Vote No'Malley

Now In Randallstown - Tang Soo Do Karate

2012-01-27T21:09:00.003-05:00

The old abandoned Woodsmith's Furniture in Randallstown, or more commonly known as the hamlet of Houghton, finally has a new occupant. Tang Soo Do Karate has moved in and they are looking for some serious customers! I saw 2 older overweight men in there practicing one evening, possibly waiting for new customers. Neither looked like they were named Tang. More like Antonio and George.

If you're interested in the history, prior to the Woodsmith's Furniture, which started in 1998, there was a hardware store, which opened in 1965. Before the hardware store it was an Eckard's grocery store. I'm not sure when that opened. Judging by the design of the building, I'd say the 1930's or 40's. I learned this by reading The Forgotten Corner, A History of Oakland Mill by Diana Mills Scott. Again - older folks who know please fill me in! And sign up for karate!

Moving in Eldersburg - Pure Fitness

2012-01-27T20:37:00.003-05:00

With Tri-Star Martial Arts moving to the old Hardees on Liberty Road, that leaves a big empty spot in the Eldersburg Plaza. Pure Fitness, which basically has its starting price hard-coded on its sign, has announced that it will be moving into Tri-Star's location.

Now we need to find something to fill Pure Fitness' space. Perhaps they can put another nail salon or a Starbuck's there.

Closing in Eldersburg? Buffalo Wings & Beer

2012-01-27T20:25:00.003-05:00

Word on the street is that Buffalo Wings & Beer in the Eldersburg Plaza will be closing soon. Another one bites the dust in the mighty metropolis of Eldersburg. I'm not sure what occupied this location before Buffalo Wings & Beer. I think it's been the same restaurant the entire time I've lived in Eldersburg, but I could be wrong. Would love to hear from those who haven't left this zip code in their entire life.

What's going to replace this establishment? I haven't heard. But I'll let you know when I hear it!

Martin O'Malley Wants Counties To Stick It To Teachers

2012-01-20T21:45:00.003-05:00

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is never one to shy away from passing the buck to someone else. You've seen his press conferences. Roll-up your sleeves and pass the buck. It looks so elegant.

In his struggle to maintain the ever-increasing state spending with less and less revenue to support it, he has to reach into his bag of tricks to find new ways to satiate his addiction. His latest trick is a true wolf in sheep's clothing. In one sentence O'Malley claims he is only nominally increasing the budget this year. He claims he's made billions of dollars in cuts, yet the budget numbers are bigger. If you were educated in Baltimore City's public schools, you probably wouldn't question that. But fortunately for you - you're smarter than that and you deserve better, right?

So in one sentence he is claiming that he's cutting state spending, yet in the next sentence he is demanding the transfer of millions of dollars in mandatory spending to cover state teachers' pensions onto the county governments. You have to admit it's fairly clever. Most people are only going to look at the bottom line. If you shift mandatory spending for one item entirely off of your balance sheet, that gives you that much more spending that you can plug in without much visibility. And tax payers won't even realize how much more they're paying in taxes until we're way into this.

The counties, on the other hand, boy are they getting it in the arse. If the counties are forced into spending millions of dollars per year to cover pension payments that they didn't cover previously, they are forced to into a position of increasing county taxes. Then they (the counties) look like the bad guy. And Martin O'Malley comes out looking like a petunia. Fortunately for this guy, I have a good nose and this flower smells like poop!

But all of this isn't the best part. In Martin O'Malley's press conference this week where he released the details of his budget for 2012, he defended his request to push pension costs onto the county because a) the counties are the ones negotiating the pension contracts (that part makes sense to me) and b) he said that this will give the counties the impetus to negotiate tougher with the teachers' unions to push for lesser terms.

Wow. Martin O'Malley, the big defender of the teachers and the proponent of education, all children can succeed, teachers and children are our future, etc..., he's basically saying that teachers' pensions are too high and the counties need to tighten the screws on them. Pass the buck. I'm not dealing with this. Being tough with the teachers will hurt my reputation. Screw the counties.

So be weary of the smoke and mirrors in Annapolis. Because what you don't know will hurt you. Unroll your sleeves and be afraid. Be very afraid.

Martin O'Malley Needs Spellchecker

2012-01-19T09:06:00.003-05:00

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley continues to disappoint everyone in the thinking world. Most of the disappointment is related to his failed policies, his massive tax increases, and his out-of-control spending. However, I found another problem, one that is a very elementary problem and inexcusable. He needs to use spellchecker.

As you can see from this screen shot from his governor.maryland.gov website, he cannot spell "Archived". Sad, sad, sad. Just another example of lack of accountability and an absolute disregard for the details. Hopefully when he reads my blog tonight (as I'm sure he does), he will see the problem and have it corrected immediately!

SOPA Protest

2012-01-18T07:26:00.004-05:00

In a show of solidarity with Wikipedia and other websites protesting the government's attempt to take over the Internet with the backing of the entertainment industry, VoteNoMalley is blacking out today. Let's hope that Barbara Mikulksi and Ben Cardin agree.

How To Get Through to Apple

2012-01-17T12:51:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine told me this story and I had to share it. It's priceless.

Here's a funny story. I bought a Xmas present from the apple store in Columbia mall last month. The sales guy said I had until Jan. 9th to return it in order to receive a full refund. I was planning to take it back tonight until I noticed the receipt said Jan 3rd was the last day to get a full refund. Before I made the trip to the mall tonight I called the store during lunch to see if I can still make a return. I call the Columbia store number on the receipt and get the whole automated menu of questions. The first thing it says is that it can understand full sentences and how may I help you. I said I would like to make a return. It then asked if the product was purchased online or in a store. After I told him/her that I purchased it in a store, it then directed my call to a service rep at the Columbia mall location. I was driving in the car so I let the phone ring for 10 minutes until I finally ended the call. I called back and I ended the call this time after about 10 rings. I called again and this time I told the f'ing robot that I would like to purchase 500 thousand Imac Pro's. It then asked was is it for personal or business use. I said business. It then directed my call to a service rep at the Columbia store. And after the first ring someone answered. Imagine that!

Martin O'Malley Calls Disagreers Stupid

2012-01-15T07:41:00.004-05:00

If you don't agree with Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, then you're stupid. Why? Because he said so!

Defending his Soviet-style PlanMaryland where the state takes absolute control over planning decisions away from the counties by executive order, Martin O'Malley showed his arrogant and intolerant side, something we only see a few times per day. Funny how liberals say that conservatives are intolerant. When liberals get mad at you for disagreeing with them and then they mock you, that's not intolerance for some reason.

So what did Martin "Workers of the world unite" O'Malley say? He said, "The state's not going to be part of these stupid decisions, and we're not going to be subsidizing stupid decisions..." So if you want to subdivide your land and use well water, you're stupid. If you don't like his plan, you're stupid. If you don't agree with either of these statements, you're stupid.

Who are these stupid people? Well, if you live in Carroll County, you're definitely stupid. Montgomery County, you're not stupid. Eastern Shore? You and your septic tanks - you are stupid, indeed. Baltimore City? Genius! Western Maryland with all you property owners who want to develop it? You are a lot stupider than you think. Republicans and Conservatives, who are the majority of people that live in these districts? I'm sure you already realize that Martin O'Malley thinks you're stupid.

Are you offended that Maryland's Governor has the audacity to say that property owners, rural county government planners, Republicans, and Conservatives who respect the Constitution, free markets, liberty, and God make stupid decisions? I am. But I'm comforted knowing that we have a Governor who knows that I'm stupid and can make decisions for me.

Martin O'Malley - Let's Raise the Sales Tax AGAIN!!!

2012-01-14T08:27:00.002-05:00

Martin O'Malley. What a guy. There's not a tax hike he doesn't like. Alcohol tax. Sales tax. Another sales tax. Thumb tacks.

It's really frustrating to hear him talk lately. WBAL radio keeps playing a clip of him saying to the effect that we really don't have any other choice but to raise taxes because we've already cut over $6 Billion from the budget over the last few years and you get what you pay for. I wish the tax payers of Maryland got what they paid for.

The truth is, Martin O'Malley has NOT cut the budget by $6 billion. At least he hasn't cut the budget with regard to the amount of money the state spent the previous years with the exceptin of a $200 million cut between 2010 and 2011. But we're talking billions of dollars here, so millions in nearly insignificant. Here is a list of the total state spending (as reported on Red Maryland) on O'Malley's watch.

2008: 29.4 billion

2009: 30.7 billion

2010: 32.2 billion

2011. 32.0 billion

2012: 34.2 billion

I don't see any $6 billion decreases here. So where is this phantom $6 billion coming from? I suspect that every year Governor Martin "Leapin' Liar" O'Malley came up with a wish-list of the billions of dollars that he wants to spend, then cuts his own list and calls that 'cutting the budget'. "I want to spend $45 billion this year, but I'll reduce what I want to spend to $35 billion. Now I can say that I cut the budget by $9 billion!!!" Does that sound like his kind of crap?

Now O'Malley is running our of revenue to spend on his pet projects, so he wants to increase the state sales tax for the second time during his tenure as governor. I don't think any sitting governor of Maryland has ever raised the sales tax twice. What a wonderful dubious honor, Guv'nah!

O'Malley defends his massive tax increase proposals by saying that Maryland has the 40th lowest state sales tax in the Union. However, of those states with higher sales taxes, Washington, Nevada, Wyoming, South Dakota, Texas, Alaska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Florida have no state income tax.

Additionally, according to the Tax Foundation, Marylanders are already burdened with one of the highest overall tax rates in the country, surpassed only by New Jersey (11.8%), New York (11.7%), and Connecticut (11.1%).

Now comes the best part. Martin O'Malley will spin his latest massive tax increase on the struggling middle class and poor working people of Maryland by saying it's "a penny increase". I had an long-standing battle with the liberal pundits on Wikipedia during the last state sales tax increase. I would write, "Anne Kaiser voted to increase the sales tax by 20%". It would then be changed to "Anne Kaiser voted to increase the sales tax by 1 penny." Technically, my statement is more correct. To make the second statement correct, you would need to add "for each dollar spent".

Now Martin O'Malley wants to "technically" raise the state sales tax by another 16.7%. The two sales tax increases will amount to a 40% increase in the sales tax since he's been governor. Liberal cannot argue with the math. But as they say, don't let the facts get in the way of good tax increase.

Moving in Eldersburg - Tri-Star Martial Arts

2012-01-12T19:28:00.005-05:00

You'll recall from a previous post that an Asian martial arts company is moving into the old Hardee's on Liberty Road next to the Mr. Tire. I learned yesterday the Tri-Star Martial Arts business currently located in Eldersburg Plaza next to the Eldersburg Discount Liquors is the new occupant.

I was excited to learn that the old Hardee's was going to be occupied, but a little discouraged that the new occupant is from an existing business. It may be a good move for Tri-Star, but that leaves a fairly significant vacancy in the Eldersburg Plaza.

One of my friends who keeps up on all of the activity in Eldersburg said, "Going to be a hit to China House, Liquor Store, Cobblestone, CVS when 400+ people that go in each week for karate won't say let's get a bite to eat while we are here or pick something up at CVS because it is convenient or get some booze before going home"

He's right. Those businesses will be impacted by the loss of Tri-Star because of the fact that there is a lot of foot-traffic in and out of there. We'll see what happens.

Sander's Corner Restaurant - We Should Go There Sometime

2012-01-12T19:20:00.004-05:00

On our numerous treks between Eldersburg and the rest of the family in Bel Air, we often traverse Cromwell Bridge Road. There is a quaint little restaurant called Sander's Corner. Every time we pass it one of us says, "We ought to stop and eat there sometime." We honestly have the best intentions of going there. Not anymore.

On our last trip back to and from Bel Air we noticed that a For Sale sign now sits in front of the building wrapped with an empty parking lot. It is such a sad sight. Perhaps a new owner will purchase the place and keep it the same. That never happens, but we can always wish.

Dangerous Towing?

2012-01-12T19:16:00.005-05:00

Should I have been concerned while driving behind this tow truck on southbound I-795 the other day? The truck being towed is sort of riding diagonally behind the tow truck. I was a bit nervous, so I sped around them at the first opportunity.

Gold's Gym Coming to Carrolltown Center in Eldersburg???

2012-01-11T14:30:00.002-05:00

Rumor on the street is that Gold's Gym is considering moving into the soon-to-be available Peebles department store in the failing Carrolltown Center here in Eldersburg. I have nothing to prove this other than the rumors I've heard on the street. Let's see how good the rumor mill is!

Visit Carroll County Historical Society - But Call First!

2012-01-09T21:15:00.006-05:00

This is getting to be a running theme with this blog. You'd think I'd learn my lesson. Either I'm forgetful or stupid. I'll go with forgetful.

On one of the last days of my vacation between Christmas and New Year's I decided to go visit the Carroll County Historical Society. I did visit their website. Based on the days of the week and their hours of operation, I figured they would be open.

I wasn't sure what to expect. The website indicates several houses that can be toured. They were all built during the late 1700's and the early 1800's. I love these kind of buildings. If I was rich I'd totally buy one and pretend to live there now and then. But then again, I'm not a lawyer.

I arrived and go in one of the buildings. A nice older lady greets me and says that the administrative office is open, but the other buildings are closed and the historical library is closed. I really would like to visit the historical library. I imagine there to be lots of pictures and books of all historical things in Carroll County. Boo...

She tells me the Shops At Cockey's is open. Doesn't sound like my thing. What? Oh, it's not that? So I go to the Shops At Cockey's. It's one of those places where local artisans sell their wares. There's plenty of ready-to-make recipes, jewelry, paintings, and other hand-made items. There are books in the rear of the store. And there is a quasi-museum on the left side.

A lady comes out to greet me. Obviously I'm the first customer of the day. Perhaps the first customer of the month. I tell her I'm there to take in the historic elements of the home and settle my curiosity. I then ask her if it's okay to take pictures. Oh-boy! She turns into a nervous Nelly. "Why do you want to take pictures? Are you with the press? You're not trying to get me in trouble are you?"

I'm taken back by the string of questions. I tell her that some historical places do not allow you to take pictures, while others allow you to take pictures of you turn off the flash. She seems somewhat satisfied. She then begs the question again, "Why do you want to take pictures?" "Because I like taking pictures???" She finally unconvincingly concedes and tells me it is fine, though her voice quivers. I was starting to think there were some top secret items there. Perhaps even some stolen goods. Why the hysteria and paranoia??? Are you with the Confederates???

So here are the top-secret pictures I got as an undercover media person trying to get an older lady in trouble. The theme of the quasi-museum changes and currently it is toys.

This item is an old grocery store. It is in a metal container with cardboard items replicating real-life items of the era.

This kid-powered dump truck was pretty interesting. I had a fire truck of similar style, though certainly not as old.

This doll carriage is from the 1870's. Very ornate. Imagine buying this in a store today. It would cost several hundred dollars - if not more! Wal-Mart wouldn't even carry it because there aren't enough distorted plastic materials made by underpaid communist Chinese slave laborers.

This building is the historic Westminster Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House constructed in 1807. It was closed for the week.

This is the Carroll County Historical Society's building. It is also known as the Kimmey House, which was constructed in 1800. John Adams was President then. For those of you not good at math, that was a long time ago.

The house on the right with the green shutters is the Cockey's Tavern. To my surprise, it's not a gay brothel.

This building is a law firm I believe. It's a really interesting building. If you open the picture check out the ornate details.

This here is an old brick house on Main Street. I think it's also occupied by one of them thar' lawyer types.

This is also a law firm. Thank goodness for law firms and their desire to maintain historic houses.

You're never going to guess this, but this house is occupied by a law firm. At first I was taken back by the mint green color, sort of reminded me of some ice cream I wanted to get at Hoffman's, but if you click on the picture and note the contrasting green and dark grays and blacks and whites, I'm sure you'll come to appreciate it like I do.

So the next time you plan to to to Westminster to tour the Carroll County Historical Society's buildings, call first. Ugh....

Coming To Eldersburg - Another Asian Martial Arts Business

2012-01-09T20:44:00.005-05:00

Currently not short on Asian martial arts businesses (please note that I did not say Oriental), Eldersburg is moving to further corner the market on such establishments.

The former Hardee's, former Auto Sound Innovations, has been undergoing some transformation. There are no signs indicating what the new establishment will be, so I first Googled it. The site seems to be owned by 1840 Liberty Road LLC, but the mailing address is in a residential section of Westminster.

The Maryland Property Database shows the primary structure being built in 2001, but we know that's not correct. When we moved to Eldersburg in 1999 it was already an abandoned former-restaurant. Also on that website I see that a former owner bought it in 1985. That sounds more reasonable. That may be when the Hardee's opened. Any older Eldersburgers know?

Since I couldn't find out any more information via the Internet, I did the next best thing - I drove to the site and asked one of the construction workers. "It's going to be a karate place." he says. So there you have it. I'm happy that the building is going to be used once again. More tax revenue for Marty O'Malley!

When It's That Cold - Eat Ice Cream!

2012-01-08T22:45:00.004-05:00

Remember that day last week where it got down to 11°? At least it got down to that here in Carroll County, also known as God's country. My daughter was in the hospital and my mother-in-law came to stay with us for a few days. My mother-in-law needed some things at Staples, my son wanted Mexican food for dinner, and my daughter wanted to find a laptop case. So the obvious decision was we needed to go to Westminster.

We ate dinner at this little hole in the wall named Papa Joe's. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me, but I'll go back and get a picture. The food there was fantastic. I thought it was on Main Street, but we couldn't find it. I stepped into the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Office and asked if they knew where it was. The lady got up and said to just follow the wonderful smell. She then walked us to the back of the building where we found it. There are maybe 12 - 14 tables in there. The food was so good!

After dinner, we went to Staples and got our junk. My kids then wanted to know if we could drive by the hoarders house in Liberty Street. We had just been watching Hoarders and there was an episode where the woman lived in Westminster. It wasn't much to see at this point. The house looked abandoned and it was empty. There were plenty of "No Parking" signs in front of the house, so I imagine it became a bit of a spectacle, much to the neighbor's chagrin. But they did find some dead cats in the bathroom buried under a pile of used adult diapers. That's always cool!

