SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:35 P.M. ET: 

CONVENIENT – From CNN:  "Faraj al-Shibli, who was suspected of involvement in the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, has been found dead, a Libyan source and locals in the town of Marj said.  Al-Shibli, whose name is also spelled Chalabi, was last seen being detained by local militia in Marj two days ago, a Libyan source said."  Dead men tell no tales and reveal no secrets.

GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR LIGHT JUMPERS – From the Washington Times:  "Four out of five illegal immigrants seeking driver’s licenses under a new D.C. law have failed a written knowledge test — a rocky start to a program that in its first two months has issued 268 licenses, according to city officials.
The failure rate of 80 percent compares with a 58 percent failure rate for people seeking traditional driver’s licenses, the Department of Motor Vehicles told a D.C. Council committee."  Outrageous that we should test them at all.  Who are we to question other cultures' ideas about driving?

NEWS FROM THE HALLS OF PATRIOTISM – From The Blaze:  "It turns out that a movie called 'Captain America: The First Avenger' wouldn’t go over big in international markets, and thus Paramount Pictures and Marvel Comics have decided to alter the movie’s title to just 'The First Avenger' in countries such as Russia, Ukraine and South Korea to try and sell more tickets, the LA Times reports."  Obama is still disappointed.  He wanted it to be called "The First Surrender."

MORE WONDERS OF OUR NATION'S CAPITAL:  From the Washington Examiner:  "Washingtonians are the most politically active in the nation, eager to vote and trusting of the media, but are downright deadbeats when it comes to engaging with neighbors right next door, according to a new city 'health index.'  The 'District of Columbia Civic Health Index' released by Serve DC, the mayor's Office on Volunteerism, and the National Conference on Citizenship, found that Washington ranked first in voter turnout in the 2012 election of all 50 states and tops in trusting the media, but dead last in trusting 'all or most neighbors' or eating dinner with family members.  'As compared to the rest of the country, D.C is the most politically active, but also the most socially disconnected place in the country,' said Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of the National Conference on Citizenship."   When you start trusting The New York Times more than your neighbors, you've got a big problem.

July 14, 2014