Leasing News Statement on AdvanceMe, Inc.

Leasing News will continue to print advertisements for AdvanceMe, Inc., and will continue to recommend its program.

In the four years of writing about this company, the customers contacted by Leasing News were all complimentary and grateful for AdvanceMe’s program, several renewing the program, and many said they recommended the company to others.

In the credit business, it is rate vs. risk, and what price an item sells for it at the discretion of the seller and the buyer.

Many of the AdvanceMe customers would not be in business today, nor enjoying a profit or providing for their family without the ability to receive cash today. AdvanceMe, Inc. provides a necessary service and the many customers they have are testimony to their success.

Christopher Menkin, Publisher

Up-Date: $23.4 Million Settlement-Not Licensed in California
by Christopher Menkin

This is a follow-up to the story that appeared in Monday’s edition about a class action suit against AdvanceMe, Inc. with a settlement of $23.4 million. It appears AdvanceMe, Inc. was not a licensed California Finance Lender.

There actually were three stories, but the first one tells the main story and here it is, if you missed it: http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2011/3_28.htm

In response to the story, Mark Lorimer, Chief Marketing Officer of AdvanceMe, Inc. told Leasing News:

“This was a vigorously contested, protracted and costly litigation. It has been resolved on terms mutually agreeable to the parties and the settlement agreement prohibits further comment.”

AdvanceMe, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capital Access Network, both based out of Scarsdale, New York and in the trade abbreviated to AMI in conversations. The web site states the wholly-owned subsidiaries of Capital Access Network "have provided almost $2 billion in more than 74,000 transactions...providing working capital solutions for businesses since 1998."

The company also on March 28th sent out a press release announcing "...a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Manuel E. Tavares, Victor Jose Pacheco and Juan E. Tavares for use of its flagship product, the Daily Remittance Platform (DRP). The arrangement expands DRP's presence into 21 additional countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, plus the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico...(that the company has)...tested and refined DRP for more than 12 years by providing, through its subsidiaries, US $2 billion in capital to 35,000 SMBs in the U.S." (see today’s Leasing News Briefs).

It is both ironic and paradoxical that on March 28th the Archive story of 2007 was featured with the headline "AdvanceMe not a Leasing Funder." It is exactly that stance that they appear to have made a settlement of $23.4 million as their contract is a "sales agreement" (1) and they don't consider it a loan, but the class action suit does.

The issue then is about "usury."

Leasing News has been writing about leasing regulations and licenses for almost ten years, at one time in debates with readers, including funding sources. Many listened and got licenses. Others are waiting for their number to be called into court.

Leasing News asked perhaps the best expert in California, who also won a major case in the Commercial Money Center (CMC) case against the insurance companies as CMC was not licensed:

"Lets see--- you just paid $25 million settlement, not counting your time or your attorney and court fees, and you could have only paid $1,500 to procure a lenders license," Tom McCurnin, Barton, Klugman & Oetting, Los Angeles, told Leasing News. "These are top flight bankers and lawyers. I don't get it.

"I’ve never understood the reluctance, indeed outright pushback, from industry professionals obtaining lenders licenses. Details can be found here -> http://www.corp.ca.gov/fsd/lender.asp. The downsides might include cost, the bonding requirements and the annual audits, but upsides are huge, in my opinion.

"The advantages bullet-proof you lease documents from usury claims, and assuming the lessor has a good 'choice of law' clause and 'forum selection' clause, it will bullet-proof the documents out of state as well. Basically, the lessor can charge any amount of interest it chooses, except for those States which have criminal usury statutes such as New Jersey, which is 50%. I can’t speak for other lawyers here, but when one of my clients is involved in broker-funder dispute, or a lessor-lessee dispute, the first thing I look for is a license.

"The failure to procure a license may subject that lessor or broker to class action claims, criminal prosecution, and cease and desist orders by the Department of Corporations. Those downsides often settle many of my clients’ claims against non-licensed brokers or funders."

Leasing News attempted to reach the Chief Legal Officer for Capital Access Network, Parris Sanz, Esq., who joined the company in 2004 and "Previously, Sanz was an attorney in private practice at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker in San Francisco and Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles, where he handled a wide variety of corporate, securities, transactional and commercial matters."

A voice mail was made, but his email address was considered confidential and his secretary could not divulge it. Leasing News also attempted to reach the attorneys representing AMI in California.

Leasing News noted in previous stories that Capital Access Network is an advertiser, as well is Channel Partners, where Leasing News asked its "Managing Member" Brad Peterson:

"How does this affect Channel Partners? Also how does this affect those who were licensed in California doing business with AdvanceMe in California, unlicensed, which would void the transaction?"

Brad's response:

"In answer to your question, the settlement will not impact Channel Partners. We sell some deals to AMI (and other cash advance companies), but it is a smaller part of our business. Also, I don't think the settlement will significantly impact AMI's ongoing business...they are substantial and really good at what they do.

