And Their Ability to Learn

In Their Own Words: RI senate and gubernatorial candidates talk about their plans for the state

We asked the following questions of candidates running for RI governor and senator in the upcoming November elections. This is part two of a two-part series; read part one here: motifri.com/pvdmayors. Respondents in the gubernatorial race were Luis-Daniel Munoz (I) and Bill Gilbert (M). Respondents in the senate race were Sheldon Whitehouse (D) and Bob Flanders (R). Any editing was strictly for clarity or spelling. Gubernatorial Race

Rank these in order of how much they impact children’s education: nutrition in schools, infrastructure, school culture/learning environment, adequate supplies, teacher incentives. How would you address these aspects of education?

Luis-Daniel Munoz (I): Nutrition – As a medical doctor, it is my understanding that nutrition is an important factor in brain development and, therefore, in the social and academic development of children. I think that it is important that we re-assess the food options and “lunch time” provided to students to ensure that healthy foods and mindful eating are encouraged.

Infrastructure (Physical Environment) – Environmental factors can impact learning in several ways. For instance, mold is associated with asthma and allergies, which can directly/indirectly impact a student’s academic performance. I believe that the aesthetics and general condition of schools/classrooms can also have a psychological impact on students and their ability to learn. The department of health should assess each of the schools to gauge the level of environmental risk factors. Additionally, I believe that it is important to assess the quality of materials used when renovating buildings to ensure that “durability and quality” levels are adequate, and approved by the state.

School Culture/Learning Environment – As a Central Falls High School graduate, I had the opportunity to learn from many teachers who may not have had many supplies, but they were able to create a positive and collaborative learning environment, which I believe augmented the learning experiences for students in their classes.

Adequate Supplies – I believe that basic supplies are essential to the learning process, and additional technological tools may also contribute to a better learning environment. I place adequate supplies in this order because the physical and psychological impact on the students is lesser relative to the aforementioned factors. Nevertheless, students should have access to physical school supplies, digital information tools and newer technologies. It is also important to ensure that technologies, such as 3D printing, be carefully implemented with a focus on understanding the technology itself and several industry-focused use-cases.

Teacher Incentives – Teachers are the lifeblood of our education system. It is because of their dedication and service to our children that I could place “teacher incentives” in any order (1-5). Teachers often give more time than expected to students. Teachers often share food with students. Teachers often help students cope with personal issues. Teachers often advocate for better environmental conditions. Teachers shape our learning environments and school cultures.

It is because of this that I want the RI Department of Education to have a series of forums for teachers, in order to gather feedback pertaining to education policies and initiatives. I think that we should incentivize teachers to be active participants in the shaping of policies. I think that we should align continuing credits with the innovation that teachers want to trial, and ensure that school administrators are creating an environment conducive to piloting “new methods.”

Bill Gilbert (M): School culture/learning environment has to be the highest priority of the list. First, students must be and feel physically safe. Second, Students must be engaged in a manner that promotes interaction and investigation in a manner that they readily understand. We have significant language and social cultural barriers that can be reduced using more computer aided and online facilitated instruction. We also need to reduce the strangle hold that the Department of Education has on the curriculum and teaching delivery methods, all students do not learn the same. Some students need a more hands-on approach such as a Montessori approach and some students learn best via reading and verbal instruction. Our education delivery modality decisions should be made as close to the teacher/ student relationship as practicable and possible.

Infrastructure: We need to be better stewards of taxpayers’ money, and provide healthy and safe buildings for our students. Repair and replacement costs will only escalate in the future and further burden our next generations. A safe and welcoming environment and a strong student / teacher relationship are critical and foundational to education; no one will ever focus on books and supplies when these are not first met.

Nutrition in schools is a broad discussion that covers everything from providing breakfast and lunch programs for students whose parents do not take the responsibility for their childrens’ meals to becoming some type of food and nutrition police for society. I am not in favor of banning foods, desserts and drinks that the students bring from home. I have no issue with the schools or vendors themselves not providing poor nutritional choices either. As a society we must ensure or children are adequately fed, find out why some parents do not provide for their children and hold the ones that can and don’t responsible.

Teacher incentives: Some districts need to entice teachers to work there. However, I believe incentives can cause teaching to the test of teaching to an outcome and not an overall strategy that is best for the student.

What’s the biggest issue facing the state?

Luis-Daniel Munoz (I): There are many challenges facing Rhode Island at this time.

UHIP Burrillville Power Plant National Grid’s LNG Project Deteriorating school infrastructure/conditions

Nevertheless, it is my opinion that the biggest issue facing the state, which seems to be disregarded by the current administration, relates to the rising costs of healthcare services and healthcare insurance premiums. Bill Gilbert (M): Overall, I believe a lack of ethics among our elected officials and our state managers and directors is crippling our wonderful state. If our leaders keep looking out for special interests and their own reelections instead of the state as a whole, no real forward-moving idea will ever get implemented. UHIP, Cooler and Warmer with buildings of Iceland in the commercial, attorneys who fail to file documents on time costing millions, children dying at DCYF, every one of the previous house’s finance committee under investigation, indictment of gone to jail, Ticket Gate, pay to play at the state beach concessions ad infinitum. We must do better. We need a white-collar crime unit and an inspector general. We need to be able to trust our government again.

How do you feel about supreme court decision that effectively makes every state right to work (Janus v. AFSCME)?

Luis-Daniel Munoz (I): I stand with the laborers and union members who are working very hard to provide for their families, and trying their best to achieve some version of the American Dream. I stand with the individual who is advocating for personal liberty. As it relates to the ruling, I think it falls upon states to seek out ways of addressing “fairness.” For instance, New Jersey limits the amount of time government employees can withdraw from their union, while Rhode Island has established a precedent for specific unions to stop representing non-members in grievance cases.

Bill Gilbert (M): I am ambivalent. While I have no issue with unions being the exclusive representative of a bargaining unit I understand the desire for individuals to not participate in the politics which many unions engage in or for members to have their wages garnished for politics beliefs they do not hold or have not voted on. Unions and their members are free to come to some new agreement among themselves to either limit political activity or to limit their exclusive representation.

Is environmental racism in Providence a problem and if so, how do you intend to address it?

Luis-Daniel Munoz (I): As it relates to the Liquefied Natural Gas Plant (National Grid), it is the lack of active investments by the state into educational forums and informational outreach for the community of South Providence that leads me to believe that environmental racism is a problem. I believe that leaders should focus on empowering individuals and communities with an understanding of issues that will impact their lives, as well as to provide them with the educational and advocacy tools to determine next steps as a community.

As a medical professional, I also understand that there are significant health risks, along with environmental risks associated with natural gas. Many Rhode Islanders, including outside of South Providence, are concerned about the LNG plant for multiple reasons. It is essential that we address all of these concerns and potential alternative paths.

Bill Gilbert (M): Yes. It is all towns and communities, not just Providence. I have a saying that while life may not be fair the government should be. The best way to attack these cultural issues is to get the minority communities more engaged in civics, politics and our social programs. Education and community programs are the bedrock for these changes to be built.

Do you favor sending troops to Worcester to recover the PawSox?

Luis-Daniel Munoz (I): It is unfortunate that the PawSox have chosen to leave us. Nevertheless, state and city leadership failed to advocate for voters by abandoning the possibility of a ‘referendum’ (ie, Rhode Islanders’ ability to vote on the issue), and the deals that were structured failed to demonstrate sufficient protections and returns for the level of investment that was expected.

Race for US Senator

Bob Flanders (R): As the former Chairman of the RI Board of Regents, I am deeply concerned with the future of our education system. We deserve schools as exceptional as the students inside them. All of these aspects are critical for ensuring that our students have all of the tools necessary to learn. One of my top priorities is school security, and as RI’s next US Senator I will advocate for more federal funding to ensure that our school infrastructure is as secure as possible.

Sheldon Whitehouse (D): These are all important factors in helping children learn. I had a key role in passing the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced No Child Left Behind. ESSA provided extra support for middle school students, expanded after-school programs, improved civics and history education, and helped keep students in the juvenile justice system from falling behind academically.

It’s difficult to learn in an environment that isn’t warm, safe and dry. Too many Rhode Island schools don’t meet those basic criteria. I’m a cosponsor of Senator Reed’s bill to invest $100 billion in school infrastructure.

What’s the biggest issue facing the state?

Bob Flanders (R): The greatest issue facing our state is that the politicians in Washington DC can’t get things done. Washington is broken and we desperately need a change. After 12 years of Senator Whitehouse’s almost religious adherence to hyper-partisanship, Rhode Island needs a proven problem- solver as our next US Senator. I worked across the aisle with all stakeholders to get things done when I was the receiver of the city of Central Falls and led them through a consensual recovery plan out of insolvency. The issues we face in this state, including fixing our worst-in-the nation roads and bridges, immigration reform and enacting an affordable and accessible healthcare plan, can’t be fixed unless we have a United States Senator who is ready to put people over party.

Sheldon Whitehouse (D): The most pressing issue facing Rhode Island is protecting the middle class from President Trump’s harmful agenda. I’m fighting to defend the Affordable Care Act, which has lowered health care costs for so many Rhode Islanders and is constantly under threat from Republicans in Washington. We need to fix President Trump’s tax law, which gave an enormous benefit to the ultra- wealthy, before Republicans can follow through on using the deficit it created as an excuse to cut the Medicare and Social Security benefits seniors rely on. We need to keeping growing the economy and creating good jobs through a major investment in our national infrastructure. It’s also extremely important that we take action on climate change before rising sea levels change the map of Rhode Island and seriously harm our coastal economy.

How do you feel about supreme court decision that effectively makes every state right to work (Janus v. AFSCME)? Bob Flanders (R): I think that the court made the right decision by ruling to protect freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is of such fundamental importance to our country that no government employee should have to support views that he or she disagrees with, whether in the workplace or otherwise.

Sheldon Whitehouse (D): The Janus decision was yet another troubling 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court in which the Republican-appointed justices took the side of big corporate interests over working people. Unions built the middle class. This terrible decision represents a significant threat to organized labor and Americans’ wages. I’m going to keep doing everything in my power to make sure our unions remain strong.

Do you favor sending troops to Worcester to recover the PawSox?

Bob Flanders (R): Only if it is a platoon of G.I. Joe and Janes from Hasbro.

Sheldon Whitehouse (D): The PawSox were an asset to Rhode Island and I think it’s unfortunate that the team decided to leave. The focus now has to be on doing everything possible to keep Pawtucket’s economy moving in the right direction.

Fantastic! Comic Con returns and resistance is futile

Let your Halloween costume pull a double this year – RI Comic Con is earlier in the season than usual. Held November 2 through 4, the weekend event is expected to bring in 80,000 to 90,000 sci-fi, fantasy, action, comic, wrestling, gaming, music and – let’s just say “pop culture” fans to downtown Providence. With a convention footprint that spans the Dunkin Donuts Center, Convention Center and the Omni, trying to classify the pirates, Star Wars cosplayers and borgs who will descend upon downtown into any one genre is, in fact, futile.

If you’re a RICC newbie, publicist Susan Soares has two tips.

“Get your tickets before the doors open,” Soares says. “Every year we see hundreds of fans waiting in line to buy tickets and then we sell out. That’s heartbreaking for us.”

Her second piece of advice speaks to the show’s tagline: the biggest show in the smallest state. “Don’t overwhelm yourself. Try to target something to see. Don’t expect to see everything. It’s impossible. We bring in so many guests and have activities, but in no way do we expect people to see everything and everyone. Be mindful of that and don’t set yourself up to be disappointed. Be reasonable, pick out what you want to see and have a great time.”

This year, RICC has made changes to help fans see more of the show, including a significant change sure to please seasoned convention goers.

“We finally, finally have the opportunity to have multiple entrances to the show,” Soares says. “This is a long-awaited change. We’re going to have a lot of entrances now. We’ll have two primary entrances, one in the Dunkin Donuts Center and then a second entrance into the Convention Center. We’ve been given access, finally, to the bottom floor of the convention center so we can filter fans through that way. We’re also offering ADA entrances.”

For past attendees who may have spent hours waiting in line in single digit temperatures last year, or anyone who has experienced the bottleneck between the Dunkin Donuts Center and the Convention Center, the new traffic pattern is sure to be a welcome relief.

Between vendors, costume contests, Geek Speed Dating, panels, the GeekFest Film Fest, gaming tournaments and unparalleled people watching, there’s plenty to do at RI Comic Con. Hell, you could even get tattooed. But undoubtedly the reason for the show’s popularity and growth — and its primary draw — is the show’s celebrity guests.

Headliners this year include Tim Curry, Hayden Christiansen, Kiefer Sutherland and Brienne of Tarth herself, Gwendoline Christie. Harry Potter fans also get coups in the forms of Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) and Natalia Tena (Tonks). On the comics side of the house, Rob Liefeld, who co-created the character Deadpool, is offering VIP and private fan experiences that include bonuses like a signed The New Mutants #1 variant and what’s being promoted as the “best selfie ever.” (Although, can it really top the Lost Boys photo-op that Kiefer Sutherland is offering with Jason Patric?)

Helping fans meet their favorite guest, make their photo ops (back indoors, by the way, after last year’s brief foray in an external tent) and maximize their time is top of mind for RICC’s organizers.

“One of the things we have planned is that the volunteers and staffing outside will actually navigate fans, based on who they plan to see first. For example, we know Tim Curry is going to be in the Dunkin Donuts Center,” says Soares. “If he’s your first stop, we’re going to suggest people enter through there. Or if someone wants to see the kids from IT, we’re going to direct you to the Convention Center.”

The idea of a weekend where the original Pennywise and the kids from 2017’s Derry, Maine, get to hang out in the same complex is the sort of surreal fan moment that RICC is all about. “I know everyone was excited last year about Sebastian Stan and Paul Bettany (Avengers), but this year, I feel we got to the heart of the fans,” says Soares. “We got to the people who they really, truly, want to see.”

Visit ricomiccon.com for up-to-date information on appearances, schedules, and tickets.

Keep on Movin’: Flavors of the Fall: And not one of them is cinnamon

The Bendays – Dots

Dots is the dapper debut album from The Bendays, a side project from RI rocker Andy Davis. Released under Davis’ own label, Submodern, the record is a collection of impassioned, organic songs that seem a bit more off-the-cuff than those of his main gig, Pixels.

The album doesn’t take itself too seriously, with the right combination of grit and modesty. The styles effectively run the gamut, from”Midnight Marge,” a loose noir-ish song in the vein of the Pixies, to upbeat rocker “Lonely (What Can I Do?).” ”Bogus Lives” is a kind of choral, dark piano ballad.

Another cool thing is that Dots was recorded on all analog gear, meaning the old timey way with tape and whatnot. I can’t claim to hear any difference, and I don’t have it in me to be the guy with the $800 speakers, but I can respect the organic way.

It’s neat when a side project becomes as good as the main project, and Dots gets high marks from me. Be sure to check out other Submodern Records releases in the future.

Dots can be purchased at: submodern.bandcamp.com/album/dots; Check out other Submodern releases here: submodern.bandcamp.com

Minky Starshine — Dirty Electric

Minky Starshine is a band helmed by local musician Rob Anastasi. This decidedly power pop effort has some serious star power behind it, at least by music nerd standards: Dirty Electric was produced, engineered and mixed by Ken Stringfellow of the Posies and the reformed Big Star, and features Posies drummer Mike Musburger. Stringfellow, who played on a huge number of albums over the years, also handles some bass, guitar, keys and drums.

The opener, “Art School,” starts off with a shimmery piano chord that sets the tone for the whole album. Dirty Electric, like Minky Starshine’s five-album back catalog, doesn’t shy away from pop hooks and unabashedly catchy melodies, to a level beyond bands like the Posies. Anastasi’s songwriting says “screw you” to the people who don’t like to mix mild distortion and shimmery harmonies. The best tunes take the rock energy and meld it effortlessly with bursts of pop, like “Go” and “Camp Heaven,” not unlike prime Fountains of Wayne. It makes you think that maybe Paul was the best Beatle after all, and maybe John was just a brooding douche.

At times, though, some of the more heavily produced songs, like “Do you Really Need Me” or “Queen of the Highway,” veer toward bubble gum, Rob Thomas solo material territory. Which is no problem, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Dirty Electric can be purchased at: minkystarshine.bandcamp.com/album/dirty-electric

DIIV | Deafhaven

DIIV is a Brooklyn rock band that plays gothy rock that sounds like an amped-up Echo and the Bunnymen. It’s a similar deal as bands like Wild Nothing’s and Beach Fossils’ centered trancelike, repetitive guitar riffs.

Deafhaven is an ambitious metal band that provides a haven for people who want to eventually go deaf. They are getting some attention for their latest, Ordinary Corrupt Human Love.

DIIV and Deafhaven are at FMH on Fri, Nov 2, Doors 7pm.

The War and Treaty

The War and Treaty are a married couple/soul celebration hitting the Narrows this weekend. The meta tag from their website reads, “Just two lovebirds singing without reverb,” and you can’t put it better than that, with their tight harmonies and love that comes through in the music. Their album, Healing Tide, from this summer is like a “best of” OG American music genres, including soul, gospel, R&B and folk.

The War and Treaty are at Narrows Center for the Arts on Sat, Nov 3.

Michael Nau

Michael Nau plays poetic, throwback indie that made a strong first impression on me at last year’s United Folk Festival in Westerly. He’s released an impressive amount of excellent material in the last two years, including this year’s Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread album.

Michael Nau heads to the Columbus Theatre on Sun, Nov 4.

Thor Jenson — Live at the Savoy Series

The “Live at Savoy” series at the Savoy bookshop and café in Westerly is a novel idea in which the concerts are recorded on audio and video, and every attendee gets a free download of the live album. Their next show will be a solo performance from Thor Jensen, a multi-talented guitarist who at times fronts a jazz trio and a blues band. I’m a bit familiar with his work with Quiet Life, a band he used to be in that does some solid, catchy indie music.

Recent Live at Savoy performances included Will Evans of Barefoot Truth and Glenn Kendzia of Wild Sun. Thor Jenson performs at The Savoy on Sun, Nov 18.

See also:

Colorway @ Stomping Ground (Putnam, Conn) on Fri, Nov 9

Lake Street Dive @ Vets Auditorium on Sun, Nov 11

Todd Snider @ Narrows on Thu, Nov 15

The Smithereens and Marshall Crenshaw @ Greenwich Odeum on Sat, Nov 17

Robyn Hitchcock @ Columbus Theatre on Sat, Nov 17

Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles @ Narrows on Sat, Nov 24

A final note: Last week, Pitchfork posted a now infamous review of Led Zep sound-alikes Greta Van Fleet’s debut album, rating it an abysmal 1.6. “What they lack in self-awareness they more than make up for in rigid self-consciousness, failing to make any fun or campy choices to lift these songs out of a morass of the worst impulses of Rush and Cream,” writes Jeremy Larson.

I’m not always a huge fan of Pitchfork, as they are definitely on the pretentious end of the music criticism spectrum; how much calculation determines their decimal place ratings? But you have to respect the balls it takes to write that, in an age of “celebrate everything” where the utter trashing of a record is a lost art form. The band’s fans are crying fake news, but I find it depressing that it’s now taboo for major outlets to obliterate something if they see fit. Props.

Music news and gripes about my opinions can be sent to [email protected]

Phillipe & Jorge’s Cool, Cool World: The Suspense Is … Nonexistent: Your superior correspondents make a few election predictions Same Old, Same Old

Unfortunately, Little Rhody’s election of statewide office holders on November 6 has less suspense than a Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew detective novel. Thank all gods for term limits so we don’t have to stage this type of embarrassment in 2022.

The state’s Republican Party has become the longest running joke in the Biggest Little. Barely able to find anyone willing to enter a race and become cannon fodder for the Dems, you know you are in trouble when a gold-plated blowhard like Joe Trillo actually turns his back on the party to run for governor as an Independent candidate. But at least he has brought some life to this year’s election, albeit through making people guffaw and point at him every time he runs his boat aground, or puts on a TV ad that even he can’t make it through without losing the plot.

By now you may well have shot out the screen on your TV because a Raimondo or Fung ad came on with more frequency than a spot for drugs designed to cure all your ills from leg cramps to migraines (side effects may be death — good work, Big Pharma), but here’s the P&J skinny nonetheless.

Governor Gigi will beat Allan Fung in a walkover. We certainly do not agree with Raimondo on many issues or with her “I’m always right” approach to the office and her off-putting and ill-disguised naked ambition. But the Queen of Wall Street should realize that after the UHIP fiasco, the DMV’s ongoing problems, the pension reform when she was state treasurer and the clueless and ludicrous “Cooler and Warmer” bomb, she’d be lucky to steal a US Representative’s seat from either David Cicilline or Jim Langevin down the line. So send notes to your investment banker and hedge fund manager buddies in New Yawk, Gigi, and tell them they can stop talking you up to The New York Times as presidential timber. Now there’s a good laugh.

Past the nominal battle for the governorship, the Democrats would win all the other races if they ran backward. A pretty good indicator is when you don’t even know the names of the GOP candidates who are challenging their entrenched incumbents. That’s with the exception of the lunatic (Hey, you can’t say that – Ed.), pardon us, rather eccentric Compassion Party (who dat?) candidate running against the highly qualified former US Attorney Peter Neronha for the empty attorney general’s office left open by Peter Kilmartin being term-limited.

Low profile Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee should order the bubbly for November 6 now, along with Treasurer Seth Magaziner. And our favorite, possibly the most efficient and likeable office holder of all, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea can join in, albeit with fine Puerto Rican rum. Now there, Gigi, is a woman with a political future.

At the big time office on the scoreboard, US Senator, our old buddy Sheldon Whitebread should mop up GOP opponent Bob Flanders. In a way, this is too bad, because while Sheldon is a fighter who has produced the goods for Little Rhody, Flanders is a very serious candidate, if not the only one the GOP has to offer. While P&J differ with some of his policies and tactics, Flanders is smart, has cojones and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. But Bob, please avoid calling Whitebread a “doofus” and “buffoon,” it only reflects badly on you. And besides, insulting people in power is our job, so butt out.

While P&J always urge you to vote as a responsible citizen (and no cheap effing excuses), statewide offices notwithstanding, you should especially step up and be heard in your local elections. Because, to use dazzling prose, if you’re going to get porked, they’re the ones who will do it to you, first and worst. No vote, no can bitch down the road.

Black, White and Red-Faced

Phillipe and Jorge were astounded and then appalled by this headline on page 2 of the October 26 edition of The Urinal:

“Police: White man kills 2 black customers at store”

Are you shitting us? This is so over the line that you’d expect to see it in a KKK newsletter. More than 20 years ago, P&J chastised The Urinal’s editors for a similar aberrant blacks-versus-whites headline, and they were properly embarrassed and contrite. Is anyone proofing the content before it goes to press these days?

May we ask of The Urinal’s executive editor, Alan Rosenberg, normally highly ethical and as solid as a rock, if we should be looking for another attention-grabbing header, like “Jew shoots 2 Christians at bagel shop”? This is disgraceful in 2018. A public apology is called for. This is off-the-charts offensive, and just plain wrong in a paper that prides itself on quality. No longer, folks.

Passages We would like to note the passing of George Castro, 81, who died on October 17. As the official old guys at Motif, P&J remember George fondly for his many years as one of the good guys in the RI House of Representatives and also for his local television show, “Let’s Talk About It Now.” Our condolences to his family and many friends.

AltFacts: Stranger Than Fiction: Rolling back civil rights and civility from the White (Only) House Well I’ll Be … Body Slammed

Pussy grabbing, dehumanizing and now body slamming. Yes, in the latest social directive to come out of the nation’s decaying capital, the president appeared to defend congressman Greg Gianforte of Montana who physically assaulted a British journalist in May 2017. Pontificating at a MAGA rally in Big Sky Country at the end of October, the Donald first mimicked the assault to widespread applause before commenting, “Any guy that can do a body slam … he’s my guy,” which is great news for all violent politicos out there, as they’ve been gifted with yet another tool of intimidation. We hear that the next act will be the legalization of sexual assault — because, let’s face it, it’s not really a thing — followed by the public executions of anyone not wearing a red tie. The reintroduction of slavery isn’t totally off the table yet, but that might mean more interactions with non-Caucasian types, and nobody wants that. One thing is for certain, however: Sexual predators, violent psychotics and sociopaths … you all have a place in this administration’s White (Only) House.

Transgender? Never Heard of It

There is only one source of truth, and that is the westernized Bible. Without flaw, always consistent and so broad in its scope that nothing in history has been left uncovered (check out Dinosaurs II ch. 3, vs. 18-37 for the facts about the K-T extinction and why stegosaurus annoyed God so much they all had to die). In short, the Good Book provides all the answers to the trials of life, and one of those answers is the truth behind gender. As clearly stated in Genesis, after God made the earth a little more than 7,000 years ago, he brought to life Adam and Eve, and it was they who were to serve as the biological models for humanity. Man and woman. Period. There is no mention of Adam and Steve, or Madam and Eve, or any other ambiguous in-between. But somehow, in recent times, a group decided that they are empowered to question the natural order of the Lord and cut-off/add bits to their bodies in the same fashion that normal people (ie, God-fearing, white, heterosexual conservatives) change their socks. Satan-worshiping anarchists! Thankfully, humanity’s salvation comes once again in the shape of the Trump administration. After speaking with Hitler over coffee in the Oval Office, the White House is actively considering a legal decree that will define gender as an irreversible genetic condition determined by genitalia present at birth. In an official statement, the administration (actually) revealed, “Sex means a person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth. The sex listed on a person’s birth certificate, as originally issued, shall constitute definitive proof of a person’s sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence.” Of course, hippies and potheads all over the country came out in protest over the proposed ruling, with one of the loudest concerns being “What bathroom can we now use?” Bathroom? You’d be so lucky. Go pee in the yard. Yes, because this is what America is becoming. And I Would Walk 5,000 Miles

Washington, DC, An estimated 5,000 migrants from Central America are currently making their way north through Mexico. All armed, all carrying drugs and all burning American flags as they go, the horde of crooks is expected to infiltrate the United States southwest at all border points, reaching major settlements by Christmas. Last week, President Trump made a significant move in the right direction by threatening to cut off funding for Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, the countries from which the gangbangers originated. Without evidence (because he knows everything), the leader of the free world revealed that “criminals and unknown Middle Easterners” are using the migrant caravan as cover, likely executing children and preaching Islam as they go. Meanwhile, in a cowardly move, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has been petitioning the United Nations to assist in ascertaining who has valid asylum claims and who has not. However, it is not their nation that serves to suffer, but ours, and so our heroic president deftly went to Twitter to put further pressure on those who would see our reputation tarnished by more bloody immigrants. We learned that the guilty parties are the Democrats (they’re still meddling apparently, even though they aren’t in power), Mexico’s “pathetic Immigration Laws” and one-legged pigeons, with the prevalence of Taco Bell across the nation becoming increasingly suspicious. But it’s okay, because the border wall that the president promised, campaigned upon and delivered without fail will protect us … right?

Gun Problem? What Gun Problem?

If any of you have seen the movie Downfall (or one of the countless subtitled parodies), you’ll be aware of the state of mind of Adolf Hitler in April 1945. With the Red Army slowly strangling what was left of a terminally ill Third Reich, the Führer, delusional until the end, barked commands to military units that no longer existed, sending children onto the streets of Berlin to take the bullets of the Russians. “Red Army?” thundered Hitler, “What Red Army?! Nothing can defeat the might of the Fatherland!”

Now the scene is set, let’s get straight to the point. At the time of press, 11,991 individuals have died as a result of gun violence in the United States this year, although this number might well have increased as you read this. Not that there is any problem with gun violence in America. No, the United States is a paltry second (or fifth, depending on how you cut the statistic), languishing behind Brazil. Which clearly isn’t good enough. We need more guns to fuel the totally non-existent gun violence culture that does not exist in America. The eleven people murdered on October 27th at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh was a great help, thanks Robert Bowers for your contribution, maybe a couple more school shootings in the next week or two; we can but hope. As usual, the President doesn’t give a swinging ballsack about the problem, helpfully explaining, “if they had protection inside, the results would have been far better” (even though three of those shot were armed police officers). But why did I even include this? The flippancy of the White House and the fear-mongering senselessness of the Nauseatingly Rank Acrimoniacs (NRA) are old news now; we all know they’re going to encourage us all to buy more weapons, become even more paranoid and blame Obama’s birth certificate for poisoning the minds of libtards advocating peace and quiet… ironic, though, how it is the MAGAs and co. that need to feel the protection of twelve-gauge safety blankets, and not the left wing. Maybe I am mistaken (I am a drug-addled, antichrist liberal afterall), but surely it takes more courage to disarm and confront matters without a Magnum, than from behind a feckin’ Sherman tank covered in the Stars and Stripes.

