This time of year I usually take a week off from column writing to rest and recycle, I mean recharge my batteries. But I just stumbled across this vignette from the New York Daily News about a college kid in Brooklyn who de-litters a little corner of his world every day and then blogs about it, with photos included. Evidently his idea is catching. Our planet could use more example setters like this fellow, not just this time of year but all year long, every year.
That article put me in the mood to spread some Christmas cheer because it reminded me of a favorite old Yuletide tale, "Auggie Wren's Christmas Story" by Paul Auster, which, wonder of wonders, you can read online for free here. (The wealth of reading material available for free online never ceases to amaze me.)
There's also a magnificent little movie called "Smoke" (starring Harvey Keitel and William Hurt) that is partly based on the Auggie Wren story. I've recommended this movie to many people through the years, and those recommendations are almost always returned with heartfelt thank-you's and/or bewildered how-did-I-ever-miss-that-one's. You can read Roger Ebert's review of "Smoke" here. I think I'll go rent it tonight. You should, too. Merry Christmas.
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Pete Fehrenbach is managing editor of Waste & Recycling News.
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