Although it is just over 20 years old, the Stanley Kubrick film, Eyes Wide Shut remains one of the most controversial movies ever made. And not so much for any particular scene, but rather due to the overriding plot which, at least to some, makes some rather heavy hints of the reality of The Illuminati and the secret rituals they are involved with. And while most have dismissed most of the claims of what the film is “really saying” as conspiracy nonsense, in light of the recent Jeffrey Epstein case, some are starting to look again at what Kubrick might have been trying to tell us in his final movie.

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10 Stanley Kubrick’s Sudden Death

Perhaps the conspiracies surrounding Eyes Wide Shut began when the maker of the film, Stanley Kubrick, died only days after the first viewing of it. The official cause of death was from a heart attack. However, as we might imagine, there were many who believed his death was far from natural.

Given the subject matter, a popular conspiracy theory soon took hold that elite members of Hollywood had arranged to have the world-famous director killed. And of course, in true conspiracy style, this murder would have to look like anything but. In this case, the most popular claim is that a heart attack was intentionally induced in Kubrick. There is, however, no evidence to support these claims. And as easy as they might be to subscribe to, we must treat them for what they are.

So why would someone wish to bump off Kubrick? Well that is subject of our next point.^[1]

9 Allegations Of Cut Scenes From The Finished Film

The main conspiracy as to why some people believe Kubrick was murdered revolves around a “damage limitation” mission ordered by elite financial backers in Hollywood. It is the belief of some that upon seeing Kubrick’s film at the first viewing they decided much of the content had to be cut away. Not confident that Kubrick would agree (he was known very much for his determination in such matters) and consequently fearing a surge of publicity from any fallout, a decision was taken to remove Kubrick from the picture permanently.

Once this had happened, the movie could be trimmed down and tempered somewhat. Once more, we should mention that there is no evidence for this. And while the movie was completed in terms of editing and such after Kubrick’s death, it is maintained that nothing significant was removed. Although, if there was a cover-up over such a matter, then that is exactly what the powers that be would say.^[2]

8 Hints Of Illuminati Activity

OK, so why exactly is the content of the film so controversial. Ultimately it is because it appears to lean heavily on many of the Illuminati and secret society conspiracies that have been around for decades. Perhaps the main drive of these is that such secret societies use “mind-controlled sex slaves” for their rituals. In some cases, with “high class sex slaves”, they are also used to pass top-secret information between world leaders and high-ranking members. We will come back to some of the alleged specific symbols used to convey this message a little later.

Essentially, the movie suggests that those on the inside of these secret societies control anything from the police to the media. And because of this, anyone who presents problems or becomes of no further use, can be made to disappear with no questions asked. Almost any of the conspiracies that surround the Illuminati can be found in Eyes Wide Shut leading many to question just how real these claims might be. And when we move on to our next point, that blurring of fiction and reality increases.^[3]

7 The Depiction Of The Rothschild Party

One of the main parts of the film revolves around a secret party at a lavish mansion. And it looks almost exactly like the mansion owned by Baron Guy and Baroness Marie-Helene de Rothschild, the Chateau de Ferrieres. What’s more, the mansion was subject to a mysterious masked party hosted by the owners in 1972, photographs of which have since been leaked online.

It certainly appears a morose affair. Aside from the very strange masks people are wearing – ranging from animal heads to pretend cages – there are dismembered dolls and other broken children’s toys purposely scattered around on the tables. Some tables even feature naked mannequins as if laid in a coffin with food served on top of it.

It is even claimed that invites to this “surrealist ball” were sent with coded wording. Furthermore, the wording was written backwards so it could only be read in a mirror. Even stranger, as the guests arrived at the mansion, it was bathed in a deep red glow. This was to give it the appearance of being on fire.^[4]

6 Suggestions Of Mind Control

We mentioned mind control in an earlier point, and how the film appears to drop discreet messages of this throughout. Perhaps one of the main ways this is done is by the constant references to rainbows throughout the movie. It is claimed by some conspiracy researchers that rainbows are a reference to the MKUltra mind control techniques used by high-ranking elite members. And this is particularly the case when this is done to create sex slaves.

