Thursday, November 30, 2023

Today's Leasing News Headlines

Story Credit Financing
    Business Loans, SBA Loans, Working Capital
Scott Wheeler, CLFP, Recommends True
    Advisors are Strong Originators
Help Wanted in the Leasing Business
    Balboa and TopMark Careers Open/Sales
Why Executives Need to be Physically Fit
  to Perform at Peak Performance
    Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners, Managing Director
Dext Capital Announces Successful Close
    of Fourth ABS Securitization
FDIC-Insured Institutions Reported Net Income
    of $68.4 Billion in Third Quarter 2023
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
    Reports  Cannabis Tax Revenues for the Third Quarter 2023
The Killer, Nyad, Oppenheimer,
  Rustin, Sly, All Real-life Stories.
    Reviews by Leasing News' Fernando Croce
Very Friendly American Pit Bull Terrier
    Sacramento, California   Adopt-a-Dog
ELFA Announces 2024 Women’s Leadership Forum
    and Recognizes Women’s Council Members

News Briefs ---
You can’t reserve a Tesla Cybertruck
    at least not right now
Rite Aid is closing another 30 stores
    in addition to the 100 the bankrupt chain
UAW wants to organize non-union auto plants
    the South is a big target
Disney has ‘enough room to build another Disneyland’
    in Anaheim, theme park chairman D’Amaro says
Shoppers Are Finally Getting a Break on Prices'
    in some cases, Walmart and others are offering better deals
US gas prices have fallen or remained steady
    for 10 weeks straight. Here's why

You May Have Missed ---
Sacramento turns to unexpected solution for downtown crows
    A man with an even bigger bird

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

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

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

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

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Reports  
Cannabis Tax Revenues for the Third Quarter of 2023

Sacramento – The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) reported cannabis tax revenue today for the third quarter of 2023. As of November 16, 2023, total cannabis tax revenue from third-quarter returns is $269.3 million. This includes California's cannabis excise tax, which generated $156.9 million, and $112.4 million in sales tax revenue from cannabis businesses.   

Previously reported revenue for the second quarter of 2023 returns was revised to $285.1 million, including $164.8 million in cannabis excise tax, and $120.3 million in sales tax. Revisions to quarterly data result from amended and late returns and other tax return adjustments. 

These figures reflect the states’ new vendor compensation program. During the third quarter, eligible cannabis vendors retained $845,272 in vendor compensation. Starting April 1, 2023, cannabis retailers eligible for the vendor compensation program may retain 20 percent of the cannabis excise tax due on their retail sales of cannabis or cannabis products for a 12-month period. Cannabis retailers must be approved by the Department of Cannabis Control and CDTFA before claiming vendor compensation. The vendor compensation program runs through December 31, 2025. 

The third quarter figures also reflect $622,320 in excise tax credits claimed by retailers who paid excise taxes to distributors under the previous tax structure. Starting January 1, 2023, cannabis retailers are required to collect, report, and pay the cannabis excise tax.  

Since January 2018, total cannabis tax revenue to date is nearly $5.5 billion, including nearly $2.8 billion in cannabis excise tax and nearly $2.2 billion in sales tax. That also includes $501 million in cultivation tax, which was eliminated July 1, 2022, as a result of cannabis tax reform legislation.  

The total reported cannabis tax revenues do not include outstanding returns or returns that are still being processed. They also do not include locally imposed taxes collected by cities and counties.  

Retail sales of cannabis and cannabis products are subject to state and local sales tax. Sales tax applies to sales of cannabis, cannabis products, the cannabis excise tax, and sales of other merchandise such as pipes, rolling papers, and shirts. Certain retail sales of medicinal cannabis are exempt from sales and use taxes when the purchaser holds a valid Medical Marijuana Identification Card issued by the California Department of Public Health. 
. 
Background: 
In November 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act. On January 1, 2018, two new cannabis taxes went into effect: a cultivation tax on all harvested cannabis that enters the commercial market and a 15 percent cannabis excise tax upon purchasers of cannabis and cannabis products. The cultivation tax no longer applies to cannabis or cannabis products starting July 1, 2022.

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Watch at Home
by Fernando Croce, Leasing News Movie Reviewer

In a week stacked with real-life stories, streaming releases include a dazzling historical biopic (“Oppenheimer”), a pair of inspirational dramas (“Nyad,” “Rustin”), a disarming documentary (“Sly”) and a stylish thriller (“The Killer”).

The Killer (Netflix): Director David Fincher reteams with his “Seven” screenwriter, Andrew Kevin Walker, for this ingeniously minimalistic thriller. A screen adaptation of a French graphic novel, it follows an unnamed professional assassin (Michael Fassbender) with an exacting technique and a dark philosophy, first seen at work targeting a businessman in Paris. When the hit is botcher, however, the hunter finds himself becoming the hunted, as his Dominican Republic hideout is promptly raided and his girlfriend (Sophie Charlotte) attacked. Vengeance means tracking down everyone involved in a secret arrangement, a journey that takes him from Louisiana to Florida to New York, where he meets a fellow killer (Tilda Swinton). A cold and meticulous tale about a cold and meticulous man, Fincher’s terse film abounds in impeccable style and sardonic humor.

Nyad (Netflix): Annette Bening shines as long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad in this earnest biographical drama, which marks the narrative debut of documentary makers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (“Free Solo”). A retired champion turned journalist, Nyad at 60 decides to accomplish what she couldn’t at an earlier age—namely, swimming from Cuba to Florida, over a hundred miles of ocean water without interruption. It’s a daunting challenge, which includes not just sharks and stingrays along the way but also sexist-ageist doubts from colleagues. By her side are her best friend Bonnie Stoll (a terrific Jodie Foster), as well as grizzled captain John Bartlett (Rhys Ifans). Though it scarcely breaks any new ground in the field of based-on-a-true-story crowd-pleasers, the movie remains compelling thanks to the grit of the performances.

Oppenheimer (Amazon Prime, iTunes, Vudu): One of the year’s most acclaimed releases as well as a surprising box-office smash, this dense and engrossing historical thriller amply showcases director Christopher Nolan’s dazzling ambition and cinematic skill. Based on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Cillian Murphy), the physician who headed the Manhattan Project that created the atomic bomb during World War II, the story uses the Hollywood biopic template to chronicle a visionary’s aspiration and subsequent horror. From testing the potentially catastrophic new weapon in Los Alamos to putting it to use in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the film weaves a taut and ultimately terrifying portrait of scientific discovery at the destructive hands of humanity. Nolan’s bold filmmaking is buoyed by a large cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, and Gary Oldman.

Rustin (Netflix): An often overlooked aspect of Civil Rights history is the focus of this stirring chronicle of the struggles of activist Bayard Rustin, directed by George C. Wolfe (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”). Growing up in the segregated South, Rustin (impressively played by Colman Domingo) becomes involved with the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Aml Ameen). Largely responsible for organizing the 1963 March on Washington which led to King’s immortal “I have a dream” speech, Rustin’s passion and ingenuity were key to putting the landmark event together—even as his personal life as a gay man gathered little support within the community. With a cast that includes Chris Rock and Jeffrey Wright, this is a fleet, sturdy record of an unfairly forgotten figure.

Sly (Netflix): A Hollywood veteran for five decades, Sylvester Stallone reveals familiar and surprising sides in this disarming documentary from director Thom Zimmy, most noted for his Bruce Springsteen concert films. Mixing serene reflection with personal details that still haunt him, Stallone recounts the unlikely Cinderella story that was his ascension to superstardom. From a rough childhood in Hell’s Kitchen to a struggle for bit roles in the movie industry, he details a tenacious rise to fame culminating in the Oscar-winning success of “Rocky,” an iconic role that’s been tied to Stallone’s persona for good and for ill. Throughout the account of blockbusters and flops, Stallone proves to be an ingratiating, at times poignant raconteur, and there are also interviews with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Talia Shire, Henry Winkler, and Quentin Tarantino.

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

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This Day in History

    1729 - Birth of Samuel Seabury (d. 1796), Groton, CT.  First bishop of the American Protestant Episcopal Church. Following the American Revolution, Seabury helped formulate the constitution which made the American Protestant Episcopal Church independent and autonomous from the Church of England.
    1782 - The Articles of Peace between Great Britain and the U.S., which were to end America's War of Independence, were signed at Paris, France. The refined and definitive treaty of peace between Great Britain and the U.S. was signed at Paris, on September 3, 1783. In it, "His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the United Sates...to be free, sovereign and independent states; that he treats them as such; and for himself, his heirs and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof..." The time delay was not only due to communication by sea, but time was needed for over 100,000 loyalists to leave the United States. Also known as Tories, the loyalists suffered various penalties for their loyalty to the Crown, including confiscation of property, removal from public office, and punitive taxation. Probably no more than 10% of the colonials were Tories, who were generally well-to-do, engaged in commerce, or the professions, or public officials. Many fled to Canada, where they were granted land if they fought in the British Army, some to England. Some returned after the war. Many, however, had remained behind, thinking Great Britain would win the war. After the conflict, those Tories that did remain were able to recover at least part some of their confiscated property, according to historians. In 1784, a major depression crippled the U.S. economy, prompting states to institute separate measures to aid recovery. The hardships suffered during this depression led to Shays' Rebellion on January 25, 1787.
    1804 – The impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase began.  President George Washington appointed Chase as an associate justice of the Supreme Court in 1796.  President Thomas Jefferson, alarmed at the seizure of power by the judiciary through the claim of exclusive judicial review, led his party's efforts to remove the Federalists from the bench. His allies in Congress had, shortly after his inauguration, repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801, abolishing the lower courts created by the legislation and terminating their Federalist judges despite lifetime appointments.  Chase, two years after the repeal in May 1803, had denounced it in his charge to a Baltimore grand jury, saying that it would "take away all security for property and personal liberty, and our Republican constitution will sink into a ‘mobocracy.’  Earlier, in April 1800, Chase acting as a district judge, had made strong attacks upon a defendant who had been indicted under the Alien and Sedition Acts, behaving more like a prosecutor than a judge.  Jefferson saw the attack as indubitable bad behavior and an opportunity to reduce the Federalist influence on the judiciary by impeaching Chase, launching the process from the White House when he wrote a Congressman, asking: "Ought the seditious and official attack [by Chase] on the principles of our Constitution . . .to go unpunished?"  Virginia Congressman John Randolph took up the challenge and took charge of the impeachment. The House served Chase with eight articles of impeachment in late 1804.  One article covered Chase's conduct with the New Castle grand jury, charging that he "did descend from the dignity of a judge and stoop to the level of an informer by refusing to discharge the grand jury, although entreated by several of the said jury so to do." Three articles focused on procedural errors made during Chase's adjudication of various matters, and an eighth was directed at his “intemperate and inflammatory … peculiarly indecent and unbecoming … highly unwarrantable … highly indecent” remarks while "charging" or authorizing a Baltimore grand jury. The Senate began the impeachment trial of Chase in early 1805, with Vice President Aaron Burr presiding and Randolph leading the prosecution.  All the counts involved Chase's work as a trial judge in lower circuit courts. The heart of the allegations was that political bias had led Chase to treat defendants and their counsel in a blatantly unfair manner. Chase's defense lawyers called the prosecution a political effort by his Republican enemies. In answer to the articles of impeachment, Chase argued that all of his actions had been motivated by adherence to precedent, judicial duty to restrain advocates from improper statements of law, and considerations of judicial efficiency.  The Senate voted to acquit Chase of all charges on March 1, 1805. He is the only U.S. Supreme Court justice to have been impeached. 
    1810 - Birthday of rifle maker Oliver Fisher Winchester (d. 1880), Boston.  Rifle maker. His company acquired rights to manufacture pistols and rifles patented by Tyler Henry and others. The repeating rifle was in full production by 1860 and was in heavy demand during the Civil War, during which Winchester continued to improve the rifle's design by acquiring other patents. He renamed the company the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1866. A political and philanthropic figure, he was lieutenant governor of Connecticut (1866–67) and made large donations to Yale. 
