Photo by airpolonia.

Good morning, Washington. Let’s play a guessing game while we all wait for the coffee to kick in. Which piece of news excited the highest percentage of Washingtonians yesterday: the Redskins defeating a pretty bad St. Louis Rams squad to retake the division lead, or the impending return of Arrested Development to the small screen?

Metro’s Dining Car: What did that $16 muffin story teach us? There’s always a good yarn to be had in government inefficiency! Take the Examiner, who leads today with this story about the hot plates served at WMATA board meetings, which have cost the agency at least $13,265 over 19 months spanning 2010 and 2011, despite promises in 2006 to switch to cold sandwiches. (The transit agency did opt for Potbelly’s at least a couple of times.) So, what’s Metro getting for their $20.43 per person? The usual easy-to-mark-up catering standards (salmon filets, flank and tenderloin steak, fancy chicken), and one fulfilled request for “NO RIBEYE!!! SEND EXTRA SALMON INSTEAD!!!”

The 100 Club: It seems like every year since Cathy Lanier has been chief, she’s been on a mission to get the number of District homicides under the century mark. Could this be the year? The Post reports that the city is on pace to at least get close — 81 people have been slain in the District in 2011, a pace that, if continued, would put the city at 108 murders for the year. Then again, these are just numbers.

Washington Monument Inspection Delayed Again: It might seem like it is taking those daring engineers a long time to inspect the Washington Monument for cracks. But given that the last time they tried to do so under blustery conditions, one of them was blown 30 feet off the side of the obelisk, well, we’re willing to cut them a little leeway on the delays. The inspections are expected to continue this morning, if the weather cooperates.

Briefly Noted: Two stabbed on upper Connecticut Avenue, suspect taken into custody…Bank robberies in D.C. region down, despite recession…Students ask for audience with Gray over Georgetown ANC issue…Georgetown fans: who’s ready to travel to Colorado Springs, Orlando or Dallas for “Big East” games?…”Sesame Street” producer is new chief of NPR…America’s forests uh, might not be in the best shape.

This Day in DCist: Last year, we spoke with Tommy Wells and MPD made a marijuana bust in Burleith; in 2008, we went to the New Kids on the Block reunion show. (Yup, that happened.)