INTERVIEW — TAPE #249, SIDE #1
Q: Mark Russell Bell
C: Carl Da Silva, acquaintance at Philosophical Research Society
K: Kathy Da Silva, acquaintance at PRS
J: John Da Silva, acquaintance at PRS
L: Laura Leong, PRS bookstore manager
E: Anna, Staples customer service representative
H: Hugo Farahman, Staples customer service representative
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I INTERVIEWED A FAMILY WHO REGULARLY ATTENDS THE PRS ON JULY 13, 1997. LAURA MENTIONED MY DOCUMENTARY-STYLE BOOK TO KATHY WHOSE HUSBAND WAS PLANNING A NONFICTION PROJECT. I SHOWED TESTAMENT TO KATHY AND GAVE HER THE INTERNET ADDRESS. SHE MENTIONED HER FAMILY WAS GOING TO SEE “CONTACT” THAT AFTERNOON. KATHY’S SON, JOHN, OCCASIONALLY CAN BE HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND DURING THIS INTERVIEW.)
Q: So I’m at the Philosophical Research Society. I have interviewed various speakers here and I just met a very lovely family who are interested in spirituality and Carl — is that with a K or a C?
C: With a C.
Q: And then his wife’s name is —
K: Kathy with a K.
Q: And her maiden name was —
K: Propst.
Q: And I’m getting a ‘Proust’ feeling from you. And what was your last name again?
C: Da Silva.
Q: Okay. Well, I’m getting some ‘Ra’ energy from your name, Carl. You have the A and R conjunction. Even though it’s backwards, it doesn’t really make a difference. And does your son have a middle name?
K: Lawrence. John Lawrence.
Q: So you have the ‘Re’ which is (“THIS”) a different spilling of ‘Ra.’ Ra/Re in the Egyptian pantheon. (“I LIKE TO SEE”) The key names of the God in different pantheons I sometimes look at. Like ‘An’ —
J: Can I go? (“AND”)
K: (small laugh)
Q: Typical. (“J[U]STAMIN[UT]E”) Come here. I’ll interview you too.
K: Just a minute, little Ra/Re/Ra/Ru/whatever.
Q: Exactly. (“HH HH” “EXACTLY”) Come here and I’ll interview — (“YOU”)
K: Do you want to be interviewed?
Q: Would you like to be interviewed? (“HHH”) Would you like to? No? (“NO”) They never do. They’re very shy.
K: Oh he —
Q: Not really. (“BB”)
C: Not really but yeah.
K: He needs to know you a little bit. Trust me.
Q: Right. Exactly.
K: He’ll tell you everything you didn’t need to know.
Q: But it would be fascinating (“TO”) to see what a child who’s come here — because there aren’t a lot of children here. Have you (“ONE”) noticed?
K: There aren’t. (“YOU”) You’d be amazed at some of the stuff he comes up with.
Q: I would love my friend’s child, Chandler, to come here. Because she is so into materialistic possessions. She’s got, like, a hundred Barbies and she won’t share them with people less fortunate. Does your son like to share his things?
K: Well yeah — I would say yeah. I would say surprisingly so. He looks at life in a very different way. I mean, for example, I’ll tell you a little anecdote. (“HE’S”) He’s gotten totally into The Beatles. I mean — (“JUST LIKE”)
Q: The Beatles?
K: — unbelievable. (“WE”) We taped the “Anthology” a few years ago. You know how they had that six-hour thing on ABC?
Q: Right.
K: And we have, (“U”) of course, CDs and tapes from (“WW WW” “LIKE”) The Beatles. Well, all of a sudden he just started listening to our — I don’t know how it happened but it happened. But when he goes into something it’s like —
C: Head-first.
K: Head-first.
C: Obsessively.
K: Full — obsessively. (“HE JUST KNOWS”) Now he knows all their songs. He knows this and that. And he watches (“THEIR”) their movies over and over on tape just so he can see them.
Q: Wow.
K: And so I said to him — (“UH”) one day he came up to me and he said, “Mommy, did John Lennon die before I was born?” And I said, “Yeah, honey.” (“NO I SAID WELL”) He says, “That’s why I love The Beatles so much.”
Q: Uh-oh.
K: And I said, “Why?” And he says, “Because I’m his incarnation.”
Q: See — I believe that.
K: And I went — I went, “Well, how come I like him so much?” (“NO REASON” “WIT”)
C: See, that’s one thing that I’ve been — (“DEMI” “HAPPENS”) been happening to me — (“MM”) is that I start interviewing people and they tell me — I find out who they’re the reincarnation of. (“O”)
K: Well, I don’t know if that’s true.
Q: And I’m meeting all these reincarnations of famous people.
K: I’m just saying — but that him being here — he looks at that as a possibility. You know what I’m saying?
Q: Well, he’s definitely ‘free as a bird.’ (small laugh)
C: Yeah.
K: Absolutely.
C: Sure is.
Q: Right. (“BUT YOU DON’T MEAN”)
K: You were asking about, like, his orientation and his perception —
Q: Right.
K: — is different than (that of ) another five-year-old. They wouldn’t think of saying that. (“RIGHT”) But because he comes here that’s part of his vocabulary and his world of possibilities. (“YY” “THAT”) That’s sort of why I was — (“FINE”)
Q: But why did you name him John?
K: Because my brother.
Q: But isn’t that interesting? (“JOHN”)
K: But it is interesting. (“YES”)
Q: Because we always name people through our subconscious minds.
K: That’s right.
Q: And, of course, the lecture today — (“LET HIM BE”) they talked about this shared subconscious. (“SO”)
K: Well, a lot of times they say that you come back with very similar names.
Q: And some people thought John Lennon was perfect in his last incarnation. He must not have shared enough of his money.
K: (laughs)
Q: But, anyway, (“SO”) now is he going to go see “Contact” too?
K: Uh-huh.
C: Yeah.
Q: So he’s very mature. How old is he again?
C: Five.
Q: Five. Wow.
C: Going to be six September first.
K: Well, it’s PG. I think it’s okay for him to see.
Q: Oh I think so too. (“I THINK SO”)
K: Yeah.
C: He watches at home PG stuff.
K: Stuff like that.
Q: Well, good look on your project. I’ll see you week to week. And enjoy my book on the Internet.
K: Well, when we have a little more time, yes.
C: Okay.
K: Well, (“YEAH”) you know, like I say, I have about twelve books that I’m going to read before I buy any other ones. But yours is definitely going to be on my list now.
Q: Well, you’ll see in my interviews (“I”) I play that reincarnation game with people. I’ll ask them, “Is there anyone in history who’s especially intrigued you or have you written about in a term paper or something?” And I’ll see what famous historical people they’ll name. For example, have you — has anyone like that ever —
K: I would have to think about that. Offhand, something doesn’t really — (“POP”)
Q: Think about that.
C: Johann Sebastian Bach for me.
Q: For you?
C: In terms of famous people.
Q: Wow.
C: I’ve always been fascinated by his music.
Q: Do you see here the musical connection then with your son?
C: Yeah.
Q: So that’s interesting. (“SO I BET YOU”)
C: When I didn’t even know anything about classical music or any kind of — ‘back there’ music, Bach was always something I liked. Even when I didn’t know anything else.
Q: Well, you know, what’s interesting — in some of The Beatles’ songs they found backward messages in the lyrics and, of course — (“THAT’S”)
J: . . . thing we’re forgetting?
K: Well, honey, (“W[E]”) we’re going to go.
C: Yeah, we’re — we’ll go. (“DIE”)
K: Please don’t be rude.
Q: (to J) By the way, I’m a big Beatles fan too. (“OOHH” “BECAUSE”)
K: John!
C: Come on, John.
K: John, this way. This way.
C: We’re going
Q: And, remember, the scarab is a beetle too in the Egyptian — (“YEAH”)
K: That’s right.
Q: — which is a symbol or resurrection and reincarnation.
K: Sure. There’s a lot — (“DIFFERENT” “WW”)
Q: So anyway — nice meeting you.
K: Very interesting to talk to you.
J: Not fair. (“OKAY GREAT”)
K: We’ll speak again.
Q: Okay. Great.
C: Nice talking to you.
Q: Have fun with “Contact.”
C: “Okay.”
K: “Thank you.”
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I THEN WENT TO THE BOOKSTORE AND SPOKE TO MY FRIEND LAURA. I DISCOVERED THAT KATHY HAD ALREADY TOLD HER THE STORY ABOUT HER SON BEING THE REINCARNATION OF JOHN LENNON. I ALSO REMINDED LAURA THAT, DURING A PREVIOUS INTERVIEW WHEN ASKED WHO SHE WAS THE REINCARNATION OF, HER RESPONSE HAD BEEN “PAN.”)
Q: So Laura just showed me a greeting card of Ra Ta, my former incarnation, made in 1995 by Nanette Crist Johnson. And it says:
Q: So I’m at the Philosophical Research Society. I have interviewed various speakers here and I just met a very lovely family who are interested in spirituality and Carl — is that with a K or a C?
C: With a C.
Q: And then his wife’s name is —
K: Kathy with a K.
Q: And her maiden name was —
K: Propst.
Q: And I’m getting a ‘Proust’ feeling from you. And what was your last name again?
C: Da Silva.
Q: Okay. Well, I’m getting some ‘Ra’ energy from your name, Carl. You have the A and R conjunction. Even though it’s backwards, it doesn’t really make a difference. And does your son have a middle name?
K: Lawrence. John Lawrence.
Q: So you have the ‘Re’ which is (“THIS”) a different spilling of ‘Ra.’ Ra/Re in the Egyptian pantheon. (“I LIKE TO SEE”) The key names of the God in different pantheons I sometimes look at. Like ‘An’ —
J: Can I go? (“AND”)
K: (small laugh)
Q: Typical. (“J[U]STAMIN[UT]E”) Come here. I’ll interview you too.
K: Just a minute, little Ra/Re/Ra/Ru/whatever.
Q: Exactly. (“HH HH” “EXACTLY”) Come here and I’ll interview — (“YOU”)
K: Do you want to be interviewed?
Q: Would you like to be interviewed? (“HHH”) Would you like to? No? (“NO”) They never do. They’re very shy.
K: Oh he —
Q: Not really. (“BB”)
C: Not really but yeah.
K: He needs to know you a little bit. Trust me.
Q: Right. Exactly.
K: He’ll tell you everything you didn’t need to know.
Q: But it would be fascinating (“TO”) to see what a child who’s come here — because there aren’t a lot of children here. Have you (“ONE”) noticed?
K: There aren’t. (“YOU”) You’d be amazed at some of the stuff he comes up with.
Q: I would love my friend’s child, Chandler, to come here. Because she is so into materialistic possessions. She’s got, like, a hundred Barbies and she won’t share them with people less fortunate. Does your son like to share his things?
K: Well yeah — I would say yeah. I would say surprisingly so. He looks at life in a very different way. I mean, for example, I’ll tell you a little anecdote. (“HE’S”) He’s gotten totally into The Beatles. I mean — (“JUST LIKE”)
Q: The Beatles?
K: — unbelievable. (“WE”) We taped the “Anthology” a few years ago. You know how they had that six-hour thing on ABC?
Q: Right.
K: And we have, (“U”) of course, CDs and tapes from (“WW WW” “LIKE”) The Beatles. Well, all of a sudden he just started listening to our — I don’t know how it happened but it happened. But when he goes into something it’s like —
C: Head-first.
K: Head-first.
C: Obsessively.
K: Full — obsessively. (“HE JUST KNOWS”) Now he knows all their songs. He knows this and that. And he watches (“THEIR”) their movies over and over on tape just so he can see them.
Q: Wow.
K: And so I said to him — (“UH”) one day he came up to me and he said, “Mommy, did John Lennon die before I was born?” And I said, “Yeah, honey.” (“NO I SAID WELL”) He says, “That’s why I love The Beatles so much.”
Q: Uh-oh.
K: And I said, “Why?” And he says, “Because I’m his incarnation.”
Q: See — I believe that.
K: And I went — I went, “Well, how come I like him so much?” (“NO REASON” “WIT”)
C: See, that’s one thing that I’ve been — (“DEMI” “HAPPENS”) been happening to me — (“MM”) is that I start interviewing people and they tell me — I find out who they’re the reincarnation of. (“O”)
K: Well, I don’t know if that’s true.
Q: And I’m meeting all these reincarnations of famous people.
K: I’m just saying — but that him being here — he looks at that as a possibility. You know what I’m saying?
Q: Well, he’s definitely ‘free as a bird.’ (small laugh)
C: Yeah.
K: Absolutely.
C: Sure is.
Q: Right. (“BUT YOU DON’T MEAN”)
K: You were asking about, like, his orientation and his perception —
Q: Right.
K: — is different than (that of ) another five-year-old. They wouldn’t think of saying that. (“RIGHT”) But because he comes here that’s part of his vocabulary and his world of possibilities. (“YY” “THAT”) That’s sort of why I was — (“FINE”)
Q: But why did you name him John?
K: Because my brother.
Q: But isn’t that interesting? (“JOHN”)
K: But it is interesting. (“YES”)
Q: Because we always name people through our subconscious minds.
K: That’s right.
Q: And, of course, the lecture today — (“LET HIM BE”) they talked about this shared subconscious. (“SO”)
K: Well, a lot of times they say that you come back with very similar names.
Q: And some people thought John Lennon was perfect in his last incarnation. He must not have shared enough of his money.
K: (laughs)
Q: But, anyway, (“SO”) now is he going to go see “Contact” too?
