Do you know the difference between a rollergirl and a snack food?

Crackerjack vs. Frito Lay (via Texas Rollergirls)

"Plano-based snack company Frito-Lay North America, Inc. recently put the corporate kibosh on local rollergirl Colleen "Crackerjack" Bell's attempt to trademark her nickname for roller derby competitions. In their opposition, filed April 8, Frito-Lay essentially alleges that their tasty caramel popcorn treat runs the risk of being confused with a bunch of tough ladies who try to bruise each other while skating around a circular rink." – Austinist

Frito-Lay claims in their opposition of the roller derby-specific trademark that Crackerjack is merely descriptive, not a proper name; they claim there is a great likelihood of confusion between the candied popcorn and the rollergirl; that use of the word crackerjack by a rollergirl dilutes the connection between the words Cracker Jack and candy popcorn, and/or tarnishes the image of the snack; and finally they claim that Crackerjack is falsely suggesting a connection between herself and candied popcorn, and the insinuation is causing harm to Frito-Lay.

Crackerjack talks about her trademark on Austin Fox and CBS affiliates:
on Fox - http://tinyurl.com/crackerjack-FOX
on CBS - http://tinyurl.com/crackerjack-CBS

The story has also gotten coverage in the Madison, WI local press
http://77square.com/citylife/features/story_447246


Balderdash. Or should we say, Poppycock. If you still don’t get it, watch this:



We think that people are generally smart enough to tell the difference between a rollergirl and a snack. If we’re right, please tell Frito-Lay and encourage them to drop this opposition. http://www.fritolay.com/about-us/contact-us.html

Goodbye, Neighbor

R.I.P Jennifer Gale

Austin Musician Sentenced As Narco-Terrorist Under Patriot Act

Austin Sound

Jake Mitchell, the drummer for Austin’s Boxing Lesson, was sentenced a couple of weeks ago to 60 months in federal prison on marijuana charges. What makes Mitchell’s case particularly unsettling is that he was charged under the Patriot Act and has been branded a Narco-Terrorist. The band went public with the details today as Mitchell prepares to begin his sentence early next month, hoping to raise awareness of his case for the pending appeal and help support him and his family as they have lost everything. And the details only get more distressing.

According to the Boxing Lesson’s publicist, Ryan Cano, Mitchell’s wife is currently serving a six month sentence as a conspirator for not turning her husband in. While Cano acknowledges that the operation Mitchell was running out of his house in 2006 was certainly much more elaborate than a simple case of his growing pot for personal use, the fact that he was charged, and sentenced, under Patriot Act laws that have essentially branded him a domestic terrorist seems particularly ludicrous and disheartening.

UPDATE

Contrary to our initial information, Mitchell was NOT charged under the Patriot Act, and has not been branded a “narco-terrorist.” His appeal against his 60 month sentence and conviction for both manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture over 100 marijuana plants is, however, focused on the questionable tactics by the Austin Police Department in pursuing their sting operation against Mitchell, namely the un-warranted use of drug dogs outside of the house and, as the Chronicle reports today, the controversial policy of the APD using utility information to spot potential illegal operations.

Typhus reported in Central Austin

AAS

The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is investigating about a dozen cases of possible typhus infection, most of them reported in Central Austin.

The type of typhus found in Texas, murine typhus, is most commonly caused by rats and their fleas, but opossums and cats can also be involved in transmitting the disease, according to the Department of State Health Services Web site. People get it from an infected flea.

Carole Barasch, a spokeswoman for the local agency, said the department is working with the Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to investigate the outbreak.

"It is unusual," she said. "From 1997 to 2006 there were no reports of typhus (in Travis County)." She said she did not know how many were reported last year.

This particular strain of typhus is believed to be deadlier than other strains commonly found in South Texas.

"What the CDC told me is that the strain we're getting here is so much more lethal than what they've been seeing at the border," said Linda Komm, whose son and husband both were diagnosed with typhus. "At the border, people have been getting it and (are) able to (tough) it out, but here, everyone that's been getting it has been going to the hospital."

Austin - Police State

Austin American-Statesman

Austin police spending per capita grew 84 percent during a nine-year period that ended in 2006, while expenses in six other departments, including Dallas and San Antonio, increased 34 percent at most, according to information compiled by the city auditor's office.

Austin police expenses also were more than two times higher than the other cities' from 1997 to 2006, the draft public safety report said.

[snip]

[Police Chief Fearmonger Art Acevedo]
"It is clear that this administration treats the organization as a businesses, and as such, we strive to maximize efficiency and effectiveness and attempt to keep costs at a minimum," Acevedo said.

"The reality is, can you put a price tag on public safety?"

Grits for Breakfast answers: " Well of course you can, sir! It's called "your budget."


On a related note, APD "needs" a third helicopter and more surveillance cameras.

Eeyore's 45th

bumblebee's sting
Originally uploaded by lumai

The Friends of the Forest put on their party hats to celebrate Eeyore's 45th Birthday this past Saturday.

The guest list included Silverman, Wizard, Merman, Jesus Christ Super Delegate, Leafman, members of the Justice League and of course Tigger.

Also spotted at the party were many faries, a unicorn, two horny girls and other interesting creatures.

A storm trooper crashed the party and I found Waldo at the beer tent.

This being Austin, the party eventually was overrun with a bunch of dirty fucking hippies.

Eeyore's Birthday

Eeyores
45th Annual Birthday Party

Saturday, April 26, 2008
11:00 a.m. until dark.
Children's Area from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Pease Park
Austin TX USA

sxsw - day last

Finally Punk


Monotonix

Unfortunately no photos from these great sets (some idiot forgot to recharge camera batteries...)

Mika Miko

The 18th show at SXSW by The Mae Shi

CPC Gangbangs

...so I might as well throw in photos of Zooey, Sharin and Lykke

sxsw - day four

The Jealous Girlfriends



Bodies of Water





Film School











Lykke Li

sxsw - day three

Lykke Li



She & Him



Zooey



Billy Bragg



The Homosexuals

sxsw - day two

minipop



The Big Sleep











The Raveonettes

sxsw - day one

Chris Bathgate



Modey Lemon



Frightend Rabbit



Ugly Beats



Paul Collins Beat



The Wedding Present



Black Diamond Heavies

Artist List for SXSW 2008 Music Festival Released

The folks at SXSW have just posted the list of bands attending this year's SXSW 2008 Music Festival:

SXSW 2008 Showcasing Artists

After a brief glance at the list, here are some of the artists that I'm looking forward to:

The Acorn (Ottawa ON)
Arrah and The Ferns (Muncie IN)
Black Diamond Heavies (Louisville KY)
Carbonas (Atlanta GA)
Clockcleaner (Philadelphia PA)
Crystal Castles (Toronto ON)
Cathy Davey (Dublin IRELAND)
Deer Tick (Providence RI)
Experimental Aircraft (Austin TX)
Frightened Rabbit (Glasgow UK)
Future Clouds & Radar (Austin TX)
Guitar Women w/ Cindy Cashdollar and Sue Foley (Austin TX)
Half Japanese (Austin MI) !!!!!
Headlights (Champaign IL)
The Homosexuals (London UK)
Jarboe (Atlanta GA) !!!!!
Khan (Berlin GERMANY)
Jens Lekman (Gothenburg SWEDEN)
Lykke Li (Stockholm SWEDEN) !!!!!
Naked Raygun (Chicago IL)
Office (Chicago IL)
Petty Booka (Tokyo JAPAN)
The Pillows (Tokyo JAPAN)
The Raveonettes (New York NY) !!!
The Slits (London UK) !!!!!
Waco Brothers (Chicago IL)
We Are Standard (Basque Country SPAIN)

fuckers

City ordered to put booted APD officer back on force

Beating a man found sleeping at an East Austin bus stop last year cost APD officer Gary Griffin his job.

A police dash cam video of the July 2006 incident is what then-acting Austin Police Chief Cathy Ellison used to make her decision to kick Griffin off the force nearly six months later for using excessive force.

Griffin appealed that decision. It has taken about a year for the arbitration process, but he won.

flugtag

Team Roshambo


Flugtag 2007 Texas

Saturday, August 25, 2007
Auditorium Shores
Austin, TX

Arrest Made in Austin Women's Health Center Bomb

Austin-American Statesman

Charged in the crime was Paul Ross Evans, who lives in northeastern Travis County and has been to prison on burglary and robbery charges.

[snip]

The National Abortion Federation is trying to determine whether Evans has been to the clinic in the past or made any threats against area clinics, said Vicki Saporta, president of the federation, an association of 400 abortion providers, including the Austin clinic.

Saporta said abortion providers "remain on an elevated alert . . . to make sure that we don't have somebody else who would commit a copycat crime."

Evans has been charged with three federal crimes that accuse him of using weapons of mass destruction, attempting to damage a building used in interstate commerce and attempting to damage a facility because it provides reproductive health services.

Arrest affidavit (pdf)

Domestic terrorist hits Austin

Device at women's health clinic was an explosive, sources say (Austin-American Statesman)

A package found Wednesday in the parking lot of a South Austin women's clinic contained an explosive device, four sources familiar with the investigation said today.

Local and federal authorities are planning a news conference at 2 p.m. to discuss the investigation, which will be headed by federal officials.

[snip]

The package was found about 2 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the Austin Women's Health Center at 1902 S. Interstate 35, north of Oltorf Street. The clinic provides services including abortion.

UPDATE:

A package found Wednesday in the parking lot of a South Austin women's clinic contained an explosive powder, authorities said today.

Austin police said the device could have caused serious injury or death had it detonated before a clinic employee discovered it and notified authorities.

"The device was a dangerous device," David Carter, an Austin assistant police chief, said at a press conference this afternoon. "We believe it was capable of detonation."

He declined to be more specific. Officials have not commented on any possible suspects or motives and have not said what else was in the device.

An Open letter from Factory People:

We Love You Austin and SXSW, But You’re Freaking Us Out