MY "BLOG" - BLOGGING A DEAD HORSE

CONVERSATION on the subject of THE FALL

kingshag — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:37:17 GMT

CONVERSATION on the subject of THE FALL A bit of back and forth on the subject of Mark E Smith Yesterday at 08:22 Hi All, My Friend John Middle recently wrote...after a scathing attack from me on the subject of the wanker that is Mark E Smith of The Fall.....The original scathing attack may be lost to the ether...but it prompted him to sit back...crack his knuckles....and spew forth the following: Not a rebuttal .... a scuttle but ul. Hope you are doing well Tim.... I like reading your outbursts. You have a unique and sardonic sense of humor that makes me chuckle a lot. My Mum is my best representative and I dispatched her to consort with you and yours as my proxy in recognition of this deep seated truth. You are welcome. John My old friend Tim Ascough recently regaled me with a dense and expectorant sodden missive on the subject of his intense loathing of THE FALL. As a long time FALL fan I have been made aware of such feeling many times before by many people from many different walks of life. Particularly in the early 80's (when I was initially developing my appreciation of their music) I found myself on the receiving end of negative feedback ranging in tone from incredulous and disbelieving to hostile and annoyed upon playing THE FALL or bringing them up in conversation. Certainly I was never taken aback as THE FALL have a sound and musical angle that can only be described as difficult, abtruse, challenging, ramshackle, cacaphonic and so on ... and so on. Mark E Smith, THE FALL's only permanent fixture at this juncture has a vocal style that de-emphasizes range and key by way of skewing more in the direction of squeaks, mumbles, hard consonants and hard-talk. I generally assumed that I would be alone in my affinity with their din. Back then THE FALL as a band were not considered "cool" at any level. Mark E Smith was considered an annoying but persistent fixture on the "scene" by most. The band dressed "wrong". Their Link Wray/Beefheart/Van Der Graaf Generator/Iggy Pop/CAN/FAUST/Velvet Underground/Country and "Northern" influences were over most peoples heads. They slagged off your favorite band without hesitation in the media...etc etc. When you met folks who were into THE FALL back then you came across a certain type of music fan. 'Committed' in a word. The type of music fan who understood that great music is oftentimes only revealed as such by way of repeated listening. You have to 'earn' the privilege. FALL fans loved the 'differences' they heard....Wrong notes over right 'business as usual' notes. THE FALL are about uncompromising vision in combination with committed creative execution. THE FALL for a huge portion of their career pursued these qualities in the face of overwhelming commercial disdain and public disinterest. Mark E Smith is certainly a known and respected cultural renegade THESE days. The dogged persistence that has characterized his 'career' in its entirety has paid off ultimately. The last 5 years have been good to him at a public level. Vindication... Lets not forget though that THE FALL have been in business since 1977. They have completed 25 original albums. They have released 50 singles. They have issued 50 live and compilation albums. Mark was a dock worker prior to being in the band. He believes in hard graft and testicular fortitude. '' Nothing has happened since 1977 to STOP Mark from 'doing his thing'.....Of course the truth is that his experience in the biz has been rife with the typical (and at times uber-typical) challenging situations and problems. He has endured thirty years worth of such moments to state the obvious. Throughout, he has kept rolling ever onwards. We are after all talking about the music business....SHOW BUSINESS. Mark has evidently faced down the type of 'shit' that stops most bands in their tracks by album 3 if they are lucky AND determined. THE FALL are of Mancunian stock and represent the grit and "no mithering please" nature of the place to the core. Personally, I am into the idea of having a strong 'work ethic', be it in music, art, sport or whatever. Hard work is tough to ignore or downplay ... It can't be "bullshitted" if you know what I mean. It resonates. What about the music? Well .... you develop your craft thru repetition right? THE FALL have gone thru a lot of repetition. The craft is accordingly in good shape. Its not the typical 'craft' mind you. It is born of a contrary nature. It is about the advantages of making music while NOT being a musician. I DON'T SING I JUST SHOUT .....ALL ON ONE NOTE....SING SING SING SING.....LOOK AT ME I JUST STING......YOUR HEART OUT. Mark is in his 50's these days. Listen to his last three albums and see if you can pick up on a softening of his approach to creating music. NO NOSTALGIA resides therein. Instead you will find odd and unique sounds and noises. Techno synths in rockabilly shirts. Industrial grind in cod-cabaret sequins. Punk meets APHEX TWIN by way of a detour through a ROCHDALE working mans club. FOOTBALL HOOLIGAN ANTHEMS and freestyle crap-raps. His hips may have proven fragile but his ears are those of an athletic elephant, greedily filtering the RIGHT frequencies for the NEW sounds to add to the OLD new sounds. Head music with energy. VALUES and having an ANGLE. No love songs..... Mark like myself would rather read a HORROR STORY. The Mills and Boones preoccupation of modern pop music is somewhat narrow right???? RIGHT? What if we make the atmospheric presence of a song its HOOK? BAD DRUGS and PARANOIA. BACK STABBING and RIP-OFFERY. Y'know life....... Thats without going into the BAD stuff. The 'wirey' out of tune guitars that chicken scratch at your psyche. The "drums being kicked down the staircase" BIG BEAT.....Gary Glitter meets JAMES BROWN uptown. The purposefuly anemic but HUGE and turgid bass undulations. ONE NOTE SOLOS. Mark scratching on the microphone so that it sounds like someone or something is trying to scrape its way OUT OF YOUR SPEAKERS upon playback. LO FI NO FI .....RIGHT FI.....FEE FI thumbed noses. "TURN THOSE BLOODY SPACE INVADERS OFF - UHHH" ... keyboard tone setting. And to top it off......from my perspective at least the funniest and most interesting lyrics in modern music. BOB DYLAN FANS TAKE ELEVATOR TO 13th floor AND EXIT THIS DIATRIBE BY WAY OF WINDOW PLEASE.... An example of this lyrical prowess......I could pick any of a thousand. Check this one out for example..... It's about methedrine related insomnia....squalid ciity living...creeping paranoia and worry. Such that you cannot....WALK THE FLOOR AT NIGHT IN PEACE. Pacing the floor y'gedditt? Such conditions must be the fault of another.....CITY HOBGOBLINS perchance??? CITY HOBGOBLINS Spiders know these things Gremlins know these things Tap, tap, tap, tap You think it's the pipes But who turns on the lights? Our city hobgoblins Ubu le Roi is a home hobgoblin at night always ready. City hobgoblins Infest my home at night They are not alright Ten times my age One-tenth my height Our city hobgoblins Buzz of the all-night mill Ah but evil Emigres from old green glades Pretentious eh? Our city hobgoblins They'll get yer I saw Queen Victoria on the back of a large black slug Where? in Piccadilly, Manchester Our city hobgoblins They stay I say We cannot walk the floor at night in peace At night in peace At night in peace ME NOW.....So in closing I leave you with this thought. Tim knows his music. He perhaps makes several good points about MARK. He is undoubtedly a man with a strong sense of self. He may well have a large ego. He is unruly, disagreeable and contrarian in nature it would seem. I have never properly met the man so can't really be the judge of such matters. His empirical history provides us with one obvious elemental truth about Mr. Smith. He is a survivor. Plain and simple. In my view.... He is a working class success story from Manchester who succeeded through bloody minded persistence and self-belief. Begrudge him or commend him...Your choice. MARK COULD NOT CARE LESS either way I imagine. A genius ????? God knows. HIP PRIEST? (stolen from Burroughs...notebooks out plagiarists) No such thing. A haggard "speedy" snaggle toothed POET LAUREATE for the terminally disenfranchised. YES... I believe so. and a lot more besides when you really get into it....

