|
Jr.Analyst
Sausalito, CA
Banking, financial, leasing experience;
opportunity to grow, work w/seasoned
professional; small office, Excel a must
e-mail: spickens@oxfordfinance.com or
call 415-331-1725
|
|
Thursday, May 18th, 2006
“ Good bye, Elliott. You were a class act! “
Headlines---
Correction: Podium Financial Group
Classified Ads--- Credit
Judge Montgomery Rules
--What a surprise!!!
Cartoon—-Menkin in Pocket of ELA Prez
Lease2Loan joins “Broker/Lessor” List
Classified Ads---Help Wanted
HP Financial Service down $19MM
Selling Up—Hiring the Right Salesperson
“Ducks in Eagle School” -by S. Chriest
Bank Branches Still Key over Internet
Halladay/Vendor Financing Program
Cartoon---IFC VP Operations Witowski
News Briefs---
You May have Missed---
Sports Briefs---
"Gimme that Wine"
Calendar Events
Today's Top Event in History
This Day in American History
Baseball Poem
######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Correction: Podium Financial Group joins “Broker/Funder” List
In the earlier edition, the wrong “URL” was placed, and corrected when noticed by the editor the next morning (and also by several readers.)
Third Column: YES - Year Company Started | YELB - Years in equipment Leasing Business
A - City Business License | B- State License | C - Certified Leasing Professional |
D - State(s) sales/use tax license |
E - Named as "lessor" on 50% or more of lease contract signed. |
|
Name
City, State
Contact
Website
Leasing Association
|
YCS
YELB
(see above for meaning) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
67. |
|
1997
12 |
6 |
USA |
$50,000 to $1,000,00 |
N/R |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
(CC) "Podium Financial Group, Inc. - We represent Creative Capital exclusively for tough deals to $1 million and several other investors for structured transactions to $10 million. We specialize in start-up business's and have a great program for strong clients."
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Classified Ads--- Credit
Groth Vineyards, Oakville, California www.grothwines.com
Atlanta, GA
10 yrs experience in credit/collections/recovery/documentation in the leasing industry. P&L responsibility, team builder & strong portfolio mgnt skills.
email: mortimerga@adelphia.net
Boston MA
Challenging position where my skills, professional experience, organization, leadership, strategic thinking, creativity, energy, passion, competitive nature will enable me to define opportunities and personal development.
Email: bernd.janet@verizon.net
Corona, CA
VP credit Consumer Credit prime/sub prime Auto lending/leasing/mortgages. 20+yrs exp. If you are looking for someone to affect the bottom line I am that person. Will relocate.
Email: amosca2000@yahoo.com
Fort Lee NJ
3 Years Experience Credit/Documentation. Looking in NJ/NY.
Email: angitravis@mail.com
Irvine, CA
I have over 16 years of Credit/Collection experience in the finance industry. Prompt results, extremely effective and knowledgeable, professional, excellent manager and team player.
Email: newportresources@sbcglobal.net
Los Angeles, CA
Over 15 years experience in Credit/Operations with Small Ticket and transactions up to $500,000.00. CLP, with excellent relationships with most major lenders.
Email: jonbh123@earthlink.net
New Jersey, NJ
Credit Analyst with 10+ years experience in small-ticket lending up to $500,000. Experience with both vendor-direct and with brokers.
Email: b.leavy@worldnet.att.net
New York, NY
V.P. Credit & Collections w/23 years exp.looking for a situation where I can utilize my varied & extensive knowledge of credit/collections/risk-management & leasing.
Email: rcouzzi@yahoo.com
Sausalito, CA
Sr. Corp. officer, presently serving as consultant, fin. service background, M&A, fund raising, great workout expertise, references
Email: nywb@aol.com
Credit/Operations Manager: Orange, CA
15 years exper., looking for a new home. Have handled both middle/ large ticket transaction, plus muni & international finance.
email: equiplender@aol.com
Senior Credit Officer
experienced in middle-market leasing; structured, vendor and 3rd party to the fortune 1000. Proactive team builder, originations capable with strong work ethic.
Email: kyletrust@hotmail.com
For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to:
http://64.125.68.91/AL/LeasingNews/JobPostings.htm
To place a free “job wanted” ad, please go to:
http://64.125.68.91/AL/LeasingNews/PostingForm.asp
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Judge Montgomery Rules
What a surprise!!!
by Christopher Menkin
Judge Sally Montgomery
Dallas County Court-at-Law 3
CAUSE NO. 04-04187-C
The “findings of fact and conclusion of law” regarding testimony from IFC Credit Corporation officers in a case regarding a NorVergence lease with Specialty Optical dba S.O.S. in Dallas, Texas, County Court 3 brought a pleased response for the NorVergence lessee's attorney, in fact, off the record, called it “very creative.” The order was signed at 3pm, CDT, Wednesday, and should be in the records by today.
