Marrich

Frances is no longer with that grocer, but Ari reports that she's licensed and set up to sell the stuff on her own now. She says:

I do have some lovely organic lamb, bones, tripe other items. Anyone can call me at 867-1039.

The Alibi interviewed Gilbert Baker, the guy who designed the first rainbow pride flag back in 1978, when he came through town last summer. Interviewer Marisa Demarco posed a question along similar lines as Pattriot:

Why does the gay community need a flag?

Because visibility is important. Visibility is still our No. 1 job, as a matter of fact. The rainbow flag helps in that matter. Certainly, it's incredible, the way people have interpreted it and used it. That visibility is important because it puts our message out. People see a rainbow flag and they know it's gay, even if they're not gay. That's due to our great work.

It's important that we claim power, and part of that is not being invisible. The rainbow flag, you put it up on your house or you put it on your bumper sticker or you put it on your T-shirt, you're taking direct action. You're saying something as an action.

He had some interesting history and viewpoints on the subject. Read it all, in Baker's own words, here.

Sometimes some categories suck. It goes down three ways:

1) for whatever reason, no one's voting in that category, resulting in not enough votes to produce a conclusive 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner.

Or the opposite happens, but to the same effect: 2) too many votes are split in too many different directions to produce a conclusive 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner. For example, this happens when every band in town votes for itself in the Best Band in Town category, which produces a 400-way tie for 1st place (each getting a victorious 1 vote each), and no 2nd or 3rd place.

3) Something will get enough votes to take 1st, with a 600-way tie for second/third places. So, same deal. If there's no 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner, the category was poorly designed.

Basically, we don't run results when there are no results. Does that answer your question?

As an alt.weekly co-sponsor of SXSW, we get to nominate one band every year. Everything else (that's official) is up to the SXSW selection folks -- sometimes NM bands get in, sometimes they don't.

Or band practice! I'm not in a single band where members don't speak simultaneously most of the time.

Only you're talking into the mic when it happens. ;)