Music Ramblings: Steve Wynn, Plastic People, Seger; Cool listening and Iggy's "Open Up and Bleed" bio

MUSIC RAMBLINGS

Steve Wynn / The Dream Syndicate: Was an old fan of The Dream Syndicate way back in the day (like when the 1st album came out in 1982), lost sight of them for awhile, and then with the magic of the internet and the wonderful Live Music Archive site I rediscovered my love for them and Steve Wynn solo and also with The Miracle 3. What a good rock band should be. Check out Steve Wynn's great web site.

Plastic People of the Universe: I'm listening to Ach To Statu Hanobeni Koncerty 1976-1977 and it's great!! If you like The Mothers of Invention, check these guys out. I love experimentation with real instruments and voices. Awesome! Plastic People's web site in English.

Of all things, I downloaded Bob Seger's: Ramblin' Gamblin' Man (1969) and Mongrel (1970) and loved em. I forgot what a great rocker early Bob was. You gotta remember he was a contemporary of the MC5 (even sang some backup for them on High Time) and Iggy. "2 + 2 = ?" is a fantastic war protest song that is, sadly, still relevant today.

RECENT POSITIVE LISTENING EXPERIENCES

John Zorn: Naked City (1990) awesome fucking ride...whoa dude!!

Abacus: Abacus (1971) classic krautrock.

Arktis: Arktis (1974) krautrock mixed with Babe Ruth = pretty cool shit.

Randy Holden: Population II (1970) heavy heavy...did i mention it was heavy???

November: 2:a November (1971) awesome hard german rock.

Jane: III (1974) great shit! why had i never heard of these guys til now?? oh yeh, something called the internet.

Agitation Free: Malesch (1972) classic ***** easy. a fave.

Can: Ege Baymasi (1972) obviously amazing!! pure fucking genius...

Kevin Ayers: Joy of a Toy (1969) catchy as all shit...gotta get more ayers...

Circle: Sunrise (2002) this was great!!! see...i do like new stuff!

Steve Reid: Nova (1976) fantastic jazz...

Amon Duul II: Viva La Trance (1973) still classic duul...not as experimental, but it grows on you like fungus on a mushroom...and mushrooms are a good thing!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iggy: Open Up and Bleed by Paul Trynka (2007)

This was a great read. Lots of decadent stories and analysis of Iggy's/Jim's personality. The only problem I saw was that it brushed over the last 30 years a little too quickly. Maybe it should have been 2 volumes? One for The Stooges, the 2nd for Iggy solo and The Stooges reunion??

Here's how it goes:

• If you're an Iggy / Stooges fan, you're gonna want to read this and you won't be disappointed.
• If you like em but don't love em you should find your appreciation increased.
• If you hate em, well why the hell would you read this?

Great pictures too! Here's Paul's Open Up and Bleed web site and blog link.

Question: Who the fuck stole my copy of Iggy's "I Need More" autobiography???? You bastard!!!!

+++++++++++++++

Rambling a Rambling a Fa Fa Fa - got a job and am I fat, huh, am I fat????

Loving life in Haida Gwaii...

I love the pace, I love the beauty, I love the long walks along the beach with The Bah and The Guru, I love our (rented) house...

but, there's always a fucking BUT

I'm getting frustrated with the job scene. I guess you gotta get out and make contacts and all of that shit BUT BUT BUT baby baby I have a hell of a time doing that. It's not easy for me to do...I get anxious, I get nervous, I lose confidence, I don't feel like Me. All I want is a 35-40 hour a week job where I can do my shit, get paid ok, and go home and enjoy life and work on some creativity.

You see, the thing is, everyone seems to assume that we're all go-getters, we all want to network and shit, but hey, there's a shitload of people out there who aren't into that scene.

Just check out the asylums and hospitals!!!

