Inquirer.com – Zurich DR

Category: Life

  • Dear Abby | Needy neighbor is constantly asking for things

    DEAR ABBY: I moved into my apartment four months ago. While my sister, her son and I were moving things in, my new next-door neighbor introduced herself. She has since become intrusive. I am an introvert, and she knocks on my door wanting everything from plastic bags to cigarettes and alcohol. Every day since I moved here, she has been asking for something. She came six times yesterday. I’d like to be her friend, but she takes and I give. I’m tired. Help, please.

    — OVERWHELMED IN OHIO

    DEAR OVERWHELMED: A way to fix this would be to tell your neighbor the truth. Tell her you would like to be a considerate neighbor, but you are not a convenience store and do not wish to be disturbed on a daily basis. Then, when she comes around asking for cigarettes, liquor or plastic bags (which are choking our landfills and our waterways), tell her you are fresh out — and repeat it as necessary. If she persists, discuss it with the management of your apartment building.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My brother-in-law is currently in a relationship with a woman who was intimate with my husband many years before we married. It was a one-night thing, but now she is with my BIL and is going to be at family functions. I’m afraid it’s going to be awkward, and I’m not comfortable. My husband is supportive of whatever I choose to do. The rest of the family has no issue with it because, of course, it’s not their issue. I need advice.

    — IN A DILEMMA IN PENNSYLVANIA

    DEAR DILEMMA: This is not a dilemma unless you choose to make it one. A one-night stand is not a relationship, and the woman is not a cause for concern. What happened between them once, many years ago before your marriage, shouldn’t be a threat to you or your relationship with your husband’s family. If anyone is tasteless enough to bring it up, treat it with humor or say you don’t wish to discuss it. Then act like the lady you are and be cordial.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I’m a 17-year-old guy, and I still suck my thumb, though I do it mostly when I’m in bed. I am going to college next year and I’m worried I might get outed by a roommate if I’m caught. Is my habit that unusual, and do you have any advice on how to stop it? It’s like an addiction.

    — EMBARRASSED IN THE WEST

    DEAR EMBARRASSED: You are not alone in having this problem. In the past, I have heard from other adults who suck their thumbs. Comfort yourself with the thought that it’s not an addiction and not all that unusual. Stress has been known to cause people to suck their thumbs. One way to discourage the habit would be to keep yourself from becoming overly tired. Another would be to coat your thumbs with a bad-tasting substance. (Search online or ask your pharmacist to recommend something.) That, coupled with the fear of being ridiculed, may do the trick.

  • Dear Abby | Woman stuck in a rut after move to new area

    DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married 45 years, but over the last six months, we’ve had numerous fights about Facebook. I’m having issues with his addiction to social media and his constant posts and comments with people I don’t know.

    I get jealous about these interactions with women. He has never given me reason not to trust him, but I’m having trouble with this. It’s also a problem when he has one or two alcoholic drinks. If I ask him about something FB-related, it sometimes sets him off and we have a big fight. He becomes very unreasonable, and it’s always my fault. In person, he’s very friendly and sometimes teases women. I get jealous about that, too.

    We recently moved to this area and don’t have many friends, and that seems to be making things worse. I’m feeling sad and lack self-esteem right now. I don’t know how to get over this. Do you have any suggestions? He won’t go to counseling because he says it’s “my problem,” not his.

    — ALWAYS WRONG IN WEST VIRGINIA

    DEAR ALWAYS WRONG: Your husband appears to be a “people person.” Nowhere in your letter did you indicate that he has been unfaithful. It would be wrong to try to change his personality because you feel insecure.

    A way for you (both) to make friends in a new community would be to involve yourselves in it. Join a club or a service organization, sign up for a gym or volunteer to help others who are less fortunate. If you and your husband are religious, affiliate with a house of worship. This should facilitate integrating yourselves. However, if your sadness and lack of self-esteem don’t lessen, then discuss this with a licensed mental health professional.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My daughter, “Amelia,” is 26 and has been dating her boyfriend for almost three years. He is great, and my family loves him. He has a son from a previous relationship who was born while my daughter was dating him. (He and the baby’s mom broke up while she was pregnant.) Amelia is great with the little boy, but we want more for her. We would love to see the relationship go further, but although he keeps telling her it’s going to happen “soon,” it never does.

