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CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING


CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING


EMPIRES OF INDUSTRY: THE LEGACY OF KING COAL

Everything about the job is dangerous. The mines can cave in. Poisonous gasses can leech from the rock and suffocate miners, or ignite in horrific explosions. Deep beneath the earth, coal miners risk their lives to extract the fuel that powers the industrial colossus that is America.

THE LEGACY OF KING COAL is a comprehensive chronicle of this vital industry, featuring extensive footage of coal mining through the years. Trace the long history of labor unrest that often pointed the way for other industries, and relive some of the worst industrial disasters in history. Descend into the bowels of the earth for an up-close look at modern coal mining, and see how, despite countless technological advances and safety features, it remains one of the most dangerous of man's undertakings. In extensive interviews, labor leaders and coal company presidents offer insights into this vital industry, while industrial historians trace the impact of coal on the American economy.

THE LEGACY OF KING COAL is a fascinating journey through the history of industrial America a saga of greed, hunger and the rights of the men who risk their lives beneath the earth.


Item no. : NZ03311004
Format : DVD+R
Duration : 50 minutes
Copyright : 2006
Price : USD 54.95

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HOUSE BEAUTIFUL: MEDITERRANEAN LIVING

It is one of the most popular architectural styles around, versatile, warm and welcoming. And in California, the MEDITERRANEAN LIVING is particularly strong.

Join the editors and experts of America's premiere home design magazine, House Beautiful, for a fascinating tour of some of the Golden State's finest Mediterranean mansions. First up is an eclectic, Tuscan-inspired home by Phillip Nimmo, who effortlessly blends whimsy and comfort in his design. Next, we'll tour supermodel Kathy Ireland's 7,000 square foot Italian villa, decorated with her exquisite furniture line. And finally, we'll see one of the most influential of all Mediterranean homes, an early 20th century masterpiece by famed designer John Saladino.

With features on roses and wrought iron, as well as a visit to the famed gardens of the Hotel Bel Air, this is a relaxing retreat into the tiled and sunny world of Mediterranean design.


Item no. : JC03311419
Format : DVD+R
Duration : 50 minutes
Copyright : 2006
Price : USD 54.95

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IN SEARCH OF HISTORY: THE GREAT WALL

He was one of the greatest emperors in China 's history, the first ruler of the Ch'in dynasty. Under Shih Huang Ti, China turned inward, protecting itself behind the famous Great Wall. In his reign, the first 1,200 miles of the wall were constructed.

But was Ti really trying to protect his kingdom, or was he concerned with preserving his own place in history? THE GREAT WALL probes the remarkable archaeological legacy of this ancient ruler, focusing on the famous barrier. Leading historians relate what is known of his rule, while archaeologists reveal the astonishing discoveries that have recently come to light including the shocking find of over 7,000 life-size terra cotta statues of warriors. Get an up-close look at these astonishing monuments, and join the ongoing excavations of Ti's tomb, protected by its own buried army of warrior statues.

Take a first-ever look at some of the most remarkable discoveries of recent years, and reach across the ages for a portrait of the driven man whose desire for immortality provides a window into China's distant past.


Item no. : NU03431492
Format : DVD+R
Duration : 50 minutes
Copyright : 2006
Price : USD 54.95

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IN SEARCH OF HISTORY: THE PUEBLO CLIFFDWELLERS

Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, contains some of the earliest surviving dwellings in North America. Over 1,000 years ago Native Americans built sophisticated systems of housing in the canyon. The most elaborate of the nineteen towns was Pueblo Bonito.

Founded with a cluster of twenty rooms around the year 1000 AD, Pueblo Bonito grew over 150 years into a massive four-story complex with 800 rooms. Take an up-close look at Pueblo Bonito and the other Chaco Canyon towns. Explore the mystery of the "kivas" sunken ritual rooms found in each Pueblo. Discover the clues that led archaeologists to believe that the society that built the pueblos had little social hierarchy. Hear the latest theories on how life was lived in these vast buildings and meet the men and women whose work is shedding new light on these mysterious structures and the fate of their builders.


Item no. : GD03311506
Format : DVD+R
Duration : 50 minutes
Copyright : 2006
Price : USD 54.95

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MODERN MARVELS: ASWAN DAM

Gamal Adbel Nasser, the first prime minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt, has a bold plan for bringing his poor country into the 20th century. Many of the pressing problems facing the nation could be solved with one thing--the construction of a dam across the Nile.

The Egyptians, builders of pyramids and the Suez Canal, were no strangers to large undertakings. But the actual construction of the dam would pale in comparison to the social, political, cultural and agricultural ramifications that would become its legacy. MODERN MARVELSTM follows the course of the dam's construction from the drawing board to its grand opening and beyond with the help of historians, engineers and the people who helped Nasser's vision come true. See how the effects of the Aswan Dam went far beyond flood and famine control, impacting aspects of Egyptian life that Nasser never anticipated.

Engineering can change history itself. The Aswan Dam is perhaps the most perfect example of this.