    1812 - American forces invaded Canada at Queenston on October 13 and lost.  British forces under General Brock hurried down the road from Niagara-on-the-Lake to reinforce the troops at Queenston. When they arrived, the fight began to warm up and the main body of the American militia, on the U.S. side, refused to cross the river to back up the success of their comrades. Their cowardice in abandoning the brave men who had gone before, and the poor leadership of the American Forces changed victory to defeat and possibly changed the entire outcome of the war. General Brock led an attack against the forces on the hill and was killed by a sniper's bullet in the first charge. U.S. forces were back again on this date with an army of 5,000 troops assembled near Buffalo. A small force crossed the river and captured a British battery. General Smythe demanded the British surrender Fort Erie, when this was refused, he called off the invasion plan. His men broke their weapons in frustration and humiliation. Smythe was publicly called a coward and challenged to a duel by U.S. Col. Peter Proter. He resigned his command of the frontier, but was dismissed from the army in disgrace by the Senate. After two years of bloodshed, misguided and misdirected efforts, the armies were back where they started. There was no doubt that both sides of the river gave a heartfelt sigh of relief when the Treaty of Ghent ended the war in December, 1814.
http://www.goniagarafalls.com/history.html
    1835 - Birthday of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (d. 1910) at Florida, MO.  Known as Mark Twain, celebrated American author, whose books include: “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,’ “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “The Prince and the Pauper.” Twain is quoted as saying, “I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it.” He did, Apr 21, 1910 (just one day after Halley's Comet perihelion).
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/nov30.html
    1854 - "Fighting Mary" Eliza McDowell (d. 1936), was born in Cincinnati. A social worker, she helped organize the first women's local union of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters in 1902. Comprised mostly of women workers, the Local grew to more than 1,000 members.
http://www.chicagotribute.org/Markers/McDowell.htm
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_mcdowell_mary.htm
    1866 - Construction begins on the first underwater highway tunnel, the Washington Street Tunnel, beneath the Chicago River, Chicago, IL. The total length of the tunnel and its approaches as 1,520 feet. It was lowered in 1907 to provide a clear draft of 27 feet in the Chicago River.
    1874 – Birthday of Lucy Maud Montgomery (d. 1942), Toronto, Canada.  Writer, famous for her juvenile books, especially “Anne of Green Gables” (rejected by several publishers) published in 1908, and followed by six sequels.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/lmmontg.htm
    1874 – World War II British prime minister Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, England.  His mother, Lady Randolph, originally Jennie Jerome, was born in Brooklyn.  Who knew he was half-American?
    1875 - A severe early season cold wave set November records. Temperatures plunged to 5 degrees in New York City, NY, 2 below at Boston, MA and 13 below at Eastport, ME.
    1887 - The first softball game was played at the Farragut Boat Club, Chicago, IL. The game was invented by George W. Hancock, who devised a set of rules that gradually developed as the game progressed. A broomstick was used for the bat and a boxing glove for the ball. The game was known variously as Diamond Ball, Fast Ball, Kitten Ball, Playground Ball, and recreation Ball. It was named softball by Walter C. Hakanson.
    1901 – The man who scouted Jackie Robinson for Branch Rickey, Clyde Sukeforth (d. 2000), was born in Washington, ME.
    1906 - Birthday of John Dickson Carr (d. 1977), Uniontown, PA.  Under pseudonyms Carr Dickson, Carter Dickson, Roger Fairbairn, he was a writer of detective fiction, whose specialty was "locked-room” puzzles, which he developed to its limits. Published about 80 mysteries. Fifty of them featured one of his three detectives - Henri Bencolin, Dr. Gideon Fell, & Sir Henry Merrivale.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/jdcarr.htm
    1907 - Disappearance of SF Police Chief William Biggy.  After the non-fatal shooting of special prosecutor Francis J. Heney by an excused juror named Morris Haas, Chief Biggy endured public criticism for negligence for the fact that Haas had a small derringer and committed suicide under police watch. Upon falling out with the men supporting the graft prosecution, Biggy was placed under surveillance by detectives employed by William J. Burns, a special agent to the prosecution.  Biggy went overboard from a police launch during a nighttime crossing of San Francisco Bay after discussing his resignation with police commissioner Hugo Keil. His body was found floating in the bay two weeks later. Because Biggy, a devout Catholic, was considered an unlikely suicide, the Coroner's Jury returned a verdict of accidental death although many people believed that he had committed suicide and the death remains unsolved.
http://www.sfmuseum.org/sfpd/sfpd1.html
http://www.thejukejoint.com/franksinatrajr.html
    
    1907 – Pike Place Market in Seattle was dedicated.
    1907 – Brooklyn Dodger fans will remember Happy Felton, born Francis Joseph Felton (d. 1964) in Bellevue, PA.  Felton was a musician and television and radio personality who hosted the very popular show “Happy Felton's Knothole Gang” which preceded telecasts of Dodgers games. He had a knack for working with children and, in 1949, pitched the idea of pre-game show aimed at a young audience and featuring young fans to Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley. The proposal was accepted, the first installment aired on April 21, 1950 and continued until the Dodgers moved to LA for the 1958 season.
    1912 - Birthday of Gordon Parks (d. 2006), Ft. Scott, KS.  Film director/writer, “The Learning Tree.” Photographer for Life magazine, director of "The Learning Tree" and "Shaft," called a "Twentieth Century Renaissance man" by the NAACP, who awarded him its Spingarn Medal in 1972.
    1915 - "Brownie" McGee, born Walter Brown McGee (d. 1996), blues singer and guitarist, born Knoxville, Tennessee. Best known as part of the duet Brownie McGee and Sonny Terry. http://www.island.net/~blues/sonnyter.html
http://www.bluespower.com/a-bm01.htm
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569185/
    1924 - Birthday of Shirley Chisholm (d. 2005), Brooklyn.  She was the first black woman to serve in U.S. Congress. Got legislation passed that guaranteed minimum wages for domestic workers. Angered the political powers by actively seeking the presidency, winning 154 delegates. After serving seven terms, Chisholm retired from Congress in 1982, becoming a professor at Mount Holyoke College.  In 2015, Chisholm was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
    1929 - Birthday of Dick Clark (d. 2012), Mount Vernon, NY.  Long-time host of “American Bandstand,” from 1957-87, entertainer, producer.  As host of Bandstand, Clark introduced rock ‘n’ roll to most Americans. The show gave many new music artists their first exposure to national audiences, including most of the members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Episodes he hosted were among the first in which blacks and whites performed on the same stage and among the first in which the live studio audience sat without racial segregation. The music establishment, and the adults in general, really hated rock ‘n’ roll. Politicians, ministers, older songwriters and musicians foamed at the mouth. According to Hollywood producer Michael Uslan, "he was able to use his unparalleled communication skills to present it in a way that was palatable to parents.”  Singer Paul Anka claimed that Bandstand was responsible for creating a "youth culture." Due to his perennial youthful appearance and his fame as the host of American Bandstand, Clark was often referred to as "America's oldest teenager" or "the world's oldest teenager."
    1929 - Birthday of Joan Ganz Cooney, television producer, Phoenix, AZ. After winning an Emmy for an anti-poverty special in 1966, she raised the funds to found the Children's Television Workshop which developed and produced “Sesame Street,” “The Electric Company,” and provide home and hearth for the Muppets. 
    1931 - William Ernest “Bill” Walsh (d. 2007) birthday, Los Angeles, CA. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach, Walsh went 102–63–1 with the San Francisco 49ers, winning 10 of his 14 postseason games along with six division titles, three NFC Championships, and three Super Bowls. He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1981 and 1984. In 1993, he was elected to the Hall of Fame.  Among his many accomplishments to the game, he is credited with introducing the West Coast offense of short, precise passes to complement a solid running game.  Hall of Famers who played for him include Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Charles Haley, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young and his coaching tree rivals those of Paul Brown, Bill Parcells, and Sid Gilman.
http://www.sportspublishinginc.com/Titles/Bill-Walsh-Finding.html
    1931 –Trumpet player Jack Sheldon birthday, Jacksonville, FL.
http://www.jacksheldon.com/
    1931 – “The Joy of Cooking” is published, perhaps the most popular all-purpose cookbook, self-published by Irma Rombauer (1877-1962—her son by the way started Rombauer Winery in Napa making outstanding wine.) Rombauer's book was a comforting voice for cooks during the Depression, and the book grew into an institution. The first commercial edition of the book appeared in 1936, and it offered a revolutionary “action format” (chronologically ordered ingredients followed by instructions) now commonplace in cookbooks. In reality, she was not a cook, and most of the recipes she collected from friends and others, and wrote in a style for people who were not cooks. The numerous editions overseen by Rombauer and later her daughter and grandson sold more than 14 million copies.
    1933 – Birthday of artist Sam Gilliam, Tupelo, Mississippi. Artist known for unique manipulation of materials resulting in painted sculpture or suspended paintings. His work was in the exhibit African-American Artists 1880-1987.
http://www.ket.org/content/painting/gilliam.htm
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/gilliam_sam.html
http://www.crosstownarts.com/CrosstownArts/client_art/sam/sam.html
    1937 – Birthday of Noel Paul Stookey, Baltimore.  American folk singer. Stookey was "Paul" of the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary. Converted in the late 1960s, Stookey is now a Christian recording artist and prefers using his "born again" name, “Noel.”
http://www.peterpaulmary.com/people/nps.htm
http://www.noelpaulstookey.com/index.html  
http://www.peterpaulmary.com/people/nps.htm
    1938 - Bunny Berigan records Bix Beiderbecke’s “Davenport Blues.”
    1939 - Dwight David Eisenhower was issued pilot's license No. 93,258 by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. He learned to fly when he was a lieutenant colonel on General Douglas Macarthur's staff in the Philippines. He is the only President of the United States to hold an airplane pilot's license.
    1940 - Charlie Parker cuts first date with Jay McShann Band, Radio KFBI, Wichita, KS, “I've Found a New Baby.”
    1940 - "I Love Lucy" actress Lucille Ball (28) wed actor Desi Arnaz (23) in Greenwich, CT.
    1941 - Japanese Emperor Hirohito consulted with admirals Shimada and Nagano. Hirohito was deeply concerned by the decision to place "war preparations first and diplomatic negotiations second" and announced his intention to break with centuries-old protocol.  At the Imperial Conference on the following day, he directly questioned the chiefs of the Army and Navy general staffs — a quite unprecedented action. Konoe quickly persuaded Hirohito to summon them for a private conference instead, at which the Emperor made it plain that a peaceful settlement was to be pursued "up to the last." Chief of Naval General Staff Admiral Osami Nagano, a former Navy Minister and vastly experienced, later told a trusted colleague "I have never seen the Emperor reprimand us in such a manner, his face turning red and raising his voice." The war preparations continued without the slightest change. 
    1943 - OHATA, ALLAN M., Medal of Honor
Sergeant Allan M. Ohata distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 29 and 30 November 1943, near Cerasuolo, Italy. Sergeant Ohata, his squad leader, and three men were ordered to protect his platoon’s left flank against an attacking enemy force of 40 men, armed with machine guns, machine pistols, and rifles. He posted one of his men, an automatic rifleman, on the extreme left, 15 yards from his own position. Taking his position, Sergeant Ohata delivered effective fire against the advancing enemy. The man to his left called for assistance when his automatic rifle was shot and damaged. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Sergeant Ohata left his position and advanced 15 yards through heavy machine gun fire. Reaching his comrade’s position, he immediately fired upon the enemy, killing 10 enemy soldiers and successfully covering his comrade’s withdrawal to replace his damaged weapon. Sergeant Ohata and the automatic rifleman held their position and killed 37 enemy soldiers. Both men then charged the three remaining soldiers and captured them. Later, Sergeant Ohata and the automatic rifleman stopped another attacking force of 14, killing four and wounding three while the others fled. The following day he and the automatic rifleman held their flank with grim determination and staved off all attacks. Staff Sergeant Ohata’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army. 
    1943 - On Capitol Records, Nat ‘King' Cole and his trio recorded "Straighten Up and Fly Right," the first recording for the King Cole trio.
    1945 - Top Hits
“It's Been a Long, Long Time” - The Harry James Orchestra (vocal: Kitty Kallen)
“That's for Me” - Dick Haymes
“I'll Buy that Dream” - The Pied Pipers
“Shame on You” - The Lawrence Welk Orchestra (vocal: Red Foley)
    1948 - Baseball's Negro National League announced they are disbanding; the 1949 is their last season. The National Negro American League closed its doors in 1962, although its fans were less and less after the 1950's as blacks began to play in the Major Leagues.
http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/history101.html
http://www.nlbpa.com/history.html
    1950 - Clover Dairy Company, Wilmington, DE, sold their first can of concentrated milk called Sealtest. Two parts of water were added to one part fluid milk. The Clover Dairy Company was a division of the National Dairy Products Corporation.  Originally it was only a “test,” thus the name on the can.
    1950 - BARBER, WILLIAM E., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Captain U.S. Marine Corps, commanding officer, Company F, 2d Battalion 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Chosin Reservoir area, Korea, 28 November to 2 December 1950. Entered service at: West Liberty, Ky. Born: 30 November 1919, Dehart, Ky. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Company F in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assigned to defend a 3-mile mountain pass along the division's main supply line and commanding the only route of approach in the march from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri, Capt. Barber took position with his battle-weary troops and, before nightfall, had dug in and set up a defense along the frozen, snow-covered hillside. When a force of estimated regimental strength savagely attacked during the night, inflicting heavy casualties and finally surrounding his position following a bitterly fought 7-hour conflict, Capt. Barber, after repulsing the enemy gave assurance that he could hold if supplied by airdrops and requested permission to stand fast when orders were received by radio to fight his way back to a relieving force after 2 reinforcing units had been driven back under fierce resistance in their attempts to reach the isolated troops. Aware that leaving the position would sever contact with the 8,000 marines trapped at Yudam-ni and jeopardize their chances of joining the 3,000 more awaiting their arrival in Hagaru-ri for the continued drive to the sea, he chose to risk loss of his command rather than sacrifice more men if the enemy seized control and forced a renewed battle to regain the position, or abandon his many wounded who were unable to walk. Although severely wounded in the leg in the early morning of the 29th, Capt. Barber continued to maintain personal control, often moving up and down the lines on a stretcher to direct the defense and consistently encouraging and inspiring his men to supreme efforts despite the staggering opposition. Waging desperate battle throughout 5 days and 6 nights of repeated onslaughts launched by the fanatical aggressors, he and his heroic command accounted for approximately 1,000 enemy dead in this epic stand in bitter subzero weather, and when the company was relieved only 82 of his original 220 men were able to walk away from the position so valiantly defended against insuperable odds. His profound faith and courage, great personal valor, and unwavering fortitude were decisive factors in the successful withdrawal of the division from the deathtrap in the Chosin Reservoir sector and reflect the highest credit upon Capt. Barber, his intrepid officers and men, and the U.S. Naval Service. 
    1950 - SITTER, CARL L., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Company G, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Hagaru-ri, Korea, 29 and 30 November 1950. Entered service at: Pueblo, Colo. Born: 2 December 1921, Syracuse, Mo. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Company G, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Ordered to break through enemy-infested territory to reinforce his battalion the morning of 29 November, Capt. Sitter continuously exposed himself to enemy fire as he led his company forward and, despite 25 percent casualties suffered m the furious action, succeeded in driving through to his objective. Assuming the responsibility of attempting to seize and occupy a strategic area occupied by a hostile force of regiment strength deeply entrenched on a snow-covered hill commanding the entire valley southeast of the town, as well as the line of march of friendly troops withdrawing to the south, he reorganized his depleted units the following morning and boldly led them up the steep, frozen hillside under blistering fire, encouraging and redeploying his troops as casualties occurred and directing forward platoons as they continued the drive to the top of the ridge. During the night when a vastly outnumbering enemy launched a sudden, vicious counterattack, setting the hill ablaze with mortar, machine gun, and automatic-weapons fire and taking a heavy toll in troops, Capt. Sitter visited each foxhole and gun position, coolly deploying and integrating reinforcing units consisting of service personnel unfamiliar with infantry tactics into a coordinated combat team and instilling in every man the will and determination to hold his position at all costs. With the enemy penetrating his lines in repeated counterattacks which often required hand-to-hand combat, and, on one occasion infiltrating to the command post with hand grenades, he fought gallantly with his men in repulsing and killing the fanatic attackers in each encounter. Painfully wounded in the face, arms, and chest by bursting grenades, he staunchly refused to be evacuated and continued to fight on until a successful defense of the area was assured with a loss to the enemy of more than 50 percent dead, wounded, and captured. His valiant leadership, superb tactics, and great personal valor throughout 36 hours of bitter combat reflect the highest credit upon Capt. Sitter and the U.S. Naval Service. 
    1952 - GEORGE, CHARLES, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Songnae-dong, Korea, 30 November 1952. Entered service at: Whittier, N.C. Born: 23 August 1932, Cherokee, N.C. G.O. NO.: 19, 18 March 1954. Citation: Pfc. George, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on the night of 30 November 1952. He was a member of a raiding party committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain feature, the group was subjected to intense mortar and machine gun fire and suffered several casualties. Throughout the advance, he fought valiantly and, upon reaching the crest of the hill, leaped into the trenches and closed with the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. When friendly troops were ordered to move back upon completion of the assignment, he and 2 comrades remained to cover the withdrawal. While in the process of leaving the trenches a hostile soldier hurled a grenade into their midst. Pfc. George shouted a warning to 1 comrade, pushed the other soldier out of danger, and, with full knowledge of the consequences, unhesitatingly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full blast of the explosion. Although seriously wounded in this display of valor, he refrained from any outcry which would divulge the position of his companions. The 2 soldiers evacuated him to the forward aid station and shortly thereafter he succumbed to his wound. Pfc. George's indomitable courage, consummate devotion to duty, and willing self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service. 
    1952 - On a local New York television show, Jackie Robinson accuses the Yankee organization of being racist due to its failure to have a black player on the club.  They had signed Vic Power in 1951, who languished for several years in the minors until being traded.  The first black Yankee was Elston Howard who made the roster in 1955 and became a cog of the late 1950-early 1960s teams, winning the AL MVP in 1963…the first African-American so honored.
    1953 - Top Hits
“Rags to Riches” - Tony Bennett
“Many Times” - Eddie Fisher
“Ricoche”t - Teresa Brewer
“There Stands the Glass” - Webb Pierce
    1954 - Nat "King" Cole begins a six-night run at Harlem's Apollo theater. 
    1954 - The first meteorite known to have struck a person crashed through the roof of a house at Sylacauga, AL, bounced off a radio, and struck Mrs. Elizabeth Hodges on the hip. she was not permanently injured. The space rock was a sulfide meteorite weighing 8.5 pounds and measuring seven inches long. It was put on display in the University of Alabama Museum of Natural History, Moundville, AL.
    1954 - Birthday of June Pointer (d. 2006), Pointer Sisters, born Oakland, California.
http://www.thepointersistersfans.com/june.html
    1955 - Guitarist, singer, songwriter Billy Idol was born William Michael Albert Broad, Middlesex, England.
http://mr.mayhemchaos.tripod.com/mc00idol/id8.html
http://www.billyidol.com/v1/frame.html
    1956 - Floyd Patterson won the heavyweight title by knocking out Archie Moore in the fifth round of a fight in Chicago. Patterson claimed the title made vacant by the retirement of Rocky Marciano on April 27.
    1961 - Top Hits
“Runaround Sue” - Dion
“Please Mr. Postman” - The Marvelettes
“Goodbye Cruel World” - James Darren
“Big Bad John” - Jimmy Dean
    1962 – Perhaps the greatest athlete who never was, Bo Jackson, was born Vincent Edward Jackson in Bessemer, AL.  Jackson won the 1985 Heisman Trophy at Auburn University. He was a powerful running back with blazing speed and is one of two Heisman Trophy winners to play Major League Baseball (Vic Janowicz is the other); he is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. College Football News ranked him the 25th greatest college football player of all time.  He was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1986 NFL draft, but at first declined to pursue a career in pro football in order to play baseball. After a year, he changed his mind and said he would attempt to play both sports. Drafted again in 1987, this time in the 7th round by the Oakland Raiders, he played with them from 1987 to 1990. He missed the 1992 season after a hip injury suffered in the NFL playoffs in 1991 that ended his football career. He sat out the entire 1992 baseball season after undergoing hip replacement surgery. He returned to play baseball two seasons after the surgery, the first player to play in the Majors with an artificial hip.  He is one of six men who hit a home run and score a touchdown the same year.  In the Majors in 1986, he hit what was then (and what still might be) the longest home run in Royals history - a 475-foot shot. He was a physical phenomenon, combining raw power with blazing speed and a cannon arm from the outfield.  His best year was 1989, when he hit 32 home runs with 105 RBI.  He became the first Royal in history to steal 25 bases and hit 25 home runs in a single season, when he did so in 1988, despite tearing a hamstring in May.  He was named Comeback Player of the Year in 1993, after he had missed the 1992 season due to hip replacement surgery. He last played in the Major Leagues with the Angels in 1994, his last game coming the day of the 1994 strike.
    1964 - A cold wave brought temperatures to 17 below at Minneapolis and 3 below at Springfield, IL
    1965 - Following a visit to South Vietnam, Defense Secretary McNamara reports in a memorandum to President Lyndon B. Johnson that the South Vietnamese government of Nguyen Cao Ky "is surviving, but not acquiring wide support or generating actions." McNamara warned that there was no guarantee of U.S. military success and that there was a real possibility of a strategic stalemate, saying that "U.S. killed in action can be expected to reach 1,000 a month." In essence, McNamara cautioned Johnson that sending additional troops was not likely to prevent the stalemate. In the end, however, Johnson chose to seek a military solution. By 1969, there were more than 500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam.
    1967 - Julie Nixon, daughter of Richard and Pat Nixon, and David Eisenhower, grandson of President and Mrs. Eisenhower, announced their engagement.  They have been married since December 22, 1968.
    1967 – The New York Yankees purchased SS Gene Michael from the Dodgers.  While his Major League playing career was modest at best, this trade brought Michael to the organization he is credited with thoroughly rebuilding.  He was twice GM, latterly from 1990-95, and as GM was responsible for the acquisitions by trade or draft of the core of the Yankees dynasty of the 1990s:  Dave Winfield, Derek Jeter, Charley Hayes, Paul O’Neill, John Wetteland, Andy Pettitte, Jimmy Key, and David Cone.  His greatest value may have been in keeping owner George Steinbrenner from himself given his whimsy to trade young talent that did not develop as quickly as Steinbrenner wished.  Most prominent among them were Jeter and Pettitte. 
    1968 - Diana Ross and the Supremes hit #1 on the music charts with "Love Child," a controversial song for the times. It stayed at #1 for two weeks.
    1969 - Top Hits
“Come Together/Something” - The Beatles
“And When I Die” - Blood, Sweat & Tears
“Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” - Steam
“Okie from Muskogee” - Merle Haggard
    1969 - Simon & Garfunkel's first TV special airs. Sponsor AT&T backs out when they learn that the duo plan to show footage of Bobby Kennedy's funeral march and clips of the Vietnam War.
    1969 - OWEN, HAMMETT L., JR. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 27 June 1969. Entered service at: Jacksonville, Fla. Born: 30 November 1947, Lagrange, Ga. Citation: S/Sgt. Bowen distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant during combat operations in Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam. S/Sgt. Bowen's platoon was advancing on a reconnaissance mission into enemy controlled terrain when it came under the withering crossfire of small arms and grenades from an enemy ambush force. S/Sgt. Bowen placed heavy suppressive fire on the enemy positions and ordered his men to fall back. As the platoon was moving back, an enemy grenade was thrown amid S/Sgt. Bowen and 3 of his men. Sensing the danger to his comrades, S/Sgt. Bowen shouted a warning to his men and hurled himself on the grenade, absorbing the explosion with his body while saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. S/Sgt. Bowen's extraordinary courage and concern for his men at the cost of his life served as an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the military service and the U.S. Army. 
    1971 - As the "ABC Movie of the Week," ABC-TV presented "Brian's Song." The story was about Chicago Bears Brian Piccolo and his friendship with Gayle Sayers, who watched him die a tragic death. The movie, starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams, rated a 32.9 and a 48 share. "Brian's Song," performed by Michel Legrand, was the movie's theme.
    1974 - The Eagles released their hit, "Best of My Love," but it would take until March 1,1975 for it to hit #1 on the top 40 charts.
    1974 - Elton John's Greatest Hits album hits #1 
    1977 - Top Hits
“You Light Up My Life” - Debby Boone
“Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” - Crystal Gayle
“How Deep is Your Love” - Bee Gees
“The Wurlitzer Prize” (“I Don't Want to Get over You”) - Waylon Jennings
    1982 – “Thriller” was released.  Michael Jackson’s sixth album is one of the most popular and important of all time, charting seven Top 10 songs:  “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “The Girl is Mine,” “Thriller,” “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “Human Nature,” and ”P.Y.T.”   It broke the pop charts for black artists who had often been relegated to R&B charts.  “Thriller” stayed on the charts for three years and has sold over 110 million copies.  In 2008, it Was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.
    1985 – “Separate Lives" by Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
    1985 - Top Hits
“Separate Lives” - Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin
“Broken Wings” - Mr. Mister
“Never” - Heart
“Too Much on My Heart” - The Statler Brothers
    1987 - "Weird Al" Yankovic records first of his "Even Worse" LP: "Melanie" and "Stuck In A Closet With Vanna White" are among the songs therein.
    1987 - Los Angeles Raiders running back Bo Jackson rushes for 221 yards in just his fifth career NFL game as the Raiders beat Seattle 37-14. Jackson scores on runs of 91 and 2 yards, and adds a 14-yard touchdown catch
    1988 - LL Cool J performs the first rap concert held in Africa.
    1991 - 93 cars and 11 trucks were involved in a chain-reaction accident near Coalinga, California (Central California, north of the Grapevine) during a dust storm; 17 died and 150 were injured. The area is well-known for its “tule” fog and dust storms.
    1991 - "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" by P.M. Dawn topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
    1991 - Minneapolis ended the month with 46.9 inches of snow, the most ever for November and for any month. Although the official start of winter was still 3 weeks away, the city had already surpassed the normal seasonal snowfall record with 55.1 inches since October 1 (normal for the entire winter is 49.2 inches)
    1993 - Brady Gun Bill signed into law by President Clinton.
    2000 - Free agent Mike Mussina inks an $88.5 million, six-year contract with the Yankees. The ten-year veteran compiled a 147-81 record with a 3.53 ERA as an Oriole hurler.  Mussina spent his entire career in the competitive and high-scoring AL East, won at least 11 games in 17 consecutive seasons – an American League record – and recorded a career .638 winning percentage. Considered a marginal Hall of Fame candidate, among pitchers, he ranks 33rd in all-time wins (270), 33rd in games started (535), 66th in innings pitched (3,562.2), and 19th in strikeouts (2,813). A five-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove winner, Mussina's consistency resulted in six top-five finishes in the voting for his league's Cy Young Award.  He finally had a 20-win season in his final year.  Mussina entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019 with teammate Mariano Rivera.
    2011 - Washington State University researchers developed an artificial bone 'scaffold' which uses 3D printers to print replacement bone tissue for injured patients.

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