K: Uh-huh.
C: Yeah.
Q: So he’s very mature. How old is he again?
C: Five.
Q: Five. Wow.
C: Going to be six September first.
K: Well, it’s PG. I think it’s okay for him to see.
Q: Oh I think so too. (“I THINK SO”)
K: Yeah.
C: He watches at home PG stuff.
K: Stuff like that.
Q: Well, good look on your project. I’ll see you week to week. And enjoy my book on the Internet.
K: Well, when we have a little more time, yes.
C: Okay.
K: Well, (“YEAH”) you know, like I say, I have about twelve books that I’m going to read before I buy any other ones. But yours is definitely going to be on my list now.
Q: Well, you’ll see in my interviews (“I”) I play that reincarnation game with people. I’ll ask them, “Is there anyone in history who’s especially intrigued you or have you written about in a term paper or something?” And I’ll see what famous historical people they’ll name. For example, have you — has anyone like that ever —
K: I would have to think about that. Offhand, something doesn’t really — (“POP”)
Q: Think about that.
C: Johann Sebastian Bach for me.
Q: For you?
C: In terms of famous people.
Q: Wow.
C: I’ve always been fascinated by his music.
Q: Do you see here the musical connection then with your son?
C: Yeah.
Q: So that’s interesting. (“SO I BET YOU”)
C: When I didn’t even know anything about classical music or any kind of — ‘back there’ music, Bach was always something I liked. Even when I didn’t know anything else.
Q: Well, you know, what’s interesting — in some of The Beatles’ songs they found backward messages in the lyrics and, of course — (“THAT’S”)
J: . . . thing we’re forgetting?
K: Well, honey, (“W[E]”) we’re going to go.
C: Yeah, we’re — we’ll go. (“DIE”)
K: Please don’t be rude.
Q: (to J) By the way, I’m a big Beatles fan too. (“OOHH” “BECAUSE”)
K: John!
C: Come on, John.
K: John, this way. This way.
C: We’re going
Q: And, remember, the scarab is a beetle too in the Egyptian — (“YEAH”)
K: That’s right.
Q: — which is a symbol or resurrection and reincarnation.
K: Sure. There’s a lot — (“DIFFERENT” “WW”)
Q: So anyway — nice meeting you.
K: Very interesting to talk to you.
J: Not fair. (“OKAY GREAT”)
K: We’ll speak again.
Q: Okay. Great.
C: Nice talking to you.
Q: Have fun with “Contact.”
C: “Okay.”
K: “Thank you.”
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I THEN WENT TO THE BOOKSTORE AND SPOKE TO MY FRIEND LAURA. I DISCOVERED THAT KATHY HAD ALREADY TOLD HER THE STORY ABOUT HER SON BEING THE REINCARNATION OF JOHN LENNON. I ALSO REMINDED LAURA THAT, DURING A PREVIOUS INTERVIEW WHEN ASKED WHO SHE WAS THE REINCARNATION OF, HER RESPONSE HAD BEEN “PAN.”)
Q: So Laura just showed me a greeting card of Ra Ta, my former incarnation, made in 1995 by Nanette Crist Johnson. And it says:
RA TA
This inspired portrait of the ancient Egyptian priest Ra Ta beautifully reflects the fatherly heart and spiritual devotion of this tireless servant of God.
This inspired portrait of the ancient Egyptian priest Ra Ta beautifully reflects the fatherly heart and spiritual devotion of this tireless servant of God.
Q: They have it a little bit wrong, Laura. He’s more the son energy, which everyone knows about that.
L: Yeah. Well, why does she say —
Q: (I continue reading)
L: Yeah. Well, why does she say —
Q: (I continue reading)
According to the Edgar Cayce readings, Ra Ta became a high priest in Egypt more than 12,500 years ago. He’s said to have introduced the spiritual tenets, which laid the foundation for the Essene and Judeo-Christian traditions. He also revolutionized the social structures, established holistic healing centers,
Q: That’s what I’m trying to do.
such as the Temple Beautiful, and helped to mastermind the construction of the Great Pyramid and Sphinx. It is no wonder that the Egyptians deified this superlative man, who is remembered by many simply as Ra.
Q: No such luck in this lifetime.
This dynamic painting depicts Ra Ta in his youthful body. His gesture moves from prayer to the invocation of the great central sun and eternal flame through the seven color rays in the tradition of the sacred arts; and incorporates the divine proportions, numbers, symbols and colors. You may reorder this and other cards by visionary artist Nanette Crist Johnson.
Published by The Heritage Store.
Published by The Heritage Store.
Q: Oh — so they’re (“G[ET]”) going to order this.
L: Well, Dr. Harris is commissioning her to do some work.
Q: Really? (I gasp as Laura shows me another card) Well, see — what is this? “Archangel Michael”?!
L: (laughs)
Q: Oh my God. He’s got his sword and his chalice, the Holy Grail.
L: Um-huh. (“NO”) (attends to another person at counter)
Q: So it says:
L: Well, Dr. Harris is commissioning her to do some work.
Q: Really? (I gasp as Laura shows me another card) Well, see — what is this? “Archangel Michael”?!
L: (laughs)
Q: Oh my God. He’s got his sword and his chalice, the Holy Grail.
L: Um-huh. (“NO”) (attends to another person at counter)
Q: So it says:
ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
This is a powerful portrait of the great prince and champion of Heaven. Michael is considered to be one of the seven (“NO”) holy archangels whose mission is to protect, (“A”) nurture and guide our Solar System and all of (“A”) mankind. (“HERE”) Armed with a pulsating sword, a blue flame and the golden chalice of the Holy Grail, he shines as a pillar of strength and unshakable virtue. Above the cup is the holy spirit. All those who aspire to be God’s champion will resonate to this beautiful being.
In the tradition of the sacred arts, this picture incorporates the divine proportions, numbers, geometry and symbols. (“UM”) You may reorder this and other cards by visionary artist Nanette Crist. (“THERE”)
This is a powerful portrait of the great prince and champion of Heaven. Michael is considered to be one of the seven (“NO”) holy archangels whose mission is to protect, (“A”) nurture and guide our Solar System and all of (“A”) mankind. (“HERE”) Armed with a pulsating sword, a blue flame and the golden chalice of the Holy Grail, he shines as a pillar of strength and unshakable virtue. Above the cup is the holy spirit. All those who aspire to be God’s champion will resonate to this beautiful being.
In the tradition of the sacred arts, this picture incorporates the divine proportions, numbers, geometry and symbols. (“UM”) You may reorder this and other cards by visionary artist Nanette Crist. (“THERE”)
Q: And this is dated 1989. He’s got too many jewels, though. Mighael’s not into jewels. He’s very ‘white bread’ in this (depiction) too and I don’t think that’s Mighael at all. Well, you never know. (“SURE”) Everyone is a reflection (“WELL YES”) of Spirit.
