Month: April 2020

SXSW Slapped with Class Action Lawsuit After Denying to Refund Tickets

Posted on by Phil Lam X

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Austin Division on April 24 by two plaintiffs, Maria Bromley and Pauta Kleber, who claim to have spent over $1,000 each on attending the event that was originally scheduled for March 12-20 in Austin. On March 6, organizers announced they were forced to cancel the annual festival due to a city order that prohibited large gatherings in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Following the cancellation, SXSW informed ticket and pass holders that they would not be receiving refunds. Instead, the independent festival offered pass holders free registration — equivalent to the amount they spent for the 2020 festival — that would be valid for SXSW in 2021, 2022 or 2023. They were also offered a 50% discount based on the amount they spent in 2020 for another one of those three years.

According to the lawsuit, both plaintiffs were informed that the offer expires on April 30, 2020. The complaint notes that these offers were put forth by the festival on March 12, which additionally stated that it “cannot be certain that future festivals will occur.”

Source: Billboard

Amoeba Music Announces Permanent Closure of Famed Sunset Boulevard Location, Set to Reopen at New Hollywood Boulevard this Fall

Posted on by Phil Lam X

Despite a planned summer-long celebration to officially say goodbye to its orignal location, Amoeba Music will not be able to reopen its store on Sunset Blvd. due to the coronavirus global pandemic. The new location, which is just a few blocks away, is still scheduled to open sometime in the fall. (Photo by David Allen, Daily News/SCNG)

On Monday (April 27), Amoeba announced that the famed Los Angeles retail outlet would not be reopening at its original location, where it has sat since 2001. All efforts will now be focused on opening the store at its new space on Hollywood Boulevard, where it is slated to open in the fall.

“This is heartbreaking for us,” reads a statement posted to the Amoeba website. “We never envisioned not being able to give the store the send-off it deserves, to give you all a chance to say goodbye. We had so many events planned to celebrate our history at 6400 Sunset! But we are facing too many mitigating circumstances that simply won’t allow for it.”

The statement notes that because music stores aren’t considered “essential” businesses by the state of California, it most likely wouldn’t be able to open even if “safer at home” restrictions are eased this summer. Even if it were given the go-ahead, the statement continues, reopening would place staff and customers of the store, which sees over a million visitors a year, at risk of contracting the virus.

Source: Billboard

Barbr – Mobile App

Posted on by Phil Lam X

Last year I prototyped a mobile app that allowed users to get quality haircuts in their home by booking barbers in the area. The concept came from people in big cities who work tight schedules and can’t make it to a barbershop during business hours, or they just don’t feel like driving somewhere and paying for parking. Sure the idea could use some more refining but with all the recent closures and limited gatherings, I don’t think I was too far off with this one💈

Bill Clinton Album Challenge Memes Invade Instagram: How To Easily Make Your Own

Posted on by Phil Lam X

Bill Clinton has continued to be a topic of conversation throughout his political career, but now the discussion around the former President of the United States has shifted to something a bit more unconventional. Thanks to the rise of the Bill Clinton album challenge on Instagram, memes of the “My Life” author holding various vinyl records have spread around social media. Here’s how you can make one for yourself.

Anyone who is interested in making their own meme can go to Billclintonswag.com to do so. Those who visit the site will find a template and a search function, which gives them the option to add whatever artwork they would like into the available spots. The places to put album covers can either be filled with a variety of images or one cover multiple times, which many people have done for comedic effect.

Source: International Business Times

In Orange County, Coronavirus-Related Racism Toward Asians Leads To Calls For Action

Posted on by Phil Lam X

OC is home to Little Saigon, Little India and — Taiwanese bakery buffs will note — the first U.S. location of 85°C which opened in Irvine.

But in the weeks since the pandemic hit California, anti-Asian incidents have made some in the community feel straight-up unwelcome, and led to a demand for action at the top levels of county government.

More than 200 people signed a letter that was sent to the Orange County Board of Supervisors Wednesday, calling on it to pass a resolution “denouncing the discrimination and hate crimes directed against Asian Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Source: LAist

Insane Clown Posse cancels their annual Gathering of the Juggalos, originally slated to take place in August, due to Covid-19: ‘We Refuse to Risk Even One Juggalo Life’

Posted on by Phil Lam X

The Insane Clown Posse announced on Wednesday that they’re canceling this year’s Gathering of the Juggalos due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The festival celebrating the hardcore hip hop duo will be postponed to next year.

“The bottom line is that we REFUSE to risk even ONE Juggalo life by hosting a Gathering during these troubling times,” the Insane Clown Posse said in a statement posted to Twitter.

The group, comprised of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, then referenced their most recent album titled “Fearless Fred Fury” to advise their fans “to heed the words of Fred Fury and Flip the Rat: ‘BE SAFE: Watch your step and take it easy. You can’t replace what you mean to our team.”

Source: CNN

King Iso – World War Me

Posted on by Phil Lam X

Blown away by King Iso’s World War Me record! Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Love the whole soldier theme in the videos & artwork. Can’t name a single song I dislike. 22 tracks nowadays is like a double album for some. He produced the whole thing too? Get out of here.