Blog updates

Jennifer Jones dead at 90 [Read Street]

2009-12-17T15:00:43-08:00

Jennifer Jones, the movie star who portrayed many literary figures, including Emma Bovary, died today at age 90 at her California home. In addition to her role in the adaptation of Flaubert's "Madame Bovary," she played Nicole Diver in Fitzgerald's "Tender Is the Night," Catherine Barkley in Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms," Elizabeth Barrett in "The Barretts of Wimpole Street." and Carrie Meeber in Dreiser's "Carrie." She also won a lead actress Oscar in 1943 for "The Song of Bernadette."

(Just looking at that list makes me realize how many movies today are made from cartoons, rather than from great literature.)

Here's a longer obituary from the Los Angeles Times, detailing her movie career as well as marriages to Hollywood producer David O. Selznick and industrialist/art collector Norton Simon.

Publicity photo from 1955

Teens: Smoking is risky, but drugs and alcohol? Not so much [Picture of Health]

2009-12-17T10:04:46-08:00

We're never surprised by the attitudes of teens, but new research has us at Picture of Health scratching our heads.

Adolescents perceive cigarette smoking to be riskier than using drugs and alcohol, according to a new government report.

On one hand, it's good news for the work that public health officials have put into anti-smoking campaigns. Nearly 70 percent of kids 12 to 17 years old said there was a great risk from smoking one or more packs a day.

But only 40 percent said there was a great risk from binge drinking (defined as five or more drinks once or twice a week) and just a third perceived a great risk from smoking marijuana once a month. And just about half said there was a great risk in using cocaine once a month or LSD once or twice.

The findings, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, are based on responses from nearly 50,000 12 to 17-year olds participating in a national survey.

They bolster the government's annual report of teens drug and alcohol use released earlier this week that found teen cigarette smoking is down to the lowest level since 1975. At the same time, though, marijuana use is growing and prescription drug use remains high.

University of Michigan researcher Lloyd Johnston, who oversaw that survey, told the LA Times that kids underestimate the risks of LSD, inhalants and Ecstasy. It's a sign that "a new generation of kids are interested . . . in rediscovering these drugs, because they don't understand why they shouldn't be using them."

AP photo

Annapolis dog at center of Vermont high court case [Unleashed]

2009-12-17T09:48:31-08:00

Vermont's highest court is being asked to decide what a dog's love is worth, the AP reports.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday was to hear a case that began in July 2003, when Denis and Sarah Scheele, who were visiting relatives, let their mixed-breed dog wander into Lewis Dustin's yard and he fatally shot it.

Now the Scheeles are asking the court to carve out a new legal doctrine that a dog's owners can sue for emotional distress and loss of companionship, just like parents can when they lose children.

"We're still working toward having the courts recognizing the true value of companion animals. They're members of the family, not mere property," Sarah Scheele, 58, said from her home in Annapolis, on Wednesday before flying north for the court hearing.

Dustin's lawyer, David Blythe, said Dustin never intended to kill the Scheeles' dog, Shadow, and "has always regretted that it happened." He said Dustin fired an air pellet rifle at the dog in hopes of scaring it off the lawn of his home in Northfield, a community of about 6,000 residents just south of Montpelier in the heart of the state's Green Mountains.

Sarah Scheele gave up her work as a meeting planner and has devoted her time since the dog's death to advocating for animal welfare and caring for the six special-needs dogs — most of them abused in the past — the couple has adopted in recent years. Denis Scheele, 50, continues to work as a plumber.

The Scheeles filed a civil suit against Dustin, pressing their claim that Shadow was more than a piece of property and that they could not be compensated just with reimbursement of what they paid to adopt him from an animal shelter, the veterinary bill that resulted from the shooting and the cost of his cremation.

Historically, laws across the country have limited sharply the ability of plaintiffs to collect damages for emotional loss. A parent can sue for emotional damage from the loss of a child, but a grandparent cannot for the loss of a grandchild under Vermont law, Blythe said.

In this Nov. 29, 2006 photo, Denis and Sarah Scheele are shown with their dogs from left, Sam, Spirit, Lightfoot and Lucy, at their home in Annapolis. The Scheeles are suing a Vermont man for shooting and killing one of their pet dogs, Shadow, shown in photo being held by Denis. (AP Photo/Matt Houston)

"The Night Before Christmas," Baltimore style [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-17T09:13:50-08:00

Your children might enjoy this reading of "The Night Before Christmas" by local notables. Have them look for local band Milkshake at the end. And....there's an uncredited cameo by someone else you may recognize:

The Night Before Christmas, Hon [Read Street]

2009-12-17T09:12:20-08:00

Here's a way to get into the holiday spirit -- a reading of Clement Clarke Moore's "The Night Before Christmas," performed by a gaggle of Marylanders. You'll see Ravens Joe Flacco and Michael Oher, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra conductor Marin Alsop, chef Bryan Voltaggio, Olympic skater Kimmie Meissner and Nobel Prize winner Carol W. Greider, among others. Enjoy!

Toddler Thursday: O, Tannenbaum [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-17T09:08:43-08:00

It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...

Just a quick, back-from-vacation-and-trying-to-catch-up post today. But I'm wondering: What are folks doing to protect their Christmas tree from their toddler ... and vice versa? We have a skinny, artificial, Charlie Brown-ish tree in the living room, and at the moment, the base is surrounded by tall boxes so the kidlet can't get to it (pretty much).

He's still fascinated by the whole thing, though mostly he just wants to reach out and touch the ornaments. Under supervision -- with reminders of "Gentle!" -- he's been doing OK. And that wall of boxes helps, too.

Some friends from my moms' group were talking about buying one of those big baby gates to put all the way around their tree, but I don't know if anyone actually did.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

I think, as usual, the tree is probably most at risk for attack by the cats, not the kid. But we'll see!

New book clubs for the New Year [Read Street]

2009-12-17T09:08:32-08:00

Susan Weis, owner of Hampden's breathe books, recently sent word that they'll be hosting two new book clubs in the new year!

The first is a teen club, which will meet for the first time on Jan. 10th from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Hosted by "shopgirl Jenn," the club will meet regularly on the second Sunday of the month to discuss books. And as Andrew Bird would say, there will be snacks!"Each month we'll discuss a new book, exploring everything from fiction to graphic novels to nonfiction, focusing on books that raise interesting and important questions," according Weis' e-mail.

The first book to be discussed will be "The Adoration of Jenna Fox," by Mary Pearson. Members are encouraged to sign up in advance, and club members get 20 percent off of that month's selected book.The event costs $7.

On Jan. 30th, the first Books and Bagels will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Weis herself will host these events on the last Saturday of the month, with bagels and coffee provided by Common Ground. The first book discussion will be on "Ghost," by Alan Lightman. The event costs $9, and again, members get 20 percent off the book club books.

Christmas pictures and Christmas videos [Garden Variety]

2009-12-17T08:45:56-08:00

Again this year, The Baltimore Sun, the indulgent parent of Garden Variety, has created a place on line where you can up-load photos of your Christmas tree and sneak a peak at other trees in famous and not-so-famous places.

Go here and put up a picture of your tree and send your friends to the Web site to see it! Beats having everybody over for drinks and heavy apps, right?

And while you are at your computer, take a look at the video The Baltimore Sun's multi-media staff created of major, and minor, celebrities, including yours truly, reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas." My high school forensics team (before that phrase meant crime scene) coach would be sooo proud.

Hint: I am not the one in the Raven's jersey.

White House hoop dreams [Garden Variety]

2009-12-17T08:42:40-08:00

And you thought they'd put the White House vegetable garden to bed for the season...

As we reported here on Garden Variety, the White House has enclosed the first lady's vegetable garden in "hoop houses", or row covers, to retain the sun's warmth and grow winter crops.

In this YouTube video, chef Sam Kass explains the practice and on the White House blog, he says the garden has been planted with a winter crop of spinach, lettuce, carrots, mustard greens, chard and cabbage.

"I especially look forward to cooking with the spinach," he writes. "Winter spinach is extra sweet. Sugar doesn’t freeze, so spinach produces extra sugars in the winter to protect itself from frost. It tastes almost like candy. We are going to make soups, salads and, of course, Chef Comerford’s famous cream-less creamed spinach."

Kass also writes that the remaining garden will be planted with a cover crop of rye to protect the top soil.

On the video, Kass introduces a couple of U.S. Department of Agriculture bosses who chat up their "Know Your Farmer" program and announce plans to help farmers purchase their own hoop houses to extend their growing season and increase their income.

The rock star White House cook is clearly the draw on the small screen, don't you agree?

Just two legs, but lots of heart [Unleashed]

2009-12-17T07:46:07-08:00

Letter to Santa: Help independent bookstores [Read Street]

2009-12-17T07:44:49-08:00

Author Gail Farrelly's Christmas list includes an unusual plea to St. Nick. With the help of the National Security Agency, we intercepted her message, and share it with you:

Dear Santa, all during 2009 I've been nice (okay, okay, I was a little naughty, but only once or twice!), and now I have a very special request. Can you figure out a way to save independent bookstores? More and more of them are closing, and it's very scary.

Do you have a favorite indie at the North Pole, Santa? I hope you do, because a bookstore like that is a fabulous place to be -- surrounded by books and book lovers -- on a cold, snowy day.

I recently had a wonderful evening at a book signing in New York City at Partners & Crime Mystery Booksellers in Greenwich Village. Great book, terrific food supplied by the author, an interesting blend of people. Civilization at its best. And Santa, since you travel around the world, you may want to come to New York and attend one of the live, old-time mystery radio plays at Partners & Crime. You will love the plots, actors, organist and sound effects. Admission to the plays is reasonable, and they transport you back to another time and place. Finding a parking place for a car is hard in the Village. But for a sleigh and reindeer, any rooftop should do it.

But you know, Santa, with the growth of e-books and increased competition from chain bookstores and chain superstores, how many of the indies will be able to survive? It's something we should all be thinking about. We are letting a good part of our book culture go down the drain. Are we nuts?

Maybe you could help develop better marketing plans and strategies for the indies. Or how about a more direct approach. Santa, you could label as "naughty" any reader who buys a lot of books, but never from the indies. Maybe a big lump of coal in their Christmas stockings would convince them of the error of their ways.

I'm asking a lot. Saving the indies is a big challenge, I know. But Santa, for someone like you who is able to circle the globe in one night to bring gifts to all the good little boys and girls in the world, this should be a piece of cake. We look to you for a miracle. A lot of us are no longer little, but we are good and deserve a gift: the indies 4EVA!

Get to work on it, please. Pronto. Oh and yes, Merry Christmas!

A greener way to gift [B'More Green]

2009-12-17T06:49:08-08:00

Ever think of giving someone a camel for Christmas? In the spirit of being more green, consider for a moment that perhaps you and yours don’t really need anymore “stuff” this holiday season. Oxfam America offers charitable holiday gifts that do good – and they don’t come wrapped in soon-to-be trashed paper, boxes, and bows. A nonprofit organization committed to creating lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice, Oxfam America supports its mission by offering donors the option to purchase a can of worms ($18), school supplies ($25), a water pump ($135), or to plant an entire forest ($500) – all in effort to fight local and global poverty. Though they are considered one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations, Oxfam America is the only organization that refuses US government funds. They rely on people like you to invest in their community-based work. To read more about Oxfam America Unwrapped and the multitude of gifts available, visit their web site. Get your order in today, and it will arrive in time for Christmas (and no, there won’t be a camel on your doorstep – a card with a photo is what you can expect to receive). Images courtesy of Oxfam America

Study: Dogs beat humans as walking buddies [Unleashed]

2009-12-17T06:28:20-08:00

Researchers are saying it's clinically proven that if people want the best walking partner, they should choose a dog over a human companion.

According to this research from the University of Missouri, written about in the New York Times, people who walk dogs are more consistent about it and show more physical improvement than folks who take their walks with other people.

The study happened over 12 weeks at an assisted living home. Researchers were surprised when the dog walkers were soon able to walk faster even as those walking humans started making excuses to get out of the exercise.

A woman walks her dogs through the snow in Richmond Park on December 16 in London. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Collared today: Mia [Unleashed]

2009-12-17T04:55:17-08:00

NAME: Mia

NICKNAMES: Boober, Mia Flambo, and Tiny

OWNER: Philip Rickey.

HOW THEY MET: While I worked at a chain pet supply store in Columbia, MD., a litter was left at the veterinary hospital inside the store. The litter had been found under a mobile home. There were several 6- or 7-week-old kittens in the litter. Mia was offered to me by the veterinary staff, she was the last of the litter.

AGE: 6.

HOME: Columbia, MD.

BREED: Domestic medium hair, dark tabby and tan.

BEST TRICK: Jumping 4 to 5 feet into mid-air to catch a feather teaser toy.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Chasing an invisible toy across the living room (yes, chasing and swatting at absolutely nothing on the floor.)

FAVORITE FOOD: She doesn’t have one. She usually turns down treats.

FUNNIEST MOMENT: Her ‘funniest moment’ happens often. Usually in the morning Mia will wander around the house aimlessly (at least it looks that way). Then, out of nowhere, she’ll bolt, at top speed, down the hallway to a bedroom door frame. She’ll stop and orient herself so she’s under the door frame facing one side. Then she’ll grab each side of the door frame (one paw on the inside of the door, the other on the hallway side), hunch down, let out the deepest, longest sounding whine/meow you’ve ever heard and jump up the door frame. She’ll land safely and run away.

FULL OF KITTY QUIRKS: Mia has a couple of (what we call) birth defects. The first has to do with her tongue: when she cleans herself, the noise will wake you up from a dead sleep. Her second, is her tail. Mia is a very happy cat, her tail is up 95 percent of the time. However, her tail doesn’t stand at a normal level, it wraps up along her back, thus forcing everyone around her to look at her unmentionables all the time.

IF MIA HAD A MOTTO FOR LIFE, IT WOULD BE: “Huh?” (Mia isn’t the brightest cat)

CREDIT FOR PHOTOGRAPH: Philip Rickey.

To see more pets that have been Collared, click here.

Want your pet to be featured in Unleashed? Click here to download the Collared questionnaire. Fill it out and email it to us, along with a jpeg, at unleashed@baltsun.com. Share your pets' stories with us!

Women's attitudes towards elective c-sections [Picture of Health]

2009-12-17T04:07:49-08:00

Despite the risk posed to mother and baby, early births -- both by elective c-section and induction -- are on the rise.

But many women aren't completely aware of the potential harms of giving birth too soon -- especially when there is no medical need, according to a new study by United Health Care on women's attitudes toward the safety of early births.

Even though the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends scheduled deliveries take place after a woman's pregnancy has reached 39 weeks (of a 40 week pregnancy) a little more than half of women surveyed think it's safe to deliver before 37 weeks.

Despite the warnings, rates of births between 34 and 36 weeks are increasing, the report says. The risks are real: studies show babies born that early are more likely to have medical problems.

The authors suggest that doctors are planning births to fit their schedules or that of their patients -- overlooking safety concerns. Patients' misconceptions of the risks might be fueling their decision to request a c-section, the authors said.

With more than 1.3 million c-sections performed every year in the U.S -- there's growing concern about this trend. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found between 1999 and 2002, nearly 36 percent of elective c-sections were done before 39 weeks. As this piece explains, repeat elective c-sections done before 39 weeks, doubles a baby's risk of respiratory problems.

Attitudes about the issue vary and can become heated on internet chat rooms, where moms-to-be pointedly argue the pros and cons of elective c-sections.

It's an ethical dilemma for doctors and patients, says ACOG. There are many occasions where c-sections are necessary and can save the life of a woman and her baby. But when not a medical necessity, women, providers and hospitals need to be better educated on the risks, the authors write.

Database may help shoppers with eco choices [B'More Green]

2009-12-17T04:07:30-08:00

I just saw a mention in OnEarth, a magazine produced by the Natural Resources Defense Council about a open-source database under construction now that will let shoppers find the products that are the most environmental based on their entire lifecycle -- including the materials used, transportation required, disposability, etc.

It's called Earthster, and it's being put together by Gregory Norris, a Harvard lecturer who co-wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times recently about the importance of looking at the whole lifecycle of a product for its environmental and social implications. That is, the importance to consumers, who want to know if one green product is more green than another, and to the manufacturers themselves, who can learn about money-saving and customer-enticing processes.

In the times article, he talks about the stainless steel bottle, which is much more harmful to produce than the plastic bottle because of the fossil fuels, emissions, metals, toxic risks, etc. Only if you use it 50 times then the climate impacts are much better than a plastic bottle used once.

No sure when the database will be up and running, but the NRDC says Walmart is a big funder and will be among the first retailers to roll out the system. So, stay tuned. The labelling may get really specific and really useful.

The care and feeding of the Christmas tree [Garden Variety]

2009-12-17T04:07:22-08:00

Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images

The concensus seems to be that vodka and aspirin do not make a significant difference in the life span of a Christmas tree, but they might make the business of buying one and putting it up easier on the humans in the equation.

At this time of year, there are lots of myths and old wives's tales about how to keep a Christmas tree from dropping its needles like rain. They involve everything from boric acid to lemon juice.

But it may be that you just need to water your tree. A lot. They can take up more than a gallon a day, whether it has sugar in it or not.

Here are some other tips:

The best way to have a fresh tree is to cut it yourself at a tree farm. If that isn't possible, check the freshness of a tree by banging its trunk against the ground. It should not drop many needles.
Ask the salesperson to make a fresh cut at the base of the tree and put the tree in water the moment you get home, whether you plan to put it up immediately or not. The tree will begin to sap over within hours, making it impossible to take up water, unless it is immersed. In any case, a day or two in a tub of water in a cool, sheltered spot, like the garage, will help revive the tree.
If you want to be certain that your tree is taking in the maximum amount of water, drill a few shallow holes around the base of the trunk. There are lots of commercial products that claim to prolong the life of the tree, but, again, a lot of water seems to be the answer. Check it every day.
It makes sense to purchase a tree disposal bag and place it under the tree as you set it up. That makes it easier to collect the tree and recyle it after Christmas.
Obviously, don't put the tree near a heat source. But a cold draft will dry the tree out, too. So will direct sunlight.
In any case, expect the tree to last a maximum of four weeks.

Oh, and by the way. Just guessing, but I don't think spray painted trees like these will last very long.

Gonzalo Gonzalez began customizing Christmas trees about seven years ago at his Compton, Calif., nursery when a customer asked for one in blue.

Los Angeles Times photo by Ruben Vives

Welcome back to A Maryland Country Garden [Garden Variety]

2009-12-17T04:07:16-08:00

Garden Variety would like to deliver a hearty, and heart-felt, "Welcome back!" to Julia Green, the writer behind A Maryland Country Garden.

Julia's is a beautiful photographic blog dedicated to the gardens and the wildlike around her seven-acre home in Northern Montgomery County, and it was one of the first I discovered when I started hunting for gardening blogs.

