Baltimore21201.Com - The Blog

The Sky's the Limit. Not.

Thursday, November 19th at 7:30pm -- Join WYPR’s SkyWatch hosts Jim O’Leary and Dr. Carol Christian as they reveal and discuss images from the latest Hubble Space Telescope Mission. Their lecture, Gifts from the Sky—Hubble’s Latest Images is free with RSVP.

Mr. O’Leary is the resident space expert at the Maryland Science Center and director of the IMAX Theater and Davis Planetarium. Dr. Christian is a scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute here in Baltimore. Their show airs every Thursday on local NPR affiliate WYPR.

On September 9, 2009, scientists got their first glimpse of images from the nearly new Hubble Space Telescope, refurbished by the hugely ambitious servicing mission in May. With two new instruments and two successfully repaired cameras, Hubble resumed scientific research with more capability than ever.

Enjoy stories of the servicing mission, and explore the latest Hubble Space Telescope images of giant star clusters, new star-forming regions, exploding stars and colliding galaxies. Hear about Hubble’s quest for understanding Dark Matter and Dark Energy along with Hubble’s other contributions to our new understanding of the universe.

This lecture is free with an RSVP by phoning 410-545-5943.

Hubble Photos: Top, Giant Disk of Cold Gas and Dust Fuels Possible Black Hole at the Core of NGC 4261. Above: Detail of Saturn's Rings, Disk and Shadow.

New Flu Shot Clinic News for Baltimore 21201

I received a note from the Enoch Pratt Library, Central Branch, on Cathedral Street. Apparently it had been in my inbox for a couple of days. Pass along the information.

Stay Healthy! Free Flu Clinics. Free Flu Shots at the Central Library. Regular and H1N1 vaccines available.

The Enoch Pratt Free Library in partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department and ACE Coalition will be holding free flu clinics at the Central Library.

Regular flu shots only: Friday, November 6, 10am - 2 pm

Regular flu and H1N1 shots: Friday, December 11, 10am – 2pm and Friday, January 8, 10am – 2pm

Doctors and nurses will be available to answer flu, pneumonia and other health questions.

The flu clinic is provided by the ACE Coalition Flu Clinic.

For more information on the free flu clinics at the Central Library, visit our website at www.prattlibrary.org. Also look for the Pratt Library on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Remember at the Enoch Pratt Free Library:  “Your journey starts here.”

How much do Jacob and I love the Enoch Pratt Library? Spread your arms wide, and say, "More than THIS much!"

Midnight Will Arrive at Noon in Baltimore

When will such a thing happen? Why and how come? Details from the Maryland Science Center:

 

"Does the ball drop after your bedtime?

"Not this year! Join the Maryland Science Center in its New Year's Eve celebration at Noon–Midnight Noon.

"Get here early and make your own party hat and noisemaker, get your face painted, and get ready to party down to the sound of popular kids band Milkshake as they kick off our celebration at 11:30 and help us announce the New Year at Noon.

"Following the concert, join the Blue Sky Puppet Theater in the MSC Theater as they embark on an adventure with Ralph the Jester to find laughter for King NAFFETMHL–the king who never found anything funny.

"The entire Science Center will be open and ready to ring in the New Year!

"All activites are free with paid admission: adults $14.50, youth (3-12) $10.00, children under 3 are free. Tickets can be purchased upon arrival. For questions, please call 410-545-5960."

Is this part of the MSC's approach to creating a new generation of smarter, more inquisitive, goal oriented Baltimore children? Ones that will tend to be better students and finer more productive adults? You can bet your boots that it is.

Our 170,000 square-foot Maryland Science Center has been creating better kids (and better parents) since they opened their doors. Read their history here. If you're not tempted to click on the link, read this from the MSC History Statement...

"The Maryland Academy of Sciences is Maryland's oldest scientific institution and one of the oldest such institutions in the entire nation.

"At its inception in 1797, the Academy was an amateur scientific society—members met to discuss papers on astronomy, botany, zoology, and other subjects then known as the "natural sciences." Rembrandt and Raphael Peale, sons of painter and scientist Charles Wilson Peale, were among the distinguished early members..."

