Hard to believe Twitter is turning just six years old today. It seems like it’s been around forever.

The tributes and retrospectives are popping up all across the Internet.

You could argue Jack Dorsey‘s first tweet is the 21st century’s “Mr. Watson — come here”, the birth of a communication revolution.

How did we ever follow news and, more importantly, celebrities before Twitter?

It’s also given consumers of news a fascinating look, in real time, as to how the sausage is made.

Six years is forever in the tech world, which makes you wonder: What’ll be the next big thing in social media? What is the next Twitter?

I don’t know, but this 140-characters-or-less limit is pretty constricting.

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That gentleman to the right in the snug, black T-shirt is celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, he of the short temper and fabulous hair. The lady in red is Cafe Hon owner Denise Whiting, and she probably wishes Chris De Burgh was somewhere close by.

Four months after Ramsay apparently got Whiting to give up her trademark on the word “Hon,” a national television audience will find out how he did it. Cafe Hon’s turn on Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares” will air Friday night on Fox.

The show, for those not familiar, follows Ramsay as he whips a struggling restaurant into shape, often with the tough love only he can provide. Here’s the synopsis from the show’s website of of Ramsay’s trip to Charm City:

Chef Ramsay heads to Baltimore… and immediately has his hands full when he visits Cafe Hon, a Southern Comfort eatery in need not only of a restaurant renovation but also a public image makeover. The owner of Cafe Hon has come under fire from the city of Baltimore for trademarking the word “Hon” – a term of endearment for Baltimore culture. Find out if the restaurant revamp and renewed public image will be enough to win back the city of Baltimore and revive its tradition of southern comfort cooking.

Meanwhile, another Baltimore establishment is getting a similar treatment this week. “Bar Rescue,” which aims to do for watering holes what Ramsay does for restaurants, is filming at J.A. Murphy’s in Fells Point.

J.A. Murphy’s was one of 260 bars to apply for the show’s second season, according to The Baltimore Sun, and will be closed for renovations Friday before a “reveal” party is held Saturday night.

No date has been set yet for J.A. Murphy’s episode of “Bar Rescue,” according to The Sun, but it is expected to air by the end of the summer.

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The Daily Record’s “Photo of the Day” is a chance for our photographers to capture slices of life in their travels across Maryland. But we know there is much more going on in the state than what their lenses find.

That’s where you come in.

The Daily Record wants your photographs of what’s happening in Maryland for a new feature, “Maryland Moment.” The photo could be related to the news of the day or it could be a shot right outside your window. It can be an action shot (left) or just something very adorable.

You can send us your photos by using the form here. We ask that the photos be of something from the last week or so; we don’t want photos of Fourth of July fireworks in February.

If we like your Maryland Moment, we’ll post it online where our Photo of the Day normally resides and might publish it in the print edition as well.

So happy picture-taking. We can’t wait to see what develops.

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An IPO splash by a Baltimore tech company and a look at the upcoming General Assembly legislative session are among the most-read business stories of the week. But news of the potential seizure of vehicles from a Baltimore city agency topped the list. Here are the Top 5 most-read stories:

1. Sheriff to begin seizure process for Baltimore Housing Authority property to pay for lead paint judgment — by Melody Simmons

The Baltimore City Sheriff will begin the process of seizing nearly two dozen trucks, computers and other office supplies owned by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City Wednesday to auction and pay an outstanding lead paint poisoning judgment against the agency.

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It seems food was never far from the minds of The Daily Record’s online readers in 2011. News about the comings and goings of supermarkets in Baltimore and Maryland are among the most-viewed business stories of the year online. The list also includes personnel changes at The Baltimore Sun and Rosecroft Raceway getting a new owner.

The Top 5 most-viewed business stories online of 2011 are as follows:

1. Fresh & Green’s opens in downtown Baltimore — July 1

Downtown Baltimore’s former Superfresh store reopened Friday, albeit a couple of hours later than officials said it would, with its new name, Fresh & Green’s, and new ownership.

Fresh & Green’s is owned by Scarsdale, N.Y.-based Mrs. Green’s Management Corp., which recently bought 10 local Superfresh stores in a joint venture. The  store at Charles and Saratoga streets was mostly full of inventory and new produce Friday.

Many of Superfresh’s employees who re-applied for jobs were hired at the new store, said Matt Williams, CEO of parent company Natural Market Restaurants Corp., which owns the Mrs. Green’s chain.

2. Baltimore Sun looking to buy out up to 25 employees — Aug. 10

Management at The Baltimore Sun gave a buyout proposal to the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild Wednesday, looking to cut from 20 to 25 positions.

