We continue our 2017 dining suggestions (back story in Jan. 1 Rants) with a question – how long has it been since you have been to the granddaddy of finer restaurants in Clearwater – Bob Heilman’s Beachcomber on Mandalay on Clearwater Beach? Their famous fried chicken, hot brown and incredible grouper are just three favorites off a great menu.

After eight years of Obama, the best we can say: we survived

For approximately fifty percent of the American population, there will be a collective sigh of relief this Friday when the Obama administration comes to an inglorious end. A corrupt Justice Department, sanctuary cities, mass pardons of felons, incredible foreign policy failings and, of course, the fatally flawed Obamacare. This is the legacy America’s 44^th President leaves behind. Donald Trump is admittedly an unknown quantity but if he delivers on about 25 percent of his promises, America should recover nicely over the next four years.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. Sanctuary cities mentioned above are in the crosshairs of the Trump administration with the cutoff of federal funds looming for those municipalities that do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. But it is a little known fact that several Florida counties serve as sanctuaries including Pinellas and Hillsborough.

2. A cold front last weekend threw a bit of a damper on beach activities for those attending the national championship. But Clearwater and the bay area had a great run during the months of December and early January.

3. The temporary four-way stop at Ft. Harrison and Drew last week reminded us of a thought expressed by one of Clearwater’s city council people – that there is absolutely no need for a traffic light a block west at Drew and Osceola.

4. We are embarrassingly late in noting the December passing of Bronson Thayer, a major player in banking and other businesses on both sides of Tampa Bay. Thayer’s biggest role on the Pinellas side was oversight of the venerable Bank of Clearwater. He was 77.

5. Guys, you’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you bought a shirt or pair of slacks at Fremacs.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. Congratulations to Meryl Streep on her lifetime achievement award from the Golden Globes. Madam, you are a very skilled actress but nobody outside of Hollywood gives a damn about your political views.

7. Yet another “borrow” from the always informative 5:05 Newsletter: Carrot Top First Headliner to Agree to Perform at Trump Inauguration. There was no word in the newsletter about Gallagher’s availability.

8. Consensus around major league baseball is the Rays did not get nearly enough for lefty Drew Smyly.

9. With the Chargers relocation, a lot of noise is also being made about the Oakland Raiders possibly relocating to Las Vegas. It seems like a match made in heaven, renegade team in a renegade city.

10. Our Rants and Raves focus group (comprised of four old, cranky people) wonders why Gen X and Millennials never carry a single dime with them and go into full panic mode when they encounter a situation where they can’t use plastic.

MLB, NFL, NASCAR, NCAA: 5 things we would to like to see in 2017

First, we’d like to see the newest, longest World Series drought end and the Indians win the Series. Second, a healthy return to auto racing by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Third, it’d be nice to see the Rays and Braves become competitive again. Fourth, we’d wish the same for a once proud football franchise – the Cleveland Browns. And just for kicks, we’d like to see a sixth or seventh seed win the NCAA Basketball Championship.

SNEAK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK – CURT, KEITH, LINDSEY, SKIP AND VIN – FIVE MEMORABLE VOICES