http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1250749562&play=1
FYI Nouriel Roubini spells out his view... and he's been right all along.
Riverside Info » About Riverside
Thoughts on the economy... and bocce
(10 posts)-
Posted Monday Sep 14, 2009 22:41 #
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More on the economy from Roubini. One year after the failure of Lehmann Brothers.
"Repeating his prediction that the economy faces a threat of a "double-dip" recession and at best a slow-growth U-shaped recovery, Roubini said in a live interview that more banks will fail and residential real estate prices have more room to decline.
Additionally, non-government bonds will face pressure, the securitization market is all but dead, the credit markets are still frozen and consumers will continue to save more rather than spend and boost growth.
"It's going to be death by a thousand cuts," said Roubini, chairman of RGE Monitor and economics professor at New York University's Stern School of Business. "The financial system is severely damaged, and it's not just the banks."
At the same time, he said housing prices are likely to fall another 12 percent in the next year—40 percent overall since the market began its steep decline—and about half of all homeowners will owe more on their mortgages than their houses are worth.
"The gap between supply and demand is so huge we could stop producing new homes for a year to get rid of all the inventory," he said. "This price adjustment, in my opinion, is going to continue for another year."
Posted Monday Sep 14, 2009 22:48 # -
Better hunker down for 2010, and while doing so, let's play Bocci!
Imagine this: We build a couple courts over on Burlington and give people a reason to come down to Riverside's CBD. We have leagues with teams sponsored by local bars, banks, clubs. We have pick up games. Put in some good places to sit and watch people enjoying themselves. Have a grilling area so teams and families can have picknics there as they play. Create something that can be used and enjoyed by families, residents, visitors - not just a slab of unneeded asphalt.
Ah, bocce. That leisurely pursuit formerly associated withelderly Italian gentlemen whiling away warm afternoons as they sip red wine, smoke cigars, watch the girls and discuss politics.
A quaint image, no doubt, but no longer completely accurate. Wine and talk of politics still occur, but today’s bocce players are just as likely to be women—of all ages. Across the country bocce has seen a resurgence in recent years, attracting many players who don’t fit the “old country” mold.
Riverside is no exception. A thriving bocce scene centers around the six bocce courts at Nitti Park on Burlington, drawing as many as 1,000 players a week.
“The most important thing about it is that our lives are so fast-paced and hectic and this is a slow game,” says Gina. Known as “Bella” on the Riverside courts, Gina got hooked on the game about a year ago and now plays in a weekly league.
The premise of the game is simple: roll a four-inch bocce ball as close as possible to the smaller target ball—the pallino. The bocce ball closest to the pallino scores a point; 12 points constitute a game. Yet this simple game requires a surprising amount of skill. Depending on how good players are, a game can be over in 15 minutes—or 90 minutes.
“People think, ‘Oh, this looks easy,’” says Joe, the executive administrator of the federation which runs the bocce courts and keeps a staff member on hand to explain the game’s intricacies and etiquette to newcomers. “It’s not hard to learn, but it does require finesse, strategy and hand-eye coordination.”
Indeed, rolling a bocce ball to a precise point on the court is an art. Roll too lightly and the bocce will be too far from the pallino. Roll too vigorously and the bocce will bounce off the back edge of the court, taking it out of play. Don’t forget to aim and remember to knock your opponents’ bocce balls out of the way. That’s a lot to keep in mind.
Bocce’s history is extensive. Its geographic beginnings are up for debate, but historians generally agree the game originated as early as 5200 B.C. Bocce eventually spread throughout Europe, and Italians are credited with popularizing the game as we know it today.
Bocce enthusiasts say this ancient pastime appeals to modern sensibilities because of its mental stimulation, ease on the body and social atmosphere.
"Stash" began playing bocce nine years ago at his brother’s urging. He was addicted from the first roll of the ball, drawn to the challenge of putting the bocce and the pallino side by side. Now, he plays five or six days a week, during open play and in leagues. “I think people are craving community, and I think this is beginning to kind of fill that void,” says Vince.
From April through November, the Acourts host league play three mornings and five nights a week. The atmosphere can range from still concentration to boisterous banter. Some teams have uniforms; others just wear what feels lucky that day. Friendships form among teammates and across team lines.
The courts are also open to the occasional player. During open play hours, $3 per person pays for three hours of court time, instruction and equipment. For those with bad backs, the bocce federation even provides plungers attached to wooden dowels so you can pick up the balls without bending.
Fragrant bushes surround the area, picnic tables are spread about and covered arbors provide shade. Players are welcome to bring food, wine and beer. Just as they have for generations of bocce players, lively discussion and friendly competition flow.
A perfect way to wile away a spring afternoon, a summer evening in Riverside!
Are you Ready to Roll?
The Riverside Bocce Federation's bocce courts are at 61-63 Burlington in downtown Riverside. Food, beer and wine are allowed (no hard alcohol.) While you are there, be sure to stop in and visit our local merchants. How about a game after Church?
Posted Tuesday Sep 15, 2009 10:23 # -
On the entrance door to Super Tony's in North Riverside I saw a flier for a bocce tournament coming up in Franklin Park. They didn't have a website listed; just email addresses. I did find this mailer from them, online.
http://www.joyofbocce.com/filecabinet/Ezines/FranklinPark.pdf
The poster on the door is much more interesting than the tri-fold mailer.
Posted Tuesday Sep 15, 2009 11:17 # -
Here's a league with some great team names...
http://www.bocceleague.com/LA.html
These people have fun!
Posted Tuesday Sep 15, 2009 14:04 # -
These guys set up free standing courts on astroturf indoors to play during the winter... Maybe this could fit in the VC?
http://www.kenwaldiessc.org/bocce.ivnu
More on Bocce products and courts...
Posted Tuesday Sep 15, 2009 14:07 # -
I vote for the Bocce Bellas!!! Tryouts will be held at the Swan Pond...
Las Vegas Travel: The Sexiest Bocce You've Ever Seen
http://is.gd/3jjfpLot's of different ways to build courts...
Posted Tuesday Sep 15, 2009 14:09 # -
Thanks Chris. I think we will need to have a bunch of promotions at the courts. Like Firehouse Chilli Night when the firemen from other towns play ours, and they all serve their chilli recipe. Pizza night could pit teams from one pizza joynt against others, etc. I'll organize the tanning clubs, and we could have a Miss Riverside Bocce contest. She could roll against other queens in a spin on Celebrity Bocce. We'll put Riverside back on the map. People passing will see the colorful goings-on and tell their neighbors - Ride the Train to Riverside and play Bocce! Winery night! Brew Night! Kolacky Night! Dumplin Night! You can't get any bigger than that.
Posted Tuesday Sep 15, 2009 17:34 # -
I suggest you take this idea out for a test drive - get a special use permit and hold a bocce tournament in Gutherie Park. What a blast!! Afterwards, schuffle them all over to the Chew Chew for a drink.
Posted Wednesday Sep 16, 2009 08:34 #
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