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Who doesn’t enjoy a good love story? The “engagement” of two of Baltimore’s beloved icons was the most-read Maryland Business blog post in 2011.

Other popular posts included the rebirth of a legendary Baltimore restaurant, new development in Canton and the search for a Hollywood star shooting on location in Charm City.

The most-read blog posts of the year are as follows:

1. Boh and wife –May 11

This Saturday, Natty Boh and Miss Salie Utz are getting hitched. Or chipped. Or whatever chips and beer do together.

You may have seen the billboard on the JFX. Natty Boh, mascot of National Bohemian Beer, proposed to Miss Salie Utz, of Utz Snacks fame, in 2007. Four years later the two are finally getting married.

2. Harris Teeter, Target announcement coming soon for Canton Crossing — Nov. 4

Owners of Canton Crossing, the new development now making its way through planning approvals in the city, are gearing up to announce two anchors: Harris Teeter and Target.

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The Daily Record will release next week our list of the top stories of 2011. But before we do, we want to hear from you. What do you think were the top stories of the past year?

If you’re looking for suggestions from us, sorry. We don’t want to influence your choices. Besides, as a loyal reader, you already know the big business and law stories from the past year.

Leave your nominees as a comment on the blog or, if you prefer, send me an email with the subject line “Top stories of 2011.” We need to hear from you by Tuesday; our list will appear in Friday’s paper.

Thanks and happy holidays!

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A new, luxury rental development opening in Owings Mills and Gov. Martin O’Malley announcing early successes during his trade mission to India are among the most-read business stories of the week. Also making the list is Disney pulling out of National Harbor and the auction of undeveloped lots in Camden Crossing. Here are the Top 5 stories of the week:

1. Doctors now can’t profit from sending patients for MRIs — by Ben Mook

Nearly nine months after a ruling by the state’s highest court took effect, the Maryland Board of Physicians has fully implemented a ban on orthopedists, cardiologists and other doctors from referring patients for treatment on MRI or CT machines in which the doctors have a financial interest.

State law prohibited such self-referrals, but it took a supporting decision by the Court of Appeals in January before the physicians board could move forward with ensuring compliance with the law. A subcommittee of the Maryland Senate this week began a review of the board, which is a semi-independent division of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, amid concerns of its performance as the agency overseeing physician misconduct.

2. Luxury rentals open in Owings Mills — by Melody Simmons

The first residents in a new 375-unit luxury rental development in Owings Mills are moving in following completion of phase one of construction at The View at Mill Run.

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A couple interesting uses of Twitter I’ve heard about the last two days:

First, we’re on the cusp of movie award season, when distinguished film critics bestow prizes on films 94 percent of the country has not seen. The New York Film Critics Circle announced their awards via its Twitter feed yesterday. The results were tweeted out soon after the critics voted. (Ironically, they were sitting at a square table.)

Moving on to the world of fruit. While we went about our daily lives the last few months, a high-stakes battle to become headquarters of banana company Chiquita was being waged between longtime home Cincinnati and Charlotte. In the battle of Queen cities, Charlotte won out. (Miss Chiquita could not be reached for comment.)

As the official wooing was going on, people in both cities took to Twitter to try to persuade the company. Cincinnatians created the hashtag #NoCincyBananaSplit, while Charlotte countered with #BananasForCLT. Elizabeth Flock of The Washington Post provided an excellent summary of the Twitter chatter.

What’s most notable to me is how active and involved Chiquita CEO Fernando Aguirre was on Twitter both during the decision-making process. If you check out his Twitter feed today, you can see how cordial all sides have been since the move to Charlotte was announced.

Just goes to show Twitter has appeal.

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A new Wegmans was announced for Owings Mills and a federal agency might hold up the Constellation/Exelon merger. Meanwhile, a legendary Baltimore Sun photographer’s prints are going to auction — much to his daughter’s chagrin — and plans for a downtown Baltimore casino are finally revealed. Here are the Top 5 business stories of the week:

1. FERC could delay Constellaton-Exelon decision until April — by Ben Mook

Constellation Energy Group Inc. and Exelon Corp. are calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to make a decision about the companies’ proposed merger by Jan. 5 after learning the regulatory agency could delay the deal until April.

On Oct. 13, the companies submitted to FERC an agreement they had come to with the independent market monitor for PJM, the regional power grid. The agreement resolved some possible issues the market monitor had. However, FERC said that the agreement effectively reset the clock on its approval process and it could have up to 180 days more to make a decision.

2. Caesars proposes ‘dramatic’ gateway for Baltimore casino — by Nicholas Sohr

The development group led by Caesars Entertainment Corp. touted its proposed 260,000-square foot casino on Russell Street as a “dramatic new gateway to downtown” Baltimore.

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