Strange Alabama

Some of you know that our unofficial mascot is the phoenix, as in "rising from the ashes." Yes, for those of you who are unaware, Strange Alabama had a predecessor. So by way of personal catharsis, here is my tale of bygone days and publications terminated under "cease & desist" orders...

SA's weird predecessor, henceforth known as "the magazine that shall not be named," began with a suggestion from my old friend George. George and I were having lunch, and I was lamenting over the need for a creative outlet. George told me about this odd little magazine from New Jersey and suggested that I should do something like it. Cool idea -- I checked with GoDaddy, and the Alabama web site was available! I snagged it on Jan. 27, 2004, but of course, didn't have time to do anything with it. But as Halloween 2004 approached, I thought what a shame it was that my little web site was languishing. So I put up some info, and the next thing I knew George had an LLC and a print magazine in the works. The inaugural issue of the magazine that shall not be named appeared later in 2004, and was well-received. Our second issue appeared in 2005, and by then the magazine that shall not be named had been featured on newspaper, radio, and TV spots. We seemed destined for, well, weirdness, but then a letter from Barnes & Noble (boo, hiss) lawyers arrived...

Imagine our chagrin to learn that B&N and two not-so-weird guys from NJ have a trademark on the word weird. That's, well, strange; because you see, George contacted those two guys from NJ (who were now being featured on Travel Channel specials and B&N books & calendars) before the magazine that shall not be named published its first issue. They actually wished us well on our venture -- or said they did, anyway. Later they evidently changed their mind, because when George hired lawyers out of his own funds (the magazine certainly wasn't turning a profit yet) and asked B&N to let us work with them -- we already had the stories! -- they told us (in legal-eze) to shut up and go away. Publication, web sites, the whole weird kit & kaboodle. Hmmm. That's not so weird; that's big, nasty business as usual. OK, no more books from B&N for me!