Nobody asked me, but --
. . .Life is all about opportunities taken, opportunities spurned. It will be interesting to see what winds up in the old Largo library building. It won't be a branch of St. Petersburg College and whatever it is, will cost the taxpayers a bundle. Opportunity lost.
. . .There is one character in Largo who never misses an opportunity to indulge himself in the love of hearing his own voice. He is a frequent "citizen commenter" and lately has been doing his best to delay progress on the Charter Review Committee with his tiresome observations.
. . .It is now clear that you enjoy your private property only at the sufferance of the local government. It is no longer sacrosanct. (This Supreme Court is nuts!)
. . .Anyone who does not recognize this thing in Iraq as a re-run of what we went through in Vietnam (on a much lower scale, albeit) must not have been around and cognizant circa 1965-73.
. . .Mayor Bob Jackson got some backing from City Manager Steve Stanton recently in the observation that spending might be a little overdone. Are they thinking Largo has a champagne appetite and beer pocketbook? Sounds that way.
. . .Whatever became of Myra Chandler?
. . .Great to have had Reggie Taylor in a brief sojourn with the Devil Rays. He was with the minor league Clearwater Phillies years ago, and went from there up the minor league chain and then a stint with the Cincinnati Reds in the big show. Hang in there, Reg.
. . .In Vietnam times, Dick Chaney, now vice president, successfully avoided military service because, he said, he had other priorities." Wonder how many kids today have "other priorities" as the recruiting ability of Army and Marine Corps dwindles?
. . .Along those lines, the kids are wary. If they join up, the government freely breaks the contract by keeping them active beyond the agreed time. There is even talk of pulling personnel out of the Navy and Air Force ranks to fill the depleted Army forces.
. . .All of which means that if we got in a real, all-out war, we would be screwed -- there are just not enough forces and you can't change those numbers.
. . .Hard to realize Jack Nicklaus is an old man now who can't play competitive golf anymore. Wasn't it just yesterday when Gwilym Brown (Sports Illustrated), Will Grimsley (Associated Press) and I saw the kid put down a couple dozen oysters in a Pensacola shop and then head for a place called Carpenter's for a big steak dinner? (Life's all about "goneness" folks.)
. . .Largo potentates are scrutinizing the U.S. Supreme Court decision on "takings" -- that is, where governments take private property for private interests. This decision will have wide ranging effects and probably will impact in Pinellas County.
. . .More on Largo -- the political pecans are watching votes on the City Commission closely. It is clear that a balance of power can be achieved there. One particular commissioner has become the all-important swing vote. And when that happens, you effectively have a one-person commission. Ouch!
. . .One very high up authoritative figure in Largo says the city manager, Steve Stanton, is a goner after the next election (March, 2006). I have dusted off the knee pads and am making daily implorations to the Higher Power that such a sad event will not come to pass. Stanton is a superior, intelligent, highly competent performer. Largo should not lose him.
. . .With oil heading for $80 a barrel and the automobile industry opposed to doing the obvious (as usual; these clowns opposed safety measures, seat belts, impact bags, greater gas efficiency, etc. on and on). Congress better get on the stick.
. . .Would you buy a home that was cheek by jowl by a crematorium? Your answer tells you how the folks on Wilcox Road feel given Moss-Feaster plans to build one near homes. Put yourself in their place and you have the picture. Exactement!
. . .Hey, wouldn't this country (and the world) be better off if we took all that grain and used the alcohol therefrom for fuel needs instead of booze? Give me an ax and call me Carrie Nation and we'll go bust up a few bars. Whoopee!