Buzz

You're at the checkout counter at a local retailer and instead of pulling out a pile of greenbacks -- U.S. government issued $1s, $5s, $10s or $20s -- you hand the cashier a bunch of BNotes. That's the scenario two local entrepreneurs hope to see play out soon across Baltimore.

Here's an excerpt:

"Baltimore may soon have its own local currency, or scrip, if Jeff Dicken of the Baltimore Green Currency Association has his way. Next spring Dicken, with partner Michael Tew, is planning to launch the BNote, a form of money that can only be spent locally. The object, Dicken said, is to have the money stay in the local community and help the community grow economically.

"A bunch of us realized that there is a real need for economic options in Baltimore City," Dicken told the AFRO. "A local currency provides a way for residents to support their own community and their own local merchants. And it makes them think twice about where they spend their money, whether they want to support their neighbors, the local merchants, or whether they want to support national chains that may be taking the money and booking it as profit in Delaware or Texas."


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The company has developed successful prototypes of its technologies. It tested MotionPower, for instance, at a Burger King, a Holiday Inn Express, and a Four Seasons Hotel and is looking for additional test sites with high bus or truck traffic in and out of a facility.

Its SolarWindow technology not only works with sunlight, but also with artificial light, says John Conklin, who recently took the helm as CEO of the company."

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"I highly recommend it for anyone trying to break the ice in the Towson area or even Baltimore County," said Hyson. "It's a great resource. It offered us hundreds of thousand of contacts," he added, "and the driving force is that it was free."

Indeed, some of the databases available at no cost through the Baltimore County Public Library website (bcpl.info) would otherwise cost hundreds of dollars.

Among the offerings are Standard & Poor's NetAdvanatge, a source of business and investment information; Reference USA, a list of 11 million company profiles including addresses, phone numbers, numbers of employees, sales volume and product lines; and Value Line Investment Survey Online, a resource offering information and advice on some 1,700 stocks."


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Wye Oak's onstage energy is undeniable. Even when they've slowed from intense shredding to a downtempo with a dash of swirling ambience, they're never boring. Jenn Wasner's voice is as expressive as her lyrics, which is saying something if you've ever read Wye Oak liner notes. Plus, we will never lose our amazement with the fact that Andy Stack is playing drums with three limbs (two legs and an arm) but still playing another instrument (usually the keyboard) with hand number two. That impresses us every single time. Oh, and he sings some of the harmonies, too. We talked to Jenn Wasner about the best parts of the Baltimore music scene, touring with a living legend and playing on the new Titus Andronicus record."

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In recent months, the Canadian device maker has held talks with Baltimore-based mobile ad network Millennial Media about a potential acquisition, these people said. But the talks have stalled over disagreements regarding the value of Millennial, which serves advertisements on its own network of mobile websites. It also brokers ad sales to a group of other mobile ad networks."


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Cartoonist and writer, Tom Chalkley, provided the sketch and oversight as more than 40 artists volunteered to paint the mural at Greenmount and 33rd street in the Waverly Village of Baltimore. Watch the mural come to life in the video.

Here's an excerpt

"Over two steamy summer months, dozens of volunteer artists helped paint a design by cartoonist and writer Tom Chalkley. Chalkley is a long-time friend and cartoonist-in-residence at Welcome To Baltimore, Hon!

The 485-square-foot mural depicts a "slightly idealized" vision of Waverly Village. It features a parade, the farmers' market, a circle of friends playing music, a mother reading to her two children at the library, community activists, and the new Waverly playground."

Read the entire article and see the video here

Five days a week, from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., camp is held inside a sprawling concert hall. The four-week session aims to introduce the texting generation to opera. Students receive instruction in music, acting, dance, lighting, set design, and makeup and wigs. Thanks to private donors, everything from field trips to lunch is free."

Listen to the entire report here.

In an interview with Journalism.co.uk, Stephen Janis, discusses his views about the advantages online journalism as opposed to print.

Here's an excerpt:

"Janis is an award-winning investigative reporter in Baltimore and co-founder of Investigative Voice, a site dedicated to in-depth reporting and holding those in power to account. He is passionate about transforming a traditional craft by maximising its potential online. It is this approach, he told Journalism.co.uk, that gives his site an edge when it comes to competing with mainstream media."

Jada Pinkett Smith's mom, who works as a nurse in a Baltimore clinic, offered plenty of advice to her daughter about last season's show. Pinkett Smith took the advice to heart and made sweeping changes for this season's episodes.

Here's an excerpt:

"Actress JADA PINKETT SMITH fired the original technical crew behind her new TV hospital drama HAWTHORNE after her mother, a top nurse, criticised the show for its inaccuracy."