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The
Reconfigured Eye: Visual Truth in the Post-Photographic Era
by William J. Mitchell
Enhanced? Or faked? Today the very idea of photographic veracity
is being radically challenged by the emerging technology of
digital image manipulation and synthesis. Photographs can now
be altered at will in ways that are virtually undetectable and
photorealistic synthesized images are becoming increasingly
difficult to distinguish from actual photographs. Continuing
William Mitchell's investigations of how we understand, reason
about, and use images, "The Reconfigured Eye" provides
a systematic, critical analysis of the digital imaging revolution.
It describes the technology of the digital image in detail and
looks closely at how it is changing the way we explore ideas,
at its aesthetic potential, and at the ethical questions it
raises. |
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Jane's
Aircraft Recognition Guide - 3rd Edition by Gunter Endress,
Mike Gething |
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The
Seventy Greatest Conspiracies of All Time: History's Biggest
Mysteries, Coverups, and Cabals
by Jonathan Vankin, John Whalen
This is a great book for anyone who wants to know more about
Big Brother and all the other things 'they' don't want you to
know about. Not only is it full of interesting ideas but it
is backed up with a biblography for each conspiracy. New to
this edition of the classic text are theories on the death of
Princess Di, the vast right-wing conspiracy, the real men in
black, Armageddon countdowns, and much more.
Amazon.com review |
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Conspiracy
Culture: From Kennedy to 'The X-Files' by Peter Knight
Peter Knight provides a cogent analysis of the
development of conspiracy culture, from 1960s' countercultural
suspicions to the 1990s. Conspiracy Culture analyzes conspiracy
narratives about familiar topics like the Kennedy assassination,
alien abduction, AIDS, and the New World Order, as well as more
unusual ones like the patriarchy and white supremacy. |
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Conspiracy
Theories: Secrecy and Power in American Culture
by Mark Fenster
"Just because overarching conspiracy theories are wrong
does not mean they are not on to something," opines Fenster
in this commendably level-headed analysis of the grip that conspiracy
theories maintain on contemporary America. He does not bother
sifting for truth in the The X-Files, the Clinton Chronicles
or JFK, but he does pay close attention to those who believe
and promulgate conspiracy theoriesAwhat he calls the "conspiracy
community." Even if every conspiracy theory is patently
false (Fenster does not marshal evidence either way), he argues
that mainstream culture's affinity for conspiracy theory is
an important phenomenon itself. The "conspiracy" tag
can be used to delegitimize others' opinions, as when the allegations
that the CIA helped bring crack into East L.A. were written
off as part of the African-American community's supposed susceptibility
to conspiracy. And conspiracy theory is too often simply the
cover story for racists and anti-Semites. But Fenster also notes
that conspiracy theory serves a useful purpose as a balm to
the politically alienated segments of society, and he optimistically
interprets the popular pursuit of uncovering the hidden mechanics
of power as evidence of a latent populism waiting to harnessed.
By neither dismissing conspiracy theorists as paranoid kooks
nor being seduced by their yarns, Fenster constructs a strong
case that even while we do not believe, we should nonetheless
listen.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. |
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Conspiracy
Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia
by Peter Knight (Editor) |
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Lies
My Teacher Told Me : Everything Your American History Textbook
Got Wrong
by James W. Loewen
Americans have lost touch with their history, and in this
thought-provoking book, Professor James Loewen shows why.
After surveying twelve leading high school American history
texts, he has concluded that not one does a decent job of
making history interesting or memorable. Marred by an embarrassing
combination of blind patriotism, mindless optimism, sheer
misinformation, and outright lies, these books omit almost
all the ambiguity, passion, conflict, and drama from our past.
In ten powerful chapters, Loewen reveals that:
The United States dropped three times as
many tons of explosives in Vietman as it dropped in all theaters
of World War II, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Ponce de Leon went to Florida mainly to
capture Native Americans as slaves for Hispaniola, not to
find the mythical fountain of youth
Woodrow Wilson, known as a progressive leader,
was in fact a white supremacist who personally vetoed a clause
on racial equality in the Covenant of the League of Nations
The first colony to legalize slavery was
not Virginia but Massachusetts
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The
Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to NASA
by Thomas D. Jones, Michael Benson |
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Star-Crossed
Orbits: Inside the U.S.-Russian Space Alliance
by James Oberg |
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The
Making of a Soviet Scientist: My Adventures in Nuclear Fusion
and Space From Stalin to Star Wars by Roald Z. Sagdeev
"This is a powerful yet charming account
of the Soviet Union's scientific, space, and military enterprise,
characterized by Sagdeev's frank and insightful style mixed
with delightful humor and humanity."Charles H. Townes
Nobel Laureate in Physics University of California, Berkeley
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21st
Century U.S. Army Law of Land Warfare Manual (FM 27-10) Rules,
Principles, Hostilities, Prisoners of War, Wounded and Sick,
Civilians, Occupation, War Crimes, Geneva Conventions
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Columns:
Note: Anyone who wishes to
become a columnist
or submit a column or a response
to a column
please contact Alllie.
|
Every Picture Tells a Story
By Alllie
One of our chatters lives in Texas. One night she came in with
a description of how her father had seen a huge, strange jet flying
low over Houston. He had taken a picture of it, recognizing it as
a Russian jet. When he got home the local media was reporting that
the large plane was "the NASA shuttle transport aircraft here
for a federal aviation study." The
story was posted on ABC13.com along with pictures, pictures
of a different plane than her father saw. See what you think. (More)
Okay, now look at the picture our chatter's father took on December
10th.
So what was going on here? That is the question. Were there two
big jets in the air that day? Was the NASA shuttle transport there
as a cover for the Antonov? What would the Antonov be doing over
Houston? Was it all coincidence? That might be except that the pictures
of the NASA shuttle transport seemed to have been taken on a different
day. A day when the trees of Houston were still green. A day when
the sky was not clear but rather smoggy. What is going on? I can't
guess.
I have some questions about other pictures. Remember those pictures
on TV of a crowd of Iraqis
pulling down a statue of Saddam.
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Turns out that was as staged as a play with members
of Chalibi's entourage participating (Chalibi is the US-appointed
head of the Iraq governing council), US troops securing the
area and a US vehicle pulling the statue down. Up close it looked
like a crowd but there were no more than 150 people involved,
most of them US soldiers. The area was guarded by 3 tanks and
there were TV cameras present and transmitting as if it was
real. But it wasn't real. It was a play. It's a clear indication
of how much fakery there is in news these days. |
If that was fake, what else is fake? The pictures of Saddam's capture
seem to have some suspicious elements. Let's look at them and ask
ourselves, "What's wrong with this picture?"
|
Well, first of all, there are yellow dates on the trees. Dates
get ripe in August. They are not still on the trees in December.
We have some chatters from the Middle East who will confirm
that for you. It's like if you saw a picture of someone and
in the background there were peaches on the trees, you would
know it wasn't December. |
|
In fact the more I look at the pictures
of the place where Saddam was supposedly captured (above)
the more it looks like an abandoned structure that was taken
over and used as a set. |
|
Saddam was supposed to be captured December 14
but the trees and the grass are green despite the soldiers being
warmly dressed and wearing gloves. There's even a US soldier
covering his face. Is that normal? Or was it so cold that he
needed to. But if it was that cold why are the trees and grass
so green. |
Click for larger image.
|
This is very much a trophy picture, like one of those pictures
that hunters have taken of themselves holding up the bloody
corpse of some animal, preferably a dangerous one, but one
that was no match for a hunter with a gun. Saddam is bleeding
and seems nearly dead so he's perfectly cast as the trophy.
