Playing With My Dictators #1 - Kim goes to California

Kim has been doing his research and determined that late September is the best time to travel to California. The tourists have gone home, and the kids are beginning their school year. That means fewer people on the roads, restaurants etc. 

To get to America, Kim first made his way to China where he mailed himself to a town in Utah, near the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats; a mysterious place that Kim has always wanted to visit. 

Kim loved the Salt Flats and was impressed by the vastness of the salt desert. He claimed that he could see the curvature of the Earth. Kim’s schedule was tight, so he took one last lick of the salty playa and hit the road. Next stop, Lunar Crater in Nevada. 

Located in the middle of Nevada, this ancient volcano has a diameter of 3,600 feet, 430 feet deep and only part of an enormous volcanic field of craters, cinder cones, basalt flows and ancient lava beds that don't appear to be cozy at all. Kim didn't want to sleep in a lava bed, so was off to nearby Tonapah where he knew he would find a cozy bed at the Clown Motel. 

Twas a lovely morning in Tonopah, and Kim had the opportunity to meet up with his old friend, Ronald McDonald who volunteers as a greeter at the Clown Motel Gift Shop. They exchanged contact information and Ronald promised to visit Kim next time he's in North Korea. Friends forever! Although it was sad to say goodbye to RMcD, California was on Kim's mind, and he was anxious to get on the road again.  

First stop in California was the mysterious Mono Lake, a unique body of water located on the eastern edge of the Sierras. Mono is a terminal lake therefore all local watersheds terminate there, building up high levels of minerals that give rise to amazing Turfa formations, "Wish you were here" Kim laughed, (Kim is a big Pink Floyd fan and the only reason he wanted to see Mono Lake is that is the shooting location for Hypgnosis' famous Wish You Were Here postcard included with the classic Pink Floyd LP of the same name).   

Kim loves to ski and is no doubt the best skier in North Korea, but he arrived at Kirkwood in the off-season and didn't have the opportunity to show America how it's done.  

With the mighty Sierras behind him, Kim found himself in the vast farms and town of California's Central valley where he stopped for a soda at Dean's Shoppe. 

When Kim arrived in the extra-Bay Area, he dropped in on his old eyeball buddies, The Residents. It had been decades, and the boys had lots to talk about, so they headed out to Zeni, Randy's favorite Ethopian Restaurant where they dined on Injera, Miser Wot, Kik Alitcha, Gomet Wot, etc. and chatted into the wee hours.  

Next day, Kim found himself at his intended destination, Santa Cruz, CA. Kim's favorite place in the whole world. 

Kim stayed at a little beach house at Twin Lakes Beach and spent the next few days exploring his favorite beaches and eating at his favorite restaurants. 

Kim strolled out to Santa Cruz' newest lighthouse at the mouth of the Santa Cruz Harbor. Walton Lighthouse was dedicated in 2002 making Santa Cruz the only California city with two lighthouses. 

Kim loves skateboarding and stopped by the Ken Wormhoudt Skate Park, which was designed by world premier skate park designer, Ken Wormhoudt. The skatepark marks a significant place in scooter history. This is where the iconic pop star, and scooter legend, Oliver Tree, became the first person to ride a scooter at a skate park. Everyone laughed. Tree a local Santa Cruzan revolutionized scooter culture and pop fashion, had the last laugh, and as Kim says, "He who laughs last is the last laugher" 

 

Kim loves fresh, California grown, produce and attended two farmers markets while in Santa Cruz. Kim was surprised to discover that a vendor at the farmers market was selling magic mushrooms. Knowing that magic mushrooms are illegal, Kim asked the young man behind the counter how they are able to sell them without fear of arrest. The young man said that Santa Cruz has decriminalized their use and consider mushrooms a low priority for the police. Kim was curious but didn't buy any mushrooms from the friendly and informative vendor. Kim knows an undercover FBI agent when he sees one.

Kim's Central California Coast vacation was over, and it was time to head to a secret rendezvous location somewhere in the Nevada desert. Singing, California Uber Alles, Kim boarded his personal saucer and returned home to North Korea, the happiest dictator on Earth.

NATO’s Project Ukraine - From Fervor to Fever Dream

It’s been two years since Russia announced its special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine. Hindsight has revealed that the SMO would have ended in spring of 2022. Negotiations were taking place and  preliminary agreements were reached and initialed. But western puppeteers didn’t want peace and thwarted further discussion with Russia. NATO made a most unfortunate blunder assuming that a proxy-war against Russia would be a slam dunk. Decades of isolating sanctions and maligning propaganda against Russia only served to insulate it and propel its industrial growth and military capabilities. Russia’s economy is better now, even after two years of war, than it was pre-covid 2019. A stark contrast with that of Europe and the US. 

The actions of NATO have backfired in an embarrassing display of perpetual failure. Ukraine is running out of arms and soldiers. NATO’s arms stockpiles have been depleted and have done little more than provide targets on the battlefield, with embarrassing results for the arms manufacturers. It’s difficult to market an inferior product. Western tactics, training and weaponry have proven to be inferior in the current theater of operation. Support for this failed “project” has destroyed an entire nation, about a half million of its troops, crashed Europe’s economy and set America on the slippery slope to recession. The arms dealers are still the only winners, but the US and European manufacturers can never match the industrial output of Russia, or China for that matter. Now, thanks to NATO’s meddling, China and Russia have entered into a new age of economic and military cooperation. The collective west now plays “second fiddle” in the greater global economy.  “The world isn’t going to take our shit anymore and if we continue to meddle in global affairs, then our demise is sure as Ukraine’s”

“What’s Ten-million Dead if It’s Keeping Out The RUSSIANS?” Or But, It’s Worth It… Right?

