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Sales Manager – Houston Office
5 years+ equip fin/leasing experience
Player/Coach 3-4 Rep’s, Energy Experience+
Must have track record of overachievement

Controller – So California Office
AR, AP,Tax,Fin-Statement Prep/Internal Controls
Treasury Mgmt/Lease Acct and IT knowledge all++

Please submit resume to mcurtis@firstncc.com

FIRST NATIONAL CAPITAL CORPORATION Is the 5th Largest Privately Held Equipment Finance Company In the United States
www.firstncc.com

Friday, February 4, 2011

Today's Equipment Leasing Headlines

Lease Police Alert---Tiger Capital Management
 Classified Ads--- Syndicator
  Latitude Equipment Leasing Closed?
   U.S. Senate votes repeal “1099” Law for 2012
     The facts behind the $96 Million LEAF Securitization
     by Christopher Menkin
      Classified Ads---Help Wanted
       February 17, Thursday Arizona Lunch Meeting
        Saluting Leasing News Advisor Ginny Young
The King's Speech/The Housemaid
 Fernando Croce Movie/DVD Reviews
 It's Kind of a Funny Story/My Soul to Make/Unstoppable
   JDR Solutions Launches iVirtuaLease™ 3.0
    Albany, New York Adopt a Dog
News Briefs---
 Microfinancial 4thQuarter $1.5MM/Year-end $5.3MM
  U.S. leads Europe in economic, business confidence
   49ers & Harris Barton's rookie mistakes in investing
    Superbowl MVP Joe Montana & NFL Stars in the Bahamas

Broker/Funder/Industry Lists | Features (collection)
Top Ten Stories Chosen by Readers | Top Stories last six months
 

 Taxes Help Pay for Super Bow XLV
   You May Have Missed--- 
    Sports Briefs---
     California Nuts Briefs---
      "Gimme that Wine"
    This Day in American History
      SuDoku
       Daily Puzzle
        GasBuddy
      Weather, USA or specific area
       Traffic Live----

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




[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Lease Police Alert---Tiger Capital Management



“We are presently investigating the following company. If you have had in the past any applications or have one currently please inform me ASAP. We have good reason to believe that the computer server he is selling is really an internet sweepstakes kiosk. This firm was previously located in Mokena, Illinois 60448”

Tiger Capital Management Inc
16192 Coastal Hwy
Lewes, De. 19958
480-322-9655
http://www.globalinternetsweeps.com/

“I’ve had calls from at least 6 firms who have sent their files to me and I know of a seventh firm did one or two leases with them. Tiger started out from Illinois at the owner’s residence and I believe that they were doing fake sale/leasebacks as I viewed various different types of invoices (a tell-tale sign). Lately however he changed his address and started selling a computer server (?) It has turned out to be a unit sold by Internet Global Sweepstakes: www.globalinternetsweeps.com .The main problem is the deception of the product being sold.

“By the way, the address in Delaware is the address of Harvard Business Services, Inc which is the Service Agent for my Delaware corporations.”

Bernie Boettigheimer CLP
bernieb@leasepolice.com
President
Lease Police, Inc.
214-549-3426
www.leasepolice.com

Tiger Capital Vendor Invoice:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/TigerCapitalVendorInvoice.pdf

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

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Classified Ads--- Syndicator

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

Orange County, CA
10 yrs. exp. middle market credit underwriting/syndication/collections. All collateral. Seeking full-time position with equipment broker/lessor. Resume available
uspostalservice@verizon.net

Overland Park, KS
Top Syndicator from single deal to portfolios. 20+ yrs exp. Available for contract work or full time position. Nationwide contacts.
E-mail: FFLLeasing@aol.com

Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Latitude Equipment Leasing Closed?



Gary Kester, President

For quite some time there have been ex-salesmen telling Leasing News of Latitude Leasing, and conversations with owners confirmed inabilities to find funders of leases. A report of the web site down was followed with a telephone call last week. It was not returned. A follow-up this week, the telephone is out of service at their Marlton, New Jersey headquarters. Previous contacts at Latitude were unable to be reached.

One of the key principals, Bill Waddell, also formerly from Marlin Leasing, shows up on LinkedIn as vice-resident of sales at Horizon Keystone Financial since June, 2010.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bill-waddell/10/93b/b03

August 27, 2007 Gary Kester and Mike Bennie formed a commercial equipment leasing company, Latitude Equipment Leasing, LLC. Mr. Kester was the former Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Marlin Leasing Corp., as well as one of the founders of the company, former husband of Leasing Trainer and writer Linda Kester. Mr. Bennie was the former Vice President in charge of Marlin’s Broker Services division. Joining them were other ex-Marlin personnel, such as Marcel Gilbert, Fran Miles, Bill Waddell.

May 6, 2009 they merged with Leasing Partners Capital, adding 22 independent representatives, including:

Albany, NY, Gerald G. Oestreich
Atlanta, GA, Bill Dedrick
Atlantic City, NJ, Earvin Hicks
Basking Ridge, NJ, Deb Brannen
Boston, MA, Dan Volungis
Burnsville, MN, Bruce Larsen
Dallas, TX, Ed Washington
Fort Lauderdale, FL, Daniel Spindler
Freehold, NJ, Robert Mayer
Long Island, NY, Chuyu Xiong
Minneapolis, MN, Kori Crippes
New Foundland NJ, Tom Ferriter
New York City, NY, Jeffrey Maitles
Oklahoma City, OK, Bob Moore
Palm Beach, FL, Rosalyn Newman
Pittsburgh, PA, Earvin Hicks
Richmond, VA, Robert Eno
San Francisco, CA, Anders Norlin
Sarasota, FL, Beverly Del Mastro
Saint Louis, MO, Robert Russell

http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/May%202009/05-06-09.htm#lpc

Other “satellite offices” were announced, including a third in Texas by Daniel Trevino; Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Doug McCarthy. At one time, the leasing representatives were close t0 50, it was reported by management and their web site. These may have been “independent contractors,” but they were working under the name Latitude and noted on their web site.


[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Senate votes repeal “1099” Law for 2012


Looks like the amendment to the US Health Bill will be repealed as the removal of this was approved 81-17 in the U.S. Senate after Republicans pointed out it had originally been their idea. President Obama said in his State of the Union speech he would accept the change.

The law had expanded the goods and service reporting of $600 or more per year to all companies, including corporations. Prior it only applied to proprietorship and partnerships. It was reportedly put in the National Health bill: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. One of the goals was to track payments to terrorists and other such groups, plus find who was not paying out of state use or sales tax. Proponents also said it would also catch an estimated $2 billion worth of revenue on income that currently is not reported, and would help offset the cost of the health bill.

In the past, all companies reported only non-corporate payments, meaning to proprietorships and partnerships the amount of money expended in the preceding year.

