The clapping and heckling at Thursday’s night’s meeting at the Arundel Center in Annapolis could have easily been mistaken for audience response to a stand-up comedy show.

That’s because the participants in the Department of Natural Resources’ public meeting on whether wind turbines should be built on state land are pretty emotional about the topic.

Many in the crowd booed, laughed and shouted commentary at the few supporters of the 400-foot tall “monstrosities” that are proposed for state forests in Garrett County.

One flustered wind advocate said to the tough crowd, “I’ll try not to laugh at you, please don’t laugh at me.”

When one supporter of the turbines suggested that tourism in Western Maryland won’t be affected by the energy suppliers, pointing to the interest in the turbines in Pennsylvania, laughter rumbled through the crowd and one woman shouted, “That’s because they’re freak shows!”

What do you think? Should wind turbines be allowed on state land? Can Maryland afford to shoot down another proposal for alternative energy when the state faces rolling blackouts in just three years?

DANIELLE ULMAN, Business Writer

This week’s been full of announcements: two appointments to the Court of Special Appeals; Legg Mason’s choice for CEO; a Republican proposal for an alternative to the computer services tax.

And let’s not forget this week’s other big news: the start of the statewide smoking ban.

Watch it all unfold in photographs in our Week in Photos feature below.

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Spending less than $40 for a ticket to next year’s SuperBowl may sound impossible, but it’s not – thanks to yoonew.com, a site that dubs itself “The Stock Market for Sports Tickets.”

And with both the Ravens and the Redskins to have new head coaches next year, who knows – the home team just might make it to the big game.

Here’s how it works.

Fast Company uses the example of a Miami Dolphins fan who believes his team (with a 1-15 season this year) will reach next year’s Superbowl. The fan can purchase a contract for a ticket to that game for $34. If the Dolphins defy the odds and emerge victorious, the fan will go to the game for that price. If not, the fan forfeits the $34 – and yoonew uses the money from losing investors to purchase tickets for those who won. And they’ll make good on your bet: the company says it has never failed to deliver a ticket to a winning investor.

What do you say: would you drop $34 on the chance that the Ravens (with a 5-11 season this year) can pull it off for 2009?

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

Above: Arizona Cardinals stadium at the University of Phoenix, where SuperBowl XLII will be held on Sunday. Image courtesy azcardinals.com.