Friday Notes

Another Damned Medievalist will host Carnivalesque 33, an ancient/medieval edition, on 20 November at Blogenspiel. Send nominations of the best in ancient/medieval history blogging since 24 September to her at Another_Damned_Medievalist*at*hotmail* dot*com, in comments here, or use the form.

Michael Kimmelman,"Hokum that Stands the Test of Time," NYT, 15 November, reviews"Extraordinary Exhibitions," an exhibit at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Eighty 17th-19th broadsheets, that are also featured in Ricky Jay's book, Extraordinary Exhibitions, promote"a mix of ‘sensational, scientific, satisfying, silly, and startling attractions' ranging from an armless dulcimer player and a singing mouse, to an equestrian bee-keeper and a mermaid."

Dartmouth's Hany Farid is an expert in digital tampering with photography. His"Digital Tampering in the Media, Politics and Law" features digitally altered photographs from the age of Calhoun and Lincoln through Stalin, Hitler and Mao to our own time. Thanks to Manan Ahmed for the tip.

Finally, if you have lingering doubt about whether water-boarding is illegal torture of prisoners, consider the Mississippi Supreme Court's decision in Fisher v. State, 110 So. 361, 362 (Miss. 1926). It's unlikely that Mississippi Supreme Court in 1926 was particularly soft-hearted or soft-headed about the case of an African American who confessed to murder under duress.