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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Media Menu October 1, 2011

Here are home viewing suggestions for the week, selected from online advanced TV program listings and aligned with the state and national K-12 academic standards available online. Please consult local listings also, since actual broadcast times may vary. The Websites cited in the “Log on“ box below the TV listing provide further details about the show’s topic and may contain links to video clips from the show or a complete streaming video version of the show.

Saturday, October 1, 2011,
6-8 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History and Geography
Middle and High School

How the States Got Their Shapes

We are so familiar with the map of United States, but do we know why our states look the way they do? This documentary uncovers the history hidden in our map. From the crooked borders in the east to the organized boxes in the west, the shapes of the states are more than simple geography. Every line on the map of America is a surprising clue that reveals how the 13 colonies became the 50 states and how an intrepid group of settlers and immigrants built a new nation. The same forces that shaped our states still influence us today--how we eat, speak, vote, pray and play. The shapes on the map tell us about our past. Why is California bent? To cling on to gold. Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle? Because of shifting borders for slavery. Why does Missouri have a boot? Because of a massive earthquake. This special examines how every state is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique geography, political and social history of America. TV-PG
Log on http://www.history.com/shows/how-the-states-got-their-shapes

Sunday, October 2, 2011,
8-10 p.m. E/P
PBS
U.S. History
Middle and High School

Prohibition- Part 1 of 3

This is the initial episode of a three-part, five-and-a-half-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that tells the story of the true story of America’s “Great Experiment” — the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawing alcohol - and the entire era it encompassed. Prohibition was intended to improve, the lives of all Americans, to protect individuals, families, and society at large from the devastating effects of alcohol abuse. This episode is entitled “A Nation of Drunkards” . In the mid-1800s, alcohol abuse is wreaking havoc on American families, and new groups — the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League — form to push for Prohibition. The following episode, entitled “A Nation of Scofflaws”, airs October 3 in this timeslot. In 1920, Prohibition goes into effect and millions of law-abiding Americans become lawbreakers overnight. Advocates of the bans had hoped Prohibition would make the country a safer place, but the law has many victims. In Part 3, airing October 4, entitled “A Nation of Hypocrites” , gangsters make huge profits and wreak havoc in cities across the country. By the late 1920s, many Americans believe that Prohibition — the “Noble Experiment” — has failed. After the election of FDR in 1932, Prohibition is repealed. Series rated TV-PG
Log on http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition

Sunday, October 2, 2011,
9-10 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science and Technology

Middle and High School

The How Hard Can It Be? – Homemade Rocket
Could an average Joe send a rocket into space? The hosts of this episode of the “ The How Hard Can It Be? “ documentary series, are about to find out. They've been building crazy machines and fabulous inventions together for years, but now their skills will literally be pushed to the limit. Using everyday materials and knowhow that anyone could acquire they'll attempt to launch a homemade rocket into the atmosphere.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/homemade-rocket-5766/Overview?source=email_channel#tab-Overview

Sunday, October 2, 2011,
10-11 p.m. E/P
History Channel
Geography and Technology
Middle and High School

Around The World In 80 Ways

For two real-life adrenaline junkies charged with circumnavigating the globe using every conceivable mode of transportation, it’s not the destination that counts, but the journey itself. That’s the challenge for Robert “Boston Rob” Mariano (Survivor, The Amazing Race) and Dennis Anderson (creator of the monster truck Gravedigger), hosts of this new documentary series. Whether rushing down Victoria Falls in a barrel, hang gliding over Rio, or crossing the Kalahari by ostrich, Rob and Dennis have to employ 80 different forms of transportation without repeating any vehicle. It’s an extreme expedition that will take the hosts not only across the miles, but through time as they explore the history behind the many ways people have gotten around throughout the ages. This series takes Rob and Dennis through Brazil, Peru, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Dubai, India, Thailand, and the United States. At times they even have to invent and build their own means of transport. In this episode Dennis and Rob begin the journey to their first destination -- Lake Titicaca, Peru. In South America, a wrong-way bus trip leads to a ride down the world’s highest zip line, followed by a gnarly descent down a cliff face with only rebar ladders for support. On the Incan trail, they use horses, llamas, motorbikes, and water taxis to arrive at the lake, where they race each other in the traditional reed boats of the indigenous people.
Log on http://www.history.com/shows/around-the-world-in-80-ways

