About the company: Located on the water in beautiful Newport Beach, California.The environment is positive.

Growing vendor based equipment leasing company   Learn our value proposition   2 Years Sales or Related Exp.   College Degree Preferred   You will work with people that you can trust and respect   Click here to learn more

www.bluestreetcapital.com

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Woodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson (in middle/white shirt) born Midland, Texas, July 23, 1961, actor, Emmy for "Cheers, (1985-1993"), movies "White men Can't Jump," "Natural Born Killers," "The Walker." Hootie & the Blowfish wrote the song “Woody” about him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_Harrelson

Headlines---

NAELB Assoc. Management President Passes Away
    Classified Ads----Sales
        Kit Menkin heard it on the grapevine
Seeking Leasing News Readers Opinion
    Credit Crunch Takes Toll Aviation Financing
        Classified ads---Help Wanted
    Out of State Firm Needs Calif. Lenders License
Sales makes it Happen—by Christopher Menkin
“Types of Leases being used on the Street”
    Fannie and Freddie's New Worry: Exec Pay
        California foreclosures soar to 20-year high
    OTS Cites Keys: Restoring Consumer Confidence
American Express Falls on Profit Decline
    Posting Huge Loss, Wachovia Woes
        $25 Billion May be Cost of Bail Out
        UPS profit falls 21 percent
    Washington Mutual reports loss of $3.3B
News Briefs---
    CalFireNews
        You May have Missed---
    California Nuts Brief---
"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
Bolinas, California

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

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

NAELB Association Management President Passes Away

“Dave Cawood, the President of FSA, our association management company, died on Sunday morning of a heart attack. He was 65 years old and leaves his wife, Sheila of 40 years and their son, who lives in Los Angeles.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Dave during my tenure as board member as well as President of the Board. I found Dave to be a wonderful man of great character and calm approach to his task and an excellent leader of his team at FSA. I believe he raised the bar in the quality of service and overall management of FSA during his term there. He will be sorely missed.

“Please join me in extending our sympathy and prayers to the Cawood family as well as his FSA family in this time of sorrow.” Jack Harvey

NAELB Board President
jharvey@efsolutionsinc.com

Expressions of sympathy should be made to: The Harlan Alumni Association
Donations may be sent to:

Harlan Independent Schools
420 E. Central Street, Harlan, Kentucky 40831
Attn: Harlan Alumni Association

Thank you,

Monica Harper
Executive Administrator
National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers
455 South Fourth Street, Suite 650
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 800/996-2352
Fax: 877/875-4750
www.naelb.org

Obituary from Kentucky.com:

Former NCAA official Cawood dies

By Art Jester
ajester@herald-leader.corn

Dave Cawood, a Harlan County native and former high-ranking NCAA executive who played a crucial role in developing the NCAA men's basketball Final Four into a national sports extravaganza, died Sunday in Louisville. He was 64.

Mr. Cawood had been out for a morning jog or walk when he returned home and collapsed. An emergency unit rushed him to Baptist East Hospital. It is not known whether he was pronounced dead on arrival or died at the hospital.

Mr. Cawood was a first cousin of the late Cawood Ledford, the legendary radio voice of the Kentucky Wildcats. Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but it has already been announced that Mr. Cawood will be buried in the Cawood family cemetery in Harlan County, near Cawood Ledford's burial plot, said Sam Dunn, a former executive colleague of Mr. Cawood at Host Communications.

Although Mr. Cawood did not become the Kentucky icon that his cousin Cawood Ledford did, he nevertheless forged an estimable career in big-time college athletics in his own right, with friends and associates from coast to coast.

"Dave was one of those people that other people across the country would call for advice," Dunn said. Mr. Cawood was a top NCAA official in charge of media relations for about a quarter-century.

In that role, Mr. Cawood and another NCAA executive, Tom Jernstedt, worked in the early 1970s to build the men's Final Four into the gripping nationwide basketball spectacle that it quickly became.

Mr. Cawood and his wife, Sheila, an elementary teacher in Bullitt County, returned to Kentucky, settling in Lexington.

He became executive vice president in charge of collegiate sports at Host Communications, the company founded and run for many years by sports marketing entrepreneur Jim Host until it was sold in 1999.

At Host, Mr. Cawood, had oversight of almost every corporate administrative division and was executive vice president of NCAA Football, which represented the American Football Coaches Association, the Collegiate Commissioners Association, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the NCAA.

He oversaw negotiations with CBS for a $1.725 billion agreement the first $1 billion dollar rights fees for a sports event -­that included corporate sponsorships, licensing, and television and media provisions.

Host said that patience was Mr. Cawood's "best asset." His low-key, neighborly demeanor allowed him to keep a cool head during tough negotiations and to maintain friendships with people on all levels, because he was content to work behind the scenes and let others stand out front and take much of the credit.

"He treated people fairly, and yet he was tough when he needed to be," Host said. "He never had any airs about him."

The Cawoods moved to Louisville earlier this year, where Mr. Cawood had become president of FSA, an association management firm in 2007.

Mr. Cawood was inducted into the Halls of Fame for the College Sports information Directors of America and the United States Basketball Writers Association.

Mr. Cawood was a graduate of Harlan High School. He earned his bachelor's degree at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He was sports information director at Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State universities, Baylor, Southern Methodist University and at the University of Arkansas before he joined the NCAA staff.

Mr. Cawood and his wife had a son, Jeff Cawood, a television producer for Fox Sports in Los Angeles. Services for Mr. Cawood will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Harlan Baptist Church, 305 Mound Street, Harlan. Visitation will be at the church from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Reach Art Jester at (859) 231-3489 or 1-800-950-6397, ext. 3489.
CI 2008 Kentucky.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved,
http://www.kentucky.com

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Classified Ads----Sales

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]

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Kit Menkin heard it on the grapevine

Heard on the grapevine a leasing company recently sold in the Northwest is reportedly soliciting business directly with lessees that were submitted through their broker channel. The new company and its new management appear to be ignoring any covenants not to compete.

For instance, one of the telephone solicitors called the wrong person: the lessee just happened to be owned by the broker’s brother. The caller told the lessee that he was with XYZ Company and that XYZ Company funded these 3 transactions for the lessee. He actually told the lessee (the broker’s brother) that he knew the other transactions were handled by a broker but the lessee would save money by doing his next lease directly with XYZ Company.

