Coming this fall to a celebrity news site near you

Samantha Burke, the soon-to-be mother of Jude Law’s fourth child, held a press conference over the weekend, asking reporters for privacy during this time. At first sound, that may strike most as a counterproductive tactic, but allow me to break it down. I am a Burke myself, so I understand these things. Not to mention I was brought up on this stuff; I have hours and hours of reading, watching, and analyzing celebrity news under my belt. Naturally, I bring the kind of much-needed insight to these things that Rachel Nichols does to her ESPN interviews.

So here’s how it works. As her seasoned lawyer pointed out in the statement he read, Samantha Burke has been getting constant requests for interviews from every media outlet. And tabloid magazine. And why wouldn’t she? With the on-going health care debate on Capitol Hill; bracing ourselves for the next phase of the recession; the political unrest everywhere from Iraq to Pakistan, Iran to Afghanistan; nothing interests Americans more than Jude Law—what’s more, Jude Law’s ex-love interest who is now having his baby.

I know, I know. I am being unfair. Healthcare and Jude Law: apples and oranges. You can’t compare them. But even under the heading of celebrity news, who cares? This isn’t TomKat or Bradgelina. A press conference announcing Angelina’s decision to adopt three kids from Compton I could understand. But who does this woman think she is? Heidi Montag?

Oh, the burden of being wanted. It’s like being the popular girl in high school. When those lesser guys would follow you around, their mouths open, metaphorically drooling all over you. And like those guys, the media just doesn’t take the hint when you send them mixed messages. You have to gather them around to tell them to stop gathering around. Only an idiot wouldn’t get the point.

Long time, no blog...

Sorry, was gone awhile. Working on some other assignments. Back now. Posts to start this weekend.

Can green be local

What do you do when you don't have a Whole Foods or Wegmans in your area? How green can you be? Organic fruits are relatively easy to come by, but in small communities, are there really places you can readily buy natural, organic skincare products that don’t have any of the chemicals of the big box brands? Or clothing made in the U.S.? Dog toys that aren’t toxic? Things people were paid a decent wage for?

Of course, there are a lot of online retailers (i.e. Nimli, greenloop) available to everyone. But these places are not like Zappos, where shipping is free.* If you’re like me, who varies in size depending on the brand, that involves a lot of guesswork. When things don’t fit, you have to pay more money to ship it back. I wind up paying $15 in non-refundable shipping costs, just to return a $50 item. So what does Rhode Island offer? I’m not talking about Providence where there’s probably more available, including a Whole Foods. I’m talking about small cities—Aquidneck Island, Jamestown, Narragansett. I keep asking people and they don’t really know. So here’s a couple of the best I’ve discovered thus far.

Green Grocer
where it is: 934 East Main Rd. Portsmouth, RI. 401.683.0007. what I like about it: location and staff. A great option for people who are at the other end of the island—whether they live in Portsmouth or are just hanging out there for the day. Pick up some organic fruits and cheeses and go picnic at Greenvale Vineyards, where they have a jazz and wine tasting Saturday afternoons, May through October. Green Grocer offers healthy, organic foods while supporting the local economy. Among other things, they sell fruits, vegetables, meat, and milk from local farmers. Additionally, the staff is friendly and helpful. And not in that annoying way that prompts me to say “I want to be left to my own devices.” They’re truly nice—the kind of friendly that puts me in a better mood.

Green Envy
what it is: eco-friendly boutique that sells jewelry, handbags, Soy Candles by Phebes, skincare (Farmaesthetic and Bryce lines), hair care products, home goods, and clothing for women, men, and babies. where it is: 223 Goddard Row Newport, RI. 401.619.1993. what I like about it: better for you in all respects. Green Envy isn’t your typical Newport boutique where, when you enter, the shopkeeper gives you an anemic “Hi,” and then returns her attention to the book she clearly finds more interesting than you. Too many shopkeepers aren’t interested in catering to the customer. They think it’s a privilege to let you shop in their overpriced store. Hopefully the recession will force them to be more conscientious of the customer, but in case that doesn’t happen, go to Green Envy. Rachel Lessne, the owner, is always friendly and willing to help. You’ll get a warm hello when you enter and she has a knack for offering up bits and pieces about the products without pestering you. When I notice a solar-powered purse, she’ll tell me who makes it, how it works—giving me all the information without the pressure to buy it. Everything in the shop is not only eco-friendly, organic, or fair trade, but reasonably priced. If something is expensive, it’s not because she marked it up extraordinarily; it’s because utilizing organic materials or fair trade practices costs that much. A great place for birthday and hostess gifts, plus it’s the best kind of shopping experience you can have: one that supports your health, the environment, the community, and your wallet.

I hope this sparks people’s curiosity to go explore Rhode Island’s green scene on their own and share what they find, good or bad, on Rhode Tripping.

*TOMS offers free shipping in the U.S. though I could not find on their website if that means free returns as well. Greenloop currently offers $5 shipping and free returns, according to their website.

