Artifex - Block Notes - Trust us, we're experts!

Contents

Review.
Trust us, we're experts! - review by Giancarlo Nicoli

International Competition of Bookplates. (press release).

From the editor.

Dear readers,
Block Notes returns, after many months of silence.

This is the last time I publish this bulletin like it is: it's been too difficult to make it, so far: it takes too much time to be done.

I'll publish Block Notes step by step, as soon as the articles will be ready, and I'll not wait to have several items to put together all at once.
There'll be no "number", because it no longer makes sense; I'll send more newsletters (to subscribe, reach the top-right of this page, put your email address in the box and click "Send!").

I thank you very much for your support, please write to me in the event you wish to make suggestions, ask questions and so on...

With kind regards,
g. n.

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Trust us, we're experts!, by Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber, review by Giancarlo Nicoli

Thank the authors, buy this book!...
...and read it!

There's something disturbing when you turn the last page of this book: the thought that there's no end to human greed. Also, the realization that this greed exploits people's good faith (did anyone say "gullibility"?).

Science, in itself, is good. The problem is, it is not possible to know everything; people are accustomed to believe authorities. Scientists are strong authorities, and most people believe them. What does it happen when corrupted scientists (sometimes even self-proclaimed ones, guys with no background in any field) lie?

I definitely recommend this book as a must-read.
The authors describe the most common propaganda tricks (pages 291 to 299).
I'm trying to learn them by heart, and I encourage you to do the same: once you know the trick, it's easier to spot it (and it's more difficult to get fooled).
Such techniques include: "Name-calling", "Euphemisms" (also known as "weasel words": "the use of term "strategic misrepresentations" as a euphemism for "lies""), "Fear" ("Few people believe that war is a good thing, for example, but most people can be convinced to support a specific war if they believe that they are fighting an enemy who is cruel, inhuman, and bent on destroying all that they hold dear."), and so on.

This book is not only a description of "how the world wags" (in the words of Bill Moyers) - it offers a solution: that's another reason why to read it is time well spent.

As always when I review a book, I quote some of its parts, those I found the most revealing.

"Other PR consultants specialize in coaching would-be experts and nervous corporate executives in how to present themselves before Congress or on television: what clothes to wear, what color tie, how to sit or stand (spread your feet so your head won't seem rock on camera), what words to use and how to pronounce them, and - when asked a question you don't want to answer - how to say nothing while avoiding awkward phrases like "no comment"."

(Politicians') "campaign promises are empty rhetoric, based not on what the candidates believe but on what their expert pollsters have told them we want to hear."

A quotation by Robert Proctor, in turn quoted by the authors: "Science has a face, a house, and a price; it is important to ask who is doing science, in what institutional context, and at what cost. Understanding such things can give us insight into why scientific tools are sharp for certain types of problems and dull for others."

"In 1996 (...) Texas cattle ranchers sued TV talk show Oprah Winfrey over remarks that one of her guests made regarding the dangers of mad cow disease. The case finally went to trial in 1998, culminating in a victory for Winfrey, after which a second group of cattle ranchers stepped forward and filed a similar lawsuit in a separate jurisdiction. The second lawsuit was finally dismissed in early 2000. By then, Winfrey had spent millions of dollars in attorney fees to defend herself. In Ohio, a consumer group ran afoul of an anti-disparagement law when it discovered that a local egg producer was washing and repackaging old eggs for resale. "We interviewed over 40 employees who knew of the repackaging," says Mark Finnegan, an attorney for the group. "We had workers tell us they found maggots in the eggs:" When the group went public with its finding, it got hit with a lawsuit and ran up large legal bills by the time the lawsuit was dropped. Within the legal profession, this tactic of suing opponents into the ground is known as a "SLAPP suit" - a "strategic lawsuit against public participation." Often, an actual victory in court is not necessary in order to achieve victory. The real goal is to force the defendant to run up huge legal bills. For someone who lacks Oprah Winfrey's wealth, the costs of mounting a legal defense could literally mean financial bankruptcy, even if the case never goes to trial."

"Of course, there is no way that anyone can be active and informed about every issue under the sun. The world is too complex for that, and our lives are too busy. However, each of us can choose those issues that move us most deeply and devote some time to them. Activism enriches our lives in multiple ways. It brings us into personal contact with other people who are informed, passionate, and altruistic in their commitment to help make the world a better place. (...) Activism, in our opinion, is not just a civic duty. It is a path to enlightment.".

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International Competition of Bookplates,
300-years anniversary of St. Petersburg.
(press release)

27 May 1703 is the date of foundation of St Petersburg - one of the beautiful cities of the world, real cultural and spiritual capital of Russia.

To the tricentennial of St. Petersburg, the International Competition of Bookplates is organized.
Conceived as a functional object, the bookplate has become a self-sufficient work of art, an attractive "collectors" item and an object of research.
This particular kind of graphic art opens perspectives for creative search and experiments. The conduction of International Competition of Bookplates has been preconditioned by the broad recognition of Russian, first of all St. Petersburg artists as well as the recognition by all the art lovers of the role of St. Petersburg in the world culture.

We invite all artists to take a participation in this event.

Regulations.
Art. 1. St. Petersburg's Club of Exlibris, Institute of Civilization, Rotary - Club (SPb) and Foundation ”Public Board of Culture Programs” supported by City Administration, on the occasion of 300-years anniversary of St. Petersburg organize a Bookplate Competition.
Art. 2. The Exhibition is open to all Russian and foreign artists and participation is free of charge.
Art. 3. Theme: ”St. Petersburg: Spirit of the city, Events, People...”.
Art. 4. Each artist can participate with a maximum of three works (for each participating work three copies shall be submitted). Works shall be labelled on the backside with the year of production, technique, name and address of the artist.
Art. 5. All original graphic techniques are admitted with the exclusion of drawings, photocopies and computer graphics. The maximal exlibris size is 15 cm.
Art. 6. The work shall contain the wording ”Exlibris” (or synonims) and name of the owner. A motto or label ”300 years of Saint Petrsburg” may be used.
Art 7. Works shall be received no later than 1st February, 2003, at the following address: St. Petersburg's Exlibris Club Vice-President of FISAE, 25/3-84 ul. Zamshina, St Petersburg, 195271, Russia.
Art. 8. The jury, made up of two members of the Institute of Civilization and Rotary Club (SPb), and five experts of exlibris, will assign a First Prize (750 euro), Second Prize (500 euro) and Third Prize (250 euro) and will select the works to be exhibited.
Art. 9. All works submitted will remain the property of the Organizing Committee and might be reproduced freely.
Art. 10. Both award ceremony and opening of the exhibition will take place in May 2003 in Grand Hall of Exhibition Center of the Artist Union (Bolshaja Morskaja, 38).
Art. 11. The catalogue of exhibition will be free of charge for participants.
Art. 12. Participants implie the full acceptance of its regulation.

For further information, please contact the organizers of the event at the address mentioned above, and:
by phone (+812) 544 03 56,
FAX (+812) 465 40 99
or E-mail: khudoley@lgte.onc.spb.ru

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