Tim Phillips Show, 7/15/26

Thinking about an island vacation? There are a lot to choose from that you don’t even need a passport to visit, but “Travel & Leisure” is here to help you narrow down the options. Their 31st annual World’s Best Awards have just come out and they include ranking of the Best Islands in the Continental U.S.

The magazine’s readers weigh in with their favorites and this year, more than 661-thousand votes were cast to determine the winners.
Topping the list is Georgia’s Golden Isles, which include the barrier islands of Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, and Little St. Simons Island.
They’re known for “remote luxury, top-notch golf, pristine beaches,” as well as their history.
On top of being the best island in the continental U.S., Golden Isles is number 11 in the World’s Best Islands ranking from “Travel & Leisure.”
The magazine also recently named it one of the Best Small Towns for a Summer Getaway and one of the Best Places to Retire on the East Coast.
The 15 Best Islands in the Continental U.S.

Golden Isles, Georgia
Mount Desert, Maine
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
San Juan Islands, Washington
Cumberland Island, Georgia
Amelia Island, Florida
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Longboat Key, Florida
Outer Banks, North Carolina
Florida Keys, Florida
Catalina Island, California
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Marco Island, Florida
Block Island, Rhode Island
Source: Travel & Leisure

One-Hit Wonder - BAD OF THE HEART    GEORGE LAMOND    1990

Born George Garcia on 2/25/1967 in Washington DC; raised in the Bronx, New York.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s recent New York wedding may have cost a small fortune, but it’s nothing compared to a new list of history’s most expensive nuptials. It ranks the priciest weddings ever held using 2026 estimates from Britannica, and the figures are almost hard to believe.

Since wedding budgets aren’t often publicly shared, some of the amounts are estimates or reported ranges.
Costs have been adjusted using the U.S. Consumer Price Index through May 2026 to allow direct comparisons across decades.
So, who had the most expensive wedding ever? It wasn’t a celebrity or royal wedding, but the son of a Russian oil oligarch who tied the knot in 2016 with an estimated cost of $1.4-billion after adjusting for inflation. Adding to the enormous price tag? Live performances by Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, and Sting.

The 10 Most Expensive Weddings In History (ranked by their inflation-adjusted cost)

Khadija Uzhakhova & Said Gutseriev in Moscow, Russia 2016 - $1.4-billion
Radhika Merchant & Anant Ambani in Mumbai, India 2024 - $$641-million to $1.1-billion
Lady Diana Spencer & Prince Charles in London, England 1981 - $176-million
Isha Ambani & Anand Piramal in Mumbai, India 2018 - $133-million
Vanisha Mittal & Amit Bhatia in Versailles, France 2004 - $106-million
Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano & Prince Felipe in Madrid, Spain 2004 - $43-million to $62-million
Meghan Markle & Prince Harry in Windsor, England 2018 - $60-million
Lauren Sanchez & Jeff Bezos in Venice, Italy 2025 - $48-million to $56-million
Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce in New York, New York 2026 - $20-million to $50-million
Kate Middleton & Prince William in London, England 2011 - $49-million
Source: Visual Capitalist

Tim's News You Can't Use 

National Hot Dog Day: It’s hot dog eating season, after all.

Some hot dog facts:

During peak hot dog season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans consume roughly 7 billion hot dogs.
 
The majority of Americans (63%) prefer their hot dogs grilled.
 
Most Americans prefer mustard on their dog, followed by ketchup and chili. 
 
According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, ketchup on a hot dog should not be eaten by anyone over the age of 18. 
 
In the movie Sudden Impact, Dirty Harry says, “Nobody, I mean nobody, puts ketchup on a hot dog.”
 
Los Angeles residents consume more hot dogs than any other city.
 
Carl’s Jr started as a hot dog cart on July 17, 1941, in Los Angeles.
 
Hot Dogs were first sold at baseball games in 1893.
 
72% of Americans admit they have no idea what's in a hot dog.
 
61% prefer beef hot dogs over pork or turkey.
 
Once and for all, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says a hot dog is NOT a sandwich. (Today, National Hot Dog and Sausage Council)      
Who has the best dogs? Every region think they have the best hot dogs. Here are just some of the popular styles fan say is the only way to eat a dog ...

Chicago style is a Vienna beef dog on a poppy seed bun, topped with neon green pickle relish, sport peppers, tomatoes, and seasoned with celery salt. NO KETCHUP!
 
New Jersey's Italian dog is topped with potatoes, peppers, and onions in pita bread.
 
The Jersey Shore Ripper is a naturally cased dog deep fried until it splits.
 
Michigan's coney dog is topped with meat chili, yellow mustard, and chopped onions.
 
New York dogs are served with steamed onions and mustard. Sauerkraut and ketchup are optional.
 
Boston's Fenway Franks are boiled, grilled, nestled in a New England style bun, and topped with mustard and sweet pickle relish.
 
The Southwest Sonoran dog is a grilled bacon-wrapped hot dog in a hearty bun and topped with pinto beans, grilled onions, green peppers, tomatoes, relish, tomatillo jalapeño salsa, mayonnaise, mustard, and shredded cheese.
 Pringles is giving hot dogs a new twist, just in time for National Hot Dog Day. The potato crisp company is launching limited-edition potato-based Pop Dog Buns inspired by three of its most popular flavors: Sour Cream & Onion, BBQ, and Honey Mustard. The flavored buns will be available today through Pringles’ "Once You Pop" marketplace. Customers can get the buns free with the purchase of a Pringles three-pack priced at just under $7. The promotion is part of the brand’s latest campaign to bring its signature flavors beyond the chip can and onto the summer barbecue menu.
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Parade magazine says Jones Soda launched a new soda line with flavors inspired by Crayola crayons. Flavors include Fruit Punch Soda (inspired by Razzamatazz), Orange & Cream Soda (inspired by Sunset Orange), Pineapple Cream Soda (inspired by Dandelion), Green Apple Soda (inspired by Granny Smith Apple), Berry Lemonade Soda (inspired by Robin’s Egg Blue), and Fufu Berry Soda (inspired by Razzle Dazzle Rose).
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Food Dive says Coca-Cola recently filed a trademark application for "Spricy". The filing suggests Coca-Cola may use Spricy on soft drinks like  Sprite. Coca-Cola launched a Spiced Coke in 2024 but discontinued it after seven months.
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PR Newswire says Campbell's is out with Protein Soups. Each can has 20g of protein and a bone broth base. The cans cost  $3.19 each. Flavors include Homestyle Chicken & Rotini, Italian-Style Wedding, Lemon Pepper Chicken, Southwest Black Bean and Mediterranean Lentil
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First Alert 4 says smartphone prices are expected to rise by 14% before the end of the year due to a chip shortage.  People are now hanging onto their phones longer because of the high cost of new phones.  Phone Geeks says more people are also fixing old phones to save money.  Industry experts say the chip shortage is occurring because AI data centers are buying up memory chips.  The average new phone is expected to cost $100 to $200 more than it used to 
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In cities where Waymo autonomous taxis are active, there’s been an increase in needless 911 calls…due to people falling asleep in the back of the cars. It seems that during even a ten-minute ride, passengers drift off to sleep. An hour later, the car sits there waiting for the passenger to get out. Not sure if the passenger is dead, or whatever, the car is then programmed to call 911, making it necessary for an officer to come to the location to essentially wake them up. It’s happened so often in Austin, Texas, that the police have nicknamed these people “sleepers.”
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We Got This Covered says a Clyde, North Carolina woman was recently trapped in her  bathtub for nine days. 82 year-old Joan Rivet was getting ready for bed when she tripped and fell into the tub. A shower rod fell on her so she could not pull herself out. She survived by turning on the faucet with her foot and drinking the water. Joan’s brother called authorities and asked them to do a wellness check. The authorities saved her 
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United Press International says the Clay County, Florida police recently wrangled a runaway pig on US 17. Deputies chased the large pig and secured it with a rope leash.   Four people helped push the pig up a ramp and into a trailer.   The pig's owner said it escaped from its regular trailer
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An Ohio man is back in jail after police say he was caught driving with 27 active license suspensions, part of a whopping 54 on his record. Officers in Elyria pulled over Eddie Cruz on July 2nd after he turned without using a signal. He did not stop right away, instead letting his truck slowly roll into a strip mall parking lot. Officers already knew him well, since they had pulled him over in the same red truck before and impounded it. Cruz also has three convictions in two years for driving under a suspension tied to impaired driving. Police kept the truck and plan to cite the family member who lent it to him. A police captain said Cruz has shown repeated disregard for Ohio's licensing laws. He is jailed pending a court appearance and could face jail time if convicted.