Wednesday, December 12, 2007
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Headlines---
Classified ads- Sales Manager
Some say not enough
Balboa Capital to exit Broker Business?
As predicted, more changes at CIT
Classified Ads---Help Wanted
Cartoon---Buy a Dog
Sales makes it Happen—by Adrian Miller
How to end the year with more revenue---
GATX orders 2,000 railroad cars from Trinity
ZRG Opens Offices on Toronto, Canada
Thousands Shiver After Midwest Ice Storm
GE Says 2008 Profit May Rise 10%
Swiss bank $US 10 BB sub-prime write down
Freddie Sees $5.5B-$7.5B More Losses
WaMu sets write-off of $1.6 billion
News Briefs---
You May have Missed---
Sports Briefs---
"Gimme that Wine"
Calendar Events
Snapple Real Facts
Today's Top Event in History
This Day in American History
Football Poem
SuDoku
Daily Puzzle
GasBuddy
News on Line---Internet Newspapers
Houston, Texas Community Newspapers
######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”
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Classified ads- Sales Manager Atlanta, GA
Strong sales and leadership skills; demonstrated with sales training and sales performance. Lead team in both regional and national operations and developed marketing programs.
Email: mll1946@comcast.net
[Resume]
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Resumes/Michael_Leonard.pdf
Dallas-Fort Worth Texas
Highly experienced, vendor driven professional sales/manager. Solid, "up and running" book of business. Can produce from day one. Looking for aggressive company to join with.
Email: bankingdallas@yahoo.com
To place a free “job wanted” ad here, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm
For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm
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Some say not enough
Seems like someone spiked the egg nog for Christmas.
Some say not enough.
No one seems to be very satisfied. Some groups believe it
should have been more to offset the subprime mortgage debacle.
Others say it will help lower credit card rates??? and home
mortgage rates??? and give incentive to banks and others
to loosen their credit criteria???
Who’s in charge? |
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Balboa Capital to exit Broker Business?
by Christopher “Kit” Menkin
Looks like the creator and head of the broker division resigned last week.
Looks like Phil Silva, Executive Vice President, hired last May, is now in charge. His claim to fame is allegedly developing and managing the National Accounts Group for American Express Business Finance (AEBF). When Key Corp bought Amex, he became available in the market place.
According to a reliable source, Silva was to inherit the broker division
at Balboa, but has had no luck building a vendor group which he was reportedly originally hired to do (shades of American Express Business Finance.) Another source tells Leasing News Silva is only in the office a few days at a time and hasn't made a very good impression. Brokers don't know him, Leasing News is also told. It appears no salesmen from source's group / direct sales wants to move over.
Officers at Balboa Capital, Southern California, did not return e-mail or telephone calls to confirm or deny what Leasing News readers are telling us: “A Balboa rep said the broker department is being shut down.” A statement was sought from four officers of the company.
As reported earlier, the same companies with the alleged false vendor invoices hit Balboa, and about the same time, the e-mail to all about CapitalWerks was sent out
( see: http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/November%202007/11-09-07.htm#jr2ln )
There reportedly is an active trial in Arizona regarding an ex-Balboa salesman and invoices, as well as connections to several brokers the FBI has been investigating in Operation Lease Fleece.
The officers at Balboa Capital did not return calls to confirm or deny the information. Nor did they confirm or deny that Curt Lysne, Senior. Vice President of Sales, who both started and headed the broker division, had left the company last week. His twin brother, who evidently still works at Balboa told Leasing News, “Sorry Kit, the Company will respond to your question.”
Curt Lynse is not listed on the web site any longer.
July 18, 2007 Balboa appointed Patrick Ontal as Vice President of Inside Sales Vendor Services Group. The press release stated, " Prior to Balboa Capital, Patrick worked for US Express Leasing where he was responsible for the Technology segments inside sales team Previously, Patrick led the Franchise Finance sales team at Key Equipment Finance."
After Patrick Byrne bought out his “partner’s interest” in Balboa Capital, he started making internal changes, including a computer system and the idea of getting into accepting leasing transactions
from independent brokers. The person who chose in February, 2004, was Curt Lysne, late of 14 years with GE Capital- Colonial Pacific Colonial Pacific Leasing where he served in a variety of leadership roles including Chief Credit Officer, and Vice President, Sales, living in Portland, who commuted until his daughter graduated college and then bought a home in bought a home in San Clemente.
May 8, 2006, Balboa issued a press release:
“Balboa Capitals Broker division increases accepted transaction limit to $ 250,000. The change affects the existing Application-Only program, which expands from $ 75,000 to $ 100,000. Balboa Capital also adds a new Commercial program for Broker partners that will provide equipment leasing up to $ 250,000 with financial statements. Both changes are effective immediately for transactions across the United States. Equipment Lease brokers looking to place larger Application-Only transactions or that need a funding source for Commercial packages can now look to Balboa Capital.
