SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:48 P.M. ET: 

MAJOR FINANCIAL NEWS – From Fox:  "The U.S. Postal Service will increase the cost of a stamp on Monday to 49 cents from the current 46 cents.  The spike is a 6.5 percent jump, contrary to the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which states that stamp prices cannot increase faster than the rate of inflation, The Wall Street Journal reported.  Mounting financial losses forced the USPS to ask regulators to authorize an increase greater than the rate of inflation, which the agency was granted. But regulators refused to make it permanent, a move that upset Postal Service officials, according to the paper.  The 49 cent stamp price is guaranteed for two years."  Given the record of the Obama administration, that's longer than the United States is guaranteed.

GREAT MOMENTS IN EDUCATION – From lajolla.patch.com:  "San Diego brewer Karl Strauss Brewing Company announced last week that will offer two scholarships to UC San Diego Extension's brewing program.  UC San Diego Extension’s brewing program is a part-time, evening and weekend program for entry-level brewing professionals. It can be completed in 18-24 months.  'When we started the industry here in San Diego 25 years ago, we had no idea the craft beer culture would expand into what it’s become today,' Matt Rattner, president of Karl Strauss Brewing Company said in a statement. 'We are looking forward to helping a new crop of San Diego brewers get their start with this amazing program at UC San Diego Extension.'"  Look, it's better than taking classes with left-wing history professors.

COMRADE BILL WEIGHS IN – New York's new mayor has an energy policy.  From CNS:  "(CNSNews.com) – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio weighed in on the hydraulic fracturing debate in his state during a press conference Thursday in Washington, D.C. 'The one thing I’m firm about is I don’t see any place for fracking,' de Blasio told reporters at the U.S. Conference of Mayors when CNSNews.com asked what his policy would be 'as far as developing oil, natural gas and other traditional energy sources in the state.'"  Gee, other states are booming because of fracking, and the ground isn't collapsing.  Maybe there's a reason I see so many moving vans in New York these days.

January 26, 2014