Correction
Funders Looking for Broker Business
(Please Update Your Listing)

The following was not included in the original posting:

This List is updated by those who are on it. Information on number of employers, geographic area, dollar amount plus five criteria is provided by those listed directly to kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

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

The purpose was to update contacts, number of employees, dollar amount, as well as changes due to various states new disclosure laws.

https://leasingnews.org/archives/Aug2023/08_02.htm#looking

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Fast Lane Leasing Joins Funder List A
Specialist Commercial Truck and Trailer Leasing

Name In Business Since Contact Website Leasing Association	Employees	Geo Area	Dollar Amount	A	B	C	D	E
Fast Lane Leasing LLC   Gilbert, Arizona    2017 (1998 in Industry)  Contact: Michael Testa mtesta@fastlaneleasing.com  480-639-1542   www.fastlaneleasing.com NVLA (footnote)	4	Nationwide (no Ak,Hi,LA)	$20,000 to $250,000 app omly	Y	N	N	N	N

 

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

Full Funder “A” list:
https://leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/Funders.htm

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Bryan Anderson, CLFP, was promoted Regional Sales Manager, Equify Financial, LLC., Lincoln, Nebraska. Previously he was an ENGS Commercial Finance Company, joining the firm August, 2018, Business Development Manager, promoted November, 2020, Region Director; National Account Manager; Amur Equipment Finance (March, 2012 - July, 2018).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-anderson-clfp-93a8317b/

Yosef David was hired as Account Manager, DLL, Wayne, Pennsylvania. He is located in Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. Previously, he was Account Manager, Wells Fargo (March, 2017 - June, 2013). He started at TCF Equipment Finance in Sales, February, 2000, promoted August, 2004, Sales Associate, promoted April, 2013, Account Manager.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yosef-david-a

Linda Larsen Getman was promoted by ZRG Partners, LLC,  to lead the firm’s Human Capital Consulting and Advisory Practice.  She is located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. She joined ZRG October, 2005, Project Manager, promoted October, 2012, Senior Project Manager, Sales and Marketing Operations, promoted June, 2015, Head of Marketing, promoted July, 2018, Senior Director of Client Services. Previously, she was at Channel Marking (merger between Microcom and Compag)., starting June, 1986, Product Manager, promoted July, 1990, Administrator Services Manager, VAR Davison, promoted July, 1991, Channel Development Manager, promoted May, 1995, Channel Marketing Manager.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindalarsengetman/

Jim Richardson was hired as Business Development Manager, North America, Lenovo Global Financial Services (LGFS), Beijing, China. He is located in Utica, Michigan. Previously, he was IBM Security Software Portfolio Specialist (October, 2022 - August, 2023); Field Sales Executive, IBM Global Finance (IGF), (August, 2014 - October, 2022); Account Executive, Sun Data Corp (1990 - 2005).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesric2157colton889812964

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Leasing and Finance Industry Help Wanted
  We Are Growing Our Senior Sales Team Now!
www.topmarkfunding.com/careers

What is Going to Happen Next
Viewpoints Heard by Veteran Scott Wheeler, CLFP

What is next for the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry and how will industry leaders react to the short-term challenges and long-term opportunities that are currently facing the industry? Below are comments made by a bank EF leader, an independent owner, and a sales team leader.

• Bank EF Leader: The industry is faced with a short-term liquidity challenge and an increase in delinquencies. Both issues have been relatively absent from the industry for a decade or more. The bank is being more cautious but optimistic about the future. The bank EF division has tightened its credit requirements and expects relatively flat growth for the rest of 2023. However, he believes that by 2024 much of the internal liquidity issues will be corrected, delinquencies will normalize, and the division will be well positioned for growth in 2024.

• Independent Owner: Sales activity has been strong throughout 2023. Applications are noticeably improving in credit quality and the company is winning more than its fair share of new business. He attributes the change in institutional players and banks pulling back in the market. His portfolio has had a slight uptick in delinquencies. They are working their portfolio harder than in the past, but delinquencies are within the ELFA MLFI range. His originators are working harder than ever to generate new business.

• Sales Leader: Sales volume is up for 2023 for his team of twenty originators but he does not expect growth to hit the heights of 2021 or 2022. His expectation is below 10% growth for 2023. His top originators will see growth in the 20% to 30% range and average originators are falling further behind, struggling to maintain past monthly volumes. Top originators are aggressively developing new relationships and new programs while average originators (order takers) depend upon legacy relationships with lessening potential.

The above comments are typical industry comments no matter the year and can easily be summed up:

• The industry is facing changes.
• There are always opportunities within the industry for those who work hard and offer superior personal service.
• The future is bright in the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry for those who embrace change.

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

Wheeler Business Consulting is working with individual originators and sales teams throughout the industry to ensure that they are well positioned in the market, capturing their fair share of business, and outperforming the competition. To schedule a one-on-one meeting contact Scott Wheeler at: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

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

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Workplace Trends: How Careers are
Evolving in the Age of Technology
By Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners

The workplace is changing rapidly due to advances in technology, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI). These disruptive forces are leading to major shifts in the job landscape now and in the future. Here are some of the key trends that are transforming careers and skill demands in the modern workforce:

Rise of Automation: Repetitive, routine tasks are increasingly being handled by automated systems powered by AI and machine learning. Jobs that involve a lot of predictable physical work or data processing are most susceptible to automation. This includes positions like assembly line workers, clerks, cashiers, telemarketers etc. The upside is that automation frees up human time and energy for higher-level work. The challenge is displaced workers may need retraining.

Growing Demand for Tech Skills: As companies adopt new technologies, there is a pressing need for talent with skills in areas like data analytics, cyber security, cloud computing, machine learning etc. Tech-focused roles like data scientists, IoT engineers, AI developers are highly sought after. Even non-tech roles now look for some degree of digital literacy. Lifelong learning is essential to stay updated.

Rise of Alternative Business Models: The traditional 9-5 office job is changing. Alternate models like remote work, freelancing, gig economy jobs are becoming more mainstream. Permanent jobs are declining while temporary and contract-based projects are increasing. This provides flexibility but less stability. Self-driven professionals who can thrive in flux will adapt best.

Need for Human Skills: Despite automation, human skills like critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence and design thinking remain hard for technology to replicate. Jobs that require these intrinsically human strengths will be invaluable. Empathy, leadership, entrepreneurship - these skills will only grow in demand.

Blurring Industry Lines: Career trajectories are no longer linear or confined to one industry. Domains like healthcare, finance and engineering are integrating with each other, as technology converges. Cross-functional roles, diverse experiences and outside perspectives will be advantageous. An interdisciplinary outlook is beneficial.

The workplace evolution is well underway. Emerging technologies are disrupting old norms and creating new opportunities. Adaptability and learning agility will be essential as we navigate this sea change. By cultivating future-ready skills, we can all thrive in the careers of tomorrow

Ken Lubin
Managing Director
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klubin

The Ultimate Hire Collections:
http://leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/ultimate.htm

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Who Needs a Desk?
Watch the Change

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

Quiktrak and Douglas-Guardian Combine Forces
Merger Promises Continuous Tech Innovation
and Full-Service Risk Management

Acquired by RCap Equity Partners (RCap), Quiktrak, Inc. has left the Bureau Veritas Group and merged with the Douglas-Guardian Services Corporation (DG), effective July 20, 2023.

Rob Murphy, President Quicktrak
“We’re entering an exciting new chapter in our company history. I am very excited to be combining with the DG team,” says, Rob Murphy who has been appointed the president of the new company. “DG’s history and experience in the industry is unparalleled. Combined with Quiktrak’s large field force and RCap’s track record of success, we aim to provide a one-stop shop for our clients' risk management needs globally.”

Bruce Lurie, former Douglas-Guardian CEO and incoming Quiktrak, LLC board member, explained, “Integrating the two companies will only accelerate the expansion of services and solutions that my company embarked on three years ago when RCap acquired DG.

“With DG’s customer service, Quiktrak’s inspector coverage, and RCap’s commitment to technological innovation, the new company promises a new generation of AI-driven risk management tools for the audit, inventory management, and inspection service industry.”

Sudhakar Goverdhanam has been appointed the CEO of the new Quiktrak, LLC. He is a tech entrepreneur and the founder and former CEO of Prime Technology Group.

 “Sudhakar is the perfect leader given our focus on technical progress,” remarked Randall Kutch of RCap. Sudhakar is currently a board member and equity holder in Xemplar Insights, an information technology and services company serving the insurance industry, and PharmaForce, a third-party administrator supporting contract pharmacies.

About Quiktrak: Founded in 1991 and acquired by the Bureau Veritas in 2014, Quiktrak has developed the Revoquest platform to deliver more than 350,000 audits annually utilizing its network qualified inspectors throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Southern Africa.

About Douglas-Guardian: In business since 1932 and a full-service collateral company since 1991, Douglas-Guardian provides collateral management, leased equipment inspections, and floor plan inspection services in the United States and Canada

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

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

“Hybrid” Lease & Finance Accountants Conference
Open to Members and Non-Members
with virtual attendee $296 member & non-member
EFLA Leasing and Finance Accountants Conference

Association Recognizes Members of 2023 Financial Accounting Committee

Washington, D.C. – The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association today announced the agenda for its 2023 Lease and Finance Accountants Conference and recognized the members on its 2023 Financial Accounting Committee. New this year, the Conference is offered both in-people on Sept. 11-13 in New Orleans and virtually at a special discounted rate. The three-day event will provide the latest information on accounting and financial reporting issues affecting the $1 trillion equipment finance sector.

Jay Wilensky, Chair of ELFA’s Financial Accounting Committee, said, “Accounting professionals today are being challenged to lead, interpret and navigate fast-changing business environments like never before.

“Make sure you not only reinforce your current technical and soft skills but also stay on top of the new trends and regulations by attending the Lease and Finance Accountants Conference on Sept. 11-13. There’s nowhere else you’ll find this level of operational and accounting information you need to succeed—along with the opportunity to network and exchange best practices with peers and other industry leaders.”

Highlights from the 2023 Lease and Finance Accountants Conference agenda include:

• General sessions on “as a service” contracts, lease accounting challenges in the current economic environment, the state of the economy featuring Robert F. Wescott, what’s new from representatives from the FASB & IASB, and accounting & audit-related questions.
• Breakout sessions on the capital markets, CECL, climate financing, ESG, lease & loan pricing, navigating the lease accounting guidance, sale leasebacks, securitizations & syndications, tax law and more.
• Pre-conference session on fraud.
• Attendees are eligible to receive 15 Continuing Professional Education credits from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.

The agenda also includes multiple networking events, including a New Orleans Walking Tour, a Newcomers Reception and a 5K Fun Run.

Attendees also will have access to a host of technology-related sessions at the ELFA Operations & Technology Conference, which will be held concurrently at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. Attendees may participate in both conferences at no extra cost. Both conferences will share an exhibit featuring lease and finance accounting software and other technology-related processes and systems.

Planning Committee
ELFA recognized the members of the 2023 Financial Accounting Committee, who are helping to plan the Lease and Finance Accountants Conference, including:

• Jay Wilensky, Senior VP, Accounting & Finance, Chicago Freight Car Leasing Co., a Sasser Family Company (Committee Chair)
• John Bober, Managing Member, IXL Lease Advisory Services, LLC (Past Chair)
• David Abplanalp, COO, BMO Harris Equipment Finance
• Therese Babiash, Director of Accounting Policy, GATX Corporation
• Deborah Brady, Senior VP & CFO, Key Equipment Finance
• Matthew Derba, Partner - National Assurance, CohnReznick LLP
• Kyle Elken, Controller, DLL
• Matt Esposito, Partner, Grant Thornton LLP
• Joseph Guage, CFO, First American Equipment Finance, an RBC / City National Company
• Shawn Halladay, CLFP, Chief Financial & Operating Officer, Pitney Bowes Global Financial Services
• Marc Jerusalem, Managing Director, Accounting & Consulting Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
• Gary Kabureck, Retired Board Member, IASB Former Corporate VP and Chief Accounting Officer, Xerox Corporation
• Tim Kolber, Managing Director | Accounting Advisory & Transformation Services, Deloitte
• Jeffrey Lezinski, SVP Solution Architecture, Odessa
• Herbert Lohmann, Global Leasing Controller - HFS, Healthcare Financial Services, GE Healthcare
• Scott Muir, Partner - Department of Professional Practice, KPMG LLP
• Steven Pinamonti, Senior Technical Accounting Manager, IBM Financing
• Derrick Prine, Controller US & Canada, John Deere Financial
• Sumeet Puri, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer, Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation
• Joseph Sebik, Director of Tax, Siemens Financial Services, Inc.
• Charlie Shannon, Partner, Moss Adams LLP
• Mamta Shori, CFO, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance
• Jeremy Simons, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP
• Amie Sweeney, VP, CBRE
• Rick Thompson, Director, Structuring & Transaction Management, Bank of America Global Leasing

More Information
The agenda and registration details for the Lease and Finance Accountants Conference are available at www.elfaonline.org/events/2023/LAC/.

About ELFA
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) is the trade association that represents companies in the $1 trillion equipment finance sector, which includes financial services companies and manufacturers engaged in financing capital goods. ELFA members are the driving force behind the growth in the commercial equipment finance market and contribute to capital formation in the U.S. and abroad. Its 580 members include independent and captive leasing and finance companies, banks, financial services corporations, broker/packagers and investment banks, as well as manufacturers and service providers. ELFA has been equipping business for success for more than 60 years. For more information, please visit www.elfaonline.org.

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

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Watch at Home
by Fernando Croce, Leasing News Movie Reviewer

A paranoid comedy (“After Hours”), a poetic debut (“Medicine for Melancholy”), a great auteur’s collection (“Pasolini 101”), an all-time classic (“The Rules of the Game”) and a corrosive drama (“The Servant”) make for a rich slew of new Criterion releases.

After Hours (1985): Nightmares don’t come much funnier or more dynamic than this remarkable black comedy from the great Martin Scorsese (“Taxi Driver”). Griffin Dunne is a paranoid delight as Paul Hackett, a Manhattan word processor who pines for adventure away from his boring job. He gets more than what he bargained for when he meets a woman named Marcy (Rosanna Arquette) at an after-hours diner and impulsively goes to her downtown flat. What follows is a procession of increasingly surreal encounters with bizarre characters, as Paul finds himself chased by a mob that turns the city at night into a landscape of pure comic menace. The result is a dark gem of anxiety and hilarity, propelled by Scorsese’s kinetic camerawork and a cast that includes Teri Garr, John Heard, Catherine O’Hara, and Linda Fiorentino.

Medicine for Melancholy (2008): Before directing the Oscar-winning “Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins made an assured debut with this San Francisco-set romance, which already showcases his poetic gifts. The story follows two young African-American strangers, Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Jo (Tracey Heggins), as they learn about each other while spending the day together after a one-night stand. The more politically conscious Micah struggles with finding his identity, and criticizes Jo’s interracial relationship with a wealthy gallery owner. Uneasy at first, the two grow closer as the day passes and they visit the Museum of the African Diaspora. Will they part ways come night, or will their time together lead to a lasting bond? Attuned to his characters’ loneliness and yearning, Jenkins’ film doubles as a striking snapshot of the city.

Pasolini 101: Celebrating the 101th anniversary of legendary Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, this nine-disc set includes his brilliant, often controversial Sixties features. Pasolini’s fascination with social outcasts is visible throughout, beginning with his debut “Accattone” (1961) and in the Anna Magnani drama “Mamma Roma” (1962). Perhaps his most famous work, “The Gospel According to St. Matthew” (1964) took a neo-realistic approach to the Biblical epic, finding in Christ a revolutionary for the downtrodden. “The Hawks and the Sparrows” (1966) showcases an often-overlooked humor, while “Oedipus Rex” (1967) and “Medea” (1969) give idiosyncratic interpretations of classical Greek tragedy. The most challenging titles are “Teorema” (1968) and “Porcille” (1969), where Pasolini seeks mystical new beginnings in a bankrupt modern society. Don’t miss these singular, bold, thrillingly subversive visions. With subtitles.

The Rules of the Game (1939): Deservedly heralded as one the greatest films by one of the greatest of all filmmakers, French master Jean Renoir's classic is a must-see for any passionate cinema lover. Taking place in a luxurious country estate on the eve of World War II, it weaves a tragicomic tapestry as several characters, from rich aristocrats to lowly servants, showcase their many human foibles. Among them is world-famous aviator Andre (Roland Toutain), who's in love with the wife (Nora Gregor) of the millionaire (Marcel Dalio) who's hosting the event. And there's Marcel (Julien Carette), a cheery poacher who finds himself chased by the estate's strict gameskeeper (Gaston Modot). Balancing humor and tragedy with breathtaking delicacy, Renoir’s masterpiece is a treasure to be savored again and again. With subtitles.

The Servant (1963): After years of provocative work, Hollywood director Joseph Losey scored his international breakout with this stylishly unsettling British drama, scripted by acclaimed playwright Harold Pinter. Tony (James Fox) is a decadent young aristocrat who finds the perfect manservant for his London mansion in the enigmatic Barrett (Dirk Bogarde). The household soon grows unbalanced, however, as Barrett reveals a sinister streak and starts manipulating the weak-willed Tony. After his mistress Vera (Sarah Miles) moves in pretending to be his sister and proceeds to seduce Tony, the previously lavish manor crumbles as a reflection of the characters’ mental landscape. A pitch-black comedy about class divides, the film unfolds as a menacing game between master and servant that brings together Losey’s opulent sense of decay and Pinter’s brilliantly corrosive dialogue.

Fernando Croce is a nationally recognized film reviewer and has been contributing to Leasing News since 2008. His reviews appear each Friday.

Boxer Mix Puppy
Gilbert, Arizona  Adopt-a- Dog

Cleo

Female
Spayed
4 month old puppy
(when grown larger)
Tan/Yellow/Fawn
White and Black
Good with Kids
Good with Dogs
Shots current
Housetrained
Adoption Fee $450.00

Meet Kleo, the adorable 4-month-old Boxer mix puppy. This little girl is not only beautiful but also full of playful energy and a love for cuddling. Currently residing in a home in North-East Mesa, she shares her living space with both big and small breed dogs.

Kleo's sweet nature is evident, but she's definitely not a submissive pup. As such, we are seeking a home with large-breed male canine companions for her. She has a strong bond with her human family and enjoys being her foster mom's constant companion all around the house.

One of Kleo's favorite activities is playing tug and wrestling with her basketball. However, her true passion lies in swimming. She's an excellent swimmer and can spend hours playing fetch in the pool. A home with a pool or a family that frequents the lake would be a dream come true for her.

Kleo has been spayed and is up-to-date on her vaccines. Additionally, she's micro chipped, crate trained, and potty-trained through the use of a doggy door.

If you're looking for an active puppy and have a nice-sized yard, Kleo could be the perfect addition to your family. It's essential that you're committed to completing her training and providing her with the love and care she deserves. With Kleo by your side, your family will undoubtedly be enriched by her joyful presence.

** PLEASE EMAIL jgraffius@msn.com for an adoption application.

Valley Dogs
P.O. Box 365
Gilbert, Arizona
adopt@valleydogs.org
(480) 898 - 3657
http://www.valleydogs.org

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FT Partners Q2 2023 Inside tech Insights
Available --- Brief Synopsis

Highlights of the Report

• InsurTech financing activity picked up slightly in Q2 2023, rising above the low levels that plateaued from Q4 2022 through Q1 2023.
  
• Specifically, Q2 financing volume of $1.2 billion grew 8% quarter-over-quarter ("Q-o-Q") and deal count of 62 financings grew 15% Q-o-Q.
  
• While only experiencing modest increases in financing activity, the InsurTech sector was one of the only FinTech sectors to record any upward momentum at all during the quarter.
  
• Still, large funding rounds remained elusive in the InsurTech sector during the first half, and overall, most funding rounds totaled between $10 and $25 million in H1 2023, as investors gravitated toward early-stage and smaller deals.
  
• While overall VC activity remained depressed, strategic investors continued to make investments in the InsurTech sector throughout H1 2023, with 45% of all capital raises including participation from at least one corporate VC / strategic investor, a level higher than recorded in full-year 2020, 2021 and 2022.
  
• InsurTech M&A activity in Q2 2023 remained elevated above the lows experienced at the end of 2022; The first half of 2023 recorded 76 deals compared to 56 in the second half of 2022, an increase of 35%.

The Report Features: 

• Q2 2023 and historical InsurTech financing and M&A volume and deal count statistics
  
• Largest InsurTech financings and M&A transactions in Q2 2023
  
• Most active InsurTech investors
  
• Breakdowns by geography, product type and business model
  
• Corporate VC activity and strategic investor participation
  
• Other industry, capital raising and M&A trends in InsurTech

FT Partners Q2 2023 Inside tech Insights Report
https://ftpartners.docsend.com/view/f4ui9qszzpymwhtt

News Briefs---

Ranked: The U.S. Cities with
   the Most Vacant Offices
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/us-cities-most-vacant-offices/

So What Do We Call Twitter Now Anyway?
confusion in social media.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/03/technology/twitter-x-tweets-elon-musk.html

The Real Reason You’re Having a Hard Time
    Getting Things Done at the Office
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-real-reason-youre-having-a-hard-time-getting-things-done-at-the-office-5dc138f1?st=lby7677oqjky0nt&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Don’t Fly Without These Five Travel Apps
    it pays to have a smartphone loaded with extra help
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-fly-without-these-five-travel-apps-b17b0755?st=uzjg21ahqfa37yi&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Google can now alert you
    when your private contact info appears online
https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/3/23817797/google-contact-info-removal-search-results

 

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In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder writes a book
about the burger business
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/08/03/in-n-out-owner-lynsi-snyder-writes-a-book-about-the-burger-business/

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Sports Briefs---

The Mets Begin Dismantling the Most Expensive Team in Baseball History
https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/mets-trade-max-scherzer-rangers-df4de0ea?st=invokjbdqbub3ip&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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California News Briefs---

Photos: San Francisco’s iconic cable cars
    turn 150
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/08/03/photos-san-franciscos-iconic-cable-cars-turn-150/

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Gimme that Wine

 

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

St. Helena, Napa Wine Maker
    Andrew Schweiger
https://shop.schweigervineyards.com/About/People/Winemaker-Andrew-Schweiger

San Jose winery named Best New Winery
Experience by USA To readership
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/07/30/san-jose-winery-named-best-new-winery-experience-by-usa-today-readers/

How to read a wine label
This quick study of two labels will help you decipher
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/how-to-read-a-wine-label/

Wine of the week: Cuvaison, 2021 Pinot Noir,
Los Carneros, Napa Valley
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/wine-of-the-week-cuvaison-2021-pinot-noir-los-carneros-napa-valley/’;;’

Congressional Wine Caucus welcomes Sonoma County
vineyard workers to Washington, D.C
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/congressional-wine-caucus-welcomes-sonoma-county-vineyard-workers-to-dc/

Wine Job Listings entire United States
Many with Full Descriptions of Positions & the Wineries

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/congressional-wine-caucus-welcomes-sonoma-county-vineyard-workers-to-dc/

This Day in History

     1735 - Freedom of the press was established in the United States when John Peter Zenger, publisher of the New York Weekly Journal, won an acquittal of the libel charges placed by Gov. William Crosby. The royal governor had tried to censor Zenger's attacks on the British crown.
    1753 - George Washington became a Master Mason.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/aug04.html
    1790 - U.S. Coast Guard founded.
    1810 - Birthday of abolitionist Robert Purvis (d. 1898) in Charleston, SC. He ran all the Underground Railroads from his home and was the founder of the American Leasing Anti-Slavery Society.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASpurvis.htm
    1830 - Plans for the city of Chicago laid out.
http://www.1upinfo.com/encyclopedia/C/Chicago-history.html
http://www.aviewoncities.com/chicago/chicagohistory.htm
    1838 – The British emancipated the slaves in the Bahamas and Grenada. A rumor started in the South that slaves would try to escape to the Bahamas and fear of this lead to stricter attitudes and positions of slavery, especially by the many large slave owners who relied on the “free” labor at their farms, called plantations.
    1873 - While protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, Custer and the US 7th Cavalry clash for the first time with the Sioux Indians, who will defeat them three years later at Little Big Horn. During the previous two years, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and the 7th had not fought a single battle against the hostile Indians of the western Plains. Hungry for action, Custer was pleased when he was ordered to help protect a party of surveyors laying out the route for the proposed Northern Pacific Railroad. The new transcontinental railroad (the third in the United States) was to pass through territory controlled by hostile Sioux Indians. Custer was optimistic that the assignment would give him a chance to improve his reputation as an Indian fighter. Initially, the military escort saw little action. The hostile Indians seemed to be avoiding or ignoring the survey party. For Custer, the mission turned into something of a lark. He spent much of his time shooting buffalo, antelope, elk, and other animals. To find good hunting, he often led the 7th Cavalry far away from the survey party and the main body of the military escort.
On this day in 1873, Custer was far ahead of the rest of the force, camping along the Tongue River in southeastern Montana. Suddenly, a large band of Sioux warriors appeared on the horizon and attacked. The Indians were led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, but the young braves seemed to have attacked impetuously and with little planning. Custer, who had been taking an afternoon nap, reacted quickly and mounted an effective defense. After a brief skirmish, the Indians withdrew. Since only one soldier and one Indian were killed in the skirmish, Custer's short battle along the Tongue River seemed relatively insignificant at the time. However, Custer's easy escape in his first encounter with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse may have given him a dangerously scornful view of their fighting abilities. It helped to confirm his belief that the Plains warriors tended to flee rather than fight. As a result, when Custer again encountered Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse at the Little Big Horn River three years later, his greatest fear was that they would withdraw before he could attack, and he rushed in without proper reconnaissance. That time, though, the Indians stood and fought, leaving Custer and more than 200 of his men dead.
    1874 - Methodist clergyman John H. Vincent (1832-1920) and Ohio manufacturer Lewis Miller established the Chautauqua Assembly in northwest New York State, a summer retreat center combining recreational activities with the training of Sunday School teachers and other church workers.
    1875 - The first Convention of Colored Newspapermen was held in Cincinnati, Ohio. The convention's aim was to promote the establishment of United States newspapers that would focus on the African American community.
    1881 - 122ø F (50ø C), Seville, Spain (European record)
    1882 - A vivid aurora was visible from Oregon to Maine, down the east coast as far as Mayport, FL, and inland as far as Wellington KS. Observers at Louisville, KY noted "merry dancers" across the sky, and observers at Saint Vincent, MN, noted it was probably the most brilliant ever seen at that location.
    1884 – Pud Galvin pitched the most lopsided no-hitter in Major League history as the Buffalo Bisons routed the Detroit Wolverines, 18-0. It is the second career no-hitter for future Hall of Famer.
    1897 – African-American Henry Rucker appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for Georgia
    1900 - Louis Armstrong (d. 1971), Jazz musician extraordinaire, was born at New Orleans, LA. For years, he had told reporters that he was born on July 4th, but actual records show August 4, which he realized later in life, noting his orphan home had told him otherwise. Perhaps the greatest jazz trumpet player who ever lived. Asked to define jazz, Armstrong reportedly replied, "Man, if you gotta ask, you'll never know." The trumpet player was also known as Satchmo. He appeared in many films. Popular singles included "What a Wonderful World" and "Hello, Dolly" (with Barbra Streisand) and “High Society.”   Two of my favorite albums are “Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy” and “Ella and Louis.”
http://www.satchmo.net/
http://www.redhotjazz.com/louie.html
Best Louis Armstrong Vocal:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004RD5E/
qid=1059868750/sr=2-2/
ref=sr_2_2/103-5362656-4423850
My favorite single Armstrong Album:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002ADP/qid=1059868810/sr=1-1/
ref=sr_1_1/103-5362656-4423850?v=glance&s=music
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000047FO/qid=1059868625/sr=10-2/
ref=sr_10_2/103-5362656-4423850?v=glance&s=books
    1904 - Trumpet player Bill Coleman (d. 1981) birthday, Centreville, KY.
    1904 - Pianist/alto sax/trumpet player Kenneth Anderson born Pittsburgh, PA.
(See the list: http://jazzinstituteofchicago.org/index.asp?target=/
jazzgram/bronzeville/union/part3.asp )
    1905 - Piano player Joseph Louis “Red” Cayou (d. 1994) was born New Orleans, LA.
    1910 - Birthday of American composer William Howard Schuman (d. 1992) at New York City.   He won the first Pulitzer Prize for composition and founded the Juilliard School of Music.  His compositions include “American Festival Overture”, “New England Triptych”, the baseball opera “The Mighty Casey” and “On Freedom's Ground”, written for the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. He was instrumental in the conception of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and served as its first president. In 1985, he was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize for his contributions. He also received a National Medal of Arts in 1985 and a Kennedy Center Honor in 1989.
    1910 - The Philadelphia Athletics’ Jack Coombs and Chicago White Sox’ Ed Walsh dueled 16 innings to a scoreless tie. Coombs gave up just three hits and fanned 18 in what he called his best game. Walsh gave up just six hits in 16 innings but the woeful Sox offense provided no support. Working with little rest, Walsh won 18 of 19 starts in July, August, and September, finishing 30-9 with a 1.30 ERA. His 13 shutouts are the American League record; in 12 other games, he gives up just one run.  Both men are Hall of Famers.
    1916 - Denmark agreed to cede the Danish West Indies, including the Virgin Islands, to the United States for $25 million. The deal took effect the following March 31.
    1919 - Birthday of Glenn Clarence Cunningham (d. 1988) at Atlanta, KS.  Known as the "Kansas Ironman”, American track athlete and, from 1934-37, world record holder for the mile; member of the US Olympic teams in 1932 and 1936.  On June 16, 1934, at Princeton, NJ, Cunningham set a world record for the mile (4:06.7).
    1920 - Birthday of Helen Thomas (d. 2013) - U.S. journalist
    1921 - Guitarist Herb Ellis (d. 2010) born McKinley, Texas
http://www.arjazz.org/artists/hof/1994/94_herb_ellis.html
http://www.classicjazzguitar.com/artists/artists_page.jsp?artist=12
    1927 - The General Electric Station in Schenectady, New York, station 2XAG which was later named WGY, began experimenting with operations from a 100,000-watt transmitter. The FCC would later regulate the power of AM radio stations to not go over 50,000 watts on "clear channels" where few stations would interfere with each other.
    1927 - For Victor Records in Bristol, Tennessee, singer Jimmie Rodgers recorded his first songs. On the record, he sang "Sleep Baby Sleep" and "Soldier’s Sweetheart".
    1930 - The temperature at Moorefield, WV, soared to 112 degrees to establish a state record, having reached 110 degrees the previous day. Widespread drought after April of that year caused some towns to haul water for domestic use, and many manufacturing plants were barely operational.
    1933 - Sax player Huey “Sonny” Simmons (d. 2021) born Sicily Island, Louisiana.
http://www.gallery41.com/JazzArtists/SonnySimmons.htm
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/simmons_sonny/bio.jhtml
http://www.hollowear.com/reviews/simmons.html
http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,493395,00.html?
artist=Sonny+Simmons
    1934 - Mel Ott became the first Major League baseball player to score 6 runs in one game.
    1936 - "Long" John Woodruff wins an Olympic gold medal in the 800-meter run
http://www.fay-west.com/connellsville/historic/woodruff.php
http://www.greaterconnellsville.org/woodruff/commemorativeprintform.htm
    1940 - "Crime Doctor" introduced a new radio hero. CBS radio presented Dr. Benjamin Ordway, the show’s main character, as an amnesia victim. A former criminal, he got hit on the head, and began to work as a crime fighter.
    1944 - Nazi police found Anne Frank and her family, hiding in secret rooms above her father’s factory in Amsterdam, Holland. Anne was 15 years old at this time and had kept a diary during the two years of hiding from the Nazis. After the arrest, Anne and her sister were taken to a concentration camp. Anne Frank would die at Bergen-Belsen. Later, Anne's diary was found and has since been translated into 30 languages and was adapted as both a play and a Hollywood film.
    1944 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Swinging on a Star," Bing Crosby.
    1947 - Top Hits
“Peg o’ My Heart” - The Harmonicats
“That’s My Desire” - The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Don Cornell)
“I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder” - Eddy Howard
“Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” - Tex Williams
    1953 - Drummer Jeff Hamilton born Richmond, Indiana
http://www.hamiltonjazz.com/hamiltonbio.html
    1954 - In Saskatchewan, Canada, the uranium rush began.
    1954 - Alfred Hitchcock's “Rear Window” had its world premiere at New York's Rivoli Theater.
    1954 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Sh-Boom," The Crew-Cuts.
    1955 - Top Hits
“Rock Around the Clock” - Bill Haley & His Comets
“Ain’t That a Shame” - Fats Domino
“Learnin’ the Blues” - Frank Sinatra
“I Don’t Care” - Webb Pierce
    1955 – “To Catch a Thief,” starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, debuted in New York. The film later received an Oscar for Best Color Cinematography.
    1956 - At Wendover, Utah, Wilhelm Herz was clocked at 210 miles per hour, making him the first person to race a motorcycle over 200 miles-per-hour.
    1956 - Elvis Presley record "Hound Dog" b/w "Don't Be Cruel" is released.
    1956 - The Platters' "My Prayer" hits #1
    1957 - A world record was set by Florence Chadwick who swam the English Channel in 6 hours, 7 minutes.
    1957 - Juan Fangio won his last car race, winning the world auto driving championship for the fifth consecutive year.
    1957 - The Everly Brothers make their second appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show and introduce their upcoming single, "Wake Up Little Susie," a song which would go on to cause some major controversy and be banned from some radio stations
    1958 - Billboard magazine introduces its "Hot 100" chart, a list of the 100 best-selling pop singles in the country. This list replaced multiple charts the magazine had previously published, including Best Sellers in Stores and Most Played in Juke Boxes. The first song to top the Hot 100 list was "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson.
    1958 - Dumont TV Network crumbles. My father was a producer/writer/director for the Dumont network, creating shows such as “Harlem Detective,” “Captain Video,” “Hands of Murder.” He met often with Dr. Dumont, who he once gave one of the exploding cigars I put in his pocket as a kid. Dumont was a scientist and not a “showman,” losing Jackie Gleason among others. My father worked right under Ted Bergman, who I remember my father respected, but Dr. Dumont was not a businessman, nor was my father. They got alone famously, he told me.
http://members.aol.com/cingram/television/dumont2.htm
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/D/htmlD/DuMont/DuMont.htm
    1961 - 108ø F, Spokane, WA (record)
    1961 – Former President Barack Obama was born in Honolulu.
    1963 - The Beatles appear on the US record charts for the first time as "From Me to You" debuts at #116 in Billboard. Unfortunately, it stays there, due to problems with its American label (Vee Jay) and a cover version by Del Shannon that got the jump on it. It would take a massive promotional blitz by Capitol over the next five months to ensure a Beatles hit in America with the single "I Want to Hold Your Hand" b/w "I Saw Her Standing There" (Capitol 5112).
    1963 - Top Hits
“So Much in Love” - The Tymes
“Fingertips” - Pt 2 - Little Stevie Wonder
“(You’re the) Devil in Disguise” - Elvis Presley
“Ring of Fire” - Johnny Cash
    1963 - In his first at-bat in two months after breaking his left foot, Mickey Mantle slams a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning to beat the Orioles, 11-10.
    1964 - After disappearing on June 21, three civil rights workers were found murdered and buried in an earthen dam outside Philadelphia, MS. The three young men were workers on the Mississippi Summer Project organized by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to increase black voter registration. Prior to their disappearance, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were detained by Neshoba County police on charges of speeding. When their car was found, burned, on June 23, President Johnson ordered an FBI search for the men.
    1964 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "A Hard Day's Night," The Beatles.
    1966 - John Lennon's comment that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus Christ" was re-printed in an American teen magazine called Datebook and was widely reported in North America. The statement, made to London Evening Standard journalist Maureen Cleave several months earlier, caused a public outcry in the US and led to mass destruction of Beatle records. Thirty-five radio stations banned all Beatles songs and even the Ku Klux Klan made threats against the group. What Lennon actually said was "Christianity will go. It will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that, I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus Christ now; I don't know which will go first - rock 'n roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me."
    1968 - The Newport Pop Festival begins in Costa Mesa, California. 100,000 fans come out to hear Sonny & Cher, Tiny Tim, Jefferson Airplane, Steppenwolf, the Grateful Dead, the Byrds, Iron Butterfly and Eric Burdon and The Animals.
    1971 - Top Hits
“You’ve Got a Friend” - James Taylor
“Mr. Big Stuff” - Jean Knight
“Draggin’ the Line” - Tommy James
“I’m Just Me” - Charley Pride
    1972 – “Superfly,” starring Ron O'Neal, opened in theaters. Directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., “Superfly's” success at the box office and unexpected acclaim prompted two sequels. The plot centers on a Harlem drug dealer who wants to retire. Curtis Mayfield's dynamic soundtrack set it apart from similar low-budget films.
    1973 - Maureen McGovern's "The Morning After (The Song from the Poseidon Adventure)" hits #1
    1974 - Paul Simon's "Love Me like a Rock" is released.
    1974 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Feel Like Makin' Love," Roberta Flack.
    1979 - Top Hits
“Bad Girls” - Donna Summer
“Good Times” - Chic
“Ring My Bell” - Anita Ward
“You’re the Only One” - Dolly Parton
    1980 - A record forty-two consecutive days of 100 degree heat finally came to an end at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. July, 1980 proved to be the hottest month of record with a mean temperature of 92 degrees. There was just one day of rain in July, and there was no measurable rain in August. There were 18 more days of 100-degree heat in August, and four in September. Hot weather that summer contributed to the deaths of 1200 people nationally, and losses from the heat across the country were estimated at twenty billion dollars.
    1980 - After a five-year hiatus, John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin recording their album "Double Fantasy" at New York's Hit Factory Studio. The LP would go to number one in the US after its release in November, less than a month before Lennon was gunned down outside his New York apartment. "Double Fantasy" received the 1981 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
    1981 - A United States court ordered striking air traffic controllers back to work and fined their union $2.4 million a day for the duration of the strike.    
    1983 - During warm-ups, New York Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield threw a baseball and accidentally killed a seagull. When the game was over, Toronto police surrounded the batter and arrested him for "causing unnecessary suffering to an animal."
    1985 – On the same day, Tom Seaver became the 17th pitcher to win 300 games and Rod Carew became the 16th player ever to collect 3,000 hits. 
    1987 - Top Hits
“Shakedown” - Bob Seger
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” - U2
“I Want Your Sex” - George Michael
“Snap Your Fingers” - Ronnie Milsap
    1988 - Congress votes $20,000 to each Japanese-American interned in WW II.  Still waiting are the Italian-Americans who were similarly interned during the war.
    1989 - Thunderstorms produced severe weather from eastern Nebraska and northeastern Kansas to the Great Lakes Region, with 150 reports of large hail or damaging winds during the afternoon, evening, and nighttime hours. Thunderstorms produced tennis ball size hail at Claremont, MN, and wind gusts to 75 mph at Milwaukee, WI. Thunderstorms representing what once was Hurricane Chantal produced five inches of rain at Grant, MI, and deluged Chicago, IL, with more than three inches of rain in three hours
    1995 – Long-time coach, the late Jimmie Reese (1901-94), whose 23 years in an Angels uniform equals longest in club history, is inducted into the Angels' Hall of Fame. The former roommate of Babe Ruth began his career as a batboy for the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles Angels in 1917.
    1995 – “Babe,” the charming sleeper hit about a pig that learns to be a sheep dog, debuted in United States movie theaters. The gentle film, with state-of-the-art computer technology, thrilled audiences young and old, and the film garnered many awards and nominations, including the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/ Musical, and it was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Veteran actor James Cromwell received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Farmer Hoggett, and director Chris Noonan received the New York Film Critics Circle Awards for Best New Director. The National Society of Film Critics declared it Best Film of the Year. Christine Cavanaugh supplied the voice of the hero pig, and Roscoe Lee Browne was a moving narrator. “Babe” was based on the book "The Sheep-Pig" by Dick King- Smith.
    1997 - The world's oldest person, Jeanne Calment (1875-1997), died aged 122 years and 164 days in Arles, France.
    1998 - Yankees' slugger Darryl Strawberry hits a game-tying pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth inning of New York's 10-5 win becoming the second Major Leaguer to hit two pinch-hit grand slams in one season.
    2000 - With 32 home games remaining, the Astros, who moved from the pitcher-friendly Astrodome to homer-haven Enron Field this season, set a franchise-record by already hitting 83 homers at home this season.
    2001 - Top Hits
“Bootylicious” -Destiny's Child
“Loverboy” -Mariah Carey Featuring Cameo
“Let Me Blow Ya Mind” -Eve Featuring Gwen Stefani
“Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)” -Blu Cantrell
    2007 – Although clouded by his admitted use of PEDs, Barry Bonds hit the 755th home run of his career to tie Henry Aaron for the all-time home run record.  At Yankee Stadium, 3B Alex Rodriguez, another PED abuser, became the youngest Major Leaguer to hit 500 homers.
    2009 - A Federal jury ruled that a 25-year-old Boston University graduate student must pay $675,000 to four music companies for illegally downloading and distributing more than two dozen songs. The man said that he would file for bankruptcy protection.
    2011 - The Southern United States experiences a heat alert for fourteen states; several dozen heat-related deaths occurred since July.
    2020 - UN says COVID-19 pandemic has created biggest educational disruption in history affecting nearly 1.6 million students in 190 countries, 94% worldwide