Mornin’, Washington. Hope you’re awake, because Montgomery County needs your help.

The Washington Post reports that MoCo police have released a comically villainous photograph of the mask used in the October 8 shooting of Ashoka Mody, the International Monetary Fund economist who was shot for no apparent reason after pulling into his garage in Bethesda. Police know that a small, dark car was cruising the area (Millwood Road toward Goldsboro Road) at the time: stealth style, lights off. And police found the mask — which would seem to strongly indicate Oogie Boogie‘s collusion in the crime — in the same area. Police say they cannot be sure whether the suspect was a man or a woman, but did not rule out supernaturally animated sackcloth.

Since police have so few clues to build on, a private party has stepped up the incentive for individuals with knowledge of the shooter or the incident to come forward. The reward for intel leading to an arrest has jumped from a note to $36,000. That’s some substantial microfunding for your initiative — in addition to the peace of mind you’d be bringing to the good people of the IMF.

» Is there a Prince of Petworth backlash? In the annals of blogger throwdowns . . . this is about par for the course.

» Apparently there is a company that will print out your email correspondence, online billing, chatlogs, Flickr images, etc., and transport it physically across the world in trucks. I kid you not! As a promotional effort, this “Post Office” is decorating its paper portables with images from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo conservation campaign. Included is a stamp that, er, commemorates the scimitar-horned oryx.

» What do you know, cars can drive on the C & O Canal towpath. Except they’re not allowed to do that. Cars can drive right smack into the C & O Canal, too, except they can’t do that, either.