Deep Something

Barbershops

October 13, 2011September 29, 2018 B. John 223 Views 0 Comments Central Barbershop, Gandy Barbershop, Steve Otto

I went to get a haircut Wednesday morning at the Gandy Barbershop. It’s owned by Steve, but Tony, a British guy, is the barber I use. When I was paying and getting ready to leave he showed me a framed article by a local Tampa Tribune columnist, Steve Otto, which talked about Tony and the barbershop. I got me thinking about my earliest memories of going to the barbershop. Of course I know I went before we moved to Kings Mountain, but the first memory I have of going was to Central Barbershop right downtown on Mountain Street, beside Griffin’s Drug Store.

Business Economy Featured

Karma in the Foreclosure Business

November 15, 2010October 3, 2018 B. John 184 Views 0 Comments Bank of America, DAL Group, David J. Stern, Fannie Mae, foreclosure mill, foreclosures, Freddie Mac, Wells Fargo

There’s not much of a silver lining in a foreclosure, but some foreclosed homeowners can take a little stab of enjoyment from this story on TBO.com. The DAL Group, LLC of Plantation, FL, has defaulted on it’s $15 million loan from Bank of America. DAL Group is owned by Attorney David J. Stern, and is one of the many foreclosure mills operating here in Florida.

Business Culture Economy Entertainment

Fun For Friday

August 27, 2010September 29, 2018 169 Views 0 Comments Air Travel, fun, juggling, Pentagon, Travel, United Airlines

Work has been hectic, and I had to work all last weekend. I was traveling this week to Washington, D.C., and had an interesting meeting there at the Pentagon. But now, here’s something to watch that is just plain fun.

Business Economy Featured Politics

AIG Executives Say They'll Quit

December 7, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 131 Views 0 Comments 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, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 200 Views 0 Comments 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.

Business Culture Economy Featured General Movies

CineBistro in Hyde Park

October 29, 2009September 29, 2018 224 Views 0 Comments Cinebistro, Cobb Theaters, Hyde Park Village, Paranormal Activity

CineBistro is a concept created by Cobb Theaters. Each features an upscale, yet inviting and comfortable atmosphere in which to dine while watching a major motion picture. It was, for us, a pleasant experience, but I think to do the whole thing (dinner and movie), the cost is a bit high. We’ll see how well the concept can catch on. Lay thinks they won’t make it. I think they might.

Business Congress Economy Featured Politics Presidency

Billionaire Insurance CEO's – $102k per hour salaries

August 12, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 241 Views 1 Comment government run, Insurance, insurance industry, Medicade, medicare, single payer, Stephen Hemsley, United HealthGroup

Ed Schultz of The Ed Show interviews Robert Greenwald about an investigative report on the CEO of United Health Care Group. Turns out the guy is making about $102,000 per hour. At one point a few years ago his salary alone accounted for $1 in every $700 spent on healthcare in America. The fact is, in this country we have always recognized that some things are not best left to the marketplace.

Business Congress Economy Politics

Bill Moyers Explains Money, Politics and Healthcare Reform

July 20, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 228 Views 0 Comments bill moyers, Bill Moyers Journal, healthcare, Insurance, medicaid, medicare, PBS

As is so often the case, Bill Moyers does another outstanding job of pointing out the differences in how healthcare is viewed. I continued to be amazed at the absolute stupidity of people who can’t understand that their version of “free market” healthcare is not, and will not work. In the free-market, companies are out to make a profit. They don’t make a profit by paying for your care.

Business Congress Economy Featured Politics Presidency

Single Payer Health Care-The Only Option

June 7, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 196 Views 0 Comments bill moyers, Health Insurance, healthcare, Healthcare Reform, Insurance, Universal Healthcare

Leave it to Bill Moyers to be the voice of sanity in an otherwise insane discussion about healthcare reform. A recent report showing the majority of bankruptcies in America are healthcare related (and most of those people have healthcare insurance) should be causing Americans to demand that our Congress Critters take a serious look at single payer as the only real way to reform healthcare.

Business Congress Economy Politics

Gotta Love Chuck Schumer

February 24, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 191 Views 0 Comments Bobby Jindal, Chuck Schumer, Economic Stimulus Package, Haley Barbour, Obama, republicans

Chuck Schumer is calling bullshit on these Republican Governors who are grandstanding on the stimulus bill. According to Talking Points Memo Schumer has written a letter to the White House saying the stimulus bill does not include any provision allowing Governors to pick and choose which parts of the stimulus money they want to take. Schumer is telling the Administration to tell the governors that it’s all-or-nothing.

Business Constitution Corruption Crime Economy Election Featured Politics Software Technology

Diebold in Deal With Wal-Mart?

February 24, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 150 Views 0 Comments Diebold, Premier Election Solutions, Sam's Club, Wal-mart

The Raw Story is reporting that some bloggers have been checking out the telephone and address listings for the many offices Diebold is claiming to have around the country. It turns out that most of them have phones numbers that go unanswered and the listed addresses turn out to be Wal-Mart or Sam’s club addresses.