Another format change...

Mark,
I was told by a late model friend you'd changed the format back to classics. I just had to log in to ask...Are you going to attempt to get the old readers back you bashed back in 08" who voiced opinions? I was one of them, you "thanked me" for joining to forum and pointing out my first post was critical of the change Then "encouraged" me to be part of the board. I guess my 10 years worth of subscriptions weren't good enough for you to allow me to have an opinion and you told me how to get my refund for the balance. What your approach now? I noticed you closed or deleted that thread. Jim  

In Mark's defense, the format change a couple of years ago was NOT his idea. Just like in any job, executives above us make decisions that we have no say in, all we can do is the best possible with what we've got.

Give Houlahan a break, he's doing the best he can.  

Let me share with you a quote from an old post by Tom to Mark:
Mark -
Are you serious? And you're a professional? I left a post on the other "New Magazine" thread with every intention of making "nice." And here you are, the editor of the magazine and apparently the end all of end all on this website, and you have the audacity to berate and belittle YOUR customers. What happened to the customer is always right, no matter how nasty and inappropriate they may become??

I'll give Mark a break when he stand by his words. We spoke with our checkbooks in "08 when he thumbed his nose at us and called us whiners.

MARK! why did you delete the other "New Magazine" thread???? Show us your true side please and then show us some respect while your at it. Jim  

I'm just getting to this thread since I was in CA all last week with limited Internet access...

First, the original thread was closed to new posts almost a year ago and it was at the request of my publisher the original thread be removed from the forum completely when the decision was made to relaunch the book as an all-classic title (again) in January. I presume this was a a "start fresh" tactic and like most anyone still employeed at this time I did as I was told.

I honestly don't remember the details of the post you are so angry about. Frankly, it is VERY easy to misinterperate someone's "tone" or "inflection" in printed matter. I do remember telling a poster that I "wish them the best" and gave info on how to cancel or change their subscription. That in no way was meant to be sarcastic or condecending to the poster. It was an honest statement. If they no longer liked the magazine, and we understand it is impossible to make all readers happy, all I wanted them to do was find some other magazine that made them happy or get their money back.

If you're still upset by all these changes I don't know what else to say to you. The merger happened, I tried to make the best of it even though it wasn't my idea, and it didn't work. It came down to either killing the magazine or going back to what we used to do (and do well), and that's why we're an all classic book again.

Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

FWIW...I subscribed to Mustang Monthly for years. Did I have a 65-70 Mustang?? Nooo, but I wanted one!!! I kept all my issues , still have them, still have all sorts of other Ford magazines, and related material. Still buy it. I have a 75 II. Were there a lot of articles about II's,,, Nooo, BUT THE ARTICLES RELATED to what I HAD, and what I WANTED...You don't KNOW what you are going find..buy..fall in love with..wish you woulda bought that...need one for some family member..on and on. They seem to be doing a good job so far on the mag..It does say MODIFIED ..that means Hopefully they will do some good mods that you may want to do with your car IN THE FUTURE!!!Heck, be bold and ask on here to do a mod that would interest you! CONTRIBUTE to keeping the mag good, and featuring Fords, or we may wind up with just chevy craft or chevy rods again....I remember those days well, and didn't like it then..just a thought...  

I gave you a clue in case you couldn't see it,  guess the blame game you play gets in the way. Yes I was insulted and yes you were unprofessional. Again a simple apology and admission of your misguided angry toward your once loyal reader is way over due but obviously you still can't man up and are blaming others. The terms you used weren't TONE or INFLECTION as you call it. Go back and read again the old treads, my guess is if you care about this magazine you'd own up to your behavior. We took it to you on the Mustang message boards before, we'll do it again, readership does have a say, just ask the publisher. Jim  

Look, the old thread is gone, I have no way of seeing the old posts or what was said nearly two years ago. I certainly DO know what the reader does can have an influence, as is shown by our direction back to all classic content. I SAVED every nasty email I got and forwarded them to management, which is how I was given the chance to "go back" and I DO care about this magazine, or I wouldn't still be here after enduring a year plus of a magazine that simply wasn't working and all of the negativity that came with that time.

You have no idea how it felt to have hundreds of people blame me (in some VERY rough emails) for something that I did not have any knowledge of, say in, or control over. It effected me on a deep level and made for a very tough year; people coming up to me at events and telling me right to my face stuff I won't repeat here because this is a family site. If somehow one of my replys in that original thread was taken the wrong way by you or another poster, well, then I apologize to anyone that took it the wrong way.

At this juncture I can only recommend we all move on and let it go. Harboring bad memories and ill will is not healthy. Say our peace to each other and that be it. Can we agree on that?

Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

ONE of my all-time heroes is Diogenes the Cynic, who spent most of his life in his barrel outside the city-state of Corinth . He was the original Cynic because he believed that men and women lived a life dictated by rules and taboos and therefore no one was really truthful or honest. Actually Diogenes is truly my hero because he was witty, rude, and had little respect for authority. For example, when Alexander the Great rode down to visit Diogenes in his barrel, he offered Diogenes any gift of his choice. With a scowl, Diogenes snapped back his response: "What you've taken away, you can never give me."

Think about that very hard Mark, you might find the answer . Sure I'll let it go if you wish, heavens knows I don't want to be called a whiner by you again, Jim  

I would recommend that "Disapppointed" wear a leather apron to protect the clothes.  Axe grinding generates a lot of sparks and debris.

Is this you or did you just plagiarize this article for the sake of (trying) to make your point?
http://www.athensguide.com/journalists/articles/honestman.htm
"ONE of my all-time heroes is Diogenes the Cynic, who spent most of his life chilling in his barrel outside the city-state of  Corinth  . He was the original Cynic because he believed that men and women lived a life dictated by rules and taboos and therefore no one was really truthful or honest. Actually Diogenes is my hero because he was witty, rude, and had little respect for authority. For example, when Alexander the Great rode down to visit Diogenes in his barrel, he offered Diogenes any gift of his choice. With a scowl, Diogenes snapped back his response: "What you've taken away, you can never give me."  
1967 Falcon 4 door 351C-4V
1970 Mustang 351C-2V
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
Owner built, owner abused.

Very good Falcon67!!! Your searching skills are exceptional, and you made my point for me. And no I didn't plagiarize since I didn't take credit for it only used it to steer toward the real answer (still haven't figured it out... it's the title). However my skills of axe grinding are well honed and to be honest,(the only one here so far) I waited for an opportunity to say my peace.

BTW...

ADRIAN VRETTOS is the author, he does have a great flair for simplifying Greek mythology, at least my students can grasp his stuff. My name is Jim, what's your? handles only hide the true self.

Email me, Mark we'll talk if you're up to it now, J  

My name is Chris.  Your "hero" was a major grump and thought making a point included defecated (among other things) in public.  Interesting choice, I must say.  
1967 Falcon 4 door 351C-4V
1970 Mustang 351C-2V
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
Owner built, owner abused.

Hey Mark, I'm sure you'll have a look at this page again, so how about this for an article..Do up a spread on tool boxes, tool storage devices, and on marking them to prove ownership? Is it possible to move that information over to here, as an ongoing site to showcase what can be done with pegboards and such? I'll bet Falcon 67 has a cool, organized toolbox.You have a lot of young readers that need to know this stuff...you would never run out of suggestions and ideas....give it some thought,please.BTW, is it next week yet??? [I know you been busy.. I'm still here, I havent forgot what I wanted to talk to you about..YET!!!!!]  

I've got a post it right by my phone to call you. Honest. Still trying to catch up from my week in CA. Hopefully tomorrow (was just thinking it's been too long)...

I hear ya on the tool storage. I had something planned but had to bump it for now. Need more time to plan and get images, etc. Thinking of having readers send in photos of their garages with their own line of tips perhaps?

Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

>I'll bet Falcon 67 has a cool, organized toolbox.
Bwahahahaha.  They are piled in a neat-ish fashion.
I'm gettin better - picked this up at Sams before Xmas($398):
 
1967 Falcon 4 door 351C-4V
1970 Mustang 351C-2V
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
Owner built, owner abused.

>Thinking of having readers send in photos of their garages with their own line of tips perhaps?

You wanna picture of this mess?  LOL
 
1967 Falcon 4 door 351C-4V
1970 Mustang 351C-2V
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
Owner built, owner abused.