Constant Contact was down until Wednesday morning, and it took them until noon, California time, to get back up and running; therefore Leasing News was not sent out until around noon, California time.

The edition was posted on the web site at 1am, our time. We apologize for any convenience, particularly to our early morning readers

Bulletin Board Complaint-
Trident Leasing Corporation, San Jose, Ca
Classified Ads-----Doc .Manager/ Finance / Legal
Our”On Line” Anniversary
Classified Ads—Help Wanted
Reader Finds CMC's Hanson and Fisher
Placard—“Cookie Crumbles” in Latin
Unrelenting Mortgage Growth Seen Rest of Year
Neptune to lead NorVergence Panel-Lessors Conf.
Leasing Association Fall Conference--Up-Date
Commerce Bank Five-Year Growth Plan/Leasing
E-Commerce/StrikeIron's Sales & Use Tax

“Greg Wood, Penny and Mike Healy walked out of HPSC/GE today. (Wednesday, July 13.) Reportedly three others left, too,

including Tom Baker, who territory was Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minn, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, his daughter: Anita Baker and Greg Wood, who's territory was OK, TX in whole, NM, LA.

“The Healy's where responsible for at least $25 million in equipment financed last year. Greg Wood generated $30+ million. Healy's territory was the West Coast and Greg Wood was based out of Texas.”

In our attempt to verify this, we contacted several readers, some responded, such as:

“i know where Greg Wood, Penny and Mike Healy went by i need to find out more info before i tell you....I think it is Unicyn...”

“Confidentially I heard that they went over to Unicyn and I do not know how they are going to handle that kind of business there…”

“MAIN REASON FOR EXODUS!!!!!!!!!! The infamous letter from GE to all the medical vendors informing them that HPSC/GE currently pays referral fee's to the vendors sales force and if they want it to cease they need to make HPSC aware. MOST of the vendors in the industry DO NOT allow their sale force to receive compensation directly from leasing companies. Therefore HPSC was going to STOP sending out referral fees. Everybody (everybody I guess except GE CORPORATE) knows that business is generated on the street not in the board room. so if the HPSC sales force could not send out referrals then they would be losing tons of business.

“Whoever at GE that came up with that letter just cost the company $75 million in business!!!!! even if only 50%of the business follows the sales force....that is $37.5 MILLION IN ONE DAY!!!!!!!!!! Nice work!!!! I wonder if he/she is updating his/her resume??? “

Leasing News has been receiving reports since GE Capital took over, things have been changing ("Oh, yeah, that is news, Kit?!")

As in the past with US Leasing in San Francisco, Transleasing in Chicago and Colonial Pacific Leasing in Oregon, not only are personnel eventually let go, but others leave as the rules change, and in the HBSC case, commission restructioning was "severe," according to those on the inside. Salesmen used to lower rates and larger commissions were giving different guide lines. It seems that in these mergers and acquisitions, the new bosses don't like the money sales people are making, and they think the large commission personnel can be replaced, with new, lower priced sales personnel taking over the accounts as "company accounts."

This philosophy has been going on for at least two centuries in America, maybe longer. Cutting costs produces higher net profits right away. The past presidents at General Electric are very well known for this philosophy---and their track record shows that it works. The president and the board care about their bonuses as they too are also in sales---selling the public that the company is doing better and therefore they receive a higher commission---it is called stock options and bonuses in their parlance. And after all, isn't that what the game is about? Editor

Orange County, CA . Operations/Credit
Manager with 15 Years Experience, Middle & Large Ticket, initiated policies for Patriot Act and Sarbanes Oxley, Team Motivator.
E-mail: equiplender@aol.com

Experienced Credit, Collections, lease and Finance operations .
Manager w/expertise in improving bottom line performance, excellent trainer, manager, motivator. Get result/keep the customer coming back.
Email: rgmorrill@comcast.net

New York, NY.
10+ years in equipment leasing/secured lending. Skilled in management & training, documentation, policy and procedure development & implementation, portfolio reporting. Strong work ethic.
Email: dln1031@nyc.rr.com

Wayne, NJ
20+ heavily experienced collection/recovery VP looking to improve someone's bottom line. Proven, verifiable track record. Knowledge of all types of portfolio. Will relocate
Email: cmate@nac.net

New Jersey Reaches Additional Agreements
Covering Bills of Former NorVergence Customers

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office and the Division of Consumer Affairs have reached agreements with seven financial service companies that forgive monies owned by former New Jersey customers of NorVergence, a bankrupt telecommunications firm that discontinued service in July 2004, Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Consumer Affairs Director Kimberly Ricketts announced.

