December 17, 2007

2007 Totally Austin Gift Guide

(This originally ran in the December issue of INsite Magazine - insiteaustin.com)

The 2007 Totally Austin Gift Guide



By Sean Claes


So, it's mid-December and you've still not figured out what gifts to get everyone on your list for the holiday. Maybe you need a quick gift for a company party, or that perfect something for that special woman or man in your life. If you're like me, you may have had over a dozen friends who have recently had children, so you're scrambling to pick something out to give them.



INsite took the liberty to collect some things that are true Austin originals. All of the following items are made in Austin by Austinites and sold in local shops and online. Many of these items cost less than $50, so you can pick up something for everyone and still be able to afford the gas to deliver them.



On The Body


All Dressed Up and Shy


This beautiful blue dress is 100% linen and made by All Dressed Up and Shy (alldressedupandshy.com ). It sells for $108 and can be found at Parts and Labour (1604 S Congress Ave)



One-Eared Cat


These hoot-eriffic hand-stitched owl designs are from kid-clothing designer Jody Haller. She owns One-Eared Cat. You can find her designs at Moxie and The Compound (909 W. Mary Street).




Huge Wonder

If you've been asked to be a Godparent of any child, you should think about picking one of these great mafia-movie inspired shirts - "The Godchild." It's by Huge Wonder (hugewonder.com) and can be found at Moxie and The Compound, Parts and Labour, Ecowise (110 W Elizabeth), Kismet Boutique (4410 Medical Parkway), and Austin Baby Store (505 W. Mary Street)




360 Bebe

With a 7 month old daughter, I can tell you our pouch-style baby sling we have has been a livesaver. These slings, by Emily Funderburg - owner/designer 360 Bebe (360bebe.com), are stylish and extremely practical. Find them at the Austin Baby Store, and Due Maternity (3801 N Capital of Texas HWY)




Austin Yarn Company

Their Website calls this funky poncho a marriage of Austin's slack attitude and swanky clothing - a slank ($210). It comes from Cathie Hutchins of Austin Yarn Company (austinyarncompany.com). Also pictured their scarf ($70) and Market Bag ($235). Online orders only.




Hippie Juju Magic

This colorful burst of tie-dye goodness is by Daniel "Juju" Meeker, owner of Hippie Juju Magic (hipforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=415). This guy is a one-man traveling show. You can catch him on 12/8 at the Pine Street Market Days in Bastrop and December 15 & 23 at Austin's 23rd Street Artist Market.




Merchant Ship Collective

These hand-crafted leather cuff bracelets from Merchant Ship Collective (merchant-ship.com) are a sight to behold, and even more of a great thing to wear. The designer is Lisa Knorra and they can be founds at Parts and Labour, Sticky Fingers (2209 S 1st), Blue Velvet (2100 Guadalupe # B), and Lowbrow Emporium (2708 S Lamar)




Fabulous Frills

This funky wool yarn bag made by Danielle Smith of Fabulous Frills (fabfrills.etsy.com) is just $20 and can be found online.




Carianne Schulte

This awesome handcrafted Pierced Box Ring ($165) is by Austin metal designer Carianne Schulte (bycarianne.com). Another item I found on their Web site is a coin created to thank the fne folks of the U.S. Armed Forces called "A Pocket Full of Thank Yous Coin" ($5). You can find these designs by appointment (call 554-1351) at the studio on E. Franklin Avenue.



Kandle Kidswear

Another in the line of cool kidswear, check out the rockin' designs by Kandle Kidswear (kandlekidswear.com/). Other designs include a cowboy dinosaur, Bluebonet, and an Austin Bat. Stop into the following stores to check them out for yourself - Parts & Labour, Eco-Wise, Moxie and the Compound, Waterloo Records and Video (600 N. Lamar), and Prima Dora (1912 S. Congress, 78704)



Stones Throw Studio

Kyle Gross and his Stones Throw Studio (stonesthrowjewelry.com) has a wonderful assortment of earrings, necklaces, and rings. My personal favorite... for the pet on your list, is his really cool pet tags. There's no reason your dog shouldn't be wearing an Austin original as well.. right? You can find these items on Saturdays at The Artist's Market (Mother Egans, 715 West 6th Street) and on 12/8-9 at the Cherrywood Art Fair at Maplewood Elementary School (38 1/2 Street @ Maplewood)




Masterpieces By Michiel

Michiel Rushing,does business as Masterpieces By Michiel, (masterpiecesbymichiel.com)You can see his unusual stone jewelry at The Artist Market and the Artisan Stroll in Round Rock (Main Street and Mays).



Kathy Sahagian

The beaded and copper jewelery of Kathy Sahagian (localartmarket.com/artistpages/kathysahagian) is a sight to behold. Other than because she's so damn good at it, she explains why she makes jewelry "There is real magic in making a person feel beautiful. When a client gazes into my full-length mirror and smiles and I know they fell good about themselves, I feel good about myself and my place in this community," she said. Sahagian's jewelry can be found at The Artist Market.



Bonnie Martin-Hudson owns Miaya Wear (miayawear.com). -

Bonnie Martin-Hudson owns Miaya Wear (miayawear.com). You can find her unique pants, skirts, baby clothes and cloth pocketbooks at the Austin Farmer's Market (422 Guadalupe) every Saturday and The Artists Market each Sunday in December.




In The Body

The Independence Brewing Company

The Independence Brewing Company (independencebrewing.com/) has been around for over three years year now. It's been told to me that a favorite is the Bootlegger Brown Ale, but I swear by the Freestyle Wheat. Either way, it's a neat way to bring Austin to a friend. You can find this brew all over - Central Market, Grape Vine Market, various HEBs, various Twin Liquors, Wheatsville Co-Op, Whole Foods, Whip In, and many neighborhood convenient stores like Bread Basket, C-Mart, etc.



Boomerang's Gourmet Veggie & Meat Pies

Looking for a good Australian Meat or Veggie pie with an Austin twist? I knew that you were... and look no further than Boomerang's Gourmet Veggie & Meat Pies (boomerangspies.com/). Eat or buy frozen at the restaurant (3110 Guadalupe), buy them at Central Market or have them shipped by the dozen to Utah (or any other state).



Kerbey Lane Cafe


Kerbey Lane Cafe (kerbeylanecafe.com ). A restaurant that is known as much as an Austin Original as the food it serves. They've put together gift baskets for the holidays. Remind the Texas-Ex of their college days by sending them some gingerbread pancake mix. Four locations around Austin: 3704 Kerbey Lane, 2700 S. Lamar, 2606 Guadalupe, and 12602 Research.



Sweet Leaf Tea

Have you ever had Sweet Leaf Tea (sweetleaftea.com/)? I must admit, I'm not a fan of the sweet tea, so I never thought I'd enjoy this product, but I got my hands on some of their Raspberry Tea and MAN it was slap-your-grandma good. You can find it at all the major shopping centers. Everywhere that sells drinks... really.



Paula's Texas Orange / Lemon

Paula's Texas Orange and now Paula's Texas Lemon premium liquers (paulastexasspirits.com). Now you can get both in a neat gift basket at Twin Liquors, Spec's, and Western Beverage (Costco). Pick up some Tito's Vodka while you're there... I hear they make a wicked good combination.



Spiceburst Gourmet Spices

Add a little Austin-made spice to someone's life. Spiceburst Gourmet Spices (spiceburst.com). These are an assortment of infused sea salts. The photo is of their Garlic Saltburst, but they also boast Chili Lime, Chipolte, Cracked Malabar and many others. You can find these products at Central Market, Whole Foods, Grapevine Market, Farm to Market (1718 South Congress), East Side Cafe (2113 Manor Rd), and Sunset Valley Farmers Market (4100 Westbank Dr).



ATE Foods

Ever wanted a fantastically cooked meal custom-ordered and delivered to your door from a place that doesn't have "Pizza" in it's name? Everyone else has too. Why not get them some gourmet food from ATE Foods (atefoods.com). It's a different menu each week. Go onto their site and check it out for yourself. December 17 boasts chicken curry, ricorra and feta skillet pie and the one that stands out to me... Hunter's stew with creamy polenta. Yum.




In The House

Keep Texas Beautiful - Lady Bird Ornament

On July 11 of this year, Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson passed away. She was and remains an icon representing the beautification of the nations public areas... Keep Texas Beautiful (ktb.org) has commemorated Lady Bird with their 2007 Ornament. According to their press release "Proceeds from sales of the fourth edition ornament help fund KTB's statewide network of affiliates who focus on litter prevention, waste reduction, and community beautification programs." Purchase it (along with the three previous years ornaments if you like) online, or at the Texas Highways Gift Shop (Riverside Office Complex, 150 E. Riverside).



2008 She Rocks Calendar

Ricardo Acevedo has done it again. I enjoyed the 2007 calendar.. and he has made the 2008 She Rocks Calendar even better. One Eyed Doll, SINIS, Deb O'Keefe, and Patrice Pike are just a few of the talented women who grace the new edition... and the bonus is the sales benefit the Austin Music Foundation (austinmusicfoundation.org.). Awesome. You can find it at: Book People, The Calendar Store in Barton Creek Square Mall and their kiosk at Highland Mall, Cheapo Discs, Prima Dora, Waterloo Records and CDFuse.com.




Simple Southern Scents

Who can resist a candle? Especially ones made in Austin with such wintery names as "Icy Peppermint," "Caramel Cinnamon Latte," and "Christmas Past?" These are made by Angie Pearson throught her company called Simple Southern Scents (simplesouthernscents.blogspot.com). You can find them at Parts and Labour for about $7 a piece.



The Work*Shop

GNOMES! Why buy something premade when you can create it yourself! The Work*Shop (theworkshopaustin.com/) is a walk-in arts and crafts studio. Remember, if you're looking for something for me... I like gnomes. Not creative enough to do it yourself.. they actually DO sell pre-made stuff too. Check out the funky vinyl record-bowls. NEW location: 2438 West Anderson Lane, Suite C-5, Right Next to Terra Toys



Art By Candace Carlisle

If you really want to make a bold statement this holiday, pick up an amazing acrylic (Like this one entitled "Vita Selvaggia") by Austin painter Candace Carlisle (jadedmonkeydesigns.com ). Her art can be purchased at IF+D Austin (208 Colorado).



Austin Fun Stuff 2008 Calendar

The Austin Fun Stuff 2008 Calendar (austinfunstuff.com) comes with over 200 things to do in our great city... from the Polar Bear Swim at Barton Springs to Eeyore's Birthday to First Thursdays to the Capitol 10k. The photos, by Marrick Ales, each month depict Austin scenes like Frisbee golf, The Broken Spoke, and The Umlauf Sculpture Garden. 10% of the profits go to Keep Texas Beautiful. Purchase online and at Whole Earth Provision Co (1014 North Lamar, 4477 South Lamar, and 2410 San Antonio)



Jamie Rood

Artist Jamie Rood (jamierood.com) creates art pieces fit for hanging. Many of his pieces are digital photos that have been enhanced and hand embossed. The print here that shows a frozen Crape Myrtle flower is entitled "Ice Pod." You can find Rood each Saturday at The Artist's Market (715 West 6th Street).





Peter Staats

One of the people in the East Austin Studio Tour (which has about 120 studios represented), Peter Staats (peterstaats.com) is known as a Wedding photographer, but he also specializes in oversized photographic prints of local flora on metallic paper. His studio is located at 1150 San Bernard.



Odds and Ends


Girl Power Guitar School

These guitar lessons are for the girls - really. Emily Marks has created an 8-week group setting (at Ventana Del Sol) for learning guitar that only includes women - Girl Power Guitar School (girlpowerguitarschool.com). Don't worry guys, her private lessons includes anyone. But why not encourage the future Carolyn Wonderland on your list to chase her dream? Call to inquire: 512-809-7799



Austin Band Swag

Austin Band Swag! OK, you're in the live music capitol of the world (you don't believe me, just ask me again) and you need to get that person on your list updated on the local music scene. What better way than BAND SWAG? From lighters to posters to t-shirts to CDs... support local music. Swag above come from She Craves (shecraves.com)), Call The Circle (callthecircle.com/), Butcherwhite (butcherwhite.com/), The Banner Year (myspace.com/thebanneryear ), Latin At Heart (latinatheart.com), The Derailers (derailers.com/), or Ghost of Nithera (myspace.com/ghostofnithera13) play in December.




Sean Claes (http://www.seanclaes.com) is a freelance entertainment writer in Central Texas.



He also was the mind behind the infamous 2005 Totally Austin Gift Guide).



December 13, 2007

November 13, 2007

Commemorate Lady Bird This Christmas...

A Gift that Keeps Giving
Keep Texas Beautiful Wildflower Ornament Dedicated to Lady Bird Johnson

(AUSTIN, TEXAS) – Looking for the perfect gift for those on your holiday shopping list? Want to give something meaningful and beneficial to the state of Texas? The 2007 Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) ornament is the perfect solution.

In honor of her commitment to preserving our country’s wildflowers, the fourth edition KTB ornament is dedicated to the late Lady Bird Johnson. More than any other person, Lady Bird inspired not only Texans, but every American, to treasure wildflowers and value the uniqueness they bring to their community. Honoring Lady Bird is especially relevant at this time of the year as December 22nd would have marked her 95th birthday.

