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Friday, July 14, 2023


Today's Leasing News Headlines

The 3rd Quarter Showing Additional Challenges
    By Scott Wheeler, CLFP
No Longer taking Broker/Discounting Business
    plus Finance and Leasing Companies Out of Business
Leasing and Finance Industry Help Wanted
    We Are Growing Our Senior Sales Team Now!
The Unstoppable Force of Self-Reliance:
  Conquer Success with Unyielding Trust in Yourself
    By Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners
The EV Future Can Benefit from
  Supporting Tesla Superchargers
    by Mathew W. Daus, Esq.
Highest Potential for Automaton
    Estimated Share Employment Exposed
5 Things You Need to Know about Section 1071
    Compliance from ELFA’s Wednesday Webinar
Alan Arkin (1934 - 2023)  Wait Until Dark, Catch 22,
  Glengarry Glen Ross, Little Miss Sunshine
    The In-Laws, Reviews by Fernando Croce
Mixed Breed
    Chicago, Illinois Adopt-a-Dog
Early Bird Expires in 2 Days
  NVLA 2023 Annual Conference
    October 11-13, 2023 Austin, Texas
News Briefs ---
Unsold electric cars are piling up on dealer lots
    Mainly foreign EV without Federal Tax Credits
What led to Anchor Brewing’s downfall?
    Sapporo, some workers say due to their purchase
A pair of strikes effectively shuts down
    Hollywood. Here’s the latest
US inflation falls to 3 percent
    Lowest level in more than 2 years

You May Have Missed --
Inventory Shortages Impacting Realtor's

     Ability to Find Buyers a Home

Broker/Funder/Industry Lists | Features (wrilter's columns)
Top Ten Stories Chosen by Readers | Top Stories last six months
Sales Make It Happen

Sports Briefs
   California News
    "Gimme that Wine"
 This Day in History
  SuDoku
   Daily Puzzle
    GasBuddy
     Weather, USA or specific area
      Traffic Live----
       Wordle

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

[headlines]
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3rd Quarter Showing Additional Challenges
By Scott Wheeler, CLFP

Participants throughout the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry are preparing for additional challenges in the second half of 2023 and reaffirming their platforms for future opportunities in 2024 and beyond. Below are a few of the steps that participants are taking:

  • Industry participants are re-evaluating their staff and making sure that they have the "right" talent in the proper positions to ensure future success. When necessary, they are moving professionals or recruiting talent to fill gaps.
  • Industry participants are placing additional emphasis on portfolio management. Companies are keenly aware of concentration issues and are continuing to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that risks are properly mitigated.
  • Industry participants are reaffirming their capital resources. Leaders are actively meeting with their banks, investors, and funders to communicate the current conditions, the current challenges, and potential opportunities that they face on a daily basis.
  • Industry participants are focusing on their core competencies. They understand their strengths and weaknesses and are flaunting their greatest strengths with additional conviction.
  • Industry participants are continuing to focus on efficiencies and are using internal and external data in their decision-making process. Responsible changes and improvements are based upon supportive data rather than guesses or whims.
  • Industry participants are embracing automation and providing a better experience for their vendors and end-users.
  • Industry participants are taking control of their future success rather than over or under reacting to short-term challenges. Every activity and decision are aligned with their long-term strategy and vision.

The industry continues to thrive because strong professionals are providing leadership for their companies and the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry.

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

Wheeler Business Consulting is helping its clients to maximize their position in the market. I am facilitating sales training to help seasoned (and relatively new) originators aggressively sell in a changing market. I am providing strategic options to participants that are navigating a changing economic environment.

[headlines]
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No Longer taking Broker/Discounting Business
plus Finance and Leasing Companies Out of Business


Companies with an * are no longer in business. The others are companies that were taking broker business, but announced that they no longer are accepting broker business. Many have also down-sized or are managing an existing portfolio. This does not include companies merged or acquired who are still in business.

Any updates or changes, please contact: kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

