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Friday, May 9, 2008

Pegasus News banner stolen by terrorists exclamation point

by Teresa Gubbins

Ransom note

A vinyl promotional banner belonging to Dallas-centric news Web site Pegasus News has been stolen by terrorists.

Pegasus News received notice of the theft via a grainy ransom video made by the terrorists detailing their list of absurd demands that included the removal of a staffer's top and a shrine built to frequent commenter Scott Doyle. Demands which will not be met, vowed site founder Mike Orren.

"Today, we are a Web site awakened to danger and called to defend our banner," Orren said. "Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies or send a small-though-potent dose of justice to our enemies in a souvenir pint glass from Lee Harvey's, justice will be done."

The banner, a flowing white vinyl canvas measuring four feet high by 10 feet wide with the words "Pegasus News" boldly emblazoned on its center can clearly be seen in the terrorists' video, held hostage along with what appears to be a terrifyingly large cache of Jagermeister bottles.

The banner is an essential component of the site's marketing operations, said sales staffer Amy Robinson, who was the first to notice its absence after its May 3 disappearance from the Mayfest event in Fort Worth.

"The marketing staff from Mayfest agreed to nab all of our three banners for me after the event was over," Robinson said. "Last Sunday, the marketing chair called and said, 'Your banner's not at the main stage, we've looked everywhere.' She said, 'We've got your small banners, but we can't find the big one. We've gone through the trash, we've asked the grounds crew.'"

Eventually, the Mayfest marketing team tracked down an employee who claimed to have observed unidentified "Pegasus staffers" making off with the banner on Saturday afternoon.

"So I sent out an email to the entire staff," Robinson said.

Here is that email:

On May 9, 2008, at 8:47 AM, Amy Robinson wrote:

To All:

The Marketing and Event Chairs from Mayfest have been "on the hunt" for our big banner that was by the Main Stage at Mayfest last weekend (at my request, as we couldn't find it!!!). She emailed me this morning that one of our (Pegasus) employees took the banner down late Saturday afternoon before the GM concert? Can someone let me know who you are? I was worried the banner was MIA???

Thanks so much..

AmyR

Robinson was trying to procure the banners for another event this weekend, the Urban Street Bazaar where Pegasus News will set up a stand.

"We use the banner to give us presence in the community at local events," Robinson said, shaken.

The banner has been utilized at a number of crucial Pegasus events, including the Carter Albrecht memorial and the Deep Ellum Arts Festival.

"The banner is the most important, non-digital sign we have to infiltrate the hearts and minds of people in DFW," said music editor Erin Rice.

The kidnapping of the banner, while devastating, will not take the site down, said database editor Chris Curotolo.

"I've never even touched it, so I don't care that it's being held hostage," he said.

Mike Bullock, a researcher for Pegasus News, thought he spotted the banner being moved in the office by Pegasus developer Brett Hoerner.

"I thought I noticed Brett walking out with it one day last week," Bullock says. "I don't know if he took it or if he was just moving it out of the way in the mailroom. It was definitely the banner. I don't know if he was working in there or what."

Conveniently, Hoerner is on vacation in New York City this week -- the very same New York City where the terrorists blew up the World Trade Center Towers in September 2001.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

If we only knew which staffer's top they demanded be removed, it might narrow the field of suspects!

EdWeirdness Anonymous

1 year, 6 months ago
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If I were you, I'd invade a smaller, easily defeated news organization to show the world you won't put up with this.

twisteddog Anonymous

1 year, 6 months ago
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Offer a reward, and let the quislings do your legwork. As of now, we're all to emotionally involved to allow the culprit to go unpunished. Those responsible must be made an example of (whew! talk about tortured grammar).

EdWeirdness Anonymous

1 year, 6 months ago
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Sounds like these guys mean business. I'd probably give in to the demands and give them what they wanted, and probably some other stuff, too.

Pavel Lishin Verified

1 year, 6 months ago
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Destroy the Axis of evil. If Scott Doyle has to die, so be it.

twisteddog Anonymous

1 year, 6 months ago
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I didn't take nothin'. I only moved the signs pre-Mayfest to make room for the servers. Geez, thanks a lot Bullock.

I have a crazy, random hunch that these terrorists have stolen signs from festivals before... and I didn't even go to Mayfest, so hah! It's all news to me.

Brett Hoerner Verified

1 year, 6 months ago
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<b>LIES</b>.

Chad Jones Verified

1 year, 6 months ago
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Good to know that terrorists drink Jagermeister.

Now all we need is my "A" game and some Red Bull to negotiate.

Lisa Lawrence Merritt Verified

1 year, 6 months ago
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Geeeeeeeez... let 'em keep it. Doyle is expendable.

Billusa99 Anonymous

1 year, 6 months ago
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I'd be happy to take one for the team and go topless. And I'm sure that my nipples are equally as hairy as their own women.

Justin Smith Verified

1 year, 6 months ago
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Dear Terrorists,

I promise you that I am working on the next showcase. In the meantime, your first demand...

Erin Rice Verified

1 year, 6 months ago
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so it was the servers, eh?

Mike Bullock Staff

1 year, 6 months ago
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To allege <s>Pavel and I</s> those crazy terrorists needed help on the inside is not only wrong, it's downright insulting. Unless one of the terrorists didn't keep his damn trap shut, all staff was none-the-wiser.

These terrorists understand the importance of gender equality (and not being sued), explaining vague phrasing in the 1st demand.

While <s>we</s> they would certainly have preferred a young lady, it's conceded that Erin's interesting approach suffices. Considering this is about as shrine-y as it's gonna get, and the showcase has been promised, I am happy to report the banner has been returned - unharmed, for those concerned about its wellbeing.

Point of clarification: the EE's recollection of an afternoon kidnapping is off by a few hours. Terrorists prefer to work in the dark.

Mad props to <s>our</s> the terrorists' friend Sarah who was integral in obtaining the hostage. Also, kudos to *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* for inspiration stemming from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0818156/">"The Gang Goes Jihad"</a>.

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 6 months ago
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Terrorists' note: Justice is still expected to be served.

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 6 months ago
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Usually there is much to praise and little to criticise about Pegasus News, however, I admit to being uncomfortable with the "humour" of the photograph and theme "Pegasus News banner stolen by terrorists...". Can't explain in detail why, but the depiction is a matter of misplaced humour. Meanwhile, on to other things: Addison Taste is a superb event, but I'm curious about the photo selection on your front page -- your selection or theirs? Somehow, chili on an ace bandage isn't the first editorial choice I'd make.

JAVA4DIVA Anonymous

1 year, 6 months ago
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java4diva, thanks for your comment. is your discomfort with the idea of terrorist jokes? while this story was a light-hearted kind of thing, it wasn't entirely a joke -- the truth is that <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/users/pavel_lishin/">someone</a> DID steal the Pegasus banner and then <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/users/scott_doyle/">posted</a> a <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/blogs/powerusers/2008/may/06/video/#c25609">video</a> gloating that they did. everything in the story was completely factual.

as for the food photo accompanying the Taste of Addison item -- you perhaps have not sampled the moist, spongy, pancake-like Ethiopian bread called "injera"? which you use to scoop up food, such as meat in sauce. (my mother thought the bread looked like a roll of toilet paper.)

i admire your avatar immensely

Teresa Gubbins Staff

1 year, 6 months ago
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Moved by this inhumanity, there is a group small but committed, organizing a candlelight vigil. Location to be announced. (Someplace with decent wings and something reasonable on tap).