Imagine risking your life for the country you love by joining the military. After serving your time overseas, you come back healthy and uninjured, with a job lined up and waiting for you.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for many veterans who have served our country. The reality is that some soldiers returning to the United States have a tough time readjusting and are shocked to see that civilian life is completely different than what they had expected.
Kenny Dockery, who was a part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan for the Global War on Terror, recalled his troubles after coming back in 2003.
“It wasn’t easy transitioning, it was rough. Not being in a combat environment, not …
Beneath the surface of Suburban Station lies an organized chaos. Police officers and SEPTA personnel corral Regional Rail passengers into lines that wind through the station. It’s difficult to tell where one line ends and the next begins. The overhead time displays are unreadable through the massive crowds of people. There are people standing in line, bewildered. There is confusion everywhere with no end in sight.
When SEPTA announced the strike, it seemed commuters had a glimmer of hope shining from the Regional Rail stations. Since Regional Rail trains are not affected by the strike, daily commuters fled to their only chance at public transportation. According to SEPTA’s Web site, “Train service will be the best choice for travel in and out of Philadelphia.” To keep the trains running smoothly, SEPTA has taken special measures to account for peak hour times. Riders are encouraged to purchase …
When television host Gordon Ramsay of “Kitchen Nightmares” focused his culinary microscope on a family-owned BYOB in Fishtown, his major changes were to the items on the menu. He used the name of the restaurant, the Hot Potato Café, to create new-spud-accommodating choices that just made sense.
In May, the restaurant, located on Girard Avenue, received a makeover from the crew of “Kitchen Nightmares,” the Scottish chef’s reality show in which he revitalizes restaurants that are failing.“I received a call from a producer for the show saying that somebody anonymously nominated us,” said Claire Keller, co-owner of Hot Potato Café.
Claire; her sister, Kathryn; and their sister-in-law, Erin …
There is one place in West Philadelphia where fighting is acceptable.
High-flying kicks and swiftly moving bodies pass back and forth across the room. The sound of sneakers hitting the floor—and sometimes skin—is drowned out by the rhythmic drum music reverberating through the room. Someone shouts out directions over the thumping bass and others listen, complying with his demands for more moves, more motion. He demonstrates.
There are too many smiles for this to be any sort of fight club. Instead, the Community Education Center on Lancaster Avenue houses a breed of martial art not found in most American communities. The art of capoeira, a combination of fighting and dance, is a tradition cultivated and cherished in Brazil and imported into cities across the world. Developed by African …
Behind the News
A program of the Department of Journalism at the School of Communications and Theather at Temple University. Copyright 2009.
