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Leasing Sales Representative
Long Island, NY

Hiring experienced or new to business sales reps. Transactions in all states / all industries. Send resume to: info@sterlingcap.net or fax 631-414-7571.

About the Company: Sterling Capital Leasing, LLC is a national small ticket/middle market leasing company

Wednesday, May 14, 2008


Famed filmmaker George Lucas, born May 14, 1944 in
Modesto, CA. Best known for “Star Wars” and “Indiana
Jones.” His first film was “America Graffiti.”

Headlines---

Classified Ads---Sales Manager
    Marlin Leasing "Massive" Layoffs?
        Lease/Loan State License Requirements
Studebaker-Worthington/Main Street Bank
    Classified Ads---Help Wanted
        Leasing Icon Bob Krause to Retire
Meetings open to Members/Non-Members
    Cartoon---Baseball
        One Leasing School student responds
Sales makes it Happen---by C. Menkin
“Don’t Save you last Shot”
    Citi beyond Repair
        Ex-leader says AIG is in "crisis"
    News Briefs---
You May have Missed---
    California Nuts Brief---
        Sports Briefs---
"Gimme that Wine"
    Calendar Events
        Snapple Real Facts
Today's Top Event in History
    This Day in American History
        Baseball Poem
SuDoku
    Daily Puzzle
        GasBuddy
    Provence, France-Vacation
News on Line---Internet Newspapers
Minnesota Business and Finance

######## surrounding the article denotes it is a “press release”

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Classified Ads---Sales Manager

Atlanta, GA
Strong sales and leadership skills; demonstrated with sales training and sales performance. Lead team in both regional and national operations and developed marketing programs.
Email: mll1946@comcast.net
[Resume]
Chicago, IL
Sales Executive or Senior Manager, with responsibility for leasing capital equipment in support of transactions based on current market values, market potential and economic trends.
tomvolk53@hotmail.com
Resume

For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

Leasing Recruiters:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Recruits/index.htm

To place a free “job wanted” ad here, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

[headlines]

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Marlin Leasing “Massive” Layoffs?

Leasing News received several e-mails form very reliable sources that Marlin Business Services has laid off over 50 employees. One called it a “massive layoff.”

Reportedly all day, they were systematically called into offices and fired. 

One reader told Leasing News that Chairman and CEO Dan Dyer
“walked around smiling,” while this was happening.

At press time, after numerous telephone calls, Leasing News was unable to get confirmation or denial from an officer or spokesman from Marlin.

This latest news follows the Friday “first quarter 2008 Earnings Call” where Chairman and CEO Dyer said near the end, when asked if they were going to cut expenses, that they would begin with “staffing.” He did not elaborate at the time.

"Better Quality, Higher Yield" is what he kept repeating during the telephone conference.

The news must have been heard by investors as the stock dropped to $5.99, shortly after noon,
and finished at $6.02

Day's Range: 5.99 - 6.42
52wk Range: 5.85 - 21.94
Volume: 25,509
Avg Vol (3m): 64,473

SEC filings on May 9th, 2008 ( 1.25mb down load):
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/MRLN_5-08.pdf

Telephone Conference:
http://investor.shareholder.com/media/eventdetail.cfm

[headlines]

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Lease/Loan State License Requirements

This site will be up-dated as several states are adding requirements for commercial finance leases and loans, including the State of Washington as well as Nevada.

Therefore there appears to be some confusion regarding the definition of “Loan Originators” in the State of Washington and new laws to further define this are to be posted within a week. In the past,
commercial transactions were not regulated ( as was the case in many states.)

[headlines]

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Studebaker-Worthington/Main Street Bank

Due diligence is proceeding on the sale of substantially all of the assets of State Bank's leasing subsidiary Studebaker-Worthington Leasing Corporation by Main Street Bank of Kingwood, Texas. The plan is for Studebaker to operate as a division of Main Street Bank and continue its national equipment leasing business from its present Jericho, New York office. Studebaker's senior management, including Kenneth Paston, its Chief Executive Officer, will continue with the Studebaker operation, was the announced mission.


Tom Depping, Chairman/CEO, Main Street Bank
(photo: Main Street Bank)

Since the founding of Main Street Bank by Tom Depping, former CEO and founder of Sierra Cities, the bank has been unique in the banking industry, not seeking subprime mortgage loans, but aiming at
equipment finance and leasing, hiring the top talent in the field, using their expertise to build both a competitive and efficient operation. It was a long time goal for Depping, something he was attempting to achieve when he was running Sierra Cities.

According to the 2007 year-end financial statements filed with the FDIC, Main Street Bank net loans and leases went from $96 million in year-end 2007 to $146 million in 2008. It earned Bob Fisher a promotion to executive vice-president.


Bob Fisher, Exec. VP, Main Street Bank
(Photo: Main Street Bank)

At 2007 year-end, the bank had 81 employees with a net income of almost $1.4 million dollars with a healthy financial statement and cash dividend of $$2.07, according to the FDIC filing, with computers, systems, operations all in excellent working order.

Tom Depping, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Main Street Bank, stated, "With the addition of the highly dedicated Studebaker sales and marketing team, Main Street will continue to expand its national equipment leasing franchise under the Studebaker-Worthington brand.”

The Main Street Bank web site indicates the goal will be achieved this year in equipment financing and leasing:

“We have the most experienced management team in the industry. Our management team has an average of 20 years experience and includes the founders of First Sierra Financial, Inc. which funded $3 billion in leasing assets. Unlike most banks, our main focus is equipment financing.

