In the United States, laws prohibiting discrimination against protected classes regulate “public accommodations,” a term of art legally that describes businesses and other facilities open to the public on substantially similar terms. Classic examples (such as from the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964) are trains and buses where anyone who pays the fare can […]
I’m disturbed by many of the social media posts I see on July 4th denigrating the United States, saying Independence Day is not worth celebrating, displaying inverted flags as distress symbols, and in the worst cases saying that Americans feel alienated from and not a part of America. Providence arts organization AS220 hosted “FX4 Fest,” […]
The people of the internet are generally displeased with Mayor Smiley’s PVDFest changes. Well, the people of the internet are generally displeased, period. But let’s take a look at some of the feedback happening right now. “The irony of the guy named Smiley killing fun.” -Good-Expression-4433 “Can’t wait til Smiley moves New Year’s Eve to […]
I used to believe that boring government was good government, that if you didn’t hear about scandals, corruption, and other sensational news stories about leaders, that meant that things were probably going okay and weren’t worth digging into. As it turns out, boring government is more of a government purgatory — just because it isn’t […]
Former President Donald J. Trump was finally arraigned yesterday in New York state court on felony charges with a bare-bones 16-page indictment alleging 34 separate counts of “falsifying business records in the first degree… with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a […]
Twin River Casino in Lincoln has announced the launch of a dispensary and craft brewery in their Sportsbook Bar & Grill, which will take place on April 20. Public Relations Officer Dewey Smokum spoke to the press Tuesday and announced that due to the additions, the restaurant’s name will be changed to Buds & Suds […]
“These are the photos they don’t want you to see.” Says Carl Q. Hog, of the Instagram post he made after finding what might be the final remains of the long-sought-after legend, the Block Ness Monster. Sighted most often during hurricanes over the years, “Blocky” has been a constant, if rarely seen, companion to Island […]
The afternoon skies went dark as an estimated 14,653 bats swarmed above the State Capital building in Providence, RI. “At first it looked cool,” said Melford Glum, a tourist visiting the Ocean State from Shrieve, UT. “The kids were laughing and pointing. Then, when the bats started dive-bombing us, it felt like the Apocalypse.” Ordinarily, […]
On March 1, the who’s who of PVD’s creative scene gathered at the Providence Public Library downtown to attend the unveiling of the Art, Culture, and Tourism Department’s new cultural plan: PVDx2031: A Cultural Plan for Cultural Shift. It was a wonderful, full-day event, complete with spoken word poetry, music, and a delicious catered lunch. […]
This is it, folks. My final holidays piece. It’s the piece you’ve all been waiting for.