf

Marlin Business Serv (MRLN) Shares
http://localizedusa.com/2012/01/18/marlin-business-serv-mrln-shares-now-covered-by-analysts-at-jmp-securities/

Golf Cart Advertising Type Scandal loses $3MM for Bank of Scotland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16509679

TD Bank owes Ponzi scheme victims $67MM, Florida jury says
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/18/td-bank-owes-ponzi-scheme-victims-67m-florida-jury-says/

Seven charged in $62 million Dell insider-trading case
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/18/us-insidertrading-arrests-idUSTRE80H18920120118

Dodging Banking Woes, Wells Fargo Posts 20% Jump in Profit
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/wells-fargo-fourth-quarter-profit-up-20/

First Republic Bank posts 19 pct jump in 4Q net
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57360509/first-republic-bank-posts-19-pct-jump-in-4q-net/

M&T Bank 4Q profit falls on charges
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57360452/m-t-bank-4q-profit-falls-on-charges/

Northern Trust to cut 700 jobs
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-northern-trust-to-cut-700-jobs-20120118,0,5021971.story

Two Thirds of Drivers Believe They'll Always Have Car Payment
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/leasetradercom-poll-two-thirds-of-drivers-believe-theyll-always-have-car-payment-2012-01-18

Boeing Departure Shakes Wichita’s Identity as Airplane Capital
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/us/wichita-clings-to-airplane-capital-identity.html

Boeing may overtake Airbus as No. 1 jet-maker in 2012
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017263970_boeing18.html

 

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You May Have Missed---

Fitch Accounting & Financial Report--2012 Global Outlook
(Leasing & other matters concerning leasing are covered)
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Fitch_Ratings.pdf

 

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SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

Are You Prepared to Reach Your Goals?
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/assessment_questions.asp?quizid=52

 

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Sports Briefs----

The 10 most valuable 49ers in 2011
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/01/17/the-10-most-valuable-49ers-in-2011/#2536-2

Nice going, Alex, now do it again
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120118/NEWS/120119464/1350?Title=COHN-Nice-going-Alex-now-do-it-again

 

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California Nuts Briefs---

Jerry Brown defends California and his tax plan
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/jerry-brown-3.html

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Winter Poem

Shortcut Through the Storm

by Robert Savino

There were too few roads.
There were too many motorists.
My choice was longer in distance,
but far less travelled.

I took a shortcut through the storm,
crawling over the black-iced asphalt,
too close behind Boyd’s black flower car,
in the dreary pitch of Ocean Parkway.

Storm clouds shifting and changing,
pass over, so low, engulf my presence.
I exit in an angel’s breath,
a winged spirit of the Great South Bay,

greeted by Moses at the foot of the bridge,
moments from home and the neon lights
of strip mall shops, that brighten the bus
stop at the corner of Oak Neck Road.

Minutes pass slowly within these hours.
Sounds of snow plows wake me from sleep.

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

State of California Grapes 2012
http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Web-2012/State-of-the-Grapes-2012/

Grapes Born of Volcano and Sea
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/dining/reviews/wines-of-the-canary-islands-review.html?_r=1&ref=dining

NJ governor allows wine to be shipped to homes
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2012/01/17/
nj_governor_allows_wine_to_be_shipped_to_homes/

Presidential Wine-Cooler Gift to Hamilton May Fetch $600,000 at Christie’s
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-18/president-wine-cooler-gift-to-treasury-chief-may-fetch-600-000.html

 

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

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

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

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

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

     1770--- Battle of Golden Hill (Lower Manhattan). Although no one was killed, the Battle of Golden Hill was the first significant clash between citizens and British troops as the colonies moved toward revolution. Several New Yorkers had been wounded in a similar confrontation three years earlier, but Golden Hill was a more direct challenge to the British and the wounds suffered by the patriots were more severe.
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1265.html
http://www.nyfreedom.com/Goldenhill.htm
    1803—Seeking information on what lay west of the young United Sates, President Thomas Jefferson sent a confidential letter to Congress requesting funds for an exploratory expedition to be led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark. After the Louisiana Purchase was signed on April 30, 1803, the expedition's mission changes: it became a survey of new American land. The “Corps of discovery” set off May 14 form St; Louis and returned with much information about the land, the peoples there and the flora and fauna.
    1807-Confederate General Robert E. Lee's birthday , an official state holiday for the State of Texas. His birthday is also observed in Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee. It is also observed the third Monday in January in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. He was considered the greatest military leader of the Confederacy, son of Revolutionary War General Henry ( Light Horse Harry) Lee, George Washington’s best friend. He most daring plan was to turn more against the war by directly attacking Washington, DC, although his troops were discovered quite by accident in Gettysburg, Pa, resulting in one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. His surrender April 9, 1865, to Union General Ulysses S. Grant brought an end to the Civil War.
    1809-American poet and story writer Edgar Allan Poe, born at Boston, MA. He was orphaned in dire poverty in 1811 and was raised by Virginia merchant John Allen. In 1846, he married his 13-year old cousin, Virginia Clemm. A magazine editor of note, he is best remembered for his poetry, especially “The Raven.” and for his tales of suspense. He died at Baltimore, MD, October 7, 1849. The Baltimore Ravens are named in his honor. Birthday
    1810 - The famous "cold day" in New England. Gale force winds wrecked homes, and accompanied a sudden overnight drop in temperature of 50 degrees. Tragedy struck Sanbornton NH where three children froze to death.
    1825- Ezra Daggett and Thomas Kensett obtained a patent for a process for storing food in a can.
    1840- the Electromagnetic and Mechanics Intelligencer appeared this day. It was printed in New York City on a press “propelled by electro-magnetism.” The editor of the magazine and the inventor of the electrical printing press was Thomas Davenport. 
   1840 -During an exploring expedition, Captain Charles Wilkes sights the coast of eastern Antarctica and claims it for the United States. In 1959, the Antarctic Treaty made Antarctica an international zone, set guidelines for scientific cooperation, and prohibited military operations, nuclear explosions, and the disposal of radioactive waste on the continent.       
    1846—The first military prison on an island was Fort Jefferson, Monroe County, FL. Construction began in 1846 on an island in the Gulf of Mexico, 60 miles from Key West. It was garrisoned this day by Brevet Major Lewis Golding Arnold, 2nd U.S. Artillery, with four officers and 62 men. The fort had not been completed and was barely defensible. A prison for the confinement of U.S. Military prisoners was established in 1863. The prison, often called Dry Tortugas. During the Civil War the fort was a military prison for captured deserters. It also held the 4 men convicted of complicity in President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, the most famous being Dr. Samuel Mudd. The Fort was plagued with construction problems and Yellow Fever epidemics. The invention of the rifled cannon made the Fort obsolete, as its thick walls could now be penetrated. The Army finally abandoned Fort Jefferson in 1874. Today it is a national park.
http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues99/nov99/tortugas.html
http://www.nps.gov/drto/
http://www.fortjefferson.com/home.htm
    1847 -- After killing the sheriff and a prefect, Native American Indians force their way into the house of New Mexico's first American Territorial Governor, Charles Bent, and scalp him and three others, Taos, New Mexico.
    1857 - A great cold storm swept across the Atlantic Seaboard. Snowfall totals of 12 inches were common, whole gales caused shipwrecks and damage property on islands, and temperatures near zero prevailed from Virginia northward. Great drifts of snow blocked transportation. Richmond VA was cut off from Washington DC for a week.
