the Whole Earth Review offices near Sausalito in Marin County were a social hub, and mixing ground. By the early 80s, an edition of the Whole Earth Catalog was

the Whole Earth Review offices near Sausalito in Marin County were a social hub, and mixing ground. By the early 80s, an edition of the Whole Earth Catalog was an established process, with volunteers of every kind showing up in small groups, and plowing through the hundreds of pounds of printed materials supplied in large shipping boxes, writing reviews of whatever struck their interest. Occasionally a tall, bossy guy with grey hair and strong athletic build would walk through without comment. Usually some aspirants of some kind would corner him for a comment or punditry. Thriving on the "commander" presence, Brand would deliver whatever it was they were asking for and then move on. Brand's past military experience and demeanor were obvious, but not in contradiction to the "all views considered" atmosphere, including prominently, his own. Did counter-culture people work "for the CIA" ? hard to say, certainly not at the level of Eric Schmidt founder of Google, that is for certain! Lots of lips moved freely with gossip or ideas. Some of that gossip or ideas were repeated, maybe written down. Media was in a different age. Famously certain other LSD-oriented individuals did seek out and inform for money. Stewart Brand probably informed for the same reasons he did other things, because he decided it was interesting, that it made him more important, and continued his personal mission of whatever it was he was thinking about. The role of the "secret mole" is not consistent with the presence of that man, in that project. source: was there in the 80s in Marin, California