Continue reading »]]> One of National Geographic’s better productions – partly due to the interesting nature of the subject – partly due to the wonderful images of the eruption of Mt Unzen in Japan and the more well known eruption at Mt Pinatubo a few years ago. This specific program does well at showing viewers the overall geology, the types of eruption activity, and the much larger disaster mitigation trades. Throughout the movie, it is organized and presented.

To all the “sound and fury” of some of Hollywood’s recent forays in Volcano disaster movie – this one is the best “special effects” – it’s all real!

Some parents have said that this movie is not for the very young, as there are side of the disaster presented that may not be the best for children. (IE – someone dies). But all critics agree that this is one of the best and most informative documentaries on the topic ever made. If you like volcanoes, then this is definitely the movie for you.

It comes highly recommended, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Purchase it on Amazon and save!

Continue reading »]]> In January and February of 1991, coalition forces drove Iraqi forces out of their neighboring country of Kuwait after an invasion that stunned the world and which led to the US involvement in what is now known as the first Gulf War. As these Iraqi forces fled, they set fire to over 700 separate oil wells throughout the small, yet oil rich country. The result of this action was the uncontrollable burning of these oil wells for almost a year. Because of the danger of land mines near the wells, as well as the sheer heat put off by the flames, firefighting teams could not immediately conquer the problem.

Many firefighting teams and oil well specialists were brought in from all over the world to fight the worst firestorm in middle eastern history. Well over a billion dollars was put into the effort, and many soldiers claim that they now suffer medical problems from the intense smoke and carbon that blanketed the region for months after the fires were put out.

Environmentally, the long term effects of burning six million barrels of oil a day are still unknown. Leading scientists claim that the smoke had a significant effect on local weather patterns that year, including hail in areas of the Middle East that had not seen hail before. Because nothing like this had ever happened before, scientists came up with a variety of theories, some of which have yet to be proven or dis-proven.

It was a once in a lifetime event that changed the way we think about oil, the wells in the Middle East, and the way we fight such fires. Though it took a year to put them all out, many intuitive advances came from the process of calming the heat and getting the super hot flames under control including a jet engine fire suppression system. While this year was one of hardship and recovery, the men and women who were there showed just how creative, and persistent, humans can be in light of tragedy.

Want to learn more about the oil fires in Kuwait? Perhaps the best way is through the IMAX dvd title IMAX: Fires of Kuwait (See all Biography Documentaries). Take a trip inside the oil fields with the firefighting teams who faced the beast, and tamed it, helping this tiny country get back onto its feet and back into the global market.

Continue reading »]]> Today marks the tenth anniversary of the only terrorist attack to ever occur on American soil. The result of a coordinated attack involving multiple airliner hijackings was the death of thousands, the entrance into a war that has claimed many more, and the suffering of those who still live with the illnesses caused by working near ground zero that day. It was a day that left a clear and massive impact on our country; one that changed the way things were done throughout the nation, especially in the realm of air travel. It strengthened lines of communication between agencies, and it brought together Americans from sea to shining sea in one massive front that sent a message to the world; we will not stand apart and let this happen. We are one, we are united, and we will not be brought down by and whims of any radical group or person.

The events of 9/11 brought the United States together in a way that has never been seen before. Even in the light of such tragic circumstances, the best of humanity found its way to the surface and heroes emerged. Many of these heroes are not with us today. Many of these heroes gave their lives in the chaos of the attack so that others might live. But they live in on in the memories and the lives of those they saved.

It can be hard to remember the events of that day, especially if you were there. To see the fires, the people jumping from hundreds of floors up, the rubble falling, and the pure chaos. It was the worst day for so many people; a day of loss and a day where the ones they loved disappeared. So many lives gone in the blink of an eye. So many futures left unlived.

So today we remember the events of this day ten years ago. To those who were there, may you find peace in the silence of the night. To those who died there, you will never be forgotten. To those who lost loved ones, may you find solace knowing that their names will be forever engraved in the memories of this nation. To those who still fight against the evil forces that brought this attack to our own soil, we thank you and are forever in your debt.

