There's a lot of junk on the Internet, especially when it comes to videos. Plenty of the content on YouTube is more ridiculous than even the most mind-numbing episodes of VH1 reality shows. Sometimes you want something more substantial, more meaty, more insightful.

That's where PBS's Frontline archive comes in -- a collection of smart, in-depth documentaries viewable online. "The Medicated Child," for example, takes a look at the issues concerning children who are prescribed psychiatric drugs. "Young & Restless in China" focuses on nine young adults in China coping with their country's rapidly changing environment. There are films on AIDS, the Holocaust, obesity and, of course, the Iraq War. The archive dates back to 2001, so there's no shortage of videos here. Log on and feed your head.

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When President Teddy Roosevelt decided in 1907 that the U.S. needed to flex its growing naval might, he did it by painting 16 new Atlantic Fleet warships white and sending them on a voyage around the world lasting from December 1907 to February 1909. Today's Annual Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration in Torrance commemorates the 100th anniversary of the arrival of what later came to be known as the Great White Fleet in Southern California in April 1908, which caused a sensation.

The Great White Fleet Website celebrates the voyage in thorough, colorful detail, including biographies of the captains, original postcards and other memorabilia.

The U.S. Navy's site contains text from original newspaper accounts of the fleet's arrival in various cities, as well as a brief film with rare footage of the ships.

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Vietnam War memorial

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If the Armed Forces Day activities in Torrance on Saturday have you in a military frame of mind, you can visit one of 19 military memorials in the South Bay to pay your respects to those who have served the country. Check our map of the memorials for details and directions.

Or read on for a text list.

Continue reading "South Bay military memorials" »

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On April 18, 1945, Ernie Pyle, who, many say, spoke for the World War II American soldier, was killed in a ambush on a Pacific island. In his Breeze column today, John Bogert calls Pyle America's only true literary columnist. Some of the Pyle columns, which offer a glimpse of the ordeals of war faced by combatants and which ring true 63 years after his death, can found at the Web site of his alma mater, Indiana University.

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The National Archives announced Wednesday that it is joining with www.footnote.com to make historical records of tens of thousands of deceased Vietnam War veterans available electronically for the first time.

The Associated Press has more:

A Web re-creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall allows access to thousands of pages of casualty records and agency photos. People can search by name, hometown, birthdate, tour date, or dozens of other categories.

The interactive wall allows people to post photographs they may have of a deceased veteran and to make comments. The service is currently free for Vietnam War information; the company is deciding whether to charge fees for some of the 50,000 National Archives photos now digitized.

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The number of U.S. military casualties in Iraq is approaching 4,000. You can view Iraqi war casualty figures broken down by year, month, type and a wide variety of other statistical measures at the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, a non-government site maintained by volunteers that compiles casualty data from every available source.

USA Today's Web site compiles an index of U.S. troop deaths in Iraq that covers the past two years by month.

In addition, since October 2006, The Los Angeles Times has been publishing profiles of California military personnel who have been killed in Iraq.

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Hollywood action star Chuck Norris, known for his martial arts prowess and tough-guy image, has become a cult figure among the U.S. military in Iraq and an unlikely hero for some in Iraq's security forces. A small cardboard shrine dedicated to Norris has been set up at a U.S. military helicopter hub in Baghdad.

"The fastest way to a man's heart is with Chuck Norris's fist," reads one message at the shrine, which consists of a signed photo of the actor surrounded by similar statements.
"Chuck Norris puts the laughter in manslaughter," reads one and "Chuck Norris divides by zero," reads another.

Known as Chuck Norris "facts," the claims have already become an Internet phenomenon, and scores are featured on www.chucknorrisfacts.com, including "Superman wears Chuck Norris pyjamas," and "There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Oklahoma."

The actor has visited Iraq several times and was made an honorary Marine last year. Some 20 U.S. military personnel and support staff spoken to by Reuters could recite at least one Norris "fact," despite many having not visited the Web site.

U.S. troops in Iraq say his support for them and Norris' invincible image has made him their idol and insist the exaggerated and satirical claims are not meant to mock him.

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The Redondo Beach-based International Association for Freedom and Equality United is offering scholarships to help disabled veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who want to go back to school. The deadline for the first round of scholarships is Jan. 25. To apply or donate, go to www.iafeunited.org or call 310-297-3610.

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Since the Sept. 11 attacks and the anthrax scare, the Pentagon and the Postal Service have refused to deliver mail addressed simply to "Any Wounded Soldier" for fear terrorists or opponents of the war might send toxic substances or demoralizing messages. Mail must be addressed to a specific member of the armed forces -- a rule that some well-meaning Americans find particularly painful during the holiday season. But fortunately, there are plenty of message boards and e-mail sites to help fill the void. A search for "e-mail troops" brings up dozens of options. Here are a few that can help you get your holidays messages to our military members:
-- At www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers, you can post and read messages to troops.
-- You can do the same at www.emailtroops.com, which also allows troops to respond.
-- And if you register at www.emailourmilitary.com/index.html, you will then be assigned a registered service member -- some of whom may not have access to online message boards -- to correspond with.

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Originally called Armistice Day and intended to celebrate the ending of World War I, what we now know as Veterans Day honors veterans of all wars. To learn more about our veterans and how you can honor them, go here.

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Take a closer virtual look at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. To find a photo of a specific name on the actual wall, or to view the whole wall in pictures click here.

Find in-depth information about those memorialized on the wall, for instance, lists of women casualties, Medal of Honor winners, brothers who were killed, poems and stories about the Wall, and more in-depth information on individual soldiers memorialized there here and here .

For architectural information on the wall and on Maya Lin, its designer.

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The news that 2007 has become the deadliest year of the Iraq conflict so far for American troops is sobering, but is tempered by a sharp decline in casualties in recent months. You can track the trends yourself by viewing Iraqi war casualty figures broken down by year, month, type and a wide variety of other statistical measures at the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, a non-government site maintained by volunteers that compiles casualty data from every available source.

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