Good morning, Washington. Back in June, the Post rattled Metro’s cages with a four-part diagnosis of all the rail system’s ills. Today, the paper turns its attention to Metrobus, whose nearly half a million daily riders tend to come from the lower rungs of D.C.’s income ladder. The Post details a familiar list of problems, from aging equipment and mismanagement to poor route planning and chronic bunching. Here’s hoping the Post’s recommendations for Metrobus are received as readily as its criticisms of Metrorail.

Powell’s Mission to the D.C. Council: Colin Powell, former Secretary of State and current investor in potential Nationals owners The Washington Baseball Club, has made clear his thoughts on the D.C. Council’s negotiations over the stadium lease. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Powell encouraged the Council to approve the lease, saying inscrutably, “That will work itself out one way or the other.” Thank you, Colin, that’s very diplomatic of you.

Out Christmas Tree, Out Christmas Tree: For those who choose to adorn their living spaces with a Christmas tree, the decision to go real is a weighty one. For the price of a sap-strewn, needle covered home, one can enjoy a few weeks of natural greenery and the delicious smell of fresh fir. Then the holidays pass, and it becomes clear that you’ve got a big dead tree in your house in the middle of the city. Happily, our local governments are willing to oblige us, scheduling specific collection dates for the trees, though one would be wise to read carefully their requirements (remove the decorations, please).

Briefly Noted: Media storm over Christmas Day shootings in Fairfax…Wizards lay low Lakers…Post requiem for Comet liquor store…Brunell day-to-day before final game of ‘Skins regular season.

Picture taken by EXB-WDC.