Salvation

Stephen Prothero's article "The Religious Unity Myth" (May 18) was interesting and made many valid points, particularly with respect to how world religions differ from one another. I agree with his assertion that the belief that all religions are legitimate paths up the same mountain is "dangerous, disrespectful and untrue." However, the professor makes a serious error in reference to Christianity. He correctly notes that the "problem is sin" but then goes on to say that the "technique for achieving salvation is some combination of faith and good works."

The budget crisis in Baltimore is real. Fortunately, by re-instituting a policy that encourages drunkenness, the good folks at Pimlico have presented the city with a great opportunity to raise some much needed revenue and improve public safety as a by-product. After six or more hours in the all-the-beer-you-can-drink "mug club" in the Preakness infield, many race goers should be easy pickings for a few well placed police with breathalyzers and citation pads. A few hundred DUI fines might help prevent a few city layoffs, and the neighborhoods around the track probably won't mind having a few less post-race drunk drivers on the streets.

Howard County's chapter of the Salvation Army has received two grants totaling $37,500, mostly to help people who can't pay their electricity bills. A $30,000 energy assistance grant came from the Horizon Foundation, and $7,500 for general aid came from the Columbia Foundation, according to a statement from the Salvation Army. In the year ending Sept. 30, 2009, the county's Salvation Army Howard Service Center assisted 4,351 people, helping them with needs ranging from eviction prevention to energy assistance and social services.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - There could be less jingle in the Salvation's Army's hallmark red kettles this season. The charity is testing kettles that take debit and credit cards. The growth of so-called "plastic kettles" comes as fewer shoppers carry cash. Last year Salvation Army tested the credit machines in two cities, Dallas and Colorado Springs. This year the plastic kettles will be tested in more than 120 cities. The kettles that take credit don't look any different. But next to the metal red kettles are wireless card readers that resemble do-it-yourself readers at gas stations.

On June 4, 2009, NANCIE E. SHORTT. She was born June 1, 1947. Memorial service to be held on Saturday, June 13th at 1 PM at The Salvation Army, 1601 W. Baltimore Street. Condolences can be sent to 613 S. Payson St, Baltimore, MD 21223.

Extreme machines meet ultimate fighters in Terminator Salvation. That may be a "money line" for some people. But for the rest of us, this fourth Terminator film is the ultimate heavy-metal parody. Better make that travesty, because there are next to no moments of comedy. The producers and screenwriters had the idea to pick up the Terminator saga after Judgment Day - the moment of reckoning between mankind and the Skynet computers and machines. The director, McG, had the opportunity to create a vision of human scavengers creating ramshackle villages and defense zones out of post-apocalyptic detritus.

The Salvation Army is celebrating a move to new, larger quarters in Howard County that leaders say will enable the agency to be open more days, serve more people in need and provide more after-school and summer care for children. "This allows us to meet the needs," said Windy Kidd, director of the new 4,200-square-foot center at 9017 Red Branch Road, off Route 108. The old center in King's Contrivance was isolated, not on a bus route and less than one-third the size of the new one, she said.

Angelo Boer is disturbed by what he sees happening. As the ranks of the jobless have swollen, more and more people are running out of food and money to pay bills. An emergency fund for utility cutoffs and evictions that was supposed to last the winter has already been depleted. He's no less bothered, as development director at Catholic Charities of Baltimore, by what he isn't seeing: donations. In past downturns, giving has risen. Not so far this year. With contributions off 5 percent, the agency is on pace to miss its fundraising target by $500,000.

Even before the mercury fell and the economy tanked, thousands more Marylanders were seeking help with utility bills than in years past. "We've had an upswing since probably last April," said Peggy Vick, director of family and volunteer services for the Salvation Army. Given the rising costs of food and fuel, "as soon as the BGE rates went up, people ... were hard-pressed in order to pay their bills." But help from state programs, nonprofits and charities is available for struggling families who meet income guidelines.

One of the truly delirious joys I get out of this job is receiving mail from readers - especially the ones who send me those succinct, six-page, single-spaced letters griping about a business or the ones who just tell me I'm bananas. I read or listen to them all. Why? Because I love that people are reading, even if we don't agree. I also try to respond to as many readers as I can, but it can be a Sisyphean task. Between the PR pitches, reader mail, voice mail and spam that come across my desk, I'm often inundated.