Monday, October 8, 2012

58

Article Two of the United States Constitution created the election for the President of the United States, to be held every four years. Thus began in 1788 with George Washington and to current 2008 Barack Obama, 57 times this nation has elected 44 different Presidents and 47 Vice Presidents.

The troubling issue about our elections is that the highest election turnout ever was in 1960, 63.1% of the voting population. Recently it has been: 2008 – 56.8%, 2004 – 55.3%, and 2000 – 51.3%. A little more than half of our citizens vote. Truly amazing when you think about it. Why? Apathy, anger, no meaning, who knows. But in these times when the nation is so divided every vote is so important. Is the nation really split evenly between Democrats and Republicans? Or is that what MSNBC and Fox News want you to believe.

Perhaps this 58th time we as American citizens go to the polls and participate in the rights we have fought for in wars, protests, and laws. Please VOTE!

DEBATE REACT: BIG WIN FOR ROMNEY - Very strong night for GOP nominee Mitt Romney who appeared far sharper and more engaged than President Barack Obama in the first debate of the season and the opening of Act III of Campaign 2012. Romney continued to pivot back to the middle on health care and away from his 20 percent across-the-board tax cut proposal even though it remains his official policy. But beyond wonky specifics, Romney's crisp performance and persistent attacks on Obama's economic record clearly earned him a strong second look from persuadable voters, the only thing that really mattered in the debate from a purely political perspective.

OBAMA STRUGGLES - The president at times struggled to explain his policy positions, especially on health care, and looked down a lot more than he should have. He also inexplicably failed to rip Romney over the "47 percent" comments and got snippy with moderator Jim Lehrer, who had a tough night. It was a perplexingly soft effort by a president who mostly seemed annoyed by the whole operation.

N.Y. POST wood, with Obama pic: "CHOKE'S ON HIM! Lefty pals 'gag' on O's debate disaster ... Jay Leno: 'The only people who thought Obama won were the replacement refs.'"

--"Nielsen: 67M viewers for 1st presidential debate" -- AP: "67.2 million people watched the first debate between President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney, the largest TV audience for a presidential debate since 1992. ... Nielsen says you have to go back to the second debate involving Bill Clinton, George Bush and Ross Perot in 1992 for a more popular presidential debate. ... Joe Biden and Sarah Palin attracted 69.9 million viewers. Nielsen says 11.25 million people watched the debate on ABC, 11.07 million watched on NBC, 10.58 million on CBS, 10.44 million on Fox News Channel, 6.88 million on the Fox broadcast network, 6.05 million on CNN, 4.73 million on MSNBC and 2.58 million on Univision."

DEAR RINK RATS:

I have an uncommon first name, and it is often mispronounced or misheard. (It rhymes with a female body part). When clients I am meeting for the first time mispronounce it and continue talking, I never know when to correct them. If I do it immediately, I risk seeming rude for interrupting them. But if I wait, they often feel sheepish for rambling on using the wrong name. Thoughts?

Cautious, Chicago, Ill.

Dear Cautious:

Make a strong offense your best defense. Introduce yourself preemptively to everyone you meet for the first time – before they start talking. Stick your hand and say: “Hi, I’m Delores.” (You can even add: “It rhymes with …, well maybe not.”) This should cut down on the number of manglings. Good luck.

Rink Rats, Claremont, CA.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK – Birthday wishes and thoughts this week to: Matt Damon (42), Lori Gordien …debt & credit expert, Dick Gregory (80), Karen Hasse …how old?, Jesse Jackson (71), Christie Kerr (35), Devorah Lieberman …famous University President, Rob McIsaac …famous cousin, Roger Moore (85), John O’Hurley (58), Kelly Preston (50), Jerry Rice (50), Karla Suffredini …famous for being two places at once, Chris Wallace (65).

MINDLESS REPORT: Facebook announces on "Today" that it has passed 1 billion users, one-seventh of the world's population. The billionth friend, not yet identified by Facebook, joined Sept. 14. The median age of new users that week was about 22.

THE BIG IDEA: STOCK MARKET SOARS; MANY IGNORE IT -  "The stock market is reaching toward new highs on the fourth anniversary of the financial crisis, but many people refuse to be lured back. Even as stock indexes have doubled in value since the market low in March 2009, investors have yanked a net $138 billion from mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that invest in U.S. stocks, according to the Investment Company Institute ...

Investors over the same period put $1 trillion into bond funds, a traditionally lower yielding but safer investment. It marks the first time since 1981 that investors have pulled money from U.S.-stock funds for more than a year at a time. Crumbling confidence in stocks reflects a broader loss of trust in the stock market and in the idea that the prudent investor could expect a comfortable retirement and even a measure of wealth."

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 10/13, 12:00 PM ET, ABC: #15 ranked Texas Longhorns (4-1) at #13 ranked Oklahoma Sooners (3-1). This traditional Big 12 rivalry is a toss-up, we like Oklahoma 17 Texas 14. Season to date (3-3).

SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 10/13, 1:00 PM ET, Bravo: Mount Ida Mustangs (4-1) visit Hussan Eagles (1-4) in this ECFC conference matchup in Bangor, Maine. The mustangs have a good club this year we like Mount Ida 45 Hussan 21.    Season to date (5-1).

NFL FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Sunday 10/14, 8:20 PM ET, NBC: Green Bay Packers (2-3) at Houston Texans (4-0). A must win game for the Pack, if not a win their playoff hopes may be history. Green Bay 21 Houston 17. Season to Date (4-1).

THE SWAMI’S TOP PICKS – Oklahoma 17 Texas 14, Mount Ida 45 Hussan 21, The Pack 21 Houston 17, La Verne 21 Redlands 17.    Season to Date (14-9).

COCKTAIL TIME:

The Southern Fall Staple: Bourbon and Spicy Ginger Soda

We checked in with award-winning chef Hugh Acheson of 5&10 and the National in Athens, Georgia, for a recommendation on a tailgating cocktail, and he came up with a winner—a slightly more refined take on the classic bourbon and ginger ale, swapping store-bought ginger ale for homemade ginger syrup. “The popular standard of Maker’s Mark and Blenheim is a ubiquitous Athens favorite,” he says. “But the fresh ginger is refreshingly spicy.” Don’t let the syrup scare you. Acheson keeps the recipe simple, and unlike most craft cocktails, this drink will travel. Make the ginger syrup a day ahead for an easy tote to the tailgate. Add a generous pour of bourbon over ice, a little soda water, and some fresh fruit, and you’re ready to go.

Ginger Syrup
½ cup sugar (fine turbinado)
½ cup water
¼ lb. fresh ginger root (peeled and finely grated)

In a small saucepot bring the sugar, water, and ginger to a boil. Turn off the heat, and allow to steep and cool for one hour. Strain off the ginger pieces, and reserve the syrup.


To Serve
(makes 1)
Large ice cubes
3 oz. Maker's Mark (or your favorite bourbon)
1 tbsp. ginger syrup
2 slices fresh ripe peach (Try pear if peaches are out of season.)
2 oz. soda water

Fill a 10 oz. highball glass with ice. Add bourbon and ginger syrup, and stir. Add peach slices (or pear), and pour soda water to the top of the glass. Stir gently. Make sure you have a limo or a driver.

DRIVING THE WEEK - Romney speaks on foreign policy at 11:20 a.m. at VMI and has an event in Newport News at 5:20 p.m. ... Paul Ryan campaigns in Swanton, Ohio, at 11:30 a.m. and Rochester, Mich., at 7:20 p.m. ... Romney is in Ohio on Tuesday with N.J. Gov. Chris Christie ... President Obama has a trio of fundraisers in the Bay Area including a concert at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium featuring John Legend and Michael Franti ... Dr. Jill Biden campaigns in Pennsylvania ... Bill Clinton campaigns for Obama on Tuesday in Las Vegas ...

Marquee campaign event comes Thursday with the VP debate between Ryan and Joe Biden. These under-card matchups usually don't mean much but in such a close race a bad performance (or a really good one) by either could have an impact. Also, Biden will presumably go hard after what the Obama campaign describes as misrepresentations (or big policy shifts) in Romney's widely praised debate performance last week. ...

FDIC meets Tuesday to finalize rule on stress tests for state chartered banks with $10 billion or more in assets ... Second quarter earnings season, which is expected to be very weak, starts on Tuesday with Alcoa. JPMorgan and Wells Fargo reporting on Friday. Can the bad numbers overcome Fed-fuelled stock market gains?

Wall Street comes off a bumpy, uneven week that nonetheless wound up on the plus side, with the Dow now sitting at its highest level since December 2007.
Next week; 2014 economic outlook and words of the month.

Until Next Monday, Adios.

Claremont, CA
October 8, 2012

#III-24, 129

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