No comments about Anne Frank and the Holocaust.

1 comments about Born for Hard Luck: Peg Leg Sam Jackson.

1. For traditional blues lovers, you have to snare a copy of this film of Peg Leg Sam. I discovered his music more than a decade ago, while visiting family in rural Akansas one summer. Suddenly, some foot-stomping blues harp began piping through the car stereo from a public radio station.
   
   I was hooked.
   
   I have since purchased two of Peg's recordings, "Early in the Morning," and "Kickin' It" and have enjoyed learning what I could about this master of the blues harp. I rate the recording five starts because I discovered a download online, and was mesmerized by the rarity of the film. That alone - the experience of taking a quick step backwards in time - was worth it. I have no idea of the quality of the tape that's being sold, but I'd enjoy even a 5th-generation copy of Peg Leg Sam Jackson, So I must admit that my voting is biased.

No comments about Urban Spotlight.

3 comments about N is a NUMBER: A Portrait of Paul Erdos.

1. Perhaps the most prolific mathematician who has ever lived and a strong candidate for the best mathematician of all time, Paul Erdos is the mathematical equivalent of a mega-caffeinated bumblebee. Traveling from place to place packing his formidable load of mathematical sweets, his goals are to create, solve and share. Generations of mathematicians are deeply indebted to him, both personally and professionally.
   Born in Hungary in 1913, Erdos has known his share of personal tragedy. Two major wars, one containing a "civil" war of extermination of his "kind" (he is Jewish), as well as postwar political ostracism due to his "communist" leanings have all served to mold his life.
   The producers of this film chose to avoid mathematics and concentrate on the person. Like me, you will probably be surprised at the quality of his table tennis game, Although his humor is pessimistic, it is clear throughout the 57-minute running time of this film that Erdos is a positive thinker.
   Like the story of others who succeed and inspire, Erdos's story also has the ability to humble. Being an eyewitness to greatness has a humbling effect. "Genius" and "brilliant" are terms often overused when describing people and their work, but in this case one needs to search for superlatives to create an accurate description.
   A visual portrait of one of the world's most interesting people, this tape is an absolute must for all academic libraries.
   
   Published in Mathematics and Computer Education, reprinted with permission.



2. I'd heard Erdos name come up several times in discussions of mathematics but had no real idea who he was until I bought this fascinating DVD. If ever there was a man who could just float through life on the strength of his intellect alone Erdos is he. He is by turns amusing, gentle, simple but undeniably brilliant and driven. A remarkable portrait of a remarkable man, compelling whether or not you care about math.



3. If you love mathematics, you owe it to yourself to see this. Erdos is like a patron saint of mathematics.