On Sept. 11, 2001, a jet airliner nears one of the World Trade Center towers in New York {thanks, AP}

NEWS STORIES:
1. Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks/ war on terror
The moment that changed the world. And every American. A quick attack to Afghanistan and, two years later, an invasion of Iraq that divided a nation united after 9/11.

2. Hurricane Katrina
A devastation matched only by the devastating images of the dead and homes lost — and the devastating government response.

3. Global recession
Greed and bailouts became the buzzwords of the decade. Apparently, we hadn’t quite had enough nostalgia for the 1980s.

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{Photo illustration by Aubrey Fornwalt, b, and The Baltimore Sun}

Like waiting for the Orioles to have a winning season, waiting for real action to clean up the Chesapeake Bay has been an exercise in frustration for many observers.

But this year, the Obama administration is rolling out a new approach to cleaning up the bay, with more federal oversight of factors such as farm nutrients and runoff from development. Can this be any different from previous attempts?

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Jeremih: ‘Sex’ in Chicago Public Schools {thanks, AP}

Jeremih’s “Birthday Sex” has earned its place as one of the songs of the summer — and a spot on the playlist permanently playing in the head of b’s Wesley Case.

But the song — and its singer — have led to controversy in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune reports that last week community leaders gathered at Chicago Public Schools headquarters to denounce the choice of Jeremih, an alum of the school system, as the face of a back-to-school campaign. He’s already agreed to use Twitter to encourage children to attend school.

Chief protester/exaggerator/funny quote generator William Dock Walls is a candidate for governor and member of the Committee for a Better Chicago. “If children go to school with birthday sex on their mind, they can’t learn anything,” Walls said. “Can you imagine a 6-year-old saying to another 6-year-old, ‘It’s my birthday, come and have birthday sex with me?’”

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Washington is still abuzz about last weekend’s White House Correspondent’s Association Dinner.

The annual confab brings together the President and First Lady, senior government and White House officials, members of Congress, the media including esteemed White House correspondents, and tons of celebrities.

And there’s always a comedian which was this year Wanda Sykes, who most certainly stirred up some controversy.

Sykes more controversial jokes were targeted at radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Take a look for yourself to decide if you thought Sykes was funny or not.

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Ecosumo.com’s Ricky Fuller (left) and Steve Dellis {Shannon Cimino Fitzpatrick, special to b}

You’d expect the office space of an upstart online marketplace offering the latest in eco chic to be trendier. After all, this place sells a messenger bag woven from seat-belt clippings.

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Question Mark

In the city of Baltimore one of the biggest challenges facing city government is the urban blight caused by the large number of vacant and abandoned homes in neighborhoods throughout the city.

According to the site American Towns there are 42,481 vacant homes in Baltimore.

Communities where there are a large concentration of abandoned homes often play host to depreciating home values, and increased crime among other things.

Also fire investigators have investigated the possibility that squatters have started a number of fires in vacant homes in attempts to stay warm. That’s what neighbors believed led to a fire in West Baltimore several weeks ago.

The site Slum Lord Watch prides itself on calling out property owners who authors say are actually slumlords.

Those behind the site say their work is so dangerous that they won’t identify themselves by name, but something they will do is answer next week’s blogger survey anonymously.

So what do you want to “ask the local blogger”?

Submit your questions for the editor of Slum Lord Watch and we’ll get the answers.

Or e-mail your questions to bchrisnelson@gmail.com

This lurked in my e-mail in-basket this morning. Most creative press release of the week. Also, educational. Props to our friends at Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection for alerting the populace. Also, please note the danger presented by shipments of tile (see below).

BALTIMORE – A Customs and Border Protection plant seed interception was confirmed on Monday as the Baltimore area’s first reported discovery of cogon grass weed seed, aka Red Baron grass seed, and just as the legendary Red Baron was a menace to allied fighters during World War I, Red Baron grass has become a despised invasive weed throughout parts of the United States.

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From today’s b, the paper

•••• The Chesapeake Climate Action Network will have its Baltimore Environmental Meetup at 7 p.m. today at Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1710 Dulaney Valley Road. Agenda includes planning actions to pass 2009 Maryland Global Warming Solutions Act. Free. 410.825.6045 or baltimoreclimate.org
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The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning today for the Baltimore area.  It’s in effect until 10pm.  That means you’ve been warned that there is high wind. 

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From today’s b, the paper

•••• Business Volunteers Unlimited Maryland’s Volunteer Central seeks volunteers to select and sort toys and clothing for needy children, as part of the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Elf Night is 6-9 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday at the Salavation Army Warehouse, 3800 Buena Vista Ave., Hampden. Registration required. Contact Candace Baker at candace@volunteercentral.net or 410.366.6030.
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