New Hires---Promotions

(In an effort suggested by Mike Coon, Vice President, Equipment Leasing Division Tab Bank, the weekly New Hires and Promotions will extend from original press releases received by Leasing News when appropriate; instead of primarily relying on Linkedin.com.

(Leasing News will continue with the viewpoint this is more about the employee, their background and expertise, and their new position, rather than the company itself.)

(Leasing News will continue to rely on Linkedin.com when employment history is noted, but attempt to use more from individual press releases when received.)

Brad Bayless was promoted to vice-president, Dynamic Funding, Inc, Englewood, Colorado. He joined the firm September, 2011. Previously he was senior vice-president, managing principal, General Capital Partners (April, 2010-July, 2001), president, Falcon Financial (1992-2010), vp, marketing, GE Capital (1988-1992), evp, D&K Financial Corp. (1981-1988), evp, D&K Financial Corp. (1981-1988).University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MBA, Finance & Marketing (1974 – 1976), Central Michigan University BS, Business Administration (1970 – 1974).
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brad-bayless/12/346/a87

Don Chan was appointed to the Board of Directors, IAA-Advisory, the global advisory firm. He is very experienced general manager and a seasoned finance and treasury executive with more than 25 years’ experience in global leasing and structured finance in China, Hong Kong, Pan Asia and the United States.

His broad legal and taxation knowledge combined with outstanding Don’s 25 years working in the leasing industry started in 1986 with AT&T Capital in the US where he gained experience in the Treasury and Finance function, both with the management of currencies and securitizations. He liaised closely with the various country businesses of AT&T Capital as they were developed around the World. He was assigned to Hong Kong as CFO for the Asia Pacific Region to concentrate on expanding coverage in the Region in 1994 and started to cover China in 1996 when China's leasing industry was going through a very difficult period with only a dozen lessors with average leased portfolios of less than USD 100 million. Don moved to Beijing when he was appointed the first General Manager of AT&T Capital’s joint venture in China in 1997 which was subsequently acquired by CIT. He witnessed the growth of the Chinese Leasing Industry to a USD100 billion market by 2011 with over 250 lessors. Very few in China can match Don’s level of involvement in the development of the leasing industry or have participated in such change. Don has played a key role in working with Chinese Government to promote the development of the modern Chinese Leasing Industry, including the development of the leasing laws.

Don’s most recent position before joining IAA-Advisory was with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions China which he led from the start-up of the company in 2007.

Alan Kosow was appointed Regional Sales Manager, Creekridge Capital, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He "...will be responsible for originating technology vendor lease programs within the Northeast Region and will be working out of Creekridge's New Hampshire office...He has established several successful vendor programs with many prominent technology industry leaders."

Brian Jankins was promoted to Major Account Program Group for LEAF Commercial Capital, out of Boston, Massachusetts. He joined LEAF Financial February (2012). Previously he was Director of Sales, Clear Channel Outdoor (June, 2011-February, 2012),vice-president, Vertical USA/Vertical International S.A. (2009--February, 2012), Vendor Channel Sales Manager, MicroFinancial (January, 2008-July, 2009), regional vice-president, GE (August, 2002-January, 2008), sales representative, AT&T Capital (September, 1991-August, 2002), Western New England College, BS, Business Management (1986 – 1990),Activities and Societies: Men's Basketball Umpire, Greater Lawrence Umpires (2009-Present)
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brian-jankins/11/aa7/681

Charla Laird joins Dakota Financial, Los Angeles, California as Sales and Marketing Manager. She previously was Broker Services Manager, Channel Partners, LLC., working also for Mesa Leasing, and manager, broker services, Pentech Financial Services (2003-2008). Dakota Financial "...focuses on funding trucks, trailers, construction equipment, agriculture equipment, and machine tools. Our national programs are specifically designed to provide funding solutions for customers that have prior bankruptcies, tax liens, judgments, repossessions, or slow pays. We fund traditional leases as well as sale-leasebacks, private party sales, start-ups, and owner/operators from $10,000 up to $250,000.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/charla-laird/22/4b9/b55

Larry Littleid appointed to manage ATEL Leasing, a subsidiary of ATEL Capital Group, focusing to "...strategicallly build ATEL's existing rail portfolio. He will partner directly with rail-specific lessors, financial institutions, railroads, shippers and advisors to purchase and finance rail leases and acquisitions. He will be located in Connecticut. “Larry will be instrumental in utilizing our deep capital base for strategic growth and locating profitable buying opportunities in different segments of the market,” commented Dean Cash, CEO of ATEL Capital Group. Littlefield has had a stellar career in the rail finance industry, previously holding senior marketing, management and operation positions at US Leasing, CIT Rail and Babcock & Brown Rail. He played a major role in establishing a rail operating lease platform at both CIT Rail and Babcock &Brown with primary responsibilities for fleet acquisitions, marketing and customer service."

Joe McCready has joined United States Capital Corporation, Crystal Lake, Illinois, as Director, Business Development. Previously he was regional relationship manager, Mercury Payment Systems (July, 2011-Present), merchant services account executive, PNC Financial Services Group (November, 2009-July, 2011), small business advisor, Illinois Small Business Development Center at the college of Lake County (July, 2009-April, 2011), senior business banking manager, TCF National Bank (August, 2005-July, 2009). Temple University, BA, Communications (1987 – 1991), Wesley College (1985 – 1987).
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=7245097&locale=en_US&trk=tyah2

Mike Mozer has been appointed General Counsel and National Account Manager for Creekridge Capital. He previously "...served as General Counsel for several finance companies. Mozer will report to Mike Jones, Senior Vice President at Creekridge. As General Counsel and National Account Manager, Mozer will work from Creekridge's Minneapolis office.