I had missed Julia, and thought perhaps she had tired of the whole blogging thing. But she says in a recent post - her first in more than a year - that she has been ill, having undergone surgery for cancer last spring.

She talks briefly in the post about the bad timing of her illness, coming as it did just as spring arrived and, with it, all those garden chores. By the time she recovered in late summer, the garden, she said, had gone to "wrack and ruin."

Julia says she has a clean slate - health-wise. And is giving herself a clean slate in the garden, too, where she will try to start over this spring.

Any gardener who has jumped over the fence into the second half of life is certain to have wondered what would happen to her gardens should she, or he, become too ill to care for them, especially since most of us can barely get all the work done now.

For that reason, it is easy to understand how difficult it must have been for this gardener to watch her gardens go crazy while she healed.

I am pleased for Julia that she, and her pretty blog, are back with us.

Last weekend before Christmas [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-17T03:36:11-08:00

Can't believe the holiday is almost here. Here are some ways to enjoy the anticipation with the family for one more weekend: Thursday, Dec. 17: The Clauses visit Elkridge: This sounds like fun. Santa and Mrs. Claus will come through Elkridge neighborhoods from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. When neighbors hear "Jingle Bells" sounded on the air horn of the fire truck these two will be riding, they should meet at the nearest street corner. They'll be collecting canned goods and wrapped gifts for the needy. Santa at the Savage Library:Santa will be at the Savage branch of the Howard County Library at 7 p.m. There will also be stories and crafts. Limited space; register online or by calling 410-880-5978. Friday, Dec. 18: "Alice in Wonderland": DanceRINK's “Alice in Wonderland” is adapted from a 1950 radio play. In this production, director and choreographer Scott Rink retells the classic story with dance, movement and images. At Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St., at noon and 7 p.m. Performances are also at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 general, $15 for seniors and artists and $10 for students. Go to theatreproject.org. Target $2 Family Fun Nights at Port Discovery: Between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., get in to the Port Discovery Children's Museum for just $2. Winter Wonderland Party for Preschoolers: Kids can celebrate winter with themed games, crafts, and treats from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Bear Branch Nature Center, 300 John Owings Road, Westminster. 410-848-2517. $7. Saturday, Dec. 19: Santa at the Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company: Have lunch with Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company, 11210 York Road. There will be food and crafts. Donations accepted for Toys for Tots and the Maryland Food Bank. Dreidel Hunt: The Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC will have Hanukkah activities, including games and swimming, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Ages 4-11. $18 per nonmember family; free for members. Sunday, Dec. 20: Hibernation Fascination Discover how hibernating animals and others survive throughout the winter and what is causing them to rouse from their deep sleep from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Irvine Nature Center. For ages 6 and up. Kwanzaa Family Day: Make art and watch performances at a free Kwanzaa festival from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Art. There will be African headwrap-making, drummers and dancers.

Speaking of the garden [Garden Variety]

2009-12-17T03:03:42-08:00

To dig in one's own earth, with one's own spade, does life hold anything better? -- Beverly Nichols

Best of the decade -- indies fight on [Read Street]

2009-12-17T03:03:24-08:00

The decade has brought intensified pressure on independent bookstores. It's seem odd to include that trend on a "decades best" list, but it certainly has been a major factor in shaping the landscape of booksellers. And you've got to admire and respect the fact that they fight on, against long odds.

Let's review the competition: Big bookstore chains such as Borders and Barnes & Noble. Big box retailers such as Walmart and Target. Online retailers, led by Amazon. And most recently, the rise of e-books.

Not everyone has survived. In the 18 months that Read Street has existed, I've seen the several stores close: Clayton's in Baltimore, Vertigo in College Park and Olsson's in Washington among them. Still, the Baltimore area retains a strong core of indies; Greetings & Readings, Constellation, Daedalus, Ukazoo, Red Emma's and the Ivy, to name just a few.

Here's hoping that there are enough lovers of literature to keep indies thriving in the coming decade.

Touchdowns score donations for diabetes [Picture of Health]

2009-12-16T11:53:46-08:00

Now for a little football departure. (We're quite versatile here at Picture of Health)

No one expects Ravens fans to root for the opposing team. But during this Sunday's match up with the Chicago Bears, perhaps Baltimore fans can take a little comfort in touchdowns scored by their rival.

For every touchdown Bears quarterback Jay Cutler completes, drugmaker Eli Lilly and Company will donate $1,000 to the summer camp scholarship fund of the American Diabetes Association. Cutler, who has type 1 diabetes, has been raising awareness of the illness through the Touchdowns for Diabetes program. So far this season, some $48,000 has been raised.

Formula for a perfectly trimmed tree [Garden Variety]

2009-12-16T09:41:09-08:00

There is a formula for a perfectly trimmed Christmas tree, one that is known to the professionals out there, like garden blogger Helen Yoest.

According to the garden coach and designer behind Gardening with Confidence, who trims trees for clients' homes and offices, this is the math for a perfect tree: 100 miniature lights per foot of tree; 15 ornaments per foot of tree, and 10 feet of garland per food of tree.

According to that formula, a 6-foot tree would have 600 lights, 90 ornaments and 40 feet of garland.

I'm in trouble.

My tree has 600 ornaments, 90 lights and no garland.

But I am one of those people who likes the stuffing more than the turkey and the ornaments more than anything else.

Clearly, however, the number of wine bottles on the tree is a personal choice.

Photo of Kennedy Krieger Institute's Festival of Trees submitted by (jwtheiv) to our reader photo gallery.

Study: Senate health reform would cover an additional 482,000 Marylanders [Picture of Health]

2009-12-16T09:37:19-08:00

With the Senate in a pinch to meet a Christmas deadline to pass a health reform bill, a new report paints a bleak picture for Maryland if reform doesn't happen.

Some 482,000 people in Maryland will gain coverage by 2019 under the Senate health reform bill, according to the report by the national consumer advocacy group Families USA. Without it, about 125,000 people in Maryland will lose coverage by that same date.

In 2007 and 2008, the average number of uninsured in Maryland was 715,000, but that figure could rise to 840,000 if the Senate goes home for Christmas without a bill, the report estimates. Nationally, the number of people without insurance could hit 54 million in 2019 without a health care overhaul.

The group, which if you haven't noticed, has been lobbying big time for the Senate to hurry up and pass legislation to expand coverage to millions. It has come out with similar sobering figures on the impact that the status quo could have on the states.

A few months ago, the group released a report estimating that 114,780 people will lose health coverage in Maryland from 2008 through December 2010.

photo courtesy of Brooks Elliot @ flickr

My dog, my son [Unleashed]

2009-12-16T08:08:31-08:00

The other day, when Michelle Obama remarked in an interview that Bo, the first family's puppy, was "her son," it's hard to imagine anyone who zeroed in on that little comment more than Nicole, who's known on Unleashed as "Minpinmama."

Nicole calls Tig, her Miniature Pinscher, "her son" pretty much on second reference. And for it, she's been getting eye rolls and shaking heads for months. (By the way, when we last heard from Nicole, she was sneaking Tig into stores like a baby in a dog stroller...) Here's her take on having a so-called fur baby:

I really love my dog Tig. In the few months since I’ve adopted him, he’s become the center of my world. And naturally, he’s my son.

But don’t tell that to some of my family and friends, many of whom feel compelled to constantly correct me – “He’s not your son; He’s a dog; he’s a pet.”

I got a huge dose of vindication when First Lady Michelle Obama said in a recent interview, “Bo is our son,” referring to the first family’s Portuguese water dog, who, by the way, put my Tiggy to shame with his high-five trick. So adorable.

And apparently the training methods for four-legged friends are good enough for human-child rearing, according to a recent New York Times article, which highlighted some parents’ use of dog whisperer Cesar Milan’s dog training methods on their children.

My Miniature Pinscher and I couldn’t be more of a mother and son duo. I feed him, cuddle him, clean him and teach him right from wrong. He travels with me in his stroller almost everywhere. And I pick up his poop.

We even look alike, I tell people: “We both have black hair and long noses.”

Cool holiday video to get you in the spirit [Unleashed]

2009-12-16T07:28:12-08:00

To be upfront, this has nothing to do with pets -- except for that some of the folks who star in the video certainly have pets! Like, say, the governor. And Sam Sessa. I just wanted to share a video that our Sun team worked hard on for the last few weeks, getting local personalities to recite portions of Twas the Night Before Christmas. Enjoy.

Met Opera's controversial 'Tosca' production airs Wednesday on PBS [Clef Notes]

2009-12-16T07:12:35-08:00

If you didn't make it to New York for the Metropolitan Opera's heartily booed production of "Tosca" earlier this season, or catch the HD broadcast at a cineplex, you can discover what the fuss was all about when PBS airs a performance Wednesday night (the Baltimore and DC affiliates have it scheduled for 9 pm).

It was fascinating to observe all the ire generated by this unconventional staging of the Puccini war horse. To read some of the reviews or the comments on various opera-centric Web sites, you might have suspected that an actual crime had been committed at Lincoln Center.

I found myself liking a lot more about director Luc Bondy's concept than I expected to when I encountered the production at the Met in early October. The emphasis on the volatility of the

title character made particular sense in this context; the starkness of the sets had a way of focusing the attention on the human drama; several of the smaller details registered with great weight.

No question that some things don't work or don't add enough of value to justify their inclusion (the cameras go into discreet mode for the cheesy Scarpia-and-his-hookers routine in Act 2). But, ultimately, I still think this is a theatrically absorbing "Tosca" on many levels. Musically, it's OK, too, sometimes much more than that.

But enough about me. Feel free to use this space to cheer or jeer after the broadcast.

Unleashed tester reviews KangaRoom pouch [Unleashed]

2009-12-16T06:40:58-08:00

The Unleashed Testing Panel moves like the tortoise...not exactly fast, but worthwhile in the end. In September, when you last heard from the panel, they were expounding on the virtues of Bit O Luv dog treats. Now, Leigh, known on the blog as LaDowdle, and her trusty Wally, carefully consider a pet accessory called the KangaRoom Pet Pouch.

The pouch, which retails for about $19.99, is advertised as a convenient way to store all the things you need for your pet. Leigh and Wally tested the pouched bag for a number of weeks this fall. Here's their review:

When we first got the KangaRoom pet pouch, we thought we would not use it at all. We thought it would just be one more thing for the furbaby to chew on, and believe me we already have plenty of things like that. However, we have actually gotten a lot of use out of it!

There is a pocket for toys, leashes, pink dog sweaters*, treats, crystal encrusted sparkly collars*, and every other dog supply you can think of. It has handles so you can hang it up somewhere, but we keep the pouch on the kitchen counter.

It really is convenient to have everything in one spot, out of Fido’s reach, and ready to go at any time.

Over the holidays it became especially useful. We brought our dog to an overnight family gathering for the holiday, and when it was time to go we just grabbed the bag and knew everything was already in there. No last minute scrambling and hunting for doggie supplies.

If you are not the type of person who brings your dog with you lots of places, you probably won’t get much use out of it. We like to bring our dog with us whenever possible, so the KangaRoom pet pouch has really come in handy.

* Please note, we would never adorn our Rottweiler with such frou frou items.

LEIGH AND WALLY'S RATING:

Disclaimer: The above are user reviews of pet products; the views expressed are not those of The Baltimore Sun. Users (human or otherwise) who volunteer to be part of the panel accept all risks and responsibilities connected to sampling products.

Key
	Akin to getting your nails clipped
	Worth a sniff
	Nearly as good as a walk in the park
	Tail-waggingly great

Guest post: "Dispatch from the future" [B'More Green]

2009-12-16T05:34:46-08:00

Mike Tidwell, head of the Maryland-based Chesapeake Climate Action Network, is in Copenhagen with thousands of other environmentalists pressing world leaders to agree to reduce greenhouse gases. The views expressed here are his - feel free to share yours.

First of all, imagine this: the people of Copenhagen, Denmark, generate one-sixth of the greenhouse gas pollution per capita as people living in Washington, D.C. One sixth! That’s the first thing you notice when you come to Copenhagen, as I have, for the international climate talks. I’m here to represent my Maryland nonprofit, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. I’m also here to see the future.

Denmark as a nation gets nearly 25 percent of its electricity from wind farms. The city of Copenhagen itself is full of bicycles. They’re everywhere. And the subway system is world class. I saw a guy on the subway Sunday in Copenhagen carrying a Christmas tree. On the train. People do everything here, go everywhere, without cars! And Danes, at the same time, are consistently ranked in surveys as some of the happiest people on Earth. Radically low-carbon and happy people.

So I’m seeing the clean-energy future in practice this week. Too bad the world’s top leaders – from 192 nations – can’t seem to agree on a treaty format that makes that same future possible for the rest of us. Things are not going well here.

One big problem is that the richer countries won’t agree to supply a modest $10 billion per year to poorer nations to help develop clean energy there as part of the treaty. Heck, America spends that much every year in tax-payer subsidies to coal and oil companies! I say we end those subsidies to make way for clean-energy wind farms in places like Africa and South America.

But beyond this, the biggest problem at the Copenhagen treaty talks is simply a number: 350. World leaders can’t seem to agree on that number: 350 parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere . That’s the only level of climate pollution that’s safe for human civilization, according leading climate scientists like Dr. James Hansen at NASA.

But given the weak pledges of pollution cuts so far from America and many other nations, a team of MIT scientists here in Copenhagen has calculated that if the treaty talks ended today, the world would be committed to a scenario by 2100 of 770 parts per million carbon in the atmosphere!!!

We’ve got to do better. Obama’s negotiating team must pledge much more than the modest four percent cut (below 1990 levels) of carbon emissions by 2020 in America. To help the world get to the 350 carbon level by 2100, America needs to cut its emissions as high as high as six or seven times that much. We can’t do it? Denmark , today, is proof we can.

Frankly, a bad climate treaty, one that locks us into a ghastly 770 ppm carbon by 2100, is worse than no treaty at all. One thing is certain: No matter what happens here, we’re going to have much more work to do pushing Obama and the US Congress back home in 2010.

But I’m not discouraged, no matter what happens here. That’s because I’ve visited the future. I know it’s possible. I’ve been to Copenhagen.

Sincerely,

Mike Tidwell

The perfect Christmas tree [Garden Variety]

2009-12-16T05:03:47-08:00

If you haven't purchased your Christmas tree, you'd better get cracking. This weekend, the tree stands will probably be mobbed, and by Sunday night, the selection could be pretty well picked over.

The folks out at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville offer some explanations and descriptions of the three most popular kinds of trees in this month's edition of their e-mail newsletter, The Dirt:

The Fraser Fir is considerd by many to be the perfect Christmas tree and it is the one most often chosen for the White House Blue Room. There is more space between the branches, the Homestead experts say, and that makes it easier to decorate.

The Douglas Fir has excellent needle retention and a wonderful scent and its soft fine green needles can support lots of lights.

The Nobel Fir is also popular because of its shape and its blue green needles, Homestead says. And it has good spacing, like the Fraser.

Look for more about Christmas trees here on Garden Variety and in my column for The Baltimore Sun.

Go play outside to reduce holiday stress [B'More Green]

2009-12-16T04:16:59-08:00

Feeling a little overwhelmed by the season? Maybe you need a little outdoor time. This from the folks at the National Wildlife Federation.

They say nature is a great antidote for all the craziness of this time of year. It can "lower the stress level, revive the spirits, and add to the enchantment of the season." They've launched a "Be Out There" campaign that encourages:

-Outdoor tree-trimming. They say adopt a tree in your yard or neighborhood. Then, find out what kind it is and visit it at least once every season, decorate it with things birds like to eat. Take a look at ideas at www.greenhour.org/birdcafe.

-Scavenger Hunts. Make up a list for the kids of natural objects to find in the yard or neighborhood including pinecones, acorns and different shape leaves. The first to find everything win.

-Decorating with Mother Nature. Use the items the kids find to create holiday centerpieces, wreaths or other holiday décor.

-Christmas bird counting. Learn about the birds and help scientists monitor their health and well-being. Find out about this at www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc.

-Making an elf house. This is for Santa’s elves. You'll need a clean paper ½ gallon milk or juice carton, a brown grocery bag, glue, a paint brush, paper plate or bowl for holding glue, scissors,
natural objects like pinecones, acorns, pine needles, moss, leaves, bark.

Directions: Wash and dry the carton, inside and out. Cut the brown bag and wrap the carton in it tightly. Use glue to hold the paper to the carton. Let it dry. Make a door for the elves, windows, a chimney, singles or window boxes. Now head outside for all your construction and decorating needs collecting things on the ground. Glue them onto the house. Secure it in a nearby tree. Check your elf house for notes from Santa, and leave notes for him in return which the elves can deliver.

Click here for more ideas for things to do outside for the holidays.

Baltimore Sun file photo/Perry Thorsvik

CT scans, cancer risk and health care costs [Picture of Health]

2009-12-16T04:16:32-08:00

New research puts a number on the cancer risk that the growing number of CT scans can pose patients -- the latest evidence that the scans may be overused.

The 70 million CT scans done in 2007 -- a jump from just 3 million in 1980 (!) -- could ultimately cause 29,000 new cancer cases, according to estimates from the study, which appears in the latest Archives of Internal Medicine.

Doctors like the scans because they provide super-clear pictures inside the body. Their use has transformed medicine, allowing earlier diagnoses and treatment. But the research, the latest among several papers of late to raise doubts about whether CT scans make people healthier, suggests the imaging can do more harm than good.

We've written before about not only the potential dangers of excessive imaging -- but how it contributes to skyrocketing health care costs. Those scans are pricey and can bring in big money to doctors practices, hospitals and imaging centers.

At a time when the nation is trying to rein in health care costs, could more prudent use of CT scans help?

An editorial appearing with the study takes on the issue of costs:

A recent Government Accountability Office report on medical imaging, for example, found an 8-fold variation between states on expenditures for in-office medical imaging; given the lack of data indicating that patients do better in states with more imaging and given the highly profitable nature of diagnostic imaging, the wide variation suggests that there may be significant overuse in parts of the country.

As far as the cancer risk is concerned, imaging experts say they are looking at ways to reduce a patient's radiation exposure. At Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, a CT Radiation Reduction Project studies ways to reduce the use and exposure to our patients. There's also efforts to use software to "tailor" the amount of radiation used per patient.

Baltimore Sun photo

Family wassail [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-16T03:26:42-08:00

Holiday drinks, anyone? Whether you're having a festive dinner together or a holiday party, this wassail recipe lets the kids partake. It's from the Baltimore Sun recipe database, circa 2003. Family Wassail Serves 12 to 15 1 gallon apple cider 12 whole cloves 6 cinnamon sticks 1 quart pineapple juice 1 6-ounce can frozen orange-juice concentrate 2 cups cranberry-juice cocktail 1 lemon, sliced Combine all ingredients in a large pot and simmer until hot. (Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Jerry Jackson)

Speaking of the garden [Garden Variety]

2009-12-16T03:10:34-08:00

Soil...scoop up a handful of the magic stuff. Look at it closely. What wonders it holds as it lies there in your palm. --Stueard Maddox Masters.

