Traits

A rags-to-riches story, Charismatic is not.Even though the chestnut colt drew little attention before his unexpected win in the Kentucky Derby, and his follow-up win in the Preakness, Charismatic's breeding heralds the makings of a champion.Shake the horse's family tree and roses, black-eyed Susans and carnations fall out. Secretariat. Bold Ruler. Northern Dancer. All winners of one or more Triple Crown races, with blue blood to boot."It's like a basketball player being descended from Bill Russell, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird," said Rick Waldman, a thoroughbred consultant in Lexington, Ky.Pedigreed to the hilt, Charismatic runs for the Triple Crown in today's Belmont Stakes.

Provided sufficient signatures are collected, the highly controversial question over whether or not the state should recognize same-sex marriages will be considered on the ballot this November. In deciding this, I believe voters should consider the uniqueness of a male-female relationship. This relationship, especially when two are united as a married couple, brings together qualities that no other relationship does. While there are obvious biological differences, there are also personal, emotional and intellectual qualities brought together as well.

At Fort Smallwood Elementary School in Pasadena and South Shore Elementary School in Crownsville, "character" is more than a word that kids learn before a spelling test. It's a quality that teachers and administrators actively work to instill in their pupils. Both schools were recognized this month for their character education programs by the Maryland Center for Character Education, a nonprofit organization established in 1992 that focuses on encouraging ethical behavior, both in schools and among private citizens and businesses.

Adam Dutch Durham 27, Gemini Lives: Baltimore Hometown: Crisfield Education: Berklee College of Music and Salisbury University Occupation: DJ/producer of Alternate Seduction and guitar/drum instructor Interests: music, film, road trips, mannequins, UFO activity, hypnosis, ghost hunting, thrift stores, vintage media, documentaries, geocaching Turn-ons: Sense of humour, ambition,...

Respect, responsibility, helping others, fairness and honesty are traits that define good character. Many schools teach character, but Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Bollman Bridge Elementary are two in Howard County with programs that stand out - earning them the distinction of being named Maryland Character Education Schools of the Year. Twenty-one public schools, one private school and one Catholic school statewide were selected by the Maryland Center for Character Education for the 2000-2001 school year and honored at an awards banquet last week.

Standing on a traffic island where Liberty Road passes from the city into Baltimore County, Fernando Magallanes marshaled his troops yesterday morning, a team of urban planners, architects and landscapers from around the country, and explained their mission. Members of an Urban Design Assistance Team, they have been called in by the county to learn everything there is to know about Randallstown's people, landscape and history. They must discover its identity and come up with a plan to capitalize on the community's best traits -- and fix its worst.

SEMANTIC SHIFTSHe smiles and offerswarm hellosAnd is labeled Kind.She masters obscure factsand datesAnd is deemed Brilliant.They have their names citedRelentlessly by the mediaAnd are designated Great.Single, shallow acts haveBecome noble traits,Synonymous with thePersons possessing them.END OF SUMMERVacation's over.Shelve fantasy and replacePoems with memos.

Check out Michael Milan and Melanie Blasetto, two singles looking for love. Michael Milan 36, Virgo Lives: Parkville Hometown: Baltimore Education: University of Baltimore Occupation: Medical device sales (spine implants) Interests: Socializing, home improvement, auto racing Best personal traits: My smile. Many refer to me as “Smilin' Milan” Worst personal traits: I'm a perfectionist and a procrastinator. I wait until the last minute to make sure that everything is perfect.

Provided sufficient signatures are collected, the highly controversial question over whether or not the state should recognize same-sex marriages will be considered on the ballot this November. In deciding this, I believe voters should consider the uniqueness of a male-female relationship. This relationship, especially when two are united as a married couple, brings together qualities that no other relationship does. While there are obvious biological differences, there are also personal, emotional and intellectual qualities brought together as well.

An 8-month-old harbor seal, nursed back to health at the National Aquarium in Baltimore after being stranded last month south of Virginia Beach, has been trucked to the New England Aquarium in Boston.The feisty young female seal has joined a group of six other harbor seals and two hooded seals stranded on New England beaches and rehabilitated in Boston.They will all be released by spring."We wanted to stick her with that group so she could respond to the stimulus of the wild animals," said David Schofield, director of the Baltimore aquarium's stranding program.

Check out Stina Forsting and Joey Ventura, two singles looking for love. Stina Forsting 24, Scorpio Hometown: Baltimore Lives: Baltimore Education: Started at Dickinson, graduated from Goucher Occupation: Development associate for the Living Classrooms Foundation Interests: Skiing, music, backpacking/traveling, anything nerdy, football and soccer Turn-ons: ...

M ore holiday shoppers this year are using cash or debit cards to avoid overspending with credit cards. But what about the rest of the year? Is it possible in a credit-dependent society to get by without plastic? "Credit cards are not necessary," says Ed Fredericks, a finance professor at Pepperdine University. "Originally, credit was seen as a privilege. Soon it kind of turned into something that everyone had to have. Multiple cards were mailed out to people, whether they were able to carry credit or not."

When the whole world is writing about someone like Michael Phelps, you tend to get a lot of overlap. If you've been following the Olympics, by now, you probably know the basics. Phelps grew up just outside of Baltimore and battled ADHD as a kid. He was raised, mostly, by his mother, Debbie, a middle school principal. You might feel like you've heard those details hundreds of times by now. But that isn't everything you need to know about Phelps. In fact, here are some things you never knew: 1. He wears two caps: This is actually something a lot of swimmers do, and it's probably more psychological than anything.

Smoking causes lung cancer. That much is known. But three new studies published today suggest that genes might play a role in why some longtime smokers get the deadly disease and others do not. The scientists say these common genetic variations might also make smokers more likely to become addicted to tobacco and to smoke more cigarettes. The findings, which several experts said mark the first time that a genetic variation has been linked to lung cancer, could lead to a greater understanding of how smoking and genes interact to cause the disease.

His family remembered the boy who loved to read Harry Potter and excelled in elementary school. Ty'wonde M. Jones turned 13 this year and seemed to sprout in height overnight. But the family also lamented some of the choices the youngster had made in his short life - hanging with friends who repeatedly got into trouble, staying out past 2 a.m., some run-ins with police. Thursday, Ty'wonde was stabbed to death and left in an alley a block from his home in Northwest Baltimore's Park Heights neighborhood.

I'm beginning to understand the problem with Hillary. And it's not her hair or her husband. It's her horoscope. Her astrological sign, that is. She's a Scorpio. Now, many of you who have lived through the Age of Aquarius and come out of it with two kids and a 401(k) will immediately dispatch this notion as hokey. I admit it's more than a little out of the mainstream but, just for fun, who doesn't enjoy an occasional peek at a person's horoscope? Hillary's birthday was Oct. 26, which puts her squarely in Scorpio territory.

THE QUESTION The year is half over; what are your favorite movies so far and why? WHAT YOU SAY Favorite movies: Capote for its almost unparalleled acting. And Akeelah and the Bee is exceptional for its broad area of interest. Children can identify with it for its healthy competitive nature, and adults appreciate it for its helpful message: The contestants are honest and possess fine character traits. And it was like an old-fashioned sing-a-long; I couldn't avoid spelling along with them; although I missed most of them.