Tragedy in Tucson : The Strange Faces of Jared Loughner
83The Three Faces of Murder
Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011--1:30 a.m. Last Saturday, lone terrorist Jared Lee Loughner opened fire on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and a host of other innocent American citizens at a Congress on Your Corner meeting in Tucson, Arizona. My wife and I've been super-glued to the TV set from the moment the first horrific news hit the airwaves. We were watching when President Obama made that first spirit-lifting announcement: Gabby had opened her eyes for the first time since taking a bullet through the head.
As the days slowly passed, however, I had little choice but to get on with Life to some degree. Pam needed me to pick up the electronic cigarettes that had arrived at the Post Office so that she could get on with her plan to quit smoking. Groceries were required, and propane tank refills to power heat, refrigeration, and cooking at the Border Fort. Occasionally, I even needed sleep.
Thus it was that only Pammie happened to see it on our local Fox channel: Some FBI forensics hotshot (she believes it was) had taken the mug shot photo of Loughner, whipped up a mirror image of same...and then cobbled the parts together so that We the People could see what the homegrown Tucson terrorist would look like with a face made up of two right halves--and also with two left halves.
According to my lady, this procedure produced images that appeared to be of two completely different people. They looked, she said, nothing alike.
This I had to see for myself. After another day had passed without either one of us catching a rerun of that segment, the obvious way to Git 'R' Done was to do it myself. So I did.
It took a while, which is why I'm putting this hub together (finally) in the wee hours of the morning. To start with, I'd never "mirror imaged" a photo online and had no idea how to proceed. Learning curve, doncha know. Some computers apparently come with a way to do that, as do many printers. Neither of my units qualified. Photo-handling software programs currently installed don't, either. Each and every supposedly free software download touted to do the job turned out to be a scam.
The clock chugged on past midnight...and, finally, a workable solution surfaced. At mirroreffect.net, the procedure was simplicity itself. True, one ends up with two images in one--the original plus a "reflection"--but so what? From there, it was a matter of:
1. Printing a copy of the original photo.
2. Cropping the "reflection" so that only the mirror image remained.
3. Printing that.
4. Cutting the the two printed photos in half. Now there were two "left" and two "right" sides--an original and a mirror image.
5. Put the pieces together, take photos of the new cobble-jobs, and upload 'em back to the computer. Felt like I was producing South Park!
6. Write this hub.
The results are as dramatic as Pam described them...or so it seems to me, at least. Your evaluation(s) would be more than welcome.
Conclusion
What conclusion(s) can we draw from this stunning revelation? Ya got me! Not a clue there, pardner!
Except for one: Even this man's body is schizophrenic.
So...Maybe We're ALL Two People?
UPDATE:
By the time Fitnezz Jim asked if this process would produce images of two very different people if applied to people other than mass murderers, Pam and I had begun to ponder the same question. So I snapped a photo of my wife, ran it through the wringer as described above...and discovered that the differences between her two sides are even more dramatic than the differences between Loughner's image(s).
Not that you get to see the results; she promised to pout considerably if I posted those pics online!
However, you could see strength, determination, and a love of life in both sides. Um, at least if you were her husband, you could.
Okay. Talk is cheap. What about me, eh?
(*Sigh*) All right, so I did it. The results are posted below. Not that I'm thrilled, mind you. I don't mind my left side, but the right looks like the forceps got hold of my skull while I was exiting the birth channel...and never let go. Plus those "mature" jowls...yech-h!
Obviously, I'm hardly an unbiased observer in this case, so...
...you be the judge.
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'Morning, Greg. You betcha it's scary! Especially after I thought to check Loughner's earlier photos just a few minutes ago. Can't really tell much from the high school pic--long hair covers key features on his left side.
But there are a couple of in-between images that show his face clearly...and neither of them reveals the slightest hint (that my naked eyeyball can see, anyway) of the dramatic changes to the left side that jump out at you here.
Head-scratching conclusion: Whatever inner changes this guy went through between high school and MUD (that would be "Mess-Up Day") are ALSO reflected in his physical body.
One line that comes to mind: "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio [Do I have that right?] than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
It is amazing that there could be so much difference. Good Job of showing the difference. Who would beleive that he could almost look normal.
Neat effects, but, would this process produce different results for anyone?
Very strange process. I am amazed that you figured it out. I have to say he is one of the weirdest looking human beings I have ever seen.
JLSB, FitnezzJim, Breakfastpop: Jim asked his question at the precise time Pam and I were puzzling over the very same thing. I've just now updated the hub and added MY OWN face to the mix for comparison.
Be kind! LOL!
Blessings to you Ghost and Pam!
GREAT Hub! You did an amazing job! I, too have been clued to the tube in shock and sadness! And hope! Your Hub is very enlightening to us all!
Yes, for most people the right and left halves of their faces are completely different! When mirrored they are barely recognizable! (Although your handsome face Ghost is quite balanced! And I'm sure Pam's is as well!)
One of the most dramatic left/right face differences is John F. Kennedy!
Years ago I began to notice the major differences in some people's faces! And according to psychologists, there is some basis for what is going on inside a person!
The right side of someone's face (and body) are influenced by the left side of their brain! And vice versa!
GREAT Hub Ghost! Thanks for sharing!
Blessings and Happy New Year! EarthAngel!
Back atcha, Earth Angel.
May have to check out the JFK face....
Pam and I absolutely cracked up over your kind remark that you were sure Pam's face was balanced, though. It is absolutely NOT!! LOL!!
Okay, now to go refresh myself on which side of the brain does what....
Blessings to Pam's unbalanced face!
I've done 'my halves' and it is way out of balance as well! Scary it's so different! One side looks 20 years older than the other! Just let Pam know many great faces have much character!
And yes, check out JFK as I think you will want to add it or write a Hub about it!
Right side of brain, which operates most of left side of body, is thought to be responsible for creativity, language, music and abstract thought, etc.
Left side of brain, which operates most of the right side of body, is thought to be responsible for logic, linear thinking, math, etc.
GG was shot on the left side of her brain! That's why when she could move her right hand/leg there was such cause for hope and joy!
You're the BEST Ghost! Pam, too!
Blessings always, EarthAngel!
Incredible photo's and incredible techniques.
Any day you learn something is a good day, so this is a good day. But now I'm curious. Much of who we are and what we do is in the subconcious, rather than the concious. What part of the brain is the subconcious located in, and is it reflected somehow in the left and right hand sides of our faces?
I suppose that if one wanted to continue to dig at the two party system in America, we might think of the Democratic and Republican parties as being the two faces of America, and pose an additional question: If we regard the left side as, say, an elephant, and the right side as, say, a donkey, what does the combined face look like? If we reverse the sides, what does the face look like then?
Earth Angel, your opening line cracked me up! Took a moment to explain it to Pam, but then she was chuckling, too.
Jim, my so-called "formal" education is in psychology--which I mention only as background for the statement that I've done a fair amount of reading regarding the psyche, the structure of our bodies, mind, subconscious--even our inner worlds as viewed by various spiritual teachings.
Based on that, I'm fairly confident that the subconscious underlies BOTH sides of the face--but can channel its raw power through either side at higher or lower rates of flow, depending on the right/left brain development in the individual.
Not sure what the physical scientists have to say about "location" in the brain--but do suspect such areas (wherever they may be) serve not as repositories per se...but more as breaker switches which allow or restrict access to and from the subconscious.
One thing that HAS been established beyond the shadow of a doubt: The subconscious mind cannot differntiate between an experience that is "real" (meeting a bear in the woods) and an experience that is merely vividly imagined (seeing an old, charred tree stump in the woods that you THOUGHT was a bear).
Which no doubt is a fact of some significance in the rapid deterioration of Jared Loughner's personality. With some of the specific drugs he's known to have used at one time, psychedelic hallucinations are pretty much a given...and it's more than possible those experiences are still, to him, as real (or even MORE real) than anything "out here" in the mundane world.
As for the Donkephant face, let me think about that one...
Cool!
Thanks.
Ghost32, you are resourceful and brave to be living along the fenceline of Mexico. Good luck in the new digs. I posted my Arizona Shooting Hub that terrible weekend before Gabby started to pull through. You are settling in a pretty wild part of this country. Best of luck, again.
