Blog updates

Rev. Al Sharpton recklessly attacks media on Jackson [Z on TV]

2009-07-05T22:00:01-07:00

So, now the Rev. Al Sharpton is a media critic. Well, let me tell you something. He is a very reckless one -- making racially-charged allegations without having his facts straight.

Sunday, standing in the pulpit of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles, Sharpton called coverage of Michael Jackson's death "disgraceful."

"I am here because of the disgraceful and the despicable way some elements of the media have tried to destroy the legacy and image of Michael Jackson," he told the congregation, charging the media with using different standards for black and white performers.

"You have had other entertainers that have had issues in their life," he said. "But you [the media] did not degrade and denigrate them... Show the same respect for Michael and Michael's family that you showed Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley."

From what planet was Sharpton following Presley's death if he thinks tawdry aspects of Presley's life weren't reported? There was no shortage of reporting about the details of how and where Presley's body was found, the cocktail of drugs to which he was addicted and the general weirdness in general of Presley's life at Graceland. And in 1977, we didn't have the vast landscape of Web and cable outlets that we do today.

View from the front porch [Dining@Large]

2009-07-05T20:18:32-07:00

Sometimes I think vacations end on days like this to make going back easier. After six sparkling days of bright sunshine, blue sky, low humidity, highs in the low 80s, and clean mountain air, I woke up to rain, which turned into gloom and drizzle and then more rain.

My breakfast bread had gotten moldy.

Andy Roddick lost.

To cheer myself up, I took my husband to the new Sonic in Monteagle that Bucky told us about for lunch. Not because I was craving a fast food burger. In fact, I wasn't. But I was curious. ...

Today's game recaps -- July 5 [O's on Deck]

2009-07-05T18:17:15-07:00

The Triple-A Norfolk Tides defeated the Gwinnett Braves, and the Double-A Bowie Baysox blanked the Altoona Curve. The Single-A Frederick Keys lost to the Potomac Nationals, and the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds beat the Kannapolis Intimidators. The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds fell to the Oneonta Tigers. As many of you remember, Baysox starting pitcher Bobby Livingston exercised a contract clause last week to become a free agent. There were a lot of rumblings that Livingston was going to sign with the Cleveland Indians and report to the Akron Aeros, who are Cleveland's Double-A affiliate. Well, the rumors are now confirmed. The 26-year-old left-hander pitched all seven innings for the Aeros in the first game of a doubleheader against the Harrisburg Senators today. Livingston allowed two runs and five hits in the complete game, and Akron won the game, 6-2. He improved to 7-2 with a 3.52 ERA in the Eastern League this season. Norfolk Tides (AAA) Score: Norfolk Tides 7, Gwinnett Braves 1 (Box score) Recap: Second baseman Justin Turner was 4-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and two runs scored in the Tides' 7-1 victory over Gwinnett. The 24-year-old infielder is now batting .294 with two home runs and 22 RBIs in 55 games for Norfolk this season. Turner has 10 doubles and 26 runs scored in 2009. Tides third baseman Jolbert Cabrera was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored, while first baseman Brandon Snyder added two hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Norfolk starting pitcher Andy Mitchell (6-2) gave up one run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old right-hander walked five batters and collected two strikeouts. Catcher Chad Moeller also picked up two hits for the Tides, and designated hitter Steve Torrealba hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Bowie Baysox (AA) Score: Bowie Baysox 3, Altoona Curve 0 (Box score) Recap: Starting pitcher Radhames Liz (3-1) tossed seven scoreless innings, and the Baysox cruised to a 3-0 win over Altoona. The 25-year-old right-hander gave up seven hits and collected seven strikeouts. Bowie catcher Adam Donachie was 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks and an RBI, while third baseman Mike Costanzo added two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Baysox left fielder Jonathan Tucker collected two hits and a run scored, and designated hitter Dave Krynzel picked up an RBI. Relief pitcher Josh Perrault retired the side in order in the ninth inning for this 16th save of the season for the Baysox. Frederick Keys (A) Score: Potomac Nationals 4, Frederick Keys 3 (Box score) Recap: Second baseman Ryan Adams hit his first home run of the season, but the Keys were edged, 4-3, by Potomac. Frederick starting pitcher Zach Britton (4-3) allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings. The 21-year-old left-hander struck out five batters and issued three walks. Keys third baseman Tyler Henson was 2-for-3 with a stolen base and an RBI, and first baseman Brandon Waring added two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Shortstop Pedro Florimon Jr. was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts for the Keys, and he committed his 21st error of the season. Delmarva Shorebirds (A) Score: Delmarva Shorebirds 3, Kannapolis Intimidators 1 (Box score) Recap: First baseman Elvin Polanco was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in the Shorebirds' 3-1 win over Kannapolis. Delmarva third baseman Tyler Kolodny collected two hits, and left fielder Kyle Hudson added a triple and a run scored. Shorebirds starting pitcher Chris Salberg (2-0) gave up one run and three hits in six innings, and relief pitcher Brandon Cooney tossed two scoreless innings to pick up his 13th save of the season. Designated hitter Joe Mahoney was caught stealing for the first time this season for Delmarva. The 6-foot-7 infielder was successful on his first 19 attempts in 2009. Aberdeen IronBirds (A) Score: Oneonta Tigers 6, Aberdeen IronBirds 4 (Box score) Recap: Center fielder Richard D'Oleo was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, but the IronBirds dropped a 6-4 decision to Oneonta. The 23-year-old outfielder also collected a stolen base and a run scored in the loss. Aberdeen left fielder Lance West and designated hitter Jason Stifler each added an RBI, while third baseman Levi Carolus was 2-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and a run scored. IronBirds starting pitcher Colin Allen (0-3) allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out five hitters and issued five walks. Allen also threw four wild pitches and hit a batter in the game. Bluefield Orioles (Rookie) The Orioles' game against Burlington, which was scheduled to be played at Bowen Field tonight, was postponed due to rain. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Monday, and the first game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

New poll: Weigh in on Q&As [The Real Estate Wonk]

2009-07-05T17:51:16-07:00

So: Q&As with housing experts -- with the Q's coming from you rather than me. You've already weighed in on the types of experts you're most interested in questioning (though feel free to keep suggesting professions or specific people in these comments). Now let me know how you'd like to do it. Live? Not?

The nice thing about a live chat is that it can turn into a conversation, with answers to questions begetting more questions. The downside: You'll miss it if the time doesn't work for you. (Worse, if no one shows up on the blog at the allotted time, the chat will become the proverbial tree falling in the woods.)

Take a moment to tell me whether you'd come to the blog for a live chat -- almost certainly over lunch hour -- or whether you'd prefer another option:

Lost weekend [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-05T16:41:21-07:00

The Orioles should have won three of the four games in Anaheim, but they don't know how to win. Jim Palmer told me that a month or so ago, pointing out their penchant for stalling after an early scoring rally as proof of a lack of "killer instinct." Never has that been more true than the last five days, during which they have lost three games in which they held a four-run lead at some point. I don't have the numbers at my fingertips, but I'm guessing the percentage of games major league teams win when they take a four-run lead is pretty high. The Orioles have held a four-run lead in four of their last five games and won just one of them. Obviously, that's because they have some real pitching issues, one of which is an uncanny ability to give runs right back after the offense explodes. In each of the past two games, the Orioles have taken a four-run lead in the top of an inning only to allow three in the bottom of the same inning. That meshes not-so-nicely with the nasty habit of scoring a handful of runs early and then letting the pedal off the metal. Now that I'm through with today's rant, I have a confession to make. When the Orioles got ahead 4-0 today, I headed out to the cinema. Why? Because I've already seen this movie too many times.

Death penalty 'exonerations' [Random Rodricks]

2009-07-05T15:31:55-07:00

Recently, I made another reference to the number of Death Row inmates across the country who have been spared execution because of exonerations of one form or another. The Death Penalty Information Center keeps this count -- it is presently 133 -- and it has been verified elsewhere in the mainstream press. When I first started using the numbers from DPIC, I conducted Sun archive and Internet searches to independently check the exonerations, and found a large sampling of them to be accurate.

But, at the same time, I think "exonerations" should only be used when a person is convicted but later found to be innocent of the murder that resulted in a sentence of death. That is the popular meaning of "exoneration," and yet the DPIC uses it to cover those whose convictions have been overturned because of legal flaws.

A reader of my column wrote to challenge my acceptance of the word "exoneration" as shorthand for all those who have been removed for various reasons from Death Row. The reader cited a report of a victims' rights organization, the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which challenged the DPIC numbers and definition of "exonerated."

Here is the reply to questions about the accuracy of the exonerations list from Richard Dieter, DPIC director.

The Death Penalty Information Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to research and education on the death penalty in the U.S. We do not have a position on the morality or rightness of the death penalty per se, though a number of our reports focus on the problems in capital punishment and hence have been critical of the way it is applied.

With respect to your question about our list of exonerated individuals, we use very strict and objective criteria for inclusion of cases on this list. Basically, the list is determined by the decisions of courts and prosecutor offices, not by our subjective judgment. As we state in a number of places on our Web site and in our reports, the criteria for inclusion on the list is:
Defendants must have been convicted, sentenced to death and subsequently either-
a) their conviction was overturned AND
i) they were acquitted at re-trial or
ii) all charges were dropped
b) they were given an absolute pardon by the governor based on new evidence of innocence.
The list includes cases where the release occurred in 1973 or later, which was the time that states resumed sentencing people to death after the U.S. Supreme Court had struck down the death penalty. The list originated from a request from Congress asking us to identify the risks that innocent people might be executed. The original list that we prepared was published as a Staff Report of the House Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights. The list has been favorably referred to by Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts, as well as by many public officials around the country.

We believe the term "exonerated" is entirely appropriate to refer to the individuals on this list, which now numbers 133 individuals. Exonerate means to clear, as of an accusation, and seems to come from the Latin "ex" and "onus" meaning to unburden. That is precisely what has occurred in these cases. The defendants were convicted, given a burden of guilt, and then that burden was lifted when they were acquitted at a re-trial or the prosecution dropped all charges after the conviction was reversed. These are not individuals who received a lesser sentence or who remained guilty of a lesser charge related to the same set of circumstances. All guilt was lifted by the same system that had imposed it in the first place. Our justice system is the only objective source for making such a determination.

This notion of innocence, that an individual is innocent unless proven guilty, is a bedrock principle of our constitution and our societal protection against abusive state power. One does not lose the status of innocence merely because a prosecutor or other individuals retain a suspicion of guilt. Of course, it is true that this list makes no god-like determination of knowing exactly what happened in the original crime. Such perfect knowledge of past events is impossible, either to absolutely prove that a person did or did not do an act. We do not try to make a subjective judgment of what we think happened in the crime. We are merely reporting that in a great many cases the justice system convicted an individual and sentenced them to death, but when the process that arrived at that conclusion was reviewed, the conviction and sentence were thrown out. The individual, who often came close to execution, could not even be convicted of a traffic violation. Surely, that should be a cause of concern in applying the death penalty.

Maybe "exoneration" isn't the most accurate word here. But Dieter has a point -- if a conviction was wrongly achieved, our system says that conviction is thrown out and the the justice system returns to square one for the accused. However you shake this, at least 133 people were put on Death Row and slated for execution who should not have been there. These were near-fatal mistakes, in the eyes of our system, way too much imperfection in the area of criminal justice, above all, that requires perfection.

Remember the Smithereens? [Random Rodricks]

2009-07-05T13:58:18-07:00

Pat DiNizio, lead singer of this Jersey band from the 1980s, performs solo July 18 in Baltimore to benefit former Raven Michael McCrary's fund for the PAL centers for at-risk kids. The event is cosponsored by the Baltimore Community Foundation. It's described as "an eclectic evening of acoustic music, fine wines and tapas" at the Silo luxury condos. Tickets are $60, 410-837-3630.

Roberts rips one [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-05T13:05:49-07:00

Brian Roberts is well aware that people are talking about him and his apparent lack of enthusiasm. Jeff Zrebiec reported last night that Roberts met Friday with Dave Trembley to talk about the situation and -- presumably -- to promise to do better, but it didn't show on Saturday night. So, he made a quick statement today, opening the game by hitting a 2-0 pitch by Angels starter Joe Saunders over the left center field fence to give the O's a quick lead. Of course, Brian's offensive performance has not been the issue. He's got good numbers and leads the American League in runs and doubles, but he has looked disinterested and unmotivated. Guess we'll see soon enough if that is going to change.

AAA reports gas prices falling [Getting There]

2009-07-05T12:40:33-07:00

AAA is reporting that gas prices are continuing to fall across the country. Maryland's average price of a gallon of regular has fallen 4 cents in the past week to $2.55. That's well below the national average of $2.62.

In recent years the trend has been for prices to peak in June of July and then to fall steadily as we get closer to Labor Day. There's no guarantee this year will be the same, but a return to $3 gas this summer is looking increasingly unlikely.

Adam's an All-Star [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-05T12:30:36-07:00

Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon chose Adam Jones as the only Orioles representative on the American League All-Star team, which does not come as a huge surprise even though Jones only leads the team in one of the Triple Crown offensive categories. No doubt, Maddon chose him based on both his all-around performance and his own personal impression of an emerging young star who clearly is the most dynamic player on the Orioles roster. The Orioles had other candidates. Brian Roberts entered today's games leading the league in both runs and doubles, but I think Maddon ruled him out because he doesn't smile enough. Aubrey Huff ranked eighth in the league in RBI, but first base is a tough All-Star nut to crack without big home run numbers. George Sherrill also is having a very good year -- despite Wednesday's much-debated blown save -- and looked to a lot of us like the Orioles' most likely All-Star. Can't argue with Adam. I'm guessing he's going to make a lot of All-Star teams before he's through. Sun photo by Lloyd Fox

Proposal for an Opera Theatre of Saint Louis-type of company in Baltimore [Clef Notes]

2009-07-05T11:48:35-07:00

After writing about Baltimore's operatic future in early May, I received a thought-provoking, extraordinarily detailed analysis from a couple of opera lovers in Annapolis, Jan and Ellen Richter. My column in the July 5 Sun refers to the ideas the Richters raised for building here something along the lines of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. It's pretty easy to get caught up in their enthusiasm, and I can already envision such a company blossoming here, either downtown in an intimate place like Centerstage, or in Towson at Goucher College (an environment not unlike the campus where OTSL performs.)

I thought it would be of interest to anyone following the Baltimore scene to have access to more of the Richters' comments, which they gave me permission to present here. There's a lot of stuff here, but I think you'll find it well worth reading. Feel free to post your reactions, or your own visions of Baltimore's operatic future.

... We believe that the next step in this discussion is to examine the financial and artistic prospects of a Baltimore Opera Company (BOC) follow-on company, and also to broaden the discussion to ask what kind of opera could succeed in Baltimore. We would like to lay out here some personal thoughts on these topics.

We believe that current trends indicate that any BOC follow-on will only succeed, if at all, at a lower artistic and financial level. Baltimore is a mid-sized metropolitan area (20th largest in the U.S.) that has shown the proven ability to devote up to $6 million per year to the former BOC. The BOC at the end of its life was in a three way competition for the grand opera audience in Baltimore along with the Metropolitan Opera High-Definition broadcasts and the nearby Washington National Opera (WNO).

While the Met broadcasts are not live opera, the casts are hard to equal and the price is very appealing ...

The WNO is located less than 40 miles from Baltimore’s Washington Monument, and the productions are major league. The cost is, however, generally higher than for the old BOC. According to Guidestar (Form 990), the budget for 7 productions at WNO is about $35 million. Thus, on a very rough basis, the old BOC had $1.5 million available for each of 4 productions, while WNO has about $5 million available for each of 7 productions.

Given the break in operatic activity, it is not likely that the Baltimore opera community will support a new company at anywhere near $6 million in the first season of operations. That old BOC budget will probably not be achieved again for at least 5 to 10 years, as the new company proves that its productions are “must see” events. Meanwhile, the Met keeps expanding the number of broadcasts and WNO seems to be expanding a budget that is already far greater than Baltimore can hope to raise. These trends figured in the demise of the former BOC and will slow the growth of a new “grand” company, since it will compete with the Met and WNO. Once money flows to the Met broadcasts and WNO, it may never return to a new grand company.

The result is that a BOC follow-on company will, with near certainty, have to ...

operate for some time, and possibly for the long run, at a much lower financial and artistic level than the old BOC ... Baltimore had the resources to compete in grand opera in 1950 at the BOC founding, but it no longer has the population or money to compete with Washington and the other great, grand operas of America ...

When BOC was founded, Baltimore was competitive in resources for funding grand opera. Today, the metro area no longer has the resources typical of those cities which support great, grand opera companies ...

The BOC budget was 4th to 8th largest among American opera companies in the early 1950s. So the reality is that the Baltimore metropolitan area population rank has fallen from 12th in 1950 to 20th now, and the BOC budget rank shortly after its founding was 4th to 8th largest but fell to 24th largest near the end of its life. By way of comparison, the 12th largest metro area now is Phoenix with 4,281,899 (1.6 times larger than Baltimore). The 8th largest opera company budget is Houston with $22,094,055 (3.6 times larger than BOC’s budget). The 4th largest opera company budget is Chicago with $56,714,466 (9.3 times larger than BOC’s budget). Baltimore is no longer in the population and budget class to compete in grand opera as successfully as the BOC did early in its life.

Given the financial and population resources of Baltimore, what kind of opera can succeed here? The goal should be to create a nationally important 21st century opera company ...

Surveying other companies in a similar budget class ... reveals that it is possible to have internationally important opera on a roughly $6 - $8 million annual budget. The two companies that jump out are Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) and Glimmerglass Opera. Two other significant companies that operate on even lower budgets (ca. $2 - $3 million) are Chicago Opera Theatre and Des Moines Metro Opera. These are all small- stage companies performing in intimate houses (fewer than 1,000 seats) and featuring young, emerging American singers.

The most direct comparison is to OTSL, the principal opera company of St. Louis. Since moving to Annapolis from St. Louis in 1999, we have continually observed the similarity between the cities of St. Louis and Baltimore. They are comparable in population and wealth, and we think, have a similar psychology. St. Louis stands in the shadow of Chicago as Baltimore does of Washington. In 1975, Baltimore had a nationally significant opera company and St. Louis had none. In 2009, Baltimore has no professional opera company with even a $250,000 budget. St. Louis has an adventuresome, small-stage opera company with a ca. $8 million annual budget that attracts audiences and critics internationally and is among America’s fiscally strongest opera companies ...

We think that circumstances in Baltimore are encouraging for the creation of a small-stage opera company based on young American singers that could live within the old BOC budget and do nationally and possibly internationally important work. The issue for Baltimore is great versus grand. Many prominent participants in the opera business attend OTSL and by their presence and critiques make clear that it is a great opera that any city could be proud of. A revived grand opera in Baltimore, given likely resources and trends will almost certainly not be able to aspire to greatness or even national notice.

The key is that St. Louis does not compete directly with the largest budget companies in the U.S. (Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco) in repertoire, singers, or performance style. With its intimate theater of 987 seats, OTSL is ideal for young voices and lets the drama almost leap off the stage ... The small house has enabled OTSL to originate 21 world and 22 US premieres in 34 seasons ...

In contrast, the old BOC and various proposed large-stage follow-on companies need to generally do relatively conservative “top 40” operas to fill the 2,500 seat Lyric theater. There are a limited number of singers who have the required large voices for the Lyric and few of the best will be affordable for any revived Baltimore grand company. The only company that will be able to financially succeed in Baltimore producing grand opera will in all probability be a pale artistic shadow of the old BOC.

So a company utilizing the current abundance of accomplished young American singers based in a suitable 500 - 1,200 seat theater and performing a mix of popular favorites and new and unusual works could thrive here and serve the local opera audience well. This could be a summer festival (St. Louis and Glimmerglass) or a regular season company (Chicago Opera Theater). Ideas could be drawn from all of these companies to create a unique Baltimore institution that looks forward to the future of opera. This type of company could make a real impression on an initial $2 - $3 million budget and would have an excellent chance of growing to the $6 million class.

In short, we believe that Baltimore will be much better off with a small-stage opera company that aspires to be great but not grand and has a real chance of high achievement, as opposed to a large-stage company that will with near certainly be always constrained by the size and resources of the city to be grand, but not great.

Finding an appropriate theater in Baltimore is clearly a challenge in creating new small-stage company. First, let’s look at the fine, but less than ideal, St. Louis theater. It has 987 seats all on one level (no balconies), and the acoustics are optimized for spoken voice. It was built about 1965 to house what became the Repertory Theater of St. Louis, which still occupies it between September and April. This is where the May-June season originated—because the theater was available. The pit was enlarged for the first season to about 35 players and has since been expanded to 55. The pit opening is small and part of the orchestra sound is swallowed up. Fortunately, the excellent St. Louis Symphony is the pit orchestra and overcomes the circumstances. There is a thrust stage with no curtain. The theater, located in suburban St. Louis, is owned by Webster University, which uses it for some academic activities during the winter months in addition to usage by the Repertory Theater. Nevertheless, great opera has found a home here for 34 seasons.

The Glimmerglass Opera house is our favorite in this size class. It has balconies for very short viewing distances, a larger pit and good acoustics (to our ears). This is another adventuresome opera company that operates on roughly the same budget as the old BOC and attracts national and international attention.

We are not so familiar with the resources of Baltimore as to be able to suggest an appropriate theater, and finding a suitable venue will likely be a challenge. We both thought that the larger house at Center Stage might have possibilities for a summer opera. It reminds us of the OTSL theater. The auditorium at Goucher College struck us as having the same general “feel” and park-like setting as at OTSL. Perhaps a college or junior college theater could be used for a summer opera. Someone with imagination and a solid knowledge of stage and orchestra requirements needs to scour the area for possibilities.

In full disclosure, please note: While Jan is currently a board member of Opera Vivente and Ellen has been, the purpose of these musings is to advocate adventuresome, small stage opera for Baltimore, not any specific company. We have also been subscribers and supporters of OTSL since 1978 and are currently members of the OTSL National Patrons Council. We are also looking forward to our 7th Glimmerglass season.

