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

MAJOR EDUCATION NEWS – FROM COLLEGE FIX:  The average college experience is full of uncomfortable situations, but Kentucky State University is taking a brave stand against it.  The taxpayer-funded institution includes “embarrassment” on a list of punishable “offenses against persons” in its student code of conduct, flagged this week by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.  It puts embarrassment in the same league as sexual assault, stalking, physical abuse and coercion.  Students suspected of this code violation will be investigated by the Office of Student Affairs and held “accountable for their behavior in a fair, yet developmental manner,” the code promises.  The university will take “necessary and appropriate action” to protect students from this offense, including deploying campus police to respond to off-campus accusations of causing embarrassment.  So if a student yells, "I'm embarrassed," another student can receive the death sentence?  Explain that to me.

WILL THE DEMS LET HIM LIVE? – FROM DAILYWIRE.COM:  A Democratic candidate running in Pennsylvania's upcoming special election is cautioning people that calling for more gun control in the wake of the recent shooting in Florida is not the answer to reducing the number of mass shootings in the United States.  Democrat Conor Lamb insists that the best way to prevent mass shootings is to enforce the laws that already exist and not enact more gun control laws.  Smart guy.  He may win.  The Dems are boasting about some recent victories around the country, but, if you look carefully, you'll see that the Dems who actually get elected are moderate and mainstream, not the denizens of the fringe left.

THIS REVERSES A STORY WE REPORTED EARLIER – FROM USA TODAY:  PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — After agreeing to an offer to work for NBC, Adam Rippon decided overnight that he would rather remain as an Olympian and has declined.  When Rippon and his team realized he would have to relinquish his official Olympic standing, give up his Olympic credential, move out of Team USA Housing and not be allowed to march in the closing ceremony, he changed his mind and turned down NBC. “I am so flattered that NBC wanted me to work as a correspondent, but if I took this opportunity, I would have to leave the Olympic team and I would have to leave the (Olympic) Village," Rippon said on NBCSN. "It’s so important to me, you know, I worked so hard to be on this Olympic team, and my teammates and my friends were there for me during my events, and that meant so much to me, that I really feel like I need to be there for them during their events."  Okay, a decent decision.  It also lifts the embarrassment that NBC should have felt in bringing on board an athlete it supposedly was covering in a neutral manner only a day earlier. 

February 18, 2018