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John le Carré on the Iraq War: The United States of America has gone mad

While doing some background reading online about Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (a movie I found aesthetically pleasing but dramatically unsatisfying), I came across this Jan. 2003 article John le Carré wrote for The Times of London at the dawn of the Iraq War, entitled (appropriately enough), "The United States of America Has Gone Mad."

The spy novelist wrote, " How Bush and his junta succeeded in deflecting America's anger from bin Laden to Saddam Hussein is one of the great public relations conjuring tricks of history. But they swung it. A recent poll tells us that one in two Americans now believe Saddam was responsible for the attack on the World Trade Centre. But the American public is not merely being misled. It is being browbeaten and kept in a state of ignorance and fear. The carefully orchestrated neurosis should carry Bush and his fellow conspirators nicely into the next election. Those who are not with Mr Bush are against him. Worse, they are with the enemy. Which is odd, because I'm dead against Bush, but I would love to see Saddam's downfall - just not on Bush's terms and not by his methods. And not under the banner of such outrageous hypocrisy. "

Fast forward nine years later.

Buenos Aires: Las Calles de Borges (homage to Jorge Luis Borges filmed in Argentina on a 5D Mark II)

Buenos Aires: Las Calles de Borges from Ian Ruschel on Vimeo.

Filmmaker's description:

"Poets, like the blind, can see in the dark."
Jorge Luis Borges

A little homage to the Argentinian poet Jorge Luis Borges, one of the greatest writers of all time. This video was shot in the winter of 2010 in Buenos Aires and Capilla del Señor, Argentina.

Directed and shot by me with a Canon 5d. I edited and color graded it in Final Cut Pro using Twixtor, Knoll Light Factory and Magic Bullet.

Afghanistan – touch down in flight

Afghanistan – touch down in flight from Augustin Pictures on Vimeo.

From the filmmaker's description:

As each of us has his own impression of Afghanistan that is predominantly marked with pictures of foreign forces, explosions and terror, we were privileged to have access to capture daily life and portrait some people of Afghanistan.
We hope the pictures you know will merge with the pictures you see and will enrich your view on the country in the Hindu Kush.

locations:
Kabul and Mazar-e Sharif
We wanted to go to other places as well but there were several incidents and security was too bad. Just one day after shooting at the blue mosque in Mazar-e Sharif a mob started from the very same place storming the UN building.

I have lived from 2006-2008 in Kabul doing my civil service for a humanitarian aid organization. This March I had the chance to go back with my fiancée to show her the place I love and to capture the beauty of this country with our cameras.

At the same time I made this as a tribute to a dear friend, who was shot in the streets of Kabul. Gayle inspired me in her love and dedication for the Afghans.

Equipment used:
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Canon 24-105mm L IS 4f
Canon 16-35mm L
Canon 50mm 1.4f
Canon 85mm 1.8f
Glidetrack HD
Handgrip Nighthawk and D|Focus V3 (shoulder mount)
Zoom H1
2x Rode Videomic Pro
Manfrotto 501 HD and 701 HDV
LCW ND Filter Fader MK II
We edited and colour graded the entire clip on Final Cut Pro X

No Way Through (shot on Canon 5D mark II)

No Way Through (shot on Canon 5D mark II) from sheila menon on Vimeo.

Imagine if London was controlled by the military and you had to go through specific checkpoints to go to school, go to work, visit your friends or go to the hospital.

More details.

Aside from targeting civilians, it looks like Syria is now also targeting journalists.

Carnival 2012 Samba Dancers: Full Coverage (Photos/Videos)

A samba dancer performs at a Brazilian National Day party in Shanghai, 2010

Carnaval is underway in Brazil and countries around the world and to celebrate we are compiling links to photo galleries and videos of samba dancers, parade floats and celebrations.

Brazil hosted this year's annual Carnaval parades as it is busy getting ready to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. A record 2.3 million revelers were expected at the Cordao da Bola Petra parade, reports the International Business Times. Fergie and Jennifer Lopez attended Sunday in the VIP boxes- but who cares about that. The Huffington Post reports, "Samba soloists who shake into overdrive as soon as the cameras turn on them; dancers dressed as Teletubbies on drugs; ambulatory American flags; psychedelic flamingos, complete with stilt legs; vertically challenged jokers brandishing jumbo soccer balls; belly dancers. And that was just one single samba school."

2012 Carnaval Photo and Video Links

Carnival 2012: In Focus

Photos: Carnaval time in Rio

In pictures: Brazil celebrates Carnaval

Rio Carnival in pictures: fun and chaos on the streets of Brazil

More Carnival party shots

Marching to Fat Tuesday

Pictures: Carnival Fever hits Rio de Janeiro

Carnival/Mardi Gras 2012

Venice Carnival Pictures

Wael Ghonim: Creating A 'Revolution 2.0' In Egypt | Fresh Air

The protests that led to the Egyptian revolution last year were organized in part by Wael Ghonim, who used an anonymous Facebook page to coordinate the demonstrations. In his new book, Ghonim explains how social media helped transform his country.

Hopes, Fears Surround China's Transition of Power | NPR