Then again, we could just continue to arm everyone, including children, and enjoy watching massacres instead of the World Series. Baseball is, after all, the most boring thing ever invented… yeah, let’s have more school shootings and bloodbaths in religious institutions. That seems to be the right idea. To hell with nipping it in the bud with education, the tightening of gun laws (just so you unstable folk can sleep nice and tight, there is a place for all kinds in Libtardtopia) and all that hippie shit. Let’s just keep murdering as many people as possible until we’re Number One!

The Roots Report: Iceberg! A musical interlude to distract from the swamp

Okee dokee folks… Sometimes I feel as if talking about anything other than the current state of this country is pointless. Convincing folks to go out and hear music is akin to the captain of the Titanic telling folks to listen to the great band that’s playing on the upper deck as the ship goes down. If you need that escapism to distract you from the swamp that is swallowing us bit by bit, then get yourself a pair of hip-waders and read on…

If you like to be the company of intelligent, critical thinkers who like to laugh, then you should be at Providence Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 8 when Lewis Black brings in his “The Joke’s On Us” Tour. I spoke with Lewis Black again; read the complete interview at motifri.com/lewisblack2018. For more about the show, meltdown to PPACRI.com

Over at Veterans Memorial Auditorium on November 7, Mary Chapin Carpenter will be singing and strumming. Carpenter, a Brown University and Newport Folk Fest Alumnus, has sold more than 14 million records. With hits like “Passionate Kisses” and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” she has won five Grammy Awards (with 15 nominations), two CMA awards, two Academy of Country Music awards and is one of only 15 female members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Her latest album, Sometimes Just The Sky, features new versions of some of Carpenter’s most beloved songs. For more, take “The Hard Way” to TheVetsRI.com

There are a lot of you songwriter types out there who should pay close attention to this. Common Fence Music is very excited to present their 2nd Annual Fall Moon Festival on Saturday, November 3, at the Casino Theatre, 10 Freebody Street, Newport (Tennis Hall of Fame). The Fall Moon Festival is a mini- fest dedicated to songs and songwriters and will feature Peter Mulvey (who will also emcee the event), Mark Erelli, Caitlin Canty and Maya de Vitry (the Stray Birds). The show will be preceded by a songwriting workshop with Mark Erelli from 1 – 3pm. Mark Erelli is a singer/songwriter and multi- instrumentalist performing and writing in the tradition of American folk music who has released 11 solo albums; enjoyed stints accompanying Josh Ritter, Paula Cole and Anais Mitchell; and produced a pair of records for Grammy-winning songwriter Lori McKenna. During this two-hour workshop, Mark will share his writing process and how it has evolved over the years. By modeling the various stages of his work, he will provide aspiring and professional songwriters with a clear understanding of the journey a song may take from raw creation to perfected work of art. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to share one original work-in-progress and receive suggestions on how to improve their craft. Bring your guitars, fiddles, ukuleles, mandolins and banjos. For more, compose on over to CommonFenceMusic.org

The New England Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference is coming up November 8-11 in Stamford, Conn. If you are a folk, acoustic, singer-songwriter or traditional musician, a music presenter, perpetual volunteer or just a fan, then this is for you! This conference will enable you to mingle with hundreds of like-minded individuals. NERFA includes workshops, panel discussions, seminars, an exhibit hall, formal showcases, semi-formal showcases, private showcases guerrilla showcases and access to hundreds of folk musicians, agents, venues, festivals, folk DJs, business services and friends. In the past I have attended many of these conferences where I presented workshops, showcased and had exhibits. I made lifelong friends and contacts through these conferences. This is a great opportunity for those who are just starting out in the music business to get a bit of a foothold or for those who are already in the business to expand their reach. And it’s a lot of fun! Rest up, you will need it, sleep is not something that happens much at NERFA. For more, schmooze over to nerfa.org

That’s it for now. PLEASE VOTE, and please vote intelligently. Thanks for reading. JohnFuzek.com

Insured for Sure! It’s open enrollment season and RI does insurance right

It’s that time of year, and I’m not talking about the holidays. Starting today and extending well into December is the open enrollment period for affordable health insurance. HealthSource RI is the official state agency for the insurance marketplace, one of only 12 in the nation. Insuring people for healthcare is actually one of the things Rhody has been phenomenally successful at.

“We’re pretty forward thinking,” says Zachary Sherman of HealthSource RI. “We decided to take advantage of the vast resources available to states to set up our own marketplace and expand Medicaid.” HealthSource RI has three goals: to achieve universal coverage, bring down the cost of health insurance and provide customer service around the purchasing process. Nearly 96% of the state is insured today, giving us the fourth lowest uninsured rate in the nation, third lowest for kids. “One of our big successes in keeping prices down is getting everyone insured,” says Sherman. “When you have a fully insured or nearly fully insured marketplace, you have as many people in the risk pool as is necessary.” When you have a large and diverse risk pool, it’s easier to keep prices down. Local insurers know their local marketplace and demographics, and rates have actually gone down in recent years in RI. They compete with each other on price, having a downward effect on the cost for the customer. Young people, for example, tend to use less healthcare than they pay in for. Other successes include a 45% increase in new customers last year, and a 10% jump in 18- to 34-year-olds signing up for health insurance in the marketplace.

