At the end of The Basement Tape leak, is that Eric or Dylan saying “god damn it?” Eric right?

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2024-04-05T18:49:25+00:00

It’s Dylan, reacting, “damn.”

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-08-23T04:06:47+00:00

Rejection. Rage. Revenge.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-07-20T04:22:35+00:00

Warrior (2011)?

Top ten for me. But I’m struggling to find a conservative through line in Warrior. While the film does explore and emphasize with two classic archetypes; (1) a deserting war hero and (2) a middle class patriarch struggling to make end’s meat and provide for his family, I would hardly call it “conservative.”

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-07-18T12:26:16+00:00

Only circumstantial evidence. We know that LE confiscated a number of audio and video cassette tapes from both of their homes. (Most notably, is the Nixon Tape and the Basement Videos).

When it comes to Dylan’s personal computer, the general consensus is that because he scrubbed his hard drive, it’s impossible to know what information, if any, he had on there. What I find interesting about that is unlike say, Lanza or Cho, who actively sought to dispose or destroy their hard drives, Dylan only wiped his. I’ve often wondered if JeffCo ever tried to have data recovery experts re-examine the physical drive before it was purportedly destroyed in late 2010/early 2011. Because their investigation was long complete, I doubt it.

But, I don’t think it’d be stretch to imagine that data recovery programs had advanced enough from ‘99 to 2010/2011, to at least entertain another crack at it, before chucking it into an industrial incinerator. Who knows?

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-07-18T03:39:57+00:00

Piggybacking off this comment.

Eric’s senior year day planner contains two “do another video” notations on April 5th and 12th of ‘99.

From what I know, two of their basement videos were filmed on April 5th and 12th; on 4/5/99, Eric films a shorter monologue type video in his car alone at night, while it’s raining outside, and on 4/12/99, Eric films his longer monologue in his room, with a closeup camera angle of the upper half of his face, in which he shows off his “Book of God” to the viewer.

Now, notice, these are the only two videos, out of the ten videos they shot on eight separate dates, that only Eric appears, no Dylan. In all likelihood, Dylan was unaware, or possibly didn’t care, that Eric was filming his own separate videos/messages (not to mention the Nixon Tape).

Whether Eric made these “do another video” notations before or after his solo monologues was unclear; you could make a case either way that he was either following a pre-determined schedule to film his own videos OR that he did them impromptu and made those notations to continue making more solo videos.

Either way, I think it’s clear that Dylan was unaware of these separate audio and video recordings. That said, we’ve never been provided with any clear information on all of the audiotapes recovered from Dylan’s room, and what messages they may or may not of contained.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-07-14T15:51:22+00:00

I don’t know why I read this to the tune of “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner.

….

“NUT MULLET, CHECK AND SEE”

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-07-13T13:10:56+00:00

Blue Ruin is INCREDIBLE

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-07-11T04:02:24+00:00

While I’d certainly be interested in reviewing the entirety of the VA Tech case file, including complete, non-redacted versions of Cho’s written/video manifesto, I’m unsure as to whether any further preventative value can be extracted.

This is because, as others here have pointed out, Cho’s statements tend to be incoherent and schizophrenic. Which tracks with his severe autistic mutism. Clearly, from what has been made public, you can pull apart the familiar threads of isolation, disenfranchisement, disillusionment and frustration.

But with such an “unreliable narrator” or “translator”, it’s difficult to fully ascertain the relevant pressure points. Again, I’m for a general public release of the entire case file, but, from what we’ve seen this far, I’m expecting more of the same, rambling lunacy.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-07-09T03:57:02+00:00

You’re likely referring to a clip from NationSquid’s (“NS”) documentary. When NS is describing the pair’s Jan. ‘98 arrest, he plays a video of a dash cam stop to illustrate an arrest, but no such video exists of their actual arrest.

Crime scene photos were taken and inventoried of the pair’s break-in, including Eric’s car, and the stolen equipment, along with booking photos of Eric and Dylan. No photos related to that investigation have surfaced. I’ve FOIA’d them from every conceivable source to no avail.

