Established in 2014 and published every Sunday, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Okay, it’s been three weeks – time to stop the whining – and goodbye Ellen.

Leading off: Trump hits it out of the park

Within a space of hours, what had been the weakest part of the 2025 Trump team became the strongest. Matt Gaetz was frankly damaged goods. Trump’s pivoting to former Florida AG Pam Bondi was a grand slam. With Bondi at the helm, the days that started in the Obama administration, a weaponized Department of Justice (see Eric Holder and Loretta “let’s not prosecute Hillary” Lynch) will come to an end. Pam Bondi is a respected jurist who will clean up an awful Justice Department that has been an American embarrassment for the past 15 years.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related to our lead article, quoting our friend TL echoed by so many others, “Why didn’t he pick her in the first place?”

President-Elect Trump is still two months away from moving back into the oval office and already folks are discussing 2028. As it stands now, the GOP has a much stronger roster than the Democrats.

Idle thought: What an embarrassment it is to have Debbie Wasserman-Shultz as part of Florida’s congressional delegation. We’re guessing she’s not on the short list to replace Marco Rubio.

The wailing and gnashing of teeth you hear is from freeloaders who, under Trump, will now have to satisfy those student loans that so many other Americans justifiably paid off.

Numbers of the week: 9 percent – the amount of educational funding that comes from the federal government. 90 percent, the percentage of educational regulations that comes from the feds.

Goodbye to Helene, Milton and friends. The 2024 Hurricane season ends this coming Saturday.

One of those little known facts is the food that is most often stolen is cheese. But the theft earlier this month in London of 22 tons of cheese by a phony wholesaler is beyond the pale. Value of the cheese is $390,000. Scotland Yard is still investigating.

Someone younger than us (which includes most of the free world) shared “Things you might remember if you’re older than dirt.” We thought we’d share a few of them moving ahead beginning with Black Jack and Teaberry gum. We personally were a Teaberry fan.

From the 5:05 Newsletter: My goal for the rest of this Thanksgiving weekend is to move just enough so no one thinks I’m dead.

This week in 1972 (Nov. 29): Pong, the first commercially successful video game, is released by Atari, no doubt a hot Christmas seller.

Sports, media and other notes:

We know it’s a complex matter, but watching the Pinellas and St. Pete councils twisting, turning and spinning over the Rays leads us to believe we need to elect better people next time.

This year’s MLB MVP voting sets a bad precedent. We have no argument with AL MVP Aaron Judge, but a guy in the NL who spends over 90 percent of the game on the bench, no matter how talented, is not the league’s most valuable player.

Speaking of awards, this baseball nugget – the White Sox’ Early Wynn was 99 days short of his 40^th birthday when he won his first Cy Young Award in 1959 making him the oldest first time winner.

It boggles the mind how much $340 million could enhance education at USF, rather than being spent on a team that wins approximately four out of every ten games including 4-5 this year.

That juggernaut USF team remained at #102 in The Athletic 134 last week. They are one spot ahead of FSU. Others: Miami (14); Gators (54); UCF (67); FIU (114) and FAU fell to 128 and axed Coach Tom Herman – one of three coaches to fall last weekend.

Factoid: the waiting list for Green Bay Packers’ season tickets numbers 140,000. Every Packer game has been sold out since 1960.

Passing by a school at dismissal time recently, we decided if we could hold just one patent, it would be the backpack.

She was one-half of one of Clearwater’s most charming couples. Marilyn Chesnut passed away last week at age 93. She and her late husband Tommy were just a pleasure to know.

One last thing: A venerable aircraft

You see them in flight around the bay area, flying out of the Coast Guard Air Station at St. Pete-Clearwater Airport. They flew your humble blogger all over Southeast Asia back in the early ‘70s. Even then, some of those rugged C-130s were 15 years old. They first went into service in 1956! Now, brand new C-130s (the C-130J) are going to be constructed by Lockheed Martin. The new aircraft will expand NOAA’s hurricane hunter fleet replacing the Lockheed Orion craft that have been flying into storms since the early seventies. The time-tested C-130 joins the Douglas C-47 (or DC-3) and the Boeing B-52 as the three longest serving aircraft in U.S. military history.

NEXT UP: Focus group holiday favorites; Red kettles; PanAm

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Established in 2014 and published every Sunday, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Have you ever calculated how much time you waste each year correcting errors by banks, insurance companies, doctor’s offices and a milieu of other people and companies who just don’t seem to care?

Leading off: Beating the odds:

You would think that this year’s presidential election would not have been as close as it was. It pitted a lightweight who was part of a team presiding over economic failure and a broken border against a man who brought our nation back to prosperity and peace. But it’s tough when you also have to run against ABC, CBS, NBC, the left wing cable networks, Spectrum and newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post and Tampa Bay’s own version of Pravda, plus all of Hollywood. But President Trump managed to pull it off despite the stacked deck.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

So can we expect final election results from Arizona and Nevada before Christmas? Congress needs to enact legislation with a finite date for vote counting. Bad things seem to happen the longer the count.

Related: The “Philadelphia Factor” we mentioned in the 10/20/24 TBRR may still come into play as there is now a recount in the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania. When things like this happen in Pennsylvania, there are usually funny consequences.

Also related from the 5:05 Newsletter: In England, elections from start to finish last 6-weeks. There are strict spending limits for political parties and political advertising on TV and radio is not allowed. I have only one thing to say about the US political bloodletting that has occurred every 4 years since 1796. Make America Great Britain Again!

Could we join dozens of others who have thrown out names to replace Marco Rubio? How about former Florida AG Pam Bondi?

We’re not so sure President Trump’s AG pick makes it across the finish line. More on this next week.

We stumbled across a credit card called Coign Card that pays you a modest one percent cash back, but also contributes a percentage of each purchase to dyed-in-the-wool conservative causes. The Visa card is neat, featuring a background of the Preamble to the Constitution.

Factoid: Florida’s two biggest employers are (this shouldn’t surprise you) Disney World and Publix.

Subway, say hi to Arby’s. The sandwich chain is being sold to Roark Capital, the owner of the roast beef restaurants.

This week in 1969 (Nov. 19): Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean become the third and fourth human beings to walk on the moon.

Sports, media and other notes:

Dr. Ralph Frick passed away last week. In addition to being a skilled oral surgeon, he was the father of the Rotary Club of Clearwater Charities that has distributed thousands and thousands of dollars to worthy local charities over the last 35 years.

Bobby Allison, winner of 85 NASCAR Cup races and participant in one of the greatest races of Tampa’s Golden Gate Speedway history died last week at age 86. Allison and Zephyrhills’ Wayne Reutimann staged a bumper to bumper thriller in the 1966 Florida Governor’s Cup 200 in Tampa.

At least these ballots got counted and there are three new inductees in Rochester’s Toy Hall of Fame. They are My Little Pony, Transformers and the Phase 10 card game. There are now 88 objects (including a stick and a blanket) in the Hall.

It was never a good fit and veteran commentator Chris Wallace has left CNN and will involve himself in non-cable ventures moving forward.

While it’s not so great to wake up and be Kamala Harris these days; it’s great to wake up and be Juan Soto.

Factoid: The most inexpensive “get in the door” ticket for this weekend’s NFL games New England @ Miami ($42); most expensive Dallas @ Washington ($225).

We’re sure the other 49 states are getting cruel pleasure out of The Athletic’s 134 each week. Four of the state’s Division I schools are ranked below 100 including USF (102); FSU (103); Florida International (114) and Florida Atlantic (128). Above the 100 level are Miami (14); Gators (54) and UCF (68). All seven teams dropped in the rankings this past week.

If the Rays really want a 365-day destination around their new stadium, they should talk to Derek Schiller and Mike Plant. In fact, they should have already talked to them. The two are the Braves’ minds behind the highly successful Battery area which attracts over 10 million people yearly.

Long time baseball announcer/analyst Bob Costas is calling it quits after 44 years in the game. Quite honestly, over the last decade Costas lost a step or two and had become rather self-absorbed.

Granted several members of The View may have had a stroke over this month’s election results, but the good news is their ratings should do okay as they pontificate on how “bad” things are going to be moving forward.

One last thing: Good, not great, Ray’s news

It was probably the best the Tampa Bay Rays and their fans could expect. First, they have a home for next year, George Steinbrenner Field. The stadium is the biggest, but not the best, stadium available in the Tampa Bay area. They also now have a broadcast partner as Diamond Sports has emerged from bankruptcy and will again carry the Tampa Bay games in 2025. What happens beyond 2025 on both fronts is a crap shoot.

UP NEXT: A venerable aircraft; The Hit Squad; Pong

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Established in 2014 and published every Sunday, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Voiced by someone with whom we watch TV frequently, “I don’t ever want to see her on TV again.”

Leading off: America can breathe easy

The wildest, most unimaginable presidential contest in our lifetime is over. President Donald Trump will return to the White House which means our nation can hopefully return to prosperity; again be a nation with borders and be free of crazy schemes that were hatched by Kamala Harris in a desperate move to buy her way into the oval office. Now, we must be watchful in the next 60 days or so that Biden/Harris doesn’t run off the tracks and that our enemies don’t try to capitalize on the weak team running out the string at the executive mansion.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

CNN says it will make a call on the presidential election later this week. MSNBC acknowledges Trump has an outside chance at victory.

We kind of lost count on how many promises made by both sides in the presidential contest were blatantly unconstitutional.

And then there were the fallacies and outright lies (mostly on the Vote Yes side) on Amendments 3 and 4 here in Florida – see below.

FEMA official fired after directing emergency workers not to offer help to homes with Trump signs in their yards in the Lake Placid area.

Take heart, Oprah, we think you will still be able to vote under a Trump regime.

One last election item courtesy of a good friend: I got confused by all the yard signs... and I think I may have voted for a realtor.

On the week of Veteran’s Day, a question that has always puzzled this vet: if a major outranks a lieutenant, why does a lieutenant general outrank a major general?

It was very disappointing to see “self service checkouts” installed at our favorite Publix location. One of the hallmarks of Publix over the years has been a friendly face at the checkout line. We don’t want to see Florida’s favorite grocery store going the way of Wal-Mart.

One of the two women behind the beloved Olde Schoolhouse Restaurant in Palm Harbor, Patti Smith, died recently at age 75. Her and Gloria Johnson’s rustic dining establishment was an experience you always embraced.

What a fitting tribute to Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus last week. Mourners at the 95-year-old’s funeral were garbed in the store’s orange aprons.

Seen on a bumper sticker: “I may be old, but I got to see all the cool bands!”

This week in 1990 (Nov. 11): Tim Berners-Lee, not Al Gore, advances the idea that would become the internet.

Sports, media and other notes:

From the 5:05 Newsletter on the cusp of the holiday shopping/returning season: They should invent a customer service center that isn’t currently experiencing higher than normal call volume.

And she’s off! This week, tentatively the 15^th, the SS United States will leave its long time berth in Philadelphia enroute to Mobile, Alabama where she’ll be prepared for her future service as an artificial reef off Florida’s panhandle.

The Athletic’s CFB 134 features four of Florida’s seven Division One teams below the 100 mark – USF (101); FSU (102); and, again joined at the hip, FAU and FIU 113-14 respectively. Miami remains #4; UF 51 and UCF 66. Incredibly, Army at 8-0 still hangs outside the Top 25 (27), but 18 in the AP Poll.

He was probably already headed there anyway, but with his World Series performance, all Freddie Freeman has to decide is whether to wear a Dodger or Braves’ cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.

Looking back at a prior Dodger-Yankee World Series (’63), three Dodger pitchers worked all but 2/3s of an inning in a four game sweep – Drysdale, Koufax and Podres. Times have changed.

Idle thought: Ever notice how your second favorite team changes depending upon whom your arch rival is playing?

He was known for his interpretation of Bacharach-David’s Wives and Lovers and the upbeat Love Boat theme song. The smooth vocal stylist Jack Jones passed away last week at age 86.

The date of this week’s TBRR (11/10) reminds us you’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember the other early Tampa Bay rock station, 1110, WALT.

One last thing: Defeating the onerous 3 & 4

Florida joined Nebraska and South Dakota last week in upholding the sanctity of life by defeating the onerous Amendment 4 that would have declared open season on the unborn in the state. Meanwhile, voters also listened to law enforcement officials and members of the medical community and turned back an ill-advised amendment that would have opened the flood gates to recreational marijuana. Our streets are crazy enough without a bunch of stoned drivers piloting two-ton vehicles on our roads. Many things do not belong in a constitution, Amendments 3 and 4 were outstanding examples of flotsam that has no place there.

UP NEXT: Publix and the Mouse; Taxes & donations; Coign

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Thank you to all our vets

Established in 2014 and published every Sunday, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Never in our rather lengthy life have we been more worried about America’s future.

Leading off: The Times and Kamala

For the first time in virtually forever, our local bi-weekly has not endorsed a Presidential candidate. It is important to point out here the Times has never endorsed a Republican for President (or Governor for that matter). This means our local paper found people like Ike, Ronald Reagan and both Bushes wanting, but found redeeming qualities in people like Kerry, Dukakis and McGovern, not to mention 2018 gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum who was later indicted on 21 felony counts. This year, the Times blamed “limited Editorial Board resources,” although they managed to weigh in or “help” the voter in nearly three dozen contests, as always leaning heavily left. They claim they made the decision before the primaries. So would we, given the choice of the train wreck that was Joe Biden, and later, the uniquely unqualified Kamala Harris.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related thought: Wouldn’t it be refreshing if the Times at least took a stab at the truth once in awhile?

We tip our cap to Clearwater’s Queen Fleet. The deep sea fishing operation is offering free trips to linemen and first responders as thanks for their efforts during Helene and Milton. See their Facebook page for details.

Lucky you; you own both a chain saw and a pickup truck. You also now have more friends than you ever knew you had.

One silver lining, your power bill is down this month – as it should be after nearly a week of no service.

The top Halloween costume last week – large size garbage bags.

From the 5:05 Newsletter: If I were Mother Nature right now I would be looking to hire a very good public relations firm.

You’ve got to give Jill Stein credit. Every four years this century’s version of Harold Stassen and her Green Party show up on the presidential ballot.

Seen on a T-shirt: “THINK While It’s Still Legal.”

This week in 1968 (Nov. 4): WTOG-TV Channel 44 signed on with a limited amount of programming which it expanded in early 1969. Originally a sister station to Cypress Garden’s WGTO Radio, WTOG has been primarily an independent station through the years, although it did have brief alliances with Fox and UPN.

Sports, media and other notes:

So Tampa will be the site of the 2027 version of “the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party.” Should be fun.

Football question: could this be the year when the head coaches at Florida’s two biggest football schools both get a pink slip? And then there’s Gus Malzahn at UCF.

Date to remember: 1938, that’s the last time #11 ranked Iowa State entered November undefeated.

Last look at the Athletic 134 for this year. After this, it’s the playoff scorecard. Miami hangs in at #4. As often happens, an idle team drops down a few points like UF (48) and USF (102) but the schedule is soft the rest of the way for the Bulls; others – UCF (67); the one win Noles (99) and FAU and FIU finally separate, not sure why, at 110 and 113 respectively.

Joey Jay, a multiple 20-game winner for the Reds, passed away last week at age 89. Joey was the first ever Little Leaguer to play major league ball.

World Series note: Nothing says America’s Pastime like some rapper on the field just before the first pitch. Remember the quaint openings to games of the past when the crowd stood up and sang The National Anthem followed by “Play Ball?” And reluctant congrats to the Dodgers.

The champagne hadn’t even dried on the Dodgers’ uniforms before they were named the favorites to win the 2025 World Series. The top three are pretty much chalk with the Yanks and Braves tied for the #2 choice. And a dollar will win you $500 with a bet on the Marlins, Rockies or White Sox.

Idle thought: You have to wonder how long it will be before there are pari-mutuel windows at all our ballparks and stadiums.

Beg pardon, but after nearly ¾ of a century it’s now the Neiman Marcus “Holiday” catalog rather than Christmas Catalog.

The political ads/lies will be gone this week, the thousands of Medicare ads in a month, but there still will be the ever-present pillow guy.

One last thing: With thanks to….

Earlier this year, we mentioned a late friend who spent every presidential election buried in a re-read of War and Peace. We decided to mostly avoid the tube and channel his idea (sans War and Peace). We wish to thank the movie makers for Oppenheimer, The Founder, Prime Network and their complete archives of Newhart plus their series on American Presidents. We also salute the delightful new show, Matlock. And thanks to the authors of Braves, the Franchise; George (Steinbrenner); Barn Finds; McMillion$; The Last Atlantic Liners; Hillbilly Elegy and a down to the wire baseball season.

NEXT UP: Donations and taxes; Vets; WALT

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Established in 2014 and published every Sunday, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

What a crazy election. Presidential candidates showing up where they customarily aren’t seen – Trump in a McDonald’s and Harris in a church.

Leading off: Bob, George, Taylor and the rest

We were watching an interview with long time journalist Bob Woodward last week. He’s on the circuit pushing a new book. Woodward defines policy wonk. He’s all over the Ukraine and the Middle East. But when questioned about economic issues, he just blew off his interviewer. Woodward doesn’t care about the economy because he’s a rich man and doesn’t have to worry about the prices of bread, gas and electric. The same holds true with Taylor Swift, George Clooney and dozens of other celebs who fall in with Kamala Harris. They simply don’t understand what the average American is struggling with – and we’re not really sure they or Harris care.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

We and our Saintly Wife note the passing of the man who was our first family doctor, Dr. William P. Williams. The skilled and caring physician was 92.

Many of us have our mail in ballots and might have trouble on some down ballot issues. If you’re not a political nerd, a tried and true method on those issues is to read The Times recommendations and vote the opposite way.

Related; the liberal LA Times and Washington Post refuse to endorse a presidential candidate - a huge blow to the Harris campaign.

Biden/Harris “nomics” – housing sales are at a 14-year low. And Kamala’s buddies in the executive suite of Disney raise the theme park’s admission fees even further beyond the means of the average American family.

And what do the French know that we don’t know? A wealthy French citizen has wagered $46 million on a Trump victory next week.

We don’t care what everybody says, Secretary Blinken. There are a few people who think you’re doing a good job!

Have you noticed when you order stuff on line in addition to inflated shipping charges, there are often handling fees or shipping warranties – we don’t even know what the latter is except another dip into your wallet.

Ten years ago this week in TBRR (and “borrowed” from the 5:05 Newsletter): Ben Bradlee, dead at 93 - He was preceded in death by journalism.

Sports, media and other notes:

More recently “borrowed” from the 5:05 Newsletter: Congress passed a short-term spending bill that will fund the federal government until after the November election. The bill averts a shutdown, keeping 364,000 bureaucrats in Washington from having to find work as cable news correspondents.

A major loss on the local sports scene – the unexpected death of USF head basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim at age 43 due to complications during a medical procedure. His first year at USF was beyond promising.

Possibly the most charismatic player of the 1980s, Dodger lefty Fernando Valenzuela passed away last week at age 63.

Please quit whining about a World Series between two big spending teams. Last year, it was very mid-level teams (Texas and Arizona). The baseball gods pick and choose every year.

Related: Seeing that memorable photo from the 1955 World Series again, Jackie Robinson was still out at home plate.

We know it would take a little planning, but an alternating schedule of Rays games in Clearwater, Dunedin and Tampa would make the most sense until the Trop can be repaired.

Factoid: There have been 350 head coaches in NBA history and the Spurs’ Greg Popovich has coached against nearly half (170) of them. He will face three more for the first time this season.

In the quirky Athletic 134, Miami moves up to #4. UF is up to 46. The others: UCF (67); FSU (94); USF (96) and FAU and FIU still joined together at 112-13. One Division I team remains winless - Kent State.

Idle thought: It seems every time you open the fridge, you notice another food item still missing from your post-Milton restock.

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One last thing: give us the best broadcasters

“No national announcer, me included, will ever be as knowledgeable and tuned into the culture of a team as the local announcer. To call your team in the biggest moments is something we all desire.” Those are the words of Brian Anderson, the long time voice of the Milwaukee Brewers. Anderson, the Braves’ Brandon Guadin, the Yanks’ Michael Kay, Cleveland’s Matt Underwood are all cast aside along with others when playoff time comes around in favor of broadcasters, while good, have no depth of knowledge of the teams on the field. There is actually a rather simple solution – provide local audiences with an alternate audio feed of their local announcers during the playoff. ESPN or whomever along MLB still get their cuts and local fans get knowledgeable announcers.

UP NEXT: Jill Stein; Channel 44; PBMs

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Sorry, time does not permit replies to comments.

Established in 2014 and published every Sunday, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

This fall vote like your life depended on it, because it kind of does.

Leading off: Tight race is worrisome

More and more right thinking Americans are hoping that the race between President Trump and Kamala Harris will widen beyond the “Philadelphia Factor.” That is, frankly, a term we made up. It refers to the very possible scenario that on Election Day, calls would be made to Philly, or Chicago or Atlanta saying “we need this many thousand additional votes.” The hope, of course, is that President Trump will be sufficiently ahead that the margin would be more than there are enough “phantom votes” that corrupt cities and states across America can make up. Or as one Trump supporter put it – “Too big to rig.”

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Hats off to hundreds of teachers and students who pitched in last week to make their schools ready to go back in session.

On the other hand, no mail delivery on a very sunny Tuesday of last week along with our libraries shut down after several days off and one of their innumerable Monday holidays.

Of the candidates for national office, we all know Donald Trump is very wealthy; Kamala Harris’ tales of humble beginnings are BS; Walz – who knows, but if you want to learn about an extremely hard-earned American dream, read J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy.

President Trump spends part of last weekend working at a Philadelphia area McDonald’s. That’s not very subtle, Don.

It’s kind of sad watching fading stars like Barack Obama and Bill Clinton out on the stump. Some folks just can’t let go.

Idle thought: Isn’t the match up of Kamala Harris and Taylor Swift a bit odd? You have a “green everything” candidate and pop culture person who leaves a carbon footprint equal to New York’s taxi fleet.

Another iconic American name brand, True Value, has filed for bankruptcy.

It looks more certain that America’s flagship The United States will be coming to Florida’s panhandle as an artificial reef and the subject of a museum in Okaloosa County.

From the creative genius of the 5:05 Newsletter: If you are better off now than you were four years ago, you are probably here illegally.

This week in 1971 (Oct. 23) WXLT (now WWSB) Channel 40 signs on in Sarasota as an ABC affiliate.

Sports, media and other notes:

Chalk up Clearwater’s signature Jazz Holiday as a victim of Hurricane Milton. The time-honored event will resume next year.

Sure, there are still a lot of non-corporate pizza parlors around, but the loss of Capogna’s and a couple years back, Post Corner, makes it tough. Our other “go to” place is Monty’s at the corner of Belcher and Nursery. Good pizza, nice folks.

Former WTSP Channel 10 anchor Rob Finnerty has taken over the prime 8 p.m. spot on the Newsmax cable channel. Newsmax is a rival to the fellow conservative Fox news channel. On Spectrum, you can find him at channel 1217. Their 10 p.m. The Right Squad is another show well worth a look.

The Florida Gators are a pre-season #21 in the AP men’s basketball poll. Kansas is ranked #1.

Related: Tony Bennett steps away from the Virginia head coaching job. We greatly admire his principles – not wanting to coach in what has become a professional league.

The ever changing Athletic 134 has a new #1 – Oregon. Still one Florida team, Miami (7) moves the needle. The mediocre bunch of others UF (58); UCF (64); FSU (88 and incredibly still just one win); USF (95); and FAU and FIU still joined at the hip at 107-08. And look at Army, still undefeated.

One of the best relievers of this century has traded a major league uniform for college garb. Mark Melancon logged 262 career saves. Not overpowering, he was a thinking man’s pitcher with an uncanny ability to keep the ball on the ground. Now he will impart that wisdom at San Diego State.

Thanks to Cleveland and the Yankees for staging one of the best games we’ve ever witnessed. Game 3 of the ACLS was a 10-inning thriller.

Add the name of Jhonkensey Noel to the list of unlikely postseason heroes like Dusty Rhodes, Mazeroski and Lemke.

One last thing: Allow reasonable donations

So President Trump or God forbid Ms. Harris, when you start looking for ways to help the “average American,” how about allowing a reasonable tax deduction for donations to legitimate charities? For many years, we had that and don’t think it staggered the government’s finances. We’re not suggesting some massive write off, but something in the range of one to five thousand dollars against income. Nothing could do more for our struggling charitable organizations than a sensible tax break to encourage the “average American” to increase their charitable giving.

NEXT WEEK: Bob, George & Taylor; The best announcers

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First thing on our mind:

We are a couple days late with this edition. You would think a major media platform like this would have a backup generator but sadly no. Our editor is busy with other things, so excuse this week’s misspellings, lack of commas, etc.

Leading off: Look in the mirror, Kamala

How dare the shallow, career politician Kamala Harris take a shot at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, accusing him of “politicizing” the recovery efforts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton? DeSantis, who grew up here in Pinellas County, knows this state like the back of his hand. He’s been through many of these storms and has what it takes. Other states have turned to him for advice and help on managing their situations involving Helene. Meanwhile SCPK (see top line for definition) is busy fielding softball questions from third rate media outlets – way too busy to be bothered with storm victims in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Our Governor said it best, “Look in the mirror, Kamala.”

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related from the 5:05 Newsletter: In an effort to get federal disaster relief money headed their way faster, North Carolina has seceded from the Union and annexed itself into Ukraine.

Also related – Despite their vaunted pre-storm PR campaign saying they were up to the challenge, Duke Power graded out as “D” at best in their efforts to restore power. Only Spectrum with their extremely fragile infrastructure fared worse.

A couple nuggets from a University of South Carolina civics professor: (1) a third of American adults can’t name the three branches of government (2) ten percent of college graduates think Judge Judy Sheindlin is a member of the Supreme Court. Is it any wonder why nearly half of America favors Kamala for president?

Borrowed from a friend - Dancing around an issue without answering the question should be named “The Harris Walz.”

Sorry, we cannot see ourselves voting for somebody named “Cookie.” Plus her record of public service is mediocre at best.

Idle thought: We bet cops get plenty tired of hearing “do you know who I am?” during traffic stops.

Southwest Airlines to end their free for all seating system beginning late next year adopting assigned seats like all other major airlines.

This week in 1958 (10/17) - WEDU Channel 3 signs on. Over the years, it has been rated as high as the third most watched PBS station in the nation. Back in the days of analog TV, a proposed swap of channels between WEDU and WTOG, Channel 44 was denied by the FCC. WEDU was one of two PBS outlets in the bay area until WUSF Channel 16 left the airwaves in 2017.

Sports, media and other notes:

We never had two brothers-in-law; they were brothers. The second of those two, Paul Crisp Jr. passed away last week in Tavares. Paul had a distinguished career in the military followed by another as an educator. Our Saintly Wife’s brother will be sorely missed.

If you never saw the six-part HBO series McMillion$ (and we hadn’t), grab the 2024 book by the series’ producers James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte. It’s a fast-paced story of how the popular McDonald’s Monopoly contest was hijacked by a group of con artists.

In the ever changing Athletic 134, Texas is on top and Miami (7) is the only Florida school in the top 50. The others: UF (53); UCF (60); FSU (84); USF (90) and FAU and FIU still joined at the hip at 109-110. Kent State, for the fourth straight week, anchors the Top 134.

A mere five games into the season, the Jets pull the plug on head coach Robert Saleh (2-3 this year and 20-36 over three plus seasons).

Luis Tiant, one of the great pitchers of the 60s and 70s, died last week at age 83. The colorful right hander won 229 games in his 19-year career.

MLB will pick up the broadcasts of Cleveland, Milwaukee and Minnesota next year after they were dropped by Bally. That brings to six the number of teams MLB will carry.

Larry Vanover is a name you may not be familiar with. This is despite umpiring in the bigs for 30 years. He simply did his job with little flair and very few missed calls - happy retirement, Larry.

Thought from a friend: Idecided to stop calling thebathroom “John” and renamed it “Jim.” I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.

One last thing: A Clearwater institution

We like many others celebrated so much there. For us, Little League championships and near misses; learning we were about to become grandparents; mini CHS reunions; our 50^th wedding anniversary and just a lot of good times with good friends. Now, with a shadow of a tear we bid goodbye to Capogna’s Dugout and Al and Stefani and their family. Founded by patriarch Art Capogna, for 52 years two generations made you feel at home and served up great pizza and the best damned tuna melt on earth. To all the Capognas and their extended family (staff) we say a heartfelt thanks.

UP NEXT: Hillbilly Elegy; Better off? Local boy makes good

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

With all this junk we keep sending into space, do we have a plan for when it all starts falling down?

Leading off: Mr. Putin, meet laughing girl

There are dozens of reasons not to vote for Kamala Harris. Need we list them again? Spiraling food prices; three dollar plus gas; housing costs out of sight; linked to that, unbearable interest rates; the border and her total disregard for the sanctity of life. That’s just a half dozen, but the large elephant in the room is her complete lack of experience in foreign relations. Can you imagine laughing girl trying to stare down Putin, Xi Jinping or Kim Jong Un? Neither can we. Trump has stared down all three. This area alone is an overwhelming reason for American voters to wish Kamala Harris well in whatever she chooses to pursue next.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related to our lead article, we could see Ms. Harris fitting in well as a regular on The View.

FEMA’s latest scandal – they are running out of money to help the flood stricken Southeast after they diverted emergency funds to help pay for the other flood of illegal immigrants in the country.

We don’t seem to hear the term “Bidenomics” from the Democratic camp anymore. What we do hear is Kamala’s new word of the week “holistic” to add in with her other brain numbing series of clichés.

Vance clearly wins VP debate despite CBS going back on their word and inserting half-truth fact checks. Will the VP win move the needle? One hopes.

Dockworkers postpone strike until January. You’d like to think they care about the needs of the Southeast, but it doesn’t quite pass the smell test.

Yes, he really said it, the wackiest of the left wing wackos, John Kerry recently said the 1^st Amendment could “present problems” going forward.

Fox host Greg Gutfeld suggests not voting is still voting. In this year’s District 13 race, we would agree. You are faced with the choice of Anna Paulina Luna or some inexperienced left wing radical. According to Gutfeld, it’s okay to leave a spot on your ballot blank.

Florida House Bill 549 takes effect this month making it a felony to hold up a merchant with five or more people. So four thugs are okay, just not five.

An educational tale from the 5:05 Newsletter: My neighbor’s kid was complaining about having to write a school research paper while using his laptop with Google at his fingertips. So I said let me tell you a story from my childhood about library card catalogs and the Dewey Decimal System.

Born 100 years ago this week: the father of two immensely popular vehicles the Ford Mustang and the Dodge and Plymouth mini-vans, Lee Iacocca.

Sports, media and other notes:

Baseball geeks remember the last active major leaguer who was older than they were. For your humble blogger, it was Pete Rose who played for teams we didn’t particularly like, but you had to admire his skills and intensity. The majors’ all time hit leader died last week at age 83.

The always interesting Athletic 134 has a new #1 – Bama and the same #134 Kent State, one of three Division One teams without a win. Florida’s teams aren’t faring well – Miami (#8 down two spots); UCF (50 after their beat down by Coach Prime); Gators (66); FSU (81); USF (87) and Florida Atlantic and FIU still joined at the hip at 109 and 110.

Just when you think you’ve seen everything. Last week at Penn State’s homecoming in State College, you could buy a Disney-like fast pass to avoid the lines at your favorite bar.

A note from the great number 8, courtesy of our lifelong friend, Bob Batlan, “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.” Only Yogi….

A few more baseball notes: There are those untouchable baseball records, DiMaggio’s 56 straight; Cy Young’s 511 wins; Ripken’s 2632 straight games – and add to that list Luis Arraez’ three straight batting crowns with three different teams.

The hot mess that occurred on Monday after the presumed end of the regular season needs to be addressed by Rob Manfred and his merry men so it never happens again.

Remember when most people respected Lester Holt?

Last thing: Bally drops the Rays, 10 others

The parent company of Bally Sports has decided to walk away from broadcast contracts for the Rays and ten other teams as it goes through bankruptcy proceedings. This has far-reaching effects. First, these teams have less than five months to find a new broadcast home. Bally can offer new contracts to the teams, but given their financial straits, the money will be a lot less. That means less broadcast money (in most cases the mid eight figures) to help sign players. This will be especially hard on a team like the Rays that don’t have a sizable fan base. Larger markets like New York, LA and Philadelphia have their own TV deals and they will, at least temporarily, have an even larger financial advantage on teams like the Rays and Marlins. There are a lot of loose ends to this story, stay tuned.

NEXT UP: McMillion$; Jim/John; Philadelphia Factor

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Early voting for November is upon us. On the national level, the choice is clear: Socialism vs. Democracy.

Leading off: Prospect Towers

There’s good news (mostly) in the city of Clearwater and Pinellas County’s decision to revert Prospect Towers to affordable housing. The good news, of course, is that a couple making under $50,000 will have a chance at a decent residence in today’s troubled economy. Some 200 units will be available at the landmark building on Chestnut Street downtown. The bad news is nearly a third of the people currently living there make more than the guidelines and will have to move. Here, the parties involved need to step up and make that move as painless as possible. The other bad news is the change back to affordable housing comes too late for the people, one an acquaintance, who were cast adrift four years ago.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

We just learned this past week of the passing of Merrett Stierheim, who had a significant impact on Pinellas County as the City Manager of Clearwater and later Pinellas’ County Administrator. Merrett, who later distinguished himself in several South Florida positions, died in July at 90.

A non-partisan study shows that Professor Kamala’s economic plan will cost the U.S. 800,000 jobs. It would be fitting if all 800,000 of those jobholders vote for her.

To the list of wackadoos in the Democratic Party (Dr. Jill, Hilary, Kamala, Nancy) add Gwen Walz. Her recent antics take the cake – perhaps a cake laced with Xanax

Speaking of Democracy (see very top item), the largest democracy in the world is not the U.S., but India (thanks TL).

We know this will shock you, but last week, a 62-year-old Philadelphia resident pleaded guilty to four counts of casting multiple ballots in a federal election.

Interesting headline in the Atlanta Journal Constitution last week: It read “Will abortion be the deciding issue?” In a realm much larger than the 2024 election, the answer is without question, yes.

Add the iconic heavy equipment maker Caterpillar to the list of companies putting DEI policies in the circular file.

This week 100 years ago (Oct. 1) the 39^th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter was born in Plains, Ga.

Sports, media and other notes:

From the 5:05 Newsletter: The Boeing Starliner astronauts stranded in space for 80 days will not return home until February, 2025. For their return, I think it would be fun for every human being on earth to purchase an ape costume for the best prank ever!

Our local stations, particularly Channels 9 and 13 did a bang-up job covering Hurricane Helene.

And we reward a B to Duke Power and Spectrum for their responses to wide spread outages.

Idle thought: Helene (and Helen) are nice names that seem to have gone away. Our Mom’s best friend was a Helene – and a lovely lady.

Number of the week: 400 – the number of consecutive sellouts for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team – a NCAA record.

The Athletic 134 still has Texas at the top and Kent State at the bottom. Florida schools – Miami (6); UCF (up to 33); UF (66); FSU (75); USF (slips to 78); Florida Atlantic and FIU (114-15 respectively). And the team we have our eye on, James Madison up to 44.

The Reds’ David Bell became the first offseason managerial casualty (actually six games prior to the offseason). Oddity – Bell is the only Reds manager any of his team has ever played for.

Have you ever noticed how much the Mets’ and Phils’ lead announcers sound alike? And both are just as annoying as the other, reflecting their fan base. The best today remains the Giants’ Jon Miller.

Factoid: Four NFL teams have not made the playoffs in this decade. They are the Broncos, Falcons, Jets and the Panthers.

Sign in the 50s style Hwy. 441 Diner in Tavares: $5.00 Charge For Whining.

One last thing: The postseason

One thing for sure, this will be the 24^th year in a row with no repeat World Series winner.

Of the 12 teams who qualified for the playoffs – who won’t win – Arizona*, Detroit, Kansas City and New York Mets*. Those who could win: Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston and San Diego. Who should win – LA, Milwaukee, Philly and the Yanks. Who will win – Philly.

*= Assuming they make it.

MVPs – Judge and Lindor. Cy Youngs – Sale and Skubal.

Pitchers and Catchers report – Feb. 10, 2025.

NEXT UP: Putin & laughing girl; Space junk; A non-vote

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

It would be bad form to try to kill off your political opponent, but is that any worse than Biden/Harris and company providing a team of Barney Fifes to protect our 45^th President?

Leading off: Why do we elect these people?

Election Day is a little over a month away and Americans are stuck with two distasteful choices to lead our country, although one is much more distasteful than the other. Locally, we in District 13, having been spoiled by Bill Young for years, are now saddled with an upstart freshman who is simply over the top. Her most recent gambit is a mailing advertizing a series of group meetings designed to “help” you deal with government agencies. All of these meetings were conveniently planned from two months to one week before the general election. That is shoddy enough, but by labeling the mailing as “help with government,” Anna Paulina Luna was able to have we the taxpayers pay for what is blatantly a campaign advertisement. It’s too late now, but surely we could find someone much better and much more ethical for 2026.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes

A look into the future: last week we barely avoided a vehicle which ran a stop sign; then about a third of a mile down the road pulled into an establishment with a “Yes on Proposition 3” sign in front. With the wrong outcome, driving could become so much more adventurous after November.

Yet another lesson in economics for Kamala: she continues to mention high food prices and gouging in the same word salad. With margins of 1 to 2 percent in the grocery business, there’s precious little room for gouging.

As thousands of illegal aliens pour across our borders, the Catholic Diocese of Patterson, NJ is forced to sue the Justice Department to keep it from hassling foreign priests, legally in the country, ministering to 400,000 people in the diocese.

Related, Pope Francis recently advises Americans to choose the lesser evil presidential candidate. That makes it easier.

According to a survey published by Hillsdale College, over half of Americans (57%) have never read the U.S. Constitution. That may explain a lot. (Thanks to our friend TL).

Walgreens is nailed with a $106 million fine for false payment claims. Funny, you never read that about the old-time corner drugstore.

Banks are rewarding us with two tenths of a percent return on our savings, but are charging folks with lines of credit 12 percent without even blushing.

From the 5:05 Newsletter entertainment room: Some people exercise every day. On the other hand, I’m sitting here watching a TV show I don't like because the remote fell on the floor.

This week five years ago (TBRR 9/22/19) we handicapped the 2020 Democratic race thusly: The Democrats best play is to run Biden knowing full well he will be too old to serve in 2024 even if elected and focus on finding a more palatable choice for 2024. Well, we were sort of half right.

Sports, media and other notes:

By the time you read this, the hapless Chicago White Sox will have set the MLB record for losses in a season (120). While it has nothing to do with their record (we think), their team plane is pretty much a twin to the one in Major League.

Idle thought: we noticed a friend had 886 friends on his Facebook account. We’re not sure we know that many people.

If the aged Mick Jagger can keep a concert schedule, why do musicians half his age keep coming up with phony excuses for concert cancellations?

The AAC, which includes Tampa’s USF among its member schools, is looking to add Air Force which would group all three service academies in the same conference – neat idea.

We so enjoy the unique Athletic poll of all 134 Division One teams. As in most polls, Texas supplanted Georgia at #1, at the other end of the scale was Kent State remaining at 134. As for Florida squads: Miami (6); UCF (36); USF (62); UF (67); FSU (87); FAU (106) and FIU (109).

So when was the last time Miami, UCF and USF were all ranked above the Gators and Noles?

One last thing: George

Was there ever a more complex and confusing man in the world of sports than George Steinbrenner? He ran through managers and general managers like we run through shirts. He more than once (there is really no nicer word) screwed business associates, several here in the bay area. On the other hand, he anonymously did incredibly good deeds for people struck by tragedy. Many schools, including our wife’s, were beneficiaries of his largesse. Yet there is not even a simple plaque in that school to recognize his benevolence – at his request. Peter Golenbock’s book George lays out the contradictions in detail, although is troublesome in its errors – Roger Maris is not in the Hall of Fame and Lackland AFB is in San Antonio, not Houston. Shame on a well-known author like Golenbock for allowing these and other errors go to print. But overall, it is a fascinating read about an inscrutable man.

NEXT UP: Schiller & Plant; Postseason; Jimmy; Prospect Towers

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

We’re almost through the Biden era and can breathe a temporary sigh of relief. We don’t know why Joe Biden is on this planet, but we don’t think it was to lead the greatest nation in the world.

Leading off: 10 words for Don

The words are: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” With the election in its home stretch, those words should be repeated daily. Even the left wing media will take notice and have to repeat it. Talk daily about gas prices (up), inflation (up), interest rates (up) grocery prices and on and on. And then tell the electorate how your administration is going to cure the problems brought on by the Biden/Harris administration. That’s it – nothing more. No name calling, personal attacks etc. Leave that shallow strategy to the Democrats. Just ask, every day, many times a day, Are you better off than you were four years ago?” And we all know the answer to that.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Last week’s debate, biggest loser - ABC, which lost what little creditability it had with its partisan handling of the event.

It’s scary when Donald Trump vows to bring in Elon Musk to help cut government spending - scary for career bureaucrats.

In the words of political cartoonist Michael Ramirez rather than Harris’ price controls, what we need is dumb idea controls.

Ninety years ago this summer, autos began crossing the new Davis Causeway (now the Courtney Campbell) linking Clearwater and Tampa. (Thanks to our friend TL).

A Rave to Citicorp – their Custom Cash card nets a dollar for a child hunger program every time you use it dining out and spend five dollars or more. Heck, that’s a cup of Bidenomics coffee these days. But you do need to sign up for it with Citicorp.

Factoid: Culver Military Academy, founded in Culver, Indiana in 1894, has among its alumni Hal Holbrook, Walter O’Malley, Roger Penske plus two men who left an indelible mark on the bay area – Jack Eckerd and George Steinbrenner.

From the editorial offices of the 5:05 Newsletter: My cable repair guy just asked me what time it was. I told him sometime between 8:a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Speaking of cable, if you ever have to go to one of Spectrum’s stores, make an appointment on line. It has saved us many minutes, if not hours.

Sports, media and other notes:

A terrific thought from a great-niece: Rescue dogs (and cats) need to be spoiled to the point where they never remember the times they weren’t loved.

The latest poll on fast food restaurants popularity and the result is still the same - #1 is Chick-fil-A. Number two is Jimmy Johns.

We’re a few weeks into the college football season and what we wouldn’t give to hear the words, “Whoa, Nellie!”

Virginia’s James Madison has another good football team this year, and with 12 teams in the playoffs, keep an eye on the JMU football squad.

The Athletic’s 134 has our Florida teams ranked thusly this week Miami (5); UCF stuck at 39; Gators (48); Noles (55); Bulls (61); FIU (106); Florida Atlantic (109). Georgia is still #1 and Kent State is 134.

You’ve lived in the bay area or anywhere else a long time if you remember Georgia Tech and Tulane being members of the SEC.

Juan Soto picked the wrong year to move to the American League. With the numbers he’s put up, he would lap the field in the NL MVP race. But in the American League, there’s that titan who bats behind him.

One last thing: Salvatore Perez

We’ve always been a fan of Salvatore Perez, the KC Royals’ all-star catcher, but a story that filtered down to us a week ago cinched the matter. Perez is visiting a friend in a KC neighborhood and on the way home sees a bunch of 9 and 10 year-olds playing ball in the backyard of 9-year-old Cameron Lard and joins the fun. The nine-year-old runs inside and tells his Mom, “You won’t guess who is in our back yard.” The next day, Perez is busy homering to lead the Royals over the Phils, but gets a friend to deliver a signed bat and follows it up with a phone call – an inspiration to all of us!

NEXT UP: George; District 13 can do better; Mick Jagger

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

We’re envious; our wife gets more emails from Tractor Supply than we do.

Leading off: Economics 101 for Kamala

Kamala Harris either did not take or slept through Economics in high school or college or both. Her plan to help the average American by slapping a higher tax rate on corporations is sophomoric. Ask any economist what happens when corporations have their tax rates increased. Three things top the list (1) the cost of the goods and services of that company increase affecting, of course, the average American. (2) Corporations begin cutting expenses and the biggest expense in virtually every company is personnel. (3) Companies begin to look for a better tax rate offshore again causing a loss of jobs. The two things you can count on big corporations not doing is cutting top executive salaries and cutting the rate of return to their shareholders. If only Kamala had cracked that Economics text book!

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

You have to give the Democrats credit. They are persistent in trying to buy college graduate’s votes with tuition loan forgiveness. But more credit to SCOTUS for continually swatting the giveaways down.

Can’t for the life of us, figure out why Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to all those charges.

July-August economic news is not so chipper. Home sales and consumable goods down as people worry about the job market.

Here’s another reason to get our nation’s border secure. Illegal immigrants, particularly those from Caribbean nations, are showing up with exotic diseases.

The statistical height of the hurricane season is September 10. There have been no hurricanes between August 12 and September 3 for the first time in 56 years to the amazement of those people in Colorado who supposedly know so much about Atlantic hurricanes.

Related: remember Florida’s drought?

We are sad to report that Tiffany’s Restaurant in Palm Harbor has closed after 40 years. Our friends Ed and Fran Stumpff introduced us to the restaurant over a decade ago, and we always enjoyed our stops there.

A couple of hardware notes. Lowes has joined the growing number of companies returning to hiring on merit rather than bowing to DEI pressures. Meanwhile, we apologize to Home Depot for overlooking their courtesy parking spots for veterans like those at Lowes.

Factoid: McDonald’s feeds one per cent of the world’s population every day.

Word of the week – neophobia (fear of the new), a condition common to many of we baby boomers.

This week in 1966 (Sept. 11), the University of South Florida signed on its TV station WUSF-TV channel 16, the bay area’s second PBS station. Having two PBS stations eventually proved to be untenable and WUSF terminated operations in October of 2017. Its sister station, WUSF-FM remains as the area’s NPR station.

Sports, media and other notes:

It was simply music that made you feel good – the music of Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66. The highly successful musician passed away last week at age 83.

From the editor of the 5:05 Newsletter: I am tired of hearing people whine about the price of food - $5.00 for a beer, $8.00 for a mixed drink, $10.00 for a hamburger, $7.00 for a hot dog, and $5.00 to park their car. Any more complaining and I am going to stop inviting people over to my house for cookouts.

Speaking of which, Seattle’s Lumen Field is the priciest NFL venue for a beer and a dog at $19.98. Raymond James is in the middle of the field at $15.00. Cheapest combo is at Falcon’s games - $7.49.

Now it’s Direct TV and ESPN in a spitting contest. Don’t know who will come out on top, but we always know who loses contests like this – the viewers.

The NFL is underway and will be part of our lives for the next 23 weeks. It only seems like 123 weeks to long suffering wives.

Born 100 years ago this week (9/11/1924) in Mission, Texas was legendary Dallas Cowboys coach, Tom Landry.

We like The Athletic’s weekly football poll because it ranks all 134 Division One schools including #134 – Temple. As for Florida schools, it’s Miami (8); UCF (39); FSU and Florida (46-47); South Florida (59); Florida Atlantic (100) and FIU (118).

How did the pre-season prognosticators miss so badly on FSU?

One last thing: S.S. United States to Florida?

Over the past decade, we’ve written several pieces about the S.S. United States, the last liner built in the U.S. To this day, it holds the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic – the prestigious Blue Riband. Now it appears the final resting place for the 72-year-old liner could be off the coast of Okaloosa County in Florida’s panhandle as a gigantic artificial reef. The end comes as the United States is being forced from the pier in Philadelphia where it has been docked since 1996 (and where we first laid eyes on the ship). Numerous efforts to find a new home for the ship have failed and the conservancy group that fought to find it a home feels providing a marine habitat is far more fitting than a scrap heap in Asia.

UP NEXT: Salvatore Perez; Cable Guy Time; Ten words for Don

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint. 

First thing on our mind:

We tip our cap to the Lake Mary Little League team who brought Florida its first ever Little League Championship.

Leading off: The Times is dying

We are old enough to remember five newspapers in the bay area, two each in St Pete and Tampa (one of those unfortunately bought out by The Times) and one in Clearwater. Now we are down to one paper that delivers twice a week. Last Monday’s on-line issue was 25 pages. We edited newspapers on Air Force bases that were larger. In just the last year, the Times has been on the wrong side of a major lawsuit; downsized their Tampa operation and now a major staff cut. They recently offered buyouts to 250+ employees and it shows. Lately, stories included financial misinformation about a Clearwater rate hike; very incomplete reporting on Florida’s condo crisis and generally very poor editing. Last week one panelist on WEDU’s Florida This Week bemoaned the lessening of the Time’s “watchdog” function; that function completely depends on the letter following the individual or group’s name. Their model of a newspaper existing to support some liberal think tank does not work. Now, they are faced with a choice – sell out to a relatively healthier news organization or close the doors. It is a decision that will need to be made very soon.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related to our lead article: most of the Times’ wounds are self-inflicted. Their August 28 edition buries a huge story about White House censorship on Facebook while the front page runs a story trashing concerned parents who want better oversight in our classrooms.

So Joe, where are you working these days?

The Democratic presidential wannabe warns us that President Trump, if elected, would wield power ruthlessly – you know like show trials of his predecessor, bad stuff like that.

If you think the cost of owning a car in Florida is expensive, you’re right. Recent studies show Florida is the fourth most expensive state to own a vehicle, considering insurance, maintenance and fuel costs. Only Georgia, Indiana and Louisiana are higher.

Three tips of the cap to the shareholders of Coke, Home Depot and UPS for their efforts to get those companies to return to hiring by merit.

It’s not a good time to be selling an office building, with such structures selling for as low as forty percent of their previous purchase price.

Reading of the passing of Ardith Rutland reminds us of the impact of her family in banking, shopping and philanthropy in the bay area.

Born this week (Sept. 8) in 1900 was the only Floridian to serve in the U.S. House, then the Senate and then return to the House – Claude Pepper.

Sports, media and other notes:

Election news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Illegal aliens released at the border seen wearing “I Voted” stickers.

After 44 years, Busch Gardens’ Scorpion rollercoaster ran its last rides this past weekend.

Idle thought which we are going to attribute to our friend TL: Always drive your own car and not your wife’s.

Speaking of cars, one missing element at last week’s Georgia Tech-FSU shocker of a football game in Dublin, Ireland was Tech’s iconic mascot, the Ramblin’ Wreck. It was just too expensive and slow to get the 1930 Ford convertible over and back in time for Tech’s home opener.

A compelling question posed by one of our favorite sports columnists, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Mark Bradley: “Just what does the NCAA do?”

Number of the week: 4 – the number of coaches UF has employed since Urban Meyer left 14 years ago. And with Billy Napier’s 44% win percentage, only a massive payout due will save him if this season isn’t better.

The Athletic’s panel of football experts predicts an eight win season for the Bucs with division rivals Atlanta at nine and New Orleans also at eight. They predict the best win records for the 49ers and the Chiefs.

A recent survey of major league median ticket prices reveals the Phillies ($77) and Dodgers ($68) as the highest. Lowest prices are Miami ($17) and the Angels ($18). Biggest surprise – the Yanks are only fifth highest ($56).

Tops at the box office fifty years ago this week was the Jack Nicholson-Faye Dunaway film Chinatown.

One last thing: MLB at the top of the stretch

With a month to go, there is only one cinch to win a division – the NL Central’s Milwaukee Brewers. All other divisions are within six games or less with a couple dozen to play. But in both leagues, there are only seven teams realistically fighting for six playoff spots. It should be a fun month. Aaron Judge is only the third legit hitter (along with Maris and Stanton) to hit 50 home runs before the end of August and he’s done it twice. Some others have done it, but their names are Bonds, Sosa, and McGwire. Need we say more? Judge is the runaway MVP in the AL. Still don’t think they will (or should) give it to a DH only (Ohtani or Ozuna) in the NL. Postseason predictions will come at month’s end.

UP NEXT: Channel 16; Economics 101; Great ship to Florida?

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

In the “afterglow” of the Democratic Convention, we paraphrase the words of our friends at the 5:05 Newsletter: Replacing Biden with Harris is like backing up the Titanic and hitting the iceberg again.

Leading off: Electric vehicles that make sense

The Biden/Harris administration continues trying to force electric vehicles on the American public. They cost too much, weigh too much and, most importantly, the infrastructure to support them is years, if not decades away. They are not the way to head to Grandma’s house. But electric buses are another matter. Pinellas’ transit system just received a $27 million grant to buy 12 new electric buses, along with four hybrids. The 12 will bring the fleet of electric buses to 30 by 2025. The infrastructure for the fleet is in place; they run short distances and help the air quality in our urban area. In short, they unlike individual electric vehicles, make sense.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

A sign of the times from recent financial pages – Target, T.J. Maxx and Ross parent companies sales and profits up; Macy’s down.

Ever use out of network ATMs? If you do, you’re paying the 7^th highest fees in the nation here in Tampa Bay. Our average cost is a few pennies under $5.00. Believe it or not, that’s higher than New York, Frisco, LA, or Philly.

Does RFK Jr.’s endorsement push Trump over the top? We’re skeptical – not whether Trump will win, but whether this move alone will be the difference.

The very loud clunk you heard last week was the reaction of both liberal and conservative media to Kamala’s economic plan. Quoting the ultra liberal Washington Post, “It’s hard to exaggerate how bad this policy is. It is, in all but name, a sweeping set of government-enforced price controls across every industry, not only food."

As more about Kamala Harris’ radical background comes to light, a new voting bloc seems to be emerging – Never Trumpers for Trump.” (With thanks to our friend TL).

The trial of the illegal alien charged with the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has conveniently been scheduled for after fall’s presidential election.

Those pushing for more parental say in what goes on in our schools fell short in a couple of Pinellas races last week, but the issue will not go away.

The liberal Associated Press makes light of the fact a man was nabbed for voting in both Florida and Pennsylvania in the last presidential election, pointing out “only” 475 such people have been identified thus far. One is too many.

Known almost as well for their blimps as their tires, the Goodyear Rubber Company is founded this week (August 29) in 1898.

Sports, media and other notes:

Just in time for your fall diet, Chick-fil-A is bringing back their Banana Pudding milkshake. By the way, whatever happened to the tasty milkshakes that used to be on Zaxby’s menu?

From Bil Keane’s Family Circus, “I liked the Olympics better. They didn’t have as many speeches.”

Talk about tight races, a poll last week in The Athletic on this year’s AFC champion had the field at 50.3 percent and the Kansas City Chiefs at 49.7.

The answer: Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney. The question, as we prepare to kick off the 2024 college football season, who are the only two active coaches with a national championship?

Factoid: Two men who won two MVPs each are not in the Hall of Fame, although they should be. They are Roger Maris and Dale Murphy. Now, it is becoming less likely that a three time MVP, Mike Trout, will make it. Trout simply cannot stay on the field due to injuries.

One last thing: Must see TV

One of the very best public affairs programs on television is The Journal Editorial Report produced by the editorial department of the Wall Street Journal. Capably anchored by Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Gigot, the paper’s editorial page editor, the show features outstanding journalists Paul Henninger and Kimberly Strassel. They are supplemented by experts in the fields of politics, finance and culture. Our only knock on the program is its unfortunate scheduling on Saturdays at 3 p.m. on the Fox Network – thank goodness for DVRs! The show is head and shoulders above other TV presentations of its type and well worth your time.

NEXT WEEK: MLB at the stretch; Claude Pepper; A dying paper

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Those overhead signs read: “Texting is illegal. Put it down.” Yes, it’s illegal, but when are we going to start enforcing it?

Leading off: Half a million for what?

The city of Clearwater is hell-bent on doing a study costing upwards of $500,000 to determine if they should take over the city’s power needs from Duke Energy. A few thoughts: storms like Debby and her much bigger brothers and sisters play hob with power systems. When that happens, Duke can call in reinforcements from its multi-state team. And Clearwater? Secondly, the last time the franchise agreement came up, back in the late nineties, it was studied (not for $500,000) and soundly rejected, little has changed. Third, while other cities have their own power systems, they are much smaller communities. The last to do this was Winter Park, about a quarter the size of Clearwater. Finally, if the city is really interested in lowering its resident’s power bills, stop taxing electric usage so darn much (over $20 a month for the average consumer).

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

In the old days, you thought of Michigan’s economy alone being fueled by the auto industry, but now Alabama received a $10.8 billion boost to its economy last year from autos. Ironically, it’s Mercedes, Honda, Toyota and Hyundai fueling the uplift.

Political columnist George Will on Kamala Harris: “Democratic delegates who convene in Chicago should think before possibly handing to her the nuclear launch codes.”

There’s a reason it’s been almost 60 years since Chicago hosted a political convention. And if they blow this one…

The headline in one liberal newspaper reads “Is Vance, Walz military service (a) pressing issue?” Not to the media, because the conservative Vance’s military record is spotless, while the ultraliberal Walz’ is filled with lies and half truths.

This year’s campus protesters and law breakers are learning there are consequences for illegal actions. Many are facing legal charges as well as academic disciplinary actions at their schools.

Watching the ups and downs of the stock market, we are reminded of the sage advice of a man who we greatly admired and did very well in the market. The advice was, “only invest in things you personally consume.”

A note from the special mind behind the 5:05 Newsletter applying to way too many of us: Some call it multitasking, but these days it’s just me doing something else until I remember what I was going to do in the first place.

This week in 1909 (August 19), the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens. The first Indy 500 would be on Memorial Day two years later.

Sports, media and other notes:

Mitchell Mick was one of the true characters in the radio biz. We ran events from his ISI sports network back in our radio days. He was disorganized, always late for appointments, but a guy who was honest as the day is long. The Tampa Bay icon died last week at age 94.

M&Ms meet Cheez-Its as the Mars company buys the Cheez-Its and Pop-Tarts company.

With thanks to a good friend: “Books: Helping Introverts Avoid Conversation Since 1454.”

Number of the week: $18 million, a year’s salary for a middling starting pitcher today – or the entire cost to build the Atlanta Braves’ original home, Fulton County Stadium – from Mark Bowman’s definitive 2024 book on the Braves, The Franchise.

By comparison, the new Rays’ stadium price tag is somewhere north of $1.3 billion.

Topping the charts fifty years ago this week, a one hit wonder, The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace. Ten years earlier, crooner Dean Martin had his last number one hit, Everybody Loves Somebody.

One last thing: Focus Group - turning the tables

Rather than asking our prestigious group a question this time around, we turned the tables and asked them what question they would like to ask.

Leading off, a member replied with: What one song immediately transports you back to a specific memory or earlier time in your life?

Our second respondent also had a musical tilt to their question, it was “Keeping my answer lighthearted:  If you had intro music, what song would
it be?  Why?”

A very introspective question came from one of our long time focus group members: Reflecting on your life so far, would you rather have a regret about something you did or did not do?

Our fourth member’s question was: What living celebrity strikes you as someone you would like to hang out with on a regular basis?

Our newest focus group member weighs in with: From start to finish, what would your plans be for a perfect day off. (We wager part of it would involve a golf club).

Lastly, from our northernmost member: What are the three most annoying songs in the history of popular music? That one is sooo good it will most likely be our next question for the group as whole.

These were great questions and a lazy way of not having to formulate Focus Group questions for several months!

NEXT UP: Must see TV; Convenient trial date; Mike Trout

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and historical notes from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

The CHS Class of ’64 is planning a no-frills 60^th get together two months hence (Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. at O’Keeffe’s) Questions or RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . They do need a head count.

Leading off: It’s only the issues, stupid

Heeding the wise words of Karl Rove a few weeks back, the GOP can win simply by drilling down on record inflation, a border torn asunder, interest rates in the stratosphere and, if they have spine enough, Kamala Harris’ and Tim Walz’ unrestricted warfare on unborn children. Stay away from the trap of name calling, the broken Biden/Harris agenda will be plenty, thank you. And along the way, lay out a cogent plan on how the Trump/Vance ticket is going to undo the mess that is being left behind.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

The father of Clearwater’s Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation passed away last week at age 88. The colorful golf pro was a member of the sport’s Hall of Fame and the first native Puerto Rican to play in the PGA.

The reaction to the choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is decidedly mixed on both sides of the aisle. But give Kamala this, she couldn’t have found a more far to the left running mate.

Moving with the speed of a snail, the Fed says a cut in interest rates “could be on the table in September.”

St.Pete Times to jettison some 250 plus employees as the hard left publication continues to struggle.

You know the economy is not all that well when even McDonald’s sales and profits are in the dumper.

Statistic of the week: 87 percent of the U.S. population have no unpaid student debt, but are helping pay for the 13 percent who do.

A tip of our cap to both the Florida Police Chiefs Association and the Florida Sheriffs Association for their opposition to the deeply flawed ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in our state.

Related: Florida’s eyes will be on Ohio which rolled out their legal grass program this past week.

From the editorial office of the 5:05 Newsletter: We all have that one friend who would take a bullet for us. They are probably also the same friend who would be the reason we’re getting shot at in the first place.

55 years ago this week in rural New York, it was Woodstock!

Sports, media and other notes:

This is also the week our saintly wife receives cards of condolence for fifty five years of attempting to raise her husband.

Referring back to the top of the page (CHS 64), we don’t think they would throw you out if you were ’63 or ’65.

Happy to report that Mike Seidel, who was inexplicably cast adrift by the Weather Channel, is now with the Fox News Channel and did a bang up job covering Debby in north Florida.

Useless trivia: Remember Tequila by the Champs? What you may not know was that some of the members of that group went on to even greater fame – Glen Campbell (Wichita Lineman and 38 other hits); Jim Seals and Dash Crofts (Summer Breeze and a dozen others) and songwriter Jerry Fuller (Travelin’ Man, Over You, Young Girl and Little Green Apples). 

Last week’s shutout of the Atlanta Braves by the Miami Marlins at Truist Field was their first home shutout in 231 games – a major league record. Then, the Braves were shut out again their very next game.

A final note on last week’s trade deadline: Florida’s two MLB teams provided fully 17 players to contending teams looking to upgrade.

Rookie managers Stephen Vogt of Cleveland and the Brewers’ Pat Murphy are the runaway choices for Manager of the Year.

FSU (10) and Miami (19) are both in the pre-season football coach’s poll. Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas and Alabama comprise the top five.

…one last thing: Dining on Gulf to Bay Blvd.

First, let us say there are still good food opportunities on Gulf-to-Bay, principally Capogna’s Dugout, Chick-fil-A and the super blizzards at Dairy Queen, but we pine for the days of the world’s best pancakes at Robby’s Pancake House, the terrific steaks at Chief Charley’s at the boulevard’s eastern end. For BBQ, no one could touch Young’s at the corner of Gulf-to-Bay and Keene – not to mention their peach cobbler. And there were two great ‘50s style drive-ins – Steak and Shake at the northwest corner of the boulevard and Duncan Avenue and just east up the road on the south side was Frisch’s Big Boy which also featured carhops as well as inside dining. Those were the days!

NEXT UP: Half a million for what? Books; Focus Group

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

This Saturday (August 10) is Vinyl Record Day. We plan to celebrate by visiting what is left of the rather large collection we reluctantly sold to Bananas in St. Pete a few years back.

Leading off: Insanity defined

The great Albert Einstein’s nugget “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” has been quoted and quoted over the years, but not enough to St. Pete and Pinellas County officials who signed off on a project that will cost taxpayers at least $650 million. Ironically, the Ray’s portion is about right around $700 million – the size of Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers. For that and a lot more in infrastructure costs, the Rays get a pretty new stadium in the same hard to reach location that has drawn slightly more than half the major league average in all but one year of their existence. We conclude with another thought from the Princeton University genius, “We can’t solve today’s problems with the mentality that created it.”

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Good luck with those Supreme Court ploys Joe. If someone as charismatic and powerful as FDR couldn’t pull it off, what are your chances?

And, on yeah, there’s that pesky United States Constitution.

We had a dear friend and co-worker who, every four years during the election cycle, would reread War and Peace. He was, in so many ways, wise beyond his years. We think one reading of War and Peace during a lifetime is enough, but channeling our late friend, we plan to bury ourselves this summer in books and a DVD or two.

Oh, with thanks to God, there is also baseball.

We’re trying to think of a vice-president in our nation’s history who served under a failed president and then was elected to the oval office. There are none.

The federal government which has time for things like updating DEI requirements has, after 47 years, eliminated obsolete jobs like pneumatic tube operator, microfilm processor and teletype operator as a basis for denying benefits to truly jobless citizens.

Warehouse stores are not quite the value they once were. Costco is hiking its membership fees while Sam’s Club is tightening up its free shipping parameters for its premium customers.

Weather observation during this, the rainiest month of the year; shouldn’t weather forecasters occasionally look out the window?

Words of wisdom from the editorial office of the 5:05 Newsletter: The fact that Keith Richards has outlived Richard Simmons really makes me question this eating healthy and exercise thing.

And yes, we get the irony of the following historical note.

29 years ago this month, Morton Plant Hospital opened its first Wellness Center. Since then, additional centers have been added at Carillon (2004) and Bloomingdale (2019).

Sports, media and other notes:

Hearing whiners, particularly those in the media, inconvenienced by the recent airline software failure brings to mind a truism from broadcast great Bruce Williams, “Time to spare, go by air.”

Borrowed from a great nephew and fellow baseball fan: “Dear Dog Whisperer, How do I teach my pup not to ask to go outside when Aaron Judge is up with two men on against the Red Sox?”

Noles picked number one in the ACC football poll.

Idle questions: Why do people wear sunglasses at night? Conversely, why do people wear baseball caps with the sun visor in the back? And why do people who never spent a day of their life in the military walk around in camouflaged clothing?

One last thing: MLB at the four-month mark

Let’s do it this way, leaking oil – Dodgers, Phillies, and Rangers; on the upswing, Braves, Cleveland, D-Backs, Padres, Mets, Royals and Yanks; treading water, just about everybody else; under the waves - White Sox.

With the trade deadline passed, the Rays continued in their usual pattern of trading household names for talented no-names. Former GM and veteran MLB analyst Jim Bowden gives the Rays a solid A for their deadline moves.

Potential best pickups at the deadline – Yanks getting Jazz Chisholm, the O’s netting Zack Eflin and the Dodgers’ acquisition of righty Jack Flaherty. Of course, there will be one or two “under the radar” pickups that pay dividends.

In the MVP race at the four-month mark, it’s still Aaron Judge over his teammate, Juan Soto. In the NL, William Contreras and Bryce Harper have both slipped and the league’s two leading hitters are DH only (Ohtani and Ozuna) leaving the door open for the Mets’ Francisco Lindor and the Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte. Cy Young – a pair of lefties are holding serve – Chris Sale and Detroit’s Tarik Skubal. Next update: Sept. 29.

NEXT WEEK: The Champs; GTB Dining; It’s the issues, stupid!

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

For the retired or semi-retired, start slow and then taper off.

Leading off: The Democrats’ short bench

Joe Biden has bowed to the inevitable; leaving the Democratic Party with what – Kamala Harris? After an Obama orchestrated coup d’état, the far left is holding a love fest for the radical Harris. And she will, no doubt, siphon some votes from President Trump, but those votes will be cancelled, if not overwhelmed by the millions of Americans who look at a radical pro-abortion candidate as a non-starter. Her equally unacceptable beliefs on energy, the border and taxation should be more than enough to assure a Trump victory in November. Look for a bounce in the polls over the next few weeks, then deflation as the scary truth of Harris’ agenda sinks in.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Granted, the Secret Service Director had to go; but how about a little decorum in our congressional chambers, Rep. Mace? The South Carolina Republican was the worst, but a dozen or more of our lawmakers were nearly as embarrassing.

The presumptive Democratic candidate for president who blows off a Congressional appearance of the Israeli prime minister for a sorority tea party has a bit to learn about international diplomacy.

Given the turmoil at 1600 Pennsylvania, are you surprised China and Russia are conducting military aircraft flights just outside U.S. air space?

We repeat a plea we offer up every year or two; we would gladly pay a few extra bucks in property taxes if Pinellas County would hire some traffic engineers who could sync our traffic lights on major thoroughfares.

As more and more of us do more and more of our banking functions on line, banks are seeing less need for so many branches. Truist and Wells Fargo are among such banks closing up local branches recently. Customer service suffers more than a little as the folks who you were familiar with at your now closed branch are scattered.

From the 5:05 Newsletter:Everyone needs a friend who they should not be allowed to sit next to at a serious function.

Editor’s note to above: Unfortunately for both of us, we had such a friend all the way through high school and college.

Born 100 years ago this week (8/2) in New York City was the star of a very successful comedy - All in the Family and a drama - In the Heat of the Night, Carroll O’Connor.

Sports, media and other notes:

Not the best of starts or the 2024 Summer Olympics.

We think it was Joe Garagiola who said baseball is a funny game. Last year, the Mets armed with two Hall of Fame bound right-handers were picked by many to win it all. This year, many picked them last. They currently lead the NL wild card race.

Randy Arozarena and Zach Eflin are the first major chips to tumble in Tampa Bay.

Number of the week: 13 – the number of Crayola colors officially retired over the years. Among them are dandelion, burnt umber and mulberry.

This week’s political song: The Beatles Hello Goodbye.

Last thing: Geier, Marolf & Picard best choices

The Pinellas County School Board is at a crossroads this fall. With three seats being contested, there is an opportunity to get education back on course – to prepare our students for advanced education or the work force. As we have seen, the role of the parent in their child’s education has been vastly diminished, a serious problem Danielle Marolf, Erika Picard and Stacy Geier vow to rectify. All three support returning to educational fundamentals, which have been compromised in favor of ideologies that do not belong in school curriculums. These three highly qualified women deserve your vote in August and November.

NEXT UP: MLB four months in; Warehouse stores; Blaze of Glory

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Corey Comperatore – remember that name; a victim of a senseless act brought on by just as senseless political rhetoric.

Leading off: The GOP convention

First, does anybody think a four day convention and a $200 million economic boost will swing Wisconsin’s most Democratic city? Second, President Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance as VP is probably a net positive. He was not our first choice (see TBRR 5/9/24), but we apparently were not home the day the President called for our advice. Vance is a self-made man as opposed to the party-made individual on the Biden ticket. The most presidential sounding convention speaker, in our opinion, was Marco Rubio, who at 51 has a great political future. The Thursday night appearance of Tucker Carlson brought down the house. Weakness: scheduling President Trump’s too long speech so it would run until nearly midnight. But overall, an A minus.

Finally, we give the overall media coverage of the convention a B minus. Fox and Newsmax were their usual selves. The broadcast networks were good and not terribly slanted. Spectrum proved they are not ready for prime time – lots of technical goofs and a fairly lightweight analyst assemblage. MSNBC was off the charts, showing the convention, muted in the background (could have as easily shown cartoons) while the channel’s resident harpies Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid launched attacks, the vast majority false, against President Donald Trump. The fact is MSNBC wasn’t even in Milwaukee!

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

While you were watching the convention, your pocket was quietly picked of another $1.2 billion by the Biden bunch. They just excused deadbeat student loan holders of that much in indebtedness.

Pro-abortionists now have a new patron “saint”. She is a British neonatal nurse, Lucy Letby, who earlier this month was convicted of trying to kill an infant in her care. This woman is currently serving a life sentence for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others.

Best of the Week: (compliments of our friend TL) District Attorney Alvin Bragg files two new charges against Donald Trump (Count 1) Avoidance of a targeted projectile; (Count 2) Obstruction of an assassination attempt.

Idle thought: Do George Clooney, Ashley Judd and Julia Roberts really think the average American cares about their political opinions?

Fulton County DA Fani Willis’ 15 minutes of fame is just about over as her RICO case against rapper Jeffery Williams (aka Young Thug) has blown up and her other high profile case against President Trump will likely see the dumpster by year’s end.

Useless trivia: Should J.D. Vance ever ascend to the presidency, he would be only the second chief executive with a last name beginning with a V; the first being Martin Van Buren.

Number of the week: 222. That’s the number of firearms seized at the nation’s largest airport (Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson) in the first six months of 2024. That’s the most at any U.S. airport.

Question: When was the last time you used a personal check at the grocery or department store? Citing low usage, Target is the most recent retailer to stop accepting personal checks as of last week.

Post Independence Day note from the editorial office of the 5:05 Newsletter: I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. I paid a 7% tax on fireworks to celebrate a revolution that started over a 2% tax on tea. It's not too late to ask King Charles to forgive us and take us back.

