LYT's Weblog

CONGRADULATION'S!!!!!!!!

LYT.

MarioGeorgeNitrini111
mariogeorgenitrini111
_____________
The OJ Simpson Case

DId you get the list Julie and I put together, not the long one but the short one? I asked you twice if you received it. :: insert imaginary mildly grumpy emoticon here ::

Holy shit - TonyO's running the Voice. That's just beautiful...

Congrats on the OC job, Luke. Enjoy it...

That's great news, Luke! Don't disappear behind the orange curtain forever...

cool! congratulations!

Hey! Congrats BUT NOT REALLY!! Have you read ANYTHING AT ALL about what your corporate masters have done? For those who don't know, the OC WEEKLY was an excellent little paper 'til the jerks you work for got a hold of it.

Pick up an older copy when you get there, if they haven't thrown them all out! Check out Commie Girl and some of the work by others that have left.

You are moving to SO Cal to be a corporate shill for a bunch of posers who think they can pull the sort of shit they've pulled and slide on by unnoticed - NOT!

Possibly your first article could interview your bosses and explain their decision making process for the readers - oops! I forgot - I don't read that rag anymore! HAVE SOME PRINCIPLES, STAY HOME IN wASHINGTON!!

Congrats, Luke...this is fabulous.

john h: Try Midol.

CAPITOL LETTERS and exclamation marks!!!!! make for the WORST point-making possible, dear john; you might go back to your favorite band's message board or your buddy's myspace blog for the great insights you desire.

I have to admit though, I'm curious what is meant by "STAY HOME IN wASHINGTON"? It has all the makings of a great, inexplicable catch phrase.

I suspect our friend John read the inbound link very broadly:

"OC Weekly staffers learned about their new music editor from The Stranger in Seattle. Luke Y. Thompson announced he's headed to the OC as well."

hey dipshits
does all small letters make it better? joke and slam my writing as you wish, it doesn't change the fact the OC Weekly is a shadow of itself. Time will tell. The fact that the people who've left were recognized by their peers on a national level yet chose to leave the OC says it all. What exactly is independent or alt-journalism all about anyway if this is what the bosses do to the staff?
Google LA Observed and search Commie Girl or OC Weekly for the bigger picture.

Why would I google "Commie Girl"...when anyone who reads this site regularly knows that Rebecca Schoekopf has actually posted here a few times?

Also I'm not from Washington, and have been employed by New Times/VVM for 8 years. Do try to keep up.

"WHAT" is justin stone's "PROBLEM" With Capital Letters.....

And "EXCLAMATION" Marks>>>>>>>>>>>>>!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!

harryOGmartini181
HarryOriginalGangstaMartini181

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The JonBenet Ramsey Case

Hey LYT,

I thought "I" have the "LEAD" on "CAPITOLIZATION.">>>>>>LOL

Congradulations again on your new job for OC Weekly.

MarioGeorgeNitrini111
mariogeorgenitrini111
____________________________

The OJ Simpson Case

PS,,,,,,,,,,now that you're becoming "FAMOUS," be prepared for troll trash like john h. And Midol would be a good start for johnny boy.

Amy, people have really strong feelings about the OC Weekly and what New Times has done to it. It doesn't (necessarily) mean they're on the rag.

Becca

does all small letters make it better?

A little easier on the eyes, perhaps, and it puts me in a bukowski poetic reverie.

John, i was just yanking yr chain. I am not an OC Weekly reader, but in a general sense I understand your concerns about the corporatization of all media outlets. But Luke's just a fella with a job, and he's lucky he's got it. He's been slammed here many times in the past for being part of New Times/VVM so we've seen it all before.

Long live Commie Girl.

Hey, great news, congratulations!

Congratulations, Luke. Good for you and, lucky them x

Ok, I was gonna just fade away, I'm not relly here to engage in long term pissing contests, I just think it's crap to work for a rag that's so co-opted and has shafted it's folks and staff so badly. I had no intention of comming back to post 'til I opened up LA Observed today and low and behold... another long time staffer, currently the interim editor of all people, has quit the paper! Below is the item lifted off the LAO site. Hmmmm... I may not be the best visitor to your site, but I really do think I'm spot on about OC Weekly and its owners. And sadly, I'm afraid that does make you a schill for a bunch of corporate hacks. Be sure to drop me a line the next time Rebecca posts on your site... I kinda think it'll be a long time coming.

