Category Archives: Philadelphia

Martians land in Meadowlands!


There it was in big bold caps, the main headline on the front page of Monday’s Philadelphia Inquirer: BEYOND BELIEF. Had Obama created a jobs program? Had Martians landed in New Jersey, or among Florida’s frozen oranges? No, it was … Continue reading

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Tow-truck vultures vie for feeding rights in Philly


I’m wondering who else got a laugh watching the convoy of shiny tow trucks that circled City Hall like mechanized vultures a few days ago. The drivers were protesting a proposed city law that would place all local towing companies … Continue reading

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Wingnuts to Daddy Limbaugh: Lie to us


C.E.O.’s of the largest American companies earned an average of 42 times as much as the average worker in 1980, but 531 times as much in 2001… Perhaps the most astounding statistic is this: From 1980 to 2005, more than … Continue reading

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Kristof to Obama: Do you sweat?


“Mr. Obama has a far better product to sell than Tea Partiers like Mr. [Jim] DeMint. But Mr. Obama needs to connect better with American voters. He needs to lose the cool and start sweating — and slugging.” — Nicholas … Continue reading

Posted in Congress, economic collapse, Great Depression, Gulf, mainstream media, mid-term elections, New York Times, Obama, Philadelphia, Politics, unemployment, Wall Street | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

She voted to burn down her house


“‘I voted Republican, which is unusual for me,’ said one woman… ‘My main concern is the economy. I couldn’t stand by and watch it continue to crumble.’” — from the Nov. 3 Philadelphia Metro. You have to love the logic. … Continue reading

Posted in Congress, economic collapse, globalization, Great Depression, mainstream media, mid-term elections, Obama, Philadelphia, Politics, unemployment, Wall Street | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Where’s the sanity, dude?


Memo to Stewart: There’s no point to rallying about nothing. Jon Stewart should stick to mild satire. His interviews can be politely irreverent, and he does an amusing job of using news clips to show that the media is, by … Continue reading

Posted in Congress, economic collapse, globalization, health care, Obama, Philadelphia, Politics, unemployment | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

(Nearly) fatal distraction


How can a poor man stand such teams and live? “These days people want beer with their circuses, not bread.” – A contemporary South Philly descendant of the ancient Roman satirist Juvenal. The beer flowed Wednesday night but the circus, … Continue reading

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A new casino in this economy? Are you crazy?


The utilitarian gambling hall erected on North Delaware Avenue at the border of Fishtown and Northern Liberties puts 1,600 slot machines and 40 card tables within easy reach of neighborhoods across the city, many of them low-income. With the illusive … Continue reading

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Sorry, nepotism on the bridge!


One of these years, DRPA will finish bike paths The mission: To get used to commuting by bicycle between Center City Philadelphia and Camden, NJ, using the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Peddling the mile-long stretch takes about 10 minutes, includes beautiful … Continue reading

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Ten signs you’ve slipped into the underclass


Here’s how to tell you’ve hit bottom Make a list that traces your downward mobility. This is the opposite of what you’d do if you were reading “Six signs that you’ve made it to the middle class,” a recent article … Continue reading

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