TECHNOLOGY – A device backlash will begin as workers add more electronic devices to their multitasking world. More devices harbor more distractions and inefficiency.
UNEMPLOYMENT – Will end the year at 8.0%, but hundreds of thousands have completely stopped looking for work.
THE MARKET – The Dow, S & P 500 and NASDAQ will all average 4.5% growth.
GOLD – Will close the year at $1,800.
POTUS – President Obama will win reelection with 51.5% of the vote.
GHOUL POOL – Billy Joel, Joe Paterno, George Shultz
LA VERNE FOOTBALL – Will win four out of eight in their 2012 football season.
GDP GROWTH RATE – 3.0% for 2011
ROMNEY WINS IOWA BY 8 VOTES - With 100 percent of Iowa precincts reporting: Mitt Romney: 30,015 (24.6 percent); Rick Santorum: 30,007 (24.5 percent); Ron Paul: 26,219 (21.4 percent); Newt Gingrich: 16,251 (13.3 percent); Rick Perry: 12,604 (10.3 percent); Michele Bachmann: 6,073 (5.0 percent).
ROMNEY 2008 RESULT: 29,949, 25.2 percent.
--Total: 122,255, breaking the previous record for GOP caucus participants -- 119,000, in 2008
RETURN OF THE KENNEDYS -- Boston Globe A1, "Kennedy III explores a run for Frank's seat: Ex-congressman's son could extend a legacy," by Frank Phillips: Joseph P. Kennedy III, a 31-year-old prosecutor and son of former Rep. Joe Kennedy, "will run for the Democratic nomination to represent the redrawn [Barney Frank] district ... Kennedy, a Harvard Law School graduate and former Peace Corps volunteer, would enter the race as the prohibitive favorite. ... [H]is credentials and experience [will] undoubtedly be called into question by opponents, much as they were decades ago for his great uncles: future President Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy when he first ran for the Senate. ... Kennedy is the first in the fourth generation of Kennedys to thrust himself into electoral politics."
ROMNEY IN CONTROL – Mitt Romney has even broken his former polling ceiling. He long registered around 25 percent but has soared following his narrow win in the Iowa caucuses, registering a surprising 37 percent in a CNN/TIME/ORC poll of likely primary voters in South Carolina, double digits ahead of second-place finisher Rick Santorum, who had 19 percent. It's hard to find anyone in the campaigns or the media who think Romney won't win the nomination - if not this month, soon. ... 'If you could win a game in a quarter, that would be great, and that could happen,' a Romney adviser said. 'But the campaign is prepared for four quarters and a couple overtimes.'
HAPPENING THIS MORNING: MERKEL/SARKOZY TALK GROWTH - Reuters/Berlin: "The German and French leaders meet on Monday to discuss ways to boost growth in euro zone states struggling to overcome the sovereign debt crisis and rising unemployment, and finalise a deal to increase fiscal coordination within the currency union. They may also discuss a financial transaction tax ... promoted by France but resisted by Britain unless adopted on a global scale, which could split the European Union at a summit at the end of the month. ... While Germany's labour market is thriving, employment is a pressing issue for Sarkozy, who faces an election in less than four months and is trailing in polls while French jobless claims are at their highest level in 12 years."
UNEMPLOYMENT - "Unemployment rate falls to 8.5 pct., hiring surges," by AP Economics Writer Christopher S. Rugaber: "[E]mployers added a net 200,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, the lowest since February 2009. The rate has dropped for four straight months. The hiring gains cap a six-month stretch in which the economy generated 100,000 jobs or more in each month. That hasn't happened since April 2006."
HISTORY – Five years ago this week Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone.
BEST WISHES – LP who announced this week her leaving the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. She will be missed a wonderful scientist and coworker. Chicago look out, here she comes.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK – Birthday wishes and thoughts this week to: Super Bowl (45), Princess Catherine (30), Ben Crenshaw (60), Maureen Dowd (60), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (51), Jimmy Page (68), J.K. Simmons (57), Bart Starr (78), Howard Stern (58), Rod Stewart (67).
SPORTS BLINK - "Patriots and 49ers lead Pro Bowl rosters”: "Tom Brady is one of eight Patriots and Patrick Willis one of eight 49ers to make the Pro Bowl, the most on each roster. Defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay (15-1), led by starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Baltimore (12-4), led by veteran linebacker Ray Lewis, have seven apiece for the Jan. 29 game in Honolulu [NBC, 7 p.m. ET, one week before the Super Bowl], the NFL announced Tuesday. ... Green Bay's Rodgers is the starting NFC quarterback, backed by record-setting Drew Brees of New Orleans (14-3)."
COLLEGE HOCKEY PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 1/14, 7:00 PM ET, FSD has the Northern Michigan Wildcats (10-7-4) visit #15 ranked Michigan State Spartans (11-9-2) in East Lansing. We are now in the prime of the CCHA season, The Spartans to win big over NMU. Season to date (0-2).
NFL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 1/14, 8:00 PM ET, CBS has the Denver Broncos (9-8) at the New England Patriots (13-3). Can this fairy tale continue for the chosen one Tim Tebow, the answer is no the devil by the name of Tom Brady will put an end to this nonsense. Season to date (9-9).
THE SWAMI’S TOP PICKS – Alabama 17 LSU 14, New England 35 Denver 10, New Orleans 38 San Francisco 24. Season to date (1-2).
NHL HALFWAY POINT – The season is half over here are the top five teams thus far: (1). New York Rangers (56 points), (2). Vancouver Canucks (55), (3). Boston Bruins (53), (4). Detroit Red Wings (53), (5). Philadelphia Flyers (52).
Top player at the half way point Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs, top goalie Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings, biggest disappointment, Anaheim Ducks (terrible).
Next week, Dear Rink Rats and words of the month.
Until Next Monday, Adios.
Claremont, CA
January 9, 2012
#II-37, 90
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