Continue reading »]]> Few times in history has a plane crash impacted such a concentrated amount of people. Looking back, it is easy to think of a few. The Bashkortostan school children on a school trip, aboard Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937 were among the deceased in a mid air collision with DHL Flight 611 in the dark skies above Überlingen. Another devastating example is the loss of the Marshall College football team in 1970. Southern Airways Flight 932 was a chartered flight carrying players, coaches, and boosters returning home to West Virginia after a loss. The DC-9 was landing in intense fog and rain and fell short, impacting with trees and the mountainside.

This time, tragedy struck Russian and their 3-time championship hockey team the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. While taking off, the Yakalov Yak-42 clipped a navigation tower and broke up on impact. The Yak-42 entered service in 1980, and had since been banned from flights to the European Union. The Yak-42 did not include the required safety equipment to operate outside of Russia. The plane itself, registry number RA-42434, was slated for heavy repairs later this year, and eventual decommissioning in 2012. Eye witness reports would indicate that upon take off, the Captain lost thrust and failed to abort. The initial facts are clear, the aircraft used more runway than it should have, and failed to climb above the 300 feet needed to clear the beacon tower. The tower, used for navigational aid, was positioned 1480 feet from the end of the runway.

Pilot error, although not eliminated, appears unlikely from initial reports. The Flight Data Recorders(FDR) have been recovered and transported to Moscow for review. The FDR will solidify, and perhaps explain in greater detail what transpired over the skies of Yaroslavl, Russia. Until The Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) publishes their preliminary report, we are left to review the evidence at our disposal and form our own hypothesis.

Continue reading »]]> The weather is more than just a news report on the six o’clock news; it’s the ultimate drama. There is a battle raging between man and nature; Storm Stories is the true tales of those who have faced some of the most incredible natural disasters and have lived to talk about it. From the rescuers who refused to give up to the victims who wouldn’t give in, Storm Stories takes viewers through the real world triumphs and tragedies experienced by anyone in the path of a natural disaster.

From killer hurricanes to blinding blizzards, the Weather Channel’s own Jim Cantore talks with the people who were there when the disaster hit. By combining heart stopping footage with the real world accounts of rescue personnel and survivors, Storm Stories is not only moving, but gripping and captivating as well. It is a suspenseful journey through the aftermath of some of the deadliest disasters in history; a journey that shows us what humans are really capable of when faced with such raw power and destruction.

This set comes with five Storm Stories DVDs, a full color insert with even more information about some of the worst disasters and the men and women who cover them, and one Bonus DVD containing another Weather Channel exclusive, Epic Conditions. The entire package comes in a beautiful, full color tin case that will make the perfect addition to your movie or DVD shelf.

Every survivor has a story. This is theirs.

Continue reading »]]> Scientists the world over agree that Global Warming is not just a theory anymore; it’s an event that is really happening and it’s having worldwide consequences. From stronger hurricanes in the Atlantic, to droughts in previously wet nations around the world, Global Warming is doing more than taking ice away from the Polar Bears in the arctic.

This award winning documentary, hosted by former Vice President Al Gore, gives viewers an inside look at just what is happening around the globe today. By providing scientific proof and data taken from multiple, recognized sources, Mister Gore is able to show even the least scientific person that Global Warming is not only real, but it is a danger to humans in the here and now.

Gore is engaging and even humorous at times throughout the film, backing up everything he says with solid and indisputable scientific proof, providing a captivating experience for even those who doubt the current climate crisis. As a companion to his website, www.climatecrisis.net, An Inconvenient Truth is an acclaimed documentary and a persuasive argument against the out of control carbon levels that scientists are recording today.

Learn not only about the problem, but how to become part of the solution, with this eye opening documentary; An Inconvenient Truth.

Continue reading »]]> For thousands of years, humans have struggled to understand, and survive, some of the world’s most deadly natural disasters. From hurricanes, to tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods, the human race has tried to not only understand, but control these disastrous forces of Mother Nature.

Now, from the comfort of your own living room, you can witness first hand the most famous scenes of cataclysmic destruction and the awe inspiring human courage as captured by the world renowned filmmakers of National Geographic.

