An unusual article from the Washington Post.

This scant black and white masterpiece photo book, like another black and white photobook Wisconsin Death Trip, is composed of entirely found negatives, culled from historical, industrial and governmental archives (the defense industry is well in evidence). Evidence, made of some of the greatest late 20th century images of American photography, is precisely how future anthropologists will asses our near past. Specifically it will be an introductory map to our various archives of visual data which will acompany the factual data, in a time/era without very much filming/taping ability. Each image the tip of an iceberg of thousands upon thousands of negatives. Services might even rebuild motion events from a series or even a single still of an experiment, and discover what really went wrong. Documentary movies will probably be made from stills in the future, tracking algorithms can spot each speed of a street in motion's objects, render them for seven seconds. The blur has micro blurs in the negative. Evidence will come to life. First published in 1977 (the equally great Wisconsin Death Trip was published 1974). Reprinted recently.

An excellent tech-piece in Gawker.

What, no media companies?

Couple this with a dissection of Western Liberal Capitalism vs. State Capitalism and you can redefine global ecopolitics in a few minutes. The Economist discusses the failure of the Reagan/Thatcher era's influence as China converts from communism to "state-capitalism" fluidly. A must-read.

There are animal-themed invitations, using live puppies and turtles as messengers. There are glow-in-the-dark schemes. One student at Lincoln High School spelled it out in candles: "HC" (homecoming), "yes" and "no." The date blew out her answer (yes).

-From the L.A. Times "A simple 'go to the dance with me?' doesn't cut it anymore."

"It is about avoiding a 1930s moment, in which inaction, insularity, and rigid ideology combine to cause a collapse in global demand," IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said in prepared remarks before the German Council of Foreign Affairs in Berlin [AM Monday January 23]. "A moment, ultimately, leading to a downward spiral that could engulf the entire world," she said.

The poets have muddied all the little fountains. Yet do not my strong eyes know you, far house?...

-Antara, 6th Century

Dear John Conyers and members of Congress:

So you preside over an era of declining creativity, is this how you respond to pressure from failing business models, create protectionism that sacrifices the future? The engines of commerce that once were once greased with innovations in every medium are now dragging the populous down with repetitive "reality," sequelization, and endless, pointless competition in 'talent.' Your answer to this decline is to protect it? This is a chess game with the future, members of Congress. If you are asked to play a hand for the powerful, then outstep it. Even in ancient Rome, debates were held how to save it with innovation, RENEVATIO: Outlaw Lobbying. Tax the rich at 75%. Build a rail network to outpace carbon fuel use. Don't strike down the information network's core so you can prevent illegal downloads.

Awaken!

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Made as the radical underground began organizing into violent factions, Peter Watkins's Punishment Park is a window into late 60's extremism. Portrayed as a documentary, this fictional window into law-enforcement and justice showcases a brilliantly realized manhunt through desert terrain, with convicted extremists forced to run literally for their lives towards a 58 mile distant flag to escape sentences of up to 21 years for sedition. The deal is quite simple, make it to the flag and your sentence will be vacated. Told explicitly, with some threads well developed, others staccato (as if the crews lost their subjects), the film begins with the convicts' arrival at a makeshift court clearly outside the bounds of constitutional law, with a council of judges made up hastily from the locale status quo (California). A lone civil rights lawyer tries to add balance to the proceedings but is little more than a gnat in the face of a slowly moving elephant. It bears some resemblance to our current fears, the desert locale has an eerie nuance and the procedures seem to predict Guantanamo. Unknown actors provide pivotal performances. A cold satire of both sides. An early demonstration of hunting techniques by a policeman must be seen.