“We recognize the needs of the varied healthcare segments in today’s fragmented market and our management has the specialized knowledge and capabilities to support this complexity…

“A wide range of solutions is required to meet the demands of a growing business or organization and to keep it healthy….

“Main Street Bank’s intermediary program offers the independent broker and lessor a financing program to support their equipment markets and customer financing requirements….

“At Main Street Bank, we offer a complete suite of customized financing products designed for franchisors, franchisees and vendors. …”
http://www.msbanktx.com/EquipmentFinancing/default.htm

Studebaker-Worthington Leasing started in 1965 and was one of the first to accept lease brokerage business. The company like Westinghouse and others, started with the financing of the
equipment they manufacture. Studebaker did air compressors and related equipment from the parent company.

State Bancorp, Inc. (Amex: STB), parent company of State Bank of Long Island purchased Studebaker-Worthington, announced February 28, 2001:

"Studebaker will operate as a subsidiary of State Bank of Long Island and will be headed up by Kenneth Paston, a minority owner of the firm and its current President. Mr. Paston will also assume the additional responsibility of CEO due to the retirement of Frederic Weiss, a founding principal of the firm. It is the intent of State Bank's management to retain the Studebaker name and its entire Jericho, New York-based staff.”

In making the April, 2008 announcement regarding acquiring the assets of Studebaker-Worthington, Main Street Bank CEO Tom Depping said, “ "We are excited about joining forces with Ken Paston and his qualified group of equipment leasing professionals and we look forward to providing Studebaker's customers with the same high quality service they have come to expect and enjoy."

Main Street Bank Management:
http://www.msbanktx.com/ourmanagement.htm

[headlines]

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Collector


Collector

Lake Success, NY

--Referral Fee Available---

Full Time, entry or jr. level collector, auto and/or equip. collection exp. preferred. ekaye@advantagefunding.us or call Ed Kaye or Eric Coolbaugh: 866.392.1300
516-280-1786 Direct Dial
718-392-5427 FAX resume

Lake Success is the western most village in Nassau County, conveniently located by car from the Long Island Expressway and Grand Central Parkway.

Leasing Sales Representative


“A Top Producers Dream”

Outstanding Back Office Support
High Commissions – Up To 80%
Elite Training Program
Access to many Major Funding Sources with the ability to obtain approvals not available elsewhere

Click Here if you want to achieve more!



Leasing Sales Representative
Long Island, NY

Hiring experienced or new to business sales reps. Transactions in all states / all industries. Send resume to: info@sterlingcap.net or fax 631-414-7571.

About the Company: Sterling Capital Leasing, LLC is a national small ticket/middle market leasing company

[headlines]

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Leasing Icon Bob Krause to Retire


Photo: EAEL.org

Bob Krause is retiring as senior vice-president of Sterling National Bank, New York, New York, on June 12th. He started the equipment leasing division over 15 years ago, helping to make it the largest lending unit in the Bank in terms of assets held. He is very well-known in the leasing industry: a man who set standards. He helped found the Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors in 1979, becoming its first president. He also served on the board of directors of the association known today as the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA).

Bob was born in The Bronx, automatically becoming a New York Yankees fan. He moved with his parents to Manhattan when he was thirteen. He lives in New York City, where he says when he retires, he will have plenty of things to do, although he adds he may be available for consulting.

Bob got his first job in the equipment finance business back in 1958. He was employed as a complete novice by a company known as Standard Financial Corporation. He started doing collection work then moved on to credit evaluation and within three years he was the administrative head of the department supervising eight people.

In 1965 he was hired by a company then known as Amsterdam Overseas Corporation, which was owned by the Rothschild’s. They wanted him to start an equipment finance operations for them from scratch. Within a year a separate subsidiary was formed called Northern Financial Corporation of which Bob was named President. He was with them for ten years and built a substantial business. In 1975 the Rothschild’s sold Amsterdam Overseas to Aetna Life and Casualty. The name was changed to Aetna Business Credit. It was during this time that leasing became the popular method of financing equipment acquisitions.

Krause was not happy with the change in management and he left the company planning to start his own business. At this time he was approached by three banks, Chase, Chemical and Philadelphia National to take over the running of a company called Todd Equipment Leasing Co. located in Great Neck. The company seemed to be heading toward bankruptcy and the Bank wanted Krause to take it over and keep it out of the bankruptcy courts. They got Todd’s owners to turn their stock in Todd over to Krause, which they did. Against all odds Bob was able to work out an out of court settlement with the creditors. He ran the company for six years and in that time was able to recoup all of the money owed to the three banks. Todd’s accountants found a buyer for the company in 1981.

He went from Todd to work for Alan Fisher at Commercial Funding. He was the Chief Credit Officer of that company. After that he spent some time with Harvey Granat of Granat Leasing as their executive vice—president. In 1989 he was elected to the Board of Directors of what was then the American Association of Equipment Leasing, which is now ELFA, where he served on the board for four years.

Bob had kept in touch with his associates from Standard Financial particularly its President Theodore Silbert. In the mid- seventies that company had acquired Sterling National Bank. Mr. Silbert passed away in 1993 at the age of 88 and was the Chairman of the Board of the Bank at the time. Bob attend the funeral and congratulated the new Chairman Louis J. Cappelli, who was also an old friend.
Mr. Cappelli, then and there, urged Bob to return to the fold and re-start the equipment leasing and finance business which he did.

He told Leasing News he is going to continue to be a reader to try and keep in touch with his many friends. Until June 12th,he may be reached at robert.krause@sterlingbancorp.com.