^^^^^^^

Seriously, I seem to be reducing the depression since moving here to the "rock". People still make me anxious as shit, but I'm working on it! Since moving here, I'm writing more [aside: which is a big deal to me, if not for anyone else...I'm not sure if it's very good, but I'm working on it, and the words are flowing out of the cranium more quickly than they have for years.]. I've even started taping myself singing, talking, yelling, playing incompetent recorder and harmonica and off-beat banging on the drum, and I'm having a blast doing so!

I somehow did some healing in that godawful place of Prince George, BC and the contentment I feel here (except for that job thingy) should finish up the process as much as I'm capable of. I'll even go out with The Guru at night without getting all weirded out!

Wow! I'll be running for office soon!

%%%%%

Whatever happened to the women's movement??? It strikes me that women have more opportunity to make bucks, but they're treated with more hostility and hatred now. Why else would 10 year old girls feel the need to starve themselves and then still feel FAT?? Yeh, that sounds like a healthy society to me...Just watch tv [aside: on second thought, DON'T watch tv]...I mean lots of the media are saying Britney Spears was too fat at the mtv vma?? She may have addiction problems [aside: and I don't blame her...if I was her you'd have to pull the fucking needle out of my arm before you pushed me onto the stage!], but being FAT ain't one of them. Stupid insensitive hateful media and everybody who just follows along agreeing are just as guilty...

I never thought I'd actually be defending Britney, but what the hell...this has nothing to do with her music or videos or whatever. She's human too, dammit!

@@@@@

photo courtesy of Cassandra's Eye.

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Poetry in Motion: Apocalyptic Dreams (aka Messin' with My Mind)

Apocalyptic Dreams (aka Messin' with My Mind)

I was messin'
with my mind
then I realized
the mind was gone [aside: where the fuck did it go???]

I took a break
had some pills

took a trip
to
rivers of regret
streams of sadness
oceans of oddities

ALL [aside: every fucking thing!] solidified
into the unknown

“the unknowable
is a sure thing”
I heard a voice
in the corridor
say in an
authoritative voice

A CRASH!!! [aside: of ridiculous proportions!!!]

nothing was left…
the apocalypse
never occurred

I’m stranded
on an island
on a rock

the eagles hover
ominously
waiting for the sign
a sign that
this is it

2007
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Time to stir the P O T

different spices
turn up the heat
taste the recipe

make changes

NO LIMITS
NO RESTRICTIONS

what does this mean?
who the hell knows
but here we go!!
()()()()()()

Haida Gwaii inspirational story; Kevin Coyne super cool link

Here's a really cool, inspiring story from my new home of Haida Gwaii. Cheers to all the people who helped save the whale. thanks oakbayjohnny

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Here's a link to a super cool blog of rare Kevin Coyne downloads. Anything that exposes the music of Kevin Coyne to the world is worthwhile in my view! The World of Kevin Coyne.
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I've been trying to find a job here. It's going alright...just gotta be patient. I put in to be a substitute teacher! That would be quite the change for me...but all kids love the substitute teacher, right? Right!?!?

When I'm not trying to find a job, I've been writing more poetry and prose than I have in years! This comes as a great relief to me. I've been struggling in doing any worthwhile writing for the past few years...but, the blog has helped get the juices flowing. I'll try to do a write-up over the long weekend on my latest musical discoveries and rediscoveries. I'm listening to Twink: Think Pink (1970) and it's sounding pretty awesome. Anyone got any mushrooms?
Anyone???
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2 docs from youtube: Iggy & The Stooges, Jonestown: Life and Death of the Peoples Temple

Wild docs from youtube!!

I watched a great 5 part doc on Iggy and The Stooges on youtube. Here's the 1st part, and just follow along and you'll find the other parts. It's called The South Bank show documentary...whatever the hell that is, but this is great. It features interviews with Iggy from 2004 when The Stooges got back together. I was surprised at how beat up his body is...yet, on stage you would never know! Iggy is one hell of a trooper!! thanks opevans

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I also watched a chilling doc on Jonestown: The Life and Death of the Peoples Temple. Starts at part 0 and work your way up from there. tanks mosesofmason

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some cool YouTube vids: Edgar Broughton, Zoogz Rift and Dee Dee Ramone!!

