Go Home Already: A Bird in Winter

• The Washington Post is reporting that Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley will likely face a challenge in his 2010 bid for re-election from George W. Owings III, a former legislator from Southern Maryland. Owings has scheduled a press conference for January 6.

• The New York Times Magazine profiled the late Ben Ali of Ben's Chili Bowl last week.

• Two pedestrians were seriously injured this morning when they were hit by a car at the Twinbrook Metro station.

• The Washington City Paper's City Desk blog has begun posting notable quotes of 2009 by the likes of Marion Barry and Michelle Rhee.

• The AV Club DC lists the top ten local albums of the '00s. Fugazi, Black Eyes and The Dismemberment Plan all make the list.

• This week Loudon County begin participating in an annual Christmas bird count, as part of the Audubon Society's annual census of birds.