Columnists

With the 2014 Winter Olympics costing a projected $50 billion-plus, one wonders how large a chunk was spent on security. Russia’s Sochi - not famous for its tranquil existence - has attracted the attention of terrorists threatening to wreak havoc on the Games.

Will the economy and the bull market make further strides next year? On Wall Street and Main Street, 2013 turned out better than many analysts expected. Will the recovery gain additional momentum in 2014, and will stocks climb even higher?

Well, it could be merely a coincidence, but the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose has chosen Feb. 15 for its annual Wedding Anniversary Celebration. San Jose's St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica (880 S. Market St.) will host a special Mass for all couples observing their fifth (or less), 25th, 40th and 50th (or more) years of marriage. Couples will renew wedding vows, receive a blessing from Bishop Patrick McGrath, get a certificate marking the occasion and enjoy a reception afterward. All of this occurs on the day after Valentine's Day.

At the end of every year, certain federal tax breaks face a sunset. Some are renewed, some expire. As 2014 will soon start, here is a list of some of notable tax provisions that may go away next year - offering some opportunities that you may want to take advantage of this year.

There is no doubt that gun ownership is very controversial these days. The anniversary of the Newtown massacre and continued gun violence across the country have led to calls for tighter regulation of firearms, such as the recent legislation passed in Sunnyvale. Others counter that their Second Amendment Constitutional rights not be tampered with.

Previously, we talked about one of the most interesting actions in bridge - bidding for slam, which is definitely a whole level higher and even more exciting because the stakes are very high. In order to bid and make slam (six-level bid) you need a total of 33 points between your two hands - or a really fantastic distributional fit. Since it is unlikely one hand will hold 30-plus points, the key to slam bidding is communication between the two partners.