Wake up and smell the coffee

This week, Adlai Wertman, a professor at USC’s Marshall School of Business, wrote a post about how the growing numbers of unemployed upper-middle class and rich people could be a good thing. These are highly-skilled laborers that could put their capabilities and resources to good use: volunteering and assisting charities. While not generating any monetary income, opportunities exist for these individuals to work out their professional muscles by giving back. A good idea that I’m sure most will embrace in theory but no one will try out or take on.

When we’re down, that’s the time we most need to work out, eat right, and get out of the house. But it’s also the time we’re least likely to. Whether we're talking about how to function in winter or during unemployment, these are the times we most need to bolster our mood, our emotional health, but the times we’re most likely to sulk, wallow, and let the situation exacerbate itself. We actually sit there and watch it grow, getting worse by the hour and day, knowing we need to act, but becoming increasingly paralyzed by our fears. I’m sure it would help, just like working out when it’s grey and cold outside can really mitigate the despair of winter, but people are going to come up with excuses why they can’t. “I don’t want to promise something I can’t keep. What if I get a job in three months?” “I can’t get sidetracked. I need to devote my time to searching for a job. In an economy like this, you need all the time—40 hours a week—to look for a job.” I appreciate Mr. Wertman’s point, but it is an ideal that will never be realized. It’s the quintessential thing you say to someone when they’re down and feeling overwhelmed by the state of things. You say, “Hey, this could be a good thing! You could turn it into something positive!” as they sink lower into the sofa cushions.

Straighten up and fly right

Remember the commander in Top Gun? The bald guy that’s constantly sucking on a cigar with that pissed off, old man, chip-on-his-shoulder attitude? I looked up Top Gun on IMDB and it turns out his name is Stinger.

I think Congress could really use him right now. Correction: I think we could really use him yelling at Congress. While driving home from work yesterday, I heard on the radio that the government has spent a trillion dollars in the last few weeks—money that, surprise, they don’t have. Was there ever a time when a short, bald, pissed off man was more needed to say “Son, your ego is writing checks your body can’t cash!”

James Tolkan is the actor who played Stinger. It’d be nice to hire him for the occasion. Have him walk on in to the Capitol Building and start kicking ass and taking names. Congress needs to get their act together. What are we on any way? Draft 471 of the bailout?

I don’t want to hear anymore of this “It’s the Republicans’ fault it hasn’t gotten passed yet” and “The Democrats aren’t helping; they’re going to make the problem worse!” I feel like I’m dealing with two children and I want to smack them both. I’m not suggesting that they slap together some half-assed stimulus package but the economy is going down faster than Monica Lewinsky.

We can’t wait any longer. Remember when Hollywood’s plane goes down and Stinger asks how long it will take to get another plane in the air? “Bullshit ten minutes! This thing is going to be over in two minutes! Get on it!”

Of course, the only people who are going to check Congress—and Obama, for that matter—are us. We are, collectively, Stinger. It’s up to us to impress upon each one of them that if they don’t work together; if they don’t stop being politicians and start being statesmen; “if you screw up just this much, you’ll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog sh*t out of Hong Kong!”

Link to

Jamie Lee Curtis' post, yesterday.

Hendrika's Cafe

Few places can give you that feeling of warmth and sunshine when it’s cold and grey outside. Hendrika’s Café & Coffee, on the corner of Broadway and Farewell is one of those places that can. The café’s giant paned windows let in a lot of light and remind you of a sunroom. The walls are a warm, golden yellow so that even when it’s cloudy outside, it seems sunny inside. Little wooden tables and chairs fill the main room. Adjoining it is another room with more 60s-style tables and chairs. Each has its own vibe, but it’s the main room that I like best. A counter with stools divides the room in half, separating the kitchen—which occupies the back half of the room—from the little tables and chairs that occupy the front half. A long strip of blackboard runs above the counter, just below the ceiling. In sweet, slightly cursive handwriting the drink offerings are listed in different colors of chalk and accompanied by drawings of cups and saucers.

The menu is not extensive but it feels complete, covering all the bases for lunch and breakfast. Everything is made in-house that day—a big thing for me since I once worked at a place in town, where nothing was made on-site, but ordered days in advance from some deli or catering company. At Hendrika’s, the owner gets in around six every morning to start work on that day’s soup offerings.

So many times I want something fresh, homemade and moderately priced for lunch, but it’s hard to satisfy all of those requirements. Inevitably, quality and tastiness become secondary to cost. At Hendrika’s, I don’t have to make a choice between the two; the menu is reasonably-priced. I love when I can get a pot of tea for a $1.65. Breakfast is served all day long and for $3.50, you can get two eggs, any style, with toast and fruit. Sandwiches are $6-7 and they come with pasta salad and a pickle. The Parisian is good. A layer of caramelized apples is spread on French bread; warm ham and brie are served on top with spicy mustard.

In addition to serving breakfast and lunch, they have a wide array of drink selections. Just about anything can be taken to-go. The place is so inviting though, you may just want to stay. I once sat contently at a corner table for an hour and a half with a notebook, a bowl of split pea soup, and a small pot of English Breakfast. I stayed there, writing, until my tea was completely gone—and no one seemed to mind. That’s the kind of place it is. Previously, I’ve blogged about my quest to find “a spot.” Hendrika’s is the closest thing I can find to that in Newport.