We would love to see the excitement and originality that characterizes OTSL and Glimmerglass appearing regularly on a stage in Baltimore. We further believe that such a company could relatively quickly (less than 10 years) become one of the crown jewels of the Baltimore cultural scene.

Sincerely yours,

Jan Paul Richter

Ellen von Seggern Richter

PHOTOS BY KEN HOWARD OF OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS GROUNDS AND THEATER, COURTESY OF OTSL

Next Sunday's review [Dining@Large]

2009-07-05T11:41:25-07:00

And now for a change of pace. Enough of these new, trendy, Harbor East, high-energy, tapas kinds of places. Next Sunday I review Pappas Restaurant in Parkville.

It's a classic Old Baltimore restaurant, the kind that used to be everywhere but is now a dying breed. Seafood and steaks are the specialty. You have to have the crab cakes. And prices are surprisingly reasonable.

These days when most restaurants are struggling, Pappas had every table filled the night we were there. To find out how our meal was, please look for my review in next Sunday's Arts & Entertainment section.

(Photo courtesy of Pappas's Web site)

Today's game previews -- July 5 [O's on Deck]

2009-07-05T10:53:08-07:00

The Triple-A Norfolk Tides face the Gwinnett Braves, and the Double-A Bowie Baysox meet the Altoona Curve. The Single-A Frederick Keys play the Potomac Nationals, and the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds continue their road trip against the Kannapolis Intimidators. The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds play the Oneonta Tigers. Norfolk Tides (AAA) Record: (45-35) Opponent at Gwinnett Braves (2 p.m.) Probable pitchers Norfolk: Andy Mitchell (5-2, 4.01 ERA) Gwinnett: Jonny Venters (0-1, 6.04 ERA) Bowie Baysox (AA) Record: (45-37) Opponent at Altoona Curve (6:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Bowie: Radhames Liz (2-1, 4.50 ERA) Altoona: Mike Crotta (4-3, 5.11 ERA) Frederick Keys (A) Record: (4-5 in second half, 35-43 overall) Opponent at Potomac Nationals (1:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Frederick: Zach Britton (4-2, 2.14 ERA) Potomac: Will Atwood (3-6, 5.10 ERA) Delmarva Shorebirds (A) Record: (4-6 in second half, 40-39 overall) Opponent at Kannapolis Intimidators (5:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Delmarva: Chris Salberg (1-1, 2.08 ERA) Kannapolis: J.R. Ballinger (0-0, 7.71 ERA with rookie-level Bristol White Sox) Aberdeen IronBirds (A) Record: (5-10) Opponent at Oneonta Tigers (6 p.m.) Probable pitchers Aberdeen: Colin Allen (0-2, 6.75 ERA) Oneonta: Adam Wilk (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Roma Sausage in Giant [Random Rodricks]

2009-07-05T09:43:46-07:00

At long last, Roma Sausage, Baltimore's best Italian sausage, has made it to the meat cases at Giant. This was confirmed by Dean Paciocco, the owner of the sausage-maker. "I am pleased to inform you that Roma Sausage is now in all 181 local Giant stores and I feel that your columns have been very helpful with that development." OK, well, I can't take too much credit for this. Maybe consumers figured out that the so-called Italian sausage Giant has been selling (Johnsville? Are you kidding me?) was not so great. Maybe Giant execs are taking the buy-local thing seriously and, if so, good for them.

The growth for Roma means the sausage-maker had to move out of the little Highlandtown corner rowhouse it occupied for decades. The company moved to a new space in the old Crosse and Blackwell building at 6801 Eastern Avenue.

Paciocco sent me an e-mail boasting about Roma's Chesapeake sausage. "We are combining Phillips Seafood seasoning along with my own blend of spices and making a signature sausage exclusively for Giant and calling it Chesapeake sausage with both company logos on the product."

I sampled this recently and . . . well, let's just say I won't make that mistake again. (It's just not my thing.) I'll settle for what Roma does best -- Italian sweet or mild, browned in a little olive oil, then left in a simmering tomato sauce for about two days and served with linguini. Buona fortuna!

Gay alumni: USNA [Random Rodricks]

2009-07-05T08:56:22-07:00

Followup on today's column on the gay alumni of the U.S. Naval Academy:

Similar organizations for alumni of both the Air Force Academy and West Point have formed since USNAOut started up in 2003. The Air Force has Blue Alliance, and the U.S. Military Academy now has KnightsOut. The co-founder of KnightsOut, an Iraq veteran from New York named Dan Choi, was recently recommended for discharge after outing himself.

Patriotic pets parade for Fourth, Part III [Unleashed]

2009-07-05T08:12:02-07:00

Here's the final round of pictures from the American Visionary Arts Museum's annual Fourth of July pet parade and talent show. What a fun event. So many really cute dogs and puppies. One African tortoise. One kitten. One beta fish named Blueberry. Plenty of pets came costumed -- a lot of them in red, white and blue. Others wore what nature gave them. Good stuff.

To see more pictures, click here. And click here, too!

Lynx kittens restore hope for species [Unleashed]

2009-07-05T07:21:32-07:00

The discovery of 10 lynx kittens this spring marks the first newborns documented in Colorado since 2006, heartening biologists overseeing restoration of the mountain feline.

According to The Associated Press, the tuft-eared cats with big, padded feet were native to Colorado, but wiped out by the early 1970s by logging, trapping, poisoning and development. They are listed as threatened on the endangered species list.

Biologists found no kittens the past two years, possibly partly because of a drop in the number of snowshoe hares, the cats' main food source.

This year, seven male and three female kittens were found in five dens.

More than 200 lynx from Alaska and Canada have been released in Colorado since 1999. Biologists don't know how many lynx are currently in the state.

This photograph taken in May at an undisclosed location shows a lynx kitten, which is one of 10 born this spring in Colorado, according to researchers. AP Photo/Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Ready to be Collared: Constance [Unleashed]

2009-07-05T06:58:20-07:00

NAME: Constance

OWNER: The Feline Rescue Association, Inc. (FRA)

HOW THEY MET: FRA pulled Constance and her four kittens from a local shelter where they were under threat of euthanasia. All the kittens were adopted quickly but Constance is still waiting for her forever home.

AGE: 2 to 3 years old.

HOME: Pikesville.

BREED: Domestic short hair blue.

BEST TRICK: Comes when called.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Sitting next to you.

FAVORITE FOOD: She's not sure, but would very much enjoy nibbling a treat from your hand.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: Constance is a rather serious, sweet kitty. Though as you can see from her picture, she enjoys a luxurious, decadent stretch.

FEISTY BUT LOVEABLE: Constance is great with other cats and even cat-friendly dogs and will come when called and brush around your ankles. However, she can be a little feisty and play a little rowdy, so she should not go to a home with small kids.

IF CONSTANCE HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: Please spay or neutered your pet and if you are thinking of adopting a kitten, please consider its mother, too.

CREDIT FOR PHOTOGRAPH: Neko and FRA

To see a recent Ready to be Collared, click here.

If you have an adoptable pet that you'd like to see 'Ready to be Collared' in Unleashed, Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a web-sized jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com.

Poll results: The experts you'd like to question [The Real Estate Wonk]

2009-07-05T06:08:16-07:00

I'm thinking of lining up some expert-types willing to do live (or email) Q&As with you folks. When I mentioned that last week, I asked you to choose the sorts of experts you're most interested in questioning.

The results of the multiple-choice poll:

Housing-market forecaster got the most interest, with 19 votes. Not surprising, since the direction of prices and sales is always a hot topic among commenters here.

Close behind was appraiser -- also not surprising, what with recent debate about the effectiveness of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct.

After that, in order of popularity:

Mortgage originator

Credit-score expert

Real estate agent (a few of you offered specific suggestions -- thanks!)

And with one vote each: home stager, successful investor and flipper. (The last two were write-ins.)

Now, here's the thing: Housing forecasters -- good ones, at least -- have plenty of opportunities to appear in the national media. I don't want to convince one to free up a half-hour to an hour for a live chat and then have no one show up to ask questions. They'll never do it again -- ya follow?

So here's the deal: I'll look for a knowledgeable local appraiser willing to give this a go, and you be ready to pepper him or her with great questions. If that goes well, I don't see why we can't do this with a forecaster next, and then a mortgage originator and so on down the line.

Does that sound like a plan?

In secondary poll results, I asked you if you'd like to see fewer polls. (Yes, a poll about polls. Oh the irony.)

Almost half of you say you like the weekly polls and to keep doing them. Twenty-seven percent of you have no opinion one way or the other. Nineteen percent of you say less frequent polls would be preferable.

Of the remaining two voters, one of you opted for the choice to stop the polls altogether, and the other wrote in this suggestion: "how about doing some REAL reporting?" (Er -- you do realize you don't have to read this blog if it annoys you, right?)

I think Wonk reader MrRational's recommendation could make most folks happy: "Having polls is a great feature; but don't feel obliged to create one because of a schedule." So I'll still aim to do regular polls, but if nothing suggests itself in a particular week, I won't sweat it.

What happened to all the French restaurants? [Dining@Large]

2009-07-05T05:24:33-07:00

I know we still have French restaurants, although I don't think we have enough any longer to make a Top 10 out of them. (Maybe I should try.)

And, of course, we have some good ones: Petit Louis, Tersiguel's, Crepe du Jour, Cafe de Paris.

But how did Italian food take over French as Most Popular, Most Sure-Fire Bet for a Successful Restaurant and so on? ...

Space Station flyover Monday night [Maryland Weather]

2009-07-05T05:01:28-07:00

Space Cadets! There will be an unusually nice opportunity Monday evening to watch the International Space Station fly by on its way from the Louisiana coast to the Canadian Maritime provinces.

If skies are clear, we'll pick it up at 10:43 p.m. EDT, rising out of the southwest as it passes over northern Alabama. Look for a bright, star-like object hustling toward the northeast, rising about halfway up the northwestern sky by 10:46 p.m. At that moment, it will be somewhere over central Pennsylvania, about 280 miles from viewers in Baltimore, moving northeast at 17,500 mph.

From there it will pass through the handle of the Big Dipper and race off toward the northeast, disappearing from view at 10:49 p.m. as it flies over New Brunswick, Canada.

Sure, it's a bit late. But hey, it's summer. Take the kids outside with you and let them try to be the first to spot the station. That's their money up there, too. Here's more on what they're doing up there.

Orioles: Halfway home [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-05T03:43:47-07:00

The Orioles just reached the mathematical halfway point in this transitional season, so I wrote a column on it for your reading enjoyment...or disdain. If you want to take a look, it's right here. If you don't want to take a look, it's right here anyway.

Speaking of the Garden [Garden Variety]

2009-07-05T03:12:46-07:00

Summer has now thrown open her emerald doors. Every part of the landscape is profuse in leaves and flowers, and "green-robed senators of mighty woods" are clothed in their most elegant array. -- author unknown

Edge’s injury: What now? [Ring Posts]

2009-07-05T01:08:43-07:00

I’m assuming that most people reading this already know by now that the injury Edge suffered at a WWE house show Friday night in San Diego was a serious one. According to pwinsider.com, Edge has a torn Achilles tendon, which could keep him out of the ring until early next year. Obviously, losing one of the best all-around performers in the business for a significant length of time is horrible news for WWE. Edge joins Batista, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels on the list of Hall of Fame-caliber WWE stars who are either injured or on hiatus.

Today's game recaps -- July 4 [O's on Deck]

2009-07-04T22:36:58-07:00

The Triple-A Norfolk Tides edged the Gwinnett Braves, and the Double-A Bowie Baysox were blanked by the Altoona Curve. The Single-A Frederick Keys lost to the Potomac Nationals, while the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds fell to the Kannapolis Intimidators. The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds dropped a decision to the Oneonta Tigers. The rookie-level Bluefield Orioles beat the Pulaski Mariners, and the GCL Orioles swept two games from the GCL Twins. Norfolk Tides (AAA) Score: Norfolk Tides 3, Gwinnett Braves 2 (Box score) Recap: Catcher Robby Hammock was 2-for-4 with a solo home run to lead the Tides to a 3-2 victory over Gwinnett. Norfolk first baseman Michael Aubrey was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI single, and right fielder Jeff Fiorentino added two hits and a run scored. Tides relief pitcher Chris Waters (7-3) earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings. The 28-year-old left-hander gave up one hit and collected two strikeouts. Starting pitcher Troy Patton gave up two runs (one earned) and four hits in five innings for the Tides, and relief pitcher Alberto Castillo retired all three batters he faced in order to pick up his fourth save of the season. Bowie Baysox (AA) Score: Altoona Curve 1, Bowie Baysox 0 (Box score) Recap: Japanese pitcher Ryohei Tanaka tossed five scoreless innings in his first start, but the Baysox fell, 1-0, to Altoona. The 26-year-old right-hander hasn't allowed a run in 17 innings so far this season. Bowie relief pitcher Ryan Ouellette (3-2) gave up one run and three hits in two innings. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out two batters, but he suffered the loss. Baysox shortstop Robert Valido collected three of the team's five hits. Frederick Keys (A) Score: Potomac Nationals 4, Frederick Keys 1 (Box score) Recap: Right fielder Billy Rowell was 2-for-4 with a double, but the Keys dropped a 4-1 decision against Potomac. Frederick third baseman Bobby Stevens collected a double and a run scored, while catcher Billy Killian added an RBI. Keys starting pitcher Rick Zagone (0-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old left-hander walked three batters and collected two strikeouts. Relief pitcher Eddie Gamboa retired all seven batters he faced for the Keys. The 24-year-old right-hander has only given up three hits in five scoreless innings since being promoted to Frederick last month. Delmarva Shorebirds (A) Score: Kannapolis Intimidators 6, Delmarva Shorebirds 1 (Box score) Recap: Left fielder Kyle Hudson was 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases, but the Shorebirds lost, 6-1, to Kannapolis. Delmarva designated hitter Joe Mahoney and shortstop Greg Miclat each hit a double, and first baseman Elvin Polanco added an RBI. Shorebirds starting pitcher Oliver Drake (4-5) allowed six runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out four batters and issued two walks. He also hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and committed a balk. Relief pitcher Shane Mathews tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the Shorebirds. Aberdeen IronBirds (A) Score: Oneonta Tigers 7, Aberdeen IronBirds 2 (Box score) Recap: Starting pitcher Nicholas Haughian (0-2) allowed four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings, and the IronBirds suffered a 7-2 loss to Oneonta. The 22-year-old left-hander collected four strikeouts and walked one batter. Aberdeen designated hitter Justin Dalles was 2-for-4, and right fielder Arthur Bonevacia added a double and a sacrifice fly. IronBirds catcher Brian Ward also hit a sacrifice fly, and third baseman Garabez Rosa and center fielder Richard D'Oleo each scored a run. Bluefield Orioles (Rookie) Score: Bluefield Orioles 5, Pulaski Mariners 4 (Box score) Recap: First baseman Corey Thomas was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in the Orioles' 5-4 win over Pulaski. Bluefield right fielder Michael Planeta collected an RBI and a stolen base, while second baseman Omar Casamayor added a stolen base and two runs scored. Third baseman Mike Flacco also picked up a stolen base for the Orioles. Relief pitcher Thomas Phelps (1-1) tossed three scoreless innings to earn the victory for Bluefield. The 21-year-old right-hander struck out three batters and allowed two hits. Orioles starting pitcher Vito Frabizio gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings, but he didn't factor in the decision. The 20-year-old right-hander collected seven strikeouts and issued one walk. GCL Orioles (Rookie) Game 1 score: GCL Orioles 5, GCL Twins 2, 10 innings (Box score) Game 1 recap: Second baseman Moises Ciriaco was 4-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored in the Orioles' 5-2 victory over the Twins in the completion of a matchup that was suspended earlier this week. Orioles right fielder Jaynnertt Melenciano was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, and shortstop David Calderon added an RBI. Relief pitcher Christopher Schmitt (2-0) retired all six batters he faced to pick up the win for the Orioles. Game 2 score: GCL Orioles 5, GCL Twins 3, 7 innings (Box score) Game 2 recap: Catcher Xavier Lopez was 2-for-2 with an RBI, and the Orioles won the originally scheduled game, 5-3, over the Twins. Orioles first baseman David Anderson was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while third baseman Anyi Tejeda added two hits and a run scored. Starting pitcher Daurin Tavarez (1-0) allowed three runs (two earned) and seven hits in five innings for the Orioles, and relief pitcher Zachary Petersime tossed two scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season. Orioles left fielder David Rivera collected a triple and a sacrifice fly.

Saving The Catcher in the Rye [Read Street]

2009-07-04T22:03:39-07:00

Bravo for Deborah Batts.

Last week, the federal judge barred U.S. distribution of an unauthorized sequel to The Catcher in the Rye. Her ruling was a victory for 90-year-old author J.D. Salinger, who for decades has jealously guarded his privacy — and his words. The courthouse battle in Manhattan focused on 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye (read a review here), which tells the story of Holden Caulfield as a senior citizen. The book, written by a Swedish author, already is available in Europe and was scheduled for a summer release here.

Authors have lots of leeway to parody other works, as anyone who ever read Mad or National Lampoon knows. But Salinger’s lawyers argued that he retains an interest in Caulfield — 57 years after the classic was published — and called the new book a “ripoff.”

Judge Batts (Radcliffe, Class of 1969; Harvard Law, 1972) rejected claims that 60 Years was a critical examination or parody of the original, according to news reports. The literary battle may continue; Judge Batts’ order is a stopgap measure until a trial is held.

But her ruling doesn’t address a larger issue: Is Catcher still relevant? Last fall, Oberlin professor Anne Trubek argued that the book is past its prime. “I think that most American teenagers will find it rather tame and sort of laughable the things that were once considered so controversial,” she said on NPR.

Certainly, today’s teens shouldn’t be fed a steady diet of books featuring angst-ridden white prep school boys — A Separate Peace; Good Times, Bad Times; etc. — as I was.

There are too many newer authors such as Junot Diaz and Toni Morrison who can offer a broader look at the world.

Yet Catcher remains a classic on the theme of searching for identity and meaning. That theme resounds today, just as it did 50, or 100, years ago. Consider the musical “Spring Awakening,” a recent Tony-winner adapted from a 19th Century German novel; it takes all of its power and energy from those universal themes.

And if kids can waste time watching “Gossip Girl” or “90210,” there must be a place for Salinger’s simple, powerful story.

Wake up call for Brian and Nick [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-04T21:39:35-07:00

Jeez, just when I think I'm about to get Burt and Bob off my case about Brian Roberts, he teams up with Nick Markakis on one of the worst defensive gaffes of the year in the seventh. Roberts jogged back on what was supposed to be an inning-ending pop up by Juan Rivera. Markakis jogged up and waited for Brian to catch a ball that should be the province of the right-fielder. I mean, why would you bust it on a play like that? It's only the go-ahead run. No excuse for that. The ball was ruled a hit, but it was a routine play that absolutely has to be made. Brian already had an error in the game, which cost the Orioles a run during the Angels' three-run comeback in the fifth. Throw in the slow reaction of Melvin Mora on an important play at third in the eighth, and you have to wonder just what's going on with some of these guys. "There were breakdowns in various areas and we paid the price for them,'' Dave Trembley said after the game. The O's were coming off an uplifting victory on Friday night and had a chance to secure a split of a very tough four-game road series with a chance to take three of four with a victory tomorrow. Guess that wasn't enough motivation. Frankly, I know the emotions that bubbled up after the bullpen collapse against the Red Sox on Wednesday, but this comeback galls me even more than Boston's four-run ninth. Sometimes, you just get beat. In this game, the Orioles volunteered to lose.

Still speechless [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-04T20:30:14-07:00

If you're wondering why I haven't weighed in on the Steve McNair tragedy, it's because I wouldn't know where to start. McNair was a terrific quarterback who led the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl and the Ravens to a memorable season in 2006. Had nothing but positive experiences covering him as a Raven. Can't even grasp what the families of both victims are going through right now. God rest their souls.

Sympathizing with Berken, but... [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-04T20:27:52-07:00

...you have to wonder how much longer he will be able to hold his place in the Orioles rotation. He gave up only two earned runs over four-plus innings, but needed 85 pitches to get 12 outs and left before becoming eligible for the victory. He's still 1-5 and his ERA improved only slightly to 6.25. Apparently, I'm not the only one who is wondering if the Orioles are getting closer to bringing up Chris Tillman to replace either Berken or Rich Hill. O's beat reporter Jeff Zrebiec weighed in on this subject from Anaheim before tonight's game. Take a look at his Orioles notebook right here.

Patriotic pets parade for Fourth, Part II [Unleashed]

2009-07-04T19:40:30-07:00

Here is the second batch of my pictures from the hilarious Fourth of July pet parade and talent show at Baltimore's American Visionary Arts Museum today.

There will probably be at least a third batch, too.

There were about 80 pets registered for the event, even more unregistered and my camera was stocked up on battery power -- I couldn't help myself.

Update on Thing 3, the foster...he learns cheese [Unleashed]

2009-07-04T15:48:25-07:00

It's day two with Thing 3. He's actually been with me for about a day and a half now. And though it's not much, I think there's been a smattering of progress.

(For those of you who missed the first installment, I'm fostering a dog for a bit. He's a rescue with some special needs but also a little cuteness.)

First, he's not only coming out of the carrier now and again, he's spending most of his time out. And he's learned about pillows! They're soft! He likes to snuggle on top of one that I put on the floor. It's quickly become one of his favorite nooks.

After not eating anything yesterday, he ate some wet food this morning and after the kitties finish dinner, I expect that he'll eat some more. He hasn't touched the dry food the shelter sent home with him. I haven't seen him drink from the water bowl, either.

And though I've been a little sad that he hasn't shown so much as a snippet of interest in treats -- he's utterly ignored three different types -- just a few minutes ago I had a small victory. Found out our little guy loves cheese!! He might be a dog after all.

