Oral storytelling is one of the oldest traditions known to man; the intimacy of storytelling was how groups of people retold their history, entertained each other and reinforced their cultural values. The Rhode Island Black Storytellers’ (RIBS) Funda Fest, which takes place in late January and early February, keeps that tradition alive as storytellers share […]
My sister recently came for a brief visit over Christmas. She is mentally ill, some times more in control than others. This year, she was so difficult I had a hard time being in the same room with her. She always had to have her own way or she yelled. She kept following me around […]
What does your doctor do when he or she is sick? Surprisingly, when it comes to their own health, doctors face many of the same struggles their patients do. You would think that because they are acting members of the medical establishment they would have easy access to health insurance, but they don’t. Some might […]
Dear C and Dr. B; It’s the holidays and at our house, it’s a bit of a bipolar affair. My dad is Jewish and my mom Catholic, which makes us a Chrismukkah or Festivus kind of family. My dad says both ways are derivative of winter solstice. But I know that Hanukkah deals with freedom […]
The world is crazy. Acts of hate have been normalized, there are protests held seemingly every week and we have an orange in the White House. Despite all the craziness, there’s a platform that brings everyone together. A place where you can connect with your best friend from kindergarten, find that cute barista who works […]
Winter solstice marks the official start of winter and the shortest day of the year. For some people, the solstice has a second name: Yule, which holds a special significance. Pagans across the globe take time to celebrate this Sabbat, which is one of eight major occurrences on their calendar. The pagan calendar proceeds like the […]
Christians are late-comers to the annual celebration of the winter solstice. For thousands of years various cultures from across the globe have celebrated this important astronomical event. The convenience of electricity that turns night into day, refrigerates our food and heats our homes, makes it hard to imagine what fears were generated as the sun […]
It’s the week before Christmas and you have no time to shop, but there are people on your list who deserve a gift that tells them they are special. I know just the thing – and you can get it online without leaving the comfort of your home. There is absolutely nothing better on a cold […]
When a child is dealing with a life threatening illness, even with a strong support team, the battle can feel like an unfathomable and lonely task, with any ray of hope a godsend. Enter A Wish Come True, a RI-based service that grants wishes for kids ages 3 to 18 who are dealing with a life threatening illness, […]
Global warming was brought up more than ever this year, and that’s because the effects of it are quickly unfolding. This year was just weird. We’ve had a multitude of floods, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, but I don’t think it hit that these disasters were not so natural until we heard it directly from the […]