Keithstg

1 hour ago, DonRocks said:

Before, you said "innovation"; now, you're adding "technology" into the mix - the two terms are only marginally related. If you're going to claim a tautology, I'd ask you to (please?) carefully review your words.

Uh, ok. So much for typing away on a ski lift. Would you dispute that "technological innovation" has been the greatest generator of wealth over the course of our lifetimes, and that "technological innovation" has been, to be charitable, disproportionately housed in one nation, and furthered through the same nation's capital markets?

I suppose the musical example you link to above is an example of innovation, and that's great - I honestly have no knowledge of classical music. Of course, not the kind of innovation we are talking about, and Russia's economy is down to basically  being a Citgo with a gun store attached to it. 

Also, strikes me that the discussion has moved from wealth tax vs. income tax and if that's not useful, my bad. In sum for me, income tax - sure. I'd even pay more than I currently do. Wealth tax - no thanks. Prudent estate planning will allow much, if not all, of the estate tax to be avoided, and other "wealth tax" methods seem to serve as campaign rhetoric (for and against) as opposed to actionable policy principles.

2 minutes ago, Kibbee Nayee said:

 High numbers were short runs, as the company prepared to run the football sets.

This is fascinating - I had no idea!

3 hours ago, DonRocks said:

This is a common claim, but I'm not convinced it's true.

It’s easy to not be convinced, but consider the fact that nearly every innovation or groundbreaking technology in our lifetime came principally from one place, and was furthered by that same place's capital structure and financial markets. Not an accident.

Taxes, wealth, etc are nuanced topics and in general I sum my thoughts up thusly - I support programs that provide for equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. We clearly have a long way to go re: equality of opportunity and should do more via legislation and taxes where appropriate. I’m also intrigued with the idea of universal basic income and it’s applicability in the U.S.

So much of this issue is dominated by specious and false claims on both sides that it’s hard to separate wheat from chaff.

4 hours ago, Al Dente said:

That may be so, but at what expense? What is the cost of environmental damage? What's the cost of underpaid employees receiving gov't benefits? What's the cost to future generations? 

I read a book by Umair Haque called "The New Capitalist Manifesto". I think some of what he writes is overly simplistic, but what really struck me is how he describes costs shifting to other people and groups. That $3 hamberder from McDonald's should cost much more than $3.

I'm sorry, but the old Horatio Alger narrative is dead-- or should be, anyway. 

Haque’s work is indeed overly simplistic, which is why critics (academic and non) have had a field day with it in general, and with the New Capitalist Manifesto in specific.

I heard him attempt to interview an actual business person in person at SX - unimpressive. Half the crowd or more was exasperated and walked out.

Re: Alger, I think hard work, courage, determination and honesty are useful narratives, regardless of politics.

1 minute ago, Al Dente said:

I think there's something deeply wrong with an economic system that creates billionaires. How can any one citizen be worth $140,000,000,000? 

Because that one citizen developed something that fundamentally changed commerce (or infrastructure, or finance, or or or).

This is a slippery slope that inevitably ends in these statements- no one person should be worth (insert arbitrary number here), or make (insert another arbitrary number) - and less innovation across the board.

10 hours ago, DonRocks said:

What are your thoughts on estate taxes?

You weren't asking me, but totally opposed. Probably the most blatant government cash grab that exists.

11 hours ago, cjsadler said:

Now that Range is gone, is there anywhere that’s close in markup?  

Also, a friend is looking to drink a fancy bottle he’s been holding with me; wants to know somewhere nice we can do it with a low or no corkage fee.  Any ideas?

Ditto Corduroy in terms of wine mark-ups. Lots of excellent values.

Not sure how the food is currently, but if the fancy bottle is from the US, Charlie Palmer steak will not charge corkage.

On 1/27/2019 at 9:17 PM, PollyG said:

Thanks.  My husband contacted both recommended contractors and. . .crickets.  We got one hit out of 5 contractors we contacted, but they look like gems and have done work in the neighborhood. 

Wow - that's unfortunate. Glad that you found an option you are happy with, though.

20 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

Hmm.

Mussina's record when he left Baltimore was 147-71 (.671) - I think I mentioned this above, but no pitcher in MLB history has 100+ more wins than losses, and isn't in the Hall, Assuming Muusina stayed in Baltimore, and won 24 more games than he lost, he would have been +100 - that isn't a Hall Pass (get it?), but it would be setting a very blatant precedent, easily chantable and protestable, if he didn't get in.

Moose's winning percentage at that point was hovering around Top 10 of All-Time; his time in New York dropped him down to about #40. In New York, his record was 123-82 (.600) - you can argue the math, and make the case for his 20-win season putting him over the top, but I think the W-L record would have been enough by itself - Mussina was about five decent seasons away from the Hall when he left the Orioles - this is also around the time the Orioles started their Angelos-induced decline, so maybe Moose couldn't have done it; I think he could have, and I think his having been "The Last Great Career Oriole" would have helped his cause, in a down-home sort of way.

Also wondering if Al Spaulding is the only player in history to be shipped off to another team after back-to-back 50-win seasons.

There's a strange parallel between Mussina-McDonald and Scherzer-Strasburg.

Of course, that assumes that his win-loss and era remained the same through the worst of the Angelos years (they wouldn’t have) and that the bbwa care about career Orioles, writ-large (they don’t). If Moose stays an Oriole, he’s Jack Morris, and eventually gets elected by the veterans committee.

2 hours ago, MC Horoscope said:

I didn't realize Mussina spent half his career in NY! His one-hitters came in Baltimore, IIRC.

One one-hitter, and near perfect-game, was for NY against Boston on national tv.

This aside, IMO if Moose stays in Baltimore he doesn’t make the hall of fame. He needed the big stage and platform that NY afforded.

16 hours ago, DonRocks said:

I love this:

"Mike Mussina Opts for Hall of Fame Plaque without Cap Logo" by Jon Meoli on therecord.com

This is the way it should be, it's why Moose should be in the Hall, and it's why he's not a Mount Rushmore Oriole - correct on all counts.

And I love that Cal RIpken, Jr. was the last Oriole to go into the Hall; there won't be another one for the next generation (certainly not Manny Machado, who is a great ballplayer, but not a great Oriole).

It's fascinating to me that (a) this has happened before and (b) Halladay is also going in with no logo. Had no clue, and what are the odds of two in the same class!

If current worst owners:

MLB: Peter Angelos

NHL: Peter Karamanos (Carolina Hurricanes - for moving the team from Hartford)

NBA: James Dolan

NFL: Daniel Snyder (honorable mention: Jimmy Haslam)

On 1/23/2019 at 9:15 PM, DonRocks said:

Is this some sort of taunt? I don't understand it.

Mussina was the last great Oriole, so if so, tongue me! 🍷

Manny Machado is the last great Oriole.

22 hours ago, DaveO said:

Now that is funny!!!.  

On the business side Mussina helped the Orioles draw those crowds and make a lot of $$. Mussina was the main attraction--the star.  Once he left the team tanked; dove deep into the morass of mediocrity, minus the necessary star pitcher and stayed there...for a darned long time.

Funny, my man. 

 

Mike Mussina played his *entire* Orioles career alongside Cal Ripken - but somehow was the main attraction?! Uhh...

The Orioles were under .500 for the final three years of Mussina's career with them. While his departure didn't help, it's not like the O's weren't already in the "morass of mediocrity", or whatever.

Finally, a very charitable reading of the O's from '97-2012 as mediocre. No single star pitcher, Moose or not, pitching every fifth game, tops, was going to help that mess.

Postscript: And all Showalter did was break a 14 year streak of not making the playoffs, taking them to the playoffs three times in 7 years.

15 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Folks, I'm *delighted* that you're getting together, but Proof is almost entirely unrelated to what it was before: different ownership, different kitchen, different front of house - I highly recommend going somewhere else; Proof has been a mere shadow of a carbon copy of itself for many years now.

Still, if people want to give the space that one, last, college try, it still has a fun bar area; I just wouldn't go expecting the same food or service as before.

You raise a good point - my meal at Bistro Francais in the waning days was pretty poor. That said, still some gems on the list, and I'll be in the neighborhood. 

Proof is a legendary DC restaurant. Short notice of the closing, but would be great to have a Dr.com dinner during the waning days to take advantage of some wine deals, if possible.

I will definitely be in a time or two to pay my respects.

2 hours ago, Pat said:

And I haven't eaten at Market Lunch in some time either. I find it hard to eat inside there because of the smell from the fish counter opposite, so unless I get something to take home or outside is particularly appealing, I don't buy food there. They do have good breakfasts, though. I enjoy the Brick with scrapple, but it's a rare indulgence.

I can see this - in retrospect I wonder how it never bothered me, honestly! Market Lunch is also much, much, better on weekdays.

1 hour ago, DanielS said:

https://www.oakstonepizza.com/

Out here is the "country" the co-owner of Fireworks, Patrick Dihn, opened Oak Stone Pizza in Winchester.  It is a wonderful addition to the city. with of course great pizza, and surprisingly good wings.  Hopefully its success with encourage other restaurateurs from NoVa to make their way out here.

Good to know - menu looks great. We occasionally head "over the mountain". Winchester isn't exactly the "country", though...

12 hours ago, Mark Slater said:

Lopez Heradia Tondonia. Old style Rioja, light like Burgundy. 

I was going to say LdH, Vina Cubillo- same style to Tondonia, lower price point as an experiment.

1 hour ago, Finatic said:

IMHO, Market Lunch like many of the other vendors at Eastern Market are way over rated and way over priced. Why should I support a vendor who is not willing to provide a decent product at a fair price?

Please don't take this the wrong way as it isn't directed at you per se, but often "fair price" translates into "an arbitrary number I picked out with no regard for the underlying cost of goods, real estate, and labor, or recognition that a profit must be made".

Sadly, we are not on the Hill much anymore, but in the eight or so years we lived there we frequented Market Lunch. In fact, my wife is still miffed that they won't add a crabcake to the Brick sandwich.

7 hours ago, MarkS said:

I think a well curated list of 100 wines is sufficient and a lot easier to maintain then a 19 page or larger  book. A small list can show love and focus between chef and Somm./Wine manager as opposed to buying every wine that is available. 

When in doubt I usually go to a Rioja.

Just catching up on this thread. Saw the Stuckey interview linked on Wineberserkers a while ago - very interesting. I agree that a 100 selection list of wines is sufficient (even if "curated" makes me nauseous) - my go to when in doubt is also Rioja - well, that or CNDP. Another bellwether for me is orange wine. If a list has a lot of it and/ or it's being heavily pushed, odds are I should just drink beer.

We used Distinctive Building Group for our major kitchen remodel and were extremely impressed with the results. PIctures of the completed project are on their website along with testimonials.

So much for Britton not pitching again last year (or at all)...

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/yankees-zach-britton-progressing-toward-agreement.html

7 hours ago, cheezepowder said:

Closing after New Years Eve 

Wow. What a run 701 had. Great, under the radar spot. Had always had solid meals there - and 701 was a trailblazer in that neighborhood.

2 hours ago, Mark Slater said:

Definitely a step up from Harry's. Best? It is certainly right up at the top. It didn't have that corporate feel that Capital Grille and Morton's have. 

And now I AM sure I will return for dinner! Thanks, Mark.