City of Pottsville mulls tattoo tax

             City of Pottsville mulls tattoo tax

                       (above, city council mulling tattoo tax - photograph courtesy of the Republican Herald newspaper)
Anticipating a looming budget crunch, the city of Pottsville plans to appoint a panel of citizens, business leaders and artistans to study the pros and cons of a yearly levy on tattoos.   

With the rapid expansion of non-profits within the city evaporating the property tax base, stark challenges face the city to tackle the inevitable deficit. 

The Pottsville Club has recently been removed from the tax rolls and it is anticipated that the downtown Thompson Building will soon be removed from the rolls - if the plans to transform the building into a home for the sufferers of Boreas Apokriésphobia come to fruition.  For those not versed in greek language, that translates into a home for those who have a fear of winter carnival. 

Rumors also persist -, with the help of this blog - that Barefield Development will acquire every remaining bank within the city limits by the end of 2016 forcing the city to mint its own new currency featuring the likeness of the former mayor Claude Lord.

Opponents of the new tax believe that there are better ways to increase revenue and have suggested that the city sell naming rights to potholes found along the city’s decaying infrastructure. 

Proponents believe that a tax on tattoos could allow the city to cover any deficit and avoid more drastic measures, like turning off all traffic lights during day-light hours, limiting snow removal to the summer months, having trash pick-up in months that only end in “R,” or filling JFK pool up only to the three foot level.

To address the looming shortfall, proponents have suggested that the city council consider a tax of up to $1.25  per every 2.54 centimeters* on tattoos, a move that some say would generate about $225,000 per year in added revenue.  Furthermore, with the obesity epidemic in full swing, these tattoos will stretch over time gradually increasing the amount of tax revenue without tinkering with the tax rate.  For example, one young woman who had a tattoo of a hummingbird inked onto her abdomen ten years ago would have been taxed approximately $2.50; but over time, with the help of a staple diet of funnel cake and pizza, that hummingbird will have grown to the size of a bald eagle. As a result, the tax would have increased proportionately to about $15.00.

Some councilmen believe that taxing tattoos is unconstitutional - a violation of first amendment rights, citing the beloved tattoo of the American flag that Betsy Ross had inked across her entire back.   

Exemptions from the tax would have to be made to withstand a court challenge.  At this point in the discussion, The City Treasurers Office will have cards to be filled out allowing the following exemptions:

1.      Tattoos that depict religion or religious symbols, such as a cross, menorah, star of David, crescent moon, Thor's hammer, etc.

2.      Tattoos that are political symbols, such as the statue of liberty, elephants, donkeys, hammer and sickles, etc.

3.      Tattoos that depict political personalities, such as portraits of Metro Litwak, Tom Corbett, Herman Cain, Nancy Pelosi, former Mayor Reilly, etc.

4.      Tattoos that depict one’s Irish heritage, such as leprechauns, shamrocks, “Kiss me I’m Irish,” Claddaghs, etc.

5.      Tattoos commonly referred to as “tramp stamps” that are found on the lower-back side of women under the age of 26 that seem to cry out the words, “buy me three drinks and I’ll do anything you ask me to do.”  Proof of age will be required to qualify for this exemption, as this latter exemption was slipped into the ordinance proposal due to the overwhelming popularity of the “tramp stamp” on young women.

Mayor James T. Muldowney emphasized Tuesday that the city council has not made a decision about a tattoo tax and that he wants citizens to weigh in on the proposal in the coming weeks.

“There’s a lot to digest here,” Muldowney said. “I want everybody to get as educated as they can (on this), please contact city hall with any comments while we continue to mull.”

* Pottsville adopted the metric system in 2006.

Pottsville Club: then and now

                                                                                 

The City of Pottsville is in heated negotiations with the bank that holds title to the well-known Pottsville Club. The County newspaper recently reported that city officials view the premises as a prime location as a future recreation center.  Negotiations are “hush hush” but a certain blabbermouth, whose identify will remain confidential,  has told me that the Pottsville Club - which was formerly the Ski Lodge- may feature the first indoor curling arena in the entire county.    If not, the trusted chatterbox told me that it could become a city-run, “all-you-can-eat” chicken wing house.  Apparently consuming large quantities of chicken wings is even a more popular recreation than curling. For me, it’s a toss-up.

     THREE GOOD REASONS THAT THE CITY OF POTTSVILLE SHOULD OWN THE POTTSVILLE CLUB

The city take-over of the Pottsville Club has numerous benefits. The first benefit that comes to mind is that a local bank that holds title could be eligible for a large tax deduction.  Who can argue against that?  I can’t.  Enough said.

Secondly, it keeps Pottsville on course of increasing the percentage of publicly owned land within the city limits.  This cuts down on the number of delinquent taxpayers and saves on postage to boot.  No need to send out real estate tax bills twice a year.  Another big win for the city. 

Thirdly, and more importantly, with title to the real estate, the city will become owner of the Pottsville Club’s famed recipes.  This means that the city of Pottsville will own the recipe to the mouth-watering onion soup that had been fed to Pottsville Club members for over one hundred years!  

It is hard to describe in words how spectacular the French onion soup at the Pottsville Club was.  It was topped with, I believe, melted Gruyère cheese from Brummerstown Valley.  Mmmmm….

The Club’s French onion soup has played an integral part of Pottsville’s history as well as popular culture.  In John O’Hara’s book “Appointment in Samarra” the main character, Julian English, throws a bowl of onion soup into the face of Harry Reilly at the Gibbsville Club.  This was the first exposure of the Club’s soup to those living outside the confines of Schuylkill County.  It made O’Hara a world-renowned author and very wealthy. He made enough money to move from Schuylkill County and settle in Princeton, NJ.

 In 1925, when the Maroons football team won the NFL championship,  a player was heard on WPPA answering the question of how the victory would be celebrated with these words:

           “We’re going to the Pottsville Club and have French onion soup!”  

Unbeknownst to him, the wide receiver would not be permitted into the Club as he did not have a suit and tie on, and his social status was questionable to boot.   In the Sixties, the rock group, The McCoys, were inspired by the beloved consommé ( with its cheese almost glued to the bowl)  to record the hit record, “Hang On Soupy.”   That song became the county’s anthem for a while, played at the Ski Lodge, the Y dances, the Mayor's Parking Lot dances and the Moose. 

                                                                

However, two decades later a popular movie featuring the Club’s onion soup took the country by storm. The film was “Young Frankenstein.”  Who can forget the scene when the blind hermit Harold ( played by Gene Hackman)  was sitting alone at the Pottsville Club, when the Monster (played by Peter Boyle) bursts through the door, walks past the hostess,  and sits with him.  The blind Harold is overcome with delight, welcoming him.

Harold: "but your hand is frozen, my child. How does a nice bowl of French onion soup sound to you?

Monster: On-yonn Sooo-ppp! Mmmmmm!

You know the rest of the story…how the onion soup gets on poured on the Monster….and Dot, the hostess, throws both of them out of the Club.  If you forgot, then dust off a VHS tape, insert , and press the play button.

 Enough said.  Pottsville needs to procuring the Pottsville Club building and grounds.  No ifs, ands or buts (not necessarily in that order).  It will be the most important acquisition of land by the government since Jefferson’s Louisiana purchase.  Well maybe not quite that important. 

In any event, our public officials need to keep the potage recipe from falling into the hands of people not worthy to partake of such delicacy and help a local institution in getting a tax break along the way.

THE YORKVILLE REFERENDUM

After attending a seminar in Arkansas, Mammy and I had to return to Schuylkill County for the big referendum being held this November.  We flew back and landed at Zerbe International Airport.  We were used to the delays that customs and the numerous security checks create. Mammy filled out the declaration form and reported the armadillo; not like the last time.  I reported two boxes of Whitewater Taffy.

Due to the recent public announcement by the Pottsville Surgeon General about the spread of bleenia, we experienced another 45 minute delay as there now was the physical examination required to prevent the illness from entering or leaving the county. The airport security guard checked my fingers for any tell-tale signs of grease or onion and then cotton-swabbed my mouth for any signs of potato pancake residue, and, just for the heck of it, performed a hernia test. I hailed a cab and we left the airport after testing negative for bleenia and also negative for hernia.

We headed back to Schuylkill County to participate in the plebiscite involving independence for Yorkville.  Finally the residents are going to vote on whether to secede from its union with Pottsville!  It’s been in all of the papers and on the radio and the people are getting really worked up.

The union between Yorkville and Pottsville goes back over 100 years and the merger has been peaceful for the most part.  Before the union, Yorkville had been an independent borough settled primarily by German immigrants.  The Germanic influence can still be seen everywhere.  Many of the men still wear lederhosen, while the women still wear bodices, skirts and aprons (not necessarily in that order).  The citizens still eat soft pretzels and sausage daily. German-named stores abound.  For instance, one can find  Dimmerling's Candy store, Lotz’s Cafe, Sauer’s Toy Store (where I bought my first spud gun) and the Sheetz gas station.

Later Pottsville became the business center with its thriving downtown. Pottsville also supplied much employment to Yorkvillians and others, in its numerous mills, factories and stores.  

Something happened over the years. Businesses, stores, factories and mills are no longer around.  Not only did the mines close, NAFTA allowed us to buy foreign-made Big Pecker t-shirts real cheap, resulting in the local garment factories closing. Pottsville finally threw in the towel in trying to attract industry or good jobs. Social Services and public housing now dominate the psyche of Pottsville and its past economic success is long forgotten; or, if remembered, causes embarrassment. Yorkville now has a more thriving business district than downtown Pottsville.  It is expanding its economic base along the Gordon Nagle Trail. Yorkville sees its future different than Pottsville. Yorkville and Pottsville think differently.  Yorkville does not want to discard its work ethic. Pottsville had abandoned its work ethic long ago. This is the reason for the vote.

Pottsvillians now pin their hopes on the Thompson Building becoming a homeless shelter, joining the other numerous social services it provides, such as the Women’s Shelter, the prison, the Zoup kitchen, section 8 housing, Children & Youth, and mental health facilities.  Yes, these social services do provide jobs to many, and also help some underprivileged.  But the downtown is not the same. As time goes by, more social services will replace the empty stores on Centre Street. 

The Pottsville Surgeon General has issued a new report about the rampant Microdeckia that has settled over the city.  Microdeckia is Latin for “not playing with a full deck.”  The Surgeon General coined that word one evening after leaving the Eagles Club for a stroll down Centre Street towards the Oasis Bar. Has the so-called social safety net actually increased the incidence of Microdeckia? Is the cart now pulling the horse? Will there ever room for anything else in the downtown?

The election campaign is in full swing right now. I am voting for Yorkville Independence. Not because of the high amount of our taxes going to support the downtown, but because I dream about getting a cushy job with the new Yorkville Administration someday. Something with a defined benefit retirement plan. Mammy wants one too. My daughter Santana, doesn't want a job. Work gives her the creeps. She thinks she has a shot at becoming Miss Yorkville. She looks good in a bodice, skirt and apron.

             Vote Yes on Independence for Yorkville.

The ice tub challenge

With all of the hoopla over the ice bucket challenge, many people are unaware of its local Schuylkill County origin.

Some say it had it began in the late 19^th century in Mahanoy City at the Kaier Ice Plant.  Others say it began at The Knickerbocker Ice Co. located at Tumbling Run.   One stubborn hold-out believes it began at Rita’s Italian Ice outside of Schuylkill Haven on July 4, 2013.

While these people differ, they all agree that the ice bucket challenge, which has raised so much needed money for ALS research, had its start somewhere in Schuylkill County. 

Ice blocks in Mahanoy City

 Well-respected historians argue that when 19th century beer baron Charles Kaier built a large ice plant in Mahanoy City for the purpose of keeping his beverage cold, someone got the bright idea to raise money to combat the bleenia epidemic plaguing  northern Schuylkill County.  As we all know, carpal funnel-cake syndrome(CFCS) was plaguing the southern end.  Some of those who resided on the dividing line of northern and southern Schuylkill County suffered from both simultaneously. Poor bastards.

The first ice bucket challenge got off to a “pour” start (pun intended) as the ice at the Kaier plant consisted of large, heavy blocks.  The small, drink-size ice cubes (as well as rubic cubes) were not yet invented.  The idea was for a notable personality, such as Nicholas Biddle, Captain Jack Crawford or Judge Pershing, to challenge five others to have an ash tube full of ice dropped on his or her head.

 The ice drop was to be captured by camera by nationally recognized photographer, George Bretz, who we all know, gained his fame taking action pictures of anthracite coal miners.  Bretz had volunteered his services after seeing first-hand the scourge of bleenia at a block party in Mahanoy City. The compassionate shutter-bug wanted to help those afflicted with this strange greasy, potato pancake obsession.  

 

Once developed, his photographs were to be mailed to the Shenandoah Herald, the Miners Journal, and the Mahanoy City Record American for the world to see (or at least parts of Schuylkill County to see).  Remember that cable television had yet to be invented in Mahanoy City yet; newspapers were the main method of communication ( besides the lost art of talking person-to-person).  It would be decades before Schuylkill Countians would be hooked on cable television with entire families gathering around the television set to watch such classic shows as The Real McCoys, Sea Hunt, and (The Fully Clothed) Dating Game,  which didn't insult our intelligence and were story and character driven; not the garbage that is on today. 

In those early days entertainment was confined to the newspapers’ crossword puzzles or, if none, spending hours looking for any misspelled words.

 It was believed that the ice tub challenge would then “snowball” (pun intended) as readers would hurry to join in on the action after making a donation to Stamp Out Bleenia.  

It was a very, very complicated operation.

strong women with tongs

It needed the cooperation of the brewery baron, the U.S. Post Office, the ice plant, the Knights of Labor, Western Union, iron and steel entrepreneur Charles Atkins who manufactured the ash tubes, the fledgling telephone company and, most importantly, big, strong women with tongs to lift the ice into the tubs.

ice tub challenger

Unfortunately the ice tub challenge was a disaster with too many people received concussions, fractures and cold shoulders (not necessarily in that order) from the weight of ice blocks.  Only $5.85 cents was raised before expenses were paid to combat bleenia. George Bretz was so appalled by the injuries and horror that he witnessed that he retreated back into the shelter of the coal mines, but not before taking the $5.85 to spend on bleenies.

                                       Insult upon injury.

Several years later the challenge was revived after the Pottsville Iron and Steel Plant created a primitive, hand-held tray to make small cubes of ice, making the ice drop challenge less hazardous.  The original trays contained only four cubes each.

Tumbling Run was the site of the revived event, raising several hundreds of dollars to combat CFCS.  Incidentally, the Tumbling Run event was also the precursor to the wet tee shirt contest, that we all take for granted but hold dear to our hearts, after one man's long johns got soaking wet. Women were not permitted into wet tee shirt contests until after decades of protests, demonstrations and marches resulted in the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.  The popularity of that contest soon sky-rocketed. 

 Unfortunately the Challenge faded quickly into obscurity as Schuylkill Countians were more interested in using the smaller cubes to make mixed drinks such as Scotch on the Rocks for immediate consumption.  It would be decades before the local population enjoyed cocktails which made life so much more comfortable,  such as the frozen  banana daiquiri, the Singapore Sling and Sex on the Beach.  

Schuylkill County Human Resources Complex: an architectural wonder

There is no mistaking the rich architectural features of the building that sits across the street from Pottsville's City Hall.  It has to be the most distinctive, and innovative architectural phenomena around. It captures the essence of the '70s decade with its manipulation of forms and surfaces. 

 

You might remember the 70s as a time when disco people wore flashy polyester clothing when going to play the daily numbers game on Centre Street.  That was a time long before the advent of pajamas as a day time wearing apparel. 

 

 The orange windows spread citrusy cheeriness to the wayward mothers and alleged fathers who visit the Schuylkill County Children & Youth Center and other visitors who stop at the offices in the Schuylkill County Government Human Services Complex. Those long, narrow windows, fitted with plastic venetian blinds, at first had the ever-present smiling faces.  You know, those two black, blank eyes and wide grin smiling at you constantly. 

 

 It was blissful, welcoming, and optimistic for a city profoundly shaken by the end of the Pottsville Steam Heat Plant which kept the streets warm in the winter. It is not known why these smiling faces were removed. Some say it occurred during the uproar in the early 1990s over the cartoon characters in Garfield Square which spread to other parts of the city.  In any event those idyllic smiling faces should be returned to their rightful place.

 

The architect who designed the building was certainly influenced by the humble sardine can and made the sardine can one with the building. There is no mistake about it.

As for the sardine can-like canopy that graces the rectangular building, the can that inspired the architect is now on display at the Historical Society for a limited time. Some say that the sardine can was purchased at Lotz's Market. Others say it was purchased at the old Acme Market.  Some say they couldn't care less where it was purchased. 

 

 It was also said that when the building was dedicated in the 1970s, the consumption of sardines sky-rocketed, surpassing the combined consumption of funnel cake and beer bologna. Hard to believe. But absolutely true.

 

 

Fortune Magazine: 10 most corrupt states

the most corrupt states according to FORTUNE Magazine are:

1. Mississippi

2. Louisiana

3. Tennessee

4. Illinois

5. Pennsylvania

6. Alabama

7. Alaska

8. South Dakota

9. Kentucky

10. Florida

to read the full article go to  FORTUNE MAGAZINE RANKS PA #5

 

 

I have been busy analyzing the results.  Although Pennsylvania came in only 5th, it surpassed all of the states in the New England and Mid-Atlantic areas, including New Jersey. I was worried about that.  Hats off to all of those who made this possible....Judge Michael T. Conahan, Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., Senate president pro tempore Robert Mellow, House Speakers Bill DeWeese and John Perzel and all of the others.... Keep up the bad work. Maybe next year we sail by Illinois and become the rust-belt champion.

 

Here is an interesting article on Pennsylvania corruption   Pennsylvania gets poor grades

 

And here is a recent article on Pennsylvania's Attorney General:

 

Attorney General Kane shuts down corruption investigation

 

 

The Pottsville Summit

                                       POTTSVILLE SUMMIT SCHEDULED FOR MID-JULY

A summit meeting is defined as a meeting of leaders, usually with considerable media exposure, tight security and a prepared agenda.

Pottsville City officials will sit down with the leaders of the street people, loafers, and deadbeats as well as the leaders of the pipe-dreaming, goody two-shoes who want to bring back the city of years ago.  In the late 1950s a family could enjoy the entire day on West Market Street. Mom could take the kids to Raudenbush’s for some delicious sticky buns while dad could throw the medicine ball at the YMCA, take a Turkish steam bath and then go out and play the numbers at a nearby establishment.  Later the family could sit down together at the Sugar Bowl and enjoy a wholesome well-balanced meal followed by CMP sundaes.  They could then leave, once again play the numbers, and then motor home in an East Penn bus.

It seems that West Market Street has undergone a dramatic demographic change in recent years.  Sociologists attribute this to the removal of the cartoon characters that once were erected on Garfield Square, as well as the lack of sticky buns in the area. 

Why the cartoon characters? Well the answer is two-fold.  The first fold is that these cartoon characters attracted families from near and far.  Middle-class families got a sense of calm and peace just to see bigger-than- life, cuddly cartoon characters such as Droopy , Nancy & Sluggo, Alley Oop and Snuffy Smith.   The second fold is that the criminal element was kept at bay by such authoritative cut-outs such as Dick Tracy, Joe Palooka, Dudley Do-Right, and Mighty Mouse. 

 

All of these cartoon characters, by the way, were meticulously hand-painted by members of the Schuylkill Allied Artists with paint purchased locally at Mansell's Paint Store.  Little Lulu took three years to complete and used over fifteen gallons of red paint.

Copyright infringement litigation eventually led to the demise of the cartoon character replicas gracing the Square.  The family of Snuffy Smith agreed to a seven figure settlement which emptied the city coffers.  Many of the city residents, now distraught over the loss of the cartoons, began to dress up as Far Side characters; a tradition that continues to this day.

Soon the area became a mecca for frisky young teens who wanted to beget children and live the American dream –that is, to be housed, fed, given medical insurance and clothed at taxpayers’ expense without ever having to lift a finger.  

But today there are disagreements between the old guard and the newcomers.  The city officials will try and iron out the differences at the much bally-hooed Market Street Summit in mid-July.  

Some say that the long-overdue Summit is being called in order to stem the cry from the west end to restore Yorkville Independence.  It would be a borough without the baggage, by being free of the publicly subsidized housing that is so prevalent in the city- a city that has its goal of having more publicly subsidized housing by 2030 than its sister city of Pyongyang, North Korea.  Others say that the city has already passed Pyongyang in subsidized housing.

Several years ago some concessions were made to the street people when Tony’s Produce Market was leveled due to the complaints that the sale of fresh fruit and vegetables was culturally abhorrent and disrespectful to the new residents in the city. 

The natives are still restless and the summit seemed to be the only sensible solution.

Each side has their demands. One the one side: The Library must become more bed-bug friendly; No parades to be held before noon as not to disturb the residents’ sleeping; free day care from 8 PM until one hour after the bars close; iodized bath salts.  The goody-two shoes, on the other hand  want the return of the Easter Parade; gentlemen to walk on the roadside of the sidewalk; a Mayor’s Dance to be held during the summer on the large asphalt lot at Second and Market; thank you notes to be written when receiving a hand-out; clothes (including pajamas) should not be two sizes too small for pedestrians walking on Market Street.

At this moment, it appears that the only thing agreeable to all sides is that sticky buns sales should resume on West Market Street as quickly as possible.

 

 

In remembrance of a life cut short

 

Sometimes I find it very difficult to keep a smile on my face. Even if I stand upside-down my smile will disappear, or turn right-side up, depending on whether you are standing on your head or on your feet. In any event the smile is not there anymore. 

When I was younger, if I felt down in the dumps, I would go down to the candy store – every elementary school had a candy store next door – and fork over a nickel and get waxed lips. My candy store of choice was next to the East Ward School in Schuylkill Haven.  Those lips worked for awhile. I could put a smile on my face, at least  until I needed to open my mouth.  After awhile I would eat the waxed lips rather than throw them out.  I never figured the nutritional value of waxed lips.  I must have devoured a ton of them over the years.

 

Today was one of those days in Schuylkill County that I found hard to smile.  A bright, young man with so much promise… taken away by a member of the taliban in far-away Afghanistan.

             I think I am too old now to wear waxed lips to my hide unhappiness even if I could get my hands on some waxed lips.  I recently heard that Pottsville's Surgeon-General had issued warnings about those wax lips. He said they attract near-sighted Zamundian honey bees. The bees, as we all  know, came to America in 1988 by accident when the crown prince of Zamuda visited the American Way Fair. 

           Most of the candy stores next to elementary schools are now gone and I am too lazy to wait in line at Walmart; even though I get to ride in that store on a scooter, along with so many others who ate too much funnel cake and pepperoni pizza over the years. 

Anyway, today's young people are too sophisticated for waxed lips when they can now get tattoos and collagen lip enhancement treatments paid by their parents' medical insurance up to age 26 or through taxpayer funded medical assistance.

  It is the 21st century and Pottsville’s Surgeon General says it is healthy to express one’s feelings rather than hold them in.  So have sworn off waxed lips forever. I will now express myself. So here it goes....

 My problem right now is the struggle that I have with the disharmony between my search for meaning in life and the harsh realities, cruelties and the sometimes meaninglessness that confront us daily. 

Today was one of those days in Schuylkill County as I stood with so many others in line to pay respect to the fallen young hero.  It was a beautiful and sunny day.  A good day for the Belmont Stakes but certainly too nice of a day for a funeral. 

What keeps me going is the lesson I learned from reading Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut.  One must live as a time traveler passing back and forth in time, focusing on the good times, whether past, present or future, but realizing that bad times will be unavoidable along the way. Just don't dwell on them. 

 

 One must also remain wary of antithetical concepts, such as good and evil.  Most of us would want good, but we must remember that good is defined by the existence of evil.  There is evil out there. Always was and always will be. We just have to gravitate towards the good. Keep a moral compass handy at all times.

Today I did not have to time travel.  Today I saw good in Schuylkill County, right here in the present moment in this county where neighbors gathered together from all the county's small communities. Orwigsburg especially felt the pain.  It was unfortunate that the harsh reality of evil brought it to the forefront but good was there. It was up and down West Market Street. Goodness was visible and evil was nowhere to be found.

 On a day that was too nice to be day for a funeral, the sun was shining but so was the goodness in people.  The goodness was apparent on the faces of the countless people standing in line or the people who slowed down while driving by in their vehicles.

Why even the disheveled street people who roost on the other side of Market Street were curious and respectful.

Please keep the young man, who had so much promise, in your thoughts and prayers. He was a credit to the county and the nation.

Quit dwelling on your facebook pages, tweets and your selfie photographs for just a little while.  There will always be time to update your facebook status later when you can tell the world that you had scrapple and scrambled eggs for breakfast which will trigger dozens of insincere "likes" from your hundreds of so-called cyber friends.  

Yes, there will always be time for fun, maybe even time for a little beer pong now and then,  but do try and do something  positive in the world in the small amount of time you are allotted.
 

                           Don't waste it on all on self-absorption.

 

If the world seems too vast and you are as geographically challenged as me, then just do something positive in this small rectangular speck of the universe we call Schuylkill County.