Max Weiss's picture
April, 22nd 2013

Can You Handle This Much Cuteness?

Baby pygmy goats

Because we can't. Seriously hyperventilating over here.

These twin pygmy goats were born at the Maryland Zoo last week.

You can go visit them RIGHT NOW (they're located near the petting zoo.)

Warning: They do a lot of frolicking and hopping and, apparently, this adorable kissy thing with their little goat noses.

It is strongly advised that you bring a paper bag to breathe into.

3:16 pm Comment Count Tags: Maryland Zoo
Janelle Diamond's picture
April, 19th 2013

Scary Mommy

Baltimore magazine

We got to check in with Scary Mommy Jill Smokler at her book party earlier this week. Smokler — a mom of three and Mt. Washington resident — was just coming off her whirlwind New York book tour (Today show, 20/20, Huffington Post) and stopped by Charm City Kids Club for some book signing and girl gab. 

Smokler is friendly and pretty and you can see why her legions of Scary Mommies feel comfortable confessing their deepest darkest mommy secrets to her. ("Today I'm dressed as a grumpy bitch who needs more coffee. Same costume I wore yesterday." And "Every night, after supper, I hide in the bathub and eat a Little Debbie snack." Or "I need a mom jar. Anytime the kids say MOM they put a dollar in the jar. I would have enough for a cruise in no time.")

Her newest book Motherhood Comes Naturally (and other vicious lies) comes fresh on the heel of her New York Times bestseller Confessions of a...

Ron Cassie's picture
April, 19th 2013

Towson Pre-School Teacher Severely Wounded in Boston Bombing

Baltimore magazine

A fund has been set up to help a 29-year-old pre-school teacher at Towson's Trinity Episcopal Children's Center who lost part of her left leg in the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

Erika Brannock, a Mount Hebron High School graduate, and her sister Nicole Gross, 31, of North Carolina, were standing near the finish line to meet their mother, Carol Downing, competing in the marathon, when the two bombs exploded. Brannock was rushed to Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where doctors were forced to ambutate her left leg below the knee, according to the Episcopal News Service.

Brian Gross, Brannock's brother-in-law, told The Boston Globe that doctors are also “keeping an eye on the other leg and are concerned with her foot."

Nicole Gross suffered two broken legs in the bombing and a severed achilles tendon,...

Ron Cassie's picture
April, 18th 2013

Howard County Woman Won Boston Marathon Wheelchair Division

Baltimore magazine

Before violence and tragedy struck the Boston Marathon this week, Clarksville’s Tatyana McFadden won the women’s wheelchair division at the iconic race.

McFadden, who won gold medals at the 2012 London Paralympics in the 400-meter, 800-meter and 1,500 meter races, posted on her Facebook page shortly after the bombing in Boston Monday that she was okay, her family was safe, asking that all, “Please pray for those who were affected by the bomb and pray for their families and friends as well.”

Earlier today, she posted that while planning to race in the upcoming London Marathon this weekend that she and her teammates “will run in London with prayers in our hearts for all affected by the tragedy in Boston.”

McFadden was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, with spina bifida in 1989, and was later adopted by her mom, Deborah McFadden.

Baltimore magazine profiled McFadden in September 2012, shortly before the London Paralympics.

Max Weiss's picture
April, 17th 2013

It's a . . .one-month old!

Baltimore magazine

In the day and age when “baby bumps” are the stuff of breaking news and paparazzi are usually camped outside the celebrity delivery room, Edward Norton has pulled off quite a feat.

According to Us magazine, his film-producer fiancée Shauna Robertson (who knew? not us) gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. . .last month.

Sure he’s a brilliant actor and tireless activist, but Edward Norton’s greatest trick of all may have been keeping the birth of his son a secret.

A belated congrats, mom and dad.

We’ll probably find out the baby’s name some time next July.

Max Weiss's picture
April, 15th 2013

The only GIF you will ever need to see

Baltimore magazine

Okay, so here is Tom Brady reacting to Nick Markakis's home run in Saturday's game against the Yankees.

If you've seen it already, we apologize, but we feel it just can't be shared enough.

Also, what's up with Tom Brady being a Yankees fan? Shouldn't he be a fan of a little team we like to call the BOSTON RED SOX??

Ron Cassie's picture
April, 12th 2013

Report: Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown to Announce Bid to Succeed O’Malley

Baltimore magazine

It appears Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown will be the first candidate to announce a 2014 bid to replace Gov. Martin O’Malley.

O’Malley, who is considering a presidential bid, has said previously that he will support Brown in whatever “lies ahead” for the Lt. Governor.

According to reporting by The Washington Post, an invitation from Brown has begun circulating among backers to save May 10 as a date for “a very special announcement" at Prince George’s Community College.

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler is considered the other top Democratic contender at the moment. Howard County Executive Ken Ulman is also considering a run, as is,...

Ron Cassie's picture
April, 11th 2013

Ben Carson Steps Aside as Hopkins Commencement Speaker

Baltimore magazine

Ceding to student wishes and interests, Dr. Ben Carson said Wednesday that he’ll step aside as Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's commencement speaker after his recent controversial statements regarding gay marriage sparked a protest and flurry of media stories.

The 61-year-old neurosurgeon referenced bestiality and pedophilia while stating his case against gay marriage in a recent Fox News television interview. The dean of the Hopkins medical faculty, Dr. Paul Rothman, called Carson's remarks “offensive” and Carson apologized for his choice of words.

In an email to Rothman published today, Carson announced he will voluntarily step down from speaking at the Hopkins' graduation ceremony, explaining that it is in the best interests of the students:

“Given all the national media surrounding my statements as to my belief in traditional marriage, I believe it would be in the best interests of the students for me to voluntarily withdraw as your commencement...

Ron Cassie's picture
April, 9th 2013

Pit Bull Law Fails; Still 'Inherently Dangerous'

Baltimore magazine

The Maryland General Assembly failed to address a state court ruling designating pit bulls as "inherently dangerous" on the final day of this year's sesssion.

Legislation passed the state Senate — but not the House of Delegates — that would have overridden the Maryland Court of Appeals "breed specific" ruling affecting pit bull owners, which holds them strictly liable for dog bites whether or not their pit bull has a history of biting.

With the controversial court ruling last year, landlords, not just pit bull owners, were also deemed liable if they were aware that a tenant had a pit bull on their property as a pet.

“The big issue on the ground is the notices that people are getting from landlords, saying that they have to get rid of their dogs,” Tami Santelli, Maryland state director for The Humane Society of the United States, told The Washington Post. “I don’t think that there is any question that this issue will be back next year.

The court ruling was made in the wake of a pit bull attack that nearly killed then-...

Ron Cassie's picture
April, 8th 2013

General Assembly Passes Medical Marijuana Bill

Baltimore magazine

The Maryland Senate approved a medical marijuana bill Monday that Gov. Martin O’Malley has indicated he will sign into law.

By a vote of 42-4, the state Senate approved the bipartisan measure, already passed in the House of Delegates by a vote of 108-28 last month. Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Joshua Sharfstein supports the measure as well.

“This marks a major step forward for Maryland medical marijuana patients and their families,” said Dan Riffle, deputy director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project, in a statement after the proposal passed in the state Senate. “The Assembly's overwhelming support for this important legislation reflects that of the people of Maryland and the nation as a whole. The time has come to allow seriously ill people to obtain and use medical marijuana if their doctors believe it will help them.”

The House version of the legislation,...