Inspired by the power of ideas and the whimsy of urban legends, Jeffrey and I explored a variety of concepts but kept returning to things such as the Internet, flash mobs, and a kind of viral civic action-or at least the idea of it.

In some ways, we are inverting our own cynicism and attempting to invent a mindset for change and action through, well, lies. What if we systematically spread rumors of amazing things happening in Baltimore-both to inspire a sense of wonder and possibility in our community, and just maybe so that some of them might come true? Like conspiracy theories, but just the opposite: instead of disempowering rumors of shadowy agents secretly controlling events, rumors of ordinary people doing amazing things. Their power is in the idea itself-part fancy, part satire, part liberal dreaming. The best lies work off an alchemical formula of just the right amount of plausibility, a veneer of authority, and generous helpings of the unthinkable.

-Molly Ross

Sample Rumors

Baltimore City recently began converting alleys into bike paths.

Baltimore has the highest per capita rate of working artists in America.

Baltimore was just awarded the "Cleanest City in America" award.

The city council donated their salaries to build new state-of-the-art schools.

Baltimore City has just announced plans to build a bridge from Locust Point to Canton with two lanes of traffic going both ways.

Groups of rowhouses will join in an energy co-op, installing solar power panels on their rooftops and sharing the electricity generated.