SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:48 P.M. ET:

AND AGAIN – Apparent new terror attack.  From CNN:   Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) A university in the northwest of Pakistan has come under attack by armed militants, and at least seven people have been killed, with a further 20 injured, an official told CNN. It's not yet clear how many of the dead are attackers and how many are civilians but the death toll is expected to rise.  Gunfire and explosions were heard Wednesday morning local time from within Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, northwestern Pakistan.  There are still dead inside and the operation is ongoing, Bilal Faizi, a local emergency service spokesman told CNN.  The relentlessness of terror attacks is remarkable.  It seems there's one every few days.  We have a right to be alarmed, despite Obama's smug assurances that this is a small problem.  Not small for those involved.

WILL IT MATTER? –  As the whole political world knows, Sarah Palin just endorsed Donald Trump.  Palin is still a political force among evangelicals in Iowa, and it's possible her endorsement may have some meaning in that state.  Iowa will be the first state to vote.  Its caucuses are scheduled for February 1st, with Trump and Cruz neck-and-neck in most Iowa polls.  Trump is ahead in the New Hampshire primary to follow Iowa.  The key test, and a test of Palin's influence, may well come in the South Carolina primary on February 20th, where Trump, and his booster Palin, will be up against the formidable opposition of Republican Governor Nikki Haley, who has made clear her dislike of Trump.  There could be sparks. 

THE END OF HUMANITY? – From London's Daily Mail:   It won't be war, politics or poverty that eventually wipes out humanity.  According to Seth Shostak, our end will come about as a result of designer babies and artificial intelligence.  The outspoken director of the Search for extraterrestrial intelligence (Seti) Institute believes developments in these areas will lead to new 'alien' species.  We already have alien species.  Hasn't this guy ever seen a Democratic Party convention?

ROGER WHO? – From The Wrap:   Michael Moore plans to join the boycott of this year’s Academy Awards organized by Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith, the Oscar-winning filmmaker told TheWrap on Monday night.  “I absolutely support what they are doing, and I will be happy to join them,” the “Bowling for Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 9/11” director said in a passionate late-night phone call. “I thought about this all day, and I don’t plan to go to the show, I don’t plan to watch it and I don’t plan to go to an Oscar party."  I'm sure he'll be deeply missed, if anyone remembers who he is.

January 19, 2016