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“Is he a criminal attorney?”
“Yes, very.”
Headlines---
Classified
Ads-- Leasing Industry Attorneys
RW Professional Leasing Trial Continues
"What
Lessors Are Saying About...."
One
in Four IT Jobs Will Go Overseas by 2010
Attleboro
Man Sentenced For $570,000 Computer Theft Scheme
eCredit/The
Credit Exchange Strategic Alliance
Yahoo
Magazine Top Ten Useful Internet Sites
######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press
release”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
About the Company: Balboa Capital. 2010 Main Street 11th Floor Irvine, CA. 92614 www.balboacapital.com |
Classified
Ads-- Leasing Industry Attorneys
California - statewide:
CA
"ELA"
5-attorney creditors
rights law firm, in biz 25 yrs +, specialize all aspects of creditor representation.
Primarily represent equipment lessors & funders,plus collection and
creditor rep. in bankruptcy. Email:phemar@hemar.com
California - statewide:
Encino, CA.
"ELA"
24 Attorney AV-rated
Lawfirm representing the Leasing Industry for over 25 Years. We specialize
in Lease-enforcement, collection and representation in Bankruptcy Court.
email:sjenkins@hemar-rousso.com
Connecticut, Southern
New England: EVANS, FELDMAN & BOYER, LLC Collections, litigation,
documentation, portfolio sales and financing, bankruptcy. We represent
many of the national and local leasing companies doing business in this
state. Past chairman EAEL legal committee. Competitive rates. email: rcfeldman@snet.net
EAEL
Law Firm - Service,
Dallas, TX. ELA
Mayer regularly practices
in leasing, secured financing, project development and finance and corporate
finance.
email: dmayer@pattonboggs.com
Los Angeles, Statewide:
CA. "ELA"
Aggressive creditors
rights law firm specializing in equipment leasing handling collection
matters on a contingency, fixed fee or hourly basis. email:RGarwacki@prodigy.net
Los Angeles -statewide:
CA
"ELA "
Practice limited to
collections, bankruptcy and problem accounts resolution. Decades of experience.
10-lawyer firm dedicated to serving you. Call Ronald Cohn, Esq. (818)591-
2121 or email. Email: rrcohn@aol.com
National: http://www.leaselawyer.com/
Full staff of attorneys
and legal assistants work with Group Leader Barry S. Marks to ensure prompt,
cost-effective responses to client needs: Email:bsm@blik.com
National: Coston
& Lichtman: Business attorneys serving the lease-finance industry
since 1980. Transactional, documentation, corporate; workouts, litigation,
bankruptcy. Chicago & Florida offices. Jim Coston, CLP (Members: ELA/UAEL/MAEL)
email: Jcoston@costonlaw.com
Northern California
- Statewide: CA "EAEL" "ELA" San Francisco now
affiliated with Cornerstone Law Group; practice limited to equipment leasing
and finance with 22 years experience, testimonials. Ken Greene, Esq. Vox:
415 461 3777 keng@kengreenelaw.comkeng@kengreenelaw.com
NY Metro and National:
Hackensack, NY
Attorney specializing
in equipment lease matters for at least 10 years with a 50-State operating
network of attorneys experienced in leasing matters. Email:wuscher@uqur.com "ELA"
If you are an attorney and belong to an equipment leasing association,
you may join the Attorneys and law firms who specialize in the leasing
industry, and are looking for
clients to represent---free ad.
In addition, it is
helpful to those looking for representation out of
their area.
http://64.125.68.90/LeasingNews/PostingFormAttorney.htm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_____________________________________________________
RW Professional LeasingTrial Continues
by Christopher Menkin
“Hello: We had our
first court appearance cancelled when the lawyers for First Sierra/American Express Business Finance received our Affidavits
and realized that we would use
the same list of witnesses they listed as their witnesses! Is there any way do you think, that American Express knew
about Barry Drayer's modeus operandi and were aware at the start of doing
"business" with him that his prior
actions with Old Kent might happen again and that even an agreement to see that they were able to get the
short change and the smaller community
banks would get the bigger screw job was
in existence?
“I mean do you think
that Barry Drayer had an agreement with
someone in American Express to
work with them on that "deal" when things went sour? It seems
like there are a lot of relationships within the industry that RW Professional
Leasing was working and I just wonder how guilty American Express is,
I think they were a part of the scheme, anyway to find out?”
Name With Held
Readers familiar with
this story know our last up-date was for a jury to be selected for trial
on April 12,2004.
From the List:
(6/2002) 40 FBI agents raided the offices
and arrested Barry and Rochelle, Roger and Jennifer Drayer. The investigation
found $6.5 Million of fraud. Prosecutors said that the company, the RW
Professional Leasing Corporation, concocted elaborate schemes using up
to 100 rented mailboxes as far away as California to send phony checks,
sham invoices, bogus leases and other false documents to banks in various
states. Based on those documents, the banks lent RW millions of dollars
to buy equipment and lease it out, prosecutors said. The schemes included
multiple loans from different banks for the same medical equipment and
loans for equipment that was never bought or leased, prosecutors said.
For readers who need more of the details, here is the information
from our web site: “Bad Boys.”
Here is a three part series on the
full story:
Take
the Money and Run:
Part I: http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/moneyandrun1.htm
Part II: http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/moneyandrun2.htm
Part III: http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/moneyandrun3.htm
Other
Articles on RW Professional Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/RW_stories.htm
First, to answer the
reader’s question: No, I don’t think American Express has made any deals
with Barry or Rochelle Drayer Bresser, his sister ( she was president,
not he, for many legal reasons.)
Whether Drayer will
put an “Old Kent,” trading money and information,
don’t think that is
going to happen this time. Is
he going to pull a
“Terrell Owens,” don’t
think so. Age is catching up with
him, whether
he admits it or not.
His “fans” write Leasing
News:
“Trust me--not a day
in jail and you can take that to the bank. Barry Drayer is one of the
smartest and most savvy guys I have ever met.
Why do you think he asked for a jury trial??? Barry did not do
anything illegal, he just told AT&T that their reports sucked and
he would not honor his recourse agreement and in hindsight--he was right.”
“Barry Drayer, at best
will serve "time confined". He will NEVER serve a day in an
actual jail since he is too smart. Think about it----Barry in front of
12 jurors who know nothing about the finance business explaining how he
could never defraud a company like First Sierra or American Express as
a small broker selling paper to the giant funding source.
Worse---American Express has to stand in front of the jury and
admit how dumb they were in buying First Sierra with all its problems. They will never do this. Last, but not least,
who is left to testify against him from the old recourse group at First
Sierra or for that matter--Old Kent or the community banks. Hell---if
I were Barry, I would be suing American Express for damages and unlawful
confinement. Never a day--trust me. He may be back in business in six
months.”
First, Fitch yesterday
gave the Sierra Cities portfolio high marks:
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/March%202004/03-22-04.htm#fitch
Second, in the stories
about RW Professional Leasing written along
with Charlie Lester,
there are three witnesses still alive who can
be brought forward
to testify about the Old Kent deal. And
they
tell Leasing News,
they want to testify.
More importantly, American Express is not playing games. August
19,2002, they filed a $20 million suit in the Southern District of Texas
against RW Professional Leasing Corp and both Barry M. Drayer and Rochelle
(Drayer) Bresser. October 17,2002 the “...defts’ motion for a protective
order staying all discovery in the case is GRANTED; that the stay is in
effect only until the resolution of the criminal proceedings against the
defts. That the pltff may move to vacate the stay
if changes in circumstances so warrant.
This was recently reviewed,
specifically on 3/11/2004
by Arthur D. Spatt, presiding judge in the
main case.
In addition, there
is the case of $1,100,000 and the charge of “Racketeering (RICO) act brought
by the Crawford & Sons, Profit Sharing Plan along with over 15 banks
as plaintiff, plus several
other independent bank
cases for the similar offense.
Leasing News will bring
you the latest filings on this matter in
this article, but for
those For those who can gain access to court records, which are public
knowledge, try:
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Central Islip)
Criminal Docket for
Case#: 2:02-cr-00767-ADS-ALL
Case title: USA v RW
Professional, et al
filed 6/27/02
Here are highlights
of the “Pending Counts:”
“...the defendants
did knowingly and intentionally conspire to execute,
attempt to execute
a scheme and artifice to defraud financial institutions...the defendants
did knowingly and intentionally execute, attempt to execute a scheme and
artifice to defraud Alliance Bank...Northwest Bank...money laundering-Interstate
Commerce...loan and credit applications generally and forfeiture allegation....(There
are 14 pages followed with bail at $750,000 secured by “...properties
owned by deft’s son and son’s wife, and $50,000 cash...also, electronic
monitoring...home detention ...Rochelle Besser...$750,000 secured by 3
properties. Two belonging to the dft and her husband and brother in Minnesota...subject
to home detention with electronic monitoring with the following condition:
work, religious, medical, and visit her son Bradley Simon...”)
In the latest round,
it appears the Orange County brokers who allegedly handled the over 100
mail boxes and helped in the
“Ponzi” payment scheme
are about to be served, called, and perhaps
some of the other people
named in the suit have made plea bargains.
“Letter from Geoffry
Kaiser dtd 12/17/03 to All counsel. Re: to disclose fraudulent loans that
the govt. intends to prove at trial(see letter from
list) (Monero,Edher)
“MINUTE ENTRY as to
Payaddi Shivashankar(7) Case before Jude Wall on 2/24/04 @ 11:13 a.m.
for Criminal Cause for Pleading. Dft
Shivashankar present in custody with CIA counsel Edward Jenks. Govt Geoffrey
Kaiser CD 4-3. Dft enters plea of GUILTY to Count One (of a seven Count)
Superseding Indictment. Sentencing
set for 6/25/04 @ 9:30 a.m. before Judge Spatt. Dft remains in custody. Magistrate Judge wall recommends that the District
Court accept the guilty plea.(Coleman/Laurie)”
“ARREST Warrant Issued
by Michael L. Orenstein as to Stephen Barker(Signed by Judge Michael L.
