Rhode Islanders Go Off to War

Well, it looks like we are going to war. It's pretty horrific. The 48 hour "Get out of Dodge" ultimatum was...well, cartoonish. It's not so much that we are going to war (We've been to war before) but it's just that we are going to war so ineptly. If we are going to bomb the heck out of Iraq, and then rebuild a democracy there JUST as ineptly, why are we bothering?



I have almost begun to buy into the idea that war might be the lesser of evils (Winston Churchill's grandson, Winston S. Churchill, made a compelling argument that World War II might not have happened if the League of Nations had stepped in stronger on Adolph Hitler's flouting of their policies-- of course that assumes that Saddam=Hitler, which is not a proven fact at all. Of course Saddam is a bad guy, but whether or not he is the Hitler of our generation is not quite yet known.



The thing that has deterred me is Bush's speech to the nation. If our war is about stamping out terrorism, then why was Bush's first admonition to Hussein "Don't bomb your oil wells" It's about the money at least as much about anything else.


As part of the war effort, many of the reserves and National Guard units are getting called up to war. A friend of mine who is a captain in the National Guard expects to be called up. "If the war is on for any length of time, I'd expect everyone will be called up," he told me about a week ago.

Find out which Units have been called up (via the Providence Journal.)

Get Drunk and Happy!

There's a Jewish tradition on Purim to get really drunk and crazy with happiness. It just so happens that this year, that day coincides with another drunk and happy holiday-- St. Pattie's. The stars are definitely aligned, so get yourself a designated driver and check out your local temple or your local Irish pub (or maybe even both!)


If I were in town, I'd be at the Purim Shpiel (Purim Songs) at Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave, Providence, RI This year it's called "Jews in Black Hats" and is a parody of various sci-fi shows. It will start at 7 pm sharp and fills up quick so please get there early to get a seat. Be prepared for hilarity!

Googling towards the Millenium

The award winning search engine Google sometimes does some pretty nifty logos in celebration of different events. Today for example, is Einstein's Birthday! Click the logo above to find out more about old Albert.


A few days ago, they had Michaelangelo's Birthday, and the logo was even better!



To view some of the other specialty Google logos, visit Google's Logo Website

Realcabrides.com

Realcabrides.com is the title of a 218-page, non-fiction book is by Providence cabdriver Edward Dalton. It's about the adventures the cabdriver/philosopher has had driving a cab for the past 11 years.


Dalton, writes a monthly column for Providence Monthly Magazine that focuses on philosophical and political issues of being a cab driver. One of his crusades is to change the Rhode Island law to require plexiglass partitions in cabs. Apparently a cabdriver is 4 times more likely to be murdered on the job than a police officer!

Said Rhode Island School of Design literature professor Mike Fink in Providence's East Side Monthly:


"... Dalton has created a little local treasure that can stand beside anything else you might be tempted by ... It's just a great read!"


realcabrides.com is available through Ed himself for $15. Usually, you'll find Ed's big yellow taxi parked in front of the Westin Hotel on Saturday and Sunday nights or you can call Isis Enterprises and speak to Ed at (401)728-1892.)

It's also available at College Hill Bookstore (for $20) or you can mail order it through Ed for $18.

Visit the website to find out more.

The World's Greatest Mime

Universally acclaimed as the world's greatest mime, Marcel Marceau makes the only New England appearance of his final national tour at RIC on March 14 and 15. Marceau's interest in mime began in his childhood, and has spanned a career of multiple mediums for over 50 years that has simply been called "genius." The San Francisco Chronicle calls him "The Essence of Theatre, The Soul of Dance." I saw him perform in Chile a few years ago, and he's pretty amazing, even after all these years. While some of his material is a bit dated, he's still doing what nobody does better, and doing it beautifully. Even the sappiest and most sentimental and dated parts of his show are done with grace, style, and unbelievable soul. If there are still tickets, don't miss it! Rhode Island College, 600 Mt Pleasant Ave Providence RI March 14 at 8 pm, March 15 at 2 pm. Tickets: $35.00 Box Office: Call (401) 456-8144 or Visit their website

I-195 Re-Location-- The Movie

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has commissioned David Sardinha of Pineapple Studios to create a series of animations to help people understand what the I-195 Relocation is going to look like. You can drive up and down the highway, view the actual site and the proposed waterfront village, and generally get a video-games eye view of our Capital City.

What's missing from the animations are those one long lane traffic jams during construction!


You can view the animations as Quicktime files (for Macintosh), Windows Media Files (for Windows), or as MPG files (only suggested with a Cable Modem or DSL)

The Providence Urban Debate League will sponsor a Public Action Debate moderated by Mayor David Cicilline at 4:00pm on Saturday, March 15th. The debate, to be held in the Auditorium of Mt. Pleasant High School, will focus on the question of Standardized Testing in the high schools. All parents, students, and citizens are encouraged to attend. There will be a 20 minute public Q & A session.

The Public Debate will cap a full day of interscholastic policy debate at Mount Pleasant High School.

The Providence Urban Debate League (UDL) is a cooperative project of the Swearer Center for Public Service and the Institute for Elementary and Secondary Education (IESE) at Brown, the Providence Schools District, the Rhode Island Foundation, and the Open Society Institute in New York. Since the 2000-2001 pilot season, the UDL has successfully engaged young people all of the Providence Public High Schools. The long-term goal of the UDL is to enable member schools to institutionalize debate teams and foster growth in the local debate circuit so as to make debate accessible to all students.

This program is modeled after urban debate leagues across the country which foster communication skills to empower individuals while working towards improving academic skills. There are currently urban debate league programs in Seattle, San Francisco, Southern California, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City, Atlanta, Tuscaloosa, Newark, and New York City. The success of this innovative strategy to promote standards-based literacy increases debate's importance in an education system increasingly conscious of standards and literacy.


