Tag Archives: Christmas

Let there be (more) light


“Damn. The day ain’t hardly begun and it’s already time to go back to bed.” Swamp Rabbit was bemoaning the arrival of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the Northern Hemisphere tilts farthest from the sun. … Continue reading

Posted in humor, mainstream media | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas with Hendrix and the Beats


From an odd little Christmas story, well told: I took a seat on one of the pews several rows back from the front. They began playing a tape Allen Ginsberg had sent from somewhere upstate for the occasion, reading his … Continue reading

Posted in arts, life in the big city | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Abundance without attachment’ is right-wing doubletalk


Swamp Rabbit and I huddled next to the wood stove and pored over a cheery Christmas article by economist Arthur C. Brooks, who wants people to make an attitude adjustment regarding possessions. He urges readers to “collect experiences, not things,” … Continue reading

Posted in apocalypse, down and out, economic collapse, food, globalization, Great Recession, humor, liar, life in the big city, mainstream media, philosophy, unemployment, world-wide economy | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rejoice, fellow pagans


The winter solstice is here, marking for me the crossroads of dread and hope. Dread because it’s the shortest day of the year, when you can’t walk down the street without being reminded of consumerism’s holy of holies, Christmas Day. … Continue reading

Posted in humor | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Happy Xmas — or is it Groundhog Day?


I run past Dan’s store on Passyunk Avenue, I see his Christmas trees for sale at curbside, breathe the scent of pine and hear “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” skipping from the speakers above his storefront. Each time … Continue reading

Posted in arts, fiction, humor, Philadelphia, pop music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The beauty of Xmas be upon you, Dick


An old friend sent me a holiday e-card — an animated cartoon, actually, with an angel and the baby Jesus in a Christmas tree, and a bit of text at the end. Enjoy the beauty of Christmas, and so on. … Continue reading

Posted in economic collapse, Great Recession, mainstream media, mid-term elections, Politics, unemployment, world-wide economy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment