Ron & Jen’s Great Escape – Feb. 1, 2023 – Ron St. Pierre and Jen Brien

by Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien, contributing writers, commentary

Stupid people. They surround us.

I’m sure the title of my column this week rankles feathers. Oh well. I’m sure some people will be offended, wondering if I’m referring to THEM because they’re narcissistic or just are, well, really stupid! I’m sure some people will say “You’re a Christian! How can you call people STUPID”?

It’s an observation, people. I’m not being judgmental.  

(“Don’t knock rationalization – where would we be without it? I don’t know anyone who could get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They’re more important than sex”…if you know – you know).

Point is, you’re stupid until you’re not. I’m not Einstein, but I know well enough not to fry a turkey in my house, pour gas on an open fire, or try to pet a bear. It’s hard to believe these days the level of stupidity plaguing society. I almost feel as though common sense is becoming extinct. Here I am saying these things and yet, I have to look up the spelling of EXISTENTIAL. Hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day. At least I watch documentaries now instead of “Love after lockup”.

Truth is, I blew a fuse the other day as I came into contact with a stupid person. People never YIELD when they come upon a Yield sign. EVER. NEVER EVER. (In my neighborhood, anyway). These folks actually speed up to beat me as they go 70 through the sign thinking it’s a race, and if they get there at the same time as me the YIELD sign just vaporizes and becomes a moot fact. Ohhhhhhhh… that frosts my flakes! You have no idea. 

I digress.

Thing is, in 2023, we really need people to stop being so stupid. Desperately, we need people to come up for air out of stupid. This country is a mess, and we need each other to get through this super crazy time in history. Now is not the time to go up a size with respect to pride and the chip on our shoulders. We the people, us out here who the media labels as angry, tribal, and intolerant need to have each other’s backs. We should help each other, commune with each other, get to know each other. As the world spins out of control, we the people should lift up our brother and sister. We can at least try. We can at least try not to be stupid. Don’t we owe that to one another? WE all have to live out here while THEY insulate themselves in there and talk about how stupid we all are out here. It’s rough right now, I get it. All I’m saying is, you don’t have to be a blithering idiot sinking in sand with cement shoes on. Just try. Try not to be lazy and stupid. It really is a choice.

And for the love of God and all that is sacred – YIELD!! I thank you in advance! 

Till next week my friends,

Jen

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THE GOOD AND THE BAD SUPER BOWL NEWS

The bad – it’s the Eagles and the Chiefs

We both decided we have little interest in this year’s Superbowl except for one caveat… we’d both like to see Patrick Mahomes lose. Even the most casual of football fans had to smell the hometown cooking of last weekend’s Bengals’ loss to the Chiefs on KC’s home turf. Sure, the Bengals completely unraveled in the game’s final one minute, and that roughing the passer call WAS the right call, BUT many of the ref’s calls up to that point were “questionable” at best. Add in Tony Romo’s insatiable man crush on Mahomes, and it hit the tipping point of being impartial (at least to these two correspondents). Romo’s ramblings became more and more annoying this season. Some think his being away from the game for over five years has lessened his ability to analyze what’s going on in a huddle. Others point out he clearly doesn’t do enough prep before games or pay attention to his network’s own pre-game coverage. Whatever the formula, you’ve got to think CBS has buyer’s remorse for writing a 10 year $180 million dollar deal just 3 seasons ago.

The good – FOX has the game, not CBS

Greg Olson is getting RAVE REVIEWS as FOX’s number one analyst (sorry Tom Brady in the wings) teamed with play by play man Kevin Burkhardt. Olson is everything Romo is not. He’s succinct, on point and offers great insight as to what’s going on in the huddle and on the sidelines.

The bad – We’re getting too old to care about the halftime shows. It’s Rhianna, if you care.

The good – Super Bowl party staples will cost less this year. While overall food price inflation’s up 11.8% from a year ago, prices on some Super Bowl snacks are actually down.

Chicken Wings – supply is at its highest level in 3 years and prices are down 22% a pound since January of 2022.

Avocados – Go crazy with the guac! The price of avocados is down 20% from a year ago thanks to a strong crop!

Unfortunately, the price of chips is up 22%, and beer up 11% and wine 4%, so it all evens out. EVEN STEVEN!

The bad – 8 hours of pre-game shows.

The good – THE PUPPY BOWL!

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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.

Go here to read all Ron & Jen’s columns: https://rinewstoday.com/ron-st-pierre-jen-brien/