Author Archives: oddmanout215

State of the Union ritual is deader than the Latin mass

Posted on March 4, 2022 by oddmanout215

I was telling Swamp Rabbit that Joe Biden dodged more issues than he addressed in his State of the Union speech this week. He sounded properly indignant about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but he didn’t seriously acknowledge the concerns that … Continue reading →

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‘Retiring’ dirty energy is easier said than done

Posted on February 25, 2022 by oddmanout215

From The Uninhabitable Earth, the 2019 nonfiction bestseller by David Wallace-Wells that explains how climate change will turn the future into an ongoing catastrophe if we don’t drastically reduce carbon emissions: We are… billions of dollars and thousands of breakthroughs … Continue reading →

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Love has come to town (one day only)

Posted on February 14, 2022 by oddmanout215

“What is this thing called love, Odd Man?” It was Valentine’s Day, and Swamp Rabbit was in a reflective mood. I told him there were all sorts of love, that he was probably referring to eros, the ancient Greek word … Continue reading →

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Spotify’s big profits ensure ‘free speech’ for Joe Rogan

Posted on February 7, 2022 by oddmanout215

I told my neighbor Swamp Rabbit that the United States leads the world in Covid-19 deaths — we’ve passed the 900,000 mark — partly because of grifters like Joe Rogan, who has used his Spotify podcasts to channel bad medical … Continue reading →

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3.5 trillion dollars short and six months late

Posted on January 23, 2022 by oddmanout215

A Washington Post columnist declared Thursday that Joe Biden and the Democrats have had an epiphany and from now on will counter Republican nihilism by taking action that “leads to more progress in the future.” Swamp Rabbit was puzzled. “What … Continue reading →

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Fifteen spirituals to help you get through 2022

Posted on January 12, 2022 by oddmanout215

“They ain’t spirituals,” Swamp Rabbit said. “Elvis was a rocker. Blind Faith don’t belong on no list with James Cleveland. Matthew Sweet got ain’t got nothin’ to do with Mahalia Jackson. You got gospel mixed up with rock ‘n’ roll.” … Continue reading →

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Watching ‘Wonderful Life’ but not getting it

Posted on January 4, 2022 by oddmanout215

“How come you like that corny movie?” Swamp Rabbit said after watching the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) for the first time. “I thought you were one of them too-cool-for-school guys.” I told him Wonderful Life transcends its … Continue reading →

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12 days of Christmas, 12 cool songs

Posted on December 24, 2021 by oddmanout215

Swamp Rabbit was mad because Alvin and the Chipmunks didn’t make the cut. “You don’t like my Christmas playlist, then put together your own,” I told him.

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The suburban Philly gods bring you — fire!

Posted on December 22, 2021 by oddmanout215

We lingered last weekend at the 18th Firebird Festival in Phoenixville, PA, where a giant wooden figure shaped like a phoenix had been set ablaze for hundreds of fire worshippers to behold. “This is my kind of celebration,” I told … Continue reading →

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An Xmas stocking stuffer from Manchin to Democrats

Posted on December 20, 2021 by oddmanout215

Swamp Rabbit said it best back in April: Joe Manchin is a DINO — a Democrat in name only. He likes the filibuster rule and thinks raising taxes on the rich is radical. At the time, Joe Biden seemed confidant … Continue reading →

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