19 October 2010: Morning

Bank of America, GMAC celebrate the end of the crisis by restarting more than 100,000 foreclosures.

To increase security in Afghanistan, U.S. forces plan to arm and train 20,000 village police.

Homeland Security, N.Y. Civil Liberties Union settle--you can photograph a courthouse from a public space.

Mexican authorities seize 105 tons of marijuana--the largest bust in recent history--en route to California.

Some small farms saved by switching operations to "agri-tainment"--e.g., haunted mansions, corn mazes.

I've still got the same John Deere hat, but now I wear it ironically. Farmers want you to eat your veggies.

It's not "picking up garbage from the beach," it's "collecting sea glass."

Update on the Tate's sunflower seeds: Ceramic dust levels are too high, and the exhibit is now closed.

People are wired to like repetitive sounds--hence the success of Kit Kat and Coca-Cola.

Science confirmed that all the Romanovs died in 1917, but the Russian church still refuses to believe.

Vatican declares Homer Simpson to be a true Catholic, "despite doing everything he can do hide it."

American blogger accuses Campbell's new soup, available only in Canada, of having conspiracy ties.

Op: A civilization is dead when it stops building monuments--the West is in trouble.