TBR&R is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyle and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - much of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

What could you do with $14 billion?

First, let’s tell you where we got that seemingly random number. $14 billion was the amount of money spent on the races for the White House and Congress this election cycle. That does not include a single state or local race. $14 billion would create 280,000 jobs at $50,000 each. It is 14 times The American Cancer Society’s annual budget. Fifteen of our 50 states don’t have budgets that big. The number is double the revenues of Raymond James and over three times that of Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Outback Steak House. More than anything, it is an obscene amount of money to be spent on politics. This is isn’t about the First Amendment, it’s about jamming our mailboxes and airwaves with lies and half-truths, and it needs to be reined in and money like that used for more worthwhile pursuits.

Great Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

1. Quote of the week: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not – Joe Biden. Sir, if only we could believe you.

2. Republicans are still grumbling about some suspect vote counts in Philly and elsewhere. But, to their credit, not a single Target store has been torched.

3. Those of us in Pinellas County owe a debt of thanks to our library system. Balancing public safety with service to their residents, the libraries have been open for some time, albeit on somewhat reduced schedules. Hillsborough is finally reopening their libraries on November 16.

4. The “bastion of journalism” we are stuck with in the bay area spews 52, count them, 52 paragraphs on a $40,000 hire by Governor DeSantis. Our state wastes more than that a day on questionable stuff – and has for years. Had to be an extremely slow news day.

5. A tip of our cap to the utility workers who came from the Midwest and Texas to help us through the damage during Hurricane Eta. Thanks also to the folks who supported them with places to stay, some good meals and other essentials.

Sports, media and other stuff:

6. Although some found him to be a pompous and condescending personality, it is hard to argue with the success Alex Trebek brought to the long running show Jeopardy. The game show host lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at age 80 last week.

7. Why is major league baseball dragging their feet on a DH decision for 2021? Let’s face it, the DH is coming, why delay it and keep teams guessing while trying to address their 2021 rosters?

8. Both Alex Cora and A.J. Hinch again have managerial jobs after being suspended and fired for cheating. On that basis, Joe Jackson and Pete Rose belong in the Hall of Fame.

9. You hate to jinx things, but this could be the first time in history that all three Tampa Bay sports franchises make the playoffs.

10. Hey, we’re coming in at under 800 words for the first time in quite a while (actually we’re been exceeding 900 most weeks.) We’re sure with the lowly anticipated Biden presidency, things will pick up shortly.

The crowded Mt. Rushmore of vocal groups

Our Tampa Bay Rants and Raves focus group’s most recent assignment was to come up with a Mt. Rushmore of vocal groups. Instead of four faces on the memorial, there would be 20 when you total up the number of members of our All-Star groups. Our only musician in the focus group went for the most successful British vocal group in history – the Beatles. Another member chose “America’s group” – the Beach Boys. Then came one of Motown’s most successful groups - Levi Stubbs’ the Four Tops and finally, the group that combined great rock with polished brass – Chicago, our largest group with seven regular members. Just a side note on each group’s biggest selling song - they were the Beatles’ Hey Jude; the Beach Boys’ I Get Around; the Tops’ biggest was I Can’t Help Myself and Chicago’s Hard to Say I’m Sorry was their biggest seller. Together, these four super groups charted 226 records with 29 of them going to number one. That is a true Mount Rushmore of groups.

NEXT UP: Mentors, We can do better; “Monkey Wards”

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