This is something the Geneva Convention forbids, i.e., taking
humiliating pictures of a Prisoner of War. Of course in BushWorld
there are no legitimate Prisoners of War and no Geneva Convention.
Given Cheney's love of killing animals for sport, I bet he
appreciates this picture and has probably had more than a
few similar ones taken over the years.
There are some strange things about this picture:
- I've lightened the ground of this image but the
original seems to have been taken at night. Or in the
dark.
- The soldiers' uniforms seem fresh, some even ironed. Is
that normal for a field exercise?
- Saddam has a cut over one eye and blood in his mouth.
But they told us he put up no resistance.
- The soldier in the back seems to be wearing fresh suede
shoes. They look too clean. Almost new. I know from experience
that suede shoes are dirt magnets. Do soldiers wear suede
shoes? Light suede shoes? (According to our chatter weenerdog
the answer to that question is "Yes, they do."
Government
issue desert boots come in a very light tan suede. If
the boots in that shot look almost new they probably are.
It doesn't necessarily mean the soldier was dressing for
a photoshoot. Though that isn't totally ruled out.)
- The soldier is also wearing knee pads. Is that normal?
(According to weenerdog, for some soldiers it is, though
this picture is the first time I have seen a soldier wearing
them.)
- There is a camera and a suede tan and black camera bag
on top of Saddam. The bag is new-looking, not dirty or scuffed
up. Do soldiers carry large camera bags into battle (Go
digital guys!) Would a suede bag stay clean?
- The ground looks weird to me, mud with green leaves stomped
into it. Very pressed down. Like it was wet when the leaves
were pressed in but it doesn't look muddy in the picture
and there's no sign of any footprints.
- The ground above and to the right of the soldier holding
Saddam looks strange. It seems to have an edge, like quarter
round.
I suppose it is possible that this is all set up. That the
pictures were taken in December with the yellow dates and
certain other elements added to signal to a middle-eastern
audience that the pictures were taken in late summer. The
dates certainly look stuck in. I suppose the pictures and
the announcement of Saddam's capture might have been planned
for summer. NEXT summer. Say, right before the Republican
convention but when the Kurds went ahead and announced the
capture that ruined that plan. Or maybe Saddam was captured
last August with the announcement delayed till December when
Bush's approval ratings were dipping and Rove felt they needed
a boost. The pictures seem to raise more questions than they
answer.
It's horrible to believe your government is lying at every
turn. From Mad
Cow to Saddam's capture.
|
Pictures do tell a story and sometimes even a fake picture can
tell one, a story of lies and liars. It can clue us in on its own
falseness. If we look closely enough.
Thanks to ItsMarty for his Amazon.com recommendations.
© All,
2003
Reader Response
e-mail alllie
with any responses
Further comments from the chatter
who's father took the pictures of the Antonov 225 over Houston.
There are some news articles about the Antonov 225 being in Houston,
but at other times... the funny thing is that when I first learned
about this, which was about 7-10 days after it happened, I did
a search on Google for *Russian plane Houston TX* and *Antonov
225 Houston TX* and nothing came up ... but if you do that same
search now, a lot of stuff comes up.
I find that very curious in and of itself, aside from the fact
that the media obviously lied about what kind of plane it was
that was being called in about to the various local news stations
On the ABC Channel 13 message board, there is some mention of
it, and one guy says that *it was neat to see the Space Shuttle
Transport flying around downtown that day* ... so I posted there
and asked if anyone had actually seen it well enough to know for
sure that it was a 747 .. and this guy posts back to me that it
was definitely the NASA 747 ... he saw it ... and that there was
nothing else in the sky that day.
Well that [the pictures on the ABC13 site] COULD be explained
by the fact that they have file photos ... except that they show
a photo of the 747 with the T-38 accompanying it as if it was
from THAT day.
And I can buy that there are legitimate reasons for the plane
[the Antonov 225] to be in Houston ... apparently some Houston
company has leased it for heavy transports ... but what still
bugs me is this ... WHY was the plane flying so low ... from the
direction of Mexico (not the direction of airport) and why was
it eventually being escorted by an fighter jet (not necessarily
the T-38, that's just what they said)?
And I have to say... even my dad thought, that night when he
got home and heard the news reports say it was a 747 .. he thought
that maybe it was ... and that he had just been mistaken about
how big it was and how many engines he had seen .. he got the
pictures developed RIGHT away so that he could get another look
at it ....So you have to know that anyone who saw it and maybe
thought something strange ... when they are told by the media
that what they saw was a 747, they just say "oh okay .. that's
what it was" cuz they have nothing to check their first inclination
with. Why not mention that [that the Antonov 225 was also in the
area] in the news reports ... and what are the odds that both
of those planes would be in the air that day and both of them
flying so low that it caused people to be concerned?
Note: The Antonov 225 is the largest plane in the world.
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Articles
of Interest
Bush and the Assassination
of JFK by Paul Kangas
ANNALS
OF DEMOCRACY : COUNTING VOTES by Ronnie Dugger (Nov
7, 1988)
Computerized
Systems for Voting Seen as Vulnerable to Tampering by David
Burnham,
The New York Times (July
29, 1985) plus emphasis, links and comments
|
Sigmund Aas
The
Terrorist's Achilles Heel: An Alternative Blow to Terrorism
(June 24, 2004)
|
Apocalypse
Number Nine
(mp3,
2.9 meg, Oct 4, 2002)
Souces:Artist: Kumi Tanioka
Album: Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack (CD
TWO)
Track :The Awakening
Vocals: George W. Bush
Plus Additional sounds & subliminal track
Editing by Aleister
Fun
with Paperdolls
(May 19, 2003)
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|
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Arachne & TaoUrso
TURTLE
TALES: Exodus in a Tin Can on Wheels
Part
1 -
Part 2 -
Part 3 -
Epilogue
Turtle
Tales II: The Road Warrior (November
2004)
|
Jimmy2k^
What
is the American Way of Life
(Jan27, 2003)
America is Under Siege
(Dec 3, 2002)
Ozzy Osbourne - American Idol (Nov 26, 2002)
Thomas Jefferson
and Ann Coulter - Comparison and Contrast (Nov 21,
2002)
Some Thoughts on American
Media (Nov 11, 2002)
Some Thoughts on Addiction (Oct 28, 2002)
What Color is the
Sky? (Oct 25, 2002)
The End is Near - And Other
Truths (Oct 7, 2002)
|
Hoopie
News_Asylum
(Sept 15, 2002)
|
ItsMarty
Virtue
is not chosen, the chosen becomes virtuous
(October 14, 2003) Conspiracy
Theory This!(November 18, 2003)
Black & White (November
21, 2003)
From Cordoba to Jerusalem
(November 25, 2003)
Free Speech and Intolerance
(January 20, 2004)
State
of the Old Union seen from the New Union (Febuary 2,
2004) |
KG4ZMP
Lunar Cheese And Federal Pork (January
20, 2004)
|
Lester
Michaels
Morality
& Ethics: A case study of the Carlyle Group |
Marij
Bush's
Folly
|
Samurai_Liberal
Election
2000-Highway Robbery and a Supreme Court Disgrace-
Part
1 (May
23, 2003)
Part 2 (May
29, 2003)
Part 3 (June 12,
2003)
Part 4 (July 8,
2003)
|
TaleWgnDg
Bush
Is Packing The Federal Courts: What Can I Do? (June
28, 2003)
|
Thargor
The
Rantings of an Angry, Fed Up Conservative
BUSH
BASHING DONE WITH LACK OF EVIDENCE OR CONCERN FOR ACCURACY
(July 1, 2003)
A
RECAP OF THE USSC'S 2002 TERM (July 5, 2003)
|
Warpster
The
Myth of Free Trade (Febuary 3, 2004)
|
More Columns |
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