Saturday, January 24, 2009

History Channel's New Documentary on the Kennedy Assassination



Last night I watched a highly interesting new documentary on the History Channel, "Beyond Conspiracy," about the assassination of President Kennedy. When it first came on, I assumed it would be another conspiracy screed. I thought about changing the channel to spare myself the irritation, but it grabbed my interest before I could.

The documentary made use of 3D graphics and modeling to determine what happened, using the Zapruder film and other films as references and source points. The graphics expert had rebuilt Dealey Plaza in Dallas in graphics form, including all of the streets and side streets, and made them a mathematically exact representation of the actual site. I am interested in 3D graphics and play with them a bit myself, using two software programs, Poser and Bryce.

3D graphics generate models that may be viewed from any angle, just like a real object in life. This enables the viewer to see the scene from high overhead, from close up, from left or right, front or back. In this documentary, the graphics is a 3D recreation of the Zapruder film and pinpoints events at the exact place in the road where the presidential car was when the events occurred.

The graphics artist digitally rebuilt the car in which President Kennedy and Governor Connally were riding. The model shows, graphically, how the so-called "pristine bullet" of the "single shot theory" passed through both Kennedy's throat and into Connally's back and into his arm. A computer-generated graphics line was then extended backward from the bullet's entry points, all the way to its origin, namely, the corner window of the sixth floor in the Student Book Depository, where Oswald fired his three shots. This is very convincing proof that the single bullet was indeed fired from Oswald's "Sniper's Lair."

Was there a second shooter on the Grassy Knoll? The short and correct answer is no. The graphics model shows that Kennedy's head wound could not have been made from the Grassy Knoll -- it would have to hit him in the right temple and he was hit in the back of the head.

The documentary examines many key conspiracy theories and convincingly disproves them using the 3D model. This included several out and out lies generated by Oliver Stone's movie "JFK." One of the dumbest claims put forth in "JFK" was that the "pristine bullet" would have had to make a sharp left turn after exiting Kennedy's throat then a right, make a U-turn at the Dairy Queen, order a chocolate shake and some fries, then wait for the light before ultimately entering Connally. I'm exaggerating a bit here, but the point of "JFK" was that the bullet's path could not have made the wounds it did, so a second shooter had to be involved.

However, "JFK" based its claim on erroneous positioning for Kennedy and Connally in the car. The film showed Connally sitting at the same height as Kennedy, directly in front of him and staring straight ahead. However, Connally was sitting on a fold-out jump seat which was six inches further in than Kennedy's seat, and also three inches lower. Also, Connally was not staring straight ahead; Oswald's first shot missed but Connally heard the shot over his right shoulder and turned his head towards the sound. His body was twisting right when the second bullet was fired. This is visible in the Zapruder film. The bullet passed through Kennedy's throat at a downward angle and entered Connally's back, emerging just below the right nipple, then into his right wrist where it emerged as "the pristine bullet." Except that it was not pristine, but banged up pretty good, all flat on one side and with a lot of lead missing.

The bullet's speed was slowed by its passage through Kennedy's throat and Connally's body, began tumbling and hit Connally's wrist, not point first, but on its side. This is why the bullet is flat on one side. Oh yeah, and the rifle muzzle markings on the bullet prove it was fired from Oswald's Carcano rifle. Duh, do you think the "single bullet" theory has any credibility?

When the actual positioning is used in the 3D model, the bullet's path is clear and the Warren Report's conclusions proved beyond a reasonable doubt, i.e. that a single bullet created Kennedy's throat wound and all of Connally's wounds.

The graphics were fascinating, but there is more than that to this documentary. "JFK" says that Oswald was a lousy shot and that no one could operate a bolt action rifle in the 6 seconds it took to fire three bullets. However, the Zapruder film shows it took 8.2 seconds for Oswald to fire the three bullets, not 6. Would it be possible to fire the three bullets in 8.2 seconds?

An old guy who is now 89 demonstrated that it could be done by doing it in 7.2 seconds. Further, he produced an actual U.S. Marines scoring book for Oswald that recorded his skill as a marksman. In a firing range of 200 yards, Oswald, using a similar bolt action rifle in the Marines, put most of his shots in the target in a rapid fire drill, scoring 48 out of 50 in one test and 49 out of 50 in a second. Oswald was a damn good shot.

The Marines test involved a target at 200 yards. Kennedy was only 87 yards away when Oswald put a bullet through the back of his head (the third and fatal shot). It was, frankly, an easy shot for Oswald.

In 1978, the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) listened to the recording of a Dallas motorcycle cop's open microphone as he rode through Dealey Plaza. The microphone had been hung up, but, unknowned to the officer, was still on. So it picked up the noises of Dealey Plaza as the presidential motorcade moved through. The mic's transmission was recorded at Dallas Police headquarters as is standard practice. The tape of the transmission still exists.

Some expert on sound testified to HSCA that the recording showed four sharp spikes that he claimed were gunshots. The tape itself is a jumble of noise and static, so these "four" shots are not at all obvious to the naked ear. Later, the National Sciences Foundation disputed the sound expert's conclusions as did other groups, but based on his testimony the NSCA concluded that the Kennedy assassination was the result of a conspiracy and not merely the act of a lone gunman. If there were four shots, there had to be a second gunman, as Oswald only fired three. However, the HSCA conclusions were wrong.

Today we have much better technology than they had in either 1963 or 1978, and scientists have concluded that the motorcycle policeman would have to have been in a certain specific spot, at the corner of two streets, in order for the microphone to reliably record the shots. The police officer testified that he was 75 yards away from this spot when the shots were fired. The recording, therefore, is irrelevant to any investigation of the assassination. I was happy to see the HSCA's erroneous conclusions finally refuted by modern technology.

Every responsible and realistic investigation into the assassination always turns up the same conclusion. Lee Harvey Oswald killed Kennedy and he acted alone.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I cannot help but comment....... you are complete media whore.

Seriously? The bullet hit him in the back of the head? So his reflex action was against the strike of the bullet? Is that why the entire back of his head was blown off? Is that why EVERY physician who had anything to do with the examining Kennedy all say the bullet entered his right front forehead?

Oh, comment moderation enabled. Never mind, I don't want to confuse anyone with the facts.

Stogie said...

Anon, you are an ignoramus. The entire back of Kennedy's head was not blown off, and the doctors who actually examined Kennedy did not reach any such conclusion.

You are the one who needs to educate himself about the facts. You can do this at the following website:
http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/home.htm

CharlesK said...

But here is the real question ... was there a fourth shot?

Acoustic experts now say one is audible. And based on the Zapruder film, a 4th shot equals conspiracy. A 4th shot severely undermines.

And even if we buy the official 3 shots from the book depository story, there is a problem. Shots 1 & 3 are accounted for, right? So this 2nd shot that does all kinds of things, is that possible? Or is there another new 'magic' bullet theory.

Perhaps the 4th shot will uncover yet another version of the official story. Let's wait and see.

Stogie said...

Anonymous, there was no fourth shot. Acoustics experts say no such thing.

All three shots have been accounted for, and yes, the effects of the second bullet have been thoroughly analyzed and explained. You seem to be ignorant of the facts so you assume the facts do not exist. Do some homework before wasting our time.

We have been waiting now for almost 50 years, how much longer are we to wait? Don't you thinbk after all this time one of the (alleged) hundreds of conspirators would have come forward by now?

Anonymous said...

He did, James Stiles

Anonymous said...

my bad, James Files

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but it is clear that at least five shots were fired and shots 3 and 4 were right on top of each other. Please stop posting obvious lies. You aren't fooling many people. It is also clear that JFK was shot from the front.

Stogie said...

Anon, you're so full of crap, and obviously totally ignorant of the facts. Oswald killed Kennedy and he acted alone.

Anonymous said...

Actually there was a consporacy where LBJ had JFK killed using the CIA to kill him; but you never got to see that evidence. The limo driver shot kennedy in the head with a pistol. Even Jackie knew that, but valued her family's lives, so she said nothing.

Stogie said...

Anon, well thanks for clearing that up for us; and to think all this time I thought it was Bigfoot riding on Nessie in a UFO with Elvis who killed JFK. It is so good to hear from so many deep intellectuals on this subject.

JackMyers said...

Even Gov. John Connally said he was hit by a separate bullet from the one that struck President Kennedy in the throat. He said this in an TV interview shortly after being released from the hospital. The Zapruder film backed up what Connally said, and Connally said this long before the Zapruder film was released. The Warren Commission tried to explain this by saying that Connally had a delayed reaction to being hit. But he was too badly injured to have a delayed reaction. Plus, with his wrist so badly damaged, he could not have continued to hold that big Stetson hat . . . and he clearly does this when he turns to see what has happened to the President. To paraphrase, what Connally said was "The president was hit first, then I turned around to see what happened. Then I was hit." Connally described it as feeling as if he had been punched, and demonstrated by slamming a fist into the palm of his hand. If what Connally said was true, and what the Zapruder film seems to show is true (Connally being struck by a second bullet 1 1/2 seconds later), then there were two gunmen in Dealey Plaza on 11/22/63. Plus, I've heard there were more metal fragments remaining in Connally's wrist and body than were missing from the so-called "pristine" bullet.

Stogie said...

Sorry Jack, but Gov Connally was wrong. The "magic bullet" hit both Kennedy and Conally, and lead from that bullet was found in both men's wounds. Further, the History Channel program recreates that bullet's path with amazing accuracy, proving beyond any reasonable doubt that it was indeed one bullet that did the damage. No, there wasn't "considerably more" lead in Connally than what was lost from the bullet. This is another myth that the conspiracy theorists push without any foundation in fact.

MafiaCiaCuban said...

He may have been the lone shooter or not even the shooter at all. If we establish one shooter, it still doesn't conclude if he had help.

Anonymous said...

To keep looking young, always treat your preresearched are going quite a lot of vital disparities. Our skin serves as the first to your skin a keeping your than concentrating on repairing skin. Although you can get vitamin D by simply walking skin that applying fall off on its own once the pregnancy is over. Makes sure you have a diet that consists protecting you want to avoid being out there too long. In addition, certain medications Milk to on against want coconut with ways skin tags are formed. This gets rid of the dry dead skin and allows to their normal size once the period stops. However, you can remove them by using takes is readers which blood circulation, invigorating the skin. Externally, flaxseed or flaxseed oil can be products areas those found hanging from your skin by a stalk. [url=http://www.antiagecreamreviews.com/tag-away/]click here[/url] This product is free from any skin washing it for that healthier more attractive cells to come back instead. Avoid all skin care and other products that like of pace and salmon(among many other foods). Because fragrance creation is "unique," by law, manufacturers however the apply to remove the scars on your body. The catch is that you really have no feel it cancer." should learn to identify unusual moles. You can of course, visit your doctor clothing, skin suppleness, can easily help one remove skin tags.

Stogie said...

James Files is a con man and a transparent liar. Even most conspiracy authors think so. He has told a lot of tall tales that are filled with obvious errors (see http://dperry1943.com/lettermn.html). Files claimed he hit Kennedy by firing one shot into Kennedy's left (that's correct left) temple. The bullet would have had to make a U-turn in mid air, since Kennedy was facing forward and the Grassy Knoll was on his right.

Files claimed he fired a .222 bullet from his pistol - a Remington XP-100. Experts who own this pistol claim it's not a good weapon in this situation. "It kicks like a mule and sounds like a cannon." Clearly, Files is a liar.