Think again about clicking that history link.

Art to Dine For - With Dr. Giraud & Carolyn Foster in Their Roland Park Home

Baltimore's Creative Alliance says that there are a couple of spots left for what may be their most impressive art and dinner combination that we've seen in a long, long time.

Dr. Giraud Foster has traveled the world as a private physician (formerly to the King of Yemen), photographer, archaeologist, and ethnographer. He's created a massive collection of art works, many have been displayed in Baltimore's Walters Art Museum, and other great museums. His wife, Carolyn, is a scholar of indigenous myths and oral traditions.

 

Join them at their home for a tour of their private collection which includes Ancient Alabasters from Yemen, 18th Century English Furniture, 19th Century Indian Textiles, and more. Much more.

You'll be treated to an exceptional Indian Buffet and listen to over 50 years of tales about travels and tastes in India and South Asia.

Jacob and I would be there if we didn't have a dinner invitation on the evening of the 15th. If you go, please let us know all of the details. And, send photos.

Holiday Shopping? Maryland Science Center Has You Covered

Remember that old song, All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth?

I was remined by way of an email from the Maryland Science Center that a present for me, as a kid, was never quite that simple. I wanted chemistry sets, telescopes, test tubes & and stuff to fill them with, oh yes... and books and more books. Sets of books.

Having a father that worked for Raytheon, a mother that adored books and knowledge, and a grandmother working for doctors, I usually got exactly what I asked for (plus extra test tubes). But in my wildest dreams I couldn't have come up with a present this perfect:

Popular Science Magazine says, "This is the device amateur stargazers have been waiting for since, well, Galileo." Everyone is talking about the Celestron Sky Scout Personal Planetarium.

Point it at a star, planet, comet, any one of 6,000 sky objects and it tells you what you're looking at; check it out here in detail. Then visit the Maryland Science Center's store for this and other great gifts. And make certain you buy from our Science Center, named by Parent's Magazine as one of the Top 10 Science Centers in the United States.

What did my parents get for their investment in all those microscopes, petri dishes, prisms and coils of wire? The basement smelled like burning sulfur, my mother's yellow daffodils bloomed green one year, and I went into advertising.

Take Note - Los Angeles Police Chief, WJ Bratton is Coming to Baltimore

Really he is. And October 23rd will be a great day for learning. Truly great. Chief William J Bratton, LAPD has been fighting crime for over 30 years. I'm looking forward to his take on fighting city crime.

Chief WJ Bratton is the best-of-the-best to address the issues involved in Policing Cities in the 21st Century. And, he will do that in Baltimore. As LAPD Chief Bratton has, in many ways, bigger issues than we have here in Baltimore. In many ways we, in Baltimore, have bigger and more selective issues than he has in Los Angeles. And all cities have individual & specific issues that no other city can address alone. Cities, large or small, need to adress crime in this ecomony more than ever before. Let's see what he has to say. Let's see if we can learn.

 

Bratton's presentaion, "Policing in the 21st Century" is presented by Johns Hopkins Universtiy, Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, WTMD 89.7, WYPR 88.1, and EverGreen House & Museum.

Let's all be there and listen and ask questions. It's a free event. Attendance is limited and pre-registration is required. Call 410-516-0341 or send an email to urbanlecture@jhu.edu. Also, there's free onsite parking.

Need more, take a look at the official LAPD website.

We're Gonna See Just How Hard-hearted Hanna Really Is

Oh yeah, we're gonna get wet this weekend. Really wet. While Hurricane Hanna is no Isabel, I'm thinking that she's gonna bring us a darn good smack.

Accuweather's track map is the one that I'm going with.

The National Hurricane Center & NOAA show Hanna tracking a bit farther east.

Neil Estano at WBAL TV is being a bit conservative, as he tends to be. Estano says that we'll get some rain, but Hanna's leftovers will zip right on by.

On the other hand, WMAR TV's Justin Berk says, "...we're still on target with a direct hit from Hanna on Saturday. While the storm be in a diminished form, much like Gustav is today... it will still pose a threat for flooding rain, strong winds, and isolated tornadoes."

