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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:03 PM
Original message
Elvis haters can go f*** themselves
Just saying...
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nothingshocksmeanymore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:04 PM
Response to Original message
1. I'll second that
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progmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:05 PM
Response to Original message
2. no argument from me
:hi:
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lancdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:05 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Or me
:)
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democracyindanger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:05 PM
Response to Original message
4. If I could do that, I wouldn't be on the internet.
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A HERETIC I AM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:06 PM
Response to Original message
5. What about Elvis don't give a shit abouters?
I was never a fan of Elvis and he was in his prime when i was a kid. I enjoyed some of his movies but i always thought the hype was overrated.
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:09 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. You're okay
No self-abuse necessary
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:08 PM
Response to Original message
6. Uh huh
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Swede Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:08 PM
Response to Original message
7. You mean that redneck,FBI informing,Nixon loving POS.
Just saying.......
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:11 PM
Response to Reply #7
10. No, I mean that non-redneck, apolitical entertainer
I'l excuse you on the grounds that you obviously have no clue about who the man really was.

But if you insist on sticking to your trite, inaccurate picture of who Elvis was then, yes, you can most emphatically go f*** yourself.
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:16 PM
Response to Reply #10
13. Elvis ate my puppy too!
Edited on Mon Aug-15-05 04:17 PM by HEyHEY
By supporting him, you're supporting puppy eating
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Swede Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 06:44 PM
Response to Reply #10
15. This must be some other Elvis Presley at the Smoking Gun
The Smothers Brothers and Jane Fonda "poisoned" the minds of young people, Elvis told FBI agents during a visit to their headquarters in December 1970. The King, carrying an agent's badge awarded him by President Nixon, also shared with his hosts the theory that the Beatles were responsible for the social unrest of the day because of their "filthy unkempt appearances" and "suggestive music." (This from a guy whose gyrating pelvis had to be excised from The Ed Sullivan Show.)
Elvis wanted to be an FBI stoolie. During the same HQ tour, he offered to rat on Hollywood types and others who weren't being good Americans.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/presley1.html
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HEyHEY Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 06:46 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. ......
"During the same HQ tour, he offered to rat on Hollywood types and others who weren't being good Americans."

Big deal, I do that all the time.

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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 09:01 PM
Response to Reply #15
21. There are facts and then there is truth...you're missing the second
Frankly, Elvis' appeal to me and his impact on the world (and not just the musical world) would have been no different had he held political views entirely the opposite of mine. The truth, though, is that he was written more in shades of gray than in the blacks and whites assigned him by onlookers, and his personal political and social beliefs were as elusive as other truths that have become obscured by legend.

Listen to what those closest to him say and you'll discover that Elvis' real motive in traveling to Washington in December of 1970 was to secure a badge for his collection. That was it. Elvis had a way of charming anybody into anything and he sidestepped all bureaucratic obstacles once he got to DC and not only got to get his badge but made it into the Oval Office. The entire journey was one of the most bizarre incidents in Elvis' life. There's no doubt that he meant most or all of what he wrote to Nixon (and FBI representatives), or what was purportedly said during their meeting, but his motive was essentially one of self-interest in that he just wanted that damned badge.

Elvis didn't hate the Beatles: he liked their music, admired Paul McCartney's performance style, and not only shared a love of absurdist humor with John (both huge fans of Peter Sellers and Elvis also loved the Monty Python crew) but allegedly talked with him during John's immigration difficulties. Maybe he wasn't a fan of Jane Fonda...no big deal to me, because she often makes my skin crawl even without considering the entire 'Hanoi Jane' fiasco. As for telling on fellow entertainers...well, the sources I've seen state that he spoke not of that but of helping to get entertainers off drugs. And the simple fact is that Elvis never did turn in anyone to any agency. Again, I refer you to the claims of Elvis' friends that he would have basically said anything to get that badge (and, better yet, actual legal authority to go with it -- Elvis had a lifelong interest in law enforcement and loved when he got involved in little James-Bond-meets-Shaft incidents in his own life). Also, Elvis claimed -- and that claim's been supported even by embittered backstabbers among his filled-with-leeches group of Memphis Mafiosi -- that he did talk at least one Vegas headliner off hard drugs.

