I don’t think so, but I’m going to try a little experiment. “No flyers please” signs don’t prevent the Centretown Buzz from being put in your mailbox. Will my neighbours take the Buzz inside and read it, and then place it in their recycling boxes, as I and other civilized people on my street have already done?

I predict my neighbours will leave the Buzz in their mailboxes for approximately one week, until they get tired of seeing it there, and then they’ll toss it on the ground. In this scientific experiment I will photograph the mailboxes every day (or as often as necessary) and find out what becomes of the Buzz.

Day 1: Saturday, Feb. 17

On your mark…

Day 3: Monday, Feb.19

Buzz on the move!

Apt. 3′s Buzz has moved to the newspaper rack. No sign of activity from Apt. 2.

Day 6: Thursday, Feb.22

Neck-and-neck Buzz

Apt.2′s Buzz heads for the newpaper rack, along with a couple of pieces of junk mail. What will happen to this stuff now? Wait and see!

Day 7: Friday, Feb.23

Buzz hits the dirt

After seven days, both buzzes are on the ground!

Conclusion

I was mistaken in my original hypothesis. My neighbours did not toss their Buzzes on the ground. Instead they moved their Buzzes to their newspaper racks and the wind tossed them on the ground. Apt.2 also used this method to process some junk mail.

Now what?

Living in slum housing is one thing, but it doesn’t have to LOOK like slum housing. I guess I pick up the stuff and toss it in my recycling box.

Or else I could pick up the stuff and put it back in the mailboxes. I wonder how long that would go on? Maybe the experiment isn’t over after all.

You gotta love science!