abby martin – empire files
sad and troubling!
abby martin (born 1984 or 1985) is an american journalist, television presenter, and activist known for her independent, anti-imperialist, and investigative reporting. she is the creator and host of the empire files, an independent documentary and interview series, and is known for her vocal criticism of US foreign policy, militarism, and the israel-palestine conflict. by xy
1:24 scale british super marine spitfire model kit by airfix
1:72 scale bristol superfreighter model kit by airfix
1:76 scale german reconnaissance set model kit by airfix
the story of airfix: the bankruptcy that destroyed britain’s model empire
the cheaper packaging created for department stores in london, insuring every kid could empty the change in his pocket and leave with a dream.
another british super marine spitfire model kit by airfix but this one is in the original 1:48 scale
you must have come across these in your life or you aint living… “in the heart of wandsworth, london, there once stood the architectural heart of british boyhood imagination—the airfix factory at haldane place, where the iconic plastic model kits with roy cross’s action-packed box art were manufactured, where the smell of polystyrene cement and the pride of building a lancaster bomber from scratch defined generations of british boys.
airfix wasn’t merely a toy company; it was a rite of passage, the maker of meticulously detailed scale models of spitfires, tiger tanks, and hms victory that taught patience, precision, and british military history through careful assembly. these were kits moulded with such detail and quality they became collector’s items, symbols of british engineering education disguised as play, where every rivet and panel line was faithfully reproduced in miniature. but in 1981, catastrophe struck—not because boys stopped building models, but because corporate executives spectacularly mismanaged the finances, driving the beloved company into bankruptcy.
the tragedy deepened as airfix became a zombie brand, passed between foreign owners like a corporate football—the original master moulds were scattered across the globe or literally lost at sea during shipping disasters. today, the kits are manufactured in india, and modern purists complain bitterly about softer plastic, missing details, and simplified tooling that betrays the precision that made airfix legendary. the wandsworth factory site is completely erased from history, replaced by modern development with no trace of the place where british boyhood was moulded in plastic.
airfix still exists as a brand, but it’s a hollow shell—a name that once defined britishness now entirely outsourced, producing kits that old-timers claim lack the soul and detail of the originals. this is the story of how mismanagement bankrupted britain’s model empire, how master moulds were lost at sea, and how a brand that taught british boys to build spitfires now manufactures in india with no connection to the wandsworth factory that started it all.” enjoy by ar
william hogarth, marriage a-la-mode: 2, the tête à tête, 1743
stanley kubrick, barry lyndon, 1975
thomas gainsborough, the blue boy, 1770
stanley kubrick, barry lyndon, 1975
george stubbs, eclipse, 1770
stanley kubrick, barry lyndon, 1975
john constable, malvern hall, 1821
stanley kubrick, barry lyndon, 1975
jacob van ruisdael, wheatfields, 1670
stanley kubrick, barry lyndon, 1975
watch for more of the beautiful shots from the film here
a few references that kubrick used for this film. this guy was clearly a genius… even used my favorite composition of all time by franz shubert!! by tnt
cyrus the great, king of the persian empire… and the other guy…
the 1st recorded notion of human rights
replica of cyrus the greats human rights charter being displayed at the the united nations headquarters in new york
1953 coup prime minister dr. mosaddegh is placed under arrest thanks to CIA operative kermit roosevelt
mohammad mossadegh received his higher education in europe, studying at the institut d’études politiques de paris (sciences po) and earning his doctorate of law (PhD) from the university of neuchâtel in switzerland in 1914, becoming the first iranian to get a european law doctorate.
kermit roosevelt and “friend”
at the gates of persopolis
iranian pop singer – googoosh in a cowboy hat
archival image of persepolis
a political history of contemporary iran – dr. roy casagranda
dr. roy casagranda is a political science and history professor who earned his Ph.D. from the university of texas where he studied political science, philosophy, history, psychology, and germanic studies; he also did undergraduate work at the university of manitoba and attended palmer college.
he is a professor of government focusing on middle eastern politics, U.S. foreign policy, and western civilization. he is a charismatic academic known for making history relevant and accessible, particularly for those interested in geopolitics and critical analyses of historical narratives. by uh
godfrey of bouillon giving thanks to gods in the presence of peter the hermit after the capture of the city “taking of jerusalem by crusaders” by emile signol
colored engraving of the entrance of caliph umar into jerusalem 19th century
alfred dreyfus – the man behind the dreyfus affair
etching art titled: the fall of the walls of jericho
after all that – when the persians were defeated by the byzantine emperor heraclius they signed the surrender treaty with the caveat that the romans insured that the jews will be spared from their vengeance. heraclius agreed… only to break that treaty soon after killing about 20,000 jews.
history of israel and palestine part 1: from ancient roots to 1948
dr. roy casagranda is a political science and history professor who earned his Ph.D. from the university of texas where he studied political science, philosophy, history, psychology, and germanic studies; he also did undergraduate work at the university of manitoba and attended palmer college.
dr. roy casagranda is a professor of government focusing on middle eastern politics, U.S. foreign policy, and western civilization. he is a charismatic academic known for making history relevant and accessible, particularly for those interested in geopolitics and critical analyses of historical narratives. by uh
mkultra
operation mockingbird
uss liberty incident
gulf of tonkin incident
operation northwoods
operation paperclip
operation mongoose
iran–contra affair
phoenix program
cointelpro
project chaos
extraordinary rendition
jfk assassination
operation gladio
iranian coup (1953)
chilean coup (1973)
afghan mujahideen support
crack cocaine allegations
mass surveillance programs
weather manipulation programs
ufo/uap secrecy programs
psychological operations experiments
deep state operations
if you are looking for things to research, here are some topics that’ll get your brain rollin’. oh and by the way, the cia helped popularize the pejorative use of the term “conspiracy theory” in the late 1960s to discredit critics of the warren commission’s conclusion that lee harvey oswald acted alone… by tnt
the sheffield clarion ramblers were a working-class rambling club founded in sheffield in 1900 by g.h.b. ward and inspired by the clarion socialist newspaper. they organised regular walks in the peak district and were active in campaigning for public access to moorland paths and rights of way. the group became one of the most influential rambling clubs in britain in the early 20th century.
members carried and used the club’s annual clarion ramblers handbooks, tiny pocket-sized journals produced between about 1901 and the 1960s. these handbooks listed itineraries of rambles and also included local history, geology, folklore and reflections on walking culture, making them both practical guides and cultural companions on their walks. by tnt
winter, by wendy red star on display at ottawa’s national gallery of canada
no that’s not an ad for H&M winter collection, so what’s wrong with this picture? take another look and you may begin to understand what’s actually right about it…
that is a photograph by artists wendy red star who was born in billings montana in 1981 and is an enrolled member of the apsáalooke (crow) tribe. i think red start is in a way poking fun at the romantic notions and the stereo-types, we all have of the first nation people. when in reality they are here today strong as ever, many of them are living a life no different than ours as doctors, lawyers, business owners etc. and yet they are fully connected to their roots. this is not to diminish the reality and the crimes committed against them, but perhaps as a young woman born in 1981 you may get tired of all that generalization.
her work, and its kitsch references reminded me of the work of art photographer duo, pierre et gilles, and their silly portrayals of “gayness”. while i personally dress in a sailor suit all day, not all gay men look this way… so there… that is the art.
“…red star places herself at the center of her photographic tableau, dressed in the brightly hued traditional tribal attire, which she sewed herself. featuring elk teeth and beads characteristic of crow dress, her clothing is historically authentic.
artist wendy red star is debunking myths and upending clichés about first nation and native people using “humour as a bridge” and to insure not to offend the very people whose ancestors did “the deeds”
“…by making herself the main subject in each of her photographic seasons, red crow is asserting the continuing survival and presence of all indigenous people, says cross. “by wearing her tribal regalia, she is saying, ‘we’re here, we’re not going anywhere. and what she wears is not a costume, not a stereotype, it is part of a history that connects to her ancestors and her culture and will continue to do so into the future.”
“… the exhibition juxtaposes works by first nation artists with those of canadian settlers, british and european artists from the 19th to 21st centuries as a way to both celebrate and contemplate the experience of the season from multiple cultural perspectives.
in keeping with that theme, the differing ways in which each group perceives and misperceives – as well as sees and doesn’t really see – the others is what red star is asking us to reflect on in this work.
natural history museum new york
“…red star’s work talks back to the dioramas seen in natural history museums that often depict cultural habitats – including those of indigenous peoples – and treat these communities as if they were specimens for historical or anthropological study.
