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; file: 0ReadMe_Idiots.txt
;   FEW  10/25/2001
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   What is the 'Idiot's Club' anyway?

   This club is currently made up of three friends
   whose primary mission is just to be 'guys'.  Typically
   the group meets once a week over lunch and plans one or
   more 'Truck Camping' adventures per season.  Most of the
   sound and picture files in this folder are from such 
   'Truck Camping' trips.

   The picture '3_Idiots.JPG' shows the current members.
   From the right:  Fred Wahl (eldest and Idiot#1),
   Mark Johansson (youngest, Idiot #3) and 
   Tony Zepeda (Idiot #2). Surely no-one would trust these
   ruffians.

   Perhaps you have noticed a trend where a group's name is 
   almost an opposite of what they are or do.  For example
   a rock band like WAR produces very peaceful music where
   KISS produces very warlike music.  Are the Idiots actually
   geniuses? ..Only in their own minds.  Anyway how does this 
   relate to these Boy-Scout wanna-bees/techno-nerds?

   One thing is certain its members do tend to have their 
   social development skills maxed out at around a male 
   13 year old level.  They are known to drink beer, perhaps
   smoke cigars, burp and fart loudly, and sing ribald ditties.
   Spoonerisms are a favorite method of communication. The 
   usual deck of poker cards, pistolas and the occasional
   'Playboy' are standard camp equipment. Rank in the club is
   governed by the accumulation of 'Macho Points' awarded to 
   a member upon completion of a task done in a particularly 
   foolish manner.  One member boasts a Macho score of -3500.
   They like 'sounds' as do most males and perhaps this is what 
   has lead one of their members to cause the group to perform 
   'camp drumming' and to record such 'music' in the wild.
    (The group has noticed that camp drumming is an excelent
     bear and mountain lion repellant. It also repels nearby
     human campers.) 

   If you have a strong stomach you may enjoy listening to one
   or more of these Idiot Club 'recordings'.

   The club's most famous recording is in file:
     BlueMoon.mp3
   This is a highly edited production.  A Cassette tape
   cover was created for it and is shown in file BlueMoon.JPG.
   This was recorded on one 'Truck Camp' expedition to north
   gold country, CA.  The actual site is shown in file: snaglake.JPG
   (Snag Lake north of Downieville, CA).  It is rumored that the
   word/name 'WogWoe' was first spoken during the recording of this
   event.  We can't help but laugh whenever we review this tape.

   The other audio recordings presented here were recorded on 
   another 'Truck Camp' expedition to Lava Beds National Monument,
   California.  Lava Beds is south of Tule Lake and Klamath Falls,
   Oregon and north of Mount Shastina and Lassen Park. Captain Jack's
   Modoc battle hideaway is nearby.

   files: cave_crowd.mp3 and cave_gorilla.mp3 were recorded in
   Valentine Cave at that park.  After a particularly non-inspired
   Idiot's drumming session deep in Valentines Cave a Junior High
   School day trip tour happened upon the gang.  The kids and adult
   chaperones were handed percussion instruments and asked to 
   join in on the next recording in the cave. 

   The next two audio recordings relate to an Idiot's trek up
   the volcanic cinder cone, Schonchin Butte, during a serious 
   and potentially lighting-ridden storm.  The Butte was a short
   van ride from the Lava Beds developed camp site.  On its top
   was a ranger fire lookout tower.
    file: breakfast.mp3 documents the campsite breakfast and
      chatter while we plan the day's trek.  A strong windstorm
      is already developing.  The Coleman cookstove can be heard
      warming our meal and coffee.  Mark gets to wash dishes.
    file: schonchin_butte.mp3 documents the trip to and up the
      butte. Study Quiz Questions: How many Idiots will be struck by 
      lightning while on top. How many Macho points will be awarded?
      Does Mark successfully break in to the locked ranger tower?

   Another file on this page needs explanation.  File: empiremine.mov
   is an Apple Quicktime 3D VR movie.  Use Quicktime VR to view it
   and you will be able to rotate around 360 degrees and examine the
   Empire Mine (Grass Valley,CA) above ground antique equipment area.
   This *.mov was created by Mark.

   The rest of the files here are various *.JPG 'Truck Camp' pictures
   which will be explained in another file.  Some people shown
   are friends camped with who pre-date this official Idiot's club.
   These pictures are used because they better document a given site
   visited by the Idiot's club. Does that make them Idiot-precursors?

   Thanks for your kind attention,
   Fred Wahl  10/25/2001
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