Top Five

lame duck
noun

1: one that is weak or that falls behind in ability or achievement; especially chiefly British : an ailing company
2: an elected official or group continuing to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of a successor

Top Five Lame Ducks:

1). Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House: just get out
2). Jennifer Granholm, Governor of Michigan: just get out
3). Rich Rodriguez, University of Michigan head coach: please just get out
4). Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California: time for Terminator IV
5). Steve Morgan, President University of La Verne: thanks for the memories

Top Five Reasons To Be Thankful

1). Family
2). America
3). Day after turkey sandwiches
4). Democracy
5). NHL Center Ice

Top Five Signs Of Trouble On A Mexican Cruise

1). Smoke in the engine room
2). Out of Dramamine
3). Featured cruise movie is Poseidon Adventure
4). Featured cruise book signing by George W. Bush
5). Only alcohol on board is Two Buck Chuck

Top Five Reasons To Not Go On a Seven Day Auto Trip With Your Better Half

1). One word: questions
2). You cannot drink and drive
3). Snoring
4). Out of Valium
5). No NHL Center Ice

Top Five Newest Countries

1). Kosovo: 2/17/2008
2). Montenegro: 6/3/2006
3). Serbia: 5/21/2006
4). Timor-Leste:5/20/2002
5). Palau: 10/1/1994

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK – Birthday wishes and thoughts this week to Congressman John (Sun Tan) Boehner (61), Jamie Lee Curtis (52), Joe Gibbs (70), Berry Gordy Jr. (81), Amy Grant (50), Scarlett Johansson (26), Megyn Kelly (40), Senator Mary Landrieu (55), Jim Northrup (71), Mike Scioscia (52), Shannon Sisk …famous educator, Steven Van Zandt (60).

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 11/27, well it is finally here the game; Bo vs. Woody, Class vs. No Class, Good Drivers vs. Bad Drivers, Outstanding Academics vs. The Gong Show, University of Michigan (7-4) @ Ohio State University #9 (10-1), 12:00 PM ET, ABC. Rink Rats is picking The Buckeyes (what is a buckeye?) for two main reasons: one, it will be Rich Rodriguez’s last game as head coach for Big Blue and two, Ohio Slate is the better team. There is always next year.
Season to date (10-2).

SMALL COLLEGE PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 11/27, the second round of the D-III playoffs has a good central New York matchup: Alfred Saxons (9-2), the Empire 8 conference champs @ #20 Cortland State Red Dragons (10-1), the New Jersey Athletic conference champs, 12:00 PM ET, MSG Network. The Red Dragons will be too much for the Saxon Warriors, we pick Cortland State to move on, 42 – 17.
Season to date (9-2).

NFL PICK OF THE WEEK – Thursday 11/25, the annual Turkey Day game in Detroit has the (2-8) Lions entertaining the (8-2) New England Patriots, 12:00 noon ET, CBS. It looks like a mismatch but we like the Lions to win, New England is coming off a tough Sunday night game and the Motowners always play well on Thanksgiving.
Season to date (4-7).

Top Five Reasons The Detroit Lions Are Losers

1). William Clay Ford: owner forever
2). Matt Millen: General Manager 2001 - 2007
3). Marty Mornhinweg: his name and head coach 2001 - 2002
4). Matthew Stafford’s shoulder
5). Stroth’s Beer: 2000 stopped brewing in Detroit

Top Five Reasons Bristol Palin Will Win Dancing With the Stars

1). Sarah Palin
2). Sarah Palin
3). Sarah Palin
4). Sarah Palin
5). Two Buck Chuck

Top Five NHL Teams at a Quarter through the Season

1). Detroit Red Wings: Dan Cleary and Jimmy Howard
2). Los Angeles Kings: the best special teams
3). Vancouver Canucks: excellent depth this season
4). Montreal Canadiens: Jacques Martin head coach, St. Lawrence University alumnus
5). Washington Capitals: best forwards in the league

Top Five Institutions with the Worst Alumni

1). Ohio State University: enough said
2). Plattsburgh State University: poor marketing department
3). Whittier College: Richard M. Nixon
4). Clarkson College: engineers
5). University of Southern California: O.J. Simpson, Donald Segretti and Ron Ziegler

WORDS OF THE MONTH – retrograde \RE-truh-greyd\, adjective: having a backward motion or direction; retiring or retreating; exhibiting degeneration or deterioration. “But, contrary to my expectations, the Search Committee took, a decided retrograde motion.”

temer, verb: to be afraid. "Teme al professor.”

Next week, our monthly finance blog and our jackass of the month.

Until next Monday, Adios and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Carmel By The Sea, CA
November 22, 2010