The seven agreements forgive a total of approximately $15.9 million that was owed by 770 former NorVergence customers located in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Star Ledger reported:” Newark-based Norvergence collapsed last July, cutting off phone and Internet service to about 9,400 customers nationwide and more than 1,000 in New Jersey.”

A press release announced the latest agreement with Court Square Leasing. New Jersey also was part of a national, multi-state settlement involving TCF Leasing Inc. that included two New Jersey customers.

In addition to Court Square Leasing, which forgave $47,000 to its New Jersey customers, the other companies who have reached settlements (amounts as noted) with Consumer Affairs are:
---Lyon Financial Services Inc. (doing business as U.S. Bancorp Business Equipment Finance Group), $2.93 million
---De Lage Landen Financial Services Inc., $588,000
---Lakeland Bank, $0
---Wells Fargo Financial Leasing Inc., $4.40 million
---General Electric Capital Corp., $3.57 million
---CIT Technology Financing Services Inc., $4.36 million

Deputy Attorneys General Lorraine K. Rak, Chief of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section, and Jeffrey Koziar represented the State in these matters.

According to the Starledger, “Nineteen other leasing companies that hold contracts with about 680 New Jersey Norvergence customers have not reached agreements with the Attorney General.”

"These customers, mostly small businessmen and businesswomen, couldn't even get a dial tone but the bills kept coming in month after month. Their credit ratings were at risk and their livelihoods were threatened. Thanks to the understanding and cooperation of these seven financial service companies, we've lifted a tremendous burden from these entrepreneurs and we're again letting them focus on the business of their business," Acting Governor Richard J. Codey said.

The financial companies continued to bill NorVergence customers, under terms of the service contracts they bought from NorVergence, though these customers received no telecommunications services following the company's filing for bankruptcy.

"These former NorVergence customers, through no fault of their own, were faced with paying for telecommunications services that they were no longer receiving after NorVergence discontinued operations and filed for bankruptcy," Attorney General Harvey said. "These financial companies, which bought long-term service agreements from NorVergence, also were affected by NorVergence's actions."

"I want to acknowledge these financial service companies for working with us to provide relief to the former NorVergence customers," Director Ricketts said. "We're continuing to work with other financing companies that bought lease agreements from NorVergence so additional New Jersey consumers obtain relief."

NorVergence, which was based in Newark, sold and resold telecommunications services as integrated packages, including local and long distance telephone, cellular telephone and high-speed internet access. NorVergence primarily marketed its services to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations that did not have in-house counsel or technology personnel who could properly evaluate what was being offered.

Customers were told that they could save up to 60 percent compared to their current service providers over the term of the NorVergence contract, which was typically five years.

Under the settlements with Consumer Affairs, the seven financial service companies also agreed to assist consumers in resolving any adverse credit reports resulting from unpaid NorVergence balances. Late fees or penalties and property insurance charges also will be forgiven.

"We believe the settlement is a fair and equitable arrangement for everyone who has been damaged by the Norvergence matter," Wells Fargo Financial spokesman Steve Carlson said in a statement.

New Jersey Attorney General Harvey announced January 12,2005, that General Electric Capital Corp and CIT Technology Financial Services agreed to forgive the majority ( nearly $8 million )of payments owed by 525 customers, more than one-third of the roughly 1,450 NorVergence customers in New Jersey. GE has agreed to forgive $3.57 million owed by 270 New Jersey customers. CIT has agreed to forgive $4.36 million owed by 255 New Jersey customers.

Meanwhile, Federal Trade Commission Top Equipment Leasing Dragon Slayer attorney Randy Brook is scheduled at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 18 th to ask Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise, where the FTC is asking for forgiveness of $181,721,914 as the liquidated damages of NorVergence leasing contracts.

“As calculated by the FTC after subtracting from the total consumer Injury the cancellation of indebtedness for rental agreements that will be cancelled by this case, the judgment among is $181,721,914.”

Although the likelihood of collecting that amount is low; perhaps echoing the states attorney general's judgment in Illinois, Massachusetts, and Texas to void the leasing contracts. The legal jurisdiction and other matters are certainly to be appealed, if granted, as many attorneys believe the move is more posturing, perhaps even “pressure”, to bring the leasing companies to the table.

The FTC has accused Norvergence of deceiving customers about the cost savings it could deliver; law enforcement authorities also are investigating the case. The questions still linger about the involvement of 46 leasing companies and their ethical and legal responsibilities.

These companies specialize in "C" and "D" credits, often news businesses, or businesses where the principal(s) have Beacon score around 600 or previous difficulties; meaning to become comfortable with the credit and financial situation you need to learn the "story" to make a positive decision, often requiring further security, shorter term, or additional guarantors. Many of these companies may also be a "B," but appear otherwise without the "story" to understand the full financial picture.

(To qualify for this list, the company must be a lessor and not a broker or superbroker, along with an acceptable Better Business Bureau Rating and no history of complaints at Leasing News. We reserve the right to not list a company who does not meet these qualifications.)

(A) Pawnee Leasing Corporation; Some times we go higher than $30,000, but our marketplace is from $1,000 to $30,000.

(D) ABCO Leasing, Inc. in Seattle area has been operating since 1974 serving the broker community. We required full financial disclosure on every transaction. We do story transaction, but do not like to refer to them as "C" of "D" credits. We think of therm as "A" type credits that have not been discovered yet. In actuallity, we do not really like to look at what most describes as "D" credits.

(E) Black Rock Capital comment: We book anywhere between $15 to 20 million per year. We do no "app only" business and require a full financial package for each transaction. Our average size transaction is approximately $250k and, although, we concentrate in printing, packaging (steel rule die industry) and road construction equipment we do not rule out anything that makes sense. More information can be found at www.blackrockcapital.com.

(F) Black Rock Capital (Ireland) Limited and Black Rock Capital (UK) Limited provide the same services for small to middle market corporations in the European Economic Community and the United Kingdom.

(G) Cobra Capital, LLC. Comments: Our registered trademark "Making impossible possible" is our central marketing tagline for both strong and weak credits. I have developed a 10 year history, (from Cobra and my prior company GALCO), with specialty, non-conforming transactions (story credits) and have a solid reputation for candidly responding to our originators and lessees and working diligently to mitigate deal risk rather than making excuses to turn deals down. Our originators prefer our underwriting approach to non-conforming transactions since unlike most non-conforming funders, we prefer to mitigate risk versus jacking our return. Both Originators and Lessee's prefer our candid approach as we are also frequently asked to advise lessee's and lessors on the best way to structure their bank loans and raise capital due to our 25+ year banking and accounting backgrounds as my partner and I are both former bankers and CPA's.
| Partners Bio | LaSalle Bank Reference | Cole Taylor Bank Reference |

(H) Pentech is the lessor partner with Manifest Funding Services for their Navigator, Navigator Plus & Navigator Direct. This is through our sister company Pentech Funding Services, located in San Diego and headed up by Ron Wagner.

(I) Sunrise International Leasing Corporation Comment: The broker program is "...an informal program as our primary business is still vendor leasing."

(J) Boston Financial & Equity Corporation, most of our leases are venture capital backed startups and turnarounds. We require full financial disclosures, CPA and internal statements, no tax returns. We do not required additional collateral, no PG's or RE needed. Do not send deals with large tax liens, especially if they are payroll taxes.

(L) IFC Credit Corporation also services on a regular basis "A" and "B" credits, but it also considers "story credits." "As you say, we need to become comfortable with the credit and financial situation and learn the "story" to make a positive decision, often requiring further security, shorter term, or additional guarantors. I would describe the B and C type credits we fund as companies having 'checkered earnings'."

(M) Creative Capital Leasing Group: "We are able to fund tough deals, bad credits, BK's, past tax liens, start ups, used equipment, etc., because we look outside the transaction for real estate, and marketable securities to take as additional collateral."

(N) Blackstone Capital Partners, L.P. lends up to 50% of verified auction value for working capital and/or equipment financing requests (we of course include equipment to be acquired in our valuation). Using this formula, allows Blackstone to approve deals on the assets rather than the credit or cash flow that other lenders desire. Also being an asset lender, we are looking for hard assets i.e. yellow iron, machine tool, manufacturing lines, textile etc... We do not care for soft assets such as computers, furniture, restaurant, or "white elephants" (equipment that is too specific to the clients needs and was specially built for them - there would be no resell available and our liquidity if repossessed would be in jeopardy). If you have any questions, please feel free to call, we will do our best to help or seek the answer for you.

(O) Bankers Capital " We will do ANY Type of Equipment, in ANY industry, in ANY state. We especially like 6-figure transactions with full financial packages no matter how good or bad they look. We look to structure the story C&D credits with any kind of additional collateral that makes sense. It could be with 2nd or 3rd mortgages on residential or commercial Real Estate, additional equipment, cash value life insurance, security deposits, vendor agreements. We look for any way to make the deal work instead of looking for any way to decline the deal."

(P) Financial Pacific Leasing supports a nationwide network of Brokers and Lessors. We specialize in "B" and "C" credits for established companies as well as companies under two years in business.

SFBI Recruiters

Need:
- Need fast turn around?
- Need a base salary and a good comp plan?
- Do you need competitive rates ?
- Need personalized expert service for   your vendors?
- Sales Reps w medical leasing vendors   needed nationally.
- Sales Reps w Specialty Trucking vendors   needed nationally!

Contact: Fred St Laurent, SFBI Professional Recruiting. Email: Fred@sfbirecruiter.com

www.sfbirecruiter.com

Wanted: Energetic, self-motivated outside sales professional in Pacific NW.
For full job description go to http://www.dolsenleasing.com/Careers.cfm

In business since 1958, DLC is an independent funding source servicing the $10K-250K market in 11 western states.

www.dolsenleasing.com

Tax Manager

Tax Manager

Seeking Tax Manager for Marshall, MN Headquarters. Responsible for management of USBancorp small ticket leasing division for a multi - billion dollar portfolio including oversight of compliance with all sales, use, rental, property, excise and miscellaneous taxes pertaining to the business of leasing. Four-year college/ university degree; or 2-4 years related work exp. and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

For complete description and application, click here.

www.usbank.com

The Gainey Ranch Golf Club in sunny Scottsdale, AZ on July 14 from 11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. PDT for the Integrity Selling Seminar and Luncheon featuring Debbie Irving.

$35 for Registration, click here for form
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday August 2 nd , Phoenix Arizona
Arizona Equipment Leasing Association
Meeting and Networking:
Pizzeria Uno 4:30 P.M.

· Arizona Center
· 455 N 3 rd St .
· Phoenix AZ 85004
Followed by:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. the Houston Astros
BOB 6:40 P.M.

Our 4th Annual Angel Game Night
Take me out to the Ball Game!
Date: Wednesday August 3rd, 2005
Time: 7:05 PM (Anaheim Angels vs. Baltimore Orioles)
Place: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California

Company Employees are invited to attend. Family and Friends are welcome!
Non-members welcome, too.

Reserve your tickets today by emailing Kim at the UAEL Office: kim@uael.org. Or please contact Kim at 760-564-2227. Please RSVP by July 23rd, 2005.

-this is an association of companies who have
gotten together to not only present their programs
but to provide a forum to instruct and education
those who submit leases to funding sources---

"It's being held the same day as the 4th Annual Angel Game Night - Take me out to the Ball Game! Brokers can attend the workshop during the day, attend the ball game at night. Initial response has been excellent. In the past we have had anywhere from 15 to 35 brokers attend our "free lunch" but we're expecting over 100 brokers to attend this workshop. Space is limited and that's why we're encouraging reservations."
Norm Malkowiski

An Equipment Leasing Broker Workshop - August 3, 2005
Location: Experian Building, Costa Mesa, California

Mesa Leasing has been sponsoring lunch meeting for all equipment leasing brokers in southern California for over 2 years. The meetings have helped to educate each of us about what is going on in our industry locally. It has also opened eyes to new opportunities through the sharing of knowledge. This workshop continues that effort to educate and offer new opportunities to brokers within the industry.

The enclosed flyer provides a brief overview of the “workshop” Mesa Leasing is producing. The workshop is designed to offer brokers insight into a market niche we and other Funding sources target – C & D Credits. Several funding Sources have committed to attend the workshop and share with the brokers what is necessary to put more money in their pocket.

The workshop consists of 2 specific areas of interest. First, each Funding Source is helping to sponsor this workshop. They will have a designated area where several brokers can meet and discuss the niche served by a specific lender. Brokers will learn what special areas of interest each source might have. Brokers will share in the knowledge gained by the questions asked by other brokers at the table. Brokers will come prepared with questions and a willingness to share.

The second part of the workshop involves a 20 to 30 minute presentation by each funding source to those of interest. In a classroom environment, each Funding Source will present their program and educate the Brokers as to how to generate more business with them.

Brokers are encouraged to come prepared to discuss specific applications they may have had turned down by other funding sources. Perhaps they may walk out with an approval turning that “turn-down” into income.

This workshop will be of special interest to brokers “on the street”. They will learn what questions to ask – the first time you meet with the customer!

Space is limited! Brokers are encouraged to reserve their spot- NOW! There is a small cost of $10 to the Broker. But when one considers the information obtained, and that lunch is included, this is an excellent workshop. Brokers don’t want to miss an opportunity never before available in southern California.

Norm Malkowski
Mesa Leasing, Inc.
"Funding Sub-Prime Credits in California"
4180 Ruffin Road, #205
San Diego, CA 92123
858-541-1002 Phone
858-541-1006 Fax
619-743-7111 Mobil

WHEN: Wednesday August 10, 2005 at 7:05 PM|
WHERE: Coors Field at the Owner's Box
HOW MUCH: $35.00 Per person
Please remit payments to Kim at UAEL
78120 Calle Estado, Ste 201
La Quinta, CA 92253
760-564-2227
INCLUDES: Ticket to owners box, food and beverages.
For more information please contact:
Scott Woodring at Pawnee Leasing # 970-482-2556 ext 255
or
Skep Wehner at BSB Leasing # 800-945-3372 ext 334

November 4-5
Eastern Regional Meeting
National Association of Equipment Brokers Atlanta, Georgia

Lessors.com John Semon replaces Randy Jackson as one of the three judges for the popular television show “American Idol.”

The American Idols Live tour is hitting the road this weekend, just in time as the early registrations for the Lessors.Com Atlanta, Georgia registration is closing today.

One of the hottest shows ever is back for another great tour. Come check out your favorite Idols live and in person. Meet John Semon,

FRI 7/15 Birmingham, AL BJCC Arena
SAT 7/16 Duluth, GA The Arena at Gwinnett Center
SUN 7/17 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
TUE 7/19 Reading, PA Sovereign Center
WED 7/20 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
FRI 7/22 E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena
SAT 7/23 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum
SUN 7/24 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
TUE 7/26 Wilkes-Barre, PA Wachovia Arena
WED 7/27 Washington, DC MCI Center
FRI 7/29 Hartford, CT Hartford Civic Center
SAT 7/30 Worcester, MA DCU Center
SUN 7/31 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
TUE 8/2 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center
WED 8/3 Columbus, OH Value City Arena at Schottenstein
THU 8/4 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
SAT 8/6 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
MON 8/8 Chicago, IL United Center
TUE 8/9 St. Louis, MO Savvis Center
WED 8/10 Norman, OK Lloyd Noble Center
SAT 8/13 Grand Prairie, TX NOKIALive at Grand Prairie
SUN 8/14 San Antonio, TX SBC Center
TUE 8/16 Glendale, AZ Glendale Arena
WED 8/17 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
THU 8/18 Las Vegas, NV Thomas & Mack Center
SAT 8/20 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
SUN 8/21 Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena
TUE 8/23 Everett, WA Everett Events Center
WED 8/24 Portland, OR Rose Garden
FRI 8/26 Salt Lake City, UT Delta Center
SUN 8/28 DesMoines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
TUE 8/30 Green Bay, WI Resch Center
WED 8/31 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
FRI 9/2 Albany, NY Pepsi Arena
SAT 9/3 Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena
SUN 9/4 Norfolk, VA Constant Convocation Center
TUE 9/6 East Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena
WED 9/7 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum
THU 9/8 Providence, RI Dunkin Donuts Center
FRI 9/9 Portland, ME Cumberland County Civic Center
SAT 9/10 Syracuse, NY War Memorial at Oncenter

Mr. Semon's past services as president and chairman of The Association for Governmental Leasing & Finance, a member of the Equipment Leasing Association's "Municipal Forum", co-founder and chairman of the Jurassic Lessors Association and as an industry spokesperson for the United States Congress have provided additional critical experience and national acceptance as a speaker, author and industry advocate. He is also a well known country and western singer, plus song writer, best known for “I knew the deal was dead when he didn't sign the check,” and “Kiss me quick, because I have to go out and sign a lease.”

The Lessors Network Annual Showcase on August 24-25 from the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference is unique because it has:

The Lessors Network provides a showcase for every Attendee's company, product and service. That is how we produce the most productive networking events in the equipment leasing industry!

Attendees bring a supply of their Attendee Profiles (view samples below) providing detailed description of their company, products, services and important contact data, for free distribution from designated exhibit tables in the Networking Suite.

As Attendees pick up their badges they are provided a Showcase Book (three ring binders) with conference agenda, speaker bios, attendee list, etc. The Showcase Book is also used to collect copies of Attendee Profiles from other Attendees. At the end of the event rather than returning home with just an attendee list, you'll have a binder full of important resources and contact data.

Top 100 Wine Brands in USA Restaurants Unveiled by Restaurant Wine Magazine (Wines are mostly crap.editor)

What: RARE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
EIGHT RENOWNED SONOMA WOMEN
WINEMAKERS AT LUNCHEON AND TASTING

SUNDAY AUGUST 7, 2005
12:30 5:00pm
ATWOOD RANCH, HWY 12, SONOMA VALLEY

1912-Birthday of Woodrow Wilson “ Woody” Guthrie, American folksinger, song writer (“This Land is Your Land,” “Union Maid, “ “Hard Traveling,”) born at Okemah, OK. Traveled the country by freight train singing and listening. Died Oct. 3, 1967 at New York, NY. Father of singer Arlo Guthrie.

CHORUS: This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York island
From the Redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I was walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me
I roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps
O'er the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
While all around me, a voice was saying
This land was made for you and me
When the sun came shining and I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
As the fog was lifting, a voice was chanting
This land was made for you and me
As I went walking, I saw a sign there
On the sign it said NO TRESPASSING
But on the other side it didn't say nothing
That side was made for you and me!
In the squares of the city, in the shadow of the steeple
In the relief office, I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking that freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me

    1771-Mission San Antonio De Padua founded.
http://www.pelicannetwork.net/mission.san.antonio.htm
http://www.classbrain.com/artmission/publish/article_3.shtml
http://www.missionsanantoniopadua.com/
    1773 The first annual conference of the Methodist Church in America convened at St.George's Church in Philadelphia, PA.
    1798—Tax was levied by Congress directly on the states on a direct pro rata tax basis, authority by act of July 14, 1798. It was levied on dwellings, land, and slaves. The amount to be collected was $2 million, which was apportioned to the states in direct ratio to the population.
    1862- Florence Bascom birthday - U.S. geologist. FB was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. degree from any U.S. university (John Hopkins) and was instrumental in making Bryn Mawr a major center for geology as its longtime, much revered professor. She was the first woman to be elected a fellow of the Geological Society of America. Her domestic partner Julia Anna Gardner (b. 01-26-1882) was also a geologist who did important work in economic geology and assisted in the strategic planning efforts of WWII.
http://geoclio.st.usm.edu/fbascom.html
http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/100import/bascom.html
http://www.kacee.org/compendium/Florence_Bascom/biography-bascom.html
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/GG/fga56.html
    1864-Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest suffers his biggest defeat when Union General Andrew J. Smith routs his force in Tupelo, Mississippi. The battle came just a month after the Battle of Brice's Crossroads, in which Forrest engineered a brilliant victory over a larger Union force from Memphis that was designed to keep him from threatening General William T. Sherman's supply lines in Tennessee. Hoping to neutralize Forrest, Sherman sent Smith's expedition to destroy Forrest and his cavalry. Smith left LaGrange, Tennessee, on June 22 with 14,000 troops. Forrest and his cavalry were part of a 10,000-man force commanded by General Stephen Lee, but Forrest and Lee shared command responsibilities. Forrest's strategy at Tupelo was similar to his tactics at the Battle of West Point, Mississippi, five months earlier. In both battles, Forrest used part of his force to entice the Yankees into a trap. The plan worked well at West Point, but in Tupelo Smith did not take the bait. Instead of driving right at Forrest, Smith dug his troops in around Tupelo. Lee and Forrest were uneasy about attacking the Yankees, but they agreed to try to drive Smith out of Mississippi. The assault began on the morning of July 14. Smith's Union troops were in an ideal position for fending off an attack. The Confederates had to fight uphill across nearly a mile of open terrain. Lee struck one flank and Forrest struck the other. Poor communication ruined the Rebels' coordination, and after three hours they had not breached the Union line. Although Lee was the ranking Confederate, he had offered Forrest command of the battle. Forrest declined, but assigning blame for the defeat is difficult. Union losses stood at 674, while Forrest and Lee lost over 1,300 soldiers.
http://www.civilwarhome.com/natbio.htm
http://ngeorgia.com/people/forrest.html
http://www.blueshoenashville.com/history.html
    1868 - The tape measure was patented by Alvin J. Fellows of New Haven, Connecticut
    1891-African-American John Standard, inventor, receives patent for his improvement on the refrigerator.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bljohnstandard.htm
    1892-- The Baptist Young People's Union held its first national convention in Detroit. The founding of the BYP Union was inspired by the earlier work of Francis E. Clark, a Congregational pastor who founded the first 'modern' youth fellowship in 1881.
    1896-Los Angeles had its greatest 24 hour July rainfall with .24
    1903 -- Novelist Irving Stone born, San Francisco, Ca.
http://www.answers.com/topic/irving-stone
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/Irving_Stone.htm
