Wheeler Leasing School

Program Cost: $14,500

The training and support provided will allow individuals to establish their own independent brokering businesses. This program is not a franchise operation and therefore has no future royalty payments due. There is a one time upfront investment. The ongoing business expenses are determined by you.

A five day course taught by Scott Wheeler, CLP. There is no financial requirement or obligation with the application. Upon completing the pre-screening process and being accepted into the program you will be asked to sign an agreement with Wheeler Business Consulting LLC.

With over twenty-six years of leasing experience and an Executive Masters in Business Administration, Scott is an accomplished senior leasing executive with leadership qualities in marketing and operations. His extensive experience will benefit organizations looking to reach a higher level of profitability and corporate development.
Biography: http://wheelerbusinessconsulting.com/bio.html

Link to articles written by Scott Wheeler:
http://wheelerbusinessconsulting.com/recentarticles.html

Contact Information:
Wheeler Business Consulting LLC 1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047

Phone: 410-877-0428
Fax: 410-877-8161
email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

Website: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

Full School/Franchise List:
http://www.leasingnews.org:80/Conscious-Top%20Stories/School-Franchisors.htm

[headlines]

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

IT failing one in four small businesses, survey says

By Liam Lahey
www.echannelline.com

Initial results from a new online survey designed to measure IT effectiveness at small businesses shows almost one in four respondents score IT effectiveness with a 'D' or an 'F' grade. According to the international "IT Effectiveness Index (ITEI) Mid-Year Report 2009", another 37 percent of small businesses are barely maintaining their IT operations, scoring only a 'C' grade. The report, based on surveying hundreds of small businesses, further reveals that these companies are falling further behind as economic pressures have forced nearly half of the respondents to reduce, delay or cancel critical IT investments.

The ITEI program offers a free online benchmarking tool for small businesses to audit their IT effectiveness, and explore best practices and affordable options and alternatives for improving or maintaining effective IT standards. In addition, the ITEI will begin providing survey participants with free peer comparisons based on company size and industry.

"The results to date indicate that many small businesses are falling behind when it comes to implementing accepted best practices for IT operations and management," according to Steven Kahan of The Planet, one of a consortium of sponsors behind ITEI.

The results so far are especially disturbing, according to Kahan, since more than two-thirds of the small businesses responding to the survey indicated that IT and Web commerce are the foundations that enable their business success.

"The IT Effectiveness Index is telling us that in nearly two-thirds of businesses with 100 employees or less, IT operations are failing to fully support or keep pace with small business needs," he added.

Carl Meadows, senior manager, product management, The Planet, told eChannelLine a lot of small businesses think they have to face their IT challenges alone.

"We set out on this project about six months ago to try to provide a framework to better understand what's going on in the marketplace and provide a tool for SMBs to build a framework for how they're looking at IT and where the gaps are," he said. "We thought we'd see more B's and C's than D's and F's.

"There are lots of ways to skin a cat and for a small business, you have to go outside to outsource service providers to accomplish the objectives that are critical to your specific IT needs."

Survey results also show that nearly half the businesses are facing obstacles in implementing new IT projects because of cuts in capital investments, and nearly one-third lack the staff to properly manage their IT investments.

The sponsors of the report also provide suggestions for small businesses to help them upgrade their IT performance and effectiveness without the capital expense typically associated with IT budgets. Among the suggestions are for small businesses to concentrate on core competencies while seeking to explore outsourcing options, take advantage of free software and other offerings, explore the benefits of cloud computing whereby applications are utilized and maintained on a subscription basis, and consider IT infrastructure alternatives to capital expenditures through hosted hardware, software and services.

The online survey offers business owners and IT executives a free online benchmarking tool that uses a methods-based framework. Participants take a 12-question, 10-minute survey to receive an immediate and confidential score, accompanied by a detailed report with consultative suggestions about how to improve their IT processes. In January 2010, the ITEI Partners will publish the "SMB IT Effectiveness Index Annual Report", which will be provided free-of-charge to survey participants, officials said.

The free online survey and tool is available at www.iteffectivenessindex.com.

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

[headlines]

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

Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

"Tetro," Francis Ford Coppola's latest comeback vehicle is a gorgeous and poignant drama hitting selected theaters. In DVD, "Caroline" leads a trio of fascinating movies, both new and old, about girls figuring out their personalities.

In Theaters:

Tetro (American Zoetrope Releasing): Francis Ford Coppola's career would itself make a fascinating movie. Celebrated early for his success with classics like "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now," the filmmaker has spent just as many years away from the limelight. Thankfully, the comeback trail which began a few years ago with "Youth Without Youth" shows no sign of stopping with his most recent film, a heartfelt and inspired tale about family responsibility and artistic impulses. Set in Argentina, it deals with the emotional reunion between young Bennie (Alden Ehrenreich) and his older brother Tetro (Vincent Gallo), a talented but erratic writer. But will the visit help Tetro complete the play he's been working on, or will old wounds be reopened? A visually gorgeous and emotional film.

The Girl From Monaco (Magnolia Films): Bertrand (the amusing Fabrice Luchini) is a wealthy but meek lawyer whose stable life is seriously lacking thrills. Things take a turn to the unpredictable when he's assigned to sun-dappled Monaco to defend a woman (Stephane Audran) accused of murder. Instead of doing research for the case, however, Bertrand becomes more interested in going out with Audrey (Louise Bourgoin), the young, flirtatious weather-girl he meets while being interviewed on the local news. The more he finds out about her, the more it seems that there are connections between the case he's defending and the girl's impulsive behavior. With great help from the cast, director Anne Fontaine weaves a modest but polished mix of comedy and suspenseful intrigue. With subtitles.

New on DVD:

Coraline (Focus): What's a little girl to do when she finds herself in a boring new house with her inattentive parents? Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) finds a solution by walking through a mysterious door and stepping into an alternate world where everything that was dreary in the real world, including Mom and Dad, becomes wondrous. When dream becomes nightmare, however, can Coraline make it back safely to reality? Taking more than a page from "Alice in Wonderland," this marvelously imaginative fable from director Henry Selick ("The Nightmare Before Christmas") uses stop-motion animation to recreate a fantasy land that's both exciting and ominous. Some passages may be too intense for younger kids, but others will be exhilarated.

Repulsion (Criterion): In his first movie away from his native Poland, acclaimed director Roman Polanski creates an unforgettable portrait of loneliness and madness. Catherine Deneuve gives a brilliant performance as Carole, a shy young woman whose mind gradually crumbles after she's left alone in an apartment in London. As time passes and her dreams of insecurity and horror become indistinguishable from reality, nobody who comes to visit her is safe. Though confined to a small space for most of the film, Polanski uses his filmmaking genius to create a stylistically stimulating experience that remains fascinating and darkly humorous despite its grim subject. Don't miss the commentary track with Polanski and Deneuve in the new, first-rate Criterion DVD release.

2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (Criterion): Jean-Luc Godard is one of the masters of modernist filmmaking, and every movie of his is worth catching. This 1966 film, being re-released in a terrific Criterion transfer, is one of his most challenging works. Based on a news item about the rise of prostitution among Parisian middle-class women, the film follows the affairs of a young housewife (Marina Vlady) who decides to look for ways to make extra money in order to afford fancy accessories. Though many people approach Godard's movies with trepidation due to their intellectual severity, this one has enough visual wit and provocative ideas to attract even non-fans of this fascinating artist. With subtitles.

[headlines]

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

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

IFA Pushes for Solutions to the Credit Crunch

Franchise Business Leaders Meet with Key Policymakers at Treasury and Federal Reserve

WASHINGTON, The International Franchise Association urged Treasury Department and Federal Reserve officials to help break the logjam of credit access for the small business and franchise communities during meetings with key officials late yesterday.

"We had constructive meetings with senior officials at the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve," IFA President & CEO Matthew Shay said. "We feel that key policymakers are as solution-focused as we are and understand the important role that small and franchise businesses play in the economic recovery."

During the meetings, Shay, IFA 1st Vice Chairman Ken Walker, CEO of Driven Brands, IFA Secretary Jon Luther, executive chairman of Dunkin' Brands, and IFA Vice President of Government Affairs David French reiterated that last week's CIT crisis is a symptom of a broader problem. As one of the largest lenders in the Small Business Administration loan program, the CIT's existence is important to the franchise community, which relies on the important program to help finance new franchises. The earlier market withdrawal of other lenders in the SBA programs leaves franchise businesses with few remaining lender options.

"We are concerned that signs of recent increases in SBA loan activity are creating a false sense of recovery of this key marketplace," Shay said. "The activity has been predominantly real estate refinancings. While important to help some small businesses stay afloat, these 're-fis' do not equate with job creation."

Franchise businesses account for 21 million jobs in the U.S., but the lack of capital and reduce loan activity threatens these and future jobs in the franchise sector.

"The recession has cost real jobs," Shay said. "At least 200,000 jobs have been lost in franchised businesses and more than 15,000 retail units have been lost. Our brands have a strong pipline of motivated franchisees waiting to start new businesses, and we can create jobs if capital is available." Shay said a program to support financing for loan syndication would spur small business lending.

"We encouraged the government to create a more viable secondary market for small business loans along the lines of what was discussed by officials in March to use stimulus money to clear secondary markets," Shay said. "We are encouraged that policy makers are actively considering this and other programs to address the credit access issue."

To help further improve the SBA program, IFA recommended substantial changes, such as:

o Increase SBA 7(a) loan size to $4 or $5 million to facilitate financing for medium size borrowers.
o Expedite SBA loan application process and make it less cumbersome to make capital more readily available.
o Eliminate (temporarily) or sharply reduce SBA lender fees to increase the incentive for banks to make loans.
o Allow market-based loan pricing so that SBA loan caps do not discourage banks from making loans.
o Promote sensible audit standards so that lenders will not fear losing their SBA guarantee after the loan is issued.

"We look forward to continued dialogue with Treasury, the Federal Reserve and other policymakers on solutions to help small and franchised businesses do what they do best-create jobs," Shay said.

About the International Franchise Association

The International Franchise Association, the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising, is the preeminent voice and acknowledged leader for the industry worldwide. Approaching a half-century of service with a growing membership of nearly 1,300 franchise systems, 10,000-plus franchisees and more than 500 firms that supply goods and services to the industry, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising by advancing the values of integrity, respect, trust, commitment to excellence, honesty and diversity. For more information, visit the IFA Web site at www.franchise.org.

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

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

News Briefs----

Georgia's 2nd largest banking company suffers another quarterly loss
http://www.ajc.com/business/georgias-2nd-largest-banking-company-suffers-another-quarterly-loss-99285.html

Capital One Posts $276 Million Loss
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/23/AR2009072303613.html?wprss=rss_business

New jobless claims rise, but total claims lowest since April
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-07-23-jobless-claims_N.htm

PayPal to Devs: $32 Trillion Opportunity
http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3831506/PayPal+to+Devs+32+Trillion+Opportunity.htm

Microsoft annual sales drop for first time in history
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2009526346_webmicrosoft23.html

Soft PC sales send Microsoft profit down 29 pct
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/23/us-earns-microsoft-072309/?business&zIndex=137153

Jobless Checks for Millions Delayed as States Struggle
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/us/24unemploy.html?_r=1&hp

[headlines]

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

You May have Missed---

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Police Report:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html

Radio Interview with Sgt. James Crowley, Cambridge Police
http://audio.weei.com/m/25432556/stg-james-crowley-cambridge-police.htm

ABC EXCLUSIVE: Obama Defends Criticism of Cambridge Police in Arrest of Gates
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=8153681&page=1

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

[headlines]

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

Sports Briefs----

White Sox's Buehrle is perfect as Wise's catch preserves gem
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2009-07-23-buehrle-perfect_N.htm

Report: Goodell to allow Vick to sign with team
http://www.ajc.com/sports/report-goodell-to-allow-vick-to-sign-with-team-99302.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

[headlines]

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

California Nuts Briefs---

Calif.Legislature acts on $26 billion deficit package
http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_12902622

[headlines]

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

"Gimme that Wine"

Safeway begins broad discount campaign
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2048440.html

Northern Calif. Grapes may go unsold
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090722/COLUMNIST/907221001/-1/NEWSSITEMAP

California Preparing an Internet Wine Crackdown?
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Features/0,1197,5213,00.html

Hardy Wallace Picked for Murphy-Goode Winery's $10,000/ Month, Wine Social Media Job
http://sev.prnewswire.com/null/20090721/SF4958521072009-1.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/wine/detail?&entry_id=43984

Constellation Brands Announces New U.S. Distributor Alignment
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Constellation-Brands-prnews-2578160425.html?x=0&.v=1

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]

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

Today's Top Event in History

1966--PITTMAN, RICHARD A. Medal of Honor Rank and organization: Sergeant (then L/Cpl.), U.S. Marine Corps, Company 1, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF. Place and date: near the Demilitarized Zone, Republic of Vietnam, 24 July 1966. Entered service at: Stockton, Calif. Born: 26 May 1945, French Camp, San Joaquin, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While Company 1 was conducting an operation along the axis of a narrow jungle trail, the leading company elements suffered numerous casualties when they suddenly came under heavy fire from a well concealed and numerically superior enemy force. Hearing the engaged marines' calls for more firepower, Sgt. Pittman quickly exchanged his rifle for a machinegun and several belts of ammunition, left the relative safety of his platoon, and unhesitatingly rushed forward to aid his comrades. Taken under intense enemy small-arms fire at point blank range during his advance, he returned the fire, silencing the enemy position. As Sgt. Pittman continued to forge forward to aid members of the leading platoon, he again came under heavy fire from 2 automatic weapons which he promptly destroyed. Learning that there were additional wounded marines 50 yards further along the trail, he braved a withering hail of enemy mortar and small-arms fire to continue onward. As he reached the position where the leading marines had fallen, he was suddenly confronted with a bold frontal attack by 30 to 40 enemy. Totally disregarding his safety, he calmly established a position in the middle of the trail and raked the advancing enemy with devastating machinegun fire. His weapon rendered ineffective, he picked up an enemy submachine gun and, together with a pistol seized from a fallen comrade, continued his lethal fire until the enemy force had withdrawn. Having exhausted his ammunition except for a grenade which he hurled at the enemy, he then rejoined his platoon. Sgt. Pittman's daring initiative, bold fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty inflicted many enemy casualties, disrupted the enemy attack and saved the lives of many of his wounded comrades. His personal valor at grave risk to himself reflects the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service.

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

This Day in American History

    1651- African Anthony Johnson was granted 250 acres of farmland in Northampton County , Virginia . He was one of the first 20 Africans to arrive in Jamestown , VA , in 1619. Anthony nearly lost his life in the spring of 1622. Virginia 's Powhatan Indians, threatened by the encroachments of tobacco planters, staged a carefully-planned attack that took place on Good Friday. By the middle of the day, over three hundred and fifty colonists were dead. On the plantation where Anthony worked, fifty-two were killed. Only Anthony and four other men survived. In some ways he was a lucky man. To be sure, finding yourself in bondage on a Virginia tobacco plantation was not the result of good luck, but Anthony Johnson would rise above his low status and undoubtedly become the envy of many colonists. Anthony Johnson first arrived in Virginia in 1621. Referred to as "Antonio a Negro" in early records, Anthony went to work on a tobacco plantation. It's not clear whether he was an indentured servant (a servant contracted to work for a set amount of time) or a slave. Anthony nearly lost his life in the spring of 1622. Virginia 's Powhatan Indians, threatened by the encroachments of tobacco planters, staged a carefully-planned attack that took place on Good Friday. By the middle of the day, over three hundred and fifty colonists were dead. On the plantation where Anthony worked, fifty-two were killed. Only Anthony and four other men survived. Anthony's luck continued. Several years later, "Mary a Negro" was brought in to work on the plantation -- she was the only woman on the plantation. At the time, Virginia was populated almost exclusively by men. Still, Anthony and Mary became husband and wife, and they had four children. In 1665 Anthony and his family sold their 250 acres and moved to Maryland , where they leased a 300-arce tract of land. Anthony died five years later, in the spring of 1670; Mary renegotiated the lease for another 99 years. That same year, a court back in Virginia ruled that, because "he was a Negro and by consequence an alien," the land owned by Johnson (in Virginia ) rightfully belonged to the Crown.
http://www.arlington.k12.va.us/schools/randolph/students/Jamestown.html
http://www.historydetroit.com/part_1.asp
    1683 - The 1st settlers from Germany to US left aboard the ship Concord.
    1701-Anniversary of the landing at the site of Detroit by Antoine de la Mothe Cadilac in the service of Louis XIV of France . Fort Ponchartrain due Detroit was first settlement on site.
http://www.historydetroit.com/places/fort_ponchartrain.asp
http://www.michmarkers.com/Pages/S0027.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p265.html
http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333/tourism/det.htm
1807- July 24, Birthday of Ira Aldridge, Great 19th century Black actor, famous throughout the world, died August 7,1867 http://www.famousamericans.net/iraaldridge/
http://www.netc.net.au/locallit/ira/
http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp52896
http://www.howard.edu/CollegeFineArts/Theatre/General/Aldridge.html
    1842-Birthday of writer Ambrose Bierce. http://www.creative.net/~alang/lit/horror/abierce.sht
http://www.selfknowledge.com/35au.htm
    1847—“The Mormons” settle in Utah 's Great Salt Lake Valley . The land, at the time, was Mexican territory.
    1856-Dr. Andrew Randall, chairman of the Academy of Sciences, was shot and killed by the gambler Joseph Hetherington. Dr. Randall came to California with Montgomery on the "U.S.S. Portsmouth" and lived at the Niantic Hotel. His office was at 134 Clay St.
    1866- Tennessee was the first state readmitted to the Union after the Civil War.
    1897-Birthday of Amelia Earhart, American aviatrix lost on flight from New Guinea to Howland Island , in the Pacific Ocean , July 2, 1937. First woman to cross the Atlantic solo and fly solo across the Pacific from Hawaii to California . Born at Atchison , S. 1900-Birthday of Zelda Fitzgerald, first wife of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald.
    1906-birthday of alto sax player Johnny Hodges, Cambridge , MA
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~michaelp/biography.html
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~michaelp/
http://www.thrill.to/Hodges/
http://search.eb.com/blackhistory/micro/273/36.html http://entertainment.msn.com/Artist/Default.aspx?artist=123538
    1908 Charles “Cootie” Williams Birthday
http://search.eb.com/blackhistory/micro/727/46.html
http://www.pitt.edu/~atteberr/jazz/artists/ellington/people/cootie.html
http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~campber/johnson.html
    1909—Birthday of Swing trumpeter Joe Thomas, Groves , MO.
http://www.harlem.org/people/thomas.html
    1916-Birthday of great detective writer John D MacDonald (Deep Blue Goodbye) Died 1968.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/jdmacd.htm
Travis McGee series ( have read them all, he is one of my favorite authors )
http://www.rexswain.com/travis.html
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/John_D_MacDonald.htm
    1919- Race Riot in Washington DC (6 killed, 100 wounded) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/2000/raceriot0301.htm
    1921-Birthday of pianist Billy Taylor, Greenville , NC
http://rollingstone.com/artists/bio.asp?oid=5977&cf=5977
http://www.billytaylorjazz.com/
http://www.bigeastern.com/dr_t/
    1924-Birthday of African-American Townsend “Sonny Brewster”, playwright and activist.
    1936-Birthday of James Lee (Jim) Brock, college baseball coach born at Phoenix , AZ. Brock was an outstanding coach at Arizona State University . His Sun Devils won the College World Series in 1977 and 1981, and his teams compiled a record of 977 wins and only 378 losses. Died at Mesa , AZ , June 12, 1994.
    1936 118ø F (48ø C), Minden , Nebraska (state record)
1936 121ø F (49ø C), near Alton , Kansas (state record)
    1937-Alabama drops charges against five blacks accused of rape in Scottsboro
