This assumes that Merrill can avoid the seven-year ditch--an almost predictable pattern of getting into serious trouble once or twice a decade.

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"For whatever reason, there's a predictable pattern where September has bad performance, " says Steven DeSanctis a strategist with Bank of America Merrill Lynch's equity research team.

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The cycle of abuse is a social theory developed by Lenore Walker, who taught at the Rutgers Medical School, to describe an often-predictable pattern in an abusive relationship.

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Part of the problem was that the Cole has fallen into a predictable pattern of operations for fueling our ships in Aden once they had transited the Suez Canal.

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With Mosley determined to retain a proud record of never being stopped in 54 fights (46-7-1) the latter rounds followed a predictable pattern, Pacquiao attacking, Mosley doing just enough to stay competitive in referee Kenny Bayless' mind.

BBC: Manny Pacquiao beats Shane Mosley to retain WBO belt

Such patterns persist for days or weeks, but then quickly end to be replaced by a new pattern or a period of less predictable weather.

FORBES: Chaos Theory, Financial Markets, and Global Weirding

Not long ago the category of Best Picture was expanded to a whopping ten movies (every selected film also qualifies for the NHL playoffs.) There are fashion misfires and tributes to legends and occasionally some emotional payoffs, but the Oscars can't escape feeling predictable and dutiful, especially since a calendar stuffed with awards shows has already established a reliable pattern of winners.

WSJ: Oscar Night vs. Sports