Why Does Charm City Get The 15-Foot Statue Of Edgewood’s Own Rock Star Frank Zappa?

It was in Edgewood that Frank Zappa first inserted radioactive pellets into his nostrils. Now he’s being honored, sort of, with a 15-foot statue that was donated by his Lithuanian fans to the City of Baltimore. But why Baltimore? True, Zappa - the guitar-playing, anti-drug musician - was born in Charm City, but, as I’ve already mentioned, it was in Edgewood where he might have gotten off to his mind-bending start.

Let me get one thing off my chest from the get-go here, I’m much more a fan of Zappa’s story than I am his music. Blasphemy you say? Well, try to find a song of his that can compete with stories of his early life in Harford County. Zappa’s dad worked at what was then known as Edgewood Arsenal, but today is known as the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Zappa’s got some pretty good recollections from those days, including tasting DDT and wearing space helmets that left you to drown in your own vomit. Good stuff. Continue reading Why Does Charm City Get The 15-Foot Statue Of Edgewood’s Own Rock Star Frank Zappa?

“Do Not Mourn The Dinosaurs.” Instead, Let’s Try To Avoid Their Fate

Dinosaurs! The name itself infers impending awesomeness. It is derived from the Greek words ‘deinos’ (terrible) and ’saura’ (lizard). Already you know you are in for a show. Where do I find these terribly awesome lizards? Nowhere. You can find bones, fossils, footprints and even coprolites (fossilized poop).

I have been enamored with these ancient creatures as long as I can remember. I was even rewarded for being potty-trained with a trip to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum to see the bones (I remember that trip clearly, I mean I was 17). I had dinosaur sheets, shirts, and books galore. I also forced my mother to take me to the Maryland Science Center every spring when the animatronic T-Rex came to town. I am even currently reading Stephen Jay Gould’s, Bully for Brontosaurus. Continue reading “Do Not Mourn The Dinosaurs.” Instead, Let’s Try To Avoid Their Fate

Early ‘Birds Get the Worm at Baltimore Orioles FanFest

Camden Yards opened its doors Saturday to let the fans get a taste of spring and baseball. In spite of the nip in the air and below average temps., Maryland bird lovers flocked anyway, having to wear an extra layer. They came to check out the new faces on the diamond, to sample the stadium fare, to check out the new scoreboard and let their children play. The resounding question is - of course - will this year’s Baltimore Orioles come to play?

Debbie Borgerding of Perry Hall was struggling with her goodie bags when I met up with her in Pastimes Café on Eutaw Street. Not only was she indoors trying to keep warm but she was also in charge of carrying all of the family’s loot. You see her 10-year old son Zachary, (accompanied by his Dad) was out testing his arm with a pitching machine while Mom took refuge. And she was glad to do it once she wrestled down those bags. It was everything the Orioles were giving out. The Borgerding family made out, as many fans did!

Zach has been playing baseball since he was 4. He was totally into all the action on Eutaw Street and was particularly stoked with his new Brian Roberts bobble-head doll. He’s got a rocket of an arm; I can see it in his eyes. Continue reading Early ‘Birds Get the Worm at Baltimore Orioles FanFest

MacPhail’s Road to Baseball Glory: From Harford County Roots to the Hall of Fame

Ten things I love about Andy MacPhail (President of baseball operations for the Orioles)…

1. Troy Patton
2. Luke Scott
3. Mike Costanzo
4. Dennis Sarfate
5. Matt Albers

Bah-bye Miggy…(Miguel Tejada- Houston Astros)

1. Adam Jones
2. Chris Tillman
3. George Sherrill
4. Anthony Butler
5. Kameron Mickolio

Bedard-Gone…(Erik, you hurt me- but I am so over it…now a Seattle Mariner)

At first glance, it might appear that MacPhail is inflicting destruction within an already fragile Orioles lineup, what with getting rid of a 4-time All Star in Tejada and the ace of the pitching staff in Bedard. But make no mistake, MacPhail has come to play. And win. Continue reading MacPhail’s Road to Baseball Glory: From Harford County Roots to the Hall of Fame

District 7 Dominoes: Baltimore/Harford Delegates Line Up for a Probable Political Promotion

One is too young and inexperienced. Another is too cantankerous and controversial. And the third says he doesn’t even want the job. But odds are, when Republican Andy Harris is elected to Congress this November, one of the three District 7 delegates will move up to fill his seat representing Baltimore and Harford counties in the state senate.

Harris’ surprising upset of nine-term incumbent Wayne Gilchrest in the Republican Primary Election a few weeks ago placed the state senator as the favorite to take over the First District Congressional seat - leaving a prized piece of political real estate vacant and ready for occupancy.

Tradition and law make it exceedingly likely the next Baltimore/Harford state senator will come from the trio of offbeat politicians currently comprising the District 7 delegation. Rick Impallaria, J.B. Jennings and Pat McDonough have stuck together since they were elected to the newly configured district in 2002, but Harris’ impending departure from the senate could change all that. Continue reading District 7 Dominoes: Baltimore/Harford Delegates Line Up for a Probable Political Promotion

The Commissioner of Talk-Radio: Ed Norris

Ed Norris, the former police commissioner of Baltimore, is angry. Seated, leaning forward with his elbows resting on the console of Baltimore’s 105.7 FM WHFS studio, he’s listening to callers to his mid-day talk-radio show. The big story this scalding August day is the fire bombing of the house of a woman in Waverly after she called the police to report drug dealers loitering by her porch. A caller is venting, incensed by the lawlessness. Leaning forward, closer to the microphone, Norris says, “I hear you buddy. Thanks for the call.”

Norris pauses a moment. The dead air trails off abruptly as Norris inflates his lungs and shouts, “I sound like a lunatic but 200 people killed already this year, witness’s fire bombed. What’s going on here? People just say, ‘Well, that’s Baltimore.’ It’s outrageous. People need to get fired up, refuse to accept it, hold the mayor and the leadership of the city accountable. It’s like the people who run this state get away with murder and nobody cares. I care and I know some people care but it sometimes feels like most of the city’s residents just accept it. I’ll tell you what I’d do if I were still running things. The whole force on overtime, nobody selling drugs would be able to breathe today. And if one of ‘em pulls a gun on a cop and gets shot, oh well, that’s just too damn bad. I don’t want to hear the mother bitching about the police. What’s your kid doing with a pistol?” As Norris unloads, his right hand chops the air and his temples pulsate like a belly dancer beneath his headphones. Continue reading The Commissioner of Talk-Radio: Ed Norris

The Assembly Line - Checking the Political Pulse in Annapolis

For political junkies, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

The 188 state representatives - 47 senators and 141 delegates - comprising the Maryland General Assembly convened Wednesday for the start of the state’s 425th legislative session - a 90-day affair that is set to adjourn on April 7.

To ring in the new legislative year, The Dagger brings you The Assembly Line - a unique feature that collects locally-sponsored legislation and presents it in a way that lets readers easily access and digest the information. Thanks to the work of our resident wizard Steve, The Assembly Line conveniently scrolls across the The Dagger’s front page and offers a place for supporters, critics and other interested readers to comment and discuss the bills and resolutions with one another.

The Assembly Line is updated several times a day with the newest legislation and the latest information on the status of the bills and resolutions. This is a chance to keep tabs on the local delegates and senators you sent to Annapolis and make sure they are working for you. Have fun while letting them have it!

Now back to Annapolis. Continue reading The Assembly Line - Checking the Political Pulse in Annapolis

The Good, The Bad, The Elvis

Anyone who’s ever set foot on stage knows there comes a moment in each performance when an entertainer can lose himself.

In a tide of emotion, the performance ceases to be about entertainment and evolves into the creation of something uniquely beautiful. The lucky stumble into this and the true artists learn to channel it.

For Tommy El that moment came Friday night in Baltimore as he knelt, trembling and sweating beneath a Lithuanian flag, clutching a red, white and blue scarf to his quivering lips, eyes closed and ears open. Open to hear the roar of the crowd. Continue reading The Good, The Bad, The Elvis

Remember, remember, the 11th of September

It’s September 11, 2007 and it’s going to be a big day in Baltimore, but here’s my question: what will be the biggest deal in Baltimore today - the city’s mayoral Primary Election, the much-anticipated, head-to-head double-release of the new Kanye West and 50 Cent albums or the ho-hum sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01?

Let’s take a closer look.

There is a lot at stake in today’s mayoral Primary Election in Baltimore. Sheila Dixon, who was city council president until former mayor Martin O’Malley was elected governor last year, has been interim mayor of Baltimore and looks to become the first woman ever elected to the office. Also at stake are the membership of the Baltimore City Council and the post of City Council President. Today is actually just the party Primary Election day - meaning Democrats run only against the other Democrats and Republicans against Republicans to determine which candidates will represent their respective parties in the Nov. 6 General Election. Because Baltimore City politics are dominated by Democrats, however, it is very likely today’s winner will be the city’s next mayor. About a half-dozen Democratic candidates are running, but it is largely acknowledged to be a two-horse race between Dixon and city councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. While Dixon leads in all the polls, neither candidate has been particularly stellar - Dixon is leading a city on pace for a record-breaking murder rate this year and Mitchell fired his father as his campaign treasurer after more than $50,000 disappeared from his campaign account. While you might not like the options, one of these people, by the end of the day, will be poised to become the next mayor of Baltimore. Continue reading Remember, remember, the 11th of September

Introductions

Dagger: The double-edged blade. We have built and launched this blog as an experiment, and test case for what might happen when we distill years of conversation into published material. It is our hope not to fire missives from the distance, but to get up close to each subject; so close that we might twist a blade in its side.

We will publish news, rumor, opinion, style, substance, informal correspondence. We are a group of like-minded writers, musicians, photographers and agitators living in and around Baltimore; we are The Dagger and you can’t mess with us.