Calvert County OKs nuclear

In a world gone "green," Calvert County officials have given the thumbs-up to an old yet controversial standby: nuclear energy. A recent AP article says that the county’s elected officials sent a letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission giving their support for building a new reactor at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant.

Constellation Energy Group, based here in Baltimore, filed a partial application for the 1,600-megawatt reactor in Lusby. It would be the first commercial reactor built in the U.S. in approximately 30 years.

To counter those who are sure to bring up Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, Constellation is estimating that the reactor could employ about 2,500 people and that the Calvert Cliffs facility expansion would bring another 400 full-time jobs. The county is expecting about $16 million in taxes this year from the facility — 8 percent of the county’s tax revenue. Jobs and revenue aside, there’s also the eco-friendly allure of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The flip side of that, according to groups like Beyond Nuclear, is nuclear waste — how much of it will be left over, and where can we store it safely. And this may be yet another target in the U.S. for a terrorist attack. Of course, what isn’t, these days? But should we really be adding to the 11 nuclear plants already in the Chesapeake Bay watershed?

Whether we poison the sky with an overloaded carbon cycle, or we bury a toxic combustible byproduct, policymakers seem to struggle with bringing innovation into our energy policy. Yes, wind and solar are picking up some steam in certain areas — but how long has that taken? Not as long as the wind and sun have been around, but long enough.

What do you think?

-FRANCIS SMITH, Special Publications Assistant Editor

These Little Town Blues

Ahh, so the Acela speeds through Maryland twice a day without so much as a pit stop; who cares? At least the state’s largest law firm made (subscriber-only link) “The 2007 Working Mother & Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms For Women” list. Or did it?

We speak, of course, of DLA Piper US LLP, that multinational megafirm referred to around these parts as “Baltimore-based” or, when we’re feeling especially inclusive, “Baltimore- and Chicago-based.” Nobody’s ever called to demand a correction, either way.

So, why would the survey say the home office is in New York?

“We officially do not have a home office,” explains the firm’s (New York-based) spokesman, Jason Costa. Instead, Baltimore is a U.S. “foundation office,” along with Chicago and San Diego, since those are the cities where DLA Piper’s “legacy firms” started — Piper & Marbury, Rudnick & Wolfe and Gray Cary, respectively.

Apparently Working Mother wouldn’t take “homeless” for an answer, though, so “We went with the office where Heidi Levine, the partner who co-heads our Leadership Alliance for Women Group, is based,” Costa wrote in an e-mail. “There was no right answer, so we just went with NY.”

For the record, several other non-Maryland firms with an in-state presence made the “best” list, including Duane Morris of Philadelphia; Hogan & Hartson of Washington, D.C.; Holland & Knight, New York; McGuireWoods of Richmond; Patton Boggs, Washington, D.C.; WilmerHale, Washington, D.C.; and former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.’s firm, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Above, Luke Marbury speaks at the dedication of the William L. Marbury, Jr Building on Smith Ave. Photo by Eric Stocklin.

-BARBARA GRZINCIC, Managing Editor, Law

Care for a few (million) burritos?

Aug. 15 could be a lucky day for you Mexican food lovers out there!

Today, after 12 long years — and many a gastric-challenging evening spent wondering when you got so old that eating an extra-spicy chicken taco could keep you up all night — California Tortilla expects to sell its 5 millionth burrito!

Yes folks, 5 million. That’s a lot of beans and tortillas.

To commemorate the day, the first 100 customers at each location will get a T-shirt and everybody who buys an entrée will get a coupon for a free burrito. The lucky customer to get the 5 millionth burrito gets a free one every week for a year.

As for the Pepto-Bismol, you’re on your own for that.

-LOUIS LLOVIO, Daily Record Business Writer

The Scooter and Baltimore

Holy Cow!

That’s the only reaction you could have to the news that Phil Rizzuto, as legendary for his malaprops in the New York Yankees broadcast booth as he was for a career that included an MVP award in 1950, has died. Rizzuto, who was 89, played with the Yankees from 1941 through 1956 (not including 1944-46, when he was in the Pacific with the U.S. Navy during World War II) and broadcast their games until 1996.

According to Bloomberg’s obituary, Rizzuto turned down an offer from the Orioles to broadcast their games – accepting an offer from the Yankees that was worth less money – because he had just opened up a bowling alley with teammate Yogi Berra.

Can you imagine Rizzuto teamed with Chuck Thompson? In another Baltimore connection, Rizzuto spent more than 20 years as a commercial spokesman for The Money Store, before he was replaced by former Oriole and fellow Hall-of-Famer Jim Palmer in 1993.

-ED WALDMAN, Managing Editor, Business

Moving up the bench?

Calling all Court of Appeals denizens, enthusiasts and groupies: at 4:30 today, we’ll be one step closer to a new judge.

That’s the deadline for applications to fill the Court of Appeals seat vacated by Judge Alan M. Wilner when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 in January.

The big question is, who will take on Court of Special Appeals Chief Judge Joseph F. Murphy Jr.? Murphy, though at 63 a little older than governors prefer their nominees to be, is well-respected and considered by some to be the cerebral Wilner’s heir apparent.

-CARYN TAMBER, Daily Record Legal Affairs Writer

Your cheatin’ heart (or your E-ZPass) will tell on you

It seems that modern technology is thwarting extramarital affairs - and involving the law - in all sorts of new ways.

