DL Open Thread Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024
Former labor secretary Robert Reich used his year-end column to make a point I've long believed: The perception that America's quality of life is declining is linked to the fact…
Song of the Day 1/1: Uptown String Band, “I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover”
The Mummers Parade is hanging in there, even if it's much diminished. The march nowadays runs only from City Hall to Washington Street, in the wrong direction, and it doesn't…
DL Open Thread Monday, Jan. 1, 2024
Benjamin Netanyahu must think the high road has been mined, because he steadfastly refuses to take it. As the slaughter in Gaza continues, he promised to continue what he calls…
Song of the Day 12/31: Ella Fitzgerald, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”
We apparently have the Romans to thank for the annual night of bacchanalia that accompanies the final hours of the waning year. But it's German folklore, which held that how…
Song of the Day 12/29: Matthew Sabatella & The Rambling String Band, “The Battle Cry of Freedom”
Nikki Haley's answer to the trick question "What caused the Civil War?" has caused her no end of grief in much of the country, but should sound familiar to anyone…
Song of the Day 12/28: The Smothers Brothers, “Boil That Cabbage Down”
Tom Smothers, the comic half of the squabbling Smothers Brothers, died Tuesday at age 86. Though they'll always be remembered for having their top-rated variety show axed by CBS in…
DL Open Thread Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023
Thom Hartmann warns that Trump is following the fascist playbook by goading his supporters to violence. And it wasn't just WWII-era fascists – Orban is doing the same thing in…
DL Open Thread Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023
Pope Francis, fresh off his controversial decision to allow the blessing of same-sex relationships, used his Christmas message to take aim at the weapons industry, which means he took aim…
Song of the Day 12/25: Top 10 Most-Viewed Christmas Songs of the Day
According to one of those sketchy "favorite (noun) of every state" lists, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is the most popular Christmas song in Delaware. Well,…
DL Open Thread Monday, Dec. 25, 2023
Digby, noting Trump's claim to have won the war on Christmas, has an interesting story about the Nazis' attempts to modify Christmas to their particular tastes. Let's just say peace…
Song of the Day 12/24: Bruce Cockburn, “Cry of a Tiny Babe”
Most retellings of the nativity understandably dwell on the spiritual aspects. Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn went in another direction. I wanted to put it into terms people can relate to…
Song of the Day 12/23: John Prine, “Christmas in Prison”
In the five years I've been writing the Song of the Day feature, nobody has compiled more page views than John Prine. Prine loved Christmas – he told Rolling Stone…
Song of the Day 12/22: The Beach Boys, “Alone on Christmas Day”
You're probably familiar with "Little Saint Nick," the Beach Boys' tune about Santa's new hot rod. Alternate transporation for Santa was a popular theme back in the '50s and '60s,…