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

MELANIA SOARS – FROM CNN:   Washington (CNN) The more Americans learn about first lady Melania Trump, the more they like her.  Her favorability rating is up 16 points since her husband was sworn-in as President, according to a CNN/ORC poll released Wednesday in CNN's COVER/LINE newsletter.
Full poll results:  About 52% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Melania Trump, an increase from 36% pre-inauguration. In February 2016, the former model's favorable rating was a paltry 24%, her unfavorable was 31% and 23% had never even heard of her. Now, just 3% say they don't know who the first lady is, and her unfavorable rate has held steady at 32%.  Most of the recent uptick in favorable results are due to those undecided Americans, or those who had yet to form an opinion. Pre-inauguration, 23% had no opinion about the first lady, compared with 12% now.  She has conducted herself with class and style.  I hope her rating goes higher.

KNOW YOUR VOTERS – FROM SEVEN DAYS:   Rutland Mayor Chris Louras, who endured months of withering criticism for his plan to bring Syrian refugees to the city, lost his reelection bid on Tuesday.  In unofficial voting results, David Allaire, a city alderman and leading critic of the resettlement, trounced Louras, a 10-year mayoral incumbent, by a 776-vote margin, according to results cited by the Rutland Herald and WCAX-TV.  "I'm simply wishing him luck and I'm moving on," Louras told Seven Days Tuesday night. He declined further comment, saying he would "not hazard a guess" as to what the election results say about Rutland's support for refugees.  Allaire did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.  We are a nation of immigrants, but that does not mean we must support every nut-brained immigration proposal put forward by the liberal chic crowd.  Rutland sent a message.

IN CASE WE RUN OUT ON EARTH – FROM PHYS.ORG:   The International Potato Center (CIP) launched a series of experiments to discover if potatoes can grow under Mars atmospheric conditions and thereby prove they are also able to grow in extreme climates on Earth. This Phase Two effort of CIP's proof of concept experiment to grow potatoes in simulated Martian conditions began on February 14, 2016 when a tuber was planted in a specially constructed CubeSat contained environment built by engineers from University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Lima based upon designs and advice provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Ames Research Center (NASA ARC), California. Preliminary results are positive.  I have personally put in an order for the first French fries to be made on Mars.  I'll bring my own burger.

March 8,  2017