Governmental Intervention

I offer my apologies for not posting more on this blog. As I have said before, I will try to post often, but at times life seems to get in the way.

I’m not sure that it was life that got in the way, but it’s certain that the time has slipped away. It seems as if it was just a few days ago that the month of April began and now it’s nearly three weeks old and closer to the end of the month than the beginning.

One of the items that one can think of as getting in the way was the end of the Tax season on April 15th. I’m proud to be an American and am more than willing to pay my fair share to support the government.

But I have to say that right now it’s not all that easy to support the government. There seems to be more governmental intervention into areas that maybe they should just stay away.

Here in Maryland there are two actions that gives direct support to my feelings. The State of Maryland has passed laws that appear to give them the right to take away from a legal authority, an authority that is having financial problems, a valuable piece of property. That is the Preakness Stakes horse race, part of the Triple Crown of horse racing.

While I would not want to see the race leave Maryland, I can not see how the State came simply take it away. Especially since in many ways it has been the short sight of that same body that has caused some of the problems.

In my opinion there are way too many career politicians in the State Government that are making decisions based on what they believe is best for the State and not what the people of the State wish.

Then there’s Baltimore City and their move to take over the Senator Theatre. When the City is already having financial problems, not something that is new, is it a good idea to spend as much as has been authorized on a private property. Especially since they didn’t do the same to some of the non-profit programs within the city.

Over the course of history there has always been cycles. Times that are good, others that are great and like now rough times. Let’s hope that this is one of those rough times that is going to get better soon.

And maybe it’s time for government to have less intervention and more guidance.

 

Something to Think Upon

What we may wish for our children may not be what they wish.

Why is it called March Madness when it ends in April?

When everyone offers a discount, there are no sale prices.

The only thing that is normal is being abnormal.

Many overnight successes come after years of struggle.

Many times what starts as a rumor becomes reality.

Originally published at 6 Things To Consider – 6ThingsToConsider.com

 

Baltimore Orioles 2009 Hall of Fame Selection

A little more than a week after his 50th birthday, Harold Baines was announced as being elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame. He was the only one of the four finalist to make the Hall. The others were Mike Bordick, Jesse Orosco and Pitching Coach and former Manager Ray Miller.

Some may say he doesn’t deserve to be in Orioles Hall of Fame because he is associated with the Chicago White Sox.

Baines did play most of his 2830 games in the Chicago White Sox uniform, but he was part of an Orioles team in seven seasons (three of these were split seasons with other clubs) playing in 666 games. He batted .301 with 107 home runs and 378 RBIs.

No one blinks an eye when talking about Frank Robinson being a great Oriole player. He only played for the Orioles for six seasons playing in 827 games of his 2808 total.

Bordick played for six seasons for the Orioles. While he was a solid Short Stop he is probably best remembered as the man who replaced Cal Ripken at Short when it was decided that Ripken should finish his career at third.

Orosco played for the Orioles for five seasons late in his career and while he pitched well, his best years were behind him.

Any of these three players contributed to the Orioles enough to be inducted into their Hall of Fame, but I would agree of the three, Baines should be placed there first.

And who knows Bordick might still make it.

But perhaps the one who should have made the Hall of Fame is Ray Miller. Although I suspect that his failure at manager pulls him down. Other than the great George Bamberger, he is one of the better pitching coaches for the Orioles.

This was also published on my Baltimore Oriole Blog at oriolesbaseball.wordpress.com/

 

Banning Books

Those who want to ban books probably have not read the books they propose banning.

 

Golden Globes – All are Winners Some Just More so

Not that anyone should be looking for the winners at the Golden Globes here, but here is the listing anyway. And everyone really is a winner, it’s just that one had to be placed first. Those Firsts are in bold.

Best Picture – Drama
‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
‘Frost/Nixon’
‘The Reader’
‘Revolutionary Road’
‘Slumdog Millionaire’

Best Director
Danny Boyle – ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
Stephen Daldry – ‘The Reader’
David Fincher – ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
Ron Howard – ‘Frost/Nixon’
Sam Mendes – ‘Revolutionary Road’

Best Actor – Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio – ‘Revolutionary Road’
Frank Langella – ‘Frost/Nixon’
Sean Penn – ‘Milk’
Brad Pitt – ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
Mickey Rourke – ‘The Wrestler’

Best Actress – Drama
Anne Hathaway – ‘Rachel Getting Married’
Angelina Jolie – ‘The Changeling’
Meryl Streep – ‘Doubt’
Kristin Scott Thomas – ‘I’ve Loved You So Long’
Kate Winslet – ‘Revolutionary Road’

Best Picture – Musical/Comedy
‘Burn After Reading’
‘Happy Go Lucky’
‘In Bruges’
‘Mamma Mia’
‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’

Best Actor – Musical/Comedy
Javier Bardem – ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’
Colin Farrell – ‘In Bruges’
James Franco – ‘Pineapple Express’
Brendan Gleeson – ‘In Bruges’
Dustin Hoffman – ‘Last Chance Harvey’

Best Actress – Musical/Comedy
Rebecca Hall – ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’
Sally Hawkins – ‘Happy Go Lucky’
Frances McDormand  – ‘Burn After Reading’
Meryl Streep – ‘Mamma Mia’
Emma Thompson  – ‘Last Chance Harvey’

Best Supporting Actor
Tom Cruise – ‘Tropic Thunder’
Robert Downey Jr. – ‘Tropic Thunder’
Ralph Fiennes – ‘The Duchess’
Philip Seymour Hoffman – ‘Doubt’
Heath Ledger – ‘The Dark Knight’

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams – ‘Doubt’
Penelope Cruz – ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’
Viola Davis – ‘Doubt’
Marisa Tomei – ‘The Wrestler’
Kate Winslet – ‘The Reader’

Best Animated Feature Film
‘Bolt’
‘Kung Fu Panda’
‘Wall-E’

Best Foreign Language Film
‘The Baader Meinhof Complex’ (Germany)
‘Everlasting Moments’ (Sweden)
‘Gomorrah’ (Italy)
‘I’ve Loved You So Long’ (France)
‘Waltz with Bashir’ (Israel)

Best Screenplay
Simon Beaufoy – ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
David Hare – ‘The Reader’
Peter Morgan – ‘Frost/Nixon’
Eric Roth – ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
John Patrick Shanley – ‘Doubt’

Best Original Score
‘Changeling’
‘Defiance’
‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
‘Frost/Nixon’
‘Slumdog Millionaire’

Best Original Song
‘Down to Earth’ – ‘WALL-E’
‘Gran Torino’ – ‘Gran Torino’
‘I Thought I Lost You’ – Bolt’
‘Once in a Lifetime’ – ‘Cadillac Records’
‘The Wrestler’ – ‘The Wrestler’

Best Television Drama
‘Dexter’
‘House’
‘In Treatment’
‘Mad Men’
‘True Blood’

Best Actor – Television Drama
Gabriel Byrne – ‘In Treatment’
Michael C. Hall – ‘Dexter’
Jon Hamm – ‘Mad Men’
Hugh Laurie – ‘House’
Jonathan Rhys Meyers  – ‘The Tudors’

Best Actress – Television Drama
Sally Field – ‘Brothers & Sisters’
Mariska Hargitay – ‘Law and Order: Special Victims Unit’
January Jones – ‘Mad Men’
Anna Paquin – ‘True Blood’
Kyra Sedgwick – ‘The Closer’

Best Television Musical/Comedy
‘30 Rock’
‘Californication’
‘Entourage’
‘The Office’
‘Weeds’

Best Actor – Television Musical/Comedy
Alec Baldwin – ‘30 Rock’
Steve Carell – ‘The Office’
Kevin Connolly – ‘Entourage’
David Duchovny – ‘Californication’
Tony Shalhoub – ‘Monk’

Best Actress – Television Musical/Comedy
Christina Applegate – ‘Samantha Who?’
America Ferrera – ‘Ugly Betty’
Tina Fey – ‘30 Rock’
Debra Messing – The Starter Wife’
Mary Louise Parker – ‘Weeds’

Best Mini-Series – Television
‘A Raisin in the Sun’
‘Bernard and Doris’
‘Cranford’
‘John Adams’
‘Recount’

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture – Television
Ralph Fiennes – ‘Bernard and Doris’
Paul Giamatti – ‘John Adams’
Kevin Spacey – ‘Recount’
Kiefer Sutherland – ‘24: Redemption’
Tom Wilkinson – ‘Recount’

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture – Television
Judi Dench – ‘Cranford’
Catherine Keener – ‘An American Crime’
Laura Linney – ‘John Adams’
Shirley MacLaine – ‘Coco Chanel’
Susan Sarandon – ‘Bernard and Doris’

Best Supporting Actor – Television
Neil Patrick Harris – ‘How I Met Your Mother’
Denis Leary – ‘Recount’
Jeremy Piven – ‘Entourage’
Blair Underwood – ‘In Treatment’
Tom Wilkinson – ‘John Adams’

Best Supporting Actress – Television
Eileen Atkins – ‘Cranford’
Laura Dern – ‘Recount’
Melissa George – ‘In Treatment’
Rachel Griffiths – ‘Brothers & Sisters’
Dianne Wiest – ‘In Treatment’

 

2nd Round Results and Championship Predictions

Last week each of the road teams were favorites. Each of the 6th seeds advanced while the number 4 seeds, both who pundits said didn’t deserve to be in the playoffs, won their home games.

When the 2nd week began each of the home teams were the favorites and other than Pittsburgh each of the other home teams lost. The Tennessee Titans was the home loser to have a good game. If not for the mistakes they would have won. Or as they say ‘turn about fair play’ since they won the earlier meeting against the Ravens, who out played them that entire game. The Raven’s last minute field goal put them ahead 13-10.

San Diego and Pittsburgh played one another during the season to play the only 11-10 final score game in league history. San Diego once again ventured into the wilds of Pittsburgh. Snow fell throughout the game. But when you only get one offensive snap in the third quarter as San Diego did, it’s hard to win. Final score 35-24.

The two NFC teams that looked as if they didn’t deserve to be in the playoffs during the last few weeks of the season now have made the finals.

Arizona, many people felt, lucked into the playoffs because they were the best team in a weak division. Now that the playoff bell have rung they are fighting like winners. Other than the first series Carolina looked like a number 6 seed and not the top seed winning 33-13

The Philadelphia Eagles was a team in turmoil after their tie with the Cincinnati Bengals and their lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Since then, other than a bad game against the Washington Redskins, they have look like a championship team. They made their second trip to New York to play the Giants during this streak and once again they outplayed the Giants. The second one knocked them out of the playoffs with the final score of 23-11.

This weekend these two teams will be facing each other for the NFC Championship and a shot at winning the Super Bowl.

And now for the predictions.

Arizona played the Eagles on Thanksgiving night. That game was played in Philadelphia and on short rest. The Eagles needed that game much more than Arizona and the outcome showed it.

The NFC Championship game will be played in Arizona, the first time in team history that it has been played in Arizona. The Cardinals last played for the Championship in 1948 and last won in 1947. However they do have history on their side since no number 6 seeded team has won the NFC Championship.

Arizona would appear to be now peaking at the right time and they will go to their first Super Bowl.

Baltimore Ravens and their rookie Quarterback Joe Flacco has already done what has never been done before by winning their first two playoff games on the road. Not only do they have a rookie Quarterback with Flacco, the Ravens have a rookie coach in John Harbaugh. They also have not lost to a team this season with less than 12 wins.

But the Pittsburgh Steelers is one of those teams and the Ravens was on the losing end of both of the games that the two already played this year. Both of them were games that the Ravens could have won and in ways you could say they should have won them.

At the end of the weekend the Baltimore Ravens will be playing the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa Bay for Super Bowl XLIII.

 

1st Round Results and 2nd Round Predictions

The first weekend of the NFL playoff have come to a close. Saturday did me in on my predictions when both of the home teams won their games. While no one thought that the Arizona Cardinals nor the San Diego Chargers deserved to be in the playoffs they won their games. Although it took overtime for the Chargers to win.

Is it really fair for sudden death overtime in a playoff football game? The team that gets the ball first is decided by a random toss of a coin and if they happens to score, the game is over. The other team doesn’t have a chance to match that score.

While I don’t think we need to see a College type of overtime in the Pro game, I do think it’d be fairer for both teams to have the ball once during the overtime. If it’s still tied then the game goes into sudden death.

Sunday was much more favorable with my predictions with both the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagle winning on the road. This means that both of the Number 5 and both of the Number 3 seeds are eliminated.

Now on to the predictions for the 2nd round.

The first game of the 2nd round will feature the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. Even though Tennessee is the Number 1 seed, don’t expect this game to be an easy one for them. Tennessee just barely won when the two meet earlier in the year at Baltimore. Baltimore is a better team than the one on early October and this time I don’t think the Ravens will let the win slip through their fingers.

Later in the day on Saturday the Arizona Cardinals will play the Carolina Panthers at Carolina’s home field. This time the Cardinals will not be playing against a team with a rookie coach and a rookie Quarterback. Nor will Carolina make the mistakes that enabled Arizona to beat the Falcons. Carolina will host the NFC Championship game.

The once thought dead Philadelphia Eagles will play the New York Giants for the third time this year. The Eagles and the Giants split the season series with each team winning on the opposing team’s home field. The Eagles amazing late season run will come to a close.

The last game of the weekend has the San Diego Chargers, a team that five weeks ago was more out of the playoff picture than the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. San Diego may have been able to knock the Indianapolis Colts out of the playoffs for the past two years, but they will find it hard to score on the Pittsburgh defense and have their season come to a crashing end.

 

Technology Predictions – 2009

Originally Published at my SMB Tech Tips Page at SMBTechTips.com

For businesses in general and for those businesses that fall under the umbrella SMB, 2009 will be a turbulent year. Here are 5 predictions of mine for 2009.

Social Networks will be used for business
MySpace is already being used by business as a place to advertise to the youth. But i really wonder how much of that money is being spend with little return. I think that advertising will be down, but sites such as Twitter (to be used as a way to get information out to those interested in what you have to say or sell) and LinkedIn (A way for businesses and business people to network) will grow.

Technology and technology change outs will advance more slowly
This will happen because businesses will not jump on new technology simply to be the first one to use it. Older, solid performing product will be asked to last just a little bit longer.

Telecommuting will be used less
Some businesses already wonder if they are getting full value out of their telecommuters and managers will want to keep a more watchful eye on their employees.

Nortel will be bought or merged
Look for a company such as Verizon to make a bid to buy out Nortel the struggling telecommunications equipment provider.

Internet marketing will grow
As brick and mortar stores close more people will need to go online to purchase products that they need. Some smaller brick and mortar establishments will be able to build their online presence and fill that gap.

Whether I’m right or wrong, it will take to the year to past to discover. One thing for certain though, I am sure to be one or the other.

 

Favorites of 2008

Movie
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
While some may have found it hard seeing Harrison Ford playing an older Indiana Jones, I actually thought it was refreshing, not to mention you got to see more of the Indiana Jones Adventures.

Network Television Series
Heroes
The end of Season 1 was a letdown and Season 2 wasn’t really all that good, but it was still one of the most interesting show on TV.

Cable Series
True Blood
It made you fall in love with Vampires.

Book Fiction
Sookie Stackhouse – Southern Vampire Mysteries
OK, most of these books were written before 2008 and it took for the the HBO series for me to discover them, but they are delightful reads.

Non-Fiction Book
The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008
Bob Woodward once again probes the working of the White House.

Enjoyable Comeback
Stephen King
I read my first Stephen King book during the summer of ‘76 and have always been a fan. However many of his works in the 1990s I were not able to finish. Duma Key was a great book and the collection of short stories Just After Sunset just shows that his best work are not novel length.

Originally posted at 6 Things to Consider at 6ThingstoConsider.com

 

Remembering 2008

When people look back upon 2008, many years from now, the two events that will sure to be on everyone’s list is the downturn of the economy and the 2008 Presidential election. Had Obama lost, it still would have been one for the history books. His election really does mean that we are entering a new age.

Many people that have entertained, educated or annoyed us passed away this past year. The ones that we will miss the most are those who were in their prime or their prime was in front of them. We missed the chance to see how Tim Russert would have commented and reported on the historic November election and all of the work that Heath Ledger would have done to entertained us.

The most heartbreaking lost of 2008 was that of the 2 year old Caylee Anthony. She would have turned 3 on August 9th. The picture of the first missing and now confirmed dead girl is one to melt the heart of even the vilest of people. Although it seems as if the vilest person is her mother Casey Anthony. Casey Anthony had been indicted for the murder of her daughter even before the girl’s remains were discovered on December 11th.

At the beginning of the year it appeared as if the New England Patriots were going to do something that had never been accomplished in the NFL. That would be to finish the season with a perfect record of 19-0. This would have matched the undefeated season of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had a record of 17-0 playing only 14 regular season games compared to New England’s 16 game schedule. The New York Giants, who entered the playoffs as a wild card team and fifth seed in the NFC, won the Super Bowl, 17-14. To win, the Giants won 17 road games and became the first NFC wild card team to win the Super Bowl. The year ended with the Detroit Lions becoming the first NFL team to lose all 16 regular season games.

On July 15, 2007 the Philadelphia Phillies became the first baseball team (in fact the first professional franchise) to lose ten thousand games. Even with that they advanced to the 2007 baseball playoffs when the New Mets had their famous collapse. 2008 had a lot of the same with the Phillies winning the NL East over the Mets who struggled once again in September. They then went on to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers (3-1) and Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1) for the NL Championship. Playing the upstart Tampa Bay Rays (they went from having the worst record in the American League in 2007 to winning the AL East and AL Championship in 2008) the Phillies won the World Series (4-1). This was the first sports championship for a team from Philadelphia since the NBA’s 76ers won in 1983.

Perhaps the most unusual story to come out of 2008 was the July 3rd marriage of Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. No they did not come back from the grave to be married. Ralph Archbold (66), who is an impersonator of Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross impersonator Linda Wilde (50) exchanged the vows of marriage in front of Independence Hall. Although there was a 45 year age difference between Franklin and Ross, it would have been possible for them to have married.

Originally Published at 6 Things To to Consider