( . . . )
Q: This is tacky. (“IS”) This Michael one. (“CAUSE”) The ‘Archangel Michael’ is far more important than people — I mean He’s “Who is as God.” (“SO I”) I don’t think He would take any one human form and He wouldn’t have so many jewels. This is — but (“YOU KNOW”) notice He has the Holy Grail. Because in my book, of course, there’s a Holy Grail. And, plus, He’s got — this must be Excalibur — this sword. He’s always — (“BUT YOU KNOW”) Jesus, himself, never called himself the Christ. And I found a dictionary that said the true Christ was Mighael.
L: Really?
Q: So that the people He ‘Christs’ become the Christed ones. So He Christed Jesus. He Christed Buddha. He Christed Ra Ta.
L: Really? See, I always wondered what they meant by that.
Q: He Christed Blavatsky. For her book. But, of course, no one paid any attention.
L: That means basically ‘blessed’ them or — (“GAVE”)
Q: Christed them.
L: Christed — what —
Q: Gave them awareness of Himself.
L: Okay. Showed himself.
Q: Right. Revealed Himself.
L: Revealed. (“MES”)
Q: Uh oh — (“SO WHAT’S THIS OTHER”)
L: These are the other ones.
Q: Okay. I might as well see what they are.
L: Yeah.
Q: Count St. Germain?! (“BUT TH”) That’s a very New Agey figure.
L: But doesn’t he look like he’s Iranian or something? (“FADEL”) (laughs) (“WELL”)
Q: My God. He look like somebody I know but I can’t quite place him. Probably somebody who goes to the PRS. It says:
( . . . )
Q: This is tacky. (“IS”) This Michael one. (“CAUSE”) The ‘Archangel Michael’ is far more important than people — I mean He’s “Who is as God.” (“SO I”) I don’t think He would take any one human form and He wouldn’t have so many jewels. This is — but (“YOU KNOW”) notice He has the Holy Grail. Because in my book, of course, there’s a Holy Grail. And, plus, He’s got — this must be Excalibur — this sword. He’s always — (“BUT YOU KNOW”) Jesus, himself, never called himself the Christ. And I found a dictionary that said the true Christ was Mighael.
L: Really?
Q: So that the people He ‘Christs’ become the Christed ones. So He Christed Jesus. He Christed Buddha. He Christed Ra Ta.
L: Really? See, I always wondered what they meant by that.
Q: He Christed Blavatsky. For her book. But, of course, no one paid any attention.
L: That means basically ‘blessed’ them or — (“GAVE”)
Q: Christed them.
L: Christed — what —
Q: Gave them awareness of Himself.
L: Okay. Showed himself.
Q: Right. Revealed Himself.
L: Revealed. (“MES”)
Q: Uh oh — (“SO WHAT’S THIS OTHER”)
L: These are the other ones.
Q: Okay. I might as well see what they are.
L: Yeah.
Q: Count St. Germain?! (“BUT TH”) That’s a very New Agey figure.
L: But doesn’t he look like he’s Iranian or something? (“FADEL”) (laughs) (“WELL”)
Q: My God. He look like somebody I know but I can’t quite place him. Probably somebody who goes to the PRS. It says:
COUNT ST. GERMAIN
This is a portrait of the wonder man of Europe as he appeared in eighteenth century Europe. St. Germain, whose contemporaries described him as ageless, is known as the greatest adept of his age.
This is a portrait of the wonder man of Europe as he appeared in eighteenth century Europe. St. Germain, whose contemporaries described him as ageless, is known as the greatest adept of his age.
(“OH”)
Q: Bull****.
L: (small laugh)
Q: Then what has he done for humanity?
Q: Bull****.
L: (small laugh)
Q: Then what has he done for humanity?
Among other achievements, he was a master alchemist, healer, herbalist, musician, writer, hypnotist, singer and diplomat. (“NO”)
Q: In other words, he was the most self-indulgent person who’s ever lived.
In this representation, the violet fire of transmutation flows from his hand, a mesmerizing reservoir of flame swirls around him, transforming destructive energies into healing. Those who aspired to develop divine wisdom will resonate to the qualities exemplified by St. Germain. In the tradition of the sacred arts, this picture incorporates divine proportions, numbers, geometry and symbols. You may reorder this and other cards by visionary artist Nanette Crist.
Q: Well, he’s — that’s totally bogus. I mean he’s no ‘great master.’ What has he ever done? (Laura shows me a fourth card) “Jesus the Christ.” Oh look at him. His beautiful blue eyes. He looks very effeminate —
L: Uh-huh.
Q: — in this one. With the long hair. Who does he look like? I met the reincarnation of Jesus too.
L: Who?
Q: I did once. He’s a homeless man. He looked sort of like this.
L: Um-huh.
Q: Except (“SEX”) he was more — he wasn’t this nice. He was more — he had more of an edge to him. Anyway, it’s a beautiful picture but it’s a little sentimentalized.
L: Uh-huh.
Q: — in this one. With the long hair. Who does he look like? I met the reincarnation of Jesus too.
L: Who?
Q: I did once. He’s a homeless man. He looked sort of like this.
L: Um-huh.
Q: Except (“SEX”) he was more — he wasn’t this nice. He was more — he had more of an edge to him. Anyway, it’s a beautiful picture but it’s a little sentimentalized.
JESUS THE CHRIST
This incredibly lifelike face of Christ is the outcome of an Easter-time vision. His aura glows with the colors of the rising sun. His face is one of radiant vitality and great beauty.
This incredibly lifelike face of Christ is the outcome of an Easter-time vision. His aura glows with the colors of the rising sun. His face is one of radiant vitality and great beauty.
Q: What she doesn’t understand is that she’s confusing Mighael, Who is the Christ, with Jesus — (“LET”) which is just one incarnation. (“ONE” “YOU KNOW”)
The intense eyes are at the same time infinitely peaceful, loving, penetrating and healing. The Master’s energy —
Q: See — that’s Mighael.
can be imparted to all those who gaze at him. This extraordinary portrait may be used to resonate to the virtues embodied in the Christ.
Q: Okay — and then it says the usual. So that’s interesting. (“BUT”) What troubles me is the fact that Obadiah is going in for all this very New Agey stuff — I mean anything to make a buck almost, you could see it as.
L: Well, actually (“HE’S NOT”) he’s commissioning her to do something.
Q: But he’s not going to stock these cards?
L: I don’t know if he’s (“LET”) going to stock these cards. These were samples. And we should — (“GRAB” “IS”)
Q: Is she — does she live in L.A.? This woman? (“I”)
L: Think they met in Chicago at a book — (“THE BOOK” “FAIR” “WELL SEE HE WOULD”)
Q: But see — these are all people, though, who are using their gifts to make money. (“SO”) Obadiah’s meeting all these people (small laugh) who are, you know, sort of — taking the gift and commercializing it. Isn’t that sad? “Count St. Germain.” He’s wearing purple. (“YEAH”) You’re wearing blue. Dark blue. I’m wearing my usual black.
L: (laughs)
( . . . )
Q: I like that card that Lydia (Ringwald) did.
L: Isn’t it great?
Q: Do you have a lot of hers or just that’s the only one?
L: That’s the only one left. (“OKAY”) That one up there — the dancer is hers too.
Q: Oh. She’s talented. (“RAY”) (I notice another card) “Abra Cadabra.” Now we know what that means.
( . . . )
(“RIGH[T]”)
L: Remember how we were talking about — there are very few people I’ve told this about — the gender thing. (I ring a bell that’s on the counter) Remember I was telling you about how the ultimate society of beings would be where there was no male or female, per se.
Q: Right. (“BECAUSE”)
L: You were just attracted by spirit. (“RIGHT”) Either sex. (“STUS” “SOME”) Some so-called females that had a womb and genitalia like that — maybe they wouldn’t even have mammary glands. They might even have facial hair.
Q: Oh right. (“YES”)
L: Everybody was totally mixed and matched (“RIGHT”) and couldn’t just be attracted to somebody because of their physical anatomy.
Q: Right. (“RIGHT” “SO”)
L: I saw this program. It was like a documentary and I thought of you because I told you — there’s this doctor who in the ’60s and ’70s —
Q: Was is PBS or “Sightings” or —
L: It was either “Sightings” or TLC, E, Discovery — one of those.
Q: Okay. Right. (“RIGHT”)
L: I might even have it on tape. But the doctor was conducting experiments where he would sever the head of a monkey —
Q: Ohh.
L: — and transplant it onto the body of another monkey. So it had two heads and he wanted to see how the brain would operate —
Q: That’s terrible.
L: But they were doing all this stuff. It seemed like vivisection. It seemed really gross but then when he started to really elaborate he said that research, which he’s had to stop because of the flak he’s gotten, would benefit people (“WHO HAVE”) that have epilepsy; are losing their whole bodily functions but their brain is still there so they could do body transplants. They started getting into uterus transplants into men.
Q: But, see, this all —
L: And then this all (“MAR” “COULD”) they could totally do it. (“BUT SEE” “NO”)
Q: But this all based on (the assumption of) a Godless universe — all these rules of science. Because if there is a God then that (“SAY”) changes everything in terms of how scientists approach their subjects. (“RIGHT”) Doesn’t it?
L: It does in a way.
Q: In terms of how to treat maladies.
L: But, see, he’s (“HAVE YOU”) — he was saying that even though there was a God that whatever it takes to keep the species alive — that would be what (“HE”) his version of God would be like. (“WELL THIS IS WHATEV”) (laughs)
Q: This is ‘whatever it takes’ (thinking). We have the Cassini Mission going up with seventy-three pounds of plutonium. Maybe that’s ‘whatever it takes.’
L: Maybe. I just want to share that with you.
Q: Horrible.
L: It was so neat, though, because it showed this guy and he had labor pains and everything. And they showed this old woman—she was eighty years old—giving birth. (“WE KNOW”)
Q: My friend —
L: It was great.
Q: — (“YOU KNOW”) Inanna also known as Tany is — she’s a book publicist — is handling an author who had an experience with a heart transplant. And I’ve heard this in many, many cases where they have somebody else’s heart transplanted to them and they take on (“THEIR EMOT”) the characteristics of this other person. That’s because—as we’ve heard at the PRS lectures how many times?—the soul is (“CLOSING”) located in the heart.
L: Heart.
Q: So when they transplant someone’s heart it’s really a different soul. You — (“IT’S A REALLY) it’s like a reincarnation in this lifetime. (“SO NE” “SO”) It’s like you can —
L: What about brain transplants though? Have you heard about the alien hand? (“SIN” “TONY”)
Q: You’re never supposed to do that. I mean God —
L: (laughs)
Q: — these belong to God. In the book I go into that in quite (a bit of) detail. It’s like people who separate Siamese twins. (“RIGHT”) You don’t do that. These are all intended lessons for the people who experience them. What I’m curious (about), though, is because in the book there are messages — ‘it’s you and me.’ (“WE’RE TALKING ABOUT”) I said — we were talking about the Angel Mighael being gay and He said, “YOU AND ME.” (“SO”) We have a Spirit here who shouldn’t be either (gay) or (straight) necessarily and yet is (gay). So that’s curious to me.
L: That’s very curious.
Q: Especially when we have different incarnations as male and female. So that’s sort of a big mystery — (“IT’S STILL”) continues to be a big mystery. And the fact is, you know, I put out a news release with three new commandments. (“WHAT”) Did you know about that?
L: No, I didn’t.
Q: It’s on the website. (“YES”)
L: Okay.
Q: You have to go to my website.
L: Okay. Alright. Got it.
Q: Okay. Bye.
L: Bye.
( . . . )
Q: (speaking into tape recorder) So tonight, Sunday, I looked at the latest images from the Mars landing and the ‘flat top’ rock is definitely a brick or something left over from a lost Martian civilization. Isn’t it obvious?
( . . . )
Q: It’s funny. I found this website for the program that’s now in the timeslot on one of the Jesus channels where “The Bible Answer Man” used to be. And this program is called “To Every Man An Answer.” Chuck Smith and Don Stewart are the ‘apologists’ on this show. It says, “Submit your questions by Email.” But I’m not going to submit a question — well it will be a question but it will be self-serving.
( . . . )
Q: So I just put my name and my city and my state and my country and my Email address and the question says “for both/either.” And the question is: “Have you had a chance to visit testament.org? This website offers an Internet edition of a contemporary testament for mankind.” That should be enough. I’m sending it.
( . . . )
Q: So they’ll be getting an answer. If you know what I mean.
( . . . )
Q: So I went ahead and looked at the “Sightings” website bulletin board and the one that follows mine from ‘X-Buster’ sent about twenty and a half hours after mine says: “I have a theory. What if aliens are evolved humans from the future that have come back in time to prevent or fix something from happening but are trying to stay hidden so that history isn’t radically changed? Just a thought.” And so, of course, then he got a response from someone codenamed ‘Halibut’ sent about an hour later and it’s addressed to X-Buster: “If that’s true, they -ed up bad. Roswell, Betty and Barney Hill, Virginia Brazil . . . man, they’ve made a mess.”
( . . . )
Q: So I’m trying to add a few quotations and excerpts from various materials to New Testament. And I remembered in my previous draft I had a letter that I found at Art Bell’s website from Steven M. Greer that I wanted to use to show some of the pitfalls in reporting UFOs and trying to spread awareness about UFOs. So I want to include this and it’s a reply to Michael Lindemann at CNI News. And I have been getting a few copies of this Internet journal. So I’m going ahead and I’m sending an Email message to Michael Lindemann saying:
L: Well, actually (“HE’S NOT”) he’s commissioning her to do something.
Q: But he’s not going to stock these cards?
L: I don’t know if he’s (“LET”) going to stock these cards. These were samples. And we should — (“GRAB” “IS”)
Q: Is she — does she live in L.A.? This woman? (“I”)
L: Think they met in Chicago at a book — (“THE BOOK” “FAIR” “WELL SEE HE WOULD”)
Q: But see — these are all people, though, who are using their gifts to make money. (“SO”) Obadiah’s meeting all these people (small laugh) who are, you know, sort of — taking the gift and commercializing it. Isn’t that sad? “Count St. Germain.” He’s wearing purple. (“YEAH”) You’re wearing blue. Dark blue. I’m wearing my usual black.
L: (laughs)
( . . . )
Q: I like that card that Lydia (Ringwald) did.
L: Isn’t it great?
Q: Do you have a lot of hers or just that’s the only one?
L: That’s the only one left. (“OKAY”) That one up there — the dancer is hers too.
Q: Oh. She’s talented. (“RAY”) (I notice another card) “Abra Cadabra.” Now we know what that means.
( . . . )
(“RIGH[T]”)
L: Remember how we were talking about — there are very few people I’ve told this about — the gender thing. (I ring a bell that’s on the counter) Remember I was telling you about how the ultimate society of beings would be where there was no male or female, per se.
Q: Right. (“BECAUSE”)
L: You were just attracted by spirit. (“RIGHT”) Either sex. (“STUS” “SOME”) Some so-called females that had a womb and genitalia like that — maybe they wouldn’t even have mammary glands. They might even have facial hair.
Q: Oh right. (“YES”)
L: Everybody was totally mixed and matched (“RIGHT”) and couldn’t just be attracted to somebody because of their physical anatomy.
Q: Right. (“RIGHT” “SO”)
L: I saw this program. It was like a documentary and I thought of you because I told you — there’s this doctor who in the ’60s and ’70s —
Q: Was is PBS or “Sightings” or —
L: It was either “Sightings” or TLC, E, Discovery — one of those.
Q: Okay. Right. (“RIGHT”)
L: I might even have it on tape. But the doctor was conducting experiments where he would sever the head of a monkey —
Q: Ohh.
L: — and transplant it onto the body of another monkey. So it had two heads and he wanted to see how the brain would operate —
Q: That’s terrible.
L: But they were doing all this stuff. It seemed like vivisection. It seemed really gross but then when he started to really elaborate he said that research, which he’s had to stop because of the flak he’s gotten, would benefit people (“WHO HAVE”) that have epilepsy; are losing their whole bodily functions but their brain is still there so they could do body transplants. They started getting into uterus transplants into men.
Q: But, see, this all —
L: And then this all (“MAR” “COULD”) they could totally do it. (“BUT SEE” “NO”)
Q: But this all based on (the assumption of) a Godless universe — all these rules of science. Because if there is a God then that (“SAY”) changes everything in terms of how scientists approach their subjects. (“RIGHT”) Doesn’t it?
L: It does in a way.
Q: In terms of how to treat maladies.
L: But, see, he’s (“HAVE YOU”) — he was saying that even though there was a God that whatever it takes to keep the species alive — that would be what (“HE”) his version of God would be like. (“WELL THIS IS WHATEV”) (laughs)
Q: This is ‘whatever it takes’ (thinking). We have the Cassini Mission going up with seventy-three pounds of plutonium. Maybe that’s ‘whatever it takes.’
L: Maybe. I just want to share that with you.
Q: Horrible.
L: It was so neat, though, because it showed this guy and he had labor pains and everything. And they showed this old woman—she was eighty years old—giving birth. (“WE KNOW”)
Q: My friend —
L: It was great.
Q: — (“YOU KNOW”) Inanna also known as Tany is — she’s a book publicist — is handling an author who had an experience with a heart transplant. And I’ve heard this in many, many cases where they have somebody else’s heart transplanted to them and they take on (“THEIR EMOT”) the characteristics of this other person. That’s because—as we’ve heard at the PRS lectures how many times?—the soul is (“CLOSING”) located in the heart.
L: Heart.
Q: So when they transplant someone’s heart it’s really a different soul. You — (“IT’S A REALLY) it’s like a reincarnation in this lifetime. (“SO NE” “SO”) It’s like you can —
L: What about brain transplants though? Have you heard about the alien hand? (“SIN” “TONY”)
Q: You’re never supposed to do that. I mean God —
L: (laughs)
Q: — these belong to God. In the book I go into that in quite (a bit of) detail. It’s like people who separate Siamese twins. (“RIGHT”) You don’t do that. These are all intended lessons for the people who experience them. What I’m curious (about), though, is because in the book there are messages — ‘it’s you and me.’ (“WE’RE TALKING ABOUT”) I said — we were talking about the Angel Mighael being gay and He said, “YOU AND ME.” (“SO”) We have a Spirit here who shouldn’t be either (gay) or (straight) necessarily and yet is (gay). So that’s curious to me.
L: That’s very curious.
Q: Especially when we have different incarnations as male and female. So that’s sort of a big mystery — (“IT’S STILL”) continues to be a big mystery. And the fact is, you know, I put out a news release with three new commandments. (“WHAT”) Did you know about that?
L: No, I didn’t.
Q: It’s on the website. (“YES”)
L: Okay.
Q: You have to go to my website.
L: Okay. Alright. Got it.
Q: Okay. Bye.
L: Bye.
( . . . )
Q: (speaking into tape recorder) So tonight, Sunday, I looked at the latest images from the Mars landing and the ‘flat top’ rock is definitely a brick or something left over from a lost Martian civilization. Isn’t it obvious?
( . . . )
Q: It’s funny. I found this website for the program that’s now in the timeslot on one of the Jesus channels where “The Bible Answer Man” used to be. And this program is called “To Every Man An Answer.” Chuck Smith and Don Stewart are the ‘apologists’ on this show. It says, “Submit your questions by Email.” But I’m not going to submit a question — well it will be a question but it will be self-serving.
( . . . )
Q: So I just put my name and my city and my state and my country and my Email address and the question says “for both/either.” And the question is: “Have you had a chance to visit testament.org? This website offers an Internet edition of a contemporary testament for mankind.” That should be enough. I’m sending it.
( . . . )
Q: So they’ll be getting an answer. If you know what I mean.
( . . . )
Q: So I went ahead and looked at the “Sightings” website bulletin board and the one that follows mine from ‘X-Buster’ sent about twenty and a half hours after mine says: “I have a theory. What if aliens are evolved humans from the future that have come back in time to prevent or fix something from happening but are trying to stay hidden so that history isn’t radically changed? Just a thought.” And so, of course, then he got a response from someone codenamed ‘Halibut’ sent about an hour later and it’s addressed to X-Buster: “If that’s true, they -ed up bad. Roswell, Betty and Barney Hill, Virginia Brazil . . . man, they’ve made a mess.”