For example, a costume rental shop named Rainbow plays host to several scenes. Perhaps the best example, though, is when the main protagonist, Dr. Bill (played by Tom Cruise) finds his way inside the secret party. He lies to get inside (he is eventually found out) but is greeted upon his arrival by two “Monarch Presidential” models. They begin to lead Dr. Bill away from the hall, so he asks them where they are going.

To this, one of the girls replies they are going “where they rainbow ends”. Before Dr. Bill can respond, the second girl says to Dr. Bill “don’t you want to see where the rainbow ends?”^[5]

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5 Masonic Symbols Are Everywhere

As we might imagine, there are also numerous Masonic symbols and references within Eyes Wide Shut. And this happens right from the off. At the beginning of the film, for example, when we see Alice (played by Nicole Kidman) undressing ready for bed, she does so while standing in between two large pillars. It is claimed that these represent the Masonic pillars, Boaz and Jachin. There is also discreet appearances of the Star of Ishtar in the film, another strong Masonic symbol.

Perhaps one of the most obvious Masonic symbols can be seen in the scene where Dr. Bill has been discovered at the party and is standing in the main hall in front of the cult leader. This leader sits on a throne that contains a two-headed eagle on the back of it. The two-headed eagle is a primary emblem to the 33-degree Scottish Rite Freemasons, one of the most powerful Masonic organizations in the world.^[6]

4 Sex Slave Rituals

A great part of the film revolves around the idea that woman from all backgrounds of life have been somehow subjected to mind control programs. And the reason for this is mainly so they can be used as sex slaves at the society’s secret gatherings. We have already mentioned the rainbow aspect relating to mind control.

However, another clue can be found in the term often used in such scenarios – a scarlet woman. Several of the main characters that surround Dr. Bill all have scarlet hair. And this might be pure coincidence. However, even the most skeptical person should at least raise an eyebrow at this. Furthermore, and much more harrowing, Dr. Bill’s own daughter has scarlet hair. This is an apparent reflection of the claims that many of the woman who find themselves trapped in these situations – if we believe the claims to be anywhere near true – are often programed and groomed from being young children.^[7]

3 Hints At Murders Disguised As “Overdoses” Or Suicides

Toward the end of the film, one of the prostitutes who was at the party (seemingly as a mind-controlled sex slave) is discovered dead. It is reported in the media that she died of a drugs overdose. However, in a later scene, it is revealed to Dr. Bill that the high-ranking members of the secret society control all of the media, and even the police. Anybody at all, in fact, who might cause a problem with their activities.

Furthermore, while it is not said outright, it is heavily implied that she was murdered, and her death made to look like an overdose.

As outlandish as the above might sound, it is a scenario that has been discussed in conspiracy circles for decades. And not exclusively for unfortunate woman who might find themselves mixed up with such organizations. Many researchers – even (relatively) serious minded ones – have made various claims of politicians dying in strange and suspicious circumstances, for example.^[8]

2 What Is It Called Eyes Wide Shut?

The reason the film is called Eyes Wide Shut, at least according to some researchers, is a blatant reference to Hollywood and the number of people who (allegedly) know this kind of activity is taking place yet do not say anything about it. And, like the conspiracies of the alleged Illuminati, such talk has been rife in Hollywood for years. And while some people have spoken out, they are usually left as lone wolfs with no one willing to corroborate their accounts.

While most dismiss such rumors as exactly that, it appears that in recent years there certainly appears to be certain parts of the film and television industry that appear a little suspect. That is not to say that activities are taking place as some conspiracy theorists say they are. It does appear, though, that there might be more to uncover than most of us would like to admit.

When we consider our final point, that likelihood increases even more.^[9]

1 In Light Of The Epstein Allegations, What Should We Think?

Although the rumors were rampant for years when the revelations about the secret sex parties hosted by Jeffrey Epstein on his private island came to light recently, it caused many people to look again at such claims of secret societies made of high-ranking people. And that, at least for some, included another look at Eyes Wide Shut.

