TOP OF THE WEEK:

We begin this week with a quote from esteemed political observer and professor emeritus from USF Daryl Paulsen: “Just when you think things can’t get any more bizarre for the Democrats, they get more bizarre.” Professor Paulsen was referring, of course, to how well the Democratic Party has handled the District 13 Congressional race which, for the first time in decades, was wide open. In the special election, they import a carpetbagger from Thonotosassa which ticks off a bunch of Pinellas voters, and they lose by less than two per cent. When a longtime community activist steps forward to challenge David Jolly in the fall, they tell him “stay away.” So they wind up with yet another candidate who doesn’t even live in Pinellas County; can’t legally run as a Democrat; has a suspect degree and no one knows the guy. Oh, and then he drops out after qualifying is over. In a word, “Brilliant!”    

THIS WEEK’S TEN:

1. Second quote of the week: From Democratic U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller concerning his opposite number from Florida – Bill Nelson, “I was afraid he was going to run for governor.” So were we, Senator, so were we.

2. You’ve really lived in Pinellas County a long time if you remember when Publix was closed on Sundays and gave S & H Green Stamps.

3. Factoid: only one pop/rock artist has ever had a number one song as both an instrumentalist and a vocalist. Give it some thought before you scroll down to the bottom of the blog for the answer.

4. Number of the week – 368. That’s how many times the Houston Astros have employed an infield shift through mid-May leading the majors. AL leader is the New York Yankees. The infield shift has probably been the biggest impact on baseball since the mound was lowered in 1969 or the “let’s keep one-dimensional players in the game” rule also known as the DH in 1973.

5. Nice of FSU’s wayward quarterback’s father to assume part of the blame for his son’s aberrant behavior. Let’s see, the university has had the kid for about a year. You Dad, have had him for, we assume, eighteen years. And this is FSU’s fault? Wouldn’t it be nice if we all could send our kids off to college with a 24-hour nanny like Antonor Winston suggests his son needs?

6. Our Rants and Raves focus group (which consists of three old, cranky people) says the best pies by far on the west coast of Florida are at Village Inn. And, if you are truly fortunate, you’ll eat at the Gulf to Bay location in Clearwater and be served by a dynamo named Sarena. Margin of error this week – zero per cent!

7. Add the term “quick question” to actually, no question about it and absolutely that are used entirely too often and quite often incorrectly.

8. Kudos to Governor Rick Scott for vetoing the legislation increasing the speed limit to 75 miles an hour on certain Florida highways. Apparently our legislators have not observed how well our Florida (and out of state) drivers do at 70. Thank goodness the governor has.

9. The folks in the Tampa Bay Rays front office have to be congratulating themselves for not re-signing B.J. Upton last year. After a year plus of his five year-75 million dollar contract with the Atlanta Braves, Upton is still below the Mendoza line (.191 as of May 14).

10. With the city of Clearwater pouring millions of dollars (some would say unwisely) into downtown Clearwater, why do they continue to ignore the multi-story eyesore at the corner of Cleveland and MLK? A “prospective” buyer is on the horizon but if this one falls through like the others, surely the city has the power to tear down the eyesore and bill the current owners.

IN CLOSING:

In doing some research for last week’s items regarding Clearwater and Largo High Schools, we stumbled across an old high school annual from the sixties. Most interesting were the businesses that advertised in them – some still around like WTAN Radio, the Palm Pavilion, Jersey Jim Towers, Peltz Shoes, Publix, Douglas Manufacturing, Sweats Flower Shop and Trickels Jewelers. And from the do you remember file – Maas Brothers, the Sandy Book Store, Siple’s Garden Seat, Chic-Inn, the Clearwater Sun, Merz Record Shop, Frank’s Department Store and the Kapok Tree Inn. Much has changed in the past fifty years – not always for the best. 

The artist referred to in #3 above is Herb Alpert who scored a vocal hit with “This Guy’s in Love with You” and actually had two instrumentals that topped the charts – “A Taste of Honey” and “Rise”.