IFC Credit had “no comment” at press time, but certainly will appeal, as it has stated it will do with the judge's ruling in favor of Specialty Optical in the first non-jury trial hearing.
As stated in earlier stories, perjury is a very serious charge, especially in the state of Texas as it carries serious jail time.
“ORDERED that IFC Credit Corp. (“IFC”) shall send letters to all lessees against which it has made claims under leases or rental agreements acquired form NorVergence and explain to each lessee the precise amount of money that was delivered to NorVergence for the lease, as well as what amount was held back, the basis for such holdback, and the manner in which the holdback was applied in the accounting records of IFC.
IFC Credit did not “fund” the entire amount, but paid only a portion, and held back $16,257, which it labeled a “hold back” and did not disclose. In this specific law suit, the “Equipment Rental Agreement” is for 60 months at $543.67 or $32,620.20. After testimony, it is learned that IFC paid NorVergence $11,743 for a $28,000 original invoice figure that yielded lease payments of $32,620.20.
The first time IFC Credit Vice President John Estok, Certified Leasing Professional (CLP), admitted to “holdbacks,” that Leasing News can find, was in the Morey Lumber NorVergence case, yet to be heard in court in Texas. Scott Mackenzie, the attorney representing Morey Lumber, supplied the hold back and other information as amicus curiae to the SOS case, and perhaps single handedly brought evidence not only about full disclosures, but perhaps “collusion” between various leasing companies and the NorVergence connection.
In the Specialty Optical court testimony CLP Estok said he guesses that IFC Credit has over $2 million in holdbacks. The opposing counsel then questioned whether perjury is involved, specifically on the testimony from Patrick A. Witowski, Executive Vice President of Operations, regarding the full disclosure of what was paid for the $1500 Matrix box and telephone service.
The recent ruling also stated:
“Such letters shall be sent to the lessees or their counsel, if they have counsel, and shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Such letters will be sent out no later than 30 days from the date of this Order. No later that 75 days from the date of this Order, IFC will
provide copies of each of those letters, along with proof of delivery in the form of signed return receipts or, in the event they are unclaimed, proof that such letters were not claimed by the addressees, to counsel for Specialty Optical.”
Judge Montgomery ruled earlier for the NorVergence lessee “.... properly cancelled the Lease with NorVergence. IFC takes nothing on its counterclaim. SOS shall recover court costs and reasonable attorney fees in the amount of $45,000.00 for trial, $30K for appeal, and $15 K for a petition for review to the Supreme Court of Texas, and $15K for responding to any unsuccessful appeal by IFC to the Supreme Court of Texas in the event the petition for discretionary review is granted per the parties stipulation.”
In the recent ruling, the Judge also ruled:
“It is further ORDERED that IFC shall pay to Specialty Optical, within 30 days from the date of this Order the sum of $13,600.00 as part of the sanctions in this case, which will also reimburse Specialty Optical for the fees it will incur in monitoring the notification of other lessees regarding payment and holdbacks as described above.
“It is further ORDERED that IFC shall pay to Specialty Optical, within 30 days from the date of this Order, the further sum of $22,078.25 as reasonable and necessary attorneys' fees incurred in connection with bringing this motion, as well as the sum of $803.92, which represents two times the actual costs incurred by Specialty Optical in connection with this sanctions motion.”
Finally the judge concluded,
“All other relief requested in Specialty Optical's Motion for Sanctions that is not specifically herein granted, is denied.”
In researching Pacer Service Center and other court records, Leasing News discovered more than 100 cases appearing to involve Askounis & Borst representing IFC Credit in actions regarding NorVergence lessees, many transferred out of the state, many settled; Aksounis & Borst writing the affidavits. Certainly the law firm of Askounis & Borst has earned its fair share of what is involved, but what knowledge did they have about these “holdbacks?”
IFC Credit Executive Vice-President John Estok, originally estimated the company had 850 NorVergence leases.
