The Morning Briefing - November 30, 2015
NEAR THE MALL - For those who thought it was a fine idea to hit a mall this weekend, they quickly learned the marketing gurus were successful: whipping shoppers into the intended frenzy, filling every parking space. Even as everyone took advantage of "one-day" sales that will somehow linger through February, shopping experts say Black Friday surprisingly didn't make its numbers; not enough people emptied their wallets at check-out. The culprit is online retail, which took easy advantage of all those folks sitting at home, in their pajamas and bunny slippers, and shopping at their leisure - without the need to run over grandma to secure the last parking spot. With "Cyber Monday" here today, and a record of $3 billion in anticipated sales, expect online retail to snag even more market share from those already tired of the holiday rush.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL - Over the holiday break, we got to watch plenty of TV. And what we saw was a huge focus on millennials. The trend is obvious with the Presidential candidates, whose strategies now feature emojis, photo filters, pop culture references and, for some reason, bacon. Unclear what it says for society when Ben Carson does a rap ad for radio, when Ted Cruz goes shirtless, when John Kasich makes a bacon Snapchat geofilter, or when Jeb Bush tweets about Star Wars. They are certainly getting attention - perhaps for the wrong reasons.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL - Every four years, the Union Leader of Manchester, N.H. runs an editorial that politicos nationwide actually read. And that editorial is music to the ears of Gov. Chris Christie, as the newspaper has endorsed our governor for the Republican nomination. The reasoning is national security, with the raging, rabid radicals, and Christie showing some teeth when it comes to battling ISIS. "As a U.S. attorney and then a big-state governor, he is the one candidate who has the range and type of experience the nation desperately needs," Publisher Joseph McQuaid wrote. Expect Christie to be skipping in his tasseled loafers as he returns to New Hampshire today.
NEW BRUNSWICK - With Rutgers students returning to the banks and gearing up for the academic rigor of final exams, you can assume the university's focus: Finding the next head football coach. With Rutgers mercifully sending Kyle Flood to pasture, rumors are swirling about who will be the next sacrificial lamb to run the football program. Will the university pony up millions of dollars to score a coach who can make a difference (Google "Michigan" and "Jim Harbaugh"), or will the "calculated risk" breed another coach who flails around the Big 10?
WEST LONG BRANCH - We've rarely gotten excited about Monmouth University basketball. Actually, that is a lie. We have never gotten excited about Monmouth University basketball. But this early season has sprinkled some magic on this colorful team, beating the likes of Notre Dame, UCLA and now, with yesterday's 83-73 win, toppling USC. It's a long season; small schools often collapse. But scrappy Monmouth is capturing our attention - just like the eight-man Hickory Huskers. See yesterday's highlights here.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
FRESNO, CA. - It is a little early for Santa Claus, so there goes the alibi for the suspected burglar who got stuck in a chimney. The homeowner from the rural town of Huron knew something was up when he lit a fire in his fireplace on Saturday. Someone started yelling from inside his wall, prompting a call to cops and firefighters, who broke through the chimney to get the guy out.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
While it would seem the fax was the big technology of the 1980s, it was nothing to be excited about. It was on this day in 1924 that the first fax was transmitted by radio waves, from New York to London. And, no, it was not lunch specials from the local coffee shop.
WORD OF THE DAY
Lackadaisical - lakəˈdāzək(ə)l - adjective
Definition: Lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.
Example: Can we assume the first Monday after Thanksgiving breeds a lackadaisical workplace?