Writers for The Elitist Press accuses N.L. of slander - By N.L Belardes
Yes, it's true. I have been accused once again. Bakersfield's newest alt news source writers are already roping my feet to a wooden post, screaming, "Burn the Witch! Slander! Take down photos! Model release! Model release!"
Go read for yourself in the comments of "The Elitist Press accuses N.L. of working for Bakotopia".
(If you want an alternative with music, you can always click on Bakotopia's link to the article).
I'm thinking I could have been an actual art piece in Jen Raven And Jenn Williams "Burn The Witch" Show...
I'm sure The Elitist Press would like that.
Instead of being open to opinions about them, and ideas on how they could grow with a multi-user blog, and powered with help through other local news sources, they started their newspaper in whispers of distrust and dishonesty. I supposedly was out to get them.
No wonder they wouldn't eat the pizza I bought them. Probably thought it was laced with truth serum.
Well, I just reported what I saw, and not even all of that. I was told plenty off the record. I'm so tempted just to hint. I'm so tempted just to tease. I'm so tempted to... just move on...
Stay tuned for more entertainment...
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Friday, October 20, 2006.
You can leave your response.
you know i'll be posted. this shit is better than soap operas!
by the way, you don't need a model release just because you're in a picture. if that was the case, half the population would be fuckin' models...
i'm a "ham" myself when i see a camera. must be a cultural thing. LOL. would i need a model release everytime i jump in front of a media camera? woo hoo! would that be steps closer to being a supermodel?! wifey matildakay, norma, anyone, are you in? :D
The only time I've ever been in an unathorized photo was when I was arrested for.... oops... did I just admit that out loud? Ah fuck it. It was all over the 10:00 news anyways.
The picture of the flies is absofuckinglutely hilarious!!
You do not need a model release or even permission to post someone's picture on a blog! NL was nice enough to black out faces in one of the photos when he didn't even have to do that.
Chingpea you are a supermodel! My supermodel wifey!
Hey wait a minute... I just remembered a while back I was at Noveltown event at Russos bookstore and N.L. posted a VERY UNFLATTERING picture of me. grrrrrrr..... In real life I'm tall and slender and model material but the picture you posted made me look short and fat and like I had a mustache. damn you N.L.!
Norma, you're a troll.
N.L. you're a .... ah never mind. It wouldn't be original if I said it. The Elitists already called you everything in the book. damn them. They took all the good insults.
You could call me a fascist or a meany for not allowing all the Elitist hate mail on my site.
Funny how they didn't want me to write for them, but they sure want me to publish their tirades on Paperback Writer.
I thought I was unimportant and blah blah to them?
I'm so confused. :)
Just for the record... for those of you reading Nick's blog... not all of the people who attended the Elitist Press meeting, are assholes.
Some of us would just like to have the opportunity to do some writing in this godforsaken town.
I never knew this fucking shit storm would erupt.
This is the most disheartening thing I've encountered in quite a long time.
At the risk of sounding like some kind of patchouli-stinkin' hippy, I have to say...
It saddens me that people can't just all work together to create something enormous and great in this town.
We don't need monsters like the Californian to undo us, because we're quite capable of unraveling ourselves.
I figured I'd post this here since this is where all the excitement seems to be.
"You're a fucking asshole Heath. You and N.L. are biggot motherfuckers and had no place at our table that night".
This short and sweet e-mail came as a bit of a surprise to me being that I haven't trashed the paper at all... I'm actually writing for it for crying out loud.
I simply said it could be a cool thing, or it could eat shit. That's it.
Why am I an asshole? Why am I a biggot?
I know I'm a mother-fucker, I'm married with kids... Comes with the territory.
See Nick, you're bad for my image, ruining my rep, I want to breakup for real this time.
N.L., the best part of this whole elitist pizza party think tank thingy blog was when you took a break for a beer at the VIP! great read man! love you, oh master smoothie moocher!
Must have been your jacket, Heath. That's all I can think. Or maybe you're just guilty by association. I did mention we had a beer. :)
Wah wah wah... Enough already!
The Elitist Press is getting press. And any press - good or bad - is still press. They should be thanking you, NL , for giving them some.
Fuck, why all the drama?! The Elitist Press - even though there may be some writers who have good intentions like Mr. Mongold - sounds like it's just an extension of a high school paper. Nothing interesting to talk about and too close-minded to really explore what's really happening out there as an "alternative" or "filling in the gap" kind of paper. Good luck.
wow. the crazy life of writers. This would be a great reality television show.
I'm calling NBC.
No worries, sweetie. We'll leave a nice big space of wall at next year's "Burn the Witch" just for you. We'll even bring the rope and the wooden post! And we can kindle the blaze with crumpled up copies of The Elitist Press. It's already proven itself to be an excellent means of starting fires ... and it hasn't even gone to press yet!
Everything goes better with beer eh!
(even horseshit and they say (on account I wouldn't know) AND added bonus, if you drink enough....the fly's? they turn into bootiful people.
Figures that something would errupt from that. I believe writing by alias and secrecy is the exact sort of elitist mentality parts of this county seem to have.