    1861 - Georgia becomes 5th state to secede.
    1862-laws were passed in the State of New York granting equal guardianship of children to mothers. Up to that point, fathers had EXCLUSIVE rights to the children as they did in England and could will the children to anyone they wanted at their deaths or could give them away during their lifetime.
    1863-The founder of the Goodwill Industries Edgar J. Helms was born near Malone,NY. Reverend Dr. Helms became a minister to a parish of poor immigrants in Boston’s South End. In that capacity he developed the philosophy and organization that eventually became Goodwill Industries. Helms died December 23,1942, Boston, Mass.
    1865-- Union occupies Fort Anderson NC
    1871-- 1st Negro lodge of US Masons approved, New Jersey.
    1881 --Western Union buys rival telegraph company, in vain. Jay Gould, the ravenous financier and archetypal robber baron, used his wiles and ways to seize control of Western Union, William Vanderbilt's mighty telegraph company. Gould mounted an elaborate campaign to drive down the company's stock, using his newspaper, as well as his influence on Wall Street, to raise doubts about Western Union's leadership and hefty stock price. He also started a rival telegraph concern, the Atlantic and Pacific Company, in hopes of raising doubts about Western Union’s dominance over the industry. The gambits worked and Western Union's stock swooned.
In a desperate attempt to staunch the bleeding, Western Union snapped up the Atlantic and Pacific Company on this day in 1881. Far from staving off the competition, the deal further fattened Gould's pocketbook and, more importantly, primed him for the final phase of his takeover scheme. Gould convinced his Wall Street associates to start another raid on Western Union. However, as the traders were busy driving down Western Union’s asking price, Gould, in the guise of an "anonymous" investor, started gobbling up the company’s suddenly cheap stock. When the dust settled, Gould’s cronies were left counting their losses; meanwhile, the devious financier had successfully wrested control of Western Union.
    1887 -- Birthday of Alexander Woolcott, born Phalanx, New Jersey. The model for the egotistical Sheridan Whiteside in Kaufman & Hart's The Man Who Came to Dinner will be "the smartest of Alecs" to Heywood Broun & "Old Vitriol & Violets" to James Thurber.
    1898-The first college ice hockey game ever played saw Brown University defeat Harvard University 6-0. Fifty years late, the NCAA staged its first college hockey champions.
    1902---BEARSS, HIRAM IDDINGS Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 13 April 1875, Peru, Ind. Appointed from: Indiana. Other Navy award: Distinguished Service Medal. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle at the junction of the Cadacan and Sohoton Rivers, Samar, Philippine Islands, 17 November 1901. Col. Bearss (then Capt.), second in command of the columns upon their uniting ashore in the Sohoton River region, made a surprise attack on the fortified cliffs and completely routed the enemy, killing 30 and capturing and destroying the powder magazine, 40 lantacas (guns), rice, food and cuartels. Due to his courage, intelligence, discrimination and zeal, he successfully led his men up the cliffs by means of bamboo ladders to a height of 200 feet. The cliffs were of soft stone of volcanic origin, in the nature of pumice, and were honeycombed with caves. Tons of rocks were suspended in platforms held in position by vine cables (known as bejuco) in readiness to be precipitated upon people below. After driving the insurgents from their position which was almost impregnable, being covered with numerous trails lined with poison spears, pits, etc., he led his men across the river, scaled the cliffs on the opposite side, and destroyed the camps there. Col. Bearss and the men under his command overcame incredible difficulties and dangers in destroying positions which, according to reports from old prisoners, had taken 3 years to perfect, were held as a final rallying point, and were never before penetrated by white troops. Col. Bearss also rendered distinguished public service in the presence of the enemy at Quinapundan River, Samar, Philippine Islands, on 19 January 1902.
    1905-Birthday of Oveta Culp Hobby, U.S. newspaper executive and the first U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, director of the Woman's Army Corps (1942-1945). She was noted for her organizational abilities before marrying into the family which owned the Houston Post newspaper. She ran it as executive vice president and later chaired the board for 19 years.