The ornament, made of 24 karat plated gold, features a colorful bouquet of wildflowers imposed over the state of Texas. They make beautiful gifts and can be used as holiday decorations, tree ornaments, or collectables to display year-round. Each ornament includes a pamphlet detailing Lady Bird’s dedication to preserving our country’s wildflowers and native plants. Now, you can order your own copy and remember “Texas’ own Wildflower.”

The purchase of the ornament truly is a gift that keeps on giving back to the state of Texas. Proceeds from sales of the ornament help fund KTB’s statewide network of affiliates who focus on litter prevention, waste reduction, and community beautification programs

The ornament was designed by Nelda Laney, who has designed ornaments for numerous Texas organizations and causes over the years, including KTB’s first, second, and third edition ornaments.

Orders for all four editions of the KTB ornament can be made online at www.ktb.org or over the phone at 1-800-CLEAN-TX.
# # #
Keep Texas Beautiful, a statewide grassroots community improvement and environmental nonprofit, strives to educate and engage Texans to take responsibility for improving their community environment. KTB and its more than 340 affiliates work with government, businesses, civic groups, and volunteers to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to take individual responsibility for making Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. For more information, visit www.ktb.org.

October 7, 2007

Kyle, Texas - Do You BBQ? CONTEST 10/13

Who: OPEN to the PUBLIC

What: The competition includes Meat Categories of Chicken, Brisket, Pork Spare Ribs, and Chili. Other categories include beans, potato salad, and cobbler or pie! Entry fees range from $5 to $15.

When: Saturday, October 13th

Where: Plum Creek - Fergus Park and Soccer Fields - Corner of Haupt and Fairway

Why: Have fun! Eat great food! Win prizes and more!

How: Complete the attached entry form (click it to download full-page PDF) and send your form and entry fees to Brandee Otto, Plum Creek Recreation Committee, 1251 Fairway, Kyle, TX 78640

Other questions ???
Email Brandee Otto at recreation@plumcreektxhoa.com or call 512-405-0159

BBQFullPageEntry.jpg

October 1, 2007

Kyle Fair and Music Festival 10/19-21

Do you know about the FREE Kyle Fair and Music Festival?

October 19th-21st, 2007



Location: Gregg-Clarke Park (8 blocks west of the City Square on Center St.)

Full Schedule of events: http://www.cityofkyle.com/parks/fairschedule.php




FREE Music on October 20, 2007! Featuring
Kyle Park @ Noon

Jason Allen @ 2:00p.m.

Rick Treviño @ 4:30p.m.



David Ybarra and the L.A. Blues Band @ 6:30

Hayden Vitera @ 8:30


PLUS
BBQ Cook-Off
Parade
Arts and Crafts Show
5K Run
Carnival
Texas Hold'em Tournament

September 18, 2007

The great mind dump 9/18/07 edition

It's come to my attention that I have a very short attention span.

I mean, I like peanut butter pie, and I really think the one at the Texas Pie Company in Kyle, Texas takes top prize, or is at least in the top 5 peanut butter pies ever. It's certainly the best I've had from a store. No, they aren't paying me a dime, I just thought I'd bring it up.

You see, I like things that not too many people do. There aren't too many PB Pie lovers in the world... but if you think you could be one... that's where you should start.

Speaking of liking things not too many people like, I'm a big fan of putting soy sauce on my macaroni and cheese. Now, before you gasp and envision a horrible taste.. hear me out. Just try it one time. I am of the belief that you'll love it too. If you don't, well at least you can mark off that "do something new today" line off your list for the day.

The soy sauce on mac and cheese is something that my dad taught me. I'm not sure where it came from, I used to think it was a "north thing" since my dad grew up in Ohio, but once I talked to a few people from Ohio they debunked that theory right off. It's a Claes thing.

Another food item that is a bit weird to describe but tastes oh, so good, is "corn in a cup." I grew up in Laredo, Texas and this is something that people who are from that area (or "The Valley") will recognize, and salivate over. In spanish it's called "elotes en vaso" Check this one out... you start with hot corn (preferably cut off the cob)then add a layer of butter and cheese, then another layer of corn, a layer of sour cream and cheese, layer of corn, layer of butter, then corn, and top it with cheese and chili sauce.

I know, it sounds a little gross, but trust me, it's fantastic. Wish I could find somewhere in Central Texas that sold this delicacy. It reminds me of growing up.

When I was growing up, my parents rarely bought popscicles, instead we poured sugarless Kool-Aid into ice racks, covered them with saran wrap and stuck toothpicks in them. It was the best thing for a hot day. Never knew what I was missing with "real" popscicles until one day when my parents came home with the creamsicle... wow... popscicles filled with ice cream. Maybe that's why I find it hard to eat popscicles other than the ice-cream filled ones these days. Hmmm.. If I had a therapist, I'd call because I may have just had a breakthrough.

But, I don't have a therapist, I write. This blog is actaully my therapist, I'm just throwing things that are rattling around my head out on this blog for no other reason than I can. I have to make room for other things, so corn in a cup, peanut butter pie and things like that have to be taken out.

Remember at the beginning I said I had a short attention span? Well... welcome to my mind. Tuesday, September 18, 2007 edition. Thanks for reading.

I feel better now...

September 11, 2007

Reflections on 9/11

As I sit at my desk on Tuesday, September 11, my mind wanders to the last 9/11 that occured on a Tuesday, the day that the World Trade Center and Pentagon was attacked.

I was on my second day at a new job... I was the new Communications Specialist on a federal grant called the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research at the Southwest Educational Development Laboratories. Shortly after I got to work, I was settling into my cubicle just trying to figure out what exactly my role in this position was going to be, my boss came out of his office and quietly said "A plane just hit the World Trade Center."

Talk about a million thoughts racing in my head. In the following days as the news continued to pour in, I found out that the folks I knew in Washtington DC were all safe. That was a bit of a personal relief... but how devastating was this to every person in the world. A friend who was visitng Europe and France was consoled and embraced as she was their link to "America" in the days following... it was an amazing response of a mix compassion for Americans and rage against whomever did this injustice.

Now it's six years later.
I'm not the kind of "wave-the-flag-yee-haw" American, but I have pride. I am all for the things this country was founded on and I try to live my life embracing the melting pot idea.

So.. I sit at my desk (yes I came to work as did all my co-workers) and reflect. I popped in one of my all-time favorite CDs that I haven't listened to for a long while... Darrell Scott's Aloha From Nashville.

While doing some work, the song "Life is Cheap" began...

"She's awakened every morning with her baby down the hall
and when he's cried to sleep, she's staring at the wall.
And in that wall she sees the devil staring out of knotty pine
Though she speaks out loud, he will not get behind.

She's a woman with wounded spirit. She's a woman who loved too much.
Like Mama always said, she's such an easy touch."


Suddenly a meaning that was never intended came through this song (It was recorded in 1997) and it sent chills down my spine.

I guess I'm effected by music as much as many are. As Darrell Scott said when I interviewed him earlier this year:

"Music is universal language. It is frequencies and vibrations that effects me in deep ways I do not understand. I feel them and it resonates and sticks with me. Somewhere in me is all that I have heard, sounds endlessly gathering. "

I transcribed the lyrics above because they don't actually appear anywhere online that I could find.

I did find a link to a little bit of an mp3 though if you care to listen. The chorus is on the link and it's what actually effected me....then I started the song over with a new mindset.
http://www.echotunes.com/mmTHEECHOPLEX/audio/mp3/dscott_lifeischeap.mp3

So... I'm sitting here.. reflecting. Thought I'd share. I don't need a big american flag sticker or a magnet on my car or a day off work to remember... I don't need a political comment or a stance to champion or a people to parade around.

Thanks for reading.

September 8, 2007

San Marcos Naturescapes Contest...

So much of my time is spent shooting bands in dark places... it's nice to take something in the light. It is just fun to be able to get out there and try my hand at nature photography. Three years ago, the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance and the Hill Country Photographers club established the "San Marcos Naturescapes Photography Contest and Exhibition.

And...for the third year in a row, I've entered. Every year, I've been excited to find that some of my photos were chosen to be displayed in the Exhibit.

The first year, I actually got 3rd place for a photo I took of some canoers (that my wife has hanging in her office now). Last year I had 3 shots in the show, but nothing placed.

This year's contest winners were announced last night with a reception at the San Marcos Recreation Center. I was very pleased to have two shots in the show. A photo of some tubers I took, and a photo of a flower I saw down by the river.

After they went through the "Honorable Mention, 2nd and 1st Place" of each catagory, I thought the night was over except for the Best of Show... so I thought "At least the fried mushrooms rocked and I enjoy seeing everyone's photos and chatting with folks" but then My name was called along with 3 others.

My River Flower won the "Award of Excellence" meaning it was the top rated photo in my category of "Wildlife and Plants." I'm amazed. I almost didn't enter the photo... but my wife pretty much begged me to. I should listen to her more often.

So here's the shot.


You can see it in person at the San Marcos Activity Center Walker's Gallery until October 26... for details, go to: http://www.smgreenbelt.org/PhotoContest.htm


You can also see some of the winners from the last 2 years (including my Canoers shot.. and a root photo) on that site.


Oh.. my other shot in the show hanging right now - "Tubers Tubing":

August 27, 2007

MANGA ENTERTAINMENT’S ANIME CLASSICS COMING TO HEAVY.COM

Press Release from "The Morris + King Company"

MANGA ENTERTAINMENT’S ANIME CLASSICS ‘GHOST IN THE SHELL,’
‘NINJA SCROLL’ AND ‘ASTRO BOY’ COMING TO HEAVY.COM


Starz Media’s Anime Division to Deliver Streams of TV Episodes and Feature Films on Heavy

New York, NY – August 27, 2007: Heavy.com, one of the web’s leading online brands and the leader for 18-34 year old guys, today announced that numerous properties from Starz Media’s Manga Entertainment, a major producer and distributor of anime, will be streamed full-screen on HeavyTV—the first time many of these classics will be streamed online. This partnership begins two years of Manga anime content on Heavy, which includes film and television classics Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll and Astro Boy, among others (see list below).

“We’ve seen a lot of success with our original anime series, Kung Fu Jimmy Chow, and decided we needed to give Heavy’s audience the foundational anime classics courtesy of Manga Entertainment,” said Jason Marks, VP of Programming for Heavy. “Manga Entertainment’s library is unparalleled in both quality and depth, and we at Heavy are ecstatic to have been chosen as the online home for the Heavy generation of anime fans.”

Every week, one full 25-minute television series episode and one television series mashup will stream in segments at URL. Monthly, one full feature-length film and one film mashup will stream at URL. Mashups consist of Manga Entertainment content presented by Heavy’s most hilarious and talented personalities.

“We’re very excited about this new way to showcase our Manga Entertainment properties in a form and format targeted specifically to today’s online audience. In Heavy we have found both the ideal partner and perfect audience to do so,” said Marc DeBevoise, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for Starz Media.

Come back to Heavy throughout the year to enjoy the following Manga Entertainment titles online for the first time in their entirety:

Television

Astro Boy — Anime classic from Osamu Tezuka, “the god of manga,”about a scientist who creates a powerful robot boy in an attempt to replace his deceased son.

Ghost in the Shell — Stand Alone Complex (Season 1): Masamune Shirow’s groundbreaking cyberpunk thriller involving high tech sci-fi, political intrigue, and terrorist hackers.

Street Fighter II V — Watch as the ultimate contest of body and mind is decided in the streets in this fan-favorite series based upon the popular video game.

Virus — This 1997 TV series is set in Neo-Hong Kong, 2097, when Earth is attacked with a virus that turns bio-machines into metamorphic monsters.

Feature Films [CHANNEL LINK]:

Blood: The Last Vampire — Saya, a brooding and mysterious girl, battles Teropterids—evil beasts which pose as humans and live only to drink human blood.

Castle of Cagliostro — Famed thief Lupin III and his partner Jigen set out to steal the treasures of Castle of Cagliostro, Hayao Miyazaki’s first feature film.

Dead Leaves — Pandy and Retro, two unlikely renegades, are captured by authorities and sent to the infamous Dead Leaves lunar prison.

Ghost in the Shell — One of the most influential anime films of all time is set in 2029 where an unnamed government uses lifelike cyborgs for undercover work to capture computer hackers.

Ninja Scroll — A ninja-for-hire is forced to fight an old nemesis who is bent on overthrowing the Japanese government.

Macross Plus Vol. 1 — Isamu and Guld must beat the odds in order to destroy cybernetic singer Sharon Apple’s computer, which contains a hypnotic hold on the city's citizenry.

Macross II: The Movie — Together with ace Valkyrie pilot Silvie Gena, Hibike and Ishtar must find a way to save Earth from total destruction at the hands of the Marduk leader, Ingues.

Read or Die — Yomiko Readman is “Agent Paper,” a secret underground operative for the British Library who is called to duty when a book that could spell the end of the world is stolen.

Street Fighter Alpha — Ryu, the current Street Fighter champion, must overcome the power of the “Dark Hadou,” which consumed Akuma, the brother of his sensei, Gouken.

Street Fighter Alpha Generations — In a quest to become a true martial arts master, Ryu sets out to hone his street fighting skills and to deliver himself from the haunting legacy of the Dark Hadou.

Street Fighter II: The Movie — Led by the evil M. Bison, Shadowlaw—an underground organization bent on world domination through drug smuggling, illegal weapons distribution and terrorism—hopes to increase their power by recruiting the world’s greatest street fighters.

About Heavy.com
Heavy is one of the web’s leading consumer media companies and the leader for 18-34 year old males, which is a key demographic for marketers and advertisers. Heavy combines its own unique programming with those of its users to create an environment where you can control and even participate in your own media experience. Heavy empowers its audience to share, editorialize, and create their own content as well as provide its own library of programming. Heavy’s programming staples include “Superficial Friends,” “Kung Fu Jimmy Chow,” "The Massive Mating Game," "Heavy News," "Behind the Music that Sucks," "Heavy’s Angels," "Contagious," "Blisster" and "Tourettes Cowboy.” Portions of Heavy's library of animation and live-action shorts are available on Verizon V-Cast, Verizon Fios, Comcast VOD, Tivo, Sony PSP, Apple iPod and Joost. Advertisers on the broadband network include Coors, Nissan, Panasonic, Diesel, Axe, Sony and Nike.

About Starz Media
Starz Media, LLC is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming -- including theatrical films -- and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp. that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group, www.starz.com.

About Manga Entertainment
Manga Entertainment is an entertainment company specializing in the production, marketing and distribution of Japanese animation for theatrical, television, Internet, DVD and home video release worldwide. The Manga film library is marketed and distributed in the U.S. through Starz Home Entertainment and Anchor Bay. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in London and Tokyo. Manga is a division of Starz Media LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Group. www.manga.com

August 20, 2007

Open Auditions for METV Veejay!

ME Television | Music & Entertainment Television
*

[1]

[2]ME Television - THE NEXT VeeJay
Open Call Auditions - August 30th at Midnight Rodeo

Wanna be on T.V. and cover all the hottest events in Austin? ME
Television, Austin's premier 24-hour music and entertainment
television network, is holding open call auditions for THE NEXT VEEJAY.

THE NEXT VEEJAY:

* Win an opportunity to be an ME television personality
* Cover all of Austin's best in music and entertainment
* Interview and cover the hottest celebrities and events like
/Austin City Limits/, /South by Southwest/, /Musicfest in Steamboat
Springs/, /Dennis Quaid and his Celebrity Charity Weekend/ and many
more.

COME EARLY!
Open call begins 12:00 p.m. and will go on through 8:00 p.m. at
Austin's own Midnight Rodeo, August 30th. Bring your best as viewers
will be voting on you based upon these auditions. THE NEXT VEEJAY
premiers October 1st.

Click here for more information[3]

Copyright © 2007 ME Television 2130 South Congress Ave. Austin,
Texas 78704
Advertise With Us[4] | Contact Us[5] [6]



Links:
------
[1] http://www.metelevision.com
[2] http://www.metelevision.com/auditions/index.php
[3] http://www.metelevision.com/auditions/index.php
[4] mailto:natalie@metelevision.com
[5] http://www.metelevision.com/contact.php
[6] http://www.midnightrodeoaustin.com

July 31, 2007

INsite Night @ Red Eyed Fly - 8/4/07

Hosted By: INsite Magazine
When: Saturday Aug 04, 2007
at 7:30 PM
Where: Red Eyed Fly
715 Red River St
Austin, TX 78701
United States
Description:
INsite Magazine

Click Here To View Event






Say Hello To The Angels - 12:30, Twenty Questions - 11:30, Redefining The Moment - 10:30, The Still Life - 9:30, The El Guapos - 8:30, We Killed Shelly - 7:30.


Hosted By: INsite Magazine
When: Saturday Aug 04, 2007
at 7:30 PM
Where: Red Eyed Fly
715 Red River St
Austin, TX 78701
United States
Description:
INsite Magazine

Click Here To View Event

July 13, 2007

July 27 INsite Night @ Hanovers

Insight-night-posterweb

 

 

Freebleeder:

Go to the corner store, buy the cheapest beer you can find, shake the Hell out of it, then pop the top. What comes out is Freebleeder from Austin Texas. One part punk, one part rock, and one part metal, and three parts drunk. Catchy songs and an energetic live set have begun to provide a buzz throughout the mighty State of Texas. Drink and Destroy. (From http://myspace.com/freebleeder)

 

 

 FULL SERVICE

Full Service refers to the fact that at any given show you go from soothing rhythm to hard rock to heavy funk to . . . well, a combination of all three. The brilliance is in how it is all woven together in a way that nobody has done before. . . The more I've listened to the band the more I've come to realize that the riveting guitars and the catchy baseline are strangely melodic in ways unlike any other band has mastered. Everything is upbeat without feeling forced. The music seems to echo Full Service's outlook on life with the integrity that is lacking in most of today's music. To listen is to appreciate their perspective on life. (From INsite Magazine)

 

BENT EYE BOLT

Allow me to introduce the band. I'm David Harrod from the band Bent Eye Bolt. Stephen Haas is the drummer/back up vocals/ producer/ owner of Addison Studio's. There is also two other guys in the band Todd Hiebert (bass), and Brian Carney (Hammond C3, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, synthesizer, piano samples) A side from the music we’re just regular dudes trying to have a good time.  (From: http://www.benteyeboltmusic.com

 

 

This is a CD Release show for this Compilation - $5 will get you this beauty:

 

 Featuring:

1. Dryland- Freebleeder
2. Beneath the Velvet Bridge- Freebleeder
3. Thorn- Bent Eye Bolt
4. 7 Come 11- Bent Eye Bolt
5. Oh Kill Me- Full Service
6. Hi-Ho- Full Service

 

 

PLUS a FREE INsite Compilation CD :

 

Featuring:

1. Move On- Vallejo (vallejomusic.com)
2. Propaganda - One Trick Monkey (onetrickmonkey.net)
3. Need Me - She Craves (shecraves.com)
4. Twilight - Dexter Freebish (dexterfreebish.com/)
5. Look Up, Look Down - This Life Electric (thislifeelectric.com/)
6. Rufus - Patrice Pike (patricepike.com/)
7. Goldmines - David Newbould (davidnewbould.com/)
8. Poetry and Prozac - Twilight Broadcast (twilightbroadcast.com/)
9. Easy - Wendy Colonna (wendycolonna.com/)
10. Photographs - Dave Madden (davemaddenmusic.com/)
11. Marcia Martian – Jabarvy (jabarvy.com/)
12. Useless Cause - Loss Rayne (lossrayne.com/)
13. Specialer - Escort Service (escortserviceband.com/)
14. ...And The Band Played On – DAX (dax.org/)
15. In Love With Your Sound - Acoustic Spoken Groove (spokengroove.com/)

 

June 21, 2007

Beautiful... just beautiful

When I was in college I put together a video for a project on Tattoos, Branding, and Ritualistic Scarafication. Mostly for the shock value. Anyhow... we put together a video and used Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People" as the soundtrack. I need to YouTube it....

Anyhow... here's the actual video. Lyrics are below.






I dont want you and I dont need you
Dont bother to resist, Ill beat you
Its not your fault that youre always wrong
The weak ones are there to justify the strong
The beautiful people, the beautiful people
Its all relative to the size of your steeple
You cant see the forest for the trees
You cant smell
Your own shit on your knees
Hey you, what do you see?
Something beautiful, something free?
Hey you, are you trying to be mean?
If you live with apes, man, its hard to be clean
Theres no time to discriminate,
Hate every motherfucker
Thats in your way
The worms will live in every host
Its hard to pick which one they eat most
The horrible people, the horrible people
Its as anatomic as the size of your steeple
Capitalism has made it this way,
Old-fashioned fascism
Will take it away

June 16, 2007

Less Musketeers needed...

It sounded good... in concept.

So, the other morning I was on my way to work and I had to stop and gas up the truck. Gas is up over $3 now so I thought, as long as I'm spending over $48 on gas, I deserve to have some breakfast. So, I wandered into the store to find something that was breakfasty. The problem with looking for breakfast at a gas station is, unless it's a fancy one (and this one was anything but fancy) you aren't going to find anything other than coffee and little chocolate do-nuts.

So I wandered through the store, past the newspapers, bin of beer on ice (it was 7:15a.m. you know), and vaious jerkeys and chips looking for something that said breakfast to me. Having finding nothing, I took a look at the beverages. A breakfast drink.. that's what I'd get. That Starbucks ice coffee thing was like $27.00 so I browsed elsewhere until I found what looked like the best drink ever.

The Three Musketeers breakfast drink. PERFECT! I love 3 Musketeers, and I love breakfast. It's the best of both worlds. So I bought it. I paid for it and wandered out and jumped in my newly gassed up truck and headed to work. I shook up this bottle that I thought was filled with liquid genius and opened it up.

It was crunchy. I thought I'd thought I hadn't shaken it up enough.. so I closed it up and did it again. Nope... crunchy. It was like they took 1/2 the bottle and filled it with powdered Three Musketeers, 1/4 of it filled with powdered milk and 1/4 water... Crunchy liquid.

So, please be warned, if you buy this bottle... buy a pint of milk to dilute it into in order to make it drinkable.
I'll go ahead and skip the middle man and just buy a candy bar next time. It's not breakfasty... but hell.. it's edible.

June 12, 2007

I'm Lucky
I'll admit it. I'm the luckiest person I know. I'm not talking gambling. I suck at that. My wife can wipe the floor with me on those video-slot machines that used to be legal and were oh-so-fun. I'm talking about things like drawings and life in general. What made me think about this was the fact that a new HEB plus! opened in my neck of the woods and I was invited to the grand opening event (free food, mariachis, a full band, a mascot... who's NOT gonna want to go there?) and my name was one of the 6 names drawn to win a prize. I won 4th prize, a Rattan Wicker 4-piece outdoor furniture set worth $379.00. Awesome.




But that is just one in a long line of lucky wins I've had.

When I was three or four, I won the tricycle in the community Easter Egg Hunt in Coldwater, Michigan. I was told that I only picked one egg up and it happened to have the "golden ticket."



Not a winning, but it goes to luck. When I was in 2nd grade I fell from a tree and only broke my arm. I fell from the equivalent of the very top of a 2-story house. All I remember is "branches-brown-and-blue. What adds to the luck was the man mowing the grass right next to where I fell was a doctor.

When I was in my early 20s I won a trip to Acapulco in a radio "Summer of Winnings" in Laredo, Texas. It was one of those things where you win something like $10 worth of Burger King food and your name goes into the running for the big prize at the end of the summer. Well... somehow my name came up. I really only wanted the Playstation. I got the bonus plan.


When I moved to San Marcos, Texas to pursue my degree, my wife was the first person I met.

When I graduated college, I got a job at the Austin-American Statesman... then 6-months later was offered a job for $10k more a year to go into the dot-com world as a Copywriter and Internal Communications Specialist. I was downsized only to get a job offer on my last day of severance.

Anyone who knew me in my mid-to-late 20s can attest that the very fact I'm typing this message and not a statistic of misspent youth will agree that I'm lucky.

I'm just lucky. I hope it never runs out. The glass is always more than half-full. I've got to believe that.

I've been blessed with a wonderful wife, two fantastic little girls (3 and 8 weeks) and friends the world over.

I better run, I'll be lucky if I get to work on time now.

June 4, 2007

Memories of Giant Worms

Just thinking about this... I was working at the Laredo Morning Times that faithful day in March 1993. Talk about a day when you didn't open your door for fear of being fired.

I recall Target actually sold "Home of the 300 Pound Worm" shirts. I wish I'd bought one.

The crappy thing about this is.. 2 really good people lost their jobs because of this.
----
UPDATE (3/19/2015): Jesus Manuel posted this image of the actual story as it appeared in the Laredo Morning Times on the "Remember When In Laredo Texas..." Facebook group.



----

(found on: http://www.wormdigest.org/content/view/174/2/)
A Long, Tall Texas Tale
5/1/1993

American Journalism Review

By Yleana Martinez

The Morning Times of Laredo, Texas published a story in March 1993 about a 300-lb, 79-foot earthworm that had townspeople rushing to the storage location to see the body. Unfortunately, the story was a hoax which cost the job of the reporter under whose byline the story appeared and caused the editor who approved the story to leave as well. The reporter, Carol Huang, is now working as a freelancer, but regrets not having worked harder to keep her job.

There were no aliens involved, just a dead 79-foot earthworm, but something of a "War of the Worlds' concern still gripped the border town of Laredo, Texas, in early March after the Morning Times reported the worm's appearance.

The 200-word story said that frustrated commuters called police that morning after being unable to drive around the 300-pound worm, described by one motorist as "a grey, fat, rubbery thing." A Laredo State University entomologist, Dr. Luis Leacky, pointed out a sticky trail of mucus along Interstate 35 and surmised that the mutant had emerged from the polluted Rio Grande. U.S. Border Patrol agents, assisted by Laredo police officers wearing rubber gloves, used two cranes and an 18-wheeler to remove the carcass, according to the paper.

That day, Bill Green, publisher of the Hearst-owned Morning Times, dismissed the reporter who wrote the tale. The editor who allowed it to see print also left the paper, although he won't say why. (The publisher would only say the two "no longer work here.") The next morning, Green signed a front page apology to readers on both sides of the border--as well as the Border Patrol, the Laredo Police department and Laredo State University, home of the fictitious Dr. Leacky.

Reporter Carol Huang, 27, says she dashed the story off as a joke after being put on hold during a phone interview. It wasn't the first time she had composed fake stories on her computer to amuse herself, she says. This time, however, she shared it with a newsroom colleague.

When it appeared a few days later on page 3A of the Morning Times under the headline, "Agents recover huge carcass' and her byline, Huang says she was stunned. "I knew right away I was in trouble."

Tom Sanchez, the news editor who signed off on the story and who now hosts a daily talk show on a local radio station, says it was printed "by accident" but wouldn't comment further or explain who had written the headline or placed Huang's name on the piece. Says Green, "I know this much: He had the story for 24 hours. He did not consult with the writer or another editor. It is inexplicable."

What caused many of the city's 130,000 residents to run to their cars was Huang's final paragraph. "Because federal environmental guidelines do not outline the proper disposal method for large, earthworm carcasses," she wrote, "authorities have left the creature in the Target store parking lot until Monday, when zoologists and EPA officials are expected to arrive from Washington."

Local law officers say they received hundreds of calls. A Texas A&M University scientist notified the Morning Times he was ready rush to the scene with a van loaded with technical equipment. At the parking lot, located across the street from Border Patrol offices, curiosity seekers arrived in droves. Says Alfonso Moreno, a Border Patrol spokesman, "There was a lot of commotion, cars going in and out of there, looking for the worm."

Jose Esqueda, the KGNS-TV chief photographer who drove to the lot in a station car to film traffic for a story on the hoax, soon found 15 cars following him. He says puzzled drivers would catch his eye and shrug, as if to say, "Where is it?" When Esqueda returned a few hours later, he found a batch of curious firefighters circling their truck ahead of what he describes as "a little worm" of tailgaters.

One Target employee says that people knocked on the store's windows even before it had opened "asking if we had [the worm] in the building." Huang, now freelancing and having second thoughts about whether she fought hard enough to keep her job, says the hubbub taught her a hard lesson about the power of the press. "I realized, definitely," she says, "that people read the newspaper and believe what they read."

Martinez, a Laredo native whose first journalism job was as a Morning Times proofreader in 1976, is a freelance writer based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

May 22, 2007

Austin’s Shrapnel Returns To Stage
After Nearly Six Months Work Replacing Stolen Gear




AUSTIN: In the early morning hours of Sunday, December 31, 2006, Austin’s Shrapnel had their trailer broken into and all of their gear stolen (see the end of this message for a list of gear if interested).

Since the band is uncompromising in the quality of music they present onstage, it has taken nearly six months of work, borrowed money and loans to get the band stage-ready again. The band was forced to sideline the production and release of their sophomore effort as well as tour plans in support of that record.

In spite of it all, Shrapnel's trademark unyielding determination to persevere brings them to triumph over soul crushing circumstances. This Saturday, twin brothers Evan (guitar) and Aaron Canady (vocals/guitar) along with Greg Stewart (drums) and Gustavo Calderon (bass) will step onto a stage for the first time in 2007.

Shrapnel marks their return on May 26, 2007 at 11:15p.m. on Day 2 of the May Metal Mayhem Fest at Red 7, located at 611 E. 7th St in Austin, TX.

The full line-up for May Metal Mayhem can be found on the INsite’s MySpace Page. http://www.myspace.com/insiteaustin

A Shrapnel promotional poster, designed by Austin’s Fireside Creative, is uploaded here: http://www.seanclaes.com/052607Shrapnel.jpg

Please feel free to redistribute this press release, poster, or contact Shrapnel’s Manager, Tammy Moore (512-293-262, triviatamrocks@aol.com) for more information or to schedule media. .

Who: Shrapnel (shrapnel-online.com, myspace.com/shrapnel)
Where: Metal Mayhem Fest @ Red 7 (611 E. 7th)
When: Saturday, May 26, 2007 @ 11:15p.m.
What: Shrapnel’s return to the stage
Shrapnel’s Missing Gear List from 12/06




In spite of great grass roots efforts and a feature on Fox 7 News in Austin, the gear has never surfaced. Below is a list of missing equipment that Shrapnel had to overcome, replace, and/or rebuy in order to play live again:

Drums:
Yamaha Stage Custom 7-piece – SBD – 622 PPH01049
20x18 Bass Drum
16x18 Floor Tom
13x11 Tom
12x10 Tom
10x9 Tom
8x8 Tom
14x5 Snare
Percussion Plus Drum Throne
DW 7000 Double Bass Pedal
Yamaha Hi-Hat Stand
Yamaha Snare Stand
Yamaha Double Tom Mount
Yamaha Cymbal Stand
2 Gibralter Clamp/ Cymbal Stand
Premier Cymbal Stand
Tama Extension – (Cymbal Mount)

Cymbals
Zildjian – 14" ZBT Plus Hi-Hats
20" Edge Solid Ride
8" A Custom Splash
Sabian – 18" AAX Stage Crash
8" Pro China Splash
13" B8 Pro Thin Crash
7" Terry Bozzio Radia
Paiste – 18" 802 China
Wuhan – 16" China
12" China
12" Splash
17" Crash
19" Crash

World Percussion – 18" China
16" China

LP – 10" Dome

Cases
Kaces Hardware Bag 48"
Nomad 7 Piece Case Set – 22", 16", 14", 14", 13", 12", 10"
Levy's CM9 Stick Bag
Emelia Earhart Luggage Cymbal Bag

• CONTINUED •
Guitars:
Ibanez R6 320 DX QM – C02031316 ($600) + Case
ESP LTD M250 – 99016085 ($700) + Case
ESP LTD EC1000 – W0242973 ($895)
Amber Sunburst w/ EMG 81 in Bridge, SD JB 59 in Neck + Case

Amps:
Mesa Boogie Simul-Class 2:Ninety – N-4485 ($1299.99)
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier – R0837 ($1100)
Carvin R600 – R6 10683

Speakers/Cabinets:
Mesa Boogie 4x12 4FB – C18810
Mesa Boogie 4x12 4FB – C16392
Carvin RL210T – SP14843
Carvin RL 115 – 0B80765

Processors, etc.
Furman PL Plus II Power Conditioner – 011403011558 ($189.99)
Furman PL Plus II Power Conditioner – 011403013591 ($189.99)
Korg DTR 1000 – 011601
Furman RR-131 – 003743000027
Furman RR-131 - 003743000026
Furman PQ3 Equalizer – A0000169 ($173.85)
Rocktron Prophesy – 2500244 ($999.99)
Boss ME-50 – 0821799 HT39437 or 27120090505 ($299.99)
Boss ME-50 – 0821799 HT39415 or 27120090506 ($299.99)

Misc.
Behringer FC B1010 – L0413827089 ($149.99)
EMG-ZW Pickups – ($199.99)
EMG-ZW Pickups – (21) 467834 ($199.99)
Monster Cable Digilink 25 ft. Monster 5 pin Midi Cable – ($34.95)

*Both Mesa Boogie 4x12 guitar cabinets with vintage 30 speakers were in road ready Keal Cases.

