Hi Yeah it can be really daunting to try and keep threaded stuff in sync. The use case you describe sounds perfect for an NSOperation. By using this approach you can have an NSOperationQueue as an ivar in the controller and release this in your controllers dealloc method.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.