Born 100 years ago this week (7/21) in Morgantown, WV was veteran funny man Don Knotts.

Sports, media and other notes:

In our lifetime, there was no one whose presence on TV we enjoyed more than Bob Newhart. The man who sold millions of comedy albums in his early career and then starred in two successful sitcoms died last week at age 94.

Todd Helton enters the Hall of Fame. Shame on the baseball writers for making one of the greatest hitters of the 21^st century wait so long.

Yes, it would be great to see your favorite MLB All-Star in his team’s uniform; but as Steve Adams of Major League Trade Rumors points out, the majors are not inclined to give up all that revenue from jersey sales.

The Rays have five teams ahead of them in the race for a wild card spot. Look for them to be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline.

This week’s political song: Neil Sedaka’s Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.

One last thing: The players speak:

First, if you’re a sports fan and don’t subscribe to The Athletic, you should. Every major sport is covered in great detail. Recently, the publication did a survey of MLB players with questions like: best player (Ohtani); most over-rated player (Jazz Chisholm); best in the clubhouse (Mookie Betts); is the season too long (70% - no); what team would you most like to play for (Atlanta Braves); worst organization (Oakland Athletics); was the Dodgers’ off-season spending good for baseball (91% - yes) and finally a related question do you favor a salary cap (71% - no). We suspect fans would differ, particularly on the salary cap question but, all in all, a great set of insights from The Athletic.

NEXT UP: School Board Election; Insanity Defined; Crayola

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

When someone asks you to become president of a condo association, move.

Leading off: Good for Delta!

We’ve always had a fondness for Delta Airlines. It’s probably because they always carried us home to loved ones from places we really didn’t want to be. Now the airline finds itself the victim of a misguided “Boycott Delta” campaign because they are no longer allowing their flight attendants to wear Palestinian flag pins on their uniforms; pins that many of their customers would consider anti-Semitic. Moving forward, only American flags may be worn on Delta uniforms. This makes too much sense as you certainly would not expect to see an American flag on Aeroflot or Palestinian Airlines flight attendants.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

The signs at the protest read Stop Trump’s Abortion Ban. Guess that reads better than Keep Killing Unborn Children.

AOC files articles of impeachment against two SCOTUS justices. We’re sure Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas are quaking in their boots.

Breaking political news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Jill Biden Refuses To Drop Out Of Presidential Race.

Last week’s polls had Trump over Harris by only 2.6 percent. But we venture if Harris does become the candidate, she’ll say and do stuff that will make that margin widen.

Idle thought: if we were Vladimir Putin, we know who we would want to prevail in November’s presidential election. Fortunately, he doesn’t have a vote – we think.

The merger of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus is akin to Ford merging with GM. Both have many devout customers who wouldn’t be caught dead in the other store. In the south and southwest, it’s been Neiman Marcus while Saks was the preference of the eastern corridor.

Nearly half (46%) of electric vehicle owners say they will return to internal combustion vehicles with their next purchase.

So, you’re sitting there with a 3.25% mortgage, or better, none at all. Are you going to jump in with mortgage rates still just shy of seven percent?

This week in 1965 (July 18) WLCY-TV Channel 10 signs on, sister station to top rated WLCY Radio 138. It won the ABC affiliation in a protracted battle with WSUN-TV in September 1965. In 1978, it changed call letters to WTSP, the original call of their radio station; in 1994, it switched to CBS.

Sports, media and other notes:

Monte Kiffin, the architect of the Bucs’ famed and oft-imitated Tampa 2 defense, passed away last week at age 84.

With the passing of Willie Mays, who is now the greatest living Hall of Famer? Tough question – three names come to mind, Ricky Henderson, Sandy Koufax and Greg Maddux.

Looking ahead: The team facing the toughest schedule for the balance of the season is our hometown nine, followed by the Rockies and Guardians. Easiest schedule down the stretch: Reds, Mariners and Cubs.

We’re often and justifiably critical of our local newspaper. But if you did not read Christopher Spata’s well-written July 4 article on “the sound of MacDill AFB,” look it up on line.

Troubled CNN announces another 100 job cuts.

Another “benefit” of on-line gambling – the state of New Jersey has fined Draft Kings $100,000 for playing fast and loose on revenue numbers reported to the state.

This week’s political song: Tammy Wynette’s Stand By Your Man. Fewer and fewer Democrats are humming that tune these days.

Topping the charts fifty years ago this week was the biggest hit of the year, The Captain and Tennille’s Love Will Keep Us Together. Ten years earlier., the Beach Boys were riding high with their two-sided #1 hit I Get Around/Don’t Worry Baby.

You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if part of your trip home from summer vacation was a stop at a Carolina or Georgia fruit stand.

One last thing: A morning on the internet

We know you’ve probably experienced this, but upon arriving back from breakfast, we discovered that (1) our Netflix subscription had again expired (2) we had won a Marriott pillow (3) Home Depot had just the porch set we’ve been looking for (4) our bank alerted us that we signed in with a new device – the same device we’ve used for about three years (5) we can transfer any balances we owe over to one of our credit cards at a really, really good rate (for them) and (6) Unbreakable brain – that we could use! We also could use some stronger internet filters.

NEXT WEEK: The players speak; Don Knotts; GOP update

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

We’re midway through the year and just about midway through the 11 federal holidays we now observe. We are approaching the time when workers will remain at home more often than the time they spend at the office.

Leading off: Time to call it quits

“There is a growing sense among concerned Democrats that the party has trapped itself in a bad situation with no clear solution, caught in a primary process set up to protect Biden.” Those were the words of the left leaning Associated Press last week. Meanwhile, liberal outlets from the New York Times all the way south to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution are asking Joe Biden to step aside. Will he, no, not with his massive ego and that of Dr. Jill. The Democrats are in a quandary, their presumptive candidate suffers from dementia or worse, but they are working with an extremely short bench. It seems impossible, but Joe’s VP has lower ratings than her boss. Between now and the convention in August is going to be an interesting time.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Donald Trump is not the only person who should be breathing easier after last week’s SCOTUS decision regarding presidential immunity. The ruling will allow Joe Biden to dodge a few incoming bullets as well.

Several liberal news outlets report “some Democrats are calling for Kamala Harris to run for president.” Yes, and even more Republicans.

Las Vegas odds on the GOP VP pick are all over the board with the convention days away. Two names show well in every poll – Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota.

Joe conducts extensive post-debate interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. In a related note, Aaron Judge will be allowed to hit off a tee in next week’s All-Star game.

Add John Deere to the growing number of American companies who are moving production and jobs to Mexico.

Clearwater’s city council is expected to approve a massive $44 million renovation of the city marina next week even though the proposed re-do is missing a critical piece – a parking garage.

We tip our cap to Governor Ron DeSantis for signing into law a bill prohibiting intentional release of balloons, a large hazard to Florida’s wildlife.

Will the next senior staff member of Mayor Jane Castor’s administration please lock the door on the way out? Over a half dozen senior staffers have departed Tampa in the past three months.

It’s the last call to buy Forever stamps at the old rate of 68 cents. They jump to 73 cents on July 14.

This week in 1965 (7/10) the song which urban legend says was written in the pre-cult Fort Harrison Hotel, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, hits number one and stays there for a month.

Sports, media and other notes:

Political/Sports item from the 5:05 Newsletter: I agree that illegal immigration into this country needs to be stopped. But as long as they are here, it would seem to me like we could at least sift out 12 soccer players who will win the Copa America for us?

It’s like Mickey Mantle walking away from the Yanks or Terry Bradshaw from the Steelers. After 16 years, Steven Stamkos is no longer part of the Bolts.

This week’s political tune of the week: Paul Simon’s Slip Slidin’ Away.

MSNBC’s Biden apologist, Joe Scarborough, has acquired a new nickname, “Baghdad Bob,” after the clownish Information Minister under Saddam Hussein.

Last week, former Rays and current Braves pitcher Charlie Morton became the fifth active pitcher to have wins against all 30 MLB teams as he defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, another former team. He joins Gerrit Cole, Zack Greinke, Max Scherzer and Jason Verlander in that elite group.

Atlanta’s annual Peachtree Race was cancelled mid-race last week due to extreme heat. Perhaps they should channel our area and run a turkey trot.

Some folks we’ve always wanted to meet: Channel 13’s Russell Rhodes, baseball analyst Joe Simpson, entertainer Jane Lynch and that really cute girl in our college business law class…oh wait.

One last thing: Excellence is spelled Tomlin

Just a few weeks ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers wisely signed head coach Mike Tomlin to a three year extension. This will guarantee his services for an unheard of twenty years in the Steel City. And it means this rock solid franchise will have employed just three (Tomlin, Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll) head coaches over the past 55 years. It’s often forgotten that Tomlin began his pro coaching career here in Tampa Bay. If there is a word to describe this one of a kind coach, it may be steady. No super highs or lows, just a calm demeanor that has generated 17 straight .500 or better seasons. With a whole new quarterback contingent and Tomlin continuing at the helm, the Steelers are going to be an interesting team this year.

UP NEXT: HBPs; Channel 10; A morning on the internet

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

It’s hard to grasp that here in the heat of summer, the days are actually getting shorter.

Leading off: Last month’s housing market

Year to date, Florida inventory is up almost double, with three and a half months of inventory, again about double a year ago. Sales are down two percent with the average sale price up eight percent, but sale prices are 96 percent of listing price as opposed to 98 percent last year. New listings are up 25 percent from a year ago. Mortgage rates, the anchor the market is dragging, still remain at just under seven percent. Thanks to our friend TL for these stats.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

They tried: Give the liberal media credit; they tried to put a positive spin on last week’s presidential debate as the plane flew into the mountain.

Another tip of our cap to Governor DeSantis’ for his strong message to the arts community that taxpayers should not have to fund sexual freak shows.

From an ad promoting amendment three, “Marijuana is already in Florida, let’s make it legal.” So is human trafficking, should we legalize it as well?

Automotive note: We see that again this year the SUV we drive didn’t make the Motor Trend elite list. Just the same, next year we will buy another of the same make and model of the roomy, fuel efficient and trouble free vehicles we have driven for the past 15 years rather than shop by magazine rankings.

Fast food chains have been taking a Bidenomics beating the last couple of years. Now, they are rolling back prices attempting to lure back customers. McDonald’s is among the first with a five buck value meal.

Oddity: Florida has a population of 21.5 million people spread across 67 counties. Georgia, with half that population, has 159 counties.

From the 5:05 Newsletter on the eve of our nation’s birthday: This country is changing faster than I prefer. I went to the grocery store for apple pie and hot dogs and they were in the Ethnic Section.

This week in 1970 (July 4) a new radio show debuts and continues on 54 years later - American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. It is now hosted by Ryan Seacrest.

Sports, media and other notes:

What a Monday night for sports fans last week as the NHL Panthers hold off the Oilers on ABC and over on ESPN, Tennessee wins the college baseball championship. Both were one score games; you don’t get many evenings like that.

Answers: Yankees’ Bobby Richardson and Oilers’ Connor McDavid. Question: what players from the losing team were the only MVPs in MLB (1960) and NHL playoffs (2024)?

Idle thought: not having a race at Daytona on the 4^th of July makes as much sense as scheduling the Indy 500 on Thanksgiving.

Playing pro golf isn’t stressful enough, but nowadays golfers on the tour must deal with gamblers who heckle them if they are not in line for the score the lowlifes bet on.

Tops at the box office this week in 1974 was the Paul Newman, Robert Redford classic The Sting.

Idle musing: We wonder just what percentage of those Dear Abby, Carolyn Hax and Miss Manners, etc. columns are made up.

Related note: Amy Dickenson, who penned “Ask Amy” for over twenty years, concluded the run of her column earlier this month.

As soon as he appeared on the screen, we knew we were in for lots of laughter. Veteran comic actor Martin Mull, 80, passed away last week.  

One last thing: MLB, three months in

We start with a discouraging stat – the Rays are last in home runs but first in homers given up. But there’s still time to recover which cannot be said for the Angels and the four teams we mentioned last month (Athletics, White Sox, Marlins and Rockies). So that means 25 teams are still in the hunt. That will thin by next month’s update and the July trading deadline. Despite a large lead, the Phillies’ key injuries are troubling. But their closest competitor, Atlanta, is missing two-thirds of their outfield. And while they burn us every year, keep an eye on the Padres. In the AL, the Yanks and Orioles are clearly the class of the league with the Guardians hanging in there. We still favor the Brewer’s William Contreras as NL MVP, but we’ve switched teammates in the AL – you can’t ignore the incredible early summer performance of Aaron Judge. Kyle Schwarber is inexplicably one of the finalists for the NL All Star DH, despite one guy leading him in homers, RBIs and hitting 50 points higher; well it is Philadelphia. Finally, if the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal isn’t the starting pitcher for the AL in the All-Star game, there should be an investigation. More after the All Star break and the July 30 trading deadline.

UP NEXT: Clearwater-grown #1; Mike Tomlin; Marina re-do

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Happy Birthday America!

Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Does anybody believe a presidential debate staged by CNN will be on the level?

Leading off: The hypocrisy of MLB

You cannot go more than an inning or two of baseball without watching a pitch for gambling. Yet, Rob Manfred (for the uninitiated, he runs major league baseball, God knows why) seemed shocked upon learning that five professional players, and quite possibly a sixth, gambled on the game. One player was banned for life, the other four for a year each and the other, well, that was a “special case.” Last week, it was announced that umpire Pat Hoberg was being disciplined for gambling. That bodes even worse for the sport. Point is MLB cannot have it both ways with Syracuse law professor John Wolohan saying it best, “The leagues are in bed with the DraftKings and the FanDuels of the world anyway, and casinos, so in some ways they’re taking the money and hoping things don’t blow up in their face.” It did and it will continue to do so.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related to our lead article, it was not surprising, but a disappointing non-decision by SCOTUS to continue to allow a sports betting monopoly in Florida.

CNN should get a much needed ratings boost with this week’s presidential debate. CNN has about one fourth the amount of viewers as Fox and just over half the viewers of fellow left wing network MSNBC with Newsmax closing in.

Not so idle question: If our economy is so peachy, why are Tampa Bay non-profits telling us more and more people, particularly seniors, seeking more help?

Wall Street analysts recently upgraded the Krispy Kreme doughnut company from a “hold” to a “buy”. In our household, it remains an “eat”.

Tale of two companies – EV startup Fisker has filed for bankruptcy, while Hyundai is readying a new plant in Georgia to build their IONIQ 5 EV, again proving only established automakers can stand the financial hit of EV startups.

We realize it is small consolation, but as you’re filling up, be thankful you don’t live in California ($4.93 a gallon) or Washington State ($4.41).

Biz note: If you’ve suffered sticker shock from hotel rates, you’re not alone. Analysts attribute it to revised thinking by many hotel chains in not so much seeking higher occupancy as a higher per room rate.

Katherine “Kappy” Koch passed away last week at age 96. Very active in her community, Kappy, the daughter of Judge and Mrs. Alfred Marshall, was believed to have been the oldest living person born at Morton Plant Hospital.

This week in 1950 (June 25) North Korea invades the south beginning the three-year long conflict that would conclude on July 27, 1953.

Sports, media and other notes:

The last of the three legends from the Terry Cashman baseball song Willie, Mickey and the Duke passed away last week. Willie Mays was 93 years old.

Now, there’s talk of expanding the NCAA basketball tourney by 6-8 teams. Soon it will be like football, with teams with losing records getting in.

It’s very likely that for a second year in a row, the #1 NBA draft pick will come from outside the United States.

Somewhere last week, Red Auerbach lit up a stogie.

You can understand our confusion when we saw the headline Fox tests positive for rabies, followed on the second line (after biting local resident).

Topping the charts fifty years ago this week was Gordon Lightfoot’s Sundown and in ’64, it was the Dixie Cups’ Chapel of Love.

Oh, a belated Happy Juneteenth. This is why nobody was at your bank or the post office last Wednesday.

From the 5:05 Newsletter (and a retired printer’s lament): “I hate it when cashiers feel the need to check if my money is real. If I could make counterfeit money, I wouldn’t be at the Dollar Store.”

One last thing… Two businesses of the South

Pat Watters was a Southern author who wrote tales of the region from the early fifties until his passing in 1999. He was a writer for The Atlanta Journal and later a journalism professor at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. During his career, he crafted books on Atlanta-born Coca Cola (An Illustrated History) and Lakeland grown Publix (Fifty Years of Pleasure). Both are filled with interesting anecdotes about the growth of the companies and their leaders in the early years. If we had to choose one above the other, it would be the Publix book since very few such books exist and it is truly a “FloGrown” entity. Coke has numerous volumes out there about its legacy and the Publix book, frankly, is a more engaging read.

UP NEXT: The Sting; MLB month 3; Doing the best for America

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

This week (Saturday) marks our Saintly Wife’s birthday. We both celebrate our birthdays on Saturday this year and on the same day of the week every year. But we were born on different days of the week (her Tuesday in June, us Saturday in March). Cannot for the life of me figure that out.

Leading off: The minimalist life

Joseph Epstein wrote a brilliant piece in The Wall Street Journal last month about his 72-hour TV drought (the old thing broke down). During that time, he realized what a news junkie he had become, although we didn’t detect any move towards abstinence when the new set was installed. We sadly fall into that category as well – more in the national news area rather than the local, if it bleeds, it leads stuff. None the less, we’re going to rest the TV more and clear the bookshelf of unread volumes.

Another terrific article appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on giving up something for a year. Most mentioned- clothes, shoes, carbonated drinks and, of course, sweets. The piece was written more from a get out of debt perspective than a minimalist approach, but either way it makes sense - simple stuff like emptying a personal item (shampoo, shower gel etc.) in the bath, before buying another. Give it a try.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Sometimes big sports news makes it “above the fold.” Congratulations to the University of Tampa baseball team for their ninth Division II national championship.

Here we go again. The St. Pete city council is hell-bent to put a grocery store on 22nd Street South despite multiple failures by name chains. Grocery stores and other commerce need to be driven by hard numbers, not wishes.

We are old enough to remember how another Democratic president, this one with a spine, reacted to a Soviet threat to the western hemisphere.

Our friend TL wonders whether that was a trial in Delaware or a family reunion.

Iran is electing a new president, but a former president is being blocked from running by the Iranian “Guardian Council”. Sounds eerily familiar.

Related, some sources say the Top 3 in the GOP Veep sweepstakes are Senators Rubio, JD Vance and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota. Rubio, being from the same state as President Trump presents unique problems and the other two do not move the needle among likely voters.

To Mayor Pete and the Heinz Ketchup boy, add FTC chair Lina Khan as Biden cabinet members who are completely out of their depth.

Commentary from the discerning minds at the 5:05 Newsletter, Why do professional athletes think I should care about what they think? If I wanted advice from someone who chases a ball, I would ask my dog.

This week in 1991 (June 21),WTTA-TV signs on at Channel 38 – the channel that had been dark for over 20 years (originally WSUN-TV). It is an independent station closely affiliated with WFLA Channel 8 and airs some network programming not carried by the various bay area network affiliates.

Sports, media and other notes:

Basketball lost one of its all-time greats last week with the passing of West Virginia and Lakers star Jerry West at age 86.

Kudos to UConn’s Dan Hurley for rejecting LA Lakers megabucks in favor of continuing to enhance what is probably the best college program in the nation.

Number of the week: 200,000 – the number of ticket requests for the Savannah Bananas’ game in Fenway Park last week.

The American League West has supplanted the two central divisions as the weakest in baseball. As we write this, the division’s teams are a cumulative 29 games under .500.

It’s summertime and the season for weddings, and later, anniversaries. And time to keep in mind this bit of wisdom, “when you find a good wife, you not only get a best friend and companion, you also receive a Driving Instructor for LIFE- shared by our Driving Instructor of almost 55 years.

…another thing: What says Tampa Bay?

The most recent question for our Rants and Raves Focus Group was “What item, thing, location or whatever, more than any other, says Tampa Bay to you?

Our leadoff hitter may have come up with the definitive answer with the beautiful, arching Sunshine Skyway and its multi colored lights.

Another answer that truly defines the Tampa Bay area comes from our newest focus group member – the Cuban sandwich and 1905 salad at the Columbia.

One of our original focus group members spoke about our marinas with their assortment of beautiful sailboats, yachts and charter fishing boats.

Another great answer from one of our number: the Courtney Campbell Causeway. It links Tampa to Pinellas County/Clearwater and it is a beautiful drive!!

Another of our group gives a similar answer – the attractive Memorial Causeway that links Clearwater’s mainland to Clearwater Beach with its white sand beach.

Another of our members, who we wish lived here all the time but doesn’t, talked about Tampa Bay and spring training – particularly viewing her beloved Yankees (happens in the best of families) at Steinbrenner Field.

Yet another contributor who we also wish lived here simply mentions the family he does have here.

As always folks, thanks for some very thoughtful answers.

NEXT UP: Coke and Publix; MLB hypocrisy; Krispy Kreme

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Somehow, we managed to make it all the way through K-12 (and college) without needing a cell phone in the classroom.

Leading off: Your gay tax dollars in action

June is Gay Pride Month and there are over three dozen, mostly tax dollar funded, events planned in the Tampa Bay area. We can abide that, but we draw the line at U.S. tax dollars being spent on Gay Pride initiatives in foreign countries. In the last three years, the U.S. has spent approximately $1.3 billion (yes with a B) per year on global LGBT events. That’s $4 billion and there are just way too many underfunded projects for the truly needy in our nation to allow for such questionable spending globally. Perhaps, it’s time to drop a dime on our congressional members and ask that they stop this and other reckless spending overseas.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related from the Belleair Road sign guy: Heterosexual Pride.

Idle thought: Why does our government have to spend close to a trillion dollars on charging stations for EVs? Thinking back, how much did it have to spend to build gas stations? The answer is none, because private enterprise saw a demand.

Not the greatest optics: while Atlanta residents and businesses were struggling through a major water outage, their mayor, Andre Dickens, was attending an $1800 a plate fundraiser in Memphis.

Number of the week: 50 – the number of organizations who plan to protest during August’s Democratic Convention. It should be a fun week.

More and more pundits are saying Biden stooge Alvin Bragg is the man who will push the presumable GOP nominee over the top in November.

U.S. employment figures are up for the month of May – until you really dig into the numbers.

Talk about back to the future, it is now possible in some circumstances, to assume someone’s home loan. That’s something we did just shy of fifty years ago. There’s a company named Roam that finds such mortgages.

Summer travel note from the 5:05 Newsletter: Did you ever notice that security at every level of the airport is insane, until you get to the baggage claim. Then it’s like, take whatever bag you want.

One hundred years ago this week (June 12), George H.W. Bush, the 41^st President of the United States, is born in Milton, Mass.

Sports, media and other notes:

Parnelli Jones was a man for all seasons – winning the Indy 500, four Winston Cup races, the Baja 1000 twice and a Trans Am championship. The oldest surviving Indy 500 winner died last week at age 90.

The effects of last year’s writer’s strikes are lingering with feature film production still down 24 percent. Worse, the public is adapting to fewer films and TV shows and there is a threat of more behind scenes strikes this summer.

Did you ever think you would see the day when Coke and Pepsi were not the number 1-2 sodas in the country? Make way for Dr. Pepper.

Should we be optimistic? Going into this weekend, the Rays are at .500 despite playing the weakest schedule in baseball over the first 60 games of the season.

As you are warned at the top, this is a politically incorrect blog. And the inclusion of Josh Gibson into official major league records supplanting Babe Ruth (OPS) and Ty Cobb (BA) is ridiculous. Gibson was a good player who, through no fault of his own, never faced Grover Alexander, Lefty Grove, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Cy Young or a couple dozen other Hall of Famer pitchers from that era. Cobb and/or Ruth did.

You’ve lived in Florida a long time if you remember the A through E tickets at Walt Disney World.

One last thing…Birmingham-Southern

This has to be the greatest college baseball story of the year, if not decade. The Birmingham-Southern Panthers were in the final round of the Division III World Series. Nothing unusual there, but the fact they lasted longer in the tournament than their college which closed forever on May 31 is. The Panthers were knocked out of the tournament the next day. That they lasted so long despite nine of their players suffering from food poisoning is incredible. The whole story is worthy of a movie or at least a Chip Hilton novel.

NEXT UP: What says Tampa Bay? Patriotic sign on; Minimalism

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national news, sports and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

It was the pivotal event in World War II – D-Day, 80 years ago this Thursday - lest we forget.

Leading off: Back to the future

We share this thought from our friend TL, who knows a thing or two about the auto industry: “Imagine we lived in a world where all cars were EVs, and then along comes a new invention, the internal combustion engine! Think how well they would sell: a vehicle half the weight, half the price that will almost quarter the damage done to the road. A vehicle that can be refueled in 1/10 the time and has a range of four times the distance in all weather conditions. It does not rely on the environmentally damaging use of non-renewable rare earth elements to power it, and uses far less steel and other materials. Just think how excited people would be for such technology. It would sell like hotcakes!

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related to our “first thing on our mind,” it is beyond discouraging that those who gave their lives and the rest of us who simply gave four years or more for our country must witness the third world form of justice that played out in New York last week.

The Department of Justice is only about 25 years late in challenging Ticketmaster’s stranglehold on concert seats throughout the country. But hey, they’ve been busy (see above).

Another iconic business location, the mansion-like Jersey Jim Towers store on U.S. 19 has been sold to a neighboring car lot. The business will re-locate. When it does, it will be the fourth location for the store that first came to Clearwater on Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. in the fifties.

The most circulated photo from Memorial Day was the AP photo where Biden mugs for the camera while all others are laser-focused on the memorial ceremony.

Point to ponder from an orthopedic surgeon quoted in Jesse Watter’s new book Get It Together, “Sitting is the new smoking, humans aren’t designed to sit all day.” That’s about the only thing worthwhile in yet another “let’s put a celebrity’s name on a mediocre book and see if it sells” tome.

Speaking of orthopedic surgeons, we want to wish nothing but the best for the man who kept our arthritic body going for so many years. Dr. Michael Piazza retired last week - one of the best.

Graceland joins the Brooklyn Bridge as hot real estate commodities.

A few things most of us hold precious – the pool where we could cool off in the summertime; a book store and a good family-owned restaurant.

It was twenty years ago this week (6/5/04) that the great Ronald Reagan passed away. We still cling to his truth that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

Sports, media and other notes:

Controversial MLB umpire Angel Hernandez has finally retired after 33 years of really, really bad calls.

Equally controversial basketball figure Bill Walton passed away last week at age 71.

Sports(?) news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Regionsacross the country are increasingly taking legal action to resolve pickle ball noise disputes that, according some people, will wreak havoc on our fragile planet if we fail to stop it. Nobody knows where pickle ball started, but some believe it escaped from a laboratory in China.

Sports oddity: The Washington Nationals bullpen cart was used for only the first time this year last week by Twins’ reliever Steven Okert. Upon reaching the mound, Okert tipped the driver with a five dollar bill.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you had Florence Gilbert for Latin in junior high school. She scared us more than any athletic coach ever did.

…One last thing: MLB at the two month mark

First, if you have not heard the names Paul Skenes of the Pirates or Tarik Skubal of Detroit, you soon will. The Miami Marlins became the last team to notch 10 victories 36 games into the season. They join Colorado and the White Sox as three teams you can write off just two months in – sad for their fans. The Marlins already traded their best player, Luis Arraez, to San Diego. The White Sox will probably be next to unload some players. Colorado, unfortunately, has little to unload. Speaking of Arraez, could he become the first ever player to win the batting crown three straight years with three different teams? He’s leading the league as we “go to press”. The Braves lost their best position player and won the Series in 2021. This year with that same player plus their ace pitcher out, we don’t like their chances. Two months in, we like the Yanks (subject to change as early as next month’s update). Finally, the two month MVPs: Juan Soto and the Brewers’ William Contreras.

NEXT UP: A thru E; Airport security; Gay tax dollars

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Not just this week, but every week, we need to bow our heads and thank those who gave so much for their country.

Leading off: Welcome to K-8

Both Pinellas and Hillsborough County are waking up to the fact that K through 8 schools are a much more efficient educational model. This fall, Pinellas will transition two schools and Hillsborough one (after making a similar move last year). K through 8 has been a successful model for private, particularly parochial, schools for decades while the public school system has lagged behind for reasons most folks don’t understand. The changes in the two largest bay area counties are hopefully a harbinger of more such schools in the future.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Yet another reason to get Biden out of the White House is the growing trend towards allowing jobs to move back offshore as opposed to the reverse in 2016-20. The latest is a move by American Express to move over 1000 jobs to India.

Hats off to the advocacy group Americans for Prosperity for their week-long campaign lowering gas prices at select stations nationwide to $2.38 per gallon, the price the day Joe Biden entered the White House as opposed to $3.59 today.

Meanwhile as the gas prices march inexorably upward, the Biden administration is releasing a million barrels (42 gallons/barrel) of gas in yet another gambit to buy votes.

Give your workers good pay and benefits and they do not have to pay some third party. This was reflected last week by Alabama’s Mercedes-Benz worker’s rejection of union representation.

In a world of new words, one of the more recent is “hush-cation”. This is where remote employees continue to work away from the office, but in the Bahamas, even on cruise ships rather than home. Employers are not amused.

Good news for those of us who whined about the absence of peach pie and cobbler last summer. Both Georgia and California’s crops have bounced back this year and peaches will be plentiful.

Hollywood note from the 5:05 Newsletter: The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is out. It speaks to our times. Spoiler Alert: Within a month of taking over, the apes balance the budget and seal the border.

Ten years ago in TBR&R (5/ 26/14): A Pasco County High School for sale on Craig’s List? Falls into the category of “wish I had thought of that when I was a high school senior.” Also makes you wonder who’s minding the store at Craig’s List.

Sports, media and other notes:

Baseball fans should circle next week on their calendars as Craig Counsell makes his return to Milwaukee as the now manager of the rival Chicago Cubs.

Recently, the Detroit Tigers became the first team in history with three pitchers wearing single digit uniforms. In the past, single digit pitcher uniforms ended in Little League.

Idle thought: should any of us care what footballer Harrison Butker said in a commencement address to a small Catholic university? And we should probably care even less about what Patrick Mahomes thought about it. So far, Taylor Swift hasn’t weighed in.

A so-called prop bet, betting on an individual college player’s performance, is simply a scandal waiting to happen.

Factoid: In the last twenty years, more golf courses have closed than opened. About a dozen shuttered golf courses have been purchased by land trusts and turned into nature preserves and parks.

As we were laboring through a World War II book last month, we came across author Nancy Pearl’s advice - give it 50 pages – no more. Actually less, as Ms. Pearl notes that time after age fifty becomes more precious, so subtract your age from 100 and stop there. Now, we only need to read just beyond the preface.

“Borrowed” from one of our favorite nephews (we only have two): “Nobody told me that when you get a husband, the ears are sold separately”.

…One last thing: Summer playlist

It’s the unofficial start of summer and time for our annual set of great summer songs for your music device. We lead off with a Brian Wilson/Kacey Musgraves collaboration I Guess You Had to be There; from jazz artists Incognito, the smooth 2023 side Back on the Beach; follow that with the 1974 hit by the studio band First Class – Beach Baby; from the beach in Brazil, there’s Astrud Gilberto’s enduring standard Girl from Ipanema; add the Carolina beach classic, Dancin’ Mood by Jay and the Techniques and the Beach Boy’s first Top 40 hit Surfin’ Safari. Happy Summer!

NEXT WEEK: D-Day; MLB, month two; The Gipper.

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Why does it seem your favorite baseball team’s arch rival plays about 120 home games each year and all of them against teams with a .350 winning percentage?

Leading off: Open letter to the Don

Hi Don: The convention is just around the corner, assuming you are free to attend. We figure you want to win. We have the answer in two words – Nikki Haley, the lady who most polls had beating Biden for the Presidency. Imagine voters comparing her to Biden’s number two. So please, for once, trash your ego (and to some degree, get her to lose hers) and reclaim the White House and free America of the aviator’s sunglasses and the hyena laugh. Your nation will thank you.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Nice touch: last week’s full page ad by students, faculty and staff of the University of Tampa thanking retiring president Ron Vaughn for his 30 years of leadership.

Not so nice touch: The Democratic Party is rolling out an ad campaign targeting Donald Trump’s strength in rural areas. We assume it will go like this – “Hi, we didn’t even know you existed, but we really need your support this November.”

A tip of our cap to Pinellas School Board member Stephanie Meyer for taking the initiative to remove a controversial book from Clearwater and East Lake High Schools that should have never been there in the first place and has been pulled from other errant school libraries across the state.

More Bidenomics – that 2 liter bottle of soda you used to buy for $1.99 a few years back is now pushing four bucks.

Biz note: The Federal Trade Commission is suing to block a merger of Albertsons and Kroger claiming it would eliminate competition. The merger would have hardly any effect in the bay area where neither chain has a footprint.

Idle thought: for long time residents of the bay area, it’s been interesting to watch the ebb and flow of Ybor City. Over the years, it’s been a hot spot for unique housing and entertainment, then things slump. The area seems to be in a slump right now, but will no doubt rebound.

International news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Israel announced its complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip after learning of a protest from a 19-year-old Fine Arts major at Northwestern University.

This week in 1992, (May 22) Ed McMahon says “Here’s Johnny” for the last time as the iconic late night host along with McMahon and Doc Severinsen bid their late night audience adieu.

Sports, media and other notes:

Study in contrasts: 80-year-old Diana Ross wows a Tampa Bay audience and two days later repeats her performance in Atlanta – on the same night Anita Baker cancelled her concert six minutes before it was scheduled to start.

Two of the Bucs division rivals (Falcons and Saints) are tied for the easiest schedule (.453 opponent winning percentage) going into the 2024 season.

Trash can redux: Houston pitcher Ronel Blanco tossed and suspended after foreign substance found in his glove. Will the Astros ever learn?

Baseball fans should circle next week on their calendars as Craig Counsell makes his return to Milwaukee as the now manager of the rival Chicago Cubs.

The NBA playoffs began when – Groundhog Day? In the words of revered sportswriter Jesse Outlar, “If the NBA were in charge of World War II, Germany and Japan would still be in the running.”

Topping the charts this week in 1974 was the Ray Stevens’ novelty song The Streak. In ’64, Motown records had its first ever number one record – Mary Wells’ My Guy.

Restaurant roundup: Boston Market has shrunk from 300 to 30 units while it undergoes bankruptcy; the Denny’s on S. Missouri Ave. has been shuttered; but there is good news just up the road, the long closed Burger King adjacent to Wal-Mart is being transformed into a Chipotles.

Factoid: there is one vending machine for every 40 people in Japan.

You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you ever visited Joyland on US 19 either as an amusement park or a country western venue.

…One last thing: Westshore Plaza

Permit us a shadow of a tear as we remember Tampa Bay’s first “high end” shopping mall – Westshore Plaza. It was just a hop, skip and a jump across the Courtney Campbell Causeway from Pinellas. Every holiday season had to include a visit to the sprawling retail center. Built in 1967, it was anchored by a three story Maas Brothers complete with their delightful Suncoast Restaurant on the third floor where you could dine while watching takeoffs and landings at nearby Tampa International Airport. The mall also contained a Robinson’s (later Dillard’s), Sears and Penney’s along with dozens of specialty stores. Now it will be razed for a mishmash of usages, none with the panache of the bay area’s first great shopping experience.

NEXT WEEK: K through 8; Prop bets; Summer Music!

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

When we think of mothers, one of the first words that comes to mind is sacrifice. When the kids needed new clothes, she was the one who made the old coat or dress last one more year – always.

Leading off: behind the curtain at AARP

AARP is very much in the news lately with all of its paid endorsements being questioned. Personally, we’re way beyond the eligible age for AARP and have lived nicely without it all these years. All their so-called discounts are available through AAA, being a vet or a member of any number of professional organizations. Their endorsed healthcare plan, United Healthcare is (a pause while we think of a nice word for lacking in integrity). And candidly, AARP is very anti-business except for those companies who pay them for some sort of Good Housekeeping seal that is meaningless.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Grasping for every straw, the radical left is hoping Florida’s ill advised pro-abortion amendment proposal will get fellow lefties to the polls in November to save Joe Biden. It is incumbent on pro-life advocates that more of us show up.

The radical thought that only U.S. citizens should vote in U.S. elections, what a novel idea.

Biz note: UPS to shutter 20% of its 1000 operation centers across the country. No word yet on what that will mean in job losses.

Electric vehicle maker Rivian reported an unsustainable $1.4 billion first quarter loss. If non-internal combustion vehicles are going to be successful, they will need the staying power of already established car companies.

Is it necessarily a good thing when a health insurance company reports record profits? You can easily guess who is not benefiting in that scenario.

We might give our mentally challenged Mr. Biden a break on rising food costs, but when Hershey announces record prices for the Hershey Bar due to inflation, that just goes beyond the pale.

From the 5:05 Newsletter: Teach a man to fish and he will eat for life. Give him someone else’s fish and he will vote for you.

Seventy years ago, you could only get Coca Cola in a 6.5 ounce bottle. It was 1955 before the “large” 10 ounce bottle was introduced.

Sports, media and other notes:

We note the passing of Basil Scaglione who operated the University Restaurant near USF for 35 years, providing a hearty meal and nice surroundings for many a USF student. Mr. Scaglione was 99.

The Times is in the midst of its annual begging for dollars campaign. If they made even a marginal try at balanced journalism, they might not be in the financial straits they find themselves.

Answer: Orioles and Phillies. Question which of the original 16 major league baseball teams have the worst record in each league? The best record in the two leagues – teams that originally called New York home – the Giants and the still present in Gotham Yankees.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember the fire that destroyed Clearwater Ten Pin Lanes on Coachman Road. Our friend and former firefighter, State Senator Ed Hooper, said it was the hottest fire he can remember because of the lacquer used on the lanes.

…One last thing: Indy, it ain’t

It had to happen. In Europe, they are testing Formula E – races for electric cars. There isn’t exactly a crush of ticket buyers yet. U-Tube podcasts of the events are drawing less than 50,000. There are, of course, no pit stops. No noise except a sort of whish, oddly reminiscent of the turbo era at Indy in the late sixties. The races are typically under 30 laps – about the same length of feature races at local bullrings. We guess Joe Biden and his crowd might like it, but it will never replace the event two weeks hence in Indianapolis.  

UP NEXT: Joyland; Back to the Future; Westshore Plaza

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

All our life, we never realized there was such a thing as a paid protest consultant – someone we all could live without.

Leading off: Local transportation’s future

It’s long overdue – the city of Clearwater and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority have cut a deal to swap land and build a transit hub at the corner of Court Street and East Avenue. The site, to open in 2026, will accommodate the new, larger buses. Most exciting, the new PSTA installation sits next to train tracks opening up the possibility of a light rail connection in the future.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

There is a possibility with the ill-advised, proposed reclassification of marijuana, that the drug might be available at pharmacies. Wouldn’t that be special - waiting in line for your needed prescription behind a bunch of potheads?

We can forget about interest rates dropping any time soon as the Biden White House fails to harness inflation.

Looking around our nation’s campuses the last month brings to mind, the George Carlin truism, “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” 

Graphite, something you equate with pencils, but also used in batteries, is being rationed by China leading to another squeeze being put on the already troubled EV market.

Biz note: Some products given up for dead that are making a comeback: vinyl records, the flip phone and the disposable camera.

We tip our cap to the state of West Virginia which has ceased banking relationships with four banking groups whose corporate policies discriminate against fossil fuel companies. West Virginia is one of the largest coal and natural gas producers in the nation.

We all get annoying calls from all over the country, but the ones that we and our friend TL absolutely refuse to answer are from San Antonio, fearing for some unfathomable reason, the Air Force wants us back.

International news from the 5:05 Newsletter: In a swift and decisive response to Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israeli targets, President Joe Biden retaliated by attaching a note to the next pallet of billions of dollars in cash to Iran that reads “PLEASE DO NOT USE FOR TERRORISM.”

This week in 1953 (May 5) Channel 38, WSUN-TV, the bay area’s original TV station, signs on. It, along with WSUN 620 radio, was owned by the city of St. Pete. First it was CBS, then ABC before Channel 10 (WLCY-TV) won the ABC affiliation in September of 1965. WSUN-TV went off the air in July of 1970.

Sports, media and other notes:

He had just celebrated his 86^th birthday. Boss guitarist Duane Eddy (Rebel Rouser, Because They’re Young) passed away last Tuesday.

Related to our TV historical note above: You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember WSUN-TV personalities: Capt. Mac, Jay Black and Sid Perry.

The Weather Channel announced staff cuts last week. The hardest to swallow was 32-year TWC veteran Mike Seidel, who shared many of our living rooms during hurricane season.

Topping the charts this week in 1974 was one of the few songs to go to #1 by two different artists (and 12 years apart) – the Locomotion by Grand Funk Railroad following Little Eva’s 1962 rendition.

NFL fans are going to miss Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason at the CBS desk this fall. Both were jettisoned after over twenty years each at the network.

This time, it’s Comcast that is making sports fans crazy (remember the Disney, UF fiasco last fall?). Comcast has dropped Bally which carries Atlanta Braves games to a six-state market comprising 35 million people. Eventually, they’ll reach an agreement, but that is little salve for fans. By the way, Comcast needs to watch its pennies as it fell just short of a $15.5 billion profit last year.

…one last thing: Would you like fries with that?

Usually we review books published within the last few months, but a book that escaped us back in the late seventies caught our eye recently. It’s Grinding It Out, Ray Kroc’s story of how America’s ubiquitous fast food restaurant came to be. It is truly one of those Horatio Alger tales of how a paper cup and electric mixer peddler founded McDonald’s. Kroc’s devotion to quality and value makes the success seem easy, but it wasn’t. Attention to detail won the day. A few weeks back, we mentioned that no McDonald’s ever contained a jukebox, pay phone or vending machine – good side income, but they also create unproductive traffic and disrupt customers who simply want a burger and some fries for their family. Fries, by the way, are, by far, McDonald’s biggest selling item followed by the Big Mac and Egg McMuffin. We regret Kroc did not live long enough to write a follow up book. He died in 1984. But there are more recent treatments which we intend to read. But, if you’re an entrepreneur or just interested in Americana, Grinding It Out would be an enjoyable, but all too short, read.

UP NEXT: Hershey bar; “Big” coke bottles; Indy it ain’t

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Remember when the only show trials you saw were in dictatorships and third world countries?

Leading off: Getting rid of rogue prosecutors

You look around the country and are disgusted with the likes of Fani Willis in Atlanta, Alvin Bragg in New York and Kim Foxx in Chicago. They and others have virtually decriminalized things like assault, theft, drug possession and other serious offenses. The pushback on Foxx’ free to roam policies has been severe enough that she read the tea leaves and chose not to run for re-election. But more remain, their campaigns funded by wealthy left wing radicals like George Soros, Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook’s Dustin Moskovitz. But there is good news as reported by The Heritage Foundation’s Cully Stimson. In addition to Willis’ self-inflicted wounds, crime numbers in blue cities are catching up with the rogue prosecutors leading them to either resign like Foxx or be ousted at the polls by people fed up with the prosecutors winking at serious crime.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Clearwater lost one of its finest last week with the passing of 100-year-old Herb Brown. Herb was part of the Eckerd chain when he first came to Clearwater and later brought the Checkers chain to the bay area. In 1995, he held the prestigious post of President of Rotary International. Our condolences go out to the Brown and Arnold families.

Next weekend, Saturday, May 4 is Kimberly Home’s annual Walk for Life at Crest Lake Park (Pavilion #201B). Registration starts at 9 with the walk beginning at 10.

Related headline from the local left wing bi-weekly: “Florida is an abortion haven no more.” We can only add that is a good thing.

We learned recently that Governor DeSantis does not have a high approval rating outside of Florida. Tell me, do you care what folks in California or Oregon think about our governor?

Related: We tip our cap to the governor for his vow not to comply with the Biden administration’s messing with Title IX which would allow male participation in women’s sports.

The clock is ticking down on May’s expected St. Pete city council vote on the new Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium deal. Most are cautiously optimistic, but the vote is far from a slam dunk.

Biz note: On February 18, we reported that Nike was cutting 1600 jobs. For you conspiracists out there, this was long before the Caitlin Clark shoe deal.

This week in 2016: (May 3) The Tampa Tribune is purchased and shuttered by The St. Pete Times ending balanced reporting in the bay area.

Sports, media and other notes:

Related to the historical note above from the 5:05 Newsletter: The reason today’s newspapers are half the size they used to be is that they used to publish both sides of a story.

Even the most casual golf fan now knows the name Nelly Korda.

If Major League Baseball has half a brain, Hunter Wendelstedt will not umpire any more games at Yankee Stadium this year. If you missed it, simply google his name or that of Aaron Boone.

Tijuana Flats has closed 11 restaurants as it goes through reorganization. Half a dozen are in the bay area.

Rather than three luncheon guests this month, we choose three departed restaurants where we’d love to dine again – the elegant Siple’s Garden Seat, the less elegant Robby’s Pancake House and the even less elegant Morrison’s Cafeteria, but oh what egg custard pie!

…one last thing: MLB at the one month mark

At a point a few weeks back, the Miami Marlins had a record of 3-14. So, it would make sense to demote the starting pitcher responsible for two of those three wins. Max Meyer owns wins over the powerful Braves and Cardinals while compiling a 2-0 and 2.12 ERA in three starts. The official word is to lessen his innings. There are other ways to “lessen innings” rather than farm out your best pitcher. This from a franchise that has chased away terrific baseball people like Derek Jeter and Kim Ng over the past couple years and consistently finishes in the last three in attendance each year – a team that badly needs new ownership, a new location or both. Other first month MLB observations: the Braves are really good; we’re cautiously optimistic about the Indians; the Dodgers are barely over 500 – percentage that is, not payroll in terms of millions; the White Sox are pathetic as are the Rockies; Houston can’t be that bad, can they? We’ll see about that in our next update (June 2). Finally, there’s Cub’s reliever Luke Little (6’8”) who was forced to change gloves last week because his black game glove, which he’s used since A ball, has a small American flag on it. Our new favorite Cub.

UP NEXT: The first TV station; Disposable cameras; Prop bets

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Joe Biden should publicly apologize to every American who paid their way through college; paid off their student loans or who never went to college.

Leading off: private education not a luxury

Mark Levin, in his recent best seller, The Democrat Party Hates America, correctly asserted that “classrooms have become indoctrination mills.” Parents no longer have a guarantee that the principles they value are being transmitted in the classroom – particularly in urban settings, where classroom sizes are being maxed out by illegal immigrants. Statistics tell us more and more families are turning to private schools where they can have more say over what is being taught. It’s a tough, but necessary choice. For some families, it means belt tightening to handle ever increasing tuitions. For many, it requires severe sacrifices or second jobs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear the situation will soon change without significant reforms in public education.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related to our lead article, in Pinellas County, at least, there is a push to elect some school board members with more traditional values this fall. August could be a critical month for the education of our children and grandchildren.

Meanwhile, Hillsborough County is looking at closing five schools, while in South Florida, private schools including diocesan K-12s, are reporting waiting lists.

The city of Tampa is having trouble getting those e-scooters returned. Have they never looked at a shopping center parking lot? As a great American is fond of saying, “the problem is obvious.”

Bridge “experts” in Maryland point to the fact that it took seven years to rebuild the Sunshine Skyway. They fail to mention there wasn’t the urgency here because of a second span – a luxury Maryland doesn’t have.

Time was Joe Biden could count on the blue state of Michigan in his election effort. Now, the car making state is in play. One of the biggest issues is whether the EVs Biden pushes incessantly are a job creator or job killer for Michiganders.

Related: Tesla sales down 9% the latest quarter; Rivian down 20%. They’re selling like hotcakes, Joe.

Biz note: Target’s new Target 360 loyalty program, at $49 per year, makes us wonder if we’ll someday have to pay a fee to shop at Publix, fill up at Exxon or fill a prescription at Walgreens.

Factoid: numerous lawyers here in the bay area make more than our Supreme Court justices. Good for them, but we need to review what we pay arguably the most important decision makers in our nation.

Quote of the week: “I became a conservative by being around liberals, and I became a libertarian by being around conservatives. The worst part of each of them is the moralizing.” – Talk show host Greg Gutfeld.

This week in 1986 (4/26) WMOR TV Channel 32 signs on. Originally known as WMTV, it first aired music videos. Two years later, it evolved into more standard fare for an independent station and was the original broadcast outlet for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Sports, media and other notes:

Big Apple observation from the 5:05 Newsletter: In an interesting twist, in just four short years, New York City went from “defund the police” to “bring in the National Guard.”

Fourth generation – last week the St. Louis Cards visited the Oakland A’s. In the Card’s booth was third generation Chip Caray, across the way in the A’s booth was his son, Chris. They follow patriarch Harry (Cards and Cubs among others) and second generation Skip, a mainstay for the Atlanta Braves. And Chip has a second son broadcasting minor league games!

All these years, we didn’t realize we knew someone who shared the same hometown with Radar O’Reilly, Ottumwa, IA, population 25,000.

Local historical note: A name that came up in a recent chat at the old Clearwater site was “Ham” Hamilton, the entrepreneur who owned three of upper Pinellas’ bowling lanes back in the day – and a very nice guy.

…one last thing: Do you believe in Santa?

There is naïve and then there is naïve. The first is what our Saintly Wife and our sometimes mean spirited daughter have accused us of over the last many decades. Then there is another level in which you have be to believe the Shohei Ohtani story. We don’t care how wealthy you are, you know when $16 million (maybe a thousand bucks in real people money) goes missing. Maybe, just maybe, Ohtani didn’t do any gambling, but we just aren’t buying he didn’t know what was going on. Perhaps the MLB investigation will clear things up, perhaps. And speaking of naïve, we so admire Ken Rosenthal, but his comment, “this investigation was the work of the United States Department of Justice, in concert with the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Homeland Security,” as some sort of imprimatur shows he does not watch anything but sports news.

NEXT UP: Pickle Ball; Rogue prosecutors; Grinding It Out

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Sorry, time does not permit replies to comments.

Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Will the last non-Scientologist vacating downtown Clearwater please bring the flag?

Leading off: A blueprint for 2025

The Wall Street Journal’s outstanding editorial columnist Kimberly Strassel authored a bestselling book last year, The Biden Malaise, a blueprint of how to pull America out of the doldrums caused by the Biden administration’s mismanagement. She marches us through common sense solutions to our weakness as perceived overseas, the border mess, energy problems, inflation, and a half dozen others. She compares Biden to Jimmy Carter and the similarities are exceptional. The solution to Jimmy Carter, in two words from Ms. Strassel, was Ronald Reagan. The Gipper is no longer with us to implement cures. Certainly no fan of Biden and very lukewarm on Trump, she would seem to have preferred Cotton, DeSantis, Haley, Pompeo or other policy wonks. Her admonition at book’s end was “Choose wisely.” A year later, it’s apparent we have not. Now, we can just pray that (1) Biden is not re-elected and (2) that Trump provides a more level-headed policy approach than his first four years. Regardless of November’s outcome, Ms. Strassel’s book is worth a read.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Last week, the bay area lost two fine men who were stalwarts in their business careers and their faith. Frank Palms was an F-100 pilot during Vietnam and had distinguished careers with GTE and Dillard’s while faithfully serving his church. Frank, a Clearwater High grad, was 80.

Rich Clemow’s family-run insurance agency was built on a foundation of integrity. The Largo native also was very active in his faith. He was 85.

Norfolk Southern agrees to a $600 million settlement in District Court in Ohio. Fine and dandy IF that cash makes everyone damaged whole and is not frittered away by a bunch of bureaucrats.

The sick number of the week: $60 million - the amount of money pro-abortion radicals plan to spend in Florida to try to convince folks that it’s okay to kill unborn children.

Related: Governor Ron DeSantis believes Florida voters will reject both the pro-abortion and legal grass initiatives in November - from his lips to God’s ears.

Biz note: Ford will lose $4.5 billion on EVs this fiscal year. That’s a lot of dough!

Factoid: There has never been a pay phone (remember them?), jukebox or any kind of vending machine in a McDonald’s. From an older, but fascinating book Grinding It Out by franchise czar Ray Kroc - more on this gem of a book in a week or two.

Speaking of the Golden Arches, can’t wait to nab America’s best doughnut (Krispy Kreme) as the two companies are joining forces.

We’ve always bragged that our alma mater, CHS, has produced two of the nation’s astronauts. But how about Bronx High School of Science that has produced nine Nobel Prize winners – the latest is Claudia Golden, winning in Economics.

This week (April 14-20) is National Volunteer Week - a thought shared with us by Paul Gregory of the Retirement Home for Horses in Alachua: “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

Born 100 years ago this week (April 16) in Cleveland was 20 time Grammy winner and composer Henry Mancini (The Pink Panther, Charade, Mr. Lucky, Moon River and many more).

Sports, media and other notes:

From the 5:05 Newsletter this note: At the White House Easter Roll Hunt last month, the kids found 64,000 Easter eggs, 26 classified documents and 30 grams of cocaine.

Idle thought: the “Frozen Four” doesn’t get nearly the amount of attention it deserves. Maybe it should stage on a weekend when they’re not playing golf in Augusta.

Another black eye for the LA Dodgers: the threatening manner in which they treated the woman who caught Shohei Ohtani’s first home run ball as a Dodger.

Pitching, pitching, and pitching. Already two of our division picks have been shaken by serious arm injuries in Houston and Atlanta.

… One last thing: Saving a queen of the seas

At the extreme ends of the United States are two hallowed ocean liners. At Long Beach, CA is the Queen Mary; in the Delaware River at Philadelphia is the U.S. United States. The two ships that once plowed the Atlantic have had different fates since their retirements. The Queen Mary is a functional hotel and events venue in California while the United States sadly sits at a pier in Philadelphia. As the ship deteriorates despite the best efforts of its conservancy group, a potential savior has come forth in the presence of real estate firm RXR who would repurpose the fabled liner into a 1000 key hotel as well as a dining and event destination with a home port of, ideally, New York near the Javits Center or some other major port city on the east coast (Florida has been suggested). We hope this works out as it may be the last chance for a proud ship that, to this day, holds the Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic in both directions. In the words of the late Walter Cronkite, “If America’s flagship is lost; it will be a crime against history.”

UP NEXT: Baseball fairy tale; MOR TV; $50 to shop at Target?

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

Congratulations to Al Capogna on being awarded the key to the city of Clearwater. Well deserved.

Leading off: Blue versus red

It is impossible not to note the reaction times of the White House to the bridge tragedy in Maryland versus the train tragedy in Ohio well over a year ago. As we write this, Joe Biden is on his way to Maryland to offer everything the folks there deservedly need. But contrast that with East Palestine, Ohio where it took Biden over a year to visit – and where some people still cannot return to their homes or jobs. The “official word” on the Ohio delay is that they did not suffer a natural disaster, thus the delay. A barge hitting a bridge is not a natural disaster either, so that doesn’t wash. It seems to have everything to do with Ohio being a red state and Maryland blue and that is just appalling.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Idle thought: We have a friend and a nephew who both have the same first name and last initial as the current occupant of the White House. We are convinced either of them would do a much better job; are certainly more cogent and, as a bonus, both have a much better sense of the bizarre than the guy currently taking up space at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

One last Clearwater city election thought. A total of well over a quarter million dollars spent by the two mayoral candidates is obscene. That much money for what is essentially a ceremonial position boggles the mind.

We sincerely hope Ronna McDaniel sues the pants off NBC after the network caved to their whiney commentators’ protests to the hiring of a conservative voice.

Biz notes: Previously thought invulnerable to layoffs, Apple cuts over 600 workers. Wal-Mart, caught with their thumb on the scale, agrees to a $45 million settlement for shorting its customers on meats and produce.

The media is telling us that inflation is cooling off. Our weekly grocery bills and prices at the pump tell a different story.

Other victims of “Bidenomics” are food pantries who are being stretched to the max by demand.

Weather alert from the 5:05 Newsletter: Meteorologists are calling for rain showers this coming weekend with a slight chance of getting crushed by falling parts from a Boeing Airliner.

Fifty years ago this week (April 8), Hank Aaron surpasses Babe Ruth’s long lasting career homerun record by hitting #715 off the Dodgers’ Al Downing at Fulton County Stadium.

Sports, media and other notes:

Sometimes bad news takes a while to reach you. Jim Alvis, a short track racing legend, passed away last October in Dunnellon. The long time resident of Pinellas County and mentor to other race car builders and drivers was 91.

Earlier this year, we noted seven communities, including Tampa Bay, considering new venues for their major sports teams. The season is not off to a good start with Kansas City voters rejecting a tax measure for a new home for the Royals. Meanwhile, the Athletics are moving 80 miles up I-80 to play the 2025-27 seasons in Sacramento. What a mess.

A partial score from an opening week game – Braves 12 Phillies 1 Home plate umpire 3. You had to be there.

We wish we could say we were surprised. In the brief time since sports betting was legalized in Florida, calls to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling’s hotline have doubled.

Sports thought: It’s hard to imagine the Masters being anywhere but on CBS.

The Clearwater Threshers open up their home season Tues, the 9^th hosting Fort Myers, the single A farm club of the Minnesota Twins.

Topping the charts fifty years ago this week was the re-make of the B.J. Thomas hit, Hooked on a Feeling, by the Swedish group, Blue Swede.

You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you ever enjoyed a juicy steak at Moock’s Tavern on 16^th Street North in St. Pete.

…one last thing: Remembering NPR

No, NPR isn’t gone – yet. But the days of Bob Edwards and the even-balanced Morning Edition are long since past. Now NPR is captained by a new CEO whose resume includes all sorts of incendiary remarks. Katherine Maher is quoted as calling Donald Trump “a racist” and blaming the LA lootings as “a reaction to oppression.” That should ensure balanced reporting. Meanwhile Rome is burning. NPR strengths have always been among listeners in metro areas. Over the past two years, the network’s ratings have dropped between 19 and 25 percent in the New York, Chicago, LA and Frisco markets. Listeners under the age of 40 are virtually non-existent. Observing radio from both inside and out, we can safely say if your station does not perform well, you were out on your ear. But we the taxpayers keep the cash flowing for NPR to spew its leftist agenda. Our only hope is Congress wakes up and says “no more.”

UP NEXT: The Biden Malaise; Falling branches; America’s ship

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Sorry, time does not permit replies to comments.

Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

First thing on our mind:

We begin the baseball season very nervous, as the village sports idiot has picked our favorite team to win it all.

Leading off: Extremely bad optics

Last week, President Donald Trump was invited to the wake for slain New York City Police Officer Jonathon Diller, making a brief statement afterward, saying that the disrespect for law enforcement has got to stop. Across town, Joe Biden hosts Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and a bunch of woke Hollywood types at a 25 million dollar fund raiser. This encapsulates where the priorities of the two presidential candidates lie.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

We covered Clearwater’s election results last week (TBRR 3/24/24), but the result of the vote is a stronger and, we hope, more unified city council moving forward.

Back in January (TBRR 1/28/24) he highlighted the book Going Infinite. Last week, the centerpiece of that book, a Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for misdeeds as the head of crypto company FTX. Many observers consider the sentence to be light.

Breaking Russian election news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Russian President Vladimir Putin won a 6^th term as president of Russia. Results show 88% voted for Putin, 10% voted for Putin twice, and 2% fell out of windows.

Answer: Toyota Corolla. The question: what is the largest selling auto of all time with over 60 million units sold?

Parts of the country are getting ready for next week’s solar eclipse. While Florida is not really affected, northern and southwestern states are shutting down schools and bracing for a spring break on steroids as folks flock to their communities to experience the full effect.

Stew Turley who led Eckerd Drugs for over thirty years passed away last month at age 89. Eckerd Drug, under Stew’s leadership, was a company that truly cared for its employees and its community.

This week in 1955 (April 1) WTVT, Channel 13 signs on and takes the CBS network from Channel 38. In 1994, it affiliated with the FOX network. It remains the most viewed news outlet in the bay area.

Sports, media and other notes:

Factoid: At least 17 teams opted out of the NIT including FSU. The NIT preceded the NCAA tournament by a year and, until the mid-fifties, was considered the more prestigious tourney.

Idle NCAA thought: DJ Burns, the 6-9, 275 pound behemoth from NC State reminds us of Gene, Gene, the dancing machine from the old Gong Show.

Number of the week: 54 years – that’s the number of years the beloved Bob Uecker has been behind the mike for Milwaukee Brewers. The 90-year-old legend limits himself to home radio duties nowadays.

Which team sport has the greatest diversity of winners over the past twenty years? It’s baseball with 16 different championship winners compared to 13 each in the NFL and NHL and 11 in the NBA.

Born 100 years ago this week (April 3) was Marlon Brando who received eight Academy Award nominations, winning for On the Waterfront and The Godfather.

Related to this week’s historical note, you’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember Channel 13 stalwarts, Roy Leep, Andy Hardy, John Wilson, Kelly Ring and the unforgettable Salty Sol Fleischman.

It’s Easter weekend and we fondly recall the Easter service final blessing of our long time pastor, Father Jacob Monteleone, to a packed house several Easters back, “Let’s do this again next weekend!”

…one last thing:Mount Rushmore II

Our Spring challenge to our TBRR Focus Group is to construct Mount Rushmore II – populating it with some of the 42 Presidents who don’t grace the original South Dakota landmark. Their replies follow:

One of our original Focus Group members opts for Presidents of their lifetime – save one, choosing FDR, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and George W. Bush.

Our lone Dunedin member followed suit, naming three Presidents from her lifetime, JFK, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama along with FDR.

Another charter member split his ballot with two Presidents before his lifetime in Andrew Jackson and FDR along with contemporary Presidents Harry S. Truman and Ronald Reagan.

The one constant in our Focus Group’s replies is FDR, also mentioned by our northern most member, along with Ulysses S. Grant, another retired general, Dwight Eisenhower, and a popular choice among our contributors, Ronald Reagan.

Another long time member of our focus group also cast a ballot for FDR, along with our second president, John Adams, Ronald Reagan and a tie vote between Ike and JFK.

Our westernmost member gently sidesteps our revisionist activity and says she is plenty happy with the founding fathers we have already enshrined. Plus, she was busy being the center of attention in a New Orleans wedding this month!

Significantly, none of our Focus Group members mentioned either of our two most recent Presidents.

UP NEXT: Hammerin’ Hank; Changes at UT; Remembering NPR

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Happy Easter!

Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: Goodbye and thanks, Kate

After 33 years, Kate Kelly, CEO and the force behind the Kimberly Home Pregnancy Center is retiring. Through her tireless efforts, Kimberly Home became a model for what such an organization should be. Kimberly Home goes back over forty years, but frankly, it struggled until Kate came along. In her tenure, they built a headquarters building, temporary shelters for women with troubled pregnancies and established two thriving thrift centers to help fund their good works. We were privileged to serve on her board for a few years, and watched the center grow under her direction. Our community owes Kate a debt we can never repay. She will be greatly missed.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

The city of Clearwater suffered a large loss last week with the passing of Mayme Hodges. Mayme was a retired educator, former Clearwater city commissioner and just a beautiful person. We mourn her passing.

Our boy, Joe, is finding it’s much, much harder to run a campaign when you have an actual record, rather than just a bunch of promises.

As the Biden bunch still can’t get a handle on inflation, the Fed is saying interest rate cuts are coming, just not right away. The skeptic in us says count on the third quarter, just before election time.

Oh, and look for local gas prices to drop below three dollars just about the same time.

Related: the latest blow to the EV industry is Rivian’s “pausing” of a $5 billion plant project In Georgia to conserve cash.

The hits just keep on coming – another nearly $6 billion in student loan forgiveness, compliments of we the people.

If you have any doubts about what side you should be on in the Tik Tok argument, read former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s book, Never Give an Inch, in which he details in great length what is wrong with doing business with China.

Now that it’s officially Spring, do you remember ever suffering through a colder and damper winter than this year’s? Well, maybe 1977, the year it snowed in Clearwater.

So let us understand this Wendy, the longer the line, the more we pay for a Frosty? We don’t think so.

From the 5:05 Newsletter: Taylor Swift endorsed the administration's Green New Deal today before flying across the country to get a cup of coffee. (Side note – probably with John Kerry).

Born 100 years ago this week (March 27) vocal stylist Sarah Vaughan, winner of the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989.

Sports, media and other notes:

The enormous cheer you heard last Thursday night from 49 of our states was for relatively unknown Oakland University and their NCAA win over traditional basketball power Kentucky. Talk about a bracket buster!

Add Clemson to FSU as potential evacuees from the ACC. The Tigers have joined FSU in a suit over what the two schools claim are egregious exit fees.

MLB kicks off their season this week. Who will win? In the immortal words of former pitcher Joaquin Andujar, “You can sum up the game of baseball in one word, and that word is, 'You never know.”

Palindrome of the week: 62-26. That’s the amazing career win-loss record of Braves left-handed ace Max Fried. The good news for Fried is he is a free agent at the end of this season.

You’ve lived in the bay area (or anywhere else) a long time if you remember Clorets breath gum. A big seller in the 50s, it is now marketed primarily in Mexico, Canada, the UK and the Far East.

…one last thing: Election recap

In Clearwater‘s mayoral race, it was Bruce Rector in a landslide victory over former city council member Kathleen Beckman. Some, but certainly not all, of Rector’s over thirty point margin can be attributed to the Democratic Party’s decision not to have a primary to protect Joe Biden. But Clearwater voters overwhelmingly displayed their distrust of Beckman after several ethical missteps by the unabashed liberal Democrat. In the vacant Seat 3 race, Mike Mannino’s impressive margin matched that of the new mayor. Seat 2 now belongs to political newcomer Ryan Cotton who defeated incumbent Mark Bunker and another candidate with 42 percent of the vote. Two years from now, Cotton would have faced a runoff as Clearwater voters approved a ballot initiative requiring candidates receive a clear majority. On the surface, that seems like a good idea, but it is loaded with unintentional consequences as the electorate will discover in the years ahead.

NEXT UP: Channel 13; Mount Rushmore II; Let’s do it again!

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: Path to the White House: housing

The election season is now in full swing as candidates try to convince voters they are a better fit for the White House. In the succeeding months, we’ll look at the issues leading off with America’s miserable housing situation. This is strictly a case of the haves and have-nots. For those of us lucky enough – or old enough to own our homes, the past three years have been tough, but manageable. For younger folks, with interest rates near or over seven percent and inflation-driven costs of homes, the near term chances of home ownership are slim. And the rental market currently commands average monthly rates of over $2000. Whoever lands in the White House next January must get interest rates down and severely retard inflation to provide some hope for housing for our younger generation.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Quote of the week: “There are reasonable questions about whether the DA and…SADA testified untruthfully,” – Judge Scott McAfee whose ruling amounted to a slap on the wrist for Fulton County’s two perjurers.

Re: that Haiti rescue plan, Gov. Ron. Do whatever you feel best; if you try to rescue Floridians, the liberal media will label it too risky. Forgo it, and they will jump all over you for doing nothing. Reasonable people are behind you.

From the minds that bring you the 5:05 Newsletter: It is now almost certain that our choice in November will be either Donald Trump or Joe Biden. This is the perfect time for Mel Brooks to star King George III in a new Broadway musical called "Miss Me Yet?"

If you want to see Biden out of the White House, pray that the Don and Nikki hug and make up. That would be one strong ticket.

The Robert Kennedy, Jr. effort took on an even more gimmicky feel last week when Aaron Rodgers and Jesse Ventura were mentioned as possible running mates.

Correcting an omission in our TBRR 10^th anniversary piece last week, we need to thank James Foster and Robert Brucker for their technical assistance now – and ten years ago. Their help means all we need to do is write and not worry about a bunch of stuff we don’t begin to understand.

By the way, we occasionally get questions in the comment area about our site design and operations. You can reach James at Right Click Computer Consultants.

Sign on the wall at a pub: “The Irish Way: Now, don’t be talking about yourself while you’re here. We’ll surely be doing that after you leave.”

From TBRR ten years ago and still relevant: Our focus group (which then consisted of three old, cranky people) suggested a cash register that automatically shuts off at ten items for those in Publix’ ten item aisle who cannot seem to be able to count. One stronger suggestion from the group was a trap door that opens on the 11th item.

Sports, media and other notes:

With just a few weeks left in Lent, a reporter for the always reliable Washington Post decided to rank fish sandwiches at the nation’s fast food outlets. Incredibly, the original, McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish, did not make the top five which was topped by Popeye’s sandwich. If we want to set our mouth on fire, maybe, but we’ll go with the tried and true golden arches offering.  

How many of us, then or now, knew the guy who played the lovable hood in Happy Days, Arthur Fonzarelli, was a Yale graduate? A fascinating tidbit from Henry Winkler’s current bestselling autobiography, Being Henry, The Fonz…and Beyond.

Russell Wilson makes the blog two weeks in a row! He’s scheduled to join the Steelers, a team that prides themselves in the lack of locker room drama. That could change.

Answer: Hall of Famer Eddie Matthews. Question: Who was the only player to suit up for the Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves? Bonus piece of trivia, he was on the cover of the very first Sports Illustrated.

You’ve lived in Pinellas County a long time if you ever dined at the delightful Olde Schoolhouse Restaurant on Alternate 19 in Palm Harbor.

…one last thing: the season starts, our AL picks

First, a safe prediction, despite having probably the best manager in baseball, the Texas Rangers will not repeat as World Champs. Too much had to go right last year, including talking Bruce Bochey out of retirement. This year, too much has already gone wrong. We like the Astros in the West, same great lineup and two solid closers. The AL Central is much like the NL Central, loaded with flawed teams, but somebody has to win and the least flawed are the Twins. The AL East is again a powerhouse with our Rays, the Orioles and the always dangerous Yanks. We were going to pick the high powered offense of the Yanks until Gerrit Cole went down. We instead give the nod to Orioles. We are oh so tempted to predict all three wild card teams will come from the East, but they still play too many games against each other, allowing the Rangers to join the Rays and Yankees in the playoffs. And the dark horse team to keep an eye on – the Kansas City Royals. Our NL picks were contained in last week’s (3/10/24) TBRR. Play Ball!

NEXT WEEK: Mount Rushmore II; Election recap; Thanks, Kate

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: We never thought it would last

Ten years ago this month (3/9/14) we scribbled out ten thoughts along with some longer opening and closing remarks and called it Tampa Bay Rants & Raves. Incredibly, some 2500 people have read that initial drivel inspired by a growing displeasure with the lack of a conservative voice in our local media – kind of a very poor man’s Fox News or Daily Signal. The real impetus was the chutzpah of Hillsborough resident Alex Sink thinking she needed to ride in on her horse with carpetbags attached to save little Pinellas from itself by running for the District 13 congressional seat. Fortunately, Pinellas voters said something to the effect about the horse she rode in on. One thing led to another and here we are ten years later, still having fun doing this. So, thanks for playing along and, for many, contributing thoughts. Hope we’re here in another ten years – you too!

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Next week (March 19), the city of Clearwater elects a majority of its city council. We re-emphasize our recommendations of Bruce Rector for mayor and Ryan Cotton and Mike Mannino for the council seats. We also recommend a NO vote on moving the dates of future elections along with rejecting expensive runoff elections.

Jena Griswold is not a name that will go down in history – or maybe it will. It’s not often that a government functionary’s decision is swatted down by a 9-0 SCOTUS decision like that of the Colorado Secretary of State.

Using the great Jack Harris’ scrambled syntax; two don’t fail to miss events from last week – Biden’s State of the Union and the Oscars. Well, we did watch a bit of Biden until we became dizzy watching the pop up toy over his right shoulder jumping up every thirty seconds or so.

But we did learn, with apologies to Woodrow Wilson’s Vice-President Thomas Marshall, that what our country really needs is a fuller bag of chips.

From the 5:05 Newsletter: Apparently Hollywood has decided to combat online piracy by making movies so bad that nobody wants to watch them, even for free.

Debit cards, apps, smart phones and twitter – four things we’ve been able to do without while navigating almost eight decades.

To help out with shopping cart clutter, let’s post tall polls with blinking red lights in parking lots so confused shoppers can find the cart return aisles.