I’m not obsessed! It’s more like an intrigue or fascination I guess. And I’m surprised how uninformed and uninterested the majority of Americans are concerning the topic that has consumed me for the past couple of years. I’m referring to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine. Most days I will spend two to four hours pouring over updates on troop movements, casualties, geolocations of drone  & missile strikes etc. The technology and tactics have evolved so much on the battlefield. Both sides have adopted unprecedented means of warfare, but Russia has maintained dominance throughout its campaign of attrition against the Ukraine military, which at this point, has been completely decimated. NATO has underestimated Russia, and has been continuously outsmarted and outmaneuvered by Putin, both on the battlefield and geopolitically. Now the west is admitting Ukraine’s defeat, but in crafty newspeak manner, is redefining Russia’s success by proclaiming that, NATO/Ukraine actually won because Russia only got 20% of the country… which ironically is and always has been Russia’s goal in their special military operation. So, NATO and apologists for war, was it worth killing a half million Ukrainians and laying much of their country to waste? Was it worth destroying Europe’s economy and sending America spiraling into recession? What’s saddest to me is that a peace deal had been negotiated back in April of 2022 but Boris Johnson immediately flew to Kiev, thwarted the signed agreement, and restored military operations. The rest is tragic history. Billions of taxpayer dollars, tens of thousands dead, abandoned on the battlefield by retreating Ukrainian troops. Thanks for voting! 

Principal and Principle

"CALL FROM OLIVER" appeared on the display screen of my then somewhat new Motorola RAZR V3c flip phone. I answered, in my usual manner with an appropriate, "Ahoy, hoy!" 

A melancholy voice responded, "Hey, it's Kirsten. I'm using Oliver's phone." "Hey, what's up? Where's your phone?" I asked. "They took it and won't give it back and Mr. Michelle wants to meet with you to talk about it..." she replied nervously and proceeded to describe to me how she was caught using her phone during class and that the teacher had confiscated it and turned it over to the campus security officer. The security officer and high school principal, Mr. M, then proceeded to go through the texts and images on the phone and determined that there was sufficient concern to involve me. 

"What are you worried about?" I asked. "There's a video of me and Ray smoking in my room." she lamented, knowing I'd be disappointed and potentially angry. 

I was angry. But not with Kirsten, I was angry that the school had performed a massive intrusion of personal privacy. I told her that I'd deal with it and would see her when she got home from school.

It was still early in the day, and I was amidst an until then, unmemorable round of disc golf at nearby De Laveaga Disc Golf Course, so there was time to make a plan B4 meeting with Mr. M.

Approaching tee 8A on the course, I put down my disc golf bag and placed a call to the high school. Receptionist K answered and happily made arrangements for me to meet with Mr. M at 4:00. I had known K for years. Both K and her husband had attended some of my lectures and their children attended some of the same extracurricular activities, clubs and general school functions as my kids. K knew me well enough to know that I was no dummy, and it must have been a thrill for her to know what was in store for me at the meeting. We cut our round of disc golf short, and I headed home to think about the situation. 

I didn't know what was going on. Why did they need to see me? Is Kirsten in trouble? Am I in trouble? What do they want from me? I played multiple scenarios over in my mind. I finally concluded that they wanted to leverage me and or Kirsten somehow and that I was walking into an ambush. I needed to be rational not paranoid. Was I paranoid? I would be on Mr. M's turf, and he would have his own agenda and idea how the meeting would go down. I had to come up with a tactic to gain the advantage. An unanticipated distraction from the onset would lay a trap that he would hopefully stumble into, I surmised.

While showering, I considered what to wear to the meeting and decided that psychologically, a red shirt would be best, and I had one. A video camera would also be a powerful intimidation factor, I mused. It didn't take long to get dressed. I grabbed my Canon PowerShot A710, checked the battery level, and headed out the door. 

The school was only a five-minute drive, so I didn't have a lot of time to stress over the situation. I pretty much had my plan in mind and was ready for the show. K's show. 

Mind gaming and un-practical jokery was something I did for fun until I was convinced that it isn't nice to play with people's minds, and now I want to play nice. I only do it on rare occasions now, like when Jehovah's Witnesses are at the door, or annoying solicitors who call on the phone. I was definitely a bit rusty, but reluctantly, I jumped back in for this cause... whatever it was to be, I was still unsure.  

 There was a convenient parking spot at the entrance to the ramp that descended toward the principal's office. I grabbed the camera, locked the door of my 85 Mazda RX7 and began walking down the ramp, mentally rehearsing my opening line as I neared the entrance. Turning the camera on and making sure that video mode had been selected, I pressed RECORD, opened the double set of large glass doors, and walked into the office, holding the camera in an obvious filming position.

Lights, action, camera... K's show had begun. K was sitting at one of the desks as I entered and said, "Hi K. I have an appointment with Mr. M, would you please let him know that I'm here..."

"He's expecting you," she replied as Mr. M entered the room to greet me. We walked towards one another and extended our hands to shake. With unbroken eye contact, I embraced his hand firmly, delivering the line that I had rehearsed a dozen times; "I spoke with the ACLU and they recommended that I record this meeting, but I don't have a recorder, so I brought a video camera, I hope that's all right." Obviously, I hadn't really spoken to the ACLU. I did consider calling a good attorney friend but determined that I could defuse the situation on my own, even though I was unsure exactly what that was. Mr. M agreed to my conditions without hesitation and escorted me to his private office, which fortunately for K, was within earshot of where she was sitting. 

With a wave of his hand, I was directed to sit in one of the chairs positioned across from his desk. I sat down, placing the camera on the seat to the left of me. The slope of the seat allowed the camera to point directly at Mr. Michelle, who, upon taking his seat, positioned himself strategically behind a family photo on his desk, avoiding the camera's intimidating gaze. 

After briefly exchanging niceties, Mr. Michelle got down to business. He spoke about rules, and that the use of cellular phones is strictly forbidden during class and that offenders' phones are systematically confiscated and turned over to security. He said, "Normally, a student can retrieve his/her phone after school, but we found some video of Kirsten smoking with another student who we think is a major drug dealer in the school. We're concerned about the safety of our students, and want to know what you know, and what you can tell us about Raymond..." 

And with that, and without realizing it, by invoking the word, safety, Mr. M had stepped into my trap. At that same moment, I had an epiphany, and it was clear to me what this was all about. They were going after Ray, one of the only black kids on campus. A family friend, I had known Ray for years. He was an honorable and trustworthy kid. Ray was no drug dealer. Every kid in Santa Cruz smoked weed and it seemed to me that Ray was being racially targeted. I was disgusted and gleefully moved my metaphorical queen into checkmate position.

I took a deep breath and delivered my second rehearsed line, "I'm concerned about the safety of the students too, and I think that the biggest safety concern here is the fact that your security officer has been accessing images and videos of young girls on their private phones. This seems dangerous to me. Maybe we should have a look on his hard drive to see what kind of collection of young girls he may have amassed."

"OH SHIT" was the look on Mr. M's face as he tried to save face by assuring me that his security officer is on the up and up and there is no need for concern. Now, overly friendly, Mr. Michelle handed over Kirsten's flip-phone, (the battery was dead) and with uncomfortable friendly discourse, escorted me out. "Bye K, nice to see you" I said as I departed through the glass doors. Mission accomplished. 

I returned home, downloaded the video I had shot at the principal's office to my computer and reviewed the footage. No one else was home at the time, but after a few minutes, Kirsten and Oliver walked through the door. I was still sitting at the computer. "Here's your phone" I said, handing it over to Kirsten. "You Got it? How did that go?" she asked nervously. I summoned them both to the computer and played the video of the meeting. Watching with dropped jaws, they were both thrilled. I had never seen a bigger smile on Oliver's face. Kirsten thanked me and I warned her that I would not be doing anything like this again.

Kirsten, Oliver and Ray graduated together, and it was reported to me that Mr. M and his henchman never messed with them again. 

True Story. Some names have been abbreviated because I wanted to do it that way.

.       

Iconic Ritz in Tooele Dies

So sad to learn that the old iconic Ritz Theater is closing its doors for good this Friday. The amazing space-theme retro-future murals on the walls have inspired me and been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I witnessed my very first big screen movie there as a baby. Apparently, I didn’t enjoy the experience and spent most of the time in the cry room. Wah! I’m remembering some of the many movies that I watched at the Ritz: Soylent Green, Omega Man, Fiddler on the Roof, Tommy, and of course, Whiffs, which was filmed in Tooele. When my own kids were small and we were in town visiting grandma and grandpa, I made sure that my little ones got to experience the Ritz. I took Mason to Muppets in Space, and Kirsten and I saw Cowboys and Aliens, (keeping with the space theme). I’d love to go one more time, but the “theatrical attraction” is less than attractive to me and I’d prefer to say goodbye to the Ritz with fond memories intact. I do wish the Ritz would say goodbye with a feature that had actually been filmed in Tooele. That would have been appropriate. Whiffs and/or Gentlemen Broncos would be my choices. Whiffs would be fun because it was filmed almost entirely in Tooele and depicts the town as it was in the mid 70s. Gentleman Broncos is perfect because some of it was filmed in the lobby of the Ritz and the dome home in the movie  is the actual home of the Ritz owner. Goodbye Ritz. Thank You!!! 😢

BLOGDAY 15

 

Me Myself & Al

Once upon a time, in the arid deserts of the old southwest, there lived a clever and elusive creature known as the jackalope. With the body of a bunny and the antlers like a deer, the jackalope was a master of camouflage and stealth, able to blend seamlessly into its surroundings and avoid detection from predators.

One day, the jackalope found itself in a particularly dangerous situation. A group of coyotes had been stalking it for hours, and the jackalope knew that it was only a matter of time before they caught up to it. But the jackalope was not one to give up without a fight, and so it began to search for a way to outsmart its attackers.

That's when it saw it: a piece of desert camo uniform from a nearby dead soldier. Without a second thought, the jackalope snatched up the fabric with its funny front teeth and began to wrap it around its body, using the patterns and colors of the fabric to blend in with the surrounding terrain.

As the coyotes approached, the jackalope held its breath, waiting for them to make their move. But to its surprise, the coyotes walked right past, completely oblivious to its presence. For the rest of the day, the jackalope moved through the desert, perfectly hidden from all who sought to harm it.

From that day forward, the jackalope continued to exploit the power of desert camo, and began to seek out more scraps of fabric to add to its collection. With each new address, the jackalope became more and more adept at blending in with its surroundings, and has became one of the most elusive creatures in the Americas. 

And so the legend of the jackalope and its mastery of stealth has perpetuated, passed down from generation to generation as a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of this cunning and unique creature. For as long as there were deserts to roam and predators to evade, the jackalope would always be ready to don its camo and disappear into the desert.

Happy Blogday 14

 

Another Blogday, and after two years of two weeks to soften the curve, we're risking an all-out war with the Ruskies. I know, I know... the state department has worked hard for this for a long, long time, and now it's their big moment to go down in history as the people who thought it'd be fun... and worth the risk. Meantime, everything that you see is controlled because the first casualty in WAR is always the TRUTH.  

I finally Listened to the Beatles Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Edition

I finally got to listen to the 2019 reissue of the Beatles Abbey Road and I am thoroughly, and happily surprised. 

It was almost like hearing it for the first time. I was surprised because I didn’t expect there’d be much of a discernable difference.  I’ve heard Abbey Road SO many times and I know it SO well that I thought it couldn’t be “improved.” Surprise! It sounds fresh and new. Almost like a perfectly executed cover version, sort of like Billy Sherwood’s Back Against the Wall* project. There’s a definitive Wings vibe too, as if Linda is there backing her man, (she actually is). 

The new version touched me in an emotional way that I wasn’t expecting. Of course, I laughed at times, I mean, these guys are hilarious, but I didn’t expect "Something" to bring me to tears. WTF? 

The track that most impressed me is Octopus’s Garden. Maybe the best track on the album? I know, “best” is unquantifiable, but it stands out as exceptional, in true Beatles form. As Her Majesty played, a melancholy sense of “wow, this is where the Beatles ends” swept over me, and as the track abruptly terminated, I literally broke into laughter and proclaimed, “it’s all a big effing joke”

NOTES: 

*Released in 2005, Billy Sherwood's Back Against the Wall is a tribute to Pink Floyd's The Wall, and features notable contributors as, but not limited to: Adrian Belew,  Tony Levin, Keith Emerson, Ian Anderson...

2:22 AM on 2/22/22

 My cat, (Mister X), woke me up at 2:22 am, and I was like, "it's 2:22 on 2/22/22." Thanks for the magical moment kitty

The Tell-Tale Tunes of Two Townies - Oliver Tree's UIB and Denney Joints' the Beast - a JOINT Review

Flashback to April 21, 2011

Another chilly evening in Santa Cruz, CA. The gentle 68 degree breeze sweeps misty fog through the streets of town. Denney Joints' band, Midnite Snack, is having a CD joint release party* with Ship of the Sierras and Rachel Fannan at the Crepe` Place, a local Santa Cruz music epicenter. Inside the venue, the show goers are taking their respective positions either at the bar, or standing on the hardwood floor in front of the stage. Among the attendees, but oddly nestled away, sitting on the floor, tucked beneath the counter where the soundboard operator reigns, is Tree in its infancy - Kirsten Artemecia and Oliver Tree, the familiar and seemingly inseparable duo for half a decade. Having recently established Tree as the name** for their new trio. Their first recordings are available to a few lucky people in town. To Tree, this show featuring family and friends is of special interest. Not only to socialize, but a good opportunity for recon too boot. 

Soup is good food, (crepes are good too)

Santa Cruz is a primordial stew for artists. A small town where everyone knows everyone, and supports each other's artistic endeavors. Conditions are perfect for the culmination of new ideas that merge progressive art with new technology. There's no shortage of talent in Santa Cruz either. It's been said that "you can't swing an Omnichord without hitting an artist or two." Actually, no one ever said that, but I just did, so there.

By 2011, Denney Joints had established himself as a favorite local performer with amazing, and well attended live shows plus a few CDs and shirts. Oliver was just beginning to record his unique style of dub-glitch electronica that culminated in Splitting Branches, his first full-length album. It was a time of great expectation and optimism for the future, (those were the days). 

It may seem odd to flashback an entire decade to begin a joint review of two 2020 releases, but roots are important. A return to those earliest recordings help me to better understand the foundations and origins of Oliver and Denney. Drawing parallels (if they exist) to showcase their evolution as artists is not necessarily my goal here, but will be entertained nevertheless. It's difficult for me to remain objective since I have known both Denney and Oliver for many years. I can't entirely detach and review them objectively, therefore, I'm approaching it from my own personal perspective as a close, long-time friend, fan and observer. This requires a sensitive balance of disclosure while maintaining responsibility and respect for their privacy, therefore any personal information not previously established in other media is intentionally excluded. No spoilers here... unless you can read betwixt the lines.

Sometime in 2010, I stumbled across Denney's CD, Soup Samwich. I was astounded by the sophistication and musical expertise of his band, Midnite Snack. The songs are honest, powerful, fun and somewhat profound. And the band is tight, like a well tuned and maintained German dynamo. I met Denney for the first time soon afterward. Denney had recruited local legend, Mason, (a member of our household), to play bass in a new incarnation of Midnite Snack. I remember hearing the raw demos of the songs that morphed and came to fruition in BEDTIME, the celebrated inductee into Zenberg Blogue's Best Album of 2011. THIS "Joint Review" however does NOT receive the BEST OF 2020 designation because the entirety of 2020 was outstanding in and of itself; the BEST of everything. Picking a BEST in 2020 is impossible. It was all good.***

LISTENING: Comedy is Not Pretty

To prepare for this review, I put off playing the 2020 releases and instead, played the first tracks**** I had heard from both Joints and Tree a decade earlier. I found myself playing these songs repeatedly over the course of a few days. I listened a lot more than I thought I would and came away impressed, having a sense that I'm privy to some special music that most of the world will never hear.  

Eventually, I got around to listening to The Beast and Ugly Is Beautiful (UIB) and immediately discovered subtle overtones and themes echoing back to to the early material. I was already familiar with most of the music on both UIB and the Beast, (much of it having been released previously), therefore it was refreshing to hear material that was new to me. 

Both albums are well thought out with design in mind. The Beast has a raw, anti-commercial and serious punk attitude, while UIB is edgy commercial rock/hop. Both are anti-pop in scope. 

Oliver Tree is a true Alien Boy in the world of commercial pop icons who overplay the tough sexy motifs we've come accustomed to seeing. In juxtaposition, Oliver arrives on stage riding a Razor Scooter, wearing an old nineties ski coat, exaggerated bell-bottom JNCO Jeans and sporting a bowl cut hairdo that sometimes falls off, (intentionally). To me, this persona is a kind of "in your face" to the music biz' pretty boys and tough guys, none of whom know any sweet scooter tricks. Oliver plays the fool, but he's no fool. He pretends to not take himself seriously, but Oliver is an artist who insists on perfection; be assured that his videos and songs are precisely how he envisions them. And he's influential too. Oliver has become a pop icon responsible for a new generation of fashion and scooter sport. It's become common to see folks of all ages on Razor Scooters and random people sporting bowl cuts and JNCO Jeans. There's even an Oliver Tree Scooter Army group on Facebook where fans can share thoughts, art and photos of their own personal emulations of Oliver. Razor Scooters are back too, in a big way, and by making it cool to scoot again, Oliver is partly responsible***** for that. The scooter plays an integral role in the Oliver Tree mythos and is a common theme on stage, in videos, memes and narrative from the many interviews he's given. A story he never fails to share is his explanation of the lyrics in his hit song Hurt. According to Oliver, while competing in a scooter competition, his long awaited ride was thwarted when his front wheel hit a tiny pebble at the base of the ramp, sending him crashing and breaking his hand in the fall. Obviously, (if you know Oliver), any real meaning of Hurt is intentionally obfuscated by this story, but personally, I prefer to think of it metaphorically and view Oliver as the pebble who temporarily derails commercial music industrialization. He's the surprise that no one saw coming. He mocks the machine while profiting from it. 

Something that has always impressed me about both Oliver and Denney, is their keen sense of humour. In Denney's case, the comedy was more prevalent in his earlier works and reflects a certain amount of optimism for the future, whereas, (now that we live in the future), Denney's positivity has waned. The Beast is much more mordant than any of his previous releases, but can still make me chuckle. It's clear that Denney is pissed off, (and if you're not pissed off, then you're not paying attention). Denney is great at pointing out the obvious in an oblivious world, but unfortunately, there's "no one listening." The Beast does have some really personal moments that tug at the heart and Denney really knows how to write a great song. This album really rocks and makes you feel alive. One song that I want to highlight on The Beast, is the track, Walking With the Beast, a Gun Club cover that Denney handles marvelously. His treatment of the track is complementary to the original and I may love it more than the Gun Club version. The YouTube video of Walking With the Beast features Denney and friends jamming and hanging out in Santa Cruz. At one point in the video, Denney pulls out his cellphone and lets his fingers do the walking with the beast. Noice "touch" Denney. 

Oliver is hailed for his comedic****** persona. His popular memes and videos are obviously humourous, but Tree's early releases are blatantly introspective, thoughtful and seemingly personal. UIB has its introspective elements too though. Bury Me Alive is one song from UIB that has a serious Tree flashback vibe with resurrected lyrics from the song, Rising Phoenix.******* For the most part, the songs on UIB are mostly inner-directed themes, shielded behind juxtaposed befuddling comedic videos. UIB seems like all fun and games, but BEWARE! These songs are addictive, and once you're hooked, there's no return. I got sucked in and find myself singing these songs regularly, (I like to make up my own lyrics). No wonder UIB made it to #1 on Billboard's Rock Chart and #1 on Billboard's Alternative Chart. Damn! That's impressive!!! It really is a great record, and I dig spinning my three different coloured versions of red, yellow, and orange.

Apocalypse Now? Why Wait?

The music of Denney and Oliver were a fitting soundtrack to remember 2020, the year that kept on giving. It seemed there was a new and frightening development every day, from Murder Hornets to mysterious monoliths. Late in the year, as UIB and The Beast were finally available in their completeness, the Bay Area beaches began to experience some beautiful bioluminescence dancing and sparkling in the dark waves along the coast at night. Unfortunately, the phenomenon was soon eclipsed by a ferocious and spectacular lightning storm, the likes of which has never been witnessed in the area. The lightning ignited numerous fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains and beyond, while thousands of people evacuated their homes and entire communities. I couldn't help but consider the irony of the UIB album cover that features Oliver in a playground that's being consumed by fire. The I'm Gone video depicts Oliver surrounded by fire too. And then there's Denney's 2018 album, City on Fire, who's cover depicts a large, all-consuming warehouse fire. I've always associated this image with the fatal Ghost Ship fire in Oakland that killed many of Denney's friends in 2016. 36 people died in that fire. The 2020 fires******** and associated evacuations and ominous red skies were unprecedented. That no doubt weighed heavily on both Denney and Oliver as their communities, friends and families were being impacted by a strange mix of lockdown, evacuation and uncertainty. At least there was some great music to listen to, unless PG&E's roaming blackout program shut your electricity off. That was fun. 

Who Are These People?

Denney and Oliver share many friends and experiences in Santa Cruz, they however express their vision very differently. With Denney, what you see is what you get. He lives in his car and views the decline of western civilization from under the overpasses and streets of Oakland. Denney's many projects have been mostly funded by himself and a handful of friends who contribute, either financially or by helping with performance, recording, production, and merch etc. This new release is minimalistic and anti-capitalist in essence and intent. There are no available CDs, tapes or any merchandise associated with The Beast which is exclusively available at Bandcamp.  

Unlike Denney, Oliver maintains a guarded personal identity apart from his manufactured and carefully crafted public persona. The Oliver Tree mythos is layered in deception. Nothing is true and everything is true at the same time. Like Denney, Oliver's first album, Splitting Branches, was self recorded and realized by the helpful assistance of friends that he roped into the project. Things are obviously different now that he's well funded and enabled by the industry. Records and all manner of merchandise********* are available for purchase at the official Oliver Tree Store.  

I've played both of these albums a brazillian times, and enjoy them more every time. I'm happy that I know about these recordings and can share them with you, the reader/listener. They're pretty amazing. 

Buy The Beast Here 

Buy UIB Here

NOTES

*Rachel, Ship and Snack are Santa Cruz supergroups that boast personnel from local favorites Birds Fled From Me, Mountain Animal Hospital, Sheena, Sleepy Sun, and the Vox Jaguars. 

**Tree is the name adopted for the projects that became Splitting Branches (2012) and Demons (2013). Conceptually, Tree is a play on Trio and the triangle/delta symbol was adopted as the official Tree logo to represent the trio. It also resembles a tree and since Tree is Oliver's middle name, it's the obvious choice, and a good one imho. The original Tree/Trio is comprised of Oliver Tree, Kirsten Artemecia Rosenberg and Shelf Nunny who together recorded the first few songs before the project was expanded to include other contributors under the Tree Collaborations umbrella. 

 

*** Santa Cruz lingo

**** Soup Samwich by Midnite Snack and Splitting Branches by Tree including Rising Phoenix, an early song that predates much of the Splitting Branches material but not included on the album 

***** Oliver really does deserve credit for this. He was taking his Razor Scooter to the Santa Cruz Skate Park B4 anyone else ever had and pretty much initiated Scooter Sport. People thought it was weird, and it was... it was Oliver being Oliver. 

****** Someone once asked me if I was surprised that Oliver became a famous musician. I said I'm not surprised that he became a famous comedian. Oliver is among the most witty people I've known and is genuinely fun to be around.

******* Rising Phoenix by Tree was recorded spring 2011 and features Kirsten Rosenberg and Shelf Nunny - the track is not included on the Splitting Branches album

******** The 2020 fires in Santa Cruz County destroyed more structures than the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake did. 

********* Whether he knows it or not, Oliver has embraced the Rozz-Tox Theory of Obscurity. 

Art By Artemecia

Blogue Day 14

 

What a year! It's been a fun ride. 

FLAG DAY 2020

STIMULUS

Have a Nice Pandemic

Blogday 13

Thirteen. An appropriate number to represent here and now. Life is being cancelled, the world is on hold and the economy is tanking. The DNC appears to have stolen another primary from the people and plan to run their worst candidate in history. The media has effectively ghosted Tulsi Gabbard, clearly the best presidential candidate in our lifetime. A new virus is threatening the world and endless war has become routine. Dark times indeed. 

RIP Oliver Tree

50 Years Since the Paul is Dead Hysteria

It's been fifty years since rumors spread that the cute Beatle, Paul McCartney, was dead. Everyone was talking about it. Clues: Commercial Coup, or Coincidence?

There seemed to be evidence that the Beatles had intentionally placed clues on their albums and in song lyrics indicating that Mr. McCartney had died years earlier. As the rumors of McCartney's death spread, sales of Beatles records soared because fans and curious investigators alike purchased albums to carouse for clues.

In 1969, KCPX Radio 1320 AM in Salt Lake City, Utah was the station to tune into to hear the latest rock music. When the McCartney story swept the nation, KCPX took the lead in presenting a cohesive program that detailed many of the alleged clues. At the time, I was more interested in GI Joe, than anything else, but five years later, I was intrigued by the possibility of clues about McCartney's death in Beatles music and on their albums. My very wise older sister, Skarzita, suggested that I contact KCPX and request information on the program they had run in 1969. I took her advice, and sent a letter to the radio station, not really expecting to hear back. It had been five years since they had aired the program, and I figured the whole thing had probably been pushed to the background.I was sitting in Mr. Barton's sixth grade class when I looked up to see my sister standing in the doorway waiving a manila envelope to get my attention. Her purple and white Tooele High School Cheerleaders uniform commanded sufficient authority for her to enter the school and pull me from class. Mr. Barton didn't seem to mind. He was always happy to see a pretty girl in a short skirt. Apparently, Skarzita had been home for lunch and had seen the envelope addressed to me from KCPX radio, and had taken it to West Elementary so that I could open it. I think she was a bit excited about it, too. After all, it had been her idea to write the station in the first place. I carefully lifted the flap, making sure that I didn't tear the sacred vessel that contained vital information from the station. The glue put up a bit of a fight, but before long it was defeated and I cautiously withdrew a multiple-page document of white paper secured together with one staple in the upper left-hand corner. It was so much more than I had hoped for. After closer examination, I discovered that K-PIX (KCPX) had sent me the transcript from the program they had aired in 69. I was thrilled, and as soon as I got home from school, I began examining my album covers and songs while I poured over the document.

The following is a new electronic transcription from KCPX's McCartney program in 1969. I have attempted to transcribe it as accurately as possible, leaving spelling and punctuation errors and variations to preserve the historical viability of the document. I have also provided hyperlinks to photographs of each original page.

KCPX Radio

AM 1320 KC

OPENING STATEMENT

THIS IS GARY WALDRON, PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF KCPX RADIO,...... in the past, we at KCPX have strived to inform our audience of the things which are making news in the world of pop music. The Beatles are an integral part of the music scene today....The Paul McCartney death thing has been going on for many months on an underground basis. This week, all hell broke loose.....suddenly it was a Big Thing in many major cities to discuss the many oddities which may or may not point out that Paul McCartney is either dead or dying. We at KCPX felt that Salt Lake City had a right to know what was going on in other cities across the country, especially because it involved the Beatles, who you, our listening audience, voted as your favorite group in the recent KCPX Star Poll. We acknowledge the reports that claim Paul is alive and well....we feel great about them. All of the Disc Jockies, and I'm sure, all of our audience, was greatly relieved to hear these reports; however, there is still a certain amount of mystery concerning the well-being of Paul McCartney.....AND THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM IS DESIGNED AS A COMPLETE RECAP OF ALL THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, IN SALT LAKE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS.

Page 1

THE BEATLES.......
GREATEST SUPER MUSICAL GROUP OF ALL TIME.......

For the duration of this special KAY-PIX presentation, it will be attempted to let you determine for yourself whether or not The Beatles have been putting on the entire world. Whether or not The Beatles are taking us all in a "Magical Mystery Tour".......

(Magical Mystery Tour)

Is Paul McCartney dying? Is Paul McCartney already dead, as some believers in the supernatural, propose? A fantastic number of people think one of these possibilities is a reality. Since last Saturday, the entire world has been discussing the eerie signs from album pictures and Beatle records....that The Beatles are somehow obsessed with death; and, in particular, the death of Paul McCartney. This program will not solve the magical mystery. The intention is to present the many, many coincidences that have appeared concerning that mystery.

In the song just played, "Magical Mystery Tour", the lyrics say.... "The Magical Mystery Tour is waiting to take you away, waiting to take you away." In the next verse, the lyrics are changed to "Hoping to take you away." In the next verse, the lyrics are changed to "Hoping to take you away." Followed by "Coming to take you away." and finally, "Dying to take you away."
Listen.... as we play all four together.....

Thus begins the "Magical Mystery Tour". It appears it all started with the album "Yesterday and Today", released in 1966. Capitol records released the album with a cover that was so gruesome and publicly

Page 2

distasteful that it was rejected before being released. The cover showed The Beatles sitting and standing in meat cutter's attire, with large chunks of beef over their shoulders, pools of blood at their feet, and parts of a mutilated child's doll completing the scene. Since the cover was unacceptable, The Beatles substituted the photo that is presently on the album as you see it today. This picture shows Paul McCartney sitting in a trunk, poised in the European burial position, with his legs crossed and his hands one on the other. What this meant at the time is not known, but from "Yesterday and Today" to the present, indications of death or dying have been discovered on Beatle records and album covers.

The song, Rain" was the first experiment with backward segments.

(Rain)

"Rain" was played here because later on, backward segments of Beatle songs became very important in the Magical Mystery Tour.

In the "Revolver" album, the Beatles music began to change....becoming more progressive, with emphasis on messages. Lyrics started to be very important, and from "Revolver" on, popular music was in a new bag. On the album cover, Paul is the Beatle who is different. Three Beatles are facing front, while Paul is shown in profile. Many believe this to be another sign that The Beatles were going to profile Paul's death in their LP covers and songs. Also, "Revolver" was the first album cover done in black and white....black...another symbol of death. The significant song in "Revolver" is "Tomorrow Never Knows", where the lyrics in the first part say, "It is not dying, it is not dying". The song ends with the words, "It is not living", and "Of the beginning". Of course, the title, "Tomorrow Never Knows" is also taken by some as a clue.

Page 3

(Tomorrow Never Knows)

The album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a whole new thing. The cover alone won The Beatles an award for the Album of the Year. On that cover, hints of Paul being singled out, emphasized, different from the other Beatles. Here, for the first of many times, a hand is being held over Paul's head, representing the hand of fate, and a sign of impending death. Keep this in mind, because it will be pointed out that a hand is held over Paul's head in several future album photos. In the title song, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", the lyrics say, "So let me introduce to you the one and only Billy Shears, and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". It is said that Billy Shears was the winner of the Paul McCartney Look-Alike Contest, conducted by The Beatles. Why did The Beatles have a contest designed to find a look-alike for Paul McCartney?

(Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)

"So let me introduce to you, the one and only Billy Shears, and a little help from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (possibly the other three Beatles?)