Best of the decade: Ebooks [Read Street]

2009-12-16T03:10:20-08:00

The biggest development in the book world this decade was undoubtedly the development of ebooks. (Even if Dave refuses to acknowledge it.) So here are a few highlights of the Ebook Aughts.

It all began with the text. Before ereaders such as the Kindle or Nook were even imagined, Web sites like Project Gutenberg brought thousands of books to people, at no cost, and suddenly ebooks were everywhere. With the growth of the Internet, and its ever-increading availability to the public, readers everywhere took advantage of thousands of free books at their fingertips.

And after that development, portable devices to read those ebooks on weren't far behind.

1. While Sony's e-readers came first, Amazon's Kindle was the first super successful e-reader developed. Whether it was the marketing campaign, the built-in customer base or simply the product itself, Amazon made it big with the Kindle, with Kindle 2 and Kindle DX following soon after.

2. Of course, there was quite a bit of resistance to e-books -- both by the industry and readers. So to really legitimize the format, Amazon brought in Stephen King, who wrote an exclusive mystery for the Kindle. (And at $1, "UR" is pretty hard to say no.)

3. So what happens if you didn't want to commit to an e-reader, but love other gadgets such as your iPhone or iPod Touch? Then you can get yourself an e-book application! Ereader, Kindle, Stanza and Barnes & Noble all have great applications available for your device, many with free ebooks included in the download.

4. In July, Sony and Google officially announced a partnership that changed the momentum of the ereader war. The Sony ebook store gives readers access to more than 1 million public domain books, and gives the Sony ereaders a huge leg up on the competition. In other words, wowza.

5. But just to mix it up, Barnes & Noble got into the act this year with their own e-reader, the Nook. The double-screened device includes a touchscreen color menu to browse through your library, with free wi-fi at all B&N stores and memory expansion, to hold even more books.

Cheaper devices and books, as well as better features, seem to be the norm. With the fierce competition, the future of ebooks -- and readers -- is looking pretty good. And speaking of the future ...

6. Let's talk color e-ink displays. While larger e-reader screens and more detailed illustrations have made e-readers ever more beautiful to read, the future is in color e-ink. Philips has developed a relatively cheap, lightweight, energy-efficient electronic skin.

Next decade: Literary holodecks. Somebody, make it happen.

Blast from the Past: tenor Miguel Fleta [Clef Notes]

2009-12-15T16:47:06-08:00

One of the reasons why some folks carry on about the golden age of singing is that there were (or at least seemed to be) so many exceptional artists all at once -- a whole bunch of amazing sopranos and tenors, an impressive quantity of rich-toned baritones and basses. Even a lot of the singers who are not as well know today as Caruso and that legendary ilk had voices that we would kill for today. Among the less widely famous tenors of days gone by I have a soft spot for Miguel Fleta, the Spanish tenor (1892-1938) who created the role of Calaf in "Turandot."

Although he didn't have a very long career (it seems he didn't treat his vocal instrument as carefully as he should have), Fleta left a distinctive mark via recordings. His specialty was soft dynamics, which I think he does to particularly magical effect in "La donna e mobile" (just once, I'd like to hear a tenor today do something as unhurried and sweetly nuanced as Fleta does at the end of the first verse in this aria).

Whatever flaws one might pick out, this guy sings with a kind of personality that is all too rare now. For this blast from the past, in addition to the "La donna" chestnut, I've picked a couple of other arias that I think capture the engaging Fleta style (including a version of the dream aria from "Manon" that carries individuality to an dangerous extreme, which I find hard to resist nonetheless):

E-Cycle with Whole Foods [B'More Green]

2009-12-15T14:06:27-08:00

Why not get a head start on out with the old before the New Year begins? Perhaps someone in your orbit is wishing for a new laptop this holiday season? If so, gather all of those soon-to-be unwanted electronics and set them aside for Whole Foods in Mt. Washington. On Saturday, Jan. 9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Esquire Environmental Services, which offers certified and safe personal computer recycling, will be stationed in the parking lot behind the Starbucks (next to the Whole Foods) to collect any of the following: •Desktop computers •Keyboards and mice •Laptop computers •Mainframe computer systems, CRTs, and monitors •Modems and telephone boards •Hard drives, floppy disks, and CD ROMs •Phones, fax machines, and telecommunications hardware •Printers •Computer boards, CPUs, and memory chips •Circuit boards •Connecting wires and cables Whole Foods in Mount Washington is located at 1330 Smith Avenue. Visit their website for more information and make this post-holiday season as green as it can be. Image courtesy of Southernpixel

800,000 doses of swine flu vaccine recalled -- 10,000 in Maryland [Picture of Health]

2009-12-15T13:04:49-08:00

Vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur is recalling 800,000 doses of a children's H1N1 vaccine after tests showed the vaccine had lost some of its strength.

About 10,300 doses of the pre-filled syringes have gone out to 48 providers in Maryland, according to the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The pre-filled syringes, designed for children 6 months to 3 years old, are popular with doctors' offices because they are convenient and lack the preservative thimerosal, said David Paulson, a health department spokesman.

The recalled vaccine comprises nearly 12.8 percent of the nearly 79,900 pre-filled syringes for children distributed around the state. So far, Maryland has received some 1.8 million doses of the swine flu vaccine.

None of the recalled vaccine was used by local health departments in their numerous clinics this fall.

The state health department is sending emails to providers alerting them of the recall and is awaiting further instruction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC says despite the reduced potency, children who have already been vaccinated with this shot, do NOT need to get vaccinated again. The vaccine, even in reduced strength, should provide enough protection.

Here's more information, including a Q&A from the CDC on the issue.

AP photo

Baltimore-based health organization to improve contraceptive use in Kenya [Picture of Health]

2009-12-15T11:55:08-08:00

A Johns Hopkins-affiliated international health organization received a $22.9 million grant today from the Gates Foundation to educate and increase contraceptive use in Kenya's slums. Jhpiego, a nonprofit that has worked for 35 years to improve public health for women and families around the globe, will use the grand money to expand its work with urban poor and reproductive health.

With Kenya's slums struggling with staggering rates of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, the goal if the project, called the Gates Kenya Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, is to increase contraceptive use by 20 percent.

Rates of contraception use are poor in Kenya's slums, even when public health clinics are within walking distance, Jhpiego reports. Lack of trust of public health workers and the high cost of health services keep many people away. Some 39 percent of poor urban Kenyans are not using contraceptives, according to Jhpiego.

Read more about Jhpiego's work and how it's linked schools in Baltimore with those in Africa to improve health.

Publishers Weekly goofs on latest cover [Read Street]

2009-12-15T10:41:28-08:00

Publishers Weekly has kicked up some dust this week with this cover photo illustrating a story on the African-American publishing world. On Twitter, comments have ranged from "wonderful" to "offensive," with some saying: "Publishers Weekly has lost its mind."

Today, the editor in charge of the cover design, which includes the line, "Afro Picks! New Books and Trends in African-American Publishing," apologized. Senior news editor Calvin Reid wrote, "To me it is a sweet, tongue-in-cheek funny and striking image of quirky black hair power. And while it never occurred to me that anyone would be offended by these images, I was very wrong and I have to acknowledge that." Well said, if somewhat late.

The photo Reid chose is arresting -- and ironically comes from "Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the Present," a book celebrating the diverse beauty of black women. But PW's cover misses the mark because it turns a compelling photo into a joke with the "Afro Picks" text. Meant as an inside joke, it's subject to all sorts of misinterpretation in the larger world, Clearly, the topic of image is too sensitive to be tossed off lightly. At least the PW editors were quick to note their error in judgment.

UPDATE: Report: State in middle on preparedness [Picture of Health]

2009-12-15T09:57:32-08:00

An annual study of public health preparedness ranked Maryland in the middle of the pack in its readiness. The state scored 7 out of 10 on the key indicators.

Called "Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism" report, the report was released today by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It said this year, the H1N1 flu outbreak exposed serious gaps in the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies.

This year, economic crisis is putting more pressure on the already fragile public health system.

The researchers used publicly available data and interviewed public health officials. They concluded that 20 states scored six or less out of 10. Nearly two-thirds of states scored seven or less. Seven states tied for the highest score of nine out of 10. Montana had the lowest score at three out of 10.

“The H1N1 outbreak has vividly revealed existing gaps in public health emergency preparedness,” said Richard Hamburg, Deputy Director of the trust. “The Ready or Not? report shows that a band-aid approach to public health is inadequate. As the second wave of H1N1 starts to dissipate, it doesn’t mean we can let down our defenses. In fact, it’s time to double down and provide a sustained investment in the underlying infrastructure, so we will be prepared for the next emergency and the one after that.”

The report authors wouldn't say what was a passing grade, but said that funding, long a problem, is a special problem this year and most states cut money -- including Maryland.

Maryland did:

-purchase 50 percent or more of its share of federally-subsidized antiviral medications to prepare for a potential pandemic flu outbreak,

-submit data on available hospital beds weekly for at least 50 percent of the facilities within the state to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the 2009 H1N1 response,

-ensure its public health lab has the capacity in place to assure the timely pick-up and delivery of disease samples on a 24/7, 365 day basis,

-report its public health lab has enough staff to work the intense hours needed during an emergency, like H1N1 (five, 12-hour days for six to eight weeks),

-track diseases through an Internet system used by the CDC,

-not identified the pathogen responsible for reported food-borne disease outbreaks at a rate that met or exceeded the national average of 46 percent (combined data 2005-2007).,

-meet the Medical Reserve Corps readiness criteria for medical volunteers during an emergency,

-require all licensed childcare facilities to have a multi-hazard written evacuation and relocation plan for emergencies,

-not have a law or legal opinion in place to limit liability against organizations that provide volunteer help during emergencies,

-not increased or maintained level of funding for public health services from FY 2007-08 to FY 2008-09.

Report authors recommend states: ensure stable and sufficient funding, conduct an H1N1 after-action report and update preparedness plans with lessons learned, increase accountability and transparency, improve community preparedness.

UPDATE: Here's a response from the John M. Colmers, the secretary of the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene:

"While Maryland's 'report card' score improved dramatically what's really important are our everyday real-life efforts to protect public health. A realistic scoring would put us at the top of the class, 90 percent or above. We're proud of what we do and how we do it, especially given our preparedness and response to the most significant public health issue in recent years; H1N1 (swine) flu.

We dispute their findings which incorrectly and arbitrarily dismiss Maryland's extensive efforts to protect the public against food-borne illness and limit legal liability during a public health emergency. These are points we raised directly with the study's author."

Sun Holiday Toy 'n Treat Drive.....A throwdown [Unleashed]

2009-12-15T09:57:17-08:00

Baltimore's neediest animals could use some help for the holidays. And here at the Baltimore Sun newsroom, we're going to try to give them just a little, with our first Holiday Toy 'n Treat Drive.

We're checking out BARC's wish list with the plan of getting some of the items to the shelter, the busiest in the region. The wish list is not small, but there are plenty of affordable items on there including toys for dogs and cats, food and treats. The toys might bring a snippet of joy to the animals as they wait for a home. They deserve at least that.

So the question is, do any Unleashed readers think they can convince their office to do the same? The Sun and a few other offices could actually make a bit of a difference.

The holidays are bearing down fast, but there's still time, I think, to make this happen.

Who's in?

Kittens recent at BARCS, waiting for their forever homes. Sun file photo/Jed Kirschbaum

Highway sound barriers block pollution, too [B'More Green]

2009-12-15T09:37:08-08:00

It turns out those big concrete barriers put up along busy highways to shield neighboring residents from the roar of traffic also reduce how much air pollution they get from the passing vehicles.

That's what a new government study found, anyway. Researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency released harmless "tracer" gases along highways to track how they were dispersed through the air - and by extension, indicate what happens to harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide, soot and benzene that are emitted by cars and trucks going by.

The researchers found that in addition to blocking out sights and sounds of traffic, the barriers apparently channel air flow - and many of the pollutants - up and away from nearby residential areas.

"We also found that the barriers tend to trap pollutants in the area of the roadway itself, especially at night in low wind-speed conditions," said Dennis Finn, a NOAA meteorologist from Idaho, and lead author of the study, published in the journal Atmospheric Environment.

That ought to be an added relief to residents sleeping in homes shielded from highways by those barriers - though if you're on the highway you may not want to breathe too deeply or stay long if you find you have to stop your car on the shoulder in one of those concrete sound-barrier canyons.

(1998 Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox of sound barrier being built on I-695 near US 40)

Now this is a wild holiday decorating tip! [Garden Variety]

2009-12-15T09:17:12-08:00

During the holidays, you can decorated WITH plants - perhaps a colorful collection of poinsettias, greens, red roses and white carnations.

Or you can decorated THE PLANTS!

That's what is going on over at Gardening Gone Wild, where Debra Lee Baldwin as decorated her agaves with tiny Lego skiers and snowmen, tiny Christmas balls and itty-bitty Christmas packages!

Take a look at her photos, which will be included in her new book Succulent Container Gardens, and you will never think about Southwest Christmases in the same way!

As Debra says in her post: Merry Crassula and an Agave New Year!

'The Book Group' coming in January [Read Street]

2009-12-15T08:49:54-08:00

Another British hit television show is making its way across the Atlantic, and this one should interest our booklovers.

"The Book Group" first aired in 2002-2003, featuring an American transplant to Scotland who decides to start a book club. Instead of finding new friends, Claire finds plenty of wacky hijinks and an antagonist or two.

As the Ovation TV site explains the series, "each episode focuses on a different book, which influences the characters lives in some way (if they bothered to read it at all!)."

I've watched a couple of clips of the show, and I'll be watching a whole lot more in the future. While there are elements of awkward comedy, ala "The Office," which normally make me cringe, I do enjoy the concept of a bunch of strange people gathering in one place to discuss "Don Quixote," "The Sexual Life of Catherine M." and a few fictional tomes, as well. Meanwhile, these characters get passionate about their books, as the abundant cursing in some scenes will attest.

The show premieres Jan. 4th on Ovation TV, which is available for DirecTV customers in the Baltimore area, and will air Mondays at 8 p.m. You can check the availability of Ovation TV in your area here.

Who knows? If it becomes popular enough, maybe we'll get a new American version. If that's in my future, I demand guest appearances by authors such as Neil Gaiman, Salman Rushdie and Anne Tyler -- with Shakespearian ocassions of mistaken identity, unrequited love and physical comedy. Maybe even that cage fight between Stephenie Meyer and Stephan King that a few of our readers seem to be hoping for.

Oh, when readers rule the world...

(Photo courtesy of Ovation TV)

Large window blind recall [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-15T07:33:52-08:00

Because of strangulation risk to children, the government and window-blind industry are recalling more than 50 million Roman-style and roll-up blinds today. For more on the issue of window blind safety, read this story from Liz Kay about a Maryland consumer advocate who's been calling attention to the issue.

1st the sex toy for dogs, now the chastity belt [Unleashed]

2009-12-15T05:41:13-08:00

Back in the hot, hot, hot summer, Unleashed pointed out the invention of a sex toy for dogs, a gadget designed to fulfill your pet's doggy needs, such as they are. Now, as the wintry cold settles in, the pet product geniuses are clearly going in completely the other direction: They've got a dog chastity belt.

How medieval.

Obviously, this is a product aimed at those among us who want to breed our dogs, dismissing all the advice to the contrary. Even so, the president of Highly Favored Creations, Dexter Blanch, says he couldn't be more in favor of adopting from shelters.

But besides that contradiction, holy crap -- how hard would this device be to get on a dog? I find it sometimes tricky to strap on Teddy's harness and this looks like a harness times ten. At least.

Anyway, this PABS (which stands for Pet Anti Breeding System), costs $65 for a size small. The company's motto? "When the heat is on, lock-it."

Photo of chasity belt courtesy of Highly Favored Creations.

What bugs America? Dog poop, apparently [Unleashed]

2009-12-15T04:30:21-08:00

Of aaaaaall the things that America could hate, of aaaaaaaall the world's most annoying things, it's rather amazing how high dog poop is on the list.

In it's January 2010 issue, Consumer Reports includes a survey of America's "top gripes." Dog poop is No. 6. That's just before "unreliable Internet service" and right after "incomprehensibble bills." No. 1 on the list? Hidden fees.

But really. Is dog poop that annoying? Sure, stepping on it is certainly no picnic, and picking it up isn't anyone's favorite, but, c'mon... Enough to put it up there with "cell-phone use by drivers" and "not getting a human on the phone"?

What do you think? Poop one of the banes of American existence?

Oh, and by the way... the photo? It's fake! It's an ingenious invention of the 90s that's a place to hide one's keys. Hahhahahahaha.

Union Station offers new bike parking station [B'More Green]

2009-12-15T04:14:03-08:00

My husband Doug, a frequent commuter from Baltimore to Washington, just snapped a photo of the new bike parking in Union Station. It's got lockers, repair and other stuff in there, too.

The Washington Post story from this summer says it cost $4 million to build and secures 150 bikes inside and 20 outside. It costs bikers $1 a day from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. or $100 a year.

We've talked a lot about bike safety and bike security. What are the chances of getting something like this at Penn Station or downtown? Would you use it? Would you pay for it?

Photo by Doug Beizer

The Poinsettia legend [Garden Variety]

2009-12-15T04:13:52-08:00

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

Poinsettia week continues here on Garden Variety, where we are paying tribute to the most popular flowering potted plant in the United States.

The poinsettia has its roots, so to speak, in Mexico, and a legend grew in that country about the Christmas plant.

A little Mexican girl named Pepita was sad because she did not have a present to give to the Christ child at an evening church service.

As she walked to church, she gathered a bouquet of roadside weeds that would be her only gift.

But as she approached the altar, her spirits lifted and she forgot the humbleness of her gift.

When she placed the bouquet at the feet of the Christ child, a miracle occured - the ordinary weeds burst into brilliant red blooms.

Thereafter, the poinsettia was known as Flores de Nochebuena, or Flowers of the Holy Night.

If you'd like to see my photos from the holiday poinsettia show at Baltimore's Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park, check out my Flickr photostream.

If you'd like to see good photos from the show, see Jed Kirschbaum's slide show on the Baltimore Sun Web site.

The show continues through Jan. 3, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it's free.

Parents: Ornaments can be hazardous to the kids [Picture of Health]

2009-12-15T04:13:44-08:00

If there isn't enough to watch out for, a new study from Children's Hospital Boston’s Division of Emergency Medicine shows that holiday decorations, particularly glass ornaments, can be a safety hazard.

