I Agree

Regarding your recent editorial on the long wait gun buyers must endure while state police background checks are completed, I can agree that the Maryland gun community is very unhappy and that the government can't work miracles. But beyond that, there are a lot of problems with your view ("Background check backlog," June 11). They start with your comparing this situation to a supply problem. Comparing it to the wait times at the Motor Vehicle Administration is a bit more accurate, but the equivalent would be more like the MVA asking people to wait three or four weeks to get their tags, and then telling them they can't drive the car until they arrive (there are no temporary tags in the gun world)

I would very much appreciate the opportunity to respond to Marvin Sands, chairman, Canandaigua Wine Co. Inc., and his letter of Dec. 30.Let me begin by stating that I am in complete agreement with what Sands stated in the last paragraph of his letter: "We believe that public officials are responsible for providing correct, verified information to the public."I agree wholeheartedly with Sands because that is exactly what I did in regard to Cisco. I provided no blatantly false nor misleading information about the product Cisco.

FOR AS LONG as sportsmen and women have been trying to gain an edge over critters, there have been companies peddling the next gimmick to give humans supremacy over members of the animal kingdom. As a member of Homo sapiens with a college degree who owns two rather large house cats with an agenda, I can only repeat the immortal words of Aerosmith: "Dream on." Yet, every season battery-powered gizmos and genetically jiggered bait flood the market. The latest must-have in our market is the "Black Salty," a live bait so powerful, we're told, that the whale would spit up Jonah to make room.

Regarding the recent column by Susan Reimer ("Rage and resignation at the gun control town hall," Feb. 7), it has got to be the worst piece of racist diatribe I have read in years. In her view, because I am a white male who owns a firearm, I am a racist? There is absolutely no logic in her argument nor any basis in fact. But, I suppose in her mind, anyone who does not parrot her own view on life is automatically deemed to be of despicable character and lacking in sound judgment.

Today, The Sun begins a story unusual in content and in form. In 16 concise chapters, "God's Other Plan" will relate the events of Marci Crosby's life much as they unfolded for her. It is a story of love, loss and the bonds of family .July 1995Dear Jessica,"My whole life I wanted to be a mommy to a precious little girl and have a great husband. Boy, did I hit the lotto ..."From the bed in the guest room of her parents' house, Marci Crosby watched her daughter push a toy shopping cart down the hallway.

At Camden Yards on Friday, baseballs, the scent of sizzling hot dogs and a beautiful blue sky were in the air as the Orioles played the Minnesota Twins in their home opener. The smell of cigarette smoke was not, though, as the Maryland Stadium Authority began the enforcement of a smoking ban at the Camden Yards Sports and Entertainment Complex, which includes Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. Friday's game was the first since the smoking ban was put into effect. It prohibits smoking or carrying lit tobacco products - including cigarettes, cigars and pipes - within 25 feet of the stadium and the Warehouse, as well as in the outdoor space along Eutaw Street between gates A and H. Camden Yards was one of 10 Major League Baseball ballparks that had designated smoking areas within the ballpark last season, according to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation.

The Glasz Cafe is almost a parody of the high-style, ultra-chic, completely PC, overpriced espresso bar -- except that the place is so beautiful and the food is so good. Notice I mention its looks first: This is a business where image is everything.At the Glasz Cafe (pronounce the "z" as a separate syllable), the chocolate mousse is decorated with sprinkles made of real gold. The coffee is imported from Seattle, espresso bar capital of the world. If you want to buy a Glasz Cafe coffee mug, it will cost you $24. (OK, I agree that it's a work of art.)

ST. LOUIS - In the midst of a takeover battle for Busch Memorial Stadium two decades ago, Paul Anthony Novelly was walking out of the ballpark with his lawyer when a newspaper photographer tried to snap his picture. In a classic Novelly move, he quickly raised a briefcase to shield his face from the camera. Now at the center of another very public takeover battle - control of Crown Central Petroleum Corp. in Baltimore - Novelly is still trying to avoid the limelight. The owner of privately held Apex Oil Co. does not give interviews, executives at his company are reticent about providing even the most basic information regarding holdings and sales, and his generous charitable contributions come with the caveat that they not be publicized.

Thank you for printing the column by Maria Santo. I agree with her well-written, logical piece on abortion, and I commend you for opening the door to inevitable controversy. Catherine LaFerriere Highland

I watched this episode of "Jersey Shore" at the ripe hour of 3 a.m. (thankfully, I recently ordered DVR) and was cracking up at a drunken Deena. As always, I was happy that the new episode picked up right where the last left off. Although she got thrown in the drunk tank for “public intoxication,” the funny part was that it was because Deena was dancing in the middle of the street, holding up traffic. Not fighting, not falling over on the beach, but dancing ... by herself. Steve from the Shore Store was a negligent babysitter and let Deena frolic all through the streets where she skipped, danced and mumbled to herself about how much she loves drinking during the day. I wonder what her stance is on day-drinking now that she's had her first "Jersey Shore" slammer experience.