In the Specialty Optical dba SOS trial before the Honorable Sally L. Montgomery, Dallas, Texas, IFC Credit Corporation Officer John Estok, CLP, divulged that his company has a $100 million asset portfolio with over $14 million in “up to 800” NorVergence leases with 550 in question: “…for the last 18 months, every month out the door is $300,000 in payments to the banks, and every month in the door is $100,000 or so of cash from settlements and customers who are still making their payments.
In several depositions, particularly now with Preferred Capital, Brecksville, Ohio in bankruptcy, “holdbacks” were common. How common with other leasing companies holding out with NorVergence lessees?
Most likely Judge Sally Montgomery's ruling will be held up in the courts for years, and may even go as far as the United States Supreme Court. One thing for sure, Askounis & Borst, P.C the law firm that wrote the affidavits, has the most knowledge, both “inside” and “outside,” will make a lot of money out of this. Some wag said the attorneys always make out---as long as they have a retainer--- that's my advice.
In the meantime time Texas Attorney Gregg Abbott and his staff is looking into this in their state regarding usury and providing full disclosure of information. His office was not going to make any statement until further developments of this specific case, and others are pending.
When Leasing News wrote about this in June, 2004, we told readers and NorVergence lessees this was going to go on for a long time, advising all to make a settlement now, avoid the costs, time, and hostilities. Both sides jumped down on throat. In fact, the hard liners on each side still hold a lot of animosity toward Leasing News for our early recommendation (and two editorials) to settle the matter, move on, and get back to producing some good business to both sides.
Copy of Judge Montgomery's ruling:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/SOS_Order.pdf
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Cartoon—Kit Menkin in Pocket of Mike Fleming
The cartoon appears in Lessee Rights Association. The editorial cartoon is explained in footnotes as all leasing companies are” ...as peas in the same pod as NorVergence...
"Kit Menkin reveals himself, as literally, 'in the back pocket' of ELA and its Prez ... Like the legend of Tokyo Rose, Kit broadcasts dis-information (sic) and propaganda in a friendly, seductive and authoritative voice to lessees. He breeds self-doubt, shame, anxiety and feelings of humiliation in lessees' minds (and dependence upon his on-going opinions), when suggesting, as an 'expert,' for example, that it's somehow the victim's own fault for signing a contract, etc."
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Lease2Loan joins “Broker/Lessor” List
Third Column: YES - Year Company Started | YELB - Years in equipment Leasing Business
A - City Business License | B- State License | C - Certified Leasing Professional |
D - State(s) sales/use tax license |
E - Named as "lessor" on 50% or more of lease contract signed. |
|
Name
City, State
Contact
Website
Leasing Association
|
YCS
YELB
(see above for meaning) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D |
|
67. |
|
1994
12 |
6 |
Nationwide |
$5,000 to $30MM |
N/R |
* |
* |
Y |
* |
* |
To view the full list, please go here:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Brokers/broker_Lessor.htm
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Classified Ads---Help Wanted
Jr. Analyst
|
Jr.Analyst
Sausalito, CA
Banking, financial, leasing experience;
opportunity to grow, work w/seasoned
professional; small office, Excel a must
e-mail: spickens@oxfordfinance.com or
call 415-331-1725
|
|
Senior Secondary Market Officer
|
Senior Secondary Market Officer
Walnut Creek, California
Work with secondary market syndication sources of leasing transactions. Minimum three years leasing experience & knowledge equipment leasing underwriting; to learn more and apply: click here.
|
|
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
HP Financial Service Down $19MM
HP Financial Services (HPFS) reported revenue of $518 million, a decrease of 5% year-over-year.
Finance volume decreased 14% over the prior year period, and net portfolio assets grew 1%.
Operating profit was $39 million, or 7.5% of revenue, down from a profit of $58 million, or 10.7% of revenue, in the prior year period.
Full HP financial report:
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/investor/financials/quarters/2006/q2.html
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Hiring the Right Salesperson
“Ducks in Eagle School” --by Steve Chriest
Anyone who has managed salespeople must admit to making hiring mistakes. At one time or another all of us have found ourselves unable to resist the temptation of hiring the next great superstar, even though our intuition made us uneasy, or something in their story just didn't jibe with reality.
If you continue to rely on “gut checks” in your hiring process, you are likely to make more bad hires than necessary. I once heard someone admonish sales managers: “Don't send your ducks to eagle school!” It just won't work. You send the ducks out hunting, they find a rabbit and they make friends with it! You then yell to the ducks, “No, no, reread page twenty-one of your hunting manual!”
The same thing happens when you send the wrong salespeople on a hunting expedition for new prospects and you realize that they make friends with potential customers, buying them lunch, treating them to sporting events, and showering them with expensive gifts. In frustration, you yell, “No, no, bring in the orders, close the prospects, close the prospects!”
The first step in avoiding hiring mistakes is to recognize some of the myths about sales. For example, just like expecting ducks to hunt, you can't train someone for a job they can't do. All the training in the world won't help someone with a poor aptitude for math work successfully as a physicist.
Another myth about sales is that you can train talent. The truth is talent can't be trained. You either can sing like an American Idol or you can't. When it comes to talented salespeople, however, the experts tell us that talented folks can be improved by up to 20%.
Let's look at the numbers. If you can improve someone in the 80 th percentile by 20%, they can become a 96%. The bad news, unfortunately, is that all the time and money in the world won't make a 20% more than a 25%!
Nearly 45% of all money spent by business on employee training and education is spent on sales. At some point companies will demand a better system for selecting sales candidates with the potential and will to perform up to management's expectations. For many companies, this may become their single most important investment to improve market share and profitability.
Finally, avoiding bad hires is a true win-win. The company and sales managers win because time and resources aren't squandered on candidates that just don't have the aptitude or the will to succeed in sales. The candidates win because they are free to pursue other opportunities more suited to their talents and predispositions.
Copyright © 2006 Selling Up TM . All Rights Reserved.
About the author: Steve Chriest is the founder of Selling Up TM (www.selling-up.com), a sales consulting firm specializing in sales improvement for organizations of all types and sizes in a variety of industries. He is also the author of Selling Up , The Proven System for Reaching and Selling Senior Executives. You can reach Steve at schriest@selling-up.com.
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Bank Branches Still Key to Commercial Relationships Over Online Channel
by Joan Weber
www.riskcenter.com
Despite predictions that the advent of Internet banking would eliminate the need for small- and middle-market businesses to make regular trips to the local bank branch, the latest Greenwich Associates' Market Pulse Survey reveals that companies in these categories use their branches as frequently in 2006 as they did three years ago.
“Contrary to popular belief, bank branches and their locations have increased in importance for commercial customers over the past three years,” says Greenwich Associates consultant Robert Neuhaus. “Eighty percent of small business and commercial customers use their bank's branch at least once per week. Looking ahead, Check 21 and Remote Deposit Capture may reduce branch usage, but for now, local branch locations are retaining their considerable value to business banking customers.”
In its recent Market Pulse Survey, Greenwich Associates asked executives at 624 small businesses and 606 middle-market companies about their banking practices, financial service providers and their outlook on the U.S. economy. The research reveals that small businesses actually visit their banks' local branch more frequently today than they did three years ago. While the proportion of small businesses saying they used their branch bank once per week or once every two weeks declined from 2003 to 2006, the proportion saying they visited the branch every two to three days increased from one-third to 35% and the share saying they used their branch at least once per day rose from 33% to 37%.
“Even among middle-market companies, more than three-quarters use their bank's local branch at least one per week, and almost 40% visit it at least once every day,” says Greenwich Associates consultant Don Raftery.
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Halladay to Moderate Vendor Financing Program Roundtable
Shawn Halladay, Managing Principal of The Alta Group will moderate the Vendor Financing Program Roundtable at the Annual Lessor Resources Showcase at Atlanta, GA on August 30-31, held at the Ritz Carlton, Buckhead.
Beyond the Honeymoon - Planning for Success
Vendor financing programs constantly are being put together with great fanfare and good intentions. Soon after the business starts to flow, though, deals are turned down, the accountants raise revenue recognition issues, and the vendor starts to waiver on its commitment to a financing program. A mutually beneficial relationship suddenly begins to lose its luster due to the operational challenges of the program.
The key to a successful vendor financing program is to identify and address these many challenges up front. Shawn Halladay of The Alta Group will moderate a panel discussion of how to maximize vendor program results. Steps include extensive in-depth planning and analysis, identification of risk and recourse issues, a disciplined partner selection process, financial modeling exercises, and review of process requirements. All these steps should occur prior to signing the program agreement. The discussion will leverage The Alta Group's extensive market and execution experience in this arena. The session will highlight how careful up front study and forethought not only pay major dividends, but also how to obtain sales force buy-in through communication and training initiatives.