Speaking of the Northwest, Balboa Capital CEO and co-founder Pat Byrne is aware the man he named president this April 24 keeps his own hours, plus still has his Spokane, Washington web site up. Those that knew him at American Express Business Finance say they are not surprised. Leasing News requested a comment from both parties; none was received. Here is the original site:
http://www.philsilva.com/
And if taken down by the time your read this, here is a copy: http://leasingnews.org/PDF/PhilSilva.PDF

Looking for confirmation that Nationwide Funding with offices in Irvine, California and Chicago, Illinois has been purchased by American Capital Group, Irvine, California. Nationwide was started by Josh Splinter, June 4, 1998. It appears American Capital is the larger company, founded October 25, 1995; Carl Heaton, CEO, on the Leasing News “broker-lessor” list.

It is sad to report that SunBridge Capital does not appear to be out of the woods yet. This company that specializes in trucks and trailers is the victim of the high price of diesel:

"I was told by Chris Gregory that a deal that we have ready for funding wont be funded till possibly the end of the week. When we tried to pin him down he said Friday, and maybe he’d be able to surprise us. “

"Just went through a Trucks at Hand deal from hell. Took a month for the equipment to be ready as they insisted that they were doing everything to get it DOT ready. When the equipment got to Tennessee to be inspected it failed as the 2008 trailer had no brakes. There was an exhaust leak into the cab where they made a horrible repair job from where the truck had been obviously jackknifed, and the list goes on."

The last one had photographs they sent to us. It seems the price of oil has affected this industry, and the divide between subprime and better credits is getting much wider.

A major Southern California funder has reportedly found "Trigger Leads" so lucrative that they have stopped all marketing campaigns, and use the “trigger data” exclusively. Reportedly the man in charge of this department has also been allowing the soliciting of customers that have come through the broker channel for the direct channel as well, using a criteria he believes won’t come back to haunt him: Calling approvals that never funded or pended deals that never were completed. The broker agreement specifically states they will not do that but they are doing it anyway. He feels since they didn’t go through, they are open game.

Jack Harvey, CLP, President/CEO, Enterprise Financial Solutions, and President, National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers (NAELB) told Leasing News that NAELB is going to take an official position on the use of Trigger Leads: “We are discussing our position as a Board as we speak and will let you know when we are ready to release. Thank you for your efforts in investigating this very important issue to our industry."

The question will then be how strong a stand they will NAELB be taking, meaning will it affect its members who abide by their code of ethics and their association position.

It appears none of the other leasing association have a position, and are not seeking one.

There have reportedly been troubles with trying to sign up to Sudhir Amembal and Lisa Rafter with Susie Angelucci new publication to begin July 31st: World Leasing News. While we are not affiliated, Leasing News has received reports that the “signing on” program jams up. We suggested contacting lisarafter@rw-assoc.com direct. Several told us they didn’t want to bother, especially when so much information was being asked, obviously for marketing purposes.

Look for a major announcement the week of August 4th about the formation of a new leasing company that will really set the small ticket market on its ear!!! A Leasing News Exclusive. No one else has this inside!!! To many it will not be a surprise. That’s all Leasing News is going to say
at this time.

[headlines]

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Seeking Leasing News Readers Opinion

In the last year this one company has received the most complaints about its “residual.” Leasing News readers have not seen the complaints as they were resolved, either going to $1.00 or 10% plus return of extra payments. Originally “Fair Market Value” was claimed, but other documents, including proposals, indicated otherwise.

Here is one for a CNC Lathe for a consider amount of money, and the company is taking the lessee to court. The lessee has consulted an attorney who basically says it is his word against the leasing company’s word.

Now here is the dispute. When the original contract was signed, the Leasing Company allegedly provided an addendum that the equipment in question could be purchased for $101. The lessee signed it, made copies of all that were allegedly provided to him by the leasing company, and sent it in.

The lessor is located in Southern California. The lessee is located in Northern California, a small machine shop. The transaction was by telephone and UPS.

At the end of the lease, he wanted to send in the $101. The response was the leasing company never signed the addendum and therefore it was not valid (names have been deleted as this has not made the Leasing News Bulletin Board at this time.)

The document is difficult to reproduce and a PDF would show the names (which appears also to collaborate the lessee’s story that the original documents had a $101 buy-out, not
“fair market value”):

Lessor: ***************

BY:
Vice President
Lessee:

***********************************
By; /(2.1,

Name: ************** Title: Individual/Owner

The point being is the lessee claims the lessor provided the document for the signing of the lease, and the signed lease and documents were returned after the lease started. He never reviewed that the $101 addendum signed addendum was missing. Was this then an oversight of the leasing company or one of their tricks?
Let me know what you think: kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)

[headlines]

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Credit Crunch Takes Its Toll on Aviation Financing

ELFA eNews Daily

Airline Business
(07/08) ; Mueller, Laura

The finance available for the aviation industry is being reduced by the global credit squeeze, as doubts were raised at Commercial Aviation Online's recent Inside Air Finance conference that European banks will fund the industry's massive financing bill.

"There is going to be a crunch for liquidity in this market that will lead to significant increases in margins," projects Natixis Transport Finance's Christian McCormick. "

Combined with the increase in the cost of fuel, it is evident that the industry is about to change quite dramatically." British Airways group treasurer George Stinnes reports that the banking industry cannot lend capital to third parties, or even to other banks, while Alliance & Leicester's Martin Webb cites internal competition between departments within banks for capital allocation as well as the uncertainty of future aircraft values.

"If we are lending at 70 percent today and values fall 30 percent, the bank is effectively an equity player suddenly with 100 percent exposure to asset security, whilst only getting a senior debt return," he notes.

DVB Bank board member Bertrand Grabowski has difficulty understanding why manufacturers elect to focus on operating lessors as an additional funding source when banks are providing their capital, or the capital markets when open.

There was consensus among bankers at the conference that tighter credit markets have resulted in higher pricing because of higher fund costs, less financial engagement from the hedge fund and private equity

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/07/21/225907/credit-crunch-takes-its-toll-
on-aviation-financing.html

[headlines]

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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

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.