Cool video of Edgar Broughton Band: Apache Dropout (sampling Captain Beefheart's "Dropout Boogie" with The Shadows "Apache"...brilliant!) 1972 thank rumplestiltskin70

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Here's the amazing Zoogz Rift on The Uncle Floyd show...thanx batpuller

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This sorta freaked me out...Dee Dee Ramone on The Unlce Floyd show!!! With his band Spiky Tops!?!? thanks directorpat

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Can: Monster Movie (1969) AWESOME!! Haida Gwaii and the eagles

Can: Monster Movie (1969) *****

Only Damo could step into the lead vocalist position after this in-fucking-credible debut. This has become one of my fav albums of ALL TIME!!!!!!

I push the play button and before I know it, I'm up and bopping around the living room in a shamanistic trance...

I sing out loud

I make up my own words

I pick up a recorder

I start JAMMING

my mind is free

I'm a believer baby

I'll do right

I'm not contrary

I'll be okay

I love Damo, but this is right there. There is more of a rock fury on this than any other Can album. I can feel my body's intensity increase as this is playing.

This is more fucking punk than any punk I can think of! No wonder Johnny Rotten loves these guys. The rhythm section is absolutely pounding...Karoli just wails at times...and of course Irmin is fantastic on the keys.

I know I've talked about this album before, but every time I listen...I love it MORE.

[aside: Wow...I'm listening to the last bit of "Yoo Doo Right" and is that some of the best bass playing...ever?!?!] Apparently, Malcolm focused on his painting and sculpting after he left Can (due to a nervous breakdown...which may explain the "intensity" of the album.

Get It

Get It

Get It

If you haven't heard it...Well, to sum up: Listening and getting into this album reminds me of the old days (25 years ago!!) when I first got into The Stooges and The Velvet Underground. You feel a whole new world of music opening up to you. Music is fucking exciting...dammit!!!

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Haida Gwaii Update

It is awesome here. We go down to the ocean almost every night. Last night there were dozens upon dozens of eagles in the trees along the beach. Incredible..and a little frightening. Those guys are HUGE!! We just hope that one doesn't come along and take the Bah away!

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McDonald's is S C A R Y

McDonald's and the Clown

No wonder clowns scared me as a kid...
these clowns scare me even today!!!

OK...Get a load of the creepy clown: Willard Scott as Ronald McDonald in 1971


As if that wasn't bad enough...well, here's the start of the end of civilization as we once knew it. A clown that likes to do "everything" little boys and girls do. hmmm...would you want your kids hanging around this clown?????


I'm proud to say I'm 10 years McDonald's free!!! Go to McDonald's Anonymous (MA) today and save your SOUL!!!!!!!!!!
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2 classics from the letter 'A': Acid Mothers Temple and Ash Ra Temple

The Old Classic from the letter 'A'

Ash Ra Tempel: Schwingungen (1972)
An old fav, and after the Timothy Leary collaboration on "Seven Up" my second exposure to the ashra freaks.

The Guru is lying on the couch reading, while I'm doing whatever the hell it is I do and "Suche and Liebe" is winding up it's glorious conclusion:

Guru: This music scares me.
Harvey Dog: No, it's beautiful!

Well, there you go. One person's terror is another person's balm. To me, the final 10 minutes on this album concludes perfectly the preceding 30 minutes. It is so fucking uplifting!!! I find myself soaring into a better place than planet earth
soaring into unknown dimensions
attaining the peace we all desire.

There is an incredible flow to this album. The vocals (sung in German...so I'll be looking at this a bit different from someone who speaks the language), become another instrument, not unlike the amazing Damo from Can.

I wish I had heard of these guys in my 20s...
opening up experimental valves
exploring the power of 'space'
in music...
and life
exploring the power of 'time'
in music...
and life
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The New Classic from the letter 'A'

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O: Have You Seen the Other Side of the Sky? (2006)
This album shows a reformed "Melting Paraiso U.F.O" (after the amazing Cotton Casino left), firing on all cylinders. There is a Ghost-like beauty on the quieter songs...and the finale "The Tale of the Solar Sail - Dark Stars in the Dazzling Sky" is a powerful motherfucker!! The 30 minute song takes you on an acid temple trek through many different realms. The title is correct. There's darkness BUT it's also dazzling.

a sense of wonder
and excitement

The "solar sail" takes you to heaven
takes you to hell
it's all dazzling
there is nothing to fear
the adventure continues....

A powerful album that shows that the acid is still strong in the temple of the mothers.
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Links

A review of Schwingungen from Hippyland. Cool looking site I just found.
The official Ash Ra web site.
Acid Mothers web site.
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Anthony Braxton: 3 Compositions of New Jazz (1968) makes ya think about labels!

Anthony Braxton: 3 Compositions of New Jazz (1968)

This is great. Reading his biography on all-music a lot of words were used to attempt to label his music.

jazz...not jazz

classical jazz?

experimental avante-garde classical jazz?

wynton marsalis says it's not jazz

but then wynton

limits himself

by being tied to the past

the past needs to be

preserved

admired

and used as a

launching pad

into one's own

creative impetus

a stimulus

to explore and create.

"Composition 6E" is very dissonant and drips of tones slip through...lots happening...space is very important, as Sun Ra says: "Space is the Place!"...

"Composition 6D" is more brassy (does that make it jazz????) and sound fills the spaces more fully...sorta rocks in it's own way...not that i'm trying to label the music per se...just rocks in a "metaphorical" sense...

"The Bell" starts with Leroy Jenkins playing some awesome violin...just wailing like on the porch of the symphony stage...very beautiful...

Anthony Braxton is someone I've known about, but only recently started "hearing". There's an ocean of sounds by Mr. Braxton to delve into (he was very prolific) and there's no reason to hesitate...the water is warm...if occasionally complex...

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Links

Anthony Braxton's detailed discography.

Anthony Braxton in Wikipedia.

Anthony Braxton and the Tri-Centric Foundation.

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Boogie Shoes Bonanza: colosseum, crazy horse, electric prunes, index, jane, joseph, residents, src and the incredible ya ho wa!!!

What has been making my boogie shoes shine lately? What musical noises has captured Harvey Dog's inner imagination?

Let's take a quick look at a few recent treasures.
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Colosseum: Valentyne Suite (1969) great beginning ("the kettle") that captured the ears immediately...fantastic musicians...jazzy with a definite blues influence...dick hiseman is an amazing drummer...fill, fill, *splash* do do do...great stuff, and definitely will be checking out the rest of the discography.

Crazy Horse: Crazy Horse (1971) finally got a chance to listen to this, and was very impressed. An excellent solid **** album...some nice shaggy rock'n'roll playing with a couple of classics baby...i don't wanna talk about it and downtown are awesome songs and too bad the charlie got a hold of danny and bye bye the rhythm section off to play with Neil who knew a good thing when he saw it...


Electric Prunes: Stockholm '67 (1997)

WOW!!!!

PROTO PUNK!!!

MC5 BEFORE MC5!!!!

THESE GUYS R A W K !!!!!

GET THIS MOTHERFUCKING LIVE CLASSIC

DISCOVER THE PRUNES!!!!!!!!!!

***** FUCKING STARS

Index: Index (1967) interesting...weird combo of psychedelia and garage minimally recorded but has depth and a cool cover of 8 miles high which pierces the notes harder than mcguinn...sounds fairly dark for 67...

Jane: Together (1972) in all the rock music books (rolling stone record guide, music hound, all music guide, illustrated encyclopedia of rock) purchased over many many years i never saw an entry for jane...an apparent mystery band (they still have no bio listed in allmusic.com)...great prog rock without getting masturbatory...will be looking into these guys...

Joseph: Stoned Age Man (1970) this was a nice find...big bluesy rock done with confidence and panache...fantastic one-off worth hearing...

Residents: Demons Dance Alone (2002) and it brings a tear to my eye...poor little demons need sympathy too...more thoughtful for the residents and extremely enjoyable...

SRC: SRC (1968) detroit's other band besides stooges, mc5, amboy dukes...what a scene detroit musta been in the late 60s!!! great fuzz drenched acid soaked guitar and organ...check out these guys...


Ya Ho Wa: Contraction (1973) Kohutek (1973) What a find this was!!! father yod and his band of "little kiddies" who did about 60 albums in 2-3 years and released 9 of em i believe...father yod spews out his wisdom over a backing of incredible free form playing...awesome awesome awesome...i need to do a more extensive bio of these guys and gals...
blowing the mind
exposing basic truths
more harmony
less judgement please
free the fear
live life here
open ears
eliminate judgement
arrogance
there needs to be some other way
hordes of the depressed
aimlessly wander
losing potential
in a sea of fear
tap potential
free the fear
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Links

Colosseum Home Page
Neil Young and Crazy Horse Page
Awesome detailed Electric Prunes Web
The official Electric Prunes site
Jane Home Page in English and German!
The Residents Official News Blog
Psychedelic Tribal Music Presents Ya Ho Wa
Perfect Sound Forever interview living Ya Ho Wa's
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Doyle Mizutani Toyozumi rock Tokyo 1997

Arthur Doyle, Takashi Mizutani & Sabu Toyozumi: Live in Japan 1997 (released 2003) give er ***** captain

Wow!!! This is incredible...these guys waste no time getting into it. If this was actually the first song of the concert,well, unbelievable. They start with a flurry, and get incredible sounds out of their instruments. I really like some of the tones Mizutani gets out of his electric guitar. Arthur is so intense, his stamina is incredible. Around 9 minutes into "November 8th or 9th, I Can't Remember When" [aside: great title!], they start to get spacey, but in an intense scary way...

intense melodies

scream silently

into the space of time

Takashi and Sabu are great on "Alabama and Mississippi Reunited".

heavy

ominous

vibrations

warning sirens in the distance

then right next door

flee shout the generals

hiding out

in their bunkers

while the war inside rages

Arthur comes in on the flute and he takes things to another dimension. Is this the reuniting? Is this a good thing??

"I Pass, Then Resist" starts off with a beautiful melody by AD. Beautiful song. "I'd Live in Her World, Then Without Her in Mine" sounds like it could be done by the Acid Mothers Temple (or maybe I'm on ahcid!!!). [aside: Now wouldn't that be an interesting collaboration?? Arthur Mothers Doyle's Temple]

I really like AD's flute playing. It adds a lightness to the proceedings...yet still ominous! "Love Heal" is like that. Then Arthur starts using his voice as an instrument. [aside: Mole, ya gotta hear this!] His voice is incredibly expressive. Words are not necessary for Arthur!

nothing said

nothing said

everything said!!!

"Joy" ends the proceedings on a meditative

thoughtful

conclusion.

Incredible stuff...

I also have "Songwriter" and it's also worth hearing. Arthur solo in a living room bringing his music to life...what could be better?

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Arthur Doyle Links

A nice little history up to 2000

Interview with Arthur

Arthur on AllMusic

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AMM: AMMMusic 1966

AMM: AMMMusic (1966) ***** Wow!!! I finally listened to this and it's some wild shit. I read some of the comments on the great "Rate Your Music" site, and it's interesting reading the comments of the people who don't like this...at all. If you're expecting verse-chorus-verse-chorus etc. normal chords etc a melody etc (though I feel there is melody contained within) then forget it. You'll think it's noise.

HOLD ON...don't run away so fast!!!

