The barrier islands re-entry boondoggle just gets better

Twice before, we have railed against the insane idea of having to have some hang tag to prove you live on Clearwater Beach or wherever in order to re-enter after a dangerous storm. It seemed to us that a photo ID with your address, a voter’s card or any number of personal ID items would suffice, but no we are told, you must have one of these hangtags. We reluctantly caved and got one. The lack of necessity of this boondoggle is summed up by the last line on the front side. “Be prepared to show photo identification upon request.” So the purpose of this extra piece of bureaucracy is what? And displayed proudly on the back of the hangtag is the name of the genius behind this – Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. Brilliant!

Around the bay:

1. In a related note to our lead item. Many folks have inquired as to just who are the people who write the items you see here weekly. And as our lead item proves – it writes itself.

2. A lot of folks didn’t know that Florida Gator’s legend Ray Graves lived in Clearwater. The former Gator coach passed away at age 96 last week.

3. The odds of David Jolly running for the U.S. Senate and the Rays advancing to the World Series this year are virtually the same.

4. What’s up with a sudden flurry of “plumbing” problems at various Walmart stores around the country including one store in Valrico?

5. You’ve lived in Clearwater for quite a while if you remember the incredible Clearwater Bomber pitching tandem of Herb Dudley and Johnny Hunter.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. Remember not everything here has to be probing and insightful. With baseball season underway, name the greatest player to ever wear the number 6. Our money is on either Musial or Kaline. (Sidebar to this item, you’ve been here awhile if you remember that Stan Musial and partners owned the original Hilton on south Clearwater Beach).

7. Factoid: last year, this blog along with the rest of the nation celebrated the 50^th anniversary of Beatlemania in 1964. But it was a full year before that when the first Beatle record charted on an American radio station – Please Please Me on March 8, 1963 on Chicago’s 50,000 watt radio station WLS.

8. The Atlanta Braves finally rid themselves of their second albatross contract – B. J. Upton but at great cost - giving up the best closer in baseball in Craig Kimbrel. The unwise signings of Upton and Dan Uggla are the reason Frank Wren is no longer their general manager. Ironically, the Braves are off to a surprisingly good start which means they could really miss Kimbrel if their 1991-style start continues.

9. Two things that tickled our funny bone recently. In baseball, Miami Marlin centerfielder Marcell Ozuna dives for a ball then lifts his glove up to show the catch. Problem was the ball was ten feet behind him and the batter was circling the bases. And in Zephyrhills, two gunmen try to rob a McDonald’s drive-up window. Problem: there was no cash register at that window. So they drive away in their BMW with Buc’s specialty tags. Not the best planned heist of the year.    

10. Our crack sports prognosticator, Achmed Walled (pronounced wall-ED) forecasts an NBA final of Atlanta Hawks versus the Golden State Warriors.

McDonalds and friends - stick to what you do best

A couple months ago, the Times Sean Daly wrote a piece on how McDonalds has stumbled over itself trying to not be a hamburger chain by offering salads, Starbuck-like coffee and a mind-blurring variety of chicken entrées on their menu. He was spot on. Here the KISS theory comes into play, Wendy’s has a winner in their Frosty, Checkers their Big Buford, McDonalds its Big Mac and fries and Burger King – well, we guess there is something there people like. Leave chicken to Chick-fil-A, roast beef to Arbys and subs to Subway. This goes for other industries as well. The old Florida Power Company nearly ruined themselves with their ill-fated ventures into the construction trades years ago. About the same time, a couple of local companies that knew nothing about the broadcasting business managed to bleed red with their radio station acquisitions. And the list goes on. McDonalds knows burgers; Starbucks coffee; Dunkin Donuts doughnuts. Stick with it and improve it!