Lori Wilson was promoted to Major Account Program Group for LEAF Commercial Capital, Moberly, Missouri. "Wilson has been with LEAF since November 2006. She was most recently the director of Sales and in January 2012, due to her ability to assist LEAF’s partners in maximizing their lease financing programs, was promoted to the Major Account Programs Group as the director of Major Account Program Development. This new role will allow her to build on the valuable manufacturer relationships she has developed at LEAF and throughout her career." Previously she was vice-president, Director of Originations, Citicapital (1991-2006). Truman State University (1977 – 1981). http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lori-wilson/1a/2/8a1

 

Frank Peretore, Esq., Peretore & Peretore, P.C., and Secretary of the National Equipment and Finance Association (NEFA) would like to personally invite you to join NEFA and attend our Spring Summit. National Equipment Finance Summit, March 22-24

 

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Why the Evergreen Clause is important to Marlin Leasing
by Christopher Menkin, Publisher

The point of this article is to present my opinion pointing out the numbers that the main support comes from Evergreen and Winter Green clauses; primarily it appears from copier leases. While this is legal in the majority of states not to notify the lessee regarding the end of the original contract, it certainly does not speak well of our industry who supports such insincerity.

(page 8, SEC filing)

If Philadelphia changes its position, where Marlin, does documentation because in New Jersey it could be considered usurious, it would make them most likely move the operation to perhaps North Dakota or Colorado. But then again, as more states are amending Evergreen Clauses, perhaps in the next few years, it will be mandatory to notify lessees about when their lease contract ends (and the options they may have.)

The 10K year-end was filed March 8, 2012 filed and as stated from the announcement of profits in the February 24, 2012 edition of Leasing News, the full story comes from this SEC filing. This article is not going to go into the officer's salary, remuneration, awarding and exercising of stock options

Leasing News has followed this company from changing from a broker (indirect) to a direct leasing company.

The filing reports on page 3 it is now 7% brokers, 93% direct origination channels, and sales account executives are the main thrust today as there appears no increase in the indirect or broker direction.

(Page 48, SEC filing)

"Our leases generally include renewal provisions and many leases continue beyond their initial contractual term. Based on the Company’s experience, the amount of ultimate realization of the residual value tends to relate more to the customer’s election at the end of the lease term to enter into a renewal period, purchase the leased equipment or return the leased equipment than it does to the equipment type. We consider renewal income a component of residual performance. Renewal income, net of depreciation, totaled approximately $7.5 million, $7.7 million and $7.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. "
    (Pages 50 and 51, 10K SEC)

This is significant as 2011 net income was $6.1 million, 2010 was $5.6 million and 2009 was 2009.
    (Page 66, SEC filing)

In addition to the extra payments, the residuals also turned a good profit, which is expected, but not the match that 66% are one dollar:

"Our leases offer our end user customers the option to own the equipment at lease expiration. As of December 31, 2011, approximately 66% of our leases were one dollar purchase option leases, 31% were fair market value leases and 3% were fixed purchase option leases, the latter of which typically contain an end-of-term purchase option equal to 10% of the original equipment cost. As of December 31, 2011, there were $32.7 million of residual assets retained on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, of which $26.5 million, or 80.9%, were related to copiers. As of December 31, 2010, there were $37.3 million of residual assets retained on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, of which $30.6 million, or 82.0%, were related to copiers... Improvements in technology and other market changes, particularly in copiers, could adversely impact our ability to realize the recorded residual values of this equipment.

"Fee income included approximately $4.7 million, $5.1 million and $5.4 million of net residual income for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Net residual income includes income from lease renewals and gains and losses on the realization of residual values of leased equipment disposed at the end of term as further described below."
    (Page 50, SEC filing)

The point is not the residual profit, but again the nature of the equipment: "82% were related to copiers."

Another profit producers is insurance, based on their company in tax free Bermuda:

"Property Insurance on Leased Equipment. Our lease agreements specifically require the end user customers to obtain all-risk property insurance in an amount equal to the replacement value of the equipment and to designate us as the loss payee on the policy. If the end user customer already has a commercial property policy for its business, it can satisfy its obligation under the lease by delivering a certificate of insurance that evidences us as a loss payee under that policy. At December 31, 2011, approximately 57% of our end user customers insured the equipment under their existing policies. For the others, we offer an insurance product through a master property insurance policy underwritten by a third-party national insurance company that is licensed to write insurance under our program in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This master policy names us as the beneficiary for all of the equipment insured under the policy and provides all-risk coverage for the replacement cost of the equipment.

"In May 2000, we established AssuranceOne, our Bermuda-based, wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary, to enter into a reinsurance contract with the issuer of the master property insurance policy. Under this contract, AssuranceOne reinsures 100% of the risk under the master policy, and the issuing insurer pays AssuranceOne the policy premiums, less claims, premium tax and a ceding fee based on a percentage of annual net premiums written. The reinsurance contract was scheduled to expire in May 2012; however, in February 2012, the reinsurance contract was extended through May 2015. On January 27, 2010, pursuant to an application filed with the Bermuda Monetary Authority, AssuranceOne changed from a Class 1 insurer to a Class 3 insurer under the Bermuda Insurance Act of 1978, as amended. As a Class 3 insurer, AssuranceOne is permitted to collect up to 50% of its premiums in connection with insurance coverage on equipment unrelated to the Company, meaning that, through AssuranceOne, we may offer an insurance product to cover equipment not otherwise financed through the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2011, income recognized in connection with our insurance product covering equipment not financed through the Company comprised approximately $0.1 million of our total insurance income of $3.8 million."

