Leasing News - information, news, education and entertainment for the commercial bank, finance and leasing industry

Leasing News is a web site that posts information, news, and
entertainment for the commercial bank, finance and leasing industry

kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Today's Equipment Leasing Headlines

Today - Sept. 10- Free Webcast
Expertise in Leasing Success
  The Alta Group All Stars
NorVergence Head Finally Tagged a Felon
But Sentence is a Joke
  by Christopher Menkin
   Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
    What is a Net Lease?
Good News for Lending
Banks with highest Texas ratios Decline
  By Tahir Ali, SNL Financial
   “Wants to work in bank in credit capacity”
     Career Crossroad---By Emily Fitzpatrick/RII
      Classified Ads---Help Wanted
Sales Makes it Happen by Steve Chriest
Ending the Crisis in Sales Management
  Record Number Pass CLP Test
   15 New Certified Lease Professionals
    Top Stories September 3--September 5
     (You May Have Missed One)
      GE Capital Takes $26MM Loss in Trucking Company Fraud
       Leasing Attorneys—Update
        Specialize in Finance and Leasing
       Pug/Terrier Mix
        Federal Way, Washington Adopt-a-Dog
News Briefs---
Lease Accounting Rules Raise Ire Down to the Wire
  Icahn ends takeover battle for Dell, compares board to dictatorship
   Umpqua Said in Talks to Acquire Sterling for About $1.8B
    Canadian Lessor claimed liable in Lessee's Accident Claim
     The Jig Is up on Fraudulent Cow Leasing
      Bank of America Said to Cut 2,100 Jobs in Mortgage Slump
       Cal Worthington, Car Dealer With Manic Ads, Dies at 92

Broker/Funder/Industry Lists | Features (collection)
Top Ten Stories Chosen by Readers | Top Stories last six months
www.leasingcomplaints.com (Be Careful of Doing Business)
www.evergreenleasingnews.org

  You May have Missed---
   SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer
    Sports Briefs---
      California Nuts Brief---
       "Gimme that Wine"
          This Day in American History
         SuDoku
           Daily Puzzle
             GasBuddy
               Weather, USA or specific area
                 Traffic Live----

######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release” and was not written by Leasing News nor information verified, but from the source noted. When an article is signed by the writer, it is considered a “by line.” It reflects the opinion and research of the writer.

Please send to a colleague. Spread the news.
Also ask them to join our mailing list or bookmark our site.
We are free!

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Today- Sept. 10- Free Webcast
Expertise in Leasing Success
The Alta Group "All-Stars"

Michael J. Fleming, Senior Managing Director, Past Pres. ELFA

John C. Deane, CEO, 2011 Leasing News Person of the Year

Valerie L. Gerard-Managing Director-Management Consulting

Melisa Carter – Former sr. v-p marketing, Key Equipment Finance

90-minute webcast, with ample interactive Q&A time

Tuesday, September 10, 2013
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM US Eastern
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM US Central
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM US Mountain
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM US Pacific

Register now at www.krm.com/thealtagroup
(More information precedes the registration sign up)

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Classified Ads---Collections

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

Long Grove, Illinois
Financial services professional with a proven track record of positively impacting corporate finances through effective management of cash flow, collections and financial assets. Strategic thinker capable of analyzing financial issues and processes in order to implement changes that improve efficiency and profit margins. Well-versed in all aspects of corporate financial affairs. roborgaard@aol.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

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NorVergence Head Finally Tagged a Felon
But Sentence is a Joke
by Christopher Menkin

The head of NorVergence, Thomas N. Salzano, finally has been found guilty, although a very small charge for the millions of dollars it has cost banks, leasing companies, and small businesses; over $300 million. He has plead guilty to five felony counts of theft over $500 and was sentenced to three years’ supervised probation. He also is to reimburse the District Attorney's Office for the cost of prosecution.

Salzano was charged with multiple counts of money laundering, conspiracy and felony theft, allegedly defrauding five local businesses out of $100,000. He previously pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in 2009.

Leasing News has been following this story since June, 2004. This aspect began in 2009, involving David Caldwell with the Louisiana State Attorney General's Office and John DeRosier, Calcasieu Parish District Attorney, who were like a bulldog that didn’t want to give up its bite.

In 2011, Deputy AG Caldwell told Leasing News:

"Thomas Salzano has been indicted for felony theft in Lake Charles Louisiana by the Attorney General's Office in conjunction with the local DA. We have been fighting that case in criminal court for over two years. It is currently on remand from the third circuit court of appeals for August 10 of this year. We would be anticipate a trial date by the first of next year.

"We are the ONLY state or federal agency to have followed this through. We had a total a five victims in Louisiana out of 13,000. For the only individual business owner in our state we obtained FULL restitution from LIBERTY bank in an amount over 160k, and in order to do that we filed criminal charges for filing false public records in Shreveport Louisiana.

"We were the only agency to have obtained those results on behalf of its citizens. We've been busting our butts on this case, have run up against everything you can think of that would delay getting this case done, and we're still fighting. The wheels of justice turn slow, but that's not our fault. I can't make other states or federal agencies fall in line."

Caldwell and Calcasieu Parish District Attorney John DeRosier said Salzano’s company affected 11,000 businesses nationwide, but that Louisiana is the only state to prosecute him.

“Shame on the United States government and all those high-powered regulatory agencies that had the opportunity to stop this scam in its tracks and did not do it,” DeRosier told Americanpress.com. “Even doubly so after they learned about the scam and we started investigating it and they still didn’t do anything about it.

“I’m sure it scared off a lot of prosecutors in a lot of jurisdictions because it was so complex and required preparation, requiring travel all across the country. We paid for investigators and attorneys to go up to Washington, New York and different areas. It was very complex.”

Caldwell said authorities agreed to the plea deal because a trial would have entailed flying in victims from across the country and would have cost up to $60,000 and because authorities then would not have been able to seek restitution.

“He is now a convicted felon,” Caldwell said. “In this type of case where you’re dealing with a white-collar case, someone who’s defrauding, what you’ve got to do is you’ve got to get them one time.

“The problem with these guys is they keep operating in the gray area and until somebody actually does something about it, they’re going to continue to do these kinds of things, so we really feel this is a good resolution because now he’s a convicted felon. This is all over the place. This was the subject of congressional hearings at one time and in the national media.”

For new readers, “NorVergence, was a Newark, New Jersey corporation started by Thomas and Peter Salzano. Prior to filing for bankruptcy in July 2004, the company sold fraudulent telecommunications services, devices and related products to small businesses with little tech savvy…

“In its three-year existence, NorVergence hired 1,800 sales and other employees and had revenues of $143 million.

“Lawsuits against the company have been filed in numerous states, by both former employees and customers. The lawsuits allege that NorVergence was a Ponzi scheme or pyramid scheme, or that the technology did not work.