From: Steve Lowery
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 11:46:15 -0800
To: OC Everyone
Conversation: See Ya
Subject: See Ya

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I've just tendered my resignation, effective immediately (heheheh, tendered). I hope you know how much you all mean to me, how proud I've been to serve with you and how proud I am of the great work we've done together: the crooked politicians we've nailed, the innocent people we've defended and gotten out of jail, the tranny hookers we've got laid. That's God's work my friend and never forget it. OK, I'm gone, I know I'll see you all around, until then Best Friends Forever, Have a Bitchen Summer, Class of '79 Rules.

Steve

Okay, I'm a corporate shill. Considering I've been drawing paychecks from the same corporation for 8 years, I think you'd have to assume I'm at peace with it. But you don't seem to know anything about me; you followed this link simply to spout off about my employers.

Working for a "corporation" isn't your problem here; the OC Weekly was owned by another corporation before. You just don't happen to like this one.

Who do you work for, John?

I don't know why Steve left and neither do you.

Let me just say this again LYT:

CONGRADULATION'S on your new job at OC Weekly.

MarioGeorgeNitrini111
mariogeorgenitrini111
_____________
The OJ Simpson Case

Luke
OK, you're right, I did come here to ha-rang you about your OC Weekly job for just the reason you said – I don't like the corporation that has taken over ownership of the OC, along with a number of other "alt-independents”.

You know, taking a bit of a sidebar here, a little research on the web will show you that what has happened at the OC has happened at many, but not all, of the other papers in the chain (alternative weeklies, I believe is the term). There was one notable exception, down south somewhere as I recall. I read the comments quoting the editor of that particular paper and it was pretty clear that the terms “left”, “liberal” and “free thinking” really weren’t that familiar to her.

I mentioned my dislike for your employers – yes it is specific, and for a very good reason, an obvious one I’d expect you to have seen, or possibly you’re just in denial about it : your employers aren’t interested in free anything, whether it’s speech or press.

They have a single, solitary interest in ownership: Profits.

The previous owners, I’m sure they liked profit too, but they also had another ingredient yours seem to be missing: Integrity. They allowed and encouraged creativity and quality journalism and we, the readers, were rewarded with a great local paper.

You have, as you stated, been employed for 8 years with these people (I’m not sure if that’s with the old good guys and you’ve transitioned along with everyone else or you’ve always been with the new posers) and yes, you’re obviously at peace with it. But therein lays the issue for me: you don’t seem to care, or should I say, wish to acknowledge, the current state of affairs at the OC. I really liked to read that paper and I liked what they said. Now I’m stuck with a limp-ass rag that I don’t look at twice and to make matters worse, you and your “ I don’t care about ethics or journalism, I just want a paycheck” attitude have arrived. Why shouldn’t I take a shot at this sort of crap?

Lastly, and truthfully, the real reason I returned was to pass on that, following my post earlier today, (and excuse the caps here, I know it’s wrong)

YET ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER REDIGNED FROM THE OC WEEKLY TODAY!

This time it’s Theo Douglas, the features editor. His letter, also lifted from LAO, is pasted below.

In light of your closing comment, that neither of us knows why Steve Lowery left, don’t you think you sound just a bit lame given the evidence in front of us? I mean, truly, we’re bordering on the concept of empirical evidence here. Prima facie is another term that comes to mind!

From: Theo Douglas
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 14:19:53 -0800
To: OC Everyone
Conversation: I am resigning from OC Weekly
Subject: I am resigning from OC Weekly
Hello, everyone,
I am resigning my position as Feature Editor here at OC Weekly effective March 23.
And I want you all to know how much I’ve enjoyed my three years working here. It’s been one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.
I believe I am a smarter person and a better writer and editor today for it—and I’m not just saying that. I believe it! (For what that’s worth.)
For this, I give you and everyone else here my sincere thanks. (And huge thanks to a bunch of folks who aren’t here any more, too. We know who they are.)
Good luck to everyone at Village Voice Media. I’ll see you all around, of course.
Cheers,
Theo Douglas

Finally, to be forthright and honest to your question of who I work for, I work for a huge, major, world wide oil company. I know right now that the dim little lights are going off in your head and that of your readers here: gas is $3 per gallon!!, money grubbers, etc.., but let me stop and give you two story ideas. (these aren’t musically related, but given the staff departures, I truly believe you could arrive as the editor in chief!).

