Hors de Combat

Do the dead litter the battlefield? Is this the carnage that follows a vicious pillow fight?

Not exactly, although this was the end of the event. From time to time, one of the STL Improv people would hold up a sign saying something like "Hop On One Foot" or "Spin Around 10 Times." The last one said "Take A Nap." It made for a strange end to a frenetic event.

I think we'll do the Arch on Thursday with a number of people dressed in red.          

Kids - Cute Or Mean?

Some of each, I suppose. It's good they can vent those aggressive impulses with pillows.

I'm not even going to talk about the Cardinals humiliating opening day defeat yesterday. I might show some pictures of it later in the week, though.       

Mortal Kombat

The video game industry calls games like Mortal Kombat first-person shooters. You are out to destroy your enemy at all costs, like these warriors. But are you a shooter when your weapon is a pillow? The only things around with barrels and triggers were the Canons (nyuk nyuk nyuk) and Nikons.

The very colorful woman in the top photo told me she is an accountant. I suppose it's possible.

Today is the home opener for our beloved baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals. I'll be there with plenty of lenses; posts sure to follow. They may have to wait a bit, though, until the pillow feathers settle.

I Believe In Unicorns

Yesterday was International Pillow Fight Day and St. Louis participated. The event got off to a late start due to traffic problems all around Forest Park (Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Stephen Colbert were speaking at an event at adjacent Washington University and I wasn't invited) but it soon torqued up with fluff-smashing abandon.

It was organized by STL Improv Anywhere. Some of the members came in costume. I still haven't figured out where the eye-holes were in the unicorn head. Convinced me, though.

More soft mahem in the coming days.

The St. Louis Marathon starts at 7 this morning. Who thinks I'm getting up to shoot the start?

You're all right.         

More From The Pillow Fight, Or, What You Learn At My Alma Mater

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Word of Saturday's mass pillow fight spread throughout St. Louis on the web. These students from St. Louis University, my alma mater (A.B. 1971, J.D. 1974) showed up to battle the soft machine. Why they decided to paint themselves in silver is beyond me. It's not even one of the school colors. But so what - I did much dumber stuff when I was there. You would have to find my secret dossier to find out what.

Hey, check out the fourth comment to this post from a St. Louis U. student. These people painted themselves silver as camouflage, to blend in with the Arch in case of trouble with the cops. How absolutely clever!

WHAT WAS UP SUNDAY: I went out to shoot the Rally For A Compassionate Missouri Budget on the steps of out Old Court House. Republicans in the Missouri House of Representatives want to use the recession as a reason for yet further cutbacks on social services, particularly health care. I've been pretty P.C. in most of my posts but my header does advertise the occasional rant. Well, here's one. I am horrified and angered by the I keep all my money, it's okay if you die in a hole somewhere attitude of much of the Republican party in this state. It's a vision of society that looks back to the Industrial Revolution and beyond, when workers and the poor were treated as a commodity. That's not a society where I want to live. And I don't want to move to Massachusetts or British Columbia to live with the like-minded. I'd rather do something positive here. So, tomorrow's post will feature the rally.

Pillow Fight Under the Arch!

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Several weeks ago, Hayden Carter of St. Louis Improv contacted me through the blog and invited me to record some of their street provocation theater. Saturday was the day for a Worldwide Pillow Fight, the local version held under his loose supervision beneath the Arch. It was a fun-for-all free-for-all until the park rangers came along and did a Big Brother number on the mêlée.

Check the link above to St. Louis Improv's Facebook page for upcoming subversive activities.

WHAT'S ON TODAY: a rally in opposition to the horrifying cuts in social services being pushed through the Missouri legislature by the Republican majority. It will be held on the steps of the Old Court House and is led by Rabbi Susan Talve, one of this area's most admirable religious leaders. I'll make it if I can.

TOMORROW: oh, this is fun. Let's stick with it.

AND BY THE WAY, team member ShadowyOne was along for the festivities yesterday and was smart enough to bring her FlipVideo. Check out live coverage of the pillow fight on YouTube. Click the HQ button for higher resolution. The person wandering around in a blue jacket and hat taking pictures is me.