This story is out of control. I frequently check Pano's Pictures (www.panos.co.uk) a site that showcases the work of many premiere photojournalists of the world (including Martin Adler who was killed ironically in Mogadishu. One of my earlier posts was taken recently in Somalia by another journalist. Not a good place).
Anyway, was checking today and came across a slideshow by Nic Dunlop called " The Lost Executioner." I had heard of Pol Pot, the leader of the Cambodian communist movement called Khmer Rouge in the 70's. 1.7 million Cambodians were tortured and murdered under his control (I didn't know it was that many!) . The story is Nic became obsessed with tracking down this guy Comrade Duch (pictured above) Pol Pot's chief executioner. One day in 1999, while on assignment, Nic recognized a guy who turned out to be Comrade Duch (Nic physically took this picture!). He was a born-again Christian working for an American charity. This is for real, it blows my mind.
Duch was arrested and eventually confessed to his part in the killing machine that was Khmer Rouge and now, FINALLY, in February 2009 is standing trial by the United Nations for the murders. This has to be made into a movie, right???? More importantly some sense of justice and closure will finally be given to the families of those murdered. Oh, and Dunlap's book " The Lost Executioner" came out back in 2006, but I can't wait to read it.
I hadn't seen "Scent of a Woman" in a long time. But like a fine whiskey it gets better with age.
Gotta give my buddy Dan Oberlin props for this "brainbow" article. As an BAM-DIP (Bad Ass Medical Doctor In Progress, yes that's official) Dan dropped the following knowledge on me this afternoon:
Neil Burger's tiny road film " The Lucky Ones" is a breath of fresh air when it comes to films about our soldiers overseas.
Really good short story by Hemingway. If you haven't read it make some time it has a lot going on.
This is a photograph by Rob Chiu, aka The Ronin (UK based director).
This story is out of control. I frequently check Pano's Pictures (www.panos.co.uk) a site that showcases the work of many premiere photojournalists of the world (including Martin Adler who was killed ironically in Mogadishu. One of my earlier posts was taken recently in Somalia by another journalist. Not a good place).
He might be old news, whatever. I'm diggin' Sufjan Stevens today. If, by chance, you've missed him download some of his tunes. 'Chicago' obviously, but ' The Avalanche' is chill too. Sufjan mean's "comes with a sword." Enough said.
I'm not stoned, honestly, I know the conversation "when does life really start?" frequently comes up when you're high, but this is for serious. Big news on Embryonic Stem Cell research. In case you've been living in a cave, Obama lifted a ban that restricted certain stem cell research methods and procedures. I won't get into the specifics you can read about them pretty much anywhere BUT what it reminded me of was Next, written by the late Michael Crichton. Great book that explores some of these heavy topics. Although it's fiction Crichton includes some actual medical reports and essays from journals that are informative and scare the shit out of you. Check this out if you have time, very interesting. Crichton recently lost a battle with cancer. The world recently lost one of it's greatest novelists.
No, my own pics won't be the pic of the day all the time. But this is a rare occasion where I get to be alone with my grandparents. Old people really put things in perspective. Especially when it comes to what's important.
There's no way I could post this on a Monday, BUT, being as it's Friday I think it's appropriate. Not sure who took the photo but I think it's great.