About the company: Located on the water in beautiful Newport Beach, California.The environment is positive.

Growing vendor based equipment leasing company   Learn our value proposition   2 Years Sales or Related Exp.   College Degree Preferred   You will work with people that you can trust and respect   Click here to learn more

www.bluestreetcapital.com

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

[headlines]

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Out of State Firm Needs Calif. Lenders License

California Court of Appeals Strikes Down Choice of Law Provision
Where Lender Was Not Licensed as a Financial Lender

Previously, many counsel for lenders opined that while an out of state lender’s activities in the State of California might otherwise require the lender to be licensed under the California Lenders License Law, a choice of law provision in the loan documents (e.g., “This loan shall be governed by the laws of New York”) would make the loan subject to out of state law where no Lenders License is required.

Last week, the California Court of Appeals removed that argument from table ruling that a Nevada lender with a Nevada choice of law provision must nevertheless abide by the California Lenders Law in making loans in California because California had a greater economic interest in the provisions of the loan where the loans were made to California consumers. The Plaintiff alleged that the lender violated the California Lenders Law by failing to disclose a 34% interest rate and sought certification for Class Action status.

The lower court after trial held for the lender, ruling that notwithstanding the alleged violations, California law did not apply to the loans because of a choice of law provision in the loan documents. On appeal, the California Court of Appeal ruled that the California Courts have a greater interest in the California loans than Nevada does, because of the preamble to the Lenders Law, which requires the courts to interpret the provisions liberally, and because that California has a policy of protecting consumer. Calling the Lenders Law “fundamental, unwaivable, and integrated” the Court held that California law would apply and the lower court would determine the liability of the lender on remand.

The case, is Brack v. Omni Loan Company (California Court of Appeal 7-16-08).

Submitted by
Tom McCurnin
Barton, Klugman & Oetting
333 South Grand Ave.
Suite 3700
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Voice: (213) 621-4000
Direct (213) 617-6129
Fax: (213) 625-1832

Visit our Web Site at www.bkolaw.com

Lease/Loan Laws:
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/June%202008/06-25-08.htm#lic

[headlines]

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Sales makes it Happen—by Christopher Menkin

“Types of Leases being used on the Street”

In presenting a lease, you should be aware of all the types of leases that are available to the lessee. You should be familiar with them, even if your company does not offer them.

It is a misconception to think there are only three types of leases:

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

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

**Deposit Lease---Deposit to seller of equipment, interest only until equipment delivered and accepted.
* One hour driving time from our office, minimum $20,000 total lease

The Master Lease pays for equipment on a schedule of delivery of equipment, with the lessee paying "interest" interim rent until all the equipment is delivered and accepted, then the lease will start.

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

One of the most popular are the deferred payment lease:

60 DAY DEFERRAL PLAN "A"

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

60 DAY DEFERRAL PLAN "B"

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

90 DAY DEFERRAL PLAN

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

$19.95 Security Deposit

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

7 x $100 PROGRAM

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

6 x $99 PROGRAM

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

STEP UP RATE PROGRAM

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

Waive Payment Voucher

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

Requirements include:

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

Annual, Semi-Annual, and Quarterly Payment Plan

Payments are made annually, semi-annually, or quarterly. This is popular for municipalities or government funded organizations.

Seasonal Payment Plan

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

Perhaps the leasing company who may have most of these plans is US Bank Manifest for their direct lease program, as well as there broker and discounter program where they also offer an insurance form that protects and spells out to brokers their policy as long as the broker continues to do business with US Bank Manifest, plus terms and conditions upon the ending of the relationship. The plans above were originally from US Bank Manifest.

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

[headlines]

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Fannie and Freddie's New Worry: Exec Pay

Federal lawmakers target "excessive" salaries and bonuses, even though there's a big management job ahead for the two troubled lenders.

Roy Harris
CFO.com | US

As the challenges to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue to be severe — based on new estimates of exposure to fair-value losses in their investments — the next hurdle may be finding a way to compensate top executives trying to lead the mortgage companies out of the wilderness.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers are beginning to see curbs on executive pay at the two quasi-government institutions as necessary to reduce constituent objections to any rescue plans, according to an Associated Press report.

Senator Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that "past practices of awarding huge bonuses and higher executive salaries call into question the prudence of extending an unlimited credit line of taxpayer money to the companies whose management practices have been questionable over recent years." He called for capping executive pay "at reasonable levels" for the two firms. He added that he believed the company boards should sue to recover earlier bonuses paid.

Fannie Mae's president ahd chief executive, Daniel Mudd, received compensation valued by the company at $12.2 million last year, including a $2.2 million bonus, according to the AP.

The wire service noted that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's critics, including both Republicans and Democrats, have often complained about rich compensation during good times, as well.

Meanwhile, the regulator for Fannie and Freddie, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (Ofheo), said the two mortgage companies might have to add to writedowns to reflect expanded purchases of non-guaranteed subprime and other mortgage securities in 2004 and 2005, while other investors were fleeing to safer investments, Bloomberg News reported.

In its annual mortgage market report, Ofheo said that $217 billion worth of the non-agency securities had been hit with falling values, forcing other financial firms to write down their holdings. The non-guaranteed subprime securites made up 9.2 percent of the companies' combined portfolio, the Ofheo report said.

"To the extent that those institutions recognize fair value losses on their private-label portfolios under GAAP, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may have to do so as well," the Ofheo report said.

Freddie Mac President received: $20 million
http://www.leasingnews.org/#error

[headlines]

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California foreclosures soar to 20-year high

In addition, the number of default notices - an indicator of possible future foreclosures - jumped during the period between April and June, according to DataQuick Information Systems.

In all, 63,061 homes were lost to foreclosure in the second quarter - the most in any quarter since 1988, when the firm began tracking foreclosures.

Foreclosures increased about 33 percent from the previous quarter and jumped 261 percent, compared with the same quarter last year.

Notices of default, meanwhile, more than doubled from the year-ago period to 121,341.

The worst foreclosure numbers in California came from the state capital of Sacramento with 11,470 Notice of Default & Notice of Trustee sales in the second quarter of 2008.

