That's right - OotD is back. Did you miss me? I hope not -- well, not too much, at least -- because it looks like this is shaping up to be another glacially-paced week in Ottawa, which means that there won't be much to tease you with as far as previews of upcoming events.

The prime minister is still in ... Calgary, I would guess, although it's possible that he may have already slipped back into town, perhaps to put the finishing touches on the much-anticipated list of New Years' Senate appointments, which is expected to be unveiled any day now -- most likely after January 2, which is when that all-important second Ontario seat officially goes up for grabs. As for the various opposition leaders, they've been similarly invisible since last week's flurry of end-of-year interviews.

The failed attack on Northwest Flight 253 did manage to drag two cabinet ministers away from their holiday revelry for a few hours on Boxing Day, of course: Transport Minister John Baird and Peter Van Loan put out a joint statement on Boxing Day to reassure Canadians that the government "remains fully engaged with the Obama Administration on efforts to combat terrorist threats," and to announce that airport officials would be operating under "a heightened state of vigilance." Yesterday, we got more details on exactly what that means: no carry-on bags for US-bound travellers -- although laptops, cameras, infant supplies and, somewhat bizarrely, musical instruments are still permitted -- and, of course, increased flight delays, although they've brought in the RCMP to "alleviate the immediate pressures" at security checkpoints.

(Seriously, musical instruments? Is that so desperate, gate-trapped passengers can still get together for an impromptu jam session to take their minds off their soon-to-be-missed connecting flights?)

Tags: blackberry jungle, orders of the day