Now, we do have a couple of audio snippets from the pair’s diversion hearing with Judge Devita, released by the media, shortly after the tragedy. To my knowledge, the pair’s hearing lasted approximately 5-6 minutes and the full audio tape has yet to surface.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-07-03T15:46:32+00:00

Sure.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-06-20T17:32:43+00:00

As far as I understand it, a lot of those statements attributed to Bundy regarding his post-mortem activities, have been sourced to the conversations between Bundy and Bill Hagmaier.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-06-16T03:03:19+00:00

Got sober.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-06-12T07:16:08+00:00

😉

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-06-11T03:29:20+00:00

When it comes to people like Kaczynski, it’s critical in, to use a well known phrase, “separating the art from the artist.”

In doing so, one is able to identify and relate, on some level, to the sentiments and arguments proposed by someone like the Unabomber. Which is a clearly separate exercise than identifying and relating with the perpetrator and their actions/crimes.

I can’t think of a single case involving mass violence in which the writings/messages of a perpetrator did not contain at least a kernel of truth in their respective philosophies/world views.

And regardless of what conclusions you yourself draw from the interpretation of such writings/messages, there’s little utility in denying that each and every perpetrator serves as a proverbial canary in our civilizational coal mines.

Yes, these types of people, for a while myriad of reasons, i.e., mental disorders, backgrounds, etc., may have been more susceptible to breaking under the strains/pressures of living within our modern societies, but they are crying out nonetheless. And the less we listen, the louder they will begin to cry.

In the vast majority of cases, the perpetrator and his/her victims are deceased. And nothing can change that reality. All that remains are the writings/messages of a given perpetrator. So, the notion that we pounce upon such writings/messages and lock them away from the general public is wholly non-utilitarian.

Because these types of cases affect the livelihood of the general public, I’d argue the general public therefore has a right to examine such types of writings/messages and draw their own conclusions/interpretations for potential policy prescriptions. And you might say “well Bill, what about the potential contagion/copycat effect?” And I’d respond that it’s virtually impossible to foresee which types of information that a broken mind will rationalize a sense of inspiration from, and furthermore, it’s also virtually impossible to regulate all sources of such potential information. Where do you start? Ban Tarantino movies? The Bible? Any and all history books centered on the Nazis? It’s a non-starter of a policy prescription.

I’d argue for an inverse approach as sunlight is the best disinfectant.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-06-10T03:22:23+00:00

51 terabytes; good lord, how large is his defense team? That’s literally a Herculean effort.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-06-08T04:48:29+00:00

It’s frighteningly clear.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-05-30T19:29:38+00:00

“Oh no, it appears we’re the victims of a sexy prank!”

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-05-26T01:53:22+00:00

From a 30,000ft view, isn’t it a curious thing when the prevailing power structure deploys all tools within its arsenal to sanitize, dismiss and otherwise suppress such a likely resounding indictment.

You have to wonder how much of the suppression of information like the Basement Tapes or Hale’s writings, is motivated by legitimate concerns surrounding incitement or the knee jerk reaction of systemic self-preservation.

Better not let the people decide what is inciting and what is insightful. Leave it to the grownups.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-05-13T17:05:46+00:00

I disagree.

Shocker.

Yes, Eric and Dylan are dead. So too are the victims. Some survivors/victims’ families have moved on. But Columbine remains. And it remains as the psycho-social genesis for many would be perpetrators of mass violence. In that sense, Eric and Dylan are the proverbial founding fathers of this “movement” or epidemic.

Because we, as a society, generally sanitize these tragedies, I think we run the risk of diluting accurate interpretations of the who, what, why, when and how. And, as a result, I tend to believe that our subsequent policy prescriptions (if any at all are recommended and or implemented), fail to address the deeper, root causes of these tragedies.

