mary ann sorrentino

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Turning in that low-numbered plate for a pink one

Low-numbered plates may be Valhalla for Rhode Island’s vainglorious. But they are hard to come by. So for the average driver looking for attention, “vanity” and “special category” plates are the way to go.
Special Category
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | May 21, 2010

Friartown, redux

Phillipe and Jorge have always had a problem with Providence College basketball’s advertising campaign, which refers to the area as “Friartown” in a delusional suggestion that the squad has support throughout the local community.
PC players foul out. Plus, helping Johnny Mac, a Supreme shift, and ‘Monbo Time’
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | April 16, 2010

A black leadership silent on abortion fabrications

Last month, controversial anti-abortion-rights billboards appeared in Georgia hinting that abortion is a tool of black genocide.
Choice
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | March 26, 2010

Bienvenido a federal hill

My grandfather's house still stands on Westminster Street in Providence, its yard overlooking the Armory field where my uncles would gather to play bocce.
Turnover
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | January 01, 2010

A lawyer’s adventures in bad judgment

People who know Keven McKenna know he is not a stupid man. Whether or not the Providence attorney, ex-state representative, and Harold Stassen of Providence mayoral races uses good judgment is another question.
Contempt of Court
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | December 25, 2009

Pink ribbons: Play hardball!

In ancient times, men appeased the gods by tossing female virgins into volcanoes and families left their newborn daughters on hillsides to die since girls were less "valuable" than boys.
Breasts and Balls
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | November 27, 2009

With Kennedy's death, a chance to move beyond royalty

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the last "lion" of the Massachusetts clan, finally rests – in peace, I hope.
Dynasties
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | September 04, 2009

Rhode Island weighs a succession drama of its own

The death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy has Massachusetts' political class speculating, in not-so-hushed tones, about the odds of a next-generation Kennedy running for and winning the seat.
Political Watch
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | September 04, 2009

Artful dodger

Phillipe and Jorge are quite disappointed to see that the Rhode Island School of Design Museum will be closing for the month of August, largely due to its endowment being down due to the economic recession.
Keep the RISD Museum open in August! Plus, the weirdness on C Street.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | July 17, 2009

Judging the judge

Women may not yet have full equality, but Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the US Supreme Court proves we can compete with the big guys now. It also means that women accepting patronage (and every political appointment is patronage) have an equal shot at
Facing the facts of the Sotomayor nomination
By Mary Ann Sorrentino | June 05, 2009

Recession lesson

Cigarette tax hikes in Rhode Island have smokers kicking the habit.
Drinkin 'n' thinkin'
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | May 22, 2009

ACLU and Irons: Strange political bedfellows

Politics has seldom made stranger bedfellows than those exposed when the RI ACLU hopped into the sack with former state senator William Irons.
LegalWatch
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | May 08, 2009

The problem with the Church's selective embrace

Pope Benedict recently lifted the excommunication of four bishops who had been consecrated without the required Vatican consent.
Vatican City
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | February 11, 2009

How much have we learned since 9-11?

When Israel launched recent attacks against Palestinian foes, killing hundreds, president-elect Obama and others repeated the familiar mantra of pro-Israel support, decrying Hamas and citing Israel's right to self-defense, ignoring how dead children, o
Conflicts
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | January 14, 2009

Looking Back

Since Barack Obama’s election, there have been many congratulatory essays — verbal and written — about the greatness of Americans being able to elect a person of color to our highest office.
America didn’t become colorblind in 2008
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | December 29, 2008

Give thanks to those who fight for civil liberties

Rights + Reasons
A quarter-century ago, Dan Donnelly, a friend and fellow plaintiff in an unsuccessful challenge of a religious holiday display on public property in Pawtucket, wondered who could possibly lead the local chapter of the ACLU in constitutionally challenged Rhode Island.
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | November 25, 2008

Unchecked power and secrecy — not gays — are the church’s problem

Presenting more evidence that it just doesn't get it, the Vatican recently issued new so-called, "psychological screening guidelines" to weed out priest candidates with "psychopathic disorders," but only those related to sexual misconduct — specifically
Vatican Myopia
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | November 19, 2008

We want a fresh start — and an untroubled election

Tuesday, November 4, Election Day, may be the most important day of our lives — and even more so for the children and grandchildren we will eventually leave behind.
Election Day 2008
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | October 29, 2008

Sexual Politics

Duchovny, now 48 and with a nearly complete doctorate from Yale in English lit, says he is back in rehab for sex addiction.
Everybody wants some, but women don’t call it an illness
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | October 09, 2008

He was a man in full

For some of us who admired Paul Newman, what we most appreciated was humanity that transcended his physical appeal and made him the man we’d love to have known better.
R.I.P., Paul Newman
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | October 02, 2008

A tale of two views of America

On a hot summer night, at a gala at Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy’s ongoing love affair with America was renewed.
Letter From Italy
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | September 24, 2008

Clinton women for Palin? No way

Memo to John McCain: We may be angry, but we haven’t gone completely mad.
Gender politics
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | September 03, 2008

McCain has a double standard on Viagra and birth control

McCain backed legislation allowing Medicaid to cover Viagra for men, while forbidding the federal health-insurance program for the poor from covering birth control pills for women.
Sexual politics
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | August 13, 2008

Let’s not sugarcoat the flaws of Newport society

Eileen Slocum, an ardent opponent of reproductive freedom and a staunch supporter of “basic family values,” spent her days trying to deprive poor men and women of access to the same societal choices enjoyed by the rich.
R.I.P. Eileen Slocum
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | July 30, 2008

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