First, let’s do a story about America’s being up in arms about gas prices yet willing to schlep into Starbucks every morning to buy coffee at a price well in excess of 10 dollars per gallon – and it’s just water and ground up beans!
Secondly, let’s do the math and investigate the alternative fuel industry’s issues with supply and demand – by that I mean that that the place I work turns out a quarter million barrels (that’s barrels, not gallons) of gas a day, 250,000+, and we sell every drop to folks just like you. Furthermore, we are only one of many refineries here in So Cal turning out the stuff – so here’s the angle on your story – how can alt-fuels ever have a future if you can’t possibly make enough of it, in large enough quantities, to replace the fuels currently used? Sure it’s great publicity for some yuppie star to own one of these wonder cars, but what if everyone lined up and got one? (The tease line for your story could contrast this apparent anomaly with Al Gore’s mansion having a $20,000 a month electric bill - true, really – I read it on Drudge)
I honestly just wanted to post about this last, unfortunate departure, but I really felt that your comments deserved a response. And, at the end of the day, that really is the issue for me here – people doing a great job, producing an absolutely fantastic local paper get shafted.
I know, I know – you’re OK with it.
As I said, call me when Rebecca posts.

John

John, I typed out several responses but ultimately decided it wasn't worth it. You don't know me; I'm a straw man to you.

Questioning my journalistic ethics? Don't do that again, without proof.

As for Rebecca posting, look upwards in this very thread.

John, one small note. It is interesting that you segue a kind of edgy, enlightened pov regarding your favored media into a defense of the oil industry (!!!) using as one of two major arguments this rationale:

[Americans are] willing to schlep into Starbucks every morning to buy coffee at a price well in excess of 10 dollars per gallon...

Who is breathing the rarified air here? The reality you describe is simply not the reality of most working Americans. I think you've been in the OC too long. As you attack New Times and this whole paradigm (and I'm not defending New Times, not by a long shot) you reveal yourself to be one of these upper-middle class self-glad-handing slickos caught up in one fine ideological battle while having already tossed in the towel on other, equally important battles. In short, you are not salt of earth. You are probably a decent enough fella, but why are you so concerned here with casting stones? I know it's easy to caught up on the internet justifying and re-justifying and not being able to get to sleep and then re-justifying all over again. I think you're wound up, and you're caught in the same trap many of us are.

John h? You say this:

"The previous owners, I’m sure they liked profit too, but they also had another ingredient yours seem to be missing: Integrity."

John h? Who are you trying to fool? I tried several times in the past to try and get someone at OC Weekly to investigate "ALL" the illegal corruption and deeds by certain Law Enforcement people that went on in The OJ Simpson Case and Saga, and, "ALL" the Illegal cover-up that went on by OJ Simpson's side concerning Rocky Bateman and The Limo Company in The OJ Simpson Case and Saga. And what did I get from OC Weekly's past owners (with integrity?) along with certain people who have quit OC WEEKLY (just because of new ownership)? MORE COVER-UP......... This is the true description of the old owners and the people who have quit OC Weekly just because of new ownership:

GUTLESS COWARDS....................

MarioGeorgeNitrini111
mariogeorgenitrini111
_____________
The OJ Simpson Case

"...by that I mean that that the place I work turns out a quarter million barrels (that’s barrels, not gallons) of gas a day, 250,000+, and we sell every drop to folks just like you."

and

"...how can alt-fuels ever have a future if you can’t possibly make enough of it, in large enough quantities, to replace the fuels currently used?"

So oil refineries ALWAYS produced hundreds of thousands of barrells a day? That'd be a big, fat, resounding NO! The fact is, supply and demand tend to grow together. As more people start to use alternative fuels and the demand grows, more will be produced. It will be a gradual shift, not the cataclysmic halt to transportation that you're conjuring up.