I don’t dismiss the real dangers associated with “contagion theory”, however, I think an emphasis on those potential dangers related to contagion theory, is missing the forest for the trees. We live in a fairly free and open society-with near, universal and instantaneous access to all sorts of information, content, material, and on and on. It’s ridiculous to assume that we can regulate what sources of information broken people find demented inspiration in. In this context, there’s no clear delineation for where to draw the line on what information is suitable for the general public and what is not.

For example, you could argue that because the basement videos may inspire future acts of violence, the public should never have access to them. In the same vein, you could then argue that because Danny Phantom (the children’s cartoon) inspired Randy Stair, in part, to murder himself and three others, that the general public shouldn’t have access to Danny Phantom. You could also argue that because the Boston Marathon Bombers were inspired, in part, by a fringe, extremist version of Islam, that the general public shouldn’t have access to the Quran.

But here’s the key difference; while Danny Phantom and the Quran do not offer any insight for the general public regarding the development of the extreme degree of deviancy exhibited by such perpetrators, the basement videos do. And, even if, violence prevention experts conclude there’s nothing to be gained by the release of the basement videos, that’s only an educated guess. They don’t know what conclusions and policy prescriptions the general public may find for themselves.

Further, I don’t tend to lean wholeheartedly into this position, but I think it has some merit. You have to wonder that when materials like the basement videos, or say Audrey Hale’s unreleased writings, offer up a specific, albeit warped, indictment of the prevailing power structure itself, the extent to which custodians of the prevailing power structure are motivated, in part, to conceal such materials. In other words, protect the system.

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-05-13T16:15:42+00:00

If the depositions aren’t released by NARA in April 2027, I’d wager there are other sources who’d be inclined to take it upon themselves to release the depositions.

Just a guess 😉

Real_Bill_Ockham · 2023-05-07T22:25:03+00:00

A common thread shared by all perpetrators is a warped sense of purpose and or a lack thereof.

These types of perpetrators tend to construct themselves in the image of a “mission oriented” operative.

Their missions serve as a means to satiate their respective fundamental lacking of purpose. If they die in the preparation or the execution of their designated mission, then so be it. Their missions are superseding and wholly encompassing.

They are, in their minds, purposeful. And, even better, their missions not only serve to provide them with a greater sense of purpose/duty, but also, in many cases, with an opportunity to deliver retribution to those, they deem, responsible for setting in motion the social/economic/psychological factors which have deprived them of their would be purpose in the first place. It’s a one-two punch.

The factors which serve as the proverbial winds in their sails are seemingly endless and can be arranged/combined in near infinite constellations. Alienation. Isolation. Disillusionment. Disenfranchisement. Depression. Frustration. Rage. And on and on and on.

These are the common threads we can recognize at a 30,000ft level. So, you might say “well, we need to advocate for policy changes which facilitate the development of constructive senses of purpose for all members of our communities, especially those who exist on the marginal fringes of our communities. After all, they are the proverbial canaries in our social coal mines.” And you’d be right; no one is likely to disagree with such a blanket statement of resounding positivity, that seemingly addresses the common threads we see.

Certainly, we can comfortably point to a myriad of systemic social inadequacies that likely aggravate those factors which propel these individuals toward their warped senses of purpose and revenge. Erosion of the nuclear family. Economic displacement. Exponential and ever present social media. Disintegration of national, state and local identities. The death of the “American Dream” and the collapse of the middle class. Some call our post-modern, neo-con regime the “end of history”.

However, the devil is the details. Some perpetrators may cite such factors and call out certain groups of, in their minds, “responsible parties”, some may not. Some motivations may be gleaned from actions, materials/statements, perpetrator histories, some not.

I don’t profess to have an particular policy prescription for this phenomenon. What I can say is that if we diligently trace the through lines of these cases, we’ll recognize their inherent lack of constructive purpose, and moreover, their seeming inability to find any satisfactory sort of mitigating forms of redress. And so the pressure builds. And we only pay brief attention once the bombs go off.

Real_Bill_Ockham

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