High-fives to the freshman delegate from Gaithersburg who thinks he and other members of the Maryland General Assembly should not have their hands out for campaign contributions while they're debating legislation. That's the law now for the Assembly's traditional 90-day session, and it ought to apply to any special session, too.

But while the legislature went into special session for three weeks last fall, its members, along with O'Governor, raked in a half-million dollars in contributions.

Now Del. Saqib Ali, a 33-year-old freshman Democrat from Montgomery County, wants to close the loophole, for any time the General Assembly holds a special session.

The response from Ali's colleagues?

Boo, hiss, and, "We can't do that! I plan my bull roast months in advance!"

Understand now, this is a serious condition. Going 90 days without taking donations is tough enough; many members of the legislature can't keep their hands in their pockets longer than that. Their palms start to sweat; they get nervous and twitchy. They have nightmares about lobbyists doling cash out of suitcases.

Most can go 90 days without asking for money. But 100 days? Or maybe 110? That's pushing it. We're talking relapse, benders, binges - unshaven, disheveled delegates and senators, male and female, wandering the streets asking for quarters. I think Ali should be applauded, but he's bucking the natural order.

The man has a point

Last week in the District Court of Maryland, District 1, Baltimore City, Wabash Avenue, with the Honorable Theodore B. Oshrine presiding, a male subject stood accused of smoking on the Light Rail. What's wrong with this guy? Didn't he know the law? Says right here in the Maryland Transit Administration guidelines: "Eating food, consuming beverages, and smoking tobacco products is strictly prohibited on all MTA commuter transit vehicles."

Turns out, the defendant knew the law quite well.

"Judge," he told Oshrine. "I was smoking, but it was marijuana."

And as every herbpert (that's an expert in herbs, and I just made it up) knows, marijuana - maryjane, cannabis, weed, reefer, Maui wowie - is not a tobacco product.

Oshrine conceded the point - the defendant had already pleaded guilty to possession of MJ - and found him not guilty of transit smoking.

Cellular courtesy

The host of a Baltimore restaurant writes from the front of the house to vent about the state of modern manners in the wireless age:

"It is my job to make sure not only that you are seated, but that you feel comfortable and welcomed to my establishment before your meal is served. Frankly, being a good host means putting others ahead of yourself and allowing them to feel important. I guess I'm old-school in that way.

"I have toys - a snazzy cell phone with matching Blue- tooth. But these last two items have been the bane of my existence as a restaurant host.

"Why are people so rude that they cannot stop a cell phone conversation for a brief moment in order to allow me to greet them warmly and usher them to their table? This cuts across racial, social and professional lines and extends from those too young to understand proper social etiquette to those old enough to know better, and it irks me to no end that I am dismissed in such a rude manner.

"Have these people not been taught manners? Is it their easy and rapid acquisition of wealth? Perhaps it is the increasing speed at which we live.

"To the people on cell phones who I meet: When you dismiss me, I get angry. When you will not hold your cell phone conversation for one brief moment to let me greet you, you are just being rude. I have considered at times just standing stock still and not saying a word until you treat me with the same courtesy I am extending you. Perhaps some day I will rip the cell phone out of your hands or say something rude. But no. I am a professional. I will rise above you."

I think you're already there, pal.

Linguica quest

Where I grew up, among the Gomeses and Sousas, the Correiras and Rodrigueses, there was this thing called linguica (pronounced Lynn-gwee-suh). There still is a lot of linguica around - a reddish/brown Portuguese smoked sausage that is the most delicious in the world. It's like kielbasa, only good. (Sorry, my Polish-American friends, I had K-and-kraut after a funeral in East Baltimore nearly 30 years ago, and I haven't been able to even take it under advisement since.)

Linguica can be found in just about any supermarket in New England. It's offered as a topping in pizza shops. It's commonly served at breakfast in diners. It has the powerful garlic thing going for it, a touch of vinegar, and spices Vasco da Gama brought back from India. Linguica truly tastes of some other world. (The Portuguese brought linguica to Hawaii ages ago, and apparently you can get it with breakfast at McDonald's in Honolulu.)

You can't get linguica in Baltimore.

I have never seen it for sale south of Cranston, R.I. (OK, maybe New Haven, Conn.)

I always have to stock up during trips back home, or have it shipped by Gaspar's of New Bedford, Mass.

But the other day I discovered it at the Price Rite store on S. Queen St. in York, Pa., selling for $3.49 a pound.

Thank God for the global economy.

dan.rodricks@baltsun.com

Dan Rodricks hosts Midday, noon-2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, on WYPR, 88.1 FM.