Five Things to Know About the Government Shutdown

 with a pending federal government shutdown, with about 800,0000 federal employers' immediate future uncertain nationwide. About 130,000 of those live in Maryland. 

One says he know what he'll do with his days off: brew beer. 

Here's a roundup of what others are saying:

--In Baltimore, the Baltimore Business Journalreports that employees are bracing for the shutdown by coming up with contingency plans. Law enforcement, homeland security and other safety entities are still expected to operate. 

--Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco took the time to express his uncertainty about the government shutdown to Patch for  Thursday. 

--Alice Reid of Reisterstown-based Compassionate Tax Service provides an answer to the question: 

--A mom-and-dad duo who stand to be furloughed and lose their paychecks--leaving them to teach their kids a whole new meaning of money. 

--A directory operates as the front door for all things shutdown in a Washington Post report, where questions from "Will I be able to get a passport?" to "Will I need to show up for jury duty?" can be found.