Sales-marketing Phoenix, Arizona or Virtual Office; 3 to 5 years of experience; high-end small ticket & Middle-Market vendor programs. Click here for more information. Manufacturers' Lease Plans Inc. (MLPi) is the pioneer of short-term rental and operating lease financing, funding high technology equipment manufacturers since the 1960s.

www.leaseplans.com

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Headlines---

  FTC files against IFC/Texas AG first to follow
Classified Ads---Sales
    “Keep doing the business the way you always have”
        Allan Levine joins Leasing News Advisory Board
What if Sterling Financial had been using QuikTrak?
    Parent of OFC Capital purchases Pioneer Financial
        Team ELFA raises $5,000 for Komen for the Cure Race
Sales makes it Happen---by Linda P. Kester
“Presentations to Civic Clubs”
    Classified Ads---Help Wanted
        “Coattailing”-Cynthia L. Fawcett, Credit Risk Mgr
    Fair Isaac moves to halt “coattailing”
RBS calls off talks with BofA on LaSalle deal
    Bernanke: Fed Won't Lower Interest rates
        News Briefs---
You May have Missed---
    Sports Briefs---
        "Gimme that Wine"
Calendar Events
    Snapple Real Facts
        Today's Top Event in History
This Day in American History
    Baseball Poem
        SuDoku
            Daily Puzzle

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

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FTC files against IFC/Texas AG first to follow

As being followed since the inception of the filing of the bankruptcy of NorVergence in July, 2004, and the multiply complaints, the Federal Trade Commission has filed against IFC Credit Corporation, Morton Grove, Illinois. The suite FTC v. IFC Credit Corporation, Civ. No. 07 C 3155 was filed this morning with Judge Joan B. Gottschall; Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Randy Brook, FTC Senior Attorney

FTC Senior Attorney Randy Brook, out of Seattle, Washington, who also was the senior attorney in the MicroFinancial suit, has been working on this case from the inception. He is an expert on equipment leasing, in addition having the ability to read lease accounting and understanding many of the various equipment leasing accounting software.

The suit regards $21 million in leases. Leasing News has estimated IFC Credit has paid more than $21.5 million to date in attorney and court fees, with over 500 leases still in litigation. This definitely will cost IFC Credit Corporation over $50 million, should the FTC prevail, not counting the $13 million it borrowed from its lenders.

Will the firm survive the FTC filing is the question today?

The great majority of the funders of NorVergence leases have settled with 28 US Attorneys generals offices and the District of Columbia, and only a small handful remain active seeking litigation. The largest is IFC Credit Corporation.

The FTC is seeking full refund to the NorVergence lessees. This definitely will influence the pending cases and case on appeal by IFC Credit Corporation, and others, such as Sterling Bank, New York. In addition it will add to IFC Credit attorney and court costs.

In other breaking news, the State of Texas has filed against IFC Credit, Morton Grove, Illinois. The states may be able to charge penalties and fines as what occurred in the MicroFinancial case. There are also cases on appeal in Texas that will be affected by the suit. (The press release follows the FTC press release)

Leasing News has asked IFC Credit Corporation for a comment. In the past they have replied they do not comment on cases in litigation.

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

FTC Charges Company with Financing Fraudulent Telecom Services Scheme

Deceptive NorVergence Rental Contracts Misled Consumers In the wake of the NorVergence Inc. telecommunications fraud case won by the Federal Trade Commission in 2005, the agency has charged a company with violating federal law by helping to finance the scheme and continuing to seek payment from defrauded consumers.

Based on an FTC complaint filed in 2004, a federal court voided 1,600 NorVergence contracts with small businesses and religious and other nonprofit organizations that were misled by promised savings on phone and Internet services. The contracts purported to be long-term rental agreements for a relatively inexpensive device that NorVergence falsely claimed would create the savings. NorVergence was forced into bankruptcy, and the promised services stopped.

The judgment the FTC obtained against NorVergence left unaffected thousands of rental agreements NorVergence had already sold to finance companies.

According to a complaint filed today by the FTC, IFC Credit Corporation purchased NorVergence rental agreements valued at $21 million, with individual contracts ranging from $4,439 to $160,672. Despite making payments, the complaint alleges, no customers received telecommunications services from NorVergence for more than a short period of time, and many consumers received none.

As stated in the complaint, IFC continued to finance the fraudulent scheme by accepting new rental contracts, despite NorVergence's failure to provide the promised services and the resulting high rate of default among IFC customers. Long after NorVergence entered bankruptcy in 2004, the complaint states, IFC continues to tell consumers they are obligated under the rental agreements because the payments are for the device, not for services.

Under the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive business practices, the FTC charges IFC with misrepresenting that consumers have no defenses to payment on the NorVergence rental agreements; harming consumers by unfairly accepting and collecting on the rental agreements; and unfairly filing debt collection lawsuits in courts far from consumers' locations.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 5-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The FTC is asking the court to order all rental agreements terminated and is seeking refunds for payments consumers made for services they never received. The FTC also is seeking a preliminary injunction to stop IFC from continuing any debt collection while the suit proceeds.

The FTC acknowledges the valuable assistance of the Attorneys General of Illinois, Massachusetts, California, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Connecticut.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendant has actually violated the law.

The case will be decided by the court.

Copies of the complaint are available from the FTC's Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them.

To file a complaint in English or Spanish or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877- 382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.shtm.

The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,600 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

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

Attorney General Abbott Seeks Relief for Businesses Plagued by Debt Collector IFC Credit Corp. attempted to collect debts incurred under false pretenses

HOUSTON – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today asked a Harris County District Court to prevent IFC Credit Corp., an Illinois finance company, from attempting to recover fraudulently incurred debts from Texas small businesses and nonprofits for telecommunications services. According to court documents filed by the Attorney General and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, IFC attempted to collect on debts it purchased from NorVergence Inc., a now-bankrupt company that defrauded small business owners.

NorVergence marketed fixed-price, low-cost telecommunications services to business owners. However, NorVergence customers did not realize they were actually signing five-year “rental agreements” for equipment that was essentially useless without the promised services. Since purchasing these accounts, IFC has aggressively attempted to collect debts that it knew resulted from contracts designed to deceive business owners.

Media links
Texas Attorney General's lawsuit against IFC Credit Corp.

Attorney General Greg Abbott

“Small businesses are critical to the success of Texas' economy,” said Attorney General Abbott. “The Office of Attorney General is committed to protecting small business owners from fraudulent schemes and unlawful debt collection practices. Texans can rest assured we will aggressively protect NorVergence victims from continued suffering because of this illegal, fraudulent scheme.”

Prior to its bankruptcy, NorVergence sold $21 million worth of accounts to IFC at a discount. NorVergence used the proceeds from the sale to pay for additional worthless products that it marketed to small businesses. Today's action accuses IFC of failing to exercise caution before acquiring the indebted customers' accounts, and of knowing NorVergence customers were tricked into the transaction with the false promise of low-cost services.

In 2004 the Attorney General took legal action against NorVergence for misleading hundreds of small businesses into signing five-year rental agreements for what amounted to worthless equipment and service. NorVergence falsely claimed it would drastically reduce telecommunications costs with its services. The rental agreements ranged in value from $4,400 to almost $161,000.

The Attorney General's petition against IFC seeks the dissolution of debts incurred by fraudulent means and the cancellation of wrongful contracts. Attorney General Abbott has also asked the court to void lawsuits IFC has filed against debtors since 2004, given that the company misled business owners into thinking they had no defenses in debt collection cases and that the debts were enforceable.

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

FTC'S MEMORANDUM IN
SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/PI_Memo_FINAL.pdf

FTC'S MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUCTION
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/FTC_mot.pdf

COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE
AND OTHER EQUITABLE
RELIEF, INCLUDING
RESTITUTION
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/IFC_compl%20FINAL.pdf

ORDER FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Proposed%20PI-FINAL.pdf

EXHIBITS SUPPORTING PLAINTIFFS MOTION
FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/FTC_v_IFCCorP-Exhibits.pdf

Texas Attorney General filing:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/060507ifc_pop.pdf

Litigation cost story:
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/May%202007/05-23-07.htm#site

All Leasing News NorVergence stories:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Novergence_main.htm

[headlines]

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Classified Ads---Sales

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

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

[headlines]

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“Keep doing the business the way you always have...”

"We have held and serviced EVERY lease or loan we have EVER acquired from a broker/lessor,” Dwight Galloway, president of NetBank Business Finance says on his company web site.

Dwight Galloway, CLP

The company that for twenty years has worked only with “broker/lessors” is part of an announced asset sale by its parent to EverBank, with the transition to be completed by the end of July. The company will be known as EverBank Business Finance.

OSG Billing Services announced in a press release an agreement to manage invoice presentment and distribution services for NetBank Business Finance."

“Good customer service is essential to Net Bank,” said Ron Whaley, vice president of sales and marketing of OSG Billing Services. “The new invoice design, along with the quick turnaround on production, will go a long way in helping the company enhance its service while accelerating
payment time.”

Galloway said this has been in the works since the first part of the year. His staff in Columbia, South Carolina, will continue all servicing aspects, except the actual mailing of the invoices.
The new design and mailing service will help speed up the invoicing on over 11,000 contracts.

“We don’t do vendor or direct business, nor do we plan to change,” he said. “In reality, if an applicant came in the door, we probably wouldn’t know what to do. Our business comes from ‘broker/lessors.’”

As to other changes, he says he is 56 years old, too young to retire, really enjoys working with the company’s many long-time employees, and “plus, what else do I know how to do?”
 
He and Charles Randall will keep doing what they enjoy doing, servicing their “broker/lessors,” and making deals happen.

He said when he met the officials from EverBank, they told him they liked the company’s numbers, and wanted to keep the operations as it was a “stand alone unit.” “Keep it up,” they told him. “If you need anything to keep doing the business the way you always have, just let us know.”

Keeps going and going

[headlines]

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Allan Levine joins Leasing News Advisory Board

It is with great pleasure that we announce that Allan Levine has joined the Leasing News Advisory Board. Readers may recognize the name because Al has written reports on the Eastern Association of Equipment Lessor conferences and events.

He is a great addition to the board as he not only represents the Eastern geography of the United States, but is our only “chief operating officer.” He also is a very good writer, and readers may not know it, but an excellent photographer. He worked for Polaroid while going to college, and while not
selling the product, he was put through the school on how to take photographs. He also is not afraid to speak his mind. Leasing News prides itself that we have no “yes” people on our advisory board.

Allan Levine is the Chief Operating Officer of Madison Capital, LLC. Allan has been in the vehicle and equipment leasing business for 34 years.

In 1971, he began working with a firm focused on vehicle and small-ticket equipment leasing. In 1974, Allan started Fox Auto & Truck Discount Leasing Company, which evolved, in the early 1980’s, into Fox Discount Leasing, Inc. In 1987, he formed Fox Valley Leasing, which merged with Harbor Leasing to become Madison Capital in August of 1997.

He has served on the local chapter board of the NVLA (National Vehicle Leasing Association), served on the Equipment Leasing Associations committee for independent leasing companies (ILC), and its Future Council group. Allan is past Chairman of the Board of an international not-for-profit serving over 5500 individuals with development disabilities and has 2300 employees.

He was recently the current board chairperson of the Gordon Center, a 550-seat boutique venue for the performing arts. He is on the Board of Directors of The Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors (EAEL). He has also served, at the board level, on many local philanthropic and community organizations.

He is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he played lacrosse.

Christopher Menkin, Publisher

[headlines]

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What if Sterling Financial had been using QuikTrak?

   by Christopher Menkin

Leasing News has asked several equipment leasing software companies, service companies, and others to comment on the $150 million internal fraud at Sterling Financial, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

In a recent article, Leasing News wrote about IFC Credit Corporation, Morton Grove, Illinois NorVergence leases cost.  It appears it may be as much as $50 million. The figure could go up when the Federal Trade Commission comes down on them.

In the story, Leasing News noted that if IFC Credit had been using "site inspections," they would have caught the equipment having a very small value in proportion to the contract.  They also would have noted that leases of $12,000 to $50,000 had the same exact equipment. While IFC Credit claims they originally were not aware of the service involved, if they had been using "site inspections," it may have warned them much earlier what they actually were leasing.
It would have enable them to ask more questions rather than imposing “hold backs.”

Certainly the non-existent equipment would have been discovered in post funding inspections, not uncommon on large dollar transactions.  From Billy Sol Estes, Allserve, Cybernet to NorVergence and perhaps Sterling Financial, site inspections before and after may have brought the fraud earlier to the surface.  It’s like an audit.  In equipment leasing, most of the fraud that occurs is because equipment does not exist or has been greatly inflated, as was also the case in Greyhound Leasing and Sheldon Player

In the case of Sterling Financial, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, using site inspections may also have brought to the surface that often the equipment did not exist, or was duplicate equipment, and the locations were a mailing box address or was being forwarded to another address.

Leasing News asked  QuikTrak, Beaverton, Oregon:
“What if Sterling Financial had required Equipment Finance to use QuikTrak?”

"Regular spot checks of assets in a portfolio can identify leases that are actually in default, even though the checks keep coming in," Matt McCoy, Director of Business Development said. "We are seeing a trend where the increase in app-only transactions and portfolio acquisitions increase the risk to the industry. A program of inspecting a random sample of assets, or inspecting higher-risk leases and assets can reduce a company’s exposure."

"At QuikTrak, we say that 'seeing is believing,' Jim Merrilees, new president of QuikTrak said.”Even when all lease documentation appears correct, that by no means guarantees that everything is right with the business and equipment.  Strong due diligence practices, including physical inspections before funding and over the life of a lease, may prevent or mitigate losses."

In addition to offering 24 hour turn around, as well as 24-72 hour turn around,
QuikTrak also conducts “fraud detection inspections.”

General Site Inspection:
The General Site Inspection is a broad survey of the lessee's business and location, involving no equipment inspection. The report is a narrative that details the location and neighborhood in which the business is located, accessibility, parking, and the exterior and interior condition of the building.

Vendor Verification:
This product allows you to get a clearer picture of what kind of business a vendor might be operating. In addition to noting the appearance of the business and the area in which it is located, this report also provides information regarding the vendor's showroom (if applicable), whether or not they service their products, and any client references.

Pre-fund or Post-Fund Equipment Inspections:
Standard Lease Inspection reports provide detailed information about your collateral, vendor/supplier, or site/business. Inspectors will verify make, model, and serial numbers on leased equipment. An overall assessment of the condition of the equipment, as well as the business, will also be provided.

For more information, please go here:
http://www.quiktrak.com/ext/mktg/na/services/inspectserv.html

Jim Merrilees, President
QuikTrak
9700 SW Nimbus Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97008
503-214-3005/(800) 927-8725
jmerrilees@quiktrak.com

Matt McCoy
Director of Business Development
Quiktrak, Inc.
9700 SW Nimbus Ave.
Beaverton, OR  97008
(503)214-3073
(503)214-3973 (fax)
MMccoy@quiktrak.com
 
IFC Credit: $50 Million/Site Inspections on all deals
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/May%202007/05-23-07.htm#site

[headlines]

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Parent of OFC Capital purchases Pioneer Financial

MidCountry Financial is a financial services holding company with its home office in Macon, Georgia, has purchased Pioneer Financial in Kansas City, Missouri. MidCountry Bank, a federal savings bank with more than $1 billion in assets. Pioneer Financial has about 300 employees, about 100 of whom work in the Kansas City office, spokeswoman. The 75 year old company has specialized in loans to active and retired military personnel and U.S. Defense Department employees for 20 years.

MidCountry Financial, based in Macon, Ga., has raised capital twice through private stock offerings and now has about $133 million in capital, according to its Web site.

It owns an Illinois-based consumer finance company called Heights Finance Corp., a $1 billion bank called MidCountry Bank that operates in Illinois and Minnesota. Heights Financial also owns an equipment leasing company in Georgia called OFC Capital.

MidCountry Bank, with $1 billion in assets, lost money each of the last two years, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. reports.

It should be noted that OFC Capital, Roswell Georgia, on its web site www.ofccap.com notes a power point presentation of loans to:

Preferred Capital
$35,400,208
Venture Capital Lease portfolio
$21,902,224
$10,613,533
Northern Capital Associates
$28,661,692
Northern Leasing Systems
$14,428,081
Allegiant Partners
$11,848,946
$4,696,362
Axis Capital
$9,382,268
Leaf Asset Management
$6,716,634
Radiance Capital
$3,978,610
VenCore Solutions
$2,076,096
and many others

[headlines]

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

Team ELFA raises $5,000 for Komen for the Cure Race

ELFA Chairperson Jester/ELFA President Bentsen

Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) Chairperson, President and staff joined 45,000 supporters and fielded ‘TEAM ELFA,’ raising $5,000 for the 18th annual Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure on Saturday, June 2 in Washington, DC. Organized by ELFA Chairperson Valerie Jester ‘TEAM ELFA’ worked on behalf of the efforts of ELFA President, the Hon. Kenneth E. Bentsen Jr., who also serves as the Chairman of the Board for Susan G. Komen for the Cure (please see color photo, Jester/Bentsen, attached).

The Pre-Race Rally kicked off the morning with Katie Couric, anchor of "CBS Evening News," Komen Ambassador René Syler, WUSA9 anchor Andrea Roane, Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty and Congressman Jim Moran (D-Va.). A minimum of $1 million of the funds raised from this year's Race will remain in the National Capital Area. The remaining net proceeds support cutting-edge breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program (please see Komen news release pasted below, for more details).

Bentsen began serving as chairman of the board of directors for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure earlier this year and began serving as Komen's public policy committee chair in 2003; he became a board member in 2005. From 1995 to 2003, Bentsen represented the 25th District in Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives serving on the Budget, Financial Services and Small Business Committees. Bentsen's long-standing commitment to fighting the war against cancer includes co-sponsorship of the Access to Cancer Therapies Act, the Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act, the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, the Bipartisan Protection Act, the Screening Mammography Act and the Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Act, among others.

In addition, Mr. Bentsen was actively involved in the drafting and passage of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and helped to modernize the nation's banking and securities laws, the U.S. response to the Asian financial crisis and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act which enhanced federal oversight of U.S. capital markets. He also authored and co-authored many measures related to healthcare, thrift savings plans, international trade and the nation's response to terrorism, particularly with respect to banking and insurance. Bentsen serves as a member of the development board of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the San Jacinto Museum of Texas History. He also serves as a board member for the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation.

[headlines]

### Press Release ###########################
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[headlines]

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Corporate and Commercial Leasing Specialist

Corporate and Commercial Leasing Specialist, Alabama 5 years experience sales and credit Great opportunity. Click here for more information.

www.suntrust.com

Regional Sales Managers

Regional Sales Managers To establish small ticket vendor programs in major metro areas. Excellent compensation/ benefit package. View job description. Send resumes to Zully.Fernandez@IrwinCF.com Company Description: Irwin Commercial Finance (NYSE: IFC) is a true direct lender and in the ever changing leasing environment, we bring stability, creativity and consistent customer service levels to our business.

www.IrwinCFequipment.com

Sales-marketing

Sales-marketing Phoenix, Arizona or Virtual Office; 3 to 5 years of experience; high-end small ticket & Middle-Market vendor programs. Click here for more information. Manufacturers' Lease Plans Inc. (MLPi) is the pioneer of short-term rental and operating lease financing, funding high technology equipment manufacturers since the 1960s.

www.leaseplans.com

[headlines]

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“Coattailing”

Cynthia L. Fawcett
Credit Risk Manager
Bankers Capital

“I have made my professional career (27 years) concentrating on credit analysis and risk management. Presently I am Credit Risk Manager for Bankers Capital in Marlborough, MA and have held risk management positions for major international banks and leasing companies. I would also like to state that in my career, I (or the organizations I have worked for) have never relied solely on a credit bureau score to approve or reject a transaction. Credit bureau scores are a useful indicator of an applicant's ability and/or willingness to repay but are only 1 facet of the credit approval and structuring process.

“The attached article appeared in my local newspaper on Monday. I feel that it is important for the leasing community to know that for a fee, there are companies which will improve an individual's credit score. The article cites an example that for a fee of $1,800.00, an individual with a FICO score of 550 (in December) improved his score to 715 (by January) and my mid-March was approval for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 7.5% with no money down.

“I can say with a high degree of certainty if an application to lease (at a company where the approval process was FICO score driven) involved an individual with a 550 score, the structure and rate for the approval would be significantly different than if the FICO score was 715. The saying that a leopard rarely changes its spots also applies in the credit world. The probability of default on transactions approved with an applicant's "enhanced" FICO score are significantly higher than the applicant with a true FICO score of 715.

“The practice known as "coattailing" is currently legal. I would urge credit professionals to look beyond the score when reviewing a new applicant, especially if the credit report shows inconsistencies.”

Regards,

Cindy Fawcett

Cynthia L. Fawcett
Credit Risk Manager
Bankers Capital
5 Mount Royal Ave.
Marlborough, MA 01752
508-229-0660
508-229-0262-Fax
www.bankers-capital.com

Newspaper story:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/WORCESTER_TELEGRAM.pdf

[headlines]

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

Fair Isaac moves to halt “coattailing”

Fair Isaac Moves to Protect Lenders from Fraudulent Manipulation of Authorized User Credit Card Accounts

Company's newest FICO scoring model will ignore authorized user accounts when calculating Classic FICO credit risk scores

- (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) - Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FIC) today announced that it will adjust its FICO scoring formula to ensure the continued reliability and predictive power of FICO scores. This action is intended to protect lenders and FICO scores from abuse of authorized user credit card accounts by a new kind of credit repair service that sells consumer credit card histories to credit applicants in order to purposefully misrepresent the applicants' own credit history to lenders and other businesses.

The adjustment removes authorized user accounts from consideration by the scoring model in FICO 08, the newest version of the Classic FICO credit score which Fair Isaac expects to become available to lenders starting in September.

"We will do whatever it takes to protect the reliability and accuracy of FICO credit scores for lenders, and to ensure lenders can continue to use FICO scores with confidence when making their most important customer decisions," said Dr. Mark Greene, CEO of Fair Isaac. "We will continue working with lenders, regulators and others in the credit reporting industry to end deceptive practices that fraudulently misrepresent consumer credit histories for profit."

An authorized user is a person permitted by a credit account holder to use an account, typically a family member who is managing credit for the first time. Used legitimately, authorized user account information has helped both lenders and consumers by enabling lenders to use FICO scores when making credit decisions for consumers who are starting to establish a credit history. Fair Isaac's research indicates that the next version of its FICO scoring formula will deliver increased predictive power without considering authorized user accounts.

Fair Isaac will work closely with lenders to help them implement and benefit from the FICO 08 score as it becomes available. As the company announced previously, lenders will be able to use the new version of FICO scores with minimal changes to their own operating systems. To make lender adoption easier and faster, the new scoring model will retain the same scoring range, score reason codes, minimum scoring criteria, inquiry treatment, and related model parameters as previous versions of the FICO formula.

About Fair Isaac
Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FIC) combines trusted advice, world-class analytics and innovative applications to help businesses make smarter decisions. Fair Isaac's solutions and technologies for Enterprise Decision Management turn strategy into action and elevate business performance by giving organizations the power to automate more decisions, improve the quality of their decisions, and connect decisions across their business. Clients in 80 countries work with Fair Isaac to increase customer loyalty and profitability, cut fraud losses, manage credit risk, meet regulatory and competitive demands, and rapidly build market share. Fair Isaac also helps millions of individuals manage their credit health through the www.myFICO.com website.

[headlines]

### Press Release ###########################
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News Briefs----

RBS calls off talks with Bank of America on LaSalle deal
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/69599.html

Bernanke expects economy will rebound in months ahead Won’t lower interest rates
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070605-1402-bernanke.html

Factory orders fall short in April
http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/06/05/
factory_orders_fall_short_in_april/

[headlines]

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You May have Missed---

Google's Stock Price Surges to New High
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8PIV6R00&show_article=1

[headlines]

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

Sports Briefs----

Dolphins acquire QB Trent Green from Chiefs
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-605green,0,4518909.
story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front

Ex-Steeler Bettis opens new eatery
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6070085

[headlines]

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“Gimme that Wine”

Premium Growth Trend for California Wine Continues in 2006 as Mainstream Wine Culture Emerges
in the U.S.
http://www.wineinstitute.org/industry/statistics/2007/wine_sales.php

To the Envelope Pushers, Cheers!---Eric Asimov
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/dining/06pour.html?ref=dining

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]

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Calendar Events This Day

Bonza Bottler Day –
To celebrate when the number of the day is the same as the number of the month. Bonza Bottler Day is an excuse to have a party at least once a month.

Korea: Memorial Day –
Nation pays tribute to the war dead and memorial services are held at the National Cemetery in Seoul.

National Tailors Day –
To honor tailors across the US. Annually the first Wednesday in June.

Sweden: Flag Day –
Commemorates the day upon which Gustavus 1 (Gustavus Vasa) ascended the throne of
Sweden in 1523.

Bottler Day –
To celebrate when the number of the day is the same as the number of the month. Bonza Bottler Day is an excuse to have a party at least once a month.

D-Day
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun06.html

Korea: Memorial Day –
Nation pays tribute to the war dead and memorial services are held at the National Cemetery in Seoul.

National Gardening Exercise Day
http://holidayinsights.com/other/gardeningexercise.htm

National Tailors Day –
To honor tailors across the US. Annually the first Wednesday on June.

Sweden: Flag Day –
Commemorates the day upon which Gustavus 1 (Gustavus Vasa) ascended the throne of
Sweden in 1523.

Yo Yo Day
http://holidayinsights.com/other/yoyoday.htm
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/freeprintables/ss/yoyo.htm

Saint Feast Days

• Saint Norbert
• St. Agobard
• St. Ceratius
• St. Claud
• St. Eustorgius II
• St. Jarlath
• St. Philip the Deacon
• St. Alexander
• St. Amantius
• St. Bertrand
• St. Vincent of Bevagna
• Bl. Walter Pierson
• St. Cocca
• St. Gudwal
• BL. John Davy
• St. John of Verona
• Bl. Robert Salt
• St. Nilammon
• Martyrs of Tarsus

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

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Holland is the only country with a national dog.

(Number 28 not correct. Here is a quick check on the
internet:

England: They consider the 'British bull dog' their national animal.
Malta: Kelb tal-Fenek
Turkey: Grey Wolf

United States:
Louisiana: The Catahoula Leopard Dog
Maryland State: Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Wisconsin: American Water Spaniel

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Today's Top Event in History

    1945--WOODFORD, HOWARD E. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 130th Infantry, 33d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Tabio, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 6 June 1945. Entered service at: Barberton, Ohio. Birth: Barberton, Ohio. G.O. No.: 14, 4 February 1946. Citation: He volunteered to investigate the delay in a scheduled attack by an attached guerrilla battalion. Reaching the line of departure, he found that the lead company, in combat for the first time, was immobilized by intense enemy mortar, machinegun, and rifle fire which had caused casualties to key personnel. Knowing that further failure to advance would endanger the flanks of adjacent units, as well as delay capture of the objective, he immediately took command of the company, evacuated the wounded, reorganized the unit under fire, and prepared to attack. He repeatedly exposed himself to draw revealing fire from the Japanese strongpoints, and then moved forward with a 5-man covering force to determine exact enemy positions. Although intense enemy machinegun fire killed 2 and wounded his other 3 men, S/Sgt. Woodford resolutely continued his patrol before returning to the company. Then, against bitter resistance, he guided the guerrillas up a barren hill and captured the objective, personally accounting for 2 hostile machinegunners and courageously reconnoitering strong defensive positions before directing neutralizing fire. After organizing a perimeter defense for the night, he was given permission by radio to return to his battalion, but, feeling that he was needed to maintain proper control, he chose to remain with the guerrillas. Before dawn the next morning the enemy launched a fierce suicide attack with mortars, grenades, and small-arms fire, and infiltrated through the perimeter. Though wounded by a grenade, S/Sgt. Woodford remained at his post calling for mortar support until bullets knocked out his radio. Then, seizing a rifle he began working his way around the perimeter, encouraging the men until he reached a weak spot where 2 guerrillas had been killed. Filling this gap himself, he fought off the enemy. At daybreak he was found dead in his foxhole, but 37 enemy dead were lying in and around his position. By his daring, skillful, and inspiring leadership, as well as by his gallant determination to search out and kill the enemy, S/Sgt. Woodford led an inexperienced unit in capturing and securing a vital objective, and was responsible for the successful continuance of a vitally important general advance.

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This Day in American History

    1755- Birthday of Nathan Hale. The American Patriot was caught behind lines gathering troop movements by General William Howe, who ordered him to be hung in the morning, as he was a spy. His alleged last words have become a symbol of American Patriotism: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." They were attributed to a news story printed in the 19th century, and were not heard by contemporaries of his time, nor commented upon. A 1777 newspaper article reported Hale as saying that ``if he had ten thousand lives, he would lay them all down, if called to it, in defense of his injured, bleeding country.'' Four years later another newspaper story quoted Hale's last words as: ``. . . my only regret is, that I have not more lives than one to offer in its service.'' Hull's 1848 memoirs give us the pithier version we know today: ``I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.'' According to Captain Frederick Mackenzie, a British officer who witnessed Hale’s death, he may have been young and courageous, but he never said these words. According to Mackenzie’s diary, he wrote that Hale’s last words were: “ It is the duty of every good officer to obey any orders given him by his commander-in-chief” James A. Barnes,” Myths of the Bryan Campaign,” Mississippi Valley Historical Review (1947). Also see:
http://www.lihistory.com/4/hs413a.htm
    1756-birthday of American painter John Turnbull, Lebanon, Conn.
lower half of:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun06.html
    1813-- The United States invasion of Canada is halted at Stony Creek, Ontario.
    1816 - The temperature reached 92 degrees at Salem MA during an early heat wave, but then plunged 49 degrees in 24 hours to commence the famous "year without a summer".
    1831- “People of Color” Convention held for the first time.
    1833-- In Ellicotts Mills, Maryland, President Andrew Jackson boarded a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad train for a pleasure trip to Baltimore. Jackson, who had never been on a train before, was also the first president to take a ride on the "Iron Horse."
    1862-Confederate gunboats engaged a Union flotilla near Memphis, TN. As crowds of spectators watched from the riverbanks, the outgunned Confederates were defeated. The city of Memphis surrendered shortly before noon of that day, effectively opening up the Mississippi region. . The war would rage on as the Union Army through shear source of "numbers of soldiers" would prevail.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/tn004.htm
http://www.americancivilwar.com/statepic/tn/tn004.html
    1872- Susan B. Anthony tests the rights of women and black males to vote under the 14th and 15th amendment, registering and voting in Rochester, New York. She would be arrested, tired, and sentenced to pay a fine. She refused. The judge backed down, fearing she would take this to the Supreme Court for appeal, but nevertheless, the votes were all disqualified and both women and blacks would not be allowed to vote in this century.
    1877--Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller - Afro- American sculptor. After success in Paris, she faced race and sex prejudice on her return to the U.S. In 1913 she began using Afro-Americans as models and for the next 50 years she produced major pieces that are part of the permanent collections at a number of museums and universities.
Died March 18, 1968.
http://dsc.gc.cuny.edu/part/part6/articles/swilli.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~jah/teaching/2003_03/article.shtml
http://www.askart.com/artist/F/meta_vaux_warrick_fuller.asp?ID=80614
    1889 -- Great Fire in Seattle, Washington destroys 25 downtown blocks.
    1892-birthday of bandleader Ted Lewis, Circleville,OH
http://www.redhotjazz.com/tedlewis.html
    1894 - One of the greatest floods in U.S. history occurred as the Williamette River overflowed to inundate half of the business district of Portland OR.
    1899-birthday of pianist William “Fats” Jefferson, Waco, TX
    1889-- Bryn Mawr College awarded the first graduate fellowship to a woman in the history of the United States. It went to Emily Greene Balch (B. 01-08- 1867) for "prosecuting sociological studies." Balch went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946.
    1902—Birthday of band leader Jimmy Lunceford http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_lunceford_jimmie.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-3603723-3237564
    1904 -- Helen McCloy (1904-1993) American mystery writer, first woman to serve as president of Mystery Writers of America. In 1953 she received Edgar for her criticism.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/hmccloy.htm
    1915--Birthday of American Composer Vincent Persichetti, Philadelpha,PA. Died 14 August 1987, Philadelphia,PA. He was a composer, pianist, editor, teacher, and critic.he taught at Julliard School of music for over 40 years. In that time he had such students such as Thelonius Monk, Philip Glass and numerous others.
http://www.presser.com/Composers/info.cfm?Name=VINCENTPERSICHETTI
http://www.eroica.com/phoenix/jdt141-vp.html
    1918-Casey Stengel returned to Ebbets Field for the first time since being traded from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Pittsburgh Pirates over the winter. Stengel celebrated the occasion by striding to the plate for his first at-bat, calling time, doffing his cap and letting a live bird fly out. Fans broke into laughter. He was giving them the bird.
    1925-birthday of trombonist Al Grey, Aldie, VA, died March 24,2000
http://www.jazzcanadiana.on.ca/_GREY.htm
http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/algrey-tribute.asp
    1930-Dillard University charged in New Orleans, LA
http://www.dillard.edu/
    1931-birthday of guitarist Grant Green, St. Louis, Mo.
http://website.lineone.net/~johnharris/grant_green.htm
http://members.tripod.com/vermontreview/CD%20Reviews/gamut.htm
    1932-The first gasoline tax levied by Congress was enacted on this day as a part of the Revenue Act of 1932. The act mandated a series of excise taxes on a wide variety of consumer goods. Congress placed a tax of one cent per gallon of gasoline and other motor fuel sold.
    1933-Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr. opened America’s first drive-in movie theater in Camden, NJ. At the height of their popularity in 1958, there were more than 4,000 drive-ins across America. In the 1990s, fewer than 600 remained opened.
    1934- President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Securities Exchange Act that established the SEC. Wall Street had operated almost unfettered since the end of the eighteenth century. However, the stock market crash of 1929 necessitated regulation of the exchanges. The Securities and Exchange Commission is composed of five members appointed by the president of the US.
    1939-- Singer Gary (US) Bonds, whose real name is Gary Anderson, was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Bonds had a string of energetic dance records in the early 1960's, the biggest of which was "Quarter to Three," which reached number one in 1961. Bonds' career was revived in 1981 by Bruce Springsteen. "The Boss" wrote "This Little Girl of Mine," which became Gary (US) Bonds' first hit in nearly 20 years. Bonds' comeback album, "Dedication," also made the charts.
    1942-Congress on Racial Equality founded.
http://www.core-online.org/
    1942-birthday of Marian Wright Edelman, activist and found of the Children’s Defense Fund.
http://cdfweb.vwh.net/mwe.html
http://bss.sfsu.edu/edelman/aboutmwe.htm
    1944- In the early-morning hours Allied forces landed in Normandy on the north coast of France. In an operation that took months of planning, a fleet of 2,727 ships of every description converged from British ports from Wales to the North Sea. Operation Overlord involved 2,000,000 tons of war materials, including more than 50,000 tanks, armored cars, jeeps, trucks and half-tracks. The US alone sent 1,700,000 fighting men. The Germans believed the invasion would not take place under the adverse weather conditions of this early June day, especially with their number one General George S. Patton employed elsewhere. But as the sun came up the village of Saint Mèere Eglise was liberated by American parachutists, and by nightfall the landing of 155,000 Allies attested to the success of D-Day. The long-awaited second front had at last materialized.
General Patton joined the war with his tank brigade, pushing toward the Rhine River before the other generals told him he couldn’t do that.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun06.html
    1944-birthday of pianist Monty Alexander, Kingston, Jamaica
http://www.montyalexander.com
    1944 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``I'll Get By (as Long as I Have You),'' Harry James Orchestra/Dick Haynes.
    1945--WOODFORD, HOWARD E. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 130th Infantry, 33d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Tabio, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 6 June 1945. Entered service at: Barberton, Ohio. Birth: Barberton, Ohio. G.O. No.: 14, 4 February 1946. Citation: He volunteered to investigate the delay in a scheduled attack by an attached guerrilla battalion. Reaching the line of departure, he found that the lead company, in combat for the first time, was immobilized by intense enemy mortar, machinegun, and rifle fire which had caused casualties to key personnel. Knowing that further failure to advance would endanger the flanks of adjacent units, as well as delay capture of the objective, he immediately took command of the company, evacuated the wounded, reorganized the unit under fire, and prepared to attack. He repeatedly exposed himself to draw revealing fire from the Japanese strongpoints, and then moved forward with a 5-man covering force to determine exact enemy positions. Although intense enemy machinegun fire killed 2 and wounded his other 3 men, S/Sgt. Woodford resolutely continued his patrol before returning to the company. Then, against bitter resistance, he guided the guerrillas up a barren hill and captured the objective, personally accounting for 2 hostile machinegunners and courageously reconnoitering strong defensive positions before directing neutralizing fire. After organizing a perimeter defense for the night, he was given permission by radio to return to his battalion, but, feeling that he was needed to maintain proper control, he chose to remain with the guerrillas. Before dawn the next morning the enemy launched a fierce suicide attack with mortars, grenades, and small-arms fire, and infiltrated through the perimeter. Though wounded by a grenade, S/Sgt. Woodford remained at his post calling for mortar support until bullets knocked out his radio. Then, seizing a rifle he began working his way around the perimeter, encouraging the men until he reached a weak spot where 2 guerrillas had been killed. Filling this gap himself, he fought off the enemy. At daybreak he was found dead in his foxhole, but 37 enemy dead were lying in and around his position. By his daring, skillful, and inspiring leadership, as well as by his gallant determination to search out and kill the enemy, S/Sgt. Woodford led an inexperienced unit in capturing and securing a vital objective, and was responsible for the successful continuance of a vitally important general advance.
    1946 –Birthday of Janet Lennon Culver City CA, singer (Lennon Sisters)
http://www.singers.com/jazz/vintage/lennonsisters.html
http://www.dead-or-alive.org/dead.nsf/lnames-nf/Lennon+Janet
    1946-The Basketball Association of America was founded at a New York meeting of hockey team owners and arena managers interested in having their buildings used on open dates. The BAA played three seasons (1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49), after which it merged with the National Basketball League, founded in 1937, to form the National Basketball Association. Three original BAA teams remain: The Boston Celtics, The Golden State Warriors (originally the Philadelphia Warriors) and the New York Knicks.
    1949---Top Hits
Riders in the Sky - Vaughn Monroe
Again - Doris Day
Some Enchanted Evening - Perry Como
Lovesick Blues - Hank Williams
    1955--- Bill Haley & Comets, "Rock Around the Clock" hits #1
    1956 - Gogi Grant (born Audrey Brown) reached the top spot on the "Billboard" singles chart for the first and only time in her career. Her hit, "The Wayward Wind", stayed at the top of the top-tune tabulation for eight weeks and on the music charts for 22 weeks. It was her second record release. The first, in October, 1955, was "Suddenly There’s a Valley" which climbed to number nine. http://www.gpproductions.com/acts/grant.html
http://art.staviator.com/G/Gogi_Grant.html
    1956--Gene Vincent's recording of "Be Bop A Lula" was released. The song was co-written by Vincent and (Sheriff) Tex Davis, a deejay at a Norfolk, Virginia radio station. "Be Bop a Lula" was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, selling a million copies. Vincent never was able to match the success of his initial hit. He died in 1971 of a seizure brought on by a bleeding ulcer.
    1957---Top Hits
Love Letters in the Sand - Pat Boone
A Teenager’s Romance/I’m Walkin’ - Ricky Nelson
A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation) - Marty Robbins
Four Walls - Jim Reeves
    1960-Birthday of American composer Mary C. Wright, Cleveland, Ohio.
    1960-- Tony Williams of the Platters left the group for a solo career. Williams was the lead singer on the Platters' big hits in the '50s - "Only You," "The Great Pretender" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," among others. In the 1970's, Williams and Buck Ram, manager of the Platters, battled in court over who had the right to use the group's name. Ram won the case, but both later toured with groups billed as the Platters.
    1960-- Roy Orbison's "Only the Lonely" was released. It would reach number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and inspire Bruce Springsteen to write "Born to Run."
    1965---Top Hits
Help Me, Rhonda - The Beach Boys
Wooly Bully - Sam The Sham and The Pharoahs
Crying in the Chapel - Elvis Presley
What’s He Doing in My World - Eddy Arnold
    1966—James Meredith was shot and wounded while on a lone march from Memphis, Tenn. to Jackson, Miss. to encourage black voter registration. On June 26 groups from across the country joined with Meredith to complete the march, which was highlight by a debate between Martin Luther King, Jr., the leading advocate of non-violence and Stokely Carmichael and Floyd McKissick, militant advocates of political confrontation.
    1966-civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael launches “Black Power” Movement. Died Nov 15,1998. http://www.blackhistory.eb.com/micro/727/78.html
