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Amnesty International's Frank Jannuzi wrote one of those letters that causes me to ask, "Where do I begin to answer?" ("Time to repeal Maryland's death penalty," Jan. 8). In the second paragraph, he alludes to the fact that imposition of the death penalty is "extremely expensive," and it is; but the question is, why should that be? No matter which method is used to end the life of a heinous criminal, the "means" to accomplish that are actually inexpensive. How much do those chemicals cost, or that burst of electricity?

Today is the last night of the Proms , and I will be at the paragraph factory instead of the Royal Albert Hall watching all the carrying-on. (Whom do I kid? If I were there, I'd be standing in Hyde Park or somewhere with the throng that couldn't get tickets.) One of the highlights of the last night is a rousing performance of "Rule, Britannia. " I have heard broadcasts or recordings of various artists, but my favorite is the 2009 performance by mezzo-sporano Sarah Connolly, dressed in a naval uniform of Nelson's era. It's a performance that is notable also for employment of Dr. Arne's original setting of the text.

In the second paragraph of Erin Cox's article, ("South Carolina Democrats see O'Malley 'rising'" Mar. 23), Gov. Martin O'Malley is quoted as saying he has "cut state spending big time. " Since the Maryland budget has risen $9 billion ($28 billion to $37 billion, an increase of 32 percent) since Mr. O'Malley took office, I can't believe you allow such nonsense to continue to be printed, especially on page one above the fold. Come on guys, take up for the taxpayers once in awhile. Lyle Rescott, Marriottsville Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

If you haven't seen it at a film festival or in a theater, make an appointment tonight with HBO to see the premiere of Paragraph 175, the award-winning documentary about Nazi persecution of homosexuals in the 1930s and '40s. From Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, the team that gave us Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt and The Celluloid Closet on HBO, this is the documentary as teller of hidden historic truths. The title refers to part of the German Penal Code of 1871 that says "an unnatural sex act committed between persons of male sex or by humans with animals is punishable by imprisonment" or "the loss of civil rights."

Baltimore County Executive Roger B. Hayden and his wife, Nancy, have reached a settlement on ending their marriage of nearly six years and she has withdrawn her divorce suit against him.John F. Eckhart, attorney for the executive, yesterday refused to disclose the terms of the agreement, confining all comment to a one-paragraph statement which said the Haydens "have reached a mutual agreement on the issues surrounding the dissolution of their marriage....

NEW DELHI, India -- The first high-level talks between India and Pakistan in more than three years ended yesterday without any announced breakthroughs on issues that have divided the two nations for half a century, but with both sides saying they planned to continue the effort.After more than a dozen hours of meetings over four days in New Delhi, the foreign secretaries of the two nations said their discussions had covered Kashmir, the disputed territory that has twice been the cause of war between the two countries, and a range of other military, economic and humanitarian issues.

I'm not a fan of Gov. Martin O'Malley, but I think Candus Thomson's 17-paragraph diatribe was a cheap shot at our governor ("Taking Name Dropping to a Whole New Level," Mar. 7). So what if the governor has his name and photo plastered all over Maryland Department of Natural Resources brochures and bulletins? So what if he sends out congratulatory and aggrandizing news releases hyping his accomplishments and goals? All the governors do it. They've done it for eons and they'll continue to do it. A few paragraphs would have been enough, but Ms.Thomson beat the dead horse for two columns worth!

What a ridiculous, nonsensical editorial about horse racing! ("More empty promises," Nov. 10.) In one sentence, you write: "The trouble is, the theory about better purses leading to more interest in racing is not true. " The last sentence in the same paragraph states: "It could … boost simulcasting revenues. " If it is boosting simulcasting revenues, it is by definition leading to more interest in racing. One needs to go no further than the Monmouth, N.J. experiment over the summer to see the connection between bigger purses and larger fields and increased betting interest.

The Black Police Officers Association of Anne Arundel County has endorsed Democrat Theodore J. Sophocleus for county executive.In a two-paragraph letter sent Friday to Mr. Sophocleus' headquarters in the 100 block of Crain Highway, the Severn-based officers' organization cited the Democrat for his "balanced approach of economic realism, understanding of social needs, and the administration of principles of inclusion necessary to serve our county."The letter was signed by the organization's president, Officer Charles R. Ravenell, and its vice president, Officer Brian Fleming.

1783: `Bell Air' in print The first printed use of the name of the Harford County seat -- albeit spelled "Bell Air" -- appeared in the Maryland Journal of May 13, 1783. A paragraph in that newspaper reported that Bel Air had celebrated "the glorious return of Peace by a Fue-de-Joye (a fusillade of shots into the air from anything that could be loaded, expressing joy), an elegant entertainment with barbecued ox, wine, punch, etc., etc., etc." and 13 toasts, starting with one to Gen. George Washington and the victorious Continental Army.