The three hardest hit cities were Sacramento, Stockton, and San Jose. On the flip side, San Francisco was the least affected by the foreclosure crisis with only 601 Notice of Default and Trustee Sales in Q2 and only .56 percent of homes entering into some stage of foreclosure.

“The percentage of households entering foreclosure in the area was almost as shocking a number as the Notice of Default and Notice of Trustee Sales in Southern California,” said Serdar Bankaci, founder of Default Research. “In Riverside County 9.54 percent of the households entered foreclosure, while the number was slightly lower in San Bernardino at 7.45 percent. Considering that the national average is 2 percent, it is clear this area is still getting buried by foreclosures.”

The news was worse for Riverside which was also one of the top cities in the region for foreclosures, along with Los Angeles and San Diego. All over the region, inventories are increasing while median home prices are decreasing. However, as Bankaci points out, there is some positive news for people looking to invest.

“A volatile market ushers in the ability to make money,” said Bankaci, who offers foreclosure lists two to three weeks ahead of the competition. “Three words: Buy and rent. Rental homes are in demand due to the credit crunch in the area. There are literally thousands of deals out there for properties at discounted prices to be turned into rentals.”

The hardest hit counties with the largest number of documents per household are Riverside (9.54%), San Bernardino (7.45%) and San Diego (4.07%)

More information is available here: http://www.defaultresearch.com/

[headlines]

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### Press Release ###########################

OTS Cites Keys to Restoring Consumer Confidence

Washington, D.C. — Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) Director John Reich cites three keys to restoring the confidence of consumers and investors in the financial services industry.

In a speech at the Summer Meeting of the American Bankers Association, Reich said recent news reports about health problems of financial institutions have shaken the public confidence essential to the industry.

The first key is for managers of financial institutions and regulators to refocus attention on risk management, he said. Secondly, all entities that originate home mortgages must abide by the same set of rules. The third key is to end the speculation about the condition of particular financial institutions, the Director said.

He noted that a run on deposits at IndyMac Bank, a California thrift that was already in financial distress, drove that institution to failure. Following the IndyMac closing, research firms and analysts developed lists of troubled banks and thrifts, and news reports about those institutions fueled concerns by consumers.

“Seemingly oblivious to the fact that they could drive otherwise healthy banks to fail and push troubled institutions away from potential solutions toward ruin, TV reporters staked out banks on these rogue lists, interviewed customers and stoked public fears,” Reich said.

He also urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to pursue aggressively any information about rumors that fraudulently manipulate the markets.

“It is my hope that perpetrators of damaging misinformation will consider the consequences of their actions before the damage is done and that, when their actions are illegal, they should face the consequences,” the Director said. “I would also hope that further public discussions or media stories regarding insured depository institutions would include a reminder to the public that the deposit insurance system is safe and that no depositor has ever lost a penny of insured deposits in an FDIC insured bank or thrift.”

The full text of the speech is attached:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Reich_Remarks.pdf

[headlines]

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

News Briefs----

American Express Falls on Profit Decline
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=agfeqRIlcpIY

Posting Huge Loss, Wachovia Tries to End Lending Woes
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/business/23bank.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Cost of Loan Bailout, if Needed, Could Be $25 Billion
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/business/economy/23treasury.html?hp

UPS profit falls 21 percent in second quarter
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/07/22/ups_earnings_drop.html

"Free checks:" Washington Mutual reports loss of $3.3B
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008066316_webwamu22.html

UAL shares up 50 percent despite $2.73B loss, 5,500 'frontline' job cuts
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chicago-ual-earnings-uaua-united-airlines-jul22
,0,1398443.story

Steve Jobs' health rumors rattle Apple investors
http://www.mercurynews.com/businessheadlines/ci_9963781?nclick_check=1

[headlines]

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Fire News

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

Big Sur:
www.surfire2008.org/

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You May have Missed---

Woes Afflicting Mortgage Giants Raise Loan Rates
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/business/23rates.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

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California Nuts Briefs---

SF Mayor Newsom Cracks Code Case

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/22/BAGF11T91U.DTL&tsp=1

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(This is a free “ad” for our good friends the Bateman’s,
proprietors of Thunder Mountain Kona coffee)

“Gimme that Wine”

Chateau Montelena to be sold
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080722/NEWS07/637699106/
1350&title=Chateau_Montelena_sold

Winery owner Bob Kunde dies
http://www.sonomanews.com/articles/2008/07/21/news/doc48852b4e33523565118982.txt

Iowa wineries see growth
http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2008/07/21/Metro/
Iowa-Wineries.See.Growth-3392873.shtml

Former NFL Quarterback Drew Bledsoe "Doubles Back" to His Hometown Roots to Launch New Wine Project in Walla Walla
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/former-nfl-quarterback-drew-bledsoe/
story.aspx?guid=%7B191F2ADC-9EA3-45BB-A9B4-3485BE0ABCE3%7D&dist=hppr

Riverside, CA. Proposed Wine Country zoning change called threat to small businesses
http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_wine22.31182a5.html

Petaluma Post Wine Tasting---Cabernet Sauvignon
http://www.petalumapost.com/winelady/pdf%20-%202008%20July%20wines.pdf

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/

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Calendar Events This Day

Egypt: Revolution Day. National holiday.
anniversary of the Revolution in 1953, which was launched by army officers and changed Egypt from a monoarchy to a republic led by Nasser.

Leo, the Lion ((July 23-Aug. 22).
In the astronomical/astrological zodiac, which divides the sun’s apparent orbit into 12 segments, the period July 23-Aug 22 is traditionally identified as the sun sign of Leo, the Lion. The ruling celestial body in the sun.

National Hot Dog Day
http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/July/hotdogday.htm

National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/July/vanillaicecream.htm

Saint Apollinaris: Feast Day
First Bishop of Ravennna, Italy, made a martyr by Tittus Flavius Vespasianus AD 70 (Tittus lead the siege of Jerusalem, in which more than half a million of the inhabitants perished’ perhaps the last battle where a Jewish nation fought until the 20th century.) Apollinaris shrine in the Benedictine Abbey of Classe in Ravenna was once a popular pilgrimage destination. Apollinaris was credited with many miracles. He also appeared to St. Romuald, the founder of the Camaldolese. He is patron of Ravenna, Burthscheid, Aachen, Remagen, and Düsseldorf, and he is invoked against gout, epilepsy, and diseases of the sexual organs. Apollinaris is depicted as a bishop in liturgical art. His cult was confined to local calendars in 1969.

Saint feast Days

• St. Anne
• St. Bridget of Sweden
• St. Apollinaris
• St. Valerian
• Sts. Trophimus & Theophilus
• St. John Cassian
• St. Liborius
• St. Rasyphus and Ravennus
• St. Romlua
• Martyrs of Bulgaria

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

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A cucumber is 96% water.

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Today's Top Event in History

1888-Birthday of one of my favorite authors: Raymond Chandler. He did not start writing until later in his life, publishing his first novel, The big Sleep. It brought him fame and to Hollywood with his detective character Philip Marlowe, a Los Angels private eye who liked “liquor and women and chess and a few others things.” Chandler was known for spare prose that featured gripping similes: “The wet air was as cold as the ashes of love” or “She had eyes like strange sin.” He authored and co-authored several Hollywood screen plays, as well as had a popular detective cartoon series. Born at Chicago, IL, Chandler died at Lo Jolla, CA, on March 26, 1959. Perhaps one of the best books about Chandler is “The Long Embrace: Raymond Chandler and the Woman he Loved” by Judith Freeman. Perhaps you need to be a fan to really appreciate this book, which I am.

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This Day in American History

    1637 -- King Charles of England hands over the American colony of Massachusetts to Sir Fernando Gorges, one of the founders of the Council of New England.
    1664 – Four British ships arrived in Boston to drive the Dutch out of NY.
    1788 - A weather diary kept by George Washington recorded that the center of a hurricane passed directly over his Mount Vernon home. The hurricane crossed eastern North Carolina and Virginia before moving into the Central Appalachians. Norfolk, VA, reported houses destroyed, trees uprooted, and crops leveled to the ground.
    1829-William Austin Burt of Mount Vernon, Michigan, patented the first typewriter on July 23, 1829. The design of the keyboard was changed several times without much thought, but the most common was the one designed basically so you could use the keys on one line to type out “typewriter.”
http://www.michmarkers.com/Pages/S0570.htm
    1827-The first swimming school in the US opened at Boston, MA. Its pupils included John Quincy Adams and James Audubon.
    1850-Congregation Emanu-el founded in San Francisco.
    1865--William Booth founds the Salvation Army in England. 1885- Ulysses S. Grant died at 63 and was buried this day in a mausoleum on Riverside Drive, New York City, overlooking the Hudson River. The funeral of Gen. Grant was designated a day of national mourning. The body was taken to New York City on a special train shrouded in black curtains. The former president lay in state at City Hall, where citizens who wished to pay their last respects gathered in a line a mile long Day and night for two days the mourners filed past. The funeral procession to the tomb was enormous and people packed the sidewalks and rooftops along its route.
http://www.nps.gov/gegr/
http://starship.python.net/crew/manus/Presidents/usg/usgobit.html
http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/nbk/bios/18pgran.html
http://saints.css.edu/mkelsey/facts.html
    1885-the first state banking association was the Texas Bankers’ Association, which was organized at Lampasas, TX, with an initial membership of 31. The first president was James Francis Miller.
    1886- A 23 year-old unemployed Irish immigrant Stephen Brodie was pulled from the East River, claiming that he had just jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge. The newspapers of the day headlined his survival. Although Brodie was unable to produce any objective witnesses to say he had performed the feat---he was accused of having his friends drop a dummy from the bridge while he slipped unnoticed into the water from the riverbank---the newspapers made him famous. In 1894, he starred in a play called “On the Bowery,” during which he rescued the heroine by jumping off a bridge built onstage.
    1888-Birthday of one of my favorite authors: Raymond Chandler. He
did not start writing until later in his life, publishing his first novel, The big Sleep. It brought him fame and to Hollywood with his detective character Philip Marlowe, a Los Angels private eye who liked “liquor and women and chess and a few others things.” Chandler was known for spare prose that featured gripping similes: “The wet air was as cold as the ashes of love” or “She had eyes like strange sin.” He authored and co-authored several Hollywood screen plays, as well as had a popular detective cartoon series. Born at Chicago, IL, Chandler died at Lo Jolla, CA, on March 26, 1959. Perhaps one of the best books about Chandler is “The Long Embrace: Raymond Chandler and the Woman he Loved” by Judith Freeman. Perhaps you need to be a fan to really appreciate this book, which I am.
    1903-The first two-cylinder Ford Model A was delivered to its owner, Dr. Ernst Pfenning of Chicago, on this day in 1903. The Model A was the result of a partnership between Henry Ford and Detroit coal merchant Alexander Malcomson. Ford had met Malcomson while working at Edison Illuminating Company: Malcomson sold him coal. The Model A, designed primarily by Ford’s assistant C. Harold Wills, was the affordable runabout that Ford needed to begin marketing his company’s stock.
In the next year Ford raised enough stock to release a line of cars and to incorporate as the Ford Motor Company. The company was capitalized at $100,000 at that time, but by 1927, the Ford Motor Company was valued at $700 million. Ford’s company grew quickly, but it wasn’t until the release of the Model T that Ford took the position of our nation’s largest carmaker.
Henry Ford was the father of mass production. His idea of reducing the cost of automobiles by manufacturing them on an assembly line revolutionized industry
The Model T kept Ford number one in the industry until production was stopped in 1927, and Ford relinquished its place to Chevrolet. The second Model A, released in November of 1927, was a great success. Between 1927 and 1931, 4.3 million Model A Fords were made. The stylish, dependable, and affordable Model A reaffirmed Ford’s position as a premier automaker at the time. Sales for the Model A would never approach those of its forerunner the Model T, due to the onset of the Depression. As sales slumped, Henry Ford decided to release a new car model in 1932. He introduced the speedy Ford V-8, known as the fastest car in the land at the time. Ford would never again regain hegemony atop the car industry.
    1904-Charles E. Menches of Akron, Ohio, Missouri “discovers” the ice cream cone. The City of Akron gives him credit for hamburgers and corn snacks. While many give him credit, there are others who also have claim.
http://www.zingersicecream.com/history.htm
http://www.idfa.org/facts/icmonth/page8.htm
http://www.icescreamers.com/NewsletterArticle.html
The Official Day in History gives the credit to Menches:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jul23.html
As does the official website for the City of Akron, Ohio
http://www.ohwy.com/oh/a/akron.htm
It also may be that he invented the hamburger as we know it, too:
http://ph.infoplease.com/askeds/11-28-00askeds.html
http://www.iabeef.org/fun/trivia.htm
    1908-Birthday of Charles Melvin “Cootie” Williams, Mobile, AL
http://www.blackhistory.eb.com/micro/727/46.html
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,510077,00.html?artist=Cootie+Williams
http://www.savoystyle.com/cootie_williams.html
    1915-birthday of trumpet player Emmett Berry, Macon, GA
http://www.harlem.org/people/berry.html
http://www.harlem.org/oldsite/greatday.html
    1916--American composer Ben Weber born St. Louis, MO. Died 9 May 1979, New York. One Of the First Americans to use twelve tone Technique, in a very melodic way.
    1918- Birthday of Harold Henry “Pee Wee” Reese, famous short stop player for the Brooklyn Dodgers, who I saw play often. Died August 14,1999
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/reese_pee_wee.htm
(perhaps my favorite personal baseball player, captain of the team, short stop. Readers probably get sick of me saying how baseball players would stay after games to autographs balls or pictures for free, thank you for coming to the game. )
    1924-Birthday of African American physician Louis Tompkins Wright. Louis Tompkins Wright, a young African American physician interning at Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, DC, created a way to observe the Schick test on darkly pigmented skin. His discovery opened the way for the immunization of people of color against diphtheria and contributed to saving countless lives.
http://www.africana.com/Facts/bl_fact_237.htm
    1925-Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees hit the first grand slam of his career as the Yankees defeated the Washington Senators, 11-7. Gehrig hit 22 other grand slams and still holds the major league record.
    1930-Tenor saxophone player Richie Kamuca Birthday
http://shopping.yahoo.com/shop?d=product&id=1927005865&clink=dmmu.artist&a=b
    1934-Birthday of Roman Catholic Cardinal James Gibbons, champion of labor and advocate of the separation of church and state, was born to Irish immigrants in Baltimore, Maryland.
( lower part of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jul23.html )
    1934-Birthday of soprano sax player Steve Lacy, New York, NY.
http://www.furious.com/perfect/stevelacy.html
http://stevelacy.free.fr/
http://www.northwestern.edu/jazz/artists/lacy.steve/discog.html#lacy_discography
    1935-Birthday of Cleveland Duncan, lead singer of the 1950's rhythm-and-blues group, the Penguins, was born. The Los Angeles-based Penguins were responsible for one of the great r-and-b songs of the decade, 1954's "Earth Angel," which by 1966 had sold four-million copies. The record went to number eight on the Billboard pop chart, but a white Canadian group, the Crew Cuts, had an even bigger pop hit when they covered "Earth Angel" in 1955. "Earth Angel" hit the Billboard Hot 100 again in 1986 in a revival by the New Edition.
http://www.alldoowop.com/ps.html
http://members.tripod.com/~arty85/penguins.html
    1936- birthday of Don Drysdale, elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. He was a pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1956 to 1969, compiling a Won-lost record of 209—166 with a career ERA of 2.95. Following his Playing career he became successful and popular broadcast announcer for the Chicago White Sox and then the Dodgers. He was born at Van Nuys, CA, and died at Montreal, Canada, July 3, 1993.
    1941-Sonny Dunham records big band version of “Memories of You.”
    1943-birthday of guitarist/song writer Tony Joe White, Oak Grove, LA
http://www.tonyjoewhite.net/
    1944--BOYCE, GEORGE W. G., JR. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 112th Cavalry Regimental Combat Team. Place and date. Near Afua, New Guinea, 23 July 1944. Entered service at: Town of Cornwall, Orange County, N.Y. Birth: New York City, N.Y. G.O. No.: 25, 7 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Afua, New Guinea, on 23 July 1944. 2d Lt. Boyce's troop, having been ordered to the relief of another unit surrounded by superior enemy forces, moved out, and upon gaining contact with the enemy, the two leading platoons deployed and built up a firing line. 2d Lt. Boyce was ordered to attack with his platoon and make the main effort on the right of the troop. He launched his attack but after a short advance encountered such intense rifle, machinegun, and mortar fire that the forward movement of his platoon was temporarily halted. A shallow depression offered a route of advance and he worked his squad up this avenue of approach in order to close with the enemy. He was promptly met by a volley of hand grenades, 1 falling between himself and the men immediately following. Realizing at once that the explosion would kill or wound several of his men, he promptly threw himself upon the grenade and smothered the blast with his own body. By thus deliberately sacrificing his life to save those of his men, this officer exemplified the highest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces.
    1944--*EUBANKS, RAY E. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 503d Parachute Infantry. Place and date: At Noemfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea, 23 July 1944. Entered service at: LaGrange, N.C. Born: 6 February 1922, Snow Hill, N.C. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Noemfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea, 23 July 1944. While moving to the relief of a platoon isolated by the enemy, his company encountered a strong enemy position supported by machinegun, rifle, and mortar fire. Sgt. Eubanks was ordered to make an attack with 1 squad to neutralize the enemy by fire in order to assist the advance of his company. He maneuvered his squad to within 30 yards of the enemy where heavy fire checked his advance. Directing his men to maintain their fire, he and 2 scouts worked their way forward up a shallow depression to within 25 yards of the enemy. Directing the scouts to remain in place, Sgt. Eubanks armed himself with an automatic rifle and worked himself forward over terrain swept by intense fire to within 15 yards of the enemy position when he opened fire with telling effect. The enemy, having located his position, concentrated their fire with the result that he was wounded and a bullet rendered his rifle useless. In spite of his painful wounds he immediately charged the enemy and using his weapon as a club killed 4 of the enemy before he was himself again hit and killed. Sgt. Eubanks' heroic action, courage, and example in leadership so inspired his men that their advance was successful. They killed 45 of the enemy and drove the remainder from the position, thus effecting the relief of our beleaguered troops.
    1947-Birthnday of Don Imus, radio personality (IMUS in the Morning)
http://talkshows.about.com/cs/donimus/tp/fangifts.htm
    1947 - David Essex (David Cook) is born in London. His biggest hit is the million-selling No. 5 single ``Rock On.''
    1948—Top Hits
You Can’t Be True, Dear - The Ken Griffin Orchestra (vocal: Jerry Wayne)
Woody Woodpecker Song - The Kay Kaiser Orchestra (vocal: Gloria Wood & The Campus Kids)
It’s Magic - Doris Day
Bouquet of Roses - Eddy Arnold
    1950- The “Gene Autry Show” premiered on television. The popular CBS western ran for six years starring movie actor Gene Autry. Along with sidekick Pat Buttram. His horse’s name was Champion. Autry helped bring criminals to justice. He later founded the California Angel’s baseball team (a statue of him is at the Anaheim stadium). He has a museum of Western History
http://www.autry-museum.org
    1951 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Come on-a My House,'' Rosemary Clooney.
    1951--American composer John Carbon born Chicago, IL.
http://www.johncarbon.com/biography.html
    1956—Top Hits
The Wayward Wind - Gogi Grant
Hound Dog/Don’t Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera) - Doris Day
I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash
    1960-Betsy Rawls became the first golfer to win the US Women’s Open four times, adding the 1960 title to those won in 1951, 1953 and 1957.
http://www.reedsweb.com/drtbird/golf/html/brawls.htm
http://www.ajga.org/ResultsArchive/1998/BetsyRawls/Results.htm
    1962 - The "Telstar" communications satellite sent the first live TV broadcast to Europe. It was used to send TV programs between the United States and Europe
    1964—Top Hits
Rag Doll - The 4 Seasons
Can’t You See that She’s Mine - The Dave Clark Five
The Girl from Ipanema - Stan Getz/Astrud Gilberto
Dang Me - Roger Miller
    1965-In a 5-1 win over the Mets, Phillies' first baseman Dick Stuart homers at Shea Stadium becoming the first player to have gone deep in 23 major league ballparks
    1965 - President Lyndon B. Johnson, in the course of discussions about what to do concerning the deteriorating situation in Vietnam, is told by some that he should give the American public all the facts, ask for an increase in taxes, mobilize the reserves, and declare a state of national emergency in the United States. Johnson rejected this approach, and informed his staff that he wanted any decisions implemented in a "low-key manner" in order to avoid an abrupt challenge to the communists, and to avoid undue concern and excitement in Congress and in domestic public opinion. During these discussions, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara urged the president to "expand promptly and substantially" the U.S. military presence in South Vietnam. Johnson, not wanting to "lose" Vietnam to the communists, ultimately accepted McNamara's recommendation and authorized a total of 44 U.S. battalions in South Vietnam, which led to a massive escalation of the war.
    1966 - Frank Sinatra hit the top of the pop album chart with his "Strangers in the Night". It was the first #1 Sinatra LP since 1960. The album’s title song had made it to number one on the pop singles chart on July 2nd.
    1966--A recording engineer named Jerry Samuels, who billed himself as Napoleon XIV, hit the top of the Billboard chart with a novelty song called "They're Coming to Take me Away, Ha-Haaa!" The song was banned by many US radio stations because it seemed to make fun of the insane. http://www.drdemento.com/catalog/napoleon.html
    1967- Forty-three killed in racial rebellion in Detroit (2,000 injured, 442 fires).
http://www.geneseo.edu/~jle5/
http://www.templeton-interactive.com/lest15.htm http://detnews.com/specialreports/2002/segregation/b06-390063.htm
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu:8080/ABSTRACTS/07312.xml
    1969- James Brown walked out of Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty's office when the mayor failed to show up on time to present him with a proclamation for James Brown Day
http://www.funky-stuff.com/jamesbrown/
    1970-*LUCAS, ANDRE C. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 2d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. place and date: Fire Support Base Ripcord, Republic of Vietnam, 1 to 23 July 1970. Entered service at: West point, N.Y. Born: 2 October 1930, Washington D.C. Citation: Lt. Col. Lucas distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving as the commanding officer of the 2d Battalion. Although the fire base was constantly subjected to heavy attacks by a numerically superior enemy force throughout this period, Lt. Col. Lucas, forsaking his own safety, performed numerous acts of extraordinary valor in directing the defense of the allied position. On 1 occasion, he flew in a helicopter at treetop level above an entrenched enemy directing the fire of 1 of his companies for over 3 hours. Even though his helicopter was heavily damaged by enemy fire, he remained in an exposed position until the company expended its supply of grenades. He then transferred to another helicopter, dropped critically needed grenades to the troops, and resumed his perilous mission of directing fire on the enemy. These courageous actions by Lt. Col. Lucas prevented the company from being encircled and destroyed by a larger enemy force. On another occasion, Lt. Col. Lucas attempted to rescue a crewman trapped in a burning helicopter. As the flames in the. aircraft spread, and enemy fire became intense, Lt. Col. Lucas ordered all members of the rescue party to safety. Then, at great personal risk, he continued the rescue effort amid concentrated enemy mortar fire, intense heat, and exploding ammunition until the aircraft was completely engulfed in flames. Lt. Col. Lucas was mortally wounded while directing the successful withdrawal of his battalion from the fire base. His actions throughout this extended period inspired his men to heroic efforts, and were instrumental in saving the lives of many of his fellow soldiers while inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Lt. Col. Lucas' conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit and the U.S. Army.
    1971 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian),'' The Raiders (formerly Paul Revere and the Raiders). It is the group's biggest hit and last to hit the top 20.
    1972—Top Hits
Lean on Me - Bill Withers
Too Late to Turn Back Now - Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilber O’Sullivan
It’s Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer - Charley Pride
    1977--Foreigner's "Cold As Ice" is released.
    1977--"Looks Like We Made It" becomes Barry Manilow's third US chart topper. The song had been written by Richard Kerr, the same man who wrote the music for Manilow's first number one, "Mandy".
    1977 - Judas Priest begins its first U.S. tour in Oakland, Calif., as the opening act for Led Zeppelin.
    1980—Top Hits
It’s Still Rock & Roll to Me - Billy Joel
Little Jeannie - Elton John
Cupid/I’ve Loved You for a Long Time - Spinners