Luke,

I'm a bit late to the party, but congratulations! Somehow I doubt that your corporate shilling is going to make you lose your edge. :)

~Peggy

Also, what exactly do you mean by 'weird things going on in OC'? Things you would enjoy participating in? Or leads for stories?

Sorry to be slow getting back to you.. busy day

Ok, Justin, LYT, et al... I am, as I said, stirring up the pot, you got me on that. But it's just so frickin' easy and, in reality, you deserve to be bitch-slapped a bit because you are schilling for dollars.

Mario buddy, I don't know who you are or where you come from, but your response was just what I wanted, in that my conversations here did expose the differences between old and new. I find it amazing that you would characterize the people who have left the OC as "Gutless Cowards" (By the way, you did that in all caps, kinda tasteless and over the top, or so I’ve been told) It was almost like having a Tom Cruise / Jack Nicholson moment - "You can't stand the truth!” Right. …. The new owners are shining knights and those folks that left are just cowards afraid of change….. Right… we’re done talking on that one.

And Justin, my old friend (I kind of feel that way now, after all we’ve been through):

I’m not defending the oil industry, it is what it is. But I’d add that if you’ll look into it (Google, etc..) you’ll find that when the Democrats controlled the Senate at the start of the war, Senator Tom Dashle, the Senate majority leader, traded his vote to start the war for legislation mandating ethanol as an additive in gas ....hmmm any coincidence the world’s largest Agri-business, ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) is headquartered in his state? You might also remember how he ran for re-election in ’04 running TV commercials in his home state showing himself with his arm around President Bush’s shoulder on the Senate floor.

But I digress… though I would be willing to come back and talk about the Dem’s current “100 hour campaign” and how American Samoa was ripped off for a minimum wage hike ‘casue Starkist Tuna has major processing plants there and is headquartered in Pelosi’s home district….

Or how she bypassed Congresswoman Jane Harman, in line for Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, for that fella out of Texas who, when asked what the difference between a Shite and a Sunni was, couldn’t answer. – who says Democrats are weak on intelligence anyhow??!! Here’s the paste (a little rough in their use of English grammar) in case you think I’m making it up:

Pelosi’s Intelligence Man
Rep. Reyes, D-Tex, has been chosen by incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi to be chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. He granted an interview last week to Jeff Stein, national security editor for Congressional Quarterly magazine.
Toward the end of a 40 minute interview, Mr. Stein asked Rep. Reyes whether al Qaeda was comprised chiefly of Sunni Muslims, or Shiites. “Predominantly — probably Shiite,” he responded.
Of course the opposite true. Al Qaeda is comprised of Sunni extremists who regard Shiite Muslims as heretics who deserve to be killed. Al Qaeda attacks on Shiite civilians are what have triggered the civil strife in Iraq.
The inability of Mr. Reyes was to answer basic questions about the sectarian nature of both al Qaeda and Hezbollah brings into question his qualifications to such an important chairmanship.
So again we have Pelosi and the Democrats distaining National Security for politics because they have bypassed Rep. Jane Harman as chairperson of the Intelligence Committee who served with distinction as ranking Member in the current Congress because Ms. Pelosi thought Ms. Harman was too hawkish and not partisan enough in opposing Bush Administration policy.

Anyhow…

Where’s the rarified air? Starbucks IS (sorry, caps thing got away from me again) more than 10 dollars a gallon and considering the fact they have something like 20,000 ka-zillion stores in the US (and more beyond our oceans) who do you think is buying the stuff – only the wealthy?
Also, I’m not wealthy, though I live well because I work my ass off – I spent all of January and February working 14 hour days, seven days a week, literally. My choice, but also my paychecks with 80, 90, 120 hours of overtime pay. I work. I spent the better part of the cold war riding submarines doing spook crap. Next time you’re at Borders or Barnes and Noble, grab a copy of Blind Man’s Bluff by NY Times investigative reporters Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew. An excellent read. Seawolf, Parche that’s where I was at. So I’m not wound up. Wound up is having a guy with full-on spinal meningitis in the rack below you and having to steam 4 days out of your op area until you can break radio silence and get him off the boat. Wound up is having a Soviet Victor class on your ass 3000 yards out, in their backyard, not yours.

