Author Archives: oddmanout215

The ‘meeks’ shall inherit the dirt

Posted on August 29, 2011 by oddmanout215

Philly in summer was a blast furnace until we lucked into a rainy August capped by a visit from Hurricane Irene, the queen of hype. No such luck for Texas, which continues to suffer through its worst drought on record … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, Great Recession, health care, livable cities, Politics, taxes, The New Depression, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s the end of the world…! Well, not quite

Posted on August 28, 2011 by oddmanout215

Disaster stories are crowd pleasers, partly because oblivion can seem an appealing alternative to everyday problems that have no solution. At the very least, such stories disrupt the monotony of our insulated, digitized environments and force us to imagine other … Continue reading →

Posted in arts, humor, livable cities, movies, Philadelphia | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Quake-damaged phallic landmark needs TLC

Posted on August 27, 2011 by oddmanout215

Soon after the recent earthquake, a talking head joked that the Washington Monument had been damaged, but no one was sure yet if it was leaning left or right. Turns out there really are cracks in this symbol of American … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, livable cities | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

We’ll all be rain dogs soon

Posted on August 27, 2011 by oddmanout215

For those in the path of Irene: “Rain Dogs” from Tom Waits’ Rain Dogs (1985) According to reports, Philadelphia will get more rain this weekend than any other major city in the region. Bad news for those of us in … Continue reading →

Posted in food, livable cities, Philadelphia, pop music | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Gaddafi to Cheney: Work your magic for me

Posted on August 26, 2011 by oddmanout215

Dear Dick, My Michael Jacksonian compound was breached, my beautiful Bedouin tent burned to the ground, my Galliano-yellow and iguana-green uniforms desecrated. Worst of all, precious photos of Leezza were stolen and defiled by marauding desert rats who are not … Continue reading →

Posted in Great Recession, Iraq war, mainstream media, Obama, Politics, The New Depression | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Straight talk on SS? Sanders stands alone

Posted on August 26, 2011 by oddmanout215

Bernie Sanders, the independent U.S. Senator from Vermont, makes passionate statements in support of working people then backs them up with legislation such as a bill that would strengthen Social Security without cutting benefits. From Sanders’ website: To keep Social … Continue reading →

Posted in Congress, economic collapse, Obama, Politics, The New Depression | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The men don’t know, but the little girls…

Posted on August 26, 2011 by oddmanout215

For you nocturnal types: “Back Door Man” from The Doors (1967) In his own way, for a very different audience, Jim Morrison swaggered almost as convincingly as Howlin’ Wolf. The Doors actually gave credit where it was due on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Trumka to Obama: We are not the Tea Party

Posted on August 25, 2011 by oddmanout215

Richard Trumka is a hulking fellow who often wears a big smile, maybe in order to not look threatening. He wasn’t smiling much today when he blasted Barack Obama for failing to do anything in the way of jobs creation … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, globalization, Great Recession, Obama, Politics, The New Depression, unemployment | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Pesky lawyer still on banksters’ case

Posted on August 25, 2011 by oddmanout215

When it comes to describing the complacency of the Wall Street banksters, their unabashed disregard for the millions of people they defrauded, and the ease with which they continue to push the right buttons in Washington in order to avoid … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, Goldman Sachs, Great Recession, mainstream media, New York Times, Obama, Politics, The New Depression, Wall Street, world-wide economy | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

‘Drug corners’ story makes a sobering point

Posted on August 25, 2011 by oddmanout215

I know a talk radio host who has a passion for esoteric list-making — best NFL defensive linemen who are also convicted felons, best rockabilly guitarists who married their first cousins — that sort of thing. He invites listeners to … Continue reading →

Posted in Great Recession, humor, livable cities, mainstream media, Philadelphia, Politics, The New Depression, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments