Lauren, good job narrating your process and including many interesting sources. In moving toward a claim I think two things have to happen: 1) I completely agree with John, who said, "Maybe just focus a little more on the origins of these misconceptions than whether or not they are true." You will not be able to make an argument about whether or not a conspiracy theory is true or not, BUT you will be able to look at these theories in terms of folklore and mythology, the reasons why people tell such stories, make such connections. 2) you need to do some library research, and in order to find useful sources I think the above shift in focus will help. Many more academic sources about mythology/folklore and origins of conspiracy theories, than confirming truth or not.

John Knestis (claims)

Maybe just focus a little more on the origins of these misconceptions than whether or not they are true.

#8 - Au Ag

Definitions of Au Ag:

Au Ag: Core Shell
Au Ag: Australian Antigen
Au Ag: Gold Silver

Many theories claim that the Illuminati are going to take over the airport for to form the New World Order. The hypothesis is that a disease called Australian Antigen will kill off the people, and this is their hidden clue to society. Evidently, the Illuminati's weapon of choice to accomplish the genocide is Australian Antigen.

Because the letters are in a train cart, I'm leaning more towards the Gold Silver theory. This is Colorado and we are known for our gold mining after all.

_______________________________________

"The Denver Airport Conspiracy." Skeptoid: Critical Analysis Podcast. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. <http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4194>.

#7 - Artwork and Murals

"Peace and Harmony with Nature"

"Childeren of the World Dream of Peace"

__________________________________________

"The Denver International Airport." The Vigilant Citizen. Web. 14 Mar. 2012. <http://vigilantcitizen.com/sinistersites/sinister-sites-the-denver-international-airport/>.

#6 - Windshield Cracks

On February 16th, 2007, a strange happening occurred at Denver International Airport. Within an hour and a half, 14 aircrafts were reported for issues within their windshields. It was unexplainable because some were taking off, landing, and some were even just sitting in place. The NTSB brought in glass experts to inspect the 22 cracked front and side windshields. The Denver Post claimed the weather changes at the time were a variable, and there were some snow and high winds gusting over 50 mph. However, those are typical weather conditions for DIA. Nine of the airlines were from SkyWest, four from Frontier, and one from Great Lakes. 55 flights were cancelled and a few others were diverted. "Airplane windshields are heavily reinforced and designed to handle travel at hundreds of miles per hour and even deflect collisions with birds. It's truly bizarre," Hodas said. "One theory is that there may have been a power surge while airplanes were connected to auxiliary power at the airport gates. Windshields are electrically heated, and a surge could have somehow weakened them. It's pretty unlikely, but it's the only thing we can think of right now," he added.

Whether or not this has to do with the conspiracies is up to each individual. Some believe it's tied in, others don't. I personally don't think it has to do with it, but more information would be helpful to form my final decision.

________________________________________

"Rash Of Cracked Windshields." AVweb » The World's Premier Independent Aviation News Resource. Ed. Mary Grady. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Cracked_Windshield_Mystery_194513-1.html>.

"13 Planes at DIA Report Cracked Windshields within Two Hour Period -- High Strangeness -- Sott.net." SOTT.net. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.sott.net/articles/show/127262-13-Planes-at-DIA-report-cracked-windshields-within-two-hour-period>.

#5 - Nazi Swastika

The layout of Denver International has a design similar to a Nazi swastika. Personally, I think they could have picked a better design if they didn't want to allude to the Nazi's, but it's anyone's guess on why it's shaped this way. I was unable to find anything explaining why this layout was chosen, and I'm curious to know what makes it more dynamic and practical than other possible designs?

An aerial view of the Denver International Airport

The US Navy Barracks had a base near San Diego that had a similar situation. The building was built back in the 1960's before we had Google Earth or any tools to view an aerial view of it. When a man named James A. was playing around on Google Earth, he noticed that the building looked extremely similar to a Nazi swastika. There was outrage in the community and the Navy received many complaints about how it was offensive. They said they would add solar panels and other additions to make it less similar to the widely offensive symbol. Why doesn't DIA do the same thing, and why don't they respond to the commotion about it?

