WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
INSIDE TODAY
TODAY'S SUN COLUMNISTS
Not best way to go
If federal regulators wanted to promote confidence in deregulated electricity markets, as they claim, perhaps killing an inquiry into whether Mid-Atlantic generation companies made excessive profits wasn't the best way.
Business
baltimoresun.com/hancock
Rules of his road
What marketers call food tourism, this columnist prefers to regard as the rules of the road.
Taste
baltimoresun.com/kasper
OTHER VOICES
Laura Vozzella on O'Malley tax plans -- Maryland
Gregory Kane on schools and media -- Maryland
Kevin Cowherd on Home Depot -- Today
David Zurawik on two TV premieres -- Today
Rick Maese on a big heavyweight -- Sports
5 THINGS TO DO TODAY
California rock band -- Queens of the Stone Age will perform at Rams Head Live tonight. Howlin' Rain and Dax Riggs also are to play. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. $25-$27. 20 Market Place. 410-244-1131 or t ramsheadlive.com.
Adult themes -- Rhodessa Jones brings a two-part performance to Kogod Theatre at University of Maryland, College Park's Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center tonight to Friday. The artist-in-residence for the department of women's studies performs Hot Flashes, Power Surges and Private Summers and The Love Project. 8 o'clock. Adult themes. $7-$30. 301-405-2787.
County fair -- Today through Sunday, the Calvert County Fair showcases livestock, produce and 4-H exhibitions; a Miss Tranquility contest; autograph signings; tractor pulls; and other family-friendly events. 4 p.m.-9:30 p.m. today. $5 for those 12 and older, free for children 11 and younger. 140 Calvert Fair Drive in Barstow. 410-535-0026 or calvertcountyfair.com.
Discussion by composer -- John Adams kicks off the first "Composers in Conversation" event, which will feature each of the 11 contemporary composers performing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra this season. Adams will discuss his work with the audience from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St. $10. 410-783-8000 or bsomusic.org.
TV premiere -- On the new NBC series Bionic Woman, bartender Jaime Sommers is in a horrendous accident and is saved only by high-tech medicine that turns her into a fighting machine. The show will be on at 9 o'clock tonight on WBAL, Channel 11.
5 THINGS TO LOOK FOR @BALTIMORESUN.COM
'My Children' reviewed
Theater critic Mary Carole McCauley will review My Children, My Africa, Athol Fugard's play, which has just had its run extended at Studio Theatre in Washington. baltimoresun.com/today
Kanye's mother on Kanye
Donda West, who will be at this weekend's Baltimore Book Festival, discusses her book, Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar.baltimoresun.com/criticalmass
Ravens update
The Ravens return to practice for Sunday's game against Jamal Lewis and the Cleveland Browns.baltimoresun.com/ravenscentral
Board of Estimates to meet
The Board of Estimates is to meet this morning at City Hall to consider contracts. baltimoresun.com/maryland
Factory orders for August
A report on durable goods orders for August is scheduled to be released at 8:30 a.m. today by the Department of Commerce. The report for July showed that factory orders for big-ticket durable goods rose by 6 percent. baltimoresun.com/business
SUN BLOG BLOGS.BALTIMORESUN.COM
Breaking up -- Join in a discussion on seasonal breakups on Maryann James' blog.baltimoresun.com/baltamour
About pets -- John Woestendiek writes about advocacy programs for pets.baltimoresun.com/mutts
MOST VIEWED STORIES YESTERDAY AS OF 8 PM
1. In the fourth quarter, Ravens have cause for alarm -- Heading into a tough road stretch with three of their next four games away from home, the Ravens should have confidence after winning two straight games, but in both games, the team barely hung on after failing to maintain 17-point leads in the final quarter.
2. White backlash against Jena demonstration -- No sooner did thousands of African-American demonstrators depart Jena, La., last week after protesting perceived injustices than the white supremacists arrived.
3. High school sports results and schedule -- Monday was the day for boys and girls soccer, field hockey, badminton, tennis, volleyball and golf to be played in the area.
4. Poised Cabrera, Markakis lead O's -- Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera didn't lose his composure, and he didn't lose a game. Baltimore won, 3-2, on a home run by right fielder Nick Markakis.
5. Police Blotter -- The blotter is a sampling of crimes from police reports in Baltimore and Baltimore County. The first item was the arrest of an Easton man wanted in an Aug. 28 home-invasion robbery in Baltimore.