History
Recreating The Golden Raft of El Dorado (Documentary Segment)
July 12, 2017
Nice one, Smithsonian Channel. And here I thought El Dorado was just a wack azz character on Superfriends from the 1980s. But naaah son, the Golden City must have been something to see. However, since that is not possible (because, ‘LOST City Of Gold’)… we gain insight from observing how a relic believed to be from there was most likely crafted.
It’s not just the golden raft’s ties to the legend of El Dorado that make it impressive. The complicated method that was used to craft it reveals the advanced techniques of the Muisca people.
– Smithsonian Channel
Columbian history, world history, ready for you to view above. This is but a portion of “Secrets: Golden Raft Of El Dorado” – the full-length documentary available now at The Smithsonian Channel (linked here and after the jump).
– @ojones1
Were There Really “Samurai Headhunters?” (Researchers Say Yes) [Documentary Trailer]
July 11, 2017
Knights of the Far East, we see the Samurai as honorable protectors of their traditions, their ordained rulers, and the people of Japan. But… that’s how we SEE them. Now let’s look at the whole TRUTH; at least an alternative powerfully put forth by this documentary – “Samurai Headhunters.”
Noble swordsman? Ruthless head collector? The Samurai were both. The drama documentary charting the unknown, dark side of these ancient Japanese warriors by recreating the life of a young farmer forced into their army. Since their first appearance in the 8th century, Japan’s famous elite warriors are celebrated for their courage, formidable fighting techniques and above all, their code of honour. But do these Far Eastern knights really measure up to their heroic image? Now, for the first time, we reveal the unknown dark side of the Samurai – a fascinating tale of forbidden love, extreme cruelty, and treachery.
– Urban Canyons
Posted in Film, History, Investigation, Trailer, Travel, Videos | 
Tags: Japan, Netflix, Samurai Headhunters | 
No Comments »
PBS America Reveals The “Secrets Of Henry VIII’s Palace” (Documentary)
July 10, 2017
King Henry VIII’s Palace is wonderful. A piece of history, but the secrets and scandals are the part of a history less addressed. This “Secrets Of Henry VIII’s Palace” gets into that and then some.
The luxurious Hampton Court Palace sits on the banks of the river, just a short train ride from London. The large palace was home to Henry VIII’s court in the 16th century, and holds the many secrets and scandals of his reign.
The palace embodies Henry’s lavish and indulgent lifestyle, but also bears the mark of the royals who inhabited it after him; King William III and Queen Mary II demolished half of the palace in order to rebuild it into a Baroque castle intended to rival Versailles.
The resulting combination of styles makes Hampton Court one of the most unique palaces in the world. SECRETS OF HENRY VIII’s PALACE looks beneath the brick and stone to bring the many lives of Hampton Court to life.
– PBS America
Posted in Film, History, Investigation, Series, Television, Videos | Tags: Hampton Court, Henry VIII, Henry VIII's Palace, Palace, PBS America, PBS American Experience, PBSAmerica, Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace | No Comments »
The Smithsonian Channel Opens Its “Mystery Files” On Italian Innovator And Icon Leonardo da Vinci (Trailer)
July 8, 2017
More often than not, when someone makes reference to someone being a “renaissance man” they are talking about (or giving a nod to) Leonardo da Vinci. That is, someone who is and/or does ‘everything’ and is ideal to have for most every occasion. The leader of the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo, painted iconic works like the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” sketched designs for early versions of the bicycle, helicopter, and other flying machines… sculptor, architect, military engineer and more. And his work and reputation have survived throughout the centuries. Dude was all that. BUUUUT, there’s a documentary available from The Smithsonian Channel (and on Netflix) that sheds more light on the man that may well dim the lights on his myth and legend. Wow. File this under ‘keep it real.’
Click on the pic above or the link below to check out the trailer (and full documentary, if you desire) for “Mystery Files: Leonardo da Vinci.”
Posted in Film, History, Investigation, Trailer, Videos | Tags: Leonardo da Vinci, Mystery Files, Netflix, renaissance man, Smithsonian Channel | No Comments »
Why Do We Celebrate The 4th Of July?
July 7, 2017
Beyonce’s spirit traveled to 1776 to tell us to be independent?? Bwaaaaha! A’ight dude. But for real, watch above to learn some things about Independence Day and related factoids.
Before you head out to that BBQ, do you know why we even celebrate the Fourth of July? Watch as host MegScoop and guest host Rome Greene, Jr. from Dormtainment discuss facts you may or may not know about Independence Day.
– All Def Digital
Hahaa! And MegScoop said she likes ‘Napoleton’ ice cream. They stoopit! But watch above though, and learn.
– @ojones1
Posted in Comedy, Education, History, Videos | Tags: 4th Of July, A.D.D., A.D.D. All Def Digital, ADD, All Def Digital, Independence Day, MegScoop, Rome Greene, Rome Greene Jr., The Drop | No Comments »
“Warrior Women” Who Made History (Docu-Series Trailer)
July 7, 2017
Hmm. Forgot how cute Lucy Lawless is in real life (that is, off the TV set). Here she is in a teaser clip for Acorn TV’s “Warrior Women” series, narrating the stories of the likes of Joan of Arc (featured above), Grace O’Malley, Boudica, Lozen and Mulan… Yeah, but this ain’t no Disney movie.
Brought to the screen by television’s most famous woman warrior, Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), this series brings to life history’s most charismatic women warriors. Shot on location in France, Ireland, Britain, China, and New Mexico, the stories are a heady mix of historical sleuthing and provocative reconstruction.
– Acorn TV
– @ojones1
Posted in Film, History, Investigation, Series, Trailer, Travel, Videos | Tags: Acorn TV, Boudica, Grace O’Malley, Joan of Arc, Lozen, Lucy Lawless, Mulan, Warrior Women | No Comments »
Cracking “The Pyramid Code” Might Show That The Builders Of The Pyramids Had Technology Way Ahead Of… Our Time (Series Trailer)
July 6, 2017
Think we are more ‘advanced’ than those who came before us? Your first answer is, “Of course!” But are you really that sure? Advice: Don’t be so sure about how sure you are. More advice: Watch The Pyramid Code and see why should be a bit less sure about our timeline and modern technological superiority…
The Pyramid Code is a made-for-television documentary series of 5 episodes that explores the pyramid fields and ancient temples in Egypt, as well as ancient megalithic sites around the world, looking for clues to matriarchal consciousness, ancient knowledge, and sophisticated technology in a Golden Age.
Think for a second: Countless stones go into building a pyramid; each weighing, what, about a couple tons? You think a bunch of whip crackers, slaves and pullies got all that done back then? You sure?
Posted in Film, History, Investigation, Series, Television, Trailer, Travel, Videos | Tags: Gaia, Series Preview, The Pyramid Code | No Comments »
Learn About Humanity’s Journey Out Of Africa And Into The Wider World In The “Great Human Odyssey” (Trailer)
July 5, 2017
Humanity started in Africa. We’re on the same page with that, right. Science!
But let’s go deeper in depth with NOVA’s and PBS’ help. How did ancient humans make their ways to all corners of the Earth; not only surviving Africa but leaving it and coming to thrive as distant disparate populations in the various regions in which they finally settled? HUGE question. And there are more that will be addressed in the “Great Human Odyssey” documentary (available on PBS, and now on Netflix).
Posted in Education, Film, History, Investigation, Science, Television, Trailer, Videos | Tags: Great Human Odyssey, Great Human Odyssey Preview, Netflix, NOVA, PBS, Public Broadcasting Service | No Comments »
Many Spanish And Arabic Words Sound Nearly The Same (Video)
June 26, 2017
Maybe you remember young Keke Palmer in “Akeelah And The Bee” studying the language roots of English words for clues on how contest words might be spelled and it clicking: English words have shared/borrowed elements from other cultures. Well, whether you do or don’t, you are going to love this. Knowledge!
Spanish and Arabic have more in common than you think, and it’s not a coincidence.
– Annenberg Media
Posted in Education, History, Travel, Videos | Tags: Annenberg Media, Arabic, Language, Moors, Spanish | No Comments »
Chadwick Boseman Tells The Story Of Activist, Attorney & Supreme Court Judge Thurgood Marshall (Trailer)
June 26, 2017
— Marshall Movie (@MarshallMovie) June 21, 2017
It would be kind of cool if Chadwick Boseman were to do a Black Panther movie… Nah, not Marvel Universe’s T’Challa one (that’s coming soon); but a fight-for-Civil-Rights-era Black Panther. But just as cool, if not cooler, Boseman got tapped for this “Marshall” movie – about Thurgood Marshall, an icon who fought for our Civil Rights via the U.S. court system.
Trailer looks good. Gotta check for this!
REBEL. LEADER. FIGHTER. Witness the rise of Thurgood Marshall in the trailer for my new movie @MarshallMovie pic.twitter.com/6KZFKk0Dly
— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) June 22, 2017
Posted in Activism, Film, History, Trailer, Videos | Tags: Chadwick Boseman, Marshall, Thurgood Marshall | No Comments »
Playboy’s Hottest: Reneé Tenison 1990 Playmate Of The Year (Still Just As Sexy Today) [Video] (NSFW)
June 22, 2017
Reneé Tenison (born December 2, 1968) is an American model, actress, and the first African-American selected to be the Playboy Playmate of the Year (1990).
So, I was surfing the Interwebs – like I do – and I came across some serious Honeydew (like I do)… Playboy Playmates, no less! But here’s the thing: They’re still sexy af! Especially that Reneé Tenison with her fine azz! Above: See her being all that and a bag of chips – plus them cute chocolate nips – (making this vid Not Safe For Work; gotta love YouTube)!
And the thing that got me looking and thinking a way about Reneé – her, Candace Collins, Monique St. Pierre, Cathy St. George, Charlotte Kemp, Kimberley Conrad Hefner, and Lisa Matthews reshooting their iconic Playboy covers. Looking mighty damn good… still! Check out the article I came across by following the link below.
READ: 7 PLAYBOY COVER GIRLS…
– @ojones1
Posted in Celebrity, History, Honeyz, Throwback, Videos | Tags: Candace Collins, Cathy St. George, Charlotte Kemp, Kimberley Conrad Hefner, Lisa Matthews, Monique St. Pierre, Playboy, Playboy Playmate, Playmate, Reneé Tenison | 1 Comment »
Nas – “One Mic” feat. Jack White (Live Performance) [Video]
June 15, 2017
Remember that American Epic piece for PBS featuring Nas that we posted on a while back (linked here)? Well, on that same old-to-the-new tribute vibe, here is the G.O.D.M.C. doing his instant classic off the “Stillmatic” LP – “One Mic” – live with Jack White (formerly of The White Stripes).
Posted in Hip-Hop, History, Performance, Television, Videos | Tags: AMERICAN EPIC, Arena, BBC, BBC Music, Jack White, Nas, One Mic, The Sessions, The White Stripes | No Comments »
Zoe Saldana Gives Advice And Inspiration To People Chasing Dreams, Speaks On “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2” And More (Video)
June 14, 2017
I would like to play, like an Earthling… to all y’all directors out there…
Acting goals. Haha! Zoe Saldana shares her passion for people helping people who are fighting to make it, about her experiences with regard to Afro-Latinos and culture, the prevalence of sexism in the film industry, on her film “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.” Some good ‘preaching’ in here (advice, inspiration).
– @ojones1
Posted in Art, History, Human Interest, Travel, Videos | Tags: Sway Calloway, Sway In The Morning, Sway's Universe, SwaysUniverse, Zoe Saldana | No Comments »
Science: Even Einstein’s Blunders Help Explain The Universe’s Wonders (Video)
June 6, 2017
Even Einstein’s bad ideas end up being pretty darn good.