Visit the Providence Urban Debate League Website

The Jewelry District Web Site

After close to two years of being in development, the Jewelry District website is finally open to the public. The site features news about the Jewelry District (my neighborhood), a list of members (and their businesses), and forums so you can find out what's going on in the meetings. There's also information about Health & Wellness, about the upcoming traffic snarls as they move 195, and lots of other fun and useful information. If you'd like to join the group (which is an advocacy group to help support and guide the growth of the district, you can also do it online. The site looks pretty slick, although it takes some time to load, and not everything is working 100% yet (I added my information to the database, but for whatever reason it hasn't actually added my information to the database (although the record has been updated) But I'm sure it will fill out over time. Check out the Website

Words of Wisdom from A Very Unlikely Source

Goering: "Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship."

Gilbert: "There is one difference. In a democracy the people have some say in
the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

Goering: "Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works he same in any country."

--Nazi leader Hermann Goering, interviewed by Gustave Gilbert during the Easter recess of the Nuremberg trials, 1946 April 18, quoted in Gilbert's book Nuremberg Diary



--Buy the book from Amazon.com

2nd Story Theatre Presents:

I saw Death of a Salesman on Friday night, and if you haven't seen it, I suggest you run, don't walk, to your phone, dial 401-247-4200, and reserve your tickets immediately. It's that good.

It's a tragedy, but such a beautiful tragedy, and it's played so well. Bob Colonna puts in a masterful performance, (worthy of the standing ovation he got the night I saw it) but all of the cast puts in strong performances. (especially Lynne Collinson as Linda, and Joe Oullette as Biff) I'd credit Ed Shea with wringing from his cast top notch work, and stripping away a lot of the proscenium 50's artifice in the play. The show is played in the round, with almost no props or set, and it really makes the play sing. Another beautiful moment in the play is when Willy is in his dream world, and we the audience can hear all of the cast reciting pieces of their past and future scenes with him-- replaying over and over the scenes that have haunted (and will haunt) him. It's breath-taking. My happy news about the show is that it's being extended for one extra week. Three extra shows March 27,28,29 all at 8 pm. (and $10 tickets) have been added to the normal schedule (which was to end March 23)

I can't recommend this play highly enough. Go and see it!

Visit 2nd Story Theatre online

Call them for tickets 401-247-4200

BLACK FILM EXPO AT RISD

A two-day Black Film Expo, featuring local premieres of films by African-American filmmakers, will be displayed Sunday and Monday at the Rhode Island School of Design Auditorium.

Screenings will begin with the short films Pimps Up in the Ho-Down by Rhode Island filmmaker Don Mays, and then Roderick Giles's gritty urban dramaGully.


On Sunday the films start at 2 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. discussion session with the filmmakers.
On Monday, the films will be shown at 7 p.m., followed by a discussion session at 9.


Donations are $5 for the public; $3 for students and faculty.

International Women's Day

International Women's Day (March 8) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. The holiday first started in the United States in 1909, and has since spread throughout the world!

Here in RI, International Women's Day will be held tonight and tomorrow at the Rising Sun Mills in Olneyville.

Tonight there'll be a gallery opening (themed Mother) , and tomorrow (Saturday March 8) there will be performances, workshops, a film festival, a craft table, food and drink, and a whole lot more. Performers include: Betty Finn, Lori Amey, Christine Hajjar, Spyce, Allysen Callery, Amy Budd, Daily Mouse, Marissa Nadler, dancers, Boston's best Drag Kings and more!


The festival goes from 1 pm to 12 am at the Rising Sun Mill, 166 Valley Street in Olneyville. There is plenty of offstreet parking, and the space is handicapped accessible. All proceeds from the event will benefit two charitable organizations: Daycare Justice Co-op and Women in Transition.


Get Directions to Rising Sun Mills

Find out about the history of International Women's Day

Find out about RINOW (the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization of Women)

THE URBAN BUSH WOMEN TODAY!

The acclaimed dance company, Urban Bush Women will perform at Rhode Island College's Roberts Auditorium TONIGHT at 8 pm.

In collaboration with the National Song and Dance Company of Mozambique, The Urban Bush Women blend movement, voice and text to create Shadows Child. The humanistic message touches on themes of friendship and cultural misunderstanding as the story tells of a young girl from Mozambique who moves to Florida and the challenges and experiences she faces in a new environment. Surely to be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Tickets are $26.00.
Rhode Island College Roberts Auditorium
600 Mt Pleasant Ave Providence RI
For more information, call 401-456-8144 or visit RIC online.

Smithfield Names Town Poet

Speaking of celebrated poets, Laurence J. Sasso, Jr., former poetry editor of Rhode Islander magazine and a well respected journalist (and managing editor of Observer Publications), became the first Town Poet in Smithfield RI's 272 year history. The job, which has no pay, no benefits, and does not come with a corner office, is to honor Sasso, who lives in Smithfield.


In accepting the post, he read a new work that had been specifically written for the event.

*********************

Council Chambers

In this room of words
and wisdom and heat
this room where power
sits down with worry and debate,
in this place of decisions,
talk and argument,
laughter and solemn proclamations,
sometimes we all must stop and listen
to the silence between the sentences,
the moments when
we mere men and women
think of the brightly burning stars
that lift our heads and touch us
as our lives touch other lives


Read Other Poems by Sasso

Read the ProJo Article

When Poetry Becomes a Hammer

In a shockingly unusual turn of events, a public official has spoken the truth!

Rhode Island Poet Laureate Thomas Chandler had some harsh words of criticism for both George and Laura Bush.

Asked in an email interview what he thought about the recent cancellation of a celebration of poetry at the White House (due to fears of anti-war protests), Chandler is reported to have called George W. Bush "the worst president in American history." Chandler then continued: "I have been challenging friends & colleagues (including historians) to name a worse one. No one can. Millard Fillmore & Gerald Ford may have been do-nothings, but they did not actively and consistently always make the overtly wrong choice."

As for the first lady, Chandler says: "Having Laura Bush act as the administration's cultural liaison is a pathetic gesture."

He adds, "In itself, the role means nothing. Even Hitler had a cultural liaison." And, he says, "Her comment that poetry should not be political would be laughable were it not so telling about the Bush's [sic] general arrogance."

Chandler has since repudiated the Hitler remark, saying that he felt he went too far, and that he was stating his personal views, not those of Bryant College or in his role as the Poet Laureate. Personally, I don't feel he did. Hitler did have a cultural liaison, and that didn't make him the awful monster that he was. In fact some amazing art was created under Hitler (Leni Rieffenstahl's films come to mind)

The thing is, having a cultural liaison doesn't make you a good leader, unless you use him or her to enhance the life and the world of the people you are serving.. Using culture as a way of giving the masses their bread and circuses, or convincing rich people that their life has meaning is not the best use of resources and denies the possibilities. As Brecht says, "Art is not a mirror that can reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it."


Bravo to Tom Chandler for standing up to the idea of poetry as something more than a frivolous pleasantry for urban intellectuals and millionaires. Poetry (and art in general) is not just for the readers of the New Yorker It's for everyone. And it can be used as a hammer.

Read the Providence Journal Article

Read two poems by Tom Chandler

RISCA Grant Information

It's that time of year again for artists-- grant time! The next application deadline is Tuesday April 1, 2003. RISCA will be holding 2 more grant workshops over the next few days (The Providence one was yesterday). You can go to the workshop and ask questions about procedures, deadlines, and other important info you need to know (before they sign the check over to you!) Hours for the workshops are 4-6 pm. To register for a workshop call 222-3880. Thursday, 3/6/03-Newport Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Ave. Monday, 3/10/2003-Westerly Westerly Public Library, 44 Broad Street Visit the RISCA Website

the 5 line self portrait

You've got 5 lines to make a self-portrait. How are you going to do it? What to include? What to leave out? How will it sum you up?

This has been a classic design school project for a long time, now brought elegantly to the web by a couple of Rhode Island born artists-- architect Christopher Pizzi and media designer Mitch Goldstein. Both are originally from Rhode Island, and Mitch still lives here!
You can either think long and hard to come up with your reduction, or just don't think at all and just start drawing. It's fun once you start, and it's not hard to do some alternates if you don't like your first attempt.

As famous architect Mies van der Rohe said "Less is More."

Here's mine (currently on display at the website:)




To submit your own 5line portrait, see their submission guidelines.


To view others portraits, visit the gallery.

FEINSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL

Feinstein High School is a performance based high school in Providence, RI that celebrates and respects the talents, characteristics and strengths of each student. The school was re-constituted in 2001. They are a site-based public high school in Providence with an enrollment of 350 students.

The Feinstein School uses several educational ideas that are not very traditional.

• No Letter Grades Students are not graded using letter marks. Instead they are graded on a continuum (1-6) based on the standards and how well they meet them. While this might seem very similar to letter grades, it's not, because at the beginning of a project a student might not (and shouldn't) already meet the standard. By the end of the project every student will have met the standard (or exceeded it) Whereas on the A,B, C system, one could get an A in the class without meeting the standard.



• Individualized Learning Plan They don't have Grades (9-12) at Feinstein. Instead they have School One and School Two. In School One, students meet the basic standards required and develop with their counselor an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) During School Two, the ILP is implemented. Advancement is not based on "Seat time" but on attainment of standards.



• Project-based learning Students are involved in project based learning. Instead of tests and quizzes, students work on projects that fulfill their requirements and ILP. In fact, during the last year of school, in order to graduate, Students must complete a "Senior Project." This final project is structured such that the student (a) designs a project that is a significant challenge to the student's abilities and an interest of the student, (b) finds a mentor who is a relative expert in the areas of study and (c) presents their research and product upon completion to a panel of community members.



• Technology focus. Students are expected to be technologically competent. Each student and teacher is given a laptop computer.



• Longer School Year. (and school days) Students are not confined to the traditional model of Sept- June and 8-3. School is a year-long process. This is partially due to the fact that the school is based on the needs of the students..

Whether or not these un- traditional methods will work better than the traditional are working remains to be seen. Their website contains some evaluation charts and goal plans. To find out more about the Feinstein School, you can visit their website or give them a call at (401)-453-8695

LAST CHANCE PLAYS

Two plays end this weekend which are supposed to be fabulous. I'm going to try and see both!

	The Caretaker First Stage Providence, St. Paul's Church, Park Place, Pawtucket. 724-8173. Harold Pinter play about a London drifter taken in by a pair of strange brothers. Thu-Sat 8 pm. Closes Sat.
	La Bete, University of Rhode Island Theatre, J-Studio, Fine Arts Center, Kingston. 874-5843. Comedy loosely based on the life and works of French playwright Moliere. Thu-Sat 8 pm. $12, students/children/elderly $10. Closes Sat.

And while I'm recommending plays, I can recommend the Perishable Theatre's Long Journey To Whereto. I saw it last week at the press opening. The play, is non-linear and not quite finished (they received a $10,000 grant to continue working on the show for the next few years) So it can be difficult to figure out what's going on. When you visit their website, you can even give them your feedback on how YOU think they should proceed with the show..
The set and lighting is all quite beautiful, and there are several wonderful moments in the show. (the actors are all quite skilled, although not quite used to their full extent yet) My advice (which I gave to the director) is to continue to work on the virtuosity of the actors in their individual pieces in the show, and to find a specific image. They bill it as a theatrical puzzle, but most puzzles have a specific image that they are trying to create. This show doesn't have that image yet-- and when it finally does, I think it will be a real work of art.

Station Fire Web Log

This is probably the best blog about the fire that I've seen. Of course, it's paid for by the newspaper, so it should be.
The biggest news here is that FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has declined to issue an emergency declaration (which means federal emergency money. On one level I understand this (It's a tragedy, naturally, but is it an emergency? That's a harder call.) On another level-- this doesn't just affect the 200 people who were harmed by the club. We've got a lot of interconnections and tightknit communities and families in Rhode Island-- nearly everyone knows someone who was either at the fire, or someone who knows someone.

See the Providence Journal's Fire WebLog

A Dark Day in the Neigborhood

I'm sad to report that Fred Rogers is taking off his sweater in the big Neighborhood in the sky. He died of complications resulting from stomach cancer. Although he was often the butt of jokes, and he was easy to make fun of, Fred Rogers did his job like no one else could. He had an important mission, he did it well, and it turns out that he was a pretty amazing musician. (In a show I did a long time ago, we did a parody of the song "Won't You Be My Neighbor", which turns out is in a difficult key, has weird and bizarre time changes, and the piano player who was trying to vamp it all said "Fred Rogers is a monster jazz player!" The website for pbskids has some excellent advice on how to tell your kids about Mr. Roger's death. Read Mr. Roger's obituary (list courtesy of news.google.com Fred 'Mister' Rogers dies of cancer at 74 - Hartford Courant - 10 minutes ago Key Events in the Life of Fred Rogers - Seattle Post Intelligencer Quotes from Fred Rogers - Minneapolis Star Tribune -

Rhode Island, Rock Climber's Paradise

Although our highest point is only 805 feet above sea level, Rhode Island has a long history of rock climbing, and some interesting places to ascend.

DISCLAIMER: Rock climbing and associated activities are intrinsically dangerous. Participation could lead to injury or even death. Rocks fall, routes change, equipment slips, accidents happen. You should not participate in rock climbing without professional instruction and guidance.

That being said, perhaps the first resource to check out is the Narragansett Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club The AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment and wise use of the mountains, rivers, and trails of the Northeast. They offer all sorts of outdoor events (including climbing and bouldering), a message board, a newsletter, and most importantly, a community.


Local climber Brian Phillips has created a labor of love-- a fairly extensive website all about Rhode Island climbing. Visit his website to read a history of Rhode Island climbing (including a 1935 article in Appalachia magazine!), find out about places in Rhode Island to climb, and even see a list of mountain equipment stores. This site is HIGHLY recommended


Another local climber Randy Hill (great name for a climber, yes?) has created a webpage about building an indoor rock wall in your own home. He covers such issues as smoothing the cement, tilting the wall, and even creating hand and footholds. Visit that page here


If building your own wall is too daunting for you, you may want to visit the Rhode Island Rock Gym in Lincoln Rhode Island instead. They bill themselves as New England's premier rock gym, with over 10,000 square feet of climbing area, 30 foot walls, 50+ rope stations, and indoor bouldering. They offer instructional classes, private tutoring, competitive events, and even a lounge where you can sit back in a comfortable chair, drink a fizzy drink, and watch others make the ascent.

IN MEMORIAM: SAURA BARTNER August 25, 1948-February 25, 2003

My first Alexander Technique Teacher, Saura Bartner, has succumbed to cancer. She died at home surrounded by her mother, father, brother and children.

For those of you who don't know what the Alexander Technique is, it's a method for understanding how the body functions best. Most people have unconscious ways of using their bodies. More than they realize, they tighten their shoulders, back and neck. These habits of tension can limit their use of the body in strange ways. The Alexander Technique is a method for examining your habitual way of using your body, and to give you a choice on how to use it.

At the Trinity Rep Conservatory, we studied Alexander Technique for two years as part of our basic actor training. The before and after pictures of how I stand at rest are astounding!

Saura was a great teacher and an amazing human being.

One of my favorite memories of Saura is the first day of class. We all sat
in a circle, and she introduced herself a dozen times.

"Hello, My Name is Saura Bartner."
"Hello, My Name is Saura Bartner."
"Hello, My Name is Saura Bartner."
"Hello, My Name is Saura Bartner."

Each time she did a slight ... something... to her head and neck, to change
her attitude, which changed her whole face, which changed her whole body.

At the time I just thought it was a little weird, but over time I've come to
think of it as one of my most valuable lessons:


It is the subtle things that make the most difference.

I'll say that again:

It is the subtle things that make the most difference.

(I know, most of you who know me are saying "What?" or "Well, I think you need to go back to school, cuz subtlety is not your forte" (and neither is spelling it!)

But hear me out-- it is not the big comic gestures that make a clown funny, but the uprised turn of the one eyebrow at the end of it. As another teacher of mine would say (Daniel Stein) about the cartoon Fractured FairyTales: "It's not the book falling that makes it interesting, it's the dust on the book" The little thing that rings true is worth much more than the large gesture that came before it. I have had to learn this several times over the years, and probably still have to continue to remember and learn it. Saura taught it to me first.

We would study the technique in groups of 12 or so, and then once every 2 weeks we would have private sessions with Saura in the morning. I would really treasure those 20 minute private sessions with Saura. I liked the work well enough, and got a lot of valuable information from it, but I always felt like she took extra time and attention with me, and secretly thought I might have been her favorite student. Years later, I spoke to somebody about feeling that way, and she said "I always thought she took extra attention with ME!" And I had a sudden realization that that's how EVERYONE felt-- Saura took extra time and attention with EVERYBODY.

I have been missing her, and will continue to miss her.


More Pictures of Saura (and info about shiva, funeral arrangements, and memorial donations) are available at a website established by her family.

For more about the Alexander Technique, visit Trinity Rep Conservatory grad Leland Vall's website There are two teachers of Alexander Technique in the Rhode Island area: Mara Sokolsky and Carol Gill Malik. Click on either name to get more information about their classes.

An imagined debate between Bush and Saddam

Once I get on a roll, I seem to really roll with it. Tomorrow it will be more Rhode Island news, I promise!

This is from the British paper The Guardian

Tony Blair, moderator: Welcome to the first televised debate between George W Bush and Saddam Hussein, live from United Nations headquarters in New York. We will begin with a brief opening statement from each of you. Bush: First of all I would just like to welcome my evil friend to the UN, one of the great American institutions for the propulsion of freedom throughout the world. Saddam: Thank you, Great Satan. I hope that in today's debate we may find some common ground between the Iraqi people's commitment to peace and human progress and America's desire to destroy the Middle East. Bush: Do I answer that? Blair: No. The first question is quite simply this: do you have any links with al-Qaida? Bush: I do not. Blair: The question is for President Saddam. Saddam: As I told Mr Tony Benn clearly and simply, if I had links with al-Qaida and I enjoyed those links then I would not be ashamed to tell the world, but since I am ashamed to tell the world of this, it follows that I have no such links. Bush: Neither do I.

READ THE REST

A LITTLE EXTRA ABOUT IRAQ

This next part is not about Rhode Island, but what the heck. Even I am allowed my political prejudices...

My Aunt Joan was watching CNN, and she said there was a British commentator who was talking about the fact that Saddam wants to debate Bush.

The commentator said the following: "It would be rather a strange debate. One of them only speaks Arabic, and the other doesn't speak English!"

---

I also thought this was a pretty good comparison, courtesy of weblog "The Aardvark Speaks"

	Iraq	USA
Has weapons of mass destruction	unknown	Yes
Has used weapons of mass destruction	-	Yes
Has potential to lead war on a global scale	-	Yes
Has potential to completely destroy the world	-	Yes
Is preparing to attack a foreign country	unknown	Yes
Is preparing to invade a foreign country	-	Yes
Is asking/threatening other countries to help invade a foreign country	-	Yes
Is trying to circumvent UN resolutions	Yes	Yes
Is exerting pressure on UN to vote in its favour	-	Yes
President elected in questionable circumstances, or not by majority of citizens	Yes	Yes
President is ruthless dictator	Yes	-
President directly or indirectly responsible for the killing of a substantial number of his citizens	Yes	Yes

Art You Can Live With

Two exhibits currently showing at the RISD Museum concentrate on 20nth century art designed for the home..

The first, Zig-Zag Chairs and Wobbly Mirrors, celebrates the enormous variety and vitality of 20th-century furniture making, bringing into focus the contrasts and congruencies of factory-produced furniture and work made in the individual furniture artist’s studio. Production furniture is represented through pieces designed by Alvar Aalto, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Charles and Ray Eames and Verner Panton. Studio furniture by Wharton Esherick and Tage Frid (who established RISD’s Furniture Department), is also on view, as well as objects by subsequent generations of studio artists, including Jere Osgood, John Dunnigan [RISD MFA ’80, Industrial Design], Thomas Loeser, Judy Kensley McKie [RISD ’66, Painting] and Lee Schuette [RISD MFA ’80, Industrial Design].


The second exhibit features artists trained in the fine arts that have created wall coverings and consider this endeavor to be just as significant as their work in other media. Called On the Wall , the exhibit spans the period from 1966 to the present and includes Andy Warhol’s now-classic Cow pattern and gallery installations designed specifically for the Museum by Virgil Marti and Francesco Simeti. Among those represented in the diverse group of 23 artists are Ann Agee, John Baldessari, Adam Cvijanovic, Do-Ho Suh [RISD ’94, Painting], General Idea, Robert Gober, Renée Green, Jenny Holzer [MFA RISD ’77, Painting] and Jorge Pardo.

On the Wall is accompanied by a companion exhibition of historic wallpapers from RISD’s renowned collection. Historic Wallpapers 1750-1949 traces the history of wallpaper from its 18th-century origins to its adoption by 20th-century modernists. This historical exhibit puts the On The Wall exhibit into historical context.



"On the Wall: Wallpaper by Contemporary Artists" runs through April 20 and "Zig-Zag Chairs and Wobbly Mirrors" through April 27 at the RISD Museum, 224 Benefit St., Providence. Hours: Tues.-Sun. 10-5. For more information, call 401-454-6500. Or visit the website

MORE ON THE FIRE

This is the worst fire in Rhode Island's history. The death toll ON THE SCENE has risen to 97, and there are plenty of people in area hospitals in critical condition that might sadly add to the death toll.

Nearly half of the dead have been identified so far, and here in Rhode Island, I'd say that people are dreading looking at the list. By now, if your loved ones were victims you probably already know about it-- but the fallout is still to come from people you don't hang out with on an everyday basis-- the guy who delivered the CocaCola, someone you went to high school with. People you didn't necessarily talk to, but you know, and remember, and suddenly you think, "Wow! Maybe she was there?" I've called a bunch of old acquaintances on this.



The Providence Journal probably has the best and most complete coverage of the fire right now. Their front page today includes profiles of victims, hotlines, a notice of the Memorial Service (which is today at 6 pm at the West Warwick Civic Center)

"He Said- He Said"

The band's attorney has stated unequivocally that the management of the club knew about the pyrotechnics, that there was a conversation several days before, and that co-owner Jeff Derderian was present when the pyro was set up. Jeff Derderian has stated unequivocally that he knew NOTHING about the pyrotechnics. You can read his statement to the press at Turnto10.com

Channel 10 also has a lot of good coverage about the fire, including a story that the club was in the process of being sold.


View a news clip with video You've probably seen a bit of the video already, but it's just astounding to see it happen before your very eyes. This is a 2 minute news clip using Real Player to view.

TRAGEDY

Tragedy struck last night at The Station, a popular Rhode Island nightclub in West Warwick. A fire broke out at approximately 11 pm last night. At least 39 are dead today , and that number is quickly rising, as firefighters continue to sift through the rubble of the burnt out shell of the club. [NOTE: by 9:23 am, the latest death toll is 54. SECOND NOTE: The Death Toll is now up to 95] (7:23 pm)

A PYROTECHNIC DISPLAY GONE WRONG
Apparently the band Great White used pyrotechnics in their act, but those pyrotechnics were not approved or licensed by the local fire department or the state. The band's leader is claiming that the club management said that the pyro was cleared. A substance in the ceiling seemed to have ignited rapidly, and the club was engulfed in flames within 3 minutes. Over 160 people were sent to the hospital, and several people are still missing, including the bands guitarist and a WHJY Disc Jockey. The true death toll will not be known until quite some time.

Read the AP article See ABC 6's coverage of the fire See the Providence Journal's coverage of the fire See The CNN Photo Gallery

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Phone Numbers Victim Information Hotline462-7111 Nightclub Fire Hotline 823-4726 Red Cross Info. Line 828-3326 Kent County Hospital 737-7000 ext. 1395 RI Hospital 444-4005

Bread and Puppet Theater: How to Turn Distress into Success

HOW TO TURN DISTRESS INTO SUCCESS, A Parable of War and It's Making.
With the help of the National More-More-More Society.


"The Student of Success" is taught a lesson: how the transformation of distress into success transforms success. The "Population" is a child in the arms of "Truth". But "Truth" gets employed by the "Executive" to ready the "Population" for war. War is learned in a butcher's shop. The dance of the Collateral Damage Dancers concludes the lesson.
The puppets are from cardboard; the music is live and includes an ancient Georgian chant. Six puppeteers perform.
The INSURRECTION MASS WITH FUNERAL MARCH FOR A ROTTEN IDEA is a nonreligious service in the presence of several paper mache gods. The rotten idea which gets explained and buried is usually derived from some recent political-economical event or idea which deserves burial. The MASS comes complete with secular scripture readings, a fiddle sermon and hymns in which the public is invited to participate.


See it at
115 Empire Street 831-9327
All events at AS220 are All Ages
Friday, February 21 and Saturday February 22 from 8-10pm $6

10th Annual RI Spring Flower & Garden Show

Feb 20-23, 2003 --- Rhode Island Convention Center

It may have been the 9th largest storm in RI history, but that hasn't stopped Spring from it's early arrival at the RI Convention Center!

Governor Carcieri of Rhode Island has declared that Feb. 16-23 is Rhode Island Flower & Garden Week!

30 Gardens, 40 Speakers, and a host of vendors will make this one of the largest RI Spring Flower Shows ever!

Highlights of the 2003 RI Spring Flower & Garden Show include:

* A 15 foot model of the historic aircraft carrier U.S.S. Saratoga

* Nationally acclaimed gardening broadcaster Paul Parent will broadcast The Paul Parent Garden Club LIVE! from the RI Spring Flower & Garden Show floor and answer questions as well!

* Former U.S. Representative from Rhode Island Claudine Schneider will speak on conservation and gardening.

* A new entrance design highlighting the 10th Anniversary of the Rhode Island Spring Flower & Garden Show.

* The RI Federation of Garden Clubs will present a Standard Flower Show titled "Celebrations" reflecting various holidays and occasions we celebrate throughout the year.

* Speakers will include such internationally known horticulturists as Robin Parer and Pierre Beanerup.

* An Educational CafŽ sponsored by Borders Bookstore will be on the fifth level of the convention center.

* Children's performers, including singer/songwriter Lindsay Adler and storyteller Cindy Killavey.

Ticket Prices are as follows: (and available at the door)

Adults: $14.00 - Weekdays $15.00 - Weekends
Children (ages 6-12) $7.00 (Children under 6 are free.)
Seniors/Students $13.00 - Weekdays

For more info, Visit their website or call 401-421-7811 .

S N O W

This was one of the worst storms to hit Rhode Island in some time. 18 inches expected to hit by the end of it all. I stayed in for most of the day and drank hot cocoa and worked on a script.


Read theProvidence Journal's Snow BLOG

Harold Pinter's The Caretaker

Directed by Bill Cain.With Richard Donelly, Nigel Gore, and Mark Peckham.

Bill Cain was one of the earliest actors at Trinity, and Richard, Nigel, and Mark are all three some of the finest local off-Trinity talent on the block. The show is produced by First Stage Providence, run by Cait Calvo, one of the surest hands in the local theatre scene. Basically, this production has a pretty great pedigree.

If you don't know the play , you are in for a long tense treat of classic Pinter, astonishing terror, turnabouts, and amazingly concise language. This play is well worth seeing.

Feb 14-16 at the Carriage House, 7 Duncan Ave., Providence,

Feb. 20-Mar. 1 at St. Paul's Church, 50 Park Pl., Pawtucket, .
Shows are on Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. and on Sun. at 2 p.m. (Feb. 23 only at 5 p.m.).
Tickets are $15 ($12 seniors and students). Call 724-8173 for more information.


Read the Review in the Providence Phoenix

New Providence Police Chief Dean Esserman

I heard Colonel Dean Esserman, the new Providence Police chief, speak yesterday at the annual meeting of the Jewelry District Association. I have to say that he's a very compelling speaker. He told the story of the problems that he faces in re-building the Providence Police. Up until this point, the Providence Police Department has been answerable really to no one-- that those who rose in ranks had to pay for their promotions, and then they really had no power. How there was no in-service training for cops throughout Rhode Island (once you graduate the academy, that's it. If you become a sergeant, you don't get some additional training, just a new badge. He spoke about how the Providence Police Department had bad communication principles, and up until his tenure, no Providence Police Chief had ever gone to the Statewide Police Chiefs meeting. He spoke about how the brand new Public Safety Building has disfunctional systems, and was designed without any input from the Police or Fire Departments

Mostly he spoke about his plans for shaking up the Department-- returning to Neighborhood Policing (which means permanently assigned cops in each individual neighborhood, thus effectively decentralizing the police force.; permanently assigning cops to schools, and actively getting the cops who are doing the work to have input and pride in creating solutions to problems. He spoke about how he expects results and only results-- but he also expects mistakes to be made. He spoke about some of the remarkable individuals who after 20 years in a police force with a bad culture, still manage to yearn to do good work and to set themselves free.


Most importantly he issued a challenge-- He said that if we didn't feel that real and substantial change had been made within a year-- that if we didn't feel better about our police department, and satisfied with the results, that we should ask him to step down.


While those are pretty bold words, he sounded pretty sincere. Let's see how the next 12 months for the Providence Police take shape!


VISIT THE PROVIDENCE POLICE WEBSITE: http://www.providencepolice.com

The Long Journey To Whereto

(l to r) front - Baha Sadr, Margaret MelozziÊ
back - Barb McElroy, Daniel ColbertÊ

Perishable Theatre is presenting what's known in the industry as a "Built piece" -- they have assembled a fine group of people including designers Jeremy Woodward, Che Le Momo, and Courtney LeClaire-Conway, actors (including Barb McElroy, Bob Jaffe, and Margaret Melozzi) a playwright Oana Maria Cajal, and with these elements and his imagination, Mark Lerman, artistic director of Perishable, will coax a play out of their rehearsal process.

Just like giving birth, there are some harrowing moments in the process, but just like giving birth, at the end of the process you end up with a unique and individual production which will be sure to be loved by somebody. I can almost guarantee that there will be stunning theatrical moments in it (although I haven't seen it yet) The trick in a process like this is to build a strong enough story to contain the stunning visual images that you've been working on. Mark Lerman is just the guy to shepherd the project, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what they've come up with! SEE THEIR WEBSITE

Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
		preview 2/15 7pm	preview 2/16 7pm
2/20 7pm	2/21 8pm	2/22  8pm
2/27 7pm	2/28 8pm	3/1 8pm
3/6 7pm	3/7 8pm	3/8 8pm
3/13 7pm	3/14 8pm	3/15 8pm
3/20 7pm	3/21 8pm	3/22 8pm

RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOWS OUT

I'm just back from Canada, and have read some shocking news-- The Rhode Island Historical Society has decided to withdraw from the Heritage Harbor Museum.


For those of you who don't know, the Museum was made up of approximately 20 historical organizations and museums, and the Heritage Harbor Museum was going to be a consortium of them all, that would draw people in one gulp to the museum, so that in one place you could check out the amazing rich diversity of Rhode Island.

The biggest organization of them all was the RI Historical Society. Their former director was the president of Heritage Harbor and the guy most responsible for getting the grants and the donations that allowed Heritage Harbor to move beyond a fantasy.



It's a bit of a shock, because the RI Historical Society probably has the most clout out of all of the consortium organizations. Not to belittle any other organization, but without the library and the holdings of the Historical Society, the HHM loses a significant cache. Hopefully, this hasn't been the death blow for Heritage Harbor, as they have raised 43 of the estimated 59 million they need. The last 16 may prove harder than they expected.

I'm going to be on tour for the next couple of weeks, so this blog is going to go on hiatus for a little while. Should be back early February. In the meantime, if you have an idea about what should be on this blog, send me an email

Rhode Island's Meals On Wheels

Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, Inc. is a private-nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting nutritional and other emergency needs of people who have no one to help them. Their clients are primarily the growing population of frail elderly.

In 1969, Meals On Wheels was serving 17 meals a day. Today they serve nearly 3000.

To learn more about Meals on Wheels programs, to volunteer, or to donate money or food to them, visit their website.

You can also give them a call at 401-351-6700, visit their office at 70 Bath Street in Providence, or send them an email

BLOOD FROM A TURNIP: Late Night Puppet Salon

Friday, January 17 at 10 pm

Blood From A Turnip is a late-night puppetry salon at Perishable Theatre that features cutting edge puppetry for adults. Many of the pieces are new, or in progress, and relatively short (5-15 minutes).
At $5, how can you go wrong?

WHERE: Perishable Theatre, 115 Empire Street, Providence
WHEN: Friday, January 17 at 10 pm
COST: $5 (no reservations accepted)
FOR MORE INFO: 331-2695 or see website

Sonny The Horse Finds A New Home

The state Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the Mignacca family can't keep their miniature horse Sonny at their home in Ridgewood estates in Cranston. This reversed a lower court ruling.

In the meantime, the Mignacca's figured out another way to get their way. They bought a farm down the street from their house . (They had been housing Sonny at the farm) That means they now have 9 horses!
They are going to tear down the house on the farm they bought and build a new one, including another small apartment for the previous owners of the farm.

Sonny weighs approximately 120 lbs, is approximately 33 inches tall, and is smaller in stature and weight than a Great Dane (which would be allowed) The Mignacci's had gotten Sonny for their son Christian as an aid to get over bacterial meningitis.


The Homeowner's Association complained that Sonny was livestock, and therefore not allowed. The Mignacci's had gotten a Zoning exemption, saying that Sonny was a pet, not livestock. The Supreme Court Judge (the late Victoria Lederberg, who authored the decision before she died, but hadn't had a chance to proclaim it.) ruled that the restrictions from the deed of the land superceded the Zoning Board decision.


Read the Lower Court's Decision(HTML)


Read the Supreme Court's Decision (PDF)

URI's Graduate School of Oceanography

The Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) of the University of Rhode Island offers instruction leading to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in biological, chemical, physical, and geological oceanography as well as in interdisciplinary and related areas such as atmospheric chemistry. GSO now offers a non-thesis degree, the Master of Oceanography (MO).

GSO is one of the largest and most widely known graduate schools of oceanography in the United States, with approximately 100 students currently enrolled and more than 600 alumni. It is the cornerstone of an array of marine programs at the University, providing the opportunity for students in several other graduate programs to conduct research in marine-related areas.

Research at the Bay Campus is conducted on approximately 200 research programs which have a combined budget of approximately $23 million in federal funds. This research ranges from the dynamics of present-day ocean circulation to the nature of ocean circulation 100 million years ago, and from the role of bacteria in carbon cycles to the communication of whales and dolphins. The research activities at GSO require an extensive and specialized array of scientific and technical equipment and services. Many of the laboratories and instrument facilities are state-of-the-art and unique to GSO.

Find out more about the Graduate School of Oceanography

Cumberland Hill Fire Department

Click the fire extinguisher above to visit the USFA (United States Fire Administration) Website for Kids. It's got lots of fun learning tools !