Records there show an average of five ornament-related injuries per year. More than half involve children eating fragments of these decorations, as well as batteries and pieces of glass.

“Parents need to be vigilant during the holiday season, even though it’s also a busy time of year,” says co-author Dr. Lois Lee, of Children’s Division of Emergency Medicine and director of the hospital’s Emergency Department Injury Prevention Program. “If you know that your child has a tendency to put things in his or her mouth, you should be especially careful.”

The study, which looked back at hospital records, was published in the December 2009 issue of Pediatric Emergency Care.

Out of a total of 76 cases:

-56 percent involved ingestion or taking fragments of ornaments or light bulbs into the mouth and more than a quarter of these injuries resulted in bleeding of the mouth or gastrointestinal tract;
-27 percent of cases involved lacerations; more than two-thirds of lacerations required surgical repair;
-85 percent of cases required radiological screening;
-three patients were examined for potential toxin exposure;
-two patients experienced minor electrocution;
-one case of ingestion involved an ornament not made of glass.

Because so many kids get hurt, researcher recommend health care professionals talk to parents about their decorations. They suggest keeping toddler away from the Christmas tree by putting a gate around it or keep ornaments off lower branches. And make sure the tree won't easily fall over on someone.

Anyone else have suggestions to keep things merry this time of year?

Associated Press photo of glass ornaments

Speaking of the garden [Garden Variety]

2009-12-15T03:10:15-08:00

I find that a real gardener is not one who cultivates flowers, but one who cultivates the soil -- Karel Capek

Miley and Tiger as role models for tweens [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-15T03:10:05-08:00

Here's Liz Atwood with Tween Tuesday:

Parents of tween girls have complained about Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears being poor role models for girls. In fact, many of the tweens themselves seem to agree. According to an AOL Web poll, Miley Cyrus was voted as having the worst celebrity influence on tweens because of her provocative attire, pole dancing performances and photo on the cover of Vogue.

But I’d like to point out that the role models for tween boys can be just as problematic. In my house, the role models aren’t carefully groomed and marketed pop stars, but sports figures. So this season I’ve had to field questions about Ben Roethlisberger rape allegations and now Tiger Woods’ marriage troubles.

This week my 9-year-old asked what Tiger Woods had done to get people angry with him. Before I could come up with a calm and reasonable answer, his mouthy older brother declared that Tiger had “acted like a slut.” I thought that was a revealing comment because it showed the 13-year-old hasn’t quite mastered the definition of the word, but neverthless has come up with a label that some might use about Miley or Britney.

I know the old argument that sports figures shouldn’t be role models for kids. They are paid to do a job on the field and their private behavior is no one’s business. But let’s be honest, anyone who makes millions and is in the public spotlight is going to be a role model—whether he’s a pop star or a sports star.

And the behavior of some of the professional athletes makes Mile Cyrus’ behavior look like, well, kid’s stuff.

Photo: In this June 16, 1997, photo, Tiger Woods helps a youngster participating in the Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic on Randall's Island in New York. (AP)

Best books of the decade -- new faces [Read Street]

2009-12-14T22:00:55-08:00

Before folks run me out of town for highlighting The Stephenie Meyer Decade, let me note that she wasn't the only new novelist drawing attention. There were plenty of fresh faces among the major prize-winners and on best-seller lists. We could easily create a strong Top 10 list of authors who broke out since 2000. Here are some I'd include:

-- Jhumpa Lahiri's "Interpreter of the Maladies," a collection of short stories, won the 2000 Pulitzer. She followed up with "The Namesake" and another touching collection, "Unaccustomed Earth."

-- Michael Chabon, a Columbia native, won a Pulitzer in 2001 for "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay," and followed up with the comic "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" and "Manhood for Amateurs."

-- Junot Diaz, another Pulitzer winner, scored for "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao."

-- Dave Eggers got our attention with "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," and followed with the truly heart-breaking "What Is the What." His latest is "Zeitoun."

Sarah Vowell is one of the newest favorites, with a quirky humor on display in"Assassination Vacation" and "The Wordy Shipmates."

What other new authors have you discover since 2000?

Tuesday's for the dogs at Symphony of Lights [Unleashed]

2009-12-14T12:32:32-08:00

Dogs and cats get shut out of so many holiday events. But tomorrow night, Tuesday, there's one seasonal mainstay that's opening its doors to dogs for just one night.

Dogs will be welcome at Columbia's Symphony of Lights, so you can stroll with the dogs through the life-size light displays.

The "Tail Lights" event is from 4 to 6 p.m. and benefits Howard County General Hospital. It's $5 for humans and free for dogs.

The one-and-a-half mile walk begins at the intersection of Hickory Ridge Road and Brokenland Parkway in Columbia.

Sun file photo/Lloyd Fox.

More electric plug-in cars coming to the market [B'More Green]

2009-12-14T12:31:14-08:00

Toyota is jumping into the plug-in market with a version of its popular Prius in 2011, according to a story the New York Times.

The story says Toyota had been hesitant to join GM, which plans to make 60,000 plug-in Volts available in 2010. Ford, Volksvagon and Nisson also have cars coming.

Toyota's hesitation has been the low number of miles on a charge, lack of charging stations, cost and the rotten economy. But, the car maker can't stand still, in case this is the Next Big Green Thing.

No idea what the car would cost, but the hybrid Prius starts at $22,400.

The Times reports that the new Prius would make it 14.5 miles on a charge before the gas-electric hybird systems kicks in. That would get the car 134 miles per gallon. It would charge in 100 minutes. The company also plans an all-electric version of the car for "urban commuters" in 2012 that would run on lithium-ion batteries.

So, would you buy one? I drive like 4 miles round trip for work, plus some driving for interviews, so it seems like I'd be a target audience. But I have no driveway and couldn't charge one. How about you?

Associated Press photo of the plug-in hybrid Prius

Review: "You Know You Want It" ("Gossip Girl" fashion) [Read Street]

2009-12-14T10:47:01-08:00

Spotted: "You Know You Want It (Style-Inspiration-Confidence)," by Eric Daman (on shelves tomorrow), costume designer for "Gossip Girl." With whom? Well, there's a forward by Leighton Meester, aka queen bee Blair Waldorf from the hit CW series.

I'm a fan of "Gossip Girl," and I am equally a fan of its fashion. Its characters are style icons of the times; Daman drapes them in stunning frocks, bags, belts, ties and headbands -- some of which he has designed himself. Since I've sought out some of the clothes, there was little chance that I was not going to seek out his book.

Like his characters, the how-to guide to dressing to impress is lavish and pretty. Readers (well, more like viewers, since photos are the main focus here) are told about figure-flattering shapes, "exorcising" their closets, ways to care for heels and how to pick a -- gasp! -- business suit. He classifies dresses into office, weekend, date and black-tie wear. There is a tailor do-list. Need a guide to types of underwear? Yes, Daman's got that covered, too.

Did I learn anything from "You Know You Want It?" Not particularly. I already knew that it's OK to wear white in winter. Would I buy the book for my 20-something friends? Probably not. This is a coffee-table book for the tween and teen set (think "Sold at Urban Outfitters").

Did I drool over the clothing and pore over the where-to-buy-it index in the back? Absolutely. Too bad most of it isn't in stores anymore, and it is a shame that the black-and-pink Oscar de la Renta dress is vintage (not that I could afford it).

Verdict: Younger fans of the show should love the book but might be disappointed that the cast members aren't the models. Their parents will be displeased that Daman says girls should have one quality bag that will set them back upwards of $200.

But Waldorf wannabees might start to dress a bit classier.

The world's most beautiful libraries, AKA my bucket list [Read Street]

2009-12-14T08:56:56-08:00

Maybe CNN is having a fine old time making fun of Charm City, but we've got something New York doesn't: one of the 20 most beautiful libraries in the world.

Well, according to a definitive list that Sarah over at Reality Check found on the Internet. And of course, we trust everything on the Internet!

This list of places I must see before I die includes the British Museum's Reading Room, the Rijkmuseum Library in Amsterdam, the Biblioteca Geral University of Coimbra in Portugal and the Central Library in Seattle. (And of course, the Library of Congress was included.)

But most impressive: Baltimore's own George Peabody Library made the cut. While it's not surprising -- the place is simply stunning -- it's nice to see Mobtown recognized for something positive for a change.

(Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis)

It's the Scot that ends up on top [Unleashed]

2009-12-14T08:50:40-08:00

Sadie, a perky Scottish Terrier from Michigan won Best in Show this weekend at the AKC/Eukanuba dog show. She'll be bringing home a $50,000 prize, which will buy a lot of chew toys.

Her proud owner is Amelia Musser of Mackinac Island, Mich. Judging from how glossy little Sadie's coat appears in the picture, guessing Ms. Musser brushes and combs her about 20 times a day. (One more reason Teddy Bean probably won't be a show dog...)

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship will be simulcast on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m.

Sadie, a Scottish Terrier from Michigan, with handler Gabriel Rangel, takes Best in Show honors at the ninth annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on Sunday, Dec. 13, in Long Beach, Calif. More than 4,000 canine participants gathered to compete for up to $225,000. (AP Photo/AKC/Eukanuba, Susan Goldman Photography)

Holiday updates [Garden Variety]

2009-12-14T08:11:24-08:00

A pair of my fellow garden bloggers have excellent holiday ideas that I'd like to share....

Helen Yoest at Gardening with Confidence says the best thing to put in a birdbath at this time of year is water for the birds who are wintering over and may find their other drinking spots frozen.

But if you have nine of them, as she does, (yes nine!), you can give one over to the holiday and decorate it. She offers step-by-step photos to help you do it, too.

And Laura Mathews, who writes the Punk Rock Gardens blog out of Central Pennsylvania, is writing about CSAs, Community Supported Agriculture, and suggests giving a membership as a Christmas gift. CSAs provide a box of locally grown, fresh produce every week or so.

Each box contains a suprise, Laura writes. And it is truly the gift that keeps on giving!

Weekend concert roundup: Handel Choir, Monument Piano Trio [Clef Notes]

2009-12-14T08:07:56-08:00

I ventured out into Sunday's rainy gloom to catch the first halves of two concerts, starting out at An die Musik, where its resident ensemble, the Monument Piano Trio, performed music of two composers you might not expect to find on the same program: Sibelius and Villa-Lobos. The former's early C major Trio is of modest proportions and modest content, with few clues that point to the kind of composer he would become. The players sounded a little less cohesive than usual (for one thing, violinist Igor Yuzefovich needed greater tonal smoothness), but made a vigorous case for the work.

Before heading uptown for my next performance, I got to hear one of the Villa-Lobos pieces on the bill, an arrangement of perhaps his best-known work, the Aria from "Bachianas Brasileiras" No. 5. Bonnie McNaughton was the soprano soloist, spinning out the graceful main theme with a lovely tone that lost none of its quality when switching to humming mode for the reprise (the last, soft high note emerged with particular subtlety and sweetness).

There was no way that her two collaborators from the trio, pianist Michael Sheppard and cellist Dariusz Skoraczewski, could

duplicate the magical effect of the original instrumentation -- eight cellos -- and, curiously, they didn't try to imitate all of the wonderful pizzicato accompaniment patterns from that original. A lot was lost in the translation as a result. The two players weren't always in sync, either. Still, it was nice to hear that indelible vocal line sung so sensitively.

Sensitive singing was also an attraction at the performance of "Messiah" by the Handel Choir of Baltimore at the Church of the Redeemer, a venue with very clear acoustics and just enough reverberation. I stayed for the first half, which included portions of Part I and II.

I've said several times before that Melinda O'Neal has done wonders with the choir. It may still be lacking in tenor weight (a not uncommon shortcoming even in some all-professional choirs), but the ensemble offers considerable polish and musical responsiveness; texts were sung with admirable articulation.

O'Neal's introduction of a fine period instrument orchestra into the annual "Messiah" presentations (and other programs) continues to pay off. There was a combination of transparency and warmth in the orchestra's sound on this occasion, providing a dynamic foundation for the vocalists.

Given the presence of that period band, you might expect O'Neal to take consistently zippy tempos, but the conductor was almost leisurely much of the time, as if determined to prove that historical authenticity in baroque performance need not mean breathlessness. Her spacious shaping of the music proved highly effective.

Another plus was the stylish, well-matched solo vocal quartet -- smooth-toned soprano Katharine Dain; countertenor Ian Howell, whose remarkably ripe sound and powerfully communicative approach hit the spot; tenor Steven Brennfleck, who offered equal portions of elegant and dramatic phrasing; and bass Craig Phillips, who produced vibrant sparks.

Best of the decade -- the Stephenie Meyer decade [Read Street]

2009-12-14T07:22:22-08:00

In the coming weeks, we'll review some of the decade's biggest books and trends, beginning with this pronouncement: I hereby declare 2000-09 to be the Stephenie Meyer decade. (That sound you just heard was Nancy hitting the floor.) Meyer's novel "Twilight," released in October of 2005, hit the top of the best seller lists and has hardly budged since -- while being joined by others in the series. Just look at the latest list: Sarah Palin's on top, but Meyer has the #2, #3, #4 and #7 spots with "New Moon," "Eclipse," "Twilight" and "Breaking Dawn." What could she have done if she hadn't waited until the decade was half-over to start her series?

Her tales of teen love and angst, set in a world of vampires and werewolves, have sold by the jillions and have spawned hugely successful movies -- not to mention a "Team Edward" t-shirt empire. Her writing style has been skewered by accomplished authors such as Stephen King, but her fans defend her with a fervor worthy of a werewolf. And though some think her fan base consists solely of teen-age girls, many older women adore her books, too. (And at least one guy.)

Is there any doubt that she's the successor to J.K. Rowling?

Working moms are rushed but happy, says report [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-14T07:20:03-08:00

Working mothers with children under 18 are much more rushed (or at least they feel more rushed) than the general public, reports the Pew Research Center. Not much of a surprise to most of us in that category, but what followed was: Those working moms report the same level of happiness as stay-at-home moms, with 36 percent of those responding to a survey saying they're "very happy," and 44 percent saying they're "pretty happy." Less happy were single mothers with children under 18. Only 27 percent were "very happy."

Bat ruling casts shadow on MD wind projects? [B'More Green]

2009-12-14T05:34:34-08:00

A Maryland federal court ruling last week put a severe crimp in an industrial-scale wind project in West Virginia. Could it do the same for smaller projects planned in western Maryland?

U.S. District Court Judge Roger W. Titus found it "a virtual certainty" that the 122-turbine Beech Ridge facility being built along 23 miles of mountain ridges in Greenbrier County, W.Va., would violate the federal Endangered Species Act by killing Indiana bats. Construction is already under way on the $300 million, 186-megawatt project being developed by Invenergy, a Chicago-based company said to be one of the five largest wind developers in the country.

The little brown bats spend their summers eating insects in forests and migrate in fall to hibernate through the winter in caves. Found in 20 eastern states, including West Virginia and Maryland, they have continued to decline in number despite their longstanding legally protected status, the judge pointed out. After a protracted and losing battle in West Virginia to affect the wind project, opponents turned to the federal court.

After a trial in October, Judge Titus last week found that although no Indiana bats were reported within five miles of the project, there was evidence that there were caves where they hibernate within 10 miles. He concluded after reviewing testimony from biologists on both sides that "like death and taxes, there is a virtual certainty that Indiana bats will be harmed, wounded or killed" by the massive, slowly spinning turbines, either by colliding with them or by air pressure changes as the blades rotate, which can damage bats' lungs and eardrums, impairing their ability to fly and navigate.

The judge declared that 40 turbines now under construction can be completed, but no more could go up until the developer obtains an "incidental take" permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Such permits allow projects to kill endangered species, but to get them applicants must agree to take steps to minimize and mitigate the harm their activities will do to the protected animals.

"The development of wind energy can and should be encouraged," Titus concluded, "but wind turbines must be good neighbors." To read the full 76-page opinion, go here.

Invenergy issued a statement after the Dec. 8 ruling saying it would seek such a permit, according to The New York Times. In the meantime the judge said the turbines already up could only be operated in winter, when the bats are likely to be hibernating.

Could the ruling prompt wind opponents to raise similar objections about projects planned in Garrett and Allegany counties? They've already gained state approval under a streamlined regulatory process that lawmakers approved two years ago at the behest of wind developers, which limits state review of environmental and safety issues around such projects.

A map included in the judge's opinion - from the draft recovery plan for the Indiana bat prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - shows the endangered bats have been found in summer and winter in Garrett and Washington counties, in Carroll County in summer and in Allegany County in winter. (Page 8 in the opinion, here)

Frank Maisano, a lobbyist for wind developers, thinks the ruling could pose "major problems" for other projects. He predicted last week in an email that getting the needed permits from the fish and wildlife service could take one to three years and cost several million dollars.

"With at least four projects expected to begin construction next spring, this decision could have a chilling impact on getting new projects moving to meet the incredible demand for clean energy," Maisano wrote. Two of those are proposed on Backbone Mountain near Oakland in Garrett County. Constellation Energy recently announced plans to take over development of one, while the other would be built by Synergics of Annapolis.

Opponents no doubt hope the ruling slows the rush to harness the wind. They have long argued that industrial-scale wind facilities, especially on Allegheny mountain ridges, pose significant threats to bats and birds, both with the spinning of their massive blades and in the destruction of forest habitat for turbines and transmission lines. They also argue that wind turbines are a poor bet for clean energy, compared with nuclear power, because they rely on a variable and even intermittent power source - the wind. A 2007 study by the National Research Council called for further studies of the environmental and human impacts of wind facilities.

Will opponents, who've been effectively neutralized by Maryland's streamlined review of projects under 70 megawatts, turn now to federal courts? That may depend on the facts surrounding each project, and whether any federally protected species have been reported in similar proximity. Or will developers find it prudent to hold up and apply for permits now, in a bid to head off litigation and possible legal roadblocks in mid-construction?

(2008 Baltimore Sun photo by John Makely, of another West Virginia wind facility)

The dog/cat vs. the irrestistible Xmas decorations [Unleashed]

2009-12-14T04:41:12-08:00

PetsMart has some really good tips for coming through the holidays with your dog, cat AND, holiday decorations in one piece.

1. Deck the halls with tape and cord covers: Holiday lights mean extra electrical cords and plugs. For pets, these items can present quite tempting “chew toys.” Taking an extra minute or two during decorating to tape down or cover cords will help prevent shocks, burns or more serious injuries.

2. Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how anchored are your branches?
Christmas trees are sure to attract a pet’s attention. Secure Christmas trees to keep them from toppling over if a pet should try to climb them, use them as a scratching post or simply bump into them. Anchoring the top of the tree to the ceiling with a strong cord will help keep it in place around frolicking pets. Keep tinsel decorations high on the tree. Cats are inclined to eat tinsel and/or ribbons hanging from trees, which have the potential to cause an intestinal obstruction.

3. Bells are ringing, children singing... pets need a quiet place to retreat.
During holiday parties, pets may not understand why their usually quiet home is filled with people and noise. Provide pets with a quiet place to retreat. This way, they can choose whether to come out and visit or keep to themselves.

4. I'll be home for Christmas... if I have an ID.
Keep an eye on pets when doors are opening and closing frequently. And all pets should wear ID tags because they can slip out easily in all of the commotion.

5. Oh by gosh, by golly, don't let them eat mistletoe and holly.
Mistletoe, holly berries and poinsettia plants can be poisonous to pets, causing severe upset stomachs. Pine needles can irritate a pet's intestine and cause an emergency visit to the vet. Consider using repellent sprays or a doggie gate to help keep pets away from areas and objects that may be harmful.

6. Rockin' around the Christmas tree, separate gifts for you and gifts for me.
Pets don't know which gifts are meant for them, and which are meant for their parents. Gifts for pets, and any gifts that could be food, should be stored safely away from curious paws and noses.

Steve Ingham plays with dog Max in one of the rooms in his Millersville home. Max clearly could have some fun with that tree.... Sun file photo.

What's in a name? More on poinsettias [Garden Variety]

2009-12-14T04:08:32-08:00

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Susan Reimer

Orion, Orange Spice, Shimmer Surprise, Winter Rose, Silver Star Red, Freedom Red, Polly Pink, Prestige Maroon.

Freedom Salmon, Picasso, Arctic White, DaVinci Peppermint, Holly Point, Cinnamon Star, Pueblo, Bavarian Pinwheel, Strawberries and Cream.

Those are just some of the fun names for the varieties of poinsettias on display at the Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Garden in Druid Hill Park in Baltimore this holiday season.

But there is one variety Baltimoreans should remember: Jingle Bells. It is a variety discovered and cultivated in our fair city in the greenhouses of John Fantom.

It is one of the country's most beloved poinsettias, but it was an accident, a chimera, a mutation, a sport, as they say in horticulture.

It was 1971 and a red poinsettia was growing in one of Fantom's greenhouses. It inexplicably sprouted a leaf cluster, or bract, that was irregularly mottled in shades of raspberry and pink.

This look had appeared on poinsettias in other greenhouses, but Fantom was the only one who knew instinctively that it should be saved and propagated. The other growers just tossed their plants out.

Today, there are several varieties under the Jingle Bells moniker.

Check out the poinsettia show at the Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park through Jan. 2. Admission is free but a $2 donation is appreciated. The Conservatory is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

See if you can find the Jingle Bells!

Hopkins med students: We'll trade lower pay for health reform [Picture of Health]

2009-12-14T04:08:15-08:00

Just last week, the American Medical Association loudly objected to lawmakers' proposal to expand Medicare because, it insists, the federal insurance doesn't pay enough as it is.

Not all doctors agree with the AMA. In fact, in this Op-Ed published yesterday in The Sun, a group of Hopkins doctors-in-training say they would gladly accept lower salaries if it would ensure "universal, quality care for our nation."

The six authors take issue with health care's current fee-for-service model, paying physicians for each test, procedure and visit they provide.

That system "rewards specialty care while marginalizing sensible primary care, mental health and preventive medicine" the authors write. Doctors don't get reimbursed for coordinating care for chronic conditions, even though managing such disease is vital for a patient's care, they say. Salaries, which remove such incentives are the way to go, they insist.

We realize the idealism of our goals. We do not expect to donate our services or to work for fees that fail to compensate us for the extensive training we now pursue. We also realize we are asking for nothing less than an overhaul of the health care system. Nonetheless, all of us, whether bound for specialty practice, academic medicine or primary care, are committed to health care reform that places patients first.

Just a bunch of starry-eyed kids, you say? Well, they aren't the first to object to the fee-for-service model.

Others have argued the system only encourages more testing and higher health care costs.

The Wall Street Journal's Health Blog writes about how Massachusetts is experimenting with alternative payment systems.

And this NYT magazine piece points to the fee-for-service model as the root of the problem in health care and profiles a doctor in Salt Lake City, Utah trying to reshape his hospital's system. While Congress may be unlikely to take on this issue in its reform efforts, doctors can do their part to change the system, the story explains.

When should a toddler have words? [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-14T03:52:50-08:00

Contest winner Betsy asked: My son is 15 months old. He communicates well with pointing and nodding, he can identify objects in his books, and he understands most of what we say. However, he does not have any words beyond "Mama", "Dada", and "no". He has playmates around his age who are much more verbal. Should I be concerned? Dr. Daniel Levy, who has advised us before on subjects such as teething and hitting, had this to say: "Not to worry! The wonderful thing about child development is the rich variety of normality. Some children speak early, others walk early. There are no hard-and-fast rules, other than one area of development often surges at the expense of another. By age 3, all normal kids are speaking in short sentences, expressing their needs, and are ready to tackle socialization and cooperative play. "If you are concerned about any area of development, let your child's doctor know. As warranted, the doctor may refer you to your area Infant and Toddler Program for assessment and possible intervention...but our little friend in question here is entirely normal! "Bless your family! Dr. Dan" (Alphabet soup photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Amy Davis)

Baltimore tap water fares poorly in group's ranking [B'More Green]

2009-12-14T03:36:52-08:00

Baltimore finished in the bottom third in an environmental group's ranking of the 100 biggest US cities' tap water.

The city came in 69th in a drinking-water comparison by the Environmental Working Group -- ahead of places like Pittsburg and Houston but behind New York and Philadelphia, not to mention well behind Boston and Fairfax County, VA.

The Washington-based environmental group said Baltimore's water contained 24 different contaminants, according to city sampling reported to the EPA. Fifteen of them showed up in testing at least once at levels that exceed various government health standards, the group said. Three exceeded federal safe drinking-water limits in at least one test from 2004 through 2008, according to the group. Two of the three are byproducts of the city's use of chlorine to disinfect water, but one - ntirites - could stem from fertilizer runoff, leaking septic tanks or natural conditions, the group says.

A single elevated test doesn't necessarily put a system out of compliance with EPA's limits, which apply to average levels found in testing throughout a year. But the Environmental Working Group expressed concern that more than 300 different contaminants are found in public drinking water systems, and pointed out that health guidelines have not been set for some of them. To read the group's report, go here.

A Baltimore city spokeswoman, Celeste Amato, said officials responsible for the local water system, which serves 1.6 million people in the metropolitan area, were surprised by the low rating.

"We just seem to be ranked very low given the high quality of our raw water supply, let alone our treated water,'' said Amato. The city draws its water from three reservoirs in Baltimore and Carroll counties - Loch Raven, Liberty and Prettyboy -- with an emergency backup supply from the Susquehanna River. The city tests its water more often than required, Amato noted, but she declined to discuss the specifics in the environmental group's report until city engineers could finish studying it.

The city's water has done better in previous comparisons. It ranked a much better 19th in a matchup done last year by SustainLane, for instance. As required by EPA, the city does post an annual report on its drinking water quality. You can read the latest one for 2008 here.

(2008 Baltimore Sun photo by Chiaki Kawajiri)

Speaking of the garden [Garden Variety]

2009-12-14T03:04:55-08:00

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet. -- Kahil Gibran

Ouch, Fareed Zakaria and CNN. Leave Baltimore alone! [Read Street]

2009-12-13T15:29:42-08:00

Watching Fareed Zakaria's GPS this afternoon, I was ticked off by the cheap shot taken at our fair city of Baltimore, As panelists discussed whether government restrictions on Wall Street bonuses could damage New York City's financial might, Simon Schama said (and I'm paraphrasing) that there was little chance of the Big Apple becoming a Baltimore. Zakaria let it pass. Hey, I realize that our reputation has been sullied by depictions in The Wire and by the recent conviction of Mayor Sheila Dixon, but has the mere mention of our name become an international punch line?

Demystifying pet insurance [Unleashed]

2009-12-13T08:31:06-08:00

Every wondered about pet insurance and whether or not it's worth it for you? I have. But it all seems pretty confusing -- and sometimes can come off as a bit of a scam.

For anyone who wants to take a more educated look at pet insurance, this Wall Street Journal article is a good starting point. (I like the headline, "Polly want insurance?" Heh.)

The article recommends a few Web sites to compare and some questions to think about as you consider the insurance option.

Met Opera's new "Hoffmann" production short on musicological scholarship [Clef Notes]

2009-12-13T08:24:54-08:00

Although not nearly as controversial as its season-opening production of "Tosca," the Metropolitan Opera's new staging of "The Tales of Hoffmann" is generating diverse views on the singing (the distinctive sound of tenor Joseph Calleja, who has the title role, will probably always divide listeners) and the production concept by Broadway vet Bartlett Sher.

An additional element, the question of what edition of the score is being used, may not get all audience members as worked up, but it ought to, considering the extraordinary scholarship on Offenbach and "Hoffmann" over the years. The leading force for changing old perceptions and performance practices regarding this opera has long been Marylander musicologist Michael Kaye, who helped bring to light the composer's original intentions and a lot more about Offenbach and this opera.

That the Met chose to go with an outdated version of the score has, understandably, not gone down well with Kaye, who wrote a response to the new production that he shared with me. For those of you heading to New York to catch a performance of the Met's "Hoffmann," or to movie theaters for the HD broadcast on Dec. 19, or sitting home on the 19th to hear it on the radio, I think that Kaye's observations are well worth keeping in mind. Here's what he has to say:

I have devoted nearly three decades to establishing the landmark edition of Offenbach’s “Les contes d’Hoffmann,” which is now a co-edition with Jean-Christophe Keck, being published by a trio consortium of Schott Musik, Boosey&Hawkes, and Bote&Bock. For more than a year I have known that the MET will ignore our long-standing work on the opera in their new production.

They are promoting it’s new production of HOFFMANN with some serious misinformation about Offenbach and it would be great if you would set the record straight.

I respect and acknowledge the fact that a stage director requires an artistic freedom to interpret the works he or she is charged with producing. However, In the recent press release from the MET about HOFFMANN, stage director Bartlett "Sher says, referring to the early German romantic polymath whose stories are used for the opera’s episodic plot. ‘I’m more interested in why Offenbach, who had been a very popular operetta composer, was seeking to write a serious work to gain acceptance. Why, so late in his career, did he feel this need to be accepted? That led me to consider Offenbach’s sense of being Jewish and an outsider.

Whatever group he was in, he always appears as an outsider who never feels like he belongs, never feels like he’s connected.’ The ambiguities and split identities of the characters figure in Sher’s vision of the piece. ‘For any artist, ambition and paranoia are both always present. The door keeps opening and there are many Hoffmanns, identities that keep overlapping. I think the real artistic dilemma for Offenbach is the tension between the cover [sic] and the internal state, and that’s what I hope to try to show.’"

That statement indicates that Mr. Sher has very little understanding of Offenbach at the time he wrote HOFFMANN, or of E.T.A. Hoffmann himself and how Barbier and Offenbach synthesized the essence of E.T.A. Hoffmann's life, works, and literary style in “Le contes d'Hoffmann.” Neither Mr. Sher nor his designer were interested in receiving copies of the most important source materials for HOFMANN that I offered to send them (the final pages of the co-edition with the latest discoveries are still in unpublished proofs for formal publication).

The idea that Offenbach was looking for "acceptance" is really misguided. Yes, he wanted to write for the Paris Opéra and did so, but having composed more than 100 smash hits for the stage; being dubbed the darling of the entire Third Empire Paris; designated as “the Mozart of the Champs-Élisée by no less than Rossini; and able to return Wagner's hatred for Jewish artists with sarcasm and humor mocking the "composer of the future" with salvos in music and onstage is information available from the oldest biographies of Offenbach.

As for James Levine's statement quoted in the press release: "Maestro Levine says of the musical version, ‘The music is so inspired, and I think we have made effective choices in the absence of an authentic, fully realized original version, using a great deal of the information that has come to light over the years.’” – that is total balderdash, inaccurate, and I'm really concerned that people might believe him!

I also don't understand why maestro Levine would permit the MET’s press department to make statements that negate the existence of totally complete manuscript sources for the opera (much more than sketches, including the complete score of the way the opera was first performed in Paris and, in particular, the full manuscript of the Giulietta Act – including the final scene of that act – published for the first time in my editon. Many of those manuscripts, previously unknown to other editors of the score, were fully orchestrated and rehearsed at the Opéra Comique before Léon Carvalho (impresario of that theater and stage director of the premiere) decided to eliminate the Giulietta Act from the opera.

I think it is admirable that Maestro Levine can prepare new scores by Gunther Schuller and Elliot Carter, and (his recent serious health issues aside) shocking that for years maestro Levine has refused to restudy HOFFMANN. Apart from the affront to scholarship, it also deprives the MET artists and their audiences of evaluating and experiencing Offenbach’s own achievements for his masterpiece that we have tried so diligently to reflect in the HOFFMANN edition. Perhaps in future revivals of the new production they can revise their performing version to include the authentic music by Offenbach that will not be heard at the MET this season.

Michael Kaye

PS: In March, the Zurich Opera will mount a new production of HOFFMANN, with Vittorio Grigolo singing the title role for the first time in his career. There, as with many other European opera companies, they have chosen to base their performing version on our co-edition.

UPDATE 12/11/09: Some of the comments posted on this blog entry seem to think that I (or Michael Kaye) was trying to discourage people from seeing the Met's new production. Not at all. Just wanted folks to know that they are not getting the advantage of Offenbach/"Hoffmann" scholarship, something the august Met might have been expected to provide, especially with regard to what Offenbach and librettist Jules Barbier actually wrote for the Giulietta Act. Michael Kaye also has provided some additional information that answers some of the comments posted here:

-- multiple versions of the opera are possible through the possibilities afforded by integral edition: versions with the original spoken dialogue and versions with the recitatives of Ernest Guiraud modified to be compatible with the authentic Offenbach material cut from the world premiere of the opera.

-- Performed uncut, the entire Giulietta act runs only around 37 minutes!

-- When judiciously cut, a theatrically effective version of ALL the dialogues for the entire opera takes 15 minutes to perform.

-- Oeser added more than 30 minutes to the score consisting of music Offenbach never intended for HOFFMANN.

-- For producers desiring to do so, now there are ways to include the apocryphal "Scintille diamant" and Sextet with Chorus in a different context than the traditional version of the score.

PHOTOS BY KEN HOWARD/METROPOLITAN OPERA

Fun poinsettias facts [Garden Variety]

2009-12-13T04:02:34-08:00

Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Jed Kirschbaum

It seems only appropriate, as Christmas approaches, to talk some more about poinsettias.

Or "points" as Kate Blom at Baltimore's Conservatory and Botanic Garden calls them.

The Conservatory is decked in reds, whites, pinks and, yes, oranges for a holiday poinsettia show that should not be missed.

So here are some poinsettia fun facts to toss around at holiday parties.

First, you pronounce the 't,' the 'i' and the 'a.' It is poin-set-tee-ah. Not point-set-ah.

Second, the colored petals, called bracts, are actually leaves. The pea-sized buds in the center of the plant that look like they might be the stamen are actually the flowers. They will mature, change color in some varieties and then just blow away. The don't really "open."

Poinsettias are fussy, and most of us have killed more than our fair share. They like to be wet, but they don't like standing in water. So they need to be watered often, but allowed to drain.

Don't get any water on the bracts.

The blue and purple poinsettias you see for sale aren't grown that way. They are painted with floral spray paint. And it is considered an abomination by true poinsettia fans.

Poinsettias need complete darkness from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., starting in September for about eight weeks. Any accidental light during that period and your poinsettia is finished.

Growers have been known not only to unscrew the light bulbs in their growing houses to prevent "accidents," they have been known to hide them from well-meaning volunteers who discover their absence and decide to fix things.

Poinsettias have been known to bloom until May when they can move into the garden. That doesn't happen for most of us. First the green leaves drop off because of poor watering habits.

"But the bracts persist, prolonging your guilt trip," said Blom.

Oh. And they aren't poisonous. Children and animals are safe. (Although they do release a milky white sap that can cause a skin irritation.)

The poinsettia show at the Baltimore Conservatory runs Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Jan. 2. Admission is free, but a donation of $2 is greatly appreciated.

And you can buy poinsettias at the show, too, for from $6 to $25, depending on the pot size. But you have to pronounce it right or they won't let you have one.

Holiday gift guide: Kindle vs. nook reviews [Read Street]

2009-12-12T07:16:38-08:00

There's been a spate of recent reviews on the Barnes & Noble nook, available for its first holiday season. It's a serious challenger to Amazon's Kindle, as well as the other e-readers on the market. The Kindle and nook have many similarities, including price ($259), screen size, E Ink display and wireless connections. But reviewers found plenty of differences. Generally, the nook seems like a 19-year-old fireballing pitcher rushed into a major league debut -- it has lots of promise, but triggers frustration with rookie mistakes. Some highlights:

-- New York Times: Every one of the Nook’s vaunted distinctions comes fraught with buzz kill footnotes. That “color touch screen,” for example, ... is exclusively for navigation and controls. Sometimes it makes sense; when you’re viewing inch-tall book covers, for example, you can tap to open one. At other times, the color strip feels completely, awkwardly disconnected from what it’s supposed to control on the big screen above. Worse, the touch screen is balky and nonresponsive ... .

-- USA Today: Barnes & Noble says you can read up to 10 days without charging the battery when wireless is turned off, compared with two weeks for the Kindle. But at least a user can replace the battery on the Nook, which you can't do on the Kindle. ... You can also virtually lend e-books to friends with a Nook (as well as to those who download free Barnes & Noble software onto a PC, Mac, iPhone, iPod Touch and, soon, select BlackBerrys).

-- Wall Street Journal: During my tests, I found the Nook slower, more cumbersome to use and less polished than the Kindle. I ran into various crashes and bugs. And, while the Kindle's navigation system isn't exactly world class, it ran circles around the Nook's, despite the great possibilities offered by the latter's use of the touch screen. The Nook may be wonderful one day, but, as of today, it's no match for the Kindle, despite advantages such as lending, because it's more annoying to use.

Gizmodo: When it comes to shopping for books (and reading them), the Nook is the Kindle's equal, and may soon leverage Barnes & Noble's 800 physical locations to knock it out of first place. I was not able to test these features, because they are only starting to roll out this week, but when you take a Nook to a B&N, it will automatically jump on the store's Wi-Fi network, and offer you free goodies—not just downloads but cookies from the café and other treats.

Engadget: In many ways the Nook has a leg up on the competition -- not just by its presence in Barnes & Noble stores (though that helps), but by providing an attractive package and feature set, offering personalization (via add ons and accessories), a huge selection of books, perks like the LendMe feature, that color screen, and the excellent buying experience. On the other hand, when it came to day to day use, we felt let down in a big way.