Monday, October 3, 2011,
4-5 p.m. E/P
Science Channel
Science and Technology

Elementary, Middle and High School

Head Rush Refresh: FIRST Robotics
In a special edition of the documentary series “ Head Rush” , host Kari Byron sends her pal Andrew Hendrix to St Louis, MO to report on the 20th FIRST Robotics Championship. With a surprise appearance by President Obama and the participation of rapper will.i.am, more than 500 schools from around the world compete to see who's built the best bot. TV-G
Log on http://usfirst.org/aboutus/press-room/president-obama-makes-surprise-appearance-iamfirst-science-rock-and-roll

Tuesday, October 4, 2011,
8-9 p.m. ET, 5-6- p.m. PT
CNBC Channel
Economics and Government
Middle and High School

The Truth About Shoplifting

Every single day in North America, there are more than 600,000 shoplifting incidents. Eighty percent of us have stolen at least once in our lives. One out of every 10 of us shoplifts often. And now, organized crime has discovered that it’s a low risk way to turn a handsome profit. The truth is... stealing from stores is a big part of our consumer culture. And it’s a crime you pay for every time you step up to the cash register. This documentary examines the rise in retail crime and how the consumers’ quest for the lowest discount price fuels the market for stolen merchandise. Featuring surprising security camera footage, the latest crime-fighting technology and interviews from both sides of the law, the program investigates why people steal, who is doing the stealing, what others are doing to fight it, and how retail crime affects us all.
Log on http://www.breakthroughentertainment.com/show/the-truth-about-shoplifting

Wednesday, October 5, 2011,
9-10 p.m., ET, 6-7 p.m. PT
CNBC Channel
World History and Economics
Middle and High School

The China Question

What does China’s rise mean for America? Through the stories of ordinary people and analysis from the world’s leading experts, this documentary explores the challenge America faces as China becomes the world’s second superpower. To understand the economic, political and moral implications of China’s rise, filmmaker Brook Silva-Braga spent over a year traveling both China and America. On a thoughtful, personal journey we meet Chinese and Americans dealing with extraordinary change, and reflect on the twists of fate and history that brought us here.
Log on http://thechinaquestion.com/

Thursday, October 6, 2011
9-11 p.m., E/P
History Channel
World History
Middle and High School

History of the World in Two Hours

From the Big Bang to the present day, 13.7 billion years of epic history will be told in this documentary in just 120 minutes. It’s the story of humankind from the very beginning of time – from the birth of the Universe and Earth to the dawn of life, from the fall of the dinosaurs to the rise of man, from the Stone Age to Silicon Valley. Each beat in the story will reveal a surprising connection to our world today. The film examines the biggest moments over the course of billions of years. Showing the emergence of the first primates, the voyage of Columbus, the invention of the steam engine and beyond, it demonstrates how everyone and everything are all connected. Our modern world holds surprising clues to the distant past. It demonstrates that all life forms are descended from the lowly bacteria, and shows that if not for grass, the primates would never have climbed down from the trees and learned to walk upright. The Great Pyramids were built with material made from 50 million-year-old seashells left behind when modern-day Egypt was submerged beneath the sea. All the dots are connected: from donkeys that made trade possible to the spread of disease and religion, from the invention of gunpowder to today’s political landscape.

Friday, October 6, 2011,
4-5 p.m., E/P
History Channel
Economics and U.S. History
Middle and High School

Modern Marvels: Money

How does America make money--literally? We visit the United States Mint and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving to see the secretive government facilities where our legal tender is generated. With a storied past as tantalizing as the wealth they create, these mints can spit out fortunes in an hour and keep our economy flowing. TVPG

Saturday, October 8, 2011,
8-10:15 p.m. ET, 5-7:15 p.m. PT
TCM – Turner Classic Movie Channel
World History and Literature
Middle and High School