photographer edward s curtis (1868-1952)
“…they also critique the work of the us photographer edward s curtis, best known for his documentary portrayals of american indians – including members of red star’s crow nation – in the 1900s. still, red star regards curtis and his relationship to native people as complex. “his ability to photograph the different communities came through his interpreters, who were themselves tribal members… from my community he had alexander upshaw… so, when i look at curtis’s photos now,” she says, she thinks about upshaw.
that is fair but i must say i am glad that curtis managed to capture her incredible ancestors so we could stand in awe of them today. i simply wish there were more photographs documentary films and movies about their history and life. by xy
well they are not all media channels, but we think these people are some of the most insightful parties on the youtube regarding world events. you might enjoy checking them out…
1. LINK: Glenn Greenwald – journalist, constitutional and civil rights lawyer
Greenwald is an American journalist and was born in Queens in New York City. Greenwald is Jewish, but has said his “moral precepts aren’t informed in any way by religious doctrine”. Greenwald founded a law firm concentrating on First Amendment litigation. Greenwald is the journalist who helped break the story of Edward Snowden’s leaks about U.S. government surveillance in 2013, The NSA fiasco… a collaboration that led to a Pulitzer Prize for public service as well as harassment and aggressive scrutiny from the US government and its allies over his reporting on documents leaked.
2. LINK: Max Blumenthal – Greyzone podcast
Max Blumenthal is an American journalist, author, blogger, and filmmaker. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He is Jewish. His father is a journalist and writer who served as an aide to President Bill Clinton. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.
3. LINK: Richard Wolff– Economist
To escape Nazism, Richard David Wolff’s parents, both Jewish German citizens, emigrated to the United States during World War II. Wolff is an American Marxian economist known for his work on economic methodology and class analysis. He is a professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor in the graduate program in international affairs at The New School. Wolff has also taught economics at Yale University, City College of New York, University of Utah, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, and The Brecht Forum in New York City.
4. LINK: Ben Norton – Geo political economy podcast
Benjamin Norton is a US-born journalist currently living in China. His known affiliations are political rather than religious. His religion if any, is unknown. He spent 5 years at The Grayzone but left in January 2022 to become independent. Norton is known to be an opponent to CIA-funded “compatible left”. He is also an anti-imperialist, having opposed US’s expansionist policies.
5. LINK: Roy Casagranda– Professor of history
Roy Casagranda holds a PhD and specializes in the Middle East, U.S. foreign policy, and Western Civilization. He is often asked about his religion, but he does not publicly identify with one. He is a professor of government at Austin Community College, an author of historical fiction, a public speaker.
6. LINK: Judge Napolitano – podcast (?) while intelligent he did for a while play the game and contribute to fox news of all things…
Andrew Peter Napolitano is a Catholic American retired judge (New Jersey Superior Court )and syndicated columnist whose work appears in numerous publications, including The Washington Times and Reason. Napolitano served as a New Jersey Superior Court judge from 1987 to 1995. He is a libertarian and has gained prominence in part due to his criticism of the administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
7. LINK: Chris Hedges Show – American journalist
Christopher Lynn Hedges is an Christian (Presbyterian) American journalist, author, commentator and Presbyterian minister. In his early career, Hedges worked as a freelance war correspondent in Central America for The Christian Science Monitor, NPR, and The Dallas Morning News. Hedges reported for The New York Times from 1990 to 2005, and served as the Times Middle East Bureau Chief and Balkan Bureau Chief during the wars in the former Yugoslavia. In 2001, Hedges contributed to The New York Times staff entry that received the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for the paper’s coverage of global terrorism.
8. LINK: Jeffrey Sachs – Professor economics Columbia University
Jeffrey David Sachs was born into a Jewish family. He is an American economist and public policy analyst who is a professor at Columbia University, where he was formerly director of The Earth Institute. He worked on sustainable development and economic development. From 2001 to 2018, Sachs was special advisor to the UN Secretary-General.
9. LINK: Ilan Pappe – Israeli historian
Born in Haifa, Israel, Ilan Pappé was a senior lecturer at the University of Haifa (1984–2007). He is an Israeli historian and political scientist, known for his work on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and as a leading figure among Israel’s New Historians. He is a professor at the University of Exeter’s College of Social Sciences and International Studies.
10. LINK: Gideon Levy – Israeli journalist , Haaretz paper
Gideom Levy is an Israeli journalist and author. Levy writes opinion pieces and a weekly column for the newspaper Haaretz that often focus on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. Levy has won prizes for his articles on human rights in the Israeli-occupied territories. In 2021, he won Israel’s top award for journalism, the Sokolov Award.
12. LINK: Mehdi Hasan – Zeteo
Mehdi Raza Hasan is a British and American broadcaster, writer, journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Oxford in England. Hasan was born to Shia Muslim parents from Hyderabad, in India, his mother a doctor and his father an engineer. Following a stint on the BBC’s The Politics Show, Hasan became deputy executive producer on Sky’s breakfast show Sunrise before moving to Channel 4 as their editor of news and current affairs. He was formerly the political editor of the UK edition of The Huffington Post and the presenter of the Al Jazeera English shows The Café. He now runs Zeteo.
11. LINK: Amy Goodman – democracy now podcast
Amy Goodman was born in Bay Shore, New York on Long Island[6] to secular Jewish parents who were active in social action groups. Amy is an American broadcast journalist, syndicated columnist, investigative reporter, and author. She has received awards for her work, including the Thomas Merton Award. Goodman received the Gandhi Peace Award for a “significant contribution to the promotion of an enduring international peace”. she was awarded the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence by Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation. She is the author of six books.
ok in the end, it’s the top 12 not the top 10. and there are many many more of course. why is it that top 10 sound better than top 12?
talk to god about that. 12 apostles, 12 months, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 o clock, a dozen, 12″ to a foot – while not all may be works of god, there is something to that 12… enjoy. by ae
early vice covers when it was cool and FREE
gavin mcinnes cover perhaps? it was all in the making…
racist!… must have been gavin’ cover too
terry richardon before cancellation
also see the books on dos and don’t and history of sex just don’t get em on amazon
we loved vice magazine in its early days. it was hilarious and kooky. in new york city, we’d pick em up on the corner on our way to work for free… read em, then chuck em.
some issues were so good we’d photocopy articles and mail to friends who lived in less fortunate cities and countries were vice wasn’t available. the article were about sex, drugs, dos and donts, identity, travel, and just about any random thing in any given category you’d least expect. then suddenly we heard vice is bought by CNN… or that’s what i recall. it turns out it wasn’t CNN it happened to be HBO. same shit. it was one of those corporate-lame legacy outlets.
“make the cool guy feel rich, and the rich guy feel cool and you got em”
– vice is broke
a documentary on vice magazines history by eddie huang
for me and so many other that was the end of vice. i don’t think i followed them after that really. every once-in-a-while we’d see a video on youtube about nuclear wolves in chernobyl, or some country on the african continents civil war funded by the west. we wanted to like them but it wasnt the same. the one memorable video from the later versions of vice was with simon ostrovsky in ukraine, who seemed competent enough. atleast, because by now, vice had surely lost all its cool and without simon ostrovsky’s substance there was nothing much left aside with a bunch fart boys.
have a watch. thoroughly enjoyed the documentary “vice is broke” by eddie huang, granted it is first-and-foremost a dis track to shane smith, non the less its a great dive into the past and meeting some of the great people who worked on it in its earlier days. good watch, see it on mubi.com (don’t have mubi? try 7 day free trial, hey its between mubi and criterion, the rest are crap anyway). by uh
the black mask in 1960s new york was a radical group of activists who rejected mainstream culture and its institutions, particularly targeting the commercialized art world. they famously staged a protest at the museum of modern art (moma) in 1969, denouncing its elitism and exclusion of politically engaged art. through their bold actions and confrontational performances, they sought to challenge societal norms and give voice to marginalized communities. by tnt
the mark 1 lotus cortina – which was really a ford cortina with a lotus engine, kinda a big difference
hotwheels 2025 release of the 1966 cortina MK1 just out!
the iconic “ban the bomb” tail lights became an iconic design feature due to their resemblance to the campaign for nuclear disarmament’s (CND) symbol, leading to both legal threats from mercedes-benz and the nickname “ban the bomb lights”.
this controversy and distinctive look made the lights popular, with their design being adopted by numerous other british niche sports cars and racing vehicles, including lola and TVR models
jeremy here gives us a bit of history on the ford cortina and confirms the nerd him and his co presenters really where. love it when people go bonkers one something is accessible and yet cool.. mind you you can not compare the ford cortina (any of the 3 models) to the lotus cortina but like the ford escort MK1 in various rally’s the cortina made major headway of its own. lets drink to the underdogs. cheers. by uh
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