Leasing News

Advertising | All Lists | Archives | Classified Ads | This Day In American History

Monday, July 14, 2008

Roosevelt “Rosey” Grier, actor, former football player, born
Cuthbert, GA, July 14, 1932.
http://www.nndb.com/people/635/000023566/

Headlines---

Classified---Other Web Sites
    SunBridge Capital on the ropes?
        Fannie Mae Prez made $12MM 2007/2006 $14.4MM
Trigger Leads---Part III
by Christopher Menkin
    Cartoon---Husband to their Dog
        Classified Ads---Help Wanted
Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
Lease instead of Loan
    Top Stories --July 7--July 11
        Free Lease-vs-Buy Calculator
Fannie Mae/Mac to borrow from Federal Reserve
    Fannie Mae Scandal: A History
        Five Bank Failures in 2008 to date
    Bank Fears Spread After Seizure of IndyMac
Omni Fin. Services Notice of Non-Compliance
    News Briefs---
        CalFireNews
You May have Missed---
What Happens When a Bank Fails?
    California Nuts Brief---
        Sports Briefs---
"Gimme that Wine"
    Calendar Events
        Snapple Real Facts
Today's Top Event in History
    This Day in American History
        Baseball Poem
    SuDoku
Daily Puzzle
    GasBuddy
        Weather, USA or specific area
    Traffic Live----
News on Line---Internet Newspapers
Grand Rapids, Michigan

######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”

------------------------------------------------------------------

accountingweb.careerbank.com
www.adams-inc.com
www.affinitysearch.com
www.bajobs.com
www.BayJobs.com
www.careerbank.com
www.careerpath.com
www.craigslist.org (available in many cities now, use scroll feature)
www.credittoday.com
www.elaonline.com
www.FinanceLadder.com
www.goldenparachute.com
www.Headhunter.net
www.hotjobs.com
www.jobs.net
www.jobsearchusa.org
www.JobSpin.com
www.jobsinthemoney.com
www.lessors.com
www.MarketingJobs.com
www.monitordaily.com
www.monster.com
www.monstertrak.monster.com/
www.Postonce.com
www.RecruiterConnection.com
www.resumeblaster.com
www.theleasebog.com
www.vault.com
www.vetjobs.com
www.worktree.com

For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

Leasing Recruiters:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Recruits/index.htm

To place a free “job wanted” ad here, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

SunBridge Capital on the ropes?

Knocked down from funding in late June, SunBridge Capital is back in the ring, coming up fighting.

SunBridge Capital, Mission, Kansas, in business since 1997 admitted to Leasing News on June 27 they were having funding problems.

On Friday, July 11th they told the Monitorddaily.com that they were now funding transactions, especially off lease vehicles, as well as seeking business under new credit criteria.

According to those who originally contacting Leasing News deals not being funded, one reports it was supposed to happened today, but did not, and the other was still up in the air. Two had their customer go elsewhere, as they did not want to wait any longer, another said under the new criteria, SunBridge told them they could not fund their transaction.

There were also several complaints about Trucks on Hand to be leased not being ready for pick-up and other problems.

"I just received a call from Chris at SunBridge informing me that a deal they approved and we had in for funding was not going to be funded. The only reason they stated was that under their new guidelines published today, it did not qualify. Needless to say this puts us in a tough situation with the customer and vendor."
--
“Just a heads up...
I got a call from Chris Gregory this morning, they are going to be funding my deal that was supposed to fund 6/23, and they confirmed that all of my existing approvals were still good and that they would fund them when they came in…
Thanks,
(at the end of the day on Friday, there was not confirmation that the deal had been funded. editor)

---

"I can report that they have said they are funding deals, although they did pull some approvals. I have not have a deal fund outside their trucks at hand program. They made a major change to their credit parameters. Below is what they sent out to brokers, and Monitor Daily’s report, which I don’t think is accurate as we have deals that were in funding, just waiting for the okay, when they stopped funding deals. So if they really did start funding deals last week, our deals should have gone through..."

---

“Here are our two cents….

“They are funding some transactions but rescinding approvals on others. I feel it’s probable that they have received some capitalization but not all they were looking for. Net result, they have made a judgment call to rescind approvals below a certain beacon score because they couldn’t fund everything. Either that or their new covenants don’t allow for the lower beacons.

“They are also having problems with the Trucks at Hand division. One of our customers showed up to the lot and his trailer was woefully incomplete. The tires were balding to the point of exposed wires sticking out of them and none of the lights on the trailer worked. This customer had waited two weeks for the trailer because SunBridge wanted to make sure the trailer had gone through the 100 point inspection. Ostensibly they only got to the first 10 points…..”

----

“We have a very unhappy customer on our hands in regards to this Truck at Hand transaction and want to know what you are going to do on behalf of me, the broker, as well as my customer to make the situation right.

“This company has been waiting for weeks to have a truck and trailer ready together between all the ones that were “sold” from underneath them, to waiting on a truck to be DOT ready, and then this happens. We were lied to about the “Next in line” status for more than a week, we switched assets to one that is “road ready” and now the original truck that they wanted may be road ready before the trailer is!

“The trailer, which we were notified, was ready for pick up two weeks ago is not DOT ready. There are wires hanging out of the tires as they are so warn, and all the lights on the trailer except for 2 do not work. They paid for their driver to fly out and pick up there truck and trailer and they even have a load that was ready for pick up later today that they will no longer be able to take home.

“When at the trailer lot, which from my understanding is also your repair shop that you use one of the shop people told the driver, ‘You must be the 50th person (this was edited due to the language. Editor)… repairing their equipment.

“So now, I as a broker have to ask myself if this is a worthwhile program. My customer thinks that I just threw him under the bus by having him deal with Trucks at Hand. If this is a key part of your business in that, the remarketing of equipment is crucial to SunBridge's ultimate survival; I do not see how that is going to happen.”

(The above was originally sent to SunBridge Capital with a cc:
to Leasing News. A response was requested by Leasing News, but none came,
except later from the broker:

“I don’t know if it was just the fact of email you that did it, but thanks for your continued attention to this, and your unbiased information. They are putting all new tires on the truck and trailer for the customer and have all hands on deck working on this trailer.”
---

More Follow-up:

(You had two fundings not completed. What is the status?)

"It was two pieces of equipment. The equipment from Trucks at Hand should be funded soon. The other, no.”

(Since the 23 of June, one to be funded, the other not...but in fact, neither of them have funded.
That is not what SunBridge is telling others. Leasing News)

"That is correct"

June 25 e-mail:
"We were told on Monday that our transaction had funded and a check had been cut, only to find out today that there was a funding freeze in place (not specific to our transaction) and it was unknown when the freeze would be lifted."

(Looking to see if your deal was funded. SunBridge says it was only temporarily and they have funded
backlogged deals. Leasing News)

"Our customer wasn’t able to wait indefinitely so the request was withdrawn.

Thanks for the follow-up."

(Did they fund the deal. The Monitor says they are funding transactions and it was only a temporary
thing. Leasing News.)

"No – we withdrew the deal. They just announced their revised program. Seems they’ve had their wrist slapped and are much more conservative.

“I will forward the announcement to you."

Adrian Weber, President-CEO, SunBridge Capital
(Photo: Archive)

"We regularly review our strategy of which asset and credit types to add to our portfolio," Adrian Weber, SunBridge Capital president and CEO reportedly told the Monitor Daily. "It is no secret that the transportation and construction industries are especially affected by the current economic situation, particularly driven by the real estate market and the price of fuel."

The MonitorDaily.com wrote, “For a short period of time beginning in late June, SunBridge Capital suspended funding new leases other than those for its own off-lease equipment marketed under the Trucks at Hand brand. After having reassessed its portfolio, funding resumed last week.”

SunBridge did not return Leasing News eMails or telephone calls.

Copy of SunBridge new credit policy:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Pages/Sunbridge-release.htm

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

President of Fannie Mae made $12MM 2007/2006 $14.4MM

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Directors of Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) voted to establish the 2007 performance bonus and long- term incentive award for President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel H. Mudd.

The amounts established for Mr. Mudd's 2007 compensation are as follows:

Total of Base
2007 Long-Term Salary, Bonus and
2007 and 2008 2007 Bonus Incentive Award Long-Term
Base Salary* (Paid in 2008) (Granted in 2008) Incentive Award
$990,000 $2,227,500 $9,000,000 $12,217,500

* Mr. Mudd's base salary was previously established and was disclosed by
the company in a Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on January 26, 2007.

For 2006, Mr. Mudd received a bonus of $3,500,000 and a long-term incentive award of $9,999,947. His total salary, bonus and long-term incentive compensation for 2006 was $14,449,947.

Website: http://www.fanniemae.com//

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

Trigger Leads---Part III

by Christopher Menkin

Christopher Broom, Chairman, Co-Founder, Direct Capital Corporation, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, would not confirm nor deny that his company utilized “Trigger Data” or “Trigger Leads,” as it is most often called.

“Our marketing initiatives are proprietary and confidential,” he said.
“We have no comment, hope you understand.”

The following e-mails were shared with Mr. Broom:

“******** began sensing something was terribly wrong when about March of '08, we began to see other leasing companies low-balling us at the 11th hour - mainly Direct Capital. We thought we had a database breach since our 2 companies are in such close proximity! Our records indicate that Direct Capital has been all over our customers within just a day or two of us qualifying our customers.”

“One of my 10+ time repeat customers received called me and said that he had 2 calls today on his home answering machine, by coincidence just 2 days after we ran our Experian bureau on him. The calls he said were from a Direct Capital (equipment leasing co.)and a ******** both offering their services. His manufacturing company has operated out of an industrial park for over 15 years, is incorporated, does not have a extension or tie line from his home phone, and his co. has never had a phone solicitation to his home phone line before so we both are 99% sure of the facts of this case.”

“Direct Capital recently attempted to poach 3 transactions from us in the same day. Each application had been processed within 24 hrs of their calls and we had them approved. One customer was told Direct Capital was underwriting the lease for us and the deposit check should be made out to Direct Capital and the documents overnighted to them. Since the customers were in different industries and different states the coincidence was too high that this was by random chance or the result of a vendor sales person shopping the deal. We have since changed our classification with the reporting agencies in an attempt to be excluded from the Trigger qualifiers… “

Mr. Broom responded:

“Thanks for forwarding this message along to me. I'm compelled to respond as the note is completely off base. First, Direct Capital does not 'poach' deals, rather we compete for every transaction that has a customer looking to obtain financing. We have a sizable sales force with real muscle and a compelling value proposition---simple, fast, and cost efficient financing.