“Calcasieu County (Louisiana) District Attorney John DeRosier said, ‘The 11,000 plus victims around the country and the total amount of money that they have lost through this scheme is in excess of $300 million and nobody was doing anything about it. Now, they come to Calcasieu Parish and that's where we draw the line. We're not afraid to go after a complicated case. I think that it is a legitimate case of fraud."

“On December 8, 2004, Pennsylvania Attorney General Gerald J. Pappert filed against Peter J. Salzano, seeking civil penalties in the amount of $1,000 for each and every violation of the Consumer Protection Law, increased to $3,000 for each violation where the victim was age 60 or older.

“Peter J. Salzano filed bankruptcy on January 1, 2005.

“On September 11, 2006, the Federal Trade Commission filed charges against the Salzano's and won a stipulation judgment on October 17, 2007. The FTC won a default judgment of $181.7 million from NorVergence and a stipulated judgment keeping the Salzano’s out of related businesses and any assets up to $50 million owed to NorVergence’ s lessees. The judgment also seeks money from Salzano's wife and son for NorVergence money allegedly used to pay personal bills”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

There were many different rulings, not just by state, but by different courts, as each of the trials had their own ‘viewpoint’ regarding the responsibilities and legal issues.

Most of the state's AG's were able to get the matter reduced from 85% to 95%, plus return on insurance and personal property taxes in certain states. Many decided not to take this but to go on their own as they viewed it as an ‘injustice’ and not a ‘business decision’ of cutting their losses and time spent.

Several banks also suffered, and smaller banks failed, as well as several leasing companies either closed or sold to another leasing company or bank.

Originally filed as an Involuntary Chapter 11 on June 30, 2004, creditors had it converted to a Involuntary Chapter7 on July 14, 2004. Claims are still being "disallowed as of September 6, 2013 latest filing, according to Pacer.

Previous Stories:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Novergence_main.htm

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Leasing 102
by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

What is a Net Lease?

What we fail to realize is the lessee is not familiar with the terms of a lease and the only points of reference a lessee has is a loan or a finance contract. I have suggested in the past to create an outline or a procedure to follow when closing a lease. There are many requirements found in a lease that are different than the requirements found in a loan and the quantity of leases that are transactions intended as a security agreement has caused theses leases to be assumed to be fancy loans.

A lease agreement is a “contract” and the terms of the contract need to be followed regardless of which Article of Law governs the transaction.

The word “net” needs to be explained as the requirement that the lessee is responsible for paying for insurance, maintenance, and all taxes. Few lessees understand the word “net” but they do think they understand the word “lease”. Many have leased an apartment, leased a rental car, or leased office space. Therefore they cannot be faulted for thinking that all of the net requirements of this transaction is covered by the lessor.

A lot of this confusion comes from the failure of the lessee to read the lease agreement. However given the legal language in the lease, I am not sure the average lessee would understand the requirements even if they read it. Occasionally if the lease is large dollar amount, the lessee may take it to an attorney to be checked and understood--- but this rarely happens in middle market leases.

It is easy to explain the requirements during a personal closing, but what do you do if a vendor closes the lease or you do it through the internet. I suggest you create a closing letter that brings out the net lease requirements in clear English and points out the lessees reasonability for maintenance, insurance, and taxes. It might be important that you have the lessee acknowledge the letter by initiating it and returning a copy.

A net lease is so common in the leasing business that we think the lessee understands it, but it needs to be explained and clarified so there is no misunderstanding that requires a lot of corrections in the future. It’s best to be professional and let the customer know you want them to be aware.

If there is an Evergreen clause in the lease, definitely bring it up. You will get repeat business by thinking of your customer rather than with the sales attitude of “sign the lease, and let’s get this over with!”

Mr. Terry Winders, CLP, has been a teacher, consultant, expert witness for the leasing industry for thirty years and can be reached at terrywinders11@yahoo.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

Mr. Terry Winders available as Expert Witness. 35 years as a professional instructor to the top equipment leasing and finance companies in the United States, author of several books, including DVD's, as well as weekly columnist to Leasing News. He also performs audits of leasing companies as an expert on documentation, and has acted as an expert witness on leasing for litigation in legal and tax disputes, including before the IRS. He also has taught the senior bank examiners, how to review a bank leasing department, for the Federal Reserve in Washington D.C. and has trained the examiners for the FDIC on how to prepare a lease portfolio for sale.

Mr. Winders received his Master of Business Administration and his Bachelor of Science degrees from the College of Notre Dame.

502.649.0448/terrywinders11@yahoo.com

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

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Good News for Lending
Banks with highest Texas ratios Decline
By Tahir Ali, SNL Financial

A SNL Feature Article

The number of banking institutions with Texas ratios over 100% continued to decline in the second quarter, according to data compiled by SNL. A total of 243 commercial banks and savings banks were above the 100% threshold as of June 30, 2013, down from the peak of 510 at the end of 2010. At March 31, the total was 260, and a year ago, there were 358 institutions with Texas ratios above 100%.

Banks continue to fail at a slower rate than in recent years. With four banks closed in August, the count for 2013 closures so far remains relatively low at 20, compared to 51 closures during the whole of last year. Based on the pace of failures in prior years, the industry will most likely see more banks closed this year.

Although a high Texas ratio does not guarantee a failure, the ratio is a good measure of a bank's ability to absorb future losses. SNL defines the Texas ratio as nonperforming assets plus loans 90 days or more past due, excluding delinquent government-guaranteed loans and other real estate owned covered by loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC, divided by tangible equity plus reserves.

Community's Bank perched atop U.S. banks and thrifts with the highest adjusted Texas ratios, with a Texas ratio of 1,339.07%. The Bridgeport, Conn.-based bank first surpassed the 100% threshold at the end of 2012. Community's Bank was hit with a cease and desist order Feb. 17, 2010, which was later modified on April 27, 2011.

Second on the list of banks with the highest Texas ratio is Millennium Bank NA, a unit of Millennium Bankshares Corp., with a ratio of 1,152.84% at June 30, down 10.86 percentage points, as the bank reported a decrease of $10 million in nonperforming assets from March 31. The Sterling, Va.-based bank was rated red, according to the Veribanc rating system as of March 31.

Eastside Commercial Bank ranks third with a Texas ratio of 926.06% as of June 30. The Conyers, Ga.-based bank reported an aggregate equity and reserve balance of only $6.65 million; its nonperforming assets totaled nine times that. Eastside is one of 40 currently active institutions in Georgia with a Texas ratio above 100%. That's the highest number banks and thrifts with Texas ratio above 100% in any state in the nation. Next in line are Florida and Illinois with 26 institutions each.

Decatur, Ark.-based Decatur State Bank reported a Texas ratio of 239.98%, the highest decrease of 363.56 percentage points since March 31.

Parsons, Tenn.-based Community South Bank and Fort Myers, Fla.-based First Community Bank of Southwest Florida, third and eighth in prior-quarter rankings, were closed by regulators on Aug. 23 and Aug. 2, respectively. These institutions had Texas ratios of 887.89% and 777.58% as of June 30, respectively.

