Because the economics behind this holiday season reflect the reality of fundamental change you probably will not see them discussed too much within the mainstream news; it just doesn’t fit the recovery narrative.
However, you don’t have to be an economist to understand Christmas expenditures.  It’s generally accurate that if your family spent less, the entire nation probably spent less for the exact same reason.
The worse news yet to reflect in the macro roll-up centers around Gift Card use.   Gift cards are not accounted for as economic sales on the shopping ledger until they are redeemed.  That statistic is yet to be determined.
(Via CBS)  […]  Deep discounts and extended hours could not get Americans to spend as much as stores expected this holiday season, so now retailers are cutting prices even more.
“Retailers overshot the mark, in terms of apparel supply,” said retail analyst Craig Johnson. “So there’s an imbalance of supply and demand in apparel, leading to all the dramatic promotions you’re seeing today.” (more…)

NEW YORK – CNN chief Jeff Zucker stressed in a year-end memo to staff that more changes are coming to the network in 2014.
“If you thought we did a lot in 2013, wait until you see 2014,” Zucker wrote in a memo published by Deadline Hollywood. “Real change that transforms an organization doesn’t happen overnight. I have talked a lot about broadening the definition of news. You have seen the start of that, especially at CNN, where we have begun to introduce new series, documentaries and films to augment our best-in-class breaking news coverage.” (more…)

Some people wonder why CNN is in such a poor state of viewership. In this clip from Anderson Cooper you can see exactly why the ratings of the media outlet are plummeting with exponential severity.
Most people know that Anderson Cooper is the son of fashion icon Gloria Vanderbilt, but look at this panel and you can understand why viewers tune out. Anderson’s panel includes gay activist and extremist Dan Savage, and gay activist and media reporter Andrew Sullivan. To them this is just a typical coffee table conversation – but when you think about it broadcast into peoples homes, well, you decide:

The A&E Statement:
As a global media content company, A+E Networks’ core values are centered around creativity, inclusion and mutual respect. We believe it is a privilege for our brands to be invited into people’s home and we operate with a strong sense of integrity and deep commitment to these principles.
That is why we reacted so quickly and strongly to a recent interview with Phil Robertson. While Phil’s comments made in the interview reflect his personal views based on his own beliefs, and his own personal journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the “coarse language” he used and the mis-interpretation of his core beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would “never incite or encourage hate.” We at A+E Networks expressed our disappointment with his statements in the article, and reiterate that they are not views we hold. (more…)

Setting aside the agenda bias inherent in this article (last line) it just once again solidifies what direction the Republican Establishment choose to take.   The cocktail party is going to relentlessly work to destroy anyone who would loosen the ever desperate, yet dying, grip on their ideological power. 

Before we can destroy the anti-freedom liberalist contingents we must first rid ourselves of the toxic infection that remains the Republican Party Decepticons.  It begins with getting rid of Mitch McConnell – Support the Tea Party.

(Via Ballot Box) The Chamber of Commerce is planning to spend at least $50 million on a campaign to boost establishment Republicans in primaries against Tea Party challengers, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The group’s broader aim is to help the GOP win Senate control and block Tea Party Republican candidates who might lose otherwise winnable seats to Democrats.

“Our No. 1 focus is to make sure, when it comes to the Senate, that we have no loser candidates,” Chamber political strategist Scott Reed tells the Journal. “That will be our mantra: No fools on our ticket.” (more…)

HatTip GWP – A gay business owner told police in November he was attacked and beaten because he was gay. His claim included marking his own head with a gay slur to give validity to his accusations. However, now police have determined the victim actually falsified the entire incident.  Here’s the initial report:

TENNESSEE – A man who told police he had been robbed and beaten at a Paris health food store a few days before Thanksgiving was arrested after he allegedly withheld information about the incident and has now been charged with filing a false report.
Joe Williams, 32, of 803 E. Wood St. was arrested Friday afternoon after turning himself in at the Henry County jail. (more…)

The Washington Times reports on the filing of federal Hate Crimes charges in connection with a “Knock Out Assault” that was videotaped:

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“Suspected crimes of this nature will simply not be tolerated,” said Kenneth Magidson the U.S. attorney for the southern district of Texas. “Evidence of hate crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted with the assistance of all our partners to the fullest extent of the law.”

(more…)

Venezuela, in a squeeze for hard currency, devalued its currency for foreigners another 44%, following an initial devaluation of 32% by Chavez in February.  The move is seen as a necessity to keep Venezuela from defaulting on sovereign debt when reliance on excessively high levels of public spending has been the tool of Chavez and his successor, Maduro, to maintain their grip on power.  It is the 6th such major devaluation in a decade.
The move is essentially a bookkeeping sleight-of-hand – it allows the Venezuelan central bank to balance its books by “earning” more Bolivars for its oil export sales, at a time when overall sales volume has decreased dramatically.

(more…)

…. A Christmas wish that cannot be purchased and won’t be identified until May of 2014.
So much of what we are dealing in our daily lives is a direct result of the polar opposite of what is reflected in the birth story of Jesus Christ.
In many ways the birth of Jesus challenged the contract between those who ruled and those who are forced by consequence to live under those rulers.   A leader born to serve people instead of demanding service from people.
Politically speaking, until the birth of Jesus Christ all leaders exhibited their will upon the people beneath them.    The Macedonians, the Babylonians, The Persians, the Romans and the Egyptians et al , all led from a power base of top down construct enforcing the will of Kings and Emperors.   Rules made by Rulers.
The birth of a Leader who would change the never negotiated contract to a concept of  service for His people was so extraordinary it became dangerous to even discuss such considerations.
So too do we find ourselves, albeit millennia removed, engaged in this exact same struggle today.   Nations of people ruled by power systems manipulated and constructed by the few against the will of many.  (more…)

Read this article and see if something sticks out so quickly to you around the concept of the headline:  “The only commonality is that basically all the victims were Jewish.”  
New York (Crown Heights) – Police have arrested four children in connection with a string of alleged “knockout game” attacks in Brooklyn, the NYPD said.
A 14-year-old girl and three other children, aged 10 and 11, were arrested in connection with three assaults that took place between October and November.
The victims included an 11-year-old boy who was punched on President Street, a youth who was hit with a rock while walking home from school and a youngster who was “mushed” in the face with a plastic bag, said Deputy Inspector George Fitzgibbon, the 71st Precinct’s new commanding officer. (more…)