A weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and historical notes from a very politically incorrect viewpoint, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves has been published since 2014. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

First thing on our mind:

Save a lot of time, trouble and alimony, marry your trophy wife first.

Leading off: Roses to Senator Scott

We send a bouquet to Florida’s Senator Rick Scott for his bill to block paychecks to members of Congress during the just ended government shutdown. And, at the same time, a big bag of onions goes to Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ed Markey for blocking the bill. Markey claims some of his colleagues in Congress can’t afford to go without a paycheck. Well, what about air traffic controllers, the staffers who work in congressional offices or our military? Markey and his colleague’s refusal to withhold congressional paychecks is the height of hypocrisy.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

It’s now official; last week the United States joined Canada in eliminating the penny. So what do we put in that slot in our loafers now? You have to be well over fifty to understand that one.

We’re not buying in to Donald Trump’s proposed $2000 dividends. Didn’t Biden try the same bribery of the American taxpayer?

It seems safe to say Chuck Schumer’s political career is over.

So, has St. Pete Beach’s mayor been recalled yet for his ridiculous suggestion that a toll be placed on drivers entering the barrier island community?

Are our snowbirds returning early? Upper Pinellas traffic has increased exponentially over the past ten days.

The only difference between this week’s Cleveland baseball scandal and the infamous “Black Sox” of last century is that more people were involved back in 1919. And like 1919, heads from the commissioner’s office down to the Cleveland front office should roll in light of this scandal.

Some “new” products from 50 years ago: Famous Amos cookies, Miller Lite; the catalytic converter and the pet rock.

Fifty years ago this month, the ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald sank on stormy Lake Superior claiming all 29 crewmen. The tragedy inspired the Gordon Lightfoot song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Two of baseball’s greatest players were born on November 21 in Donora, Pa., although 49 years apart – Stan Musial and Ken Griffey, Jr. Musial, in fact, was inducted into the Hall of Fame the year Griffey, Jr. was born.

Sports and random notes:

Biz/political news from The 5:05 Newsletter: Zohran Mamdani named Florida Realtor of the Year 2026.

The always entertaining Athletic 136 has Ohio State back on top after Indiana struggled against Penn State. UMass remains the only winless major college and anchors the poll. Two Florida teams fared well with Miami moving back to the Top 10 at #9 and USF getting back in the Top 25 at #22. Others: FSU #52; the Gators fall to #63; UCF is #85; FIU and Florida Atlantic remain neck and neck at #112 and #113 respectively.

The USF Bulls had an outside chance at a college football playoff spot. But, along came Navy and they hurt USF’s chances as much they have the South American drug cartels

With a new playoff system likely for next year, the Big 10 is pushing for four slots to be allotted to both them and the SEC. Face it; the Big 10 seldom has more than 2 or 3 truly competitive teams.

The Giants’ Brian Daboll is the latest NFL head coach to be fired. Remember when the Giants had a string of good to great head coaches like Bill Parcells, Dan Reeves and Jim Lee Howell? It’s been awhile.

Congratulations to Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt and the Brewers Pat Murphy on winning back to back Manager of the Year awards. Usually, you don’t see back to back winners, but these guys deserved it.

Factoid: Rev. Billy Graham, Dick Clark, Pee Wee Herman and Jack Nicholson all, at one time or another, worked for the ubiquitous Fuller Brush Company.

As a frequent listener to oldies stations, five songs that make us reach for the “next” button, In the Year 2525; Sugar, Sugar; The Eve of Destruction; Honey and virtually anything by Donovan.

Conversely, we crank it up on anything by the Drifters, Beach Boys, Martha and the Vandellas, Chuck Berry and Sedaka to name just five. Guess that dates us a bit.

Seen on a t-shirt: My password is the last eight digits of π.

Last week’s item on an “A date” reminded us of another such date this time of year. Going to the Sandy Book Store and going through their very large assortment of Christmas cards to find just the right one, followed by lunch at one of Clearwater’s many fine downtown restaurants.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember the REM go-cart track on NE Coachman Road, just west of US 19.

One last thing: Happy Birthday Celene

This week (11/21) we mark the third birthday of our wonderful kitty cat Celene. We adopted her in May of this year at the shelter on State Road 590. We simply asked for the cat that had been there the longest and were surprised this sweet kitty had been there five months after her previous owner had to give her up upon entering an assisted living facility. The shelter told us most folks want kittens and many avoid either black or tuxedo cats (which Celene is). She is our third tuxedo cat over some five decades and all three have been remarkable pets.

Up Next: Here’s Johnny; Wendy’s; Rabbit ears

111625/482

Sorry, time does not perm-t replies to comments.