Just a quick overview:

1. House GOP Won’t Block Bill to End Shutdown (WSJ) — That’s big of them. So, after all their “we’re going to bring the world down around our own heads to make a point” theatrics, they end up with a handful of nothin’, as Dragline would say. As the WSJ also says, “Cruz Comes Up Empty-Handed.” And the NYT says, “At 11th Hour, G.O.P. Blinks in Standoff.” The WashPost says, “Measure leaves Obamacare almost completely untouched.”
2. City, sheriff, USC police, solicitor meet to discuss Five Points (thestate.com) — I don’t know what all is coming out of this meeting, but this is the biggest story going locally.
3. Reps. Kirkman Finlay, Leon Howard call for bond reform for violent crimes (thestate.com) — Related to above.
4. Lott apologizes for deputy who abused female Fort Jackson soldier (thestate.com) — Sheriff says “I wish I could strangle him.” Here’s the video of the incident.
5. Hagel apologizes to Medal of Honor recipient (WashPost) — For the failure to provide air and artillery support when Capt. Swenson and his buddies needed it.
6. Afghans Fend Off Taliban Threat in Pivotal Year (NYT) — Security forces rising to challenge, U.S. officials say.

I haven’t given you one of these in a few days, so here goes:

Here’s a quick overview:

1. After Cruz yields, Senate advances spending bill (WashPost) — And what did he accomplish? He ensured that the House will have almost no time to deal with the matter, after the Senate sends it back with Obamacare intact. That Cruz; he’s some brilliant strategist. But then, when it’s all about attracting attention to yourself, well, mission accomplished.
2. Treasury Puts a Date for When Cash May Run Out: Oct. 17 (NYT) — With only $30 billion on hand, we’ll be teetering on the edge of default.
3. Iran’s Rouhani recognises Holocaust (The Guardian) — I guess we should all celebrate the fact that Iran is now caught up with the rest of us as far as 1945…
4. South Carolina worst in country in latest domestic violence ranking (The State) — This is our third time to be the worst in the country in numbers of women killed by men.
5. J.P. Morgan Discussing Settlement of $11 Billion (WSJ) — All that money, and I can’t even remember what it is they’re supposed to have done. Does this have to do with the “whale?” I forget.
6. CCTV shows Navy Yard gunman’s attack (BBC) — There’s no actual violence shown, just this guy stalking the halls…

Just a quick look at what’s out there:

1. Rampage at Navy Yard (WashPost) — Death toll up to 13 in shooting spree, apparently including the shooter.
2. UN concludes chemical agent sarin gas used in Syria attack (The Guardian) — The UN calls it a war crime, and describes the attack in terms that make it certain that the Assad regime is responsible, but isn’t pointing fingers. Which, many will say, is just like the UN.
3. Experian doesn’t want to monitor our credit any more (thestate.com) — I suppose the job didn’t turn out to be all that lucrative.
4. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses ‘catastrophic’ threat, CDC report says (WashPost) — Scary-sounding stuff.
5. Costa Concordia freed from rocks (BBC) — That’s that shipwreck in Italy.
6. Columbia man shot protecting pit bulls (thestate.com) — I put this on the front because, while it is not literally a “man bites dog” story, it comes close.

Interesting thing about this page — the top three stories are the very different takes on the Syria story, from three major news outlets. Each is the lede story at that paper’s site. You don’t often get such widely varying, blind-men-describing-the-elephant descriptions of a major news story to this extent. But this is a particularly complex story, that’s rapidly developing in many important directions:

1. U.S. and Allies to Explore U.N. Path to Secure Chemical Arms (NYT) — So, the main thing to know is that we’re working toward consensus.
2. Syria Admits It Possesses Chemical Weapons  (WSJ) — Yeah, that would definitely be the clear lede, if all this other stuff weren’t going on. Meanwhile, you might want to read the sidebar, about how Syria views the latest diplomatic developments as a “victory.”
3. Russia balks at French plan for U.N. resolution (WashPost) — Wow. A whole other story from the other two. As I said, you don’t often see editors go in this many directions.
4. Group backing strong-mayor vote says it has the signatures (thestate.com) — I mentioned this earlier.
5. Four convicted for Delhi gang rape (BBC) — Good. Now let’s see what kind of sentence they get.
6. Apple Unveils New iPhones — One Innovative, One Cheap (NPR) — I can’t wait to see ’em. No, really — I can’t wait. Gimme. One for each hand. 🙂

Here’s what’s out there:

1. Kerry Floats a Deal on Arms, and Russia and Syria Seize It (NYT) — I kinda like the way Slate put it: Did John Kerry Just Accidentally Find a Workable Solution for Syria?
2. Egypt launches assault on militants (The Guardian) — And Israel is cheering them on…
3. Pitts named Gov. Nikki Haley’s new chief of staff (thestate.com) — I mentioned this previously. Again, congrats to Ted, and to Nikki for picking him.
4. Police chief: Zimmerman’s wife won’t press charges even though she said he threatened with gun (AP) — She might want to rethink that.
5. New Van Gogh painting identified (BBC) — The first one since 1928. Vincent just isn’t cranking ’em out the way he used to…
6. Are You Ready For Some Controversy? The History Of ‘Redskin’ (NPR) — An interesting read, to help with the mix.

It’s been a busy day, but at least I can give you one of these:

1. France Pushes G-20 Nations To Denounce Syria’s Assad (WSJ) — The Russians, of course, do everything they can to stop it.
2. In Russia, Obama lobbies Congress on Syria strike (WashPost) — Which causes me to wonder about something that is perhaps off-point: How secure are these communications from there? I’m sure POTUS uses the latest encryption and satellite uplinks, all mod cons, but Putin’s an old KGB guy…
3. US and UK spy agencies defeat privacy and security on the internet (The Guardian) — Well, I certainly hope our boffins can do that. If not, what are we paying them for? But it brings me back to my question on the previous item. If we can do this, why can’t the Russians read our most secure stuff? I don’t know…
4. Coroner: Benedict student bled to death in dorm room after delivering baby (thestate.com) — My God.
5. Columbia Chamber chief McLeese suffers heart attack — I actually haven’t seen any news accounts of this; it’s based on a release from the Greater Columbia Chamber, which says Ike will be out for 4-6 weeks. I hope he recovers quickly.
6. Strong-mayor won’t make fall ballot (The State) — Yes, this is old now, but still important enough to mention, since I haven’t before now.

Since the Dog Days are now officially over, we should be having some actual news out there…

1. House leaders back Obama on Syria strike (WashPost) — I mentioned this before, but it’s still the lede. Wouldn’t it be something if, after all my scoffing at him for taking this route, Obama was able to get unequivocal congressional approval? Remains to be seen, of course. Rank and file members will have their fingers in the wind.
2. Kerry Warns Senators of ‘Risk of Not Acting’ (NYT) — Continuing the campaign.
3. Columbia business leaders call for action on homeless (thestate.com) — This was a press conference today.
4. Morsi supporters sentenced to life (BBC) — Which I guess makes them the lucky ones, considering all the Morsi supporters who have been subjected to summary execution.
5. This was only our sixth wettest summer (thestate.com) — Seems like it was wetter than that.
6. Four arrested in Irmo meth lab bust (thestate.com) — Did you see the mugs of these guys? They were all white, but none of them looked like Walter. They’re more in the Mike Ehrmantraut mold.

A lot more news out there today than yesterday (which is why I didn’t do one yesterday):

1. ‘Bloodbath’ In Cairo As Troops Move On Morsi Supporters (NPR) — Some estimate as many as 300 killed. Veep ElBaradei steps down in protest.
2. U.S. Condemns Crackdown, but Doesn’t Alter Policy (NYT) — Kerry doesn’t indicate what we do intend to do in response.
3. Grant gets 30 years for killing Gabrielle Swainson (thestate.com) — A plea deal. Grant had nothing to say.
4. DHEC board: Templeton doing great job on TB (thestate.com) — The board that hired her. The board that was appointed by the governor. The vote of confidence was made by conference call, and we don’t know WHY they think she’s doing so well.
5. Manning ‘sorry for hurting US’ (BBC) — So, he’s on the record as acknowledging he’s not some heroic whistleblower. Good. They still need to throw the book at him.
6. Jesse Jackson Jr. sentenced to 30 months in prison for misuse of funds (WashPost) — I hadn’t really been following this. Looks like they sorted it out without me.

A quick run through the headlines:

1. Obama Proposes Overhaul Of NSA Surveillance Policy (WSJ) — Whatever. I thought it was fine the way it was.
2. Assad unhurt as rebels attack convoy (The Guardian) — Unhurt, yes — but they managed a mortar attack on the president’s convoy.
3. US student loan bill signed into law (The Guardian) — Wait a second. Are you trying to tell me that something actually got done in Washington?
4. Dominique Grant released from jail, paperwork filed to dispose of charges (WIS) — That’s the daughter of the man accused in Gabiee Swainson’s killing.
5. Why Picking Your Berries For $8,000 A Year Hurts A Lot (NPR) — Just in case you weren’t feeling guilty enough already today.
6. Naked man allegedly steals car (Aiken Standard) — OK, so if I’m reading that headline correctly, then the “naked” part wasn’t just “alleged.”

OK, some of these headlines are repetitive from the “Open Thread” this morning, but here goes:

1. Canceled summit is the latest sign of faltering U.S.-Russia ties (WashPost) — It’s about Snowden. For a look at the Russian perspective, NPR did a historical piece on three people wanted to extradite from here (one of whom we let them have). Still, we need to get Snowden back — preferably before they wring all useful intel out of him.
2. Yemen Strike Kills Six; Officials Say Plots Foiled (WSJ) — But U.S. sources say the threat is still out there. You know, if this were an episode of “Homeland,” this would just have been the decoy plot. Not that real-life terrorists are as clever as the ones on “Homeland”…
3. MOX layoffs confirmed at SRS (Aiken Standard) — We’re talking about 500 jobs lost by Oct. 1. Probably good, high-paying tech jobs, although the story doesn’t say, so I could be wrong…
4. Tuberculosis patient on the loose in Columbia (thestate.com) — This is a serious matter, but the wording of the headline cracked me up. It was the “on the loose” part. I’m picturing a wild-eyed, wild-haired maniac running shrieking through the city in a flapping hospital gown, with everyone running from him in terror. The stuff of an Ariail cartoon. But he’d have to do it in the style of Mad magazine in the 1950s. Anyway, the headline lacked a certain… restraint.
5. Android Obliterates Smartphone Market (WSJ) — I put this up because I keep reading this in various places, and it’s so counterintuitive. Almost (but not quite) everyone I know who has a smartphone has an iPhone (Clare Morris has a Blackberry, which is just so quaint). Google Analytics tells me every month that about three-fourths of people who read my blog on mobile or tablet are on Apple devices. Of course, maybe that just says something about my readers…
6. Early Film by Orson Welles Is Rediscovered (NYT) — Surprisingly, it was not a porno. I say “surprisingly” because the title was “Too Much Johnson.” Really.

Just because you haven’t had one yet this week, and are probably pining for it:

1. US and UK pull staff out of Yemen (BBC) — Well, at least we’re not the only ones cutting and running. For a more dramatic headline touch, try NPR: ‘Depart Immediately,’ State Dept. Tells Americans In Yemen.
2. George W. Bush undergoes heart surgery in Dallas (WashPost) — They put in a stent. He seems to be doing fine.
3. As trial opens, accused Fort Hood gunman says, ‘I am the shooter’ (WashPost) — Actually, he said “The evidence will clearly show that I am the shooter.” You attorneys will not be shocked to learn that he is representing himself.
4. Broad Decline in Obesity Rate Seen in Poor Young Children (NYT) — The Times is currently leading with this man-bites-dog trend story. Good news. Awesome news, really.
5. U.S. Files Charges in Libya Attack (WSJ) — I’m not quite sure what to make of this yet. Too many unanswered questions.
6. DOD furlough reductions will soften economic impact on SC (thestate.com) — Just trying to get something with a local angle onto the page. Not a lot of news in SC at the moment.

Polishing off your week with a skim through the headlines:

1. U.S. Issues Global Travel Alert Over al Qaeda Threat (WSJ) — First the announcement we were closing embassies; now this.
2. U.S. Adds 162,000 Jobs as Growth Remains Sluggish (NYT) — It strikes me that it’s tough for most people to connect with these monthly figures. Know what I’d like to see? Monthly figures on underemployment. That would actually indicate something more meaningful about the state of the economy.
3. House Votes To Quash Obamacare, For The 40th Time (NPR) — Can you believe these guys? It’s like a vaudeville act that keeps doing the same stale jokes, day after day, on the same stage.
4. Reza Aslan’s Jesus is not as revolutionary as author thinks (WashPost) — The headline grabbed my interest, and I thought I’d give you a change-of-pace story, to liven up the mix.
5. Congress eyes renewed push for NSA legislation (The Guardian) — The Guardian keeps leading with this; keeps hoping it has an impact beyond making Edward Snowden famous. That’s the problem with so much “investigative journalism.” The editorial point comes across so nakedly in the “news” coverage. Of course, that’s more acceptable in Britain.
6. Local teen makes it big on Jeopardy! (The State) — Kind of old now, but I wanted something local, and the pickings were slim.

Just a quick look at the headlines:

1. Israeli, Palestinian negotiators agree to launch formal peace talks (WashPost) — Here’s hoping that something actually comes of it.
2. Bradley Manning cleared of ‘aiding the enemy’ but found guilty of most charges (The Guardian) — Most American news outlets stressed “Manning Is Acquitted of Aiding the Enemy Charge,” while the BBC went with “Bradley Manning guilty of espionage.” The Guardian went with both angles in their rather lengthy headline. What I want to know is, when does he lose the right to wear the uniform? It can’t be too soon.
3. Spain rail-crash driver ‘on phone’ (BBC) — Wreck that killed 79.
4. Pentagon Sees Big Role in Afghanistan After NATO Mission (NYT) — In marked contrast to the way we left Iraq, sounds like.
5. S.C. GOP fundraising email calls IRS ‘Obama’s Gestapo’ (thestate.com) — No, really, it did.
6. Why did monogamy evolve? (WashPost) — That made the VFP because I don’t usually see headlines quite that ambitious-sounding…

Slow news day, especially locally, but here’s what we’ve got:

1. Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to baby boy, third in line to the throne (The Guardian) — Yep, things are that slow that I’m leading with this. Set aside all the tabloid nonsense, and the birth of the third in line to the throne is still news, for an Anglophile like me, anyway.
2. Hundreds escape in attacks on Iraq prisons holding al-Qaeda militants (WashPost) — Anyone wish we were still there providing security, so as to prevent this sort of thing?
3. Faster Than the Speed of Light? (NYT) — Quote: “A NASA team is experimenting with photons to see if faster-than-light travel — warp drive — might be possible.” If they succeed, you’ll have to wait until next week’s news to find out about it. Time travel joke. Sorry.
4. U.K. Cracking Down On Porn, Blocking It Unless Users Opt In (NPR) — According to other sources I’ve seen, the P.M. is stopping child porn, but not the Page 3 girls in The Sun. Which indicates he has a sense of proportion. I wish him luck with this.
5. Haley says she was thinking of certain people while firing weapons (The State) — No, really. This apparently happened Friday, but I just saw it today. It’s great that the gov supports FN, but that’s just not funny.
6. Ryan Braun Suspended for Rest of Season (WSJ) — I hate to see this sort of thing in baseball…

A bit late in the day, but here you go…

1. State Ethics Commission fines Gov. Nikki Haley (thestate.com) — I had forgotten that there was still an ethics complaint against her out there pending.
2. Senators Reach Agreement to Avert Fight Over Filibuster (NYT) — And another completely unnecessary, bogus — manufactured purely by the political parties to have something to fight about — crisis is averted.
3. Holder strongly condemns ‘Stand Your Ground’ (WashPost) — Which is probably the smart way for the administration to look like it’s reacting to concern over the Zimmerman verdict — jawbone “stand your ground,” without doing something unnecessary like open some sort of federal civil rights case.
4. SLED confirms investigation of Columbia Police Department allegations (thestate.com) — More on the continuing, embarrassing saga.
5. Universities in U.S. Besieged by Cyberattacks From Abroad (NYT) — The NYT likes to come up with something nobody else has to lead with on slow news days. This looks like today’s version of that.
6. Syria crisis ‘worst since Rwanda’  (BBC) — In terms of the refugee problem. Leave it to the Beeb to remind us that the rest of the world is out there.

