But, as predicted here on bthesite.com back on July 18th:

But, my guess: we may never know with absolute certainty what actually caused the salmonella outbreak. The FDA is losing whatever shred of credibility it had left.

In the Associated Press report, the FDA’s food safety chief says, “We have not identified the total source of this.”

So, we’re left with unanswered questions and blame falling partially on Mexico. What a shock.

Jalepeno and serrano peppers were blamed, especially ones that originated in Mexico.

OK, seriously? The salmonella outbreak was not some little tiny thing that the media blew out of proportion. The U.S. tomato industry lost an estimated $250 million when they were preliminarily blamed but later cleared. (Although, now the FDA says they can’t officially say that tomatoes were not to blame.) A record number of people were sickened — 1,400, according to the Associated Press.

And yet, we still don’t have clear answers.

So, again, we’re left with uncertainty the next time we pick up some fresh produce — or even worse, some cloned meat that may not even be labeled as such, as PBS’ Newshour reports.

The FDA is an inefficient, incompetent and untrustworthy government organization that is badly in need of a major overhaul. The implications on Americans health are enormous, the degree of which we may not know for quite some time until people start developing even more cancer and ailments from food we are eating today.

What do you think he has to do to tonight to wow everyone?

After the jump, my take and his 2004 speech at the Democratic convention when he left us all picking our jaws up off the floor. (Be sure to check out something interesting that happens at 16:30.)

We all know that the number one issue people have with Obama is his relative inexperience in politics on the national level. This needs to be the one thing that he debunks in his speech tonight. How should he do it? He needs to bring up the people with experience who support him. He needs to propose some concrete solutions without getting boring, and without losing any of the emotional appeal. He should, and probably will, try to shift the argument from the importance of experience to the importance of good judgment.

He needs to hammer away at how he will use the power of the presidency of the United States. The phrase, “When I am president, I will…” needs to have a concrete answer. We like hearing from people who use that phrase and complete it assertively and with conviction.

He needs to take on some of McCain’s negative ads and use it to reflect the need for a new kind of politics. He should use the ads to differentiate the old-school politics from the politics in which he believes.

And finally, he needs to deliver a speech that drives home those same messages on “value” that he delivered in the 2004 speech (which you can find below). It’s the 45th anniversary of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Expect that to come up tonight, as well.

Well, unless you go through Delaware and add hours of extra driving time on to your trip. Oh, but that’s if you travel at the new recommended time — after 10 p.m.

Consider the Bay Bridge dead.

Ever since a tractor trailer driver crashed through a barrier wall and plunged to his death in the waters below on August 10, news about the bay bridge has been getting worse every day.

First, it was about the corrosion in those barrier walls, also known as “jersey walls.” We were told to expect major traffic delays, as The (Annapolis) Capital explains, because one of the lanes will be closed down to allow for inspections of the walls.

Then, it’s a debate about whether two-way traffic should be allowed on the bridge, as WTOP reports. You know, because that’s what caused the fatal accident a couple weeks ago.

Now, two bits of news are breaking today.

We have a Baltimore Sun report that a well-known lawmaker on the Eastern Shore, E.J. Pipken, says he doesn’t have any faith in the ongoing inspection because inspections before determined the bridge was safe, even though the braces in the walls were corroding all along. (This may cause traffic problems to go on even longer considering an outside investigation with likely be even more exhausting.)

And now there’s also news, as the Washington Post reports, that two-way traffic on the bridge is stopped because of inclement weather. In other words, poor visibility caused by rain.

This whole situation would be absolutely hilarious if it wasn’t days before the Labor Day holiday weekend, when thousands of people plan to use the Bay Bridge. Oh, and except for the fact that people actually live on Kent Island and now have to deal with this bungled investigation whenever they want to get away.

So, congratulations Maryland Transportation Authority. You officially look like a bunch of chickens running around with your heads cut off. Except these are chickens that people trust every day with their lives to get across Maryland’s roads and bridges safely.

thebaltimoresun.jpg

1. Crabs
2. Cal Ripken Jr.
3. Natty Boh
4. Preakness
5. Hons
6. Inner Harbor
7. Domino sugar factory
8. Old Bay
9. Berger cookies
10. Johnny Unitas
11. Duckpin bowling
12. Ray Lewis

see the rest of the top 25 by

13. Johns Hopkins Univ.
14. Fort McHenry
15. Raven/Oriole pride
16. Michael Phelps
17. Lacrosse
18. Lexington Market
19. Lake trout
20. Snowballs
21. Baltimore dialect … Wooder, warsh, zink, etc.
22. HL Mencken
23. American. Visionary Art Museum
24. Charm City nickname
25. John Waters

A little more about some of our faves:

1. Blue crabs/
crab cakes
We’re touchy when it comes to crabs, in any form. You know that feeling when you read a menu that says “Maryland-style” crab cakes? Yeah, we get that, too.

•••• If you haven’t squirted someone in the face with crab juice before, you haven’t really experienced Baltimore. Alisia Chapman, b

3. Natty Boh
This marketing monster knows Baltimore and Baltimore knows Boh — there are shirts that say so. Originally brewed in Baltimore, National Bohemian beer came to market in 1885. Once Prohibition ended, Natty Boh came back with a vengeance, with the mascot we see branded around the city. Boh’s tag line, “From the land of Pleasant Living,” is a direct reflection of Baltimore life (at least one side of it). Boh is a legend. Even if it isn’t brewed here anymore.

•••• You go to any party in Baltimore and there’s going to be at least a six-pack of Natty Boh. It’s cheap, it’s good.
Sara Walters, 19 White Marsh

•••• It’s a big deal! We [Sliders Bar] have a new T-shirt that says ‘Boh’s before ho’s.’ We buy like 80 cases of T-shirts every couple of weeks. People ask what is your local beer and I give them a Natty Boh.”
Rachel Sheubrooks, 26 Baltimore

•••• It’s Baltimore’s beer. You hear that Baltimore accent and it’s downtown for Natty Boh and bologna.
Crystal Campbell, 28 Middle River

•••• Baltimore is a beer-drinking town. Natty Boh is more city. We got the Natty Boh Tower — I can see it from 95. How can you not see it?
Kristen Fick, 19 Baltimore

9. Berger cookies
The confectionary craze dates back to 1835, when George and Henry Berger came to America from Germany. Henry was a baker in East Baltimore; George was a metal worker in West Baltimore. Henry’s children carried on the Berger bakery tradition, and eventually the popularity spread in other areas of the city. Sure, people around the world can buy the cookies online, but that’s just not the same.

•••• It’s been around forever, I grew up on them. Dontay Griffin, 32 Baltimore

12. Ray Lewis
The Ravens’ first-round draft pick (26th) was the first linebacker since 1971 to be named the Super Bowl MVP (2001). Suffice it to say he’s panned out. He’s even got a restaurant in Canton: Ray Lewis’ Full Moon Bar-B-Cue. Ray-Ray has made a name for himself that transcends football and Baltimore, but he’s all ours.

•••• He’s controversial, sort of like Baltimore. … I think he lives off that controversy a little bit. Baltimore sometimes finds their hardcore people and he’s taken on this whole persona which people, have really picked up on.
Crystal Campbell, 28 MIDDLE RIVER

•••• He’s become the voice of the Ravens and a voice for Baltimore.
Sara Walters, 19 WHITE MARSH

•••• That dance — that crazy dance he does is definitely unique!
Dontay Griffin, 32 BALTIMORE

By Molly Lauryssens, special to b, b staff

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Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Uncertainty. Inconsistency. Mediocrity. Ineptitude.

These are all words that can be used to describe the quarterback situation in Baltimore this fall — at least at M&T Stadium, the home of the Ravens.

But just a few miles up York Road at Johnny Unitas Stadium, where the Towson Tigers make their home, there haven’t been any quarterback controversies in a long time, unless you count the battle to see who gets the privilege of holding the backup’s clipboard Saturday afternoons.

That’s because Sean Schaefer, an unheralded senior quarterback who sometimes goes unnoticed on his own campus, has had the keys to the Tigers’ spread passing attack since his redshirt freshman season. After completing 64 percent of his career passing attempts for 8,358 passing yards — tops among active players in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) — and 51 touchdowns, he might not go unnoticed for much longer, even if some of his classmates couldn’t pick him out of a police lineup.

Schaefer is poised for a breakout season after a disappointing junior campaign in which he passed for 2,553 yards and 12 touchdowns, but uncharacteristically threw 19 interceptions. It wasn’t entirely Schaefer’s fault, though; he was stuck behind a shaky offensive line that just lost the best left tackle in program history (Jermon Bushrod, now with the New Orleans Saints), and his receiving corps struggled mightily with injuries and inconsistency. That scenario should sound familiar to football fans in the Charm City.

As a result, Schaefer was forced to make plays on his own late in games, and though his last-ditch attempts often ended in disappointment, as the Tigers struggled to a 3-8 finish, he was able to lead Towson to a thrilling, last-second victory over the then-ranked Richmond Spiders in October.

Now, he leads Towson into the biggest football game in its history Saturday at Navy, its first-ever matchup with a Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) opponent. It would be a serious overstatement to say the Tigers’ chances of pulling off an upset are slim to none, but this is an opportunity for Schaefer to shine in the national spotlight, much like Joe Flacco did when Delaware — one of Towson’s Colonial Athletic Association rivals — knocked off Navy last season.

Schaefer likely won’t end up being a first-round pick such as Flacco, but he’s trying to follow in Flacco’s footsteps along the path to the National Football League. Schaefer is accurate and makes good decisions, but he lacks a strong arm and is often labeled as a system quarterback. Still, he’s garnering the attention of NFL insiders, including one famous television draft expert with hair made of granite.

“There is no doubt in my mind when we come back here next year we are going to be talking about a team that was in the I-AA playoffs,” said ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. at the Tigers’ 2008 Football Kick-Off Luncheon earlier this week. “This team will be talked about a lot during the season, will produce the top quarterback in this conference and a lot of other top players.”

That’s big praise for a quarterback who plays in the same league as UMass’s Liam Coen and James Madison’s Rodney Landers.

It remains unseen if Schaefer will follow Flacco to the NFL, and if the Tigers will bounce back in ’08. At least they have a starting quarterback.

Matt Vensel is a content creator for b. E-mail him at matt@bthesite.com

Daniel Ewald {thanks, Daniel Ewald}

Sent 5:26 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27.

All right. Now I am in here full swing. First up on the agenda was having the willpower to get out of bed after only three hours of sleep.

Most of the others from Baltimore City Young Democrats and myself went to the Renaissance hotel to eat with the Maryland delegation. Although the meal was sponsored by County Executive Jim Smith, he could not be there due to a bypass operation. Gov. O’Malley joked that now he has a bigger heart to support Obama now. The communications director for Hillary Clinton spoke to the crowd. She thanked the support many of the politicians in Maryland gave to Hillary during the primaries and reinforced the message that Mrs. Clinton was for party unity and will do all she can for Obama. It makes sense if she wants to have good standing with the party.

Since I arrived in Denver late on Monday, I did not have enough time to get my Maryland papers and tag. So, joy, I had to wait in line with the people who were getting their credentials, a 45-minute wait. Something which other Young Dems who have been to prior conventions know is that there is a severe lack of extra credentials for people like me, people who just want to have quick floor time and see how it is. But now, not many people were granting us that chance to see how it is. Yes, this is a highly energetic time, and more people than ever wanted to be at the convention. All I’m asking for is two hours. And it by no means has to be on Thursday when the vote takes place. It would act as great exposure and motivation for me to work to deserve a place at the next convention. Oh well, maybe I can beg enough to get some credentials.

Killing time at the Renaissance and I finally catch a glimpse of the rarest Maryland politician, Barbra Mikulski. I’ve been to three events where she was supposed to be, and something always came up preventing her coming to the event, such as taking up Kennedy’s health care legislation when he fell ill. Two others with me made a beeline for her, lest she escape into the political wilderness again. With her picture snagged, I can finally say I have met all the Maryland officials I have seen and heard on C-SPAN. I often joke that Mikulski is like a bear. She looks cute and innocent from afar, but tick her off and she will bite your head off.

Nothing too noteworthy for the rest of the day. After most of the events at the convention center are wrapping up, I notice that the Human Rights Campaign (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender lobby) is having a concert. First issue is getting to the Fillmore Auditorium. Much easier than one would expect since Denver has not one but six light rails. The system is not as developed as the Metro in Washington, but much more advanced than what one gets in Charm City. Develop those freaking rail lines already!

After purchasing my ticket, I got to know the others waiting in line. Most were locals or from nearby states, and all were great fun to get to know.

My friend David was taken aback when I told him I’ve only been to two concerts in my life, with the last one about a decade ago. While I don’t have a lot to compare it too, the whole evening was a blast. The event kicked off with Thelma Houston, a decent opener who got the crowd going by belting out Motown hits. After she left the stage, the audience of over 2,500 was treated to Hillary Clinton’s moment at the convention. Scenes of Hillary’s childhood and achievements in her political life played out to the captive spectators. Chelsea Clinton introduced her mother, and both crowds — the one I was with and the one on the screen — roared with applause. Both groups cheered and laughed in tandem at Clinton’s speech. The HRC crowd roared especially loud at her nod to gay rights. It seems like her speech delivered exactly what was needed and helped heal the rift many in the GLBT community felt after her loss.

Comedian Margret Cho affirmed the commitment of HRC to equality for all and the accomplishments since 2006 such as passing of a hate crimes bill (EDNA) by the House and Senate. She believes, as I do, that Obama would not veto EDNA when brought up in a new session of congress. Rufus Wainwright was next up. He commented that he loved the special guest appearance, though he did not realize Hillary was so tall. His slow songs did leave the room wanting more, but the final song, while still slow, got the energy moving. When sung by a mass of people, the simple refrain of “Hallelujah” is pretty powerful.

HRC displayed a video showcasing the overarching goals of the group, mainly focusing on passing hate-crime laws, easing adoption for all and ultimately the recognition of gay marriage, all while set to Cyndi Lauper’s “Shine.” Then to compare it to the real thing, Cyndi Lauper came to sing and dance both on stage and in the audience. Between songs, she commented on the amazing progress the LGBT community has made since the ‘60s. Echoing the call for change heard throughout the convention, she said simply “Listen to your mama — vote Obama.” She finished her set with her two signature songs. In “True Colors,” she proclaims people should never be ashamed of who they are. The second kept the party going on with “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” while her son displayed great dance moves on stage.

Joe Solmonese, the president of HRC, came on stage after a video displayed candid interviews with friends and former aides of Obama while he was in Chicago about his commitment to LGBT rights. Solmonese informed the crowd of the tasks ahead in helping to defeat marriage amendments in Arizona, California and Florida. He also commented that Obama has declared his support in defeating these bills.

The final act of the evening, Melissa Etheridge, was adored by the people in attendance. She was candid about her family, trials and joys of coming out, and also commented on the remarkable progress LGBT people have made. She basically said that once you start the march to equal rights in any area, it cannot be stopped. Her final song was the most powerful of the evening. “Scarecrow” is a ballad retelling the kidnapping, torture, and death of Matthew Shepard motivated by anti-gay sentiment. Though the song criticizes hypocritical and deprecatory attitudes toward gay people in media and society it ends on a positive and moving note. She repeated the final verse: “Love, love, love, love. Rising above, all in the name of love.” Instruments stopped playing, eventually leaving only Etheridge and the audience chanting the lyrics. As she walked off stage, we continued singing, most of us with tears in our eyes.

One of the most rewarding and exciting feelings in life is finding something that you weren’t expecting at all.

Like discovering a $10 bill in a coat you haven’t worn in a while, the TV remote that had been missing all month long or the picture that takes you back to a certain time in your life.

drive-by truckers

For me, a favorite memory of this comes from when I was about 15 on a family trip to Disney World. We stayed at one of the finer resorts in the world of Mickey.

I have always been fascinated that no matter where you go in the United States, a hotel room will likely have a copy of the Bible in it. So whenever I stay in a hotel, the first thing I do is check to see whether there is a copy — and I have never been disappointed.

But on this particular occasion I opened the drawer next to the bed and took the Bible out; hiding under the good book was a crisp $100 bill with good old Ben Franklin smiling back at me. My stepsister was furious that I found it. So, to add some salt to the wound, I used the money to go parasailing.
It seems I flamed out early with finding that Benjamin because now my jackets and pants will only cough up a few dollars here and there, but I can’t complain.

There’s a similar feeling that comes from finding a song or album that you didn’t know existed from a familiar artist. This usually happens in a record store while filing through piles of albums or listening to what the employees have put on.

Corey Zook, who works at the Towson Record and Tape Traders, has had tons of customers come up to him and say, “I’ve never heard that before.” So he has put together a list of songs that most people may not know about but he feels are essential to the artist’s catalog. Join me tonight when Corey and I sit down and discuss these in more detail to make sure you never miss these tunes again.

Neil Young – “Hawks and Doves”
Bob Dylan – “Watered Down Love”
Gram Parsons – “Still Feeling Blue”
The Kinks – “Hot Potatoes”
Paul Pena – “Jet Airliner”
Drive-By Truckers – “The Boys of Alabama”
Eric Clapton – “Watch Out for Lucy”
Ryan Adams – “Sweet Black Magic”
Old & In the Way – “Love Please Come Home”
Steve Earle and The Del McCoury Band – “The Mountain”

Tyler Laporte brings you the Mix Tape at 8 tonight on 89.7 WTMD, public radio from Towson University. Submit your own Mix Tape at wtmd.org.

Lance Lucas and Spike Lee {thanks, Lance Lucas}

Me and Spike Lee.

Hillary Clinton at the DNC {thanks, Lance Lucas}

Hillary Clinton addressing the Democratic National Convention.

Sen. Ben Cardin {thanks, Lance Lucas}

Sen. Ben Cardin walks by.

Entering Pepsi Center {thanks, Lance Lucas}

Entering Pepsi Center.

Entering Pepsi Center {thanks, Lance Lucas}.

Entering Pepsi Center, also.

Outside Pepsi Center {thanks, Lance Lucas}

Outside the Pepsi Center.

The CNN Grill {thanks, Lance Lucas}

The CNN Grill.