Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley will become Maryland's 61st governor when he takes the oath of office Wednesday. Government House in Annapolis, vacated today by departing Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and his family, awaits the new first family of Maryland. The rest of us - neither living in a 52-room mansion nor taking any oath - await significant changes and challenges.
When one administration replaces another, the real changes can often be subtle. As always, historians look first to hair for answers:
Out: Barbers
In: Hairstylists
Out: Polo shirts, turtlenecks, sweat pants
In: Power suits, power ties, power socks
Out: Motown
In: O'Malley's March
Out: Unseasonable tans
In: Pale Irish skin
Out: Barbecue chicken, Chinese noodle cookies
In: Corned beef and cabbage
Out: Basketball, golf
In: The gym, the gym
Out: ESPN's SportsCenter
In: John Kennedy's Profiles in Courage - then maybe time for C-SPAN
Out: Democrats fighting Republicans over slots
In: Democrats fighting Democrats over slots
Out: WBAL's The Chip Franklin Show
In: NPR's The Thistle and Shamrock Celtic music show
Out: Leon's Restaurant in Arbutus
In: Cafe Hon in Hampden
Out: The spirit and wisdom of William D. Schaefer
In: The spirit and wisdom of Parris N. Glendening
Out: 10-foot inflatable Santas
In: 10-foot inflatable leprechauns
rob.hiaasen@baltsun.com