True Love Ways - Mickey Gilley
    1981- Billy Squier earns his first gold album. He has a big hit with his second solo record, "Don't Say No."
    1981 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``The One That You Love,'' Air Supply. The group is the first from Australia to hit Billboard's Hot 100.
    1983-"Synchronicity" by The Police went to #1 on the Billboard album chart for the first of seventeen weeks.
    1984 - Miss America, Vanessa Williams, turned in her crown. It had been discovered that she had posed nude for "Penthouse" magazine. Williams, the first black Miss America, relinquished her title to Suzette Charles, the pageant’s runner-up.
http://www.celebritycd.com/vanessawilliams/
http://www.vanessawilliams.de/
    1987 - Thunderstorms produced a record ten inches of rain in six and a half hours at Minneapolis, MN, including 5.26 inches in two hours. Flash flooding claimed two lives and caused 21.3 million dollars damage. Streets in Minneapolis became rushing rivers, parking lots became lakes, and storm sewers spouted like geysers. A tornado hit Maple Grove, MN, causing five million dollars damage. Baseball size hail was reported at Olivia, MN
    1988- Saskatchewan's Dave Ridgway kicks record 8 field goals vs. Edmonton
    1988 - No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 is Richard Marx's "Hold on to the Nights." It is the fourth single from his debut album, and it remains at No. 1 for one week.
    1988—Top Hits
Hold on to the Nights - Richard Marx
Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Lappard
New Sensation - INXS
Set ’Em Up Joe - Vern Gosdin
    1989- FOX-TV tops ABC, NBC & CBS for 1st time (America's Most Wanted)
    1992- Bruce Springsteen opens his first U.S. tour since 1988 at The Brendan Byrne arena in the Meadowlands complex in New Jersey. The Boss plays 10 sold out shows in the 21,000 seat arena, with some of the shows going until 1AM
    1995-- Two astronomers, Alan Hale in New Mexico and Thomas Bopp in Arizona, almost simultaneouly discover a comet.
    1996- the first television station to regularly broadcast high-definition television was WRAL, a CBS affiliate in Raleigh, NC. There are many prime time television shows now broadcast in HD, but not many sets sold that will receive the broadcasts.
    1997- Netware International Bank was shut down by the FBI. The bank had been accused of improperly making loans and collecting deposits over the Internet.
http://www.fraud.org/news/old/120897.htm
http://www.cbintel.com/fraudbanking.htm
    1999-- NASA's first space mission commanded by a woman. Air Force Colonel Eileen Collins blasted off from Cape Canaveral in a rare night takeoff (12:26 am) and ended five days later (07-27-99) in a rarer night time landing (11:20 pm). On 07-24-99, mission specialist Catherine "Cady" Coleman was in charge of efforts to successfully deploy the $1.55 billion Chandra X-ray Observatory and did most of the delicate deployment herself. It wasn't until the next day that the public learned a fuel leak almost resulted in a highly dangerous, forced night landing. It would have been the first "forced landing" of a U.S. space ship. Captain Eileen Collins handled the crisis perfectly and the mission continued as scheduled.
    2000- Joining his grandfather Gus and father Buddy, Reds' third baseman Mike Bell becomes part of the first three-generation family to play for the same team.
    2000 -The Astros hit four homers off Cardinal hurler Andy Benes to tie the major league record for homers allowed by one pitcher in an inning. The second inning uprising help Houston set a team record for homers in one inning and tie a team record with six home runs for the game.
    2000- After rejecting a trade to the Mets, Reds' All-Star shortstop Barry Larkin agrees three-year, $27 million contract extension that will keep him Cincinnati until 2003.
    2000 - Tiger Woods won the British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland to become the youngest player (24 years of age) to win the career ‘Grand Slam’ of golf (The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and British Open) and the first to win all four majors since Jack Nicklaus’ victory in the 1966. Woods not only was the youngest player to win the career Grand Slam, he completed it faster than any of the four greats who did it before him. The other players to win the Grand Slam were Gene Sarazen in 1935, Ben Hogan in 1953, Gary Player in 1965 and Jack Nicklaus in 1966 (age 26) at Muirfield. (Nicklaus went on to win the Grand Slam two more times.) Woods finished the British Open at 19-under-par 269, the best score ever at St. Andrews (Nick Faldo shot an 18- under in his 1990 win), and the lowest score ever at a major championship.
    2002- Celebrating his 29th birthday by hitting three homers Boston's 22-4 rout of the Devil Rays, Nomar Garciaparra ties the major league record becoming the 26th player to hit five home runs in two games. It was Red Sox shortstops second three-homer game, who also accomplished the feat against the Mariners on May 10, 1999.
    2005-- At San Francisco SBC Park, uniform number 36 is added to the second deck of the left field bleachers joining nine others as the Giants honor Gaylord Perry. The Hall of Famer, who won 134 of his 314 career victories with San Francisco, remembers his 37-year old son, Jack, who died last month of complications from leukemia.
    2006—It was predicted to hit 110 degrees in Los Gatos/Saratoga. We have never experienced more than one day over a triple digit weather, especially so high, so we took off early for the beach area, driving to Carmel, where it was 68 when he got there, and never went over 70 degrees. We took the dog, who really enjoyed Carmel-by-Sea, where dogs are welcome and most stores have water bowls and treats for dogs and welcome them into the store, and restaurants.

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Baseball Poem

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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

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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

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http://www.gasbuddy.com/
http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_Map_Gas_Prices.aspx
http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_Mobile_Instructions.aspx

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Weather

See USA map, click to specific area, no commercials

http://www.weather.gov/

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Traffic Live---

Real Time Traffic Information

You can save up to 20 different routes and check them out
with one click, or type in a new route to learn the traffic live.

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News on Line---Internet Newspapers

Bolinas, California

http://www.coastalpost.com/

*Other on line newspapers:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Newspapers.htm

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