The business of BBSing: ANSI art and webcomics, Part 4 - Break Into Chat As BBSes turned into businesses, some sysops and developers started making real money. Could ANSI artists and publishers do the same?

Even in the BBS days, there was a profit motive that gradually changed the landscape. See breakintochat.com/blog/2026/03..., especially the “From idealism to industry” section.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra *loves* John Williams and has 3 film nights scheduled for him next year. I get it — he’s a crowd-pleaser who scored blockbusters. But 3?

I wish they’d change it up and do a Star Trek night for once. Would LOVE to hear James Horner’s "Wrath of Khan" performed live.

Businessman is first, and so far only, donor to St. Louis police chief's UMSL job Emerson, the Clayton-based technology and automation company, said it also plans to help in coming weeks.

Just really excellent accountability reporting from my @stltoday.com colleagues @monicaobradovic.bsky.social & @katiekull1.bsky.social www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

Businessman is first, and so far only, donor to St. Louis police chief's UMSL job Emerson, the Ferguson-based technology and automation company, said it also plans to help in coming weeks.

Only one donor so far — Blackford "Beau" Brauer, president of Hunter Engineering — has donated to fund St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy's side job at UMSL, but a pledge from Emerson may be on the way.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/a...
From @monicaobradovic.bsky.social and Katie Kull.

Businessman is first, and so far only, donor to St. Louis police chief's UMSL job Emerson, the Ferguson-based technology and automation company, said it also plans to help in coming weeks.

Only one donor so far — Blackford "Beau" Brauer, president of Hunter Engineering — has donated to fund St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy's side job at UMSL, but a pledge from Emerson may be on the way.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/a...
From @monicaobradovic.bsky.social and Katie Kull.

Campus windows pose a hidden danger to birds Each year in the United States, up to one billion birds die after colliding with buildings. Most people never notice this issue, but on UMSL’s campus, I did. Recently, I found a small song sparrow (Me...

Proud to see my daugher Ludi's commentary about bird strikes pulished today by The Current, UMSL's student newspaper. That's now two generations of Renauds with work in The Current!

thecurrent-online.net/1696/campus-...

Nice to hear from you, Tim! I love your dad's idea. I worked with JThom and your uncle Stephan for many years. Clever, funny, hard-working guys.

When I got in to work this morning, a bird literally came and sat on the stoop right outside a window across from me. It kept looking at the window as if trying to figure out what to do. Thankfully, it took off.

Campus windows pose a hidden danger to birds Each year in the United States, up to one billion birds die after colliding with buildings. Most people never notice this issue, but on UMSL’s campus, I did. Recently, I found a small song sparrow (Me...

Proud to see my daugher Ludi's commentary about bird strikes pulished today by The Current, UMSL's student newspaper. That's now two generations of Renauds with work in The Current!

thecurrent-online.net/1696/campus-...

"Reflections on Middle-earth from a Middle American" (Josh Renaud, Westmoot 2025) YouTube video by Josh Renaud

It has often been said that J.R.R. Tolkien wanted to make a "mythology for England," but echoes of Middle-earth can be found among the monuments, mounds, and muddy rivers of the American Midwest.

Excited to share video from my presentation at last year's inaugural @westmoot.org conference!

The Ferguson-Florissant School District and Ferguson Library published letters calling on the city of Ferguson to renegotiate for more tax revenue. More than a dozen residents who attended Tuesday night's meeting called on the city to reject tax breaks outright.

The Ferguson-Florissant School District and Ferguson Library published letters calling on the city of Ferguson to renegotiate for more tax revenue. More than a dozen residents who attended Tuesday night's meeting called on the city to reject tax breaks outright.

It’s true — a catalogue of the internet as it was, and not as it is constantly being re-edited, deleted, paywalled, etc is an invaluable tool.

Huge archives of articles and data have disappeared from the internet in the last few years. Keeping the internet archive is critical.

The Internet's Most Powerful Archiving Tool Is in Peril As major news outlets cut off the Wayback Machine, journalists and advocacy groups are rallying to protect the Internet Archive’s vast collection of web pages.

As major news outlets cut off the Wayback Machine, journalists and advocacy groups are rallying to protect the Internet Archive’s vast collection of web pages. www.wired.com/story/the-in...

Priest killed in motorcycle crash served Park Hills, Kirkwood parishes with 'zest for life' Rev. Larry Huber was the current pastor at Immaculate Conception in Park Hills.

Priest killed in motorcycle crash served Park Hills, Kirkwood parishes with 'zest for life'

At the half, City SC 0, Dallas 0. Better chances for City SC, but best chance saw Wallem and Cordova not connect on a pass that would have sprung Cordova. City with 6-1 edge in corners. Dallas came on at the end of half, Burki needing to make a save on Musa in box.

Just got some great news! My talk proposal for Westmoot 2026 has been accepted!

Just got some great news! My talk proposal for Westmoot 2026 has been accepted!

I read all the way to the bottom. Hope you heal quick!

I wiped out on my e-bike last year and broke a toe. But I still love it.

The NASA commentator sounds a lot like John Rooney to me.

Christian software engineer Cameron Pak has developed criteria for faith-based AI. Like, it must be clearly IDed as AI and “must not fabricate or misrepresent Scripture.”

One interesting idea: AI *can't* pray for you.

Opinion | How Ben Sasse Is Living Now That He Is Dying

This is a remarkable conversation. (Gift link)

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/o...

"Reflections on Middle-earth from a Middle American" (Josh Renaud, Westmoot 2025) YouTube video by Josh Renaud

It has often been said that J.R.R. Tolkien wanted to make a "mythology for England," but echoes of Middle-earth can be found among the monuments, mounds, and muddy rivers of the American Midwest.

Excited to share video from my presentation at last year's inaugural @westmoot.org conference!

Voters split on fire district tax across St. Louis. Party politics doesn't explain it all. St. Charles County voters reject most fire and ambulance district sales taxes, while North St. Louis County voters approve them.

“It wasn’t clear, in some of the districts, not just in Creve Coeur, where the money was going. And it was going to hurt the poor.”
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

The cover of the 2026 STL 100 featuring a piece of sardine toast garnished with flowers next to a pair of chopsticks

It’s that time again. Online now, in Sunday’s print edition.

www.stltoday.com/life-enterta...

We have 100% of polling places reporting in St. Louis County.

In my hometown, Ferguson's new mayor will be Adrian Shropshire (my neighbor!).

graphics.stltoday.com/apps/electio...

Jefferson County | St. Louis-area election results Live election results for the April 7, 2026 election in Jefferson County, Missouri.

All Jefferson County races are at 100% reporting: graphics.stltoday.com/apps/electio...

St. Louis-area election results Live election results for St. Louis city, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and Franklin County.

Wow, the new St. Louis County election results site is not super-friendly for browsing.

Thankfully, STLtoday results page is pretty easy to read.
graphics.stltoday.com/apps/electio...

A longcut to mushrooms I have been morel mushroom hunting this week, and after several tries, today I finally struck gold! This is really my first time trying seriously to find them. The only other time I remember coming…

Okay, here's the rest of the story:
www.joshrenaud.com/family/archi...

This is really my first time trying to seriously to find them. Years ago I came across them by happy accident when I was staying at my great-grandparents little place near Piedmont, Mo.