( . . . )
Q: So I’m trying to add a few quotations and excerpts from various materials to New Testament. And I remembered in my previous draft I had a letter that I found at Art Bell’s website from Steven M. Greer that I wanted to use to show some of the pitfalls in reporting UFOs and trying to spread awareness about UFOs. So I want to include this and it’s a reply to Michael Lindemann at CNI News. And I have been getting a few copies of this Internet journal. So I’m going ahead and I’m sending an Email message to Michael Lindemann saying:
Dear Michael:
An Internet edition of my book TESTAMENT can be seen at:
testament.org
The book has a Q&A/journal/news reporting format and the website will be expanded in the near future to include interview material concerning ufology. I’m considering including Steven M. Greer’s June 3rd, 1997 letter to you replying to a CNI article to illuminate some of the pitfalls people fall into when trying to report about UFOs. If you would like to provide any comments, (“O”) I’ll be glad to include them as well.
Sincerely,
Mark Russell Bell
An Internet edition of my book TESTAMENT can be seen at:
testament.org
The book has a Q&A/journal/news reporting format and the website will be expanded in the near future to include interview material concerning ufology. I’m considering including Steven M. Greer’s June 3rd, 1997 letter to you replying to a CNI article to illuminate some of the pitfalls people fall into when trying to report about UFOs. If you would like to provide any comments, (“O”) I’ll be glad to include them as well.
Sincerely,
Mark Russell Bell
Q: I just realized I shouldn’t have put “my book” in my letter to Michael. Now the other Mighael might be ticked off a little bit. I always try to avoid that. Uh-oh. So that and my previous mistake tonight was when I was recording Art Bell’s interview about the Cassini mission. I was commenting about how he should be replaced by my friend Mark Anthony blah blah blah. Even though Art did do the same thing with that political cartoonist, I really feel I was being hasty and didn’t really think things through at the time. I was just sort of angry at his very nonchalant attitude toward his interview and the Cassini Mission in general. After getting the facts, he’s still “not enough of a scientist to know that.” So, anyway, forget what I said. He’s an okay talkshow host but I do think it’s unethical to interview people and have them on your show unless you’ve read their book first. I mean that’s how people like Adolf Hitler could get publicity if you know what I mean.
( . . . )
Q: So I had my day all planned out and then I got my Aptiva recovery disk from IBM delivered so I immediately called IBM, of course. I was transferred to Ireland, no less, so while I was working with the representative, who was very nice, by the way, we talked a little bit about the usual subjects. It turns out her name is Jeanne — perhaps named after Joan of Arc; middle name Eithne; last name Phelen. So, anyway — (“WE”) she did bring up Joan of Arc, which was unusual. Now I always thought that my friend Joan Kovats was the reincarnation of Joan of Arc because she found this very old woodprint painting of someone (who looked just like her) but now I’m not so sure. One of the two must be (“SO”) or maybe one knew Joan of Arc or — I don’t know. Could there have been two Joans of Arc?
( . . . )
Q: My plan is to take back the new computer because the clock is broken and I’m not really satisfied with it. It’s loud. It’s got lots of problems. And I won’t have to worry any more about the huge expense. I have everything here. Anyway. That’s my new priority. Getting a refund for this computer. I can’t afford $900.
( . . . )
Q: The drum that appears while you’re installing devices reminds me of the Drummer of Tedworth because somebody’s rattling a drum and there’s no one there. I’m re-setting up my computer after getting the disk and it says, “Please wait while set-up prepares your Windows 95 computer. This process may take several —” Oh, it just: “Set-up is ready to restart your computer. Click okay.” So thank you to all the countless IBM people who helped me over the last horrifying weeks. And now I have to re-put in all my Wordperfect disks and my printer. I’ve also got to call up my Internet service provider so they can help me reprogram my computer for that.
( . . . )
Q: Hi, Anna.
A: May I help you?
Q: Hi. I just have to return this. (“UM”) The clock was broken. And I wasn’t really happy with it so I thought I’d just return it. (“FF”) Everything’s still there. (“I’VE LEAR”)
A: Where is the —
Q: Should I put it up on the counter there? (“YEARNING” “WHAT IS”)
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I TURN ON MY TAPE RECORDER WHEN I NOTICE A BIZARRE SIGHT. IN THE RAFTERS OF THE BUILDING IS PERCHED A STATUE OF A TROJAN. THE STORE IS VERY NOISY SO SOME SPIRIT MESSAGES MAY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED AND PORTIONS OF THE TAPE CANNOT BE DISTINGUISHED.)
Q: Can I ask you a question while you’re waiting?
H: Yeah.
Q: What’s your name?
H: Hugo.
Q: Oh. Hugo. What is the story of the Trojan up there?
H: I’m not familiar with the story of that.
Q: Isn’t that weird? (“DISCOVER”) To go into a Staples and see a Trojan? It looks like Tommy Trojan. I went to USC.
H: I went to USC . . .
Q: Isn’t that weird?
H: It’s nice.
Q: It’s nice unless there’s an earthquake and it falls over.
H: No, it’s really tight.
Q: Did somebody steal —
H: What year did you graduate?
Q: 1980. When did you graduate? . . . What’s your last name?
H: Farahman.
Q: What was your major?
H: Social sciences.
Q: Wow. I majored in cinema. . . . Do you know what you want to do . . .
H: I did work for the U.S. government for a while. . . .
Q: Are you thinking about going back to graduate school?
H: . . . I don’t know yet but most likely . . . international finance.
Q: Really? I get more of an artistic quality from you. Art like painting. I bet you’d be good as a painter.
H: My painting is not good but I write poetry and I’m very good at wine tasting.
Q: Wine tasting? . . . (“WHERE”) Where are you from, by the way?
E: Can I see your credit card? (“SURE”) Your refund’s going to be $865.99.
Q: Well, poetry doesn’t pay much, unfortunately. It should. If we lived in a sane society the poets would be getting as much money as movie stars. And where is your ancestry from?
H: Do you want to guess?
Q: I’m not very good at that but I would say some place in Russia or Armenia or —
H: You are very close but you’re not —
Q: What is it?
H: What ethnic group is most common in Santa Monica?
Q: I don’t know.
H: A lot of us are here. . . .
Q: I don’t know.
H: Actually I’m Iranian.
Q: Iranian. Oh.
H: Right here are so many.
Q: I didn’t realize there was a large Iranian community here.
H: Oh yeah. Tons of . . .
Q: Are any of them displaced because of the political situation?
H: Well, most of them are religious minorities who came over here.
Q: Persecuted religious minorities — aren’t we all? . . . Okay. Thank you everybody. . . . (“SO ANYWAY”) I’ll mention you, Hugo. (he gives me his USC Email address)
Q: Will you do me a favor and try to get the USC library to stock my book? (“THEY”) I’ve tried to do that myself.
