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These listings cover television programs up to Sunday, May 16.
Greetings, TV viewers!
The topic for the Media Hour in the Greek Theatre at 6:30 pm Whyville Time this Wednesday is related to some of the programs about various ancient civilizations airing this week and last. We study these things in school. But why? "What can we really learn from ancient civilizations such as the Mayans Greeks or Romans?"
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, May 10
"Modern Marvels: Engines" (History Channel, 7-8 p.m. E/P) This documentary
about engines and motors emphasizes the ones that really changed society.
Beginning with the steam engine, you'll see how it was created, how it works,
and how it led to the Industrial Revolution. Then came the electric motor,
internal combustion engine, electric engine, jet engine, and rocket engine. The
program concludes with a look at futuristic engine technologies, including
hydrogen-powered cars and micro-technology engines so small that they fit on the
tip of a finger.
Tuesday, May 11
"NOVA: Magnetic Storm" (PBS, 8-9 p.m. E/P) Here's what this show is about:
On March 13, 1989, the lights went out across Canada and the eastern seaboard of
the United States as far south as New York. The most serious power grid failure
in American history was caused by a magnetic storm in the earth's upper
atmosphere, itself triggered by the eruption of a huge flare from the surface of
the Sun. Unusual as this event may seem, many scientists today are beginning to
worry that it may be a hint of things to come, and that changes to the planet's
magnetic field could make earth ever more vulnerable to deadly radiation from
space. This film explores one of the least-known but most serious threats to
life on earth. Details at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/magnetic/.
"Scientific American Frontiers: Don't Forget" (PBS, 9-10 p.m. E/P) This
documentary investigates how people create memories -- and how as they get
older, memories become slippery and elusive, sometimes vanishing forever. It
reports on two men who live entirely in the present or the distant past, unable
to recall events that happened even a few minutes ago. Viewers peer inside the
program host Alan Alda's brain and find out what's at work as he memorizes names
and faces. You'll discovers how ice water can boost memory (no, not by drinking
it) and how easy it is to have a false memory implanted. You'll also meet a
group of baby boomers who are learning how to keep their brains young and their
memories intact. Log on to http://www.pbs.org/saf/1402/index.html and download "Memory Tests" for use
by middle school and high school students.
Wednesday, May 12
"60 Minutes" (CBS, 8-9 p.m. E/P) The lead story in this newsmagazine
is about American technology for making diamonds, real diamonds, at a fraction
of the cost to mining and importing them.
"Unsolved Mysteries: Trojan Horse" (Discovery Channel, 8-10 p.m. E/P)
Here's a documentary account of the events portrayed in the Brad Pitt movie,
"Troy" that's in theatres this month. The epic poem by Homer on which the movie
is based has some basis in fact: There may have been a real Greek armada of a
thousand ships that sailed across the Mediterranean Sea to wage war on Troy,
seeking on vengeance for the abduction of a Greek princess, Helen, by a Trojan
prince Paris. The program repeats Sunday, May 16, at 5 p.m. E/P.
"National Geographic Special: Dawn of the Maya" (PBS, 8-9 p.m. E/P) This
is a documentary about why the Maya civilization was already flourishing in
Central America during the time of Christ, suffered a collapse and went through
a great resurgence, all before the Europeans arrived. The Maya period was an era
of great cities ruled by powerful kings. Now, in the jungles of Guatemala,
archeologists have discovered a previously unknown dynasty -- kings who built
the biggest pyramid on earth hundreds of years before the Spaniards arrived. Not
far away they found a mural from this Maya period which shows that the elaborate
Maya mythology described in our school books was likely in place hundreds of
years earlier than everybody thought -- way back at the time of ancient Greece
and Rome. You can find more information about all this at
www.nationalgeographic.com.
Thursday, May 13
"Spartacus" (AMC Channel, 8-11 p.m. E/P) This is the classic
Oscar-nominated movie version of Howard Fast's famous novel about a slave
revolt in ancient Rome. Unlike the TV production which used the novel recently,
this one is may be remembered as the finest ever movie showing the ancient Roman
world. The rebellion depicted shakes the foundations of the empire and reveals
how an empire really works. (Available on video.)
Friday, May 14
"Race: Difference Between Us" (PBS, 10-11 p.m. E/P) This documentary
looks at the very idea of race through science, history and social institutions.
It illustrates why humans cannot be subdivided into races and reveals that there
are no characteristics, no traits -- not even one gene -- that distinguish all
members of one "race" from all members of another. The companion Web site
presents tools to help students and teachers educators explore the significance
of
race: http://www.pbs.org/race
Saturday, May 15
"Time Machine: Grand Canyon" ( History Channel, 8-9 p.m. E/P) This
earth-science documentary travels back through time in the Grand
Canyon, one of earth's great natural wonders. You'll learn how it began forming
billions of years ago, and how man discovered it, settled in it, yet continues
to be humbled by its dangerous landscape.
Sunday, May 16
"Willy Wonka And the Chocolate Factory" (AMC Channel, 6-8 p.m. E/P, repeating
8-10 p.m. E/P) This is a movie musical based on a classic children's book by
Roald Dahl. It's about a candymaker who hides five golden tickets in candy bars
for lucky children to win a lifetime supply of candy and a tour of his wonderful
confectionery factory. One kids, who resists an opportunity to get what he wants
through stealing, gets a bigger reward for his honesty than he could have
imagined. (Available on video) More about this author at
www.roalddahl.com.
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