SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:10 P.M. ET:

DOES HE HAVE A HEADACHE TOO? – It is announced from the office of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois that the legislator is in rehab for what the office describes as a "mood disorder."  Apparently this advanced medical treatment is occurring in Arizona.  But wait.  Who's paying for this?  I doubt if Jackson is writing his own checks, not with that rich congressional medical plan.  So, if I'm in a bad mood, can I get treatment and charge it to Medicare?  What if I thought a new car would help?  Covered by Obamacare under "mood disorders"?  Nice little red Corvette?  Great for the mood.  Just asking.

THE WIDOW ARAFAT SURFACES – I guess her yearly allowance from the Palestinian Authority, said to be in the millions, isn't enough.  Suha Arafat, eight years after her husband's timely demise, is now asking for a French investigation into the circumstances.  I guess up to now she's been too busy giving away his suits and pistols.  In the last week there have also been calls for the Arab League to investigate, and the PA has approved exhuming Arafat so tests can be performed.  French doctors had said that Arafat died of stroke.  Some claim there's evidence of poisoning.  The new investigations will result in a report, probably already written, saying that Israeli agents were involved.

THE VANISHING SOLO DOCTOR – The firm of Merritt Hawkins, which recruits physicians for hospitals and group practices, reports what we all see, that the independent medical practitioner is a fading breed.  The company predicts that by 2014, only two years away, two thirds of the nation's nearly one million doctors will be employed by hospitals.  The number of doctors employed by hospitals has doubled over the past decade.  It is simply too expensive for most doctors to operate a private practice. 

NO MORE MSNBC? – Howard Kurtz reports that NBC and Microsoft will soon part company completely, and that MSNBC will be rebranded NBC.COM.  I don't car about the Microsoft relationship, which always struck me as silly, but I think it's a big mistake for NBC to become so identified with what is now MSNBC.  While the outlet gets a reasonable audience, it is shrill, slanted, often irresponsible, and a major comedown from where NBC News used to be.  Huntley and Brinkley must be turning over in their graves.

July 11, 2012