Category Archives: Philadelphia

Kristof to Obama: Do you sweat?

Posted on November 5, 2010 by oddmanout215

“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

Posted on November 4, 2010 by oddmanout215

“‘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?

Posted on November 2, 2010 by oddmanout215

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

Posted on October 25, 2010 by oddmanout215

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 →

Posted in Great Depression, mid-term elections, Philadelphia, sports, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A new casino in this economy? Are you crazy?

Posted on September 29, 2010 by oddmanout215

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 →

Posted in casinos, economic collapse, mainstream media, Philadelphia, Politics, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sorry, nepotism on the bridge!

Posted on September 14, 2010 by oddmanout215

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 →

Posted in bicycling, Delaware River Port Authority, livable cities, NJ, Philadelphia, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ten signs you’ve slipped into the underclass

Posted on August 30, 2010 by oddmanout215

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 →

Posted in Philadelphia, Politics, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forget the blog tax, fine Carl Greene!

Posted on August 24, 2010 by oddmanout215

City should sniff out corrupt bureaucrats, not freelancers The City Paper recently reported that Philadelphia is taxing residents who blog. An online CP follow-up clarified that the tax is on blogs that “make some money or, at least, have the … Continue reading →

Posted in mainstream media, Philadelphia, Politics, taxes | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Out of work, out of sight, out of mind

Posted on July 29, 2010 by oddmanout215

In the  1930s, the jobless were big news. Now they’re invisible. Media coverage of the unemployment problem pretty much ended on July 22, when President Obama signed a bill extending coverage to 2.5 million Americans whose benefits had been blocked … Continue reading →

Posted in Congress, mainstream media, Obama, Philadelphia, Politics, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Geno’s is proof you are what you eat

Posted on July 15, 2010 by oddmanout215

I witnessed anti-immigrant anger yesterday at Geno’s, a South Philly sandwich shop that, even on a good day, looks like a lunch spot for loonies. The outdoor tables under sheet metal awnings, fluorescent light on orange tiles, angry white men in … Continue reading →

Posted in immigration, Philadelphia | Tagged , , | 1 Comment