Category Archives: Philadelphia

More songs about buildings and bikes

Posted on August 17, 2011 by oddmanout215

I was watching a sunburned woman with red hair in a thick braid. In the corner of my eye, a bike rider zoomed past and disappeared behind a bus. I stepped into the street for another look, but the rider … Continue reading →

Posted in arts, enviromentalism, Great Recession, humor, livable cities, Philadelphia, pop music, The New Depression | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Philly’s tax mess — no wonder we’re going broke

Posted on August 15, 2011 by oddmanout215

I write from Philadelphia, one of the most stupidly governed major cities in the nation. If you doubt that, take a look at the Inquirer story about our delinquent-property-tax-collection system. For years our various mayors and City Council members have … Continue reading →

Posted in casinos, City Hall, economic collapse, enviromentalism, Great Recession, mainstream media, Philadelphia, Politics, taxes | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

SugarHouse workers to bet on unionizing

Posted on August 10, 2011 by oddmanout215

Sure, the SugarHouse Casino next to the Delaware River is an eyesore and a sick solution to the scarcity of good jobs in Philadelphia. However, casino workers deserve job security and a fairer share of the loot that’s not being … Continue reading →

Posted in casinos, City Hall, City Paper, economic collapse, Great Recession, Philadelphia, Politics, taxes, The New Depression, unemployment | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Philly’s turf war against flash mobs

Posted on August 9, 2011 by oddmanout215

I had to laugh when I saw the Agence France-Presse story about the “flash mob curfew” now in effect in my obscenely humid hometown: The measure was the latest effort to secure a city famous as the site of the … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, economic collapse, Great Recession, humor, livable cities, mainstream media, Philadelphia, Politics, unemployment | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Satan sandwich, or the seitan?

Posted on August 8, 2011 by oddmanout215

I needed caffeine badly, so I stopped in a vegan coffee shop — soy milk only — and ordered a macchiato. Reading the menu board, I noticed the seitan sandwich and asked the barista if this item was inspired by … Continue reading →

Posted in Congress, economic collapse, food, Great Recession, humor, mainstream media, Philadelphia, The New Depression | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Debt bill destroys America. Who’s next for a swim?

Posted on August 4, 2011 by oddmanout215

I’m on the home stretch with my novel-in-progress Good Sal/Bad Sal, set in casino-era Atlantic City. One of the final chapters starts with Good Sal asking: Have you ever let the cold surf creep between your toes and thought what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in arts, fiction, Great Recession, livable cities, NJ, Philadelphia, The New Depression | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Just say no, in person, to Obamabots

Posted on July 31, 2011 by oddmanout215

Here’s part of an e-mail I recently received from Barack Obama’s spin doctors: David — As someone who got his start as a community organizer, President Obama’s entire career has revolved around the idea that ordinary people working together can … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, Obama, Philadelphia, Politics, The New Depression, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bikeless in Philadelphia — again

Posted on July 28, 2011 by oddmanout215

I rarely blog about myself. I prefer the veneer of fiction when it comes to personal matters, so when my bicycle was stolen Monday, I blogged about the thieves in business and government who prosper at the expense of the … Continue reading →

Posted in bicycling, economic collapse, fiction, Goldman Sachs, Great Recession, livable cities, Philadelphia, The New Depression | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Record heat is a hoax, Limbaugh says

Posted on July 23, 2011 by oddmanout215

My house was so hot this morning, I didn’t even have to kill any ants. They usually run across the drainboard when I try to make breakfast, but today they must have loaded up on sugar and bagel crumbs and … Continue reading →

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

Bastille Day for the well-fed

Posted on July 19, 2011 by oddmanout215

The crowd called for Marie Antoinette’s head, they bellowed for it, but in the end the only guillotine victim was a watermelon. The master of ceremonies sentenced the French queen to become Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new housekeeper, not a bad fate … Continue reading →

Posted in economic collapse, fiction, food, Great Depression, Great Recession, mainstream media, Philadelphia, Politics, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment