ELFA Monthly December Report Shows Very Good News
Although the Month was Down 3% from Last Year - Charts

(Leasing News Chart)

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association Monthly report showed overall New Business Volume for December was $11.8 billion, down 3 percent year-over-year from new business volume in December 2020. Volume was up 49 percent month-to-month from $7.9 billion in November in a typical end-of-year spike. Perhaps the best news was the cumulative new business volume for 2021 was up almost 9 percent compared to 2020.

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(ELFA Chart)

 

ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta said, “The association’s Q4 MLFI-25 equipment finance industry metrics show responding organizations reporting robust growth in new business activity as well as healthy portfolios, indicative of another solid year.

"Cumulative 2021 originations grew about 9 percent when compared to 2020, the first year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses in many industry sectors grew and expanded during the past 12 months, reflecting a favorable low interest rate environment, healthy corporate earnings and strong balance sheets.

"The outlook for the industry, and indeed overall economy, is somewhat cloudy, with unabated inflation, the Fed poised to increase interest rates, equities markets in a recent tailspin, and the Omicron variant remaining a concerning health factor in the U.S.”

Kalyan Makam, Executive Vice President, Amur Equipment Finance, commented, “Supply constraints, strong economic growth, and the early innings of the American Jobs Plan augur well for the equipment finance sector."

Note more good news in almost all the ELFA charts:

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(ELFA Charts)

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-----SPECIAL-------

2021 MLFI Survey Summary: Leveraging Data
to Improve Performance---ELFA Webinar Presentation

This special webinar presents 2021 year-end findings of ELFA's Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity from 25 member companies representing a cross section of the equipment finance sector.

The webinar is designed to help equipment finance leaders use the data in the MLFI-25 to benefit their organizations. Topics include:

Key findings: new business volume, aging of receivables, average losses, credit approval ratios and change in total number of employees
Tips for using the data effectively.

First-hand experience utilizing the data

• Web Seminar Resources:
• Download the Slide Deck;
• https://www.elfaonline.org/docs/default-source/events/elearning/webseminars/2021mlfisurveysummary_slidedeck.pdf?sfvrsn=12590c_2

Visit the Knowledge Hub
https://www.elfaonline.org/knowledge-hub/knowledge-hub-home

-----SPECIAL-------

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Despite surging consumer prices, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) unanimously decided to keep interest rates near zero for the time being. As the U.S. economic recovery progresses and inflation is picking up, it did move up its timeline for possible rate hikes, however, with all 18 committee members now expecting a rate hike in 2022.

With inflation having exceeded the Feds’ long-term target of 2 percent for some time now, the Committee linked a possible rate hike to the achievement of its second policy goal, namely maximum employment, or to be more precise “labor market conditions consistent with the Committee’s assessments of maximum employment.”

Not only do the guardians of U.S. monetary policy expect to raise interest rates earlier than they did three months ago, but they also anticipate the rate hike to be more significant than previously expected.

While the median projection for the “appropriate target range for the federal funds rate at the end of 2022” is now 0.75 to 1.00 percent, it was 0.25 to 0.50 percent in September and 0 to 0.25 percent in June.

Despite the latest rise in COVID cases, the emergence of the Omicron variant and persistent supply constraints, the FOMC remains bullish on the economy as a whole. The median projection for real GDP growth now stands at 5.5 percent for this year and at 4 percent for 2022.

Felix Richter, Statista

 

Positions Wanted
Accounts Receivable/Collections

Well- known to Leasing News, we recommend Ray Borgaard for account receivable and collections. He has over 30 years successful experience.

He has had great experience working with marketing, contact administrators, and credit to resolve any contractual issues that are preventing payment. He is looking to stay active, use his experience
to perform.

References furnished upon request: roborgaard@aol.com

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Maurice Copeland was hired as Account Manager, AT&T. He is located in Auburn, Washington. Previously, he was Supervisor, Best Buy (November, 2020 - June, 2021); Account Executive, Partners Capital Group (September, 2019 - November, 2020). He joined The Valley Management Group November, 2015, as Assistant Director of Operations, promoted December, 2017, Director of Operations; Regional Account Manager, Crexendo Business Solutions (April, 2016 - October, 2016); Business Account Executive, Comcast Business (November, 2014 - January, 2015 ); Account Executive, Zones (February, 2014 - November, 2014); Commercial Sales Manager, Cartoys (July, 2011 - February, 2014). Education: Spokane Falls Community College (2007). https://www.linkedin.com/in/maurice-copeland-9971a872/

Murray Derraugh was hired as Vice President Risk, Sonoma Capital Corporation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He previously was Vice President of Credit, CWB National Leasing, Inc. (July, 2018 - January, 2022). Prior,  he was President, Derraugh Consulting, Inc. (June, 2006 - March, 2015); Senior Manager, Asset Management, National Leasing (April, 2014 - January, 2015); Senior Vice President, Risk and Chief Operating Officer, Blue Chip Leasing Corporation (May, 2012 - March, 2014); Senior Vice President, Risk and Chief Operating Officer, Enable Capital Corporation (May, 2012 - March, 2014); Consultant, The Alta Group (October, 2009 - May, 2012), Senior Vice President, Swandel and Associates (2006 - May, 2012); Director, Portfolio Management, CUETS  MasterCard Affiliate (2004 - 2006); Director of Credit, General Manager, Vision Credit, Western Canada Sales Manager, National Leasing (1996 - 2004). Community Service: Volunteer: Secretary of Board, Children's Museum (June, 2011 - June, 2017).  Education and Programming Committee Member, Canadian Finance and Leasing Association (June, 2006 - Present). Research Committee Member, Canadian Finance & Leasing Association, Association canadienne de financement & de location (November, 2017 - Present). Education: University of Manitoba, BRS (1981 - 1986). https://www.linkedin.com/in/murrayderraugh/

Austin Eames, CLFP, was hired as Consultant, Specialty Finance, Atlanta, Georgia. He joined Key Equipment Finance, June, 2106, as Sales Associate, promoted April, 2017, Healthcare Sales Representative, promoted July, 2017, Account Executive. He was Summer Internship, Melt Sports and Entertainment Marketing (May, 2015 - August, 2015); Manager, Rose Hill Wine and Spirits (January, 2015 - May, 2015); Food Services, Cosmo's Pizzas (April, 2014 - August, 2014); Interview Specialist, The Network (May, 2012 - August, 2013); Assistant Manager, Vector Marketing (May, 2010 - August, 2011); Food Runner, Studio Movie Grill (May, 2009 - August, 2010). Certifications: Certified Leasing and Finance Professional, 2021. CPR.  Education: University of Colorado Boulder, Marketing and Finance (2012 - 2016). Grade: Senior. Activities and Societies: Pi Kappa Alpha. Centennial High School (2008 - 2012). https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-eames-clfp-377573ba/

Eric Goldman was hired as Vice President of Business Development, NFS Leasing, Beverly, Massachusetts. He is located in Fairfield, Connecticut. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Nations Equipment Finance, LLC (September, 2012 - January, 2022); Senior Commercial Officer, SVP, Peoples United Bank (December (December, 2010 - May, 2012); Vice Prescient and Senior Client Manager, Bank of America (June, 2007 - December, 2010); Vice President, Commercial Lender TD Banknorth/Hudson United Bank (November, 2003 - June, 2007); Vice President, Orix Financial Services, Structured Finance Group (November 2002 - September, 2003); Vice President, Commercial Equipment Group, GE Commercial Finance (October, 1992 - October, 2002). Education: Lehigh University (1987 - 1991). https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-goldman-a197763/

Gary Mendell was promoted to Executive Chairman, Meridian Finance Group, Los Angeles, California. He was named President, 1993.  Previously, he was Director of Sales and Marketing, Polymer Technologies Group (1990 - 1993). He joined Shamban Aerospace in 1982 as Sales Engineer, promoted 1984 National Sales Manager, promoted 1986 International Sales Manager. International Sales coordinator, EMCO International (1980 - 1982). Education: University of Pennsylvania (1976). https://www.linkedin.com/in/garymendell/

Krista Shea was hired as End of Lease Specialist, Canon Financial Services, Inc., Mount Laurel, New Jersey. She joined the firm January, 1995, as Customer Remarketer, promoted June, 2001, Business Analyst, promoted June, 2012, Equipment Remarketer, promoted January, 2109, Senior Equipment Remarketer. She began her career August, 1990, at De Lage Landen International (formerly Tokai Financial) August, 1999, as Customer Remarketer, promoted February, 1993, Commercial Equipment Documentation Specialist. Education: Providence College, BS. Business Administration. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-shea-40947a38/

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Help Wanted Ads

 

Perception

Sales Makes it Happen by Scott Wheeler, CLFP

How do your clients perceive you and your services?

Top originators in the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry are considered more than salespersons, order takers, customer service representatives, or processors. They are perceived by their end-user and vendor clients as professional advisors. Top originators consciously and proactively build a reputation as a trusted advisor who provides meaningful expertise related to equipment financing and leasing. Additionally, they provide advice within the broader context of a client's economic position and changing market factors. Top originators are valuable financial resources which vendors and end-users depend upon to navigate ever-changing financial markets.

Trusted Advisors:

• Listen more than talk
• Ask probing questions to fully understand their client's needs and wants
• Are relationship oriented
• Can articulate their personal value proposition
• Confront competition with confidence
• Are well connected to the industries they serve - they continuously facilitate research to anticipate new trends
• Present themselves as professional financial resources beyond the current transaction - they are long-term thinkers, and their actions are motivated by long-term results.

Perception is reality. The perception that you create in the market is based upon your personal actions.

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

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Leasing News Advisor
Steve Crane, CLFP

Steve Crane, CLFP, is an original member of the Leasing News Advisory Board from July 2000. He is Executive Vice President and the Sales Manager for BSB Leasing, which is funding source/syndicator in Colorado. Steve enjoys working remotely from his home in the San Francisco, East Bay Area.

Prior to joining BSB in September of 2014, Steve was Vice President and Marketing Manager for the Indirect Equipment Financing Group at Bank of the West where he worked for nearly 20 years.  He graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and has held positions with numerous companies in his career, including Westinghouse Credit, Ingersoll-Rand Financial, CIT and Taylor Financial. Steve has been an active volunteer in the Leasing and Financing community over the years, holding various positions, including President and Treasurer of the Certified Leasing and Finance Professional Foundation, board member of the former Eastern Association of Equipment Leasing, and conference chairs for The National Association of Equipment Leasing Brokers and National Equipment Finance Association.

Steve enjoys outdoor activities including traveling, hiking, running, gardening, and sailing.  He is an avid triathlete, having completed many races, including 10 half and two full Ironman events.

Steve Crane, CLFP
Executive Vice President  & Sales Manager
BSB Leasing, Inc.
7921 Southpark Plaza, Suite 208
Littleton, CO  80120
scrane@bsbleasing.com   
303-376-4668
Fax: 303-329-0240
www.bsbleasing.com

Steve has been married to his wife Cheryl for 38 years and they have two sons, Ryan and Alex. Ryan is our oldest son, a firefighter in Northern California, stationed in Sunol. He spent a lot of time on the Dixie and Caldor fires in 2021. Alex is a MD in Southern California, in his second year of residency and working on a sports medicine residency. He just got accepted into a sports medicine fellowship with Kaiser, which he's excited about.

Son Ryan and girlfriend Brooke, daughter-in-law Jess, son Alex, wife Cheryl and Steve.

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Tasty Chick’n, LLC, Acquires 90 KFC Restaurants
By Kerry Pipes, Franchising.com

Tasty Chick'n, LLC, has picked up 90 KFC restaurants in eight states. 15 of the units are Tasty Chick’n is part of Tasty Restaurant Group, which manages a portfolio of nearly 370 quick service restaurants for private-equity firm Triton Pacific Capital Partners. Other brands in the portfolio include Pizza Hut, Burger King, Dunkin', and Baskin-Robbins.

Craig Faggen, Triton Pacific's CEO, said, "We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Yum! Brands and are enthusiastic about the future growth opportunity this transaction affords.

"KFC is a long-standing leader within the chicken category for quick service restaurants. The industry, however, remains highly-fragmented, and the opportunity to purchase a sizable, well-established business such as this is limited. As a platform investment, we view tremendous growth potential through add-on acquisitions and new unit development."

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

Amur Completes Successful 2021
with Largest Ever Term Securitization

GRAND ISLAND, NE – Amur Equipment Finance, Inc. (“Amur”) today closed its tenth term securitization, its largest ever, in which it issued $483MM in notes secured by equipment loans and leases originated through its platform.

Kalyan Makam, Amur’s Executive Vice President, said, “We entered 2021 with an ambitious growth plan, which we exceeded. We processed $5BN in equipment finance applications, surpassed $1BN in portfolio size, and achieved an annual run-rate of $1BN in booked transactions. This successful securitization, our largest ever, with each class of notes substantially oversubscribed, would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of every member of the Amur family.” said This transaction was rated by both DBRS Morningstar and Moody’s, with $391.7MM of the notes rated P-1/RIH or AAA/Aaa, respectively, the highest rating available by each agency.

Elliott Klass, General Counsel and Head of Syndications at Amur, commented, “This transaction again demonstrated the broad and deep support Amur has earned from the investor and banking communities, Our partners recognize the power and potential of our platform, which gives us great momentum as we enter 2022 with even larger goals.” 

Amur, headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska, is one of the largest independent equipment finance providers serving small businesses within the United States.

Amur’s successful growth in 2021 has been enabled by the development and deployment of innovative, proprietary technology across its platform.

James Truran, Chief Operating Officer of Amur, observed,  “Despite record business volume, Amur consistently delivers credit decisions in under two hours and same-day funding to our customers,” said.  “And yet, no matter how novel the technological solution, our people remain the key to ensuring that Amur is synonymous with superior service and customer satisfaction.” 

About Amur Equipment Finance, Inc.
We’re Big on Small. Amur is one of the largest independent commercial equipment finance providers serving small businesses nationwide, and a certified Great Place to Work®, dedicated to ensuring that its customers and employees are equipped to grow and succeed. Amur has 9 offices across the nation dedicated to championing the financial needs of small businesses every day. We have served over 500,000 small businesses and helped them thrive in the world’s most essential industries – from transportation and technology to manufacturing and medicine.

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

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Watch at Home:
by Fernando Croce

Vintage and modern classics abound in the latest slew of Criterion releases, which encompass gritty drama, colorful musicals, rollicking martial-arts and even a little movie that many consider to be the greatest of all time. Check them out.

Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941): Possibly cinema’s greatest debut,Orson Welles’ magnificent first feature isa landmark that’s remainedfresh and thrilling eveneight decades after its release. Welles stars as Charles Foster Kane, an all-powerful newspaper tycoon whose sprawling, eventful life comes under scrutiny after he emits one mysterious word (“Rosebud”) onhis deathbed. What does the word mean? As we witness testimonies of his family members, friends and enemies, we savor a young filmmaker’s contagious delight in trying out every device—from long camera moves to shock cutting—to put his visions on the screen. An inexhaustiblefountain of inspiration for innumerableother directors, Welles’ classic still exhilarates as a meditation on age and memory, made by a 25-year-old dynamo who was just getting started.

Menace II Society (Allen & Albert Hughes, 1993): African-American struggles are startlingly examined in this brutally honest look at violence in the lives of Los Angeles youths. Pointedly set against the backdrop of the Watts riots in the early 1990s, it centers on Caine (Tyrin Turner), a young man trying to avoid the pervasive brutality around him. On the destructive side is his friendship with O-Dog (Larenz Tate), who’s become disturbingly adapted to the neighborhood’s casual bloodshed. His romance with the virtuous Ronnie (Jada Pinkett-Smith) points to a possibleredemption, but can Caine escape the maelstrom of crime before it’s too late? Making their feature debut, Allen and Albert Hughes offer a volatile impressionism that brilliantly blends ferocity and poignancy. Look for Samuel L. Jackson in a searing cameo.

Once Upon a Time in China: The Complete Films (1991-1994):Hong Kong has long been a haven for exhilarating action cinema,and this five-moviesaga showcases it at its acrobatic, breathless best. Unfolding in 19th-century China, the story follows real-life folk hero Wong Fei-Hung (played by the great martial-arts master, Jet Li), a physician of noble heart and fierce fist who serves as our guide through the country’s tumultuous crossroads of tradition and modernity. Witnessing overbearing foreign imperialism as well as rising homegrown nationalism, Wong struggles to uphold honest values, one kinetic brawl at a time. Though it switches directors and stars midway, the five films hold together remarkably well as a personal vision from action specialist Tsui Hark, who makes history come alive with thrills and humor. With subtitles.

The Red Shoes (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 1948): The medium’s pure wizards of delirium, the filmmaking team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (known as “The Archers”) were responsible for many unforgettable classics, yet few of them embody their singular style as completely as this wondrous backstage drama. Vicky Page (Moira Shearer) is an aspiring young dancer determined to reach the heights of her art. She finds success under the tutelage of the obsessive ballet impresario Lermontov (Anton Walbrook), but soon sees herself torn when she falls in love with a composer, Julian (Marius Goring). A plot synopsis doesn’t begin to do justice to the movie’sstyle, with eye-popping colors and bedeviled camera movements that seem directly plugged into the character’s heightened emotions. A must-see for any lover of cinema.

Uncut Gems (Josh & Benie Safdie, 2019): Writer-directors Josh and Benny Safdie (“Good Time”) cement their reputation as premier purveyors of chaotic adrenaline with this nonstopride through the seedy underbelly of human nature. Adam Sandler etches an astonishing portrait of charisma and desperation as Howard Ratner, a jewelry owner who, addicted to the sheer gambling rush of difficult situations, finds himself constantly juggling family, rivals, and gangsters. When a priceless African gem ends up in the hands of basketball star Kevin Garnett, Howard must retrieve it while scrambling to find time for his wife (Idina Menzel) and mistress (Julia Fox). With his life on the line, havethe stakes becometoo high? A sustained blast of desperation, suspense, humor and unexpected poignancy, this is a frenzied marvel.

Australian Shepherd/Mix
Grand Island, Nebraska  Adopt-a-Dog

James

ID #49302524
Male
2 years, 28 days
Medium Size
Color: Brown/White
Neutered
Declawed: No
House Trained: Unknown
Location: Main/Dogs
Central Nebraska Humane Society
1312 Sky Park Road
Grand Island, NE 68801
(308) 385-5305
Contact:
https://centralnebraskahumanesociety.com/contact-us/
Website:
https://centralnebraskahumanesociety.com/
Hours:
M-F: 8-5:30, SAT: 8-4:30, SUN: 1-4

Adoption Application
https://centralnebraskahumanesociety.com/adoption-application/

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News Briefs---

 GDP grew at a 6.9% pace to close out 2021,
    stronger than expected despite Omicron spread
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/27/gdp-grew-at-a-6point9percent-pace-to-close-out-2021-stronger-than-expected-despite-omicron-spread.html

U.S. Economy Grew 1.7% in 4th Quarter,
Capping a Strong Year
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/27/business/us-gdp-4q-2021.html

Apple revenue pops 11% to $123.9 billion,
Cook says supply chain improving
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/27/apple-aapl-earnings-q1-2022.html

Walmart invests in indoor vertical farming startup Plenty
Plenty Farms South San Francisco grow room
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/industrynews/walmart-invests-in-indoor-vertical-farming-startup-plenty/

What happens when millions of electric car batteries get old?
No EV-battery recycling plants, few plans for coming toxic flood
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/27/what-happens-when-millions-of-electric-car-batteries-get-old/

‘From Worst to Best’: Gleaming New
La Guardia Terminal Opens
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/27/nyregion/la-guardia-airport-terminal-completion.html

Jeopardy!’ Hasn’t Had a Player
Like Amy Schneider
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/26/style/amy-schneider-jeopardy.html

 

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You May Have Missed---

These companies decided to go fully remote
     -- permanently
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/success/full-time-remote-decision-pandemic/index.html

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Sports Briefs---

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger retires after
    18 seasons: 'I retire from football a truly grateful man'
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33158955/pittsburgh-steelers-qb-ben-roethlisberger-retires-18-seasons

Bears to hire Colts DC Matt Eberflus as head coach
https://www.nfl.com/news/matt-eberflus-bears-hire-colts-dc-as-head-coach

Raiders request interview with Josh McDaniels
    for open head coach job
https://www.theredzone.org/Blog-Description/EntryId/20643/Raiders-request-interview-with-Josh-McDaniels-for-open-head-coach-job

Former 49ers QB Garcia goes after ESPN
     analyst over Garoppolo criticism
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/27/fomer-49ers-qb-garcia-goes-after-espn-analyst-over-garoppolo-criticism/

Rams’ effort to block 49er fans from buying tickets
    for NFC championship game may have backfired
https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-effort-to-block-49-er-fans-from-buying-tickets-for-nfc-championship-game-may-have-backfired-145454914.html

Warriors’ Curry, Wiggins named starters for NBA All-Star Game
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/27/warriors-curry-named-starter-for-nba-all-star-game/

Column: Baseball harmed itself more than Bonds ever did
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/01/26/column-baseball-harmed-itself-more-than-bonds-ever-did/49721129/

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California Nuts Briefs---

California exceeds 8 million coronavirus cases,
    adding 2.5 million since New Year’s
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-26/california-coronavirus-cases-top-8-million

The City of Santa Clara quietly settles lawsuit
     with the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce
https://sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-quietly-settles-lawsuit-with-silicon-valley-chamber-of-commerce/

Los Angeles moves to end oil drilling in the city
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-26/l-a-city-council-moves-to-phase-out-oil-and-gas-drilling?utm_id=47364&sfmc_id=1646692

Is Winter Fire in Big Sur sign of more to come?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/podcasts/article/Listen-What-Big-Sur-s-winter-blaze-means-for-16804294.php

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"Gimme that wine"

Winemaker David Ramey to get Sonoma County
     Vintners’s 1st lifetime achievement award
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/industrynews/winemaker-david-ramey-to-get-sonoma-county-vintnerss-1st-lifetime-achievem/?ref=mosthome

Carneros vintner Nicholas Molnar, who shined
     in face of adversity, dies at 94
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/sonoma-county-vintner-nicholas-molnar-who-shined-in-face-of-adversity-die/

Wine shipments in US increase in 2021
     as industry grapples with attracting young consumers
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/business/wine-shipments-in-us-increase-in-2021-as-industry-grapples-with-attracting/

New York Consumers Would Finally Get Free Trade
     in Wine Under Newly Introduced Bill
https://nawr.org/press-releases/new-york-consumers-would-finally-get-free-trade-in-wine-under-newly-introduced-bill/

“Gimme that Wine”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8

Free Wine App
https://www.nataliemaclean.com/mobileapp/

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

This Day in History

     1595 - Sir Francis Drake, English navigator/pirate (Porto Bello West Indies), after discovering California, dies at about 50, of dysentery, off the coast of Panama.
http://www.mcn.org/2/oseeler/drake.htm
http://www.drakesbay.com/
    1772 - The "Washington and Jefferson" snowstorm occurred across the mid-Atlantic states. George Washington in Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson in Monticello were marooned by this storm. Snowfall was estimated at 3 feet on a level across Virginia and Maryland. Washington wrote, "...the deepest snow which I suppose the oldest living ever remembers to have seen in this country."
    1782 - Great Seal of the US: Congress resolved that the secretary of the Congress should “keep the public seal, and cause same to be affixed to every act, ordinance or paper, which Congress shall direct...” Although the Great Seal did not exist yet, the Congress recognized the need for it.
    1787 - The Free Africa Society organizes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3narr4.html
http://www.africana.com/Articles/tt_331.htm
http://www.gliah.uh.edu/historyonline/antislchron.cfm
    1791 - Plans for National Mint: Though the Constitution granted Congress the "power…to coin money," the dawn of the 1780s found America still a nation in need of a standard currency. Following the Revolutionary War, the U.S. seemed as though as it would adopt copper as its coin of choice. However, various efforts to produce and standardize copper proved futile. Congress pushed on and, in 1786, signed off on Thomas Jefferson's proposal for a dollar-driven currency. Of course, the nation also needed to develop the means for producing this currency and on this day in 1791, Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton stepped before the House to deliver a report on the establishment of a national mint. Hamilton's work helped pave the way for the authorization of the United States Mint on April 2, 1792.
    1828 - Confederate General Thomas Carmichael Hindman (d. 1868) is born in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hindman was raised in Alabama and educated in New York and New Jersey. His family moved to a Mississippi plantation and he returned from the North to study law. His studies were interrupted by service in the Mexican War, but he was admitted to the Mississippi Bar Association in 1851. He earned a reputation as an avid secessionist long before many southerners held that view. He moved to Arkansas and was elected to Congress in 1858. Hindman's law partner was Patrick Cleburne, who also became a Confederate General. When the war began, Hindman raised his own regiment and led it as a colonel. He was soon promoted to general and he raised an army of 18,000 from Arkansas. His tenure as commander in Arkansas was stormy. Hindman declared martial law, imposed price controls, and enforced conscription. After his force was stopped at Prairie Grove in December 1862, Hindman was reassigned to the Army of Tennessee. He fought at Chickamauga and Atlanta and was wounded twice. After the surrender, Hindman fled to Mexico and joined a number of Confederates there. Hindman returned to Arkansas in 1868 and dove back into politics. He led a faction that challenged the Republican Party, and, in a pragmatic political maneuver, he began working on a biracial coalition. Hindman was shot as he sat in his living room, most likely by one of his political opponents.
   1832 - Lydia Maria Child's first piece, "Stand From Under," written for William Lloyd Garrison's anti-slavery weekly “The Liberator,” is published.
http://www.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/lydiamariachild.html
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_child_lydia_maria.htm
    1851 – Northwestern University became the first chartered university in Illinois.
    1853 - Birthday of Jose Julian Marti (d. 1895), Cuban author and political activist, at Havana, Cuba. Marti was exiled to Spain, where he studied law before coming to the US in 1890. He was killed in battle at Dos Rios, Cuba, May 19, 1895. The popular song "Guantanamera" is based on a poem by Marti.  He worked on underground papers, was jailed and forced into exile (three columns & you're out?).  "No man has any special right because he belongs to any specific race; just by saying the word man, we have already said all the rights."
— Jose Marti
http://members.aol.com/enriques/index.html
http://www.patriagrande.net/cuba/jose.marti/
    1854 - Thirty miners attack a peaceful Indian village on the Coquille River near Randolph, Oregon, killing 16. During this period the US Army engaged Indians, signing treaties for rights to land, and Indians who did not want to negotiate for land fought back, killing settlers and it was quite a turbulent time. The Indians lost as they had no “modern” weapons or horses and many tribes at the time were “farmers” and “hunters with primitive bow and arrow.” http://fs.jorge.com/archives/Heritage_Program/
FurTradeEraInWesternOregon.htm
    1855 - The Panama Railway, which carried thousands of unruly miners to California via the dense jungles of Central America, dispatches its first train across the Isthmus of Panama. Before 1855, sea travelers not wishing to endure the long and treacherous passage around the tip of South America would disembark on the East Coast of Nicaragua. They would then proceed by light boat up the San Juan River to Lake Nicaragua, cross the lake in larger steamers, and complete the final overland leg of the journey via carriages. They traveled on a modern road that deposited them on the West Coast, where they boarded a steamer for San Francisco. In 1847, a group of New York financiers organized the Panama Railroad Company to do just that, and in 1850, workers began laying track through Panamanian jungle roughly along the route followed by the present canal. Completed in early 1855, the first train departed from the Atlantic side for the Pacific on January 28. A ship voyage punctuated by a brief train ride across the isthmus now became the fastest and most comfortable means of traveling to California, and tens of thousands of gold-hungry emigrants were soon racing through Panama every year. The traffic of freight and human beings moving both ways across the isthmus kept the Panama Railway busy until 1869, when the first transcontinental railroad was completed in the United States. However, the railway continued to carry a great deal of commercial freight destined for Europe or Asia until the Panama Canal was completed in 1914.
    1855 - Birthday of William Burroughs (d. 1898), who invented the first commercially successful adding machine and founded the American Arithmometer Company of St. Louis, in Rochester, NY. The company later became Burroughs Adding Machine Company. His earliest version of the machine, like other adding machines of the time, was accurate but impractical. However, in 1892 he patented a practical adding machine that would become a commercial success. Burroughs did not live to see the profits of his invention or the thriving success of his company.
    1856 - The Geisel Massacre: Indians go on a rampage. The Geisel Monument, 5 miles North of Gold Beach, located off Highway 101, in a state park, contains a monument to one of the white families that was attacked by Oregon Indians in 1856 during this attack.
http://www.harborside.com/~wchope/geisel.htm
    1858 - John Brown formalizes his strategy for a raid on the Arsenal at Harper's Ferry. Here is a background that gives quite a bit of understanding of the times and his motivation.
http://www.wvculture.org/history/jb11.html
    1864 – Charles William Nash (d. 1948), founder of Nash Motors, was born in Cortland, IL.  He worked for Will Durant’s carriage company and upon driving an electric automobile in New York, became very interested in its commercial potential.  Nash co-founded Buick and in 1908, became Buick's president and general manager. In 1910, he was hired as general manager of General Motors.   He took over a debt-ridden company suffering losses and increased profits to $800,000 as early as 1911 to over $12 million by 1914, while he secured the firm’s financial footing.  However, his reluctance to pay dividends to shareholders resulted in Nash being voted out of his position in 1915.  Nash, who took control of GM in 1910 from Durant, was now fired by him when Durant regained control in 1916.  Nash then resolved never again to work for someone else. He bought out the Jeffery Motor Co and renamed it as Nash Motors. The new company was successful, with sales totaling 31,008 trucks and cars by 1919. 
    1878 - New Haven, Connecticut, opened the first commercial phone exchange, providing eight lines for twenty-one telephones.  Concurrently, “The Yale Daily News” became the first college newspaper in the US.
    1884 - For “Star Trek” fans, Gene Roddenberry named the famous Captain Picard after Jean Piccard (d. 1963), scientist, engineer, explorer, who was born at Basel, Switzerland and is noted for cosmic-ray research and record-setting balloon ascensions into stratosphere. Reached 57,589 feet in sealed gondola piloted by his wife, Jeannette, in 1934. Twin brother of Auguste Piccard. To learn about Captain Jean Picard: http://mario.lapam.mo.it/tng/picard.htm

http://www.thejukejoint.com/amcd-007.html
    1887 - Arthur Rubinstein (d. 1982), the most popular classical pianist of the 20th century, was born in Lodz, Poland. He made his debut with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra in 1898, at the age of 11 and first performed in the US in 1906. Rubinstein became well known in North America, beginning in 1937. He was renowned for his interpretations of Chopin, as well as the works of Spanish composers.
    1890 – “The Birdman of Alcatraz,” Robert Stroud (d. 1963), was born in Seattle.  Once one of the United States' most notorious criminals, during his time at Leavenworth, he reared and sold birds and became a respected ornithologist.  Despite his nickname, he was not permitted to keep his birds at Alcatraz, where he was incarcerated from 1942.  
    1900 - Birthday of Alice Neel (d. 1984) in Merion, PA.  American portrait painter best known for her studies in Spanish Harlem where she lived for many years. Her portraits were individual in style which was somewhat impressionistic
    1902 - Carnegie Institution established. Andrew Carnegie spent a good chunk of his life building a chokehold over the steel industry. However, after years at the lead of the second Industrial Revolution, he decided to cash in his chips in 1901 and sold his stake in the mighty Carnegie Steel concern—then worth roughly $40 million—to the United States Steel Corporation for $250 million. Rather than retire and play with his riches, Carnegie followed his belief that a "man who dies rich dies disgraced" and set to doling out his fortune to various philanthropic causes. All told, Carnegie donated $350 million, $10 million of which he handed over on this day to establish the Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C. According to Carnegie, the Institution was designed "to encourage, in the broadest and most liberal manner, investigation, research, and discovery, and the application of knowledge to the improvement of mankind." Carnegie's lofty mission translated into an organization dedicated to research and education in "biology, astronomy, and the earth sciences."
    1904 - Enrico Caruso signed his first contract with Victor Records. He debuted at the Metropolitan Opera two months before.
    1904 – The first college sports letters given to seniors who played on University of Chicago's football team are awarded blankets with letter "C" on them.
    1908 - Julie Ward Howe, author and activist famous for her composition, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," became the first woman elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jan28.html
    1909 – US troops left Cuba with the exception of Guantanamo Naval Base after being there since the Spanish-American War.
    1912 – Birthday of American artist Jackson Pollock (d. 1956) in Cody, Wyoming. He was instrumental in the development of the distinctly American abstract expressionist movement in the United States. He became notorious for his drip painting methods and his huge canvases layered with paint and embedded objects. Pollock, known for his emotional volatility and heavy drinking, seen as a phony by some, and a hero by others, used his innovative, individualistic and uninhibited style to birth a new artistic genre in post-World War II America.   A movie about his life starred Ed Harris and was very factual.
http://sheldon.unl.edu/HTML/ARTIST/Pollock_J/PC.html
http://www.hilson.org/writings/POLLOCK-the-movie.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/pollock/
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/P/pollock.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june99/
pollock_1-11.html
http://www.beatmuseum.org/pollock/jacksonpollock.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671495933/
ref=ase_inktomi-bkasin-20/002-1241397-9042458
    1913 – For those of you who remember “You’ll Never Get Rich,” later “The Phil Silvers Show,” starring Phil Silvers as Sgt. Ernie Bilko, you’ll remember Pvt. Duane Doberman, played by Maurice Gosfield (d. 1964), born in NYC.
    1915 - Congress passed legislation creating the United States Coast Guard, combining the Life Saving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service.
    1915 - President Wilson refuses to prohibit immigration of illiterates
    1915 – The first US ship lost in World War I, ‘William P Frye,’ was carrying wheat to the UK
    1916 - First Jewish Supreme Court justice, Louis Brandeis, was appointed to the US Supreme Court by President Woodrow Wilson. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on June 1, 1916. He served until 1929.
http://library.brandeis.edu/SpecialCollections/SpecialEvents/Brandeis/
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAbrandeis.htm
    1917 – The world-famous cable cars first took to the streets of San Francisco.
    1922 - The National Football League franchise in Decatur, Illinois, moved to Chicago, Illinois to become the Chicago Bears.
    1922 - The "Knickerbocker" storm immobilized the city of Washington D.C. The storm produced 28 inches of snow in 32 hours, and the heavy snow caused the roof of the Knickerbocker movie theatre to collapse killing 96 persons.
    1925 - -46ºF (-43ºC), Pittsburgh NH (state record)
    1927 - Birthday of sax player Ronnie Scott (d. 1996), London, England
http://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/
    1927 – American composer Aaron Copland's First Piano is first performed: “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra.”
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/achtml/actime.html
    1927 - Jean Goldkette and His Dancing Orchestra, "I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover."
    1928 - Birthday of James Edward “Pete” Runnels (d. 1993), baseball player, at Lufkin, TX. Runnels won the American League batting title in 1960 and 1961 playing for the Boston Red Sox.
    1929 – Clarinetist Bernard Stanley "Acker" Bilk (d. 2014) was born in England.  Bilk's 1962 instrumental tune "Stranger on the Shore" became the UK's biggest selling single of 1962.  It was in the UK charts for more than 50 weeks, peaked at number two, and was the first #1 single in the US by a British artist in the era of the modern Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. 
    1932 - The first unemployment insurance act passed by a state was enacted by Wisconsin. Every employer of 10 or more was required to put 2 percent of the payroll aside until a fund accrued equaling $75 per eligible worked. An employee who lost his or her job could draw on the fund at the rate of $10 a week for a maximum of 10 weeks.
    1934 - As a result of a compliment from Walter Winchell's newspaper column, a local disc jockey began getting offers from talent scouts and producers. The DJ became known as Redhead to those in Washington, DC and later, by millions across the United States on CBS radio and television. His trademark, strumming a ukulele and delivering down-home talk, endeared him to fans. His name was Arthur Godfrey.
http://www.ukulele.org/godfrey.html
http://timstvshowcase.com/
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,436345,00.html
    1934 - Robert Royce's ski lift was used for the first time in Woodstock, Vermont. Previously, snow skiers had no way to get to the top of the mountain conveniently. About 900 yards of manila rope 0.875 inches thick was spliced together, passed over pulleys and around a wheel attached to a tractor, and extended up the hill 300 yards.
    1936 – Alan Alda was born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo in NYC.  An accomplished actor of film and on Broadway, he will always be remembered as Captain Hawkeye Pierce in the long-running “M*A*S*H.”  He was nominated for 21 Emmy Awards, and won five. He took part in writing 19 episodes, including the finale, and directed 32, including the finale. He was also the first person to win Emmy Awards for acting, writing, and directing for the same series.  The show's 1983 2½-hour series finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” remains the single most-watched episode of any television series. Alda is the only series regular to appear in all 251 episodes.
    1937 - Trumpeter Roy Eldridge records “After You've Gone.”
    1944 - GIBSON, ERIC G., Medal of Honor.
Rank and organization. Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Isola Bella, Italy, 28 January 1944. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Birth: Nysund, Sweden. G.O. No.: 74, 11 September 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 28 January 1944, near Isola Bella, Italy, Tech. 5th Grade Gibson, company cook, led a squad of replacements through their initial baptism of fire, destroyed four enemy positions, killed 5 and captured 2 German soldiers, and secured the left flank of his company during an attack on a strongpoint. Placing himself 50 yards in front of his new men, Gibson advanced down the wide stream ditch known as the Fossa Femminamorta, keeping pace with the advance of his company. An enemy soldier allowed Tech. 5th Grade Gibson to come within 20 yards of his concealed position and then opened fire on him with a machine pistol. Despite the stream of automatic fire which barely missed him, Gibson charged the position, firing his submachine gun every few steps. Reaching the position, Gibson fired pointblank at his opponent, killing him. An artillery concentration fell in and around the ditch; the concussion from one shell knocked him flat. As he got to his feet Gibson was fired on by two soldiers armed with a machine pistol and a rifle from a position only 75 yards distant. Gibson immediately raced toward the foe. Halfway to the position a machinegun opened fire on him. Bullets came within inches of his body, yet Gibson never paused in his forward movement. He killed one and captured the other soldier. Shortly after, when he was fired upon by a heavy machinegun 200 yards down the ditch, Gibson crawled back to his squad and ordered it to lay down a base of fire while he flanked the emplacement. Despite all warning, Gibson crawled 125 yards through an artillery concentration and the cross fire of 2 machineguns which showered dirt over his body, threw 2 hand grenades into the emplacement and charged it with his submachine gun, killing 2 of the enemy and capturing a third. Before leading his men around a bend in the stream ditch, Gibson went forward alone to reconnoiter. Hearing an exchange of machine pistol and submachine gun fire, Gibson's squad went forward to find that its leader had run 35 yards toward an outpost, killed the machine pistol man, and had himself been killed while firing at the Germans.
    1945 - A convoy of United States trucks from India crossed the Burmese-Chinese border, opening the famous "Burma Road."
    1945 – Actress Karen Lynn Gorney, who played John Travolta’s dance partner in “Saturday Night Fever,” was born in Beverley Hills, CA.  She is the daughter of composer Jay Gorney, who wrote the music for what many consider the definitive song about America's Great Depression, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”   Has she done anything since? 
    1946 - Jazz at the Philharmonic records “Lady Be Good” at Philharmonic Auditorium, LA.
    1947 - In New York City, a copy of the 1640 Bay Psalm Book was purchased at an auction at Parke-Bernet Galleries for $150,000, the highest price ever paid to date for a single volume. (The original title of the book was: "The Whole Book of Psalms Faithfully Translated into English Metre.")
    1948 - Birthday of drummer Bob Moses, New York City, NY
http://www.bobmoses.com/
    1948 - Top Hits
“Golden Earrings” - Peggy Lee
“How Soon” - Jack Owens
“Ballerina” - Vaughn Monroe
“I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)” - Eddy Arnold
    1949 – The San Antonio Spurs’  5-time championship-winning head coach, Gregg Popovich was born in E. Chicago, IN.  Popovich has the most wins in NBA history (regular season and playoffs), surpassing Lenny Wilkens and Don Nelson on April 13, 2019. He led the Spurs to a winning record in his first 22 full seasons as head coach, surpassing Phil Jackson for the most consecutive winning seasons in NBA history. During his tenure, the Spurs have had a winning record against every other NBA team. Popovich has led the Spurs to all five of their NBA titles and is one of only five coaches in NBA history to have won five titles. In 2021, he led Team USA to the gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Popovich has won five NBA championships as the head coach of the Spurs. He is one of only five coaches in NBA history to win five or more NBA championships. A certain Hall of Famer…
    1955 - President Dwight D. Eisenhower received full authority from the Senate to use armed forces abroad to defend Formosa (Taiwan) against possible attacks by the Chinese Communists.
    1956 - Top Hits
Memories are Made of This - Dean Martin
The Great Pretender - The Platters
Moritat (A Theme from 'The Three Penny Opera') - Dick Hyman
Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford
    1956 - Elvis Presley made his first national television appearance on the Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey "Stage Show" on CBS. The big band of the Dorsey's backed the singer, one of the few times he played without his own band, and to a 28-piece orchestra. Although Elvis's name was on the marquee of the New York theatre where the show took place, his appearance attracted little attention. In fact, the promoter is said to have returned to the theatre at show time with dozens of tickets, unable even to give them away in Times Square. After the show, however, Elvis was a national star. Sales of his debut single for RCA Victor, "Heartbreak Hotel," snowballed
    1957 - "Tonight! America After Dark" premieres, with Jack Lescoulie and Al (Jazzbo) Collins on NBC (between Steve Allen & Jack Paar) It lasted only a few weeks.
http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/
tonight_Jazzbo.html
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/T/htmlT/tonightshow/
tonightshow.htm
    1957 - The Brooklyn Dodgers announced they had hired circus clown Emmett Kelly to entertain fans at baseball games. The next year, the Dodgers moved to Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles, California
    1958 - One of my boyhood idols, Roy Campanella of the Los Angeles Dodgers, formerly the Brooklyn Dodgers, was severely injured in a car crash on an icy road on Long Island in the early morning hours, driving home from the Harlem liquor store he owned. Campanella was paralyzed from the waist down and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.   His cheery disposition served as an inspiration until his death in 1993.
    1958 - The Lego company patented the design of its Lego bricks, still compatible with bricks produced today.
    1959 - Vince Lombardi was named head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
    1960 – The NFL announced its expansion into Dallas (Cowboys) and Minnesota (Vikings).
    1963 – African-American student Harvey Gantt entered Clemson College in South Carolina, the last state to hold out against integration. He later became the first African-American to be elected mayor of Charlotte, NC. He later ran unsuccessfully against acknowledged racist Jesse Helms for the US Senate. Gantt remains politically active as a member of the North Carolina Democratic State Executive Council and the Democratic National Committee. He frequently lectures at colleges and universities and also takes a leadership role in numerous civic organizations.
http://www.charmeck.org/governing/elected+officials/mayor/
past+mayors/harvey+b.+gantt.asp
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/case/caseweb/catalog/
abstracts/JesseHelmsv.Har.html
    1963 - -34ºF (-37ºC), Cynthiana, KY (state record)
    1964 - Top Hits
“There! I've Said It Again” - Bobby Vinton
“I Want to Hold Your Hand” - The Beatles
“Surfin' Bird” - The Trashmen
“Love's Gonna Live Here” - Buck Owens
    1965 - General Motors reported the biggest profit in the history of any United States company. In 1964, earnings for the #1 of the Big Three automakers totaled $1.735 billion.
    1965 - Pete Townshend smashed his guitar and Keith Moon overturned his drums during The Who's first appearance on the British TV program "Ready, Steady, Go." Their performance propelled the band's first single, "I Can't Explain," into the British top 10.
    1966 - Film actress Hedy Lamarr was arrested for shoplifting in a May Company store. She was later found not guilty. The beautiful Lamarr was popular in movies during the '30s and '40s, appearing in “Boom Town,” “White Cargo,” and “Samson and Delilah.”
    1969 - The first oil spill with disastrous consequences occurred when Offshore Well A-21, owned by the Union Oil Company, burst and began leaking crude oil along a 200-mile stretch of coast centered on Santa Barbara, CA. The leak, which took 11 days to plug, fouled beaches and caused widespread loss of animal life.
    1970 - Arthur Ashe, first African-American male to win Wimbledon, is denied entry to compete on the US Team for the South African Open tennis championships due to Ashe's sentiments on South Africa's racial policies.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/features/1997/arthurashe/
    1972 - Top Hits
“American Pie” - Don McLean
“Let's Stay Together” - Al Green
“Day After Day” - Badfinger
“Carolyn” - Merle Haggard
    1973 - Viet Nam War cease-fire went into effect at 8 a.m., Saigon time (midnight on January 27, Greenwich Mean Time). When the cease-fire went into effect, Saigon controlled about 75 percent of South Vietnam's territory and 85 percent of the population. The South Vietnamese Army was well equipped via last-minute deliveries of U.S. weapons and continued to receive U.S. aid after the cease-fire. The CIA estimated North Vietnamese presence in the South at 145,000 men, about the same as the previous year. The cease-fire began on time, but both sides violated it. South Vietnamese forces continued to take back villages occupied by communists in the two days before the cease-fire deadline and the communists tried to capture additional territory. Each side held that military operations were justified by the other side's violations of the cease-fire. What resulted was an almost endless chain of retaliations. During the period between the initiation of the cease-fire and the end of 1973, there was an average of 2,980 combat incidents per month in South Vietnam. Most of these were low-intensity harassing attacks designed to wear down the South Vietnamese forces, but the North Vietnamese intensified their efforts in the Central Highlands in September when they attacked government positions with tanks west of Pleiku. As a result of these post-cease-fire actions, about 25,000 South Vietnamese were killed in battle in 1973, while communist losses in South Vietnam were estimated at 45,000.
    1973 - “Barnaby Jones” premiered on TV. A CBS drama about a mild-mannered, milk-drinking (but don't say milquetoast) private eye who comes out of retirement following his son's murder. Cast included Buddy Ebsen as Barnaby Jones; Lee Meriwether as Barnaby's widowed daughter-in-law, Betty Jones; John Carter as Lieutenant Biddle and Mark Shera as Jedediah Jones. Buddy Ebsen, playing the detective, started in movies back in the 1920s, and was chosen to play a part in "The Wizard of Oz", but bowed out. He also shot the first film used in Walt Disney's animation tests for a character named Mortimer Mouse, who would be known as Mickey Mouse. He is best known for portraying Jed Clampett in the CBS-TV series, "The Beverly Hillbillies".
http://timstvshowcase.com/barnaby.html
    1975 - President Gerald Ford asks Congress for an additional $522 million in military aid for South Vietnam and Cambodia. He revealed that North Vietnam now had 289,000 troops in South Vietnam, and tanks, heavy artillery, and antiaircraft weapons "by the hundreds." Ford succeeded Richard Nixon when the latter resigned the presidency in August, 1974. Despite his wishes to honor Nixon's promise to come to the aid of South Vietnam, he was faced with a hostile Congress who refused to appropriate military aid for South Vietnam and Cambodia; both countries fell to the communists later in the year.
    1976 - George Harrison announced that he would participate in a planned Beatles reunion concert. The other three members had already agreed, but nonetheless the concert did not materialize.
    1977 - The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith published an 18-page document ruling out the admission of women to the Roman Catholic priesthood because women lacked a "natural resemblance which must exist between Christ and his ministers."
    1977 - The first day of the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977 which dumped 10 feet of snow in one-day in upstate New York, with Buffalo, Syracuse, and Watertown and surrounding areas most affected.
    1978 - The Manhattans' "Am I Losing You" enters the soul charts
    1978 - ”Fantasy Island” premiered on TV. You knew you were a bona fide "star" in the '70s when you received a casting call from "Fantasy Island." Young and old stayed home on Saturday night to watch Mr. Roarke introduce guest stars anxious to live out their fantasies in camp splendor. Ricardo Montalban starred as our prescient guide, Mr. Roarke; with Hervé Villechaize as Tattoo; Wendy Schaal as Mr. Roarke's goddaughter, Julie; and Christopher Hewett as Mr. Roarke's assistant, Lawrence. The show's run of 130 episodes, ending on Aug 18, 1984, was produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg. Who can forget Tattoo's opening lines each week, "De plane, de plane!"
http://timstvshowcase.com/fantisle.html
    1979 – “CBS News Sunday Morning” debuted with its co-creator, Charles Kuralt as host.
    1980 - Top Hits
“Rock with You” - Michael Jackson
“Do that to Me One More Time” - The Captain & Tennille
“Coward of the County” - Kenny Rogers
“I'll Be Coming Back for More” - T.G. Sheppard
    1980 – Speaking of the Coast Guard, the cutter Blackthorn collided with the tanker Capricorn while leaving Tampa and capsized, killing 23 Coast Guard crewmembers.
    1981 – President Reagan lifted the remaining domestic petroleum price and allocation controls, helping to end the 1979 energy crisis.
    1983 - The surreal “Videodrome,” starring James Woods and Debbie Harry of Blondie fame, opened in United States theaters.
    1984 - Mr. Glynn Wolfe marries for non-bigamous record 26th time, Las Vegas NV. He died in 1997 after being married 29 times.
http://www.anastasiabaptist.org/sermon_feb_09_2002.html
    1984 - Record 295,000 dominoes toppled at Fuerth, West Germany. This started a craze. The latest record occurred on December 31, 2000 in an event held jointly by Japan's Tokyo Broadcasting System and China's Beijing Television.  3,407,535 dominoes were toppled in 31 min, 2 sec at the Gymnasium of Yi Fang Yuan, Beijing, China.
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/
record.asp?recordid=48881
http://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/Dominoes.htm
    1985 - 45 of the top recording artists in the world were invited to an all-night recording session at Los Angeles, California's A&M studios. As each artist entered the studio door, they saw a hand-lettered sign, by Lionel Richie, saying, "Check your ego at the door." The session, conducted by producer Quincy Jones, started at 10 p.m., and by 8 a.m. the following morning, "USA for Africa", spearheaded by promoter Ken Kragen, was recorded and mixed. The resulting song, "We Are the World", featured Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Sting, Harry Belafonte, Diana Ross, Paul Simon and others. It became the top song in the United States. A year later, the song won Grammy Awards for song, record and video of the year. "We Are the World" also included contributions from Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Dylan.   USA For Africa, the organization responsible for administering the money, is said to have raised $61.8 million from sales of the single, album, video and other merchandise.  About 7.2 million singles and albums were sold.
    1986 - At 11:39 AM, EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51L exploded, 74 seconds into its flight and about 10 miles above the earth. Hundreds of millions around the world watched television replays of the horrifying event that killed seven people, destroyed the billion-dollar craft, suspended all shuttle flights and halted, at least temporarily, much of the US manned space flight program. Killed were teacher Christa McAuliffe (who was to have been the first ordinary citizen in space) and six crew members: Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Ronald E. McNair and Gregory B. Jarvis.
    1987 - ABC-TV relocated reporter, Charles Gibson, to the co-anchor chair next to Joan Lunden for the start of another chapter of "Good Morning America" when its host of 11 years, David Hartman resigned.
    1987 - After 7 tempestuous years, Roger Mudd left NBC News. Previously, Mudd, an icon at CBS News, felt passed over when it was announced Dan Rather would replace Walter Cronkite as anchor of "The CBS Evening News." He went on to work at PBS, where he contributed to "The MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour."
    1988 - Top Hits
“The Way You Make Me Feel” - Michael Jackson
“Need You Tonight” - INXS
“Could've Been” - Tiffany
“Where Do the Nights Go” - Ronnie Milsap
    1988 – The Supreme Court of Canada struck down all anti-abortion laws, effectively allowing abortions in Canada in all 9 months of pregnancy.
    1989 - The Bachman-Turner Overdrive lineup of guitarists Randy Bachman and Blair Thornton, bassist Fred Turner and drummer Robbie Bachman played together for the first time in 11 years at a reunion concert in a Vancouver nightclub. BTO was joined on stage by Paul Dean of Loverboy and Bryan Adams for BTO's 1974 hit "Taking Care of Business" and a rock 'n' roll oldies medley.
    1989 - Nome, AK, reported an all-time record low reading of 54 degrees below zero, and the temperature at Fairwell, AK dipped to 69 degrees below zero. Deadhorse, AK reported a morning low of 49 degrees below zero, and with a wind chill reading of 114 degrees below zero. In the Lower Forty-eight States, a winter storm over Colorado produced up to 15 inches of snow around Denver.
    1990 - Strong and gusty winds prevailed across the northwestern U.S., and heavy snow continued over the mountains of Washington State and Oregon. In Idaho, Mullan received seven inches of snow, and winds gusted to 65 mph southeast of Burley. Heavy rain soaked coastal sections of western Oregon. Rainfall totals of 1.20 inches at Portland and 1.57 inches at Eugene were records for the date. Winds in Oregon gusting to 60 mph downed power lines in Umatilla County knocking out power to more than 13,000 homes, just prior to the kick-off of the "Super Bowl" game.
    1990 - The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Denver Bronco, 55-10, to win Super Bowl XXIV, and it wasn’t that close! 49ers quarterback Joe Montana won the Super Bowl MVP award for the third time, the only player in NFL history to do so to that time.  He completed 22 of 29 passes for 297 yards and five touchdowns, including three to wide receiver Jerry Rice. Tickets: $125.00.
    1993 - MTV said it would not air "Big Boys Bickering" as part of its special "Paul McCartney Up Close." The US music video channel was upset with the profanity in the song, which McCartney's publicist said was a protest against governments' refusal to act together against global pollution.
    1993 - A mix-up at a Dallas CD manufacturer resulted in about 30 copies of the Dead Kennedy's album "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" being mislabeled as a religious radio program called "Powerline." The Southern Baptist Radio-TV Commission had to call more than 1200 stations to warn them of the error. The Kennedy's album contained such lines as "God told me to skin you alive."
    1994 - In Los Angeles, Superior Court Judge Stanley Weisberg declared a mistrial in the case of Lyle Menendez in the murder of his parents. Lyle, and his brother Erik, were both retried later and were found guilty. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
    1995 - TLC's "Creep" hit number one on the "Billboard Hot 100." The smash held down the top spot for four weeks : “So I creep yeah; Just keep it on the down low; Said nobody is supposed 2 know; So I creep yeah; 'Cause he doesn't know; What I do and no attention; Goes to show oh so I creep.”
    1996 - Diana Ross performs at the Super Bowl XXX halftime show in Tempe, AZ.
    1996 – The Dallas Cowboys became the first franchise to win three Super Bowls in four seasons by defeating Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX (at Tempe): Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17. It was the first loss in the Super Bowl for the Steelers after four wins, at the time the most in history.  Most Valuable Player of the game: Dallas cornerback Larry Brown. Who's Larry Brown, you ask? He's the one who intercepted the two Neil O'Donnell passes that (1) stopped two Pittsburgh drives and (2) set up two Dallas touchdowns. Tickets: $250.00.
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    1998 - Ford Motor Company announced the purchase of Sweden's Volvo AB for $6.45 billion.  Ford sold the Volvo Car Corporation in 2010 to Geely Automobile of China for $1.8 billion. 
    1999 - Pat Boone formed the Gold Records label, which will only sign artists 45 years old and up. The first performer signed was Jack Jones.
    1999 - Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, honoring a personal request for mercy from Pope John Paul II, spared a triple murderer from execution.
    2001 - Super Bowl XXXV (at Tampa): Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7. “We feel we're the best defense to ever play the game,” boasted Ravens' defensive tackle Tony Siragusa. Arguably, the 2000 Ravens' defense ranks up there with the 1960's Fearsome Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams, Miami's 1972-1973 No-Name Defense, the 1974-1979 Pittsburgh Steelers' Steel Curtain, Dallas' Doomsday defense of the 1970s, the 1973-1976 Purple People Eaters in Minnesota and the 1985-1986 Chicago Bears. MVP: Ravens' linebacker Ray Lewis, who led a defense that intercepted four of NY quarterback Kerry Collins' passes, allowed only a punt-return touchdown (by the Giants' Ron Dixon) and held New York to 152 yards of offense. Tickets: $325.00 to $400.
    2001 - Instead of performing the US national anthem at Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa Bay, FL, Ray Charles performs his version of "America the Beautiful." The Backstreet Boys sung the national anthem.
    2010 - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke won Senate confirmation for a second term.
    2017 – President Trump and Australian PM Turnbull had a contentious phone call over a deal for the US to take 1250 refugees.
    2019 - US Justice Department charged Chinese firm Huawei with bank and wire fraud.
    2019 - US and Afghan negotiators drafted a framework for peace agreement to end 17-year conflict in Afghanistan.  It took until President Biden ordered the withdrawal of US troops in 2021, shortly after taking office.
    2021 – The mittens worn by Sen. Bernie Sanders at the inauguration of President Biden raised $1.8 million in an auction for Vermont charities after the image went viral.

Super Bowl Champions:
    1990 - San Francisco 49ers (San Francisco 55, Denver 10)
    1996 - Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17)
    2001 - Baltimore Ravens (Baltimore 34, New York Giants 7)