What will Bo find in his stocking? [Unleashed]

2009-12-12T05:06:19-08:00

Bo, the White House dog, has his very own Christmas stocking.

First lady Michelle Obama made the revelation in an interview with Oprah Winfrey for her "Christmas at the White House" special, scheduled to air Sunday night on ABC. Winfrey's company, Harpo Productions, released excerpts of the interview on Friday.

Asked which members of the Obama family have a stocking, Mrs. Obama named President Barack Obama, herself, daughters Malia and Sasha and the family's Portuguese water dog. This will be the first Christmas for the puppy, which the Obamas got in April.

She did not give any details about what might be going into Bo's stocking, but said that Santa loves Bo.

Marylander inspired "Princess and the Frog" movie [Read Street]

2009-12-11T15:24:35-08:00

Once more on the book-to-movie theme: Disney's new movie "Princess and the Frog," owes a considerable debt to Maryland author E.D. Baker. As The Baltimore Sun's Mary Carole McCauley writes, the first book by the Harford County woman was called "The Frog Princess," and served as inspiration for the new movie. Baker is credited in the film and was flown by Disney to Los Angeles last month for the premiere. Here's an excerpt from McCauley's story:

"Although it is not my story - they say that my story inspired their story - I could see a few things that were in my book," Baker writes.

"The general basis for the plot is the same. A frog talks a reluctant girl into kissing him, and she herself turns into a frog. They end up in a swamp and seek magical help to turn them back. They learn how to eat like frogs, have trouble with their tongues, and befriend other creatures."

The author's affection for nature and for animals shines through the book. Her days are very much involved in caring for the horses and the other farm critters, which include goats, cats, ducks and a Newfoundland dog that apparently is a world-class shedder of fur.

Photo by Kimmy Bender

Music we've been missing (part 15): Elliott Carter [Clef Notes]

2009-12-11T13:38:35-08:00

The other day, I was one of five listeners at a cool piano recital that included the relatively early Piano Sonata by Elliott Carter. I don't know if the presence of Carter's music kept folks away; the whole program was contemporary, so it would never have caused a stampede at the box office anyway. But I know all too well that even a hint of Carter can send otherwise reasonable folks into tantrums or shock. It has long been thus. Yet, the composer is still hard at work, even though he has reached on this very day -- Dec. 11, 2009 -- his 101st birthday.

The music he has produced most recently has been met with great critical favor, like much of his output over the decades. Audience favor is something else again. There's no question that Carter's uncompromising atonality and complexity will always challenge people. Music doesn't get much tougher than his. Yet, I also firmly believe that when folks are willing to open their ears and minds to it, Carter's compositions can generate deeply satisfying experiences. He takes you on eventful journeys that explore the vast possibilities of music; he's never content to merely scratch the surface. Massive puzzles are worked out with startling skill; fabulous tone colors are generated.

Funny how some people will spend hours in a modern art museum, trying very hard to grasp highly abstract paintings, but they'll run screaming from a concert hall when a comparable creation of the aural variety is placed before them. I say bring on the Carter. Make 'em squirm. (Besides, if classical music is dying anyway -- the latest League of American Orchestras and NEA reports on audience participation in the arts is a real downer-- might as well make a stand for contemporary music while there's still a chance. Can't do much harm at this late date, and might even generate some fresh faces in the halls.)

Locally, we don't have any big advocates for Carter that I know of, certainly not like Boston has with James Levine (you can hear the grumbling and moaning from some Boston Symphony subscribers all the way down here). Carter's chamber music does turn up every now and then in our area, which is great, but the Baltimore Symphony has performed Carter's music on exactly two -- count 'em, two -- programs during the past 61 years: Jan. 7, 1948, when Reginald Stewart conducted the first American performance of the "Holiday" Overture; and May 2/3, 1979, when Sergiu Comissiona led the orchestra in the Suite from "The Minotaur." (Thanks to BSO librarian Mary Plaine for the stats -- I hope she doesn't get in trouble for sharing them.) Both of those works, alas, were written in the mid 1940s, before Carter found his true, longlasting voice. So we're still waiting to hear the real deal at the BSO.

It would be great to see the orchestra take a giant step into Carterland, starting, perhaps, with the 1955 Variations for Orchestra; I've attached a clip of that work.

Or how about the 1987 Oboe Concerto? I bet BSO principal oboist Katherine Needleman would tackle it with distinction. I've posted a clip of the final movement (for you Carter-shy readers, please try to make it to the end -- those closing measures are really, really beautiful and powerful).

Also give a listen to an excerpt from the composer's Flute Concerto, composed just last year -- music that puts a fresh spin on the concept of lyricism (could be a great vehicle for BSO principal fluist Emily Skala).

There is a lot more, of course, and there may well be a lot more added to his repertoire, since Carter shows no signs of slowing down. His work deserves much more prominence throughout the country. Heartiest congratulations to the centenarian-plus-one.

Health departments hand out flu shots to everyone [Picture of Health]

2009-12-11T11:52:27-08:00

Baltimore City has opened up the H1N1 flu vaccine clinics to all comers, and this reporter got her shot today. I already got the seasonal flu shot. As someone who frequents emergency rooms, doctors' offices and other places where there are all kinds of bugs, I thought I shouldn't take any chances or waste any time getting some protection.

I went to the main library on Cathedral Street and it was a packed house. They were offering both H1N1 and seasonal shots for free to residents. I was #422 and I got there at noon. That was just halfway through the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. clinic (though the workers said they were surely staying until 3 or 4). But the line moved. I was there a little over an hour, including a few minutes of standing around time afterward to make sure I didn't have an allergic reaction. I didn't. In fact, I feel nothing at all. I think that's good.

There are some more city clinics planned by the Baltimore City Health Department:

-Saturday, Dec. 12: Coppin State University, Health and Human Services Building, 2601 W. North Ave., from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Limited onsite parking is available.

-Tuesday, Dec. 15: Zeta Center, 4501 Reisterstown Road (21215), from 3 p.m.-8 p.m.

-Friday, Dec. 18: Waxter Center for Senior Citizens, 1000 Cathedral St. (21201), from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

-The Bureau of Immunization will continue to dispense flu vaccine at two standing immunization clinics: Eastern Health District Center, 620 N. Caroline St., and the offices, located at 1800 N. Charles St. (6th floor).

The state now has ordered almost 1.6 million doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine and seems to finally have enough to go around. For those not living in the city, go to www.flu.maryland.gov for a list of local health departments and their clinics.

Michelle Duggar gives birth to 19th child [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-11T09:55:02-08:00

Reality TV mom Michelle Duggar, of the show "18 Kids and Counting," has a new baby -- her 19th. (I am getting tired just writing those words. Need to go lie down now.) OK, I'm back. Josie Brooklyn Duggar was about three months premature and only weighed 1 pound, 6 ounces. So here's hoping for her good health and her mother's, and that all of them get a lot of help from the rest of the brood. (AP Photo by Beth Hall of the Duggars welcoming their 18th child)

More rebates for energy efficient appliances coming in March [B'More Green]

2009-12-11T09:11:17-08:00

Back in August, we told you that the state was receiving stimulus money to develop their own "Cash for Appliances" program. Details hadn't been worked out until now.

According to the folks at Consuming Interests, the program will begin in March. What appliances qualify for rebates?

• $300 for Energy Star electric heat pump water heaters

• $25 for qualifying ~~washers and~~ refrigerators and $50 for clothes washers (which could be combined with $50 rebates from BGE)

So, will these rebates entice you to buy a new water heater, washer or refrigerator?

Can't decide? Energy Star's web site offers a "Refrigerator Retirement" calculator to determine how much you would save if you switch.

Speaking of shopping, the Associated Press is reporting that solar panels are coming to retail stores such as Lowe's soon. The story warns that even if you are handy, the process isn't easy. A lot of paperwork comes along with installing panels. They are being sold now in California. There is no time frame yet when it will expand to other markets.

Baltimore Sun file photo

Cincinnati's symphony, opera, ballet to benefit from $85 million gift [Clef Notes]

2009-12-11T07:37:08-08:00

Here's an eye-popping story, perfectly timed for the holiday spirit of giving:

My colleague Janelle Gelfand reports that Louise Dieterle Nippert, a 98-year-old arts patron and former soprano, has donated $85 million to a fund that will generate support for the city's cultural institutions -- to the tune of $75 for the Cincinnati Symphony, another $10 million for "the Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Opera and the May Festival, with the stipulation that those organizations continue to use CSO players in their performances."

Amazing.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Rich people in Baltimore, what are you waiting for? Yes, those other gifts you've been making are most appreciated by one and all, but they're just not in this league. When you get up to $85 million, you're starting to talk real money. Imagine what that could do here, could have done last year, say, before Baltimore Opera sunk beneath the waves. Oh well, no point in being jealous. Hats off to Mrs. Nippert.

Another side of "The Princess and the Frog" [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-11T06:33:39-08:00

You always suspected there was a lot more going on in those kids' movies than met the eye, and now a guest poster on my colleague Matt Brown's In Good Faith blog has confirmed it. The Rev. Jason Poling, pastor of New Hope Community Church in Pikesville, finds that the movie has a deeply spiritual component. Do you think the kids will get that, though?

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend enters the health reform fray on abortion [Picture of Health]

2009-12-11T04:29:30-08:00

Maryland's former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend takes aim at American Catholic Bishops' support of restricting abortion funding in health care reform legislation.

In this fiery Op-Ed in the Politico, published just before the Senate defeated an amendment this week that would place new abortion restrictions in the health care bill, she lashes out at bishops she says have "lost their way."

Why is it that the bishops are more concerned with restricting millions of American women from making health care decisions that are best for them and their families than they are with ensuring that millions of Americans — women, men, children, immigrants, the poor, the middle class — get much-needed health insurance?

As a Catholic and neice to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, a health care reform champion, she seems to take the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops actions personally. The influential bishops have emerged as a force in the health care debate, heavilly lobbying lamwakers and sending alerts to followers urging them to support the Senate amendment.

Townsend urges the bishops not to let the single issue of abortion prevent what she sees as a moral imperative of expanding health care to those who need it most.

This isn't the first time she's spoken out on the issue.

Her thoughts echo this LA Times column, which warns health care reform is in jeopardy of being "made hostage to this most divisive of issues." While the Senate defeated the amendment, the House version of the bill includes restrictions on federal funding of abortions. The issue could imperil passage of a health care bill, The Hill reports.

And yet, others -- beyond the bishops and their followers -- argue they simply cannot support reform that does not include restrictions on federal funding for abortions.

So, Picture of Health readers, weigh in on this. What do you make of the tug of war over abortion in health reform? I'm intrigued to know your thoughts on this explosive topic.

Baltimore Sun photo

Swine flu update: nearly 10,000 deaths [Picture of Health]

2009-12-10T11:28:08-08:00

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just came out with new swine flu estimates showing the virus has infected some 50 million people in the U.S.

Of that figure, most have been children and young adults, more evidence that the pandemic has spared the elderly.

In addition, the H1N1 virus has caused about 200,000 hospitalizations and nearly 10,000 deaths -- 1,100 of them children.

The estimates are from the start of the U.S. outbreak in the spring through Nov. 14 and update figures the CDC released last month.

The CDC also highlighted an alarming figure in an attempt to drive home how serious the illness can be: Death rates for Native Americans are four times the U.S. average, mostly because of the population's high rates of asthma, diabetes and lack of access to good health care.

The figures come during a lull in swine flu activity -- infections peaked in October, have plunged since and these days, fewer people are clamoring to be vaccinated. Some are even calling the virus the weakest pandemic ever.

So much for infectious disease experts' warnings just a few months ago. Back then, we were told to brace ourselves for as many as half the population sickened, 90,000 deaths, overwhelmed intensive care units and massive absenteeism at schools and workplaces.

Nevertheless, public health officials are using the lull as an opportunity to urge people to get vaccinated in the event that a third wave of the virus takes hold in the cold winter. The flu, as they keep reminding us, is unpredictable.

Speaking of bikes: Council hears about them today [B'More Green]

2009-12-10T10:43:37-08:00

Just a reminder from the folks at One Less Car, which advocates for bike and pedestrian friendliness, about the City Council meeting tonight at 5 p.m. There are some bike-type issue on the agenda.

Presented will be the following eight bike related bills:

Required Parking for Bicycles - 09-0429
FOR the purpose of requiring certain new or expanded structures, premises, and uses to provide bicycle parking that meets certain standards; requiring certain employers to provide their employees with bicycle parking that meets certain standards; defining and redefining certain terms; imposing certain penalties; providing for a special effective date; and generally relating to required parking spaces for bicycles.

Transit and Traffic - Bike Lanes 09-0430
FOR the purpose of allowing the creation of bike lanes; defining certain terms; prohibiting parking or standing in bike lanes; requiring bike-safe grates in bike lanes; imposing certain penalties; and generally relating to bike lanes on City streets.

City Streets - Bike-Safe Grates 09-0431
FOR the purpose of requiring that all City street paving and repaving contracts require that drainage grates be installed in a bike-safe alignment; requiring anyone undertaking a street paving project to install drainage grates in a bike-safe alignment; and generally relating to bike-safe grates on City streets.

Parking, Standing, and Stopping of Vehicles - Obstructing Alleys 09-0432
FOR the purpose of clarifying the law relating to obstructing the free passage of traffic with a vehicle; providing a certain exception for parking in alleys; and generally relating to parking, standing, or stopping that obstructs traffic.

Street and Transportation Projects - Complete Streets 09-0433
FOR the purpose of directing the Departments of Transportation and Planning to apply "Complete Streets" principals to the planning, design, and construction of all new City transportation improvement projects; providing certain exceptions; requiring annual reports on the implementation of "Complete Streets" principals; and generally relating to transportation improvement projects.

Informational Hearing - Baltimore Police Department - Police and Cyclists 09-0175R
FOR the purpose of inviting the Baltimore Police Commissioner to report to the City Council on the Police Department's procedures for responding to incidents involving cyclists and the Department's general approach to the bicycling community.

The Cyclists' Bill of Rights 09-0176R
FOR the purpose of reaffirming support for efforts to improve conditions for cyclists and encouraging more widespread awareness of the "Cyclists' Bill of Rights".

BMore Streets for People 09-0177R
FOR the purpose of calling upon the Department of Transportation to develop and conduct BMore Streets for People, the special and periodic closing of City arteries to vehicular traffic for the purpose of welcoming jogging, biking, skateboarding and other people-engaging activities in temporary closed-roadbed havens; and calling upon the collaborative commitments of the Departments of Transportation (DOT), Health, Police (BPD), General Services and the Offices of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) and Sustainability to engage in formal fashion among themselves, and with co-sponsoring organizations and neighborhoods, to plan and implement regular BMore Streets for People events throughout the City with venues as approved by proposed "host" communities.

Baltimore Sun file photo of Bike to Work Day/Lloyd Fox

Top Chef winner was once a picky eater [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-10T10:35:34-08:00

New Top Chef Michael Voltaggio may be an adventurous eater now, but my husband and I were heartened to learn during the Season 6 finale last night that as a kid, he didn't like broccoli. Or much of anything, his mom said on the show. As you faithful Dinner Together readers know, this gives us some hope that our often-picky kids will grow out of their finicky ways. And at least eat something if we take them to an Indian restaurant. Photo courtesy of Bravo

On pollution report, an error of omission - and judgment [B'More Green]

2009-12-10T10:18:01-08:00

It turns out that one of the Maryland facilities cited by a coalition of environmental groups as an example of lax water pollution enforcement was an example of something else – poor record-keeping on the part of government, and poor judgment on the part of this reporter.

As I reported today in The Baltimore Sun, a series of violations shown in a federal data base at the University of Maryland’s Horn Point environmental laboratory apparently were the result of a computer glitch, rather than actual violations of the lab’s water discharge permit. The lab was required by the Maryland Department of the Environment to test and file reports every three months on the water quality of its discharge into the Choptank River, and did so, according to the state.

But the data base maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was set up to log monthly reports, because that’s the usual frequency required in water pollution discharge permits. So every month a report was not filed, the data base apparently tallied that as a violation. The lab’s permit was not for industrial waste or sewage, but for water that had been used in its shellfish and fish hatcheries With one minor exception in 2001, it never reported any actual violations of the water quality limits the state had set for its discharge, according to the state.

Readers of Monday’s Sun story about the environmental groups’ complaint that the state is not adequately policing water pollution didn’t get that information, and they should have. I mentioned the Horn Point lab in the story as one of the examples given by the Waterkeepers Chesapeake of Maryland of a facility that had reported repeated permit violations, yet had not been inspected by the state.

Donald F. Boesch, president of the UM’s Center for Environmental Science, which runs the labs, was understandably upset to read that his institution, was mentioned in the Waterkeepers' report as a serial polluter, and even more so that it got reported that way in the Sun. He asked the Department of the Environment to verify that the 80 violations mentioned in the report were erroneous - which the agency did on Wednesday.

The Waterkeepers hadn’t contacted the lab to verify the information before issuing their 58-page report. The Horn Point lab was just one of dozens of facilities listed in their report, the Waterkeepers say, and they relied on a government data base set up to inform residents about how facilities in their communites are complying with pollution regulations.

Now, in light of the new information, they say the data base glitch is an example of a different problem – the failure of the state to ensure that the information it reports to EPA is correct and correctly disseminated to the public. MDE says the error isn't its fault, that the data base is maintained by the federal government.

Whatever the case, it’s an example of a different kind of breakdown – my failure to contact the lab before the original story to get its side of the issue. It’s standard reporting practice to do that, which I normally follow. In this case, for whatever reason, I didn’t. That led to readers not getting the whole story - and indeed, an incorrect impression - regarding the issue with this particular facility. For that error of omission and of judgment, I apologize to the university and to readers.

'Unsilent Night' returns to Baltimore; public welcome to chime in [Clef Notes]

2009-12-10T08:28:03-08:00

Since its New York premiere in 1992, Phil Kline's "Unsilent Night," a work of what might be called street music art, has been drawing the crowds each year -- as many as 1,500 turn out in Manhattan.

The concept is simple and cool. To quote from the official "Unsilent Night" site, it's a "free outdoor participatory sound sculpture of many individual parts, recorded on cassettes, CDs and mp3s, and played through a roving swarm of boomboxes carried through city streets every December. People bring their own boomboxes and drift peacefully through a cloud of sound which is different from every listener's perspective." Since '92, the fun has spread from NYC to more than 45 cities and on three continents.

Each participant's boombox contains a portion (randomly chosen) of Kline's shimmery, chime- and jingle bell- filled sometimes floating, sometimes rhythmically alive composition. When all the boomboxes get pumping, the result is a unique mixture that -- through the magic of the season, of course -- blends into a cohesive sonic experience.

Saxophonist Brian Sacawa introduced the "Unsilent tradition to Baltimore in 2006, and it will be back again on Saturday night, this time under the auspices of

Mobtown Modern, the unavoidably cool new-music group that Sacawa and Erik Spangler founded a few years ago.