To register, please go here:
http://www.lessors.com/Events-2006/Fall/registrations.html
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Cartoon---IFC VP Operations Patrick A. Witowski
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
News Briefs----
Inflation renews pressure on Fed-Rates to go up, Again
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/inflation/2006-05-17-cpi-april_x.htm
Industrial companies see new 'time in the sun'
http://www.usatoday.com/money/markets/us/2006-05-16-rust-belt-usat_x.htm
UPS announces $1 billion expansion that will add 5,000 jobs
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/2006-05-17-ups-expansion_x.htm
Elliott goes home
http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/idol/
entries/2006/05/17/517_results_for.html
Going Wireless Most Places You Go
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/technology/18basics.html
[headlines]
---------------------------------------------------------------
You May have Missed---
Bad news, America: World doesn't like We the People
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002999203_usimage17.html
[headlines]
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sports Briefs----
Sharks Lose; Season Over
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/14605011.htm
Close but not closed: Mavs lose, 98-97
http://www.dallasnews.com/
Hawks make it official: Holmgren signed through '08
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003000889_webholmgren17.html
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
“Gimme that Wine”
In rainy Washington, we like our rosés dry
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/foodwine/2002998795_wine17.html
It's a sin California legislators can't have fun with zin
http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/14256194p-15071236c.html
Grahm looks at English vineland
http://www.decanter.com/news/84919.html
Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/
US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/
Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas/\
Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Calendar Events This Day
Haiti: Flay and University Day
Public Holiday
International Museum Day
To pay tribute to museums of the world. “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among people.
Uruguay: Battle of Las Piedras Day.
National Holiday. Commemorates battle fought for independence from Spain in 1811.
Visit Your Relatives Day
A day to renew family ties and joys by visiting often-thought-of-seldom-seen relatives.
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Top Event in History
1965 -- Outer Space: Gene Roddenberry suggests 16 names -- including Kirk -- for Star Trek Captain. It will never fly say some. And small hand held devices that you can talk as if you are on a telephone anywhere, who would believe it. In the Next Generation they were on the shirt that you could turn on with a touch or vocal command or attach to your ear. Unheard of.
[headlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------
This Day in American History
1631 -The General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony decreed that 'no man shall be admitted to the body politic but such as are members of some of the churches within the limits' of the colony. (Separation of church and state was an unthinkable concept in early American colonialism. In contrast to what is taught in schools, most were not escaping for religious freedoms, but were missionaries with strong prejudices against other religious groups except for their own.)
1652- Rhode Island enacted a slavery emancipation law: “No blacken mankind or white...(maybe) forced by covenant bond or otherwise to serve any man or his assignees longer than ten years, or until they come to be 24 years of age, if they be taken in under 15, from the time of their coming within the Liberties of the Colonies, and at the end of termed of ten years...( are to be set) free, as is the manner with the English servants. And that man that will not let them goe free, or shall sell them elsewhere, to that end that they may be enslaved to others for a long time, he or they shall forfeit to theColonie forty pounds.”
1766- The Church of the United Brethren in Christ was organized in Lancaster, PA, under the leadership of Martin Boehm, 41, and Philip William Otterbein, 39. (It became a branch of the Evangelical United Brethren in 1946.)
1798 - The first Secretary of the U.S. Navy was appointed. He was Benjamin Stoddert.
http://www.history.navy.mil/bios/stoddert.htm
http://www.mariner.org/usnavy/05/05d.htm
1827 -- Josiah Warren opens his first Time Store in Cincinnati, Ohio — the first commercial cooperative. Warren, Josiah, 1798–1874, American reformer & anarchist, b. Boston. An early follower of Robert Owen, he soon rejected Owen's political socialism, advocating instead anarchy based on “the sovereignty of the individual.” Warren founded several “equity” or "time" stores, with the idea of exchanging goods for an equivalent amount of labor & on the principle that cost should be the limit of price. He also established three utopian colonies; the most successful was Modern Times (1851–c.1860), Long Island, N.Y. (now Brentwood). The most important of his publications was True Civilization (1863, 5th ed. 1875).
http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/bstud/warren.html
See "The Lemonade Ocean & Modern Times" by Hakim Bey,
http://www.evolutionzone.com/kulturezone/bey/lemonade.ocean.and.modern.times.html
http://www.blancmange.net/tmh/articles/manifesto.shtml
http://www.blackcrayon.com/people/warren/
1836-- Cynthia Ann Parker, a blue-eyed blonde Caucasian woman, was captured by the Comanche at age nine. When U.S. soldiers found her four years later in a Comanche camp where she was living under the name "Prelock," she refused to return. She said she was happy living as a Comanche. ///In 1860 she and her infant daughter were captured in a U.S. army raid and were forcibly detained. She was sent to Parker's father. The infant died soon after capture and Prelock died in 1864, according to legend, by starving herself to death longing to go back to the Comanche way of life. ///Her eldest son Quanah became chief of the Kwahadi tribe which held out against the white man. Some called him the most ferocious Indian who ever lived. In 1875 he suddenly brought his people in and settled near the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma and saw to it that Comanche children went to school and were educated.
1849-Sailing ship "Grey Eagle" arrived in San Francisco with 34 passengers from the East in 113 days, a record at that time.
1852- Massachusetts rules all school-age children must attend school
1860 --Republican Party nominates Abraham Lincoln for president
1863- A new sport became available to Americans with the introduction of roller skating by James L. Plimpton. Plimpton invented the four-wheel skate, which worked on rubber pads, thus permitting skaters to change direction by shifting their weight to one side or the other without lift the wheels of the skate off the ground. Roller skating became fashionable in New York City and soon spread to other cities. In Newport, R.I., the Roller Skating Association leased the Atlantic House and turned its dinning room and plaza into a skating rink. In Chicago, the Casino could accommodate 3000 spectators and 1000 skaters. In San Francisco, a rink advertised 5000 pairs of skates available for rent.
1872 -- Bertrand Russell born (1872-1970), Trelleck, Wales. Philosopher, mathematician & social critic, one of the most widely read philosophers of this century. Awarded Nobel for Literature, 1950. Outspoken pacifist, imprisoned during WWI. Abandoned pacifism during WWII, but was a leading figure in the antinuclear movement. Imprisoned in 1961 for taking part in a demonstration in Whitehall. A pioneer of logical positivism. I took a course from him at UCLA and have read most of his books.
http://www.mcmaster.ca/russdocs/russell.htm
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/brussell.htm
http://www.sci.fi/~phinnweb/links/philosophy.html
1883 - An F4 tornado tracked 20 miles through Kenosha and Racine Counties in Wisconsin. 8 people were killed and 85 were injured. The tornado made a spectacular exit as a multiple vortex waterspout over Lake Michigan and was described as: "whirling columns of air seemed like great wreaths of smoke, bearing with them spiral columns of water...a half dozen could be seen at a time, then all would disappear and new ones would reform".
1896- Plessy v. Ferguson: the Supreme Court ruled separate-but-equal facilities constitutional on intrastate railroads. For fifty years, the Plessy v. Ferguson decision upheld the principle of racial segregation. Across the country, laws mandated separate accommodations on buses and trains, and in hotels, theaters, and schools.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/may18.html
1902 - An f4 tornado struck the town of Goliad, Texas, killing 114 people. No U.S. tornado disaster of similar magnitude has ever occurred further south than this event.
1911-Blues Shouter Big Joe Turner born Kansas, City, Mo
1912—Perry Como Birthday
1922-Trombonist Kai Winding born Aarhus, Denmark
1927 - Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard was opened, the first of the Fox chain of movie theaters. The lavish 2,200 seat theater cost $1 million to build. Its first film was shown on this date, Cecil B. DeMille's King of Kings, at the high price of $2.00 per seat. It was later renamed Mann's Chinese Theater.
1927 -- Bath, Michigan School Disaster. Andrew Kehoe, seeking revenge against the community for taxes imposed on his farm to pay for a new school, set off a TNT bomb in the school, killing 43 people, including 39 grade-school children. After the explosion, Kehoe killed his wife, then drove his truck back, loaded with dynamite & nails, to the school, & set it off, killing himself & the school superintendent.
1931-Bix Biederbecke joins Casa Loma Band for a date at Metroplitan Hotel, Boston.
1944- The Allies Captured Monte Cassino (you may remember the movie). There had been five Allied attempts to take the German position at The Benedictine abbey at Monte Cassino. Although the abbey had been reduced to rubble, it served as a bunker for the Germans and they could relay all activity in the area to airplanes and giant cannot attacks. In the spring of 1944 Marshal Alphonese Pierre Juin devised an operation that crossed the mountainous regions behind the fortress like structure, using Moroccan troops of the French Expeditionary Force. Specially trained for mountain operations, they climbed 4,850 feet to locate a pass. On May 15, 1944, they attached the Germans from behind. On May 18, Polish troops attached to this force took Monte Cassino.
1945 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time," Les Brown Orchestra/Doris Day.
1946---Top Hits
All Through the Day - Perry Como
The Gypsy - The Ink Spots
Shoo Fly Pie - The Stan Kenton Orchestra (vocal: June Christy)
New Spanish Two Step - Bob Wills
1952 -- US / Canada: Which Side Are You on? Paul Robeson, in dramatic defiance of government's ban on his leaving US soil, standing on a flatbed truck parked one foot inside the US border at the Peace Arch, in Blaine, Washington, speaks and sings to a crowd of 40,000 Canadians & Americans gathered on both sides of the border.
(My father Lawrence Menkin was a recipient of the Paul Robeson Award for producing and writing “Harlem Detective” in the early 1950's for WOR-TV)
http://www.bayarearobeson.org/Chronology_7.htm
1953 - The first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound, Jacqueline Cochran, piloted an F-86 Sabrejet over California at an average speed of 652.337 miles-per- hour.
1953-- Robbie Bachman, drummer for Bachman-Turner Overdrive, was born in Winnipeg. The Canadian rock band, which also included Robbie's brothers Randy and Tim on guitars, was internationally popular in the 1970's with such hits as "Blue Collar," "Let It Ride," "Takin' Care of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," a 1974 million-seller. At its peak, BTO won many polls and honors in the US, as well as seven Juno Awards.
1954---Top Hits
Wanted - Perry Como
Little Things Mean a Lot - Kitty Kallen
If You Love Me (Really Love Me) - Kay Starr
I Really Don't Want to Know - Eddy Arnold
1955 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White," Perez Prado.
1957-The Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles played a 1-1 tie, a game called precisely at 10:20pm so that the White Sox could catch a train out of Baltimore. The Orioles' Dick Williams hit a home run on the game's last pitch to tie the game and avoid defeat. The game was replayed from the beginning at a later date, and Baltimore won.
1960 - Salt Lake City, Utah received an inch of snow. It marked their latest measurable snowfall of record.
1960 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Cathy's Clown," The Everly Brothers.
1962---Top Hits
Soldier Boy - The Shirelles
Stranger on the Shore - Mr. Acker Bilk
She Cried - Jay & The Americans
She Thinks I Still Care - George Jones
1965 -- Outer Space: Gene Roddenberry suggests 16 names -- including Kirk -- for Star Trek Captain. It will never fly say some. And small hand held devices that you can talk as if you are on a telephone anywhere, who would believe it. In the Next Generation they were on the shirt that you could turn on with a touch or vocal command or attach to your ear. Unheard of.
1966 -PH Phactor Jug Band opened at 40 Cedar Alley near Polk and Geary in San Francisco. Does anyone else remember Cedar Alley?
1968 - A tornado outbreak occurred across Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, and Arkansas. Charles City, Iowa was devastated by a tornado rated f5 on the Fujita Scale with 13 people killed and 30 million dollars damage done. A f4 tornado tracked through Jackson, Craighead, and Mississippi Counties in Arkansas, killing 35 people and injuring 361. 164 homes in Jonesboro were destroyed.
1969- Apollo 10 began their orbit to circle the moon ten times.
1969 -- The Klamath tribe wins $4.1 million for loss of Oregon lands during fraudulent government surveys in 1880s.
1969 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Get Back," The Beatles.
1970---Top Hits
American Woman/No Sugar Tonight - The Guess Who
Vehicle - The Ides of March
Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel
My Love - Sonny James
1974 - "The Streak" started a 3-week run at number one on the "Billboard" pop music chart. The novelty tune by Ray Stevens was about people running nekkid where they shouldn't be nekkid, like, in public. It was the second number one hit for the comedian who made numerous appearances on Andy Williams' TV show in the late 1960s, as well as his own show in the summer of 1970. His first number one hit, just prior to "The Streak", was "Everything is Beautiful". Both songs won gold records, as did his comedic "Gitarzan", a top ten hit in 1969. Stevens has been the top novelty recording artist of the past three decades.
1978---Top Hits
If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
The Closer I Get to You - Roberta Flack with Donny Hathaway
With a Little Luck - Wings
It's All Wrong, But It's All Right - Dolly Parton
1978- The Buddy Holly Story, a film starring Gary Busey as Holly, has its world premiere in Dallas. The movie will be a critical and commercial success.
1980 - 9,677-foot Mt. St. Helens, quiet for 93 years, blew its top. The volcanic blast was five hundred times more powerful than the atomic bomb that leveled Hiroshima. Steam and ash erupted more than eleven miles into the sky and darkened skies in a 160-mile radius. Forest fires erupted around the volcano and burned out of control. The eruption, and those that followed, left some sixty dead and caused damage amounting to nearly three billion dollars.
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Imgs/Gif/Pictograms/may18_sequence.gif
1982 Unification Church founder Reverend Sun Myung Moon convicted of tax evasion.
1985-- Patricia Kimbrell, the first woman admitted to the ranks of the United States Jaycees, was installed as president of the Dallas chapter of that civic organization.
1986---Top Hits
Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston
Why Can't This Be Love - Van Halen
What Have You Done for Me Lateley - Janet Jackson
Ain't Misbehavin' - Hank Williams, Jr.
1987 - Thunderstorms in Kansas, developing along a cold front, spawned tornadoes at Emporia and Toledo, produced wind gusts to 65 mph at Fort Scott, and produced golf ball size hail in the Kansas City area. Unseasonably hot weather prevailed ahead of the cold front. Pomona NJ reported a record high of 93 degrees, and Altus, OK, hit 100 degrees.
1988- A's Dave Stewart breaks a major league record committing his twelfth balk of the season.
1990 - Thunderstorms produced severe weather in the central U.S. spawning sixteen tornadoes, including a dozen in Nebraska. Thunderstorms also produced hail four inches in diameter at Perryton TX, wind gusts to 84 mph at Ellis KS, and high winds which caused nearly two million dollars damage at Sutherland NE. Thunderstorms deluged Sioux City IA with up to eight inches of rain, resulting in a record flood crest on Perry Creek and at least 4.5 million dollars damage.
1991-Gertrude Belle Ellon, co-recipient of the 1988 Nobel Prize in Medicine, became the first woman inducted as a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Elion's researched to the development of leukemia-fighting drugs and immunosuppressant Imuran, which is used in kidney transplants.
1995- Severe thunderstorms spawned 86 tornadoes over the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, resulting in 4 deaths and 161 injuries. 5 of the tornadoes were rated f4 on the fujita scale.
1997-- Tiger Woods wins Byron Nelson Golf Classic
1998 - The CBS season finale of TV sitcom Murphy Brown aired, with the title character, played by Emmy-winner Candice Bergen, giving birth to an illegitimate son. Vice President Dan Quayle publicly lambasted the comedy, saying that the program "glorified" single-parenthood, and that it made a mockery of families with fathers. He went on to comment that "Murphy Brown" lacked the judgment to be a proper role model for young women, and that her actions were immoral. Despite the national unpopularity of his criticisms, Quayle did not back down from his stand against the popular show, providing fodder for many stand-up comics.
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,3019,00.html
1999 - The Backstreet Boys release their highly anticipated third album, "Millennium." The album goes on to become the best-selling album of the year.
2000- Mark McGwire passes Mickey Mantle into eighth place on the all-time home run career list with 539. 'Big Mac' goes deep three times as the Cardinals beat the Phillies, 7-2.
2004--- At ht age of 40, southpaw Randy Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher to ever throw a perfect game as the Diamonbacks beat the Braves, 2-0. The ‘Big Unit' joins Cy Young, Jim Bunning, Hideo Nomo and Nolan Ryan as the only hurlers to throw no-hitters in both leagues and creates the longest time span between no-no's having first accomplishing the feat against the Tigers in June of 1990.
Stanley Cup Champions This Date
1971---Montreal Canadiens
[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------
Baseball Poem
Baseball
Written by Don Angel © in 08-1997 |
Published: Baseball Almanac (08-2003) |
The sun is shining bright
No clouds are in sight
Pitching would be the key
Innings one, two and three
Inning four
Visitors strike a 1-0 score
Inning five
Bats come alive
Eight batters would come to the plate
Three runs being the fate
Being down by four
The home team needs to score
A single to left
Eyeing a base running threat
The pitcher's attention is slow
So off to second the runner goes
On the catcher's attempted throw
Sailing into the shortstop to low
Line drive up the middle
Another run is whittled
As a result of a homerun
Now entering the sixth, down one
Visitors still winning
Sixth, seventh and eighth inning
At the start of inning nine
It is up to the relief to shine
A strikeout of the side
Brings the bottom of the ninth in stride
As the closer comes into put out the fire
Team members are asked to show their desire
The batter takes his stance
Giving the third base coach a glance
Three balls, two strikes
Hoping for one he likes
An umpire's call
"A ball"
First base on a walk
Second base on a balk
With runner intact, the crowd reacts
When a feared slugger comes to bat
Wishing for a seventh game remembrance
Broadcasters giving those not in attendance
"It's a long fly,
and Aloha, means good-bye"! |
[Headlines]
| 