This week in 2013 (March 13): Argentinean Jorge Mario Bergoglio is installed as Pope Francis, the 266^th pope of the Catholic Church. 

Sports, media and other notes:

Some people just define their area of endeavor. Such was the case of NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, who died last week at age 72. There were few, if any, better.

Footsteps, Walking Proud and Go Away Little Girl were just a few of the hits of Steve Lawrence’s career. Lawrence, who partnered with the equally talented Eydie Gorme, died last week at age 88.

Forty years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, congratulations to Mark Bradley, who, along with the great Tom McEwen, has made sports fun and thought provoking over the years.

The Russell Wilson era is over in Denver, but the legacy of possibly the worst trade and signing in NFL history will haunt the Broncos for years.

Whatever happened to Kinko’s? The name went away in 2008 shortly after Federal Express absorbed all their stores.

…one last thing: MLB predictions – the NL

There’s nothing like the National Pastime beginning its season with a two-game set in Seoul, South Korea instead of Cincinnati as was the custom for decades. That being said, we move to our 2024 MLB predictions starting in the National League and the most fascinating division for 2024 – the Central where, truly, any one of four teams could win. We apologize to our home of birth for not including the Pirates. The other four teams all could win despite obvious flaws in each. We pick the Cubs in a tight race with the Brewers and Cards. Cincy has better bats than any of them, but no pitching, which still wins. You would be foolish to pick anybody but the Dodgers in the West – the best team money can buy. In the East, despite their early exits in the last two postseasons, the Braves are probably still the best overall team in baseball. For wild cards, the top of the list is Philadelphia followed by the Diamondbacks and, in a photo finish, the Cards. And the dark horse team to keep an eye on – the Reds, if they get some pitching.

NEXT WEEK: Olde Schoolhouse; AL predictions; Miss Me Yet?

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: The Drew Street Canal

Back in the dark ages (the 1980s); a civic club (the Breakfast Sertoma Club) and WTAN Radio’s afternoon team of Ron Scott and Dennis Crandall perpetuated an urban hoax of turning western Drew Street into a canal. The germ of the idea came from the breakfast club and Scott and Crandall memorialized it in song. There was an uproar among those not in on the joke. The latest Drew Street stunt is, unfortunately, not a joke. Well-meaning folks want to narrow the already busy road down to two lanes. If you want to see what that would look like, transverse the parking lot that is Ft. Harrison Avenue in downtown Clearwater. Years ago, many of us pleaded that downgrading Ft. Harrison to two lanes would strangle the busy road. Too few listened and now we have a north-south parking lot. Drew Street could be next if our city council does not act to stop this boondoggle.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Busy week:

Breaking political news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Following President Biden’s visit to Texas last week, residents woke up the morning after to find general election ballot boxes had been placed along the southern border wall that divides parts of the U.S. from Mexico.

Republicans have to be frustrated; Trump is soundly defeating Nikki Haley in the primaries, meanwhile, national polls show a possible Trump-Biden contest a tossup while Haley trounces Biden in every poll taken.

Related: one of the exercises in our annual physical is being given three words and then asked to repeat them 5-10 minutes later. We wonder if Joe was given that test last week, and if he could get even one of the three.

With Mitch McConnell’s long overdue announcement he is stepping down as Senate minority leader, former Governor Rick Scott’s name has surfaced as a potential successor, but insiders say that won’t happen.

This weekend, we again set our clocks ahead to mark Daylight Savings Time. If you enjoy this exercise as much as we do, send your US Rep a note telling them to get off the dime and pass legislation the Senate passed some years back to make DST permanent.

Related thought: The great thing about two year terms for U.S. Representatives is that we could dump all 535 in one fell swoop – and we probably should.

Biz note: The Dow Jones Industrials rather quietly shuffled some companies last month. Jet Blue and Walgreens left the index, replaced by Amazon and Uber. The index dates back to 1896. The last of the original Dow 30, General Electric, left the index in 2018.

Number of the week: 1500. The number of drug stores closed in the past two years by CVS and Walgreens (several in the bay area) – a combination of more and more “mail away” pharmacies and competition for non-drug items from Dollar Tree and Wal-Mart.

Ten years ago this week (3/9/14) the very first issue of Tampa Bay Rants and Raves pollutes the internet.

Sports, media and other notes:

A sure sign spring break is here – it took our friend TL nearly three hours to drive the 79 miles from Venice to Clearwater a couple weekends back.

Idle thought: political cartoonist Mike Luckovich must live in some parallel universe where being out of touch with reality is the norm.

We think there is some sort of rule that any media platform, large or small, must mention this name, so here we go – Taylor Swift.

Here’s a name to keep an eye on, Hagen Smith. The U of Arkansas left hander last week struck out 17 of 18 batters he faced against #7 ranked Oregon State.

Do you remember – Tastee-Freez? The Dairy Queen-like chain was founded in 1950 in Joliet, IL and once had over 1800 stores in 33 states, including Florida. Today it has shrunk to eight stores in four states.

…one last thing: Ghosts of Honolulu

Actor Mark Harmon has spread his wings into authorship with the best seller Ghosts of Honolulu, co-written with NCIS technical advisor Leon Carroll, Jr. The book centers on the spy vs. spy days preceding December 7, 1941, plus the aftermath of the attack and war. The central character is an agent of the forerunner of the NCIS, Japanese-American Douglas Wada, who tracks wrongdoers both in Hawaii and Japan. For the World War II history buff, it’s a good read. Our only nitpick is too many characters. You almost want a scorecard as a bookmark as you fly through its some 250 pages.

NEXT: 10 misspent years; Pope Francis; NL predictions

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: Buying the student loan vote

With Biden again trying to buy the election with student loan forgiveness, we repeat this note from TBRR last fall, “Regarding student loans and other matters, it seems the current occupant of the White House regards Supreme Court decisions as suggestions.” The latest version of Biden wealth transfer would cost American taxpayers $1.2 billion. It will be challenged in the courts. Meanwhile, our saintly wife wonders when she will get a refund on the repayment this young couple managed to scrape up years ago while she was still pursuing her degree and we were a lowly E-2 in the U.S. Air Force.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Way to go DNC. The Democratic National Committee celebrated Presidents’ Day by releasing a picture of living Democratic presidents – Clinton, Obama and Biden, somehow missing out on the man who had more integrity in his little finger than the other three combined – Jimmy Carter. The red-faced DNC quickly and quietly withdrew the picture.

Donald Trump may face some hurdles in his run for the White House, but none the size of those faced by Russian dissident Boris Nadezhdin who was opposing President Putin next month. Russian opposition tends to either walk away, less they have unfortunate accidents.

Speaking of the Don, it’s a bit concerning how “all in” the Fox Network, in general, and Laura Ingraham, in particular, are on the mercuric former President.

Our friend TL advises us, if we should get in a scrape with the law, to act old and diminished. This has come to be known as the Biden defense.

The city of St. Pete is making noises about taking over the franchise for providing electric power to the city from Duke Energy. Before they waste a lot of time, they need to talk to municipalities that have been down that road. It just doesn’t work from both a logistical and financial standpoint.

Factoid: Approximately 30 per cent of sales at retailers are handled at self service checkout machines. Despite the growth, many retailers are now scaling back mainly due to theft.

Only in California – beginning this year, gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers and edgers will be banned in the, let us say unique, state. The ban is being tested in the courts.

Borrowed from a friend - “I was visiting my daughter when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. ‘This is the 21st century, she replied, we don’t waste money on newspapers. Here use my iPad.’ I can tell you this … that fly never knew what hit him.”

Related from the 5:05 Newsletter: Newspapers in America should consider all using the same marketing slogan: “In Case You Missed It Online.”

Born a hundred years ago this week (Feb. 29) was Al Rosen, Cleveland Indian MVP third baseman, and later an executive with the Yankees, Astros and Giants.

Sports, media and other notes:

If you owned a Rolex watch, Gary Zumbaugh was the man you wanted to know. The personable watch expert passed away earlier this month at age 77.

TIA is recognized as one of the best, but it fails in one area – no basketball court like the one installed in Indianapolis International Airport to celebrate the NBA’s All-Star weekend. Only in hoop crazed Indiana.

Stolen from veteran Atlanta Journal Constitution columnist, Mark Bradley, “Sobering news from MLB, Commissioner Rob Manfred plans to stick around until 2029.”

Factoid: The last time Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium did not sell out; their head coach Jon Scheyer was three years old.

The latest fast food casualty in Clearwater is Aussie Grill, an offshoot of Outback, on Gulf-to-Bay Blvd., which has been shuttered after just over a year.

You’ve lived in the bay area (or anywhere else) if you remember the line “You’re soaking in it” – the punch line from the Palmolive dish detergent ads of the 70s and 80s uttered by Madge, the manicurist, played by character actress Jan Miner.

…one last thing: Never too soon for NFL odds

Andy and Patrick barely get a chance to admire their trophies and Las Vegas has new odds for Super Bowl 59. The early pick – the 49ers. Makes sense, they were this close and nobody has ever won three Super Bowls in a row. The Chiefs are number two in the odds with the Ravens, who never seem to win a big game, ranked number three followed by the Bills and Lions. Biggest surprises for us were the Bucs ranked 25 among the 32 teams and perennial contenders, the Steelers, at number 27. We think that’s where we’d put our money. Those two are not the sixth and eighth weakest teams in the league by a long shot.

NEXT WEEK: DST; Unaffordable housing; Tastee-Freez

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: It’s OK to have lived here a while

Clearwater’s city election is a month away. Looking in on the candidate forums, a recurring, and tired, theme we get is “the good old boys” get elected. Most often, the good old boys are folks who didn’t blow into town a few years back, but, in some cases, grew up here, went to school here and have been active volunteers for decades. Yet some recent candidates seem to feel long time residents should have to apologize for being part of the core of the city. And, if these relative newcomers to civic life took time to look at the voting records of the “good old boys” going back the last several decades, they would find solid support for all segments of our city. But it is simply too easy to just make unsubstantiated claims that folks who have lived here a long time want anything but the best for our city.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related, two weeks back (TBRR 2/4/24) we made a recommendation of Bruce Rector for Clearwater’s next mayor. We double down on that recommendation after his opponent was caught in some breeches of ethics. That sort of conduct has no place in our city’s mayor’s office.

Suddenly, it appears the Democratic National Convention in August could get very interesting.

It’s very difficult to say inflation has fallen when the most basic of needs, food, continues to significantly increase in cost.

Meanwhile, the nation’s interest rates remain at a 22-year high.

Nike is the latest company to announce cutbacks which entail about 1600 jobs. The company has fallen victim to sales declines attributed to, among other things, its far left agenda.

It is expected that just short of one million EV vehicles will be sold this year. Before EV nerds get too excited, they need to know that just a single vehicle alone, the gas-powered Ford F-150, sells three quarters of that total each year.

A few weeks back (TBRR 1/21/24) we highlighted a new term, coffee badging, coming into our lexicon. Another more sinister term, swatting, is being heard way too often.

You won’t see it in their mail outs or on the cable channel that features Scientology, but the “church’s” membership is plummeting. Interestingly, they bought an ad during the Super Bowl.

Monthly luncheon gathering: a group of captains of delicious industry, Milton Hershey, John Pemberton (founder of Coke) and E.F. Krause , a school teacher who turned Texas’ Brenham Creamery into the highly successful Blue Bell ice cream brand.

A crotchety contributor to this blog when asked why he emails rather than texts replies with “Let me know when texting becomes passé, and then I will consider it.”

This week in 1959 (Feb.22) the first Daytona 500 is run with Lee Petty winning in a photo finish. The inaugural race also included long time Dunedin resident Ken Marriott.

Sports, media and other notes:

Spring training games kick off this week with the home town nine hosting the Braves – two teams that should still be playing come October.

The Rays made a lot of moves in the offseason. Their best may have been the signing of former Houston reliever Phil Maton.

From the 5:05 Newsletter staff: I will tell you this for certain, the best way to witness a total collapse of human intelligence is at a 4-way stop.

Related: our neighborhood contains a 3-way stop. You would think that would be easier…..

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember the opening of the city’s first McDonald’s on Gulf to Bay in the early 1960s - hamburgers 15 cents.

…another thing: No to Clearwater runoffs

It seems we want to continue trying to transform our city of just over 100,000 into a mini-Chicago or Philadelphia. The idea of a strong mayor was wisely swatted down a few years back. Then a Democratic PAC muddied the waters with a contribution to a candidate in the city’s non-partisan election (the candidate lost). Now we’re being asked to link our elections to federal elections and, worse, create runoffs. Like many ill-conceived initiatives, it’s based on an outlier of four years ago when five candidates sought an open seat and the winner gained election with less than 30 percent of the vote. For every one of those, there have been multiple races of three or more with clear majorities – up to as much as 65 percent. Our city’s governmental process has stood the test of time for over a century. There is no clear reason to change it now.

NEXT UP: Self checkout; Palmolive; NFL odds

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: Biden’s border mess

We’re growing increasingly weary with the machinations on Capitol Hill regarding our nation’s southern border. Tying the crisis to this war or that war doesn’t serve our nation’s interests. Had the current occupant of the White House not gone all crazy with his pen upon arrival (on this and a dozen other issues), we wouldn’t be in crisis mode on our southern flank. During the Biden era, five million illegal immigrants remain in the U.S. That’s two million more than the entire Tampa Bay metro population. The previous administration had the situation well in hand (the lowest illegal counts in nearly a half century) until Biden started signing a bunch of border-related changes without thinking. Now it most likely will be up to the next administration to untangle the border mess at the cost of time and money that should be devoted to solving some other smoldering issues that Biden will leave behind.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related legal news from the 5:05 Newsletter: The Justice Department has sued Texas over its new law outlawing illegal immigration, alleging that it is against the law to pass a law requiring enforcement of the law.

This Friday is National Caregiver’s Day. In our bloated list of this day or this month, this Friday should be at the top of the list. In the words of inspirational writer Edward Grinnan, “These dedicated professionals, often overworked and underpaid, deserve our applause, our gratitude, and our prayers.” Well said.

Our friend TL reminds us the last time the U.S. was debt free was during Andy Jackson’s presidency in 1835. We need him back. Today, under Biden, the debt is $34 trillion – up one trillion in the last three months.

The EV industry is taking another hit as the resale value of the vehicles is plummeting. A further dip is expected this year as the biggest crop of EVs ever comes off lease and will flood used car lots, making them, in dealer parlance “risk inventory” – a term usually attached to vehicles that will not sell in 90 days.

St. Pete’s fire chief, James Large, retires next month after nearly 50 years of service to the city – the last 18 as chief. So what does our left wing bi-weekly lead with – the fact that he was accused of maintaining a hostile workplace – a bogus charge refuted in a nanosecond by Mayor Ken Welch? Geez.

This week in 1955 (Feb. 14): WFLA, Channel 8, signs on as an NBC affiliate. It is the only bay area station to retain its original network affiliation. Its first telecast was the Gasparilla Parade. Channel 8 was originally owned by the Tampa Tribune which also owned WFLA AM-FM radio.

Sports, media and other notes:

As we get ready for the weekend’s Daytona 500, this factoid, three NASCAR Hall of Famers who never won the Daytona 500 in their storied careers: Mark Martin,Tony Stewart and Rusty Wallace.

Ah, not so fast there Oakland A’s. There is a huge pushback in Arizona over the public dollars being spent on a proposed stadium. Oakland’s mayor wants to broker a sale to ownership that would buy into that city’s stadium proposal. Stay tuned.

As pitchers and catchers report, the first MLB power rankings are out with the hometown team ranked seventh. Not surprisingly, the Atlanta Braves are ranked #1, just ahead of the free spending Dodgers.

With the NFL coaching carousel spinning to a close, a full one-quarter of the league’s teams will line up with a new coach this fall.

NFL note: We sure enjoy Jim Nantz and Tony Romo. The CBS duo might just be the best in the league.

Related to our historical note above, you’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember Gayle Sierens, Bill Henry, Bob Hite, Guy Bagli, John Winter, Chris Thomas and the many other distinguished alums of Channel 8.

…one last thing: Clearwater council seats

Clearwater will be electing two council members along with a mayor (see TBRR 2/4) next month. They will join holdover council members David Allbritton and Lina Teixeria. The race features one incumbent, Mark Bunker. In Clearwater, incumbency usually means re-election with some notable exceptions – and this should be one of those. Bunker, unfortunately, is a one-trick pony thumping the Anti-Scientology drum. That might get him re-elected, but both Ryan Cotton and Michael Mastruserio bring more rounded resumes to the table. With Clearwater badly needing some youth for future roles, we go with the 35-year-old fire captain Cotton, remembering the last time we elected a fire official (Ed Hooper) how well that worked out not only for Clearwater, but the state of Florida. The second race for an open seat is clearer cut. Michael Mannino’s experience as a business owner greatly overshadows the resumes of free-lance journalist Jared Leone and a 22-year-old city employee Javante Scott. Cotton and Mannino should pair well with the incumbents to form a solid city council.

NEXT UP: Modifying the DH; Runoff elections; Four way stops

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: Rector for Mayor

Over the past three decades, Clearwater has had a string of mayors, with differing styles to be sure, but generally good leadership skills in Rita Garvey, Brian Aungst, Frank Hibbard and George Cretekos. In next month’s mayoral election, the choice is tough. First term council member Kathleen Beckman is opposed by civic volunteer, but political newcomer Bruce Rector. The supposed non-partisan race is offset by the fact that Beckman is a liberal Democrat and Rector a staunch Republican. You’d like to have a more seasoned Rector or a less divisive voice than Beckman has exhibited in her time on the council, but voters must play the hand they are dealt. Remembering that others, including Aungst, have stepped into the center chair without previous political experience, we recommend the more even-toned Rector as Clearwater’s next mayor. By the way, if you received a letter recently from former mayor Hibbard, take time to read it. It outlines in more detail than space here allows why Rector is the better alternative.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Idle thought: we’re quite sure Nikki Haley would lap the field against Biden and company. Not so sure about Trump doing the same.

Meanwhile, Biden is awakening to the fact that he better do something about the nation’s southern border if he wants to continue his part time job in Washington. Might be a little too late, Joe.

A sign of the times – the LA Times is laying off nearly a quarter of their newsroom. It continues personnel cutting trends at predominately liberal news operations across the country.

A sign of the other times - the bay area’s shrinking bi-weekly has abandoned its Tampa office for smaller quarters away from downtown.

Meanwhile, CNN is in its third reorganization in the past 18 months. The prognosis for the ailing media platform is not bright.

Reverse angle parking, where you must back into a spot, is coming to parts, but not all, of downtown Clearwater. In the words of a great American, “what can possibly go wrong?”

Kim Jong Un is rattling his sword towards South Korea – and the United States. One wonders how previous Presidents would have reacted to this – say Andrew Jackson?

We’ve watched President Trump’s remark, “I’ll be a dictator for one day” twisted around by left wingers to something like “I’ll be a dictator from day one.” So, how would that be any different than the last three years?

Cutting corners is how most airline experts describe Boeing’s troubled 737MAX fleet. Rather than craft a new single aisle, short haul airplane, Boeing tried to build on a 1967 design leading to most of its troubles.

Palm Harbor’s Jimy Williams passed away at age 80 last week. Manager of three major league teams during his career, he also managed to find time to touch the lives of hundreds of youth baseball players in our area.

This week in 1940 (Feb. 10) the Glenn Miller classic “In the Mood” hits number one on the charts.

Sports, media and other notes:

From the 5:05 Newsletter: I seem to have purchased a lot of alcohol lately. I hope I am not becoming a shopaholic.

When the chips are down, give us Patrick Mahomes under center.

Having Andy Reid on the sideline doesn’t hurt either.

You may not recognize the name Dr. James Andrews, but his surgical skills extended the careers of more major league pitchers and other athletes than any other individual. The renowned doctor has decided to retire at age 81.

Post Hall of Fame balloting nuggets: the first unanimous selection was Mariano Rivera. The highest percentage on the first balloting in 1936 was Ty Cobb at 98.2 percent. That now ranks 7^th all time. Babe Ruth at 95.1 percent doesn’t make the top 10 – ridiculous.

Factoid: 1948 saw the first drive thru at In-N-Out Burger in California. Today, two-thirds of fast food revenue is generated through a drive thru lane.

One last thing: The MLB off-season-winner

If you mean who spent the most money, the clear winner was the Los Angeles Dodgers. But as Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick reminds us, LA has added a DH plus a pitcher who has never thrown a big league inning to a roster his team dispatched in three games during last year’s playoffs. Last year’s big spenders, the Mets and Padres were missing from the postseason. But with spring training about to begin, major league GM’s jobs are just partially done. In the next six weeks, they separate the wheat from the chaff and, more importantly, (see Texas Rangers, 2023) make trading deadline moves to strengthen their team for the post season.

NEXT WEEK: Channel 8; Caregivers; Clearwater council race

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: Trying to understand FTX

As a baseball nerd, we first saw the three letters FTX on the uniforms of major league umpires. We checked it out – one of the crypto currency houses and recalled the words of our wise investment advisor “there are two types of crypto traders, those who are broke and those who will be.” Michael Lewis’ recent book Going Infinite bears that out as he tracks the rise and tumultuous fall of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and his associated companies. Was SBF a misguided altruist or just another Bernie Madoff? Lewis cuts Bankman-Fried some slack perhaps because of their shared leftist viewpoints. The jurors in his first fraud trial were not as forgiving, finding him guilty on five charges that could mean over 100 years in prison upon sentencing in March.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

In the next two weeks (Feb. 4 and 11), we will be highlighting the races for mayor and city council in Clearwater along with our recommendations.

Come on President Trump, you’ve all but clinched the nomination, show a little class.

And congratulations President Trump, your New Hampshire win and virtual clinching of the nomination made Page 8 of the local left wing bi-weekly.

After a deflating presidential bid, Gov. Ron DeSantis should take heart. He’s in the middle of a very successful run as governor and he is still a young man with a lot of opportunities ahead.

But on the other hand, what is the faltering St. Pete Times going to do with the cached attack articles planned for the next ten months?

Don’t know how else to say it – Mitch McConnell is a blundering idiot who needs to be put out to pasture, preferably in the pasture next to Joe Biden.

Something we recently read in a liberal newspaper verbatim: “Special counsel Jack Smith and Fulton DA Fani Willis have a common goal: to prosecute election interference.” Perhaps if that is repeated a few thousand times, someone with an IQ of over 80 will believe it.

Another victim of high interest rates: auto sales which experts predict to be flat in 2024 after somewhat of an upswing in 2023.

Yet another example of our “thriving” economy, after last week’s death knoll for Sports Illustrated comes with news of layoffs and store closings for Macy’s.

January, a good time to be indoors with a good book or have lunch with three of your favorite fiction authors: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Arthur Hailey.

“Borrowed” from a friend, One minute you are young and the next minute you are predicting the weather with your bad knee.

This week in 1928 (Jan. 31) 3M scotch tape is first marketed.

Sports, media and other notes:

5:05 Sports Note: Earlier this month, white smoke was seen emanating from the Cracker Barrel in Tuscaloosa signifying that Alabama has selected a new football coach.

We know there are only 32 head coaching positions in the NFL, but we wish Bucs’ offensive coordinator Dave Canales had held out for something better than the hot mess that is the Carolina Panthers.

Related: former Bucs’ coach Raheem Morris gets the Falcons’ job. With a 21-38 combined record here and previously as an interim in Atlanta; this is probably his last shot as a head coach.

It’s about time - for Todd Helton to be voted into the Hall of Fame. Hitting instructors have their left handed students view videos of that swing. As for Adrian Beltre, first year, we can abide with that, but Joe Mauer, good but not a first year inductee (see Berra, Yogi and Campanella, Roy, neither first rounders). A final swing and miss for Tampa’s Gary Sheffield whose post season struggles probably doomed his chances.

A tip of our cap goes to Nick Dunlap, a University of Alabama sophomore, the first amateur golfer to win a PGA event in a third of a century. Buoyed by his success, he will now turn pro.

TikTok: If you’ve lived in Clearwater a long time, you remember the lounge, spelled a little differently, where at any given time, you could find about a quarter of The Clearwater Sun’s staff.

One last thing: Your Sunday comfort zone

Nothing was more relaxing than sharing a Sunday morning cup of coffee with Charles Osgood who died last week at age 91. He anchored CBS Sunday Morning for over twenty years with a laid back style that made you feel he was sitting across your living room. And while other TV journalists distained radio once they “made it” on TV, The Osgood File on CBS Radio continued even after he left Sunday Morning. That portion of your week was never the same when he (and his predecessor Charles Kuralt) left the living room. Osgood was one of the truly great journalists of the 20^th century.

NEXT WEEK: In the Mood; First drive-thru; Mayor’s election

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: Discouraging good office seekers

If you live in the bay area, chances are your community may have lost a lawmaker due to new laws that require local elected officials to file detailed financial statements. As one former office holder put it: for an often thankless job, overly intrusive financial questions are a big ask. Previously, large (over $10,000) assets and liabilities were all required along with the sources of your income. We need incentives to attract good public officials not roadblocks for jobs that are, for the most part, thankless, virtually volunteer positions.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Item: John Kerry to step down as Biden’s energy czar. That should lessen our nation’s carbon footprint by 5-10 percent.

It was fun watching liberal outlets, particularly the local bi-weekly, moonwalk after DeSantis finished ahead of Haley in Iowa.

Related, the GOP can take comfort that every poll in America shows either DeSantis or Haley beating Biden in the unlikely event Trump would step aside.

Further related: an ad hoc gathering of a TBRR focus group subcommittee answered this question: who will be the Presidential contenders in November? Of the four, two said Biden-Trump. Another is not so sure about Biden and the fourth not so sure about Trump – or Biden.

Lots of election stuff this week: Newsweek last week took a stab at four potential Trump running mates. Conspicuously absent from the list was Nikki Haley.

Amazon just purchased 450 acres in Covington, Ga. The price was $36 million. Can you imagine what that much acreage would cost anywhere remotely near the bay area?

“Genuine” was the word of 2023. One phrase to keep an eye on in ’24 is “coffee badging.” That’s where employees, who are being called back to the office after a few years at home, protest the move by showing up long enough for a cup of coffee and to swipe their badge, then go home to do their day’s work.

This week in 1968 (Jan. 22):Sock it to me! Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In debuts on NBC.

Sports, media and other notes:

It appears the end is very near for Sports Illustrated, a staple of sports journalism for 70 years. The magazine, now a monthly, has laid off the majority of its staff in the past few weeks.

Jaw dropping: watching local and national sports writers, who can’t balance their checkbooks, try to explain the complex financial issues surrounding Diamond Sports Group. Diamond carries the Lightning and Rays games among a couple dozen others. The bottom line is this; you’ll get the Lightning and Rays this season. Where and the cost remains to be seen.

Factoid: Less than five percent of “journalists” at major dailies, network and cable news outlets are registered Republicans – a fact that should shock no one.

Answer: 70. The question – how many colors of bricks do Lego currently produce? The company, founded in 1949, has had as many as 110 colors in its palette over the years.

From the 5:05 Newsletter: Has anyone else noted that it seems we can no longer engage in any kind of economic transaction, including with armed robbers, ATMs or vending machines, without being asked if we wish to leave a tip? More on this below.

One last thing: What’s up with tipping?

You’re in a restaurant and the electronic bill arrives and you’re suddenly confronted with a decision on a tip instead of your usual just rounding up from 20 percent. Or worse, some kid has just drawn you a coffee at a fast food counter and the bill asks if you want to tip for filling up a cup? You’ll even see a tip prompt on the receipts of some convenience stores. And how do you tip – cash or on the card? For years, cash was preferred because a lot of restaurants took a cut (illegally) of the tip because they had to pay a small percentage of the tip in credit card service fees. That practice has all but vanished. Some establishments automatically add 20 per cent to the tab – which sometimes can lead to double tipping, others will not allow you to tip off a gift card. And what if the service (any service) is provided by the owner? Folks like Emily Post of a gentler time said no tip. Now, in establishments like hair salons and the like, a tip for the owner is expected. The whole system has gotten a little out of hand, BUT if you don’t feel like tipping a server at a restaurant at least something, eat at home.

NEXT UP: TikTok; The Fonz; FTX

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: Taxing EV owners

The proposed Florida Senate Bill 28 makes almost too much sense. The legislation, crafted by Sen. Ed Hooper of Clearwater, calls for an annual registration fee of $200 for electric vehicles to offset lost gas tax revenues. The average driver pays just about that amount each year in gas taxes. Naysayers call the bill double taxation, saying fees are charged on electric recharging. True, but that money does not go to Florida’s critical transportation needs. In terms of needed capacity, a car is a car; in fact, EVs tend to be heavier putting more stress on transportation infrastructure. Sen. Hooper’s bill levels the playing field of who pays for the roads they use.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

The bombshell dropped in Atlanta regarding Trump’s DA antagonist Fani Willis and her prosecutor/boyfriend Nathan Wade didn’t surprise a lot of insiders.

What’s up? According to the most recent consumer surveys, the biggest price jumps in staples include bacon, butter, coffee, cookies and rice (a 15-year high).

What’s down? The average retirement account value – approximately 11 percent since Biden took office – even with 2023’s fourth quarter surge.

Hey, cut Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin some slack. It wasn’t like Pearl Harbor happened during his recent hospitalization.

With much ado, the White House has announced a program focused on states to help curb gun violence. It’s not the states, but the liberal run cities (Chicago, Philly, even Tampa) that need attention.

Idle thought: It seems many of our current doctors are nothing more than legal drug peddlers.

The Rays’ proposed new stadium is just one of eleven new stadiums/major upgrades announced in 2023 by cities with pro franchises.

Number of the week: $816 billion, the value of goods returned by shoppers in 2022. When the 2023 numbers are in, retailers expect the total to be even higher.

He was another one of those people who never seemed to have a bad day. Col. Tom Jones, a fourth generation Salvationist, long time presence in the Clearwater Salvation Army and devoted Florida Gator, passed away last week at age 86.

We also note the passing of Frank Dame, who did so much to expand the Clearwater Marine Science Center while serving as its CEO. Frank was 76.

Born 100 years ago this week (Jan. 19) was Nicholas Colasanto, the beloved “coach” from Cheers.

Sports, media and other notes:

Talk about a double-barreled surprise. Nick Saban retires from the Tide and Pete Carroll is bumped upstairs at Seattle. That’s a total of 561 wins between the two legendary coaches.

Related: the Tide moved quickly to fill their need, hiring Washington’s Kalen DeBoer. Given his track record, the hire makes sense. On the other hand, the New England Patriots promotion of an assistant on their 4-13 team (Jerod Mayo) doesn’t.

It won’t be long – the Rays open their Spring Training schedule hosting the Braves in just over a month.

Quite a few locals have been calling for rebranding of the Rays like the St. Pete Rays in concurrence with a new stadium. They had a great and historic name at the very beginning which, mysteriously, they didn’t use – the St. Pete Saints – a name that dates back to 1908. Think of the merchandise sales alone.

Saw an article recently about 17 great locations for sandwiches in the bay area. Frankly, we would put Publix’ deli up against any of those trendy spots.

Internet rumination from the 5:05 Newsletter: Being popular on the Internet is like sitting at the cool table in a mental hospital.

Good news, bad news. Coming next month will be a new CBS series featuring the quirky character Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) from The Good Wife and The Good Fight. The bad news – the much anticipated rework of Matlock with Kathy Bates has been pushed back to the 2025 season due to the writer’s strike.

You’ve lived in Pinellas County a long time if you remember that Largo’s Ace Hardware Store was once the home of Largo Lanes.

One last thing: This year’s HOF ballot

The baseball writers will announce their selections for this year’s Hall of Fame class in a couple weeks. These are the guys who should get the nod, Colorado’s sweet swinging Todd Helton; the best left handed reliever in the game’s history, Billy Wagner who primarily toiled for Houston and the man even Willie Mays says is the best fielding center fielder ever, Andrew Jones who patrolled the outfield mainly for Atlanta. There is a trio of deserving players on the ballot for the first time, Adrian Beltre, Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer and Phils’ second baseman Chase Utley. But in our eyes, to get in on the first ballot, you have to have a resume like Clemente, Maddux or Mays.

NEXT UP: Laugh-In; Coffee badging; Closing bank branches

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Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: 10 not so credible 2024 predictions

1. This pains us, but Joe Biden will, very likely through devious means (see #5 below), keep the lease on the White House. Sincerely hope we’re wrong.

2. Because of #1, there will be little or no improvement in the nation’s border crisis.

3. Also because of #1, inflation in America will continue unabated.

4. Interest rates will remain at their high 2023 levels, but perhaps drop very slightly sometime after the first quarter.

5. The Supreme Court will overturn election intrusions in both Colorado and Maine. The only question is will the verdict be 9-0? It should be.

6. The gradual, but increasing withdrawal from China by high tech firms will further accelerate in 2024.

7. This is only a 50-50 shot, but FSU will negotiate an exit from the ACC and head where?

8. It is probably bowl or bust for Billy Napier’s career (11-14 so far) at UF in 2024. We predict bust (tough as nails schedule).

9. The Los Angeles Dodgers, with their other worldly payroll, will not win the World Series. In our annual MLB predictions in March, we’ll tell you who will.

10. Finally, Joe Biden will have at least one airplane boarding stairs incident before Election Day.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Welcome to Florida, Sean.

Quote of the week: The Harvard Corporation, the university's 11-member governing body, said in an email to the community that its members had accepted Claudine Gay's resignation "with sorrow." The sorrow is in that they did a lousy job of vetting a university presidential candidate.

We warned that once Ron DeSantis stepped on the national stage, the attack pieces in the local left-wing bi-weekly would accelerate. But after reading the over the top garbage last week, you would think that rather than the thriving state of Florida, he was the governor of California.

Well, Shenna Bellows has had her fifteen minutes of fame. Wonder how long it will take before everyone forgets her? In case you already have, she’s the idiot Secretary of State in Maine who tried to take the state’s primary into her own hands.

Is Ohio still part of the United States? Laissez-faire abortion laws, “gender affirming care” for minors and transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports – the last two due to a veto of common sense legislation by their supposed GOP governor, who hopefully will be looking for work soon.

Political thought from our friend TL: All politicians should wear uniforms. You know, like NASCAR drivers, so we could identify their corporate sponsors.

The ever growing Publix chain is completing its first store in Kentucky which will open this week in Louisville. The grocer is now in eight Southeastern states.

This week in 1971 (Jan. 12) the comedy classic “All in the Family” debuts on CBS.

Sports, media and other notes:

Related to our historical note above – Tom Bosley, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney and Jack Warden were all considered for the role of Archie Bunker in All in the Family. It was actually offered to Rooney, who turned it down.

The rumble you hear is George Blanda, Sonny Jurgensen and Bobby Layne rolling over in their graves as virtually all of playoff-bound quarterbacks sit out the NFL season’s final game.

Number of the week: As the college football season comes to a close, just short of 2800 players have entered the transfer portal. We don’t know what we’re watching, but it isn’t college football anymore.

33 games into the season, four NBA franchises (Detroit, Portland, San Antonio and Washington) had not yet notched 10 wins.

A ubiquitous item around the home recently celebrated its 100^th year in use – the Q-tip.

Post holiday tip from the 5:05 Newsletter: It’s time to throw out the Eggnog when it begins to look like your Chia Pet.

… One last thing: A few resolutions

The holidays were busy, but a few of our esteemed Focus Group weighed in on their singular resolution for 2024.

Leading off, one of our group, who works too hard, resolved to take better care of themselves.

From our western most (NOLA) contributor: to find balance between soaking in the moment and documenting events - i.e., taking a couple of pictures but then putting the phone away to really experience things!

Another of our group put it simply: My resolution is to attempt to be more mindful.

Another of our number, smug in the fact they already dropped nearly 10 pounds in the last two months of the year, instead went for a vow to do a better job in communicating with old friends, classmates and extended family in 2024.

Thanks to our group for some solid thoughts.

NEXT UP: Disillusioned; Elsbeth; Hall of Fame ballot

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: A year-end change

Earlier this month, we had an epiphany. We hardly read any year-end retrospectives, so why do we burden our readers with one? In short, this year, we will not have one. Two items we will retain are our “Last song together” section in which we recognize difference makers in our community who passed away in 2023 and our “Five Rants, Five Raves” section where we toast/roast individuals or organizations for outstanding works or incredible stupidity. Otherwise, our year-end edition will be pretty much like 2023’s previous communiqués.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Joe Biden scolds press, tells them to start covering the economy “the right way.” We assume that means ignoring egregious interest rates, inflation and shrinking retirement accounts.

Watching the nonsense in Colorado and Maine, one wonders if some functionary in one of our more centrist states can’t formulate similar faux charges and get Biden, at least temporarily, off the ballot.

Quote of the week: from Washington Post columnist George Will, “Today, the desire of Hamas to complete the Holocaust is applauded by moral cretins in academic cocoons, too uneducated to understand the grotesque pedigree of their enthusiasm.”

Early in 2024, the Clearwater city council will be considering a $35 million renovation to its marina. There is a huge hole in the proposal – a much needed parking garage.

Sports, media and other notes:

Talk about polar opposites – at one end, there’s the playoff bound Detroit Lions and at the other end, the woeful Pistons. The Isaiah Thomas days seem centuries ago.

Burning question: Can ad icons Peyton Manning and Emmitt Smith rescue Bud Light? Stay tuned.

Remember the days of jingles like Things go better with Coke, The Pepsi Generation and See the USA in a Chevrolet? They have all given way to re-dos of hits like Take Five, Rubber Band Man and I Drove All Night along with a dozen others.

Saw an article recently about 17 great locations for sandwiches in the bay area. Frankly, we would put Publix’ deli up against any of those trendy spots.

From the folks at the 5:05 Newsletter: My Facebook goal for 2024 is that when my friends are finished reading something I posted, they can be absolutely certain that they will have learned nothing remotely useful.

Our 2023 recap of some great people we lost in the bay area follows below, but first, a tip of our cap goes to NBC News for their look back at folks on the nation’s stage like Rosalynn, Kissinger, Buffett, Bacharach, Bobby Knight, Matthew Perry and Norman Lear. The entire six minute tribute is available on line.

Our last song together

(We note the 2023 passing of people who made a difference, one way or another, in the bay area with this segment, the title inspired by the poignant Neil Sedaka song interpreted so well by the late Glenn Yarbrough.)

Long time Pinellas County Commissioner, Bruce Tyndall passed away in February at age 86. Bruce served nearly two decades on the Commission.

Also in February, Ben Griffith, a Navy veteran and retired banker, who with his wife Mary ably assisted your Humble Blogger and Saintly Wife with several real estate transactions over the years, passed away at age 88. Sadly, wife Mary passed away in July at age 87.

Tim McCarver, a presence in Clearwater for many years in his role as a Phils’ catcher and, later, a superb baseball analyst, died in February at age 81.

In your car, Dave Wills and Andy Freed were your constant companions during the Ray’s baseball season. Dave, a broadcast pro, passed away during Spring Training at age 58. He will be missed.

In the second half of the 20^th century, Clearwater’s automotive landscape was dominated by names like Andrews, Carlisle, Dimmitt, Lokey, Stone and Kenyon. Roger Kenyon, who sold thousands of Dodges through the years, died in March at age 91.

She was one-half of one of Tampa’s true power couples. Tampa native Betty Poe died in April at age 92. Husband Bill was Mayor of Tampa from 1974-79.

In April, we said a sad goodbye to our incredibly spoiled and loved cat, Doodle Bug, just weeks short of her 20th birthday. She fought diabetes and its daily shots for over half her life, with the help of a very caring “Mom” plus a wonderful vet – Dr. Jamie Todd.

Mike Pride was a classmate at Clearwater High (’64) and went on to be the city editor of The Clearwater Sun and later the award winning editor of the Concord (NH) Monitor. Our boyhood friend passed away in April at age 76.

Jack Butcher was the straight forward publisher of the bay area’s straight forward newspaper The Tampa Tribune. The veteran of nearly fifty years in the newspaper profession died in July at age 90.

(From September) We offer condolences to our friend Charlie Robinson on the passing of Louise, his wife of well over a half-century - a truly wonderful couple.

Hundreds of Clearwater residents lost a good friend with the passing of Harry Cline, a respected attorney, community leader and rabid supporter of the North Carolina Tar Heels where he attended law school. He was also an All-Conference catcher during his undergrad days at Davidson. Harry was a most likeable man who will be greatly missed.

For years, we have enjoyed breakfasts at the Largo Family Restaurant. What made it so enjoyable was being not served, but spoiled, by Kim Deister. We were sad to report Kim’s passing in September. Breakfast will never be the same.

Fred Fisher, the driving force behind the Long Center and other local philanthropic endeavors passed away in September at the age of 92.

If you got to know seasonal resident, Jimmy Stinchcomb of Sand Key, you counted yourself lucky. Jimmy, a decorated Korean War veteran, extremely successful businessman and a man who seemingly never had a bad day, passed away in his native Ohio in October at age 96.

Our condolences go to longtime area businessman and former Clearwater city commissioner Fred Thomas on the October passing of Joy, his wife of over sixty years.

In November, we sent our heartfelt prayers to the Kuhlman family, whose son Nathaniel was killed in a freak skiing accident while on his honeymoon in St. Lucia.

Father David Engbarth “retired” from the Diocese of Rockford, IL ten years ago. But he had a whole new career in the bay area serving at over a half dozen parishes, bringing his fluency in two languages and his genuine love of his fellow man to thousands of the faithful. Sadly, he died suddenly in November at age 75.

Finally, Five Rants, Five Raves

(Our year-end feature salutes five people or things for outstanding achievements and, likewise, five bozos for, well, being bozos.)

RANTS

Our nation’s universities: for ignoring, if not fostering, rampant anti-Semitism on their campuses.

Clearwater’s city council for their weak-kneed decision caving to abortion providers demands for “protection” at their clinic on S. Highland Avenue. It’s not the abortion providers who need protection.

The Pinellas County Commission for their plan to spend between $250-350 million on a Taj Mahal befitting their status – and outside the county seat, as well.

Newly elected District 13 U.S. Rep Anna Paulina Luna who got way out front in the first House Speaker voting fiasco. When you’re new to a group, you sit down, shut up and learn.

USF, for throwing multi-millions towards a stadium for a woebegone football team that has won 15 games in the last five years.

RAVES

For the Ivy League, who after nearly seventy years, continues to play college football the way it was meant to be played.

How often do you see a handicapped person in a television commercial? The answer, unless it’s the Shriners or the DAV, is never. We say thanks to Target for their recent inclusion, albeit brief, of a handicapped individual. It seems we try to put every odd life form on earth in our ads, but never someone handicapped.

To the Clearwater city council, for wisely looking inside the city for a new city manager, Jennifer Poirrier.

To our well-run Pinellas County Library System that puts thousands and thousands of books at our finger tips with just a couple of clicks on the computer.

Finally, to Jack Harris, who kept us laughing and thinking over multiple decades at WFLA Radio.

First in 2024: 10 not so credible predictions; Mega returns; Q-Tip

Happy New Year!

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Leading off: Are we better off? For some, yes.

On the eve of the holidays, we saw a poll that asked a familiar question, “Are you financially better off than you were a year ago?” Just shy of half (49 %) said no. But that means over half disagree despite our current administration’s economic incompetence. For the most part, the majority have reduced their debt, been smarter about non-essential items (cable, cell phones, dining to name a few) and just searched for better deals on things – like insurance, cars and investments. It’s not easy, takes a little time, but actually can be fun. During the coming year, we’ll try to offer up some strategies our research turned up and pass them along.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Here’s a start on our economic strategies as promised above. Never let an increase in your cable or streaming bill go by without calling the provider and cancelling. Somehow, they always come up with a “better plan.”

The problem for Democrats with their long shot attempt to get Trump off the ballot is that would leave either DeSantis or Haley as the GOP candidate who both outpoll Biden by a mile.

Just in time for the holidays, Florida gas prices bump up to over three dollars a gallon.

While Florida residents need high cost insurance to protect them from storm losses, Duke Power has the Public Service Commission that, under current agreements, allow them to collect storm losses from their customers. This is wrong and needs to be changed.

A counterpoint to our rant last week about offshore customer service – a few weeks ago we had the most delightful service from a young lady with USAA in Stuart, FL who guided us through a minor problem and concluded the call with “Thanks for your service.” That’s customer service!

One of the highlights of Friday’s Gasparilla Bowl was a chance to view Georgia Tech’s iconic Ramblin’ Wreck, a pristine 1930 Ford Model A that has been a part of the Tech football program for over sixty years.

This week in 1904 (December 27) the stage play "Peter Pan" by J. M. Barrie premieres at the Duke of York Theatre in London. And 13 years ago, the apple of our eye, granddaughter Emma Kathleen, is born.

Sports, media and other notes:

Christmas note from the ed: A few weeks back, we wrote about the five biggest selling Christmas records of all time. There were two other rather successful songs that never made it to a playlist of the radio stations we programmed – Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer and Santa Baby. We figure if some day we are not judged worthy of the pearly gates, our dark corner will feature a continuous tape loop of the two above mentioned songs.

With thanks to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the gigantic sum being paid to Shohei Ohtani is larger than the total projected 2024 payrolls of eight major league teams. 

Question posed recently to approximately 100 NFL players, “Other than your current coach, what NFL coach would you want to play for?” The overwhelming choice was the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin; second was Andy Reid.

A final Christmas thought from the 5:05 Newsletter: “I told Santa Claus that for Christmas I just want to be Happy. Now I’m living in a cottage with six dwarves and working in a mine.”

…and another thing: This year’s predictions

In our first edition each year of TBR&R, we make ten shaky predictions for the year ahead. In our next to last edition of the year, we present our report card (this year in baseball parlance).

Our hits (and there were few): Ron DeSantis did, indeed, announce for the Presidency; most folks’ retirement accounts were up very slightly; our safest prediction was that your gym would be less crowded in a month, a total of three hits.

Swings and misses (the majority): Dems did not talk Biden out of running again; we have no settlement in the Ukraine, instead another war; Michael Kelly did not get canned as USF’s Athletic Director; the Rays did not miss the playoffs; the Padres didn’t make the playoffs, much less win the World Series; the most shocking miss was our prediction that Charlie Crist would run for something next year. So far, no announcements from the perennial candidate, six whiffs.

Still to be determined, our prediction that the Bucs would miss the playoffs. In the NFC South, who knows? So we finish 3-6-1, a good baseball batting average, but a lousy football record. We’ll try to do better with our ’24 predictions in two weeks.  

NEXT WEEK: Our annual “Year in Review”

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Merry Christmas!

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Something fishy about Florida

If you’ve lived in the bay area any length of time, you know one of the top tourist activities in our area is fishing. Folks will drop a line from one of our piers, a charter boat or one of a half dozen or so party boats. But what you might not know is how much fish is caught commercially for both our regional supermarkets, restaurants or for shipping across the nation. The unofficial “headquarters” for our commercial fleets are Madeira Beach and Tarpon Springs. Another phase of the fishing industry even lesser known is the enormous amount of aquarium fish bred locally and sent all over the country. Close to half of all the aquarium fish in the country come from Florida – particularly Hillsborough and Dade County. Fishing is a huge, but often overlooked, industry in Florida and the bay area.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Please excuse us if this week’s edition is reaching you late; we have been tending to our Netflix and SiriusXM accounts which have expired – approximately 20 times each over the past month.

Not so idle thought: if it was your kid or our kid and not Joe Biden’s kid, he would have been in jail a long time ago.

A few weeks of lower gas prices did not make for an economic turnaround. Record high interest rates remain, Hasbro is the latest company to lay off over a thousand employees and food prices continue to move upward.

In keeping with 2023’s “word of the year,” this is the genuine Tampa Bay Rants and Raves – accept no substitutions.

Something we don’t take for granted so much this time of year – the U.S. Postal Service.

Idle thought: An underrated gem in the bay area is the terrific Largo Central Park.

Five years ago in TBR&R (12/23/18) Best wishes to Channel 8’s Mark Douglas who retires after some forty years in “the biz”. If you were a bad guy, you didn’t want to see him at your front door. Otherwise, you knew you would get a fair interview.

Sports, media and other notes:

From the folks at the 5:05 Newsletter: Outdoor Christmas lights are being strung all around town. Clearwater is like communities everywhere, we too have many homeowners who cross the fine line, in terms of illumination, between “tasteful holiday yard display” and “municipal airport.” I particularly hate the flashing red and blue outdoor lights that always cause me to brake hard thinking the cops are chasing me.

A nit-pick about the holidays – receiving a greeting card from acquaintances with the same personal touch as a card from your insurance agent – pre-printed labels everywhere, not even a “how are you?” And then there are those page long single-spaced “holiday letters” detailing every ache, pain and trip outside the city limits in the preceding 12 months.

Very telling – the Washington Capitals’ and Wizards’ planned move to Virginia – just another sign of an even further deteriorating D.C.

We should know better, but we’ll take USF and the points in Thursday’s bowl game.

If you like NFL parity, this is your year. Going into this weekend, 30 teams (out of 32) are still in contention for the playoffs.

Baseball factoid: When a player reaches eight years of major league service, he receives a gold card which grants him free admission into any major league park for life. Told ya you should have practiced harder.

Not quite the same, but your humble blogger received a “gold card” for serving over five years on the PSTA board of directors. Free bus rides for life – not yet used.

…and one last thing: “Bob” in the Philippines

Yes, we know Cyber Monday set sales records but… if there is a problem with a locally purchased item, you can retrace your steps to a local store and speak with a human being. All too often, if an on-line item is broken in shipping, is the wrong item or size, the push button maze begins. Ever noticed that all of the options offered are not why you called? Finally, you’re connected to a human being, more often than not it’s “Bob” in the Philippines for whom English, at best, is a second language. The reason of course, is in the 1000 some call centers in the Philippines, the average worker makes two dollars an hour and that is the level of service you get. For your reference, a few U.S, companies that rely heavily on offshore CSRs are Aetna, Amazon, Citibank, Fanatics, Nike, Target.com, Verizon and Visa. Visit them at your own risk.

UP NEXT: Peter Pan; Santa Baby and that other song; Being Happy

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: The Pinellas transit board

Along party lines, the Pinellas County legislative delegation has voted to forward legislation to Tallahassee to lessen the size of the PSTA board from 15 to 11 members with four of those being Pinellas County Commission members. In addition, the two citizens who have been a critical part of the board (usually bus riders themselves) would be appointed by either the President of the Florida Senate or the Speaker of the House, who know as much about Pinellas County transportation as we know about Plant City strawberry farming. Even Sen. Ed Hooper, of the prevailing side, a guy who thinks before following the party line, says he doesn’t like PSTA appointments from afar. The move in the words of more than one critic is a solution in search of a problem. And having served on the PSTA board for over five years, we concur – don’t fix what isn’t broken.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Florida State goes down in history as the first undefeated Power 5 champion in the CFP era to not make the playoffs which is beyond ridiculous. Head Coach Mike Norvell said it best: “I am disgusted and infuriated with the committee’s decision today to have what was earned on the field taken away because a small group of people decided they knew better than the results of the games.”

The “Green Conference” in Dubai presented a logistics problem – where to park all those private jets.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman is censured by his fellow congressmen for pulling a fire alarm while the house was in session. He can take comfort that, being a liberal, the story was buried inside the area’s liberal bi-weekly rather than garnering front page World War II headlines had he been a conservative.

Two linked headlines: Hard Rock launches in person sports gambling. Carolina Jaguars employee embezzles $22million due to what his attorney says is “a serious gambling addiction.”

This past week, Publix debuted their Christmas commercial – one of their best. For our household, it wouldn’t be Christmas without at least one revisit to their memorable first holiday commercial, “Last Train Home” from 1989, still available on YouTube.

Taylor Swift is Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year.” She joins other female people of the year, Wallis Simpson (the first), and most recently Kamala Harris and Greta Thunberg – not the most illustrious list. There have been multiple “People of the Year” recognitions, but only one three-time honoree – FDR.

Five years ago in TBR&R (12/16/18) Sad to see the former Country Harvest Restaurant razed. The Missouri Avenue institution was where you ate well and made new friends both with fellow diners and staff. It was a Sunday after church tradition for so many families.

Sports, media and other notes:

Ohtani signs with Dodgers for $700 million while it’s revealed he might not even be able to begin the season as a DH, much less pitch. If we’re one of the other 29 teams, we’re feeling really smart right now.

Gerry Fraley, who began his career at The Clearwater Sun, will enter the writer’s wing of the Hall of Fame during the induction weekend next July. Fraley, who died at age 64 in 2019, spent nearly two decades at The Dallas Morning News.

Congratulations to another, most deserving Hall of Famer - Jim Leyland.

Christmas note from the 5:05 Newsletter: Due to the extreme coal shortage, Santa will be giving out Justin Bieber CDs to all the bad kids this year.

This year, there was a chance that a tight end might win the Heisman for the first time in almost 75 years (Leon Hart, Notre Dame 1949) but that was dashed with an injury to Georgia’s outstanding Brock Bowers.

Baseball payroll data: $78 million was the Ray’s payroll this year. $70 million is what the Mets will pay players in 2024 who are no longer on their team.

$46,730 – that is the cost this year of the gifts in The 12 Days of Christmas. That’s up $1200 from last year – less than the overall inflation rate.

…and another thing: Treasured toys

Last month, the Toys Hall of Fame announced four inductees for 2023 bringing to 71 the number of items in the prestigious hall located in Rochester, NY. We say items because not all the inductees are strictly toys – like one of this year’s honorees – the baseball card. The hall has also honored the stick, a box and sand among others. In addition to the baseball card, 2023 saw the inclusion of the 1960’s NERF toys, 1957’s Fisher-Price Corn Popper which had nothing to do with popcorn, if you remember. Last, but certainly not least in this year’s group, was our daughter’s favorite Christmas present – the Cabbage Patch Doll which was launched in 1979, but became extremely difficult to obtain in the craze of 1983. To this day, we are indebted to our friend, Jim Stewart, for somehow finding one for under our six-year old’s tree.

NEXT WEEK: Gold card; Fishy business; Is this the airport?

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Repurposing empty office space

American employers with expensive leases are asking their employees to come back to the office. The pushback has been considerable. Employees found they could be as productive or more productive at home – without the necessity of a 30-60 minute commute. Employers must ask themselves if they want to lose top employees by asking them to come back to the 9-5. Meanwhile over a third of the nation’s office space remains empty. Now, the empty buildings are finding new tenants – colleges. In Fairfield CT, a major GE facility is now occupied by Sacred Heart University; in Louisville, Humana donated a no longer used building to the city’s university and George Washington University paid less than a tenth of appraised value for a former World Bank building. The one down side – university buildings come off the tax rolls, but municipal officials say that is more than offset by added commerce the repurposed buildings bring.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

America lost two giants this past week, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger passed away at age 100. Sandra Day O’Connor was the Supreme Court’s first female jurist. Ms. O’Connor died at age 93. Both left indelible marks on our nation.

Father David Engbarth “retired” from the Diocese of Rockford, IL ten years ago. But he had a whole new career in the bay area serving at over a half dozen parishes, bringing his fluency in two languages and his genuine love of his fellow man to thousands of the faithful. Sadly, he died suddenly last week at age 76.

The Florida Supreme Court’s ruling on the so-called Marsy’s Law was disappointing. Crime victims and law enforcement personnel should have their privacy respected. About the only segment opposed to this common sense law is the media.

Quote of the week: "Giving up on the unborn is not an option, It's politically dumb and morally repugnant. Instead, we need to understand why we lost this battle so we can win the war." Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance after Ohio (not German) voters approved a laissez-faire abortion measure.

Latest polls show Trump up by seven points over Biden. Now, the folks in Philly, Chicago and D.C. know how many votes they have to somehow create.

Hyundai workers are a step ahead of their brethren in Detroit with a 25% wage increase over the next four years – without having to kick in excessive union dues.

Factoid: Howard Hughes’ flying boat the “Spruce Goose” which made its one and only flight 76 years ago this fall was not made of spruce. It was mainly birch.

This week in 1933 (Dec. 5), a day celebrated annually by the 5:05 Newsletter, the 21^st Amendment is passed ending Prohibition. 

Sports, media and other notes: 

Bowl news – 41 is about 20 too many postseason bowls when you have to fill in with Minnesota (5-7), USF (5-6 against Division one teams) and a bunch of mediocre 6-6 teams.

This week is like Christmas Eve for baseball fans – the winter meetings where a lot of deals are consummated with presents fans would like to see under their tree like Snell, Ohtani, Bellinger and Soto.

If you’re an NFL coach, the owner you don’t want to work for is David Tepper who has fired three head coaches in mid-season since he bought the Carolina Panthers five years ago.

It’s freedom week. Starting Friday, your television viewing will no longer be adulterated by annoying Medicare commercials.

Seen on a McDonald’s marquee, “McRib is back.” But in 2022’s farewell tour, they promised it would be gone forever.

Holiday thought from the 5:05 Newsletter: What is it about Christmas tree lights? Apparently they are only manufactured in Third World nations that just recently found out about electricity, so if one light goes out they all do. And, for our convenience, they have been pre-snarled at the factory to resemble a Reggae musician’s hairdo.

…and another thing: Christmas hits

Of the Top 30 best-selling single records of all time, five are Christmas tunes starting with the biggest selling record of all – Bing Crosby’s White Christmas with over 50 million copies sold – 17 million more than the next biggest hit. Also on that Top 30 list are Bing’s Silent Night (30 million); next is Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You (16 million); then comes Gene Autry’s Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer (12.5 million); the fifth song in the Top 30 all time is Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? (11.5 million). By the way, the biggest selling non-Christmas song is Elton John’s tribute to Princess Diana – Candle in the Wind ’97. It has sold 33 million copies.

UP NEXT: Treasured toys; Coal shortage; Mets vs. Rays payrolls

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: The DOE’s latest target

You think it’s fiction but…Biden’s wackadoo Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s newest target is ceiling fans. She’d like them to be more “energy efficient.” There is a reason they are in darned near every home in Florida; they move the air cutting down on the need for so much air conditioning. They define energy efficiency. With the air moving, you can set your a/c 3-4 degrees higher. But that’s not good enough for Ms. Granholm. She’s advocating fans that would save the consumer $39 over the life of the fan, but would cost the industry close to $90 million a year in additional manufacturing costs – and guess who pays that? Additionally, small business advocates say the changes would put a lot of smaller manufacturers out of business – something that is always lost on the elitists in D.C. One last thought, wouldn’t you like to take a peek at the thermostats in Ms. Granholm’s residence?

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Rosalynn Carter, who died last week at age 96, never seemed to forget her humble beginnings, always looking after those less fortunate.

If you look into the details of Pinellas County’s move to relocate its headquarters, you just shake your head in wonderment.

Related – supposedly the new location would be the county’s population center. Does this mean we should move the state capital to Orlando?

Sweet justice: the ultra-liberal Nike chain’s LA store is hit by a flash mob with the theft of close to $15,000 in merchandise.

An encouraging sign is Columbia Sportswear’s goal of moving more and more of its manufacturing out of Asia and into the Western Hemisphere. They are joining an assortment of U.S. companies looking at Mexico, Guatemala and elsewhere.

A snapshot of the November housing market – inventory is up but so are prices – up four and one half percent from a year ago.

It’s property tax season and with your bill, you got a very thinly veiled campaign flyer from Charles Thomas, our tax collector, who coincidently is up for election next year. And yes, you paid for the flyer.

Three popular places that seem to want to have nothing to do with Clearwater – Cracker Barrel, which several years ago abandoned its “interstates only” approach; Zaxby’s, close in Largo, but still a bit of a hike; the unique grocery store, Trader Joe’s; with an honorable mention to America’s best doughnut place – Krispy Kreme, which once had a location at Gulf-to-Bay and Duncan Ave.  

This week in 1934 (Nov. 29) the first nationwide broadcast of an NFL game as the Bears beat the Lions 19-16.

Sports, media and other notes:

A belated Happy 100^th Birthday (11/22) to Clearwater’s Herb Brown, whose illustrious life includes serving as President of Rotary International in 1995 and being the CEO of the Checkers Restaurant chain. His motto for his year as Rotary President was Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work for Peace – good words to have as our mantra.

Somebody has to win the NFC South – right?

Not only were Ronald Acuna, Jr. and Shohei Ohtani the first dual unanimous MVP winners in history, but five years earlier they were ranked the number 1 and 2 prospects in baseball by MLB Pipeline.

From award winning sports columnist Mark Bradley: “The two great truths in sports, seasons never get shorter and playoffs only get bigger. Some network will always pay for live content.” His interpretation of why colleges are expanding football playoffs to a ridiculous 12 teams.

Topping the charts this week in 1960 was the shortest #1 record of all time – Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs’ Stay at 1:40. The song would revisit the Top 20 in 1964 recorded by the Four Seasons who stretched it out to 1:52.

Holiday movie note from the 5:05 Newsletter: Hollywood announced that it is working on a remake of “It’s A Wonderful Life” for modern audiences. In the new version of the film, George Bailey’s guardian angel explains to him that since he is a straight white male, he should probably just go ahead and jump off the bridge into the river.

…and one last thing: 80 years ago in Tehran

Eighty years ago this week, the so-called Tehran Conference ended. It marked the first ever meeting of the three leaders of the Allied nations strategizing to bring an end to World War II. The interaction of three distinct leaders, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin is captured in Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch’s book The Nazi Conspiracy. Their tale showcases the personalities of each leader along with a still debated sidebar – an alleged plot by Nazi Germany to assassinate the three while the conference is going on. This stratagem, along with all the subplots of the conference itself, makes for an extremely interesting and fast paced read.

Next Up: Offices to colleges; Christmas hits; Christmas lights

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Time to thin the herd

As we pen this, it’s less than four months until Super Tuesday (March 5), the day that will no doubt determine the candidates for the Presidency in November. Every credible poll you look at says Biden is extremely vulnerable. But the Republicans continue to dither over candidates, most of whom can’t beat either Biden or Trump. The last couple months have revealed a candidate who most likely can – if the three and four per centers get out of her way – Nikki Haley. More and more potential voters realize her prowess in running a governmental unit as well as her grasp of international affairs. As a side benefit, her nomination might awake Democrats to the fact that they are promoting a ticket, which in George Will’s words, “features someone no longer fit for the presidency with someone who never will be fit.” Perhaps Haley’s candidacy would result in a more palatable Democratic ticket. Everybody wins.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related to our lead article, our friend TL says if Trump gets the GOP nomination instead of Nikki Haley, he should persuade her to join the ticket. That way, we would not live in extreme fear every day that something might happen to the President like we have in the past three years.

The answer: Mr. Hager’s 5^th period Algebra II class at Clearwater High. The news was delivered by our ’64 classmate Ellen Moore (now Martin). Every baby boomer remembers where they were sixty years ago this Wednesday, November 22, 1963.

A big win for U.S. industry as Emirates puts a hold on a major Airbus purchase of new aircraft because of engine concerns. The airline and a smaller affiliated firm pivoted to Boeing with a $63 billion purchase of its 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliners.

Number of the week: 29%. That’s the drop in Bud Light sales last month as compared to a year ago.

This week in 1916 (11/20), the Titanic’s star-crossed sister ship, Britannic, sinks in the Aegean Sea after hitting a mine during World War I. Thirty people die.

Sports, media and other notes:

Three straight wins over Top 25 teams. Any doubt about college’s #1 team?

Forgive Atlanta baseball fans if they feel like Charlie Brown about to kick the football being held by Lucy. They were just awarded the 2025 All Star game which they had been awarded in 2021only to have it jerked away by Biden stooge Rob Manfred.

Told ya – you should have stayed at FSU, Jimbo. And the idle chatter about the ‘Noles Mike Norvell following the same career path is just that – idle chatter.

Factoid: In addition to Sundays, Chick-fil-A will be closed this Thursday (Thanksgiving). It is the largest privately owned restaurant chain in America.

An early jump on your holiday shopping from the 5:05 Newsletter: If you are looking for a Christmas gift for that Biden fan in your life, you can’t go wrong with the Joe Biden Pocket Translator.

…and another thing: The season of giving

With Thanksgiving upon us, we posed this question to our TBR&R Focus Group. You have won $1million with the proviso you must give it away. You may give it all to one organization or split it up. What would you do?

Our first member went for thirds with equal amounts going to three local organizations - the small school where their daughter teaches, along with a third to Clearwater’s Kimberly Home Pregnancy Center and a third to the Morton Plant Hospital Foundation.

Another long time member of our focus group also went local: 3/4 to the local Salvation Army earmarked for the youth music program which provides instruments and music instruction to children in our community. The remaining 1/4 to the Community Dental Clinic which provides free dental care to uninsured adults.

Batting third, an original group member would benefit the school her granddaughter attends. She too would split her largesse in three with money going to the terrific Retirement Home for Horses in Alachua and the additional third to her church.

Another group member would also benefit his church, plus his alma mater, Southern Nazarene University and an outstanding local charity, the Rotary Club of Clearwater Charities.

So many great charities were mentioned by our group. Our Dunedin member also gave in thirds to The Salvation Army, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Our western-most member would benefit the National MS Society that does research and benefits people living with MS. She also mentioned two local charities in her adopted New Orleans – Voulez Krewe which marches Abba style in the Mardi Gras parade and does philanthropic work; plus Glass Half Full, a group that recycles glass and processes it into sand for coastal restoration and disaster relief projects. That sounds like something we need here on the west coast.

Finally, from our northern most contributor: I would give it to a local annual fund raiser called "Tyrtle Beach." (As everyone heads south to Myrtle Beach for Spring break, a well-known local person raises funds to jump into a still frigid local algae-laden, turtle-infested, lake/pond Salubria) The funds are disseminated to local youth programs and organizations without a penny of remuneration to those in charge of the program.

Thanks to all of our members for their thoughtful answers. This may have been the most gratifying article we’ve ever published!

UP NEXT: Tehran 1943; Missing three; Bears and Lions

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Tucker – 5 things we didn’t know

Although we watched him frequently over the years, we must admit there was a lot we didn’t know about former Fox superstar Tucker Carlson – until we read Chadwick Moore’s 2023 best seller Tucker. First, he once had a show on PBS. You could have told us he once wrote for Pravda or the St. Pete Times and we would not have been any less surprised. Speaking of writing, his Dad, Dick Carlson, was an award winning TV journalist in southern California. And speaking of TV, Tucker and his wife don’t own one. Tucker is a college dropout as is Susie, his wife of 32 years. They both dropped out in their senior years and got married – seemed to have worked out. He was a one and done contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2006. We said five things we didn’t know – actually there were probably five times five, including his admiration for Rachel Maddow, another writing for Pravda moment. Tucker is a fascinating read, well worth your time.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

We send our heartfelt prayers to the Kuhlman family whose son Nathaniel was killed in a freak skiing accident on his honeymoon in St. Lucia.

Related to our lead article - Tucker Carlson remains on the payroll of Fox as it becomes more and more apparent that removing him from the air was a condition when Fox settled with the litigious Dominion voting machine company.

Good start to moving the county government headquarters out of Clearwater – paying 20% more than what appraisal experts say the land is worth and three times what it sold for seven years ago - your tax dollars in action.

Borrowed from Bob Batlan, our friend of over seventy years, “One day I would like to turn on the news and hear, there is peace on Earth.”

Economist Steve Moore compares EVs to the Edsel, Ford’s 1950s “car of the future.” In both cases, Moore says, “nobody bothered to ask consumers whether they wanted the car.”

Is your body clock screwed up again? Thank your U.S. Representative.

Word is that MLB is all behind the Rays’ new stadium plan. Fact is Rob Manfred and his merry crew are anxious to put the Oakland and Tampa Bay mess behind them, so they can move on to expansion. MLB would approve a Quonset hut for the Rays if it would hasten expansion.

The head of Century 21’s mortgage division says if you have a mortgage in the 3-4 area, embrace it. Mike Miedler says the seven percent plus mortgage is going to be around for awhile.

Born 100 years ago this week (11/18) was America’s first man in space, Alan Shepard.

Sports, media and other notes:

The great debate this time of year is white bread or cornbread stuffing? Mom did the former, but we up and married a Southern girl and that was that. And please, don’t even talk about putting seafood in stuffing.

Let us understand this: Georgia beats the 12^th ranked team in the country and remains #2 in the playoff rankings behind an Ohio State team whose most recent victory came against a team ranked forty-something.

We absolutely don’t understand the NCAA (and we’re not alone). Some arcane rule prohibits James Madison University from bowl consideration despite a 9-0 record. So instead of seeing a 9 win (or better) team in a major bowl, we’ll see some 6-6 stiffs rather than a really solid program.

No respect – despite winning the World Series, the Rangers are only fourth ranked by Vegas to win the 2024 Fall Classic behind the Braves, Dodgers and Astros. Side bar – of the five teams yet to cash in November, our Rays are ranked most likely to win it all.

As we enter the holiday season, shopping news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Starting next month, Wal-Mart will require customers to unload arriving semi-trucks and restock the shelves before selecting items they want to purchase. They can then proceed to the self-checkout station.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you ever filled up at one of its many Gulf stations. A buyout moved Gulf out of Florida in the early ‘80s, while you can still find the orange and blue disc in some northern states and the UK.

One last thing: A trial we wanted to see

Major League baseball was being sued by two former minor league teams, one each in New York and Connecticut over their loss of affiliation with MLB in 2021. It was part of a move by the majors to drop their affiliates from 160 to 120, in effect robbing 40 smaller communities of organized ball. All but two went pretty much quietly into the night but Albany’s Tri-City Valley Cats and the Norwich Sea Unicorns sued MLB for over $30 million. Some observers said this could have ended up at The Supreme Court and, more importantly, impact the major’s long standing anti-trust exemption. But MLB settled just before the trial date, no doubt for a lot of cash, so it could continue making even more money outside the monopoly rules that govern other businesses.

UP NEXT: Giving from the heart; Lego; Thinning the herd

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: The General

When they decide to create a Mount Rushmore of the greatest college basketball coaches, one of the first images on that mountain will be Indiana great Bobby Knight, a four-time NCAA champ – one as a player at Ohio State and three as a coach of the Indiana Hoosiers. The General, as he was known, passed away last week at age 83. He also coached at Army, where he mentored another great coach, Mike Krzyzewski. Knight was an acquired taste; the only thing that mattered to him was results - the last undefeated season, an incredibly high graduation rate no doubt due in part to his experiences as both a soldier and coach at West Point. To his true believers, he could do no wrong as witnessed by Indiana University president Myles Brand being burned in effigy when he fired the ultra successful (and volatile) coach. After a short stint at Texas Tech, Bobby Knight went on to be an outstanding commentator at ESPN. The man left an indelible mark on college basketball.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

A Vietnam-era veteran’s thought: The most joyous words they ever uttered came upon exiting a military transport at Travis Air Force Base and arriving at the Delta counter at San Francisco Airport, “Tampa, one-way.”

We always try to use this week to say thanks to organizations in our community who do nice things for vets this week – and year round like those much appreciated vet’s parking spaces at Lowe’s.

Our friend TL points out that just 66 years after the Wright brother’s first flight, man landed on the moon. Some of our Moms and Dads experienced both. Amazing!

Unions have reached agreement with automakers’ big three. Now, the next question: will the average American still be able to afford a car?

Just 15 years ago was the Madoff scandal and we were told never again. Now, con artist Sam Bankman-Fried is scheduled to spend many, many years in Club Fed. But the regulators – they just roll along. It’s probably time for their incompetence or worse to earn them a suite next door to Bankman-Fried.

In the 1970s and 80s if a new strip center went up in the bay area, the chances were better than even it was built by one of Mel Sembler’s companies. The former ambassador to Australia and Italy and GOP stalwart died last week at age 93.

This week in 1969 (Nov. 10): Sesame Street premiers on PBS.

Sports, media and other notes:

A dozen toys are on the finalist list for induction into the Toys Hall of Fame this year. The honorees will be announced later this week and we’ll do our annual feature on the Hall in early December.

November lunch date: – It’s the 103rd anniversary of broadcast news (KDKA in Pittsburgh) and three current and former local anchors, we‘d like to join us at lunch: Bob Hite, Gayle Sierens and Russell Rhodes.

Topping the charts fifty years ago this week was Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Idle thought: Have you noticed the lack of customer traffic in the candy aisles of major grocery stores? The spiraling cost of sugar has a lot to do with it.

Answer: Luis Arraez. The question: who was the most overlooked player in the 2023 MLB season? The Miami second baseman became the first player in history to win the batting championship in the AL and NL in consecutive years.

A coda to our Bobby Knight story, one of the clauses he insisted on having in his contract was that he would make no more than any professor on the Indiana campus. Run that one by today’s college coaches.

…one last thing: Now the free agent fun begins

With the World Series ending (congrats to the Rangers), the baseball world turns to free agency, one free agent in particular. Sure, some outstanding players like Aaron Nola, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Craig Kimbrel and Jordan Montgomery are out there. But the glaring spotlight will be on Shohei Ohtani, the unique pitcher/DH. First here are some teams who will not seriously pursue him or he will reject – the former being the Braves and Astros (neither are really big spenders and with their rosters, they don’t need to be); also the Yanks, Mets and Angels have the wherewithal, but neither of the trio is poised to win – a high priority with Ohtani. If we had to list a top three, remembering he probably prefers the west coast, we’d pick the Dodgers, Mariners and the Padres in that order. Two teams on the fringes to keep an eye on – the Giants and the Rangers. We’ll be watching.

UP NEXT: Tucker Carlson; Gulf Oil; Stuffing

Thank you to all our vets

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: But do they pay your claims?

Years ago, we had a very wise friend, Preston Packard. Preston spent years in the insurance business and offered this advice which we have never forgotten, “The sole measure of an insurance company is how they pay their claims.” Preston’s words came back to us these past weeks as we have been subjected to endless slick, and not so slick ads, for Medicare. Many come from some companies whom we have never heard of (and one which we wish we had never heard of). They promise the world, but do they pay your claims in a straightforward way – or do you have to be wrung through the wringer to get paid – or worse, not paid? Our late friend’s advice would be if you have a company that’s paid your claims (Medicare or any type claim), stick with it, don’t change plans for nickels – it’s the dollars that count.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Pro-life advocates won a major victory in the Georgia courts last week and next week need to head off a treacherous Ohio ballot initiative that would make unborn children the victims of abortionists up to the minute they are born. Yes, we said Ohio, not Germany.

Are we the only one who gets more nervous the more we hear about the Rays’ stadium proposal?

“Smokin’ hot” is how Toyota’s head of American sales describes the market for hybrid vehicles. Sales trends seem to indicate that Toyota’s hesitance to enter the EV market was well played.

Is there any more useless organization than the UN? Other, of course, than the US House of Representatives.

Idle thought: As Biden and company tout our nation’s economy, you have to wonder when was the last time they bought groceries, filled up their tank or paid an insurance premium.

Second idle thought (had a lot of time on our hands this week): The only thing more embarrassing than Joe Biden is his press secretary.

Waffle House employees are seeking raises to $25 per hour. Does that mean the level of service will jump by that much?

It’s just 68 days until you can buy Girl Scout cookies. The bad news: inflation has caught up with the girls in green and the cost of a box is now up to six bucks.

Seen on a bumper sticker, “I am everything liberals hate.”

This week in 1987 (Nov. 4) The NBA comes to Florida with the announcement of franchises for Miami in 1988 and Orlando in 1989. Two years to the day, the Magic play their home opener.

Sports, media and other notes:

The readers of one major daily newspaper already have their choice winning the World Series. As the playoffs dwindled down to a final four, they were polled as to their choice to win the series, the Astros, Diamondbacks, Phils or Rangers. But the editors slipped in one more option – “anybody but the Phillies.” It won overwhelmingly.

Sidebar: Entering the World Series, this year’s playoff home team is 14-22.

Was there ever an uglier football game than last week’s Bucs-Falcon’s contest? It should be forever branded as the Inept Bowl. Thursday’s game wasn’t much prettier.

NFL News from the 5:05 Newsletter: Super Bowl LVIII To Be Played At Intermission of Taylor Swift Concert.

Tops at the box office fifty years ago this month – Paper Moon with Ryan and Tatum O’Neal with Tatum becoming the youngest actress to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Finally, we still think Halloween should be on the last Friday of October, so our kids don’t show up at school the next day, dead tired or all sugared up.

…and another thing: a conference to admire

While football conferences from coast to coast play musical chairs, there is one conference that has remained stable for nearly 70 years – the Ivy League. The same eight schools, from Brown to Yale, who formed the conference in 1956, continue to play each year and play every conference member along with three non-conference games, usually against other schools with high academic standards like Colgate, Holy Cross and Rhode Island. There are no athletic scholarships and virtually all the players are four-year athletes. In other words, the way college football was supposed to be played. There was talk of another very academically-oriented school joining them – Stanford which was cast adrift by the implosion of the Pac 10, but that would have stressed the compact travel model of the Ivy League. So it will be the original eight again playing Chip Hilton-style football. It makes us want to watch a game or two this season.

NEXT WEEK: Free agents; Tampa, one way; An amazing 66 years

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Sorry, time does not permit replies to comments.

Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: fix, don’t toss that cell phone

We seldom agree with anything California politicians do, but even a blind squirrel will sometimes stumble across an acorn. Their Senate bill which would grant greater access to consumers of parts for repairing their electronics makes way too much sense. It’s called Right to Repair legislation and would save tons of dollars, not to mention freeing our landfills of toxic waste. The so-called Right to Repair legislation would give the consumer and the repair person a break. Even some of the high tech companies are endorsing the plan. The Right to Repair movement goes beyond cell phones and other high tech gear to include autos, appliances and agricultural equipment. The latter proposed legislation was turned down by our own legislature last year. One has to wonder why. It’s way past the time to turn around our throwaway society.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Related to our lead piece; look hard enough and you can find folks to repair your goods. To the amusement of all our friends, we still use an iPod. It took awhile, but we found a great company in New York (Repair Sharks) that made our iPod Classic as good as new for a reasonable price.

Travel news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Disneyland and six Disney Worlds worldwide drew record attendance this year. Only Eagle Pass, Texas attracted more visitors.

Freedom of speech is one thing, but why do our media outlets, even the so-called conservative ones, give the subversives known as the squad, a public platform for their anti-Semitic vitriol?

Turns out the newly appointed U.S. Senator from California actually lives in Maryland. But fear not, the pro-abortion whacko will re-register in California before she assumes office. Alex Sink rides again (see TBR&R 3/9/14).

Random thought: Our Saintly Wife claims we are losing our filters. We checked the a/c, car and water treatment systems. All seems well.

This week in 1972 (Oct. 26) the first instant camera, the Polaroid SX-70, is introduced by Edwin Land at an event in Miami.

Sports, media and other notes:

Our condolences go to longtime bay area businessman and former Clearwater city commissioner Fred Thomas on the passing earlier this month of Joy, his wife of over sixty years.

She was the attractive blonde in the T-Bird in American Graffiti and later the ditzy roommate in Three’s Company. Suzanne Somers died last week just short of her 77^th birthday.

Danger Alert! We are entering “Halloween Fifteen” timeframe. That, of course, is the 60 day period between Halloween and New Years where you can put on 15 pounds faster than that rabbit used to go at Derby Lane.

Every year the NFL ticks off millions of fans with their nonsensical rule that at a certain time, networks must cut away from a game that is going down to the final drive. It needs to be changed.

Answer: Seattle Mariners. The question: which is the only one of the 30 current teams to never appear in the World Series?

This season will make it only six out of 29 times in the wild card era that the team with the best record in baseball wins the World Series. Three of the four teams with a first round bye (Atlanta, Baltimore and LA) went out in the first series they played.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a really long time if you remember the biggest local news of 1939. It was the opening of the Clearwater Airpark - still going strong 84 years later and still the highest elevation airport in the Tampa Bay area.

…and another thing: Buy the A’s, buy the Rays

Currently, the three most financially troubled baseball franchises are the Miami Marlins, Oakland A’s and our Rays. The trio finishes in the bottom three in attendance each year. In Oakland, there has been a movement for a cooperative to buy the team – similar to the way individuals own the wildly successful Green Bay Packers. Sadly, the idea came too late to Oakland, which is all but packed for Las Vegas. Currently, baseball fans have only one opportunity to own part of their favorite team – the publicly traded Atlanta Braves – our daughter owns a very small slice. The Braves, though, are still controlled by Liberty Media who owns the lion’s share of the team’s stock. An attempt was made last year for a cooperative to buy the Denver Broncos, but the “owner’s club” made it difficult and the effort was fruitless. Optimists for fan-owned franchises (they are very common in Europe) see the first step as a cooperative being significant minority owners and moving up from there. It could only be a positive move for teams struggling for fan buy-in.

UP NEXT: Gambling problems; Gold cards; Football the right way

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: St. Pete exposed

You need to get away from the local spin doctors to get a real grip on the folly that is relocating the Rays’ new stadium across the street from the Trop. The attendance at the recent wild card playoffs was a national embarrassment. The national sports platform, The Athletic, perhaps put it best, “Their quixotic effort to turn St. Petersburg into a baseball town was exposed on national television as cameras panned over the half-empty stadium. Part of the vision for a new Rays’ stadium is a Battery-like experience that has been incredibly successful for the Atlanta Braves. The only problem (and a very large one) is south St. Pete is not Cobb County, Georgia.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Peel away all the fancy rhetoric and Israel is a nation that simply wants to be left alone. But, as many have learned, if you don’t, you pay the price.

Meanwhile, it is sickening to see the examples of anti-Semitism on campuses like George Washington, Harvard and, even more revolting by members of the U.S. House.

An AP poll says over two-thirds of Americans believe that Joe Biden did something either unethical or illegal in his involvement with his son’s business dealings. Shocking, absolutely shocking.

By month’s end, Target will close nine stores in California, New York, Oregon and Washington State. The reason for the closures: unsustainable shrinkage (as in thefts). Losses from theft are nearing two percent of sales.

Speaking of California, based on her opening remarks, “Senator Laphonza” should add a great deal of decorum to our Senate.

Okay, here’s our assignment for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, John Kerry, Chuck Schumer and Jerome Powell. Move to a town of 100,000 or less; operate a small business in that community for at least six months; then return to D.C. and report to the American public on your experience.

Politics 101 from the 5:05 Newsletter: The White House claims “80 is the new 40.” I don’t know about running for president, but that certainly explains Bidenomics.

This week in 1931 (Oct. 18), cue the Nelson Riddle theme music. Al Capone is convicted of income tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He would serve seven.

Sports, media and other notes:

Fred Fisher, the driving force behind the Long Center and other local philanthropic endeavors passed away last month at the age of 92.

Our prayers are with Mary Lou Retton, the 16-year-old who captured our hearts at the Los Angeles Olympics. Retton, now 55, is battling a rare form of pneumonia.

Factoid: Nevada and Sam Houston are the only winless Division I football teams going into this weekend’s action.

It normally would be a month or two before we started paying attention to Duke. But, have you seen their football team?

Barry Melrose, who is stepping away from ESPN for health reasons, did the most to help know-nothings like us understand the game of hockey. He tried, he really tried.

Idle thought: Shouldn’t the World Series be over before we crank up the NHL and the never-ending NBA seasons?

We know that part of the 2023 World Series will be played in Texas and probably will continue so now that arguably the best manager in baseball (no, not Dusty Baker) resides there. Bruce Bochy wins wherever he goes.

Speaking of managers, now that he’s retired, reserve some wall space for a Terry Francona plaque at Cooperstown.

Flat out fact: the best green beans in the free world are served up at Cracker Barrel. We don’t think they’re all that healthy, but they sure are good.

You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if one of your stops on the way home Friday nights was at Blockbusters.

…and another thing: Local music history

A few weeks back (TBR&R 9/23/23), we mentioned discovering The Impacs’ local hit Lost Love on iTunes. Another recent discovery is the Rockers’ terrific bay area hit Would I Still Be Loving You. On iTunes, they are identified as The Tides because when the record was released by nation-wide label Warrick Records, there was already a group known as the Rockers performing in another part of the country, so “The Tides” went on the label. The song went to number one on the local stations’ charts but mysteriously did not crack the Billboard Hot 100.

NEXT WEEK: Polaroid; The Airpark; Halloween Fifteen

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Finding a mayor for Clearwater

Clearwater has an election next spring. Voters will elect a council majority – two council members and a mayor. The mayor’s job, while largely ceremonial as compared to St. Pete or Tampa, does give the city a “face.” The sitting mayor resigned earlier this year and a former mayor has the interim job. He says he will not run. Two potential candidates have surfaced, both with less than sterling credentials. One has never held public office in Clearwater. The other, while a sitting council member, has been a divisive force in her short tenure on the dais. Who else, you may ask. There are a few qualified “old hands” out there, but they are either too old or have had quite enough of politics in their life. Perhaps, an outstanding candidate will surface. But the deadline for qualifying is just five weeks away. Time draws short.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Have you ever been less proud of your government than you are at this stage of your life?

Regarding student loans and other matters, it seems the current occupant of the White House regards Supreme Court decisions as suggestions.

A recent survey says that more than a few college faculty members are at least considering leaving Florida for other, more liberal, states. Is that necessarily a bad thing? It might help to better balance our state’s faculties that are wildly left of center.

With Election Day a year and a month away, oddsmakers are clinging to their prediction of a Biden-Trump rematch with Trump gaining a narrow victory. If Trump is removed on a technicality, then Vegas likes DeSantis. That would be fun to watch given the local bi-weekly’s blind hatred for our Governor.

Need a side hustle? UPS plans to hire 100,000 people to handle the holiday rush this season.

There are few things less distasteful than a non-routine trip to the dentist, but a recent tooth extraction by Dunedin’s Dr. Michael Yuan couldn’t have been more pleasant.

If you got to know seasonal resident, Jimmy Stinchcomb of Sand Key, you counted yourself lucky. Jimmy, a decorated Korean War veteran, extremely successful businessman and a man who seemingly never had a bad day, passed away in his native Ohio last week at age 96.

This week in 1963 (Oct. 10): the second of the 27 James Bond films, From Russia with Love, debuts. It and its’ follow-up, Goldfinger were two of the five highest grossing films of 1964.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Related to our historical note above: in no particular order, the five best songs from Bond movies, Nobody Does It Better (from The Spy Who Loved Me) – Carly Simon; All Time High (Octopussy) – Rita Coolidge; Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey; From Russia with Love – Matt Monro and For Your Eyes Only – Sheena Easton.

Most people felt the Eastern Divisions of the major leagues were the strongest, but only the Phillies survived the first playoff round with the Rays, Blue Jays and Marlins making early exits. On to Round Two.

The 5:05 Newsletter reports on a collectable sale: Elvis’ Smith & Wesson sold at auction for $200,000. The next day a bill for 60% arrived from the estate of Colonel Tom Parker.

Related note: One of Bill O’Reilly’s “killing” series, Killing the Legends, reveals just how badly the scheming Tom Parker damaged Elvis’ career.

If you’re really old (and we are) it’s nice to see the Detroit Lions being a competitive football team again. It’s been a long time since Bobby Layne, Hopalong Cassidy, Leon Hart and Joe Schmidt.

Last, but not least, Happy 40^th Anniversary to the Clearwater born and bred Hooters restaurant chain.

…and another thing: How not to win a pennant

First a number: $202 million, which was this year’s payroll for the Los Angeles Angels. The payroll was the seventh largest in baseball, exceeded by four NL teams (Dodgers, Mets, Padres and Phillies) and two AL teams (Blue Jays and Yanks). All those teams were in the playoffs last year. The last time the Angels finished above .500 was in 2015. The last time they made the playoffs was 2014 – the longest drought in the majors. In a recent ESPN ranking of the top 100 players, the Angels’ Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani were the top two. No other Angel cracked the list. By comparison, both the Astros and Braves had eight in the top 100 and the Blue Jays and Mets, seven each along with the Padres and Phils (all 2022 playoff teams) with six apiece. In simple terms, the Angels are top heavy with payroll and are begging for a rebuild, as painful as it would be to rid themselves of MLB’s top two players. The Angels parted ways with manager Phil Nevin at the end of the season, a victim, like his Mets counterpart Buck Showalter, of a poorly constructed roster. If the Angels want to stop losing, as a great American is fond of saying, the problem is obvious.

NEXT UP: Local bands; Blockbuster; Get a job

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Auto industry being squeezed

It’s always been hard to feel sorry for GM or Ford or whatever they call Chrysler these days. While your humble blogger has blindly bought American (mostly GM) over the years, we’ve never purchased out of pity. But the whole auto industry has changed over the last several decades, as well illustrated in Kenneth Whyte’s 2021 book The Sack of Detroit. Its unions are now making unreasonable demands, but not as unreasonable as the Biden administration’s demands that they build electric vehicles which very few people want. Meanwhile, other manufacturers in right to work states or overseas are not burdened by these issues. The upshot may be something that makes Obama’s early 21^st century auto bailout look tame.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Just once, we would like to see our government shut down “all but essential services,” for a length of time so we could see just how much government we could do without.

It starts this week. One media source is calling it the big payback as the “tax holiday” is over for people with outstanding student loans, unless Biden comes up with another scheme to buy their votes.

Senate reinstates its dress code. To the “distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania,” if you can’t abide by those rules, perhaps we can find someone else.

Hang on to your hat when you get your auto insurance renewal. Rates are up as high as 30 to 45 percent.

Idle recollection: Our late father was a pretty savvy investor, but his one big swing and miss was when an acquaintance tried unsuccessfully to interest him in investing in a small chain he was building. The acquaintance’s name was Jack Eckerd. Oh, while we’re at it – Happy Birthday Dad and thanks for all the love and wisdom.

News of the Big Apple from the 5:05 Newsletter: Mayor Eric Adams said that just because New York City declared itself to be a sanctuary city, he has no idea where people got the idea they could actually come there and find sanctuary. At publishing time, Mayor Adams is vowing to build a wall around New York City and force Texas to pay for it.

This week in 1961 (10/3) The Dick Van Dyke Show premiers on CBS.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Brooks Robinson was the best fielding third baseman in the history of the game and the heart and soul of the great Oriole teams of the late sixties and early seventies. The Hall of Famer passed away last week at age 86.

October lunch date: As we head to the playoffs three baseball players we would love to have lunch with: our three boyhood heroes, Yogi Berra, Roberto Clemente and Herb Score.

Fire off the rockets! USF beats its first Division I opponent in over a year!

Notre Dame and Ohio State gave us a good game last weekend, but they also showed why neither should be ranked among the top ten programs in the country.

This summer (TBR&R 6/11), we forecast interesting times for the Denver Broncos, but short of the hot mess the team has become. Surely, after a 70-20 embarrassment, the only way is up – right? Denver vs. the Bears, somebody has to win that game - right?

Born 100 years ago this week (10/4) was Academy Award winning actor Charlton Heston. The actor won the award for his role in Ben-Hur. He also starred in epic films like The Ten Commandments, The Greatest Show on Earth and The Greatest Story Ever Told.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if your elementary school supply store sold Blue Horse three-ring filler paper. Blue Horse hung around until the early seventies.

…and another thing: the best time of year

For this old slap, it’s a tossup between the first pitch of spring and this week’s first pitch of the playoffs. The two playoff teams nobody wants to face are probably the Braves and the Astros with the Dodgers and Phils close behind. Next, a truism, the best team hardly ever wins the World Series. In the 28 years of wild card play, only six times has the team with the best regular season record won the World Series. Last year, the Dodgers had the best record in baseball, but were upset by the San Diego Padres who finished 22 games behind them in the regular season. It truly is a whole new season. It doesn’t even come down to who is the hottest team at the end of regular play. Last year, it was the Braves and they were dumped by the Phils who were 4-6 in their last ten games of the season. So you figure it out. We’re going to go with the team that has arguably the best three starters going into the playoffs – the Milwaukee Brewers, assuming they can generate any sort of offense. By the way, as we write this, just 135 days until pitchers and catchers report.

UP NEXT: Bond, James Bond; Finding a mayor; Brain drain?

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: What the Rays haven’t learned in three decades

The lesson is simple, you can’t easily get there from here –whether here is Tampa, our major population center, Upper Pinellas or Pasco. Yet this past week, the Rays announced they will build a new stadium at the site of the failed stadium. The original location was the result of some political scheming that would make a Chicago politician blush. In over three decades since the Trop went up, it has gotten only harder to get to south St. Pete. And just like in 1998, we don’t see mass transit stepping up to make the commute easier. We would also quibble with another fixed dome as opposed to retractable domes seen in virtually all locales with weather issues, but the overriding problem is, in the words of Albert Einstein: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

For years, we have enjoyed breakfasts at the Largo Family Restaurant. What made it so enjoyable was being not served, but spoiled, by Kim Deister. We are sad to report Kim’s passing last weekend. Breakfast will never be the same.

Keep an eye on Hyundai’s rapid expansion in America – particularly the South. The automaker (Hyundai, Genesis and Kia) is not unionized. That, naturally, does not sit well with the auto unions.

Factoid: Over 60% of mortgages in America are under 4%. With the current rate pushing 7.25%, you can understand why the mortgage biz is stagnant.

The IRS says it wants to become paperless by 2025. More than a few Americans would like to see the nation become IRS-less by 2025. The agency has become more and more a political tool over the years.

Retail fact shared by our friend TL, Wrigley’s gum was the first product to have a bar code.

Idle question(s): Why can’t one of the mustard companies come up with a container that spreads the product evenly on your hotdog? And what ever happened to the old fashioned French’s mustard jar?

This week in 1941(September 27) Ted Williams ends the baseball season with a .406 batting average, the last player to hit over.400 in a full season.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Durham Town, The Last Farewell and New World in the Morning were just three of the smooth offerings of Roger Whittaker. The Kenyan native with a rich voice died last week at age 87.

Random thought: We don’t think America needs two NFL games on Monday night.

Surely, there are better football teams in the country than Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes, but none more exciting.

Most coaches will tell you there is no such thing as a “moral victory,” but USF’s 17-3 loss to the Crimson Tide comes close – or is Alabama really that bad? The Bulls go to single digits – ranked #96 up from 112 of the 133 Division I teams.

With the season winding down, we can expect changes in the Yankees’, Padres’ and perhaps Giants and Mets’ dugouts for 2024. And we are to believe there won’t be one in St. Louis – amazing.

Saw a headline on MLB.com a few weeks back. It read “Every MLB stadium ranked from worst to first.” Didn’t need to read any further to learn which was worst. Top two? They were Fenway and Wrigley, both, frankly, overrated, ask any ballplayer.

September 25 is One Hit Wonder Day and we celebrate by going back to the 50s and Gogi Grant (The Wayward Wind) and The Elegants (Little Star). In the 1960s, we had Little Eva (The Locomotion, written by the couple she babysat for – Carole King and Gerry Goffin) plus Lorne Green (yes, that Lorne Green) with Ringo. And the 70s gave us The Starland Vocal Band (Afternoon Delight) and Debby Boone (You Light up My Life). Debby’s dad, Pat, was a bit more successful with 60 chart hits including six number ones.

Related note from the 5:05 Newsletter: I wonder if the guy who coined the term “One Hit Wonder” ever came up with any other phrases?

Speaking of one-hit wonders, you’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember Pat Scot and the Impacs. Their local hit Lost Love can now be found on iTunes if you want to relive some of your youth.

…and another thing: Attack on a Florida institution

The little high school journalism dropout who writes a column in our local left wing bi-weekly decided to attack Publix recently. For long time Floridians, which she obviously isn’t, that is tantamount to attacking the American flag. A suggestion to our fledgling scribe – if you don’t like Publix, there are, and will be even more, German-based Aldi stores in which to shop. Just bring your quarters for the shopping carts; money for bags and while you’re there, buy a lot of soap and disinfectant.

NEXT UP: Rob & Laura; The playoffs; Car insurance rates skyrocket

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Keeping Clearwater the county seat

The mostly liberal side of the Pinellas County Commission wants to move the seat of Pinellas County government out of Clearwater – and at an outrageous price. Democrats Charlie Justice and Janet Long are leading the charge to move the county governmental center to mid-Pinellas. Notably, neither Justice nor Long live in Clearwater, with Long ironically, characterizing renovating the existing facility as “putting diamonds on a pig.” Here’s the problem with relocating the government center – the thing liberals frequently ignore - cost. Estimates for renovating the existing structure run around $150 million, not exactly pocket change. But that number is a mere pittance compared to estimates of between $250-350 million for a new facility. The problems the county commissioners seem to have with renovation is that the current buildings are “functionally obsolete” – read that to mean not the Taj Mahal their egos feel they deserve at the expense of other, more needed, projects that would benefit all of the citizenry. For once, just once, it would be nice to see our government officials live within their means.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Hundreds of Clearwater residents lost a good friend last week with the passing of Harry Cline, a respected attorney, community leader and rabid supporter of the   North Carolina Tar Heels where he attended law school. He was also an All-Conference catcher during his undergrad days at Davidson. A most likeable man who will be greatly missed.

The preponderance of U.S. economists are saying the nation’s automakers simply cannot afford the raises striking unions are seeking.

A rave goes to Utah Senator Mitt Romney, who will not seek re-election saying at age 76, “It’s time for a new generation.” Are you listening Joe and Don?

Quote of the week: from a protester at a pro-life function earlier this year. To quote: “I’m a woman. I was born with rights that will never be taken away.” She failed to add “because of a mother and father who chose not to abort me.” The Florida Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments on a Florida pro-life law.

Former Orlando-area State Attorney Monique Worrell is asking the Florida Supreme Court to re-instate her. With her track record of not prosecuting bad guys who turn around to do worse things, we wish her luck.

Seen on a T-shirt: PLUTO 1930-2006.

And from the 5:05 Newsletter: A team of astronomers are lobbying for Pluto to be reclassified as a planet; and given full voting rights in the league of planets.

This week (Sept.21) in 1776, soldier and patriot Nathan Hale is arrested by the British.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Hats off to retired Yankee ace David Wells who showed up at the Old-Timers day with white tape over the Nike swoosh on his uniform, saying he didn’t wish to publicize the woke sneaker company.

Not waiting for the end of the season, the Boston Red Sox fired off the first cannon shot discharging former Rays’ front office guy Chaim Bloom, their GM. Heading the Bosox might seem like a great gig, but they seem to toss their GMs every four years.

Idle thought: We miss the college scoreboard shows that were on virtually every major radio station here in the bay area on Saturday afternoons in the fall.

Fifty years ago, WTCG Channel 17, a station with incredibly low ratings signed a deal to broadcast the moribund Atlanta Braves’ games. A couple years later, the station’s owner, Ted Turner buys the Braves, changes the call letters of his station to WTBS and begins sending the games all over the country. The station and the ball team have never looked back.

You’ve lived in Clearwater (or Largo) a long time if you remember the years in the 1950s when the fierceness of competition caused cancellation of an annual Clearwater-Largo football game.

…and another thing: spitting contest is over

It took a marquee match-up between the Aaron Rodgers New York Jets and perennial NFL power Buffalo Bills to finally get an agreement between the Disney-owned channels (particularly ESPN) and Spectrum’s parent Charter Communications. You can’t replay a showcase football matchup (between two teams in Spectrum markets) and the millions of dollars in revenues it generates. So who won the showdown? We really don’t know or care. We only know who lost – Spectrum viewers, particularly University of Florida football fans who had a no notice shutdown of their team’s opening game a couple of Thursdays ago and customers who watched other Disney products such as National Geographic. The two companies greed being unabated, those channels were yanked and now require an extra fee which will quickly wipe out the $15 refund Spectrum is reportedly offering for the break in service.

NEXT WEEK: Mustard questions; Buy a team; One hit wonders

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Clearwater’s voting system

There is an ill-advised move among the Clearwater City Council to adjust the city’s voting system which seems to have worked for over 100 years. Among the suggested changes - run-offs if no candidate achieves a majority. That pre-supposes a three person race which is the exception rather than the rule in Clearwater. Another suggestion that has been swatted down for years is voting districts. That’s fine in a city of half a million, not so in a city of under 120,000 and where a one third voter turnout is extraordinary. Do the math; you can end up with well less than 5000 people electing someone to the council. While another suggestion to move the city’s elections to sync with federal elections/primaries, increasing turnout, has some merit, the offset is the race can become partisan and Clearwater’s non-partisan system, again, seems to have worked well for over a century. There is simply no reason to change the city’s voting system and should some ill-constructed measure come to the voters next year, the resounding answer should be NO.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Margaritaville, Fins, Changes in Latitudes, Come Monday, Duke’s on Sunday – thanks, Jimmy.

DeSantis Watch: When our governor announced a run for President, we suggested you put a dollar or five of a vacation fund in a sock drawer for every time he was subject to an attack article in the area’s left wing bi-weekly. With last Sunday’s front page alone totaling two of the three articles, you’re well on your way to Europe.

Nancy Pelosi says the Jan. 6, 2021 incident at the Capitol gives her reason to want to stay in Congress. The 83-year-old would see the sun rising in the East as a sign we still need her services.

Idle thought: watching the coverage of Hurricane Idalia a few weeks back, many mentions were made of Dixie County, making us wonder how that county has escaped the speech police.

A fervent wish from the 5:05 Newsletter: I really wish Joe Biden would stop riding his bicycle. That $29 helmet is the only thing between the American people and Kamala.

This week in 1928 (9/15) Scottish biologist Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin.

Sports, media and other stuff:

College football conferences are holding their breath over the proliferation of sports gambling and the possible, or likely, impact on players in the major conferences. Already, Iowa State’s leading rusher and other players from Iowa have been charged with making hundreds of illegal wagers.

When you’re a USF alum, you don’t watch the AP Top 25, but The Athletic’s ranking of all 133 Division I teams. The Bulls dropped from 111 to 114, but should gain some ground against FAMU – but then comes the Crimson Tide.

As the NFL season kicks off, the Bucs face some severe challenges, but when you consider that 8-9 won the NFL South last year, anything can happen.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen will step away from the network next year after over three decades of football analysis. His presence will be missed – assuming we are able to actually watch ESPN by then.

Heading down the stretch, the only sure things are the Braves and Dodgers and even they are battling for full home field advantage. The rest is a baseball fan’s dream.

Idle question: Were there any better athletes with the same name than Robin Roberts (basketball) and Robin Roberts (baseball)? Both went on to secondary careers, the female Robert Roberts with ESPN and ABC and the Phillies’ ace as the head baseball coach at USF.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember when Earle Brown opened the first VW dealership in the city at the corner of Drew Street and Anna Avenue.

…and another thing: You gotta see this!

For September, we asked our esteemed TBR&R Focus Group to name a national attraction or tourist site every American should see at least once.

Our leadoff hitter replied with Denali National Park with its gorgeous scenery, animals everywhere and fresh air.

Our second reply took us literally to the other end of the country – Key West with its super laid back atmosphere plus historic sites like the Little White House and Ernest Hemingway’s home.

Next we go to D.C. and environs where our Focus Group member recommends the unforgettable Vietnam Memorial as well as Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Another of our contributors also offers up a pair of “must sees” – the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore.

Our western most member chose the National Mall which attracts close to 25 million visitors a year.

And then there’s the happiest place on earth just 90 miles away. The youngster who was born the year your humble blogger graduated from college casts a vote for the Magic Kingdom and its companion parks. Hard to disagree.

Our northernmost focus group member places a vote for the Grand Canyon and, possessing a, shall we say, unique sense of humor, places a second vote for the world’s largest ball of twine. While there are conflicting claims on this, the generally accepted biggest twine ball is in Cawker City, KS.

As always, thanks to our respondents for their answers.

NEXT UP: Pure college football; Oh, Pluto; Clearwater vs. Largo

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Waiting for Biden

Incredibly, six months after the train derailment, people in East Palestine, Ohio still can’t return to their contaminated homes, or their jobs, and their savings have shriveled down to nothing. Joe Biden said he would visit the site. Isn’t six months a little long to wait? Is this the price Ohio residents have to pay for voting for Donald Trump in 2020 –and 2016? If only the train had derailed in Delaware, or any blue state – or the Ukraine. Perhaps East Palestine isn’t as showy as Hawaii, but these people need help – now.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

As you wake up and anticipate your day at work, be happy you’re not a customer service rep at Spectrum - more on that below.

Hurricane thoughts: We guess it’s okay for politicians to use the occasion of a storm for free air time, but at least have your facts straight. Tampa’s mayor was gabbing about how the storm would drain the bay, only to be immediately refuted by meteorologist Josh Linker who correctly told of a storm surge in the bays.

Disney is getting clobbered in this Biden economy. It’s trading in the eighties after being as high as $111 earlier in the year. At the end of 2020, it was trading at $177- more on the mouse below.

One of our readers whose choo-choo pretty much runs in circles asks if we could just put both Biden and Trump in jail and start fresh. Not sure we disagree.

Political news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Governors Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis have reportedly reached an impasse in their Fox News debate planned for November. The impasse is said to be due to one of the debate questions which is “Why are there no U-Haul trucks available in California?”

There’s some good news on the local front. TRIM notices are out and while there are property tax increases, they are relatively modest.

Several of the major wireless companies are taking a red ink bath as their customers no longer mindlessly flock to cellular stores for every minor upgrade in so-called smart phones.

Luncheon date: Now as we’re back in school, three teachers we’d love to reunite with at lunch – Helen Richardson of Haverling (Bath, NY) Elementary, Joseph Maier of Clearwater Junior High and Roger VanGorder of Clearwater High – three terrific educators.

Our condolences to our friend Charlie Robinson on the passing of Louise, his wife of well over a half-century. A truly wonderful couple.

This week in 1963 (Sept. 7) American Bandstand leaves its home city of Philadelphia and becomes a weekly show aired from LA.

Sports, media and other stuff:

My, didn’t ESPN/Disney and Spectrum make tons of friends with Gator fans with their petty standoff taking away the Gator-Utah game last Thursday? With Spectrum, this comes on the heels of price increases of 15% and more. Incredibly, when a Spectrum customer called Friday morning, they were told customer service was not available until the Tuesday after Labor Day. Nice work.

Sadly, we have most likely seen the last of the ultra-talented Wander Franco in a Rays’ uniform.

Here’s something to watch. Never in the history of baseball have any two NY teams (Dodgers, Giants, Mets or Yankees) finished in last place. There’s a very real possibility that could happen this year.

The Athletic ranks all 131 Division I football teams and their first rankings are out with FSU at #8; Florida (40); UCF (42); Miami a disappointing 60; Florida Atlantic (79); South Florida (111 which is actually up almost 20 points from their 2022 finish); and Florida International at 126. UMass anchors the poll – pretty much where they finished last year.

You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you remember when virtually every new shopping center had a Publix on one end and an Eckerd Drugs on the other.

…and another thing: CCR, # 2 with a bullet

Fifty-five years ago this week, a band from California with a name that suggested they should have been from here, Creedence Clearwater Revival, issued their first record, a remake of a 1957 Dale Hawkins tune – Suzie Q. It went all the way to #11 on the charts. But that was nothing compared to their run from 1969 to ‘71 when they had eight top ten tunes, but amazingly no number ones. They did have five number twos. Here they are, along with the song that kept them from that coveted number one record – Proud Mary (Everyday People – Sly and the Family Stone); Bad Moon Rising (Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet – Henry Mancini); Green River (Sugar, Sugar – the Archies – no, really); Travelin’ Band (Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel) and Looking Out My Back Door (Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross). CCR also had seven two-sided hits – an amazing career.

NEXT UP: You gotta see this; DOE’s latest target; Robin Roberts

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Leading off: Why the economic victory lap?

Ah, not so fast with that economic victory lap Joe. Maybe you only read the Washington Post and the funnies, but the inflation rate is the highest it’s been in four decades and Jerome Powell says don’t expect an end to the stifling interest rates any time soon. Meanwhile, Wall Street observers last week termed the first two-thirds of August “messy.” Simultaneously, the housing market is down, stressed by the high cost of mortgages. Is this an indication of an economy on the right track?

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Related note from the 5:05 Newsletter: White House press secretary Karine Jean- Pierre praised the overwhelming success of "Bidenomics," saying that it has been so successful the average American now has twice as many jobs as they had two years ago.

Clueless defined: comparing the tragedies in Hawaii to a kitchen fire.

$200,000 bail – do the folks in Atlanta view Donald Trump as a flight risk?

Related: We’re more than a little disappointed in our favorite newspaper, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, for portraying the legal carnival in their home town with World War II type headlines.

There are times when just plain common sense has to prevail. Common sense says putting two massive towers on a narrow strip of land between Prelude 80 and The Oaks of Clearwater is ludicrous.

Another long time Florida staple is going away as German-owned Aldi buys out Winn-Dixie. Aldi says some Winn-Dixies will remain. No word yet from the low-end chain if you’ll need quarters for carts or need to buy or bring your own shopping bags.

Side note: a tip of our cap to Publix for more publicly stating their policy against anything but legitimate service dogs in their stores.

The next significant shortage is sugar. Health experts would say this is not a problem, but tell that to kids and parents who will feel the impact of the shortage at Halloween and Christmas. Import tariffs have a lot to do with the shortfall.

Sometimes it is better to trust the numbers from an unbiased source, such as U-Haul’s report that their largest amount of out of state moves in the country originate in San Francisco.

This week (August 30) one storied baseball career begins as Ty Cobb debuts for the Tigers (1905). Sixty years later celebrated baseball player and manager Casey Stengel announces his retirement.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Jerry Moss, who teamed with Herb Alpert to form A&M Records giving birth to hit singles and albums by Bacharach, the Carpenters, Frampton, Carole King, and, of course Alpert himself died last week at age 88.

It’s hard to imagine that the guy who pitched the third version of the Washington Nationals to their only World Championship just four years ago is retiring. Stephen Strasburg was the MVP of the 2019 series, but the 34-year-old has only appeared in eight games since due to an assortment of injuries.

August Luncheon: As we prepare to head down the stretch in baseball, we would like to dine with Peter Gammons, Tim Kurkjian and Ken Rosenthal, the best three baseball writers on the planet.

Idle thought: isn’t it just a matter of time until FSU joins the SEC?

Sometimes one of our readers mind’s veers sharply off the road such as: “We should level all the condos on the south end of Clearwater Beach and turn it back into the submarine race viewing area it was in the 50s and 60s.”

And a sports note related to our closing item from the mighty 5:05: The dramatic realignment of college football conferences has caused the need for many conferences to change their season schedules. This year’s kickoff game will feature Ohio State versus Columbia School of Broadcasting.

…and another thing: Kickoff!

College football season is underway although most of the early games feature Top Ten teams against very weak programs (see above). Georgia is the AP’s number one, trying to do something that hasn’t been done in almost 90 years – win three national championships in a row. Significantly, Alabama is ranked number four. The last time the Tide was ranked outside the pre-season top three was 14 years ago, and they won the national championship. Michigan and Ohio State are sandwiched between the two SEC powers – not sure why as the Big 10 or, whatever it’s called these days, seldom wins anything of consequence. FSU is the only Florida team in the Top 25 – ranked 8^th, just ahead of Clemson, the only other ACC team in the top ten teams. But we predict Florida will at least visit the Top 25 before the season concludes. Stay tuned.

NEXT UP: CCR; Publix & Eckerd’s; Waiting for Biden

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: If you only read one book…

We normally put any book recommendations “below the fold,” but if you only read one book this year, make it The Puppeteers by former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz. The best seller is, frankly, a scary book, but full of frightening information you need to know. Chaffetz takes us on a tour of bureaucracies whose unelected leaders are making way too many decisions involving our everyday lives from schools to energy to the interest rates we pay. Chaffetz also details how many agencies are playing big brother against the average citizen, particularly those with conservative leanings, rather than spending more time on real problems like the drugs flowing across our border, human trafficking and illegal immigration. Most importantly, he offers some remedies to stifle further abuses by the Biden administration.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Related to our lead article, a thought from the 5:05 Newsletter: If I was running for president I would have a hat that said, ‘Make Orwell Fiction Again.’

It’s show time in Atlanta as publicity seeking Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis indicts Donald Trump and half of America. We voted for the guy in 2020, but somehow escaped indictment by the daughter of a former Black Panther. Sources on both sides of the political spectrum say she’s fighting an uphill battle, or as former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi says “in way over her head.” But think of the notoriety!

Oh, and the date Ms Fani suggests for the commencement of the trial is March 4 – one day before the Super Tuesday primaries – a rare coincidence we’re sure.

$100,000 is the estimate of the merchandise taken by about 30 thugs at an LA Nordstrom’s. The city’s liberal mayor, Karen Bass, called the incident “absolutely unacceptable.” Nordstrom’s was already in the process of removing its presence from LA as well as San Francisco.

Congratulations to Pennsylvania’s Stephanie Urchick who next year will be the first woman from the United States to be President of Rotary International – a service organization spanning some 200 countries. This prestigious post was held by Clearwater’s Herb Brown in 1995.

Idle thought: We wonder how many people who live out of state know that our state’s biggest city is Jacksonville, not Miami, Tampa or Orlando. Likewise, Virginia’s largest city isn’t Richmond, but Virginia Beach and in Missouri, it’s not St. Louis, but Kansas City.

Related note: why can’t out of town sports people say the name of our baseball team correctly? It’s Tampa Bay, not Tampa.

Seen on a t-shirt: My favorite childhood memory is my back not hurting.

This week in 1901 (August 22), the Cadillac Motor Company is founded. Exactly one year later, Teddy Roosevelt becomes the first President to ride in an automobile.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Things that make sports fun – last week’s unlikely wins by NASCAR’s Michael McDowell (second ever) and the PGA’s Lucas Glover (the tour’s first over age 40 winner in five years).

The way things are going; the SEC may reach out to the UK and add Oxford to the conference.

Some numbers this week, starting with 8 of 17. Superb analyst Will Leitch concedes playoff spots to the Rays, Orioles, Dodgers and Braves leaving 17 teams to scramble for 8 playoff spots. It should be a fun six weeks.

Eight – the number of qualifying MLB batters who are hitting .300 or better. That is the lowest number since 1968 when only six hitters reached the .300 mark and baseball responded by lowering the pitching mound.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember when the city’s refuse dump was on the site of what is now the Joe DiMaggio complex on Drew Street.

…and another thing: the Babe with today’s rules

Imagine, if you will, Babe Ruth playing under today’s rules, where he, like Shohei Ohtani, could pitch every fifth day and simply take four or five swings the other days. It is incalculable the numbers he would have run up. His last year as a full time pitcher, he went 24-13 with 35 complete games and a 2.01 ERA. He also hit .325 that year in over 100 plate appearances. Without having to trod the outfield 5-6 days a week, we imagine his home run numbers would be higher than Hank Aaron’s 755 (but then Hank’s would be higher if he could have been a DH a few times a week). But it’s the pitching numbers that would have been changed exponentially. As it was, the Babe won 94 games with 17 shutouts and a ridiculous 107 complete games. The Babe was the most transformational player in the game’s history, but with today’s rules, one could only guess at the heights he would have reached.

UP NEXT: Economic victory lap; FSU to the SEC? 3 for the Dawgs?

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Powering our future

You probably didn’t notice it, but one state to our north, the first nuclear power plant in three decades fired up and is providing power to half a million homes – including some in north Florida. The Georgia Power plant is one of two that will be fully on line by late this year or next spring. No other such plants are on the drawing board in the nation but supporters and critics alike will be watching closely to see if the Georgia plants might be a renaissance for nuclear and an alternative to unproven, pie in the sky alternatives like wind and solar (see Texas). Stay tuned.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

The Department of Justice has appointed Delaware’s David Weiss as Special Counsel in the Hunter Biden case – a spectacularly poor choice. Weiss is the same person who attempted to create a sweetheart plea bargain for young Biden that was swatted down by a U.S. District Judge.

Florida’s troubled 9^th Judicial Circuit will have their third State Attorney in a little over three years. Governor DeSantis removed Monique Worrell after she failed to prosecute numerous cases including an individual arrested for several gun crimes who later murdered his pregnant girlfriend.

A recent headline in a far left newspaper read “An abortion ban made them teen parents.” Ah, if you attended biology class, that’s not exactly how it works.

Jack Butcher was the straight forward publisher of the bay area’s straight forward newspaper The Tampa Tribune. The veteran of nearly fifty years in the newspaper profession died last month at age 90.

Just as it’s heartening to see various groups make sure students have the proper gear to head back to school, it’s disheartening to see teachers shelling out for their classroom needs. Perhaps our teachers unions could spend a little less on lobbying and political contributions and a little more taking care of their members’ needs.

Just asking, would you go to Wawa solely for food? Neither would we.

From the, shall we say, special mind of the 5:05 Newsletter editor: I have to believe that behind every warning label there is an awesome back story.

Three icons died this week – on August 16 to be exact – Babe Ruth (1948), Elvis (1977), and Aretha Franklin (2018); also on that date in 1969 there was Woodstock and on that same day an otherwise very bright girl married your Humble Blogger – in Clearwater, not Woodstock.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Number of the Week: 54 – the astounding number of U.S. born players who played for other teams in the recent Women’s World Cup.

Michael Lorenzen basked in the glow of Philly fan cheers during his no-hitter last week. Give it time Michael, after one or two bad starts the jackals will turn on you.

If you follow the World Series and elections, you would appreciate the sweet irony of the Houston Astros visiting the White House last week.

Hard to believe the young kid who was once our next door neighbor during Spring Training is retiring, but former Phils’ ace Cole Hamels called it quits last week at age 39.

With NFL season just a few weeks away, people forget that the guy in Pittsburgh who is beginning his 17^th season (and has never had a losing year), Mike Tomlin, broke into pro coaching with our Bucs.

We’ll take the under on a 3-win season for USF football - more on USF below.

Remember when the Pac 12 was one of America’s premier conferences? It’s now down to four teams and counting.

…and another thing: You knew this was coming

We read, with great amusement, a few weeks ago an article about why our alma mater, the University of South Florida, is the dregs of college football. It is simply that they have not yet spent multiple millions of dollars on an on-campus stadium while being forced to play in a stadium that somehow is good enough for a two-time Super Bowl championship team. It was nothing to do with their knee-jerk firing of the best football coach they ever had with 11 winning seasons in his 13 years at the helm. In the following 13 seasons, USF has had five winning years plus the last three where they’ve won four games total. It has nothing to do with weak leadership in the athletic department or lousy recruiting. No, it all boils down to not having a multi-million dollar on-campus stadium they can’t afford. Whatinsanity.

UP NEXT: The Babe, what if? Cadillac; Puppeteers

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Sorry, time does not permit replies to comments.

Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: EVs going nowhere fast

It is apparent that the American consumer does not share the Biden administration’s love for electrical vehicles. Their short range, exploding batteries and high sticker prices are turning potential customers away in droves. One startup EV company has been shuttered and Ford Motor Company reports it will face a $4.5 billion loss in its EV Division this year. The company has lowered prices on its EVs by as much as 17 per cent; other companies are doing the same trying to offset sluggish sales. Right now, there are nearly 100,000 unsold EV units on dealer lots across the country. The Biden administration has targeted 2035 when the government will end purchases of gas-powered vehicles, but Biden, fortunately, will be long gone by that time and cooler heads most likely will prevail.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

$3.89 – this week’s Tampa Bay pump price as Biden and his cronies seek to make expensive, impractical EVs more palatable.

Related note: Our friend TL, who knows the auto industry, says the ultimate solution will be hybrid vehicles, not totally electric models.

Spin it any way you want, but continuing interest rate hikes do not beget a healthy economy.

Florida is getting over $3billion in the settlement over the destruction reaped by opioids. How to spend it? The best, but impractical, solution would be to make families damaged by the drugs whole. A second, more practical answer is to use the money to seek out and lift the licenses of doctors who fostered the drug crisis.

We need to find a place to put all the really rude people we meet on the highways, the supermarkets etc. Yes, we know there is Boston, New York and Philly, but they keep escaping from there.

White House news from the 5:05 Newsletter: FBI lead investigator, Stevie Wonder, confirmed that no additional cocaine was found at the White House during its investigation last month. In a related story, snow globes at the White House Gift Shop are now selling for $1000.

Seen on a t-shirt: My mind is like my web browser – 15 tabs are open, four of them are frozen and I’m not sure where the music is coming from.

Fifty years ago this week (August 11), a low budget film ($700,000) was released by a then unknown director, George Lucas. A half dozen major studios had passed on American Graffiti, which to date, has grossed over $200 million.

Sports, media and other stuff:

It’s a shame that a guy who transformed the NFL like Dan Coryell is only inducted into the sport’s hall of fame over a decade after his passing. The coach, famed for his “Air Coryell” offense, passed away in 2010.

Lizard Skins – you’ve probably not heard the term, but it’s that bright wrapping you see around major league hitter’s bats. It first started as a table top product for bike handlebars and is now used by well over half of major league hitters – a true rags to riches story.

Three pitcher’s names we enjoy hearing: MacKenzie Gore (Nationals), Easton McGee (Mariners) and Spencer Strider (Braves). Perhaps after retirement, they could form an accounting firm.

Idle thought: If you are a baby boomer and have never read Lewis Grizzard’s I Haven’t Understood Anything Since 1962, you should. If you have read it, you probably should read it again to see how far we’ve fallen as a nation.

…and another thing: MLB after the deadline

Three of baseball’s best teams got stronger last week, but by different means. The Texas Rangers picked up two stellar pitchers in Jordan Montgomery and Max Scherzer. The Astros reunited with Cy Young winner Jason Verlander. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves, with baseball’s best record, made a few minor trades but strengthened themselves by getting back injured ace Max Fried and high leverage reliever A.J. Minter with last year’s 21-game winner Kyle Wright a couple weeks away. A couple of teams, the Cubs and Angels, decided against selling based on a sudden surge – probably a mistake. Conversely, the two Ohio teams in tight pennant races pretty much sat on their hands, although the prospect the former Indians swooped up from the Rays is fascinating. When all is said and done, the team we would fear most in the playoffs would be the Houston Astros where everybody is healthy again and they picked up Verlander. But a word of caution, at the outset of the season we picked the San Diego Padres to win it all.

NEXT WEEK: USF prediction; Mike Tomlin; Babe, Elvis & Aretha

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Who are Americans voting for?

The numbers are puzzling. A recent NBC poll says 70 percent of voters don’t want Biden to run again. And it’s thumbs down for his presumed opponent from 60 percent of the electorate. Yet, Democrats, with their heads firmly buried in the sand, are discouraging any opposition for Biden in the primaries. Meanwhile, Trump’s closest opponent, our current Governor, only attracts about 21 percent of Republican voters. There’s a message there somewhere, but damned if we can figure it out. The Wall Street Journal’s Peggy Noonan suggests perhaps a third party effort, but whom? Third parties only make elections murkier; they never win. Perhaps next year’s primaries might clarify things. We certainly hope so.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Our Speaker of the House needs to forget about impeaching Biden – just get the GOP geared up to dump the bum next fall.

Related: as Biden stumbles towards the 2024 election, you gotta believe he’d rather be related to Billy Carter than Hunter Biden.

One of the six or fewer liberals who read this blog forwarded us a piece from some left of center organization that complains some political rallies are doubling as religious revivals. Hmm, maybe there should be more of those.

$3.69 – the bay area price for gas this weekend – up 34 cents this month and only 10 cents lower than normally much higher priced diesel. As a public service, we remind you that in the first week of January 2021 – our area price was $2.14. Are we having fun yet?

Pinellas County’s proposal to vacate its Court Street headquarters is fraught with problems – financial and otherwise. They should tread very cautiously.

Breaking news for a breathless world: Twitter is now known as X.

The 5:05 Newsletter reports: There are six parking places for every person in the United States. Most of them are in Wyoming.

25 years ago this month, a Tampa landmark, the Jai Alai Fronton on South Dale Mabry, closed after 46 years of operation.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Veteran Cubs’ announcer Pat Hughes is the well-qualified recipient of this year’s Ford Frick Award for broadcast excellence. So when are the folks in Cooperstown going to get around to this Staats fellow down here in Tampa Bay (after his stops with the Astros, Cubs and Yanks)?

Number of the week: 3 – the total number of major league regulars who have more walks than strikeouts – Juan Soto of the Padres, Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez and the Dodger’s Will Smith.

Random thought for a long, hot summer: You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream and that’s almost the same thing.

Factoid: Unchained Melody is the song title with the most charted versions (nine) including the original by Les Baxter (#1) and the popular 60s version by the Righteous Brothers which peaked at #4. Three different titles have reached the charts eight times – Little Drummer Boy, Mack the Knife and Stand By Me.

You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you ever filled up at a Sinclair station, famous for their dinosaur logo. A series of mergers and acquisitions moved Sinclair out of Florida by the late seventies and early eighties.

…and another thing: more of Manfred

Rob Manfred has been reconfirmed as the commissioner of baseball for another five years and that is very unfortunate. The guy is tone deaf to the people who pay his salary – it’s not the owners, it’s the fans. The owners are only a conduit through which his salary flows. He has presided over an extremely costly work stoppage in 2022 with our state and Arizona being the biggest victims. He’s also allowed Oakland to swing in the wind while scheming to get the franchise to the home of his gambling buddies in Las Vegas. And we are just now starting to recover from his theft of the All-Star game from Atlanta in 2021. Here’s a radical, yet sane idea, like the All-Star teams, let the fans vote for the commissioner because, again, we pay his salary. And here’s a starting list of three guys who, unlike some second rate lawyer, know and truly care for the game, Cal Ripkin, Jr., Tim Kurkjian and, our personal choice, former player and Atlanta broadcaster, Joe Simpson. We’re sure you can come up with dozens more qualified than Biden stooge Rob Manfred.

UP NEXT: American Graffiti; Lizard skins; If you build it…

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Customer service?

You’ve moved or changed banks. You contact Spectrum, no problem. Duke Power, the same thing. Pinellas Elections office - check. Same for your credit cards, insurance company and various other companies you do business with. But then you call the City of Clearwater Utilities Department and then comes the derailment. No, you can’t do this on the phone; on line is a maze of unnecessary hoops. If you can do this simply and easily with a dozen other organizations, why is our city’s utility department so blasted difficult – and why has it been this way for years, if not decades? With a new City Manager on board and a new commission (sorry, we date ourselves) council majority coming next spring, it is way past time to shake things up in this city department and truly restore customer service.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Yet another infuriating thing about Joe Biden’s circumventing the Supreme Court on student loan giveaways is that the forgiveness is not taxable – another blow to honest, taxpaying Americans.

Related: we often quote unique T-shirts we spot. Here’s one we haven’t seen, but hope to: We paid off our student loan, why can’t you?

How often do you see a handicapped person in a television commercial? The answer, unless it’s the Shriners or the DAV, is never. We say thanks to Target for their recent inclusion, albeit brief, of a handicapped individual. It seems we try to put every odd life form on earth in our ads, but never someone handicapped. Thanks, Target.

$261 – the average annual amount spent on gambling by an adult U.S. citizen. We would have guessed more than that. Perhaps we run with the wrong crowd.

News of the Northern Hemisphere from the 5:05 Newsletter: A recent report shows that many people are concerned about the drugs, violence and a new dictatorship south of the border. These people are called Canadians.

On this week in 1949 (July 27) the first jet airliner, The De Havilland Comet, debuted. 114 were built with the last Comet retired in 1997.

Sports, media and other stuff:

He was an American treasure for seven decades. Tony Bennett, who left his heart in San Francisco, died last week at age 96. Ironically, the song most associated with the veteran crooner was not among his half-dozen biggest hits.

We and, we’re sure numerous MLB GMs, chuckle at all the blather about trading for Shohei Ohtani and capturing the World Series. Granted, he is a unique player, but not a difference maker – the Angels have never made the playoffs in his six years in LA.

If you fancy yourself a baseball savant, you’ll want to try the popular new internet game, Immaculate Grid. This 50 year plus baseball fan has been humbled by the nine square game that appears daily on the internet.

This week (July 25) marks the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Estelle Getty, the beloved Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls.

One of our readers whose trolley sometimes runs off the tracks asks, “Which occurs more often, a new moon or a new James Patterson novel?” The heralded author is quite prolific.

…and another thing: Where we’d like to live

This month, we challenged our TBR&R focus group to pick a city or town, outside of their own, where they would like to live.

One of our group begged off from this question. Don’t blame her. She was born in Clearwater and has been spoiled since birth!

Another member emphasized Clearwater is still, by far, his first choice, but would enjoy the somewhat slower paced lifestyle of the tiny village he grew up in – Bath, NY in the Empire State’s southern tier.

Batting third, a focus group member also would opt for a small town she grew up in – the Smoky Mountains’ Franklin, NC; listing small town, beautiful scenery, change of seasons, and very friendly people as her reasons why.

A country flavor also appeals to another of our august group who answers with Mayberry, “Who wouldn’t want Aunt Bea, as a neighbor?” The fictional town was loosely based on Andy Griffith’s home town of Mt. Airy, NC.

Yet another of our group responds there is no place like home (Dunedin), but if were forced to answer, her choice would be the beauty of Positano, Italy on the Amalfi coast.

And from another group member:” Being a, ‘bloom where you're planted’ type of guy, I've never given much thought to this question before. Upon reflection, my first instinct was to go with the Biltmore Estate.  Beautiful place and grounds with great views and an indoor bowling alley.  But then I thought, ‘Too many houseguests!’  More pragmatically, I think suburban Tennessee for its natural beauty, conservative values and cost of living.”

Finally, our NOLA group member has a broad perspective – somewhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains, hard to argue with that beautiful part of the country.

Next up: Jai Lai; More of Manfred; It’s Jacksonville, not Miami

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: $39 billion gift to deadbeats

As we feared, Jukin’ Joe, our man in the White House, found a way to circumvent the highest court in the land with a back door $39 billion giveaway to people with student debts. It’s the latest in his continuing strategy to buy votes (see Covid giveaways). Republicans are looking for legal remedies. The only other remedy for this is for people who paid off their student loans as they agreed and those who never took out such a loan to rise up in mass next fall. We need to tell Biden and his fellow Democrats to keep their hands out of our pockets. Biden in announcing the giveaway said, “I will stop at nothing to find other ways to deliver relief to hard-working middle-class families." What he has done is just the opposite – placing yet more burden on hard working taxpayers, not to mention people on fixed incomes.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Watching Joe Biden’s machinations to circumvent everybody on the student loan issue and others, one can only surmise that he was absent during the civics lecture on the three branches of government and the part where America is no longer governed by a monarch.

Sheriff Gualtieri, we don’t expect you to run your jail like a country club, but far too many prisoners are dying in your facility.

Number of the week: 500,000 – that’s the number of residents who have fled California in the past two years.

Costco is the latest organization to crack down on so-called membership sharing, saying more and more people are using someone else’s card at the self checkouts. It might have something to do with Costco cheaping out on real checkout people.

Related: The most common message you hear when calling for any kind of help (AC, cleaning, repairs) is “we’re short on help.” Second most: “we don’t have the parts.”

Revisited a breakfast-lunch restaurant in Tarpon for the first time in a while last week. At checkout was one of those tip options which now start at 22 percent on top of a rather heavy tab to begin with. But not as bad as an LA restaurant that adds a 4 percent surcharge to cover servers’ health insurance.

This week (July 17) in 1954, construction begins on Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Sometimes our readers’ minds go into a very different gear, such as this thought, “I’d like to have been the woman on the moon, who said ‘welcome’ to Neil and Buzz when they landed this week back in ’69.

And from the 5:05 Newsletter: 50 years and people still don’t know who Neil Armstrong is, or the type of trumpet he played.

Idle thought: is there anything more disgusting than the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest?

The timing couldn’t have been worse for Northwestern to have to fire their head football coach. Most experts say to look for an interim to get a tryout this season and then the academics first school will look for a guy at a similar institution.

Even after a century and a quarter of baseball, there is always something new, such as the Chicago Cubs’ first ever win at Yankee Stadium last week.

A writer for the Tampa Bay Times seemed to wonder why Atlanta Braves fans packed the Trop last week. Here’s her answer: for thirty years before the birth of the Rays, the Braves were the only team in the South and they have a massive amount of fans in central Florida.

More Rays: The schedule maker wasn’t particularly kind to the Rays for 2024, opening at home against the tough Blue Jays and Rangers as opposed to this year’s openers with Detroit, Oakland and Washington. Their road trips include NL powers Atlanta, LA and Philadelphia.

…and another thing: All Star omissions

The All-Star game has come and gone. As always, there are contentious arguments about players who are left off the team. But virtually every year, two positions are totally ignored – a middle reliever and a utility player. This year’s poster children would be the Brave’s Jesse Chavez whose ERA is a miniscule 1.55 and pitches in every situation including “opener.” He’s a 39-year-old 42^nd rounder who is a consummate pro and should have been in Seattle, injury or not. You can say the same for the Boston Red Sox’ Kiki Hernandez. Depending on the day, you’ll see him at second base, shortstop or the corner outfield. His offensive numbers aren’t Aaron Judge-like, but his versatility makes him invaluable to a ball club and those skills like Chavez’ should be recognized annually at the All-Star game.

NEXT WEEK: First jetliner; Yogi & Phil; Alternate location

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Interest rates crippling business

They span the alphabet from Apple to Verizon – companies that are pulling back in many areas because of suffocating interest rates. The pain is being felt in terms of reduced hiring, lower dividend rates to investors and the delay of purchasing needed equipment and technology. The cause is the ridiculous 22 percent increase in interest costs to US businesses in the first quarter of this year and the projections of second quarter costs aren’t very rosy as well. The Biden administration’s inability to control inflation except through enormous interest hikes will continue to trickle down to the consumer as business does what it has to do – that is reduce debt at the cost of lower employment and higher prices.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

And the hits just keep on coming – in addition to the dreary news above, retailers are predicting a drop in apparel and footwear sales in the next several quarters, which will depress holiday sales.

Just after our deadline for last week, we saw this headline in a left wing publication “What’s next for those who owe on student loans?” Ah, how about paying them?

Supreme Court poll: Americans are nearly split in support of the free speech ruling, with 43% agreeing that businesses should not be forced to provide services that conflict with their faith, while a close 42% disapprove of the decision. We suspect faith is the key word here.

Cocaine found in the White House over the 4^th of July weekend. No word as to whether Hunter was visiting.

We must humbly tip our cap to the marketing geniuses at Ben and Jerry’s and Bud Light (once the world’s most popular beer, now no longer in top ten).

Our friend TL asks that when Biden gets all the electric cars he wants on the roads, what will happen to our nation’s critical gas tax collections.

Related: There is more and more pushback across the nation against the Biden policy of trying to shove EVs down our throats with one EV company going under.

International/sports news from the 5:05 Newsletter: Russian cancelled coup to be made up as part of a doubleheader later this summer.

This week in 1960 (July 11) Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is published.

Sports, media and other stuff:

The matchup of the year – the Rays and the Braves and Tampa Bay fans can’t see the first game (a sellout) unless they shell out for Apple TV. Only one of the three games features Dwayne Staats. Baseball’s greed continues to magnify.

A dust up occurred last week between Britney Spears and the security team for the NBA’s #1 draft choice, Victor Wembanyama. It occurred in a casino - probably not the best place for either of them to be.

Another sign of a university going in the wrong direction: USF is closing its public golf course after over fifty years of existence. But the millions keep flowing to its one-win football team.

Number of the week: 1000 – that’s the number of different batters Zack Greinke has struck out in his major league career. He joins four other pretty fair country pitchers in Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens who have equaled that amount.

Factoid: Antarctica is the only continent where you cannot find at least one of the 260 species of owls in the world.

…and another thing: Farewell to a friend

As middle school friends, we rotated “home games” of the 1960 World Series with lunch prepared by our Mom when our Pirates were the home team while his Mom prepared lunch on the days his Yanks hosted. Many still say it was the greatest World Series ever. In high school, he edited the Clearlight newspaper and we were his sports editor. After high school, Mike Pride pursued the printed word, while we opted for the spoken word. He went on to be the city editor of the Clearwater Sun and later the award winning editor of the Concord (NH) Monitor as well as a jurist for the Pulitzer Prizes. The two of us saw each other infrequently over the years – his Dad’s funeral, a few spring training baseball games, but we closely followed Mike’s work. We were unaware of his passing until a week ago and had even published an article based on one of his columns in our April 23 blog – ironically a day before his passing. A dear friend who we will miss.

NEXT UP: Hello Buzz & Neil; Disneyland; Customer service?

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: GOP – Egos or the White House?

On this most important week in our nation’s history, here’s an open letter to Donald, Ron, Mike, Nikki, Rick, Chris and the rest. In 2024, it is urgently important to put aside your egos and unite to recapture the White House. Sure, we must let the primaries play out, but when you draw two or three percent of the votes in the first couple, it’s time to step aside and get behind someone who can win in November. As a sidebar, we don’t believe that person is Donald Trump, but that’s just us. If the Don prevails, we and others must swallow hard and get behind him and the “we” particularly applies to the names listed above. The bottom line is our nation simply cannot withstand another four years of dithering and incompetence.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Welcome to a real, not made-up, American holiday.

Based on last week’s SCOTUS decisions, it’s not a great week to be a liberal.

On the other hand, with the high court knocking down a $400 billion student loan giveaway, it’s a good week to be a U.S. taxpayer.

Biden quickly announces he will attempt another avenue to subvert the will of the people and the Supreme Court on student loans.

“Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought." - Pope John Paul II

It’s Independence Day week and three patriots we’d like to dine with: George Washington, George Patton and Dick Cheney.

Charitable giving was down 3.5 percent last year. Two of the leading factors were inflation and the Biden Administration’s axing of a small tax deduction formerly allowed for charitable giving.

Dumb and dumber – after a tidal wave of backlash this spring, Bud Light goes ahead with sponsorship of a gay pride parade in Toronto featuring naked male paraders.

From the retail news section of the 5:05 Newsletter:  I just saw the new glassed-in shelves at CVS to prevent theft. The toothpaste aisle has more protection than our Southern border.

This week in 1957 (July 6) a guy named John (Lennon) meets a fellow named Paul (McCartney) and eventually joins Paul’s group, the Quarrymen. Further success would follow.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Something to brag about: MSNBC outdrew Fox News – for all of one week. Although as some liberal outlets crowed, MSNBC maintained their lead in ages 25-54 left handed plumbers and Bud Light drinkers for a second straight week.

Another blow to a print giant as National Geographic has laid off its entire writing staff and will depend on contract journalists for its content in the future.

Ryan Seacrest announced as the new host of Wheel of Fortune after next season. The quick announcement avoids the torturous process Jeopardy fans endured in finding a replacement for Alex Trebek.

We noted a well-preserved Olds 442 on the road a while back. Our friend TL, the auto expert, says the 442 stands for 4-speed transmission, 4-barrel carburetor and dual (2) exhaust. Sharp car!

Factoid: In the wake of the Yankees’ Domingo Germán’s perfect game last week, seven of the 24 perfectos have been thrown by Hall of Famers. They are Jim Bunning, Roy Halladay, Catfish Hunter, Randy Johnson, Addie Joss, Sandy Koufax and the man most associated with pitching excellence – Cy Young.

July 7-9 – dates to circle on your calendar when baseball’s best, the Rays and Braves, face off at the Trop.

…and another thing: about those predictions

In our January 1, 2023 edition of TBR&R, we made ten predictions; here’s a midyear recap. We said Ron DeSantis would run for President; that your IRA would be slightly improved and your gym less crowded – 3 correct. We also predicted Democrats would talk Biden out of running in ’24 – wrong; the Rays would miss the playoffs – extremely unlikely – 2 incorrect. Five remain in the we’ll see category – a settlement in the Ukraine (looking unlikely, but still hopeful); the Bucs would not make the playoffs (too soon to tell); that Charlie Crist would announce for something (not yet); Mike Kelly wouldn’t last out the year as USF’s AD (things are so crazy at that school, he could be the president of USF by year’s end); lastly, we predicted a World Series win for the San Diego Padres (could we take a mulligan, and suggest either the Braves or Rays?) So far, we’re batting a shaky .600. That number is likely to tumble when we revisit this at year’s end.

NEXT UP: Harper Lee; Crippling interest rates; Farewell to a friend

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: Selective memory

As we change the name of things or tear them down because of this or that grievance (most recently Fort Bragg), we point to the great state of New York which has streets and parks named after William Tryon, their treasonous governor during the Revolutionary War. His misdeeds are well chronicled in Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch’s The First Conspiracy. It seems our memories are very selective as to what stays – Tryon who ineluctably tried to destroy our nation or Gen. Braxton Bragg, who distinguished himself in the Mexican War and the Seminole Wars, but made the mistake of accepting a commission in the Confederate Army.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

It was an awful Father’s Day weekend with shootings everywhere – if you define everywhere as cities being run by liberal mayors.

Answer: Hawaii and Utah. The question: what two U.S. states prohibit any form of gambling?

Good things to have: a good IT person, a good attorney, a good Realtor, a good accountant and, most of all, a good spouse.

One of the largest recent retail growth spurts is in the sales of flip phones. Take that Joe and Tom!

For our June luncheon, three captains of industry we would like to break bread with – George Westinghouse, Jack Eckerd and Lee Iacocca.

This week in 1944 (June 27) Cherbourg, France is liberated by the Allies.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Folks who are only casual golf fans have to admit that, before last weekend, they thought Wyndham Clark was a hotel chain.

Four – the number of the first five draftees in last week’s NBA draft who did not come from a college program. Analysts say this won’t be the last time.

The 5:05 Newsletter weighs in on the latest Biden-like Dodger moment. In the interest of equal time, next week the Los Angeles Dodgers will outrage Episcopalians by serving red wine with fish.

It’s Bobby Bonilla Week – the week (July 1, specifically) the Mets send a $1 million check to the former infielder/outfielder who last laced them up in 1999. The final payment on his contract is due in 2035 – only the Mets!

It’s also Rookie of the Year Week for the Rays on their western swing. In Seattle, they will see last year’s AL winner Julio Rodriguez, then this year’s likely NL ROY, the Diamondback’s star outfielder Corbin Carroll.

Pat Sajak will retire from Wheel of Fortune after next season. A few early names are being tossed around – Ryan Seacrest, perhaps a little over exposed, and Whoopi Goldberg. Should she get the gig, the next sound you would hear would be tens of thousands of remotes going “click.”

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember watching one of artist Roger Bansemer’s hot air balloons soaring above the city in the 70s and 80s.

…and another thing: baseball at mid-season

First, it just doesn’t get any better than this. Last Saturday, 8-year minor leaguer Zack Remillard gets his first major league action. After a walk, his next at bat produces his first major league hit; the next drives in the tying run and his third hit drives in the winning run for the White Sox. Talk about a dream day! Yes, it is statistically possible to win a division with a losing record – see the American League Central. Meanwhile, you would need a three-sided coin to flip for MLB’s most disappointing team (all in the NL) among the Cards, Mets or Padres with honorable mention to Cleveland and the Phils. Could the Rays sweep the Cy Young and MVP awards? With Shane McClanahan and Randy Arozarena, it’s entirely possible. In the National League, Ronald Acuna, Jr. has been the MVP from the first pitch. On the pitching side, right now it’s a two-way battle between Cubs teammates Marcus Stroman and Justin Steele. Raise your hand if you had the young, surging Cincinnati Reds battling for a playoff spot. If the season ended right now, eight of the 12 teams in the playoffs weren’t there last year - more next month.

UP NEXT: Egos or the White House; John & Paul; Those predictions

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Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Leading off: A dangerous Florida amendment

Just a few weeks ago, (TBR&R 5/22/23) we ranted about political action committees that hide under innocent sounding names. The latest threat to Floridian’s safety is the seemingly innocuous Smart and Safe political committee. They are advocating something that is neither smart nor safe – the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state through a constitutional amendment, hoping they can get enough potheads to vote for the measure. Luckily, the state, under the leadership of Attorney General Ashley Moody, is fighting the measure in the courts this summer. We’ll keep you advised.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

A suggestion from writers Angela and Dennis Buttimer: “The next time you go to a restaurant or public place, observe the engagement people have with their phones versus each other.”

Related thought: We really need to take more timeouts from our phones and other electronics and more “time-ins” with the people in our lives.

Educational note from the 5:05 Newsletter: The National Education Association is reporting that history test scores are at their lowest point in US history since Thomas Jefferson wrote the Magna Carta in 1933.

Seriously, it’s embarrassing to watch quiz shows where contestants don’t know the difference between Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt or Lord Nelson and Ricky Nelson. Yet these people vote.

A member of our outstanding focus group reports what may be the most offensive thing he has ever heard on TV - “We need to help our audience understand…”