Silence dropped a hint that he expected a third VFP in a row, which to me seems greedy, but here goes:

Silence was so pleased to get a Virtual Front Page yesterday, I thought I’d be extra generous and give y’all another today. Particularly since I’ve been light on blog posts the last few days:

1. Suspect in Boston Bombing Pleads Not Guilty (NYT) — Oh. OK. So I guess he didn’t do it. You know… I’m totally on-board with our innocent-until-guilty value. It’s critical to who we are, and I wouldn’t want to switch to the Napoleonic Code or anything. But do you ever feel like there’s a certain absurdist quality to proceedings such as this one.
2. SC to stop separating HIV-positive inmates (AP) — No reaction yet from the NON-HIV-positive inmates…
3. As Zimmerman Trial Nears End, Race ‘Permeates The Case’ (NPR) — Does this mean I won’t have to hear any more about it, starting soon? Please say so. Because I’ve felt a lot of heat, but seen very little light, in the ongoing national “debate” about this. It’s wearisome.
4. Egypt orders Brotherhood head arrest (BBC) — And the kettle continues to boil over…
5. Navy lands a drone on aircraft carrier for first time (WashPost) — From our gee-whiz department. I’m put in mind of Tom Wolfe’s riveting description of just what a mind-numbingly death-defying, insanely brave feat it is for a human to land a hurtling jet aircraft on such a tiny surface, with his throttle pushed to Full Military Power, just in case he misses… All to be consigned to history. And yet, we still don’t have flying cars…
6. Rain, if anything, to intensify in Midlands (thestate.com) — In a related development, Columbia City Council scraps the Bull Street plan passed yesterday, and decides to spend the money on an ark instead. No, that’s a joke.

Here are your top stories:

1. Egypt’s Leaders Select Premier and Plan for Quick Elections (NYT) — Meanwhile, the military warns against anyone “disrupting” the process.
2. City Council votes to forge ahead on Bull Street (thestate.com) — Rejects a delay by 4-3 vote. Mayor says, “This deal will die today if we don’t move forward.”
3. FBI nominee James Comey defends NSA surveillance program (WashPost) — At Senate confirmation hearings.
4. Former Fisa judge says US must fix secret courts (The Guardian) — They’re still on about this, still leading with it. Meanwhile, the Daily Mail provides surveillance photos of celebrities in bikinis…
5. U.S. Safety Board Interviews Pilots (WSJ) — Probe into San Francisco crash continues.
6. Sheheen names campaign manager for 2014 (thestate.com) — Hey, it’s a slow news day. Vincent again goes with an out-of-state guy. I guess Democrats with winning records are thin on the ground in SC.

A bit late in the day, but here goes:

1. Senate approves bill to overhaul immigration (WashPost) — That’s one miracle, comprehensive immigration reform getting through the Senate. Now we need a bigger one for the House to pass anything remotely like it.
2. Boston Bombing Suspect Is Indicted on 30 Counts (NYT) — He’s charged in four deaths, including that of the police officer.
3. View of what Bull Street neighborhood might look like emerges (thestate,com) — The story says “What the proposed Bull Street neighborhood might look like became a litter clearer Thursday…” Presumably that will be fixed in the print version.
4. Obama rules out barter for Snowden (BBC) — He also says, “I am not going to be scrambling jets to get a 29-year-old hacker.” Which is a pretty good line. Meanwhile, The Guardian is still acting like what Snowden has to disclose is a big freaking deal, playing it above all actual news in the world.
5. Live: Results of Senate votes on Haley vetoes (thestate.com) — I can’t tell whether they’re still at it or not…
6. Voyager 1 is still in the sun’s embrace (WashPost) — Meanwhile, in news from the outskirts of our solar system…