Sherman also attributes these successes to state control. When it comes to President Trump, says Sherman, HealthSource RI stands in front of their customers and pushes back. States have stronger resources to draw on to stand up for federal subsidies and funding for its citizens, and RI has succeeded in getting millions more in financial assistance for health insurance. Forty-five percent of RI customers have premiums less than $100 a month. HealthSource RI also provides financial assistance for customers in need. The federal government gives advance premium tax credits for health insurance, and customers can either take them up front and apply them to their premium, or they can write it off on their taxes. Eight out of 10 customers in the state receive some form of that tax credit for their health insurance. Most customers, says Sherman, take them right away. The money helps.

So who’s in that remaining 4.3%? The demographics skew toward younger, low-income males living in the metro area; 42% of them identified as Hispanic/Latinx. HealthSource RI is making strides to reach out to such demographics by appealing to them directly. They use Facebook and other social media ads and take out advertising on websites like Spotify, Pandora and Hulu. Everything they do in English also has a Spanish language version. That includes their entire website. “We try to be as accessible as possible in whatever channel our customers want to access us and try to enroll,” says Sherman. The website also includes a plan calculator. New to insurance? Type in factors such as your demographics and income, and find insurance quotes to compare.

Starting this year, customers can pay their bill at CVS nationwide. You’ll get your bill in the mail, and the CVS cashier will scan the barcode and then you pay for it as you would any other transaction. “Our customers can now pay credit card, cash or debit,” says Sherman. “That’s been a really popular program. We’ve seen take-up of it every month and it now makes up 13% of our payment transactions.” Rhode Island is the only state that’s done something like this that makes paying a bill easier. Before, it was by check or online, but these payment options can help the uninsured, especially those without a bank.

While national Republicans are beating their chests about cutting entitlements and repealing the Affordable Care Act, Sherman feels the political debates have at least had a positive side effect. “The general public got a lot more educated about the benefits of the ACA,” he said. “It’s been more popular than it’s ever been.” Makes sense — people like not having to worry about choosing between food and medicine.

HealthSource RI will host events across the state during the open enrollment period. They’re hosting two all-day events at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick on Nov 13th and Dec 11. They have a walk-in/contact center open extended hours during the open enrollment period at 401 Wampanoag Trail in East Providence. Anyone looking to get health insurance coverage will need a valid photo ID, the last four weeks of pay stubs, their social security number, any necessary immigration papers and their most recent tax return. An Interview with Lewis Black

Okee dokee folks…For all of you folks who like to be the company of intelligent, critical thinkers who like to laugh a lot then you should be at Providence Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 8th when Lewis Black brings in his “The Joke’s On Us” Tour. Black is one of today’s preeminent political/social comedians whose humor/philosophy aligns with with Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and the late George Carlin. After all that has been going on an evening of levity could just be what the doctor ordered. Hopefully the joke won’t be on us and this post election day performance will give us a chance to laugh comfortably. I had a chance to speak with Lewis Black again and you can read the complete interview below. For more about the show, meltdown to www.PPACRI.com

