Off the top of my head

By Chad Armbruster

Hello out there my frequent reading friends. It's that time again for another spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. This column's topic is: What do you think of OFF!?

Well to some this might seem like a stupid question to ask because hey, if it's in your hands now you more than likely read it every now and again, ergo you like it. Right? Well at least to some extent you like it, otherwise you wouldn't have wasted the energy to pick it up off the counter, rack or the men's room floor. But I'm trying to get something a little bit deeper than that. I'm trying to get some kind of response from all of you out there who really do pick this thing up -- and do so each time it comes out.

This may seem like an odd concept for everyone out there, but I really do care about OFF! and it's readers. I mean if there's no one who cares if we stay or go, then why bother doing this each month, right? Why bother pulling out what little hair I have left if it's all for naught? Why should I keep on keepin' on if those of you who do pick us up think that we're not worth the paper we're printed on, right? (By the way, these are rhetorical questions so I'm not going to get mad if you don't respond.)

This magazine is for all ya all out there who think that Cape could be a better place for the 18- to 30-something generation. After all, our generation has been known to be a fickle group, so wouldn't it be nice if the bar owners and retailers in this town had some idea of what we wanted from them? I give them credit for their efforts, they do try hard to give us what we think we would find enjoyable. But sometimes they miss the mark completely and they're left holding nothing but their dream in one hand and their eviction notice in the other. All because they thought they knew what would make us flock to a particular place -- yet it couldn't have been further from the truth.

I hear people from time to time bitch and complain about the state of our fair city and I admit it's no St. Louis, but it could be if we (that's you too!) told them (that's the businesses of Cape) what we want here. It couldn't hurt. Don't you think? And wouldn't it be nice if we could tell the business people of Cape, without going to every business in town, what we liked and what we didn't like? I know -- why don't we start a magazine and use it as a vehicle to get the word to the business owners of Cape and tell them what we want. Sounds good, right? I knew you'd love it.

Anyway, point being we are here so use us! Anything you want us to tell people tell us! Anything that you think stinks in town, tell us! Anything you think is broken in this town and you have a way to make it better, tell us! (Getting the picture?)

Don't be someone who just sits around and complains about this town -- do something about it. Now, I'm not talking about burning your bras or anything, but come on, just tell us and we'll try and do it for you. Or at least we'll tell the right people about it and maybe we can get it done. So what do you say? Can we try to work on using this magazine for its purpose and get this thing moving in the right direction?

I tell you what, if I don't get a single response from this article I will quit my job here at OFF! and never write a single thing in this paper again. Is it a deal? I'm not going to take people just walking up to me on the streets as a response. You do have to either send a letter or e-mail. That's how strongly I believe this thing can work, and if no one wants to use it ,then hey, why should I keep beating my head against a wall?

So that's that my friends. Until next time ... maybe. Hugs and kiss.

P.S. Send all responses to:

OFF! Magazine

Chad Armbruster

301 Broadway

Cape Girardeau Mo., 63702

Or e-mail to: offmag@hotmail.com