Heath Dobbler's inaugural farewell and other alt news "news" - By N.L. Belardes

Just when you think all the alt press news talk has died, in comes more. Rob Shock has his own take on the events. He liked their title of "Elitist Press", and admits not liking "Paperback Writer" as a title for a blog. He also gives a nice take on thebuzzblogs.com, a conglomerate of local blogs that I don't do much to maintain, even though it's still a good resource. I gave my two cents on why I think my idea of a blog community failed in the comments of his entry titled, "Outside the Fishbowl: The Elitist Press/N.L. Belardes Throwdown." It's a good read. Oops, I should add that I should have started a multi-user blog. Dumb on my part.

Doesn't mean that others won't succeed. The Elitist Press sure could have a chance at online success if they would have listened to Howard Owens. Howard gives another bit of attention to a multi-user alt news idea in, "Local writers, listen up!".

Personally, I don't think local writers care about blogging in a blog community. It's going to take one person who can get someone to build a blog like the multi-user blog Howard mentions in his entry. Howard writes, "Ever since the Blackboard went down, I’ve been telling any local writer who will listen — start a group blog, start a group blog, start a group blog."

I should add that Howard Owens changed his page layout. As a result, the comments are missing... what's the deal, Howard?

Anyway...

I tried an aggregate community. That's different from a multi-user blog. I give reasons why that failed on Rob Shock's page. Multi-user is the way to go. I've talked to a few people about one. Hopefully someone will start, or maybe I'll just add a few team members here on Paperback Writer and call it a day...

More on the big throwdown. Aaron Mauldin of theatreaddict.com tag teamed his way into the alt news controversy with a big write-up, I mean, BIG. Check out his piece titled, "Theatre Addict on The Elitist Press...R.I.P.?"

Aaron has already written a follow-up piece: "The Elitist Press Part 2 - Now with less cursing!"

And another follow-up mention at the end of his "Get Out!" ramble where he mentions the Elitist Press has now disappeared from myspace.com. I guess that's the end of that.

Oh wait. I have one final mention, and that would have to be Heath Dobbler's inaugural fairwell piece that he sent me. Well, it was supposed to be his inaugural piece for the Elitis Press. But since they're sadly down for the count, it will have to suffice as a lonely fairwell:


The Moron Parade - By Heath Dobbler


I was contacted earlier in the month by John Jones, the co-managing editor for The Elitist Press. He asked me if I would like to contribute to their fledgling form of “alternative local media” by offering a conservative punk’s opinion on certain going-ons in Bakersfield .

I was kind of hesitant at first. It has become very apparent to me, that being married with two kids, (another on the way) holding down a full time job, running a blog and playing in a part time punk band, seldom leaves you time for much else. So, I thought about it for a bit and then did what I felt any man would do when faced with a like situation. I kicked my wife out of the house, and put my kids up for grabs on E-Bay. I know it sounds cruel, but the decision was a no brainer really. Besides, who can afford child support these days?

Anyhow, aside from all seriousness… Here is a bit about me.

I’m a lifetime resident of Bakersfield , though I did spend a couple of lengthy stints in Klamath Falls , Oregon during my youth. I am a dropout of the Free Will Baptist Church, and a graduate of North High School. I never attended College on any level, and probably never will. I have three vices in life that I tend to visit on a daily basis… cigarettes, beer, and music. I was the bassist and co-front man for the now defunct pop punk band “3 Cent Nickle”, and currently handle bass and front man duties for The IN-Denials of the same afore mentioned genre. I’m a heckler of most any and all dolts willing to display their knack for stupidity on a public stage and lean towards the conservative side in manners of politics. I do not profess to be highly educated while in midst of a debate, I just approach the randomness of shit from the realm of common sense.

I don’t know where this column will go, or what road(s) it may or may not travel. I deal with a lot of bullshit in life. I’m 100 % sure many of you do as well… So why not discuss it?

I titled this column “The Moron Parade” with this thought in mind…

“What slogan best describes the IMAGINATIVE, hustle and bustle of Bakersfield life”?

Let’s face it, we are currently the biggest bunch of wanna-be Hollywoodians this side of the Grape Vine. Maybe it’s from the recent surge of L.A. migration to our dirt lot, who knows? We have drive by shootings, a few mainstream removed actors residing on our hilltops, a desire to erect night club after night club, venue promoters asking bands to sell a desired amount of tickets to play in a less than desirable amount of basement space, plastic surgeons, humvees, an enormous amount of varying religions/ cultural backgrounds, and controversial politicians with controversial motives. Sounds L.A. enough right? Hell, we’re so in awe of the L.A. life, that we have at times, been willing to let them bus in loads of their own shit just so that we can feel somehow connected to them.

We have even gotten ourselves into the ebb and flow of public demonstrations as of late.

The recent rise in protests and rallies in this once conservative town have been the topic of much debate… Too much of a topic in all actuality, but what should we expect? We’re always behind in the trend. When we do decide to get on par with the masses, we almost always over-do it. We’re no longer the city which once took acknowledgment in it’s oil production, agriculture development, hometown pride and small town life. We’ve become a congregation of uptight citizens constantly attempting to out do the Joneses and it’s finally affected us enough to warrant our renaming the city’s explanatory Anthem. “ Bakersfield , Life as it should be”. Pretty narcissistic seeming ain’t it. Mucho kudos to our Board of Supervisors and County planners.

I feel there are things that need to be brought up, explored and debated. Relationships, Politics, Religion, Life… Whatever the case may be, you may find a little bit of it all right here. I hope to entertain, eye open and if need be, piss off a lot of folks here in order to get people to pay attention to what’s really going on in their surrounding Universe. It’s your community after all, why not help shape it?

Raise your hand if you were in attendance at the recent Anti-Bush Rally in downtown Bakersfield earlier this month… Now, put it down and return to your seat. Here is your gift wrapped tird. Thanks for participating, this demonstration is hereby over.

Questions, Concerns, Comments, Accusations, and or Suggestions?
Visit me here…

DobblersDrunkCorner.blogspot.com
Watchyourselfbucko@yahoo.com

Heath Dobbler

*The other write-ups:
The Elitist Press accuses N.L. of working for Bakotopia - By N.L. Belardes
Writers for The Elitist Press accuses N.L. of slander - By N.L Belardes
Napoleon complexity explodes into the Bakersfield News Scene - By N.L. Belardes
History loses out as Black Dog blog disappears - By N.L. Belardes
Joe Simpson of the Bakersfield Californian/The Elitist Press speaks out against N.L. - By N.L. Belardes

This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on Saturday, October 28, 2006. You can leave your response.