    1912-Birthday of Woodrow Wilson “ Woody” Guthrie, American folksinger, song writer (“This Land is Your Land,” “Union Maid, “ “Hard Traveling,”) born at Okemah, OK. Traveled the country by freight train singing and listening. Died Oct. 3, 1967 at New York, NY. Father of singer Arlo Guthrie.
http://www.cooper.edu/~george/born2win.html
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wwghtml/wwghome.html
CHORUS: This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York island
From the Redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I was walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me
I roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps
O'er the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
While all around me, a voice was saying
This land was made for you and me
When the sun came shining and I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
As the fog was lifting, a voice was chanting
This land was made for you and me
As I went walking, I saw a sign there
On the sign it said NO TRESPASSING
But on the other side it didn't say nothing
That side was made for you and me!
In the squares of the city, in the shadow of the steeple
In the relief office, I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking that freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me
    1913-Birthday of Gerald Ford, 38 th President of the United States(1974-77) Born Leslie King at Omaha, NE. Ford became 41 st vice president of the US on December 6, 1973, by appointment, following the resignation of Spiro T. Agnew from that office on October 10,1973. Ford became president on August 9,1974, following the resignation from that office on the day of Richard M. Nixon. He was the first nonelected vice president and president of the US.
    1918-Birthday Jay Forrester, a pioneer in computer memory. Forrester studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he later became a professor and researcher. In 1945, he founded MIT's Digital Computer Laboratory and helped build an early digital computer called the "Whirlwind I." His work at the lab made him realize that existing information storage techniques were slow and, even worse, unreliable. In 1949, he developed a way to use a magnetic cell to store information. The random-access magnetic core memory became a central feature of most digital computers. Forrester later applied computer science to management problems, creating computer simulations of real world problems in manufacturing and other processes/
    1921 -- Sacco and Vanzetti case goes to the jury. At 7:30 in the evening the jury returns its verdict: both are both found guilty of murder in the first degree. Their long years of appeals & massive protests world-wide, begins.
    1923-birthday of Frances Lear, U.S. publisher of Lear Magazine for "the woman who wasn't born yesterday." It failed. It cost her $25 million of the estimated $100-112 million she received as a divorce settlement from her partner-husband Norman Lear, producer of two of TV's biggest hits, All in the Family and Maude, the latter allegedly based on Frances Lear's life as a businesswoman and a feminist activist.
    1929-Birthday of Alan Dawson drums, Marietta PA
http://members.sockets.net/~dcowsley/musicians/
WilderHaggartDawson.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/cgi-bin/membership/suspended?
member_name=mac/keepitlive
    1934 --116ø F (47ø C), Orogrande, New Mexico (state record)
    1936-- 116ø F (47ø C), Collegeville, Indiana (state record)
    1942 - It was their last duet together for Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly when they recorded "Brazil" with the Jimmy Dorsey band.
    1943-The first national monument dedicated to an African-American was the George Washington Carver National Monument, authorized this day, officially established June 14,1951, and dedicated on July 14,1953. It consists of 210 acres about 2.5 miles southwest of Diamond in Newton County, MO. It is administered by the National Park Service.
http://www.nps.gov/gwca/
http://www.coax.net/people/LWF/carver.htm
http://www.nationalparks.com/george_washington_carver_national_
monument/facilities.htm
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/national_parks/
washington_carver_area98.pdf
    1947—Top Hits
Peg o' My Heart - The Harmonicats
I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder - Eddy Howard
Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba - Perry Como
Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) - Tex Williams
    1948 -- The New Yorker publishes J. D. Salinger's intriguing short story of infidelity & self-deception, "Pretty Mouth & Green My Eyes."
    1951-Citation, winner of the 1949 Triple Crown, became the first horse to pass the $1 million mark in career earnings by winning the Hollywood Gold Cub, after which the colt was retired. Citation raced 45 times, won $1,085,76--- and finished out of the money only once.
    1955 - The film version of Mister Roberts, starring Henry Fonda and James Cagney, opened in New York. Jack Lemmon later won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the movie received a nomination for Best Picture.
    1955—Top Hits
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
Learnin' the Blues - Frank Sinatra
Hard to Get - Giselle Mackenzie
A Satisfied Mind - Porter Wagoner
    1957 - On CBS radio, comedian Stan Freberg presented a new, weekly, comedy program. Though Freberg was well known for certain radio commercials, he was a late comer to the radio program race. Television was blamed for the short life of The Freberg show.
    1957 - On CBS radio, comedian Stan Freberg presented a new, weekly, comedy program. Though Freberg was well known for certain radio commercials, he was a late comer to the radio program race. Television was blamed for the short life of The Freberg show.
    1962- "Roses Are Red (My Love)" by Bobby Vinton topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.
    1963—Top Hits
Easier Said Than Done - The Essex
Surf City - Jan & Dean
Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport - Rolf Harris
Act Naturally - Buck Owens
    1967- Eddie Mathews of the Houston Astros hit the 500 th home run of his career of Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants. Houston beat the Giants, 8-6. Mathews played in the majors from 1952 through 1968 and finished w2ith 512 homers.
    1967 -- Steve Miller Blues Band & the Sunshine Company concert at California Hall in San Francisco.
    1968-Henry Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit the 500 th home run of his career, connecting off lefthander Mike McCormick of the San Francisco Giants. Aaron ended his career as baseball's home run champ with 755 round trippers to his credit.
    1968 -- Bill Graham leaves the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco to take over the Carousel Ballroom. Electric Flag & Blue Cheer closed out performances at the Fillmore at Geary & Fillmore streets.
    1971—Top Hits
It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move - Carole King
Indian Reservation - Raiders
You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
When You're Hot, You're Hot - Jerry Reed
    1976-The Democratic National Convention nominated Jimmy Carter for the presidency on the first ballot. The next day Sen. Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota was nominated for the vice presidency. November 2 he beat incumbent president Gerald Ford 40,828,929 to 39,148,940. He received 297 electoral votes to Ford's 297. The Democrats kept a 2-1 Senate majority, 61-38, with one seat going to an independent, and a House majority of 292-143.
    1979-"Bad Girls" by Donna Summer topped the charts and stayed there for 5 weeks.
    1979—Top Hits
Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
Bad Girls - Donna Summer
Chuck E.'s in Love - Rickie Lee Jones
Amanda - Waylon Jennings
    1981 - When the All-Star Game was postponed because due to a players strike that had lasted 33 days so far, about 15,000 fans showed up to boo the players, who were not there. The 52nd All-Star classic would not be held until August 9th, and would take place at the Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
    1985 - Baltimore clinched their second consecutive United States Football League championship when they defeated Oakland 28-24. The game was also they last of the league's spring schedule. All 14 teams totaled losses estimated at $63 million. When team owners refused to tally up any more financial losses, the USFL faded away. Plans for the league to resume in the fall of 1986 were never brought up.
    1987 - The All-Star Game had its second-longest game in history when it took the National League 13 innings to defeat the American League in a 2-0 shutout. Played in Oakland, California, the game lasted 3 hours, 39 minutes.
    1987 - The Directors Guild of America initiated a strike in Hollywood, California, against Warner Brothers and Columbia Pictures at 6:00 a.m. At 6:05 a.m. on the same day, a film and television contract of agreement was reached, putting an end to the shortest strike in Hollywood history.
    1987—Top Hits
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
Shakedown - Bob Seger
Songbird - Kenny G
All My Ex's Live in Texas - George Strait
    1987-- Lt Col Oliver North concludes 6 days of Congressional testimony.
Gore was not on the Senate committee, and Lt. North did not name Ossma Bin Linden
http://pages.tias.com/18/PictPage/1921386614.html
http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/usa/oliver-north/
    1995-Big heat wave in the central and eastern U.S. with all time highs at Chicago/Midway with 106, La Crosse, WI with 108
    1995-Boston, MA and Burlington, VT both hit 100 F.
    1995-South Bend, IN at 100 and Toledo, OH at 104 set all-time highs.
    2000-- A report presented to owners, The Commissioner's Initiative: Women and Baseball, finds women make up 46 percent of the average crowd at a big league game and urges major league franchises to make more of an effort to market to women patrons. According to the same report forty-three percent of women could not name a player on their home team's roster.

The slugger keeps something in his bag,
The dark green canvas one that he lugs
To practices and games alike, carrying
His glove separately and his cap on his head
And his cleats already laced tightly.
There is something else that he keeps
In the bag that sits with him on the bench,
That he places carefully in the corner
When he takes the field and checks it
First when he clomps back in.

Everyone has seen him unzip
The long zipper across the top and
Reach inside for something, then pull
His huge hand back without powder
On it or anything sticky. When
Whatever it is moves around, it does
Not create the bulging straight lines
Of books or notebooks. From the way
He carries the bag, it does not appear
To be heavy; in fact, several players
Have discreetly checked the weight,
Jiggling it like a Christmas present.

The slugger is friendly, even to rookies,
And earns his magnanimous salary
Over and over, but he has this green
Canvas bag with something in it
That worries us all.

Written by Tim Peeler
“Waiting for Godot's First Pitch”
More Poems from Baseball
Published by McFarland and Company