Mick Jackson (2) (1943–)

Before enrolling in college, famed animal husbandry expert Temple Grandin (Claire Danes) visits a cattle ranch owned by her aunt Ann (Catherine O'Hara) and demonstrates a brilliance for all things mechanical. Once classes begin, the autistic Grandin rises to meet the intellectual challenges -- though the social ones are a bit more difficult. Grandin triumphs over prejudice to become an innovator in the field of animal care, and a lifelong advocate for humane slaughtering practices.
Release date: February 6, 2010 (USA)
Director: Mick Jackson
Producer: Scott Ferguson
Awards: Peabody Award, MORE
Production companies: HBO Films, Ruby Films… (more)

One of, if not the best, historical documentaries ever produced. No fluff or hype, just solid information wittingly delivered, usually on site.

Shows how our present comes from inventions and incidents in the past, directly connecting people and events through the ages.
Summaries from the liner:
Volume 1: The Trigger Effect:
Both the beginning and the end of the story are here. The end is our present dependence on complex technological networks illustrated by the NYC power blackouts. Life came almost to a standstill; support systems taken for granted failed. How did we become so helpless?

Volume 2: Death in the Morning:
How did a test of gold's purity revolutionize the world 2500 years ago and lead to the atomic bomb? Standardizing precious metal in coins stimulated trade from Greece to Persia, causing the construction of a huge commercial center and library at Alexandria. This wealth of nautical knowledge aided navigators fourteen centuries later.… (more)