– Brian Greene
Ha! This kind of reminds me of Dr. McCoy’s line in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, where he told Spock that Captain Kirk trusted his guesses more than most people’s facts. We can’t even count out the theorems that Albert Einstein tosses out; they might be right.
Brian Greene, Columbia University physicist and co-founder of the World Science Festival, explains how today’s physicists and mathematicians use an Einsteinian formula to explain the universe that Einstein himself originally thought was false.
– Tech Insider
– @ojones1
Maya Angelou: ‘And Still I Rise’ (Trailer)
May 13, 2017
Miss Calypso? Really?! Wow…Had no idea. And it’s a good bet there will be much more stuff many of us did not know about the late great Dr. Maya Angelou in the forthcoming “And Still I Rise” feature. Watch the trailer above.
Dr. Maya Angelou’s legendary writings including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Phenomenal Woman and On the Pulse of Morning are merely a few examples of how words can truly change the world. Although she is most well-noted for her poetry, Maya Angelou and Still I Rise celebrates her multiple talents including singing, dancing, filmmaking, academia and civil rights activism, how she inspired generations, pushed boundaries and never ceased in her long fight for freedom for all. Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack’s extraordinary film seamlessly weaves the key messages of her poetry into the narrative of her life with rare archival footage, interviews and of course, recitals of her original works. Powerful, proud and prolific, Angelou’s story is one of true courage and creativity of a woman who fought for her beliefs and lived life to the fullest.
– HumanRightsFest
For more information, and the full program, go to www.hraff.org.au.
Posted in Activism, Celebrity, Dance, Film, History, Investigation, Poetry, Trailer, Videos | Tags: And Still I Rise, HRAFF, HRAFF 2016, Human Rights Fest, Human Rights Festival, HumanRightsFest, Maya Angelou | No Comments »
Dr. Dre + Jimmy Iovine Are ‘The Defiant Ones’ (HBO Trailer)
May 12, 2017
That music. Isn’t that on the movie soundtrack for “The Untouchables?” Because that’d be kind of dope.
The Defiant Ones is a four-part documentary series that tells the stories of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre.
– HBO
Debuting July 9th. Another related film coming to the small screen in the ‘Aftermath’ (get it?) of the “Straight Outta Compton” movie.
Posted in Business, Film, Hip-Hop, History, Producers, Relationships, Series, Television, Trailer, Videos | Tags: Andre Young, dr. dre, HBO, Jimmy Iovine, The Defiant Ones, You Will Never Tease | 1 Comment »
LA 92 (Full Documentary)
May 9, 2017
Maybe some of you are too young to really remember the actual Rodney King police brutality case, the trial that ended with the cops who beat him found not guilty, and Los Angeles exploding – throngs of people realizing [again] that Black live did NOT matter. Well, National Geographic condensed those tragic events and the essence and lessons into a near two-hour documentary. That entire program is embedded and ready for watching above.
Twenty-five years after the verdict in the Rodney King trial sparked several days of protests, violence and looting in Los Angeles, LA 92 immerses viewers in that tumultuous period through stunning and rarely seen archival footage. Produced by two-time Oscar winner Simon Chinn and Emmy winner Jonathan Chinn and directed by Oscar winners Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin, the film looks at the events of 1992 from a multitude of vantage points, bringing a fresh perspective to a pivotal moment that reverberates to this day.
– National Geographic
Saving An Ancient Language Using Pop Music (Video)
May 4, 2017
Something very Hip-Hop about this story. We (Hip-Hop Nation, Black people, all people) know about griots who tell stories they were told, preserving history through generations, how slaves communicated stories (and plans) through song, and how Hip-Hop built on those traditions, speaking to and through the Culture… Well, Renata is doing that at the essence; not just speaking stories, but attempting to save the mode of speech (her language) itself using songs.
Renata Flores is a 16-year-old singer from Peru who is using her voice to save an ancient language. Though Quechua is the second-most spoken language in Peru, native speakers have suffered from discrimination and social stigma for generations, and today, many young people aren’t learning the language at all. But with her powerful vocals to covers of pop songs by Michael Jackson and Alicia Keys in her native tongue, Flores is sparking a renewed celebration of Quechuan language and culture.
