Monthly Archives: August 2011
New verb — Who will ‘Pinochet’ Cheney?
The mainstream media are shrugging at Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s former chief of staff, who has started a one-man campaign to bring down Dick Cheney. Wilkerson has publicly stated he’ll testify against Cheney — chief fabricator of lies used to … Continue reading
The repo man is bigger, badder than Irene
Some people are arguing over whether politicians and the media hyped the hurricane. Was the coverage of Irene too intense, were the predictions too doom-ridden? But these are the wrong questions. It’s a given that politicians will ask people to … Continue reading
No relief in sight from Eric Cantor disaster
I refer to the less-than-esteemed U.S. Rep from Virginia. The dapper super-nerd with the smug grin who badgered Barack Obama during debt ceiling negotiations. The Tea Party lap dog whose strategy for rising in the GOP ranks is to recite … Continue reading
The ‘meeks’ shall inherit the dirt
Philly in summer was a blast furnace until we lucked into a rainy August capped by a visit from Irene, the queen of hype. No such luck for Texas, which continues to suffer through its worst drought on record despite … Continue reading
It’s the end of the world…! Well, not quite
Disaster stories are crowd pleasers, partly because oblivion can seem an appealing alternative to everyday problems that have no solution. At the very least, such stories disrupt the monotony of our insulated, digitized environments and force us to imagine other … Continue reading
Quake-damaged phallic landmark needs TLC
Soon after the recent earthquake, a talking head joked that the Washington Monument had been damaged, but no one was sure yet if it was leaning left or right. Turns out there really are cracks in this symbol of American … Continue reading
We’ll all be rain dogs soon
For those in the path of Irene: “Rain Dogs” from Tom Waits’ Rain Dogs (1985) According to reports, Philadelphia will get more rain this weekend than any other major city in the region. Bad news for those of us in … Continue reading
Gaddafi to Cheney: Work your magic for me
Dear Dick, My Michael Jacksonian compound was breached, my beautiful Bedouin tent burned to the ground, my Galliano-yellow and iguana-green uniforms desecrated. Worst of all, precious photos of Leezza were stolen and defiled by marauding desert rats who are not … Continue reading
Straight talk on SS? Sanders stands alone
Bernie Sanders, the independent U.S. Senator from Vermont, makes passionate statements in support of working people then backs them up with legislation such as a bill that would strengthen Social Security without cutting benefits. From Sanders’ website: To keep Social … Continue reading
The men don’t know, but the little girls…
For you nocturnal types: “Back Door Man” from The Doors (1967) In his own way, for a very different audience, Jim Morrison swaggered almost as convincingly as Howlin’ Wolf. The Doors actually gave credit where it was due on the … Continue reading
