Ron & Jen’s Great Escape, 3-2-2022 – Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien

by Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien, commentary

HAIR ON FIRE

What can you do TODAY while the world burns around us:

Tell people you love them.

Take a selfie with your dog.

Eat something you’ve been dying for.

Take a walk with your significant other. 

Start writing.

Make a phone call instead of texting someone.

Listen to an inspirational song.

Light a fire if you have a fireplace.

Watch Rocky 4.

Write someone a letter.

Apologize to someone.

Trust God and do good.

If you’re struggling with all of this and want to talk, email me. 

[email protected]

This is all overwhelming. I get it. I do.

I’m here with you and for you. 

IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

In the summer of 2020, as protesters were marching for racial justice, Little Rhody’s political leaders got firmly behind removing the words “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s name. Local historians were quick to point out Providence Plantation was the first permanent European American settlement in Rhode Island established by a group of colonists led by Roger Williams to establish a colony with greater religious freedom. It is NOT a direct reference to slavery but because many felt it “served as a hurtful reminder” of how the state benefited from the slave trade in its early years. Historical acts be damned. Seriously, though, have you ever responded to the question “where are you from?” with “the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations”…of course not. You say “Rhode Island” then wait for the response “oh, New York!” Well, 17 months after Rhode Island voters decided to rid the state of the words “and Providence Plantations”, it remains in most places where you do “state business.” On the State House rotunda floor, the façade of the Department of Transportation, the State House’s Smith Street façade and outside the Licht Judicial Complex to name a few sites.

WE ARE ALL JUST PRISONERS HERE OF OUR OWN DEVICE

A recent poll of about 2 thousand smartphone users says six in ten people “couldn’t cope” with being separated from the cell phone for more than a day. 68% use their phone to take photos, 64% use it to check the time, 62% use it for the weather forecast. 27% depend solely on their phones for directions, and one in three say they’ve never used a paper map.

REGRETS, I’VE HAD A FEW

As we all deal with escalating inflation and watch our 401 K’s turn to dust before our eyes, a poll done by TrueAccord, a digital debt collection company, finds the average respondent owes over $3,800 in credit card debt. 77% have lost an average of nine hours of sleep A WEEK because of financial agita and 51% greatly regret not starting their nest egg when they were young.

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You can read all of Ron & Jen’s Great Escape commentaries, here: https://rinewstoday.com/ron-st-pierre-jen-brien/

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Ron St. Pierre is a veteran broadcaster whose career has spanned over four decades. Ron has programmed, performed on and managed WHJJ, WPRO, WWRX, 790 The Score in Providence, as well as WBZT and WKGR in West Palm Beach and WABC in New York City. Ron also anchored sports on WPRI Ch 12 in Providence. He is a member of both the Rhode Island Radio and Television and the City of Pawtucket Halls of Fame. He was born and raised in Pawtucket.

Jen Brien has over 20 years of radio broadcast experience having hosted shows on WPRO and WHJJ with Ron as well as her own shows on WRKO and WBZ in Boston, WXTK on Cape Cod and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Jen was born and raised in Woonsocket and served six years in the Army MP Canine Unit.

Hazel, Ron’s dog, makes regular appearances.

“Ron and Jen’s Great Escape” podcast, a more lighthearted look at the events happening around us, can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts, with new episodes premiering each Wednesday and listen to Ron and Jen’s Great Escape call in radio show Friday afternoons 2 til 4 on 101.1 FM, 1540 WADK and streaming everywhere on WADK.COM