* The Mississippi River is dropping to historically low levels.
* Flu season starts early and strong nationwide.
* Can Republicans reverse their foreign policy problems?
* Ugh. How members of Congress spend their work days.
* After 25 years in prison, one man meets modern technology.
* "Carrie Fisher makes peace with Princess Leia."
* M. Night Shyamalan is working on a "Twin Peaks style series.'
* "Django Unchained is a corrective... Instead of wallowing in misery, Tarantino gives us — me — the story we’ve been waiting for: a violent, bloody revenge tale set in a time period that we have been continually dishonest about."