My little cheese hound atop his favorite pillow. His only pillow, really. Photo by Jill.

The Comment of the Week [Dining@Large]

2009-07-04T13:48:04-07:00

I decided not to go to the parade today, which might take too much energy, but instead to lie on my bed under the slowly revolving ceiling fan and read all the comments of the past week.

I found I couldn't decide on just one for Comment of the Week, so instead I'm going to declare a winner of the four-word review contest (all of which were great, by the way, if you missed them). This one made me laugh out loud. ...

Born on the 4th of July [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-04T12:06:49-07:00

Let's all wish each other a happy Independence Day and reflect on what a truly great country we live in. It's not without its faults -- NFL instant replay stands out for me -- but a lot of people made a lot of sacrifices to make it the beacon of freedom for the past couple of centuries, so Happy Birthday to us all. On that subject, you might enjoy Candus Thomson's story about three prominent Marylanders who were born under the fireworks -- Peter Angelos, tennis star Pam Shriver and former Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. There are some interesting quotes from Angelos, who waxes a bit philosophical about turning 80 on the day the nation turns 233. Take a look. Baltimore Sun photo

Another solid Smackdown, but … [Ring Posts]

2009-07-04T11:45:28-07:00

Smackdown has been such a strong show as of late that it’s usually difficult to find fault with anything on the program. However, while Friday night’s episode was good, I do have a couple of nitpicks in regard to the booking. Having The Hart Dynasty lose to Cryme Tyme in their Smackdown debut just seems ridiculous to me. The problem, which I noted in a post earlier this week about the WWE trade, is that Cryme Tyme is the only babyface tag team on Smackdown for THD to feud with, and I guess for it to be a true feud, the same team can’t win every time they meet.

Patriotic pets parade for Fourth [Unleashed]

2009-07-04T11:34:31-07:00

If you're an animal person, the American Visionary Arts Museum's annual pet parade should be a must on your calendar.

More than 80 pets came out -- many sporting their red, white and blue -- for the event this morning. The costuming was as eccentric as you'd expect from the museum. A pup wearing a pickle. Not one but two pugs with the stars and stripes painted (hairsprayed, actually) right onto them. A tortoise that essentially hauled an entire art project on its back.

Check out my first batch of pics. More to come later. Happy Fourth!!

Photos by Jill

Today's game previews -- July 4 [O's on Deck]

2009-07-04T11:10:40-07:00

Happy Fourth of July, everyone. It's a day full of cookouts and fireworks for me, so I'm going to make this quick. The Triple-A Norfolk Tides travel to play the Gwinnett Braves, and the Double-A Bowie Baysox hit the road to face the Altoona Curve. The Single-A Frederick Keys continue their road trip against the Potomac Nationals, and the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds meet the Kannapolis Intimidators. The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds play the Oneonta Tigers. Norfolk Tides (AAA) Record: (44-35) Opponent at Gwinnett Braves (6 p.m.) Probable pitchers Norfolk: Troy Patton (1-2, 5.19 ERA) Gwinnett: Bobby Brownlie (0-1, 12.46 ERA) Bowie Baysox (AA) Record: (45-36) Opponent at Altoona Curve (7:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Bowie: Ryohei Tanaka (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Altoona: Derek Hankins (0-2, 5.82 ERA) Frederick Keys (A) Record: (4-4 in second half, 35-42 overall) Opponent at Potomac Nationals (6:35 p.m.) Probable pitchers Frederick: Rick Zagone (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Potomac: Brad Meyers (5-2, 1.53 ERA) Delmarva Shorebirds (A) Record: (4-5 in second half, 40-38 overall) Opponent at Kannapolis Intimidators (7:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Delmarva: Oliver Drake (4-4, 3.25 ERA) Kannapolis: Dexter Carter (3-2, 3.73 ERA) Aberdeen IronBirds (A) Record: (5-9) Opponent at Oneonta Tigers (7 p.m.) Probable pitchers Aberdeen: Nicholas Haughian (0-1, 1.00 ERA) Oneonta: Nate Newman (0-1, 1.50 ERA)

Edge’s injury [Ring Posts]

2009-07-04T10:34:13-07:00

Pwinsider.com is reporting that Edge suffered an ankle injury after landing badly during his match with Jeff Hardy at a WWE house show Friday night in San Diego. There’s no word yet as to how serious the injury is, but he did have to be helped to the back. If Edge is out for a significant length of time it obviously is a big blow for WWE, which just put the unified WWE tag team title on Edge and Chris Jericho last Sunday. Note: Check back later for my thoughts on Friday night’s episode of Smackdown. I hope everyone is having a happy and safe Fourth of July.

Mustard or ketchup on a hot dog? [Dining@Large]

2009-07-04T09:53:12-07:00

Under an earlier post, a lively discussion developed about what condiments were proper for a hot dog. As if "proper" and "hot dog" belong in the same sentence. (Don't get me wrong; once in a blue moon I crave a good hot dog, and I indulge that craving.)

Anyway, Voodoo Pork once sent me an e-mail saying I should write a post about this very subject and I would get 100 comments. I thought that was the dumbest thing I'd ever heard, but now I think he may have been right. Who knew? ...

Another place to watch the fireworks tonight [Midnight Sun]

2009-07-04T07:28:44-07:00

When I compiled the list of the best places to watch the fireworks tonight, outside of the crowded Inner Harbor pavilion scene, I left one great spot out: Tabrizi's, (500 Harborview Dr.). I don't know why I didn't include Tabrizi's in the list ...

Update on the vacation food situation [Dining@Large]

2009-07-04T06:05:10-07:00

This has been such a good vacation that I haven't been food once, which is some sort of record here. Not for a mosquito, deer tick, chigger, spider or copperhead.

Actually we had lunch at the Blue Chair yesterday, and I had a hard time choosing between these two items on the menu:

Maryland Crab Cakes -- handmade wild-caught crab claw cakes served with red pepper ranch and capers $10

and

Lunch Croissant -- ham or peppered turkey with cheddar and dijonnaise on a plain bagel, multi-grain toast or croissant $6

First 76 dogs adopted --- FREE! [Unleashed]

2009-07-04T05:10:38-07:00

This sounds like a very Unleashed way to celebrate the Fourth.

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) is celebrating Independence Day with a Spirit of ’76 promotion. Beginning on Sunday, July 5, the shelter will be waive adoption fees for the first 76 dogs and puppies.

Every dog adopted from the shelter has been neutered and de-wormed; given rabies, DHLPP and bordatella vaccines; and provided with a flea preventative, a general examination, a food sample, and even a month of free health insurance.

“We’re celebrating Independence Day by making this best time ever to adopt a dog,” Jennifer Mead-Brause, Executive Director at BARCS said in a statement. “Our goal is give 76 dogs their freedom from life in the shelter by placing them in wonderful new homes.”

BARCS brought in 2,435 dogs from January 1 through June 30.

Sun file photo of Fouth of July doggies.

Celebrating the Fourth of July with the incomparable voice of Leontyne Price [Clef Notes]

2009-07-04T05:00:18-07:00

Happy Fourth of July.

For a fabulous blast of vocal patriotism, you can't beat this a cappella performance of "God Bless America" by indelible soprano Leontyne Price, from a concert appearance in 2001. She has always been one of my favorite artists -- a singer with an extraordinarily rich tone and deep expressive power, a woman of ...

great dignity and integrity. I didn't get to hear her in operas before her retirement, but in several concerts that I'll never forget -- not to mention her thrilling a cappella ''America the Beautiful" last fall in Washington, when she was honored at the NEA Opera Awards. At 81, she still sounded supreme. Here she is, filmed in her 70s, delivering Irving Berlin's stirring anthem. Hearing Miss Price her gives me all the fireworks I need for this day.

Tougher times for renters, landlords [The Real Estate Wonk]

2009-07-04T04:10:02-07:00

We all hear that layoffs and salary reductions are bad for homeowners and will probably keep foreclosure numbers from dropping anytime soon. But the cuts aren't good for renters, either. And what's not good for renters -- in this case -- is bad news for landlords.

Half of U.S. property managers are having more trouble filling their units with "qualified renters," according to a new TransUnion survey. Eight out of 10 say they're worried about how the rest of the year will go. (TransUnion, a credit-information company that sells renter-screening services, said it surveyed more than 870 property managers last month.)

But what about the people who got foreclosed on? Aren't they in need of a place to rent? As it happens, only half the surveyed property managers reported an increase over last year in applicants leaving foreclosed properties. TransUnion speculates that "many consumers coming from these circumstances are moving in with family members or friends to share expenses."

Local landlords, how are things going for you? (Come on, now. I know some of you are reading. Well -- maybe not on the Fourth of July, but I'll wait.)

Renters, have you needed to make a change -- moving to a cheaper apartment, bringing in a roommate, going back to live with parents -- to deal with tighter finances? (Or are things going so well that you're moving to a nicer place?)

ESPN Interview: Palmeiro sticks to his story [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-04T03:54:23-07:00

Former Oriole Rafael Palmeiro is sticking to his original alibi for the positive steroid test that soiled his reputation in 2005. He told ESPN's Pedro Gomez that he got some tainted B-12 and that there was no reason for him to turn to steroids at that late stage in his career. Palmeiro was speaking before his induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, TX yesterday. Here's the link. If you've been reading me on this subject over the years, you'll remember that I was very hard on Palmeiro at the outset, largely because he was so squirrelly in his initial media conference. Later, when Miguel Tejada's name started to come up in the steroid conversation, I had to concede that it gave Palmeiro at least a modicum of plausible deniability. Don't know if that will be enough to get him into the Hall of Fame. The thing that made it hard for Palmeiro to convince anyone of his innocence was the previous reference to him in Jose Canseco's first steroid expose. Maybe it was just a coincidence, the the substance that Canseco claimed that Palmeiro was using was the same substance that showed up in his 2005 urine sample. Now that you've had four years to digest it, do you think he was a villain or a victim? Associated Press photo

Speaking of the Garden [Garden Variety]

2009-07-04T03:08:15-07:00

For most of us who are intimidated by theories of garden design, the cottage garden provides immediate appeal, since it is a horticultural rather than an architectural solution to a limited area. -- Patricia Thorpe

Today's game recaps -- July 3 [O's on Deck]

2009-07-04T00:01:37-07:00

The Triple-A Norfolk Tides blanked the Gwinnett Braves, while the Double-A Bowie Baysox scored late to beat the Akron Aeros. The Single-A Frederick Keys fell to the Potomac Nationals, and the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds lost to the Hickory Crawdads. The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds pounded the Oneonta Tigers. The rookie-level Bluefield Orioles held on for a win over the Pulaski Mariners, and the rookie-level GCL Orioles topped the GCL Reds. After tonight's game, the IronBirds announced that catcher Zach Booker was transferred from Aberdeen to the Baysox. Norfolk Tides (AAA) Score: Norfolk Tides 5, Gwinnett Braves 0 (Box score) Recap: Starting pitcher Chris Tillman (6-5) tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings in the Tides' 5-0 victory over Gwinnett at Harbor Park. The 21-year-old right-hander struck out seven batters, allowed four hits and issued one walk. Tillman threw 67 of his 100 pitches for strikes. Norfolk third baseman Jolbert Cabrera had a triple and three RBIs, while right fielder Jeff Fiorentino was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Tides first baseman Brandon Snyder added two hits, and designated hitter Michael Aubrey collected a double and a sacrifice fly. Relief pitcher Kam Mickolio retired all four batters he faced for the Tides, collecting two strikeouts. Bowie Baysox (AA) Score: Bowie Baysox 3, Akron Aeros 2 (Box score) Recap: Third baseman Mike Costanzo delivered with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Baysox over Akron, 3-2, at Prince George's Stadium. "I just went up and tried getting my pitch again, just seeing it and hitting it," Costanzo said. "As soon as it passed [the pitcher], I knew it was getting through." Bowie center fielder Dave Krynzel was 3-for-4 with a run scored, while right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion added two doubles and a run scored. The Baysox were the victim of a triple play in the bottom of the fourth. Baysox designated hitter Danny Figueroa popped up to Akron starting pitcher Josh Tomlin on a bunt attempt. Tomlin turned and fired to second base to force out Concepcion, and Aeros shortstop Carlos Rivero threw to first base to eliminate Baysox catcher Guillermo Rodriguez. Baysox starting pitcher Tim Bascom gave up two runs and five hits in six innings. The 24-year-old right-hander walked three batters and collected two strikeouts. "[The outing] was pretty much up and down, effectively ineffective, if you will." Bascom said. "I just kept my team in the game, basically. That's all I can really say." Relief pitcher Jim Hoey (1-2) tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the victory for Bowie, and Josh Perrault recorded the final three outs for his 15th save of the season. "Anytime you can get through an inning without giving up any runs or hits ... it's always a momentum builder," Hoey said. "It gets our team back out there to hit, and hopefully we can score some runs." Shortstop Robert Valido collected two hits and a run scored for the Baysox. Frederick Keys (A) Score: Potomac Nationals 6, Frederick Keys 5 (Box score) Recap: Right fielder Billy Rowell was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored, but the Keys were edged, 6-5, by Potomac. It was 20-year-old outfielder's eighth home run of the season, and it was only his second since June 1. Frederick designated hitter Wally Crancer hit a three-run double in the fifth inning, and shortstop Pedro Florimon Jr. was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Keys starting pitcher Sean Gleason (0-3) gave up six runs (two earned) and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old right-hander walked four batters and collected two strikeouts. Delmarva Shorebirds (A) Score: Hickory Crawdads 6, Delmarva Shorebirds 5 (Box score) Recap: Right fielder Ronnie Welty hit a two-run double in the fourth inning and scored a run, but the Shorebirds' comeback fell just short in a 6-5 loss to Hickory at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Delmarva left fielder Kyle Hudson was 2-for-4 with a run scored, and second baseman L.J. Hoes added an RBI. Shorebirds starting pitcher Ryan O'Shea (5-4) gave up five runs (four earned) and five hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out four batters and issued three walks. Third baseman Tyler Kolodny was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for the Shorebirds, but he also committed two fielding errors in the game. Aberdeen IronBirds (A) Score: Aberdeen IronBirds 10, Oneonta Tigers 1 (Box score) Recap: Left fielder Lance West hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to power the IronBirds to a 10-1 rout over Oneonta at Ripken Stadium. Aberdeen right fielder Arthur Bonevacia was 2-for-2 with two walks, three RBIs and two runs scored, and center fielder Richard D'Oleo added two hits, including a triple, and two run scored. IronBirds starting pitcher Kenny Moreland (3-0) remained perfect this season after tossing six scoreless innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up two hits, walked one batter and collected five strikeouts. Relief pitcher Stephen Procner allowed one run and two hits in the final three innings to pick up his first save of the season for Aberdeen. Shortstop Blake Davis was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the IronBirds, and catcher Justin Dalles picked up his first professional hit. Bluefield Orioles (Rookie) Score: Bluefield Orioles 4, Pulaski Mariners 2 (Box score) Recap: Designated hitter Joel Polanco hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, and the Orioles cruised to a 4-2 win over Pulaski at Bowen Field. Bluefield second baseman Gary Helmick was 3-for-4, and catcher Dashenko Ricardo added two hits and an RBI. Starting pitcher Jesse Beal (2-1) allowed one run and two hits in seven innings for the Orioles. The 18-year-old right-hander struck out four batters and issued one walk. Orioles relief pitcher Josh Dowdy gave up two hits in the ninth, but he escaped without surrendering any runs for his second save of the season. GCL Orioles (Rookie) Score: GCL Orioles 8, GCL Reds 1 (Box score) Recap: First baseman David Anderson was 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored in the Orioles' 8-1 win over the Reds. Orioles designated hitter David Rivera collected three hits, including two doubles, and a run scored, while left fielder Edwin Cintron and shortstop Moises Ciriaco each added two hits and two runs scored. Starting pitcher Zach Clark allowed one unearned run and two hits in four innings for the Orioles, but he didn't factor in the decision. Orioles relief pitcher Dustin Carder (1-0) tossed four scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Sherrill bounces back [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-03T22:12:55-07:00

George Sherrill didn't make it look easy, but he got it done. He was 0-2 on all three hitters in the ninth inning, but gave up a leadoff single and a pretty hard-hit ball for the game-ending double play. Both Sherrill and Jim Johnson had to battle tonight in the first game the two of them were reunited since Wednesday's ninth-inning collapse. In both innings, the Angels were one swing away from tying the game, but the O's held on to even the four-game series at a game apiece. For those fans who wonder whether Brian Roberts wants to play, there were a couple of situations where it was pretty obvious he wanted this game. He scored from first on that long single by Nick Markakis and almost did a somersault to get his hand on the plate. He also decoyed baserunner Bobby Abreu on that big chopper that Johnson fielded acrobatically and flipped to second for a huge force out.

Michael Lewis' Home Game: comic fatherhood [Read Street]

2009-07-03T22:03:50-07:00

The Baltimore Sun's Joe Burris spoke with Michael Lewis, whose books have examined Wall Street avarice, a Silicon Valley crash and the Oakland Athletics' scouting system. Here's Burris' take: So what’s it been like for the man who recently crafted Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood to take readers to the changing table? “It was the first time I had to worry if my wife was going to let me get away with it,” said Lewis, whose latest book is a collection of a series of journal entries from Slate magazine. He’s perhaps best known for such works as Liar’s Poker, which chronicled his years as a bond trader on Wall Street, and Moneyball: The Art of Winning An Unfair Game, which dealt with the Oakland Athletics’ struggles to compete with major market teams.

But he’s also struck chords with Home Game, as he looks at how today’s fathers cope with being more involved with the everyday trials and triumphs of parenting. Lewis offers some colorful but poignant anecdotes on how he anticipated a plethora of joyful, father-knows-best moments, only to be awash with mixed emotions about the role.

He says it’s not surprising that men still struggle to find their way in the parenting landscape despite playing a more active role for years now. He says that women have experienced liberation from their former roles as mothers and home makers and added that many are conflicted about it. Why should men be any less conflicted about their roles, he asks. Here’s more from Lewis about his book and his view on parenting:

How much do you compare, as a father, to your father? “My father once watched me with a kind of detached pity as I struggled to dress our baby. Finally, he said, ‘You know, I didn’t talk to you until you went away to college.’ His experience of fatherhood was so different to mine that, at least in the first few years, it was completely useless to me. And yet he was, and is, a terrific dad. But there’s no way, if he landed the job today, he could get away with his approach."

What kind of responses have you received from other fathers about your book? “I’m sure there are fathers who take offense at my view of the role but I haven’t heard from them. Most of the response has been from women, who say something like, ‘It’s nice to know that my husband was actually thinking what I thought he was thinking.’ From men I tend to hear something like, "Dude! I can’t believe your wife let you get away with writing this!’"

When you felt the need to discuss difficult parenting moments with others, whom did you turn to? “I never felt that need. Or, if I did, I turned to my journal. My wife, on the other hand, had about 6,000 new mothers with whom to commiserate. New mothers gather; new fathers roll themselves up into a tiny ball in the corner of the room until the pain subsides.”

In what way do you believe that parenting resources serve fathers? “If by ‘parenting resources’ you mean the parenting books and birthing classes and so on: very little, in my experience. For a start, there’s the near total absence of the comic sensibility in them, when what they are describing is inherently a comic role. Each time my wife and I attended birthing class -- and we went to them before the birth of each of our three children -- there came a moment when the group split, and the women went into one room, and the men into another. The moment the men were alone the tone changed. In the presence of their wives and the instructors the men were serious and concerned; left to their own devices what they really wanted to do was joke about the absurdity of the enterprise. We had no real role to play except to pretend that we had a role to play.”

Hernandez: Early hook? [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-03T21:26:41-07:00

If you're going to say Dave Trembley just took out David Hernandez too soon, I suggest you do it right now, because I'm not accepting any second-guesses after Jim Johnson finishes the inning (or doesn't). You don't get the benefit of hindsight this time. Hernandez was right at about 100 pitches and he walked Chone Figgins with two outs and Bobby Abreu coming up. The change was automatic, but we'll see how it turns out. Instant update: That was quick. I'm wondering why Mike Scioscia went to the hit and run in that situation, if that was what it was, because Matt Wieters' great throw cost the Angels a chance for their hottest hitter to put a big dent in the three-run lead against a setup guy who might be little tentative after Wednesday's ninth-inning collapse.

Hernandez: Poised under pressure [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-03T21:15:02-07:00

Sometimes, I think you learn more about a pitcher during his more vulnerable moments, and I think that might have been the case tonight in the fourth inning after he faltered briefly with a 6-0 lead. It was an important juncture in the game, especially in the wake of two disappointing losses in a row. Hernandez was cruising before Juan Rivera's two-out double. He quickly walked Kendry Morales and then gave up his first run of the game on a flyball double by Macier Izturis. Right there, the game was hanging in the balance. If Hernandez wilts and the Angels get one more hit to cut the six-run lead in half, the shift in momentum would have been dynamic. Instead, he made a very good 1-0 pitch to Jeff Mathis to get out of the inning. He showed some toughness there and he has been better than his numbers so far this year. Late to the party: I didn't tune into this game until the third inning because I went to see the new gangster flick Public Enemies. It was fun and Johnny Depp's take on Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger was interesting, but I was a little disappointed that the movie focused so heavily on Dillinger, who has been portrayed in several previous films. The book that the screenplay was based upon was a far more wide-ranging look at the high-profile outlaws of that time. I wish this new take on the era would have developed those characters a little more.

Meet Thing 3, my newest furry foster friend [Unleashed]

2009-07-03T19:02:14-07:00

I'd like everyone to offer a warm welcome to, well, an as-yet unnamed doggie who's going to be spending a little time at my house.

The little poodle mix is a dog I've agreed to foster for a bit. He's from the MDSCA by way of a Pennsylvania puppy mill. How long he stays is up to me, to him, and of course to Leo and Pumpkin. For now he's only been here a few hours.