Gunga Din

This classic, Oscar– nominated movie is based on Rudyard Kipling’s beloved 1892 poem. The setting is India at the zenith of British rule there. At a British army post in India, native water carrier Gunga Din dreams of becoming a soldier. When the regiment learns that the telegraph wires to one of their outposts have been cut, Sergeants Cutter, MacChesney and Ballantine are sent to investigate. The three sergeants find the compound in the hands of a fiendish band of killers known as the Thugges, members of a fanatic religious order that worships the goddess Kali and has sworn to annihilate the British in India. The sergeants fend off the fanatics' attack, and upon their triumphant return to the post, Ballantine announces that he is foresaking the army to marry Emmy Stebbins and take a job in a tea company. His announcement is met with consternation by his pals, who immediately begin to scheme to keep their buddy in the service. Meanwhile, Gunga Din leads Cutter, who is obsessed with discovering hidden treasure, to a temple of gold, which, they discover, is the holy shrine of the Thugges. As he decoys the Thugges, Cutter sends Gunga Din to the post for reinforcements. Later, Ballantine decides that his place is in the army, and Gunga Din is appointed a corporal in the British army and when he dies he is buried with military honors.
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3242/Gunga-Din/

Book TV Schedule

Saturday, October 1st

9am (ET)
Approx. 48 min.
"Woody Guthrie, American Radical"
Will Kaufman
1:30pm (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 21 min.
"The Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives"
Steven Levy
3pm (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 14 min.
"1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created"
Charles Mann
4:15pm (ET)
Approx. 47 min.
"Wanted Dead Or Alive: Manhunts From Geronimo To Bin Laden"
Benjamin Runkle
5pm (ET)
Approx. 54 min.
"James Madison"
Richard Brookhiser
7pm (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 16 min.
"The Interrogator: An Education"
Glenn Carle
9pm (ET)
Approx. 52 min.
"Haiti After the Earthquake"
Paul Farmer

Sunday, October 2nd

1am (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 16 min.
"The Interrogator: An Education"
Glenn Carle
3am (ET)
Approx. 52 min.
"Haiti After the Earthquake"
Paul Farmer
4am (ET)
Approx. 54 min.
"James Madison"
Richard Brookhiser
6am (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 14 min.
"1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created"
Charles Mann
8am (ET)
Approx. 48 min.
"Woody Guthrie, American Radical"
Will Kaufman
10am (ET)
Approx. 52 min.
"Haiti After the Earthquake"
Paul Farmer
10pm (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 14 min.
"1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created"
Charles Mann
11:15pm (ET)
Approx. 49 min.
"Watermelons: The Green Movement’s True Colors"
James Delingpole

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Media Menu September 23, 2011


Here are home viewing suggestions for the week, selected from online advanced TV program
listings and aligned with the state and national K-12 academic standards available online.
Please consult local listings also, since actual broadcast times may vary. The Websites cited in
the “Log on“ box below the TV listing provide further details about the show’s topic and may
contain links to video clips from the show or a complete streaming video version of the show.

Saturday, September 24, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/PS
Human Planet: Rivers and Oceans

Planet Green Channel
Science and Geography
Middle and High School


This natural history documentary turns its cameras on the most fascinating creature of all: us. The specific
and timely topic is how humans adapt to an aquatic life in unpredictable waters.

Log on http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/human-planet/episodes.html

CNBC Channel
Arts and Economics
Middle and High School
Sunday, September 25, 2011,
9-11 p.m. ET, 6-8 p.m. PT

Walt: The Man Behind The Myth

This is a biographical documentary about Walt Disney. Based on over 75 interviews with his closest friends
and collaborators as well as leading historians, the program traces the life and creative achievements of one
of America’s most enduring icons in entertainment. In addition to the familiar stories of how Walt conceived
of Mickey Mouse and created the first feature-length animated cartoon with "Snow White," the film also
reveals the lesser-known saga of how the studio faced near-bankruptcy in the wake of a strike and World War II; how Walt skimped and saved, and even cashed in his family's life insurance, in order to finance the early development of Disneyland; how the Disney Studio broke the Hollywood taboo of early television; and how,in his final days, Walt was fully devoted to building a city of the future near what is today Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Log on http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296273


Monday, September 26, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P

Science Channel
Science and Geography
Elementary, Middle and High School
Tuesday, September 27, 2011,
8- 11:30 p.m. ET