While we’re revealing things here, I’ll also tell you that I’m a single dad raising a 16 year old daughter. Her GPA is 3.85 and she’s taking all honors / AP courses. She’s a 10th grader who’ll be taking college courses this summer for extra credit. You’ll be bummed to know she wants to go to Harvard and pursue a law degree and that she has the best personality and is quite down to earth!

So I don’t think I’ve thrown in the towel on anything, nor am I justifying / re-justifying.

And I sleep like a baby every night, thank you!

I’m just pinging you guys ‘cause the OC staff got screwed and we lost a great paper. Guess I’m challenging the idea of just rolling over on this sort of b.s. And it does serve a purpose, truly, when little rats like Mario call Rebecca and the others gutless cowards… guess it’s kinda like my own style of investigative journalism… I don’t know Mario’s exact relationship with the OC, but my guess is the staff there will find his comments interesting… I will tell you though, lest you get my politics wrong, Obama is the man and will be the nominee in 08. I look for someone like Gov. Richardson out of New Mexico as the VP.

As for music Luke, well, everyone knows the Stones are the greatest rock ‘n roll band in the world! Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street, Get Your Ya-Yas Out!

And now we’ve come full circle.

Music, that’s what this is all about, right?

John H

Ps- I did indeed miss the Becca post – my bad!

Well, here's a hypothetical for you, John:

Let's say that for the past two years, you've scraped together an existence doing freelance work, making approximately the equivalent of minimum wage and being confined to your apartment 90% of the time. During those years, you had a medical emergency that cleaned out all your savings. For a year or so, you apply for other full-time jobs but don't find one.

Along comes a company you've enjoyed working for in the past (that still employs many of your friends and colleagues) and offers you a livable wage with benefits.

Do you, man of principle that you are, say, "Goodness no, I couldn't possibly take a job that the guy before me resigned from!"

I certainly don't.

If you give the new staff a chance, I think they'll surprise you. We did great things at the old New Times LA.

This is all just really weird. Too many tangents. M John, you're pretty funny, and I mean that in a decent way. One thing is that I think you're kinda confused in that this is not the 'us' versus 'them' thing that you think 'we' have going here, re: New Times, Dems/Repubs, etc. You're not 'uncovering' anything, as you say. That's kinda funny. We're a disparate bunch of freaks; I often have no idea what people are talking about, right now being a great, great, great example. This is ridiculous. Lurk longer and you'd see what I mean. Hats off to you and your daughter.

To get back to what matters~
go see THE HOST!

In the parlance of internet fandom it is ridiculously awesome.

Also, please listen & read:

http://jscreekbed.blogspot.com/2007/03/brad-delp-boston-to-be-sorely-missed.html

Justin - Dude, I told you three times - I'm just pinging. No "us vs them". Boat sailors play rough. Buy the book.

Luke - too bad about your medical emergency. I had one too - my wife died of cancer leaving me an 8 year old girl to raise.

Take the job. Just remember the footsteps you walk in. However, given the recent spate of articles and items involving the demise of hard print news sources such as the LA Times (it sucks) or the editor of the NYT saying he wasn't sure the paper would be printing in 5 years (kinda out there in my view), maybe it's time to re-train and move on. Bitter medicine, but the reality is if you're not established in the main stream by now odds don't favor it. That's life. You have a lot of years left. Better to re-group now and suffer the short term pain then to reach middle age and have to do it. Goverment health insurance is a fantasy!

Commie Girl was truly a great read every week! She has a beautiful mind and an affinity for alcohol – what could be better?

See ya, I’m out.

It’s been fun!

ps- Mario, you're still a little rat bastard. You have my word the guys and gals at the OC will see this string and your comments. I don't know what, if any, contact you have with the OC, but they'll see the string.

Forgot to sign the above

Boat sailors have sex with other guys online.

johm h?

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha...................

john h, For one thing, I'M NOT LITTLE, and I am NOT A RAT. I am 6 ft and 1 1/2 inches tall, weigh about 180lbs, and can power lift 270lbs, and I'm 56 years old. As far as you calling me a rat? NOT QUITE. I was in Federal and State prison for drugs in the early 1980's. I have QUITE-A-HISTORY.................