“Balboas Broker Division has been in operation for over two years. The division increased originations over 180% in 2005 and plans to double again in 2006. The new transactions limits are another benefit that Balboa will offer their customers.
“Our Broker partners asked for an expanded App-Only program and we were able to deliver, says Curt Lysne, Balboa Capitals Sr. Vice President of Sales. We also anticipate our new Commercial Program to be a growth vehicle this year because we think the marketplace is void of a second tier buyer of middle market transactions.
“As the broker division continues to introduce new programs and products, Application-Only requests can be submitted directly on-line through Compass, Balboas web-based lease processing system. Other financial statements or requests can be sent via fax, mail, or e-mail.”
Note in the ads that appeared in industry media newsletters:
applications up to $100,000, commercial up to $250,000, “no banks or trades,” “corporation only,” “private party sales” and “We pay commissions up to 20%.”
The company is known for its “Evergreen clauses,” legal in all but two states where a lease automatically continues.
See previous story:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Balboa_pushes_evergreen.htm
Inside Patrick "Evergreen" Byrne's Brain
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As predicted, more changes at CIT
CIT Group, New York, announced yesterday the appointments of Kristine "Kris" Snow and Terry Kelleher as Co-Presidents of CIT Vendor Finance.
Kristine (Kris) A. Snow
Co-President,
CIT Global Vendor Finance
Snow previously served as President of CIT Vendor Finance Americas, while Kelleher served as President of CIT Vendor Finance Europe & Asia Pacific. Their combined territories include more than 30 countries, 2,300 employees and more than $17 billion in managed assets making it one of the largest vendor finance operations in the world.
Snow co-heads CIT Global Vendor Finance with responsibilities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. In this capacity, Snow oversees office products, technology/ equipment leasing, healthcare and diversified vendor business segments.
Snow joined CIT from Sun Microsystems where she held significant management roles over the past 16 years. Most recently, Snow was the General Manager for Sun’s captive finance arm —Global Financial Services—and provided worldwide leadership to its three operating units: Structured Financing, Utility and Variable Computing Infrastructure, and Asset Management/ Remarketed Products.
Before her work at Sun Microsystems, Snow held various technical positions with Cray Research Inc., Digital Equipment Corporation and General Electric’s Calma Division. Snow currently serves as the Chair of the Vendor and Captive Finance business council of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.
She received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Gonzaga University and an MBA from St. Mary’s College of California.
Terry Kelleher
Co-President,
CIT Global Vendor Finance
Terry Kelleher is Co-President of CIT Global Vendor Finance. Based in Dublin in CIT’s new integrated European Service Centre, Kelleher co-heads CIT Global Vendor Finance and heads the European Senior Management team charged with delivering significant volume, asset and net income growth. This mandate included the acquisition of Citicapital’s European Vendor Leasing business in 2004.
A qualified accountant, Kelleher spent his formative years in public practice. In 1986, he was appointed Group Finance Director for Wang International Financial Limited before joining GE Capital in 1990.
Kelleher spent 11 years in a number of senior positions within GE Capital at various international locations, including London and the United States. His responsibilities have included leadership positions in finance, acquisitions, business development, integration, 6 Sigma Process Management and e-Business in the small- and middle- ticket equipment finance sectors, as well as in the auto finance and consumer sectors.
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Leasing Industry Help Wanted
Collectors
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Collectors
Wrentham, Mass.
Growing Leasing Collection Division for 25+ year estab. business. Must have exceptional, creative negotiation skills, ability to thrive in high volume, fast paced environment. Click here for more info:
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Lease Officer
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Sales Make it Happen --- by Adrian Miller
Want to End the Year With More Revenue? Here's How!
As salespeople we all start the year with lofty goals of increasing revenue. Yet, the reality is many, very talented professionals fall short of achieving their targets because they are simply not utilizing fundamental revenue-increasing strategies.
December is not the time to start scrambling for business. Now is the time to think differently, try a fresh approach and hopefully meet, or exceed your goals. The famous Albert Einstein quote “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” certainly applies here. The same tired techniques are comfortable yet they will always bring the same disappointing results. Are you ready to reach your goals? Great! Here's what you need to do now:
Dig deeper into existing accounts.
Hey, they already know you and love you. You have credibility and demonstrated competencies. Mine the gold that's already within reach.
One way to do this is to begin with a little sleuthing. Peruse your account's company website on a regular basis. You can find valuable information by reading their press releases, company blog and other news items that are continually being updated on their site. Are there any new or upcoming projects that might require your products or services? What about mergers, acquisitions, or changes to their corporate structure? Have there been any new decision-makers hired recently? You might be surprised by the plethora of new opportunities that are prime for the picking. And you can out about them just by a little detective work and by simply, asking. (Many sales reps stop actively probing once they have landed an account and are servicing the business!)
