1 IS THIS THING ON? No it’s not. The U.S. government is still most definitely off. Which means that reports on the economy aren’t being issued, garbage is piling up, air and water quality isn’t being monitored and monuments are closed. Actually, just go to the BBC’s comprehensive overview of what is and isn’t fucked. Apparently some Republicans are worried this could hurt their insane little tea party. Little late for that. At least the Republican House leader says he doesn’t plan to let his wingnut caucus default on the country’s debt.
2 COLD AND SNOW Temperatures are dropping and snow-management plans are being discussed.
3 ROB FORD WON’T ANSWER THE QUESTION Is he concerned that his friend and driver was arrested this week on drug charges? Who knows, he won’t answer the question. What a human disaster. UPDATE 3:46 P.M.: Actually, Ford did answer questions about Alessandro Lisi earlier this week. I mean, I don’t know if I’d say he answered them well, but he did answer ’em. Sorry to have missed this earlier. Bad Steve.
4 IS A HIGH-RISK SEX OFFENDER LURKING IN WEST-CENTRAL SASK? Maybe.
5 PIPELINE WORKERS UNEARTH DINOSAUR Oh the irony. More here.
6 THERE’S A WICKED AWESOME BULL SNAKE FOR SALE ON KIJIJI Someone buy her for me, please. Actually, I probably have enough snakes. Still. What a beauty.
THE SIMMMMMPSONNNS The annual Treehouse of Horror episode is on this weekend, and the epic opening is online. It’s directed by Guillermo del Toro! He should make a damn Cthulu movie already.