TOP OF THE WEEK:

We lead with an apology for this “late edition”. Have just returned from the frozen tundra that is the Finger Lakes region of New York.

The ramifications of the cyber terrorism that hit Sony go far beyond movies not being released, executives being embarrassed and #44’s movie preferences being known to the free world. Everybody but about three people in the world know the country of origin for this cyber-attack. The question is what does the U.S. do about it? Name calling at the U.N. is not nearly strong enough. An example needs to be made here. The question is – does the administration have the backbone to do so? Stay tuned.

AROUND THE BAY:

1. Last month we pointed out that many power bills for December were lower than city of Clearwater water bills (excluding solid waste). Further investigation shows a December 2014 water bill for a 3-bedroom condo occupied by two people was $135.94 – just over double the December 2009 bill for the same two people, same property (67.71). Double the price in five years - and we complain about Duke Power?

2. Mark March 10th on your calendar. It’s the next election cycle for Pinellas County cities. Although none of the larger cities (St. Pete, Clearwater, Largo or Dunedin) have elections, there will be a few interesting cities to watch. Both Oldsmar and Safety Harbor will be electing council majorities. Also, three are up for election in Belleair and dysfunctional Kenneth City will be electing a circular firing squad of four.

3. Five people and/or things that are bay area institutions – Gayle Sierens and Jack Harris from the media; two great restaurants – the Columbia and the Beachcomber along with the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. Others? Use the comment button below.

4. From USA Today’s whimsical 2015 “I Resolves” – I resolve to use antiperspirant instead of fans in 2015 – former Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

5. Another touch of Clearwater history: 52 years ago this month, WTAN Radio celebrates its 15^th year on the air by constructing one of the first FM stereo stations in the market – WTAN-FM. Young guy working a weekend gig at a St. Pete station decides to give this FM thing a brief try and sticks around for 20 years. Sorry, forgot the guy’s name.

THE DIAMOND, THE MEDIA AND OTHER STUFF:

6. We feel it necessary to mention this each year. The inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced a few weeks back. Again, no congratulatory calls for Paul Anka or Neil Sedaka. All these gentlemen have between them are a half dozen number one songs and 37 top 20 songs. Not to mention hits written for other artists like Sinatra, the Fifth Dimension, Captain and Tennille and oh yes, the Tonight Show Theme (Anka). Green Tree and Lou Reed are okay but can’t hold a candle to Anka and Sedaka. Without these two and a couple others, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame remains a joke.

7. Padre’s manager Bud Black has to be feeling a little pressure after the team’s front office went all in with a new outfield and other pricey additions during the off season. Problem is the new outfielders, Myer, Upton and Kemp collectively can’t catch a cold – a bad thing in the spacious Petco Field. If the Padres fail to perform, blame it on the front office not Bud Black.

8. As we frequently do, we “borrow” a classic from the local 5:05 newsletter regarding the passing of the founder of Topps baseball cards: “Sy Berger, the designer of the modern baseball card, has died. He will be laid to rest in a shoe box somewhere in an attic”.

9. Factoid: fifty-five years ago the decade of the 60s began with Marty Robbins topping the charts with El Paso – the first number one song of the decade. In December 1969, the decade drew to a close with Diana Ross and the Supremes at number one with Someday We’ll be Together Again – their last song before Ross embarked on a solo career.

10. And the all-time biggest selling single record is (by 17 million over its closest competitor)? Answer below.

IN CLOSING:

A few months back, we mentioned that both Derek Jeter’s and Paul Konerko’s numbers (2 & 14 respectively) were being retired. Konerko’s number joining Cub legend Ernie Banks’ 14; so no Chicago player would ever wear that number again. But the number most retired? It’s 20 – retired by nine of MLB’s 30 teams. Frank Robinson by both the Reds and Orioles, Arizona’s Luis Gonzalez; the Giant’s Monte Irvin; Lou Brock (Cards); Pie Traynor (Pirates); the Phil’s Michael Jack Schmidt; Don Sutton (Dodgers) and the Royal’s Frank White. Suppose you were some superstar player who wanted a number all his own to retire? The lowest number not retired by any team is 38.

Answer to #10 above – a song you no doubt listened to several times over the last month – Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. Oh, and the closest single to it in terms of sales is Elton John’s Candle in the Wind.