Freddie, Jason and Chucky, oh my! — Miss Terror Con Talks RI’s First Horror Convention

Sarah Michelle is Miss Terror Con 2014

Hide under the stairs, no wait … don’t! Don’t have sex in a haunted house! And most of all, don’t go to sleep! Why? Because Terror Con is coming to the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence Saturday and Sunday June 7 and 8. This epic 2-day convention is the inaugural event of the state’s first horror genre gathering brought to you by the same man who heads Rhode Island Comic Con, Steven Perry.

If you’re a fan of this ghoulish flavor of pop culture, then you’re gonna love Terror Con. I know one person who certainly does: Miss Terror Con herself, Sarah Michelle.

I caught up with Sarah, a native Rhode Islander, as she prepares to represent the maiden voyage of this horrific (in a good way!) event and asked her how she got to be Miss Terror Con.

“I love horror!” she tells me. “When I heard that there was going to be a Terror Con in Rhode Island, I contacted Steven and told him how much I would love to be a part of it. I told him about my acting and modeling experience, and fetish clips, which include sexy/gory pics. He then asked me if I wanted to be Miss Terror Con. Of course I said, ‘Yes!’”

Growing up in a conservative Catholic family, Sarah was prohibited from watching horror movies, which made her all the more interested in them. Over the years, she sought ways to combine her traditional sultry modeling with her horror/genre cosplay such as vampires, bondage, pantyhose, zombies and even superheroine getups. She loves horror and geek culture, so the upcoming Terror Con is the perfect venue for her creative expression.

Not only will Sarah be the official Miss Terror Con, she also has a special performance planned. “It’s kind of a burlesque show, but I can’t really say much about it. It’s a surprise!”

And surprises there will be! There’s going to be a huge gathering of horror-focused exhibitors and vendors, so be prepared for a lot of fake blood and gore, and tons of evil-dead prosthetics. Also, there will be an international film festival featuring works from many independent filmmakers showcasing their macabre visions. And it doesn’t stop there! Terror Con will feature special guests from all over Hollywood’s darker side and other entertainment platforms such as Michel Biehn (Terminator), Dee Wallace (The Howling), Linda Blair (The Exorcist), Kane (WWE Superstar), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Amy Bruni (“Ghosthunters”), Tiffany Rice (“Spiritual Medium”), and Naomi Grossman (“American Horror Story”) — plus many more!

“I love Naomi Grossman!” Sarah remarks. “Her transformation on that show is astounding!”

What’s also astounding is the rising popularity in this type of event. Brad Hodson of the Horror Writers Association tells me that attendance went way up at last year’s World Horror Convention in New Orleans, which is primarily a literary-based con, and the film-based horror cons are attracting even greater numbers.

This year proves to be an unprecedented year in the frightener/fear genre convention business. With the success of last year’s Rock and Shock Convention in Worcester, Mass., it was only a matter of time before The Ocean State had its own house (or convention center) of horrors!

Sarah also says there’ll be other eerie happenings at Terror Con such as the freak and side show, psychic readings, panel discussions, a costume contest and an after party.

Sarah will have prints to sell as well as info on where you can pick up her fetish clips — especially the morbid kind! Go to Facebook.com/ILoveSarahMichelle to learn more about Miss Terror Con or visit her booth at the convention and meet her in person. And visit Motif‘s booth, too!

Cue the Psycho violin screech!

Programming and ticket information available at terrorcon.net. Willkommen to Wilbury’s Cabaret

Wilbury Theatre’s recent epic production of Blasted showed us what confrontational and controversial theater in Rhode Island can be like. To move from a tale of dystopian cannibalistic sexual assault and mayhem to a fairly well-known gem in the musical theater canon may seem like an absurd leap, but Cabaret is not light fare and, along with last year’s somewhat heroic stab at Threepenny Opera, some musicals just seem to slot in perfectly with the arc of Wilbury’s overall vision.

Cabaret, as Director Tom Gleadow points out in his notes, has always been edgy with an undercurrent of sexual tension simmering underneath. Various stagings add or drop certain songs, which only bolsters the idea that Kander and Ebb’s magnificent tunes are only in the script to propel the storyline. We are reminded throughout Gleadow’s staging of this ambitious presentation that Cabaret could stand on its own without music, but, to our delight, it doesn’t have to. Gleadow’s direction here favors the actor and the tale of the American author, Cliff, and the provocatively sweet nightclub performer Sally Bowles places more emphasis on the precarious uncertainty of late Weimar Republic Germany than showcasing individual musical numbers.

Even with some truly outstanding vocal performances accompanied by Mike Savignac’s spare, but tight musical direction, we remember the touching tale of intolerance, oppression and fear as opposed to any particular song and dance. Gleadow collaborates successfully with his design staff to create an atmosphere that is functionally austere, but still appealing. Suitable period music greets the audience as they enter the Southside Cultural Center and the bar is staffed by attractive fräuleins who appear ready to hit the stage of the bawdy Kit-Kat Klub on a moment’s notice. The play’s illuminated logo appears upstage, but aside from a few moments here and there, most of the action takes place on the floor of the theater and scattered tables and chairs covered by white sheets promise future action but portend an ending before we’ve begun. Lighting Designer Dan Fisher keeps things simple, but effective, and crossed lines of bare bulbs cover the playing space lending a symmetrically elegant gloom to the proceedings.

The storyline of Cabaret concentrates on the parallel romances of Cliff/Sally and the German/Jewish intrigue of Herr Schultz and Fraulein Schneider, punctuated by choric interludes of lewd social commentary by the Emcee (Jo-an Peralta) and the risqué dancers of the Kit-Kat Klub. While the couples fare well, the interludes, while entertaining, often come across as somewhat hesitant and forced. Peralta is committed and engages the audience completely, but he never quite has us in the palm of his hand. The nightclub numbers fare better when fewer dancers are present and the opening “Willkommen” fares poorly against simpler numbers like “Two Ladies” and the poignant “If You Could See Her,” which represents Peralta’s finest moment of the evening. Once again, it proves the point that Gleadow’s triumph here is in pulling the most of his actors and Peralta has the unenviable task of carrying the show purely through musical means with no opportunity to flex his considerable acting muscles. Maria Day-Hyde, rarely seen onstage these days, is simply phenomenal as Fraulein Schneider, bringing a seasoned, almost offhanded brilliance to her performance. Day is a powerful vocalist, but does not fall prey to showboating and Schneider’s struggle to fight and find love only to fall victim to larger ideological struggles is palpable. Roger Lemelin, as her Jewish paramour, delivers his best performance to date in what can only be described as a cuddly tour de force, especially with his showcase number, “Meeskite.” Joshua Andrews, as Cliff, simply suffers from not being as dynamic as his co-stars and although his performance is engaging enough, he cannot match the pace set by the transcendent Katie Travers as Sally.

Travers has proven her voice time and again, but here she surprises in a part so entirely weighted with expectation and history that it seems impossible not to draw comparisons to previous incarnations of Sally Bowles. Travers makes the part hers, however, and by the time she delivers the penultimate title song, we are putty in her hands. “Cabaret,” the song, is one example (“Maybe This Time” being another) of where Gleadow has extracted the character and the story to their fullest extent and Travers could have succeeded by merely speaking the lyrics. She sings them beautifully, though, and in that one moment we not only feel the conflict and anguish that the tortured Sally endures, but we are caught up in the tender flight of her song. In the hands of a lesser actress, this moment would have been simply another chance to belt a tune in the spotlight, but this Sally lives and breathes, less than perfect, but all the more compelling for that. Brien Lang does highly capable double-duty as the Nazi provocateur, Ludwig Ernst, but also as occasional member of Savignac’s three-piece ensemble.

Rachel Dulude shines as the courtesan, Fraulein Kost, and her few moments onstage are filled with excellent comic timing that never crosses the line into camp. She also stuns at the end of Act One as she invokes the darker side of Germany at that time by somberly introducing the stirring “Tomorrow Belongs to Me” and the entire theater is slowly turned into a Nazi rally, complete with eerily authentic banners unfurling from the balcony all around the audience. Gleadow shies away from some of the more extreme staging found in the recent revivals, but it is moments such as these that appear from time to time and bring us back to the darkness of the play lest we get caught tapping our toes for too long. Although the Cliff character has potential for an ambiguous sexuality that can be explored far more today than at the time the play evolved into a musical in 1966, this Cliff is pensive, sullen and progressively outraged at what he sees in the people of Berlin. In this case, the people of Berlin are individuals and neighborhoods, friends and lovers. The Kit-Kat Klub is Cliff’s only refuge from the struggles outside those doors and, by the end, we wonder if the Emcee and his highly entertaining minions aren’t really the manifestation of Cliff’s true nature. Germany may need help, but Cliff certainly can’t provide it. Sally certainly needs help, but he is simply not up to the task.

At what point does the music fail to charm and the only recourse is to walk away from it all as it burns behind you? A dark choice amid an even darker backdrop. Not the usual musical theater fare, but this is Cabaret, old chum. Willkommen. “CABARET” runs through June 7 at The Wilbury Theatre Group, 393 Broad St., Providence. Tickets are $15-$25, with discounts available. For tickets, call 401-400-7100 or visit www.thewilburygroup.org. Block (Island) Party — Come Get a Taste

Food, Drinks, and Events for Everyone!

Everyone — from the outdoor enthusiast to the Baggo playing beer lover — will find something to enjoy at this year’s Taste of Block Island from paddleboarding lessons to wine tastings, book signings to lighthouse tours, discounted items to the absolutely free (and who can say no to free?). During the May 30 – June 1 weekend, you’ll be able to choose from 67 events and activities around the island, and that’s in addition to the 24 participating restaurants, 40 retailers giving discounts and 13 hotels offering weekend deals. I can barely create an itinerary worthy of all that I want to do (including weaving my own potholder and building my own ice cream sundae), but here is just a taste of the Taste of Block Island.

Five Reasons To Jump On Board (the Ferry)

1. Beer and wine, hooray!

For the past six years, the biggest draw has been — not surprisingly — the beer and wine tastings. As such, these events require pre-registration (see below for details) and spots fill up quickly. For an aphrodisiacal good time, check out The Beachhead Restaurant where the wine tasting comes with sensual $1 oysters. If beer sounds more your style, check out The Mohegan Café and Brewery. Ten lucky people will get a behind-the-scenes tour with the Brew Master himself, Dave Sniffen, and enjoy a flight of beer, light snacks and a 16 oz. freshly poured draft to end the session (only $12!).

2. Bacon-Fest

Ah, what a glorious hyphenated sentiment. In addition to being surrounded by heavenly aromas, you can help decide which chef will be crowned Winner of Bacon Fest 2014! Hosted by the Poor People’s Pub and Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR), this will be the first-ever BI Bacon Fest. Eight local chefs will put their best bacon dish forward (including Block’s of Fudge’s chocolate-covered bacon) and YOU can sample all of the delectable dishes and cast a vote. There will be giveaways, and the champion will earn a pig trophy. And if that doesn’t convince you, come for the free PBR (each person gets two) and the knowledge that proceeds from the entrance fee are benefiting a great cause, the Sloviken Project. This event does not require pre-registration, but you must purchase a $16 Bacon-fest Bracelet.

The Sloviken Project is a restoration project started by the BI Conservancy. They purchased the old, dilapidated ocean-front property and hope to create a public park where people can picnic, watch surfers and drink PBR.

3. Fire Pits and a Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar

The National Hotel is hard to miss when exiting the ferry — a big white monument of a building — and it’s a great place to begin or end your day. For early(ish) risers who come for breakfast, you’ll get to experience a free round of the Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar with the purchase of an entrée (a previous night’s hangover is not required). Late risers can stop by for lunch or dinner and get a free cup o’ chowdah with their meal, an award-winning recipe that took first place in last year’s chowder contest. Meanwhile, for those who only cross the threshold when the sun goes down, check out the National’s fire pit out back. This year they’ll be chewing the (bacon?) fat while roasting s’mores, and you’ll get a complimentary s’more when you order any cocktail. Accommodation discounts are also available for those who wouldn’t mind waking up to a Bloody Mary Bar every day.

4. Free Souvenirs

The Glass Float Project is now in its third year, and it’s a summer-long event in which tennis-ball-sized glass orbs, uniquely numbered and stamped with the year and a Block Island logo, are hidden across the island. This year they’ve upped the ante to 500 glass orbs, which will be dispersed sporadically in waves of 100 between May and September. Keep your eyes open because it’s finders keepers (but please take only one; the greedy have a special circle in Dante’s hell).

5. The Library is a Hot Attraction

Book nerds, rejoice! The library is a hotspot this year, particularly for free and awesome events. Check out Block Island’s debut Film Festival, featuring five short films starting at 8pm, and pick up your Scavenger Hunt list during the day. But be prepared to cross paths with me as I dart around the island and dominate the competition. (Ahem. Kidding.) For those whose competitive spirit is amplified (or nullified) by a cocktail, check out the free Baggo Tournament at The Oar Restaurant — grab a bean bag and play or cheer on the contestants.

Some very important information: In order to participate in the events and receive discounts, you’ll need to purchase a Taste of Block Island button ($5), which can be found on the BI Ferry or at the Block Island Chamber of Commerce. For events that are restricted to a small number of people, reserve a spot by calling 1-800-383-2474 or sign up in person at the Chamber. And most importantly, check out all of the events! Family friendly activities, such as Abram’s Animal Farm Tour, are great for young’uns, there’s kayaking and yoga for the exercise gurus, and museum tours and twilight walks for the deep thinkers. Find the complete list and peruse participating restaurants, retail stores and hotels at the Chamber’s website: blockislandchamber.com/taste-block-island. Don’t miss out!

401 Counterculture Hangs Out with Mister Sister

An Interview with Devin Mayim-Daviau

I have been in my fair share of sex toy shops and porn stores in my 30 years on this planet. Some were amazing, some were terrifying and some I’d rather not discuss. Experiences will always vary when you choose to patronize the wonderful world of sleaze for sale.

On a recent beautiful morning, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Devioune Mayim-Daviau, the owner of Mister Sister Erotica, the popular local favorite erotic boutique in Fox Point. We sat on two chairs outside her storefront, her bulldog curled at her feet, enjoying the long awaited warmth of the New England spring sun. Devioune, Devin to her friends, invited me to sit with her and discuss just what it means to be a “Queer owned boutique that understands the need to not only celebrate the diversity of all sexualities and sexual expressions, but also to actively honor and cultivate them.”

Adam J Schirling: Tell me a bit about yourself. How did you end up running a high-end sex toy boutique on Wickenden Street?

Devin Mayim-Daviau: Well, prior to this store, I had two stores in Provincetown. I guess what originally got me into this was that there wasn’t really anything out there for women. There were probably, like, a dozen women-owned erotica stores across the United States and I think we have a different hit on sexuality. I really wanted a comfortable place for women to come and it surprised me how uncomfortable men are going to one of the big chains. So I wanted a place where gay people could go and it not be “gay friendly” and just be gay. I carry a lot of stuff geared toward our community, but also for heterosexuals, trans… That was the main reason though, because I personally couldn’t go somewhere and be comfortable.

AJS: What made you make the move from Provincetown to Providence?

DM: The economy, really. In Provincetown, you’ve got five months to make your money. The trickle down effect took a while to hit there, and the rent just kept going up. You see the writing on the wall eventually.

AJS: How was your reception on Wickenden Street when you first arrived?

DM: Ah, I loved it. I mean, immediately, folks up from all up, down, and across the street came over and introduced themselves. The shopkeepers here are really tight with each other and with the neighborhood.

AJS: Did you have any negative experiences?

DM: Just from one person and she’s no longer on the street.

AJS: How do you feel about the modern day reception of erotica, considering how much more mainstream it is compared to the past?

DM: Everybody has sex, you know? I don’t think I’m seeing more customers, but people are much more willing to explore their sexuality now. There are gynecologists and sex therapists who send people to my stores and it’s really surprising. Sometimes there is a woman or a gentleman in their ’70s and they come here to get educated. It makes me feel like I’m giving back to my community. I think what really differentiates us is that none of us consider ourselves sales people. We want to help figure out what works for you, rather than sell you the next best thing. It’s a blessing to be able to help someone who’s never had an orgasm.

AJS: And how is business doing?

DM: It’s good. We have a great reputation. Five years in a row we’ve received the highest customer satisfaction rating online and two years ago, the best erotic boutique in the United States (independent) at the AVN Awards. I’m always asking how people hear about us and it’s either from word of mouth or they find us online.

AJS: People will always have misconceptions about different groups of people and different sexualities. One of the points of my column is to help dispel these. What would you want people to know about either you personally or as a business owner?

DM: I would think that the biggest misconception that people have is that you are a sex whore or something.

AJS: Just by being in the erotic industry?

DM: Yes, I’m actually fairly conservative in my private life. I get hit on a lot by women and sometimes men, though that’s rare. I think it’s worse for the gay men who work here. Everyone who works here is gay, which is nice for our community. It provides a sense of comfort to our customers.

AJS: In what ways are you active in the gay community in Providence? DM: We are yearly sponsors of gay bingo, they raise funds monthly for AIDS and supporting families living with HIV. We do tons of donations for gay pride and auction baskets for fundraisers in the community. And if the students from Brown or RISD or wherever have fundraisers, we always help out.

After our chat, Devin gave me a tour of her wonderful store and we discussed the ins and outs, no pun intended, of the vast assortment of toys and clothing for almost any and all sexual identification, fetish and appetite. She happily greets customers as they come in, quick to put them at ease and ensure them she is there for all their questions. I purchased a wonderful book of erotic photography from local artist Greg Easton, said goodbye to Devin and headed back into the midday bustle of the street. My last glimpse through the front windows saw Devin happily perched behind the counter, surrounded by products made for the sole purpose of increasing someone’s happiness, and customers looking to make their sex lives just that much happier. We are living in dark times; open and free sexuality is one of the last redeeming features of humanity. We should value this industry of happiness, and the merchants of happiness like Devin who strive to make Rhode Island a place where more people are getting their rocks off in more wonderful ways.

RHD-RI Serves Up Pizza World

The Cool Collective Presents an Exciting Multi-Media Experience

The Cool Collective from the Resources for Human Development-Rhode Island (RHD-RI) presents an original play, Pizza World for one weekend only on Friday, June 6 at 7pm and Saturday, June 7 at 2pm at 95 Empire Street, Providence. An exciting, multi-media presentation, in development since last September, “Pizza World” is the story of a body’s journey through alternative realities filled with paranoia, existential crises and pizza. Adrienne Berry, who currently oversees this particular division of the RHD in Rhode Island says, “It’s very exciting to see this performed. We’re looking forward to the audience reaction.”

The script, music, video, costumes and light design are all the creative work of the artist members of the RHD’s Cool Collective. Resources for Human Development – Rhode Island (RHD-RI) is a non-profit, arts-based day program that serves people with disabilities. However, in the Cool Collective, all of the members identify themselves as artists, musicians and actors. Their belief is that “art breaks the barriers that separate people with and without disabilities.” This multi-faceted organization also runs many other programs that serve a younger demographic and even provides members with help searching for employment.

“All our work is client-driven,” shares Berry. “It’s amazing to see what talents they have when given this kind of freedom. They even built the set pieces.” A small, devoted staff helps to facilitate the work done by the Cool Collective. At each creative session, the group critiques its own work making suggestions and changes. Their work space is in Pawtucket, but they have collaborated with AS220’s Black Box to perform in the 95 Empire space in downtown Providence.

The all-ages event on June 6 and 7 will include a room for psychic readings, a chance to meet with the performers and artists, and a gallery display of art that will include sale items. A soundtrack of the music from Pizza World will be available for purchase, along with refreshments. Proceeds will go to support the Outsider Artists of RHD-RI. Seating is limited; tickets are a suggested $10 on a sliding scale. Buy tickets at pizzaworld.brownpapertickets.com or at the door.