Numbers also show an increase

click for larger (Page 48, SEC Filing)

"NOTE 16 – Stock-Based Compensation

"Under the terms of the 2003 Plan, employees, certain consultants and advisors and non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors have the opportunity to receive incentive and nonqualified grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other equity-based awards as approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. These award programs are used to attract, retain and motivate employees and to encourage individuals in key management roles to retain stock. The Company has a policy of issuing new shares to satisfy awards under the 2003 Plan. The aggregate number of shares under the 2003 Plan that may be issued pursuant to stock options or restricted stock grants is 3,300,000. Not more than 1,650,000 of such shares shall be available for issuance as restricted stock grants. There were 221,821 shares available for future grants under the 2003 Plan as of December 31, 2011, of which 81,492 shares were available to be issued as restricted stock grants.

"Total stock-based compensation expense was $2.3 million, $2.6 million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Excess tax benefits from stock-based payment arrangements decreased cash provided by operating activities and increased cash provided by financing activities by $1.3 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively."
    (Page 88, SEC Filings)

Comprehensive personal property tax outsourcing services We accept file exports and integrate personal property tax information with all lease management or accounting software. No other firm offers the combination of individual attention, software capabilities expertise, "full disclosure" and web port accessibility to information more than we do. Click here to learn what our clients say about our service Gary DiLillo, President 440.871.0555 or gary@avptc.com

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

The Alta Group Closes $50 Million Funding for CLE Leasing in Canada

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA,-- Hugh Swandel, senior managing director of The Alta Group in Canada, announced the establishment of a $50 million facility for CLE Leasing, an independent provider of equipment leasing and financing to businesses across Canada.

TAO Asset Management (TAO) and its funding partners also had a role in the facility closing.

Luc Robitaille, CLE President

“The Alta Group provided critical support to CLE Leasing in all phases of preparation, identifying funding providers and negotiating facility terms,” said Luc Robitaille, president of CLE. “Alta’s assistance and experience was a clear benefit to us.”

“CLE’s strong financial and portfolio performance over many years was critical,” James Joyce, senior vice president at TAO Asset Management, said. “Their consistent results made this company a very desirable client for TAO and our partners.”

Based in Quebec, CLE has been serving small and medium-sized companies since 1979, and has supported manufacturers in health, transportation, and the food service industry. CLE is experiencing rapid growth, and this facility adds key diversification of funding sources along with a committed facility that provides certainty of funding into the future.

CLE is representative of many long-term Alta clients. “Alta was very impressed with the management strength and long-term financial performance of CLE,” stated Swandel, adding:

“CLE was well prepared to withstand the pressure of the recent recession and they are poised for significant additional growth.”

Alta initiated the transaction and served as exclusive financial advisor to CLE Leasing. The Alta Group is a global consulting firm with worldwide offices and an experienced merger and acquisition practice area composed of proven and experienced executives with prior experience in leading equipment leasing and finance companies. Established in 1992, The Alta Group also has practice areas in captive and vendor finance, professional development, and management consulting.

 

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

The British Are Coming to Tacoma Car Museum

“British Invasion” exhibit at America’s Car Museum’s grand opening will feature cars and motorcycles from across the pond

1965 British Racing Green Lotus

TACOMA, Wash. – From the Beatles to Bond, “swinging ‘60s London” was a time when British fashion, music and automobiles swept across American society. LeMay – America’s Car Museum (ACM) has developed an exhibit to commemorate this Cultural Revolution, which will debut at the museum’s grand opening on Saturday, June 2.

“The British Invasion” display will feature some of England’s most notable vehicles, including Mini, MG, Austin-Healy, Triumph, Jaguar and 007’s iconic Aston Martin.

“This exhibit celebrates that magical time when British culture exploded onto the American scene.” says Scot Keller, ACM chief marketing and communications officer. “And just for fun, there will be a nod to the Mods and Rockers and their café bikes that buzzed around the streets of London in the `60s.”

Even the English race cars had flair, as evidenced by ACM’s 1965 British Racing Green Lotus, symbolic of the period’s open-wheel racing. Donated by John and Marilyn Dimmer, this classic racer, of which only 22 were made, will be front and center in the display.

“We’ve enjoyed competing with this car for many years, but it’s time to let others enjoy it,” said John Dimmer, whose family has driven the Lotus in numerous vintage racing events, including the Tasman Revival in Australia and the Goodwood Circuit Revival Meeting in England. “This car is a beautiful representation of 1960s racing. I’m delighted it has found a home at ACM.”

The Tacoma-based museum, which will house up to 500 vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles, is dedicated to preserving and highlighting America’s love affair with the automobile. Sitting on a nine-acre campus overlooking Tacoma’s Foss Waterway, the four-level, 165,000 square-foot facility will host concerts, collector car shows and drive-in movies in the coming year, and is already serving as the site for conventions, corporate meetings and events.

For more information, visit www.lemaymuseum.org.

ABOUT America’s Car Museum (www.lemaymuseum.org)

State Farm Presents LeMay – America’s Car Museum, set for a June 2012 opening in downtown Tacoma, Wash., explores how the automobile has fulfilled a distinctive role at the core of the American experience and shaped our society. The spacious Museum with rotating exhibits is designed to be the centerpiece for automotive history as well as an educational center and library. The campus, located adjacent to the Tacoma Dome, also contains a 3.5-acre show field, theatre, café, banquet hall and meeting facilities. To become an ACM member, volunteer or make a donation, visit (www.lemaymuseum.org)

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

Mount Laurel, New Jersey-- Adopt-a-Dog

Raven

Labrador Retriever
Young
Female
Spayed
Up-to-date with routine shots
House trained
Primary color: Black
Coat length: Short

"Raven is a beautiful lab. She has the most beautiful shinny black coat and soft brown eyes. She is gorgeous.

"Raven is very playful and knows basic commands"

Animal Sanctuary Society, Inc.
PO Box 24
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
856-642-0004
www.canineworld.com/animal sanctuarysociety
animalsanctuarys@aol.com <animalsanctuarys@aol.com>

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/

Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croc

The comedy “Friends with Kids” and the animated musical “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” make for an engaging pair of theater releases, while DVD releases give viewers a chance to catch up with new Oscar winners (“The Descendants”), nominees (“My Week with Marilyn”) and should-have-been-nominees (“Melancholia”).

In Theaters:

Friends with Kids (Roadside Attractions): Audiences who made "Bridesmaids" one of last year's runaway hits will want to check out this new ensemble comedy, which has much of that movie's risqué humor along with much of its cast, too. Like the earlier film, it chronicles the ways in which a sudden turn of events in a woman's life affects a close group of friends. The difference is that the events here deal not with an impending wedding, but impending children. At the story's center are Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt, who also directed) and Jason (Adam Scott), best pals whose desire to have a baby without really becoming a couple forces them to take a closer look at their relationship. Kristin Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Jon Hamm lend solid comic supporting turns in this engaging and at times insightful look at parenthood.

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (IMAX): Following up on his 2010 hit “Despicable Me” with another cavalcade of splashy 3D animation, Chris Renaud teams up with co-director Kyle Balda for a visually ticklish adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ beloved short story. Set in a land where natural life has all but vanished, the plot follows the adventures of Ted (voiced by Zac Efron), a 12-year-old boy who, in order to impress his girlfriend Audrey (Taylor Swift), sets out to track down the Lorax (Danny DeVito). A cranky creature bent on restoring the environment to its original splendor, the Lorax seems like an unlikely partner for Ted, yet the two are soon learning lessons about each other’s worlds. Full of catchy songs and noble morals, this is a colorful rollercoaster with a message.

Netflix Tip: The topsy-turvy worlds of Dr. Seuss have previously been adapted for the screen, so after enjoy “The Lorax” check out Netflix for these previous cinematic visualizations. There’s of course Chuck Jones’s 1966 TV classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” but don’t forget the underrated 2008 animated feature “Horton Hears a Who!” and “The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T,” a one-of-a-kind live-action fantasy from 1953 with an original screenplay from the Doctor himself.

On DVD:

The Descendants (Fox): Following a seven-year absence from the screen, Oscar-winner Alexander Payne ("Sideways") returns with this perceptive comedy-drama, which won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. George Clooney stars as Matt King, a Hawaiian landowner whose life is suddenly turned upside down when his wife (Patricia Hastie) goes into a coma after a skiing accident. Finding himself with two daughters (Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller) he knows little about, he's further startled by news that his wife was having an affair. Over the course of a trip from Oahu to Kauai, he starts to contemplate his life and career, leading to some unexpected emotional decisions. By turns poignant and humorous but always human, Payne's film combines the natural beauty of Hawaii with a tough-minded look at relationships.

My Week with Marilyn (Anchor Bay): To step into shoes of a legend is a risky gambit, but to Michelle Williams it was a rewarding one as her performance as Marilyn Monroe received an Oscar nomination. Taking place in England over the summer of 1953, the film is a warm and affecting account of blossoming love and movie-star adoration told from the wide-eyed vantage point of Colin (Eddie Redmayne), a young man who gets a job working in a movie starring none other the blonde bombshell from the States. In between professional spats with her director and co-star Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and struggle with oversensitivity and insecurity, Marilyn gets to form a surprising bond with Colin. Julia Ormond, Judi Dench and "Harry Potter's" Emma Watson also star in this light charmer, directed by Simon Curtis.

Melancholia (Magnolia): Always ready to rattle cinema's collective cage, veteran Danish bad-boy Lars Von Trier offers another prime slice of provocation with this challenging but deeply affecting tale about the literal end of the world. The story focuses on two sisters, Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg), and how they react as they learn that the Earth is on a collision course with another planet. Though this sounds like a science-fiction gimmick, this interplanetary apocalypse is really a jumping-off point for Von Trier to ponder human interactions through a glass darkly, composing unforgettable moments of horror and ecstasy in the process. Though it may strike some viewers as heavy going, this well-acted and visually stunning movie presents a one-of-a-kind vision that's hard to shake off.

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)

News Briefs----

 

Refi boom looms as mortgages hold steady
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/news/refi-boom-looms-mortgages-hold-steady.aspx?ic_id=Top_Financial News Center_link_1

Arts Alliance/Barco 100 MM-euro d-cinema leasing program
http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/news/digital-cinema/e3i860185123d3895f9a01412896d273244?imw=Y

Forbes World's Billionaire
http://www.forbes.com/billionaires/#p_45_s_a0_All%20industries_All%20countries_All%20states

Spanx founder Sara Blakely a billionaire
http://www.ajc.com/business/spanx-founder-sara-blakely-1378038.html#fadetoblack

McKinney's Hollie Cavanagh makes it into Top 12 on 'American Idol'
http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/television/headlines/20120308-mckinney-s-hollie-cavanagh-makes-it-into-top-12-on-american-idol.ece

 

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You May Have Missed---

"Kony 2012" 43 million hits at press time

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SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

Easy Vegan Meals
http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Vegan-Meals-SparkPeople-ebook/dp/B007C4WKH8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330381667&sr=8-1

 

 

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Sports Briefs----

Northwestern loses to Minnesota in Big Ten
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0309-northwestern-minnesota-big-ten-tournam-20120309,0,4829708.story

Cal defeats Stanford 77-71 in Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals
http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_20135121/cal-defeats-stanford-pac-12-tournament-quarterfinals

A's, Giants issue territorial-rights statements
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/08/SP8N1NHEKP.DTL

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Winter Poem

We've Only Just Begun

by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols

We've only just begun to live,
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way.
And yes, We've just begun.

