Leasing News - information, news, education and entertainment for the commercial bank, finance and leasing industry

You May Have Missed --
Bank Leaders Discuss the 5 Biggest Advantages
of Equipment Financing

######## 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.

Full Circle Finance Is Now Employee Owned
Tim Cetto to Stay on as Board Member

Full Circle Finance, Wenatchee, Washington, was acquired by its employees through a shareholder stock purchase.

Tim Cetto, a forty-year veteran of the equipment finance community will stay on as a board member. Full Circle Finance was founded in 2009 by Cetto.

He said, “This industry has been so much fun and one that has been very good to me and my family, I could think of no better way than allowing my employees to become owners.”

Kevin Van Wagner, a longtime Cetto employee was elected president of the company June 2022. “Kevin has 16 years’ experience in the industry and has been doing an outstanding job taking over in this leadership role,” Cetto said.

“The vision of the new ownership group will be to grow our business model by offering possible partner/ownership to new account managers that can bring their own book of business, similar to a law firm or other professional service business,” Van Wagner said.

Board members include Tim Cetto, Kevin Van Wagner, Pam Evenson and Cyndy Petterson.

The website states the company does equipment loans and leases,
plus:

Line of credit
Accounts receivable and financing
Credit card factoring
Restructuring of current debt

https://fullcirclellc.us

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

New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Lou Haboush was hired as National Account Executive, KLC Financial, Minnetonka, Minnesota. He is located in the greater Chicago area. Previously, he was Vice President, Dext Capital (2019 -September, 2023); Vice President, First Financial Corporate Services & Healthcare Solutions (2013 - 2018). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/louhaboush/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/louhaboush/

George Heck was hired as Vice President, M&T Equipment Finance, Houston, Texas. He is located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Previously, he was Vice President of Business Development, Fulton Bank (December, 2019 - October, 2023); Director of Strategic Partnerships, Tenna (October, 2017 - December, 2019). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-heck-9a955217/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-heck-9a955217/

Tim Paulson was hired as National Account Executive, KLC Financial, Minnetonka, Minnesota. He is located in the greater Minneapolis, St. Paul area. Previously he was National Account Executive, Huntington Technology, part of Huntington National Bank (June, 2021 - September, 2023); Vice President, Florida, TCF Technology Finance, TCF Bank (November, 2018 - June, 2021); Sales Executive, Technology Finance, Winthrop Resources (February, 2015 - June, 2021); Sales Associate, TCF Equipment Finance (August, 2013 - January, 2015); Enterprise Sales, Dell Computer (January, 2013 - August, 2013)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-paulson-7aaa8162/

Kristy Shea was promoted to End of Lease, Senior Specialist, Canon Financial Services, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. She joined the firm January, 2001, Business Analyst, part-time Equipment Remarketer, June, 2012, Full Time, January, 2019, Senior Equipment Remarketer, promoted January, 2022, End of Lease Specialist. Previously, she was at De Lage Landen International (formerly Tokai Financial Services, August, 1990, Customer Remarketer, promoted February, 1993, Commercial Equipment Documentation Specialist.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-shea-40947a38/

KLC Financial full press release also includes two new hires not yet in Linkedin:
“Panhia Vang joined KLC Financial’s operations team from Boyer Trucks, where, for the last two years, she was a title administrator and sales coordinator. As a titles-account specialist, Vang will be focused on day-to-day titling needs.”

“Ashley Vucenich joined KLC Financial as an account manager from Northmarq, a commercial real estate company, where she conducted insurance analysis, worked with multiple teams and was heavily involved in the company’s culture committee.”

Full KLC Financial Press Release:
https://leasingnews.org/items/KLC%20Financial%20Expands%20Business%20Development.pdf

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

As Credit Decisions Change in the Tightening Economy
Originators Must Also Change
By Scott Wheeler, CLFP

Credit criteria have tightened across the industry over the past year and will continue in the short term as delinquencies continue to creep upward. The credit changes have caused frustration for many originators and their first inclination is to fight the adjustments rather than taking the time to fully understand the new credit criteria which are being adopted throughout the industry. The best means of decreasing personal frustration and stress is by taking the time and effort to fully understand the basics of credit underwriting. The current market requires originators to fully understand and be capable of articulating, to vendors and end-users, their basic credit requirements. Originators need to know the meaning and impact of:

leverage
liquidity
debt coverage
cash-flow
collateral
character
capacity

In today's market, top originators are capable and willing to properly analyze transactions and to make recommendations for approvals based upon a full understanding of the credit requirements and a client's strengths and weaknesses. Top originators are able to determine any weakness in a transaction and offer mitigating factors to decrease the risk.

The objective of all originators is not just to find a transaction, but to solicit transactions that can be approved, won, and funded. To solicit the "right" transactions, originators must fully understand credit, financial analysis, and the factors that maximize profitability and minimize risk.

Scott A. Wheeler, CLFP
Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410 877 0428
Fax: 410 877 8161
Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

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

Mental Health and Well-being at Work:
Strategies for a Healthy Work-Life Balance
By Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners, Managing Director

The pursuit of a successful career often comes at a cost – our mental health. Balancing the demands of work with personal well-being has become an increasingly important challenge. Let's think about the significance of maintaining mental health and provide practical strategies for achieving a healthy work-life balance.

The Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace

Our mental health is not separate from our professional lives; it's an integral part of our overall well-being. Here are some key reasons why mental health matters at work:

Performance and Productivity: Good mental health is linked to improved concentration, problem-solving skills, and creativity. When employees are mentally well, they tend to be more productive and engaged.

Reduced Stress: Chronic stress can lead to burnout, decreased job satisfaction, and even physical health problems. Prioritizing mental health can help reduce workplace stress.

Interpersonal Relationships: Positive mental health fosters better relationships with colleagues, leading to a more collaborative and supportive work environment.

Strategies for Maintaining Mental Health at Work

Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Avoid checking emails or working during non-working hours whenever possible.

Take Regular Breaks: Frequent short breaks during the workday can help refresh your mind and prevent burnout. Consider techniques like the Pomodoro method.

Practice Mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness exercises into your routine, such as meditation or deep breathing, to manage stress and stay present in the moment.

Seek Support: Don't hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or a professional therapist if you're facing mental health challenges. Many workplaces offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) as well.

Physical Health: Regular exercise and a balanced diet can significantly impact your mental health. Make time for physical activity and prioritize nutritious meals.

Learn to Say No: Don't over commit yourself at work. Be realistic about your capacity and politely decline tasks when necessary.

Plan Your Time: Efficient time management can reduce work-related stress. Prioritize tasks, set achievable goals, and create to-do lists.

Foster a Supportive Work Environment: Encourage open communication about mental health with your colleagues and superiors. Promote a culture of understanding and empathy.

Tips for Employers

Employers also play a crucial role in promoting mental health at work:

Offer Mental Health Resources: Provide access to mental health resources, such as counseling services and workshops, to support employees.

Flexible Work Arrangements: Consider flexible work hours or remote work options to help employees better manage their work-life balance.

Training and Awareness: Conduct training sessions to raise awareness about mental health issues and reduce stigma in the workplace.

Stress Management Programs: Implement stress management programs or wellness initiatives to support employees' mental well-being.

Achieving a healthy work-life balance is essential for both personal well-being and career success. Prioritizing mental health in the workplace benefits not only individuals but also organizations by creating a happier, more productive, and more innovative workforce. By implementing these strategies and fostering a culture of well-being, we can navigate the challenges of a successful career while safeguarding our mental health.

Ken Lubin
Managing Director
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klubin

The Ultimate Hire Collections:
http://leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/ultimate.html

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

Leasing and Finance Industry Help Wanted

Four Types of Interim Rent
By Christopher Menkin

Construction Interim
Funds advanced to the manufacturer of the equipment during construction of the equipment.

Delivery Interim
Partial payment to the manufacturer upon delivery of the equipment prior to the Lessee's acceptance of the equipment.

Multiple Delivery Interim
Daily rent on delivery of accepted equipment prior to the balance of the equipment being accepted by the Lessee

Due Date Interim
Additional rent charged to change the due date on the Lease from the
commencement date to a more acceptable date during the month.

Explanation:
The first three are usually a part of a “Master Lease,” which is usually a document that provides a line of credit allowing a Lessee to add equipment under the same basic terms and conditions without negotiating a new Lease contract. Often it is one contract in sections.

The rent is most common “interest only” and often a separate document spells this out from the “Master Lease.”

Partial payments are normally part of the “Master Lease” and generally are “interest only,” often spelled out in a separate document not part of the lease contract itself. In smaller leases, the payment is derived from a lease factor (the monthly payment as a multiplier) of the master lease payment. It also includes the principal, which is kept by the lessor as an extra profit as it is not deducted from the monthly payment or actual total cost of the equipment. The difference in the payment from the interest is then “extra profit.”

The Due Date Interim includes “extra profit” for the lessor as the actual lease is billed in advance to the lessee but converted to the bank or line of credit in arrears. A T-Value program can compute the extra profit in this arrangement.

Some offer a first or 15th of the month payment due date and do not charge interim rent or actually start the payment on a specific day the vendor is paid. Then in an ACH billing system where a specific day for the payment is not necessary for bookkeeping or collection purposes.

What is known as a 90 day interim payment is in reality a scam, as it is not a choice of a day in the month for payments to be due, but an means of extra profit since the interim rent is not part of the monthly payment stream.

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

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

Brean Capital Closes Corporate Note
Financing for Fora Financial

NEW YORK, NY – Fora Financial, a leading provider of flexible financing to small- and medium-sized businesses nationwide, announced the closings of a $130.0 million revolving credit facility and $10.0 million investment-grade rated corporate note.

Brean Capital served as sole financial advisor and placement agent on the corporate note transaction, which was assigned a BBB-rating by Egan-Jones. The corporate note will enable Fora Financial to capitalize on future growth initiatives while lowering the Company’s overall cost of capital.

Fora Financial COO, Andrew Gutman, said, “The closing of these two debt transactions in what has been a very challenging year in the capital markets represents another major step forward for Fora Financial and our customers,

“During a time when both small businesses and the institutions that finance them have been adversely impacted by persistent inflation, rapidly rising interest rates, displacement in the banking sector and concerns over a future recession, Fora Financial continues to enhance the leading market position we have built over the past 15 years. With the support of our world class lending partners and investors, we remain extremely well positioned to continue to provide flexible financing to small and medium-sized businesses during this unpredictable economic cycle and beyond.”

Founded in 2008, Fora Financial has provided more than $3.0 billion of financing to 35,000+ small business owners. Its fast, personalized funding options are supported by state-of-the-art technology, one-on-one customer service, and total transparency. The firm employs more than 165 people at its New York headquarters and Miami satellite office. For additional information about the Company, visit: https://www.forafinancial.com/

Brean Capital’s Investment Banking Group is dedicated to helping its clients achieve their strategic and financial goals. For more than 40 years, the Firm has specialized in providing capital raising, M&A and financial advisory services to middle market businesses. Throughout its history, Brean Capital has established a track record of providing its clients with deep market knowledge, commitment and experience to ensure a successful transaction. For more information, please visit: https://www.breancapital.com/IB/IBIndex

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

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

Watch at Home
by Fernando Croce, Leasing News Movie Reviewer

With the blissful “Stop Making Sense” being re-released in theaters, it’s the perfect time for viewers to revisit (or discover for the first time) the other classics in this tuneful, often historically evocative subgenre. So check out our list of recommendations for the best concert films ever made.

Gimme Shelter (1970): Though released in the same year as “Woodstock,” this record the Free Altamont Concert in 1969 could not have a more different mood—instead of the hopeful elation of Michael Wadleigh’s film, this documentary by Albert and David Maysles captures the darkening of the hippie movement, ending in tragedy. The sense of doom emanates from the behind-the-scenes problems caused by members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, who were hired as security but themselves brought violence to the event. Focusing mainly on The Rolling Stones tour, the concert features vibrant performances of such hits as “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Sympathy for the Devil” and the title number, plus appearances by Jefferson Airplane and Tina and Ike Turner. The results are a heady combination of the thrilling and the harrowing.

The Last Waltz (1978): Unfolding on Thanksgiving Day, 1976, this wonderful documentary chronicles the last hurrah of the group The Band as they gather for one final concert. Staged in San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom, the film is a priceless record of talented musicians coming together in an emotional presentation. Robbie Robertson and the other members share the stage with electrifying friends like Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Ringo Starr. The numbers, which include such hits as "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Shape I'm In," are choreographed by the great Martin Scorsese with as much cinematic craft as in films like "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull." Joyous, moving and tuneful, this is definitely something for lovers of film and music to be thankful for.

Stop Making Sense (1984): Widely (and deservedly) considered to be the greatest of all concert movies, this record of a live performance by the Talking Heads during their 1983 tour remains one of the most purely pleasurable musicals of all time. As soon as lead singer David Byrne walks onto an empty stage for a rendition of “Psycho Killer,” the screen vibrates with the band’s style and talent and awareness of community, with more members joining him with each new number. “Burning Down the House,” “Life During Wartime,” “Take Me to the River” and other favorites are played, with “Once in a Lifetime” providing a transcendental climax. Oscar-winner Jonathan Demme (“The Silence of the Lambs”) directs with peerless visual elegance and a beautiful sense of joy spilling over the screen.

Summer of Soul (2021): At around the same period as the more famous Woodstock Music Festival, there was 1969’s Harlem Cultural Festival, a moment of equal historical importance vibrantly explored in this revelatory documentary, subtitled “When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised.” A series of remarkable performances staged in a park in Harlem, the festival brought together such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, BB King, Nina Simone, and Mahalia Jackson. The footage by itself is priceless, yet director Ahmir Thompson (best known as Questlove, frontman for hip-hop band The Roots) is astute enough to fill the audience in on the cultural and political relevance of the event. Making use of interviews with musicians and attendees, he offers an illuminating snapshot of Black power, pride, and conscience at a crossroads in American history.

Woodstock (1970): Chronicling the “three days of peace and music” of the legendary 1969 music festival, Michael Wadleigh’s Oscar-winning documentary offers an invaluable performance footage as well as a fascinating snapshot of a culture at a crossroads. Unfolding in the Summer of Love in a farm in a New York farm, the event brought together an astounding rosters of music stars from different genres in a utopian celebration of countercultural possibilities. Among the performers are Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Who, Joe Cocker, Joan Baez, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Arlo Guthrie, and Jimi Hendrix, whose psychedelic guitar rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” could be an emblem for the whole event. With the help of tireless editors (including a young Martin Scorsese), Wadleigh provides a panoramic yet intimate view of this epochal happening.

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

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

This Day in History

   1782 - The first commercial bank in the US, the Bank of North America, was opened at Philadelphia, PA. The bank was the brainchild of Robert Morris. Despite the bank's success, Philadelphia's run as America's leading home of private financial institutions was short-lived. Soon after the Bank of North America opened, the Pennsylvania legislature moved to outlaw private banks in the state, a decision that led scores of prospective bankers to set up shop in the nation's eventual financial center, New York City.
    1784 - David Landreth established the first organized seed business in Philadelphia, PA. Previously, seeds had been imported from Europe or saved from each crop by individual farmers. The firm incorporated in 1904 as the D. Landreth Seed Company, later became a subsidiary of the Robert Buist Company, founded in Philadelphia in 1828.
    1789 - The first national presidential election in the United States was held.
George Washington, Virginia:   69 (85.2%)
John Adams, Massachusetts:   34 (42.0%)
John Jay, New York:                  9 (11.1%)
Robert Harrison, Maryland:        6 (7.4%)
John Rutledge, South Carolina: 6 (7.4%)
Other:                                    14 (17.3%)
Electoral votes not cast:           24 (29.6%)
Note that prior to the ratification of Amendment XII to the Constitution in 1804, each Elector cast two votes for President (instead of one vote for President and one vote for Vice President). The candidate receiving the most votes became President and the candidate receiving the second most votes became Vice President. George Washington received one vote from each elector that cast a ballot. The New York legislature failed to appoint its allotted 8 Electors in time. Two Electors from Maryland did not vote. One Elector from Virginia did not vote and one Elector was not chosen because an election district failed to submit returns.
    1800 - Millard Fillmore (d. 1874) was born at Summerhill, NY. 13th President of the US (July 10, 1850—Mar 3, 1853). Fillmore succeeded to the presidency upon the death of Zachary Taylor, but he did not get the hoped-for nomination from his party in 1852. He ran for president in 1856 as candidate of the “Know-Nothing Party,” whose platform demanded, among other things, that every government employee (federal, state and local) should be a native-born citizen. Now his birthday is often used as an occasion for parties for which there is no other reason.
    1806 - The Cherokee nation ceded 7,000 square miles of land in Tennessee and Alabama.
    1811 – Charles Sumner (d. 1874) was born in Boston, for whom the Sumner Tunnel is named. As a lawyer and a powerful orator, Sumner was the leader of the antislavery forces in Massachusetts and a leader of the Radical Republicans in the United States Senate during the Civil War, working to destroy the Confederacy, free all the slaves, and keep on good terms with Europe. During Reconstruction, he fought to minimize the power of the ex-Confederates and guarantee equal rights to the freedmen. Sumner changed his political party several times as anti-slavery coalitions rose and fell in the 1830s and 1840s before coalescing in the 1850s as the Republican Party, the affiliation with which he became best known. He devoted his enormous energies to the destruction of the influence of Southern slave owners over the federal government, thereby ensuring the survival and expansion of slavery. In 1856, a South Carolina Congressman, Democrat Preston Brooks, nearly killed Sumner on the Senate floor two days after Sumner delivered an intensely anti-slavery speech called "The Crime Against Kansas". In the speech, Sumner characterized the attacker's cousin, South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, a Democrat, as a pimp for slavery. The episode played a major role in the coming of the Civil War. During the War, Sumner was a leader of the faction that criticized President Abraham Lincoln for being too moderate on the South. One of the most learned statesmen of the era, he specialized in foreign affairs, and worked closely with Lincoln to keep the British and the French from intervening on the side of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Sumner's expertise and energy made him a powerful chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
    1830 - The first passengers boarded the first commercial transportation of passengers and freight, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. Tickets were 9 cents each, or three for 25 cents, for a ride from Pratt Street in Baltimore to the Carrolton Viaduct. At first, passengers rode primarily for the novel experience.
    1838 – Alfred Vail demonstrated a telegraph system using dots and dashes (this is the forerunner of Morse code). After having secured his father's financial backing, Vail refined Morse's crude prototype to make it suitable for public demonstration and commercial operation. The first successful completion of a transmission with this system was at the Speedwell Iron Works near Morristown, NJ, across two miles of wiring. The message read "A patient waiter is no loser”. Over the next few months, Morse and Vail demonstrated the telegraph to Philadelphia's Franklin Institute, members of Congress, and President Martin Van Buren and his cabinet.
    1853 – President-elect Franklin Pierce and his family were involved in a train wreck near Andover, MA. Pierce's 11-year-old son Benjamin is killed in the crash.
    1861 - Florida troops takeover Fort Marion at St Augustine. The Confederates take over many forts until Union Troops invade Florida, taking back some of the forts, securing ports, to cut off trade with European nations. http://www.nps.gov/casa/
    1862 - An advance guard of Confederates was defeated by about 2,000 Federals under Col. Dunning at Blue's Gap in Romney, West Virginia.
http://www.historichampshire.org/rom-cw.htm
http://members.aol.com/DWMellott/7wv.htm
http://www.romneywv.com/
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/096282187X/
inktomi-bkasin-20/104-3547695-1517507
    1864 - Mary Kenney O'Sullivan (1864-1943), first American Federation of Labor (AFL) woman organizer, was born in Hannibal, Missouri. A skilled bookbinder, she organized the Woman's Bookbinder Union in 1880 and was a founder of the National Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) in 1903.
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/
blbio_osullivan_mary_kenney.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAWkenney.htm
    1865 - Near present-day San Angelo, 370 Texas militiamen attacked what was assumed to be an encampment of 1400 Comanche's (they were actually peaceful Kickapoo). This engagement, called the Battle of Dove Creek, was one of the last battles in Texas between Anglos and Native Americans. The militia lost 36 men, with 60 wounded; the Indians lost 11, with 61 wounded.
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/DD/btd1.html
      1873 - A blizzard raged across the Great Plains. Many pioneers, unprepared for the cold and snow, perished in southwest Minnesota and northwestern Iowa.
    1878 – Carl Sandberg (d. 1978) was born Galesburg, IL. Poet, writer, and editor, he won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln. During his lifetime, Sandburg was widely regarded as "a major figure in contemporary literature", especially for volumes of his collected verse, including “Chicago Poems” (1916), “Cornhuskers” (1918), and “Smoke and Steel” (1920). He enjoyed "unrivaled appeal as a poet in his day, perhaps because the breadth of his experiences connected him with so many strands of American life", and at his death in 1967, President Lyndon Johnson observed that "Carl Sandburg was more than the voice of America, more than the poet of its strength and genius. He was America.”
    1880 – Tom Mix (d. 1940) was born in Mix Run, PA. Actor and the star of many early western movies between 1909 and 1935, Mix appeared in 291 films, all but nine of which were silent movies. He was Hollywood's first Western megastar and is noted as having helped define the genre for all cowboy actors who followed.
    1884 - The temperature dipped to one degree below zero at Atlanta, GA. It marked the final day of a severe arctic outbreak in the South and Midwest.
    1886 - A severe cold wave in the southern section of the country brought the worst freeze since 1835 in Florida.
    1887 - In April, 1884, Thomas Stevens started what would be the first completed worldwide bicycle trip. Stevens and his bike traveled 13,500 miles, arriving back in San Francisco, California nearly three years later.
     1893 – The Washington National Cathedral was chartered by Congress.
    1894 – W.K. L. Dickson was given a patent for motion picture film. The 2- second demonstration was a 47-frame film showing a man sneezing.
http://www.biographcompany.com/dickson/
    1896 - Fannie Farmer publishes her first cookbook
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbiofarmerf.htm
   1901 - Birthday of African-American writer Zora Neale Hurston, born Eatonville, Fla., was an all-black town. Although at the time of her death in 1960, Hurston had published more books than any other black woman in America, she was unable to capture a mainstream audience in her lifetime, and she died poor and alone in a welfare hotel. Today, she is seen as one of the most important black writers in American history. Unfortunately, near the end of her life she worked as a maid and died in poverty. In the 1970s, her work, almost forgotten, was revived by feminist and black-studies scholars, and an anthology, I Love Myself When I Am Laughing...And Then Again When I Am Looking Mean and Impressive, was published in 1979.
http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/hurston.html
http://www.hurston-wright.org/
    1912 – New Mexico became the nation’s 47th state.
    1912 – Danny Thomas (d. 1991) was born in Deerfield, MI. A nightclub comedian and television and film actor and producer, whose career spanned five decades, Thomas was best known for starring in the television sitcom “Make Room for Daddy” (also known as “The Danny Thomas Show”) that ran from 1953-1965. He was also the founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He was the father of Marlo Thomas.
    1913 - Tucson, AZ set its all-time record low temperature with a frigid 0 degrees.
    1913 - William M. Burton of Chicago, IL, received a patent for the “manufacture of gasoline.” He developed the thermal-cracking technique for refining oil. His method of treating the residue of the paraffin group of petroleum by distillation and condensation of the vapors was used by the Standard Oil Company of Indiana, to whom the patent was assigned.
http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/24.html
    1914 - The National Commission granted some demands of the Players’ Union: players are to be notified in writing of their transfer or release and to receive a copy of their contract; players with 10 years in the Major Leagues are eligible to become free agents; clubs will pay traveling expenses to spring training and furnish all uniforms, and outfield fences in ballparks should be painted green to provide a better hitting background for batters.
    1921 - Birthday of Charles Loloma (d. 1991) at Hotevilla on the Hopi Indian Reservation. He was a major influence on modern Native American art and was famous for changing the look of American Indian Jewelry. A painter, sculptor and potter, he was best known for his jewelry, which broke tradition with previous Indian styles using materials such as coral, fossilized ivory, pearls and diamonds.
http://www.faustgallery.com/loloma.htm
http://www.nativepubs.com/nativepubs/Apps/bios/
0430LolomaCharles.asp?pic=none
    1924 - George Gershwin completed the score for his classic, “Rhapsody in Blue”. He was only 26 years old. Gershwin did not have an interest in music until his family bought him a piano when he was twelve. Nine years later he had his first hit, at age 21, "Swanee", with lyrics written by Irving Caesar.
    1926 - George Burns and Gracie Allen were married by a Justice of the Peace in Cleveland, Ohio. They had been a comedy team for 4 years prior to getting married, and worked successfully for decades together in radio, film, and television until Allen's fatal heart attack in 1964.
    1926 – Ralph Branca, the Dodger pitcher who surrendered the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”, was born in Mt. Vernon, NY. In game 3 of the best of three 1951 NL Championship playoffs against the rival NY Giants, Branca relieved starter Don Newcombe in the bottom of the ninth with two on to protect a 4-2 Dodger lead that would have sent them to the World Series. On a 0-1 pitch, Bobby Thomson homered over the left field wall at the Polo Grounds, giving the Giants the pennant. Giants’ announcer Russ Hodges’ call: “There’s a long drive... it's gonna be, I believe...THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant and they're goin' crazy, they're goin' crazy! HEEEY-OH!!!'' [ten-second pause for crowd noise] I don't believe it! I don't believe it! I do not believe it! Bobby Thomson... hit a line drive... into the lower deck... of the left-field stands... and this blame place is goin' crazy! The Giants! Horace Stoneham has got a winner! The Giants won it... by a score of 5 to 4... and they're pickin' Bobby Thomson up... and carryin' him off the field!
    1927 - The inauguration of the transatlantic commercial telephone service began when Walter Sherman Gifford, president of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, who was in New York, talked to Sir George Evelyn Pemberton Murray, secretary of the British Post Office, who was in London. Thirty-one commercial calls were made the first day. The charge was $75 for a three minute conversation. The first private conversation was made by Adolph Simon Ochs, publisher of The New York Times, to Geoffrey Dawson, editor of The Times of London. The messages were transmitted from Rocky Point, NY.
    1927 - Harlem Globetrotters, basketball team, make their debut. http://www.africana.com/Articles/tt_059.htm
http://www.harlemglobetrotters.com/
    1930 - The first diesel-engine automobile trip is completed, from Indianapolis to NYC.
    1931 - The nation was mired in the depths of the Great Depression. On January 7, the Committee for Unemployment Relief, formed at President Hoover's command, in October 1930, released a report that detailed the depths of the nation's woes. According to the committee, some 4 to 5 million Americans were unemployed. However, the Depression only continued to grow worse, which further swelled the unemployment rolls; by 1932, some 13 million Americans were without jobs.
    1933 – Fred Turner (d. 2013) was born in Des Moines, IA. Turner began his career at McDonald's in 1956 as a grill operator, and quickly rose through the ranks. He was named Operations Vice President in 1958. In that role, he established strict guidelines for how McDonald's hamburgers and other products had to be served - including that fries "had to be precisely 0.28 inches thick", and that "exactly ten patties had to be formed from each pound of beef".   "Quality, Service and Cleanliness" became his motto. He became Executive Vice President in 1967, then President and Chief Administrative Officer in 1968. He replaced Ray Kroc as Chairman in 1977, then was named Senior Chairman upon Kroc's death. Under Turner, McDonald's expanded its operations to 118 countries, with over 31,000 outlets, and more than a billion hamburgers had been sold.
    1934 - Converted Major League baseball player Billy Sunday, at age 72, began a two-week revival at Calvary Baptist Church in NY City. Sunday was an evangelist from 1893 until his death in 1935.
    1935 - Anarchist Feminist Emma Goldman talks to Jewish audiences at the Temple Emanu-El adult school, the second meeting arranged by Rabbi Harry Stern, and the women's branch of the Arbeiter Ring on Jan. 12. Both are well received.
    1937 – Doris Troy (d. 2004) was born Doris Elaine Higginsen in The Bronx.   Known to her many fans as "Mama Soul”, she worked with Solomon Burke, The Drifters, Cissy Houston, and Dionne Warwick, before she co-wrote and recorded "Just One Look”, which hit #10 in 1963
    1939 - The United States Trotting Association, the governing body for the sport of harness horse racing, was founded in Indianapolis, IN, at a meeting called by horseman Roland Harriman. The founding was actually a joining of several regional organizations resulting in uniform rules and regulations. This unification spurred the growth of harness racing, now followed by nearly 25 million fans in North America each year.
    1939 - Tom Mooney, a labor activist wrongly convicted of murder in the San Francisco Preparedness Day bombing in July 1916, is freed after 22 1/2 years in jail on false charges, after being granted an unconditional pardon by Governor Culbert Olson. See: “Frame-up” by Curt Gentry, © 1967, WW Norton, New York; “Life of an Anarchist: The Alexander Berkman Reader”, ed. Gene Fellner, “Four Walls Eight Windows”, New York: 1992.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~library/Library_Bulletin/
Nov1989/LB-N89-VClose2.html
    1940 - Gene Autry's musical variety show premieres on CBS radio, where it will run for the next 16 years. Autry was born in Tioga, Texas, in 1907, the son of a livestock and horse trader who was also a Baptist minister. The family later moved to Oklahoma. In high school, Autry worked as a railway telegrapher at the local railroad depot, where he spent slow moments strumming his $8 guitar and singing. Passing through the depot one day, a stranger, who turned out to be Will Rogers, suggested that Autry try singing on the radio. Inspired, Autry traveled to New York City to look for a singing job but had no luck. Back home, he began working for a local radio station and found success as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy.” Eventually, Autry and railroad dispatcher Jim Long wrote several country songs, including the world's first gold record, "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine”. Autry became a regular on Sears Roebuck's “National Barn Dance”, the forerunner of the Grand Ole Opry. In 1934, producer Nat Levine was looking for a guy who could sing, ride a horse, and act in western movies. Autry wasn't an actor but had already established a loyal radio audience, so Levine put him in numerous B-grade westerns. Playing the lead role in a long-running series of Saturday matinee films, Autry became "America's favorite cowboy." In 1940, his musical variety radio show, “Gene Autry's Melody Ranch”,debuted and took only one hiatus, when Autry joined the Army Air Corps after taking his oath on the air in 1942. Roy Rogers took his place on the television show while he was gone. He became America's favorite TV cowboy in 1950 when he debuted “The Gene Autry Show”,which ran through 1956. In each episode, he and his sidekick, Pat Buttram, rode from town to town, maintaining law and order. From "Back in the Saddle Again" to yuletide mainstays such as "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman," Autry's music has etched itself into Americana. “The Cowboy” was also an entrepreneur; he owned hotels, gas stations, and the California Angels baseball team, among other ventures. He also owned a television production company and was proud of discovering "Annie Oakley" star Gail Davis, whom he had featured in dozens of his movies and television program episodes and who had performed in his traveling rodeo. Her appearances spun off into her own series, which Autry's company produced. Autry was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969.
    1942 – Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller reported to Norfolk for duty in the United States Navy. Feller led the AL in wins in three previous seasons and missed all of the 1942, 1943 and 1944 seasons before returning for nine games in 1945. Despite missing the time during World War II, Feller will lead the league in wins in 1946, 1947 and 1951, amassing 266 victories during an 18-year major league career.
    1944 - SPECKER, JOE C., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, 48th Engineer Combat Battalion. Place and date: At Mount Porchia, Italy, 7 January 1944. Entered service at: Odessa, Mo. Birth: Odessa, Mo. G.O. No. 56, 12 July 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict. On the night of 7 January 1944, Sgt. Specker, with his company, was advancing up the slope of Mount Porchia, Italy. He was sent forward on reconnaissance and on his return he reported to his company commander the fact that there was an enemy machinegun nest and several well-placed snipers directly in the path and awaiting the company. Sgt. Specker requested and was granted permission to place 1 of his machineguns in a position near the enemy machinegun. Voluntarily and alone he made his way up the mountain with a machinegun and a box of ammunition. He was observed by the enemy as he walked along and was severely wounded by the deadly fire directed at him. Though so seriously wounded that he was unable to walk, he continued to drag himself over the jagged edges of rock and rough terrain until he reached the position at which he desired to set up his machinegun. He set up the gun so well and fired so accurately that the enemy machine-gun nest was silenced and the remainder of the snipers forced to retire, enabling his platoon to obtain their objective. Sgt. Specker was found dead at his gun. His personal bravery, self-sacrifice, and determination were an inspiration to his officers and fellow soldiers.
    1945 - Anthony Richard (Tony) Conigliaro (d. 1990), Baseball player born at Revere, MA. Conigliaro led the American League in home runs in 1965 and was one of the most beloved Boston Red Sox players of his generation. He was beaned by Jack Hamilton on August 18, 1967, and after missing all of 1968, made a comeback.
    1945 - SHOUP, CURTIS F, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 346th Infantry, 87th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Tillet, Belgium, 7 January 1945. Entered service at: Buffalo, N.Y. Birth: Napenoch, N.Y. G.0. No.: 60, 25 July 1945. Citation: On 7 January 1945, near Tillet, Belgium, his company attacked German troops on rising ground. Intense hostile machinegun fire pinned down and threatened to annihilate the American unit in an exposed position where frozen ground made it impossible to dig in for protection. Heavy mortar and artillery fire from enemy batteries was added to the storm of destruction falling on the Americans. Realizing that the machinegun must be silenced at all costs, S/Sgt. Shoup, armed with an automatic rifle, crawled to within 75 yards of the enemy emplacement. He found that his fire was ineffective from this position, and completely disregarding his own safety, stood up and grimly strode ahead into the murderous stream of bullets, firing his low-held weapon as he went. He was hit several times and finally was knocked to the ground. But he struggled to his feet and staggered forward until close enough to hurl a grenade, wiping out the enemy machinegun nest with his dying action. By his heroism, fearless determination, and supreme sacrifice, S/Sgt. Shoup eliminated a hostile weapon which threatened to destroy his company and turned a desperate situation into victory.
    1946 - Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner birthday, born NY, NY.
http://207.171.166.140/name/nm0921048/bio
http://207.171.166.140/name/nm0921048/
    1947 – Pan American World Airways becomes the first commercial airline to schedule a flight around the world.
    1948 - Birthday of singer Kenny Loggins, Everett, Washington. He wrote the "House at Pooh Corner”, a hit for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, before teaming with Jim Messina for several albums and the top-10 single "Your Mama Don't Dance" in the 1970's. The duo split in 1976, and Loggins did well on his own with such hit singles as "Footloose," the theme from the 1984 movie, and "Danger Zone" in 1986.
    1949 - Birthday of singer Tom Waits, Ponoma, CA
http://www.tomwaits.com/
http://www.officialtomwaits.com/
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/7587/start.html
    1950 - Nova Scotia native Hank Snow made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Later that year, his recording of "I'm Movin' On" stayed on the Billboard country chart for 44 weeks, selling more than a million copies.
    1950 - Gene Autry's "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" hits #1
    1950 - In Nashville, Tennessee, Ernest Tubb made his first appearance at "The Grand Ole Opry". Ernest also did a daily 15-minute radio program that was very popular in West Texas. In fact, the show was so popular, Tubb bought the radio station that aired the program for years, KGKL in San Angelo, Texas.
    1951 - Top Hits
“Tennessee Waltz” - Patti Page
“The Thing” - Phil Harris
“Nevertheless” - Jack Denny
“I Love You a Thousand Ways” - Lefty Frizzell
    1952 - Actor Phillip Loeb, blacklisted in 1950 as a possible Communist sympathizer, is fired from highly successful TV comedy "The Goldbergs" because no one would sponsor it otherwise.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/july-dec97/
blacklist_10-24.html
http://www.tvparty.com/vaultgold.html
http://www.woolmancentral.com/famcou.html
http://www.sag.com/blacklist.html
    1953 - Birthday of Malcolm Young, rhythm guitarist with AC/DC, Glasgow, Scotland.
    1954 - The Duoscopic television receiver debuted. It allowed the viewer to watch two different shows at the same time. It was a very early, very primitive, picture-in-picture, split-screen, tested in New York City and Chicago, Illinois. DuMont Laboratories, owner of the DuMont Television Network produced the set.
    1954 - Muddy Waters records "Hoochie Coochie Man"
    1955 – At the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, Marian Anderson, contralto, became the first African-American opera singer there when she sang the role of the fortune teller Ulrica in Giuseepe Verdi's “Un Ballo in Maschera”.
(Lower half of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jan07.html )
    1956 - Dean Martin's "Memories Are Made of This" hits #1
    1957 – Women’s golf champion Nancy Lopez was born in Torrance, CA.
    1957 - Elvis Presley makes his third, final, and most famous appearance on CBS' “Ed Sullivan Show”. After numerous "Elvis the Pelvis" complaints during his first two appearances, Sullivan decides that Presley is to be filmed from the waist up only. Elvis sings seven numbers: "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Peace in the Valley" (at the request of the network), "Too Much," and "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again." After the performances, Ed Sullivan attempts to fend off controversy yet again by declaring: "I just wanted to say that this is a real decent, fine boy. We want to say that we've never had a pleasanter experience with a big name than we've had with you."
    1958 - The Gibson Guitar Company patented the Flying V guitar, favorite instrument of many rock musicians
    1958 - Danny and the Juniors' Rock 'n' Roll classic, "At the Hop", was the number one song in the US. Originally written as "Do the Bop", American Bandstand host Dick Clark advised the group to re-write the lyrics because the dance known as The Bop was on its way out. Clark was right and the Philadelphia quartet's record stayed in the top spot for a month.
    1959 - Top Hits
“The Chipmunk Song” - The Chipmunks
“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” - The Platters
“Problems” - The Everly Brothers
“City Lights” - Ray Price
    1959 - "GE College Bowl" quiz show premieres on NBC TV
http://www.jumptheshark.com/c/collegebowl.htm http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/collegeBowl2.html
    1960 – National Airlines Flight 2511 was destroyed in mid-air by a bomb, while en route from New York City to Miami. Twenty-nine passengers and five crew perished. The Civil Aeronautics Board concluded that Flight 2511 was brought down by a dynamite explosion in the passenger cabin.
    1960 – NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl XVIII champion Howie Long was born in Charlestown, MA. He was the Oakland Raiders second round pick in the 1981 draft and went on to 8 Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL’s All-1980s team. He is currently an analyst on Fox Sports Sunday.
    1962 - The Western Division defeats the Eastern Division 47-27 in the first AFL All-Star Game played before 20,973 in San Diego.
http://images.nfl.com/history/images/0107.jpg
    1962 - Chubby Checker's "The Twist" hits #1 -- again
    1967 - Top Hits
“I'm a Believer” - The Monkees
“Snoopy Vs. the Red Baron” - The Royal Guardsmen
“Tell It Like It Is” - Aaron Neville
“There Goes My Everything” - Jack Greene
    1967 - The Doors, Sopwith Camel, The Young Rascals play at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. This was the first time the L.A. band "The Doors" played at the Fillmore.

http://images.wolfgangsvault.com/images/catalog/thumb/BG044-PO.jpg

Artist of the poster: Wes Wilson.
    1968 - Postage rates in the United States went up by a penny, making the cost to send an ounce of mail six cents.
    1971 - The temperature at Hawley Lake, AZ dipped to 40 degrees below zero, setting a new record low temperature for the state.
    1972 - The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 134-90, to win their 33rd game in a row, an NBA record.
    1972 - The NCAA announced that freshmen would be eligible to play varsity football and basketball starting in the fall of 1973.
    1973 - Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" leads the US hit parade, stirring speculation about exactly who she was singing about. Although suggestions run from actor Warren Beatty to Mick Jagger to James Taylor to Kris Kristofferson, Simon has steadfastly refused to divulge her secret. Finally, in November 2015, Simon, promoting her about-to-be-published memoir, said, "I have confirmed that the second verse is Warren," and added that while "Warren thinks the whole thing is about him," he is the subject only of that verse, with the remainder of the song referring to two other, still-unnamed men.   You’ll have to read the book to find out that Beatty was indeed not the only one.
    1973 - The first vote for a woman in the history of the U.S. Electoral College is cast for Theodora Nathan of Oregon, the vice-presidential candidate for the Libertarian party.
    1974 - In response to the 1973 oil crisis, daylight savings time commences nearly four months early in the United States.
    1975 - Boston Mayor Kevin White cancels Led Zeppelin's upcoming show at Boston Garden when approximately a thousand Zep fans riot while waiting for tickets to go on sale. Total damage to the facility: $30,000.
    1975 - Top Hits
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” - Elton John
“You're the First, the Last, My Everything” - Barry White
“Kung Fu Fighting” - Carl Douglas
“The Door” - George Jones
    1978 - The soundtrack album of the hit disco movie "Saturday Night Fever," featuring the Bee Gees, the Trammps, Tavares, K.C. & the Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang, MFSB and others enter the soul album chart. It will peak at Number One for six weeks starting February 18 in its 39 weeks on the chart.
    1978 - The Bar-Kays' "Let's Have Some Fun" enters the soul charts
    1979 - Vietnamese forces, aided by Cambodian insurgents, captured Phnom Penh after a two-week invasion and overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot.
    1979 - In the AFC title game, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Houston Oilers 34-5 for a Super Bowl trip and their third AFC championship title. They played in a steady rain at Three Rivers Stadium. In the NFC championship game, the Dallas Cowboys shut out the Los Angeles Rams 28-0. The Steelers beat the Cowboys 35-31 in Super Bowl XIII Jan 21.
    1980 - Led Zeppelin's "In Through the Out Door" is awarded a platinum disc. It's the last album issued before the September 25th death of drummer John Bonham.
    1981 - The "Eagles Live" album goes platinum. The two-record set will turn out to be the final Eagles album until 1994's comeback LP, "Hell Freezes Over".
    1982 - The Islanders' Bryan Trottier had his 10th career hat trick.
    1982 - "Hooked on Classics," using the extended medley format made popular by "Stars on 45," sets popular classical music to a disco beat. The result: It goes platinum on this date.
    1983 - Top Hits
“Maneater” - Daryl Hall & John Oates
“The Girl is Mine” - Michael Jackson /Paul McCartney
“Dirty Laundry” - Don Henley
“Wild and Blue” - John Anderson
    1984 - The Seattle Seahawks reached the AFC Title game for the first time in their history but were defeated by the Los Angeles Raiders, 30-14.
    1988 - It was a bad day for chickens. Heavy snow in Arkansas, with totals ranging up to 16 inches at Heber Springs, claimed the lives of 3.5 million chickens, and snow and ice up to three inches thick claimed the lives of another 1.75 million chickens in north central Texas. Up to 18 inches of snow blanketed Oklahoma, with Oklahoma City reporting a record 12 inches of snow in 24 hours.
    1989 - A tornado in southern Illinois obliterated half the community of Allendale, injuring fifty persons and causing more than five million dollars damage, while thunderstorm winds gusting higher than 100 mph caused ten million dollars damage at Franklin, KY. Twenty-five cities, from the Gulf coast to Michigan, reported record high temperatures for the date.
    1990 - Rain and gale force winds prevailed along the Northern Pacific Coast. Winds at Astoria OR gusted to 65 mph. Unseasonably warm weather prevailed over Florida. Five cities reported record high temperatures for the date, including Miami with a reading of 86 degrees. The hot spot in the nation was West Palm Beach with a high of 87 degrees.
    1990 - A rapidly intensifying low pressure system and a vigorous cold front brought heavy rain and high winds to the Pacific Northwest. Two to five inches rains soaked western Washington and western Oregon, and winds gusting above 70 mph caused extensive damage. Wind gusts on Rattlesnake Ridge in Washington State reached 130 mph
    1991 - Top Hits
“Justify My Love” - Madonna
“High Enough” - Damn Yankees
“Love Will Never Do (Without You)” - Janet Jackson
“I've Come to Expect It From You” - George Strait
    1992 - A rare January thunderstorm rumbled over Sioux Falls, SD. This was the first January thunderstorm recorded in the city since 1939. Meanwhile, thunderstorms produced 6 tornadoes (one F2 and five F1) near Grand Island, NE -- the first tornadoes ever recorded in Nebraska during January.
    1993 - Michael Jordan scored 35 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 130-95 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The points gave Jordan exactly 20,000 in the 620th game of his career and made him the second fastest NBA player to reach the mark behind Wilt chamberlain, who did it in 499 games.
    1994 – Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the knee at the US Figure Skating Championships in Detroit. Shane Stant, after a practice session, used a police baton, an assault planned by rival Tonya Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and co-conspirator Shawn Eckardt.
    1995 - A severe thunderstorm produced a downburst wind gust to 146 mph at Seymour-Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC.
    1996 - A blizzard paralyzed the Eastern U.S. The storm moved slowly, taking five days to reach New England from the Gulf of Mexico. The National Weather Service called it a storm of “historic proportions” with more than two feet of snow in the Baltimore and Washington, DC area. The mountains of Virginia and West Virginia got up to three feet. More than 100 deaths were blamed on the storm -- the majority from heart attacks. This event was the second in an unrelenting, paralyzing "siege of snowstorms" along the east coast during a ten day period.
    1997 - In Los Angeles, California, Heidi Fleiss, known as the "Hollywood Madam", was sentenced to 37 months in prison for cheating on her taxes, laundering call-girl profits, and conspiring to hide her wrongdoing. According to news sources, Fleiss choked back tears, saying, "I'm sorry. I'm a different person now."
    1997 – LA Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, son of the man who brought the team to LA from Brooklyn, announced that he is putting the team up for sale. In 1998, he sold the team to Fox Broadcasting.
    2001 - After a five-week long debate regarding Florida voting ballots, George W. Bush was finally declared official winner of the Presidential election. This was one of the closest presidential election races in U.S. history.
    2012 - Salesforce.com signed an 18-year, 400,000-square-foot lease at 50 Fremont St. in San Francisco for nearly $340 million. The software company was founded by Marc Benioff in a Telegraph Hill apartment in 1999.

The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. What could be simpler?

You can save up to 20 different routes and check them out with one click,
or type in a new route to learn the traffic live