Author Archives: oddmanout215

Wolcott: Tea Party’s brew is tepid

Posted on January 18, 2012 by oddmanout215

The “dreadful inevitability” of Mitt Romney’s candidacy has led James Wolcott to conclude that the wing-nut right, despite its blustering, packs a feeble punch: …The right blogosphere ain’t squat. It’s a hornet’s nest up in the attic whose noise can … Continue reading →

Posted in mainstream media, mid-term elections, Mitt Romney, Politics | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Whatsa matta, you no like-a SOPA?

Posted on January 18, 2012 by oddmanout215

In case you didn’t notice, some large websites shut down today to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act that was being sneaked through Congress until President Obama voiced opposition to it. Which doesn’t mean Obama won’t sign the bill if … Continue reading →

Posted in Congress, mainstream media, movies, Obama, Politics, pop music | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Piggy bank empty? Don’t resort to plastic.

Posted on January 18, 2012 by oddmanout215

So why have relatively few formerly middle-class Americans become actively outraged by Wall Street frauds and job-destroying corporate raiders such as Mitt Romney? One answer is that many of us, despite lost jobs or lowered wages, have managed to maintain … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, Great Recession, Mitt Romney, Politics, The New Depression | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

From Bryan Ferry’s ‘Dylanesque’

Posted on January 18, 2012 by oddmanout215

The line it is drawn/The curse it is cast/The slow one now/Will later be fast/As the present now/Will later be past/The order is rapidly fadin’/And the first one now will later be last/For the times they are a-changin… Dylan recorded … Continue reading →

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Vote for a genuine outsider

Posted on January 17, 2012 by oddmanout215

This one goes out to South Carolina Republicans who are still on the fence concerning the upcoming primary. Are Mittens and Newt and Rick too insider-ish? Well, how about Herman Cain? The super PAC of comedian Stephen Colbert, which has … Continue reading →

Posted in campaign finance reform, humor, Politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

‘Shore Leave’

Posted on January 16, 2012 by oddmanout215

From Waits’ 1983 album, Swordfishtrombones: …and so I slopped at the corner on cold chow mein and shot billards with a midget until the rain stopped and I bought a long sleeved shirt with horses on the front and some … Continue reading →

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MLK the ‘moral revolutionary’

Posted on January 16, 2012 by oddmanout215

From a 1982 book review in which Garry Wills noted that Martin Luther King, Jr. knew he “would have to accept his own death” if he were to play a leading role in the civil rights movement: …He did not … Continue reading →

Posted in history, mainstream media | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What is a ‘word’? (Vanity Fair tweaks NYT)

Posted on January 15, 2012 by oddmanout215

A recent Vanity Fair piece spoofs the shockingly stupid editor’s column in the NYT that asked readers to decide whether newspapers should report facts. Many VF readers apparently didn’t get VF‘s joke. Read the VF piece below and then the … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, mainstream media, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

‘What’s the Use of Getting Sober…’

Posted on January 14, 2012 by oddmanout215

This one’s almost as good as “Five Guys Named Moe.” Albert Murray, from his book Stomping the Blues: The element of frolicsome mockery in [Jordan’s] verbal delivery is as obvious as the downhome earthiness represented by the instrumental accompaniment. Incidentally, … Continue reading →

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Kill them, but don’t piss on them

Posted on January 14, 2012 by oddmanout215

Sebastian Junger in the Washington Post, via Reader Supported News: The video that emerged in recent days appearing to show four U.S. Marines urinating on several dead Taliban fighters has outraged many people in this country. Secretary of State Hillary … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Iraq war, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments