Breaking the Cycle

Halden Prison in Norway isn't your typical correctional institution. The focus here is on rehabilitation and normalcy. It's an approach that wields desirable results; the inmates thrive in harmony when they exist in an environment that doesn't compromise their humanity. Jan Stromnes, the deputy warden of the facility, believes that other prisons can learn and gain...

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The Black Lotus

The rare collectibles industry attracts a slew of wildly enthusiastic obsessives. Some of them don't bat an eye when asked to fork over tens of millions of dollars on an otherwise insignificant object. From game-winning sneakers to record-setting home run baseballs, the memorabilia business is thriving like never before by catering directly to these rabid fan boys....

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Ashley Smith: Out of Control

The Fifth Estate documentary series exposes the cracks in the Canadian prison system in Ashley Smith: Out of Control, a harrowing and provocative investigation into the unfortunate death of a young inmate. Smith was adopted shortly after her birth. Her home was like that of any traditional loving family. Her behavioral problems began with the onset of puberty, and...

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Treasure Planet: Disney's Biggest Mistake

The directing duo of Ron Clements and John Musker transformed the world of feature film animation, and the fortunes of the Walt Disney Company, throughout the 1990's. From Beauty and the Beast to The Lion King, their works earned the acclaim of millions, set box-office records, and won a multitude of Oscars for their unparalleled artistry. But the mighty fell hard in...

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Train Surfing Wars: A Matter of Life and Death

When the daredevil tendencies of energetic adolescents meet an unquenchable thirst for social media notoriety, the two can make a combustible combination. In some cases, it can even prove lethal. Such an incident occurred to a member of Brewman, a group of teenagers who film themselves in perilous situations to the delight of online followers. Produced by the BBC,...

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9/11 War Games

Clear, blue skies greeted air travelers on the morning of September 11, 2001. But those skies were more heavily trafficked than we were originally led to believe, according to the documentary 9/11 War Games. Produced by the conspiracy-minded Corbett Report, the film assumes a unique perspective for those who question the official account of that tragic date. Before...

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Murderous Minds: Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris

On April 20, 1999, two outcasts swaggered through the halls and classrooms at Columbine High School and started shooting. Within minutes, twelve of their fellow students and one teacher were dead. The massacre continues to represent a source of profound national trauma, and it ushered in a distressing trend of school shootings that sadly endures to this day....

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Mars: Making the New Earth

As global warming and doomsday threats continue to expose our vulnerabilities here on Earth, scientists are looking to Mars as a potential refuge for humanity. Mars: Making the New Earth outlines the mission to convert this inhospitable planet into our future home. This conversion process is known as terraforming, a collection of processes by which a planet is...

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White Fright

Anti-Muslim vitriol has reached a fever pitch in the United States. Just ask the residents of Islamberg, a small community of African American Muslims in Upstate New York. In 2015, the FBI thwarted a planned attack against the community that was being led by a 63-year old Christian minister out of Tennessee. White Fright recaps the specifics of his savage plot,...

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Scientific Myths

In our quest to live long and healthy lives, we often fall prey to advice from questionable sources. Scientific Myths attempts to decode a few of the most popular and suspicious health-related recommendations. Does the iron content in spinach make you strong? Does reading in dark light damage your eyes? Is the process of detoxification a legitimate pursuit? Does the...

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