Link Working to Alliance Capital
Please go to learn more:

https://www.indeed.com/job/equipment-finance-business-development-vendors-3065ac5a2478c715

 

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No Response from Amur Equipment Finance
To Multiple Telephone Calls and Emails

By Christopher Menkin, Editor

A well-known and respected friend sent an email: “My Amur folks (the ones I trust) tell me your article about layoffs is wrong for what it’s worth. They are actually hiring. They let go of some poor performing sales folks recently which is part of the reason for their trying to hire."

(Editor)

The headline had “Maybe”:

More Sales People Available,
Maybe from Amur Equipment Finance

Quoting  the Chairman and Chief Executive:

On September 2, Leasing News quoted Mostafiz ShahMohammed, Amur Chairman and Chief Executive, “While we are cognizant of the many challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we believe it has brought out the best in our organization.

“Our resilience has been tested and it has passed with flying colors. We are proud of our efforts to help our customers navigate through this incredibly difficult period and will remain steadfast in our support of their needs as economic conditions continue to improve. Our business volumes have been returning to pre-COVID-19 levels, we’ve expanded our capital base, and we’ve added to our industry-leading vendor origination team with the addition of Jason and his team. Our commitment to serving our vendors' growth and needs through a fully-integrated, full-service platform is unwavering, and we are excited for what is to come for Amur.”

 

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

 

 

Wintrust Commercial Finance Surpasses
Over $500 Million in Year-to-Date Funded Volume

Wintrust Commercial Finance (WCF), a division of Wintrust Asset Finance Inc., Frisco, Texas, announces its year-to-date funded volume has exceeded $500 million.

Kirk Phillips, President and CEO,

and Thomas Forbes, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer, both credit the company’s achievement not only to the team’s values and hard work, but also to the customers and business partners with whom they work.

“Words can’t express how proud I am of each and every one of our team members in reaching this goal,” said Phillips, President and CEO. “This is a tremendous milestone and one we could not have achieved without the teamwork, ingenuity, creativity and dedication to meeting our customers’ needs, while delivering profitable results. We also want thank all our customers and strategic partners for trusting us with their financing needs.”

Forbes, Exec. VP and Chief Sales Officer,  commented, “We have the best team in the industry who come to work each day with the goal of providing value-added solutions to our customers and demonstrating superior execution, and it shows in our performance.”

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A Little Bit of Business Will Fix

Sales Makes it Happen by Scott Wheeler, CLFP

Many years ago, a veteran in the commercial equipment leasing and finance industry explained to a young originator that he had no problems that a little bit of business would not fix. Those words still ring true. A little bit of additional business improves an originator's attitude. A little bit of additional business confirms that there are always more opportunities in the market. A little bit of additional business provides an originator with the confidence to win the next deal. A little bit of additional business provides the financial security that is needed to focus on being more successful. A little bit of additional business takes the pressure off and allows an originator to move forward, rather than backward. Business breeds more business. Success breeds more success.

So, the question is: How do we generate just a little bit more business? Over 35 years ago that veteran explained the solution to me (the young originator) with the following statements:

• Take control of your own destiny. Don't look to others to hand you new opportunities - go out and find your own new opportunities every day.
• Don't give up. If you need to stay late or arrive early to hit your numbers, so be it.
• Celebrate your little successes because they quickly add up to big accomplishments.
• Expect to fail often and learn from your mistakes.
• Never stop learning and have the flexibility to adapt to market changes. Our industry's greatest strength is its ability to adapt. Be part of the next change.
• Treat everyone fairly and they will refer you to bigger and better clients.
• Promote yourself, your company, and the industry.

During more challenging times, originators need to be reminded that the commercial equipment leasing and finance industry is strong because of its ability to adapt and provide needed capital to businesses throughout the economy. Each originator is a vital part of the recovery and has the ability to exceed his or her wildest expectations. Success depends upon YOU. We have no problems that a little bit of business will not fix.

Order via Amazon: https://www.createspace.com/5355516  

Scott A. Wheeler, CLFP
Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410 877 0428
Fax: 410 877 8161
Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com 

Sales Makes it Happen articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.htm

 

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Identifying Your Marketing Budget Targets

FinTech #102 by Alex Vasilakos

Digital marketing remains the most cost-effective way to reach a global audience. Not surprisingly, small businesses are focusing a lot of their resources on digital marketing. Entrepreneur.com estimates that companies spent about 35% of their marketing budgets on digital strategies. These include paid search, email marketing, display ads and social media.

Because the ROI is also higher for digital marketing, companies are increasingly shifting their budget to include more of this. In fact, one survey found that roughly 70% of small businesses intend to increase their revenue spending on this.

Where Should You Spend Marketing Dollars?
The traditional marketing strategies that best align with your business depend on the business itself. In fact, some companies have no traditional marketing strategies at all. This is especially common for small businesses that operate entirely online, such as independent e-commerce websites or even professional sellers on established websites.

When it comes to digital marketing, virtually every company can benefit. Most companies spend their digital marketing resources — which include not just money but also time — on social media. Some of the most commonly used channels include LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. This is also where they spent the majority of their marketing dollars.

As more customers use mobile devices to access the internet, more companies are also investing in mobile marketing. These types of ads are designed for much smaller screens and tend to show in apps or on mobile browsers.

Another key focus is content, which can offshoot into many different strategies as well. Content is the basis of search engine optimization, for instance. Without written content, companies would struggle to master search engine rankings. SEO is also useful in video marketing, which is another form of content. To add to this, email marketing relies on content to engage people on the email list to either keep reading or take conversion actions.

What’s the Key Takeaway?

If you believe that time is money, there is no such thing as free marketing. Every business owner must invest either time, money or both into marketing strategies to attract more customers. The more time a business owner or manager spends trying to micro-manage the marketing process or do it themselves, the more time they lose that they could have spent on the operational end of the business.

Another key factor to note is that marketing professionals require less time and money to yield the same results business owners can on their own. This is why it’s usually best to invest in their expertise.

Alex Vasilakos
Director of Marketing
The Finance Marketing Group
Alex@financemarketing.com 
Office: 518-591-4645x102 / Fax: 518-677-1071
90 State Street, Suite 1500, Albany, NY 12207

He entered advertising and marketing in 2003, right when the industry landscape shifted from traditional print to digital media. In that time, Alex has worked with numerous large accounts in both healthcare and financial services, and has helped small and medium-sized businesses grow and flourish in their respective digital markets. Alex has won countless awards for creative direction and strategy, and is certified by Google Partners in both AdWords and Analytics. Currently, Alex works exclusively with financial services companies, but his depth of knowledge and experience can help design and implement long-reaching strategies for businesses across all industries.

Previous Financial Technology Articles
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Storie

 

Firefox Flaw Allowed Hackers to Remotely Open
Malicious Sites on Android Phones

By Eduard Kovacs, Contributing Editor, Security Week

(It should be noted all cell phones should have at least VPN or connect to your website only through a firewall as your computer can be hacked via your cellphone without these programs. Editor)

A vulnerability identified in Firefox for Android could have been exploited to remotely open arbitrary websites on a targeted user’s phone without the need to click on links, install malicious applications, or conduct man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks.

The flaw was discovered by researcher Chris Moberly in version 68 of Firefox for Android. It was reported to Mozilla, which confirmed that the new Firefox Fenix (starting with version 79) is not impacted — the Firefox for Android version jumped from 68 to 79 due to Fenix replacing the Fennec version.

According to Moberly, the vulnerability is related to Firefox periodically sending out SSDP discovery messages in search of second-screen devices that it can cast to. These messages can be seen by any device that is connected to the same local area network (LAN).

An attacker connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the targeted user can deploy a malicious SSDP server that is set up to respond with specially crafted messages that cause Firefox to open an arbitrary website.

This is possible because the messages broadcasted by Firefox are looking for an XML file describing a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) device that it can cast to, but the attacker’s server instead responds with a message pointing to an Android intent URI that is invoked by Firefox.

“The vulnerability resembles RCE (remote command execution) in that a remote (on same WiFi network) attacker can trigger the device to perform unauthorized functions with zero interaction from the end user. However, that execution is not totally arbitrary in that it can only call predefined application intents,” Moberly explained.

He added, “Had it been used in the wild, it could have targeted known-vulnerable intents in other applications. Or, it could have been used in a way similar to phishing attacks where a malicious site is forced onto the target without their knowledge in the hopes they would enter some sensitive info or agree to install a malicious application. The exploit POC can direct-link to a .xpi file, prompting for immediate installation of a malicious extension to compromise the browser itself.”

Moberly has released technical details and a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit. ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko has confirmed that the exploit works and he has posted a video showing how an attacker can open arbitrary websites on three phones at the same time.

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Home Delivery of Marijuana Thrives in California
The Coronavirus Cannabis Boom Market

Retailers across the nation are closing their doors and curtailing operations due to the coronavirus pandemic, inherently pinching sales. In the California cannabis sector, however, business has never been better – especially relative to home delivery.

California’s cannabis industry continues to operate, and media reports reveal booming cannabis sales as the state’s citizens stay home to wait out current events. The Los Angeles Times recently published the headline, “Marijuana Sales on Fire amid Virus Outbreak; New York Post “Cannabis sales hit new highs”; USA Today “American Stock Up on Pot” Fox News “California marijuana sales surge”; and ABC News Cannabis Shops thrive in coronavirus pandemic.

While pot shops are seeing strong foot traffic, the real growth action is in-home delivery as consumers seek to embrace social distancing. Many delivery operators are reporting difficulty in meeting demand with sales growth of up to 10% sequentially each week. It is certainly a boom time for the industry.

Market Opportunity

There is little doubt among industry participants, and recently confirmed by Forbes, that California is the single largest cannabis market in the world. The state is expected to produce more than $3.5 billion in cannabis sales during 2020, with growth topping 23% annually. The global industrial hemp market size was estimated at $4.71 billion in 2019 and is expected to register a revenue-based CAGR of 15.8% over the forecast period of 2016-2027, according to Grandview Research. Market growth drivers include the 2018 Farm Bill and society’s increasing knowledge of the benefits of hemp products.

Overall industry growth is great, but specific vertical sector growth is even better. Cannabis delivery is clearly the fastest growing sector of the marketplace and with coronavirus fears the already robust growth rate has accelerated.

Source: CBDWire.com

 

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

IRS finalizes regulations
for 100 percent bonus depreciation

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today released the last set of final regulations PDF implementing the 100% additional first year depreciation deduction that allows businesses to write off the cost of most depreciable business assets in the year they are placed in service by the business.

The 100% additional first year depreciation deduction was created in 2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and generally applies to depreciable business assets with a recovery period of 20 years or less and certain other property. Machinery, equipment, computers, appliances and furniture generally qualify.

The deduction applies to qualifying property (including used property) acquired and placed in service after September 27, 2017. The final regulations provide clarifying guidance on the requirements that must be met for property to qualify for the deduction, including used property.

Additionally, the final regulations provide rules for consolidated groups and rules for components acquired or self-constructed after September 27, 2017, for larger self-constructed property on which production began before September 28, 2017.

For details on claiming the deduction, see the final regulations and the instructions to Form 4562, Depreciation and Amortization (Including Information on Listed Property).

In addition, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service plan to issue procedural guidance for taxpayers to opt to apply the final regulations in prior taxable years or to rely on the proposed regulations issued in September 2019.

(The new law increases the bonus depreciation percentage from 50 percent to 100 percent for qualified property acquired and placed in service after Sept. 27, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2023. The bonus depreciation percentage for qualified property that a taxpayer acquired before Sept. 28, 2017, and placed in service before Jan. 1, 2018, remains at 50 percent. Special rules apply for longer production period property and certain aircraft.)

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/new-rules-and-limitations-for-depreciation-and-expensing-under-the-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act#:~:text=Te

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

The Bancorp Rolls Out Its Fleet Alliance Program
Offered to Equipment Leasing Companies

Wilmington, Del.-- The Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:TBBK) Commercial Lending is pleased to announce its new Fleet Alliance offering, which will enable financial institutions to incorporate vehicle and fleet leasing services into their commercial business offerings. The Fleet Alliance program is also offered to equipment leasing companies that do not focus on or provide fleet vehicle financing.

The Bancorp Commercial Lending business provides small business loans as well as commercial fleet leasing services for commercial and government use. The Fleet Alliance offering is an extension of the Bank’s fleet leasing services, offering financial institutions and equipment leasing companies the ability to refer clients to The Bancorp for turnkey fleet leasing solutions coupled with national fleet discount pricing. This referral program also allows financial institutions to become a single source for commercial lending and fleet leasing services.

The new Fleet Alliance offering compliments Commercial Lending’s SBAlliance™ program, which provides financial institutions the ability to initiate Small Business Administration (SBA) loans through The Bancorp on behalf of their clients. Similar to the SBAlliance™ program, Fleet Alliance is a behind-the-scenes service enabling the Bank’s partners to manage their client relationships.

“The Fleet Alliance program allows us to share our expertise with financial institutions and our SBAlliance™ partners who may have the need, but not the resources, to manage financial and operational aspects of fleet leasing operations for their clients,” said Jeff Nager, EVP, Head of The Bancorp Commercial Lending business. “Fleet Alliance partners can offer their clients a value-added service that results in time and cost savings, and also foster new and existing client relationships.”

About The Bancorp

The Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:TBBK) is dedicated to serving the unique needs of non-bank financial service companies, ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to those on the Fortune 500. The company’s subsidiary, The Bancorp Bank (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender), has been repeatedly recognized in the payments industry as the Top Issuer of Prepaid Cards (US), a top merchant sponsor bank and a top ACH originator. Specialized lending distinctions include SBA National Preferred Lender, a leading provider of securities-backed lines of credit, and one of the few bank-owned commercial vehicle leasing groups in the nation. For more information please visit www.thebancorp.com.

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

A New Article Explains Why New Cars
Are More Expensive To Insure

When insuring a new car, owners have the unpleasant surprise of finding that the costs are really high. This is why drivers should consider getting quotes before buying a car. The main arguments used by insurance companies are the following:

• New models are really expensive to repair or replace. Hi-tech safety and tracking devices are usually installed in new models. All of these safety devices are expensive to repair if they're damaged. New advanced technology like ventilated and massaging seats, head-up displays, heated steering wheel, also increase the price of policies. Lastly, the new alloys from which body parts are manufactured are more expensive. New aluminum alloys, carbon fiber reinforced polymer, or even new steel types are costly to produce and to repair.

• Thieves prefer to target new models. Insurance companies will increase the insurance rates for a new car model if there are too many claims for stolen vehicles for that model. Regularly, thieves will choose to steal new car models instead of old ones, because they are more expensive.

• Some models don’t have stellar results on test-dummy crashes simulations. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that some vehicles are riskier than others because of the way they are built. Their data shows that many new vehicles have less capacity to withstand low-impact collisions. Because of that, they can cost more to repair.

• Adding full or extra coverage. Owners of new cars are recommended to add collision and comprehensive insurance, to be sure you are fully covered. One optional policy that brand new car owners can get is the new car replacement coverage. Overall, extra coverage means more expensive premiums.

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org

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

German Shepherd/Mix
McKinney, Texas  Adopt-a-Dog

Anya

ID: 42690601
Female
Spayed
7 Years
Size: Large
Adoption Fee: $75.00

ABOUT ME: Hi, I am Anya, and pictures just don't do justice for what a pretty girl I am, with the sass to match. I came to the SPCA of Texas through a cruelty case and was very scared and fearful, with no trust in humans. My friends at the shelter have worked really hard to help build my confidence, and I am quite the different girl these days. Though I can still be weary around new people, with time, patience, another dog buddy, and of course, some yummy treats, I warm up pretty quickly and then I have the opposite problem of not understanding personal space! I love to be outside and run fast, so a house with a securely fenced yard where I can continue to work on my leash walking skills will be best.

My Dream Home: I would love an adults only household with a securely fenced in yard and another dog to be my new friend.

Special Note: Potential adopters get to take me on a test drive through a trial adoption! Submit an inquiry form today for more information.

Please visit www.spca.org/dogadopt  to make an appointment to adopt a dog

Our locations are closed to the public until further notice. In McKinney and Dallas, Texas
Adoptions will be offered by appointment.

Email: spca@spca.org
Call: 214-742-SPCA (7722)

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Can't make it for the entire event but want to catch a day or two? No problem!

Brokers can register for a Day Pass for only $30 a day. Just register for the day(s) you want to attend, and you will be able to access the virtual conference platform on your selected days.

Please Note: Day Pass registrations do not include access to the platform after the event. Only full registrations will have access to the exhibit booths and recordings of the live sessions for up to a year after the conference.

Program:
https://members.aacfb.org/AACFBMembers/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=ac20

Please sign in to register for the conference. If you do not already have an account, please create one.
https://members.aacfb.org/iCore/Contacts/Create_Account_no_Sign_In.aspx

News Briefs---

200,000 people have died from COVIS-19 in the US.
 That's more than the US battle deaths from 5 wars combined
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/22/health/us-coronavirus-deaths-200k/index.html

Byline Bank shuttering 20 percent of its branches
    Tied to changing consumer behavior in the COVID era
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/finance-banking/byline-bank-shuttering-20-percent-its-branches

Truist Financial Corp. launches corporate
     Venture Capital Division
https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2020/09/21/truist-launches-corporate-venture-capital-division.html

Sizzler restaurant chain files for bankruptcy,
    says move is a 'direct result' of coronavirus pandemic
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/sizzler-restaurant-chain-bankruptcy-coronavirus-pandemic

Trump says Amazon costs the USPS billions,
     but internal docs tell a different story
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/17/amazon-was-the-usps-largest-customer-in-2019-internal-docs-show.html

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You May Have Missed---

How’s the economy really doing? Judging by
     Rent-A-Center’s gains, consumers are struggling
https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2020/09/22/hows-the-economy-really-doing-rent-a-center-does-well-when-consumers-struggle/

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Sports Briefs---

The NFL’s expensive mask justice is about to get a lot worse
  Teams Docked $250,000; Tally $1,050,000
https://nypost.com/2020/09/22/nfl-fines-coaches-for-not-wearing-masks-jon-gruden-sean-payton-at-risk/

NFL Power Rankings, Week 3:
   A new No. 1! Steelers, Seahawks hit top 5
https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-a-new-no-1-steelers-seahawks-hit-top-5

Drew Brees downplays talk of his decline
    after slow start to season: 'My job is to help us win'
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/drew-brees-downplays-talk-of-his-decline-after-slow-start-to-season-my-job-is-to-help-us-win/

49ers’ Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas indeed out
     for season with torn ACLs
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/09/21/49ers-nick-bosa-indeed-out-for-season-with-torn-acl/?

49ers rule out George Kittle for game against Jets
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/49ers-rule-out-george-kittle-for-game-against-jets/

Opinion: Derek Carr, Raiders have found
     home together in Las Vegas
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/raiders/2020/09/22/las-vegas-raiders-derek-carr-shows-promise-sterling-start/3496523001/

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California Nuts Briefs---

California reverses course on nail salons,
    announces they can resume indoor operations soon
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article245926165.html#storylink=mainstage_card3

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

15 Cool Ways to Show Off Your Wine Collection
https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/living-family-rooms/g34076700/wine-cellar-ideas/

Selling it old school: Clos Du Val brings affordable to-go wine
    -- in a refillable jug
https://napavalleyregister.com/business/selling-it-old-school-clos-du-val-brings-affordable-to-go-wine---/article_5a8e6a4b-e616-5f9b-ab90-9ff78545bb54.html

My Experience Cruising On A Luxury Barge
    In Bordeaux and Why You Should Try It
https://www.travelawaits.com/2554873/reasons-to-experience-cruising-on-a-luxury-barge-in-bordeaux/

Harvest Finally Brings Good News for Champagne
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2020/09/harvest-finally-brings-good-news-for-champagne

Wine industry exec joins Bank of Marin
     on California Central Coast
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/industrynews/wine-industry-exec-joins-bank-of-marin-on-california-central-coast/

Sonoma County Wine Auction raises $1.2 million
     for local nonprofits
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-wine-auction-raises-1-2-million-for-local-nonprofits/

 

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

     1595 - Spain launched an intensive missionary campaign in the American Southeast. During the next two years, about 1,500 Indians were converted to the Catholic faith.
    1642 – The first commencement exercises for Harvard College.
    1779 - John Paul Jones, commanding the “Bonhomme Richard,” defeated and captured the “Serapis,” a British man-of-war commanded by Capt. Richard Pearson. It was during the engagement that Jones, when asked if he had struck his colors, (surrendered), replied, “I have not yet begun to fight”. After three hours of brutal fighting, Pearson surrendered to Jones. The Americans transferred the Serapis from their own ship, which sank a day later.
    1780 - British spy John Andre was captured along with papers revealing Benedict Arnold's plot to surrender West Point to the British.
    1800 - Birthday of William Homes McGuffy (d. 1873) at Washington County, PA.  American educator and author of the famous, “McGuffey Readers.”
    1806 - Lewis & Clark return to St Louis from the Pacific Northwest
    1815 - The Great September Gale moved through New England on a path similar but just east of the Great 1938 Hurricane. The storm made landfall on Long Island and again at Old Saybrook, CT. Extensive structural damage was done. Providence, RI was flooded and 6 people were killed. This hurricane is rivaled only by the 1938 hurricane in New England History.
    1838 - Birthday of Victoria Chaflin Woodhull (d. 1927) at Homer, OH. American feminist, reformer and first female candidate for the presidency of the US.  She was the first female to head a Wall Street brokerage firm and the first female weekly newspaper publisher.
    1845 - The Knickerbocker Club of New York was officially organized by Alexander Joy Cartwright, the man who laid out the diamond-shaped baseball field and gave the game its modern form. Duncan F. Curry was the club's first president. The club played its first game in June, 1846, losing 23-1. They were the first team to play in uniforms.  A previous team that played an earlier form of baseball was the Olympic Club of Philadelphia, PA, which played “cat ball,” also known as town ball, from July 4, 1833 to 1860, when they changed to standard baseball. Town ball, a game similar to the British game of rounders, was the immediate forerunner of regular baseball in the United States.
    1846 – The planet Neptune was discovered by German astronomer Johann Galle.  2.796 billion miles from the sun, Neptune takes 164.8 years to revolve around it. Its diameter is nearly four times that of Earth.
    1862 - Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was published in Northern newspapers. It declared that “all persons held as Slaves” in all the Confederate states, excepting a number of counties under federal control, were considered “forever free.” It also enjoined members of the federal armed forces from returning fugitive slaves to their owners. The Emancipation Proclamation in its final form was signed on January 1, 1863.
    1863 - Birthday of Mary Church Terrell (d. 1954), Memphis, TN.  Educator, political activist, and first President of the National Association of Colored Women.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep23.html
    1867 - Birthday of John Lomax (d. 1948), Goodman, MS.  American folk-song collector and founder of the American Folklore Society at the Library of Congress
    1879 - Richard S. Rhodes of River Park, IL, received a patent for the Audiphone, a hearing aid other than ear trumpets. It was a fanlike device held against the teeth.
    1905 – Detroit Tigers rookie, Ty Cobb, hit the first HR of his career, an inside-the-park homer against Washington.
    1907 - Birthday of piano player Albert Ammons (d. 1949), Chicago, IL
    1908 - In the decisive game between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Giants, the National League pennant race erupted in controversy during the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 1—1, at the Polo Grounds, New York, NY. New York was at bat with two men on. The batter hit safely to center field, scoring the winning run. Chicago claimed that the runner on first, Fred Merkle, seeing the winning run scored, headed toward the dugout without advancing to second base.  The Chicago second baseman, Johnny Evers, attempted to get the ball and tag Merkle out, but was prevented by the fans streaming onto the field. Days later, Harry C. Pulliam, head of the National Commission of Organized Baseball, decided to call the game a tie. The teams were forced to play a post-season playoff game which the Cubs won 4—2. Fans invented the terms “boner” and “bonehead” in reference to the play and it has gone down in baseball history as “Merkle's Boner.”  Lost in all this was the matchup of two of the game’s greatest pitchers:  the Giants’ Christy Mathewson and the Cubs’ Three-Finger Brown.    
    1920 – Entertainer Mickey Rooney was born Joseph Yule, Jr. (d. 2014) in Brooklyn.  His career included vaudeville, film, television and Broadway and spanned nine decades.  He was a teen idol during the Depression and the #1 box office star in 1939, 1940, and 1941.  He was honored with two honorary Oscars, in 1939 and 1984.
    1926 - Birthday of Tenor Saxophone player John Coltrane (d. 1967), Hamlet, NC.
    1926 – Gene Tunney beat Jack Dempsey in 10 rounds in Philadelphia for the heavyweight boxing title.
    1928 - Birthday of Tenor-composer Frank Foster (d. 2011), Cincinnati, Ohio.  Foster collaborated frequently with Count Basie, wrote “Shiny Stockings” and “Blues Backstage,” and worked as a bandleader from the early 1950s.
    1930 - Birthday of singer/piano player Ray Charles Robinson (d. 2004), Albany, GA.  He pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s when he recorded for Atlantic Records.  He also contributed to the integration of country, rhythm and blues and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his two “Modern Sounds” albums.  While he was with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company.  Charles cited Nat King Cole as a primary influence, but his music was also influenced by country, jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues artists of the day.  In the late forties, he became friends with Quincy Jones, to whom he learned the ropes of arranging jazz music. Their friendship would last till the end.  Frank Sinatra called him "the only true genius in show business." In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Charles at number ten on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time," and number two on their November 2008 list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time."  Billy Joel observed: "This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis."
http://www.history-of-rock.com/ray_charles.htm
    1935 - Birthday of jazz piano/organ player Les McCann, Lexington, KY.
He was very popular in the late 1950's and early 1960's, and my friends and I saw him often in jazz clubs in Hollywood. My trumpet friend Warren Luening could listen once and play his music with solos on the piano the next day. I remember it added to our enthusiasm to go see him and Mose Allison more often.
http://www.lesmccann-officialwebsite.com/biography.html
    1939 - Jan Savitt records “720 in the Books” (Decca 2771).
    1942 - SLATON, JAMES D., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Oliveto, Italy, 23 September 1943. Entered service at: Gulfport, Miss. Born: 2 April 1912, Laurel, Miss G.O. No.: 44, 30 May 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy in the vicinity of Oliveto, Italy, on 23 September 1943. Cpl. Slaton was lead scout of an infantry squad which had been committed to a flank to knock out enemy resistance which had succeeded in pinning 2 attacking platoons to the ground. Working ahead of his squad, Cpl. Slaton crept upon an enemy machinegun nest and, assaulting it with his bayonet, succeeded in killing the gunner. When his bayonet stuck, he detached it from the rifle and killed another gunner with rifle fire. At that time he was fired upon by a machinegun to his immediate left. Cpl. Slaton then moved over open ground under constant fire to within throwing distance, and on his second try scored a direct hit on the second enemy machinegun nest, killing 2 enemy gunners. At that time a third machinegun fired on him 100 yards to his front, and Cpl. Slaton killed both of these enemy gunners with rifle fire. As a result of Cpl. Slaton's heroic action in immobilizing 3 enemy machinegun nests with bayonet, grenade, and rifle fire, the 2 rifle platoons who were receiving heavy casualties from enemy fire were enabled to withdraw to covered positions and again take the initiative. Cpl. Slaton withdrew under mortar fire on order of his platoon leader at dusk that evening. The heroic actions of Cpl. Slaton were far above and beyond the call of duty and are worthy of emulation.
    1943 - Birthday of singer Julio Iglesias, Madrid, Spain.  He alternated playing professional football with studying law at the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid. In the earliest years of his young adulthood, he was a goalkeeper for Real Madrid Castilla. His professional football career ended when he had a serious car accident, due to which he was unable to walk for two years.  His recording career has easily eclipsed these early endeavors.
    1943 - Birthday of Martin Edward “Marty” Schottenheimer, football coach and former player, born Canonsburg, PA.
    1946 - Al Couture recorded the quickest knockout in boxing history, flooring Ralph Walton with only half a second gone in the first round. Couture threw the knockout punch while Walton was still sitting in his corner adjusting his mouthpiece.
    1949 - Top Hits
“You're Breaking My Heart” - Vic Damone
“Let's Take an Old Fashioned Walk” - Perry Como
“Someday” - Vaughn Monroe
“Slipping Around” - Ernest Tubb
    1949 - Birthday of singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen, Long Branch, NJ. “The Boss” was lead singer of The Castilles, then the E-Street Band: “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Born to Run,” “Hungry Heart,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Cover Me,” “I'm on Fire,” “Glory Days,” “My Hometown,” “War;” songwriter: “Blinded by the Light” [Manfred Mann's Earth Band], “Fire” [The Pointer Sisters].  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999.
    1952 - Rocky Marciano became the world heavyweight boxing champion by knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round in Philadelphia PA. It was Rocky's 43rd consecutive victory. He is the only heavyweight boxing champ to go undefeated, with a pro record of 49 bouts and 49 victories, including 43 by knockout.  This was the first Pay Television for sporting events, coast to coast, in 49 theatres in 31 cities.
    1952 - The first use of television in a national campaign occurred when Vice-Presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon gave his famous “Checkers Speech.” Nixon was found “clean as a hound's tooth” in connection with a private fund for political expenses, and he declared he would never give back the cocker spaniel dog, Checkers, which had been a gift to his daughters. Other dogs prominent in American politics: Abraham Lincoln's dog, Fido; Franklin D. Roosevelt's much-traveled terrier, Fala; Harry S. Truman's dogs, Mike and Feller; Dwight D. Eisenhower's dog, Heidi; Lyndon Johnson's beagles, Him and Her; Ronald Reagan's dogs, Lucky and Rex; and George Bush's dog, Millie.
    1955 - The first world heavyweight boxing champion to retire undefeated was Rocky Marciano, who won all his 49 professional bouts, notably the heavyweight championship in Philadelphia, PA. Marciano retired following the sixth defense of his heavyweight title, in which he knocked out Archie Moore at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 1955.
    1957 - Nine black students at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas are forced to withdraw because a white mob had formed outside. The following day racial violence in Little Rock prompted Pres. Eisenhower to send a force of some 1000 U.S. Army paratroopers to enforce the desegregation of Central High School. The President said that violence had caused the removal of nine black students in the newly integrated school. The students eventually entered the guarded school on September 25.
    1957 - Top Hits
“Tammy” - Debbie Reynolds
“Diana” - Paul Anka
“Mr. Lee” - The Bobbettes
“My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You” - Ray Price
    1957 - Buddy Holly and The Crickets released their only number one hit with their first Billboard chart maker, "That'll Be the Day." Holly would later reach the Top Ten with "Peggy Sue" and "Oh, Boy!" and crack the Top 20 with "Maybe Baby" and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore."
    1962 - Maury Wills of the Los Angeles Dodgers stole his 96th and 97th bases of the season to tie and then broke Ty Cobb's record for most stolen bases in a season, set in 1915. Wills finished the year with 104 stolen bases and won the National League’s Most Valuable Player award.
    1962 - “The Jetsons” premiered on television. “Meet George Jetson, His boy Elroy, Daughter Judy, Jane his wife...” These words introduced us to the Jetsons, a cartoon family living in the twenty-first century, The Flintstones of the Space Age. We followed the exploits of George and his family, as well as his work relationship with his greedy, ruthless boss Cosmo Spacely.   And who can forget Astro, the family dog. New episodes were created in 1985, which also introduced a new pet, Orbit.
    1965 - Top Hits
“Help!” - The Beatles
“Eve of Destruction” - Barry McGuire
“You Were on My Mind” - We Five
“Is It Really Over?” - Jim Reeves
    1967 - The Box Tops from Memphis hit #1 with "The Letter." Though the song was #1 for four weeks and remained on the charts for 13 weeks. The Box Tops reorganized right after that first hit and never made it to #1 again.
    1967 - The song "To Sir with Love" by Lulu, from the film of the same name, entered the Billboard Hot 100, where it eventually reached #1.
    1970 - The first New York City Marathon was held. Queens fireman Gary Muhrcke won the race, which consisted of four laps around Central Park. The course was later changed to run from Staten Island to Central Park.
    1972 - It was announced that for the first time in U.S. history, the birth rate dropped to 2.1 children per family.
    1972 - "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" by Mac Davis topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.
    1973 - Top Hits
“Let's Get It On” - Marvin Gaye
“We're an American Band” - Grand Funk
“Loves Me like a Rock” - Paul Simon
“You've Never Been This Far Before” - Conway Twitty
    1975 - Hurricane Eloise made landfall between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City, FL with sustained winds of 125 mph and a peak gust of 155 mph. This was the first direct hit by a storm in that area this century. Tides were 12 to 16 feet above normal. A total of 21 people were killed and damages mounted to $490 million. The remains of Hurricane Eloise merged with a stationary front over New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland producing major flooding.
    1976 - The first presidential election debate between an incumbent president a challenger to be televised as three networks pooled their efforts to telecast a debate between President Gerald Rudolph Ford, a Republican, and Jimmy Carter, the Democratic candidate, at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, PA. The debate, limited to domestic issues, was sponsored by the League of Women Voters. A second debate took place on October 6, 1976 from the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, CA. A third was held at Phi Beta Kappa Hall on the campus of the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA. Each confrontation was 90 minutes long.
    1981 - Top Hits 
“Endless Love” - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
“Queen of Hearts” - Juice Newton
“Stop Draggin' My Heart Around” - Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
“You Don't Know Me” - Mickey Gilley
    1983 - The earliest report of measurable snow at Snowshoe, WV.
    1983 – The Phillies’ Steve Carlton became the 16th 300-game winner in MLB history, defeating the team that traded him to Philadelphia, the St. Louis Cardinals.  Lefty finished with a 326-244 record, 11th highest win total in history, and four Cy Young Awards.
    1984 - San Francisco SF 49er QB Joe Montana misses his 1st start in 49 games.
    1984 – Manager Sparky Anderson became the first manager in Major League history to win 100 games in each league.  Anderson managed the Cincinnati Reds (1970-78) and the Detroit Tigers (1979-95), winning three World Series championships.  His 2,194 career wins are the 6th most for a manager in Major League history. He was named American League Manager of the Year in 1984 and 1987. Anderson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.
    1986 - NBC-TV won the ratings race for the 52-week season (1985-1986). "The Cosby Show" and "Family Ties" rated #1 and #2 respectively that year. NBC repeated the feat the following year and "The Cosby Show" remained number one through the 1989-1990 season.
    1988 - Jose Canseco of the Oakland A''s became the first player ever to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season. In a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, he hit his 41st homer of the season and stole two bases, #s 39 and 40. The A's won, 9-8, in 14 innings.
    1989 - "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You" by Milli Vanilli topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.
    1989 - Top Hits
“Girl I'm Gonna Miss You” - Milli Vanilli
“Heaven” - Warrant
“If I Could Turn Back Time” - Cher
“Above and Beyond” - Rodney Crowell
    1990 - PBS begins an 11 hour miniseries on The Civil War.
    1992 - 20-year-old Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in an NHL game when the Tampa Bay Lightning took on the St. Louis Blues in an exhibition. Rheaume led the Lightning onto the ice, made seven saves in one period of action and left with the game tied, 2-2.
    1996 - Montreal Expos outfielder Moises Alou flied out to right field against the Atlanta Braves to make the final out in the final regular season game ever played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Braves won, 3-1. Alou's out completed an unusual family coincidence. In the first game played at the same park on April 12, 1966, Moises’ uncle, Matty Alou, was the first batter for the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. His father, Felipe Alou, was the Brave's first batter. Pittsburgh won that game, 3-2, in 13 innings.
    2001 - Hitting his 66th round tripper off rookie Jason Middlebrow, Barry Bonds ties Sammy Sosa for the second-most home runs in a season. The Giants' left fielder also sets a Major League record with 34 road homers passing Babe Ruth (1927) and Mark McGwire (1998), who both had 32 dingers away from home.
    2001 - Hitting #'s 56, 57, and 58 off Astros' rookie Tim Redding, Sammy Sosa sets a Major League record with his third three-homer game of the season. Sammy also accomplished the feat against August 9 (Rockies) and August 22 (Brewers).
    2001 – The Texas Rangers’ SS Alex Rodriguez’ 48th home run breaks Ernie Banks' Major League record for most in a season by a shortstop which 'Mr. Cub' established in 1957. The homer also tied A-Rod with Frank Howard (1969 as a Senator) for the franchise record for home runs in a season.  The Senators moved to Texas in 1961.
    2001 - By saving New York's 5-4, 10-inning win over the Orioles at Camden Yards, Yankee closer Mariano Rivera establishes a franchise single-season record with his 47th save. The previous record was held by Dave Righetti who has 46 saves in 1986.
    2002 - In the last public event in 32-year old Cinergy Field, over 40,000 fans attend a softball game featuring Reds greats of the 'Big Red Machine' against an all-star team of players made up from the same era. Because the game is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, Pete Rose is allowed to play and he receives a tremendous ovation from the Cincinnati fans.
    2002 - The first public version of the web browser Mozilla Firefox ("Phoenix 0.1") is released.
    2012 - Four genetically different types of breast cancer are identified by researchers; the study, part of the Cancer Genome Atlas, will help scientists understand how to cure breast cancer in the future.
    2014 - Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, son-in-law of Osama bin Laden, was sentenced in the U.S. to life in prison for providing support to al-Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks.  Abu Ghayth commented that hundreds of young Muslims would rise up as a result of his imprisonment.