The LuLac Edition #5, 563, February 4th, 2026

 

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo

This week we are going to feature a letter from a local man who’s story is not unique. As a matter of fact, it mirrors almost the entire population of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The true minority here are the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. Every body else is an immigrant.

The issue I feel is that the sons and daughters of first generation parents did not know the slurs and obstacles their grand parents faced. Having been born on third base and thinking they hit a home run, they play into the fears stoked by bigots and people with the attitude “I got mine, now you can’t have yours unless you look like me!” aving bwwm H

The letter writer makes a very good point. The ignorant are united in the hatred and division stoked by one man. The rest of us know that this country in totality can be selfish and violent. But as the writer indicates, do not confuse our concern for the direction of this country as unpatriotic behavior.  It is a growing concern that needs to be called out.

 

 

A “FRANK” LETTER

TO THE EDITOR

I am an American. I was born in this country. Both my parents were born in this country. I cannot say the same for my grandparents. It’s a familiar immigrant story. An American tale. I am living the American dream.

It is the only country I have ever known. I suppose that I can say that I love my country, although that is not the way I usually speak or think about my nation. I mostly take America for granted. I never served in the military, but then again, neither did my president, so I suppose I’m still ok.

I do not support violence. I do not support illegal activity. I agree with those who say that our government is inefficient, that our national debt is a real problem, that healthcare is too expensive, and that we have an immigration problem. I believe that the United States of America was founded on great ideals by men and women who were not perfect, and so it is incumbent upon me to continue to strive for a more perfect Union.

I can believe in all of those ideas and say that I no longer trust my government. I am brought to my knees when I see masked military roam American cities arresting gardeners, warehouse workers, beauticians, waiters and children. I am brought to tears when I see masked thugs shoot civilians and my government reflexively calls those lying dead terrorists.

We (I think) can agree on our nation’s problems. What we seem unable to agree upon are solutions and the appropriate tactics to employ in order to fix those problems. When did we become a nation that condoned the tactics employed by ICE? When did protesting and blowing a referee’s whistle become cause for being shot? When did running from a policeman become a death sentence?

I love my country but it is alienating me. It is pushing me away. It is forcing me to question its motives.

 

Alec Frank

Wilkes-Barre

The LuLac Edition #5 562, February 3rd, 2026

 

OH BABY!!!!!

 

Since Donald Trump behaves like a baby, I guess he felt a compelling need to hand out a thousand bucks to every newborn in the United States of America. Now this is the same guy and party that has cut back on Medicaid and SNAP to feed children already in their formative years. But now he wants to send some money out from the government to give them a head start in life.

A few questions here.

Where will he get the information on every newborn in the states? Isn’t there a HIPPA concern for privacy?

How will that delivery of the $1,000 occur? Check? On line bank account?

How will it be enforced? What’s to stop the parents from using the money for drugs, care for other children in an emergency, high food prices from his tariffs or just careless parents?

Here’s one. If the baby is born to an illegal or a person of color and they get a check, does ICE come, separate the family and deport the kid?

What happens if less than competent parents start reproducing just to get that grand?  This might incentivize poorer people to have more kids who will then wind up on the welfare that the GOP has been railing about as far as the Depression.

That $1,000 won’t pay a dividend until the child is eligible to work, right? So, the deficit will balloon on his watch.

Like always, Trump’s ideas are never thought out. Plus, it has all the earmarks of not going anywhere or costing more money than it should. 

 

 

TRUMP SHUTS DOWN TRUMP-KENNEDY CENTER FOR “REMODELING”

Trump has closed the Kennedy Center for “remodeling”. The real story here is when the stupid prick renamed a living memorial to the late President John F. Kennedy, entertainers left in droves.

Now to add insult to injury the pig President wants to put marble handrails on all of the seats. His reasoning?  “It’ll be something like people have never seen before!”

 

BRUCE WEIGHS IN

Bruce Springsteen did a music video on the killings in Minnesota. Here it is:

The LuLac Edition #5, 561, February 2nd, 2026

 MONDAY MEMES 

 

The LuLac Edition #5, 560, February 1st, 2026

 

DINING OUT INFLATION

We’ve all noticed it. The cost of dining has risen because of inflation. Restaurant prices rose 4.1% in 2025, roughly double the pace of grocery inflation, reflecting five years of steady increases in food and labor costs that have climbed 35% each.

A new McKinsey report, “What U.S. Consumers Want From Restaurants in 2026,” confirms that value and pricing remain top of mind, but cost alone isn't what's driving diners away. Among consumers who said eating out "wasn't worth the money," the top complaints were food quality and portion size, with more than half citing each, according to the survey of roughly 900 U.S. consumers fielded in August 2025.

Then there’s delivery which many baby boomers have used. That’s becoming more expensive too. For years, delivery apps promised a simple trade: convenience for a fee. As those fees climbed, the math started to break down. Service charges, delivery costs, inflated menu prices, and tips. Now diners aren't just cutting back on delivery, they're stepping out of the system altogether.

Pickup orders grew 14% year over year, with customers spending about the same per visit. Delivery went the other direction: order totals fell 6%, and overall spending dropped 12%. Diners still want the food, but they're just no longer willing to pay a premium to have it delivered.

The gap has gotten hard to ignore. A 2025 LendingTree study found that delivery now costs nearly 80% more than pickup, adding an average of $9.30 per order once all fees and tips are factored in. For the 40% of Americans who say they order delivery at least once a week, that surcharge adds up fast, and for many, the convenience no longer justifies the cost.

For couples and singles, the dent isn’t as bad vs. families who have more mouths to feed. Special dinners out for families have now become just that: one time affairs.

Gen Z's spending at quick-service restaurants has dropped faster than any other generation, down 19 percentage points over the past two years. The shift is striking. Fast food and drive-throughs typically offer what this generation says it wants: affordable prices, customization, and the ability to order from their phones. These restaurants are still losing ground with the demographic that should be fueling their growth.

Gen Z isn't cutting back across the board, though. They still favor sit-down restaurants over quick grab-and-go options entirely. If they're going to leave the house, it's going to be for something social, something that feels like more than a transaction.

Again, the inflation has touched all demographics and each is responding in various ways that point downward.

You might think that when you see a parking lot filled with cars on a Friday or Saturday night things are going well. Well, maybe. My guess is that the days of people hitting their favorite place every week are over. To be sure there are repeat customers as well as regulars but their number will continue to diminish  as costs increase. (LuLac, Food & Wine).

 

COLD WEATHER BARGAINS

It’s cold, you’re hungry, don’t want to get out of the car and need cheap food. Try these options:

Here are some current fast food bargains you can check out:

Arby's: Join Arby’s Rewards and receive a FREE Classic Beef ‘N Cheddar with a $5 purchase.

Wendy's: Get a $5 Biggie Bag that includes a sandwich, nuggets, fries, and a drink.

McDonald's: Check out their $5 Meal Deal, which includes a double cheeseburger, fries, and a drink.

Taco Bell: Explore the Luxe Value Menu, which offers 10 craveable items for $3 or less.

These deals may vary by location and availability, so it's a good idea to check with your local restaurant for the latest offers. My go to is mostly Taco Bell because at least then you get the fiber. 

 

 

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