>>>April 4, 2002

Mall death

Decay: There’s an out-of-place structure familiar to all who grew up in west-end Montreal. With a glass façade and underground parking, the big mall-like building on Décarie near Isabella seemed poised for greatness, but it just became another white elephant blotting our urban landscape. Deadmalls chronicles failed commercial centres all over the U.S., complete with inside photos and reasons why Montgomery Wards and All-American Sock Company outlets weren’t enough to attract shoppers. The site is surreal archaeology, exploring a dead civilization that is our own. These malls are modern ghost towns. See the spirit of retail past at www.deadmalls.com.

Badmail: Just in time for spring, when everything is lovely, here’s a way to be mean and nasty. Courtesy of comical online haberdashery tshirthell.com, here’s E-Mail Hell, where you can create an email account at any of dozens of domains including @RickyMartinsVagina.com and @ChristIsMyBitch.com. Fun for the whole family at www.tshirthell.com/emailhell.htm. :

—Michael Citrome

Comments? mikecitrome@yahoo.com