We are a weekly compilation of local and national notes along with a smattering of sports, history and the oft-borrowed piece of wisdom from the 5:05 Newsletter – all from a politically incorrect slant.

First thing on our mind:

Yes, you guessed right, they were from Whataburger. We can say no more.

Leading off: Celebrating the 4^th

As we celebrate our nation’s 250^th anniversary this week, we’re drawn to the words of patriots past that define what we are all about. Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death”; Nathan Hale’s “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country”; Ben Franklin’s “There has never been a good war or a bad peace”; JFK’s “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” And a more recent one that always resonates with us from a man we should never forget, Flight 93’s Todd Beamer’s “Let’s roll.” Let us all celebrate our liberty, not just this week, but every day of our lives.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Alan Greenspan, who influenced the American economy for almost twenty years as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, died last week at age 100.

The word on the street says a Clearwater restaurant popular for over fifty years is closing again.

Florida’s Board of Governors approves former Alabama president, Stuart Bell, to be the University of Florida’s 14^th president.

Federal investigators find that cutting corners from the very beginning caused the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers in 2021. Meanwhile condo residents of structurally sound buildings continue to pay the price due to the state of Florida overreaction.

Just another Chicago weekend with seven killed and 38 injured in several shootings.

The first ride we would always head for at a fair or carnival was the Ferris wheel. But is a Ferris wheel a proper fit for Clearwater Beach?

Idle thought: more and more check out aisles (especially the 10 and under lanes) remain unmanned as grocery stores try to force us to use self-checkout stations, thus eliminating jobs.

More food issues from the 5:05 Newsletter: I don’t want to say food prices are getting out of control, but went to McDonalds and Big Macs are listed as “Market Price.”

This week in 1836 (July 1) the Smithsonian Institute is founded.

Sports and random notes:

Related to our 5:05 reference, the “market price’ on a grouper sandwich at a local restaurant was $25 last week; but it had been awhile between tasty treats. However, we do know what the commercial fisherman in our family gets per pound for grouper and the two numbers don’t jibe.

The extended deathwatch for Mets’ manager Carlos Mendoza is over with former Padres’ manager Andy Green taking the helm of the Mets, 14 games under .500 at this writing. Meanwhile, the equally inept California Angels jettison GM Perry Minasian.

Wyndham Clark is the first wire to wire U.S. Open winner in over a decade overcoming a less than supportive New York crowd.

Even if you disagreed with his reviews, you still liked the guy. Gene Shalit, the long time cultural critic at NBC, died last week at age 100.

ESPN’s Linda Cohn has announced her retirement after 34 years with the network. She anchored more Sports Centers than anyone else.

Our monthly look back at “new” products from 50 years back features an item that was discontinued and brought back in 1976 – the two-dollar bill. Thirty years later, among new products on the market were Play Station 3 and Wii.

One last thing: Things that say America

As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250^th birthday, we asked our prestigious Focus Group to name some products or things that say America to them.

Our leadoff hitter chose an interesting mix of locations, things and products starting with Kitty Hawk, NC, Plymouth Rock, MA, Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and Atlanta’s and America’s premier soft drink Coca-Cola.

Our westernmost member chipped in with American football; direct to consumer drug advertising (which apparently isn’t done in other parts of the world); BBQ with all its regional variations and finally our Hollywood film industry. Some very thought provoking answers!

Another of our focus group mentioned football along with Imperial weights and measures, noting the British started it and we kept it. Also on his list was trial by jury and the fact we drive everywhere (no meaningful mass transportation).

Our northern most member actually sent this list from way north – Alaska! He too cites Imperial weights and measures and American football along with America’s tipping culture and dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s – peanut butter.

Another Focus Group member, also away on an unrelated Alaska trip, listed free speech and individual liberties; The “American Dream”; mass production and lastly, Hollywood.

Another of our august group, (also in Alaska!) took peanut butter one step further with the widespread Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich; she, too, mentioned our tipping culture along with tailgating – which we take to mean the athletic type rather than the all too often experienced traffic type.

One of our charter members mentioned the National Pastime, and like another contributor, Coca-Cola; Bowling Green Kentucky’s Chevy Corvette and finally New York-based Macy’s and their annual parade.

Rounding out our list, our sole Clearwater native also mentioned Coke; The Ford Motor Company; and two of those “I wish I had thought of that’s,” New Orleans jazz and rock and roll.

We love it when these eight very unique individuals tackle a question like this! In late August, they’ll tell us about their favorite TV “characters.”

Next week: Hit Parade; Maas Bros.; District 14

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Happy Birthday America!