SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:53 P.M. ET: 

IT'S COME TO THIS – FROM FOX:   A Pennsylvania gym is concerned that cardio isn’t the only thing affecting members’ blood pressure.  The Greater Scranton YMCA voted to ban 24-hour cable news channels from its facility, citing safety concerns, WBRE reported.  The board of directors wrote to members in a letter that stations such as CNN, MSNBC and Fox News have “raised concerns about the safety, both physically and emotionally, of our members.”  Members said the ban came after some political discussions in the locker room turned contentious.  “I understand why they did it because there was a lot of controversy with a lot of people talking and arguing,” member Susan Dimmick told WBRE. “There was a lot of arguing going on, but I don’t think it was right.”  Well, at least people feel passionate about their country.

IVANKA TRIUMPHS – FROM THE HILL:   Ivanka Trump’s eponymous women’s fashion line is reporting record sales figures despite calls for a boycott and controversies surrounding President Trump.  “Since the beginning of February, they were some of the best performing weeks in the history of the brand,” Abigail Klem, the president of the Ivanka Trump fashion brand, tells Refinery29 in an interview published Tuesday. “For several different retailers Ivanka Trump was a top performer online, and in some of the categories it was the [brand’s] best performance ever.”  Good.  I like to see ridiculous boycotts defeated.

RIDICULOUS – FROM THE HILL:   All schools in Prince George’s County in Maryland outside of Washington, D.C., will be closed to students on Wednesday for “A Day Without a Woman” after more than 1,000 teachers asked to take the day off.  The school district made the announcement one day after the school system in Alexandria, Va. said it would close for the strike as well.  The protest, organized by the group that planned the Women’s March in Washington, is scheduled for March 8, International Women’s Day.
The group planning the strike have suggested a variety of ways to participate, including taking the day off. Other ideas include spending money only at businesses owned by women and minorities or wearing red in support.  What an outrage.  I wonder how all the single working moms will provide day care for their kids, and who pays for it.  I'm sure many of the "protesters" will be found in front of TV's watching soap operas.

March 7,  2017