*The ESP LTD M250 has arrow head inlays and a grey satin finish with a skull and crossbones sticker on the bottom part of the body just left of the volume and tone knobs.

*One rack consisted of a 10 space rack with casters which included a Furman PL Plus II Power Conditioner; Furman Rack Rider-131 EQ; a drawer containing wires, picks and acceseries; and a Mesa SimulClass 290 Power Amp.

*A second rack with casters included a Furman PL Plus II Power Conditioner; Furman PQ-3 EQ; a Rocktron Prophesy Multiple Effect Processor; and a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier with a black diamond plate face and chrome chassis.

April 22, 2007

Plum Creek Music Festival


Second Annual Plum Creek Music Festival April 29, 2007 12-9p.m.



This year, Front Porch Days in Kyle, Texas' Plum Creek Neighborhood will have something for every musical palate strewn throughout the neighborhood. Yes, it’s time for the Second Annual Plum Creek Music Festival.



Second Annual Plum Creek Music Festival

April 29 (Sunday), 2007
Kyle, Texas
Click here to: Visit Plum Creek Online for Directions.

Here's the line-up. Click each name to hear them...or learn more.

Haupt Park Stage - The Plum Creek Music Stage
12:00 - 1:00 - The Biscuit Brothers
1:15 - 2:15 - Adam Donmoyer
2:30 - 3:30 - Jenny Hollub
3:45 - 4:45 - Tina Mitchell Wilkins


McNaughton Park Stage - The Austin Indie Alliance Stage
12:00 - 1:00 - Phoenix Saga
1:15 - 2:15: - Full Service
2:30 - 3:30 : The Nematoads
3:45 - 4:45 The Ars Supernova


Lucky Cup Stage - Bravado Touring Artists Stage
2:00p.m. Harry Bodine
3:00p.m. Terry Carolan
4:00p.m. Mark Jungers
5:00p.m. Michael O’Connor
6:00p.m. Marc Utter and the Blackland
7:00p.m. Susan Gibson
8:00p.m. Spencer Thomas
9:00p.m. SPECIAL GUEST - TBA
10:00p.m. Jeff Plankenhorn with Brannen Temple





March 19, 2007

Dog and Cat Food Recall

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/17/national/main2581329.shtml

(CBS) Menu Foods is recalling dog food sold under 50 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands. The food was distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

The recall is limited to “cuts and gravy” style pet food that was sold in cans and pouches.

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates is available from the Menu Foods Web site.

The recalled brands are:

Cat Food
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Best Choice
Companion
Compliments
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Fine Feline Cat
Food Lion
Foodtown
Giant Companion
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Li'l Red
Loving Meals
Meijer's Main Choice
Nutriplan
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural Choice
Paws
Pet Pride
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans
Sophistacat
Special Kitty Canada
Special Kitty US
Springfield Prize
Sprout
Total Pet
Wegmans
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie

Dog Food
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Bruiser
Cadillac
Companion
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Great Choice
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Loving Meals
Meijers Main Choice
Mighty Dog Pouch
Mixables
Nutriplan
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro Ultra
Nutro
Ol'Roy Canada
Ol'Roy US
Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride - Good n Meaty
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Publix
Roche Bros
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Shep Dog
Springsfield Prize
Sprout
Stater Bros
Total Pet
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Your Pet

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

March 19, 2007
(CBS/The Early Show)

Quote

"What makes this recall so scary is it involves so many brands: 50 dog foods and 40 cat foods."
The Early Show veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Go To Comments


(CBS/AP) For owner Elizabeth Krottinger, it's been a difficult week: All five of her dogs have been sickened.

"I've just been one big stress ball," she told CBS News.

Menu Foods, Canadian company based outside Toronto that produces pet food, said Saturday it was recalling dog food sold throughout North America under 50 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was distributed by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

An unknown number of cats and dogs had suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said.

Two other companies — Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. — said Saturday that as a precaution they were voluntarily recalling some products made by Menu Foods.

Many stores that sold the affected brands frantically pulled packages off shelves.
Check the list


Silviene Grzybowski's cat, Smokey, hadn't been eating for days.

"The vet told us to buy her her favorite food, but I'm going to call the vet right now," Grzybowski said.

Ron Finegold of Boynton Beach, Fla., said he noticed about a week or so ago that his family's 3-year-old cat — who was regularly fed a variety of Iams cat food — had stopped eating and did not appear well. He quickly took the animal to the veterinarian, who determined she was in renal failure.

He said he heard about the recall on the radio Friday night. He checked his trash, and found out he had given the cat some of the affected food.

"That's when I realized (the illness) had to be related," Finegold said. "She won't be eating that stuff anymore."

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was available from the Menu Foods Web site. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information — (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.

Menu Foods' chief executive and president Paul Henderson told the Associated Press on Friday that the company was still trying to figure out what happened.

He said that the company had received an undisclosed number of owner complaints that dogs and cats were vomiting and suffering kidney failure after eating its products. He estimated that the recall would cost the company, which is mostly owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, an estimated $26 million to $34 million.

The recall involves all the "cuts and gravy" wet style dog and cat food produced at Menu's Emporia, Kansas, facility between Dec. 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007, reports CBS News' The Early Show veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner. "What makes this recall so scary is it involves so many brands: 50 dog foods and 40 cat foods."

The company said it makes pet food for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

Sarah Tuite, a company spokeswoman, has said the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, which has since been dropped for another source. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Julie Zawisza said it is still too early to determine what could have affected the food. Zawisza added that even if wheat gluten is the source "it doesn't necessarily mean the wheat gluten per se. It could be another substance associated with the wheat gluten."

The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches from Dec. 3 to March 6.

In Omaha, Neb., Susan Balvanz said she sometimes feeds her five cats packets of sliced meat and gravy sold by Nutro Products, one of the brands affected.

"I've done so much research on pet food. It didn't surprise me but it scared me all the same," said Balvanz.

She said her 9-year-old cat, Boots, was especially fond of the food but seemed to have lost its appetite in the last few days.

At the Missouri Valley Veterinary Clinic in Bismarck, N.D., veterinarian Jacob Carlson has been referring worried pet owners to the Menu Foods web site.

"We've had a lot of calls," Carlson said, although none of his patients were sick.

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

March 11, 2007

Free Music - Live in Austin this week

Follow this link to a bunch of free shows this week (downloads a PDF).
Thanks New Music Tipsheet.

http://www.newmusictipsheet.com/sxswpartylist2007.pdf

AND here's Austin, TX Showlist's stuff:
http://www.showlistaustin.com/

AND Donewaiting.com's stuff:
http://www.donewaiting.com...

So... if you know of any other free shows... list them below.

Here's a few:





Of course... don't forget to check out the March issue of INsite... tons of free show information in there.