This business of show

We had a plant a few years ago that had to be mothballed where we
produced some nice product that has since been surpassed by a couple
of the better custom shops out there. One of them is <a href="http://www.chrispotter.net

">Chris Potter</a> and another is <a href="http://

www.kneebody.com>Kneebody</a>. There is something <a href="http://www.adamrapa.com/AdamRapaOnline///Audio__Video.html

">here</a> that sounds like it too.

No one regrets us getting out of the business of rhodes piano music
more than myself, but it is interesting what a hallmark of our current
era of semi pop this instrument has become. Our business was built on
cutting out the middle man -- that is the man in the middle of the 4
rhythm players (yes, there is a middle), the guitarist -- and some
people have since capitalized on the efficiencies of this setup. But
better yet are the companies who still let these numbskulls on the
bandstand, maintaining liquidity by seriously monitoring grooming and
amplifier size.

We appreciate the better supply chains and more ethereal or divine
improvising these more experienced operations have brought to odd time
signatures and/or triadic and altered tonalities. Keep in mind
though, as Wal Mart has seen a drop in same-store sales recently,
efficiencies of delivery can only get you so far. You have to design
a superior product, and manufacture. The gears presses and steam
shovels out at the old Flanabrand shop were well smeared in Cosmoline
before we shouldered the 300lb steel door closed and sprayed "keep
out" on the gate, and we may well bring our new tools back to this
place and start churning out high-fi product with no regard for the
enormous amounts of money we may lose again.

Places: The Great Lakes Region

Toronto gets a B+ in our exhaustive and intimate worldwide exam of places to visit.  Though there is really nothing there, it has a futuristic look and cosmopolitan gay scene sure to excite the most devout missionary.  Everything there is ultimately expensive and just as good as one would find in a world class city (ed: one next to an ocean).  The cost of goods -- we tried to get a few extra 200ml (not a lot of liquid) paper coffee cups from a local cafe and were charged .50 CDN each -- is the worst part of this semi charming communist place.  Veggie dogs are in every sidewalk vendors cupboard and they are $2.50 including all the nasty fixings they have in urns hanging off the side of the wagon.

The subway is fantastic in Toronto and is but 12% more expensive than similar service in New York.  The cars are the familiar Bombardier ones like in New York but the men driving them are much nicer and speak more clearly when warning of the carnage ahead because someone fell onto the track off the platform.

Of course, compared to our current location in Utica, Toronto is just a highway rest stop with a fry-bread stand near the dog walk.  Actually, no, there is absolutely nothing in Utica and it looks like it will stay that way.  I very nearly What-about-Bobbed this lady in one of the crappy little restaurants here when she said they were closing...at 2:50pm.  Baby steps can only take you so far.

Stop the Slay Ride!

Toronto on a map appears close to civilization. Upon inspection of the neighborhoods and sports arena, this is not the case. We might have been granted entrance to a trashy Disney carnival of freaks by the vested man who boarded our bus yesterday, because this retarded futuristic city is not what one expects so close to Buffalo (our standard of excellence).

To begin with, there is wanton disregard for the 3-pepper rating system used by most ethnic restaurants to convey spice. Two peppers appear on numerous menu items so bland that one could safely warm a baby's bottle in them with nary a squeal from the suckling youngster. Even a packet saying "hot chili sauce" in two languages secretes a salve so soothing that, with a dot of tea trea oil, it might become a popular sunburn treatment if so labeled.

There is also the matter of taxes. If we select a beverage with a price of 1.99 per item, it multiplies to the inflated rate of 2.43 each. Alcohol is taxed in a literally incalculable manner. Cups of beer at the "major league" sports events here go for 9.75, a sum that won't by you six bottles of anything anywhere in this province. A half liter of anything is no bargain at $10+. I can only imagine (for now) the stranglehold in which the government has the french-style female entertainers toiling down the road at the Brass Rail.

Our hotel subscribes to the timeless mandate "you can check out any time you like, but your food stains on the wall and cigarette leavings and handprints in the bathroom and your inexplicable drywall dust on the floor can never leave."

The title of this post is copied from a local rag that has (finally) taken a stand against the provincial zoo killing it's baby reindeer, a policy that was, honestly, destined to fail on its own.