Thanks, sligobay, but I'd be a lot braver NOT to live here. My wife raised her kids in this county. She needed to be near her adult son--so, when my Colorado trucking job got Obamafied in early '09, I brought us "back" down thisaway. It's worked out well so far.
But keeping Mom away from Son would have been a lot more "dangerous", in my view, than a mere Border War.
wow that is crazy! this is one of the coolest things i have read so far, i would have never thought of this@ great work!
Thanks! Your enthusiasm made my day! Night! Something! :)
thats awesome,i hope you post more stuff relating to this kind of thing.Its made my night,cheers !
Ask and ye shall receive! Here's a link to one I did just last night:
Well Ghost32 I like the bit of psychology you threw in there remnants of a life time of experience,college education and spiritual exploration that comes into play when opportunity knocks.
This guy Loughner someday will regret what he has done if he's human at all! He looks like a Roswell alien-human half breed to me in the last picture. Probably did to much meth! The stuff makes people go nuts! ;>)
You, I have to say look good in your last picture the middle picture looks like some kind of Maya priest head job, skull extension are you their long lost god. Ha Ha Ha! Talk at you later.(I hope I didn't offend anyone I think the Maya are awesome people! up for a sacrifice anyone how about Loughner!).
P.S. Guess who this is Ghost32 By the way a hint! I loved your article on getting jobs in the oil patch kind of lived it with ya! in the 80's when sober enough to live.
The P.S. part first: You mean you were sober enough some of the time? As in, "I didn't know the guy drank till I saw him sober one day?" Or as in, your Mom still denied it after having to go fetch you one night?
Obviously that computer schooling got you a satellite related job, eh?
Good to see you sneak up on me here; that was pretty cool. "Satellite DB, 80's, 44 yrs. old--oh! DUH!"
Yep, that middle picture got my attention, too. I'm hoping the answer is simply mechanical--maybe getting the ride side of my skull bashed in enough times on the rodeo circuit to sort of cave things in a little there.
About Loughner: He does look a tad Roswellian, doesn't he? And yeah, he'll have his regrets, but I'm betting it won't be in this lifetime. He's too delighted with himself at the moment for that.
Once he's headed for execution and at the same time knows Gaby Giffords is back in the saddle, doing her thing in the House of Representatives, yeah, THEN (at the last second) he might start regretting....
Well Ghost32 those were the days sometimes I'm glad they are long gone(it wasn't all bad). You know back then I was dealing with some tough demons acquired from growing up in a tough situation and bad influences as well as dealing with a mother that had way to many issues(demon #1 you know what I'm talking about).I finally beat them in the late 90's and they do come back to haunt me from time to time like a Ghost32 from the past(ha! ha! ha! I couldn't resist) but I don't let it beat me down.
The satellite in my username is after my 1967 Plymouth satellite car(you had a 67 Fury getaway car if I remember right).
I don't install satellite systems. I'm a computer geek wannabe programmer imagine that! Actually I'm currently looking for work the job situation here is pretty tough but things will work out.
You know I like to sneak up on people you never no what you will catch them doing.;>) besides I think you probably figured out right away who it was in the comment you've been around to long to let that one slide by.
Talk at you latter Ghost32!
You called it. The getaway car was definitely a '67 Plymouth Fury. Was smoking so bad by the time I hit Portland that it clearly couldn't ever pass the city's required smog inspection, so it ended up sold for $100 in mutilated change (no kidding). Long story there, most likely a hub....
Job situation is tough here, too. When we arrived in April '09, I got skunked hunting work for the first time in my life--not even day labor temp stuff.
Glad to hear you kicked butt on all those demons, for sure.
Thats kind of amazing. I am not sure if I would put it in the cool or creepy category. But you know I am going ot chop up a photo of myself now. And I am going ot go ahead and admit I won't be putting it online. Very brilliant hub.
Thanks.
How about "creepy-cool"? :)
Pam had me do hers up, too--and you can bet we're not putting hers online, either. The results were dramatic to say the VERY least. One side doubled up makes her look innocent and helpless while the other side shows nothing but pure power-warrior. Which is her to a T when you get right down to it.
gregas Level 5 Commenter 16 months ago
Hi Ghost, Good job. Actually, it is almost scary. Good view point. Thanks for thisview. Greg