Help Wanted ads Half Off

Half off is an offer that will not be repeated
outside of the holiday season.

Leasing News, at the end of the year, makes available "help wanted" ads at a 50% discount. To those looking for employment, the classified ads continue to be "free" and categories are highlighted in each eMail news edition.

The holidays are generally active for those in leasing as it is the time when many lessees want to take advantage of the depreciation obtainable with only one month payment. While many employers take advantage of the actual long holiday weekend, it is also the time many executives begin planning for next year, which hopefully will see more economic improvement, especially with the political elections behind us.

It should be noted Help Wanted ads are also rotated on the top of the headlines in a chronological basis, as well as appear in the classified help wanted section in each email News Edition and also appear on the Web Site.

To learn more, please go here:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Hwanted/Hwanted-post.htm

Alexa Ranking of Leasing Newsletters/Websites:
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_14.htm#alexa

Classified Ads---Collections/Credit/Operations

Seattle, WA 16 years experience small-ticket market; collections management, bankruptcy, litigation; strong vendor network; CLP Certification 2000- Pinnacle Capital since 2003, previously Irwin Business Finance, Financial Pacific westongerry@gmail.com Resume

East Coast 30 yrs. exp UK, mainly middle ticket last 11 yrs credit officer, seeking position in NY, CT, NJ, Available immediately for interviews carrsculling@gmail.com

N. Phoenix, Arizona Kathleen Gibbons-Erler. Eleven years experience in all office operations, including but not limited to lease processing. Excellent follow up skills. References on Linkedin.com. kgibbons-erler@cox.net Resume

SF Bay Area Contract Administrator. Formerly Documentation /Compliance , Pentech; American National Leasing, VP-Operations. 30 years Experience. Available now. Resume gbflinn@gmail.com

Acton, MA Strong experience in lease accounting, operations, & systems.   Implemented lease plus, Great Plains, networks. Excellent financial reporting and analysis skills. Looking for new opportunity. LinkedIn alexanderzlenz@gmail.com| Resume

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

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

NEFA in search for Executive Director

 

According to Chris Enbom, 2011 President, the board of National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) met several months ago regarding the contract with Meetings Expectations, Atlanta, Georgia, a third-party servicer provider for non-profit organizations.  The decision was made at that time to not renew the contract with Meeting Expectations!

Chris Enbom, CEO, Allegiant Partners

"There are two primary factors in not renewing the contract," he said. "Cost was a factor - as Meeting Expectations provides a premium service which includes marketing, cash management and accounting, director services, conference management and other services.  NEFA has been pleased overall with the company, but the services are expensive and in the current environment NEFA needs to monitor its cost structure closely just as any business would monitor expenses.

"In addition, the board and executive committee felt it was important to have an ‘Executive Director from within the leasing industry” who clearly understands and monitors the needs of our constituency.  NEFA is actively engaged in a search for a new executive director, and has a number of excellent candidates for the position.  We expect to have an announcement within the next month regarding the executive director position.

"NEFA is a very close knit group of equipment finance professionals and we felt the glue was missing in the group.  We are bringing back the glue!"

Randy Haug,
Sr. Vice-President/Partner, LeaseTeam, Inc.,

Current NEFA President Randy Haug said, "I feel what we are planning for will put the NEFA in a very good position to do that and continue to grow as times get better… and they will! We are a close group at the NEFA and are truly a 'member driven organization' and we are all very optimistic about the future for our members and the value we will continue to provide as part of the NEFA.

"We just completed a fantastic Fall Annual Funding Conference  in Atlanta and we have many more regional meetings including our upcoming Super regional in New Jersey November 15th that we are excited about as well as Holiday meetings planned in many places around the country for our members enjoyment.  Plus we have great plans for our exciting 2011 Spring Conference in Arizona. We also have a great new slate of Executive Committee board members and leaders."

"We also have a great new slate of Executive Committee board members and leaders, Chris Enbom CEO of Allegiant-Partners is leading us into 2011 as newly elected president of NEFA and he will continue to move the association forward. Chris, is extremely competent and we are fortunate to have him and our other board members to create leadership for the NEFA and its members."

Chris Enbom added, "I am personally very excited about the future of NEFA.  We have a number of holiday events to attend and we believe Arizona will be a great draw with professionals eager to share experiences and spring baseball in full swing.  I hope to see everyone in Arizona at the NEFA Spring conference and GO GIANTS!"

First Federal Joins the Funder/Looking for Broker Lists

First Federal Leasing 1989 Paul Witte, CEO Vice President Paul@firstbankrichmond.com 800.848.8958 www.firstfederalleasing.com NAELB (Q)

18

Nationwide

$5,000 min.

Y

N

N

N

N

A -Accepts Broker Business | B -Requires Broker be Licensed | C -Sub-Broker Program/ | D -"Private label Program" | E - Also "in house" salesmen

“A” Credits Only—No Volume Requirements

First Federal Leasing Equipment restrictions -

Prohibitive Equipment:
The following list of equipment should not be considered unless there are some genuine overriding considerations. These are subject to market changes:

a) Aircrafts
b) Pay phones
c) Cellular phones
d) Vending machines
e) Video and arcade games
f) Fad equipment (as determined by management)
g) Energy management equipment
h) Carpet cleaning equipment
i) Mining equipment
j) Satellite dishes
k) Modular Buildings on foundations
l) Art work
m) Equipment affixed to vehicles

History of First Federal:
http://www.firstfederalleasing.com/history.html

Meet the Staff:
http://www.firstfederalleasing.com/meet-the-staff.html

Full Funder List:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/Funders.htm

Funder/Superbroker Looking for New Broker Business:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/New_Broker.htm

 

Bank Beat--PNC Financial Services/Bank

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) today reported third quarter 2010 net income of $1.1 billion.

Third quarter 2010 net income would have been $837 million.

"On July 1, 2010, we sold PNC Global Investment Servicing Inc. (GIS), a leading provider of processing, technology and business intelligence services to asset managers, broker—dealers and financial advisors worldwide, for $2 3 billion in cash pursuant to a definitive agreement entered into on February 2, 2010. The third quarter 2010 gain related to this sale was $639 million, or $328 million after—taxes. Results of operations of GIS, including the related after—tax gain on sale in the third quarter of 2010, are presented as income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, on our Consolidated Income Statement for all periods presented. Once we entered into the sales agreement, GIS was no longer a reportable business segment."

An analysis of loans show a downward trend with charge offs doing better in the commercial sector, but not the consumer sector.