“We are all over the market in the states and win more customer relationships than we lose. As for the comment regarding our sales misrepresentation, this is complete non sense---there's no logical reason we would ever represent ourselves as any company but Direct Capital.

“We have substantial management and technology resources to ensure our sales & marketing activities are consistent with corporate policies. The fact is, there are many companies purchasing our UCC's and calling into our customers representing their companies as affiliates or related parties to Direct Capital. I've initiated several lawsuits (and have prevailed on every one of them) to protect our name. I advise caution to the party making this claim, I take these accusations quite seriously.”

Leasing News would like to thank Mr. Broom for his response. He has always responded to questions and comments and has been forthright in his position. Leasing News has great respect for his executive abilities and integrity.

In addition, compliments should go to Dave Gilbert, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Five Point Capital, who said his company utilizes “trigger data,” and funder Barry Gordon, Exec. VP Sales and Marketing, ACC Capital Center, who said his company tried it, but ceased utilizing this marketing method. Both were forthright in their position.

The following also spoke out that they were not in favor of this marketing method:

John Boettigheimer, VP/General Manager, Pioneer Capital
Brett Butler, Butler Capital
Judy DiVincenzo, President, GCR Capital
Robert J Hunter, CMO & EVP, LEAF Financial Corporation
Terey Jennings, CLP, Financial Pacific Leasing, LLC
Curt P. Kovash, GM/Sr. VP, U.S. Bank Manifest Funding Services
Joseph LaLeggia, President & CEO, Irwin Commercial Finance
Allan Levine, Chief Operating Officer, Madison Capital
Curtis E. Lysne, CLP, Vice President, Portfolio Financial Servicing Co.
Ignacio Sanchez, TriStar Capital, LLC,
Gary H. Souverein, President, Pawnee Leasing
Jay C. Taylor, Dir., Marketing, Harbour Capital Corporation
Ron Wagner, Exec. VP, Pentech

The following companies did not respond after repeated attempts to several officers regarding confirmation or denial of the use of “Trigger Data:”

Balboa Capital, Irvine California
IFC Credit Corporation, Morton Grove, Illinois
Marlin Business Leasing, Mount Laurel, New Jersey

Several insiders told Leasing News that “Balboa Capital Balboa has found (Trigger Data) to be so lucrative that they have stopped all marketing campaigns, a traditional source of calling lists for their 140 sales reps.”

Patrick Byrne, co-founder of Balboa Capital, was contacted several times for a comment regarding this specific information, but did not make a statement of confirmation or denial. Other executives of the firm were also contact, but did not respond.

Leasing News printed responses on Friday, July 11th, from many leading companies, which also produced these comments from other colleagues:

“Madison does not use trigger leads. We are careful to whom we submit reference requests too. And, that includes some banks. Most, these days, will do anything for a warm lead.”

Allan Levine,
Chief Operating Officer

MADI$ON CAPITAL
Equipment and Vehicle Lease Financing Solutions
9D Gwynns Mill Court
Owings Mills, MD 21117

Direct Line: 443.796.7337
Office: 800.733.5529 x 7333
fax: 443.796.7203
alevine@madisoncapital.com
www.madisoncapital.com

---

“I am sorry to hear that there are firms in our industry now utilizing credit bureau trigger leads.

“So what can be done about Trigger Leads? Brokers, the best defense is to get commitment fees from your lessees. Remind them that you are their sole point of contact with your firm. Follow up all deals with a thank you and check up call a week after you pull a credit bureau. Report any deceptive trade practices to anyone who will listen. If you do suspect a trigger lead caused competition, work the deal extremely cheap.

“Funders have a more fundamental question to answer: If a broker is using any deceptive practices, should you be accepting transactions from them? Use of deception is rarely a singular event. A broker who cuts corners in ethics, will usually cost you in the long run. Legally, these trigger leads are not against the law, but I have seen where the use of them often coincides with some questionable behavior.

“If you find a firm exhibiting this type of behavior -report it to your Association, report to Leasing News, report to your funding source. Make a complaint!

“From my perspective, if these firms using trigger leads have to identify themselves up-front for fear of being exposed, then most Lessees will stay their original leasing company. Their closure rate and profits will decline to the point where these expensive leads will no longer be profitable.”

John Boettigheimer
Vice President/General Manager
Pioneer Capital Corporation
A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of IFC Credit Corporation
(800) 521-1308 Extension 1500
Fax (800) 510-4579

---

“I think this was an important story to write about. Trigger files are generated lists of “hits” to D&B, Experian, etc. that tell the buyer of the lists who is acquiring equipment or thinking about entering into a lease. These files are sent to the larger lessors on a weekly basis so if the small broker gets a deal, sends it to a lender who accesses the D&B database, a list of those hits is recorded and sold. Instead of calling thousands of potential lessees to try to find someone acquiring equipment the purchaser of these lists can now focus his sales/calling efforts on only those who are in the market right now. Consequently, these lists have a very high conversion.

“As these larger sources grow they grow at the mercy of the smaller broker who cannot compete due to the financial constraints. Somehow, D&B needs to be clear on their privacy rules so as to disallow and inclusion of the data in these lists. Manifest, LEAF, Bank of the West , etc are all bigger purchasers of D&B units and should band together to get them to opt in or opt out of the database used for these lists.”

Curtis E. Lysne, CLP
Vice President, National Sales and Marketing
Portfolio Financial Servicing Company
(949) 429-6907 direct line
(949) 370-2388 cell
clysne@pfsc.com

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

National Account Manager

Arizona * California * Illinois * Minnesota

TOP PERFORMERS ONLY
SINCE 1995
National Account Manager

60% commission. APP only to $ 250,000. No industry/geo restrictions. Tremendous flexibility/freedom: your home office or our regional offices. BJohnson@Alliancecap.com

www.AllianceCap.com

Sales Representative

We're a progressive leasing company with ambitious growth plans for 2008. If you're a proven sales rep in the small ticket arena and ready to join a winning team, contact us immediately. We offer a competitive comp plan, amazing work environment, and have strong relationships with the major funding sources.
E-mail: recruiter@gen-cap.com .

About the Company: Genesis Commercial Capital, LLC; Irvine, CA

www.gen-cap.com

Vendor Sales Specialists

VENDOR SALES SPECIALISTS
LEASING SALES PROFESSIONALS

Like selling vendor programs and large transactions?
Enjoy international financing programs?
Prefer the advantages of a commission only environment with the security of health and welfare benefits?

CLICK HERE to find out how to have fun again.

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

Leasing 102

by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

Lease instead of Loan

Questions we should ask to create a lease instead of a loan begin with establishing a rent stream that follows cash flow, revenue stream or the timing of income. The current method of GAAP accounting likes to straight line expenses or place them at a time that does not match up with reality or revenue. One of the most important requirements of small business today is to get a handle on their margin. This is hard to do if the expenses are on a different time track than the revenue. By creating an operating lease where the lease payments can be expensed according to the time they are paid, and placing the timing of those payments to coincide with revenue, then the true margin is easy to see and allows a customer to do a cost analysis. Sometimes the rate is not as important as knowing how to mark up your product.

Occasionally the addition of new equipment needs a ramp up period until the equipment and the product it creates, or services, is fully productive. This requires us to create payments that will match the anticipated use of the equipment with a step up lease payment program. However, we can only match cash flow with the payment stream, and not the expenses, if we do not create an operating lease for the lessee’s book classification. It is the operating lease classification that allows for irregular payments that follow equipment use or productivity. But please remember, that if you create an operating lease for the customer you will most of the time also create a qualified tax lease.

The economic stimulus act of 2008 is an excellent program to leave tax dollars in the hands of American business except than given the lack of profits being created this year many businesses are going to be looking for Lessor’s that can use the 50% boost in depreciation and use it to provide them lower rates or payments. This means structured leases will be in vogue because retaining tax benefits make it a lot easier to meet the 90% rule for operating lease classification.

An additional tool of proper structuring besides following revenue is to create floating skip programs to help when an unusual cash storage strikes or creating skips in months when revenue is low. Floating skips are arranged to allow the lessee to skip one payment a year at random to provide a form of payment insurance. Also insurance, maintenance, unexpected down time for repairs or weather can also create needs for floating skips.

Lease payments are easy to allocate between divisions or departments because it is an all encompassing cost. Depreciation, interest, insurance, and maintenance costs become hard to allocate to different areas when they are on different schedules.

Many times companies complete the depreciation schedules for GAAP accounting and then start the next year with no expenses for the equipment only to develop a need to replace the equipment during that year. They would like to have the same expense for each year so it requires the lease to have heaver payments this year that match what next years total expense for the whole year would create. This also requires an operating lease because the rent from the remaining months of the first year will be higher than all of the rest.

Many would say that you cannot create irregular payments for income tax purposes. However the rules are there to stop tax manipulation not preventing irregular payments. If the payments match the use of the equipment and its productivity the IRS agrees with irregular payments. However you must have documentation to prove the anticipated use.

Once you begin to review your customers use of the equipment and the financial make up the firm you will be surprised how many things you can offer to help manage and support the operation so the customer can control his business and create a lease that does way more than just provide financing at a comfortable rate. Leasing is a terrific product with many advantages “if” sold correctly.

Mr. Terry Winders, CLP, has been a teacher, consultant, expert witness for the leasing industry for thirty years and can be reached at leaseconsulting@msn.com or 502-327-8666.
He invites your questions and queries.

Previous #102 Columns:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Leasing_102/Index.htm

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

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

Top Stories --July 7--July 11

Here are the top ten stories most “opened” by readers last week:

(1) Irwin Commercial Finance cuts off brokers
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-07-08.htm#icf

(2) Bank of the West Equipment Finance
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-11-08.htm#bow

(3) OneWorld Leasing Co-Op to Merge?
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-11-08.htm#owl

(4) New Burden for Banks, Discounters, Lessors
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-07-08.htm#burden

(5) Studebaker-Worthington Leasing
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-07-08.htm#stud

(Tie)
(6) Investors lose confidence in troubled bank
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-11-08.htm#trbl

(tie)
(6) Veteran Ken Goodman leads new broker program
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-11-08.htm#prog

(7) Sales makes it Happen—by Adrian Miller
“When Leasing Gets Tough”
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-09-08.htm#sales

(8) Oil Leasing Fraud case expands
http://www.hutchnews.com/Localregional/Fraud2008-07-08T21-54-35

(9) Trigger Leads---Part I--EXCLUSIVE
by Christopher Menkin
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-09-08.htm#trigger

(10) Trigger Leads---Part II
by Christopher Menkin
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/July%202008/07-11-08.htm#trigger

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

Free Lease-vs-Buy Calculator

“Our web-based lease-vs-buy calculator is completely free, provided as a courtesy to the capital equipment leasing community by S.B. Associates, Inc. You can view sophisticated lease-vs-buy analyses right on the web site, or you can print out reports for your customers. You'll appreciate the many sophisticated elements that can reveal the advantages of leasing, such as stepped or skipped rents, alternative minimum tax situations, loss carryforwards, or end of term options.

“We currently offer 5 different lease calculators. In addition to the free lease-vs-buy calculator described above, we offer LeaseMan Express (see below), a lease yield and pricing calculator specifically designed for the needs of the small ticket market and non-tax based leases in the middle market. For tax-based and leveraged leases, we offer the LeaseMan (non-express) version. We also offer two separate calculators specifically designed for consumer vehicle leasing.”

http://lease-vs-buy.com/

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

"World Leasing News is a separate entity and not affiliated with Leasing News "

News Briefs----

Fannie Mae/Mac to borrow from the Federal Reserve
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/13/
AR2008071301512.html

Fannie Mae Scandal: A History
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121599777668249845.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Five Bank Failures in 2008 to date
http://uk.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUKN1130332020080712

Bank Fears Spread After Seizure of IndyMac
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121599581234249669.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Omni Financial Services Notice of Non-Compliance
http://www.centredaily.com/business/story/710473.html

GE Second-Quarter Profit Meets Estimates; Sales Rise
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=atZKGfKUyNzQ

Missoula-Based Trucking Firm Files for Bankruptcy Protection
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/missoula_based_trucking_firm_
files_for_bankruptcy_protection/4420/

Anheuser-Busch Said to Agree to Takeover by InBev
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/41A0370FA33CF5438
62574860015569F?OpenDocument

Miss Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe 2008
http://www.tv.yahoo.com/the-2008-miss-universe-pageant/show/43240/news/urn:
newsml:tv.ap.org:20080714:miss_universe

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

Fire News

http://www.fire.ca.gov/index_incidents.php

Big Sur:
www.surfire2008.org/

[headlines]

----------------------------------------------------------------

You May have Missed---

What Happens When a Bank Fails?
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/chk/20080509-bank-failures-Q-and-A-a1.asp

[headlines]

---------------------------------------------------------------

Sports Briefs----

Favre wants release from Packers
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-packers-favre&prov=ap&type=lgns

[headlines]

----------------------------------------------------------------

California Nuts Briefs---

Governor Signs Evans Legislation Expanding Non-Profit Ties with Wine Industry
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/67881

[headlines]

----------------------------------------------------------------

“Gimme that Wine”

Summer Rose Wine Craze Produces Pink Port, $100 `Cult' Bottles
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a45b0iJp8D5w&refer=muse

Celebrating 25 years at Pine Ridge
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/07/11/wine/
doc4876e33f09788299929779.txt

Vinovation sheds Sebastopol business
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080710/NEWS07/807100397/1339/
news07&title=Vinovation_sold

NS’s first organic winery focused on traditional method sparkling wines
http://atlanticfarmfocus.ca/index.cfm?sid=151168&sc=586

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
The London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-ex) is an electronic exchange for fine wine.
http://www.liv-ex.com/

[headlines]

----------------------------------------------------------------

Calendar Events This Day

France: Bastille Day or Fete National.
Public holiday commemorating the fall of the Bastille at the beginning of the French Revolution, July 14, 1789. Also celebrated or observed in many other countries.

National Macaroni Day

National Town Criers day
A day recognizing the ancient and honorable art and tradition of town crying and the significant contribution town criers make to promoting their respective towns and cities.

Pandemonium Day
http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/July/pandemoniumday.htm

Saint feast Days

http://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/jul.php

[headlines]

----------------------------------------------------------------

The world's largest Gothic cathedral is in new York City. It is the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Amsterdam Avenue and 112th Street. The cathedral measures 601 feet long, 146 feet wide, and has a transept measuring 320 feet from end to end.

[headlines]

----------------------------------------------------------------

Today's Top Event in History

1968-Henry Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit the 500th home run of his career, connecting off lefthander Mike McCormick of the San Francisco Giants. Aaron ended his career as baseball’s home run champ with 755 round trippers to his credit.

