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Who Killed Rasputin?

2010-09-18T01:01:00.000-07:00

The programme-makers re-opened the investigation into his death and found conclusive evidence to suggest that Rasputin was murdered in St Petersburg in 1916 in a plot hatched by rogue members of the British Secret Service – with a fatal shot fired at close range by Secret Agent Oswald Rayner.

The documentary is based on extraordinary new evidence uncovered by intelligence historian, and programme consultant, Andrew Cook.

In addition, BBC Timewatch brought in Richard Cullen, former Metropolitan Police Commander, and a trainer of police cadets in forensic detective work in Russia, to re open the case.

Re-examining the original autopsy reports, Richard Cullen found that the original explanation for Rasputin’s death did not tally with the forensic evidence.

In particular, he questions one of the key autopsy photographs which shows a gunshot wound situated in the centre of Rasputin’s forehead, which bears the hallmarks of a professional assassination.

The accepted version of Rasputin’s death states that he was poisoned, then shot, and finally drowned in the River Nevka by five disaffected aristocrats, led by Prince Felix Yusupov.

The conspirators were said to be concerned about Rasputin’s influence on Tsar Nicholas II, and his wife Tsarina Alexandra.

Over the years historians have questioned Yusupov’s version of events but failed to come up with credible alternative theories.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

Streets of Plenty

2010-09-18T01:00:00.001-07:00

An unprecedented look into the underworld of Vancouver’s downtown east-side ghetto. This 65 minute documentary follows one man’s 30 day experiment of joining the thousands of homeless, ill, and addicted, who survive the streets of Vancouver’s cold, wet December.

He starts off with nothing but a pair of underwear. Where he ends up is a place he never knew existed, even though its a place he passed by every day.

He has no money, no friends, no family, and most importantly, no home. He must navigate the institutions, policies and services alongside the thousands of people that call Vancouver’s streets home.

This is the perfect film for anyone who wants to see first hand what life is like on Vancouver’s streets, but doesn’t want to risk murder from gang violence, contracting a fatal or chronic disease, or a life-long addiction to crack or heroin. Official Selection 2009 Queens International Film Festival and Official Selection 2010 Oxford FIlm Festival.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

Genesis

2010-09-18T00:58:00.000-07:00

Just like the director did some ago in Microcosmos, this is a project in which we can see the advances of film-making, the one that can show us images that we had never seen before.

From the crystallization of Vitamin C through and electronic microscope, to the sea horses love dance, from the amazing life of the walking fish to the love parakeets, from the beautiful dance of Jellyfish to the lava rivers, every single image is filled with color, life, joy and some kind of mystery.

Blending humor with seriousness innocence with wisdom an African griot uses the evocative language of myth and fable to relate the birth of the universe and the stars the fiery beginnings of our planet and the appearance of life on earth featuring animals as the main players.

Genesis is one of the most fascinating and relevant documentaries. It is an account of the beginning of everything, but focuses most especially on the nature of life on our planet.

The truths contained in this film and the fashion in which they are masterfully woven into a much broader, overall picture are compelling, the imagery is mesmerizing, and for anyone who is truly interested in the essence and mannerisms of life as we know it, this film is an excellent introduction to a fuller, more complete understanding.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

The Ancient Maya: Tools of Astronomy

2010-09-18T00:57:00.001-07:00

Star-gazing reached incredible heights thousands of years before the Hubble. Learn the amazing advances made by the great ancient culture of Central America.

Take another fascinating trip through time to discover the precursors from centuries or even millennia ago of todays cutting-edge technological breakthroughs. Using the latest scholarship, hands-on demonstrations, and dramatic reenactments, The Ancient Maya: Tools of Astronomy shows just how far ahead of their times they really were.

Without the aid of magnifying technology or even a firm idea of where they stood on the planet, the Mayan grasp of the universe through astrological observation was simply stunning. Host Michael Guillen travels to Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula to get a firsthand look at the ancient world’s most skilled astronomers.

Climb the giant pyramid of Kukulkan and see how it functioned as a giant solar observatory. Examine El Caracol at Tikal, which looks amazingly like a modern day observatory. Learn how the Maya used the sun to lay out their various temples and observatories and examine their incredibly complex and accurate calendar.

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Natural World: The Chimpcam Project

2010-09-18T00:50:00.001-07:00

How does a chimpanzee see the world? A research project at Edinburgh Zoo is designed to answer just that question in an innovative new way – by training chimps to use video touch screens and giving them a special chimp-proof camera.

How will they react to tools which in evolutionary terms are a few million years ahead of them?

As chimp specialist Betsy Herrelko finds out, trying to communicate with chimps using video technology has its trials and tribulations as power struggles, bites and fights get in the way of the hairy chimp directors.

However, by the end of the programme we are privileged to see the world’s first film shot by chimpanzees.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

The Great Wall of China

2010-09-18T00:48:00.001-07:00

It was the most ambitious building project ever attempted in the history of mankind. And its story has been almost impossible to tell – until now.

Based on astonishing new archaeological finds and extraordinary first-person accounts, Great Wall of China tells the story of one of the greatest wonders the world has ever known. It’s more than 3,000 miles in length and was built in just 20 years by a workforce of nearly two million using technology and construction techniques that continue to inspire awe even today.

The story of its building, one of human drama, labor and loss, is told in this film through three individuals, each one central to the tale. Thirteen-year-old Emperor Muzong, whose Kingdom is pushed to the brink of destruction by invading Mongolian warriors, demands that a wall be built that can never be breached again.

General Qi Jiguang, a military hero and engineering genius, is tasked with overseeing the largest workforce ever assembled on earth. And Zhou Li, an ordinary soldier, is forced to work in conditions of unimaginable hardship but ultimately finds sanctuary and peace in the shadow of this great wall.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

The Universe – Season 3

2010-09-18T00:46:00.000-07:00

hot in HD with stunning footage from NASA and state of the art CGI graphics, History (TM) brings the beauty and mysteries of the cosmos home to viewers with The Universe: Season 3.

We once considered ourselves to be at the center of the universe – now we know that we are just a small speck in a giant cosmos.

This season, The Universe ventures outside of our solar system in another epic exploration of the universe and its mysteries. Discover “alcohol clouds,” which are filled with organic molecules, and learn about a hypothetical planet that may exist beyond Neptune.

Click on the links bellow to watch the episodes from this season.
Please read FAQ No.10 before watching.

1. Deep Space Disasters. The history of space disasters and the potential for danger in space – from explosive launches, fiery reentries, fire in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, deadly micrometeoroid impacts, catastrophic solar flares and a host of other space hazards astronauts risk on every mission. Also discussed are what could happen if a ship encounters a black hole or gamma-ray burst.

2. Parallel Universes. The theory of the multiverse – the possibility of parallel dimensions existing where Earth and everyone on it are duplicated many times over, and how physicists search for evidence of these doppleganger realities using state of the art particle colliders that can detect higher dimensions of existence.

3. Light Speed. The speed of light, the ultimate speed limit enforced by the laws of the universe, and how scientists are looking for ways to exceed it; a look at what happens when we reach the “light barrier”; what could happen if we surpass it, and how the “cosmic constant” can be manipulated.

4. Sex in Space. Experiments in human sexuality in space; the psychology of relationships and reproduction that must be addressed if mankind wish to colonize other planets; how pregnancy and birth could be handled in microgravity and the complications that could arise under such conditions; and the answer to whether or not sex has already been attempted during a space mission.

5. Alien Faces. How differently life on Earth has evolved between animals, from the deep ocean to those on land, their environments played a role in their design; and an imaginative look at how similar life could take form under vastly different environments of alien worlds.

6. Deadly Comets and Meteors. How comets and meteors played a role in the formation of the solar system; their possible role in the extinction of the dinosaurs; and the theories that cometary dust could bring alien viruses to Earth.

7. Living in Space. How human colonies could exist in space, from domed cities to underground bases, to orbital habitats, to hollowed-out asteroids. Also a look at how robots will play a role in space survival; how food will be grown; the advances in space suit and equipment technology; and a look at how resources could be gathered and processed to sustain such otherworldly colonies.

8. Stopping Armageddon. Some of the ideas scientists are exploring to save Earth one day from an inevitable meteor impact, including ways to divert near-Earth objects (NEOs) with laser beams, nuclear bombs, solar sails, satellites that act as artificial gravity sources, and rocket engines that could attach to and push them out of Earth’s path.

9. Another Earth. How astronomers search for other Earth-like planets around other stars; which stars are candidates for possible discovery; and how techniques develop and the sensitivity of equipment improve will make finding another Earth just a matter of time.

10. Strangest Things. Some of the most bizarre things in the universe such as odd moons, strange stars, exotic particles, mysterious black holes, and invisible dark matter.

11. Edge of Space. The prospects for the commercialization space, from $20 million dollar vacation trips to the ISS, the possibility of orbital hotels, and spaceplane flights 120 miles above the Earth are just the beginning. Also a look at the hazards, such as cosmic radiation and space debris, that could spell disaster for these outerspace endeavors.

12. Cosmic Phenomena. Various cosmic phenomena, both “good” – such as the beauty of the aurora borealis, the thrill of a meteor shower, the miracle of photosynthesis, and the “bad” – such as UV radiation that can “get under our skin”, and solar flare activity that can not only scramble electronics, but could threaten life on Earth.

Columbus’ Lost Voyage

2010-09-18T00:45:00.001-07:00

The true story of Christopher Columbus was not only one of victorious discovery; it was also marked by disaster, accusation, and betrayal.

Ten short years after his discovery of the New World, Columbus languished in a Caribbean prison.

There, awaiting the gallows, he plotted what he called his most treacherous voyage – one that ended with the loss of all four of his ships and left Columbus and his crew shipwrecked with little hope of survival.

Now, the History Channel brings to life the perilous catastrophes and dizzying triumphs of Columbus last voyage.

Popular historian, explorer, and acclaimed author of The Last Voyage of Columbus, Martin Dugard, travels in the wake of the great explorer, visiting the key sites of Columbus discoveries and disasters, such as Panama, Jamaica, and Hispaniola, reliving one of history s most epic – and forgotten – adventures.

Interviews with local experts and dramatic recreations reveal the truth about the last, untold journey, and paint an intimate portrait of this complex and courageous hero.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

The Zen Mind

2010-09-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism. The Japanese word Zen is derived from the Chinese word Chán, which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyana, which means “meditation” or “meditative state.”

Zen emphasizes experiential prajna in the attainment of enlightenment. As such, it de-emphasizes theoretical knowledge in favor of direct realization through meditation and dharma practice.

The teachings of Zen include various sources of Mahayana thought, including the Prajnaparamita literature and the teachings of the Yogacara and Tathagatagarbha schools.

The emergence of Zen as a distinct school of Buddhism was first documented in China in the 7th century CE. From China, Zen spread south to Vietnam, and east to Korea and Japan. As a matter of tradition, the establishment of Zen is credited to the South Indian prince-turned-monk Bodhidharma, who came to China to teach a “special transmission outside scriptures, not founded on words or letters”.

Watch the full documentary now

The Universe – Season 2

2010-09-18T00:40:00.000-07:00

The 18 episodes from Season Two cover an appropriately wide range of topics, from “Cosmic Holes” to “Cosmic Collisions,” from supernovas to gravity. There are episodes about the weather in space, the largest objects in space (hint: they’re really, really big, like the so-called “cosmic web” of galaxies, which is a hundred million billion times bigger than Earth), and traveling to and colonizing space.

The amount of information and data provided is enormous. Jargon abounds, including terms like “lunar transient phenomena,” “pulsar planets,” “hot Jupiters,” “dark matter” and “dark energy,” “collisional families,” the “heavy bombardment period,” and many, many more.

Click on the links bellow to watch the episodes from this season.
Please read FAQ No.10 before watching.

1. Alien Planets. The science of planet hunting; astronomers explain the technology and methods used to find extra-solar planets – worlds outside our solar system orbiting other stars; and a look at some of the most interesting planets that have been discovered, such as “Hot Jupiters” and “Super-Earths.”

2. Cosmic Holes. The mysteries of black holes and theories about the existence of other kinds of holes, such as “mini” or microscopic black holes that exist at the atomic level; “white holes” – the opposite of black holes where matter is eject out; and “wormholes” – gateways in hyperspace that connect points in space and time and possibly lead to other dimensions.

3. Mysteries of the Moon. The Moon and the role it has played in the history of mankind – how it was once worshiped as a god; used as a timekeeper by farmers; a beacon for sailors at sea; and how it effects ocean tides and the behavior of animals. Also discussed is the transient lunar phenomenon which has baffled scientists for centuries.

4. The Milky Way. A tour of the Milky Way; a look at the massive black hole with the mass of thousands of suns, that lies at its center; how the death of old stars provide the material to create new ones; and how stars from the galactic center are being catapulted beyond the outer arms at unimaginable speeds.

5. Alien Moons. Kuiper belt objects and the moons of the solar system such as volcanic Io, ice covered Europa, and cloud covered Titan; scientists and physicist theorize as to what discoveries could be found there.

6. Dark Matter/Dark Energy. The theory of dark matter – the undetectable mass thought to make up 96% of the universe, and dark energy – the unseen force that is expanding the universe. Physicists use the latest cutting-edge technology and conduct groundbreaking experiments in an attempt to discover more about these mysterious forces.

7. Astrobiology. The science of astrobiology – the search for life in space by combining the disciplines of astronomy, biology and geology; a look at how life could evolve on planets vastly different than Earth; and a trip to an area in Australia to search for the oldest forms of life on Earth and what it could teach us about life on other worlds.

8. Space Travel. Some revolutionary ideas about travel in space, from ship designs to innovative methods of propulsion such as solar sails and laser beams. Also a look at antimatter as a power source and the possibilities of faster-than-light travel that could make the greatest science fiction dream a reality.

9. Supernovas. The sensational death of stars in supernova explosions which shine as bright as a 100 billion suns and release jets of high-energy matter as gamma-ray bursts and x-ray radiation. Also a look at supernovas recorded throughout history and how stardust creates the building blocks of planets and life.

10. Constellations. Some of the 88 constellations in the sky which are arrangements of stars that form a picture or symbol. Also how ancient civilizations developed and used them for navigation and exploration.

11. Unexplained Mysteries. Some of the myths, misconceptions and facts about the universe, from life on Mars to whether or not time travel is possible and if Einstein’s theories of relativity could support it.

12. Cosmic Collisions. Cosmic shooting gallery of the universe; what happens during comet, asteroid and planetary collisions; the effects of mass extinction impacts; what happens when stars collide, and when entire galaxies merge together.

13. Colonizing Space. The efforts underway to establish permanent human colonies on the Moon and Mars; how food will be grown and waste recycled and eventually the plans to terraform Mars to make it more habitable for humans.

14. Nebulas. The “art gallery of the galaxy” – amazing regions of space, where old stars die and new ones are born. Astronomers reveal the techniques and technology used to capture the details and wonder of these distant objects, many of which are too far away to be seen by the naked eye.

15. Wildest Weather in the Cosmos. Bizarre weather phenomena on other worlds in our solar system such as tornadoes with 6,000 MPH winds, and rain made of iron.

16. Biggest Things in Space. The biggest things in the universe, such as the cosmic web which connects galaxies together along threads of dark matter or the Lyman-alpha blob which is a bubble containing countless galaxies. Also a look at super-galaxies, super massive black holes, “radio lobes” and the biggest void in space.

17. Gravity. The forces of gravity and the role it plays in the formation of the universe and the objects within it; how weightlessness affects astronauts in space, and how pilots experience the effects of gravity in their training on the “vomit comet”.

18. Cosmic Apocalypse. How the universe could end with various theories explored such as a “random quantum fluctuation” where everything is obliterated in the blink of an eye; where all energy is consumed and ends in a “cosmic ice age”; where everything collapses into black holes and disappears, and how there is nothing we can do to prevent the cosmic doomsday.

Discovering Religion

2010-09-18T00:38:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Discovering Religion – an original series on the discrepancies between a literalistic belief in religious mythologies and the cold, hard facts of evolution and 21st Century scientific discoveries of the Earth and Universe.

Here is an excerpt from the YouTube channel description of the maker of this documentary: “I have been asked on multiple occasions to clarify the nature of my beliefs, as the title of my series is a little ambiguous. Neither I nor anyone else can say with 100% certainty whether “God(s)” does or does not exist.

Therefore, the aim of this series is to examine what religious philosophies tell us about where we are from and where we are going, then compare and contrast these views against the indisputable facts discovered about the Earth and Universe through rigorous scientific investigation. From my own investigation of these facts I’ve determined the Bible inaccurately describes the known Universe and therefore is not something in which I can place my belief.

Although I have come to understand the Abrahamic God is very unlikely to exist, I want my series to convey a sense of objectivity. There has been a recent trend among many popular atheist channels on YouTube to bash religion or look down on those for believing in a higher power. I see no difference between this and passing moral judgment on someone for being gay or for holding a contrary political view.

Theist or atheist, gay or straight, republican or democrat, etc., etc. – it makes no difference what you believe or how you feel best to live your life, so long as the same rights and freedoms that you enjoy are extended to everyone else.

I hope both theists and non-theists can equally enjoy this series. I understand there are many different ways in which to lead one’s life, and although many of us may personally disagree with one another on moral, religious, or philosophical grounds, opposing views should be respected. However, our respect of the FACTS must come before all else.”

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

After Rome – Holy War And Conquest

2010-09-18T00:32:00.001-07:00

In the first episode of this two-part series, Boris Johnson travels to France, Spain, Egypt, Israel, Syria and Turkey to investigate the early beginnings of what some people now call ‘the clash of civilizations.’ This is the idea that the two historically opposed religious cultures of Christianity and Islam are locked into a never-ending cycle of mutual antipathy, distrust and violence. Is this really true?

There have been many ‘clashes’ between Christianity and Islam in the period Boris Johnson examines in this series, 632 to 1492. But the real historical picture is far more subtle, interesting and optimistic than the clichés of a clash of civilization might suggest. This first programme looks at the early history of Islam; the extraordinary series of conquests that gained for it half the territories of the old Roman empire in just 80 years; the rich and sophisticated civilisation Islam produced; the relationships between Muslims, Jews and Christians; and the background to the crusades.

In the second part Boris Johnson travels to France, Spain, Egypt, Israel, Syria and Turkey to continue his investigation into the early beginnings of what some people now call ‘the clash of civilizations’. He begins by looking at the crusades, and the way they are viewed in the west and in the Muslim world today. But Boris finds that the realities of the crusades are far more subtle than modern attitudes to them would have us believe.

As with many current entrenched positions about the so-called ‘clash of civilisations,’ such attitudes are often a rewriting of history in the light of later events. In this programme Boris Johnson also looks at the Sack of Constantinople, when Latin Christians fought eastern Christians, leading eventually to the fall of the city to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. He looks too at the Reconquista in Spain, which culminated in the wholesale expulsion of Jews and Muslims. At every turn of his journey, Boris Johnson finds that the real history is a good deal more subtle and interesting than the fictions that have grown up around it.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great

2010-09-05T02:02:00.000-07:00

In the footsteps of Alexander the Great In this award winning adventure Micheal Wood embarks on a 2000 mile journey in the foot steps of Alexander’s triumphal march from Greece to India. Traveling with Lebanese traders, Iranian pilgrims and Afghan guerrillas, by jeep, train, boat, camel and on foot, he interweaves the momentous events of the past with present day reality and brings us new insights into a man whose myth and achievements still resonate down the centuries.

He was one of the most successful military commanders in history, and was undefeated in battle. By the time of his death, he had conquered most of the world known to the ancient Greeks. Following the unification of the multiple city-states of ancient Greece under the rule of his father, Philip II of Macedon (a labour Alexander had to repeat because the southern Greeks rebelled after Philip’s death), Alexander conquered the Persian Empire, including Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Gaza, Egypt, Bactria and Mesopotamia and extended the boundaries of his own empire as far as the borders of Punjab.

Before his death, Alexander had already made plans to also turn west and conquer Europe. He also wanted to continue his march eastwards in order to find the end of the world, since his boyhood tutor Aristotle had told him tales about where the land ends and the Great Outer Sea begins. Alexander integrated foreigners into his army, leading some scholars to credit him with a “policy of fusion.” He encouraged marriage between his army and foreigners, and practiced it himself. After twelve years of constant military campaigning, Alexander died, possibly of malaria, West Nile virus, typhoid, viral encephalitis or the consequences of heavy drinking.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

The Most Evil Men in History

2010-09-05T02:00:00.000-07:00

This series of programmes consists of episodes which profile evil men throughout history who have used their power to torture, kill, maim and eradicate millions of people.

Attila The Hun. Attila was Khan of the Huns. He is remembered as the epitome of cruelty and rapacity.

Bad King John. He murdered his nephew, inspired the legend of Robin Hood and caused the creation of Magna Carta.

Caligula. The Roman emperor’s reign is a legendary frenzy of lunacy, murder, and perverse sexuality.

Francisco Pizarro. Francisco Pizarro was one of the European explorers who went to South America to colonize it and had natives murdered so he could plunder their gold and silver.

Hitler. Adolf Hitler tried to mold Germany and a large portion of the 20th century into his own twisted design. Luckily for posterity he failed but not before destroying the lives of millions of people.

Idi Amin. Idi Amin rose to become a brutal and utterly ruthless dictator who committed atrocities on his people.

Ivan the Terrible. Ivan IV of Russia, also know as Ivan the Terrible, was the Grand Duke of Muscovy from 1533 to 1547 and was the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of Tsar. He was also a devout theist.

Joseph Stalin. Perhaps 7 million or more people were shot with a total suppression of about 50 million under uncle Joe Stalin. One of the great tyrant’s of the 20th century and indeed any century.

Nero. He brought the entire Roman Empire to the brink of collapse with his legendary excesses and cruelty.

Pol Pot. Responsible for the Killing Fields and Year Zero Pol Pot waged a gruesome war on his own population.

Rasputin. He was an uneducated peasant who gained a reputation as a faith healer. His strange behavior and incredible influence over the imperial family made him notorious and his death made him a legend.

Torquemada. Torquemada tortured and burned thousands of innocent Spaniards and expelled Spains Jewish population. Thomas De Torquemada was head of the Spanish inquisition and was renowned for his cruelty.

Vlad the Impaler. Vlad is best known for the legends of the exceedingly cruel punishments he imposed during his reign and for serving as the primary inspiration for the vampire main character in popular Dracula novel.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

Richard Dawkins: Faith School Menace?

2010-09-05T01:57:00.000-07:00

The number of faith schools in Britain is rising. Around 7,000 publicly funded schools – one in three – now has a religious affiliation.

As the coalition government paves the way for more faith-based education by promoting ‘free schools’, the renowned atheist and evolutionary biologist Professor Richard Dawkins says enough is enough.

In this passionately argued film, Dawkins calls on us to reconsider the consequences of faith education, which, he argues, bamboozles parents and indoctrinates and divides children.

The film features robust exchanges with former Secretary of State for Education Charles Clarke, Head of the Church of England Education Service Reverend Janina Ainsworth, and the Chair of the Association of Muslim Schools, Dr Mohammed Mukadam.

It also features insights from child psychologists and key players in faith education as well as insights from both parents and pupils.

Dawkins also draws on his own personal history as a father, arguing that the government must stop funding new faith schools, and urges society to respect a child’s right to freedom of belief.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

Engineering an Empire: The Maya and The Aztecs

2010-09-01T03:45:00.001-07:00

At the height of its glory, this mysterious civilization ruled a territory of 125,000 square miles across parts of Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize. What began as a modest population of hunters and gatherers expanded into more than forty flourishing city-states who engineered sky-high temple-pyramids, ornate palaces and advanced hydraulic systems.

Where did they come from and what catastrophes caused the collapse of this innovative civilization? From the Temple-Pyramids at Tikal, to the royal tomb at Palenque, to the star observatory at Chichén Itzá, this episode will examine the architecture and infrastructure that enabled the rise and fall of the ancient Maya civilization.

Watch the full documentary now (The Maya)

In less than 200 years the Aztec’s transformed themselves from a band of wandering nomads to the greatest civilization the New World had ever known. What records remain of this amazing feat indicate they did it through brilliant military campaigns and by ingeniously applying technology to master the harsh environment they faced.

They built their capital city where no city should have been possible: in the middle of a lake. The Aztec also practiced human sacrifice on an unprecedented scale and made many enemies. By the time the Spaniards landed they had no trouble recruiting tribal allies to destroy the Aztecs. Watch with host Peter Weller as we examine the architecture and infrastructure behind the New World’s greatest, and last, indigenous society.

Watch the full documentary now (The Aztecs)

Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin’ with the Godmother

2010-09-01T03:43:00.001-07:00

If you liked Cocaine Cowboys, you’ll like this one too. True story of the cocaine queen who makes Tony Montana look like Mother Teresa.

Set on the inner-city streets of Oakland, California, cocaine dealer Charles Cosby has his life is changed forever when he writes a fan letter to the “Cocaine Godmother” Griselda Blanco, who is serving time at a nearby federal prison.

Six months later, Cosby is a multi-millionaire, Blanco’s lover, and the head of her $40 million a year cocaine business.

Also known as “The Black Widow” for her propensity to permanently dispose of her men when she’s done with them, Blanco will stop at nothing to ensure that Charles is faithful to her. Cosby soon learns that he’s in way over his head.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

Foundational Falsehoods of Creationism

2010-09-01T03:40:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why creationism sounds like limp science? Wonder no more. Sit back & enjoy the ride as AronRa takes you on a Magical Mystery Tour of Blunderland.

The U.S. population seems pretty evenly divided over whether the human species is biologically related to other animals or whether we were “specially-created” as part of a flurry of miracles.

Even our collective politicians – seemingly all of them – are wrapped up in this controversy. Yet its hard to find even one of them who knows what its about.

Why is it that there is such concern in so many grade schools (K thru 12) about teaching evolution, yet there is still a complete consensus among scientists all over America and the rest of the world – that evolution is the backbone of modern biology, and a demonstrable reality historically as well?

Most people really don’t understand science; what it is, how it works, what hypotheses and theories are, or even the purpose behind it. Sadly even those on your school faculty or state Board of Education often need an education themselves before they can be trusted to govern how or what our kids will be taught.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

Secrets of the Maya Underworld

2010-08-29T04:08:00.001-07:00

Unlike other great civilizations such as the Romans and the Ancient Egyptians, the Mayan empire did not arise from the banks of a mighty river.

Much of the Mayan world is in fact devoid of even the smallest river or lake. Then why did they populate Yucatan? The Maya believed that the freshwater pools, ‘cenotes’, dotted across the area were sacred portals to the underworld.

They are indeed portals, but rather to an incredible underground labyrinthine systems of rivers. Only now being properly explored and understood, this secret world was created by nature in a unique chain of dramatic events.

Underneath the jungle-clad Mayan temples of Yucatan lies a world even more mysterious, even more incredible than the Maya could have ever imagined.

A whole food chain has been found in the cenotes deepest recesses — over 20 species that have never seen the light of day. Some of the underground caverns are not totally full of water… incredibly, they are home to thousands of bats.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

18th Street Gang

2010-08-29T04:06:00.001-07:00

18th Street is considered the largest gang in Los Angeles, California, and is a strong armed transnational Latino criminal gang.

It is estimated that there are thousands of members in Los Angeles County alone. There are approximately 200 separate individual autonomous gangs operating under the same label within separate barrios in the San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Valley, the South Bay, South Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles, Pico Union, Inglewood, Cudahy, and Orange County, according to the latest figures from the NDIC.

Their wide-ranging activities and elevated status has even caught the eye of the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who recently initiated wide-scale raids against known and suspected gang members netting hundreds of arrests across the country.

Although most members are Mexican, membership is open to other backgrounds, including Central American, Middle Eastern, Asian, African American and Caucasian. 18th Street have an organized hierarchy. It is unknown who is at the top.

On the streets, there are the Shotcallers, their Lieutenants, and the foot-soldiers beneath them. Although the gang is well networked throughout the Los Angeles, there is no known central leadership nationally or internationally. Cliques generally function independently, but will join forces when combating rival gangs or law enforcement.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

Ben Stein’s Flunked: No Intelligence Applied

2010-08-29T04:02:00.000-07:00

Expelled : No Intelligence Allowed subjected viewers to the fact burning, logic twisting, psychedelic head trip of Intelligent Design propagandists and their conspiracy-theory ravings.

This under-appreciated exposé by YouTubes own PrometheusWithLight delves into the seedy underworld of ID and it’s noisy, clumsy, paper trail laying transmutation from Creation Science, meticulously dismantling claims of Academic Intolerance.

ID propagandists continually whine that Mainstream Science is suppressing evidence of Forethought and Design in nature, and that ID research is being similarly suppressed.

The reality? They conduct NO research; They submit NO studies for publication. Hard to suppress the nonexistent. Fun for the whole family, you’ll cheer as the films Archetypal hero, Prometheus, valiantly exposes Fundie Doublespeak to the Light of reason.

If you hated or even liked Expelled, this is the must see movie.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

The Secret of Oz

2010-08-29T03:45:00.000-07:00

In 1996, in a documentary called The Money Masters, we asked the question why is America going broke. It wasn’t clear then that we were, but it is today. Now the question is how can we get out of this mess. Foreclosures are everywhere, unemployment is skyrocketing – and this is only the beginning. America’s economy is on a long, slippery slope from here on. The bubble ride of debt has come to an end.

