Today's edition of quick hits:
* There's talk of a temporary cease fire in Syria, but the Assad regime would only commit to "considering" it while continuing its assault.
* More good news from the housing sector: "New single-family home sales surged in September to the highest level in nearly 2-1/2 years, further evidence the housing market recovery is gaining steam."
* BOA headed to court: "Federal prosecutors in New York sued Bank of America on Wednesday, accusing it of carrying out a mortgage scheme that defrauded the government during the depths of the financial crisis."
* Have I mentioned lately how much I love the CFPB? "For the first time, a single federal government agency will oversee the debt collection industry starting next year, marking a monumental victory for the year-old Consumer Financial Protection Bureau."
* If you're explaining, you're losing: "Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said Wednesday that his controversial comments regarding conception following rape are being taken out of context."
* Oh, PolitiFact, how I wish you were better: "PolitiFact ignored Mitt Romney's repeated statements about the auto industry to criticize President Obama for saying during the third presidential debate that Romney opposed government assistance for U.S. auto companies."
* CNN ran a piece today with this headline: "Do hormones drive women's votes?" Here's the lede: "While the campaigns eagerly pursue female voters, there's something that may raise the chances for both presidential candidates that's totally out of their control: women's ovulation cycles." I'm not making this up; CNN actually published this today, on purpose.
* And good ol' Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.), on top of his many other scandals, is now facing 11 separate ethics counts from the state of Florida, stemming not from his alleged congressional misdeeds, but from his alleged state legislative misdeeds.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
