SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:53 P.M. ET:

NEW YORK, NY – Bill DeBlasio was sworn in as mayor of New York City today.  He made clear that he is going all-in for "progressivism," whatever that means this week.  The ceremony was reasonable, but marred by several bad-taste eruptions.  American-hater Harry Belafonte informed us that New York has more people in jail than any other city because of "misuse of race."  Oh.  And a black minister, getting his 10 minutes of fame, referred to New York as "a plantation."   What civic pride.  Look, we'll see how the new mayor does.  We call 'em as we see 'em here.  If he gets a base hit, that's how we'll call it.

THE END OF CIVILIZATION – From London's Daily Mail:  "Chicken has officially overtaken beef as the most popular meat product being consumed in the U.S. and the trend looks likely to continue in 2014.
While the per capita consumption of beef has dropped from a peak of 90lbs per capita in the 1970s to 50 lbs in 2012, chicken consumption has gone the other way rising from under 20 lbs in 1960 to about 55 lbs in 2012.   Americans now eat less beef then we did in 1955, but is the change a result of a healthier diet or because people are choosing the cheaper option?"  I will stand for the hamburger, no matter what the cost.

WOULD YOU TRUST A COUNTRY TO THESE BOYS? – From AP:  "PRAGUE (AP) — The Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic died Wednesday in a blast that occurred when he opened an old safe that had been left untouched for more than 20 years, officials said...Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said no foul play was suspected..."  Uh, wait a sec.  No foul play?  What made the safe explode?  What was put in it 20 years ago?  Courteous people leave notes about things like that.  Our condolences to the ambassador's family.  I'd sue.

January 1, 2014