The Random Times gets in hot water after takeover of popular MÁS Magazine news rack - By N.L. Belardes
Looks like there’s even more controversy now surrounding the new alternative newspaper The Random Times. Seems as if someone (Maybe from the Random Times) possibly stole editions of MÁS Magazine out of a news rack in downtown Bakersfield, and replaced with editions of The Random Times.
I guess The Random Times are standing up to the local media, albeit in an illegal manner. Not only can you not take over another news rack, as of September 2006 taking more than 25 copies of a free newspaper from a free news rack with the intent of not reading the paper has become illegal (Read report in SF Gate and from Newspaper Association of America online) (More on news racks)
Although Matt Munoz claims the paper rack may have been emptied over the weekend, and joked, "there is no conspiracy," the question still remains of the rack takeover.
All this along with recent public calls by The Random Times of “Fuck you” to the Bakersfield media, including a very angry rant posted right here on Paperback Writer from The Random Times newspaper publisher, James Mongold. He accused Paperback Writer of trying to cause trouble for the fledgling Random Times newspaper. Mongold wrote, “Nick did not post this blog today to support us. He did it to cause a shit storm.”
Of course that’s hard for one person and one website to cause. And he has no evidence to prove such a false claim. Sounds like possible paranoia to me. And it was Mongold’s own words that have the Random Times in hot water.
But now Bakotopia has joined the foray by featuring the article, "Random Times stands up to local media" that exposed The Random Times public bashing of the local media in a myspace.com bulletin. That means Bakotopia has found The Random Times myspace bulletin and discourse to be newsworthy.
That's not me being an asshole. That's reporting the news, and other news sources finding such a story important enough to feature.
Will the Random Times still consider Bakotopia a valid Bakersfield news source and friend now that the article has become a feature story? Perhaps the Random Times is truly just positioning itself as friendly toward Bakotopia because an ad was purchased by Bakotopia in their first edition. It will be interesting to see what Mongold prints next regarding this entire debacle. What will he write now that Bakotopia, like Paperback Writer, is just reporting the news about his tirade on myspace?
James Mongold got personal more than once in his words against me.
Is Bakotopia just a news/asshole/controversial/media site too?
Mongold attempted to water down the situation in his second online tirade. He asserted the “bulletin that I left on the Random Times myspace page—that was intended pretty much only for my friends list to see…First off, chill Howard. I meant PRINT media.”
Right.
Public posts are just what they are: public information. Vague wording within such accusations can only be construed as a blanket statement.
Howard Owens from howardowens.com commented:
I find it interesting that he (Mongold) has this myopia that it should be OBVIOUS that he was only referring to print. It's not obvious to me at all.
First, that assumption on his part is pure-T myopia. The media space is MUCH bigger than print, and there is a whole digital world that MUST be considered. You can't say "media" without referring to online. It simply cannot be done with any intellectual honesty.
Maybe Mongold just needs an editor himself. That’s questionable writing for someone printing his own newspaper in a city with some highly educated writers, academics, journalists, etc. as potential readers.
Again, what about the relationship between The Random Times and Bakotopia? Is this just a case of quid pro quo: The Random Times buddying up to Bakotopia because an ad was bought? And don’t forget, the Random Times, like the now defunct Elitist Press have spoken out against the Bakersfield Californian, the very same entity that owns Bakotopia and MÁS Magazine.
And now the question of illegal news racks? Did The Random Times steal editions of MÁS Magazine? Once again, James Mongold of The Random Times tried to save face, this time by buddying up to Bakotopia. There, a blog was posted on the matter denying knowledge of who the culprit might be: a random person, or random from the Random Times, or orchestrated by Mongold himself? His blog post was titled, “To MÁS Magazine”:
Matt Munoz of Bakotopia and Mas Magazine has brought it to my attention that during the Random Times distribution process, someone thought it would be funny to remove Mas Magazine from one of its racks, and replace it with copies of the Random Times.
But I don't think that's funny... or amusing... or cute... or anything other than ignorant.
I'm not sure who on my distribution team would have done this, and really... I'm not even sure if it WAS anyone on my distribution team. It could have been anyone.
However... I would like to offer a sincere apology to Mas Magazine and all of the people who work for it. This is not the type of behavior I want Random Times to be associated with. And I will take all the precautions within my power to prevent it from ever happening again.
Thanks for reading, everyone, and once again... we apologize.
Sincerely,
James Mongold
RT
Was a letter sent to MÁS Magazine? Why the post by The Random Times on Bakotopia? Quid pro quo? MÁS Magazine has their own website where Mongold could have posted an apology.
There’s also the question of the possible stolen newspapers. And with The Random Times starting up the presses without a business license means publisher James Mongold himself could be sued or possibly prosecuted if MÁS Magazine (Bakersfield Californian) could prove anyone on his staff stole editions of MÁS. Certainly with evidence of The Random Times filling MÁS magazine racks, trouble could be in store.
Looks like The Random Times is sure having no problem causing a local media storm of the worst kind. Mongold's further damage control can be read on howardowens.com, or in the comments of "Random Times stands up to Bakersfield media."
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Tuesday, November 28, 2006.
You can leave your response.
"Oh what tangled webs we weave when when first we practice to deceive."
I've been watching what's been going on here for a while. How do we know the theft of the Mas magazines wasn't done by some of YOUR friends? Just wondering...
I'm selling them on eBAY, anon.
N.L. has no friends, remember? Only fish.
(I'm still convinced a minion is a type of fish)
Don't forget to give me a share of those profits from the sale on ebay. By the way, do you accept PayPal?
I have absolutely no problem with you covering this story, and I am a supporter of both The Random Times AND you, N.L. However, I do think that insinuating the likelihood that Mongold & Co. purposely stole copies of MAS Magazine from the stand is a cheap trick. I found Mongold's letter to be sincere, and I have no doubt that you realize the influence you probably have over many readers. Encouraging them to believe the conspiracy is only adding to the chaos.
How is ANY local alternative press going to survive if we're constantly at each other's throats?
Not taking sides ... but I have to defend James a bit as I know him personally ...
He has worked very hard, nights and days - mostly alone - on getting Random Times out. (How do I know this ... RT was pulled together in the most part in a room of my house) He nearly single handedly pulled together the ad sponsors (one includes my boyfriend, and next month one will include myself) ... sometimes people say or write stuff they really haven't put much merit into, it's release of energy. Maybe he was having a bad day. Yes, his bulletin on Myspace was a bit harsh, I reeled a bit when I read it knowing it might cause a "shit storm" ... but seriously, I don't think he meant to start such a thing.
Also, James is not the type of person to orchestrate a massive theft of magazines to promote his own cause. I'm sure that pissed him off when he was informed that it happened. He doesn't like those type of antics.
James is a really sincere guy, he didn't start RT because the EP fell ... he started it because he believed Bakersfield lacked alternative newspapers and he wanted to see one. So if you want something done, usually you have to do it yourself, right?
I think for the most part people in general will say or do things when they feel like they are under attack ... sometimes we are able to just write it down, sit on it, and cool off ... other times we just write a "very angry rant" and get the moment off our chests.
Can't we all just get along?
Hey, I checked on eBay and didn't see any of the magazines. What's up with that?
Look mommy, a trainwreck!
Nick,
Let me ask you a question here.
WHY would any of my distributors fuck with MAS Magazine, when we all know that Matt Munoz is involved with MAS, and he is the one who helped us out-- helped us START UP-- by placing a Bakotopia ad?
Why would we want to fuck with Matt? Why would we want to do that to him?
You know you're ridiculous fucking theory makes no sense, man.
So WHY?!!!
Please try to answer that question, so that we can all laugh at you when you fall flat in trying to come up with something logical.
Nick-- there is not a conspiracy behind everything.
STOP using me to try and twist conspiracies out of nothing, for the sake of your minions.
5 people distributed for me-- 4 of them being very, very close friends of mine... and the other Greg Goodsell, who I don't know too well, but I do know is a good and decent person. If you want to accuse him, then contact him-- go ahead and burn yet ANOTHER bridge. But...NONE of those people would have pulled some shit like this.
I'm not generally a paranoid man, or one for conspiracy theories-- but there is one person I know who's really is into that kind of shit-- YOU.
Excellent timing for this incident. I piss you off, and suddenly MAS magazines are missing, replaced by my paper. You know, if this were a murder, you'd be the number one suspect.
I'd watch what accusations you make about my close friends. It's one thing to attack me, but when you attack my friends... I draw a line.
You're treading on very personal ground now, and this is really beginning to make me angry.
If you've got a personal beef with me, let's meet and talk.
Be a fucking man and get from behind your keyboard.
If you're not a coward, then meet and talk.
Cowards hide behind keyboards Nick.
Meet with me and talk.
Let's get to the heart of this.
If you feel threatened by Random Times, you shouldn't. We never had... and never will... any intentions of attempting to replace paperback writer.
I don't care that your alt-news site exists. And I wouldn't care if more existed. There's plenty of room in this town for all kinds of sites.
But if you want to continue to try and stir controversy, go ahead.
But first... be a man.
Meet me face to face and let's talk.
If you can't do that, then shut the fuck up.
By the way... the ONLY logical thing you said was that I should have posted an apology on MAS's website. There, and only there, you are absolutely correct. I should have. And will.
what's with all the false accusations, nick?
james is just trying to do something fun and different and it really does seem like you have it out for him.
maybe you don't and i'm interpretting it wrong. lord knows there's been a lot of misinterpretation going on on this site.
and he does have a business license.
i agree whole-heartedly with kayk.
this whole thing is really hurting james and you don't seem to care. actually it seems as though you enjoy it.
Annie: Tangled, yes.
Anon: Use your name.
Norma: You can discover a new breed of fish and name it a MINION
Anon: I am posting information given to me by someone in the media who is an anonymous source. I'm not just posting ideas out of thin air.
Kayk: You're right, Mongold's rants are harsh.
Mongold:
Why would random times be in the MAS rack? You tell me. I'm just reporting. Why did you publicly apologize on Bakotopia if you had nothing to worry about? Once again, you went public with something that makes for a newsworthy moment on Paperback Writer.
I'm making you angry? You seem fairly angry already. Especially with name calling. Makes you look stupid.
When did you piss me off? I'm still not pissed off. James, you're the angry writer using the explicatives. Very unprofessional. According to you only 15 people read this site. So what are you worried about?
Meet and talk?
After the names you used against me? And after your hateful tirades against me for simply reposting your own public words?
Why on Earth would I meet with you? What would we possibly talk about? People will still read and support your paper. I don't know what you're so worried about.
Prince: I'm reporting the news. Originally, when asked by another source, The Random Times indicated that they did not have a business license. I hope they have one now. That's good.
And if James is all about being fun, then why is he so aggressive and angry? There's nothing fun in the tone of his myspace bulletin.
I love the logic from these folks. A reporter shows up to a fire. But the reporter gets accused of starting the fire simply for reporting it.
nick: he's probably so angry because you make false acusations against him. it's not reporting the news. you're making stuff up to make him look bad.
yes, you reposted some of the things he's said, but you've also posted false information. accusing him or some one in the RT organization of messing with MAS.
you have no proof of that. i'd be a bit upset too if i was being made to look like a thief.
Ring bell and insert
Michael: it's OK for James Mongold to rant about whoever he wants in the media in his myspace tirades? But now you're suggesting that the Random Times is exempt from other media? That's crazy. No one is exempt from the news. And now here he is acting like some kind of high school bully questioning my manhood because I reported the news?
I think it's cool that I allowed an online discussion forum here, even if it is with people who spew such explicatives. Most journalists and writers would simply partake in the forum in a professional manner. But James is throwing around threats and name-calling. His words are out of control. And now he wants a meeting? Over what?
If the Random Times wasn't in hot water, then why the public apology. And if The Random Times is just for fun, why so much anger? Those are the issues regarding The Random Times.
Bakotopia is siding with Paperback Writer by featuring this news. Yet you're singling me out. Strange.
Michael: I am posing questions. These are questions that James Mongold could simply answer in a positive tone.
I will no longer be posting cursing rants here on Paperback Writer. People need to stick to some Web basics: no cursing rants and name-calling.
snausages.
If I answer your questions, will you stop all this shit? Can we end this?
Im amused. They say you're trying to cause controversy with the paper yet they put "attention! If you have read something here today that has pissed you off, how about writing a letter to the editor?" on the end of the paper. Sounds like their goal is to piss people off themselves. Drama drama.
-Oh So Awesome
new article, same subject on RT, same negative, angry tone from RT editor, J Mongold. shame...
i won't make accusations, name call, or anything like that. just wondering why Paperback Writer is being singled out by Mr. Mongold. why so much anger, defensiveness and crazy ranting? feeling guilty about something?
i don't know you or any of YOUR minions very well, but as a PW minion, well... i wonder what you must be smoking to be that angry. hmmm...
you have some supporters here for your character, but someone like me who's just a reader...sorry, minion... of stuff like PW and Bakotopia... well, with the way you express yourself here... just sounds like you've got your panties up in a bunch if this is just a hobby for fun... you know, like an old car.
peace,
chingpea
I'm officially stepping out of this mess.
Yes, I'm angry. Because I've been attacked, regardless of how NL views it.
People can think what they want.
Yes, I use curse words. If that makes me a bad, unprofessional person... so be it. But paperback writer and myspace are not professional arenas, so it's not like cursing rants are out of place.
Any fighting NL continues to do, in regards to Random Times, will be alone... or with his buddies.
I'd like to thank all of my friends who stood up for me (because they know that my character goes much deeper than my "colorful" language).
But I'd also like to ask my friends to let it die now.
I was foolish to argue and feed into NL's crap to begin with.
You see, he knows me better than he lets on, and he knows I'm not a bad guy. Yet, he posts insinuating things about me. Hence, my anger.
But now... I am done.
Read Random Times or don't.
It's irrelevant.
Our voice will be there, and Nick's will be here, and who cares?
I'm tired.
I would have answered Nick's questions, but they're all spiked and I'm not interested. I'm not interested in his brand of attention-- controversy.
If I wanted to be controversial, I could tell everyone who his anonymous source was for this post, but I will not... because I still respect the person, and doubt anything malicious was intended.
I'm done.
I apologize to everyone for this lasting so long.
Now Nick can be left to his own devices and accusations, and he has burned yet another bridge.
I guess you won't be trying to interview Mistriel for us after all, will you Nick?
Well, I doubt you'll even allow this comment of mine to be posted because this is my other side-- my reasonable side-- and it isn't exactly what you want your readers to see of me.
But if you do... good for you. Maybe you're a better person than I'm feeling you are right now.
Peace to all.
See ya next month when RT comes out again.
--james
Someday we'll probably isolate exactly what neurotoxin makes Bakersfieldians act so primordial and psyochotic....my guess is that it's airborne, because I know alot of assholes that only drink bottled water....
It's nice to occasionally leave town and congregate with people who have an emotional age greater than 5....I had gotten so used to Bakersfield that whenever I would see an unfamiliar male who wasn't posturing or beating on his chest, I assumed he had to be gay or something...
Nick after you get done with your stand-off with James, I've got a beef to settle with you myself.
We'll resolve this like men, at high noon, in the middle of Chester Avenue, with your foot and my balls!! Wait wait with your ass and my face!!!
Shit, machismo never was my forte....I think I'll stick to blogging.
And it's been awhile since criminal science, but I'm pretty sure the RT would be the primary suspect for the missing papers, any other scenario would be.....CONSPIRATORIAL....oh Bakersfield...
I can't decide if this is depressing or entertaining. Probably both.
*John B
SHIT. FUCK. ASSHOLE. I'M GONNA CORNHOLE A MOM. SUCK MY BALLS. EVERYBODY IS A TWO FACED CUNT HEADED SNAKE. I HATE MY SHITTY LIFE. I WANT TO FUCKING DIE.
Hello???
Wow. My shameless plug for my own blog disappeared. Oh well.
I have a question that perhaps no one else thought to ask, or had the Chutzpah to do so...How many different ways must one say they're done before REALLY being done? Is that similar to the age old "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop" question?
James, you need to understand that blogging is part of the new media. Your views of Paperback Writer as being unprofessional show naivete.
Blogs are quoted on the evening news, in newspapers, and in magazines. I hate to get in a pissing contest, but Paperback Writer blog and the views and opinoms of the Paperback Writer blog have been talked about on Bakotopia, KRAB radio, on KBAK 29, on KCET's blog, Cerro Coso College website, Fresno Famous, Hot Talk AM 1230, howardowens.com, Renegade Rip, mAS Magazine, Dobbler's Drunk Corner and more. (Yeah, Heath, I know. It was a cheap plug for you).
Now if I could just get quoted in the LA Times!
Heath, you're a freak.
N.L. I once quoted you to a friend who READS the L.A. Times. Does that count? :)
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm the type of person who would make an apology, even if I wasn't guilty, if I had association with a wrong doing. That's just the type of person I am ... it's just a way of covering bases and being genuine "I'm sorry, I may or may not know the people involved, but it has my name on it, so I feel responsible, even though I didn't do anything wrong, I apologize" type spiel.
Like this one time my roommates indoor only cat got out and no one noticed - I felt awful - even though I didn't let him out, who knows who let him out, but it was my house, I apologized because I felt bad that the cat got out. You don't have to be guilty to feel sorry about something that happens.
:)
This whole situation just makes me sad. Sad, sad, sad.
It's unfortunate when fellow artists can't put aside their pride and simply be supportive of each other. After all... who else is going to support us? It doesn't have to be a competition for readers or support. If y'all play your cards right, you'll be sharing the love, and not forcing people to take sides.
I personally don't care who was in the wrong to begin with. We're all in this together: learn from it, move on, and continue to report the substantial news that we actually want to hear :)
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