When Earth Erupts: Americas

This is a documentary about the eastern Pacific Rim - a volatile territory. Earthquakes have decimated
Anchorage, Alaska and San Francisco, CA, and probably will again in the next 30 years. The Chilean coast
has been rocked by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that killed thousands. TV-G

Log on http://science.discovery.com/videos/when-earth-erupts-pacific-rim-videos


Spartacus

TCM – Turner Classic Movie Channel
World History and Arts Elementary,
Middle and High School


This is an Oscar-winning classic film based on historical accounts of a heroic slave who lead a revolt against
the corrupt Roman Empire. A rebellious Thracian, named Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to
Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners
and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their numbers swell as escaped slaves join their ranks. Under the leadership of Spartacus, they make their way to southern Italy, where they will cross the sea and return to their homes. Meanwhile, in Rome, the slave revolt has become a deciding factor in the power struggle between two senators: the republican Gracchus and the militarist Crassus, each of whom sees the fortunes of the rebellion as the key to his own rise to power or humiliating defeat. As the two statesmen attempt to aid, hinder and manipulate the rebels for their own benefit, Spartacus and his followerspress on toward freedom. Dir: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier. TV-PG,
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/414107/Spartacus/articles.html

Wednesday, September 28, 2011,
8- 9 p.m. E/P
PBS
Science
Middle and High School

NATURE: Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air

Hummingbirds represent one of nature's most interesting paradoxes — they are the tiniest of birds, yet
they qualify as some of the toughest and most energetic creatures on the planet. Knowledge gained from
scientists currently making great breakthroughs in hummingbird biology makes this a perfect time to focus
on these shimmering, flashing jewels of the natural world. Beautiful high-definition, high-speed footage of
hummingbirds in the wild, combined with high-tech presentations of their remarkable abilities, help viewers
of this documentary understand the world of hummingbirds as never before. TV-PG
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/hummingbirds-magic-in-the-air/introduction/5424

Thursday, September 29, 2011,
9-10 p.m. E/P

The Coffee Addiction

CNBC Channel
Science and Economics
Middle and High School
Friday, September 30, 2011,
10-11p.m. E/P


This documentary delves into the science behind caffeine’s effect on the body and speaks with Dr. Peter
Martin, a professor at Vanderbilt University’s School of Medicine. His findings and others—including a
2004 Harvard study that found long-term moderate coffee consumption could help prevent the onset of
Type II diabetes and Parkinson’s disease—suggest that caffeine can actually be beneficial to your health.
The program also profiles two companies at the heart of America’s coffee culture, going behind the scenes
at Starbucks to meet their taster-in-chief, Dub Hay. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz discusses his role in
the rise, fall and rise again of this corporate coffee giant. Schultz concedes that his company became “a
poster child for excess” by building too many stores, hundreds of which were later shuttered as thousands
of employees were laid off. Schultz has righted the ship, redesigned many of his stores and expanded
aggressively overseas, bringing Starbucks record profits. Also covered is story of Vermont’s Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, a company once so close to collapse that then-CEO Robert Stiller paid salaries on his credit card. Stiller bought a single Green Mountain coffee store in 1981. Thirty years later, his company is now the dominant player in the single serve game by joining forces with the Keurig brewing system. With their coffee pods or “K-Cups,” Green Mountain now has an 80% share of the single-serve market, and recently struck deals to offer Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee in their system. CNBC profiles a buyer for a coffee company based outside Seattle and accompanies him on a trip to the remote reaches of Peru, crossing a tributary of the Amazon and hiking through the dense jungle to reach the farm of a local coffee grower.
There, high-quality Arabica coffee beans, found inside cherries that grow on trees, are painstakingly picked
by hand, sorted, cleaned, and sold for $2.70 a pound—a fraction of the $14.70 they’ll fetch after they make
their way to a retail shelf in the U.S.

