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The City wants to encourage recycling, so why is it so tough to get a recycling bin? The Sports Complex Special Services District tried to help out recently by distributing recycle bins at various locations within the district on a Saturday afternoon. The circular announcing the event warned bins would be distributed while supplies last.
My location was scheduled for a 2 p.m. distribution, but there were no bins to be had. One of the workers told me all of the bins had already been distributed at previous destinations. I’m not blaming the district, although I have suggested to them the bin distribution could have been done more equitably. The City suggests if you need a new one, you should go to its location at 3033 S. 63rd St. Not only is that tough for non-driving seniors, but when I last checked, there were no bins available at that location either. The other suggested alternative is to buy a plastic bin and designate it for recycling.
The problem with that is the bins cost money and they still have to be transported home. A complaint to the City’s much-heralded 311 resulted in being told the center would ask the Streets Department to respond. To date, there has been no response. The City does not hesitate to fine you if you don’t recycle. The mayor does numerous public-service spots imploring us to go green. On recycle day, the collector indifferently tosses the empty containers about with the abandon of kids tossing rocks in a creek. My recycle bin and probably yours are held together with tape. So much for going green. …
The most overused word in the food business used to be “gourmet.” Now it’s “artisan.” When Dunkin’ Donuts advertises artisan bagels, that word has pretty much lost its meaning entirely. …
If you’ve tried to reserve a book at your local library lately, don’t hold your breath. After waiting more than three weeks for a book that was available at multiple libraries, but not in our area, I inquired about it. Note: If it’s not a romance novel, a mystery book or written by James Patterson, chances are it’s not on the shelf of our local library. I am told there is a shortage of drivers to pick up and deliver the books to the requested library. Apparently, there also are staff shortages in the library too because when I went to pick up the book, the sign on the library door read “Open one hour late due to staff shortages.” …
Little known fact: Before World War II, there were a number of Italian-language schools (wonder if sandwich shops had signs — “Speak English?”). Hysteria hit America when we went to war with Italy being one of our foes. Italian-language schools were viewed as training grounds for fascists (sort of like some folks view mosques and terrorists as interchangeable). The schools were shut down. According to About.com, the FBI arrested 1,521 Italian aliens, many just for curfew violations. Eventually, about 600,000 Italian-Americans were branded “enemy aliens.”…
I received one of those large distribution e-mails where senior citizens pat themselves on the back while criticizing the younger generation. The e-mail begins by claiming victim status. If you are an American, no matter what your status or ethnic or racial background, you feel victimized. And while feeling victimized, chances are that you also have been offended. It’s right there in our Constitution, you have been endowed with the inalienable right to be an offended victim. The thing about this e-mail is it reminded me of when my parents thought the American youth was sending America straight to hell. You remember, their sentences used to begin, “In my day…” Here we are again — we seniors are claiming every virtue for ourselves and singing “What’s the Matter With Kids Today?” from “Bye Bye Birdie.”…. History keeps repeating itself — it repeats on me. I think I need an Alka-Seltzer. …
I always hated the phrase “cafeteria Catholics.” Me, I left the cafeteria. Many Catholic conservatives today also are “cafeteria Catholics.” The church was against our war in Iraq, while most Catholic conservatives supported it. The church opposes capital punishment, but most Catholic conservatives support the death penalty. The Vatican is sharply critical of many of our economic policies that hurt the poor, whereas Catholic conservatives, such as U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, call for starving safety-net programs while cutting taxes for the wealthy. The cafeteria has gotten crowded. …
Hillary Clinton has become extremely popular since losing the presidential nomination to Barack Obama four years ago. In fact, her popularity is at an all-time high. I am a fan of the secretary of state, but her popularity reminds me of an old sports adage — the most popular member of a football team is the second-string quarterback since he has yet to make mistakes in action, or in this case, the potential president-in-waiting …
Why are Phillies broadcasters Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen relegated to radio? They bring a sense of dry humor to the broadcasts that remind me of the best days of Richie Ashburn and HarryKalas. They deserve TV time. …
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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