Thursday, March 23, 2006
Headlines--- Classified ads--Doc. Mgr./Finance/Legal ######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”
Classified ads--- Documentation Manager / Finance / Legal
Yountville, California Bruce Lurie
For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to: http://64.125.68.91/AL/LeasingNews/JobPostings.htm To place a free “job wanted” ad, please go to: http://64.125.68.91/AL/LeasingNews/PostingForm.asp --------------------------------------------------------------
Job Search USA on line Job Search USA is added to the Leasing News group of places to find employment, many also allowing you to put an “ad” or your resume on line for free. In addition, employers may also find these sites useful, too. http://64.125.68.91/AL/LeasingNews/Classified.htm --------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Bank Portfolio Services joins “Back Office” list
(h) U.S. Bank Portfolio Services provides third party solutions and back-up/successor servicing. Third party clients are able to focus on core competencies and avoid the expenses of creating a back office environment by outsourcing their servicing platform. U.S. Bank Portfolio Services adds security and protection as a back-up service provider with the ability to convert any portfolio in seamless manner through advanced preparation.
To view full list, please go here: http://www.leasingnews.org/elease/software.htm --------------------------------------------------------------
Shieman Out as Head of the Matsco Companies
Matthew D. Shieman is out as president of the Matsco Companies, originally founded by his family, and under his leadership, the company grew in the Dental field particularly with sponsorship of the American Dental Society.
Shieman The company was sold to Greater Bay Bank on November 3, 2000 for $6.5 million in cash. In their SEC statement, the bank commented "We may also be required to pay future contingent cash payment of up to $6.0 million based on the performance of Matsco subsequent to the acquisition. The excess of purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired, totaling $15.9 million, was record as goodwill, and through December 31, 2001 amortized on the straight-line method over 20 years. Goodwill is evaluated annually for possible impairment under the provision of SFAS No. 142." Keith Wilton, Exec. VP, Greater Bay Bank, with his office in Walnut Creek, California, is heading a committee of Matsco employees who are running the Matsco Companies in Emeryville, California. Wilton took the job from Dave Hood, who retired. Wilton has other bank responsibilities, such as the SBA program, a bank spokesman told Leasing News. Shieman has “... joined Diversity as a board member and representative on the West Coast. Matt can be contacted at mshieman@divcapital.com, “from a press release from Diversity Capital, a “boutique investment banking group specializing in providing financial services to the commercial finance and equipment leasing industries. stated yesterday.(www.divicapital.com)” In the press release, according to David D'Antoinio, Managing Director: “Matt's location on the West Coast will assist Diversity in delivering service to our clients and prospects in a quicker more efficient fashion. In addition, Matt brings a diverse background and increased experience to our Company.” The press release states: "Diversity Capital LLC is a seven year old advisory firm located in Cinnaminson, NJ that provides debt origination advisory, Commercial Paper placement services, M& A advice, expert opinion services and other related products to the Leasing and Commerce Finance lending industries. Please contact David D'Antonio at ddantonio@divcapital.com or 856.303.8100" According to the company web site, D'Antonio “ Prior to forming Diversity, Dave was a Director at First Union Capital Markets and a Senior Vice President at CoreStates Bank N.A. where he was responsible for the management and development of the Lease Finance Group. This group was the leading national lender to leasing companies with a variety of products including asset securitization, credit facilities, subordinated debt and other treasury management tools. Dave served on the Equipment Leasing Association (ELA) Board from 1998-2001 and has been involved in a number of finance industry groups at the most senior levels.” Matthew D. Shieman is listed as the vice-chairman of ELA Committees: DIVERSITY CAPITAL LLC Leasing News reported October 2,2002, that the parent of the Matsco Companies, Greater Bay Bank, had run into financial difficulties with the federal regulators: "Greater Bay Banks stock has been hurt by continued concerns about the real estate portfolio. Admittedly it's pretty shocking because **all** of the numbers are just fine. Greater Bay has a HUGE loan loss reserve compared to their peers, but the dive in the stock is mind-boggling, " a highly reliable source told Leasing News. "As far as I knew, yes the Bank was taking some losses at MATSCO and was seeing some deterioration in their portfolio. But compared to the entire Bank, MATSCO's losses, in my opinion, would not be so much cause for concern to