Email to the provider of the DVD "extra's" commentary for BLOW UP - a movie by MICHELANGELO ANTIONIONI

kingshag — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:36:15 GMT

BLOW UP - MOVIE BY MICHELANGELO ANTIONIONI I recently watched this movie thanks to NETFLIX. I checked out the commentary which was provided by Peter Brunette, a film professor at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY who was known for his book on the films of MICHELANGELO ANTIONIONI. From my perspective, the commentary completely mis-interpreted the film based upon an ignorance of both English culture in general and the MOD counter-culture that the film documented. I expressed my thoughts to Peter in the form of the following email. BLOW UP is a great film incidentally. It really captures the vitality of early 60's youth culture in LONDON in vivid color. ANTIONIONI was a great master of cinema. I must say in fairness to PETER that he certainly provided plenty of technical and general information and insight into the methods of ANTIONIONI. I definitely learned a great deal from him in regards to this aspect of the film. Peter You did not ask for any feedback on this movie. Nonetheless, in the spirit of the rather bull-headed protagonist in the movie BLOW UP, I am going to presumptiously present some anyway without deference to social niceties etc. For some real insight into the film you might want to do some research on MOD couter-culture proper. Thinking of this as a movie about SWINGING LONDON for me is far too vague of an observation. It is very specifically a movie about MOD culture in London which was the most progressive and influential subculture of that period. The protagonist in the film is clearly an un upper echelon MOD success story. An "ace face" as such folks were and still are known in England. This is evident from his very specific sartorial statement of identity. The chelsea boots, velvet jacket with (essential from exacting MOD standpoint), third pocket, white trousers, Ben Sherman shirt and so on. His assistant also displays his MOD credential very prominently. From this perspective it is possible to gain a great deal of insight into the fractured nature of the story's plot. There was a very common propensity for usage of pills amongst mods mostly uppers. BLOW UP could easily be interpreted as a rather cautionary tale of a young hip MOD impressario whose amphetamine usage is taking him into the realm of psychosis and paranioa. This is evidenced by references to his looking "tired", his quick mood changes and fast paced progression from scene to scene, his jerkiness of movement, his short attention span and much more. Ultimately he is cracking up as a result of his lifestyle. 60's London was full of such MOD speed freak impressario's who oftentimes had rather extreme career arc's as a result of their pill fueled approach to achieving their (oftentimes culturally revolutionary) personal ambitions. A similar theme was also explored in QUADROPHENIA by The Who. Interestingly, The Who were the first choice of band for the performance scene in BLOW UP. They passed on the opportunity which led to The Yardbirds taking the role in proxy. Indeed they not only stepped in for THE WHO but quite literally 'aped' THE WHO's aggro performance style of which the destruction of equipment was a hallmark. Jeff Beck, The Yardbirds guitarist, was known far more for his dexterity and masterful usage of effects (wah wah) and did not feel the need to resort to any sensationalistic tactics ordinarily. If you look at footage from that period of THE WHO performing, you will often see their audience transfixed and stationary staring at the band in disbelief and to a degree fear. THE WHO were violent and intimidating. They would blow up their gear with actual explosive charges and did not hesitate to assault fans who they thought were stepping out of line. A great example being WOODSTOCK during which PETE TOWNSHEND of THE WHO took exception to ABBY HOFFMAN taking to the stage during their set. His way of expressing this unhappiness was to knock ABBY H off the stage with a round house swipe of his guitar. In many ways BLOW UP is a very "true to life" documentary that captured a significant shift in the cultural winds of 60's LONDON. This is even shown in the driving scenes that you commented upon. They show LONDON in transition from the 'gray', bombed out and austere post world war 2 City that it was into the rebuilt cultural hub that it became. The CITY itself is one of the predominant characters in the film. If you care to explore this MOD perspective on the movie I would have to recommend "Stoned" - the sutobiography of Andrew Loog Oldham. He ultimately managed the ROLLING STONES and was the quintiscential ROLLS ROYCE driving, impeccably dressed MOD impressario of that era. The protagonist of BLOW UP could easily be based upon Oldham. It is my firm belief that you cannot understand this film properly without understanding the rather beautiful and arcane MOD sub-culture that spawned its existence. As a youth movement it required many of the elements that you see in the movie as precepts for "belonging" within its ranks. Class warfare, the naked ambition of the first generation to grow up in England without rationing for many years, drug usage, celebration of youth, sartorial elegance and so on. With that assertion I bid you. Adieu John

Reviews of my last outing at the RUBY ROOM to DJ....Not sure what to make of them overall. It seems like there were mixed feelings about my styley...As per usual.

kingshag — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:58:06 GMT

The Ruby Room 4 star rating 1/30/2009 I have to weigh in with a response to the two ladies below who are talking about the music they heard a few Saturdays ago. First of all they are obviously not regulars as they would know that Tim and Alfredo, the owners of The Ruby Room normally play records on Sat nights. I was there that SAT night and the dude they are talking about was subbing in for Alfredo. That dude is pretty weird. He shows up at the Ruby Room or Radio on rare occasion and is always dressed up like an old man or something. Stripy loud jackets and shit. I talked to him one time b/c he was sitting next to me at Radio on his own. Instead of raging he was like drawing or something. Total geeky. I asked if he dug these chick sitting by us. He starts going on about his wife and baby and shit and gets all misty eyed on me. So I notice he is wearing glitter and figure it must have come off a ho or something. I ask him if he is coming from a strip club. He asks why I would ask such a weird question. So I bring up the glitter and he tells me that he wears it to make him look pretty. I tell him that I'm not into faggots but whatever. So the weirdo grabbed me by the neck and threatened to kick my ass. He totally bruised my neck and tore my new shirt from xmas. So all I wanna say about that English guy is that he is a fag and should be allowed in there. He should go to the White Horse or something. Alfredo told me that Sat that he was showing off too much and that people don't like that hip hop shit so I doubt he will be back anyway. Sorry ladies. Had to call out that faggit. Like he has a wife and shit. Glitter wearing fool. Edit Remove Send to a Friend Link to This Review Photo of Alex J. Pamela B. Oakland, CA 1/19/2009 I also was at the Ruby Room this last Saturday. I go there pretty regularly. There was a different DJ playing with the regular guy for sure. He was wearing white pants and sounded Scottish. That guy was crazy! He danced like a mad robot. His tunes and mixing were way better than the usual crew. Sometimes he got a bit scratch crazy but overall I was fully impressed too. I remember him mixing The Police into ZZ top and making it sound like techno sort of...Who was that dude? I could not understand a word he said. Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review Photo of Jackie P. Jackie P. Oakland, CA 1/19/2009 The Ruby room is always fun. Enough has been said already on this subject below. I went there this last Saturday (17th) with a few friends and saw/danced to one of the best DJ's I have ever experienced. He gave me a CD called ElectroPhonic Funk which I have been listening to non-stop ever since. Unfortunately I did not catch his name. This cat was tearing it up while mixing an amazingly diverse set of tracks. The Cure, Sly Stone, Michael Jackson and Chicks on Speed all mashed up together with some intense hip hop technique. Throughout he was also literally bouncing off the wall to the beat like some sort of de-blackened James Brown. I am going back next Sat to see if he is there again. If anyone knows who this was though please drop me a line. I want to thank him for the CD and a great night out.

Transcriptors - High end turntables one of which was featured in CLOCKWORK ORANGE

