Death by Lightning is a Netflix limited series that dramatizes one of the strangest and most tragic chapters in American political history: the assassination of President James A. Garfield. Adapted from Candice Millard's acclaimed nonfiction book Destiny of the Republic, the four-part drama was created by Mike Makowsky and executive produced by a team that includes David Benioff and D. B. Weiss of Game of Thrones fame.
Michael Shannon stars as Garfield, the reluctant, principled Ohioan swept into the presidency in 1880 almost against his will, while Matthew Macfadyen plays Charles Guiteau, the delusional, chronically failed office-seeker who came to believe he was destined to kill the president. The series braids their two lives together, tracing Garfield's improbable ascent and Guiteau's descent into fatal grandiosity, before turning to the grim aftermath in which the president's own doctors may have done more harm than the assassin's bullet. Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, and Bradley Whitford round out the ensemble.
Critics praised the series for its dark wit, its detailed period craft, and the performances of its two leads, with Macfadyen's twitchy, tragicomic Guiteau drawing particular attention. Both a political tragedy and a mordant character study, it revives a largely forgotten American story for a modern audience. Death by Lightning is streaming on Netflix.
"Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence" is a true crime book written by journalist and author, Nico Walker. The book is based on a disturbing case that occurred in 2007 when a man named Lawrence Ray moved into his daughter's dormitory at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and began manipulating and abusing her and her friends. Ray convinced the young adults to see him as their mentor and guide, eventually leading them to engage in criminal activities and abuse.
The book details the horrifying events that occurred over the course of several years, including physical and psychological abuse, sexual exploitation, and financial fraud. Ray used his charisma and manipulative tactics to control his victims and create a cult-like environment. He convinced them that he was a mastermind who could help them achieve their goals and dreams.
Through extensive research and interviews, Walker provides a harrowing account of the psychological tactics used by cult leaders to prey on vulnerable individuals. The book sheds light on the dangers of charismatic individuals who prey on the vulnerabilities of others and provides a cautionary tale about the power of manipulation and abuse.
The First 48 is an American television program that showcases homicide investigations during the first 48 hours after a crime has been committed. The show follows homicide detectives from different cities in the United States as they work to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and solve the case. The program first premiered in 2004 and has since aired for over 20 seasons.
Each episode of The First 48 documents the race against time that detectives face in order to solve a murder case. The show highlights the importance of the first 48 hours after a crime has occurred, as this is when crucial evidence can be found and witnesses' memories are still fresh. The program provides an inside look at the methods and tactics that detectives use to piece together evidence and identify suspects.
The First 48 has been praised for its accurate portrayal of the difficult and often stressful work that homicide detectives undertake. The program has also been credited with helping to increase public awareness of the challenges faced by law enforcement officials in solving murders. The show has proven to be a popular and long-running addition to the true crime genre of television programming.
The Ancient Aliens theory proposes that extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth in ancient times and have had a significant influence on human civilization. Supporters of this theory argue that the evidence for the existence of these extraterrestrial visitors can be found in various ancient texts, artifacts, and structures.
According to this theory, ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Mayans, and Incas may have received advanced knowledge and technology from these alien visitors. Proponents of the Ancient Aliens theory also suggest that these aliens may have been responsible for building structures like the pyramids and Stonehenge, which they claim could not have been constructed by humans alone.
However, the Ancient Aliens theory has been criticized by mainstream scientists and historians as lacking any real evidence. Skeptics argue that many of the claims made by proponents of the theory are based on misinterpretations of historical texts and artifacts, and that there is no concrete evidence to support the idea that extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth in ancient times.
Oakland's Harborside Health Center is the nation's largest medicinal cannabis dispensary. Founder and executive director Steve DeAngelo has made twin missions of providing the best possible product to the patients who make up his client base, and educating the rest of the country about the regulation and taxation of those goods. WEED WARS takes an up close and personal look at the reality of running a controversial medicinal cannabis business.
Big D (Dallas, Texas) is the scene and living La Vida Loca is where it's at for a group of young socially upscale singles who party hard, love fast, and take life easy. The Dallas Metro area is the background for hot young singles who get involved with a bit of drama as well as comedy in each episode. From one night stands to broken hearts we witness it all and maybe even learn a bit about how not to act if we want to survive the singles scene. Those who love the nightlife and crave the excitement of night clubs and hot parties will most likely enjoy this reality series. A widely diverse group of young adults, who find their lives intersecting from time to time, are entering relationships and break up at the drop of a hat and then move on to someone else. There are a few who are serious about finding someone who will give them stability and a permanent relationship, but just where to find them? And it is actually fun to watch (and perhaps place bets) on who will find the one who's just right for them.
Rachel Zoe is the real thing! She is a stylist who knows the fashion industry and this docudrama reality series goes behind the scenes with Rachel and her assistants of style, Brad Goreski and Taylor Jacobson as they dash about the globe finding fashionable new trends. This season Zoe is pregnant and even though that does not slow her down a bit she and her husband Rodger find they must make some alterations to their lives, particularly their living quarters. Rodger is out searching for a bigger house now that the family is growing. Undeterred by his quest, Rachel is on a search of her own and launches a new fashion line. Elle Magazine does a photo shoot on both Rachel and Rodger then take off searching for a additional stylist to replace one that left (last season). A new addition to the team Zoe is found in Ashley Avignone. Look for lots of guest appearances by the likes of Naomi Campbell, Liv Tyler, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Kate Hudson, and Anne Hathaway. It's a great opportunity to see how the fashion industry works in today's economy.
The Japanese refuse to quit their commercial whaling attempts and this creates a conflict among those who realize that whales simply will vanish from the planet soon if killing them is not stopped, once and for all. This makes for entertaining documentary style television and the Sea Shepherd Conservatory Society takes us along as we witness cruelty on the part of professional whalers. Paul Watson, the founder of the Conservation got help from the Discovery Channel to put together this reality documentary style show. We witness the tactics used as they attempt to dissuade commercial whalers from killing these magnificent creatures of the sea. And they mean business! With ramming, throwing stink bombs, and even boarding Japanese whaling vessels in mind, they keep up the good fight and try to teach their philosophy as well. The Japanese claim they are whaling for research purposed but it's obvious they have commercial gain in mind. Whales are intelligent creatures and they have been given names, making it more personal to see them killed. Each episode follows some specific whales and we witness what happens on the high seas is not always a pleasant experience.