The US Navy Barracks base near San Diego

#4 - Barbed Wire

There is a rumor that the barbed wire on the surrounding fences points in, rather than out. I've also heard it sticks straight up and that there is nothing unusual about it. The one picture I was able to find appears as if it is straight up, although it's hard to tell. I can't imagine they would have the wire facing inward because that would be a huge suggestion towards something beyond just an airport...such as a concentration camp.

A commercial airline taking off from Denver International - notice there is nothing unusual about the barbed wire fencing.

________________________________________________

"Silhouette of a Plane Taking off behind a Security Fence at Denver International." 123RF Stock Photos. Web. 09 Mar. 2012. <http://www.123rf.com/photo_6620499_silhouette-of-a-commercial-plane-taking-off-behind-a-security-fence-at-denver-international-airport.html>.

#3 - Underground Buildings

Stew Webb used to work out at Denver International and he spills mostly everything he knows about the underground buildings.

Denver Airport Secret Underground by Stew Webb Whistleblower

A closer look at the sketch:

#2 - Flooring

Although imported tile does not seem to have much significance to the flyers passing through the airport, they claim it helps with the flow of people. The company who completed the tile in Denver International was a company called "Colorado Design Inc." They are notorious for not only the tile at DIA, but also the Pepsi Center, Rangeview high school, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and many more. Because they have been around for over 35 years, they are credible and they have their techniques mastered - terrazzo being one of them (a large portion of the flooring at DIA is made of terrazzo).

"Terrazzo consists of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other suitable chips, sprinkled or unsprinkled, and poured with a binder that bonds to the floor surface. Terrazzo is cured, ground and polished to a smooth surface or otherwise finished to produce a uniformly textured surface. Complex shapes, patterns and even images can be rendered in terrazzo" (Denver Area Tile & Terrazzo).

The traditional Native American design appears in the "Great Hall Floor" in Denver International. "The river pattern emerging from the wings of the piece suggests the four rivers of Colorado's Great Divide and the history of our state is told through bronze pictographs embedded in the terrazzo" (DIA).

Colorado Design Inc. claims that Turner Construction Company was the general contractor for the construction of the floor. I searched through all 1,251 projects listed on Turner's website, and Denver International is no where to be found. They have at least ten airport listings, and not one of them was DIA. You would think that such a big airport would be listed under their accomplishments, but it's not.

Analyzing the floor in depth:

(If they had already ran past their budget, why did they spend the money for these small details?)

Sisnaajini: Blanca Peak in Colorado. Known in Navajo as Sisnaajiní or White Shell 

Mountain. It is one of the four sacred mountain representing the East, and it's symbolized with white. There are many Navajo stories surrounding this mountain. It is the fourth highest peak of the Rocky Mountains, and the eighth highest peak in the contiguous United States.

Mt. Blanca: Reference above "Sisnaajini." Why they mention this twice is anyone’s guess. And why they don’t mention these other three that complete the story of the Four scared pillars is anyone’s guess, too.

Dzit Dit Gaii: I find it weird that DIA chose to write this on their floor, as it has no precise translation. I've read many theories but most say it means "white mountain," because "Dzit" translates directly to "white," and "Gaii" translates to "mountain."

Cochetopa: There are many places in Colorado with the name Cochetopa (Cochetopa Pass, Cochetopa National Forest, Cochetopa Hills, Cochetopa Park - although some are currently renamed). 

There are a lot more engravings in the floor, most of which do not have direct translations. There is also an engraving of an American Indian who is decapitated and on a railing, but no one really knows why. The letters "Au Ag" are referenced in the flooring as well but I'll refer back to that later. Either way, it is weird how much money they spent on the small details, but for whatever reason they felt it necessary. I did not find any specific evidence to support that tile was brought it from all over the world, so I'm curious to know where that theory came from. If it is true, I wonder why there are no records of it.

____________________________________

"Denver's Finest Commercial Tile & Terrazzo Contractor." Denver Area Tile & Terrazzo. Web. 09 Mar. 2012. <http://www.cdtat.com/>. 


"Turner Construction Company." Turner Construction Company. Web. 09 Mar. 2012. <http://www.turnerconstruction.com/>.


"Denver International Airport." Denver International Airport. Web. 09 Mar. 2012. <http://www.flydenver.com/>.


"Blanca Peak." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 June 2012. Web. 09 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanca_Peak>.


"Denver Airport Underground Base and Weird Murals." Anomalies Unlimited. Web. 07 Mar. 2012. <http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Denver_Airport.html>.


"Anomalies at Denver Airport." Inicio. Web. 09 Mar. 2012. <http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/esp_sociopol_denver02.htm>.

#1 - Cost

Cost of Denver International Airport - 1995

(Dollars in millions)

Category                                                          Cost
------------------------------------------------------------  --------
Cost to Denver Airport System
 Construction                                                   $3,004
 Airport planning and land                                         261
 Capitalized interest                                              915
 Bond discounts                                                     43
 
 Total cost to Denver Airport System                             4,223
Cost to others
 FAA's facilities and equipment                                    199
 United Airlines' special facilities                               261
 Continental Airlines' special facilities                           73
 Rental car facilities                                              66
 
 Total cost to others                                              599
======================================================================
Total costs of Denver International Airport                     $4,822
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Source:  Based on information from the City and FAA. 

______________________________________________________________________

Cost Estimation for fiscal year - 1996

Cost category                                           Estimated cost
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------
Personnel                                                  $44,125,000
Cleaning                                                    20,648,000
Utilities                                                   19,438,000
Supplies and materials                                       9,681,000
Repairs and maintenance                                      8,374,000
Professional services                                        8,099,000
Police                                                       7,726,000
City interfund services                                      7,014,000
Stapleton International Airport                              5,749,000
Underground train                                            5,662,000
Variable rate bond fees                                      5,142,000
Aircraft rescue and fire fighting                            5,012,000
Management fees                                              4,001,000
Shuttle bus services                                         3,120,000
De-icing facility management fee                             2,027,000
Other contractual services                                   1,431,000
Fuel line fill-up                                              985,000
Miscellaneous                                                  455,000
======================================================================
Total                                                     $158,689,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Source:  DIA data as of June 1, 1995.  GAO examined all budget
estimates exceeding $1 million and concluded they were reasonable. 



Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed selected financial issues relating to the Denver International Airport (DIA), focusing on: 

(1) DIA construction cost growth; 
(2) differences between the DIA financial consultant's report and audited financial statements relating to the Denver Airport System's bond debt; and 
(3) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) jurisdiction over municipal bonds and the status and scope of its DIA investigation.


GAO found that: 

(1) DIA construction costs increased from an estimated $2.08 billion in May 1990 to $3.004 billion in February 1995; 
(2) the cost increases were due to changes in the scope of DIA and capitalized interest increased by $300 million due to the delay in DIA opening; 
(3) the two financial reports on DIA differed mainly due to their different purposes and the different time periods and scopes covered; 
(4) the financial statements covered both DIA and the Stapleton International Airport, while the consultant's report presented financial forecasts only for DIA based on certain assumptions about future events; 
(5) the differences in annual bond debt payments reflected the consultant's assumption that certain bonds would be refinanced in 1995, bond principal would be prepaid, lower interest rates would be paid on variable rate bonds, and passenger facility charges would be used to reduce annual debt service amounts; 
(6) the audited financial statements included all airport system debts while the consultant's report included only DIA construction bond debt; 
(7) municipal bonds are exempt from securities registration requirements and civil liability provisions, but they are subject to antifraud provisions; and 
(8) SEC is investigating DIA disclosures ofits baggage system issues under its antifraud authority.

_______________________________________


"Denver International Airport Construction and Operating Costs." University of Colorado. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. <http://www.colorado.edu/libraries/govpubs/colonumb/dia.htm>.


"U.S. GAO - Denver International Airport: Information on Selected Financial Issues." U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO). Web. 08 Mar. 2012. <http://www.gao.gov/products/AIMD-95-230>.

Conspiracies

The belief is that "Denver International was designed and built by the Illuminati as the headquarters for the global genocide that will trigger the New World Order" (Skeptoid).

A look at the theories and conspiracies:

1. The initial cost of DIA was predicted to be $1.7 billion, however, it ended up costing $4.8 billion.
2. Granite tile was imported from all over the world - Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America - and was used in making the main terminal floor.
3. The construction began with five buildings that were supposedly built wrong. Instead of demolishing the buildings like they would normally do, they were buried intact. It's said that up to eight levels of underground facilities are expected to exist, and when questioned, they are said to be for storage. Different companies were hired to build different parts underground. Shortly after, they were all fired which implies that no one truly knows what the underground looks like.
4. People claim the barbed wire surrounding Denver International Airport points in rather than pointing out.
5. From an aerial view, DIA looks like a Nazi swastika.
6. In 2007, fourteen commercial aircrafts were reported to have spontaneously shattered windshields as the presumed result of electromagnetic pulses.
7. The artwork is a series of four painted drawings that reveal the Illuminati's plans for global genocide and a New World Order. The artwork was painted over many times due to the mass amount of controversy.
8. In front of the large mural, there lies a floor engraving of "Au Ag." Some argue it means "silver" and "gold," but some say it stands for "Australia Antigen."
9. The Queen has secretly bought land on the property of DIA, and supposedly other "Illuminati" members have as well.
10. "The New World Airport Commission" was mentioned on a capstone in the airport, but many say this dedication doesn't exist and is merely an indication to the future.
11. They moved 110 million cubic yards of earth around which is more than when they dug out the Panama Canal.

Now, time to find out if any of this is even true.

________________________________________________


"The Denver Airport Conspiracy." Skeptoid: Critical Analysis Podcast. Web. 07 Mar. 2012. <http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4194>.


"Denver Airport Underground Base and Weird Murals." Anomalies Unlimited. Web. 07 Mar. 2012. <http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Denver_Airport.html>.

Denver International Airport

The Denver International Airport opened the morning after Stapleton Airfield closed. This new airport had little changes from Stapleton, but was said to improve a lot. With five widely-spaced runways operational on opening day, and an efficient terminal and taxiway design, the new airport immediately started paying off. Airport and weather related delays soon became a thing of the past. According to the "First Year Report" from the Denver International Airport, the following statistics were revealed:


• Average weather attritable delays - 3.1 per 1,000 flights vs. Stapleton's 14.9 per 1,000
• December 1995 airport-related delays - Zero for DIA vs. previous Stapleton average of 1,100
• DIA achieved a 120-plane-per-hour arrival rate - 35% higher than Stapleton's good-weather rate, and 275% better than it's previous bad weather rate
• March 1996 (even with a snowfall of 16.4 inches) - DIA ranked #1 in the U.S. for on-time arrivals
• 1996 first-quarter FAA-reported delays dropped to 0.8 per 1,000 flights, which is significantly less than every other major U.S. airport.


However, some disagree with all that and have claimed DIA is the "Most Inconvenient Airport."

___________________________________________


"Stapleton's Final Flight." Web. 07 Mar. 2012. <http://www.geocities.com/~aeromoe/stapleton.html>.


"Denver International: America's Most Inconvenient Airport." , David Kopel, Federico Pena, Independence Institute. Web. 07 Mar. 2012.
<http://davekopel.com/Misc/OpEds/op930300.htm> .

Stapleton Airfield

On October 17th, 1929, the Denver Municipal Airport opened. Later the name was changed to Stapleton Airfield in 1944 due to Benjamin F. Stapleton, the mayor of Colorado from 1923-1947. I watched many videos arguing that Stapleton was shut down for no reason, however, it did have some problems.


• Because of the inadequate separation between the runways, bad weather would cause long waits for everyone.
• Southwest Airlines proposed to use Stapleton for a new destination, however, it was too small to accept the offer.
• The location was inconvenient because of the nearby Park Hill community; there were many complaints over aircraft noise that eventually lead to a lawsuit.

___________________________________________

"Stapleton International Airport." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Feb. 2012. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stapleton_International_Airport>.

Introduction

There are many rumors surrounding the Denver International Airport, and because I am a Colorado native, I'm very curious to what is actually going on. For my college English course I am instructed to research a topic for ten weeks and develop a stance on it. Therefore I am not biased and will record the facts exactly as they are stated. I'm not trying to prove any points; I am just trying to develop them. This is merely an exploratory project that is ready to dive into the files of the possible DIA conspiracies.