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/timeline/index.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/sfeature/sf_women.html
http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/scottsboro.html
    1937-The Farm Security administration (FSA) was established through passage of the Bankhead-Jones Act. The FSA was empowered to make four-year on at 3% interest to aid farm tenants, sharecroppers, and laborers.
    1938-Birthday of Mike Mainier, vibes, New York , NY http://orbita.starmedia.com/~tito-mk/discogr/log.htm http://www.charlesmcpherson.com/
    1938-Artie Shaw records “ Begin the Beguine.” ( Bluebird 7746) http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/newbonham/6/beguine.htm
    1939-Birthday of saxophonist Charles McPherson, Joplin , MO.
    1940- Cynthia Moss birthday - U.S. wildlife biologist. Primarily an elephant researcher, she proved that elephants are led by the oldest and the wisest cow and that the males are inveterate bachelors. She was senior associate of the African Wildlife Foundation. Partly because of Moss's research, other women researchers have shown that most herd animals are led by the oldest and wisest female, not the male who is generally used for defense. Even the old idea that the dominant male was the primary breeder has been disproved.
http://hallkidsanimals.com/elephants/107.shtml
http://www.elephanttrust.org/cynthia_moss.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/echo/html/body_intro.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0689801424/inktomi-bkasin-20/103-5362656-4423850
    1944- during WWII the US Army ordered ( this day ) desegregation of its training camp facilities. Later the same year black platoons were assigned to white companies in a tentative step toward integration of the battlefield. However it was not until after the War—July 26, 1948—that President Harry Truman signed an order officially integrating the armed forces.
    1945- as the Potsdam Conference came to a close in Germany , Churchill, Truman and China 's representatives fashioned a communique to Japan offering it an opportunity to end the war. It demanded that Japan completely disarm, allowed them sovereignty to the four main islands and to minor islands to be determined by the Allies, and insisted that all Japanese citizens be given immediate and complete freedom of speech, religion and thought. The Japanese would be allowed to continue enough industry to maintain their economy. The communique concluded with a demand for unconditional surrender. Unaware these demands were backed up by an atomic bomb, on July 26 Japanese Prime Minister Admiral Kantaro Suzuki rejected the Potsdam Declaration.
    1949---Top Hits
Some Enchanted Evening - Perry Como
Bali Ha'i - Perry Como
Again - Gordon Jenkins
One Kiss Too Many - Eddy Arnold
    1952 112ø F (44ø C), Louisville , Georgia (state record).
    1953-Birthday of trumpet player Jon Faddis, Oakland , CA http://www.pitt.edu/~pittjazz/individual_htmls/jon_faddis.html
    1956 – It was “yesterday” in 1946 that they first appeared. After a decade together as the country's most popular comedy team, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis called it quits this night. They did their last show at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City . The duo ended their relationship exactly 10 years after they had started it. http://www.deanmartinfancenter.com/index/rightframe/07mandl/07mandl.html
    1957---Top Hits
Teddy Bear - Elvis Presley
Love Letters in the Sand - Pat Boone
It's Not for Me to Say - Johnny Mathis
Bye Bye Love - The Everly Brothers
    1959- Vice-President Richard Nixon argued with Khrushchev, known as "Kitchen Debate" He had arrived in Moscow , beginning a two-week tour of the U.S.S.R., and Poland . The next day he held a highly publicized kitchen debate, a discussion with Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev while standing before a kitchen exhibit in the U.S. exhibition in Moscow . After the impromptu, so-called kitchen debate, Nixon formally opened the exhibition
    1961—A U.S. passenger jet was hijacked. An armed passenger forced the pilot of an Eastern Airlines Electra en route to Tampa from Miami to divert to Havana., Cuba., later entrusted the plan to the UN Security Council to discourage what it alleged to be “imminent military aggression” by the U.S. This was the beginning of a trend, hijacking planes to Cuba ..
    1964-birthday of baseball player Barry Bonds, six-time All-Star, three-time National League MVP, born Riverside , CA. http://www.everwonder.com/david/bonds/
    1964-The Beach Boys' "California Girls" is released in the US, where it will reach #3 in September.
    1964-The trio of Dino, Desi and Billy achieve their first US chart entry with "I'm A Fool", which will rise to #17. Dino, the son of Dean Martin, Desi, the son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, along with Billy Hinsche would also crack the Top 40 with "Not The Lovin' Kind" later in the year.
    1965---Top Hits
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
I'm Henry VIII, I Am - Herman's Hermits
What's New Pussycat? - Tom Jones
Before You Go - Buck Owens
    1966--PITTMAN, RICHARD A. Medal of Honor Rank and organization: Sergeant (then L/Cpl.), U.S. Marine Corps, Company 1, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF. Place and date: near the Demilitarized Zone, Republic of Vietnam, 24 July 1966. Entered service at: Stockton, Calif. Born: 26 May 1945, French Camp, San Joaquin, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While Company 1 was conducting an operation along the axis of a narrow jungle trail, the leading company elements suffered numerous casualties when they suddenly came under heavy fire from a well concealed and numerically superior enemy force. Hearing the engaged marines' calls for more firepower, Sgt. Pittman quickly exchanged his rifle for a machinegun and several belts of ammunition, left the relative safety of his platoon, and unhesitatingly rushed forward to aid his comrades. Taken under intense enemy small-arms fire at point blank range during his advance, he returned the fire, silencing the enemy position. As Sgt. Pittman continued to forge forward to aid members of the leading platoon, he again came under heavy fire from 2 automatic weapons which he promptly destroyed. Learning that there were additional wounded marines 50 yards further along the trail, he braved a withering hail of enemy mortar and small-arms fire to continue onward. As he reached the position where the leading marines had fallen, he was suddenly confronted with a bold frontal attack by 30 to 40 enemy. Totally disregarding his safety, he calmly established a position in the middle of the trail and raked the advancing enemy with devastating machinegun fire. His weapon rendered ineffective, he picked up an enemy submachinegun and, together with a pistol seized from a fallen comrade, continued his lethal fire until the enemy force had withdrawn. Having exhausted his ammunition except for a grenade which he hurled at the enemy, he then rejoined his platoon. Sgt. Pittman's daring initiative, bold fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty inflicted many enemy casualties, disrupted the enemy attack and saved the lives of many of his wounded comrades. His personal valor at grave risk to himself reflects the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service.
    1967-Jefferson Airplane's second album "Surrealistic Pillow" is certified Gold on the strength of the Top Ten hits, "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit".
    1969 - Hoyt Wilhelm, pitching for the Chicago White Sox, set a major-league baseball record by pitching in game number 907 of his career. Wilhelm went on to lead all major-league hurlers (number of games pitched) with 1,070 in his career (1952-1972).
    1971- Apollo 15 launched this date. Astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin landed on moon (lunar module Falcon) while Alfred M. Worden piloted command module Endeavor. Rover 1, a four-wheel vehicle, was used for further exploration. Departed moon Aug 2, after nearly three days. Pacific landing Aug 7.
    1973---Top Hits
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
Yesterday Once More - Carpenters
Shambala - Three Dog Night
Love is the Foundation - Loretta Lynn
    1974-In a decision on the White House tapes, the Supreme Court ordered that special prosecutor Leon Jaworski's subpoena of tapes and documents be honored by the White House. It ruled that presidential privilege did not apply to evidence required in prosecuting Watergate-related crimes President Nixon turned over the materials on July 30 and August 5.
    1978 - Billy Martin was fired. He was replaced this time by Bob Lemon. It was the first of three times the manager of the New York Yankees baseball team would get the boot. Martin would be canned again in 1979 and in 1983, each time by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner... "the one is a born liar the other a convicted one" comment about Steinbrenner and Jackson
    1979 -At Fenway Park off A's hurler Mike Morgan, Red Sox first baseman Carl Yastrzemski becomes the 18th major leaguer and seventh in the American League to hit 400 home runs. 'Captain Carl' will end his 23-year career with 452 homers.
    1981---Top Hits
Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
All Those Years Ago - George Harrison
The One that You Love - Air Supply
Feels So Right - Alabama
    1983 - Kansas City Royals slugger George Brett slammed a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Royals a 5-4 lead over New York . Or did he? Seconds after Brett crossed home plate, New York Yankees Manager Billy Martin came out of the dugout to protest that the pine tar on Brett's bat was more than 18 inches up the bat handle. The umpires measured Brett's bat, using home plate as a measuring rod, and came to the conclusion that Martin was correct and called Brett out, erasing the Royals lead. Or did they? The president of the American League, Lee McPhail, later reversed the umpires' decision on the pine tar and ruled that the game was suspended -- with the Royals leading, 5-4. The game was completed 3 1/2 weeks later, on August 18, 1983, in Yankee Stadium. The outcome of the game? It only took 12 minutes to play the remainder of the contest with the Royals tarring the Yankees 5-4.
    1984 - After 14 years and four Super Bowl championships with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Terry Bradshaw retired from the National Football League. Bradshaw, age 35, was forced to the sidelines by an elbow injury. Following a divorce from ice skater Jo Jo Starbuck, Bradshaw joined CBS as a football analyst. http://www.mcmillenandwife.com/bradshaw.html
    1989---Top Hits
Toy Soldiers - Martika
Express Yourself - Madonna
Batdance - Prince
What's Going on in Your World - George Strait
    1998 - “In the last great invasion of the last great war, the greatest danger for eight men ... was saving one.” That one was one Private James Ryan and the story of the search for him, "Saving Private Ryan", opened in U.S. theatres this day. Produced and directed by one Steven Spielberg, the movie earned $30.58 million the first weekend.

[headlines]

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

Baseball Poem

Night Baseball, 1947

by Mary Kennan Herbert

Enos Slaugher in left field
Musial in right field
the pitcher
warming up to the sound
of my brother's heartbeat
my father's voice
it is a lost July night in St. Louis
and my dress flutters behind me
as we run to catch a streetcar
after the game

"Line Drives" 100 Contemporary
Baseball Poems, edited by Brooke Horvath
and Time Wiles

[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]

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

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

[headlines]

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

Weather

See USA map, click to specific area, no commercials

http://www.weather.gov/

[headlines]

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

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

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

[headlines]