(numbers in thousands)

2009
Average Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

	Three Months			Nine Months
	9/30	6/30	3/31	9m ‘09
Equipment lease financing	6,514	6,080	6,131	6,164
Details in Loans	6,408	6,630	6,111	6,202
Total commercial	53,188	54,232	54,703	54,818
Total commercial r/e	19,091	20,364	21,950	23,131
TOTAL COMMERCIAL	78,687	81,226	82,764	84,151
Total consumer	54,956	55,279	55,234	53,582
Residential mortgage	15,708	16,618	17,599
Residential construction	776	1,219	1,669
Total residential r/r	16,484	17,837	19,268
TOTAL CONSUMER	71,440	73,116	74,502
Charge Offs
	Three Months			Year-end
	9/30	6/30	3/31	2009YE
Commercial	(230)	(235)	(208)	(293)
Commercial real estate	(88)	(139)	(205)	(245)
Equipment lease financing	1	(30)	(24)	(24)
Consumer	(257)	(252)	(216)	(240)
Residential real estate	(40)	(184)	(38)	(33)
Total net charge-offs	(614)	(840)	(691)	(835)

PNC 8-K Filing:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/PNC8K_2010.pdf

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Min 1 year leasing exp., commission only You should earn $65,000 plus first year, work from our Boston Office or home office. Mark Gallagher 781-636-0202 or markg@integrityleasing.com Integrity Leasing and Financing Inc. started in 1998 and works directly with Vendors and Lessees.

 

3 years leasing exp., commission only first year or until quota met. You should earn $75,000 first year, work from home office. Sandra Tieh, HR 512.458.1300 or stieh@onesourcefinancial.com OneSourceFinancial.com a OneWorld Business Finance Co-Op Member

 

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

NACM reports “Major Improvements” in October

The National Association of Credit Managers (NACM) monthly index reported major improvements in both the manufacturing and service industries for October.

NACM also reported an increase in credit applications was coupled with fewer rejected ones, which is a solid sign for the future.

“The overall feeling is that credit is starting to loosen up again after the decline in the summer. Banks are getting a little more aggressive, but more importantly there is more credit being extended by companies seeking to capture more share from their consumers,” said Chris Kuehl, PhD, economic advisor for the National Association of Credit Management (NACM).

"The amount of credit extended is back to levels previously set in May and dollar collections, which had already started to improve in September to 60, is now up to 61.9. “It is good news when either of the sectors starts to move in a positive direction, but activity in the favorable category generally signals a bigger set of gains in the overall economy,” said Kuehl.

"This month saw solid activity in favorable factors for both the manufacturing and service sectors," NACM reported." Sales returned to levels not seen since May and is now above 60 again. Sales had been dropping steadily all summer and had been as low as 57.2, a reading not seen since December 2009.

The boost in this factor occurred in both sectors.

The NACM report indicated, "Improvement in unfavorable factors continued as well. These are the indicators that signal companies are struggling with debt. When they improve, there is a return to confidence in the business community as a whole. As disputes, bankruptcies and dollar exposure decline, there is evidence that companies are trying to catch up on debt, which is both a signal that business prospects have improved and that there is activity planned. An established pattern for these factors indicate that companies are seeking to get current with existing credit lines so they are in a position to ask for more in order to expand. This seems to be happening again, albeit at a subdued rate."

Full October NACM Index Report:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/CMIcurrent.pdf

Leasing 102
by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

Are You ready to be a Leasing Professional?

Professionalism in commercial equipment leasing has been of low consideration until now. The financial upheaval has made the business community review each proposal from our industry with increased scrutiny and is looking to the quality of their finance partners with a cautious eye to the future. Gone is the day of short incomplete presentations and shoddy, if not, deceptive documentation.

It is time to embrace a method to place yourself above the fray and look like a true professional. Those that have passed the Certified Leasing Professional test and proudly display the “CLP” emblem on their business card, letterhead and web site show the world that they have been recognized by their peers as one that understands the leasing business. It also signifies they can clearly service the lessee’s needs with honesty and proper documentation.

A new breed of lessor’s are contacting the Cindy Spurdle, the executive director, to find a mentor, to obtain help, and then to take the test.

Thanks to the hard work of a committee to up-date the handbook as well as a new test, it is more complete. It is more of a test in knowledge about leasing than anything else. The method of testing the applicants now and in the future is to test their knowledge through matching, vocabulary, True or False, multiple choices, and to recognize the correct answer instead of remembering all the rules and regulations verbatim.

Here are a few sample questions to show how the test has changed from an essay to a modern test of knowledge (with answers in next week’s Leasing News #102 column ):

A Purchase Option is:
a. A mandatory requirement for Lessee.
b. Requires the Lessor to assume a residual.
c. Required by income tax law
c. Required by the UCC
d. None of the above

Which of the following is not a true lease tax rule?
a. The term of the lease cannot exceed 80% of the useful life.
b. The lessee may not have a bargain purchase option.
c. The lessee may not have an equity interest in the equipment.
d. The rentals plus the purchase option may equal what the lessee could have received from a loan with a balloon.

Return language can require the Lessee to return the equipment in like-new condition. (True or False)

A quite enjoyment clause is required by Article 2A. (True or False)

You can complete the dates on a acceptance certificate if the Lessee sign the agreement and failed to do so. (True or False)

Disclosures for a lessee’s capital lease should include:
a. Total contingent rentals actually incurred for each period for which an income statement is
presented
b. Future minimum lease payments as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented.
c. The gross amount of assets recorded under capital leases as of the date each balance sheet is
presented by major classes according to nature or function.
d. All of the above.
e. A. and C only

To survive as a leasing professional in the future you will be required to fully understand the commercial equipment leasing product with all its ramifications. The CLP distinction supports that recognition and will be the CLP badge that sets you apart from the rabble.

More information may be obtain at www.clpfoundation.org

Cynthia W. Spurdle
Executive Director
CLP Foundation
PH: 610/687-0213
FAX: 610/687-4111
E-mail: cindy@clpfoundation.org

Mr. Terry Winders, CLP, has been a teacher, consultant, expert witness for the leasing industry for thirty-five years and can be reached at leaseconsulting@msn.com or 502-649-0448

He invites your questions and queries.

Previous #102 Columns:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Leasing_102/Index.htm

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

Top Stories---October 25 - October 29

Here are the top ten stories opened by readers:

(1) Financial Pacific Sold!
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_25.htm#finpac_sold

(2) Official! “Fin Pac” Acquired by Flexpoint Ford
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_27.htm#flexpoint

(3) Direct Capital Now 100% Employee Owned
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_27.htm#direct_capital

(4) Funders Looking for Broker Business
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_29.htm#funders

(5) Key Bank and Leasing Appear Timid
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_25.htm#timid

(6) Four Prominent Attorneys on "Reps and Warrants"
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_29.htm#warrants

(Tie) (7) Allied Health Care Services 123 pages of Creditors
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_27.htm#allied_creditors

(Tie) (7) IFC Credit Corporation BK—Up-date
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_27.htm#ifc_bk

(8) Big Jump in Leasing Business from August to September
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_27.htm#jump

(9) ELFA Boca Raton Conference Report
by Shawn Halladay, the Alta Group
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_27.htm#elfa_boca

(10) Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
Marketing Equipment Leasing in 2011
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Oct2010/10_25.htm#marketing

 

The Successful Job Seeker and "The Intelligent Entrepreneur"
by Marc Cenedella
Founder & CEO, TheLadders.com

In "The Intelligent Entrepreneur", a new book out from author Bill Murphy, Jr., Bill distills 10 rules of successful entrepreneurship from the stories of several Harvard Business School graduates from the Class of 1998, including yours truly.

As I read through the stories, and looked at Bill's rules, it struck me that there are similarities between the successful entrepreneur and the successful job-seeker. You're both trying to create something new — a new company or a new position for yourself. You're both faced with the emotional challenges that go with any new endeavor. There are plenty of setbacks along the way in starting a company and getting a job. And success is dependent on sticking to it and seeing it through.

So with that in mind, I thought I'd share five of Bill's 10 rules with you and show how they apply to your job search.

#2 Find a problem, then solve it.

It's not enough in the 21st century to simply describe yourself to future employers as "I'm a finance guy" or "I'm a saleswoman." Particularly in this difficult economic environment, you need to let your future boss know what kind of problem you can solve for him or her. So be specific about what you bring to the table: "I'm a finance professional who specializes in Sarbanes-Oxley and really enjoys working with internationally headquartered companies to meet American regulatory requirements" or "I'm a sales professional who loves working with biotech start-ups as they go from pre-revenue to $10 mm in sales."

Find a problem, and then let your future boss know how you will solve it.

#4 You can't do it alone.

The job search can be a lonely endeavor and you can't possibly make it alone. You'll need the support of your family and friends, and being honest with them about the trials and tribulations you're experiencing is an important part of your emotional well-being during the search. You'll also need to rely on your colleagues and contacts, and have them on the lookout for you during your job search. (See my advice last week on this topic: "Ask for a reference, not a job.")

Enlisting the aid of the people you know for support, advice, and connections is the way to your next great job.

#5 You must do it alone.

But as much as you'll need to rely on family, friends and colleagues, it is ultimately going to depend on you. You'll need to make the calls, you'll need to do the follow-up, and you'll need to be prepared for the interviews. When it's 10:17 a.m. on Tuesday morning and you're staring at the phone thinking about making that follow-up call, it's up to you, and you alone, to pick up the phone and dial the digits. Nobody else can do it for you.

Understanding that you'll need to make the commitment, set aside the appropriate amount of time, and then fight through our natural tendency to procrastination, is key to your success.

#8 Learn to sell.

Take your annual earnings and multiply by five. That's the value of the product you are selling — the next five years of your labor. It's the most important sales job you're going to have, and you need to learn how to sell. You need to qualify the buyer — make sure they need an expensive product like you — and then explain to them the benefits they'll get by purchasing — how you'll help solve the problems they're facing in their business.

Too often we can allow ourselves to slip into focusing on what I need out of the job hunt. You have to remember that it's not about you, it's about what your future employer needs. And you need to sell them on how you fulfill those needs better than any other candidate.

#9 Persist, persevere, prevail.

The job hunt is filled with twists and turns — moments of hope and days of despair. That's normal. Even the most successful, polished, high-priced executives and professionals that we work with here at TheLadders have those weeks when the phone is not ringing, emails go unanswered, and the creeping doubts seem to loom larger.

It's all part of the job-seeking process, and in order to be successful, you'll need to overcome those difficulties. It is only persistence and perseverance that will see you through the bad days and the tough interviews. Anybody who has started a company, and everybody who goes through the job search, experience tough times. Stick to it, know that you are valuable, and you will make it through to success!

To learn the other five rules of successful entrepreneurship, I'd recommend you go pick up "The Intelligent Entrepreneur" today.

$18.50 Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805091661?ie=UTF8&tag=theinc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0805091661

Aurora, Colorado---Adopt a Dog

# 938
# Medium
# Good with Dogs
# Good with Children
# Up-to-date with vaccines

“THIS PUPPY WILL BE AVAILABLE AT OUR NEXT ADOPTION EVENT: TBA. CLOSED October 30th AND November 6th. At the Petco located at I-25 and Colorado Blvd. For a map http://www.petco.com/content/locator/Details.aspx?storeId=1497&Nav=2

“FROM THE FOSTER MOM: What a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky boy. He's always up for a good time whether it's hiking, playing fetch or cuddling up for a movie. If it's a BIG boy you're looking for, he's the one for you. He's great with kids and loves to play with other dogs. Contact info@coloradopuppy.org for an appointment to meet him.

“AGE: 13 Weeks

“BREED CHARACTERISTICS: (Breeds are our best guess)

Labs love big families and a lot of time to play and cuddle. They don't mind where they live but like to have a yard to play in. They are easy to train, easy to groom, friendly , fun loving, good watchdogs, great for canine activities, hard workers, love to learn new things and are smart. They do need a lot of training, exercise and attention.

“ADOPTION FEE: This puppy is available for a $150 adoption fee and a $50 spay and neuter deposit. Cash, Visa and MasterCard accepted. We do not accept checks.

“ABOUT ADOPTING FROM CPR: Our puppies are only available at our adoption events. CPR does not reserve or take requests. Due to our limited foster homes, we cannot hold puppies for anyone nor can we board puppies after being adopted. Because of the overwhelming demands on our foster homes, all adoptions must be done on a first-come, first-served basis. The first good, properly qualified prospective home will be able to adopt the puppy. A personal visit to our adoption event is required. We do not ship out of state.”

Colorado Puppy Rescue
8308 Church Ranch Blvd
Aurora, Colorado 80015
Phone: 303-400-3514
Email: foster@coloradopuppy.org
Website: coloradopuppy.org

