Not Only the Good Die Young
Life expectancy is not supposed to decline in wealthy First World countries. As I wrote two years ago reporting that 2015 saw the first decrease since 1993 at the height […]
Events:
The Flower, The Labor, and The Sea
September 27, 2025 - June 28, 2026
Opinion: Governor’s Proposal to Legalize Recreational Cannabis – A Self-Inflicted Wound
[See also, “News Analysis: RI to Legalize Recreational Cannabis,” Jan 16, 2019] The more I talk to people on both sides of RI Governor Gina Raimondo’s proposal to legalize recreational cannabis, […]
The Burn at Wilbury – OMG! Trial by Ordeal IRL!
Four public high school girls and an intelligent, caring teacher study and rehearse Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. This may seem nothing very unusual, but that play is a classic story […]
News Analysis: RI to Legalize Recreational Cannabis
[See also “Opinion: Governor’s Proposal to Legalize Recreational Cannabis – A Self-Inflicted Wound”, Jan 16, 2019] Gov. Gina Raimondo will soon formally propose to legalize recreational use of cannabis, citing pressure from […]
A Doublewide, Texas, Christmas at Newport Playhouse: This Ain’t No Chekhov, Dammit
Newport Playhouse deploys an obviously talented cast in their production of A Doublewide, Texas, Christmas who struggle valiantly to elevate a script from the writing team billing themselves as “Jones, Hope, Wooten” […]
Opinion — Information Overlord: Is lack of privacy the new norm?
The most significant change affecting the ordinary person in the last few decades has been the volume and immediacy of information. Almost every one of us voluntarily carries a smart […]
It’s a Wonderful Life: The Musical at Community Players
The 1946 Frank Capra film It’s a Wonderful Life has become such a beloved classic that nearly everyone has seen it at least once and knows the story, so I’m […]
Gone Fishin’: RI goes it (almost) alone by banning retail sales on Thanksgiving
Although Rhode Island General Laws (§ 5-23-2) allow licenses for businesses to operate on most holidays, “No license shall be issued on December 25 of any year or on Thanksgiving Day” […]
With a Rubber Hose: Is “The Hypochondriac’s” enema a metaphor?
Molière seems truly modern despite having lived in France in the 1600s: His sharp satire was aimed at superstition and hypocrisy, attracting criticism from religious authorities and the entrenched nobility. […]
Nobody Set Up Us the Bomb
We feel neglected at the Motif office because, despite the recent highly publicized series of bombs sent through the postal mail to critics of Donald Trump, we never got one. […]