Must check out Media

[JourneyAgent]

The purpose of this thread is to gather powerful stories in various media to remind us of the humanities and of the things that are far more important than the stressors or our immediate circumstance. I like comedy and history.

My first pick is historical:

http://m.video.pbs.org/video/2365011461/

"Never Forget to Lie". A documentary film on frontline about the last remaining survivors of a Polish Ghetto.

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[DrMidlife]

I watched a documentary on North Korea on Netflix recently. I had no idea. Totally worthwhile use of time.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0456012/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_games

 

[JourneyAgent]

If you're a comedy fan and even if you're not its hard not to miss the unique style and presence of Mitch Hedberg. Here in an earlier performance without the shades but still uncontrollably nervous and self-conscious but never the less a genius.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6xaj2fC1jI[/YOUTUBE]

 

[deleted480308]

Rabbit proof fence

 

[JourneyAgent]

Rabbit proof fence

Amazing film.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB-jkydqADg[/YOUTUBE]

 

[QofQuimica]

Some good medically themed documentaries:

Oxycontin Express: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7DHMqHFSB8

Supersize Me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z74og9HbTM

Science and the Swastika
1. Hitler's Biological Soldiers: http://vimeo.com/45195203
2. The Deadly Experiment: http://vimeo.com/45209190
3. The Wrong Stuff
4. The Good German

Long time favorite book of mine: Flowers for Algernon. Evidently there's a movie form as well, which I've never seen so can't comment on it.

And nonmedical but an excellent commentary on redemption of the human spirit: Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, again, either book or movie. I especially like the 1999 version with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge.

 

[Birdnals]

If you think you're having a bad day check out the book "The Long Walk" by Slavomir Rawicz. Long story short, a Polish military officer in WWII era get imprisoned by the Soviet Union, sent to a work camp near Siberia, escapes, and sets foot on a several thousand mile trip south through deserts, mountains, etc. Puts things into perspective. "Another Bullsh*t Night in Suck City" is a good one, too. You'll never look at the guy begging for change on the corner the same again.

I'm starting to delve into philosophy as I've always had an interest in studying some of the classic philosophers (Aristotle, Locke, Kant, Nietzsche, etc). To start off I'm making my way through the "Story of Philosophy" by Will Durant as it provides an introduction to a number of philosophers. I figure I'll dive into specifics later.

 

[ChE04]

I'm going to lighten the mood up in here a bit:

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/king_of_kong/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJZ-_bJKdI

All around good guy and middle school science teacher Steve Wiebe attempts to break the 20+ year old Donkey Kong high score set by the delightfully villainous restaurateur Billy Mitchell. Yes, it's a documentary.

 

[Birdnals]

By the way, just wanted to say I think this is a great idea for a thread!