Off-Price Shopping Centers are changing to Value Centers
see a major change in factory outlet centers. Many of these off-price shopping centers throughout the United States, which are popular with bargain hunting shoppers, now have stores that sell the same merchandise sold in regional malls or Main Street. This marks a change in strategy for shopping center operators like Taubman Centers, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers and Simon Group. During the recent downturn in business, it was outlet centers that continued to see good customer traffic.
Manufacturers and retailers have taken advantage of the customer acceptance and strong traffic in off-price malls by making their products available. Saks 5^th Avenue’s Off Fifth store focuses on designer clothing. It sells about 10% marked down fashion merchandise from full line stores, 25% is private label and the rest is specially bought merchandise at regular prices. Carter’s, the children’s clothing manufacturer, sells its products in all locations at the same price, and The Loft, which was originally only in off-price centers, is today Ann Taylor’s main calling card throughout the United States.  Today there are 189 outlet centers in the United States. In the future we should call these off-price shopping centers “Value Centers.” Their low-price appeal is quite distinct from the traditional regional shopping malls and the life-style centers whose focus is to have more restaurants than shops.

Full Euro Breakup Would Hurt Even The Mighty GermansThe deteriorating situation in Europe has dragged down stocks around the globe. And it could get much, much worse, according to an analysis by Fitch Ratings. The bond-rating house recently handicapped a variety of outcomes, from total fiscal and political union – unlikely – to a breakup that would mean total Euro-geddon – also unlikely, but devastating if it happens.
Each scenario has implications for companies doing business in Europe, since even a disorderly exit of Greece from the European Union is likely to knock the Euro economy back into a multiyear recession as deep as the one in 2008-2009, Fitch says. The only consistent losers across all scenarios, however, are big, slow-moving utilities and telecommunications giants. Companies with significant operations outside Europe and anybody selling alcoholic beverages is likely to do just fine under all but the worst conditions.  Supply chains would remain broken for several months as companies rework the terms of trade and trade unions in Southern Europe disrupt ports, railroads and trucking lines. Weaker nations would impose capital controls, driving companies with debt denominated in other currencies into default as they run out of Euros, pounds or dollars to pay their bills.

Planes, Trains And Automobiles: The Power Of Real-Time Mobile
  The era of mobile computing is going far beyond smart phones and tablets. Just ahead: always-on planes, trains and automobiles. This brave new world of smart, connected systems has implications as profound as the changes driven by land networks and mobile smart phones.  Each of these value propositions drives entire industries in land-based networks. They are equally compelling for mobile systems.  Air traffic control (ATC) is really an asset management problem. Today’s ATC systems use radars to follow planes, radios to connect pilots to human controllers and strict protocols to ensure that pilots follow the resulting commands. This system works, but is screaming for improvement. Stressed-out ATCs struggle to handle all the traffic. The only way they can cope is to force planes to follow carefully planned traffic patterns. Air spaces are congested, route planning and re-planning is rampant, and any weather or other blip causes massive delays. The system is safe, but it’s hardly efficient.

Here's What The Analyst Who Uncovered Enron Thinks About Chesapeake
Secret hedge funds, off-balance-sheet financings, big perks for directors, sweetheart drilling deals and giant non-recourse loans for Chief Executive Aubrey McClendon — it all means that “crony capitalism has been alive and well,” says John Olson. “History seems to be repeating itself in just another way.”
Olson ought to know. He uncovered Enron. Back in the 1990s Olson, a veteran energy industry analyst, was a lonely voice in the wilderness; he was skeptical about Enron for a decade before its collapse. He became a target of Enron‘s Ken Lay, and lost his job at Merrill Lynch because he refused to go bullish on the company. He subsequently worked at Sander Morris Harris, ran a hedge fund, and now, at 69, handles investments for friends and family.  So what’s his take on Chesapeake? Olson quotes philosopher Fredrich Hegel, “The only thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history.”

