personal hygiene: Philadelphia Metropolis

Public Is the New Private

Best of VovPop» Remember Steve Martin's line when people asked if he would mind them smoking? He smiled politely and replied: "Mind if I fart?" Today, though smoking is banned in most public places, no one would bother to ask permission to fart; they would just break wind. That's because private is the new public. Functions, which used to be performed in homes, beauty salons, doctor's offices and even bathrooms, have now become spectator sports. Nowhere is this more obvious than on public transportation where people are crammed together like galley slaves for the duration of their trip. When I lived in the Bronx and commuted to Manhattan on the subways, people were content to read their newspapers or books in relative silence. Occasionally, I encountered a groper, a loud talker or a nose picker or an annoying straphanger who hung too close to a seated commuter. These days, no matter what form of public transportation I take, someone sitting next to me is either eating something incredibly stinky from a (Comments)

Three Latino Males

By Gustavo Martinez and Ana Gamboa» One is them is a former high school drop out who decided to return to get his diploma. Another is a former drug dealer, struggling to stay off the streets. A third is a Miami-born 23-year-old who never finished high school and doesn't regret it. We continue our Cover Story on young Latino males by offering profiles of three men in their teens and early 20's who are working and living in Philadelphia. (Comments)

Knock on Wood

By Faith Foyil» As a Jewish girl growing up in southern New Jersey, I learned about Catholicism from watching The Sound of Music. I figured the local Catholic school kids were taught Arithmetic, Spelling, and "Climb Every Mountain" by nuns who reported to... (Comments)