According to Berry, the group has already collaborated with other organizations such as the Dirt Palace in Olneyville and AS220 in Providence at which they currently have an artist in residence. Berry hopes to form collaborations with many more groups and organizations, eventually to have a statewide network that support a similar mission. Currently the RHD-RI serves over 100 clients in three locations.

Their website contains an amazing amount of information, and is well-organized. Brimming with detail about their work and services, it is easy to navigate. For more information about the program, to volunteer or to make a contribution of goods, please visit their website at rhdri.org. They can also be found on Facebook.

White Rabbit, Red Rabbit: The Bunniality of Evil

Morality is personal, not political; this is, to a large extent, the theme of White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, a theatrical experiment written by Nassim Soleimanpour. Because the playwright is an Iranian who is not allowed to travel outside of his country, he is unable to participate in performances and therefore has written his play to require no direction and no rehearsal. Each performance is unique, a cold read by a new actor, and no actor is allowed to perform the play more than once.

Epic Theatre presented White Rabbit, Red Rabbit as a one-off performance at the Artist’s Exchange in Cranston, RI, on Saturday, May 17. This is a small space, usually seating 35, but was expanded with additional chairs to hold 43 – literally a standing-room-only crowd but for those additional chairs. Performer Joanne Fayan was handed a sealed envelope by Kevin Broccoli, artistic director at Epic, which she then opened to see the script for the first time.

The play is by no means a dry lecture on either morality or history, and instead was entertaining, fast- paced in its single act, and in places quite humorous. Broccoli in an interview jokingly described the play and its unique circumstances as “critic proof” because, no matter how well or badly the actor does, they can never do it again, but Fayan did a great job of animating a cold-read very effectively. Broccoli said that he has long had an interest in “event theater” where something can only be seen once. This is a concept that arises in many cultures and contexts, such as the Japanese tea ceremony and its motto of “ichi-go, ichi-e” (“one time, one meeting”), embodying the core Buddhist idea of transience. Epic and Fayan are to be congratulated for their courage in putting on an experimental play that came out of a sealed envelope in front of a live audience, and the audience deserves congratulations as well for being a part of the experiment.

There is a “gentlemen’s agreement” that reviewers not discuss that content of the play in such a way as to spoil it for new audiences, and I will try to respect that. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating and disturbing play, and that became especially apparent in an impromptu talk-back session that the audience began among themselves in the lobby while exiting the theater. At several critical points, audience members are directed by the performer speaking for the playwright to do or say things, and the audience chooses whether or not to comply. Of course, this decision is made in the context of the conventions of theater, with all of the expectations of artifice and peer pressure that entails. As Charles Nonon, the final director of the legendary Grand Guignol horror theater, explained at its closing in a 1962 interview with Time magazine, “We could never equal Buchenwald. Before the war, everyone felt that what was happening onstage was impossible. Now we know that these things, and worse, are possible in reality.”

But personal morality is the underpinning of political morality, which is the basis for the now-famous Milgram experiment in psychology: three persons, consisting of an “experimenter,” a “teacher,” and a “learner,” were given the supposed task of the learner trying to remember arbitrary word pairs recited by the teacher, with the experimenter directing the teacher to administer electric shocks of increasingly painful severity to the learner for each error. In truth, the so-called learner was a confederate of the experimenter and was play-acting the experience of being electrically shocked, and the real purpose of the experiment was to see how far the teacher would go in following orders. Milgram conceived of the experiment in 1961 in response to the trial of Adolf Eichmann, who had served as the day-to-day operations manager of the Nazi Holocaust; because Eichmann was a desk-jockey bureaucrat and relatively low-ranking officer, a lieutenant-colonel, his defense was that he was just following orders. The schism between “intentionalist” and “functionalist” historical views of the Nazi Holocaust has pitted leading scholars diametrically against each other, notably Christopher Browning in Ordinary Men and Daniel Goldhagen in Hitler’s Willing Executioners, arguing from the same evidence.

In the lobby talk-back session, I briefly interviewed the only audience member who admitted not complying with one of the more important instructions, who gave her name as Courtney Burnside. She said that it just didn’t “seem right” to her, so she decided to disobey. I can’t explain the actual instruction without introducing a spoiler, but I can say that it was seemingly so minor that no one else noticed that she disobeyed, and that she was not asked to do anything that would have required leaving her seat or bringing attention to herself. I asked if she had ever experienced real-life situations where she had to break a rule or take a risk to do “the right thing,” and after thinking about it she cited a few examples, the most memorable of which to me was that she was working in a convenience store and overheard a customer making calls to his family before his own imminent suicide, so she locked him into the store against his will and called police.

I was reminded of my elementary school music teacher who fought with the anti-Nazi resistance in the war; after immigrating to the United States, she taught us as children the anthem of the resistance, based on an old German/Swiss folk song: “Die Gedanken sind frei” (“My thoughts are free”).