Technically also many states require reporting the sales tax not paid on internet transactions, as they require that you pay them, although this is generally not followed as to the many exceptions such as the first three sales of a consumer not being recorded, some states 12, some states exempt garage sales, and for the last several years the Streamline Sales Tax Group has been working on making these state laws more uniform.

New computer programs by the IRS would have been be able to pick up these from the 1099 filings.


[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Sales Manager – Houston Office
5 years+ equip fin/leasing experience
Player/Coach 3-4 Rep’s, Energy Experience+
Must have track record of overachievement

Controller – So California Office
AR, AP,Tax,Fin-Statement Prep/Internal Controls
Treasury Mgmt/Lease Acct and IT knowledge all++

Please submit resume to mcurtis@firstncc.com

FIRST NATIONAL CAPITAL CORPORATION Is the 5th Largest Privately Held Equipment Finance Company In the United States
www.firstncc.com

Vehicle Lenders Group, LLC is looking for dynamic sales associate. Either work out of one of our offices in Calif. , Dayton, or Oyster Bay, NY or your own office.
Draw w/benefits after three month probation period.
Must have excellent references, honest, self motivated, able to generate $500,000 a month by the end
of 12 months of employment.
Curt Webster, CVLE 516-922-7447 ext 104

http://www.trucklendersusa.com/



Sales Account Executives: Jacksonville, FL/Philadelphia, PA.

Small ticket Direct Lender with broad funding capabilities and exceptional vendor service. Join an experienced management team in a dynamic growth environment.
E-mail resume to: garyshivers@navitaslease.com

Navitas Lease Corp is a top leader in the equipment financing industry. We offer solutions to small-to-medium-sized businesses looking to acquire and finance equipment.



Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

Leasing News Help Wanted Ad Pricing

Help Wanted Web Ad New Programs

Classified Ad Section
(rotates chronological above headlines and
also appears in Classified Ad section.) *

Design work is free. Logo is free as well as company description not to exceed the number of lines of the ad.
Also free: click to a click to a web site or a full description of the position.

15 days in a row:
$395 four lines (a space is a line)
($25 each additional line or space)

30 days in a row:
$595 four lines (a space is a line)
($40 each additional line or space)

Ads are placed in the "Help Wanted' section by category, alphabetical, with the ad with the most lines first in the group. They appear on the web site and in each news edition at the top in a rotation basis per issue.

* Help Wanted” ads  appear in each issue on a chronological basis above the top headline as a courtesy. This position is not available as a paid position, but is generally on a rotation basis.  At the same time, the ad continues in the classified help wanted section in the news edition and web site, so in effect appears twice.

Leasing News reserves the right to refuse advertising, particularly to a company that has appeared in the complaint bulletin board


[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

The facts behind the $96 Million LEAF Securitization
by Christopher Menkin


“LEAF Financial Corporation Announces Securitization of $96 Million of Leasing Assets”

It never ceases to amaze me how many publish a press release as if it is accurate, true, the truth, because the company said so. Many of them are misleading, and worse, after being printed, they are like the stories that have been making the internet rounds for years that receivers start to believe are true history or a true fact.

Case in point comes from a press release from LEAF Financial Corporation, where Crit DeMent is Chairman, CEO, LEAF Financial Corporation, LEAF Commercial Capital, plus Chairman-elect of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.

"With the completion of LEAF 2011-1, LEAF has securitized approximately $96 Million of leases, term funded by the issuance of Contract Backed Notes on behalf of LEAF Commercial Finance Fund, LLC, a consolidated subsidiary of LEAF Equipment Finance Fund 4, L.P. ("LEAF 4"), one of the investment partnerships it administers. Guggenheim Securities, LLC, was the arranger of the notes and LEAF will continue to be the servicer for the assets."

This new securitization deal was to pay off Morgan Stanley for a line that was due August 4, 2010, according to the SEC filings. It appears Leaf was in breach on the line. Please note in the footnotes that LEAF 4 fund has high charge-offs and was under performing, like the others.

From the SEC filing:
"On January 26, 2011, the Registrant's consolidated subsidiary, LEAF Commercial Finance Fund, LLC (" LCFF “), completed a $95,991,000 term securitization. Pursuant to the securitization, LEAF Receivables Funding 6, LLC, a newly formed subsidiary of LCFF, issued six classes of notes. The notes are asset-backed debt, secured and payable only by certain assets of LEAF Receivables Funding 6, LLC. Proceeds from the offering were used to repay all amounts due under the Registrant's credit facility with Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and terminate this facility. The notes are governed by an Indenture dated as of January 6, 2011 between LEAF Receivables Funding 6, LLC and U.S. Bank National Association in its capacity as trustee and custodian."(1)

A LEAF Financial Corporation press release stated, "As the securitization marketplace continues to show increased strength, a number of equipment leasing and finance companies are accessing this channel as a means to diversify their capital strategy. This transaction brings LEAF's total securitizations to $700 Million since May 2010. With this securitization, all of the short term debt of LEAF 4, which at one point totaled approximately $450 million, has now been match funded with long term debt. LEAF 4 now joins LEAF Equipment Leasing Income Fund III, L.P. in having greater stability by no longer relying strictly on short term credit warehouse facilities."

Page 12, confirms the Morgan Stanley dates, and actually tells part of the other half of the press release, which can been seen as the opposite of the securitization story as quoted in the press release(2):

(1) Form 8-K filed by LEAF:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Leaf126.pdf

(2) Morgan Stanley Loan Matured on August 4, 2010:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/MorganStanley8410.pdf

Previous stories:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/leaf_resource.html


Why Choose Advanced Property Tax Compliance?

Dedicated to the leasing industry
click here to learn more.

Hear What Our Clients say about us
click here

Gary DiLillo, President 216-658-5618 or gary@avptc.com

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------


February 17, Thursday Arizona Lunch Meeting


Co-Sponsored with National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers (NAELB)

How Not To Sell, How Others May See You”

Presented by
Mike Leeds
Head Coach, Sales Professional and Author

“Keeping sales people and ourselves motivated isn’t always about “what to do”. Mike ushers in a new angle of selling by poking fun at those who don’t know any better, and don't do it well. This humorous list presented in "Top-Ten Format" pokes fun at how stereo-typical sales people approach sales - and what not to do.

“In addition to a few laughs, we will walk away with usable tips on how to positively position finance professionals with prospects/customers and how to separate ourselves from the pack.“

Starfire Golf Club
11500 North Hayden RD
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-948-6000
Registration Fee: $25.00
Registration includes drink ticket, appetizers, buffet and time to network with you peers.

Reservations and checks should be in by February 10, 2011

RSVP/Registration form to:
Patrick McCann, Universal Financial Group, Inc., 3021 E. Laurel St., Mesa, AZ 85213 email: universal5@cox.net or fax: 480-218-0525

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

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Saluting Leasing News Advisor Ginny Young


The Leasing News Advisory Board does not participate in editorial decisions, meaning reviewing or choosing stories or subjects. Their role is to participate with policy and business advice as well as contribute in discussions on matters brought up by the publisher in a private internal blog.