The key to this music, [aside: unless you're a hi-falootin music theorist] is to let it flow over your body

over your soul

let it take a hold of you

take you for a ride

hear that noise?

it's no mosquito

it's no albatross

it's the sound of

life

of death

of everything

the sound of a radio

in the distance

weaves in and out

of the improvisation

no categories

not classical not jazz not rock not avant-garde

but emotion through instrumentation

The sound of the cello always gears me up a bit, and the drumming is amazing! It blows me away that this was recorded live in June 1966. If you're interested in music that pushes the envelope on what music is all about, then check this baby out. I will be looking out for more AMM!!!

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Here's a cool web site called European Free Improvisation Pages, I came across in searching for more info about AMM (who have a page). Lots to explore within!!

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AMM Links

AMM in Wikipedia

AMM in All-Music Guide

AMM in Rate Your Music

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Here in Haida Gwaii with the ocean outside my window...

Greetings bloggers

The move has been completed (except for a few more address change shit and stuff), and we are living in beautiful Skidegate, BC on Haida Gwaii with the Pacific Ocean in our backyard.

awesome place

nice people

Things move slower here, so we ended up just getting the internet (and tv) last night!! That's what happens in a small place. The satellite guy was on holiday, no other hi-speed, no Telus, no DSL, no cable...you just have to learn patience, grasshopper.

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I've been out of the loop lately, but the cds are finally unpacked!!! It only took 2 weeks!!!

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Listening to Cannabis: Joint Effort (1972) and was expecting some crazy psych shit...BUT, it is actually solid lightweight psych folk. Think of The Byrds around the notorious era, and there you go. A pleasant endorsement, but nothing earth shattering.

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The whole Chris Benoit story has confused baffled frightened and flabbergasted me heavily. I was an indy pro wrestler for 4 years and even 10-15 years ago he was someone you watched tapes of to learn how to work a match. I heard nothing but nice things about him from the boys.

He was, obviously, juiced to the gills, but that doesn't make people kill their wife and son. There's a lot of serious issues that the whole incident should raise, so that the whole industry can become healthier...what made him snap? domestic issues? probs with the son's health? getting older and seeing the end in sight? secret dark issues that unfortunately came out in the most vile way imaginable?? or the 10 months of steroids every 3-4 weeks for a year, on top of 20 years of steroid use, painkillers, gbh??? what makes people, who seem so strong, succumb to their inner demons?? or are they outer demons??? is it society's (ie. the media) fault that so much importance was/is placed on the physique of pro wrestlers???

Since so many people seem to know what caused this, here's my guess. And it's only a guess...none of us except the deceased have a fucking clue!! (also the toxicology reports still haven't come out) He left the docs, went home and in some form of roid rage (more a cocktail of steroids, stress, domestic issues, painkillers and god knows what else) he killed his wife (Nancy...also a hell of a wrestling performer) during a domestic dispute. Then...I get the feeling that's when he really lost it. The last day of his son's life must have been a living hell. What could possibly be going through Benoit's mind during this time??? Then he killed his son...and the next day he couldn't live with his demons anymore so he killed himself.

Hopefully, some good will come out of this and more lives down the line will be saved, BUT haven't we all thought this before? And the way the wwe has responded (continuing big pushes of Lashley & Batista, defending a ridiculous drug testing procedure, saying out loud STEROIDS ARE BAD, WE TELL OUR WRESTLERS NOT TO USE THEM but then telling the wrestler "but hey here's a number to call that'll help put some meat on your body...if you want to move on up the ladder") it doesn't sound like much will change. Just like any corporation...who wants to change things when you're making money hand over fist? Even if it's killing people. Ask Bush...ask every fucking leader in the mid east. The guys in power want to stay in power, and change may cause them to lose some of that power...and that's a no-no.

* sigh *

I'm still very confused and upset about this. I just found out a couple of days ago. Back to the music next post, but I had to get some of this shit inside me out.

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