Television is so often a vast wasteland, that the good programs really stand out. Over the past several weeks, Laurel and I have become enthralled with not one, not two, but three absolutely outstanding programs.

On the History Channel, we enjoyed watching The Men Who Built America, the story of the great capitalists of the late 19th and early 20th century; Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Morgan, Rockefeller, and Ford.

On PBS was an outstanding Ken Burns documentary, The Dust Bowl, the story of the great drought that parched the midwest in the 1930s.

Finally, back on the History Channel is Mankind: The Story of All of Us, a lengthy docudrama on the history of civilization.

All are lengthy, detailed, engrossing, and sure to shown in reruns over and over. Keep your eyes peeled on the guide, if these programs pop up they are worth a look.