Christmas 1958: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Christmas song

THE CHIPMUNKS

THE CHRISTMAS SONG

"All right you Chipmunks! Ready to sing your song?

I'll say we are! Yeah! Let's sing it now!

Okay, Simon? Okay! Okay, Theodore? Okay!

Okay, Alvin? Alvin? Alvin! Okay!

Christmas, Christmas time is near Time for toys and time for cheer

We've been good, but we can't last Hurry Christmas, hurry fast

Want a plane that loops the loop Me, I want a hula hoop

We can hardly stand the wait Please Christmas, don't be late.

Okay fellas get ready. That was very good, Simon.

Naturally. Very good Theodore. Ah

Ah, Alvin, you were a little flat, watch it.

Ah, Alvin. Alvin.Alvin! Okay

Want a plane that loops the loop I still want a hula hoop

We can hardly stand the wait Please Christmas, don't be late.

We can hardly stand the wait Please Christmas, don't be late.

Very good, boys Lets sing it again!

Yeah, lets sing it again! 

No, that's enough, lets not overdo it

What do you mean overdo it?

We want to sing it again! Now wait a minute, boys

Why can't we sing it again? Alvin, cut that out Theodore, just a minute.

Simon will you cut that out? Boys...."

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We remember Zoilo Versalles (1939-1995)

Zoilo Casanova Versalles y Rodríguez was born on this day 1939 in Marianao, Cuba. He broke with the Senators (now the Twins) and became a pretty good shortstop in the early 1960’s.

In 1965, Versalles won the AL MVP and led the Twins to the World Series against the LA Dodgers: .273 with 19 HR & 77 RBI’s plus 42 doubles, 13 triples and 126 runs scored. It was a great season for the young man from Marianao, and one of the many who played in the Cuban winter league and later in the majors.

Zoilo died in 1995. In 2005, he was posthumously honored by induction into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.

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The Ronettes and "Sleigh Ride"

The Ronettes were one of the great girl groups.     

They were Veronica (Ronnie) Bennett (1943-2022), her sister Estelle (1941-2009) and their cousin Nedra Talley.   They grew up in New York City's Washington Heights.

"Be My Baby" was one of the first 45s in my collection.   It is one of the greatest songs of the 1960s. 

The Ronettes, one of the great "girl groups" of pop!  Their version of "Sleigh ride" is a must at Christmas.

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A chat with Leslie Eastman, Legal Insurrection.

Guest:  Leslie Eastman, Legal Insurrection.    We will review the first year of the Trump presidency and some of her recent articles about climate change and other stories.

Chile goes right, Big Apple goes left

Chile goes right, Big Apple goes left: In two weeks, New York City will inaugurate a new socialist mayor. In a few weeks, Chile will inaugurate a new president from the Right. In Seattle, a socialist is now the mayor, but in Argentina, Ecuador, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Bolivia, and…..

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/chile_goes_right_big_apple_goes_left.html

What in the world is going on? Socialism is dead but alive and well in New York City and Seattle.

Chile goes right, Big Apple goes left - American Thinker https://t.co/jn84xU57Jd

— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) December 17, 2025

In two weeks, New York City will inaugurate a new socialist mayor. In a few weeks, Chile will inaugurate a new president from the Right. In Seattle, a socialist is now the mayor, but in Argentina, Ecuador, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Bolivia, and Paraguay, leaders from the Right are governing or starting to govern.

What in the world is going on? Socialism is dead but alive and well in New York City and Seattle. Of course, they don't really call it “socialism” but rather the "affordability" crisis. Did you ever read about a socialist country that made things more affordable? No. They make people miserable and poor. They make things more affordable by rationing everything or rent controls that turn pretty buildings into slums. Have you a recent picture of Havana? I mean that part of Havana that the tourists spending dollars don't get to see. Yes, the part where Cubans live and the hospitals are falling apart. My family used to live in that pretty part of Cuba that now looks recently bombed for days.

Chile's victory was massive, as NPR pointed out:

Kast's victory follows years of left-of-center rule in Chile. It also reflects a broader regional trend in Latin America in which security and migration have become decisive electoral issues.

In elections this year Bolivia ousted socialists who had ruled for nearly two decades. Argentina's La Libertad Avanza won legislative elections, boosting President Javier Milei's influence in Congress, and Ecuador re-elected center-right Daniel Noboa.

Far-right libertarian President Javier Milei of neighboring Argentina welcomed Kast's win, calling his "friend's" victory proof that Latin America is casting off the "oppressive shackles of 21st-century socialism."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tweeted his congratulations, saying Washington looks forward to "partnering with his administration to strengthen regional security."

 By the way, Secretary Marco Rubio is a big winner here too. He is convinced Latin American leaders that the U.S. has their backs in the battle against narcos and that doing business with the U.S. is a better bet than China.

As we celebrate Chile and other examples of the good guys winning, we also look with shock and horror at some of our cities. Who told them that socialism works or that you make things affordable by telling people what they want to hear? Well, they will learn the hard way and maybe follow the example of Chile and others in rejecting this garbage.

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We remember Pope Francis (1936-2025)

We remember Pope Francis who was born on this day in 1936 in Argentina and died in 2025.

A couple of years ago, I wrote an article following the "Person of the Year" recognition.

I loved Pope Francis' "down to earth" approach.  It was very refreshing.  However, he did go down "the climate change" hole too often and lost me in the process.

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1903: Orville and Wilbur Wright

It must have been a very exciting 12 seconds for the Wright brothers.   Orville piloted the craft and the brothers flew 120 feet. And we've been flying ever since!

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2015: Christmas books and poetry of the season with Frank Burke

Christmas books and poetry of the season with Frank Burke............. 

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Listen to "2015 podcast: Christmas books and poetry of the season with Frank Burke" on Spreaker.

A pre-Castro Cuban Navidad

Getting ready for 'Navidad" is one of my favorite Cuban traditions, in part because my mother's kitchen had a wonderful smell all month!

For a little pre-Castro nostalgia, see Postal de Navidad - Christmas Card!

Again, have a good Noche Buena!  Feliz Navidad to all of you!

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Happy # 87 to Leo "Chico" Cardenas

Leonardo Lazaro (Alfonso) Cardenas was born in Matanzas on this day in 1938.  

 

He made it to the majors in 1960 where he got the nickname of “Chico” and “Mr. Automatic” because he was so good at playing shortstop.

 

Cardenas was a 5-time All Star.  He played 9 years with the Cincinnati Reds and 3 with the Minnesota Twins.    He replaced fellow Cuban Zoilo Versalles as the shortstop for the Twins.

 

Overall, he hit .257 over 16 seasons.     Along the way, he hit 20 HR & 81 RBI's in 1966 and 18 HR & 75 RBI's in 1970.   Back then, those were huge power numbers for a shortstop.

 

Cardenas played in the 1961 World Series with the Reds and in the 1969 & 1970 ALCS with the Twins.   He is best remembered as the man who made everything look easy at shortstop.

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