Monthly Archives: March 2012

Emotional weather report for March

Posted on March 21, 2012 by oddmanout215

The sun is beginning to shine on me, But it’s not like the sun that used to be. – Bob Dylan, “Highlands” Overheard on South Street, outside the city’s worst supermarket: “Yeah, but most South Philly people, they’re really rude … Continue reading →

Posted in arts, humor, pop music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Surging toward another snafu

Posted on March 20, 2012 by oddmanout215

Obama’s war propaganda sounds like Bush’s. Put another way, the Obamabots are as eager as the Bushies to put a good face on disaster, if that’s what it takes to keep their candidate’s poll numbers from slipping. And they get … Continue reading →

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Busting bagpipers in NYC

Posted on March 19, 2012 by oddmanout215

When I’m assaulted in a public place by the sound of bad music, I shout “Somebody call the music police!” But I’m joking at such times. I don’t really expect anyone to dial 911 when Madonna is blaring from the … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, Goldman Sachs, Great Recession, Occupy Wall Street, Wall Street | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

In D.C., ‘fat cat’ is a term of endearment

Posted on March 18, 2012 by oddmanout215

The worst social sickness of our time, the one that might eventually bring down this country, is the growing divide between rich and poor. But you rarely see honest stories about this sickness in our mainstream media, because to acknowledge … Continue reading →

Posted in campaign finance reform, climate change, Congress, economic collapse, globalization, Great Recession, mainstream media, Obama, Occupy Wall Street | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Will Ye Go Lassie Go’

Posted on March 17, 2012 by oddmanout215

It’s a good day to listen to “Will Ye Go Lassie Go” by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. It was also recorded by Joan Baez, and by the Byrds, as “Wild Mountain Thyme,” and has been sung for hundreds of years. … Continue reading →

Posted in arts, history, pop music | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

From the Gaelic for ‘water of life’

Posted on March 17, 2012 by oddmanout215

Leave it to the Irish to write a song in which the miracle of resurrection is achieved through spilled whiskey (from the Gaelic for “water of life”). This version of “Finnegan’s Wake,” by my deceased mother’s favorite band, brings back … Continue reading →

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Bank on BofA ripping you off

Posted on March 17, 2012 by oddmanout215

Matt Taibbi starts his new Rolling Stone article with a Shock and Awe-style barrage of over-the-top analogies: At least Bank of America got its name right. The ultimate Too Big to Fail bank really is America, a hypergluttonous ward of … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, Great Recession, mainstream media, Occupy Wall Street, The New Depression | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Vampire squid strikes back

Posted on March 15, 2012 by oddmanout215

Yes, it was fun to read that column by Goldman Sachs apostate Greg Smith, even though most of what he had to say about his former employer had already been reported in one form or another by Matt Taibbi, who … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, Goldman Sachs, Great Recession, mainstream media, New York Times, Wall Street | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

PA voter ID battle not over

Posted on March 15, 2012 by oddmanout215

Pennsylvania legislators on Wednesday pushed through a bill requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. Gov. Tom Corbett quickly signed the bill into law, and said it sets a “simple and clear standard to protect the integrity of … Continue reading →

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CNN reports government conspiracy!

Posted on March 14, 2012 by oddmanout215

Did you hear about this thing called the military-industrial complex, a deep-seated alliance between the U.S. government and American corporations that makes sure we are almost always involved in wars, declared or undeclared? Dwight Eisenhower identified it in 1961, and … Continue reading →

Posted in history, humor, Iraq war, mainstream media | Tagged , , | 2 Comments