Category Archives: livable cities

No kings, no dictators, no bike pump

Posted on October 21, 2025 by oddmanout215

I had to work Sunday but figured there would be time to catch the tail end of the No Kings march. I finished work, drove home to South Philadelphia and jumped on my bicycle. But my back tire went flat … Continue reading →

Posted in history, humor, livable cities, mainstream media, Philadelphia, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Starbucks helps widen the great divide

Posted on April 22, 2018 by oddmanout215

Headline from an opinion piece by a lifelong black resident of Philadelphia: “Starbucks wasn’t created for black folks, it was made to push us out.” The piece appeared this week in response to the widely reported arrest of two young … Continue reading →

Posted in life in the big city, livable cities, mainstream media, Philadelphia | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Alarming stats on sea levels

Posted on December 1, 2012 by oddmanout215

Is must be asked — what sort of “ambitious measures” could possibly hold back the ocean? From The Raw Story: Sea-level rise is occurring much faster than scientists expected – exposing millions more Americans to the destructive floods produced by … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, livable cities | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Obama the bold: Criminals shouldn’t have AK-47s

Posted on July 27, 2012 by oddmanout215

On gun control, as on most issues, Mitt Romney is a double-talking wimp who contradicts his own prior views. Even if he personally believed in laws against civilian access to assault weapons, he would toe the NRA line out of … Continue reading →

Posted in livable cities, Mitt Romney, Obama | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

In Philly, taxed extra for paying taxes

Posted on June 14, 2012 by oddmanout215

Just what a struggling major city needs — more property tax hikes for tax-paying property owners, in order to make up for the huge amounts owed by deadbeat property owners, many of whom don’t even live in Philly: From Patrick … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, livable cities, Philadelphia, taxes | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

South Philly saints come marchin’ in

Posted on May 20, 2012 by oddmanout215

This is in case you missed the May procession held today under a soul-piercing blue sky on Philly’s Italian Market. Kids in white suits and dresses, followed by statues of solitary saints on floats pushed by local parishioners, with a … Continue reading →

Posted in food, humor, livable cities, pop music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Socialism is not a dirty word

Posted on March 12, 2012 by oddmanout215

I saw this video at Suburban Guerrilla and thought of all the people I know who probably didn’t see it… In his travels, journalist and author David Cay Johnston talked to a dozen tour-bus drivers in beautiful downtown Stockholm and … Continue reading →

Posted in livable cities, mainstream media | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Beset by wenches at S. Philly parade

Posted on January 2, 2012 by oddmanout215

I forgot about the Mummers Parade yesterday, as I do every New Year’s, until I literally ran into it while jogging at midday. A dense crowd on the sidewalks at Broad and Washington was cheering, sort of, for a string … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, livable cities, Philadelphia | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A Christmas blessing

Posted on December 17, 2011 by oddmanout215

So I’m biking to pick up medicine in South Philly a few nights ago, and I find myself behind a slow-moving flatbed truck, tall and wide and crammed with Christmas trees, and spewing vile fumes. And there are cars parked … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, livable cities, movies, Philadelphia | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

How was your bird?

Posted on November 26, 2011 by oddmanout215

[My Thanksgiving Day post, two days late.] A bad cold was kicking my ass, but I felt the need for sun and exercise in the late afternoon. All around me was that weird holiday stillness and quiet, as if everyone … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, livable cities, Philadelphia | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments