Our annual Christmas gifts and wishes list to those special
individuals or groups on our Rink Rats gift giving list for 2013.
Rink Rats would like to give The City of La Verne a one year
subscription to Real Estate Management magazine.
On our list is some “time to step it up” discipline to the
Detroit Lions Football Club.
A Rink Rats Christmas gift to Fox News, for intelligence and
common sense in news reporting for 2014.
Rink Rats would like to give Sue Ellen Mischke in the
College of Business & Public Management a year of solid work and an
opportunity to show us what you really do for the College???? Where is your
office?
We have a special gift for realization to the Obama
Administration; we have no money, deal with it.
To Speaker of the House John Boehner, an invitation to any
M.B.A. program in America on managing people.
To Wells Fargo Bank, a gift of my business; not because you
are a well operated bank, quite the opposite – I don’t think it can get any worse
in 2014.
To the squirrels of Claremont, California – a separate plate
of food in my garden, so now leave my bird food alone.
TOP
FIVE CHRISTMAS MOVIES –
1). “It’s a Wonderful
Life”, 1946
2). “Holiday Inn”, 1942
3). “Home Alone”,
1990
4). “A Christmas
Carol”, 1951
5). “Christmas Vacation”, 1989
TOP
FIVE CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS -
1. Candy Cane
Cocktail: Festive Christmas cocktails add to the cheery atmosphere. For this
drink, combine 2 ounces strawberry vodka, 4 dashes white crème de menthe, 2 ½
ounces cranberry juice, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Combine well and strain
into glasses. Use crushed candy cane as a garnish around the rim.
2. The Blizzard: Hot Christmas cocktails
are a comforting beverage when it’s cold outside. In a glass coffee mug, stir
together 1 ½ ounces Irish whiskey or rum, ½ ounce hazelnut liqueur, and ½ ounce
Irish cream liqueur. Top with hot coffee and a dollop of whipped cream.
3. Eggnog Martini: This Christmas cocktail
recipe puts a new spin on an old classic. Stir in your favorite brandy with
either homemade or store-bought eggnog and ladle into glasses garnished with
pumpkin-pie spice. If you’re feeling adventurous, try this homemade eggnog
recipe.
4. Mulled Wine:
Warm Christmas cocktails are a toasty treat. Start by zesting and then juicing
a large orange. With the flat side of a knife, bruise two cardamom pods and
combine with the zest, juice, 6 whole cloves, 6 allspice berries, 6 whole black
peppercorns, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cups of fruity red wine, ½ cup of sugar, and ¼
cup of brandy in a large non-aluminum pot. Cook over medium heat for 1 to 2
minutes, stirring. Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer until the
flavors have melded (approximately 30 minutes). Pour through a fine-mesh sieve
and serve immediately.
5. White
Cosmopolitan: Perfect for a chilly, sophisticated Christmas cocktail. Fill a
cocktail shaker with ice and then add 1 cup white-cranberry juice, 4 ounces
vodka, and 2 ounces Cointreau. Shake to combine well and strain into large
martini glasses. Serves 2.
CHRISTMAS
WEATHER –
BIRTHDAYS
THIS WEEK – Birthday wishes and thoughts this week to: Heidi Bravo …famous
teacher, Richard Chute …famous fundraiser, Jack Ham (65), Annie Lennox (59),
Cokie Roberts (70), Jon Voight (75), Denzel Washington (59).
GET
READY FOR 2014 - As 2013 winds down, it's worth looking at
some critical economic moments coming up early next year. The biggest of course
is likely to the debt limit fight, which should start in late March and
conclude sometime later in the spring. It remains unclear what Republicans will
demand in return for raising the borrowing limit but they will almost certainly
demand something either on health care or deficit reduction. Conventional
wisdom is the fight won't be so bad next year but that wisdom is based more in
hope than fact. ...
Huge Fed meeting takes place March 18th and 19th. It will
presumably be Janet Yellen's first as chairman. She will meet the press on the
19th and could be announcing an end to the central bank's massive stimulus
program. The stakes will be huge for markets and the economy the rest of the
year. Will Yellen quickly win investors' trust? Will she be able to clearly
communicate a complex and unprecedented stimulus unwinding? How much more will
she do to tamp down the unemployment rate? ...
April 30th offers a first read on first quarter GDP. Fourth
quarter growth is likely to be weak given shutdown impact but there is a great
deal of hope that 2014 will be significantly better, closer to 3% growth or
more. This will be our first look at whether those predictions come true. ...
Even sooner, the first jobs report of 2014 arrives January 10th and will tell
us if the stronger trend of 200K-plus growth the last couple months will
continue into the New Year.
HANDY
2014 CALENDARS - Fed meetings: http://1.usa.gov/1cNmQBw ;Jobs and other
labor data: http://1.usa.gov/1fzPman ; GDP
and other economic data: http://1.usa.gov/JtSNnz
2016 - With
eyes on Hillary Clinton, Democrats fight to maintain digital edge, some of the
biggest names and deepest pockets of the Clinton and Obama eras are involved in
various digital efforts, including billionaire financier George Soros, Clinton
insider Harold Ickes, Google's Eric Schmidt and former Obama campaign manager
Jim Messina. ... The network of super PACs functioning as a ... Clinton
campaign-in-waiting are at the center of the data tug-of-war. The hub, Ready
for Hillary, is working on data initiatives that are unprecedented for a
candidate-specific super PAC ... A 50-state voter file ... will merge granular
historical data for every registered voter in the country with social media and
email information ...
The super PAC intends to deploy the new database as early as
January to mobilize supporters, ... building and executing a model of voter
coalitions and messages to win a presidential campaign. ... A direct mail
program [using] Clinton's likeness, and testimonials from high-profile
surrogates, [will] raise cash and collect supporter data. It's expected to
launch sometime in the first quarter of 2014 ... It's expected that ... data
... would be rented, swapped or sold to Clinton's campaign, meaning contracts
... are being closely watched as a symbolic foot-in-the-door to the 2016
effort.
BERNANKE'S
FINAL ACT - Ben Bernanke took his foot off the gas. The Federal
Reserve chairman, wrapping up a tumultuous eight-year term in which he helped
the nation fight back from the worst recession since the 1930s, said ... the
central bank will begin pulling back on its unprecedented stimulus efforts,
arguing the economy is finally gaining enough strength for the Fed to begin its
long-awaited retreat. ... Investors embraced both the Fed's message and its
policy moves sending stock markets to record highs following the announcement.
... The Fed's maneuvering may seem technical and eye-glazing. The term
'quantitative easing' is not one most people use over the dinner table.
But the central bank's decision ... represents a declaration
from Bernanke, on his way out the door, that the economy is finally healing and
no longer requires the kind of massive emergency help the Fed began to apply
following the financial crisis and subsequent recession ... 'This is the first
change in policy since 2006 which has been away from the direction' of
stimulus, said Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics. 'In the great scheme
of things it does not seem like a big deal but when you think about the fact
that it's the first time in seven years that they have moved this way you see
that it's a very big deal.
Today is the Federal Reserves 100th Birthday.
NEW ERA
OF PREDICTABLE POLICY? - "The Fed's move means 'predictable
monetary policy for the next year or more and that's bullish for markets and
positive for the economy,' said David Kotok, chief investment officer and
Cumberland Advisors. Couple that with more predictable fiscal policy in
Washington, and some economists are looking for 2014 growth closer to 3
percent, which should mean faster wage and job growth, lower deficits and
possibly a transformed political landscape.
"Bernanke said that because unemployment remains high
at 7 percent, the central bank believes it should not abandon its bond buying
program immediately. He also said that the Fed will likely work to keep
short-term interest rates at current levels 'well past' the point at which the
unemployment rate dips below 6.5 percent, a decision that also pleased
investors"
STUDENT
LOAN STUDY - The first comprehensive study of the private student loan
market since the near government takeover of the entire industry was released
last week by MeasureOne ... Two conclusions: Only 4 percent of students
borrowing from banks are in default, a significant reduction due to responsible
underwriting. The US Government now controls over 90% of the market, holds over
90% of the $1trillion plus student loan debt, and has a disturbing and ever
increasing 15% default rate."
