I’ve completed the flyer design for “Burning Down The River 2025: Rise Of The Phoenix”. The image above should link to the original size, please feel free to download.
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Burning Down The River 2025: Rise Of The Phoenix – Promo Flyer (Print version) Burning Down The River 2025: Rise Of The Phoenix – Promo Flyer
Burning Down The River 2025: Rise Of The Phoenix – Promo Flyer (Print version) -
massive:Ronin to create promo artwork for upcoming art and music event.
I’m happy to say that I’ve been chosen to create the promo artwork for the “Burning Down The River” event that takes place each summer in Missouri high up on Water Mountain. This year happens to be the 25th anniversary, which makes me even more proud to be part of the effort.
The theme this year is “Rise Of The Phoenix”, and I’ve already got a couple of drafts worked up that reflect the mythological Phoenix taking flight shortly after it’s rebirth.
Stay tuned for the finished product being posted here, as well as all over social media, event pages, and possibly even the ol’ “under the windshield wiper”.
If I find the time, I hope to create a special limited edition piece as well, but that’s all I can say since I don’t want to spoil it. If all goes as planned, I think it will be a nice addition to the package and might even benefit the event as well.
That’s all you’re getting for now, so shoo! Stop back by to see other updates from the studio and mind of massive:Ronin.
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State Takeover Of St Louis Metro PD
WHAT HAPPENED:
Missouri just passed a law giving the state control over the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. This means local leaders and voters no longer have authority over the city’s police force.
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WHY IT MATTERS:
• A state-appointed board now controls the police—not the people of St. Louis. • This undoes the local control that voters fought to win back in 2012. • The change affects a city with a large Black population and was not driven by community demand.
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WHO THIS AFFECTS:
• St. Louis residents, especially Black communities • Teachers, parents, and families concerned about safety, surveillance, and accountability • Anyone who values local control and voting power
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WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
• Who gets appointed to the new police board • Changes in policing, arrest policies, and surveillance • Impacts on community trust and safety • Whether this spreads to schools, elections, or other city functions
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WHY THIS IS A BIG DEAL:
This is part of a larger national trend: State governments are taking over decisions from cities—especially Black and Brown communities. This isn’t just about policing. It’s about power, voice, and who gets to decide.
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State Takeover & Protest Suppression in St. Louis
What this means for protest, dissent, and community voice
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WHAT’S CHANGED:
The State of Missouri now controls the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. A board of commissioners, appointed by the governor, now oversees the city’s police—not local elected leaders.
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WHY THIS MATTERS FOR PROTEST & CIVIL RIGHTS:
Loss of Local Control Means Loss of Local Voice • Residents no longer have a say in who leads the police or how protest policies are shaped. • This includes decisions about how protests are policed, what tactics are allowed, and how force is used.
Protests Are More Likely to Face Harsh Response • State-aligned leadership can authorize militarized responses without local accountability. • Tear gas, kettling, mass arrests—these tools are now easier to deploy under state control.
St. Louis Has a History of Powerful Protest • From Ferguson to today, St. Louis has been a center of racial justice organizing. • This law could suppress future protests by removing local leadership responsive to the community. • Black residents may no longer be the statistical majority, but they remain a central force in the city’s identity.
It’s a Warning to Other Cities • St. Louis is now the only U.S. city to lose control of its police after regaining it by popular vote. • It sets a dangerous precedent:
If you organize, we’ll centralize.
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WHAT TO WATCH:
• Changes in protest permit rules • Increased surveillance or intimidation tactics • Shifts in policing of youth and community gatherings • Erosion of civil liberties framed as “public safety”
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REMEMBER:
Protest is a right. So is your voice. This law doesn’t erase that—but it’s meant to scare you into thinking it does. Stay aware. Stay connected. Keep showing up.
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SPEAK UP. STAY AWARE. SHARE THIS. This affects all of us. -
Studio speakers? Not anymore!
Just when things start to look a bit better due to working this new audio project for a Squad modification, my Mackie CR8-XBT studio monitors have suddenly stopped working. Why? Well, I’m not sure…
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New Sound Design Project Started
Marking Mortar Targets – Scene from Omnites’ Squad Community Trailer featuring the voice of massiveRonin. It’s been a few years since I have worked on a project involving sound design. In fact it’s been 4 years since I did some sound design and voice acting for Omnites in his short film/trailer, “Squad Community Trailer“.
But I’ve just been asked to assist with another project. This time it’s a modification, or “mod” as they’re called in the gaming community, to a game.
Funnily enough, it’s the same game the Omnites’ project was promoting, the online tactical multiplayer “Squad” from Offworld Industries.
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Notes on Upcoming Site Changes
So, this is just an exercise at the moment, since I’m bad about posting on here as of late and it won’t hurt to write out what I intend to do here.
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Projects System Added
One of the things I’ve been wanting/needing for the site was a simplified way to track projects and share my ideas, build logs, photos/videos, and general information on my projects. I settled on Project Pages, written by Woody Hayday, for the WordPress plugin to try. It’s still early days, so all I can say currently is that I’m excited to see if it meets my needs. Stay tuned, I’ll be posting about my experience!