The moment you learn most soft drinks began their lives as medical elixirs is always an enjoyable experience. Yes, Dr. Pepper was invented by a licensed pharmacist. Pepsi gets its name from its medical claim to relieve dyspepsia. And, there is some historically medicinal basis behind your grandma prescribing ginger ale to calm a troubled […]
There is something fascinating about the American suburb. It is an experiment, at its best, in family dynamics; and at its worst, a reflection of capitalist disillusionment. Diane Josefowicz confronts the dual nature of appearance vs. reality in her confrontational, almost uncomfortable novella, L’Air Du Temps (1985). In the pages we find our narrator, thirteenyear-old […]
Okee dokee folks…Since this issue deals with health I will include a link to my popular, past column about hearing protection. I often receive emails asking for the link to this column as folks become more aware of possible hearing damage from experiencing live music. I carry earplugs with me always, sometimes even an extra […]
Assemblage is art made by assembling disparate elements, often everyday objects. Collage describes both the technique and the resulting work of art in which pieces of paper, photographs, and other ephemera are arranged and adhered to a surface. Automatism refers to creating art without conscious thought, accessing material from the unconscious mind as part of […]
Like a haymaker’s punch, the COVID pandemic completely rocked the restaurant industry, benefiting many – but leaving many others to either shut down entirely or scramble to restructure their business models. In RI, we saw The Grange, Nick’s on Westminster, and El Rancho Grande close in the pandemic. The owners of JP Spoonem’s took the […]
In November, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank released a report showing that a record number of Rhode Islanders are seeking food assistance, with communities of color and families with children at the greatest risk of hunger. The 2023 Status Report on Hunger has four major findings: • A record number of Rhode Islanders need […]
BillBuddy, an online tool available through UpriseRI, is designed to help you understand RI state legislation. You tell the app what issues you’re interested in, and it provides bill summaries of any legislation that seems like it would affect those areas you care about. The tool is expected to be available in January. Once you […]
In 1937, the federal government entered the world of public housing when FDR signed the Wagner-Steagall Housing Act into law. The law established the US Housing Authority, which created a federally funded public housing program that provided $500 million in loans for low-cost housing projects across the US to help house America’s most financially poor. […]
988 is a great resource to be used by those going through a mental health crisis and needing someone to talk to. There are talk and text options, which makes it easy for anyone who wants to reach out. The ease and anonymity of texting should make more people feel comfortable seeking assistance. It should […]
With all the buzz about Artificial Intelligence in the news these days, I decided to explore the latest in robotic cultivation of cannabis. AI is creeping into – some say taking over – fundamental components of our lives. If this is the case, then why not grow cannabis using AI that guides robots and automates […]