We are a quarter way through a year of dining suggestions (see back story in Jan. 1 Rants). This week’s is so easy. Just stop by your local Publix deli and treat yourself to one of their dynamite subs. We particularly suggest their Italian that will take you back to the days of the revered Philly Hoagie Shop.

Biden vs. Trump; Kasich vs. Clinton; Sanders vs. Cruz. Who wins?

Now that Donald Trump has downgraded his living accommodations to the White House, it’s tempting to look back and see what might have happened if the electoral matchups were changed. What if the Democrats had dumped a badly wounded Hillary Clinton and gone with Joe Biden would Biden have won? We’d guess there is about a 50/50 chance – not much difference than the original matchup. What about John Kasich vs. Hillary who he always outpolled? Would he have won? Given all the missteps by Clinton, probably more resoundingly than Trump’s win, although Kasich’s actions after the Trump nomination were troubling. What if Bernie prevailed? Does he beat Trump – unlikely. Kasich – no way. Cruz – better than an average chance as Cruz’s right wing baggage is just as heavy as what Bernie carries with his left hand. What might have been? Right, Jeb?

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. The failure to repeal Obamacare is being characterized as a defeat for President Trump. It will prove to be a bigger defeat for the American public when the program collapses of its own weight.

2. A small loss of jobs in Florida in the last month is being treated like the beginning of the Hoover administration by Rick Scott haters. In truth, Florida’s annual job growth, last month’s small hiccup included, is just under double the national average.

3. The medical pot bill working its way through the Florida House has some very common sense provisions, among them – requiring patients to be under the care of a physician for 90 days before pot can be prescribed. This tends to eliminate tons of out of state plates at certain doctors like we had in the bad old days. We all need to monitor this bill closely.

4. Sign of the times: Sign announcing the closing of the Radio Shack in what used to be Searstown on Missouri Avenue. Radio Shack was cutting edge in the ‘50s and ‘60s as was the corporation that was the namesake of the strip mall for years. Now both Radio Shack and Sears teeter on the verge of extinction.

5. As a long time Clearwater resident, we just get depressed when we travel the canyon of high rises that is now the south end of the beach. Clearwater has become Lauderdale-Miami.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. The 5:05 Newsletter strikes again: Californians began a petition drive to put seceding from the United States up for a vote on the next ballot. When California entered the Union in 1850 people had no electricity, the state had no money, practically everybody spoke Spanish and there were gunfights in the streets…. So, nothing has changed.

7. One of our all-time favorite baseball quotes: “Bob Gibson is the luckiest pitcher I ever saw. He always pitches when the other team doesn’t score any runs.” – Tim McCarver.

8. As the NCAA tourney rolls along - contractual agreements aside, there should be some rule that Dick Vitale must be involved post season broadcasts. No individual has more enthusiasm or is a greater ambassador for the game.

9. Upset with a couple calls that went against them in the NCAA, Kentucky basketball fans posted numerous bogus evaluations against a referee’s roofing business. Way to keep it classy UK!

10. You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you realize how lucky you are to know so many long time residents, but how unfortunate it is that they know every dumb thing you did in your misspent youth.

Achmed Walled predicts 2017 MLB season – take it to the bank

He’s three for three in picking the last three World Series winners. This year our omnipotent predictor Achmed Walled (pronounced wall-ED) likes three teams to come out of the NL Central into postseason – the World Champ Cubs plus the re-tooled Cards and the Pirates. In the East, he likes the pitching staff of the Mets to carry them to victory with this prediction – they will make a move for a strong corner infielder at or prior to the trading deadline. Out west, he foresees a repeat of 1951 with the Dodgers and Giants tying at the end of the regular season forcing a playoff. In the junior circuit, Achmed gives the nod to the Red Sox, Indians and Rangers in the division races with the Yanks and Mariners as wild cards. But if the Yanks don’t compete, Achmed says there will be a fire sale in July as the Yanks look to their future stars. Finally, our soothsayer sees a lot of disappointment for Nationals andBlueJays fans in the 2017 season.

SNEAK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK – HOW CLEARWATER COULD HAVE AVOIDED SCI-TI LABEL – PT. 1