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Empty pill bottles? Pitch 'em, please

By LINDA COLE and INGRID KOHLER
Published September 30, 2006

Tsk, tsk, folks! Or, to be fair, tsk, tsk, to some of you readers, who aren't reading carefully enough. The staff feels the pain of those among you who hate to throw away pill bottles; after all, we ourselves were raised by Depression survivors, with the inevitable fallout. We also learned - in school for this one, not personally - Poor Richard's admonition to waste not, want not.

But, hey, selected REXers, the law of supply and demand also kicks in, though thrift and recycling are highly laudable and too little practiced in these times, what the market will bear must also be considered.

Last year, when a reader actually appealed for used pill bottles, to be used by Filipino missionaries, we know you pill-container hoarders were thrilled, and you responded big time. Overwhelmingly, one might say.

Lucie, who had made the request, soon placed another: For heaven's sake, dam the deluge of empty medicine containers! Not only was she inundated, but the missionaries were being preyed upon by criminals who wished to hijack the containers for drugs of a more ominous sort. REXers are good-hearted souls, but few are eager to encourage enterprises outside the law - and the reaction of the missionaries can easily be guessed.

Lucie's cease and desist plea appeared in a January 2006 column. We thought we had clearly and firmly articulated then that no more medicine bottles were required: But here we are, 10 months later, receiving several letters a week that try to unload additional hordes of empty pill bottles. Please, some folks, read more carefully, starting with this:

SEND NO MORE PILL BOTTLES; ONLY ORGANIZED CRIME WANTS THEM. AND, NO, THE STAFF KNOWS OF NO ADDITIONAL SOURCE THAT CRAVES THEM. ANY FURTHER LETTERS ON THIS POINT WILL FORCE US TO RETIRE FROM THE EXCHANGE BUSINESS, AND THEN WHERE WILL WE ALL BE? Thank you!

Does the promise of cool fall weather get your motor running? Well, fasten your seat belt and browse through some great car magazines that Jim is giving away. They include Stock Car Racing, 1990 through the present; Speedway Illustrated, 2000 through the present; and Hemming's Motor News, 2003 through the present. You'll have to pick up the issues from Jim's home in Hudson. Please call 727 868-5770.

Or, perhaps October's imminent arrival is fanning your desire to get busy around the house. In that case, Jim's magazines won't help, but those of Marion Matunas of Spring Hill will. All Good Housekeeping magazines for 2005 are yours for the taking. Please call (352) 686-6924.

Corinne Kusy of Holiday hopes to tap into someone who can help her locate two items that are eluding her. The first is a 5-ounce (not 3-ounce) paper cup dispenser that mounts on the wall. Dixie Cup no longer manufactures them.

The second item is the black slateboard that thaws meat quickly. Corinne gave hers away, now wishes she hadn't. She may be reached at (727) 942-4283.

Sandra Blaker has two complete, older computers (speakers, mice - or mouses? - monitors, keyboards, etc.), and she would like to know if there is a group that reconditions computers for schools or charities. Please call (727) 934-6598.

Carey Conzett has some authentic U.S. Navy uniforms (male CPO) and square-dancing dresses to donate to a theater group or other group or individual who can use them. Please call (727) 204-6616.

It has been a long time since we played Name That Poem, but in deference to a request from Ann Fafara of Spring Hill, let's put on our thinking caps and play without further ado. Ann's deceased husband, Brendan, gave her a poem many years ago because it reminded him of Ann, but in the course of many moves she has lost it.

She believes the poem's title was "Ann of the Laughing Eyes," and she recalls that one line was similar to "kiss her if you catch her, kiss her if you can." The poem is by an Englishman with the title "sir" before his name, a writer who died during the 20th century. No wonder Ann would be greatly pleased to obtain a copy of a poem associated with such gallant, romantic history. Please call (352) 683-4199 if you can Name That Poem.

Lucy Hew has 324 Betty Crocker points that can be your Betty Crocker points; please contact Lucy Hew@tampabay.rr.com if you or your organization can use them.

Send requests to Reader Exchange, Floridian, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg 33731 or e-mail cole@sptimes.com Requests will be accepted only by mail or e-mail. This is an exchange column, so we will not run items that are for sale. Readers must agree to publication of phone numbers, including area code. ON THE WEB: An interactive version of Reader Exchange is available at itsyourtimes.com.

[Last modified September 29, 2006, 10:48:05]