Finally, my son says, "Let's go to Hoffman's!" First of all, it's either in the low 20's or the high teens at this point. I tell him he's crazy. Then I drive there. But I have to admit - Hoffman's ice cream is the best ice cream ever. So we stopped there got 4 ice cream cones. The peppermint is incredible. You should get some! Thus ended the coldest night so far this year.

Coming To Eldersburg - Another Starbucks

2012-01-08T22:34:00.003-05:00

Not sure if the Starbucks in Safeway is going to close, but the old K Bank, which is the old Key Bank before it was sued and subsequently renamed, is undergoing some renovations to become either the new Starbucks or another Starbucks.

The location is certainly awkward. Getting their from westbound Liberty Road is easy enough. Just turn left. To get there going eastbound on Liberty, you have to turn left on Georgetown Boulevard, then circle into the parking lot to the far-corner. To get out, you cannot exit back onto Liberty Road, but have to exit from the terrible entrance onto Georgetown.

I suspect this location will not thrive, but I wish them luck. I certainly don't want to see a lot of empty building in our prosperous land. But I'm sure Martin O'Malley is happy at the reuse. It should fit into his PlanMaryland.

Heard at Home Depot

2012-01-08T22:12:00.004-05:00

I seem to be a bit of an eaves-dropper lately. I went to Home Depot to return a non-functioning garbage disposal that I had installed in October, but has since stopped working. Fortunately, they allowed me to do an even exchange despite passing the 90 day return period (but by only a week or so).

So anyway, my son and I were coming out of Home Depot in Eldersburg and a man was walking toward us talking on his cellphone.

"Hi, yes, do you guys do drywall? Yeah, because my daughter had a party in her apartment and someone put their head through the wall."

My son looked up at me and asked, "What did he say?" Yes, we heard that correctly. Must have been quite a party!

Improvements? Isn't That an Opinion?

2012-01-06T23:19:00.003-05:00

I posted this picture previously, but I got to thinking about it again, though this time from a different perspective. The sign says Lyons Mill Road Improvements. I've been watching the changes over the past few months. Traffic is terrible. Many home owners have lost 50-75% of their front yards due to the road-widening. Dozens of trees have been cut down. This is an improvement?

I've noticed this before on other projects. You can find it in papers such as the Baltimore Business Journal. When a field of trees is torn down and the land is leveled and storm water management is added, this is called "improvement". I understand that they shouldn't be calling it "destruction". That's certainly not good PR. Perhaps they should call it "urbanization". Because I don't really think that's an improvement.

Breaking in the New Health Insurance

2012-01-06T22:48:00.004-05:00

You probably noticed that I haven't blogged all week. That would be because we spent a good part of the week at this place:

University of Maryland hospital. Obviously this is a picture I took in the fall. The best part about this most recent visit is we now have new health insurance at American Corrugated Amalgamated Conglomerates of America. I think we hit the annual deductible limit already. On January 3rd! Yay!!!

Fortunately, for the most part, everything is okay with my daughter. Just a lot of tests and monitoring. If it's not one thing it's 10 others.

I do have to mention this, though. I had to go to the pharmacy at the hospital. There was a bit of a line, so I stood in the line minding my own business. "Officer, I was just standing there minding my own business!" Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a short older African-American woman walk in and stand behind me. I heard her mutter something and I wasn't sure if she was talking to me or not, so I turned around to see. Instantly I knew she was a crazy person. When I turned around she looked up at me and made another unintelligible utterance. Regardless of whether she was talking to me or not, I decided that I wasn't going to listen.

A few minutes later a younger woman and her son walked in and stood in line behind her. The crazy lady turned around and the two women knew each other and immediately started talking. Now I could understand her a little better. Here is some of their conversation.

Your little boy had quite a party last week.

He sure did. We had fun.

Yay, me too. I don't think I made it home that night.

Fred asked me to move in with him, but he only got one bedroom. He said I could sleep in his room, but he only got one bed and I told him I ain't movin' in, but I'll come visit.

I got my check from Housing. It was for $1,000. I wanted a 3 bedroom place, but the check said I gots to get a 2 bedroom place. But if you talk to the man sometime he let you stay in a 3 bedroom.

When I moved in I ain't got no bed. I went back to Housing and they said they give me a voucher for a bed if I go out and price one. I was gonna go down Archie's and get a bed, but I din't.

Pardon my French, but that's f**king bullsh*t!!!

Finally I made it up to the counter and got away from the insanity. It's amazing to see how the common people live. I don't mean to say common to sound like an elitist. But people like her are more common than people like me at the hospital. The pharmacist told me it would be an hour and a half until my prescriptions would be ready. So I left and came back 90 minutes later.

When I returned, crazy lady was sitting there waiting. There was still a long line and the pharmacist was helping people as fast as he could. Crazy lady got up, went to the pharmacist and said, "Where's my goddamn medicine?"

It'll be ready soon. I apologize for the delay, but we've been really busy this afternoon. I'll call your name as soon as I see that it's complete.

What the f**k you mother f**kers doin' back there? Mother f**kers is pissin' me off!!!!

Okay, I'll let you know when it's ready.

I wanted to give him a gold star for maintaining his composure, but I suspect that he's heard that before.

Fortunately, we are back home and we no longer have to worry about older ladies and the mother-f**kers.

Happy New Year!

2012 New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-31T15:25:00.002-05:00

I hate the whole "New Year's Resolutions" crap. No one sticks to their resolutions. You never see any blog posts at the end of the year saying 'look how well I did with my resolutions!'. The gym is always crowded in January with these fake fitness goal seekers. "I'm going to lose 85 pounds and get into a bikini." Yeah, whatever. I'm no Tony Horton, but I'm also no Kevin James, either.

Some people quit smoking. Some people read more. Some people spend more time with their families. Blah-blah-blah. Most people just go about being themselves. People don't really change. Therefore, I'm not calling these New Year's resolutions. I'm just calling these things I hope to accomplish.

Early in the year we were introduced to the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation, an organization that provides respite and hospital housing for families with critically ill children. After we had the opportunity to spend a long weekend at their beach house in Ocean City in February I felt the need to do something for them. I learned that the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation sponsored the Port to Fort 6K. At that point I decided to start running so that I could participate in this race, which was in April. Then I kept running.

A month after the race one of my old high school friends posted on Facebook that she just ran X miles and was halfway to her goal for the year. I thought that was a great idea and I decided to run 200 miles by the end of the summer. I accomplished that goal. Then I decided I was going to run 350 miles by the end of the year. But then it got cold, work got busy, and I didn't make my goal. I did, however, run almost 300 miles. Not too bad.

So how many miles can I run next year? I think I can run 500 miles in a year. That's not that big of a deal. It's about 9 miles per week. I was running almost 20 miles per week during the summer. I also want to run a 5K with my daughter. She says she wants to run cross-country and track in high school (and she's about a year and a half away from high school), so she started ruining with me now and then. My friend Charm City Kim says that we should run a half-marathon together. A half-marathon is 13.1 miles, and when you finish you're allowed to have a 13.1 sticker, which also makes you eligible to buy a Volvo.

My weight has also been a struggle. I'm about 185, but I think I should be about 165. My wife thinks I should weigh 125. The next time I weigh 125 will be after I've been dead for about 9 months. I think with my continued running, I should be able to bring it down into the 170's. That is if I can contain myself with my daughter taking an interest in baking.

My youngest daughter continues her treatment for leukemia, so while I have no control over her illness, I want to see her healthier and not be in the hospital. I think she was in the hospital 4 times this year, maybe more. She has her down weeks, but her precious smile makes the other weeks so much better. She loves school and I want to see her go to school as often as she can.

There was a lull for a while in my reading. I picked it up again at the end of the year. I'd like to read at least one book per month. Most of my readings are history with the occasional classic. Perhaps some of my readers can offer suggestions. Romance novels are out of the question.

I'd like to paint my bedroom. We've lived in our house for almost 13 years and still have not painted our bedroom. Perhaps 2012 would be a good year to do that.

I'd like to see Martin O'Malley come to some sort of self-recognition of his abysmal failures as Governor and step down from office and start volunteering for a non-profit instead. I would also like to hear him admit that his Congressional map that he drew is not fair to Marylanders and submit a new plan.

On the blog front, I'd like to keep my bloggin pace a little more frequent than it was through most of the year. I know that several times this year saw a lull. Perhaps I can blog at night after I've read some of my book while eating my daughter's tasty desserts.

Is there anything else I should be doing? What are your goals for 2012?

Leaving Eldersburg - Blockbuster

2011-12-31T09:12:00.003-05:00

I know what you're going to say - Blockbuster is still open? Seriously! I don't think I've been to a Blockbuster since I went there to rent Three Men and a Baby....I mean Under Seige 2, yeah that one.

Like everything else in the physically deteriorating Carrolltown Center, hardly anyone shops at Blockbuster. You an see the sun-faded movies sitting on the shelf collecting dust. Now and then I'd see a car or two in the parking lot, but then realized that those were the cars of the staff working there.

Blockbuster ran a mock of the changing dynamics of the entertainment industry. Gone are the days of dozens of people with their head cocked to the right looking at the sideways titles of the VHS tapes. Here are the days of $1 rentals at kiosks and instant entertainment with OnDemand and Netflix. Heck, you can even find a lot of new movies at the library - for FREE!!! Why would you pay several dollars to rent a movie at Blockbuster? It's like voting for Martin O'Malley - it just doesn't make any sense!

The closing of Blockbuster is one of two imminent closings in the next two months at Carrolltown Center. Also closing in Peebles, the moderately priced clothing store. If my calculations are correct, the closing of Blockbuster and Peebles will leave 105% of the mall unoccupied. That's pretty bad!

So, farewell Blockbuster. Welcome more empty retail space at Carrolltown Center!!!!

Moving In Eldersburg - Final Touch

2011-12-31T08:47:00.003-05:00

You'll recall that "The Final Touch" closed in the Freedom Village. Now, "Final Touch" has opened in the Princess Shopping Center in the former Romeo's restaurant site.

Word on the street is that the previous owner's son got into financial trouble and they had to bail him out and the new owners bought the business, slightly changed the name, moved it, and gave all VoteNoMalley blog readers free service. Well, the last one is not true.

So if you're in the mood for some total hair care service, stop in at Final Touch!

K-Mart...Closing....Staying....Closing....?

2011-12-30T23:20:00.006-05:00

Eldersburg actually made the new in The Sun. And this time it wan't for someone in Randallstown robbing one of the businesses in our quaint bucolic town. This time it was because of Carrolltown and K-Mart.

As I mentioned recently, Sears Holding is closing 100-120 or so of its failing stores. Those of us in prosperous region of South Carroll were elated at this news because the K-Mart in our town is the epitome of failure. They MUST be closing this K-Mart, right?

Sadly, our hopes were dashed almost as quickly as we formed them. Sears Holdings released a list of the stores that were closing and the Eldersburg K-Mart was not cool enough to make the cut.

Now, another twist of fate, The Baltimore Sun posted an article about Carrolltown and Eldersburg's desire to rid the the town of this pox of a store. The rumor in town is that K-Mart has a golden lease, meaning it pays very little in rent and has something like a 50 year lease that allows it to have veto authority for any changes, sort of like K-Mart being on the Carrolltown Center Security Council (re NATO).

As The Baltimore Sun states, the lease actually expires in 2013. That's only a year and a couple of days or 2 years and a day away, depending on the month and day of the expiration of the lease. Can we wait that much longer for the lease to expire and boot this ghetto store from the 1970's? Or will Dixon Harvey and Black Oak Associations (owners of Carrolltown Center) pull the rug out from under the citizens of Eldersburg and extend the lease?

At this point, absolutely no one knows. We've spun around in circles on this issue for years. The citizens of Eldersburg feel like they have been misled and deceived by everyone from the court system, the Zoning and Planning Commission, Sears, K-Mart, and Black Oak Associates. At this point we trust no one. We must assume that all news we hear is a lie.

By the way, have there been any robberies in Eldersburg lately?

Oh, and have you ever noticed that K-Mart, the anchor tenant at Carrolltown Center, is not on the main sign for the mall? What does that tell you?

2011 - A Year in Review

2011-12-29T13:59:00.005-05:00

What can we say about 2011? This was supposed to be the year of the rebound for both Maryland, the U.S. economy, the Orioles, and the NBC Thursday night line-up. What we got was moral turbulence in Maryland, a continuing terrible economy, a 69-93 Orioles, and an Office without Steve Carell and some show named Whitney.

Let's review the year and see what we can remember.

January

In what has become known as the Arab spring, which actually stretched from winter into the summer, oppressive misogynistic hate-mongering governments of many Middle Eastern countries see the people rise up against them. In January, Tunisia sees its President flee to Saudi Arabia, but no clear leader has emerged. Perhaps we can send them Martin O'Malley. Tunisia needs to move forward.

The entertainment industry lost former Stealers Wheel frontman Gerry Rafferty. He's best known for the songs "Right Down the Line", "Baker Street", and the song from that fun scene in Reservoir Dogs when everyone shoots each other, "Stuck in the Middle With You".

Martin O'Malley holds a forum to discuss sustainability through his 2nd term as Governor. He touches buzz-word topics such as smart growth, clean energy, and Bay restoration. He leaves the forum in his black 6,550 lb Chevy Suburban that gets 8 miles per gallon.

February

More Arab spring, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarik resigns after 30 years of rule and the military takes over the government. That'd sort of be like George W. Bush resigning and Donald Rumsfeld leading the government until another president could be elected. Not that we expect free elections in Egypt. They're still about as corrupt as the Maryland Congressional redistricting committee.

In Super Bowl 46, the Packers beat the Steelers (thank God!!!) 31-25 behind the skill and arm of Aaron Rogers. Green Bay residents wonder how many Super Bowls they could have won with this kid if they would have just kicked Brett Favre out of town when it was really time to go.

The Gay Marriage Bill was unsuccessful in the Maryland General Assembly. However, Governor Martin O'Malley promises that it will pass next time when he can get credit for it.

March

March began with disaster as a 9.1 magnitude earthquake hit offshore of Japan and created a giant tsunami. Now people around the world snicker when they hear Fukushima, the nuclear power plant that went into meltdown and exploded after giant waves hit the plant and perilously disabled it. Scientists are uncertain what caused the earthquake, but many speculate that Rosie O'Donnell fell out of her bed.

There was a double-shot of Arab spring in March. There was civil unrest in Bahrain and the King sends the military to shoot the democracy seekers in order to bring peace again. In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi stands tall in protest of the raging civil war in his country. Pretty much everyone in the free world is against this nut (remember the Locherbie bombing?), so it's him and his sticks versus the bombs and jets of the free world. Guess who's going to win this one?

The world loses 2 political figures in March: Warren Christopher, former Secretary of State under Bill Clinton, (not to be confused with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, who was also under Bill Clinton) and Geraldine Ferraro, former running-mate of Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate for President in 1984.

In Hollywood, we lose Elizabeth Taylor, the often mocked star for her numerous husbands and awkward relationship with Michael Jackson and his monkey Bubbles. I don't care what people say. If you watch some of her movies back when she was young, she was a very attractive woman. And do you know why Bob Goldthwait was fired from Hollywood Squares? He asked, "What does Michael Jackson do in his spare time? He blows bubbles."

Charlie Sheen is fired from Two and a Half Men, prompting George Steinbrenner to fire Billy Martin. Tiger Blood and Winning are added to the American lexicon.

April

In what has to be the biggest news of the year, short of the winner of American Idol, Prince William and Catherine Middleton get married. It is estimated that more than 2 billion people watch the wedding, which was sponsored by Bank of America and Toyota.

Former Baltimore City Council President, Mayor of Baltimore, Governor of Maryland, State Comptroller, and general agitator of Martin O'Malley, William Donald Schaefer passes away at the age of 89. Most Marylanders mourn his loss as he was considered a moderate politician representing the people in the middle of the political spectrum. Left-wing fringe politician Martin O'Malley, while publicly mournful of the loss of Schaefer, you know he was relieved to get rid of that meddling kid.

May

In May, U.S. President Barrack Obama snuck into Pakistan in the middle of the night and killed Osama Bin Laden using illegal guns seized in Washington suburbs. This creates mass confusion in the media as MSNBC tweets that Obama was assassinated. This reminds me of the deplorable joke - what do Obama, Kennedy, and Lincoln have in common? Nothing yet.

In May we see the death of several prominent sports figures - golf legend Seve Ballesteros, wrestling legend Randy Savage, and the hope of Orioles fans for a winning season. Hollywood loses Kenickie from Grease or Bobby from Taxi, though there is much debate as to whether the drugs killed him, or the drug-induced vomiting into his lungs. Does it really matter? Don't do drugs, little bobcat.

New York Congressman Anthony Weiner resigns from office for [insert funny joke here]. Do I really need to say more?

June

Arab spring continues into June. The freedom-seeking people of Yemen attack the royal palace and demand FiOS be installed in the capital city. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, rufusing to give up territorial rights already given to Direct TV, resigns and Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi becomes President and demands that people say his name three times fast.

Farther north in the Middle East, Syrians get the freedom bug, but come under fire as they are attacked by the military and end up fleeing to Turkey where they are able to catch up on rerun episodes of Parks and Recreation.

Longtime euthanasia advocate and convicted felon, Dr. Death Jack Kevorkian died in June. There is no documentation as to what his opinion was on youth in Asia.

Also dead in June is Peter Faulk, probably best known by our generation as the detective Columbo, a show watched by our grandparents.

Not that anybody really cares, but the Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. ESPN is disappointed that the Lakers and Celtics aren't in the finals together for the 300th time, but hey, they'll get over it.

In the summer hockey championship, the Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks, 4 games to 3. It's a pleasant reminder that there are still hockey teams in Canada.

Opponents of In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens get a victory when they gather enough signatures to put the issue on the 2012 election ballot. The thousands of illegal immigrants in Maryland say they will vote against this petition to have the law repealed.

July

South Sudan announces that it is seceding from Sudan. Locals are quoted as saying, "You bitches can have your famine and civil war. We want the Wheel of Fortune and Pillow Pets!" Upon hearing the news, officials in Carroll County Maryland announce they are succeeding from Maryland and forming a new state. Governor O'Malley sends in tanks as citizens scurry from Liberty Road.

The United Nations declares a famine in Somalia, in spite of the protests from Somalis who don't want one.

NASA ends the Space Shuttle program after Space Shuttle Atlantis lands ending a run of nearly 30 years of space exploration using space shuttles. The federal government then allocates some telescopes from Brookstone, a box of rubber bands, and some paper clips and demands that we get to Mars.

Thailand is hit with severe flooding from monsoons. The World Bank estimates that the flooding caused $45 billion worth of improvements in the country.

Many people were very sad in July when Amy Winehouse OD'd on drugs. She joined the 27 Club, a club of exclusive wayward entertainers who cannot handle their fame, fortune, and abundance of drugs.

Casey Anthony is found not guilty for killing her daughter Caylee Anothy proving that if you're attractive enough, you can be found not guilty for killing your daughter.

August

In August the football world lost Baltimore Colt's legend Bubba Smith. Or you may remember him as Moses Hightower from Police Academy.

Lindsay Lohan most likely committed another crime. The oft-embarrassed, oft-arrested starlet announces she will redeem her image by appearing naked in Playboy. Though not a fan of Lindsay Lohan, I'm all in favor of women redeeming their image in Playboy.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty withdrawals from the Presidential election while in Iowa after Ron Paul informs him that they are running for the 2012 Presidential Election. Apparently Pawlenty thought he and all of the other candidates were getting an early start on the 2016 election, which we now know starts in June of 2012.

Congress authorizes an increase of the federal debt ceiling to $14 trillion. Obama said it is necessary to keep the Government operating and moving forward. He promises to work to reduce the debt in the meantime. In December of this year, he asks Congress for another $1.2 trillion increase in the debt ceiling saying, "yeah, about that, I forgot to work on it."

September

In September the hockey world lost several great players including Pavol Demetra and Brad McCrimmon. ESPN tells us we should mourn, but we should also be grateful that their favorite star, Sydney Crosby, was not on the plane.

Stephanie Rawling-Blake hosts the Baltimore Grand Prix. Traffic is tied up downtown for months, trees are chopped down, and streets are repaved for a race that is watched by 60% fewer viewers than anticipated. Drivers of the race complain how bumpy the race is. Baltimore is then sent a bill for the race which they can't pay. Can we blame Sheila Dixon for this?

October

Muammar Gaddafi is killed in Libya. And there was much rejoicing. Yeaaaaahhh.

Wrapped in economic peril because of a mounting debt crisis, Greeks protest and riot across the land. Facing a bailout of over $1 trillion, Greece agrees to become part of China. The Parthenon is being disassembled and will be reconstructed in Beijing as part of the debt repayment program.

In the computer and gadget geek world, Steve Jobs lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. Jobs was an icon and legend at Apple. But come on people, get a grip. It's not like he was the second coming of Christ.

The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers in the World Series. Upon receiving the World Series trophey, Cardinal slugger Albert Pujols says, "F all y'all! I'm going to Disneyland" and promptly signs with the Angels. It is estimated that his new salary is larger than the GDP of Greece, depending on the time of day.

Martin O'Malley takes a pledge to help end bullying. He then tells Maryland Republicans across the state to shut the f**k up and stop complaining about his anti-business, and anti-personal property positions. Mike Miller is heard whispering into his ear, "Remind them that we're going to shoot Republicans down, put them in the ground and bury them upside-down!!!"

ESPN fires Monday Night Football singer Hank Williams Jr. for using an analogy that included both Obama and Hitler, proving that it's never worth including Obama in an analogy - you're bound to get fired.

November

The Occupy Baltimore movement takes a grip on McKeldin Square at the Inner Harbor. Their intent is unclear, but their complaints are not. Many people complain about the gathering, but the occupiers demand that they have the right to squat on public property, get free electricity, and make a basic trash dump out of the city park.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is officially elected to the position of Mayor of Baltimore, a position she has held since Sheila "Gimmie Some Free Gift Cards" Dixon was forced to resign. Martin O'Malley said he looks forward to working with her. Yeah, no kidding. What were you going to say, "Damn, I lost my puppet-politician, now I gotta put up with this one!"?

Revenue from slots in Maryland falls in November and is much lower than anticipated. Searching for answers and not wanting to blame the bad economy or the incompetent political leadership in Maryland, the blame is quickly placed on former Maryland Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich.

December

The world of politics lost 2 important leaders in December. Rest in Peace Vaclav Havel, the democratic President of Czechoslovakia, who helped tear down the Iron Curtain in Europe during the Cold War. Good riddance Kim Jong Il, the lunatic leader of North Korea. I guess he was unable to get Knight Rider to come save his life.

Obama declares the end of the Iraqi War and says that we have withdrawn all of our troops. This leaves thousands of troops still stationed in Iraq scratching their heads.

Hollywood loses M*A*S*H legend Harry Morgan, better known as Colonel Potter. I've watched a lot of old movies and Harry Morgan always seemed a lot older than he was. I think he was 147 years old when he died.

The Maryland Department of Transportation executive secretary Harold Bartlett announces that after massive toll increases throughout the state, revenues are actually down. Without any hesitation on this newest problem, the blame is squarely placed on former Maryland Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich.

And this is what I remember about 2011. What are your best and worst memories of 2011?

It's Okay to Say Fu-ki

2011-12-28T18:36:00.003-05:00

I went to the Carrolltown Liquors today (which is no longer in the Carrolltown Center). I was looking for Drambuie and Chivas Regal - I want to make a Rusty Nail (I think that's what it's called). While searching for both I found this and HAD to buy it. It tastes pretty bad. It gives Karo Syrup a run for it's money as a beverage. It's thick and very sweet. But it's a good laugh.

Do you Fu-ki your plum?

Kevin Kamenetz - You're Not Allowed to be Ethical

2011-12-28T09:22:00.005-05:00

There was an interesting editorial in The Sun this week. And I actually agreed with it. Can you imagine that? I don't think my views have changed. I think the editorialist's views have moved closer to mine. If you haven't used up your 15 free views for this month, check out this article.

Earlier this year Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz submitted an ethics proposal to the Baltimore County to review and approve. Here are the highlights of his proposal:

There are rules for dealing with conflicts of interests. When voting on a matter in which the councilman has a financial interest or any connection, that councilman would need to recuse himself from voting. The council struck that down.

Mr. Kamenetz included rules for accepting gifts from others. This could include tickets to events, meals, or any physical items presented to the councilmen. Outside of politics, we call this bribery. In politics, it's perfectly okay. This was struck down.

The Baltimore County Council has had some problems with past members. We all remember Sam Moxley's drunk driving. And Ken Oliver's embezzling from his own campaign treasury. Why would the county council vote against new ethics standards? Because they enjoy the good ole' boy politics. Why would they vote to keep themselves honest when it's so much fun being bad?

Kevin Kamenetz - looks like you're on your own.

Potential Carrolltown Miracle? - Sears Closing Many K-Mart's

2011-12-28T08:46:00.003-05:00

Yesterday the Sears Holding Company, owner of K-Mart, announced that they are closing between 100 and 120 Sears and K-Mart's across the country. I have an excellent candidate for one of stores that should close - the K-Mart in Eldersburg!

I posted the article on Facebook and it generated quite a lot of conversation:

1) If they close the K-Mart in Eldersburg, then Black Oak Associates has no excuse to not demolish that mall and rebuild it with something sensible for the area (of Eldersburg, not Randallstown).

2) They should also close the K-Mart on Moravia Road for civic security concerns.

I'll have to admit that growing up in Rosedale we could get to the Moravia K-Mart in about 10 minutes or the Fullerton K-Mart in 15 minutes. One had metal detectors and street thugs and was run-down and more expensive. The other was suburban, nicely lit, lower prices, and nice little ladies shopped there. Guess which one my mother made us go to?

3) Blockbuster and Peebles are closing, so K-Mart should be next. (Is Blockbuster really closing?)

4) Where am I going to get my MacGregor shows and Athletex sweatpants now??

5) We need more jobs, so they should build 2 more K-Mart's in Eldersburg.

So as you can see, there was a wide variety of feedback, though I think the pro-K-Mart comments were all tongue-in-cheek.

Black Oak - what are you going to do with this K-Mart?

Trip to Washington, D.C. - Call First

2011-12-27T20:24:00.010-05:00

Since I have off this week, I decided to take a trip to D.C. and knock off a few more site seeing stops from my list. As I have mentioned before, I've lived in Baltimore for 39 years, less a 3 year stint in South Carolina for college, but yet I have not toured all the sites in Washington. As Robert Plant would say, "What kind of fool am I?"

My daughter had an appointment with the hemotologist today, so we gave my other two kids the option to hang out in the hospital with their mother or go with me to D.C. My kids are smart. They know that when I say I'm going somewhere it means a boring educational trip with a potential for a lot of walking. My daughter chose to go with my wife. My son chose to go with me. I was actually surprised. I thought it would be the other way around.

My son and I left our house around 9-ish, went to the bank to get some dinero, then to 7-11 to break one of the $20's because we planned on taking the D.C. Metro and by experience I have found that you need something other than $20's.

By the time we got underway, it started raining. Then it started raining harder. Then it started raining harder. Hmmm..... should I have checked the weather first? Doesn't matter because I made a date to meet one of my college friends for lunch who works in D.C. We got to the D.C. beltway and it was pretty slow. I got to Georgia Avenue and I couldn't remember if I take GA Ave or Connecticut Avenue to get to Silver Spring. If my wife was with me, should would have made like a co-pilot and checked the map. Usually I'm correct when making travel destination decisions. Not today

Several miles down Connecticut Avenue I realize I'm not going the right way. Finally I hit a red light and pull out the map. I found that if I took Nebraska Avenue it would hit Georgia Avenue and I could take that back north to the Metro station in Silver Spring. I look up to see what street I was on and lo and behold - Nebraska Avenue!!! I make a quick left then take a long slow trudge through whatever part of D.C. I'm in with a 25 mph speed limit and thousands of red lights.

We eventually make it to Silver Spring and I pull into the parking garage. I think the Silver Spring Metro parking lot has been under construction for the past 5 years. The public garage has meters. Thank goodness I also brought a bunch of quarters. I find a spot to park. All of the spots are about 36 inches wide. For a guy that ALWAYS can back his truck into a spot with one maneuver, I was very disappointed that I had to do this one in two. But I did manage to get a 77 and a half inch wide Honda Pilot into 36 inches of concrete.

We trudge from the parking garage to the metro station. In the rain. Much to my surprise the vintage 1970's metro card machines have been replaced with machines that take credit cards! We catch a train and head into the city. My son is amazed in the amount of graffiti on the buildings, fences, and hobos. That's D.C. for you.

Silver Spring sure has changed over the years.

We finally make it to Union Station and make our way out. It's raining. And cold. And breezy. This is going to be fun!

This is what Union Station looks like in December when it's cold, breezy, and rainy. And I think they've been doing construction here for 7 years!

No Senators or Representatives were at the Capitol bickering over funding the government or pointing fingers at the other party accusing them of blocking progress.

We walk several blocks to the Supreme Court building. It's quite a sight. Very imposing structure overlooking the Capitol grounds. Sort of symbolic. I like it! We follow a family into the building and wait to get through the security check point. It's like being at the airport. Except that the security guards seem like they know what they're doing and are not a bunch of arrogant dumbasses like the TSA. However, I'm not kidding when I say it took nearly 10 minutes to get the family of 4 and my son and me through this checkpoint.

Once inside we do the walking tour and read the educational displays. I find it fascinating. My son less so. But that's okay. He could be sitting in a waiting room at University of Maryland hospital. We then go to the Supreme Court theater and watch a 20 minute documentary on the Supreme Court building and the body that occupies it. Did you know that the Supreme Court building, which was built in the 1930's, is considered the last (or only?) Federal building to be completed under budget? The builders returned $100,000 to the U.S. Treasury. That would NEVER happen today.

After the movie I inquire about seeing the actual court room. I am told that the next tour isn't until 12:30, which is when I'm supposed to meet my friend for lunch. AND - absolutely NO pictures may be taken in the court room. Seriously? Do they think that I'm going to sell the pictures on eBay? Or is it some security threat to know what it looks like on the inside? There are certainly enough pictures on the Internet AND inside the museum section to know what it looks like in there. Silly rule I say. My son and I then decide to leave and make our way to my friend's place of work.

Check out this guy. He's parked on Constitution Avenue. Apparently he doesn't like Obama and Eric Holder. I guess this guy is preparing us for Revelations. Jesus Christ will return to Earth with AK-47's or something. Repent Eric Holder!

We meet my friend and went to lunch at Hill Country Barbecue. This is good stuff. Think Famous Dave's without the Appelbee's motif.

After lunch we part ways with my friend (it's a work day for him) and make our way to Ford's Theater. As we enter I suddenly feel out of place. Everyone is dressed very nicely. I'm wearing a pair of wet sneakers, wet jeans, and a wet grey sweatshirt. Everyone else is wearing slacks and button-down shirts and jackets. I get in line at the ticket window and think I overhear the lady tell the gentleman in front of me that there are no tours of the theater today. He moves along and she confirms what I heard. There is a private showing of A Christmas Carol today, but I was welcomed to come back tomorrow at 8am. Yeah, whatever. I should have called first.

She did inform me, however, that we could tour the Petersen House for free. For those of you who went to public schools in Baltimore County and know little about history, Ford's Theater is where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, who went to the institution that became Bel Air High School, my alma mater. The Petersen House is across the street where they dragged Lincoln so they could put him on a bed and prod around in his brain with a metal rod to try and remove the bullet in order to save his life. Today you would know that this action would actually do more damage than good.

The Petersen House is quite small. There is a living room in the front with a sign that said Mary Todd Lincoln sat here between bed-side visits with her husband and receiving people.

The dining room has a sign indicating that Secretary of War Edwin Stanton conducted meetings and ordered the search for the assassins.

Then there is the bedroom where Lincoln laid and died.

The first floor of the house is all of 400 square feet and the upstairs is not open to the public. We spend all of 3 minutes in the house. For a house of such historical significance, it is a bit underwhelming.

At this point we are tired. Cold. And very wet. We decide to head home. It's about 11 blocks back to Union Station. And it's raining fairly steady. And did I mention that it's cold? We finally get to Union Station. We're soaked. We catch the train and head out of the city. Oh, I pulled the metro tickets out of my pocket and they're soaked. A metro thug tells me I cannot use them, that I need to buy new tickets. Are you f-ing kidding me? So I go to buy new tickets. It won't let me use my credit card this time. I need $4.80 (2 $2.40 tickets). So I pull out a $5 bill, buy one ticket, then use the change distributed by the machine (2 Susan B. Anthony dollar coins), but the machine won't even take them. How's that for efficiency?!! Finally we really do get on the train. As we're pulling out of the station, my son is a bit unnerved by the profanity-laden conversation between the kids behind us. And this was between two kindergartners!

We get back to Silver Spring, then head up Georgia Avenue to I-495. Traffic is bumper-to-bumper. And it's raining. I plan on taking U.S. 29 north to I-70. Then I see a sign for I-95 north. Crap! I missed my turn. I'm usually pretty good at getting around without a map. Did I already mention that? So we take I-95 north. I plan to get off on Route 100. Crap! I passed it! I'm usually pretty good at..... I make my way to Rolling Road, then to Liberty. Way to turn a 55 minute commute into an hour and half!

We get home and jump into a hot shower. What a long day. I think the next time I go to Washington, I'll call first.

Boxing Day!

2011-12-26T17:05:00.007-05:00

I have no idea why it's called Boxing Day. I know that I could look it up, but just like Martin O'Malley's attitude toward all the concerns about the newly redrawn Congressional districts, I just don't care that much.

I weighed myself this morning and knew that I need to get back on track with running. I was on a nice pace through October. My goal was to run 35o miles by the end of the year. Then it got.....cold. I don't like running in the cold because it agitates my asthma. I'm not much of fan of running on a treadmill. It's boring. And I don't own one at home. So my year-end gola of 350 is looking more like 300 miles. But today I decided that I was going to go running. I got a new pair of Nike running gloves for Christmas (thank you baby Jesus!). And on Friday I bought a new pair of running shows from the Falls Road Running Store. I used my $100 gift card that I won for being the top fund raiser in the Port to Fort race this year. I bought a pair of Asics that cost $105, so with tax I paid about $11.
Anyway, I ran 6 miles this morning up at Liberty High School. I was set on running 3 miles. At about the 2 mile marker this cocky kid was running at the same time as me, then stopping in the inside lane to do push-ups and sit-ups. Seriously kid, get out of the freakin' inside lane!!! It's not yours! So then I decided to run 4 miles so that I could keep almost stepping on him as I ran past him. Then he left and I was at 4 miles, so to make sure he saw me still running as he drove away, I needed to trudge to 5 miles. Then a bunch of people joined me at the track, and I decided to push another mile to make it 6. I'm surprised that I did it. I haven't run more than 4 miles in

more than a few months.

Christmas was a blast as always. My parents got me a Ray Rice jersey. He's no Chykie Brown, but I still like the guy. I got an iron frying pan, pre-seasoned. It'll be nice not to have Teflon flakes in our food now. You know that stuff is terrible for you, right? I also got some Brady Chocolates from Trader Joe's. OMG. (am I too old to say that?) But they are so good!!! And finally I got an electronic rotating grill scrubber. My last one I left on the grill (on the inside under the cover) and the next time I used the grill I didn't open it first before I lit the burners and by the time I did it was thoroughly melted. Hmmm.....

My kids had a wonderful Christmas, too. My youngest got the hard-to-find Leap Frog Tablet. My oldest got a laptop (remember that story?). My son got an electric guitar that he thinks cost $600. If he wants to think that I'll be more than happy to let him continue thinking that. Now he calls himself "Guitar Lord".

Christmas day started with my son running in our room at 6am asking if it was time to get up. As always, I told him to go back to sleep (running joke). I ended up sleeping on the floor that night because my youngest kicked me out of my own bed and I didn't feel right about sleeping on the couch and accidentally running into Santa Claus. Let me tell you - sleeping on the floor at 39 is not the good-time sleepover that my kids think it is. My back still hurts!

Soon after opening presents, my youngest fell asleep, which is an open invitation for me to go back to sleep, which I did for another 2 hours. After I awoke we went to my wife's aunt's house - crab dip, cookies, cashews, refrigerated chocolate covered something or other. Cookies. Did I mention cookies? My wife's cousin has been baking the month away. And it was good indeed!

We finally baled about 7pm for our hour trip back to Carroll County. After a good nap on the ride home, the kids were raring to go! I ended up playing Uno for about hour or so, them some Princess gems fishing game, before finally collapsing at midnight. I have no idea what time my youngest fell asleep because she was still talking to me when I was falling asleep.

And that was basically our Christmas. How was your Christmas? What did you get?

Here Come's Santa Clause

2011-12-23T16:46:00.003-05:00

Christmas is almost here and I am totally sorry for not providing ideas for everyone as I know you are all stumped as to what to get for me this year.

With my daughter having leukemia, my obvious first wish is for her health. I would accept nothing in life if there was a guarantee that she would be cured and be healthy. We are very excited about Christmas this year. Her health seems to be good right now and she's very excited

about Christmas. The Sykesville Freedom Fire Department drove though our neighborhood with a special guest - Santa Claus!!! My daughter was so jumping for joy!

Funny story - my youngest daughter was lounging around in her usual underwear and nothing else. We knew Mr. Claus was coming on the fire truck, so my oldest daughter told her that she had to get ready because Steve was coming to visit. She didn't want to reveal the actual visitor's name. Finally we heard the sirens coming through the neighborhood, so we ran outside. Santa waived. They threw candy canes at us. Everyone was so excited. After they drove by my youngest daughter says, "Is Santa Claus' middle name 'Steve'?

So what to get Eludius, one of Maryland's leading conservative comedic political bloggers? Well, if you MUST get me something, here are some ideas:

1) A Raven's jersey. My Todd Heap jersey is looking a little odd now that he no longer plays for the Ravens. Well, he doesn't actually play right now for anyone as he is injured (again), but his contract is currently owned by the Arizona Cardinals. Any jersey would do. Suggs. Cundiff. Jarret Johnson. Chykie Brown.

2) Since we're on the topic of jerseys, I do not own a hockey jersey. How about a Capitals' jersey? Ovechkin (either in the Latin alphabet or the Russian Cyrillic alphabet). Or Semin. You can't cheer for that guy without chuckling.

3) Finished basement. Everyone keeps telling me I should finish our basement. I agree. However, I try to be as financially responsible as possible and unfortunately that means no finished basement. My wife hasn't worked in 14 months as she's been caring for my daughter, so money is tight(er than normal). My kids are getting older (the oldest is in middle school) and they now want to have friends over AND have a place to hide away from the parents. So in actuality, finishing the basement isn't for me, it's for the kids.

4) Since we're talking about finishing the basement, what's a finished basement without a new entertainment center? My current entertainment center is an eclectic mix of castaway electronics from throughout the house on a prefabricated wood K-Mart TV stand. I bought a digital receiver about 10 years ago when I had grandiose plans to install a surround sound system in my finished basement. It was going to be the ultimate man-cave. Now it looks like something out of Hoarders on TCL. Well, now that receiver seems so antique. It doesn't even have plug and play inputs for speakers. It requires copper wire clips. Boo!! The television is our old 32" cathode ray television from the family room that weighs about 300 pounds. Unfortunately, we have digital cable throughout the house (read as family room and bedroom) except in the basement, so there's no TV reception down there. DVD? It's a travel DVD player that I bought in Ocean City several years ago when the place we were renting had none and I brought a bunch of DVD's to watch in the evening. I even have a VCR hooked up in this state-of-the-past entertainment center.

5) A shed. Seems simple enough. But there's an ulterior motive here. I have so much crap in the garage that I can no longer park the car(s) in there. Bikes. Lawnmower. Broadcast spreader. Wheelbarrow. Bikes. Chairs. Bikes. Fishing gear. Bikes. Junk. I would love to park at least one of my vehicles in there again. It's technically a 2 car garage, but I challenge you to put 2 cars in my garage and open one of the doors of either vehicle. In reality it's a 1 1/2 car garage. So out of the garage and into the shed would go the junk!

6) I'm not much of a handyman around the house. My neighbor can attest to that. But I do use a drill now and then. I would love a new cordless drill. My 1987 Craftsman corded drill looks like a relic every time I pull it out. I'm surprised a designer for TGIFriday's hasn't shown up and offered my money for it so that they can display it on the wall with other antique implements: A Scythe. A Radio Flyer. An Elvis record. My 1987 Craftsman corded drill.

7) And while we're talking about power tools, let's add in a Bosch combination plunge and fixed-based router. When I start my furniture making career, I'll need one of those.

8) I take a lot of pictures, as you would probably guess based on the number of pictures I post. I would be honored to receive an SB-800 Speedlight top-mount external flash for my Nikon D40-X. These are great for taking indoor pictures.

9) This one may seem sort of crazy. No one would consider me a musician, but I would absolutely LOVE to have a banjo and learn how to use it. I could then play Rainbow Connection, the song that Kermit plays at the beginning of the original Muppet Movie.

10) Since this is SUPPOSED to be a political blog, my political wish for this year is a redrawn common sense legislative district map rather than the radical divisive map that O'Malley and his politically motivated cronies created. Should a politician have to cross a river to get to another part of his disconnected district? John Sarbanes doesn't seem to mind.

Finally, and most importantly, I ask for gifts to some of my favorite charities. Donations are always welcome at these charities that provide opportunities for children with chronic illnesses. My favorite charities are Casey Cares, Believe in Tomorrow, and the Starlight Foundation. Help bring a smile to a child suffering from cancer. Help a family struggling with an undiagnosed syndrome to have fun together at a baseball game. Or donate your time. You can always call them and find opportunities.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone!

Commuters Paradise

2011-12-23T15:38:00.005-05:00

I usually cannot complain about my commute to and from work. On a good day it's about 16 minutes. On a bad day it's about 25 minutes. For the past few weeks there has been construction between Owings Mills Boulevard and Marriottsville Road and again on Liberty Road through the hamlet of Holbrook.

Fortunately, the construction and lane closures are usually complete by the time I go home. Yesterday was a different story. I felt like I was living in Montgomery County.

First I roll into this. The 4 lane highway of Lyon's Mill between Painter's Mill and Owings Mills Boulevard, with a speed limit of 30 mph where everyone goes 70 mph, we merge into the center turn lane. You know this is going to cause mass confusion among the idiot class when they get on the road.

Then, past the light we queue up for leapfrog lane-shifting. They have to extend the 30 mph superhighway.

I didn't capture a picture of this going home, but I had to return to Owings Mills to go to BJ's (I forgot to do this from leaving work). See the guard rails at the bottom of this decline? They went up in less than 30 minutes. Who knew guard rails could be assembled so quickly? I wish Congress was as effective as this construction crew!

So while I'm excited that the roads are being repaved and widened in some parts, I share the frustration with my fellow commuters of sitting and waiting.

Thank you Keven Kamenetz and the Department of Public Works and Olney Masonry Corporation for building the Lyon's Mill Highway.

A Night at Skateland With the Children's Cancer Foundation

2011-12-15T19:14:00.005-05:00

Last weekend was a busy weekend for us. Saturday started with the early morning continental breakfast and fun times at the Maryland Science Center compliments of Casey Cares. In the evening we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate the December holidays with an evening at Skateland in Towson hosted by the Children's Cancer Foundation.

All of the children involved in this event have some sort of chronic illness, mainly cancer and Sickle Cell. For an evening they get to forget about their illnesses and skate around the rink jamming to Christmas music. We got to eat roller rink hot dogs and pizza and nachos. A grocery store donated frozen treats such as Butterfinger ice cream bars, ice cream cookie sandwiches, and Popsicles.

I haven't been to Skateland since 1983 and it is just as I remember it. The one and only time I went roller skating was at the Dundalk Skateland off of Merrit Boulevard for my best friend's birthday party. It is memorable because I fell and broke my arm. Oh, what fun that was!

Can't you just picture Jive Talkin' playing while you're rollering?!!!

Well, things aren't exactly as I remember them. Check out this sign. Gun checks at Skateland? Was an episode of The Wire filmed here or something? I thought this was Towson, not Woodlawn. What colors do gangs in Towson wear? Plaid?

The Towson Skateland doesn't mess around. Check out this warning. If you are caught chewing gum on the rink, you will be fined $3!!! Attention all 'patorns'!!! What's a patorn? Should I be on the lookout for them?

Overall I did okay. Didn't go real fast. Didn't skate backwards. No double axels. No whips. But most importantly - I didn't fall! I think this place would be jammin' on Disco Night.

Thank you Children's Cancer Foundation for a wonderful night! Thank you, Santa Claus, for making a surprise visit!!!

Trios? Is that like a girl sandwich?

A Casey Cares Evening With LaQuan Williams of the Ravens

2011-12-15T09:36:00.006-05:00

Last week my son and I had the opportunity to meet Baltimore Raven LaQuan Williams. The event was sponsored by Casey Cares, though this time we were actually paying customers and not benefactors of their organization.

LaQuan Williams hasn't had much playing time this year, but he did go to University of Maryland and played at Poly High School, which is where my grandfather went to high school, though my grandfather went to the original Poly High School further in the city and that was back in the 1930's. Needless to say, Mr. Williams has been a local figure for some time now.

Thank you to Casey Cares and Pump It Up in Owings Mills for hosting this event. I will have to say, however, that there is very little lighting in the business park off of Cronhill Drive. Many of us were driving in circles trying to find this place.

I like this picture because the lady (his wife\girlfriend?) is giving him the look. Not sure what the look was for or if it was just the timing of the picture.

And finally, a funny story. I was standing in line watching the children of several parents in front of us running and slamming into each other, screaming and being generally disrespectful while their parents said, "No, no, no! Stop! Behave! Stop! Stop, or I'll be forced to say 'stop' again!"

I eventually turned my attention to the people behind me as their children were more civilized. I overheard the lady 2 groups behind me say to the woman behind me, "Did you go to Randallstown (high school)?" She confirmed that she did, both said the years they graduated (1987 and 1988). One of my good friends went to Randallstown and graduated in that era, so I spoke up and asked if they knew Duckman. Their eyes both lit up. The first lady said, "I know Duckman!" The other lady said, "Everybody knows Duckman!". I thought that was really funny.

Unoccupy Baltimore

2011-12-13T22:36:00.003-05:00

Looks like the directionless Occupy Baltimore's free ride has come to an end. No more littering all over a public park. No more unsightly refugee camp sites. No more tent rapings. No more trash. No more unshaven college graduates living off of their parents' bank accounts.

If you've been hiding behind the mind-numbing fall schedule of network television programs, you probably don't know that Occupy Baltimore is our fair city's equivalent of the Occupy Wall Street movement. What is Occupy Wall Street? Most people think it's a move to protest the norms of our modern society - excessive corporate pay, the widening income gap between the working class of society and the privileged class of society, the growing mass of young people that cannot find work, and the throngs of people that do not have access to the latest 4G smart phones.

I've seen stories of these copycat protesters getting their messages out damning corporate America and all of the evils that it pervades. These messages, of course, are spread on Facebook and Twitter via iPads, iPhones, Macs, laptops, and other awesome technologies created by companies that are exempt from the ridicule.

But seriously, what are the demands of the Occupy movement? Will they 'decamp' when CNN can prove that executive pay has been decreased by 50%? When the jobless rates gets back to tolerable levels? When taxes on the rich get even higher? Or when all college graduates have their student loans repaid, a job handed to them, and a free iPad with the latest app showing them where the closest Starbucks is located? Or is this just a movement to utilize some downtime until something better comes along - like jobs?

I don't know what the answers are. I agree with most of the things they are saying, but there's seems to be no objective. It's not like the 1960's when our parents demanded that we withdrawal from Vietnam. It's not like the temperance movement when radical women demanded the prohibition of alcohol. When will the Occupy movement realize its goals? It's just not clear.

What we do know is that McKeldin Square in Baltimore, named after Theodore McKeldin, the last Republican Mayor of Baltimore, is clear of vagrants and is now clean. We can now walk through the park and enjoy it as citizens of Baltimore.

O'Malley Hates the Legislative Process?

2011-12-13T22:33:00.000-05:00

As you'll recall I wrote about Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's PlanMaryland, the vicious authoritarian plan to enforce his vision of environmental policies and political control over the minority party. Now, instead of letting his plan go through the legislative process and review via the Maryland General Assembly, it will be mandated through Executive Order. I think it's safe to say that this process is usually utilized when the Governor\President knows he's not going to get his way.

Most rural districts are against the plan, and, not surprisingly, most Republicans live in the in the rural areas of the state. With the Executive Order, O'Malley can skip these pesky politicians that are elected by the citizens of the state of Maryland. I mean, why should you bother with the legislative review that may publicize flaws with a plan when you can just mandate it and shove it down everyone's throat?

Is there going to be much flack because of this action? Probably not. Most Marylanders don't give a crap about the restrictive laws that are passed. Who gets screwed? Land owners. Small businesses who want to expand. Marylanders as this plan is sure to deter companies from moving to Baltimore or opening branch offices of their companies here. Thus a loss of future tax revenue. Lots of people will get screwed. Does O'Malley care? Evidently not.

You are free to love or hate PlanMaryland. But I think every Marylander with any common sense will agree that O'Malley's Executive Order is definitely the wrong way to go about it. Shame on you, Governor!

A Holiday Party or a Charitable Donation?

2011-12-06T17:12:00.001-05:00

When the economy started going sour, the corporate magnates at American Amalgamated Corrugated Conglomerates of America thought it would be more appropriate to donate money to a charitable organization than throw a big holiday party for everyone. I thought that was a wonderful idea. And several years later, we are still doing that.

Last week I got to thinking, however. There are definitely people out there that are out of work and need help. There are families that will not have a Christmas or a Hanukkah this year and it would be wonderful to continue to support them. But what would happen if all of these companies that used to throw parties and now donate money would spend this money instead by having a a big holiday party? Is it more beneficial to society and our local economy to spend money at local small and mid-sized businesses that hire people and provide goods and services or give money to organizations that provide charity?

I'm torn with this. Spending money creates jobs. Spending creates tax revenue. Donations do not. Spending begets more spending. Companies have to spend money to provide the goods and services that they provide. Donations do not beget donations, at least not that I can perceive.

Lost in all of this is the absence of building corporate morale and being with your coworkers and friends for an event outside of the normal business processes. We're not improving corporate relations and positive work environments by receiving a sterile email that some money was donated to a organization that you may have heard of.

How about a hybrid? Let's invite some families in need to a catered holiday party and have a great meal with them while enjoying the company of our coworkers? Let's rally together for a return of the corporate holiday party!

What do you think about donations versus spending money?

14-Car Pile-up in Japan: 8 Ferraris Destroyed

2011-12-05T16:39:00.002-05:00

I love Ferraris. It would be my car of choice if I won a gajillion dollars. It breaks my heart to see this video on CNN of this 14 car pile-up in Japan that destroyed 8 Ferraris, a Lamborghini, and three Mercedes.

Which Grocery Store in Owings Mills Will Close When Wegman's Opens?

2011-12-05T10:07:00.007-05:00

As I mentioned a week or two ago, Wegman's has announced plans to open a store in the former Solo Cup factory at the corner of Reisterstown Road and Painter's Mill Road. However, there are always unintended consequences (well, maybe not always, but often times).

Currently there are six grocery stores in the Owings Mills area that I can recollect. There is the Giant in New Town off of Lakeside Boulevard. There is a Food Lion on Lakeside Boulevard. There is a Mars Supermarket on Reisterstown Road that one could argue is actually Reisterstown, but there's really no clear distinction between those two areas anyway. There's another Giant in the Cherry Vale Shopping Center along with the ghetto Aldi's. There is a third Giant in the St. Thomas Shopping Center. And there's a Safeway on Reisterstown Road.

It is not possible for all of these grocery stores to survive if the Wegman's opens. Which ones will survive?

I think the Giant in New Town will survive. New Town is almost its own town. Those residents would have to make the longest drive to go to another store. And that store is fairly nice inside, despite being extremely expensive.

Food Lion is a convenient over-sized 7-11. Many commuters use Food Lion as their destination of choice for picking up foods for breakfast before work or for work parties. Plus it's fairly inexpensive. Food Lion isn't going anywhere.

Safeway. Tough call. The people who determine the prices of the products at Safeway must be crack-smokers, because that store is easily the most expensive store on the Eastern Seaboard. How can they advertise 2-litre bottles of soda for $1.99 and tell you that you're saving $1.50??? But it's always busy. Perhaps people like spending too much money. Is there some sort of status symbol for paying too much for Lucky Charms?

St. Thomas Giant - easily the most likely candidate to be closed. Their parking is terrible. The store is old, though it recently had an exterior renovation. And did I mention the parking is terrible? Good-bye St. Thomas Giant.

Aldi's? They are not going anywhere. Or as their customers would say, "They ain't going nowhere". There's so much low-income, I'm sorry, "affordable housing", being constructed in Owings Mills that there are plenty of people who will shop there with their government "independence" cards. And how can they call it an Independence Card when people depend on this government handout to buy soda and snacks?

Cherry Vale Giant - potential candidate for closing, though I think their main competition is the Mars Supermarket and they are far enough north to not be too severely impacted.

So all in all, it seems that the most likely candidates for closing are Giants. And I hadn't even mentioned that Owings Mills already has a vacant grocery store. Remember the Shopper's Food Warehouse? Still empty. What are your thoughts?

Eldersburg: Dickenson Road Extension Almost Ready

2011-12-05T09:53:00.004-05:00

I'm willing to bet vast sums of money that most people in Eldersburg don't know where Dickenson Road is. It is the road between McDonald's and Oklahoma Road Middle School that ends right behind Carroll Station. I'm willing to bet even more money that most people in Eldersburg don't know where Carroll Station is.

Carroll Station is the strip mall that opened when Carrolltown Mall booted their tenants out - Radio Shack, Carrolltowne Liquors, and the remnants of Genesis II hair salon. In addition to these places, there is The Cork restaurant, Sherwin Williams, and Epic Pharmacy, among others.

Dickenson Road was extended to intersect West Hemlock Road, the road that passes the library. The exciting part of this road extension is that the morons who make the illegal left turn in front of Carroll Station now have a legal alternative - they can turn left on Hemlock, then right on Dickenson, then right into Carroll Station. I'm that guy that refuses to let them cross over west-bound Route 26 when traffic is heavy solely because it is an illegal turn. They can currently drive up to the McDonald's and turn left onto Oklahoma Road, then come up Dickenson the other way.

I'm such an old person, I know. But rules are rules. And I'm not going to help you break them. Dickenson Road should be legally open soon. I told my wife that technically you could drive on it now, you just need to drive over the cones that are in the way. She disagreed. Here's to safer turns in Eldersburg!

Happy Birthday Ron Smith

2011-12-03T19:06:00.003-05:00

Yesterday former WBAL radio talk show host Ron Smith turned 70 years old. Even if you're not a talk radio kind of person, but you've lived in Baltimore you've probably heard of Ron Smith. Talk Show Man. The Voice of Reason. These are a couple of his monikers.

Ron retired from talk radio last week after a month-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Ron explained that he did not respond well to treatment and is signing off, but he's okay with that.

I have listened to Ron Smith since 1994 when I graduated from college. I can thank my fraternity brother Slopper for getting me into talk radio. In college he made me listen to Rush Limbaugh anytime we went somewhere in his car. I wasn't a huge fan, but it definitely got me thinking. When I returned to Baltimore after college I started listening to Ron Smith. And I got hooked.

David Zurawick wrote a great article in The Sun about Ron Smith. Z writes that despite battling Maryland's liberals for 26 years, there's been a huge outpouring of support for Ron in the last couple of months. He's received calls from Senator Cardin, Senator Mikulski, Attorney General Doug Gansler, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and he even received a note from Martin O'Malley, the Governor who has refused to go on WBAL radio for years after he got into a fight with Chip Franklin.

I missed Ron when he moved from the drive home to the late morning. I really miss him now that he's not on the radio at all. God speed, Talk Show Man.

Closing in Eldersburg - Peebles

2011-11-30T22:30:00.006-05:00

This is not coming as a shocker to anyone. What is the shocker is that Peebles remained opened for as long as it did.

How could a store of Peebles' caliber stay in a ghetto dead mall like that? You may poo-poo Peebles, but the quality of their merchandise is probably comparable to that of J.C. Penney's. Can you imagine a J.C. Penney's in Carrolltown Mall? Of course not!

Here's a picture of Peebles on a really busy day.

So, who are the main tenants of Carrolltown Mall now? There's the ghetto K-Mart that never has any cash registers open and you have to pay at the customer service desk. This is probably not true ALL of the time, but it certainly has been true several times that I have visited.

There's the Dollar General with cluttered aisles that smells like hell. The only time we went in there my kids made me get out of their because it reeked of toxic plastics.

Then there's the Big T's. It's a Big Lots during the day, but when it gets dark and the lights come on, it's all about the Big T's!!! If you go there, you'll be disappointed. Not only if you're looking for Big T's, but also because the merchandise is questionable. I once bought some food there and there were mites in it. I was too embarrassed to go back and admit that I bought food there.

Finally, there are some odds and end stores and organizations, like some sort of Freedom Church, the Blockbuster (which I have no clue as to why they're still open), some fitness center, a Zumba place, and the area's largest retailer of NFL merchandise. That's not saying much in Eldersburg. But that's how they advertise it.

So with Peebles gone, what's going to happen? My prediction is that the owner, Owings Mills-based Black Oak Associates, is busy doing nothing. I could be wrong, but they haven't done anything in the past few years to convince me otherwise.

So long, Peebles!

Owings Mills - Lyon's Mill Road Widening

2011-11-30T22:15:00.005-05:00

Have you been down Lyon's Mill Road in Owings Mills lately? It sure looks like the county is getting ready to widen it between Marriottsville Road and Owings Mills Boulevard. Remember when that was a quaint country road? No more! Down with bucolic!

There are sediment barriers planted in the middle of everyone's yards on the north side of the road. All of the trees have been removed. Some of those trees looked like they were 100 years old. I saw one trunk of a tree being hulled out on a big flat-bed truck. That was all that was in the bed of the truck and all that would fit. It was huge! It was probably about 6 feet wide.

New telephone polls are now going up about 20 feet farther back from the road. This could only mean one thing - Baltimore County hates trees! Oh, I mean they are widening the road.

I'm very excited. We'll now have a 4 lane boulevard that's as wide as a highway with a 30 mph speedlimit. Does that make any sense? Most of the people that I know that drive that road go about 65 mph. I usually do about 40 mph. Normally people tailgate me, flick their high-beams, and shake their fists at me to go faster. There sure are some mean old women in this town!

So the next time your going this way, check it out. Let me know what you think.

This was a week or so ago - before the trees got cut down, but you can see that the branches have been removed. Note the sediment barriers in their yards.

Secretary of State Martin O'Malley

2011-11-30T21:13:00.006-05:00

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is at it again! He is off gallivanting around the globe again all in the name of moving Maryland forward. And if O'Malley thinks that padding his résumé for higher office moves Maryland forward, then it's mission accomplished!

You'll remember last year O'Malley took a contingent to Asia to help foster economic relations with countries in that region. The running joke was that O'Malley was preparing to be a future Secretary of State. Or was he trying to get some foreign relations experience for when he succeeds Barbara Mikulski as U.S. Senator from Maryland when she retires in 200 years?

This time, O'Malley took a contingent of about 100 people, many of them government officials, to India for a 10-day trip. He claims that more than half of them are paying their way. What about the other half? Are we, the tax-payers of Maryland, footing this bill? Is he robbing from the Transportation Fund to pay for this trip? Is this why he needs to raise the gas tax by another 15 cents?

So how much could this trip to India cost the tax-payers of Maryland? I looked on Priceline.com for flights from BWI to Mumbia. The cheapest flight is $1,755 round-trip. He says the majority of the delegation paid their own way. Let's assume that the State of Maryland paid for 49 people (that's less than half of 100 people). That's nearly $86,000. The cheapest hotel rooms on Priceline.com are $192 per night. For 49 rooms for 10 nights, that's $94,000. Perhaps O'Malley has everyone shacked up with another person (ignoring whether they are of the same sex or opposite sex), that's $47,000. So with the flight and room we're looking at about $150,000.

Rental cars - how are they getting around? Train? A giant limo? A bus? An elephant? I dunno. If they are renting cars, they could get a 4-seat car for $358 for the week. Let's assume they'll need 25 cars for 10 days, that's $358/7 days = $51 per day times 25 cars x 10 days, that's $12,750. Did I do the math correctly?

Food? What are they going to eat? Compliments of India? I couldn't find information on the cost of dining. Actually, I lied. I didn't even look it up. No ambition. But it's going to cost us. I think that's safe to say.

So all in all, we as tax-payers are probably looking at about $175,000 for flight, hotel, and travel expenses. We'll need to add in more money for food and souvenirs. I bet there are 4 former state employees who wish they still had a job. But instead this money is being spent on the global economy.

I'm not poo-pooing the trip. I hope it generates business for Maryland companies, the few of them that are left. But I think it's always good to know what it's costing us as tax-payers to help O'Malley make a bigger name for himself.

By the way, Governor, can you pick up some Tikki Ki Chaat for me while you're there? Thanks!

Chick Fil-A Coming to Eldersburg?

2011-11-26T08:07:00.005-05:00

Facebook is swirling with rumors that Chick-Fil-A is coming to Eldersburg. I have heard various versions of this rumor for a couple of years, but the chatter seems to be a bit more than previous times.

One previous rumor was that Chick-Fil-A was going to move into the new Liberty Exchange, just west of Route 32 on Route 26. I think the only tenants of that new complex are doctors offices and places that offer services, not retailers and food chains.

The new rumor has Chick-Fil-A building on the vacant lot at the corner of Route 32 and Barthalow Road, just across the street from the Chili's. I can't imagine a fast food restaurant going on this plot, as it will definitely generate a lot of traffic. Barthalow turns and makes a steep incline just past this plot as it goes towards Liberty High School. I would imagine that the best way to manage traffic would be to make an ingress right, egress right entrance on Barthalow, and the same type of entrance on Route 32. This means that as you leave, you would not be able to turn left back onto Barthalow to get onto Route 32. You'd have to go towards the high school For the Route 32 entrance, since it's a divided road at that point, perhaps they could share a driveway with the funeral home on the plot next to them.

Here's the purported corner:

What would be the impact of a Chick-Fil-A in Eldersburg? I think you can say goodbye to the Arby's. Has anyone eaten there in the past 5 years? We stopped going there when they reduced the roast beef sandwiches to children-sized rolls and one thin slice of roast beef. What about KFC? They already lost their tenant of A&W. I've been to KFC twice in the past couple of years and they didn't have any chicken cooked. Hello! Your primary business is chicken! You must always have chicken!

I think the other restaurants are safe. What do you think? And are these rumors true?

Former Eldersburg Arby's???

Black Friday Night at Wal-Mart

2011-11-25T12:43:00.005-05:00

A week or two ago my wife asked if I would go to Wal-Mart at midnight and get some junk for the kids for Christmas. I said, "sure". Then I thought about it and realized that I would need to get in line for a few hours as those specials go fast, so you must get there early. Then it dawned on me yesterday morning - I'd be in line at the same time that the Ravens' game was going on. Crap!!! What did I get myself into?

So I left my house at 8:15 pm to go to the Wally-World in Eldersburg. So that I could wait in line for 3 1/2 hour. What the hell am I thinking? I brought my book (The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas - I've been reading this book since the end of the summer. It's 1400 pages long and I'm on page 1040.) I also brought a bottle of water.

I got there around 8:30 and the parking lot was about 1/3 full. I had to weave through the barricade that they set up. It was fortified enough to stop the Allied invasion at Normandy. But could it withstand the Randallstown invasion???

I scouted for the products I wanted, but soon learned that you had to get in line for one product and stay there the ENTIRE time. Okay, so I was only going to get one item. I picked one, got the voucher (I was number 5) and got in line. There were 3 ladies in front of me and some older hillbilly with a Fu Manchu and a ponytail. I sat down and started reading my book. I was half listening to the ladies biddying back and forth. They were planning out their entire weekend. There was no sleep in their plans. 'After here, we'll go there, then we'll go here and then we'll go here.' More power to them. It sounded as if they were going to spend $5,000 over the 4 day weekend, but they were going to save over $400 getting stuff they really don't need.

After a while Karl (the name I'm giving the Fu Manchu in front of me) starts making conversation. He's got a bottle of water and a big tankard with a straw in it. What's in that thing? His voice is a bit husky and his speech is slow. Reminds me of Karl from Slingblade. I'm just waiting for this guy to say, "Gonna get me some French fried taters."

He tells me that he's a framer (builds houses and such). The following are the conversations and statements that he made the rest of the evening.

Yep, I'm a framer. I can do it all, wood, metal, electric, white rock. Yep. 'cept I ain't licensed. Sometimes they come in and make you tear it all up if you ain't licensed. 's not like I can't do it. It's all good.

I been workin' at my Church. Built out a daycare over one weekend. 'spectors came in and didn't believe we could do it all in a weekend. (I couldn't comprehend the rest of the conversation).

I like my Church. I can come in dressed like this (sweatshirt and jeans). Sometimes I come in with a bandanna on. Sometimes I come in without a bandanna. Don't make no difference.

I was planning on goin' to my buddy's for Thanksgiving today, but he passed out. So I didn't go over there.

I'm gettin' hungry. Gotta big plate of ham in my truck. It's a BIG plate of ham. Might go get me some of that.

Livin' with my mama right now. Tryin' to help her out, get everything situated. My brothers is both married. I'm tryin' to get divorced, so I been helpin' out my mama. She's got a crawlspace under her house. (the last sentence seems a bit innocuous, except that that was the last sentence of that part of the conversation. I have no idea where that was going.)

You got any kids?
Yes, three kids.
How old are they?
Twelve, nine, and four.
(confused look on his face). How old are you?
Thirty-nine.
Hell, I's thought you's my age. (Gee....thanks a lot!!!) I gots kids in their 20's. They gots kids of their own. I got......2 grandkids.......yeah, 2. They are 11, no....9, uh...9 and 8. No, .......9.......9 and 7,.......sorry, they's 9 and 4.

My kids keep calling me said they busted up a room and need my help fixin' it up. So I gotta send 'em 500 bucks so they can fix up their room.

I'm goin' to Texas soon. Goin' down 95 to Florida, gotta buddy gonna take me fishin. He's got one of them charter boats. Take me out and catch some sail fish. It's a good deal. Then I'm gonna take I-10 and go down Texas and see my other buddy. Gonna take like a month and a half off, but I'll be back by Christmas. Got me a real good job where I can just say I'm takin' off and be back later. Work for and with my brother.

(while I'm reading my book) I babysat this girl for 30 days once cuz her daddy was in jail. That girl could read. She could read that whole book in like 2 days.

Think I might get a printer, too. If I'd a brought more cards (credit cards), I coulda got some ink, too. But I didn't bring any more cards.

They allowed 15 minute bathroom breaks. You had to exchange your voucher for a bathroom pass, then get your bathroom pass back when you returned. Karl uses this opportunity to go get his ham, or smoke some weed or something. The lady in front of him comes back and hands me a Diet Coke. I thank her profusely and offer to pay her for it. "No, no!!! It's the least we can do since you've been occupying that guy for several hours. If it weren't for you he'd be talking to us! And he's crazy!!!"

Karl takes his break, gets a sub at Subway, comes back. 10 minutes before midnight, one of the Wal-Mart guys walks though the line and asks if everyone has their voucher because he still had one in his possession that wasn't claimed.
Karl, I think that might be yours.
(slurred and stumbling and weaving back and forth at this point) Hell, I gots mine right here in my pocket. (pulls it out and unfolds it)
That's a bathroom pass. I don't think they're going to let you exchange a bathroom pass for a laptop.
Hell, they better give me back my voucher. Been waiting here since 8, after 8.
Sir, I think that voucher belongs to this gentleman here.
Sir, is this yours?
Hell, yeah that's mine. Been waiting here since 'for 8. I ain't standing line all this time just to be told I ain't gettin' no laptop. I know how to raise hell. My mama's house is worth $450,000, so I knows I can make bail. (good Lord!!!)
Okay, sir. Here's your voucher.

At midnight the line moves forward and he hands the Wal-Mart clerk his voucher.
Here you go, sir.
I need 2.
Uh....you have one voucher, that entitles you to one laptop.
What the hell???!!! I stood in line for nearly 5 hours and I ain't gettin' another laptop. Damn it!

Karl and departed at this point. I run into a friend who says that he had to park at Shoppers because the Wal-Mart parking lot is absolutely full. I move on to the cash registers and spend another 30 minutes waiting to check out. Good grief. I hope it was worth it.

Metro Center at Owings Mills - Finally Underway?

2011-11-24T10:39:00.007-05:00

I noticed a large crane in the western parking lot of the Owings Mills Metro Center. Could it be? Would the acres of broken promises for redevelopment finally be under way? We moved to the area in 1999 and we were told then that it was going to get started real soon. As the French narrator says on Sponge Bob Square Pants, "Twelve years later...."

The Metro Center at Owings Mills has been touted by several Baltimore County Executives as the key to revitalization and economic growth for northwest Baltimore County. I'm pretty sure Dutch Ruppersburger was all excited about it in the late 90's. Jim Smith in the 2000's. Now Kevin Kamenetz is hoping to put this on his resume' for his future run for Governor. This was the project that was going to bring hundreds of temporary migrant construction jobs held by Hispanics, and later dozens of of permanent entry-level service jobs for everyone else.

So what is going to be constructed on this site? I have heard hopes of an Owings Mills library branch, an Owings Mills education center of the Community Colleges of Baltimore County, some mixed use office space, a hotel, 4 more parking garages, and more residential housing.

I totally agree with the library. I think the closest library is on Liberty Road. Trust me, that's a scary part of town. It would be great to have a new library in this location with all the modern amenities. The education center is a good idea, as well. Currently they occury an old building at the corner of Painter's Mill Road and Dolfield Road. Residential housing? As my kids said about the houses built at the mall, "Who would want to live at the mall?" I now ask, "Who would want to live in the middle of a mixed-use office, retail, and education complex attached to the Baltimore Metro Subway system? Maybe some people do. I sure don't.

Another hotel? Aren't there 3 hotels in Owings Mills already? Perhaps there's a need for another one. More mixed office space? T. Rowe Price just built 2 buildings a couple of years ago that sit vacant. There are the four buildings of the Owings Mills Corporate Center. There are a lot of buildings dotting Red Run Boulevard. And to think that Baltimore City can't fill any of the buildings downtown. Can you say over-inflated urban property taxes?

So, like the other major projects in various stages of planning and development in Owings Mills, will this one be done as planned, or will it be scaled down and delayed and disappoint everyone? What do you think?

Owings Mills Mall - Auf Wiedersehen!

2011-11-22T21:15:00.007-05:00

Owings Mills Mall co-owners General Growth Properties and Kimco Realty announced last week that the best thing to do with the mall is to tear it down. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who will disagree with that.

As I stated yesterday, Owings Mills has a lot of changes that they're promising. The problem is, these promises are so easy to break. Kimco and GGP said they plan to start demolition of the mall in 2013 - an entire year from now. So unfortunately, it looks like the best thing we can expect out of that mall is the annual Owings Mills Carnival which camps out in the parking lot. And if next year's carnival is as much of a bloody good time as it was this year, it will be awesome....for police and media types.

The mall has been declining for years. It opened in 1986 (I think). Only 25 years later they are tearing it down to try and make it more like the mall in Hunt Valley. When the mall opened it was featured as an upper-class mall. There was a Saks 5th Avenue and other high-end retailers. I saw a great comment on Facebook that said, "When the mall opened they said there would never be a Radio Shack in this mall. They opened a Radio Shack a few years later. I blame the downfall of the mall on Radio Shack." Other major big box department stores have come and gone - Lord & Taylor, Boscov's, Sears, while a few remain -Macy's, J.C. Penney, and International Furniture Liquidators.

What changes contributed to the downfall of the mall? When the mall opened, it pretty much was out in the middle of nowhere. The Owings Mills subway stop was right next to it. Robbers quickly took advantage of the close proximity of public transportation to grab and go. The subway didn't get the nickname of "The Mugger Mover" for nothing!

Additionally, as the area of Owings Mills grew, the demographics changed dramatically. Thousands of low-income apartments, town houses, and condominiums were built that brought in people that couldn't afford the high-priced stores in the mall. They wanted dollar stores and Wal-Mart's. And with those lower-income residents naturally brings in more crime. The previous more affluent residents of Owings Mills, of which many had fled to Owings Mills a generation before from the City, now fled to the ex-burbs of Westminster, Eldersburg, and Hanover, Pennsyltucky.

So will this renovation of Owings Mills Mall actually occur? If so, will it actually begin in 2013? Or is it more likely that it will happen in 2023? I could totally see the mall turning into a giant indoor regional flee market.

And as my children said when they built these houses in the parking lot of Owings Mills Mall, "Why would anyone want to live in the parking lot of a mall?" Sounds like a logical question to me!

I didn't want to steal these pictures, so here are some interesting links of the mall from the 1980's. If you live in the area or work there, you'll notice a lot of the places that aren't there yet - like OM Blvd not going all the way through to Lyon's Mill, or all of the development around Food Lion on Lakeside Blvd, the absence of all the businesses on Red Run Boulevard. Fascinating stuff!

http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=18341

http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=25719

http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=18577

http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=23286

http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=18323

http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/stern/light.table.html

Here is a montage of photos of the mall that you can look back and enjoy in another 25 years. I expect to see comments in the year 2025, "Hey, I remember Macy's! I used to rob that place all the time!" Is this a dead mall or what???

Owings Mills - Wegman's?

2011-11-21T20:44:00.007-05:00

Owings Mills is planning on a lot of changes in the next couple of years. This is a good thing considering the rapid decline from a once chic suburban neighborhood to a crime ridden giant police blotter.

So what are these up and coming changes? There's the Owings Mills Metro Station which has been in various stages of planning and construction for the past 10 years. Baltimore County used the mantra of "leave some construction equipment in the parking lot and make it look like something's going to happen soon". Anyone who has used the subway knows that it has been a vacant lot of economic stagnation for a long time.

The owners of Owings Mills Mall recently announced they were going to tear down the failed and nearly vacant mall and going to try to imitate Hunt Valley. Often imitated. Never duplicated. Isn't the empty parking lot of the Owings Mills Mall the largest asphalt heat absorber in Baltimore County?

Finally, there is the Solo Cup factory, formerly the Sweetheart Cup factory. Solo came in and bought the company, then abandoned the Owings Mills facility, moving a few jobs to Chicago. Anyone surprised? Shouldn't be. This is what happens when companies in Maryland get taken over. Just watch and see how this Constellation merger goes.

Wegman's recently announced that they want to occupy the former plastic cup factory and build one of their high-end stores. It sounds kind of silly because Owings Mills is not a high-end kind of neighborhood. Just ask the Pikesville barracks of the Baltimore County Police Department.

What do you think of Wegman's possibly coming to Owings Mills? I say possibly because it's not a done deal. It still has to be rezoned. That could take years. As fast as things move through the system in Baltimore County, I expect the Wegman's to be built in 2019. I seriously doubt it will happen on Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz' watch. Am I being cynical? Does a cynic point out that the factory lost almost 600 jobs, but Kamenetz is excited that the new Wegman's will employee 600 minimum-waged cashiers? Perhaps. Others may just call me a realist.

Changes coming to Owings Mills? I'll believe it when I see it.

This is the southern building of the Solo Cup Factory as viewed from the upper deck of the Owings Mills Metro parking garage.

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Notice the empty parking lot. Not many tax dollars being generated here.

This is the northern building of the Solo Cup factory on Reisterstown Road, again as seen from the upper deck of parking garage.

O'Malley Wants You to Pay 64% More In Gas Taxes

2011-11-20T21:03:00.005-05:00

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, never one to shy away from more taxes, is reviewing a menu of taxes increases proposed by his own "Blue Ribbon" commission to close the state's structural deficit that he created. The tax increases include a nearly 64% increase in the gas tax (raising it from 23.5 cents per gallon to 38.5 cents gallon), increasing car registration fees by 50%, and bus and rail fee increases.

Why so many surprising new taxes? Ha-ha. These aren't surprising. Every logical thinking person knew that if O'Malley got elected he would ratchet-up state spending and raid the Transportation Fund to pay for it (because he could do that). He would then go back to the voters whining and crying how we have no money to fix bridges and roads, but if we could all do our fair share and accept massive tax increases, then our investments would be worth it.

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of our elected officials raiding the Transportation Fund to pay for their pet projects. Republican Bob Ehrlich did it. I believe former Governor and New York-born Paris "My Wife is My Son's Age" Glendening did it. Martin O'Malley certainly has done it.

These tax proposals, which are all but sure to be passed by the short-sighted Maryland General Assembly, would raise an estimated $870 million annually, that is until they raise the taxes even more. And that's not all that unrealistic. The state wants to spend another $12 BILLION on more transportation projects. I don't think this includes replacing bridges and paving roads. This is additional spending: Purple Line in D.C. suburbs, the Red Line in Baltimore, etc...

And what's with this "Blue Ribbon" designation? Just throw some fancy adjectives in front of your commissions' name and make it sound more important? If you appoint the members, aren't they pretty much going to do what you tell them to do? "I appointed a Blue Ribbon Commission to determine who the most awesome political blogger is. Much to my surprised, they picked me!" "I appointed a Blue Ribbon commission to evaluate state spending and what to do about funding the depleted Transportation Fund and they recommended massive regressive tax increases that will hurt lower and middle income families the most."

So how many more years of O'Malley? How many more taxes can he raise? If you're keeping track, he's raised the sales tax by 20%, he pushed for massive fee increases to use the state's bridges and tunnels, a 50% increase in the alcohol tax, the cigarette tax increase, a 50% increase in many of the fishing and hunting license fees (which O'Malley said was a modest increase). The funny thing about the increase in fishing license fees is that after the state increased the fee, fewer fisherman applied for the annual license and the state actually took in LESS revenue.

So here we go again. More taxes. More O'Malley. There's many more things he could tax, I guess. So I guess I better stop complaining. I will go pump up the tires in my bike now.

Kevin Kamenetz Must Read VoteNoMalley

2011-11-15T22:00:00.000-05:00

I have determined that Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz reads my blog. Why do I think that?

You'll recall in July I registered a complaint against Mr. Kamenetz because the roads in Owings Mills are a mess. Since they were not being repaired, the only logical conclusion was that he hates Owings Mills.

Much to my surprise yesterday, I saw that Red Run Boulevard was being repaved in front of the doomed Owings Mills Mall. My new assumption is that the Baltimore County government either wants to make the road smoother for criminals to get into and out of the mall for their holdups and burglaries. OR - they want to make it easier for the police to get into and out of the mall so that they can write up the police reports for people that reported being held-up and burglarized.

Regardless, you no longer need a Hummer H2 to get from Owings Mills Boulevard to Painters Mill Boulevard via Red Run Boulevard. It's now nice and smooth. Just like Martin O'Malley's spine. Now if they'd only add a sidewalk....

Martin O'Malley Hates Lower Taxes

2011-11-15T17:31:00.005-05:00

If you missed it, Martin O'Malley was on one of the Sunday talk shows blithering and complaining about everyone else, while touting how wonderful he is.

This is nothing new, except that some bozo came him a national stage to spew his leftist, closed-minded beliefs. In this piece he says the Tea Party are pandering to GOP extremists or radicals or some other derogatory term for someone who doesn't have the same beliefs as him.

So Tea Party supporters are now in bed with extremists? What is the Tea Party's agenda? (Note that the Tea Party has an agenda, while the Occupy (insert city) does not.) The Tea Party's main agenda is to cut taxes and the government should cut spending. Now that's a radical right-wing agenda!!!!

Martin O'Malley, on the other hand, seems to want the government to spend billions of dollars to create hundreds of jobs. That's mainstream? Am I taking crazy pills? Or is Martin O'Malley pandering to the Socialists of his party?

Marty, stop complaining and start listening to Marylanders. We want lower taxes and less government spending!

Just Pictures Saturday

2011-11-12T18:02:00.004-05:00

I have nothing to say today, so enjoy these pictures of old cars. I took these pictures at the Kingsville Parade on the 4th of July this year. I probably took 100 pictures. I might as well share them, right?

I can't determine what year this truck is. Since Cappy Cleaners has been around since 1944, I thought it would be a 1944 Dodge Panel Truck. However, I am unable to locate a picture of one, so I cannot confirm. If any of you car enthusiasts know, please let me know.

This is a 1931 Ford Roadster. Pretty cool car.

This is a 1926 Buick Sedan. My grandparents were children when these cars rolled off of the assembly line.

New to Eldersburg: Signature Salon & Spa

2011-11-12T12:12:00.001-05:00

I noticed this new place when I took my kids to Osaka Hibachi Grill tonight to celebrate their great report cards. I think previously this location was a hair salon. I know they sold shampoos and conditioners as they stacked them up by the window. I don't recall what the name of the previous store was called.
This new store called Signature Salon & Spa has the windows papered up, so they're not ready to open yet. If you're into this kind of place, keep a lookout for when they open.

UPDATE: The previous tenant was named Final Touch. I can tell with this new picture that I took during the day. The weather stains from the previous name are still evident on the fascia.

Coming to Eldersburg: Jin's Asian Bistro

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000-05:00

You'll recall that the Classic Thai restaurant in the Oklahoma Center in Eldersburg closed. I'm happy to report that this space is going to be filled by a new restaurant. This time it is going to be called Jin's Asian Bistro. I Googled the name and didn't find anything, so I'm not sure of the details. Is this a new Thai restaurant? Is it owned by the same people? Will it still be a front for organized crime (which was purely speculation since no one ever went to Thai Classic).

I'll let you know when the new restaurant opens.

Happy Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T07:51:00.009-05:00

Thank you to all of the underpaid and overworked members of our armed services, past and present. Your contribution to our country is more than any overpaid oversexed politician's.

For the record, Martin O'Malley never served in the armed services.

Relocated in Eldersburg: Glazed To Perfection

2011-11-10T20:23:00.004-05:00

If you've ever been to the Glazed To Perfection store in Peddler's Square in Eldersburg, you know how cool this place is. You go in, pick a ceramic piece that you like, then you pick the colors you want to use to paint it, then you paint it. When you're done, the item gets put in the queue. When the queue if full, they fire it for you. When it's done, they'll call you and you come pick it up and pay for it.

Glazed to Perfection is a great place for kid parties. It's a cool place to go and be creative.

You can imagine my surprise and disappointment this week when I drove by and noticed that the sign was gone and the windows papered up. I took a picture and was fully ready to write another disappointing article about how another business closed. On another journey, I saw that the old Curves place in Monroe Station had a new occupant, so I drove back to take a picture of the new business. To my surprise that new occupant is....Glazed to Perfection!

So rather than reporting a loss of business, I am happy to report that Glazed to Perfection just moved. This store location has been a video store, Curves for Women, and now Glazed to Perfection. I think it was something before the video store, but that was before I started taking an active interest in the town.

So here's to Glazed to Perfection! Stop by and check out their new location.

O'Malley: Constellation Merger - Rate Cuts for Job Cuts

2011-11-08T10:15:00.006-05:00

Baltimore-based Constellation Energy has been in talks with Chicago-based Exelon Corporation to merge the companies. What this means for Constellation (and pretty much any Maryland company that is merger talks), is that Exelon will be taking the lead, moving jobs to another state, and pretty much destroying another hometown company.

I believe Constellation Energy is the largest utility in Maryland. Exelon is one of the largest energy producers in the country, based in business-friendly Chicago, Illinois. Do you ever hear people griping about how many companies keep moving to Chicago? If so, it ain't coming from people who live in Chicago.

In order for the Maryland Public Service Commission (the Maryland regulatory agency stacked with O'Malley lackies) to approve the merger, Governor Martin O'Malley is demanding a rate decrease for current BGE customers. Constellation Energy is the parent company of BGE.

A skyline of future business that will merge out of state.

So basically what Martin O'Malley is saying is that he will approve the destruction of more Maryland jobs from hard-working middle class people in order to save a few dollars for consumers. He usually demands rate cuts when he's ready to run for office. With a couple of years left on his gubernatorial office, I can only suspect that he's laying the foundation for his run for Barbara Mikulski's U.S. Senate seat. He can then say that he fought big corporate greed. Let's ignore the fact that he fought it by using extortion.

So what are the impacts to the merger of Constellation with an out-of-town company? First, I'm not sure if O'Malley realizes this or not, but allowing Constellation to be absorbed and thus be a former Baltimore-based company, he will lose some of his ability to directly punish Constellation at a whim. Maryland politicians will lose some of their ability to hold Constellation to the fire when they need a bone in their reelection war chest. No longer will elected officials have it as easy as they do now to say, "I need to be reelected. Let's punish BGE\Constellation for .....not restoring power fast enough during a snow storm that crippled the East Coast. Therefore, I want a rate cut. The consumers will love me for it and reelect me!!!" You cannot deny that this happens.

What is the impact to Baltimore? It's another company that will not be calling Baltimore home. It's a loss of jobs. It's a loss of status. It's a loss of pride. But politicians do not think long-term. They think, "What can I do right now that will make me look good RIGHT now?"

The Baltimore Business Journal reports that as many as 600 jobs will be lost, a loss of jobs that O'Malley doesn't seem to be too concerned about. To help complicate matters, Republican State Senator E.J. Pipkin of Eastern Shore and Democrat State Senator Jim Rosapepe of Prince George's County are now demanding that BGE be spun off into a separately traded company.

Generally I like E.J. Pipkin, but this response is typical of Maryland politicians. It seems like politicians across the Free State hate free market capitalism. Adam Smith be damned, that fool. Stay out of our economy, you British hob-knocking economic theorist! We prefer the heavy hand of government intervention!

What bugs me about Constellation is their perpetual attempt to get bought. They seem to be giving up quicker then the French in a war. Remember when they tried to get acquired by Florida Power and Light? Yeah, FPL gave up on that. Then there is the attempt by the French company Électricité de France S.A. to take a large stake in the company. How ironic is it that a French company is trying to acquire a company that likes to surrender so easily?

Why is there such a feckle drive by Constellation to remain independent? What are they doing wrong? Why do they want to fail? Let's not forget that Constellation is run my Mayo Shattuck III, who made a name for himself by selling Alex. Brown to Deutche Bank, who eventually moved many of those jobs to New York. Now he's getting ready to bust up another Baltimore Company. What a guy!

So ask yourself, what are the long-term benefits of packing up and leaving town? That's easy. The executives will get massive payouts. Millions of dollars! Everyone else? They'll have the pleasure of keeping their job if they're lucky. Executives will also get early retirement. Sure, the others can retire, too, as long as they don't plan on making a dime for the rest of their lives. And finally, like the Ebenezer Scrooges that run Corporate America, it's a gosh-darn fun time to stomp on the working class again!

Contrary to what politicians like Martin O'Malley say, Baltimore and Maryland continue to be unfriendly to businesses. We have a laundry list of companies that decided not to move to Maryland (Merck) have left or have failed (Digene, Duratek, Alex. Brown, Maryland National Bank, Carr-Lowrey, The Rouse Company, Piper Marbury, U.S.F.&G., Broadpoint....). The list goes on and on. And these were just companies that had headquarters in Maryland. What about out-of-state companies that had offices or factories in Maryland? Like General Motors and London Fog. What's next? Legg Mason and Under Armour?

So with this new potential move, we may end up with another abandoned building in Baltimore's skyline. The Central Business District if full of obsolete and abandoned office space. This is a total waste of land for potentially tax-generating properties (that's a topic for another discussion).

Martin O'Malley continues to prove that his business, economic, and energy policies are failures. They are resulting in fewer jobs and fewer choices for consumers, consumers who understand that choices mean lower prices. Despite this, O'Malley is clever enough to spin this as a win, and unfortunately, most Marylanders are too stupid to realize otherwise.

Scott Shellenberger: Tough as Spaghetti

2011-11-07T17:36:00.002-05:00

If you've watched the news over the past couple of months you heard about the trial of Walter Bishop, the man accused of being hired to murder William Porter. The murder took place in Baltimore County in Towson at the Hess gas station on Joppa Road.

The jury eventually decided that they were not going to recommend the death penalty, as allowable under the law. I guess the jury decided that paying someone to kill another person, which I think constitutes several layers of premeditation (you have to agree to do it, you have to plan to do it, you do it) aren't enough to hand down the toughest sentence in the land.

I'm not totally shocked. Marylanders love their murderers. How often is someone sentenced to death, let alone actually put to death? Marylanders don't even like to put people away with life sentences. That's just too mean. I think Governor O'Malley loves criminals. He's had a, what, six year study on the death penalty, which amounts to an executive moratorium? That's the worst study ever! If I told my boss that I needed 6 years to make a decision on one of my projects, I would have been summarily fired. Not our Gov. We love his intense indecisiveness.

After the verdict was read, it sounds like Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Schellenberger agrees with the Marty. He said on WBAL that he was not disappointed at the jury's decision. Scott Schellenberger was not disappointed on the jury's extreme leniency? Is it just me? Or do you think that the county's top prosecutor would want to sound a little tougher on crime than that? He could have just come out and said, "Crime doesn't bother me. Just don't get caught. Be rest assured, if you do get caught, we promise not to be too hard on you."

Then on the other hand, Schellenberger went on to sound more like a politician when he said that, "...Bishop deserved the death penalty." How can you not be disappointed that the jury did not recommend the death penalty when you thought that he deserved the death penalty? Is this guy setting himself up to run for Baltimore County Executive or what? I didn't say that I didn't say that. Take both sides of the issues. That's the safe thing to do. Appease everyone while not appeasing anyone. My name is Willy Wishy Washy. And I'm Baltimore County State's Attorney. And I want to be County Executive. Can you hear it now?

Mr. Schellenberger - your view on crime is easy like a Sunday morning.

That Old Abandoned Farm House in Eldersburg

2011-11-05T13:07:00.007-04:00

If you live in Eldersburg and work in the Baltimore suburbs, I'm sure you pass this house every day. You probably notice it more in November when the Hispanics from North Carolina move onto the property to sell Christmas trees. However, during the rest of the year, the house remains as an old abandoned wasting property.

I wasn't able to determine who owns the house. I had heard that the Patton family (of Patton Homes) owns it, but couldn't prove one way or the other. I know they developed the senior living condos near that property.

Regardless, this old farmhouse that was probably built in the late 1800's or early 1900's has not been occupied for several years. The last occupants hill-billied-it up. Lots of furniture on the porch and such. Since then, the house was boarded up, though the boards were put on the inside of the windows, which I think defeats the primary purpose of boarding up a house, which is to protect the glass in the windows.

Anyway, I think that despite this house's dilapidated and sad condition, it does make for an interesting picture. I do hope that the owners decide to restore this house. We're losing too many of the historical characteristics of this county. I'm sure our future Congressman, Chris Van Hollen, will agree. Right, Chris?

H.U.D. Housing in Eldersburg?

2011-11-05T12:48:00.006-04:00

Indeed there is. We are one more step to becoming an extension of Randallstown. You know those old brick apartments at the corner of Hemlock Avenue and Liberty Road, catercorner to the Denny's (you know in the 12 years that I've lived in Eldersburg I have never been to that Denny's?)? You may have noticed that they are updating the building. There is a big sign posted on the front lawn proudly informing the good folks of Eldersburg that the work is being done by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, more commonly known as HUD.

Well, now you know.

It appears the building is owned by Kuleana Gardens, a company in Pikesville. The building was constructed in 1964 and was sold in September for $650,000.

New to Randallstown - Custom Sign Store

2011-11-02T19:45:00.005-04:00

When I say Randallstown, you normally think about the run-down ghetto stores lining Liberty Road. Dozens, maybe hundreds, if not hundreds of thousdands of run-down, abandoned, and closed businesses line Liberty Road from near Marriottsville Road all the way into Baltimore City. It's a war zone left to fend for itself by the politicians who seem like they are more concerned about winning the election than sensible ecomomic recovery for their districts.

Randallstown, though with its lowly reputation, technically extends all the way to the Carroll County line. Yes, Randallstown, in its truest form, borders Eldersburg. Did I just say that?

In the area of Randallstown west of Lyon's Mill Road lies what some may call the hamlet of Holbrook, probably not named after legendary actor Hal Holbrook. But certainly just as handsome. Are they as lucky? He was married to Dixie Carter.

There are few businesses in this area. There's the former wood furniture place. There's the old gas station from the turn of civilization. There's Ward's Chapel United Methodist Church. And since I moved to Eldersburg in the 1990's - there has been this four-bay building with a roof overhang. I'm not sure what it ever was. Maybe a gas station way back in the day? A service station? If you know, I would be interested in the history.

Anyway, one quarter of this building is now occupied by an entrepreneur who opened the Custom Sign Store. There's not much to their website. But I wish them luck. And so does Martin O'Malley. He wants to tax their revenue!

The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race - Believe in Tomorrow

2011-11-01T18:21:00.018-04:00

Recently my family had the opportunity to be a guest on one of the ships in the Parade of Sail, a public display of many of the vessels involved in The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. One of our favorite foundations, Believe in Tomorrow, provided this opportunity for us.

Unfortunately, my youngest daughter who has leukemia, and thus our involvement in Believe in Tomorrow, was not feeling, so she stayed at home with the mother and I took the older two children.

We arrived in Canton at the stated time and checked in to the Baltimore Marine Center. They guided us to a boat named the Mystic Whaler of New London, Connecticut. It was a gallant ship, rigged in the turn of the century sailing style with a nice pot of coffee.

We sailed around the Baltimore Inner Harbor for about 2 hours, talked with some wonderful people, some of whom we learned we know through mutual friends (it's a small world, isn't it?) and saw the sights of Baltimore from the water. It really was fun, though it did rain. Here is a montage of the photos I took.

This is the Sultana out of Chestertown, Maryland:

I don't remember which ship this is. (Sorry!)

The Navy has some really big ships tied up around the Baltimore Harbor. Check out these two in the background, which absolutely dwarf the ships in the foreground.

Here are a couple more on the other side of Fort McHenry. These ships were used to take military vehicles and weapons to the Middle East.

This is the SS John W. Brown. It is a Liberty ship left over from World War II. The United States would send dozens (sometimes hundreds) of these ships together in a convoy across the Atlantic to Europe with the hope that most of them would get past the German U-Boats.

This is the Liberty Belle, a Mississippi River paddle boat. Kind of interesting. I haven't seen it around the Harbor before, but then again I don't go to the Harbor too often. I have an aversion to be being robbed and shot.

This ship named the Scan Bulker was next to the Domino's Sugar Plant on Locust Point. It's a pretty darn big ship.

These are a couple of gantry cranes owned by the Maryland Port Authority. Because the government should own the ports, right? Note the difference in size in the more modern crane and the older crane, probably from the 1940's\1950's.

This ginormous ship is the Star Hidra from Norway, I think. This has to be the biggest ship that I have ever seen. Keep in mind, that I live in Carroll County and usually see canoes, kayaks, and flat-bottom boats.

After the boat ride we were treated to dinner buffet at Bo Brooks. I took this photo in the pitch-black darkness setting my shutter at a slow speed. That's Silo Point in the background.

Here are some of the boats docked at the marina. I like the effects of the water - again from over-exposure using the slower shutter speed.

This one is probably my favorite. A large private yacht is docked here with some over-priced waterfront housing.

Thank you, Believe in Tomorrow for the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Parade of Sail in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race in Baltimore!!!

O'Malley's Statewide Growth Plan: Recipe for Disaster

2011-10-29T20:05:00.002-04:00

I guess I'm a nut. Martin O'Malley has made it no secret that he wants to "diversify" heavy-Republican districts and unfortunately he's able to do this by public policy. It's all done in the name of a growth plan and saving the bay and curbing suburban sprawl. But don't you really think there are elements of deception and political manipulation?

The Baltimore Sun recently did a good job of painting a picture of rural and extended suburban dwellers as a bunch of lunatics, citing a guy that claims it's part of a United Nations doctrine to destroy American values. Furthermore, they seem to depicting the Carroll County Board of Commissioners as a group of bumpkin hillbillies knee-jerk reacting to our most honorable Governor's plans. You can read this article here, assuming you haven't already read 15 different articles on the Baltimore Sun this month. If you pay for an online subscription, you'll be okay.

As E.J. Pipkin mentioned, the state have severely limited construction on Eastern Shore based on sewer requirements claiming it to be in the best interests of cleaning the Chesapeake Bay. Since there is limited city water on the Eastern Shore, most new construction would require septic systems. However, the state is now restricting\prohibiting the construction of new septic systems saying that septic systems ruin the Bay.

Everyone knows that if they want to clean the bay they need to go after farmers and their overuse of nitrogen-based chemical fertilizer products, not banning of Republicans building houses that need septic systems on the Eastern Shore. And isn't it true that the majority of the Chesapeake Bay pollution comes from the waters crossing the farm fields of Central Pennsylvania, then meandering through the Susquehanna River? Oh, and another source of major pollution in Chesapeake Bay is the streets of Baltimore City, more commonly known as trash cans to city residents.

Now, our Celtic-rockin' Governor has a new plan to halt construction in the extended suburbs and rural areas with a push to concentrate all construction near existing development, such as the leftists Montgomery County area, Owings Mills, and White Marsh. So if you own land in a Republican County, like Carroll County, or you are a resident that doesn't want to live in an apartment\condominium\townhouse, the Maryland Democratic party is basically saying "F**K you."

The next weapon you should expect that state extortionists to use is the withholding of state money for education, transportation, and funding of social programs. By denying state money, the state will hope to crush the popular rebellion of freedom and bring them under the control of the government. Seriously, though. The state can deny money for programs by saying that it will provide funding if local jurisdictions follow strict development guidelines. By not following the guidelines, the local jurisdictions will not receive money.

The Federal government uses this hostile method all the time. It denied highway transportation dollars to states that refused to band gambling. Eventually Nevada told the Federal government where to go and built casinos and its own roads.

Am I a right-wing wacko for suspecting malicious intent in the state's efforts? I don't think so. We've seen a clear pattern in the O'Malley administration of hostility towards people that do not agree with their policies. I think he will d0 whatever it takes to crush the political diversity of the state. And that is a recipe for disaster.

Lionel Ritchie - Where Are You?

2011-10-28T07:28:00.002-04:00

This made me laugh!

Robert Garagiola - Perhaps Not the Brightest Democrat

2011-10-27T17:48:00.003-04:00

Maryland State Senator Robert Garagiola has announced that he will run for the newly redrawn 6th District that Martin O'Malley carved out for him in an effort to unseat Republican Congressman Roscoe Bartlett. This announcement in an of itself is not too surprising or eyebrow raising.

What should concern you and most Marylanders is that Mr. Garagiola is running for Congressman in an area that has a lot of Republicans. Yes, the newly redrawn district created by Martin O'Malley and his blue crayons has more Democrats than Republcians, but it is certainly not a safe district, such as John Sarbanes' district, which basically traverses down streets of Democrats while avoiding streets of Republicans. Sarbanes' district is probably the least consolidated districts in the country. I guess in Congressman Sarbanes case, Governor O'Malley had to make it as easy as possible for him to win.

However, in State Senator Garagiola's bid to win District 6, he'll have to do some work. But he's not going to win with statements like the first one he made directed to the voters in District 6. He said, “You know the damage that has been done to the country by the radical right that has taken over the Republican Party and the U.S. House of Representatives,” reads the announcement, which was first reported by the Maryland Juice political blog. “The Tea Party has rebuilt the House in its own image, making it into a place where Maryland values like common sense and compassion have become vices to be scorned. The results have been disastrous -- let’s do something about it.”

Garagiola is basically telling about half of his district that they are a bunch of morons. Hello, Mr. Garagiola, Western Maryland is loaded with right-wingers and many of them support the Tea Party movement. And despite your dillusional perseption of what the Tea Party movement means, most of us common folks actually get it - spend less money and cut taxes. We don't hate black people. We don't think that Obama is not an American citizen. And we don't hate you.

If Garagiola wanted to get a lot of attention with his announcement to run for Congress, he certainly got it. His over-the-top, in-your-face announcement will not win over independents and Reagan Democrats. Most political campaigns are won on promise, hope, and positive changes to come. Garagiola, on the other hand, comes out swinging the hammer of division and negativity. We need to unite our country and state. Not further divide them like Obama and O'Malley have done.

The best thing to come out of Garagiola's announcement, other than nearly solidifying his own defeat, was the quote from Roscoe Bartlett's spokesman. Roscoe Bartlett is "proud to have enjoyed the support and votes from Democrats and independents as well as Republicans.” To win District 6, you'll need the votes of everyone, not just the left-wing extremists and Socialists.

Is Western Maryland ready for a left-wing narrow-minded liberal extremists like Robert Garagiola who is out of touch with the views of many Marylanders? I certainly hope not.

Does O'Malley Hate Anyone That's Not a White Democrat?

2011-10-20T13:59:00.006-04:00

One may get that impression after the debacle that has been brewing over the past few weeks in Annapolis. Every ten years the state legislatures are tasked with redrawing their districts using data from the Census. The changes in the Congressional maps should reflect the shifts in population and have natural boundaries. Martin O'Malley must interpret this to mean "change the maps to get rid of all of the Republicans regardless of the impacts to others including the strong African-American votes in Maryland.

The first person to holler was 300 year-old Western Maryland Republican Roscoe Bartlett. His district is going to be carved up and sliced into Montgomery County with all the anti-religion socialist-leaning liberal extremists. Also impacted is Chris Van Holen. His new district would slice up into Republican bastion of Carroll County. Do you think Chris Van Holen will be polite enough to come meet his right-wing constituents in the Eldersburg \ Sykesville area? I doubt it. But I sure will contact him a lot asking him to sponsor bills against abortion and to massively cut taxes and spend less money.

John Sarbanes. You know this Congressman. He's the one that got elected for the sole reason that his father was U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes. His districts now looks like a spider with his eight legs sticking out into various parts of Central Maryland - from Towson with a sliver over to Parkville, with a sliver down Harford Road, with an even smaller sliver down some street in Eastern Baltimore City, down through Central Baltimore, into Howard County, down into Montgomery County, up to Rockville, and from another point over Prince George's County, into Anne Arundel County, then jumping over a river into Annapolis. This district is absolutely criminal. Is John Sarbanes complaining about it? I haven't read any comments from him complaining about it. Makes me think that he's a stool pigeon for the Governor. I did see one funny comment that he should use his money to buy a boat so that he can go from one district area to another.

Then there's the part about the break-up of the African-American communities. Instead of having a couple of districts that will guarantee African-American representation in Maryland, Governor Martin O'Malley seems to have chosen to ignore them and bust their districts up into areas that have a lot of white people, thus making their reelection quite a challenge. This could severely imact Donna Edwards and Elijah Cummings.

Donna Edwards has this petition to fight Martin O'Malley's plan. Please sign it!

Martin O'Malley's short-sightedness on the Congressional redistricting map should allow for quite a change in the next election. I would expect at least two changes in Maryland's Congressional representation and quite a draining of the Democratic election coffers as they would actually have to spend money to win elections for the next few years rather than run unopposed as they usually do.

Martin O'Malley - you're a dingle-hopper.

No.1 Taste #2

2011-10-18T08:09:00.003-04:00

I have no idea why I find this so funny. Could there be a sequence of No. 1 Tastes?

Funny Bumper Stickers

2011-10-11T11:13:00.001-04:00

I get a lot of flack for taking my camera with me all the time. But then I get pictures like this and everyone thinks it's great. So stop laughing at me for being prepared!

And for all of you hot moms out there, I know you like this....

Halloween is Approaching!

2011-10-11T10:58:00.001-04:00

Carroll County Public Schools - Overcrowded Buses? No problem!

2011-08-30T16:23:00.004-04:00

Today was the first day of school for Carroll County Public Schools. While most parents' eyes were filled with tears as their little babies went off to government-controlled public schools, I was more filled with happiness. My kids love school and I admit that I'm a bit jealous that they're home during the summer. It's totally not fair!

However, this afternoon many parents' emotions switched to anger when they found out how crowded the school buses are. My daughter said that the school bus to middle school was so crowded that there were 3 kids to a seat and the rest had to sit in the aisles.

This is totally legal right? I wonder if Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Guthrie endorses this arrangement. Is Martin O'Malley not providing sufficient funding for school buses? Governor O'Malley - would you put your children on this bus?

This whole situation is insane. Most middle school kids are the size of adults. My daughter is as tall as me. She said there was no room and everyone was getting claustrophobic. Imagine if Mr. Guthrie had to seat 9 adults across the back seat and floor of his county-provided vehicle. Would they feel safe? Or if Martin O'Malley had to put 6 adults across the back seat of his limousine.

I told my daughter that if she one of the last ones on the bus to refuse to sit on the floor and demand that alternate transportation arrangements be made before the bus is allowed to proceed.

I anxiously await comment from Carroll County Public Schools, Governor Martin O'Malley, and the Maryland State Police on this situation.

If you would like to contact Mr. Guthrie, he can be reached at 410.751.3000.

The Film Foundation - "We Need Your Money!"

2011-08-18T19:16:00.000-04:00

Have you rented a DVD lately or gotten one from Netflix? If so, I'm sure you've seen the preview for The Film-Foundation, a foundation formed by Martin Scorsese in 1990. The DVD preview is narrated by Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese. They discuss how time and lack of technology in the early days of the film industry are contributing to the deterioration of our film treasures.

The Film-Foundation has been restoring many of these prized films, but there are many more that need to be restored, as well. Without restoration soon, these films can be lost forever.

What does the Film-Foundation want us to do to help them? Donate lots of money! Seriously? A foundation created and sponsored by millionaire actors, producers, and directors wants us, the common people, to give them OUR money so that they can restore them, then re-release them and make even MORE money off of these films?

What am I missing here? Let's turn this around. Let's say I'm a furniture maker, but some of my older pieces are getting old and need to be restored. I come begging you for money so that I can restore them, then sell them to you? How does this make any sense? Is the government sponsoring this?

I totally get a laugh out of this preview every time I hit Fast Forward through Clint Eastwood, the former tough guy of America, acting like a blithering idiot at this farcical request.

What do of think of their request?

Wells Fargo? Or Wachovia?

2011-08-16T17:19:00.000-04:00

In December of 2008, the government forced the sale of Wachovia in order to avoid its absolute collapse. We already dealt with the financial woes of Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, and AIG. From this debacle, the San Francisco-based Wells Fargo acquired the assets of the Charlotte, North Carolina-based Wachovia. (our friends in Charlotte HATE that we say "Charlotte, North Carolina")

In the Freedom Village Shopping Center (where the Shopper's and Panera Bread are located), a Wachovia bank sits. However, when I drove by recently, I couldn't tell what bank was operating in this location.

Was it Wachovia?

Or Wells Fargo?

I guess it depends which direction you were traveling on Route 26.

New to Eldersburg: Glory Days Grill

2011-08-15T19:01:00.001-04:00

The Eldersburg Glory Days Grill has been open for over a couple of months now, but because of the massive tax increases that Martin O'Malley pushed, we cannot afford to go there. Located in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, Glory Days occupies a building that was empty for what seemed like several years.

Several of my friends have eaten there and it has received moderate reviews. It has bar-type food, similar to Chilis, which Eldersburg already has. There's really nothing unique about this place, just another restaurant that serves alcohol.

It is certainly an attractively designed building. And it's always crowded. Though most new restaurants are crowded. I wonder how Glory Days Grill is impacting the businesses like Chili's, Salerno's, and Beck's.

Have you been there yet? What do you think?

Coming to Sykesville - Metro Bobcat Sales

2011-08-15T09:52:00.000-04:00

Do you hate having to drive all over the state of Maryland trying to find a place to rent a Bobcat (skid-steer)? Well, you're in luck. Metro Bobcat Sales will be constructing a new sales center in Sykesville, right near the intersection of Klee's Mill Road and Route 26, just prior to Route 97.

You may remember that there was some old farm buildings on this site up until several years ago when the buildings were demolished and the site was cleared. Or you might not remember that.

My Unfavorite Yellow Business in Eldersburg

2011-08-14T20:52:00.000-04:00

I've never been here, nor do I ever intend to support this business. Any company that gets away with painting their building an obnoxious color deserves to have people laugh at it. Seriously? Mustard yellow? Yes, it gets our attention, but so do naked fat women and deer carcasses on the side of the road. But what better combination is there than a laundromat and a car wash? That's synergy!

The Baltimore Sun - SMALLER and smaller and ......

2011-08-13T20:08:00.002-04:00

For the past several years the Baltimore Sun has been laying off people left and right. Gone are many of the local writes, the political cartoonist, some of the editors, Michael Olesker and more. Now The Sun has announced that is it laying off MORE people. They noted it as buying out contracts. It's all the same - they're getting rid of staff.

In an article that appeared in many local papers, The Sun is looking to buyout 20-25 people. Among the expected casualties will be two columnists, two critics, an editorial writer, two copy editors, two design editors and a photographer. I expect in their place will be articles written by the AP or other nationally syndicated writers. Of course, these writers will focus on issues on a national level and will totally ignore local issues. The empty positions will possibly be filled with three monkeys, an bag of potato chips, and the Perry Hall high school newspaper staff.

What in the world is going on with the newspaper business? We all know that advertising revenue is shrinking like crazy. And The Sun has a horrible reputation of being a bias, pro-liberal newspaper. They endorsed Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend, for crying out loud! I firmly believe that if the devil was a Democrat, The Sun would endorse him before they would endorse a Republican.

Before long, The Sun's competition will no longer be The Washington Post or New York Times. It will be The Advocate, The City Paper, and some blog named VoteNoMalley. Imagine their disgust when they lose out on the Pulitzer prize to some college kids writing for UMBC.

I cringe for the day when there is no longer any local coverage and in-depth investigative reporting. The politicians and greedy businesses will have a field day as they know no one will call them out on their shenanigans. Is there an answer? I'm not sure. What do you think?

Who is Otis Rolley?

2011-08-12T19:32:00.005-04:00

If you're following the Baltimore mayoral election, you've certainly heard of Otis Rolley. He's making himself about as high-profile as you can. You can follow him on Twitter. He's been interviewed on radio stations. He's everywhere!

When I first heard of him, I Googled his name. I found his Wikipedia page, so I naturally read it. Normally, someone unassociated to the person writes an objective article about politicians. However, this article is so professionally written and glossy, I am confident that he wrote it himself or had someone write it for him. It is more subjective than objective. The article glamorizes the wonderful things that he did as a city planner. How does a former city planner get a Wikipedia page? The rules of Wikipedia state the a person must be notable. I don't think being the director of a planning department makes a person notable. If he gets elected as the Mayor of Baltimore, I think that would justify him getting a page, but until then, not so much.

So in order to spare you from the self-aggrandizement, I'll highlight some of the items.

He participated in Model Program, a series of challenging classes at Lincoln High School in New Jersey. Who cares? Nearly everyone who grew up in the surrounding counties of Baltimore participated in some sort of advanced classes, be they GT or CM or whatever was in fashion at the time. And who would know this other than him and his parents? And who would care - other than him and his parents?

He received the Buttonwood Scholarship. Everyone knows what that is, right? Yeah, me neither.

At the age of 25, he managed 100 employees and a $1 million budget. Okay, this is impressive, but is it Wikipedia-worthy? I really don't think so. This should be on his campaign website, not Wikipedia.

He notes when Martin O'Malley was elected mayor, then Governor, as if that is uncommon knowledge and important to his biography. Mr. Rolley, we all know when Marty got elected and followed up with massive tax increases.

Rolley managed the urban development and local government reform sectors of the Urban Policy Development (until recently). That solidifies it. If I lived in the city I'd vote for him because of his involvement in the urban development and local government reform sectors. Does this even warrant being on a resume'?

His Wikipedia page also notes that he is active on Facebook and Twitter. I'm starting to think that he is using his Wikipedia page as a free election website.

I'm sure Mr. Rolley is a nice person with great intentions, but this is total abuse of a free website. I invite the Wikipedia world to edit this page and bring it back down to Earth. This nonsense must be stopped!

Baltimore City Redistricting

2011-08-12T18:57:00.004-04:00

The Sun has been running a series of articles about the redistricting that is going to be done as the result of the census. They have spanned from The Sun's joy of busting up one or both of the Republican Congressional districts in the state to the most recent articles about Baltimore City losing representation.

As a result of the continued mass exodus from the city, Baltimore's population no longer warrants the 18 state delegates and 6 state senators. This is causing an uproar in City Hall and in The Sun. Mayoral candidate Otis Rolley seems to be using this as one of his rally calls. The fact is Baltimore City lost another 30,000 people in the last decade. Most of them were killed. I'm kidding. Only about 3,000 people were killed in the last decade, though that's not really funny.

The majority of these people have moved into Baltimore County. The politicians, residents, and writers at The Sun are in angst because they realize that with less representation in Annapolis, they can't run to the Maryland General Assembly with as many hats in hand. Less hats means less money. As you can imagine, the tax base in Baltimore City versus the social needs requires that more money from taxes be sent back to the city than were collected. Imagine if you paid $1000 in taxes, then the state government gave you a check for $1,070 for such a good job you did.

Who is supporting Baltimore City? It certainly isn't Baltimore City. Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County - more of our money is going to Baltimore City than anywhere else. And now Baltimore City is pissed off. Sounds kind of arrogant, doesn't it?

How do the greasy politicians plan to resolve this? They want to make the Baltimore City districts jut out into Baltimore County, but not so much as to allow the residents of Baltimore County to have a say in the election, but just enough to get their population totals to the minimum requirement. There should still be enough Baltimore City residents in each district to control the election. This will allow the city to have more districts begging for money than would be allowed if they followed the laws of political districts and made them represent natural boundaries or actual city lines.

This is nothing new. Maryland's former Governor from New York, Parris Glendening, tried it. He got sent to court and lost. Then the court had to redo the district maps themselves to make them fair. Do you think that we can rely on our elected officials to be fair this time? Of course not. They're already saying this is what they're probably going to do.

So residents of Baltimore County -be forewarned. Annapolis and Baltimore City want to make sure that your voice is not heard! Fight back!

Maryland State Highway - Are You on Crack?

2011-08-09T21:38:00.005-04:00

Have you been on Liberty Road heading east from White Rock Road lately? This is the section of road past that new shopping center \ professional office area where the old driving range and putt-putt golf center used to be.

I have driven this stretch of road several times since I need to go that way to get to Piney Run Park. I want to know who the idiot is that signed off on that road striping. You don't really need to know much about traffic management to understand that what they did does not make any sense.

Logically, whenever someone changes a lane, that is a traffic hazard, though in the grand scheme of things, it may be a low-risk traffic hazard. However, what if the road forces a lane change? Just like this stretch of Route 26? As you travel east, the through lane is a single lane. The road then opens to 2 lanes in each direction, however, the through lane is now on the far right. Not too much farther the original through lane becomes a dedicated turn-lane onto Emerald Lane. If you want to continue eastward, you MUST change lanes. How does this make any sense? There will be accidents as knuckleheads try to race to the front of the line and squeeze in. You know that guy. Heck, you might BE that guy.

Here is an exaggerated diagram of the road so that you get the idea.

Does Maryland Director of Transportation Beverley K. Swaim-Staley agree to this new ridiculous new configuration? Does acting State Highway Administrator Darrell B. Mobley agree with this? Do you, as citizens of Eldersburg or Carroll County agree with this? Martin O'Malley, you MUST be smart enough to know that this idea is stupid. Please tell you staff at the Department of Transportation to fix this.

Beach Trip, Part IV - Thank You

2011-08-01T20:54:00.008-04:00

I would be remiss if I didn't thank all of the donors to the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation. They provided meals, activities, boat rides, and gifts to all of the families that stayed there this week. And they do this week after week.

Hooper's Crab House donated a crab feast for all of the families. We all got to eat in a boat and it was all you can eat crabs, shrimp, chicken, corn balls, and corn on the cob. Yummy! And, they have a claw machine with lobsters in it and the father of one of the families just won it because he wanted to prove he could win it. He asked the other families if they wanted the lobster and no one spoke up, so I claimed it. I did share it with my family. And one of the mom's who started hovering once it was steamed and delivered. And it poured down rain during dinner. On the boat. Tied to the pier. Out in the water.

The Fractured Prune gave us another dozen donuts - which rocked. There's not too much that is more awesomer than getting donuts custom-made as they're pulled out of the dough fryer. And where else can you get chocolate mint donuts, hon?

In the 500 or so many times I've been to Ocean City, I don't think I've ever escaped the barrier island without a rigorous game of miniature golf. I despise the fact that my 11 year old daughter regularly beats me now. No. I'm not letting her win. She just does. Err....

I didn't get a picture of the place, but La Hacienda also provided meals for our family and at least one another family one night. We had to be there at 5pm before the big crowd, but the food was good. And plenty of it. And my wife liked the fact that a young Matthew MccConaughey worked there. Not sure why she got so excited. She's married to the studliest guy west of Liberty Reservoir.

Planet Maze also provided a one-day family pass for us. We enjoyed a few games of laser-tag, which my son absolutely dominated. I'm not sure how he did it, but he figured out something. My youngest daughter got to play in the climbing tubes, though we intelligently stayed away from the bacteria-laden ball pit.

Finally the United States Coast Guard's Ocean City unit provided a tour and rides our of their bay-side port, through the Inlet, and out into the Ocean. It's a pretty cool boat. The mates were all like kids to me. Unfortunately, there were no cannons on the boat, nor did we do any search and seizures of drug runners or out of control college girls acting inappropriately. But it was still a good ride.

I know there are other donors to this wonderful organization, but I can't remember them all. They all know who they are and we thank you!

Beach Trip, Part III - The Beach

2011-07-29T17:11:00.007-04:00

You know you've all been waiting for this part.

Unlike most of our trips, we didn't go to the beach every day this year. As I've mentioned we had several activities that were planned, so the beach took a back seat on a few days.

One day was the fishing outing. Another day was at the water park at Jolly Roger's. There was another day that we spent doing something else, but in less than a week I already cannot remember. Am I getting old? I need to stop inhaling the Methotrexate and Mercaptopurine.

Check out this kid with the sunscreen smiley face on his back. At first I thought it was a joke, but given his age and the amount of sunscreen, this must be intentional.

There really was much incentive to look around at the ladies. I mean, I had the most beautiful woman I know sitting right next to me. But for everyone else, here are your beach babes.

Two of these belong in bikinis, one does not. But I'm not judging. Just stating facts.

Here's one for you older guys. Got milf?

Grandpa here - when I first saw him I thought his bathing suit was falling down his backside. Who makes light tan bathing suits, or bathing suits with light tan stripes at the top? My wife once bought me a bathing suit that was entirely light tan. When I put it on it looked like I was naked.

You can imagine my excitement when one of these planes with the streaming messages flew by advertising women's bathing suits half off! Much to my chagrin, I found racks of reduced priced bikinis.

It started raining one afternoon, so we all gathered under our canopies and umbrellas. It was a comical sight seeing large groups of people all huddled under umbrellas up and down the beach. Everyone remained huddled under their canopies and umbrellas until a crack of lightning hit the water not more than 50 yards from us. Then there were screams heard in all directions and lines of people racing up toward the dunes. We finally made it to the first condominium building, ran underneath where everyone parks and found ourselves in the midst of dozens of other people - soaking wet and gasping for breath.

It was really foggy one day. We couldn't see anything. This is also the day that we got to go for a ride out into the ocean on a Coast Guard boat. Very cool!

I thought for sure that there was a rainbow around somewhere after I spotted this leprechaun roaming the beach. Who's got the Lucky Charms?!! "Oh, Danny boy, where's ye pot ol' gold?"

This is my wife's foot. "Got my toes in the water, toes in the sand, not a worry in the world, a cold Coke in my hand, life is good today, life is good today!"

This is our Scopes girl for the week. She asked us on day 1 if we wanted pictures, but didn't ask us again the whole week. She did ask how are week was going and was very nice. I did hear her say that she just puts everything in the credit card and daddy pays it. Must be nice!

Check out this bathing beauty! Everyone can wear a bikini, right? "ooo, baby-baby! La-lala-la-lala!"

One Less Duke

2011-07-29T08:15:00.002-04:00

There is sad news to report in Hollywood. Vance Duke has died. Please keep Bo, Luke, Daisy, and Coy in your prayers.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dukes-hazzard-star-christopher-chip-216664

You'll remember that Coy and Vance Duke moved to Hazzard County, Georgia to help Daisy and Uncle Jessie take care of the farm while Bo and Luke went off to pursue their racing careers.

New to Eldersburg: Cash Today Pawn Shop!

2011-07-28T21:39:00.004-04:00

How do you know that your town is on the fast track to suburban decay? When a pawn shop opens up in your shopping center.

Pawn shops, as you know, are places to sell your stuff to get money so that you can pay your mortgage. OR - it's a place to sell the stuff you stole so you can get some cash to buy some heat or a dime bag.

In Eldersburg, I think both situations apply. There are plenty of people in the area who are over-extended on their credit and tapped out and underwater on their mortgage, so selling the leaf blower and granddad's antique screwdriver may make sense. Also, the Randallstown creep effect is in full force, so the latter makes sense as well.

I don't recall what was in this space previously. I know it has been unoccupied for a while. It's right next door to Captain Dan's, so maybe you sell the Garmin you lifted out of the cars in one of the neighborhoods in Eldersburg, then go to Captain Dan's and get a nice Crab Cake sandwich. (I actually inadvertently typed 'crab crack sandwich' - totally unintentional).

Where are the Ravens?

2011-07-28T19:05:00.004-04:00

If you're a true Ravens' fan, you know that preseason practices are normally held at McDaniel College up in Westminster, Maryland. If you're from Baltimore, you probably pronounce it Westminister. When the Ravens are there, they stay at the Best Western Motel on Route 140. However, the preseason practices at McDaniel College were canceled when the NFL and the players' association failed to come to a contract agreement.

Now that the NFL successfully beat Congress in coming to an agreement in their respective arena, the preseason has started and the Ravens are conducting their practices at their facility in Owings Mills, Maryland. If you're from Baltimore, you probably pronounce it Owings Mills, hon.

While driving to The Green Turtle for lunch today, I noticed that the Hyatt Place hotel, formerly the Amerisuites Hotel, at the corner of Painter's Mill Road and Red Run Boulevard (the boulevard that I think Kevin Kamenetz hates because he's not getting it fixed) has fencing all around it, and at the two entrances there is a canopy with security guards with bullhorns. I think bullhorns are the peace-love-dope method of security. "Hey you! Go away!" But that's okay. So I don't know with 100% certainty, but I'm pretty sure that's where they are staying.

Here's a picture of the hotel that I took through my windshield one day, so it's a crappy picture, but if you're familiar with the area you'll know where it is.

Beach Trip, Part II - Fishing

2011-07-27T21:12:00.008-04:00

No trip to Ocean City with a 9 year old boy would be complete without a fishing trip or three. Left to his devices, my son would fish all 7 days and skip the beach entirely. However, because of random acts of violence, we prefer that an adult be with him at all times and we don't feel like fishing all day every day.

The Believe in Tomorrow Foundation provides activities for visiting families and this trip they provided fishing on the bay. We were told to be at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club at 9am, so we promptly arrived at 9:07am. There were 3 families going fishing and thus 3 boats. Our captain was Captain John and first mate Tim, but we called him Captain Tim. Both are firefighters, though I'm not sure if that was their full-time job or just volunteers.

Captain John piloted a pontoon boat that seats about 6 or 7. Since there were 7 of us, I'll say it seated 7. We ferried out of Ocean Pines along the eastern edge of the bay, though I'm not sure if it is considered Isle of Wight Bay or Big Assawoman Bay, though according to Wikipedia, the universal source of factual information, says that 'Big Assawoman' is a tongue in cheek reference to the body of water.

Captain John gave us a tour of the big water-front houses, many of which I fantasize that I own. Check out this series of houses. Which one do you want?

We then made our way to the U.S. Route 50 draw bridge, then over to Assateague. I loved the sounds of cars going across the drawbridge as we passed underneath. Brrrr......brrrrr.....brrrrr.... This bridge was constructed in 1942. This bridge is now almost 70 years old. How do you feel about crossing it? The current plan is to replace it in 2035, only 24 years away!

We saw this interesting partially sunken ship. Apparently the owner does not have the necessary insurance nor the funds to raise the boat, so I guess he's waiting for nature to decompose the entire ship. Having toured the shores of Baltimore's harbor and seen other sunken ships, I would expect this decomposition to take over 100 years.

We then found some inbred ponies munching on the salt water grasses along the shore. The pony on the left is checking out his Aunt Sister Mom in the center.

By now my son is getting irritated and asking when we are going to fish. I think he's worried that this is turning into a boat trip rather than a fishing trip. We finally head back north of the U.S. Route 50 bridge and drop some lines. It's not too long before my oldest daughter lands the first fish. I soon follow, then I follow with another, then finally (gasp of relief) my son catches one, too. Altogether we caught 9 flounder and several crabs. Unfortunately, they were all too small to keep. However, I did have the honor of catching the largest flounder at 16". A keeper is 18". Captain John said that a keeper is caught about once a week.

Check out this commercial fishing pontoon boat in the background. Great name!

We finally wrapped up and headed back to Ocean Pines. Captain John and Captain Tim were gracious hosts and would accept nothing more than a hand-shake. Thank you Captain John, Captain Tim, and Believe in Tomorrow for this wonderful opportunity!