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  • Reply to: The Biggest Media Story of the Year   19 years 3 months ago
    INDEED – more so than the tsunami catastrophy (with all due respect to all that suffered). Why? Because that story, again, a man made catastrophe which mankind obviously is unwilling to avoid. Another bitter eye-opener, which got the rest of the world on their toes in view of the magnitude of corruption, reckless manipulation and devellish deception all under the arrogant umbrella of smiley George W. Have another “good” four years? Something you would want to wish for your worst enemy. containa.com
  • Reply to: Thanks for the (False) Memories: the 2004 Falsies Awards   19 years 3 months ago
    The 2004 Falsies Awards is a brilliant idea! The only problem is that these Orwellian distortions (War is Peace) seem to multiply exponentially -- how are you going to keep up? By the next election, it will off the chart! I'm making a donation asap.
  • Reply to: Thanks for the (False) Memories: the 2004 Falsies Awards   19 years 3 months ago
    I don't know if it's officially eligible for the 2004 awards, but since this is the inaugural I'd like to give a shout out to James "New New Journalism" Glassman:" <blockquote><a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0312.confessore.html">The articles on Tech Central Station</a> address a broad range of issues, some of concern to its sponsors, many not. And most of the site's authors are no doubt merely voicing opinions they have already reached. But time and time again, TCS's coverage of particular issues has had the appearance of a well-aimed P.R. blitz. After ExxonMobil became a sponsor, for instance, the site published a flurry of content attacking both the Kyoto accord to limit greenhouse gasses and the science of global warming--which happen to be among Exxon-Mobil's chief policy concerns in Washington.</blockquote> Also to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for tilling new ground <a href="http://www.madisonrecord.com/">in the art spreading fertilizer</a>.
  • Reply to: White House Astroturf For Social Security Phase Out   19 years 3 months ago
    It is becoming clear that the neo-cons have made priority one, the destruction of the most successful government program ever devised. Given that, I fully expect the issue to become clouded with the same manner and volume of LIES and distortions that preceeded the Iraq war. They are trying to define the projected date at which benefit payments exceeds collections (2018) as the point at which the "progam will be bankrupt". This is false. With no changes, the program is solvent until about 2050, and can easily be made solvent forever with minor changes. Nevertheless, George and his boys will do their best to convince people that Social Security will not be there for them and is not a viable progam. The fact that so many Americans actually beleive that Saddam planned the 9/11 attacks and had WMD, is testimony to the power of LIES in the right wing echo chamber. They will use them when it suits their agenda, and this is most certainly such a case. TRUTH TO POWER! TD
  • Reply to: A Selected Sample of Iraqi Voices   19 years 3 months ago
    I watched "Voices of Iraq," which was distributed by and through Netflix-- and recommended by Netflix. The Netflix symbol was even in the corner of the menu! It was released October 30, and the footage covers the war into October. The film is supposedly an indy production filmed by 150 digital camcorders circulated through Iraq, with ordinary Iraqis taking the footage. Sounds like a very compelling grassroots project. It starts out with a few critical comments on the Americans and Abu Ghraib, and ends up with the Iraqis as the happiest people on earth since they have been "liberated." The U.S. occupation forces have by then completely disappeared from the film. It was the slickest pro-occupation propaganda piece I've ever seen; it even took me in at first.  But then I figured who paid for the high-quality cameras? (150 x $2000 = $300,000) Why are many Iraqis speaking in English? Why are they only supporting the interim "government"?  Why do they call all opponents terrorists?  Why are so many speakers living in comfortable elite homes? Why do the filmmakers display U.S. headlines critical of the war and then try to disprove them?  Who is the guy off camera speaking in English? How did the ordinary citizens film top officials including the Iraqi "president"? If they are just Iraqis taking home movies, where did they get the insurgent video footage and footage of Baathist atrocities? The project website is http://www.VoicesOfIraq.com It looks like some critics have been wondering about and researching Army contracts and PR firm connections to the film: http://cryptome.org/voi-who.htm If you get this video through Netflix, comment on what you thought-- many others have--and ASK QUESTIONS as to Netflix's direct marketing role. I'm sure this film was developed to prepare Americans for the Iraqi P.R. election (see Edward Herman's book on "Demonstration Elections"), so we will hear more about it leading up to January 30. Dr. Zoltan Grossman Assistant Professor of Geography University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire P.O. Box 4004 Eau Claire WI 54703 (715) 836-4471 grossmzc@uwec.edu http://www.uwec.edu/grossmzc http://www.uwec.edu/grossmzc/peace.html

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