Predictions

Angie Miller and her steely-eyed focus transmitted into the homes of 10-plus million American Idol viewers won her 50,000 followers in the Twitterverse the week of the show's Top 10 reveal -- nearly 18,000 more social media fans than her next highest competitor. More than two months later, the 18-year-old  Beverly, Mass., native tripled her followers, effectively blowing away the other wannabes on the cyberspace portal. Why then didn't the magic of the 140-character phenomenon carry her into Thursday's finale?

Here are my predictions for WWE Extreme Rules:  BROCK LESNAR VS. TRIPLE H: CAGE MATCH I think Brock Lesnar needs the win here, because I see him continuing on for another big match, while I see Triple H returning in the future only if absolutely necessary. Perhaps Paul Heyman's "newest" client (or clients) interferes in this match, helping Lesnar get the win. Because it's a cage match, neither superstar has to be pinned or submitted, one can simply exit through the cage, which means that the loser doesn't look as weak in a loss.

Right before the season started, Ed Encina. Pete Schmuck and I put together our predictions for the team. We published half of those prognostications before Opening Day. I held onto the other 10 for a while. I think it is more fun to see some of the predictions as the season begins to unfold. As you will read, we all thought Matt Wieters was primed to have the best year of any current Oriole. And we didn't think Freddy Garcia would get an extended look. Remember, before you rip us for being out of touch, not one game had been played before we made these calls.

AccuWeather.com is predicting another active Atlantic hurricane season, particularly for the U.S. coastline. While the Pennsylvania-based meteorology company is calling for fewer storms in all, with 16 tropical storms versus 19 in 2012, AccuWeather's season outlook suggests four storms could become major hurricanes, compared with one in 2012. AccuWeather expects three storms to make landfall in the U.S., compared with four in 2012. "After a devastating blow to the East from Superstorm Sandy in October of 2012, residents and homeowners on the Atlantic coast should anticipate another active season in 2013," the forecast warns.

Politicians (including former politicians) like to be right more than most people. You see, in politics, public officials live or die by their (very) public opinions concerning the issues of the day. It is with this somber thought in mind that I reissue a sampling of previously published opinions - with timely updates For Your Information. Opinion: Prominent liberals will continue to market a new narrative that pushes public sector growth as the key to economic recovery. Update: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Jan. 31 floor statement concerning the U.S. economy's negative growth in the last quarter of 2012: "Growth went down in the fourth quarter because of reduced government spending, and a reticence in the private sector as government fought over the fiscal cliff.

Ravens @ Rams 4:05 p.m. Sunday TV: WJZ/CBS Radio: 98 Rock, 1090 AM Rome Cee, rapper We are not looking our best on both sides of the ball, but we may be able to pull this out. Ravens 10-7 '11 Record: 1-1 Franchon Crews, boxer I'm as confused as Ortiz after the Mayweather KO. Go Ravens? Ravens 28-10 '11 Record: 1-1 Sarah Acconcia, chef, 13.5% Wine Bar Sounds intimidating. If they were named the Sheep, I'd say the Ravens might win. Or the Ewes.

Two bar openings in two days. Must be early in the offseason. Couldn't let this one pass, though. Not with the World Series starting tonight. I know some of you are cringing when you hear “World Series,” lamenting about what might have been. Well, don't. The Orioles had a season that exceeded everyone's expectations. Be thankful that they went as far as they did. And don't let their early exit stop you from watching this October Classic. I know I'm biased, but the World Series will always be my favorite Reality TV Series.

Kevin Cowherd Ravens 27, Browns 6 Facing their second nationally televised game in four days, the Ravens are tired and sore. But when is a team ever too tired and sore to beat the Browns? John Harbaugh talked up the winless Brownies like they were Lombardi's Packers, but the Ravens' no-huddle offense should feast on the banged-up Cleveland 'D.' Edward Lee Ravens 34, Browns 17 After that emotional win against the New England Patriots on Sunday night and a short week, this game screams "Letdown.

Maryland Weather blog readers predicted a wide range of potential snowfall this winter in Baltimore, but on average, did not stray far from history. On average, readers are predicting 20.4 inches of snowfall in our annual forecasting contest , slightly above the average of 20 inches. Guesses ranged from a light 6.9 inches -- still 5 inches more than last winter's paltry 1.8 inches -- to 37 inches. The median guess was 20 inches, meaning readers are evenly divided in expecting an above- or below-average season.

Here's a look at how our Orioles Insiders see tonight's American League wild-card playoff against the Rangers shaking out: Eduardo A. Encina Orioles 5, Rangers 3 This is the kind of matchup up that Orioles manager Buck Showalter enjoys, a one-game, winner-take-all fight to the final out. And his team will relish it, too. Every time the Orioles seem to be out this season, they come charging back. Expect Showalter's wild-card roster to be packed with relievers so he can utilize matchup advantages. If the suddenly silent bats show up, the Orioles are coming home for the ALDS.  Dan Connolly Orioles 7, Rangers 6 There's absolutely no logical reason for this pick.

Maryland for years benefited from its close proximity to the nation's capital, but the mandatory federal spending cuts called sequestration will be a drag on the state's economy for the next couple of years, said the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. "This retrenchment at the federal government level ... is tough this year. We are still finding out what the dimensions of this are," said Jeffrey Lacker, the Fed president. Despite the pain, the spending cuts are needed for the long-term fiscal health of the country, he added.

Angie Miller and her steely-eyed focus transmitted into the homes of 10-plus million American Idol viewers won her 50,000 followers in the Twitterverse the week of the show's Top 10 reveal -- nearly 18,000 more social media fans than her next highest competitor. More than two months later, the 18-year-old  Beverly, Mass., native tripled her followers, effectively blowing away the other wannabes on the cyberspace portal. Why then didn't the magic of the 140-character phenomenon carry her into Thursday's finale?

Right before the season started, Ed Encina. Pete Schmuck and I put together our predictions for the team. We published half of those prognostications before Opening Day. I held onto the other 10 for a while. I think it is more fun to see some of the predictions as the season begins to unfold. As you will read, we all thought Matt Wieters was primed to have the best year of any current Oriole. And we didn't think Freddy Garcia would get an extended look. Remember, before you rip us for being out of touch, not one game had been played before we made these calls.

Howard County legislators said this week that they believe the General Assembly will need to make adjustments to a state-mandated stormwater management fee imposed on Howard County and nine other Maryland jurisdictions. "I don't think it's over yet," said state Sen. James Robey, co-chair of the county's delegation to Annapolis. "We need to go back and make this more fair. " Robey and six other members of the county delegation spoke at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce's annual legislative wrap-up breakfast Thursday in Columbia.

Higher airfares and lower fuel prices combined to give Southwest Airlines $59 million in first-quarter net profits, or 8 cents a share, beating Wall Street's predictions. The Dallas-based airline's earnings fell 40 percent from $98 million, or 13 cents a share, of a year ago. Revenue rose 2.3 percent to a record $4.1 billion. The report exceeded the First Call consensus estimate of 2 cents per share. Southwest and its subsidiary AirTran Airways are the largest carriers at BWI Marshall Airport, accounting for 71 percent of all commercial passenger traffic.

After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the most frequently heard forecast was: "This changes everything. " Americans would live in constant fear of the next attack, many pundits predicted. The desire for safety would spawn a security state that would trample constitutional freedoms. The economy would take a long-term hit. American life would never be the same. Most of those dire predictions didn't come true, of course. The U.S. economy rebounded quickly. Civil liberties came under stress, but fears of a surveillance state weren't realized.

With WrestleMania right around the corner, fans are voicing their thoughts and predictions to their friends and to the world through social media. Ring Post bloggers Arda Ocal and Adam Testa have taken the time to share their thoughts on the winners and losers of this year's card. The duo agree on most of the undercard, but when it comes to three of the four main events, their predictions differ. Take a look at what they had to say in our match-by-match prediction breakdown: Maria Menounos and Kelly Kelly vs. Divas Champion Beth Phoenix and Eve Arda: Unfortunately I'm not looking forward to this match, which is a shame because I'm really looking forward to what can come from the Divas division in the next few months.

The March 28 edition of the Howard County Times had an editorial concerning the General Assembly's increase in the gas tax. It was noted that the Transportation Trust Fund's "lockbox" isn't very securely locked. The accompanying editorial cartoon indicated that the Times believes that diversion of funds from the lockbox is a question of "when," not "if. " One wonders how long it will before elected officials propose non-transportation use of the funds. Let's see - that would be immediately after passing the bill.

The theme of Wrestlemania 29 might boil down to one word - predictable. The build up was certainly that for many fans. John Cena and The Rock were always destined to face off again at Wrestlemania 29, one year after they had their "Once in a Lifetime" matchup. Brock Lesnar and Triple H were always foreshadowed to clash on April 7, a rematch from Summerslam 2012 with unfinished business. Fantasy bookers early in "Wrestlemania season" were calling for CM Punk vs. The Undertaker, which also happened.