53 beers on tap

Phil Nelson, fitness model

THERE are four words you won't find together very often!

So I just became within receipt of one of the CA postcards with Phil Nelson's smiling countenance on it twice.  On  the obverse Phil's in the pool, goggles and all; on the reverse, he's standing in some woods holding a bike.  Phil's grinning ear to ear and the entire piece is a promotional piece for joining the Columbia Gym (if you do so, you get outdoor pool membership free!)

MM gives credit where credit is due, people; and this promotional campaign for the recreation facilities featuring Phil Nelson is genius!  One of the cool things about Phil is that he looks like "Joe Columbia"; middle aged, professional, kind of ectomorphic (and I can call him that, because I am one!).  He doesn't exactly look like someone who would grace the cover of Runner's World.  Nor should he.

Having his face as the face of CA's marketing their facilities sends a great message to the average Columbian who hasn't taken advantage of the recreation facilities in awhile: go out and give them a try!  Here's hoping it works.

I say it's my birthday!

Today's MM's birthday, so no topical post today; just this extremely self-serving one.  :  )  More craziness in the new week!

Let's hear it for the middle!

In a political world where the extremes are getting more extreme, and things are getting more and more polarized, it's nice to see someone trying to lean back towards the middle.

Delegate Galen Claggett of Frederick is organizing a "Blue Dog" caucus of moderate to conservative Democrats-- socially liberal, fiscally conservative-- in the Maryland General Assembly.  You can read more about it here.

Claggett is forming this caucus in order to counteract the influence of Maryland's more urbanized areas in state governement-- most notably Baltimore City and Price Georges County-- and to raise funds to elect like-minded Democrats throughout the state.  I would assume that the latter means targeting current Republican state officeholders.

In Howard County, this would mean District 9, currently represented by Senator Allan Kittleman and Delegates Gail Bates and Warren Miller.  With Kittleman widely speculated to run for Howard County Executive in 2014, this would create at least one open seat in the District 9 delegation, and possibly an opportunity for a Democrat.

I like this development and wish Delegate Claggett well.

 

Notice something about prices lately?

Is it just me, or are the prices of durable goods starting to increase?  By that I'm talking about clothing, housewares, applicances, etc.

Some of my favorite online shopping sites have been quietly raising the prices of some of my favorite items.  A $35 golf shirt now costs $40, for instance.  A DVD player that had cost $110 now costs $120.  A $649 TV is now $699.

Is this a factor of the volatility of gas prices?  A function of the trauma in the Japanese economy?  Is this just good, old fashioned inflation at work because maybe prices had stayed low during the recession while companies retooled, and now have cut back so much that they can't trim operating costs?  Or something else?

Have you, gentle readers, noticed prices for things you buy and/or windowshop for creeping up recently?  And what do you think?

Coming soon... Blandair!

I am reveling in the goodness that is this article, which tells us that the first components of Blandair Park will be open, perhaps as early as late this fall, but certainly by early spring.

That definitely does not suck. What still does continue to suck, however, is that the entire park won't be completed until 2019... and that's if funding is found for the project in each successive fiscal year, and given the state of the economy, that is certainly not a given.  Would anyone want to bet me good American money that the park opens in 2019, not 2020 or 2021?

Welcome to local government in light of the Great Recession/ Double Dip Recession/ Great Depression, 21st Century style/ etc.  Projects that could have taken 2 years to complete in the past now take nine.

SmoKo in the HoCo is a NoNo

So you've gotta be living under a rock to not know that today the County Executive signed an Executive Order banning smoking in all county parks.  Those of you who still smoke are still welcome to do so outdoors, on private property or in open space owned by the Columbia Association... for now.

Yes, I love what goes on in Howard County in terms of health education and awareness.  I'm a big fan of Healthy Howard.  My lifestyle has become much more active in the past year and I'll be continuing that.

All that said...I'm going to say that the smoking ban at the county parks strikes me as taking things an eensy bit too far.

I know second hand smoke is bad.  But, to be honest, when I use the county parks to ride and bike, or to watch or play sports, I never see anyone smoking along the pathways, trails or fields.  Anyone.

Where I do see people smoking is where people gather in private to have a cookout, picnic, etc.  And that being the case, where people are gathered together in a closed group choosing to smoke, I have to wonder: what problem are we solving here?

I'm sure that if I was jogging or biking on a path and people were blowing their smoke in my face I'd feel differently.  But that doesn't happen.  Smoking activity in the county parks appears to be, in my very unscientific survey, to be self-contained and self-regulated.  What am I missing?

Guess it IS the world's oldest profession!

Was talking with a friend of mine recently who's an attorney practicing in Howard County.  My friend told me about a couple of people who he was defending, who were charged in a prostituion case.  Their ages?  62 and 63.

I made a comment to the effect that I guess guys of all ages are looking for a certain something, and he said to me, "Oh, no, these are the women!"

Charged with prostitution in Howard County at the ages of 62 and 63?  Damn, I guess times ARE tough!

Redistricting is coming

Oh-oh, I was looking for something to sink my teeth into a little bit.  Seek and ye shall find!

I know here in the HoCo there's been some talk about local redistricting, but let's not forget that state legislative and Congressional districts are to be redrawn over the next several months as well.  In fact, the Congressional redistricting is most pressing, what with federal elections in April and all.

Here is an article about the process to date.  There's a dog and pony show coming to a community near you soon, to discuss Congressional and state legislative redistricting.

By the by, a special session of the General Assembly will consider the new Congressional lines in October.  The state legislative lines will be discussed during the 2012 Assembly session.

However, between now and sometime in September, a calendar of community meetings will be scheduled and held throughout the state.  Attend one, several or all, and bring all your friends!  Watch this space for more details and information about such meetings going on in central Maryland.

 

Peekaboo! I see you!!!

I swear, if you want it, Howard County has it.  And now it has something else: it's own observatory.

The Howard Astronomical League (HAL), along with the state and county, have come together to provide funding for a small observatory to be built at Alpha Ridge Park in Marriottsville.  The primary use of the observatory will be for HAL to fulifill it's mission of educating the community abount astronomy.  HAL already owns the telescope that will be placed in the observatory; an approximately 70-year-old model buolt by a former astronomer at Johns Hopkins.

Patuxent has covered this here.  Construction begins in the fall and the observatory could be done by spring, or, good weather willing, maybe even by the end of this year.

I've participated in a couple of HAL events and this is a very spirited, enthuiastic group who really cares about their craft.  I know they're going to have a blast at Alpha Ridge. 

Wow-- posts about two good news stories in a row from me.  I've gotta be starting to get soft!  Let's see what hell I can raise next...

Sorry I missed Longfellow this year

In case anyone had doubts, here is incontrovertble proof that not everyone in Columbia with the surname of "Russell" is a dork.

I posted before about the great Bob Russell of Harper's Choice.  He was one of the nicest people I ever have met in Howard County.  This year, the first Longfellow Fourth of July parade since his passing was held in his honor.

I'm an idiot for missing this-- I went to the Nationals game on the Fourth of July instead-- but here is a very nice article about the event.

In a town where there is just too much gnashing of teeth about trivial things that just don't matter, Bob Russell was a true refreshment.  He was positive, always cheerful, and completely optimistic.  There aren't enough people around like him, and I hope to make it over to Harper's next year on Bob Russell Day.