[headlines]

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Meetings open to Members/Non-Members

Leasing Association Events-Meetings Open to All

Friday, May 16, 2008
Networking in the Fast Lane
Indianapolis, IN
Midwest Region

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Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors  
Chapter Meeting Schedule for more information: www.eael.org
EAEL
Tel : 212 809-1602
Fax : 212-809-1650
62 William Street,  4th Floor
New York, NY  10005

June 5 th New Jersey Chapter Meeting
June 10 th New York City Chapter Meeting
June 12 th Boston Chapter Meeting
June 12 th Baltimore Crabfeast Obrycki's Crab House
June 17 th Charlotte Chapter Meeting
June 19 th Buffalo Chapter Meeting
July 8 th Atlanta Chapter Meeting
July 21  EAEL Night Yankee Stadium
October 14 th Atlanta Chapter Meeting
November 4 th Buffalo Chapter Meeting
November 6 th Connecticut Chapter Meeting
November 12 th Philadelphia Chapter Meeting
November 13 th Long Island Chapter Meeting
November 18 th New Jersey Chapter Meeting
December 2 nd Boston Holiday Party
December 3 rd Buffalo Holiday Party
December 4 th Baltimore Holiday Party
December 8 th New York City Holiday Party
December 9 th Charlotte Holiday Party

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To view Leasing Association Conferences in 2007, please click here.

[headlines]

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[headlines]

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One Leasing School student responds

Following Dwight Galloway, CLP, LEAF Specialty Finance, comments on becoming a leasing broker, and research conclusion by Leasing News on how many “students” remain in leasing after graduating,
only one response was heard, perhaps further indicating how many students are still in equipment leasing:

“I am a graduate of Wildwood (3 years ago).  My opinion is that while there seems to be a sudden proliferation of leasing ‘schools’ , what I paid for was a license agreement which included the training much like a franchise does.  Thus I went into it as a business owner, not a student. 

“My opinion of what differentiates one ‘school’ from another ‘business ownership opportunity’ is not just a three day training and post graduate assistance and follow up, but also WHO they are entering relationships with.  Wildwood (and I trust Mona James in her new position) was not spewing into the industry anyone who could fog a mirror and ante up.  They sought those with complimentary backgrounds, with the experiences that would enhance their new businesses.  And there in lies the most fundamental of differences between all these new ‘schools’ popping up. 

“The view from where I sit ! Disclaimer:  Expressly the opinion of me, myself and I ! “

Lisette Johnson
Cash Flow Crisis Prevention
Integra Leasing & Commercial Finance
804.622.0497   804.622.0498 fax  888.622.0497 toll free
LJohnson@IntegraLeasing.com
www.IntegraLeasing.com
 
Keeping Your Cash Available
 
We adhere to NAELB code of ethics

Dwight Galloway, CLP, on Leasing Schools
http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/May%202008/05-12-08.htm#clp

[headlines]

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Sales Make it Happen --- by Christopher Menkin

“Don't save your best shot”

When you make your first presentation, make it your last. Whether it is by e-mail, fax, or overnight, depending on the size of the transaction, don't save your best shot. Come to the table with what will gain you an approval. Don't negotiate with your credit department as it will affect the next deal you bring them. You also may not get your lessee to agree.

Think before hand what will make your credit grantor buy your deal. Put your hat on as if you are a credit decision maker. Sit across the table and say if someone brought you this, what would make you most comfortable to approve it. Get this agreed in advance with your customer.

EFA

As credit criteria is changing, you as a sales person need to change with it. This means looking at other ways of convincing your company or funder to accept a transaction. If there is too much soft cost or other equipment problems, consider an "Equipment Finance Agreement," often called an "EFA." Since most leases are $1.00 residuals, an EFA often is more attractive as the lessee becomes a debtor and problems stemming from being a lessee may make a difference, particularly on certain equipment and/or situations.

Security Deposit

Try selling two or more security deposits to the lessee to speed up the process. A typical lease requires one month as a security deposit. This deposit may not be considered income but an actual "security deposit," not deducted from the stream of payments. It is not earned until the end of the lease and most commonly is used in lieu of the last lease payment. Many funders see this as an advantage.

Many "C" and "C" credit require this. Also see if getting a 10% purchase option at the signing of the lease may make a different

to the credit grantor. In the early 1970's, it was most common for most leases to be written first and ten percent (the ten percent the purchase option paid in advance.)

In ‘hard” credits, it is not uncommon for a lessor to require a ten, or twenty-five, and sometimes a fifty percent deposit. Usually there is not any interest earned on this deposit to the lessee. Often the deposit is not held for the full length of the lease, but a specific time limit and other requirements, such as a history of payments made on time or financial criteria. The deposit is an incentive to obtain a credit approval on the lessee and equipment.

My advice, go in strong to the credit grantor. Get as much as you can get to make the first decision a “yes, “ not a “maybe” or “if” answer. If you go in with more security deposits or additional collateral, you may win the deal with the credit department.

Several “story credit” companies have such requirements. Perhaps your credit decision maker may consider the “abundance of caution,” as bankers call this action.

Vehicles

Contrasting warrants, smaller transactions, where the credit or situation is not present, or company is new, pink slips to vehicles are held by the lessor. A vehicle appraisal, condition report, and department of motor vehicle processing are required. In many states, the highway patrol, motor vehicle department, can perform a condition report. Often a third-party vehicle dealer is used for both the appraisal and vehicle condition report. Often the lessor utilizes a "blue book" and sight inspection by a leasing officer or dis-interested third party, such as an auto dealer not involved in the transaction.

In the past we have written several of these leases, trading pink slips for collateral substitution. This is more common with new tow truck operators or sub-contractors in the construction industry. It also works with small ticket transactions where the owner pays cash instead of credit with their suppliers.

Additional Guarantors

We have had mothers and father's guarantee for their children's new company or management of their existing company. This applies to all ages. We had a 68 year old mother guarantee her son's expansion of his business. We were very glad when the lease was completed because no matter the financial situation of the guarantor, we did not want to collect from grandmother.

Normally, the guarantor is a "blood relative." Sometimes it is a corporate guarantor, such as from a corporation out of the state, often foreign, who has started a "presence" and new corporation in the United States. In California, we have several leases guaranteed by a Canadian, Israel, British, or Finish parent corporation. We also have leases from out of state corporations, such as one guaranteed by the Texas Corporation parent or former corporation who sold one of their companies to their employees in an ESOP plan.

The older credit days of obtaining a guarantee from a best friend are gone. Creditors found when it came to collecting money from best friends, the friendship ended and only the attorneys were paid.

Other Equipment

Informal appraisals from dealers or other parties are most common, using the depreciation schedule in the tax return to verify cost of equipment and value of the equipment. It is not uncommon to require 150% of the depreciated value in lieu of a formal appraisal that may cost the lessee three percent of the evaluation from a professional appraiser.

A UCC search and appraisal are often required (informal to formal) to $250 to verify that the equipment is "free and clear" from other blanket liens or specific liens and it is worth a specific value. It is not uncommon for the process to take two to four weeks longer to clear up liens that have not been released or for debtors to be paid off. Often this is also viewed as a "sale-leaseback," meaning a bulk rate filing in a local newspaper for ten days is also required.

So called “hard collateral” equipment also may have a factor in the valuation procedure. Some story credit specialize in this, and even offer a lower rate for additional collateral to makethem more comfortable with the transaction.

CD's

This is very similar to cash, except the lessee earns the interest on the "deposit" Often the Certificate of Deposit is held at the lessor's bank.

It sometimes is held at the lessee's bank, but there are many restrictions and procedures in place. It is also not uncommon to find the CD from a "guarantor" or third party, such as a company that will realize the appreciation of the equipment and performance of the lessee with the equipment. Trusts and other entities may also have the ability to pledge a certificate of deposit. Time limit and other considerations may be made, depending primarily on the size of the transaction and situation.

This is common in start ups who want to show the cash on their financial statement or not give up stock for the granting of credit. It also may be from a dealer, a customers, a relative, who doesn't want to guarantee, but has cash and will allow it as a source to guarantee the transaction. The cash should be in the lessor's name with interest to the lessee.

These are generally leases where the lessee qualifies for a smaller lease, but wants a large lease and the company is often moving to a major plateau.

Letters of Credit

The lessee obtains a letter of credit through their bank. It may come from their bank relationship, meaning accounts receivable, other loans, or personal guarantees of value to the bank. Costs are normally between two to three percent per year; with other fees; depending on the size of the letter of credit.

The letter of credit may also be in a step manner, meaning each year the dollar amount decreases as the lease is paid out. It is most common for the letter of credit to cover the entire stream of payments, not just the cost of the equipment.

Sometimes the letter of credit replaces a personal guarantee, a restriction of the nature of the equipment We completed a $300,000 letter of credit lease with a law firm, utilizing one personal guarantee and none of the other partners. We completed a $75,000 lease with a letter of credit and other equipment as collateral. We like letters of credit more than a cash deposit, but ranked number two because in the leasing business, additional security deposits are more common.

Stock

In this instance, the stock is most common physically held by the lessor or its bank or stock broker. There are instances when the stock is held by a third party. It is not uncommon for the stock to be valued at 50% of its selling price, or in other words, on a $50,000 lease, $100,000 worth of publicly traded stock to be held by the lessor. In all the instances I have seen, the full dollar amount of the lease is required to be covered by a publicly traded stock, municipal bond, or other such instrument plus 50%. Sometimes it is higher.

Warrants are a form of stock. This is very common in Venture Backed Leases. A warrant is issued by the lessee, meaning the value of the stock "today" is promised to the lessor with the ability to purchase at any time in the future ( there can be time limits, but not common to require ). This gives the lessor the advantage that a new company starting out with a stock value of $5 may go to $50, or better yet, split several times, and it multiplies to be worth $125 or more in three to five years. It is an incentive to extend credit to a company not turning a profit or expected to turn a profit for several years. It is also attractive to investors or smaller leasing companies who are willing to extend credit with warrants.

This instrument has become so popular with banks and venture capital groups in the last few years, that the dollar amount considered has gone down to $100,000 (usually the minimum was $500,000).

Second Mortgages

In prior period, this was considered almost as good as cash, particularly if it was the residence of the personal guarantor.

Today most homes are going down in value, and often used by credit cards and banks as additional security for lines of credit. Equipment, vehicles, and other assets may be free and clear, but often today a second mortgage is not as attractive as it was in the past---but don't overlook it, especially if needed to make the equipment financing go forward.

Sales Makes it Happen articles:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Legacy/index.html


 

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News Briefs----

Citi beyond Repair
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05132008/business/citi_is_beyond_repair_110684.htm

Ex-leader says AIG is in "crisis"
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004409636_aig13.html

U.S. median home price falls a record 7.7% in first quarter
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2008-05-13-home-prices-nar_N.htm

Retail sales dip but outside of autos show strength
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20080513-1417-economy.html

Airbus announces new delays to A380
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20080513-1051-france-airbus.html

First Leasing Bank replaces CEO
http://www.ameinfo.com/156584.html

5/13: Idol top 3 performance show
http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/idol/
entries/2008/05/13/513_idol_top_3.html

Another elimination from 'Dancing With the Stars'
http://www.accessatlanta.com/entertainment/content/shared-gen/ap/
TV/TV_Dancing_With_the_Stars.html

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You May have Missed---

Consumers ditching land-line phones
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2008-05-13-landlines_N.htm

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Sports Briefs----

New indictment against Barry Bonds unsealed
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/05/13/sports/s172345D99.DTL

[headlines]

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California Nuts Briefs---

Schwarzenegger to propose lottery borrowing to ease deficit
http://www.sacbee.com/1089/story/936963.html

[headlines]

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“Gimme that Wine”

Cabernet Sauvignon's Ancient Roots
http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=55436

Scholz: Behind the scenes of Idaho's wine industry
http://www.idahostatesman.com/life/story/377821.html

Umpqua Bank Expands California Commercial Banking Team
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080513/20080513005572.html?.v=1

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
The London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-ex) is an electronic exchange for fine wine.
http://www.liv-ex.com/

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Calendar Events This Day

Dance like a Chicken Day
http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/dancelikeachicken.htm

Donate a Day’s Wages to Charity Day
All working people are asked to donate the money they make on May 14, 2008 to charity. If unable to afford the donation, they are then asked to take a day off of work and donate their time to charity.

National Buttermilk Biscuit Day

National Nightshift Workers Day
To honor those workers who reverse their natural circadian rhythm to keep business running 24 hours a day.

National Receptionists Day
A day of recognition for our nation’s frontline personnel.
http://holidayinsights.com/other/receptionistday.htm
www.nationalreceptionists.com

National third Shift Workers Day
To show appreciation for and to honor those often-forgotten workers who toil through the night to keep countless companies and businesses running smoothly

Norway: Midnight Sun at North Cap
First day of the season with around-the-clock sunshine at North Cape, the sun never dips below the horizon from May 14th to July 30, but the night is bright long before and after these dates.

Root Canal Appreciation Day
www.thesmileexperts.com

Underground American Day
Underground America Day is one man’s (Malcolm Wells’s) attempt to get others to think of designing and building structures underground.
www.malcolmwells.com

Saint feast Days

http://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/may.php

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The Hollywood sign was first erected in 1923. Conceived as a real estate ad, it originally read Hollywoodland. The sign stands 50 feet tall, stretches 450 feet across, and weighs 450,000 pounds.

[headlines]

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Today's Top Event in History

1913 - John D. Rockefeller made the largest gift of money (to that time) by establishing the Rockefeller Foundation for $100,000,000. The foundation promotes “the well-being of mankind throughout the world.”

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This Day in American History

    1607 - Just over 100 men and boys filed ashore from the small sailing ships Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, onto what English adventurers came to call Jamestown Island in Virginia. 104 Englishmen arrived. In the early days of the English colonies, trade was a one-way street. The colonists badly needed supplies from the homeland. Historians note that unfortunately, some of the earliest pioneers, as at Jamestown, were adventurers interested more in making a quick fortune from the alleged riches of the New World than in engaging in agriculture or forestry. In late years, through a great diversity of settles arrived and brought with them a variety of skills. They ranged from wealthy Englishmen, who wanted to carve out large estates, to servants. Merchants saw the opportunity for trade as populations grew. Groups seeking religious freedom were also prominent, bringing with them a tradition of hard work and a willingness to start life anew. As a side comment to this, a measure of social position among the male settlers of Jamestown was the fact that of some 105 men, 35 were considered gentlemen, persons whose means freed them from the need to work or engage in trade. The second expedition to Jamestown contained 33 gentlemen out of 120. In the early days, a gentleman was a “high rank” in society and to be one greatly admired and respected.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/may14.html
    1787 - Delegates began gathering in Philadelphia for a convention to draw up the U.S. Constitution.
    1771-Robert Owen, English progressive owner of spinning works, philanthropist, Utopian socialist, founder of New Harmony, IN, born at Newtown, Wales. Died there Nov 17,1858.
http://robert-owen.midwales.com/
    1796-In the 18th century, smallpox was a widespread and often fatal disease. Edward Jenner, a physician in rural England, heard reports of dairy farmers who apparently became immune to smallpox as a result of exposure to cowpox, a related but milder disease. After two decades of studying the phenomenon, Jenner injected cowpox into a healthy eight-year-old boy, who subsequently developed cowpox. Six weeks later, Jenner inoculated the boy with smallpox. He remained healthy. Jenner called this new procedure vaccination, from vaccinia, another term for cowpox. Within 18 months, 12,000 people in England had been vaccinated and the number of smallpox deaths dropped by two-thirds. . Inoculations were begun in the United States where the spread of smallpox had wiped out entire communities, particularly Indian tribes.
    1801 - Tripoli declares war against the United States
    1804-Charged by President Thomas Jefferson with finding a route to the Pacific, Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark left St. Louis. They arrived a the Pacific coast of Oregon in November, 1805 and returned to St. Louis, September 23, 1806.
http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/
    1834 - The greatest snowstorm ever to occur in may hit the Northern Atlantic coastal states. The hills around Newbury, Vermont were covered with up to 24 inches of snow and the higher elevations around Haverhill, New Hampshire received up to three feet.
    1845 - First U.S. warship visits Vietnam. While anchored in Danang for reprovisioning, CAPT John Percival commanding USS Constitution, conducts a show of force against Vietnamese authorities in an effort to obtain the release of a French priest held prisoner by Emperor of Annam at Hue.
    1851--Birthday of Anna Caroline Maxwell , U.S. nurse who established numerous nurse training schools, worked with Red Cross that adopted many of her innovations, and campaigned to get military rank for nurses of the Army Nurse Corps. She authored the standard text, Practical Nursing.
    1856-Liutenant David Dixon Porter of Chester, PA, arrived at Indianola, Texas with camels imported for military purposes form Ismir, Turkey on the ship “Supply,” a Navy store ship. The shipment consisted of 34 camels---one more than left Smyma. ON March 3, 1855, Congress had appropriated $30,000 to the War Department for the purchase and importation of camels and dromedaries to be employed for military purposes.
http://www.tulane.edu/~latner/Porter.html
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/ddporter.htm
http://www.civilwar.si.edu/navies_porter.html
    1856-The editor of the San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin was assassinated by a rival newspaper owner. A vigilante group seized the assassin from the sheriff, then tried, convicted, and executed him.
    1863- Setting aside their own cry for equality, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton called a meeting of the Women's National Loyal League that would gather hundreds of thousands of petitions calling for a Constitutional amendment to abolish slavery.
    1874-this one event created a lot of “firsts”, starting with the first football goalpost when McGill University and Harvard University squared off at Jarvis Field, Cambridge, MA. The teams played rugby football under Harvard’s rules, which stated that every goal constituted a game. McGill arrived with 11 men and Harvard with 15, four of whom were dropped to equalize the teams. Harvard won three games, the first two lasting about five minutes and the third about 12 minutes. As McGill is located in Montreal, Canada, this was also the first international rugby football contest to be played, as well as the first instance in which an admission fee was charged at a collegiate sporting event. The proceeds were used for “lavishly” entertaining the McGill team. A second match was played the following day, and a third match was played in the fall in Montreal.
    1887-Massachuetts required under the Employers Liability Act, passed this day, for all accidents be reported by employers concerning personal injuries suffered by employees in their services.
    1893—birthday of guitarist Pop Stoneman, Galaxy, VA
    1896 - The mercury plunged to 10 degrees below zero at Climax, CO. It was the lowest reading of record for the U.S. during the month of May.
    1897- the unveiling of a statue of George Washington at Philadelphia, PA, and President William McKinley was present. John Phillip Sousa wrote a march for the event, which is perhaps his most widely known,” The Stars and Stripes Forever.” He was in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Great Lakes, Illinois 1897 Sidney Bechet Birthday
http://www.sidneybechet.org/
    1898-drummer Zutty Singleton born Bunkie, LA.
http://www.dws.org/sousa/
    1902- (Helen) Flanders Dunbar birthday - U.S. psychiatrist. 4'11". She earned four advanced degrees in seven years including a Ph.D. in philosophy, a B.D, and then added a medical degrees in 1930. Dunbar integrated religion, science, medicine and psychiatry to head the Council for the Clinical Training of Theological Students. Her chief legacy regards psychosomatic approach to illnesses - a study that showed distinctive personality profiles for each disease. She also uncovered the emotional disturbance of accident prone people. Her “Mind and Body “(1947) is a summation of her findings and considered a classic in modern psychiatry.
    1904-The first Olympic Games held in the United States was the Third Olympiad, held in St. Louis, MO, from this day to August 1, 1904. The games were first awarded to Chicago, IL., but were later given to St. Louis to be staged in connection with the World’s Fair. There were few entrants other than Americans in the 14 events. In the field competitions, the American athletes made a clean sweep of all the events with the exception of lifting the bar and throwing the 56-ound weight.
    1913 - John D. Rockefeller made the largest gift of money (to that time) by establishing the Rockefeller Foundation for $100,000,000. The foundation promotes “the well-being of mankind throughout the world.”
    1917-Birthdayof American Composer Lou Harrison, Portland, Oregon. Died Feb. 2,2003 Lafayette, IN. Lou Harrison was in a way in the family of Cowell, Cage and McPhee. He Favoured Balines Music like Mcphee but used more of Cage & Cowell’s Inspiration. He is very interested in percussion instruments especially from the far east. He wrote several concerts for percussion instruments so as the concerts for flute and percussion. His Piano Concerto was Premiered by JazzMan Keith Jarret.
http://www.classical-composers.org/comp/harrison
    1920-Pitcher Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators considered by some to be the greatest pitcher of all time and the faster, won the 300th game of his career, beating the Detroit Tigers, 9-8. Johnson played in the major leagues from 1907 through 1927. He compiled a record of 417 wins against t279 losses with an earned run average of 2.17..
    1930-Located in southwester New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns was proclaimed a national monument. October 25, 1923, and later established as national park and preserve.
http://www.carlsbad.caverns.national-park.com/
    1936-Singer Bobby Darin, whose real name was Walden Robert Cassotto, was born in the Bronx, New York City. Darin's big break came in 1958 when he wrote and recorded "Splish Splash," which reached number three on the US charts and sold a million copies. His other hits included "Queen of the Hop" and "Mack the Knife." At the beginning of the '60s, he made the transition from teen idol to a more mature star who performed in Vegas nightclubs. Bobby Darin died on December 20th, 1973 after heart surgery.
http://www.bobbydarin.net/
    1937 - Duke Ellington and his band recorded the classic, "Caravan", for Brunswick Records.
    1943-- Jack Bruce, one of the most influential bass guitarists in rock, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Bruce's bass playing and tenor vocals with the group Cream in the 1960's were a great influence on the heavy metal groups that followed. He began developing his style with the British rhythm-and-blues pioneers Graham Bond and Alexis Korner. Bruce later played with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Manfred Mann before forming Cream with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in 1966. The three virtually invented the hard-rock trio style, before breaking up in 1968. Bruce later played in a variety of styles, including hard rock and fusion, with several groups, such as West, Bruce and Laing, Jack Bruce and Friends, and BLT.
    1944--*WAUGH, ROBERT T. Mdeal of Honor
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 339th Infantry, 85th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Tremensucli, Italy, 11-14 May 1944. Entered service at: Augusta, Maine. Birth: Ashton, R.I. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. In the course of an attack upon an enemy-held hill on 11 May, 1st Lt. Waugh personally reconnoitered a heavily mined area before entering it with his platoon. Directing his men to deliver fire on 6 bunkers guarding this hill, 1st Lt. Waugh advanced alone against them, reached the first bunker, threw phosphorus grenades into it and as the defenders emerged, killed them with a burst from his tommygun. He repeated this process on the 5 remaining bunkers, killing or capturing the occupants. On the morning of 14 May, 1st Lt. Waugh ordered his platoon to lay a base of fire on 2 enemy pillboxes located on a knoll which commanded the only trail up the hill. He then ran to the first pillbox, threw several grenades into it, drove the defenders into the open, and killed them. The second pillbox was next taken by this intrepid officer by similar methods. The fearless actions of 1st Lt. Waugh broke the Gustav Line at that point, neutralizing 6 bunkers and 2 pillboxes and he was personally responsible for the death of 30 of the enemy and the capture of 25 others. He was later killed in action in Itri, Italy, while leading his platoon in an attack.
    1945-Gene Cornish, guitarist with the blue-eyed soul group, the Rascals, was born in Ottawa. The group began - as the Young Rascals - by playing dance clubs in Long Island, New York in the mid-1960's. Their hits included "Good Lovin' " and "Groovin'." After changing their name to the Rascals, the group mellowed, going for more jazz-influenced, stretched-out arrangements. The Rascals broke up in the early '70s.
    1950----Top Hits
My Foolish Heart - The Gordon Jenkins Orchestra (vocal: Eileen Wilson)
It Isn’t Fair - The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Don Cornell)
The Third Man Theme - Alton Karas
Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams
    1951—Comedian Ernie Kovacs first hosted "It's a Time for Ernie", a 15-minute afternoon program on NBC in May of 1951 before replacing the "Kukla, Fran and Ollie Show" with "Ernie in Kovacsland." Kovacs also appeared on a variety of daytime and prime-time series and was a fill-in for Steve Allen on the "Tonight!" Show. One of his most famous skits was The Nairobi Trio! He early shows featured his wife, Edie Adams, who smoked a cigar later in commercials, in a seductive manner, saying she liked men who smoked cigars. I will never forget Ernie Kovacs reduced very small and superimposed over his wife, looking down who low cut dress. He died in a freakish accident in Beverly Hills, not driving fast, but on a rainy road ramming into a telephone poll where the climbing rung was left and it pierced the driver's door, killing the great comedian.
    1951- saxophonist Jay Beckenstein born Brooklyn, NY, leader of the jazz-pop band Spyro Gyra.
    1955-Bo Diddley's "Bo Diddley" backed with "I'm a Man" debuts on the R&B chart. It will go to #2 making it his most successful record. The A side introduces what will be known as the Bo Diddley beat.
    1956- Mercury records releases "The Platters," the million-selling group's first album. Although in the next several years it will sell over 50,000 copies, it contains none of their recent hits.
    1956- Mercury Records released the first LP by the Platters. They had just scored on the charts with "Only You" and "The Great Pretender." I bought it, and still have it to this day.
http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=169
http://www.celebritydirect.org/platters/disco.htm
    1957 - The musical, "New Girl in Town", opened at the 46th Street Theatre in New York City. Thelma Ritter and Gwen Verdon starred in the Broadway adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s "Anna Christie". "New Girl in Town" had a run of 431 performances.
    1958----Top Hits
All I Have to Do is Dream - The Everly Brothers
Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - Elvis Presley
Return to Me - Dean Martin
Oh Lonesome Me - Don Gibson
    1959-In a melding of classical ballet and modern dance, George Balanchine’s and Martha Graham’s “Episodes” premiered. A new experience for ballet enthusiast, half of the program was choreographed by Balanchine and the other half by Graham.
    1963 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "If You Wanna Be Happy," Jimmy Soul.
    1966----Top Hits
Monday Monday - The Mamas & The Papas
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - Bob Dylan
Kicks - Paul Revere & The Raiders
I Want to Go with You - Eddy Arnold
    1966-- The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" on pop charts since '63, enters the Hot 100 for the ninth & last time with a re-released version. Incites controversy over its unintelligible, but assumed obscene lyrics: "Smash your left hand down about right here three times, then twice up in this area, then three times right about here . . . that's "Louie Louie."
