And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine...
Get Your Swag On
Russia is denying its G20 swag bag was actually something out of James Bond.
Italian media report gifts like teddy bears, diaries, and USB keys were bugged to spy on hundreds of foreign delegates during the September meeting of world leaders in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Now, a spokesman for Russian President Putin says the accusations are a diversion.
Quote -- "This is undoubtedly nothing but an attempt to shift the focus from issues that truly exist in relations between European capitals and Washington to unsubstantiated, non-existent issues."
That's a denial.
No Trick, No Treat
Scary thought for Halloween. Some security guards at federal buildings have not been trained to respond to an active shooter situation.
And according to a GAO report on the Federal Protective Service that's not the only shortcoming.
38 percent of guards never received training on X-ray and screening equipment. And almost a quarter were missing required documentation.
This is the third time since 2010 the GAO has highlighted problems with federal security guards.
Honor Rolled Over
A Canadian school has axed the honor roll.
Why?
To ease the disappointment of those who do not make it.
School officials explained the decision in a letter to parents -- quote -- "Awards eventually lose their luster to students who get them, while often hurting the self-esteem and pride of those who do not."
Many parents wonder why the reward for success is being taken away.
One parent said -- quote -- "You teach kids how to win, you teach kids how to lose. But you also teach them how to improve themselves and give them goals to strive for."
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