Fall Weekend Edition

Rink Rats every quarter has weekend editions, to highlight topics we on a weekly basis do not cover. As the first seasonal rains and snows arrive this past week in Claremont, California and Canton, New York – we welcome the fall season.

SONNY ELIOT WEATHER FORECAST – (California) NOVEMBER 2016: temperature 56° (2° below avg.); precipitation 1" (0.5" below avg.); Nov 1-3: Sunny; Nov 4-6: Rainy, cool; Nov 7-18: Sunny, cool; Nov 19-30: Rainy periods, cool.

(Michigan/So. Ontario) NOVEMBER 2016: temperature 41° (3° below avg. east, 3° above west); precipitation 2" (0.5" below avg.); Nov 1-4: Rain and snow showers, chilly; Nov 5-11: Showers east, sunny west; mild; Nov 12-17: Lake snows, cold; Nov 18-24: Rain, then snow showers, cold; Nov 25-27: Sunny; cold east, mild west; Nov 28-30: Rainy, mild.

HISTORY 101, YEAR 312 - Today is 1,704 years since the Roman Emperor Constantine I is said to have seen the vision of the cross before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, which might have basically upended the tides of history.

Constantine was the first emperor to stop Christian persecutions and to legalize Christianity along with all other religions and cults in the Roman Empire. The first Roman emperor to claim conversion to Christianity, Constantine played an influential role in the proclamation of the Edict of Milan in 313, which decreed tolerance for Christianity in the empire.

CHICAGO SWEETS – In Chicago this weekend for the World Series here are three must go to sweet shops:

Katherine Anne Confections No disrespect intended toward your grandma’s hot cocoa, but you’ve probably never experienced anything like the drinking chocolate here. Katherine Anne makes this warm holiday ambrosia with real melted chocolate, sea salt, milk and cream. Even better, it’s customizable. Just pick a flavor, such as milk chocolate, super dark, salted caramel, or hazelnut, and add a homemade marshmallow in another flavor, like cinnamon sugar, salted caramel, spicy hot chocolate or vanilla bean. If you’re looking for gifts for distant friends and family, buy a 15-ounce mix from the online store (katherine-anne.com) to send their way. 2745 W. ARMITAGE, CHICAGO, IL 60647 HOURS: 11-7 TUE & WED, 11-9 THUR & FRI, 10-9 SAT, 11-5 SUN, CLOSED MON (773) 245 - 1630katherine@rockcress.com

Amy's Candy Bar The Yum Bar makes most chocolate bars feel like the mass-produced items that they are. The thick, buttery shortbread is topped with salty caramel and pecans and hand-dipped in rich Belgian chocolate. If your sweet tooth runs beyond even that, lose yourself in the OMG Bar. Made with layers of sea salt caramel, crackly hazelnut pralines and silky chocolate ganache, it’s hand-dipped in dark Belgian chocolate for a result so good, the name actually may seem underpowered.  amyscandybar.com 4704 NORTH DAMEN AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60625 (773) 942-6386

Veruca Chocolates Gelt for Grown-UPS proves that in the right hands, Hanukkah gelt—those mediocre-at-best, foil-wrapped coins—can be heavenly. Veruca’s version packs a salty cocoa punch in a treat modeled after an ancient Jewish coin. Grab a few Champagne truffles to ring in the New Year, too. Covered in shiny metallic chocolate flakes, they're a sweet, sparkly way to start 2017. For the naughty on your list, pick up a festive Bag of Coal at Veruca Chocolates. Just don’t give in to the urge to sneak a few of these decadent ultradark chocolate truffles yourself. Covered in a dusting of bittersweet cocoa "coal," they'll mark your mouth and give you away!  verucachocolates.com 2409 N. Western Ave. Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 998-2462

GOOD READ -  Elon Musk's empire: Countdown," in the Economist: "While he might be loth to admit it, Mr Musk has become America's most audacious corporate financier as well as its best-known entrepreneur. In just over a decade he has created an empire valued at a cool $44 billion despite its heavy losses (see chart). A blend of financial laboratory, corporate labyrinth and buttock-clenching thrill ride, Musk Inc has pushed the boundary of what was thought possible." http://econ.st/2em5y9v

TOP THREE – Halloween movies:

-          Halloween (1978)

-          Young Frankenstein (1974)

-          Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

FALL COMFORT FOOD – Veggie Cheese Chowder

Yield: 6 to 8 main-dish servings

Prep 25 mins

Cook 15 mins

This creamy vegetarian soup is made with canned corn and canned soup so it's quick to mix together for dinner.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium green or red sweet pepper, chopped

2 stalks celery, sliced

2 cups whole milk or light cream

1 15 - ounce can cream-style corn

1 14 - ounce can vegetable broth

1 10 3/4 - ounce can condensed nacho fiesta cheese soup

8 ounces pasteurized prepared cheese product with jalapeno peppers, cut up, or 1 cup jarred cheese dip (with salsa con queso)

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (4 oz.)

3/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, green pepper and celery; cook until vegetables are tender. Stir in milk, corn, broth, soup, cheese product, shredded cheese, oregano and black pepper.

Cook, uncovered, over medium heat about 15 minutes, or until mixture is almost simmering (do not boil), stirring occasionally. Makes 6 to 8 main-dish servings.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK – Birthday wishes and thoughts this week to Dodie Bracken; Scott Graham ….famous Canadian; Rochelle Hanson …famous law enforcer; Katy Perry (32), Dallas, TX.; Pat Sajak (70), Beverly Hills, CA.

PREVIEW: APPLE MACBOOK EVENT - It's been a while since Apple unveiled a new MacBook product, so this week’s event, which is dedicated to hardware, promises to yield some interesting news. One of the upgrades could include a new MacBook Pro, which comes with an OLED touchbar above the keyboard, a feature that will adapt based on the application a user has open, reports CNET. Also potentially on the docket, according to Bloomberg : sharper graphics for the iMac and an updated MacBook Air with a USB-C port. Additionally, Apple is expected to debut a TV guide-like offering, which will come in the form of software that lets users search for shows and films across different providers, though Netflix has reportedly not signed on yet. The event comes two days after Apple's fourth-quarter earnings report, which included the company's first year-over-year annual revenue decline in 15 years.

Apple posted its first annual revenue decline in 15 years but projected a return to growth in the current quarter behind strong sales of its new iPhone 7. The tech giant’s formula for success proved less effective in the past year amid lukewarm sales of iPhone 6S models and slowing growth in smartphone sales world-wide, especially in China, Apple’s biggest growth market in recent years. For its fiscal fourth quarter, ended Sept. 24, Apple reported its third consecutive decline in revenue and profit. But CEO Tim Cook touted the response to the iPhone 7, released in September, as well as improvements in the company’s services business as evidence of enduring strength. Still, Apple’s revenue outlook for the December quarter isn’t quite good enough for investors who have sent the stock up by 10% since Apple unveiled the iPhone 7 last month.

Apple's annual sales dip for first time since 2001: They came in at $215.6 billion for FY 2016, compared to FY 2015's $233.7 billion, a year-over-year reversal attributed to lagging iPhone sales. Now, all eyes are on how the iPhone 7 performs in the all-important holiday season.

THE COST OF SHUTTING DOWN THE INTERNET - High-connectivity countries stand to lose at least 1.9 percent in GDP for every day internet services are shut down, according to a Global Network Initiative report out this morning that was prepared by Deloitte and funded by Facebook. According to a Brookings study cited by the report, there were 81 government-mandated internet shutdowns documented between July 2015 and June 2016, costing countries including Turkey, Ethiopia and Morocco an estimated $2.4 billion overall. "Shutting down the internet undermines economic activity and chills free expression," GNI Executive Director Judith Lichtenberg said in a statement. Breaks in internet access disrupt residents' usage of key services they need for both business and social activity, the report notes.

JACK ASS OF THE MONTH - New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (#13) is a joy to watch. He's a fun, explosive, game-changing player who has star written all over his career.

Just play football. On his first touchdown, a 75-yard catch and run, he waved at safety Eric Weddle as he ran into the end zone. Why?

Then all the crap with sideline kicking net, which included him proposing to it Sunday after beating it up a few weeks ago, is tiring now too.

Just play football.

Beckham plays the game with emotion. I love that. I like when he dances in the end zone. I loved the triple-jump celebration after his first TD catch. But the other stuff, like fighting with defensive backs and doing dumb things like taking off his helmet on the field, impact the game. That matters.

He's too damn good a player to allow that to happen. His skill set is unreal. He should be in the conversation about the best receiver in the game, right there with Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown and Julio Jones of the Falcons. Now it's more about his antics and his on-field fights and everything else. The game should be the talk. Not the crap.

Beckham should just play football -- and let his game do all the talking for him.

Because of his antics, welcome Odell Beckham to the Jack Ass of the Month club.

WORLD SERIES GAME #4 – Saturday 10/29, 8:00 PM ET, Fox; Cleveland Indians (2-1) vs. Chicago Cubs (1-2), huge game for the Cubbies, a loss means another 108 year wait: Cubs win 2 – 1. 

NFL GAME OF THE WEEK – Sunday 10/30, 5:30 PM ET, NBC; Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) at Dallas Cowboys (5-1). No mo’ Romo, is a good thing, Dallas 25 Eagles 17.  Season to date (6-1)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 10/29, 5:00 PM ET, ABC; #3 Clemson Tigers (7-0) vs. #12 Florida State Criminals (5-2), Clemson puts the Criminals on probation, 35 – 21.  Season to date (7-1)

SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 10/29, 1:00 PM ET, HGTV: #20 Wabash College Little Giants (6-1) vs. Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops (4-3). A big North Coast Athletic Conference game in Delaware, Ohio. North Coast of what??? Only in Ohio. Little Giants win 32 – 24.  Season to date (5-3)

COLLEGE HOCKEY PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 10/29, 7:00 PM ET: #12 University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-3) vs. #18 St. Lawrence University Saints (3-5), Homecoming weekend in Canton; the SLU skid continues, Gophers win 5 – 3. Season to date (1-2)

THE SWAMI’S WEEK TOP PICKS –

(NFL, Oct. 30) Los Angeles (San Diego) Chargers (3-4) vs. Denver Broncos (5-2); Broncos are too much for the snake bitten Chargers, 24 – 17.

(NCAA SCIAC, Oct. 29) University of Redlands Bulldogs (5-1) at Pomona-Pitzer College Endowments (5-1), first place at stake in SCIAC, Redlands wins a close one 17 – 14.

(NHL, Oct. 29) Boston Bruins (3-4-0) vs. Detroit Red Wings (6-2-0), Red Wings off to a surprising fast start, they win again 3 – 2.

Season to date (85 - 75)

Next week: One week to the election …thank God it is almost over.

Until Next Time, Adios.

Claremont, CA

October 28, 2016

#VII-21-323

CARTOON OF THE WEEK – Peanuts