    1915 -- World famous labor organizer & songster Joe Hill is arrested in Salt Lick City, Utah. He is convicted on trumped up murder charges, & executed 21 months later despite worldwide protests & two attempts to intervene by Beloved & Respected Comrade Liberal President Woodrow Wilson. In a letter to Bill Haywood shortly before his death he penned the famous words, "Don't mourn - organize
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you and me.
Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead"
"I never died" said he,
"I never died" said he.
!" On this same day, 20 rioting strikers are shot by factory guards at Roosevelt, New Jersey.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hill
http://www.kued.org/joehill/
    1915 -- Isadora Duncan dance "Dionysion" premiers at the NY Met.
    1923---Birthday of Jean Stapleton, American stage, screen, and TV actor best recognized for her role as Edith on TV's All in the Family in which she pitched her actual melodious voice high to show insecurity.
    1925 -48ºF (-44ºC), Van Buren ME (state record)
    1933 - Giant Forest CA received 60 inches of snow in just 24 hours, a state record, and the second highest 24 hour total of record for the U.S.
    1937 - Howard Hughes set a transcontinental air record, when he flew from Los Angeles, California to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.
    1937- Phil Everly, of the Everly Brothers, was born in Brownie, Kentucky. Together with his brother Don, he made some of the most exciting pop records of the late 1950's. The brothers came from a country music family, and their parents took them to Nashville in 1956 to meet Chet Atkins. A year later, the Everly Brothers had their first hit, "Bye Bye Love." They were rarely absent from the charts for the next five years. "Wake Up Little Susie," "Bird Dog" and "Cathy's Clown" were among their hits. The relationship between the two brothers began to deteriorate about 1963, although they continued to perform together for another decade. The Everly Brothers got together again in the 1980's. Recently touring with Simon and Garfunkle, who originally wanted to sound exactly like them.
    1942--Birthday of Michael Crawford, who won a Tony award in 1987 as the star of "Phantom of the Opera."
    1943--Birthday of singer Janis Joplin, born Port Arthur, Texas, possibly the most highly regarded white female blues singers of our time. Joplin’s appearance with Big Brother and the Holding Company at the Monterey International Pop Festival in August, 1967, launched her superstar status.
I was there and she was quite loaded, but then again, most of the audience was either drunk or high and the music very loud and emotion high. Among her recordings hits were “ Get it While You Can,” “ Piece of My Heart, “ Ball and Chain” and the windshield song. She died of a heroin overdose October 4, 1970 at Hollywood, Ca., age 27.
    1944---Football coach Daniel Edward “Dan” Reeves birthday, born Rome, Ga.
    1944- Pop singer and actress Shelley Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California. On her 18th birthday, in 1962, Fabares's recording of "Johnny Angel" hit number one on the Billboard chart. A year later, she retired when she married record producer Lou Adler.
    1946- Country star Dolly Parton was born in Sevierville, Tennessee. She gained wide exposure as part of Porter Wagoner's TV and road show from 1967 to 1974. And Parton did even better on her own. Hits such as "Nine to Five," from the movie in which she starred, and "Heartbreak Express" brought her a wider audience than most country artists enjoy.
    1947---Top Hits
For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
Ole Buttermilk Sky - The Kay Kyser Orchestra (vocal: Mike Douglas & The Campus Kids)
A Gal in Calico - Johnny Mercer
Rainbow at Midnight - Ernest Tubb
    1949-Brithday of rock singer Robert Palmer, best known for his song, “Addicted to Love.”
http://www.robertpalmer.org/
    1949 - The President of the United States salary was increased from $75,000 to $100,000, with an extra $50,000 expense allowance for each year in office. As of 2001, the President makes $1,000,000 a year.
    1952---PGA Admits Blacks: The Professional Golfers Association of America amended its rules to allow black golfers to participate in tournaments.
    1953 - Sixty-eight percent of televisions in the United States tuned to CBS-TV, to see Lucy Ricardo, of "I Love Lucy", give birth to a baby boy, as she actually did in real life. The program's audience was larger than that watching the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower next day. In fact, in many papers, the Lucille Ball baby story kicked the inauguration off the front page.
    1953- Marty Robbins made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. His first big hit, "Singin' the Blues," was at the top of the country charts at the time.
    1954—Football player Steven L. “Steve” DeBerg, born Oakland, Ca.
    1955---Top Hits
Mr. Sandman - The Chordettes
Hearts of Stone - The Fontane Sisters
Make Yourself Comfortable - Sarah Vaughan
Loose Talk - Carl Smith