Cross-selling is another way to dig deeper into your existing accounts. Never assume that a customer will only continue to buy what you've sold him or her. If you are not regularly introducing new products or services, you might be leaving potential business on the table that your competition just might take.
Become a strategic networker.
Develop a networking plan of action and follow through with your action steps. Screen events carefully and don't miss opportunities to make valuable connections. Set concrete networking objectives such as establishing a number of people to meet. Quantify the results of your networking efforts, and nix networking strategies that haven't been effective.
Initiate an effective touch point management program.
Falling off the radar screen is never excusable for a sales professional. There is excellent technology available to help you stay in touch. Email communications, especially those with value-added information or links, are well-received and take very little time to execute. Establish a set number of contacts that you can make each week and stick with the plan. Once you've lost contact with a customer, they're almost always gone for good, and for sure, you have to work harder to get them back. Business redevelopment is costly and unnecessary if you are diligent about staying in touch.
Refine your sales platform and value proposition.
Take a hard and critical look at your strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities (SWOT). The market is not static, and you should be continually reevaluating your position in it. A SWOT analysis is not a one-time event!
Outsource all activities that cost you time and don't bring in or drive revenue.
It's an easy trap to fall into – devoting too much of your time to taking care of administrative and clerical tasks. The reality is if you're spending your time filing, you're taking away from your time that you could be generating sales. Work smart and outsource your non-sales tasks to someone who can assist you.
Adrian Miller
Adrian Miller Sales Training
www.theblatanttruth.com
www.adrianmiller.com
Previous Leasing News "Sales makes it Happen:"
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.html
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Industries The Chicago Tribune reports that “GATX Corp. formally ordered 2,000 new railroad tank cars from railcar-maker Trinity Industries Inc.
“The Chicago transportation-equipment leasing concern, which controls one of the nation's leading fleets of railcars and locomotives, said the contracts calls for delivery of the cars over a period of two years beginning in early 2008, with an option to buy an additional 1,000 cars.”
Terms were not disclosed.
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### Press Release ###########################
ZRG Opens Offices on Toronto, Canada
ZRG, the leasing industries leading executive search, consulting and advisory firm has opened offices in Toronto, Canada as part of the firm's Global expansion efforts.
ZRG is pleased to announce the addition of France Simard as Managing Director leading the firm's expansion into Canada.
Ms. Simard will focus her efforts on expanding ZRG’s presence within the Canadian markets. France joined ZRG from Heidrick & Struggles, through its global acquisition of Highland Partners. Mrs. Simard was a Managing Director in Korn/Ferry International's Advanced Technology Practice and head of its Communications and Convergence Practice in Canada. Earlier in her career, France was co-founder of the Stratum Consulting Group and Canadian shareholder member of International Technology Partners (ITP) Worldwide. The success of Stratum attracted the attention of many, including Korn/Ferry which purchased Stratum Consulting.
France received her education from the University of Quebec, Laval University in Quebec and the University of British Columbia. France is a former board member of the United Nations Association of Canada and the Canadian Environment Industry Association, and has been Guest speaker at multiple events including CIO Forum, Telecommunications Conferences, Canadian Women in Communications, TV Ontario.
Larry Hartmann, Managing Partner of ZRG related, “France is industry leader with extensive experience in the Canadian marketplace. She is the perfect leader to help us with our continued expansion in Canada as well as Europe in 2008."
France Simard related "The time is right for me to take my 15+ years of experience and apply it within the leading edge platform that ZRG is building. ZRG's unique approach to ‘Fact based Human Capital Solutions’ will provide my clients relevant and timely information to assist with building high performance management teams. I am thrilled to be part of the senior team to help lead the firm’s global expansion."
About ZRG
ZRG is one of North America’s fastest growing Executive Search, Consulting and Advisory firms. ZRG and its subsidiaries, Z Captive Services are entering their eighth year of providing value added human capital services to the several key markets including Financial Services and Leasing, Health Care and Life Sciences, Technology and Education. Headquartered in Boston, Z maintains strategic branch offices throughout North America.
France Simard
Managing Director
ZRG, Inc.
