Pros And Cons

Dan Rodricks ' assertion that there are no rational arguments against same-sex marriage is unfounded ("Same-sex marriage foe: irrational fear," Sept. 11). In fact, there are logical arguments both for and against same-sex marriage, but they differ in their premises. The argument against same-sex marriage assumes that marriage is primarily oriented toward the generation and upbringing of children. Since homosexual relationships are inherently incapable of generating children, they cannot be the basis for marriage.

In light of Johns Hopkins president Ronald J. Daniels' decision to form a committee to explore the potential of joining a conference for the men's lacrosse program, there's a school of thought that the panel is merely a precursor to the university abandoning its 130 years of independence. The committee is expected to produce a report for Daniels by May 15 and then he will make a decision shortly afterward. While multiple reports have suggested that the Big Ten, the Big East and the Eastern College Athletic Conference are interested in Johns Hopkins, coach Dave Pietramala emphasized that the panel is researching the benefits and disadvantages of conference affiliation, but not determining which conference is best for the university.

This story originally appeared online at Inside Lacrosse on Wednesday . A host of details are still being decided surrounding Notre Dame's move to the Atlantic Coast Conference. There are also a host of ways to look at this news and what it means for lacrosse. Here are some pros and cons that jump out upon first glance: Pro - ACC men's lacrosse gets an AQ Non-ACC fans have always looked down on the ACC tournament as something of a sham because the conference had only four men's lacrosse schools.

The Social Security Administration is planning to build a "security barrier" at its Woodlawn headquarters that officials say is needed to protect employees and visitors. Though available details of its design are sparse - several elected officials said they had not yet been briefed on the plans - an agency spokesman acknowledged that millions of dollars have been budgeted for security upgrades at the agency's headquarters, including some form of barrier. "These upgrades, including a security barrier, are necessary for the safety of our employees, visitors to our buildings, and the security of our campus," spokesman Mark Hinkle said in an email.

Burning trash in Carroll instead of burying it could be a smart decision or a mistake."It's got good points, and it's got bad. You've got to listen to the facts and make your own decision," Westminster Planning and Public Works Director Thomas B. Beyard told 28 people at a League of Women Voters meeting.The Carroll County league invited Mr. Beyard to speak Tuesday night at the Carroll County Career and Technology Center about the pros and cons of using incinerators to dispose of refuse."What's the best way to deal with trash?

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - They still race thoroughbreds at the historic Charles Town horse track. But that isn't what draws thousands of visitors every day to this rural town in the West Virginia panhandle. They come to bet on slots in a facility that has been transformed into a glitzy, Las Vegas-style casino. People arrive by car and bus from Baltimore, the Washington suburbs and elsewhere in the region to try their luck. Last year, they lost $190 million playing slots here. That sum, called the "take," is the money left after players are paid any winnings.

CAMBRIDGE -- With a casino company already interested in this Eastern Shore city, the mayor convened a task force yesterday to study the pros and cons of legalized gambling.Mayor David J. Wooten Jr. said he is "adamantly opposed" to casinos, but wants to hear from a broad cross-section of city residents. "I see [casinos] as something that could alter the landscape of the city and county for a generation," he said. "I want to have as many facts as we can."Officials of Harveys Casino Resorts have told Cambridge officials they want to build a dockside casino and hotel on the Choptank River off U.S. 50.

Edward G. "Nipper" Schafer, a 63-year-old Rosedale trash hauler, was unanimously chosen last night to fill a seat in the House of Delegates' 7th District left vacant last week by John S. Arnick's elevation to a District Court judgeship.Mr. Schafer's name now will be submitted to Gov. William Donald Schaefer, who has 15 days to appoint him to replace Mr. Arnick. Mr. Schafer was the only person nominated for the seat out of eight candidates presented last night to the county Democratic State Central Committee meeting at the Towson library.

Live Better South of the Border in Mexico (Fulcrum; $17.95) You know how it is when you visit a place. You can't help asking yourself what it would be like to live there. Author "Mexico" Mike Nelson has anticipated all the questions. Charts compare costs of living in various regions of Mexico with those in the States and contrast things that cost less in Mexico (property taxes, fresh vegetables, medical care) with those that cost more (gas, cars, postage, electronics). He discusses renting vs. buying a home and describes the pros and cons of living in Mexico's regions.

"Dial-around" long-distance plans promise deep discounts, but with 10-10-this and 10-15-that, trying to figure out which provider is best for calling a particular area can make your head spin. Sorting out that mess is the perfect job for a Web site and, sure enough, someone has built one. It's called 10-10phonerates.com. The site offers information and comparison shopping on the wide range of dial-around providers. Features include consumer alerts when providers try to sneak through higher rates, advice on how to choose a plan and comparisons on intrastate, interstate and international long-distance.

Dan Rodricks ' assertion that there are no rational arguments against same-sex marriage is unfounded ("Same-sex marriage foe: irrational fear," Sept. 11). In fact, there are logical arguments both for and against same-sex marriage, but they differ in their premises. The argument against same-sex marriage assumes that marriage is primarily oriented toward the generation and upbringing of children. Since homosexual relationships are inherently incapable of generating children, they cannot be the basis for marriage.

This story originally appeared online at Inside Lacrosse on Wednesday . A host of details are still being decided surrounding Notre Dame's move to the Atlantic Coast Conference. There are also a host of ways to look at this news and what it means for lacrosse. Here are some pros and cons that jump out upon first glance: Pro - ACC men's lacrosse gets an AQ Non-ACC fans have always looked down on the ACC tournament as something of a sham because the conference had only four men's lacrosse schools.

When Jannah Tucker visited the University of Tennessee in February, she began to see herself as a Lady Vol. This past weekend, the New Town rising senior knew for sure. Tucker, a member of the U.S. Under-18 national team, orally committed to the Lady Vols this past weekend on her second trip to the Knoxville campus. "There's so many things I loved about it," she said. "The main thing was when I felt that gut feeling and I had to go with it. I listed pros and cons of schools, but with this one, the only con was that it was away from home, but that's not really a con I guess because they make it feel like home there from the family environment to the academic support to the opportunity athletically.

Virtually every major environmental group in the state is urging Gov. Martin O'Malley to veto a bill that would classify waste-to-energy incinerators as a "Tier 1" renewable resource, on par with wind and solar power, but the governor has yet to commit to either signing or rejecting it. On the surface, it sounds absurd that burning trash would be considered on the same level with truly nonpolluting energy sources, but the question becomes more complicated...

Beneath the Jones Falls Expressway downtown, Wendell Daniels arched an eyebrow as he mulled over the pros and cons of tearing down a mile-long section of the elevated highway and replacing it with an "urban boulevard." "This is where people travel at," said Daniels, jabbing a finger up at the highway. Daniels, who said he is homeless part of the year, sat alone amid the debris across from the Our Daily Bread soup kitchen, listening to a small radio. "That would put more cars on this street if you tear that down."

Fall is fading, days are shorter and parts of Maryland are already seeing snow. That all means it's time to think about booking winter trips to ski country. The question, of course, is where to go. North America offers coast-to-coast regional options for vacationers yearning to slide down slopes. Each offers its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. With that in mind, here's a quick pro and con look at some of the continent's more renowned winter sports destinations. Mid-Atlantic/Southeast The region: : A surprisingly large number of ski areas dot the mountain regions of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Beneath the Jones Falls Expressway downtown, Wendell Daniels arched an eyebrow as he mulled over the pros and cons of tearing down a mile-long section of the elevated highway and replacing it with an "urban boulevard." "This is where people travel at," said Daniels, jabbing a finger up at the highway. Daniels, who said he is homeless part of the year, sat alone amid the debris across from the Our Daily Bread soup kitchen, listening to a small radio. "That would put more cars on this street if you tear that down."

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- You know you've thumbed through one of those dog-eared, pink paperbacks searching for your moniker's derivation and deep meaning.Jennifer: Celtic, "white wave."But a new baby-name book has been born, this one lime green and with an attitude: "Puffy, Xena, Quentin, Uma and 10,000 Other Names for Your New Millennium Baby."Jennifer's out. So's Kimberly, Ashley, Matthew and Robert. Also passe: Otherwise sane names spelled weird "that will create a lifetime of headaches for the DMV."

Frederick W. Puddester is chairman of For Maryland For Our Future, a pro-slots ballot committee. Puddester was state budget secretary under former Gov. Parris N. Glendening, and is an associate dean for finance and administration at the Johns Hopkins University. Gov. Martin O'Malley, a slots supporter, named Puddester chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority last year. How is the campaign going and what aspect of it has surprised you? The campaign is going very well. We built a broad-based coalition - teachers, labor, the business community and policemen - so our ability to get our message out is enhanced and I think it's working.