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Sunday, January 8, 2017

we DO believe in post-truth news -not much left to explain.

Trump's Russian hacking story. 
It is as good as it gets. 

hacking  Practice of modifying or altering computer software and hardware to accomplish a goal that is considered to be outside of the creator's original objective

El mensajero del miedo Poster THE COLD WAR and the IRON CURTAIN:
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) 

Have you heard of a timeless thriller  based on a 1959 novel? There are parts of this film noir that are so perceptive and prophetic that it can be shocking. The satire of political campaigns and the influence of political wives feels very fresh. The movie is also an excellent spy thriller and foretells the many political assassinations in the 60's.

  • Senator Iselin raises his political profile when he claims that varying numbers of communists work within the US Defense operative lines. 

  • Mrs. Iselin herself is actually a Communist agent with a plan intended to secure the US presidency under Communist influence.

Quotes:
Senator Iselin:   I have here a list of the names of 207 persons who are known by the Secretary of Defense as being members of the Communist Party...I demand an answer, Mr. Secretary. There will be no covering up, sir, no covering up. You are not going to get your hands on this list. And I deeply regret having to say...

Mrs Iselin:  It's been decided that you will be dressed as a priest to get away in the pandemonium afterwards. Chunjin will give you a two-piece Soviet Army's sniper's rifle that fits nicely into a special bag. There's a spotlight booth that won't be in use. It's up under the roof on the 8th Avenue side of the Garden. (...) You are to hit him right at the point that he finishes the phrase, "nor would I ask of any fellow American in defense of his freedom that which I would not gladly give myself - my life before my liberty." Is that absolutely clear?
The Manchurian Candidate Movie Review

 FOUR reviews:

 the idea of a glorified cue-card reader playing president -- resonates today like never before. (2000)

alternately corrosive with dark parodic humor, suspenseful, moving, and terrifying. (2007)



Set the standard for cinematic paranoid thrillers. (2011)

It feels modern and salient today. There is something universal about the insidious mistrust of those in power. (2016)

Image result for The Manchurian Candidate


FOOTNOTE: there was  a remake in 2004 with M Streep and D. Washington.

TASK1. How much can you develop on these headlines?

Following the Links From Russian
Hackers to the U.S. Election NYTimes 6 Jan 17


n1) The Battle Over Russian Hacking Is Over The Legitimacy Of The Trump Presidency

n2)   Something About This Russia Story Stinks


 n3)  How Russian Cyberpower Invaded the US. (NYTImes)



TASK 2. Which of the three Calvin and Hobbes comic strips dealing with newspapers headlines is related to
the CLAY satirical cartoon on TRUMP election here?


Image result for sketch cartoon putin trump puppet




CALVIN and Hobbes


        BIT 1      -   30 December 1986 





        BIT 2       -  13 October 1986



        BIT 3      -  21 March 1991



          BIT 1      -  30 December 1986

It says here that by the age of six ... most children have seen a million murders on television. I find that very disturbing! It means I've been watching all the wrong channels.

Hobbes is reading a newspaper while Calvin watches TV. Hobbes reads that by age 6, children have seen a million murders on TV. Calvin finds that very disturbing. He believes he's been watching all the wrong channels.


        BIT 2       - 13 October 1986
Tomorrow we're going to discuss "current events" in school. Each of us has to find a newspaper article, read it to the class, and explain it. What article did you choose? This one. "Space alien weds two-headed Elvis clone." Actually, there's not much left to explain.

Calvin tells Hobbes they are going to discuss current events at school. He tells Hobbes each student had to pick an article, read it to the class, then explain it. Hobbes asks which article he chose. Calvin tells him "Space Alien Weds Two-Headed Elvis Clone". Calvin comments that there's not much left to explain.

        BIT 3      - 21 March 1991
Mom! Mom! I just saw the first robin of spring! Call the newspaper quick! Ha ha! A front page write-up! A commemorative plaque! A civic ceremony! All for me! Hooray! Hooray! Oh boy! Should I put the prize money in a trust fund or blow it all at once? Ha ha! I can't believe I did it! Calvin... It's a hard, bitter, cruel world to have to grow up in, Hobbes. Cheer up! Did I tell you I saw a robin yesterday?
Calvin runs around happily, saying he saw the first robin of spring. He figures he'll get a front-page write up in the paper, a commemorative plaque, and a civic ceremony. He wonders if he should put the money in a trust fund or spend it all at once. Mom gets his attention. Calvin is sitting under a tree with Hobbes. Calvin tells him it's a hard, bitter, cruel world to have to grow up in. Hobbes tells him to cheer up. He asks if he told Calvin that he saw a robin yesterday.



BONUS TRACK:

Angela Lansbury's iconic Oscar nominated performance in The Manchurian Candidate



It's been decided that you will be dressed as a priest to get away in the pandemonium afterwards. Chunjin will give you a two-piece Soviet Army's sniper's rifle that fits nicely into a special bag. There's a spotlight booth that won't be in use. It's up under the roof on the 8th Avenue side of the Garden. You will have absolutely clear, protected shooting. You are to shoot the Presidential nominee through the head. And Johnny will rise gallantly to his feet and lift Ben Arthur's body in his arms, stand in front of the microphones and begin to speak. The speech is short, but it's the most rousing speech I've ever read. It's been worked on here and in Russia on and off for over eight years. I shall force someone to take the body away from him. And Johnny will leave those microphones and those cameras with blood all over him, fighting off anyone who tries to help him, defending America even if it means his own death, rallying a nation of television-viewers into hysteria to sweep us up into the White House with powers that will make martial law seem like anarchy. Now this is very important. I want the nominee to be dead about two minutes after he begins his acceptance speech, depending on his reading time under pressure. You are to hit him right at the point that he finishes the phrase, "nor would I ask of any fellow American in defense of his freedom that which I would not gladly give myself - my life before my liberty." Is that absolutely clear?

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