Sums up Recent Virtual Conference with 2,200 Participants
Thanksgiving Message to the SFNet Community
By Richard Gumbrecht, CEO, SFNet

As we wind down what has been a truly historic event for the Secured Finance Network, our first ever fully virtual Annual Convention, I’d like to share some thoughts on the experience, what I am thankful for, and where we go from here.

Over 2,200 of you participated in the Convention – by far a record for SFNet! The event was our most inclusive ever, with well over a thousand first-time attendees thanks to our new format. The feedback has been extraordinary, with many of you commending the ease of productively networking on our new platform. All told, over 10,000 connections were made, with each participant on average viewing five hours of highly valued content delivered by 150 luminaries and experts during the three-day program.

I am grateful for everyone whose creativity, passion and engagement made this perennial gathering of our secured finance community a resounding success. And for those who could not join us, we are committed to enhancing and expanding these forms of programming until it is safe to do otherwise, and beyond. I am convinced these new inclusive, efficient, and effective ways to connect will become a permanent part of our landscape going forward.

Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, staff, membership, and guests who make our community so vibrant. Together we continue to demonstrate our resourcefulness, elevate our importance, and fulfill our essential purpose of putting capital to work. My best wishes to all of you for a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

This Way Forward!

Richard Gumbrecht
CEO

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Kevin Cunningham was appointed Managing Partner, ARC Equipment Finance, LLC, Oak Brook, Illinois.  Previously, he was Regional Vice President, First Financial Corporate Services (July, 2003 - February, 2020); Senior Account Executive, Midwest Computers, Inc. (January, 2002 - June, 2003); Sales Executive, Comdisco (August, 1997 - December, 2003). Education: St. Norbert College, Bachelor of Arts (BA), Communication and Media Studies.  Marist High School (1988 - 1992). https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-cunningham-ab614b86/

Joe DiLallo was hired as Corporate Aircraft Finance and Leasing Specialist, TCF Bank, Detroit, Michigan.  He is located in Bay Village Ohio. Previously, he was Head, Corporate Aircraft Finance and Leasing, BMO Financial Group (October, 2012 - February, 2020); Vice President, Key Bank (September, 2011 - October, 2012); Founder and President, GetJets Aviation Consulting, LLC (June, 2009 - September, 2011); SVP/Manager, Chase Business Aircraft Finance (April, 2000 - May, 2009); VP, Originations, Banc One Leasing Corp. (1996 - 2000); Leasing Originations, Star Bank (June, 199 - June, 1996). Volunteer: President and Board Member, Friends Helping Friends (March, 2014 - February, 2020).  Education: Bowling Green State University (1985 - 1990).  https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephdilallo/

Elise Linn, CLFP, was promoted to Sales Manager, Oakmont Capital, West Chester, Pennsylvania.  She is located in Albany, Minnesota. She joined the firm June, 2018, as Business Development Manager. "Jim Peach, CLFP, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Oakmont Capital Services, said, 'I’ve worked with Elise for over 15 years, and I know she will accomplish great things within this role'.” Previously, she was Account Manager and Vendor Relations Supervisor, Stearns Bank, N.A. (April, 2001 - April, 2018).  Certifications: Certified Lease and Finance Professional. Education: St Cloud State University, Herberger Business School. Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Finance (1999 - 2003).  Dale Carnegie Course.  Skills for Success (2016). https://www.linkedin.com/in/elise-linn-clfp-76b709102/

Ryan Pratt was hired as Account Executive, AFCO Credit Corporation, Chicago, Illinois.  Previously, he was Account Manager, First National Capital Corporation (September, 2018 - November, 2020); National Account Manager, Copperline Capital Corporation (August, 2015 - September, 2018); Seasonal Office Manager, Crystal Lake Park District (May, 2013 - August, 2014). Crystal Lake Main Beach, Sales Associate, Columbia Sportswear (July, 2013 - August, 2013). Retail Sales and Customer Service. Membership Intern, The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association (May, 2012 - August, 2013); Crew Trainer, Oberweis Dairy (March, 2009 - May, 2012). Volunteer: President, Eastern Illinois University Council, North-American Interfraternity Conference (2014 –Present). Education: Eastern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Finance (2011 -2015).  Activities and Societies: Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity, North American Interfraternity Conference.  Crystal Lake South High School (2005 - 2011). https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanrpratt/

Justin Rasch was hired as Account Manager, Balboa Capital, Costa Mesa, California.  He is based in Greater Boston, Massachusetts.  Previously, he was Senior Finance Manager, Everlasting Capital Corporation (April, 2019 - November, 2020); Senior Leasing Consultant, Beacon Funding (June, 2017 - March, 2019); Franchise Finance Manager, Direct Capital Corporation (2011 - May, 2017).  Education: Keiser University. https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-rasch-145a283b/

 

 

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

 

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Researchers Show Tesla Model X Can Be Stolen in Minutes
By Eduard Kovacs, Security Week

Researchers from the Computer Security and Industrial Cryptography (COSIC) group at the KU Leuven University in Belgium have demonstrated that a Tesla Model X can be stolen in minutes by exploiting vulnerabilities in the car’s keyless entry system.

The vulnerabilities exploited in the attack were reported to Tesla in mid-August and they were patched recently by the electric car maker with an over-the-air update (version 2020.48) that is currently being rolled out to vehicles.

The attack method identified by the COSIC researchers targets the Tesla Model X key fob, which uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to communicate with the vehicle. They discovered that the BLE interface allows the software running on the Bluetooth chip to be updated remotely but this updating mechanism was not protected properly.

The researchers used a modified Model X electronic control unit (ECU) to force the victim’s key fob to advertise itself as a connectable Bluetooth device. They then exploited the update mechanism to push a malicious firmware update to the fob, which enabled them to obtain a piece of data that would allow them to unlock the car at any time.

Once the car was unlocked, they could connect to its diagnostics interface just like a service technician and pair a modified key fob with the vehicle. This gave the researchers permanent access to the Model X and allowed them to drive off.

The researchers said the attack only took a few minutes to conduct and it required roughly $200 worth of equipment, including the ECU, a Raspberry Pi, a CAN shield, a battery, and a key fob.

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Brand your Leased Vehicles
truckinginfo.com

As we all try our best to navigate our way through a global pandemic, brands and fleet managers are working hard to operate in a market like we’ve never seen before.

With many Americans staying at home more, there has been a surge in demand for essential goods and home delivery, while we’ve witnessed steep declines in non-essential categories. This market volatility calls for more flexibility as fleets adjust to meet to ever-changing market demands.

One of the strategies that has been used more and more to right-size fleets in the COVID-19 environment is vehicle and trailer leasing. With capital investments put on hold at many companies and uncertainty surrounding the purchase of new assets, some fleets have turned to this short-term solution to augment normal ordering and purchasing cycles. Leasing has allowed fleets the ability to pivot quickly and respond to upticks in growth segments such as grocery and last mile delivery.

Fleet graphics are a key part of a brand’s identity. In fact, a 2020 report from the National Private Truck Council found that fleets that use graphics believe they are very effective, rating them a 3.9 on a 5-point scale. Luckily, there is a way to both lease vehicles to meet short-term operational needs as well as enhance or maintain your brand identity – temporary graphics.

Temporary or changeable graphic films can be applied to trucks, vans and trailers in a variety of ways for decals, partial or full wraps. Changeable graphics provide the same branding benefits as wraps with more permanent adhesion but offer ultra-removability that lends well to branding leased vehicles. Not only are changeable truck wraps a great way to temporarily brand your assets, they are also a great way to generate additional revenue for your fleet, especially if you carry for a variety of brands who want to increase their visibility using this cost effective means of out-of-home advertising. Fleets such as McLane have been able to provide this option as a value add to customers using changeable film solutions.

For more information on how to keep your brand moving forward visit
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/graphics-signage-us/fleet-graphics/?utm_term=tebg-csd-fleetsp-en_us-eng-fleet_specifier-ona-nat-hdw-3mfleet-learnmore-oct20-23070

 

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

 California Cannabis Tax Revenues 3rd Q: $159.8 Million
Since January 2018, total program revenue to date is $1.81 billion

Sacramento – The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) reported revenue numbers today for cannabis sales for the 3rd Quarter of 2020. As of November 16, 2020, California’s cannabis excise tax generated $159.8 million in revenue reported on the 3rd Quarter 2020 returns due by November 2, 2020, and the cultivation tax generated $41.0 million. 

Sales tax from cannabis businesses totaled $105.9 million in revenue for the same period. Sales tax applies to sales of cannabis, cannabis products, and other tangible personal property. Certain retail sales of medicinal cannabis are exempt from sales and use taxes when the purchaser provides, at the time of purchase, a valid Medical Marijuana Identification Card issued by the California Department of Public Health and a valid government-issued identification card.

Total tax revenue reported by the cannabis industry is $306.7 million for 3rd Quarter returns due by November 2, 2020. This does not include tax revenue collected by each jurisdiction. Previously reported revenue for 2nd Quarter 2020 returns was revised to $260.2 million, which included $135.0 million in cannabis excise tax, $30.7 million in cultivation tax, and $94.5 million in sales tax.

Revisions to quarterly data are the result of amended and late returns, and other tax return adjustments. Cannabis tax revenue data is available on the CDTFA Open Data Portal.
Since January 2018, total program revenue to date is $1.81 billion, which includes $906.4 million in cannabis excise tax, $223.3 million in cultivation tax, and $682.9 million in sales tax.

In November 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act. Beginning on January 1, 2018, two new cannabis taxes went into effect: a cultivation tax on all harvested cannabis that enters the commercial market and a 15 percent cannabis excise tax upon purchasers of cannabis and cannabis products. In addition, retail sales of cannabis and cannabis products are subject to state and local sales tax. To learn more, visit the Tax Guide for Cannabis Businesses on the CDTFA website.

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) administers California’s sales and use, fuel, tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis taxes, as well as a variety of other taxes and fees that fund specific state programs. CDTFA-administered programs account for over $73 billion annually, which in turn supports local essential services such as transportation, public safety and health, libraries, schools, social services, and natural resource management programs through the distribution of tax dollars going directly to local communities.

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Leasing Icon John Deane to Retire End of Year
CEO, Chairman, Co-Founder Alta Group

New Leaders Are Announced

GLENBROOK, NV,--John C. Deane, CEO, Chairman and a Co-Founder of The Alta Group, announced he will retire at the end of 2020. Valerie L. Gerard  and James R. Jackson, Jr. have been appointed co-CEOs, and Thomas C. Wajnert will serve as chairman of this international consultancy dedicated to the equipment finance industry. While Deane will retire from daily management, he will continue to serve on Alta’s board of directors.

“It has been a remarkable 27 years, and now it is time for me to move on and for Alta to embrace a new generation of leadership,” Deane said in an internal letter to Alta colleagues.

“John Deane has been a guiding force for Alta, and for the equipment leasing and finance industry as a whole,” said Wajnert, who also serves as Alta’s senior managing director of client development.

“His wisdom and depth of industry knowledge have helped countless companies grow their equipment finance operations in the U.S. and across the globe.

“Our new leadership team will expand on his vision, and there is a lot of positive energy with the new CEOs named and Alta’s news last month announcing our new vice chairmen, Paul Menzel and Rick Remiker,” Wajnert noted. “We are looking forward to playing a leading role in serving the next generation of leaders and accelerating our clients’ readiness for the future.”

Distinguished Career
Deane said, “It has been an honor and a privilege to work in such a remarkable industry and with such amazing clients and colleagues,” citing thousands of client engagements and visits to more than 50 countries in the course of his 27 years leading the consultancy he co-founded with Norm Chapman, Bill Montgomery and the late John Giddens.

Prior to The Alta Group, Deane served as a principal in the firm of Amembal, Deane & Associates, a provider of training, educational and consulting services for the equipment finance industry. He served as CEO of both Great Western Leasing and BancOne Leasing and earlier in his career as a CFO and president of several major financial corporations.

Deane’s broad expertise over more than 40 years was fortified by his work as a former chairman of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) and his long-time participation in research, publishing and speaking at events within the global industry.

New Leadership
Jackson has been a leader of Alta’s M&A Practice since 2016 and Gerard, the leader of the Strategy & Competitive Alignment Practice, has been with Alta since 2010. In addition to their new CEO duties both will continue in their practice leadership positions.

The co-CEOs have been a part of the firm’s leading management team along with Francis Maier, the consultancy’s CFO.

“Valerie and Jim are incredibly talented and focused on equipping our clients for continued success,” Wajnert said. “This is an exciting time for Alta and the clients we serve.”

About The Alta Group
The Alta Group is the leading global consultancy dedicated exclusively to the business of equipment leasing and asset finance. Since 1992, Alta has represented equipment leasing and finance companies, vendor/captive finance organizations, financial institutions, manufacturers and service providers, offering counsel on strategy and competitive alignment, asset management, business quality assurance, digital business transformations, legal services, mergers and acquisitions, and professional development. For information on the group’s services in the United States and Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, China, and Asia Pacific, visit www.thealtagroup.com and follow us on Twitter @thealtagroupllc.

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Brilliance Financial Technology Launches DPX
Next Generation Real Time Digital Pricing
and Profitability Management for Banks

NEW YORK, -- Brilliance Financial Technology (bxfin.com), the world's leading digital pricing and profitability system provider for banks, has announced the release of DPX, an integrated solution that uniquely combines Pricing, Rates & Product, and Profitability Management. This solution transforms the way profitability is managed in corporate and institutional, commercial, and business banking.

DPX gives banks new state-of-the-art capabilities to grow profits in real time:

Pricing Management: AI/ML technology that helps banks structure and price deals to optimize customer relationship profit.

Rates & Product Management: Enables banks to dynamically create and modify rates, products, business rules, fees, and costs and distribute changes to the front line with no delays.
Profitability Management: Provides a real-time comprehensive view of past and forecasted profitability at the relationship and portfolio level, making active monitoring and management of profit a reality.

"DPX makes banks more profitable, equipping them with the tools to modernize their processes," says Brilliance President and CEO, Jean-Edouard van Praet. "Given today's interest rate environment, banks need a new way to improve financial performance. Digitizing to improve efficiency only gets them partially there. DPX empowers banks to fundamentally revamp operations in key areas that impact profit. It integrates deal pricing, rates and product, and profitability management tools to drive holistic portfolio and relationship profitability in real time, delivering increased margins, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and pricing transparency."

DPX is uniquely tailored to each bank's specific models, products, and processes. The cloud-native platform is available as SaaS, on-premise, or deployed to the bank's private cloud.

About Brilliance

Brilliance Financial Technology is the global leader in bank digital pricing and profitability solutions. Founded in 2004, the company has delivered its solution to banks in 50 countries, servicing over 25,000 relationship managers in wholesale, commercial, and business lending at banks of all sizes. The company's agile implementation approach helps banks see positive results in just weeks. Brilliance Financial Technology is ISO27001 Certified.

 

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Fernando Croce Reviews
Special Thanksgiving Edition

The Last Waltz (Martin Scorsese, 1978): Hailed by critics as one of the greatest concert films ever made, this wonderful documentary unfolds on Thanksgiving Day, 1976, where the group The Band gathers for their final concert. Staged in San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom, the film is a priceless record of talented musicians coming together in an emotional presentation. Members of The Band share the stage with such electrifying friends as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Ringo Starr. The numbers, which include hits like "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Shape I'm In," are choreographed by the great Martin Scorsese with as much cinematic care as in films like "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull." Joyous, moving and tuneful, this is definitely something for lovers of film and music to be thankful for.

Pocahontas (Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg, 1995): The Jamestown settlement gets the Disney treatment in this bright animated romance, set in America’s earliest years. A bold and intelligent Native American woman, Pocahontas (voiced by Irene Bedard) sees her frontiers expanding as she meets Captain John Smith (Mel Gibson), who has come to the new continent to help settles start a new life. The relationship that blooms between them, however, is soon threatened by their elders—namely Pocahontas’ disapproving father, Powhatan (Russell Means), and Smith’s greedy superior Ratcliffe (David Ogden Stiers). With the future of a nation in the balance, can the two sides find common ground? With intricate animation and soaring music (including the Oscar-winning hit “Colors of the Wind”), the film introduced many a young viewer to American history.

Soul Food (George Tillman Jr., 1997): In the tradition of “Like Water for Chocolate” and “Eat Drink Man Woman,” here’s a Thanksgiving family drama that’s a feast for cinematic foodies. Chronicling the emotional travails of an African-American clan in Chicago, the story hinges on the beloved matriarch, “Big Mama” Joseph (Irma P. Hall), who must be hospitalized following a bout with diabetes. Her absence leaves a void in the eyes of young Ahmad (Brandon Hammond), who sees his mother (Vivica A. Fox) and aunts (Vanessa L. Williams and Nia Long) struggling to keep things together with their respective men. Featuring mouthwatering showcases of the titular cooking, George Tillman Jr.’s likable film blends relationship arcs with lavish meal sequences for a hearty, old-fashioned experience.

Spider-Man (Sam Raimi, 2002): Before the onslaught of superhero movies that made Marvel synonymous with blockbusters, offbeat director Sam Raimi brought Spider-Man to life with this fast-paced, big-hearted adaptation. The story is by now well-known, with student Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) gaining arachnoid superpowers after being bitten by a genetically-altered spider. What’s not so well-remembered is that, in the middle of his crime-fighting adventure, the hero experiences a particularly awkward Thanksgiving dinner. As he arrives late to the home of his friend Harry (James Franco), Peter is recognized by Harry’s father Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe), who’s none other than Spider-Man’s arch-nemesis Green Goblin! So revisit this highly enjoyable tale to add some web-slinging action to your turkey and mashed potatoes.

Enough Said (Nicole Holofcener, 2013): James Gandolfini turns in a lovely final performance in this funny and poignant comedy-drama, directed by Nicole Holofcener. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as Eva, a divorced woman whose work as a masseuse leads her to befriend famous poetess Marianne (Catherine Keener). She later also meets Albert (Gandolfini), a fellow single parent whose humor and down-to-earth charm beguile her. Soon, however, Eva discovers that Albert is Marianne's ex-husband, and her comments on his foibles start spreading doubts in her mind. Can she be happy with her newfound beau, or will petty feelings threaten their romance? With a light touch at home both with laughs and heart, Holofcener's film is a lovable and deeply human tale of unexpected emotional detours and new opportunities, especially during a Thanksgiving-set conclusion.

Mutt
Fredericksburg, Virginia Adopt-a-Dog

Cany

Puppy
Female
Medium
Black, Yellow/Tan/Blond/Fawn
Coat Length: short
Spayed
Vaccinations up to date
Good in a home with
Other dogs, Children
Adoption Fee: $350

Meet Cany
Approximate Birthday: 8/22/2020
Medical note: I had Demodex (the non-contagious type of mange) and have been treated. I am on the way to growing my fur back so I can be an even more beautiful puppy!

Hey there! My name is Cany. I'm a cute, energetic pup that loves to play hard and long and then crash and snuggle with you. My foster mama calls me "Thumper" because of the way I run and jump. I do well overnight in my crate with only rare occasional accidents. I'm still working on housetraining, but have been making great progress with a consistent routine. Being a street dog from Puerto Rico, I learned to protect what I have because I didn't want to lose it. Now that I'm in a home where I don't have to worry about when my next meal will be, I'm working hard on not protecting my stuff (food, toys, dog bed, water) and learning how to share!

As a puppy, I am required to go to training within 90 days of my adoption with a professional trainer. Paws and Heels is recommended.

Hope to see you soon!

What breed am I? Mixed mutt! ODHS does not breed label (unless there’s official paperwork), as studies show it is nearly impossible to tell the exact breed of each dog based off of their appearance.

Educational article:
3/3/3 rule:
https://www.rescuedogs101.com/bringing-new-dog-home-3-3-3-rule/?fbclid=IwAR2iv5m7fqk3FieO7LOsstGeGsYYV_F1rJOd1BPxaImofLpcinpYsUbFRWs

Current schedule is pre-determined meet and greet appointments are Wednesday evenings and on Saturday from 12-2. On Saturday's from 2-4pm, the events are open to the public.
Our adoption center is located at 3602 Lafayette Blvd, Suite 102, Fredericksburg, VA 22408. It's important that you keep an eye on your emails for any changes or updates during the adoption process.

Visit our website for an application to adopt.
https://www.olddominionhumanesociety.org/adoption-application

Old Dominion Humane Society
3602 Lafayette Blvd
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
olddominionhumanesociety@Gmail.com  

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Scott Wheeler Annual Survey for Originators of
Commercial Equipment Leasing and Finance

The commercial equipment leasing and finance industry is experiencing a transformation:

• Every participant is faced with the changes that are necessary to better serve vendors and end-users.

• In three to five years, we will look back with amazement at the progress the industry has accomplished.

• These are exciting times for companies and professionals that are willing to embrace change.

• Every aspect of the industry will be affected; efficiencies and data will be the key to success for individuals and companies.

• The focus will be on better decisions, not faster. Working smarter, rather than harder. Companies will improve profitability by being specialists, rather than generalists. Sales professionals will be required to know more, to be consultative advisors, and will be using predictive analytics to drive their prospecting efforts.

• The transformation will benefit the value-added entrepreneur who is leading, rather than following the trends. It will benefit the non-commodity player as much as the commodity player. The transformation will reward quality assets and excellence.

Top performing originators are embracing change. They are bold, forward-thinking professionals who are excited about  new opportunities and providing superior products and services to the next generation of vendors and end-users.

Please start the short survey by

CLICKING HERE
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G3ZDYL7

Questions and suggestions regarding
the survey are welcome.
Phone: 410-877-0428
email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

News Briefs---

Biden chooses former Fed Chair Janet Yellen
    to be Treasury secretary
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/23/biden-chooses-former-fed-chair-janet-yellen-to-be-treasury-secretary.html

Will the COVID-19 pandemic kill
    Black Friday this year?
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/22/will-the-covid-19-pandemic-kill-black-friday-this-year/

San Francisco’s empty hotels have little
     to celebrate during coming holidays
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/philmatier/article/San-Francisco-s-empty-hotels-have-little-to-15744129.php
 

 

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You May Have Missed---

Verizon, T-Mobile dominate 5G conversation,
     AT&T lags
https://www.fiercewireless.com/operators/verizon-t-mobile-dominate-5g-conversation-at-t-lags

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Sports Briefs---

The Saints Are Great No Matter Who Plays Quarterback
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2020/11/24/21612331/power-rankings-week-11-saints-titans-dolphins

49ers RBs Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson cleared
     to practice after injury spells
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/24/49ers-raheem-mostert-jeff-wilson-cleared-to-practice-after-injury-spells/

In competitive NFL playoff races, these five contenders
     have the most reason to worry
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/11/24/nfl-playoffs-contenders-concerns/

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California Nuts Briefs---

Coronavirus: California shatters daily case record
     with more than 20,000
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/24/coronavirus-california-shatters-daily-case-record-with-more-than-20000/

Noted conservative activist speaks at packed California church,
     defying COVID-19 rules
https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article247370154.html?ac_cid=DM330146&ac_bid=-1341845726

In a first for San Francisco, DA Chesa Boudin charges
     police officer who shot Keita O’Neil with homicide
https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/In-a-first-for-San-Francisco-DA-Chesa-Boudin-15748619.php

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Off-Premise Domestic Wine Sales Strengthen 17% in October
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=238805

Top Wines of 2020
https://www.winemag.com/toplists/100-best-wines-2020/

James Suckling: “I definitely think that online tastings
     can replace physical ones”
https://www.vitisphere.com/news-92882-James-Suckling-I-definitely-think-that-online-tastings-can-replace-physical-ones.htm

Free Wine App
https://www.nataliemaclean.com/mobileapp/

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/

This Day in History

     1602 - Explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno gave Santa Catalina Island its present name. In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European explorer to encounter the island, referred to it as San Salvador. When Vizcaíno sheltered on the island in 1602 he renamed it Catalina, in honor of the feast day of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/nov25.html
    1715 - An English patent was granted to a resident of America, to “Thomas Masters, Planter of Pennsylvania, for an invention found out by Sibylla his wife for cleaning and curing the Indian Corn growing in several colonies in America.” Sybilla, who divided her time between England and the United States, did not receive English Patent #401 for her machines and methods for preparing Indian corn. It went to her husband Thomas because of the strictures against women. The patent documents clearly state Sybilla invented the process and her signed drawings show the method of operation. She also invented a method for using palmetto leaves to make hats, the patent again going to her husband, who formally acknowledged her as the inventor. On July 15, 1717, the State of Pennsylvania granted Sybilla patent rights in her own name.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blmasters.htm
http://www.uh.edu/admin/engines/epi326.htm
    1742 - In New York, David Brainerd, 24, was approved as a missionary to the New England Indians by the Scottish Society for the Propating of Christian knowledge (SPCK). Brainerd worked heroically from Apr, 1743-Nov, 1746, before advancing tuberculosis forced him to relinquish his work. He died in October, 1747.
    1758 - In the French and Indian War, the British captured Fort Duquesne in present-day Pittsburgh. On November 24, the French commander recognized that he faced total disaster if he were to resist. Under the cover of night, the French withdrew from Fort Duquesne, set it afire and floated down the Ohio River to safety. The British claimed the smoldering remains on November 25 and were horrified to finds the heads of some of Grant’s Highlanders impaled on stakes with their kilts displayed below.
    1783 - Although Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown in the Fall of 1781 marked the end of the Revolutionary War, minor battles between the British and the colonists continued for another two years. Finally, in February of 1783, George III issued his Proclamation of Cessation of Hostilities, culminating in the Peace Treaty of 1783. Signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, the agreement--also known as the Paris Peace Treaty--formally ended the United States War for Independence. The news was sent by ship, preparations made, and on this day, Britain evacuated NY, their last military position in US. This was a great day of celebration in the city. By this time, some 100,000 Loyalists had fled. Also known as Tories, they had suffered various penalties for their loyalty to the Crown, including confiscation of property, removal from public office, and punitive taxation. Probably no more than 10% of the colonials were Tories, who were generally well-do-do, engaged in commerce or the professions, or public officials. Many fled to Canada, some to England.
    1832 - Birthday of Mary Edwards Walker (d. 1919) at Oswego, New York. A physician and women’s right leader, she was the first female surgeon in the US Army during the Civil War. She spent four months in a Confederate prison. The first and only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor, awarded November 11, 1865, two years before her death, on June 3, 1916, a government review board asked that her award be revoked. She continued to wear it, in spite of official revocation, until her death. On June 11, 1977, the Secretary of the Army posthumously restored the Medal of Honor to Dr. Walker.
    1835 - Birthday of Andrew Carnegie (d. 1919) at Dunfermline, Scotland.  He led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and is highly regarded among the leaders of the US industrialization of that time.  His Carnegie Steel Corporation was sold to J.P. Morgan, creating United States Steel Corporation.  Carnegie was also a financier, philanthropist, and benefactor of more than 2,500 libraries, and Carnegie Hall, the Carnegie Foundation and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace are among his gifts. Carnegie wrote in 1889, “Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community...The man who dies...rich dies disgraced.” (Coda: There was no income tax deduction or financial purposes at the time for his gifts.)
    1841 - The rebel slaves who seized a Spanish slave ship, the Amistad, two years earlier, were freed by the US Supreme Court despite Spanish demands for extradition. John Quincy Adams (74), former US president, defended “the Mendi people,” a group of Africans who rebelled and killed the crew aboard the ship while en route to Cuba. They faced mutiny charges upon landing in New York but Adams won their acquittal before the Supreme Court. In thanks, they bestowed to him an 1838 English Bible. In 1996, the Bible was stolen from the Adams National Historic Site in Quincy, Mass.
    1841 - 35 Amistad survivors returned to Sierra Leone, Africa.
    1846 - Birthday of Carry Amelia Moore Nation (d. 1911) at Garrard County, KY.  This American temperance movement leader would take a band of women into a saloon and destroy it with her hatchet. Some had concerns over her sanity and there were many public comments on her emotional instability. She was NEVER - NEVER a leader in the women's temperance movement – and history viewed her as a loose cannon. Nation, a 6-foot Kansan who believed God wanted her to stamp out demon rum, and her fellow crusaders knew the value of publicity. Leigh Weimers related this story of her visit in 1903 to San Jose. Nation's advance man, G.R. Ray, offered money to local saloonkeepers if they would allow Nation in their premises (a photo op, even then). So, following a public lecture at which she railed against alcohol, Nation entered the Auzerais Hotel saloon where, Douglas notes, “she exhibited her disdain for liquor by knocking the glasses of whiskey from the hands of some of the men”.  Then, followed by a crowd of onlookers, she headed for the nearby Louvre saloon, where owner Louis Hobbs was waiting. Hobbs hadn't taken the advance man's money. He broke through the crowd, cursed Nation and punched Ray, bloodily breaking his nose. The crowd broke up the Louvre. Nation got the publicity, but not the cash support she was after.  “It appears that the crowds were more concerned with causing trouble than with hearing her message”, writes Douglas. And Nation left town, as unsuccessful in altering people's desire to alter their moods as everyone has been before or since.   
    1849 - Franklin A. Buck wrote to his sister "to turn around and go right back again like some persons who have been here and gotten homesick.“  Just twenty years old, Buck left his job in New York and set sail for California the previous January. The young man was one of 40,000 people who traveled to California by sea during the Gold Rush of 1849. He arrived in the boom town of Sacramento in October. With partners, Buck opened a supply store. Business was brisk.
    1862 - A sarcastic President Lincoln wires General George McClellan: "I have just read your dispatch about sore tongued and fatiegued [sic] horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietam that fatigue anything?" Lincoln was nearly out of patience with McClellan. The President had ordered him to pursue Confederate General Robert E. Lee into Virginia after Antietam on September 17, but McClellan dallied for more than a month. A little over a week after sending this message, Lincoln replaced McClellan with Ambrose Burnside.
    1863 - The place was a small ridge overlooking Chattanooga, Tennessee.  From the one-thousand foot heights of Missionary Ridge, Confederate General Braxton Braggs' soldiers trained their artillery on the city below.  Major General Ulysses S. Grant and his men had pitched their tents there, and now the soldiers were at the mercy of those relentless cannon.  Trapped and faced with starvation and annihilation, the Union troops had lost so many horses that they couldn't even mount an artillery battery in their defense. It was a frustrating feeling of helplessness and imminent disaster, compounded by the winter drizzle and ominous skies.  Major General William Sherman had mounted an attack to the right and was quickly stalled.  Under pressure of the enemy, he requested a feint elsewhere to relieve his embattled troops.  It wasn't intended to be a major offensive, such was an improbable military operation.  The reserve troops were simply to attack the center of the Confederate lines at the base of Missionary Ridge to draw attention away from Sherman. The battle for the gun pits was furious, soldiers fighting hand-to-hand and engaging each other with bayonet.  As the Confederate soldiers were slowly defeated and the young Union soldiers gained control of the gun pits, they found themselves trapped at the base of the ridge by the cannon mounted above them.  Their brief victory had turned into a nightmare of death.  Watching from a distance General Grant's worst fears materialized as the withering fire threatened to destroy his valiant soldiers.  "Pull back," he probably thought to himself, "retreat...get out of there before it is too late."  No thought had been given to attacking Missionary Ridge that day, Grant knew it would be suicidal.  The move to the gun pits at the base of the ridge had simply been a token attack, designed to divide the enemy forces and provide some relief for Sherman's embattled soldiers.  Yet suddenly, without orders, the 18,000 young men trapped in the gun pits rose to their feet and began to assault the enemy entrenched on the 1,000-foot slope.  Angry at the suicidal offensive, Grant asked, "Who ordered those men up the ridge?"  A subordinate replied that the attack had commenced without order.  Chomping his traditional cigar and fearful of the worst Grant replied, "Well, it will be all right if it turns out all right."
Among the units advancing on the entrenched Confederate soldiers that day was the 24th Wisconsin Infantry.  The unit detailed to advance the colors was led by an 18-year old First Lieutenant named Arthur MacArthur.  When the soldier assigned to carry the battle flag of the 24th Wisconsin fell to an enemy bayonet, another soldier rushed forward to hoist the flag.  The roar of cannon fire filled the ridge and the second color bearer fell, decapitated by a cannon ball.  Bloody and wounded, Arthur MacArthur retrieved the colors himself.  Raising the already battle-scared flag high he turned to his troops with the shout "On Wisconsin!" and proceeded up the ridge.  As MacArthur reached the summit, he firmly planted the staff of the flag in the ground.  Below him the advancing soldiers saw their flag, battered and scarred, waving in the breeze at the top of the precipice.  Their hearts filled with inspiration they surged forward, doing the improbable, achieving victory at Missionary Ridge.
    1864 - A group of Confederates calling themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan, started fires in more than 20 locations in an unsuccessful attempt to burn down New York City.
    1865 - The 7th National Woman's Rights Convention was held in New York City chaired by Lucy Stone. The progress report, made only eight years after the first call for women's rights in the history of this nation in 1848, is startling. In her address Lucy Stone said: "Our first effort... where a few women were gathered, who had learned woman's rights by woman's wrongs..."Never before has any reformatory movement gained so much in so short a time. When we began, the statute books were covered with laws against women...Now almost every Northern state has more or less modified its laws..."
    1865 - Kate Gleason (d. 1933) birthday in Rochester, NY.  She was an extraordinary businesswoman who, as a salesperson in the late 1800's, did the unthinkable: actually traveled by herself to sell her father's tool making products, even to Europe. When automobiles became the rage, Gleason turned her sales abilities to Detroit and she was so successful that she became the first woman member of several engineering groups. Later, she became the president of a bank, turned a bankrupt tool making business into profit, and went into real estate, building and restoring housing areas. One of her plans included building low-cost homes in Sausalito, California. She developed several resort areas including Beaufort, SC.
http://www.strongmuseum.org/BHOF2002/Gleason.html
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/gleason.html
http://winningthevote.org/KGleason3-big.html
http://www.rit.edu/~630www/
    1876 - U.S. troops under the leadership of General Ranald Mackenzie destroyed the village of Cheyenne living with Chief Dull Knife on the headwaters of the Powder River. At dawn, Mackenzie and over 1,000 soldiers and 400 Indian scouts opened fire on the sleeping village, killing many Indians within the first few minutes. Some of the Cheyenne, though, managed to run into the surrounding hills. They watched as the soldiers burned more than 200 lodges--containing all their winter food and clothing--and then cut the throats of their ponies.  The attack was in retaliation against some of the Indians who had participated in the massacre of Custer and his men at Little Bighorn. Although the Sioux and Cheyenne won one of their greatest victories at Little Bighorn, the battle actually marked the beginning of the end of their ability to resist the U.S. government. News of the massacre of Custer and his men reached the East Coast in the midst of nationwide centennial celebrations on July 4, 1876. Outraged at the killing of one of their most popular Civil War heroes, many Americans demanded an intensified military campaign against the offending Indians.
    1881 – Pope John XXIII was born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (d. 1963), Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Italy.
    1884 - Evaporated milk was produced by John B. Meyenberg of St. Louis, MO, who received a patent for an “apparatus for preserving milk.” Evaporated milk is milk from which approximately 60 percent of the water has been removed by evaporation, which gave it a longer shelf life and less weight in transportation.
    1895 - Helen Hooven Santmyer’s (d. 1986) birthday, Cincinnati.  Author of “And Ladies of the Club”. When her book became famous, she was 92 and living in a nursing home. Her longtime companion, Mildred Sandoe, was also living in the same home. Santmyer had written three books while young but became a librarian in her beloved Ohio town instead.
http://www.readinggroupchoices.com/html/reading_group_choices_96_9.html
    1909 – In NYC, the "Uprising of the Twenty Thousand" lasted 14 weeks.  It was the strike of more than 25,000 women of the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) that called for higher wages and better working conditions.  The strike was only partially successful. The ILGWU accepted an arbitrated settlement in February 1910 that improved workers' wages, working conditions, and hours, but did not provide union recognition. A number of companies, including the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, refused to sign the agreement. But even so, the strike won a number of important gains. It encouraged workers in the industry to take action to improve their conditions, brought public attention to the sweatshop conditions.  Several months later, in 1910, the ILGWU led an even larger strike, later named "The Great Revolt", of 60,000 cloakmakers. After months of picketing, prominent members of the Jewish community, led by Louis Brandeis, mediated between the ILGWU and the Manufacturers Association. The employers won a promise that workers would settle their grievances through arbitration rather than strikes during the term of the Agreement, a common clause in Union contracts today.
    1910 - Birthday of alto sax player Willie Smith (d. 1967), born Charleston, SC.
    1914 - Birthday of Joseph Paul “Joe” DiMaggio (d. 1999), born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio at Martinez, CA. In 1941, he captured America during “the streak,” hitting in 56 consecutive games, still the Major League record that many think will never be broken.  He was the American League MVP for three years, was the batting champion in 1939 and led the league in RBIs in both 1941 and 1948. An All-Star in each of his 13 seasons, (World War II service interrupted his career) during his tenure with the Yankees, the club won ten American League pennants and nine World Series championships. At the time of his retirement, he ranked fifth in career home runs (361) and sixth in career slugging percentage (.579). He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955 and was voted the sport's greatest living player in a poll taken during the baseball centennial year of 1969.  His brothers Vince (1912–1986) and Dom (1917–2009) also were Major League center fielders.   DiMaggio was married, for nine months, to actress Marilyn Monroe in 1954.     
    1915 – Albert Einstein presented the field equations of general relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences.
    1915 - Birthday of reedman Gus Bivona (d. 1996), New London, CT.
    1919 - Birthday of singer Joe “BeBop” Carroll (d. 1981), Philadelphia.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r0598_09.htm http://www.rhino.com/features/tracks/72469trx.html
    1920 – Noel Neill (d. 2016) was born in Minneapolis.  She is best known for her portrayal of Lois Lane in the film serials “Superman” (1948) and “Atom Man vs. Superman” (1950), as well as the highly popular television series “Adventures of Superman” (1951-9).  On June 15, 2010, the southern Illinois city of Metropolis, the city that calls itself the "official home of Superman," unveiled a statue of Lois Lane. The Lois Lane statue is modelled on Noel Neill.
    1920 – Ricardo Montalban (d. 2009) was born in Mexico City.  His career spanned seven decades, during which he became known for many different roles. During the 1970s, he was a spokesman in automobile advertisements for Chrysler, and is famous for his line "fine Corinthian leather" of the Cordoba’s interior.  From 1977 to 1984, Montalbán played Mr. Roarke in the television series “Fantasy Island”. He played Khan Noonien Singh in the original “Star Trek” series and the 1982 film “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”. He won an Emmy Award in 1978 for his role in the miniseries “How the West was Won”, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 1993.
    1924 - Birthday of alto player Paul Desmond (d. 1977), born Paul Emil Brentenfield, San Francisco.
http://www.interlog.com/~mirus/desmond/desmond1.html
http://www.birthscopes.com/paul_desmond.htm http://www.wnur.org/jazz/artists/desmond.paul/bio.html
    1926 - The deadliest November tornado outbreak in U.S. history struck on Thanksgiving Day. Twenty-seven twisters of great strength are reported in the Midwest, including the strongest November tornado, an estimated F4 that devastated Heber Springs, AR. There were 51 deaths in that state alone, 76 deaths and over 400 injuries in all.
    1928 - Birthday of singer Etta Jones (d. 2001), Aiken, SC. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Bl2jb7i7jg72rhttp://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r1100_039.htm
    1930 - Acting to fill the Most Valuable Player void, The Sporting News announced its selections of New York Giants 1B Bill Terry as the MVP in the NL, and Washington Senators SS Joe Cronin in the AL.  In the 1930 season, Terry hit .401, the last in the NL to hit .400
    1931 - Birthday of cornet player Nat Adderley (d. 2000), Tampa, FL. http://airjudden.tripod.com/jazz/natadderly.html
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8401
    1940 – Percy Sledge (d. 2015), “When a Man Loves a Woman,” was born in Leighton, AL.  The song was a No. 1 hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts in 1966. It was awarded a million-selling, Gold-certified disc from the RIAA.  Sledge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
    1941 - Stan Kenton opens at Hollywood Palladium for five weeks. He had arrived!!!
    1947 - Film industry executives announce that 10 directors, producers, and actors who have refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) will be fired or suspended. The HUAC hearings were part of the "Red Scare" of the late 1940s and 1950s, during which Senator Joseph McCarthy and others hounded alleged communists, making unsubstantiated allegations against many innocent citizens and damaging many lives. Starting in the fall of 1947, HUAC held hearings to investigate rumored communism in the film industry. Numerous actors and executives, including Ronald Reagan, Robert Montgomery, Gary Cooper, and Walt Disney, testified. Some actors named others who allegedly belonged to the Communist Party. The hearings raised deep concerns about civil rights and freedom of expression, and some actors, including Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Gene Kelly, protested the hearings. Others refused to testify against their colleagues. Unfortunately, refusing to testify destroyed the careers of many actors, screenwriters, and others who were "blacklisted" (prohibited from working in the industry). The "Hollywood Ten," who refused to testify about their political affiliations, were not only fired or suspended without pay but also jailed and fined for contempt of Congress. Eventually, some 300 people were blacklisted, some on very slight evidence, and many careers were ruined. In fear for his career, Humphrey Bogart called his earlier protest against the HUAC hearings "ill-advised and even foolish”. Among those named as communists were Dashiell Hammett, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker, and Lloyd Bridges. Some blacklisted writers and directors were able to work in Hollywood under pseudonyms in later years-in fact, "Hollywood Ten" screenwriter Dalton Trumbo won an Oscar for his script for “The Brave One,” written under the pseudonym Robert Rich.
    1948 - Top Hits
“Buttons and Bows” - Dinah Shore
“On a Slow Boat to China” - The Kay Kaiser Orchestra (vocal: Harry Babbitt & Gloria Wood
“Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue” - Gordon MacRae
“One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)” - Jimmy Wakely
    1949 - "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" appeared on the music charts and became THE musical hit of the Christmas season. Although Gene Autry’s rendition is the most popular, 80 different versions of the song have been recorded, with nearly 20,000,000 copies sold. It was written by Johnny Marks based on the 1939 story of the same name, published by the Montgomery Ward Company.  The song was sung commercially by crooner Harry Brannon on New York City radio in early November 1949, before Autry’s recording hit No. 1 in the U.S. charts during Christmas week of 1949. Autry's version of the song also holds the distinction of being the only chart-topping hit to fall completely off the chart after reaching No. 1. The official date of its No. 1 status was for the week ending January 7, 1950, making it the first No. 1 song of the 1950s.
    1950 - The Great Appalachian Storm, known at the time as the "Storm of the Century," struck New England with hurricane force winds, resulting in massive forest blow-downs and storm surge damage along the Northeast coast including New York City. This storm also brought blizzard conditions to the Appalachians and Ohio Valley, becoming one of the worst storms of all time. Three hundred fifty-three people died in the event. Winds reached hurricane force along eastern slopes of the Appalachians, with gusts to 100 mph at Hartford, CT, 110 mph at Concord, NH, and 160 mph at Mount Washington, NH. Heavy rain also hit the eastern slopes, with eight inches reported at Slide Mountain, NY. The western slopes were buried under heavy snow. The storm produced record snowfall totals of 27.7 inches at Pittsburgh, PA, and 36.3 inches at Steubenville, OH.
    1951 - Birthday of Pro Football Hall of Fame coach of the Washington Football Team, (or as the PC police would prefer, the indigenous peoples of the Chesapeake watershed*) Joe Jackson Gibbs, Mocksville, NC.  During his first stint in the NFL, he coached the team for 12 seasons and led them to eight playoff appearances, four NFC Championships and three Super Bowl titles, each with a different QB.  In his post-football career, Gibbs is a NASCAR championship owner after an NHRA stint.  *Tony Kornhesier.  
    1953 – Jeffrey Skilling was born in Pittsburgh.  He was the former CEO of Enron, at one time, the 7th largest firm in the US. In 2006, he was indicted on 35 counts of fraud, insider trading, and other crimes related to the Enron collapse and was convicted. He is currently serving 14 years of a 24-year, four-month prison sentence.  Though he holds a Harvard MBA, the course work of which includes accounting budgeting and pro-forma financials, he testified to the effect that he is not an accountant and does not understand accounting.  An excellent book on this unbelievable chapter in American business history…and creative accounting…is “Conspiracy of Fools” by WSJ writer Kurt Eichenwald.
    1955 - Following a summer at the top of the American pop charts, "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets became the #1 song in Great Britain.
    1956 - Top Hits
“Love Me Tender” - Elvis Presley
“Cindy, Oh Cindy” - Eddie Fisher
“Hey! Jealous Lover” - Frank Sinatra
“Singing the Blues” - Marty Robbins
    1955 - The Interstate Commerce Commission bans racial segregation in all facilities and vehicles engaged in interstate transportation, meaning buses and terminals. On December 1, Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat in Atlanta, GA, citing this ban on racial segregation. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. joins her boycott and US history is changed from that date and act.
    1957 - President Eisenhower suffers a mild stroke.  Eisenhower developed a left ventricular aneurysm, which was in turn the cause of this stroke. This incident occurred during a cabinet meeting when Eisenhower suddenly found himself unable to speak or move his right hand. The stroke had caused an aphasia impairing his speech.
http://www.doctorzebra.com/pre
http://www.healthmedialab.com/presmed/p4.htmlz/z_x34cva_g.htm
    1959 – Jack Scott released "What In The World's Come Over You."
    1960 - Radio actors were put out of work when CBS radio axed five serials (soap operas) from the airwaves. We said so long to "The Second Mrs. Burton" (after 14 years), "Young Doctor Malone," "Whispering Streets" (after 8 years), "Right to Happiness" (after 21 years) and "Ma Perkins" (after 27 wonderful years.) In 1940, the high point for these radio programs, there were as many as 45 on the air each day!
    1960 - Birthday of Amy Grant gospel singer (“Glory of Love,” “Baby Baby”), Augusta, GA. http://www.lifetimetv.com/shows/ip/portraits/0208/0208_index.html
http://members.toast.net/Tac/amysongs.html
    1960 - Birthday of John F Kennedy Jr., son of President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, in Washington, DC.  He and his wife died when a plane he was piloting crashed in 1999 off Martha’s Vineyard.
http://www.webspresso.com/JFKjr.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/1222/
http://www.webspresso.com/JFKjr.htm
    1961 - The Everly Brothers join the 8th Battalion of the US Marine Corps Reserve, arriving at California's Camp Pendleton. .
    1963 - President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.http://www.americanpresident.org/kotrain/courses/JFK/JFK_Death_Of_The_President.htm
    1964 - Top Hits
“Baby Love” - The Supremes
“Come a Little Bit Closer” - Jay & The Americans
“Ringo” - Lorne Greene
“I Don’t Care (Just as Long as You Love Me)” - Buck Owens
    1965 - Birthday of NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter, Troy, OH.
    1967 - "Incense and Peppermints" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock hits the top of the Billboard Pop chart. The recording was initially intended as a 'b-side' and the lead vocal is actually that of a friend of the band, 16-year-old Greg Munford, who was just hanging around during the session. Munford was not even a regular band member but ended up singing a tune that would become a Rock and Roll standard and sell over a million copies. Despite this success, Munford never actually joined the group and drummer Randy Seol sang the song in concert.
    1972 - Top Hits
“I Can See Clearly Now” - Johnny Nash
“I’d Love You to Want Me” - Lobo
“Summer Breeze” - Seals & Crofts
“She’s Too Good to Be True” - Charley Pride
    1973 – A Presidential order was issued requiring a cutback from the 70 mile-per-house speed limit.  The 55 mile-per hour National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL) was established by Congress in January, 1974 (PL-93-643). The National Highway Traffic Administration reported that “analysis of available data shows that the 55 mph NMSL forestalled 48,310 fatalities through 1980. There were also reductions in crash-related injuries and property damage. Motor fuel savings were estimated at 2.4 billion gallons per year.  Notwithstanding, in 1987, Congress permitted states to increase speed limits on rural interstate highways to 65 miles per hour. There are several states where the posted speed is higher.
    1975 - Deep in debt, Elvis Presley borrowed $350,000 from the National Bank of Commerce in Memphis, TN. His Graceland estate was put up as collateral.    
    1980 - Top Hits
“Woman in Love” - Barbra Streisand
“The Wanderer” - Donna Summer
“Another One Bites the Dust” - Queen
“Lady” - Kenny Rogers
    1980 - Roberto Duran quit fighting with 16 seconds left in the eighth round, saying, “No mas, no mas (No more, no more),” allowing “Sugar” Ray Leonard to regain the WBC welterweight title.
    1983 - The "Great Thanksgiving Weekend Blizzard" hit Denver, CO. The storm produced 21.5 inches of snow in 37 hours, closing Stapleton Airport for 24 hours. The snow and wind closed interstate highways around Denver. Visibility at Limon, CO was down to zero for 24 hours.
    1984 - The ‘Golden Bear,’ Jack Nicklaus, sunk an 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole to win the second Skins Game -- for $240,000. He beat Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player (the 1983 winner).
    1986 - U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese announced that profits from covert weapons sales to Iran were illegally diverted to the anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
    1986 - Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins ended speculation about his possible move to another NFL franchise by signing with the Dolphins again.
    1986 - For the first time in Billboard chart history, the top three spots are occupied by female artists. #1 is Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors," #2 is Tina Turner with "Typical Male" and #3 is Janet Jackson's "When I Think of You."
    1986 - Jose Canseco wins the American League's Rookie of the Year Award. The Cuban-American is the first A's player to win the honor since Harry Byrd accomplished the feat for the Philadelphia A’s in 1952.     
    1988 - Top Hits
“Bad Medicine” - Bon Jovi
“Desire” - U2
“Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley” (“Free Baby”) – “Will To Power
I’ll Leave This World Loving You” - Ricky Van Shelton
    1989 - Songwriter Diane Warren was the author of the number 1 and number 2 songs in the US. "When I See You Smile" was a hit for Bad English, and "Blame It on the Rain," was credited to Milli Vanilli. Warren would go on to write "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" for Aerosmith and the Armageddon soundtrack in 1998.
    1990 - NFL's NY Giants and San Francisco 49ers, after winning their 1st 10 games, both lose.  The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Giants 31-13 and the L.A. Rams beat the 49ers 28-17.  The two would meet again in the NFC Championship, won by the Giants 15-13 after the Giants recovered Roger Craig’s fumble as the Niners were running out the clock.  Earlier in the game, the Giants Leonard Marshall separated QB Joe Montana from the ball… and parts of his body…knocking Montana out of the game with a broken finger and bruised sternum.  It remains one of the NFL’s more vicious, completely legal hits and prevented the Niners drive to Three-peat.
    1995 - Whitney Houston's song "Exhale" debuts at the top of the charts. This was the third Houston single to top the charts on the day of its release.   
    1996 - America Online announced it would sell its WebCrawler search engine to Excite. In return, AOL received some $20 million worth of Excite's stock, increasing its ownership stake in the online directory to twenty percent. The newly formed Excite directory was created in a garage by six Stanford University graduates who borrowed $15,000 from their parents. By 1999, the site was receiving some seventeen million hits per month, and that year, At Home Corp., a cable modem company, purchased Excite for $6.7 billion. @Home filed a bankruptcy petition in 2002.
    1996 – An ice storm struck the central U.S. and killed 26 people. A powerful windstorm hit Florida and winds gust over 90 mph, toppled trees and flipped trailers.
    1999 - Five-year-old Elian Gonzalez was found clinging to an inner tube off the coast near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The boy, his mother, stepfather, and eleven other Cubans had boarded a small boat in Cuba and attempted to cross the ocean to the U.S. Elian was one of three to survive (his mother and stepfather both drowned). He lived with relatives in Miami until he was seized by the INS in an early morning raid on April 22, 2000. Jokes on the internet were plentiful with a rifle held at his head. He returned to Cuba with his father on June 28.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/images/law/elian/elian_a.jpg
http://recollectionbooks.com/bleed/images/humor/elian.jpg
    2013 – “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” grossed $161 million in the U.S. and Canada, becoming the most successful film ever released in November.
    2014 - Negotiators have extended until next June the deadline for agreements regarding Iran's nuclear program; despite failure to meet the deadline, both Iran and the six-nation group claim that progress has been made.
    2017 – The longest known frozen embryo frozen 24 years ago to be successfully born is delivered in Tennessee. Emma Wren Gibson was born to 25-year-old Tina Gibson, weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
    2018 – With the arrival of the first winter rainstorm of the season, the historic Camp Fire was declared 100% contained with 85 dead, 249 missing, covering 153,000 acres with 14,000 homes burnt.  The deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history and the most expensive natural disaster in the world in 2018 in terms of insured losses, it was named after Camp Creek Road, its place of origin.  The fire started on November 8 in Butte County ignited by a faulty electric transmission line.  It originated above several communities and an east wind drove the fire downhill through developed areas. After exhibiting extreme fire spread through the community of Concow, an urban firestorm formed in the foothill town of Paradise and eventually destroyed both.  The Camp Fire also cost over $150 million in fire suppression costs, bringing the total cost of the fire to $16.65 billion. The same month, PG&E, the utility company responsible for the faulty power line, filed for bankruptcy, citing expected wildfire liabilities of $30 billion.   On December 6, 2019, the utility made a settlement offer of $13.5 billion for the wildfire victims; the offer covered several devastating fires caused by the utility, including the Camp Fire.  On June 16, 2020, the utility pled guilty on 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter.