Thoughts from the weekend.

Football - was right on Green Bay plus the points, would have been wrong on the overs had Seattle not stormed back to win.  Can't believe Green Bay dumped this one, so sorry for Packer fans everywhere.  Your team did not play to win at the end, they played not to lose and that kills you every time.

Indy - don't even know what to say - thought they would be in this game - obviously wrong, New England dismanteled them.

Super Bowl thoughts - Seattle opened at -2.5 and the line swung to New England -1 after the first round of betting in Vegas.  I say the game should be a pick em game with an over under of  48. 
Thoughts are New England and the overs.  Seattle played horrible against Green Bay and put up 28 points anyway.  Their defense looked soft to start and Brady will pick them apart similar to what Rogers did if that is the case.  New England will throw up points one way or the other.

Prediction New England 31 Seattle 27

Experimental drink of the day at the playoff party yesterday - thanks to all who came - had a great time.  In a shaker small shot of Patron Cafe XO, shot of vodka, shot of fireball, splash of Seven up, shaken over ice and poured into shots.  Turned out to be better than expected. Did not have a name for it yesterday, have decided on simply Cafe Fireball.

Politics from the last few days - don't care which side you fall on with the gay marriage debate, but it is about time the Supreme Court got off their ass and will make a decision on this.  They will hear the case in April, ruling in by June, and the assumption will be that gay marriage bans in the remaining states that have them will be removed with their ruling.  (currently only 13 states still have a state law/amendment banning gay marriage or defining marriage as man/woman).  This is not a states rights issue (states do not have the right to discriminate on equality issues) so don't bring that argument up.  This is about equality for partners, couples, parents, etc. and them having the same benefits and rights that other people already have.  I have no issue if your particular religious entity does not want to perform or recognize marriage in your church/religion, but marriage is a legal status no a religious status.  This decision will simply open up the ability for couples that already exist to have the same financial, ownership, insurance, parental, rights that current married couples have. 

Other politics - The White House announced a package of initiatives Saturday to create new and expanded tax credits for the middle class, including a new tax break for two-earner families and a tripling of the child tax credit, and pay for it through a big increase in capital gains taxes and a hefty fee to discourage risky borrowing by big banks.  I realize a large group of my fellow Nebraskans hates this argument, but the capital gains tax changes are overdue.  Current tax laws basically set up like this - if I build an investment portfolio over my entire life with original investment values of $500,000 but a current value of $1.5 million, if I sell or close out this portfolio, I pay capital gains on the $1,000,000 gain.  If I die however and pass this on to my kids, they inherit it without any capital gains taxes.  One way or the other, the capital gains occurred and should be taxed.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/state-of-the-union-2015-barack-obama-economy-taxes-wages-114353.html#ixzz3PIVNdngU