Orenstein, on 3/04/04). (Coleman,Laurie)”
“ARREST Warrant Issued
by Michael L. Orenstein as to Myrna Katz (Signed by Michael L. Orenstein
on 3/04/04) (Coleman,Laurie)”
“INDICTMENT as to RW
Professional Leasing Services Corp.(1)count(s) 1ss,2ss-3ss,4ss-6ss, Rochelle
Besser(2) count(s) 1ss,2ss-3ss, 4ss-56ss,7ss, 9ss, Barry Drayer (3) count(s)
1ss, 2ss-3ss, 4ss-6ss,7ss, Roger Drayer (4) counts) 1s, Adam Drayer(5)
count(s) 1s. Susan Cottrell(6) count(s) 1s, Myrna Katz(8)count(s), 1,8,9,
Stephen Barker(9)counts(s), 1,8 (Montereo, Edher.)
Credit and Documentation Administrator
|
About the Company: www.leasingpartnerscapital.com |
"What
Lessors Are Saying About… The Manufacturing/Industrial Equipment Leasing
Industry"
ELT Times
As the economy and
the equipment leasing
industry continue to
see improvement, special attention remains focused on
the manufacturing and
industrial sectors to see if the recover is “real”,
and what kind of indications
can be drawn about the U.S. industrial base.
ELA asked lessors what
they are seeing regarding strengths, weaknesses, and
activity in equipment
leasing for this critical industry segment.
Ronald Romain, United
Companies, responded, “The strength that our industry
brings is flexibility
with deal structure, residual value positions and
service. Few financial
service companies are able to offer the scope of
services typically
offered by our industry.” With regard to obstacles this
sector has to overcome,
he noted, “Challenges that we must meet today are
market pricing and
perceived size capabilities of some larger competitors.”
Romain believes that
in order to meet these challenges that the best tool
available is to communicate
loud and clear to United’s customers and
prospects on a frequent
basis. He further maintains that strong technology
capabilities “are a
must in today’s market.”
Lawrence Greer, Vision
Financial Group, Inc., responded, “We have begun to
see a marginal up-tick
in the amount of leases being proposed and funded to
this sector.” Greer
believes Vision Financial’s activity in this sector
mirrors the latest
surveys, which project further expansion. He added,
“Prior to this point
in time, this sector was on hold to some extent so the
positive move upward
is encouraging.”
Greer ties what he called the slow return of this sector to
prior neglect
on the part of U.S.
congressional leaders to provide sufficient tax
incentives to encourage
capital investment for this sector. He said, “While
it is not just the
refusal to bring back ITC, the fact that tax incentives
did, in fact, encourage
some investor to help fund a sale-leaseback on
transit facilities
in Germany, the failure was that Congress missed the
boat so that investors
would be properly incanted and motivated to use the
available tax incentives
on projects that benefited those domestic industries most hurt
by economic slowdown.”
To meet the challenges facing the industry, Greer noted, “I
think that we
as an industry should
strengthen our political partnerships with the groups
who lobby on behalf
of the manufacturing and industrial companies, and
change the focus of
this nationwide debate from eliminating tax shelters to
rather enabling new
legislation that uses the tax laws in a positive
manner; to reward those
companies which provide the necessary capital to
fund growth and investment
in equipment that will retool companies in these
sectors.” He added
that industry resources should be pooled to find ways to
get government representatives,
law firms, investment bankers and leasing
professionals to focus
more on how to “pump up the U.S. domestic
manufacturing and industrial
equipment sector by ‘redirecting’ our current
legislative agenda.”
Pedro Wasmer, Somerset Capital Group, Ltd., responded that
his company
has traditionally generated
65 to 70 percent of its business from
information technology
equipment. Last year, however, about 58 percent of
its business was generated
from the industrial, manufacturing,
construction, and materials
moving equipment. This year, the vast majority
of Somerset Capital’s
opportunities are also in this space. Wasmer said,
“Since Somerset Capital
is a modest-size lessor, we may be perceiving the
impact of these types
of assets in our portfolio more dramatically than one
of our more substantial
industry brethren. However, from our perspective,
the aspects of our
economy that are dependent on these types of assets,
seem not only active,
but probably thriving.” He added, “The results of our
investments in this
equipment, with the occasional exception of material
moving assets, has
been very satisfactory. However, since leases for this
equipment are generally
of a longer term, the lack of IT assets balancing
our portfolio to its
traditional levels affects some of our residual
projections.”
