Occupy Tampa Updates

It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to make it out today due to last-minute family things, but I wanted to make sure I shared a few things with you.

  • First of all, the meetup place has chaged from Curtis Hixon Park to Lykes Gaslight Park.
  • You can text OccupyTampa to 443322 to get updates throughout the day.
  • Also, Occupy Tampa has a livestream running here. As of right now it is showing old footage from Occupy Wall Street, but it should pick up again soon as the park has just re-opened.
  • For more updates and information about where Occupy Tampa stands with the TPD at any given moment, check out the Facebook page.

TAMPA POLICE ATTEMPT TO DISMANTLE OCCUPY TAMPA’S PROTESTER CAMP

inothernews:

mindtwinkies:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA POLICE BROKE DOWN OCCUPY TAMPA PROTESTERS’ CAMP 

As many as six squad cars responded on scene in front of Curtis Hixon Park.

Tampa, FL (October 14, 2011) – Friday morning, at approximately 9:00 a.m. EST, Tampa Police Department vehicles arrived on site in front of Curtis Hixon Park. The officers (of both genders) numbered in the double digits, and their presence led protesters to believe that the officers were prepared to arrest protesters of both genders. Captain Dugan, who was in charge of the scene, informed protesters that they were no longer allowed to place articles (backpacks, coolers, chairs, purses, sleeping bags, etc) in or upon the sidewalk per City Statute 22-8, including a table, which was being used to distribute political literature, in clear violation of the landmark court case, ACLU of Nevada v. City of Las Vegas. 

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Source: mindtwinkies

The One With Copyright Infringement

crazysunshine:

I would like to get serious for a moment and bring up a recent matter that was brought to my attention. It’s one of the those stories filed under, “You Don’t Think It’ll Happen to You and Then It Does.” This is also a way for me to better understand what exactly is going on and how I can learn from it. There’s nothing like gaining experience in life than having to deal with legal issues (and at such a young age, too!).

Backstory: Last week, Conan O’Brien sent out a tweet in response to the Boston Red Sox loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in the race for the American League Wild Card and to the MLB Postseason:

 

Screen_shot_2011-10-06_at_2

Understandably, a number of Rays fans became upset and and angry. So much that a Tampa Bay-area DJ who goes by the name Mr. Cowhead (his real name is Mike Calta and he heads the radio program The Cowhead Show) tracked down the number of Conan’s publicist and gave it out on the air for his listeners to call and express their anger. Word got to Conan and he mentioned it on the show the next night. He even sent out another tweet to apologize (or his version of an apology; after all, he is a comedian):

 

Screen_shot_2011-10-06_at_2

So now, a number of Tampa Bay residents became upset and called for drastic measures from boycotting Conan to leaving mean messages on Facebook, the Team Coco website, and on Twitter. And when I say “mean”, some of the stuff that I’ve seen is way over the top and completely unnecessary. 

One would think that everything would die down after a week, but that is not the case. On Wednesday night (the 5th of October), Mr. Calta released a site titled Fuck Coco dedicated to keeping track of everything Conan has said about Tampa Bay and the Rays. Here, readers and listeners of his show can read and comment on posts and such.

Here’s the thing: I have no problem with the site itself. I am all about freedom of speech and if this is how Mr. Calta wants to express his anger towards Conan, then that’s fine. My issue is with the artwork that is being used on the site. See the Conan drawing on both the header and avatar? It’s actually mine; it’s from a drawing I created last year during Halloween called, “Zombie Conan”. In this version, the colors of the skin and eyes have been altered. This is the original drawing originally released October 2010 and can only be found on my Tumblr blog and on Google Images (if you know what to type):

 

Conan_zombie03_02_sm

I have no problem with others using my work (even in this context) as long as they get permission to use it first. After word got out, my Twitter friends started to help me out in dealing with Mr. Calta. Here’s one short snippet from one conversation. This was after someone let Mr. Calta know about what he had done and me confronting him:

 

Screen_shot_2011-10-06_at_3Screen_shot_2011-10-06_at_2See the full gallery on Posterous

The mere fact that he doesn’t see anything wrong shows that Mr. Calta has no remorse in what he has done. I don’t care who you are; stealing artwork from others without their permission and without giving proper credit is wrong. I never want it to happen to myself or anyone in the art community. Unfortunately, it happens and most of the time it goes unnoticed. For me, I’m very fortunate that this was brought to my attention.

I have gone ahead and sent Mr. Calta a cease and desist letter demanding that he take down the artwork immediately. All there is left to do now is wait and see what happens. I have given him until next Monday the 10th to comply. Otherwise, I will have to take additional action. 

Being a person with integrity, I refuse to stoop down to either Mr. Calta’s or his listeners’ level and throw insults and slurs left and right. I want to handle this in a professional matter and if Mr. Calta refuses to do so on his end, it’ll only hurt him in the long run. And judging by what I’ve seen on his Twitter stream, his radio show’s website, and the other things he has done (like the article from The Days of Y’Orr blog titled, “The Secret Life of Mr. Cowhead” - Warning: NSFW), it’s hard to say if he is professional by any means. I don’t know about you, but responding to people on Twitter by calling them “ugly”, “fat”, “lesbian” and the like shows me no professionalism whatsoever.  

Mr. Calta needs to know that what he did was both morally and legally wrong. I’m not asking for much; all I want is for my artwork to be taken down. Simple as that. If you’re on Twitter, familiarize yourself with Mr. Calta’s account (his handle can be see on the above screencap) and read for yourself the things he’s said to others; this is what I have to deal with. Regardless of what side you’re on in this whole Conan v. Tampa Bay debacle, you must understand that stealing is wrong in all shapes and forms even if it’s on the Internet.

I want to thank everyone supporting me during this; it really means a lot to me and I greatly appreciate it. I’m thinking up of the next plan of attack in the case that Mr. Calta does not comply by next Monday. I hope that everyone who’s with me now will help me out if it’s needed. This has nothing to do with me being a fan of Conan O’Brien; this is about protecting my rights as an artist and the ownership of my artworks.

Before I wrap this up, I have to give a big THANK YOU to you (the reader) for taking the time to read this post. Always remember: copyright infringement and plagiarism is not cool.

I love Tampa, the Rays and Conan. I fucking hate Cowhead.

(via enjoy-your-burrito)

Source: crazysunshine

staff: Name Josh RushingLocation Afghanistan, Iraq, Mexico, Columbia, US Journalist, presenter, author, and photographer Josh Rushing co-hosts Fault Lines on Al Jazeera English. Rushing enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1990, and was assigned to CENTCOM in Doha, Qatar during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as spokesman to General Tommy Franks. An independent documentary about Al Jazeera, Control Room, captured his efforts to communicate the American message on Al Jazeera Arabic, which eventually led to him resigning his commission and later helping launch Al Jazeera English. He’s the author of Mission Al-Jazeera: Build a Bridge, Seek the Truth, Change the World. Also check out… Pale Horse Design Hailing from Tampa Bay, Pale Horse is the moniker and studio space of visual artist Chris Parks. ReCraft Web magazine dedicated to modern style, culture, arts, and more. Fuck You Yelper An exploration of what happens when you combine an internet connection, money for a meal, and a sense of entitlement. Hey there, Pale Horse - St. Pete represent!
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staff:

Name Josh Rushing
Location Afghanistan, Iraq, Mexico, Columbia, US

Journalist, presenter, author, and photographer Josh Rushing co-hosts Fault Lines on Al Jazeera English. Rushing enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1990, and was assigned to CENTCOM in Doha, Qatar during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as spokesman to General Tommy Franks. An independent documentary about Al Jazeera, Control Room, captured his efforts to communicate the American message on Al Jazeera Arabic, which eventually led to him resigning his commission and later helping launch Al Jazeera English. He’s the author of Mission Al-Jazeera: Build a Bridge, Seek the Truth, Change the World.

Also check out…

Pale Horse Design
Hailing from Tampa Bay, Pale Horse is the moniker and studio space of visual artist Chris Parks.

ReCraft
Web magazine dedicated to modern style, culture, arts, and more.

Fuck You Yelper
An exploration of what happens when you combine an internet connection, money for a meal, and a sense of entitlement.

Hey there, Pale Horse - St. Pete represent!

soundsoftampabay:

Antiwarpt was on Saturday and it was beyond amazing. So much great music, and so many people out and about. The crowds were incredibly friendly, I think it was really representative of what’s so great about our scene and our community. This particular clip was recorded while I walked the south side of 600 Block, from Daddy Kool to the impromptu Taco Bus set up. You can hear each venue’s act playing as I pass it (Local, Fubar), and at the end you can hear the hum of the Taco Bus’s generators running. I have much more to share from this event, I’ll most likely be posting clips from Antiwarpt all week.

Hey! More Antiwarpt goodness! Sounds of Tampa Bay will be posting clips from Antiwarpt all week long. Follow us here.