Carlsbadistan

In November Aptera Motors founder Steve Fambro told Popular Mechanics that contrary to rumors he was not ousted from the company, he was simply on vacation until the end of the year. Well, the end of the year is over and now according to Venturebeat.com Fambro and his partner Chris Anthony are no longer employees of the Carlsbadistan based electric car manufacturer.

While Fambro and Anthony have retained their seats on the Carlsbad, Calif. company’s board of directors, they have little say in day-to-day decision making, even though it was their original vision. These responsibilities have fallen to Aptera’s new CEO Paul Wilbur — one of the main sources of conflict with the original leadership team (though it remains uncertain why the rift occurred).

They certainly dragged that exit out as long and as corporately correct as they could, didn’t they?

[Link: Venture Beat, Autoblog, and Carlsbadistan]

Oceanside’s John Leslie Davis, 52, is suspected of cutting a hole in the roof of Malloy’s Fine Jewlers on State Street on October 21, 2009 and robbed employees as they entered the store has been arrested according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

John Leslie Davis was arrested during a traffic stop about 8:15 a.m., and detectives later searched his home on Bernie Drive for evidence, Carlsbad police said. . . Davis is accused of breaking into Mulloy’s Fine Jewelry on State Street Oct. 21 through a hole that had been cut into the roof and then confronting the employees at gunpoint when they arrived for work that morning, police said.

Nice work.

[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]

On the morning of February 4, 2010 at approximately 3 AM a Lexus driving northbound on Garfield slammed into this Isuzu Rodeo in the 3400 block (and knocked it up almost completely off the street and onto the grass). The Lexus then left the scene. Nice, huh?

A couple things: If you know someone with a Lexus who oddly enough damaged the entire right side of their car recently (or you just noticed that your Lexus is damaged). Please call the Carlsbadistan Police Department and let them know. Secondly, if you’re going to drink, don’t drive. And if you’re going to drink and drive please do it somewhere else. Garfield has had enough wrecked cars lately thanks to your stupidity.

On January 18, 2010 we mentioned that Carlsbadistan based trading card company Upper Deck was being sued by Konami Digital Entertainment for “counterfeiting” Yu-Ge-Oh! cards (which it settled for “mulit-millions” of dollars according to the NY Post). Now we learn that Major League Baseball also has some issues with the company, according to The Canadian Press.

Major League Baseball Properties Inc. filed a trademark lawsuit seeking unspecified damages against The Upper Deck Co. Inc. on Monday in federal court in Manhattan. . . The lawsuit said Upper Deck is continuing to sell baseball cards featuring professional baseball players even though the company is no longer licensed to show MLB trademarks. Major League Baseball Properties began this year to license only The Topps Co. Inc. in a bid to increase its revenues from the cards.

Hypothetically speaking, if you can cut out a few licensing fees and trading cards probably get very profitable.

[Link: Canadian Press]

Appy Entertainment, our favorite Carlsbadistan based iPhone applications developer has been nominated for an “Achievement in Art and for Audio Achievement” award from the Independent Games Festival for their game Zombie Pizza.

“Recognition by the Independent Games Festival is a significant achievement for our young company,” said Appy CEO Chris Ulm. “Zombie Pizza was one of only two games to secure multiple nominations, and was chosen from a record field of 170 entrants. We are especially pleased given that these awards recognize excellence not only in iPhone design, but actually encompass all hand-held systems, including the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.”

Congrats to the guys. If they don’t win this, something is wrong with the voting system. Follow the jump for all the details.
Continue reading ‘Carlsbad iPhone Developer Up For Award’

Pictured left to right: Carlsbad Educational Foundation: Tim Royalty, Tami Brennan, Amanda Clardy, Linda Moynan, Patty Johnson; Time Warner Cable: Tiffany Lynch; Calavera Hills Middle School: Catina Hancock

The megalithic Time Warner Cable made a local donation to the Carlsbad Education Foundation last week during the Bioscience Bonanza: A Family Science night at Calavera Hills Middle School in Carlsbadistan.

In support of Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds initiative, the company’s Community Relations Manager Tiffany Lynch presented a $4,000 donation to Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF), a non-profit organization devoted to developing and launching educational and enrichment programs for more than 11,000 students in the Carlsbad Unified School District.

It’s nice to know that Time Warner does more for the community than simply operate a cable monopoly. Follow the jump for all the details.
Continue reading ‘Time Warner Donates To Education Foundation’

Yesterday’s minus 1.6 tide had kids out tide-pooling at Terramar yesterday. If you haven’t been, make plans for the next low, low.

On February 1-4, 2010 the citizens of Carlsbadistan will have the chance to speak out regarding NRG West’s plans for a 550-mega watt power plant on the shores of Agua Hedionda Lagoon. According to Power of Vision Carlsbad, here are a few of the reasons why a new power plant just might be a bad idea:

• Huge carbon footprint
• 10 times increase in air pollution
• 40 more years harnessed with fossil fuel-burning technology
• Economics hardship for tourism industry
• Major safety concerns cited with I-5 expansion
• Industrialization of coastal lands
• Long Beach or La Jolla? You decide
• Noise impact as loud as jet engines
• Will make Carlsbad industrial epicenter
• No contract with SDG&E
• Two power plants • Decreases property values

The hearings will be held in the Hilton Garden Inn Ballroom Building at 6450 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbadistan:

Monday, February 1, 2010; 10:30am, Public comment period begins at 6:00pm
Tuesday, February 2, 2010; 9:00am, Public comment period begins at 6:00 pm
Wednesday, February 3, 2010; 9:00am, Public comment period at 6:00p.m. if necessary
Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 9:00a.m.

Might as well show up and let them know how you feel about it.

[Link: Power of Vision]

Alex Meruelo and private-equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners have upped their previous offer of $80 million to purchase Rubio’s Restaurants to $85 million according to a story in Nation’s Restaurant News.

According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Rubio’s had yet to respond to the latest offer, which totals $8.50 per share. Rubio’s rejected the first proposal in late October, at $8 per share, saying it was not in the best interest of the company’s shareholders. . . Carlsbad-based Rubio’s, which operates or franchises about 195 Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill locations.

Maybe they should just hold out for $100 million? That’s a nice round number.

[Link: Nation's Restaurant News]

Poseidon Resources Corp, the company that plans to build the desalination plant on the Agua Hedionda lagoon say they were just approved for $530 million in tax exempt bonds from the State of California, according to a story in the North County Times.

The Private Activity Bonds were approved by the California Debt Limitation Allocation Committee. These bonds are used to finance private projects judged to benefit the public. . . Peter MacLaggan, Poseidon’s senior vice president, said in a statement that the bonds’ tax-exempt status means they can sell for a lower interest rate than taxable bonds, lowering the cost of the desalinated water to the buyers.

Isn’t it nice when the Government helps private business?

[Link: North County Times]