Category Archives: livable cities

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

Me and the devil and a Dallas church

Posted on November 20, 2011 by oddmanout215

Blues great Robert Johnson’s songs include “Me and the Devil Blues,” “Hellhound on My Trail” and “Cross Road Blues.” The latter explains how he sold his soul to Satan in return for guitar-playing prowess. It looks like some Christians in … Continue reading →

Posted in arts, economic collapse, food, Great Recession, health care, humor, livable cities, New York Times, pop music, The New Depression, unemployment | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments