By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief

If you know me, you know that I don't take shit and I call you out if you dish it.  I want to make it clear to everyone out there that reads UBO Magazine, has heard about UBO Magazine, is a client of UBO or has paid for advertising.  If you paid for an advertisement, it was published.  Whether it was online or hardcopy.  Period.  I choose not to be unethical and I choose to put my business out there for everyone to see because I deal with the public by communicating information to them about local news, entertainment, etc.  If I wasn't ethical then it would have already been publicised.

Now, on another subject, if you are a writer and want to write for UBO, you do not get paid.  Why?  Because our advertisements are dirt cheap so that we can publish a small 'zine for the people.  It is an underground, independent 'ZINE.  When it comes out from being underground and once we can get enough support from local businesses and services, that is when writers and photographers will be paid.  There is no trick in this business, I am straigh forward and tell you how it is.  The reason why?  Because I choose to have an ethical business.

If you are a writer, possess great talent, went to school for journalism, have interned for newspapers or mags or even worked at a publication before and know every crafty word possible but still can't put together a story -- there just may be something wrong with you.  First of all, journalism is based off an 8th grade reading level so that everyone can enjoy the news, secondly if you get paid to write and don't do pro-bono work, please don't write for UBO, I don't need you.  So if you want to intern or support the cause, this is your mag!  I do, however respect people that want to put effort into a magazine that is getting the word out about underground, independent and unsigned music, art, businesses, services and culture! 

Another thing, be a real person and be honest about your intentions.  When you aren't, you are leading me on and making yourself look like an ass.  Even if you are a really nice person.  I am not in this business to run around with every guy in the industry -- that is not my intention.  At the very least, allow me the opportunity to decide for myself if you are a worthwhile person who I would want to get to know in any other way than professional, you can not weasle your way in, it doesn't work.

This includes a lot of things such as skateboarding.  Skateboarding is an urban sport.  There are several sub-cultures linked within skateboarding as well as different types of skatebaorders and levels of the craft.  If someone can't come up with a story on such a subject then they need to reassess their craft as a writer.  Or maybe they just have writer's block and now I sound like a jerky ass.

Either way, if I can bust out ten feature stories that are written in A.P. Style then why can't someone who desires to write not be able to bust out 150 words?  I really sound like a jerk now -- but I want to put what I do out there so that everyone can understand my ethics before people begin talking shit or offering hearsay.

I have been in this situation before in my personal life -- and like I said, you act like an ass then you are an ass -- I just let everyone know -- it is my job, right?  There is information that I know about people that doesn't need to be put in the streets because that is their shit whether they told me or someone gossipped it to me.  I will, however put your shit out there if you are unethical, talk shit [to my face or behind it], steal from me, lie to me or betray me or my business.