    1966 -- Author Truman Capote holds famous "Black & White Ball" — widely regarded as most glittering bas of the decade.
    1966 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Paint It Black," The Rolling Stones.
    1966- The Turtles and Oxford Circle at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.
    1968-New York Senator Robert Francis Kennedy dies after being shot while campaigning for president. There are many who believe this was a conspiracy, and there are many sites on the internet making all kinds of noise, but history is full of loners who manage to assassinate famous people, including American presidents. According to the trial, covered in part as ABC News producer, sitting in the front row when the cartoonist left, Shiran Shiran acted alone, and quite easily
as Kennedy was in a crowd uncontrolled by any real protection due to the number of people surrounding him. Shiran was a terrorist.
    1969-Rod Stewart, lead singer for the Jeff Beck Group, signs a solo recording contract with Mercury Records.
    1970-CSN&Y's "Teach Your Children" is released.
    1971 – Ed Sullivan said goodbye. He reportedly lived in my home time of Port Chester, New York, married to a Jewish lady who reportedly rule the roost at home. As a newspaper columnist, he was very popular and it was told a mention in his column was very important for your career. When his variety shows appeared on television, with him as the host, due to his fame as a columnist, he was able to attract the top stars that were originally afraid of the medium. He also brought in new talent and had a real circus from Polish dancing bears, a little mouse named Topo Gigio, and “discovered” Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, the comedy of Jackie Mason, John Byner, Rich Little, Allen King, Richard Pryor and so many more, as "The Ed Sullivan Show" left CBS-TV. Gladys Knight and The Pips and singer Jerry Vale appeared on the final show. "The Ed Sullivan Show" had been a showcase for more than 20 years for artists who ranged from Ethel Merman to Ella Fitzgerald, from Steve and Eydie to the Beatles. "The Ed Sullivan Show" was the longest running variety show on TV .
    1973---Top Hits
My Love - Paul McCartney & Wings
Daniel - Elton John
Pillow Talk - Sylvia
Satin Sheets - Jeanne Pruett
    1973 - Barry White was awarded a gold record for "I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby". It was his first hit and his first of five number one million-sellers. White began recording in 1960. He formed the group, Love Unlimited, in 1969 and married one of the group’s singers, Glodean James. He also formed the 40-piece Love Unlimited Orchestra which had the number-one hit,
"Love’s Theme" in 1973.
http://members.rott.chello.nl/p.klein6/bwindex.htm
    1977 - Severe thunderstorms with large hail and winds to 100 mph caused one million dollars damage around Norfolk, VA. A forty-two foot fishing boat capsized near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel drowning 13 of the 27 persons on board.
    1978 - Proposition 13 passed in California. Voters joined Senator Howard Jarvis in cutting property taxes by 57 percent. This was seen as the birth of a taxpayer’s revolt against high taxes and excessive government spending. It also spelled the end of the higher education system in California, and brought the secondary schools from number one to number thirty and lower in score testing today.
    1978- “20/20” premiered on TV. An hourly news magazine developed by ABC to compete with CBS’s “Sixty Minutes”. Its original hosts, Harold Hayes and Robert Hughes, were cut after the first show and replaced by Hugh Downs.
Barbara Walters became co-anchor in 1984. the show consisted of investigative and background reports. Contributors to the show have included Tom Jarriel, Sylvia Chase, Gerald Rivera, Thomas Hoving, John Stossel, Lynn Sher and Stone Phillips.
    1981---Top Hits
Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
Being with You - Smokey Robinson
Stars on 45 medley - Stars on 45
Friends - Razzy Bailey
    1982-Over 85,000 people gather at the Rose Bowl for "Peace Sunday: We Have a Dream". Among those performing at the anti-nuclear rally are Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, Dan Fogelberg, Gary U.S. Bonds and Bonnie Raitt.
    1986-Manager Steve Boros of the San Diego Padres was ejected before the first pitch of a game with the Atlanta Braves when he attempted to give umpire Charlie Williams a videotape of a disputed play in the previous night’s game, a 4-2 Braves victory.
    1987-Genesis becomes the first group in history to spend a full year on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with tracks from only one album, Invisible Touch. The streak began in 1986 with the title track.
    1988 - Seventeen cities in the north central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including Williston ND with a reading of 104 degrees. Thunderstorms in Florida produced wind gusts to 65 mph which damaged two mobile homes northwest of Melbourne injuring six people.
    1989---Top Hits
Rock On - Michael Damian
Soldier of Love - Donny Osmond
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
Where Did I Go Wrong - Steve Wariner
    1995- Taligent, a joint venture of IBM, Apple Computer, and Hewlett-Packard, announced the release of its first product, an application to run on operating systems made by its three parent companies. The three companies created Taligent in 1991 in an attempt to beat back Microsoft's unrelenting dominance in operating systems. The companies hoped Taligent would create a separate operating system but quickly learned that customers did not actually want another operating system. Instead of launching a revolutionary new system, Taligent focused on creating object-oriented technology to be embedded in existing operating systems, making them easier to develop and modify programs
    1996 -San Francisco became the first city in the nation to sue the tobacco industry.
    1998 - "The Boy is Mine", by Brandy and Monica, zoomed to number 1 on the "Billboard" pop chart. It ruled the Hot 100 roost for 13 weeks -- putting it in the top ten of longest-running #1 singles in the modern rock era.
    2000-- Thanks to the Angels' video crew playing a clip from the 1994 movie "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective" on the JumboTron, the Rally Monkey is born. With the words "Rally Monkey" superimposed over a monkey jumping up and down in the Jim Carrey movie, the crowd goes wild as Anaheim scores two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Giants, 6-5.
http://imagesource.allposters.com:80/images/pic/PHOTOFILE/AADT03
8~Anaheim-Angels-Rally-Monkey--Photofile.jpg
    2003-- Insisting the corked bat, designed to put on home run displays during batting practice, was accidentally used in the Devil Rays' game, Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa is suspended for eight games by major League baseball. Bob Watson, baseball's vice president of on-field operations, agreed the Chicago's outfielder use of an illegal bat was an "isolated incident," but one that still deserved a penalty.

NBA Finals Champions This Date

    1976 Boston Celtics

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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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