Epic Theatre web page for White Rabbit, Red Rabbit: http://artists-exchange.org/whiterabbitredrabbit.html

Wikipedia articles on the “ichi-go ichi-e” phrase, the Milgram experiment, Adolf Eichmann, Christoper Browning, Daniel Goldhagen, and the “Die Gedanken sind frei” song:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichi-go_ichi-e https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Eichmann https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Browning#Ordinary_Men https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Goldhagen#Hitler.27s_Willing_Executioners https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Gedanken_sind_frei

The Hummel Report: Proposed Bills Will Leave You Wondering

Nearly 2,000 bills have been filed since the beginning of this year’s general assembly session. Only a fraction have made it to the governor’s desk so far and the majority of those are bills that would allow certain individuals to perform marriage ceremonies. So The Hummel Report decided to take its annual look at some proposed bills that may have you asking the question: Really? OMG: The cell phone police are back with a bill that would make it illegal for students to use cell phones on a school bus unless it is an emergency. Not the driver, the kids. Apparently the sponsors don’t have teenagers. If they did, it would be obvious the kids don’t actually talk on the phone; they text. If lawmakers are really worried about public safety, why don’t they ban loud talking and spitballs?

Speed it Up: Another bill would require local building officials to either approve – or reject – permit applications within 30 days of the time they receive them, just like they do in Massachusetts. Now this is a common sense bill that we actually like. But that sound you just heard is building officials across the state of Rhode Island collectively throwing up.

Double Dip: Then there’s the proposal to increase the days retired state employees can come back and work while continuing to collect their pensions. The increase is from 90 to 180 days. You might call it The Double Double Dip.

Back to the Future: How about one lawmaker’s proposal to create a commission to streamline business permitting and report back in January 2015? Great idea, but we shouldn’t we have been doing that in 1915?

It’s Electric: Okay all of you owners of electric vehicles, we know how proud you are of saving money and saving the environment all at the same time. Well, apparently those I’m electric decals on the rear window aren’t enough. A pending bill would create a special category of license plate just for you — right up there with the chief emeritus plate, war veteran and Red Sox lover plates.

Where’s the Love?: A bill filed last year, and again this year, would allow the town of Smithfield to take over maintenance of grounds and fields like the one from the Smithfield School Department. We need a law to get this done?

Get the Lead Out: Attention all hunters: a house bill would mandate that you use non-toxic ammunition whenever it’s available. Maybe not so good for Bambi in the long run, but the rest of us can all feel good about the environment.

Full Disclosure: Next time you go out for a meal, think about this bill that would make all restaurants list the total number of calories and ingredients for each item on the menu. Well that takes all of the fun out of going out, doesn’t it?

The good news that this is an election year, so most of the people up at the state house want to pack up early and get going on their campaigns. That and an unprecedented mid-term change in the leadership means the vast majority of these bills will never make it out of committee. Who said there’s no good news coming out of the general assembly these days?

The Hummel Report is a 501 3C non-profit organization that relies, in part, on your donations. If you have a story idea or want make a donation go to www.hummelreport.org, where you can also see the video version of this story. You can email Jim directly at [email protected]. 401 Counterculture: The Thomas Slater Compassion Center

The issues of medical and recreational access to cannabis is no longer the wistful dream of an outlawed minority. It is our reality, our present, and our ticket to a brighter future for a better nation. Despite late-in-the-game, desperate Hail Marys by the fanatics who stand fast on the sinking ship of prohibition, our national spirit is open and ready for reconnection with a sacred plant.

Misinformation, tales of triumph, and controversy abound in the coast-to-coast slug-out currently in progress over medical and recreational use. But often lost in this maelstrom are the stories of the medical patients who are living and dying by the success or failure of legislations over their safe access to effective medication. Every headline over another state voting to allow medical access to cannabis is an emotional victory and a feel good moment for all those in support of the cause. But until that average citizen seeking relief from a multitude of ailments is able to walk safely into a secure facility near their home and purchase inspected and reliable medicine prescribed by their doctor, we are still losing.

Rhode Islanders who follow this issue know of the milestones and setbacks of the Rhode Island medical cannabis program. And at the front of this battle is the Thomas Slater Compassion Center, the first medical cannabis dispensary in the Ocean State. On April 19, the facility celebrated its first year in business with a party for its patients. This first of hopefully many more anniversaries is probably the most important of these milestones. It represents a year that Rhode Islanders have enjoyed legal access for patients who depend on this medicine for their health, happiness and sometimes very lives.

To mark the importance of this anniversary, I sat down with Gerald McGraw, CEO of the Slater Center, co-founder Liz Joseph and press liaison Chris Reilly for a discussion on just what this meant for Rhode Islanders and the road they’ve taken to get here.

Adam J Schirling: The average person who is not involved in the medical marijuana community may not be familiar with what a business like TCS had to go through to gain legitimacy. So let’s start with a synopsis of what got you to this point.

The Slater Center (Gerry): It was a long, grueling process. We went through a regulatory process that took about three years. Before we were awarded the license, the state government shut the program down. The legislation was modified to plant counts, which would be 150 total plants, 99 mature, 51 immature. That capping of the amount of cannabis we can have on hand is what finally got it to pass. AJS: What was the amount of time that passed after medicinal cannabis was approved in the state of Rhode Island and your application for your business was actually approved?

TSC (Gerry): Well, the medicinal was passed in 2006, and the amendment to allow three compassion centers passed in 2009. From 2009 until last April is the span that the team had to put everything together. About four years.

AJS: Was it working with lawyers and lobby groups and working on your application? Or just trying to change the governor’s mind on the legitimacy of the program?

TSC (Gerry): Well there was a whole process that we had to go through before we even got to the point to put the documentation in. That process took about three years. and then we spent about a year or two in review of the application.

AJS: What kind of work with lobbyists and patients went into getting the application approved?

TSC (Gerry): Well we got involved with RIPAC. I was a caregiver for a patient who was involved, and that’s what got me motivated to move forward with this. We all knew we had a a long road ahead of us, but we had the passion to do this.

TSC (Liz): It never seemed right that something so healing and benign was so taboo and so … bastardized and it’s a plant. In 1985, my mom was very sick with cancer and she passed away. She was given cannabis and it was something that she needed to hide. It was almost shameful and it never made sense to me. It was effective. To have something so natural and healing and effective be so looked down upon. Especially someone from her generation, she felt seedy…

AJS: So that was something that solidified your belief and desire to work in the cannabis industry?

TSC (Liz): It did; I was around people who cultivated it growing up and it was something I took interest in. So when this whole thing came out, it just started out as an idea. Three friends who had a great idea. And it started out very grassroots. Handwriting applications, brainstorming logos … it was very mom and pop. But this one got tunnel vision and every roadblock we hit, and we did hit several, this one always pointed us in the right direction. When we started out, on the initial application, they were asking us to describe how we would cultivate enough medicine to accommodate the entire patient population. So we still face challenges because we went from learning how to cultivate all this medicine to accommodate all these people, to the 99 plant limit. Financially, we certainly still face obstacles. Something people don’t understand is that we buy at a certain premium, and then we turn around and still have the regulatory process with taxes and insane overheads and loans that we had when this was put on hold for so long.

AJS: After the long process was done and you were finally able to open the doors, what was the initial reception to your business from the local community?

TSC (Gerry): Out of the gate, they were a little hesitant. They thought this might be a place where people used on site or came to hang out. But once we opened our doors, they see how discreet it is and we are a great neighbor. We give back to the community and we try to be a great neighbor.

AJS: Are there any opponents to the center? TSC (Chris): From an opponent standpoint, it’s been very limited. When we see people who demonstrate any level of concern, normally it’s a misunderstanding of what we do versus legalization in general. For instance, there is a group in Barrington that is very involved in prevention of drug use in youths and they may have some misunderstandings of medicinal use versus recreational use, and we talk to them about it. We reach out and have discussions and I think once people understand that this is a facility where only licensed patients can come — we aren’t opening up our doors to children or just anyone — once people hear what we do, that we are regulated, that doctors regulate people, they understand more. We are a place that is hiring people and creating jobs. That’s not happening on this block of Providence that often.

AJS: How many people are employed at the center?

TSC (Gerry): About 56 with benefits.

AJS: How would you see the role of the Slater Center changing or evolving if legalization legislation passes in Rhode Island in the next few years?

TSC (Gerry): We are just an option, but we want to be the best option out there for patients. We want to give them safe, affordable access to medicine. As far as legalization, that’s a different animal. We are more concerned with the medical aspect and the care of our patients.

TSC (Chris): Legalization and medical use can work hand in hand. They are working hand in hand right now in Colorado, recreational structure along with a medical structure. The thing that would be great if it happened here … take a service member returning home with PTSD. Right now our state doesn’t recognize PTSD as a qualifying condition, and that’s shameful. I don’t know how we can send these people off to horrible parts of the world and when they come back broken, a doctor says that this can help you but your PTSD isn’t recognized. Well to have that back-up where if you can’t get in through medical but if you are over 21 you can get it. That can work and the two programs can complement each other.

AJS: Something you don’t hear a lot about is the compassion program. Can you tell me more about that?

TSC (Liz): What we do is probably give away every month about $25,000 worth of medicine through our compassion program. We never want to see any patient have to go without. Impoverished, end of life patients … we try and help as much as we can.

AJS: What do you feel like the average patient experiences the first time they come in for medicine?

TSC (Liz): I’ve heard a lot of feedback about this. I think in the beginning when they first walk through the doors, there is a natural trepidation just because you don’t know what to expect. But I feel as though it is one of our primary goals to make people feel comfortable and welcome and to see that this is a good place. The staff really takes their time with the patients and their knowledge is amazing. A lot of people say they like just being in our atmosphere.

TSC (Chris): Think about what people were faced with before this. If they didn’t grow or didn’t have a caregiver, they might turn to an illicit source. Why should people have to go to the street if they are sick and their doctor says that they should use this? Now they can come to a place that is safe, regulated and the medicine is tested. Not too many drug dealers out there are testing, making sure there are no molds or contaminants, but these people do. It’s great, it’s elevated.

AJS: Chris mentioned that you are currently working with pediatric patients and working with a provider at Hasbro.

TSC (Liz): Yes, it’s the CBD project. The doctors at Hasbro came in and met with us and told us about these patients who are severely epileptic, just a very very debilitating disease. Maria, our office administrator, works very closely with the parents. Every day they come and they are dialing the dosage, making these concentrates of this high CBD oil. Our youngest patient is 3 and it is just amazing. Some of them are going from having 500+ seizures a day to maybe 2 or 3 or even none. They could not get those results with any sort of pharmaceuticals.

TSC (Gerry): The parents are just blown away. They send us video updates all the time, like a child doing puzzles where they couldn’t do anything before… Really just blown away…

AJS: What is the biggest thing you want people who may not be familiar with the Slater Center to know about this place?

TSC (Gerry): I wish they could come stand in the center for an hour. I mean if you aren’t crying from seeing these patients’ lives change just because the center is open. You know, they won’t get it until they see it. They may not get it until someone in their family needs cannabis to help them.

TSC (Liz): I would want people to know we are truly about compassion, that is the absolute truth.

Locale Profiles: Rasoi

Main Street in East Greenwich recently acquired an Indian Restaurant – Rasa. I live close by, so I’ve already spent many an evening dining there or getting take-out. It’s my new favorite place. The o wner, who is always friendly and stops by my table to say hello, told me that Rasa is the sister restaurant to Providence’s Kebab and Curry and Pawtucket’s Rasoi. I’ve eaten at the first and decided I needed to try the latter. Could it be as good as its brethren?

Rasoi is located in a small strip mall at the end of Blackstone Boulevard, near the popular Wildflour Vegan Bakery. Outside it’s not remarkable. The interior, however, feels warm and exotic; everything is draped in royal blue and marigold. A large square bar sits in the center of the room with the kitchen behind it, giving the restaurant a cozy ambiance, like you’re in someone’s home (albeit one decorated exclusively from Pier One).

I met my sister-in-law and two small nephews – ages 3 and nine months – for dinner. If the boys could eat the food, this was no place for me. I like my food spicy – the hotter the better, which is why Indian is one of my favorite cuisines. I understand that most ethnic restaurants tame down their food for the American palate, but must we be completely devoid of heat?

To test them out I started my meal with the 727 Spicy Cucumber Avenue cocktail: cucumber slices steeped in Tanqueray Gin, curry leaves, coconut water and whole red chilies. The drink arrived in a mason jar, red chilies floating amongst the ice. I took one sip and declared: best cocktail ever. The drink was clean, refreshing and definitely spicy. I could barely taste the gin, but it was there for sure; for halfway through I felt ready to get up and dance along with the Bollywood music videos playing on the screen above the bar. For the record, I didn’t.

The food menu was slightly overwhelming, but only because every item listed sounded delectable. For an appetizer we ordered a proven Rasa favorite: Cauliflower 65. I’m not sure where the number 65 comes into play, ditto with the cocktail’s 727, and my curiosity is piqued. If you go, please ask and let me know. Anyway, the cauliflower is deep fried in a crispy batter, and sautéed in a sweet spicy glaze. The taste is exquisite, with enough heat to set my mouth ablaze for the rest of the meal. It’s like General Tso’s chicken, but with cauliflower … and so much tastier. The batter and sauce are so good, they could have fried up my napkin in it and it would have been delicious. Don’t miss this dish.

The menu had items not offered at Rasa, so I wanted to try something different for our entrees. We opted for the Pepper Chicken Curry and Okra Masala. Each meal came with a choice of brown rice, basmati rice or masala potatoes. We decided to try the potatoes and basmati rice, forgoing the healthiest option. For my nephews we ordered some lentil soup and garlic and green onion naan.

The food came at a leisurely pace – slow enough that we could enjoy our cauliflower and cocktails, but not so long that my nephews got restless. I’d been slightly skeptical about our choice of okra, but when it arrived, all skepticism disappeared. The okra was lightly fried and surrounded by an array of colorful vegetables, all of which were covered in a unique mint masala sauce. The pepper chicken was also outstanding: tender chunks of white meat simmering in a creamy pepper curry.

I’m happy to say that most of the food – soup included – were too spicy for my nephews to eat. The 3- year-old, who can tolerate a fair amount of spice, ate some of the chicken and rice but couldn’t handle his soup. The poor baby cried after a small taste. To be clear, I’m not happy that my nephews left hungry and in pain. I’m just thrilled that an Indian restaurant could deliver on spice.

I’m loyal to Rasa, but next time I’m in Pawtucket I’ll head to Rasoi, especially over India. It’s nice there and all, but when you have to ask for Sriracha at an Indian restaurant, you know you’re not getting anything authentic (they don’t have it by the way).

Rasoi is located at 727 East Ave., Pawtucket; open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. http://indianrestaurantsri.com/rasoi/

MotifTV Top 5 Things to do this Weekend | May 22 – 25

That are you doing this weekend? Rhode Island is waiting for you!

Dirty Deeds with Custard Pie https://www.facebook.com/events/1479689732244083/?fref=ts

Blackstone Riverboat Tours http://www.rivertourblackstone.com/

Gaspee Days Arts and Crafts Festival http://www.gaspee.com/ArtsandCrafts.htm

New England Lobster Days http://www.mysticseaport.org/event/lobster-days-2/

Waterfire http://waterfire.org/