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

For information on placing a help wanted ad, please click here:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Hwanted/Hwanted-post.htm

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

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“Wants to work in bank in credit capacity”
Career Crossroad---By Emily Fitzpatrick/RII

Question: I have been in credit throughout my career with non-banking institutions. I am currently interested in getting into a credit role with a bank. So far, I have not been successful in even securing an interview! Can you provide some insight?

Answer: Typically, someone interested in the banking industry has determined this early in their career and have worked themselves up the ladder; often beginning as an intern and/or through a training program.

Banks are typically looking for:

Candidates that have been formally bank-credit traine
Candidates that possess a bachelor’s degree (a master’s degree is a plus!)
Candidates that are continuously being educated/certified in credit/risk policies, etc...
Candidates that have been in a credit/risk role dealing with the same business products and services that the bank does (e.g. commercial credit, consumer credit, mortgage lending, collections, etc…) In other words, banks have certain niches in which they specialize in and/or have many divisions/business units/subsidiaries that specialize in various products and services – they want Candidates that have credit experience with those types of products

If you do not meet any of the above criteria and are not new to the workforce:

take some junior college courses on credit/banking
work for a finance or thrift company
work in collections or business approving accounts

Education is the key as it develop a well-rounded personality and increases your knowledge and creativity.

It is not an impossible feat; however, you will be competing with many that do meet their requirements. Be ready to present a compelling reason why you would be someone to consider for the role!

Emily Fitzpatrick
Sr. Recruiter
Recruiters International, Inc.
Phone: 954-885-9241
Cell: 954-612-0567
emily@riirecruit.com
Invite me to Connect on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/pub/emily-fitzpatrick/4/671/76
Also follow us on Twitter #RIIINFO

Career Crossroads Previous Columns
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/crossroad.html

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Sales Makes it Happen by Steve Chriest

Ending the Crisis in Sales Management

There are at least four steps senior managers can take to ease or end the crisis in sales management. First, they must stop the automatic practice of promoting great salespeople to the position of sales managers. Second, they must stop using sales managers to sell to and supervise important customers. Third, senior managers must invest in the education and training of sales managers. Finally, senior managers must allow sales managers to develop themselves and their teams.

The psychological profiling experts have told us for years that when a great salesperson becomes a sales manager, three things usually occur: The company loses a great salesperson, the company gains a mediocre or terrible sales manager, and the company's customers suffer in the transition.

Senior managers can avoid these unfortunate results by first determining whether or not the salesperson under consideration for a promotion to sales manager possesses the aptitude required for management. Once it is determined that the salesperson can perform the duties of a sales manager, the next step is to determine “if” he or she will perform the duties. Ability without desire will result in a bad promotion decision.

The second step senior managers can take to end the crisis in sales management is to stop encouraging or allowing sales managers to play frontline, active roles in selling to and managing key customers. Too many sales managers today are “managers” in name only. Their real function is to act as their company's primary sales point with important customers.

As sales managers continue to perform sales duties, they do not have time to perform the functions of sales managers. Worse, the sales team is robbed of the chance for high-level sales experience and the successes to be gained from interaction with the company's most important customers. The best and brightest sales team members recognize this and plan their exit, seeking employers who are willing to help them gain experience and grow as professionals.

The third step senior managers can take to end the crisis in sales management is to commit time, money and other resources to the education and training of their sales managers. Senior managers must commit to developing comprehensive sales management programs that teach sales managers how to attract, develop and retain top sales performers.

It is baffling that company managers spend so much money training financial managers, various operations managers, production managers, and customer service managers, and spend so little money on training sales managers, who theoretically oversee the company's revenue generating process!

Finally, the crisis in sales management cannot ease or end until senior managers allow their sales managers to do the real work of sales management. The most comprehensive sales management training programs won't work unless sales managers are allowed to execute a sales and sales management process that is designed to support the growth of the sales managers and their team members.

About the author: Steve Chriest is the founder of Selling UpTM (www.selling-up.com), a sales consulting firm specializing in sales improvement for organizations of all types and sizes in a variety of industries. He is also the author of Selling The E-Suite, The Proven System for Reaching and Selling Senior Executives and Five Minute Financial Analyst, Basic CREDIT & Analysis Tools for Non-Accountants. He was the CEO of a very successful leasing company and executive at a major company. You can reach Steve at schriest@selling-up.com.

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Record Number Pass CLP Test
15 New Certified Lease Professionals

"This was the highest number of individuals to gain the designation in one sitting," Rosanne Wilson, CLP, BPB, declared." Thank you CLP Foundation vice-president David Normandin, CLP, and his bank Pac Trust Bank, Irvine, California for hosting the two day National Equipment Finance Association for Leasing Professions (ILP). Congratulations to those who passed the eight hour test.”

Today’s Top Companies with Employees who are CLP

Financial Pacific Leasing (17)
First American Equipment Finance (11)
Orion First Financial (7)
Arvest Equipment Finance (5)
Commercial National (5)
Great American Insurance (5)
Bank of the West (4)
First Star Capital (4)
Innovative Lease Services (4)
Maxim Commercial Capital (4)
Ascentium (3)
ECS Financial Services (3)
FSG Leasing (3)
Pacifica Capital (3)
PacTrust Bank (3)
Allegiant Partners (2)
Go Capital (2)

Total CLP Membership: 186

The fourth edition has new chapters on Agriculture and Insurance with expanded sections on Lease Pricing and Asset Management - Collections. The History, Classification and Tax and Accounting chapters have also been updated to reflect the pending changes in the FASB and IASB Exposure Draft. Whether you’re a college student, entry level leasing associate, or an old pro, this book is an invaluable resource.

(To learn more about the CLP Handbook)
http://www.clpfoundation.org/toolbox/clp_handbook.php

Why I Became a CLP series:
http://www.leasingnews.org/CLP/Index.htm

CLPs in Good Standing
http://www.clpfoundation.org/members/members.php

Working Capital Loans $10,000-$250,000

www.channelpartnersllc.com p: (763) 746-7760 f: (763) 592-8297 information@channelpartnersllc.com

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Top Stories September 3--September 5
(You May Have Missed One)

Here are the top stories opened by readers:

(1) Archives---September 5, 2007
Bill Waddell resigns from Marlin Leasing
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2013/9_05.htm#archives

(2) Scottrade Bank Equipment Finance
Begins Lease and Loan Origination
-- Hires Industry Veterans
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2013/9_05.htm#scottrade

(3) September 3, 2013 --Leasing Schemes’ Court Cases
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2013/9_03.htm#cases

(4) Changes at Barry Marks’ Law Office
Weinberg Leaves/Reid Leaves/Evans Arrives
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2013/9_03.htm#changes

(5) Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
Closing a Commercial Equipment Lease
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2013/9_03.htm#clp

(6) Jack Nicholson reportedly retires because of 'memory loss'
http://www.contracostatimes.com/spotlight/ci_24014862/hicks-jack-nicholson-reportedly-retires-because-memory-loss

(7) Sample of Usury Laws in United States
by Bill Phillips, Esq. ,Marks & Associates
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2013/9_05.htm#sample

(8) Next Tuesday, Sept. 10 Free Webcast
The Alta Group All Stars
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2013/9_03.htm#webcast

(Tie) (9) Channel Partners named 3090th on 2013 Inc. 500 List
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2013/9_05.htm#cp_ranked

(Tie)(9) New Hires—Promotions
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Sep2013/9_05.htm#hires

(10) GM leads Detroit's return to leasing
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/09/01/gm-leads-detroits-return-to-leasing/2752241/

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

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

GE Capital Takes $26MM Loss in Trucking Company Fraud

HOUSTON—Sergio Lagos, 44, Aurelio “Jim” Aleman, 59, and Oscar Barbosa, 50, have been arrested following the return of a six-count federal indictment charging wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Lagos was the former CEO of USA Dry Van Logistics (USADV), a cross-border trucking company that services the maquiladora industry, while Aleman and Barbosa were the former chief operations officer and former controller, respectively.

The indictment alleges that from March 2008 through the end of January 2010, Lagos, Aleman, and Barbosa joined in a scheme to defraud and swindle GE Capital Corporation (GECC), a lending company that provided capital to USADV, fraudulently obtaining funds through a revolving line of credit. Lagos, Aleman, and Barbosa allegedly schemed to conceal from GECC the truth about USADV’s declining operating performance and financial results. Rather than reveal USADV’s true condition, Lagos, Aleman, and Barbosa allegedly misrepresented USADV’s true operating performance and financial results.

According to the indictment, they misrepresenting to GECC the nature of the USADV’s accounts receivable, against which GECC was permitting USADV to borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars on a weekly basis. This caused USADV to appear to be operating more profitably that it actually was.

According to the Indictment, Lagos and Aleman entered into a financing agreement with GECC under which GECC would issue a revolving line of credit which was secured by USADV’s accounts receivables. By January 2010, the maximum borrowing limit under the agreement was increased to $38 million. Pursuant to the agreement, USADV allegedly justified advances on the line of credit by submitting “borrowing base certificates” to GECC. Lagos, Aleman, and Barbosa allegedly signed, prepared, and/or directed others to prepare certificates that falsely inflated the amount of the company’s accounts receivables and caused them to be submitted to GECC to enable USADV to obtain more funds than would otherwise would have been permitted.

Lagos, Aleman, and Barbosa allegedly perpetuated and concealed the scheme to defraud GECC by directing other employees to manually invoice millions of dollars of fraudulent receivables to inflate the borrowing base and to create false and forged invoices and support documentation for accounts receivables that did not exist. Lagos, Aleman, and Barbosa also submitted false financial statements to auditors and GECC, according to the indictment.

When the truth about USADV’s operations and finances were revealed, USADV went into bankruptcy. The indictment alleges USADV successfully re-organized under Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and is currently operating with new owners. Lagos, Aleman, and Barbosa are no longer affiliated with or employed by the company. According to the indictment, the amount of actual loss to GECC was more than $26 million.

Each of the six counts of the indictment carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Grady J. Leupold are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

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

• Contract Negotiations • Fraud Investigations
• Credit Investigations • Skip-tracing
• Third-party Commercial Collections
John Kenny
Receivables Management
For flat fee or commissions basis

john@jkrmdirect.com | ph 315-866-1167| www.jkrmdirect.com

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

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Leasing Attorneys

Birmingham, Alabama
The lawyers of Marks & Associates, P.C. have over 30 years experience in dealing with virtually every type of equipment financing and are recognized throughout the industry for prompt, practical solutions and exemplary service. They offer cost-conscious, effective lease enforcement and good counsel.
Email: Barry@leaselawyer.com
Website: www.leaselawyers.com

California, National: city: Riverside
Ellen Stern - get results, reasonable pricing; numerous industry contacts, nearly 30 yrs exp.in SoCal, 20 yrs equip.: CFL license specialist, documentation, work-outs, litigated collections, recoveries; deal-maker.
Email: leaselaw@msn.com

Kenneth C. Greene

California & Nevada
Hamrick & Evans, LLP, Universal City , LA; San Francisco Bay
Area, No.Calif. & Nevada.
Call for free consultation (828)763-5292 or 415.858.9711
kenlaw100@gmail.com

Connecticut, Southern New England:
EVANS, FELDMAN & BOYER, LLC Collections, litigation, documentation, portfolio sales and financing, bankruptcy. We represent many of the national and local leasing companies doing business in this state. Past chairman EAEL legal committee. Competitive rates.
email: rcfeldman@snet.net

Los Angeles, Southern CA
Seasoned attorney representing secured creditors in auto finance and truck/equipment lease industry. Bankruptcy and State Court litigation. Vincent V. Frounjian (818) 990-0605 or email: vvf@pacbell.net.

Encino, California: Statewide “ELFA”
Hemar, Rousso & Heald, LLP 30 yr excellent reputation Lessor representation commercial litigation, debt collection, and bankruptcy.
Call Stephen E. Jenkins Esq (818) 501-3800

Los Angeles, Statewide: CA. "ELFA" Aggressive creditors rights law firm specializing in equipment leasing handling collection matters on a contingency, fixed fee or hourly cbasis. email:RGarwacki@prodigy.net

Los Angeles -statewide: CA "ELFA"
Practice limited to collections, bankruptcy and problem accounts resolution. Decades of experience. 10-lawyer firm dedicated to serving you. Call Ronald Cohn, Esq. (818)591-2121 or email. Email: rrcohn@aol.com

Los Angeles- Statewide, CA
Lawyer specializing in banking and leasing issues statewide. Documents and litigation.
Tom McCurnin, Barton, Klugman & Oetting. Voice: (213) 617-6129
Cell:(213) 268-8291
Email:
tmccurnin@bkolaw.com

Long Beach, CA
Wagner & Zielinski, successfully representing lessees/ lessors. Not a member of any leasing organization, therefore not beholden to special interests. Richard Wagner
(562) 216-2952
www.wzlawyers.com

Long Beach CA.
Paul Bent -- 30 years experience in all forms of equipment leasing, secured lending, and asset based transactions, from analysis and deal structuring to contract negotiations to closing to private dispute resolution.
(562) 426-1000
www.paulbent.com

Illinois
Trabaris, P.C.: Finance attorney with 24 years’ experience with transactional, documentation, secured financing and workouts/restructurings. Kevin Trabaris. Phone: 847-205-4377. Email:kevin@trabaris.com
Website: www.trabaris.com
Blog: trabaris.com/info/blog/

Law Firm - Service, Dallas, TX. "ELFA"
Mayer regularly practices in leasing, secured financing, project development and finance and corporate finance.
email: dmayer@pattonboggs.com
Website: www.pattonboggs.com

National: The OMEGA Network Group-nationwide legal representation of small and mid ticket equipment lessors-flat fee bankruptcy & replevin, contingent collection, billable litigation
(704-969-3280)
tong_92@yahoo.com

National: Coston & Rademacher: Business attorneys serving the lease-finance industry since 1980. Transactional, documentation, corporate/finance, workouts, litigation, bankruptcy, portfolio management. Chicago-based national practice. Jim Coston, CLP (Members: ELFA, NEFA).
email: Jcoston@costonlaw.com
Website:www.costonlaw.com

St. Louis County , MO. - statewide:
Schultz & Associates LLP., collections, negotiation, and litigation. Also register and pursue recovery on foreign judgments. Contingency and reasonable hourly rates.
Ronald J. Eisenberg, Esq.
(636) 537-4645 x108
reisenberg@sl-lawyers.com
www.sl-lawyers.com

NJ,De,Pa: Specializing in leased equipment/secured transactions. Collections, replevins/workouts reasonable rates. Sergio Scuteri/Capehart & Scratchard, PAsscuteri@capehart.com / www.capehart.com

New York and New Jersey
Peretore & Peretore, P.C. documentation, portfolio purchase & sale, replevin, workouts, litigation, collection, bankruptcy. Aggressive. Over 25 years experience.www.peretore.com

Thousand Oaks, California:
Statewide coverage Spiwak & Iezza, LLP 20+ years experience,Representing Lessors banks in both State/ Federal Courts/ all aspects of commercial leasing litigation.
Nick Iezza 805-777-1175
niezza@spiwakandiezza.com

Posting is Free to Attorneys who specialize in financing and leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Attorney/Attorney-post.htm

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Pug/Terrier Mix
Federal Way, Washington Adopt-a-Dog

Pattycake

Female
Two Years Old
Spayed
Up-to-date with routine shots
House trained
Primary color: Black
Coat length: Short

"This is Pattycake. She is an absolutely fabulous foster dog that desperately needs a home of her own. She is about 2 y.o., a pug/terrier mix?, about 20 lbs., does great with dogs of all sizes, cats, kittens etc...and has been around a large Macaw. She LOVES to play so we want her preferably placed with another dog, that dog should want to play as well. She adores children and would make a perfect family dog. She is crate trained and housebroken, up to date on all vaccines and spayed. She is very sweet and loving as well and enjoys hanging out wherever her people are. She loves spending time outside but also on the couch next to you watching a movie!

"If you would like to see if Pattycake is your perfect friend, please email Rebecca at sayveahorse@gmail.com for more info on this sweet little girl ASAP because we all know she will be scooped up quickly.. she certainly won't last long! You will not be sorry! :)"

R.A.I.N. - Rescuing Animals in Need,
Federal Way, Washington

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/

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News Briefs----

Lease Accounting Rules Raise Ire Down to the Wire
http://www3.cfo.com/article/2013/9/gaap-ifrs_lease-accounting-elfa-fasb-iasb-global-convergence

Icahn ends takeover battle for Dell, compares board to dictatorship
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-carl-icahn-dell-20130909,0,3092900.story

Umpqua Said in Talks to Acquire Sterling for About $1.8B
http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/umpquasterlingxml.html

Canadian Lessor claimed liable in Lessee's Accident Claim
http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/261394/leasing/

The Jig Is up on Fraudulent Cow Leasing
http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/09/05/60861.htm

Bank of America Said to Cut 2,100 Jobs in Mortgage Slump
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-09/bank-of-america-said-to-cut-2-100-jobs-in-mortgage-slump.html

Cal Worthington, Car Dealer With Manic Ads, Dies at 92
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/business/cal-worthington-car-dealer-with-an-incessant-jingle-dies-at-92.html?hp

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--You May Have Missed It

PHOTOS: The 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany
http://photos.mercurynews.com/2013/09/09/photos-the-65th-frankfurt-auto-show-in-germany/

[headlines]
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SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

Self-Care Tips for Sick Days
Help Your Body Recover from Illness
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=736

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Baseball Poem

Silly Question

By: "Papa" Joe Chevalier

I like;
All nine innings and knee high strikes
The diamond cut by flashing spikes.
The infield hit, a long home run
Doubleheaders, the radar gun.
The curve, the knuckler, slider and splitter
A slugfest or the chance no-hitter.
The majors, the minors, the kids, the vets
The "Whiz Kids," the "Amazing Mets."
The squeeze bunt and the hit and run
The double steal on three and one.
Both real and artificial grass.
The routine grounder or astro turf hop.
Signs to take and signs to steal
Beating the deadline with a late night deal.
The brush back pitch, the managers warned
The visiting star locally scorned.
Balls with eyes and rain delays
Around the horn double plays.
Walking leads and frozen ropes
Bloops, blasts and springtime hopes.
The game of the week and cable TV
Descriptions like "Good field-no-hit
Or "Say goodbye baseball" at Safeco Field
Diving catches and trapped fly balls
Coaches sweating on 3-2 calls.
The pickoff move and stealing home
Games in the sun or under a dome.
Walks, balks, and fielders choices
An irate skipper getting the gate.
Cold soda, peanuts and ball park franks
Sometimes even the New York Yanks.
For all this and more I have good reason
To be pleased that it's Baseball season.
And if you guys don't mind suggestions,
Go somewhere else with your silly questions!

To hear the poem read by Johnny Nguyen

http://www.csupomona.edu/~jthuang/a5/Complete.wav

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Sports Briefs----

Nadal Wins His Second U.S. Open Title
http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/09/live-analysis-of-the-u-s-open-mens-final/?hp=&emc=edit_na_20130909&_r=0

Newcomer Boldin looks like a bargain for the ages after 1st game
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Newcomer-Boldin-looks-like-a-bargain-for-the-ages-4797693.php#page-2

Tony Romo has bruised ribs but will play against Kansas City
http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/source-tony-romo-has-bruised-ribs-but-will-play-against-kansas-city.html/

Columbus Dispatch error credits John Elway, not Peyton Manning, for Denver’s win over Baltimore
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/columbus-dispatch-error-credits-john-elway-not-peyton-144100543--nfl.html

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California Nuts Briefs---

Rim fire near Yosemite grows over weekend; still 80% contained
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rim-fire-near-yosemite-grows-over-weekend-still-80-contained-20130909,0,6054465.story

Mount Diablo fire: Blaze grows to 3,780 acres, now 20 percent contained
http://www.contracostatimes.com/contracostatimes/ci_24050042/mt-diablo-fire-1-000-acres-burned-more

Châteauneuf That Proves Bigger Is Not So Bad
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/dining/reviews/chateauneuf-that-proves-bigger-is-not-so-bad.html?ref=dining

Bay Bridge gets good luck charm: troll
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20130909/wire/130909567?title=Bay-Bridge-gets-new-good-luck-charm-

Thousands sign petition to return outdoor seating to San Rafael's Weezy's Burgers
http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_24036033/thousands-sign-petition-return-outdoor-seating-san-rafaels

Raiders stadium site preference could hasten A's exit
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_24037189/raiders-stadium-site-preference-could-hasten-exit

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Caymus owner approved for large Solano winery
http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/79361/caymus-owner-approved-for-solano-winery/

Potentially Great Harvest in Temecula
http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=121424

A Contentious Pairing: Champagne and Apple
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/48879

NZ Sauvignon losing ground to Chile
http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2013/09/nz-sauvignon-losing-ground-to-chile/

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

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This Day in History

    1565-Billiards were played in St. Augustine, Florida, brought to America by the Spaniards who were the first to settle the area.
    1608 - English adventurer John Smith is elected council president of Jamestown, Virginia--the first permanent English settlement in North America.
    1718 -The Collegiate School at New Haven, CT, changed its name to Yale. (Congregationalists, unhappy with an increasing religious liberalism at Harvard, had founded Yale, the third oldest college in America, in 1701.)
    1776-George Washington asks for a spy volunteer ;Nathan Hale volunteers.
http://www.odci.gov/hale.html
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=grandGRid=2306
http://www.seanet.com/Users/pamur/nhale.html
    1794- Blount College’ the first nondenominational church was charted at Knoxville, TN ( now the University of Tennessee). The charger provided that the college “ take effectual care that students of all denominations may and shall be admitted to the equal advantages of a liberal education and to the emoluments and honors of the college, so that they shall receive a like, fair, generous, and equal treatment during their residence therein.” The first president was Samuel Carrick.
    1813-The American naval officer Oliver Hazard Perry left Erie, PA, with a fleet of nine ships and encountered a squadron of six British warships off Put-in-Bay, Ohio, today, which history calls “ The Battle of Lake Erie.” Perry’s attack was hampered by his short-range guns, and his ship was battered to a hulk with only a handful of capable men left. He left his flagship Lawrence and renewed the fight from a sister ship, the Niagra, and had the satisfaction of seeing the British strike their colors. He returned to the Lawrence to accept the British surrender, then sent to Gen. William Henry Harrison, commander in the west, the victory dispatch containing the words, “ We have met the enemy and they are ours.” The Americans gained control of Lake Erie, and the British were obliged to withdraw from Detroit, further strengthening the U.S. position in the Great Lakes.
    1820-Missouri entered the Union under the Missouri Compromise of 1820, admitting Missouri as a slave state while admitting Maine as a free state, and prohibiting slavery in Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36º 30', Missouri's southern border.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/aug10.html
    1846 -- Following the failure of all Mormons to leave Nauvoo, Illinois in May as agreed to after the assassination of Joseph Smith and his brother in Carthage, Illinois two years ago, a thousand anti-Mormon "Regulators" led by Colonel Thomas Brockman order the first assault on the remaining Mormons at Nauvoo. Regulator cannon fire drives Mormon families from their homes towards the Mississippi River.
    1848-Gold dust price set at $16 per ounce; San Francisco citizens demanded that the United States open a branch mint in San Francisco.
    1852- Birthday of Alice Brown Davis was a leader and for a short time the chief of the Seminole Indians. She married a white man who deserted her and their 11 children when the youngest was three. They had operated a trading post for the Seminoles in Oklahoma where ABD's family had settled after the Civil War. Most of the children became prominent community and government leaders. She reportedly became an amazing symbol of strength among her people who resided near the Cherokee in Oklahoma. She even went with a group as an interpreter to seek land in Mexico. Her people's self-government was effectively abolished when the State of Oklahoma set up counties that submerged the Indian population with white voters. Because the U.S. government needed a chief's signature for a piece of Florida property, President Warren G. Harding appointed her chief of the Seminoles. She had previously visited the "lost" group of Seminole who had hidden in the Florida Everglades to escape the forced migration that became the Trail of Tears and established a dialogue between the two groups. Instead of signing, ABD demanded reparations and she was summarily removed and a U.S. government illegally signed the deed. The Seminoles, under her guidance took the matter to court and finally won a settlement in 1946, 11 years after Davis' death.
http://www.seminolenation-indianterritory.org/alice_brown_davis.htm
    1857- -- US: Mountain Meadows Massacre. Mormons offer to escort a Gentile train passing through Utah to safety from the Indians, then line up all the adult males in single file with a Mormon guide on each side, and, at a prearranged signal, massacre them all in cold blood. Mormon Militia, disguised as Indians and the real Indians, moved in on the women and older children, shooting, clubbing and tomahawking them to death.
http://members.aol.com/tnf49/mm.html
http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/lee_mm.htm
    1862-Rabbi Jacob Frankel of Philadelphia, PA became the first Jewish Army chaplain, four months after Congress amended its law of 1861 requiring chaplains to be Christians. Frankel served from 1863 through 1865 at the United States Hospital in Philadelphia.
    1877- Katherine Sophie Dreier, U.S. painter and modern art museum founder. Instead of focusing on her considerable artistic talent, KSD turned most of her energies towards gaining acceptance in the United States for modern art. Independently wealthy, she - along with artist Marcel Duchamp - established Soci,t, Anonyme in 1920, New York City's first museum of modern art. She published material and held lectures and the like to encourage acceptance of the new art forms. When the Museum of Modern Art opened in 1928, it eclipsed her museum and she later donated the collection to Yale University. Her sisters were Mary Elizabeth Dreier and Margaret Dreier Robins, both active in art and in social concerns. All three were active in the women's suffrage and rights movements.
http://www.variant.ndtilda.co.uk/14texts/William_Clark.html
http://etrc.lib.umn.edu/travbio.htm#dreier
http://askart.com/artist/D/katherine_sophie_dreier.asp
http://www.brickhaus.com/amoore/magazine/Davis.html
    1884-Mississippi African-American Congressman John R. Lynch was temporary chairman of the Republican National Convention, providing over the meeting for a short period.
http://blackhistory.eb.com/micro/362/20.html
http://www.duboislc.org/BlackPerspective/BlackPerspectivePart9.html
http://www.goantiques.com/texis,john_lynch_autograph,3d09410a0.html
    1909- Dr. Judith Kaplan Eisenstein birthday: U.S. author, musicologist, and composer. In 1922 Dr. Eisenstein was the first woman to have a bat mitzvah.
"No thunder sounded,” she said in 1992, recalling the ceremony. "No lightning struck." Allowing women the rite that had long marked the passage of Jewish males into religious adulthood proved to be the first of many changes broadening the role of women in Judaism. The changes now included their ordination as rabbis. She was the oldest daughter of Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, the founder of the Reconstructionist branch of Judaism. Today the bat mitzvah ceremony (bar mitzvah is for boys) is an established practice within the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist branches of Judaism, and parallel celebrations are common in some quarters of Orthodox Judaism as well. From 1929 to 1954, Dr. Eisenstein taught music education and the history of Jewish music at Jewish Theological Seminary's Teacher's Institute, now known as the Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies in New York City. While there she published a Jewish songbook for children, Gateway to Jewish Song, which was followed by other books of Jewish music and musical history for young people. From 1942 to 1974, she wrote seven cantatas on Jewish themes, among them is the frequently performed, What Is Torah, which she wrote with her husband, Rabbi Ira Eisenstein. In 1959, at the age of 50, Dr. Eisenstein, who had earned a Master's degree in music education at Columbia University's Teachers College, began work for her Ph.D. at the School of Sacred Music of Hebrew Union college-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. After receiving her degree, she taught there from 1966 to 1979, and also taught at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia.
ceremonies, like bar mitzvahs, were often overshadowed by lavish parties.
"Bat mitzvah began not just as a statement of feminism,” she said, "but as a statement of dedication to something larger than oneself."
http://www.rrc.edu/journal/recon62_1/eisenstein3.htm
    1910-Great Idaho Fire destroys 3 million acres of timber
http://www.forestsoils.org/esc110/2001Spring/projects%20010501/028/Idaho.html
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2000/wwsternfire823.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/fires000820.html
http://www.nifc.gov/stats/historicalstats.html
    1910 Composer/Band Leader/Inventer Raymond Scott Birthday
http://www.raymondscott.com/
    1913-the Lincoln Highway, a 3,300 mile highway stretching from New York City to San Francisco, CA was opened, becoming the first coast-to-coast paved road. It was originally proposed by Carl Graham Fisher. The highway traversed 13 states—New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California ---and cost about $10 million. The first complete coast-to-coast run over the official route was made by Neil Patterson.
    1919 - A hurricane struck the Florida Keys drowning more than 500 persons.
    1924 -Leopold and Loeb found guilty of murder
http://www.suba.com/~scottn/explore/scrapbks/leo_loeb/ll_txt14.htm
http://www.suba.com/~scottn/explore/scrapbks/leo_loeb/ll_txt16.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAleopold.htm
http://www.jurist.law.pitt.edu/trials5.htm
http://www.leopoldandloeb.com/
http://crimelibrary.com/loeb/loeb/loebmain.htm
http://store.aetv.com/html/catalog/vp01.jhtml
http://douglass.speech.nwu.edu/darr_b17.htm
http://www.suba.com/~scottn/explore/scrapbks/leo_loeb/ll_txt11.htm
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/leoploeb/LEO_PHO2.HTM
    1929-Birthday of golfer Arnold Palmer, Latrobe, PA.
    1934-birthday of Roger Eugene Maris, Hibbin, MN. In 1961, Maris broke one of baseball’s sacred records, hitting 61 home runs to surpass the mark of 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927. He won the American League MVP award in 1960 and in 1961 and finished his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. He died at Houston, TX, Dec 14, 1985.
    1939-Charlie Barnet records “ The Duke’s Idea.” (Bluebird 10453)
    1941-Woody Herman records “Blues in the Night” 1950 - Eddie Cantor moved from radio to TV, as he hosted the "Colgate Comedy Hour" on NBC.
    1945-Birthday of Jose Feliciano, singer, musician “Light My Fire, “ Hi-Heel Sneakers) born Lares, Puerto Rico.
    1950 - Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry is born in Boston.
    1951 - Florence Chadwick of San Diego, CA, became the first American woman to swim the English Channel from both coasts.
    1952---Top Hits
Auf Wiedersehn, Sweetheart - Vera Lynn
Walkin’ My Baby Back Home - Johnnie Ray
Wish You Were Here - Eddie Fisher
Jambalaya (On the Bayou) - Hank Williams
    1954- Swanson sells its first "TV dinner,” turkey and gravy. Chicken came a few years later; remember no microwave in the early days.1962 Swanson stopped calling them TV dinners.
http://www.naplesnews.com/today/business/d248291a.htm
http://www.foodreference.com/html/arttvdinners.html
    1954“Gunsmoke” premiered on TV. “Gunsmoke” was TV’s longest-running western, moving from radio to TV. John Wayne turned down the roll of Marshall Dillon. James Whitmore was then chosen, but he declined, recommending his neighbor James Arness ( Whitmore lived across the street from us and Arness a few blocks away---he drove my brother and I to high school for several years in his station wagon on his way to work ). Other regulars included Amanda Blake as Kitty Russell, saloon-owner, Dennis Weaver as Chester B. Goode, Dillon’s deputy and Milburn Stone as Doc Adams. In 1962 a fifth character was added---the “rugged male.” Burt Reynolds played Quint Asper, followed by Roger Eweing as Thad Greenwood, and Buck Taylor as Newly O’Brien. In 1964 Ken Curtis was added as funnyman Festus Haggen, the new deputy. “Gunsmoke” was incredibly popular, both as a half-hour and hour-long show, as the number-one rated series for four seasons , and top ten hit for six seasons. The last telecast was September 1, 1975.
    1955 - Bert Parks began a 25-year career as host of the "Miss America Pageant" on NBC. The show became a TV tradition as Parks sang to the newly-crowned beauty queen, “There She is ... Miss America”. The song was composed by Bernie Wayne and was sung for the first time on this day. Sharon Kay Ritchie was the first Miss America to be honored with the song. When she married singer Don Cherry ("Band of Gold"), "There She Is" was part of the wedding ceremony.
    1955--Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" peaks at #5 on the pop chart.
    1956-Record stores are swamped with requests for Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender." The song, which is the title track of his next movie, has not been released.
    1960 - Hurricane Donna struck the Florida Keys, with winds gusting to 180 mph and a thirteen foot storm surge. The hurricane then moved north along the eastern coast of Florida and inundated Naples before moving out to sea. Hurricane Donna claimed fifty lives, injured 1800 others, and caused more than 300 million dollars damage. The Marathon/Tavernier area was almost completely destroyed, and in the Citrus Belt, most of the avocado crop was blown from the trees. Hurricane Donna wreaked havoc from Florida to Maine, with wind gusts to 100 mph along much of the coast. Hurricane Donna produced wind gusts to 121 mph at Charleston SC on the 11th, and wind gusts to 138 mph at Blue Hill Observatory MA on the 12th. The hurricane finally died over Maine two days later, producing more than five inches of rain over the state.
    1960---Top Hits
It’s Now or Never - Elvis Presley
The Twist - Chubby Checker
Volare - Bobby Rydell
Alabam - Cowboy Copas
    1961 - Mickey Mantle tied a major-league baseball record for home runs by hammering his 400th career round-tripper.
    1963-Twenty black students entered public schools in Alabama.
President John F. Kennedy federalizes Alabama's National Guard to prevent Governor George C. Wallace from using guardsmen to stop public-school desegregation.
http://www.stanford.edu/~tommyz/1960's/Birmingham.htm
    1964 - Rod Stewart recorded his first tune, titled "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", for Decca. It was not one of his more successful recordings.
    1965-Hurricane Betsy slammed Louisiana with wind gusting to 130 mph at Houma. There were 58 deaths and over 17,500 injured. The storm surge and flooding from torrential rains made Betsy the first billion dollar hurricane was losses exceeding $1.4 billion
    1966-“Star Trek” premieres on TV. The first of 79 episodes of the TV series ‘Star Trek” was aired on the NBC network. Although the science fiction show set in the future only lasted a few seasons, it has remained enormously popular through syndication reruns. It has been given new life through six motion pictures, a cartoon TV series and the very popular TV series “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” It has consistently ranked among the biggest titles in the motion picture, television, home video and licensing divisions of Paramount Pictures.
    1966-“Tarzan” premieres on TV. This hour adventure series was based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character, who appeared for the first time on TV. Tarzan, an English lord who preferred the jungle, was played by Ron Ely. Manuel Padilla, Jr. was Jai, a jungle orphan, Alan Caillou was Jason Flood, Jai’s tutor and Rockne Tarkington was Rao, a veterinarian. There was no Jane.
    1966- Beatles' "Revolver," album goes #1 and stays #1 for 6 weeks.
    1966- “That Girl” premiered and it was a half-hour sitcom starring Marlo Thomas as Ann Marie, an independent aspiring actress in New York City. Ted Bessell also starred as her boyfriend Don Hollinger. They were finally engaged in 1970. Also featured were Lew Parker, Rosemary De Camp and Bonnie Scott. Well-known performers who appeared on the show include Dabney Coleman, George Carlin and Bernie Kopell.
    1966-“ The Road Runner Show” premiered on TV. Meep! Meep! The Road Runner, a clever bird who always outwitted Wile E. Coyote and his Acme schemes, had his own cartoon series for three seasons. Other times, this character was on a show with Bugs Bunny called “ The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour.”
    1966- The Monkees' "The Last Train To Clarksville" is released.
    1966-Wilson Pickett's "Land of 1000 Dances" peaks at #6 on the chart while The Troggs' "With A Girl Like You" peaks at #29 on the chart.
    1967-“Gentle Ben” premiere on TV. This show was about the adventures of a boy, Mark Wedloe (Clint Howard) and his pet bear, Ben. Also featured were Dennis Weaver as his father, Tom, a game warden. Beth Brickell as his mother Ellen, Jack Worley as Tom’s friend Spencer and Angelo Rutherford as his friend Willie. It was filmed on location in Florida.
    1968---Top Hits
People Got to Be Free - The Rascals
Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf
Light My Fire - Jose Feliciano
Mama Tried - Merle Haggard
    1971- At Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis, Harmon Killebrew becomes the tenth player to join the 500 home run club as hits the historic homer in the first inning off Mike Cuellar. Later in the game the 36-year old first baseman connects for #501, but 'Killer's' two round-trippers are to no avail as the Twins lose to the Orioles in 10 innings, 4-3.
    1972 - Muhammad Ali defeated Ken Norton in a heavyweight boxing match and avenged a loss to Norton the previous March.
    1972-The United States lost its first basketball game in Olympic history, snapping a streak going back to 1935, when the Soviet Union won the gold medal game at the Munich Summer Games, 51-50. The game was quite controversial. After the clock expired with the US ahead, International Amateur Basketball Federation officials intervened and required the referees to replay the last three seconds. This time, the Soviets scored to eke out the victory. US officials protest in vain. The American team refused to accept the silver medal.
    1973 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Delta Dawn,'' Helen Reddy. Reddy is the fifth female vocalist to record the song.
    1974 - Lou Brock of the St. Louis Cardinals broke Maury Wills’ 1962 major-league record for stolen bases in a season. ‘Lightning’ Lou stole his 105th base on his way to a career total of 938 stolen bases.
    1976---Top Hits
You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees
You’ll Never Find Another Love like Mine - Lou Rawls
Let ’Em In - Wings
(I’m A) Stand by My Woman Man - Ronnie Milsap
    1980-The Rolling Stones release "She's So Cold."
    1983-Jackson Browne's "Lawyers in Love" peaks at #13 on the singles chart while Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" peaks at #84.
    1983-AC/DC's "Flick Of The Switch" LP enters the chart.
    1984 - The Federal Communications Commission changed the rules. The FCC allowed broadcasters to own 12 AM and 12 FM radio stations. The previous limit was 7 of each.
    1984---Top Hits
What’s Love Got to Do with It - Tina Turner
Missing You - John Waite
She Bop - Cyndi Lauper
Tennessee Homesick Blues - Dolly Parton
    1986- During Billy Martin Day at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers retire uniform #1 to honor their scrappy second baseman and four-time manager.
    1986--Birthday of American Composer Jason Rudolf, Decatur, Illinois
    1988-Steffi Graf wins US Open, 1st woman Grand Slam since Court (1970)
    1988-Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible" peaks at #2 on the singles chart while Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" hits #1 and Van Halen's "When It's Love" hits #5.
    1989- After fifteen months of recovery from cancer surgery to his arm, Dave Dravecky pitches one-hit baseball for seven innings blanking the Reds to get the victory. The Giant bullpen holds on for a 4-3 win at Candlestick Park.
    1989 - Light snow fell in Montana overnight, with three inches reported at Fairfield. Billings MT reported a record low of 33 degrees. Unseasonably warm weather prevailed in the northeastern U.S., with record highs of 86 degrees at Caribou ME and 90 degrees at Burlington VT.
    1990 -19 year old Pete Sampras beats Andre Agassi to win the US Open
    1990 -First time in NY Yankee history they are completely swept in a season series, Oakland A's beat them 12 games to 0
    1990- Hard Rock Cafe opens in Las Vegas Nevada.
    1993-“The X-Files” TV Premiere. “The Truth is Out There” was the mantra of FOX’s scary and brainy sci-fi drama. Special FBI agents Fox Mulder ( David Duchovny) and Dana Scully ( Gillian Anderson) solved cases too weird for the Bureau and also uncovered a vast conspiracy 9nvovling aliens and human-alien hybrids. TV Guide named “The X-Files” one of the greatest TV shows of all time. A feature-length file was created as well. The series ended in 2002.
    1995-Cyndi Lauper wins an Emmy for her guest appearance on "Mad About You..”
    1997- In a 7-6 loss to the Giants, Cardinal Mark McGwire becomes only the second player in major league history to hit 50 home runs in consecutive seasons. Babe Ruth accomplished the feat twice in 1920-21 and 1927-28 seasons.
    2002 --Sammy Sosa hits three home runs in consecutive at bats in the third, fourth and fifth innings tying a Cubs' record with nine RBIs established by Heinie Zimmerman in 1911. With his sixth career three-homer game performance, the Chicago right fielder also ties the major league record set by Johnny Mize and he also becomes only the fifth player in big league history to homer in three straight innings.
    2003---Rafael Furcal becomes the 12th player to turn an unassisted triple play in big league history. With runners on Cardinals on first (Orlando Palmeiro) and second (Mike Matheny) in the fifth inning, the Braves shortstop makes a leaping catch of pitcher Woody Williams' liner steps on second base to double up Matheny before tagging out Palmeiro who is attempting to get back to first base.

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SuDoku

The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. What could be simpler?

http://leasingnews.org/Soduku/soduko-main.htm

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Daily Puzzle