P: 416-560-7358
E: fsimard@zrgroup.com
[headlines]
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News Briefs----
Thousands Shiver After Midwest Ice Storm
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/weather/sns-ap-winter-storm,0,5964078.
story?coll=chi_tab01_layout
GE Says 2008 Profit May Rise 10%, Weighs Unit Sale
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a8zBxFhYgKzo
Swiss bank announces $US 10 billion sub-prime write down
http://www.nbr.co.nz:80/home/column_article.asp?id=19734&cid=8&cname=News
Freddie Sees $5.5B-$7.5B More Losses
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-freddie-mac-mortgages,0,5561765.story
WaMu sets write-off of $1.6 billion, plans to cut jobs, dividend
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tue_wamu_1211dec11,0,6784706.story
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You May have Missed--- How the Mortgage Bailout Strains Accounting Efforts to contain damage from the subprime mortgage meltdown are stretching accounting safeguards put in place after Enron.
http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/10274798?f=home_featured
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Sports Briefs---- 49ers' Smith fires at Nolan
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7690556?nclick_check=1
A sinking ship abandoned
Petrino quits despite repeated assertions he would stay
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2007/12/11/falcons_1212.html
?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
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“Gimme that Wine” Rose Champagne—Eric Asimov
http://events.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/dining/reviews/12wine.html?ref=dining
2007 Vintage Fantastic for Michigan Red Wines Winemakers are Ecstatic
http://www.drinksmediawire.com/afficher_cdp.asp?id=2380&lng=2
Creditor acquires bankrupt Viansa
(400 creditors owed $5 million who will now divide $150,000 among themselves.)
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071207/NEWS/712070396
Photographs: The Fifty States of Wine
http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-review/517/Wines-Across-America.html
Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/
US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/
Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas
Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm
The London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-ex) is an electronic exchange for fine wine.
http://www.liv-ex.com/
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Calendar Events This Day Bonza Bottler Day
To celebrate when the number of the day is the same as the number of the month. It is an excuse to have a party.
Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The legend of Guadalupe tells how in December, 153`, an Indian, Juan Diego, saw the Virgin Mother on a hill near Mexico City, who instructed him to go to the bishop and have him build a shrine to her on the site of the vision. After his request was initially rebuffed, the Virgin Mother appeared to Juan Diego three days later. She instructed him to pick roses growing on a stony and barren hillside nearby and take them to the bishop as proof. As he opened his mantle to drop the roses on the floor, an image of the Virgin Mary appeared among them. The bishop built the sanctuary as instructed. Our Lady of Guadalupe became the patroness of México City and by 1746 was the patron saint of all New Spain and by 1910 of all Latin America.
Gingerbread House Day
One of the best activities of the Christmas season is the making of gingerbread houses.
Mexico: Guadalupe Day
One of Mexico’s major celebrations. Honors the “Dark Virgin of Guadalupe,” the republic’s saint. Parties and pilgrimages, with special ceremonies at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Mexico City.
Poinsettia Day (Joel Roberts Poinsett)
A day to enjoy poinsettias and to honor Dr. Joel Robert Poinsett, the American diplomat who introduced the Central American plant that is named for him into the U.S. Poinsett was the first Ambassador to Mexico who brought the plant back to his plantation in the U.S. He grew the plants in his Greenville, S.C plantation and gave them out as gifts to friends.
In Mexican folklore, there is a story of a little poor girl who had nothing to bring to church for Christmas. On her way to church, she picked some plants by the side of the road. As she entered the church, the ends of the leaves turned into bright, brilliant red flowers. You guessed it... Poinsettias.
Poinsett was born at Charleston, SC, March 2, 1799. He also served as a member of Congress and as secretary of war. He died near Statesburg, SC., December 1, 1851. The poinsettia has become a favorite Christmas-season plant.
Russia: Constitution Day
National holiday commemorating the adoption of a new constitution in 1993.
Turkmenistan Day. Neutrality Day
National holiday. Commemorates the UN’s recognition of Turkmenistan’s neutrality in 1995.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tx.html
Saint feast Days
http://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/dec.php
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The names of the two stone lions in front of the New York Public Library are Patience and Fortitude. They were named by then-mayor Fiorello LaGuardia.
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Today's Top Event in History 1950 - The 1st Marine Division closed into Hungnam having cut its way through six Chinese divisions, killing approximately 20,000 of the enemy, on the way to the sea from Chosin/Changjin Reservoir. Legend has it that the division commander, Major General O. P. Smith, supposedly characterized the operation with, "Retreat? Hell, we're just attacking in a different direction!"
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This Day in American History 1712- The South Carolina colony passed a "Sunday Law" requiring "all...persons whatsoever" to attend church each Sunday, to refrain from skilled labor, and to do no traveling by horse or wagon beyond the necessary. Infractions of this law were met with a 10 shilling fine and/or a two hour lock up in the village stocks
1745- Birthday of John Jay, American statesman, diplomat and first chief justice of the US Supreme Court ( 1789-95), coauthor ( with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison ) of the influential “Federalist” papers, born New York, NY. Jay died at Bedford, NY, May 17,1829.
http://www.constitution.org/img/judge009.htm
(lower part of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec12.html )
1770 - The British soldiers responsible for the “Boston Massacre” were acquitted on murder charges.