COLLEGE
FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 12/28, 7:15 PM ET,
ESPN: The Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, from Tempe, Arizona – Michigan Wolverines
(7-5) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (7-5). The difficult year will continue for The
Big Blue, K State 38 Michigan 28. Season
to date (11-6)
SMALL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Congratulations to the
University of Wisconsin Whitewater Whitehawks (15-0) for winning the D-III
National Championship 52 – 14 over Mount Union (14-1). Final Season
totals (10-5)
NFL
PICK OF THE WEEK – Sunday 12/29, 4:25 PM ET, Fox: Winner take all
weekend begins with the Green Bay Packers (7-7-1) visiting windy and cold
Soldiers Field and the Chicago Bears (8-7). The Norris Division is up for
grabs, we like The Pack 21 – 20. Season to date (11-4)
SPORTS
BLINK - NFL Playoff Picture: Tom Brady and Peyton Manning
clinched division titles, Cam Newton reached the postseason for the first time
... The Chicago Bears ... host Green Bay next Sunday -- the winner takes the
NFC North, ... Several hours later, in the last game of the regular season, the
Dallas Cowboys will host the Philadelphia Eagles. The Sunday night showdown
decides who wins the NFC East ...All the AFC division titles got settled.
Denver, New England and Cincinnati won to join Indianapolis with crowns. Kansas
City is assured of one AFC wild-card spot. Defending Super Bowl champion
Baltimore, Miami and San Diego are tied at 8-7 for the other slot with even Pittsburgh
at 7-8 still in it.
Newton and his Carolina Panthers, along with Seattle, are
the only NFC teams with guaranteed playoff berths. San Francisco (10-4) can
clinch a playoff spot Monday night with a win against visiting Atlanta. ...
Carolina (11-4) can wrap up the NFC South and a first-round bye in the playoffs
with a win next Sunday at Atlanta. ... The 49ers, New Orleans and Arizona are
competing for the last two NFC playoff slots.
PEYTON
RECORD - NFL release: Denver
quarterback PEYTON MANNING ... has 51 touchdown passes and passed TOM BRADY (50
in 2007) for the most touchdown passes in a single season ... Manning ... is
the fifth different player to throw for at least 5,000 yards in a single
season. He joins DREW BREES (three times), Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN
MARINO, TOM BRADY and MATTHEW STAFFORD.
THE
SWAMI’S WEEK TOP PICKS –
(NCAA Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 28) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
(6-6) 38 vs. Notre Dame Fighting
Irish (8-4) 35.
(NCAA Hockey, Dec. 28) New Hampshire Wildcats (9-9-1)
3 vs. #15 Cornell University Big
Red (7-4-2) 4
(NHL, Dec. 28) Phoenix Coyotes (19-10-6) 2
at Anaheim Ducks (26-7-5) 4
(NFL Upset of the Week, Dec. 29) Philadelphia Eagles
(9-6) 21 vs. Dallas Cowboys
(8-7) 31
Season
to date (53-44)
DRIVING
THE WEEK - Apple announced its long-awaited mobile phone
distribution deal with China Mobile last night, and iPhones should hit the
Chinese market next month under the new deal. Could the China Mobile deal push
Apple to new heights? The tech giant's stock reached a 52-week high of $575.14
this month.
After a banner year for stocks, some analysts think U.S.
equities still have room to rise through 2014. Today is the last day for
consumers to obtain health care coverage that would take effect on Jan. 1, and
new rules under Obamacare leave insurers guessing how the new law will
unfold. A final fight over the federal
budget looms in Washington this week.
Next
week: the best and worst of 2013.
I want
to wish you the joy of this special season and a happy, healthy 2014. 2013 certainly brought its challenges, but as
this year draws to a close, I can't help but feel very, very blessed. I wish
all my friends the best for the holidays and peace and health to you all.
Warmly,
Rink
Rats
Until Next Monday, ‘Happy
Holidays”
Claremont, CA
December 23, 2013
#IV-36, 193
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