Before the rising sun we fly,
So many roads to choose
We start our walking and learn to run.
And yes, We've just begun.

Sharing horizons that are new to us,
Watching the signs along the way,
Talking it over just the two of us,
Working together day to day
Together.

And when the evening comes we smile,
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow,
And yes, We've just begun.

 

 

 

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California Nuts Briefs---

'American Idol' trims its field to 12; San Jose singer still in it
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20135328

Hunters, fishermen turn out in droves to support embattled Fish & Game chief
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_20123875

Guerneville dime store's 'Mr. Bill' dies at 70
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120308/ARTICLES/120309535/1350?Title=Guerneville-dime-store-s-Mr-Bill-dies-at-70

 

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“Gimme that Wine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8 

Is California Facing a Grape Shortage?
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/46469

New York Declares War on Wine
http://www.cnbc.com/id/46665488

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

     1451-Amerigo Vespucci, Italian navigator, was born. The continents of America were named after him ( America is the latin version of his name used on maps in its day.)Italian navigator, merchant and explorer for whom the Americas were named. He participated in at least two expeditions between 1499 and 1502 which took him to the coast of South America. Vespuccis expeditions were of great importance because he believed that he had discovered a new continent, not just a new route to the Orient. Neither Vespucci nor his exploits achieved the fame of Columbus, but the New World was to be named for Amerigo Vespucci by an obscure German geographer and map maker, Martin Waldseemuller. Ironically, in his work as an outfitter of ships, Vespucci had been personally acquainted with Christopher Columbus
    1728---During the course of the Anglo-Spanish War, a military force of English settlers from the South Carolina colony conducts an expedition deep into Spanish controlled Florida to destroy a Yamassee Indian village close to the Spanish settlement of St. Augustine.
    1781 - The siege of Pensacola Florida begins. The Spaniard, Gov. Gen. Bernardo Galvez y Gallardo, conde de Galvez, had just completed a very successful campaign against the English in New Orleans, Natchez, and Baton Rouge. Indeed, this leader showed his brilliance from the outset of this campaign. As Galvez had his 14 ships ready to attack at Baton Rouge (1779), a great storm struck sinking most of his ships and destroying their provisions. Undaunted, he recovered cannon from the sunken ships, built a shore battery, and attacked the fort. He succeeded where lesser leaders would have confessed failure. At Pensacola the English general had made a weak attempt to help the troops on the Louisiana coast, but he sent so few of his own troops with such weak instructions they were quickly dispatched. Even as the Spanish fleet massed off Santa Rosa Island the English general did not believe they would attack. He failed to grasp the importance of Pensacola as the key to Naval supremacy in the Gulf of Mexico. Galvezhad a firm grasp of this key fact. When Galvez landed his troops on Santa Rosa Island 1400 troops were landed onto Santa Rosa Island. When Galvez's ships first massed for the entrance into the harbor, a hurricane struck. Great skill in fleet handling and, pre-planning for such, took the large number of ships out to sea for protection and then quickly back on station still ready to "run the guns" of the Royal Navy Redoubt (fort) at Red Cliffs (about 7 miles SW of Pensacola) with minimal losses. Galvez personally took command of a small ship (the brig Galveztown) and led the others under the guns by first going through alone. In doing so he had exposed a flaw in the design of the batteries on the Red Cliffs fort. Although some 140 heavy shot had been fired from the fort the fleet suffered little damage. The big guns could not be lowered enough to hit ships very near them. The English General had miscalculated. Galvez's ship soon fired on the small Fort Half Moon and struck the powder magazine. His men captured several English sloops, 2 small warships and a frigate, the Port Royal (the English burned the frigate Mentor to avoid it's capture!). With all these ships in skirmishing actions, some have written of the Naval victory at Pensacola. It was strictly a land victory with the Navy there in large numbers to protect against English reinforcements from the sea. This marks the beginning of the siege of Pensacola that will continue until 9 May.
    1793 - Jean Pierre Blanchard made the first balloon flight in North America. President George Washington watched aeronaut Jean Pierre Blanchard make the first aerial voyage in the New World.
    1832 - Abraham Lincoln, of New Salem, Illinois, announced he was running for political office for the first time. He campaigned for a seat in the Illinois state legislature. ‘Honest Abe' did not win, but less than thirty years later, he become President of the United States.
    1841-The Supreme Court issued a ruling on March 9, 1841, freeing the remaining 35 survivors of the Amistad mutiny. Although seven of the nine justices on the court hailed from Southern states, only one dissented from Justice Joseph Story's majority opinion. Private donations ensured the Africans' safe return to Sierra Leone in January 1842.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar09.html
    1847 - During the Mexican-American War, U.S. forces under General Winfield Scott invade Mexico three miles south of Vera Cruz. Encountering little resistance from the Mexicans massed in the fortified city of Vera Cruz, by nightfall the last of Scott's 10,000 men came ashore without the loss of a single life. It was the largest amphibious landing in U.S. history and not surpassed until World War II. The Mexican-American War began with a dispute over the U.S. government's 1845 annexation of Texas.
    1858-Albert Potts of Philadelphia, PA, received a patent on his invention of a street letter box, “ a mode of attaching metallic letter-boxes.” The box had c enter hole through which the shaft of an ordinary cast-iron lamppost was placed. Boxes were erected on August 2, 1838, in Boston and New York City.
    1861-Confederate paper money was issued under the Confederate States Act at Mobile, Alabama, authorizing $1 million in treasury notes in denominations of $50, $100, $500 and $1,000. The $50 note feature three African-Americans slaves in a field, two of them hoeing; the $100 note, a train of cars at a depot, at the right, and Liberty standing, at the left; the $500 note, a rural scene with cattle wading in a brook, and the $1,000 note, busts of Andrew Jackson and John Caldwell Calhoun.
http://www.albany.edu/jmmh/vol3/facevalue/facevalue.html
    1862--Two ironclad ships, the Union's Monitor and the Confederacy's Merrimac (renamed Virginia), battled at Hampton Roads, VA. The "History Channel" has a great documentary on this, and the change from wooden ship hulls to metal hulls. The conflict took place at Hampton Roads, Virginia. The Monitor was a 172-foot Union ship with a crew of 58 under the command of Lieutenant John Lorimer Worden, who was partially blinded by a shot while observing action and was superseded by Lieutenant S. Dana Greene. I that been designed by John Ericsson and had a revolving gun turret. The Merrimac was a 175 foot Confederate ship with a crew of 300 under command of Captain Franklin Buchanan, who was wounded and superseded by Lieutenant Catseby ap Roger Jones. It was a scuttled Union steam frigate that had been salvaged and armored by the Confederates and renamed the Virginia. The battled ended with the sinking of the Merrimac.
    1903-Blues singer/pianist Georgia White born Sandersville, GA.
http://bluesland.net/thang/GeorgiaWhite.html
http://www.theiceberg.com/artist/25959/georgia_white.html
http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,513828,00.html?artist=Georgia+White
http://www.mnsi.net/~phlegm/railroad_blues.html
    1916 - In the early morning of March 9, 1917, several hundred Mexican guerrillas under the command of Francisco "Pancho" Villa cross the U.S.-Mexican border and attack the small border town of Columbus, New Mexico. Seventeen Americans were killed in the raid, and the center of town was burned. It was unclear whether Villa personally participated in the attack, but President Woodrow Wilson ordered the U.S. Army into Mexico to capture the rebel leader dead or alive.In January 1917, having failed in their mission to capture Villa, and under continued pressure from the Mexican government, the Americans were ordered home. Villa continued his guerrilla activities in northern Mexico until Adolfo de la Huerta took power over the government and drafted a reformist constitution. Villa entered into an amicable agreement with Huerta and agreed to retire from politics. In 1920, the government pardoned Villa, but three years later he was assassinated at his ranch in Parral.
    1918- “hard boiled” detective writer Mickey Spillane Birthday. He followed the time line of Dashiell Hammet and Raymond Chandler.
http://www.interlog.com/~roco/hammer.html
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/spillane.htm
    1909-Birthday of rich, full tone tenor saxophone player Herschel Evans, born Denton, Texas. He created the “tough Texas tenor” sound. With County Basie from 1936-39 and quite a contrast with tenor player Lester Young.. On February 9, 1939, at the age of thirty, he died of heart disease in New York City.
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/EE/fev3.html
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/evans_herschel/bio.jhtml
    1931 - Cab Calloway's theme song, "Minnie the Moocher," was recorded on this date in New York. Not until 1978 was it revealed that his single recording had ultimately sold 2.5 million copies, making it the longest million-seller "sleeper" after 47 years.
    1932-Birthday of singer Keely Smith.
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,494640,00.html?artist=Keely+Smith
    1933- Singer Lloyd Price, an important figure in New Orleans rock 'n' roll, was born in the Louisiana city. He first hit the charts in 1952 with "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," a song originally designed to be used as a radio commercial. The piano player on the record was Fats Domino. After two years in the armed forces, Price resumed his recording career with "Just Because," which hit the charts in early 1957. The following year he had his only number-one hit, "Stagger Lee," which he wrote with his manager, Harold Logan. Price's other hits include "Personality" and "I'm Gonna Get Married."
http://rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=172
http://www.garycape.com/price.htm
http://www.history-of-rock.com/price.htm
    1935--Birthday of Keely Smith, pop vocalist, best known number "That Old Black Magic."
She began her career singing with the Louis Prima band, where they became the "Queen
and King" of Las Vegas, Nevada.
    1938 - Comedian Bob Hope makes his first film appearance, singing "Thanks for the Memories" in The Big Broadcast of 1938. He made more than 700 trips to American military bases and hospitals around the world, entertaining some 10,000 troops. These efforts earned him five special Academy Awards and the nickname "Mr. Humanitarian." President John F. Kennedy once called him "America's most prized ambassador of goodwill throughout the world," and the United States Congress made him an "honorary veteran" in 1997-an unprecedented gesture. Hope has won more than 2,000 awards and citations, including 54 honorary doctorates, an honorary knighthood, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1985, he was awarded the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors for Lifetime Achievement. His accolades earned him the title "Most Decorated and Honored Entertainer" in the Guinness Book of Records.
    1942-Tommy Dorsey records Elman-Peterson trumpet battle “Well, Git it.”
    1943-the temperature at Lac Frontiere, Maine fell to 40 degrees below zero. This is the coldest ever in March in New England.
    1944- Canadian blues-rock singer and harmonica player King Biscuit Boy, whose real name is Richard Newell, was born in Hamilton. He released several LPs of his own in the 1970's, as well as appearing on recordings by Ronnie Hawkins, Crowbar, April Wine and the Electric Flag. Died Jan. 5, 2003.
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicPopEncycloPagesK/king_biscuit.html
http://www.spots.ab.ca/~jam/Scans/KBB.html
http://therealthing.com/kingbiscuitboy/
    1945- the Japanese capital of Tokyo was bombed by 343 Super fortresses carrying all the incendiary bombs they could hold. Within the targeted areas of the city, population densities were four times greater than those of most American cities, and homes were made primarily of wood and paper. Carried by the wind, the fires leveled 16 sq miles. More than a quarter million buildings were destroyed, including 18% of the industrial area. The death toll was 83,000; 41,000 were injured. For the balance of the war American strategic bombing followed this pattern. The bombing of Germany was also changed to incendiary as the military learned the fire aftermath caused great more damage than regular bombs.
    1951-HARVEY, RAYMOND "Medal of Honor"
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company C, 17th Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Vicinity of Taemi-Dong, Korea, 9 March 1951. Entered service at: Pasadena, Calif. Born: 1 March 1920 Ford City, Pa. G.O. No.: 67, 2 August 1951. Citation: Capt. Harvey Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. When his company was pinned down by a barrage of automatic weapons fire from numerous well-entrenched emplacements, imperiling accomplishment of its mission, Capt. Harvey braved a hail of fire and exploding grenades to advance to the first enemy machine gun nest, killing its crew with grenades. Rushing to the edge of the next emplacement, he killed its crew with carbine fire. He then moved the 1st Platoon forward until it was again halted by a curtain of automatic fire from well fortified hostile positions. Disregarding the hail of fire, he personally charged and neutralized a third emplacement. Miraculously escaping death from intense crossfire, Capt. Harvey continued to lead the assault. Spotting an enemy pillbox well camouflaged by logs, he moved close enough to sweep the emplacement with carbine fire and throw grenades through the openings, annihilating its 5 occupants. Though wounded he then turned to order the company forward, and, suffering agonizing pain, he continued to direct the reduction of the remaining hostile positions, refusing evacuation until assured that the mission would be accomplished. Capt. Harvey's valorous and intrepid actions served as an inspiration to his company, reflecting the utmost glory upon himself and upholding the heroic traditions of the military service. 
    1956---Top Hits
Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle
Why Do Fools Fall in Love - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom) - Perry Como
I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby - The Lovin' Brothers
    1956-a whopping 367 inches of snow was measured on the ground at the Rainier Park Ranger station in Washington. The snow depth was a state record and the second highest total of record for the US
    1957-Fats Domino had the number 1 record on the Billboard R&B singles chart with "I'm Walkin'", which had just replaced his own, "Blue Monday". Domino would keep the Top 40 hits coming for the next 5 years before fading to the oldies tours. 
    1958-Cannonball Adderly, with Miles Davis, cuts “Somethin' Else” album (BN 1595).
    1959-Barbie Debuts. The popular girls' doll debuted in stores. More than 800 million dolls have been sold.
    1959 - Jack Paar was on the cover of "LIFE" magazine. The article on him said he was accused of “keeping the U.S. up nights.” He had a late night television show on NBC with show regulars, Dody Goodman, Alexander King, Cliff Arquette, announcer Hugh Downs and bandleader Jose Melis.
http://www.life.com/Life/covers/1959/cv030959.html
    1960 -a winter storm produced a narrow band of heavy snow from north central Kentucky into Virginia and the mountains of North Carolina. Snowfall totals ranged from 12 to 24 inches with drifts up to 11 feet high in western Virginia
    1961-Clifton Reginald Wharton sworn in as ambassador to Norway. American lawyer and ambassador who was the first African American to enter the Foreign Service and the first African American diplomat to head a United States delegation to a European country.
    1961- "I Want a Guy," the first Supremes' single under that name, was released. The Supremes had previously recorded as the Primettes.
    1961-The Beatles make their first of over 300 appearance at Liverpool's Cavern Club. The group had played the venue in the past as The Quarry Men.
    1964--Capitol Records releases a song called "Letter to the Beatles" by The Four Preps. The lyrics describe a boy lamenting the fact that he's lost his girlfriend to The Fab Four. On its first day, the record shot to #85 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it looked like The Preps were going to have another hit on their hands. Unfortunately they had included a few bars from "I Want to Hold Your Hand" without permission and Capitol was forced to withdraw the single to avoid a lawsuit. These days you can still find the song on YouTube.  
    1964---Top Hits
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
She Loves You - The Beatles
Please Please Me - The Beatles
Saginaw, Michigan - Lefty Frizzell
    1964-Five Sioux led by Richard McKenzie took over Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, off San Francisco, California. The demanded the establishment of a cultural center and university on the island. The occupation lasted four hours. On November 20,1969, these demands were raised again by Richard Oakes and a group of about 100 Native Americans, mostly college students, who began an organized occupation of Alcatraz that lasted 19 months. Alcatraz today is a national monument, quite a tourist attraction, too.
    1965- Three white Unitarian ministers, including the Rev. James J. Reeb, were attacked with clubs on the streets of Selma, Alabama, while participating in a civil rights demonstration. Reeb later died in a Birmingham, Alabama hospital.
http://www.uua.org/news/reeb/nyt030800.html
http://www.uua.org/news/2002/selma/inscriptions.html
    1966 -Andrew Brimmer becomes 1st black Governor of Federal Reserve Board.
http://www.umass.edu/economics/Staff/brimmer.html
http://www.horatioalger.com/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=bri74
    1968-Grammy Awards are presented to The Fifth Dimension for "Up, Up and Away" - Record of the Year and Best Performance by a Vocal Group. The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is named Album of the Year, Best Contemporary Album, Best Engineered Record and Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts.
    1968 -- General William Westmoreland asks for 206,000 more troops in Vietnam.
    1969-JACOBS, JACK H. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, U.S. Army Element, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Republic of Vietnam. Place and date: Kien Phong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 9 March 1968. Entered service at: Trenton, N.J. Born: 2 August 1945, Brooklyn, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Jacobs (then 1st Lt.), Infantry, distinguished himself while serving as assistant battalion advisor, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. The 2d Battalion was advancing to contact when it came under intense heavy machine gun and mortar fire from a Viet Cong battalion positioned in well fortified bunkers. As the 2d Battalion deployed into attack formation its advance was halted by devastating fire. Capt. Jacobs, with the command element of the lead company, called for and directed air strikes on the enemy positions to facilitate a renewed attack. Due to the intensity of the enemy fire and heavy casualties to the command group, including the company commander, the attack stopped and the friendly troops became disorganized. Although wounded by mortar fragments, Capt. Jacobs assumed command of the allied company, ordered a withdrawal from the exposed position and established a defensive perimeter. Despite profuse bleeding from head wounds which impaired his vision, Capt. Jacobs, with complete disregard for his safety, returned under intense fire to evacuate a seriously wounded advisor to the safety of a wooded area where he administered lifesaving first aid. He then returned through heavy automatic weapons fire to evacuate the wounded company commander. Capt. Jacobs made repeated trips across the fire-swept open rice paddies evacuating wounded and their weapons. On 3 separate occasions, Capt. Jacobs contacted and drove off Viet Cong squads who were searching for allied wounded and weapons, single-handedly killing 3 and wounding several others. His gallant actions and extraordinary heroism saved the lives of 1 U.S. advisor and 13 allied soldiers. Through his effort the allied company was restored to an effective fighting unit and prevented defeat of the friendly forces by a strong and determined enemy. Capt. Jacobs, by his gallantry and bravery in action in the highest traditions of the military service, has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
    1969-- the Smothers Brothers television show was cancelled by CBS after the brothers refused to censor a comment made by Joan Baez on one of her songs. She wanted to dedicate the song to her husband, David, who was just about to go to jail for objecting to the draft. An edited version of the show was broadcast later in the month.
    1970-Having recently changed their name from Earth to Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward make their concert debut at The Roundhouse in the North London district of Camden Town. 
    1972-In what will become a trend, pop artists unite to perform for a presidential candidate: Carole King, James Taylor and Barbara Streisand among others, play a benefit show for Democratic presidential hopeful George McGovern at the Forum in Los Angeles
    1972---Top Hits
Without You- Nilsson
Hurting Each Other - Carpenters
Down by the Lazy River - The Osmonds
Bedtime Story - Tammy Wynette
    1974 - Terry Jacks was starting the second week of a three-week stay at the top of the pop charts with "Seasons in the Sun". Other musical newcomers: Jefferson Starship, Billy Joel, Kiss, Olivia Newton-John, Kool & the Gang and The Steve Miller Band.
    1976-Queen's breakthrough album, "A Night at the Opera," is certified Gold.
    1977-The Jacksons TV show aired for the final time on CBS-TV, finishing dead last in the ratings. 
    1977-Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" becomes their second album to go platinum since the addition of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham
    1979-ABC-TV shows the rock documentary, "Heroes of Rock & Roll," narrated by Jeff Bridges and featuring clips of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and others.
    1980---Top Hits
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Longer - Dan Fogelberg
Desire - Andy Gibb
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys - Willie Nelson
    1985 - "Gone With The Wind", the most requested movie in history, went on sale at video stores across the United States for the first time. The tape cost $89.95. The film, starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, cost $4.5 million to make, but has earned over $400 million, making it one of the biggest money-making films in history. "
    1985-REO Speedwagon returned to Billboard's top spot with "Can't Fight This Feeling". 
    1987 - Gale force winds ushered arctic air into the north central U.S. Some places were 50 degrees colder than the previous day. Northeast winds, gusting to 60 mph, produced 8 to 15 foot waves on Lake Michigan causing more than a million dollars damage along the southeastern shoreline of Wisconsin.
    1987- U2's "The Joshua Tree," which sold nearly six- million copies in the US alone, was released. The compact disc version of the album became the first CD to sell one-million copies in the US. It contained U2 classics like "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "With Or Without You" and "Where The Streets Have No Name."
    1988---Top Hits
Father Figure - George Michael
Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
I Get Weak - Belinda Carlisle
Face to Face – Alabama
    1989 - Twenty-two cities in the southwestern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date. In New Mexico, afternoon highs of 72 at Los Alamos, 76 at Ruidoso, and 79 at Quemado, were records for March.
    1992 -the first 9 days of March in Cincinnati, Ohio were very warm. The temperature averaged 58.7 degrees -- or 21.0 degrees above normal!! Within this 9 day stretch, high temperatures were 70 degrees or above on 5 consecutive days. Never before had this occurred so early in the season.
    1994-Top Hits
The Sign- Ace Of Base
The Power Of Love- Celine Dion
Whatta Man- Salt-N-Pepa Featuring En Vogue
Without You/Never Forget You- Mariah Carey
    1995 With a vote of 28-0, the major league owners admit two new teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The teams will be assigned leagues in January of 1997.
    1996- "One Fine Day" by Mariah Carey and Boys II Men topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the 15th week, a record for the rock era. The old record of 14 weeks was shared by Whitney Houston's 1992 hit "I Will Always Love You" and Boys II Men's 1994 smash "I'll Make Love To You."
    1998-In San Francisco, the bicycle bandits, Edwin James Rowan III (39) and Raymond V. Lopez (46) were arrested after robbing the California Federal Savings Bank on the 4000 block of Geary. They were suspected of robbing 12 North Bay banks and using bikes as get-away vehicles.