Flux

Aeon Flux, a futuristic thriller starring Charlize Theron, was not screened for critics.

The Baltimore City school board remained deadlocked Tuesday on whether to renew the contract for Baltimore Talent Development High School, run by the Center for Social Organization of Schools at the Johns Hopkins University, extending a decision that was already deferred one month due to an apparent impasse. Baltimore schools CEO Andres Alonso recommended severing ties with the high-profile organization based on an intensive contract renewal process that scrutinized more than two dozen schools, such as charters, that are run by external operators.

It's not a stretch to say that the evolving state of the defense will be a prominent storyline for Maryland in 2012. That's what happens when a unit graduates all three starting close defensemen (Brett Schmidt, Max Schmidt, Ryder Bohlander), a starting long-stick midfielder (Brian Farrell) and one of two starting short-stick defensive midfielders (Dan Burns). But the cupboard isn't bare. Junior Jesse Bernhardt, who recorded two goals, two assists, 44 groundballs and 16 caused turnovers while backing up Farrell at long-stick midfielder, is a candidate to shift to close defense, and coach John Tillman has been impressed with what he has seen from players like sophomores Michael Ehrhardt, Emmett Cahill and Taylor Morgan and freshman Goran Murray.

Maryland diners have been taking their own wine into BYOB restaurants for years, but those include only establishments without beer and wine licenses. Beginning Sunday, Maryland diners will be able to take their bottles into some licensed establishments. A new law permitting the practice, widely known as corkage, goes into effect Sunday. Expect confusion, at least at first. A restaurant can choose whether to allow corkage. It can also determine the fee it charges diners for the privilege, which is also known as the corkage fee. But don't expect every restaurant to have corkage up and running on Sunday night.

No. 17 Loyola appeared to have found a successor to goalkeeper Jake Hagelin in junior Michael Bonitatibus, who started the team's first three contests. But since taking over after halftime of Saturday's 11-8 victory over Bellarmine, sophomore Jack Runkel has played the last six quarters in the cage. Greyhounds coach Charley Toomey said he isn't sure which goalie will start when No. 8 Duke visits Ridley Athletic Complex Saturday. “It's a situation where we're just asking them to compete on a daily basis,” Toomey said Thursday afternoon.

The new anti-discrimination law to protect transgendered individuals caused me to reflect upon the new pro-discrimination policies at the Columbia swim center and how we will decide who makes us "feel uncomfortable. " For example, how do we plan to define "female" for our new women-only swim times? If we define "woman" as "absence of a Y chromosome," we will discriminate against transgendered men who identify as women. If we define "woman" as "someone who does not identify as a man," we will discriminate against transgendered women, though they are genetically female.

By now, most Marylanders can spell the word pfiesteria - but figure that if the Chesapeake's newest scourge puzzles scientists, a lay person can't be expected to understand it. Dinoflagellates (same dino as in dinosaur), indeed. Yet even as pfiesteria appears and disappears in a single place, it's also spreading.Ritchie C. Shoemaker, an energetic family-practice physician in Pocomoke City who also knows his way around in marine biology, is the author of the subject's first general-reader book, "Pfiesteria: Crossing Dark Water" (Gateway, 350 pages, $13.95, plus $4.25 shipping; softbound)

Baltimore's long-range strategy for the Inner Harbor changed course abruptly this week as prospective developers of several key parcels disclosed decisions that leave the Market Place area in flux.Alex. Brown & Sons executives politely rejected the city's offer of an exclusive 60-day period to study the Pier 4 Power Plant as a headquarters site, but said they would still like a chance to negotiate for the property without preventing others from doing the same.The investment company's refusal to accept exclusive negotiating rights was an indication that its chief executive officer, who expressed interest in the waterfront landmark several months ago, may be cooling to the idea of converting it to offices.

Five years ago, actor Wayne Willinger knew almost nothing about the life and works of the late author Charles Bukowski. Tonight, he will become him. If you go Bukowski in Baltimore is at 9 tonight at Flux Studios, 1821 N. Charles St. Tickets are $6. Information: myspace.com/thisisflux.

TELEVISION 1.American Idol -- Wednesday, Fox 2.American Idol -- Tuesday, Fox 3.CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS 4.House, Fox 5.Grey's Anatomy, ABC FILMS 1.Mission: Impossible III, Paramount 2.Poseidon, Warner Bros. 3.RV, Columbia 4.Just My Luck, 20th Century Fox 5.An American Haunting, Freestyle SINGLES 1.SOS, Rihanna 2.Bad Day, Daniel Powter 3.Temperature, Sean Paul 4.Ridin', Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone 5.Where'd You Go, Fort Minor featuring Holly Brook ALBUMS 1.1,000 Days, Tool 2.Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam 3.Blood Money, Mobb Deep 4.High School Musical Soundtrack, Various artists 5.Me and My Gang, Rascal Flatts DVDS (SALES)

No. 17 Loyola appeared to have found a successor to goalkeeper Jake Hagelin in junior Michael Bonitatibus, who started the team's first three contests. But since taking over after halftime of Saturday's 11-8 victory over Bellarmine, sophomore Jack Runkel has played the last six quarters in the cage. Greyhounds coach Charley Toomey said he isn't sure which goalie will start when No. 8 Duke visits Ridley Athletic Complex Saturday. “It's a situation where we're just asking them to compete on a daily basis,” Toomey said Thursday afternoon.

This year's Starscape Festival will feature performances from Flux Pavilion, Ghostland Observatory, Wolfgang Gartner and more on its main stage, according to a press release. Going on its 14th year, Baltimore's electronic dance music festival will once again take place at Fort Armistead Park on June 9. Here's a full list of the performers by stage: MAIN STAGE     Wolfgang Gartner Chase & Status  Flux Pavilion Sphongle Soundsystem Ghostland Observatory Modestep M Machine Phuture Primitive   BASS DROP DANCE TENT   Dada Life Zedd Kill the Noise Donald Glaude Lucky Date Tittsworth Charles Feelgood Lock Danon   THE SUNRISE STAGE   Conspirator Beats Antique Mimosa Papadosio Adventure Club Paper Diamond Ill Esha Alpha Data    DUB NATION BEACH STAGE   Noisia Camo & Krooked Dillon Francis Funtcase Zomboy Figure Skism Terravita J Rabbit Schoolboy SPECIAL B2B SET Dieselboy & Bare The Starscape Festival: The Garden of Eden is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and last until 6 a.m., or until you're really, really exhausted.

It's not a stretch to say that the evolving state of the defense will be a prominent storyline for Maryland in 2012. That's what happens when a unit graduates all three starting close defensemen (Brett Schmidt, Max Schmidt, Ryder Bohlander), a starting long-stick midfielder (Brian Farrell) and one of two starting short-stick defensive midfielders (Dan Burns). But the cupboard isn't bare. Junior Jesse Bernhardt, who recorded two goals, two assists, 44 groundballs and 16 caused turnovers while backing up Farrell at long-stick midfielder, is a candidate to shift to close defense, and coach John Tillman has been impressed with what he has seen from players like sophomores Michael Ehrhardt, Emmett Cahill and Taylor Morgan and freshman Goran Murray.

The new anti-discrimination law to protect transgendered individuals caused me to reflect upon the new pro-discrimination policies at the Columbia swim center and how we will decide who makes us "feel uncomfortable. " For example, how do we plan to define "female" for our new women-only swim times? If we define "woman" as "absence of a Y chromosome," we will discriminate against transgendered men who identify as women. If we define "woman" as "someone who does not identify as a man," we will discriminate against transgendered women, though they are genetically female.

Knowing how little Jeremy Guthrie likes to come out of starts, the Orioles were concerned when the right-hander exited his last outing after five scoreless innings because of back discomfort. As it turns out, Guthrie won't even miss a start. Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced Monday that Guthrie will start Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, four days after he was diagnosed with a muscle strain in his back. "He feels good," Showalter said. "I'm sure you all talked to him or he's tweeted or something.

When you paid your taxes last month, maybe you grumbled or wept. You probably didn’t laugh —unless you stumbled on the wacky accounting videos KatzAbosch has posted on YouTube. The Timonium-based certified public accounting, tax and consulting firm has a better sense of humor than you might expect of your average CPA. Which is to say, it has a sense of humor. An odd sense of humor, but a sense of humor nonetheless. Using Xtranormal text-to-movie technology, the firm has created a series of cartoon videos.

Generation X'ers may soon have something baby boomers could only dream about: their own TV station.A proposed cable channel called FAD-TV will pump 24 hours of fashion and design, using MTV-like visuals to capture Young Turks in search of style, from Gap jeans and art-deco furniture to avocado shampoos and ivory nipple rings.Creators say the idea is to bear-trap a generation in flux between teeny-bop Beavis and thirtysomething bores, to speak its language and take its money."MTV prides itself on disenfranchising its audience as it ages," says creator Tony Guccione from a pay phone in New Zealand.

Q. Some mustard greens and broccoli raab overwintered in our garden. I forgot to pull them up and let them flower and go to seed. Can I save these seeds and plant them in the fall?A. If both varieties were open-pollinated (nonhybrids), you can save the seeds. Cut the seed stalk when the seed pods begin to open, revealing the hard, black seeds. Sow the saved seed every two to three weeks starting in late August for an extended fall harvest.Q. I have a large Siberian elm tree in my back yard that seems to be healthy except for the fact that the bark looks and feels wet at the crotch of each branch and even along the trunk.

Now that the third exhibition game has been played and the preseason is virtually over, the only major question left for the Ravens is about the offensive line. Through training camp and preseason, the Ravens have answered just about everything else. There are still concerns at cornerback, but with the recent play by Fabian Washington, Chris Carr and Cary Williams and the continued progress of injured Lardarius Webb, that problem doesn't seem so severe anymore. It's no longer a Maalox moment, except maybe when the Ravens play the Cincinnati Bengals.

The heavy snowstorm that hit over the weekend and the likelihood of more snow to come has continued to paralyze the area's high school athletic schedule, further postponing events and possibly jeopardizing some altogether. Baltimore County has closed schools through Wednesday -- thus postponing all after-school activities -- and the surrounding school districts are likely to follow. With more snow possible today and Wednesday, the entire school week could be wiped out. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for most of Maryland, with eight or more inches expected in the Baltimore area.