I'm kinda curious which one is worse: Los Angeles elitists or Kern County ones? I can't take people who want to hide their names seriously. I just can't, no matter how nice they are or aren't.
First of all, Nick. I was there, and I’m using my name here… I don't want to gripe about NOT being in your photos, but...what the hell kind of photographer are you if you can't catch ALL of us that were in attendance in various snapshots, damn it? I mean, really now! My hair wasn’t coifed to its greatest afro inspired curly potential, but it wasn’t raggedy, either! My pants didn’t have holes in them! My shirt wasn’t stained…Oh, wait. I didn't sign a model release. Damn. I guess I ought to go back and tell the Californian that I want compensation for every time I have been caught in a snap shot of one of theirs, and every other event photographer that has captured me on film at concerts, beer festivals, book signings, etc. etc. MY GOD MAN, I COULD BE RICH! Or I could write for a free press paper that does stories on Santa Claus, considering them interesting to a particular demographic (18-32 if I heard one gentleman correctly) as opposed to an interview with an incarcerated gentleman who was, at the time of his incarceration, IN THAT VERY DEMOGRAPHIC RANGE! Hmmmmm... I’ll take my chances with the photographic riches first.
I wrote for the Blackboard. I did opinion pieces, editorials, and I had an advice column. Unfortunately, advertisers that appeared in The Blackboard didn’t pay their bills, and Jason Rickett wasn’t able to continue feeding the paper as it became more and more parasitic to his life and wallet. What does that mean now? It means nothing; other than the fact that I am an out of work, non-paid, free press journalist.
When TEP came to the surface (by the way, I found out about them on NL’s myspace.com page and I contacted THEM) I thought I might have an outlet for writing again. I’m no where NEAR a professional journalist, as I have NEVER been paid for what I’ve written. (NL, I’ll take lunch at Luigi’s for in exchange for cash as payment for this comment, m’kay?) I do not have a degree in journalism, communications or anything except LIFE for that matter. HOWEVER, I like to write, I have always liked to write and until the communists take over this country (denying people such as NL, MK, CP and MM and myself the freedom and ability to write and speak at will) and amputate my “wittle finn’ers” (at which point I would learn to type with my god damned toes) I’m going to continue to write what I want.
Aside from the ego feeding thought of seeing my name in print again and obtaining a press pass, my first hope for TEP was that they would, indeed, publish REAL news stories that were overlooked by “the other source” here in town. The suggestion by one of the writers of doing a story about a particular big business taking over a particular location and forcing other established businesses out of said location was awesome. The story about crappy Santas… (Although I laughed at the verbiage) I personally did NOT consider it NEWS worthy. I’m not knocking, badmouthing OR suggesting, MD that you cannot or should not do your story…let’s not get our typewriter ribbons in a knot…
When NL offered up his idea for the interview with the convicted killer, my blood chilled (I wasn’t drinking anything, either) and my interest was peaked. Why’s that? Could it possibly be because I too fall in that demographic range? (Albeit on the outside edge) Or could it be because it’s something that will NEVER make its way into “the other source” here in town and if we wanted to read such a piece, we’d have to read it in TEP? I did not, at any time, get the impression, neither sneaking nor blatant, that NL was out to promote his book, his blog or himself at that point, nor do I think that now.
Do I think NL is a professional writer here in Bakersfield? Yes, I do. He’d be a professional writer in whatever town he lived. Bakersfield may be just a stopping point for bigger and better places. (Didn’t you mention to me that you once lived in Las Vegas, NL?) Would I write for NL if he started up his OWN free press paper? You bet your last jelly filled doughnut I’d write for his paper-in a heartbeat; without a second’s hesitation. I’d write my articles in blood if that’s what he called for. (They may not be written in MY blood, but this is Bakersfield, I’m sure I could find some flowing freely with which to fill my ink wells!)
I’m not saying TEP will be crappy and I’m not saying they will win a Nobel Prize. However, if they are professional, they should know that they are going to face criticisms, speed bumps and questions. Why would the contributers want to remain anonymous? If they are, at any time, doing something that would place their jobs in danger, then maybe they should consider another source of income. If they truly have nothing to hide, then NL’s IMPRESSION of their attitudes and actions would have no effect on them, and they would laugh at this whole situation.
A friend of mine is a defense attorney, and I am reminded of something he once said to me, “The innocent, when accused of something heinous, go forth with their heads held high. If the same were true for the guilty, I wouldn’t have a job, now would I?”
That was all…Let the head rolling continue.
By the way, NL, I think you should leave the picture of your pants leg up. Are those Doc Martens you’re wearing?
I'm still loved by all.
Oh, and "for the record"; I withdrew my article and column from TEP on behalf of my family obligations. This discussion with NL took place AFTER I made my resignation available to the paper. I don't want people thinking I let anyone influence me one way or another. God knows that's not gonna happen!
*happy dances*
Yahhhhhhh! Yipeeeee
Annie Black-babeee
Woot!
(I bet you don't do Starbucks either eh)
^5
leave a response