This little guy comes with some not-so-small issues that the average dog would not. Because he was rescued from a puppy mill, he's extremely fearful. He's timid and pretty much has no idea how to let go and just be a dog. He doesn't know about being petted. He doesn't know about going for walks. When I offered him a treat he just looked at it.

But they said at the shelter that he might be too scared to come out of his carrier. He's already bested the odds on that. He was out exploring literally within seconds of arriving here. And now he's snuggled on some pillows near -- but not in -- the carrier.

When I saw him a few days ago at the shelter, he was a long-haired, bedraggled, matted mess. He's since had a bath and a rather military-esque shave. He feels smooth and soft, like crushed velvet. (I wasn't really supposed to push it, but I had to pet him a little. Had to.)

I'll keep you posted on how we're all doing. And in the meantime...does anyone have an idea for a name? I want something really sweet, really catchy. And bonus points if it reflects his being a small, furry, black morsel.

Photos of the little guy within hours of getting home -- his first-ever home -- by Jill.

Fourth of July salmon [Random Rodricks]

2009-07-03T18:52:08-07:00

Three-For-All Salmon for the Fourth

For Independence Day 2008, I accidentally created what I think is a new poached salmon recipe and want to share this with you. My guests raved about it -- and, really, I had no idea the results would be so good.

You need a long, rectangular stainless steel pan, like the chafing trays professional caterers use. (You don't need the whole set-up -- just one of the trays.) I have picked these trays up over the years from restaurant-supply stores. They come in varying depths. The one I used was about three inches deep. The tray needs to be long enough to handle a large salmon filet. You can probably double-up aluminum foil pans, like those used for roasting turkeys, but they may not be long enough for this recipe.

Purchase three skinless salmon filets -- nice, big ones, about 16 to 18 inches long. You're going to invest about $45 to $55 in salmon for this dish, but it will serve plenty of guests, and this will still be more affordable than any other seafood dish you might serve at a party.

Slice a bunch of celery on a sharp diagonal line, as thin as possible, and lay this as the bed in the steaming tray.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place one of the filets on this bed of celery.

Sprinkle with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Slice four fresh carrots on a sharp diagonal, also thin. Lay them evenly atop the filet.

Sprinkle with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Place the second filet on top of the carrots.

Slice one large cucumber into thin, diagonal pieces. Lay them evenly atop the filet. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Place the third filet atop the cucumbers.

You have now stacked three filets. They are going to steam together and adhere to each other.

Into the pan pour about two cups of dry white wine and two cups of water. Do not cover the salmon completely with the liquid. Sprinkle in some bay leaves, some dill spice and some mustard seed. Throw in a sprig of rosemary.

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and slide the pan into the oven, reducing the temperature to 375 F.

I think my three-story salmon steamed in 30 minutes. Use a thumb test to see if the top filet has firmed up. Overcooking is always a concern. But I think, since this dish is based on oven-steaming, you have less chance of that goof-up. Your kitchen will smell much better than it does when you try to pan-fry or broil salmon indoors.

I thought I would remove each filet and serve them separately. But I discovered that the salmon filets became one during the cooking. I left it alone to cool, then covered it with plastic wrap and placed the pan in the refrigerator overnight.

But first . . . before putting the poached salmon in the 'fridge . . . .

Drain all but a few drops of the grand-smelling liquid out of the pan and into a pot. Strain out the spice, bay leaves and seed. Reduce the broth for about an hour over low heat. Let that cool and use it the next day as a base for a sauce vert. The sauce vert can be made in a blender with the cold reduction, a skinned and chopped cucumber, some watercress, dill and parsley, and mixed with some mayonnaise to the consistency of a creamy salad dressing.

This topping was served cold along with the chilled salmon, which appeared to one guest to be the "largest, fattest salmon filet I've ever seen." It was actually, of course, a three-in-one, with some surprising mild crunch (carrots and cukes) between the slices. Use a very sharp (and wet) knife to cut slender (one- to one-and-a-half-inch wide) pieces for your guests. Each stack should hold together nicely (sans tooth picks) and taste delicious with the sauce verte.

Bon appetite.

Baltimore on Top 10 lists [The Real Estate Wonk]

2009-07-03T18:06:27-07:00

And now for something completely different: top 10 lists that Baltimore graces.

As the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore points out, the city (or metro area) has appeared on at least three "best of" lists recently.

Next Generation Consulting names Baltimore seventh on its list of large cities it believes are "the best places to live and work for young professionals." The factors it looked at -- based, it said, on 11 years of studying "residential and relocation patterns" of 20- to 40-year-olds -- are "Earning, Learning, Vitality, Around Town, After Hours, Cost of Lifestyle, and Social Capital."

Forbes includes Baltimore on its list of "Best Cities to Get Ahead" -- though by dint of being part of Greater Washington. The mega metro area, it says, has "one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and a high median household income."

And The Nielsen Co. thinks Baltimore is one of 10 cities with the "greenest automotive potential." It says Baltimore households are 22 percent more likely than average to buy a green car, based on its analysis of ownership rates of high-mileage vehicles. That ties Baltimore with Los Angeles for ninth on the list.

There are a lot of best-of lists out there. (Forbes seems to have a new one every day.) Do you think they can influence people's buying or moving patterns? Or do they at least reflect those patterns accurately?

Hey there, underwater borrowers: Want a refi? [The Real Estate Wonk]

2009-07-03T18:04:49-07:00

HUD announced this week that the Home Affordable Refinance Program will now accept borrowers who aren't behind on payments but are up to 125 percent underwater -- people who aren't going to find anyone else offering them a refi. Originally, program eligibility was limited to borrowers whose mortgages totaled no more than 105 percent of their home values.

You still need a loan that was bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. (Don't know if it was? Ask your lender. Or check here for Fannie and here for Freddie.)

Zillow, the real estate information site, estimated yesterday that 29 percent of Baltimore-area homeowners are prime candidates for the program because they owe between 80 percent and 125 percent of their homes' value on their conforming first mortgages. That's 151,000 homeowners. But Zillow can't say how many meet the Fannie/Freddie requirement. (That's not publicly available information, the company says.)

These figures are up from the 113,000 (or 22 percent) of metro-area homeowners with conforming mortgages who owe between 80 and 105 percent of their home values.

The number of potentially eligible folks is higher nationwide: 36 percent of conforming-loan borrowers now and 26 percent under the original rules, Zillow estimates.

But apparently-eligible and actually-eligible are very different things, as the original rules of the program prove. Bloomberg reports that Fannie and Freddie have refinanced 80,000 mortgages under those guidelines, a tiny fraction of the participation the feds hoped for. And 60,000 of those had loan-to-value ratios of 80 percent or less. Mortgage professionals say it's tough for borrowers to qualify.

Has anyone out there tried to refinance under the older rules? I'm curious to know how it went.

Instead of new homes, these folks got heartache [The Real Estate Wonk]

2009-07-03T18:04:29-07:00

If you put down a deposit on a new home, you expect to get a new home. But whenever you hand over a chunk of change for something in return down the road, there's always an opportunity for something to go horribly wrong.

Example one:

Two business-partner siblings who registered a homebuilding company with the state near the beginning of the housing boom pleaded guilty this week to misusing deposits from 22 couples and individuals. I reported the story for today's paper -- you can read more about it here, but here's a taste:

Walter Osborne Ely Jr. and Kimberly Zahrey started JAE Developers in 2002 and collected between $1,000 and $50,000 in upfront payments from prospective home buyers, according to Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler's statement of fact submitted to Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Vicki Ballou-Watts. Instead of putting the money in escrow accounts as required, the two quickly spent it. Some of the money went to business expenses that had nothing to do with building the customers' homes, the state said. Some of it Ely and Zahrey spent on themselves, the state said.

Meanwhile -- example two -- the state attorney general announced Wednesday that a Garrett County homebuilder also failed to build homes for several customers or return their money.

This comes on the heels of Lorraine Mirabella's stories about Altieri Homes, which the state has charged with "failing to start or finish construction of at least 20 homes in Harford and Howard counties after taking deposits and payments." Owner Greig Altieri said in a story last month that the tough economy put him out of business.

This story makes me feel itchy [The Real Estate Wonk]

2009-07-03T18:03:26-07:00

The City Paper's Edward Ericson Jr. has a story that will send a chill down the backs of homeowners and renters alike: Bed bugs are an increasing problem in parts of Baltimore. (There's a map here showing the location of bed-bug-related 311 calls.)

He writes, "They are fiendishly hard to eradicate, tougher than roaches, silent as a draft."

Just the thought of them makes some of the people interviewed in his story start "involuntarily" scratching. Many of the readers probably have, too.

Real estate for the Facebook crowd [The Real Estate Wonk]

2009-07-03T18:03:07-07:00

Sawbuck.com has updated its real estate information site with a nod to social media, including a news feed of home listings that's a lot like the friend status updates on Facebook. Choose Baltimore as your city of search, and you'll see this compilation of new listings and price changes. (You can see sales and contracts, too, but only if you register.)

The Sawbuck site also offers its take on housing-market health, rating Baltimore a 58 -- "Not Healthy," though closer to "Barely Healthy" (60-69) than "Deteriorating" (40-49). The scale runs from 0 to 99.

Market activity varies from neighborhood to neighborhood, of course -- that's true nationwide. How would you rate the housing-market health in your neighborhood? (I realize this is tricky because "deteriorating" in a seller's mind might be "improving" from a buyer's perspective. Hmm: Maybe choose a number from 0 to 99 with 0 being a market where buyers can get homes for nothing and 99 where sellers can successfuly demand a buyer's first-born child in exchange for accepting their offer?)

Baltimore's new-construction tax credit [The Real Estate Wonk]

2009-07-03T18:01:42-07:00

The clock starts today on that second chance for people who qualified for Baltimore's new-construction tax credit but didn't apply in time (it's a short window after buying). Here are the details on the amnesty approved by the City Council:

If you went to settlement on a new home after Oct. 1, 2004, you can apply for the city’s new-construction tax credit through Aug. 28, when the amnesty period ends. Homeowners in properties that were substantially rehabbed after being vacant may also be eligible.

You can find more details from the city Department of Finance, including the application form, in this PDF document. (You can also read my original post on the topic here.)

Why should you care, you ask? Because the credit reduces a homeowner’s property tax bill by half and then phases in the full amount over a five-year period. Yeah. That's why.

The City Council also changed the process going forward so new-home buyers have two windows to apply: within 90 days of settling and within 90 days of getting the first tax assessment notice.

No holiday for TV channels chasing Sarah Palin news [Z on TV]

2009-07-03T15:42:13-07:00

You can tell a lot about a news operation by how it responds to a breaking news story on a holiday or weekend when the A-Team is away.

I first wrote that in November about cable coverage of the Mumbai attacks and the sorry performance by MSNBC, which mainly stuck to its canned lineup of prison documentaries while CNN and Fox scrambled to cover the story live.

Well, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin dropped a political bombshell late Friday afternoon in announcing that she would resign only two and a half years into her term, and it was fascinating to watch the 24/7 channels already in holiday mode chase the story.

MSNBC responded this time. Even though the program guide had a prison documentary slated for the 4 p.m. hour, MSNBC had Alex Witt at the anchor desk and such analysts as A.M. Stoddard, of The Hill, dissecting Palin's resignation.

Where the name slider comes from [Dining@Large]

2009-07-03T15:11:31-07:00

It never occurred to me to wonder where the name "slider" came from until I got an e-mail from a reader asking me.

What I do remember is that when they first started to appear on restaurant menus I was surprised that it was a name everyone had heard of for mini-burgers except me.

So I looked it up on the Internet and here's the explanation I found:

In 1994 White Castle was granted a U.S. trademark on the term "slyders" which derived from the way the burgers slide out of their cardboard boxes. ...

There’s no quit in Jeff Jarrett on TNA Impact [Ring Posts]

2009-07-03T14:42:09-07:00

I want to preface this entry by saying that I like Jeff Jarrett as a performer. While there are many “smart” fans who think he’s overrated and that his pushes have been more about politics than ability, I actually think he gets a bad rap. Jarrett has always been a good worker, and while he has never been a huge box office draw, he is a star. With that being said, however, Jarrett gave those who criticize him for using his position as TNA founder to excessively push himself plenty of ammunition on Thursday night’s episode of Impact.

You read it here first [Garden Variety]

2009-07-03T13:45:27-07:00

The New York Times is reporting on its political blog that lead has been found in the White House kitchen garden.

Garden Variety reported that fact previously, noting that the lead level found in the ground was 93 parts per million, far below the level of 400 parts per million, which requires remediation.

Lead is not unusual in urban soil. And the lead found in the White House dirt is far below the lead levels that can reach several thousand parts per million in cities.

Reimold Rookie of the Month [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-03T12:59:31-07:00

Congratulations to Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold for being named Gillette American League Rookie of the Month for June, a month in which he batted .320 with four home runs, nine RBI, 13 runs and 13 walks. He also impressed with a .520 slugging percentage and a .420 on-base percentage. Despite his delayed arrival in the majors this season, Reimold is considered a top early candidate for AL Rookie of the Year honors, and might be going head-to-head with teammate Brad Bergesen, who also joined the team after Opening Day. If you want an early favorite for next month's rookie award, Bergesen might be a good bet, since he opened the month on Wednesday with that impressive eight-inning, four-hit performance against the Red Sox.

Sen. Pipkin denounces E-ZPass charges [Getting There]

2009-07-03T11:50:34-07:00

Every once and a while the Getting There blog will host opposing views -- just for the fun of it. No views could be more opposed than Sen. E. J. Pipkin, a Republican who represents the Upper Eastern Shore. He copied me on a letter to the editor he's been circulating in response to the July 1 effective date of a new $1.50-a-month fee on E-ZPass accounts, as well as other revenue-raiising measures to make up a $60 million revenue shortfall at the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The good senator can have the rest of this blog post to himself. Those who want to read a response will have to wait for a few days while I sharpen my pen.

FATTENING THE CASH COW – MAKING BAY BRIDGE E-Z PASS USERS PAY MORE
Dear Sir,
In January, when the MdTA announced that it would impose higher fees and new costs on Bay Bridge commuters who use E-ZPass customers, I voiced my objections.   Starved as the State is for revenue, I did not really expect the State to retreat from grabbing $60 million from Marylanders. In this instance, it would be Marylanders who use the Bay Bridge and other state toll facilities.
The Bay Bridge has always been a cash cow for the MdTA’s highway projects. The Bridge raises over $30 million in toll revenue each year and costs less than $8 to operate.
On July 1, the new fees and costs became effective. E-ZPass users will now have to pay for transponders, more for toll violations and a new charge of $1.50 a month to cover some of the costs of processing the program. According to then-Secretary of Transportation, John Porcari, the new charges would help recover costs and maintenance of the state’s toll facilities.   Pocari said that he was taking this action “reluctantly” and called it a “last resort.”
As I see it, the State of Maryland has never shied away from bleeding its citizens with new and inventive taxes and fees. That it does so, in this faltering economy, is unconscionable.
Maryland, like all other states, has been pushing people to use electronic toll collections, which expedite the flow of traffic.   Making the cost of using electronic toll collections higher and adding fees makes no sense. It is counter-productive. Those higher costs and that additional monthly $1.50 fee could push people and commercial users away from electronic toll collections.   Let’s face it, toll facility users could very well decide to not to use E-ZPass.
It is the worst type of folly for government to grab the money and run without giving significant weight to negative unintended consequences.   In its eagerness to grab the $60 million, the State could be stymieing or sabotaging Maryland’s transportation progress. The purpose of E-ZPass is to alleviate traffic congestion. Bay Bridge traffic increases between 2% and 3% each year. If the higher cost of using
E-ZPass reduces the number of users, Maryland will have taken an unfortunate step backward from transportation progress.
Sincerely,
E.J. Pipkin

CM Punk keeps his eye on the prize on WWE Superstars [Ring Posts]

2009-07-03T11:33:45-07:00

So was world heavyweight champion CM Punk’s left eye partially closed at the end of Thursday’s episode of WWE Superstars because it was injured, or was he really winking at us because he had just pulled another fast one? Punk, who suffered the (kayfabe) eye injury at last Sunday’s Bash pay-per-view, aggravated it during his non-title match with Edge Thursday. After Edge raked his eyes, Punk told the referee that he couldn’t continue, and Edge was awarded the match via forfeit.

Today's game previews -- July 3 [O's on Deck]

2009-07-03T09:19:35-07:00

The Triple-A Norfolk Tides host the Gwinnett Braves at Harbor Park, and the Double-A Bowie Baysox and Akron Aeros will play at Prince George's Stadium tonight. The Single-A Frederick Keys face the Potomac Nationals on the road, while the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds and Hickory Crawdads will meet at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds are looking to snap a five-game losing streak against the Oneonta Tigers tonight at Ripken Stadium, and the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles welcome the Pulaski Mariners to Bowen Field. I'm heading down to Bowie with my father to watch tonight's game against the Aeros from the stands, so feel free to say hello if you see me. The Baysox are billing the post-game fireworks show as the largest of the season because it's expected to be longer than the typical display. The team hits the road tomorrow, so tonight is Bowie's Fourth of July celebration. The four other teams in the Orioles' minor league system with home games tonight -- Norfolk, Delmarva, Aberdeen and the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles -- each will hold a fireworks display following their respective game because they all play on the road tomorrow. Norfolk Tides (AAA) Opponent Gwinnett Braves (6:15 p.m.) Probable pitchers Norfolk: Chris Tillman (5-5, 2.97 ERA) Gwinnett: Tony Armas (1-1, 4.11 ERA) Notes * The Tides (43-35) remain two games behind the Durham Bulls (46-34) in the International League South Division, while Gwinnett (44-37) is right on their heels. The Braves trail Durham by 2 1/2 games in the division. Bowie Baysox (AA) Opponent Akron Aeros (6:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Bowie: Tim Bascom (2-1, 3.75 ERA) Akron: Josh Tomlin (8-4, 4.12 ERA) Notes * After splitting a doubleheader last night, the Baysox (44-36) trail Akron (52-27) by 8 1/2 games in the Eastern League Southern Division. Bowie is two games behind the Reading Phillies (45-33) for a playoff berth. Frederick Keys (A) Opponent at Potomac Nationals (7:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Frederick: Sean Gleason (0-2, 4.56 ERA) Potomac: Jeff Mandel (6-4, 3.70 ERA) Notes * The Keys (4-3, 35-41) are in first place in the Carolina League Northern Division for the second half. They lead Potomac (4-4, 41-34) by 1/2 game, and the Wilmington Blue Rocks (3-4, 41-35) are one game back. The Lynchburg Hillcats (2-6, 47-30), who won the first half in the division, are in last place, trailing the Keys by 2 1/2 games. Delmarva Shorebirds (A) Opponent Hickory Crawdads (7:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Delmarva: Ryan O'Shea (5-3, 3.16 ERA) Hickory: Joseph Wieland (1-0, 3.46 ERA) Notes * The Shorebirds (4-4, 40-37) are tied with the Lakewood BlueClaws (4-4, 46-30) for fifth place in the South Atlantic League Northern Division in the second half. The Kannapolis Intimidators (5-2, 42-35) and the West Virginia Power (5-2, 32-45) are tied for the lead in the division, and they are both 1 1/2 games ahead of Delmarva and Lakewood. Hickory (4-3, 37-39) is in fourth place in the division, trailing the leaders by one game. Aberdeen IronBirds (A) Opponent Oneonta Tigers (7:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Aberdeen: Ken Moreland (2-0, 0.75 ERA) Oneonta: Luis Sanz (0-0, 4.15 ERA) Notes * With five consecutive losses, the IronBirds (4-9) dropped into last place in the New York-Penn League McNamara Division. Aberdeen trails the division-leading Brooklyn Cyclones (11-2) by seven games. Oneonta (7-4) is in first place in the Stedler Division, leading the Lowell Spinners (7-6) by one game.

From Judy Garland, a musical start to the Fourth of July weekend [Clef Notes]

2009-07-03T08:27:34-07:00

The other day, I posted about the 40th anniversary of Judy Garland's death. I still have her on my mind, so I thought I'd turn to her for something musical to start the Fourth of July weekend.

Here she is from her CBS TV show (a show that should have gone much longer, but was thwarted by corporate idiots who didn't appreciate what they had), coming out of her tramp-outfit routine to sing "America the Beautiful."

Visually, the transition may look odd at first, but ...

I think there's something rather touching about it, a way of affirming the American spirit in the face of adversity. And it sure seems all the more relevant now that so many people in this country have so many troubles again.

When you hear Judy sing this song, our unofficial second national anthem, it's easy to believe all will soon be good and strong again.

Test finds DWT more dangerous than DWI [Getting There]

2009-07-03T08:26:48-07:00

Jim Cumbie of Baltimore send along an interesting article from Car and Driver in which the magazine conducts a test of the relative levels of driving impairment from texting behind the wheel and having a blood-alcohol content of .08.

The short version: Better drunk than ROFL. Check it out.

Weekly recruiting roundup [Recruiting Report]

2009-07-03T07:38:10-07:00

While the Maryland staff continues to focus its attention on the 2010 recruiting class, there could be a last-minute addition to the 2009-10 UM roster. InsideMDSports.com reported that Matt Pilgrim, a junior power forward from Kentucky, was planning an official visit to College Park this week. Pilgrim, 6 feet 8, spent his first two years of college at Hampton before transferring to Kentucky last year. After sitting out the 2008-09 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Pilgrim would have been eligible to suit up for the Wildcats this coming season. When John Calipari was hired to replace Billy Gillispie in Lexington, Pilgrim -- according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal -- was told there wouldn’t be a scholarship available for him at UK. According to a source close to the situation, Calipari and Josh Pastner are working together to bring Pilgrim to Memphis. Calipari, the source said, will support Pilgrim's case to the NCAA. Though Pilgrim said he probably wouldn't make a commitment until he sits down with his family, he acknowledged the urgency of picking a new school so that he can start the appeal process. Pilgrim has also visited Oklahoma State. Here’s a quick video clip of Pilgrim playing with Hampton against, coincidentally enough, Maryland in the 2007 CBE Classic at Comcast Center. The Terps edged Pilgrim’s Pirates, 70-64. Pilgrim finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. Check out Testudo Times for more on Pilgrim. • Former Maryland shooting guard target Lance Stephenson has finally found a home. The five-star prospect committed to Cincinnati on Tuesday. "We are very excited about Lance's decision to become a Bearcat," head coach Mick Cronin said. "Lance has terrific talent as a basketball player and is also a fierce competitor on the court. His desire to win will help us compete for a Big East Championship. "As a big guard, Lance brings playmaking ability and versatility to our team, along with his talent for scoring. We look forward to getting Lance here for summer school and building our team for the upcoming season." • Terps point guard commitment Terrell Stoglin has fared well in the Tucson (Ariz.) Summer Pro League, according to league director and former Arizona player Corey Williams. "I don't really follow high school basketball at all," he said. "There's some good, talented kids in town. It's been surprising to me to see these kids come out and play very well against grown men." Over three games, Stoglin has scored 32 points on 56 percent shooting. • Maryland power forward targets C.J. Leslie and Terrence Jones stood out at Nike’s Vince Carter Skills Academy in Orlando last weekend. ESPN.com’s Paul Biancardi listed Leslie as the No. 3 best scorer in camp. Leslie is an explosive, active athlete who is a big-time finisher when he gets in the paint. He has a quick first step to the basket; he stays low on the drive to finish high above the rim. He gets points from finishing dump-off passes from his teammates' penetration along with climbing on the offensive glass. Jones checked in at No. 1 on Biancardi’s best slasher list. This lefty is a physical specimen who drives the ball with explosive strength and overpowers defenders on his way to the basket. A good percentage of his points come from the free throw line because he is so strong and attacks the basket on the drive and from the post. • MaxPreps.com ranked Terps power forward target Tobias Harris No. 8 on its list of New York male athletes of the year. The 6-8 forward missed most of the first half of his junior season with a severe ankle injury but returned with a vengeance to lead the run to a victory over Triche and Jamesville-DeWitt for the Federation Class A crown. Harris averaged 23.5 points and 11.5 rebounds after arriving at Lutheran as a summer transfer. College suitors -- and just about anybody that matters would like to recruit him -- will find Harris back at Half Hollow Hills West, where he averaged 29 points as a sophomore on a 22-2 season; Harris transferred back there during Easter break. Football recruiting • Maryland defensive back recruit Avery Graham has been named The Gazette’s boys track Athlete of the Year. Outstanding at Class 2A state meet, scoring or contributing to 40 of team's 76 points. Captured gold medals in 100, 200, two sprint relays, lifting Clarksburg to first state team title. • The Washington Post’s Recruiting Insider reports that Friendship Collegiate (D.C.) offensive tackle Earl Johnson was offered a scholarship by Maryland last week. While he'll likely need to add plenty of weight to transition to a college tackle, Johnson also plays defensive end for Friendship, which has sent several players to low-level Division I programs the past couple of years, but hasn't been able to attract the attention of larger schools like Maryland. • The Terps lost out on offensive guard Daquan Jones earlier this week when the three-star prospect committed to Penn State. Jones (6-4, 300) is from Johnson City, N.Y. He also had offers from Pitt, Boston College, Syracuse, Maryland, Illinois, Rutgers and Connecticut.

The smoked elk hot dog [Dining@Large]

2009-07-03T07:26:25-07:00

I was thinking of doing a post asking everyone to tell us how you're celebrating the Fourth. But frankly, I don't think yours could compete with guest poster Bucky's. EL

Tomorrow is Independence Day, and this year we will engage in one of our semi-traditional activities, going up into the mountains to have lunch at the Coney Island Boardwalk Hot Dog Stand in Bailey, Colo. ...

Baltimore schools and colleges [InsideEd]

2009-07-03T07:00:00-07:00

Baltimore schools chief Andres Alonso proudly presented a group of high-achieving students going off to the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, College Park at a board meeting recently.

It was an honor for the students, who are among a smaller-than-usual pool who had been accepted at those schools through special programs.

In recent years, Hopkins and College Park have attempted to boost the number of city public school students who were able to attend their institutions – among the most prestigious in the state – by getting rid of one of the most difficult barriers: money.

Why would I possibly care? [Midnight Sun]

2009-07-03T06:59:00-07:00

As a journalist, I get all sorts of weird e-mails from attention-seeking press agents. But I think this has to be one of the most random ones I've gotten in a while:

BEE GEES HONORED WITH POSTAGE STAMPS IN THEIR BIRTHPLACE
Issued Today, Isle Of Man's Eight-Stamp Set Salutes Hitmaking Native Sons

Umm ... OK ...

Freebie Friday [Read Street]

2009-07-03T06:39:53-07:00

Happy Freebie Friday, all!

It's my birthday, as well as July 4th weekend, so I'm just going to get right down to business.

Congratulations, Lindsey: You've won I Am Not Sidney Poitier! And the next time I'm in a Cormac mood, the Border trilogy is the way I'm going.

And next up, Seen The Glory: A Novel of The Battle of Gettysburg, by John Hough Jr. The battle, which ended on this date in 1863, was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. So if you're looking for something to do today, check out Gettysburg! It's beautiful country, with plenty of history for all.

So let us know what you're reading, and the book could be yours!

Meanwhile, everyone have a Happy Fourth! I'm going to go rustle up some cake.

Turning watermelons into energy? [B'More Green]

2009-07-03T06:38:23-07:00

As we enter the peak watermelon-eating season, it turns out someone has figured out a new use for all the juicy red fruit that doesn't get slurped down over the Independence Day holiday weekend - fuel to run your car!

According to Inside Science News Service, scientists at the Agricultural Research Service in Lane, Okla., have been processing watermelons to extract their lycopene and citrulline, two substances believed to boost heart health. A chemist there, Wayne Fish, figured out that the juice left over after that extraction was rich in sugars that could be fermented into ethanol. He estimated that a 20-pound melon would yield about seven-tenths of a pound of ethanol.

If you think that's an awful waste for a tasty food, consider this - an awful lot of watermelons never make it to those cookouts. Though farmers harvested 4 billion pounds of melons in 2007, the news service reports, they left 800 million pounds in the fields with external blemishes or deformities that made them hard to sell.

Death in the back seat: accident or a crime? [Second Opinion]

2009-07-03T06:08:05-07:00

If a parent makes a foolish mistake and a child is killed as a result, what should the consequence be?

This is the question facing authorities in Howard County, where a 23-month-old girl died after spending nine hours alone in a hot car. Every summer -- tragically and predictably -- a spate of such horrifying incidents is reported around the country.

Such cases are deeply vexing because they stir conflicting responses. On the one hand, most people feel strongly that the death of an innocent child ought to be punished. And yet, the parent who is guilty not of cruel behavior but of a horrendous error has already suffered the worst kind of punishment imaginable, by causing the death or his or her own child.

The response of Howard County officials to the case at hand is a bit curious. The mother who left the child in the car has not been charged, and a police spokeswoman said charges likely wouldn't be filed if the incident is "determined to be accidental." The state's attorney, Dario J. Broccolino, said his office would review the police findings, adding, "There are a million variables in these kinds of cases."

"Determined to be accidental"? What other explanation could there for what happened here? Only a monstrous psychopath would intentionally leave a child to bake in a hot car. As for the "million variables," that just isn't the case. Rather, these kinds of incidents (15 children have died in locked cars this year, according to Safe Kids USA) are all depressingly similar: A distracted parent or guardian simply forgets that he or she has a small child in the back seat, parks the car and leaves.

The legal responses to such cases seem to vary considerably, with little rhyme or reason to explain the variations. A Bowie woman was charged with reckless endangerment, although her 14-month-old survived. A Virginia man was charged with involuntary manslaughter when his toddler died. (Worth researching: Is the justice system less forgiving of men in such cases?). But our Ellicott City woman, apparently, is unlikely to face any charges at all.

"I can't imagine that any judge can hand down any sentence that is worse than what the parents are doing to themselves," State's Attorney Broccolino said.

That's no doubt true, but it accounts for only one aspect of our system of justice: the inflicting of punishment on the guilty. The system aspires to do other things, like giving a victim a kind of post-mortem justice by valuing the life that has been lost. And yet, society finds it difficult to do this when a death is accidental rather than intentional; just consider the often startlingly light sentences -- sometimes no jail time at all -- given to drivers guilty of vehicular homicides.

Should the law, and society, be tougher on those who cause death through accident or negligence? And should it matter whether the culpable person is a parent of the victim?

From our Look Before You Leap department [Second Opinion]

2009-07-03T05:37:36-07:00

After the Brian Morris fiasco last month, in which a former Baltimore city school board president was forced to resign from a high-paying, unadvertised job as a school administrator after it was discovered he had a long history of bad debts, foreclosures and other financial problems, the state school board says that from now on it will take responsibiity for vetting applicants for such posts.

Among the questions the state panel expects to ask prospective city school board members are whether they've paid their taxes, been convicted of a crime, have a civil judgment against them or been barred from practicing law or had a professional license revoked.

That would seem to cover most of the important bases, but just to be sure The Sun's Liz Bowie reports the panel will also include a more general question: "Is there anything that the state board should know about you that has the potential for causing embarrassment to the citizens of Baltimore City if you were selected?"

That's the kind of catch-all question intended to elicit a multitude of sins, but it also makes it far to easy for ethically challenged applicants to prevaricate with such artful dodges as "can't recall," "not to my knowledge" or the classic "it depends on what you mean by the word 'embarrass.'"

So to ensure there's no room for evasion, we think the panel needs to get down to the knitty gritty of the vetting process:

1) Have you ever rented out a house you didn't own and then collected rent on it until the real owners showed up?

2) Been to Argentina lately?

3) Played footsie in an airport men's bathroom?

4) Organized a $60 billion ponzi scheme that ruined your family and friends?

5) Dated a hooker during an out-of-town junket?

6) Used gift cards meant for needy children or accepted a fur coat from a developer doing business with the city and not reported it?

Answer each question separately; if your answer is "yes" to any of the above, explain on the line below. Failure to answer truthfully is a violation of state law and may subject you to a fine, imprisonment or both. Thank you for your interest in the Baltimore City School Board.

What a catch! [Unleashed]

2009-07-03T05:22:02-07:00

A woman guides her dog to catch a frisbee during a dog show in the northern German city of Hamburg on June 28. ROLAND MAGUNIA/AFP/Getty Images.

Steamed crab etiquette [Dining@Large]

2009-07-03T05:13:36-07:00

Just in time for my vacation, I got an e-mail from Crabby Crab Host that makes an excellent guest post. I wish I'd raised some of these issues before, only I thought it was just me being greedy. EL

Living in a crabcentric (pretty good word, huh?) town presents us with a unique set of problems. Fortunately you are here to assist with our most pressing needs -- finding the best steamed crabs, crab cakes, and settings. However, a real dilemma reared its ugly head the other evening -- steamed crabs etiquette. ...

Susan's School for Bloggers [Garden Variety]

2009-07-03T05:06:16-07:00

Susan's garden/Photo by Susan Reimer

Just when my tomatoes are about to ripen, I am leaving on vacation. Happens every time. I swear, I could vacation in May, and my tomatoes would come and go while I was gone.

I will be away for two weeks, beginning July 12, and I am looking for someone to harvest my tomatoes and water the plants on my deck while I am gone.

I am also looking for guest bloggers here on Garden Variety.

Sometime in the next week, write to me at susan.reimer@baltsun.com and tell me about your garden. If you can, e-mail me a picture, too. I will put them together and schedule them to appear on Garden Variety while I am gone.

It will be like Christmas. You will have to check every morning to see if your post is up!

Write and tell me what you like about gardening, what you hate. Your successes and your failures. The tricks and shortcuts you have learned over the years. About the garden your grandmother had or the one you left behind when you moved.

If you have been reading Garden Variety, you know this isn't brain surgery. So relax, and jump into this blogging adventure.

Man fights to keep his lemur [Unleashed]

2009-07-03T04:18:55-07:00

A family who moved into the Lake in the Hills a month ago say they may leave the northwestern Chicago suburb if they are not allowed to keep their pet ring-tailed lemur.

The village board recently turned down the family's request to keep Ringo, who's 5 years old and about the size of a large house cat.

The village gave Troy Evert and April Fox 90 days to either find a new home for Ringo or move out.

Evert says he took Ringo in when a friend rescued him from an abusive owner, and that he tried to find the primate a home at a zoo or a refuge, but none of them would take Ringo because he is considered domesticated.

In this photo taken June 25, Troy Evert, of Lake in the Hills, Ill., plays with his pet ring-tailed lemur, Ringo, in his backyard. Ringo, who's 5 years old, is about the size of a large house cat. AP Photo/Northwest Herald, Amanda Schwengel.

Conversation from the front porch [Dining@Large]

2009-07-03T04:18:32-07:00

Brother Bim: Would you like a glass of Trader Joe's shiraz?

Me: No.

Brother Bim (reading the label): It's a very interesting vintage. March.

Science Center to add green roof open to public [B'More Green]

2009-07-03T04:03:30-07:00

The Maryland Science Center plans to begin reinforcing its southside of the building Monday in anticipation of building a green roof that eventually will be open to for public viewing.

Details aren't totally worked out, but the center is working with Tecta America Corp. on planning and construction. The roof will be adjacent to the museum's observatory and will take up more than 4,000 square feet of roof space.

When the roof is done, the Science Center will join a bunch of others in the area with green roofs, including the Baltimore Hilton Convention Center Hotel and Sinai Hospital, which opened a whole eco-friendly expansion yesterday.

Green roofs, while a bit costly to install because of their weight, pay off in energy efficiency down the road, supporters say. They also help the roof last longer, provide a sound barrier and cut down on stormwater runoff.

And aren't they nice to look at?

Baltimore Sun file photo of the Maryland Science Center

Bargain plants [Garden Variety]

2009-07-03T04:03:29-07:00

Garden centers and the big box stores are going to be putting their plant material on sale soon -- perhaps as soon as this holiday weekend.

It is a great time for bargains, especially if you choose wisely and have a little patience.

Don't expect much out of this plants this season. Just try to keep them going through this summer and they will have a chance to shine next season.

The folks at Better Homes and Gardens offer this advice when choosing among the bargain basement plants:

Reject any plants with foliage that is mushy, withered or with disease-spotted leaves.
Gently slip the plant out of the pot and check the roots. If they are soft or black and slimy, put the pot down and walk away.
Smooth, white roots are a good sign.
Dense, tangled roots that fill the pot can mean the plant is root-bound, but you can rejuvenate it by slicing through the roots in the shape of an X at the bottom of the clump before you plant.

Photo credit: Chicago Tribune/Warren Skalski

Your week in health [Picture of Health]

2009-07-03T04:03:25-07:00

If you're anything like me, you had a super hectic week leading to this holiday weekend. Now that we've made it -- whew -- here are some great health and medicine stories you might have missed.

Fascinating read from Sunday about how the grant system for cancer research awards small projects unlikely to make huge strides in finding a cure.

On the healthcare debate front, here's a great piece that looks at the big ticket issue: costs. So what happens to costs when you expand health care? Do they really go down? Or do they go up?

Two anti-smoking drugs will carry the Food and Drug Administration's most serious warnings after reports of people exerpiencing mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts.

A big picture look at the FDA's new powers to regulate tobacco.

Here are a couple of the many takes on the medical details behind Michael Jackson's death and whether Steve Jobs should talk publically about his pancreatic cancer.

And here's one for all the nurses out there who are tired of stereotypes about their profession -- I know my Mom is reading, so it goes out to her too. ;)

Have a great weekend!

Big weekend for canned beers [Kasper on Tap]

2009-07-03T04:03:25-07:00

There are going to be a lot of get-togethers at the swimming pool this weekend and during the rest of the summer. Pool parties call for canned beer.

Bottles and any other glass containers are banned at most pools and other spots where folks run around in their bare feet.

It used to be that the selection of canned beers was pretty dismal. But now with the Oskar Blues lineup of canned beers from Colorado in this market , you can have your canned beer and quality, too.

My favorite is their Dale's Pale Ale at 6.5 percent ABV. Their other canned beers, Gordon at 8.7 percent, the Old Chub at 8% and Ten Fidy at 10 percent, are too a bit much for me when I am wearing a swimming suit and am reminded of my ever-expanding middle.

From time to time, I have seen Pilsner Urquell in cans as well.

Guinness and other stouts come in cans, but they don't strike me as pool beers.

Stephen Beaumont named his top 5 canned beers on Epicurious. They are Fuller's London Pride, Sly Fox Pikeland Pils, Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Gordon and New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale. Of that group, only the pils strikes me as beer to drink in your swimming suit. Drinking a Fat Tire would encourage too many unpleasant references to the waist line.

What is your favorite canned beer?

What is your strategy for carting beverages into a glass-free setting?

I pour wine, for my wife, into empty club soda bottles, and cart them to the pool.

Photo: Getty Images

Guest Post: The dependence of the independent [In Good Faith]

2009-07-03T03:44:49-07:00

The Rev. Jason Poling is pastor of New Hope Community Church in Pikesville. Unless there’s an onion involved, I don’t cry easily. But there I was, driving down the Beltway on the 4th in the family minivan, tears streaming down my cheeks as I told my kids about Independence Day. You might attribute the tears to the frustrations involved in getting a couple of toddlers to understand anything about Independence Day beyond fireworks. Certainly I was wrapped up emotionally in the recent departure of one of our congregants for his first of two tours with the Marines in Iraq. But I must have drunk the Kool-Aid back in civics class, because when I think about freedom, liberty, just government and all that good stuff, my thoughts fly to the Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” Jefferson wrote, “that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” I still get a chill when I read those words. Later on, studying theology in seminary, I came to realize that this notion has much deeper roots than the American founding and the Enlightenment that gave birth to it. In Genesis, we read that God created humanity in his own image; as image-bearers, we have agency, responsibility, will, choice — the things Jefferson (and Madison, and Locke, and so on) knew we have whether any particular government respects the fact or not. I realized that our word dignity, which encompasses so much of what’s at stake, ultimately traces back to the Greek theos: our dignity is our quality of bearing God’s image. And so, Jefferson goes on to note, “to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men.” It is the role of government, Jefferson notes, to ensure that these natural rights — these rights that are ours simply by virtue of being human — are protected. (Again, nothing new here; Augustine had much to say about these matters in his City of God, as I learned later on in seminary when I studied church history.) But even before these soaring words, Jefferson notes that it is right and necessary for nations “to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them.” Thus, as he concludes, “as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.” Much as individual people have natural rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of property, so nations have natural rights to do the things that nations do. Yet again, it’s a familiar tune: beyond establishing regulations in Torah for how biblical Israel was to operate as a unique theocratic nation-state, God declared through his prophets that he would hold all peoples accountable for their conduct, that he would not overlook injustice or oppression or violence even when cloaked in the garb of national interest. My younger daughter inherited her father’s clumsiness, and will carry forever a tiny scar next to her left eye in memory of an unpleasant encounter with the edge of a toy chest. That scar would scarcely be noticeable on me but on her beautiful face it can’t be missed. In the same way, evils that would scarcely raise an eyebrow across much of the world appear starkly against the backdrop of our national ideals. Ours is a flawed nation, an imperfect creation of imperfect people sustained by the imperfect work of generations of their imperfect descendants, both born and naturalized. In our nation’s history we find plenty of examples of grave injustice, from slavery to the treatment of Native Americans to the internment of Japanese-Americans to Abu Ghraib. So when we get rotten tomatoes thrown at us as we stand on the world stage, we would do well to remember that the bulk of our own Declaration of Independence consists of our complaints against the Crown, and our lament that our “Brittish brethren … have been deaf to the voice of justice.” It’s not easy to have our flaws pointed out to us, especially by other nations. Yet as the writer of Proverbs reminds us, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Every independent nation is ultimately dependent on others to tell the truths we might prefer to avoid. The work of mature citizenship is to recognize our errors, to rectify them as we’re able to, and to continue holding ourselves up to the standards we still know to be self-evident.

Father's Day Friday: Don't let mom stand in for you [Charm City Moms]

2009-07-03T03:31:53-07:00

Joe Burris is here on Father's Day Friday:

Recently my 3-year-old daughter Onalenna’s day school announced its pre-Father’s Day celebration for all the students' dads. Accompanying the announcement was the message that dads who couldn’t attend should get their wives to stand in.

I didn’t bother to ask my wife if she and other mothers got a similar message on Mother’s Day. And I don’t know if the school’s intention was to embarrass dads into coming (I get the feeling that most of us would have come anyway), but the turnout was great. In a room with about a dozen children, of different ages, races, backgrounds and professions, all but two kids’ fathers showed up.

I think that it was not only great for us to be there for our children, but we all delighted in seeing so many of us present. Even in an age where dads are more available for involvement with their children inside and outside the home, they’re often difficult to come by at such events -- even those where they are celebrated.

I must say, however, that the visit came with a bit of trepidation. During the Mother's Day event, the kids presented moms with handmade flower plots and grew plants inside _ but someone forgot to tell them that they would have to forever part with their creations. My wife says as the mothers departed, the kids reached for the gifts, and the room was filled with shouts of “Mine! Mine!”

We dads were more fortunate. We were presented with handmade greeting cards and travel mugs with their drawings and were allowed to keep them when we departed. We all got big kisses and hugs and goodbye waves that made me feel as if we had done something magnificent, just by being there.

I’m already looking forward to next year.

Speaking of the Garden [Garden Variety]

2009-07-03T03:00:56-07:00

The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent upon it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do. -- Galileo

What's Scioscia thinking? [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-02T23:43:14-07:00

Angels manager Mike Scioscia just removed John Lackey from the game after eight innings, even though Lackey had given up just four hits and struck out seven. That's pretty much the same pitching line that Brad Bergesen had in Wednesday's game -- 8 IP, 4H, 6K -- and a lot of people here think Dave Trembley should have been fired for making essentially the same decision Scioscia just made. Okay, I'll give you this. Lackey had thrown 11 more pitches than Bergesen, but he disposed of the Orioles in short order in the eighth. I'm sure the Orioles were happy to see him go, though closer Brian Fuentes is no slouch. Bonus gripe: By the way, if I hear another replay of Gary Thorne saying "Look what I found" and "Lucky Lackey" after that line drive by Adam Jones, I'm going to kick my TV. That wasn't a lucky play. That was a great reflex play by Lackey. The ball obviously came back near where his glove stopped at the end of his delivery, but he reacted and moved the glove into position to make the catch. The Angels played terrific defense all night long. The Orioles played good defense, too, but they lost the game because they were unable to station an outfielder in the second row of the right field bleachers.

Cub fan hungers for win streak [The Schmuck Stops Here]

2009-07-02T23:41:24-07:00

Just when I thought Orioles fans were getting a little too emotionally involved with the team, this story surfaced about a Cubs fan who has announced he will go on a 500-calorie-per-day diet until the lovable losers from the Windy City reel off a five-game winning streak. It's not exactly a hunger strike. The guy, 53-year-old Daniel Kamen of Buffalo Grove, Ill., can probably squeeze a couple of Lean Cuisine frozen entrees out of that 500-calorie limit, but it's the thought that counts. The Cubs need a little extra motivation. They're sitting right on .500 (38-38) in the wide-open NL Central, which may have something to do with the number of calories Kamen will allow himself until the Cubs win five straight or the season ends. Of course, it's a lot easier to lose weight when you're an Orioles fan. You just watch a game like the one on Wednesday and you don't feel like eating for a week.

Does Michael Bisping have a shot against Dan Henderson? [MMA Stomping Grounds]

2009-07-02T23:26:59-07:00

The consensus seems to be no. He’s the biggest underdog of the three main fights at UFC 100 (according to Vegas) and most pro fighters are taking Hendo in that fight. I think Henderson has been less than impressive in his last two bouts. The nicest moves he had against Rich Franklin were illegal (eye poke, head butt) and even that was a controversial win. And he’s no spring chicken at age 39.

Bisping has good stand-up and has never been stopped. His only loss is a split-decision to Rashad Evans. Of course, there’s also the phantom win over Matt Hamill, which should’ve been a loss. Still, he's a younger guy with a promising future. He should be a good threat for Henderson, right?

When you compare the resumes of the two it’s not even close. Henderson’s reads like a who’s who of MMA legends. Just in the UFC he’s fought Anderson Silva, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rich Franklin. Three legends in four fights and if you go back to his PRIDE days the list goes on and on and on.

I think you can make a case for Alves. I think you can make a case for Mir (although not as much as some think). So, maybe it does make sense that Bisping is the biggest underdog of the three.

(Dan Henderson photo courtesy of Zuffa, Inc.)

Today's game recaps -- July 2 [O's on Deck]

2009-07-02T22:51:53-07:00

The Triple-A Norfolk Tides lost to the Gwinnett Braves, and the Double-A Bowie Baysox split a doubleheader against the Akron Aeros. The Single-A Frederick Keys blanked the Potomac Nationals, while the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds fell to the Hickory Crawdads. The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds were pounded by the Oneonta Tigers. The rookie-level Bluefield Orioles defeated the Pulaski Mariners, and the rookie-level GCL Orioles dropped a close contest to the GCL Red Sox. Norfolk Tides (AAA) Score: Gwinnett Braves 5, Norfolk Tides 4 (Box score) Recap: Starting pitcher Jake Arrieta excelled for the Tides, but the bullpen allowed four runs in the top of the ninth inning during a 5-4 loss to Gwinnett at Harbor Park. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up one run and five hits in seven innings for Norfolk. Arrieta struck out five batters and issued two walks. Tides relief pitcher Bob McCrory (0-1) was charged with four runs, three hits and one walk in one-third of an inning, and Jim Miller suffered his fourth blown save of the season. Designated hitter Michael Aubrey was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Tides, and center fielder Justin Christian added three hits, two runs scored and a stolen base. Bowie Baysox (AA) Game 1 score: Bowie Baysox 3, Akron Aeros 0, 7 innings (Box score) Game 1 recap: Starting pitcher Brian Matusz (3-0) continues to shine with the Baysox. The 22-year-old left-hander tossed a complete game, and Bowie topped Akron, 3-0, in the first game of the doubleheader at Prince George's Stadium. Matusz scattered four hits, and he struck out six batters and issued two walks. In three games for the Baysox, Matusz has allowed two runs (one earned) and 10 hits in 18 1/3 innings. He has 21 strikeouts and six walks during that span. Baysox third baseman Mike Costanzo and second baseman Miguel Abreu each collected an RBI double, while first baseman Eric Crozier added an RBI triple. Game 2 score: Akron Aeros 3, Bowie Baysox 2 (Box score) Game 2 recap: Abreu was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, but he committed two errors and the Baysox dropped the nightcap, 3-2, to Akron. Bowie first baseman Adam Donachie and Costanzo each collected an RBI, and outfielder Jonathan Tucker added a single, two stolen bases and a run scored. Baysox starting pitcher Fredy Deza (3-3) allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old right-hander walked one batter and gave up one home run. Relief pitcher Luis Lebron, who was recalled from Frederick before the game, tossed a scoreless inning in his debut for the Baysox. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out two of the three batters he faced. Frederick Keys (A) Score: Frederick Keys 2, Potomac Nationals 0 (Box score) Recap: Second baseman Ryan Adams was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in the Keys' 2-0 victory over Potomac. Frederick starting pitcher Nathan Nery (2-3) gave up just one hit in six scoreless innings. The 23-year-old left-hander struck out five batters and issued four walks. Keys center fielder Matt Angle was 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored, and catcher Caleb Joseph added two hits. Relief pitcher Pat Egan didn't allow any hits in three innings to pick up his first save since being promoted to the Keys last month. Delmarva Shorebirds (A) Score: Hickory Crawdads 7, Delmarva Shorebirds 4 (Box score) Recap: Catcher Luis Bernardo was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, but the Shorebirds lost, 7-4, to Hickory at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Delmarva first baseman Joe Mahoney hit an RBI triple and scored a run, while center fielder Kyle Hudson added an RBI. Shorebirds starting pitcher Cole McCurry (3-6) allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings. The 23-year-old left-hander collected three strikeouts and walked one batter. Aberdeen IronBirds (A) Score: Oneonta Tigers 8, Aberdeen IronBirds 2 (Box score) Recap: Starting pitcher Tyler Sexton (1-2) gave up three runs (two earned) and three hits in 4 2/3 innings during the IronBirds' 8-2 loss to Oneonta at Ripken Stadium. The 23-year-old left-hander issued four walks and struck out two batters. Aberdeen third baseman Tom Edwards and left fielder Lance West each hit a triple, while Tom Baxter and Mike Gioioso both added a double in the game. First baseman Tyler Townsend, the Orioles' third-round pick in this year's MLB draft, was 0-for-3 with a walk and three strikeouts for Aberdeen. Relief pitcher Jose Barajas continues to struggle for the IronBirds. The 21-year-old right-hander allowed four runs (two earned) and two hits in 1 1/3 innings. Bluefield Orioles (Rookie) Score: Bluefield Orioles 10, Pulaski Mariners 2 (Box score) Recap: Right fielder Luis Ramirez was 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in the Orioles' 10-2 win over Pulaski. Bluefield shortstop Javier Santana was 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored, while third baseman Corey Thomas added a solo home run, a single and two runs scored. Orioles starting pitcher Justin Moore (1-0) allowed one unearned run and seven hits in five innings. The 19-year-old right-hander walked three batters and collected two strikeouts. First baseman Mike Flacco collected two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Orioles. GCL Orioles (Rookie) Score: GCL Red Sox 5, GCL Orioles 4 (Box score) Recap: Right fielder Jaynnertt Melenciano was 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored, but the Orioles were edged, 5-4, by the Red Sox. Orioles left fielder Edwin Cintron was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while third baseman Anyi Tejeda and center fielder Grolmann Gonzalez each added an RBI. Starting pitcher Jario De La Cruz allowed two runs and four hits in four innings for the Orioles, while relief pitcher David Walters (0-1) gave up three runs and five hits in two innings.

'So You Think You Can Dance': Top 14 cut to 12 [Reality Check]

2009-07-02T20:00:13-07:00

My favorite part of the So You Think You Can Dance results show is almost always the group dance.

Tonight's number -- a Broadway routine to "Brand New Day" from The Wiz choreographed by Tyce DiOrio -- is no exception. So good, so fun, and amazing costumes. (I am, however, as usual, distracted by some of the manic camerawork that makes it tough to actually see the dancers' movements.)

Host Cat Deeley gets right to the results: Karla and Vitolio and Evan and Randi are called to the stage. The quick step still might be the kiss-of-death dance, as it turns out the Karla and Vitolio are in the bottom three couples.

After the break, three more judges are on the stage. Janette and Brandon find out they are safe. Kayla and Kupono are in the bottom three couples, and Melissa and Ade are safe. Mia Michaels says she is shocked about Kayla and Kupono because she thinks they were the best performance of the night. Kayla actually cries because she's so overcome.

That leaves two couples: Caitlin and Jason and Jeanine and Phillip. (Members of Caitlin's family, including her mom and her aunt, are there dressed similarly to her crazy costume from last night, with a sign that says "Aliens for Caitlin.") Caitlin and Jason are safe (and shocked), and Phillip and Jeanine are in the bottom three.

The evening's professional dance performance is an amazing ballet by dancers Desmond Richardson and Patricia Hachey from Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

Then, solos: Karla looks remarkably comfortable and strong on stage tonight. Vitolio dances to "Here Comes Goodbye," which seems like a bad choice of song. His solo is a little disjointed and off the cuff. Kayla gives an energetic and emotional but more controlled performance than her last time in the bottom three, when she was accused (unfairly, I think) of cramming too much into the solo. Kupono exudes a lot of emotion in his solo, joy and hope and just wanting to be there, I think. Jeanine finally gets to dance her style on this stage, and she is so good. Last is Phillip, who gets to show off what he does best, his crazily unique popping and locking and limb-wrenching.

Kelly Clarkson comes out to sing "I Do Not Hook Up" while the judges deliberate. She sounds great, and she looks better than when she was on Idol last season, but she still needs her stylist to work a little bit harder on her behalf.

The judges are back with the results, women first. Nigel tells Jeanine that she had the strongest solo of the evening and is safe. He tells Kayla that she is a favorite of the judges and the choreographers, but they found her solo to be very "static" and not dancing from the heart. They say that Karla is a very good dancer, but she hasn't quite shown the star quality they saw in her at first, so she is out. So Oxon Hill, Md., dancer Karla Garcia is going home. She says she will remember all her friends and dancing her contemporary routine.

They are unanimous with the guys, too. They tell Phillip he is unique and superb, but they thought he overworked his solo. Still, they are keeping him. Nigel says Vitolio has great presence and presents himself well, but he doesn't deliver. Kupono is told that his solo was weak and didn't show much passion, but they hope to see more from him in the future. So Vitolio is out as well.

Guess the quick step really is the kiss of death! Yikes.

Gary Williams and Tiger Woods [Tracking the Terps]

2009-07-02T17:59:58-07:00

Any basketball player can miss, say, nine shots in a row. What sets the good ones apart is that they don't unravel. They compose themselves and find the confidence and focus and fortitude to convert the 10th if the situation demands it.

That ability -- to regain one's footing, to stay in the moment -- is the essence of one of the questions Gary Williams was asking Tiger Woods the other day.

Williams and Chick Hernandez had the opportunity to question Woods on Comcast SportsNet at the AT&T National.

Said Williams: "In basketball, you have to move on to the next play. You can yell at a referee -- every once in awhile I'll do that. But the next play is happening while you do that."

Woods said he'll look at the scenery, gauge the wind and begin assessing the next shot. The key is not to get stuck reliving a difficult moment.

Williams said he heard that Woods' father told his son he had 12 steps to forget a botched shot.

Said Woods: "It was his way of saying, 'Get over it.'"

Handout photo courtesy of Comcast SportsNet.

Richard's review of Tahina [Dining@Large]

2009-07-02T16:41:33-07:00

I want to give you a link to Other Reviewer Richard's review of Tahina in Owings Mills today before I go down to cut up apples and peaches to put in the pitcher of sangria I plan on making.

I have to admire Richard's ability to turn this into a full review. Tahina sounds like one of those places that are worthy of a review, but it would definitely have been easier for him to write a four-word review of it.

(Barbara Haddock Taylor/Sun photographer)

Traffic deaths at 47-year low; thank the recession [Getting There]

2009-07-02T16:24:52-07:00

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported good news Thuesday: The death rate on the nation's roads fell to the lowest point since 1961 last year.

The agency tabulated 37,261 highway deaths in 2008, a drop of 9.7 percent from 2007. According to NHTSA, the fatality rate last year was 1.27 persons per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled, down about 7 percent from the 2007 rate of 1.36. Motorcycle fatalities bucked the trend, rising for the 11th straight year.

That's encouraging, but the best explanation is not.

Judith Lee Stone, president of Advocates for Highway Safety. warned that excessive sellf-congratulation is not warrantted.

This is no great surprise, given the economic recession the entire nation was, and is experiencing," Stone said. "In previous recessions – the early 1980s and early 1990s – a similar dramatic drop in car crash fatalities was evident, due to greatly reduced exposure and many fewer discretionary trips taken by motorists.

“Although it is always heartening to know fewer people died and suffered injuries in motor vehicle crashes, we cannot rely on poor economic conditions to ensure major progress in traffic safety, especially because historical trends tell us the numbers will reverse as the economy improves. There are still nearly 40,000 people dying on the nation’s roads, and hundreds of thousands more sustain life-changing and debilitating injuries on an annual basis."

Stone went on to recommend that Congress act on a series of measures intended to keep the trend lline going down even as the economy recovers.

The list is just a click away:

● H.R.1895, Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act, sponsored by Reps. Tim Bishop (D-NY), Michael Castle (R-DE) and Chris Van Hollen, Jr. (D-MD). The 2007 FARS data shows that at least 7,500 people died in teen-related crashes, the majority of them teens. These tragedies often happen one or two at a time, so the outrage about the public epidemic these numbers represent is muted. Every death, especially of a child, is a terrible waste, particularly when we know that there are proven solutions in comprehensive graduated driver licensing programs that can prevent many of these tragedies. H.R. 1895 would go a long way toward reducing these staggering figures that represent incalculable harm in the lives of very real people.

● Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Laws in Every State. The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 2009, currently proceeding through the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, wisely includes a provision that would encourage every state to pass a primary enforcement seat belt use law, allowing police enforcement officials to stop motorists for not using a seat belt without first having to ticket them for another violation. These laws have proven effective in raising seat belt use rates and saving lives. States that do not enact such a law in three years would be sanctioned a portion of their federal-aid highway funds until they enact the belt law upgrade. 30 states and DC currently have primary enforcement authority in their laws; this provision would result in all 50 states enforcing optimal safety belt laws and higher use rates across the nation. Advocates worked for adoption of this key safety measure in the STAA of 2009 and strongly urges the full committee to keep it in the bill.

● Electronic On-Board Recorders in All Commercial Vehicles in Interstate Commerce. The STAA of 2009 also requires that interstate trucks (at or above 10,000 pounds) and buses (that carry eight or more passengers for compensation) be equipped with electronic on-board recorders that will reduce driver fatigue by improving enforcement of the current lax hours-of-service reporting system. This is a crucial reform that Advocates and other safety groups have petitioned the Department of Transportation to implement for many years.

● Stronger State Ignition Interlock Impaired Driving Laws. The STAA 2009 also provides that states adopt impaired driving laws that require the use of ignition interlock devices on vehicles of drivers convicted of impaired driving, upon first offense and thereafter. This provision will accelerate the pace of adoption of important laws that will deter drunk and drugged driving in every state, reducing the toll of nearly 12,000 people who die annually in alcohol-involved auto crashes.

Helpful advice from the front porch [Dining@Large]

2009-07-02T16:18:04-07:00

The best thing to do with cheap wine is make sangria with it.

No spin, just the facts on a slumping Keith Olbermann [Z on TV]

2009-07-02T15:37:24-07:00

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann took offense to a post I wrote Saturday that referred to him as "slumping." He didn't dispute any of the facts in my piece, he just went on the attack with his usual innuendo, slurs and bombast over my characterization of his performance in the ratings.

Here are two graphics from tvbythenumbers.com tracking Olbermann's ratings the last six months. Read them and judge for yourself whether the adjective "slumping" applies.

No spin, just the facts. Especially note the one that shows him down 50 percent since the last quarter of 2008 in the key news demographic of viewers 25 and 54.

In case you missed it: Ring Posts Q&A with Torrie Wilson [Reality Check]

2009-07-02T15:34:55-07:00

If you'd like some insight on what it was really like on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here, check out Kevin Eck's interview with Torrie Wilson, who finished second, over at Ring Posts.

Especially interesting, I thought, was Torrie's take on Spencer Pratt:

At first I thought for sure Spencer was doing his rant for the cameras, but the longer I was around him the more I thought, maybe because he’s been on a reality show for so long that he’s started to let it blend into his real character. I don’t really know him personally so it was hard for me to differentiate, but it seemed like much of what they were doing – all of them – was very close to their true personalities.

But there's a lot more to read there, so go on, click above and read the whole thing!

Photo: Getty Images

Livingston exercises clause in contract, gains release from O's [O's on Deck]

2009-07-02T14:20:41-07:00

The Orioles released starting pitcher Bobby Livingston, who was primarily with the Double-A Bowie Baysox this season, and promoted relief pitcher Luis Lebron from the Single-A Frederick Keys to the Baysox. Orioles director of player development David Stockstill confirmed that Livingston exercised a clause in his contract to gain his release. The stipulation stated that Livingston could become a free agent if he wasn't in the major leagues by July 1. In 13 games (12 starts) with the Baysox, Livingston was 6-2 with a 3.62 ERA. The 26-year-old left-hander was tied for the team-lead in victories with starting pitchers Troy Patton and Jake Arrieta, who were both promoted to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides last month. Livingston also was 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts for the Tides earlier this season. He struck out 45 batters and issued 22 walks overall with the two teams, and opponents hit .294 against him. Lebron, who spent the first half of the 2009 season as the Keys' closer, provides the Baysox with another solid option at the end of the game. The 24-year-old right-hander was 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA and 11 saves in 28 games for Frederick this year.

Simplicity crib recall: spread the word [Consuming Interests]

2009-07-02T13:57:08-07:00

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the voluntary recall of 400,000 Simplicity Drop Side cribs sold between January 2005 and June 2009, according to the Associated Press.

As the picture from the CPSC shows, the drop side can detach when the hardware breaks, allowing a child to become trapped and potentially suffocate.

One child died as a result of entrapment, and there are 25 other reports of the drop side detatching, according to the CPSC.

Stores will provide refunds or store credit for the cribs.

Unfortunately, this is a familiar problem ...

... because 600,000 cribs were recalled last year, and 1 million cribs recalled in 2007, for similar problems.

The CPSC recommends that parents "should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby."

More details, including the model numbers, are available in the CPSC's Simplicity crib recall announcement.

Guest post: Fear of G-d's name [In Good Faith]

2009-07-02T13:54:17-07:00

Rabbi Yaakov Menken is the Director of Project Genesis, a Jewish cyber-outreach organization based in Baltimore. No, it's not what you think. I am not referring to a healthy (and Biblically-mandated) fear of G-d and his Ineffable Name, but an aversion to mentioning G-d as a motivating force in our lives. Joel Alperson, a past national campaign chair for United Jewish Communities, wrote about this in a recent op-ed entitled "Don’t fear ‘G-d,’ ‘Torah’ and ‘Judaism’ " published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. He writes:

I’ve collected the mission statements of the largest 17 Jewish federations in North America, and not one mentions “G-d,” “Torah” or “Judaism.” Nor do the mission statements of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, Hillel, the National Council of Jewish Women, The Wexner Heritage Foundation, the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, Hadassah and the Jewish National Fund. Of all the organizations I looked into, only United Jewish Communities mentions but one of the three words, Torah, in its mission statement.

Mr. Alperson's theory is that these terms are avoided because they are "more particularistic. Tzedakah [Charity], tikkun olam [Repairing the World] and klal yisroel [the People of Israel] are considered universal and inclusive terms." He bemoans this phenomenon, and considers this problem to be one with a uniquely Jewish angle. He believes that the reason these terms induce such discomfort is because communal organizations, aiming to serve the breadth of the entire Jewish community, are afraid of any mention of a term that might highlight our numerous and profound internal divisions. He may be right. But at the same time, I am reminded of an article written over 20 years ago by Daniel Polisar, today the director of the Shalem Center, and at that time a fellow student at Princeton University. He described an experience in a class in Philosophy and ethics, in which the students were asked to respond sequentially to a classic question of moral and ethical behavior: when confronted by an assailant who orders you to murder another, on threat of your own life, what are you supposed to do? Now as it happens, Jewish ethics offers clear and unambiguous guidance on this matter: "who says your blood is redder?" Thus the Talmud prohibits murdering another person, even in order to save your own life. And this is what Dan, when asked, proceeded to tell the class: that Judaism teaches us that G-d Commanded us to react this way. It so happens that Mr. Polisar was somewhere in the middle of the group of students. At the end of the class, he realized that he had triggered a sea change in the way the class answered the question: not one of the students asked before him had mentioned G-d in his or her response... and all, or practically all, of the students responding after him also mentioned G-d. This encounter, along with numerous others, led him to argue in The Princeton Tory that G-d has been exiled from the college campus -- that students are inculcated to regard belief in G-d as anti-intellectual, the realm of irrational fundamentalists rather than the enlightened students of the Ivory Towers. And thus, while the vast majority of students clearly regarded G-d as a force in their lives (based upon the answers following his), no one wanted to be the first to admit that he or she sought the guidance of a higher power. The directors of our communal organizations are generally well-educated, and if there is considerable truth to Mr. Polisar's argument -- and I believe there is -- this offers an alternate and more inward-directed reason why the mission statements of Jewish organizations might be averse to mentioning the Jewish religion. It is not that the writers fear highlighting our divisions, but that they do not want to highlight terms with which they themselves are uncomfortable. At the same time, this is not necessarily the (only) reason why the students were reluctant to use G-d in their answers in that classroom. While in retrospect it may seem almost instinctive to call upon G-d's Name in a discussion of ethics, it is also fair to say that most people could not be nearly so unequivocal about what G-d would want them to do. Most religions, including the modern Jewish movements that do not regard the Talmud as an authoritative source, do not state an absolute, required answer to that precise question. It could similarly be argued that many in the Jewish community feel this sort of ambiguity about their religion overall. How should they observe, or not? What should they, or shouldn't they, believe? Having departed from the moorings of Jewish tradition, they aren't quite sure which way to point themselves when the waves start crashing around them. In the end, I think all three of these factors -- a reluctance to highlight divisions, ambiguity about religion, and a reluctance of the educated class to express religious feelings -- combine to explain why Jews outside the Orthodox community are apt to avoid mention of G-d, His Word, and our religion. Where Joel Alperson and I certainly agree is regarding the consequences of that silence.

