Midday Roundup: Capitol capitalism amid government shutdown

Opportunity knocks. Amid all the hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing about the government shutdown, Politico has a fun story about Washington, D.C., businesses capitalizing on all the hoopla with a little creative marketing. Want to create customers for life? Offer furloughed government workers a free beer. While they’re trying to make the most of their time off, federal workers can pick up everything from free oil changes to free yoga classes. My favorite: a steakhouse offering a good deal on oysters for workers getting a “raw deal.”

Shutdown summit. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has called a meeting of congressional leaders this afternoon at the White House. A spokesman said the president plans to repeat calls for the House to pass a “clean” continuing resolution on government funding, absent any cuts or delays to Obamacare. So basically, he wants to meet to tell Republicans face-to-face that he’s still not willing to negotiate. “We’re pleased the president finally recognizes that his refusal to negotiate is indefensible,” said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. “It’s unclear why we’d be having this meeting if it’s not meant to be a start to serious talks between the two parties.” No word yet on whether Boehner will attend.

Not-so-sweet revenge. California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that outlaws so-called “revenge porn.” The practice involves jilted lovers posting nude or risqué photos of their former love interests on the internet, in some cases with their names, phone numbers, and addresses. Such bad breakup behavior can wreak some pretty serious havoc in a world where information lives virtually forever online. Anyone caught resorting to “revenge porn” will face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

No new trial. A Pennsylvania appeals court has denied Jerry Sandusky’s request for a retrial. The former Penn State assistant football coach was convicted of abusing 10 boys and will serve at least 30 years. Sandusky’s new lawyer argued his trial lawyers did not have sufficient time to prepare his defense, among other things. But a three-judge panel of the state’s Superior Court ruled this morning that the trial judge carefully considered all requests to delay the trial. The lawyer handling Sandusky’s appeal plans to take his case to the state’s Supreme Court.

Justice delayed, but not denied. This really bizarre story proves that the truth always has a way of coming out, no matter how long it takes. On Monday, Missouri officials arrested Gerald Uden, 71, and Alice Louise Uden, 74, for murders they allegedly committed three and four decades ago. The Udens are both charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of their former spouses. Gerald Uden also is accused of killing his first wife’s two children. The Udens’ life on the lam ended after Wyoming authorities discovered the remains of Alice Louise Uden’s first husband, Ronald Holtz, in an abandoned mine. Holtz, then 25, disappeared in 1974. I’m just wondering whether the Udens ever got a good night’s sleep after they got married, post-murders. Wouldn’t they always want to keep one eye open, just to keep from becoming the next victim?