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SUPER QUIZ

That’s right. Another quiz. The topic for this one is the Super Bowl (what else at this time of the year). This one may be too difficult for non-football fans, but I have to challenge the hard core football fans. You know who you are.

Remember, no peeking.

1. The first Super Bowl was played in what year?

a. 1966
b. 1967
c. 1968
d. 1969

2. The losing team in he first SB was:

a. Cowboys
b. Raiders
c. Giants
d. Chiefs

3. How many different cities have hosted a Super Bowl?

a. 10
b. 12
c. 15
d. 17

4. Which city has hosted the most games?

a. Miami
b. Dallas
c. Los Angeles
d. New Orleans

5. Next year’s game will be in:

a. Los Angeles
b. Glendale
c. Dallas
d. New Orleans

6. Which franchise has won the most SBs?

a. Dallas
b. San Francisco
c. Pittsburg
d. New England

7. Each of the following teams are undefeated in SBs except:

a. Jets
b. Ravens
c. Bucs
d. Green Bay

8. The name “Super Bowl” was derived from:

a. College “bowl” games
b. Fan vote
c. Media feedback
d. Child’s toy

9. Who has won the most SB MVPs?

a. Bart Starr
b. Tom Brady
c. Eli Manning
d. Joe Montana

10. Who was the only MVP from the losing team?

a. Chuck Howley
b. Len Dawson
c. Bruce Smith
d. Icky Woods

11. How many defensive players have been MVP of a SB?

a. Two
b. Five
c. Eight
d. Ten

12. Which of the below franchises has had the most SB appearances?
a. Green Bay
b. San Francisco
c. New England
d. Pittsburg

13. Who performed at halftime last year?

a. Beyoncé
b. Bruce Springsteen
c. Usher
d. Lady Gaga

14. Each of the following has not appeared in a SB, except:

a. Browns
b. Bengals
c. Lions
d. Jaguars

15. The approximate cost of a 30 second commercial is:

a. $1 million
b. $2 million
c. $3 million
d. $4 million

16. How many times has a team played the SB in its home stadium?

a. 0
b. 1
c. 2
d. 3

17. Which coach has the most SB appearances?

a. Vince Lombardi
b. Tom Landry
c. Don Shula
d. Bud Grant

18. The coldest temperature for a SB held outdoors was 39 degrees in which city?

a. Houston
b. New Orleans
c. Stanford
d. Cleveland

19. Which of the following coaches has taken more than one team to a SB?

a. Don Shula
b. Tom Landry
c. Bill Belichek
d. Vince Lombardi

20. Which coach has the most SB wins?

a. Don Shula
b. Bill Belichek
c. Mike Shanahan
d. Chuck Noll

21. Which of the following players has the most appearances in a SB?

a. Bruce Smith
b. Adam Vinatieri
c. Charles Haley
d. Joe Green

22. After whom is the SB trophy named?

a. Pete Rozelle
b. Paul Brown
c. Al Davis
d. Vince Lombardi

23. Which player has won the most SB rings?

a. Adam Vinatieri
b. Charles Haley
c. Terry Bradshaw
d. Bob Lilly

24. Which half-time entertainer became (in)famous for a “wardrobe malfunction?”

a. Beyoncé
b. Janet Jackson
c. Madonna
d. Lady Gaga

25. What marginal player became famous for the “helmet catch” in SBXLII (Giants vs. Pats)?

a. Plaxico Burris
b. Randy Moss
c. David Tyree
d. Bob Schnelker

ANSWERS: 1. b; 2. d; 3. c; 4. a (10); 5. b; 6. c; 7. d; 8. d; 9. d(3); 10. a (SB V); 11.c; 12. d (Tied with Dallas – 8); 13. a 14. b; 15. d; 16. a; 17. c (6); 18. b; 19. a; 20. d(4); 21. b(tied with Mike Lodish & Don Beebe @ 6); 22. d; 23. b(5); 24. b; 25. c

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A GREAT WARRIOR DEPARTS

Jews all over the world are saddened by the passing of Ariel Sharon on January 11. Loved by his friends and supporters, hated by his enemies, always controversial, Mr. Sharon was a central figure in the history of Israel from its founding in 1948 until his death. He epitomized the warrior image of Israel – tough, aggressive, no nonsense.

Mr. Sharon was born Ariel Scheinermann on February 26, 1928 in an agricultural village in British-ruled Palestine called Kfar Milal. As an adult, he was dubbed “Sharon” by none other than David Ben Gurion, perhaps the most iconic individual in Israeli history. As a teenager, like many young men and women at the time, he joined the Haganah, which led the fight for Israeli nationhood. He fought against first the British, and then the Arabs. Mr. Sharon fought in and/or commanded troops in every war from 1948 – 1974 – the Israeli War of Independence in 1948, the Suez Crisis in 1956, the Six Days War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. His tenure in the Haganah and later the Israeli Defense Forces was from 1948 – 1974. Bold and daring, some would say reckless, he was generally considered to be the greatest field commander in Israeli history and a superb military strategist. Perhaps, his signature moment came during the Yom Kippur War when he led his unit on a daring maneuver through the Sinai to the cusp of the Suez Canal. This maneuver not only encircled the 3rd Egyptian Army, but it also threatened the Canal, itself. It is generally credited with bringing about a cease fire that ended the War in Israel’s favor.

Later, he entered politics. He joined the Likud Party. When Likud was in power he held various ministerial posts, and eventually he became Prime Minister. He served as PM from 2001 – 2006. His tenure was not without controversy. He strongly advocated developing settlements in Gaza and along the West Bank. This action, while applauded by his supporters, incurred the ire of Palestinians and much of the rest of the world who saw it as exacerbating an already delicate situation in the region. He attempted to forge a controversial political alliance with India, becoming the first PM to visit the country. Also, when anti-Semitism became problematic in France he encouraged French Jews to emigrate to Israel, which incurred the ire of the French. Eventually, he came under fire for alleged fund raising irregularities. His term as PM ended when he was felled by a stroke in 2006. He had been in a vegetative state until his death.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

In many ways, Mr. Sharon was a larger than life figure. Depending on one’s political preference, he was either a hero or a war criminal. Love him or hate him, one could not deny that he was a controversial, larger then life figure. The moniker, “warrior,” fit him to a tee. He will be missed.

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A LESSON IN LEADERSHIP

By now, all of you have heard about and read about the artificial traffic jams on the GWB that were orchestrated by members of Governor Chris Christie’s staff. The purpose of this blog is not to defend, justify, or minimize those actions. In my opinion, there is no excuse or defense for what was done. Those responsible should be punished, and, to all appearances, they have been. The purpose of this blog is to comment on the actions of Mr. Christie and the press in the aftermath.

First, let’s analyze Mr. Christie’s actions.

1. He immediately convened a series of staff meetings at which he forcefully and decisively ascertained the identity of those responsible.

2. He fired or severed business relationships with those responsible, including, among others, his Deputy Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager.

3. He called a press conference at which he:

a. Gave a full and complete apology,
b. accepted full responsibility, even though he had no knowledge of the matter (invoking Harry Truman’s famous line “The buck stops here.”), and
c. answered every question.

Did he do enough? Perhaps; perhaps not.

The press’ actions have been predictable. They have been all over this incident as they should be. I’m all for an independent and vigorous press, but where have they been the last five years with respect to the scandals perpetrated by the Administration – the Black Panthers’ intimidation tactics during elections, Fast and Furious, Benghazi, Obamacare rollout, politically-motivated IRS audits, and NSC spying scandals, to name the major ones? The contrast is stark and a clear example of the press’ liberal bias.

In addition, contrast Mr. Christie’s actions with those of President Obama. Mr. Christie demonstrated strong and decisive leadership. He did not try to hide or blame others. He stated that, as the boss, he was ultimately responsible for the actions of his subordinates. On the other hand, Mr. Obama chose to dodge and obfuscate. In every case Mr. Obama first claimed that he did not know anything about the particular scandal. It was perpetrated by subordinates who hid it from him. (It was almost like that famous cartoon: “I know nothing; I see nothing; I hear nothing.”) Then, he pledged to “investigate” and “get to the bottom of it.” Some of these scandals are two years old. The American public has not received an adequate explanation of any of them. Furthermore, no culprit has been identified, and no one has been fired (retired, transferred and/or pensioned off, yes, but not fired).

We all know that anybody can make a mistake. Most of us will forgive the person who made a mistake if they admit it, apologize, and take action to prevent a recurrence. Mr. Christie has owned up to this mistake and taken prompt corrective action. That, my friends, is leadership. Mr. Obama has not owned up to any of his Administration’s mistakes and not taken corrective action with respect to any of them. Could the contrast in leadership be any clearer?

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

Mr. Christie has many political enemies in both political parties. Everyone knows that he is an undeclared candidate for the Presidency in 2016, and at this point he and Hilary Clinton are the leading candidates for their respective parties. His political enemies will attempt to use this incident to discredit him. For his sake, there better not be any further revelations.

Whereas supporters laud his strong decisive leadership, many Dems view those same traits as evidence of a bully. Indeed, in the aftermath of this incident, some newspapers have labeled him as such. It is a catchy label, and if it sticks it will be problematic for him prospectively.

Some of his opponents in the GOP have not yet forgiven him for cozying up to President Obama during the 2012 Presidential Campaign in order to obtain relief from Super Storm Sandy. The Romney people are still particularly bitter about that. Some of them go so far as to blame Romney’s loss directly on that, although there were other factors as well. The conservative wing of the party views him as not conservative enough, just another northeast moderate in the Nelson Rockefeller/Jacob Javits/Mitt Romney model. The Tea Partiers resent his attacks on them. Still others favor other candidates, such as Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul or Marco Rubio. Under the best of circumstances Mr. Christie figured to have as much trouble securing the GOP’s nomination as he would winning the subsequent election. How he deals with this matter prospectively will be significant.

That said, it is important to realize that there are over two years to go before Election Day 2016. That is a lifetime in politics. History tells us that anything can happen. If Mr. Christie intends to run, he should view this as a precursor to the treatment he can expect from both his political opponents and the press.

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NEW YEARS QUIZ

Happy New Year everybody! New Year’s is probably the most widely celebrated public holiday in the world. Virtually every country celebrates the New Year in some way.

Some people love New Year’s and the attendant partying and celebrating that goes along with it. Others, hate it. Ed McMahon, a noted partier, preferred to celebrate it quietly. He called New Year’s Eve “amateur night,” meaning many people who normally did not go out, felt compelled to drink, party and drive.

Below please find a New Year’s quiz. Most of the questions are obscure, so treat it as a learning exercise.

1. It is generally believed that N Y celebrations began with the:

a. Romans circa 50 BC
b. Babylonians circa 4000 BC
c. Greeks circa 4000 BC
d. Persians circa 5000 BC

2. The original N Y date was in what month?

a. January
b. February
c. March
d. December

3. Which of the following foods is considered lucky to eat on N Y?

a. Corn on the cob
b. Steak
c. Bananas
d. Cabbage

4. One N Y tradition holds that you will have good luck all year if the first person to walk through the door of your home is a tall, dark-haired stranger. This is called:

a. First Footer
b. Early Bird
c. Lucky Stranger
d. Dark One

5. The Chinese New Year is normally celebrated:

a. January 1
b. July 1
c. Between December 15 and December 31
d. Between January 20 and February 20

6. N Y is celebrated by “Polar Bear” Clubs in each of the following countries except:

a. US
b. UK
c. Canada
d. Switzerland

7. The “Junkanoo Parade” takes place in:

a. Jamaica
b. Bahamas
c. Hawaii
d. Malaysia

8. “Basil’s Pie” is eaten in:

a. UK
b. Poland
c. Greece
d. Ireland

9. In what country do the people celebrate by eating 12 grapes?

a. France
b. Greece
c. Italy
d. Spain

10. The first people to incorporate resolutions into the holiday were:

a. Babylonians
b. Persians
c. Romans
d. Greeks

11. The origins of “Auld Lang Syne” are obscure. But, it was first published in the 1700s, and it is derived from a folk song of what country?

a. Ireland
b. England
c. Scotland
d. Canada

12. “Auld Lang Syne,” loosely translated into English, means:

a. Happy New Year
b. Don’t forget me
c. The good old days.
d. Drink up

13. It was published by:

a. Emily Dickinson
b. Robert Byrnes
c. Shakespeare
d. John Dunne

14. The first year NYC dropped its famous ball was:

a. 1905
b. 1907
c. 1910
d. 1950

15. One other city with a “dropping” tradition is:

a. Dillsburg Pa (pickles)
b. Philadelphia, Pa. (cheesesteaks)
c. Miami, FL. (oranges)
d. Buffalo, NY (snowballs)

16. The oldest N Y college bowl game is:

a. Rose Bowl
b. Fiesta Bowl
c. Orange Bowl
d. Sugar Bowl

17. The first Orange Bowl was won by:

a. Ohio State
b. Army
c. Notre Dame
d. Bucknell

18. The total number of college bowl games is:

a. 5
b. 35
c. 50
d. 55

19. Which of these cities celebrates N Y first?

a. Sydney
b. Hong Kong
c. Tokyo
d. New York

20. Which of these cities celebrates N Y last?

a. London
b. Moscow
c. Manila
d. Singapore

ANSWERS: 1. b; 2. c; 3. d; 4. a; 5. d; 6. d; 7. b; 8. c; 9. d; 10. a; 11.c; 12. c; 13. b; 14. b; 15. a; 16. a; 17. d; 18. b; 19. a ; 20. a

CONCLUSION

It is January 2. Have you broken your New Year’s resolutions yet?

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THEY SAID IT – PART 1

Since it’s the holiday season, I figured we could all use a break from the various economic, political and social conflicts and problems of the country and the world, in general. Therefore, I have compiled a list of humorous, and maybe not so humorous, quotes by famous people for your reading pleasure. Note, I have optimistically entitled the blog “Part 1” in the expectation that there will be others to follow prospectively.

For those of you who like to test your knowledge, I have presented this in the form of a quiz. For the rest of you, just read and enjoy. I hope this post helps lighten your load somewhat.

1. “As a child, my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it, or leave it.”

a. Milton Berle
b. Don Rickels
c. George Burns
d. Buddy Hackett

2. “Get your facts first. Then, you can distort them as you please.”

a. Mark Twain
b. Harry Truman
c. Teddy Roosevelt
d. Groucho Marx

3. “I never said most of the things I said.”

a. Gracie Allen
b. Yogi Berra
c. George W. Bush
d. Ralph Kiner

4. “Adding sound to movies would be like putting lipstick on the Venus de Milo.”

a. Mack Sennett
b. Douglas Fairbanks
c. Lon Chaney
d. Mary Pickford

5. “A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.”

a. Bette Davis
b. Rita Hayworth
c. Lana Turner
d. Marlon Brando

6. “Everyone told me to pass on ‘Speed’ because it was a ‘bus movie.’

a. Keanu Reeves
b. Sandra Bullock
c. Heidi Klum
d. Bruce Willis

7. “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.”

a. Rodney Dangerfield
b. Jim Norton
c. Jim Carrey
d. George Burns

8. “Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement.”

a. Lyndon Johnson
b. Ronald Reagan
c. Barack Obama
d. Harry Truman

9. “All right, everyone line up alphabetically according to height.”

a. Yogi Berra
b. Will Rogers
c. Casey Stengel
d. My ninth-grade gym teacher

10. “Float like a butterfly; sting like a bee.”

a. Sugar Ray Leonard
b. Howard Cosell
c. Burgess Meredith, in “Rocky.”
d. Muhammed Ali

11. “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

a. Ralph Kiner
b. Casey Stengel
c. Yogi Berra
d. John Kennedy

[Blogger’s note: More Yogi Berra-isms: “It ain’t over till it’s over.” “It’s like deja vu, all over again.” “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.” “Cut the pizza in four pieces; I’m not hungry enough to eat six.” (If you want more, there’s a whole book of them.)]

12. “Movies are a fad. Audiences really want to see live actors on a stage.”

a. Jack Warner
b. Douglas Fairbanks
c. Zeppo Marx
d. Charlie Chaplin

13. “Why do they call it ‘Rush Hour’ when nothing moves?”

a. Robin Williams
b. George Carlin
c. Eddie Murphy
d. Chevy Chase

14. “A committee is a group of people that takes minutes and loses hours.”

a. Rodney Dangerfield
b. Chris Rock
c. Milton Berle
d. Johnny Carson

15. “I did not have 3,000 pairs of shoes; I had 1,060.”

a. Imelda Marcos
b. “c” but not “a.”
c. “c” but not “b.”
d. “b” and “c”, but not “a.”

[If you missed this one, you truly are not smarter than a fifth-grader.]