1787- Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the US Constitution, by a vote of 46 to 23. One of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania is geographically located in the keystone position in relation to the other 12 colonies, earning the nickname, the Keystone State. The state capital is Harrisburg, a city almost midway between Pennsylvania’s two most well-known cites, Pittsburgh in Western Pennsylvania and Philadelphia in the east. Philadelphia is also where the first Continental Congress met and where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Not so famous is the state bird, the ruffed grouse and the state flower, the mountain laurel.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec12.html
1790- the first Catholic Bible printed in English was a 900-page quarto printed by Carey, Stewart and Company, Philadelphia. It was issued in 49-page sections every Saturday. It was based on the New Testament published in 1582 in Reims, France, and the Old Testament published in Douai, Flanders, in 1609.
1805- birthday of William Lloyd Garrison, American anti-slavery leader, poet, and journalist, born at Newburyport, MA. Garrison died at New York, NY, May 24, 1879.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASgarrison.htm
1805-Birthday of Henry Wells, one of the fathers of speed-conscious delivery and banking services. Born in Thetford, Vermont, Wells cut his teeth working as an agent for Harden’s Express in upstate New York. Clearly taken with the express transport business, Wells set up his own shop, Livingston Wells and Pomeroy’s Express, which ferried "goods, valuables, and specie" between Buffalo and Albany. By 1844, Wells sensed that it was time to push his business west of Buffalo, and he joined forces with William Fargo and Daniel Dunning to start Wells and Company, which would service terrain beyond the upper reaches of New York. While this was all fairly ambitious maneuvering, the 1850s saw Wells make an even stronger move to conquer the express market. First, in 1850, ever ambitious, he merged his two concerns into the American Express Company, which initially covered California and the Eastern seaboard (it later stretched to serve Latin America). Then, in 1852, he linked up with Fargo again to form Wells, Fargo and Company, a joint-stock venture that served as a holding company for the Wells Fargo Bank. Along with bankrolling business ventures, Wells used his ever-swelling fortune to aid the plight of chronic stutters, as well as to establish Wells Seminary (now Wells College) for women.
1806- birthday of Stand Watie, born at Rome Georgia, and died there September 9, 1871. Cherokee chief who, by signing the treaty of New Echota, surrendered his people’s land in Georgia, forcing relocation to Oklahoma. Though three other signers were murdered, Watie escaped and went onto initiate the first volunteer Cherokee regiment for the Confederates in the Civil War. Promoted to brigadier general, he was active in destroying property of other Native Americans who supported the Union.. He never gave up.
1862- Naval Engagement at Yazoo River MS (USS CAIRO torpedoed)
http://www.nps.gov/vick/cairo/cairo.htm
1870- Joseph Hayne Rainey of Georgetown, SC, was sworn in as the first black to serve in the US House of Representatives. Rainey filled the seat of Benjamin Franklin Whittemore, which had been declared vacant by the House. He served until March 3, 1879.
http://search.eb.com/blackhistory/micro/492/61.html
1870- Rachel Crothers birthday - U.S., playwright, director, and producer. She triumphed on Broadway with 34 of the 38 plays she wrote in her lifetime, usually doing everything from writing to casting to directing to producing on her way to becoming a legend.
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0189405/
1882 - Portland, OR, was drenched with 7.66 inches of rain, a record 24 hour total for that location.
1899- African-American George F. Grant of Boston, Massachusetts obtained a patent for his invention, the golf tee. It was a wooden tee with a tapering base portion and a flexible tubular concave shoulder to hold the golf ball. As a side
note, Grant was the first black to graduate from Harvard University. 1906 Oscar Straus, 1st Jewish cabinet member, appointed Secretary of Commerce by Theodore Roosevelt. 1850–1926, b. Rhenish Bavaria, grad. Columbia (B.A., 1871; LL.B., 1873), was a diplomat and author. He practiced law in New York City until 1881 and then went into business with his brothers. He was minister to Turkey (1887–89) under President Grover Cleveland and again (1898–1900) under William McKinley and was ambassador to Turkey (1909–10) under William H. Taft. He was appointed (1902) to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (the Hague Tribunal) and was (1906–9) Secretary of Commerce and Labor under Theodore Roosevelt. He was candidate for governor of New York on the Progressive party ticket in 1912. He wrote several books, including Roger Williams (1894), The American Spirit (1913), and Under Four Administrations (1922).
1912- birthday of Henry Armstrong, box, born Henry Jackson, Jr., at Columbus, Mississippi. Armstrong was the first boxer to hold three world titles simultaneously. He won the featherweight title on October 29, 1937, the welterweight title on May 31, 1938, and the lightweight title three months later. Died at Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 22,1988.
1915- Frank Sinatra born at Hoboken, NJ. While the websites gives more history, briefly Frank Sinatra matured from a teen idol to the premiere singer of American popular music. Known as the “Chairman of the Board” to his fans, he made more than 200 albums. His signature songs included “ All the Way,” “ New York, New York,” and “May Way.” His file career included musicals ( On the Town and Pal Joey) and two gritty films for which won Oscar nominations, From Here to Eternity and the Man wit the Golden Arm. One of his many movies is making a revival with stars of the day instead of his “rat pack,” Oceans Eleven. He died May 14, 1998, at Los Angeles, CA.
“ Put Your Dreams
Away for Another Day.”
http://www.nj.com/sinatra/
http://franksinatra.sonicnet.com/
1917 - Father Edward Flanagan opened Boys Town west of Omaha, Nebraska, as a farm village for wayward boys, and since 1979, for girls too. In 1938, Spencer Tracy played Father Flanagan in, "Boys Town", winning an Oscar.
http://www.girlsandboystown.org/aboutus/history/index.asp
1918-Birthday of jazz great Joe Williams born Cordele, GA. The album that turned me onto jazz in the early 1950’s when it came out, “Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings,” is still wonderful today.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000476B/inktomi-musicasin-20/
002-6663560-5946468
1925- the first motel opened, called the Motel Inn, San Luis Obispo, California. Arthur S. Heineman was the architect. The building featured a sign with flashing lights that alternated the letters H and M preceding the letters otel to spell out “ Hotel” and “ Motel” I t had accommodations for 160 guests individual chalets with garage, bathroom, and telephone. It was designed for motorists to be a “drive-up” hotel.
1928--Birthday of Helen Frankenthaler, American painter and one of the inventors of color field technique. Her Mountains and Seas, 1952 was highly influential.
1929-Jazz pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi born Darien, Manchuria.
1938- Connie Francis birthday –Beach blanket favorite. Her first big single in the 50s was "Who's Sorry Now." She had a dozen hit singles and albums including "Where the Boys Are."
1941---*ELROD, HENRY TALMAGE Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 27 September 1905, Rebecca, Ga. Entered service at: Ashburn, Ga. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 211, during action against enemy Japanese land, surface and aerial units at Wake Island, 8 to 23 December 1941. Engaging vastly superior forces of enemy bombers and warships on 9 and 12 December, Capt. Elrod shot down 2 of a flight of 22 hostile planes and, executing repeated bombing and strafing runs at extremely low altitude and close range, succeeded in inflicting deadly damage upon a large Japanese vessel, thereby sinking the first major warship to be destroyed by small caliber bombs delivered from a fighter-type aircraft. When his plane was disabled by hostile fire and no other ships were operative, Capt. Elrod assumed command of 1 flank of the line set up in defiance of the enemy landing and, conducting a brilliant defense, enabled his men to hold their positions and repulse intense hostile fusillades to provide covering fire for unarmed ammunition carriers. Capturing an automatic weapon during 1 enemy rush in force, he gave his own firearm to 1 of his men and fought on vigorously against the Japanese. Responsible in a large measure for the strength of his sector's gallant resistance, on 23 December, Capt. Elrod led his men with bold aggressiveness until he fell, mortally wounded. His superb skill as a pilot, daring leadership and unswerving devotion to duty distinguished him among the defenders of Wake Island, and his valiant conduct reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
1946- UN accepts 6 Manhattan blocks as a gift from John D Rockefeller Jr
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/sontag/rockefeller.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/dc/undersiege/therockefellers.html
1949---Top Hits
Mule Train - Frankie Laine
I Can Dream, Can’t I? - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Jack Leonard)
Don’t Cry, Joe - The Gordon Jenkins Orchestra (vocal: Betty Brewer)
Mule Train - Tennessee Ernie Ford
1950 - The 1st Marine Division closed into Hungnam having cut its way through six Chinese divisions, killing approximately 20,000 of the enemy, on the way to the sea from Chosin/Changjin Reservoir. Legend has it that the division commander, Major General O. P. Smith, supposedly characterized the operation with, "Retreat? Hell, we're just attacking in a different direction!"
1952 -Peter J. McGovern becomes the president of the Little League replacing Charles Durban who resigned due to ill health. The league which started in 1939 with two leagues has now grown to 1,800 leagues in 48 states and international sites.
1955 - The largest philanthropic act in the world was announced by the Ford Foundation which gave $500,000,000 to private hospitals, colleges and medical schools.
1955-- Bill Haley and His Comets record "See You Later Alligator"
1957---Top Hits
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
Raunchy - Bill Justis
Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly
My Special Angel - Bobby Helms
1959 - At 22 years and 104 days of age, Bruce McLaren became the youngest driver to win a Grand Prix race as he earned first place at Sebring, Florida.