Marc Keepman, KLC Financial, Inc., said his boutique shop
is very busy
now, but regarding
leasing deals in manufacturing and industrial equipment
he said, “It’s been
okay, but I’m glad it’s not the only thing we depend
on.” He finds that
sale-leaseback on installed equipment is a good tool for
this industry segment.
Though Keepman said prospective lessees are finding
rates higher than they
think they should be, and are often checking out
bank loan financing,
they come back to KLC for the sale-leaseback. He said,
“We’re writing sale-leasebacks
of installed equipment extending better
terms or longer terms
with better options.”
Bradley Brolsma, Merchants Capital Resources, Inc., sees a
number of
strengths in this market
segment, including pent-up demand for new
equipment as a result
of reluctance by manufacturers to commit to new
capital expenditures
during the past three years. He said, “In the global
economy where we now
find ourselves, manufacturers should be quite eager to
make new investments
in equipment that will improve productivity and
ultimately, their global
competitiveness.” He also cited the 50 percent
bonus depreciation
available on capital expenditures and low lease product
pricing due to historically
low interest rates and additional depreciation
benefits as additional
strengths.
Brolsma thought that
one of the biggest challenges in industrial and
manufacturing equipment
leasing is being able to overcome buyer anxiety
over committing to
new capital expenditures in an unproven economy. He
said, “It seems that
most everyone continues to question whether the recent
economic growth pronouncements
are truly indicative of a stable and
demand-driven economic
situation that's going to be around for a while.” He
also sees competitive
pricing pressures brought about by “a whole lot of
money chasing too few
deals.”
To respond to market
challenges, Brolsma called for lessors to exhibit a
real commitment to
discipline in approaching product pricing, in measuring
creditworthiness, and
most important, staying true to the organization's
values in conducting business.
One
in Four IT Jobs Will Go Overseas by 2010
Bank Technology News
According to a new
report from Gartner, one in four information technology jobs will shift
from developed countries to offshore centers by 2010. Gartner expects
to see a near-term slowdown due to negative publicity and the high rate
of failure among trendsetters, but it predicts that by 2005, 30 percent
of European firms will include off-shoring as part of their strategic
planning. The report states that India will be the biggest beneficiary
of the trend, with Russia, China and Eastern Europe also receiving significant
rewards. A Gartner representative says the potential cost advantages of
foreign outsourcing are so persuasive that companies that don’t consider
it “risk doing their shareholders a disservice.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#### Press Release
#############################
Attleboro Man Sentenced
For $570,000 Computer Theft Scheme, Reports U.S. Attorney
BOSTON, -- An Attleboro man was sentenced yesterday
in federal court for wire and mail fraud in connection with the leasing
of approximately $570,000 worth of computer equipment, defaulting on the
leases, and selling the leased computers to unsuspecting individual buyers.
United States Attorney
Michael J. Sullivan and Kenneth R. Jones, Postal Inspector In Charge of
the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in New England, announced today that
ABEL A. DADA, age 49, of 145 North Main Street, Attleboro, Massachusetts,
was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris to 5 years in prison,
to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The Court also ordered DADA to make restitution in the total amount
of $438,695 to the computer manufacturers and leasing companies he defrauded. DADA was convicted on October 8, 2003, by a
trial jury on seven counts of mail fraud and three counts of wire fraud.
Evidence presented
during the seven-day trial proved that DADA used a variety of business
names to enable himself to lease approximately $570,000 worth of computer
equipment. Some of the names used were of companies that
DADA had formed, such as E-Commerce Solutions and E- Computer Shoppers,
and some of the names were of existing companies, whose identities DADA
fraudulently assumed. DADA also
used a variety of aliases, including identities he stole, during the course
of the scheme. After leasing the
computers and receiving them from manufacturers including Hewlett-Packard,
Gateway, Dell, and IBM, DADA defaulted on the leases, and then sold the
equipment to individual buyers, primarily at computer shows in New Hampshire,
New York, and Southern Massachusetts.
The case was investigated
by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Massachusetts State Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys
Adam J. Bookbinder and Jonathan F. Mitchell in Sullivan's Economic Crimes
Unit.
SOURCE U.S. Attorney
### Press Release
################################
eCredit
and The Credit Exchange Announce Strategic Alliance
- Partnership Pairs
Leading Players in Business Credit to Deliver Improved
Service to Customer
Base -
DEDHAM, Mass., -- eCredit,
the leading provider of Web-based credit and collections automation applications,
today announced that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Scottsdale,
Ariz.-based The Credit Exchange (TCE), the premier supplier of industry
specific credit information for the trucking, air cargo, rail, fuel, waste
haulers and equipment manufacturing industries. The partnership is designed to deliver improved credit and collections
decision-making power to the companies' combined customer base.
As a result of the
alliance, companies who purchase eCredit nFusion, the most comprehensive
suite of credit and collections automation software available today, and
members of The Credit Exchange will be able to take advantage of the eCredit
Quick Start for TCE program. Under
this arrangement, companies will be able to quickly and inexpensively
implement automated credit decision processes based on TCE scores and
data requested electronically from other bureaus.
Once downloaded, this information and all other customer data used
in the decision process will be stored within nFusion in an electronic
file improving an analyst's ability to make future credit line enhancements
or conduct further investigation for that customer.
"We are extremely
excited by this new partnership with eCredit," said John Weiss, President
of The Credit Exchange. "More
so than any other player in the credit automation field, eCredit's products
will enhance the value of the services The Credit Exchange offers, and
we will now be able to better provide our customers unparalleled opportunity
to make rapid and informed credit decisions."
"As a joint customer
of eCredit and The Credit Exchange, the value of this partnership to us
is significant," said John Pomilio, Vice
President of Customer Financial Services at XTRA Lease. "The ability to process The Credit Exchange's
industry-leading and high-value data set using eCredit software allows
us to turn around customer credit decisions swiftly and effectively, and
improve the performance of our business on every level."
XTRA Lease, one of
the largest over-the-road trailer rental and leasing companies in North
America, has already taken advantage of the synergies created by eCredit
and The Credit Exchange by automating the electronic download of data
from The Credit Exchange's database directly into the Credit Module of
nFusion. Once the data is resident in nFusion, it is
then processed using the credit decision criteria XTRA Lease has automated
within the system, rendering quality credit decisions in a matter of seconds.
"This alliance
with The Credit Exchange represents an important step in our efforts to
grow revenue through channels and re-affirms our commitment to our partner
network," said Jeff Dickerson, President of eCredit.
"In addition, by allying ourselves with a vendor with such
deep expertise, we also improve our product capabilities and extend our
reach to deliver the most comprehensive and robust solution to companies
across a variety of vertical markets."
About eCredit
Since 1993, eCredit.com
has delivered credit risk management and collections software and services
to Fortune 1000 companies and financial institutions. The Company improves credit and collections decision-making practices
to deliver process efficiencies, optimized risk management, reduced operating
costs, and increased revenues. Included
among the Company's customers are ChevronTexaco, Cisco, CIT Group, Sun
Microsystems, and Ryder System, Inc. Headquartered in Dedham, Massachusetts, eCredit is an Internet Capital
Group (Nasdaq:ICGE) partner company with additional venture backing from
Apex Venture Partners and Sterling Venture Partners. For additional information, visit eCredit on
the Web at http://www.ecredit.com.
About The Credit Exchange
TCE, formerly the Transportation
Credit Exchange, was created in 1991 by credit industry veteran John Weiss.
TCE boasts a family of credit information services across a number
of vertical industries including Transportation, Leasing/Fuel, Waste Haulers,
Manufacturers of Waste Equipment, Aerospace, and most recent, Factoring.
TCE is recognized as a leader within the credit information industry,
offering a vast global database and boasting an industry-renowned record
of up to date information reporting.
About XTRA Lease
XTRA Lease is one of
the largest over-the-road trailer rental and leasing companies in North
America. Founded in 1992 when
two regional companies, AJF Leasing and Strick Lease, merged into one
national company, XTRA Lease reports, as a division, to the XTRA Corporation
family of transportation equipment lessors.
The Company has grown to over 90 locations across North America
with division headquarters located in St. Louis, Missouri and employs
approximately 600 people. Today,
XTRA Lease manages a fleet of 90,000 dry vans, chassis, flatbeds, storage
vans and temperature-controlled vans.
XTRA Lease became part of the Berkshire Hathaway team on September
20, 2001. Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. is a holding company headed by investor
Warren E. Buffett.
SOURCE eCredit.com
### Press Release
##################################
|
About the Company: Dimension Funding, LLC Formed in 1979. Located on 17748 Sky Park Circle, Irvine, CA. 92614. Website: www.dimensionfunding.com |
Yahoo
Magazine Top Ten Useful Internet Sites
Find People
1. 555-1212.COM
When you've got detective
work to do, start here. In addition to the usual people searches, you
can perform reverse searches by both phone number and address.
Look Up Phone Numbers
2. AT&T ANYWHO
INFO
Skip dialing 411 unless
you enjoy talking to machines and like to support "Ma Bell".
Head here when you need a business or residential phone number fast.
Track Sports Scores
3. CNNSI.COM: DESKTOP
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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/scoreboards/index.html
Follow your favorite
teams by letting this Java applet run on your desktop while you surf.
Settle Accounts
4. PayTrust
Never write another
check or lick another envelope. Have all your bills sent to Paytrust.com,
which will alert you via e-mail whenever a payment is due. Click to authorize
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Check the Forecast
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Plug in your ZIP code
for a seven-day forecast, anytime. You'll also find weather maps and storm
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dragging an unabridged OED down from the shelf. Get quick definitions,
or find synonyms and antonyms culled from Roger's Thesaurus. You may even
increase your word power by subscribing to the Word of the Day mailing
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Keep your PC time accurate.
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Good surfing.
 Accounting: PricewaterhouseCoopers seeks individuals with experience in commercial equipment leasing to help clients improve their leasing businesses by designing, developing, and implementing solutions to accounting & operational issues. Email: anthony.g.anderson@us.pwc.com About the Company: PricewaterhouseCoopers, New York, NY. |
News Briefs----
GM finance unit to
open bank to diversify funding
http://www.absnet.net/include/showfreearticle.asp?file=/headlines/.htm
Tyco Jury Asks for
Reading of Testimony About Loan
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/business/23tyco.html
Google, Yahoo mount
challenge to Microsoft
Census: World population
growth slowing
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-03-22-world-population_x.htm
Rigas wired himself
Adelphia funds, witness testifies
http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2004-03-22-adelphia-trial-mon_x.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Nuts
Briefs---
Judge denies woman's
request to grill Schwarzenegger over 'defamation'
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash4.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Gimme that Wine”
Chef to Leave Napa
Valley's Auberge du Soleil
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Daily/News/0,1145,2390,00.html
Winegrape group seeks
to make eco-label
http://www.recordnet.com/articlelink/032204/business/articles/032204-b-10.php
Wine entrepreneurs
establish roots in Nebraska soil
http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/03/22/405e81ddbf447
Ground-breaking winery
in Calaveras County puts women in key roles
http://www.modbee.com/business/story/8309740p-9151072c.html
Jancis Robinson's Wine
Course
http://www.digitallyobsessed.com/showreview.php3?ID=5805
Safe Aging Wine Suggestion
Chart
http://wine.about.com/library/bl_aging.htm
http://wine.about.com/cs/winemaking/a/aging.htm
Tannins, Wine, and
Migraine Headaches
http://wine.about.com/cs/winemaking/a/tannins.htm
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This
Day in American History
1775- Anniversary of
Patrick Henry’s speech for arming the Virginia militia at St. Johns Church,
Richmond, Virginia. He was addressing
the second Virginia convention, and delivered his immortal speech against
arbitrary British rule, “I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty or give me death.” Ironically, history has made
this the best known, but from a contemporary
journal, his most famous
remark at the time, the one most repeated, occurred when he uttered:
“ Caeasar had his Brutus;
Charles the first his Cromwell; and George the Third may profit by their
example.” He was then interrupted
and accused of treason, where he responded, “ If this is treason, make
the most of it.” The speech caused a sensation, being bolder than any
speech given that year.
1839-“O.K.” First Appearance in Print. “The Boston Morning Post” printed the first
known “ok.k”. It derived from
a misspelling of “all correct”—“all korrect.”
Etymologist Allen Read doggedly tracked down the word’s origin
in the 1960’s. “O.K” is now used in most languages.
1857-Fannie Farmer Cookbook standardizes measurements in cooking.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar23.html
1858- Eleazer A. Gardner of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania obtained
a patent on an “improvement in tracks for city railways.” The cable was housed in an underground tunnel
with a series of pulleys inside. It
was not until 1873 that the cable car began operation on the Clay Street
Hill in San Francisco. It was
the first cable car put into service anywhere in the world, on an improvement
and new patent by Andrew
Smith Hallidie for an “endless-wire rope way.”
1862-As General George McClellan began the Peninsular campaign
to move on the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, Confederate
General Stonewall Jackson engaged a larger force of Union troops at Kernstown
in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Although he ultimately
was forced to retreat, the Battle of Kernstown provided a diversion central
to the South’s military strategy. Fearing an attack on Washington, DC,
northern troops were kept around Washington as part of its defense, leaving
fewer troops available for the Peninsular campaign.
1864- George J. Dyke, the co-founder of Vancouver's first music
school, was born in St. Blazey, England. In the 1890's, Dyke helped found
a violin academy, which was a forerunner of the Vancouver Conservatory.
Dyke died in Victoria in 1940.
1867-The second Reconstruction Act was passed over President Johnson’s
veto. It provided for the registration of all qualified votes, who were
subsequently to decide on readmittance to the Union.
1868- University of California founded (Oakland CA)
http://www.berkeley.edu/about/history/
1877- Mormon zealot John Doyle Lee was executed by a firing squad
for masterminding the Mountain Meadows Massacre. In 1857, a wagon train
of 127 Arkansas Methodist emigrants, bound for California, were killed
by a party of Mormon settlers and Paiute Indians at Mountain Meadows (near
Cedar ity), Utah.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/i_r/lee.htm
http://www.usu.edu/usupress/individl/johnlee.htm
http://www.lib.utah.edu/spc/mss/accn186/186.html
http://www.onlineutah.com/historylee.shtml
1889-President Harrison opens Oklahoma for colonization, creating
the great Oklahoma
land rush, which was fully out of control as
there was no local
authority or representative of the federal government in charge.