cause the stock price to go down like it has. MATSCO simply isn't a big enough part to be the sole reason for the stock price hit." While the bank settled its problems with regulators, the Matsco Company was moved from the Cupertino Bank location and put under tighter scrutiny due to the increase regulatory observations of operations. There were questions about an $8 million loss in ATM leases and problems with business from brokers. An outgrowth from the company started by Fred Shieman, who died tragically and left the business for his son to continue, Matt, who grew it into a major entity, then running into the changing securitization market, sold to Greater Bay Bank, a conglomeration of San Francisco Bay Area banks, originally in San Mateo and Santa Clara County, now growing into other counties. Rumors regarding real estate transactions, SBA transactions, and the rapid growth have affected the sale of stock, plus reportedly increased outside bank audit activity. It is alleged this has also affected the Matsco Companies ability to seek low rate funds and reportedly has affected the operation. Subsequent inside information was denied about computer operating problems, problem loans, and the move out of direct loans into brokering them to others. A good part of the business was from the purchase of practices, new practices, including leasing on new equipment and working capital for the dentist. Ex-employees began telling Leasing News about "down sizing," "tight credit criteria," and "shifts in management." Then a key a key player at Matsco “retired,” Hy Bren. Then the company divested itself from the broker business, closing down the operation to concentrate CPA practices, dental, nursing homes, and veterinarians. “What I can say is that the rumor statement is far from being accurate and that the financial performance of the Company this year has never been better in its 20 year history. “Hope all is well with you and I will send response on Monday.” Matt (Shieman) The statement never came. In a July, 2003 Greater Bay Bank Telephone Conference, the president and CEO of the bank said,"...didn't sell any Matsco loans this last quarter due to operational problems, but plan to soon in the 1 ½ to 2 million dollar range." Leasing News has tried to reach Mr. Matsco, Keith Wilton, bank president/CEO Byron A. Scordelis, chief financial officer, exec. vp and CFO James S. Westfall, but telephone calls or e-mails were not returned. Leasing News was told other information from a very highly reliable source, but would like to confirm the information before reporting any further news. --------------------------------------------------------------
Wal-Mart Leasing, Inc.? by Shawn Halladay
Shawn Halladay There always have been, and always will be, money lenders, from the biggest international banks down to the corner pawnshop. Although banks traditionally have taken on this role, they also have expanded their business by offering other financial services, which has allowed additional growth and profits. The ability to offer financial services is no longer the private domain of the banks, however. In fact, we see more and more companies offering financial services, especially the extension of credit. Manufacturers have been offering financing for their products since the 19th century and we all know the contribution that lessors make in this regard. Other businesses, such as insurers and brokerage houses also offer financial services, which at least is in the general purview of what they do. What is changing, though, is the number of companies without any financial orientation that are beginning to offer financial services on their own. According to a Bank Systems & Technology article, technology is making much of this possible, as these companies can offer financial services without having to build heavy infrastructure. The combination of regulatory ease of entry, technology, and opportunities to steal niche markets from the banks has created a recent proliferation of these nonbanks. Many of the companies without any financial orientation that offer financial services are doing so through industrial loan corporations (ILCs) based in Utah and California. ILCs in Utah include not only traditional financial services companies like CitiCapital, CIT and GE Capital, but also BMW, United Healthcare, and Target. Many of these companies, such as Target, see opportunities to create customer loyalty by offering credit. Wal-Mart is another retailer that has filed an ILC application in Utah. Although its application has not yet been approved, Wal-Mart has been the lightning rod for concern amongst banks, as they see banking branches in every Wal-Mart across the country. Even the Fed has weighed in on the subject with Federal Reserve Governor Mark Olson saying that he is alarmed by the proliferation of ILCs, and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke questioning the soundness of allowing a loophole that erodes the banking/commerce barrier. The question for you, however, is the impact on leasing. Yes, Wal-Mart will probably start out managing its own credit card business, but may quickly expand into other areas once it spots the other consumer opportunities. From there, how long until it sees opportunities in commercial leasing? (Target Bank, for instance, was established to offer commercial accounts.) There are too many retail casualties of Wal-Mart's expansion and ambitions to count. Can they do the same thing to leasing? Hmmm – Wal-Mart Leasing. Should we be concerned? --subscribe to www.leasingnotes.com Shawn Halladay Biography: http://www.leasingnews.org/Pages/Shawn_Halladay.htm --------------------------------------------------------------