kingshag — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:30:55 GMT

Founded in 1960 by the late David Gammon, Transcriptors was one of the World’s leading manufacturer of manual turntables, tone arms and accessories, and one of the most modern Hi Fi manufacturing plants in Europe during the 60’s, 70’s and the early 80’s. Many readers will be familiar with our turntables, which have been widely used in numerous television commercials, and in many films, including the classic 1971 film ‘A Clockwork Orange’ which used our 1964 Hydraulic Reference turntable in various scenes throughout the film. Our products have been copied and reproduced all over the world, from the ‘Concept 2000’ and the ‘Audio Linear’. Even today’s modern turntable design’s bear there origins to the striking designs that were designed by David Gammon, perhaps no better compliment could be paid to his famous turntables. Sadly David passed away in December 2005 after a long illness. He leaves five children Michael, David, Natasha, Ben and Olga, and four grandchildren. Phase1 | England 1960 - 1967 Employed by Almer Components as chief engineer that he designed the Transcriptor arm along with the sweep arm and stylus brush. These designs were born, due to the lack of professional devices that were manufactured by various audio companies His friend Brian Allan (who was a photographer at the time) suggested to David that they should take some photographs and send them to Hi-fi News as a joke not thinking they would get published. He was amazed to find in their next issue that the pictures had been published. David started producing the Transcriptor Arm and the accessories part time in his flat. It was not until he was approached by an audio research laboratory in the early months of 1963 , that he started production of the Reference turntable. The laboratory required a turntable that could meet the strict criteria required for highly accurate audio testing, and so the Reference turntable was designed. It was designed around the Transcriptor arm and was the most advanced turntable unit that had been produce at that time. He also designed a turntable unit for the then British audio company, Goodman's. In 1964 after leaving Almer Components, they offered him two room's for thirty pound's a week at Holloway Road, which were situated above the Almer Components premises, and with a small workforce of seven he started production on a full time basis. However after a year, he out grew the premises, and moved to Theobald Street, Borehamwood. Phase2 | England 1967 - 1973 After moving to the new factory he was now in the position to increase turntable production. A year later this resulted in his next design, the Saturn. The table was produced alongside the Hydraulic turntable. In 1969 the late Stanley Kubrick visited David at his Borehamwood factory and asked him if he could purchase a Hydraulic Reference to use in his latest film project. He let Stanley have the turntable free of charge. The turntable made its appearance in the bedroom and hospital scene of the 1971 classic, A Clockwork Orange which starred the much acclaimed actor Malcolm McDowell. Various turntable parts were also used in another Stanley Kubrick production, 2001 A Space Odyssey. His other designs included turntables for department stores which allowed them to show there goods in their display windows.

CLOCKWORK ORANGE - Alex foments a menage a trois by way of reference to his peerless sound system and its illustrious reproduction capabilities

kingshag — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:57:44 GMT

++++++ Alex: “What you got back home, li'l sister, to play yer fuzzy warbles on? I bet you got, say, pitiful, portable picnic players? Come with uncle and hear all proper! Hear angels' trumpets and devils' trombones. You are invited!” -- A Clockwork Orange

Ruby Room - Sat 17th - "Trying not to succumb to the Cheese loving masses"

kingshag — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:46:11 GMT

Any Christina? Any Brittney? I spun records at the RUBY ROOM last Saturday with Tim, one of the owners of this establishment and all around good guy. (More to come)

THE FALL - My Playlist on YOUTUBE

kingshag — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:03:38 GMT

For those of you who like THE FALL and/or Mark E Smith. Below you can access my collection of video footage concerned with aforementioned subjects. http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=782B2422D6D634F6

GOLDEN YEARS - Alcohol and the creation of the coolest scenes.

kingshag — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:00:26 GMT

The thing about bars.... The occasionally beautiful but oftentimes ghastly "dumbing down" effects of Alcohol when ingested by a random sampling of our co-citizens many of whom were already "deficit spenders" to start off with.... A fit looking bald man with a scar on the corner of his works the room as adeptly as possible given the sartorial handicap of flip flops and stone-wash. On the other side of the bar, by the pool tables, a "soon to be bald" man with a brave and sensible crew cut dances to the sub par Reggae Dancehall track that emanates from the Internet. He really goes for it...feverishly swinging his hips around in circles while stroking imaginary buttocks with his outstretched hands. Air "doggy styling" it to death and genuinely feeling sexy whilst so doing. He must have received positive feedback for prior versions of this performance in my mind. His confidence is high. A girl sitting at the bar notices and encourages him by name...."Git down Reginald...you go!" she emits squeakishly. Two gay African American gents at the bar make eyes at me. Likely the result of my wearing a dusting of silver glitter as is my customary wont. They are distracted by the arrival of Sonic Youth on the Jukebox as my choices finally start to kick in....Apparently they were the prior custodians of the air space. Abusers would be a more apt description in my view. Aural insults qued up with intent to pollute the collective head. Mediocre Nu-Metal/Emo dirge followed by plastic r and b sentimentalization "on click". "What is this shit?" Asks one of the other..."It must be one of your picks". Comes the response. "Tis not....! I have no idea what this shit is...." They start to "pretend fight" over the matter. ON AN EXPRESSWAY TO YRRRRR SKULL!!!!!! The lads interpret Sonic Youth's interjection (a corruption of the classic 60's soul song title -"Expressway to yr Heart") as cause for intensifying their drunken slap/shove/grab "joke" altercation. A bar stool falls over. Gay lads are still lads....with lads strength and lads testosterone...I observe. "Hey you guys!" I exclaim....."Try to retain at least a shred of dignity huh??" The fluffier headed of the two takes note of my comment and acknowledges its acuity by way of a sheepish shrug of the shoulders and embarassed smirk. Their combat abruptly comes to a close. Optimistically they choose to interpret my decision to engage them as potential evidence of my romantic interest in one/both of them. Their bar stools swivel around until they are oriented libidinously towards me. I am hit by a two nosed, four eyed, toothy grin powered homo erotic broadside somewhere in the vicinity of my "fo'castle". Their assault is rendered impotent though upon encountering the turgid and monotonous entrenchment of my heterosexuality. "Golden Years" kicks in on the jukebox. "Run for the shadows....run for the shadows." intones David Bowie. The lads decide to take his advice and march for the exit. I look at my watch. 1.35 am. It is my birthday I realize. "Golden Years." A girl vomits onto the pool table to my right upsetting the gentlemen who are playing 8 ball thereon. I finish my Guiness and leave. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KPWDO30dItg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KPWDO30dItg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

lINK TO rOCKET mORTON VIDEO ON YOU TUBE AND UNRELATED GRAYHOUND STORY

kingshag — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:08:12 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/v/K7OsdI9HZ0E&hl=en&fs=1"> Above ... link to new video on YOUTUBE that corresponds with ROCKET MORTON's house classic..."BE". Joe Bob says check it out... Alles is Kaputt! BBC NEWS Final punt for famous dog track Over the years Walthamstow greyhound track has attracted stars from Winston Churchill to Brad Pitt, lured to the venue for a night of gambling and excitement. But on Saturday the dogs will burst from their traps for the final time. The London stadium, famously featured on the front of Blur's album Parklife, has been sold to property developers. Its owners say falling profits and attendances have forced them to sell-up after 75 years. L&Q Housing Trust, part of the development consortium Walthamstow Stadium Developments Limited, will take ownership of the land on 1 September. Walthamstow without the stadium is like Paris without the Eiffel Tower Barry Clegg, Walthamstow Greyhound Owners Association A mixture of new homes are set to be built and developers say half will be "affordable" properties. But before then, punters can enjoy one last flutter on the dogs. It was first opened in 1933 by William Chandler, who started out operating as an illegal street bookmaker. And the pink and red neon of the stadium's celebrated sign quickly became synonymous with a good night out in the East End. Internet gambling Walthamstow Stadium has also been a popular location for films, music videos and TV shows including Eastenders, London's Burning and Murphy's Law. Adverts for lager, cars, sports clothing and even cereal have been filmed there as well. Under the development plans, the facade will be retained in recognition of the track's famous history. Over the years the stadium has stayed in the Chandler family. But William's grandson Charles, chairman of the British Greyhound Racing board, says operations have become "unsustainable". The advent of high street and internet gambling means punters are no longer betting in such great numbers with the bookies, tic-tacs and totes on its trackside pitches. Other celebrities who have visited Walthamstow down the years include actress Lana Turner and footballer- turned-actor Vinnie Jones. And before fame and fortune, a young David Beckham used to collect glasses in the stadium's restaurant. Its iconic place in greyhound racing history means it will be sorely missed. A protest against the sale took place in July. Despite this, and a last-ditch attempt by a consortium of businessmen and wealthy individuals to save the track for racing, it is not expected to succeed. A family spokesman said as far as the Chandlers were concerned the stadium had been sold and would pass into the possession of developers on 1 September. 'Lovely pets' The Walthamstow Greyhound Owners Association has contacted the stadium's 11 trainers to ensure all the dogs will be cared for. Chairman Barry Clegg said most of the 500 greyhounds that race at Walthamstow would move on to pastures new. "The majority will continue with the trainers and race at other tracks," he said. "But for the ones that are getting near the end of their careers, the kindest thing would be to find them a new home. "They make lovely pets and are wonderful with children. "There are massive misconceptions about them. They are complete coach potatoes. They only want a little walk and spend the rest of the time sitting down." Mr Clegg, who used to have his own pack of dogs at the stadium, added: "I'm absolutely gutted to see the stadium close. I've been coming since I was a boy. "Walthamstow without the stadium is like Paris without the Eiffel Tower. "It's an iconic building, it made you feel alive. It was a sport second to none. There's no better feeling in the world." Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/7558967.stm Published: 2008/08/15 00:35:17 GMT © BBC MMVIII