    Amelia has taken on many roles, and I believe she deserves more of a commitment from him. She helps to raise his son with nothing in return but empty promises. Are my husband and I wrong for wanting more for her? She has expressed that she also wants the commitment. Should we approach the subject with him?

    — MAMA WANTS MORE

    DEAR MAMA: I don’t think it would be wise for you and your husband to approach Amelia’s boyfriend and try to wrest a commitment from him. You do, however, need to air your feelings with your daughter. She could remain in limbo for years if she doesn’t assert herself. If the romance doesn’t work out, the person who may suffer most is that little boy, who will have lost another mother figure.

  • Dear Abby | Wife’s dream trip wouldn’t include her grumpy husband

    DEAR ABBY: I have just retired and want to spend the summer taking a long road trip from Florida to Alaska and back. I’ve dreamed about it all my life and finally have the time and money to do it.

    My husband hates long road trips, and I don’t want to take him. He would be miserable and make me miserable in the process. Further, he has a list of demands — no more than six hours of driving per day, a nice hotel every night rather than camping out, which I prefer, and leasing a gas-guzzling SUV rather than my energy-efficient midsized car — that would triple the amount of time and money this will cost. I suspect some or all of his demands are passive-aggressive because he really doesn’t want the trip to happen.

    I understand my husband not wanting to sit at home alone for six weeks while I enjoy myself photographing bears, moose and elk in the Yukon Territory, and I do worry about his ability to take care of himself and the house. Honestly, though, I’m not sure our marriage could survive this trip. I’m seriously considering just sneaking out the door and sending him postcards. Any ideas?

    — SOLO TRAVELER

    DEAR SOLO TRAVELER: This is your dream trip. If you don’t go, or if you let your husband spoil it with his demands and complaints, you will end up resenting him. You don’t need to sneak out. Instead, leave detailed instructions on caring for the homestead, and arrange for a friend or family member to check in on him regularly while you’re away. If you set him up for success, you won’t come home to a pile of smoking rubble or a steaming husband.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I have been in cancer treatment for the past 10 years. I have infusions, monthly MRI and CT scans, six doctors and nine medications. No one other than my psychologist ever asks me how I am. I do look OK, so even my mother never asks. My sister overheard Mom ask my other sister to find out what I’m doing to my hair. My hair looks thicker because it became coarse due to the chemo.

    I don’t want to be a crybaby, but I would appreciate it if someone just acknowledged that I have cancer. When I once complained to my mom that I have to take too many drugs, her response was, “Well, you have money!” Do you have any suggestions?

    — GLOSSED OVER

    DEAR GLOSSED OVER: Please allow me to offer my sympathy over your struggles with cancer. The reason your family doesn’t bring it up may be because it makes them sad, and they worry that talking about it may upset you.

    You have the right to press them on the matter. Tell your mom you need her support and would like to be able to talk about your health issues with her. If you wish to bring your sisters into the circle, talk to them all together. The more family you have in the loop, the stronger you will be for the remainder of your treatment.

  • FDR Park launches information desk at new Welcome Center

    FDR Park launches information desk at new Welcome Center

    South Philadelphia’s FDR Park now has its Welcome Center partially open to the public, with a public bathroom available for use and volunteers working an information desk seven days a week.

    “Do you need help finding anything?” a chipper volunteer asked, sticking her head out of the information center entrance during the blistering heat wave in July.

    The information desk is inside the Welcome Center and has been staffed since around late June, according to Philadelphia Parks and Recreation spokesperson Ra’Chelle Rogers. The restroom and information desk are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, with closing extended to 5 p.m. on weekends.

    The air-conditioned respite from the heat showcases FDR’s programming, not limited to jazz in the park, community boating, and birding — all for free.

    Friends of FDR Park, the nonprofit that advocates for the 348-acre space, is also selling houseplants, seeds native to the park, and crocheted flowers as fundraisers.

    “FDR Park has always been a place that brings people together, and it’s rewarding to see the Welcome Center now offering the everyday amenities this community has long deserved — from public restrooms to visitor resources,” said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson, adding she was “grateful to everyone who stuck with us throughout this process.”

    The newly repurposed FDR Park Welcome Center, located on the east side of the Pattison Lagoon near the Broad Street and Pattison Avenue entrance to the park pictured on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in South Philadelphia. The space, originally built in 1919, was used as a guard house and stables in the past.Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer

    The former guardhouse and horse stables that now make up the Welcome Center and abutting offices for park staff underwent a $12 million renovation in 2022 that was completed last summer. The renovated space integrated the original guardhouse and stables’ design and restored some of the windows, doors, glazed brickwork, and original hardware, according to the conservancy.

