Bits and pieces...

Lots and lots of stuff to get through today as the Hayduke household prepares to settle in for a night of big-time college football. Go Bucks!

Before going on to the main course, how about a few bits and pieces?

Like Freemarket, I'm concerned about the weather, but not because of its relation to global warming (which I think is happening but isn't the main culprit behind our crummy, entrenched, warm weather pattern of late). Mainly, I'm concerned because I have a trove of snowboard-related Christmas gifts that aren't getting used aside from the 15 minutes each day I spend praying for snow while dressed in my full "uniform," a practice that Abbzug has grown weary of but the dog still finds terribly entertaining.

My hesitancy to blame global warming for our stupid (so far) winter doesn't preclude me from mentioning a possible solution to the problems of carbon emissions and climate change: Work less.

What's going on this week? Here's a list of meetings and events this week that might or might not be of interest to you, courtesy of the Baltimore Sun:

Tonight: Planning Board // Will hold a public work session on case PB 378 - G&R Maple Lawn Inc. at 6:30 p.m. in the Tyson Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City.

Tomorrow (Tuesday): Board of Zoning Appeals // The hearing examiner will hear case BA 576-D (Robert and Margaret Taylor, trustees) at 10 a.m. in the Ellicott Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City.

Wednesday: Senior Tax Credit Task Force // Will meet at 2 p.m. in the Tyson Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City.

Howard County Base Realignment and Closure Task Force // Will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Classroom 6 of the Gateway Building, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia.

Thursday: Howard County delegation // The Howard County delegation to the General Assembly will hold a hearing on proposed 2007 local bills at 7:30 p.m. in the Banneker Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City. The hearing will be televised live on Gtv.

General Growth Properties and Howard Community College will present a talk by Adam Lerner, executive director of the Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar, in Lakewood, Colo., at 7 p.m. Thursday at the college's Smith Theatre, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia.