Happy Tuesday, or as we say here in New Jersey, "Brrrrrrrr."
The catchy buzz phrase "Polar vortex" already has embedded itself in the public consciousness courtesy of some revisionist climate-changers. Thanks bartender, and make mine a double. (Christian Science Monitor)
Janet Yellen is the new head of the Federal Reserve and its first female chair. She gets about three minutes to celebrate. (Wonkblog)
Because being a media critic is all in a day's work for a high-ranking congressman, Henry Waxman is putting Tribune on notice not to wreck the Los Angeles Times. (Politico)
Score yet another win for austerity: Irish debt yields hit eight-year low; buyers go wild at auction. (Reuters)
They're squaring off in Washington again Tuesday to decide who should pay the price for the long-term unemployment epidemic. (Town Hall)
And, finally … you can add another chapter to the "we've seen how this movie ends" saga: Bad loans are posing a big threat to China this year. CNBC.com's Dhara Ranasinghe explains.
—By CNBC's Jeff Cox. Follow him on Twitter @JeffCoxCNBCcom.