Drought

The saying “silence is golden” usually doesn't apply to Terrell Suggs, whose colorful personality makes him one of the most sought-after media requests in the locker room. But after compiling six sacks in his first seven games, the Ravens outside linebacker had gone three contests without a sack. That all changed on Thanksgiving night when he tied a career best by sacking quarterback Alex Smith three times in the Ravens' 16-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Suggs moved into a three-way tie for seventh in the NFL with New Enbgland Patriots defensive end Andre Carter and Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley with nine sacks this season.

WESTMINSTER -- County farmers involved in federal feed and grain programs are eligible for aid to compensate for effects of the drought.Elizabeth A. Schaeffer, executive director of the county Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, said about 200 farms, or about 3,500 acres, in Carroll are affected.The aid allows farmers to use land that had been set aside. Farmers may take hay off the land or let cattle graze on it, she said.The last time the county received such aid was in 1988, Schaeffer said.

Spotty bursts of rain pelted metropolitan Baltimore yesterday afternoon, but the drenching wasn't enough to reverse drought conditions.Downpours sent revelers at the Greek Folk Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church running for cover under tents and awnings in East Baltimore. In Towson, some motorists on the Baltimore Beltway pulled off to the side of the road because they couldn't see in the driving rain.But Maryland's drought, which has harmed some crops, isn't over, said Andy Woodcock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sterling, Va."

MUZARABANI, Zimbabwe -- In the dusty villages that lie near the Mozambique border, the long-lived drought in southern Africa has brought a battle not only with the elements but also with wildlife.It has been two years since water flowed freely in the Musengezi, the river that feeds this town. It has been nearly 10 years since the annual rains that begin by November have arrived in normal strength. And a decade-long drought in Africa has consequences different from, say, one dry summer in Maryland.

In a span of three years between 1973 and 1975, Maryland brought two national championships back to College Park. Since then, nothing. If the Terps hope to end the drought, they will do so away from the friendly confines of Byrd Stadium. They will open the upcoming tournament on the road against No. 7 seed Lehigh, the Patriot League champion that is 14-2 thus far. It's a daunting task for a Maryland team that concluded the regular season on Saturday by dropping a 13-11 decision to Colgate, the team that Lehigh beat for the Patriot League crown.

New evidence from a Mexican lake bed has revealed that an unusually severe drought about 1,200 years ago may well have contributed to the abrupt decline of classic Maya civilization.Scientists from the University of Florida at Gainesville said that an analysis of sediments beneath Lake Chichancanab on the Yucatan Peninsula provided "the first unambiguous evidence" for a period of extreme aridity between the years 800 and 1000.The drought was the harshest in the region in 8,000 years and coincided with the widespread collapse of Maya culture, a time of spreading warfare and finally the abandonment of many great cities of monumental architecture.

NEWINGTON, South Africa -- At dawn, before the searing African sun hits the eastern lowlands, the bush is a parade of the dangerous and exotic.A rhinoceros lingers in the distance with its newborn, a miniature battle tank on legs. The two elude an approaching Land Rover, trotting deeper into the bush whenever the vehicle tries to come near."This one is skittish because of the baby," says James Marshall, a ranger at Londolozi Game Reserve. "Let's approach it on foot." He reaches for his rifle and descends from the safety of the machine.

ANYBODY ELSE getting nervous? Anybody else having trouble sleeping? Had any bad dreams? Do you find yourself shutting the television off and staying away from CNN for longer and longer periods? Thought about stockpiling bottled water and canned goods in the basement? Thought about dousing yourself in bug spray every time you leave the house? Seen any dead crows lately? Thought about moving to a modest A-frame in the Idaho panhandle? As you sent your daughter off for a bicycle ride, did you have second thoughts about it?

When Bryce Dabbs collected a pass from sophomore midfielder Erik Hoffstadt and stuck a shot in the top right corner of the net to give Navy a 2-0 lead just 4 minutes, 8 seconds into its contest with No. 4 North Carolina Saturday, the junior midfielder ended the team's 0-of-7 drought on extra-man opportunities. But the Midshipmen's struggles continued as they misfired on three more man-up chances for the remainder of the game, which was won when the Tar Heels scored four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to escape with a 9-8 decision.

Water levels at Liberty Reservoir have crested for the first time since June 1998, providing city customers a cushion in the event of a drought this year, according to Baltimore's Department of Public Works. By contrast, the reservoir dipped to 26 feet below crest during the drought in 1999. Loch Raven Reservoir crested March 30, and water levels at Prettyboy Reservoir are 2 1/2 feet below crest and rapidly rising, the agency said.