Alby's Latest Posts
DL Open Thread Saturday, June 28, 2025
If you’re a progressive Democratic Party voter, you’re constantly told to shut up and vote for whatever centrist wins the nomination. “Vote Blue No Matter Who” is what the party believes and practices no matter who … hold on, I’m getting an update. It turns out that if a social democrat wins the nomination for, […]
From the DL Archives: “Delaware named top ‘state to watch’ for pot legalization in 2017”
Whatever national organization made this forecast was unfamiliar with Delaware’s cop-dominated Old Guard. Medical marijuana was up and running by 2015, so by the next year cannabis advocates might have thought recreational use would soon follow. Yet here we are in 2025 and … no recreational weed available despite legislation legalizing it. The path to […]
Song of the Day 6/27: Rotary Connection, “I Am the Black Gold of the Sun”
Guest post by Nathan Arizona Chicago’s Chess Records made a name for itself in the 1950s and ‘60s as the home of great blues and soul artists. But Marshall Chess, son of the owner, wanted the label to expand its offerings. How about a soul band that incorporated spacey, hippie rock and pop? So in […]
Song of the Day 6/26: The Cowsills, “Indian Lake”
Guest post by Nathan Arizona The Cowsills knew you could beat the summer heat down at “Indian Lake,” where “you can swim in the cove, have a snack in the grove/Or you can rent a canoe.” But when they recorded “Indian Lake” in 1968 they had no idea they would become the model for a […]
Song of the Day 6/25: Bobby Sherman, “Easy Come Easy Go”
It seems like most child stars have a hard time adjusting to adult life – Justin Bieber is the latest example – but maybe that’s because we don’t hear much about the well-adjusted ones. Bobby Sherman, who died at age 81 yesterday, was in his mid-20s when he became a pin-up heartthrob for the Tiger […]
Song of the Day 6/24: The Supremes, “Stop! In the Name of Love”
When is a cease-fire not a cease-fire? When it’s a Trump CeaseFire™! Here’s how you know it’s not a regular cease-fire, the kind where the warring parties have already agreed to it: It’s announced on social media instead of through official channels, and it’s announced by Trump himself. Yet media framing is that the countries […]
Song of the Day 6/23: Pat Benatar, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”
Iran’s retaliation wasn’t long in coming, with missile attacks on U.S. bases in Qatar and Iraq. Because most of the people in the Trump administration like to play tough guy – the men are men, the women are men and the dogs are nervous – their attitude is embodied by Pat Benetar’s breakthrough hit. “Hit Me,” […]
Song of the Day 6/22: Black Sabbath, “War Pigs”
Let’s state right up front that the only thing Donald Trump knows about war is how to avoid serving in one, so he has no idea what form the blowback from dropping bombs on Iran might take. He’s already every other kind of pig, so he might as well add “war pig” to his CV. […]
DL Open Thread Saturday, June 21, 2025
Is it war yet? More to the point, is it our war yet? Pundits are sucking their thumbs extra-hard trying to figure out if and when Trump will join the Israel-Iran missile-exchange program, but most fail to consider the question, “What would an unimaginative reality-show host do?” They’d do exactly what Trump is doing – […]
Song of the Day 6/20: Kool and the Gang, “Summer Madness”
For roughly 90% of the human population, this will be the longest day of 2025, marking the start of astronomical summer. The atmosphere above Delaware will drive home the point next week, when temperatures are expected to tickle 100° with humidity to make it feel worse. When it’s that hot, you want something that will […]
Song of the Day 6/19: Kim Weston, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
I was shocked to learn this morning that Juneteenth is still being celebrated. With everything that doesn’t code as white and male under attack, I assumed Trump had done away with it, too. But no, despite insisting we rename Veterans Day, he hasn’t said a word about Juneteenth and couldn’t executive-order it away even if […]
Song of the Day 6/18: Vince Vance and the Valiants, “Bomb Iran”
I’m old enough to remember when John McCain caused a stir on the campaign trail in 2007 when someone asked about his stance on Iran and he jokingly sang “bomb, bomb, bomb” to the tune of “Barbara Ann”. Skip ahead 18 years and that joke is about to become official policy. The gag was an […]
Song of the Day 6/17: Paul Simon, “My Professional Opinion”
Add Paul Simon to the long list of musicians whose opening farewell did not mean goodbye. Now 83, Simon is on a 20-city tour of small venues performing two-set concerts, with multiple shows in each city to ease the strain of touring. The second set features his old songs, both hits and deep cuts. The […]
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