*ABCO Leasing Inc., Bothell, WA
*ACC Capital, Midvale, Utah
Advantage Business Capital, Lake Oswego, Oregon
*Advantage Funding, Lake Success, New York
AEL Financial, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
(No longer taking new broker business)
Agility Solutions Corp., Prescott, Arizona
Allegiant Partners, Bend, Oregon 
Alliance Financial, Syracuse, New York
Allstate Leasing, Towson, Maryland
*Alternative Capital, Apollo Beach, Florida
*AMC Funding, Charlotte, North Carolina
*American Bank Leasing, Alpharetta, Georgia
*American Equipment Finance, Warren, New Jersey
American Leasefund, Tigard, OR (no longer a funder)
*American Leasing, Santa Clara, California
Bank of Ozark Leasing/Finance, Little Rock, Arkansas
*Bank of West Indirect Leasing, Dublin, California
*Bank of the West Leasing Indirect, San Ramon, California
*Bank Midwest Leasing, Overland Park, KS
Bankers Healthcare Group, Weston, FL
*BBVA Compass Equipment Leasing, Houston, Texas
*Blackstone Equipment Financing, Orange, California
*BusinessFinance.com (on line aggregate funder)
*Business Leasing NorthWest, Seattle, WA
*Capital One Equipment Finance, Towson, Maryland
*CapitalSource Healthcare Finance, Chevy Chase, Maryland
*CapNet, Los Angeles, California
*C and J Leasing Corp, Des Moines, Iowa
*Carlton Financial Corporation, Wayzata, Minnesota
*Chase Industries, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan
*Chesterfield Financial, Chesterfield, Missouri
CHG-MERIDIAN U.S. Finance, Ltd, Woodland Hills, CA
(Sales Management focuses very selectively on certain brokers.)
*Churchill Group/Churchill Leasing, Jericho, NY
CIT Group (limited)
Citizens Business Bank, Ontario, CA
*Colonial Pacific, Portland, Oregon
Columbia Bank Leasing, Tacoma, WA
*Columbia Equipment Finance, Danville, California
Commercial Equipment Lease, Eugene, Oregon 
Concord Financial Services, Long Beach, California
*Court Square, Malvern, Pennsylvania
*Creative Capital Leasing Group, LLC, San Diego, CA
Crossroads Equipment Lease & Finance, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
*Direct Capital, Portsmith, New Hampshire
Diversified Financial Service, Omaha, NE
*Dolsen Leasing, Bellevue/Yakima, Washington
Equipment Finance Partners, a division of Altec, Birmingham, Alabama 
Evans National Leasing, Inc., Hamburg, NY
*Enterprise Capital Partners dba Enterprise Leasing, Spokane, WA
Enterprise Funding, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Enverto Investment Group, LLC, West Los Angeles, California
*Evergreen Leasing, South Elgin, Illinois
Exchange Bank, Santa Rosa, California
*Excel Financial Leasing, Lubbock Texas
*First Corp.(IFC subsidiary), Morton Grove, Illinois
First Federal Financial Services, Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
First Republic Bank, San Francisco, CA
Fora Financial, New York, New York
Frontier Capital, Teaneck New Jersey 
*GCR Capital, Safety Harbor, Florida 
GE Capital, Conn (limited)
Global Funding LLC., Clearwater, FL
*Greystone, Burlington, MA
*Heritage Pacific Leasing, Fresno, CA
*Hillcrest Bank Leasing, Overland Park, KS (Parent bank sold)
Huntington Equipment Finance, Vendor Finance Group, Bellevue, Washington
*IFC Credit Corp., Morton Grove, Illinois
Irwin Financial (Irwin Union Bank), Columbus, Indiana 
Irwin Union Bank, F.S.B. (Louisville, Kentucky)
Lakeland Bank, Montville, NJ
LaSalle Systems Leasing
*Latitude Equipment Leasing, Marlton, New Jersey
*Leaf Specialty Finance, Columbia, South Carolina
*LEAF Third Party Funding, Santa Barbara, Ca.
Lease Corporation of America, Troy, Michigan
Lombard, part of Royal Bank of Scotland, worldwide
*M&T Credit, Baltimore, Maryland (Merged with M&T Bank)
Note: M&T Bank | Commercial Equipment Finance, Baltimore, MD
(accepts broker business)
Manufacturer's Lease Plans, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona
*Marlin Capital Solutions, Mount Laurel, New Jersey
*MarVista Financial, Villa Park, California
*MericapCredit, Lisle, Illinois
*Meridian Healthcare Finance, San Diego, California
Merrill Lynch Financial
Midwest Leasing Group, Livonia, Minnesota
*Mintaka Financial LLC. Gig Harbor, Washington
*Mount Pleasant Capital, Wexford, PA
National City, Cleveland, Ohio
*Navigator (Pentech subsidiary) San Diego, California
*Northwest Leasing Company, Clyde Hill, WA
OFC Capital, Roswell, Georgia
Old National Bank, Evansville, Illinois
*P&L Capital, Omaha, Nebraska 
*Pentech Financial, Campbell, CA
*PFF Bancorp, Inc, Pomona, CA
Pinnacle Business Finance, Fife, Washington
*Pioneer Capital Corporation, Addison, Texas
PredictiFund, a subsidiary of Capital Access Network, Inc
*Podium Financial Group, Inc.,Costa Mesa, CA
Popular Finance, St. Louis, Missouri
Puget Sound Leasing, Seattle, Washington
Radiance-Capital, Tacoma, WA
Rapid Finance. Bethesda, Maryland
Rational Technology Solutions, Rolling Meadows, IL
*Reliant National Finance, Jacksonville, Florida
Sandy Springs, Olney, MD
*Securities Equipment Lsg. (SEL, Inc.), Glendora, CA
*Select Equipment Leasing Co., Concord, CA
* Sharpe Financial Network, Phoenix, Arizona
*Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, California
Sovereign Bank, Melville, New York
*Snider Leasing, Sacramento sold to Financial Pacific Leasing
Specialty Funding, Albuquerque, NM
Sterling National Bank, Montebello, New York
*Studebaker-Worthington Leasing, Corp., Jerico, NY
(part of sale from Main Street Bank to Ascentium Capital)
*Summitt Leasing, Yakima, Washington
Sun Trust Equipment Finance & Leasing, Baltimore, Maryland 
*SunBridge Capital, Mission, Kansas
Suncoast Equipment Funding Corp., Tampa, Florida
TCF Equipment Finance, Minnetonka, Minnesota 
TechLease, Morgan Hill, California
*Tennessee Commerce Bank, Franklin, Tennessee
Textron Financial
*Town and Country Leasing, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
*Triad Leasing & Financial, Inc., Boise, Idaho
*TriStar Capital, Santa Ana, California
*Union Capital Partners, Midvale, Utah
US Bank, Manifest Funding, Marshall, Minnesota
(new requirement: large yearly funding) 
US Bank, Middle-Market, Portland, Oregon 
Velocity Financial Group, Rosemont, Illinois
VenCore, Portland, Oregon (former company Len Ludwig)
*Vision Capital, San Diego, California
Vision Financial Group, Inc. (VFG Leasing & Finance), Pittsburg, PA
Wachovia Bank Leasing
*Warren Capital, Novato, California
*Washington Mutual Financial
Wells Fargo stepping back mortgage market,
shutting down buying loans from 3rd parties
Western Bank, Devils Lake, ND
*Westover Financial, Inc., Santa Ana, California
*Your Leasing Solution, Las Vegas, Nevada

Funders looking for new Brokers:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/New_Broker.htm

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


[headlines]
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The Unstoppable Force of Self-Reliance:
Conquer Success with Unyielding Trust in Yourself
By Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners

In a world that often champions collaboration and teamwork, it's time to unleash the unyielding power of self-reliance. While working with others has its merits, the key to unrivaled success lies in placing unwavering trust in your own capabilities. Self-reliance fosters indomitable independence, unshakable resilience, and an unapologetic sense of confidence. It propels you to overcome insurmountable challenges, make audacious decisions, and unlock the full magnitude of your potential. It is an absolute necessity on the relentless journey towards unrivaled success.

  • Forging Invincible Confidence: Self-reliance forms the bedrock upon which unwavering confidence is constructed. When you trust yourself unreservedly, you summon an unassailable belief in your abilities, skills, and judgment. This confidence ignites an inferno of unwavering motivation and determination, propelling you to take audacious risks and pursue your goals with insatiable hunger. By relying solely on your own abilities, you cultivate an indomitable self-assurance that transcends the boundaries of doubt and mediocrity.
  • Dominating Responsibility: Forget about ceding control; self-reliance is about seizing the reins of destiny. It's about embracing responsibility without flinching. By trusting yourself unconditionally, you become the unwavering captain of your own ship. No longer shall you relinquish decisions to the whims of others. Instead, you seize ownership of every action and decision, relishing the power to shape your own destiny. With this unyielding ownership, every success and setback becomes a crucible for personal growth, forging an indomitable spirit that propels you ever forward.
  • Unleashing Unstoppable Resilience: Life is an arena teeming with obstacles and tribulations. Yet, it is precisely in these moments that self-reliance emerges as an unstoppable force. By trusting in yourself, you tap into an inexhaustible wellspring of resilience and adaptability. Self-reliant individuals view setbacks as opportunities for relentless growth, rather than insurmountable barriers. By relying on your own resourcefulness and unbreakable problem-solving skills, you forge an unyielding resilience, rising above failures, extracting wisdom from mistakes, and forging an unwavering path forward.
  • Commanding Decisions with Authority: Self-reliance empowers you to make decisions with unassailable authority. While seeking counsel and considering diverse perspectives can have value, the ultimate authority rests within you. Self-reliance enables you to tap into your intuition, align choices with your deepest values, goals, and aspirations. This self-awareness gifts you the audacity to make decisions that authentically resonate with your vision of success, unburdened by the fetters of external opinions or societal expectations.
  • Igniting Ferocious Creativity and Innovation: Self-reliance sets ablaze the untamed fires of creativity and innovation within you. It compels you to cast off the shackles of conformity, fearlessly exploring uncharted territories of thought. Trusting in yourself, you unlock your innate creative prowess, unleashing visionary solutions to problems and confronting challenges with an unwavering tenacity. Self-reliant individuals become the harbingers of progress, unabashedly challenging conventional wisdom, carving their own audacious path towards unparalleled success.

Collaboration may have its merits, but it's time to unleash the full might of self-reliance to conquer success with unyielding force. Believe, with fervor unmatched, in your limitless potential. Trust your abilities unapologetically, as you surge forth with indomitable confidence, seizing responsibility, and confronting setbacks head-on. Make audacious decisions that are true to your unwavering vision of success. Unleash your untamed creativity and innovation, boldly shaping the world in your own image. Embrace the indomitable power of self-reliance, for it is the catalyst that propels you toward a future ablaze with unrivaled achievements.

Trust yourself!


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

"What is the Ultimate Hire? The Ultimate Hire is the professional that every business, team or leader needs in their organization. This is the high performance individual that always rises to the top, brings the team to the next level and can significantly add to the bottom line. The Ultimate Hire is the person that you can't afford to be without. Finding, Attracting, Hiring and Retaining these professionals is critical to the success of your business. We have identified these traits and can help you find these top professionals.

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



[headlines]
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The EV Future Can Benefit from
Supporting Tesla Superchargers
by Mathew W. Daus, Esq.


Image: Forbes via Getty Images

There’s been a lot of well justified consternation in recent weeks about the sudden abandonment of the combined charging system (CCS) connector for EV chargers in favor the Tesla designed North American Charging Standard (NACS).

However, the nascent EV revolution would not be nearly as far along with as many appealing EVs on offer in 2023 were it not for Tesla. The company has shown the way to the rest of the industry on the electrification front. Tesla also showed that, if you create a car that was truly appealing on its own merits regardless of the propulsion system, people will buy it. If you then follow up by making the experience of using it as painless as possible with lots of fast, and more importantly reliable charging stations, they will keep buying the product.

Tesla opted to create a proprietary DC fast charging system (including the connector now known as NACS) back when no industry standard existed. When that standard finally emerged as CCS, it was heavier, bulkier and just plain less pleasant to use. When CCS did finally arrive, other companies began setting up networks of charging stations. There are now more than three times as many CCS charging stations across the US and Canada as there are Supercharger stations although there are less than two-thirds as many actual chargers because Tesla locations often have a dozen or more chargers compared to often just one or two at many CCS sites.

If customers buy an EV and then can’t reliably charge it, they are far less likely to buy a second or third example. Or worse for the rest of the auto industry, those customers will buy and EV - but from Tesla. In either case, the tens of billions they are each investing in electric vehicles will be squandered.


Matthew W. Daus, Esq.
Partner and Chairman, Windels Marx Transportation Practice Group
President, International Association of Transportation Regulators,
Transportation Technology Chair, University Transportation Research Center
Contact: mdaus@windelsmarx.com
156 West 56th Street | New York, NY 10019
T. 212.237.1106 | F. 212.262.1215

[headlines]
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Highest Potential for Automaton
Estimated Share Employment Exposed
to A1 Automation

Complete Article:
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/ranking-industries-by-their-potential-for-ai-automation/

[headlines]
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##### Press Release ############################

5 Things You Need to Know about Section 1071 Compliance
from ELFA’s Wednesday Webinar

The following are among the webinar highlights.

https://leasingnews.org/items/1071webinartakeaways.pdf

https://www.elfaonline.org/events/elearning/web-seminars/section-1071-it-will-affect-your-operation

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


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Watch at Home
by Fernando Croce, Leasing News Movie Reviewer

Brilliantly adept at drama and comedy alike, Alan Arkin (1934-2023) left behind a wide gallery of intense, hilarious, nervous, deeply human characterizations from the Sixties to the present. Check out our list for some of his most popular performances.

Wait Until Dark (1967): Arkin made a striking (and uncharacteristically sinister) early impression in this effective screen version of the Broadway thriller. Audrey Hepburn stars as Susy, a blind young woman whose life takes a terrifying turn after her husband (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) brings her a doll that turns out to be stuffed with drugs. Soon, their New York home is invaded by a group of conmen. The leader, Mike (Richard Crenna), wants things to go smoothly, but psycho Harry Roat (Arkin) has no qualms with using brutality to get results. With neither light nor phone in her empty apartment, can Susy survive her brush with the maniac? The film retains much of its punch thanks largely to Arkin, who, wielding tinted glasses and dangling cigarettes with hipster malice, exudes memorable malevolence.

Catch-22 (1970): Arkin lends a human center to the mad maelstrom of this ambitious dark comedy, which marked director Mike Nichols’ much-anticipated follow-up to “The Graduate.” Based on Joseph Heller’s absurdist anti-war novel, the film follows Capt. John Yossarian (Arkin), an Army Force bombardier stationed in Europe during World War Two. A specialist in dangerous missions, Yossarian finds his sanity quickly slipping in the face of combat horrors and military grotesques. When he realizes that not even a mental breakdown could get him away from the battlefield (thanks to the “Catch-22” that blurs insanity and survival), he retreats more and more into an inner reality. A signal work of the crossroads between classical and new Hollywood, this is a fascinating jumble with a cast that includes Jon Voight and Orson Welles.

The In-Laws (1979): Comic duos don’t come much zanier than the one embodied by Arkin and Peter Falk in this hilarious caper, directed by Arthur Hiller (“Love Story”). The mismatched pair is comprised of mild-mannered dentist Sheldon (Arkin) and freewheeling CIA agent Vince (Falk), who come together when their kids decide to get married. Plans of getting to know each other are quickly derailed, however, when Vince’s latest mission sends the two men to Central America in a maelstrom of stolen government secrets, gun-toting assassins, and music-loving dictators. Never mind getting home in time for the wedding—can they escape with their very lives? Featuring a treasure trove of memorable lines and surprising slapstick, the movie is above all a master class in impeccable comic chemistry thanks to Arkin and Falk.

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992): Arkin is part of the magnificent ensemble cast in this acclaimed screen adaptation of David Mamet’s explosive play. Set amongst a group of real estate salesmen in New York, the story is infused with palpable desperation as the characters discover that a competition will lead to them losing their jobs unless sales numbers increase. Among them is top seller Ricky Roma (Al Pacino), office manager John Williamson (Kevin Spacey), veteran dealer Shelley Levene (Jack Lemmon, in a heartbreaking performance), and principled office worker George Aaronow (Arkin). With the clock ticking, how far will these men go to secure their jobs? Featuring Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris and Jonathan Pryce and filled to the brim with memorable lines, this is a stinging look into a dog-eat-dog world of working-class anxiety.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006): Arkin adds some welcome salt to this popular comedy-drama, in the process scoring a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The plot follows the dysfunctional Hoover family as they hit the road from New Mexico to California for a “Little Miss Sunshine” beauty pageant for their tiny daughter, Olive (Abigail Breslin). Along for the ride are overworked mother Sheryl (Toni Collette), motivational-speaker father Richard (Greg Kinnear), depressed uncle Frank (Steve Carrell), and moody brother Dwayne (Paul Dano). Living with them since being evicted from the retirement home, irascible grandfather Edwin (Arkin) coaches Olive and meets a sudden fate along the way. Will the journey bring them together and pull them further apart? Cloaking crowd-pleasing uplift in indie quirk, the film is buoyed by the cast’s sweet and sour performances.

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

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Mixed Breed
Chicago, Illinois Adopt-a-Dog


Corby
Male
5 Years Old
29 lbs.
Foster Home

Good with Dogs (not cats)
Home Alone okay

If you’re interested in adopting this pet, there are few steps you must complete before scheduling an appointment at our Lincoln Park Adoption Center:

1. Please start by taking our ComPETibility Quiz to make sure they’re a good fit for your home. Your ComPETibility Score will help you compare your home to their needs!
https://www.pawschicago.org/our-work/pet-adoption/adoption-process/

2. After completing your ComPETibility Quiz, you will be emailed a link to complete your Adoption Application.

3. Finally, complete our Foster Pet Adoption Inquiry Form! Once this form is submitted, our Adoption Team will take a look at your adoption inquiry and, if they have next steps, reach out within a few days.

Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center
1997 N. Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60614 - Map it
773-935-7297 (PAWS)
Monday - Friday - 12pm-7pm
Saturday - Sunday - 11am-5pm
https://www.pawschicago.org/about-us

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Early Bird Expires in 2 Days
NVLA 2023 Annual Conference

October 11-13, 2023 Austin, Texas

Information and Early Registration
https://www.nvla.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1699415

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News Briefs---

Unsold electric cars are piling up on dealer lots
    Mostly foreign EV without Federal Tax Credits
https://www.axios.com/2023/07/10/unsold-electric-cars-are-piling-up-on-dealer-lots

What led to Anchor Brewing’s downfall?
   Sapporo, some workers say due to their purchase
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/anchor-steam-sapporo-18196825.php

A pair of strikes effectively shuts down
    Hollywood. Here’s the latest.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/07/13/business/actors-strike-sag

US inflation falls to 3 percent
    Lowest level in more than 2 years
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/12/business/us-inflation-falls-3-percent-lowest-level-more-than-2-years/


[headlines]
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Inventory Shortages Impacting Realtor's
     Ability to Find Buyers a Home/Their Income Down too
https://themreport.com/news/data/07-12-2023/lack-of-housing-inventory

[headlines]
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Sports Briefs---

How FIFA’s Sale of Women’s World Cup TV Rights Went Wrong
https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/fifa-womens-world-cup-tv-rights-8a468837?st=b7p67gxlfjidyjl&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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California News Briefs---

There’s a new high-rise in the middle of the
    San Francisco Bay. It’s all housing
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/treasure-island-housing-buildings-18186226.php

Tourism from one country still hasn’t rebounded.
    It’s costing San Francisco billions
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/international-tourism-china-recovery-18188305.php

It will cost $110 billion to protect San Francisco Bay
    from rising sea levels, new study shows
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/07/13/it-will-cost-110-billion-to-protect-san-francisco-bay-from-rising-sea-levels-new-study-shows/

[headlines]
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Gimme that Wine

 

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

It sparked California’s $40 billion wine industry
    But what if it was all wrong?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/winkler-index-grape-science-18173284.php

Never mind the Malbec…
    Can Torrontés be great?
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2023/07/never-mind-the-malbec-can-torrontes-be-great/

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

This Day in History

      1642 – The first compulsory education act in the Colonies was passed by Massachusetts.
    1775 - The Continental Congress established the army as the first US Military service.
    1777 - John Adams introduced the following resolution before the Continental Congress, meeting at Philadelphia: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.” (By the way, this is a legal holiday in Pennsylvania). The blue field was to bear 13 stars, one for each state. The tradition that Betsy Ross designed the flag has been almost completely discredited. The flag was originally suggested by Francis Hopkinson, a member of the Continental Navy Board from 1776 to 1778, who is considered by historians to be the father of the Stars and Stripes.
    1811 - Birthday of American writer Harriet Beecher Stowe (d. 1896), daughter of the Reverend Lyman Beecher and sister of Henry Ward Beecher, at Litchfield, CT. Author of “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” an antislavery novel that provoked a storm of protest and resulted in fame for its author. Two characters in the novel attained such importance that their names became part of the English language—the Negro slave, Uncle Tom, and the villainous slave owner, Simon Legree. The reaction to “Uncle Tom's Cabin” and its profound political impact are without parallel in American literature. It is said that during the Civil War, when Harriet Beecher Stowe was introduced to President Abraham Lincoln, his words to her were, “So you're the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.” 
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/stowe/StoweHB.html
http://www.bragi.com/classics/s/hbs1811/utomc01.shtml
    1820 - Birthday of John Bartlett (d. 1905) at Plymouth, MA.  American editor and compiler (Bartlett's “Familiar Quotations,” 1855).  Though he had little formal education, he created one of the most-used reference works of the English language after being asked continuously for information on quotations while working at the University Book Store in Cambridge, MA.  No quotation of his own is among the more than 22,000 listed today, but in the preface to the first edition, he wrote that the object of his work “originally made without any view of publication” was to show “the obligation our language owes to various authors for numerous phrases and familiar quotations which have become household words.”  The eighteenth edition, which came out in 2012, was edited by poet, critic, and Editor Geoffrey O’Brien, also the editor-in-chief of the Library of America.
http://www.bartleby.com/100/
    1834 - My son Dash, who attended diving school in the U.S. Navy could tell you more, but the first practical diving suit was patented by Leonard Norcross of Dixfield, ME, for a “water-dress.” It consisted of an airtight rubber garment to which was attached a brass cap or helmet that rested on the shoulders. The cap was connected to an air pump on the boat by means of a rubber hose. The feet were weighted with heavy lead shot.
http://www.divingheritage.com/waybackkern.htm
    1834 - Isaac Fisher, Jr. of Springfield, VT, was granted four patents on his invention he called “sandpaper.”
    1846 - John Frémont launched the Bear Flag Revolution and established the California Republic, an unrecognized breakaway state that, for twenty-five days in 1846, militarily controlled the area to the north of San Francisco Bay.   Several American immigrants in Alta California rebelled against the Mexican government. The immigrants had not been allowed to buy or rent land and had been threatened with expulsion from California because they had entered without official permission. Mexican officials were concerned about a coming war with the United States coupled with the growing influx of Americans into California. The rebellion was soon overtaken by the beginning of the Mexican-American War.  The name "California Republic" appeared only on the flag the insurgents raised in Sonoma.  It indicated their aspiration of forming a republican government for California. The insurgents elected military officers but no civil structure was ever established.  The flag featured an image of a California grizzly bear and became known as the Bear flag and the revolt as the Bear Flag Revolt.  The current flag of California is a derivative of the Bear flag.  William. B. Ide served as President of the Republic of California until July 9. Governor Vallejo was also taken prisoner during the skirmish and was moved to Sutter's Fort.
    1848 - The San Francisco "California Star" ceased publication because the staff had rushed to the gold fields.
    1850 - Howard Engine Co. No. 13 and Sansome Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3 organized in San Francisco. The Sansome Company carried fifty-foot ladders, the largest in the state. The company also had charge of the powder magazine at its Montgomery St. quarters for use during conflagrations. Third Great Fire destroyed the area between Clay, California and Kearny all the way down to the Bay. 300 more buildings were lost, and the damages were $5,000,000. The fire started in the Sacramento Bakery at the rear of the Merchants Hotel at Clay and Kearny streets.
    1863 – The 2d Battle of Winchester was part of the Gettysburg Campaign. As Confederate Lt. Gen. Ewell moved down the Shenandoah Valley toward Pennsylvania, his corps defeated the Union Army garrison, capturing Winchester and numerous Union prisoners.  The victory cleared the Valley of Federal troops and opened the door for Lee's second invasion of the North. The capturing of ample supplies justified Lee's conceptual plan to provision his army on the march. The Federal defeat stunned the North and Secretary of War Stanton called for additional militia to be federalized. Shortly afterwards, President Lincoln requested 100,000 volunteers to repel the threatened invasion. The casualty ratio, favoring the South, in this engagement was amazing, the most lopsided for an engagement of this size in the entire war. It's no wonder that Confederate artillerist Maj. Robert Stiles wrote, "This battle of Winchester ... was one of the most perfect pieces of work the Army of Northern Virginia ever did." 
    1864 - US Congress ruled that Black soldiers must receive equal pay.
http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/AfrAmer.html
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/rthg/chap7.htm
    1864 - The James River Bridge, the longest (2100 ft.) pontoon bridge ever used in war, was constructed in eight hours by 450 Union engineers. Extending from Windmill Point to Fort Powhatan in Virginia, the structure enabled Grant's forces to cross the James River and to move on Petersburg, a vital communications center south of Richmond. The next three days, at the Battle of Petersburg, Union forces were unable to take the strategic city in the face of what historians call the brilliant strategy by General Robert E. Lee. The actual siege continued until April of the following year:  Battle of Five Forks, April 1; evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg, April 2; Union forces occupy Petersburg, April 3; Gen. Lee surrenders to Gen. Grant at Appomattox, April 9; President Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth, April 14. 
http://www.civilwar.com/va81.htm 
http://www.mdgorman.com/2538.htm 
http://www.mdgorman.com/2539.htm 
http://www.mdgorman.com/2465.htm 
http://wargame.com/images/acw/image25.html 
http://www.mdgorman.com/2466.htm 
http://www.treasurenet.com/images/civilwar/civil007.html 
http://www.flowerdew.org/Prince.html 
http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~ela/letters/dcgdiary2.html 
http://www.virginiasheartland.org/recreation.html 
http://www.civilwar-va.com/virginia/va-central/1864tour.html 
http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/va063.htm 
    1870 - In what is considered by many historians the greatest baseball game of the 19th century, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, baseball's first all-professional team, sees their winning streak stopped at 89 in a wild 11-inning battle with the Atlantic of Brooklyn team, 8 - 7. The game is tied 5 - 5 after nine innings of play and the Atlantic players are happy to have a draw but Cincinnati Captain Harry Wright insists that the game be played to a decision. The Red Stockings score twice in the 11th inning but the Atlantics come back with three in their half to win. The game is notable as being the first extra-inning game between professional clubs and as one of the lowest-scoring games of its day. As is the practice of the day, Atlantics continues to bat after having clinched the game, but no further runs are scored.
    1877 - The first African-American West Point graduate was Henry Ossian Flipper, born a slave on March 29, 1856 in Thomasville, GA. He was a cadet from May 20, 1873, to June 14, 1877. He was appointed a second lieutenant in the 10th Cavalry on June 15, 1877, and remained in service until June 30, 1882 when he was dismissed for conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. In December, 1976, the Army reviewed his court-martial charge and changed his discharge record from dishonorable to honorable. 
http://lala.essortment.com/henryossianfli_ricp.htm 
http://www.rose.net/flipper.htm 
http://docsouth.unc.edu/flipper/menu.html 
http://www.allenscreations.com/dghof.html 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0803268904/inktomi-bkasin-20
/102-3693736-6012943

    1876 – The California Street Cable Car Railroad Co was founded by Leland Stanford.  The company's first line opened on California Street in 1878 and is the oldest cable car line still in operation.  The company remained independent until 1951, outlasting all the other commercial streetcar and cable car operators in the city. The city purchased and reopened the lines in 1952; the current cable car system is a hybrid made up of the California Street line, and the Hyde Street section of Cal Cable's O'Farrell, Jones & Hyde line, together with other lines already in municipal ownership.
    1876 – The first Major Leaguer to hit for the cycle – single, double, triple and homer in a game – was George Hall of the Philadelphia Athletics.
    1881 - Ushering in a new era, John McTammany, Jr. of Cambridge, MA, received a patent on a “mechanical musical instrument,” he called a “player piano.” He constructed a mechanism for automatic playing of organs using narrow sheets of perforated flexible paper that governed the notes to be played.” Further patents were applied for all types of piano players, and the first completely automatic was the Angelus, made by the Wilcox and White company, Meriden, CT. in 1897.
    1903 - The "Heppner Disaster" occurred in Oregon. A cloudburst in the hills sent a flood down Willow Creek and a twenty-foot wall of water swept away a third of the town in minutes, killing 236 residents and causing $100 million damage.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ormorrow/HeppnerFlood.htm
    1906 - Margaret Bourke-White (d. 1971) was born at New York City. One of the original photojournalists, she developed her personal style while photographing the Krupp Iron Works in Germany and the Soviet Union during the first Five-year Plan. Bourke-White was one of the four original staff photographers for Life magazine in 1936. The first woman attached to the US armed forces during World War II, she covered the Italian campaign, the siege of Moscow and the American soldiers crossing of the Rhine into Germany, and she shocked the world with her photographs of the concentration camps. Bourke-White photographed Mahatma Gandhi and covered the migration of the millions of people after the Indian subcontinent was divided into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. She served as a war correspondent during the Korean War. Among her several books the most famous was her collaboration with her second husband, novelist Erskine Caldwell, a study of rural poverty in the American South, called “You Have Seen Their Faces.”
http://www.dailycelebrations.com/031401.htm
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/bourke-white_margaret.html
    1909 - Burl Ives, American singer and actor, was born Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (d. 1995) at Hunt, IL. He helped to reintroduce Anglo-American folk music in the 1940s and 50s. Ives won an Academy Award for his supporting role in “The Big Country” (1958) and he is well known for his role as Big Daddy in both the film and Broadway productions of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” His biggest chart success was "Little Bitty Tear" in 1961. Ives also arranged and popularized such folk tunes as "Blue Tail Fly" and "Wayfarin' Stranger."
    1910 - Birthday of Jazz Guitarist/Singer/Bandleader Joseph Hilton "Nappy" Lamare (d. 1998), New Orleans.
http://wwwp.musicmatch.com/artist/artist.cgi?ARTISTID=848631&TMP
L=LONG#bio
 
http://www.themomi.org/museum/roaring20s/1929L-5Nappy.html 
http://www.317x.com/albums/b/raybauduc/card.html 
http://www.nfo.net/usa/n2.html 
    1916 - A Presidential Proclamation has made this “Flag Day.” In 1996, it was amended to have “National Flag Week” and the president added, “It is a time to honor America.”  We have the flag flying high here at American Leasing with the San Francisco 49er flag beneath.
    1926 - Donald “Big Newk” Newcombe (d. 2019) was born in Madison, NJ.  After playing one season with the Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues, Newcombe signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. With catcher Roy Campanella, Newcombe played for the first racially integrated baseball team based in the United States in the 20th century, the 1946 Nashua Dodgers of the New England League (Jackie Robinson played that year with the Montreal Royals).  Until 2011, Newcombe was the only Major Leaguer to have won the Rookie of the Year, MVP and Cy Young Awards in his career. In 1949, he became the first black pitcher to start a World Series game. In 1951, Newcombe was the first black pitcher to win twenty games in one season.  In 1956, the inaugural year of the Cy Young Award, he became the first pitcher to win the National League MVP and the Cy Young in the same season on the strength of 27–7, 139 strikeouts, a 3.06 ERA, five shutouts and 18 complete games in 1956.  Newcombe also compiled a career batting average of .271 with 15 home runs and was used as a pinch hitter, a rarity for pitchers.
    1929 - Pianist/composer Cy Coleman (d. 2004) born, New York City.
http://www.ascap.com/about/coleman-bio.html
http://www.virtualcity.de/englishtheater/ccoleman.htm
    1931 - Saxophonist Junior Walker (d. 1995) was born Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr. in Blytheville, AR.  His group, Jr. Walker & the All Stars, were signed to Motown's Soul label in the 1960s and became one of the company's signature acts.  Their first and signature hit was "Shotgun," written and composed by Walker and produced by Berry Gordy. "Shotgun" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart in 1965, and was followed by many other hits, such as "(I'm A) Road Runner," "Shake and Fingerpop" and covers of the Motown songs "Come See About Me" and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)."
http://www.history-of-rock.com/junior_walker_and_the_all_stars.htm
    1934 - Max Baer knocked out Primo Carnera in the 11th round of a fight at Long Island City, NY, to win the heavyweight title. Carnero had won the crown from Jack Sharkey. Baer lost it in his next fight to James Braddock.
    1937 - Pennsylvania became the first state in the United States to observe Flag Day as a legal holiday.
    1944 - URBAN, MATT, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel (then Captain), 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, World War II. Place and date: Renouf, France, 14 June to 3 September 1944. Entered service at: Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 2 July 1941. Date and place of birth: 25 August 1919, Buffalo, New York. Lieutenant Colonel (then Captain) Matt Urban, l 12-22-2414, United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of bold, heroic actions, exemplified by singularly outstanding combat leadership, personal bravery, and tenacious devotion to duty, during the period 14 June to 3 September 1944 while assigned to the 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On 14 June, Captain Urban's company, attacking at Renouf, France, encountered heavy enemy small arms and tank fire. The enemy tanks were unmercifully raking his unit's positions and inflicting heavy casualties. Captain Urban, realizing that his company was in imminent danger of being decimated, armed himself with a bazooka. He worked his way with an ammo carrier through hedgerows, under a continuing barrage of fire, to a point near the tanks. He brazenly exposed himself to the enemy fire and, firing the bazooka, destroyed both tanks. Responding to Captain Urban's action, his company moved forward and routed the enemy. Later that same day, still in the attack near Orglandes, Captain Urban was wounded in the leg by direct fire from a 37mm tank-gun. He refused evacuation and continued to lead his company until they moved into defensive positions for the night. At 0500 hours the next day, still in the attack near Orglandes, Captain Urban, though badly wounded, directed his company in another attack. One hour later he was again wounded. Suffering from two wounds, one serious, he was evacuated to England. In mid-July, while recovering from his wounds, he learned of his unit's severe losses in the hedgerows of Normandy. Realizing his unit's need for battle-tested leaders, he voluntarily left the hospital and hitchhiked his way back to his unit hear St. Lo, France. Arriving at the 2d Battalion Command Post at 1130 hours, 25 July, he found that his unit had jumped-off at 1100 hours in the first attack of Operation Cobra." Still limping from his leg wound, Captain Urban made his way forward to retake command of his company. He found his company held up by strong enemy opposition. Two supporting tanks had been destroyed and another, intact but with no tank commander or gunner, was not moving. He located a lieutenant in charge of the support tanks and directed a plan of attack to eliminate the enemy strong-point. The lieutenant and a sergeant were immediately killed by the heavy enemy fire when they tried to mount the tank. Captain Urban, though physically hampered by his leg wound and knowing quick action had to be taken, dashed through the scathing fire and mounted the tank. With enemy bullets ricocheting from the tank, Captain Urban ordered the tank forward and, completely exposed to the enemy fire, manned the machine gun and placed devastating fire on the enemy. His action, in the face of enemy fire, galvanized the battalion into action and they attacked and destroyed the enemy position. On 2 August, Captain Urban was wounded in the chest by shell fragments and, disregarding the recommendation of the Battalion Surgeon, again refused evacuation. On 6 August, Captain Urban became the commander of the 2d Battalion. On 15 August, he was again wounded but remained with his unit. On 3 September, the 2d Battalion was given the mission of establishing a crossing-point on the Meuse River near Heer, Belgium. The enemy planned to stop the advance of the allied Army by concentrating heavy forces at the Meuse. The 2d Battalion, attacking toward the crossing-point, encountered fierce enemy artillery, small arms and mortar fire which stopped the attack. Captain Urban quickly moved from his command post to the lead position of the battalion. Reorganizing the attacking elements, he personally led a charge toward the enemy's strong-point. As the charge moved across the open terrain, Captain Urban was seriously wounded in the neck. Although unable to talk above a whisper from the paralyzing neck wound, and in danger of losing his life, he refused to be evacuated until the enemy was routed and his battalion had secured the crossing-point on the Meuse River. Captain Urban's personal leadership, limitless bravery, and repeated extraordinary exposure to enemy fire served as an inspiration to his entire battalion. His valorous and intrepid actions reflect the utmost credit on him and uphold the noble traditions of the United States.
     1944 - WISE, HOMER L., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant. U.S. Army, Company L, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division. Place and date: Magliano, Italy, 14 June 1944. Entered service al: Baton Rouge, La. Birth: Baton Rouge La. G.O. No.: 90, 8 December 1944. Citation: While his platoon was pinned down by enemy small-arms fire from both flanks, he left his position of comparative safety and assisted in carrying 1 of his men, who had been seriously wounded and who lay in an exposed position, to a point where he could receive medical attention. The advance of the platoon was resumed but was again stopped by enemy frontal fire. A German officer and 2 enlisted men, armed with automatic weapons, threatened the right flank. Fearlessly exposing himself, he moved to a position from which he killed all 3 with his submachine gun. Returning to his squad, he obtained an Ml rifle and several antitank grenades, then took up a position from which he delivered accurate fire on the enemy holding up the advance. As the battalion moved forward it was again stopped by enemy frontal and flanking fire. He procured an automatic rifle and, advancing ahead of his men, neutralized an enemy machinegun with his fire. When the flanking fire became more intense he ran to a nearby tank and exposing himself on the turret, restored a jammed machinegun to operating efficiency and used it so effectively that the enemy fire from an adjacent ridge was materially reduced thus permitting the battalion to occupy its objective.
    1946 - Nat “King” Cole Trio recorded “The Christmas Song,” NYC. Record promoters like it so much, on August 19th, they recorded it with strings and it became a commercial hit.  Written in 1945 by Bob Wells and Mel Torme, according to Tormé, the song was written in forty minutes during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool," the most-performed Christmas song was born.  "I saw a spiral pad on his (Wells') piano with four lines written in pencil," Tormé recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting...Jack Frost nipping...Yuletide carols...Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics."
    1946 – Former President Donald Trump was born in Jamaica, Queens, NYC.  Trump won the general election on November 8, 2016, in a surprise victory, and became the oldest and wealthiest person to assume the presidency, the first without prior military or government service, and the fifth elected without a plurality of the national popular vote.  
    1949 - Top Hits
“Riders in the Sky” - Vaughn Monroe
“Again” - Doris Day
“Bali Ha'I” - Perry Como
“One Kiss Too Many” - Eddy Arnold
    1950 - American Oil Company announced plans to sponsor the telecast of every Washington Redskins football game during the upcoming season. The Redskins thus became the first pro football team to televise a complete slate of regular-season games.
    1951 - Univac, the world's first commercial computer was unveiled, demonstrated, and dedicated in Philadelphia, primarily to help out with the census. The first computer was developed in 1946, ENIAC (Electronic Numeric Integrator and Computer). The name we use today comes from the fact ENIAC was difficult to pronounce and scientists among themselves referred to the machine as a “computer.”
    1952 - In a 3-1 loss, Boston Braves southpaw Warren Spahn whiffs 18 Cubs in 15 innings, tying Jim Whitney's National League record of 18 strikeouts. On the same day, Braves scout Dewey Griggs signs a Mobile, Alabama youth named Henry Aaron.
    1952 - BLEAK, DAVID B., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Medical Company 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. Place and date: Vicinity of Minari-gol, Korea, 14 June 1952. Entered service at: Shelley, Idaho. Born: 27 February 1932, Idaho Falls, Idaho. G.O. No.: 83, 2 November 1953. Citation: Sgt. Bleak, a member of the medical company, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. As a medical aidman, he volunteered to accompany a reconnaissance patrol committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain, the group was subjected to intense automatic weapons and small arms fire and suffered several casualties. After administering to the wounded, he continued to advance with the patrol. Nearing the military crest of the hill, while attempting to cross the fire-swept area to attend the wounded, he came under hostile fire from a small group of the enemy concealed in a trench. Entering the trench he closed with the enemy, killed 2 with bare hands and a third with his trench knife. Moving from the emplacement, he saw a concussion grenade fall in front of a companion and, quickly shifting his position, shielded the man from the impact of the blast. Later, while ministering to the wounded, he was struck by a hostile bullet but, despite the wound, he undertook to evacuate a wounded comrade. As he moved down the hill with his heavy burden, he was attacked by 2 enemy soldiers with fixed bayonets. Closing with the aggressors, he grabbed them and smacked their heads together, then carried his helpless comrade down the hill to safety. Sgt. Bleak's dauntless courage and intrepid actions reflect utmost credit upon himself and are in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service.
    1952 - SPEICHER, CLIFTON T., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company F, 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Minarigol, Korea, 14 June 1952. Entered service at: Gray, Pa. Born: 25 March 1931, Gray, Pa. G.O. No.: 65, 19 August 1953. Citation: Cpl. Speicher distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. While participating in an assault to secure a key terrain feature, Cpl. Speicher's squad was pinned down by withering small-arms mortar, and machine gun fire. Although already wounded he left the comparative safety of his position, and made a daring charge against the machine gun emplacement. Within 10 yards of the goal, he was again wounded by small-arms fire but continued on, entered the bunker, killed 2 hostile soldiers with his rifle, a third with his bayonet, and silenced the machine gun. Inspired by this incredible display of valor, the men quickly moved up and completed the mission. Dazed and shaken, he walked to the foot of the hill where he collapsed and died. Cpl. Speicher's consummate sacrifice and unflinching devotion to duty reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service
    1952 - Birthday of Pat Summitt, born Patricia Sue Head (d. 2016), Clarksville, TN.  Accrued 1,098 career wins, the most in NCAA basketball history.  She served as the head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols team from 1974 to 2012, before retiring at age 59 because of a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s from which she died in 2016.  She won eight NCAA championships (a NCAA women's record when she retired), a number surpassed only by the 10 titles won by UCLA men's coach John Wooden and the 11 titles won by UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma. She was the first NCAA coach, and one of four college coaches overall, with at least 1,000 wins. She was the highest paid coach at the University of Tennessee as 18 of her teams were in the NCAA playoffs and six of her teams, 1987, ‘89, ‘91, ‘96, ‘97, and ‘98 won the national titles.
    1953 - Elvis Presley graduated from L.C. Humes High School in Memphis, TN. Within three years, the truck driver-turned-singer had his first number-one record with "Heartbreak Hotel."
    1954 - The first Civil Defense test was held nationwide, including the continental United States, 10 provinces of Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands from 10 to 10:10am, when the all-clear signal was given. There were held periodically and both radio and television were to test the civil defense system periodically during the month for one minute duration.
    1954 - President Eisenhower signed a bill into law that places the words "under God" into the United States Pledge of Allegiance. 
    1956 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "The Wayward Wind," Gogi Grant.
    1957 - Top Hits
“Love Letters in the Sand” - Pat Boone
“A Teenager's Romance/I'm Walkin'” - Ricky Nelson
“Bye Bye Love” - The Everly Brothers
“Four Walls” - Jim Reeves
    1958 - Fats Domino releases "I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday." 
    1961 - The temperature in Downtown San Francisco, CA, soared to 106 degrees to establish an all-time record for that location
    1963 - Duke Snider, one of the Dodgers' most famous players (I have his autograph from when I was a kid---free, stayed after the game to sign autographs for all the kids) hit his 400th career home run in a game against the Cincinnati Reds, playing for the Mets. Snider became the ninth player in Major League history to reach this career milestone.
http://www.dukesnider.com/
    1964 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Chapel of Love," The Dixie Cups.
    1965 - Top Hits
“Back in My Arms Again” - The Supremes
“Crying in the Chapel” - Elvis Presley
“I Can't Help Myself” - The Four Tops
“What's He Doing in My World” - Eddy Arnold
    1965 - Paul McCartney records "Yesterday" by himself, after trying unsuccessfully to fit in the rest of the Beatles. The song would later be recorded by over 3,000 other artists and become the most covered tune in music history. In describing it, Paul has said "I did the tune easily and then the words took about two weeks."
    1965 - Sonny and Cher release "I Got You Babe."
    1966 – The minor league Miami Marlins and St. Petersburg Cardinals played the longest game in organized baseball history up to that point, needing 29 innings for Miami to prevail, 4 - 3. The game ends after 6 hours and 59 minutes. It remains the longest game ever played without interruption and the longest game in baseball history.
    1967 - The Beatles record "All You Need Is Love."
    1968 - Rod Stewart becomes a star in the US after the Jeff Beck Group, for which he sings lead, opens at New York's Fillmore East. The 23-year-old Stewart is still so new to the stage that he hides behind a stack of speakers during the first song.
    1973 - Top Hits
“My Love” - Paul McCartney & Wings
“Frankenstein” - The Edgar Winter Group
Pillow Talk - Sylvia
“You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)” - Johnny Rodriguez
    1974 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Billy, Don't Be a Hero," Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods.
    1974 – Nolan Ryan struck out 19 in 13 innings, including Cecil Cooper 6 times as the California Angels beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3 in 15 innings.
    1975 – The singing group America reached the top spot on the Billboard pop music chart with "Sister Golden Hair." The group had previously (March, 1972) taken "A Horse with No Name" to the number one spot. The trio of Dan Peek, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, sons of US Air Force personnel stationed in London, England, had received the Best New Artist Grammy in 1972.  America recorded a dozen hits that made it to the popular music charts in the 1970s and 1980s. Though number one, "Sister Golden Hair" did not qualify for gold record (million-seller) status.
http://www.biscuitfan.com/america/index.htm
http://www.harvestcomm.net/america/
http://www.danpeek.com/frameset.htm
http://www.rockandrollusa.com/America.htm
http://www.rockandrollusa.com/horsewithnonameamericadewey.htm
http://axisid.com/catsmeow/horse.htm
http://www.biscuitfan.com/america/song/song056.htm
    1975 - "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" was recorded live at the Universal Amphitheater in California by John Denver, became the best-selling record in the US. The song was written by John Martin Sommers, a member of Denver's backup band. 
    1979 - Giant first baseman Willie McCovey hits his 513th round tripper establishing him as the NL all-time left-handed HR leader.
    1981 - Top Hits
“Bette Davis Eyes” - Kim Carnes
“Stars on 45 medley” - Stars on 45
“Sukiyaki” - A Taste of Honey
“What are We Doin' in Love” - Dottie West with Kenny Rogers
    1987 - Thirty-two cities in the central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date. The high of 97 degrees at Flint, MI tied their record for June, and the high of 101 at Milwaukee, WI marked their first 100 degree reading in 32 years. Thunderstorms brought much needed rains to South Texas, drenching McAllen with 3.2 inches in one hour. A thunderstorm soaked the town of Uncertain with 2.3 inches of rain in one hour.
    1987 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Head to Toe," Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam.
    1988 - Thirty cities in the eastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date
    1989 - Top Hits
“Wind Beneath My Wings” - Bette Midler
“I'll Be Loving You” (“Forever”) - New Kids on the Block
“Every Little Step” - Bobby Brown
“Better Man” - Clint Black
    1990 – The Supreme Court ruled that police checks for drunk drivers are constitutional. 
    1991 - "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" opened, collecting $25.63 million from audiences at 2,369 U.S. theaters. Kevin Costner is Robin of Locksley, Morgan Freeman plays Azeem, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is Marian, Christian Slater stars as Will Scarlett, and Alan Rickman (“Lethal Weapon”) played the Sheriff of Nottingham.
    1993 - The first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court was Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia, nominated by President William Jefferson Clinton. She filled the seat vacated by Justice Byron White. She was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court and the first Jewish justice since the resignation of Abe Fortas in 1969.
    1994 - The New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2, in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1940. The Rangers, led by Mark Messier, Brian Leetch and Mike Richter, ended a long drought that included defeats in the finals in 1950, 1972, and 1979.
    1995 - Michael Jackson and wife, Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson, were interviewed by Diane Sawyer on ABC-TV's "PrimeTime Live." Sawyer questioned the couple about how they got to know each other, how Michael proposed, etc. The hour-long interview, at the old MGM set at Sony Pictures, Hollywood, was seen by 60 million U.S. viewers and millions more around the world. Selected snippets from the interview: Do they have sex? “Yes, yes, yes.” Prenuptial agreement? “Yes.” Regarding accusations of child molestation? “Never ever! I could never harm a child, or anyone. It's not in my heart. It's not who I am. I am not even interested in that!” Would Michael like to be as black as he once was? “I love black.”
    1996 - San Francisco celebrates its beloved newspaper columnist and a good friend of mine (and many others, too): Herb Caen.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/g/a/1996/06/14/ellar960614.DTL
    1998 - The Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz to win their third consecutive NBA championship. This was their second “three-peat.” They had accomplished this feat the first time with wins in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
    2005 - Behind Chuck Klein (683rd game - 1933) and Lloyd Warner (686th game - 1932), Ichiro Suzuki, in his 696th game, becomes the third fastest big leaguer player to reach the 1000-hit mark. The 31-year-old Mariners outfielder also holds the record in Japan for being quickest player to attain 1,000 hits, reaching the milestone in 757 games.  Ichiro had 3,089 hits in his Major League career and, combined with the 1,078 hits from his Japanese league days, owns the all-time career hits record in all of professional baseball, having passed Pete Rose in 2016.  He retired after the opening of the 2019 season when the Seattle Mariners played their opening series in Japan against the Oakland As.
    2013 – US government charged NSA leaker Edward Snowden with violating the Espionage Act and theft of government property.  His disclosures revealed numerous global surveillance programs, many run by the NSA and the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance with the cooperation of telecommunication companies and European governments, and prompted a cultural discussion about national security and individual privacy. Two days later, he flew into Moscow’s International Airport, where Russian authorities observed the cancelled passport, and he was restricted to the airport terminal for over one month. Russia later granted Snowden the right of asylum with an initial visa for residence for one year, which was subsequently repeatedly extended. In October 2020, he was granted permanent residency in Russia.  In early 2016, Snowden became the president of a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that aims to protect journalists from hacking and government surveillance.  On September 2, 2020, a U.S. federal court ruled that the US intelligence’s mass surveillance program exposed by Snowden was illegal and possibly unconstitutional.
    2017 - A gunman opened fire on a Republican congressional baseball team holding an early-morning practice in Alexandria, VA.  Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise was among the five persons wounded in the attack, being shot in the hip. Capitol Police officers at the practice return fire and quickly apprehend the shooter, who is mortally wounded in the exchange. The team was preparing for its annual charity game against members of the Democratic Party scheduled for later in the week.

NBA Champions: 
    1987 - Los Angeles Lakers
    1990 - Detroit Pistons
    1992 - Chicago Bulls
    1995 - Houston Rockets
    1998 - Chicago Bulls 

Stanley Cup Champions: 
    1994 - New York Rangers

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Daily Puzzle

How to play:
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Weather

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Wordle

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How to Play
https://www.today.com/popculture/popculture/wordle-know-popular-online-word-game-rcna11056

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