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Business Development Officer
Financial Analyst
Lease Coordinator
Lease Representatives
Portfolio Collection & Customer Service
Sales Manager
-------------------------------------------------------------- Microsoft Financial to Grow: Watch Out Leasing News is going to attempt to cover more about Microsoft Financial, a growing entity in the captive leasing marketplace. Dell, HP/Compaq, are growing. In the past manufacturers such as Dana, Studebaker-Worthington, Ford Motor Credit, were very active in financing not only their equipment, but others too. With Microsoft now going down to a minimum of $3,000 for its vendors (partners) to help them sell Microsoft software, as well as their equipment, training, installation included, the company certainly will become a tour de force in the equipment leasing industry. This year Microsoft will be introducing its latest operating system, the successor to XP, this year and their financial arm is gearing up for the sales. Yesterday, the company announced that Vista would be ready for large business customers, who typically buy the company's software in multiyear licenses, in November. But the consumer rollout will be pushed back to January 2007. The new operating system promises higher security, less spam and pop-ups, and improvements on XP for video and music performance. Supposedly the trouble has been designing and debugging the new operating system, brimming with features, complexity and an estimated 50 million lines of code. In the original days there never was a finished product, just a Beta version and thus the need for “service packs.” The bad news is for retailers because the new operating system will miss Christmas consumer sales. This puts more pressure on business sales to push leasing. This chart gives an indication of the potential leasing sales, and why Bill Gates, head of Microsoft, is the world's richest man at $50 billion.
This comes from netapplications.com, who notes that: “Microsoft Windows XP breaking 80% market share for the first time, just as Vista approaches. With much of XP's gains coming from upgrades of other Microsoft operating systems, Apple's Mac OS has finally passed Windows 98 in usage. Mac OS market share in February was 4.28%, while Win98 dipped to 3.89%. Apple market share first broke 4% for the month of December 2005, and has hovered around 4.25% since. Note that this data is based on computers browsing the internet, and does not attempt to reflect server operating system usage. Microsoft is also growing its finance arm, leasing and finance, for its “partners” (dealers and re-sellers,) which includes equipment, installation and training costs. They want to control their dominance, and even have entered the manufacturing field with small, hand held computers. -------------------------------------------------------------- Dana Corporation still in trouble The once strong manufacturer and third party lessor sales are up, but losses continue as it struggles to get out of bankruptcy. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 were $2,046 million, compared to $1,988 million during the same period in 2004. The company expects to report a net loss of $376 million for the quarter, including a loss from continuing operations of $231 million. This compares to a net loss of $136 million in the fourth quarter of 2004, which included a loss from continuing operations of $72 million. Subsequent to Dana's filing under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on March 3, 2006, the company and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries are operating as debtors-in-possession. Payments received from leases and partnerships (in millions) 3 month ending Dec 31, 2005 $91 December 21,2004 $279 Year ending 2005 $161 Year ending 2004 $289 full copy of press release: http://dana.mediaroom.com/index.php/press_releases/2054
-------------------------------------------------------------- Myspace #5 by Kit Menkin
Top 500 Sites 1. Yahoo! 2. Microsoft Network (MSN) 3. Google 4. EBay 5. Myspace In reading www.leasingnews.org , Shawn Halladay was commenting on the accuracy, even though non-scientific Alexa report ( also owned by Google and used in their statistics.) The fact that many of the leasing media sites have stayed in the relative same position to give credence was note. Also www.leasingnews.org , a blog, has risen up the ladder. To show the importance of this interactive medium, “Myspace” is now number five. It is perhaps the most active blog web site for those under 30 years old, primarily.
