I believe there is lots of evidence to suggest that Bethlehem Abortion Clinic and particularly it's catalog number (12134-66649-4) are a vital clue to unlocking Problem 8 - The Riemann Hypothesis. Seeing as the Riemann Hypothesis is a mathematical concept, can this be related to the catalog number somehow?

Further Ideas...

Following up on the potential link between Cesaro Summation & the Riemann Hypothesis (both mathematical ideas). There was a picture disc made for the track Cesaro Summability...


Quoted from
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/tool-signed-autographed-cesaro-lp-vinyl-promo

According to Craig Williamson, Tool's promo manager in the early days, there are only 25 of this signed version in existence. This was distributed mainly to employees and those close to the band, where the regular unsigned versions (rumored to be limited to 5,000 or so) were distributed to radio stations and stores around the country to promote the release of Aenima roughly 12 years go.


The next few bits are a bit more speculative...

The catalog number for this item is ZP17666-1 (a repeat of the number 666 number also contained in the Bethlehem Abortion Clinic Catalog Number 12134-66649-4, with it's obvious devil connotations)

Cesaro Summability (the track) could be the soundtrack to an abortion being performed at the clinic?

People who have possession of the Signed Cesaro Summability 12" Picture Disc are unlikely to play it for fear of damaging their valuable memorabilia

My Theory...

1. Tool recorded a secret track...

"Another thing about the “Aenima” recording that I remember, was a plan devised at the loft to create the ultimate hidden track."

2. They left a clue on Aenima...

"Someday I will tell you what makes ONE of these cds so special - something the band members don’t want anyone to know - though it’s there for discerning listeners. Perhaps I’ve said too much already."

The discerning listener will hear the song Cesaro Summability (the soundtrack to an abortion) linking it with Bethlehem Abortion Clinic in the Import Liner Notes (perhaps there is something hidden in the 'voices' contained in the track as well )


"Also, there was the thing about the mathematical formula encoded in the insert catalogue on the European issue of Aenima. Fortunately, nobody's figured that one out yet."

By saying mathematical formula people assume that a calculation is required. The mathematical formula is in title only - Cesaro Summability and it is an alias for the title "Bethlehem Abortion Clinic" which is the actual title of track 12 on Aenima. It is decoded through listening to it and determining it's meaning.

“Aenima” was the first Tool project that I was asked to contribute something to, although this was merely a small part of the art design for the import, which I collaborated on with Shep’s talented girlfriend. (Or… was she merely his roommate?)"

Blair helped with the artwork for the Import CD - the fake albums


"Possibly the 'darkest' recording since Tool's Bethlehem Abortion Clinic (12134-66649-4)"

A soundtrack to an abortion is pretty dark?



3. Tool produce a limited edition rare item - The signed Cesaro Picture Disc (25-30 copies) containing the secret material and place it in obscure places where they will be snapped up by people and not played for fear of damaging the value of the memorabilia...

"Though having never been released to the general public, about 30 copies were surreptitiously placed in various record stores in European cities (most of them in Poland) by members of the band and their crew during a tour over there."..

"According to Craig Williamson, Tool's promo manager in the early days, there are only 25 of this signed version in existence . This was distributed mainly to employees and those close to the band, where the regular unsigned versions (rumored to be limited to 5,000 or so) were distributed to radio stations and stores around the country to promote the release of Aenima roughly 12 years go."

"Because of the ingenious way it was made available to the public, “Problem 8” , in my opinion, constitutes the ultimate hidden track. Only, don’t go looking for it among your collection (most of you, that is!), as there are no more than 30 copies on the planet. As for those who have one, most, I’m sure, aren’t aware of it, even though it might be staring them right in the eye on a near daily basis. The reason they aren’t aware of it, is because they’d never think to play it. Okay, enough said…"



4. Blair starts giving hints...

"All were released on vinyl in America except for "BETHLEHEM ABORTION CLINIC" which was only released on vinyl in Europe and never released in CD format anywhere. See catalogue in import release of Aenima CD for details."

There is also a link in catalog numbers between the Cesaro Picture Disc and Bethlehem Abortion Clinic with both containing the devil's number - 666


5. Problem 8 - The Riemann Hypothesis

"The title of this tune is “Problem 8 (The Riemann Hypothesis)”, and it was recorded many years ago – so long ago, in fact, that I don’t remember who played bass, although I want to say it was Justin. The length is somewhere in the six-minute range (if my memory serves me correctly), but whatever it is, the exact time had something to do with the unsolved and mysterious nature of the title. Now, not only was the song professionally recorded; it was actually ‘issued’ in a manufactured medium (though I’m not going to say whether this was vinyl, a CD, or cassette tape)."

When the title was chosen for the hidden track it needed to be linked to the clue that was made available. By choosing another mathematical formula it is linked with the theory of Cesaro Summation. Problem 8 - The Riemann Hypothesis is an unsolved mathematical hypothesis, much like the unsolved hidden Tool track.

If the Riemann Hypothesis is solved soon...

"Perhaps someday someone will finally figure it out, and before certain things become obsolete."

