A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Strolling the interstate

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Usually the sight of hundreds of people ambling down an interstate in a big city is a bad thing. Think 12 Monkeys or Hurricane Katrina. But yesterday in Providence there was a more benign reason to see the citizenry take to I-195 - the DOT bused us up there. The new highway bridge in Providence is opening up soon, and we got a chance to what kind of bridge you can get for 0 million these days.

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Almost two years after I wrote this post, I finally got to see the Buddy Cianci movie. It was awesome. Go see this movie, or I'm revoking your Rhode Islander status. Make sure you watch for my Nana bringing her trash to the dump. Now that I'm brushed up on my Buddy lore, I'm excited for him to come back to Rhode Island (and to my neck of the woods, no less) in a few months. For more, keep an eye on the Buddy Watch!

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

I can't believe I hadn't heard this before, but I just read that Walt Mossberg, Wall Street Journal tech columnist, and perhaps the most powerful man in Silicon Valley, cut his teeth working for the ProJo in my hometown of Warwick, RI. I like reading Mossberg's column in the Sunday paper (even though I wouldn't consider myself part of his target audience). Are you saying to yourself "Walt Mossberg, where have I heard that name recently?" Perhaps you're recalling Warren (from one of my favorite shows, Ed) talking to The Daily Show's John Hodgman about how awesome Macs are? Yeah. That was it. Back to that Wired article from above, it also says that Walt used to hang out in Warwick with his best friend, James Woods. Just another data point for (Dilbert creator) Scott Adams's theory about famous people knowing famous people before they were famous.

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

I heard the other day that more Americans than ever are growing disgruntled with President Bush, and it turns out that this particular factoid came from a 50 state poll. What fun! Who loves their Dubya the most? Not Texas, but Utah! In fact, there's only 6 states where our Commander in Chief has support over the 50% mark. Wondering which state is at the other end of the chart? The state where you're least likely to, say, get your window bashed in for, say, having a non-flattering Bush sticker on your car? Did you guess Vermont? Taxachusetts? Oregon? Nope, it's none other than the smallest state with the biggest hate, Rhode Island. Only 1 in 4 Ocean Staters are likely to approve of 43's performance on the job. Ouch.

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

Dilbert creator Scott Adams has a great blog that I enjoy reading. This morning we find out that yesterday's Dilbert strip was sent to the papers with two different end panels, one potentially more risqué than the other. If you're wondering which one the Providence Journal ran (and can't guess from this post's title), it was the "safer" ending. Check out the Dilbert blog to see what you missed. I'm curious as to who at the Journal makes a choice on this sort of thing, and why. Maybe the decision came from the corporate masters in Texas, which might explain a lot of things... (and just in case you don't remember ever seeing Dilbert in the ProJo, the strip appears inside the Business section. I didn't know this for a long time) UPDATE, later this day: I got an email from someone at the Journal who tells me that all erring is done on the side of "family friendliness." After all, we must think of the children! BeloCorp out in Texas has no say on content. This seems right to me, but not nearly as fun as I imagined: Mr. Burns, Dr. Hibbert, Crazy Texas Oil Guy and Dracula sitting around a big table, accelerating global warming and censoring Dilbert cartoons...

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

I like to do my taxes as early as possible if I can help it, being poor has the benefit of getting most of your federal contributions back from the guv'mint. This year I bought Tax Cut Deluxe from Best Buy (mostly because I got a free wireless mouse with it), collected my various 1099s and W2s and set to work. My federal return was done in about 20 minutes (and looks like I'm getting a new 60 gig iPod!), but then it was time to do the state return. I chose Rhode Island from the menu and clicked next, where I encountered probably the worst approximation of the state of RI I have ever seen: I'd have to say this is even worse than the Off Track Bedding commercial (you know the one. Damn you Roanne!!) Now this stupid blob means I'll forget to do my state return and end up at the Providence post office at 11:30 again this year...

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

From even before I got to work today, there was more activity than usual a little ways down the street. We watched from the window as police taped off the cute little house with a water view that had been for sale for a few months. Neighbors milled about, cars were turned away, and someone arrived in a Jeep and strapped a video camera to his shoulder. Calls were made, and information trickled in: garbage trucks were stopped and searched, the homeowner was in Florida, something serious had happened. By three o'clock someone from the office went out to get the story. It was something serious. "It's a homicide," he said, and everyones' stomachs tightened. We looked out the window some more as some details answered some, but not all, questions. Trying to discern the action down the street, I wondered if this would lower the asking price on the house. Then I felt bad and went back to work. Link

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

The headline read "Rhode Island fares well in national study of obesity." Apparently, our little state has the third lowest obesity rate among adults. Well yeah, but look at the competition. Being the skinniest guy at the Krispy Kreme Konvention isn't exactly Kate Moss-ish (she's still our culture's yardstick of skin-and-bone-ism, right?) Still, we should be happy that only one in five Rhode Islanders are considered obese (although every other one of us Ocean Staters is overweight). Or, as sandwich maker Lily Hall says, "We're chubbies. Not to be mean, but I think a lot of us are chubbies." Better, 16-year-old mall slave Spencer Stolle is "surprised. I thought everyone in Warwick was fat." Ouch, Warwick. If you're wondering whether you'd be considered obese, or, like me, just terribly overweight, you can punch in your numbers here and get your body mass index, or BMI, the number used in this study to determine fattiness. BMIs of 25-29 are overweight, 30 and over are obese (unless you're especially muscular or willing to lie to yourself that you are). include('http://www.bilherron.com/cryforhelp/php/bmi.php'); If that form doesn't work, tough noogies, I don't have time to whip up perfect programs for you. Just take your weight and multiply it by 703, then take that number and divide it by your height in inches, then divide that number by your height in inches again. Fun, no? So maybe if we all take the stair from now on and park at the back of the lot, we'll push RI to number one least obese. And then our one-eyed state will rule the land of the blind! (figuratively, of course)

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

A Cry for Help » Rhode Island

Bil — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:52:57 +0000

Pretty cool.

Stache Tats

Bil — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:34:30 +0000

Oh, Rhode Island, how I love you. via Seth

The Buddy Movie

Bil — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:37:25 +0000

Rhode Island Creates Another Media Celebrity

Bil — Thu, 18 May 2006 03:56:08 +0000

Maybe this is why we don’t get many Presidential visits…

Bil — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 01:23:59 +0000

Prudish ProJo?

Bil — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:29:56 +0000

The Taxman Cometh

Bil — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:35:53 +0000

An Unsettling Day

Bil — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 23:08:44 +0000

Civic Pride: “RI, not as fat as youse”

Bil — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:36:19 +0000

Weird Ass License Plates: Paht 2

Em — Sun, 29 Aug 2004 23:06:14 +0000

Some of these make me think people just pick any 6-letter word so they can have a whole word on their license plate...

JUNGLE
DANISH
PYRMID
WATERS
KRAZEE
HRYPTR
MAHALO
FRESCO
SCRIBE
HAYJUD
PUREOX
LET GO
SHREK
GOLDEN
SERNTY
COOLIT
PLATNM
JULY29
WENT69
SEEGUL
EXPLOR
KIDSDR
BTRFLY
LONDON
WTRCAN
ALEGRO
MARGIN
ELITE1 Out of Staters: WOLWO (on a Volvo from MA) RUBBISH (PA) CAPTIV8 (NC)