GO JUSTIN!

What? Hey we need the rain.

Let's Go Swim in Pea Soup - At Baltimore's Sheraton City Center

Now, this is disturbing. Really disturbing.

For the past couple of days we've noticed the water in the Sheraton's swimming pool getting greener and greener. Yesterday there were over a dozen kids and parents and others swimming in this mess.

Normally, the Sheraton pool water is crystal clear and the bright blue of the new pool paint comes shining through.

Let's all call the Sheraton (410-752-1100) and ask what's going on. I did and was simply told they would check on it. 

Become a Victim of a Terrorist IED Explosion at Baltimore's M&T Stadium. I'm Just Saying... Operation Purple Haze?

[NOTE: I haven't changed a word of this release. I'm just passing it along. To get the full impact, you must read it all.]

THE BALTIMORE
RAVENS NEED YOUR HELP
August 2, 2008  9:00am - 2:00pm

We need fans of the Baltimore Ravens to participate as actors/victims in a full-scale emergency management exercise to help us review the essential elements of emergency preparedness and response at M&T Bank Stadium.  The day-long event will start at 9:00 am on August 2, 2008 and end at approximately 2:00pm.  The Baltimore Ravens, the City of Baltimore, and the State of Maryland are testing response procedures at M&T Bank Stadium, which will serve as a hypothetical site under "attack".  Representatives of "first responders" - police, fire, volunteer agencies, stadium officials, and others - will be actively playing in dealing with this type of emergency. 

This exercise is important to the safety of the Baltimore Ravens fans and players as the exercise capitalizes, reinforces, and provides feedback to the First Responder Community.  It will also help us to develop, sustain, and provide feedback of emergency response operations as this is a great learning opportunity for the responders to examine the unique aspects of responding to a terrorist incident at our stadium.

*** Free parking will be available in lot B and free food, non-alcoholic beverages and entertainment will be provided to you throughout the day as well as a Raffle Drawing for Prizes. All volunteers will be issued a raffle ticket making them eligible to win great Ravens items plus one large flat screen TV will be raffled off at the conclusion of the exercise. ****

If you are interested in helping your favorite team, please contact Steve Carlson at 410-230-8021 or Mike Oberst at 410-230-8022.

FAQ's for VOLUNTEERS of Operation Purple Haze
Why is the exercise being conducted?
The purpose of this exercise is to improve the operational response of emergency personnel at M&T Bank Stadium.

What will happen in the exercise?
A "mock" Improvised Explosive Device (IED) will detonate inside the stadium, releasing "mock" radiological particles.  Test volunteers will be positioned at locations inside the stadium, typical of normal game-day situations.  Post-release, volunteers will be evacuated from the stadium and approximately 1/3 of those evacuated will need to undergo decontamination.  Test volunteers will undergo surface sampling to evaluate their exposure,  followed by water-based decontamination protocols, post-decontamination, volunteers will undergo another round of surface sampling to evaluate removal of the particulate tracer and then given re-dress clothing.

Who will benefit from this exercise?
The data obtained in this exercise will guide the future operational response by Federal, State, local government, and stadium partners to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster in M&T Bank Stadium as well as give extensive training to the Hazardous Material teams comprising of the Baltimore area. Effective response will improve medical treatments, reduce decontamination costs and speed the recovery to operations of affected facilities.

Why have I been asked to participate?
You have been asked to participate in this exercise because your important to this process.  As a fan and as a "mock" victim, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback to enhance the Stadium response to its fans while also helping the first response community response tactics.

What am I asked to do?
If you volunteer to participate, we ask you to do the following things:

****Arrive at M&T Bank Stadium with a swimsuit under your street clothing. Also bring a complete change of clothes, including shoes and flip flops, in a plastic bag, clearly marked with your name on the outside of the bag.****

When you arrive at lot B, you will be directed to register at Gate A and an exercise controller will be there to assist with further steps.  These steps will involve an actor briefing and at this time you will be given a choice to be a victim, get moulaged, or if you wish, you can get decontaminated. 

After the IED "explodes", you will be asked to follow the directives of Stadium Personnel, First Responders, and/or Exercise Controllers.

The total duration of your participation is expected to be no greater than 4 hours.

Is it safe to participate?
Yes.  At no time will you be in any danger. Those volunteers who are being decontaminated, are needed to evaluate the efficiency of multiple personnel decontamination methods.  The decon shower will be a cold water high-volume shower.  A comfort station will be provided to you with light food service.

What if something unexpected happens?
Your participation will be monitored by on-site medical personnel, who will oversee the decon process and intervene in case of medical distress. In the unlikely event of physical injury resulting from participation you will receive the required medical treatment.

Will I be paid for participating?
No. Test participants will not receive financial compensation for participating. 

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Baltimore Ravens, and the State of Maryland, we thank you for volunteering to be an actor for our exercise.

General Scenario:
You will be participating as a mock victim of a terrorist attack. You will be triaged and if directed by the first responders, decontamination will occur. It will include your being washed and then re-clothed. Please wear a bathing suit, shorts and T-shirt or other outfit under your clothing and bring a change of clothes and towel. We would appreciate your wearing loose fitting, easily removable shoes. It is recommended that jewelry not be worn. Jewelry and personal items will be removed during the decontamination process, bagged and given to you to carry as you go through the decontamination line.

Before the event, you will be given a complete orientation to the incident site, the type of injury or symptoms you should simulate and what actions are expected of you. Please bring sunscreen, eat a meal and drink plenty of liquids before you come. After the event, liquids and food will be available to you.  Restrooms will also be available for your convenience.

[Final NOTE: As for me, I'd rather listen to the Jimi Hendricks' version of Purple Haze than participate in this one.]

Let's All Buy a Brick; Support a Home for Our Little, and Not-So-Little Ones.

A big, 24 year-old mother has given birth to a really big, healthy baby in Baltimore. The mother's name is Felix. The father is, for the time-being, unknown. Yep, it seems that Mother Felix was "sleeping around" prior to coming to Baltimore -- her new-born is, for now, unnamed also.

So what to do to support this unwed mother... I have the answer. Buy a brick. Yes, a brick.

...I first worked on a Zoomerang project for the Baltimore Zoo with some folks from Doner Advertising in 1998 (when Doner was on N Charles Street) and I've admired the Baltimore Zoo ever since. International attention to our zoo has been building with the announcement that Mother Felix was with child... er, calf.

Support for our Baltimore zoo is more important now than ever. And, I know that sometimes it's difficult to write a check to a general fund and not see anything you can hold in your hand.

You can't hold these bricks in your hand; you can walk on them, though. And, they will be engraved with your names and message. How's this for a thought: Buy a separate brick for each of your children. Once the bricks are installed take the kids for a grand field trip to find their names.

Let's make good things happen for the Baltimore Zoo. It will happen just one brick at a time.

By the way, do you know that the Baltimore Zoo operates a Penguin Cam?

Check it out during daylight hours. It couldn't be more fun.

Male Midwives? I Had No Clue!

I wasn't around Baltimore in the 1800s. Still, I had no idea. Apparently I need to head up Charles Street tomorrow for some continuing education from the folks at JHU's Homewood Museum.

They say, "The early 19th century was a pivotal time in maternal care as female midwives gave way to male midwives and obstetrics emerged as a major medical specialty. Cribs, cradles, silver baby bottle nipples, forceps, early medical books, and other period items on display offer a look at practices, traditions, and politics concerning childbirth and childrearing in early Maryland, particularly those of Baltimore families like the Carrolls of Homewood."

The event was organized by students in the Introduction to Material Culture course taught fall 2007 at Homewood as part of the JHU Krieger School’s Museums & Society Program. The course and focus show were made possible by the late Anne Merrick Pinkard.

While I'm considering about all of this, I'm kind of creeped-out thinking of the silver baby bottle nipples. That, somehow, just seems so wrong. It's not like they were serving up mint juleps or anything.