Americans

Hernias are a common ailment among Americans; more than 4 million people develop the painful condition. And although both men and women develop hernias, female patients may be harder to diagnose. Doctors and patients may not realize the abdominal pain a woman is feeling is because of a hernia. Dr. Hien Nguyen, assistant professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said the pain can be mistaken for other conditions with similar symptoms, such as adhesions from prior surgery, endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts.

John Richard "Dick" Irwin, a tough, accurate veteran police reporter with a heart of gold whose signature Police Blotter became required reading for both crime aficionados and the just plain curious, died Wednesday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center of complications from diabetes. Mr. Irwin, whose career at the News-Post, News American, The Evening Sun and The Baltimore Sun spanned more than 40 years, was 76. "He had the mutual respect of the police. He was an honest man, and he didn't like when people tried to fudge things with him. He believed that the police had to be as transparent as possible, and he was right," said Bill Toohey, former Baltimore County police spokesman.

Almost three weeks after NBA player Jason Collins became the first openly gay active male athlete in a major American sport -- and yes, all those qualifiers are necessary -- new polling data shows a majority of Americans wouldn't care if their favorite athlete was gay. In a comprehensive survey conducted by Reason-Rupe, only 12 percent of those polled said they would be less likely to support their favorite jock if he or she came out, while 77...

The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association unveiled Thursday morning its list of Division I players who earned All-American honors. Local programs and the Baltimore metropolitan area were well-represented. Maryland put two players on the first team in senior midfielder John Haus and senior long-stick midfielder Jesse Bernhardt. Johns Hopkins and Loyola were represented by senior defenseman Tucker Durkin and junior defenseman Joe Fletcher, respectively. North Carolina senior attackman Marcus Holman (Gilman)

WASHINGTON - A million and a half more Americans volunteered during the span of a year ending in September 2009, a period marked by job losses and a faltering economy. About 63.4 million people ages 16 and older volunteered at least once between September 2008 and September 2009, according to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's about a 1.6 million increase compared with the 61.8 million people who helped their communities in 2008, but not as many as the 65.4 million who lent a hand in 2005.

Passing health reform is a historic victory for all Americans -- for families, seniors, young people, workers, and small businesses alike. All Americans will now have the security of knowing that they don't risk losing the American dream if they get sick or are in an accident. It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured. Thank you to all who voted for this legislation. Wilton Taylor, Baltimore

I agree with the decision that President Obama made to extend health coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans. First of all, this is a good thing for everyone in the U.S.A. no matter who you are. Second of all, this bill will help a lot of poor people in the who are unable to pay for health insurance but need it. Finally, I think President Obama and everyone who voted for this bill made the right decision for the first time in recent years to really help out ordinary Americans. This is a great thing happening to us, and we all will benefit in the long run!

Regarding the article crowing about the increase of Chinese students at Maryland Institute College of Art ("MICA enjoys an Eastern influx" May 25): Does this mean that MICA allowed in all talented and eligible American students and there were many spots left over? That in a country of 300-plus million there weren't enough Americans interested in a prestigious art institute? And no deserving citizen was turned away? Of course, it's probably like those hundreds of unwanted slots that will go to illegal immigrants under Maryland's Dream Act. Apparently college admission isn't competitive anymore and our own people have no problem getting a spot where they deserve.

In all of the sadly predictable hype, excuses, and speculation which followed last week's election, one reality mostly got left out of the mix. That being that the American people are very nervous. Beyond scared in fact. So scared that they were willing to take a flyer on some unknown, untested, and inexperienced candidates. Of course, some would argue — myself included — that such a strategy gave them a president clearly over his head and flailing for help. Regardless, panic, a growing sense of doom and false hope make some desperate to gamble on the unknown.

WASHINGTON - Americans are recovering their shrunken wealth - gradually. Household net worth rose last quarter, mainly because the healing economy boosted stock portfolios. But the gain was slight and was less than in the previous two quarters. The Federal Reserve said Thursday that net worth rose 1.3 percent in the fourth quarter to $54.2 trillion. It marked the third straight quarter of gains. Even with that increase, Americans' net worth would have to rise an additional 21 percent to get back to its pre-recession peak of $65.9 trillion.

On Monday, May 6, the Harford Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) held its fourth annual Food Fight, bringing together four chefs from around the region to compete in a cooking competition - one wherein each chef prepared, in one hour's time, an appetizer and entree from a basket of secret ingredients. For the first time, the event took place at the Vandiver Inn in Havre de Grace, where Susan, the inn's chef, offered her own version of the secret ingredients for viewers to purchase and enjoy.

Four players from No. 1 McDonogh's undefeated girls lacrosse team headline the South roster for the Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic July 6 at Towson University's Johnny Unitas Stadium. Sammie Burgess, Casey Black, Maggie Preas and Posey Valis helped the Eagles to their fifth straight Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship and likely the final No. 1 ranking in the Nike/US Lacrosse High School Girls' Lacrosse National Top 25. The Eagles have been ranked No. 1 all season and if they stay there, they would be ranked the top team in the country for the fourth straight season.

You cannot understand American humor in the second half of the 20th Century without appreciating the crazed genius of Mel Brooks. And "American Masters" does an all-out appreciation at 9 p.m. Monday (May 20) on PBS. Here's a podcast of my preview from WYPR (88.1).   #sigshell { float: left; width: 320px; height: 52px; margin: 20px 0px; display: block; } #sigheadshot{ float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; } #sigtwitter { margin-right: 5px; } #sigtooltip { padding: 5px; border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; }

While the political winds seem to be propelling the first comprehensive immigration reform in more than a quarter-century, every day our broken immigration system takes a cruel and little-noticed toll on countless hardworking, law-abiding individuals and their families. On any given day, approximately 34,000 immigrants are behind bars and more than 1,000 are deported - often for minor, technical violations of laws that are too byzantine for all but the most seasoned immigration lawyers to understand.

Almost three weeks after NBA player Jason Collins became the first openly gay active male athlete in a major American sport -- and yes, all those qualifiers are necessary -- new polling data shows a majority of Americans wouldn't care if their favorite athlete was gay. In a comprehensive survey conducted by Reason-Rupe, only 12 percent of those polled said they would be less likely to support their favorite jock if he or she came out, while 77...

Last weekend, the film "The Great Gatsby" was reported to have earned a whopping $51 million, according to Business Insider. Just prior to its release, however, many critics ripped the film for distorting the classic novel on which it is based with over-the-top production, including 3-D images and a modern soundtrack produced by Jay-Z. This is the third time that one of the most well-known flawed heroes of 20th century fiction has had his story told on the big screen. But unlike its B-movie 1949 adaptation or drab 1974 version starring Robert Redford, this film explodes with excess - just as Jay Gatsby had intended with his mansion parties on the West Egg. It also gives audiences yet another chance to analyze the one-time Bolton Hill resident F. Scott Fitzgerald's version of the Great American Novel, this time as told through the lens of director Baz Luhrmann.

I would like to know if anyone still darns socks. Please call and leave your name and number at 410-332-6166. It's for a study I've launched — how many Americans darn socks in the 21st Century. Please specify if you've always been a darner or if you've taken up the craft since the Great Recession. That's important to the study. Of course, if you're of a certain age, you don't even know what I'm talking about. In downloading the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby," you might have heard reference to Father McKenzie "darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there.

Eleven local girls lacrosse players, including three from No. 1 McDonogh, are among 45 girls selected as Under Armour All Americans to play in the seventh annual Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic June 30 at Towson University's Johnny Unitas Stadium. Last season's All-Metro Player of the Year Taylor Cummings along with Corinne Etchison and Liz Bannantine, from McDonogh's IAAM A Conference championship team, will play for the South along with John Carroll's Erica Bodt, St. Paul's twins Brooke and Kelly Boyd, Maryvale's Sam Darcangelo, Century's Alice Mercer, St. Mary's Megan Ward, Bryn Mawr's Molly Wolf and Marriotts Ridge's Anne Zabel.