Featured – Page 10

The Christmas Song

December 24, 2009December 18, 2009 John Nat King Cole

“The Christmas Song”, commonly subtitled “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire“, is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to “stay cool by thinking cool,” the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song was born.

Culture Featured Holidays Music

Jingle Bell Rock – Hall and Oates

December 21, 2009December 18, 2009 John

Another 80’s classic Christmas song. This time it’s Hall and Oates performing Jingle Bell Rock. It was first released by Bobby Helms in 1957 and has received frequent airplay during every Christmas time since then. “Jingle Bell Rock” was written by Joe Beal, a Massachusetts-born public relations man, and Jim Boothe, a Texas writer in the advertising business. It was also recorded by Bill Haley and the Comets.

Featured Fun Stuff General

An Early Return for My Annual Visitor

December 11, 2009December 11, 2009 John Birds, Cardinal

Each year, usually when the weather is like this in January or February, I get a visitor. She’s been coming around every year for at least five or six years, and this year she’s about a month early. She also has a boyfriend this year. Earlier this morning I heard a tapping on the sliding glass door in the dining room. When I went to look, there she was, a cardinal tapping on the door, then flying into it trying to get in, or seeing herself in its reflection. I’m not sure which.

Business Featured Politics

AIG Executives Say They’ll Quit

December 7, 2009December 7, 2009 John AIG, Bailout, Government Bailout, TARP

The New York Times has a Reuters report that five AIG executives wrote letters on December 1 stating they may quit if their salary and bonuses are cut.The senior executives at American International Group told the insurer last week they may quit if their compensation was cut significantly by the U.S. pay czar, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. I think this would fall under the auspices of that grand old southern phrase, “Well bless their hearts.”

Business Congress Economy Featured Politics

Broken Wrist a Pre-existing Condition

November 29, 2009 John CNN, David Brooks, Economics, Greg Mankiw, Harvard, Health Care Insurance Reform, Health care reform, Health Insurance, Healthcare Reform, Public Health Insurance, United Healthcare

Today’s stupid health insurance company tricks includes one lady’s experience of having her insurance company deny paying for the treatment of her broken wrist because it was a “pre-existing condition,” my experience with having denial codes that even the insurance company can’t explain, and the writings of some conservatives who say we can’t reform heath care insurance because it would make a more decent society and let us enjoy more leisure time.