We must be the only people on the planet who believe we can transmit a message to future generations without saying specifically what that message is. Is it any wonder that most Jews cannot articulate Jewish purpose beyond some catch phrases or beyond merely expressing a desire that we survive as a people?

As with so many areas in life, religion is about making choices. We cannot be all things to all people, and we serve no one if we try to pretend otherwise.

Maryland State Board takes on job of vetting candidates [InsideEd]

2009-07-02T13:42:28-07:00

The Maryland State Board of Education has decided to take on some of the role of vetting candidates for the city school board. In my story today, I detail the questions the board is now asking candidates who apply for the job. It seems they are trying to prevent a repeat of the Brian Morris problem. Morris, the former city school board chair, was found to have a long history of financial problems.

One of the questions on the candidate questionaire asks if there is anything in the candidate's background that would be potentially embarrassing to the citizens of Baltimore if it came out. State school board president James DeGraffenreidt said the school board expects to "conduct more detailed inquiries concerning the qualifications and backgrounds" of the candidates. In other words, the state will be doing its own background checks.

Q&A with Torrie Wilson [Ring Posts]

2009-07-02T13:10:38-07:00

I conducted a phone interview Wednesday with former WWE diva Torrie Wilson, who talked about her runner-up finish last week on the NBC reality show I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here, as well as her negative experience doing the divas battle royal at WrestleMania XXV last April. So, what’s the first you did when you got back home after three weeks or so in the jungle in Costa Rica? When I arrived at my house I had a very small party with my closest friends and family and I ate some vanilla cake. I’m sure it tasted good to you. Man it was delicious. What was the toughest part about being in the jungle and what was the toughest challenge that you had to do? I think the toughest part about being there was that some of the personalities were clashing, so it was difficult at times to get along with everybody. And, of course, the eating was really difficult. The hardest challenge – there was one where we stuck our head in something [a glass case filled with snakes]. I was really glad I didn’t get the tarantulas. Spencer and Heidi Pratt and Janice Dickinson came off as incredibly annoying. What was it like being in the jungle with them?

Maryland spends on maintenance, not new roads, transit [Second Opinion]

2009-07-02T11:35:13-07:00

A new report from smart growth advocates praises Maryland for spending nearly all of its transportation stimulus money on maintaining or repairing existing roads, not building new ones. Critics immediately pounced on the strategy as wasteful because, some apparently concluded, anything that doesn’t relieve existing traffic congestion is an extravagance.

But resurfacing roads, upgrading traffic controls, installing traffic barriers and similar projects can not only help keep traffic moving, but they are also critical for preventing accidents and keeping insurance costs down. A recent national study found that road-related conditions — ranging from pot holes to bad design (too-narrow shoulders or a lack of pavement markings are prime examples) — were a factor in 22,000 fatalities and cost the public about $217.5 billion each year.

Maryland’s $225 million in highway stimulus spending can’t fix all the problems. Highway maintenance needs easily surpass that figure — the recession has already caused the state to cut back on transportation spending by more than $1 billion over the next six years.

What do you think? Was this the right way to spend the money? How should the state handle its future transportation needs?

(Sun photo)

Please step on the Steppables [Garden Variety]

2009-07-02T11:27:55-07:00

In Thursday's gardening column in The Sun, I write about Steppables, a low-growing perennial that can handle foot traffic and is good between pavers, under fences or groundcover where grass refuses to grow.

But Steppables are also perfect for miniature dish gardens, too. Their are drought tolerant and can take a beating from the sun, so that makes them ideal for a spot on the deck.

Here's a look at some ideas for Steppables from Homestead Gardens and photographer Melanie McCabe.

Today's game previews -- June 2 [O's on Deck]

2009-07-02T11:16:11-07:00

The Triple-A Norfolk Tides return to Harbor Park for a game against the Gwinnett Braves, while the Double-A Bowie Baysox will try again to play their doubleheader against the Akron Aeros at Prince George's Stadium. The Single-A Frederick Keys travel to face the Potomac Nationals, and the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds host the Hickory Crawdads at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds look to rebound from four consecutive losses when they take on the Oneonta Tigers tonight at Ripken Stadium. Norfolk Tides (AAA) Opponent Gwinnett Braves (7:15 p.m.) Probable pitchers Norfolk: Jake Arrieta (1-2, 3.57 ERA) Gwinnett: John Halama (0-1, 2.70 ERA) Bowie Baysox (AA) Opponent Doubleheader vs. Akron Aeros (6:05 p.m.) Game 1: Probable pitchers Bowie: Brian Matusz (2-0, 0.79 ERA) Akron: Hector Rondon (7-4, 2.59 ERA) Game 2: Probable pitchers Bowie: Fredy Deza (3-2, 2.95 ERA) Akron: Erik Stiller (5-3, 3.86 ERA) Frederick Keys (A) Opponent at Potomac Nationals (7:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Frederick: Sean Gleason (0-2, 4.56 ERA) Potomac: TBA Delmarva Shorebirds (A) Opponent Hickory Crawdads (7:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Delmarva: Cole McCurry (3-5, 3.25 ERA) Hickory: Wilmer Font (3-1, 4.37 ERA) Aberdeen IronBirds (A) Opponent Oneonta Tigers (7:05 p.m.) Probable pitchers Aberdeen: Ken Moreland (2-0, 0.75 ERA) Oneonta: Gary Perinar (0-1, 5.79 ERA)

Where to find Steppables [Garden Variety]

2009-07-02T11:15:01-07:00

A number of readers of my column in The Sun on Steppables have called or e-mailed to ask where they can be purchased.

These small perennials, which can tolerate foot traffic, are on sale at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville. Buy two, get one free.

For a garden center near you, simply go to the Steppable Web site and find the drop-down menu, click on your state and a list of garden centers will appear.

Have fun stepping, everybody.

Photo credit: Melanie McCabe/Homestead Gardens

Yearning for Marconi's [Dining@Large]

2009-07-02T11:11:49-07:00

I'm not, but some people still are and are still commenting on an old post about where to get the Maison Marconi chopped salad recipe, which led to this joke from Bucky:

Q: How many Baltimoreans does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: All of them. One to put in the bulb, and the rest to talk about how much better the old bulb was.

How true. I don't know how many comments the Top 10 Locations We Miss Terribly got, but I remember it was a ton.

Here's the caption for the photo:

Oct 1, 1998-- Marconi's on 106 W. Baltimore St. offers French and Italian (Continental) Cuisine. The restaurant opened in 1920 and the owner claims it is the oldest restaurant in Baltimore. The owner (proprietor) Ilene R. Booke loves the color green so when she renovated the front dining room, she painted it pale green. It has European touch in the room. It's signature dishes are Lobster Cardinale, Oysters Pauline, and Softshell Crab as well as homemade chocolate dessert dish. It opens for lunch and dinner from Tuesday through Saturday. Photo by Chiaki Kawajiri/staff

Oh, heck. While I'm at it, maybe I'll reprint my whole review, which this photo illustrated. Although it makes me a little sad to read it, because Doug H. died in a car accident not too long after. It was his daughter whose wedding we attended in Argentina this Christmas. If you aren't into nostalgia, don't bother to click "Continue reading..."

Marconi's closed in 2005. ...

Kids in hot cars: balancing safety with reality [Consuming Interests]

2009-07-02T11:04:00-07:00

How much is an investment in safety worth?

Because, even though you think you wouldn't leave an infant or a toddler locked in a car, it has already happened to 15 families. Tragically, 15 babies have died of hyperthermia in 2009 after being left in a car. An Ellicott City family's 23-month-old daughter died last week after she was locked in a car for nine hours.

I don't think any of the parents or caregivers would ever say they intended to do it. Safety experts and advocates say people get distracted and make a mistake.

Kids and Cars, a group which advocates for prevention of non-traffic related injuries to children by cars, has frightening statistics that lay out a pretty clear correlation about why it happens, though. After rules banned children riding in the front due to airbag injuries, deaths due to hyperthermia grew.

What does it take to prevent calamities such as these? Acknowledgment that it's possible, as Dr. Laura Jana, an Omaha-based pediatrician who speaks about injury prevention for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said:

"It's the last thing you ever want to imagine happening, and we push it away as if 'it could never happen to me,' said Jana, author of Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality and the mother of three.

"I don't think our brains want us to be able to imagine us doing something like that to our child," "Denial is a very powerful thing."

The pediatrician pointed out that we create failsafe measures to prevent ourselves from forgetting other important tasks. You wouldn't lock your car doors without checking to see if you have your car keys first ... so don't walk away from your car without looking at the front and back seat.

Parents could also leave a a reminder in the front seat to alert them that the child is present (diaper bag makes sense to me) or they could leave their purse or briefcase in the backseat to remind themselves to go back there, she said.

It's a no-brainer to advocate for these types of precautions ...

... because, frankly, they don't cost any money, unlike a back-up camera for an SUV or minivan that costs $500, Jana said. But thousands of kids die every year when drivers back up over them, according to Kids and Cars. Even car seats can cost a lot, too, especially if you have multiple small chlldren.

It's hard enough to convince people to wear seat belts, when they justify such risky behavior by saying they will drive carefully, that they're only going a short distance, that it couldn't happen to them.

But, it does. So: walk around your car before getting in to ensure you won't run anything over. And check the backseat before you leave to make sure you haven't left a kid.

Tides' Tillman, Miller earn spots on All-Star team [O's on Deck]

2009-07-02T10:53:38-07:00

If you're looking to catch a glimpse of one of the Orioles' top pitching prospects, be sure to check out the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 15 at 10:05 p.m. on ESPN2. The game will be played in Portland, Ore. Triple-A Norfolk Tides starting pitcher Chris Tillman was selected to represent the International League in the annual midseason contest. The 21-year-old right-hander will be joined on the team, which will play against the Pacific Coast League All-Stars, by Norfolk relief pitcher Jim Miller. Tillman is 5-5 with a 2.97 ERA in 14 starts for the Tides this season. He is tied for eighth in the International League with 75 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting .226 against Tillman, but he has lost five consecutive decisions after starting the season with a 5-0 record. Miller is tied for the lead in the International League with 16 saves. The 27-year-old right-hander is 2-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 30 appearances for the Tides in 2009. He has allowed just eight runs (seven earned) in 31 2/3 innings. Tides manager Gary Allenson will be an assistant coach on the International League All-Star team. Former Orioles relief pitcher Fernando Cabrera also was selected to the International League squad. Cabrera is tied for first place in the league with Miller in saves (16), and he is 0-1 with a 1.03 ERA in 27 games. The 27-year-old right-hander has only given up five runs (four earned) in 35 innings this season.

Live chat on Bernie Madoff and other things on your mind [Consuming Interests]

2009-07-02T10:51:38-07:00

Hey, gang, I’m having a live chat on noon Tuesday at this site to discuss finding a trustworthy financial adviser after the Bernie Madoff scandal.

Or, we can discuss anything else on your mind.

Tune in at noon for the half-hour chat. You can also submit questions in advance and we’ll address those on Tuesday.

Cheers, and Happy Fourth. Eileen

When to prescribe Tamiflu? [Picture of Health]

2009-07-02T10:42:11-07:00

Stephanie’s post below about making a vaccine for swine flu got me thinking about how the medical community is trying to treat this virus in the meantime.

This week, Danish health officials reported the first case of Tamiflu-resistant swine flu. The World Health Organization called it an isolated incident and Roche, the company that makes the drug, said the medicine is still effective in treating the virus, known as H1N1.

Still, the case begs an interesting question of state health officials and doctors everywhere: when is the right time to give someone Tamiflu?

So far, Tamiflu is the most prescribed antiviral to help fight the symptoms of the virus. Medical experts agree prescribing Tamiflu to someone who tests positive for the H1N1 virus is a no brainer. It’s the best treatment out there. But whether to use the drug in an effort to prevent the virus is tricky.

Giving Tamiflu as prevention doesn’t guarantee you won’t get the disease and it could make it more likely that the virus adapts and becomes resistant to drugs, said Dr. Clifford Mitchell, director of environmental health coordination for the Maryland health department.

“When you give out a medicine, you run the risk that if you don’t kill every bug, the bugs that are able to survive are those that are able to resist that particular medication,” he said. “You don’t want to give this to everyone in the population.”

Two weeks ago, when three teens were diagnosed with H1N1 at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, officials at the facility made prescriptions for antiviral medications available to any staff member who wanted one and even offered to pick up the tab.

But typically, Tamiflu is recommended only for medical professionals who have had close unprotected contact with someone with the virus, and for people who have been exposed to the virus and are at risk for complications if they acquire it, such as pregnant women, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. (See these guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control.)

No cases of drug-resistant swine flu have been found in the U.S., but state health officials are paying close attention for possible drug-resistant samples when they do testing.

Drug resistance has been found in other types of flu. The most common strain of flu that circulated over the winter was almost completely resistant to Tamiflu.

Photo courtesy of AFP/Getty Images

Monroe discusses Maryland pledge [Recruiting Report]

2009-07-02T10:23:16-07:00

After Maryland wrapped up its 2009 recruiting class, one of the Terps’ first junior scholarship offers went out to St. John’s College (D.C.) defensive tackle Andre Monroe. The 5-foot-11, 290-pounder thought about making an early commitment, but decided to go through the recruiting process for a little while. That ended Tuesday night, when Monroe committed to the Terps. “It feels great knowing that I’m committed and they were at the top of my list the whole time,” Monroe said. “It feels great and I feel relief, getting it out of the way before the season so I can concentrate on my senior year.” After Maryland offered, New Mexico, Akron, Bowling Green, Miami (OH) and Ohio followed suit with scholarships of their own. Other major schools expressed interest, and Monroe took visits to Pittsburgh, Duke and North Carolina. But the Terps remained his only BCS-conference offer. St. John’s coach Joe Patterson thinks there’s a simple explanation for Monroe’s relatively low-profile recruitment. “[Monroe’s height] was the only thing you ever heard anyone talking about ... as far as any issues he may have had,” Patterson said. “If he had been a couple of inches taller, I’m sure he would’ve been a national recruit.” The Maryland staff first saw Monroe at a summer football camp before his sophomore year. Whenever a Terps coach went to a St. John’s game last season to check out offensive line recruit Pete White, Monroe inevitably played his way into their consciousness. Patterson said Monroe’s junior film led to the early UM offer. “Andre is as productive as anyone I’ve ever had,” Patterson said. “Teams had to scheme around him. ... He reminds me, as far as being a playmaker, of Tony Tucker, who’s a defensive end for Pittsburgh. I think Andre brings a whole different range of skills just because he has such a tremendously low center of gravity and he uses his body so well. And he’s got incredibly strong legs. That package [is tough to come by].” Monroe and White used to car-pool together to St. John’s, and the two are admittedly close. But Monroe said his former and future teammate never put pressure on him to commit to the Terps. “He threw his input in there,” Monroe said. “But he wasn’t trying to do it really hard like all the coaches were. He explained to me that he went through the process, too. He showed me how sometimes the pressure can get to you, and he didn’t want [me to go through] some of the things that happened to him.” When Monroe arrives in College Park in 2010, he’ll have a chance to go up against White in practice again on a daily basis. Monroe said he’s excited to suit up for the program that believed in him from the start. For the rest of the summer, he’s committed to making his senior season a memorable one. “Right now I’ll keep working out and continue to get better, spend more time with my teammates to make sure we’re together to have a successful season and win a championship.”

Reader warns of irrational transit-phobia [Getting There]

2009-07-02T10:08:49-07:00

Every once and a while I get an email that displays uncommon good sense in the face of nonsense. This, from Terry Shepard of Baltimore, is one of them. After passing along some compliments that are too extravagant to inflict on readers, Shepard writes concerning the June 22 Metro crash that killed nine in Washington:

The Sun and other papers continue to run follow-up stories on it and that is understandable. What is less explicable is the employment of this accident by some to spread fear of and opposition to public transit. Auto commuters say "See, that's why I don't ride transit" and even the Sun ran one of its reader polls on whether this would make people less likely to do so.

Meanwhile, a June 30 story in the Sun reports on "a tractor-trailer that plowed into stalled cars in a turnpike accident that killed 10 people" and no one is running polls or saying "See, that's why I don't drive on the highway." (I realize that crash was in Oklahoma, but you get the point.)

This despite the fact, reported in a June 24 story in the Sun, that: "According to the National Safety Council, the number of accident fatalities per vehicle miles traveled is about 14 times worse for passenger cars than trains and subways. Only transit buses are considered safer."

Perhaps you could repeat those statistics and interview a psychologist who works on transportation as to why people refuse to accept this (beyond the obvious answer that many Americans reject facts that suggest they should get out of their cars and ride on public transit with people they don't know.)

As you know and have argued, more and better mass transit are both possible and absolutely vital if we are to avoid killing our environment, our cities and ourselves. Americans must get past their unreasoning fear of transit and you can help them do it:

I have to disagree, Terry. If anyone, you are the one that can help them do it. And just have. Thanks.

I don't think you need a psychologist to explain what's at work: Transit is unfamiliar to most middle-class, auto-oriented Americans. Cars are something they encounter every day. That which is unfamiliar is more scary than what is familiar, even when the familiar is demonstrably more dangerous. Transit also involves contact with unfamiliar people.

The point on the poll is well-taken. It should be noted that it comes with the disclaimer: "results not scientific." Still, it is encouraging that only 17 percent answered yes. And I'm going to venture an unscientific guess that those most of those folks don't ride transit now.

Last call: Pickup baseball [Random Rodricks]

2009-07-02T10:05:30-07:00

So, here's the deal, kids. If you want to organize a pickup baseball game in your neighborhood, or at a rec field nearby, or if you are looking for players for a Sunday softball game or even a Wiffle Ball game, tell me about it -- give me the when, where and what time -- and try to give at least 24 hours' notice. I'll list it here and send it out on a new Twitter account called PickupBaseball. The story Greg Dunn tells in a recent column got me to this modest effort at promoting informal, just-show-up baseball the way we used to play it back in the day, and the way it was played before everything had to be so formal and organized, and before kids went indoors to enjoy the A/C and the video games, before we all got busy doing other things. . . . I guarantee there are kids in your neighborhood (maybe even your own children!) just itching for a game, especially this summer, after school lets out and the rec leagues are finished, and the spring rains stop and the fields dry out. . . . Then again, maybe not. Maybe pickup baseball is dead. Or maybe you can pull this off without me and Twitter . . . If so, go.

PickupBaseball on Twitter

Feel like a kid again at Kings Dominion [Consuming Interests]

2009-07-02T09:33:30-07:00

That may not be possible with those creaky knees, but at least your wallet won't squeak thanks to the Virginia theme park's July special: every Sunday adults get in for the price of a child's ticket. That means you pay $31.99 instead of $44.99. Regular admission is $54.99, but it gets you two days. This deal is for a single-day admission only. There's a catch (always is) - you can only buy the tickets online. This deal is not available at the gates.

NASA, Japan map most of planet [B'More Green]

2009-07-02T09:30:27-07:00

CNN's goinggreen blog has an entry today on the new digital topographical map created by NASA and Japan. It's the most complete map to date.

The map was built from 1.3 million images taken by NASA's Terra satellite. CNN says the images were taken by a Japanese imaging instrument called the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer, or ASTER.

The map covers 99 percent of the planet's land mass, adding steep terrains and deserts not on other maps. See some more ASTER pics here.

ASTER imagry of the globe courtesy of NASA

Tomorrow's editorials: Union service fees and a drop in drug overdoses [Second Opinion]

2009-07-02T09:08:50-07:00

Here are previews of editorials we're working on for tomorrow's paper. Let us know what you think. The best comments will run alongside the editorials in the print edition.

-- In principle, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has an excellent argument for the so-called “fair share” law that went into effect in Maryland this week. It negotiates contracts for tens of thousands of state employees, whether they are members of the union or not. Conducting those negotiations costs money, and it isn’t right that non-members get the benefits without paying their share of the costs.

But the potential side effects of the law are cause for concern.

For one thing, employees who belong to other unions that aren’t recognized by the state as having bargaining rights would have to pay their union dues and the service fee. That will almost certainly endanger the existence of these smaller unions.

And for another, the service fees would be a huge financial boon to AFSCME. The fees — which still must be negotiated with the state — will cover more than just the cost of negotiation. Non-members may end up paying as much as members or nearly so to pay for outreach, educating the public about the work state employees do and other activities they may not wish to support.

-- A generation ago, former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke urged lawmakers to consider abandoning the criminal justice model for dealing with the country’s rampant drug problem and focus instead on treating people for their addictions. He was roundly criticized for the idea, and America went on to prosecute a fruitless “war on drugs” that two decades later it is still clearly losing.

But last week, city health officials announced a small but significant victory in that struggle that may yet vindicate Mr. Schmoke’s more humanistic approach to the scourge of substance abuse. Officials reported that deaths from alcohol and drug overdoses declined for the second straight year in the city and are now at their lowest levels in more than a decade. The reason? Expanded treatment opportunities for heroin users and programs that teach addicts how to avoid life-threatening overdoses even if they aren’t able to completely break the cycle of dependence.

