Peyton Manning wants to put a ring on it {thanks, AP}

1. Super Bowl XLIV: Saints v. Colts
We know you’ll watch the Super Bowl regardless of who’s playing (even if just for the commercials), but this year’s matchup is extra juicy. You’ve got the AFC’s and the NFC’s top seeds meeting for the first time since 1993. You’ve got two of the league’s most underrated defenses. And you’ve got a couple of guys named Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. This one has classic written all over it. 6:25 p.m. Sunday, WJZ-23 CBS. MATT VENSEL, B

2. ‘Lost’ season premiere
It’s no secret that I’m a “Lost” fanatic. Fanatic is an understatement. And while I realize that this is the beginning of the end, I can’t wait to find out what happens in the final season. Who’s “dead” and coming back? Seriously, what’s up with Walt? Did the bomb really reset everything? Find out during the season premiere, 9 p.m. Tuesday on WMAR-12 ABC. MARISSA GALLO, B

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Hail, hail, the Mormon fundamentalist gang’s all here: the “Big Love” clan {thanks, HBO}

1. ‘Big Love’ season premiere
There’s an end to my TV drought (no thanks, “Jersey Shore”). And this season, the controversial story line about polygamy grows to include a controversial story line about creepy Alby’s closeted homosexuality. I’m breathless. 9 p.m. Sunday, HBO. ANNE TALLENT, B

2. CA Talent Show
We expect the board, staff and resident artists at Creative Alliance to be talented, because, well, they work at a place called Creative Alliance. So don’t miss this free night of poetry, film, music and “avant sound-scapes.” Oh, and there’ll be puppets and musical saws. 7 p.m. Thursday. 3134 Eastern Ave., Highlandtown. creativealliance.org. JORDAN BARTEL, B

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A box is filled with marijuana plants at the San Francisco Medical Cannabis Clinic {thanks, AP}

If you had asked him two weeks ago, Zach Brown would have said he didn’t think marijuana legalization would happen in his lifetime.

Things have quickly changed. Brown, the president of the University of Maryland, College Park chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, now is optimistic the country will see significant change in perhaps two decades.

“It seems up until this point, we’ve been working against the wind in a way, pushing our goals to hard opposition,” Brown said. “But there’s now a rapid growth of support. The winds have changed, and we’re riding with them now.”

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Leaving so soon? “Mad Men” season 3 is preparing to wrap {thanks, AMC}

1. ‘Mad Men’ season finale
Non-“Mad Men” fans must really be sick of hearing the rest of us obsess over every little nuance of AMC’s flagship drama. But this is TV’s best show since “The Wire,” so spare us the eyerolls. Season 3 ends this Sunday, and with all of the recent plot twists and turns, who knows what will happen to the Drapers, the Brits or Sterling Cooper? We don’t, but count on us watching, sweat-drenched and eyes popped out of our skulls. And no, that’s not hyperbole. 10 p.m. WESLEY CASE, B

2. Ravens @ Bengals
The Bengals got the best of the Ravens last month in Baltimore. Now the Ravens travel to Cincinnati to get a little revenge. 1 p.m. Sunday, WJZ-23 CBS, 98 Rock. MATT VENSEL, B

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A shot of Mine That Bird exercising at the Pimlico Race Course on May 14, 2009 {thanks, AP}

The auction for the Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park will take place early in 2010, according to the Baltimore Sun. Two Maryland developers, David S. Cordish and Carl Verstandig, have stated interest in buying the tracks and the rights to the Preakness Stakes. No need to worry about the Preakness, though. It’s staying Maryland thanks to a new law that grants “the state the right to seize the event under eminent domain,” reports the Sun. The tracks’ current owners, Magna Entertainment Corp., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March.

So what’s next? The Sun breaks it down: Anyone interested in buying the tracks can submit a proposal to Magna by Nov. 2 (a 10% deposit and evidence that the entire amount will be paid are required). One week later, Magna will present a lead bid to the court, with a list of other bidders to follow.  The auction will be held in mid-January, and the state will be allowed to match the winning bid.

Although many Maryland residents are most likely relieved the Preakness cash cow will be staying put, it’ll be interesting to see the effect of the auction. Also, how will it affect slots and other alternative gambling? It’s a topic to keep an eye on over the next few months.

For the full Sun article, click here.

Morassa Mohseni, 28, of Hopkins' Park lab, conducts an experiment {Brian Krista, b}

Hope guides their hands.

Sometimes that’s all the members of Dr. Ben Ho Park’s breast cancer research lab have to run on.

But in this line of work, hope is a powerful motivator.

Experiments are repeated 10, 12 times. Cells die. Genes the researchers investigate within re-created breast cancer cells, genes that can be targeted for therapeutic treatment, sometimes don’t show themselves like the lab crew wants them to. It’s stressful, detailed work that tests patience.

But it is important work; the lab members know this. This is the kind of work that saves lives. This is the kind of work that will, one day, eradicate breast cancer.

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A 2005 photo of a Draeger Ignition Interlock system {thanks, THE BALTIMORE SUN}

It’s the timeless “treatment vs. punishment” argument.

On Wednesday, new drunken driving laws take effect in Maryland, which, according to the Sun, “appear to be targeting those who get caught driving drunk a second time.” This includes “a mandatory one-year license suspension for those with two arrests within five years.”

Not everyone is satisfied with the new laws. Michael Gimbel, a former Baltimore County director of substance abuse, argues there’s not enough emphasis on treating offenders. Critics, such as Gimbel, are disappointed in the new laws’ lack of mandatory treatment for drivers found under the influence.

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Sen. Claire McCaskill was named best Senate Twitter user in a recent UM study

Well, this should shock … no one. A study by University of Maryland researchers found politicians on Twitter (shudder) spend only 7% of their time interacting with citizens, according to the Baltimore Sun. The other 93% is for self-promotion (speaking events, television appearances, etc.).

This doesn’t come as a surprise, but it’s still disappointing. While talking about the Twitter phenomenon has grown tired (hearing Wolf Blitzer say “tweets” is awkward), it is still a practical, easy-to-use tool that could bring politicians closer to their public. So why are politicians merely glorifying their daily itineraries rather than @replying followers’ questions?

There are exceptions. The study named Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Miss.) best Senate Twitter user, and it seems for good reason. Her tweets are personable (but not creepy) and informing, especially in regards to her day job. She also, from time to time, replies to users’ questions.

How do Maryland politicians stack up? Gov. Martin O’Malley tweets sports reactions and locations of where he’s headed next. Out of his 175 total tweets, zero were @replies to followers. (Maybe he’s just not getting any questions?) Lt. Governor Anthony Brown is mostly all business, tweeting links to announcements on his Facebook page. Mayor Sheila Dixon doesn’t appear to be on Twitter (but FakeSheilaDixon has some gems).

What do you guys think? Should politicians have to get with the Twitter times and use the platform as a rolling opportunity for Q&As, or is that just too unrealistic (since it’s possible it’s not even the actual politician tweeting)? Are politicians missing an easy way to establish a connection with the people they serve? Or are you tweeted out in general? Let us know in the replies.

Norma Terry of Baltimore recycles paper product at the NW Sanitation Yard. {thanks, THE BALTIMORE SUN}

Remember the recent hoopla over changes to Baltimore’s trash and recycling collections? (It was a b cover story on July 13.) Some of our readers were excited to recycle more, while others were staunchly against their garbage only being picked up once per week. An online comment even said, “This is one of the worst [decisions] the city could’ve made regarding trash pickup …”

Today, the Baltimore Sun reports the city’s recycling plan has exceeded expectations, as 53% more recyclables have been picked up since the changeover. The story also states, “[City garbage trucks] were taking an average of 8,000 tons every two weeks before the program started. Since July, the average has fallen to 5,700 tons every two weeks, officials said.”

A Central Park Heights resident quoted in the story says that not all of her neighbors are on board, but “it is catching [on].” What do you think? Are you happy with the city’s progress in its recycling/trash initiatives? Or are you still not on board with the recycle-more attitude? Have you even noticed a difference? Leave some comments in the replies.

The winning Maryland-themed tattoo {thanks, MICHAEL ROGERS}

Michael Rogers, 21, Baltimore 

“I knew I wanted to pay tribute to my love for my home state and Baltimore, but had no idea how to make a tattoo out of it. I chose everything in the tattoo very carefully, believe it or not. A lot of people get cranky when they see it and ask, “Where’s the Raven?!” For me, it was less of a sports tattoo and more of a tribute to my home state and city. Mr. Boh is a clear unofficial mascot of the city. I remember being a kid and going to Orioles games or even just driving into the city and seeing the neon Mr. Boh wink at me. Crabs are pretty much self-explanatory.”

Time it took to complete: Eight-nine hours.

Congratulations to Michael (who receives a free tattoo by Dave Sobel of tugboattattoo.com) and the rest of the finalists.