    1955- " The Millionaire" premiered on television. The CBS drama that had all of America hoping to find Michael Anthony on their doorstep. Mr. John Beresford Tipton was a millionaire who made a hobby of giving away million dollar checks anonymously to unknown people to see how they handled the sudden wealth. Michael Anthony, played by Marvin Miller, was Mr. Tipton's personal secretary and the star of "The Millionaire." No one ever saw Mr. Tipton but his voice would greet Anthony at the opening of each show and issue instructions for delivery of the next check. Anthony would then find the recipient and give him or her the check, explaining that the recipient had to agree never to divulge the amount or how it was acquired.
    1955-The first Presidential news conference filmed for television and newsreels was held in the treaty room of the State Department building, Washington, DC, where President Dwight David Eisenhower held a 33-minute conference. The film was cut to 28 minutes, 25 seconds, plus introduction and closing remarks, to fit television time formats.
    1957 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania comedian, Ernie Kovacs, became a star, when he successfully completed a challenge to do a half-hour television show without saying a single word of dialogue.
    1957- Elvis Presley records: "It Is No Secret," "Blueberry Hill," "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You," "Is It So Strange."
    1957- Pat Boone performs at the inaugural ball for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
    1957- Johnny Cash makes his first national television appearance on CBS' Jackie Gleason Show.
    1959- Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" was rated the number-one daytime television program.
    1959-- The Platters' "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" hits #1.
    1963---Top Hits
Go Away Little Girl - Steve Lawrence
Hotel Happiness - Brook Benton
Tell Him - The Exciters
The Ballad of Jed Clampett - Flatt & Scruggs
    1966 - Robert Montgomery, actor-producer and White House advisor on Presidential telecasts, testified on this date to the FCC that the reports of quiz-show fixing and payola were widespread within the broadcasting industry long before the charges were made public.
    1966- Ken Kesey is arrested in San Francisco a second time for the possession of marijuana. He subsequently jumps bail and flees to Mexico, trying to mislead law enforcement authorities with a faked suicide note.
    1969 -- The West is best, topping the East 38-25 in the AFL Pro Bowl and 10-7 in the NFL Pro Bowl.
    1969—Football player Tiaina “Junior” Seau, Jr. birthday, born San Diego, CA.
    1970 - The soundtrack to the film, "Easy Rider" earned a gold record, making it the first pop-culture, film soundtrack to earn the award.
    1971---Top Hits
My Sweet Lord/Isn’t It a Pity - George Harrison
Knock Three Times - Dawn
Lonely Days - Bee Gees
Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson.
    1971 -- Houston safety Ken Houston returns two interceptions for touchdowns in the Oilers' 49-33 victory over San Diego to set the NFL career record with nine touchdowns on interception returns. He also sets the single-season record with four interception return touchdowns.
    1971 - Ruby Keeler had her comeback in the play, "No, No Nanette", opening at the 46th Street Theatre in New York City. Keeler played Sue Smith in the revival of the 1925 musical. The show played for 861 performances.
    1972-Football Player Tyrone Wheatley, born Inkster, MI.
    1973 -- Yuba City, California labor contractor Juan V. Corona found guilty of murdering 25 itinerant farm workers he employed during 1970 - 1971.
    1974 - At South Ben, Indiana, Notre Dame ended UCLA’s 88-game winning streak. The Fighting Irish enjoyed a 71-70 basketball win over the Bruins of the University of California at Los Angeles.
    1974-The longest winning streak in college basketball history came to an end as Notre Dame defeated UCLA, 71-070, to snap the Bruin’s 88-game reign. Down by 11 points with less than four minutes to play, the Irish took the lead at 0.29 on Dwight Clay’s jump shot from the corner.
    1974-- Al Wilson's "Show and Tell" hits #1.
    1975-- Minnie Ripperton "Lovin' You" released.
    1978-Johnny Paycheck's cover of David Allan Coe's ode to workplace frustrations, "Take This Job and Shove It", reached the top spot on the Billboard Country chart. Although the song failed to crack the Pop chart Top 40, it still seems to be one that we all know and can relate to.
    1979---Top Hits
Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
Le Freak - Chic
My Life - Billy Joel
Lady Lay Down - John Conlee
    1980 – President Jimmy Carter announces the United States boycott of the Summer Olympics in Moscow.