Microsoft Xbox Is Winning The Living Room War.
Cookie Monster wants a snack. Sure, he could have a handful of you-know-whats, but even a Muppet has to watch his waistline. So he decides to grab something healthful. “Maybe if me jump up and down, me can shake fruit out of this tree,” the fuzzy blue monster says to his television viewers. “Okay. Help me jump!”
Muppets have always broken the fourth wall. But for the first time, Cookie can actually tell if kids are responding. When they do, his googly eyes shake wildly and leaves fall from the tree. “Oh boy, oh boy,” Cookie cheers. If the child refuses to budge, he invites his fuchsia friend Telly on-screen to do the jumping instead.
This is Kinect Sesame Street TV, a fully interactive version of the award-winning educational program that goes on sale exclusively for Microsoft' s Xbox game console in September. The Xbox’s Kinect accessory comes with cameras and microphones and can see and hear the kids as they watch and play. “Kids generally learn through play, and this is an opportunity to get them off the couch and involved,” says Terry Fitzpatrick, chief content and distribution officer for Sesame Workshop, which has produced Sesame Street since 1969. “Microsoft recognized the value of it immediately.”  I like the idea of interacting with your tv on a physical level.  It really shows how far technology has progressed.

Annan, Clinton to meet about Syria
Global debate over the Syrian crisis is expected to ratchet up this week, with Russian and European Union leaders grappling with the thorny issue and U.N. members reassessing whether to take further action.  Kofi Annan, joint envoy to Syria for the United Nations and the Arab League, will meet Friday with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington to discuss Syria, sources told CNN. 

The crisis that has killed thousands over 15 months was expected to dominate the agenda at the EU-Russia Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Monday. World leaders have accused Russia of supporting and selling arms to the Syrian regime -- assertions that Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied. 

Al-Assad's remarks stand in stark contrast to what the opposition and many world leaders have said for more than a year: that al-Assad's forces, not "terrorists," are behind a sustained slaughter stemming from the regime's crackdown on dissidents.  As the president spoke, shells rained on the anti-government bastion of Homs, the LCC said. Thirty-seven people were killed Sunday in Syria, five of them children, the group said.

Ron Paul: the incredible shrinking candidate

At the risk of annoying supporters of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who believe and argue fervently  that the mainstream news media don't pay attention to their candidate, it must be noted that Twitter and Facebook don't, either. 

Accusations that news organizations are ignoring Paul's presidential campaign are an organizing principle of his supporters, who take to Facebook and Twitter to complain that the only reason Paul isn't leading is a "media blackout." 

In fact, Paul's rally was covered by the major St. Louis media  but never mind that perception matters in politics. And the perception in some quarters is that the media are actively trying to sink Paul's campaign.  Pauls best political move right now would be to continue with the race but ask Rommney for Vice Presidency if he wins.

Despite lagging, Newt Gingrich argues the nation needs a visionary

Newt Gingrich is still out there fighting for the Republican presidential nomination, invoking the Bible and Abraham Lincoln as he pushes the idea that America badly needs "a visionary conservative."
"I've stayed in the race because I think Proverbs is right," he told an appreciative audience at Judson University. "It warns that without vision, people will perish."
Gingrich is given little chance of winning the Republican nomination, but he vows to stay in the race. He said his campaign is having a "halftime resetting of the game plan," and he plans to talk more about "big ideas" involving space, brain science, energy and other topics. He promised a much clearer definition of a visionary conservative.  In my oppinion Newt is done for the race, his best bet would be to sponser another canidate.  Asking Rick Santorum for vice president if he won would not only help Santorum because of all the Newt supporters but Newt is an intelligant guy who can make good choices.

Rick Santorum explains unemployment remark

Rick Santorum's comment on the eve of the Illinois primary that the nation's unemployment rate "doesn't matter to me" stood out.
Mitt Romney pounced on it, and Santorum admitted he wished he had a "do-over." The GOP presidential hopeful clarified his remarks Monday night during a rally in East Peoria, Ill., and again in radio and TV interviews.  Santorum's explanation for this remark was that he is focused on what causes joblessness rather than unemployment rates. In my oppinion Rick Santorum's right but needs to be more careful about what he says while being viewd by the people of the United states. Priebus said on CNN's Starting Point. He argued the election is not "what the Department of Labor says the unemployment rate is, but it's going to be about Obamacare, the debt, the deficit.

Virgina Govner Signs Bill mandating abdominal ultrasounds for women seeking abortion

Abdominal ultrasounds for women seeking abortions in Virginia will become mandatory under a bill signed into law Wednesday by the state's Republican governor, who had faced a national uproar when earlier versions of the measure had sought to make the exams medically invasive.
The law conservative Gov. Bob McDonnell signed requires all Virginia abortion providers to comply starting July 1 or pay a $2,500 fine for each violation. Patients living within 100 miles of the clinic where the abortion is performed must wait 24 hours after the ultrasound examination before having an abortion.  My oppinion on this is that all Women should have the right to know all  available medical and legal information surrounding the abortion decision before giving legally effective informed consent.  Who knows this could mean the decision between someones life and someones death.

Mississippi governor endorses Romney

Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney picked up the key endorsement of Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, days ahead of a primary in the conservative southern state.

Bryant said on Thursday he thought Romney had the best chance of beating President Barack Obama in November's general election and believes the multimillionaire former businessman can "turn America around to get back on the right track."

In a radio interview in neighboring Alabama, which like Mississippi holds its primary on Tuesday, Romney, a former governor of liberal Massachusetts, said he considers the votes in the conservative south to be an away game.  I believe this to be true in the race against president Obama. Newt has already made to many enemy's, although i am not doubting that he is a strong leader.  Obama has had his chance to prove himself but in my opinion has not came through.  I believe it is time to give someone else a chance, and with these endorsements Romney might just be able to accomplish that.

UK Lawmakers Call For Government Reaction To Jay Leno Joke

Not to long ago Jay Leno made a joke against Mitt Romney that has created  a lawsuit, formal complaints, hurt feelings, an avalanche of commentary and, today, a motion in the British Parliament. Last week, Leno performed a Tonight Show bit that showed a photo of a building cited as “Mitt Romney’s summer home.” In reality, it was an image of the Sikh holy shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. On Tuesday, Leno and NBC were sued for libel in California over the matter, and now British Labour Party lawmakers Virendra Shrama and John McDonnell are seeking an apology from Leno and NBC to all Sikhs “for this disrespectful depiction of the Golden Temple.” The MPs are also calling for Prime Minister David Cameron’s government to “make representations to the U.S. government that while recognising principles of freedom of speech there should be more understanding and respect shown to the Sikh faith.” The full motion:  I feel this could hurt Mitt Romney's campaign because people will see that his party is making a big deal about this which makes him seem even more out of touch with the average american.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/uk-lawmakers-call-for-government-reaction-to-jay-leno-joke/

Romney races ahead in latest Fla. poll

A new poll out today places the former Bay State governor atop the GOP field with a big debate tonight (8 p.m. on CNN from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville). The Florida primary is Tuesday.  Although newts Triumphent victory in SC. i believe this will be the make it or break it between the two.  “As GOP voters search for the candidate best equipped to defeat President Obama, perceptions of Romney’s electability have risen since earlier in the week,”  I believe out of the two rommney has a much better chance in beating obama.  I feel that Newts past is going to make most Americans feel that he is not trust worthy.  If I had to choose out of the two canidates i would pick Rommney.  Some might argue that Rommney's out of touch with the average american, which I can see why they might think that, nevertheless I would choose Rommney over Newt.
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20220126romney_races_ahead_in_latest_fla_poll/srvc=home&position=1

Somali Government Backs US Hostage Rescue

The Somali government says it supports the U.S. military operation that freed two Western aid workers who had been held hostage in the war-ravaged country.  statement released Thursday, Somalia's transitional government said the rescue of Jessica Buchanan, an American, and Poul Thisted, a Dane, was a "great joy" to "right-thinking people everywhere."  The Somali government praised the operation, saying that "hitting them hard" is the only language that kidnappers, pirates, and terrorists understand.  The Somali government said its people "could have no better friends," and praised Buchanan and Thisted for "risking their lives" to help make the country safe for children.  I feel the Somalia government has no  choice but  to praise the united states, because their crime rate is such a problem. 


http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/east/Somali-Government-Backs-US-Hostage-Rescue-138126058.html