News for Week Ending Friday, Mar 30, 2018

1.   According to the L.A. Times, it now costs more to house a prisoner for one year than it does to send someone to Harvard.   ***   Prison officials haven’t released details of their new cost savings plan, but sources say that at future Harvard commencements a lot of caps and gowns are going to be orange.

2.   Walmart has announced it will no longer display Cosmopolitan magazine at its checkout lines.   ***   Too many women were getting depressed after grabbing a Cosmo and taking one of the quizzes.

3.   The owner of a pet shelter in the U.K. says the reason people don’t want to adopt black cats is that they don’t photograph well in selfies.   ***  How sad to rule out a cat just because of how it will look in selfies! The only place where that should even be a factor is Match.com.

4.   A year and a half after splitting with Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt is reportedly spending more time out in public and has begun casual dating.   ***   In Hollywood, “casual dating”” is when you sleep with someone but don’t bother to ask them their name.

5.   The company that makes Snuggies, those weird blankets with sleeves, has been accused of deceptive TV offers which result in confused buyers paying much more than expected.   ***   So, it’s a double whammy for many elderly customers who end up looking foolish when they order their Snuggies…and then again when they wear them.

6.   On this date in history:  Mar 30, 1858 – Hyman Lipman of Philadelphia patents a “pencil with an attached eraser.”   ***   However, competitors were able to get around his patent by advertising “erasers with attached pencils.”

7.   On this date in history:  Mar 29, 1959 – "Some Like it Hot" with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon premieres.   ***   I believe it was a Republican documentary about climate change.

8.   On this date in history:  Mar 28, 1794 – The Louvre with its priceless artwork opens to the public.   ***   Security guards were on the lookout for people who tried to bring in sharp objects, suspicious packages or children with crayons.

9.   On this date in history:  Mar 27, 1931 – Charlie Chaplin receives France's distinguished Legion of Honor.  ***   The recognition is typically given to the French military, entertainers and anyone else who can make people laugh.

10.  On this date in history:  Mar 26, 1934 – Driving tests are introduced in Britain.  ***   Apparently the British examiners didn’t deduct points for driving on the wrong side of the road.