Thanks to the Above the Law blog, one of our editors came across a case brought against 1-800-FLOWERS by a man whose purchase led to what I can only assume will be a pungent divorce.

The online florist allegedly agreed to conceal the man's purchase (roses and a stuffed animal) for his mistress and did not send him a receipt. Months later, in an attempt to encourage future business, the vendor sent a thank-you card to the man's home, which his wife intercepted.

When she called the florist, demanding proof of an order (after all, she knew nothing was delivered to her...) the business faxed the receipt to the soon-to-be ex.

It's not only sloppily concealed gifts that are fuel for the family-practice fires. Simply traveling on a toll road en route to a lover's home might be enough to tip the scales in the inevitable divorce proceedings.

Our sister blogs in Virginia and Long Island helped to turn us on to this story: the Associated Press reports that E-ZPass has become an (admissible) source of evidence in civil and criminal cases to prove the whereabouts of a straying heart. Agencies in seven states (including the Old Line State) will provide electronic toll information in response to court orders for civil cases, including divorces.

According to the AP, the E-ZPass network accounts for about 2 billion charges each year. Now think: how many of those charges would the drivers prefer no one know about?

-JACKIE SAUTER, Daily Record Multimedia Editor

Two heads are better...

The photo in today’s Daily Record (subscriber-only link) of retired Court of Appeals Judge Dale R. Cathell fishing is unmistakably him — but check out his official photo (at right) in the state archives. Does something look a little off?

According to Cathell, when his picture was set to go online, the judiciary didn’t have a shot of him in the red robes of the top court. So, he said, they took a photo of his head from his official Court of Special Appeals picture and pasted it onto a photo (below, at right) of Court of Appeals Judge Lawrence F. Rodowsky, who is also now retired.

“He’s always maintained that,” Rodowsky said with a chuckle. “He claims that that’s what happened; I don’t know.”

If you look at the photos side-by-side — paying special attention to the folds in the robe and the books in the background — it looks like Cathell has a good case.

Cathell, who told this tale last month during his pre-retirement interview, said he never minded the cut-and-paste job too much, since it makes him look bigger than he actually is. Rodowsky, on the other hand, said his body probably looks better with Cathell’s head on it.

-CARYN TAMBER, Daily Record Legal Affairs Writer

Diamond in the rough

As I watched a babbling brook flow down the side of Saratoga Street last week, I had to fight the delusional urge to grab my rod and reel and “get my fish on.” Fishing, as others call it, is not exactly a city-centric activity, but with Diamond Jim out there, it’s all I can think about — other than the seemingly sorry state of Baltimore’s water mains.

Mr. Jim, as I call him, is a specially tagged striped bass and part of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ 2007 Maryland Fishing Challenge. There are 20 impostors and 1 Diamond Jim released, with a cash prize between $10,000 and $25,000 — depending on when he’s reeled in — for hooking the real deal. Anglers can read rules and requirements, how to enter, and even see a picture of a “Diamond Jim” tag on DNR’s Web site.

And as far as the downtown log flume (or waterslide, whichever you prefer) is concerned, I hear the Bureau of Water & Wastewater is working on the nation’s largest urban Slip & Slide , with the added thrill of weaving between those always-patient city drivers.

-FRANCIS SMITH, Special Publications Assistant Editor

Apparently they call it the boob tube for a reason…

I guess mom was right. Parking the kids in front of the TV doesn’t make ‘em any smarter.

As a soon-to-be second time dad, it was depressing to read that popping in a Baby Einstein video not only didn’t make kids smarter but actually set their vocabulary skills back.

I was looking forward to putting Junior in a car seat, popping him down in front of the old TV set and taking a nap in my barcalounger!

Thanks to the people at the University of Washington, now I’m going to have to spend time with the kid!

Sheesh! I’ll probably have to read to him and take him to the library and play with him! Lord have mercy, I might even develop a bond with the rugrat!

What’s next? Talking to my wife? Conversations with my neighbors? Taking a walk?

-LOUIS LLOVIO, Daily Record Business Writer

Sign of The Times?

The New York Post, ever vigilant to the goings-on at its cross-town rival, the New York Times, reports that the Times is giving up on its two-year-old TimesSelect service, in which it charged a fee to online readers for access to its Op-Ed columnists and other content, such as editorials and its archives.

This arrangement deprived readers who went to the daily and Sunday Times on the Web for news stories of the pleasure of reading such columnists as Maureen Dowd, Frank Rich, Thomas L. Friedman, David Brooks and other opinion-givers. Only those who were willing to pay $7.95 a month, or $49.95 a year, had access to these writers.

Although the announcement hasn’t been made officially, the return to totally free Times content on the Internet awaits the resolution of software issues associated with making the switch from pay-per-view, the Post reported, citing an unidentified source.

If it happens, this is good news! Not having free access to Times’ editorials and columnists was like inviting readers to a meal, but not serving the dessert and coffee. The meal was, if anything, incomplete.

The reason for the Times giving up on TimesSelect, according to the Post, appears to have less to do with internal grumbling — some columnists were unhappy with the arrangement, complaining that it limited their Web readership — than with economics. The number of paid TimesSelect subscribers dropped to just over 221,000 in June, from more than 224,000 in April, the Post said.

-PAUL D. SAMUEL, Daily Record Associate Editor