FREEMAN-SPICER FINANCIAL SERVICES
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316 South Eddy Street South Bend, IN 46617 / 574.234.0069 (V) • 574.234.6414 (F) • surekey@aol.com
Vol. 27, No. 12 • December, 2009 / www.Freeman-Spicer.com
Freeman-Spicer’s Wish For The Holiday Season and New Year . . . . . . Everyone at Freeman-Spicer wishes you a healthy, happy and prosperous holiday season and new year. This past month we lost our founder Eli Spicer. “Eli” had 95 wonderful years of life and almost 65 years at Freeman-Spicer. He will be missed by many, but his spirit and business ethics will live on with all of us. He taught us well and we pledge to continue his philosophy of great service by always doing whatever it takes to satisfy our customers. Thanks so very much for allowing us to serve you in 2009, we hope to be able to continue our service with you in 2010 and for many years to come. Ed, Michelle, Priscila and Laura.
10 Best Sports Gear Innovations . . . . . .
1. The Ping-Pong ball. Until 1900, rubber balls ricocheted around English drawing rooms. James Gibb’s celluloid sphere brought finesse to the game.
2. Golf ball dimples. Golfers always knew that dinged-up balls travel farther: Dents create turbulence, which reduces drag. In 1908, William Taylor patented dimples.
3. The football’s internal valve. In days of yore, an inflation stem stowed under the laces kept you from throwing the pigskin in a spiral. A new internal valve in 1924 allowed the modern game to evolve.
4. Toe-release bindings. While laid up with a broken leg in 1937, ski champ Hjalmar Hvam had a brainstorm: bindings that pop you free! His invention led to an 86 percent drop in tibia fractures.
5. Lena Blackburne rubbing mud. In 1938, a Philadelphia A’s coach found the cure for slippery baseballs: Delaware River muck. Still used before every MLB game, it de-slicks, but doesn’t soften, the ball.
6. The Zamboni. In 1949, Frank Zamboni put a squeegee, a blade, and snow-gathering tanks on a chassis, clearing the way for faster hockey.
7. Soccer cleats. West Germany’s win at the torrential 1954 World Cup was credited to the underdogs’ swapable, screw-in studs, which let them adjust their boots for the state of the pitch.
8. The breakaway rim. After Darryl Dawkins broke two backboards in 22 days in 1979, the NBA adopted a new hoop from an Illinois man who grafted a tractor tiller spring to the rim.
9. 9. Aerobars. At the 1989 Tour de France, Greg LeMond overcame a 50-second deficit to win. His secret: narrow, more aerodynamic handlebars. Though nixed from mass start races, they’re now a staple in time trials and triathlons.
10. The Speedo LZR Racer. Polyurethane panels cut drag by 24 percent, helping Olympic swimmers smash 23 records in Beijing in 2008. Expect a ban soon. (Andrew Durmon in Wired)
“All men make mistakes, but married men find out about them sooner.” Red Skelton
Important Tip For This Holiday Season . . . . . Chill your beer instantly! The wall clock has struck beer-thirty. But the tallboy in your briefcase is downright tepid. To chill it quickly, grab some canned air, the kind used for cleaning keyboards. Place the unopened beer in a container - we suggest the boss’s yachting trophy - and hold the air can upside down to release its contents in liquid form. (Watch your fingers!) Coat most of the beer in front, just not the top where your lips will touch. Then wait a few seconds. When the buildup fades, your brew will be fridge frosty. (Brian Krans in Wired)
Statistical Website’s . . . . . . . . . .
World Statistical Clock at:
http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf
United States Debt Clock at:
Finkelstein and Jesus . . . . . . . Jesus was wandering around Jerusalem when he decided that he really needed a new robe. After looking around for a while, he saw a sign for Finkelstein, the Tailor. So, he went in and made the necessary arrangements to have Finkelstein prepare a new robe for him. A few days later, when the robe was finished, Jesus tried it on - and it was a perfect fit! He asked how much he owed. Finkelstein brushed him off: “No, no, no, for the Son of God there’s no charge! However, may I ask for a small favor. Whenever you give a sermon, perhaps you could just mention that your nice new robe was made by Finkelstein, the Tailor?” Jesus readily agreed and as promised, extolled the virtues of his Finkelstein robe whenever he spoke to the masses. A few months later, while Jesus was again walking through Jerusalem, he happened to walk past Finkelstein’s shop and noted a huge line of people waiting for Finkelstein’s robes. He pushed his way though the crowd to speak to him and as soon as Finkelstein spotted him he said: “Jesus, Jesus look what you’ve done for my business! Would you consider a partnership?” Certainly,” replied Jesus. “Jesus & Finkelstein it is.” “Oh, no, no,” said Finkelstein. “Finkelstein & Jesus. After all, I am the experienced craftsman.” The two of them debated this for some time. Their discussion was long and spirited, but ultimately fruitful - and they finally came up with a mutually acceptable compromise. A few days later, the new sign went up over Finkelstein’s shop that is still there today . . . . . . . wait for it . . . . “Lord and Taylor!” (Novachek)
Need Some Energy? . . . . . . . Most of us can use a bit more energy:
• Nodding off at 3 p.m.? Try a glass of water first; fatigue can be a sign of dehydration. Otherwise, try celery with peanut butter or try dark chocolate.
• Perk up your a.m. coffee with a big splash of milk; the shot of protein gives you more stamina and a bone boost.
• Thirty minutes of sunshine can shift your circadian rhythm from pooped to peppy. So open your blinds at work, or go out at lunchtime.
• Low-intensity exercise like walking can stimulate body and mind, increasing your energy level by 20% and decreasing fatigue by 65% (Health Magazine)
“Thanksgiving dinners take 18 hours to prepare. They are consumed in 12 minutes. Half-times take 12 minutes. This is not coincidence.” (Erma Bombeck)
Men’s Age as Determined By A Trip to Home Depot . . . . . . . . You are in the middle of some kind of project around the house . . . . mowing the lawn, putting in a new fence, painting the livingroom, or whatever. You are hot and sweaty, covered in dirt or paint. You have your old work clothes on. You know, the outfit-shorts with the hole in the crotch, old T-shirt with a stain from who knows what, and an old pair of tennis shoes. Right in the middle of this great home improvement project you realize you need to run to Home Depot to get something to help complete the job. Depending on your age you might do the following:
• In Your 20's: Stop what you are doing. Shave, take a shower, blow dry your hair, brush your teeth, floss, and put on clean clothes. Check yourself in the mirror and flex. Add a dab of your favorite cologne because you never know, you must might meet some hot chick while standing in the checkout lane. And you went to school with the pretty girl running the register.
• In Your 30's: Stop what you are doing, put on clean shorts and shirt. Change shoes. You married the hot chick so no need for much else. Wash your hands and comb your hair. Check yourself in the mirror. Still got it. Add a shot of your favorite cologne to cover the smell. The cute girl running the register is the kid sister to someone you went to school with.
• In Your 40's: Stop what you are doing. Put on a sweatshirt that is long enough to cover the hole in the crotch of your shorts. Put on different shoes and a hat. Wash your hands. Your bottle of Brute Cologne is almost empty so you don’t waste any of it on a trip to Home Depot. Check yourself in the mirror and do more sucking in than flexing. The spicy young thing running the register is your daughter’s age and you feel weird thinking she is spicy.
• In Your 50's: Stop what you are doing. Put a hat on and wipe the dirt off your hands onto your shirt. Change shoes because you don’t want to get dog doodoo in your new sports car. Check yourself in the mirror and you swear not to wear that shirt anymore because it makes you look fat. The cutie running the register smiles when she sees you coming and you think you still have it. Then you remember the hat you have on is from Buddy’s Bait & Beer Bar and it says, “I Got Worms.”
• In Your 60's: Stop what your are doing. No need for a hat anymore. Hose the dog doodoo off your shoes. The mirror was shattered when you were in your 50's. You hope you have underwear on so nothing hangs out the hole in your pants. The girl running the register may be cute, but you don’t have your glasses on so you are not sure.
• In Your 70's: Stop what your doing. Wait to go to Home Depot until the drug store has your prescriptions ready, too. Don’t even notice the dog doodoo on your shoes. The young thing at the register smiles at you because you remind her of her grandfather.
• In Your 80's: Stop what your are doing. Start again. Then stop again. Now you remember you needed to go to Home Depot. Go to Wal-Mart instead and wander around trying to think what it is you are looking for. Fart out loud and you think someone called out your name. You went to school with the old
lady who greeted you at the front door. Sincerely,
• In Your 90's & Beyond: What’s a home
deep hoe? Something for your garden?
Where am I? Who am I? Why am I reading this? Edward C. Levy
Did I send it? Did you? Who farted? (B. Levy) President