Classified Ads---Other e-Mail Posting Sites

www.adams-inc.com
www.affinitysearch.com
www.bajobs.com
www.careerbank.com
www.careerbuilder.com
www.careerpath.com
www.careerjet.com
www.craigslist.org
ELFA Career Center
www.FinanceLadder.com
http://www.findhow.com/
www.hotjobs.com
www.indeed.com
www.jobs.net
www.jobssearchengine.net
www.jobsearchusa.org
www.JobSpin.com
www.jobsinthemoney.com
www.ladders.com
www.leasingworld.co.uk
www.lessors.com
www.MarketingJobs.com
www.monitordaily.com
www.monster.com
www.monstertrak.monster.com/
www.Postonce.com
www.RecruiterConnection.com
www.resumeblaster.com
www.vault.com
www.vetjobs.com
www.worktree.com
www.worldleasingnews.com

Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

Four Prominent Attorneys on "Reps and Warrants"

Hurdles to overcome are definitions of a "funder" and "lessor" or “broker.” Many lessors and brokers market themselves as "decision makers," which they may be from their viewpoint as they decide what they can "place" and what they cannot. The "funders" have a different point of view: It is the responsibility of the payments when not made is their key deciding factor.

In reality, many of those who claim to be "direct lenders," or "decision makers," are tiny shops, as defined by the US Small Business Association, where under 200 is considered a "small business." In reality many brokers or a lessor (their name is on the “private label program document” and that makes them a “lessor,”) are one person operations, maybe two or three employees or independent salesmen or employees working solely on commission. Some may have a warehouse line or even carry leases in their own line of credit, but the great majority of their leases are discounted “non-recourse.”

The defining factor, according to the California Department of Corporations, is whose name is on the document and collects the advance rentals in their name. A brokers name does not appear. A lessor’s name does appear.

According to the Leasing News list, most of these established lessors whose name is on the leasing contract are under 25 and smaller. 10 to 15 would be average for an established operation. They often site “representation and warranty" agreements can give them "recourse" and therefore if the transaction is sold supposedly "non-recourse," it really isn't. They believe it makes them responsible.

While there are many leases that in the course of payments being made problems come up with credit items or situations overlooked, who is responsible for the "lack of due diligence."

A good case in point is Allied Health Care Services, Orange, New Jersey leases where there are 123 pages of creditors, mostly leasing companies, small, regional, and large banks.

In bringing an alert to readers’ attention, many came forward to claim Leasing News was "way off base" as they have placed "successful" leases.

Rick Wilbur wrote Leasing News that his company Charter Capital, Scottsdale, Arizona has " done business with Allied for over five years. We’ve closed over 90 separate deals for in excess of $19 million."

Gary Saulter of Chase Industries says he has done millions for Allied in the last ten years. "I know exactly what the equipment is, what is does, and where it all is. We did inspections on all his recent deals."

Larry LaChance, CLP, Northborough, Massachusetts says, "Have multiple lease schedules with 7 figure exposure. Started relationship back in 2004 and Allied has never been late or missed a payment on any schedules."

“This is Ray Butler president of Amsource Capital and I have known Allied and Chuck for 3+ years and we have placed many loans and leases for Allied and have never incurred a problem nor have any of the funding sources we used. I have been to Allied’s facility many times as have many of my lenders and everyone is pleased with Allied and the operation Chuck runs.

There are other lessors who also present many, In addition, the 24 lawsuits brought forth exhibits of leases "discounted" by several lessors, such as ACC Capital, Midvale, Colorado, First Premier, Edina, Minnesota, Global Vantage, Newport Beach, California, and others. An ACC Capital spokesperson told leasing news they had placed nine, "All non-recourse. Not our problem." Are they? What about First Premier being named by other banks in the complaints.

In this view, Leasing News asked several prominent equipment leasing attorneys for their opinion regarding "representations and warranties:"

From Barry Marks

We were proposing to our funder and broker clients a compromise under which certain representations would result in refund of fees only unless the broker demonstrated extreme carelessness or actual fraud.

In today's economy I am afraid that is going to be unacceptable to most funders.

There are several traditional representations at issue here. Those wishing to escape the Allied Health Care Service situation really need to talk to counsel.

We're involved in these lawsuits from both sides. 1 suggestion to thunders who only bought a few bad deals is to join with similarly situated funders and pool resources. The same may work for brokers.

BARRY S. MARKS
MARKS & WEINBERG, P.C.
Financial Center - Suite 1615
505 North 20th Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
P. O. Box 11386
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
bmarks@marksweinberg.com
www.leaselawyer.com
205.251.8303
fax 278.8905 (Direct) 251.8305 (Main)

From Barry Dubin:

At times I have suggested that a broker's reps might be qualified by language such as  " to the best of Broker's knowledge after due investigation" which might allow a broker to avoid liability or at least negotiate a compromise settlement with a funder if they are truly an innocent victim of the fraud AND did what you would reasonably expect a broker in that position to have done regarding confirmation of delivery, execution of documents, etc.

Also, as Barry Marks points out, it is not unreasonable to limit the right to put a deal back to a broker to those situations where they have really done something wrong and not have it apply to every technical breach of a rep.

However, you have to keep in mind the golden rule, "He who has the gold makes the rules" and most funding sources would view these reps as a contractual allocation of risk even if both are innocent victims and expect the broker to take that risk if they want to do the deal.

Barry A. Dubin, Esq.
Cooper, White & Cooper LLP
201 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 433-1900 ---Phone
(415) 433-5530----Fax

From Ken Greene:

This is an issue that has concerned me for many years, perhaps decades.

It certainly is not my wish to denigrate all lessors who require Reps and Warranty Agreements. However, I have seen some that are, in my humble opinion, unconscionable.

The basis premise of a non-recourse lease agreement, vis-à-vis the originating broker, is that he or she is not held liable should the lessee default. Notwithstanding that representation,  many of the Reps and Warranty Agreements circumvent the non-recourse aspect of the deal and hold the broker liable under many circumstances.  For example, consider these provisions and the impact on the broker:

1.  All executed documents submitted to the lessor/funder have been
duly authorized and executed, and will be in FULL FORCE AND EFFECT and will be VALID, AUTHENTIC AND BINDING UPON AND ENFORCEABLE against the lessee(s)/guarantor(s).  Ostensibly, the broker is validating signatures. Does that mean the broker must be present for the signing? Are electronic signatures taboo?  Do all signings require a notary?

2.  All documents must be "true and correct" on the date of signing. 
What if there is a mistake, something insignificant like the title of an officer?

According to some (thought not all) broker program agreements, the breach of these covenants (and others) requires that the broker buy back the lease. If these agreements are purportedly non-recourse leases, this is a blatant anomaly.

I have tried, with some success, to convince the lessors/funders to modify their agreements to ameliorate the hardship to the brokers.  I think, however, especially given the current economy, that it would behoove the money sources to ease up on the burdens imposed on the brokers.

This is just one man's opinion.  I'm certain others will disagree.

Kenneth C. Greene
Hamrick & Evans, LLP
111 Universal Hollywood Drive Suite 2200
Universal City, CA 91608
Tel: 818.763.5292
Fax: 818.763.2308

From Richard C. Feldman

There are two sides to every coin.  I try to convince smaller banks and funding sources to use agreements with strong reps and warranties (sorry Ken).  Often a one-off deal starts to multiply geometrically and they find themselves acquiring more and more paper for bigger dollars and without a formal arrangement.  The lack of a formal recourse agreement can lead to sloppy deals and the smaller lenders do not have the resources or procedures to do protective due diligence. 

At some point a sloppy deal becomes a negligent one and may contain false representations (undelivered or used equipment, no corporate authority, forged guarantees, false invoices, etc).  The funder may then have a cause of action for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud, and unfair trade practices.  That is fine if there is a deep pocket, but more often they will be lucky if they get something back from future deals.

I believe strong reps and warranties set a higher bar for the originators and encourage them to be more thorough when documenting deals.  It is much easier to use shortcuts if you believe that “without recourse” means provides an invisible shield no matter what happens after you get your money.

Richard C. Feldman
Evans, Feldman & Ainsworth , LLC
261 Bradley Street
PO Box 1694
New Haven CT 06507-1694
Tel. 203-772-4900 ext 308
Fax 203-782-1356
rcfeldman@snet.net  
WWW.EFanda-LAW.COM

From Tom McCurnin

The problem for the funders is this:

--They never see the borrower;
--They do not garner signatures, and do not know if they are valid;
--They don't handle the equipment nor supervise its delivery; and
--They don't file the UCC-1 and don't know its priority and whether its a PMSI or not.

Most funders want to off-load these aspects of the transaction, and are willing to pay a significant portion of the payment stream for these services.  If the broker is willing to perform and be accountable for these aspects, then it will earn a nice fee.  If not, then the broker should only be entitled to a small finders fee.  Pick one.

To drill down, the reps generally fall into signature and equipment issues.

As for the signatures, any broker can use a signature service for $100-500, to have the documents notarized.  And that fee can be passed on to the borrower. 

As for equipment issues, any broker can use Purchase Orders (Jim Grant of Leaf has the best one I've ever seen), and have recourse against the Vendor.  Of course, any Vendor should be pre-qualified or if not so qualified, then the deal should not be done. 

I'm with the funder on most of these issues.

Assuming a broker wants to negotiate a decent agreement, then a "to the best of broker's knowledge" term should be inserted, if acceptable to a funder.  But visa vis the average rinky-dink broker, that would not be acceptable to me, as counsel for the funder. 

Regards,

Tom McCurnin
Barton, Klugman & Oetting
350 South Grand Ave.
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Direct Phone: (213) 617-6129
Cell (213) 268-8291
Fax: (213) 625-1832
Email: tmccurnin@bkolaw.com  
Visit our Web Site at:  www.bkolaw.com

Allied creditors, part 1, 63 page list
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Allied_list_of_creditors.pdf

Allied creditors, part 2, 60 page list
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Allied_Creditors_Part2.pdf

Allied Creditors mailing list, 109 pages
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/AlliedCreditorsMailinglist.pdf

Manufactures’ Lease Plans joins Funder List

A -Accepts Broker Business | B -Requires Broker be Licensed | C -Sub-Broker Program | D -"Private label Program" | E - Also "in house" salesmen

MLPI is principally interest in lease structures in which the lessor retains the residuals. Over the years, we have been particularly successful providing 1,2,3 and 4 year leases structured as Rental Agreements, Fair Market Value Leases and our unique, “Paired Option” Lease Program.

Funders List:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/Funders.htm

Funders Looking for New Broker Business

Send company name, contact/email or telephone number as well as a URL to attach or description to
kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

There is no advertising fee or charge for a listing. They are “free.”Leasing News makes no endorsement of any of the companies listed, except they have qualified to be on this specific list.

Leasing News reserves the right to not list a company who does not meet these qualifications.

We encourage companies who are listed to contact us for any change or addition they would like to make. Adding further information as an "attachment" or clarification of what they have to offer would be helpful to readers are very much encouraged.

Leasing Associations: All non-profit leasing associations are abbreviated. To see the full name and learn more about the association, please click here.

BBB - Better Business Report | CBB - Leasing News Complaint Bulletin Board
| CNI - Current News Information

A -Accepts Broker Business | B -Requires Broker be Licensed | C -Sub-Broker Program
| D -"Private label Program" | E - Also "in house" salesmen

N/R (not reported)
* (no response---these listing do not come from the company directly, but from our research from many sources. It is our policy not to put anything in this section without confirmation.)

Business Reports: Companies listed may make any netiquette comment about their company or reports or other information in the footnote section of their listing. Leasing News recommends readers also view the footnote as well as the section itself or searching reports on the business.

It also should be noted that if a BBB report listing is found by a reader, as there may not have been one when this was last up-dated, please send the link to kit@leasingnews.org so Leasing News may up-date this section.

Leasing Associations: All non-profit leasing associations are abbreviated. To see the full name and learn more about the association, please click here.

BBB - Better Business Report | CBB - Leasing News Complaint Bulletin Board
| CNI - Current News Information

A -Accepts Broker Business | B -Requires Broker be Licensed | C -Sub-Broker Program
| D -"Private label Program" | E - Also "in house" salesmen

N/R (not reported)
* (no response---these listing do not come from the company directly, but from our research from many sources. It is our policy not to put anything in this section without confirmation.)

"You’re Better than Your Job Search"

Marc Cendella and Mathew Rothenberg, www.financeladder.com, have written an excellent book titled "Your Better than Your Job Search." Leasing News has published columns by Mr. Cendella, including in "Sales makes it Happen," plus other advice for those seeking employment or improving their present position.

$11.50 in paperback at Amazon.

He just completed a book signing tour, including one located near Leasing News in Mountain View, California, and photos on his web site show many people attending. His book even sold out at three of his book signing stops.

For more information, please go here:
http://yourebetterthanyourjobsearch.com/authors/

Top Traffic for 'Halloween costume'

- 4 Rolling Weeks ending October 23, 2010

www.hitwise.com

(Save for next year)

1. Halloween Express www.halloweenexpress.com 16.21%
2. BuyCostumes.com www.buycostumes.com 15.15%
3. Costume Super Center www.costumesupercenter.com 7.54%
4. Spirit Halloween www.spirithalloween.com 6.19%
5. www.halloweencostume.com www.halloweencostume.com 5.94%
6. Costume Express www.costumeexpress.com 4.35%
7. Facebook www.facebook.com 2.89%
8. HalloweenCostumes.com www.halloweencostumes.com 2.41%
9. Party City www.partycity.com 2.27%
10. Bing Shopping www.bing.com/shopping 2.12%

Leasing News: Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

Special Halloween Edition:

Halloween is here again, and it’s time to dig up more choice cinematic scares. Last year we had a top-shelf array of spine-tinglers, from “Psycho” to “Night of the Living Dead.” This year, we’re offering a new batch of movies that combine giggles and chills and put the recent “Paranormal Activity” to shame. So pull up a chair and a bowl of trick-or-treat candy, and get ready to be scared.

Halloween (1978): It may sound like an obvious choice, but John Carpenter’s original slasher classic retains its chilling qualities even after years of being ripped off by inferior horror movies such as “Friday the 13th” and “Saw.” Introducing one of horror cinema’s most enduring boogeyman in Michael Myers, the escaped psychopath carving his way through a small-town’s festivities (and meeting his match in plucky scream-queen Jamie Lee Curtis), the movie nevertheless remains a marvel of suspense and ingenuity over blood and guts. Modern horror directors can still learn a thing or two from it.

Rosemary’s Baby (1968): Surely one of the most frightening movies for expecting mothers, this darkly comic horror movie has often been imitated but never equaled. Mia Farrow plays Rosemary, a young woman who moves with her husband (John Cassavetes) into a spooky old building in New York City, and starts having strange feelings after she becomes pregnant. Is it all in her imagination, or do her odd neighbors have anything to do with it? Director Roman Polanski creates a unique atmosphere that mixes genuine dread with eccentric humor, building up to an unforgettable conclusion. And keep an eye out for Ruth Gordon’s Oscar-winning, movie-stealing performance.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): After so many sequels, remakes, and spoofs, it’s easy to forget how terrifying Freddy Krueger originally was. The prune-faced fellow with the striped shirt and razors for fingernails (played by Robert Englund) made his first appearance in Wes Craven’s creepy story of a wronged man taking revenge on people by invading and terrorizing their dreams. The 1980s was for the most part a bleak time for horror movies, but Craven’s fierce ideas and a strong cast (which includes a very young Johnny Depp) make this a visually striking, truly shocking ride.

Night of the Demon (1957): Proof that less is more, this terrific, unfairly forgotten gem should be watched by anybody who complains that horror movies can only rely on gore to get thrills. Like “Rosemary’s Baby,” it depicts a world in which the supernatural exists next to (and sometimes within) our normal lives. Dana Andrews stars as an American psychologist who travels to England to investigate rumors of occult gatherings, and gets more than he bargained for when he learns about the ancient demonic curse hanging over the local village. The great director Jacques Tourneur gives a master class on how to quicken pulses by using powers of suggestion rather than violence.

The Thing (1982): Okay, so this is technically a science-fiction rather than a horror movie. Still, I have never met anyone who hasn’t been chilled to the bone by it. Director John Carpenter, who gave us “Halloween,” heads to the South Pole for even stronger shocks. A group of scientists think they have a great discovery when they find an ancient alien spaceship frozen in the ice, but they never counted on having the shape-shifting visitor take over their compound. Thanks to an exceptional cast led by Kurt Russell, incredible special-effects, and Carpenter’s amazing use of screen space, the film works up a remarkable feeling of paranoia. Make sure to watch this one with the lights on!

Leasing Association Conferences 2010—Up-Date

November 3-5
Association of Government Leasing & Finance
Loews Ventana Canyon
Tucson, Arizona

Conference Schedule:
http://www.aglf.org/Fall_Schedule.pdf

Attendees by company:
http://www.aglf.org/attendee_list_company_name_102010.pdf

Attendees by last name:
http://www.aglf.org/attendee_list_last_name_102010.pdf

Brochure:
http://www.aglf.org/Final_LowRes_Brochure.pdf

Registration:
http://secure.aglf.org/core/events/events.aspx

November 12-13, 2010
NAELB Western Regional Meeting
Hilton Orange County / Costa Mesa
3050 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, California

To make hotel reservations by phone - Contact (714) 540-7000 or (714) 438-4923
and please identify yourself as an NAELB Western Regional Meeting attendee

-------------------------------------------------------------------

To view Leasing Association Events-Meetings Open to All, please click here.

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

Douglas Guardian—De Lage Landen Financial

Houston, Texas - Douglas Guardian Services Corporation, a leader in collateral management and field inspection services, and De Lage Landen Financial Services, a global provider of high-quality asset-based financing products to manufacturers and distributors of capital goods, announced they have entered into a long term servicing agreement to provide inventory inspection services for De Lage Landen’s North American business ventures including its Food & Agriculture, Construction, Transportation & Industrial business segments.

"We believe Douglas Guardian is a perfect fit for De Lage Landen, given its excellent reputation within the industry, inventory inspection product expertise, broad industry knowledge across our various business segments, and customer service orientation,” said John C. Reed, President of De Lage Landen’s Commercial Finance division.

“On behalf of Douglas Guardian, we are extremely pleased to have been selected as De Lage Landen’s inspection service provider,” said Bruce Lurie, Douglas Guardian’s President and Owner. “De Lage Landen’s strong market position and industry expansion will allow Douglas Guardian to continue to leverage our inspection efficiencies throughout North America.”

ABOUT DOUGLAS GUARDIAN
Douglas Guardian Services Corporation is a full service inventory control company founded in 1932. The company is based in Houston, Texas and operates throughout the United States and Canada. Over the past 78 years, the company has provided customized collateral management solutions for a broad spectrum of industry segments. The company is privately owned and operated and provides its services to secured lenders including banks, leasing companies, manufacturers and finance companies. These services are conducted by a network of W2 company employed auditors throughout North America. If you’d like more information about Douglas Guardian, please contact Darren McCarthy at 916-457-2627 or e-mail info@douglasguardian.com.

ABOUT DE LAGE LANDEN
De Lage Landen is a global provider of high-quality asset-based financing products. Headquartered in Eindhoven (the Netherlands), De Lage Landen is 100% owned by Rabobank. This Dutch bank is triple-A rated by the major rating agencies Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.

With offices and joint ventures in more than 35 countries worldwide, De Lage Landen specializes in asset financing and vendor finance programs on a worldwide scale. The global offering also includes an array of commercial finance solutions. The company focuses on the following industries: Food & Agriculture, Healthcare, Office Equipment, Technology Finance, Financial Institutions, Transportation and Construction & Industrial. De Lage Landen also offers private-label leasing programs for the banking industry, and delivers a broad range of financial services to leasing organizations and non-banking financial institutions.

In the Netherlands, De Lage Landen offers a broad range of financing products, both through local Rabobanks and directly to the market. These products include Equipment Leasing, Car and Commercial Vehicle Leasing, ICT Leasing, Consumer Finance and Factoring.

Athlon Car Lease International became part of De Lage Landen Group in 2006. Athlon Car Lease International is an international provider of operational car leasing, active in eight European countries.

In 2009 De Lage Landen achieved a net profit of € 112 million ($156 million USD) and a lease portfolio of € 23.7 billion ($34.2 billion USD). By year-end 2009, De Lage Landen had more than 5,000 employees. For more information, please visit our website: www.delagelanden.com.

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

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

City National 3rd Quarter $34.4 Million Net Income

Average deposits rise 24 percent from third quarter of 2009
  Total assets up 19 percent to $21.8 billion
    Credit quality continues to improve

LOS ANGELES— City National Corporation (NYSE: CYN), the parent company of wholly owned City National Bank, today reported third-quarter 2010 net income and net income avail able to common shareholders of $34.4 million. In the third quarter of 2009, net income was $8.0 million, while net income available to common shareholders was $2.5 million, or $0.05 per share.

Third-quarter 2010 net income included two unusual items primarily related to one of the company's FDIC-assisted acquisitions and the repayment of debt. Excluding these items, third-quarter net income totaled $40.3 million, or $0.76 per share)

Year to date, City National's net income totaled $91.4 million. Net income available to common shareholders was $85.7 million, or $1.62 per share. In the first nine months of 2009, the company earned net income of $22.3 million, while net income available to common shareholders amounted to $5.8 million, or $0.11 per share.

"These third-quarter results reflect the underlying strength and continuing improvement of City National's business," said Chief Executive Officer Russell Goldsmith. "Deposits again reached new record levels. Asset quality improved for the fourth straight quarter as credit costs declined. The company's balance sheet continued to grow stronger with its successful senior debt offering, its trust preferred securities redemption and its growing capital base. The integration of 1st Pacific Bank added five offices in San Diego, as we continued to invest in City National's future growth with the selective addition of new colleagues, resources and capabilities for clients.

"It's worth adding that City National continues to energetically seek out quality I ending relationships, as evidenced by the increases in our commercial and single-family residential loan portfolios, and that City National does not have the foreclosure problems and risks that are getting headline attention at some of the nation's largest banks."

Full Press Release:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Third_quarter.pdf

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

Reno, Nevada---Adopt a Dog

SANDY
Border Collie/Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler Mix
Large • Senior • Female

“If you are looking for a mature girl who is still very active, I'm one to consider. I'm playful, affectionate and anxious to please. I would make a great walking companion for a Senior. I came here as a stray so there is no info available about my past behavior or training. I qualify for the Senior for Senior adoption program. 52.6 LBS –G”

Nevada Humane Society, Reno, NV

•(775) 856-2000 X302
petfinder@nevadahumanesociety.org

http://www.nevadahumanesociety.org/adopt_dogs.htm

Adopt-a-Pet by Leasing Co. State/City
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Adopt_Pet.htm

Adopt a Pet
http://www.adoptapet.com/\

Adopt a dog from a shelter: it is an unbelievable joy!
http://www.examiner.com/brazilian-community-in-san-francisco/adopt-a-dog-from-a-shelter-it-is-an-unbelievable-joy

Classified ads—Asset Management

Leasing Industry Outsourcing (Providing Services and Products)

All "Outsourcing" Classified ads (advertisers are both requested and responsible to keep their free ads up to date:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Outsourcing/Outsourcing.htm

How to Post a free "Outsourcing" classified ad:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Outsourcing/Outsourcing-post.htm

News Briefs----

Uptick In Collection Industry Lawsuits
http://www.collectionscreditrisk.com/news/uptick-in-collection-industry-lawsuits-3003816-1.html

Foreclosure activity up across most metro areas
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2010-10-28-foreclosure-metro_N.htm

Wells Fargo admits mistakes in 55K foreclosures; not halting process
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2010-10-27-wells-fargo-foreclosure-mistakes_N.htm

Microsoft quarterly results top analysts' expectations
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013285868_microsoftearnings29.html

You May have Missed---

Economies of the European Union--video
http://leasingnews.org/items/theEUMess.wmv

(You may have to copy and paste into your media player---sums up the European situation)

Sports Briefs----

SF Giants, Matt Cain take 2-0 World Series lead
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/28/SPLH1G3KQI.DTL&tsp=1

Cowlishaw: Going home is only bright spot for Rangers
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/tcowlishaw/
stories/102910dnspocowlishaw.1d751b5c5.html

Go Giants!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUvs13jbHLE

Go Rangers!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDM_pzKUmsQ

California Nuts Briefs---

Whitman says former housekeeper should be deported
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2010/10/whitman-says-former-housekeepe.html

40% of Silicon Valley households hit by job loss
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_16461073

“Gimme that Wine”

Sonoma Worst-ever harvest almost over
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101027/ARTICLES/101029530/1350?Title=Worst-ever-harvest-almost-over

In Napa, Some celebrate harvest’s end, others still wait
http://napavalleyregister.com/star/business/article_d87e7522-e257-11df-870b-001cc4c002e0.html

Iowa Wine Industry 14th in Nation
http://www.woi-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13399536

The Sweet Science of German Rieslings
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/dining/27wine.html?_r=1&ref=dining

Lafite 2008 price rises 20% following Chinese symbol announcement
http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/504771/lafite-2008-price-rises-20-following-chinese-symbol-announcement

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

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

     1682 -William Penn lands in what will become Pennsylvania. He originally called it Sylvania, but the King changed it to Pennsylvania in granted the charter.
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/PENN/pnintro.html
http://www.2020site.org/penn/pennsylvania.html
    1815-Birthday of Daniel Emmett DeCatur, creator of words and music for the song “Dixie,” which became a fighting son for Confederate troops and unofficial “national anthem” of the South, born Mt. Vernon, OH, and died there June 28, 1904.
    1837-Birthday of African-American folk artist Harriet Powers, now nationally recognized for her quilts, born in rural Georgia.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/oct29.html
    1849-In San Francisco--Rowe's Olympic Circus and the Ethiopian>Serenaders opened today. The circus was situated in the block bounded by Kearny, Clay, Montgomery and Sacramento streets. Admission $3, a lot of money in its day.
    1850-Grand celebration ball given by the citizens of San Francisco in honor of the admission of California into the Union. Col. Jonathan D. Stevenson was Grand Marshal. Elizabeth Maria Wills sang an ode written for the celebration.
    1863-Battle of Wauhatchie (Brown's Ferry) concludes: The troops of Union General Ulysses S. Grant open a supply line into Chattanooga, Tennessee, when they drive away a Confederate attack by General James Longstreet. Although the Confederates still held the high ground above Chattanooga, the new supply line allowed the Union to hold the city and prepare for a major new offensive the next month. After the Battle of Chickamauga in northern Georgia on September 19 and 20, the defeated Union army of General William Rosecrans fled back to nearby Chattanooga. Braxton Bragg's Confederates took up positions along Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge to the east of the city. The Rebel lines made a semicircle around the city, and Confederate guns closed traffic on the Tennessee River. As a result, Union supplies had to come over a rugged mountainous route from the west. This line was vulnerable to a Confederate attack, and it made the Union's hold on Chattanooga tenuous at best. On October 23, Grant arrived as the new commander of all western forces. He immediately ordered two brigades to attack Brown's Ferry, where the Confederates were blocking river traffic to Chattanooga. The Yankees captured the ferry on October 27, then held off a counterattack to maintain control. On the night of October 28, Longstreet mounted a much larger attack to retake the crossing. The Confederates possessed superior numbers but could not pry the Union troops from the river. In the dark, the Yankees held and Longstreet withdrew his forces before dawn. The Union suffered 78 killed, 327 wounded, and 15 missing, while the Confederates suffered 34 killed, 305 wounded, and 69 missing. The Battle of Wauhatchie was one of the few Civil War engagements that took place at night. As a result of the battle, the Tennessee River was reopened for the Union and supplies reached Grant's troops. One month later, Grant drove the Confederates from the mountains around Chattanooga.
http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/tn021.htm
http://roadsidegeorgia.com/int/1471
http://www.149th-nysv.org/Battles/wauhatchie_cr.htm
    1902 -- Fredric Brown, American writer birthday.. One of the most ingenious American crime, mystery writers, and also wrote science fiction to overcome — as he said — the too real aspect of detective fiction. He also wrote television plays for Alfred Hitchcock series. “Martian Go Home” was one of his best sellers. His other notable novels include Night of the Jabberwock (1951) and The Deep End (1952)
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/fbrown.htm
http://www.hycyber.com/SF/brown_fredric.html
http://members.tripod.com/~gwillick/brown.html
http://www.ebookmall.com/alpha-authors/Fredric-Brown.htm
    1917 - The temperature at Denver, CO, dipped to zero, and at Soda Butte, WY, the mercury plunged to 33 degrees below zero, a U.S. record for the month of October.
    1921 – Birthday of Bill Mauldin (Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist: [1945, 1959], created G.I. Joe and Willie) Killed in action.
http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/bill-mauldin.html
    1922-Composer/arranger/trumpet player Neal Hefti Birthday
http://web.mit.edu/klund/www/hefti.html
    1923 -- "Runnin' Wild" (introducing the Charleston) opens on Broadway.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000058RB/
avsearch-musicasin-20/002-4023470-8873669#product-details
    1925- tenor saxophone player Zoot Sims born, Inglewood, CA.
http://members.aol.com/plabjazz/zootsims.html
    1925- History records “Howard Johnson's “ as the first franchise chain. The chain got it s started when Howard Dearing Johnson, the proprietor of a drugstore in Quincy, MA, began making ice cream with a hand-held crank to sell at the soda fountain. Unable to finance additional restaurants on his own. he began franchising his name and the formulas for his ice cream and other specialties. The first restaurant to which he granted a franchise, in 1932, was on Cape Cod. Eventually, the chain had 600 restaurants across the country. Johnson's innovations included the use of a central commissary to supply all franchises with food of consistent quality and the sitting of diner along highways.
    1929- Major Stock Market Crash as prices on the New York Stock Exchange plummeted and virtually collapsed four days after President Herbert Hoover had declared “The fundamental business of the country ... is on a sound and prosperous basis.” More than 16 million shares were dumped and billions of dollars were lost. The boom was over and the nation faced nearly a decade of depression. Some analysts had warned that the buying spree, with prices 15 to 150 times above earnings, had to stop at some point. Frightened investors ordered their brokers to sell at whatever price. The resulting Great Depression, which lasted until about 1939, involved North Amer­ica, Europe and other industrialized countries. In 1932 one out of four US workers was unemployed.
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/1930s/1930smusic01.html
http://imusic.artistdirect.com/store/artist/album/0,,301462,00.html
    1934-Birthday of alto sax player Jimmy Woods, St. Louis, MO
http://shopping.yahoo.com/shop?d=product&id=1927008906&clink=
dmmu.artist&a=b
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=519095601/
ut=0cea001161ce67c0
http://www.mediawars.ne.jp/~mundo/collect/file/jimmy-woods.html
    1936 -- Singer Hank Snow makes his first recordings, "Lonesome Blue Yodel" & "Prisoned Cowboy."
http://www.hanksnow.com/
http://www.harborside.com/~wchope/hanksnow.htm
    1944---HAJIRO, BARNEY F. Medal of Honor
Private Barney F. Hajiro distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 19, 22, and 29 October 1944, in the vicinity of Bruyeres and Biffontaine, eastern France. Private Hajiro, while acting as a sentry on top of an embankment on 19 October 1944, in the vicinity of Bruyeres, France, rendered assistance to allied troops attacking a house 200 yards away by exposing himself to enemy fire and directing fire at an enemy strong point. He assisted the unit on his right by firing his automatic rifle and killing or wounding two enemy snipers. On 22 October 1944, he and one comrade took up an outpost security position about 50 yards to the right front of their platoon, concealed themselves, and ambushed an 18-man, heavily armed, enemy patrol, killing two, wounding one, and taking the remainder as prisoners. On 29 October 1944, in a wooded area in the vicinity of Biffontaine, France, Private Hajiro initiated an attack up the slope of a hill referred to as "Suicide Hill" by running forward approximately 100 yards under fire. He then advanced ahead of his comrades about 10 yards, drawing fire and spotting camouflaged machine gun nests. He fearlessly met fire with fire and single-handedly destroyed two machine gun nests and killed two enemy snipers. As a result of Private Hajiro’s heroic actions, the attack was successful. Private Hajiro’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, and the United States Army.
    1944--*OKUBO, JAMES K. Medal of Honor
Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 28 and 29 October and 4 November 1944, in the Foret Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, eastern France. On 28 October, under strong enemy fire coming from behind mine fields and roadblocks, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo, a medic, crawled 150 yards to within 40 yards of the enemy lines. Two grenades were thrown at him while he left his last covered position to carry back wounded comrades. Under constant barrages of enemy small arms and machine gun fire, he treated 17 men on 28 October and 8 more men on 29 October. On 4 November, Technician Fifth Grade Okubo ran 75 yards under grazing machine gun fire and, while exposed to hostile fire directed at him, evacuated and treated a seriously wounded crewman from a burning tank, who otherwise would have died. Technician Fifth Grade James K. Okubo’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.
    1944--SAKATO, GEORGE T. Medal of Honor
Private George T. Sakato distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 29 October 1944, on hill 617 in the vicinity of Biffontaine, France. After his platoon had virtually destroyed two enemy defense lines, during which he personally killed five enemy soldiers and captured four, his unit was pinned down by heavy enemy fire. Disregarding the enemy fire, Private Sakato made a one-man rush that encouraged his platoon to charge and destroy the enemy strongpoint. While his platoon was reorganizing, he proved to be the inspiration of his squad in halting a counter-attack on the left flank during which his squad leader was killed. Taking charge of the squad, he continued his relentless tactics, using an enemy rifle and P-38 pistol to stop an organized enemy attack. During this entire action, he killed 12 and wounded two, personally captured four and assisted his platoon in taking 34 prisoners. By continuously ignoring enemy fire, and by his gallant courage and fighting spirit, he turned impending defeat into victory and helped his platoon complete its mission. Private Sakato’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.
    1950 — Detroit's Wally Trippett established an NFL record with 294 kickoff return yards against Los Angeles. The record has since been broken by Tyrone Hughes but his average of 73.5 yards per return still stands.
    1953—Top Hits
You, You, You - The Ames Brothers
No Other Love - Perry Como
Oh - Pee Wee Hunt
I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know - The Davis Sisters
    1953-The sale of the St. Louis Browns from Bill Veeck to a group of Baltimore investors was completed, and the American League's most hapless team became the Orioles.
    1954- Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge record “Trumpet Kings” album, Verve.
    1955-Billboard reviews Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" and calls it "cleverly styled novelty with nonsense words, rapid fire delivery."
    1956 - John Cameron Swayze and "The Camel News Caravan" were replaced by Chet Huntley and David Brinkley on NBC-TV. The "Huntley-Brinkley Report" clicked so well that the respected newsmen reported nightly until July of 1970. “Good night Chet. Good night David. And good night from NBC News.
    1957--Bobby Helms records "Jingle Bell Rock". By December, it will be in the US Top 10, eventually selling over a million copies and becoming a Christmas standard.
    1957-Buddy Holly & the Crickets' "Oh Boy!" is released by Brunswick Records. It will peak at #10
    1957-- After his concert at Los Angeles' Pan Pacific Auditorium, Elvis Presley meets TV star -- and, thanks to Elvis' inspiration, recording artist -- Rick Nelson for the first time. "Man, I just love your new record," says Elvis, referring to "Be-Bop Baby." The King also mentions that he's a fan of Rick's Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet show and gives the young singer some advice on touring.
    1958-Elvis Presley attends a Bill Haley concert in Stuttgart, West Germany while stationed there with the US Army.
    1959- First performance of the R.G.Davis Mime Studio and Troupe. The Troupe performs "Mime and Words" at the San Francisco Art Institute. … Diggers site
    1960 - Cassius Clay won his first pro bout -- over Tunney Hunsaker -- in six rounds in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
    1961 - The top, pop song on the charts belonged to Dion (DiMucci). "Runaround Sue" was in its second week at the tiptop of the top-tune tabulation (it was in the top 40 for three months).
    1961—Top Hits
Runaround Sue - Dion
Bristol Stomp - The Dovells
Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
Walk on By - Leroy Van Dyke
    1962 – John “Buck” O'Neil is the first black coach in major-league baseball, for the Chicago Cubs.
http://bestofbuck.com/800/bio.htm
http://www.nlbpa.com/o_neil__john_jordan_-_buck.html
http://www.annonline.com/interviews/960715/
    1962-Actor Sydney Poitier testifies before the House Committee on Education and Labor, condemning the lack of opportunities for black actors in Hollywood. Poitier was born in 1924 to poor farmers in the Bahamas. He dropped out of school at age 13 and later joined the U.S. Army. After his army stint, he became interested in performing and joined the American Negro Theater. He debuted on Broadway in 1946 and three years later made his film debut in a U.S. Army documentary. By the late 1950s, he was the leading African American actor in the country. In 1964, he became the first African American actor to win the Best Actor Oscar, for his role as a laborer who helps build a chapel in Lilies of the Field (1963). Other films include In the Heat of the Night (1967) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967). He began directing in 1971 with Buck and the Preacher. In 1992, he won the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, the first black actor and director to be so honored.
    1965-CAPTAIN HUMBERT R. VERSACE Medal of Honor
UNITED STATES ARMY for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Captain Humbert R. Versace distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism during the period of 29 October 1963 to 26 September 1965, while serving as S-2 Advisor, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Detachment 52, Ca Mau, Republic of Vietnam. While accompanying a Civilian Irregular Defense Group patrol engaged in combat operations in Thoi Binh District, An Xuyen Province, Captain Versace and the patrol came under sudden and intense mortar, automatic weapons, and small arms fire from elements of a heavily armed enemy battalion. As the battle raged, Captain Versace, although severely wounded in the knee and back by hostile fire, fought valiantly and continued to engage enemy targets. Weakened by his wounds and fatigued by the fierce firefight, Captain Versace stubbornly resisted capture by the over-powering Viet Cong force with the last full measure of his strength and ammunition. Taken prisoner by the Viet Cong, he exemplified the tenets of the Code of Conduct from the time he entered into Prisoner of War status. Captain Versace assumed command of his fellow American soldiers, scorned the enemy's exhaustive interrogation and indoctrination efforts, and made three unsuccessful attempts to escape, despite his weakened condition which was brought about by his wounds and the extreme privation and hardships he was forced to endure. During his captivity, Captain Versace was segregated in an isolated prisoner of war cage, manacled in irons for prolonged periods of time, and placed on extremely reduced ration. The enemy was unable to break his indomitable will, his faith in God, and his trust in the United States of America. Captain Versace, an American fighting man who epitomized the principles of his country and the Code of Conduct, was executed by the Viet Cong on 26 September 1965. Captain Versace's gallant actions in close contact with an enemy force and unyielding courage and bravery while a prisoner of war are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit upon himself and the United States Army.
    1966-After topping the Cashbox Magazine Best Sellers Chart two weeks earlier, ? and the Mysterians "96 Tears" reached number one on the Billboard chart. Although he closely guarded his true identity at the time, the man known as Question Mark turned out to be Rudy Martinez, from Saginaw Valley, Michigan.
    1966- formation of the National Organization for Women to "bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society NOW!"
http://www.now.org/
    1967-Hair, An American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, opened at the Public Theater in New York City. The composer was Galt MacDermott. The musical, which appeared during the Vietnam War, carried an antiwar message and aroused some controversy for its glorification of “hippie” values, including a nude scene at the end of the first act. The production moved to Broadway's Biltmore Theater in April, 1968.
    1969-Historians consider this the day the Internet was created. The first connection on what would become the world wide web was made on this day when bits of data flowed between computers at UCLA and the Stanford Research Institute. This was the beginning of ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet developed by the Department of Defense. By the end of 1969, four sites were connected: UCLA, the Stanford Research Institute, the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Utah. By the next year there were 10 sites and soon there were applications like e­mail and file transfer utilities. The @ symbol was adopted in 1972 and a year later 75 percent of ARPANET traffic was e-mail. ARPANET was decommissioned in 1990 and the National Science Foundation's NSFnet took over the role of backbone of the Internet.
    1969—Top Hits
I Can't Get Next to You - The Temptations
Hot Fun in the Summertime - Sly & The Family Stone
Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
The Ways to Love a Man - Tammy Wynette
    1970 - Neil Diamond received a nice package: a gold record for the hit, "Cracklin' Rosie".
    1973 - O.J. Simpson set two NFL records this day. The Buffalo Bills' star running back ran 39 times for 157 yards -- and he rushed for a total of over 1,000 yards in only seven games.
    1974-- President Gerald Ford signs law that forbids credit discrimination on the basis of sex. In November, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board announces an end to discrimination in mortgage lending. (1995 backlash finds many mortgage lenders reverting by insisting on spousal credit/income.)
    1977—Top Hits
You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone
Nobody Does It Better - Carly Simon
That's Rock 'n' Roll - Shaun Cassidy
Heaven's Just a Sin Away - The Kendalls
    1977--A 30 year old Rocker named Marvin Lee Aday, who uses the stage name Meat Loaf, releases his landmark album "Bat Out Of Hell". Since that time, the LP has sold over 43 million copies worldwide.
    1981 - Loretta Lynn received a gold record for her album, "Greatest Hits, Vol. 2".
    1982--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson released "The Girl is Mine", which will rise to #2 on the Billboard Pop chart.
    1982- Car maker John DeLorean indicted for drug trafficking in a government sting operation; later acquitted
http://www.bigtexas.com/dmc/
http://www.delorean-dmc12.co.uk/john_z_delorean.html
http://www.babbtechnology.com/Collect/index.htm
http://www.deloreanstore.com/
http://www.who2.com/johndelorean.html
http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20010927.html
    1983 - After four weeks at #1 on the pop music charts, Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" slipped to #2 -- replaced by "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
    1983-Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" marks its 491st week on the Billboard album chart, surpassing the previous record holder, "Johnny's Greatest Hits" by Johnny Mathis. When it finally fell off of list in October 1988, "Dark Side" had set a record of 741 weeks on the chart.
    1984 - Golfing great Tom Watson won his sixth PGA Player of the Year title; the most won by any golfer since the award was first given in 1948. Jack Nicklaus had accumulated five of those titles.
    1985—Top Hits
Saving All My Love for You - Whitney Houston
Part-Time Lover - Stevie Wonder
Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer
Touch a Hand, Make a Friend - The Oak Ridge Boys
    1987 - Severe thunderstorms in Arizona produced wind gusts to 86 mph at the Glendale Airport near Phoenix, baseball size hail and 70 mph winds at Wickenburg, and up to an inch of rain in fifteen minutes in Yavapai County and northwest Maricopa County. Arizona Public Service alone reported 2.5 million dollars damage from the storms.
    1988 - Wintry weather prevailed in the Upper Midwest. South Bend, IN, equaled their record for October with a morning low of 23 degrees. International Falls MN reported a record low of 11 degrees in the morning, then dipped down to 8 degrees above zero late in the evening.
    1989 - Thunderstorms developing along a cold front produced severe weather in Oklahoma and north central Texas during the late afternoon and evening hours. Thunderstorms in Oklahoma produced weak tornadoes near Snyder and Davidson, and produced hail two inches in diameter at Altus. Large hail damaged 60 to 80 percent of the cotton crop in Tillman County OK. Nine cities in the northeastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date as readings warmed into the 70s. For Marquette MI it marked their fifth straight day of record warmth. Arctic cold invaded the western U.S. Lows of 7 degrees at Alamosa CO and 9 degrees at Elko NV were records for the date. (My daughter in nearby Lamoille said it was zero degrees.)
    1990-- The inductees for the sixth annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are announced, a list which includes Wilson Pickett, Ike and Tina Turner, The Byrds, The Impressions, LaVern Baker, Jimmy Reed, and John Lee Hooker.
    1996-The National Basketball Association got set to launch its 50th anniversary of all time, ten of the 50 spent significant portions of their careers with the Boston Celtics.
http://www.unc.edu/~lbrooks2/50.html
    1998 - Hurricane Mitch (Oct 22-Nov 4, 1998), one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever, made landfall, slamming into Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and other Central American countries. The real story was not the wind but the rain. Slow movement of the storm caused heavy rain, resulting in widespread flooding and mudslides. Over 10,000 people were killed, another 10,000 were missing, and some two million people were affected in some way by the storm.
    1998 - The space shuttle Discovery blasted off, returning 77-year-old U.S. Senator John Glenn to space some 36 years after he became the first American in orbit. Glenn was part of a crew of seven astronauts shepherding scientific payloads on the shuttle mission.
    2001-- Matt Williams becomes the first player in World Series history to hit home runs with three different teams. He homered in the Fall Classic for the Indians in 1997 and the Giants in 1989.
http://worldseries.mlb.com/ws/index.html
http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/worldseries/2001.html
    2003-Research by Professor James Kellaris of the University of Cincinnati College of Business Administration, found that songs get stuck in our heads because they create a 'brain itch' that can only be scratched by repeating a tune over and over. Songs such as the Village People's "YMCA" and the Baha Men's "Who Let The Dogs Out", owe their success to their ability to create a 'cognitive itch'.
    2009--Forbes Magazine reported that Michael Jackson had earned about 72 million dollars since his death on June 6th. That was good enough for third place on their list of dead celebrities making the most money. Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent came in first at $350 million, songwriters Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein were second with $235 million and Elvis Presley was fourth, earning $55 million.

Baseball Poem

"A clever runner steals a base." - James J. Metcalfe

James J. Metcalfe was a widely syndicated columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and a German-American poet that put together a very nice poem that truly does catch the essence of the game in a most eloquent manner.

Baseball 

by James J. Metcalfe ©

Published: Unknown (Unknown)

The game of baseball is the king
Of all the games we play
And it is one pursuit that is
Distinctly U.S.A.
The people swarm into the stands
To watch their favorite teams
And munch their hot dogs when their lungs
Are not engaged in screams
The pitcher hurls the horsehide and
The batter gets a hit
Or else the ball goes sailing and
Some fielder smothers it
A clever runner steals a base
A player takes a walk
Or managers and umpires
Decide to have a talk
The crowd is gay or gloomy or
Completely in suspense
But it goes wild when someone knocks
The ball beyond the fence. 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_bball.shtml