Morning Journal--Excerpts from FOMC minutes and Gates memoir

Economics

   This Week’s Data

            Weekly jobless claims fell 15,000 versus expectations of an 8,000 decline.

            Excerpts from the FOMC minutes (medium):

            http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2014/01/fomc-minutes-proceed-cautiously-with.html

   Other

            Update on consumer credit (short):

            http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-01-08/95-total-consumer-credit-lent-past-12-months-student-and-car-loans

Politics

  Domestic

This has nothing to do with anything but having fun.  For you Thursday morning amusement (4 minute video):

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=WY6WLPNX&utm_source=GodTube%20Must-See%20Video&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=01/09/2014

  International

            Excerpts from the Robert Gates memoir (medium):

            http://spectator.org/blog/57371/robert-gates-pulls-no-punches