Log on http://www.coffeeaddiction.cnbc.com

PBS
Arts and U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School
8P

IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE: Fiesta Latina

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host
a White House concert with Marc Anthony, Jimmy Smits, Pete Escovedo, Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano,
George Lopez, Thalía, Tito “El Bambino” and the Chicano rock band Los Lobos, with Sheila E. leading the
house band.
Log on http://video.pbs.org/video/1296778877

Saturday, October 1, 2011,
6-8 p.m. E/P

History Channel
U.S. History and Geography
Middle and High School


How the States Got Their Shapes

We are so familiar with the map of United States, but do we know why our states look the way they do? This documentary uncovers the history hidden in our map. From the crooked borders in the east to the organized boxes in the west, the shapes of the states are more than simple geography. Every line on the map of America is a surprising clue that reveals how the 13 colonies became the 50 states and how an intrepid group of settlers and immigrants built a new nation. The same forces that shaped our states still influence us today-how we eat, speak, vote, pray and play. The shapes on the map tell us about our past. Why is California bent? To cling on to gold. Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle? Because of shifting borders for slavery. Why does Missouri have a boot? Because of a massive earthquake. This special examines how every state is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique geography, political and social history of America. TV-PG

Log on http://www.history.com/shows/how-the-states-got-their-shapes


Book TV Schedule


Saturday, September 24th


8am (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 5 min.
"Ghosts in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker" 
Kevin Mitnick
9am (ET)
Approx. 44 min.
George Washington University Interview: Alvin Felzenberg, "The Leaders We Deserved (And a Few We Didn't): Rethinking the Presidential Rating Game" 
Alvin Felzenberg
10am (ET)
Approx. 8 hr.
2011 National Book Festival - Saturday 
All Day Coverage
6pm (ET)
Approx. 57 min.
Encore Booknotes: Beppe Severgnini, author of "Ciao America! An Italian Discovers the U.S." 
Beppe Severgnini
7pm (ET)
Approx. 57 min.
"Black and Tired: Essays on Race, Politics, Culture, and International Development" 
Anthony Bradley
8pm (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 3 min.
"The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL" 
Eric Greitens
9pm (ET)
Approx. 47 min.
"Wanted Dead Or Alive: Manhunts From Geronimo To Bin Laden" 
Benjamin Runkle
10pm (ET)
Approx. 59 min.
After Words: Jim Lehrer, "Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates from Kennedy-Nixon to McCain-Obama," hosted by Gloria Borger, CNN
11pm (ET)
Approx. 35 min.
"The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin" 
Joe McGinniss

Sunday, September 25th


12am (ET)
Approx. 8 hr.
2011 National Book Festival - Saturday 
All Day Coverage
8am (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 10 min.
"In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir" 
Dick Cheney
9:15am (ET)
Approx. 35 min.
"The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin" 
Joe McGinniss
10am (ET)
Approx. 47 min.
"Wanted Dead Or Alive: Manhunts From Geronimo To Bin Laden" 
Benjamin Runkle
11am (ET)
Approx. 54 min.
"James Madison" 
Richard Brookhiser
12pm (ET)
Approx. 43 min.
After Words: Sylvia Nasar, "Grand Pursuit: The Story of Economic Genius"
1pm (ET)
Approx. 5 hr. 30 min.
2011 National Book Festival - Sunday 
All Day Coverage
6:30pm (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 7 min.
Independence: The Struggle to Set America Free 
John Ferling
8pm (ET)
Approx. 35 min.
"The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin" 
Joe McGinniss
9pm (ET)
Approx. 59 min.
After Words: Jim Lehrer, "Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates from Kennedy-Nixon to McCain-Obama," hosted by Gloria Borger, CNN
10pm (ET)
Approx. 57 min.
"Black and Tired: Essays on Race, Politics, Culture, and International Development" 
Anthony Bradley
11pm (ET)
Approx. 1 hr. 3 min.
"The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL" 
Eric Greitens

Monday, September 26th


12am (ET)
Approx. 59 min.
After Words: Jim Lehrer, "Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates from Kennedy-Nixon to McCain-Obama," hosted by Gloria Borger, CNN
1am (ET)
Approx. 5 hr. 30 min.
2011 National Book Festival - Sunday 
All Day Coverage
6:30am (ET)
Approx. 20 min.
"The Unexpected Patriot: How an Ordinary American Mother Is Bringing Terrorists to Justice" 
Shannen Rossmiller
7am (ET)
Approx. 54 min.
"James Madison" 
Richard Brookhiser