Item no. : BS03642060
Format : DVD+R (Closed Captioned)
Duration : 50 minutes
Copyright : 2006
Price : USD 54.95

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MODERN MARVELS: ATHENS SUBWAY

How do you modernize transportation in one of the oldest cities of the world, while accommodating the largest archaeological excavations conducted to date in Athens? MODERN MARVELS? chronicles how the Greek city built a new underground subway system to meet the needs of the 2004 Olympics, while at the same time uncovering thousands of invaluable artifacts spanning 25 centuries. Project engineers and prominent archaeologists discuss the difficult balance between progress and preservation and how engineers had to resort to ingenious methods of building and tunneling so as not to harm Athens' ancient treasures.

Item no. : LV03312061
Format : DVD
Duration : 50 minutes
Copyright : 2006
Price : USD 54.95

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MODERN MARVELS: BROOKLYN BRIDGE

The Brooklyn Bridge was not only a landmark, but also the first bridge of its kind. No one had ever used steel for construction, nor used cables of metal, nor built a suspension bridge so long. Until one man dared to try.

In 19th-century New York, where buildings were no more than five stories tall, engineer John Roebling's soaring and majestic Brooklyn Bridge was nothing short of a technological miracle. But Roebling's innovation led to an uphill battle against the elements, corrupt politicians, and scientists who claimed the first strong wind would collapse the bridge to rubble.

This program presents the thrilling and comprehensive story of "the eighth wonder of the world." Witness moving firsthand accounts, interviews with experts, and extensive footage that explores the many trials and disasters that plagued Roebling's masterpiece--and ultimately cost him his life.


Item no. : WN03312079
Format : DVD
Duration : 50 minutes
Copyright : 2005
Price : USD 54.95

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MODERN MARVELS: DEMOLITION

Everyone has seen footage of buildings being demolished. It seems almost magical--a few puffs of smoke and debris emerge from the base, and then the whole massive edifice topples in on itself. Anything man has built, man can tear down. DEMOLITION shows you exactly how it is done.

MODERN MARVELSTM turns the tables on the typical chronicles of creation to see how technology and training combine to bring great structures down. From early, brutal methods to the near-surgical precision of top urban demolition companies, this is a fascinating examination of an often-overlooked chapter in engineering history. We'll watch some of the most difficult, dangerous and disastrous demolition jobs ever undertaken, and meet the men who make them possible. And we'll examine the many factors that must be considered before any large-scale demolition takes place.

In some ways, DEMOLITION holds up a mirror to our history--with each act of destruction, a new chapter is opened, and what we choose to destroy reflects the values of that time.


Item no. : CY03312115
Format : DVD+R
Duration : 50 minutes
Copyright : 2007
Price : USD 54.95

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MODERN MARVELS: ENGINEERING DISASTERS 12

  • Computer graphics, location footage and expert analysis reveal what went wrong.
  • Experts examine the impact of high-profile disasters.
  • Learn of the fatal design flaw that contributed to the death of thousands of U.S. troops in World War II.

    Successes are impressive, but failures often contribute more to our knowledge. Nowhere is this more evident than in engineering, where a simple miscalculation can prove disastrous, and it is almost impossible to hide the consequences.

    MODERN MARVELS? returns to this sadly productive territory to examine the following five events: tap water contamination kills 104 people in Milwaukee; tradition turns tragic when a pep-rally bonfire collapses at Texas A&M University; World War II Sherman tanks had a fatal flaw that contributed to the death of thousands of troops; the sophisticated baggage system at Denver's new airport becomes a high-tech disaster; and a 1973 construction accident claims the lives of 26 workers.


  • Item no. : GA03312130
    Format : DVD+R (Closed Captioned)
    Duration : 50 minutes
    Copyright : 2006
    Price : USD 54.95

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    MODERN MARVELS: ENGINEERING DISASTERS 14

    Successes are impressive, but failures often contribute more to our knowledge. Nowhere is this more evident than in engineering, where a simple miscalculation can prove disastrous, and it is almost impossible to hide the consequences.

    MODERN MARVELS? returns to this sadly productive territory to examine the following five events: a massive oil tanker explosion claims nine lives; a freighter plane crashes into and destroys an 11-story apartment building; a molasses flash flood; a subway tunnel collapse which swallows part of Hollywood Boulevard, and a fatal freeway collapse. Featuring interviews with investigators from NTSB, Cal/OSHA, and Boeing, along with computer graphics, footage and photos of the disasters, and visits to the locations today, ENGINEERING DISASTERS details what went wrong.


    Item no. : MK03642132
    Format : DVD+R
    Duration : 50 minutes
    Copyright : 2006
    Price : USD 54.95

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    MODERN MARVELS: ENGINEERING DISASTERS 9

  • Experts examine the impact of high-profile disasters.
  • Hear from engineers and other experts.
  • See extraordinary footage of the events and their aftermaths.

    Successes are impressive, but failures often contribute more to our knowledge. Nowhere is this more evident than in engineering, where a simple miscalculation can prove disastrous, and it is almost impossible to hide the consequences.

