Today's edition of quick hits:
* Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), returning to Capitol Hill to the first time since a major stroke last year, took an inspiring walk up a majestic staircase this morning.
* Clinton poised to return to work: "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was released last night from the hospital after being treated for a blood clot, is looking forward to coming back to work next week, spokesperson Victoria Nuland said today."
* If I were him, I wouldn't want to stick around for next month, either: "Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner plans to leave the administration at the end of January, even if President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans haven't reached an agreement to raise the debt ceiling, according to two people familiar with the matter."
* Pakistan: "A U.S. drone strike in the South Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan killed at least six people, Pakistani government officials said Thursday, including the powerful Taliban commander Maulvi Nazir Wazir."
* A stunning statistic: "More soldiers took their own lives than died in combat during 2012, new Department of Defense figures show."
* A new signing statement: "President Obama set aside his veto threat and on late Wednesday signed a defense bill that imposes restrictions on transferring detainees out of military prisons in Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. But Mr. Obama attached a signing statement claiming that he has the constitutional power to override the limits in the law."
* Good for party discipline, bad for democracy: "Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert -- the namesake of the rule requiring House legislation to have the support of the majority of the party in power -- warned House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday that if he continues to rely on Democratic votes to pass legislation, 'you're not in power anymore.'"
* Better late than never? "During his farewell speech Tuesday, outgoing House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA) listed climate change as a top problem facing the country -- a rare moment when a Republican leader in office openly acknowledged the need for climate action."
* A fascinating report from Kevin Drum on the connection between lead paint and crime rates.
* Oh my: "A Connecticut newspaper has apologized for running a print advertisement for a gun show next to an article about Sandy Hook Elementary students returning to school for the first time since last month's massacre in Newtown."
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.