Flying

Here's a challenge for The Sun writers: At your next staff meeting, have everybody dig into their pockets (or pocketbooks) and count the number of Susan B. Anthony $1 coins you have collectively. My guess is zero ("Sensible change: Switch to $1 coins," April 25). This raises the question, how does op-ed writer Dave DuGoff get almost 700 words on the commentary page to promote an idea that coincidentally would be quite convenient for his car-wash business? Readers should know that the U.S. Mint has hundreds of thousands of Susan B. Anthony $1 coins on its hands, but it can't get banks to order them due to lack of demand.

UMBC's thrilling 17-16 overtime decision over America East rival Albany last Saturday - which included a five-goal run in a span of 2 minutes, 18 seconds in the fourth quarter - put the Retrievers squarely in the mix for the top seed and homefield advantage in the conference tournament. While that victory was reminiscent of the program's nine-goal rally in a 14-13 win against the Great Danes in the America East Tournament final in 2008, coach Don Zimmerman said he would prefer if the team didn't dig itself such a big hole.

Baltimoreans can get a nice look at the International Space Station tonight - late enough to be visible but early enough for the kids to watch before bedtime. The station will appear as a bright, swiftly moving star just over the southwest horizon at about 8:22 p.m. It will move toward the northeast, rising to about two-thirds of the way above the horizon before disappearing in the northeast sky at 8:29 p.m. On board are two NASA astronauts, three Russian cosmonauts and a European Space Agency astronaut.

Mandatory showers and mouthwash for all people sitting in my aisle. Luke Broadwater, reporter, The Baltimore Sun How about slightly larger bathrooms ... or iPad rentals? Stokely Baksh, community coordinator, The Baltimore Sun Improve the pretzels. And by "improve," I mean get Auntie Annes on the plane. Wesley Case, reporter, b Improv theater, performed by flight attendants. Between the flight attendant who sailed cursing down the emergency chute, and the ranting pilot who lost his mind mid-flight, this seems to be an industry trend.

Editor: On behalf of the VFW 8126 and auxiliaries, I would like to thank Huber Corporation for keeping the American flag flying at the overpass at Juniata Street in Havre de Grace with a light shining on same. This is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your patriotism. Helen Zengel Havre de Grace

An American and a Dutch company have created their own unique versions of flying cars, and are looking to bring them to market soon. The American firm, Terrafugia , has designed a two-seat vehicle whose wings unfold, runs on gasoline, and can fly off with a propeller. It debuted at the New York Auto Show this week. The Dutch firm, PAL-V Europe N.V ., has built the PAL-V One, a two seat gyrocopter that has three wheels. The rotor and wings fold up neatly into the vehicle.

Disinclined as we may be to pity the plight of those making more than $500,000 a year, the state Senate, in its attempt to raise more revenue from such top earners, has gone too far. The Senate has adopted a plan that appears to be unique among the 50 states and would violate a cardinal rule of income tax policy, which is that a dollar earned should not cost more than a dollar in taxes. When the House of Delegates takes up the budget, it will have some work to do to clean this mess up. Gov.Martin O'Malleyproposed what remains the most sensible plan for raising new revenue through the income tax. Rather than changing the rates, his plan was to phase out some exemptions and deductions for the top 20 percent of Maryland earners.

For a couple of months, it's been known that Frederick-based Flying Dog would release its first canned beer this year. Now, we know the date: the first beer, the hoppy light lager Underdog Atlantic, will be in stores in April, confirmed spokeswoman Erin Biles. The cans will hit Frederick first, with Baltimore as the second targeted market. The launch comes as the brewer, the state's largest, plans its most ambitious rollout since it purchased its Maryland base in 2006. This year, it will debut 20 new beers . Biles said they see cans as an additional platform for their beer, one that's now possible thanks to improvements in bottling technology.

Robert Gaspar Leginus Sr., who flew gliders during World War II and later served as a military intelligence analyst, died Feb. 20. He was 98. Mr. Leginus died at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Columbia, said his son Robert Leginus Jr. He had lived in Columbia since the 1990s. Mr. Leginus was born in 1913 in Wyoming, Pa. He learned to fly at the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport, developing a lifelong fascination with flying and aircraft. "His biggest dream was to become an astronaut," his son said.