SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:18 P.M. ET: 

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? – FROM NJ.COM:   Jersey City-based Goya has pulled its sponsorship of the New York City Puerto Rican Day Parade, the Associated Press reported.  The largest Hispanic business in the United States, Goya has sponsored the parade every year of its 60-year existence. Parade organizers told the Associated Press that Goya's decision will jeopardize the 100 college scholarships the parade provides.  Other sponsors for the parade include AT&T, Coca Cola and the New York Yankees.  This year, the June 11 parade is honoring Oscar Lopez Rivera, a convicted terrorist whose group, the Armed Forces of National Liberation, or FALN, claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings across New York, Chicago, Washington and Puerto Rico in the 1970s and early 1980s.  His sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama before he left office. Parade organizers told the AP that they do not condone violence.   Hooray for Goya..  Thumbs down to the "parade organizers," who obviously have been influenced by some very bad elements. 

A NEW FORM OF RECOGNITION – FROM, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, COCA-COLA:   It should come as no surprise that iconic investor Warren Buffett is one of the world’s best-known fans of Cherry Coca-Cola. At almost every public appearance for a generation, Buffett has been seen taking a swig of his favorite drink.  What may come as a surprise is that Buffett’s likeness is gracing the front of Cherry Coke cans in China to promote the drink’s official Chinese launch.  “Chinese consumers love new flavors and crave excitement from brands like ours as we launch new products,” said Shelly Lin, Coca-Cola China’s Marketing Director for Trademark Coca-Cola. “As we thought of the most creative ways to bring the great taste of Cherry Coke to China, we thought who better to celebrate the launch of this special drink than its best-known fan.  “We honestly were surprised when Mr. Buffett agreed to the idea. But we’re thrilled, and he’s selling well,” Lin continued.  Hillary must be going crazy.  And Barack.  Those two will figure out a way to get on those Coke cans.  And they'll charge for it.

TRULY OUR BEST FRIENDS – FROM THE TELEGRAPH:   Dogs have a surprising ability to make humans understand what their barks and growls mean, a study has shown.  Women were better than men at recognising when a dog was being playful or threatening, or feeling fear, scientists discovered.  For the study, 40 volunteers listened to different growls recorded from 18 dogs that were guarding their food, facing a threatening stranger, or playing a tug-of-war game.  Overall, participants correctly classified 63 per cent of the growl samples - significantly more than would be expected by guesswork alone, said the researchers.  Each growl type was also recognised above chance level.   And I personally can identify many of the growls of Democrats.

May 17, 2017