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

RIDICULOUS – Have you been following in the latest madness about the Trump administration?  Seems some intelligence types are charging anonymously, through the Washington Post, that President Trump revealed classified information to Russian officials in an Oval Office meeting.  None of the "sources" apparently was at the meeting.  No proof is offered, and no names of accusers are revealed.  The "revelation" comes just days before Trump leaves for a critical foreign trip.  Those at the meeting have hotly denied the charge.  Stay tuned for more.  This looks more like a political hit than a serious accusation, but of course I could be wrong.

MAJOR IMMATURITY NEWS – FROM COLLEGE FIX:  Some minority students at the University of Michigan have apparently felt intimidated by the interior wood paneling found throughout the historic Michigan Union building.  Anna Wibbelman, former president of Building a Better Michigan, an organization that voices student concerns about university development, stated at a student government meeting in late March that “minority students felt marginalized by quiet, imposing masculine paneling” found throughout the 100-year-old building, the meeting’s minutes state.   How could we inflicted such hurt?  Didn't we know that masculine paneling was a threat to civilization?  I feel our shame.

PHYSICIAN BURNOUT – AND IT'S SERIOUS – FROM CBS NEWS:  If you've ever worried that your doctor seems burned out on the job, you may be right. Physicians are busier than ever, and hospitals are worried that as their staff gets overwhelmed, the quality of care goes down and medical errors go up.  A study at the Mayo Clinic found that more than half of American doctors have been in the same boat — exhausted and losing their sense of purpose.  This is a serious issue.  I've heard it from physicians.  It deserves much more attention than it's getting, but I doubt if the news practitioners are interested.  Who would want to have surgery performed by an exhausted doctor?

May 15, 2017