http://www.louielouie.org/
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/mccoykj/louie/
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/louie/louiereal1.shtml
    1969--*SHEA, DANIEL JOHN Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 14 May 1969. Entered service at: New Haven, Conn. Born: 29 January 1947, Norwalk, Conn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Shea, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman with Company C, 3d Battalion, during a combat patrol mission. As the lead platoon of the company was crossing a rice paddy, a large enemy force in ambush positions opened fire with mortars, grenades and automatic weapons. Under heavy crossfire from 3 sides, the platoon withdrew to a small island in the paddy to establish a defensive perimeter. Pfc. Shea, seeing that a number of his comrades had fallen in the initial hail of fire, dashed from the defensive position to assist the wounded. With complete disregard for his safety and braving the intense hostile fire sweeping the open rice paddy, Pfc. Shea made 4 trips to tend wounded soldiers and to carry them to the safety of the platoon position. Seeing a fifth wounded comrade directly in front of one of the enemy strong points, Pfc. Shea ran to his assistance. As he reached the wounded man, Pfc. Shea was grievously wounded. Disregarding his welfare, Pfc. Shea tended his wounded comrade and began to move him back to the safety of the defensive perimeter. As he neared the platoon position, Pfc. Shea was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy fire. By his heroic actions Pfc. Shea saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers. Pfc. Shea's gallantry in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
    1970- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young announced their breakup before a performance in Chicago. The band - minus Neil Young - would regroup several times during the next dozen years. And all four would get together again in 1988 for the hit single and album "American Dream."
    1972-- After 21 seasons with Giants in New York and San Francisco, 41-year old Willie Mays makes a dramatic debut for his new team as he hits a game winning home run off his former team giving the Mets a 5-4 victory. The 'Say Hey Kid's' 647th career homer in the fifth breaks a 4-4 deadlock.
    1973-The House of Representatives received formal approval of the appointment of female pages in 1972. Today the 934d Congress, appointed Felda Looper as the successor to Gene Cox, who, for three hours, had served as the first female page 34 years earlier.
    1973 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," Stevie Wonder. It is his third chart-topping hit.
    1973-Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina's first LP, "Sittin' In," goes gold. The two actually got together by accident. Messina was going to produce a solo effort for Loggins, but the two had such a rapport that Messina was persuaded to perform.
    1974-Three Dog Night's "The Show Must Go On" turns out to be group's last gold record. The song reaches #4 on the pop chart is also the band's last Top Twenty single. The group had eleven gold records, three of which -- "Joy to the World," "Mama Told Me Not to Come" and "Black and White"-- hit Number One.
    1974----Top Hits
The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
The Streak - Ray Stevens
Dancing Machine - The Jackson 5
Is It Wrong (For Loving You) - Sonny James
    1981-Birthday of American composer Aaron Alon, Florida
    1981 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Bette Davis Eyes," Kim Carnes. Bette Davis responds by sending roses to Carnes when the song wins a Grammy. The song is first recorded by Jackie DeShannon.
    1982----Top Hits
Chariots of Fire - Titles - Vangelis
Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder
Don’t Talk to Strangers - Rick Springfield
Always on My Mind - Willie Nelson
    1985 - The first McDonald’s restaurant -- in Des Plaines, IL -- became the first museum of the fast-food business. McMannequins, McPosters and loads of McPhotos display years of hamburger McProgress
http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/about/museum_info.html
    1987 - The temperature at Sacramento, California soared To 103 Degrees To Establish A May Record Of 7 Days With High Temperatures Of 100 Degrees Or Above. It Also Marked The 9th Record High Of The Month.
    1990----Top Hits
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O’Connor
Vogue - Madonna
All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You - Heart
Help Me Hold On - Travis Tritt
    1990 - Thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front produced severe weather from northwest Texas to western Missouri. Severe thunderstorms spawned seventeen tornadoes, including nine in Texas. Four tornadoes in Texas injured a total of nine persons. Thunderstorms in Texas also produced hail four inches in diameter at Shamrock, and hail four and a half inches in diameter near Guthrie. Thunderstorms over northeastern Kansas produced more than seven inches of rain in Chautauqua County between 9 PM and midnight.
    1991-- President Bush announced his selection of Robert M. Gates to head the Central Intelligence Agency.
    1993- Softkey Software and WordStar International announced a merger on this day in 1993: The companies hoped that joining forces would help them hold their ground against larger software companies. The WordStar word processor, released in 1979, was one of the first word processors available for the personal computer, and the product became an immediate hit, selling nearly a million copies within five years. Unfortunately, WordStar was slow to convert to the PC-DOS operating system, introduced by IBM in 1981. As a result, the product lost its dominant position in the word processor market. In 1994, WordStar and Softkey merged with Spinnaker Software.
    1996-Basketball player Earvin “Magic” Johnson announced his retirement for the second time form the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson had first retired before the start of the 1991-92 NBA season when he learned he was HIV-positive. Other players rebuffed his attempts to come back for the 1992-93 season, but he did play 32 games in 1995-96.
    1998- While we “celebrate “birthdays, today is an exception, Frank Sinatra, 82, dies in Los Angeles, 1998. The Chairman of the Board has left the room.

NBA Finals Champions This Date

    1981 Boston Celtics.

[headlines]

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Baseball Poem

Sign Near Bleachers Entrance

To
discriminate
against a
player based
soley on
the color
of his
uniform

is highly
recommended

Written by Dan Zamudio, published in his book
“Catcher in the Wry” Baseball Poems
Published by McFarland & Company

[headlines]

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SuDoku

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

http://leasingnews.org/Soduku/soduko-main.htm

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Daily Puzzle

How to play:
http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm

Refresh for current date:
http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm

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http://www.gasbuddy.com/
http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_Map_Gas_Prices.aspx
http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_Mobile_Instructions.aspx

[headlines]

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Provence, France-Vacation

http://le-monastier.site.voila.fr/

[headlines]

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News on Line---Internet Newspapers

Minnesota Business and Finance

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