Lewis Black: Hi, it’s Lewis Black John Fuzek (Motif): Hey, how are you? LB: Sorry for the delay, there was nothing I could do about it, they put four of these (interviews) back to back and it gets crazy! JF: No worries! How are you? LB: Oh, it gets better everyday, doesn’t it? Every day is just more of the wonder and joy. It’s just what I’ve been waiting for…for these golden years to be really golden, almost as if I am standing by a fire (laughs) JF: Are in you in New York? LB: No, I am in Fort Meyers Florida, I have a show tonight JF: You still live in New York though? LB: Yes JF: How many shows are part of this tour? LB: Around 35, September until some time in December, three or four shows a weekend JF:How do you maintain your sanity and not have your head explode these days? LB: You watch the first news cycle and turn it off! That’s what you do. That helps. Same way so you wouldn’t overdose on drugs, let’s say you needed a drug for cholesterol you wouldn’t take five of them, you know, you watch CNN until they start to repeat themselves, or whatever channel that you are watching for news, they just repeat themselves after 15 minutes, they don’t have new news, it’s always the same news, it’s not good, and they’re not doing news they’re doing conjecture, like the journalist that was assassinated by the Saudis, you can’t make that the news all day, they’re discussing with two or three people about what it means, do other things that should be done, like just how deep is this shit with us and the Saudis?, do information, stop with the conjecture! stop trying to make stories and actually give us information and make a story out of the information! you can do that, why don’t you go to journalism school you fucking pricks! JF: It must be hard for you to constantly try to make heads or tails out of this for your show LB: What’s really impossible is to talk to an audience and they don’t have, your dealing with, um a certain chunk of the audience shows up and has their own facts, you know, the president says something and they believe what he said, they don’t look it up, they don’t care… it’s unbelievable JF: Do you get a mix of people in your audience or primarily left leaning folks? LB: I get conservatives, real conservatives, I get adults, adults who are liberal and adults who are conservative JF: Do you have any audience members who get upset and leave? LB: Not before he (trump) was elected, no, now they do, i get people who say “i used to be a fan but now you’re insulting”, well, I’ve insulted all the presidents, that’s the gig, asshole! you just weren’t paying attention before, I don’t even talk about it for the first twenty minutes of my act, and then I barely talk about it, and I never mention his name JF: I wish we all would never have to mention his name! LB: (laughs) I mean I don’t like him, since I object to certain things that come out of his mouth, and certain things that I believe that he has done, and certain things that he has said about women, we can go through the list, it doesn’t mean that I am a liberal or a leftist, I’m way beyond, I’m way beyond these politics, I’m a socialist, so I’m not threat to anybody that is what’s stupendous, I am going to change the world you idiots? there’s six of us! We barely have enough for a baseball team! JF: I’m with you so there’s seven! LB: (laughs) You can’t count socialism as liberal, there are conservative socialists you assholes! They have no clue, they have no clue because they stopped teaching it after I got out of high school, they at least discussed it and the history of it, it’s part of the history of this country…they’ve completely thrown things out the window, not saying that if you know it you become it but you should know about it, that’s how the whole thing happened that how the country evolved JF: True, all they teach nowadays is how to take a test, not rational or critical thinking, they;re are just fed information to spit it back out later with a number 2 pencil and a black dot…so, do you ever turn on Fox “news” just for fodder? LB: No, I don’t watch much of that, I don’t watch much of MSNBC or much of Fox. I watch a little of CNN, I mostly read the paper, The Times and USA Today, when I am on the road and I read a thing called The Week, which kind of gives both sides of the stories, I am usually about a week behind in news, I don’t pay attention to the breaking news on my phone, I have friends that do that, they’ll tell me, and I will get things sent to me, and I watch the nightly news, so I don’t have 17 people explaining to me what it was that I just heard, you show me what happened, now I can digest it and move on, I don’t need to have people interpret it for me, there’s only 3 or 4 people on TV who are worth a shit about interpreting stuff, who I trust and one of them is David Gergen who is a conservative, he’s probably the best a this, in terms of parsing through this nonsense, I think that they should have the news, they should show us something like this is what was said, Mitch McConnell say something or Chuck Schumer says something and afterwards they should have a barnyard of animals and that should be who’s commenting, you have ducks, chickens, pigs, they should all be making noises and that should be the commentary JF: It would be about as good as what we get now LB: It would be BETTER! JF: It’s like we are living Orwell’s Animal Farm right now LB: Yeah, we are, it’s just appalling…you can’t call Medicare and Social Security entitlements, you can’t, they’re not entitlements, it’s the entitled telling the unentitled that they can’t be entitled, fuck you! while you have your health insurance, what are you kidding me, are we going to go through this again? you figure out how to make it possible because you’ve got it and what did you do? you won an election? so therefore I have to pay for you to be healthy? are you kidding me? And most people in this country agree with me on that and yet somehow we can’t change it. It’s astonishing! JF: And today you have trump cheering on the politician who body slammed the journalist and you have no Republicans, you have people that come on as Republican commentators, no senators or congressman, who try to cut through it immediately, no Republican comes on to say that this is not acceptable. They’re a bunch of chicken shits, everyone of them is a chicken shit JF: Yup, they are LB: Sell the country down the river so you can have your two little things, so somehow your agenda comes through, no reason for it, none JF: We’re basically screwed LB (laughs) JF: So we have spoken a couple of times in the past, I have watched all your specials, and I am right there with you with your commentaries… I tried to find one of your specials on Netflix last night to refresh myself with your comedy but there weren’t any! You were on Netflix but not sure what happened, it was the special from the last tour that you did, it had Jewy Jew’s Gun Store that I remembered from your last show at PPAC. LB: It should be on Amazon, I will have to find out about Netflix, I’m getting a little pissed about that. JF: You know, personally, I would love to see a tour of you and Kathleen Madigan at some point LB: We did it in Canada which was fun and we have done it in a couple of other places…I just spent three days with her playing golf! JF: I love her, too but I don’t think that she is as well known in these parts and I know that you usually do have a comedian open for you, will you have that again this time around? LB: Yes, I will, John Bowman JF: Yes, he is the one who was with you last time you were in Providence, loved him! He is very funny! Comedy is hard, I watch a lot of it on Netflix and some folks that I have never heard of are hysterical and some I have heard of doesn’t do a damn thing! LB: I know, it’s wild JF: The thing I like about your comedy is it makes you think and the others are just sophomoric humor, which i guess is needed sometimes LB: Right, it can’t be the whole thing that you are doing JF: Yours makes you look at things in a different way, you call attention to things and it makes you think and a lot of comedians are not like that LB: Well, thank you! This time I will be talking about healthcare, I think people will enjoy that, I actually got sick in Ireland the summer before, 2017, so I talk about what it’s like to deal with healthcare in a country that has what people would call “socialized medicine”, you know because that’s a dirty word, so what is interesting is that I have experienced it and those people who talk about haven’t experienced it JF: What happened to you? LB: I came down with a severe case of pneumonia and I was hospitalized for 10 days. but I learned a lot about, well, here’s the thing, same kind of care that I would expect here and it would only cost about one fifth of what it would cost, it’s ridiculous, we can’t figure it out and we have someone like Mitch McConnell saying that he’s going to figure it out for me, No, you’re not, neither is Chuck Schumer and neither are the other people who are in office because they’ve allowed health insurance companies to pay their way, it’s getting sillier by the minute JF: I am sure that we could go on about all of this forever but I should let you go LB: well, just tell the folks if you could that we’ll be doing the live stream for the last 15 minutes and if the good people of Providence could send in questions of comments about their city or rants about their city or rants about anything, on my website ( ) if they can send in their comments, every show that I am doing now is driven as much as I can by the city that I am in, so the people that live there are running the show, I’m performing the show JF: You did that last time, right? LB: yes, only this time I am really pushing for it! JF: Well I will encourage folks to send you rants and questions! LB: Thank you, and I wish that I was funnier today! JF: You were great! No worries! LB: Alright, thank you, see you soon!

As mentioned above Lewis would love for you to send questions, comments or rants to him before the show. He will address as many of these as he can. A lot of responses are done during the Live Stream that happens in the last 15 minutes of the show which you can watch from your computer. To do this, go to: www.lewisblack.com. Don’t let Lewis down! That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. www.JohnFuzek.com

Hugh the Robot #13

Phillipe and Jorge’s Cool, Cool World: Urinal Soils Its Dockers

Phillipe and Jorge were astounded and then appalled by this headline on page 2 of the October 26 edition of The Urinal:

“Police: White man kills 2 black customers at store”

May we ask of The Urinal’s executive editor, Alan Rosenberg, normally highly ethical and as solid as a rock, if we should be looking for another attention-grabbing header, like “Jew shoots 2 Christians at bagel shop.” This is disgraceful in 2018. A public apology is called for, this is off-the-charts offensive, and just plain wrong in a paper that prides itself on quality. No longer, folks.