    The Welcome Center will eventually feature a handful of food vendors, but Philadelphia Parks and Recreation has no timeline for that yet, as the city would have to seek requests for proposals, according to Rogers.

    When fully operational, the Welcome Center will have 3,800 square feet of event space available that should be able to accommodate up to 200 guests for community meetings, according to the Fairmount Park Conservancy, which raised half the funds associated with the center’s renovation and is managing FDR’s larger once-in-a-generation overhaul. Additional bathrooms will eventually be available inside.

    For now, park visitors can grab a seat outside the Welcome Center, where several bright orange tables overlook a field of wildflowers.

    Park lovers willing to guide visitors can volunteer to help at the information desk through the Friends of FDR Park.

  • Philadelphia is hosting a ‘National Treasure’ weekend

    Philadelphia is hosting a ‘National Treasure’ weekend

    Historic Philadelphia institutions better ramp up security around their copies of the Declaration of Independence because a National Treasure weekend is coming to Philly.

    The three-day event, from Aug. 20 to 22, will celebrate one of the best and most absurd films ever partially filmed in Philadelphia with screenings on Independence Mall, an appearance by director Jon Turteltaub, a guided tour, and interactive puzzle adventures.

    Alas, a news release about “Philadelphia’s National Treasure Weekend“ made no mention of appearances by any cast members, despite my well-documented and repeated requests to have Nic Cage recreate the scene where he free-solo climbs Independence Hall (undetected!) for the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebrations this year.

    Of course, organizers could just be keeping mum on the matter, believing that Silence Dogood.

    “National Treasure” follows Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) on his quest to solve a historic mystery.www.disneypicture.net

    The event is hosted by the Philadelphia Visitor Center, Independence Historical Trust, and the National Treasure Hunt podcast. Yes, there is a podcast devoted to the National Treasure franchise and it has 121 episodes.

    The creators of the podcast, Aubrey Paris and Emily Black, will kick off the festivities at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, with a “Heist Night” at Carpenters Hall. The adventure will require participants to team up and crack clues, solve ciphers, and figure out escape room-style puzzles “as you race against foes to find the missing piece in a nearly 20-year-old treasure hunt,” according to the event site. The experience is recommended for adventurers 18 and older and tickets are $50 per person.

    On Friday, Aug. 21, games will be hosted on Independence Mall by the Historic District Partners, a live episode of the National Treasure Hunt podcast featuring Turteltaub will be recorded at Independence Visitor Center (tickets are $10), and a screening of National Treasure will be held on Independence Mall. Turteltaub will introduce the film and free popcorn will be provided by Liberty Garden.

    The final day of events will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, with a National Treasure Hunt tour of Philadelphia, led by Paris and Black. The podcast hosts will take participants to local sites in the movie (you could end up at the Franklin Institute, Reading Terminal Market, or the Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church cemetery), as they share stories behind the film and the landmarks that inspired it. Registration is required and tickets are $60.

    Early that evening, Paris and Black will again host Heist Night at Carpenters Hall and activations from the Historic District Partners will be set up along Independence Mall. An 8 p.m. screening of National Treasure: Book of Secrets, the sequel to the original film, will be held on the mall. Turteltaub will once again introduce the film and free popcorn will be provided.

    The film “National Treasure” plays on Independence Mall last year as part of the “Movies on the Mall” series. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    The weekend of events was inspired by “Movies on the Mall,” an annual summer series of movie screenings on Independence Mall put on by the Visitor Center and Historical Trust. The series has featured National Treasure the last few years.

    While Rocky may get top billing when movies set in Philly come to mind, National Treasure has legit Philly street cred, with several iconic scenes shot here. More importantly, it has Philly fans, who are notoriously difficult to please.

    Philadelphians love a good history mystery and we respect a man named Benjamin Franklin Gates who says things like “I’m gonna to steal the Declaration of Independence” and then does it.

    Josh Douglas of Roxborough walks between bars while wearing a Nicolas Cage mask during the Nic Cage cocktail crawl on June 28 in Jenkintown. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    More than two decades after its 2004 release, the film and its star are still inspiring media and society today. A made-for-TV Hallmark movie released for the nation’s 250th anniversary this year called To Philly With Love was almost definitely inspired by National Treasure and just last month, a Nic Cage bar crawl was held in Jenkintown.

  • Here’s what the ‘Star Wars’ experience coming to the Franklin Institute will look like

    Here’s what the ‘Star Wars’ experience coming to the Franklin Institute will look like

    A long, long time ago (Friday) in a galaxy far, far away (California), representatives of the Franklin Institute and Lucasfilm released details about the science museum’s upcoming world premiere exhibit, Star Wars: The Experience, during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con.

    From getting frozen in carbonite next to Han Solo to walking through Queen Amidala’s throne room, the 18,000-square-foot exhibition will feature a variety of interactive elements and displays across several interconnected galleries, according to a news release.

    The immersive fan experience, which debuts in February, is timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first film released in the sci-fi saga, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

    During the “Making of Star Wars: The Experience” panel at Comic-Con — which was moderated by Ashley Eckstein, who voices Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars’ animated series — official renderings and details about the exhibit were released for the first time.

    An artist’s rendering of what “Queen Amidala’s Throne Room” will look like at the upcoming exhibit, “Star Wars: The Experience,” at the Franklin Institute in 2027.Courtesy of MDSX

    According to the news release, displays and interactive features of Star Wars: The Experience will include:

    • “Queen Amidala’s Throne Room”: In an exhibit dedicated to costume design in the Star Wars galaxy, guests will walk through a room of “suspended fabric and projection” resembling the queen’s throne room while surrounded by Star Wars costumes, costume art, and stories from the franchise’s costume designers.
    • “Wireframe Worlds”: In this gallery, fans will get a look at the blueprint and sketch designs behind some of Star Wars most famous sets and vehicles. The display will be anchored by a wireframe TIE fighter and surrounded by diagrams of Star Wars spaceships.
    An artist’s rendering of the “Wireframe Worlds” gallery at “Star Wars: The Experience,” which is coming to the Franklin Institute in February 2027.Courtesy of MDSX
    • “Carbon Freeze Capture”: Billed as a “dramatic, photo-ready moment,” this display will feature a full-scale Han Solo encased in carbonite flanked by two stations where visitors can undergo their own “carbon freeze sequence.”
    • “50 Years of Star Wars”: More than 90 rare and vintage Star Wars action figures and prototypes from Kenner, Hasbro, and other manufacturers will be featured in a gallery about premium collectibles.

    The Franklin Institute previously announced that a variety of rare artifacts used in the films — like Darth Vader’s costume and Darth Maul’s lightsaber — will be on display, along with various robots and aliens from the universe, like R2-D2 and Grogu.

    Guests will also be equipped with RFID technology to interact with some of the displays and strengthen their alliance with the force, “culminating in a personalized finale moment,” the release said.

    A promotional image for “Star Wars: The Experience,” which premieres February 2027 at the Franklin Institute.Courtesy of MDSX

    Lynwen Brennan, copresident of Lucasfilm, called the exhibit a “testament to five decades of innovative storytelling.”

    “As we mark the incredible milestone of the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, we wanted to develop something truly extraordinary — a space that honors both the visionary pioneers who built this galaxy, and the remarkable fan community at its heart,” Brennan said in the release.

    Tickets for the experience, which runs from February to September 2027, go on sale in November. Following its run at the Franklin Institute, the exhibit will embark on a five-year tour of North America.

  • Dear Abby | Jeanne Phillips bids adieu as ‘Dear Abby’ goes on

    DEAR READERS: As anyone who reads “Dear Abby” knows, I have always stressed the importance of writing thank-you notes. It is now time for me to put pen to paper. I have always considered you, my readers, to be my friends. Thank you for accepting me as warmly as you always have and thank you for being willing to share your joys, pains and frustrations with me these many years. Your trust is the greatest honor I have ever been given. You have taught me far more life lessons than I have ever taught you. I am now in my 39th year of penning the “Dear Abby” column, which started on Jan. 9, 1956, written by my late mother, Pauline Phillips. When I began writing it in 1987, I promised myself that when the time came to retire, I would step aside to live life without a deadline. I am grateful for the support of my two loyal and able assistants, Steven Andrews and Jose Fuentes. Please don’t worry about me; my health is fine. I plan to indulge my long-postponed itch to travel. In the years ahead, my column will continue to serve you. It will be written by a capable editorial staff. Please wish me a happy retirement as I open this new chapter of my life.

    I love you all.

    — Jeanne Phillips aka Dear Abby

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My husband’s brother, “Hank,” has estranged himself from the family. He’s married with two children but has little to no contact with his mom, dad, stepdad, sister, brother (my husband) or any of his nieces and nephews — except when he calls his parents asking for money. On the rare occasions I have seen him, his wife refuses to participate in any family gatherings, dinners or even photos. There’s always a string of excuses or obvious lies, and none of us can understand why they have chosen to stay so distant. It’s painful and confusing.

    Since becoming part of this family, I have watched Hank manipulate situations to get what he wants. He is extremely persuasive and plays the victim well. He is caught in a cycle of being unable to keep a job while trying to maintain a lifestyle far beyond his means.

    I do have some sympathy, because it’s clear there are deeper issues behind his behavior, but the pattern of drifting in and out of our lives — especially my in-laws’ — has become exhausting. They’ve finally reached the point where they’re no longer willing to give him money, but I worry about the future.

    As my in-laws continue to age and potentially become more vulnerable, I fear Hank will find new ways to take advantage of them. I love them, and it has been painful watching them be used and hurt for so many years. Is there anything I can do?

    — CONFLICTED IN MISSOURI

    DEAR CONFLICTED: Manipulating older folks to get them to fork over money is called elder abuse, and there are laws against it. Although it may be a bit premature (as your in-laws are still mentally competent), it couldn’t hurt for you and your husband to consult an attorney who specializes in elder law and discuss your concerns, because crimes like this happen too often.

  • Unauthorized LeBron James merch up for grabs outside Philly’s stadiums and down the Shore

    Unauthorized LeBron James merch up for grabs outside Philly’s stadiums and down the Shore

    T-shirt hawkers have captured LeBron James’ name, image, and likeness.

    The face of the newly minted Philadelphia 76er and all-time NBA legend has already wound up on unauthorized merch outside stadiums and down the Jersey Shore, as seen in social media posts.

    “I just know there’s a sixers LeBron tshirt somewhere on the wildwood boardwalk right now,” one X user posted, just hours after the two-year, $8 million contract was confirmed.

    The poster followed up a day later.

    “coming to you live from the wildwood boardwalk,” they wrote, alongside a photo of two T-shirts with LeBron’s face (likely) photoshopped onto No. 23 Sixers jerseys. The tweet has more than 3,500 likes.

    A video from TickPick, a ticketing marketplace, also showed LeBron gear being peddled outside the Phillies’ game Saturday.

    For decades, hawkers have been a fixture outside stadiums before and after games and concerts. And at the Jersey Shore, the staple mildly offensive and oft-vulgar garb has taken on its own culture.

    These merchandisers are not beholden to trademark restrictions, capitalize on fan — not corporate — interests, and press catchy slogans onto cotton at lightning speeds.

    That’s probably how King James landed at the Shore before the ink dried on the deal.

    Some legitimate retailers, like Mitchell & Ness, were also quick to monetize the moment: A collection of James-Sixers swag went on sale Sunday.

    As of the same day, variations of James’ Sixers jersey on the NBA’s official merch site — with a $149.99 price tag — were sold out or nearly gone.

    So, at least for now, the bootleggers may have a leg up on the market.

  • Dear Abby | Sister makes being around her an unpleasant experience

    DEAR ABBY: My unpleasant older sister lives by the creed, “It’s my way or the highway.” As a result, she has no close friends, no husband or partner, no social circle. She was “strongly encouraged” to take early retirement from teaching because she couldn’t get along with her co-workers.

    After retirement, she joined a few clubs but soon quit because they “didn’t do things right,” aka her way. Even though she treats me terribly, I have tried for years to be the better person and invite her to my family gatherings so she doesn’t have to spend holidays alone. Unfortunately, she is also the world’s worst houseguest. Within minutes of arriving, she announces a list of things she just can’t stand (and are therefore prohibited during her stay). These include certain TV shows, music, foods, ingredients, topics of conversation, any family story that includes her, etc. She stays until everyone has gone and then berates me for everything that I did wrong during her visit.

    If I don’t invite her, I feel guilty that she’s alone and has no other options. If I do invite her, I’m so stressed that I don’t get to enjoy having time with my children and grandchildren, which is very precious to me. What do you recommend I do?