With addiction at epidemic levels — nearly one in every six people in Baltimore struggles with a dependence on alcohol or drugs — there’s no way we’re going to make a dent in this problem simply by locking more people up.

Book It: July 4th edition [Read Street]

2009-07-02T09:03:19-07:00

You just have to get through the second half of the workday, and it's holiday weekend for you!

Along with the fireworks, here are a few events you can enjoy this week, both patriotic and downright bookish.

Tonight, Ukazoo Books holds their monthly forum, an open mic in which poets, playwrights, authors and musicians come together and share their art. You can sign up in advance by e-mail or call 410-832-BOOK.

Tomorrow night, Cyclops Books hosts "For Crying Out Loud: Born Free." There will be many artists, and a birthday party, as writer Fernando Quijano III, whose work you may remember from Smile, Hon, You're in Baltimore! celebrates his 40th year with free drinks and snacks for all. Happy birthday, Fernando!

Saturday is the best holiday of them all! What, you think Thanksgiving and Christmas are good? I prefer my holidays with fireworks and air conditioning, thanks. So everyone do me a favor, and have a safe, happy Fourth of July.

My list of offbeat Inner Harbor spots to watch the 4th of July fireworks [Midnight Sun]

2009-07-02T09:00:00-07:00

Thanks again for posting your suggestions for offbeat places to catch Saturday's downtown fireworks display.

I came up with about a dozen options outside of the Inner Harbor.

They include (but aren't limited to) Bo Brooks, Tide Point Waterfront Park, Canton Waterfront Park, Shuckers, the Bay Cafe and more.

Here's a link to the piece, which ran in today's paper.

(Baltimore Sun archive photo)

Fantabulous news for Baltimore kitties!! [Unleashed]

2009-07-02T08:54:59-07:00

With a final rally, the three Baltimore shelters fighting to find homes for 500 cats and kittens in June managed to do it -- and more.

The Maryland SPCA, BARCS, and Baltimore Humane Society adopted a grand total of 573 cats and kittens during the month. In 2008, by comparison, the shelters found homes for 353.

The three shelters, as part of Baltimore 500, offered free adoptions on cats and kittens throughout the month of June to jumpstart their effort. Six vet offices offered free exams to kitties adopted during the promotion.

On Sunday June 28 I visited the MDSPCA and cuddled with an adorable kitten named Tortellini. By Wednesday when I dropped by the shelter again, the kitty was gone, hopefully to a wonderful home. In fact, every last kitten who'd been with Tortellini on Sunday was gone. Too cute to last -- particularly when being offered for free!

Congrats to all the shelters for saving so many kitties!

Sun file photo of a kitten that sort of resembles Tortellini.

Another week of cooler-than-normal temps [Maryland Weather]

2009-07-02T08:52:18-07:00

You could almost call it a "cool wave." But "cool" is probably not the best word to describe the slightly-lower-than-normal highs and lows in the NWS forecast for the next seven days. A "mild wave," maybe? Or a "pleasant wave"?

Whatever. It's welcome and it's saving us all money.

The real weather news is that we've slipped into this pattern of what meteorologists out at Sterling are calling "troughiness," as in, persistent low pressure to our north that is sweeping disturbances through the region, giving us plenty of clouds, with daily chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms.

And that seems to be keeping the temperatures in check. Highs for the next week will stall out in the low- to mid-80s. And the overnight lows will sink into the low- to mid-60s (maybe even some 50s in some places) - good sleeping weather if the humidity doesn't bother you. That's all a few degrees below the long-term averages for this time of year in Baltimore, which are in the 86/87-degree range on the top end, and 65/66 at night.

Baltimore seems to have been the focus of last night's rainstorms. One city church was struck by lightning. We could hear the thunder from the WeatherDeck in Cockeysville, but only received a bit of the water. Here at Calvert & Centre streets, however, The Sun's weather instruments picked up 0.92 inch of rain. (The station was down for a few hours this morning after some computer reconfiguration. Should be back shortly.)

And that was close to the most reported anywhere in the metro area. Hamilton reported 1.13 inches to the CoCoRHaS network this morning. Towson reported 0.92 inch. Kingsville, in Harford County, had 0.86 inch. St. Mary's County also got a good deal of rain, though probably from a separate storm cell. BWI reported only 0.37 inch up until midnight yesterday.

Sunday still looks like the best weather day of the long weekend for Central Maryland, with no rain chances in the forecast, partly sunny skies and a high near 84. The 4th comes with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, starting after 2 p.m. and continuing into the evening.

(SUN PHOTO/ Mauricio Rubio/Cooler-than-normal bagpipers in Catonsville parade 2008)

UM surveys Marylanders on traffic safety [Getting There]

2009-07-02T08:45:11-07:00

What do you believe are the most important issues in traffic safety in Maryland? You can weigh in on that topic by taking part in the University of Maryland School of Public Health's Maryland Driver Survey, which just went up on line Wednesday.

The anonymous, on-line survery can be completed in about 10-15 minutes. It was developed by UM School of Public Health for the Maryland Department of Transportation and the State Highway Administration's Safety Office. The survey will remain open through Aug. 12.

I took the survey and can see where the research could be useful to transportation planners, but it coould be a lot better. If you take it, feel free to leave your comments on how it could be improved here.

Reason #4,576 for not having pet python [Unleashed]

2009-07-02T08:36:51-07:00

A 12-foot pet Burmese python broke out of an aquarium and strangled a 2-year-old girl in her bedroom Wednesday in a central Florida home, authorities said.

According to The Associated Press, Lt. Steve Binegar, of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, said the toddler was strangled by the snake in the town of Oxford, about 50 miles northwest of Orlando.

Pythons can kill by wrapping themselves around a human. Paramedics said the girl was dead when they arrived at about 10 a.m.

Sheriff's officials told the Orlando Sentinel that the snake broke out of a glass aquarium overnight, went to the girl's bedroom and attacked her. The owner found the snake wrapped around the girl and stabbed it while others called 911.

The Humane Society of the United States said including Wednesday's death, at least 12 people have been killed in the U.S. by pet pythons since 1980, including five children.

Jorge Pino, a spokesman with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said that pythons are not native to Florida and can easily grow to 10 or 12 feet long.

Law enforcement officials remove a pet Burmese python, measuring more than 8 feet long, from the home where it killed 2-year-old Shaunnia Hare in Oxford, Fla. on Wednesday. Charles Jason Darnell, the snake's owner and the boyfriend of Shaunnia's mother, discovered the snake missing from its terrarium and went to the girl's room, where he found it on the girl and bite marks on her head. Darnell, 32, stabbed the snake until he was able to pry the child away. AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Tom Benitez

New version of A Moveable Feast [Read Street]

2009-07-02T08:36:31-07:00

Read Streeter Gail Farrelly asked recently whether authors should get a chance for a do-over. Well, Ernest Hemingway is getting the chance for an unusual, posthumous do-over: Scribner's release of a revised version of A Moveable Feast.

The book, a memoir of Paris' ex-pat society after World War I, has always had a ghostly quality. It was assembled from Hemingway's writings after he committed suicide in 1961, even though he did not consider the works finished. In a story about the re-release, the New York Times notes that he wrote a letter to his publisher, Charles Scribner, that “it is not to be published the way it is and it has no end.”

The differing versions highlight the problem of having an editor with a personal stake in the writings, the Times article points out. Hemingway's fourth wife edited the original, creating a final chapter on the dissolution of his first marriage and the start of his relationship with Pauline Pfeiffer (pictured here). Now Seán Hemingway, a grandson of Hemingway and Pauline, has re-edited the material. He removed part of that chapter and placed it in an appendix, while adding passages from Hemingway’s manuscript that Seán believes paint his grandmother in a more sympathetic light.

If only Papa could get his hands on the material himself.

Are you ready for some sour? [Kasper on Tap]

2009-07-02T08:31:51-07:00

Interesting piece on sour beer in the Los Angeles Times yesterday.

Joshua Lurie writes about beers that he acknowledges can "smell like a barnyard." But, he adds, these beer usually taste better than they smell.

Most of these beers are unblended lambics that ferment in oak barrels.

They present some challenges.

First you have to get past the aroma and get to the taste. Even the fans of sour beers admit that this can be a leap. Lurie quotes Mark Jilg of Craftsmen Brewing Co. describing sour beer's bitter notes as "the final frontier of the palate experience."

Brewing a sour is tricky, the article points out. The fermentation can be long and expensive. Moreover, the microbes that essentially make the beer are aggressive and unpredictable. Sometimes they become sour quickly, sometimes not, one brewer told Lurie.

Then there is the acidity. Sour beers, like Deschutes Brewing Co.'s The Dissident, which I tasted at Savor event in Washington last May, can really make you pucker. I was not wild about it. But the tasting group I was a part of rated it as their fave.

I did appreciate the sour that Ben Schwalb of Severna Park served at the SPBW home brewers crab feast last fall.

Where do you stand on sour beers?

Are they all about the brewing mystique?
Just because they are difficult to brew does that make them good?

Any brewers have tales to tell about trying to make a sour?

Or do sours deliver unique, acidic flavors, harkening back to the beers that brewers made centuries ago?

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Surviving a sub's sinking [Random Rodricks]

2009-07-02T08:26:31-07:00

TODAY ON THE RADIO: 88.1 FM WYPR WYPO WYPF

1:00-2:00 pm Eastern: British author Alex Kershaw tells a harrowing story this hour -- how a handful of crew members, including one from Baltimore, survived the sinking of the U.S. Navy sub Tang in 1944. After sinking Japanese cargo ships while on patrol in the Pacific, the Tang's last torpedo boomeranged and sent the sub to the ocean floor. What happened next is chronicled in Kershaw's excellent narative, Escape From the Deep. Hear him tell the story during this hour of Midday.

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What I want to eat, drink, and listen to right now [Dining@Large]

2009-07-02T08:25:32-07:00

As I'm reading this fantastic Funtastic Thursday guest post from Owl Meat, I'm trying to decide what I want for dinner, drink and music.

This would be the music for some reason, maybe because I'm on vacation, and the food would be straight picnic fare, but including cucumber sandwiches, with iced tea for a drink. Here's Owlie. EL

You are stranded on the proverbial desert island. You find a lamp. You rub it and a genie appears. He says that you can have any food, beverage and music for dinner. What do you ask for? It isn't your last meal. It's just what you want today.

Over the past few weeks I polled people for their choices. I also included one of my own. I'm sure you can guess from the photo what my wish was. I was a little surprised by how quickly people answered the question. ...

Cheap wedding dresses: something old, something new-with-tags [Consuming Interests]

2009-07-02T08:19:41-07:00

Cheap wedding dress bargains are available to brides who start early and do their research.

As a bride-to-be actively avoiding many decisions about my own pending nuptials (despite the many excellent cheap and frugal wedding tips shared by Consuming Interests readers months ago), let's talk about how an organized non-procrastinator should search for a gown.

First, consider what you're paying for. Check out what the authors of the Bridal Bargains book had to say about wedding dresses -- given the price range, you'd expect things like high-quality fabric and materials such as lace, right?

At the very least, you'd want properly sewn seams. A good friend of mine recently ordered a dress from a popular retailer and found multiple problems: an exposed metal zipper instead of the covered, hidden one pictured in the catalog, poorly stitched seams that bunched in the back and even an unevenly cut hem.

Next, think about how long you'll wear this dress. I like to justify expensive purchases by dividing the price by the number of times I'll wear an item. That won't work for wedding gowns.

Wedding dresses are also cumbersome heirlooms. Some people may preserve their gowns in acid-free boxes, which is a nice tradition if you live in a home with lots of storage, that you never plan to leave. Otherwise, it will be one more thing to carry around as you move through life. And forget about saving it for your kids. Your offspring may not fit into yours or may prefer a different style for their gown.

Finally, don't get pressured into making a deal. With all the pressure to find the "perfect" dress, it's not uncommon for women to find themselves buying more than one, because the style of the dress doesn't match their venue or because they make a hasty decision at a sale that they regret later.

With that in mind, here's some great options for purchasing an inexpensive wedding dress that you will love:

Start early. (And be more decisive than I am). If you’re ordering from a store, they often require more than four months to get the dress, and then at least two months alterations. Order with less time to spare and you may get hit with rush charges even though your event is still months away.

And if you're considering alternative sources I'm suggesting below, the hunt may take more time.

Pick your venue and wedding date BEFORE you buy a dress. You might have to alter any Cinderella fantasies depending on your wedding location. For a beach wedding on a Caribbean island, you might not want something with a cathedral-length train. Or, if you're getting married in the winter, you might consider a down quilted dress or one lined in fleece (kidding, kidding). P.S. No matter where you're getting married, don't pack a wedding dress in your checked luggage, as one bride learned the hard way.

I've also heard some ceremony sites place restrictions on what is appropriate attire for a wedding (for the bride and groom, at least). I don't know of any that do that, but it's worth checking before you plunk down a deposit on anything risque.

Consider some alternative sources of wedding attire, including:

* Sales in retail shops. Most bridal salons only carry a few samples of the dresses from the lines they carry. If you have at least a vague concept of the style of dress you want, check for trunk shows, where designers come to a store with more examples that you can often purchase at a discount on that day.

Sometimes stores also sell the samples themselves, which is fine if the dress is within alteration-range of a perfect fit. Check for stains, rips or other wear-and-tear problems --- if it's something minor it might still be worth it.

* Check department stores and other unexpected sources. A good tip for destination wedding dresses that can travel well, or others looking for more modern or non-traditional styles: check out special occasion dresses at department stores such as Bloomingdale's or Neiman Marcus. Also, some bridesmaid's dresses can be ordered in wedding colors such as white or off-white, but designers might charge a special fee for that privilege. Rrr!

Unfortunately, Isaac Mizrahi no longer designs wedding dresses for Target. Ann Taylor sells bridesmaid dresses and accessories, but a spokeswoman told me they may offer "wedding dress alternatives" in the future.

* Consider "pre-owned" dresses. The Wall Street Journal had a recent story about bargain-hunting brides buying their gowns from preownedweddingdresses.com. Now, "pre-owned" is a big category, which includes not only dresses that have made it down the aisle at least once, but also some brand new dresses that are new-with-tags (NWT).

Take advantage of others' indecision. Classifieds at sites such as Weddingbee.com, Encore Bridal or smartbride.net are full of stories from "two-dress brides" (and even three-dress brides) who changed their minds and found a different dress. You can also buy wedding dresses on Craigslist and bid on wedding dresses on eBay. (Remember how we showed you how to set up an RSS feed for a Craigslist search?)

I recently talked to a woman who purchased a dress at the Filene's Basement Running of the Brides, where dresses cost between $250 and $699. She ended up buying a different dress that she felt was more appropriate for her reception location -- and is now looking to unload her lovely ballgown before she moves.

Goodwill stores were a good wedding dress source for one Boston Globe reporter. I checked out a number of local Goodwills and was impressed by the extent of the formal wear selection, although there were fewer recent wedding dresses than I had hoped. I'm guessing it's luck of the draw --- the best dresses probably sell quickly.

The savvy shopper at Good Morning America also recommended going to thrift stores and consignment shops for wedding dresses. The Surprise Shop in Towson, which raises money for Trinity Episcopal Church, now has a number of wedding dress samples available on consignment for a third of their original price, as well as accessories such as gloves and veils. Newbury and Smith in Mount Washington had two wedding dresses when I visited, and Regal Rags in Annapolis had a few, too.

Other options: Anyone with experience ordering direct from manufacturers in China, renting a dress or having a dress made, please share advice below. You could also look at wedding gowns on Etsy. One bonus: if you have a dress made to your measurements, then hopefully you save on alterations down the road.

(photo: Patrick Smith/Baltimore Sun)

Candlelight Concerts in Columbia to offer Beethoven quartet cycle, Emma Kirkby and more [Clef Notes]

2009-07-02T08:19:26-07:00

The 37th season of Candlelight Concerts, the fine chamber series in Columbia, will include the start of a two-year survey of the complete Beethoven string quartets. Six ensembles, American and European, will participate in the cycle, beginning the the Illinois-based Pacifica Quartet Jan. 23. The Ebene Quartet from France (Feb. 6) and Artemis Quartet from Germany (Feb. 27) will also be part of the series during the 2009-2010 portion of the Beethoven series.

Starting off the Candlelight lineup is soprano Emma Kirkby, the much acclaimed specialist in early music, who will perform a 17th century program with lutenist Jakob Lindberg on Oct. 24. The Concertante Sextet will play Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht and Brahms' G major Sextet, along with John Novacek's Three Rags, on Nov. 21. Cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan will perform works by Beethoven, Schumann, Shostakovich and others on March 13.

And, providing the most concentrated dose of contemporary music on the series, the ...

Del Sol Quartet will explore works by Gabriela Lena Frank and Zhou Long, as well as Bartok, on April 10. The season will end June 13 with the winner of the 2010 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition (chosen March 27).

All performances will be at Smith Theatre, EXCEPT the Artemis Quartet, which will be presented at St. John's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City.

PHOTO OF CONCERTANTE COURTESY OF CONCERTANTE.ORG

Want to work for the Baltimore police? [Baltimore Crime Beat]

2009-07-02T08:16:09-07:00

:: Guest post from Justin Fenton ::

Want to work in law enforcement?

How about working as the third-highest-ranking member of the Baltimore Police Department, overseeing the homicide unit and crime lab? Well, job hunters, you’re in luck, as the department has posted an ad for chief of its Criminal Investigations Division on Craigslist.org.

The job is posted in the government jobs section of the site, and police officials say they have used the site before to try to reach as broad an audience as possible. Of course, chief of detectives is hardly a job that a broad range of people have the chops for, but the move is in step with the department’s vow to look both inside and outside of the agency to replace Col. John Bevilacqua, who retired earlier this year.

The job is one of the most high-profile in the department, overseeing the venerable homicide unit; district detectives, who investigate shootings, robberies and aggravated assaults; the special investigations section, which investigates child abuse, missing persons and sex offenses; and the crime lab.

Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the department turned to the online classified web site to reach the "largest range of qualified people that we can" but also in hopes of finding someone who is tech savvy. "Part of being chief of detectives is that you’re up to the latest and greatest," noting that the Internet has become an increasingly more useful tool for police. He specifically cited Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. "All of that stuff is not reserved for high school teens anymore."

(Aside: Does this mean that the next chief of CID better have on his resume that he’s seen "Chocolate Rain" on Youtube and is following Ashton Kutcher on Twitter?)

Some inside the department were surprised that the department hasn’t promoted someone in-house for the job. Col. Dean Palmere, who oversees the elite Violent Crimes Impact Division in East, West and Northwest Baltimore, has been pulling double-duty as acting CID chief.

"We want the best person for the job, whether he’s from here or from another city and bring the best practices," Guglielmi said.

You still haven't guessed the latest Name That Bar [Midnight Sun]

2009-07-02T08:12:00-07:00

I already gave one hint:

Here's another: The first letter of the name of this one-word spot is in the second half of the alphabet. The prize for guessing the Mystery Bar is getting better and better by the day. I can't believe it's taken you guys so long. I know more than a few of you have been here.

Dogs still must be leashed in city parks [B'More Green]

2009-07-02T07:34:24-07:00

Sun reporter Jill Rosen reported today on Unleashed about the city's ongoing efforts to establish off-leash hours for dogs in city parks. There's no resolution, but Parks & Rec Head Wanda Durden said she's working on it.

The issue came up after the city passed new animal control laws that included a $1,000 fine for dogs caught off leash anywhere in the city except the Canton Dog Park. Dog owners rallied and won the council's support for lowering the fine to $200 and a pledge to establish off-leash hours.

Durden says the communities around parks in Riverside, Wyman Park, Herring Run and Patterson Park -- the parks deemed appropriately big to handle dog hours -- will have to decide what times are good and where in the parks to allow the dogs. She's thinking 5 a.m.-10 a.m. and again at 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Other cities including New York have similar rules.

But some neighbors are firmly opposed to off-leash dogs and others say their dogs need some exercise. Community meeting, expected soon, are likely to be lively.

Think there will ever be a resolution?

Baltimore Sun file photo of the Canton Dog Park

Not a good thing [Jay Hancock's blog]

2009-07-02T07:31:36-07:00

Mike Allen reports:

For $25,000 to $250,000, The Washington Post is offering lobbyists and association executives off-the-record, nonconfrontational access to "those powerful few" — Obama administration officials, members of Congress, and the paper’s own reporters and editors. The astonishing offer is detailed in a flier circulated Wednesday to a health care lobbyist, who provided it to a reporter because the lobbyist said he feels it’s a conflict for the paper to charge for access to, as the flier says, its “health care reporting and editorial staff."

Beltway/I-95 ramp opening delayed [Getting There]

2009-07-02T07:14:16-07:00

The Maryland Transportation Authority postponed today's expected opening of a new ramp from the westbound Outer Loop of the Baltimore Beltway to southbound Interstate 95 because of poor weather and pavement conditions -- putting off the opening until after the July 4 holiday.

The authority now than to open the new ramp -- part of the I-95 express toll lanes project -- next Tuesday at 5 a.m. The ramp opening will involve significant changes to the traffic pattern at the interchange, so allow extra time for confused commuters to get their bearings. But be patient: The change will eliminate an awkward left-lane exit and entrance -- likely improving long-term traffic flow and safety.

Federales to open in Federal Hill [Midnight Sun]

2009-07-02T07:05:00-07:00

A new upscale Mexican eatery named Federales is coming to Federal Hill, a source told me.

If all goes as planned, Billabong, the Australian themed pub on East Cross Street, will close, and the liquor license will be transfered to the building at 1100 S. Charles St. (where Dinner at Your Door once was).

The new owners are going to build an outdoor terrace in the adjacent parking lot.

According to my source, Federales is going to be a cross between Rosa Mexicano and Don Pablo's. It will serve tacos and burritos to go at the Charles Street entrance ...