[Lamplighter]

This is what CNN is saying (in part, and in sort of a jocular tone)'

CNN
September 24, 2013
10 ways a government shutdown would affect your daily life

The good news (for you) is that the men and women
in uniform would continue to keep you safe.
The bad news (for them) is that they'd be paid in IOUs until the shutdown ended.
In January, Sens. Mark Udall, D-Colorado, and Jerry Moran, R-Kansas,
introduced legislation that would have protected pay for the troops
during a shutdown, but it didn't get anywhere.

Rep. C.W. Young, chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee,
told the Air Force Times, "All military personnel will continue to serve and accrue pay
but will not actually be paid until appropriations are available."

Their mid-October paycheck would be the first affected.
In addition, the congressman told the paper, changes of station would be delayed,
medical offerings would be scaled back, facility and weapons maintenance
would be suspended and most civilian employees would be furloughed
until appropriations are available.

You know that whole "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night" thing?
Apparently, the U.S. Postal Service works through shutdowns as well.
Sorry, you won't catch a break from the junk mail.
But hey, you may already be a winner!

The Republicans want to defund Obamacare in exchange for funding the government.
But the health care act at the center of this storm would continue
its implementation process during a shutdown.
That's because its funds aren't dependent on the congressional budget process.

But this is a more serious list in Forbes

Government-shutdown-101-what-happens-when-the-lights-go-off