(With a Little Help From My Friends)

Once again, back to the cover of Sgt. Pepper's"....it is very apparent the Beatles are at a funeral, at least that is the general mood of the cover. The word "Beatles" is spelled across the bottom in red flowers, representing a grave, and under this, is a left-handed

Page 4

bass guitar. Paul McCartney plays his bass guitar left-handed. Also, it seems that if you slightly tilt the album with the left side upward, the yellow flowers that make up the guitar appear to spell the letters "P-A-U-L'S". It is quite close, but a little imagination needed here. Also, on the front, notice that John, George and Ringo are holding brass instruments, while Paul is different....he is holding a black woodwind. Between the L and E of "BEATLES", there sets what may be an ashen, used to contain the ashes of a person who is cremated after death. The ashen is definitely pointing directly at Paul. There is also a red-haired doll representing Jane Asher, McCartney's ex-girlfriend. The white bust near the word "BEATLES" bears a strong resemblance to early pictures of McCartney's father. Both of these people are close to the grave, and both were close to Paul. Another song from "Sgt. Pepper's", which some think is another direct clue from The Beatles, is "Good Morning, Good Morning". The lyrics you will hear are at the beginning of the song, "Nothing to do to save his life, call his wife in". Nothing to say but what a day." Also, "Everyone you see is half asleep, and you're on your own, you're in the street.", and "Everywhere in the town is getting dark. Everyone you see is full of life."

(Good Morning, Good Morning)

Now, immediately following these animal sounds, the reprise of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" comes in. Listen carefully...to the counting...."one, two, three, four". Between two and three, you can definitely hear the word "dying". Some believe there is the phrase,

Page 5

"Paul is dying", but you can definitely hear "dying". Now, hear it again.

In the center picture, when you open the album, Paul is again sitting in the European burial position, which is also the Hindu position monks use when they burn themselves to death. On the back cover of "Sgt. Pepper's", the four Beatles are standing, and here again Paul is the one who is different....he is standing with his back to you, while the others are facing front.

Sgt. Pepper's album came out in 1967; at that time, The Beatles experimentations with drugs filled the news. It is interesting to note that John Lennon and George Harrison were both convicted of violating drug laws, while Paul McCartney has never had any publicity regarding narcotics. Paul was missing from The Beatles drug scene. Just as if he had his back turned to it, as seen on the back of the album cover. The Beatles big drug record was "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds". Take the first letter of "Lucy", "Sky" and "Diamonds", and you have.....LSD.

(Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds)

With the four Beatles standing on the back cover of the Sgt. Pepper's album, George Harrison's right hand index finger is pointing to the words, "Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins". The story goes that that Paul McCartney was involved in an automobile accident in 1966, at 5 o'clock on a Wednesday morning. The results of that accident are not clear. Still others believe that George's finger pointing to Wednesday morning at 5 o'clock indicates that

Page 6

calling a 'phone number in London at that time will reveal the whole McCartney story. Some believe this is the phone number of Billy Shears, who will ask you if you know the rest of the riddle. If you can tell him, you'll receive a personal invitation to Paul's funeral. the 'phone number is revealed on the cover of the album, "Magical Mystery Tour". To get the number, you must hold the front cover of the LP up to a mirror. The word "Beatles", formed by yellow stars, will then be backwards. Starting with the "S" in "Beatles", you come up with two-three-one....seven-four-three-eight. This number in London has been called several times with the same result. It is not a working number. In 1967 it may very well have been a working number, and as many believe, was possibly the 'phone number of one, Billy Shears.

"Strawberry Fields Forever" contains some extremely important lyrics. From the first, "Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to, Strawberry Fields"......to the very last audible portion which says, if you listen very closely, "I buried Paul". Listen carefully to the lyrics, particularly, the very end.

(Strawberry Fields Forever)

Let's listen to that ending again. Unmistakably, you will hear, "I buried Paul", at the very last part of the song. (Play end again) One more time. Listen (Play again)

The album "Magical Mystery Tour" contains a picture book inside, and many of the photographs seem very strange, with possibly more signals. On the front cover, the Beatles are dressed in costumes, with Paul as the walrus. The walrus is the Nordic symbol of death, and the walrus

Page 7

is referred to many times in Beatle songs, as will be pointed out.

Here is "I Am the Walrus". Some of the lyrics to listen for are, "Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come (possibly a hearse).... a reference to Edgar Allen Poe, who always wrote about death. It also mentions a dead dog's eye...here again the death theme. Near the end of the song, many things are thrown in, mostly obscure, but some believers say they can hear the phrase, "I am near death".

(I Am the Walrus)

In the Magical Mystery Tour booklet, on page three, Paul is sitting at a desk with British flags crossed over his head, possibly another sign. Also, on front of the desk are the words, "I, You, Was". Again, I Am the Walrus, I Was the Walrus.
On Page 5, Paul is standing with his guitar and John Lennon is dressed as the walrus, seated at the piano. This may mean John wanted to be in Paul's place, since they are such close friends. On the inside cover, where the song titles are listed, under "I Am the Walrus", it says, "No you're not", as if John isn't going along with what's happening. In the same picture, on page 5, with Paul in the center, there are fifteen doctors around...maybe an indication of sickness or disease.
On page 7, the cartoon #6 at bottom right, says I Am, I Was," with AM and WAS in red, the other letters in black. Again, going back to the walrus lyrics: on Page 8, the table everyone at is shaped in the form of a cross.
On Page 9 of the booklet, in cartoon #8, Paul plays the part of the fool on the hill, and it says, "Paul begins to daydream. His thoughts fly far away". The cartoons here also mention five magicians

Page 8

casting wonderful spells. Five magicians may refer back to Billy Shears being the fifth Beatle. In the last cartoon on Page 9, they are going to the Amazing Land of the Walrus. John says, "I Am the Walrus,".... "No You're Not", someone says, indicating Paul is really the Walrus.

Turning to page 10, three Beatles have shoes on...Paul does not. McCartney is seen many times without shoes such as on the center double, Pages 12 and 13; as you know, people are not buried with shoes on.

On Page 18, Paul is seen again with a hand over his head. Page 23 shows the Beatles in white suits, white for heaven or a symbol of mourning in in Britain, with three of The Beatles wearing red carnations... but Paul has a black one. Paul is also holding a bouquet of dead flowers. On Page 24, Paul has a hand over his head again. On the back cover, Paul has his arm at an angle different from the others, as he salutes. Once again....Paul is the different Beatle.

The next Beatle album was "Yellow Submarine". Again, on the front cover, and also on the back, a hand is being held over Paul's head. On the front, to the right at the bottom, there are cartoon characters symbolizing the Beatles. The other three Beatles are playing brass instruments as in Sgt. Pepper, but Paul is out of line, with a flute....a woodwind instrument.

A yellow submarine is said to be a pill, a narcotic. As stated previously, Paul has not been associated with the dope scene. The following song could be about a girl named Judy. But it could also be about H...Heroin...and it is sung by Paul.

(Hey Jude)

Page 9

The album entitled, "The Beatles" (The double album ) is almost totally white...white again for English mourning or heaven. The only exceptions are the four black pictures of the Beatles inside and the song titles. As for the music in the LP, "Yer Blues" says, "Yes, I'm lonely wanna die, if I ain't dead already". "Feel so suicidal even hate my rock and roll."

(Yer Blues)

Another song from the Double Album is "Glass Onion". This one mentions many of The Beatles' past efforts, including this important line...."I told you about the Walrus and me, man...you know that we're as close as can be, man. Well, here's another clue for you all, the Walrus was Paul."

"I'm So Tired" contains some unintelligible jibberish at the end. The jibberish sounds like this:
Reversing your turntable and playing it backwards reveals the words, "Paul is a dead man".

The most easily heard clue on the Double Album is obtained by playing a portion of "Revolution Number Nine" backwards, which changes "Number Nine" to "Turn Me On Dead Man"!

The latest Beatles' album is "Abbey Road". This LP has sparked still more questions about the entire Paul McCarntey mystery. A thorough look at the album cover in just a few minutes. But first, to confirm that the Beatles are still lingering on the death theme, here is a song from "Abbey Road" concerning murder, treated in a light manner .

(Maxwell's Silver Hammer)

Page 10

In the foreground of the "Abbey road" cover, The Beatles are walking across a street which is assumed to be Abbey Road. Each is dressed completely different from the others. John Lennon is in the lead, dressed completely in white, a symbol of mourning or of heaven. Behind John is Ringo Starr, dressed in a black suit which resembles an English mortician's clothing. The suit is well pressed, and his shoes are spotlessly shined. Following Ringo is Paul, wearing a suit which could easily be taken as burial clothing. Paul is clean shaven, just as a man who had been prepared for interment. Paul is left-handed, yet he is holding a cigarette in his right hand. Most people agree that Paul's eyes are closed. and onced again, he is barefoot, a reminder that people are buried without shoes, and Paul has been photographed this way many times. Next in line is George Harrison, who appears to be dressed as a grave digger, in levis and a blue denim shirt. The most striking and noticeable thing about The Beatles in this picture is that Paul McCartney is the Beatle who is different! Paul is the one who is out of step; the other three have their left foot forward, Paul has his right foot forward. Another graphic example of the strangeness of this photo is the license plate on the white Volkswagen. The figures on the license are 28-I-F..... twenty-eight, If. Paul McCartney will be 28 on his next birthday.....IF....

Listen to the lyrics of "Come Together". Almost every line seems to fit into the strange series of circumstances concerning Beatle, Paul McCartney.

(Come Together)

Page 11

Here again, more references to the Walrus...."early warning, you can feel his disease, he wears no shoeshine because he wears no shoes". "One and one and one is three"....Three Beatles. "Got to be good lookin', cause he's so hard to see....feet below his knees"...again no shoes. So many things adding up in "Come Together".
The mystery may have come together with this song. Maybe there will be more to follow. You can believe whatever you wish.

(Reprise of Sgt. Pepper)

Maybe you've been on a Magical Mystery Tour without even realizing it.....OR....COULD IT HAVE BEEN JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE BEATLES???????????????????????

(A Day in the Life)

CLOSING STATEMENT

"Hello...this is Johnny Ryder speaking for the Disc Jockeys here at K-PIX Radio.

Last Saturday, "Skinny" Johnny Mitchell presented some pertinent facts about some very definite and obvious symbolisms on Beatle Album covers, posters, fold-outs and the records themselves. All of these symbolisms, as best we could figure out, seemed to point to one of three things:

(1) Someone, perhaps many people involved with The Beatles, or the Beatles themselves, purposely put these symbolisms in and around Beatle records to make people talk, and wonder, and ultimately...sell more records as a direct result of the publicity involved.

(2) All of these symbolisms were inserted in and around Beatle records by John, George and Ringo to connote the death or dying of their fellow Beatle, Paul. Whether it was the spiritual, psychological or physical dying or death of Paul McCartney, it was and still is, a question unanswered, or....Number...

(3) The entire bit...the symbolisms on the album covers, the strange eerie death sayings heard when playing certain Beatle records backwards, the Paul McCartney look -alike contest, etc., were all nothing....but coincidence.

As to the Station's policy concerning what has been said on the air since last Saturday afternoon, let's go back to that Saturday when "Skinny" Johnny Mitchell first presented some of the facts concerning the Paul McCartney "mystery". These were not facts conjured up by "Skinny" Johnny Mitchell or any member of the K-PIX Staff or management.

(closing statement) Page 2

They were facts brought to our attention by You!! the listener. After the mention of these facts on "Skinny's" show Saturday, thousands of 'phone calls and hundred of letters, again from You, the listener, poured in demanding more information on the Paul McCarntey "mystery". So we gave you what information we had. When that was gone, we asked you, the listener, for all the information you had, and again, you responded with thousands of 'phone calls and hundreds of letters. The program you have just heard, ladies and gentlemen...was...in truth...put together by you.

Once again, speaking for all the Disc Jockeys here at K-PIX, we believe, as the majority of you do, that Paul McCartney is alive and living with his family in London. But, we also believe the obvious symbolisms in and around the Beatle records, and they are there, point to one of of the three aforementioned statements. As to which one.... in any...is a decision you must make.

Thank you!

Cranberry Sauce

Not long after KCPX aired this program, LIFE Magazine did a cover story on the missing Beatle, who, it turns out, had been keeping a low profile with his new family on a remote farm in Scotland.

Rhetro Zenberg's Conclusion

After completing the transcription of the KCPX document, I find it difficult to believe that so many people got caught up in this silly quasi-conspiracy. In my opinion, the conclusions reached were less than convincing, and in most cases, outright off the wall. Some of the lyrics used as evidence weren't even quoted accurately. I must admit that I am a bit disappointed that the evidence isn't more convincing and provocative. I suppose what it all boils down to, is that people are gullible, and have a need to believe in something ridiculous.