To those of a different age, we might have never heard of it. My son Dash has one, and so does Katie, age 24, who uses her Blackberry as much as her telephone, as well as her wireless laptop on the kitchen table with the TV on, too. Now I don't know if I approve of the “freedom” and what is on many of these blogs, but the interaction is what attracts them, and will the same for Shawn Halladay's blog as he talks about lease accounting, new tax laws that affect leasing, management and sales changes. I am not saying his well-written blog will ever get up to #5 as it is basically about a specific niche of the financial industry. If you visit a MySpace site, you might think how in the world did this get to be popular. AOL tried it will their free web sites and chat rooms, their early claim to fame, as well as making it easy to dial up to the internet. Here what is emphasized is freedom to have a junkyard of stupid, personal pictures, odds and ends, quotes from friends, and a form of “Classmates” from your previous schools and colleges. And free. Who has been promoting “MySpace,” none other than the “old man,” Rupert Murdoch. His Newscorp must have run the numbers and saw a gold mine. They bought Myspace for $580 Million back in July of 2005. Alexa's PageViews graph comparing Google and “MySpace' reveals that myspace gets a little more than 50% of the pageviews of Google. I predict as more people discover Shawn Halladay's blog “Leasingnotes.com” it will continue to grow. Maybe he might even invite a “MySpace” for the leasing community. --------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf Coast Rebuilding Opportunities For Equipment Lessors ELTnews Participate in the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast region and interact with high-level government officials Equipment lessors are invited to join the Gulf Coast Commercial Opportunity Mission to Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi from May 4-5, 2006. Led by Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, in coordination with Federal Coordinator Donald E. Powell, Gulf Coast Rebuilding, Department of Homeland Security, the mission will offer U.S. businesses a unique forum to see first-hand the business opportunities in the Gulf Region following the passage of the GO Zone Act of 2005. For information and to register for the Mission, go to: http://www.gulfcoastopportunity.gov/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- ibank.com Connects Lessors with Small Businesses Seeking Equipment COSTA MESA, CALIF. – www.ibank.com, America's largest online small business lending network, now connects equipment leasing companies with small businesses throughout the nation looking for the type of equipment they offer through its advanced small business lending engine. The engine allows equipment leasing brokers to target market campaigns to businesses seeking their products, cutting new customer acquisition costs drastically. “Unlike other major search engines, our commercial lending search engine is about connecting equipment leasing companies with small businesses that are in need of new equipment now,” said Thomas O. Markel, Chairman and CEO of Credentrust Software, Inc. the company that powers www.iBank.com . “In an efficient market, brokers can get hundreds of leads daily of small businesses that are seeking for the type of equipment they offer and that match their criteria of business they would lend to. The more targeted their search campaign, the more loans they close, the higher they rank – everybody wins. It's that simple.” How It Works Through the small business lending engine, brokers can target multiple campaigns by up to 16 criteria, including equipment type, location, and lease amount, among others. Small businesses seeking to lease equipment input their particular information and see only the listing of leasing companies that meet their criteria. This results in lenders experiencing a lower cost per new customer acquisition of any advertising medium in the nation, by eliminating costly clicks from unqualified borrowers. Furthermore, the leads generated are those of companies truly looking to do business with qualified equipment leasing companies. The new commercial lending search allows small businesses to search up to 92 different types of small business loans, equipment leasing, and commercial and home mortgage loan. Broker can reach these small businesses in three ways: • The organic lender list or free advertising links is comprised of company listings gathered by web crawler, which spiders the web searching for equipment leasing companies that meet the different criteria listed on iBank.com. • The Classified Campaign Lender list consists of brokers who pay for placement in the top 5 positions on each page using pay-per-click advertising. Equipment leasing companies can have as many classified campaigns on the website as desired. However, the listing will only be displayed if it matches 100 percent to the criteria entered by the borrower. • The Premier Campaign Lender consists of brokers who have taken a more proactive approach by registering with iBank.com and creating targeted campaigns using up to 16 different criteria. Once in the