The Cumberland Hill Fire Department is one of four fire districts in Cumberland, RI located 10 miles north of Providence. The department provides emergency services to the 34,000+ citizens of Cumberland. They are a combination department with 14 career firefighters and 11  call/part-time firefighters. The station is manned on a continuous basis with 3 firefighters on duty at all times. The Cumberland Hill FD responds to an average 1,100 calls per year. Chief Richard A. Susi has headed the department since January of 2001.  Visit the Cumberland Hill FD online

The Children of Herakles

While we are talking about theatre, there's an interesting and important radio program on the Connection today. (1290 AM on your radio dial) Peter Sellars,amazing theatrical director, talks about his show currently playing at the American Repertory Theatre. He talks about war, and art, and the new and the old., and the power of theatre to change people's lives. It's great!

I listened to it this morning, and one of the best things on it is when Peter Sellars says "CNN will show a woman crying from the horrors of War in the background all the time, but what they won't do is give her a microphone. Euripides, in effect, gives the woman a microphone."

It will be on again at 10 pm or you can listen to it online.

Find out about the play (and see it, see it!) by visiting the A.R.T. website It plays January 4-24 and it's good stuff.

COPENHAGEN HELD OVER !

Trinity Rep has added four performances of the Tony Award-winning Copenhagen in response to the overwhelming popularity of this spellbinding drama. Trinity Rep's box office now has tickets through January 25th.

Winner of three 2000 Tony Awards, including Best Play, Copenhagen is based on real events. In the middle of World War II, two scientists went for a walk. Old friends and colleagues, but enemies now, they held in their grasp the secrets of the atom and the fate of humanity.

Copenhagen is directed by Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and features resident company members Timothy Crowe, Anne Scurria and Stephen Thorne.

If you haven't seen it, definitely do. It's fantastic.

Copenhagen runs through January 25th in Trinity Rep's Dowling Theater at 201 Washington Street. The new performances are forCopenhagen are Wednesday, January 22nd at 8pm; Thursday, January 23rd at 8pm; Saturday, January 24th at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets are available at the Trinity Rep box office, (401) 351-4242 and online. Copenhagen is sponsored by Citizens Bank.

RI Macintosh Users Group

The Rhode Island Macintosh User Group (RIMUG) was organized in 1988 as a club of Macintosh computer enthusiasts with a common interest in the ownership, operation, education and application of Apple Macintosh personal computers. They hold meetings (usually on the second Thursday of each month. They present topics about Macintoshes, previews of software and hardware, help on adding memory, etc. RIMUG has a membership of over 350 persons from primarily Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Membership is open to everyone.


The next meeting is January 9 at 7:30 pm. Meetings are held at the Davies School, Jenckes Hill Road (Route 123 off Route 146) Lincoln - only 5 minutes from Providence.

For directions, more information, or to join RIMUG , visit their website


There is also a free email discussion group that you can join.

David's Inaugural Ball(s)

The first act of David Cicilline's seems like the right move. Rather than having a fancy ball as an inauguration, Cicciline is sponsoring 3 reception block parties in different parts of the city.

The receptions, which take place from 6 to 8 p.m., will include local musicians, school bands, entertainers, food and decor that reflects the city's divcerse cultures, Brooks said.

Tonight, January 6, the reception is at Hope High School.

January 7, it's at Mount Pleasant High School. And on January 8, the party is at the Liston Campus of CCRI (on Hilton Street).

Hopefully, the fancy ball people aren't upset!


Read a ProJo article about the inauguration.

The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), which was once known as the Ocean State Performing Arts Center, began its architectural life as a Loew's Movie Palace on October 6, 1928. It was designed by George and C.W. Rapp of Chicago, brothers who became renowned as one of the finest teams of theatre architects in America. The Loew's philosophy was to sell tickets to theatres - not movies; this was the inspiration for building this opulent theatre which cost $2.5 million upon completion. On opening day, more than 14,000 people came to see Joe Stoves on the $90,000 Morgan organ and the film "Excess Baggage". Most people came just to see the magnificence of the interior, sparkling with gilding on intricate plasterwork, columns of imported marble, and huge crystal chandeliers.

      Over the years, the theatre has survived many changes - during the 1970's it showed Kung Fu films and then was nearly demolished. (During the 1980's, I worked there as an usher!) Now the building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a successful rental house, where touring Broadway shows, large concerts, and other events take place. In 1998, the Grand Lobby and Arcade were painstakingly restored to their 1928 splendor. In place of the Morgan is a rare, five-manual Mighty Wurlitzer organ; the 28' by 51' movie screen again shines brightly with current and classic films.

Visit their website in order to find out what great events are coming up. January 7-12 is the Touring production of Miss Saigon. They often have Free Wurlitzer concerts during lunchtime (although that schedule has not been determined as of yet.)

Governor-elect Carcieri Inauguration "Block Party"

January 7 from 5:30-9pm

Governor-elect Don Carcieri has chosen RIC as the site of his post Inauguration "Block Party," celebrating the 39 cities and towns of Rhode Island. The actual Inauguration will take place at noon at the State House on Jan. 7. The public is invited. In addition, the public is invited to attend the festivities from 5:30-9 p.m. at RIC. The Inauguration party will be held in the Athletic Complex. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet and greet the new Governor and celebrate what is uniquely Rhode Island. There is no cost to the public. Light refreshments will be served, and an evening of wonderful entertainment is planned. (What the entertainment is, what the refreshments are, I have no idea!)

Polar Bear Plunge

Two Icebathing exercises today! Start the new year right by dipping into the Atlantic Ocean. Brrrrrrrrr.....

New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge 12-noon. Club race to dip into icy waters at Easton Beach in Newport for charity. • 401-274-1728

Jamestown Penguin Plunge 12-noon. Tuxedo clad swimmers take the frozen plunge for charity. • 401-823-7411 • GoNewport.com

I believe there are also Polar Plunges in Narragansett and Charlestown.