[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------

This Day in American History

    1771- Father Junipero Serra founded Mission San Antonio De Padua San Antonio Valley. This valley was the heart of Indian homeland, which ranged from Carmel Valley to Morro Bay. Mission San Antonio produced wine, flour, leather, and everything else to support a population of several thousand souls. After awhile the indigenous people began dying from the Europeans' diseases. Then Mexico won the territory from Spain in a revolution, but began losing political control of California. In 1949, the Randolph Hearst family traded the land with the mission to the U.S. Government.
http://www.pelicannetwork.net/mission.san.antonio.htm
    1773 The first annual conference of the Methodist Church in America convened at St.George's Church in Philadelphia, PA.
    1798—Tax was levied by Congress directly on the states on a direct pro rata tax basis, authority by act of July 14, 1798. It was levied on dwellings, land, and slaves. The amount to be collected was $2 million, which was apportioned to the states in direct ratio to the population.
    1813 - LT John M. Gamble was the first marine to command a ship in battle (prize vessel Greenwich in capture of British whaler Seringapatam).
    1825 - The visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to America in 1824-1825 was in every sense a triumphal procession. The 2nd Battalion, 11th New York Artillery, was one of many militia turned out to welcome him. This unit decided to adopt the title “National Guard” in honor of Lafayette’s command of the Garde Nationale de Paris during the French Revolution. The 11th Battalion, later designated as the 7th Regiment, was prominent in the line of march on the occasion of Lafayette’s final passage through New York en route home to France. Taking note of the troops named for his old command he alighted from his carriage walked down the line clasping each officer by the hand as he proceeded. The 7th New York, with its designation “National Guard” went on to become one of the most famous of all Guard units well into the 20th century. Its nickname has come to represent all American militia for more than century. His visit was extremely well received everywhere he went; a hero of the Revolutionary War.
    1853 - Commodore Matthew Perry met with Prince Toda and Prince Ido at ceremony at Kurihama, Japan, and presented a letter from former Pres. Fillmore to Emperor Osahito requesting trade relations.
    1862- Florence Bascom birthday - U.S. geologist. FB was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. degree from any U.S. university (John Hopkins) and was instrumental in making Bryn Mawr a major center for geology as its longtime, much revered professor. She was the first woman to be elected a fellow of the Geological Society of America. Her domestic partner Julia Anna Gardner (b. 01-26-1882) was also a geologist who did important work in economic geology and assisted in the strategic planning efforts of WWII.
http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/100import/bascom.html
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/GG/fga56.html
    1864-Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest suffers his biggest defeat when Union General Andrew J. Smith routs his force in Tupelo, Mississippi. The battle came just a month after the Battle of Brice's Crossroads, in which Forrest engineered a brilliant victory over a larger Union force from Memphis that was designed to keep him from threatening General William T. Sherman's supply lines in Tennessee. Hoping to neutralize Forrest, Sherman sent Smith's expedition to destroy Forrest and his cavalry. Smith left LaGrange, Tennessee, on June 22 with 14,000 troops. Forrest and his cavalry were part of a 10,000-man force commanded by General Stephen Lee, but Forrest and Lee shared command responsibilities. Forrest's strategy at Tupelo was similar to his tactics at the Battle of West Point, Mississippi, five months earlier. In both battles, Forrest used part of his force to entice the Yankees into a trap. The plan worked well at West Point, but in Tupelo Smith did not take the bait. Instead of driving right at Forrest, Smith dug his troops in around Tupelo. Lee and Forrest were uneasy about attacking the Yankees, but they agreed to try to drive Smith out of Mississippi. The assault began on the morning of July 14. Smith's Union troops were in an ideal position for fending off an attack. The Confederates had to fight uphill across nearly a mile of open terrain. Lee struck one flank and Forrest struck the other. Poor communication ruined the Rebels' coordination, and after three hours they had not breached the Union line. Although Lee was the ranking Confederate, he had offered Forrest command of the battle. Forrest declined, but assigning blame for the defeat is difficult. Union losses stood at 674, while Forrest and Lee lost over 1,300 soldiers.
http://www.civilwarhome.com/natbio.htm
http://ngeorgia.com/people/forrest.html
http://www.blueshoenashville.com/history.html
    1868 - The tape measure was patented by Alvin J. Fellows of New Haven, Connecticut
    1891-African-American John Standard, inventor, receives patent for his improvement on the refrigerator.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bljohnstandard.htm
    1892-- The Baptist Young People's Union held its first national convention in Detroit. The founding of the BYP Union was inspired by the earlier work of Francis E. Clark, a Congregational pastor who founded the first 'modern' youth fellowship in 1881.
    1896-Los Angeles had its greatest 24 hour July rainfall with .24
    1903 -- Novelist Irving Stone born, San Francisco, Ca.
http://www.answers.com/topic/irving-stone
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/Irving_Stone.htm
    1910-Birthday of William Hann, born at Melrose, New Mexico. He was the co-creator of such popular characters as Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear, Snagglepuss and Magilla Gorilla. With partner Joe Barbera, he won sever Academy awards for his Tom and Jerry cartoon shorts and another eight works were nominated. the Hanna-Barbera team created the first animated TV sitcom for adults, The Flintstones (1960), and such favorites as the Jetsons and Scooby-Doo, Where are You? Hanna died at Los Angeles, CA., on March 22,2001.
    1912-Birthday of Woodrow Wilson “ Woody” Guthrie, American folksinger, song writer (“This Land is Your Land,” “Union Maid, “ “Hard Traveling,”) born at Okemah, OK. Traveled the country by freight train singing and listening. Died Oct. 3, 1967 at New York, NY. Father of singer Arlo Guthrie.
http://www.cooper.edu/~george/born2win.html
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wwghtml/wwghome.html
CHORUS: This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York island
From the Redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I was walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me

I roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps
O'er the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
While all around me, a voice was saying
This land was made for you and me

When the sun came shining and I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
As the fog was lifting, a voice was chanting
This land was made for you and me

As I went walking, I saw a sign there
On the sign it said NO TRESPASSING
But on the other side it didn't say nothing
That side was made for you and me!

In the squares of the city, in the shadow of the steeple
In the relief office, I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking that freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me

    1913-Birthday of Gerald Ford, 38th President of the United States(1974-77) Born Leslie King at Omaha, NE. Ford became 41st vice president of the US on December 6, 1973, by appointment, following the resignation of Spiro T. Agnew from that office on October 10,1973. Ford became president on August 9,1974, following the resignation from that office on the day of Richard M. Nixon. He was the first nonelected vice president and president of the US.
    1918-Birthday Jay Forrester, a pioneer in computer memory. Forrester studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he later became a professor and researcher. In 1945, he founded MIT's Digital Computer Laboratory and helped build an early digital computer called the "Whirlwind I." His work at the lab made him realize that existing information storage techniques were slow and, even worse, unreliable. In 1949, he developed a way to use a magnetic cell to store information. The random-access magnetic core memory became a central feature of most digital computers. Forrester later applied computer science to management problems, creating computer simulations of real world problems in manufacturing and other processes/
    1921 -- Sacco and Vanzetti case goes to the jury. At 7:30 in the evening the jury returns its verdict: both are both found guilty of murder in the first degree. Their long years of appeals & massive protests world-wide, begins.
    1923-birthday of Frances Lear, U.S. publisher of Lear Magazine for "the woman who wasn't born yesterday." It failed. It cost her $25 million of the estimated $100-112 million she received as a divorce settlement from her partner-husband Norman Lear, producer of two of TV's biggest hits, All in the Family and Maude, the latter allegedly based on Frances Lear's life as a businesswoman and a feminist activist.
    1929-Birthday of Alan Dawson drums, Marietta PA
    1934 --116ø F (47ø C), Orogrande, New Mexico (state record)
    1936-- 116ø F (47ø C), Collegeville, Indiana (state record)
    1942 - It was their last duet together for Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly when they recorded "Brazil" with the Jimmy Dorsey band.
    1943-The first national monument dedicated to an African-American was the George Washington Carver National Monument, authorized this day, officially established June 14,1951, and dedicated on July 14,1953. It consists of 210 acres about 2.5 miles southwest of Diamond in Newton County, MO. It is administered by the National Park Service.
http://www.nps.gov/gwca/
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/national_parks/washington_carver_area98.pdf
    1947—Top Hits
Peg o’ My Heart - The Harmonicats
I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder - Eddy Howard
Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba - Perry Como
Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) - Tex Williams
    1948 -- The New Yorker publishes J. D. Salinger's intriguing short story of infidelity & self-deception, "Pretty Mouth & Green My Eyes."
    1950 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Mona Lisa," Nat King Cole. The song, which tops Billboard's pop chart for eight weeks, is featured in the film "Capt. Carey, U.S.A.," sells more than 3 million copies. The song receives a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1992.
    1951-Citation, winner of the 1949 Triple Crown, became the first horse to pass the $1 million mark in career earnings by winning the Hollywood Gold Cub, after which the colt was retired. Citation raced 45 times, won $1,085,76--- and finished out of the money only once.
    1955 - The film version of Mister Roberts, starring Henry Fonda and James Cagney, opened in New York. Jack Lemmon later won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the movie received a nomination for Best Picture.
    1955—Top Hits
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
Learnin’ the Blues - Frank Sinatra
Hard to Get - Giselle Mackenzie
A Satisfied Mind - Porter Wagoner
    1957 - On CBS radio, comedian Stan Freberg presented a new, weekly, comedy program. Though Freberg was well known for certain radio commercials, he was a late comer to the radio program race. Television was blamed for the short life of The Freberg show.
    1960 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "I'm Sorry," Brenda Lee.
    1962- - Bobby Vinton’s Roses are Red became the top song in the U.S. The song stayed at the top for four weeks and was the first of four #1 hits for Vinton. The others were: Blue Velvet, There! I’ve Said It Again and Mr. Lonely. Roses are Red was also Vinton’s first million-seller. He had two others: I Love How You Love Me (#9 in 1968) and My Melody of Love (#3 in 1974.)
    1963—Top Hits
Easier Said Than Done - The Essex
Surf City - Jan & Dean
Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport - Rolf Harris
Act Naturally - Buck Owens
    1967- Eddie Mathews of the Houston Astros hit the 500th home run of his career of Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants. Houston beat the Giants, 8-6. Mathews played in the majors from 1952 through 1968 and finished w2ith 512 homers.
    1967 -- Steve Miller Blues Band & the Sunshine Company concert at California Hall in San Francisco.
    1967 - The Who begins its first U.S. tour, opening for Herman's Hermits.
    1968-Henry Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit the 500th home run of his career, connecting off lefthander Mike McCormick of the San Francisco Giants. Aaron ended his career as baseball’s home run champ with 755 round trippers to his credit.
    1968 -- Bill Graham leaves the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco to take over the Carousel Ballroom. Electric Flag & Blue Cheer closed out performances at the Fillmore at Geary & Fillmore streets.
    1971—Top Hits
It’s Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move - Carole King
Indian Reservation - Raiders
You’ve Got a Friend - James Taylor
When You’re Hot, You’re Hot - Jerry Reed
    1973 - The Everly Brothers break up during mid-performance at a show at Knott's Berry Farm in Anaheim, California as Phil storms off the stage, vowing never to sing with his brother again. They much later get back together, as middle-age singers, joining Paul Simon on tour, as Simon says he and Garfunkle were imitating their favorite group: the Everly Brothers.
    1976-The Democratic National Convention nominated Jimmy Carter for the presidency on the first ballot. The next day Sen. Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota was nominated for the vice presidency. November 2 he beat incumbent president Gerald Ford 40,828,929 to 39,148,940. He received 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 297. The Democrats kept a 2-1 Senate majority, 61-38, with one seat going to an independent, and a House majority of 292-143.
    1979-"Bad Girls" by Donna Summer topped the charts and stayed there for 5 weeks.
Bad girls
Talking about the sad girls
Sad girls
Talking about bad girls, yeah

See them out on the street at night, walkin'
Picking up on all kinds of strangers
If the price is right
You can't score if you're pocket's tight
But you want a good time
You ask yourself who they are
Like everybody else
They come from near and far
Bad girls, yeah

Bad girls
Talking about the sad girls, yeah
Sad girls
Talking about bad girls, yeah

Friday night and the strip is hot
Sun's gone down and they're out to trot
Spirit's high and legs look hot
Do you wanna get down
Now don't you ask yourself who they are
Like everybody else, they wanna be a star

Bad girl
Sad girl, you're such a naughty bad girl
Beep-Beep, uh-uh
You bad girl you sad girl
Your such a dirty bad girl
Beep-Beep, uh-uh

Now you and me we're both the same
But you call yourself by different names
Now your mama won't like it when she finds out
That her girl is out at night

Hey, Mister, have you got a dime
Mister, do you want to spent some time
Oh, yeah
I got what you want, you got what I need
I'll be your baby, come and spend it on me
Hey, Mister
I'll spend some time with you
    1979—Top Hits
Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
Bad Girls - Donna Summer
Chuck E.’s in Love - Rickie Lee Jones
Amanda - Waylon Jennings
    1981 - When the All-Star Game was postponed because due to a players strike that had lasted 33 days so far, about 15,000 fans showed up to boo the players, who were not there. The 52nd All-Star classic would not be held until August 9th, and would take place at the Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
    1985 - Baltimore clinched their second consecutive United States Football League championship when they defeated Oakland 28-24. The game was also they last of the league's spring schedule. All 14 teams totaled losses estimated at $63 million. When team owners refused to tally up any more financial losses, the USFL faded away. Plans for the league to resume in the fall of 1986 were never brought up.
    1987 - The All-Star Game had its second-longest game in history when it took the National League 13 innings to defeat the American League in a 2-0 shutout. Played in Oakland, California, the game lasted 3 hours, 39 minutes.
    1987 - The Directors Guild of America initiated a strike in Hollywood, California, against Warner Brothers and Columbia Pictures at 6:00 a.m. At 6:05 a.m. on the same day, a film and television contract of agreement was reached, putting an end to the shortest strike in Hollywood history.
    1987—Top Hits
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
Shakedown - Bob Seger
Songbird - Kenny G
All My Ex’s Live in Texas - George Strait
    1987-- Lt Col Oliver North concludes 6 days of Congressional testimony. Gore was not on the Senate committee, and Lt. North did not name Ossma Bin Linden
http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/usa/oliver-north/
    1993 - The U.S. Postal Service releases stamps honoring four Broadway musicals. The 29-cent stamps feature scenes from "My Fair Lady," "Porgy and Bess," "Show Boat" and "Oklahoma!" and are issued in first day ceremonies in New York's Times Square.
    1995-Big heat wave in the central and eastern U.S. with all time highs at Chicago/Midway with 106, La Crosse, WI with 108
    1995-Boston, MA and Burlington, VT both hit 100 F.
    1995-South Bend, IN at 100 and Toledo, OH at 104 set all-time highs.
    2000-- A report presented to owners, The Commissioner's Initiative: Women and Baseball, finds women make up 46 percent of the average crowd at a big league game and urges major league franchises to make more of an effort to market to women patrons. According to the same report forty-three percent of women could not name a player on their home team's roster.
    2005- Defeating their historical arch rivals, the Giants become the first team to win 10,000 games as a franchise by edging the Dodgers in Los Angeles, 4-3. The Giants, who started as the New York Gothams in 1899, have posted a 10,000-8,511 record during the club’s 123 seasons in the National League.
    2005- The first-known baseball card, which is part of a children's educational game, illustrates several boys playing together in a field as one pitches a ball to another holding a bat, makes its public debut at the Smithsonian Institution. The discovery of the historic card, which was discovered in an attic in Maine, dates to the early 19th century and predates other known cards by several decades.

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

Baseball Poem

WHAT DOES HE KEEP IN HIS BAG?

The slugger keeps something in his bag,
The dark green canvas one that he lugs
To practices and games alike, carrying
His glove separately and his cap on his head
And his cleats already laced tightly.
There is something else that he keeps
In the bag that sits with him on the bench,
That he places carefully in the corner
When he takes the field and checks it
First when he clomps back in.

Everyone has seen him unzip
The long zipper across the top and
Reach inside for something, then pull
His huge hand back without powder
On it or anything sticky. When
Whatever it is moves around, it does
Not create the bulging straight lines
Of books or notebooks. From the way
He carries the bag, it does not appear
To be heavy; in fact, several players
Have discreetly checked the weight,
Jiggling it like a Christmas present.

The slugger is friendly, even to rookies,
And earns his magnanimous salary
Over and over, but he has this green
Canvas bag with something in it
That worries us all.

Written by Tim Peeler
“Waiting for Godot’s First Pitch”
More Poems from Baseball
Published by McFarland and Company

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

SuDoku

The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. What could be simpler?

http://leasingnews.org/Soduku/soduko-main.htm

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------

Daily Puzzle

How to play:
http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm

Refresh for current date:
http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm

[headlines]

--------------------------------------------------------------