  The homotopy type of the complement of a complex coordinate subspace
arrangement is studied by fathoming out the connection between its topological
and combinatorial structures. A family of arrangements for which the complement
is homotopy equivalent to a wedge of spheres is described. One consequence is
an application in commutative algebra: certain local rings are proved to be
Golod, that is, all Massey products in their homology vanish.