Google my name johnny "BOY," and you can find out more about me............

And you calling me a bastard?

MarioGeorgeNitrini111
mariogeorgenitrini111
_____________

The OJ Simpson Case

Honestly, Mario talking to you is liked some sort of addictive candy, a guilty pleasure I shouldn't indulge in!

What's the connection between prison and not being a rat? Telling me you were in prison allows me to add two more descriptive phrases to my mental profile of you: dumbshit and fuckup.

Am I to be scared ‘casue of your "history"?

Bite me dude! Your awesome background / history will remain a mystery to me 'cause I got better things to do - besides which, I might get nightmares! You could always post these frickin awesome details about yourself right here - kinda “share the awesomeness” with us, so to speak!

Two things I don’t understand here:

1) Do you actually know Luke or anyone here on this site or are you just an interloper like me ? (Well, in your case a DINGBAT interloper, but an interloper none the less)

2) I’m confused about your journalistic skills – you alluded (do you know that word? Knowing that you’re a bad-ass felon now, I’m not sure of your educational level.) (I’ll assume you do for the sake of expediency) Anyhow, what exactly do you write and for whom? Is it like felon turned scribe or what? Did you have writers block in prison?

Please clear up these points of confusion for me.

John

ps Are you still on parole?

pss Justin - lame swioe at me - you can certainly do better! I mean, that sort of comment, it's like something some feloneous, dingbat interloper to a web site would write! Honestly!! I am so disappointed!!!

all those who left are starting a paper in long beach.

Johnny "BOY."

As of this day, I have never met Luke Y. Thompson in person.

Where did you get the idea that I am a journalist? Well Johnny "BOY," I am not a journalist.

I have been off State and Federal Parole since 1987.

Johnny "BOY"? You called me a little rat bastard. I've been called lot's of names in my life. No problem for me.

As far as a distinction of prison and being a rat, I was in Terminal Island Federal Prison, Lompoc USP, Chino State Prison, and more prison's. Johnny "BOY?" you don't seem to strike me as dumb, SO, I will let you figure out the distiction of being a rat and being in the prison's I just named.

Johnny "BOY," I don't want you to be scared of me, but calling me a "little rat bastard," and referring to me as "little rats," I feel that putting you on a "LEVEL PLAYING FIELD" with me, is appropriate.

Johnny "BOY"? what "ELSE" are you "CONFUSED" about?

I have to say one thing, I have never been compared to "ADDICTIVE CANDY." First time for everything, Uh?

MarioGeorgeNitrini111
mariogeorgenitrini111
_____________

The OJ Simpson Case

I will not reapond
I will not respond
I will not respond....... must......break......addiction

you're a friggin' moron!!

sorry, relapsed a bit there!

Justin - saw your blog - there is a screenplay lurking here - can you see it?

John

ps Not you Mario, just Justin.

Hey! Did you know that Mario haa the same number of letters as MORON and also starts with an "M"?

Coincidence or fate????

Damn it! Another relapse!!

'Course IDIOT also has 5 ....

That's quite enough of that.

You guys want a flamewar, take it to another blog.

[This post has been deleted. I'm serious; quit with the personal attacks, fellas -- LYT]

I'm in love with the internet!

How about a debate? No flame war, just a debate? Nice and Civil.........

MarioGeorgeNitrini111
mariogeorgenitrini111
_____________

The OJ Simpson Case

Come on Luke!! Don't pussy out on us! Where's the wild n crazy guy in your FAQ section??

Besides which, we're off on some side string and can't even be seen by the general public!

So what if I wanted to start a blog called "Dumbshit Magnet" ?? people like mario need a place to go!!

If you want to start your own such blog, feel free. Mario has a couple of 'em.

I've seen other sites ruined by endless name-calling-strings. They tend to drive the interesting people away. Ergo, I have a policy against posts that are substance-free insults.

This "wild n crazy guy" also prides himself on being a good host of diverse parties. If guests act up too much, they don't get a return invite.

jees - you'er goin' upper crust on us!

Nice!

Nice...