SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:54 P.M. ET: 

GONE GUY –  From Mediaite:  "Just one week after he engaged in a heated Twitter debate over the terror attacks on Charlie Hebdo, CNN international correspondent Jim Clancy announced he is leaving the network after more than 30 years at the network. In a short note to his CNN colleagues, Clancy did not give a reason for his departure."  The reason was the vulgarity of his comments, which had an anti-Semitic odor, and which contained a tasteless reference to disabled people.  Clancy was part of CNN's early wrecking crew, and always struck me as a reckless and bigoted reporter.  CNN, still struggling with bias and a liberal reputation, will be stronger without him.  His departure was officially reported as a resignation.  I have the feeling – but can't prove it – that he was offered the "opportunity" to resign after his career-ending tweets. 

GOOD NEWS FOR THE CHATTERING CLASSES – From CNS:  "(CNSNews.com) - Even as gasoline prices plummeted and the overall energy price index calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics declined, electricity prices bucked the trend in the United States in 2014.  Data released today by the BLS indicates that the electricity price indexes hit all-time highs for the month of December and for the year. 2014 was the most-expensive year ever for electricity in the United States.  The annual price index for electricity, published by BLS today, was 208.020. That was up from 200.750 in 2013."  But, don't you see, high energy prices are good for the environment?  People use less energy, except, probably, for the environmentalists, who are getting ready to fly into Aspen in their private jets for another conference.  The average American gets stuck, or freezes.

BAD TASTE – From the Hollywood Reporter:  "Selma producer Oprah Winfrey will march Sunday in Selma, Alabama — alongside the film's director Ava DuVernay and star David Oyelowo — to commemorate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., Paramount announced Friday.  According to the studio, the event will pay homage to King's civil rights leadership and his involvement in the Selma voting rights protests of 1965, the subject of the Oscar-nominated film."  Producers always want to promote Oscar-nominated movies, but it seems to me that using King's birthday itself is tacky.  Oprah will steal the thunder of commemoration in Selma to advance a personal interest.  Not classy.

PERRY? – From AP:  "CORONADO, Calif. (AP) — Conceding there was more 'excitement than preparation' for his first presidential bid, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday declared himself ready for a second White House run should he decide to enter the crowded 2016 Republican field.  'I don't shy away from the fact that I have been preparing. Preparation's done. I'm ready,' he said in a Friday interview with The Associated Press. 'But I will announce at the appropriate time my intentions.'  Perry, who leaves office next week after more than 14 years as Texas' leader, said he was wrong to think he could give 100 percent in his failed 2012 presidential campaign while still serving as a sitting governor."  He did a great job in the governor's chair.  Welcome.

January 16,  2015