Sublime moments in Cinema.....with theE Bomber - the narcotic undertow of Disney's JUNGLE BOOK.

kingshag — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 08:54:13 GMT

Do you remember watching the Disney Movie "The Jungle Book" as a kid? I certainly do. As a matter of fact someone must have bought the soundtrack for me back when I was a mere sprog. I surmise this having found the soundtrack LP amongst the pile of records I had left behind in England as a kid last time I went back to visit. I have spent some time listening to it since then having subsequently brought it back to the States with me. Recently I picked up an American version from Goodwill along with a video cassette of the actual movie. Disney has never short changed the consumer when it comes to options for purchasing their output suffice to say.... While the whole soundtrack is noteworthy for its timeless appeal and straight up grooviness, ("Bare Necessities", "I wanna be like you" etc) I find myself drawn to the down-tempo stylings of "Trust in me", when it comes to picking a favorite track. This soporific, string laden, jazz/blues inflected track is graced with lyrics that can be interpreted innocently or from a more worldly perspective. "Slip into silent slumber....slowly and surely your senses will cease to exist" ..... (excerpt from lyrics) The accompanying scene in the movie is one in which a treacherous snake hypnotizes Mowgli, the young boy who is the hero of the story with his ever spiraling eyes. It does this with a view to ultimately eating him once he is thoroughly subdued. It does not take too much imagination to see how this could symbolize the passage of an individual from drug user to drug abuser to addict to deceased...The seductive and increasingly disabling nature of heavy narcotic experimentation represented by the snake and it's efforts to engage and dispatch Mowgli. "Adam and Eve meets Drugstore Cowboy as envisioned by Damian" {future Hollywood Pitch for a remake} "Trust in me" has a similar feel to "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed in terms of musical temperament and pacing . Its underlying semi-covert subject matter may well be the same too methinks... "Your gonna reap just what you sowed" and all that.... "Ahhhhh ... a run of the mill heroin lullaby/funeral dirge from our friends at Disney. One for the wee kiddies out there." YR IMAGINEERINGLY Phonic theE Bomber p.s. I might be wrong about all of this

LOU REED WITH DR JOHN the Night Tripper duetting on "PERFECT DAY"

kingshag — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:12:21 GMT

I give all due respect to YOUTUBE for allowing us to see pairings like the one you can link to below. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kXgbN81zNG8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kXgbN81zNG8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

My Favorite NURSE WITH WOUND album titles.

kingshag — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:25:23 GMT

Nylon Coverin' Body Smotherin' Current 93 / Nurse With Wound 1987 A Handjob From The Laughing Policeman Nurse With Wound 2006 Natal Moonies Nurse With Wound 2006 Paraparaparallellogrammatica Angry Eelectric Finger Part Two: Paraparaparallellogrammatica 2007

Crispin Glover - Hero to the twisted

kingshag — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:20:10 GMT

Count me in... For his portrayal of a speed freak in the movie "Rivers Edge" Crispin showed a commitment to method acting that went above and beyond the norm... Witness his appearance on Dave Letterman shortly after the completion of that film for a glimpse at the aftermath... A fractured psyche meets the public eye ....Uptown. "Have you ever seen a man drown on television?" queries Letterman at one point... Click the embedded link below to see this study of excellence in television. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4JpZWaXFc48&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4JpZWaXFc48&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

50% Cure Guaranteed!

kingshag — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:51:34 GMT

A WOMAN died after a Stirling "doctor" gave her a bogus cancer cure, a parliamentary committee heard yesterday. The Social Development Committee hearing into unregistered and deregistered doctors took evidence from Shirley O'Donnell, whose daughter Shannon died 36 days after receiving "ozone treatment", in 2003, from a man known as Lubo Bitelco. Ms O'Donnell was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003 and went to Mr Bitelco after hearing from a friend about his treatments. He promised her a "50 per cent cure" after giving her a treatment known as "vaginal blowing" during which she had to move up and down on the bed saying "Oh, Boy", Mrs O'Donnell said. The committee heard he then offered to continue the treatment for almost $10,000, showing her albums and videos of previous clients. "Shannon . . . told me he had an album of women patients whom he photographed nude, and she had advised Lubo she would not be photographed nude while being treated," Mrs O'Donnell said. Ozone treatment is an alternative treatment that was widely condemned by experts after six Australians were found to have died from it in 2006. It usually involves administering ozone in gas form. The coroner found Ms O'Donnell had died from sepsis and that it was unclear whether the infection was from the treatment or whether the cancer was responsible. Mrs O'Donnell said she understood Mr Bitelco was still practising, however, he was not able to be located or contacted yesterday by The Advertiser. "I hope something is going to be done to stop him," she said. "I can't do anything about Shannon (but) I would like the police to do something about him and his methods." The case was referred to the police and to the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner, but Mrs O'Donnell said it was still not resolved. Meanwhile, the Australian Traditional Medicine Society told the committee it would like to see all bogus doctors "named and shamed". ATMS policy adviser Raymond Khoury said quackery was an "insidious social problem" and called for an expansion of the HCSC commission's role so it had the power to expose people offering fraudulent cures.

Study finds long benefit in illegal mushroom drug

kingshag — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:21:33 GMT

In 2002, at a Johns Hopkins University laboratory, a business consultant named Dede Osborn took a psychedelic drug as part of a research project. She felt like she was taking off. She saw colors. Then it felt like her heart was ripping open. But she called the experience joyful as well as painful, and says that it has helped her to this day. "I feel more centered in who I am and what I'm doing," said Osborn, now 66, of Providence, R.I. "I don't seem to have those self-doubts like I used to have. I feel much more grounded (and feel that) we are all connected." Scientists reported Tuesday that when they surveyed volunteers 14 months after they took the drug, most said they were still feeling and behaving better because of the experience. Two-thirds of them also said the drug had produced one of the five most spiritually significant experiences they'd ever had. The drug, psilocybin, is found in so-called "magic mushrooms." It's illegal, but it has been used in religious ceremonies for centuries. The study involved 36 men and women during an eight-hour lab visit. It's one of the few such studies of a hallucinogen in the past 40 years, since research was largely shut down after widespread recreational abuse of such drugs in the 1960s. The project made headlines in 2006 when researchers published their report on how the volunteers felt just two months after taking the drug. The new study followed them up a year after that. Experts emphasize that people should not try psilocybin on their own because it could be harmful. Even in the controlled setting of the laboratory, nearly a third of participants felt significant fear under the effects of the drug. Without proper supervision, someone could be harmed, researchers said. Osborn, in a telephone interview, recalled a powerful feeling of being out of control during her lab experience. "It was ... like taking off, I'm being lifted up," she said. Then came "brilliant colors and beautiful patterns, just stunningly gorgeous, more intense than normal reality." And then, the sensation that her heart was tearing open. "It would come in waves," she recalled. "I found myself doing Lamaze-type breathing as the pain came on." Yet "it was a joyful, ecstatic thing at the same time, like the joy of being alive," she said. She compared it to birthing pains. "There was this sense of relief and joy and ecstasy when my heart was opened." With further research, psilocybin (pronounced SILL-oh-SY-bin) may prove useful in helping to treat alcoholism and drug dependence, and in aiding seriously ill patients as they deal with psychological distress, said study lead author Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins. Griffiths also said that despite the spiritual characteristics reported for the drug experiences, the study says nothing about whether God exists. "Is this God in a pill? Absolutely not," he said. The experiment was funded in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The results were published online Tuesday by the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Fourteen months after taking the drug, 64 percent of the volunteers said they still felt at least a moderate increase in well-being or life satisfaction, in terms of things like feeling more creative, self-confident, flexible and optimistic. And 61 percent reported at least a moderate behavior change in what they considered positive ways. That second question didn't ask for details, but elsewhere the questionnaire answers indicated lasting gains in traits like being more sensitive, tolerant, loving and compassionate. Researchers didn't try to corroborate what the participants said about their own behavior. But in the earlier analysis at two months after the drug was given, researchers said family and friends backed up what those in the study said about behavior changes. Griffiths said he has no reason to doubt the answers at 14 months. Dr. Charles Grob, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, called the new work an important follow-up to the first study. He said it is helping to reopen formal study of psychedelic drugs. Grob is on the board of the Heffter Research Institute, which promotes studies of psychedelic substances and helped pay for the new work.

July 4th thoughts(continued from last image...)

kingshag — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:16:42 GMT

July 4th thoughts

kingshag — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:15:42 GMT

from the Berkeley Marina ....

Going Mad on Purpose

kingshag — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:40:37 GMT

Sign us up for Rhinoplasty A daily dose of Vitamin C While other get fat yr tasting the flavor of too many nights and stranger behaviour It's more than expected A film misdirected An ending undone by Karma descended An apple too tart A one armed bartender As if your whole life has been put in a blender but still the stars they twinkle and laugh lines become wrinkles You must be fucking kidding me I see yr trap in front of me a spiky pit confronting me a deathwish dream? REALITY. a deathwish dream Reality Storms destroy the homes of the poor and the simple x2 Waaaa Waaaahhh Wa Wa Wa Wa Wake me up for the mistakes Wake me up for the mistakes Wake me up for the mistakes Wake me up for yr fucking... Sinus up for Rhinoplasty A daily nose of vitamin C While they all got fat You just got thinner From so many nights of stranger behaviour It's more than expected A film mis-directed an ending undone by Karma descended an apple too tart a one armed bartender as if your whole world just got put in blender but still the stars they twinkle and your laugh lines became wrinkles. (ohh thats right...its ok....just drown yr fear in a pint of beer) cos YRRR kidz are holy terrors Your Kids are holy terrors Your kids a holy terror. (Nice job on the parenting front)

Unpleasant Dentist related stories...

kingshag — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:21:36 GMT

Dentist jailed for body parts theft scheme A New Jersey dentist behind a scheme to steal body parts from corpses, including that of British journalist Alistair Cooke, was sentenced yesterday to a maximum of 54 years in prison. In March Michael Mastromarino, 44, admitted to leading a $4.6m (£2.3m) operation that targeted funeral homes in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The ring dismembered more than 1,000 cadavers, selling the parts to doctors who transplanted them into patients. "I am sorry for the emotional pain I have caused," Mastromarino told the court, repeating an apology he made to victims and relatives of the dead earlier this month. State supreme court judge John Walsh made no comment as he sentenced Mastromarino, who had pleaded guilty to body stealing, reckless endangerment and enterprise corruption. Dayna Ryan, 44, told the court how she had contracted Hepatitis B when she was a recipient of stolen body parts during an operation on her lower spine. As part of the scheme, a team of so-called cutters removed bones, skin and tendons in an unsanitary embalming room, prosecutors said. "He recognises the gravity of what he has done," Mastromarino's lawyer, Mario Gallucci, said. One co-defendant pleaded guilty, another was convicted and a third is awaiting trial. Cooke, the former newspaper foreign correspondent and host of the PBS television show Masterpiece Theatre and the BBC's Letter From America, died in 2004 at the age 95 in New York. The dentist, his wife, the prostitute, a nasty disease and a £2m divorce case A WEALTHY dentist who passed on a sexually transmitted disease to his wife after visiting a prostitute on a foreign holiday is facing a £2 million divorce action. Linda and Roderick Bain initially tried to save their 29-year marriage but she then discovered he had e-mailed a prostitution website, and she suspected he had contacted women through newspaper adverts. The couple are now going through a bitter divorce. She stays in the former family home on Royal Deeside and he lives in their weekend flat in Aberdeen's west end. Mr Bain refused to comment on the divorce case at his busy surgery in High Street, Banchory, yesterday. A receptionist said: "I have checked with Mr Bain and he doesn't want to speak – certainly not." But one of his clients said: "I think everybody who goes to the surgery will be absolutely shocked about this prostitute business. I certainly am. "I have been going to his surgery for the best part of 20 years and he is an excellent dentist and very affable. He is Dons daft and all he wants to talk about is football." The patient, who did not wish to be named, added: "I heard some time ago there was a new woman in his life." The former family home where Mrs Bain still lives, a large modern detached villa on the outskirts of the village of Torphins, was deserted yesterday. In her action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, the 61-year-old retired secretary is seeking a capital sum of £2million. One of the issues to be decided is when the couple stopping living together. It is their assets at that date which will be divided. Mrs Bain insisted they had stopped living as man and wife as recently as May of last year, while Mr Bain maintained it had happened in December 2004. The judge was told they had married in 1975 and had two grown-up sons. Mrs Bain had a daughter by a previous marriage. The couple went on holiday to Australia and Singapore in the autumn of 2003, and Lord Turnbull said in his judgment yesterday: "Some time thereafter, she discovered that whilst on holiday he had visited a prostitute and had contracted a sexually transmitted disease. She discovered that it had been passed on to her. "This news came as a great shock to her. He was very remorseful and they attended counselling together… from her perspective, a healing process commenced with his trying to regain her trust." Mrs Bain told the court that in December 2004, she came across an e-mail sent by her husband to what seemed to be a prostitution site and learned that he seemed to have been advertising his dental practice for sale. She confronted him, there was a row, and he left, saying he was going to live at the flat. Mrs Bain said they continued to live as husband and wife in unconventional circumstances and, until May 2007, hoped their relationship would return to normal. She said they had gone on holidays, including a cruise to South America and a trip to Paris for her 60th birthday, and he had bought her roses on Valentine's Day. Lord Turnbull said: "In May of 2007, she came to suspect that he had been in contact with other women through adverts in newspapers. She confronted him with what she had learned. She decided their marriage was over … she has not spent time with him since." However, Mr Bain said he had been put out of the family home after the argument in December 2004, and, while they subsequently spent time together, it was not as often as his wife claimed. When she stayed at the flat, it was as a convenience for her work and he generally slept on the couch. "He had not wished a divorce and had frequently asked her to permit him to return … she had not allowed him to do so, but had held open the possibility of a reconciliation," Lord Turnbull said. "His contention was that he had arranged holidays for them, bought her presents and kept in contact in the hope matters would be resolved between them." The judge ruled that the couple stopped cohabiting in December 2004. Dentist, wife arrested 06-25-2008 Louisiana State Police arrested Dr. George Everett Rogers, Jr., 40, and his wife, Kimberly M. Rogers, 41, last Friday after a three-month drug related investigation. The couple, who reside at 1008 N. Main St., Farmerville were arrested on June 20 after a warrant was issued by state police and the couple were booked into the Ouachita Parish Correctional Center. The warrant stated that Dr. Rogers, whose practice is located on Forsythe Ave., in Monroe, had been signing prescriptions for Polytussin, a Hydrocodone cough syrup, as well as Vicoprofin, also containing codine, for his wife. Allegedly, Mrs. Rogers would have the prescriptions filled at various pharmacies in Franklin, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Union and West Carroll parishes. The investigation began in late March after Mrs. Rogers attempted to have a prescription filled at a Rite-Aide pharmacy. The pharmacist suspected something was not right, considering it is highly unusual for a dentist to prescribe a cough medicine. The pharmacist requested Dr. Rogers fax a copy of his signature for a comparison, however, he failed to comply. Authorities were notified immediately. During the course of the investigation, authorities discovered three different signatures were being used for the dentist. Four arrested for attempted murder of dentist 25 June 2008 | 18:19 | Source: Tanjug KRAGUJEVAC -- Kragujevac police (MUP) say they have two men in custody suspected of attempting to murder a local dentist. Two more have also been arrested, on suspicion that they contracted the perpetrators to commit the crime. Doctors are still fighting to save the life of the dentist, Goran Lazarevic', who one week ago sustained serious injuries in the attack in the central Serbian town. Police say the suspects, identified as Risto V., 23, and Saša ?., 29, were hired for EUR 200 each. The men who contracted them have been identified only as Stefan D. i Dušan M. The motive for the attack remains unknown. The victim was assaulted in a parking lot. The pair of assailants struck him repeatedly on the head with metal bars. Officers who arrested Risto V. recovered "some of the reward money and the weapon used in the attack", a statement from the MUP said today. The raid and detention of suspects took place on Monday. The temporary 48 hour detention expired today, and the four were officially placed under arrest. Mrs. Rogers, when questioned about the various prescriptions, she claimed they were issued to alleviate dental problems and coughing due to an asthma condition. She also stated that her husband would write the prescriptions, phone them in or “authorize her to write them. The warrant also stated that Mrs. Rogers admitted that she had the drugs filled at different pharmacies to avoid suspicion. Multiple prescriptions were filled on the same day in some cases as well as prescriptions filled for other family members. Dr. Rogers was booked on six counts of distribution of a schedule III narcotic. Mrs. Rogers was booked on seven counts of obtaining a controlled substance. They were released on a $5,000 bond set by the 4th Judicial District Court, Judge Marcus Clark. Dr. Rogers formally had a dental practice in Farmerville. Sick of waiting for a dentist, man pulls out his own teeth 25/06/2008 1:08:00 PM. 'I was on painkillers, I couldn't sleep': Mr Miners explains The NSW health system us under attack once again, with a Bega man pulling out his own teeth after being forced to wait four years for a dentist. 58-year-old Jeffrey Miners says he has been having dental problems for years and was forced to take the drastic action four weeks ago because he was in so much pain. He says it's a scandal. “Every day and night I’m waking up - I’m just sucking poison," he said. “The putrid smells… it’s sickening. And I can’t tolerate that anymore because of other major health problems I have.”

BILL SPIVEY R.I.P.

kingshag — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:59:29 GMT

My dearest friend Bill Spivey passed away last Friday as the result of a massive stroke. He was 70 years old. He was a kind and generous man who made a positive impression on most everyone he met. I loved him dearly and will miss him tremendously. "Bill....Thank you for your incredible contribution to my life. You will never leave my thoughts and dreams." He was a monoganous Cassanova. His good vibrations could be measured on the richter scale. He was too young to be a beatnik and too old to be a hippy. He knew that one should experience things the way they ought to be experienced. Below, his Obit. To appear in the SF Chronicle June 18th 2008 ARTHUR WILLIAM “BILL” SPIVEY Arthur William "Bill" Spivey, a retired city social worker with a love of hats and a penchant for travel, suffered a stroke at his San Francisco home and passed away June 10 with his loving wife at his side. He was 70. Mr. Spivey, a handsome, warmly congenial man, knew well how to live in retirement. He and his wife of 31 years, Joanna Schaefer, traveled to England, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, Sicily, Russia, China, Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Spivey loved driving and they often rented a car overseas for extended tours, seeking out local pubs and folk music where they were welcomed as part of the crowd. They also traveled and camped all over the U.S. His artist wife meticulously created beautiful albums of her photos to document it all. Mr. Spivey was born Nov. 15, 1937, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Dr. Arthur W. and Mary Brandon Spivey. At Broad Ripple High School, he was a track star, a sprinter. At 14, he was told he was Olympic material. He said he loved the "flying" feeling. But as a running back on the football team during The Big Game against Shortridge High School, he was gang-tackled so hard his leg was shattered. He spent his 15th birthday in the hospital and had to give up the leg or die. He graduated in 1956 wearing a prosthetic limb, a condition he had to keep adjusting to the rest of his life. At Indiana University, he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. In 1962, he graduated from San Diego State University with a BS in Biology. He received his Masters in Social Work from San Francisco State University in 1979. He said he wanted to work with people and stay off his feet. Mr. Spivey was employed by the City and County of San Francisco for 30 years as an Licensed Clinical Social Worker and worked much of the time in child welfare. His career and private life were characterized by his heartfelt attentiveness to people, his kindness and generosity. Mr. Spivey loved dressing for an occasion. At his retirement party in March 1992, Mr. Spivey and his wife wore matching hand-painted ties. He was dapper in a suit and wore a stunning fedora from his extensive hat collection. He had other collections, too. Nothing pleased him more than living in San Francisco. But as he battled marginal health recently, he and his wife planned building a larger home in New Mexico in flatter terrain. Mr. Spivey is additionally survived by his sister Judy Spivey Kight of Indianapolis, daughter Caitlin Spivey and grandson Ryder Ibarra of Riverside.

An Unethical Guide to the Street-Sold Stereo Speaker Business:

kingshag — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:38:35 GMT

An Unethical Guide to the Street-Sold Stereo Speaker Business: - kindly submitted by Le Saint, of Montreal Canada. Do you want to make money? Does the thought of bringing home a $1,000 a week while having the time of your life interest you? It's easy as long as you (1) have a legal business license for the town you intend to sell in, (2) work for the local stereo speaker scam company, and (3) want to make money! All you need to learn are these few skills: "The Hit" Here you will learn to pick the best target to sell to. Within the business, these people are referred to as "hits." For obvious reasons, the ideal person to choose is the single male, age 20-35. These particular individuals seem to enjoy their electronic gadgets, regardless of cost, and the more high-tech they sound, the more they want them. Men in expensive cars and trucks are the best to choose because they don't mind spending the extra money on nice things. Preferably, these men are driving alone because when there is more than one person in the car, it makes it twice as difficult to focus your energy and influence on the "hit." Also, the other person can have time to think about what is going on and may clue in their companion. Avoid the elderly! Unless they seem to be particularly hip, the majority of the population of over-60 individuals in this country have no desire to spend their social security checks on big speakers. Also, you may be putting all of your energy into the show that will have no results while the perfect hit is driving right past you. Wives and girlfriends can be dangerous to your efforts, as well. If you see someone fitting this description with your intended hit, pass on them unless you're feeling brave, because there is nothing more demoralizing than a spineless man who after buying into your whole story says "I love these things, but let me go ask my wife." Ninety-nine times out of a hundred the man will return, crestfallen to inform you that SHE doesn't want them. A single woman in a car is a different story, however. While never as easy to sell as a man, women can also be convinced that they need speakers, but remember that you cannot be as aggressive with the sale. "The Pitch" This is the most important part of the entire process. The pitch is which you quickly (since you may be speeding down a road yelling out the window) tell your hit what you have to sell and why. The story that you use is always the same. Why? Because we have been in this business since the seventies and it works! The pitch must be given with all the excitement that you can muster. Remember, you are trying to convince your hit that you are sitting on $6,000 of surplus equipment. The pitch is: " Hey man, hey guy! Want a big set of speakers for your house? I work for an audio company and they just overloaded me!" The majority of the population has an attention span of thirteen seconds before their mind begins to wander. This is because everyone is so used to the short spot commercials they see all day long on TV, so make it quick. After shouting out the pitch, follow it immediately with "Pull over and I'll show you!" Always tell your hit what to do. The concept is to take control of their mind, making them think in an ordered way as you follow through your routine. Therefore you never ask the hit to pull over, because they have the option of saying "No." Just tell them to and you will be surprised how many people follow you to the side of the road. "The Show" This is the time to let your dramatic skill shine. You are about to bring the hit to the van and actually show them the product that you are trying to sell for much more than its worth, so you must be convincing. You are only supposed to be a delivery driver who got overloaded, so don't act too knowledgeable about the speaker. You will be give a spec sheet that has the dimensions of the speakers and false power ranges and additions that do not exist, but they won't know this. All they see is the shiny, laminated, professional looking sheet, and you. When the hit gets out of their car, bounce up to them and grab their hand, shaking it while explaining the following story. Be sure to include any possible detail that you think might have occurred, since it will make your story much more believable. If you just won the lottery, I bet you could tell someone everything that happened to you that day, minute to minute. You tell the hit that you arrived to work in order to pick up your daily deliveries, and someone in the confusion of the morning accidentally doubled your order since regular speakers come in pairs, but the "special" studio monitors that you have actually sold individually. Treat the hit as thought they know more about everything than you do. Build their ego and they will become your instant friend. While at the warehouse, the foreman signed the invoice (an imitation copy given to you every morning at the office), and you left with the extra speakers. Make your boss out to be a real hard-nose, so that they feel bad for you, the minimum wage earner, and forget about the moral side of the issue. You need to bring back $200 for each pair sold, but the suggested retail price on the spec. sheet is $850 apiece, so you have a lot of leeway since all other money over $ 200 is your to keep. While talking non-stop the whole time (don't give them time to think) occasionally shove the spec sheet in front of their face for emphasis, but not too often or the hit will concentrate on the sheet and your words will lose their emphasis. Now show them the speaker, all the while telling them of the different interesting things that these "professional quality" speakers have that others don't. Remember, these people did not leave their house with the intention of buying any speakers that day, so it's up to you to convince them that they need these things. Always look them in the eye, as well. It may make them nervous at first, but once they become caught up in your voice they will see you as less shady. Tap the woofer of the speaker to show them the quality of the polypropylene, but not too hard. In order to make it sound more solid, hit the wooden box of the speaker with the palm of your while your finger taps the woofer. After going over the other qualities of the speaker, it's time for the sale. If the guy is still there at this point, you've got him interested so close the sale and get your money! The easiest way to reach this point is when you finish the whole story immediately follow it with "So Bill (always use their name if they tell it to you), what's the most you can do?" Then STOP! Do not say another word. The Close This is the only part of the show where silence is golden. You have asked the buying question, now leave it to the hit to bring up a figure. Wait five minutes if you have to, all the time staring at the hit with an expectant look on your face. After receiving his offer, blow it out of the water with a ridiculous over-offer. You never know how much money your hit can get his hands on, so don't cut yourself short. Pitch 'em high, look 'em in the eye, and watch 'em buy. After haggling ("Come on guy, I know what these are worth, I'm not gonna just give 'em away! What's the most, most, most you can do?"), decide on how much you can get out of this person, and once your reach that figure, immediately say "Where do you have to go to get the money?" As you say this, grab his hand again and shake it as if you just sealed the deal, pick up the speaker and start walking it to his car. If the door is unlocked, o pen it and stuff the speaker in. If the hit had any doubts about the status of the sale, they are gone now. This is called "the slam." Off to the Bank If you are working with a partner, ask the hit if you can ride with him to the bank, already assuming that you are going there: "Not that I don't trust you or anything, man, but you know how it is." Have your partner follow the two of you in the van, in case the guy tries to flee with the goods. At the bank, get out and follow him to the ATM, teller, or whatever, and stand right next to him, all the while talking about something other than the sale, so that he does not think about the fact that he is about to take out hundreds of dollars for something that he doesn't need. If you happen to see that he has more money in his account, don't be afraid to make a scene accusing him to trying to scam YOU: "Hey, guy, come on, these are worth almost $2,000 a pair and I'm giving them to you for $600 (a $400 profit under the false front of a good deal), you can do another fifty bucks." They may buy this, they may not, but it's worth the try, and the sale is technically already over so it's hard to screw up at this point, since you are in control. You have just successfully made $400 (which you split with your partner) for fifteen minutes of work. Not bad! Of course, the majority of your pitches will not be successful, but the more you pitch, the more you sell. Happy Hunting! No Experience or Scruples Required Well, it doesn't come as much of a surprise to see that Jam Audio, is a really big scam. Let me start by saying that I found a local ad in the newspaper saying "Make $600-1200 weekly, distributing home theatre products." In college and always needing money, I called and was greeted with a friendly voice, very politely giving me directions on how to get to the establishment, but never mentioning anything about the company or its practices. I went for an "interview" which involved filling out a generic application and was offered a job helping to sell speakers. I was told that the boss's "best guy" made $2800 the previous week, and his worst seller still managed to rake in $600. I took the job hoping to make as much money as possible, never wondering why everyone wasn't quitting their job and running for speaker sales. I was told to wear a collared shirt and jeans or shorts to start the next day at 8 a.m. and when I arrived music was on and there was about 15 guys running around a make-shift warehouse hurriedly dumping speakers into the back of cargo vans. After all the trucks were loaded we had a team meeting, which covered sales goals and a pep talk on the bonus money given to the teams that arrive back at the shop first with the most speakers sold. So, I hopped into a van with my teammates; one a "trainee" like myself and the other a seasoned veteran, the guy who made $2800 the last week. So we venture out into a suburb and pull into the parking lot of a gas-station. I thought we were just filling up to start the day out, but that's when I first heard the come-on and knew this career move was a bad idea. The veteran leaned out the window and yelled to some unsuspecting driver, "Hey buddy!!!, Crazy question for ya. You need a set of house speakers?, I got some extras," "How much you want for 'em?" came the reply. "Pull over here real quick and I'll show 'em to ya." Then we all became part of the act. The driver asked us to hand him a magazine with a marked page showing this particular brand of "Denmark" speakers. He explained to the guy that these speakers were originally priced at $1400 but since our inventory guys messed up and gave us extras we were gonna sell them to him really cheap. After all, if we brought them back some guy with seniority would get them instead of us. After laying a guilt trip on the "hit" about helping out a few young delivery guys, he was sold, then we walked to his ATM, and had him withdraw $400. You were to take no less than $200 for the set. I was told that the warehouse boss buys them for $100, so first off, he always makes $100 on every sale. Then, in order to make any kind of profit yourself, you must sell them for anything over $200. This little "show" must have happened at least 300 times throughout the day with only a handful purchasing but it seems the mark gets made fun of afterwards if you buy them or not. That the speakers are junk is openly discussed. All employees are required to fill out independent contractor forms which I suppose allows the company to operate without being held liable for the salesperson's actions. I hope something can be done to get rid of this crap, I worked there for one day and saw right through what they were doing and wanted no part of it. Jason 06/27/02 Experiences of White Van Speaker Victims "They were in a white van, and honked at me until I finally pulled my car into a parking lot." "Well, I was kind of leery. At first I thought they might have been stolen but they looked like the real thing. White van with Dynalab decals on the side. Dynalab shirts, paperwork and everything." "They showed an ad from "The Absolute Sound" "proving" the MSRP was $1200. Something about rubber speakers that the "salesman" demonstrates by bouncing his fist off of left me more than a bit skeptical." "After showing an ad from the back of some Audiophile magazine with speakers priced at $1,200 they tried to sell them to me for $600." Hey everybody. I kidnapped two speaker guys here in Maryland! I will be auctioning them on ebay with no reserve. You will be bidding on... 1 Chevy work van 20 boxes of low-grade speakers(retails fo well over 50k) Imax uses Epiphany! 2 name tags 2 magnetic SounDivision signs (for the van) 1 dirty Pothead with a jamaican rosta hat 1 kinda fat kid with glasses that doesn't shut up Assorted invoices, blank receipts, full color documents showing retail prices for the speakers Buyer pays all shipping. This is a one of a kind auction guys...Happy Bidding! "A friend of mine was driving down the street when he was waved down by this guy standing by his blue van holding a sign. He pulled over to see what it was he wanted and he was shown this brochure of speakers." "The brochure had pictures of all different MTS (millennium theater speakers) speakers. The guy was persistent in trying to convince my friend to buy the speakers for $1,000. He said that they were the best around and used in all major clubs around NYC. He also said that they retailed in stores for close to $1,500 and that he was cutting him a deal. But, my friend turned him down. As he was walking away the guy bargained with him until they talked the price down to $200." "When I started asking questions - they said the speakers were set up so that even if you put them into the low-level outputs of a TV, you "still got the full 200 watts". I said, "Oh, so they're amplified then?" "No,...blah blah blah". I stopped listening." "Their despicable tactics have to catch up with them sooner or later. I wonder if they have medical coverage for their employees selling this junk. When I went to the warehouse for a refund they were unloading a tractor trailer load of these pieces of crap." "They first offered the speakers at $500 each... (who sells speakers one at at time???)" "According to a real audiophile mate of mine, these speakers are perfect for those with total hearing impairment and a vacant space in the lounge room." "I wasn't impressed by the 'Loot' advert as they can be placed easily (and for free), but I was taken in by the ad in the glossy American magazine." "I had asked to listen to them and after a brief protest about being in a hurry, they complied. I know this was outside in a van, but I could easily tell that the sound quality was poor. The lows were moderately powerful but very muddy, the mids were almost non-existent and the highs were annoying." "I also asked them to disassemble the cabinets for a look and and they refused with some BS about them being "high end" speakers and that would void the warranty. Of course they didn't remember bragging about how easily the user could service them at the beginning." "I waited for a refund from "Jay" in the parking lot from 6:30 PM. Guess how many white Mercedes vans pulled in? Seven!!! All with a "Dynalab" sign on! Seven of these vans are cruising all over the streets of Sydney. All of sudden the office became a swarm of all these "JAY" dudes... about 20 of them, plus a dog." "They did the classic "we'll follow you to the ATM" routine and accepted my withdrawal limit (with feigned but convincing reluctance)." "This has been about the fourth time that I have been approached to buy a set of "overstock" speakers. They show you the bogus ad, the bogus price and a "supposed" receipt." "It seems like there tactics are getting bolder. The one gentlemen unlocked my door and put the box in my car, even after telling him not too! Then the guy starts complaining and saying " I already put them in your car, c'mon we'll follow you to the ATM" after about 5 minutes of arguing the one guy started talking trash, and lets just say that he went home with a beating." "Paid $500 for four (and threw in $20 cash for beer)."

My friend Bill Spivey sent this letter to Dan Savage's Hey Faggot regarding amputee fetishists back in the day. Bill died last Monday..I loved him dearly.

kingshag — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:38:16 GMT

Hey, Everybody: Here's two more letters from amputees regarding their feelings about amputee fetishism. Hey, Faggot: Five years ago, I was hit by a car while riding a motorcycle. My left leg was completely mangled and had to be amputated just above the knee. I was lucky: My boyfriend died in the accident. He wasn't wearing a helmet. I've been approached by men into my stump three times since the accident. The first time a guy asked me about it, I had been out of the hospital for less than a week. All I can say is that their interest in my missing leg made me feel like shit -- it brought the whole accident back to me, and I just wanted to die. After the first time it happened, I went straight home and threw up. What AMP Fan and others like him need to understand is that the loss of a limb can be a profoundly traumatic experience. You're not born with a "lost limb," you lose it, usually in an extremely unpleasant circumstance. Is there anything more selfish than looking at someone's stump and only being able to think about your dick? My stump is not a "sex toy," it's not an aphrodisiac. It's a physical and emotional scar. Leave Me Alone Hey, Faggot: I'm a 57-year-old straight white male, amputee 42 years, and I run an amputee support group. I'm amp-neutral myself and have no particular approach-avoidance behavior. I have been approached a few times by men interested in my stump, over the years. Once I went behind the stacks in the S.F. Public Library to let a guy feel my stump, 'cause he wanted it so bad and I felt like a woman with some guy drooling all over her, and therefore thought it might be an interesting experience. It was, however, simply a curious experience, and I didn't get off on it. It did kinda "creep me out." I have had a fantasy of fucking a woman with my stump and, in fact, recently met some women who are interested. As a happily married man, my wife will probably not approve, and that is as far as it goes. A couple of men have come to the amp group feigning some amp interest, and I had to ask them not to come back. I have no objection to any particular consensual activity between consenting adults, but I cannot allow this creepy vibe in the group. Bill Spivey LCSW

THE ATHLETIC APPROACH TO ART....

kingshag — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:21:16 GMT

Artist claims record with quarter-mile drawing Wed Jun 11, 5:57 PM ET He forgot to eat, sleep or even drink water. But Mexican artist Filemon Trevino accomplished his lifelong dream of entering the Guinness Book of World Records. In a news conference Wednesday, Trevino presented a Guinness certificate declaring his quarter-mile-long pencil drawing as the world's largest. The Monterrey artist said he spent 6,000 hours and used 800 pencils to complete his representation of the heart and circulatory system, with symbols including doves, geometric shapes and hundreds of yards of intertwined tubes. He says breaking the record became an obsession that led him to neglect his health. He was hospitalized seven times for dehydration, heart and kidney problems and fainting spells, all attributed to long hours spent drawing in a hot, stuffy room. "I forgot to drink water," he said. "I didn't know anything about friends, my family or anything else in the world. I started to grow a beard and lost (35 pounds) 16 kilograms." Trevino started the drawing in July 2004 and completed it in August 2005. But he could not apply for the world record until he found someone willing to display the work and sponsor Guinness' $600 entry fee. The work was unveiled in March at the Regiomontana University.

ABOUT THE ART YOU WILL FIND AROUND MY PROFILE

kingshag — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:07:19 GMT

The source images found in my gallery are most often either cellular phone photos from my own collection or appropriated images from the World Wide Web. Where this is not the case I have tried to credit the source. They are often manipulated either digitally or manually. Sometimes they are manipulated both digitally and manually. In producing these images II am generally aiming to fulfill at least one of two objectives.... ONE At a purely aesthetic level I try to create a psychoactive experience for the viewer by way of color selection, pattern, contrast. etc. I am influenced in this regard by the iridescent and inherently psychedelic qualities innate to materials such as mother of pearl, peacock feathers, mohair and orchids. I will admit to "lysergic" influences too but only when artfully cornered... You will never here me say that I took a lot of acid back in the day....that's for bloody sure! At a moral level I feel it is important to live down to ones reputation....n'est pas? TWO At a subjective level I try to accentuate the positive aesthetic of the images I use. For example when I use pornographic images as source material the end product is often less explicit. I am more interested in love than lust. I like lust an awful lot mind you... I like to highlight the commitment, intelligence and trust necessary for the successful pursuit of hedonistic pleasure in an ethically responsible manner... GRATUITOUS TANGENT Above all else, I feel that it is important to live artfully whenever possible. Time and space make up our ultimate canvas. Our actions and the decisions that underly them are our most transcendent brush strokes. Ahhhh the existential void beckons.... Make the best usage of your "God given" talents. Recognize that it is "human" though to be imperfect. Life is a beautiful joke. Laughing is the currency of happiness. We are all going to die. There are 3500 pictures in my gallery that represent a portion of my artistic output over the course of the last few years. Enjoy them and feel free to claim them as your own .... for free. IP attorneys relinquish there credentials before entering heaven I am told, (well just "made up" to be truthful). I am not a natural visual artist and envy those who are... I am however prolifically average. Transcendence is beautiful ....accidental, intentional or otherwise in my humble opinion. Did I mention that I am the MOST modest? The most be FAR in fact? Admittedly I am biased towards myself mind you. I digress...again.... In a nutshell though.... I am playing the "numbers game".... Why? Cos.... I can't do what ten people tell me to so ... I guess I will remain the same. Plus it is the only option available to me... Git down. Thank You Otis and thank you Punk Rock. Champagne to all my friends Real pain to all my enemies I love my family.... Phonic theE Bomber FINAL THOUGHT Art? The best example of visual art is all around you... all the time... It costs you nothing.... You can check it out right now instead of reading this drivel... Go ahead.... Swivel your eyeballs left and right .... Bingo there it is..... Check it out.... Notice... It's 3D and animated.... Constantly changing... Totally trippy.... Lets agree to call it .... REALITY. What about abstract art you ask...? You clever so and so... Not into the photo realistic huh? Descartes is your co-pilot perhaps... Well go grab a q tip cos... The ultimate abstract art is also all around you... if you care to tune into it Y'dig?... It is often referred to... in the world of Englishmen.... as MUSIC. C'mon! Forget cubism and the Jungian overtones of abstract expressionism for a moment... MUSIC is so abstract that.... It is invisible and travels through the air in the form of "waves". It enable telepathy for heavens sake.... You know..... The crowd goes wild at the end of the drum solo... Collectively... The blues sounds sad... no matter who or where you are no matter whether you have ever heard it before... We can experience music together.... As ONE. Mark E Smith once wisely reminded us... about the "Psychic dancefloor" so.... STEP FORWARD. Cos we don't need no "cosmic shit" LETS GET THIS THING TOGETHER. disclaimer... The above may all be completely wrong.

BURNING MONEY - KLF PRANK...links to YOU TUBE videos

kingshag — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:45:27 GMT