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

THEY MUST BE SHATTERED – FROM COLLEGE FIX:   As the federal government is in the midst of a partial shutdown, Georgetown University wants any affected staff and students to know they can take advantage of campus counseling services.  As of Saturday, approximately one-quarter of the federal government closed down as negotiations between Republicans and Democrats did not produce a funding agreement. The main issue is construction of a wall on border between the US and Mexico.  The shutdown could persist into the new year.  In an email obtained by The College Fix, GU Associate Vice President for Federal Government Relations Katy Button reminded the campus community that the university’s Faculty & Staff Assistance Program includes “free [and] confidential counseling,” and is available to those impacted by the federal closures.  I'm sure the little angels will be told that the shutdown is the result of white supremacy.

WHEN IT ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HAS NO CHANCE OF BEING THERE OVERNIGHT – FROM THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS:   Employees at a FedEx Ground facility in Hutchins were arrested this week after two package handlers were accused of stealing nearly $50,000 in cellphones and paying a manager and security guard to ignore the crimes.  Officers were called to the company Wednesday night after a manager said he wanted to monitor two employees he suspected of stealing items shipped through FedEx, according to warrants.  The employees, 47-year-old Larry Poole and 58-year-old Wade Hal, were expected to arrive at the facility at 11 p.m. When they arrived, the manager and a team of security guards watched through a security camera as the duo unloaded trailers at the business, the warrants state.
Poole and Hal removed phones from packages that were shipped to the facility and placed them in two backpacks, according to the warrants.  The duo was suspected of paying a manager, 31-year-old Anthony Edison, and a security guard, 33-year-old Ricky Lacy, to "turn their face the other way" during the crime, the documents state.  Officers confronted Poole and Hal and discovered they had 94 cellphones and an Apple Watch, according to the warrants. The items were valued at $48,390.  Not too smart.  How long did these clowns think they could do this without people realizing that iPhones were missing?  Probably the most noticeable, and desired, item in most shipments today.

INCREDIBLE TRAVEL – FROM QZ.COM:   Qantas Airways, the flag carrier of Australia, is looking to launch what would be the world’s longest flight by 2022. The proposed Sydney-to-London route would take 20 hours and 22 minutes.  The airline has a business plan, but no plane to fly it. Qantas has requested proposals from Boeing and Airbus for airplanes and configurations that could operate the trip. The plane makers would likely need to shave weight to provide a solution. That means fewer passengers and less cargo, but more legroom and possibly even lounges or gyms on board.  The route would shorten the flight time between Sydney and London by 3 hours and 45 minutes before as well, of course, any layovers and time needed to make connections.  Lounges?  Gyms?  Oh, just get some new ocean liners and give yourself some real travel time.

December 23, 2018