16. “A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”

a. Mitt Romney
b. Bill O’Reilly
c. George Bernard Shaw
d. Mark Twain

17. “I haven’t spoken to my wife in years. I didn’t want to interrupt her.”

a. Barack Obama
b. Joe Biden
c. Rodney Dangerfield
d. Jack Benny

18. “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.”

a. George Carlin
b. Johnny Carson
c. Buddy Hackett
d. Will Rogers

19. “Recession is when a neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.”

a. Barry Goldwater
b. FDR
c. Will Rogers
d. Ronald Reagan

20. “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”

a. Yogi Berra
b. Don Rickels
c. Groucho Marx
d. George Carlin

ANSWERS: 1. d; 2. a; 3. b; 4. d; 5. c; 6. b; 7. c; 8. b; 9. c; 10. d; 11. c; 12. d; 13. a; 14. c; 15. a; 16. c; 17. c; 18. d; 19. d; 20. c

CONCLUSION

I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to advise me your score and which quotes you liked and didn’t like.

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CHRISTMAS QUIZ

It’s the Christmas Season, or, if you prefer, the Holiday Season. In any event, that means it’s quiz time again. You know the rules; no peaking at the internet. Good luck!

1. St. Nick, on whom Santa Claus is based, was reputed to have been borne in what modern day country?

a. Greece
b. Germany
c. Norway
d. Turkey

2. Which US President declared Christmas a national holiday?

a. Grant
b. Lincoln
c. Pierce
d. Cleveland

3. In what country did Christmas trees originate?

a. Italy
b. US
c. Germany
d. Sweden

4. What was used for the earliest tree decorations?

a. Apples
b. Stars
c. Religious figurines
d. Rheindeer

5. What was the first state to officially recognize Christmas as a holiday?

a. New York
b. Alabama
c. Virginia
d. Delaware

6. What is the best selling record of all time with over 100 million copies sold?

a. Jingle Bells
b. Little Drummer Boy
c. White Christmas
d. 12 Days of Christmas

7. How many Christmas cards are sent in the US annually?

a. Three million
b. 30 million
c. 300 million
d. Three billion

8. Christmas was first celebrated in what city in AD 336?

a. Athens
b. Bethlehem
c. Rome
d. Jerusalem

9. On what date is Boxing Day celebrated?

a. December 15
b. December 24
c. December 26
d. December 31

10. In what country did Boxing Day originate?

a. Norway
b. England
c. Germany
d. Greece

11. What do Dutch children put out Christmas Eve instead of stockings to hold gifts?

a. Boxes
b. Pails
c. Baskets
d. Shoes

12. “Jingle Bells” was originally written for which holiday?

a. New Years
b. Thanksgiving
c. Winter Solstice
d. Easter

13. Radio City’s Christmas Show began in what year?

a. 1920
b. 1933
c. 1938
d. 1955

14. The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which many people believe to be the best Christmas movie ever, starred whom?

a. Tom Cruz
b. Clark Gable
c. Ronald Reagan
d. Jimmy Stewart

15. The leading exporter of Christmas trees is

a. US
b. Russia
c. Canada
d. Norway

Answers: 1. d; 2. a; 3. c; 4. a; 5. b; 6. c; 7. d; 8. c; 9. c; 10. b; 11. d; 12. b; 13. b; 14. d; 15. c

Please report your scores.

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OBAMACARE FUN FACTS

And the hits just keep coming. It seems that every day there is a new incredulous revelation regarding Obamacare, a new deception uncovered, a new half-truth revealed, a new “Can you believe this?” moment. If Obamacare were a boxer it would be taking body blow after body blow. By now, it would be dead on its feet, just waiting for the inevitable knock-out punch. Greg Gutfeld, co-host of the “Five,” compares Obamacare to a meal at Taco Bell: “it looks good at first, but you pay big time on the back end.”

Before I denote the latest fun facts, let’s look at the latest poll numbers. Each of these polls was taken over the last few weeks.

Rasmussen – 39% for, 57% against.
CNN – 40% for, 56% against.
Gallup – 40% for, 54% against.
CBS News – 31% for, 61% against.
Reuters – 41% for, 59% against.
ABC/Washington Post – 43% for, 55% against.

Average – 39% for, 57% against.

Note two things: (1) the consistency of the results, and (2) these polls were taken before the latest revelations, which I will discuss below, so the current numbers would likely be worse.

1. COSTS, FEES AND TAXES – The Wall Street Journal has projected national spending on healthcare to reach $2.9 trillion in 2013, which would be 25% higher than in 2007. Worse, the Centers for Disease Control has estimated the cost at $5 trillion by 2022. The cost just to set up the apparatus, including the much-maligned web site, was $2 billion. Several states that are running their own healthcare exchanges are running deficits for which they will be reimbursed by the Federal government. These Federal grants are already up to $4 billion and counting. Starting in 2014, a special 3.8% tax on investment income will be levied on households earning over $250,000. This tax will not be levied just on the sale of stocks and bonds, but on a wide range of assets, including the sale of primary residences. Commencing in 2014 there will be a tax on medical equipment. Take one guess as to who will be paying for this. Keep in mind, the primary goal of Obamacare is really about government control of healthcare and the furtherance of Mr. Obama’s philosophy of taking from the haves to give to the have-nots.

2. IMPACT ON BUSINESSES AND JOBS – According to a US Chamber of Commerce survey 60% of businesses reported that Obamacare will have an adverse impact on their profits. Moreover, 28% percent of businesses disclosed that they expect to drop employee health coverage by 2015. The ramifications of this include fewer jobs, fewer hours for those who retain their jobs and/or increased costs for individuals who have to purchase insurance privately.

3. CANCELLATIONS – the American Enterprise Institute reported that up to 80 million people could have their healthcare cancelled. Think about that. That would be 25% of the total population. In addition, as I have written previously, expect higher premiums, higher deductibles and access to fewer doctors and hospitals.

4. HOSPITALS – Many hospitals are considering opting out of Obamacare, meaning that if you want to go there you will have to pay out-of-pocket and hope to get reimbursed. So far, two very prominent ones, Cedars Sinai in LA and Sloan Kettering in NY have done so. Others are sure to follow. God forbid you have cancer and want to be treated at Sloan Kettering, but your insurance won’t cover it.

5. PRESCRIPTIONS – The latest bombshell is that many prescription medications will not be covered. You will have to pay the entire cost of these prescriptions. Furthermore, the cost would not count toward satisfying your out-of-pocket limit or your deductible. Some people will be faced with tens of thousands of dollars in prescriptions drug expenses per year. That is in addition to their higher insurance premiums and deductibles.

6. DOCTORS – Many people will not be able to continue to be treated by their doctor of choice. Their doctor may not be included in their plan’s network or he may have opted out of Obamacare entirely.

7. PLANS – We have all heard about the variety of choices that will be available in the form of Platinum, Silver and Bronze plans. One would assume that in view of the differences in cost among the three plans the quality of coverages would also differ. Well, you know what happens when you assume. It turns out that in many states the coverages are identical; the only difference is the size of the deductible and out-of-pocket expenses. So, the net effect is you either pay up front in the form of a higher premium or you pay as you go in the form of higher deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Confused? Well, you are not the only one.

8. INSURANCE COMPANY REIMBURSEMENT – There is a provision in the law that provides for the Federal government to reimburse insurance companies for any losses on health insurance plans. This is potentially utterly catastrophic.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

In my last blog about Obamacare I predicted that the web site problems were just the appetizer. The main course was yet to come. Now, you are seeing a preview of the main course. President Obama has stated emphatically and repeatedly that if you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it, “period.” If you like your doctor you can keep him or her, “period.” Now, we see that neither statement is true. Not only can you not keep them, you can’t keep your medicine or hospital either.

This is what happens when our representatives pass a bill without having read it. It turns out that Nancy Pelosi was right all along. We did have to pass it to know what was in it. Unfortunately, Americans are now paying for their representatives’ laziness and incompetence and their own inattentiveness to their government. You really do get the government you deserve.

What is the remedy? A full repeal is not going to happen, at least not while Mr. Obama is president. A tweaking is possible, but Congress cannot agree on anything. The only remedy I can foresee consists of three words. Vote, vote, vote!

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MUNICH AND IRAN

Many observers see striking similarities between the recent US-Iranian nuclear weapons agreement and the treaty between England and Germany in 1938? Who can forget Neville Chamberlain’s delusional declaration of “Peace in our time.” Students of history will recall that England’s appeasement of Nazi Germany failed miserably and exacerbated the climate that led to WWII. One can argue that this deal is worse. To be sure, England sold out Czechoslovakia, but Mr. Obama has sold out Israel, Saudi Arabia, and, perhaps, us as well. No wonder the Israelis are wary of Mr. Obama. Regarding Saudi Arabia, although we cannot always trust their motivations, technically they are our allies in the region, and they rely on us for security in return for their maintaining an ample supply of oil.

We gave up our strongest weapon against Iran – economic sanctions, which were having a significant effect, and got very little in return. Iran will still be able to continue its uranium enrichment program, although at a reduced level. Moreover, there appears to be ample opportunity for Iran to cheat, and does anybody doubt that they will? Supposedly, the deal is for 6 months after which time a final agreement is to be struck. Good luck with that.

The nuclear threat posed by Iran still remains. Iran has sworn to destroy Israel, and there is a good chance it will attempt to do so as soon as it is feels it is able. Israel knows this, and may, at some point decide to protect itself by launching a pre-emptive strike. A regional war would surely destabilize the Middle East and disrupt our oil supply.

CONCLUSION AND PREDICTION

Once again, Mr. Obama has been outsmarted by a foreign government, first the Russians, then the Chinese and now the Iranians. This has further degraded the level of respect for the US throughout the world. It seems that Mr. Obama is willing to appease everyone, except for the Republicans in Congress.

A cynic would say that Mr. Obama agreed to this deal because he needed a perceived victory to offset the Obamacare fiasco and his falling approval rating in the polls. In addition, he is no doubt counting on the apathy and disengagement of a large segment of voters who are unaware of the dangerous situation unfolding in Iran or don’t see how it will affect them. (I bet many Americans could not even find Iran on the map.) In this, he may be right.

My prediction is that, despite this deal, or maybe because of it, tensions in the region will ratchet up in the coming months. At some point, we will have to consider reinstating sanctions. Furthermore, we will have to reassure Israel to dissuade them from acting unilaterally. That should be an interesting conversation.

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THANKSGIVING QUIZ

Many of you have commented that you have enjoyed my previous quizzes and requested additional ones. Below please find a Thanksgiving Quiz. Good luck, and, as always, no peeking at the internet.

1. Which President established Thanksgiving as a formal, annual holiday?

a. Washington
b. Lincoln
c. Teddy Roosevelt
d. FDR

2. What day did he designate?

a. Last Thursday of November
b. Last day of November
c. 4th Thursday of November
d. First day of December

3. Which President changed the holiday to its present day?

a. Eisenhower
b. Teddy Roosevelt
c. JFK
d. FDR

4. When was the first Thanksgiving celebration?

a. 1607
b. 1620
c. 1621
d. 1776

5. According to AAA approximately how many Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home to celebrate the holiday?

a. 10 million
b. 27 million
c. 42 million
d. 55 million

6. When was the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade?

a. 1905
b. 1920
c. 1924
d. 1946

7. What character has appeared in this parade the most times?

a. Snoopy
b. Mickey Mouse
c. Porky Pig
d. Sponge Bob

8. When was the first Thanksgiving Day NFL game?

a. 1921
b. 1934
c. 1940
d. 1960

9. What teams played in that game?

a. Giants-Dallas
b. Packers- Steelers
c. Packers-Lions
d. Lions-Bears

10. Which state produces the most turkeys?

a. Minnesota
b. California
c. Iowa
d. New Jersey

11. Which state was the first to adopt Thanksgiving as an official holiday in 1817?

a. Massachusetts
b. Delaware
c. Virginia
d. New York

12. Approximately what percentage of Americans eat turkey of Thanksgiving?

a. 50%
b. 75%
c. 90%
d. 80%

13. When was the last time Thanksgiving and Chanukkah overlapped?

a. 1753
b. 1888
c. 1905
d. 1899

14. Approximately how many years until the next overlap?

a. 50
b. 1,200
c. 79,000
d. Never

15. Which of the following is not a hybrid term currently in use with respect to the overlapping holiday?

a. Menurkies
b. Turkels
c. Thanksgivukkah
d. Chanukkahgiving

16. When is Canada’s Thanksgiving holiday?

a. Same as the US’s
b. Last day in September
c. Last Thursday in October
d. Second Monday in October

17. When was the first one?

a. 1578
b. 1625
c. 1650
d. 1855

18. When was it declared a national holiday?

a. 1797
b. 1825
c. 1879
d. 1955

ANSWERS: (1) b., (2) a, (3) d., (4) c., (5) c., (6) c., (7) a., (8) b., (9) d., (10) a., (11) d., (12) c., (13) b., (14) c, (15) d, (16) d, (17) a, (18) c

CONCLUSION

This is a difficult one. Anyone getting more than half right is a Thanksgiving scholar. Three or less, the Thanksgiving police say “no turkey for you.”

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