Editor’s note: An editing error lead to two versions of the blog on line last week – the unedited version and the final. We apologize for any confusion.

“Doing the dance” with satellite radio, cable and wireless companies

First as a former business owner/manager, let us acknowledge you cannot do business in 2015 at 2005 prices. But the practices of so many satellite radio, wireless and cable companies are ridiculous. You’re paying about $120 bucks a month for whatever service and suddenly you get a notice or worse, a bill for double that. Then, if you know how to play the game, you call up and ask to cancel and suddenly the bill is cut by 50 percent or more. We can all live with a rational increase in price, but why do we have to constantly play the game to get back to a 3-5 per cent increase? And even worse, what about the people who just shrug their shoulders and pay an outrageous price? This might be an area where federal regulation, which all of us detest, might be in order.

Around Tampa Bay:

1. In the latest dust up between Clearwater citizenry and the cult, citizen wins. But the disturbing thing about Alex Hageli being able to exercise his First Amendment rights is that a Clearwater cop did not know that sidewalks bordering city and county roads are not the property of the Church of Scientology.

2. Always thought riding the 400 foot Orlando Eye would be fun. But what will make it even more exhilarating is the addition of the Eye Glow Lounge at the base of the attraction enabling you to ride the giant Ferris Wheel with a bunch of drunks.

3. Two words that strike fear into the hearts of bay area tourism officials – red tide. It’s now in extreme south Pinellas County but experts will be keeping their eyes out. Two possible causes – unseasonably warm water temperatures in the gulf and the lack of a “stirring” effect that a tropical storm has on the gulf making our uneventful hurricane season a mixed blessing.

4. Now it’s more or less official. As we predicted in an earlier Rants (Nov. 15), the value of the Canadian dollar (75 cents) is going to have a major impact on visits to Florida from north of the border with tourism experts predicting an 8-10 percent drop.

5. You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember guys with names like Dick Stambaugh, Dave Archard, Rock Robbins and Beachcomber Bob. They were all “Swinging Gentleman” - disk jockeys on Tampa Bay’s legendary Top 40 station – WLCY back in the early sixties.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. USF head football coach Willie Taggart has gone from sitting on one of the hottest seats in the sport to getting a five year extension. What is wrong with that picture?

7. Really? Five-win teams going to bowls? It’s time for the NCAA and some communities to bite the bullet and get rid of about half a dozen of these “nobody but alumni cares” bowls.A few suggestions – Bahamas Bowl, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (we’re not making that up), Camellia Bowl and the Miami Beach Bowl (and, yes, we know our alma mater is going there). Each of these bowls drew 20,000 or less last year. They cannot be making money.

8. Wow, the Bosox picking up David Price seems akin to the Third Reich signing George Patton.

9. Speaking of baseball, seeing the incredible haul the Atlanta Braves got from Arizona for stud pitcher Shelby Miller, the Rays have become somewhat delusional about what their starters would bring. Chris Archer probably could have commanded a similar package; any other Ray’s starter – not even close.

10. Our Rants and Raves focus group (made up of three old, cranky people) has two questions: (1) Have you ever asked a young person why they wear their baseball cap backwards? (2) Have you ever received an intelligent reply?

DOT: can’t have your cake and eat it too

Recently a group of U.S. 19 businesses tried (thus far) unsuccessfully to gain compensation for business losses occasioned by the highway’s construction. Seems state law does not allow for that. Fair enough, but as we continue our love affair with the car and the need for more lanes of traffic, we need much better execution by DOT and its ilk to keep from devastating business through bad planning. Otherwise, do enact legislation that compensates businesses for the diminished value of their property. You can’t have it both ways.