    Join MODERN MARVELS? for a devastating hour as we delve into complex and often-tragic failures that have shaped our world. Five dramatic events unfold: the 1987 failure of New York's Schoharie Creek Bridge; the 1996 partial destruction of the Riverwalk Marketplace in New Orleans by a runaway freighter; the roof collapse at the Rosemont Horizon Arena in Illinois in 1979; the deadliest grain-dust explosion on record; and the crash of the British R101 airship in the 1920s.


  • Item no. : ZU03642144
    Format : DVD+R
    Duration : 50 minutes
    Copyright : 2006
    Price : USD 54.95

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    MODERN MARVELS: GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE

    When opened on October 25, 1931, the George Washington Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. At 3,500 feet in length, the main span was more than double the distance of the previous record holder. Today, standing as a main traffic artery between Manhattan and New Jersey, the bridge referred to by locals as the "GW", is the busiest in the world carrying nearly 320,000 cars every day.

    We'll examine the construction methods employed that made the bridge an anomaly, coming in both under budget and ahead of schedule, and see why the GW is distinguished in a city of great bridges.

    For those entering New York city for the first time there are other monuments that may be more identifiable. But in a city of great bridges, the George Washington has distinguished itself with those who depend on it most. For New Yorkers the soaring steel towers of the GW lets them know they are home.


    Item no. : YR03312160
    Format : DVD+R (Closed Captioned)
    Duration : 50 minutes
    Copyright : 2006
    Price : USD 54.95

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    MODERN MARVELS: GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

    The Golden Gate Bridge is the most popular man-made tourist attraction in the United States, as well as a vital artery for the city of San Francisco. But at one time, critics said it could never be built.

    Explore the incredible story behind the world's most famous and spectacular bridge in this definitive program. From the start the project looked impossible the span of the bay was too wide; the shore was too unstable, and the tides too turbulent. See incredible footage of its construction, as storms battered workers and fog shrouded construction. And learn why engineer Joseph B. Strauss' plans proved to be a masterpiece of design and function. For in four years, the longest, highest, most spectacular suspension bridge on Earth opened to the public, and went on to become one of the greatest symbols of American ingenuity.


    Item no. : BC03432164
    Format : DVD+R
    Duration : 50 minutes
    Copyright : 2004
    Price : USD 54.95

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    MODERN MARVELS: MORE ENGINEERING DISASTERS

    Some are the result of unforeseeable factors, natural disasters or acts of God. But far more are caused by man, either through poor planning, negligence or innovative strategies that do not work.

    MODERN MARVELSTM pores through the rubble of some of the most notable disasters looking for clues as to what happened. Often, the stories point to one tiny mistake that, unchecked, snowballed into a force that could not be stopped. Experts reveal how easy it is for this to happen, particularly when all the engineering computations involved in a new structure were done without the aid of a computer. But then we'll see how other incidents were caused by arrogance, ego and plain incompetence. Dramatic footage and photos capture many of these ENGINEERING DISASTERS as they happened (or immediately after), and engineers detail the changes that these accidents have spurred.

    Join us for a fascinating look at the failures that male up a vital--if somewhat embarrassing--chapter in the history of engineering.


    Item no. : RB03432203
    Format : DVD+R
    Duration : 50 minutes
    Copyright : 2005
    Price : USD 54.95

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    MODERN MARVELS: NEW YORK BRIDGES

    America's greatest city is built on an island. The monumental task of connecting it to the rest of the nation was undertaken by engineers, and the ways they solved the problem are some of the greatest stories in the annals of MODERN MARVELSTM.

    NEW YORK BRIDGES visits the Brooklyn and George Washington Bridges, the Tri-Borough and the 59th Street. In the stone and steel of these edifices the history of modern bridge building can be seen. But they are more than just engineering marvels, and there are many more bridges than most people know. All-told, 18 spans link Manhattan to the mainland and Long Island, and each one has its own tale.

    NEW YORK BRIDGES tells the story of the art and engineering, the fortunes lost and created, the mystique and allure of the lifelines that feed Manhattan.


    Item no. : WV03312214
    Format : DVD+R (Closed Captioned)
    Duration : 50 minutes
    Copyright : 2006
    Price : USD 54.95

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    MODERN MARVELS: PANAMA CANAL

    Part of Teddy Roosevelt's dream of making America a world global power was realized through the Panama Canal. The French began construction in 1880, but nine years and 20,000 lives later they realized their plans were flawed and abandoned the project. It took the inventive American's to discover a way to link the oceans.

    First, the diseases that attacked the workers had to be controlled. Then, an innovative design for a series of locks was developed. Finally, the dogged determination and backbreaking toil of the Americans was rewarded when the Atlantic and Pacific oceans were united on January 7, 1914. Here is the complete, exciting story, from conception to completion, of one of the most important achievements of the 20th century.


    Item no. : WA03312229
    Format : DVD
    Duration : 50 minutes
    Copyright : 2004
    Price : USD 54.95

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