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

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

Classified ads—Asset Management

Asset Management: Atlanta, GA premier provide accounts receivable management functions from 3rd Party contingency collections to Portfolio Purchasing. Contact George Elliott, National Account Manager. 678-694-9063, www.westassetmanagement.com	Asset Management: Boston, MA Nationwide appraisals, remarketing, audits, inspections and more! Over 15-years industry experience and dedicated to deliver personal, prompt, professional services. Call Chris @ 508-785-1277. Email:chris@dovermanagementgroup.com
Asset Management: Minneapolis, MN NetSentric provides services to leasing companies: Inspection, Appraisals, Auditing, Warehousing, Repossession, Asset Management, Repairs, Remarketing and Field Service for Electronics and Computing Technology. Email: jcahill@netsentricinc.com	Asset Management: Monroe, NC Recover a greater return on your investment.  We specialize in the woodworking, pallet, sawmill and forestry industries.  Carolinamachinerysales.com/ Melinda Meier (704)288-1904 x103
Asset Management: Nationwide BUYER/LENDER BEWARE. Don't sign anything until Collateral Verifications Inc. goes onsite, knocks on the door and gets the facts. http://www.i-collateral.com Email: mark@i-collateral.com	Nationwide Seasoned and fair priced workforce is at your service for all lease collections, repossessions, and asset liquidations, appraisals.  Call Nassau Asset Management 800-462-7728   dcastagna@nasset.com
Asset Management: NorthWest Sequent provides collateral recovery, remarketing, and storage services to lenders with assets located in the greater Pacific Northwest. Professional services at reasonable pricing. Contact rossr@sequentam.com	Asset Management: Orange City, FL We help Lessors Liquidate un-wanted Assets valued at $750,000+. It's an effective method of Liquidating Assets such as Jets, Planes, Helicopters, Freighters, etc. Eric R. Sanders Tel  386-789-9441 www.ValuedAssetSales.com www.The-RandolphCapital.com EQPMNTLEASING@aol.com
Asset Storage/Re-Marketing: Ohio & surrounding states. Providing no cost warehousing, condition reports, digital photos and remarketing of off-lease forklifts & industrial equipment. NAFTA wide dealer network. Email to GCochran@OhioLift.com	Asset Management: Oxnard-Hollywood Beach, CA 20 Years Exp. w/Equity Analysis/Placement- Residual Forecasting Methodologies Computer Equipment Assets. Portfolio Mgr. Two Major Leasing Companies/Strong Analyst Background w/Leading Info Services Firm. E-mail: GregoryMLorenz@aol.com
Asset Management: South East US- AllState Asset Management Recovery, remarketing, inspections. 25 years experience, dedicated to deliver, prompt, professional services. Call Brian @ 704-671-2376. brian.buchanan@allstateassetmgmt.com	Asset Management: Global Specializing in Semiconductor and Electronic Test Equipment collateral. Lender services include Consignment Sales, Remarketing, Portfolio Purchases, Inspections, De-installation, Repairs and Warehousing. www.testequipmentconnection.com mnovello@testequipmentconnection.com

Leasing Industry Outsourcing (Providing Services and Products)

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

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

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

 

News Briefs----

Pontiac, maker of muscle cars, ends after 84 years
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-us-goodbyepontiac,0,7879439.story

India at centre of global biz, politics
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/India-at-centre-of-global-biz-politics/articleshow/6849984.cms

Debt Collectors Face a Hazard: Writer’s Cramp
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/business/01debt.html?_r=1&ref=business

 

You May have Missed---

Best Tech Products 2010: Full List, 1-100
http://www.pcworld.com/article/207485/best_tech_products_2010_full_list_1100.html

 

 

 

 

Sports Briefs----

Madison Bumgarner pitches SF Giants to brink
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/31/SPS61G4NQ3.DTL&tsp=1

Donovan McNabb's benching reveals Mike Shanahan's lack of trust in his QB
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/31/AR2010103104274.html?hpid=artslot

Brighter days ahead for Bears
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-1101-pompei-bears-chicago--20101031,0,1164451.column

Raiders run away from Seattle
http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_16486176?nclick_check=1
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/?from=stnv2

Cowboys must fire Wade Phillips now
http://timcowlishawblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/10/for-wade-phillips-time-to-go-is-now.html

Brett Favre says he's OK after Vikings' 28-18 loss to Patriots
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-10-31-vikings-patriots_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Patriots run past Favre, Vikings
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2010/10/31/patriots_run_past_favre_vikings/

49ers Jolly Good Win in England
http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_16485218

Bernie and Bryan: Rams win with authority
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/article_51aa4136-e52a-11df-b08f-00127992bc8b.html

 

 

 

California Nuts Briefs---

Meg Whitman holds boisterous last rally
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2010/10/meg-whitmans-last-rally.html

 

 

 

“Gimme that Wine”

Bode Miller's Winemaking Retirement Plans
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/43922

A taste of Howell Mountain
http://napavalleyregister.com/star/business/article_db500b02-e258-11df-9ab0-001cc4c002e0.html

Continuum Estate the latest Mondavi family twist
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/31/FD101G3HDL.DTL

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

    

    1620 - 41 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed a compact calling for a "body politick." 102 Pilgrims stepped ashore. They called themselves Saints and the others Strangers. One passenger died enroute and 2 were born during the passage. Their military commander was Miles Standish.
    1765-Defense of the American colonies in the French and Indian War (1754-63) and Pontiac's Rebellion (1763-64) were costly affairs for Great Britain, and Prime Minister George Grenville hoped to recover some of these costs by taxing the colonists. In 1764, the Sugar Act was enacted, putting a high duty on refined sugar. Although resented, the Sugar Act tax was hidden in the cost of import duties, and most colonists accepted it. The Stamp Act, however, was a direct tax on the colonists and led to an uproar in America over an issue that was to be a major cause of the Revolution: taxation without representation. Passed without debate by Parliament in March 1765, the Stamp Act was designed to force colonists to use special stamped paper in the printing of newspapers, pamphlets, almanacs, and playing cards, and to have a stamp embossed on all commercial and legal papers. The stamp itself displayed an image of a Tudor rose framed by the word "America" and the Latin phrase Honi soit qui mal y pense--"Shame to him who thinks evil of it." Outrage was immediate and this day the “Stamp Riot” broke out in New York City coincide ding with preparations for celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. Colonists executed and buried “Liberty” and then proceeded to break windows, burn an effigy of the governor, mock soldiers, and loot homes of officials. the riot was gradually quelled by fearful citizens. The Stamp Act was repealed by Parliament on March 17, but the next day passed the Declaratory Act stating that Parliament had the power to pass laws binding the colonies. Thus began a series of import duties, export duties, and other such taxes. Various Colonies such as Virginia, while protesting loyalty to the king, entered into an agreement not to import goods on which Parliament raised revenues, and after a certain date, to stop buying a long list of embargoed items
    1776- the Mission at San Juan Capistrano, California was founded. The original collapsed during the 1812 earthquake. The swallows of Capistrano nest in the ruins of the old mission church, departing each year on Oct 23, and returning the following year on or near St. Joseph’s Day (Mar 19).
    1781-The first bank charted by Congress was the Bank of North America in Philadelphia, PA. It began business on January 7, 1782, with a total capital of $400,000, of which the government subscribed $250,000. Thomas Willing was elected president and Tench Francis cashier. Later the bank entered the National Banking System.
    1784-The General Assembly of Maryland awarded by special grant citizenship to the Marquis de Lafayette, Washington’s French ally in the Revolutionary War. It provided that “ the Marquis de Lafayette and his heirs male for ever, shall be, and they and each of them are hereby deemed, adjudged, and taken to be, natural born citizens of this state, and shall henceforth be entitled to all the immunities, rights and privileges of natural born citizens thereof.”
    1800- Until this date, Philadelphia had served as the nation’s capital from 1790 to 1800- President John Adams and his family moved into the newly-completed White House, as Washington, DC, became the new capital.
    1824- The first presidential election in which the most popular president lost due to electoral votes. It was also the first election where electoral votes were used. Andrew Jackson received 153,544 popular and 99 electoral votes, John Quincy Adams received 108,740 popular and 84 electoral votes, and William Harris Crawford and Henry Clay received 42 and 37 electoral votes respectively. Since no candidate had a majority of the electoral votes, the House of Representatives was called down to exercise it constitutional responsibility to choose from the highest three. In the meantime, Crawford became ill and was practically eliminated, and Clay agreed to use his influence to have Adams elected, provided that Adams promised to appoint him secretary of state. The balloting in the House of Representatives was 13 states for Adams, seven for Jackson, and four for Crawford.
    1834--First published reference to poker (as Mississippi riverboat game).
http://www.pokerpages.com/historypoker.htm
http://www.poker.uk.co/indexhistory.html
    1846 - the Donner Pass tragedy - 87 pioneers were trapped in the Sierra Nevada when 5 feet of snow with drifts to 30 to 40 feet, only 47 survived
    1848- The first medical school for women opened at Boston, MA. Founded by Samuel Gregory, a pioneer in medical education for women, the Boston Female Medical School opened as the first medical school exclusively for women. The original enrollment was 12 students. In 1874, the school merged with the Boston University School of Medicine and formed one of the first coed medical schools in the world.
    1861 - A hurricane near Cape Hatteras, NC, battered a Union fleet of ships attacking Carolina ports, and produced high tides and high winds in New York State and New England.
    1863-Fortifications built on Angel Island (San Francisco Bay) by troops from a plan to defend the City, especially its harbors from attack by the Confederate navy and army.
http://www.militarymuseum.org/Ring.html
(Other true facts about the Civil War; US Gen Ulysses S. Grant was introduced to his wife, Julia Dent, by her cousin, CS Gen James Longstreet US Gen Philip St. George Cooke was father-in-law of CS Gen James Ewell Brown 'Jeb' Stuart and father of CS Gen John Rogers Cooke.
    1871-Birthday of Stephen Crane, American author ( The Red Badge of Courage), born at Newark, NJ. After the novel's success, the newspaper syndicate sent Crane to cover the West and Mexico. In 1897, he went to Cuba to write about the insurrection against Spain. On the way there, he stayed at a dingy hotel where he met Cora Howard Taylor, who became his lifelong companion. In 1897, his boat to Cuba sank, and he barely survived. His short story "The Open Boat" is based on his experiences in a lifeboat with the captain and cook. Crane later covered the war between Greece and Turkey, and settled in England, where he made friends with Joseph Conrad, H.G. Wells, and Henry James. Crane contracted tuberculosis in his late 20s. Cora Howard Taylor nursed him while he wrote furiously in an attempt to pay off his debts. He exhausted himself and exacerbated his condition. He died June 5, June 1900, Badenweiller, Germany at the age of 28.
    1872-- Susan B. Anthony, her three sisters, and fifteen other Rochester women registered to vote after persuading the election inspectors that the Fourteenth Amendment gave them that right. Four days later they cast their ballots, and on November 18, Anthony was arrested for illegal voting. She was tried the following June. The judge refused to allow SBA to testify in her own defense. She insisted on speaking anyway and when she refused to be quiet, he dismissed the jury, found her guilty, and fined her $100. She refused to pay hoping to appeal the case to a higher court but the judge allowed the case to languish instead, never prosecuting her for contempt.
    1873- Joseph Farwell Glidden of De Kalb, IL, started commercial production of barbed wire. The barbs were cut from sheet metal and were inserted between two twisted wires. This invention supposedly not only enhanced the raising of cattle, but eventually ended the feuding between cowboys and farmers by the end of the
century.
    1894--- Billboard Advertising, a trade publication dealing with all manner of billboard advertising and selling for a dime, begins publication. Within a few years, it will begin focusing on the entertainment shows advertised by billboards, and by the 1930s Billboard, as it has come to be known, is covering radio and sales of the new medium, juke box records.
    1897—The first Library of Congress opened its doors.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/nov01.html
    1910-W.E.B. DuBois, activist, begins publication of the NAACP monthly magazine “Crisis.”
    1913-In the first football game between two emerging gridiron powers, Notre Dame upset Army, 35-13, surprising the Cadets with an unprecedented barrage of forward passes. Quarterback Gus Dorais completed 140 of 17 passages for 243 yards. His frequent target was end Knute Rockne.
    1913-In the first football game between two emerging gridiron powers, Notre Dame upset Army 35-13, surprising the Cadets with an unprecedented barrage of forward passes. Quarterback Gus Dorais completed 14 of 17 passes for 243 years. He frequent target was end Knute Rockne.
    1919-Birthday of Louis Lorillard, founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, Rhode Island.
    1921--- the American Birth Control League is founded by Margaret Sanger. Dissemination of birth control information was a jailable offense in the United States at the time although men in the army were given condoms bought with tax dollars as "disease preventers."
    1926-Birthday of pianist Consuela Moorehead, Tallahasse, FL
    1926—Birthday of Alto Sax Player Lou Donaldson
http://www.blacksuccessfoundation.org/lou_donaldson.htm
http://www.members.tripod.com/~hardbop/loudon.html
    1938-In a special match race at Pimlico, Seabiscutit, ridden by George Wolff, defeated favored War Admiral before a crowd of 40,000. Seabiscuit captured the winner-take-all purse of $15,000.
    1939-Birhday of pianist Roger Kellaway, Newton,MA
    1940- Stan Kenton records his first sides with eight-piece band, at a Hollywood
music store ( Reed Rapture, ‘Etude for Saxophones).
    1942--CASAMENTO, ANTHONY Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division. Place and date: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York. Date and place of birth: 16 November 1920, Brooklyn, New York. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, in action against the enemy Japanese forces on 1 November 1942. Serving as a leader of a machine gun section, Corporal Casamento directed his unit to advance along a ridge near the Matanikau River where they engaged the enemy. He positioned his section to provide covering fire for two flanking units and to provide direct support for the main force of his company which was behind him. During the course of this engagement, all members of his section were either killed or severely wounded and he himself suffered multiple, grievous wounds. Nonetheless, Corporal Casamento continued to provide critical supporting fire for the attack and in defense of his position. Following the loss of all effective personnel, he set up, loaded, and manned his unit's machine gun. tenaciously holding the enemy forces at bay. Corporal Casamento single-handedly engaged and destroyed one machine gun emplacement to his front and took under fire the other emplacement on the flank. Despite the heat and ferocity of the engagement, he continued to man his weapon and repeatedly repulsed multiple assaults by the enemy forces, thereby protecting the flanks of the adjoining companies and holding his position until the arrival of his main attacking force. Corporal Casamento's courageous fighting spirit, heroic conduct, and unwavering dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
    1942--HANSON, ROBERT MURRAY Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 4 February 1920, Lucknow, India. Accredited to: Massachusetts. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Air Medal. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty as fighter pilot attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 215 in action against enemy Japanese forces at Bougainville Island, 1 November 1943; and New Britain Island, 24 January 1944. Undeterred by fierce opposition, and fearless in the face of overwhelming odds, 1st Lt. Hanson fought the Japanese boldly and with daring aggressiveness. On 1 November, while flying cover for our landing operations at Empress Augusta Bay, he dauntlessly attacked 6 enemy torpedo bombers, forcing them to jettison their bombs and destroying 1 Japanese plane during the action. Cut off from his division while deep in enemy territory during a high cover flight over Simpson Harbor on 24 January, 1st Lt. Hanson waged a lone and gallant battle against hostile interceptors as they were orbiting to attack our bombers and, striking with devastating fury, brought down 4 Zeroes and probably a fifth. Handling his plane superbly in both pursuit and attack measures, he was a master of individual air combat, accounting for a total of 25 Japanese aircraft in this theater of war. His great personal valor and invincible fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
    1943-OWENS, ROBERT ALLEN Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 13 September 1920, Greenville, S.C. Accredited to: South Carolina. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with a marine division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during extremely hazardous landing operations at Cape Torokina, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on 1 November 1943. Forced to pass within disastrous range of a strongly protected, well-camouflaged Japanese 75-mm. regimental gun strategically located on the beach, our landing units were suffering heavy losses in casualties and boats while attempting to approach the beach, and the success of the operations was seriously threatened. Observing the ineffectiveness of marine rifle and grenade attacks against the incessant, devastating fire of the enemy weapon and aware of the urgent need for prompt action, Sgt. Owens unhesitatingly determined to charge the gun bunker from the front and, calling on 4 of his comrades to assist him, carefully placed them to cover the fire of the 2 adjacent hostile bunkers. Choosing a moment that provided a fair opportunity for passing these bunkers, he immediately charged into the mouth of the steadily firing cannon and entered the emplacement through the fire port, driving the gun crew out of the rear door and insuring their destruction before he himself was wounded. Indomitable and aggressive in the face of almost certain death, Sgt. Owens silenced a powerful gun which was of inestimable value to the Japanese defense and, by his brilliant initiative and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, contributed immeasurably to the success of the vital landing operations. His valiant conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service.
     1943-The U.S. Marines invaded Bougainville, the largest of the Solomon Islands. The attack, called Operation Goodtime, was part of a larger Allied plan (Operation Cartwheel) to wipe out Rabaul, the mammoth Japanese base on the eastern end of New Britain Island. Bougainville was 200 miles away from Rabaul, close enough to provide fighter escorts for Rabaul-bound bombers. When the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps, commanded by General Alexander A. Vandegrifft, landed on Bougainville's western coast, they faced heavy Japanese artillery. Resistance dwindled quickly, though, and by nightfall about 14,000 Marines and 6,200 tons of supplies were ashore. The next night, after a day of wading through swamps, U.S. Marines faced Japanese counter-invaders from the then-vacant beachhead. The 475 Japanese soldiers were completely wiped out. Among the participants in Operation Goodtime was a young John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Lieutenant Kennedy commanded a PT boat sent in to rescue members of a Marine patrol trapped on a Bougainville river bank. Lieutenant Orville Freeman, Kennedy's future secretary of agriculture, was also wounded.
    1944 - The whimsical tale about an invisible rabbit named "Harvey" opened in New York City. One year later, the play by Mary Chase won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Movie fans remember the classic film, starring Jimmy Stewart in one of his most famous roles.
    1944 - The first of some 9000 paper balloons, carrying bombs intended to be dropped over North American land, are released near Tokyo. Many land in Oregon and start fires but newspapers do not report the bombing and the Japanese are lead to believe the dropping of balloons was not effective.
    1945-John H. Johnson publishes the first issue of Ebony Magazine.
    1945-Stan Kenton with his future wife June Christy records “Shoo Fly Pie ( and Apple Pan Dowdy).
    1947 - The famous racehorse, Man o’ War, died. His funeral was attended by over 2,500 people. Man o’ War was so famous that, while a stud in retirement, his guest book listed over 2,000,000 names!
    1947 - Eddy Arnold began a 21-week run at #1 on U.S. country music charts with "I’ll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)". It was the biggest hit of Arnold’s illustrious career.
    1950 - Two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to assassinate President Harry S Truman at Blair House, Washington, DC (where the Truman’s were living during a three-year renovation of the White House). One of the gunman and one White House policemen were killed. Truman, who had avoided an attempt on his life from the right-wing Israeli Stern Gang a few years earlier, escaped unscathed.
In the autumn of 1950, the White House was being renovated and President Truman and his family were living in the nearby Blair House on Pennsylvania Avenue. On the afternoon of November 1, Truman and his wife were upstairs when they heard a commotion on the front steps of the house. Alerted by the sound of gunshots, Bess Truman glanced out the window and exclaimed, "Harry, someone's shooting our policemen!” Indeed, the pair of would-be assassins (Massac Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo)had strolled up to the front door of Blair House and opened fire. They never made it past the entry steps, however, due to the quick reaction of police officers and guards. Secret Service Agent Leslie Coffelt was mortally wounded in the ensuing melee, but not before he managed to kill Torresola. Collazo later revealed to police just how poorly planned the assassination attempt was: the assailants were unsure if Truman would even be in the house when they launched their attack at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Torresola and Collazo were political activists and members of the extremist Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, a group fighting for full independence from the United States. The "Independistas," as they were commonly called, targeted Truman despite his support of greater Puerto Rican autonomy. Apparently unfazed by the attempt on his life, Truman kept his scheduled appointments for the day. "A President has to expect these things," he remarked dryly. Oscar Collazo was sentenced to death, but in an admirable act of forgiveness on July 24, 1952, Truman commuted the sentence to life imprisonment.
    1948---Top Hits
A Tree in the Meadow - Margaret Whiting
Buttons and Bows - Dinah Shore
Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue - Gordon MacRae
Just a Little Lovin’ (Will Go a Long, Long Way) - Eddy Arnold
    1952-Birthday of guitarist Lee Ritenour, Hollywood, CA
http://www.leeritenour.net/servlet/RitServer?width=1024&page=Main
    1954-The November issue of Billboard magazine lists Elvis Presley at number 8 of the Most Promising New Hillbilly or Country Singers.
    1955--- Macon, GA R&B favorites The Famous Flames enter local radio station WIBB to record a demo of their first song, "Please, Please, Please." The primitive scorcher, featuring lead singer James Brown pleading into a single microphone while standing on a Coca-Cola carton, would be rejected by several record labels before finally being picked up by Federal Records in Cincinnati.
    1956---Top Hits
Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
The Green Door - Jim Lowe
Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
Hound Dog/Don’t Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
    1957 - The Mackinac Straits Bridge, between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas, opened to traffic. At the time, it was the world’s longest suspension bridge -- and is still in the top ten -- at five miles long, with a main span of 3,800 feet/1,158 meters.
    1959- Tired of stopping hockey pucks with his face, Montreal Canadians goalie Jacques Plante, having received another wound, reemerged from the locker room with seven new stitches—and a plastic face mask he had made from fiberglass and . Although Cliff Benedict had tried a leather mask back in the ‘20s, the idea didn’t catch on but after Plante wore his, goalies throughout the NHL began wearing protective plastic face shields. Plante is credited with inventing the Hockey mask.
    1959-The Spacemen's "The Clouds" enters the R&B chart at #24. Their only chart entry will make it to the top spot and remain on the R&B charts for 18 weeks.
    1962 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "He's a Rebel," The Crystals. The actual singers on the record aren't the Crystals, but a trio of backing singers known as the Blossoms.
    1963--- The Beatles begin their first headlining UK tour with two shows at the Odeon in Gloucestershire, England, earning 300 pounds a night. Opening acts include The Rhythm and Blues Quartet, The Vernons Girls, Frank Berry, The Brook Brothers, Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers, and The Kestrels. The set list: "I Saw Her Standing There," "From Me To You," "All My Loving," "You Really Got A Hold On Me," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Boys," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You," "Money," and "Twist And Shout." The full scream of Beatlemania makes it impossible to hear the music, but that doesn't stop girls from camping out for two days in advance for tickets.
    1963--Bonanza TV star Lorne Greene records his hit "Ringo"
    1964--- Yet another British Invasion band makes its US television debut on CBS' Ed Sullivan Show: The Dave Clark Five, whose clean-cut image visibly relieves the host, who is still suffering from the Stones riot of a few days' earlier. After the band plays "Glad All Over," Ed goes out of his way to tag them as "nice, neat boys."
    1964---Top Hits
Baby Love - The Supremes
Last Kiss - J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers
Let It Be Me - Betty Everett & Jerry Butler
I Don’t Care (Just as Long as You Love Me) - Buck Owens
    1964-The Free Speech Movement was launched at the University of California at Berkeley. Mario Savio (1943-1996), UC Berkeley physics student, began the Free Speech Movement to fight prohibitions against students distributing political brochures and other materials such as civil rights. The incident began when police arrested Jack Weinberg for setting up an unauthorized table in Sproul Plaza. Students surrounded the police car in a standoff that lasted 32 hours. The crowd of protestors, growing to 3000, attempted to blocks police car carrying Weinberg away. The stand-off lasted 32 hours. This was the start of the protests that I covered for KFRC News, San Francisco. There was a hard core, but most of the followers reacted as if it were a party to gather and meet girls.
    1966- The National Football League awarded a franchise to New Orleans. The team, nicknamed the Saints, began play in 1967 but did not finish a season at .500 until 1979.
    1966 - Santa Anna winds fanned fires, and brought record November heat to parts of coastal California. November records included 86 degrees at San Francisco, 97 degrees at San Diego, and 101 degrees at the International airport in Los Angeles. Fires claimed the lives of at least sixteen firefighters
    1966-On All Saints Day, the National Football League awarded a franchise to New Orleans. The team, nicknamed the Saints, began play in 1967 but did not finish a season at .500 until 1979.
    1966-Three Elvis Presley albums are certified gold this day: his 1956 debut album, "Elvis Presley," "Elvis' Golden Records, Vol. 2" and "Elvis' Golden Records, Vol. 3."
    1968-ROGERS, CHARLES CALVIN Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S . Army, 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Fishhook, near Cambodian border, Republic of Vietnam, 1 November 1968. Entered service at: Institute, W Va. Born: 6 September 1929, Claremont, W Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Rogers, Field Artillery, distinguished himself in action while serving as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, during the defense of a forward fire support base. In the early morning hours, the fire support base was subjected to a concentrated bombardment of heavy mortar, rocket and rocket propelled grenade fire. Simultaneously the position was struck by a human wave ground assault, led by sappers who breached the defensive barriers with bangalore torpedoes and penetrated the defensive perimeter. Lt. Col. Rogers with complete disregard for his safety moved through the hail of fragments from bursting enemy rounds to the embattled area. He aggressively rallied the dazed artillery crewmen to man their howitzers and he directed their fire on the assaulting enemy. Although knocked to the ground and wounded by an exploding round, Lt. Col. Rogers sprang to his feet and led a small counterattack force against an enemy element that had penetrated the howitzer positions. Although painfully wounded a second time during the assault, Lt. Col. Rogers pressed the attack killing several of the enemy and driving the remainder from the positions. Refusing medical treatment, Lt. Col. Rogers reestablished and reinforced the defensive positions. As a second human wave attack was launched against another sector of the perimeter, Lt. Col. Rogers directed artillery fire on the assaulting enemy and led a second counterattack against the charging forces. His valorous example rallied the beleaguered defenders to repulse and defeat the enemy onslaught. Lt. Col. Rogers moved from position to position through the heavy enemy fire, giving encouragement and direction to his men. At dawn the determined enemy launched a third assault against the fire base in an attempt to overrun the position. Lt. Col. Rogers moved to the threatened area and directed lethal fire on the enemy forces. Seeing a howitzer inoperative due to casualties, Lt. Col. Rogers joined the surviving members of the crew to return the howitzer to action. While directing the position defense, Lt. Col. Rogers was seriously wounded by fragments from a heavy mortar round which exploded on the parapet of the gun position. Although too severely wounded to physically lead the defenders, Lt. Col. Rogers continued to give encouragement and direction to his men in the defeating and repelling of the enemy attack. Lt. Col. Rogers' dauntless courage and heroism inspired the defenders of the fire support base to the heights of valor to defeat a determined and numerically superior enemy force. His relentless spirit of aggressiveness in action are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
    1969-The forerunner of the Internet began when Bolt, Beranek and Newman (BBN), a small consulting firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts, delivered an Interface Message Processor (IMP) to the University of California at Santa Barbara . IMP connected UCSB to UCLA, the Stanford Research Institute, and the University of Utah, forming the first links in the fledgling ARPANET, precursor to the Internet. ARPANET, conceived by the Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), was designed to provide a communications network that did not depend on a single hub to transmit messages. ARPANET evolved into the Internet in the early 1970s, when Dr. Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn were commissioned by the federal government to extend the network for military, government, and academic use.
    1969 - "Abbey Road", by The Beatles, was #1 on U.S. album charts. Although "Let It Be" was the last Beatles album of new material to be released, "Abbey Road" was, in fact, the last album The Beatles recorded. The album, number one for eleven weeks, consisted of: "Come Together", "Something", "Maxwell’s Silver Hammer", "Oh! Darling", "Octopus’s Garden", "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "Here Comes the Sun", "Because", "You Never Give Me Your Money". "Sun King", "Mean Mr. Mustard", "Polythene Pam", "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window", "Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight", "The End", "Her Majesty".
    1970--- ABBA, then known as the Festfolk Quartet, play their first-ever concert at a Gothenburg, Sweden restaurant.
    1971 - The first Eisenhower dollar coins were put into circulation by the U.S. Mint. The coins were minted from 1971 to 1978.
    1972-----Top Hits
My Ding-A-Ling - Chuck Berry
Burning Love - Elvis Presley
Nights in White Satin - The Moody Blues
Funny Face - Donna Fargo
    1974 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "You Haven't Done Nothin'," Stevie Wonder. The Jackson Five sing backup vocals on the song.
    1975 - Elton John’s "Island Girl" hit number one on the "Billboard Hot 100" chart. The song parked itself at the top of the hit heap for 3 weeks.
    1975- Sony Corporation of Japan started selling in the United Sates a video cassette recorder for home use, the “Betamax.” It was built into a console that also contained a Sony color television set. The tape was contained in a plastic cassette to make it easy to handle. Sony had marketed the first open-reel video tape recorder for home use, the TCV-2010, beginning in 1966, which was designed to be used with a separate video recorder and separate microphone to record sound.
    1979 -Edward Bennett Williams buys the Orioles for a reported $12.3 million from Jerold Hoffberger.
    1979--- Bob Dylan debuts the songs from his new album, a Christian polemic called Slow Train Coming, on the first night of his new tour in San Francisco, CA. A shocked audience boos the new material throughout the set.
    1980---Top Hits
Woman in Love - Barbra Streisand
He’s So Shy - Pointer Sisters
Real Love - The Doobie Brothers
Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys) - Waylon Jennings
    1983- IBM introduced its long-awaited home computer, the PC Jr., starting at $669. The PC Jr. was doomed to a short life: the company discontinued the model in March 1985. They had chosen another operating system, including what Bill Gates was to purchase the rights to that began the Microsoft Corporation.
    1984 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)," Billy Ocean. The song is first released as "European Queen" in the U.K.
    1985 - Microsoft released Windows 1.01 (on five 360kb 5.25 inch floppy disks). It ran on MS-DOS v5.0 (called MS-DOS Executive in Windows).
    1985-The birth of AOL: Q-Link, a proprietary online service for users of Commodore's Amiga computers, launched on this day in 1985. A newly-formed company called Quantum Computer Services, run by twenty-six-year-old Steve Case, created the service. Q-Link offered news, soap opera updates, games, and chat for $9.95 per month. Quantum later created an online system for Apple, called Applelink. When Apple abandoned the system in October 1989, Quantum decided to run the system itself under the name America Online.
    1986 - Boston’s "Third Stage" album hit the big time this day as it became the number one album in the U.S. Memorable (and not so memorable) tracks on the album: "Amanda", "We’re Ready", "The Launch", "Cool the Engines", "My Destination", "A New World", "To Be a Man", "I Think I Like It", "Can’tcha Say", "Still in Love" and "Hollyann".
    1987-Dire Straits' CD "Brothers in Arms" passes the three million sales mark, becoming the UK's all-time best selling album.
    1987 - Tom Watson won the first Nabisco Championship (later named the Tour Championship) of Golf by two strokes over Chip Beck. Watson scooped up $384,000 in prize money -- the biggest payoff in golf to that day.
    1988---Top Hits
Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins
Kokomo - The Beach Boys
Wild, Wild West - The Escape Club
Gonna Take a Lot of River - The Oak Ridge Boys
    1988 - Low pressure brought gales and locally heavy rain to the northeastern U.S. The rainfall total of 1.46 inches at Newark NJ was a record for the date. New York City was soaked with more than two inches of rain.
    1993 -a series of storms dumps heavy snows over the Ohio Valley and the northeast. 10.3 inches fell at Mansfield, OH, the greatest so early in the season
    1994 - The Chicago Bulls retired Michael Jordan’s uniform (No. 23) and put it on display at the United Center.
    1998 - Steve Young and Jerry Rice connected for their 80th career touchdown. That TD broke an NFL record, previously held by the Miami duo of Dan Marino and Mark Clayton.
    2001-- The first major league game ever started in the month of November is a memorable one as the Yankees, for the second consecutive night, make a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and go on to victory in extra innings. Tonight's heroes are Scot Brosius, who hits a game-tying two out two-run homer to knot the game at 2-2, and Alfonso Soriano, who singles in Chuck Knoblach in the 12th giving the Yankees a 3-2 victory and 3-2 lead in the Series over the Diamondbacks.

Baseball Poem

By Donald Hall

From “Fathers Playing Catch (Essays on Sport-mostly baseball) with Sons”

North Point Press, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=br_ss_hs/002-2141354-2944804?platform=gurupa&url=
index%3Dblended&keywords=Fathers+Playing+Catch+with+their+Sons&Go.x=14&Go.y=11

“Half of my poet-friends think I am insane to waste my time writing about sports and to loiter in the company of professional athletes. The other half would murder to take my place.

“My obsession with sports began a year or two before my obsession with poetry, I suppose in mimicry of my father and in companionship. The first essay in this book talks bout those days. Like other boys I wanted desperately to be an athlete, but, although (and probably because) I conceived that my father was prodigiously athletic, I wholly incompetent: I dropped the ball; I struck out; I practiced the airball layup. A few years back trying to write songs for a composer, I made this lamentation:”

In the baseball game of life
It's the bottom of the ninth:
We trail, bases are loaded, and I'm up.
The pitcher throws a sliders
Just where the plate gets wider.
I think, I swing, I foul it off my cup.
Then he brings if Express Freight
Through the fat part of the plate.
I think, I swing, I pop the baseball up.

In the basketball game of life
I am standing in the line:
Time's fine. I've got two shoots to win the game.
In the silent, breathless gym
My first one hits the rim.
I pause, I bounce the ball, I take good aim.
If I make it we will tie
But my shot hits only sky.
We loose. I disappear. I change my name.

In a third stanza, I dropped a game-winning pass at the end of the fourth quarter. I ended:

They can shoot me if they want to. I don't mind.

From “Fathers Playing Catch (Essays on Sport-mostly baseball) with Sons”
By Donald Hall

North Point Press, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York

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