Maryland must reverse its competitive decline
Maryland’s alarming slide from 22nd to 31st place in CNBC’s 2024 Top States for Business rankings is more than a statistic — it’s a glaring warning sign about our state’s economic competitiveness.
Our fall is particularly concerning in three key areas: business friendliness (from 24th to 37th), infrastructure (from 15th to 37th) and a stagnant workforce ranking (28th). Most alarmingly, Maryland ranks 47th for the cost of doing business, making it the fourth-most-expensive state for businesses to operate in. These rankings matter. They influence business decisions on where to locate, expand or invest.
A good explanation of the infield fly rule - Essentially, it prevents the defense from intentionally missing an infield fly ball and forcing a double play. ⚾️
Remarkable Paper Pro – Been enjoying the Remarkable 2 for a year, and these next improvements seem to be in all the right areas (e.g., size of screen and color). Very tempted to upgrade.
This looks like a helpful set of tools for creating personal financial wellness – Called MyBlocks, it has 5 Pillars of Financial Wellness:
Maryland to cut $1.3b from Transportation Budget
Hundreds of millions of dollars for planned transportation improvements across Maryland would be slashed for the second consecutive year under a proposed update to the state’s transportation budget, Gov. Wes Moore’s administration said Tuesday.
The cuts — totaling $1.3 billion from the roughly $20 billion, six-year transportation plan — would defer some maintenance projects like sidewalk repairs and traffic improvements, slow down the transition to fully electric state-run buses and pause the development stage of other initiatives.
30 Stoic Wisdom Sayings — Essentially all good reminders.
Liberty is the disciplining of desire so as to make the achievement of the good first possible and finally effortless.
-Classical definition of liberty as described by the ancient philosophers
Apparently it’s getting to be that time of life … readers.
Not crisis mode yet, but for certain font size & lighting situations, definitely feeling it.
Of course, the ‘drug store’ variety could seem to do the trick, but these sure look nice … 🤓
(Helpful references: A reading glasses strength chart from Warby Parker.)
John Shea formulated a principle in this regard that is as helpful as it is difficult: criticize someone precisely in the measure that you are willing to help that person deal with the problem that you have raised. If your commitment to help is nil, you should remain silent; if your willingness to help is moderate, your critique should be moderate; if you were willing to do all in your power to address the situation with the person, speak the whole truth.
For any baseball ⚾️ fans out there - this deal good til midnight. (MLB TV + All Teams to end of season, normally $69.99 this time of year.)
(via AG)
Downtown Havre de Grace set to undergo restoration focusing on walkability and scenery
Work has begun to transform the heart of downtown Havre de Grace into a pedestrian-friendly, “Chesapeake Colonial” town with wider sidewalks, new trees, brick roadways and parallel street parking.
“This is the vision of the majority of the people,” Martin said. “The real emphasis on this is letting the citizens have pride in their downtown and feeling like they belong to something special because Havre de Grace is amazing.” The project will use a portion of the $13.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds the town received from the federal government to replace critical infrastructure. The funds were distributed nationally to help with recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Infrastructure replacements include water lines, electric and sewer lines. Since the repairs and replacements require the town to dig up popular downtown streets such as St. John and Washington streets, project officials are calling the restoration plan a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to improve the city.
(via Baltimore Sun)
I don’t know when exactly it happened, but somewhere along the line, Cheerios became Fruit Loops … It’s a slippery slope I tell ya. ;)
Discovered on the interwebs. Immediately forwarded to attorney friend as a diversified revenue stream offering to consider further. :)
Interesting data point on population movements within the U.S. based on 2022 tax filings.
After suggesting my son and I play a board game together -
7 yo: Do you know to play dad?
Me: Well, I haven’t actually played this game before - maybe you can explain to me how it works?
7 yo: You can read the instructions
Me: I guess I could
7 yo: That’s the main reason for the instructions
(Ahhh - if only I had known) ;)
Pedestrian deaths are up in Maryland, opposite national average
Maryland saw an 18% increase in pedestrian deaths in 2023 amid a 5% decrease nationwide, according to preliminary data from the Governors Highway Safety Association released in June.
Possible helps?
The Maryland Department of Transportation, which includes MVA, implemented a new Complete Streets policy June 1 that requires all its divisions to follow planning and design principles that consider the safety, access and mobility of all users in projects in state rights of way involving more than one mode of transportation, starting next year.
And even a demo:
The first visible signs of Maryland’s new Complete Streets policy are to be temporary demonstration projects in partnership with advocacy group Smart Growth America. Targeting intersections or corridors with histories of fatalities or crashes in Bel Air, Hagerstown and Howard County, they are to be completed by fall and removed by the end of the year.
Fun, and laced with truth, video about a dad who effectively functions Assistant Manager to his wife for household management and how the family org chart works. 😃
Orioles hold first Faith Night, joining 18 other MLB teams ⚾️
McCann’s testimony might have been the most dramatic. He asked crowd members to close their eyes as he told the story of a young couple who had decided to start a family, only to deliver a child who was stillborn. Taking the risk of trying again, they faced another tragedy when the mother suffered such extreme complications six weeks into her pregnancy that doctors told her their child had only a 1 in 4 chance of surviving — and that if he did survive he would be severely mentally or physically disabled. When others suggested it might be the best idea to terminate the pregnancy, both parents declined, saying they were instead “putting their faith in God.” “Open your eyes,” McCann said. “I was that child. From day one, God has been protecting me”
An article about how a magician needed a license for the proverbial rabbit, but not if it was an iguana …
Connected to Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch recently released book, “Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law”.
Odd to read article, and food for thought. (via WSJ)
President Biden articulates his exit of the Presidential race, while appealing to American ideals, casting his public service career, and supporting Vice President Harris. Feels a historic moment to reflect on, regardless of political leanings.