{"id":25461,"date":"2014-06-07T10:28:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-07T17:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lenpenzo.com\/blog\/?p=25461"},"modified":"2023-03-13T11:06:40","modified_gmt":"2023-03-13T18:06:40","slug":"black-coffee-hokey-hockey-and-horses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lenpenzo.com\/blog\/id25461-black-coffee-hokey-hockey-and-horses.html","title":{"rendered":"Black Coffee: Hokey, Hockey and Horses"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a little joe<\/em> …<\/p>\n

I’ve been out of town for most of this week, so you know what that means: Yep — I’ve got another espresso edition of Black Coffee for you.<\/p>\n

Okay, off we go …<\/p>\n

Credits and Debits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> The US economy has finally recovered all of the jobs<\/a> that were lost as a result of the Great Recession. Before you break out in an Irish jig, please remember that every silver lining has a cloud.<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> After all, the majority of new jobs created during this so-called recovery have been part-time and low-paying jobs<\/a> like restaurant workers and retail sales clerks — and it’s virtually impossible for the US economy to gain momentum without quality, high-paying jobs.<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> Officially, the Great Recession ended five years ago, but it’s hard to make a convincing case that America has been on “road to recovery” for all of those years when you consider that half the country earns less than $27,520<\/a> per year.<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> In fact, the economy is so anemic, an astounding 37.2% of all Americans 16 or older do not have a job or are not actively looking for one; that figure is a 36-year high<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> Even worse, seven million people<\/a> have left the workforce since 2009 — and there are still 3.2 million fewer people employed full-time than there were in 2007. After five years of “economic recovery,” at least the US is finally treading water now. Sadly, that’s now being touted as progress.<\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> You can bet Fed chair Janet Yellen was rooting for California Chrome to become the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years when it raced in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. How do I know? Because US economic growth has averaged almost 5%<\/a> during years that saw a Triple Crown winner.<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> Hey, who can blame her — Lord knows the Fed’s reckless monetary policies<\/a> aren’t working for anybody but its Wall Street cronies. Meanwhile, the vast majority of savers and other responsible folks on Main Street continue their struggle to make ends meet.<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> Even though California Chrome ultimately finished in fourth place, I didn’t really think it mattered if it won the Triple Crown — that’s pure hokey. Unless radical economic policy changes are enacted — or the system collapses and resets — the US will never see real 4%<\/a> GDP growth again.<\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> From hokey to hockey: The Los Angeles Kings took the first game<\/a> of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday, beating the New York Rangers in overtime, 3-2. Then they won Game 2 on Saturday night, 5-4. Hooray! If the Kings can win two more games, they’ll win their second Stanley Cup in three years.<\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> Almost immediately after the Kings finally dispatched the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> last Sunday, several readers dropped me a line to ask if I planned on attending another Stanley Cup finals game this year. Officially, I’m still on the fence.<\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> They all remembered that I spent almost $2500<\/a> in 2012 for just two tickets to see the Kings play the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals. And, yes, it was worth every penny — despite having to pay $80 for parking.<\/p>\n

Debit:<\/strong><\/span> Unfortunately, the Honeybee and I are in the middle of a major master bathroom remodel this year, so I really need to think hard about expending upwards of $3000 before taking the plunge this time around.<\/p>\n

Credit:<\/strong><\/span> Then again, you only live once — and Game 5 is<\/em> this coming Friday …<\/p>\n

By the Numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"stanley<\/a>The Stanley Cup, which is awarded annually to the National Hockey League’s champion has a very rich history. Here are a few things you may not know about it:<\/p>\n

1892<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Year that the Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston, donated the cup as an award for the top Canadian amateur hockey team.<\/p>\n

$1277<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Price (in 2013 dollars) that Lord Stanley paid for the Cup.<\/p>\n

52<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Maximum number of names that team champions are allowed to engrave on the trophy.<\/p>\n

24<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Stanley Cups won by the Montreal Canadiens. No NHL team has won more.<\/p>\n

1<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Stanley Cups won by the Los Angeles Kings.<\/p>\n

12<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Number of women whose names are engraved on the Cup.<\/p>\n

11<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Times Henri Richard’s name appears on the Cup — that’s more than any other person.<\/p>\n

4<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Number of NHL-sanctioned Cup engravers during the league’s 96-year history.<\/p>\n

2<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Babies who have been baptized in the Cup.<\/p>\n

Source: Mental Floss<\/a>; Photo Credit: J. Delanoy<\/em><\/p>\n

The Question of the Week<\/strong><\/p>\n

[poll id=\"10\"]<\/code><\/p>\n

Last Week’s Poll Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

How old were you when you got your first “real” job?<\/p>\n