What can government do? The sad answer is – under the current monetary system – nothing. It’s not going to get better until the root of the problem is understood and addressed. There isn’t enough stimulus money in the entire world to get us out of this hole. Why? Debt. The national debt is just like our consumer debt – it’s the interest that’s killing us.

Though most people don’t realize it the government can’t just issue it’s own money anymore. It used to be that way. The King could just issue stuff called money. Abraham Lincoln did it to win the Civil War. No, today, in our crazy money system, the government has to borrow our money into existence and then pay interest on it. That’s why they call it the National Debt. All our money is created out of debt. Politicians who focus on reducing the National Debt as an answer probably don’t know what the National Debt really is. To reduce the National Debt would be to reduce our money – and there’s already too little of that.

The economy of the U.S. is in a deflationary spiral. Nothing can stop it — except monetary reform.

1. No more national debt. Nations should not be allowed to borrow. If they want to spend, they have to take the political heat right away by taxing.

2. No more fractional reserve lending. Banks can only lend money they actually have.

3. Gold money is NOT the answer. Historically gold ALWAYS works against a thriving middle class and ALWAYS works to create a plutocracy.

4. The total quantity of money + credit in a national system must be fixed, varying only with the population.

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Alien Earths

2010-08-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

Join leading astronomers on a visual journey beyond our solar system in search of planets like Earth.

Using CGI animation, we’ll explore bizarre worlds that stretch our imagination: planets with iron rain and hot ice, with diamonds everywhere, and endless oceans of gas.

Planets with abnormal orbital patterns and planets with no pattern at all that drift alone in the Milky Way. Planets so strange we never could have predicted them before. Could life exist there?

In the search for another Earth, astronomers hope to discover other terrestrial planets. These bodies may have a rocky terrain and may even hold water on their surfaces.

The most Earth-like planet discovered thus far is Gliese 581c, which orbits near the area known as the habitable zone.

This elusive zone, also called the “Goldilocks Zone,” lies between the star and its planets, and may allow life to survive—it is not too hot and not too cold—on the surface of a planet.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)

The Story of English

2010-08-24T00:51:00.001-07:00

The Story of English is the title of an Emmy Award winning nine-part television series, and a companion book, both produced in 1986, detailing the development of the English language. A little bit old but very good.

The book and the television series were written by Robert MacNeil, Robert McCrum and William Cran. The book has been revised twice, once in 1993, and again in 2002.

The documentary series was directed by William Cran, and originally broadcast on BBC and PBS. It was co-produced by MacNeil-Lehrer Productions and the BBC, and was principally funded through a grant from General Foods. The third episode, “A Muse of Fire”, won the 1987 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement – Informational Programming – Writing. The series was released as a 5 tape box set in 2001, running 495 minutes. The book and series have been used in University courses.

Encompassing history, geography, sociology, drama, language, arts, and more, The Story of English takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through the history of the English language. Host Robert MacNeil travels the world to illustrate the language’s global influence. Part travelogue, part linguistics, part history, and all fascinating, the series is a unique blend of solid scholarship and engrossing entertainment.

Episodes included in the playlist: 1. An English Speaking World, 2. The Mother Tongue, 3. A Muse of Fire, 4. The Guid Scots Tongue, 5. Black on White, 6. Pioneer O Pioneer, 7. Muvver Tongue, 8. The Loaded Weapon and 9. Next Year’s Words.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist).
YouTube allows embedding only 50 clips in one playlist, so you have to go there to watch the rest of the this documentary which is around 500 minutes long.

Dark Ages: The Sacking of Rome

2010-08-23T00:36:00.001-07:00

At its height in the second century A.D., the Roman Empire was the beacon of learning, power, and prosperity in the western world.

But the once-powerful Rome – rotten to the core by the fifth century – lay open to barbarian warriors who came in wave after wave of invasion, slaughtering, stealing, and ultimately, settling.

As chaos replaced culture, Europe was beset by famine, plague, persecutions, and a state of war that was so persistent it was only rarely interrupted by peace.

Dark Ages: The Sacking of Rome profiles those who battled to shape the future, from the warlords whose armies threatened to cause the demise of European society, such as Alaric, Charles the Hammer, and Clovis; to the men and women who valiantly tended the flames of justice, knowledge, and innovation including Charlemagne, St. Benedict, Empress Theodora, and other brave souls who fought for peace and enlightenment.

It was in the shadows of this turbulent millennium that the seeds of modern civilization were sown.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist)