California DBO Cracking Down on Unlicensed Companies
December Bulletin States the Charge
by Tom McCurnin
Leasing News Legal Editor

The California Department of Business Oversight December Monthly Bulletin headlines "DBO Commissioner Issues Final Decision in Significant CFLL Case...Noting Enforcement Division Counsel Charles Carriere was the DBO's lead attorney in the case." (1)

Alan Abergel, attorney at law, represented respondent Financial Services Enterprises, dba Pioneer Capital (respondent or Pioneer), whose Chief Executive Officer and sole shareholder, Quinton Berry, also appeared. (2)
The case involves an unlicensed broker who masqueraded as a lender to dozens of customers, and at least according to some of the complaints at Leasing News, took deposits and did not fund loans. The California Department of Business Oversight finally caught up with them and prosecuted Pioneer Capital on the easiest regulatory violation it could—the failure to be licensed. 

I reported the event in Leasing News June 18, 2016, which although appearing on the DBO Website, was a temporary ruling. (3)  The recent ruling affirmed the temporary one, and Pioneer Capital must cease and desist from operating as a financial lender or broker.

Pioneer Capital is not licensed by the Department of Business Oversight to either broker or fund loans.  He has twice applied for a license and was apparently turned down once and his application is currently pending before the DBO.  

However, it was alleged Pioneer does in fact broker loans to outside funding sources. But it was also alleged that Pioneer does not, and has never, funded any transaction. That said, Pioneer holds itself out as a lender and pretends to make credit decisions. Pioneer told its customers that it was a “global leader in asset based equipment lending.”  Pioneer even went so far as to state that it had a “credit committee.”  Three customers testified against Pioneer, Robert Stefanovich, Skyler Ditchfield, and David Scott Kimball.

Mr. Kimball was the president of Vestiage who was required to make a $15,000 deposit with Pioneer Capital, never received a loan (it was always before the loan committee) and ultimately went public with his story. He testified that Pioneer Capital claimed to be a “direct lender” (which was obviously a false claim). Mr. Kimball also called Mr. Berry a “big time con man.” 

Surprisingly, the DBO noted that “the evidence did not show that respondent actually funds loans itself, and did not include documentation of any loans actually consummated.” I was left with the impression that the Pioneer business model was simply to collect deposits and never procures actual financing. At least one of the witnesses in the trial corroborated this. 

The sole issue before the Department was whether Pioneer engaged in the activity of a loan broker without procuring a lender’s license. It seemed like an open and shut case to me.

Pioneer made a technical argument that the activities requiring a license (a list of lending and brokering activities such as making ... commercial loans may include lending money and taking ... security for a loan) was an exhaustive list and unless all of them were present, the party was not a broker. Since Pioneer doesn’t lend money, it is not a broker. If this sounds like it is circuitous, it is. The DBO called Pioneer’s arguments “tending to overcomplicate, even obfuscate, the relatively straightforward facts and law of this case.” 

Out of the other side of Pioneer’s mouth, it argued that it is not required to be licensed because it made “five or fewer loans in a 12-month period,” an exemption for licensing.  So maybe it does make loans. My head was spinning. The DBO called the argument absurd. 

Finally Pioneer argued that since a broker is defined by the Code as someone who acts as a broker and refers loans to licensed lenders, he is not a broker because all his funding sources are unlicensed. The DBO also called this argument absurd. 

The DBO noted that if only brokers which refer loans to licensed lenders require a license, unlicensed brokers would have an unfair competitive advantage. In effect, an unlicensed person brokering with unlicensed lenders would be safely ensconced in a regulatory loophole, suffering no consequences for facilitating illicit lending.

The DBO held that acting as a broker in any respect requires a license. The DBO has ordered that Pioneer cease and desist, and that order was affirmed.  (Editor’s Note: as of the date of publication, Pioneer Capital appears to remain in business, has an active website and the phones are being answered.  So much for the cease and desist order.)

Attorney Alan Abergel argued the decision before the DBO. He was asked to provide comments for this update, and declined to do so. 

The bottom line to this case is that the DBO is now actively prosecuting unlicensed brokers. Now might be a good time to apply for a license.  

1. California DBO December Monthly Bulletin
   http://leasingnews.org/PDF/DecemberDBO2016.pdf
2. Pioneer Capital Decision (24 pages)
   http://leasingnews.org/PDF/PioneerCapital2016.pdf
3. Unlicensed Broker Subject to Cease & Desist Order by State ofCalifornia
   http://leasingnews.org/archives/Jul2016/07_18.htm#un

Tom McCurnin is a partner at Barton, Klugman & Oetting
in Los Angeles, California.

 Tom McCurnin
Barton, Klugman & Oetting
350 South Grand Ave.
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Direct Phone: (213) 617-6129
Cell (213) 268-8291
Email: tmccurnin@bkolaw.com
Visit our web site at www.bkolaw.com
Previous Tom McCurnin Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org

Previous Tom McCurnin Articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/leasing_cases.html

 

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ELFA Reports New Business Down 22% from October
Despite ELFF Confidence 67.5 December from 54.5 November

(Leasing News Chart)

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association MFLI-25 new business report for November was $6.4 billion in new loans, leases and lines of credit compared to $8.2 billion in October.

Ralph Petta
President/CE0
ELFA

President-elect Donald Trump's proposals to spend more on infrastructure, simplify regulations and reform the tax code could boost U.S. economic performance, ELFA President/CEO Petta said in a statement, according to Reuters.

Credit approvals for all applications submitted in November was 76 percent, compared with 77.3 percent in October, Reuters also reported.

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

 

Patrick Al-Samarrie was hired as Equipment Financing Account Manager, First National Capital Corporation, Foothill Ranch, California. Previously, he was Sales, Elite Aviation Products (March, 2016 – August, 2016); Inside Coaching Sales, Tom Ferry - Your Coach (February, 2015 – February, 2016); Sales, Times Publishing Group, Australia (October, 2008 – September, 2014).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-al-samarrie-64606577

Justin Borkowski was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Education, First America Equipment Finance, Rochester, New York. He joined the firm February, 2015 as Sales and Marketing Support Intern, Education; promoted June, 2015, Education Finance Specialist. Previously, he was as Wegmans Food Markets, starting August, 2013, as Front End Coordinator; promoted to Accounting Associate, August, 2014. Organizations: National Business Officers Association, Member (January, 2016 – December, 2016). Education: State University of New York College at Brockport, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Marketing (2013 – 2015). Dean's List, May, 2015. Monroe Community College
Associate of Science (A.S.), Business Administration (2012 – 2013). Monroe Community College, Associate of Arts (A.A.), Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (2009 – 2012).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinborkowski

Lori Maxon was hired as Equipment Finance Officer for Key Equipment Finance, Superior, Colorado. She is located in Albany, New York, "...will lead equipment financing activities for eastern and central regions of New York. Maxon brings more than16 years of experience in equipment finance to her new position. She joined Key Equipment Finance when KeyCorp acquired First Niagara in October. Maxon assumed the role of equipment finance officer after demonstrating continued growth and leadership as a vice president for First Niagara’s business banking division over the last two years." Previously she was Relationship Manager, UniFi Equipment Finance (formerly Ervin Equipment Finance) (November 2013–January 2015); Leasing Manager, KeyCorp (July 1998–October 2013). Honors & Awards: Leasing Manager, Key Equipment Finance. Key Equipment Finance: Million Dollar Club recipient: 2012, 2005. Key Bank: Business Banking Business Partner Award: 2011. Key Equipment Finance: Sales Achievement Award: 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012. Key Equipment Finance: Highest Percentage of Goal: 2001. Organizations: Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce. Albany County Chamber of Commerce.  Education: Utica College of Syracuse University, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Marketing (1991–1995).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-maxon-58662ab

Derek Meier was hired as Senior Sales Advisor at Geonetric, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Previously, he was at GreatAmerica Leasing, which he joined December, 2008 as Vendor Relations Manager; promoted June, 2010 as Direct, Vendor Relations as the company changed its name to GreatAmerica Financial. As a volunteer, he coached Youth Basketball at John F. Kennedy High School (September, 2009 - February, 2012).Education: Coe College, B.A. (2003 – 2008). Activities and Societies: Basketball, Junior Achievement.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-meier-3aa32021

Karen Shields was promoted to Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Marlin Business Services, Mount Laurel, New Jersey. She joined the firm January, 2003, as Assistant Vice President and Corporate Attorney. Previously, she was Associate, Law Office of Jerome Bacchetti (2002 – 2003); Part-Time Auditor, Central Parking System/Kinney System (1998 – 2001); Assistant to Vice President of Lending, South Jersey Savings and Loan Association (1998 – 2000); Auditor, Kinney Parking System (1995 – 1998); Store Manager,
Deb Shops, Inc. (1991 – 1995). Organizations: Board of Director for the Sydney Mae Taylor Foundation. Certifications: NJ Bar, NJ State Bar, DC Bar, DC Bar Association. Education: Rutgers University School of Law, Juris Doctor (1998 – 2002). Rutgers University School of Business, Bachelors of Science, Business Management (1993 – 1998). Highland (1988 – 1992).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klclende

 

NATIONWIDE SALES POSITIONS AVAILABLE Healthcare, Commercial and Industrial We are a premier small ticket and middle market full service equipment finance company. Our compensation programs are aggressive and include full insurance benefits, matching 401k, etc. Positions are available for well experienced industry professionals with an established book of business originating equipment finance transactions. Please email your resume to sschachtel@bankozarks.com or call directly at 973-768-7501 Bank of the Ozarks was recognized as the top performing bank in the United States, based on financial performance, five years in a row, 2011-2015. • Rated as “well capitalized” – the highest available regulatory rating • Publicly traded company on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, symbol OZRK • Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas • Chartered in March 1903, a 111-year heritage 256 Offices, $18.5 billion in assets, second quarter 2016 net income of over $54 million www.bankozarks.com/equipment Bank of the Ozarks We are an equal opportunity employer and give consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local law. Member FDIC.

 

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

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

 

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Sales Makes It Happen
by Christopher Menkin

Use UCC's to Call on Lessees Whose Lessor is Gone

Leasing News started "The List," companies no longer in business,
in the year 2000. Adrian Bulman, one of the founders of the National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers, now passed away,  sent Leasing News a memo from Tom Depping to his salesmen, saying look at all these companies not in business, salesmen should be calling their lessees and vendors, and stop complaining that there is not enough business out there.

It has been a practice for many years for leasing companies to obtain UCC filings on their competitors, and call, some even pretending to be a representative of the company. Do not recommend this as it is unethical. Depping was ethical: here were companies no longer in business, or sold, or merged, and these prospects already were sold on leasing; why not call them today? Who was taking care of these credits and potential customers?

Before the internet, lists needed to be purchased directly from the department of corporations or a service provider.  Today it is much simpler as almost all states have it on line, and much less expensive, and with a lot more information.

What has happened is when companies are purchased, the new company calls on the previous lessees and vendors.  It is easy for them as they have the records.  It has been happening for years.  Also many companies who get out of the broker business, as soon as they do, they go after the brokers lessees and vendors.  When this happens, the brokers say they will never come back---but they do, as Marlin Business Service is just one example.

In today's internet, you do not need a large staff to do this or a lot of money.  You go on line, either save or copy the name address of the UCC signer, put it in Excel, sort by zip code if you are going to divide the list, and then use Google to obtain the telephone number by just copy and pasting the address in Google.  It is fast.

You can sort the list by zip code of each state and recommend starting where you are located and then moving more and more out of the area.

If you discover many in one specific street or industrial complex, you can use this for calling on them in person.  Calling them up first, and making an appointment.  It beats just knocking on the door to see if the person who makes the decisions is available.

Many of the UCC's also have the name and address of vendors.  It is very common in UCC's to include the list of equipment from the Exhibit "A" which often has the name and address of the vendor.  Many companies require this, such as Bank of the West Leasing on their documents.  It is quite common.

You can also sort this information in Excel by type of equipment as well as zip code, if you set it up to do this.  It can give you leads to other like vendors, once you get the experience from learning the demands of the equipment provider.

You can also take this a step further and find out who the collection of the payments, meaning the funder who is the assignee.  You may not only want to call the lessees first as they are further removed from where the lease started, but you may find a new funding source that you can use yourself.

You can find who your competitor is doing business with.  In the early years, I would collect the daily UCC filings and weekly look at key cities near me to learn if I lost a customer, and as important, who was the lease assigned to as it might be a new source to fund transactions, too.  Sometimes when it was a high rate house, I would call them and pick up a new customer.

It's easy to do, type in UCC and the State, such as UCC California in your browser and you get:http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/ucc/

You don't need to call against your competitor still active in the business.  Call those no longer active in the business first.

No Longer taking Broker/Discounting Business
plus Leasing Companies Out of Business
http://www.leasingnews.org/Pages/Out-of-broker-bus.htm

The List--Alphabetical
http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm

 

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Leasing News Salvation Army Kettle
   Please See List of Donors to Date

Raised to Date: $1,355

Donors to Date:
Anonymous
Larry Armstrong
Brian Carey
Edward Castagna
Richard Cohen
Theresa Kabot
Jule Kreyling
Allan Levine
Klaus Pache
Reid Raykovich
Dean Rubin
Barbara Walker
Rosanne Wilson
Bob Underwood

 

  (Please click on kettle to join our team)

The man on the street, the child who goes to bed hungry, the woman searching for hope, the family with no presents on Christmas morning. Too often the needs of those in my community are overlooked, and it’s my turn to make a difference and make everyone feel loved. Whether I help one person, one hundred people, or 27,167,320 people like The Salvation Army served last year, I know that our #RedKettleReason fundraiser will make someone’s day and life better.

         - Kit Menkin

New Airline Identification Law in Effect January 22, 2018
by Shari L. Lipski, CLFP

As if airport travel wasn’t already difficult enough, you now have to worry if your state’s government-issued driver’s license will continue to get you through airport security. Effective January 22, 2018 the REAL ID Act will go into effect. What does that mean? That means that “travelers seeking to use their state-issued driver’s license or identification card for boarding commercial aircraft may only use such documents if they are issued by a REAL ID compliant state or a non-compliant state with an extension”. This also means the TSA and the Department of Motor Vehicles in all 50 states must get along, and currently more than a dozen states are not “playing nice” on the travel front.

Soon that beloved little piece of plastic you hold so dear will no longer be enough identification to get you past TSA security checkpoints, and the TSA is already posting signs to remind you of that. The agency is doing this now even though the changes aren’t going into effect until January 22, 2018, so you’re getting plenty of warning, right? Well, not really. 

Depending on your state’s compliance efforts, that date could be just around the corner. If you’re a resident of Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Washington, your driver’s license ID may not be enough to get through airport security starting as early as January 30th, 2017. Currently, 25 states are compliant, 17 have an extension through October 10th, and 4 have a limited extension through June 17th.

The good news?

• Your state may comply by 2018
• You can use another form of acceptable identification such as a passport, US military ID, border crossing card, or DHS trusted traveler cards
• You can move to a state that is in compliance (ok, maybe that’s not realistic)

To read more about the Act and to check you state’s compliance, visit https://www.dhs.gov/news/2016/12/12/tsa-notify-travelers-upcoming-2018-real-id-airport-enforcement.

Hopefully, for everyone’s sake, all 50 states will become compliant. They have another year to do so. If not, standing in line at the airport is about going to get a whole lot more interesting.

Shari L. Lipski, CLFP
Principal
ECS Financial Services, Inc.
P 847.897.1711
SLipski@ecsfinancial.com
www.ecsfinancial.com

 

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

 

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Leasing/Finance Conferences in 2107
CFA 1/31, LendIt 3/7, NEFA 3/15, ELFA 3/22, ELFA 4/4, NVLA 4/5 +

Leasing/Finance Conferences 2017
Save the Dates

January 31, 2017 - February 1, 2017
Asset Based Capital Conference
Encore at Wynn
Las Vegas, Nevada

Chapter Events
http://community.cfa.com/abcc2017/home

Jeffery Walsh, Event Director
Commercial Finance Association
(212) 792-9399 | jwalsh@cfa.com

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March 6-7
LendIt USA
Javits Convention Center
New York, NY
Registration
https://register.lendit.com/events/lendit-usa-2017/registration-2524df4551b143b6bafa14778d6b73d7.aspx?ct=96a6325c-3567-4ebc-9d29-6bcbae1279d3

Please use the code “Yodlee17VIP” at checkout to receive a 25% discount.

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March 15, 2017 - March 17, 2017
2017 National Equipment Finance Summit
Renaissance Long Beach Hotel
Long Beach, California
March 15, 2017 -  March 17, 2017

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March 22, 2017
16th Annual IMN/ELFA
Investor Conference
New York, New York

 

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April 4 - April 6, 2017
29th Annual National Funding Conference
Chicago, Illinois

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April 5, 2017 – April 7, 2017
National Vehicle Leasing Association
Hilton Nashville Downtown
121 Fourth Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Register

Contact: Elizabeth Schlicht
eschlicht@nvla.org 
414-533-3300

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April 27, 2017 - April 29, 2017
NAELB 2017 Annual Conferences
Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel
& Memphis Cook Convention Center
Memphis, Tennessee

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May 3, 2017 - May 5, 2017
37th Annual AGLF Conference
Omni Interlocken Resort
Broomfield, Colorado

---

October 4, 2017 - October, 6
2017 Funding Symposium
JW Marriott Buckhead
Atlanta, Georgia

---

October 11, 2017 - October 13, 2017
Lend360
Fairmount Dallas, Texas
http://www.lend360.org/

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October 17, 2017 - October 19, 2017
  Third Annual Conference

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October 22, 2017 - October 24, 2017
2017 56th Annual Convention
Orlando, Florida

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October 22, 2017 -  October, 26, 2017
The Palazzo and Sands Convention Center
Venetian Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada

 

(Leasing News provides this ad as a trade for appraisals
and equipment valuations provided by Ed Castagna)

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Leasing News: Special Christmas Edition
By Fernando Croce

As the year draws to a close, it’s time once again to seek for the old and modern Yuletide classics waiting at Netflix. This year we’ve put together a selection of the more offbeat titles for movie buffs—so consider this our own personal batch of cinematic gifts.

The Shop Around the Corner (Ernst Lubitsch, 1940): Though better known for the sparklingly sardonic wit of stylish comedies like “Trouble in Paradise,” the great director Ernst Lubitsch also had a glowing sentimental side, displayed at its peak in this lovely comedy-drama. Set in a general store in Budapest during Christmas season, the story chronicles the relationship between Alfred Kralik (James Stewart) and Klara Novak (Margaret Sullavan), two employees who are constantly getting on each other’s nerves. Soon, however, Alfred realizes that the pen pal he’s fallen in love with but never met is none other than Klara herself. The path toward their declaration of mutual love is followed with great warmth and delicacy, as Lubitsch and his actors weave a dazzling web of romantic yearning. A cinephile’s must-see.

It’s a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946): The story of the joys and travails of George Bailey (James Stewart) has long achieved a reverential spot in American pop culture, and deservedly so. Who can forget Lionel Barrymore as a gnarled, modern-day Scrooge, Henry Travers as Clarence the beaming, novice angel, and George’s great joy as he finds his daughter Zuzu’s flower petals in his pocket? Still, there is a darker side to the movie that many viewers miss even today, a very slender line that separates the American Dream from a nightmare and fuses hope and despair with extraordinary force. It’s this balance, cathartically realized by director Frank Capra with help from Stewart’s profoundly felt performance, that gives this classic masterpiece its enduring power, charm, and grace.

3 Godfathers (John Ford, 1948): A Christmas Western? With the unbeatable combination of John Wayne and John Ford, that unlikely combination is not only possible, but also outstanding. Wayne stars as Robert Hightower, a cattle rustler who, with fellow outlaws Pedro (Pedro Armendariz) and William (Harry Carey Jr.), is on the run after an Arizona bank robbery. While in the desert, they come across a newborn baby in a covered wagon—determined to keep their promise to the child’s dying mother, the three desperadoes become determined to bring him to safety in the town of New Jerusalem. Can they survive the desert before the tenacious sheriff (Ward Bond) catches up with them? Combining religious symbolism with visual beauty and humor, Ford serves up a gorgeous portrait of unexpected redemption.

Black Christmas (Bob Clark, 1974): If you're looking for a little seasonal counter-programming to the usual crowd-pleasers, you can't go wrong with this 1974 Canadian shocker, helmed by none other than "A Christmas Story" director Bob Clark. Set at a college sorority house during Christmas break, the story follows a group of students lead by the feisty Barb (Margot Kidder), and how they're affected by a series of threatening phone calls. In between arguments with her boyfriend, coed Jess (Olivia Hussey) helps the police in the search for the maniac who's been killing people around the campus. The closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous things become. Made with tension and a welcome sprinkling of dark humor, this underrated thriller supplies a nifty shiver in times of Yuletide warmth.

Bad Santa (Terry Zwigoff, 2003): Billy Bob Thornton is at his comic best in this rollicking dark comedy, which goes out of its way to turn every Yuletide tradition on its ear. Thornton stars as Willie, a con-artist brimming with foul habits who’s hired to play St. Nick as part of a plan to break into a department store’s safe. His Christmas Eve scheme starts to unravel, however, when he grudgingly befriends a smart-alecky boy (Brett Kelly) who teaches him the true meaning of the holiday. Directed by Terry Zwigoff ("Ghost World"), it’s a kind of anti-"Miracle on 34th Street" that keeps coming up with hilarious ways to be crude. Though not the best choice for a family-friendly audience, anybody looking for a drop of vinegar in their eggnog will enjoy it to the last drop.

 

Labrador Retriever/Shepherd Mix
Petaluma, California  Adopt-a-Dog

Roxy
Female
65 lbs.
4 Years Old

"Surrendered since her owner did not have enough time to provide her the time, exercise, socialization, or walks she needs. She’s been living with another dog (Midnight) for several years and they get along great. Her previous owner reports that she is “loving, needy, kind of hyper, loves people. Likes to ride in the car, likes to fetch, and comes when calls…” but “digs in the ground, barks when excited, barks at strangers, chews non-dogs items (wood and her dog bed), counter-surfs, attempts to escape, has some separation anxiety, and pulls on leash when being walked.” She is also is a bit frightened and obnoxious with other dogs until she is comfortable with them. Roxy knows many commands. She also likes to chase cats. Her previous owner found that she can be alpha with other dogs and suggests she be in a one-dog home.

"What Roxy’s Rescue Rep says: Roxy would do best in a home where she has strong human leadership, structure and gets a lot of exercise. She is current on rabies, distemper, microchipped, heartworm negative, and spayed. House-broken and crate-trained. Roxy is located in Petaluma.

 “If you are interested in Roxy, call, text, or email Rescue Rep Dave, 415-686-4248, david.c.ely@sbcglobal.net."

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue

How to Adopt:
http://www.labrescue.org/adopt.html

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

 

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2016 CLFP Accomplishment Report
Almost 400 Certified Leasing and Finance Professionals

http://leasingnews.org/PDF/2016CLFPReport.pdf

 

News Briefs----

Carl Icahn selling St. Charles railcar leasing firm
     for up to $3.4 billion
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/carl-icahn-selling-st-charles-railcar-leasing-firm-for-up/article_27318723-d679-5275-9498-47bf2e8414ec.html

Will new financial technology rules help
   or hurt the industry?
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/finance/311088-will-new-financial-technology-rules-help-or-hurt-the-industry

NATIONWIDE SALES POSITIONS AVAILABLE Healthcare, Commercial and Industrial We are a premier small ticket and middle market full service equipment finance company. Our compensation programs are aggressive and include full insurance benefits, matching 401k, etc. Positions are available for well experienced industry professionals with an established book of business originating equipment finance transactions. Please email your resume to sschachtel@bankozarks.com or call directly at 973-768-7501 Bank of the Ozarks was recognized as the top performing bank in the United States, based on financial performance, five years in a row, 2011-2015. • Rated as “well capitalized” – the highest available regulatory rating • Publicly traded company on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, symbol OZRK • Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas • Chartered in March 1903, a 111-year heritage 256 Offices, $18.5 billion in assets, second quarter 2016 net income of over $54 million www.bankozarks.com/equipment Bank of the Ozarks We are an equal opportunity employer and give consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local law. Member FDIC.

 

 

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--You May Have Missed It

 

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American Football Poem

Man in the Glass

(The poem Bill Parcells reads to his players on Monday)

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say
For it isn't your father, mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass
Some people may think you're a straight-shootin' chum
And call you a wonderful guy
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye
He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he's with you clear up to the end
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass

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Sports Briefs----

Jon Gruden may meet with Rams about head coaching job
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/c79414ce-d4a4-31e0-9af3-199beb9e461e/ss_report%3A-jon-gruden-may-meet.html

Giants hit with NFL sanctions for cheating with walkie talkie
http://nypost.com/2016/12/20/giants-hit-with-nfl-sanctions-for-cheating-with-walkie-talkie/

Oakland Raiders: Is Lott’s proposal a ‘carbon copy’ of failed attempts?
http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/12/20/oakland-raiders-is-lotts-proposal-a-carbon-copy-of-failed-attempts/

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California Nuts Briefs---

California pro catches whopper spotted bass
   that may break world record
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/outdoors/hunting-fishing/article121684452.html#emlnl=Morning_Newsletter

 

Sometimes Growing Your Profits Means Thinking Out of the Box Receivables Management LLC has built their reputation spanning two decades with unmatched Professionalism, Honesty, Integrity and the ability to earn its Equipment Leasing clients an average of 30% on residual income • End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement • Third-Party Commercial Collections john@jkrmdirect.com | ph 315-866-1167 www.jkrmdirect.com

 

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Bordeaux wine output seen at 7-year high
http://www.reuters.com/article/france-wine-idUSL5N1EE4EE

Former Indy Car Driver Lewis Turns into Winning Winemaker
http://www.indycar.com/News/2016/12/12-19-Randy-Lewis-wine

President Obama Signs $10 Billion California Water Bill
http://abc30.com/politics/president-obama-signs-$10-billion-water-bill/1660217/

Wine Spectator 100 Top Values of 2016
http://top100.winespectator.com/2016/values/

Lewisville wine expert, who touched many with his classes, dies unexpectedly
http://www.journalnow.com/home_food/columnists/michael_hastings/
lewisville-wine-expert-who-touched-many-with-his-classes-dies/article_3b72323d-4584-5c50-ad82-16054b2fc8bd.html

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

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

US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/

Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
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      1620 - According to Governor William Bradford’s “History of Plymouth Plantation”, the Pilgrims, aboard the Mayflower, reached Plymouth, MA, “sounded ye harbor, and founde fill for shipping; and marched into ye land, & founde diverse cornfields, and ye best they could find, and yea season & their presente necessitie made them glad to accepte of it.... And after wards tooke better view of ye place, and resolved wher to pitch their dwelling; and them and their goods”.  Plymouth Rock, the legendary place of landing since it first was “identified” in 1769, nearly 150 years after the landing, has been a historic shrine since. Contrary to common belief, the Pilgrims tried several locations first, including Provincetown Harbor, Mass, where the first social contract for a New England colony was drafted and signed by 41 adult males. The Pilgrims did not settle there, but went on after a time to Plymouth. Physician Dr. Samuel Fuller was on board, in fact one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact. For some time, he was the sole physician in Massachusetts. In a letter dated June 28, 1630, written at Salem, MA, to Governor William Bradford of Plymouth, he described one of the customary treatments, in which he “let some twenty of these people blood”.
    1790 - Samuel Slater's thread-spinning factory goes into production, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The beginning of the Industrial Revolution in America. The workers at his machines are 4 to 10 years old.
http://www.woonsocket.org/slaterhist.htm
http://john.ourjourneys.org/slater/early.html
http://inventors.about.com/cs/inventorsalphabet/a/textile_2.htm
    1829 - Birthday of Laura Dewey Bridgman - struck deaf and blind at two, she was the first blind-deaf mute to be taught successfully. LDB eventually helped teach others with disabilities. She learned to read through a Braille-like system and "spoke" through tapping out an "alphabet." as taught her by Samuel Gridley Howe at the Perkins Institute for the Blind, Boston. Howe's methods of teaching her are still being studied today and his journals as well as Bridgman's are carefully read for their insight and aid for teaching all those with disabilities. The records kept by Howe and by Bridgman's teachers are invaluable to modern researchers investigating the education of the disabled, as they are the first detailed records of the education of a deaf-blind person." She lived her entire life at Perkins, dying at age 60.
http://library.pittstate.edu/spcoll/ndxbridgman.html
http://library.pittstate.edu/spcoll/bridgman1.html
http://www.highbeam.com/library/doc0.asp?DOCID=1P1
:30431105&num=3&ctrlInfo=
Round9c%3AProd1%3ASR%3AResult&ao=
    1830 - Birthday of early American author Mary Virginia Hawest Terhune. Her novels often centered around southern plantation life. Her first novel Alone (1854) sold more than 100,000 copies. She also wrote advice books, and popular biographies. She wrote syndicated columns on women's affairs for the Philadelphia North American (1900-10) and the Chicago Tribune (1911-17).
http://www3.telus.net/womenswork/mary_virginia_terhune.htm
http://mn.essortment.com/maryvirginiate_rapi.htm
http://web.ask.com/searchcp?q=Mary+Virginia+Terhune&t=Mary+Vir
ginia+Terhune&cache=
00*2s45u99erpnnw&url=
http://www.math.ttu.edu/~wlewis/family.htm&page=&ws=1   
    1850 - Celia, a black slave is hung for killing her master. Her tragic story and the underlying cruelty and the societal-approved prerogative of the male to sexually satisfy himself with his property - slave or wife - was told in Meltan A. McLaurin's historically accurate book Celia, A Slave, New York: Avon Books, 1991. Robert Newsom, a widower, bought Celia when she was about 14, raping her for the first time on the way back to his Missouri plantation. He set her up in a cabin behind the main house and in time she bore two children. As the trial transcripts relate, in trying to resist her master's advances, she killed him with a stick. White women rallied to her side claiming that women had a right to resist rape whether they were slaves or not, but not surprising in the all-male judicial system upheld the male prerogative and the right of ownership prevailed in court. All appeals failed and she was hanged for murder. Melton A. McLaurin's book Celia, A Slave (New York: Avon Books, 1991) attracted a great deal of interest when it was first published because it was the first time anyone had attempted to reconstruct the life of an "ordinary" slave, a woman at that. All the real facts that are known about Celia are taken from the transcripts of her trial. At about 19, she began developing a mind of her own and even became involved with another slave, George.
http://www.click2famoustrials.com/celia/celia.htm
http://www.jacksonvillestory.com/Celia%27s%20Sad%20Fate.htm
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=4641
14&sourceid=1500000000000001827190&dest=9999999997
    1864 - Sherman takes Savannah. Despite efforts by Confederate General William Hardee to defend the city of Savannah, GA, Southern troops were forced to pull out of the city, and on this date Union forces under William Tecumseh Sherman captured the town. By marching from Atlanta to the coast at Savannah, Sherman had cut the lower South off from the center. Contrary to Southern belief on history, it was the Confederate troops who upon leaving the city began the fires so Union troops would not food or supplies or goods held in stores or warehouses in the city. They also burned farms on their journey to also cut supplies from Union troops.
    1892 - Walter Charles Hagen, golfer born at Rochester, NY. Hagen won two US Opens, four British Opens and five PGA Championships. He was extraordinary in match play, including the Ryder Cup, because he was a master scrambler and absolutely unflappable. He was also a colorful showman who brought the game to the masses and helped to increase prize money. died at Traverse City, MI, October 5, 1969.
    1892 - Portland, OR, was buried under a record 27.5 inches of snow.
    1903 – American detective writer Lawrence Treat born, wrote under the name Lawrence Arthur Goldstone, often called the "father" of modern police procedural novel.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/treat.htm
    1909 - Barney Ross, boxer born Barnet David Rosofsky at New York, NY. Ross was the first boxed to hold two titles simultaneously. He won the lightweight crown in 1932 and the welterweight crown in 1934. He also won a Silver Star during World War II as a Marine. died at Chicago, IL, January 18, 1967.
1909 - Although called introductory high schools, the McKinley and Washington schools of Berkeley, California, were the first authorized, junior-high schools in the United States. They taught grades 7, 8 and 9.
    1912 - Joshua (Josh) Gibson, Baseball Hall of Fame catcher born at Buena Vista, GA. Gibson is regarded as the greatest slugger to play in the Negro Leagues and perhaps the greatest ballplayer ever. Gibson starred with the Pittsburgh Crawford's. his long home runs are the stuff of legend. In 60 recorded at bats against big league pitching, Gibson batted .426. He died at 35 years old just three months before the integration of baseball in the major leagues. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972. Died at Pittsburgh, PA, January 20, 1947.
http://www.blackbaseball.com/gibsonjo.html
    1913 - The first crossword puzzle was compiled by Arthur Wynne and published in a supplement of New York World. He basically redesigned a Victorian-era game called The Magic Square as a feature for the Pulitzer newspaper.
    1914 - Marie Dressler, Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand and Mack Swain appeared in the first feature-length comedy that was six reels long. Mack Sennett directed the film called, "Tillie's Punctured Romance".
    1929 - The first hospital insurance group plan was effected by Baylor University Hospital, Dallas, Texas. The plan was inaugurated by Dr. Justin Ford Kimball, executive vice president of Baylor University. The first group insured were the Dallas public school teachers, who paid 50 cents per month for 21 days of hospital treatment.
    1929 - An exceptional snowstorm swept across the southern Plains through Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. 26 inches fell at Hillsboro, TX and 18 inches fell at El Dorado, AR
    1937 – “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was exhibited in Los Angeles, CA. It was an instant hit. Disney took a tremendous gamble with this 3-year artistic venture, as fantasies usually did not fare well at the box office. He had much of his own money tied up in the film, and Snow White had the potential of financially ruining him. The film was originally budgeted for $250,000, but ended up costing $1,480,000. The film utilized the talents of 570 artists and contained 250,000 drawings. Would adults sit through a cartoon that ran nearly an hour and a half? But the pre-release fears were unfounded. The public and most critics were enchanted and impressed with Disney's painstakingly crafted fairy tale. Never before had anyone so successfully produced a full-length animation film, and it was quickly dubbed into 10 languages. In England, children under 16 were not allowed to see the film unless accompanied by an adult, and it was under partial ban in South Africa and the Netherlands. The film ran for an unfrequented 5 weeks at New York's Radio City Music Hall and for 31 weeks in Paris. Snow White set new attendance records around the world, marking the dawn of a new age in animation. It became the first movie to earn $1 billion. In its nine theatrical releases it earned approximately $1 billion in 1994 US Dollars. The home video version of Snow White was officially released on October 28, 1994, after receiving about 27 million retail orders, making it the top-selling video up to that time.
    1937 - Birthday of Jane Fonda, considered a controversial figure because she visited Hanoi during the Viet Nam war. She won Academy Awards for her work in Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978) and she was nominated three more times. She won the Emmy for The Dollmaker (1984). One of the nation's most distinguished actors, she may never be fully honored because of her anti-war activities during the Viet Nam war. She went to Hanoi and through radio broadcast begged America to stop the bombing. She has been called Hanoi Jane ever since by the right wing extremists who distorted her message and purpose. Her workout books and videos became very popular in the 1980s. She dropped out of films when she married Ted Turner, the TV mogul, in 1991 (divorced in 200). In 1994 she narrated A Century of Women, a TV series that celebrated women's achievements in the 20th century.
    1938 - Cootie Williams's Rug Cutters record “Delta Mood”.
    1940 - Rock singer and composer Frank Zappa was born in Baltimore. The oldest of four children, Zappa and his family moved to California while he was still in his teens. After graduation in 1958, he played with various lounge bands and began composing songs, one of which, "Memories of El Monte," was recorded by the Penguins of "Earth Angel" fame. In 1964, Zappa took over a rhythm-and-blues band called the Soul Giants and turned them into the Mothers of Invention. Their irreverent blend of satire and rock 'n' roll was featured on half a dozen albums in the '60s. Zappa began a solo career in the '70s, and made a surrealistic film of rock 'n' roll life called "200 Motels." All told, he released more than 50 albums, including "Jazz from Hell," which won a Grammy Award for best rock instrumental in 1988. Zappa died of prostate cancer on December 4th, 1993.
    1942 - Soul singer Carla Thomas was born in Memphis, the daughter of veteran performer Rufus Thomas. She was the first Memphis soul artist to have a national pop hit, "Gee Whiz" in 1961. The success of that disc led to the formation of the Stax Records Company. Thomas had another pop hit in 1966 with "BABY," and the following year recorded two duets with Otis Redding, "Tramp" and "Knock on Wood," both of which made the Billboard Top 30.
    1943 - Birthday of guitar player Wolfman Washington, New Orleans, LA
http://www.xtrememusician.com/info/artists/profiles/2659.html
http://www.offbeat.com/text/wolfman.html
http://walterwashington.com/index1.html
    1944 - CURREY, FRANCIS S., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 120th Infantry, 30th Infantry Division. Place and date: Malmedy, Belgium, 21 December 1944. Entered service at: Hurleyville, N.Y. Birth: Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. G.O. No.: 69, 17 August 1945. Citation: He was an automatic rifleman with the 3d Platoon defending a strong point near Malmedy, Belgium, on 21 December 1944, when the enemy launched a powerful attack. Overrunning tank destroyers and antitank guns located near the strong point, German tanks advanced to the 3d Platoon's position, and, after prolonged fighting, forced the withdrawal of this group to a nearby factory. Sgt. Currey found a bazooka in the building and crossed the street to secure rockets meanwhile enduring intense fire from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had taken up a position at a house a short distance away. In the face of small-arms, machinegun, and artillery fire, he, with a companion, knocked out a tank with 1 shot. Moving to another position, he observed 3 Germans in the doorway of an enemy-held house. He killed or wounded all 3 with his automatic rifle. He emerged from cover and advanced alone to within 50 yards of the house, intent on wrecking it with rockets. Covered by friendly fire, he stood erect, and fired a shot which knocked down half of 1 wall. While in this forward position, he observed 5 Americans who had been pinned down for hours by fire from the house and 3 tanks. Realizing that they could not escape until the enemy tank and infantry guns had been silenced, Sgt. Currey crossed the street to a vehicle, where he procured an armful of antitank grenades. These he launched while under heavy enemy fire, driving the tank men from the vehicles into the house. He then climbed onto a half-track in full view of the Germans and fired a machinegun at the house. Once again changing his position, he manned another machinegun whose crew had been killed; under his covering fire the 5 soldiers were able to retire to safety. Deprived of tanks and with heavy infantry casualties, the enemy was forced to withdraw. Through his extensive knowledge of weapons and by his heroic and repeated braving of murderous enemy fire, Sgt. Currey was greatly responsible for inflicting heavy losses in men and material on the enemy, for rescuing 5 comrades, 2 of whom were wounded, and for stemming an attack which threatened to flank his battalion's position.
    1945 - BENJAMIN, GEORGE, JR., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 306th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Place and date: Leyte, Philippine Islands, 21 December 1944. Entered service at: Carney's Point, N.J. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. G.O. No.: 49, 28 June 1945. Citation: He was a radio operator, advancing in the rear of his company as it engaged a well-defended Japanese strong point holding up the progress of the entire battalion. When a rifle platoon supporting a light tank hesitated in its advance, he voluntarily and with utter disregard for personal safety left his comparatively secure position and ran across bullet-whipped terrain to the tank, waving and shouting to the men of the platoon to follow. Carrying his bulky radio and armed only with a pistol, he fearlessly penetrated intense machinegun and rifle fire to the enemy position, where he killed 1 of the enemy in a foxhole and moved on to annihilate the crew of a light machinegun. Heedless of the terrific fire now concentrated on him, he continued to spearhead the assault, killing 2 more of the enemy and exhorting the other men to advance, until he fell mortally wounded. After being evacuated to an aid station, his first thought was still of the American advance. Overcoming great pain he called for the battalion operations officer to report the location of enemy weapons and valuable tactical information he had secured in his heroic charge. The unwavering courage, the unswerving devotion to the task at hand, the aggressive leadership of Pfc. Benjamin were a source of great and lasting inspiration to his comrades and were to a great extent responsible for the success of the battalion's mission. 
    1945 - The FCC assigned television channels to several licensees, including CBS and NBC in New York City and Radio Corp. of America in Camden, New Jersey.
    1946 - Louis Jordan's single, "Let the Good Times Roll," debuted on the Rhythm and Blues charts.
(Lower half of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec21.html )
    1946 - Guitarist Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys was born in Hawthorne, California. The three Wilson brothers - the others were Dennis and Brian - formed a group called Carl and the Passions with Mike Love and Al Jardine in 1961. The band's name was changed to the Beach Boys to take advantage of the surfing craze in southern California. Among their surfing hits for the Capitol label - "Surfin USA," "Surfer Girl" and "I Get Around." The Beach Boys turned in a more experimental direction in 1966, recording "Good Vibrations," a number-one song that took six months to produce and was at the time the most expensive single ever made. The Beach Boys continue to perform, primarily as a nostalgia act.
    1947 - Metronome All-Stars record “Metronome Riff.”
    1950 - Top Hits
“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” - Gene Autry
“White Christmas” - Bing Crosby
“Nevertheless” - Jack Denny
“If You've Got the Money Honey I've Got the Time” - Lefty Frizzell
    1954 - Chris Evert, tennis champion, had 125 consecutive clay-court victories and has been called the world's best clay-court woman player of all time. She was ranked the world's best player 1974 to 1978 and in 1980 and 81. She was the U.S. singles champion 1975-78, 80, 82; Wimbledon champion 1974, 76, and 81, and won at least one Grand Slam singles title for 13 consecutive years. Between 1973 and 1979 Evert won a record 125 consecutive clay-court matches, and won the French Open on clay a record seven times.
    1958 - Top Hits
“The Chipmunk Song” - The Chipmunks
“Problems” - The Everly Brothers
“One Night” - Elvis Presley
“City Lights” - Ray Price
    1960 - Elvis Presley was inducted into the Los Angeles Indian Tribal Council on the day his movie “Flaming Star” opened.
    1961 - One of Rock and Roll's strangest oddities happened when "I Heard It through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye hit number one on the Cash Box music chart. The same song was also a number one hit for Gladys Knight and The Pips exactly one year earlier. The tune would also turn up on the chart by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1976. 
    1964 - A great warm surge from the Pacific Ocean across Oregon and northern California brought torrential rains on a deep snow cover resulting in record floods.
    1965 - An overflow crowd of 76,251 jams the Cotton Bowl, giving Dallas its first home sellout. The Browns beat the Cowboys 24-17.
http://images.nfl.com/history/images/1121.jpg
    1966 - The Beach Boys receive three gold-record citations for the single "Good Vibrations," which hit Number One eleven days ago and the albums "Little Deuce Coupe" and "Shut Down, Vol. 2."
    1966 - Top Hits
“Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron” - The Royal Guardsmen
“Winchester Cathedral” - The New Vaudeville Band
“That's Life” - Frank Sinatra
“Somebody Like Me” - Eddy Arnold
    1967 - SMEDLEY, LARRY E., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 21 December 1967. Entered service at: Orlando, Fla. Born: 4 March 1949, Front Royal, Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader with company D, in connection with operations against the enemy. On the evenings of 20-21 December 1967, Cpl. Smedley led his 6-man squad to an ambush site at the mouth of Happy Valley, near Phouc Ninh (2) in Quang Nam Province. Later that night an estimated 100 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army regulars, carrying 122mm rocket launchers and mortars, were observed moving toward Hill 41. Realizing this was a significant enemy move to launch an attack on the vital Danang complex, Cpl. Smedley immediately took sound and courageous action to stop the enemy threat. After he radioed for a reaction force, he skillfully maneuvered his men to a more advantageous position and led an attack on the numerically superior enemy force. A heavy volume of fire from an enemy machinegun positioned on the left flank of the squad inflicted several casualties on Cpl. Smedley's unit. Simultaneously, an enemy rifle grenade exploded nearby, wounding him in the right foot and knocking him to the ground. Cpl. Smedley disregarded this serious injury and valiantly struggled to his feet, shouting words of encouragement to his men. He fearlessly led a charge against the enemy machinegun emplacement, firing his rifle and throwing grenades, until he was again struck by enemy fire and knocked to the ground. Gravely wounded and weak from loss of blood, he rose and commenced a l-man assault against the enemy position. Although his aggressive and singlehanded attack resulted in the destruction of the machinegun, he was struck in the chest by enemy fire and fell mortally wounded. Cpl. Smedley's inspiring and courageous actions, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
    1968 - The first Astronauts to orbit the moon were Colonel Frank Borman, Captain James Arthur Lovell, Jr., and Major William Alison Anders, who made 10 lunar orbits in Apollo 8, launched by a three-stage Saturn 5 rocked from Cape Canaveral, FL, at 7:51am. The spacecraft reentered the atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean 147 hours 11 seconds later.
    1968 -  David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash performed together for the first time at a concert in California. Nash had announced his departure from the Hollies earlier in the month, while Crosby had played with the Byrds and Stills with Buffalo Springfield. Another former member of Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young, joined Crosby, Stills and Nash in 1969.
    1968 - Janis Joplin made her first appearance after leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company. Joplin performed in Memphis at the "Yuletide Thing" event sponsored by the Stax-Volt record labels. Also on the bill were such leading Stax acts as the Bar-Kays, Booker T. and the M-G's and Rufus and Carla Thomas. 
    1969 - Diana Ross and the Supremes make their final television appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, singing "Someday We'll Be Together", which would be the last of their 12 number one singles. 
    1970 - Elvis Presley met US President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office at the White House. They posed for a photo that Nixon aides hoped would boost the president's image with America's youth. All the singer wanted was a Drug Enforcement Agency badge for his collection. Presley, according to most accounts high on pills at the time, lectured Nixon on the evils of drugs, the Beatles, hippies and communists. Nixon had Presley shown the door as soon as he'd presented him with the badge and made him an honorary federal agent.
    1974 - Top Hits
“Cat's in the Cradle” - Harry Chapin
“Angie Baby” - Helen Reddy
“You're the First, the Last, My Everything” - Barry White
“I Can Help” - Billy Swan
    1974 - Harry Chapin enjoys his only number one single with "Cat's In The Cradle". The song's theme about a distant father and son relationship was suggested to Harry by his wife, after he expressed disappointment about being on tour instead of attending his son's birth. 
    1979 - The Eagles, Chicago and Linda Ronstadt perform at a benefit show for the presidential campaign for California governor Jerry Brown, who also happens to be Ronstadt's boyfriend. The show at the San Diego Sports Arena is followed-up by a similar show at the Addin Theater in Las Vegas. The two shows bring in over $450,000.
    1979 - Willie Nelson's movie debut, "The Electric Horseman," which also starred Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, opened in North American theatres.
    1979 - Frank Zappa's "Baby Snakes" premiered on Zappa's 39th birthday. The film combined concert footage, backstage antics and animated clay figures.
    1982 - Top Hits
“Maneater” - Daryl Hall & John Oates
“The Girl is Mine” - Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney
“Steppin' Out” - Joe Jackson
“Somewhere Between Right and Wrong” - Earl Thomas Conley
    1985 - Bruce Springsteen's album, "Born in the USA", surpassed Michael Jackson's "Thriller", making it the second longest-lasting LP in the top 10. Springsteen’s album lasted at its peak for 79 weeks, and was second to "The Sound of Music" with Julie Andrews that lasted: 109 weeks.
    1985 - Bruce Springsteen's album, "Born in the USA", passed Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to become the second longest-lasting LP in the top 10. It stayed there for 79 weeks. Only "The Sound of Music" with Julie Andrews lasted longer: 109 weeks.
    1986 - Atlanta center Jeff Van Note, who at 40 was the oldest pro football player, played his 246th and last NFL game as Atlanta beat Detroit, 20-6.
    1988 - Pan Am World Airways Flight 103 was the victim of a terrorist attack when the jet exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland. The 258 passengers, crew, and several people on the ground at the site of the crash were all killed.
    1988 - Seven cities in the eastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including Charleston SC with a reading of 78 degrees. A storm in the northwestern U.S. produced 22 inches of snow at Idaho City ID in two days, and up to two feet of snow at Happy Camp CA. Ski resorts in Idaho reported three to six feet of snow on the ground.
    1989 - Forty cities in the north central U.S., including thirteen in Iowa, reported record low temperatures for the date. Havre and Jordan, MT, tied for honors as the cold spot in the nation with morning lows of 43 degrees below zero, and the temperature remained close to 40 degrees below zero through the daylight hours. Dickinson ND reported a morning low of 33 degrees below zero and a wind chill reading of 86 degrees below zero. The high for the date of 16 degrees below zero at Sioux Falls SD was December record for that location.
    1990 - Top Hits
“Because I Love You” (“The Postman Song”) - Stevie B
“Justify My Love” - Madonna
“Impulsive” - Wilson Phillips
“I've Come to Expect It from You” - George Strait
    1997 - Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions became the third player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season when he gained 184 yards against the New York Jets. the Lions won, 13-10. He reached the 2,000 yard mark with a 2-yard run with just over two minutes left in the game. On the next play, he broke free for 53 yards, a gain that allowed the Lions to run out the clock and clinch a playoff berth. The other members of the 2,0000 yard club are O.J. Simpson, who rushed for 2,003 yards in 1973, and Eric Dickerson, who ran for 2,105 yards in 1984 ( this book is not up to date and there are surely some more members of this elite group today ).
    2006 - The Beatles' "Love" sat at #1 on the European Top 100 Albums chart. The album was produced by George Martin and his son Giles Martin and features music compiled and remixed for the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name. The disc would quickly be certified Platinum and won Grammys in two categories - Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Best Surround Sound Album at the 50th annual Grammy awards on February 10th, 2008.
    2009 - A snow storm embattled the East Coast, closing airports, raising havoc in many states, affecting Christmas shopping and closing many businesses.