As the Mobtown hipsters put it, "our favorite yuletide ambient flash mob will be dropping jewels on the soundscape of our city." The public is invited to take part; you can even just walk along with the parade if you don't have a portable sound-producing machine.

Those with audio capacities can download in advance an MP3 of "Unsilent Night" -- you'll be asked to pick a city, and one of four downloads will be chosen for you (part of the randomness factor of the event). I tested a download myself and enjoyed listened while I wrote this blog entry to nearly 45 minutes of quite hypnotic sounds -- lots of sparkling bells, minimalist patterns, even some Gregorian chant woven into the aural fabric.

Baltimore's willing Unsilent Nighters should gather at 6:45 p.m. Saturday in front of Penn Station. The parade starts at 7 and will finish up at Metro Gallery for an after-party that includes a performance of John Cage’s "Imaginary Landscape" No. 4 for 12 radios and Jacob ter Veldhuis’s "Pimpin' " for baritone saxophone. All free. For a sample of what "Unsilent Night" can be like, I've attached a clip of the 2006 parade in New York.

PHOTO OF 'UNSILENT NIGHT' 2008 IN BALTIMORE COURTESY OF HIMMELRICH PR

UPDATE: Mountain bikers ticketed at Loch Raven [B'More Green]

2009-12-10T08:20:51-08:00

Fellow Sun writer Candy Thomson wrote a story today about how mountain bikers who have been using and maintaining off-road trails at Loch Raven Reservoir for years but are now getting tickets for riding there.

The reservoir grounds have become training grounds for some of the elite riders, Candy writes. And some enthusiasts just like to go out after work with their bikes and some high-powered lights.

But the state has hired six rangers to give out warnings and $100 tickets under a 10-year-old policy requiring riders to stay on fire roads.

The new effort is because bikers are causing erosion and runoff and making water treatment more expensive. That's the facilities' main purpose: water treatment for 1.8 million people. The place was never really meant to be a park, city officials say, and the habitat is getting crushed.

A City Council meeting on the subject is expected early next year. Lawmakers and riders are hoping for a compromise.

So, has anyone gotten a ticket? Anyone ride there? Hike or fish there? What do you think of this environment/money vs. recreation battle?

UPDATE: The city Department of Public Works, which manages the reservoir, put out a release today that says rumors that mountain bikers will be banned from the property are "unfounded." And the only ones who have gotten tickets are three riders who were riding after dark even though the area is only open from sunrise to sunset, and they knew about the rule.

Officials are in the process of marking the 50 miles of trails and educating riders so they stop chopping their way through the areas that act as buffers for the water. They also refer everyone to the plan for mountain bikers, which lays out the rules.

Baltimore Sun file photo/Jerry Jackson

Hopkins' Carol Greider accepts Nobel Prize [Picture of Health]

2009-12-10T07:45:53-08:00

Johns Hopkins own Carol W. Greider accepts the Nobel Prize for medicine today in Stockholm -- joining just nine other women who have won the honor for medicine and physiology since the awards were first handed out in 1901.

She won for her discovery of an enzyme called telomerase, a substance that plays a crucial role in the genetic life of cells and holds promise for developing treatments to fight cancer and age-related diseases.

The triathlete and mother of two is described by friends and colleagues as a modest researcher whose prefers to shun the spotlight in favor of pursuing curiosity-driven science.

Greider has acknowledged that her win is a boon for women in the sciences, where they struggle for parity. On the day of her win, she also alluded to her daily juggle: she was folding laundry when the early-morning call came from the Nobel chairman notifying her of the honor.

Her fellow winner, Elizabeth H. Blackburn outlined the challenges for women trying to balance home and work life in the demanding sciences. Institutions should offer women more flexible schedules. Those 16-hour days in the lab are not compatible with family life, she said in an interview last year.

Baltimore Sun photo

'Santaland Diaries' provides welcome detour from holiday routine [Clef Notes]

2009-12-10T07:20:38-08:00

For those of you who are looking for a respite from the usual holiday attractions (or distractions), Center Stage has a welcome production of "The Santaland Diaries," based on the now classic essay by David Sedaris. And for those of you who haven't spotted my review elsewhere in the Sun, I've provided this helpful little link.

Nobel Prize winner Carol Greider: Women scientists need flexibility [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-10T07:14:21-08:00

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine professor Carol Greider receives her Nobel Prize in medicine today for her research into how chromosomes protect themselves as cells divide. While lauding her for her prize, I'm interested in what she and one of her fellow laureates, Elizabeth Blackburn of the University of California, San Francisco, had to say about prospects for women in scientific research. Despite their own wonderful achievement, the two paint a bleak picture of opportunities for women in science, according to the Associated Press. They say that the career structure is still very much geared toward men -- and that promising female researchers fall away from the work not because they can't do it, but because it isn't compatible with having a family. Blackburn said there need to be more opportunities for part-time work. I think frustrated mothers in many professions would say the same, but it's startling to hear these extraordinary women articulate it on the eve of accepting their prize. How do we make things more flexible, though, when the state of the economy makes many of us feel lucky just to have any job at all?

Preventing child obesity -- it's not happening at day care centers [Picture of Health]

2009-12-10T05:05:31-08:00

Does your child care center serve your kid fatty snacks and sugary drinks? Does your child watch TV more than once a week at day care?

With nearly 25 percent of children ages 2 through 5 classified as obese or overweight, children should learn about healthy lifestyles as early as day care, according to a new report. But for many children, that's not happening, finds the study from Harvard and Duke researchers done for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Researchers graded states on how well their regulations required children to eat healthy and do physical activity. Most states had just a few regulations on obesity prevention.

Researchers drew up model regulations -- 10 for healthy eating, such as not serving sugar-sweetened drinks, and 10 for physical activity, including providing children 60 minutes a day of exercise. On average, states had just three of the 20 model regulations.

States then were given letter grades on how well they matched the model guidelines. Across the board, the grades were dismal. Maryland was mediocre with a C average. Jeesh.

Georgia and Nevada ranked highest for healthy eating and physical activity regulations, and South Dakota, Puerto Rico, and Idaho ranked lowest. (You can see how states compare here.)

The findings show a need for more stringent state regulations to keep young kids healthy, the authors write. The influence of child care centers is huge. Nearly 75 percent of kids ages 3 to 6 spend their days at day care, according to the report.

"Stronger state regulations aimed at child-care centers have the potential to reduce the risk of obesity for millions of children in the U.S.," said Sara Benjamin, an assistant professor at Duke University. "These providers are in a unique position to encourage very young children to eat healthy foods and be active."

Baltimore Sun photo

State works to keep some pesticides out of the bay [B'More Green]

2009-12-10T04:14:54-08:00

Environmentalist who recently asked the feds to make the state do a better job keeping the Chesapeake Bay clean may not think officials are doing such a bang up job on water pollution in general. But the Maryland Department of Agriculture says it's working on its end to keep extra pesticides from the water.

It's collected 49,000, or 21.6 tons, of empty pesticide containers from 125 participants for recycling this year in an effort to keep harmful chemicals out of the bay.

The agency offers free collection of empties from farmers, golf courses, government agencies and commercial applicators after they're done applying pesticides. The program is paid for with revenue collected from licensing and certification fees and through pesticide product registration fees.

We're not in the season, but the state also has been collecting since 1993 empty pesticide plastic containers from the public from at least seven locations around Maryland from June through September. Thirteen pesticide dealer sites participate in the program.

Those containers that are collected are chipped, processed and remanufactured into new pesticide containers by a contractor. Over the years, the program has collected 616,000 empty pesticide containers weighing nearly 260 tons for recycling.

So, next year, don't forget to recycle.

Baltimore Sun file photo of the Chesapeake Bay/Doug Kapustin

Family activities this weekend [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-10T03:42:06-08:00

There's more holiday fun afoot this weekend for you and your family: Thursday, Dec. 10: Shop, Sip and Savor at Harbor East:The group Mambo Combo will perform free from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the intersection of Aliceanna and President streets in Harbor East. There will be other holiday entertainment as well as retail and restaurant specials for shoppers. Family Holiday Fun: Get into the holiday spirit with stories and songs and make a craft at 7 p.m. at the Linthicum branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library. Friday, Dec. 11: See "The Polar Express": The film airs at 6:30 p.m., with free popcorn and drinks, at the Miller branch of the Howard County Library. Call 410-313-1955. Owl Prowl: Kids 10 and up and adults can take a night hike to look for owls from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center. Meet at the Bosely conservancy. $3. Saturday, Dec. 12: Community Chanukah Party:B'nai Israel Congregation holds a free holiday party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the congregation at 27 Lloyd St. downtown. Non-perishable food items requested for donation to charity. Reservations required; email downtownsisterhood@gmail.com. "Gingerbrick" Making with McCormick Spice at Port Discovery: Decorate your own "brick" to help build a small-scale museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Port Discovery. Nature Gingerbread Houses: Make gingerbread houses from 10 a.m. to noon at Irvine Nature Center. For children 6-10, who should wear clothes they can cook in. $15 members; $20 nonmembers. Supplies included. A Walters Town Square Winter Celebration: The Walters Art Museum will hold a “town square” seasonal celebration with songs from Medieval, Victorian and modern Christian, Jewish and other worldwide traditions, including a caroling ensemble, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Sunday, Dec. 13: Santa's Workshop Santa will be at the visitor center in North Point State Park in Edgemere from noon to 4 p.m. with crafts, prizes, and a train garden. Festival of Lessons and Carols Attend a candlelight service featuring new seasonal music and familiar carols from around the world from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Maryland State Boychoir Center for the Arts, 3400 Norman Ave., Baltimore. Reservations required; tickets $12-22. 410-554-8644. Associated Press photo

Domingo's other opera company gets financial rescue from Los Angeles County [Clef Notes]

2009-12-09T09:40:54-08:00

A week or so after Washington National Opera announced staff cuts and a reduction in productions next season to help keep the finances in order, the Los Angeles Opera, which also has superstar tenor Placido Domingo as general director, went with cup in hand to the local government. The Los Angeles County supervisors approved a $14 million loan loan Tuesday. The main reason for the bailout is said to be the cost of the LA Opera's "Ring" Cycle, which will be presented in the spring.

The LA Times reports: The loan "is needed now, literally next week," Stephen Rountree, chief executive of both the opera company and its landlord, the Music Center, told the Board of Supervisors at its Tuesday meeting. The company is $20 million in debt, Rountree said.

I imagine somebody at the boards of directors of companies on both coasts may be asking a few questions about Domingo's stewardship. After all, if I may paraphrase Lady Bracknell,

to run into financial trouble with one company may be regarded as a misfortune; to run into financial trouble at both looks like carelessness.

I was particularly struck by this line in the Times story: "The opera was being very ambitious artistically, pushing the edges," said Rountree, and its creative reach overtook its financial grasp.

Some folks were warning about that very thing in DC a long while ago. Strange that both organizations appear to have been heading down the same over-spending path, without anyone applying the brakes earlier.

At least it looks like WNO has stabilized, but that doesn't lessen the severity of the pullbacks at the company. Something of WNO's prestige and legacy will be lost with the reduced season. Something of DC's cultural status will take a slip, too (as was the case in Baltimore when Baltimore Opera collapsed). And the LA company may find it hard to shake the image of insecurity after this big slurp form the public trough.

I can't help but wonder if one problem at both places may be that folks have a hard time telling Domingo no, given that he's such a persuasive, hugely admired figure. At the same time, maybe a lot of folks just assume that he's a money magnet, that everything will be fine financially with him at the helm. Doesn't look that way in DC or LA. Something's not working right. Whatever the root cause, it's awfully discouraging to see two august institutions being shaken this way.

Christmas cookies together [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-09T06:09:00-08:00

The appearance of The Sun's annual cookie issue today (and yummy photo gallery) reminds me of the years I spent handling it as food editor -- and the fun I had testing some of the cookies with my kids. So my Dinner Together present to you today is a favorite reader's cookie from last year. The great thing about these Italian Cookies is that they can be rolled into all sorts of shapes by little hands, then decorated. The key is to roll the ropes of dough fairly thin, because the cookies do puff up when they bake... Italian Cookies (Makes about 6 dozen) 6 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 cup shortening 1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, softened 3 eggs, slightly beaten 1/4 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla anise seed to taste (We used 1 teaspoon.) ICING: 3 cups powdered sugar 1/4 cup water sprinkles for decoration Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl and mix together by hand. Add shortening and butter and knead by hand. Add eggs, milk and vanilla and again knead by hand. Sprinkle anise seed into the dough and knead until well mixed. Take small amounts of the dough and make thin ropes, then twist into shapes - wreaths, bows, pretzels, figure 8s, etc. (The dough will puff up when it's baked, so make the ropes as thin as possible.) Do not make the shapes too large; all should be about the same size to ensure even baking. Place on nonstick cookie sheets, or line sheets with parchment paper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until light brown on the bottom. Cool on a wire rack. Mix powdered sugar and water to make a fairly thick icing. Spread over cooled cookies and decorate with sprinkles. Per cookie: 95 calories, 1 gram protein, 3 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 16 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 9 milligrams cholesterol, 19 milligrams sodium Courtesy of Sandy Mack, Laurel Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Lloyd Fox

The winner of "Holiday Entertaining" is... [Charm City Moms]

2009-12-08T14:20:11-08:00

Betsy, for her question about her toddler's verbal skills. She wins the beautiful Williams-Sonoma book. Congratulations, Betsy, and look for an answer to your question on an upcoming Monday. Thanks to everyone else who chimed in, as well -- I'm looking for experts to answer your questions, too.

Weekend review roundup: guitarist Jason Vieaux, Juilliard String Quartet [Clef Notes]

2009-12-08T09:10:59-08:00

In addition to catching the Mayor's Christmas Parade in Hampden -- I just had to see if a) the mayor turned up and b) what sort of reaction she would get -- I heard two excellent concerts.

On Sunday night, the Shriver Hall Concert Series provided a welcome opportunity to get acquainted with the most recent personnel of the Juilliard String Quartet, one of the best known and highest-standard brands in classical music for more than 60 years. (Photo courtesy of juilliardstringquartet.org.)

Violinist Nick Eanet has only recently taken the first chair in the group; the start of his tenure was delayed when he broke his wrist while skating in Central Park a few months ago. He sounded thoroughly at home here, not just blending in with violinist Ronald Copes, violist Samuel Rhodes and cellist Joel Krosnick, but making richly detailed music with them.

There was a dynamic warmth to the performance of Mendelssohn's D major Quartet (Op. 44, No. 1), a sense of spontaneity in the beautifully molded phrasing. Same for Schumann's A major Quartet (Op. 41, No. 3). The slow movements of both works inspired particularly eloquent playing.

Spiritually, you could say that this was an all-German program, since the other piece, the Quartet No. 5 by contemporary Argentinean-born composer Mario Davidovsky, was inspired by Beethoven's Op. 132. It's not that you hear Beethoven clearly in the music, but Davidovsky makes you sense something of Beethoven's profundity in this score's masterfully communicative dissonance and wide range of tone coloring. The Juilliard ensemble made the work a taut, involving drama.

On Saturday night at the Baltimore Museum of Art, I heard a recital by

Jason Vieaux, a substantially gifted guitarist whose playing revealed equal portions of stylistic elegance and technical polish. Presented by the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society and drawing a sizable crowd, the program would have been memorable if it had contained no more than the few minutes needed for Vieaux to perform the Sarabande from Bach's Lute Suite No. 3. What the guitarist did in that short span of time was magical, creating a deeply lyrical poem from the subtly articulated phrases.

Gentle nuances accounted for several other highlights in the concert, including "Julia Florida: Barcarola" by Augustin Barrios (the closing measures of that piece were treated with the most exquisite tonal and rhythmic shading) and the "Evocacion" movements of Jose Luis Merlin's "Suite del Recuerdo." Vieaux's arrangements of Albeniz' "Sevilla" and Pat Metheny's "The Bat" also proved highly effective. The guitarist brought a great deal of virtuosity and atmosphere to Leo Brouwer's "El Decameron Negro."

For an encore, there was a disarming, smooth-jazz (in the best sense of the term) treatment of "Christmas Time is Here"; it seemed doubly satisfying on the night of the season's first snowfall.

To give you a taste of Vieaux's refined musicianship, I've attached a clip of a 2007 performance of that gorgeous work by Barrios that he played so tenderly at the BMA:

Blast from the Past: Sir John Barbirolli [Clef Notes]

2009-12-07T07:48:19-08:00

Various distractions kept me from my fabulous, much-in-demand series devoted to favorite artists from the old days, but I'm happy to resume it today with a salute to Sir John Barbirolli.

This English conductor left a remarkable stamp on music, especially, IMHO, the works of his countrymen (noble interpretations of Elgar and Vaughan Williams) and of Mahler. Barbirolli could take tempos that no one else seemed to consider -- a very slow scherzo in Mahler 1 or very, very slow march in the opening of Mahler 6, for example -- and yet could make them seem totally persuasive. He could get deep inside the notes to find fresh layers of drama or poetry. He had, in a word, style. I've never heard a performance led by this guy that didn't impress me in some way, from scratchy 78s to his late stereo recordings.

Last week marked the 110th anniversary of the conductor's birth (Dec. 2); he died nearly 40 years ago. He is well worth remembering now. I couldn't find much live-action footage of Barbirolli, but I think the clip of him leading the Halle Orchestra in "Le Corsaire" Overture by Berlioz captures a good deal of his beautiful music-making (ignore the misspelling of the piece done by whoever posted it on YouTube).

Then drink in the glorious sounds of two sublime vocalists who seemed extra-inspired when collaborating with Barbirolli: Kathleen Ferrier, singing what has to be the most stirring account ever of "Land of Hope and Glory," recorded live a couple years before her death; and Janet Baker, singing the profound Mahler song "Ich bin der Welt abhanden Gekommen":

La Scala's season-opening "Carmen" to air live at cinemas, including the Charles [Clef Notes]

2009-12-04T13:11:13-08:00

Dec. 7 is a bid deal every year in Milan, for that's when La Scala, the famed opera house, opens its season. This is one of the most paparazzi-laden nights on the Continent, when everyone who is anyone turns out.

Time was when the rest of us could only see the pictures of the glitzy arrivals and wonder what it must be like inside the elegant opera house with all those celebs crawling around. Now, you, too, can get in on the action, and at a fraction of the ticket prices over there. The series of HD opera transmissions presented by Emerging Pictures includes a live broadcast of Monday's La Scala opening -- a new production of Bizet's "Carmen."