It's also instructive to consider that, to Elvis, being an anti-drug crusader was not inconsistent with or rendered hypocrtical by his own abuse of pharaceuticals...to him, 'street' drugs were basically evil whereas those prescribed by a doctor were okay. When his stepbrother got caught with illegal drugs, Elvis came down to the police station and didn't -- as the kid expected -- bail him out but gave him a hard lecture and left him in jail overnight. He didn't tolerate overt drug use by his tour staff or musicians. He hated drug dealers. Attitudes were generally different back then, of course (this was before Betty Ford's coming out, when people decried drug addiction while downing handfuls of pills prescribed by their physician), and Elvis was obviously in denial to some degree...that conviction of his was not ironclad because, near the end, he very rarely admitted that he had a problem over which he'd lost control, but he never did what he knew he had to do and the rest is history.

So there you go...the material in the FBI files is based on what Elvis said, for specific purpose, and not necessarily how he really felt. Elvis was apolitical, most definitely, and when he did hold political opinions they were as likely to be 'liberal' as 'conservative,' or even fully libertarian. For his time and place he was fairly enlightened in many things, particularly racial matters, though his attitudes toward women (well, some women) often tended to be more traditional Dixie. But he was most certainly not the ignorant redneck he's been painted as a few too many times: he not only read the dictionary to improve his vocabulary and understanding of the books that he so voraciously read but he had an ardent interest in Eastern and other philosophies and pored over and annotated texts that would freak me out with the depth of their esoteric intellectuality. It'd be easy to paint him an uneducated hillbilly, but it'd also be wrong.
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GCP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 07:15 PM
Response to Reply #10
18. This Elvis, perhaps?
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 01:35 AM
Response to Reply #18
39. Or maybe it was this one
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bertha katzenengel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:10 PM
Response to Original message
9. were your ears burning on Thursday afternoon?
Not because of Elvis but because of your user name...

In the Angels-A's game in Oakland, with two out in the bottom of the ninth and a runner on 3rd, the Angels' pitcher made a stupid error. As it dawned on the baserunner that the ball was loose, his teammates on the bench shrieked

RUN, FORREST! RUN!

:rofl:

(He ran. He scored.)
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:13 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. Not interested in sports,
at least not on TV, so I missed that whole thing. Thanks for the action replay, though....once again, Forrest is on the side of the Anglels. :-)
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pamela Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:15 PM
Response to Original message
12. I saw Elvis in concert.
No shit. I was really young and it was the fat, puffy, soon-to-be-dead Elvis, but still pretty cool.
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SOteric Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 04:20 PM
Response to Original message
14. Well I never!
Oh. Wait. I thought you said 'elves.'

Nevermind.
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Orsino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 07:02 PM
Response to Original message
17. The King don't hold with no trash-talk, son. n/t
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 09:03 PM
Response to Reply #17
22. Actually, he was an unhrealded genius in the art
He's been responsible for some particularly creative turns of phrases -- some of the studio outtakes and rehearsal tracks are true classics that will never officially see the light of official day.
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WI_DEM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 07:31 PM
Response to Original message
19. I've never hated Elvis
I think he was a giant talent who squandered his talent and didn't become his own man by firing that money grubbing Col. Parker.
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 09:08 PM
Response to Reply #19
23. I agree
His talent was up front and center on many occasions, but he could have done so much more if he'd had the motivation (and, yeah, no Colonel -- he did actually fire the Colonel but it all fell apart in the face of the Colonel's manipulations). Live, he was unmatched, but even there the lack of renewed challenge began to take its toll.
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sniffa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 07:32 PM
Response to Original message
20. eLvis who?
:shrug:
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Kire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 11:36 PM
Response to Reply #20
28. His thick glasses are too much for some people.
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moof Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 11:09 PM
Response to Original message
24. Wow a auto list of autoerotica, definitely worth recommendation
Edited on Mon Aug-15-05 11:11 PM by moof
will the final list of collateral require any additional damage ?

edit to add some extra letters to make the message less opaque.
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antigone382 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 11:18 PM
Response to Original message
25. LOL, you need to meet my supervisor.
I work in a library, and the supersweet Dem librarian lady who sits at the front desk LOVES Elvis. She has a sort of shrine-type-thingy sitting behind her, covered with figurines, posters, books, a CLOCK...anything that has Elvis's image on it. And since this is Tennessee, she takes the occasional opportunity to go see good Elvis impersonators.

Have you ever seen Bubba Hotep?
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 11:45 PM
Response to Reply #25
29. Yeah, I liked Bubba Ho-Tep
The commentary track, with Bruce Campbell in character throughout as the real Elvis (brought in to comment on a film that he had no prior information on), is a classic in its own right and makes for a whole new viewing experience.
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RandomKoolzip Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 11:21 PM
Response to Original message
26. Elvis sucked.
(Except for "Kentucky Rain" and the bridge to "Suspicious Minds.")

Yeah, I know, without Elvis, there'd be no rock and roll, yadda yadda yadda, woof woof woof. A musical figure can be important to the history of a genre without being particularly listenable, and Elvis is one of those guys for me.

Just my opinion.
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 11:23 PM
Response to Original message
27. He was a hottie but he stole from the Blacks and supported Nixon
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 01:15 AM
Response to Reply #27
38. One out of three ain't bad
I mean, you got the 'hottie' part right...I'd be lying if I didn't agree that he was one of the better-looking men to ever walk the planet. Guitarist Jerry Reed, when he first met him (Elvis had him called in from a fishing trip to duplicate his playing on his "Guitar Man" for Elvis) said "Damn, son, you about the best looking thing I ever did see, kinda’ wish I was a girl right now, Elvis." Muhammad Ali told him something like "You're the best-looking white man I've ever seen. And I'm the best-looking black man."

The part about stealing from back people (music, I assume) is a crock, though. I'm tired of dispelling this hoary old thing so I'll just ask whether you can really 'steal' music. I mean, other than through outright theft of a song lyric, plagiarism, or similar. Elvis was so central to the genesis of rock 'n' roll and associated musical forms because he soaked in so many disparate influences and mixed them up, organically and unselfconsciously, to produce a new sound. Some of those sources were traditionally black (Delta blues, some pop music, and black gospel) and some were traditionally white (country, bluegrass, opera, and pop by the likes of his musical idol, Dean Martin). Elvis not only knew the most obscure blues and gospel recordings but also listened to Mario Lanza and Caruso, as a kid. When Elvis went to Sun Records, Sam Phillips' biggest task was keeping Elvis on track because Elvis had so much interest in diverse musical fields that he was forever straying into pure country, pure blues, gospel, or Dean Martin imitations.

Bottom line is that traditionally-black music had a tremendous influence on Elvis and he deeply respected the music...he also was thought of well by many in Memphis' black community, pre-fame for his being some white kid who routionely crossed the color barrier by attending black churches and blues clubs and post-fame for the good that he did in the city of Memphis. He did not 'steal' black music...anyone who claims this must also believe that Chuck Berry stole white country music, as did Ray Charles and Charlie Pride, and that Jackie Wilson stole not just Elvis' music but Neopolitan opera. It's ridiculous.

As for Nixon, Elvis did not support him. He supported the presidency, though he was supposedly disillusioned by Watergate (like everyone else), but he never made statements in support of any politician other than Hubert Humphrey (and that was in 1956, likely as much a product of Elvis' political naiveté as a real, strong endorsement and something he let slip in an interview...he'd never again repeat that slippage, firmly believing that he had no place in politics). If photographs are the criterion for supporting Nixon, the pictures of him with Jimmy Carter and his interactions with other Democratic politicians cancel that out. For better or worse, Elvis was determinedly apolitical...certainly in public, but even in private to a very great degree. Some among us believe that celebrities have an obligation to use their position to spread a political message, or even a social one. Some think the exact opposite. Some, like Elvis, let actions speak louder than words in his support of social projects and of random and non-random acts of kindness toward individuals.

In his press conference before playing Madison Square Garden, in 1972, Elvis spake thusly:

Press - You were in the Army and were drafted. What is your opinion of war protesters? And would you today refuse to be drafted?

Elvis - Honey, I'd just soon to keep my own personal views about that to myself. I'm just an entertainer and I'd rather not say.

Press - Do you think other entertainers should also keep their views to themselves?

Elvis - No.

If you see footage of this press conference, you'll see that look in Elvis' eye that says he knew she was trying to get him "caught in a trap" with that second question and that he'd evaded it. Elvis, like the Beatles after him, was a master of the entertainingly noncommittal press conference that seemed to be a gem but, in reality, said very little of substance and avoided sticky areas.




Just for you:



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Heidi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 11:49 PM
Response to Original message
30. *Elvis Is Everywhere.*
(By Mojo Nixon)

When I look out into your eyes out there,
When I look out into your faces,
You know what I see?
I see a little bit of Elvis
In each and every one of you out there.

Let me tell you.
Wellllllll...

Elvis is everywhere,
Elvis is everything,
Elvis is everybody,
Elvis is still the King.

Man oh man What I want you to see
Is that the big E's
Inside of you and me

Elvis is everywhere, man!
He's in everything.
He's in everybody.

Elvis is in your jeans.
He's in your cheesburgers.
Elvis is in Nutty Buddies!
Elvis is in your mom!
He's in everybody.

He's in the young, the old,
the fat, the skinny,
the white, the black
the brown and the blue
people got Elvis in them too.

Elvis is in everybody out there.
Everybody's got Elvis in them.
Everybody except one person that is,
Yeah, one person!
The evil opposite of Elvis,
The Anti-Elvis!
Anti-Elvis got no Elvis in him,
lemme tell ya.

Michael J. Fox has no Elvis in him.

And Elvis is in Joan Rivers
but he's trying to get out, man! He's trying to get out!
Listen up Joanie Baby!

Elvis is everywhere,
Elvis is everything,
Elvis is everybody,
Elvis is still the King.
Man oh man
What I want you to see
Is that the big E's
Inside of you and me

Man, there's a lot of unexplained phenomenon
out there in the world.
Lot of things people say
What the heck's going on?
Let me tell you!

Who built the pyramids?
ELVIS!
Who built Stonehenge?
ELVIS!

Yeah, man you see guys walking down the street
pushing shopping carts,
and you think they're talking to Allah,
they're talking to themselves.
Man, no they're talking to ELVIS!
ELVIS! ELVIS!

You know whats going on in that Bermuda Triangle?
Down in the Bermuda Triangle?
Elvis needs boats.
Elvis needs boats.
Elvis Elvis Elvis
Elvis Elvis Elvis
Elvis needs boats.

Aahh! The Sailing Elvis!
Captain Elvis!
Commodore Elvis it is!
Yeah man, you know people from outer space,
people from outer space they come up to me.
They don't look like like Doctor Spock.
They don't look like Klingons,
all that Star Trek jive.
They look like Elvis.
ELVIS!
Everybody in outer space looks like Elvis.

Cause Elvis is a perfect being.
We are all moving in perfect peace and harmony towards Elvisness

Soon all will become Elvis.
Everything everywhere will be Elvis.

Why do you think they call it evolution anyway?
It's really Elvislution!
Elvislution!

Elvis is everywhere
Elvis is everything
Elvis is everybody
Elvis is still the King.
Man oh man What I want you to see
Is that the big E's Inside of you and me.

That's right ladies and gentlemen,
The time has come!
Time has come to talk
To that little bit of Elvis inside of you.

Talk to it!
Call it up!
Say "Elvis, heal me!"
"Save me, Elvis!"
"Make me be born again in the perfect Elvis light."

That's right!
You've got that Elvis inside of you
and he's talkin to you.
He says he wants you to sing!
Everybody's got to sing like the king!

Like the king
Get that leg going now
Get your lip too.
Not no fool Billy Idol lip either.

Everybody!
Yeah, we're rockin' now!
Elvis is with us.
He's with us and he's speaking to us.

He says "Peoples!"
"Peoples!"
"Everybody!"
"Everybody got to sing!"

Elvis is everywhere
Elvis is everything
Elvis is everybody
Elvis is still the King.
Man oh man What I want you to see
Is that the big E's
Inside of you and me.

Elvis is everywhere
Elvis is everything
Elvis is everybody
Elvis is still the King.
Man oh man What I want you to see
Is that the big E's
Inside of you and me.

ELVIS!
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Zomby Woof Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-15-05 11:52 PM
Response to Original message
31. Elvis Has Just Left The Building
Elvis has just left the building --
Those are his footprints, right there
Elvis has just left the building --
To climb up that heavenly stair


He gave away Cadillacs once in a while;
Had sex in his underpants,
Yes, he had style!
Bell-bottom jump-suits?
That's them in a pile,
But he don't need'em now,
'Cause he's makin' Jesus smile!


