Thomascrone.com’s HQ was recently rocked by the complete and thorough failure of our outfit’s primary computer, which has resulted in the loss of: several bajillion photos; hours of never-posted video of various urban exploration trips (including a summery jaunt to Gateway Community Hospital with musical duo Fatoush); a small cache of bad poetry and fiction (thankfully destroyed, really); and, worst of all, several years’ worth of syllabi and assignment cheat-sheets. On that count alone: oucha.

We are taking time to process these losses, while occasionally staring at the detachable hard-drive that sat, unused and unutilized, during the departed desktop’s creaky winter years.

In an optimistic moment, this is all regarded as somehow “freeing”…

If anyone out there was curious about what my Media Literacy students were thinking about current stories, trends and quirks in journalism, they can check the site in the subject line for, oh, the next two-weeks-and-one-day.

Not encouraging you over there, just noting the existence of this fine blog.

As once stated by a wise man, “one man’s broken bone is another man’s added DJ attractions for December.” A very apt phrase and one that notes the reality of my man Rob Levy’s barking foot and some extra DJ gigs this month.

Saturday, Dec. 12, The Royale, 9:30 – 1:30

Saturday, Dec. 19, Atomic Cowboy, 6:00 – 10:00

Friday, December 25, The Royale, 9:00-ish-1:30

Monday, December 28, Halo Bar, post-Unconscious – ’til 3:00

Tuesday, December 29, Halo Bar, post-Pale Divine – ’til 3:00

And on the radio, the Friday, Dec. 18 episode of “Silver Tray” will include two live sets. At noon, Mike Apirion and Darren O’Brien of the Unconscious play a 20-minute set, with Michael Schaerer of Pale Divine doing the same at 1 p.m. Kewl.

I’m always happy to contribute to the St. Louis Beacon. And, yesterday, I was able to do so with a first-person account of the creation of the films “Old Dog, New Trick” and “The Pride of St. Louis.”

Here’s a link to that clip.

I’ve been posting a ton of movie-related news to the films’ dedicated blog, as well. It’s over here.

Shillin’ over. For now.

As an immigrant, perhaps I appreciate your people’s ways more than you. As I am to be thankful this week, so it shall be.

Thankful for lit magazines in print, but accepting of the new wave of publishing.

Thankful for Iron Maiden, but feeling too old to wear their new skate shoes.

Thankful for great guest speakers, especially those with secret YouTube channels.

Thankful for Tuesday nights at Pop’s Blue Moon.

Thankful for the end of a somewhat successful soccer season.

Thankful for school-less days ahead, dedicated to new Gladwell and Hornby titles, both of which will endure some delayed spine-cracking.

Thankful for the young clerk at the closing South City Office Depot, who hooked me up with additional mad  savings during their outta business sale, as the small niceties are always appreciated.

Thankful for those savings, even on the cusp of Buy Nothing Day.

Thankful for a new Richard Linklater film, anytime, and doubly so when it stars Claire Danes.

Thankful for new writing opportunities in December.

Thankful to have friends who are carpenters, particularly after the neighbor’s pitbull sticks an oversized skull through the old, wooden fence.

Thankful for the Morimoto beer in my fridge.

Thankful to play the music of my youth on KDHX over the next two days (see list below) and over the holidays at The Halo Bar.

Thursday, KDHX: 2-4 p.m. on The Record Sto’, guesting for Doug Morgan; part one of a two-part, two-day STL old-school rock blowout

Thursday, KDHX: 7-8 p.m. on Literature for the Halibut, subbing for Ann, Jane Ellen, Stefene and Wendy; have about half the show figured out and Dick Gregory and Studs Terkel are involved

Friday, KDHX: 12-2 p.m. on Silver Tray; part two of the STL rock overview

Friday, RRCS: 3-4 p.m. at the RRCS; one hour of power, as the hip youth of St. Louis sell handcrafted items at the Third Degree Glass Factory; I just can’t say “no” to Mike Tomko

Friday, Royale: 8-ish-1:30, music that’s all good on the biggest bar night of the year, thrown down with my good pals Roxanna and Matt and Beth behind the bar

The proof of the title is now found in my basement, where several hundred DVDs have just been deposited. Folks, get yours soon, at several fine, local retailers.

Or see the films tomorrow night at the Tivoli.

Complete shilling, er, information can be found at the blog for “Old Dog Trick” and “The Pride of Louis,” called STLRockDocs. Lots of news!

… food in St. Louis is at Phuc Loi, Gravois and Spring. Many times, I’ve been at the only non-Vietnamese table in the place, a little spot which is reputedly take-out-only (thus, no bathrooms, no plan accordingly).

Ian Froeb may’ve changed my secret spot’s hidden-gem status. Rats. I mean, good for Phuoc Loi!

Greetings. Have a couple of new(ish) clips up on the St. Louis Beacon.

One details a party taking place on Cherokee this Thursday, an open-house on 11/11 for the magazine Eleven. That clip is here.

The other details the cooperative gallery/residential/studio space in Lafayette Square known as Open Lot. Click for that right here.