"This complaint seems to be about AMI not having a lenders license in CA so the plaintiff claims they violate the usury laws. AMI would claim their product is true sale and not a loan, so they don't need a license. I know AMI has won in court many times on the true sale issue. I would guess the settlement is a "risk choice" due to the enormous cost of a potential loss in court...however, I would not have bet against AMI in court. They are a well managed, disciplined and first class business.

"Kit, this reminds me of the ‘insurance class actions’ from a few years ago. Most of the funders ended up choosing multi-million dollar settlements even though they may have won in court. The cost of losing was simply too high of a risk.

"The Merchant Cash Advance product/documentation is typically very transparent in that it clearly states the receivable amount to be purchased and the purchase price (advance amount). I think the whole class action and settlement is unfortunate as it will likely embolden further suits and simply make it tougher for small businesses to access capital."

As a point of information, Channel Partners is not licensed in California, as Brad Peterson states their attorney states they don’t need one as they “are not a financial institution per California law” although they provide working capital loans and lines of credit, as well as cash advance transactions.

There is the question about a licensed company doing business with an unlicensed company, specifically thwse licensed under this law may only broker loans to lenders that hold a California Finance Lenders license. A non-operating lease is classified as a “capital lease” or “loan.” A working capital loan or line of credit is definitely a “loan.” (2)

The Merchant Processing Resource is “a free unbiased information and resources on Merchant Processing and Merchant Cash Advance."

http://www.merchantprocessingresource.com/apps/blog/show/5797554-complete-merchant-cash-advance-industry-statistics-2010- has the statistics of the 50 states showing merchant cash advances of 20,966 for a total of $524 million; California was not included and using numbers would make it $650 million easily. A click shows AdvanceMe in New York as the largest. Information from others indicates the numbers are much higher than recorded here, but confirmation is not available.

(1) "AMI Merchant Agreement Contract"--Purchase and Sale of Future Receivables"
PDF file

(2) California License Synopsis:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/cal_license.htm

Loan/Lease Statute Up-Date:
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2011/3_02.htm#statute

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

Classified Ads---Senior Management

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

 

Europe 25+ yrs exper. management roles Chase, AT&T Capital, Heller Financial, SFS. Develop biz from “scratch to success”. Looking for challenging & pioneering job. Email: frans@alliedproperty.net

Philadelphia, PA 27 yrs. exp. sales, ops., credit, strategy, P&L mngmet. Most recently created & executed the biz plans for 2 highly successful Bank-owned small ticket leasing subsidiaries. email: mccarthy2020@comcast.net

Philadelphia Metro Area - 30 Years experience Healthcare sales/ management- 3 years experience newly create "small-ticket" healthcare division. Good success - Mitch Utz 215-460-4483 Email: mitutz@msn.com

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

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

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

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

21st Century Leasing an A+

In the BBB Rating report, it was noted that 21st Century Leasing, San Diego, California was previously an "A+," but BBB was now reporting them "out of business." A telephone call showed they were still in business.

Ken Sullivan tells Leasing News it has been corrected and they are now, also, "BBB Accredited business since 12/16/1997:"

"Thanks for letting us know about the “out of business glitch” as posted on our BBB website page.

"I have since contacted them and they apologized for the error and corrected the information.

"Note 21st Century Leasing has been an accredited, A+ rated business since 12/16/1997.

"Click below to view:
http://www.bbb.org/san-diego/business-reviews/leasing-service/21st-century-leasing-in-san-diego-ca-10011418/

Ken Sullivan
21st Century Leasing
800-550-4966 Toll Free
619-393-2140 fax
www.21stcenturyleasing.com
"Your One-Stop Lease Approval Company"

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

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Marketing Genius Riverside, California Create, Design, Coordinate convention/trade shows marketing calls, remarketing assets/website Send resume: Dreynolds@a-zresources.com www.a-zresources.com A-Z Resources captive affiliate to a major business distributor founded in 1975, join our staff, generating over $120 million in combined sales.

Documentation Administrator Los Angeles, CA Mininum two years experience, competitive salary, plus benefits, click here for more information www.julesandassociates.com Jules and Associates, Inc. has been in business for over 20 years.

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

Two Reporters Assigned to NAELB April Conference

Leasing News has assigned a two team news reporters to cover the National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers Conference to be held April 7-April 9 in Austin, Texas:

Mae Philpott and Michael Green of Dakota Financial.

Attendance looks very good, many exhibitors, great program, and the weather should be perfect.

Sonia v.M. Stoddard, NAELB President, states:

"The Conference Planning Committee and our Conference Chair, Ted Reynolds with TEAM Funding Solutions, have taken great care in planning your 2011 NAELB Annual Conference.

"Each and every event is designed to provide each attendee the maximum return and experience for their investment. Over two days, we are presenting eleven educational sessions and six hours of exhibit hall time. And that does not include the countless networking opportunities that are available during non-conference hours.

"Professional sales trainers from Sales2Sales, Inc., the Dale Carnegie Training Institute, Constant Contact and Wheeler Business Consulting will conduct multi-day sessions on sales strategies that can be applied to the equipment leasing industry. There will also be other workshop topics discussing financial statement analysis and round table discussions with funding sources. You will never find access to these high-level professional sales trainers under one roof again, nor will you have access to them for the price of admission to the NAELB conference. If you come away with only one new idea that will help you grow your business (and you will come away with more than one), then this conference is one of the best investments that you can make toward your business growth and development. And some of the workshops will be interactive, allowing you to participate and voice your individual concerns.

"If I may be so bold as to state: attending this conference is a no-brainer. If you want to be part of an excellent way to build and re-build your business, your relationships and your industry knowledge, this is the place to be.

"Again, please visit our web site at www.naelb.org, or contact our association headquarters at (800) 99-NAELB for more information about the conference that you cannot afford to miss.

“Be certain to say hello to me in Austin. I look forward to seeing you soon.”

Sonia v.M. Stoddard, BPB
Lease@StoddardAssociates.com
(310) 390-2009 direct line

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

CIT Renews $1 Billion Vendor Finance Funding Facility

Significantly Reduces Costs, Increases Advance Rate
and Lengthens Term of Facility

NEW YORK----CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), a leading provider of financing to small businesses and middle market companies, today announced that it has renewed its $1 billion committed U.S. Vendor Finance conduit facility, significantly reducing costs, increasing the advance rate and lengthening the term. The private facility supports CIT’s lending to small business and middle market companies and will allow CIT Vendor Finance to fund both existing assets and new originations.

“This transaction highlights our progress in securing stable and low cost funding to support the small business and middle market sectors, which remain vital to the ongoing recovery of the U.S. economy”

“This transaction highlights our progress in securing stable and low cost funding to support the small business and middle market sectors, which remain vital to the ongoing recovery of the U.S. economy,” said John A. Thain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

The committed revolving period of the facility now expires in March 2013 and the facility has a final maturity in 2020. Barclays Bank PLC continues to serve as Administrative Agent with three additional banks as committed lenders.

Individuals interested in receiving future updates on CIT via e-mail can register at http://newsalerts.cit.com.

About CIT
Founded in 1908, CIT (NYSE: CIT) is a bank holding company with more than $35 billion in finance and leasing assets. It provides financing and leasing capital to its more than one million small business and middle market clients and their customers across more than 30 industries. CIT maintains leadership positions in small business and middle market lending, factoring, retail finance, aerospace, equipment and rail leasing, and global vendor finance. www.cit.com

Gary DiLillo, President 216-658-5618 or gary@avptc.com To learn more about the benefits of outsourcing personal property tax, please click here.

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

San Diego Used Car Wholesaler Pleads Guilty Tax Evasion

– Mohammad Jafar Nikbakht, aka Freydoon Nikbakht, pleaded guilty to tax evasion before U.S. District Court Judge John A. Houston in San Diego, reports the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to the indictment and other documents filed with the court, Nikbakht ran a series of lucrative auto dealerships in the greater San Diego area. Between 1998 and 2007, Nikbakht significantly under-reported income earned from these businesses. The government claims that Nikbakht defrauded the U.S. Treasury of more than $400,000 in income tax revenue through the course of these years.

According to indictment and other documents filed with the court, Nikbakht pleaded guilty to tax evasion for the year 2007. Nikbakht admitted that during that year he earned income through auto dealership operations, including through a dealership called Southern California Car Exchange. Nikbakht further admitted that he willfully failed to file his personal tax return and pay his taxes, and that he engaged in various acts to conceal income from the IRS. For example, Nikbakht admitted that he ran an auto wholesale operation under another dealer’s license and that he instructed the other dealer to write his income payment checks to the order of a third-party or to “cash”.

The government contends that even at his plea hearing, Nikbakht only admitted to a fraction of his misconduct. Additional evidence concerning Nikbakht’s 2007 tax evasion and his alleged tax crimes for prior years as well as allegations that Nikbakht obstructed justice in the tax investigation, will be presented before Judge Houston at a preliminary sentencing hearing scheduled for April 12, 2011.

Nikbakht faces up to five years in prison. In addition, the government is seeking a fine of at least $250,000 and an order requiring Nikbakht to pay full restitution to the IRS as well as the costs of his prosecution.

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

New Rochelle, New York-- Adopt-a-Dog

Fozzy Bear
(named by shelter and you can change)
Airedale Terrier/Labrador Retriever Mix
An adoptable dog in New Rochelle, NY
Male
Spayed/Neutered
• Up-to-date with routine shots
• Primary color: Brown or Chocolate
• Coat length: Wire

"Fozzy Bear is much like the Muppet he as named after. Huggable, loveable and friendly to all. Found as a lost dog and never claimed Fozzy is quickly becoming a favorite of our staff and volunteers. After arriving at the shelter this young year and a half boy was bathed, vaccinated, neutered and then given a name that represented well. Fozzy though large is a mellow kind of guy. Good with other dogs and friendly to everyone!"

