INMATES...It's Time To Rally

I just found out some bad news about three INMATES.  Melissa Mendoza, Ashley Mendoza and Bryan Kerley's house was recently destroyed in a fire.  They lost everything they owned.  Everything.

I know that in today's world of social media overload, it's practically a weekly occurrence to read or hear about someone else's misfortunes.  Because of that, it's easy to gloss over stories like this, unless you personally know the victim(s).  But, have you ever thought about how quickly life can change?  I'll admit it's not something I like to spend a lot of time thinking about.  However, once you understand that the future is not guaranteed, your appreciation for life will escalate tremendously.

So, take a moment to think about how screwed you'd be if you lost every single possession you owned.  What would you do?  Where would you live?  How would you replace your stuff?  And what about the irreplaceable stuff like pictures and keepsakes?  That would be absolutely terrible.

With that in mind, here's how you can help.  On Wednesday, August 28, 2013, The Hub Sports Bar and Grill (4145 Belt Line Road, Addison, Texas 75001) is hosting a benefit to help raise money for these INMATES.  All tips and donations will be given to Melissa Mendoza, Ashley Mendoza and Bryan Kerley; to help rebuild their lives.   The benefit will start at 7:00 p.m. and there will be $3.00 wells and domestic beer for all INMATES.  Live acoustic music, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, by Mark David Manders.  Oh yeah, and the Mendoza sisters and Bryan will be bartending the benefit that night.  For more information, click the link below...

https://www.facebook.com/events/1410810815800687/?ref=notif&notif_t=plan_user_invited

Come out next week, have some drinks, listen to some good music and contribute what you can to the cause.  Even if you only have $5.00 to donate, every dollar helps.   Remember, one day it just might be you that needs help.  Toast!               

2013 Hottest Bartender Contest

Attention all INMATES, it's time for you to cast your vote for the 2013 Hottest Bartender.  The field has been narrowed down to 10 finalists.  The girl that gets the most votes by August 31, 2013, will be crowned Blitz Weekly's Hottest Bartender of 2013.

If you click the link below, you will be taken to the Blitz Weekly Facebook page.  From there, you can click the arrows on the left or right of the screen to scroll through the pictures of the finalists.  You can cast your vote by "liking" the picture of the girl you think is the hottest.

Blitz Weekly 2013 Hottest Bartender Contest (click here to vote)

Unfortunately, you aren't provided with any information about the contestants.  Personally, I think a  short bio about each of the finalists would be very helpful for the voters.  And remember, this competition is not just about being aesthetically pleasing, but also about being a true bartender.

And, while The Parole Board does not know each of the finalists, we do know one of them quite well.  Her name is Courtney Ellis.  Currently, Courtney works at the Concrete Cowboy in Dallas, Texas.  And since you might know anything about her, I want to take this opportunity to tell you about her.

Courtney is a true bartender.  She is the definition of an INMATE.  She wasn't just put behind a bar because she looks good.  Really, there's nothing worse than an attractive bartender that sucks at bartending.  If someone wanted to tip a hot girl with no job skills, said person would just to go a strip club.  But, that's not the case with Courtney.  She has great drink/shot knowledge, she can pack a bar with customers and she won't buckle under the pressure of being 10 deep at last call.  The Parole Board is voting for Courtney to win the 2013 Hottest Bartender Content and you should too...     

VOTE FOR COURTNEY (click here)

This message was approved by The Warden.  Toast.

A Fallen INMATE

Sadly, the service industry has suffered the loss of one of our own. INMATE Abraham Bonilla has fallen. Abraham was a beloved bar manager at Froggy's Boat House; located at 4400 White Settlement Road, Ft. Worth, TX 76114. There will be a benefit in his honor tomorrow, August 18, 2013, at Froggy's. All tips, door fees and donations will be used to help pay for Abraham's funeral costs. For more information, call Froggy's at 817-737-8550.

Rest In Peace Abraham. Toast.

Shift Shots?

Today an INMATE asked if it was illegal, in Texas, for employers and/or owners of a bar to drink on the premises of that bar.  This question generated a lot of comments and opinions about the legality of drinking at work.  I bet almost every INMATE has either consumed drinks while working or when at at work, but off the clock.  Surely this couldn't be illegal!  Could it?

I looked into this and I will now drop some knowledge for the INMATES.  I am sure the suspense is killing you, so I will cut right to the answer.  The short answer is NO, it is not illegal in Texas to drink at the place where you work.  I can hear the collective sigh of relief.  But, of course as anything with the law, it's not that simple.  Let me now direct you to Section 104.01 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code...

Sec. 104.01. LEWD, IMMORAL, INDECENT CONDUCT. No person authorized to sell beer at retail, nor his agent, servant, or employee, may engage in or permit conduct on the premises of the retailer which is lewd, immoral, or offen­sive to public decency, including, but not limited to, any of the following acts:

1. the use of loud and vociferous or obscene, vulgar, or indecent lan­guage, or permitting its use;
2. the exposure of person or permitting a person to expose his person;
3. rudely displaying or permitting a person to rudely display a pistol or other deadly weapon in a manner calculated to disturb persons in the retail estab­lishment;
4. solicitation of any person to buy drinks for consumption by the retailer or any of his employees;
5. being intoxicated on the licensed premises;
6. permitting lewd or vulgar entertainment or acts;
7. permitting solicitations of persons for immoral or sexual purposes;
8. failing or refusing to comply with state or municipal health or sanitary laws or ordinances; or
9. possession of a narcotic or any equipment used or designed for the administering of a narcotic or permitting a person on the licensed premises to do so.

Subsection (5) states that it is illegal for an employee to be intoxicated on the premises of their cell (bar/restaurant/etc).  But, there is nothing in the code that prohibits you from drinking at work, whether you are on or off the clock.  So, there you have it, you can drink at your cell but just don't get hammeled (for those of you that are unaware of what "hammeled" means - please contact INMATE AJ Hammel). 

P.S. -  you might want to read the other subsections listed above because those too are illegal.  But good luck not using vulgar language on the job.   

 

 

Trademarks 101

Apparently it's time for a brief legal lesson.  I am sure most of you know what a trademark is, or have at least heard of that word before.  Same thing for copyrights and patents.  All three of those terms comprise what's known as IP (intellectual property) law. 

Trademarks are words, images, slogans and other indicators that help identify a brand.  You encounter trademarks hundreds, if not thousands, of times a day.  Starbucks, Apple, Target and McDonalds are just a few companies that have very distinct trademarks.  I would bet that as you read those different company names, you could envision the images used to represent the different brands (ie - their trademarks).

Well, Life Behind Bars also owns several trademarks.  Many of you might not realize this, but Life Behind Bars is actually a company.  A limited liability company (LLC) to be exact.  But, the point I am getting at here is that it's more than just a group you participate in.  The Parole Board owns and operates LBB and we have put a lot of time, money and creativity into growing the brand.  Part of that process has been creating and using very distinct marks for our company.

The INMATE logo and the Life Behind Bars logo are the two trademarks used most by LBB and probably the most recognizable by our members.  As such, we have created a lot of various types of contraband (merchandise) with those marks on them.  Shirts, hoodies, boyshorts, stickers and the most popular items, our INMATE shanks (bar keys/bottle openers/church keys).  And, as you might know, we have designed a new bar key, with the INMATE logo, that we will be selling very soon.

Which brings me to the point of this post.  The Parole Board has seen several people commenting about making their own LBB merchandise.  Some have offered to make bar keys while others said they are designing apparel.  Regardless of the item itself, one important thing must be addressed.  No one has the authority or legal permission to create, sell, design or otherwise use LBB trademarks without the express, written consent of The Parole Board. 

To some, this might seem like we are being too strict or unreasonable.  But, this is no different than any other company trying to protect their intellectual property.  Michael Kors, Prada and Ray Ban don't take kindly to others using their logos without permission. When others use your trademarks without permission, it waters down your brand.  If an unauthorized person creates a product with your company's logo on it, and if that product is sub par or does not meet certain standards, then it is a reflection on your company and thus, impacts the business you have worked so hard to create. 

That being said, we also understand that many of the INMATES are very creative and artistic people.  We are always looking for new ideas.  If you have an idea or an opportunity that you'd like to discuss, then talk to us.  Any one of The Parole Board would be more than happy to set up a meeting with you and hear what you have to say.  In fact, we've done this with several INMATES over the past few years.  You can reach us at info@lbbinmate.com.

So, in summation, we hope that you understand why we regulate the use of LBB trademarks.  Our plan is to expand LBB globally and through doing so, we are going to continue giving back to the service industry.  We have many great ideas that we working hard on implementing.  When this happens, all of you are going to reap the benefits.  Thank you for your time.

SERVICE INDUSTRY UNITE!      

LBB Drama - Don't Start None, Won't Be None

Up until recently, joining LBB was pretty simple.  We already considered those in the service industry as INMATES, so just by doing your job, you were part of LBB.  But if you wanted to participate in the online discussions, then you had to request to be added to the group.  However, once you made the request, The Parole Board would add you and that was it.  About as simple as it gets.

But, being simple doesn't always translate into being better.  And it seems that lately, some individuals have infiltrated the group under the guise of being an INMATE.  Said individuals have shown certain posts and comments made by their co-workers on LBB to the management at their cells.  This, of course, has caused some problems for those involved.

Yes, it's true that if you are, or were, connected to the service industry than you belong on LBB.  But, apparently, we need to be more specific about a few unwritten rules of conduct.  However, with this article, I suppose they're no longer unwritten rules.  Regardless, LBB is a place for those in the industry.  Bartenders, waiters/waitresses, cocktail servers, security, chefs and cooks, bussers, even managers and owners.  You are given the forum to discuss what's on your mind without the fear of repercussions of what you say. 

Of course, some will quickly point out that, if you are posting something on the internet, then you are assuming the risk of whatever fallout ensues thereafter.  And I can't disagree with that assessment.  Also, I realize that there is always more than one side to a story, and I'm sure the individuals that have informed upper management about posts on LBB have their reasons for doing so.  Whether anyone else agrees with it or understands it.

But, openly sharing your thoughts and opinions is at the center of what LBB is about.  Once people begin to worry about their words, we lose the ambiance that we've grown so accustom to.  If you have to rethink each thought you want to share, LBB will quickly become a shell of what it once was.  Being reluctant to express your beliefs for fear of what might follow is a plague that will spread like wildfire if we don't take active steps to prevent it.

And so,The Parole Board is doing what we can to help this problem.  Instead of just adding anyone to the group that made the request to join, we are now screening applicants.  Once a person asks to be added to LBB, The Lifer interviews the person in order to ascertain how the individual is connected to the industry, why they want to be a part of LBB, etc. 

We believe this will help reduce the issues that some INMATES have experienced lately.  Of course, we won't be able to catch each person at the door.  And that's where you come in.  If you know someone that doesn't belong in the group, send a message to The Parole Board about it.  Several INMATES have already done this and we've removed the pretenders from LBB.  We need to police ourselves and while we are at it, we must have the mutual understand that this group is for our benefit.  Whether it's strictly from an entertainment perspective or as an emotional outlet, LBB is your canvas to discuss your thoughts.  Don't ruin it for everyone by selling out your fellow INMATES.        

In closing, I'll leave with the words from Nas' song Made You Look...

"Don't start none, won't be none."

I Saw the Sign

Lately, I've noticed many local drinking establishments that are failing to comply with the requirements set forth in the Texas Government Code regarding notice about the carrying of weapons on the premise.  Section 411.204 of the Texas government Code, in relevant part, reads as follows:

 § 411.204. NOTICE REQUIRED ON CERTAIN PREMISES. 

(a) A business that has a permit or license issued under Chapter 25, 28,
32, 69, or 74, Alcoholic Beverage Code, and that derives 51 percent
or more of its income from the sale of alcoholic beverages for
on-premises consumption as determined by the Texas Alcoholic
Beverage Commission under Section 104.06, Alcoholic Beverage Code, shall prominently display at each entrance to the business premises
a sign that complies with the requirements of Subsection (c). (emphasis added). ...
(c)  The sign required under Subsections (a) and (b) must
give notice in both English and Spanish that it is unlawful for a
person licensed under this subchapter to carry a handgun on the
premises.  The sign must appear in contrasting colors with block
letters at least one inch in height and must include on its face the
number "51" printed in solid red at least five inches in height.  The sign shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible
to the public.

 I cannot count the number of times I have been to a bar/restaurant only to observe said establishment has not satisfied the aforementioned notice requirements.  For example, I have seen the 51% sign only posted in English, I have seen the sign lacking "contrasting colors," printed in non "block letters" and I've also seen the sign with letters less than "one inch in height."  Worse than that however, are the establishments that have their 51% posted about as far from "each entrance" as possbile, in a location that is neither "conspicuous" nor "clearly visable to the public." 

Any one of the above errors constitutes insufficent notice to the carrier of a concealed handgun.  For those of you whom own or operate bars/resturants in Texas, you might want to double check your place of business to ensure you are adhereing to the proper notice requirements. 

2013 LBB State of the Union

 

Lately many people have been asking me about Life Behind Bars.  Specifically, I get asked how things are going, what new concepts are on the horizon, are there any events coming up, etc.  All of which are great questions that I feel are deserving of a detailed answer.  So, this is my attempt to explain the current status of LBB.  Think of this as a State of the Union address for Life Behind Bars if you will (Props to The Warden for the graphics above).

As most of you reading this already know, The Parole Board has a lot of big ideas to help unify the service industry.  After all, that's the entire concept behind LBB.  One of our biggest goals as company has been to create our own website.  Certainly we love using the Facebook group page to bring the INMATES together.  But, that's not how we want to operate perpetually.  Having our own website means we are not confined to set rules and parameters regarding content and design; we will only be limited by our creativity.

For a long time now, The Parole Board has been working on our website.  Over a year ago, we hired someone to create the site and we even managed to get the site in limited Beta mode.  I'd like to take this moment to give a shout-out to a few INMATES that were willing to help The Parole Board Beta test the website.  Those individuals are:  Marcus L. Rogers, Danielle Pirtle, Patrick Zimmerman, Skylar Rain and Brian Peritore.  From the beginning, they have been very supportive of LBB.  They have helped generate a lot of wonderful ideas, concepts and buzz for The Parole Board.  So, while I might be going off on a tangent here, I think it's warranted to give these INMATES their props.  Thank you, seriously.  You guys are awesome.

So, as I was saying, we began Beta testing the site and through that process, came up with a lot of great ideas.  However, the issue then became that, with those new ideas our website developer needed more money to implement them.  A lot more money actually. 

We then decided to throw an INMATE Riot (party) to help raise some extra capital for the website.  In fact, we've thrown a few Riots and continue to sell LBB contraband (merchandise) to raise capital for the website.  However, despite our efforts, we still need more money.  Building a website is a lot more expensive than I ever knew.  Too bad I wasn't born in India; I'd have this website development shit on lockdown.  But, alas, I was born in Indiana.  Which means I know as much about website development as an Indian knows about snow shoes and corn fields.  And by Indian, I mean Slurpee not Casino.  It's ok to laugh at that reference, it's funny.

Anyway, we are tired of raising a little money, but not enough to take LBB to the next level.  We need a website as it will be the central hub that everything else branches out from.  But, what does this all mean?  Well, it means that in order to get the website The Parole Board wants, we are going to have to look to outside financing.  Which is exactly what we have been doing.  Side note - our website is up and running, but it's a static site.  Soon it will be highly interactive.  In case you haven't been to the site yet, here's the link: http://www.lifebehindbarsisthebomb.com/LifeBehindBars/INMATES.html

We have spoken with numerous potential investors over the past few years.  There is a lot in interest in investing in LBB, which is a good thing.  But, the issue that we have constantly encountered is that all savvy investors want to see a business plan.  Actually, that's not the issue, the issue is that no one on The Parole Board has the slightest clue how to construct a legitimate business plan.  We have tried to create one on our own and it ended up looking like a project completed by the local elementary school.  And so, there we were with our concept and our potential investors, but without a business plan to bridge the gap.

                         
 
Well, that has all changed.  The Parole Board is good friends with a fellow INMATE that just so happens to write and review business plans for a living.  Not sure if he wants to be mentioned by name, so for now, let's call him Dre.  Dre is an accountant for a very successful firm.  He handles mergers and acquisitions for said firm.  What does that mean?  Well I am glad you asked that.   I'll tell you what it means.  It means he's a badass.  And, get this, best of all, he's one of us.  Not only have we been friends since way back in the day; he's also been in the service industry, but like me, he's now a daywalker.  But that doesn't mean he has forgotten his roots.  Dre has been helping us concoct a really impressive business plan and pretty soon, we are FINALLY going to have something we can show investors in order to get the much needed capital that will help us launch the LBB website. 

To all those that have wondered why it's taken so long to reach the next level, I hope this State of the Union address helped you better understand things.  We are getting close, very close.  Stay tuned for more details.