PhotoMedia.ca Forum

Media & News :: The Imperialist Canada of Today

The Imperialist Canada of Today : The Imperialist Canada of Today |

When making his case about Canada's recent imperial ways, Todd Gordon, in Briarpatch Magazine, wrote:

“Since June 2009, Canada has supported a coup in Honduras; three Salvadoran activists who were organizing against Canadian mining company Pacific Rim Mining Corporation have been assassinated; one activist in Mexico has been assassinated for opposing yet another Canadian mining company, Blackfire Exploration; Foreign Affairs and International Trade has refused to advance a law to impose human rights standards on Canadian companies operating abroad; and Canada has taken a lead role in the free-market-oriented reconstruction of Haiti after the devastating earthquake in January, which follows Canada’s participation in the 2004 coup against Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the imposition of an aggressive neo-liberal regime on the country. At the same time, of course, the Canadian military has been participating in the ongoing occupation of Afghanistan, propping up a profoundly corrupt regime whose members include warlords with atrocious human rights records.”

Read the full case here.

While you're there, find out more about the magazine's Deeper Roots campaign and community supported media. | Author: eleven eleven | Replies: 0

Media & News :: Bad Omen Beast

Bad Omen Beast : Bad Omen Beast | According to a website from the First Nation community of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug in Northern Ontario:

“A weird, odd looking foot long animal ( a cross breed of an otter & beaver or muskrat) with a rat tail with white almost a human face was discovered floating on the mainland shore of Kitchenuhmaykoosib drowned.
No one knows what it is but our ancestors used to call it the Ugly One. It is rarely seen but when seen especially if it is dead, it's bad omen and something bad will happen according to our elders and ancestors.”

The Montreal Gazette explained that "[the] creature, which is over 20 centimetres long and has a bare, gargoyle-like face and furry body, was found in a lake on the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug reserve, some 200 kilometres south of Hudson Bay, earlier this month by hikers."

Check out the full article for more info and photos of this mysterious quadruped. | Author: eleven eleven | Replies: 0

Science :: A more archaic form of repository...?

A more archaic form of repository...? : A more archaic form of repository...? |

According to wikipedia, "The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, commonly referred to as the Matenadaran, is an ancient manuscript repository located in Yerevan, Armenia. It holds one of the world's richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books which span a broad range subjects, including history, philosophy, medicine, literature, art history and cosmography in Armenian and many other languages."

Nyree Abrahamian writes in an article for the Armenian Reporter:

“In medieval Armenian, matenadaran means ‘manuscript store' or ‘library'. Many ancient texts whose originals were long lost have been restored in their mother tongues based on their Armenian translations, which were safely stored at the Matenadaran.”

The repository also acts as a "manuscript hospital," as ancients texts from around the world are brought to the Matenadaran for restoration.

| Author: eleven eleven | Replies: 0

Design :: International Conference on Design Principles and Practices

International Conference on Design Principles and Practices : International Conference on Design Principles and Practices | FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
University of Rome
Rome, Italy
2-4 February 2011
www.Design-Conference.com

"The Design Conference is a place to explore the meaning and purpose of 'design', as well as speaking in grounded ways about the task of design and the use of designed artifacts and processes. The conference is a cross-disciplinary forum that brings together researchers, teachers and practitioners to discuss the nature and future of design. In professional and disciplinary terms, the conference traverses a broad sweep to construct a dialogue which encompasses the perspectives and practices of: anthropology, architecture, art, artificial intelligence, business, cognitive science, communication studies, computer science, cultural studies, design studies, education, e-learning, engineering, ergonomics, fashion, graphic design, history, information systems, industrial design, industrial engineering, instructional design, interior design, interaction design, interface design, journalism, landscape architecture, law, linguistics and semiotics, management, media and entertainment, psychology, sociology, software engineering and telecommunications."

Advisory Board, International Conference on Design Principles and Practices

Some of the papers will be published in the associated Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal | Author: tomasz | Replies: 0

Photography :: Black and White Spider Awards

RE: photo contests : Black and White Spider Awards | "Black and White Spider Awards is the leading international award honoring black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers in a prestigious annual competition and globally webcast event, reaching photo fans in over 154 countries."

You can submit digital files or prints, as a Professional or Non-Professional, in one of the categories:

Abstract, Advertising, Architectural, Fashion, Fine Art, Nature, Nude, People, Photojournalism, Portrait, Silhouette, Sport, Still Life

Last year's (2009) gallery of winners: http://www.thespiderawards.com/gallery5/

Submission Deadlines for 2010:

Early Entry Deadline | March 10, 2010 - end "2 for 1" Special
Early Closing Deadline | May 28, 2010 - end Multi & Additional Specials
Final Deadline | July 15, 2010 - entry must be received by midnight to be eligible | Author: tomasz | Replies: 4

Photography :: The PHOTO PAPER magazine

The PHOTO PAPER magazine : The PHOTO PAPER magazine |
A new photography magazine was announced, The PHOTO PAPER - http://www.thephotopaper.com/

“The PHOTO PAPER is published for an international audience hungry to see the finest contemporary work and exclusive first look at the industry's fastest rising stars. Launching with a special double-issue, the first release will salute the 3rd Annual Photography Masters Cup winners, showcasing over 600 images in 15 categories from Abstract to Wildlife.”

| Author: tomasz | Replies: 0

Photography :: Elliott Erwitt at Maison Européenne de la Photographie

Elliott Erwitt at Maison Européenne de la Photographie : Elliott Erwitt at Maison Européenne de la Photographie |
Elliott Erwitt at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie

I had the pleasure to attend the vernissage last week of Elliott Erwitt's exhibition "Personal Best". The exhibition at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie includes a comprehensive collection of his work, also published in the book . This wonderful exhibition started on February 3rd and continues until 4th of April, 2010.

“Avec plus de cent trente œuvres, dont de nombreux tirages d'époque très peu vus, l'exposition retrace l'ensemble du parcours d'Elliott Erwitt depuis soixante ans, à travers une sélection de ses images préférées. Photographe depuis 1948, membre de l'agence Magnum Photos depuis 1953, il est un observateur vif et espiègle de la vie quotidienne ; on trouve parmi ses sujets de prédilection les enfants, les chiens, la plage, la politique et les célébrités. Témoin des grands événements du 20e siècle, ce maître de l'instant est aussi un infatigable homme d'esprit, un humoriste subtil et poétique dont le travail mêle satire et mélancolie. Elliott Erwitt a également réalisé des films documentaires, consultables, pour certains, à la vidéothèque de la MEP.

L'exposition est réalisée en collaboration avec Magnum Photos et le Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. ”

Elliott Erwitt's web site: http://www.elliotterwitt.com/ | Author: tomasz | Replies: 0

Art :: Shane Sinnott's The Load-Down

RE: Pandora by the Music Genome Project and other online music applications : Shane Sinnott's The Load-Down | The Load-Down is a weekly column I like to follow in regard to issues surrounding online music sharing, technologies, laws, etc. This short but to-the point commentary is printed in the Mirror, a Montreal weekly newspaper, but it can equally be followed online.

This latest installment calls attention to Slacker, a site where you can "choose from a bunch of 'stations' that play a certain type of music, and from those choices create custom stations made up of music by artists you like."

Slacker's been highlighted this week thanks to the site's declaration that it "will be the first personal radio service to be (legitimately) available in Canada." Not without a small catch that is...

Find out more by reading the whole piece (from which these quotes were taken) and while you're at it, you may as well take a peek at some back issues for more enlightened information on these types of affairs. | Author: eleven eleven | Replies: 10

Photography :: Jane Fulton Alt's Katrina photographs

Jane Fulton Alt's Katrina photographs : Jane Fulton Alt's Katrina photographs | Jane Fulton Alt's Katrina photographs

DECORAZONgallery
Exhibition: Jan 15 - Feb 8, 2010
Opening Reception: Friday Jan 15, 6-9:30pm
~
John Cleary Gallery
January 16 - February 13, 2010
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 16
~

Look and Leave: Photographs and Stories from New Orleans's Lower Ninth Ward (Center Books on the American South) (Hardcover)

www.JaneFultonAlt.com | Author: tomasz | Replies: 0

Science :: House of Numbers by Brent Leung

RE: Duesberg media quagmires : House of Numbers by Brent Leung | House of Numbers, Canadian filmmaker Brent Leung took two years to travel across the world to interview authorities on HIV/AIDS. The list of interviewees is impressive, and his documentary has received a number of awards. I hope that this controversial documentary will make its way to Montreal or become available online.

“In House of Numbers, an AIDS film like no other, the HIV/AIDS story is being rewritten. This is the first film to present the uncensored POVs of virtually all the major players; in their own settings, in their own words. It rocks the foundation upon which all conventional wisdom regarding HIV/AIDS is based. House of Numbers could well be the opening volley in a battle to bring sanity and clarity to an epidemic gone awry.”

| Author: tomasz | Replies: 3

Film :: DVD Showings and Discussions of Krishnamurti in Montreal, 2010

RE: J.Krishnamurti video presentations at Concordia University, winter 2007 : DVD Showings and Discussions of Krishnamurti in Montreal, 2010 | The Krishnamurti Information Centre of Montreal holds these 2010 screenings:

“
DVD Showings and Discussions of Krishnamurti Talks Program 2010 monthly calendar

Admission $5.00

In English with French sub-titles

Atwater Library - 2nd floor
(1200 Atwater Ave., just south of Ste-Catherine
Near Atwater metro station and Alexis-Nihon Plaza)

..........................................................................................................

Is There Anything Sacred in Life?
Saturday, January 16 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Seeing Fear as Extraordinary Jewel.
Saturday, February 13 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Is It Possible to End All Sorrow?
Saturday, March 13 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

The Nature, Depth and Beauty of Death.
Saturday, April 10 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

What is Attention if it Has
Nothing to Do With Thought?
Saturday, May 15 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Is Goodness or Evil an Outside Agency, a Force Existing in the World, or Only a Projection of Our Thinking?
Saturday, June 19 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

The Future of Humanity - part 1.
Saturday, July 10 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

The Future of Humanity - part 2.
Saturday, August 14 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

To be announced...
Saturday, September 11 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

To be announced...
Saturday, October 16 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

To be announced...
Saturday, November 13 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm

To be announced...
Saturday, December 11 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm”

| Author: eleven eleven | Replies: 3

Design :: Fodor's critique of Darwin

RE: Is Intelligent Design... intelligent? : Fodor's critique of Darwin | Jerry Fodor 's latest book looks promising, What Darwin Got Wrong: A Groundbreaking Attack on the Reigning Scientific Orthodoxy of the Last 150 Years.

Fodor has been presenting his argument over the past year, the abstract of his presentation at Center for the Study of Mind in Nature in Oslo has a concise summary of the argument

“Abstract: I'll start by reviewing the way that the theory of Natural Selection fits into the overall Darwinist picture of how evolution works. I'll then argue that Natural Selection is fatally flawed: that it depends on arguments from premises of the form `creatures with trait “t” are selected' to conclusions of the form `such creatures are selected for having trait “t”. Such inferences are invalid and unwarranted; in fact, they are instances of intensional fallacies.

source: http://www.csmn.uio.no/events/2009/fodor-2.xml
”

A preprint of his argument can be found on Fodor's faculty page: http://ruccs.rutgers.edu/faculty/Fodor/Fodor_Against_Darwinism.pdf | Author: tomasz | Replies: 26

Science :: "Reference frame" of a photon

RE: Photons and vast distances : "Reference frame" of a photon | In the context of relativity, the "point of view" of an object can be thought of as the inertial reference frame in which the object is at rest. Since they travel at speed c in all inertial reference frames, photons have no meaningful "point of view."

One can still engage in thought experiments, with infinitesimally small objects approaching speeds infinitesimally close to c. In the reference frame of these hypothetical objects, the size of the universe would be compacted (due to length contraction) and the perceived "length of time" of the object's journey would come arbitrarily close to zero. But extrapolating further to objects travelling at speed c yields .. nothing useful?

Asking what "happens," what is "experienced," or "seen" when travelling at the speed of light is meaningless, as the words themselves imply a passage of time? | Author: porksoda | Replies: 1

Science :: Photons and vast distances

Photons and vast distances : Photons and vast distances | Quoting from a Reddit post from user melanthius:

“Suppose you were in a distant galaxy, 1000 light years away, and you were coming back to Earth.

If you were travelling at a conventional, non-relativistic speed, it would take you an eternity to get home, probably millions of years, and the 1000 light-year distance would seem quite enormous, and rightly so.

If you were travelling at a moderate relativistic speed, some significant percentage of the speed of light, let's say 0.5c, the length of your trip would seem contracted by a proportionate amount, let's say about 50%. To stationary observers at home, you're still making a 1000 light-year trip at 0.5c, which would take 2000 years in their reference frame. From your reference frame, you're making a much shorter trip, about 500 light-years. (I'm not doing rigorous math here, it's just to help visualize the problem). And remember, to you, time always passes normally. When you come back to earth, the Earth would have aged by 2000 years but you would have aged by less.

To take this to higher limits, suppose you were travelling at an extreme relativistic speed, let's say 0.999999c, the consequences are even more amazing. To the people on earth, your trip will have taken about 1000 years because you're going about the speed of light, and it's a 1000 light-year trip. To you, however, your trip would have been extremely short because of length contraction. Once again, time always passes normally for you. So for what seems like a very short, manageable amount of time to you, 1000 years will have passed on Earth.

...

Imagine, now, that you could travel at the speed of light. You can imagine you are a photon or any massless particle you like. In the reference frame of the photon, no matter the distances involved, your travel time and travel distance is always zero.

Think about that.

No matter what distance is involved, the length of your travel as a photon is contracted to zero.

...

Imagine there is an astronomer gazing through a telescope at a distant galaxy 100 million light-years away.

You are a photon that was created as a result of nuclear chemistry in a star in that galaxy, 100 million miles away. As a photon, you move at the speed of light, but that's only in the reference frame of an observer. In your reference frame, speed has no meaning because there's no distance; length has been contracted to zero. The time that you exist, from your point of view, is zero. Or if you prefer, time has no meaning to a photon, even though its lifetime is well-described by the observer. The distance you covered in your lifetime is 100 million light-years, a distance which you traversed in an instant.

And you traversed this vast distance (or zero distance, depending on reference frame), only to be absorbed by the eyeball of the astronomer who is gazing up into space through a telescope. From the astronomer's point of view, you've been travelling 100 million years, longer than his entire civilization has been around, let alone his telescope, let alone his eyeball. To you, you were created and then instantaneously absorbed into that eyeball.

As a photon, you are, in essence, an "instantaneous connection" between two points in space, regardless of the distance involved. To you, you are simultaneously touching both the star where you were created and the eyeball where you've been absorbed.

This kind of thing makes me think about fate. The photon's fate is to strike the eyeball, a task which it set out to do 100 million years ago (or zero time ago). I call it fate because the photon doesn't have a choice. Since it has zero travel time, it cannot turn or curve. Any curving of the photon's path through gravitational effects, apparent changes in the angle/path of a photon due to differences in index of refraction between vacuum/air/glass/eyeball can be thought of as an illusion that we perceive only as observers. From the point of view of the photon, how can you "maneuver" when you have no time in which to travel? How can you change your "angle" when your entire world exists within a single point?”

| Author: porksoda | Replies: 1

Film :: Jacques Ellul - The Betrayal by Technology

Jacques Ellul - The Betrayal by Technology : Jacques Ellul - The Betrayal by Technology | The Betrayal by Technology, a ReRun Productions 1993 portrait of Jacques Ellul, author of Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes, is available online:

Link
| Author: tomasz | Replies: 0