SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET: 

BE CAREFUL WITH THIS – FROM FOX:   Two gunmen stormed an Islamic center in Quebec City and opened fire killing at least five people Sunday, the president of the facility said...Two suspects in the shooting were arrested, Quebec City police spokesman Constable Pierre Poirier said...According to the Le Soleil newspaper, one of the arrested suspects was 27 years old and had a “Quebecois name.” The paper also reported that one of the suspects was armed with an AK-47...One witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Radio Canada, a Canadian Broadcasting Company French-speaking outlet, that the two gunmen were masked.  “It seemed to me that they had a Quebecois accent. They started to fire, and as they shot they yelled, 'Allahu akbar!'   Already the usual suspects are screaming "Islamophobia," but it appears from first reports that the gunmen may well have been Muslims.  The police have not yet released descriptions of the suspects.  When police delay that kind of information, it often means that the story doesn't fit the politically correct narrative.  Beware the cover-up.

MAJOR LANGUAGE WARNING – FROM BRITAIN'S TELEGRAPH:   The British Medical Association has said pregnant women should not be called "expectant mothers" as it could offend transgender people.  Instead, they should call them "pregnant people" so as not to upset intersex and transgender men, the union has said.  The advice comes in an internal document to staff outlining a raft of common phrases that should be avoided for fear of causing offence.  A large majority of people that have been pregnant or have given birth identify as women. We can include intersex men and transmen who may get pregnant by saying 'pregnant people' instead of 'expectant mothers'.  Sorry, I refuse.

ROYAL DRAMA – FROM THE DAILY MAIL:   Donald Trump’s forthcoming State visit to Britain was hit by a diplomatic row last night after it emerged he wants to avoid Prince Charles because of their dispute over global warming.  The President is understood to have made it clear he does not want talks with the Prince at Clarence House, a regular feature of such visits. Trump is said to fear a meeting will encourage environmentalists to stage protests against him.  Reports of Trump’s threatened boycott of the Prince come a week after the publication of a new book by the heir to the throne warning of the threat posed by climate change.  I think Trump should see the prince, and just talk about "Downton Abbey."  Maybe the president can bring DVD's.  And invite Lady Mary.  And Trump could offer a bust of himself to be placed in Buckingham Palace.  If the prince brings up global warming, Trump could just start a chorus of "Baby, it's Cold Outside," and leave.

January 29, 2017