– Great Big Story
– @ojones1
Posted in Activism, Film, History, Human Interest, Investigation, Series, Travel, Videos, Youth | Tags: Ancient Language, culture, Great Big Story, Human Condition, Peru, Pop Music, popular music, Quechua, Quechuan language, Renata Flores | No Comments »
The Penn Relays 2017 by Jamaine Mungo For JAYFORCE.COM (Video)
May 3, 2017
Posted this little snip so you all can see what it is like to be in the midst of massive pure human energy on level 12! Anyone who might have seen the subject of this post and thought, “Penn Relays… so that’s a big deal?” YES! It’s a big tings a Gwan!!! Peace to the homie “Maine” for sharing this firsthand experience for this piece, too.
Began running track my freshman year in high school, attended Maple Shade High School, New Jersey. My events were 400m, 800m and the 4×400 meter relay. Along with my teammates, we always trained hard and wanted to win. Our mindset was that hard work pays off and it certainly did. The start of outdoor track & field started in March and we all knew that once April approached it would be time for the Penn Relays. We knew that once we stepped on that track at Penn Relays, it would be “Game Timeâ€. It is an indescribable feeling of pure energy, excitement, and adrenaline once you step on to the track at Penn Relays.
After high school, I continued my track career at Virginia State University running the 400m, 800m and 4x400m events. Throughout my time at VSU, I ran the 4x400m, sprint medley and distant medley relay events at the Penn Relays. Every year that I’ve run at the Penn Relays, there was that same electrifying feeling was always there and I always ran my personal best time.
There is an overall natural feeling of excitement for any athlete from high school, collegiate to olympian who steps onto the track at the University of Pennsylvania for the Penn Relays. A majority of athletes run their fastest times at the track that is known as a “fast trackâ€. The Penn Relay carnival kicks off on a Tuesday and goes until Saturday. Athletes range from all age groups from middle school, high school, college, Olympians, and masters groups whom still compete at the golden age of 75+ running the 100m dash.
This is the largest Track & Field competition that is hosted where you can see all forms of athletes from all different age groups, various events and guaranteed to see some fast times on the track from the world’s best athletes.
So, you got a stadium packed with 90,000 fans – cheering, shouting, blowing horns, rattling all kinds of noisemakers and reveling with each other –
transferring that energy to the athletes who are now overcharged to run their fastest. Tradition, excellence, positive potential energy turned kinetic in the best ways. The Penn Relays started in April 21st, 1895 and is showing no signs of slowing down. It continues to get larger each year. The last race this year ended early Saturday evening, and just like that, it is over… until next year! – Jamaine
Hit the jump for a couple of images of Jamaine Mungo from Penn Relays Years Ago.
Posted in Cover Story, EVENTS, Exclusives, History, Human Interest, Lifestyle, Sports, Videos | Tags: JamBlaze, Penn Relays | No Comments »
Education: What Is ‘Infinity’… Really? (Video)
May 1, 2017
I know you are, but what I am I… I know you are, but what am I… Infinity!
If you had a nerdy Peewee’s Playhouse-watching friend (like me) growing up – or if you were that friend – then you instantly got the reference AND significance to the quote above. Hit the jump if you need clueing in. Ahhh, Peewee Herman: debate champ and math scholar. Hahaaaa! Invoking the concept of infinity to shut down a hater. Science!
Infinity is an elusive concept that can often be difficult to comprehend. In order to better define what infinity actually is, we brought in Eugenia Cheng, a mathematician and the author of “Beyond Infinity.”
Hands up if you ever countered someone with ‘infinity plus one’ though. C’monnnnn, you can admit it. That’s the paradox!
(Well, this gives new meaning to Souls Of Mischief’s “93 Til Infinity”…maybe).
– @ojones1
Posted in Education, History, Lecture, Science, Videos | Tags: A mathematician explains infinity, Eugenia Cheng, Infinity, MATHEMATICS, set theory, Tech Insider | No Comments »
