The discussion topic in the Greek Theatre this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Whyville Time will be based on programs at the end of last week and the beginning of this week. I think you may have noticed several shows about how science isn't always perfect (space travel malfunctions, nuclear reactor meltdowns, spying technology that's confusing). Maybe you have some ideas how to do science better. So the topic Wednesday will be: "Science and technology things I would do better -- and how." (Don't be afraid to come and say which things you would never do in the first place if you were the scientist or engineer in charge -- and why.)

For the Media Hour, watch the show(s)-of-the-week, jot down some ideas, then talk about them with me and other citizens (including other City Workers, if they're available) at the Greek Theater, over in City Hall. You'll find that the Theater makes discussions pretty easy, since City Workers are able to direct people's movement and behavior, when we need to, and it keeps everyone's chat bubbles from overlapping too much. We meet for MediaHour on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Whyville Time (that's the same as Eastern Daylight Time).

Monday, April 5

"American Experience: Meltdown At Three Mile Island" (PBS, 9-10 p.m. E/P) Ever wondered about what happened at the 'mythical' Three Mile Island??? This technology documentary explores how a reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear power facility near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, suddenly overheated in 1979, releasing radioactive gas and water into the countryside. During the following tension-packed week, scientists scrambled to prevent the nightmare of meltdown, officials rushed in to calm public fears and thousands of residents fled to emergency shelters. This program examines how equipment failure, human error and bad luck conspired to create America's worst nuclear accident. Details at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/three/index.html

Tuesday, April 6

"Made In America" (Travel Channel, 9-9:30 p.m. E/P) This is a documentary about manufacturing technology which feels like a travel show. In other words, it's fun. In this program, host John Ratzenberg visits Nashville, Tennessee's Purity Dairy, the company responsible for the Nutty Buddy. In Shelbourne, Vermont, the Vermont Teddy Bear Company makes highly personalized -- and fashion savvy -- bears.

"Spy Skills" (The Learning Channel, 10-11 p.m. E/P) In this episode of the "Spymaster" documentary series six men and women are taken to a secret location known as "The Farm" where they begin espionage training based on the highly classifies instructions of the CIA, FBI and Special forces. In just five days of rigorous training two candidates are dismissed when they fail to make the grade.

Wednesday, April 7

"Unsolved History: RFK Assassination" (Discovery Channel, 9-10 p.m. E/P) In 1968 as Senator Robert F. Kennedy left a political rally in a Los Angeles hotel at which he seemed to be launched on the path to become President of the U.S., shots rang out, leaving him mortally wounded. Who really fired the fatal shot that killed Senator Kennedy? Was it a lone gunman, a young Palestinian named Sirhan Sirhan? Or were others involved?

Thursday, April 8

"Frontline: Diet Wars" (PBS, 9-10 p.m. E/P) Americans spend $40 billion a year on books, products and programs designed to do one thing: help us lose weight. Today's dieters have all sorts of weight loss programs from which to choose, yet the underlying principles of these diets are often contradictory. This program examines several. Log onto the companion Web site http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/diet/ and get facts on the diet industry, low-fat and low-carb diets and the connections between diet and disease. Plus, if you can get on-line at school check out http://www.washingtonpost.com/liveonline for a discussion with Frontline correspondent Steve Talbot on April 9 at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT.

Friday, April 10

"The War Of The Worlds" (AMC Channel, 8-10 p.m. E/P) This is a classic movie adaption of British author H. G. Wells' novel about a Martian invasion of the Earth. Special-effects maestro George Pal has this screen version take place in the U.S., with Martians arriving in what appear to be meteors as they look for a new home-land in the California desert. They easily defeat the human military forces sent out to fight them in downtown Los Angeles -- until they encounter a microscopic pest here on Earth which they hadn't expected to find. In other words, our environment defeats them. It's amazing to see how convincing and scary this all looks, considering it was made without computers. Available on video.

Saturday, April 10

"The Alamo" (Turner Classic Movie Channel, 4:30-8 p.m. ET, 1:30-5 p.m. PT) Today, a big new movie about the fight at the Alamo opens in the theatres. This is the umteenth time the fight has been turned into a film. One version is showing on the TCM Channel today. John Wayne directed and won an Oscar for it in 1960. It was pretty much a one-sided version of the story overlooking the participation of Mexicans in the fight against General .Santa Ana, dictator of their nation back in 1836. By watching this movie on TV and then seeing the one in the theatres, you will see how history-telling changes with time -- and the addition of new immigrants. Currently 40 million Mexicans live in the U.S, where they wield billions of dollars of purchasing power. And ticket-buying power. The 1960 movie is available on video.

Sunday, April 11

"Nature: Flight School" (PBS, 8-9 p.m. E/P) This documentary tells the astonishing story of how an experimental, artificial breeding and training program, in which surrogate human "parents" teach the chicks how to fly and migrate, is helping to coax North America's endangered whooping cranes back from the brink of extinction. Learn more about "imprinting" at the companion Web site: http://www.pbs.org/nature/flightschool

"The Popes: The Legacy Of Peter" (A&E, 8-10 p.m. E/P) Airing on Easter Sunday, this is a documentary on the history of the Roman Catholic Papacy -- from its founding during the Roman Empire to its emergence as a powerful force in the 21st Century. You will learn about saints, sinners, and martyrs who have reigned as a Pope. Some Popes have been devout and true spiritual leaders; others fathered illegitimate children and corrupted the Holy Church. The program also examines the ability of future popes to safeguard religion and faith in a world dominated by technology. Rated TV-G.