system, iBank.com delivers hot prospects directly to the company's computer or CRM system everyday. Premier Campaign Lenders can specifically target small businesses borrowers by designating up to 16 prequalification questions, including equipment, loan amount, credit score, years in business, location, industry or lease type. The Premier Campaign allows equipment leasing companies to reduce processing time and costs and only meet with real qualified customers the meet their lending criteria. Since its inception in 1999, www.iBank.com has revolutionized the commercial lending marketplace and consistently provided lenders and borrowers with a simplified, streamlined and seamless ways to do business with small business online. The website has processed more than $7 billion in aggregate loans each month, receiving approximately 6000 loan requests a month. The website has attracted some of the nation's largest banks as well as community banks, private investors, brokers and credit unions. For a complete list of lending institutions, please visit www.iBank.com's proprietary technology allows borrowers to create a professional loan/lease package online. Once the borrower finishes the application, www.iBank.com matches the borrower's information to the loan criteria of lenders within its network and sends the borrower's information only to those lenders whose criteria match those found in the application. The applicant's information, along with other pertinent documents, such as business plans and projections, are then transferred directly into the lenders systems, allowing for faster analysis and processing of applications. Brokers wishing to preview the type of equipment leasing requests posted within the last week can do so at About www.iBank.com Based in Costa Mesa, Calif., www.iBank.com, America's largest small business lending engine, has become a commercial lending marketplace for businesses seeking small business loans, equipment leasing, and commercial and home mortgage loans in real time. Formed in 1999, www.iBank.com utilizes advanced search engine technology that enables borrowers to create a professional loan/lease package online, connect with more than 225 lenders using pre-qualification criteria and close loans faster. The whole process, when compared to manually preparing separate loan packages and finding the right lenders eliminates about two-thirds of the time, cuts 90% of the cost involved. Sites of Reference: http://www.ibank.com/lenders/lender_posting.cfm?loanType=3&loanpost=Search+Loan+Posting http://www.ibank.com/lenders/lender_Home.cfm?pbonav=lenders CONTACT: Vanessa Besack ### Press Release ########################### Vision Capital Corporation Expands Senior Management Team San Diego, CA – Vision Capital Corporation, a San Diego-based commercial finance company, is pleased to announce that Robert C. Humber has joined the Company and its senior management team as Senior Vice President-Director of Sales. Mr. Humber, of Mission Viejo, CA, joins Vision Capital after more than thirty years experience in all phases of commercial equipment leasing and financing, most recently (eleven years) as a key business producer with U.S. Bancorp Equipment Finance, Inc. and previously, seventeen years in business development and management with Security Pacific Leasing, including serving as National Sales Manager. Mr. Humber will report to Manny Montanez, President, and will play a key role in the development, training and roll-out of the Company's Orange County, CA sales office. “We have known Bob for many years and are very, very pleased to have him bring his deep talents, incredible energy and work-ethic to the Vision team. Bob has already inspired all of us to “step it up a notch” as we prepare to take Vision to the next level of achievement within our business plan, and Bob very capably fills this position which is so important to our regional expansion and continuing success,” stated Larry Turner, Chairman & CEO. “Bob's personal and professional philosophies mesh very well with Vision's faith-based business ethics and he delights in helping others around him to achieve and grow.” Denver Bowen is the new Business Development Officer in the San Diego corporate office. He comes with seventeen years successful experience in institutional financial services and fixed-income portfolio sales. Mr. Bowen will be responsible for generating both direct end-user and vendor program equipment leasing and financing opportunities, primarily in the Company's Oil & Gas Services Division. “Denver Bowen brings to Vision a track record of very strong performance and client recognition of his integrity and reliability in handling their significant investment portfolios,” stated Manny Montanez, President of Vision Capital. “As Vision's core value propositions are built upon growing mutually valuable long-term relationships with its clients, its vendors and its portfolio investors, Denver is a natural fit and we are delighted to have him as a key associate with the Vision team.” About Vision Capital Corporation Vision Capital Corporation is a privately-owned commercial finance company headquartered in San Diego, California. Since 1989, the Company has provided significant capital to many small-to-middle-market clients in both the public-owned and private sectors with a primary emphasis on equipment leasing/equipment financing, but also offering clients attractive financial solutions for commercial real estate acquisition/refinance, debt restructurings, recapitalizations, other asset-based financial services and capital markets advisory support. The Company can be reached at 888-999-4224 (toll free). ### Press Release ########################### Magnetbank Selects Enterprise Funding to Provident Equipment Financing Services GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – MagnetBank, an industrial loan bank focused exclusively on lending, has agreed to provide funding for leases and loans originated by Grand Rapids-based Enterprise Funding Group. Under the terms of the agreement, MagnetBank will fund commercial and industrial equipment leases and loans originated by Enterprise Funding Group's brokers and lessors. Enterprise will provide ongoing loan servicing and customer support. Fred Croft, Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Funding, said he is excited about the relationship and is confident that he has found the right partner in MagnetBank. “We have been intrigued by the industrial loan bank concept for quite some time,” Croft said. “By partnering with MagnetBank, we are able to continue to concentrate on Enterprise's core competencies of underwriting, funding and servicing equipment leases and loans. I firmly believe that this relationship is a significant milestone for us and will provide us with the capital to significantly grow our business.” Chris Worel, president and chief operating officer of MagnetBank, said Enterprise was chosen because of its strong reputation in the industry, lease-lending expertise and commitment to providing superior customer service. “Enterprise has an excellent track record of establishing lease relationships. Their processes and procedures are thorough, well- documented and efficient, which enables them to provide the same high- level of customer service that we are committed to providing,” Worel said. “We are excited about the opportunity this relationship provides for us to further diversify our loan portfolio mix by adding high-quality commercial and industrial leases.” Croft was equally enthusiastic about the agreement with MagnetBank. “Having met with MagnetBank's senior management team, we are impressed by their track record in the banking industry and we are confident that they understand the needs and requirements of a company like Enterprise,” Croft said. “We are dealing with experienced banking professionals, and consider ourselves fortunate to have an opportunity to work with MagnetBank.” About Enterprise Funding Enterprise Funding Group, founded in 1996, is an equipment finance company that provides lending and leasing services to small and medium sized businesses across the country, with a focus on income- producing capital equipment in the construction, manufacturing, healthcare and selected service industries. The company's website is www.enterprisefundinggroup.com. About MagnetBank MagnetBank's simple, loans-only approach offers businesses an attractive alternative to mega-bank lending. The Bank's pioneering strategy enables its “LOANers” to focus on providing clients the high- touch, personal and professional level of service that is often promised, but rarely delivered. MagnetBank was created around the idea that people -- employees, clients and communities -- are its most valuable asset. Its unique industrial bank charter allows the bank to invest in recruiting and retaining the industry's best and brightest LOANers – not in building expensive branches Contact: Dan Calabrese 616-235-9582 ### Press Release ###########################
Terrie Nielson joins LeaseInspection.com
LeaseInspection.com, a growing Utah-based company which performs leased equipment inspections throughout the United States, announced today the hiring of Terrie Nielsen. The last seven years working for a real estate inspection company were, in her words, “a perfect match” for her new position as the company's assigner. “It's almost exactly what I had been doing in my previous position, except that now, instead of assigning real estate agents to perform home inspections, I assign equipment inspections for funders and brokers. Not only that, but my former employer went from processing 500 inspection requests per month to over 30,000, so I feel uniquely prepared to handle the growth that we are already experiencing here.” As an assigner, Terrie interacts with clients and coordinates with the inspectors; her daily interactions over the years have given her a degree of expertise regarding the inspection process that is hard to find. Terrie tells us that “It's rewarding to see the impact our inspectors can make on behalf of our customers.” CEO Lance Black referred to Terrie as “another high caliber employee with rare expertise that makes all the difference in the service and quality of work that we aspire to. We are very pleased to have found someone like Terrie who has such an ideal background for what we do.” About LeaseInspection.com LeaseInspection.com is the