Abound

In the middle of his oyster and beer lunch inside Lexington Market, Melvin Burgess got word that Mayor Sheila Dixon had been found guilty of a single charge of embezzlement, then proceeded to debate the closest person with a dissenting opinion. Burgess had never met Beverly Turner, but the topic made for good fodder, with Burgess calling the conviction no big deal and Turner showing no sympathy for the beleaguered Baltimore Democrat. It was a conversation that took place throughout corners of the market and the city, between residents captivated by the more than two-week trial.

You made it through Black Friday. Now comes Act II: Cyber Monday. That's when everyone is back at work in front of their computer and shopping online. Many retailers will offer deals for this day only. And all sorts of sites have popped up to help nimble-fingered shoppers compare prices and take advantage of online coupons and promotions. But as you rush online to snatch up deals, scammers will be lurking there, too, hoping to catch you off-guard and steal your information.

F orget the two turtle doves and those lords a-leaping, and think "leaping lizards" this holiday season as "Annie" arrives at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia. "Annie" is a 1977 Tony Award-winning hit musical with book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. It's a strong holiday offering, as Annie and her orphan friends celebrate Christmas 1933 in Daddy Warbucks' mansion in the heartwarming conclusion. The evening I attended, I was surrounded by happy kids and parents who seemed entranced by the show.

Next week, India's prime minister will be the first international leader to make an official state visit to the United States since President Barack Obama's inauguration. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit affirms that, while Washington is preoccupied with other countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and North Korea - the strategic partnership with India furthers several U.S. foreign policy objectives. First, India is an emerging economic partner for the United States.

There's a tantalizing rumor running through the Internet that the Democrats in Congress are conspiring to exempt themselves from the health care reform bills now being debated in Washington. It's caught life in talk boards and blogs among the substantial number of people who are terrified that the government is secretly trying to completely take over health care and deny necessary treatment to millions. The fact that it's not true doesn't seem to have made much of a dent in the hysteria, which is increasing in its fervor this month as representatives and senators fan across the country to talk about health care with citizens in town hall meetings, web chats and conference calls.

Despite the high drama over Michael Jackson's estate, the late pop singer did many things right when it came to end-of-life planning. The big thing is that the 50-year-old had a will - critical to anyone with young children. Jackson's will named business associates as executors to carry out his wishes and designated guardians for his three young children. He also set up a family trust that can keep the division of his estate out of the public eye. More people could learn from him. Too often people don't get around to making a will.