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Lauren – speaking of converts, a fabulous movie (with Robert De Niro) about the Guarani in Brazil/Argentina is “The Mission”. One of its initial scenes takes place at the Iguzu Falls on the Iguazu River which borders those two countries. Every time I see that movie, the conflagration scene leaves me weak with sobbing.

Karsten was involved in building the Itaipu dam downriver from those falls (this was in the 70’s), so traveled there often. I didn’t get to see the falls until much later; on one of our trips we took a small plane over the dam so that he could see how it looked and try to spot some of the old equipment. (Isn’t it amazing what some people want to see on their vacations?)

08/16/13 12:38 AM

#1227

Garry Sellers

Nancy - "The Mission" was overwhelmingly gut-wrenching, whether historically accurate or not, and the music by Ennio Morricone magnified the incredible tragedy exponentially. I use to listen to the soundtrack quite often. It's haunting ... and beautiful. And I envy you having spent any time in that area.

This may seem bizarre, but there's a new series on ... of all places ... The Military Channel, called "America: Fact v. Fiction". Last night it got into Columbus and the many myths surrounding him. Somehow it led to a discussion that Cortes didn't defeat the Aztecs by himslef, Quezacoat legends, etc., showing much of what we've been told about US, Spanish, and Mexican history is pure fantasy. The segment is being repeated next Wednesday at 10:30 .... hard telling which time zone. If you want an entertaining and provocative historical fiction account of Columbus, try reading Stever Berry's "The Columbus Affair" ... which includes the Jewish connection to Columbus and his private island, Jamaica! Ironically, there was also a discussion tonight on H2 HD channel, "Who Really Discovered America", where one of the leaders of the Cherokee nation discussed their light skin and their historical Jewish connection!

Why didn't you guys tell me learning was fun back when I only thought there were two important things in the world, sports and ... what was the other?

08/16/13 06:48 AM

#1228

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Sorry, Garry, that I didn’t tell you how exciting history is. That’s because I didn’t know -hated it!-had that woman for U.S. History in junior year (name?). Karsten tells me that Mr. Spicuzza was excellent. Too bad for me.

I’ll definitely check out that series and the book you mentioned. I can put the book on my enormous pile of “to read” that I couldn’t possibly live long enough to get through.

08/16/13 07:48 AM

#1229

Nancy--

U.S. History-- Miss Blix?

08/16/13 07:57 AM

#1230

That's it!

She didn't like me; I returned the favor.

08/16/13 11:18 AM

#1231

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

Speaking of history -

Two of my granddaughters are taking this in college - The History of Rock & Roll. I told them if they had any questions, they should give me a call - I was THERE at the birth of rock & roll!! (Not that I'm feeling old!)

Barb

08/16/13 11:39 AM

#1232

Sobering thought - being considered a historical source. Reminds me of when our youngest (now 37) was studying the race riots and the Vietnam War. We were INTERVIEWED, like a pair of old war veterans. Well, we have all seen some history, haven't we? Brings to mind the old proverb (curse?), "May you live in interesting times".

08/16/13 12:35 PM

#1233

Garry Sellers

History? .... I'm still trying to remember the second thing after sports!
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08/16/13 01:02 PM

#1234

Lauren Dieterich

History is fascinating; when you do it on your own. School history is very dry; but, it is hard to tell if it is intentional or not. It also tends to be very biased. As far as learning anythng from TV; you have to check all of the channels, now. There is very little of what you can call , I guess that I have to say learning, on any of the Discovery ot TLC channel(s) anymore. The so called realism show seem to have taken over. And, they are a lot more scripted than most people realize.

And, Gary, I will have to definitely check out the America: Fact or Fiction show.

Since we have touched a little on discovering new worlds; I have a question for those who have seen " Close Incounters of the Third Kind " At the end, when Richard Dreyfuss is offered the chance to go on the Mother ship; if you were offered the same chance; would you take it ? I used to say; definitely. Now, I have one condition; that there is at least one other person to go with me. So that I'd have someone to talk to.

08/16/13 05:16 PM

#1235

Melody Jones (Parker)

Lauren, my answer is "yes!" without reservation or hesitation.

(I'd love to bring my 6 yr old great-grandson with me, but I would go without him.)

When I return, I would bring back lots of souviners!

08/16/13 06:04 PM

#1236

Lauren,

Good observation on the current programing on such channels as TLC, A&E, History Channel, etc. They seem to be more hysterical than historical.

08/16/13 09:06 PM

#1237

I'm enjoying everyone's historical comments. Jim & Lauren, you are right on the nail about the formerly interesting cable "educational" channels being too involved in sensational reality shows. You can still get some good history sometimes on PBS. Jim, I like your profile picture. Is it Griphook the Goblin from Gringott's Bank?

08/17/13 07:55 AM

#1238

Griphook the what? Who ARE these people?

You're right about PBS - the recent series on Queen Victoria is riveting. Another great WWII perspective: Madeline Albright's "Prague Winter". I have always been amazed at how deeply that war affected the lives of those who lived through it: family members who lost several brothers in Russia, friends who remember fleeing in the night to escape the political fallout of winding up in the Soviet part of the boundary settlement, a mother who remembers exchanging a fur coat for food, an uncle who emigrated with a diamond sewn into his back and started over three times. Karsten remembers running for the bunkers when the air raid sirens sounded. How lucky we have been!

08/17/13 09:32 AM

#1239

You have to be a Harry Potter fan, Nancy. I've been doing genealogy to try to find out the circumstances in Europe when my ancestors emigrated; and I am thankful every day that they had the courage to leave their homes and families to come to America. They were in two different "waves" from Germany. Those who came around 1850 did so to escape conscription - if you were not a noble, you were sure to become cannon fodder for the Prussian warlords. Those who came in the 1880s did so for better economic opportunity. The sons of that wave - my great uncles - ended up in WWI fighting against their parents' homeland.

08/17/13 09:37 AM

#1240

Terri - We're all thankful that your ancestors came!

08/17/13 10:11 AM

#1241

ALL of our ancestors!

08/17/13 12:50 PM

#1242

It's not Griphook Teri. He had bigger ears, and he didn't turn out to be such a nice guy, so of course that couldn't be me. It's actually just a self portrait before I've had my morning tea or Zoloft.

PBS and BBC show some of the few programs that haven't sacrificed themselves for unreal reality. Even shows that should be trustworthy, like the History or Military Channel drive me up the wall when they get something wrong, like misidentify an aircraft or ship, or mispronounce something. (Can't tell you how many times they show US dive and torpedo bombers attacking Pearl Harbor). They're supposed to be the experts, but the announcers are script readers a couple of generations away from the history. There are enough people around that could advise them and get it right.

Can't imagine what the rest of the world thinks of us if they base their perception on 'reality' shows where people are overweight, disfunctional, bearded, constantly bickering, physically and mentally abusive, obnoxiously loud, doing generally less than intelligent things, and the highlight of the show is when the little girl farts.

A little different than the 'reality' of "I Remember Mama."

08/17/13 02:00 PM

#1243

Jim, Karsten would sympathize with your frustration when planes, etc. are misidentified. Just about every third movie we see (in some exotic locale), Karsten says, "That plane never flew that route", or "That's not the landing field in---------------------" . Drives him nuts.

08/21/13 12:05 AM

#1244

I have some reservations about "America: Fact v. Fiction" - fact or attempt to pique some controversy?

One in particular bothers me. - the one where the 'expert' says Paul Revere would not have said 'the British are coming, because Paul Revere was British.' That, to me is patently inane.

1^st - Paul Revere was born in America. His father was actually French Huguenot, his mother's family long time Bostonians. Not much 'British' there.

2^nd - Considering his activities in the revolutionary movement and activities of the day, I'd bet he have been quite offended if that professor would have called him British. Patriot, American, Son of Liberty, silversmith, but not British.

3^rd - With the occupation of Boston, the overwhelming symbol of the British was the British Army. To say 'the British are coming' would be apparent to anyone who cared that that meant the British Army was coming, not some British butcher, baker, or candlestick maker.

To say that Revere wouldn't have said the British were coming because he was British would be like saying some American sergeant named Schultz, at the Battle of the Bulge, wouldn't have said the Germans were coming because he was German.

08/21/13 01:23 AM

#1245

Very good points, Jim - but didn't you know it was actually the Italians who were coming?

08/21/13 09:01 AM

#1246

Lauren Dieterich

Major inaccuracies in movies and on TV bug me, too. But, minor ones that you have to look for; is nitpicking. And, in some cases the inaccuracy is unavoidable. At present, there is only 1 Japanese Zero in flying condition. It was at the EAA Fly-in this year. So, the T-6 Texan is used in the movies; since it looks similar to the Zero.

But, an obvious mistake; such as pull tab beer cans in Catch-22; is inexcusable.

As for Paul Revere shouting " The British Are Coming ' you can probably atribute that to the Disney movies. As far as that goes; Revere was captured by the British less than halfway thru his ride. I was stationed at Ft. Devens; 40 miles west of Boston; while in the Army. I've walked around the ' Old North Church ' and, have stood on the spot where the ' Shot that was heard around the world ' was fired. And, I've walked the decks of ' Old Ironsides ' My biggest regret was not taking pictures while I was there.

08/21/13 11:25 AM

#1247

You're right Terri, and thank goodness. Much better to have pizza and pasta than bangers and mash.

08/22/13 07:23 AM

#1248

And the Italians make better coffee!

08/23/13 05:52 PM

#1249