* Take a trip with scientists who are searching for the next killer storm.

* Go inside some of the most destructive earthquakes from San Francisco to Tokyo.

* Ride along with a team of storm chasers through the American Mid-West as they hunt the elusive F-5 tornado.

* Witness first hand the incredible power and ruin of monstrous floods around the world.

* Experience the moving heroism of the human species in the wake of natural tragedy.

From disaster to enlightenment, take a trip with National Geographic and learn about some of the most destructive powers of nature and what scientists are doing to get inside these disasters so that they can better predict them in the future with Nature’s Fury!

This DVD includes an assortment of special features as well including: Tornado Hunters, Lightning Strikes, an interactive disaster map of the United States, and even a triva quiz for the whole family to enjoy!

Continue reading »]]> Natural disasters may be destructive, but they are also intriguing and awe inspiring. Get closer than you would ever want to be with this inside view from National Geographic. Take a trip inside some of the most devastating earthquakes, the most explosive volcanoes, and the most deadly tornadoes with scientists who risk not only their equipment, but their very lives to get a momentary glance of some of the most fearsome and awesome natural disasters.

Follow various field scientists as they learn more about these disasters in an attempt to learn how to track and ‘figure out’ their complex inner workings. With the ultimate goal of learning how to prevent or at least warn people of the coming destruction, these scientists really put it all on the line to find that one piece of data that will allow them to get inside the disaster. Narrated by Kevin Bacon, Forces of Nature is another astounding example of what National Geographic has to offer viewers.

* Take a trip to the island of Montserrat in the Caribbean to see an erupting volcano.

* Join a team of storm chasers in the Mid-West as they hunt the elusive F-5 and the secret of these monster twisters.

* Sit down with seismologists who are using Turkey’s history of city-leveling earthquakes to predict the next killer quake.

Get an inside glimpse into the worlds most devastating, and spectacular, natural disasters and destructive forces from the comfort of your living room!

Continue reading »]]> Unlike many movies, Atmospheres is just that; a video comprised of various natural scenes from some of the most beautiful environments in the world. By combining calming and soothing music with stunning high definition footage taken directly from the archives of National Geographic, Atmospheres is the perfect main title or background viewing video.

This 90 minute DVD takes viewers to some of the most treacherous locations on Earth where animals survive and thrive in places that experience some of the most extreme conditions on the planet. You not only get a bird’s eye view of our colorful world, but you get to dive into the depths of the planet’s oceans to see some of the most dazzling and unique creatures to ever call Earth their home as well.

With the ability to choose from natural sounds or a musical soundtrack, viewers can customize their experience while taking a trip to some of the most unspoiled environments left on our globe.

The combination of high definition footage, along with some of the most beautiful music and sounds of nature, creates a totally unforgettable sensory experience that you are sure to love. Take a trip inside the blue world that we call home and meet creatures that you have never heard of before, all while enjoying the quality that we have come to expect and love from National Geographic movies.

This video also comes with a special feature: Captivating Water Creatures. Explore the depths and meet some of the most interesting and complex creatures that have made their homes in our world’s oceans.

Continue reading »]]> If you like movies like The Hunt for Red October, then you are sure to love this disaster documentary. From the inside views of life on these magnificent metal tubes, to insight into the political world that existed in the hayday of submarine warfare, Lost Subs is truly a must have for any fan of the Silent Service.

Take a trip into the world where desperation and courage combine to create something totally new. In Lost Subs, National Geographic takes you on a search for the truth behind some of the most well known and deadly submarine tragedies including:

* A self sacrificing Soviet crew who gave all in order to fulfill their duties. The story lives on in the movie K19 The Widowmaker.

* Find out about the sinking of the Soviet submarine Kursk, and the political mess that kept a proper rescue operation from being executed.

* Discover how the United States successfully rescued the men of the USS Squalus.

* Learn about the mystery surrounding the sinking of the Cold War submarine, the USS Thresher.

This documentary takes you deep beneath the ocean for a trip into a world that only a few men understand. With the help of computer animation, as well as interviews with the men who were there, Lost Subs is like no other trip you will ever experience.