Today's Moment of Zen: Talking Points Memo brings us Sen. Roland Burris' reading his Night Before Christmas parody, regarding the health care bill, on the Senate floor. [via] more ›

• Sen. Burris continues to be in the health care debate spotlight thanks to his stance on a public option. Well, sort of.
• The Sun-Times discovers commuting by bike.
• Clean-up continues of a major freight train derailment in the Glenview area.

Think you're the only one who doesn't know what's going on at the Pentagon? Don't worry, Sen. Burris is in the same boat. And he's on the Armed Services Committee. Check out this story from Wired, outlining the freshman senator's latest magic discovery. (Thanks for the tip, Peter!) more ›

• Sen. Burris' explanation for that phone call with Rob Blagojevich? It was all a ruse.
• President Obama has nominated retired Chicago investment banker Louis Susman to be ambassador to Britain.
• As if the City Council didn't have enough to worry about today, aldermen are now complaining about fees to Noelle Brennan, the federal hiring monitor who has come down hard on City Hall's hiring abuses.