technology leader to the equipment leasing industry and others requiring inspection services. While competing services are built upon older technology – ten years plus in some cases LeaseInspection.com has pioneered the use of state-of-the-art technological advances to automate the process of requesting, reviewing, conducting, and reporting inspections. A “Form Follows Function” approach to software and processes encourages intuitive user interfaces, develops more sophisticated inspectors; promotes meticulous inspections with greater accuracy; provides real-time status updates; and ultimately faster turn-around times. If you'd like more information about LeaseInspection.com, please contact Curtis Stoddard at 503-653-3472 or email Curtis at curtis@leaseinspection.com. ### Press Release ###########################
News Briefs---- U.S. Bancorp Chief Executive Jerry Grundhofer said Tuesday he sees more consolidation ahead in the banking industry HSBC aims to generate $1 billion (573 million pounds) in Internet revenue by 2008 Bank of America, China Bank Cut ATM Fees Sovereign and largest investor agree to settle fight Home loan demand falls to lowest level this year Wal-Mart Targeting Upscale Shoppers Google Finance makes its debut American Idol: Kevin (cluck cluck) is out tonight From Portland to Dorsey, new jazz books are jumpin' ---------------------------------------------------------------
You May have Missed--- Bank of America and Olivia to offer cards to lesbian market ---------------------------------------------------------------
Sports Briefs---- Former 49ers kicker indicted for $8M insurance fraud Rice Says She Won't Apply for NFL Post Raiders finally get man in ex-Saint Brooks Griese eyes shot to beat Grossman Two Yankees Linked to Balco in Book About Bonds Culpepper's attorney seeks dismissal of boat party charges ----------------------------------------------------------------
“Gimme that Wine” Cult winery Screaming Eagle sold--$30 Million? Willamette Valley Vineyards Achieves National Ranking Italians find gene key to pinot noir grape Mazel tov! Kosher wines pass faith and taste tests Bay Area nabs lion's share of Beard award nominations Massachusetts Whine merchants If you want to know if you got a value for your wine, or what the wine price is today, go to www.winezap.com Type in the vintage (year) and name of the producer with wine type or geographic area, such as 1995 Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac. Even 1995 Lynch Bages will work, or 1999 Viader ----------------------------------------------------------------
Calendar Events This Day Cuddly Kitten Day Liberty Day Near Miss Day A mountain-sized asteroid passed within 500,000 miles of Earth, 1898, a very close call according to NASA. Impact would have equaled the strength of 40,000 hydrogen bombs, created a crater the size of the District of Columbia and devastated everything for 100 miles in all directions. New Zealand: Otago and Southland Provincial Anniversary In addition to the statutory public holidays of New Zealand, there is in each provincial district a holiday for the provincial anniversary. This day is observed in Otago and Southland. United Nationals: World Meteorological Day An international day observed by meteorological services throughout the world and by the organizations of the UN system www.un.org ----------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Top Event in History 1925-The trial of a teacher for violating a state ban on teaching the theory of evolution took place in July, 1925. John Thomas Scopes, a high school science teach in Dayton, TN, was convicted of breaking a law passed by the Tennessee legislature and signed this day in 1925 by Governor Austin Peay. It provided that “ it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the universities, normal, and all other public schools of the state which are supported in whole or in party by the public school funds, of the state to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” Scopes was prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan and defended by Clarence Darrow. He was fined $100. The conviction was later overturned on technical grounds. ----------------------------------------------------------------
This Day in American History 1775- Anniversary of Patrick Henry's speech for arming the Virginia militia at St. Johns Church, Richmond, Virginia. He was addressing the second Virginia convention, and delivered his immortal speech against arbitrary British rule, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” Ironically, history has made this the best known, but from a contemporary journal, his most famous remark at the time, the one most repeated, occurred when he uttered: NCAA Basketball Champions This Date 1948 Kentucky --------------------------------------------------------------
Baseball Poem Baseball Season to Begin by Erif Forgaard Today I share a snow-dusted lawn a season removed from the shy promise of spring Today we're having the game of catch we never had Back and forth amid the rustle of pines Back and forth Perhaps winter is not the time for this but this morning beneath the cool gray |
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