With what we know now of Epstein Island – and there is surely more to come to light – should we take some of the claims of the “real” messages of Eyes Wide Shut a little more seriously? Might, as some researchers will tell you, the Epstein case simply be the tip of the iceberg? Might the happenings in Eyes Wide Shut be going on behind closed doors in real life? Right under our collective noses? And if they are, will we ever truly discover anything about them? To end on a cliché, only time will tell.^[10]

8 Conspiracy Theories That Refuse To Die

When we think of modern computing, we inevitably think of how fast technology moves these days. It seems we can barely buy a new laptop or smartphone and get it out of the box before it starts to feel obsolete. New features, speed increases, more storage—it all seems to happen so fast.

That’s why it can be surprising when you stop to take a look at some of the tech that we use every day and realize just how old some of it is. From ancient operating systems and programming languages to network protocols developed decades ago, some parts of our tech-heavy world have been around for decades now. And they show no signs of going away anytime soon. Here’s a look at ten examples of very old computing technology that are still widely used today.

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10 The OS from Half a Century Ago

“It’s a Unix system! I know this!” says young Lex as she saves the day in the 1993 film adaptation of Jurassic Park. This line became one of the earliest internet memes, and it has endured; there’s even a whole subreddit devoted to it. The line resonated so strongly because many computer professionals can relate: If you know the Unix operating system, you can sit down at any Unix-like system made in the last 50-plus years and instantly feel at home.

Unix originated at AT&T’s Bell Labs in 1969. Designed from the ground up to be a multitasking and multiuser system (i.e., with the ability to do multiple things for multiple logged-in users all at once), Unix has long been hailed for its innovative design and rock-solid stability. But perhaps the biggest reason users are so loyal is the “Unix philosophy,” a guiding set of design principles that encourages the use of small, useful applications that can easily pipe data to other applications.

While AT&T sold Unix licenses for many years, the core concepts led to the development of many Unix-like systems over the years. Today, developers can submit their operating systems for certification as a “UNIX-Certified Product” to the current owner of the Unix trademark, the Open Group.

In the world of free and open-source software, the most popular operating systems are Linux distributions, with Linux being categorized as a Unix-like system. Linux powers many of the servers on the internet today and has made major inroads as a desktop OS too. Considering its age, it’s pretty incredible to consider how long Unix and Unix-like systems have been around—and how relevant they still are today.^[1]

9 The Ancient Programming Language That Banks Still Run On

When it comes to programming these days, you’re likely to see a lot of references to languages like Go, Rust, and C#. But there’s a programming language that’s been in heavy usage since its debut in 1959 and continues to be the backbone for global finance.

COBOL came about when a group of businesses and the United States government saw the need for a common language that could run on the competing mainframes of the day, with an easily understood English-like syntax. Once the language was complete late in 1959, it was immediately embraced by banks, brokerages, and government agencies like the IRS.

Despite the tech industry’s tendency to embrace the “latest and greatest,” COBOL has remained the de facto standard in financial industries. At the same time, there have been shortages in COBOL programmers for years now, as young coders tend to learn and specialize in newer languages. Plans by banks and government agencies to migrate away from COBOL continue to be put on hold due to the cost and complexity involved in retiring legacy systems. That means our financial systems still run on a language over 60 years old now.^[2]

8 The Very Popular and Very Old Coding Tool

While the average computer user will write text in a word processor, programmers work with a plain text editor. Put simply, plain text is not formatted with the niceties we see in word processors, like multiple fonts, text justification, and formatting. Since computers read code written in plain text, coders need a good editor that allows them to write and edit plain text efficiently.

Many of the popular plain text editors today are actually IDEs (integrated development environments), which help you keep track of all the files in your codebase and revisions in that code. Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code is the most popular IDE today, as it routinely tops developer surveys. But the minimalist (yet powerful) editor Vim is still a popular choice today among coders, which is pretty incredible considering its age.

Vim itself was released in 1991, but its lineage goes back way farther. The Unix app vi (short for “visual”) debuted in 1979 and was itself a newer version of an older tool. A couple of decades after vi, Vim appeared, with its name originally meaning “vi imitation,” but now meaning “vi improved.”

A quick look at Vim may scare off newcomers, as it literally looks like a display of text with no menus or controls. But what makes it so popular with programmers is its modes: Insert mode allows you to insert text, while Normal lets you run commands on your text. Normal mode is the secret weapon, as it enables quick copying, pasting, and other text manipulation without your fingers ever leaving the keyboard. It’s this speed and power that has kept Vim popular, even though its lineage goes all the way back to the creation of Unix in 1969.^[3]

7 A Steve Jobs Failure, Reborn as a Success

In what has become the stuff of business legend, Steve Jobs was forced out of Apple in 1985 after a boardroom showdown with John Sculley. Jobs then took $12 million of his own money and founded a new computer company called NeXT. In 1989, NeXT rolled out its first product, the NeXT Cube, an immaculately designed yet very expensive workstation computer. Priced out of the range of most of the universities and researchers that Jobs thought would be his target market and way past the budget of the home computer user, NeXT would go down in history as one of the most high-profile failures in the industry.

However, those who did buy a NeXT computer during the company’s brief existence had nothing but great things to say about the company’s operating system, NeXTSTEP. Built on top of a Unix core, NeXTSTEP was powerful, flexible, and stable in a way that other operating systems of its day were not. When Apple found themselves needing a revamped operating system for their Mac line, they purchased NeXT in 1997 for $429 million. For that price, Apple got the rights to NeXTSTEP and brought Jobs back into the company.

Apple’s rise after that to become one of the most successful companies in the world is well-documented. But what is often overlooked is the role of NeXTSTEP in that success. It was first retooled as Mac OS X for desktops and laptops, but it is also the basis for iOS on iPhones, the iPad OS, and even TV OS on Apple TV boxes. Although it goes by different names now, the 30-plus years of NeXTSTEP make it one of the oldest operating systems still in active development today.^[4]

6 A Standard for Downloading and Sharing Files

If you’ve spent any time downloading files from the internet or sharing them with others, you’ve run across ZIP files. But what are they? In technical terms, ZIP is a compression format, which means it takes an existing file and makes it smaller. Once the ZIP file reaches its destination, it can be decompressed to return the file to its original state. This not only saves space but also helps files to transfer across networks quicker, avoiding corruption in the process. There are many other compression formats, but ZIP has outlasted them all, which is pretty incredible considering that the format is in its fourth decade of use.

Created by programmer Phil Katz at his company PKware in 1989, the ZIP file format predates the modern internet. Given the very high price per megabyte of hard drives in the 1980s, ZIP was one of many compression tools to come out at the time. But its ease of use, and its later ubiquity across nearly all computing platforms, have made ZIP the standard for file compression since then.

Another aspect of ZIP’s long lifespan is its usefulness in general file handling. Microsoft’s standard Office file formats (for example, DOCX for Word and XLSX for Excel) are actually ZIP files underneath the hood. This allows Microsoft to essentially combine several different files into what appears as one file, allowing for compatibility with other office applications.^[5]

5 The Big Computers of Yesteryear

When thinking of the history of computers, it’s easy to recall that they used to be giant mainframes that filled whole rooms but now have eventually shrunk to desktop computers and handheld devices. But the truth is, mainframes are still with us today and still perform critical business functions for companies all over the world. A 2021 survey showed that 67 of the Fortune 100 still use mainframes.

Mainframes got their name from the cabinets on large computers that hold the CPU and main memory—the “main frame.” While today’s mainframes share the same construction and size as their mid-20th century counterparts, the computing power has definitely increased over time. What hasn’t changed is the reliability in processing many transactions per second that mainframes are known for.

And in today’s computing landscape, mainframes are learning new tricks. In addition to running legacy systems like COBOL applications, modern mainframes provide the backbone for cloud computing and running virtual machines simultaneously. Not just a relic of the past, mainframes are actually a key component of our tech-oriented world today.^[6]

4 The Peripheral That Won’t Go Away

It’s hard to imagine computing without some sort of keyboard, whether for typing text or issuing instructions to the computer. And at this point, it should also be assumed that the computer mouse is here to stay too.

The first prototype mouse was created in 1964 by Douglas Engelbart, who was then a Director of the Augmentation Research Center at Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, California. But the mouse’s entry into mainstream culture can really be traced to 1979 when a group of Apple engineers and executives led by Steve Jobs visited the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC).

It was on this trip that Jobs first saw computers with icons, windows, a mouse, and other technologies that had been developed at PARC. Convinced (quite correctly) that this was the future of personal computing, Jobs took this information back to Apple. By 1983, Apple had shipped its first computer with a mouse, the Lisa, followed by the first Macintosh in 1984.

Since then, the mouse has become an essential part of personal computing. Not bad for a piece of hardware designed in the 1960s and, save for some technical improvements and ergonomic changes, is more or less the same here in the 21st century.^[7]

3 Modern Networking Is Really Old

Another innovation developed at Xerox PARC—which Steve Jobs admitted that he totally overlooked during his 1979 visit—was a workgroup of personal computers networked together, providing the ability to share files and resources like networked printers. It’s something we take for granted today, especially considering the giant worldwide network that is “The Internet.” But it was all made possible thanks to Ethernet.

Bob Metcalfe invented Ethernet in 1973 at Xerox PARC. The company patented it in 1975, and it was later made an open standard. For wired network connections, Ethernet is the absolute standard, but it’s not because there haven’t been other options over the years. Competing connectivity options like Token Ring, FDDI, and Apple’s LocalTalk all competed with Ethernet at one point or another over the last five decades. Yet Ethernet has remained the standard.

But what about WiFi? It was actually created as a wireless variant of Ethernet, and its official name as a recognized standard is, in fact, “wireless Ethernet 802.11.” So while Ethernet has gotten faster and gone wireless over time, it’s essentially the same concept today as what Metcalfe came up with in the 1970s.^[8]

2 The Internet Protocol Predates the Internet

You’ve probably seen your computer’s TCP/IP settings at some point, but what is it? Suffice to say, it’s complicated and best left to qualified network engineers. But from a 20,000-foot view, TCP is the Transmission Control Program, which regulates how data travels over the internet. The Internet Protocol defines your address on the ‘net and how the data is routed to you. What may be most interesting about these two is that they were developed years in advance of the dawn of the public internet in the 1990s.

The precursor to the public internet was the ARPANET, a creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the United States Department of Defense. And it turns out TCP/IP was developed and refined there over the 1970s and 1980s, with two men—Robert E. Kahn and Vinton Cerf—being credited as forefathers of the protocols. In reality, it was very much of a work in progress, with TCP first replacing earlier protocols in 1974. Kahn and Cerf later realized the growth of the network was not feasible without breaking out the addressing and routing into a separate protocol. Thus in 1983, the Internet Protocol was created. TCP/IP as we know it today was now in place.

If it weren’t for the legwork done on the ARPANET, the internet would not have been ready for the public in the 1990s. The work of Kahn and Cerf may be positively ancient in technology terms today, but thankfully it has proven robust enough to scale up to the massive global network we enjoy today.^[9]

1 Email Is as Old as Networked Computing

Even though a lot of us dread looking at our email inboxes these days since it is likely full of spam, promotional offers, and more work to do, it is still an essential part of daily computing. If you have no love for email these days, try and imagine how exciting it must have been in its early days, when sending a message across computers seemed like something from the future.

Not surprisingly, ARPANET was the network that facilitated the first email delivery. On October 29, 1969, UCLA professor Leonard Kleinrock and his student and programmer Charley Kline sat down to send a message over ARPANET to another programmer, Bill Duvall, at Stanford Research Institute. The message was to be one word: “login.” And the system crashed right after the “o” was typed!

Thankfully, the message was able to be sent successfully about an hour later, and that was the birth of email. Was that a good thing? That’s for each person to decide, but considering the longevity of email and the many billions of messages that have been sent since 1969, it’s definitely worth noting that one of the oldest computer technologies is still with us as a part of everyday life.^[10]