The date set was for
April 22 and for white settlers only.
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/chronicles/v020/v020p218.html
http://www.multied.com/Bio/presidents/b_harrison.html
1911-National Urban League founded.
http://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/micro/417/36.html
1913 - A vicious tornado hit the city of Omaha, NE. The tornado
struck during the late afternoon on Easter Sunday, and in just twelve
minutes cut a swath of total destruction five miles long and two blocks
wide across the city killing 94 persons and causing 3.5 million dollars
property damage.
1917--Pianist Johnny Guarnieri Birthday
http://entertainment.msn.com/artist/?artist=113789
http://soley.zodchiy.ru/J/Johnny_Guarnieri.html
1925-The trial of a teacher for violating a state ban on teaching
the theory of evolution took place in July, 1925. John Thomas Scopes, a high school science
teach in Dayton, TN, was convicted of breaking a law passed by the Tennessee
legislature and signed this day in 1925 by Governor Austin Peay. It provided that “ it shall be unlawful for
any teacher in any of the universities, normal, and all other public schools
of the state which are supported in whole or in party by the public school
funds, of the state to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine
creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man
has descended from a lower order of animals.”
Scopes was prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan and defended by
Clarence Darrow. He was fined $100. The conviction was later overturned on technical grounds.
1932-Birthday of guitarist/harmonica player Louisiana Red (Iverson
Minter,)
born Vicksburg, MS
http://www.eharmonica.net/iverson%20minter.htm
http://www.oldies.com/artist/biography.cfm/id_339.html
1938-Birthday of vibes player Dave Pike Detroit MI
http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/dave_pike.html
http://www.fantasyjazz.com/catalog/pike_d_cat.html
http://www.hipwax.com/music/patch/vibes_dp.html
1944-Woody Herman waxes homogenized protest “Milkman Keep Those
Bottles Quiet.”
This day in 1987 he
makes his last appearance with the Herd, Grand Meadow, Minnesota.
1946---Top Hits
Oh, What It Seemed
to Be - The Frankie Carle Orchestra (vocal: Marjorie Hughes)
Personality - Johnny
Mercer
Day by Day - Frank
Sinatra
Guitar Polka - Al Dexter
1950- “Beat the Clock” premiered on television. On this game show
from the team of Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, couples performed stunts
within a specified time period (usually under 60 seconds) with the winners
being given a chance to try a special stunt to win a great prize. Special
stunts were very difficult, and the same one was attempted every week
until a couple got it right. In 1952, James Dean got his first TV job
testing stunts and warming up the audience. Bud Collyer was the host,
assisted by Roxanne (real name Dolores Rosedale). A 1969 syndicated version
hosted by Jack Narz and then by Gene Wood had celebrities to help the
contestants. A 1979 revival was hosted by Monty Hall.
1952-Bill Mosienko of the Chicago Blackhawks set an NHL record by
scoring three goals in 21 seconds in a game against the New York Rangers.
Mosienko scored at 6:09, 6:30 and 6:30 of the third period against goalie
Lorne Anderson. Chicago Won 7-6.
1954—Top Hits
Make Love to Me! -
Jo Stafford
Cross Over the Bridge
- Patti Page
Wanted - Perry Como
Slowly - Webb Pierce
1962---Top Hits
Hey! Baby - Bruce Channel
Midnight in Moscow
- Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen
Don’t Break the Heart
that Loves You - Connie Francis
That’s My Pa - Sheb
Wooley
1963- the Beatles' first
LP, "Please, Please Me," was released in Britain.
The album included the title song, which had topped the British chart
a month earlier. The LP, with the exception of the title song, was recorded
in one 13-hour session on February 11th. Other hits included in the Beatles'
first album included "Love Me Do," "I Saw Her Standing
There," "Do You Want To Know a Secret?" and "Twist
and Shout."
1963- The Beach Boys release "Surfin U.S.A."
1965 - Astronaut John Young became the first person to eat a
corned beef sandwich in space. Young snuck the sandwich on board to supplement
his meals of dehydrated foods, including powdered fruit juice.
1970---Top Hits
Bridge Over Troubled
Water - Simon & Garfunkel
The Rapper - The Jaggerz
Give Me Just a Little
More Time - Chairmen of the Board
The Fightin’ Side of
Me - Merle Haggard
1973 - "Concentration", the longest-running game show
in television, starring Hugh Downs, came to an end after 15 years on NBC.
A syndicated version without Downs aired, but did not last long.
1973-Jason Kidd, basketball player, born San Francisco, CA.
1974 - Cher hit the top of the music charts when "Dark Lady"
reached the #1 for a one-week stay. Other artists sharing the spotlight
during that time included: Terry Jacks, John Denver, Blue Swede, Elton
John and MFSB.
1975- San Francisco's Kezar Stadium is the site for a Bill Graham-run
benefit show called SNACK (Students Need Athletics, Culture and Kicks).
