Hard Work

It was with a profound sense of personal validation that I opened Volume V of the Dictionary of American Regional English  to discover an entry for the term my family back in Kentucky used for the chamber pot: thunder mug .  There are also entries for thunder jar  and thunder jug,  little maps showing regional distribution. And I was also happy to see that what we called a sweat bee  is also known as the hayfield wasp , the ice-cream bee , and other terms.  For scholars of American English, this volume and the series it completes are a hoard of riches, and also a work of heroic proportions for more than four decades.

Kudos to David Zurawik for his spot-on commentary on the Super Bowl half-time show and the tasteless, unimaginative ads ("Super Bowl TV: Good game, nasty ads, pathetic half-time show," Feb. 5). The half-time show was ludicrous. It reminded me of something the Romans would have put on after they watched lions eat the Christians, had they had the technology. But the ads were appalling. I agree that they reflect a contemporary society sadly short on values. As a teacher, I face a battle everyday to convince my students of the value of learning and the importance of self-discipline and hard work.

Enjoying a banner senior season as the leading scorer on an undefeated team, David Nicholson could easily find countless special moments where he did this or that to help the Wildcats win a game. But when asked to name one, the senior guard didn't come up with one of his big nights.  Instead, he picked the Wildcats' thrilling 72-70 overtime win against Anne Arundel County rival Annapolis on Dec. 9 when, sitting on the bench after fouling out, he watched teammate Darien Bryant hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer.

The best case scenario is that the Havre de Grace Arts Commission Ball will follow the history of some civic events that suffer periodic downturns only to be rejuvenated. The original arts group showed a that little bit of hard work and ingenuity can go a long way. It's unlikely that slow ticket sales for the group's signature fundraiser will keep the volunteers from leading the city's arts scene into the future. The Almighty helps those who help themselves, so opined Ben Franklin (not the Bible)

I am always wondering why any objection to President Obama's policies isn't good and clear thinking, but racist ("Newt the demagogue," Jan. 20). Is it racist to suggest that poor people and the young work as janitors? The only bigots are those who consider hard work in any profession, whether a laborer of any kind or a janitor or a kid mowing lawns, to be beneath them and foster the idea that constantly extending unemployment benefits and increasing social umbrellas are creating a working class and an entrepreneurial conscience.

Gov.Martin O'Malleysays he needs higher taxes to create jobs in Maryland. Since Maryland does not require subcontractors to validate citizenship, most of the new jobs will most likely go to illegals, or new Americans as the governor likes to call them. Most working families in this state cannot afford higher taxes, tolls, and fees. Working people deal with spending cuts every month when the bills come in. It is high time the morons in Annapolis take a lesson from them. The Maryland legislature is lazy and has always taken the easy way out - taxes.

After reading the recent article regarding empty praise ("Teachers trying to curb empty praise," Jan. 16), I certainly agree that in the past many educators, including myself, praised children and yet it didn't bring about the outcome we wanted to see. It's so important how a child is praised for his and her completed work or assignment. Let us not leave out the hard-working, non-achievers and slow learners who need some kind of praise for their hard work and effort as progress is being attained.

When the Ravens signed left tackle Bryant McKinnie on Aug. 24, then added center Andre Gurode on Sept. 5, the moves confirmed a sense of flux and uncertainty for the offensive line. But after a regular season in which the offensive line helped the offense finish the regular season ranked 10th in the NFL in rushing (1,996 yards), tied for 10 th in rushing touchdowns (15), and tied for 12th in sacks allowed, starting tackles McKinnie and Michael Oher, starting guards Marshal Yanda and Ben Grubbs, starting center Matt Birk and Gurode have found a comfort level with one another and within the team's zone-blocking scheme.

"Mr. Beverage" is back at the Midtown. Nathan Beveridge, who owned the Midtown Yacht Club in Mount Vernon from 1998 to 2005, is back at the helm, the interim operators having jumped ship. And that's the last of the nautical references, because the Midtown Yacht Club, as Erik Maza reported on Midnight Sun, is now Midtown BBQ and Brew . You can just call it "Midtown," Beveridge says, as many folks always did anyway. In the 1990s, Beveridge earned a following, along with, inevitably, the "Mr. Beverage" nickname, at the bygone Conservatory, high atop the Peabody Court Hotel, where the views of Mount Vernon were giddy.

Editor: On behalf of the Town of Bel Air, Michael Blum, of Martino Blum; parade volunteers, and the members of the Bel Air Downtown Alliance, I would like to thank the citizens of greater Bel Air for their attendance and enthusiasm at the recent 22nd annual Bel Air Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. The weather couldn't have been any better, and the very large and enthusiastic crowds really seemed to appreciate the festivities! Events like this parade are the single greatest part of my job as executive director of the Bel Air Downtown Alliance.