53 beers on tap

Cousin Coming Back

This is great news!  Howard County Public Schools Superintendent is scheduled to return to work on April 28.  Cousin had been on a leave of absence for the last three months or so due to a medical situation.

Time will tell as to whether Cousin will manage the school system in the same manner, or whether he'll delegate more to other senior leaders in the school system.  Given as the Chief Operating Officer of the Howard County Public School System, Theresa Alban, recently announced that she was leaving in order to become the new Frederick County Schools Superintendent, it would seem that there is definitely local talent who can be developed for larger roles, in Howard County or elsewhere.

And after that mother of all run-on sentences, can you tell that I'm a product of the Howard County Public School System?

An idle political observation (or two)

I'm getting the feeling this next Democratic primary for Governor is going to be a case of who can kick whose butt in the other candidate's backyard.

Case in point: Calvin Ball's fundraiser last week.  Not only did State Comptroller Peter Franchot show up (I believe he was the invited speaker to introduce Councilman Ball) but so did Lt. Governor Anthony Brown (sure he was invited, but I don't think he had a place on the agenda).  And although County government was well-represented, at least the time I was there, County Executive Ulman wasn't there.  Possible he came after I left, or that he had another function to attend.  He typically makes it around to support local elected officials.

So why is all this significant?  Because Brown, Franchot and Ulman are all on the short list, along with Attorney general Doug Gansler, of potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates for 2014.  Absolutely lovely that Brown and Franchot showed up in the middle of the HoCo having a great big bromance for each other.  They both said wonderful things about the other. 

Wonder if that'll be the same story in say, 2 1/2 years from now?  I'm doubting it. Although it's a LONG way to 2014, right now it looks like whoever wins the Democratic primary has a clear path to the State House.  And every single one of the four candidates I've mentioned in this post have done a lot.  And there isn't one who backs down well.  I think it's safe to say that I expect the Democratic primary campaign in 2014 to be...oh, quite spiritied, to say the least!

HoCo's very own Bonnie and Clyde! How cute!

Ok, so this news has been around for awhile, but I've taken my own sweet time in writing about it.  Mea culpa there, gentle (and not so gentle) readers!

Put this one in the "stupid hick" file.  Apparently these two are suspected in four recent burglaries in the western part of the HoCo (and let's all remember, it's the rural west, those things that happen in places like Columbia and Ellicott City, like crime, aren't supposed to happen in the rural west) and, they may be responsible for more!

What the hell possessed these two to go there?  I want to learn more about these two screwballs.  Anyone out there know more?

What's right and wrong with Maryland's business climate?

Very rarely does any article or news story make me nod in total agreement.  Being quite a nitpicky person, I almost always find something to quibble about or not toally agree with.

Not so with this interview that appears in the current issue of the Business Monthly.  The subject of the interview is Kim McCoy Burns, President of Maryland Business for Responsive Government.

If anyone wants to ask me what I think about Maryland's business climate, I must remember to bookmark this interview in my brain.  Because I couldn't agree more.

The corporate tax rate in Maryland is a bit too high.  Not sure I'd reduce it to the level in say, Virginia, but it needs to be looked at.  Reducing the corporate tax rate is an incentive to spur investment by existing businesses and to lure new businesses to the state-- in order to take advantage of the many wonderful things Maryland has to offer, such as it's transportation infrastructure, location, and local education systems.

Another valid point made is that Maryland is too dependent upon Federal spending.  Although, given our location, I don't think Maryland can be weaned off of Federal dependency.  Rather, I feel Maryland should use that economic base as a springboard off of which to develop a better business climate.

Ms. Burns is a pragamtic voice for private inductry in the state.  I recommend reading and considering what's said in the interview.

2011 HoCo Delegation goodie bag: treats and tricks

The 2011 General Assembly session ends tomorrow at midnight, and it's safe to use this time to look at what the local delegation got passed and what they brought back to the county this session.  Lindsay Mcpherson has a good synposis of the HoCo outcomes of the 2011 session here.

Disappointing that funding for the construction of Troy Hill and Blandair Regional parks did not get approved.  This keeps the projects on the slow boat to completion.  Although, I guess that's OK.  Not like the county's population still isn't increasing faster than state average, or that scat-loads of people aren't coming to the area thanks to BRAC... oh, wait, those things ARE happening.  Dang.

On the good side of the equation, the delegation did secure funding to renovate the Main St. post office in Ellicott City to make it a tourism center.  Which is awesome!  And funding was secured for the Howard County Conservancy to renovate one of it's facilities.  Good stuff, that.

And the hotel tax increase passed.  Again, as I've written before, I have no problem with this.  The increase is to a level that is in accordance with what other, neighboring jurisdictions charge.

Besides all of the above,  of course the delegation passed the state budget and brought home funding for school construction, etc.  All in all, it looks like a solid first year of the four-year cycle for our local delegation.  Would've loved to have seen the park construction funding come through, though.

The 500th post

This post is the 500th post in the nearly 3-year history of 53 Beers on Tap.

That's right.  Post D in roman numerals.  Half of a thousand.

And what the bejeesus have I learned?  Have I made anything better by my involvement in this medium? 

At the start of the year I made New Year's Resolutions for this blog.  And I think I've held to them.  Heck, I just shot out three tweets as I was writing this post.  And I've broadened the scope of my posts, which I also think is important.  And I've gotten more comments on my posts.

OK, so that's all good.  But what have I learned from my experience to date?

First, I have gained an appreciation for the freedom of this medium.  It truly is uncensored.  It truly is, whatever you want it to be.  Nothing is filtered or restrained by anything other than onesself, and that's a pretty empowering, kinda scary feeling.

Second, I have learned that controversy = page hits.  The most popular posts by page hit aren't the ones I think were my most well-written, well-researched, or about a favorite issue of mine.  No, the most popular posts have been the ones where MM (and by the way, MM and WCW are not necessarily one and the same) has stirred the proverbial septic tank with the bamboo pole.  Where I've called people names, told the world I thought someone or something was (is) idiotic-- those are the posts the fans love!  And why not?  Controversy is fun.  Controversy breeds discussion and debate.  Controversy favors boldness, not this middling "let's make everyone happy" mentality that we see pervade too much in the world of government and politics.  I never wanted this blog to be an online, local version of "The David Susskind Show."

That gets me to the third thing I've learned in doing this: don't back down.  Don't ever, ever back down.  Because when you do, in this medium, you lose a little bit of who you are.  By saying this I don't mean, "don't ever admit a mistake" or "don't ever change your mind".  I've done both in the lifetime of this blog.  And I will again, I'm sure.  But I've never backed down from the way I want this blog to be-- which was, as I said in an extremely early post, a little bit of everything.  

As to the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, etc. things I've learned-- well, I've learned that people only take home three key points from anything they read-- so there are my three!  If you want more, wait until post # 750!

Seriously, I hope all of you who have read this blog enjoy it (except for three people, whose initials are AK, BR and AB-- I truly hope you despise this blog) and that if nothing else, somewhere along the way you've learned something.  Maybe even consider an alternative point of view.  That's about the best thing this Marshmallow Man could hope for.

To the next 500 posts!

 

 

 

MM personal appearance and postgame karaoke!

MM goes back-to-back evenings with the personal appearances!  Last night I attended the hocoblogs party at Stained Glass Pub in Elkridge.  This evening, I'll be attending a reception tonight (uh, that's really a fundraiser) for Calvin Ball.

But, wait, there's more!  I'll be capping the evening with an appearance at the Second Chance Saloon tonight for karaoke night.  Not only is it karaoke night; it's also all-night happy hour at Second Chance.  That means inexpensive drink prices, folks.   I'll be hitting there around 8:30.

Feel free to join me at one appearance, or both!

Marshmallow Man bucks the blog bourgeoisie!!!

This is Marshmallow Man, reporting live from the front!

Marshmallow Man is reporting that he WILL attend the HoCo Blog party tonight, starting a scant 46 minutes from now, at the Stained Glass Pub in Elkridge.  Repeat, Marshmallow Man WILL attend!!

However, Marshmallow Man is NOT, I repeat, NOT signing up for this party!  Why not?  Because that's how the Marshmallow Man rolls, that's why!  Plus, MM just feels like flying a little bit in the face of structure and formality.  Yeah, I got the invite-- but the last time I signed up for a blog party, I wound up unable to attend.  Bitter!  Unfortunate!  Jinx, jinx, jinx!!!  I will not succumb to such this time!

I'll be showing up crazier than Sarah Palin at a Westboro Baptist Church picnic!  The party goes until 7:30pm tonight; if you're reading this message and it's not 7:30, leave now!

Passing no wine bill before it's time

Another month, another mind-numbing delay on passing the local legislation to allow wineries in Howard County.  You can read about it here.

You know, on the whole I think this County Council has been better for business than people give it credit for-- and I said "credit", not "blame", because I sense you anti-development Froot Loops are getting read to warm up your digits-- but if I were looking to open a winery in Central Maryland, I think I'd look at locations in Montgomery, Baltimore, and Frederick Counties, where they're already permitted, than good ol' HoCo.  But once again, it looks as if a small cadre of residents in the so-called "rural west" are keeping this legislation from progressing, causing yet another one-month delay before the Council votes.

I am still hopeful that, barring the Apopcalypse and good health willing, I'll be drinking a 2015 vintage of a Howard County winery at my daughter's high school graduation party.  But the Council needs to get off the schneid-- and that includes YOU, Greg Fox-- and get this thing done.  Considering some other doozy issues the Council has taken on in the past few years--- uh, downtown Columbia redevelopment--- this seems like it should be a piece of cake.

Hey, guess what?? Howard IS healthy!!!

If you're not aware of this website, and you're interested in health-related demographics, you need to be.  Hmm, guess you just did! 

For those of you who haven't heard, Howard ranks first in Maryland in terms of overall health factors and health outcomes. 

What's the secret to a pretty healthy Howard?  Doesn't appear to be access to recreational facilities; interestingly, it looks as if Howard County is kind of average in that regard.  The tell-take statistic that stands out to me is access to a primary care provider.  Apparently Howard's ratio of population to primary care provider is a little under 400 to 1; in Maryland, the number is over 700 to 1 and nationally, about 630 to 1.

Is access a function of wealth?  Not necessarily.  I like to think of access being more a function of being insured.