Smackdown by Harrah's: Rustic Frog you'll be again.

The Tribune's Daniel Suddeath describes one of the biggest legal no-brainers in recent memory, a federal judge’s decision that there is no c-r-e-a-t-i-v-i-t-y in “Rustic Frog.”

Heck, we knew that already, but apparently Harrah’s has no sense of humor when it comes to identity theft.

II Horseshoe in New Albany required to change name following casino complaint.

A federal judge ordered II Horseshoes Gentleman’s Club to be renamed following a complaint filed by Harrah’s License Co., the parent company of Horseshoe Southern Indiana Casino and Hotel in Elizabeth.

The New Albany club — located at 1720 Old River Rd. — switched its name from Rustic Frog to II Horseshoes last year when it became an adult entertainment venue.

Judge Sarah Evans Barker declared club owner John Mattingly violated trademark laws by using the name and the Horseshoe Casino symbol, which she described as a distinctive logo with the mark of a gold horseshoe.

Now the real fun begins. With the city council prepared to improve property values and keep the gallery seats open by approving a new adult cabaret ordinance, the redubbed gentlemen’s club vows to file its own lawsuit against the city, which means that it surely can’t be long before someone connects the dots between smut and the sewer system … and we’re using EDIT funds to pay legal fees.

At least our casino commuters won't be misled on their way to Harrison County.

I'd prefer more wholesome entertainment, say, "Mr. Smith Goes to the Rustic Frog."

Just my luck.

A previously scheduled obligation precludes my attendance at tonight's city council, and wouldn't you know it: ROCK's planning a floor show, although the master of ceremonies is wary of grandstanding in the center ring.

ROCK to protest II Horseshoes at New Albany City Council meeting; Agenda lacking any measure concerning strip club, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

A group opposing a new strip club in New Albany promises to plead its case before the City Council Thursday.

Reclaim our Culture Kentuckiana, the Louisville-based organization known as ROCK, sent out an e-mail last week encouraging its members to pack the assembly room of the City/County Building in opposition to II Horseshoes, an adult entertainment business located at 1720 Old River Rd.

While the e-mail states the council will address the club during the meeting, Council President Jeff Gahan said that’s not the case.

“That item is not on our agenda for Thursday,” he said. “I don’t anticipate any presentation or any discussion at this point.”

It looks as if the members of ROCK will be forced to wait until non-agenda public speaking time at meeting's end. After sitting through the usual antics of the conjoined councilmen, they may decide to broaden their definition of "a total disregard for our common goal of decent and wholesome communities where we can live, work and raise a family."

Meanwhile, also on the council's plate:

Former councilman Bill Schmidt has been recommended for appointment to the Building Authority Commission, which requires a vote of approval from the council.

The recommendation probably came from Professor Erika, who has selected Schmidt to father her love child ... wait; got that one wrong. Sorry. Rather, she has chosen him as one of her "outstanding men" of 2008 in New Albany, based on a list of vaguely defined criteria that includes this:

They work hard and play by the rules. And most of all they look out for their neighbors, co-workers, and the many needs of the "little people" of New Albany.

As a humorous side note, Prof. Erika cautions that "names are listed in alphabetical order only," and accordingly, she has Larry Kochert coming before Maurice King.

Kochert?

See what a Bazooka Joe university degree can do?

Here is tonight's meeting agenda.

Council agenda slim -- time for a field trip to the II Horseshoes?

It may be time to end my self-imposed exile and attend a council meeting, if for no other reason than to hear what the council president has in mind for New Albany’s tithe to One Southern Indiana – an idea that first surfaced so long ago that I can’t even locate our archival reference to it.

(Not really … I just don’t feel like looking.)

NEW ALBANY: City Council to set elected officials salary, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

The New Albany City Council has a light agenda for its first meeting of December, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday. Only three ordinances and resolutions are set to go before the council: a resolution providing money for homeless services at Haven House, an ordinance setting salaries for elected officials and an ordinance to establish funds for local economic impact groups.

I'll take Daniel's word for it; last time I checked, the agenda wasn't yet on-line.

Could tonight be the long-awaited occasion when the fireworks finally begin popping and one or another of the council persons (Cappuccino remains my choice) picks the perfect spot to grandstand on the general topic of the West End porno invasion, i.e., the II Horseshoes Gentleman’s Club?

(Psst ... wanna brief gander at the atmosphere being conveyed right across the street from the mayor’s historic pad?)

Check out this link: What, you were expecting good taste?

Umm, racy wallpaper, eh? There's nothing quite like strippers locking lips to make a man crave Bud Light -- or frot row seats at a R.O.C.K. rally.