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

TODAY – Oh, may I remind you that today is actually Lincoln's Birthday.  Our readership is knowledgeable, but I wonder how many Americans think that Lincoln and Washington were both born on President's Day, and that both were immediately rushed to a department-store sale.  In fact, Lincoln was born on this day in 1809.  George Washington was actually born on February 11, 1731, according to the Julian calendar in use at the time.  However, Britain and all its colonies later adopted the Gregorian calendar, moving Washington's birthdate to February 22, 1732.   There is talk that if Hillary is elected we will adopt the Clintonian calendar, allowing us to change our birthdates to anything we wish.  There are some who favor the Obaman calendar, allowing us to be born in any country we wish.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP – From London's Daily Mail – Dr Kevin Curran, a senior member of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers and a computer scientist at the University of Ulster, argues cloud computing has the potential to transform artificial intelligence so robots can become far more lifelike.  Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'It seems that when these machines do act in ways just like adults, where they can interact and talk in real-time, robots will become the perfect companion.  'We have got to ask ourselves will robots be re-purposed for companionship? Will humans become intimate with robots? The answer, I believe, is yes.  I want to be there when a robot files the first sexual harassment suit.

NO LOVING IN TEHRAN – From AP:   TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran says it is cracking down on Valentine's Day celebrations and shops engaging in them will be guilty of a crime.  Iranian news outlets reported the police directive Friday warning retailers against promoting "decadent Western culture through Valentine's Day rituals." Police informed Tehran's coffee and ice cream shops trade union to avoid any gatherings in which boys and girls exchange Valentine's Day gifts.  The annual Feb. 14 homage to romance, which tradition says is named after an early Christian martyr, has become popular in recent years in Iran and other Middle East countries.  I'm sure Michelle Obama is against coffee and ice cream also.  You see, we have so much in common with our dear, new Iranian friends.

BAMA LOVE – It's weird watching Bernie and Hillary slug it out over who loves Barack Obama more.  I mean, you'd think they were talking about Mr. Popularity.  In fact, Obama is quite unpopular.  So why the public love?  It's because each candidate is trying to win the large black vote in the upcoming South Carolina primary.  I wonder if the pandering is worth it.  Obama has delivered nothing to blacks except talk.  Why would black voters worry about which candidate loves him more?  It simply shows how distant the Democrats are from the public at large, and the degree to which the African-American vote has become the swing vote in the party's primaries.  Not a good picture to present in the general election campaign.

February 12, 2016