prettythanghat of the Week

[rpm]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040807_1021.html

Meet Mr. Benjamin "ultra melon" Vanderford

SAN FRANCISCO Aug. 7, 2004 — An aspiring politician and video game designer who faked his own beheading by Iraqi militants set off a short-lived media frenzy Saturday after media around the world began showing his homemade video of the gruesome hoax.
 
Benjamin Vanderford, 22, said he posted the 55-second clip, which shows a knife sawing against his neck, on an online file-sharing network in May. It circulated in cyberspace before crossing over to major media, airing on Arab television.

"It was part of a stunt, but no one noticed it up until now," Vanderford told The Associated Press after being awoken at his San Francisco apartment early Saturday and informed that much of the world was suddenly under the impression he had been decapitated.

Shrugging and taking a drink from a diet soda, Vanderford said he originally made the video as a way to draw attention to his campaign for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He filmed the footage at a friend's house, using fake blood.

When his political aspirations waned, he decided to distribute the footage on Kazaa, which is used to trade millions of audio, video and software files daily, "to just make a statement on these type of videos and how easily they can be faked."

Although the video went for months without drawing attention, it spread quickly after it was posted on a militant Islamic Web site that has previously carried claims of violent acts that eventually were verified.

The clip aired Saturday on the Arab satellite television station Al-Arabiya, as well as the Lebanese Al Hayat-LBC satellite station, before Western news organizations, including The Associated Press and Reuters, published news of the unverified beheading.

On the tape, which carried an Arabic title that translates as "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Slaughters an American," Vanderford sits on a chair, his hands behind his back, rocking back and forth.

"We need to leave this country alone. We need to stop this occupation," he said on the video, adding that he had been offered for exchange with prisoners in Iraq. "Everyone's going to be killed this way."

The tape then shows a hand with a knife cutting at the motionless man's neck, but it did not show any militants.

Vanderford said the file-sharing network provided a free and convenient distribution channel for the clip. His only challenge was making it look authentic.

"We had to make it more lower quality to make it more realistic," said Vanderford, who works at a bank when he's not performing in a rap group and designing video games. "That was another experiment that was part of this to see how quickly that system will spread news."

He said he spliced the video with images of mutilated bodies taken from a Web site operated by Hamas, a terrorist group responsible for suicide bombings in Israel.

Vanderford, who opposes the U.S.-led war in Iraq, said he understood if relatives of those killed there thought his stunt was misguided, but he offered no apologies for the hoax.

"I see how it could be considered disrespectful. But I think people, if they look at it, will understand two other big issues it brings up," he said. "A small group of disgruntled people in Iraq or Saudi Arabia could just get more attention just by easily releasing something like I did on the Internet."

Just what we needed, an expeeeerrreemint. Mr.Black must be jealous of this moron.

[Creamo]

Ya think?

Maybe, but it's really YOU every day here who is the prettythanghat. Your alot like Weasel. Kinda ironic.

I might be wrong, but I think I have a vibe for the bbs.

Just saying.

[Saintaw]

...said Vanderford, who works at a bank when he's not performing in a rap group and designing video games...

Obviously a terrorist... rap music AND a banker, the horror!

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by Creamo
I might be wrong, but I think I have a vibe for the bbs.

Just saying.

Of course you are wrong, you are a packer fan

[Creamo]

What do you think about the new "D"?

4th and 26 is one thing, but what a revamp. You think it's a good move?

[NUKE]

What kind of idiot sets up an interview with the press, then doesn't even wear a freaking shirt? I guess he wanted to emphisize what a neat-o guy he is as he shows off his cool pad and his game designing computer workstation.

[Mini D]

I didn't make it past the first 4 sylables.

[B17Skull12]

Originally posted by Sixpence
Of course you are wrong, you are a packer fan

100% correct!

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by Creamo
What do you think about the new "D"?

4th and 26 is one thing, but what a revamp. You think it's a good move?

I haven't noticed to be honest, who did they pick up? They had the team to be in the SB last year, they just didn't execute the game plan. There is no excuse for the position of some of those players on that 4 & 26 play, everytime I see it I shake my head.

[JB73]

well six. they got a few decent looking D Backs, and a D lineman


what really stands out though so far in camp is brett and the offense. MAN they look hot. brett is throwning with more zip, and accuracy than 96 many are saying.

with what can be called very capable recievers, the new "hands off" rule for defensive backs, and brett's arm, i am suspecting some really blown out games!

back to the D. al harris is looking fit, and they are giving him more freedom to jam recievers at the line (something they admit to holding him back from doing last season). nick barnett looks great too, and our linebackers are the strongest part of the D.

heck read up if you'd like:

http://www.jsonline.com/packer/

[RTStuka]

Im pumped for this season for the Pack, Your right JB from what I can tell favre is looking like he did in the mid 90s and they finally have a full complement of recievers again, not just one good one. Add to that Green, Davenport, and Fisher in the backfield I think we can expect one power house of an offense. I was worried about the Mackenzie deal but I have faith in the defense, but I do belive that will be our biggest hurdle this season.

[B17Skull12]

brett is getting old,  he will wear out faster than others will.

[rpm]

Originally posted by Creamo
Ya think?

Maybe, but it's really YOU every day here who is the prettythanghat. Your alot like Weasel. Kinda ironic.

I might be wrong, but I think I have a vibe for the bbs.

Just saying.

OK, just want to get this straight. Because I slam some braindead buffoon that fakes a beheading, I am the ultra melon?

Have I ever singled you out for anything Creamo? I'm not in your squad, fly for your country, or BBS stalked you. In fact, I don't ever recall saying one negative thing about you, but you seem to know me so well.

I saw some idiot that may potentially cost more innocent lives because he wanted the attention. That is why I call him an ultra melon. Not because he's a Republican, Democrat, Green Party or any other political affiliation. I don't have a clue what his political affiliation is other than stupid.

If your mad because I have more free time to post than you do, I apologuise. Try investing early in life, it worked great for me. If your mad because I'm not voting for Bush, I apologuise. Vote for him and counter my ballot. This story had nothing to do with the Presidential election. It was about an ultra melon in San Francisco that made Americans look bad.

The vibe you have for the BBS must be a bit off.
Just saying.

Have a nice day.


(The Packers will make the playoffs, but choke in the 1st round.)

[Creamo]

[Sixpence]

I took Ahman Green if I could get him even if I had the 2nd pick. I hope he has a big year again, he is the anchor on most of my fantasy teams.

This thread has been officially hijacked.