Ken Burns "The Dust Bowl"

[The Lensman]

Anyone catch this? I saw the trailers sometime back, yet missed the premiere airings. While I was cooking some food last night, I figured I'd check to see when or if it'd be replayed and part two was on. I watched it, but did so while doing other things.

If you've seen Burns' "Civil War", then you've got an idea of what to expect. Lot of historical info liberally peppered with eye witness accounts read by actors, except in this case, he was also able to have people on who lived through it. Some very moving and powerful stories and experiences.

And a lot of excellent photos and video, some never before seen. Simply incredible what some of these folks endured. Also, a great and timely recounting of what happens when Man abuses the land and ignores natures warnings. It's also a testament to how government can be a positive force for helping people.

Would've liked a little more about Woody Guthrie, and I'm surprised that they didn't use more of his music.....but that's a very minor nit. Still I enjoyed part 2 enough to want to buy it, should be out even though it premiered only days ago, but no luck today...

Anyone else catch it and what did you think?

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYOmjQO_UMw[/yt]

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

The documentary was startling at times and full of heart-breaking moments. One of the most powerful scenes was the sequence of images that showed the approach and arrival of a large dust storm taken from the roof of a building in a small town. That we (mankind) were responsible for this disaster, prolonged it unnecessarily by ignoring the farming practices that would halt it from continuing and then ultimately, may be headed for an even worse disaster in our future by -- again -- not heeding the prevailing knowledge being offered on the use of the large aquifer beneath the site of the Dust Bowl...it boggles the mind.

The documentary was excellent (no surprise) but it left me in profound despair...for our past as well as our future.

 

[stj]

So that's what that smell is?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I should try to catch this. I liked his baseball series many years ago.

 

[Pegaritaville]

The documentary was excellent (no surprise) but it left me in profound despair...for our past as well as our future.

Yeah, and if (when?) the situation arises again, I don't see the politicians working together for solutions as well as they did during the dust bowl.

I have a lot of appreciation for Howard Finnell. The change in weather patterns also helped, but his soil conservation programs did wonders. Kind of an unsung hero in US history.