Category Archives: arts

Judge invokes Orwell in ruling on slavery exhibit

Posted on February 18, 2026 by oddmanout215

“Are they really gonna put that stuff back?” Swamp Rabbit said. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” He’s right, the battle isn’t over, but censorship foes will appreciate the literary allusion made by U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe … Continue reading →

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So easy to love — for a while

Posted on February 15, 2026 by oddmanout215

My annoying neighbor Swamp Rabbit was addressing my tendency to be late with everything. “Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, Odd Man. Today is just another day.” I told him I was working yesterday and didn’t have time to think about love, … Continue reading →

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Jeff Bezos as Charles Foster Kane

Posted on February 9, 2026 by oddmanout215

Kudos to Bernie Sanders for stating the obvious about the billionaire weasel responsible for the ongoing decline of a top-tier newspaper: Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie and $500 million for a yacht to … Continue reading →

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Where have all the protest songs gone?

Posted on January 31, 2026 by oddmanout215

I was telling my neighbor Swamp Rabbit that Bruce Springsteen’s new song about the DHS murders in Minneapolis is heartfelt and timely. Too bad the melody is dreary, the vocal overwrought and the likelihood of the song changing the beliefs … Continue reading →

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Insurrection? I don’t remember that.

Posted on January 19, 2026 by oddmanout215

From The New York Times, another reminder that being a dictator means having the power to replace the historical record with self-serving propaganda: The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery removed wall text that referred to President Trump’s two impeachments — language … Continue reading →

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Get with it, clean energy fans. Hire influencers.

Posted on January 1, 2026 by oddmanout215

Lately I’ve been either jogging or writing, and my newsy neighbor Swamp Rabbit wants to know what’s up. “How come you spendin’ so much time in Bog Water Homes?’ he said, naming the swampy development where we live. “You get … Continue reading →

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Songs for a cool Yule and beyond

Posted on December 26, 2025 by oddmanout215

I was putting together this year’s Christmas playlist with help from my neighbor Swamp Rabbit, who has strong opinions about holiday music. “No more ‘Jingle Bells!’” he shouted. “There are two thousand versions out there and they all suck.” He … Continue reading →

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I do believe in spooks!

Posted on October 31, 2025 by oddmanout215

Swamp Rabbit was concerned about my mental health. He had decorated the front of his shack with jack-‘o-lanterns and plastic tombstones and so on, and he was wondering why my shack looked so dark and uninviting. “You need some skeletons … Continue reading →

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Satire is no match for a mad king and his minions

Posted on October 6, 2025 by oddmanout215

Swamp Rabbit and I were debating the usefulness of satire in a country whose democratic traditions are being subverted by authoritarian forces. Will poking fun at those forces help? Can satirists wake sane Americans to the fact that the norms … Continue reading →

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Snarky Bill Maher can’t take a joke

Posted on April 28, 2025 by oddmanout215

Bill Maher can dish it out, but he can’t take it. The aging king of snark is still whining about “My Dinner with Adolph,” a satiric op-ed by Larry David that indirectly mocked Maher for dining with Donald Trump and … Continue reading →

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