Friday May 26, 2006
Headlines--- Two Corrections: Marlin & Kropschot ######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”
Two Corrections: #1 Correction: Marlin Stock Purchase The stock notice reported in Wednesday's edition did not give full disclosure. The SEC notice corrects what we found on the Marlin web site. We wrote: Marlin Officers Buy Stock! Reversing a recent trend of selling smaller shares of stock, Vice-president George D. Pelose purchased 58,500 shares and now owns 72,038. WRONG!!! . In an 8-K (SEC's EDGAR System) filing date of 5/25: "The Amendment (i) changes Mr. Pelose's title to Executive Vice President, (ii) indicates that Mr. Pelose is a member of the Office of the Chairman, (iii) increases Mr. Pelose's base salary to $275,000, and (iv) increases Mr. Pelose's annual target incentive bonus to 70% of his base salary. "In connection with his promotion to Executive Vice President and his appointment to the Company's Office of the Chairman, and in an effort to incent and retain Mr. Pelose, the Company has awarded Mr. Pelose (i) 33,000 shares of restricted stock that vests over a three-year period (15% in years 1 and 2, and 70% in year 3), and (ii) up to a maximum of 25,500 performance-based restricted stock , the amount of which that vests in three years to be determined by the Company's diluted EPS compounded average growth rate over such three year period." SEC Filing: http://leasingnews.org/PDF/MRLN_8-K%205_19_2006.PDF #2 Correction Microfinancial hires Bruce Kropschot
"In your summary of stories in today's Leasing News, you printed "MicroFinancial for Sale/B.Kropschot". Nothing could be further from the truth. The news release states that Kropschot Financial Services will serve as MicroFinancial's financial advisor in the search, identification, evaluation and negotiation of equipment leasing and financing acquisition opportunities. Thus, MicroFinancial is seeking to make acquisitions and is not "for sale" as Leasing News suggests. "As you know, MicroFinancial is a public company, and this erroneous headline may have an effect on its stock price. Thus I request that you please correct the headline in the Leasing News archives and that you issue a correction/clarification in the next issue of Leasing News." Bruce Kropschot Kropschot Financial Services (Bruce, I hope the story did have an affect on the stock, as with you involved, it should go up. (In the abbreviated section, the brief headline was changed "on line" to “Microfinancial hires Bruce Kropschot.” The editor made the assumption with Mr. Kropschot in the picture, there was a sale or a purchase intended. He apologizes for the error and promises he will never make any more errors. (The press release as printed in Leasing News retained the original headline with the sub-headline: MicroFinancial Incorporated Signs Agreement with Kropschot Financial Services Agreement Provides the Company with Additional Outside Experience in Order to Identify and Evaluate Leasing and Financing Opportunities (Here is the original story with the headline from the press release: http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/May%202006/05-24-06.htm ) Kit Menkin, publisher ---------------------------------------------------------------- Classified Ads---Sales
Sterling Vineyards Building, Calistoga, CA * Bakersfield, CA Boston, MA Cedar Rapids, IA
Formally trained in Credit, Collections, & Sales with regional bank. Seeking sales or sales management. Over ten years in SM, vendor and end user. Dallas, TX Denver CO Detroit MI East Central FL Fresno CA Greensboro, NC Kansas City, MO Los Angeles CA Mission Viejo, CA Montgomery, AL Nashua, NH Newport Beach, CA Midsouth, TX North Carolina, Central Philadelphia , PA Philadelphia, PA Portland, OR Prairie Village, KS Saint Louis, MO San Francisco Bay Area, CA San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco Bay Area Southern California South Central US 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 * Founded in 1969, Sterling has been a pioneer producer of fine red Bordeaux wines and the first winery in America to produce a vintage-dated Merlot ('69). The New York Times notes that Sterling Vineyards is “one of the most spectacular wineries in Napa Valley…” A must for visitors to the area, Sterling Vineyards has three different tasting rooms offering one of the best selections of wines in Napa Valley. A Visitors Fee includes aerial tram ride, self-guided tour, and complimentary tasting of the five featured-wines. Other wines available for fee (refundable upon purchase-conditions apply). A "coupon" and other information may be found at: or visit the winery direct at: http://www.sterlingvineyards.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Global Financial Services 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 |
To view the entire list, please go here: http://www.leasingnews.org/Brokers/broker_Lessor.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------- Classified Ads---Help Wanted Jr. Analyst
Operations Manager
Senior Secondary Market Officer
VP-Manager of Equipment Lease Division
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Pawnee Stock down almost a buck! Chesswood Income Fund dba Pawnee Leasing IPO started at $10.00 a share on May 10, 2006, raising $57,781,930 (Canadian) on its first offering. The stock itself has gone up and down since opening and hovers at the end of Thursday at $9.15 (last bid.)
"I'm not worried about the stock price," President Gary Souverein said. "This is a cross border transaction, an investment in our cash flow and proven performance. We are confident in our ability to be a sound and growing investment vehicle.”
Gary H. Souverein (file photograph) After spending a month in the final preparation, and then spending several weeks on the road making presentations to investors for the IPO, he took a week off, and only recently returned back to work. "I was away from my family and owed time with them,” he explained. Asked if anything had changed since the company was now publicly owned, he responded: “It's the same...the same business plan, the same recipe, the same engine that is working, and we continue to polish our service to our broker customers in the start-up and “B” credit markets. He didn't seem concerned about the stock price; although he believes it will improve as the Canadian market sees them perform. "My goal is to exceed our investors' expectations. We won't be changing the systems that have brought Pawnee to where we are today. We have the right employee team, the proven procedures, we know our marketplace, and we perform." The two parties instrumental in the stock offering and procedure told Leasing News they had inquiries of other leasing companies interested in the Canadian public marketplace: “I have followed the success of Pawnee for over 10 years since I first met founder Rob Day when we were in the same golf foursome at a UAEL Convention. Over the years, I have performed several consulting assignments for Pawnee, and it has been gratifying to see the sound growth that the company has achieved under the leadership of Rob, Sam Leeper and Gary Souverein. “I was pleased when Pawnee's shareholders asked me to locate a supportive acquirer to help Pawnee reach the next level of its growth plans. I believe that Chesswood Income Fund, with its access to the public equity markets and having the advantage of being a Canadian income trust, is a perfect match for Pawnee. I have been very impressed with Chesswood CEO Barry Shafran and his vision for the future of the company, and I am confident that Chesswood will provide further opportunities for Pawnee employees and the lease brokers that Pawnee supports.” Bruce Kropschot “My firm (Swandel and Associates) acted for Cars4U (Chesswood). Our role was to find an acquisition and assist with due diligence. It was a pleasure working with Bruce Kropschot who did a superb job for Pawnee. I have had contact with the people at Pawnee through UAEL and NAELB and knew that this deal would be a strong fit for all parties. The people at Chesswood are a brilliant group that made a very complex transaction easy for the public market to understand. “Currently I have Canadian clients seeking to acquire U.S. or Canadian Lessors. With the rapid rise in the Canadian dollar we may see a few more cross border transactions in the near future. Hugh Swandel The original story: http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/May%202006/05-10-06.htm#pawnee---------------------------------------------------------------- Fed releases April senior loan officer survey ABSnet The Federal Reserve recently released its quarterly Senior Loan Officer Survey. Broadly, the survey reported a net easing in commercial and industrial (C&I) and residential mortgage lending while commercial real estate (CRE) lending standards remained steady. The Fed also noted that net demand at domestic institutions for both C&I and CRE loans were little changed compared to the previous survey, while residential mortgage net demand remained lower. The survey also reported that in terms of C&I lending to large and middle-market firms, nearly 16% of respondents had eased their standards in the past three months, while 3.5% of participants reported tightening. The net increase of 12% is just slightly higher than January's 11%. There was also a slight easing in terms. Specifically, 60% — a notably larger net fraction compared to the previous survey — reported trimming spreads of loan rates over their COF for large and middle-market firms. Additionally, almost 40% indicated they reduced the cost of credit lines. The easing of credit standards and loan terms was largely attributed to more aggressive competition from other banks or non-bank lenders. This was also the primary reason given in the previous survey. Not counting normal seasonal variation, 65% of the large respondents reported demand over the past three months was about the same, 19% said it was moderately stronger and 16% stated that it was moderately weaker. In the previous survey, 29% saw moderately stronger demand, while 13% of respondents noted demand was moderately weaker. For those reporting strengthening demand, the primary reasons cited were increased customer investment in plant and equipment and rising M&A financing needs. For those citing weaker loan demand, the primary reason given by customers was an increase in internally generated funds. In terms of inquiries regarding potential business, there was little change in the current survey versus the previous one. The results showed 61% reported the number has stayed about the same, 25% reported a moderate increase, and 14% saw a moderate decline. This compares to 64%, 27% and 9%, respectively, in the last survey. In the commercial real estate loan category, credit standards held steady over the quarter versus the previous quarter. According to 84% of respondents, standards remained basically unchanged while 9% reported some tightening and 7% some easing. There was a slight increase in demand for CRE loans — 5% on net. In the previous report, the net increase over the period was 3.6%. In terms of residential mortgage lending, 87% of respondents noted their credit standards were basically unchanged in the past three months, 11% noted some easing while 2% reported some tightening. The previous survey was balanced between those reporting easing and tightening at 8%, for a 0% net. Demand was improved from the previous report with 17% recording it as moderately stronger, compared to 2% previously. The results showed that 39% reported moderately weaker demand and 2% reported substantially weaker demand. This is down from 42% and 4%, respectively, in the January survey. While demand on net remained weaker in the current survey, it was an improvement from the last report. The results of the report are seen as positive for the mortgage market given that lending demand on net has been steady to lower in C&I and CRE loans while growth is being recorded in deposits and assets. This suggests that banks should continue adding MBS faster than the underlying MBS market is growing, according to analysts at Bear Stearns. — Sally A. Runyan/IFR MortgageData----------------------------------------------------------------
Predicting a Salesperson's Success by Steve Chriest Have you ever rated a candidate for a sales position a “10” on a scale of one to ten? Her interview skills were exceptional. She was articulate and graceful, had all the right answers, offered insights that showed the ability to think creatively about challenges, and seemed eager to get started in her new sales role. Compared with all other candidates, this person was truly a dream come true. But after only a few months, it became painfully obvious that you made a big hiring mistake. What happened? The problem may with your interviewing process. According to the International Personnel Management Association, typical hiring methods are ineffective. If you put on a blindfold, and simply pointed to one among a group of candidates lined up against a wall, and hired that person, your hiring method would depend on “chance” for success. If, on the other hand, you're hiring process includes a typical employment interview, your odds of improving over “chance” increase about 1%. If your hiring process includes a standard personality test, you would again improve your odds over chance by another 1%. If, along with the interview and personality test, you require a candidate to have relevant job experience, your chances of a good hire increase to 5%. If you include a scoreable interview in your hiring process, your odds over chance for a good hire increase to about 7%. If your company is among a growing number of firms that include validated and objectively administered selection “tests” in their hiring process, you can increase your chances of a good hire by up to 25%. An improvement of 25% over “chance” may not impress you, but the math shows that this is an improvement of 257% over even the best interview processes that lack selection tests! So, exactly how would a validated and objectively administered selection test help you avoid hiring the candidate you rated a “10” based on your “gut” feeling? Without delving into the specifics, these tests reveal not only aptitude for performance, but a candidate's willingness to perform the duties of the particular sales position. The tests answer the questions: Can the candidate do the job, and is the candidate likely to do the job? The candidate you rated a “10” may have told a great story, but when it came to performing, she obviously lacked the “will” to do the job. You can use your management and teaching talents to help salespeople improve skill problems, but there is little or nothing you can do to help someone with a “will” problem. Validated and objectively administered selection tests can help you identify skill and will problems, and increase your chances of good hires. 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.
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ELA Briefs Business Journalists on Lease Accounting ELTnews On May 22 and 23, ELA President Michael Fleming, accompanied by long-time Accounting Committee member and resource William Bosco, met with business journalists in New York at the Wall Street Journal, The Economist Group (CFO Magazine) and Business Week. The three briefings and subsequent discussions are a part of ELA's campaign to bring more light than heat to the consideration of financial accounting for leases. "There have been just so many misleading statements made about lease accounting that many business leaders are getting the impression that lease accounting is broken, is abusive and is no longer GAAP. There is also a very simplified view of how to change lease accounting," according to Fleming. The briefings used a new published ELA White Paper, "Lease Accounting: Separating Myth from Reality," written by Mr. Bosco. According to Fleming, the first message ELA wants to get across is that current lease accounting is not broken. Rather, current lease accounting is founded on a rules-based risk and rewards framework that is no longer in favor with FASB. FASB and IASB leaders want to move to a principles-based components framework for leasing in which there are assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. Fleming and Bosco walked the journalists through the structure of a lease and the motivations for leasing. By illustrating that lease structures, pricing and decisions revolve around four points--OEC, term, desired range for a monthly payment and the booked residual--they demonstrated that operating lease treatment most often results in the market decisions rather than by targetting an 89.9% target. Fleming told the journalists ELA expects that Accounting Standards for Leasing to be changed over the next three years and that ELA is prepared to work with FASB and IASB on the project. "Not withstanding the fact that we believe current accounting standards, including healthy disclosures, reflect economic reality, standard setters want to implement a new framework. Our goal is to be sure that the new standards work as well, and reflect economic reality as well as FAS 13 has for 30 years. The ELA presentation identified how the basis for determining what will be capitalized as assets and liabilities will likely revolve around quantifying "the right to use," that is, what a lessee receives and what it assumes liability for in a lease. Each briefing included a lively discussion of what constitutes an asset. Bosco observed that FASB will probably depart from its traditional definition of an asset in order to make its desired framework work. Journalists were amazed at all the options and services that could be included in "the right to use" and why measurement could be difficult. Fleming and Bosco also stressed the following: --Lease accounting is currently transparent, but the user must look to income statements and footnotes to fully understand the lessee's practices. - Disclosures should be the key to new lease accounting standards. ELA plans to continue its briefings and attack myths and inaccurate statements regarding financial accounting for leases as part of its campaign. The Accounting White Paper: http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Bill_Bosco.pdf--------------------------------------------------------------- Société Générale expanding into leasing in China www.efma.com The French bank is opening a new subsidiary in Shanghai which will handle its long-term leasing, car fleet management and equipment financing activities. Société Générale is already present on the Chinese market with ALD its car leasing arm and launched its vendor and equipment finance activity (SG Equipment Finance) last March. The French bank now wants to take advantage of a new law on the financing of capital equipment for companies, which is due to enter into force in 2007. By grouping together these activities, Société Générale intends to reduce the cost of setting up on this large market. The bank is also targeting major international companies setting up production operations in China. For the time being, the idea of company car fleets is a new concept in China, but the growth potential is strong.--------------------------------------------------------------- Top 50 Memorial Day Destinations AccountingWEB.com - - The Millennium Park/Loop area of Chicago is the top destination of travelers during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, according to the fourth annual survey of the 50 most popular Memorial Day Weekend destinations by internet travel service provider priceline.com. Warm weather destinations were also popular. International destinations, other than Canada, however, were not. The survey is based on the actual booking activity of more than 30,000 requests made by priceline.com customers for the weekend of May 27-29. The survey is believed to be one of the more accurate predictors of Memorial Day travel trends because it is not based on consumer preference polls or votes. One trend this year is that beach destinations are back in vogue, claiming 15 places on the top 50 list. Unusually cold weather during May 2005 may have kept travelers away from places like Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head last year, but both are back among the top 50 for 2006. There was also a significant change in the most-requested Memorial Day destination. Las Vegas held the top spot from 2003 to 2005, only to be replaced this year by Chicago. New York was popular again this year, as were San Francisco, San Diego and the Los Angeles area. The Indianapolis Speedway area made its annual appearance at Number 50, despite celebrations marking 90 years of the Indy 500. Priceline's list of top destinations includes:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sacramento, California Jazz Jubilee May 26-29 More than 100 bands from the US, Canada and foreign countries perform American traditional jazz music in approximately 40 venues around Sacramento at the world's largest traditional jazz festival. www.sacjazz.com ---------------------------------------------------------------### Press Release ########################### DocuSign Releases New In-Session Signing to Accelerate Online Applications
Customers can visit a Web site, complete and submit forms and sign an application all in a single Web session SEATTLE, WA -- - DocuSign®, the leading on-demand electronic signature service, today announced the availability of DocuSign In-Session Signing, a new service specifically designed to allow companies to integrate DocuSign directly into their existing web portals and e-commerce offerings. DocuSign In-Session Signing allows a customer to visit a Web site, complete a form and sign an application all in one visit. The DocuSign On-demand Signing Service ensures proper security, user authentication, and document non-repudiation, and leads the industry in ease of use and flexibility. Typical uses for in-session electronic signatures include: Consumer loan applications DocuSign integrates easily into existing software applications DocuSign provides the 'missing link' many companies need to enable a complete end-to-end transaction process that requires documents to be signed. Companies are realizing that the ability to quickly and efficiently close sales by leveraging electronic signatures greatly increases customer retention and dramatically increases the sales close rate. The addition of DocuSign In-Session Signing expands the breadth of the services DocuSign offers. DocuSign also supports the ability for individuals to securely and quickly send any document on their PC for signature to anyone in the world and sign remotely using only a web browser at a fraction of the cost of traditional signing methods. DocuSign provides immediate ROI "Many e-commerce customers are only able to execute some of their transactions online, and are forced to turn to a paper process to obtain signatures," said Tom Gonser, VP of Product Strategy at DocuSign. "In typical e-commerce transactions that require signatures, customers have to download and sign documents, or the customer has to physically send documents via overnight express. This decreases close rates, increases errors, and adds cost. Now, with DocuSign In-Session Signing, the entire ecommerce transaction, including signing documents, can happen online, increasing sales close rates, eliminating signing errors, lowering paper costs, and reducing postage fees." About DocuSign ( www.docusign.com) DocuSign is the leading and most trusted electronic signature service, offering service to over 750 corporate customers worldwide, and processing millions of transactions per year. DocuSign is widely recognized as having the most flexible and easy to use signature service available anywhere. DocuSign's customers represent industry leading companies in financial services, real estate, CRM, leasing, manufacturing, technology and communications. Named by Gartner, Inc. as a Cool Vendor to watch in 2005, DocuSign is a venture backed, privately held company based in Seattle, Washington.### Press Release ########################### Key Equipment Finance Names John A. Evans SUPERIOR, CO. – – Key Equipment Finance, one of the nation's largest bank-affiliated equipment financing companies and an affiliate of KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY), has named John A. Evans as executive vice president of its Asia Pacific region. In this role, Mr. Evans will be responsible for overseeing operations throughout offices in eight Asia Pacific countries.
John A. Evans “John has been with our organization for 15 years and has developed broad experience in sales, asset management, operations and finance,” said Karen Larson, president and chief operating officer for Key Equipment Finance's global vendor services group. “John's most recent role as integration manager, responsible for combining the newly acquired American Express Business Finance organization into Key's existing operational systems, was both challenging and important to our ongoing business achievements. Its successful completion is a tribute to John's organizational talents and team-building skills.” Mr. Evans joined Key Equipment Finance (then Leasetec Corporation International) as European portfolio manager in the United Kingdom in 1997. He was named vice president, European Commercial Operations, in 2000. He accepted an expatriate assignment in 2002 as senior vice president, Global Finance and Treasury, at Key Equipment Finance's worldwide headquarters just outside Boulder, Colorado. He was appointed senior vice president, Integration and Technology, in 2004. Mr. Evans earned his bachelors of arts degree, with first class honors, from The University of Greenwich in London, England. Key Equipment Finance is an affiliate of KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) and provides business-to-business equipment financing solutions to businesses of many types and sizes. They focus on four distinct markets: · businesses of all sizes in the U.S. and Canada (from small business to large corporate); Headquartered outside Boulder, Colorado, Key Equipment Finance manages a $12.6 billion equipment portfolio with annual originations of approximately $5.7 billion. The company has major management and operations bases in Toronto, Ontario; Albany, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; London, England; and Sydney, Australia. The company, which operates in 26 countries and employs 1,100 people worldwide, has been in the equipment financing business for more than 30 years. Additional information regarding Key Equipment Finance, its products and services can be obtained online at KEFonline.com. Cleveland-based KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $93 billion. Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies throughout the United States and, for certain businesses, internationally.### Press Release ###########################
News Briefs---- Rates on 30-year mortgages climb Economic growth lower than expected $363M is average pay for top hedge fund managers Enron Leaders Found Guilty Defendants Sunk by Their Testimony INVESTORS WIN $6.6B IN SETTLEMENTS WITH BANKS Mexico Prez. Fox hails passage of immigration bill Vermont bank to acquire New Hampshire bank VONAGE IPO IS A BOMB UNDERWRITERS BURNED Yahoo, eBay join forces in partnership Dell to sell PCs installed with Google's software, not Microsoft Florida angler lands what may be record shark 1,280 lbs. ---------------------------------------------------------------
You May have Missed--- Condi Rice: Taylor Hicks' Biggest Fan? http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1198331,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------
Sports Briefs---- Bush to wear No. 25 this coming season Raiders say SI story about sale is 'fiction' Reese leaves window cracked for McNair return McKenzie insists he's the man ----------------------------------------------------------------
“Gimme that Wine” California wines beat the French -- again Taste-off proves California wines age best, too Flights: Wine Panel actual scores: France to go 'massive' in China Wine Prices by vintage US/International Wine Events Winery Atlas Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page ----------------------------------------------------------------
Calendar Events This Day Australia: Sorry Day A day to express sorrow for the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their familes. Cherry Dessert Day Feast of Saint Augustine of Canterbury Pope Gregory sent Augustine to convert the pagan English. Augustine became the first archbishop of Canterbury. He died May 26, 605 AD. Georgia: Independence Day National Day. Commemorates declaration of independence from Russian in 1918. Was absorbed the Soviet Union in 1922. Israel: Jerusalem Day (YOM Yerushalayim) Hebrew Calendar date, lyar 28, 5766. Commemorates the liberation of the old city, June 7, 1967. Began at sundown May 25. ----------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Top Event in History 1895 – famous “America” photographer Dorothea Lange born Hoboken, New Jersey. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/writers/lange/power_3 ----------------------------------------------------------------
This Day in American History 1649-A ban on Jesuits was enacted by the Puritan Massachusetts colony. Contrary to what is taught in elementary and middle schools, the puritans were quite prejudiced to other religions and did not escape England for persecution, but wanted for the opposite reason, to ensure their own religion above any others. The ban provided that “No Jesuit or ecclesiastical person obayned by the authoritie of the pope shall henceforth come within our jurisdiction” except ting survivors of shipwrecks and trades who “ behave themselves inoffensively during their abode here.” A second offense was punishable by death. Stanley Cup Champions This Date 1988 Edmonton Oilers --------------------------------------------------------------
Baseball Poem "MIRACLE MAN": An Original Poem by Holly Russcher I started thinking up this poem the day after Robin's first game back after his injury. By styling it after "Casey at the Bat" I acknowledged not only one of baseball's best literary works but also the high expectations that Sox-fans had for Robin that night, much like those the Mudville crowd had for their great slugger, Casey. Casey failed to come through for his team. What you are about to read is a different story.... The night of July 24, at Comiskey Park, some said That left-handed home run hitter with warm smile and matchless heart The Texas Rangers would oppose the Sox as Chitown twilight fell; Doug Drabek was a-pitching, gold of hair and steel of eye, Nothing-nothing was the score when Robin first came to the plate "We love you, Robin Ventura! We know you'll make us proud!" In the still-scoreless seventh inning, Rangers hurler Ken Hill tired. Matt Karchner came in next to pitch and gave up a home run. Dave Martinez ignored Hill's pitches, and at last he drew a walk. Robin sauntered to his rightful place; this was his last at-bat. Hill stood on the mound in silence, wound up and pitched the ball. "It's gonna get down, and go to the warning track! Picked on a hop by Rusty Greer-- That night in other ballparks spoiled superstars had played, --------------------------------------------------------------
SuDoku The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. What could be simpler? http://leasingnews.org/Soduku/soduko-main.htm |
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