FOOD, Inc. - You'll Never Look at Dinner the Same Way

Rhode Island PBS airs this documentary tonight at 9 PM. For more information about the film, visit http://www.foodincmovie.com/index.php

Meet Red Green on Saturday afternoon at Greenville Ace Hardware

Meet Red Green!

Saturday, July 24

2 PM - 4 PM

Greenville Hardware

633 Putnam Pike (Rt. 44), Greenville, RI

Stock up on 3M Duct Tape and other handyman supplies, get an autograph, and have your picture taken with Red (bring your camera for a photo)! Lots of fun "in store" for you. Plus, the store's air conditioned, so don't sweat it.

Still don't have tickets for Red Green's Wit and Wisdom Tour? What are you waiting for? The show's at 8 PM on Saturday, July 24, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium (VMA) in Downcity Providence. Call 401-421-ARTS (401-421-2787).

"Learn 360" - coming to a classroom near you

The Providence Journal education columnist Julia Steiny took a tour around Learn 360, the multimedia-rich library of on-demand videos and lesson plans being offered to Rhode Island schools through WSBE Rhode Island PBS Education Services.

Here are some highlights of Julia's experience with this new classroom tool. To read her full column, click this link to the original post on projo.com.

Today, any school that still offers classes in “technology” or “computer skills” is so 20th century. Technology is an integral part of everyday life and almost all jobs. As such, it should be embedded into every student’s regular lessons and assignments...

But embedding technology in all subjects is not typical throughout Rhode Island. It should be...

...So for years, [Rhode Island PBS] has arranged group discounts for the state’s schools, with companies that supply teachers with just such libraries of Web-based educational materials. When their contract with their last vendor became prohibitively expensive, [Rhode Island PBS] switched to a similar service, “Learn 360,” whose mission includes remaining affordable to schools in lean times...

Every quarter, Learn 360 uploads new material to its “content database.” Currently, they have more than 8,300 digital videos, as well as speeches, images, articles and audio files...

...Teachers can integrate materials into podcasts, presentations, activities and even quizzes and tests. The software will automatically grade any test that is true or false or multiple choice. The teacher can also post an essay prompt. Kids can do the work at school, in a computer lab at the library, or at home....

Impressively, most of the clips, songs and even the still shots are mapped against Rhode Island’s own standards, the Grade Level Expectations... Among other things, it’s an easy, interesting way to become familiar with our standards.

To experiment with this service, log on to Learn 360 for a 30-day free trial. Or get a password from your school, if it’s already part of the Learn 360 group.

School administrators can sign up for the 2010-2011 academic year, or get more information about Learn 360 by calling Dr. Maria Velasquez, Rhode Island PBS education director, at 401-222-3636, ext. 365. The cost is $500 per year for public schools with more than 200 students, and for private and parochial schools; it costs less for small public schools.

Local Artists: What's So Great about the WSBE Rhode Island PBS Arts Auction

Farewell, Bob

Despite a certain serene beauty of its own, bleak and dreary Winter's promise is its passage into vibrant Spring, bursting with new life, new beginnings. Summer blesses us with growth - setting deep roots to produce in abundance. Autumn's gift is fruition of our endeavors. Sated, fulfilled, realized, Autumn surrenders to Winter's sleep, with its promise to turn to Spring again. That's the cycle of seasons, the cycle of life.

On Friday morning, we at WSBE Rhode Island PBS learned the sad news that our president and CEO, Robert "Bob" Fish, had passed into his Winter. With his trademark confidence and strength, Bob waged a fierce but brief battle with cancer. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his charming and dedicated wife, Jane, and their family. It's a loss we all share.

When Bob arrived at WSBE in December of 2005, it was my job to write the public announcement of his appointment, and I asked him for his bio and a photo. At that first meeting, shaking his hand, I sensed there was a lot more to this tall, imposing man than his outwardly reserved demeanor. There was an underlying energy, a... secret joke, if you will, that he was bottling up. The photo he sent to me (published here) showed twinkling, mischievous eyes despite the serious pose.

Sure enough, Bob lived up to that first impression. He filled any room with his commanding presence, booming voice and jovial laugh. He thrived on the "art of the deal," evidenced by his successful 40+ year career in radio and television broadcasting management. He was a deft negotiator - Bob had a vision all his own and just made it work. On his own terms. And everyone left as friends.

I vividly remember one incident when someone kept introducing Bob as the "general manager" at a station event. That really irked me - it seemed like a deliberate slight by someone who should have known better. When I talked to Bob about it afterward, he just smirked and said,

"It doesn't matter what they call me. They all know who's the boss in the room."

LOL! So true. You will be missed, Bob.

- written by Lucie Raposo

A Lively Experiment, 7/8 at 7PM and Sunday 7/11 at noon

On this week's A Lively Experiment, Jim Hagan moderates the discussion.

Panelists:


Andrew Dzykewicz – former commissioner, R.I. Office of Energy Resources
Representative Laurence Ehrhardt – (R) North Kingstown
Maureen Moakley – U.R.I. political science professor
Mark Murphy – Providence Business News editor


Topics:

• The economic impact of Rhode Island’s proposed offshore wind farm and 
• The legislative process used to jumpstart the project

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A Lively Experiment airs on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1) Thursdays at 7 PM, with rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 7 PM on WSBE Learn (36.2) and Sundays at noon on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1).

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits over the air on digital 36.1; Cox/Verizon/Full Channel 08; DirecTV 36; Dish Network 7776; ComCast subscribers, please check local listings for the channel number in your area.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; Cox 808; Verizon 478; ComCast 294.

Viewers with high definition (HD) capability can receive WSBE Rhode Island PBS HD programming over the air on digital 36.1, Cox 708, Verizon 508, ComCast 819.

Meet RED GREEN at Greenville Hardware / Then See His Show in Providence

Meet Red Green!

Saturday, July 24

2 PM - 4 PM

Greenville Hardware

633 Putnam Pike (Rt. 44), Greenville, RI

Stock up on 3M Duct Tape and other handyman supplies, get an autograph, and have your picture taken with Red (bring your camera for a photo)! Lots of fun "in store" for you. Plus, the store's air conditioned, so don't sweat it.

Still don't have tickets for Red Green's Wit and Wisdom Tour? You can try your luck at getting a free pair of tickets by tuning in to CAT COUNTRY 98.1 FM every afternoon this week. Listen to Kevin Lawrence from 3 PM to 7 PM, Monday, July 5 through Friday, July 9. (You might increase your chances of winning if you cross your fingers as you listen to Kevin on Cat Country.)

Of course, you can play it safe and actually buy your tickets. The show's at 8 PM on Saturday, July 24, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium (VMA) in Downcity Providence.

The Hidden Face of Homelessness

Although homelessness is a difficult number to measure definitively, it's evident that more and more people - especially families - are sleeping in shelters, living in their cars, and taking up residence in tent communities. The problem may be more obvious in winter, when people without a permanent home seek out shelter for the night away from the cold. But the problem is not seasonal, it's year 'round.

Coventry-based Cozzi Video Productions is taking steps to do something about homelessness in Rhode Island with the documentary, The Hidden Face of Homelessness. WSBE Rhode Island PBS airs this documentary on Saturday, July 24 at 7 P.M., as part of our ongoing Saturday night series, Rhode Island Stories.

If asked, most people likely admit having preconceived notions about homeless people. But whatever those notions may be, they do not always reflect reality. In fact, 80%-90% of the homeless population are employed - they just do not have a place to go when their shift ends. And they are often too humiliated to let others - who could potentially help them - find out the truth.

In an April 22, 2010 article in the Brown Daily Herald, local sources say homelessness in our state is up to unprecedented levels. And a local economy that continues its downward spiral offers little hope of reversing the homeless trend.

Through interviews with experts and the homeless themselves, The Hidden Face of Homelessness offers insights, dispels myths, disproves stereotypes, and proposes real solutions to a growing problem affecting Rhode Island - and the whole country.

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WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits over the air on digital 36.1; Cox/Verizon/Full Channel 08; DirecTV 36; Dish Network 7776; ComCast subscribers, please check local listings for the channel number in your area. Viewers with high definition (HD) capability can receive WSBE Rhode Island PBS HD programming over the air on digital 36.1, Cox 708, Verizon 508, ComCast 819.

A Lively Experiment Tonight (Thursday) 7/1/10 at 7PM and Sunday, 7/4/10 at noon

Monday night, the Rhode Island Democratic Party held its state endorsement convention.

Last night, Rhode Island Republicans endorsed their full slate of candidates for the 2010 elections.

Tonight on A Lively Experiment (7PM), Jim Hagan moderates the discussion with the panelists:

Giovanni Cicione - Chairman of the RI Republican Party
John DePetro - 630 WPRO-AM morning talk host
Ian Donnis - WRNI political reporter
Wendy Schiller - Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, Brown University

Topic: The Rhode Island GOP convention and the party’s endorsed candidates

(RI Democratic Party chair Ed Pacheco was invited to participate on the panel, but a scheduling conflict prevented his attendance.)

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A Lively Experiment airs on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1) Thursdays at 7 PM, with rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 7 PM on WSBE Learn (36.2) and Sundays at noon on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1).

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits over the air on digital 36.1; Cox/Verizon/Full Channel 08; DirecTV 36; Dish Network 7776; ComCast subscribers, please check local listings for the channel number in your area.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; Cox 808; Verizon 478; ComCast 294.

Viewers with high definition (HD) capability can receive WSBE Rhode Island PBS HD programming over the air on digital 36.1, Cox 708, Verizon 508, ComCast 819.