Tampa Bay Rants and Raves (TBRR) is a weekly chronicle of politics, sports, lifestyle and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint. Some of this content should not be taken literally.

First thing on our mind:

We look back and remember when there was a thing called customer service.

Leading off: Decluttering

We came across a Lenten idea that we are going to try. It came from the folks who publish the various Guideposts publications – an organization founded by Norman Vincent Peale. The suggestion was to rid yourself of one item a day during the forty days that are Lent. It could go in the trash or to a worthy charity. We choose during Lent to only deal with things we no longer use but others could - donating them to the Kimberly Home Thrift Shop. We are modifying the procedure somewhat by gathering up seven items each Wednesday during Lent. It just seemed more doable that way. Forty items, mostly still wearable clothing along with books, DVDs and CDs will end up in someone else’s closet at a bargain price, which will declutter our abode by some 40 plus items. We’ll update on our project after Lent.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Her appearance on the world stage in Munich had AOC stuttering like the late Mel Tillis and just about as knowledgeable in foreign affairs.

Moez Limayem becomes the 9^th president in USF’s 70-year history.

Why are people who block public arteries holding stupid signs not being arrested?

The Legislature is pushing to name the Palm Beach International Airport after President Trump. More than once in Florida and elsewhere, naming things after living personalities has backfired.

Good news – the U.S. inflation rate has fallen to a five year low.

Here we go again – It is Girl Scout Cookie season – and Lent.

We tip our cap to Wayne Dilley of Blossom Plumbing who literally worked through the night in less than optimum weather to solve a major problem at our condominium complex.

The death toll from U.S. strikes on drug boats has reached 126. The death toll in America from illegal drugs last year was just short of 100,000.

Rosie returns to America. Yippee!

Quote of the week:  Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson or Gavin Newsom or Jasmine Crockett or Elizabeth Warren they’re just the same person with a thousand faces - Political commentator Victor Davis Hanson.

This week in 1950 (Feb. 25) Your Show of Shows debuts featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca (for a short time, a resident of Clearwater). Among the show’s writers were Woody Allen, Neil Simon and Mel Brooks.

Sports and random notes:

Iran News from the 5:05 Newsletter: Teheran names Minneapolis its sister city.

The man who owned one of the 2 or 3 most iconic homeruns of all time, Pirate Bill Mazeroski passed away at age 89. His ninth inning walk-off in the 1960 World Series made this young baseball fan very happy.

As we get ready to kick off spring training games, the annual report on farm systems, and some of the youngsters you’ll see in the spring games, is out. Our Rays are smack dab in the middle of the pack at #16. Top ranked farm systems are the Brewers, Dodgers and Mariners.

Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors posed this question a few weeks back: Is anybody trying to win the AL Central? The recent aggressive moves by the Tigers say yes.

The Olympics have ended, but the odor remains. Athletes who take our money but diss our country; French judges who depart wildly from other rankings of U.S. skaters to give their skaters a tainted gold medal and the blockheads on the committee refusing to allow a Ukrainian athlete to compete wearing a helmet honoring athletes who died at the hands of Russia.

Someone we’d like to meet: Actress and Weakest Link host Jane Lynch.

20-person melee breaks out at a Port Orange pickle ball court – really?

Remember when you could name all three networks’ anchors (Huntley-Brinkley; Cronkite; Jennings)? Can you name one today?

You think back to great columnists like Bob Henderson, Chuck Albury, Diane Steinle along with numerous others and compare them to today’s offering, Stephanie Hayes and, frankly, you’re at a loss for words to describe how far the Times has fallen.

Tops at the box office this week 25 years ago was the horror blockbuster Hannibal.

One last thing: The Emperors of Chocolate Pt. 2

Last week, we shared the Hershey story from Joël Glenn Brenner’s book, The Emperors of Chocolate. This week we look at the Mars Company, which is located in McLean, Virginia just down the road from the CIA, and just as secretive. It is a closed family corporation, so not responsible to stockholders, Wall Street and the like. You will find the CEO’s (John F. Mars) desk in the corner of an open office occupied by various ranks of employees. Mr. Mars is the third generation of the family and the 33^rd richest man in America. You’re probably familiar with their candy brands – Snickers, their largest seller, Milky Way and the ubiquitous M&Ms. You may or may not know they also own Wrigley and are the largest pet food company in the world with brands like Whiskas, Pedigree and Iams. Incredibly, Ms. Brenner’s book is the only book written about the company in its history, so close to the chest as this company plays it. But her work gives you at least some insight into the one of the most private, and tasty, companies in the world.

UP NEXT: Cookies & credit cards; Made in Florida;

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