H: Which library do you want?
Q: In the bookstore, I mean. The bookstore.
H: Okay. I think I’ll see who’s in charge.
Q: Yeah. Well, you can look at it on the Internet. I think if somebody requests it, they’ll start stocking it.
H: Okay.
( . . . )
Q: So there was a penny underneath my table where I was having lunch over here at the Century City Marketplace. I had the vegetable tempura and I think the salad dressing made me ill. It really made me ill. You’ve got to watch out for that salad dressing. I wonder what’s in it.
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I’VE NOTICED THIS SUMMER 1997 THAI PEANUT SALAD DRESSING IS ALSO CAUSING AN ALLERGIC REACTION. )
Q: So I’m still getting pennies. Thank goodness. It’s been a long time since I saw one. I’ve been thinking it over and I’m sure that God is a God of love. To take all the bull**** that I’ve dished out — and wait until you hear it all. If you’re lucky.
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY OWN RADIO SHOW WHERE I COULD PLAY ONE OF MY TAPES EACH NIGHT IN SUCCESSION.)
( . . . )
Q: So I had my day all planned out and then I got my Aptiva recovery disk from IBM delivered so I immediately called IBM, of course. I was transferred to Ireland, no less, so while I was working with the representative, who was very nice, by the way, we talked a little bit about the usual subjects. It turns out her name is Jeanne — perhaps named after Joan of Arc; middle name Eithne; last name Phelen. So, anyway — (“WE”) she did bring up Joan of Arc, which was unusual. Now I always thought that my friend Joan Kovats was the reincarnation of Joan of Arc because she found this very old woodprint painting of someone (who looked just like her) but now I’m not so sure. One of the two must be (“SO”) or maybe one knew Joan of Arc or — I don’t know. Could there have been two Joans of Arc?
( . . . )
Q: My plan is to take back the new computer because the clock is broken and I’m not really satisfied with it. It’s loud. It’s got lots of problems. And I won’t have to worry any more about the huge expense. I have everything here. Anyway. That’s my new priority. Getting a refund for this computer. I can’t afford $900.
( . . . )
Q: The drum that appears while you’re installing devices reminds me of the Drummer of Tedworth because somebody’s rattling a drum and there’s no one there. I’m re-setting up my computer after getting the disk and it says, “Please wait while set-up prepares your Windows 95 computer. This process may take several —” Oh, it just: “Set-up is ready to restart your computer. Click okay.” So thank you to all the countless IBM people who helped me over the last horrifying weeks. And now I have to re-put in all my Wordperfect disks and my printer. I’ve also got to call up my Internet service provider so they can help me reprogram my computer for that.
( . . . )
Q: Hi, Anna.
A: May I help you?
Q: Hi. I just have to return this. (“UM”) The clock was broken. And I wasn’t really happy with it so I thought I’d just return it. (“FF”) Everything’s still there. (“I’VE LEAR”)
A: Where is the —
Q: Should I put it up on the counter there? (“YEARNING” “WHAT IS”)
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I TURN ON MY TAPE RECORDER WHEN I NOTICE A BIZARRE SIGHT. IN THE RAFTERS OF THE BUILDING IS PERCHED A STATUE OF A TROJAN. THE STORE IS VERY NOISY SO SOME SPIRIT MESSAGES MAY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED AND PORTIONS OF THE TAPE CANNOT BE DISTINGUISHED.)
Q: Can I ask you a question while you’re waiting?
H: Yeah.
Q: What’s your name?
H: Hugo.
Q: Oh. Hugo. What is the story of the Trojan up there?
H: I’m not familiar with the story of that.
Q: Isn’t that weird? (“DISCOVER”) To go into a Staples and see a Trojan? It looks like Tommy Trojan. I went to USC.
H: I went to USC . . .
Q: Isn’t that weird?
H: It’s nice.
Q: It’s nice unless there’s an earthquake and it falls over.
H: No, it’s really tight.
Q: Did somebody steal —
H: What year did you graduate?
Q: 1980. When did you graduate? . . . What’s your last name?
H: Farahman.
Q: What was your major?
H: Social sciences.
Q: Wow. I majored in cinema. . . . Do you know what you want to do . . .
H: I did work for the U.S. government for a while. . . .
Q: Are you thinking about going back to graduate school?
H: . . . I don’t know yet but most likely . . . international finance.
Q: Really? I get more of an artistic quality from you. Art like painting. I bet you’d be good as a painter.
H: My painting is not good but I write poetry and I’m very good at wine tasting.
Q: Wine tasting? . . . (“WHERE”) Where are you from, by the way?
E: Can I see your credit card? (“SURE”) Your refund’s going to be $865.99.
Q: Well, poetry doesn’t pay much, unfortunately. It should. If we lived in a sane society the poets would be getting as much money as movie stars. And where is your ancestry from?
H: Do you want to guess?
Q: I’m not very good at that but I would say some place in Russia or Armenia or —
H: You are very close but you’re not —
Q: What is it?
H: What ethnic group is most common in Santa Monica?
Q: I don’t know.
H: A lot of us are here. . . .
Q: I don’t know.
H: Actually I’m Iranian.
Q: Iranian. Oh.
H: Right here are so many.
Q: I didn’t realize there was a large Iranian community here.
H: Oh yeah. Tons of . . .
Q: Are any of them displaced because of the political situation?
H: Well, most of them are religious minorities who came over here.
Q: Persecuted religious minorities — aren’t we all? . . . Okay. Thank you everybody. . . . (“SO ANYWAY”) I’ll mention you, Hugo. (he gives me his USC Email address)
Q: Will you do me a favor and try to get the USC library to stock my book? (“THEY”) I’ve tried to do that myself.
H: Which library do you want?
Q: In the bookstore, I mean. The bookstore.
H: Okay. I think I’ll see who’s in charge.
Q: Yeah. Well, you can look at it on the Internet. I think if somebody requests it, they’ll start stocking it.
H: Okay.
( . . . )
Q: So there was a penny underneath my table where I was having lunch over here at the Century City Marketplace. I had the vegetable tempura and I think the salad dressing made me ill. It really made me ill. You’ve got to watch out for that salad dressing. I wonder what’s in it.
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I’VE NOTICED THIS SUMMER 1997 THAI PEANUT SALAD DRESSING IS ALSO CAUSING AN ALLERGIC REACTION. )
Q: So I’m still getting pennies. Thank goodness. It’s been a long time since I saw one. I’ve been thinking it over and I’m sure that God is a God of love. To take all the bull**** that I’ve dished out — and wait until you hear it all. If you’re lucky.
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY OWN RADIO SHOW WHERE I COULD PLAY ONE OF MY TAPES EACH NIGHT IN SUCCESSION.)
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