Photo by brianmka

Good morning, Washington, and welcome to the post-Halloween, post-normal amount of sunshine world we now live in. As thrilling as it was to get that extra hour of spooktacular party time in on Saturday night, watching the sun set last night at about 5 p.m. brought the end of daylight saving time into sharp focus: it’s awful. And it’s only going to get worse now that the work week is here, seeing as how most of us will leave the office well after it’s dark. Conclusion? Changing the clocks twice a year is disruptive and stupid. Case closed!

D.C. Council vs. The World: Last week, the D.C. Council held several very long, very contentious public hearings, the worst of which were Friday’s fairly shocking DPR contract proceedings and Thursday’s tar-and-feathering of DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Who would have thought that hearing the second round of testimony on the gay marriage bill today could actually be a welcome relief after all that?

Deeds and McConnell Ramp Up for Tuesday: Did anyone go as zombie Creigh Deeds for Halloween? Election Day in Virginia is tomorrow, and the polling numbers indicate the Democratic candidate is pretty well cooked. The Washington Times looks at what may be the only possible way Deeds could end up a winner: the ‘surge’ voters, who are “the thousands of young, mostly minority, first-time voters who went to the polls last year to help Barack Obama win Virginia.” Also from the Times, Republicans across the state are optimistic about their chances.

Briefly Noted: University of Maryland student raped in her College Park home … Fatal stabbing in Southeast … D.C. man found shot to death in SUV in PG County … Police impostors rob house in Loudoun … Silver Spring man fatally shot at a late-night Halloween party … Levy suspect accused of threatening witness.

This Day in DCist: Last year we took a fond look back at the Zombie Lurch and the year before that we wondered why no one wanted the Arts and Industries Building.