The Show features the Tower of Power, the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship,
Joan Baez, Graham Central Station, Neil Young and special guest Bob Dylan.
It's to raise money for the San Francisco school system which recently
canceled most sports and after-hour activities because of a $3-million
budget deficit. Almost $200,00 is raised, but it's really not needed because
the day before the event, an announcement is made that through a financial
adjustment $2.1 million has been "found."
1978---Top Hits
Night Fever - Bee Gees
Stayin’ Alive - Bee
Gees
Lay Down Sally - Eric
Clapton
Mamas Don’t Let Your
Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys - Waylon & Willie
1983- Barney Clark died after living almost 112 days with an
artificial heart. The heart, made of polyurethane plastic and aluminum,
was implanted in Clark at the University of Utah Medical Center, Salt
Lake City, Dec 2, 1982. Clark was the first person ever to receive a permanent
artificial heart. Born at Provo, UT, Jan 21, 1921, Clark was 62 when he
died.
1985 - Musician, Billy Joel married model, Christie Brinkley in
a private ceremony held in New York City. They announced in April 1994
that they had separated.
1986---Top Hits
These Dreams - Heart
Secret Lovers - Atlantic
Starr
Rock Me Amadeus - Falco
What’s a Memory like
You (Doing in a Love like This) - John Schneider
1987- A 3 day snowstorm commenced over the central Plains. It
left amounts exceeding one foot in a south to north band from the Texas
Panhandle to South Dakota. Blizzard conditions prevailed with winds gusting
to 78 mph at Dodge City, Kansas and Altus, Oklahoma. Pampa, Texas was
buried under 20 inches of snow, the worst in the area in at least 70 years.
24 inches of snow was recorded at Neligh, Nebraska.
1987-“The Bold and the Beautiful” premiered on TV. A continuing
daytime serial created by William Bell and Lee Phillip Bell to be "young
and hip." It is set in the fashion industry of Los Angeles with two
central families, the Logans and the Forresters. The cast has included,
as the Forresters: John McCook, Susan Flannery, Clayton Norcross, Jeff
Trachta, Ronn Moss, Teri Ann Linn, Colleen Dion and as the Logans: Robert
Pine, Judith Baldwin, Nancy Burnett, Nancy Sloan, Carrie Mitchum (granddaughter
of Robert), Ethan Wayne (son of John), Brian Patrick Clarke, Katherine
Kelly Lang and Lesley Woods. Other cast members include Jeff Conaway,
Tippi Hedren and Hunter Tylo.
1991- WLAF Makes its Debut: The World League of American Football,
part of a marketing attempt by the National Football League to extend
the game’s popularity in Europe, made its début as the London Monarchs
defeated the Frankfurt Galaxy 24-11.
1993- during a surprise concert in Red Bank, New Jersey, Bruce
Springsteen ripped off his shirt and offered a version of Billy Ray Cyrus's
"Achy Breaky Heart." Springsteen told his audience that it was
a "damn good" tune. The surprise show, which benefited a local
theatre and a food bank, was a warm-up for a European tour.
1998 - The movie, "Titanic", won a record-tying 11
Oscars at the 70th Annual Academy Awards (tying the number of awards won
by "Ben-Hur" in 1959). Comedian/actor Billy Crystal kept the
crowd at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, and the millions watching
on TV, in stitches as "Titanic" (James Cameron, Jon Landau,
producers) won Best Picture; Best Director (James Cameron);
Best Cinematography (Russell Carpenter); Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
(Peter Lamont [art director], Michael Ford [set decorator]); Best Costume
Design (Deborah Lynn Scott); Best Sound (Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Gary
Summers, Mark Ulano); Best Film Editing (Conrad Buff IV, James Cameron,
Richard A. Harris); Best Effects/Sound Effects Editing (Tom Bellfort,
Christopher Boyes); Best Effects/Visual Effects (Robert Legato, Mark A.
Lasoff, Thomas L. Fisher, Michael Kanfer); Best Music/Original Dramatic
Score (James Horner); and Best Music/Song (James Horner [music] and Will
Jennings [lyrics] for "My Heart Will Go On", performed by Céline
Dion). Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt took top acting honors as the misanthropic
writer and the waitress who softens his heart in "As Good as it Gets".
The Best Supporting Actor Oscar went to Robin Williams for "Good
Will Hunting" and Best Supporting Actress was Kim Basinger for her
"L.A. Confidential" part (Lynn Bracken: “Merry Christmas to
you, officer.”)
w.infoplea http://ww
se.com/ipa/A0748303.html
1998-The National Football League awarded an expansion franchise
to the City of Cleveland. The
team, to be called the Browns, as was Cleveland’s former team, now the
Baltimore Ravens.
NCAA Basketball Champions This Date
1948 Kentucky
1957 North Carolina
1963 Loyola (L.)
1968 UCLA
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