Now This: A Verizon data center critical to the operation of the Obamacare website went down Sunday, making it impossible for people to register for health insurance in all 50 states. Computer contractors are working 24/7 to fix the problems. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is being called on the congressional carpet later this week. It would be tempting to call in sick.

World: A fiery car crash in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square took five lives and injured 38, Chinese state media report. Three people died inside the car and two tourists were killed when the car crashed through security barriers and burst into flames. One witness told the news agency AFP that the car turned a corner and was suddenly plowing into people. The BBC reported that their news team was detained for about 20 minutes trying to get to the scene. The crash has not been explained, but Tiananmen has occasionally been the scene of public immolations in protest of the government. The Chinese confirm that a man burned himself to death in the square just last month.

• A brief but powerful storm hit southern England, killing three people, two of them with falling trees. Winds reached 99 mph. Rail lines were damaged and power was knocked out for about 580,000 homes.

Spaella: Two Spanish newspapers now say the NSA recorded the data from 60 million Spanish phone calls in just one month, according to information provided by Edward Snowden. This follows revelations that the US spied on the Germans and the French.

Game 4: Boston’s Jonny Gomes hit a three-run homer to break a 1-1 tie and carry the Red Sox to a 4-2 win over St. Louis. The game ended suddenly in the bottom of the 9^th when Boston relief pitcher Koji Uehara, picked off a runner at first. It happened so fast the television camera didn’t catch it. Game 5 is tonight in St. Louis.

Razor Blades: A survey by the Huffington Post found that candy corn is the single most hated Halloween treat. One respondent said, “I’d rather eat a crayon.”

The Obit Page: Lou Reed, whose renditions of “Walk On the Wild Side” and “Sweet Jane” were among the anthems of his age, died at age 71, having never fully recovered from a liver transplant last May. Reed was one of the pioneers of Indy Rock as lead singer with the Velvet Underground in the 1960s. He was gaunt and sang in a mellifluous monotone as he brought sex and drugs to rock and roll. One more time:

“Holly came from Miami, F-L-A.

Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.

Plucked her eyebrows on the way

Shaved her legs and then he was a she

She says, “Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side

He said, “Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side”

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