    — TORN SISTER IN WASHINGTON

    DEAR SISTER: I think you have suffered enough. If you decide to invite your older sister to visit again, first establish some ground rules. The first should be that when she’s under your roof, you, not she, will decide on what entertainment is appropriate and what foods you will serve. And how they’re prepared. No topic of discussion will be off-limits. If there is something she can’t eat, she can refuse it. If something being talked about is not to her liking, she’s free to leave the room.

    The second ground rule should be that you are not obligated to entertain her 24/7, particularly if you want to spend time with the grandchildren.

    Of course, Sissy is free to reject your kind invitation, but if she accepts your conditions, the holiday will be a far happier one for you.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My husband passed away last year. I live by myself in a two-story house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. My kids want me to sell it. I don’t care for the stairs, but that’s the only thing I don’t like about my house. I’ve lived in this house for more than 30 years, and I don’t want to sell. I’ve always done what everybody else, especially my husband, has told me to do. For once in my life, I want to do what I want to do.

    Can you give me some advice?

    — FINALLY FREE

    DEAR FREE: My advice is to take your own advice. You seem to be happy where you are, so don’t allow your kids to pressure you into selling before you’re ready. I will add, though, that it would be wise to run your kids’ worries by your physician. If there are health concerns that make it unsafe for you to live alone in a big house with stairs, it’s best to listen to your doctor.

  • My neighbor installed a camera doorbell that can see my entire porch

    My neighbor installed a camera doorbell that can see my entire porch

    This week’s question (Have your own? Submit it here.):

    My neighbor installed a camera doorbell that can see my entire porch. We do have packages taken occasionally, so I get the desire to have one, but I don’t want to be constantly filmed when I’m on my steps. Our houses are so narrow that I don’t know if it would be possible for him to have one of those doorbells without filming my steps. How do I approach this with him?

    Mike Newall

    OK, BackThatCameraUp, given the presence of one of Philly’s premiere music writers in this chat, we should begin with a musical exercise.

    Play “What’s He Building” by Tom Waits, a song about a possibly creepy neighbor and suburban paranoia. If that song sounds even remotely like your neighbor, then we have a different conversation.

    If not, I think we got some questions, like let’s talk porch dimensions here.

    Earl Hopkins

    Haha you hit it right on the head, Mike! Ask if the camera can be adjusted so you’re not being surveilled.

    Plus, that will stop triggering so many false alarms to his phone or devices.

    Mike Newall

    Yeah, I think there are a few questions and realities here.

    The porch: Are we talking South Philly top step or the great vastness of a northwest porch. Are you resting in the sun on this porch? Or throwing groovy bacchanals?

    Also, if you live in the city, you’re on tape my friend.

    Earl Hopkins

    That’s true. If you’re in South Philly, there’s not much that can be done. I understand the discomfort of being surveilled by your neighbor, but it’s not like the camera is pointed in your living room. That’s a part of rowhouse living you have to accept. It doesn’t hurt to ask though.

    Mike Newall

    You got a right not to be surveilled like a common criminal (or an adult person who very likely enjoys picking your nose in privacy on your top step because who doesn’t?) and your neighbor has a right to feel protected.

    The answer to so many of the questions are: have a conversation.

    But, Earl, you’re a younger and cooler dude than me. What happens if the conversation fails?

    Earl Hopkins

    If conversations fail, it’s simple: A war of doorbell cameras will break out, forcing each of them to point one at one another — like cowboys’ revolvers in the Old West.

    Mike Newall

    Yeah and the upside is you’ll have access to all those cute front porch videos, like when a raccoon sniffs your mail slot (does that only happen in East Passyunk?).

    Earl Hopkins

    But seriously: I can’t imagine the conversation will veer too far left. More likely than not, the neighbor will adjust his camera, or try to make some kind of concession. At worst, there will be clarity from both sides.

    Have you had a similar dispute Mike? You’re a South Philly resident, through and through. How did you handle it?

    Mike Newall

    No, I haven’t. My neighbors are all pretty tight knit. We do right by each other and look out. And I have definitely never ever picked my nose on the top step. Doesn’t happen.

    Earl Hopkins

    Let’s pull the tape and see for ourselves. For journalism purposes, of course.

    Mike Newall

    I plead the fifth.