1961 - Former big band singer (with Kay Kyser) Mike Douglas began a variety TV show from Cleveland. The show became most successful when KYW-TV moved from Cleveland to Philadelphia. Then, when the Douglas show left Philly for Hollywood, it folded. All things considered, it was a successful syndication effort, nationally, for Westinghouse Productions.
1962--Birthday of Tracey Ann Austin, tennis player, at 16 became the youngest person to win the U.S. Open. Won her second open in 1981 just before an injury cut short her career.
1963 - "John Fitzgerald Kennedy - A Memorial Album" became the fastest-selling record of all time when 4 million copies of the disk, each selling for 99 cents, were sold in six days -- between December 7-12. The memorial tribute was recorded November 22, the day President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
1963- Frank Sinatra Jr returned after being kidnapped
http://www.thejukejoint.com/franksinatrajr.html
1964-- Bobby Vinton's "Mr. Lonely" hits #1
1964-- The Beatles Story enters the album charts
1965---Top Hits
Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds
Let’s Hang On! - The 4 Seasons
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
Make the World Go Away - Eddy Arnold
1965- Gale Sayers of the Chicago Bears tied an NFL record by scoring six touchdowns in the Bears’ 61-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Sayers rushed for four score, caught an 80-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 85 yards.
1965-US Supreme Courts votes 4-3 allowing Braves to move to Atlanta. Earlier, the Braves' move to Atlanta was halted by a court order, forcing a lame duck season in Milwaukee. The Braves led the league with 196 homers. In 1966, The Braves and Pirates debuted Major League Baseball's first season in Atlanta on April 12, with Pittsburgh winning, 3-2, in 13 innings. Atlanta was fifth in its initial season, but Aaron hit 44 homers and had 127 RBI to lead the league.
1968---Birthday of American composer Charles Coleman, New York City.
1971- left wing Bobby Hull of the Chicago Blackhawks got the 1,000th point of his NHL career, an assist in the first period of a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota North Stars. Hull finished his career with 1,170 points and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.
1973---Top Hits
Top of the World - Carpenters
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
The Love I Lost - Harol Melvin & The Bluenotes
The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich
1980 - Oil tycoon Armand Hammer bought a notebook of writings by Leonardo da Vinci for $5.28 million at auction in London. It was the highest price ever paid for a manuscript. It was 36 pages long and dated back to 1508.
1980 - The U.S. Congress amended the Copyright Act in 1980 to explicitly recognize that computer programs were protected as literary works.
1980-- Marie Osmond's solo variety series, Marie, premieres on NBC.
1980--- Thousands march peacefully in memory of John Lennon in New York, walking down Fifth Avenue and ending at the Dakota Building, site of his murder.
1981---Top Hits
Physical - Olivia Newton-John
Waiting for a Girl like You - Foreigner
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - The Police
Still Doin’ Time - George Jones
1982- known as the “Great Snowplow Play.” The New England Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins, 3-0, in a driving snowstorm at Foxboro Stadium. The winning points came on a late field goal by John Smith, kicked after a snowplow came onto the field and cleared a spot for Smith and his holder. According to Kimberlee R. Coleman’s husband, the person who cleared the field was a state prisoner out on a work furlough. The Miami Dolphins believe they are robbed in the snowplow game by a 24-year-old man who is serving a 15-year sentence for robbing a house and is now on a work release program from the prison. Late in the fourth quarter, the New England Patriots are preparing to break a scoreless tie with a field goal when coach Ron Meyer waves Mark Henderson onto the field at Foxboro Stadium. Henderson fires up his yellow John Deere (Model 314) and heads for the Miami 23-yard line. Despite screams of protest from the Dolphins, Henderson runs a terrific sweep with his tractor-driven snowplow and clears the area for kicker John Smith. Smith kicks a 33-yard field goal with 4:40 left. After the Patriots' 3-0 victory, livid Dolphins coach Don Shula says, "The officials shouldn't have let it happen." Henderson says, "I figured, 'What's the most they could do? Put me in jail?' "
1983 - Football’s Jim Brown showed up in "Sports Illustrated" again. This time, he was not on the cover as in September, 1960, but inside the magazine -- a record span of more than 23 years between spreads, as they say in the publishing biz.
1984 - The group known as Band Aid -- 38 of Britain’s top rock musicians -- recorded "Do They Know This is Christmas?" for Ethiopian famine victims. Despite the best of intentions, much of the food raised never got to the starving Ethiopians. In fact, much of it was found rotting on docks, not fit for human consumption. More than a Band-Aid was needed to fix that political mess.
1986 - James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith became the first college graduate to win the world heavyweight boxing crown. “If I only had a bwain...,” he said, as he beat the brains out of Tim Witherspoon so badly, poor Tim couldn’t count to ten. “One, duh. Eight. Six. Duh. I’m out.”
1986 - The LA Lakers beat the Boston Celtics, 117-110, to become the first visiting team to win at the old Boston Garden since December, 1985 -- a streak of 48 straight wins for the Celtics.
1988 - Cold arctic air spread from the Great Lakes Region to the Appalachian Region. Twenty-five cities, mostly in the northeastern U.S., reported record low temperatures for the date. The low of 12 degrees below zero at Albany NY was their coldest reading of record for so early in the season. Saranac Lake NY was the cold spot in the nation with a low of 28 degrees below zero.
1989---Top Hits
We Didn’t Start the Fire - Billy Joel
Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
Don’t Know Much - Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
If Tomorrow Never Comes - Garth Brooks
1989 - A winter storm produced snow from northern Mississippi to the Middle Atlantic Coast, with 10.5 inches reported at Powhatan VA. Heavy snow whitened the Black Hills of South Dakota, with 36 inches reported at Deer Mountain. Thirteen cities in the north central U.S., from Minnesota to Texas, reported record low temperatures for the date, including Duluth MN and Yankton SD with morning lows of 22 degrees below zero.
1992 - The soundtrack from the movie "The Bodyguard" was the #1 album in the U.S. A smash, as they say, it was number one for twenty weeks. The track listing: "I Will Always Love You", "I Have Nothing", "I’m Every Woman", "Run to You", "Queen of the Night", "Jesus Loves Me", all by Whitney Houston; "Even If My Heart Would Break", by Kenny G & Aaron Neville; "Someday (I’m Coming Back)", by Lisa Stansfield; "It’s Gonna Be a Lovely Day", by The S.O.U.L S.Y.S.T.E.M.; "Peace, Love And Understanding (What's So Funny ’Bout)", by Curtis Stigers; "Theme from The Bodyguard", by Alan Silvestri; and "Trust in Me", by Joe Cocker featuring Sass Jordan.
1994- IBM said it would halt shipments of Pentium computers because of a flaw in the Pentium chip. The November 7 issue of Electrical Engineering Times announced the "floating point" bug in the Pentium chip, which could produce mathematical errors. Intel officials admitted they had known about the flaw for some time but thought it so unlikely to cause problems that they did not disclose the problem, creating an uproar among computer users. Intel said it would replace flawed chips only if users showed they engaged in computer work that might be affected by the error. Consumers attacked Intel for its position, and later, the company agreed to replace any chips that were returned. Ironically, six months later, only about three percent of customers had requested a replacement chip.
1995 - The International Olympic Committee announced that NBC had successfully bid a record $2.3 billion for the exclusive U.S. TV (broadcast and cable) rights to the 2004 and 2008 Summer Games and the 2006 Winter Games. $894 million is for the 2008 games alone. And the deal calls for a 50-50 revenue sharing program with the IOC.
1995-- Willie Brown beats incumbent mayor Frank Jordon to become the first African-American mayor of San Francisco.
1995 - A severe coastal storm is blamed for five deaths and loss of power to over one million people in Oregon and Washington. Winds at Sea Lion Caves near Florence topped out at 119 mph before problems developed with the anemometer. In Newport, a gust of 107 mph occurred downtown, while Astoria and Cape Blanco also had gusts of over 100 mph. Astoria's air pressure dropped as low as 28.53 inches, an all-time record (and comparable to the central pressure of a Category 2 hurricane!). Gusts in the Willamette Valley exceeded 60 mph.
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Football Poem
Lines
by Martha Collins
Draw a line. Write a line. There.
Stay in line, hold the line, a glance
between the lines is fine but don't
turn corners, cross, cut in, go over
or out, between two points of no
return's a line of flight, between
two points of view's a line of vision.
But a line of thought is rarely
straight, an open line's no party
line, however fine your point.
A line of fire communicates, but drop
your weapons and drop your line,
consider the shortest distance from x
to y, let x be me, let y be you. |
from Some Things Words Can Do, 1998
The Sheep Meadows Press, Riverdale-on-Hudson, N.Y.
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SuDoku
The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. What could be simpler?
http://leasingnews.org/Soduku/soduko-main.htm
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Daily Puzzle How to play:
http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm
Refresh for current date:
http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm
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http://www.gasbuddy.com/
http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_Map_Gas_Prices.aspx
http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_Mobile_Instructions.aspx
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News on Line---Internet Newspapers Houston, Texas Community Newspapers
www.hcnonline.com
extended community map of newspapers on line
http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1574&nav_sec=76703&nr=1&nostat=1
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