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Ron & Jen’s Great Escape – March 8, 2023 – Ron St. Pierre and Jen Brien
by Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien, contributing writers, commentary
Publisher’s Note: Ron and Jen’s Great Escape The Radio Show has moved to NewsRadio 920 and 104.7 FM. It airs on Saturday mornings at 7am. It’s a look at yesterday, today, and tomorrow in hopes of putting a smile on your face to kick the weekend off right! Remember, a smile can go a long, long way! Tune in and escape with us!
CAN YOU SPARE A SQUARE?
Have you ever wondered about the insane history of everyday things? Like… “what were beds like for the pilgrims?” – “Where did coffee come from?” – “Who came up with the idea for ICE CUBES?” – “Who invented HOT SHOWERS?” – “How did we figure out we ALL STUNK and needed deodorant?” I think about these things and more on a regular basis and then one day… I thought about… TOILET PAPER! I was stuck in a public bathroom without any toilet paper in my stall, waiting… waiting… for someone to come in so I could ask “Can you spare a square”?
As I sat and waited, I began to think, “what did we all do before the roll was invented”? After some research what I’ve come to know is, it’s not pretty, and it’s highly probable it hurt at times. We have only had SOFT TP since 1930. Pretty hard to believe huh? But it’s true. Before toilet paper we used moss, grass, leaves, corn cobs (for reals), a sponge on a stick – people who lived on islands used SHELLS and a scraping method… and my personal fav (I say whilst wincing) “ceramic pieces”. We suffered for quite some time with these alternatives because if you can believe it, back in the day, to even discuss human waste in public was as bad as having a convo over the meaning of Cardi B’s “WAP” at a children’s birthday party. Extreme example to enforce how inappropriate it was.
I am SO GRATEFUL a brave soul decided to tinker in his basement one night and come up with a solution for the masses. Where would we be without the men and women who gave us all these things we take for granted EVERY DAY. So, to the inventor of TP, the garden hose, the vegetable peeler, frozen food, the FLOBEE, the thigh master, the toothbrush, matches, microwave ovens, bras, and the nose hair trimmer – I SALUTE YOU. Our lives are profoundly better because of you and your innovations. We are supremely spoiled. We forget how good we have life.
We forget how important TOILET PAPER is until we don’t have it. Remember the beginning of the pandemic?? EXACTLY!
(P.S next time you flush your toilet THANK THOMAS CRAPPER. Thank you sir… and I’m sorry your name was CRAPPER)
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WINTER BLUES
A survey of 15,000 US adults says the most hated month of the year is January. 26% say this is their least favorite month, with February coming in a close second at 21%. Ron’s least favorite month is February while for Jen, it’s the month of March. Perhaps January is the most despised month thanks to the let down that follows the holiday season PLUS those Christmas shopping credit card bills arriving.
WATCHING THAT WAISTLINE
The World Obesity Federation (yes, there’s such a thing) is sending out a waistline watch warning… more than half of the world’s population is on course to be considered overweight or obese by 2035. The group also notes a concerning rise in childhood obesity. Childhood obesity could double by 2020 levels. Obesity contributes to a bunch of health issues including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and clinical depression. So put down the Ding Dongs, and fire up that treadmill.
INFLATION HITS MAGICAL BEINGS, TOO
According to an annual poll (who conducts THIS thing?) the Tooth Fairy is giving 16% more per tooth this year compared to 2022. In 2002, a tooth was worth about $5.36, but no kids can expect about $6.23 for their baby teeth. This survey polled 1,000 parents with kids between 6 and 12. If this inflation rate holds, a single tooth will be worth $30 bucks by 2048.
THE HALL CALLS
Congratulations to the just announced 2023 RI Radio and Television Hall of Fame inductees. Pam Watts, Gene Valicenti, Danielle North, Chris Camp, Doug Palmieri, John Parente and the late Jack White will be inducted Thursday, September 21st at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. Tickets for dinner and the induction ceremony can be purchased on the website rirtvhof.com.
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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 on NewsRadio 920 and 104-7 FM, Saturday morning, 7am!