Ginny is one of the original founders of the Leasing News Advisory Board. She had been in the finance industry for 35 years, including being very active for over 20 years in equipment leasing. She retired from the commercial finance industry in 2005.

Since closing Brava Capital, Ginny has become CFO of the family’s construction business which builds municipal playgrounds for schools and parks. She still keeps in touch with her friend in the leasing business and participates in Leasing News Advisory Board discussions and meetings.


Ginny Young
Ortco, Inc.
2163 N. Glassell Street
Orange, CA 92865-3307
714-998-3998
ginny@ortcoplays.com

Her prior company Brava Capital specialized in franchise financing. She was a very active member of the United Association of Equipment Leasing having chaired several committees, worked on regional committees and was a speaker/panelist at annual conferences. She wrote articles for "Newsline." She chaired the very successful 1999 Annual Conference and Exhibition and served on the Board of Directors for four years.

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

Audiences this weekend can catch up with a leading Oscar candidate (“The King’s Speech”) or discover an international gem (“The Housemaid”), while comedy (“It’s Kind of a Funny Story”), horror (“My Soul to Take”) and action (“Unstoppable”) await DVD viewers.

In theaters:

The King’s Speech (Weinstein Co.): Leading the Oscar race with 12 nominations, this acclaimed period piece is being reissued in theaters to cement its status as an audience favorite. Based on a true story, Tom Hooper’s film follows the unusual yet affecting bond that develops between two wildly different men during one of England’s most decisive periods. Having always suffered from a chronic stutter, the Duke of York (Colin Firth) watches in horror as he’s suddenly crowned King George VI just as World War II looms ahead. In order to get rid of a speech impediment that could cost him the throne, he turns to an eccentric Australian speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) for help. Full of award-caliber performances and warm vignettes, it’s prestige filmmaking that reworks British history for crowd-pleasing purposes.

The Housemaid (IFC Films): Following in the footsteps of “Thirst” and “Mother,” director Im Sang-soo’s domestic thriller is another in a series of tantalizing gems from Korea. Remaking a 1960 classic, it’s centered on Eun-yi (Jeon Do-yeon), a young servant who, hired to work at the large, forbidding mansion owned by businessman Hoon (Lee Jung-jae) and his family, finds herself being drawn into the house’s often unsavory relationships. It’s only a matter of time for her presence to bring out the worst in Hoon’s wife and mother-in-law, neither of whom would balk at the idea of using murder to get rid of the comely young intruder. As the psychological traps multiply, will Eun-yi be able to hang on to her sanity? Make sure to catch this provocative, impeccably crafted mix of suspense and malice.


Netflix Tip: Poised to take the Oscars by storm, “The King’s Speech” is only the latest in a long line of prestigious, uplifting British imports which have been a staple of the producing team of Harvey and Bob Weinstein. Others in that tradition, ready and waiting for you at Netflix, include “My Left Foot” (1989), “Enchanted April” (1992), “Emma” (1996), and, of course, Best Picture winner “Shakespeare in Love” (1998).

On DVD:

It’s Kind of a Funny Story (Focus Pictures): Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the talented filmmakers better known for dramas like “Half Nelson” and “Sugar,” try their hand at comedy with their latest movie, which often plays like a whimsical version of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Craig (Keir Gilchrist) is a depressed 16-year-old who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital in hopes of finding his bearings. He meets several odd characters during his wanderings through the ward, though none quite like Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), a patient whose droll exterior masks emotional trouble and who becomes Craig’s mentor as well as his friend in need. Making use of animation and unexpected musical numbers, the movie is a gentle portrait of emotional healing which gives “The Hangover’s” Galifianakis a chance to show off different sides of his persona.


My Soul to Take (Paramount): An experienced hand at scary flicks, director Wes Craven (“Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Scream”) returns to the thriller genre with his first horror movie in years. Taking place in the kind of sleepy yet creepy small town favored by Stephen King, the plot follows a local legend that predicts that a killer will return to slain the seven children who were born the night he was killed. It’s been nearly 20 years since the legend started, and teenagers all of a sudden start to disappear left and right. Adam (Max Thieriot) begins his own investigation. Can he uncover the culprit before he falls prey himself? Both a nerve-jangler and a metaphor for the fears of growing up, this is a treat for viewers looking for an early Halloween fright.


Unstoppable (20th-Century Fox): For pure thrills, action fans can't go wrong with this exhilarating tale directed by old-hand specialist Tony Scott ("Top Gun," "True Romance"). Based on a true story, the movie charts the trajectory of a freight train full of explosives that, left accidentally unmanned, hurls furiously toward a residential area. The city's only hope rests in the hands of an unlikely pair of heroes, aging engineer Frank (Denzel Washington) and young conductor Will (Chris Pine), who find themselves riding the same railway as the dangerous runaway locomotive. Mixing breathtaking stunts with a solid homage to the working-class men who get things done in the world, Scott's latest cinematic rollercoaster is a cut above the standard Hollywood thrill-machine.

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

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

JDR Solutions Launches iVirtuaLease™ 3.0


Indianapolis, Indiana – JDR Solutions, originators of iVirtuaLease™ software and a leader in financial portfolio servicing, announced the launch of iVirtuaLease™ version 3.0.

iVirtuaLease™ allows its users to gain access to their financial portfolio by simply connecting to the Internet. Once in the web-based system, users anywhere in the world can manage reports, customer invoices, and transaction data without having to connect to a back office system. Version 3.0 brings a more robust database back engine, security enhancements and user self-management of passwords and profiles.

“We are excited to release version 3.0 to the community,” says JDR Vice President/CIO, Doug Williams.

“iVirtualease™ was originally designed for internal distribution and a GUI interface to text reports generated by Infolease, the back office software provided by International Decision Systems (IDS). The enhanced features and improved capabilities of Version 3.0 bring the ultimate in functionality, convenience, and security to a wide range of users and systems.”

About JDR Solutions JDR Solutions is based in Indianapolis and specializes in delivering customized front-end and back-office lease portfolio administration, consulting and Application Service Provider (ASP) services to lessors, banks, manufacturer captives and other financial institutions. The company provides services to clients in North America, Europe and Asia, including Fortune 500 companies, and is approaching $8 billion in assets under management.

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

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Albany, New York -- Adopt-a-Dog


CHARLTON - Terrier Mix, male, 2-3 years. Charlton was turned into a high-kill shelter after his owner died. At the time he was suffering from terrible food allergies. The volunteers saw what a wonderful boy he is and reached out to rescue to save him. Charlton is a sweet boy, but has that independence and stubbornness of a free-thinking terrier.

“A dog savvy owner with previous experience will really enjoy this boy. Charlton is good with other dogs – actually he really is indifferent to them. He loves to cuddle up and is very good on the leash. Charlton can be fearful of strangers but with a proper introduction and an appropriate treat (no corn or wheat), he is won over. He is quiet and house broken. Charlton is Mr. Personality. Cats are unknown. Charlton will require special food (no corn or wheat) which can be purchased at your vet's office or at a local pet store.

Adoption Information:
http://www.peppertree.org/adoptinfo.php

Peppertree Rescue Inc.
PO Box 2396
Albany, NY 12220-0396
(518) 435-7425

Adopt-a-Pet by Leasing Co. State/City
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Adopt_Pet.htm

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



News Briefs----

Microfinancial 4thQuarter $1.5MM/Year-end $5.3MM

CFO survey: U.S. leads Europe in economic, business confidence

49ers & Harris Barton's rookie mistakes in investing

Superbowl MVP Joe Montana Joins Other NFL Stars Buying in the Bahamas





You May have Missed---

Super Bowl host committee reimbursing NFL nearly $10 million for ticket tax
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/super-bowl/local/20110131-super-bowl-host-committee-reimbursing-nfl-nearly-10-million-for-ticket-tax.ece

State fund to help pay for Super Bowl expenses
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/super-bowl/local/20110131-state-fund-to-help-pay-for-super-bowl-expenses.ece

Super Bowl committee budgets more than $100,000 for NFL owner perks
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/super-bowl/local/20110130-super-bowl-committee-budgets-more-than-100000-for-nfl-owner-perks.ece

Why Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is smiling
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/super-bowl/local/20110202-why-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-is-smiling.ece


 

 


Sports Briefs----

10 Super Bowl commercials to watch
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/super-bowl/the-scene/20110203-10-super-bowl-commercials-to-watch.ece

 

John Kenny Receivables Management

• End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement

• Fraud Investigations
• Credit Investigations • Asset Searches
• Skip-tracing • Third-party Commercial Collections

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

 

 


California Nuts Briefs---

'Boomer' the Lab makes comeback
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110203/ARTICLES/110209779/1350?Title=-Boomer-the-Lab-makes-comeback

 



“Gimme that Wine”

Warning: Alcohol may increase your life expectancy and reduce dementia
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703445904576118191817988
696.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Ready for the Next Argentine Invasion?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/dining/reviews/02wine.html?_r=1&ref=dining

Napa Technology Declares 2011 to be the Year of Wine by the Glass
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/03/3374268/napa-technology-declares-2011.htm

The Most Important Word in Wine Today
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/44421

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

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com

http://www.wine-searcher.com/

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

Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas/\

Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm


[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------


This Day in American History

    1746- Birthday of Thaddeus Kosciusko, Polish patriot and American Revolutionary War figure. Born at Lithuania , he died at Solothurn , Switzerland , Oct 15, 1817.
http://www.polskiinternet.com/english/info/thadeuskosciuszko.html
    1779 - John Paul Jones takes command of Bonhomme Richard.
    1783 - Britain declared a formal cessation of hostilities with its former colonies, the United States of America.
    1787 - In an attack on Shays’ insurgents at Petersham, Massachusetts, General Benjamin Lincoln captures 150 rebels and forces Shays to flee for Vermont. By the end of the month, the uprising has been completely suppressed. In March the Massachusetts legislature offers a pardon to all except Shays, Luke Day and two other leaders. Shays will be pardoned on 13 June, 1788. This rebellion has the effect of causing the state legislature to avoid direct taxation, to lower court costs, and to exempt household necessities and workmen’s tools from the debt process. Shays’ Rebellion is also an important factor in influencing the creation of a new federal constitution, since the states have seen how essentially powerless they are to prevent such incidents of violence.
    1789- The only president to receive the unanimous vote of the presidential electors was George Washington of Mount Vernon , Virginia , who received all of the 69 votes cast by the lection from the 10 states that voted this day. A nearly unanimous vote took place in November 1816, when James Monroe of Virginia received 231 of the 232 votes casts by the electors from 24 states. The dissenting vote was cast by William Plumer of New Hampshire . Presidential electors met and chose George Washington as America 's first president. The Federalist Parry was formed by those who had supported ratification of the Constitution. Its first candidate was Washington . As president, Washington guided the new government as it moved from the concepts expressed in the Constitution into a functioning federal republic, and he firmly established many traditions and precedents which still guide how we as a nation view the presidency. After serving two terms in that office, he refused to seek a third one, believing that two terms were the most that any president should serve. The Federalist, considered pro-English, enjoyed considerable success until 1800, when Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, defeated John Adams for the presidency. Eventually the party lost its supporters and ceased to exist about 1820. Alexander Hamilton was one of the party's founders and foremost leaders. As a point of history, by April 6 the first Congress was formally organized. by its end in 1791 the first Congress consisted of 26 senators of whom 17 supported the Washington administration and 9 were generally in opposition. In the House the division was 38 and 26. Senators were chosen by each of the state's legislators until the 20th century by the 17th amendment.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/
Direct_Election_Senators.htm

    1810- The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in Tennessee as an outgrowth of the Great Revival of 1800. Standing between Calvinism and Arminianism, the denomination holds a "medium theology" which affirms unlimited atonement, universal grace, conditional election, eternal security of the believer and salvation of all children dying in infancy.
    1822 - Free American Blacks settled Liberia, West Africa. The first group of colonists landed in Liberia and founded Monrovia, the colony's capital city, named in honor of President James Monroe.
    1826- The Last of the Mohicans by James Fennimore Cooper is published. One of the earliest distinctive American novels, the book is the second of the five-novel series called the "Leather-stocking Tales." He continued to write about the American frontier in his third book, The Pioneer, which featured backcountry scout Natty Bumppo, known in this book as "Leather-stocking." The character, representing goodness, purity, and simplicity, became tremendously popular, and reappeared, by popular demand, in five more novels, known collectively as the "Leather-stocking Tales." The second book in the series, The Last of the Mohicans, is still widely read today. The five books span Bumppo's life, from coming of age through approaching death.
    1841-Plagued by poor investment decisions and an uncertain economic climate, the Bank of the United States was forced to call it quits on February 4, 1841. It was a painful end for an institution that had suffered through one of the more contentious episodes in the nation's early financial history. Indeed, the Bank was the direct product of President Alexander Hamilton's controversial push for a national banking system. Despite the staunch objections of Thomas Jefferson, the federal government chartered the first Bank of the United States in 1791. However, Jefferson kept up his attack, and in 1811, led his supporters in Congress in a successful attempt to block the renewal of the bank's charter. Buoyed by a confluence of conditions, including state banks' recent run of woes and political shifts in the House, pro-bank forces forged a new charter in 1816. Under the charge of Nicholas Biddle, the revived Bank of the U.S. enjoyed some healthy years. However, before long, the Bank faced another round of opposition, this time led by President Andrew Jackson, who fiercely opposed the notion of a central bank system. A nasty and protracted political battle ensued, as the president attempted to use his executive power to do away with the bank. Jackson eventually won out, and when the bank's charter expired in 1836, Biddle shifted course and reestablished the Bank of the United States as a state institution based in Pennsylvania . Biddle's bank limped on for a few more years before being finally shut down on February 4, 1841.
    1846-The ship "Brooklyn" left New York bound for San Francisco with members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints aboard. They had been instructed to "flee Babylon." They departed for California the same day other Saints left Navoo, Illinois, following clashes with settlers over polygamy. The party from Navoo was to meet Brannan's group at Yerba Buena.
    1847- Magnetic Telegraph of Maryland opened four offices in New York City for $250 a year, Philadelphia for$ !50, in Baltimore for $150, and Washington , DC for $50 a year to become the first Telegraph company. At first, messages were sent by pigeons across the Hudson River from Jersey City , NJ to New York City . Later, a lead pipe enclosing a covered wire saturated with pitch was laid under the river. The rates from Baltimore to Washington were e1`0 cents for the first 10 words an 1 cent for each additional minute. The rates form New York to Washington were 50 cents for the first 10 words and 5 cents for each additional word.
    1861- The Apache Wars: The period of conflict known as the Apache Wars began at Apache Pass , AZ , when Army Lieutenant George Bascom arrested Apache Chief Cochise for raiding a ranch. Cochise escaped and declared war. The wars lasted 25 years under the leadership of Cochise and, later, Geronimo.
    1861- the first Confederate congressional session took place, lasting until March 16. Its official title was Congress of the Confederate States. The president of the Senate was Alexander Hamilton Stephens of Georgia, the president pro tempore was Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter of Virginia , and the secretary of the Senate was James H. Nash of South Carolina . The House of Representatives under the permanent constitution met in Richmond , VA , on February 18, 1861. Emmet Dixon of Georgia was elected clerk and Thomas Salem Bocock of Virginia was elected speaker. The session adjourned on April 21, 1862. The first order of business was drafting a constitution. They used the U.S. Constitution as a model, and most of it was taken verbatim. It took just four days to hammer out a tentative document to govern the new nation. The president was limited to one six-year term. Unlike the U.S. Constitution, the word "slave" was used and the institution protected in all states and any territories to be added later. Importation of slaves was prohibited, as this would alienate European nations and would detract from the profitable "internal slave trade" in the South. Other components of the constitution were designed to enhance the power of the states--governmental money for internal improvements was banned and the president was given a line-item veto on appropriations bills. The Congress then turned its attention to selecting a president. The delegates settled on Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate who was the U.S. Secretary of War in the 1850s and a senator from Mississippi . It was emphatic that the purpose of the confederacy was to preserve slavery. There were many rich slave owners in the south and the loss of their property would mean not only substantial loss of their assets, but future income as they would have to pay for work on their farms and other businesses. ( an irony of the times, there were Negroes who were also “slave owners” At the turn of the century, there were slaves also owned in the North.)
Here is one county, Lowndes District in the County of Lowndes , State of Alabama , to give you an idea of the division of “property.”
http://www.ccharity.com/census/1850lowndes.htm
This will substantiate that there were “free Blacks” who also owned “Black slaves.”
http://americancivilwar.com/authors/black_slaveowners.htm
Slave Census of Connecticut and Washington , 1790. It is also correct many of the Northern states began to outlaw slavery in their state after the ratification of the constitution.
http://www.ctnow.com/extras/html/slaveowners.htm
But make it clear, the purpose of the Confederate States of America was to preserve slavery and was so stated in their constitution.
    1873- Birth of George Bennard, American Methodist evangelist. He penned over 300 Gospel songs during his lifetime, but is primarily remembered today for one: "The Old Rugged Cross."
    1895 - In Chicago , Illinois , the Van Buren Street Bridge opened. It was the first rolling lift bridge. It consisted of two arms meeting at the center of the river. The bridge was operated by two 50horsepower electric motors on each side of the bridge.
http://www.chicagohs.org/fire/ruin/pic0093.html
http://www.deldot.net/static/projects/archaeology/
historic_pres/delaware_bridge_book/PAGE_162.PDF
http://tigger.cc.uic.edu/depts/ahaa/imagebase/
intranet/chiviews/page177.html
    1902-Birthday of Charles Augustus Lindbergh, American aviator, nick named
“Lucky Lindy,” was the first to fly solo and nonstop over the Atlantic Ocean, New York to Paris , May 20-21, 1927. He became a Nazi sympathizer, accepting awards from Adoph Hitler and after the war, efforts were made to downplay his lobbying for the Nazi regime. Born at Detroit , MI ; died at Kipahula, Maui , HI , Aug 27,1974.
    1904 – Birthday of MacKinlay Kantor, novelist ( Andersonville ) , born Webster City, Iowa. died on October 11, 1977 His best seller was a story about the infamous Andersonville prison of Civil War fame, into which tens of thousands of Northerners were inhumanely confined under obscene conditions.
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/MSC/IaAuthor/Kantor/kantor.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0452269563/inktomi-bkasin-20/
002-1958450-0644835/
    1908-Birthday of trumpet player Mannie Klein , New York City
http://www.trumpetjazz.com/artists.cgi?name=Manny+Klein&x=5&y=9
http://www.jazzoracle.com/reviews/
http://ms.cc.sunysb.edu/~alhaim/recordingsanalysis.htm
http://user.tninet.se/~npt755v/bosw2.htm
    1913- birthday of Rosa Lee Parks, civil rights leader who refused to give up the seat on the bus, Tuskegee , AL .
http://www.grandtimes.com/rosa.html
http://www.rosaparks.org/
    1913--add after this on line (birthday of Rosa Lee Parks, civil rights leader who refused to give up the seat on the bus, Tuskegee, AL.) Born Rosa Louise McCauley in Tuskegee, Al, Rosa Parks was a seamstress who was active with the NAACP. On a fateful day in Montgomery, Al, in 1955, a time when African Americans were obligated by law to ride in the back of a bus, she refused to give up her seat to a white man during a ride home from work. Parks was subsequently arrested, found guilty of disorderly conduct and fined $14. This simple act sparked the modern civil rights movement, leasing to a 381 day boycott of the Montgomery bus system Lawsuits and an eventual Supreme Court decision decreeing segregation to be unconstitutional. A hero to blacks and whites alike, Parks continued work on civil rights until her death on October 25, 2005, at Detroit, MI. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, and she is the only American woman to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Many municipalities consider Dec. 1, the day of her arrest in 1955, a holiday: Rose Parks Day.
    1914—Pellagra is caused by a deficiency of the B vitamin niacin. Dr. Joseph/Goldberger of the U.S. Public Health Service at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, eight miles east of Jackson , MS , began the first public finding. Twelve convicts agreed to submit to a restricted-diet test in exchange for an offer of pardon made by Governor Earl LeRoy Brewer. The test was held from February 4, 1915 to April 19,1915. Six of the 11 convicts ( one was excused) developed pellagra, confirming suspicions that pellagra is caused by a deficiency of the B Vitamin niacin. Pellagra was common, particularly in the South, until news of this experiment became known by newspapers of the time.
     1917 - Downtown Miami, FL, reported an all-time record low of 27 degrees.
     1921- birthday of author Betty Freidan, Peoria , IL , founder of the National Organization for Women ( NOW, author of the “Feminine Mystique.”
    1928- Regal Theater opens in Chicago , great jazz venue during the 1930's,1940's.
http://www.suba.com/~scottn/explore/sites/theaters/regal.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/regalthe/
http://jazzinstituteofchicago.org/index.asp?target=/jazzgram/
bronzeville/bronzeville47.asp
1930-The first mosaic pavement similar to the mosaics of the ancient world was laid on Canal Street , New Orleans , LA. The mosaic effect was secured by mixing chipped meteorite, crown point spar, and mica with the cement, then pouring the mixture into diamond-shaped brass stripped forms, sanding it down and polishing it. It was part of the project referred to as the ‘Beautification of Canal Street.”
http://theoldentimes.com/canal_st.html
http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/dpc/cityscapes/charles.asp
    1932- the third Winter Olympics opened at Lake Placid, NY, with 32 women and 274 men athletes representing 17 nations. This was the only edition of the Winter games in which athletes form the US won more medals ( six gold, four silver and two bronze) than athletes form any other country. The games closed on February 15th.]
    1933 -- Angered by increasing farm foreclosures, members of Iowa's Farmers Holiday Association threaten to lynch banking representatives and law officials who institute foreclosure proceedings for the duration of the Depression. In April at Primghar, 600 farmers battle the sheriff and his deputies to prevent a foreclosure. During the battle many farmers take a beating. A group of them then turn up at the courthouse, drag a district judge from his chair, put a rope around his neck, & threaten to hang him unless he promises not to issue any more eviction notices. That same month, when state officers in Crawford County are beaten and driven off, the Iowa governor put three counties under martial law, and the National Guard starts rounding up farmers who are fighting foreclosures. Farmers outside Sioux City did not cooperate with the association, selling produce at the best price they could, in addition, President Roosevelt promised farmers change and help. The crisis here also help Roosevelt defeat Hoover.
http://www.hooverassociation.org/arhell.htm
http://www.sos.state.ia.us/publications/redbook/history/7-1.html
    1934-Birthday of piano player Wade Legge, Huntington, WA
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JA8W
inktomi-musicasin-20/002-1958450-0644835
    1937-Glen Gray and Casa Loma Band record LarryCliniton's “Study in Brown.”
    1938 - Thornton Wilder's play, "Our Town", opened in New York City at the Henry Miller Theatre. The play won the writer a Pulitzer prize.
    1938 –Guitarist/vocalist Joe Beard Birthday
http://www.jazznow.com/1001NS/NSJBeard.html
http://www.audioquest-music.com/catalog/1039.html
    1939 - World mile record-holder, Glenn Cunningham, said in a newspaper, "running a four-minute mile is beyond human effort," adding that the best mile run will always be 4:01.66. That mark has been since been broken several times. Jim Ryun did it on several occasions; and more recently a time of 3:44:39 was set by Noureddine Morceli from Algeria.
    1941- USO founded' provides support worldwide for US service people and their families. The United Service Organizations (USO) centers have served as a home away from home for hundreds of thousands of Americans.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb04.html
    1944 - President Roosevelt authorized the Bronze Star Medal by Executive Order 9419 dated 4 February 1944, retroactive to 7 December 1941. This authorization was announced in War Department Bulletin No. 3, dated 10 February 1944. The Executive Order was amended by President Kennedy, per Executive Order 11046 dated 24 August 1962, to expand the authorization to include those serving with friendly forces.
    1945-Birthday of tenor sax player John Stubblefield IV, Little Rock AR
http://www.russpix.co.uk/stubb.html
http://www.arjazz.org/artists/hof/1998/98_stubblefield.html
    1947—Top Hits
For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
A Gal in Calico - Johnny Mercer
Oh, But I Do - Margaret Whiting
Rainbow at Midnight - Ernest Tubb
    1948- Vincent Fournier, better known as Alice Cooper, was born in Detroit. His rock 'n' roll horror show in the 1970's featured chicken-killing and snake-fondling while singing such songs as "Refrigerator Heaven" and "I'm Eighteen." Cooper went into semi-retirement in 1977, when alcohol problems forced him to undergo hospital treatment. He later returned to performing.
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/3246/
http://www.alicecoopershow.co.uk/portal.htm
    1951-ADAMS, STANLEY T. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant (then Sfc.), U.S. Army, Company A, 19th Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Near Sesim-ni, Korea, 4 February 1951. Entered service at: Olathe, Kans. Born: 9 May 1922, DeSoto, Kans. G.O. No.: 66, 2 August 1951. Citation: M/Sgt. Adams, Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy. At approximately 0100 hours, M/Sgt. Adams' platoon, holding an outpost some 200 yards ahead of his company, came under a determined attack by an estimated 250 enemy troops. Intense small-arms, machine gun, and mortar fire from 3 sides pressed the platoon back against the main line of resistance. Observing approximately 150 hostile troops silhouetted against the skyline advancing against his platoon, M/Sgt. Adams leaped to his feet, urged his men to fix bayonets, and he, with 13 members of his platoon, charged this hostile force with indomitable courage. Within 50 yards of the enemy M/Sgt. Adams was knocked to the ground when pierced in the leg by an enemy bullet. He jumped to his feet and, ignoring his wound, continued on to close with the enemy when he was knocked down 4 times from the concussion of grenades which had bounced off his body. Shouting orders he charged the enemy positions and engaged them in hand-to-hand combat where man after man fell before his terrific onslaught with bayonet and rifle butt. After nearly an hour of vicious action M/Sgt. Adams and his comrades routed the fanatical foe, killing over 50 and forcing the remainder to withdraw. Upon receiving orders that his battalion was moving back he provided cover fire while his men withdrew. M/Sgt. Adams' superb leadership, incredible courage, and consummate devotion to duty so inspired his comrades that the enemy attack was completely thwarted, saving his battalion from possible disaster. His sustained personal bravery and indomitable fighting spirit against overwhelming odds reflect the utmost glory upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the infantry and the military service.
    1952 - Former baseball great, Jackie Robinson, was named Director of Communication for NBC, becoming the first black executive of a major radio-TV network.
    1953 - Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis took a dramatic turn when they starred in the film, "The Stooge", premiering at the Paramount Theatre in New York City.
    1955—Top Hits
Sincerely - McGuire Sisters
Hearts of Stone - Fontane Sisters
Melody of Love - Billy Vaughn
Let Me Go, Lover! - Hank Snow
    1955--The Blue Moon Boys, consisting of Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black and DJ Fontana, headline at an amusement park in New Orleans.
    1956-James Brown and The Famous Flames record "Please, Please, Please" at King Studios in Cincinnati. The single would go on to become a Billboard #5 R&B hit, selling over a million copies, but nine subsequent releases would fail to live up to the success of their debut. It would take over two years for the group to return to the charts with the #1 R&B hit, "Try Me".
    1957 - New York's Smith-Corona Manufacturing Inc. began to sell portable electric typewriters. The first "portable" machine weighed 19 pounds! Soon, other manufacturers began offering similar models that were made of lighter weight plastics.
    1962- birthday of country singer Clint Black, born Katy, LA.
http://www.countrystars.com/index.html?/artists/clint.html
http://clintblack.com/bios.html
    1962-The first U.S. helicopter is shot down in Vietnam. It was one of 15 helicopters ferrying South Vietnamese Army troops into battle near the village of Hong My in the Mekong Delta. The first U.S. helicopter unit had arrived in South Vietnam aboard the ferry carrier USNS Core on December 11, 1961. This contingent included 33 Vertol H-21C Shawnee helicopters and 400 air and ground crewmen to operate and maintain them. Their assignment was to airlift South Vietnamese Army troops into combat.
    1963—Top Hits
Walk Right In - The Rooftop Singers
Hey Paula - Paul & Paula
The Night Has a Thousand Eyes - Bobby Vee
The Ballad of Jed Clampett - Flatt & Scruggs
    1964- The federal government put an end to one of the nation's more shameful bits of legislation by authorizing the Twenty-fourth Amendment, which effectively outlawed the poll tax. The tax stemmed back to the 1880s, when members of the burgeoning Populist party began to build a potentially potent coalition of African American and lower class white voters in the South. Across the region, planters, merchants, and industrialists moved to preserve their power and pushed for the passage of a deliberately prohibitive poll tax. The legislation, adopted by a host of Southern states, proved all too effective, as scores of African-Americans, as well as the "poorer sort" of whites, simply could not afford to pay the tax and thus lost the right to vote. However, thanks in large part to the efforts of Senator Spessard L. Holland of Florida, the once recalcitrant Congress slowly came around to the cause of outlawing the tax and passed the Twenty-fourth Amendment. On January 23, 1964, the amended was ratified by the South Dakota legislature, giving it the three-fourth majority necessary to make it the law of the land.
    1964 - United States weekly publication Newsweek was the first American magazine to carry a cover story on the Beatles.
    1965-Martin Luther King Jr. and 770 other protesters arrested in Selma, Alabama for picketing county courthouse to end discrim voting rights

    1966--Jefferson Airplane, The Mystery Trend play the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. It is Bill Graham's first non-benefit show at the Fillmore
    1966 -- Bill Graham's first non-benefit show. Also, about this time, author Ken Kesey disappears (to Mexico). Graham presents The Jefferson Airplane at the Fillmore Auditorium, 1805 Geary Street, in San Francisco, California.
http://www.winelady.com/records/bgposters.html
    1968-GONZALEZ, ALFREDO Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Near Thua Thien, Republic of Vietnam, 4 February 1968. Entered service at: San Antonio, Tex. Born: 23 May 1946, Edinburg Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon commander, 3d Platoon, Company A. On 31 January 1968, during the initial phase of Operation Hue City, Sgt. Gonzalez' unit was formed as a reaction force and deployed to Hue to relieve the pressure on the beleaguered city. While moving by truck convoy along Route No. 1, near the village of Lang Van Lrong, the marines received a heavy volume of enemy fire. Sgt. Gonzalez aggressively maneuvered the marines in his platoon, and directed their fire until the area was cleared of snipers. Immediately after crossing a river south of Hue, the column was again hit by intense enemy fire. One of the marines on top of a tank was wounded and fell to the ground in an exposed position. With complete disregard for his safety, Sgt. Gonzalez ran through the fire-swept area to the assistance of his injured comrade. He lifted him up and though receiving fragmentation wounds during the rescue, he carried the wounded marine to a covered position for treatment. Due to the increased volume and accuracy of enemy fire from a fortified machine gun bunker on the side of the road, the company was temporarily halted. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sgt. Gonzalez exposed himself to the enemy fire and moved his platoon along the east side of a bordering rice paddy to a dike directly across from the bunker. Though fully aware of the danger involved, he moved to the fire-swept road and destroyed the hostile position with hand grenades. Although seriously wounded again on 3 February, he steadfastly refused medical treatment and continued to supervise his men and lead the attack. On 4 February, the enemy had again pinned the company down, inflicting heavy casualties with automatic weapons and rocket fire. Sgt. Gonzalez, utilizing a number of light antitank assault weapons, fearlessly moved from position to position firing numerous rounds at the heavily fortified enemy emplacements. He successfully knocked out a rocket position and suppressed much of the enemy fire before falling mortally wounded. The heroism, courage, and dynamic leadership displayed by Sgt. Gonzalez reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
    1969 - 33-year-old John Madden became head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders. In his first season Madden took the Raiders to a 12-1-1 record and earned them a spot in the AFC Conference Championship Game. Madden went on to become the youngest head coach in the modern NFL era to win 100 games in his first ten seasons.
    1969- owners of the 24 major league baseball clubs elected attorney Bowie Kuhn commissioner for a one-year term at a salary of $100,000. Kuhn, who succeeded William D. Eckert, became baseball's fifth commissioner. He served until 1984 when he was replaced by Peter Ueberroth.
    1971—Top Hits
Knock Three Times - Dawn
Lonely Days - Bee Gees
Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
Flesh and Blood - Johnny Cash
    1971-- The Osmonds' "One Bad Apple" album is certified gold
    1973-Birthday of boxer Oscar de La Hoya, Los Angeles, CA, Feb 4, 1973.
    1974 - Patricia Hearst, the 19-year-old daughter of publishing billionaire William Randolph Hearst, is kidnapped from her Berkeley, California, apartment. Stephen Weed, Hearst's fiancé‚, was beaten unconscious by the two abductors. Soon, a ransom demand came from the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), a radical activist group led by Donald DeFreeze. DeFreeze had formed the SLA in 1973 after he escaped from prison. On November 6, 1973, the SLA shot and killed Marcus Foster, Oakland's superintendent of schools, with bullets laced with cyanide. Less than a month before Hearst's kidnapping, an SLA bomb-making factory was discovered by the police. The SLA instructed William Hearst to distribute $70 million in food to the poor in Oakland to have Patty released. The Black Muslims, Malcolm X's former organization, were chosen to manage the food distribution, which turned into a riot when more than 10,000 people showed up and fought for the food. However, DeFreeze and the SLA did not release Patty. The Hearst story took a strange and unexpected turn two months after the abduction, when the SLA robbed the Hibernia Bank in San Francisco. The surveillance cameras clearly showed that Patty Hearst was one of the machine gun-toting robbers. Soon after followed a taped message from the SLA in which Hearst claimed that she had voluntarily joined the SLA and was now to be known as "Tania." On May 17, 1974, police were tipped that the SLA leaders were at a Los Angeles home. With 400 police and FBI agents outside the house, a tremendous gun battle broke out. The overwhelming firepower of the police eventually caused a fire to break out. DeFreeze and five other SLA members died in the fire. However, Hearst was not inside the house. She was not found until September 1975. Patty Hearst was put on trial for armed robbery and convicted, despite her claim that she had been coerced, through repeated rape, isolation, and brainwashing, into joining the SLA. Prosecutors believed that she actually orchestrated her own kidnapping because of her prior involvement with one of the SLA members. Despite any real proof of this theory, she was convicted and sent to prison. President Carter commuted Hearst's sentence after she had served two years. Hearst is currently seeking a pardon.
    1976- US District Court Judge John W.Olvier upheld the ruling of a baseball arbitrator Peter Seitz that had declared pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally to be free agents. The two had refused to sign contracts for 1974 as a test case and had argued that baseball's hallowed reserved clause bound them to their respective clubs, not in perpetuity but for only one year beyond the expiration of their last signed contract.
    1976- Kathryn Lis, Susan Kollmeye and Cynthia Snead became the first U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets by finishing in the top one percent of the more than 10,000 men and women who competed for admission.
    1976 – A US Senate subcommittee reveals Lockheed Aircraft Corporation made payments abroad of $22 million in bribes to sell planes. Lockheed admits payments in Japan, Turkey, Italy and Holland.
    1977-1977-"American Bandstand" celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary with an ABC-TV special hosted by Dick Clark. An incredible "all-star band" made up by Chuck Berry, Seals & Crofts, Gregg Allman, Junior Walker, Johnny Rivers, the Pointer Sisters, Charlie Daniels, Doc Severenson, Les McCann, Donald Byrd, Chuck Mangione and three quarters of Booker T and the MGs. They join and jam together for a rendition of "Roll Over Beethoven."
    1977--One of the best selling albums of all time, Fleetwood Mac's, "Rumors" was released. The LP spent 31 weeks at the top of the US album chart on the strength of the singles, "Go Your Own Way", "Dreams", "Don't Stop" and "You Make Loving Fun", all of which hit the top 10. The album eventually sold over 18 million copies.
    1978-With movie theater promos showing John Travolta's character, Tony Manero walking down the street to the beat of The Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive", the tune shot to the top of the Billboard Pop chart.
    1979—Top Hits
Le Freak - Chic
Y.M.C.A. - Village People
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart
Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For - Crystal Gayle
    1983 - Singer Karen Carpenter died of heart failure due to anorexia nervosa at age 33, at her parents' home in Downey , California . The singer, who had performed with her brother, Richard, would be best-remembered for her songs (They Long to Be) Close to You and We've Only Just Begun, which dominated the songs of choice for weddings throughout the '70s and '80s. The untimely death of the young, velvet-throated Grammy Award winner saddened and shocked the world. Her death shed new light on the devastating consequences of anorexia, an eating disorder brought on by compulsive dieting. At one low point in Carpenter's career, she was forced to cancel a command performance before Queen Elizabeth II of England , and a concert tour of Europe and the Orient, due to the illness. Standing five feet, four inches, she had dieted down to 90 pounds.
    1987—Top Hits
At This Moment - Billy Vera & The Beaters
Open Your Heart - Madonna
Land of Confusion - Genesis
You Still Move Me - Dan Seals
    1987 -Sacramento Kings score only 4 points 1st quarter against the Lakers; fewest in a period since introduction of 24 second shot-clock in 1954
    1987- “Stars & Stripes”, skippered by Dennis Connor, defeated the Australian boat “Kookaburra III” for the fourth straight time to sweep the America 's Cup challenge and return the prized trophy to the US . This was the last Cup defense to be contested by 12-meter yachts. It came four years after Australia II with John Bertrand as skipper wrested the Cup from the US for the first time ever.
    1987 - Flamboyant pianist Liberace died at age 67 in his block-long palace in Palms Springs , California , officially of a brain disease, although it was a complication of AIDs. At one time, the entertainer was the highest-paid performer in Las Vegas .
    1989 - A winter storm brought heavy snow and high winds to the western U.S. Up to three feet of snow blanketed the Sierra Nevada of California, and buried parts of northeastern Washington State under three feet of snow in five days. High winds across Washington State reached 75 mph, with gusts to 105 mph.
    1996 - NBC aired the first of two parts of the mini-series Gulliver's Travels, starring Ted Danson as the title character. The venture, with its huge financial investment, had the potential for being a giant flop, but it was a gamble that paid off. The show was NBC's highest-rated miniseries in four years, and most critics praised its faithfulness to the Jonathan Swift tale. 
    1997 –Simpson Guilty!!! A civil jury in Santa Monica , California found O.J. Simpson liable for the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman. The jury awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages to Goldman's parents. A few days later, the jury added $25 million in punitive damages to go to Nicole Brown Simpson's estate and Goldman's father. Simpson was later ordered to give up his Heisman Trophy and nearly $500,000 in valuables, including his golf clubs, to help satisfy the judgment.
    1997- Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored into an empty net to become the seventh member of the NHL's t00-goal club.  Pittsburgh beat the Vancouver Canuks, 6-4. Players who previously scored 600 goals are Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito, Mike Gartner and Wayne Gretzky, who got his 600th goal in his 720th game, one more than Lemieux required.
    1998-Microsoft founder/multi-billionaire Bill Gates gets a pie thrown in his face in Brussels Belgium .
http://www.zpub.com/un/bill/pie.html
http://home.epix.net/%7Etjwagner/gates.html
http://www.bitstorm.org/gates
    2002-- On the occasion of civil-rights activist Rosa Parks' 89th birthday, Stevie Wonder sings his song "Happy Birthday" to her at the premiere of her TV-movie biography The Rosa Parks Story. The song had originally been written by Wonder to help bring about a national Martin Luther King holiday.
    2007--The Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 at Dolphin Stadium in Super Bowl XLI. Colts QB Peyton Manning was named MVP. For the first time in Super Bowl history, the game was played in the rain, which was continuous throughout the game.
    2007--Billy Joel sang the United States National Anthem during the Super Bowl XLI (41) pre-game show and Prince performed during the halftime festivities.

Super Bowl Champions
    2007---Indianapolis Colts

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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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Weather

See USA map, click to specific area, no commercials

http://www.weather.gov/

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Traffic Live---

Real Time Traffic Information

You can save up to 20 different routes and check them out with one click,
or type in a new route to learn the traffic live

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Independent, unbiased and fair news about the Leasing Industry.