The link between the unsolved maths formula and the 'unsolved' Tool track will be broken.

here are some other math-related tool titles: 4 degrees, forty-six & 2, third eye, no quarter, parabol/parabola, triad, wings for marie (part 1), 10000 days (wings part 2), right in two, & viginti tres

Whilst this is true, I feel they can be more closely categorised as numbers. Cesaro Summation and The Riemann Hypothesis are both actual mathematical concepts, a step above numbers.

Either way, I feel there is enough evidence to at least explore the idea further, although the odds of being able to locate one of the 25-30 signed Cesaro Summability Picture Discs and then getting the owner to play it seem quite small.

i was just joking. tool is a math band - more than most. i do think you're onto something here, but i'm not sure it relies on tracking down the 30 or so people with the 30 or so cesaro summability vinyls. that doesn't seem like an "ultimate" hiding tactic. idk. i'm still caught up on this:

"Because of the ingenious way it was made available to the public, “Problem 8” , in my opinion, constitutes the ultimate hidden track. Only, don’t go looking for it among your collection (most of you, that is!), as there are no more than 30 copies on the planet. As for those who have one, most, I’m sure, aren’t aware of it, even though it might be staring them right in the eye on a near daily basis. The reason they aren’t aware of it, is because they’d never think to play it. Okay, enough said…"

a near daily basis? should we make the jump to assume that he's talking about a framed vinyl, or framed/hung-up anything? what other tool-related things do tool-fans/collectors have "staring them right in the eye on a near daily basis"?

thanks Froudie, btw ...for compiling all of these posts. clues. i hope there's enough here to spark someone's memory or intention to find this elusive track. it may even turn out to be one of those "the key to the universe is in the song i sang to you when you were just a child" or some shit. "Someday I will tell you what makes ONE of these cds so special - something the band members don’t want anyone to know - though it’s there for discerning listeners. Perhaps I’ve said too much already." i suppose my bias is in hoping that "copies" means or refers to something wholly different, and that ANYONE - discerning enough - can figure this shit out. but. i'm also suuuper high right now, like, to the point where i'm "rediscovering" the incredible sounds coming out of cesaro summability. fuckin' incredible. how is this one of the most easily over-looked, skip-over-able tracks in tool's catalog? why do people so quickly chalk this up to "just a segue" track, as if it were stupid and pointless? fucking people...

remember ever seeing BMB post a few tool memorabilia college images? most had a bunch of aenima-specific stuff. tool-wrench keychains. danny carey drumsticks. set-lists from germany. back-stage passes. 2002 tour posters & other shit. there's a magazine entitled "the number of the great beast". and i think a towelie doll/action-figure from south park (which may be a veiled reference to ajna, blue chakra, track 15 aenima?). all carefully spaced out, like a map of sorts. they've done it a few times. could be random, could be completely separate ...but i think it may be tied in with this problem 8 thing.

collage*
http://www.toolarmy.com/images/news/beast666book.jpg

I know what you mean. And I did not see them go on to the TA exclusive "bazaar"

I'm off to find it. I posted some of our ramblings @ reddit.com/r/toolband I kinda regret it now but the cats out of the bag.


People are lazy fucks (me included)

edit: whoa tht is amazing timing, thanks you for the collage so quickly Imthema

So if you look at the doodle that towlie is pointing at in the collage it is similar to the one on the super rare signed cesaro sumability lp: http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/w...908014ccba.jpg

You will see the similarity if you rotate (the dude is drowning therefore framed wrong/upside down)
I think they both look like glasses and are the same design, even though it could be his signature why would he draw it in the collage cover type thing. The point is the one towlie is pointing at is in the collage and it is with other sets of possibly records.

I think its just his signature but they look the same :/


Thoughts?

heh, his vinyl signature kinda looks like a concept sketch for the video vicarious. he turned his signature into a pair of eyeballs with mandy/brandy things coming out of 'em. and then an M.T.-Void type of guy ...thing. which is weird because that's really more of a justin chancellor thing. it doesn't look like adam jones' regular signature.
http://img.interia.pl/rozrywka/nimg/...id_6073437.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Num...e_Beast_(novel) (From the table)

In the novel, the Biblical number of the beast turns out to be, not 666, but (6^6)^6, or 10,314,424,798,490,535,546,171,949,056, which is the initial number of parallel universes accessible through the continua device. It is later theorized by the character Jacob that the number may be merely the instantly accessible universes from a given location, and there is a larger structure that implies an infinite number of universes.

I still think we should be collating all the catalog numbers.

I found some better images but none that are what I can count on. I can't tell what all albums have them and I havent been able to get a decent image of this indert to save my life for the last decade.

Also not all of the "spurious" albums have cat #'s. BMB has already said thats where the "formula is"

So if we figure out what medium its on, someone still has to get a hold of a copy in order to extract the song. That alone is going to be difficult.

I think it is really on an 8-track. No one would be looking for that, but the staring in the face part...

Could the obsolete reference refer to the Toolband website which has been due a major overhaul for a long time?

Dude, I just read some crazy shit. And the covers look just like 8 track cover art. And: ...we spent two years in the South of France at the Renne LeChateau writing the record. We recorded and mixed it on an 8-track in three days at Casablanca Recording Studios..." Maynard James Keenan - the fuck album is he talking about? Not Aenima.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birotron

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8-track_tape

I do understand an 8-track is tape and a type of console. Both of those were obsolete back then.

one more edit:
Ronald P. Vincent
Rance Q. Spartley

All I see when I look at those names together I see -1.

BMB writes of rennes le chateau in a couple newsletters, darklore vol. 4, & dannycarey.org. VERY INTERESTING STUFF. some of it reminds me of what chet zar is trying to do with his kickstarter, entitled EGO DEATH (see tool's "eulogy" - HE*). when i have the time i'll run through all of that shit again, maybe i'll find something new. it happens.

*everyone will have HIS day to die. -_-

also. that is what i thought "before THINGS become obsolete" referred to. "i need to watch THINGS die". 44&2. same thing.

I feel like we're getting somewhere with this, slowly getting there, but getting there nonetheless...

I think it's on an 8 track. Problem 8, 8 track. Problem 8 is an infinite loop, 8 tracks run on a loop with no fwd or rev. You can still get 8 tracks made today, a few bands have done it. You could do it in 1995-6 for sure.

Makes sense, but could be way off. I dunno, I just wanna hear the fuckin thing. Going on 8 damn years for a new album man. Some new material please, for christs sake.

An old article written for this website a loong time ago says this:

"...we spent two years in the South of France at the Renne LeChateau
writing the record. We recorded and mixed it on an 8-track in three
days at Casablanca Recording Studios..."
Maynard James Keenan

Sounds like demos, kinda like the demos paul (or someone leaked) from 94. They aren't high quality. My point is what album is he talking about? Maybe Bethlehem Abortion Clinic/Problem 8. Its not too far out there to take MJK at face value in this quote. Its obviously NOT Aenima and Blair said he didn't remember who but he thinks Justin played on Problem 8. I think that is an allusion of this transitionary time where they obviously recorded of songs (No Quarter for one) Maybe while finding Pauls replacement they jammed (maybe it was in France). Just rambling, nothing to see here.

? Anyone know what WILMA magazine was in 1996, its NC womens interests now..
http://toolshed.down.net/articles/in...96--WILMA.html

I have also found out more about certain albums in the catalog and now I really want a real one (for the scans and I think it needs to be manipulated but that is a whole other post with more magick links in it coming soon)

One more thing to add - there is a town in Pennsylvania named Bethlehem (near Allentown) and there is an abortion clinic there. One would think because of Maynard's mention of religious topics (as well as the cover for the album) that it's referring to the the biblical Bethlehem in Israel, but you never know.

Check this shit out. Re-arrange the number 12134-66649-4 to 1-213-466-6494, a phone number. Google that. One result I found showed the owner residing at "1/2 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028" (They've omitted the full street address). What's even weirder is that the owner was listed as D****** C******, a male in his early 50s. Danny Carey is 52. I'm not fucking around here.

Unfortunately, I tried calling the number, and got a message that said "the number or code you have dialed is incorrect, please check the number and try again".

Google it without the 1. (213) 466-6494. Spokeo link, it is the fourth record shown.

yeah, that's kinda weird. did you put "the number or code you have dialed is incorrect, please check the number and try again" through an online anagram generator yet? jk. any of the other catalog numbers do this?

I called a small town in NC (Sprice PIne) thanks to the number on the side of the AUS catalog (that has no catalog #'s) 828-765-3644

http://ia601201.s3dns.us.archive.org...2401906302.jpg

There is a Bethlehem in NC, it is about 70 miles away from Spruce Pine. Also, zombie, I believe you mentioned that WILMA is a women's magazine from NC (Wilmington) as well.

∞infinite∞possibilities∞

Yesterday I posted a link to pictures of all the album covers including their catalog numbers, but it doesn't show up here, why's that? I got the (1st press) EU version and ALL fake albums got a catalog number in that version.

My guess is you just joined and I think you have to get mod approval. Try posting a broken link or pm it to me and I will post it for you. Thank you for saying something! I have some ideas and I need to have this in my hands to try them out.

25 Aug 02
THREE FAT FINGERS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN WILLIS!!

KAT

FWIW - there is a mention of that fake album in 2002.

http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/TO...?sort=9&page=1

Thanks for the link Toolboogie.

The number of Gay Rodeo also appears to be a phone number. 818-506-5605. The internet says it is a landline in North Hollywood.

You're welcome. If you need any more info, just ask, I got a massive Tool collection, you never know what's 'hidden' in there... So they didn't put those catalog numbers in the Aussie edition? Btw, I love the catalog number for 'Spring Boner', lol. 'Mungey the Clown' and 'Just up that dirt road' are the only ones that have 61422 in the catalog number, which is used a lot in Tool's catalogue.

indeed, thank you.

(http://dailygrail.com/Essays/2009/12/Occult-Rock & Darklore, Vol. 2)

I think that there may be a cipher involved. Here is the lesser key of solomon
http://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/books/lesserkey/