DEMOCRATS turn to minimum wage as 2014 strategy. Republicans, if they had any common sense (a stretch, I know) would get ahead of this issue by initiating legislation increasing the minimum wage a modest amount, tying future increases to the inflation rate, and adding a second, lower tier for those just entering the workforce (teens, principally).

LA JOLLA COVE STENCH: the collapse of common sense. Common sense is an affront to the progressive mind, which alone is privy to the 'truth' of everything.

'BLACK SWANS' to watch out for in 2014. One can only hope that the Israelis and South Koreans will have our back until 2016....

WASHINGTON EXAMINER: Class-action lawsuits produce big payouts --- for the lawyers. Ain't it the truth. I was the recipient of two class-action awards this year. In neither case was the 'award' worth the price of the stamp I'd need to deposit it. And in both cases, the lawyers' checks were in the millions.

THE CLIMATE CHANGE GODS must be crazy. It's time to drop Al Gore aboard to explain that the ship isn't trapped by ice -- it's really only frozen water.

Fox News explains.

OBAMACARE: paying more and getting less. So what's new?

PC MAKERS plan rebellion against Windows at 2014 Consumer Electronics Show. I should hope so. I'm so disgusted with my (almost) new Windows 8 desktop that I'm thinking seriously about ditching it for a Mac.

WEST VIRGINIA: A GOP "dam ready to break".