UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski has been awarded a $500,000 grant for academic leadership from the Carnegie Corporation. According to a Carnegie press release, the award acknowledges "[Hrabowski's] development of a culture of excellence and success in preparing students of all backgrounds to go on to earn Ph.D.’s in science and engineering." Carnegie also praised Hrabowski for "[building] on that success to infuse principles of excellence and teaching innovation throughout the university."

Hrabowski will reportedly use the money to start a fund, the Freeman Hrabowski Fund for Academic Innovation, to support campus projects and programs that align with those principles.

Hrabowski has long promoted innovation and diversity at the school and viewed demographic differences as potential strengths, rather than potential sources of conflict. In an essay for Baltimore in September 2006, he tellingly wrote...

It is a guiding principle here that living, studying, and interacting with diverse groups strengthen us as people, prepare us for America's emerging demographic reality, and break down barriers that inhibit possibilities for...

Last night, hip-hop superstars Jay-Z and Kanye West came to 1st Mariner Arena for the third date of their Watch the Throne tour, which comes on the heels of their number-one album of the same name.

I had a chance to go to the show and it was an action-packed spectacle. You can read my full review here.

One thing that didn't make it into the review but might be of interest to locals is the only time during the show when the audience booed. At the end of his ode to New York, "Empire State of Mind," Jay-Z took off his Yankee hat and held it out to the crowd. It's the kind of thing he probably does at every show, just a gesture of hometown pride. Well, Baltimore audience members—who had been singing along to every word of every song—showed some hometown pride of their own, giving a hearty "boo" to the gesture celebrating the Orioles' AL East nemesis. Jay-Z looked satisfyingly taken aback.

Later...

It sounds like an event featuring The Incredible Hulk, and, in a way, it is. But these hulks aren't green and they aren't mad—they're just really, really adorable. I'm talking about the Zoo's Annual Giant Pumpkin Smash during which the Zoo's African elephants—Felix, Samson, Anna, and Dolly—are treated to pumpkins (apparently something of a delicacy for elephants). The treat is part of the Zoo's ZooBoooo! event happening all this weekend from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. According to a press release from the Zoo, "guests can watch as many animals receive their own fall treats at different times during the ZooBOOO! weekend.  These types of enrichment activities are designed to add variety and stimulation to the daily routines of animals at the Zoo." The elephants will be given fresh pumpkins to annihilate every morning at 11:30 a.m. There are also plenty of activities for the humans as well including costume competitions and trick-or-treating. 

But enough of that. You're here to see a video of elephants crushing stuff, right? I do not blame you. Here you go:

In today's Baltimore Sun, on page seven of the sports section, former Ravens tight end Todd Heap bought a half-page, color advertisement to thank Baltimore fans and the Ravens organization. In July, the Ravens released Heap and he signed a two-year contract with his hometown Arizona Cardinals.

But, from the sound of his humble and gracious letter in today's Sun, Heap grew to think of Baltimore as his real home. You're welcome, Heeeeap!