Fozzy Bear
New Rochelle Humane Society
New Rochelle, NY
914-632-2925
petadopt@verizon.net
http://www.newrochellehumanesociety.org/adopt-a-dog/

Open 7 days: 10am-4pm
Thursday: 2pm-8pm
70 Portman Rd
New Rochelle
NY 10801

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

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

 

 

Classified ads—Asset Management

Asset Management: Atlanta, GA premier provide accounts receivable management functions from 3rd Party contingency collections to Portfolio Purchasing. Contact George Elliott, National Account Manager. 678-694-9063, www.westassetmanagement.com	Asset Management: Boston, MA Nationwide appraisals, remarketing, audits, inspections and more! Over 15-years industry experience and dedicated to deliver personal, prompt, professional services. Call Chris @ 508-785-1277. Email:chris@dovermanagementgroup.com
Asset Management: Minneapolis, MN NetSentric provides services to leasing companies: Inspection, Appraisals, Auditing, Warehousing, Repossession, Asset Management, Repairs, Remarketing and Field Service for Electronics and Computing Technology. Email: jcahill@netsentricinc.com	Asset Management: Monroe, NC Recover a greater return on your investment.  We specialize in the woodworking, pallet, sawmill and forestry industries.  Carolinamachinerysales.com/ Melinda Meier (704)288-1904 x103
Asset Management: Nationwide BUYER/LENDER BEWARE. Don't sign anything until Collateral Verifications Inc. goes onsite, knocks on the door and gets the facts. http://www.i-collateral.com Email: mark@i-collateral.com	Nationwide Seasoned and fair priced workforce is at your service for all lease collections, repossessions, and asset liquidations, appraisals.  Call Nassau Asset Management 800-462-7728   dcastagna@nasset.com
Asset Management: NorthWest Sequent provides collateral recovery, remarketing, and storage services to lenders with assets located in the greater Pacific Northwest. Professional services at reasonable pricing. Contact rossr@sequentam.com	Asset Management: Orange City, FL We help Lessors Liquidate un-wanted Assets valued at $750,000+. It's an effective method of Liquidating Assets such as Jets, Planes, Helicopters, Freighters, etc. Eric R. Sanders Tel  386-789-9441 www.ValuedAssetSales.com www.The-RandolphCapital.com EQPMNTLEASING@aol.com
Asset Storage/Re-Marketing: Ohio & surrounding states. Providing no cost warehousing, condition reports, digital photos and remarketing of off-lease forklifts & industrial equipment. NAFTA wide dealer network. Email to GCochran@OhioLift.com
Asset Management: South East US- AllState Asset Management Recovery, remarketing, inspections. 25 years experience, dedicated to deliver, prompt, professional services. Call Brian @ 704-671-2376. brian.buchanan@allstateassetmgmt.com	Asset Management: Global Specializing in Semiconductor and Electronic Test Equipment collateral. Lender services include Consignment Sales, Remarketing, Portfolio Purchases, Inspections, De-installation, Repairs and Warehousing. www.testequipmentconnection.com mnovello@testequipmentconnection.com
Bulldog Asset Management provides recovery and remarketing services with a difference. Contingent repos, free storage and industry experts to remarket. Email: jeff@buybulldog.com www.buybulldog.com

All "Outsourcing" Classified ads (advertisers are both requested and responsible to keep their free ads up to date:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Outsourcing/Outsourcing.htm

How to Post a free "Outsourcing" classified ad:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Outsourcing/Outsourcing-post.htm

Capital Access Network, Inc. Expands Daily Remittance Platform™ Reach

John Otto Story in Courthouse News Service

BofA to hire 1,000 New Small Business Bankers

Fed to name banks that drew emergency loans

Amazon Cloud Player plays music from the cloud, beats Apple and Google to market

First Celebrity Contestant Eliminated On 'Dancing With The Stars'; Chris Brown Gets Standing Ovation, Twice

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

--- You May Have Missed

40 Percent of Small Businesses to Move to Cloud
http://www.internetnews.com/webcontent/article.php/3929341

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

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for investigations
and background information provided by John Kenny)

 

Sports Briefs----

Anaheim unanimously approves $75 Million package for possible Kings relocation
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/29/3513031/anaheim-unanimously-approves-a.html

Testimony: Barry Bonds knew trainer sold steroids
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/29/MNJG1ILQ5L.DTL

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

California Nuts Briefs---

Gov. Brown declares budget talks dead
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/03/brown-budget-talks-with-republ.html

Russian Billionaire Yuri Milner Drops $70M Silicon Valley Mansion
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_localsfo/20110329/ts_yblog_localsfo/russian-billionaire-yuri-milner-drops-70m-on-sweet-new-digs

Stanford admits just 7 percent of applicants
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17729697?nclick_check=1

Best Coffee in San Francisco
http://thefrontsteps.com/2011/03/22/winner-the-best-coffee-house-in-san-francisco/
http://www.philzcoffee.com/
http://www.philzcoffee.com/Customer-Service/Store-Locations

 

“Gimme that Wine”

Vineyards emerging from winter's cloak
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110329/ARTICLES/110329478/1350?Title=Vineyards-emerging-from-winter-s-cloak-

The Collapse of America's Bordeaux Source
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/44691

The Most Expensive Wine in Australia
http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/03/22/the-most-expensive-wine-in-australia/

Lodi's Ripken Winery to be featured on TV show
http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_9ad412d7-27ec-558f-b77a-98a62fc0d665 /article_9ad412d7-27ec-558f-b77a-98a62fc0d665.html

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

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com

http://www.wine-searcher.com/

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

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

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

    1492 --King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella sign decree expelling Jews from Spain. Cristo Colombo’s navigator was Jewish, but not told to the royalty. It was he who discovered the new land, they thought was India (thus the natives were called Indians) and also changed the date from the 13th to the 12th, as they thought it would be unlucky to record the event on that number. In reality, neither actually stepped on either the South or North America continents in their five trips to the area.
    1769 - Following the example of the Philadelphia merchants, Baltimore merchants join the non-importation movement by banning the purchase of English goods until the repeal of the Townshend Acts.
    1775 - King George III endorses the New England Restraining Act, which forbids the New England colonies from trading with any other countries except England after 1 July, and also bans them from fishing in the North Atlantic after 20 July. On 13 April the provisions of the act will also be applied to Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia when Parliament hears that these colonies have ratified the Continental Association. 
    1820 - A group of New England missionaries arrives on the Hawaiian Islands, to be greeted by King Kamehameha II. 
    1823 - A great Northeast storm with hurricane force winds raged from Pennsylvania to Maine. The storm was most severe over New Jersey with high tides, uprooted trees, and heavy snow inland.
    1842- Dr. Crawford W. Long, having seen the use of nitrous oxide and sulfuric either at “laughing gas parties, observed that individuals under their influence felt no pain, on this date he performed an operation under the influence of either. To honor him, March 30th is also “Doctor’s Day,” with the red carnation designated the official flower to worn in the lapel today.
    1843- Napoleon E. Guerin of New York City patented an egg incubator for hatching chickens, revolutionizing the industry.
    1858- Hyman L. Lipman of Philadelphia received the patent for inventing a pencil with an attached eraser. The pencil had a groove into which was “secured a piece of prepared rubber,
glued in at one end.”
    1867-- US purchases Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000 (2¢ an acre.) The phrase Seward's folly was coined to characterize the purchase of Alaska from Russia. The purchase was negotiated by Secretary of State William Henry Seward. Alaska was also ridiculed as Seward's icebox.
    1867---Birthday of Jessie Donaldson Hodder, prison reformer. When her common-law husband rejected her and their two children, found work in the New York State prison system and developed reforms that became the model for the nation by giving women prisoners dignity, a chance to reform, education, etc.
    1867 – The United States government put the finishing touches on the deal to purchase that "large stump of ice," better known as Alaska. The acquisition, brokered in absolute secrecy by Secretary of State William Seward, saw the U.S. pay Alaska's owner, Russia $7.2 million, or roughly two cents per acre of land. Though Alaska was the first bit of property ever relinquished by Russia, some American officials sneered at the seemingly barren new state. In certain circles, the deal was derisively known as "Seward's Folly."
    1870-The Fifteenth Amendment was adopted. It stipulated that no state shall deprive any citizen of the right to vote because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. After reconstruction was ended by a deal with Southern Democrats to win their votes to decide the presidential election in an electoral tie, Poll taxes and literacy tests cancel out Black and other minority voters in the South. In many counties, it would not be until the 1960’s and the birth of the civil rights movement that many were allowed to vote.
    1882--Birthday of Melanie Klein, pioneer child psychologist who believed cruelty against the mother affected the child much more than Freud and his school of followers had thought.
    1888-Birthday of “The Louisiana Lady,” Camille Nickerson, music arranger, composer, musician and educator, remembered for her musical talent and her work as a music collector who gathered and transcribed Creole music. Born at the French Quarter, New Orleans. Of Creole extraction herself, Nickerson performed for a time in the US and Europe using the stage name, “The Louisiana Lady.” She died at Washington, DC, at age 94.
    1889- The first recorded golf mixed foursome was played at the Grey Oaks course of the St. Andrews Golf Club, Yonkers, NY, John B. Upham and Carrie Low played John Reid and Mrs. John G. Reid.
    1913—Birthday of Frankie Laine, actor, singer, known for many songs such as “Mule Train,” “Lucky ole Sun,” “Cool Water,” “I Believe, “Granada,” and singer of TV songs such as “Rawhide” and “Viva Las Vegas.” A top performer in the late 40’s and 50’s and on early television. Originally a jazz singer, sidetracked by the famous arranger Mitch Miller, rock and roll changes the venue of music for many of these early 1950’s singers. He died March 6, 2007 at the age of 93.
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-laine7feb07,1,1340769.story?coll=
la-news-obituaries&ctrack=1&cset=true
http://www.frankielaine.com/
    1923 - In New York, the Audubon Ballroom was the site of the first dance marathon. Alma Cummings danced the fox trot, one-step and waltz with six partners.
    1942 - Coast Guard was designated as a service of the Navy to be administered by the Commandant of Coast Guard under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, similar to the administration of the Marine Corps.
    1943 -- Rodgers and Hammerstein's first collaboration, Oklahoma, opens on Broadway.
    1945-- Eric Clapton birthday, born Ripley, England. Singer with Yardbirds, Cream, Derek and the Dominoes, Bluesbreakers, Faith, and songwriter, best known for starting the “unplugged”
video and CD trend.
http://www.sai.msu.su/~util/clapton.html
    1945---Top Hits
My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time - The Pied Pipers
A Little on the Lonely Side - The Frankie Carle Orchestra (vocal: Paul Allen)
Accentuate the Positive - Johnny Mercer
Shame on You - Spade Cooley
    1945--*WILL, WALTER J. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company K 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Eisern, Germany, 30 March 1945. Entered service at: West Winfield, N.Y. Birth: Pittsburgh, Pa. G.O. No.: 88, 17 October 1945. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry during an attack on powerful enemy positions. He courageously exposed himself to withering hostile fire to rescue 2 wounded men and then, although painfully wounded himself, made a third trip to carry another soldier to safety from an open area. Ignoring the profuse bleeding of his wound, he gallantly led men of his platoon forward until they were pinned down by murderous flanking fire from 2 enemy machineguns. He fearlessly crawled alone to within 30 feet of the first enemy position, killed the crew of 4 and silenced the gun with accurate grenade fire. He continued to crawl through intense enemy fire to within 20 feet of the second position where he leaped to his feet, made a lone, ferocious charge and captured the gun and its 9-man crew. Observing another platoon pinned down by 2 more German machineguns, he led a squad on a flanking approach and, rising to his knees in the face of direct fire, coolly and deliberately lobbed 3 grenades at the Germans, silencing 1 gun and killing its crew. With tenacious aggressiveness, he ran toward the other gun and knocked it out with grenade fire. He then returned to his platoon and led it in a fierce, inspired charge, forcing the enemy to fall back in confusion. 1st Lt. Will was mortally wounded in this last action, but his heroic leadership, indomitable courage, and unflinching devotion to duty live on as a perpetual inspiration to all those who witnessed his deeds. 
    1950-- Dr. John Northup Shive of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey, announced he had developed a phototransistor” operated by light rather than electric current. It was not until 1951 that transistors were produced commercially, the first for Western Electric, used in long distance dialing equipment. The microprocessor did not come along until the late 1970, developed by Intel,
Santa Clara, California.
    1950 -- President Harry S Truman denounces Senator Joe McCarthy as a saboteur of U.S.
foreign policy.
    1953--Top Hits
Till I Waltz Again with You - Teresa Brewer
Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como
Pretend - Nat King Cole
Kaw-Liga - Hank Williams
    1957--Buddy Knox became the first artist in the Rock 'n' Roll era to write his own number one hit when "Party Doll" topped the Billboard chart. Buddy would go on to place four more songs in the Top 40 between 1957 and 1961. 
    1958-Little Richard had his final US Top 10 hit with "Good Golly Miss Molly". The song was from his last recording sessions for Specialty Records, after which he recorded a series of Gospel songs. 
    1961---Top Hits
Surrender - Elvis Presley
Dedicated to the One I Love - The Shirelles
Apache - Jorgen Ingmann
Don’t Worry - Marty Robbins
    1963 - He's So Fine, recorded by The Chiffons, jumped into the top spot on Billboard's record charts on this date, and stayed in the Number 1 spot for 4 weeks. 
    1963—Birthday of baseball player turned Rapper, M.C. Hammer, real name Stanley Kirk Burrell, born Oakland, California.
    1963-16 year old Lesley Gore records her breakthrough hit, "It's My Party". Producer Quincy Jones hurried Gore into the studio when he found out that Phil Spector was going to cut the song with The Crystals.
    1964 - One of the best known game shows on television, "Jeopardy", developed by Merv Griffin, first aired on NBC-TV. Host, Art Fleming never missed a show in 2,500 programs. Three contestants won cash by attempting to give the correct questions to an answer in six different categories. Contestants go through two rounds and a “final jeopardy,” where they can wager up to all their earnings on one question. The series returned in 1984 with Alex Trebek as the popular host.
    1966—Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale ended their joint monthly long holdout by signing contracts for $130,000 and $105,000 respectively. Koufax (26-8 in 1965) and Drysdale (23-12) had shaken up the baseball establishment tby joining forces and hiring lawyers to negotiate for them. Still, their contracts fell short of their goal, a e-year deal for $1.05 million.
    1967 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Happy Together,'' The Turtles. The group is called the Crossfires before signing with Liberty Records.
    1967 - The cover of the Beatles' ``Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' album is staged and photographed at Chelsea Manor Studios in London using collage and wax figures from Madame Tussaud's famous museum. The actual cover is a painting of that photograph. Among the likenesses featured on the cover are Mae West, Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, Bob Dylan, Tony Curtis, Marlon Brando, Oscar Wilde, Marlene Dietrich and W.C. Fields.
    1967-BOBO, JOHN P. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 30 March 1967. Entered service at: Buffalo, N.Y. Born: 14 February 1943, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Company 1 was establishing night ambush sites when the command group was attacked by a reinforced North Vietnamese company supported by heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire. 2d Lt. Bobo immediately organized a hasty defense and moved from position to position encouraging the outnumbered marines despite the murderous enemy fire. Recovering a rocket launcher from among the friendly casualties, he organized a new launcher team and directed its fire into the enemy machine gun positions. When an exploding enemy mortar round severed 2d Lt. Bobo's right leg below the knee, he refused to be evacuated and insisted upon being placed in a firing position to cover the movement of the command group to a better location. With a web belt around his leg serving as a tourniquet and with his leg jammed into the dirt to curtain the bleeding, he remained in this position and delivered devastating fire into the ranks of the enemy attempting to overrun the marines. 2d Lt. Bobo was mortally wounded while firing his weapon into the main point of the enemy attack but his valiant spirit inspired his men to heroic efforts, and his tenacious stand enabled the command group to gain a protective position where it repulsed the enemy onslaught. 2d Lt. Bobo's superb leadership, dauntless courage, and bold initiative reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
    1968 - Quebecois chanteuse Celine Dion is born in Charlemagne, Canada. The singer has nine best-selling French albums under her belt before she records "Unison" in 1990.
    1969 - No. 1 Billboard hit: ``Dizzy,'' Tommy Roe. The song is Roe's biggest hit. It remains at No. 1 for four weeks and sells 6 million records.
    1969---Top Hits
Dizzy - Tommy Roe
Traces - Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost
Time of the Season - The Zombies
Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass - Buck Owens
    1969-After having two giant hits with "The Letter" (#1) and "Cry Like A Baby" (#2), The Box Tops' "Sweet Cream Ladies" tops out at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. They would reach #18 later in the year with "Soul Deep", their final Top 40 entry. 
    1970 - "Applause" starring Lauren Bacall, opened on Broadway. The show became one of the hardest tickets to get. Critics called Bacall “a sensation.” The play was an adaptation of the movie, "All About Eve". It continued for 896 performances. In 1972, a London version of the show, also starring
Bacall, opened. 
    1970 - Television dramas were added to daytime lineups on both ABC and NBC. "The Best of Everything" and "A World Apart" were first aired on ABC. On NBC debuted
"Somerset" and "Another World". 
    1970 -- After years of struggle & a nationwide boycott, the United Farm Workers sign the first table-grape contract with two of California's largest grape growers. 
But the victory will prove to be only one battle in a long war. By 1974, the union is threatened not only by growers but by more powerful unions. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters will muscle its way into the fields & sign sweetheart contracts with growers who haven't signed with United Farm Workers. The combined wealth & political power of the Teamsters & the growers nearly destroys the UFW.
    1971 - The Bee Gees were given a gold record for, "Lonely Days". When playing the gold record, they heard the song at a faster speed and said, “Hey, this sounds like disco!” The rest is part of "Saturday Night Fever" history. 
    1974 - John Denver hit #1 with, "Sunshine on My Shoulders", his first number one song. Three other Denver singles reached the top of the music world: "Annie’s Song", "Thank God I’m a Country Boy" and "I’m Sorry". "Take Me Home Country Roads" made it to number two, while "Rocky Mountain High" only reached number 9. Denver wrote Peter, Paul and Mary's "Leaving on a Jet Plane"; and won an Emmy for the television special, "An Evening with John Denver". 
    1977—A new era began in San Francisco football as Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. bought the 49ers from the original owners. The 49ers never reached the NFL championship game while the Morabito family owned them, but they won five Super Bowls during the first 18 years of DeBartolo’s tenure. Forced to turn the team over to his sister due to a business dealing with the former Governor of Louisiana, the 49ers never have been the same since. When he returns for retirement of jerseys, the fans go crazy over his attendance. I can personally attest that “Eddie! Eddie!” is the loudest yell of the events. 
    1977---Top Hits
Rich Girl - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Dancing Queen - Abba
Don’t Give Up on Us - David Soul
Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
    1977-The Eagles' "Hotel California" starts climbing the Billboard LP Chart to the top.
    1977 - Hartford, CT, hit 87 degrees to establish a record for the month of March.
    1978 - Ellen Corby returned to Walton’s Mountain over a year after she left in an ambulance after a stroke. The episode was titled, "Grandma Comes Home". 
    1981 - United States President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest by a would-be assassin as he walked to his limousine in Washington DC. In the attack, Press Secretary James Brady and two police officers were wounded. John W. Hinkley Jr. was convicted for the crime.
    1981-- Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig's televised announcement (while President Ronald Reagan was undergoing surgery after being shot by a would-be assassin): "As of now, I am in control here in the White House..." Haig continued to say, “Constituently, gentlemen, you have the president, the vice-president and the secretary of state in that order." What makes this so funny and memorable was his arrogance, plus the fact that he was incorrect. According to the New York Desk Reference, for those who want to get on " Who Wants to be a Millionaire": 1.Vice-President, 2. Speaker of the House, 3. President Pro Tempore of the Senate, 4. Secretary of State, 5. Secretary of the Treasury. The point is that the Secretary of State is fourth in line, not second. He surely was not in charge.
    1983 - Basketball player Larry Bird, set a regular season Celtic scoring record as he got 53 points. The record remained until 1985 when Bird broke it himself with a 60-point performance on March 12. 
    1985---Top Hits
One More Night - Phil Collins
Lovergirl - Teena Marie
We are the World - USA for Africa
Seven Spanish Angels - Ray Charles with Willie Nelson
    1987 - Vincent van Gogh’s "Sunflowers" brought in $39.85 million, more than triple the record for a painting at auction. It was sold on the 134th anniversary of the artist's birth. Singer Don McLean wrote and sang a musical tribute to the artist, titled "Vincent", in April of 1972. 
    1987 -a low pressure area spread heavy snow across the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes region. Cleveland, Ohio recorded 16 inches of snow in 24 hours -- their second highest total of record. Winds gusting to 50 mph created 8 to 12 foot waves on Lake Huron and the storm ushered in unseasonably cold air into the south central and southeastern US with nearly 100 record lows in 3 days.
    1987 -The 59th Annual Academy Awards extravaganza emanated from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Los Angeles Music Center. Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn and Paul ‘Crocodile Dundee’ Hogan hosted. (Hogan was also an Oscar nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen with Ken Shadie and John Cornell for "Crocodile Dundee".) Now let’s get right to the good part: Best Picture: "Platoon" (Arnold Kopelson, producer); Best Director: Oliver Stone for "Platoon"; Best Actor: Paul Newman for "The Color of Money"; Best Actress: Marlee Matlin for "Children of a Lesser God"; Best Supporting Actor: Michael Caine for "Hannah and Her Sisters"; Best Supporting Actress: Dianne Wiest for "Hannah and Her Sisters" and Best Music/Song: Giorgio Moroder (music), Tom Whitlock (lyrics) for "Take My Breath Away" from "Top Gun". And HBO (Home Box Office) earned its first Oscar as "Down and Out in America" tied for Best Documentary feature. The cable-TV film played in a Los Angeles movie theatre for one week to qualify for the Academy Award.http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Academy_Awards_USA/1987
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149676.html
http://www.filmsite.org/aa86.html 1986?
    1989 -- Gladys Knight performs solo for the first time since grammar school without The Pips during a gig at Bally's in Las Vegas. She becomes a regular in the town, still there the last time I visited Vegas.
    1989--Gladys Knight performs without The Pips for the first time since grammar school at a show at Bally's in Las Vegas.
    1989 - Thunderstorms developing along and ahead of a slow moving cold front produced large hail and damaging winds at more than fifty locations across the southeast quarter of the nation, and spawned a tornado which injured eleven persons at Northhampton NC.
    1991-- 44th NCAA Ice Hockey Championship: Northern Michigan beats Boston University 8-7; Northern Michigan's 1st NCAA hockey title
    1992-The soundtrack to Wayne's World was the number 1 album in the US. It featured the return to the charts of Queen's, "Bohemian Rhapsody", actually making the song a bigger hit the second time around. Tracks by Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, as well as a new version of "Dream Weaver" from Gary Wright, were also included on the LP.
    1992-- 64th Academy Awards (Silent of the Lambs sweeps with Best Picture, Anthony Hopkins as Best Actor and Jodie Foster as Best Actress). The 64th Annual Academy Awards statuette-passing-out-party was thrown at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. Funny man and actor/producer/writer/director Billy Crystal was host as that creepy "The Silence of the Lambs" (Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt, Ronald M. Bozman, producers) won the prize for Best Picture of 1991. "Silence" also won the Best Director Oscar for the creepy Jonathan Demme; Best Writing/Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for the creepy Ted Tally; Best Actor for the creepy Anthony Hopkins and Best Actress for the anything-but-creepy Jodie Foster. Jack Palance won Best Supporting Actor for playing Curly in "City Slickers" and the Best Supporting Actress Oscar was claimed by Mercedes Ruehl for "The Fisher King". Best Music/Song: Alan Menken (music), Howard Ashman (lyrics) for "Beauty and the Beast" from, you guessed it, "Beauty and the Beast". You probably wouldn’t have guessed that the movie, "Terminator 2: Judgment Day", nominated in six categories, won four Oscars for Best Sound (Tom Johnson, Gary Rydstrom, Gary Summers, Lee Orloff); Best Effects/Sound Effects Editing (Gary Rydstrom, Gloria S. Borders); Best Effects/Visual Effects (Dennis Muren, Stan Winston, Gene Warren Jr., Robert Skotak); and Best Makeup (Stan Winston, Jeff Dawn).
http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Academy_Awards_USA/1992
http://www.filmsite.org/aa91.html 1991?
    1992 - Baseball player, Sammy Sosa was traded by the Chicago White Sox with Ken Patterson to the Chicago Cubs for George Bell. 
    1998 60th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: at Alamodome San Antonio, Kentucky beats
Utah 78-69
    2006 --As a result of the recently released book detailing Barry Bonds allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs, Bud Selig appoints George Mitchell to head an investigation into the use of steroids in baseball. The former Senate Majority Leader will have the authority to expand the probe, which will be made public, into events prior to Fall of 2002, when such substances were banned by major league baseball.

NCAA Basketball Champions This Date

    1940 Indiana
    1943 Wyoming
    1981 Indiana
    1987 Indiana
    1998 Kentucky