Time Out of Joint:tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-812489959698982512013-02-13T11:35:09-07:00a notebook on cinema, hyperreality, and longing . . .TypePadRubio, Water, and the House of Cardstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef017d410903cc970c2013-02-13T11:35:09-07:002013-02-13T11:38:19-07:00 In an age of hyperreality and manufactured pseudo-events, how can the Republican dream boy botch such a brief moment in the sun? Doesn't he know the Frank Underwood principle? That to control information is the power to create and shape reality, and when you abdicate that control, someone else usurps the storytelling power from you—to tell it about you.Reno LauroShock Doctrinetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef0147e02357d8970b2007-11-02T21:09:00-07:002007-11-02T21:09:00-07:00Be sure to check out Alfonso Cuarón and Naomi Klein's short film Shock Doctrine . . . (i tried to embed the video on the blog but it's too long for video egg beta)Reno Laurothe nearsightedness of systemic illtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef0134897fa6b1970c2007-08-01T02:29:02-07:002007-08-01T02:29:02-07:00Nothing like accurate and thoughtful journalism to get the pulse pounding early in the morning. The United Nations --that bastion of international peace has just decided to send a 26,000 troop peacekeeing force to Darfur. A few years too late if you ask me. However, and somehow, the U.N. are...Reno LauroUN-clean watertag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef0147e0235844970b2006-11-10T02:54:32-07:002006-11-10T02:54:32-07:00"More than 2.6 billion people do not have access to proper sanitation and dirty water claims more lives than AIDS or conflicts, according to the UN's annual Human Development Report, released in South Africa." (source, emphasis mine) how about having standards on --at the very least-- the bare minimum? Darfur,...Reno Laurothe aesthetics of Total War Pt. 2tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef0147e0235a37970b2006-08-04T10:59:27-07:002006-08-04T10:59:27-07:00"The reason I'm painting this way is becasue I want to be a machine" --Andy Warhol In an age of Total War what becomes of the language of aesthetics? In the age of the machine we become the servants of the machine . . . our servitude is reflected with...Reno Laurothe aesthetics of Total War Pt. 1tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef0134897fa769970c2006-08-02T17:00:42-07:002006-08-02T17:00:42-07:00Israel's war against the Hezbollah (Army) is turning out to be a fascinating foil to the U.S. war in Iraq/Afghanistan . . . Classic Liberal (read with great reverence and sincerity) appeals to 'peace', 'humanity', 'justice' simply break down in harsh reality of, what Paul Virilio calls, Total War. In...Reno Laurothe Image machine and the Middle East conflict(s)tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef0134897fa59e970c2006-07-21T03:28:52-07:002006-07-21T03:28:52-07:00The Middle East brings out the worst in media non-communication. While i can get behind the PCUSA statement/plea for an end to hostilities (believe it or not) in the current Hezbollah/Israel conflict because of its unusually balanced language, i have a lot of difficulty generating a theological response to the...Reno LauroIran links and 'mule' reportingtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef0147e0235916970b2006-07-18T15:31:05-07:002006-07-18T15:31:05-07:00The BBC has posted the first mainstream report of the possible Iran link to the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict currently raging. What the hell are mainstream reporters doing in the field and who are they talking to? Why were blogs posting this information days ago? Jean Baudrillard calls this effect "the imposition...Reno LauroIsrael, Hezbollah . . . and Iran?tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef0134897fa4ad970c2006-07-17T16:03:00-07:002006-07-17T16:03:00-07:00Just back from Norway . . . brilliant trip. pics and post to follow. In the meantime, maddness in the middle east. Has Israel lost it? or does an excavation beyond the veil of media non-communication reveal something interesting? Dig this excellent post from Mein Blogo Vault . . .Reno Laurothe Logical conclusion of Freedom and Diversitytag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83423522453ef0147e0235921970b2006-05-31T03:35:21-07:002006-05-31T03:35:21-07:00This disturbing piece of news was passed along by friend and colleague. The new 'oppressed' in Holland are . . . Pedophiles (which of course is a pejorative term). The new NVD party or The Charity, Freedom and Diversity party (still seeking legitimacy) is currently opposed by 82 percent of...Reno Lauro