This week I will keep the commentary light, just like the trading volume has been.  Also, I put together a list of posts that I found interesting. 

Quantitative Easing:  Now that the Fed has effectively cut the target lending rate to zero, it only has one more weapon in its arsenal – Quantitative Easing. Here is an easily understood video explaining this.

Quantitative easing from Marketplace on Vimeo.

Here are a few of the posts I found interesting this week:

• For stores, a very un-merry Christmas. (CNN)
• Amazon had a happy holiday season. (BizJournals.com) and TechCrunch)
• Turn-about is fair play; Russian Professor Predicts End of USA (WSJ)
• Oil jumps above $39 as Israel-Gaza conflict widens. (Marketplace)
• Out With the Old, because Creative Destruction made it obsolete. (Lindzon)

And, a little bit extra:

• Is this the next hot item?  Burger King Cologne Sold-Out. (Reuters)
• Are computer operating systems becoming extinct? (InfoWorld)
• Do you still read books?  Electronic Book Readers are getting more popular. (NYTimes)
• This is Shaquille O'Neal; This is the Real Shaquille O'Neal on Twitter.  (NYTimes and Twitter)
• Will Cow Flatulence Be Taxed to Combat Global Warming? (TheWeek)
• Bronx Mowgli Wentz, a name for a rock star or senator? (Fox)