“I read the news today, oh boy ...” (Pre-Election Day Edition)

The staging of events to look spontaneous are hardly a new feature in the world of American political theater. A group known as "Lady Patriots" seems to have found a case in point, in one that was played out recently on national television. Some of the alleged proof may appear coincidental or circumstantial, but in Washington, you learn not to put too much past anybody.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on planet Earth:

• "Way down, in Columbus, Georgia ..." So goes the song, and the setting for a house fire, where in the course of rescuing those inside, one man braved the flames for what really mattered. At least to him. [WTVM]

• In another case of being rescued, a special garment has been developed for one of life's oft-unavoidable situations. [Gizmodo]

• Walmart used to be a great company, before Sam Walton died and the spoiled brats that were his children took over. Small wonder that a store employee in Michigan would learn the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished. (He should go work for Costco.) [AP via Huffington Post]

• In another story of no good deeds, et cetera, et cetera, some children in Fargo, North Dakota, got tricks instead of treats this past Halloween. [USA Today]

• Meanwhile, you'll never believe from whom George Clooney is (honestly) descended. [Ancestry.com]

• Finally, every country leads the world in something that puts them "on the map" -- literally. [Doghouse Diaries]

And that's all the news that fits. As the week goes on, stay tuned, and stay in touch.