T-shirts spur revelation

This letter is in reference to the three guys behind Plateau clothing [Cover, “In the Main vein,” Sept. 26]. First of all, I would like to congratulate you guys on your success. That being said, I am ever thankful that the Mirror decided to give you the cover story. A few weeks ago, I picked up the copy and threw it in my bag. I didn’t get a chance to read it until the next day when I was riding the metro.

I flipped straight to page 28 and was skimming over the article when a quote caught my attention. “We’re just a couple of friends that got sick of paying 45 bucks for T-shirts with logos we thought we could put together ourselves,” it read. Wow. Somewhat stunned, I realized that this was more or less same thing I’ve been telling anybody willing to listen over the last couple of years.

I have a dream to one day start my own T-shirt/design company. I’ve thought up countless names and designs, but never had the motivation to climb that extra step and throw my money into it. Not once have I heard that a clothing company was a good idea. Frustrated by the lack of support, I was at the verge of giving up.

After reading the article twice more on the metro, I had to get out and tell somebody. I used the payphone at the next stop (which wasn’t even my stop) to call and tell my girlfriend my new discovery. I would like to say a big thanks to Matt Savoie, Matt Williston and Jesse McDonald for the inspiration. I would also like to say thanks to the Mirror and writer Raf Katigbak for the story. Best of luck guys.

» Sean Costello

Foday Sankoh lives

Of course Kristian Gravenor is right in lamenting the lack of African issues that make it into North American media amongst the entertainment froth that dominates the headlines [The Kristian Perspective, Oct. 10].

But a key fact in his column wasn’t right. Gravenor wrote, “Foday Sankoh died September 24. And that’s good.” According to CNN and other sources, Sankoh is alive in a prison hospital in Sierra Leone after suffering a mild stroke.

And maybe that’s even better. Sankoh was a brutal man, having tortured, maimed and murdered countless Sierra Leonians. There will be no justice to speak of, but at least the impending charges by a UN war crimes tribunal and spending the rest of his life in a squalid prison will set some kind of example of the man and keep the discussion going on the rampant corruption in African governments. Let’s just hope that whatever happens next, some Western media, including Kristian Gravenor himself, will get it right.

» Stephen Gale

Kristian Gravenor responds: Indeed reports out of West Africa suggesting that Sankoh had died September 24 have proven erroneous. The incorrect reports underline the need for more solid news reporting resources in areas of the world where journalists are subject to bullying and harassment. However, with any luck the bloodthirsty, murderous political bully and waste of flesh» whose health is apparently in freefall» won’t be around much longer.

CD review gets low grade

Johnson Cummins’ 9/10 rave review of James Cotton’s Midnight Creeper [Discs, Oct. 3] begs the question: has Johnson Cummins ever listened to James Cotton? There are dozens and dozens of James Cotton albums available. Midnight Creeper is a very badly recorded live set, done with one mic from the audience.

There are much better Cotton CDs from that period. I’d recommend Best of the Vanguard Years as an excellent example of Cotton’s music at that time. In my not-so-humble opinion, Cotton’s best CD is the later Deep in the Blues. Midnight Creeper is not in the same league as those, or many other James Cotton CDs and was probably released because it cost the company next to nothing.

» Helen Shapiro

Ain’t no sunshine

Why don’t you do weather reports?

» Anonymous

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