Tough Mudder Atlanta – Saturday Pictures

Weekly Market Commentary – 12/15/2014

Sports Clichés

It can be rather comical when listening to all of the sports clichés that are used during any pre- or post-game interview and the corresponding analysis of any sporting event.  The cartoon on the left from VectorBelly is the stereotypical post-game interview.  The interviewer asks, “What’s your strategy for the next match?” to which the athlete responds, “We need to stop the other team from scoring points while we ourselves score many points.”  We hear commentary that is often merely a statement of the obvious, or phrases we have adopted into our vernacular which on the surface, do not even make sense, but we all know their figurative meaning.  Some of these clichés, just to name a few are:

• We are going to take it one game at a time.
• This is a game of two halves.
• We have to make plays on both sides of the ball.
• We have to stop the big play.
• We just need to go out and execute.
• We need to take it to the next level.

We were reminded .…Read More…

Weekly Market Commentary – 12/08/2014

A Favorite Recipe for the Season

With the Christmas holiday season upon us, so begins the time of school programs, end of year activities, and numerous holiday parties, the latter of which always seems to center on food.  Admittedly, we do enjoy eating the foods of the season and especially so with good friends and family.  It is one of those seasons where we do not simply “eat to live”, but rather “live to eat.”  This time of year, therefore, lends itself to time spent in the kitchen cooking, whether a small snack or a gourmet feast.  Recipes books are pulled out and scattered on the counters as we prepare some culinary delight to share.  With office parties in full swing, we are reminded of a favorite snack in our offices, and while not necessarily a holiday treat, we seem to only pull out the White Chocolate Dusted Chex Mix during this time of year (link to recipe here).

Now, considering the current season of this business cycle (i.e. growing out of recession), all eyes are focused on what the FED will whip-up next and how they will serve this new dish of adjusted monetary policy as they slowly prepare to begin raising short term interest rates.  .…Read More…

White Chocolate Chex Mix

This is a dead simple, great sweet/salty snack that is always a favorite.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Rice Chex
• 2 cups Wheat Chex
• 2 cups Corn Chex
• 3 cups Cheerios
• 3 cups pretzels
• 2 cups mixed nuts
• 12 oz. M&M’s
• 1 lb. white chocolate chips

 Directions:

Mix the Chex, Cheerios, pretzels and nuts in a large bowl.  Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave and then pour over and mix with the dry ingredients.  Once the cereal, pretzels and nuts are coated, pour out and spread it onto wax paper.  Add the M&M’s and let sit until the chocolate hardens again.