Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s 10 episode, 18 hour documentary, The Vietnam War, takes viewers through a time in history that not only shaped millions of people’s lives but  also shaped a culture.    The documentary takes viewers through the history of colonial Vietnam, the rise of Ho Chi Minh, and France’s doomed war, leading viewers into the beginning and ending of the American conflict.  The Vietnam War, is considered one of Burns’s saddest projects as it offers no uplifting message or happy ending.  It simply documents decades of bad decisions following bad decisions all culminating in a time of waste that took millions of lives for nothing.  It points out that the war was started with good intentions by good people but because of misunderstanding, overconfidence and Cold War mistakes, it turned into a tragedy. Continue reading →

For centuries people have been trying to study the history, culture, and languages of their own people; trying to discover where they come from and what their ancestors were like.  Taking this path to discovery can be difficult; however, there is one journal that can help take you in the right direction. “Anthropological Linguistics” allows readers to explore many different aspects of the world, and sets out to help readers explore what makes us human. Continue reading →

On November 15, 2013, the Make a Wish Foundation and the city of San Francisco went out of their way to make a young cancer victim’s greatest wish come true. Miles Scott’s one wish in the whole world was to be Batman and to fight crime.  With the help of the city of San Francisco, the Make a Wish Foundation was able to turn the city by the bay into Gotham City for one day. Along with the help of Batman impersonator Eric Johnston, 200 extras, San Francisco police and fire departments, they were also able to make one small boy feel that for at least one day he was the biggest superhero in the world. Continue reading →

Catherine Bailey’s book, Black Diamonds, opens with the funeral of William the 6th, Earl of Fitzwilliam.  The author uses this as a starting point to not only look into the lives of the aristocrats, but also as a way to focus on the intermingling lives of the aristocrats and the working class. She uses different historical factors such as class differences, the effects of two world wars on England, and how the labor government effectively brought about the end of one of the richest aristocratic families in English history.  She uses this downfall to help readers better understand the history of the coal industry in England. Continue reading →

For centuries mankind has looked up at the night sky wondering what is out there.  Experts and amateurs alike have been striving to answer this question and to help you find the answer, we have Astronomy Magazine.  Continue reading →