Elvis has just left the building --
Those are his footprints, right there
Elvis has just left the building --
To climb up that heavenly stair


The Angels all love him,
He brings them relief
With droplets of moisture
From his handkerchief!
Cher'bim 'n ser'phim
Whizz over his head --
Jesus, let him come back!
We don't want Elvis dead.


Elvis has just left the building --
Those are his footprints, right there
Elvis has just left the building --
To climb up that heavenly stair


So what if he looks like a wart-hog in heat?
He knows we all love him --
We'll just watch him eat,
So take down the foil
From his hotel retreat,
And bring back The King
For the man in the street!


Elvis has just left the building --
Those are his footprints, right there
Elvis has just left the building --
To climb up that heavenly stair
He's up there with Jesus, in a big purple chair

---FZ
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Dave Reynolds Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 12:37 AM
Response to Original message
32. I don't hate Elvis,
but can I go f*** myself anyhow?

More than once?

Please?

Can I can I can I huh huh huh?
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Heidi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 12:38 AM
Response to Reply #32
33. If you're contemplating the sin of self-abuse . . .
please, be our guest. :evilgrin:
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Dave Reynolds Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 12:39 AM
Response to Reply #33
34. I just read a nifty book,
"Exploring Onanism".

Just wanted to give it a shot..(pun intended).
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Heidi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 12:42 AM
Response to Reply #34
36. It's good to explore one's talents.
Congratulations on recognizing your human potential, Dave. :thumbsup:
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Montauk6 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 12:40 AM
Response to Original message
35. Amen! He's one of the best film critics out there!
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njdemocrat106 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 01:04 AM
Response to Original message
37. Elvis is cool in my book
I wasn't even alive when he passed away. Long live the king.
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LiveWire Donating Member (372 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 01:37 AM
Response to Original message
40. The only musician I hate more...
are the Beetles. Dude, im sorry, but they just really piss me off with their whiny beats and corny lyrics.
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AVulgarianHue Donating Member (583 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 01:54 AM
Response to Reply #40
41. Time was when it was marathon Beatles..
on the top 40 type radio stations. Change the station..more Beatles. That was a pisser. :rofl:
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njdemocrat106 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 02:07 PM
Response to Reply #40
42. Let me guess...
You're not even 18 yet, and you haven't even really listened to any pre-2000 music. The Beatles and Elvis are THE GREATEST rock musicians EVER. If you don't like Elvis and (especially) the Beatles, you'd probably get along with me as well as a Freeper. Elvis and the Beatles fucking RULE.
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 03:26 PM
Response to Reply #42
46. Their loss, though
See if I care that they live lives devoid of some of the best music ever recorded. Elvis left the building almost three decades ago and the Beatles broke up over four decades ago, yet they're still with us, everywhere, and it's looking like they always will be. Good things endure.

Got my tickets to see Sir Paul again later this year...tickets sure are expensive, these days, but it's well worth it in his case.



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Commie Pinko Dirtbag Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 02:09 PM
Response to Original message
43. Why would someone hate Elvis, even if not into his music?
Especially after taking a glance at the pop music landscape today?
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 03:39 PM
Response to Reply #43
50. Good question
The only person he ever hurt was himself, really. Notwithstanding the above allegations regarding the demise of a Canadian dog, of course.

Some of it's probably jealousy of one flavor or another. Some is almost certainly a particularly American need to destroy icons, after building them up, and trample the remains. That one's a national sickness.

Much, especially here in a forum with its fair share of pseudointellectual (and psuedo-élite) idiots who equate liberal or progressive thought with iconoclasm and aversion to anything popular with the masses, is likely a response to the commercial success that Elvis had...not just the wasted opportunities that accompanied bad management and Elvis' own sometime lack of drive when it came to forging ahead at full speed, but the very fact of his unparalleled commercial success. Some also hold that latter consideration against the likes of the Beatles, but to these twisted f***wits the Beatles are sometimes redeemed by pretensions to artistry (not often their pretensions, I must clarify) and the fact that they took illegal drugs and so on. Logic is obviously not involved in such distinctions.

Much of the rest is probably the direct result of believing crap like that 'book' egested by well-known sh**head Albert Goldswine in 1981 or the myths that spread from that and other sources that painted Elvis as some kind of subliterate, redneck monster. The old "black people are only good enough to shine my shoes" story, for example, was dispelled by none other than Jet magazine way back in 1957 and yet I still hear it from people in their early 20s.

The bigger your fame and story, the bigger the target. Especially to little people. And I'm not talking the Billy Barty kind...
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johnnie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 02:39 PM
Response to Original message
44. Preach on
Brother Forrest.
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 03:40 PM
Response to Reply #44
51. Can I have an "Amen," Brother Johnnie?
Edited on Tue Aug-16-05 03:40 PM by ForrestGump
With or without the 'airplane' bit. :-)
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Pithlet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 03:21 PM
Response to Original message
45. I don't hate Elvis
Just not a big fan of his music. I do like a couple of songs, though.

And me, living in Memphis and all. You can imagine I don't express that opinion around here to strangers.
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Texasgal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 03:32 PM
Response to Original message
47. Elvis is alive!!!
:P

Consider....


The Gravesite.

For Starters, Elvis's name is spelled wrong on his headstone. Elvis's full name is Elvis Aron Presley, but on his grave his middle name is spelled incorrectly with two a's. His father would not have let this happen. When Elvis was born, his name was misspelled on his birth certificate, and his father went to great lengths to get the error corrected. The unique spelling of Elvis's name was important to the Presley family.
Elvis's current "resting place" is in between his father and his grandmother and not next to his mother where he had adamantly requested. It is doubtful that the people close to him would allow these things to happen. Elvis is a superstitious man - enough so that he wouldn't tempt fate by putting his real name on a tombstone, or violate the ground next to his mother until he was ready to be placed there for good.

Death Certificate.

Elvis was very vain, and he was embarrassed about his recent weight gain - an astonishing 50 pounds in the month before his so-called death. Even though he weighed about 250 pounds at the time of his "death," his death certificate lists him at a spry 170 pounds. The original death certificate disappeared, and the current death certificate is dated two months after his alleged death.

The Wax Body Theory.

This argument is very convincing when the facts are considered. Elvis's coffin required several pall bearers because it weighed 900 pounds. Attendants of the funeral reported that the air around the coffin was rather cool. It is suspected that the coffin contained an air conditioning unit to keep a wax body cool - a wax body that was a replica of the King designed to fool funeral-goers. And how did the Presley family get a 900 pound, custom made coffin ready for a funeral that was held on the day after his death? It takes a lot of time to build such an elaborate coffin.
And why have the funeral so quickly? Some speculate that the immediacy was intended to make it as difficult as possible for the people who were Elvis's biggest fans (heads of fan clubs, etc.) to attend the proceedings. It could be a concern that they might recognize the flaws in the wax replica.
Elvis was an 8th degree black belt whose hands were rough with calluses, yet the body in the coffin had hands that were soft and pudgy. The body in the coffin had a pug nose and arched eyebrows (unlike Elvis) and most importantly, one of the sideburns on the "corpse" was loose and falling off. A hairdresser later reported gluing the sideburn back on the body.

Unusual Behavior.

Two hours after Elvis's death was announced publicly, a man who reportedly looked remarkably like Elvis purchased a ticket for Buenos Aeries, paid in cash, and used the name John Burrows: the same name Elvis had used as an alias several times before.
Elvis had a few books that were considered to be his most prized possessions. He had a bible, several pharmaceutical books, books on death, and most importantly Chiro's Book of Numbers and The Autobiography of Yogi which I will explain more about later. After Elvis's death was announced, these books disappeared and were never recovered.
In the weeks preceding his alleged death, Elvis's actions were not those of a man who was about to embark on an extensive US tour. He ordered no new suits despite having gained 50 pounds since his last tour, and he bid "adios" at his last show in Hawaii. He had never done this before. Adios, like the French adieu, has the significance of being a final good-bye as opposed to an "I'll be seeing you on my next tour" kind of good-bye.
Others were intrigued by the King's decision to sign a lucrative TV deal with NBC that would cover the tour. It was unprecedented for a network to pay such a large amount up front, in cash, for such a deal. Many wonder why Elvis even agreed to the deal since his vanity discouraged him from making public appearances due to his obesity.
RCA showed uncanny (and unbelievable) foresight by mass producing millions of Elvis's current and previous recordings and merchandise. This is standard practice for an act that is about to go on tour, but the numbers in this case were beyond reasonable expectations. The announcement of Elvis's death caused record sales to skyrocket.
Elvis did other unusual things that created suspicion. First, he fired several employees that he had relied upon for a long time. Also, two days before his alleged death, Elvis telephoned a friend of his named Miss Foster. He told her that he wasn't planning on going on the upcoming tour. She asked him if he had canceled it, and he said that he had not. When she asked if he was ill, he said that he was fine, and that she should not ask any more questions or tell anyone anything, and that she should not believe anything she read. He told her that his troubles would all soon be over, and that he would call her in a few weeks. The author of Elvis Where Are You? writes that Miss Foster took a polygraph test regarding this story, and that she was not lying.
The day after Elvis's alleged death, a woman named Lucy De Barbon, a former lover of Elvis, received a single rose in the mail. The card indicated that the flower was from "El Lancelot." This had been her pet name for Elvis, and it was a name that no one else knew. Flowers can't be sent from beyond the grave. This was Elvis's way of letting her know that he was not dead, even though he didn't want to be found.

Chiro's Book of Numbers.

Elvis had a fascination with numerology - an interest he fed by reading Chiro's Book of Numbers. The theory that the King orchestrated his death is further supported when considering the significance of the date of his alleged death. The date in question is August 16,1977. By adding the numbers in the date, 8, 16, and 1977, you get 2001. This is the title of Elvis' favorite movie in which the hero plans his immortality in the bathroom. Elvis spent a considerable amount of time doing the same: planning his afterlife on the john. Elvis spent so much time in the bathroom that he had his toilet converted into a reclining comfy chair. Coincidentally, the bathroom is also where Elvis's body was reportedly found.
Given Elvis's religious affiliation (Christianity), he had a fascination with things that come in threes i.e. father, son, and holy ghost. The sum of the digits from his favorite film (2+0+0+1) is three. Let's consider the triad of the repetition of the number 24. 2001 (favorite film) less 1977 (year of death) is 24. The two numbers from the day of death (8/16) when added up equal 24. The sum of the digits in the year of death (1+9+7+7) also equals 24. That is 3 occurrences of the number 24 which is divisible by 3, and when divided by three the result, 8 has a perfect cubed root (2x2x2=8).
Elvis loved numerology, and when you consider the numeric significance of the date of his alleged death, it is clear that if indeed he did plan to fake his death, he could not have chosen a better date.

Motive.

Elvis had many reasons to fake his death. Elvis's life was in danger. He had recently lost $10,000,000 in an airplane/real estate deal with a California based organization called the "Fraternity" that had links to the Mafia. It is speculated that he corroborated with the government to expose the organized crime ring in exchange for protection - perhaps in the form of a new life and identity compliments of the witness relocation program.
In addition, Elvis was a prisoner of his own fame. He had many other reasons to leave his life behind. Because of his incredible popularity, he was the recipient of several death threats, and he was concerned about the safety of his wife and daughter. Sometimes when he wanted to leave Graceland, he would send out look-alikes to distract would be followers. Elvis was also known to ride in the trunk of someone else's car to avoid detection. Once, when he fell ill in Las Vegas, he couldn't get proper medical attention because the hospital was overwhelmed by fans.
At the time of his alleged death, Elvis was nearing the end of his career. He was 42, his hair was graying, he was grossly overweight, and his voice was starting to weaken. He was going down hill, and he was too proud to go out with a whimper. He would never want his fans to see him in such an unhealthy condition.
Elvis had shown a fascination with death on several occasions. In the days leading up to his alleged death he was reported to have visited funeral homes at odd hours of the night with close friends. Was he doing research? Elvis once faked his death by setting up an elaborate shooting in which a would be killer fired blanks at Elvis who had a blood pack which he discharged. It was Elvis's intention to see how the people closest to him would react to his death. Perhaps what he learned convinced him to do it for real.
Finally, one of Elvis' favorite books is the spiritual Autobiography of Yogi. One of the central themes of this book is the relinquishing of one's wealth and earthly possessions to achieve spiritual oneness. Elvis could do this, as well as address his other concerns of sanity and safety by faking his death and living in exile.

Means.

Elvis had the means to fake his own death. He is accused of destroying himself with drugs. In reality, Elvis was a pharmaceutical expert. He took a lot of drugs, but he knew what he was doing and was extremely careful. He knew what drugs he could self-administer to create a deathlike state. Further, Elvis's experience with the martial arts was such that he could slow his heart rate and breathing in order to feign death.
Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had once created a new identity for himself. He came to this county as an illegal immigrant from Holland, but through various connections managed to create an elaborate identity complete with a passport, birth certificate, drivers license, and social security number. He would have known how to give Elvis a second life.
In addition to Elvis's ties to the government through his testimony against the Fraternity, Elvis was known to interact with the President of the United States. He was reported in government documents to use the name John Burrows as an alias when he wanted to travel. Some people believe that Elvis worked for the government as a drug agent. He did, after all have extensive contact with many people in the music business who, as we know, tend to dabble in illegal substances. (Remember Payola?.. ) And, of course, we must allow that Elvis's connections to the government gave him access to the Witness Relocation Program. If they can turn the Simpsons into the Thompsons, they can relocate anybody.

No New Music, Orion?

Many believe that Elvis couldn't have given up performing cold turkey. I imagine that after a while the desire to perform grew once he started his life in exile. The story of Orion supports the theory that Elvis attempted an incognito comeback.
Shortly after Elvis's death, a masked singer by the name of Orion emerged on the scene. He was big like Elvis, and he sang just like Elvis. Because of the mask, no one could tell his true identity. One fan described seeing Orion from near the stage. She claims that Orion left the stage between songs, and when he appeared moments later the sweat was gone from his armpits and back and she thought that his costume looked slightly different. After the song he left the stage, and the original Orion returned.
Another fan described how she rushed into a tour bus at an Orion show only to see two Orions in the back of the bus. She claimed that one ducked into the bathroom before she could get a good look at him, but he appeared to look like Elvis Presley.
What's even more remarkable is the fictional story called Orion that was written by Gail Brewer-Georgio about a legendary performer who had several identities and wanted to fake his death. The story was written and submitted to the William Morris Agency for publication consideration after Elvis's death and before the real Orion ever performed. As it turns out, there are many ways in which the real Orion mimicked the events as described in the book. For example, the performers' managers had the same name. Also, without knowing it, Brewer-Georgio wrote of events in Orion that had actually taken place in Elvis Presley's life. It was a case of life imitating art.

Picking up the Pieces.

In 1981, 20/20 did an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged death of Elvis Presley. The investigative report was very convincing. Oddly enough, within two weeks of the report, the singer, Orion, disappeared and was never heard from again. The book, Orion disappeared from shelves across the country. It had been recalled by the publisher which was associated with the William Morris Agency. Incidentally, the William Morris Agency is the same agency that represented Elvis Presley.
I even tried to order a copy of the book, but was unable to. The woman at the book store said she couldn't tell me why.......
It seems that Elvis Presley is worth more dead than alive. By faking his death and relocating with a new identity, he is safe from his fans and the Fraternity, the government can make a solid case against the organized crime ring, and RCA, Elvis's family, and Elvis's management can all reap immense financial benefits from the attention.
That is... except for one benefit. No one has collected on his life insurance policy.


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arwalden Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 03:37 PM
Response to Original message
48. ... Are Such Broad-Brush Admonitions Permitted?
Edited on Tue Aug-16-05 03:39 PM by arwalden
(And I'm being kind by using the word "admonitions".)
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edbermac Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 03:37 PM
Response to Original message
49. Sun Records Elvis was GREAT...Las Vegas Elvis was BAD...
And those shitty movies he cranked out were nothing to brag about either...
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ForrestGump Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 03:51 PM
Response to Reply #49
53. Ever seen "That's The Way It Is"?
Elvis on stage in Vegas in August of 1970. The man was a god back then. And Elvis On Tour, two years later, gives some further idea of what he was like as a live performer.

For that matter, listen to some of his '70s stuff you might find that there's much to commend there -- the reality is that he was still doing, right to the end, what he did at Sun: blending the same elemental musical forms into something different, producing a fair few songs that, like "Heartbreak Hotel" and others, remain diffcult to categorize. If you like country rock, you'd probably like a lot of Elvis' '70s session cuts, most of which filled out albums rather than going for singles glory a la "Burning Love." Elvis Country is a good place to start...


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matcom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-16-05 03:41 PM
Response to Original message
52. DAMN! I just realized how good in the sack I REALLY am!
THANK YOU for helping me affirm that! :D
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