TCB > March 2005

You can now view a chronologically sorted list of the 15 most recent headlines from across the family of STL Syndicate sites. You can still view the headlines sorted by source, too, if you prefer that.

Accomplishing this required re-teaching myself enough Perl to be dangerous. Man, I love it when things work. It makes me feel like I actually know what I'm doing.

Posted by Brian Marston on Thu., Mar 31, 2005 at 11:13 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | The Commonspace

There's an article in tomorrow's New York Times about the role the National Trust for Historic Preservation Demolition played in razing the Century building. It features a photo by our favorite artistic activist, Alan Brunettin. Richard Moe, Royce A. Yeater and the rest of the cowardly accomplices at the national trust should be ashamed. They demolished not only the Century, but also the national trust's credibility. I'm proud to have been the first of 3,560 people who signed the petition indicting the national trust in the Crime of the Century.

In other New York Times news, Linda Tucci's cheery story that ran today about redevelopment projects in downtown St. Louis (including the Old Post Office, which, repeat after me, did not have to come at the expense of the Century) is currently #9 on the list of the Times' most emailed articles.

Posted by Brian Marston on Wed., Mar 30, 2005 at 11:25 PM
Link & Discuss (2 comments) | STL in the News

Blurb from the front page (as of 8:25 a.m.):

Authorities call it the largest weapons seizure in S. Illinois. More than 50 machine guns and seven hand grenades were comprehended.

I don't get it. Heh, heh.

From a story about "American Idol" by Kevin C. Johnson (get out your red pens):

Contestants where asked what about in the '90s stood out most for them ...

And Joe Pollack (see the entry below) says bloggers can't write.

Posted by Brian Marston on Wed., Mar 30, 2005 at 9:08 AM
Link & Discuss (2 comments) | The Media

There's an article by Kevin M. Mitchell in the current issue of St. Louis Magazine about local blogs, including members of the STL Syndicate. I haven't snagged a copy yet, but there's a teaser on the magazine's web site.

Based on that, it looks like a good antidote to the crusty old man commentary by Joe Pollack in the March issue of The St. Louis Journalism Review ("Blogs are not journalism"). Apparently, Mr. Pollack, who fancies himself a Journalist with a capital "J," is not a very adept web user and has difficulty evaluating the credibility of different online sources of information. Not knowing where to look to find the good ones, he lumps all blogs together as "the misspelled, ungrammatical, virulent opinions of someone ... whose maturity is non-existent." If he'd spend some time on the web, Joe would be surprised to learn that not all blogs are anonymously written (most of the good ones aren't), and unlike him, not everyone needs an editor to make his writing coherent and accurate.

Posted by Brian Marston on Tue., Mar 29, 2005 at 2:42 PM
Link & Discuss (3 comments) | The Media

Are you ready to battle?

You can buy the Settle the Score 2004 DVD at Hartford Coffee Company (3974 Hartford Street, 314-771-JAVA). The action-packed disc features footage from the breakdancing and popping competition that was held in St. Louis last November. Always at the forefront of grassroots culture, Hartford Coffee is the first retail outlet to carry the DVD.

Posted by Brian Marston on Tue., Mar 29, 2005 at 11:43 AM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | The Commonspace

DJ Trackstar (Gabe Moskoff) released Volume 4 of his One Dollar Mix series on March 17. This audacious project features 50 (FIFTY!) local MCs, 1,000 bars of music and one DJ on a 65-minute CD — all for one dollar. The exclusive freestyles were recorded over a two-month period at Mansion Studios (5151 Washington Place).

You can pick up a copy of The One Dollar Mix Volume 4 at Vintage Vinyl, although they were sold out when I stopped by yesterday. It's #11 on Vintage Vinyl's top-seller list, ahead of American Idolette Fantasia Barrino, whose laughably bad "Baby Mama" single is in ultra-heavy rotation on 100.3 The Beat. On V.V.'s hip-hop chart, it's #2, just behind 50 Cent.

You can also pick one up at one of Trackstar's many live shows, including:

The Pageant, Friday, 4/1
The Halo Bar, every Friday except 4/1, 10 p.m. - 3 a.m.
The Upstairs Lounge, Thursday 4/7 and 4/21
Vintage Vinyl, Friday, 4/15, 7 p.m.

Posted by Brian Marston on Mon., Mar 28, 2005 at 3:53 PM
Link & Discuss (5 comments) | People

CNN aired a story in February about hip hop in St. Louis, calling it "probably the most vibrant hip-hop scene in the country." You can watch it here.

Posted by Brian Marston on Mon., Mar 28, 2005 at 2:33 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | STL in the News

A cautionary tale from today's NY Times: make sure at least a few breeders are included in your city's urban-core comeback. (Seattle has more dogs than kids, says one factoid: note for aspiring entrepreneurs! Another doggie daycare, anyone? Can Cesar Millan clone himself?)

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Thu., Mar 24, 2005 at 2:33 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | The Media

I've posted a few photos from the Chick Power episode of Free Candy that "aired" on March 20. Guests that night included Margie Newman, Kathleen Shue and Sherri "Danger" Lucas.

Posted by Brian Marston on Wed., Mar 23, 2005 at 3:41 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | The Commonspace

Tune into 90.7 KWMU on Monday, 3/21 at 11 a.m. to hear our favorite radio personality, the adorable Tom Weber, talk about hip hop in St. Louis with Charlie Chan and DJ Needles. EI, EI!

Update: You can listen to the show here.

Posted by Brian Marston on Sat., Mar 19, 2005 at 1:19 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | The Media

There's an article in the March 10th issue of The Economist about the non-event of St. Louis' mayoral election.

Posted by Brian Marston on Sat., Mar 19, 2005 at 1:18 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | STL in the News

Oh, this crazy, mixed-up, self-referential, gonzo blogging world in which we live.

In her column in today's Post, Deb Peterson referred to my post about the mural on the Woolworth building:

Brian Marston of the Commonspace was driving south on Grand Boulevard through Grand Center recently when his sharp eye spotted what he correctly identified as a "truly stunning and hilarious typographical error." The error is on a mural on the Woolworth building painted by Loyola Academy students, which features portraits of famous black artists from St. Louis. Each image is labeled with the person's line of work - and the line under Nelly's likeness simply says, "Raper." Whoa, Nelly!

I'd like to note that my name was boldfaced in the same Little Debbie as Nelly's. I'm waiting for my invitation to be Kato to Nelly's O.J. I'm also waiting for someone to fix the mural. I wonder which one will happen first.

Posted by Brian Marston on Sun., Mar 13, 2005 at 6:07 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | The Media

We're big proponents of the creative energies to be found in this small burg, and it turns out we're not the only ones! Staci Cohen has launched Creative and Passionate Singles as a way for like-minded folks to meet others who, shall we say, don't quite fit the narrow mold of a sometimes-conservative town. Their kickoff event is next week; I'd say, "See you there," but my husband doesn't like me to date...

Welcome to St. Louis' Newest Social Gathering! CAPS is open to all
creative, passionate, and expressive people. Come join us for an
enlightening, inspiring, and laidback alternative to dating...
March 17 at the Sheraton in Clayton
6pm: Appetizers, drinks, and socializing
7pm: Guest Speaker
7:30-8:30pm: Ice breakers
Visit or call Staci Cohen at 314-322-4100 to
register.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Thu., Mar 10, 2005 at 10:35 AM
Link & Discuss (2 comments) | Fun Links

Disconcerting, this. The final musical interlude on this morning's "Morning Edition," brought to us locally by KWMU, was -- am I hearing what I think I'm hearing? -- a schmoozy version of "P.I.M.P.", first (and probably only) popularized by the new darling of suburban Connecticut, 50 Cent. Turns out it's just one of the many hip-hop/rap numbers jazzified by the cats at Hidden Beach.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Mon., Mar 7, 2005 at 5:15 PM
Link & Discuss (0 comments) | The Media

So, we were driving south on Grand through Grand Center today, when a truly stunning and hilarious typographical error caught my eye. Amanda had to turn the car around so I could get out and take a photo.

There's a mural on the Woolworth building painted by Loyola Academy students that features head shots of famous black artists from St. Louis. Each image is labeled with that person's line of work (e.g. Miles Davis is labeled "Musician"). The somewhat questionable likeness of Nelly is labeled ... wait for it, wait for it ... "Raper." Yo Nelly, you might want to contact your publicist, derrty.

In other Grand Center news, the space formerly known as The Commonspace is still empty five months after we moved out.

Posted by Brian Marston on Sun., Mar 6, 2005 at 11:03 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | Other

Hmmmm. Seems like we're on the upside of the population swing for the moment in the city, but maybe we should consider radical marketing and a return to homesteading core values, like Crosby, ND, or Atwood, KS?

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Wed., Mar 2, 2005 at 11:50 AM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | Other

Well, it took years of work (okay, year of work), but Julia and I have finally cracked the elusive gossip column: Deb P. took note of a serendipitous deal that gone done last Sunday at the one-year anniversary show of Free Candy.

"LITTLE DEBBIES: The work of hot fiber and paper artist Christopher Granger will soon be available locally at Annata!, the new high-fashion vintage store in Maplewood. Owner Jennifer Gray and the artist cooked up the deal at the first anniversary show of Free Candy with Amanda Doyle and Julia Smillie..."

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Wed., Mar 2, 2005 at 10:27 AM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | People

You know it's gonna be good when a press release arrives via e-mail from "theratbastard@whitetrashdemocrat.com". Here 'tis:

PRESS RELEASE

THREE ALDERMANIC CANDIDATES OPPOSE TRANSITION TO PATRONAGE SYSTEM FOR NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION OFFICES
For Immediate Release March 1, 2005
Contact:
Rodney Burchfield: (314) 265-0934 Jeffrey Hardin: (314) 389-6434, Steve Patterson: (314) 479-5023
Aldermanic candidates Jeffrey Hardin (3rd Ward), Rodney Burchfield (17th Ward) and Steve Patterson (25th Ward) will hold an 11AM press conference at City Hall. The purpose of the press conference is to announce their opposition to Alderman Joe Roddy’s plan to convert the 25 Neighborhood Stabilization Offices into political Patronage positions. These are currently civil service jobs, which are protected by law from outside political pressure. If Patronage is used in the NSO, the people who work hard to improve their neighborhoods will have all their legal protections taken away from them. It will politicize the offices, and by doing so it will sabotage a successful program. It’s like reviving Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall, which controlled New York City and was rife with corruption for decades. History has proven that patronage jobs are a recipe for corruption, and Alderman Joe Roddy wants to revive this practice. This is inherently wrong.
The Aldermanic candidates have come together to oppose this plan because it will destroy a successful program that is accomplishing its’ intended mission. Why do we need to change the nature of these offices if there is nothing wrong? Obviously, Joe Roddy thinks that we need to make the NSO an ineffective program that only caters to those whom he owes political favors. This is the wrong direction for this or any other city in the 21st Century, and will breed corruption.

Posted by Amanda Doyle on Tue., Mar 1, 2005 at 5:07 PM
Link & Discuss (1 comment) | Other