The cast includes Anita Rachvelishvili (your guess is as good as mine) in the title role and the two of the

buzziest male stars in opera right now, Jonas Kaufmann as Don Jose and Erwin Schrott as Escamillo. (The indefatigable Opera Chic reports that Kaufmann missed Friday's dress rehearsal due to an indisposition, but is expected to come through on Monday. You'll find some sneak-peek photos on that site.) Daniel Barenboim conducts. The production is by Emma Dante.

Locally, "Carmen" will be simulcast at noon Monday at The Charles, where another live simulcast will be shown Dec. 22 -- "Il Trovatore" from the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.

Peabody students form Be Orchestra to "be involved"; will perform in a jail [Clef Notes]

2009-12-04T12:11:16-08:00

A new ensemble called the Be Orchestra -- as in "be involved" and "be a part," artistic director Osvaldo Mendoza says -- has been formed by Peabody students and will debut Dec. 12 inside the Baltimore City Correctional Center.

Performing for "people who do not normally go to a concert hall" (or, in this case, can't) is part of the mission for this orchestra of 30-40 players, all of them volunteering their time and talent. Mendoza, a grad student in composition at Peabody, says the orchestra is focused "on the future, on hope."

Plans call for monthly concerts during the spring semester. June Choi, a grad student in flute, is the organization's executive director.

Although the inaugural concert will be heard only by those behind bars, the public is invited to a repeat at noon Dec. 13 at St. Ignatius Church; admission is free.

The new orchestra's music director, Simeone Tartaglione, a recent recipient of a Peabody Graduate Performance Diploma in conducting, will share the podium with grad student Gemma New. The program includes Beethoven's "Egmont" Overture and Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto (with Peter Kwan, a Peabody undergrad, as soloist).

National Symphony premieres Higdon Piano Concerto on colorful program [Clef Notes]

2009-12-04T10:35:23-08:00

If there were such a title as "The People's Composer" in this country, Jennifer Higdon would be on the short list for receiving it.

She writes in an extraordinarily communicative manner, but without the slightest hint of pandering. There's something very American in the sound of her music, and something I'm tempted to call joyful -- not in terms of what is expressed (Higdon's works cover a wide range of moods), but in how it is expressed.

She is a composer in love with composing. And her new Piano Concerto, given its premiere by the National Symphony Orchestra Thursday night with Yuja Wang as soloist and Andrew Litton conducting, exudes that enthusiasm in every one of the 19,000-plus notes of the solo part and who knows how many orchestral ones. (Higdon provided the piano total during a pre-performance onstage chat with Litton -- a chat curiously and regrettably short on details about the music itself, which, I imagine, the audience would have appreciated.)

The concerto is big in structure and gesture, with three eventful movements. A soft-hued, rather jazzy keyboard passage sets the work in motion. The piano proceeds to engage in a vigorous dialogue with the orchestra throughout the first movement, which is punctuated by fluttering horn riffs and a striking, march-like theme that makes a few telling appearances. There's a substantial cadenza, and an unexpected, exquisitely subtle ending. On first hearing, the second movement seems

a little padded with material, but there are many arresting features as Higdon makes effective use of piquant chromaticism. The finale, in the grand concerto tradition, goes for bravura above all else. It's an exhilarating ride.

Yuja Wang gave a brilliant performance of the new piece. As the Chinese-born pianist, barely into her 20s, demonstrated in her appearances with the Baltimore Symphony (especially a spectacular Prokofiev 1 in 2008), she is not just another excellent technician. She's got something deeper and imaginative going on, and it came through vividly here.

Litton was a fully supportive presence on the podium, coaxing an alert, vibrant response from the NSO. Assorted scheduling conflicts have kept me from hearing the orchestra for quite a long while now. This occasion provided reaffirmation of the basic strengths of the ensemble, especially the warm and supple strings.

Litton, whose early years included a stint as an assistant conductor at the NSO, was in great form throughout the colorful program, which surrounded the Higdon premiere with two Russian gems that don't get a lot of attention. The Suite from Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Snow Maiden," full of delectable tunes and tones, was sensitively shaped.

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 1 closed the concert. If the composer had stopped writing symphonies after this, he'd still have left a notable mark. Maybe the finale wanders a bit and doesn't quite know when to quit, but what a wealth of melody and instrumental vitality there is in this early gem, which Tchaikovsky titled "Winter Daydreams" and which provides a rich foretaste of his famed ballets.

Litton drew out the score's beauty and charm most engagingly, allowing lyrical phrases to breath and adding extra bite when the music kicked into high gear. A few minor smudges aside, the NSO performed superbly, with alternately gossamer and velvety playing from the strings (the violas shone wonderfully in the Adagio), and lots of character in the brass and winds (the oboe soloist in that Adagio did eloquent work). Litton and his colleagues underlined why this symphony deserves to be heard much more often.

The program repeats Friday afternoon (if you're not already walking into the Kennedy Center lobby, you've missed it -- sorry to be late posting this) and Saturday night. Well worth the trip.

PHOTO OF JENNIFER HIGDON BY CANDACE DiCARLO/PHOTO OF YUJA WANG BY FELKIX BROEDE FOR DG

Baltimore Symphony recording of Bernstein's 'Mass' gets Grammy nomination [Clef Notes]

2009-12-03T07:59:24-08:00

The sizzling Naxos recording of Leonard Bernstein's epic "Mass" by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop, is among the 2010 Grammy nominees for Best Classical Album. (The producer of the CD, Steven Epstein, is also nominated for Producer of the Year.)

The BSO will face some pretty classy competition for the Grammy. The other nominees: Maher's Symphony No. 8/San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas; Ravel's "Daphnis Et Chloe"/Boston Symphony/James Levine; Shostakovich's "The Nose"/Orchestra Of The Mariinsky Theatre/Valery Gergiev; Ravel's "L'Enfant Et Les Sortileges"/Nashville Symphony/Alastair Willis.

Alsop has another Grammy association for 2010. She conducted Jennifer Higdon's Percussion Concerto on a London Philharmonic recording that has been nominated for Best Classical Contemporary Composition.

Moving On [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-30T10:07:17-07:00

Just wanted to let you know that the beer blog, Kasper on Tap, is being retired. In its two year run, the blog did not attract a large enough audience to sustain it.

I have enjoyed the blog's give and take, the humor and the honest discussion about this area's beers and its brewing culture. Much of that came from the readers. As I said in my first post in October, 2007 my mission is to drink good beer, to spread the word, and to spark interesting and entertaining discussion about the beer-drinking life.

I am still at The Sun and I plan to write about beer in the print and online editions. I may eventually end up blogging about beer through some other forum. Blogging about beer, like sipping it, can be habit forming.

Cheers

Michelob Bavarian Wheat : Good Drinking Out of Season [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-27T08:46:29-07:00

I drank a wheat beer in cool weather. That seems to violate some principle.

Moreover the wheat beer, Michelob Bavarian Wheat, was from a major brewer --the crew in St. Louis--- and I liked it.

It was remarkably crisp and had tremendous citrus notes. . Since it was unfiltered, the label had pouring instructions. Those Michelob guys are sticklers on pouring.

I know you are supposed to drink wheat beer after you have mowed the lawn.

But I drank it after raking the leaves.

Did I commit a sin? If so it sure tasted good.

The Bavarian Wheat, at 5.2 ABV, is one of four beers in a Michelob ale sampler pack. The others are a Rye P.A., a Porter and a Pale Ale.

I did not care for Rye P.A., too chewy.

Loved the porter. Have not tasted the pale ale.

Anybody else try these beers?

What do you think?

Do you drink wheat beer in leaf- raking season?

Photo of fall foliage near Shawan Road by Amy Davis The Baltimore Sun

Halloween beer drinking tips [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-26T08:05:05-07:00

Grown-ups may like to behave like kids on Halloween, but they also like to drink adult beverages,

Our friends at the web site Chow have put out a video demonstrating how someone wearing a mask or a fake beard can drink beer without ruining their Halloween costume. Hint, it involves a straw.

Meanwhile the creative types at Magic Hat have once again put out a 12 pack of brews called Feast of Fools. It is slowly replacing another fall variety pack, " Night of the Living Dead." They are morbid brewers up there in Vermont.

Included in the Feast of Fools, but not in the Living Dead is a beer called Howl, described as a "black as night winter lager." It is available in six packs.

I had one over the weekend, It is 4.6 ABV, a pretty good dark beer. Halloween is a night many people like to howl, even those who sip their beer through a straw.

Do you have a special brew you sip on Halloween?

Beery boxers : Phillies trademark? [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-23T07:13:34-07:00

I find it hard not to like the Philadelphia Phillies. They begin to defend their World Series title starting Oct. 27 .

The Phillies have been off the radar of most of the sporting media, especially ESPN.. As Bill Rhoden, now a columnist for The New York Times but not so long ago my colleague here at The Sun, has pointed out the Phillies get no respect.

So they are the underdog, especially matched up against the media darlings of Gotham, the Yankees. The Angels will have something to say about that, rallying last night to win 7-6 and force a game six.

Yesterday I found another reason to like the Phillies.

They pour beer on their teammate's' underwear.

That is what Pedro Martinez did to Ryan Howard's boxers as the garment hung in the slugger's locker.

Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times reported the dousing in his account of the Phillies locker room celebration following their defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Howard reportedly reacted to the soaking of his drawers by laughing and declaring the Phillies " one of the funnest teams I 've played on."

No word on the brand of beer, or the brand of underwear involved.

In the series, I am rooting for the team with the beer-soaked boxers.

How about you?

Photo of Ryan Howard celebrating: The Philadelphia Daily News

Norm of "Cheers" Has A Beer Book [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-22T07:57:55-07:00

Norm has a beer book. George Wendt, the actor who played Norm Peterson, the affable barfly in the television show "Cheers" has written "Drinking With George,: A Barstool Professional's Guide to Beer.

I heard him interviewed Thursday morning on Mike and Mike in the Morning the national radio sports talk show aired on Baltimore's ESPN 1300 AM .

Judging by his time with Mike and Mike and his comments in other interviews, Wendt has a lot of beer stories to tell. Wendt is very funny, if not a connoisseur.

When questioned about his beer knowledge he told USA Today's Lorrie Lynch. " I’ve been reaching out to Oktoberfests and craft beer festivals and things like that, and I know nothing. I realized I am a complete idiot, both in terms of my palate and my knowledge of the process."

Gotta love Norm. Better to sit next to a guy like him at a bar, who tells wonderful stories---buying beer as a kid from a blind bartender-- than a know-it-all.

Apparently he showed up at the Great American Beer Festival. Anybody see him?

I loved the way Norm walked into the bar on Cheers and took his regular seat, sipping almost before he was sitting, I think he calls that "establishing a beachhead."

That is my kind of bar guy.

Any favorite Norm moments from "Cheers?"

Photo Credit: AP

Fresh Hop Ales [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-21T06:54:38-07:00

Interesting piece in Wednesday's New York Times about fresh hop ales.

The writer Lucy Burningham quotes brewer Phil Markowski saying that these beers are like homegrown tomatoes or fresh corn, they don't hold up, but instead are pleasures of the moment.

I have enjoyed some good fresh hop ales, in particular ones from Sierra Nevada.

However, I believe one of their fresh hop ales comes from New Zealand.

That is a long way from "homegrown."

Do you agree or am I being too picky?.

Do the hops have to come from a field near the brewery to really be fresh?

Once they get on a plane, are they disqualified?

What are some of your favorite fresh hoppers?

Photo of hops vines near Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown . N Y.: The Batlimore Sun

Das Beer Bier ist hier [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-20T10:16:46-07:00

A few weeks ago I introduced you to Sigrid Beer, a poltician from Paderborn, Germany, whom we met via a Facebook connection. In an email, Sigrid mentioned that one of the things her city is known for is the Paderborner Brauerei, and she offered to send us some of its pilsener (the proper German spelling) to sample.

The beer arrived a couple of weeks ago and on a Friday afternoon as the clock chimed 5, Rob, our colleague Anica Butler, and I popped the top of a Paderborner Pilsener and poured some into our respective paper cups. Our reaction to the beer was that it was pretty much like our American pilsners - cool, light and bubbly with a not-unpleasant bitterness. It was also a little dangerous, but that probably had more to do with the fact that we were still sitting in the workplace when we drank it.

It will, however, remain for me one of the more memorable beers I've ever had. And that's due to the special circumstances that brought it to me. How often do you wind up with a beer in hand thanks to developing a chance overseas friendship via Facebook? It's given me the opportunity to learn about Sigrid, about the city of Paderborn and its resident brewery.

Paderborn is a city of just under 150,000 in the North Rhine-Westphalia district of Germany. The city, which was founded in the year 795, is home to a university and several theological institutes. It's also home to the largest computer museum in the world.

Paderborner Brauerei dates back to 1852. In addition to the pilsener, they brew Paderborn+Cola, a malt beverage, and several other varieties of beer and alcoholic drinks. One of the things I really liked about the brewery's website is that it has a nifty little Flash "Spiele", or game, on it. The objective is to move the little man with the beer case under the bottles of beer that are raining from above, so that they land safely in the box. It's a great way to spend a productive hour or two.

Danke, Sigrid, for the beers and for introducing us to the charms of Paderborn.

Almost perfect ending to Baltimore Beer Week [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-19T08:10:25-07:00

It was an almost perfect ending yesterday to Baltimore Beer Week. If the Ravens Steve Hauschka had made the field goal, it would have been a storybook finish.

I was among the crowd sipping glasses of rare beer at Max's Taphouse watching the Ravens- Vikings on a giant screen.

The beers--- a Samichlaus 1996, George Gales Prize Ole Ale 1998, a Leg Coq Imperial Stout--- to name a few were exceptional. I had never heard so many corks pop at a beer/football event.

The only clinker was a bottle of Brimstone. Its time had passed.

Spirits were high when the Ravens rallied and set up Hauschka for a 44 yard game- winning field goal.

When it sailed left--- I suspect a Vikings staffer of turning on the air conditioning fans at the Metrodome ---- we groaned. But I think the combination of the Ravens rally and all that good beer put almost everyone in a positive mood.

The day before at the SPBW Real Ale Festival a crowd of some 600 sippers jammed the Pratt Street Ale House to feast on the firkins.

It was rotten weather but the crowd was in a good mood. Amazing what good beer can do.

Among my favorites were Olivers Bishops Breakfast, Victory Yakima Twiilight , and Clipper City Peg Leg Stout flavored with Tabasco- infused wood.

What were your favorites at the Sunday or Saturday event?

What were your impressions of Baltimore Beer Week?

How could it be improved?

Any compliants?

What does the future hold for the Ravens?

Photo by Baltimore Sun's Karl Ferron

A dreary, but beery weekend forecast [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-16T04:05:41-07:00

The weekend weather forecast is gloomy: rain and temperatures in the 40s.

But there are some rays of sunshine.

Saturday afternoon is the SPBW Chesapeake Real Ale Fest at the Pratt Street Ale House.

Tickets are $35 if you get them online by Friday night , $45 thereafter.

Also on Saturday there is an Oktoberfest celebration in a tent next to Bay Ridge Wine and Spirits shop in Annapolis.

Tickets a mere $10. Details here.

What do you do to cope with the gloom?

Photo of rays of sunshine in Kenya: Getty Images.

The Great Pumpkin keg [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-14T10:46:14-07:00

I have seen a lot of photos of keg tappping, and cask tapping,

But here is the first photo I have seen of a pumpkin tapping.

Doing the honors are John Gasparine, who made the mallet dubbed The Star Spangled Banger, and Casey Hard of Max's Taphouse.

They are tapping Cape Ann Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout, a Baltimore Beer Week event.

I am not wild about pumpkin beers, but I have tasted Cape Ann Stout and it is not bad .

However, I never had it served ifrom a pumpkin.

Does it taste better that way?

Photo of John Gasparine and Casey Hard courtesy of Gasparine.

Beer and chili, a marriage made in heaven [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-13T14:50:04-07:00

Dropped by the Grand Cru Sunday afternoon where as part of the Baltimore Beer Week activities, they held their second annual chili contest.

I tasted all 4 chilis in the running. I preferred chili number 2, which it turned out was the eventual winner.

It was made by Jonathan Schuyler , chef at the Grand Cru.

Second place was a tie between the chilis made by Jeni Paik and Chris Attenborough.

A hot spicy chili made by Amy Wittig, was fourth .

My favorite beer to drink with chili is pilsner.

What is yours?

Photo of Super Bowl Chili :AP

Beer Pioneers Lunch [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-12T12:07:03-07:00

Just back from a Baltimore Beer Week lunch at Bertha's featuring Maryland's pioneer craft brewers.

Great food, bangers, kraut and mashers with gravy. Interesting dialog as well as Jim Lutz of Wild Goose, Craig Stuart-Paul of Oxford Brewing, Hugh Sisson of Clipper City and Tony Norris of Bertha's told tales from the early days of craft brewing.

All the brewers said that if they had to repeat the experiment, they would welcome more money and fewer investors.

They also said that between the brewpubs that make 2,000 barrels of beer a year and bigger breweries that make upwards of 10,000 barrels there is much uneven territory. In other words much bad beer.

You agree? Is that where the bad beer is , in the middle?

1995 photo of Jim Lutz at Wild Goose then located in Cambridge, Md, by The Sun's Lloyd Fox

Boog taps a cask and talks baseball and beer [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-12T07:03:27-07:00

Here is a great video shot by The Sun"s Karl Ferron at the opening ceremony of Baltimore Beer Week.

It was shot aboard the USS Constellation.

What do you think of it?

Great beer weekend [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-09T04:00:45-07:00

Looks like an excellent weekend to raise a stein.

There are a billion or tastings as taverns and restaurants offer deals and special beers for Baltimore Beer Week.

Clicking on the events section of the beer week web site and checking out Friday night, I saw 35 events, everything from 3 beers for $5 at the Wharf Rat, to an imports tasting at State Line Liquors, to a Flying Dog tasting at The Wine Source, to .40 cent shrimp night at Duda's where 60 cents of every bottle of Defenders Choice goes to a fund for wounded soldiers.

Then Saturday there is the BAM Oktoberfest in Timonium.Think no rain.

Do be careful out there. If you have had a few, grab a cab, or take the Light Rail.

The following weekend, there is the Chesapeake Real Ale Fest, at the Pratt Street Ale House. It too is near a Light Rail stop.

What are you beer plans for the weekend?

Baltimore Sun photo of steins at Blob's Park by Gene Sweeney Jr.

Baltimore Beer History Today at 1, WYPR [Kasper on Tap]

2009-10-07T07:48:01-07:00

As part of the Baltimore Beer Week roll out, I am appearing on WYPR Midday with Dan Rodricks radio show , 88.1 FM from 1-2 p.m. to talk about the beer history of Baltimore.

With me will be Turkey Joe Trabert, a former bar owner and always a raconteur, along with Mick Kipp, a student of beer and proprietor of The Whiskey Island Pirate shop .

Check out the cover story on Baltimore Beer Week by Michael Cook in today's edition of b.