SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:51 P.M. ET: 

GOOD TASTE – IVANKA IS A HIT ON SAUDI TWITTER – FROM LONDON'S EXPRESS:  One fan took it a step further reportedly asking for her hand in marriage over the social media site.   In a video posted on Twitter, the Saudi resident is believed to address King Salman and ask for Ivanka's hand in marriage.   Wearing traditional clothing, Alalam news outlet reports the man introduces himself as Badr bin Fahd and proposes to Donald's daughter - unfortunately mispronouncing her name at the same time. 
Badr says, in Arabic: "I ask our king, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for the daughter of US President Trump, Evikana's hand in marriage."  She's already married, of course, but the flattery is, I'm sure, appreciated.

A QUARTER CENTURY – It was 25 years ago tonight that Johnny Carson hosted his last "Tonight Show."  As readers know, I was a talent coordinator for Carson during part of his remarkable 30-year run on NBC.  He still reigns, in my view, as the king of late night.  He was genuinely funny, had the best guests, and never tried to sell the audience a political line.  He always stressed to us that "Tonight" was a variety show, not a talk show.  It's sad that millions of young people never had the pleasure to see him, and that millions more have probably never heard of him.  I was lucky to learn from him, and I learned a great deal.

HYPOCRISY – FROM AFP:  Havana (AFP) - Cuba's first ultra luxury hotel opened its doors Monday in Havana, with guests paying up to $2,500 a night to stay in five-star comfort on the Communist island.  The "Gran Hotel Manzana," part of the Swiss group Kempinski Hotels, is situated in the heart of the Cuban capital in front of the verdant gardens of Parque Central and the grand Alicia Alonso theater, home to the Cuban National Ballet.  Guests in each of the hotel's 246 rooms, 50 of which are suites, have the pick of four bars and two restaurants and can take a swim in the rooftop infinity pool.  The European-style building first opened in 1917, before undergoing a complete renovation.  I'm sure it will attract many high-income tourists who love to rub shoulders with genuine leftists.  Makes great dinner conversation on Manhattan's west side. 

May 22, 2017