    1983 --Apple Chairman Steve Jobs and President John Sculley announced the Apple Lisa, slated for release in the spring of 1983. The Apple Lisa was a major milestone in user-friendly computing. Two years and $50 million later, the Apple Lisa was introduced. Unfortunately, Lisa's $12,000 price tag placed it out of the consumer market. Lisa's most successful graphical features were handed down to a new Apple computer in 1984, nicknamed "Lisa's Little Brother" — the Macintosh. The Mac, though not immediately successful, eventually changed user expectations about computing, prompting Microsoft to develop its own graphic user interface, Windows.
    1985—Lenny Wilkens became the first person in NBA history to play and coach in 1,000 games as his Seattle SuperSonics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 106-105. Wilkens had played in 1,077 games in a career that ended in 1975.
    1987 - A storm tracking toward the northeastern U.S. produced up to 14 inches of snow in northern Indiana. Peru IN reported a foot of snow. Six cities in Florida reported new record high temperatures for the date. The afternoon high of 88 degrees at Miami equalled their record for the month of January.
    1987---Top Hits
Shake You Down - Gregory Abbott
C’est La Vie - Robbie Nevil
Open Your Heart - Madonna
What Am I Gonna Do About You - Reba McEntire
    1988 - A powerful storm hit the central U.S. producing blizzard conditions in the Central High Plains, and severe thunderstorms in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Snowfall totals ranged up to 36 inches at Wolf Creek Pass CO, with 31 inches at Elsmere NE. Tornadoes claimed five lives in Tennessee, and a tornado at Cullman AL injured 35 persons.
    1989 - The high temperature for the day at Fairbanks, AK, was a frigid 41 degrees below zero, and the morning low of 24 degrees below zero at Anchorage AK was their coldest reading in fourteen years.
    1990- Elizabeth M. Watson, became the first woman to head the police force of a major American city. Houston Mayor Kathryn Whitmire named Watson, who wore maternity "uniforms" and also became the first police chief to birth a baby while on active duty.
    1990 - Thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds in eastern Texas and Louisiana. Tornadoes at Garland TX and Apple Springs TX each injured one person. Heavy snow spread from the Southern and Central Rockies into the Great Plains. Storm totals in New Mexico reached 36 inches at Gascon. Totals in the Central Plains ranged up to 15 inches near McCook NE and Garden City KS.
    1993-- Robert M Gates, ends term as 15th director of CIA.
    1993 - A pre-inaugural gala in Landover, Md., toasting incoming president Bill Clinton features a reunion of Fleetwood Mac performing ``Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow),'' the unofficial campaign song for Clinton and his running mate, Al Gore. Other performers included Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Little Richard and Chuck Berry.
    1994- The Ninth Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are held in New York City. Inductees include The Animals, The Band, Duane Eddy, The Grateful Dead, Elton John, John Lennon, Bob Marley, and Rod Stewart.
    1994 -20ºF (-29ºC) (5 32 AM) coldest day ever recorded in Cleveland OH
    1994 -36ºF (-38ºC) in New Whiteland IN (state record)
    1996-Top Hits
On Bended Knee- Boyz II Men
Another Night- Real McCoy
Always- Bon Jovi
Take a Bow—Madonna
    1998-Hearn Broadcasts 3,000th Straight Game: Francis Dayle “Chick” Hearn, the only play-by-play announcer the Los Angeles Lakers have ever had, broadcast his 3,000th consecutive game when the Lakers hosted the Orlando Magic. Hearn’s streak began after he missed a game on November 20, 1965, because bad weather kept him from making an airplane flight.
    1999 -- In methodical, sometimes blunt fashion, White House Counsel Charles Ruff opens the defense case in President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, saying there is no factual or constitutional basis to remove Clinton from office for his alleged misdeeds in the Monica Lewinsky affair.
    2000—Top Hits
What A Girl Wants- Christina Aguilera
I Knew I Loved You- Savage Garden
Smooth- Santana Featuring Rob Thomas
Back At One- Brian McKnight
    2001 --President Clinton admits wrongdoing, will not be indicted. The Whitewater special prosecutor closes down his investigations in a deal in which Clinton admitted make false testimony under oath about Monica Lewinsky, is barred from law practice for 5 years, and pays a $25'000 fine in return for being freed from the threat of being indicted.
    2006-- Major league baseball owners unanimously approve the November transaction in which Bob Castellini and two other Cincinnati businessmen bought control of the Reds from previous owner Carl Lindner. It is reported the trio, which includes investors Thomas Williams and William Williams Jr., acquired approximately 70 percent ownership of the oldest franchise in baseball history believed to be valued at an estimated $270 million.
    2009-Aretha Franklin gave a rousing performance of Samuel F. Smith's "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States.