Good morning, Janes!  It's Columbus Day, the day we celebrate that Italian explorer with a curious streak.   It's also a day the federal government and some markets are closed, which makes us think this day might finally be A-O.K..  

Now let's start Columbus Day by discovering what's going on in the world.  Here's your Morning Jane...

Top Domestic Story:  The economy

• The Dow jumped 400 points this morning on the news that European governments would pump billions into their own banks to shore them up, with the U.S. Federal Reserve "making U.S. currency available in unlimited amounts."  That sounds expensive, but we're not the experts. [Washington Post]
• The bailout, originally designed to buy toxic assets on companies' books, has already morphed to a plan that will purchase equity stakes in firms that wish to participate.  Neel Kashkari, the new bailout czar, said today the government is "working around the clock" on the plan.  [Market Watch] 

Other Top Domestic Story:  Campaign 2008

• John McCain goes to Virginia today to deliver a speech that his aides call, "a turn around," which McCain clearly needs.  He'll acknowledge that the economy stinks and lay out plans to improve it. We'll keep you posted.... [CNN]
• So where did the email rumors that Obama is a Muslim plotting against America really start?  Apparently with Andy Martin, a man rejected from the Illinois bar for "a character defect."  When asked if he was the source for the rumors, Martin said, "Everybody uses my research as a takeoff point."  [New York Times]

Top International Story:  Nouri al-Maliki said over the weekend that British troops are no longer needed to maintain security in Iraq.  He also said that although negotiators are near an agreement to have U.S. troops out of Iraq by 2011, "Serious and dangerous obstacles remain."  [BBC]

A breakthrough 10-year-old drug called Herceptin has helped doctors understand that breast cancer is actually seven diseases, not just one, and has also given breast cancer patients a way to fight the disease without many of the side effects of older therapies.  [USA Today] 

Britney Spears opens up in a documentary, "I sit there and I'll look back and I'm like: I'm a smart person. What the hell was I thinking?"   Hang in there, Brit Brit!  [People]