Category Archives: arts

A masterpiece, exclusively for you

Posted on January 24, 2012 by oddmanout215

I like Betsy Lerner’s blog, about the craft and business of writing. Here’s her response to someone who asked how long a writer should wait for a response from an agent to whom the writer has offered an “exclusive submission”: … Continue reading →

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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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‘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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‘Five Years’

Posted on January 12, 2012 by oddmanout215

This I’m posting in connection with the scary news item from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. The nuclear weapons situation last year looked so grim — everybody has them! — that the scientists reset the Doomsday Clock a minute closer … Continue reading →

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Terrence Malick’s dream of life

Posted on January 10, 2012 by oddmanout215

I’ve been writing too often about politicians — dull creatures, in most cases, with bad ideas and base motives. So here’s a belated review of my favorite movie of 2011, director/writer Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. I only saw … Continue reading →

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‘Nausea’

Posted on January 5, 2012 by oddmanout215

This could be about overexposure to presidential primaries, or about the playlist of your typical “alt-rock” station: First verse: Now I’m a seasick sailor On a ship of noise I got my maps all backwards And my instincts poisoned In … Continue reading →

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‘The Apartment’

Posted on December 31, 2011 by oddmanout215

The best-ever New Year’s Eve movie is a dark comedy, but director/writer Billy Wilder knew exactly when to lighten it up, even during the attempted-suicide scene. Jack Lemmon plays a bachelor with a dismal office job who curries the favor … Continue reading →

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‘Matchbox’

Posted on December 31, 2011 by oddmanout215

Yeah I’m sitting here wondering, would a matchbox hold my clothes… I hope I didn’t insult the memory of the late Carl Perkins by using lyrics from “Matchbox” in connection with the Republican dogs, big and small, mentioned in my … Continue reading →

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Politicians and celebrity suckers

Posted on December 28, 2011 by oddmanout215

Daniel Craig, star of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, recently sounded off about politicians, especially the ones who pretend to be hip and progressive in order to win the favor of liberal-minded celebrities: “Tony Blair started it much more … Continue reading →

Posted in arts, economic collapse, Great Recession, liar, mainstream media, movies, Obama, Politics, pop music, The New Depression, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Australia’ (Happy Boxing Day)

Posted on December 26, 2011 by oddmanout215

We’ll surf like they do in the USA We’ll fly down to Sydney for a holiday On sunny Christmas Day… I’m standing in line yesterday at a drugstore, one of those chain stores that turn wall-to-wall red a month before … Continue reading →

Posted in arts, economic collapse, Great Recession, humor, Obama, Philadelphia, Politics, pop music, The New Depression, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment